Member Reviews

Carolina Breeze by Denise Hunter is book two in the series. This book is features Levi, who is the oldest of the three siblings. And he takes that role very seriously with his two younger sisters. I like him but he did go a little too far with Adam and Molly. The siblings are trying to renovate and run a bed-and-breakfast. It was their parents dream and their parents passed away. So they are trying to fix the place up so that they can sell it.

Mia is an up-and-coming Hollywood star. She is in a scandal and decides to hang out at the bed-and-breakfast. Her great grandparents had originally owned the place. It was neat how the author was able to weave a little bit about the history of the place and her grandparents into the story.

I received this book from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review.
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.

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Probably not my favorite by this author, but the writing is smooth and the story well-told, if predictable. I particularly like that Levi has some clear faults - or maybe aspects of his personality that make him difficult to live with - but that he remains a likable hero. The supporting characters, Levi's sisters mainly, are well-developed and add to the series story of these siblings and their efforts to make a go of the family inn following their parents' death.

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Mia Emerson and Levi Bennett have a past and a future to work through. As with anyone and relationships you have to have trust is each other. The ability to share deep from the heart. Mia and Levi’s past keep them from being able to trust, able to share, the ability to say the important things. Such a beautiful story of how to find love for a lifetime.

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Absolutely delightful!
I must say that out of these siblings, was looking forward to Levi's story the most, and I think it will be my favorite!
I really identified with the oldest of the siblings. That feeling of responsibility, that desire to protect and shelter they younger siblings is strong. Levi has all those qualities that drive his little sisters crazy! But I get it.
I really adored the relationship between him and Mia. Sometimes fictional romances get hung up over silly misunderstandings that should be simply talked out. I didn't get that from Levi and Mia's relationship at all. I liked how steadily the relationship between them progressed. It was filled with so many cute, sweet, and swoon worthy moments! There was conflict to overcome and growth that needed to happen for both of them, and I really enjoyed seeing their journey.
This book is the perfect summer escape read! If you are chilling by the pool, lake, beach or wherever you are, take a trip to the BlueRidge mountains and enjoy!
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book t
From the publisher through Netgally. All my opinions are completely my own.

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This was a great story that pulled me in. I love that Mia is an actress that tries to live above reproach in a profession that does not allow her much privacy. Mia tries to find some peace and quiet by going on her honeymoon trip by herself. Mia is trying to cope with a scandal of infidelity and a broken engagement just before the wedding. Levi, the owner of the honeymoon destination, was full of questions at the woman who showed up for the honeymoon suite without a husband. Attraction brews between Mia and Levi as they are thrown together for a few weeks. The whole story was well written and had relatable characters. I like how Levi and Mia were able to work together for the benefit of each other. I recommend this to anyone that enjoys clean tender romance in a relaxing setting.
I received a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

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I thought Lake Season was it until I read Carolina Breeze. It was amazing x10!!
Denise Hunter is the Queen on Summer romance. Her books captivate the beauty and uniqueness of love shared in rightness.

Levi's and Mia's story was heartwarming and tear-jerking as it was exhilarating and inspiring. I loved the hint of mystery and adventure and the beautiful workings of God!
I squealed when I got to read about Adam and Molly from Lake Season.

Once again Denise Hunter has raised the bar in Christian Contemporary Romance.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and this is my honest opinion.

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Carolina Breeze is book 2 in Ms. Hunter’s new series, and it spotlights Levi, the older brother of Mollie and Grace, and Mia, an actress fleeing from a Hollywood scandal. As always, the author does a beautiful job of building her characters. They are likable and well developed. I thought the lessons each character learned through their experiences and relationships were valuable and could be applied to my own life. My only negative would be Levi’s reason for breaking off his relationship with Mia. I found it frustrating and common in romances; in Levi’s situation, it didn’t seem to fit his character.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley. This review is my honest opinion.

