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Cherry Blossom Capers, Review and Giveaway

January 4, 2012 by Jennifer

Cherry Blossom Capers is a fun novel — actually four related novellas written by four different authors. Each story stands alone, but recurring characters and settings tie them together. Each are less than 100 pages, so for those of you who don’t have the focus for an entire novel, this is a great way to have a sense of completion when you are able to devote time to reading.

I don’t usually read light mystery or romances, which is what this collection is, but it was truly relaxing, and after spending a few days with these novellas, I totally understand why so many bookworms spend most of their time with these genres.

The four women in these novellas have several things in common: Living in the Cherry Blossom Estate Townhomes in Washington, D.C, their Christian faith, their devotion to their jobs (though they are so different, from attorney to White House chef to coffee shop owner to archeologist/student intern), and hearts open to love (whether they’ve admitted it to themselves or not). Each novella features a different main character.

Tara is a White House chef who comes face to face with an old flame when the FBI gets involved in a possible plot against the White House. Ciara is an attorney who gets involved with a former colleague when they find a judge dead in his chambers. Samantha Steele is a widowed mother whose first day on the job is sabotaged when her rambunctious son destroys a priceless artifact, later revealed to be a fake. Coffee shop owner Susan investigates all the “accidents” that seem to be happening to her with the man that is renovating her late-uncle’s home.

They are all so different, yet they are all searching for meaning in their lives. They support one another as casual friends, getting together for classic movie nights each week, but they long for more security and purpose.

This was particularly fun to read, because one of the authors is Gina Conroy, who went way back to my early days of blogging with her Portrait of a Writer. . . Interrupted blog and is the mastermind behind the group blog Writer. . . Interrupted. Other authors will likely be familiar to you as well: Cara Putman, Lynette Sowell, and Frances Devine. It’s really exciting to see “one of our own’s” dreams come true!

Gina’s story “Buried Deception” was full of excitement as Samantha Steele and former cop-turned security guy Nick get right in the middle of a mess when they begin uncovering forged artifacts replacing ones that have been stolen. She becomes a target, and so each page is filled with a new threat.

You can win a copy of Cherry Blossom Capers by leaving a comment here (U.S. addresses only). We’ll announce the winner in our Wednesday giveaway column on January 18. The giveaway is closed.

Cherry Blossom Capers is part of the Romancing America series by Barbour Publishing, which all seem to follow this same pattern. It’s a fun concept, and the titles are very reasonably priced.

Since I am a Christian myself, I do relate to characters who acknowledge God’s hand in their lives, but when one of the sentences in a very brief overview is “Will God protect them in life and love?” I automatically expect something cheesy and contrived, but these stories did not go in that direction, thankfully.

  • The winner of the Hunger Games book and movie poster is #32 Sarah A.
  • The winner of the Secret Life of Bees special edition is #32 Holly.

Don’t miss a thing: Check out our current giveaways. Subscribe to our feed or video reviews on YouTube. Follow us @5M4B on Twitter or on Facebook.


Jennifer Donovan loves Washington D.C. and is thankful that she’s able to see the beauty at Christmas each year and has seen the fireworks at the Washington Monument more than once, since her in-laws live there. She blogs at Snapshot.

Filed Under: Christian, Fiction, Jennifer, Short Stories

« Promise the Night
11/22/63, a 5-Star Read »

Comments

  1. Alicia says

    January 4, 2012 at 9:47 am

    This is my kind of book!

  2. Garrett says

    January 4, 2012 at 9:57 am

    A good book to read I’m sure.

  3. riTa says

    January 4, 2012 at 1:17 pm

    Shorter is good. I am in the middle of moving!

  4. Vera says

    January 4, 2012 at 2:46 pm

    Would love to win this

  5. Helen says

    January 4, 2012 at 3:31 pm

    such a pretty cover, I love the cherry blossoms

  6. Krista says

    January 4, 2012 at 7:15 pm

    I have a bookshelf full of books and none look interesting right now… but this probably would fit the spot! 😉

  7. Liz says

    January 4, 2012 at 7:24 pm

    Thank you for a giveaway that starts the New Year with hope.

  8. Gina Conroy says

    January 4, 2012 at 8:17 pm

    Jennifer, glad you enjoyed the stories. Your review means a lot especially since it’s not your usual reading!!

