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by KAREN WITEMEYER, REGINA JENNINGS,
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In this Texas-sized romance novella collection, courting couples, decades apart, leave a permanent mark of their love by carving their initials into the same oak’s bark.
When a young man from her past returns and upends their small town with a new invention, schoolteacher Bella Eden is reminded of the heartbreak she suffered years ago under the old oak tree. When her job is on the line, can she trust the man who disrupted her life to help her fight for a brighter future?
Determined to keep love alive for others, Phoebe Woodward builds an inn that caters to couples. When her father sends a property manager to help make it a success, she finds her whimsical vision thwarted by his stodgy practicality. Finding the right blend of romance and reality is a challenge, and her spinster heart may be in for a surprise.
WWII airman Luke Hampstead found comfort in letters from the sister of a lost compatriot. When he visits Texas to thank her, he discovers her constructing a project with surprising ties to his letters . . . and that she herself is even more surprising. While a promising opportunity awaits him elsewhere, will what they’ve shared be enough to give their future flight?
Abby Brookshire’s world is turned upside down when the historic tree she’s strived to preserve as the head groundskeeper at the Kissing Tree Inn is put in danger of removal. Making matters worse, the only way to protect its legacy is to partner with the man she’s been ignoring since he left town years ago. Will she have the courage to move on from the past and start a new beginning?
Rating :★★★★★
Disclaimer: This review is solely my opinion. I was provided a copy of a finished book from Lone Star Literary Life partner in exchange for my honest review. The comments in this review do not reflect the views of the author or the publisher. The copies used in this review are finalized copies sent to me in exchange for my honest review. #partner #LSBBT
“Broken Limbs” by Regina Jennings
Set in the mid-1800s Bella thought her love life would go differently as she planned her future with a guy she thought would give her happiness. She set up everything perfectly to make her move but what she did not prepare for was his countermove. It all happened under a big Oak tree, the beginning and the end of her journey to find love. After the initial debacle under the Oak tree she decided to move on from the embarrassment and try teaching. However, when Adam, a piece of her past, returns a few years later to the farm to pitch her father an offer, the embarrassment from the encounter under the Oak tree resurfaces. Can she put aside the pain from her past to truly dive into something new and push past her fear?
The author does a wonderful job of developing the main character Bella as a strong female lead. She explores the fear of rejection in relationships and in her career. We see Bella navigate through healing from her past and allow the same thing that hurt her, eventually bring her comfort. Such a sweet romance story that showcases the importance of pushing past fear and not allowing it to stop you from moving forward.
“Inn for a Surprise” by Karen Witemeyer
Phoebe wanted to create an Inn that would highlight the town’s famous Kissing Tree. The tree was coined with the phrase after the story of Adam and Bella found love under the tree. With the help of her father’s business associate she can truly turn the Inn into something romantic and profitable. Barnabas was only sent by his business associate to the Inn to ensure it turned a profit since the Inn owner was his daughter. He wasn’t prepared to learn the remarkable history of the Kissing Tree and the importance it carried in the life of the Inn owner. Can he put aside his hard demeanor to welcome someone in?
This tale is a continuation in some sort of the previous book that focuses on the beginning of the old oak tree and the significance it holds in the town. The author focuses not only on the emotional connection the town and Phoebe has with the tree but the challenges that arise when someone challenges your vision. The main character is described a strong willed female lead who knows exactly what she wants but who is still healing from the pain of losing a parent. The tree symbolizes so much more than love but a strong connection. The author does a wonderful job capturing the attention of the reader from start to finish.
From Roots to Sky” by Amanda Dykes
Luke sought out the small town of Oak Springs, Texas in search of a girl named Hannah. However, Hannah had no idea he was there in search of her. The remarkable tale of the Kissing Tree continues as Hannah and Luke grow to get to know each other. They are both reeling from the pain from their past and set on healing. Luke is able to help Hannah in the construction of her late brother’s cottage as they work through the grieving process together. Can Hannah and Luke move forward from their respective pasts to an unpredictable future.
