Summer of Joy

Summer of Joy
(The Heart of Hollyhill)
Ann Gabhart
(Revell)
ISBN: 978-0800731700
March 2014/352 pages/$14.99

As summer draws to a close, Jocie's world seems serene--but is it just the calm before a storm?

Unbeknownst to Jocie Brooke and her family, two people are making their way to the small town of Hollyhill, Kentucky. One everyone thought was gone for good and the other no one's ever heard of. Still, one thing is sure--they promise trouble. The past is coming to call, threatening to destroy strong relationships that everyone has simply taken for granted.

The summer of 1964 may be winding down, but the controversy in this little community where nothing ever seems to change is just heating up.

Bestselling author Ann Gabhart invites you to Hollyhill for a story both exciting and enduring that will stick with you long after you turn the last page.

Read an excerpt.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ann H. Gabhart is the bestselling author of Angel Sister, Small Town Girl, and Words Spoken True, as well as several Shaker novels--The Outsider, The Believer, The Seeker, The Blessed, and The Gifted--and The Heart of Hollyhill series. She lives with her husband a mile from where she was born in rural Kentucky. Learn more at www.annhgabhart.com.

MY THOUGHTS

Ann Gabhart writes stories that exude emotion, and her Heart of Hollyhill series is no exception. I was captivated by the first book in this series, The Scent of Lilacs (reviewed here), but somehow missed the second novel, Orchard of Hope. However, I had no difficulty settling right back into this Kentucky community in this third book. Once again, Jocie crept her way into my heart immediately. Gabhart ably portrays the nuances and tensions of the early sixties and the upheaval that the Brooke family-as well as the small town, itself-experiences. (My one frustration with the book was the inconsistent timing of the story's description, which places it in the waning summer of 1964, when the book actually begins with the town decked out for the for the 1964 Christmas parade.) A tender and poignant read, Summer of Joy will touch your heart.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book free from Revell Books as part of their blogger review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”