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Rising Hollywood star Mia Emerson is looking for a safe place to land in the wake of a public breakup and celebrity scandal, and she finds it in the lake town of Bluebell, North Carolina—the location of her canceled honeymoon. She wants nothing more than to hide and wait for the tabloids to die down.
Soon after her arrival at the Bluebell Inn, Mia meets Levi Bennett, who runs the inn along with his two younger sisters. Drawn to one another from the start, Mia trusts Levi to keep her location from the press, and Levi confides in Mia about the precarious financial state of the inn—a secret he’s been keeping from his sisters.
When Mia and Levi discover an old journal that hints at a rare diamond necklace hidden in the inn, they set off on a treasure hunt to find the long-lost heirloom. What they don’t expect to surface are feelings they thought were safely locked away. Mia and Levi must decide if falling in love again is too big a risk—or if it will uncover a treasure of its own instead.
This is the story about a Hollywood star, Mia Emerson, who has been jilted a few months before her wedding. Needing to get away she chooses to go to the Bluebell Inn. The place she was supposed to go on her honeymoon. The reason she wanted to go there is because her grandparents had owned the inn and she wanted to find out about them. While she is there a scandal breaks out about a supposed affair between her and her last leading man. Then her ex-fiancée shows up. But she's also seen out with Levi. The hunky innkeeper. The press go wild. Levi, the hunky innkeeper, is trying to keep the inn afloat without letting his sisters know they are about to lose it. He is trying to keep the inn afloat while looking after his sisters as he promised his father on his death bed. In reading a journal left by Mia's grandmother Mia & Levi discover there might be a valuable blue diamond in the inn somewhere.

This is a cozy beach/fireplace read. The romance isn't over the top nor is there really a mystery. But a good clean read that kept me reading.

I was given this book by Thomas Nelson Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.

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Carolina Breeze is the first book I have read by Denise Hunter but it definitely won't be the last. I started the book yesterday & couldn't put it down until I read the last page late last night. I found out this is the second book in a series of three so I now want to go back & read the first one & can't wait until the third one is released! In this book, Mia Emerson is an aspiring actress who was jilted by her fiancee. Months after he broke up with her, Mia is involved in a celebrity scandal and to hide out for awhile, she goes ahead & leaves for the inn where she was supposed to stay on her honeymoon. which is the Bluebell Inn. While staying at the Bluebell Inn, she meets the owner, Levi Bennett. He & his sisters had inherited the inn when their parents were killed in a car accident. Mia knows that her estranged grandparents were the previous owners of the inn years ago & longs to find out more about them. At the inn, she & Levi form a friendship and they find the journal that her grandmother had written many years ago. In the journal, Mia discovers that her grandfather had given her grandmother a blue diamond many years ago & she begins a quest to find that necklace & learn more about her family history while at the same time deciding what kind of friendship she & Levi are forming.

I loved this book & appreciate the publisher, Thomas Nelson & Net Galley, allowing me an advance copy of the book. I can't wait to go back & read the first book in this series & learn more about the characters. l

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A famous actress wants to get away from the press after being jilted at the altar. She goes on her honeymoon at the Bluebell Inn and meets one of the owners Levi. Mia just wants some peach and quiet, Levi just wants to keep his families inn in business. It was so much fun to see these two fall in love and realize that they need each other. Loved this book.

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Another great read from Denise! This was a lovely story of a beautiful movie star heroine and a handsome “handle the tough stuff” hero! I truly enjoyed the dialogue and the cozy storyline! What a beautiful place to escape to during a crazy time in life! Thank you!

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

We head back to the Bluebell Inn for this second installment in Hunter’s Bluebell Inn Romance series. This novel focuses on Levi—the dependable and stressed out big brother to Molly and Grace. I think readers will get more out of this one if they have read Lake Season (#1 in the series), but it can be read without the background from the first novel. Mia (a jilted movie star escaping to Bluebell Inn) and Levi get to know each other in this heartwarming story. The growing affection between Levi and Mia is not too unbelievable and the insertion of a bit of a mystery concerning the “Carolina Breeze” adds a bit of fun to the story. Looking forward to Grace’s story in the conclusion to this series!

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This is the first Denise Hunter book I have read and I could not put it down. During this time of "stay at home" orders and health challenges this was just the escape I needed! I felt hopeful during and after I had read the book unlike how I feel after watching the news or reading the newspaper. I did not realize this was book 2 in a series but there was enough of the back story to easily understand what was happening and the title could easily be a great stand alone. The characters are relatable especially if you have siblings in your life and the setting was described beautifully - made me want to visit. The author's writing style is refreshing and made me wonder throughout my day how Levi and his sister's were doing, which to me is a sign of a great book. This is a clean romance with enough drama to make you want to read to the end without stopping. I have since found the first book in the series and can hardly wait for the 3rd book to be released. If you are looking for a way to escape from daily life and visit a beautiful lake side inn and meet people whose lives are NOT perfect but work through their challenges relying on the Lord and each other - this book is for you. I have quickly become a Denise Hunter fan and look forward to reading her other titles.

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Carolina Breeze is a lovely addition to Denise Hunter's Bluebell Inn Romance series! A light-hearted romance, I read this over the weekend and enjoyed it. Carolina Breeze continues the story of 3 orphaned adult siblings trying to make a go of their late parents' dream of owning and running the Bluebell Inn.

