The Island of Heavenly Daze Series....Angela Hunt & Lori Copeland (book review)

This is a Christian series, and one of my favorite reads of all times!
There are five books in this series, and I seriously write this author about twice a year asking her to write another book. This series, just leaves you wanting more! The setting is a quaint little island of the coast of Maine.  The Heavenly part of the island, and unknown to its inhabitants, are the seven men that live along side them who are angels sent from God to help them find their way. These books have such beautiful imagery it makes you feel at home and want to go to this place.....Can someone map quest this island for me please (lol). You feel as though you really get to know the residents of the Island, even the cranky ones become endearing to you as you read through. The authors really give you several perspectives of the Islanders lives, Angela Hunt also publishes actual recipes that are talked about in the book, that make your mouth water as you're reading about them. Another thing I loved about this series was that things that were written about, like for example the description of the Angels were referenced straight out of the bible, and after every book, they give you a ton of information and study questions. This would be an excellent book series to use for any Christian womans book club.
I couldnt put these books down, and normally I read my books and donate them or pass them on, but this series is a true keeper, a series that I can re-read and still enjoy.

I have copied the brief synopsis for these books from Angela Hunts website which is listed below.


 The Island of Heavenly Daze - Book One (With Lori Copeland)

The Rev. Winslow Wickam--rarely at a loss for words--is utterly speechless. His church's generous gift has thrown him into a dither of self-doubt, especially when he overhears parishioners plotting to replace him with a younger, more handsome, more hirsute minister.

Meanwhile, cantankerous Olympia de Cuvier and her estranged niece Annie struggle to be civil to one another for one short weekend. Will they ever put their past behind them and give each other the love and forgiveness they so desperately need? And will the Rev. Wickam's bumbling attempts to prove that he's as exciting, dashing, and modern as any big-city minister save his job--or make him the town laughingstock?

Grace In Autumn - Book Two (With Lori Copeland)

It's November and as the residents of Heavenly Daze are preparing for winter, sacks of undeliverable mail pour in to postmistress Beatrice Coughlin. The requests are different, but the salutation is the same: "Dear Angel . . ."

Perplexed, Bea and her sister Birdie consider answering them under the moniker "angel assistants." But where will the resources come from? When news of the letters spreads, the townspeople are divided over whether to help. Will there be enough funds for their own needs and to share with others? And will the media attention turn their quaint island into a circus or worse--Las Vegas?

Meanwhile, the local art gallery needs a new roof, but proprietors Charles and Babette Graham are tapped out. With the tourist season ending, Charles sets to work on the great American novel while Babette is left to wrestle with financial matters. When an art dealer from Boston shows interest in their son's paintings, it seems like the answer to their economic woes. Could five-year-old Georgie be an art prodigy?

As Thanksgiving approaches, will the bickering islanders make peace long enough to break bread? And will they finally see God's hand of provision for their needs? They will if the real angels who watch over Heavenly Daze have their way.

Warmth In Winter - Book Three (With Lori Copeland)

Vernie Bidderman, proud owner of the Mooseleuk Mercantile, is flabbergasted when the phone rings with a message from her husband Stanley. Trouble is, she hasn't heard from him since the night he left to go bowling and forgot to come home . . . twenty years ago. Is he dying from some dread disease? Or did he come home just to break her heart all over again?

Seventy-year-old Salt Gribbon, the cantankerous keeper of the lighthouse, is living with a secret--two of them, in fact. His grandchildren, Brittany and Bobby, have been warned to stay out of sight lest officials from the State of Maine take them away and place them in a more "suitable" home. Salt is determined to guard his grandkids with secrecy and a rock-salt-and-lima-bean-loaded shotgun, but what are the kids to do when he comes down with the flu?

As the month draws to a close, will Vernie let the mystery of Christmas soften her heart? Will Salt lower the walls he has built to shut out the world? Will Annie and Dr. Marc's son make it home in time for the Christmas Eve service?

The angels who guard Heavenly Daze are on full alert in this holiday season!

A Perfect Love - Book Four (With Lori Copeland)

Floyd and Cleta Lansdown adore their daughter, Barbara. They'd be perfectly happy if Barbara and her husband, Russell, lived with them forever, but Russell's been dropping hints about finding a place of their own and Barbara's talking about starting a family. What could a twenty-three-year-old girl possibly know about raising a child?

