Your Gonna Love Me By: Robin Lee Hatcher

Back of the Book

Who knew fate could twist a tragedy into a second chance at love?

Samantha Winters lives her life the way a good accountant should—measured, deliberate, and safe. After watching her father die in a tragic skiing accident, she decided never to allow risk into her life again. But she didn’t count on falling for Nick Chastain, who embodies everything she doesn’t want in her safely constructed world.

Against Samantha’s warnings, Nick plans a dangerous kayaking trip over spring break. Furious that he’s so careless with his life, she ends their fledgling relationship with harsh words.

Two years later, Samantha is desperately in need of a change. When she learns her grandmother has had an accident and is in need of a caretaker, Samantha quickly packs her bags and heads to Thunder Creek, Idaho. But nothing could prepare her for the surprise awaiting her in her grandmother’s hospital room . . . Nick.

With the charming backdrop of small-town friends, beloved cousins, and a whole church congregation rooting for them, can they set aside the disastrous ending of their first try at love? Has Nick changed enough to meet Samantha in the middle—and can she realize that a risk in love might be worth taking?

My Thoughts

One of the best romance novels I have read in a long time.  While the premiss of a past love coming back years later has been done, You're Gonna Love Me has some wonderful twists that add more depth to the story.  Samantha is an understandable, calculated character and while Nicks past was full of adventure he is a kind, patient, and humble person.  You will love every page and have a new view of an age old tale of past loves reunited.

Out of the Ordinary By: Jen Turano

Back of the Book

Miss Gertrude Cadwalader hoped her position as the paid companion to Mrs. Davenport would be easy. But as she becomes acquainted with her employer, she realizes the wealthy Mrs. Davenport has a strange tendency to be a bit light-fingered with other people's trinkets. Gertrude is relieved when Mrs. Davenport decides to have a quiet summer away from the social scene--until the woman changes her mind in order to help a young socialite launch into society. 

When Gertrude is caught in the act of trying to return one of the trinkets by Mrs. Sinclair, the mother of shipping magnate Harrison Sinclair, the woman jumps to an unfortunate conclusion. Harrison is determined to mend fences with Miss Cadwalader, but he's unprepared for the escapades a friendship with her will entail.

My Thoughts

While I am not a huge fan of historical fiction there are some authors I love, and Jen Turano is one of them.  Her entertaining dialog and period detail is not only educational but entertaining.  This attention to detail was almost too much for me in Out Of The Ordinary, as the first scene consumes over 150 pages and the entire 346 pages of the novel only covers a few scenes and an epilogue.  It feels like a slow walk for the first hundred pages and then a sprint from there.  That being said, Gertrude Cadwalader is a funny, kind, and well loved person.  Harrison Sinclair is patient, kind hearted, yet very eloquent.  I enjoyed reading all of their interaction just waiting to read what might happen next.  

   Out of the Ordinary is a clean, entertaining and well written novel with just a little too much detail in every scene for my taste.