BOOK TOUR AND REVIEW FOR - FOR SALE BY OWNER - BY MARLENE BATEMAN

Welcome to my stop for For Sale by Owner.  I am so excited to be part of this tour!

pic and description from Author

DESCRIPTION:

Stressed by a year of intense, ongoing problems, McKenzie Forsberg decides to quit her high-powered job and move back to her hometown. Determined to rebuild her life, Kenzie desperately needs the peace and security she is sure will come from buying the home she grew up in. But when she arrives in town, Kenzie discovers that a handsome widower, Jared Rawlins, has already put an offer on the house.  However, he can only close the deal if he sells his own house by Christmas Eve.  

When Kenzie unexpectedly runs into a couple who are considering buying Jared’s house, she unthinkingly gives them information that changes their mind. Jared, who had been more than a little interested in Kenzie, has second thoughts when he begins to believe Kenzie may have deliberately tried to sabotage the sale of his home. Feeling bad, Kenzie apologizes but the damage may be too much for their relationship to overcome.

Despite his misgivings, and Kenzie’s own concerns, sparks of attraction between Jared and Kenzie grow into something more. Then, Kenzie makes a stunning discovery about her past. In that moment, everything changes. Will the power of love be enough to bring Jared and Kenzie together and allow them to find their happily ever after?

EXCERPT:

“What made you decide to move to Lake Forest?” Kenzie asked.

“I’ve always loved it here,” Jared said. “It’s a beautiful area, and there’s a special atmosphere here. People are so friendly. I guess part of the reason I came is because I needed to go someplace new and kind of start over, you know?”

            Kenzie did know. That was exactly what she was doing now. She’d gotten over Larry, but she needed to go someplace new and reinvent herself and her life.

“Now let me ask you,” Jared said. “What made you decide to come back?”

            “A lot of reasons. I need a fresh start too. I’m tired of the hectic pace in Chicago.” Impulsively she added, “Also, I had to get away from my job at Midwest. A guy was causing some real problems for me—” She stopped. Their eyes met and lingered. Jared’s compassion was evident and the expression on his face kind. She felt so comfortable talking with him—as if they were kindred spirits. Something in her heart softened into a spreading pool, and she smiled at him.

Tearing open his packet of Oreo cookies., Jared took one and dunked it in his hot chocolate.

Kenzie frowned. “Figures. You’re a dunker.”

“And I bet you’re a twister.”

Snatching up a cookie, Kenzie twisted it open and took a bite of the creamy middle. “Ummm.”

Jared shuddered. “That’s wrong in so many ways.”

Picking up her mug and warming her fingers, Kenzie sipped her hot chocolate. “This is wonderful!”

“It’s a secret recipe—been in my family for generations.”

            “Really?”

            “No, but it sounds good, doesn’t it?”

MY REVIEW / THOUGHTS:

I needed this book.  I have been reading a lot of sad and kind of scary books, so this one came just at the right time.  It's so sweet, and just gives you that "feel good" felling.

First, I love the setting of this book.  I love how the author made me want to sit on a porch in this quaint little town of Lake Forest, with a good book and a blanket.  I am not much for small towns, but this one was beautiful.  

Second, the characters were awesome.  Kenzie seemed to be a bit beat down when she goes home for Christmas, but is determined to make her life better.  Quite some time had passed before Kenzie and her daughter Sarah had been to Kenzies hometown.  She had stayed away for some time trying to avoid her father. The past year had seemed to overwhelm Kenzie so she has decided to go home and has a surprise to share with her family.     Jared is a swoon worthy man.  He is a single father to his son Corey.  He is trying to find a place for him and his son to call home that might be a little bigger than where they are living now.  Jared has always loved this little town, and is excited to be back.

This story is such a sweet, sweet story.  Kenzie decided it was time to return to her home of Lake Forest.  She has had a hard year, and finally decided to leave her well paying job,  get a new one just out side of her home town where she grew up.  She has plans to buy her childhood home and cannot wait to get to town to tell her brother about her plans. 

When she gets to town things don't quite go as she had planned.  She finds out that someone else has put an offer on her house.   She is determined to do anything she can to make sure that offer doesn't go through.

Then walks in Jared.  Jared is handsome and kind, and worst of all is planning on buying Kenzie's childhood home.  Kenzie likes Jared but all is fair in love and buying houses.  

What happens after is such a fun story, of friendship, mistakes, Christmas time miracles, and love.  If you are in need of a cozy, heart warming read, pick this book up.  You will not be disappointed.

Source:  I was given this book by the author in return for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any way for this review.  These are my own PERSONAL thoughts on the book.

Content:  Clean and wonderful!

MY RATING:

WHERE TO BUY:

        

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

pic from Goodreads bio from author

Marlene Bateman Sullivan was born in Salt Lake City, Utah and grew up in Sandy, Utah.  She graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor's degree in English. She is married to Kelly R. Sullivan and they live in North Salt Lake, Utah with their two dogs and four cats. Marlene has been published extensively in magazines and newspapers and wrote the best-selling romance/suspense novel, Light on Fire Island. She has written three other mysteries; Motive for Murder, A Death in the Family, and Crooked House.

Marlene has also written a number of LDS, non-fiction books:  Latter-day Saint Heroes and Heroines, And There Were Angels Among Them, Visit’s from Beyond the Veil, By the Ministering of Angels, Brigham’s Boys, Heroes of Faith, Gaze into Heaven; Near-death Experiences in Early Church History, and The Magnificent World of Spirits; Eyewitness Accounts of Where We Go When We Die.

Author's web page:  www.marlenebateman.info

A SPECIAL THANKS TO:

Marlene Bateman for allowing me to review this book

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