Buddy Franklin knows he's the town misfit. He has always marched to the beat of a different drummer, but how can he help being who he is? Yet his lonely days are about to change, for he has sent for a companion, a warm, cuddly creature to occupy his thoughts and listen to the poetry that rises out of him like bubbles from Alka Seltzer . . .

As the new year begins on Heavenly Daze, will Buddy find lasting happiness with his new friend? Will Barbara have a baby? Will Birdie and Salt solidify their plans for marriage?

The month of January holds no rest for the angels who guard the homes of Heavenly Daze!

Hearts At Home - Book Five (With Lori Copeland)

A lovely peach dress and a battle of the bulge. An unexpected farewell and an unanticipated voyage. The briefest month of the calendar presents the angels with the island's biggest challenges.

Edith Wickam, married to the pastor of the Heavenly Daze Community Church, has her heart set on wearing a designer dress to the wedding of the year. Trouble is, the zipper won't close and she has only a few days to lose the pounds that stand between her and perfect elegance. Will she find a diet that works? And can she summon the determination to stick with it?

Annie Curvier is at peace with her world until tragedy presents her with a series of life-changing decisions. Should she say farewell to the island of Heavenly Daze and move to Manhattan? Or should she turn away from what others would call "a sure thing" and try to make a life on the island that has sheltered her through so many storms?

Winter winds are still howling over the island and its small team of angels . . .

http://www.angelaelwellhunt.com/html/heavenlydaze.html

This is surely an awesome series to start reading at this time of year (Fall) because as you read on providing you cant put them down like I couldn't, you will be right in season with the book ☺

Angela if you are reading this...Please write another book in this series!!! ☺

Firefly Lane...by Kristin Hannah (book review)

I just finish an excellent book by Kristin Hannah called Firefly Lane.

Tully and Katie. Katie and Tully. The two girls met in the summer of 1974, when they were both in 8th grade. Katie was from a normal, middle-class family. She wore glasses and braces and was basically a nobody at school. Her mom was constantly trying to get in her business and help her to make friends...to no avail. That is, until Tallulah Rose Hart, better known as Tully, moved into the house across the street. Tully was beautiful, destined to be the most popular girl in school....so cool and confident. But looks can be deceiving because Tully was as insecure as they come. She was living with Cloud, the mother who had abandoned her twice before. The mother that was more interested in demonstrations and drugs than her own daughter. Tully was always on edge, just waiting for the other shoe to drop.

But one night, Katie and Tully started talking. From that moment, they were inseparable. That is, until Cloud once again took off, and Tully had to go back and live with her grandmother. But a best friend is a best friend, and even distance couldn't keep them apart.

As the years went by, the girls went to college and studied journalism. Tully wanted to be a star. The next national anchorwoman. And Katie. She really just wanted to find love, and have a family. Through careers and life changes, the two women stayed friends. Best Friends Forever.... "No Matter what". Or one could hope.

Years pass, 30 of them, when suddenly a friendship that was to last forever seems irreparably broken.
This is were the book started getting really good for me, I wont give away the ending, but I will say I laughed and cried for the two hours it took me to finish the book.

There were several parts of the story line in  the book that made em think...Hmm I have heard this before. For instance when Katies husband was injured reporting in a foriegn country in war time, I t made me think of Bob Woodruff, the television anchor who had been seriously injured in Iraq, and there were several of these instances, where I could remember hearing similar things in the news that seemed to be mirrored in this book....That aside it was still a wonderfully written book filled with nostalgia, true to the times. I like the way this book was written and the dialogue between the friends. This was the 1st book I had read by Kristin Hannah, and I would read more of her books!

This story also was kind of personal to Kristin, and if you decide to read her book you will see why, she actually offers a post story letter to her readers in her book, as well as some additional "letters" that her characters wrote back and forth to each other in the book.
When I started this book I thought ok what is so special about this? When I was done I thought WOW that was so good! I have a copy if anyone wants to borrow it!! You can check out more at Kristin Hannah's website.
Firefly Lane Playlist - A bunch of great songs that help you really get more into the book, and take you back!
http://www.kristinhannah.com/content/about_kristin.php?id=My%20Playlisthttp://www.kristinhannah.com/content/index.php