This is a very sweet, charming story (but unfortunately not so deep as the previous novel "The Secret to Hummingbird Cake", I unabashedly love this one). The second chances, maturation of characters and the Southern charm play a big role here. I do think this is a lovely Christmas read, when the complications are somehow more far away than usually and the atmosphere is friendly. And where one conversation can solve the life-long angsts...OK, maybe this is far-fetched. Yet, while I do find this novel a bit naive in its wholesomeness, I also find its sweetness being very real and attaching. I do want a life like that. And I do need to visit the Southern states!

A special star goes to Georgia, the sassiness impersonated and the friend I need! And she is a Catholic! Not in all Christians novel the Catholics are portrayed (being Catholic myself, I find this confusing at least), so yay for sassy, lovely, awesome Georgia and to us believers being united.

McHale's characters are authentic and relatable. Even if readers haven't been through a traumatic situation like Jacey and Colin, the emotions of loss and trying to move forward will resonate with everyone. Things come together a bit too perfectly in the end, but it is endearing and heartwarming, so it's easy to look past its shortcomings. The writing is so beautifully done, the prose so delicately chosen, that the book is a treat to savor.
After driving through high water, Jacey is caught in a flood and shares a few terrifying days on top of a house with Colin, a mother and her children. Colin and Jacey share a deep connection. Just as some of them are rescued, tragedy strikes yet again and they all become separated. A year later, Jacey is an attendant in her friend's wedding and is shocked to see that Colin is the pastor. As the two reconnect, it's clear that Jacey has some holes in her memory. As these memories start to return, they set Jacey — and ultimately Colin — on a quest to find the true nature of themselves and those around them.

Sweet, witty romance story. Loved the main character! Celeste Fletcher McHale has been added to my must read list.

I really enjoyed this title. It made me laugh cry and rejoice.

Jacey and Colin were trapped in a flood with 4 kids and their mother. Jacey doesn't remember anything after she was rescued. Colon and Jacey meet again after a year.

I highly recommend this title. It is a fun easy read.

Thank you Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for allowing me to read this title for an honest review

This was a sweet story of facing your past and what it means to forgive yourself and others in order to move forward. It was a story with redemption for the various characters, how to process grief and how to love people well in the midst of their mess. It was a sweet love story between a man and a woman, yes, but also between families and friends. If you want a sweet story that will speak to your soul, this is worth reading.

You can go on for years thinking you had all the answers until you realize you don't understand all the questions.

A sweet romance with conflicting emotions and relationships. The beginnings of a novel are so important and this came with a bitter sweet moment that left you unsure of a couple obviously in love. Colin and Jacey met in the worst of circumstances, on top of a roof in Louisiana in the middle of storm getting to know each other while comforting each other not knowing if they would come out alive. Jacey was rescued by the coast guard along with a little boy and that is all she remembers. She remembers Colin in how he comforted and encouraged her but a year later, does not know how to get in contact with him.

As fate would have it, they meet again under different circumstances. It is in these circumstances that they each face their past. With all relationships, there is misunderstandings and this couple has plenty. The misunderstandings keep them apart but in in this time, they each learn something about their own broken hearts that need healing.

The character and plot development was engaging. Jacey had the support of a good friend that was witty and had her back at all costs. This relationship was fun and gave Jacey more depth in her character. Colin had issues with his father and came to understand that you don't always know what battles others go thru. It is in these battles the war is won when we come along aside and work the differences together in knowing the whole picture.

There is plenty of irony with one and I enjoyed immensely.

A Special Thank You to Thomas Nelson and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review

Beautifully done story of characters that seem real, stories that are relateable. I really enjoyed it.
A few too many coincidences, but it still worked.
Celeste Fletcher McHale is very good at storytelling....you get pulled in and do not want to leave.

COMPLETELY CAPTIVATING!!

I was interested in reading The Sweet Smell of Magnolias & Memories the moment I read the book description. I was a little concerned because I thought it couldn't possibly be as good as it sounded. Let me state this very clearly - YES it is that good!! In fact, it's better than I even dreamed it could be when I started reading it!! It's a "you'll want to read it in one sitting" kind of good!! It's complex in storylines, relationships & personalities. It's tender in dealing with broken hearts, lives, families & marriages. It's haunting in the way it reminds you of how much suffering some people have gone through before, during & after natural disasters. It's redemptive in showing the depth that love and grace play in restoring all manner of brokenness to a renewal, a renovation & a complete change for the better. I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and NetGalley. This opinion is strictly my own and without influence. I have also bought my own copy of this book for my personal library.

The Sweet Smell of Magnolias and Memories is an original story. Jacey meets Colin - likes him - has three deeply intense days but then something happens - rains - too much of it and she capsized - she was rescued again but gone was her memory of Colin and pieces of her life. A time later she sees him at a friends wedding and so it goes - I wont ruin the story for you and tell you all about it - but I will tell you this ... it is suppose to be a Christian book and I wouldn't grade this as one - morals and values are a little questionable, some bad language - in scripture is says "let no course language come out of your mouth," - there is tawdry jokes, female anatomy described in detail, and even talk of people who are not married sleeping together. It is a shame because without all that the book would be wonderful - I would have loved and recommended it but because of it I would not recommend it as a Christian book.

