Library of Clean Reads: Traci Borum

Showing posts with label Traci Borum. Show all posts

Monday, September 28, 2020

Some breezy reads: Teleporting, love in a charming town, and growing up in 1040s America

I lost myself in a few breezy novels the last two weeks...stories that were light and fun and easy to read. Just what I needed.

BOOK DETAILS:

Title: Windswept by Gwen Cole
Category: YA Fiction, 256 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Sky Pony Press
Publication date: July 21, 2020
Content Rating: PG (one religious expletive)

MY THOUGHTS:

I read Windswept within 24 hours. It was a fast fun read.

Sam rides the subway to school and it's pretty humdrum until the day she meets Reid. Reid can teleport. He's a drifter. Think Jumper starring Hayden Christensen. As they get to know and trust each other, Sam's world changes as she discovers secrets her family has been keeping from her. When danger threatens all that she loves, Sam discovers more about herself than she ever knew.

This clean YA fantasy novel was a good escape. It's fun to read about those with superpowers when we lack a sense of control of what's happening all around us. It's also a story about young love and about family.

BUY THE BOOK: Amazon ~ B & N ~ Add to Goodreads

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BOOK DETAILS:

Title: Love Starts Here by Traci Borum
Category: Adult Fiction, pages
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Adept Publishing
Publication date: March, 2020
Content Rating: G

MY THOUGHTS:

Love Starts Here is a heartwarming feel-good book about the search for family and the perfect story, within the backdrop of a charming small town community and a mysterious man.

Writer Jill McCallister has writer's block so she decides to visit Morgan’s Grove, the town founded by her great-great-great grandfather. She gets to stay with a kind older woman named Lucille who just so happens to have a good-looking grandson visiting for the holidays. As Jill gets caught up in the town's festivities and Lucille's personal life, she also gets to discover the meaning of finding "home".

This was a delightful read full of charming lovely characters, a smooth predictable plot and a happy ending. The romance fell a little flat for me though. Not enough passion. More like two friends who discover they are in love with each other. It's a Hallmark kind of story. Perfect for readers who love small town clean romances.

BUY THE BOOK: Amazon ~ Add to Goodreads

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BOOK DETAILS:

Title: Little Joe by Michael E. Glasscock III
Category: Adult Fiction, pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group Press
Publication date: January 1st, 2013
Content Rating: G

MY THOUGHTS:

Little Joe is an historical fiction novel that takes place in 1940s America. It’s the story of a 9-year-old boy who becomes an orphan when both parents die in a car crash. He is then taken in by his maternal grandparents who live on a farm in the small town of Round Rock, Tennessee.

There is not much plot, emotional exploration or depth of character in this novel. Little Joe wasn’t given a chance to grieve the loss of his parents and this loss factored in very little in the overall storyline. We get details of the day-to-day activities (farm life and school) and a string of interesting anecdotes of events that happened in the span of a year.

Having read a lot of middle grade fiction, this book felt like it was written for a young audience. Initially, I thought it was a little dry, but I forged on and the story as well as the characters did grow on me. This is the first book in a 4-part series.

I have a copy of The Trial of Dr. Kate, the second book in this series, and hope that it will offer more of a plot and story arc.

BUY THE BOOK: Amazon ~ Add to Goodreads

Monday, July 10, 2017

Savoring the Seasons (Chilton Crosse Book 4) by Traci Borum (Review)

This is a charming, contemporary love story set in a quintessential English village.

Book Details:

Book Title: Savoring the Seasons (Chilton Crosse Book 4) by Traci Borum
Category: Women's Fiction, 321 pages
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Red Adept Publishing , LLC
Release Date: June 28, 2017
Content Rating: G

Book Description:

Julia Bentley spent her fortieth birthday doing what she always does, baking treats for the customers in her Cotswold bakery and taking care of her elderly father. She doesn’t realize how stagnant her life has become until a younger man, Tristan Hannigan, moves to the village and shows interest in her. As Julia becomes closer to Tristan, he begins to season her mundane days and to challenge how she views the world.

The relationship is threatened when Julia’s doubts and insecurities overwhelm her, and the secret she’s afraid to reveal creates a wedge between them. Will Julia choose the easy route, slipping back into her daily routine and living without love? Or will she find the courage to follow her heart and accept the love she deserves?

Buy the Book:

Amazon

Add to Goodreads

My Review

Reviewed by Sandra Olshaski

This is a gentle love story. Almost-forty, Julia, runs the village bakery and is a caretaker for her father. Enter handsome, kind, twenty-nine-year-old Tristan who seems to be interested in her.

The story takes place in a quintessentially English village, Chilton Crosse. The author is a Texan, but quite convincingly evokes life in a British village. I like the development of the camaraderie between the people.

The two main characters, Julia and Tristan, are complex and believable, each with their respective baggage. But, sensible, dutiful Julia is slowly falling in love with Tristan – "she would happily place herself under Tristan's delicious spell." Doubts and secrets, however, threaten to keep them apart.

Although the pace is slow-moving as one would expect of life in a village, it deals with real issues – overcoming fears, taking charge of one's life, taking a chance on love. Grab a big mug of tea, imagine yourself in the English countryside and savor this lovely, clean romance.

Disclosure: Thanks to the author for sending me this book. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.

About the Author:

Traci Borum is a writing teacher and native Texan. She's also an avid reader of women's fiction, most especially Rosamunde Pilcher novels. Since the age of 12, she's written poetry, short stories, magazine articles, and novels.

Traci also adores all things British and is completely addicted to Masterpiece Theater---must be all those dreamy accents! Aside from having big dreams of getting a book published, it's the little things that make her the happiest: deep talks with friends, a strong cup of hot chocolate, a hearty game of fetch with her Corgi, and puffy white Texas clouds always reminding her to "look up, slow down, enjoy your life."

Visit Traci's official website and sign up for her newsletter here:
http://www.traciborum.com/p/newsletter.html

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Painting the Moon: A Chilton Crosse Novel by Traci Borum

Painting the Moon: A Chilton Crosse Novel by Traci Borum

ISBN: 978-1940215327

Published: June 2014

Published by: Red Adept Publishing

Paperback, 310 pages

I thoroughly enjoyed this debut novel set in Chilton Crosse, a charming village in the Cotswold area of Britain. I was immediately captured by the author’s description of the English countryside with its quaint villages and shops. The book cover is beautiful and oh-so English!

Noelle’s aunt is a famous artist whom she hasn’t seen in over a decade. When “aunt” Joy dies, Noelle inherits her cottage and art gallery in Chilton Crosse. Upon opening a locked room in the cottage, Noelle discovers something breathtaking. Add to that a family secret in a hidden journal and there is just enough mystery in this women’s’ fiction/cozy romance to keep the reader intrigued.

The novel is very well written and the characters are well-developed, real. I could “hear” English accents as I turned the pages and “see” the scenery. Each chapter begins with artistic instructions for a budding artist’s success that could just as well be gentle, kindly advice for life.

This book is about art, love, family dynamics and second chances. This is quality fiction that causes no flinches over expletives or sexual scenes because there are none. I highly recommend it!

Note: This book is rated C = clean read.

About the Author:

Traci Borum is a writing teacher and native Texan. She's also an avid reader of women's fiction, most especially Elin Hilderbrand and Rosamunde Pilcher. Since the age of 12, she's written poetry, short stories, magazine articles, and novels.

Reviewed by Sandra

Disclosure: Thanks to Michelle Rever from Red Adept Publishing for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.