The First Love Cookie Club by Lori Wilde

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THE FIRST LOVE COOKIE CLUB
Author: Lori Wilde
Source: Publisher
*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

  • Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
  • Publisher: Avon; Original edition (October 26, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0061988421
  • ISBN-13: 978-0061988424

SUMMARY:

“On Christmas Eve, if you sleep with kismet cookies under your pillow and dream of your one true love, he will be your destiny.”

The townsfolk of Twilight, Texas, believe the legend, but not Sarah Collier—not since she was a pudgy teenager, running down the church aisle on Christmas Day in a jingle bell sweater and reindeer antlers, trying to stop Travis Walker from marrying someone else. She may be grown-up, slimmed-down, bestselling children’s book author “Sadie Cool”now, but Sarah will never forget that day. And she’ll never fall foolishly in love again! 

But when a letter from a sick fan brings Sarah back to Twilight, she’s shocked to discover that Travis is the little girl’s father—unattached and hotter than ever. His smile still makes her melt, but Sarah knows that ship has sailed. Travis, however, might have different ideas. 

MY THOUGHTS:

When Sarah Collier stays with her Grams during the holiday season, she has had a tradition of making Kismet Cookies and putting them under her pillow at night.  It is said that if you sleep with the Kismet cookie under your pillow on Christmas Eve, you will dream of your one true love that you are destined to be with.  Sarah has dreamed about her true love every year that she has done this.  When she dreams of Travis Walker, she just knows they are meant to be together.  When she receives the news that he is getting married though, she is heartbroken and races to the wedding to stop it from happening.  Sarah halts the wedding and tries to explain to him that they are meant to be together and gets her dreams crushed when he tells her to go home.  Since that day, Sarah has dreaded Christmas and left Twilight behind.

Sarah has grown up now and made drastic changes. She lost weight and wrote a book about her horrible mistake in Twilight in the way of a children’s book.  She is now Sadie Cool and wealthy, yet she is still alone and thinking of Travis. When Jazzy, Travis’ daughter, writes to Sadie Cool asking to see her for her Christmas wish, Sarah decides to go back to Twilight and give the sick child her wish.  Along the way, we get to see Travis realize what he should have known all along, Sarah break out of her shell, and little Jazzy pull at your heart strings with her sickness and upbeat personality.

This was another great read by author Lori Wilde featuring the town of Twilight. While we do get to hear about a few of the characters from previous books, they don’t really make an appearance throughout this story.  The ending was abrupt and tied up within a small ending chapter and I would have liked to have had it paced better at the end.  Other than that, this was a book that will leave you with a new look on Christmas.

MY RATING:


Very Good! I would recommend this book! 4 STARS

THE TRUE LOVE QUILTING CLUB by Lori Wilde

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THE TRUE LOVE QUILTING CLUB
Author: Lori Wilde
Source: Publisher
* I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*
  • Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
  • Publisher: Avon; Original edition (April 13, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0061808903
  • ISBN-13: 978-0061808906
SYNOPSIS:

“The pattern of a quilt will always lead you back home.” 
Trixie Lynn Parks changed her name to Emma, shook the dust of Twilight, Texas, off her shoes, and vowed to make it big in the city. But after twelve years of shattered dreams, she heads back to the ladies of the True Love Quilting Club . . . and to her first love, Sam Cheek. 
Some things—and some people—sure have changed. Sam has grown from a carefree boy to a single dad. And even though the chemistry between them sizzles hotter than ever, Trixie Lynn quickly discovers she must choose between the fame and fortune that have finally come her way—or the one true love who has the power to mend her patchwork heart. 
MY THOUGHTS:
In our next installment of the town of Twilight, we get to see the romance of Emma and Sam. While this is a second in the series, it can still be read as a stand alone with no problems. When Emma, also known as Trixie Lynn, was young, her mother left to pursue her acting career.  She was left in the care of her father, who we learn early on is not her real father.  He forces her to move with him away from Twilight at 14 years old.  Before they move away, Sam who is her best friend in Twilight, finds her crying about the move and tries to cheer her up. He kisses her goodbye and they realize they love each other, but it is too late.
Fast forward to present day we find Emma struggling to become an actress as well.  She has not received her big break, she has no family to fall back on and finally gets a chance to return to Twilight with an acting job that will jump start her career.  She find Sam again, who has married, been widowed and has a son now.  
I enjoyed this book even more than the first in the series. This one may not have had many steamy love scenes, but you could still feel the love and romance that grows between Emma and Sam.  The author has a wonderful knack for writing heartfelt romance that captures you and keeps you trapped in the town of Twilight.  Second chances, love renewed and touching scenes of tender dialogue will leave your heart aching for more from this author.
MY RATING:

Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading!

THE SWEETHEARTS’ KNITTING CLUB by Lori Wilde

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THE SWEETHEARTS’ KNITTING CLUB
Author: Lori Wilde
Source: Publisher (thanks Christine)
*I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review*

  • Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
  • Publisher: Avon (November 24, 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 006180889X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0061808890

SYNOPSIS:

“Throw a penny in the fountain of the Twilight town square, and you’ll be married to your first love . . . ”

For ten years, pretty Flynn MacGregor has been turning down the same solid, upright man’s marriage proposal. Her friends at the Sweethearts’ Knitting Club tell her they’re a match made in heaven, but Flynn knows there’s only one dangerous reason why she keeps saying no: high school sweetheart Jesse Calloway. She was just sixteen when Jesse was forced out of town under a cloud of suspicion . . . but he’s never left her heart.

Now Jesse is back, and every time she turns the corner he’s there—gazing at her with his smoldering eyes and tempting her with his kisses. Jesse has never played by the rules, and he’s made it clear that he’s not going to now. And Flynn, who’s always done just what her family, friends, and fellow knitters have told her to do, must finally break free and claim the love that binds Jesse to her heart.

MY TAKE:

BREATHTAKING! The perfect word to a perfect book!

At first I thought this was going to be about a bunch of old ladies sitting in a circle knitting. True, there are old ladies and knitting involved but that is just a piece of the story. Flynn is not old and she doesn’t know how to knit. Beau is her fiance, and he does not knit either. Jesse is an ex-con and Flynn’s true love and trust me, knitting is not how he passed the time in prison.

I found myself drawn to the romance between Flynn and Jesse. I thought Beau was a pushy cop who thought he could have whatever he wanted. He is constantly pushing Flynn to marry him and always backing her in a corner. I wanted to jump in the book and knock the crap out of him. Jesse was a pure Southern gentleman who may have been recently released from prison, but wanted to make a fresh start with Flynn. Whenever Jesse’s dialogue came up, I could just picture him in my head with his southern accent.

When a writer can describe a character with just what he is speaking, you know you have a new Bestselling Author! The author kept me glued to the pages, consumed by the passion and story that I never wanted it to end. It flowed great and was detailed perfectly.

A new author for me that I will keep an eye on for new releases. Once again, BREATHTAKING!

MY RATING:


Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading!