"Home to Chapel Springs"

(Chapel Springs #3)

by Ane Mulligan
GIVEAWAY!

  

Description

“Chapel Springs: where anything can happen, and usually does. Claire and her best friend Patsy are as lovable as ever; even with all the new problems they face, they keep their sense of humor. The storyline is believable, and readers will identify with issues that are mentioned in the book. Mulligan writes with humor and wit. This book does not disappoint.” - Romantic Times, 4-Stars

A homeless author, a heartbroken daughter, and a theatre ghost. There's trouble in Chapel Springs.

There's always someone new in Chapel Springs someone who is either coming home or stirring up trouble.

A best-selling author's latest book is a flop. While the reviewers are happily skewering her, her racecar-driver-husband walks out on her and she's evicted, because he hasn't paid the lease on their condo for the last three months. Then she discovers he also he drained their bank accounts. Homeless and broke, she and her little boy have no choice but to retreat to the house she inherited from her nana in Chapel Springs the house that's been gutted. Then, a stranger knocks on her door. One that will change the course of her life.

Howie Newlander is back in town. After the residents thwarted his plans for a Miami-style resort on Chapel Lake, he's running for mayor and stirring up the farmers by spreading rumors about diverted water and misused taxes. The Lakeside Players want to remodel the town's old theater, named for Claire's late great-aunt. Empty and boarded up for the last forty years, the theatre is rumored to be haunted. When Newlander and Mayor Riley go head-to-head, Claire gets caught in the middle.

Claire's youngest daughter is in love with a non-believer whose daddy is Claire's nemesis, the mayor. Having him part of her family isn't in her plan. The years of heartache before her husband became a Christian should warn her daughter off this boy. So far, her daughter's heart isn't hearing the warnings.

With hearts pulled in all directions, will they find a home in Chapel Springs?

Biography

While a large, floppy straw hat is her favorite, Ane has worn many different ones: hairdresser, legislative affairs director (that's a fancy name for a lobbyist), drama director, playwright, humor columnist, and novelist. Her lifetime experience provides a plethora of fodder for her Southern-fried fiction (try saying that three times fast).

Ane firmly believes coffee and chocolate are two of the four major food groups. Her passion when she isn't writing her Southern-fried Fiction, is Community Theatre. She's president of Players Guild@Sugar Hill, an avocational theatre group, where she and her husband act, direct, build sets, and are chief gofors.

President of the award-winning literary site, Novel Rocket, Ane resides in Sugar Hill, GA, with her artist husband, her chef son, and a dog of Biblical proportion.

You can find Ane on her website/blog: http://www.anemulligan.com. If you'd like to see a map of Chapel Springs showing you where all the characters live, visit http://www.anemulligan.com/p/books.html 

My thoughts ~

Ane Mulligan is a new author to me, and I discovered that this particular novel is the third in the Chapel Springs series. That being said, I don't feel that I missed anything by reading this book as a stand alone. It was well rounded on its own. I may have missed some character development having not read the prequels in the series, but most characters were fairly easily identified as the book progressed.

There was a lot of action throughout, but each theme was easily understood, and woven together well throughout the plot. Chapel Springs is a friendly and welcoming community, and the residents accept new residents with warmth and acceptance. I found that refreshing. Spirituality is a strong force throughout, and carries a very strong Christian influence.

My only personal aversion in Home to Chapel Springs is the overuse of pet nicknames throughout the book. Many readers wouldn't have a problem with it, but it's annoying to me, particularly when mature adults use childlike names for one another. For the most part I found this to be an enjoyable novel and recommend it for a relaxing weekend read.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from The Book Club Network's For Readers Only program in exchange for my honest review. All expressed opinions are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.

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