Midsummer Mingle: A Day with Authors

 

I'm still on cloud 9 from the Midsummer Mingle author event I had the tremendous blessing to attend earlier this month. Anytime readers and authors get together memories and laughter are created. While most people love spending their vacations hiking, on the beach or exotic destinations, I love going to book conferences, hanging out with authors and readers. Meeting authors is the equivalent of meeting a celebrity. I think most bookworms would agree with me.

When I saw this incredible all-star line-up of authors, I jumped at the opportunity to go. (Sidenote: All of the authors were genuine, warm, gracious and just as excited to meet the readers as we were to meet them. The love that all the authors had for the readers was so evident).

Some of the Authors at the Event Included: 

• Dani Pettrey pens contemporary, page-turning thrillers with happily-ever-afters. She is so gracious and poised. 
• Gabrielle Meyer writes both contemporary and historical novels. I absolutely LOVE her Timeless series. You need to add it to your TBR pile. Gabrielle had this wonderful quiet appreciation and truly cherished her readers. 
• Bethany Turner is known for her hilarious, rom-com romances with her sharp pop culture references.  She has the uncanny ability to make her readers feel like her best friends and she is absolutely delightful. 
• Pepper Basham is a new-to-me author who writes both contemporary and historical. She is so effervescent and has a quick-witted sense of humor. 
• Kimberley Woodhouse is a multi-talented author who writes both contemporary and historical. Kim has such a jubilant and witty presence you can't help but be drawn to her radiance. 
• Amanda Dykes pens dual time stories that tug at the heartstrings. She is an absolute sweetheart who radiates grace and a humble demeanor with a fantastic fashion sense. I want to dress like Amanda Dykes when I grow up. 
• Karen Witemeyer writes historical Westerns that have feisty heroine, swoon worthy cowboys, faith and humor. She puts readers at ease with her warm smile, humor and the genuine care she has for her readers shines through. 

Not only did readers get to spend the day with authors, but we also got to have lunch with them. You can imagine how was over-the-moon excited to be having lunch with Karen Witemeyer!  I got to pepper her with writing questions to my heart's content. Dreams do come true! (Thank you, Karen!)

This conference is an incredible blend of indulging in a book-buying binge and spending the day with remarkable authors, soaking up their knowledge, absorbing their wonderful testimonies and life verses, and enjoying loads of laughter.

It made me realize in my own aspiring author journey how excited and thankful I am to be a part of the Christian fiction community. All of these ladies were joyful and an inspiring reminder to me to use my author voice as a ministry to honor God. 

I also want to thank the amazing Chris Jager and the whole staff at Baker Book House for all the hard work and seamless, behind-the-scenes-work that made Midsummer Mingle with the authors such a fun and memorable event. 

If I had to sum up this weekend in one word...it would be JOY. 

 

Summer by the Tides is an Engaging Read

 

Denise Hunter is the queen of small-town, summertime romances. As I pulled Summer by the Tides off my bookshelf and began to dive in, I found myself immersed in yet another captivating story.

Restaurant manager, Maddy Monroe is reeling from the betrayal of her ex-boyfriend when she receives a call about her beloved grandmother missing from her Sea Haven, North Carolina cottage. She's come back to the place where her family was pulled apart by betrayal and secrets. Despite 20 years between the events, bitterness still remains between her older sisters Nora and Emma and Maddy finds trying to be the peacemaker again unpleasant and difficult.

Connor Sullivan might be one of my favorite heroes by this author. He's kind, hard-working, loves his family and his community. Despite the trials and hardships, he's experienced in his life he remains a constant in people's life. 

The one minor issue I had with Maddy was how quick she was to jump to conclusions. It made her somewhat of an annoying heroine always projecting what she thought someone was like or thinking she had the whole picture when in actuality she didn't know anything. Assumptions are why many relationships in our lives are ruined and it never pays to allow this way of thinking to thrive. You do not know what someone is thinking without asking them, period. I actually wish that the story would have made this more of a lesson instead of just a way to move the plot. 

Denise Hunter is known for writing swoon worthy romances that you want to happen in real life and Summer by the Tides is no exception, but I found myself a little more invested in the three sisters' relationship, the secrets, and how they were going to heal this massive rift? 

I did appreciate that this book has a little more of a faith element with the conversations that Connor and Maddy have, and that Connor was the one to initiation them. 

If you love small-town women's fiction with an edge you need to add author Denise Hunter's books to your TBR list.