The characters are fun and easy to relate too. The plot line is easy to follow.

A great summer read. The characters are well developed, the dialogue smart and witty. I will be looking for more stories from this author.

Very enjoyable! Being from southern Louisiana, this story was very appealing. I love the friendship between the three friends. Georgie's personality added so much to this story. The characters are very relatable and authentic with both their strengths and flaws. Recommend!

This is a sweet story of Jacey and Colin, two strangers who find love in the midst of a flood in Mississippi. They lose touch with each other only to reunite in a chance meeting one year later.
This was an easy, feel good read. I enjoyed the friendship between Jacey and Georgia the most.

Definitely a page-turner & can hardily recommend....great characters that you can truly imagine & pretty original storyline.... smile nostalgically, tear up a little & hate to see that last page end.... give it a gander, peeps; you'll be glad you did!

That Sweet Smell of Magnolias and Memories is a good blend of wit and distress. Emotions of all kinds are entangled in this Christian romance story.

Jacey and Colin are likeable characters and nicely developed. They were easy to relate to. I enjoy stories where chance encounters end up reappearing later in life. This story is so full of heart, and deals with relationships other than the just the romance. The connections between family and friends gives a well-rounded fuller story.

Though this book deals with tragic events and puts the reader through a myriad of emotions, its pretty much a sweet, feel good story.


Cover: Like
Title: Like
Pages: 320
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
ISBN: 978-0062388988
I received a complimentary copy of this book from BookLook and NetGalley.

A sweet modern romance about a young woman who falls in love on the roof of a house during an epic flood--and then loses the man of her dreams during a rescue accident. They come face to face unexpectedly and spend the rest of the book trying to figure out if their love is for real and how to resolve the other issues in their lives so that they can attempt a happily every after.

A nice blend of flashbacks, humor, witty dialogue, and tender scenes will keep the reader turning pages.

I love when book reviewing leads me to a new author to love! I mentioned back in February that I was excited to buy The Secret to Hummingbird Cake by Celeste Fletcher McHale. I did buy it, but I haven't gotten a chance to read it yet. However, I have read her second book, The Sweet Smell of Magnolias and Memories, and I can't say enough great things about it! It was a totally fresh, new style of writing, and a completely unusual storyline. Actually, the story begins with an ending, and doesn't immediately go back to explain what you're just read. What seems like it's going to be a pretty clear plot-line in the beginning, turns out to be nothing like you'd expect. I love Celeste, and love her writing voice.

In the beginning of the book Jacey is about to be rescued from the rooftop of a house in Mississippi, where she's been stranded by flood waters for three days. Also on the roof were a mother and her four young sons, and Colin, a contractor who'd been working in the area when the storm came. As she got ready to get in the small boat, Colin gave her a card with all of his numbers and information on it. Only moments later the boat collided with another boat and Jacey lost the card, along with most of her memory of what happened afterwards. Fast forward one year and Jacey and Colin meet again in the most unexpected place. Determined to do better the second time around, Colin tells Jacey how he feels about her pretty quickly, but before she can return the sentiment, circumstances pull them apart again. Their lives head down different paths, and they seem destined to be apart forever. But God has another plan for them, and it's totally different from anything they could have expected.

I thought Magnolias and Memories was funny, sweet and bordering on the irreverent--in only the best way. I could actually laugh and cry on the same page. The characters were great, and really original. Jacey is a great lead character, but this book wouldn't be complete without the addition of Georgia as her best friend. That girl kept me alternating between laughing, and being angry when she tried to help...just like I would be at my own best friend. Her continual observations of what life would be like if Jacey dated or married a preacher kept me in stitches, and her fear of chickens was hilarious.

Jacey's journey was very inspiring. A story about someone who stepped out of their comfort zone, and did something unusual is a timely message for me right now. The changes that took place in Colin's life as he grew and matured were great, too. I can't say that I agreed with all of the theological aspects of this book, but overall, it was wonderful.

The Sweet Smell Of Magnolias and Memories isn't just a romance novel, but a really great story about living life to the fullest. It's a story about forgiveness, acceptance and putting the past behind. It's really different than anything I've read before, and I can't wait to read more from Celeste Fletcher McHale.




I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for this review. All opinions are my own, and a favorable review was not required.

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Actual rating: 3.5
The summary sounded so promising, and it delivered for the most part.
The Sweet Smell of Magnolias and Memories is beautifully written, it has well-developed characters, and an interesting idea behind it. This was very intriguing from the start, but it also raised my expectations and didn’t meet them. The romance part of the story (the main part, according to the genre) focuses more on way back when, and fails to slow down and provide more details about the romance that’s developing. The way it’s written seemed plastic. This frustrated me while I was reading, and it still does because I know that few more moments between Jacey and Colin would’ve given me a better overall impression.