I absolutely loved The Book Charmer so I was super excited when I saw A Cup of Silver Linings available on NetGalley. Unfortunately, it just wasn't as good as its predecessor. I would give this a solid three stars. Maybe even 3.5, if half stars were possible. I loved all the characters; they were well fleshed out. The plot was good, too. It just didn't have the same magic for me that The Book Charmer did. I'm not sure I can put into words what was lacking, but something was just missing for me. I'm super excited to read the next book in the series though. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Deep story of family, loss, and misunderstandings while working on reconnecting.
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The author definitely plays on our emotions in this story which builds on loss and ultimately, fear. Loss of a child, potential loss of a grandchild, fear of change, fear of failure, and secrets that could destroy a family. That is a ton of emotion packed into this book.

With clarity and deep dives into the human psyche, Hawkins develops a tight knit family and town where everyone knows everyone, yet accepts them as they are - faults and all. That is something different from what Ellen is used to as she comes to town to attend her daughters funeral and take charge of her granddaughter and the home affairs. Finding a delicate common thread is tough but without realizing it, Ava is that thread.

One thing about reading a new series is learning all of the people. Fair warning, there are a lot of people in this book but not difficult to absorb them and follow along. I did feel like some parts were a bit sectioned apart. Ava and her story; Kristen and her story. Both critical to the plot but for some reason they didn't seem relevant to each other until almost the end when brought everyone was brought together. It seemed a bit too disjointed for some reason.

Overall, I loved this book with its delightful wander into a bit of mystical imagination and levity that balances out the heavy loss of a friend, daughter, and mother. Dove Pond is a fun series to get lost in!

Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for giving me an opportunity to read an advanced eGallery of A CUP OF SILVER LININGS by Karen Hawkins, who is a new auto buy author to me.

This novel is as wonderful as the first novel in the Dove Pond series. I loved the first novel.

This novel is about people who live in Dove Pond. The first chapter is about a grandmother who just lost her daughter and her granddaughter who just lost her mother. And the story alternates between that family and Ava Dove, who just opened a tearoom in addition to her long running landscaping and speciality teas businesses.

The first novel focused on the youngest sister, Sarah Dove, who has this ability to "talk" to books, hence the title "Book Charmer".

The second novel is heartwarming. The characters are likable. I look forward to the third novel about Ella Dove.

I thought this was a good book. The story kept my interest through out. There’s some magic in this book and a touch of romance. I enjoyed the book. Now I need to go back and read the first book while I wait for the next one in the series to come out. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

Thank you, NetGalley, Karen Hawkins, and Galley Books for the opportunity to read this book! This book releases on August 1st!!

A Cup of Silver Linings by Karen Hawkins is the 2nd book in the Dove Pond Series. A lot of the plotlines from the first book, The Book Charmer, weren’t solved so I was eager to see what happened to these quirky characters.

The first book introduced Sarah, the Dove sister who can talk to books. She can always give a person the perfect book that they need at that moment. In this book, we are introduced to Ava, the Dove sister whose teas are famous for their help in healing. However, something goes wrong. Customers start reporting awful things that have happened to them after drinking the tea. Between the bad batch of tea and the dreadful secret Ava hides, she is also worried about 16-year-old Kristen. Kristen has lived in Dove Pond all of her life with her mom…who just passed away due to cancer. Now her grandmother has come to town determined to take her from Dove Pond. All these characters’ storylines collide in a story filled with friendship and forgiveness.

The word to describe this book is quirky. Everyone is unique and fully embraces it. I am so glad that a few of the plotlines from the previous book were finally resolved–that was actually my main issue in book one. These books aren’t really fantasy, despite how my description sounds, it is actually more magical realism than fantasy.

But this book touches on so many themes that we can all relate to, one of which is grief. I really appreciate how the author shows grief in a non-linear way. Most people think that the stages of grief go in a straight line from denial to acceptance. In reality, it jumps, curves, reverses, and zigzags around. The author also shows two different types of grieving: a devoted relationship and an estranged relationship. She gives all of these feelings and emotions validity.

Needless to say, I cannot wait for book three! We get to meet a new Dove sister! I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars!

There is something magical about the Dove Pond series. A Cup of Silver Linings had me up until 2:30am finishing this book - while crying and blowing my nose in bed. Wow - is all I can say. The different POVs from each characters made me feel every emotion these character went though and I couldn't get enough of this book. It's a heartfelt read and I'm ready for the next magical adventure with the next Dove sister!

This was a cozy story about family, friends, grief and love.

It features a lot of magical realism, so suspending disbelief is imperative.

I enjoyed seeing Ellen and Kristen address their grief both individually and together.

I enjoyed seeing Ava’s life progress and how her big secret came to be revealed and resolved.

This was just a sweet story and it was nice to be back in Dove Pond. (It’s not necessary to read The Book Charmer first, but you get to know the town more with that book too).

I really enjoyed the second Dove Pond book even though I had never read the first book in the series. This book is about Ava and a long kept secret that threatens to tear her family apart. I look forward to the next book in this series.

This is a wonderful read by Karen Hawkins. In this outing, Dove Pond’s Ava Dove, who dispenses the individual teas she creates for her neighbors, like something for a neighbor with arthritis in his knee or a tea for another neighbor who has trouble sleeping. When three of her customers report that their tea causes unwanted side effects and spread the word that her teas are wonky, Ava becomes dispirited until she finds out the reason, and it involves one of her favorite people, Kristen, a sixteen-year-old whose mother has recently died. When Kristen’s estranged grandmother, Ellen, shows up ordering Kristen to accompany her to Raleigh, Kristen’s world nearly collapses.