I enjoyed how Luke was welcomed into the town and drawn to the area. I also liked how the author continued on with creating a strong female lead in this novella. Hannah isn’t a seamstress but she is able to use her math skills and isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty. Each female lead in these tales are willing to step outside the social norms of their time to truly follow their heart. This is an inspiration to readers to not be limited by the societal norms placed on women but emphasizes you can be strong and be a romantic. It was a pleasure to watch the love story of these two unfold as they work to navigate their new future together.
“Heartwood” by Nicole Deese
In this last tale of “The Kissing Tree” we see the fight to save the beloved tree from removal as the Inn changed owner hands. Abby must confront a person from her past she shut out of her life in order to save the tree. The real question is, is it the tree they are trying to save or something deeper. The tree has been an integral part of the town as a historical landmark. Griffin was hired to help stop the tree from being cut down but he wasn’t prepared for the reunion with Abby. After the loss of her father she changed and stayed in the same town she grew up in. Will they find their way back to each other and save the tree?
The ending to this collection of novella’s was one to remember as we see the final book bring the story of the Kissing Tree to an end. The author does a wonderful job tying in all aspects of the previous books into this one as the stories travel through timelines to come to an end. This final book reminds us of the attachments we have with items and the healing that comes from letting the items go. I have a scarf from my late mother and I lost it once. The fear that I had that day was so overwhelming I could not sleep. I kept thinking, this is the only thing I have to remind me of her. Truly the memories exist in your mind, not in the items we carry. The author allows us to watch the love story of the two main characters reignite as they heal from past wounds together and forgive. This was a great ending to a wonderful collection.
Overall Review of the full collection
Overall each tale in this book of novellas flowed nicely together. You can tell the author’s took time working with each other to ensure the story continued on from novella to novella. It all started with the kissing tree and a planned embarrassing encounter that led to the development of four uniquely told love stories that all enhance on the importance of pushing past fear and pain to truly open your heart to accept love. In each book the authors touch on grief, forgiveness, love, and family ties. The Kissing Tree carried memories, healing, and love as the entire town reaped the benefits of the significance that lied in the bark of the old Oak Tree. As we watch each story unfold you get to embark on a journey of a tree through different decades and watch the characters grow as the tree grows. I highly recommend this collection to anyone interested in four Texas based stories told in the mid to late 1800s. This book is suited for anyone who is interested. It does not contain lewd language or derogatory content. It is a fun, simple, engaging, short read.
Voted
#1 Reader’s Favorite Christian Romance Author of 2019 by Family Fiction
Magazine, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer offers warmhearted historical romance with a flair for humor, feisty heroines,
and swoon-worthy Texas heroes. She makes her home in Abilene, Texas, with her husband and three children.
Baptist University, with a degree in English and a minor in history. She’s the
winner of the National Readers’ Choice Award, a two-time Golden Quill finalist, and a finalist for the Oklahoma Book of the Year Award. Regina has worked at
the Mustang News and at First Baptist Church of Mustang, along
with time at the Oklahoma National Stockyards and various livestock shows. She
lives outside of Oklahoma City with her husband and four children.
Nicole Deese’s eight humorous, heartfelt, and hope-filled novels include the 2017 Carol Award-winning A Season to Love. Her 2018 release, A New Shade of Summer, was a finalist in the RITA Awards, Carol Awards, and INSPY Awards. Both of these books are from her bestselling Love in Lenox series. When she’s not working on her next contemporary romance, she can usually be found reading one by a window overlooking the inspiring beauty of the Pacific Northwest. She lives in small-town Idaho with her happily-ever-after hubby, two rambunctious sons, and princess daughter with the heart of a warrior.
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Librariel Book Adventures 
Wow! What a thorough summary and commentary on each novella! How you approached it reminds me of the little placards you see in bookstores where the booksellers have written their recs. Excellent! I also am interested in how 4 authors work together to create what sounds like such a seamless bigger story. Thanks for the post!
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