Typically I'm not a book snob.
I think it's important to, when you read a book, keep an open mind. Maybe the first chapter doesn't strike a chord in your heart, but you should keep reading because, you know, maybe a choppy attempt at playing at strum will turn into a beautiful song.
Throughout the course of Melody Carlson's latest novel to hit bookshelves, All Summer Long - a romantic story of a girl who moves to San Francisco on a whim and finds love;forbidden love -, I had to keep in mind this very thing.
I grew up reading Melody Carlson. Every time I went to the bookstore I'd run my fingers across the paper spines of all her books, titles glimmering in the yellow lights of the store. Vivid images of devouring every word and every sentence of her writing coursed through my brain as I picked up All Summer Long for the first time. As grand and wonderful as I remember her writing being, I was disappointed by this novel.
The story was great- young Tia D'Amico goes from the chef of a small, family owned Italian restaurant to the cook of her aunt's new floating restaurant. The characters were lovable - a sandy haired twenty-something guy with a keen sense of humor and big-brother instincts and an Italian girl with a feisty attitude and a taste for fine cooking.
But, maybe I'm just a book snob, but the writing style was rushed and sloppy. Some of the scenes were believable and some weren't. The conversations/dialogue swapped from being witty and sarcastic to being un-human and monotone.
The plot was fascinating and I couldn't stop reading, but this book could've gone from good to great if Melody Carlson had developed her characters in a more realistic manner and used the show-and-tell method of details and explanation.
For me, this book wasn't about the writing but more about the characters and their stories. If you can get over the style and focus on the story, this book is your perfect summer read. Who needs a beach-body and flawlessly tanned skin when you have a beach-book?
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Author: Melody Carlson
Publisher: Revell
Publication date: 2016
Genre: Fiction, Romance, Comedy, Inspiration
Summary:
She's ready to take on a new challenge. What she doesn't expect is an old flame.
Tia D'Amico is thrilled to move to San Francisco to help her aunt transform an old luxury yacht into an upscale floating restaurant. What's not to love? Sunset dinner cruises, posh wedding receptions--the possibilities are endless and far more appetizing than staying in a monotonous job in her Podunk hometown. Besides, some of her best memories are tied to San Francisco--especially the memory of Leo Parker, her crush from a long-ago sailing camp.
When Leo Parker himself turns out to be the yacht's captain, Tia is floating on air. But will it all come crashing down around her when she discovers his heart belongs to someone else?
Get ready for a romantic summer in San Francisco, where the future glistens brighter than the Bay at sunset.
This book is available for purchase on Amazon (www.amazon.com), LifeWay (www.lifeway.com), Barnes & Noble (www.barnesandnoble.com), and Christian Books (www.christianbook.com).
Sincere thanks to Melody and the publisher for providing a complimentary copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are not influenced by author and/or publisher, all opinions are my own.
I think it's important to, when you read a book, keep an open mind. Maybe the first chapter doesn't strike a chord in your heart, but you should keep reading because, you know, maybe a choppy attempt at playing at strum will turn into a beautiful song.
Throughout the course of Melody Carlson's latest novel to hit bookshelves, All Summer Long - a romantic story of a girl who moves to San Francisco on a whim and finds love;forbidden love -, I had to keep in mind this very thing.
I grew up reading Melody Carlson. Every time I went to the bookstore I'd run my fingers across the paper spines of all her books, titles glimmering in the yellow lights of the store. Vivid images of devouring every word and every sentence of her writing coursed through my brain as I picked up All Summer Long for the first time. As grand and wonderful as I remember her writing being, I was disappointed by this novel.
The story was great- young Tia D'Amico goes from the chef of a small, family owned Italian restaurant to the cook of her aunt's new floating restaurant. The characters were lovable - a sandy haired twenty-something guy with a keen sense of humor and big-brother instincts and an Italian girl with a feisty attitude and a taste for fine cooking.
But, maybe I'm just a book snob, but the writing style was rushed and sloppy. Some of the scenes were believable and some weren't. The conversations/dialogue swapped from being witty and sarcastic to being un-human and monotone.
The plot was fascinating and I couldn't stop reading, but this book could've gone from good to great if Melody Carlson had developed her characters in a more realistic manner and used the show-and-tell method of details and explanation.
For me, this book wasn't about the writing but more about the characters and their stories. If you can get over the style and focus on the story, this book is your perfect summer read. Who needs a beach-body and flawlessly tanned skin when you have a beach-book?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author: Melody Carlson
Publisher: Revell
Publication date: 2016
Genre: Fiction, Romance, Comedy, Inspiration
Summary:
She's ready to take on a new challenge. What she doesn't expect is an old flame.
Tia D'Amico is thrilled to move to San Francisco to help her aunt transform an old luxury yacht into an upscale floating restaurant. What's not to love? Sunset dinner cruises, posh wedding receptions--the possibilities are endless and far more appetizing than staying in a monotonous job in her Podunk hometown. Besides, some of her best memories are tied to San Francisco--especially the memory of Leo Parker, her crush from a long-ago sailing camp.
When Leo Parker himself turns out to be the yacht's captain, Tia is floating on air. But will it all come crashing down around her when she discovers his heart belongs to someone else?
Get ready for a romantic summer in San Francisco, where the future glistens brighter than the Bay at sunset.
This book is available for purchase on Amazon (www.amazon.com), LifeWay (www.lifeway.com), Barnes & Noble (www.barnesandnoble.com), and Christian Books (www.christianbook.com).
Sincere thanks to Melody and the publisher for providing a complimentary copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are not influenced by author and/or publisher, all opinions are my own.