  9. Tammy Gordon says

    January 4, 2012 at 9:55 pm

    Sounds good!

  10. Linda Kish says

    January 4, 2012 at 10:49 pm

    I would love to read this book.

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

    • Jennifer says

      January 17, 2012 at 10:11 pm

      You won, Linda! Congrats! Please reply to this email with your shipping info.

  11. Mary Preston says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:14 pm

    I know I would enjoy reading CHERRY BLOSSOM CAPERS. It looks like a lovely read.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

  12. Zari Banks says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:58 pm

    Thanks for offering this giveaway! I’d love to win a copy … I’m in need of a something new and exciting to read.

  13. DAWN says

    January 5, 2012 at 3:49 am

    When I lived near DC, I remember the beautiful Cherry Blossoms every year. They are a spectacular, breathtaking sight to behold. Would love to read this novella. Please enter me in the free book drawing. Thank you!

  14. Holly says

    January 5, 2012 at 8:23 am

    This sounds like a good read.

  15. Lynette Sowell says

    January 5, 2012 at 9:50 am

    Jennifer, thanks for the kind words about our book, and taking a chance on reading something a little different. 🙂 I’m so happy this book sold, especially for Gina! She’s worked so hard and is a fabulous writer…

    • Gina Conroy says

      January 5, 2012 at 8:44 pm

      Thanks, Lynette!

  16. Gailya says

    January 5, 2012 at 9:59 am

    Sounds like a lot of fun!!

  17. Megan says

    January 5, 2012 at 10:23 am

    I love the cover on this book. The story sounds very interesting. I would love to win a copy, thanks for the opportunity.

  18. Bethany says

    January 5, 2012 at 10:28 am

    I’d love to win a copy! It sounds like a great book 🙂

  19. Tina says

    January 5, 2012 at 11:56 am

    This book has a couple of my friends in it. How fun. 🙂 It’s Gina’s first, so special congrats to her, and all of the authors.

    • Gina Conroy says

      January 5, 2012 at 2:47 pm

      🙂

  20. Alison S. says

    January 5, 2012 at 12:09 pm

    Yet anohter book I think I would enjoy reading. 🙂

  21. Barb says

    January 5, 2012 at 1:35 pm

    Sounds like perfect train reading — not too heavy, and easy enough to read in short bites.

  22. Judy Burgi says

    January 5, 2012 at 2:21 pm

    I would love to win a copy of Cherry Blossom Capers..sounds like a great read!

    Love the cover!

    Blessings,
    Judy B
    judyjohn2004[at]yahoo[dot]com

  23. Don says

    January 5, 2012 at 4:37 pm

    My wife would read this book, she loves this kind of stuff.

  24. Michelle says

    January 5, 2012 at 6:11 pm

    I’d love to read this. Anything set in D.C. fascinates me.

  25. Anita Yancey says

    January 5, 2012 at 7:57 pm

    Sounds like a great book. I enjoy reading novellas that have several stories in them. Thanks for having this giveaway.

  26. Christine Jensen says

    January 5, 2012 at 9:23 pm

    Sounds fun! Thanks for the chance

  27. Beth C says

    January 8, 2012 at 7:07 pm

    I’d enjoy reading this book. Thanks!
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

  28. Van says

    January 9, 2012 at 9:12 am

    I think my Mother would enjoy reading this book.

  29. Gail says

    January 10, 2012 at 8:44 am

    Thanks for the chance, sometimes shorter stories/books are a nice break!

  30. Angela E. says

    January 10, 2012 at 1:48 pm

    Sounds like a good read, thanks

  31. Megan says

    January 12, 2012 at 1:37 pm

    I have a whole entire shelf dedicated to these types of books in alphabetical order and i’ve read EVERY one AT LEAST twice! I’ve been wanting to read Cherry Blossom Capers especially since it features Gina Conroy, a woman who’s children I have been in community theater with and have seen her facebooking all about her adventure!

  32. Chuck says

    January 14, 2012 at 12:11 pm

    I’m pretty sure the wife will enjoy this one.

  33. kimberlee says

    January 15, 2012 at 8:30 am

    This sounds like a really good read(s)!

  34. June says

    January 15, 2012 at 8:04 pm

    Very interesting story line.

  35. Abigail Richmond says

    March 17, 2012 at 2:30 pm

    Would love to read this book!

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