This novel centers around Levi, the oldest sibling and jilted bride Mia who decides to take advantage of her already paid for honeymoon at the Bluebell. Levi is attempting to keep the Inn afloat while protecting his sisters from having to share the burden. Mia, having just been trashed in the media, needs an escape from reality, and as Levi provides a listening ear and attentiveness to her needs, a romance between them begins to build.

Themes of control, rejection, and abandonment are prominent in this story. I did, however, find the spiritual element to be lacking in this Christian novel - although the characters go to church, their faith does not appear to be a significant part of their lives.

Those who appreciate entertaining, inspired romance will enjoy this read. My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this novel, for this my honest review.

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Absolutely 5 stars for Carolina Breeze (Bluebell Inn Romance #2), the new novel by Denise Hunter. Ms. Hunter has done it again; I am convinced with each new book; she gets better and better. She has a way of genuinely pulling you into the story and feeling one with the characters you genuinely feel yourself rooting for them throughout the novels (series). I was excited to learn more about Levi and hear his story and his journey with Mia, a Hollywood starlet who finds her way to Bluebell Inn. I would love to say this was my favorite novel by Ms. Hunter, but I think they all fit that bill. This is a MUST for you to be read pile and put it closer to the top (like on top). Thank you, NetGalley, for an advanced copy of Carolina Breeze in exchange for an honest review. Pick up a copy; you won't be sorry.

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CAROLINA BREEZE is a terrific feel-good romance and a worthy second entry to this series. I enjoyed the first book in the series, LAKE SEASON, but was slightly disappointed at how much of the novel was taken up with the historical storyline. By contrast, CAROLINA BREEZE is firmly rooted in the present, which I appreciated. There is a mystery surrounding a valuable diamond necklace from the past and whether it's still somewhere at the inn, but I liked how Hunter kept the focus on the present day characters of Mia and Levi. Both Mia and Levi are well-drafted -- likable and with admirable morals and motives, but with an understandable need for slight change / sympathetic growth arc. Watching their relationship develop is immensely rewarding, especially against the backdrop of such gorgeous scenery. The only reason I didn't rate this as 5 stars was that the writing felt a little clunky in places, a bit repetitive in terms of scenes/ interactions, and some of the metaphors are forced. For the most part, however, this is a rewarding read with an emotional and heartwarming conclusion. I can't wait for the next and final book in this beautiful and faith affirming trilogy!

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This is the second book in the Bluebell Inn series by Denise Hunter and it takes off right where Lake Season (the first book) ended. However, you are not required to read the first book before this one. They are stand alone novels, since it switches main characters.

Overall it was a cute story despite that the whole story pretty much takes place within two weeks. I felt like there was way too much going on in such a short period. It was not a favorite of mine but I do believe Denise Hunter’s readers will enjoy it.

Her main characters both had their issues that needed to be taken care of but they deserved each other. I could not connect with the main girl character since she lives the Hollywood life style and I would want nothing to do with that life style. Levi could seem really annoying but you have to get to the end of the story to know why he is a little protective of his siblings – so don’t judge until you get to the end.

Overall enjoyable read! I just wish there really was a Bluebell Inn.

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Carolina Breeze continues the story of Levi, his sisters, and the Bluebell Inn. In the 2nd book of the series, Denise Hunter focuses the plot of Carolina Breeze on Levi as he struggles balancing running the inn and taking care of his sisters. When actress Mia Emerson shows up for her honeymoon without her husband, he is taken by her beautiful looks and her sweet personality. I love Denise Hunter's romance novels. Each book is better than the previous one - they aren't trashy and aren't too preachy. They hit the perfect spot when I need something light and cheerful.

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Carolina Breeze is another great book by Denise Hunter! Although it is the second book in the series, it is a stand alone story that you enjoy regardless if you have read the first book, The Lake Season.

The main characters are Levi, who has a very protective nature, trying to stay in a business-like attitude toward their guest, Mia. Mia is a famous actor hiding from the press at the Bluebell Inn. Her reservations were originally going to be for her honeymoon. After her fiancé cancelled the wedding, she decided to stay at the inn alone.

A good love story that gives you a great escape like a good read should. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson but these are my own opinions of Carolina Breeze.

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I read the first book in the series and I loved it. This next book is an excellent second book! It was very hard to put down! The characters were warm and enchanting. I immediately felt comfortable and unwilling to leave --even when the book was over! I can't wait until her next book comes out!

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