I received an ebook for this review, and it was well worth it. All the romance of a true romance novel, with some back stabbing, affairs and a holiday setting. Kathleen Shoops Tending her Heart was a joy, and alot of fun to read around the holidays. Our heroine Julie Peters is an outspoken nurse who is looking for ways to improve nursing and the maternity ward. Enter Dr. Young, and romance ensues, with some troublemakers of course. It's a book I will enjoy over and over again. Hooray for outspoken nurses and romance!!!”

Return to Love was such an emotional story to read.  It centers around the loss of a child at birth and the emotional and psychological toll it can take on the mother and those who love her.  It is especially hard when your spouse is away serving his country in the midst of the Vietnam War.

At a time in history when women where just told to deal with it and move on, I found myself getting really angry at the insensitivity of the medical community and how they dealt with still-born children and the mothers.  It was downright appalling and made me ill just to read about it.  Thankfully in this story, an 'angel', named Nurse Peters, realizes there is a major flaw in the system and provided much needed sympathy, understanding and a caring attitude towards her patients, even risking her job to do so.  Another 'angel' in this story is Martha.  Her way of keeping April busy to try and get her back to a somewhat normal existence was absolutely awesome.

This book tackled a very tough issue and Ms. Shoop managed to write about it in a graceful and beautiful manner.  With her vivid descriptions of the scenery and characters who are well developed, it was so easy to get drawn into this heartbreaking story.  I fell in love with Hale and April in Home Again and this story made me love them even more.  Their marriage was tested in this story and they made it through despite the odds.  I can not wait to read the next installment of this beautiful series.

*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Set in 1969, when the Vietnam War was taking place, April Harrington finds herself leaving her asinine fiancé at the alter and going back to her family’s vacation home, Bliss.  Because Bliss has so many good memories associated with it, April hopes to find refuge and try to pull her life back together.  When she returns, she finds the family home in a state of neglect, as her parents used all the money they had to finance her wedding.  With that guilt and the guilt she has harbored for her deceased brother, Andrew, April feels her life unraveling.  The only familiar comfort she finds is in Hale, a long-time friend to both her and Andrew.  But Hale has his own guilt and demons bringing him down – and a secret that may ruin the relationship he has and the love he wants from April.  Can April and Hale find peace and love that truly lasts forever? 

Home Again by Kathleen Shoop, although short, packed so many emotions – happiness, sadness, guilt and most of all love. I absolutely loved this beautiful story!  It was so easy to get carried away in the drama that unfolded within the pages of this book. April and Hale make the perfect couple and I was cheering them on from the very beginning. They both deserved a happily ever after we all crave.   Home Again is a short and sweet story that I would recommend to anyone who loves a timeless romance. 

I received this book to review through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, all the opinions above are 100% my own. 

Reviewed By: Siobhán
Format: Ebook
Pages: 382
Published: 11th July 2013
Publisher: Selt-Published
Source: Author for Review
Genre:  YA/NA Romance
Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US 

Description:

After a rebellious summer night that almost claimed her life, Amy Henderson – the Onslow publican’s only daughter – is sent away to suffer a fate far worse than any other punishment:

 

Boarding School.

 

Three years on, a now nineteen-year-old Amy returns to Onslow for the summer. What once was a cauldron of activity with live bands, hot meals and cold beers, the Onslow Hotel now lies dark, deserted and depressing. All fond childhood memories of loitering on the hotel stairs and eavesdropping on customers’ colourful conversations are in the distant past.

 

How had her dad let it come to this?

 

With the new threat of putting the Onslow up for sale, Amy reluctantly turns to a local tradesman for help: Sean Murphy, the very same Onslow boy who saved her life all those years ago. With his help and that of some old friends, the task is clear: spend the summer building the hotel back up to its former glory or lose it for good.

 

In an endless summer, Amy soon realises that sometimes in order to save your future, you have to face your past, even if it’s in the form of a smug, gorgeous Onslow boy.

An Endless Summer by C.J. Duggan had me laughing almost throughout the entire read.  The back and forth banter between main character, Amy Henderson, and leading man, Sean Murphy, had me literally laughing out loud, and was addictive to follow.  And, omg, did I ever fall for Sean!  I was already kinda crushing on this hunka hunka burning love from book 1 in the Summer series, but this read totally solidified it for me.  How could you not fall for his smirky grins, and his cocky attitude!

After being away from Onslow for a few years, Amy Henderson has decided to leave her cushy life in the city, and head back to her hometown of Onslow and to the one place that has always been home to her…the Onslow hotel.  But Amy is in for a severe reality check when the home that she’s always known is far from the  one that she remembers all those years ago.  After her father decides to concentrate more on his family, and step away from the family business and leaves the running of the hotel and bar to an employee, things have gone to hell and back, and Amy has decided to take it upon herself to right the wrongs that she finds.

But Amy isn’t the only Onslow resident who has returned.  Enter uber sexy and irresistible Sean Murphy.  Sean returns to the Onslow Hotel in hopes of having a drink and catching up with friends.  But to Sean’s surprise, the Onslow is anything but glamorous.  Everything seems to be falling apart, and Sean has decided to be the knight in shining armor to Amy’s damsel in distress.

With a past that connects them to each other, and an undeniable attraction to each other, Amy and Sean’s lives will forever be changed this summer…

Did I mention that I.Love.Sean!  Seriously, he surprised me over and over again in this book.  When I thought that there was no way that I could totally fall for this guy any harder, he goes and does something or says something that had me falling all over again!  And omg the Rubikscube… soooo sweet!

What did bother me was Amy’s attitude.  Yes, I understand that’s she’s supposed to portray a “spoiled little princess”, but her snarkiness towards Sean, old friends, and even her family had me cringing and shaking my head.  There are times where I absolutely enjoyed Amy’s character!  Her tough as nails demeanor and the independent woman thing she had going on was totally awesome.  And the chemistry between Amy and Sean was dynamic.  I loved it!

I have to say that the writing of author, C.J. Duggan, improved quite a bit since book 1.  Everything flowed a lot smoother, and the dialogue between all the characters was quirky and was riddled in comedy.  I could easily picture various scenes in the book in my head as a romantic comedy movie scene.

I recommend An Endless Summer to fans of book 1 in C.J. Duggan’s Summer series and for those who want to meet an absolutely swoon worthy male character who will, no doubt, melt your heart.