This is such a delightful book. The characters are charismatic, strong, and intelligent, and very well-drawn and it doesn’t take long for Hawkins to have you feeling like you already know them as friends. The story line is well plotted and there’s very little angst even with a sixteen-year-old as one of the main characters. The writing so very good, you’ll find yourself unable to wait to get back to this book if you have to set it aside for a while. You may even find yourself reading into the early hours of the next day to finish one more paragraph, one more page, or the entire book.

If you read only one book this season, read this one. You’ll soon find yourself joining the ranks of Karen Hawkins’ fans getting in line for the next book in this wonderful series.

My thanks to Gallery Books and NetGalley for an eARC.

A Cup of Silver Linings by Karen Hawkins The second book in the Dove Pond series made me think that this is a young teens book.   I had a hard time getting through all the dialogue with the teenagers and skipped those chapters. I did enjoy the first book in this series and will look for the next but this one is a hard pass.

There is A LOT going on in this book. Kristen, a junior in high school, has just lost her mom to breast cancer. Her grandmother, who didn’t even know her daughter was sick, shows up and wants to turn Kristen’s life upside by moving her to Raleigh. Grandma Ellen comes off as cold and uncaring, and it takes a while to break through her layers. Meanwhile, Ava is desperately trying to get her tearoom ready to open, but she has a secret that when revealed will drive a wedge between her and her sister Sarah. I was surprised that Sarah had POV chapters in this second Dove Pond book, since I thought of The Book Charmer as her book and this one as Ava’s. But it seems as though the author isn’t ready to leave Sarah’s story behind.

There is always just a hint of romance, but not as much as I wanted. There wasn’t as much resolution with characters’ relationships as I wanted, either. The epilogue points to which Dove sister the next book will be about, and I’m sure I’ll be interested in reading it, but I wish it felt like these characters’ stories were actually finished. I do enjoy cameos, but again, having Sarah’s POV in this one threw me off.

If you like magical realism and found family (almost literally), then pick this book up!

We’re back in Dove Pond, a book I have waiting for since reading an ARC of The Book Charmer in 2019. This book focuses on both Ava and Sarah as Ava works to set up her tearoom. But also includes chapters from Kristen and her grandmother Ellen. We left book 1 in a precarious place for Kristen, and she’s going through a rough time. Hawkins delivers a heartwarming read in A Cup of Silver Linings.

“Tears are a testament to the strength of a person’s memory.”

I find it interesting that book 1 spent a lot of time with Travis and then omitted him with this one. At times, I found Kristen’s voice was off, but I love her as a character. All the characters are multidimensional and relate well to each other. The storyline is engaging, and you find yourself unaware of the passing of time. Overall, an enjoyable read. Thank you, Gallery Books, for sending this along!
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Fun! The characters are well drawn and are true to who they are. The tea problem and subsequent events are interesting. Nice cozy I think you’ll enjoy
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for this arc

"Ava Dove—the sixth of the seven famed Dove sisters and owner of Ava Dove’s Landscaping and Specialty Teas—is frantic."
In book two of the Dove Creek series we find Dove sister Ava having to deal with the fact her dream of opening her own tea shop in jeopardy due to several of her special teas having unforeseen effects on her patrons. Ava is forced into searching for remedy while she deals with the aftermath of keeping a secret for over a decade.
"Meanwhile, successful architect Ellen Foster has arrived in Dove Pond to attend the funeral of her estranged daughter, Julie." Ellen has a successful career in Raleigh and is eager to gather up her granddaughter and get back to her life. However, her sixteen-year-old granddaughter, Kristen, has other ideas about leaving.
A Cup of Silver Linings is a fabulous story about secrets, grief, love and forgiveness, Put this one on your to be read list, as you won't want to miss out.

I really enjoyed this second book of the Dove Pond series. The characters' stories all entwine as they search for relief from their individual problems. Grief, despair, longing, unrequited love. It's all there along with friendship and love. I like how the sisters' touch of magic helps but does not solve problems. The people have to do the work and are given hope that things will turn out alright in the end.

A Cup of Silver Linings
By Karen Hawkins
Second book


I love a book with tea and books! This one didn’t disappoint. It was fun getting to know Ava and her gift with tea. This book has everything you could want, romance, quarrels, humor, grief and heartache. Also beautiful friendships. You will love getting to know Ava and all her friends on her journey.

This was another great read for me. If you want to escape for a while to a magical world where things are possible read this book because you are in for enchanted journey.


I received this temp e-book from NetGalley and Karen Hawkins for my honest opinion.

I am looking forward to the next book in this series!

This book was a great next entry in the Dove pond series. I enjoyed this book and am already looking forward to the next book in the series. Although this was a fun visit back to the charming Dove Pond, this could easily be read as a stand-alone.

What I most enjoy about this series is the magical realism elements and the seven Dove Sisters and the way each one has a special gift. While this is women’s fiction and very much set in the contemporary world, those brushes with magic make this unique and charming. I do wish that Ava would have been more prominent in this book since it was her story and I found that she was upstaged for much of the book by other storylines, but all the storylines were very good.

This is the second book in the Dove Pond series. This series follows the Dove sisters. Sarah, with her ability to talk with books and Ava, with an affinity for plants and making specialty brews of tea that are able to help people.
Ava is getting ready to open a tea room, but suddenly her teas aren't working properly and an old secret is keeping her up at night. Her teenage employee Kristen has just lost her mother and is grieving. Kristen's grandmother Ellen is back in her life and wants to take her away from Dove Pond.
I loved everything about this book. The aspects of magical realism are wonderful and the emotions are heartfelt.
This series makes you want to live in Dove Pond with the sisters as your friends. I can't wait for more. The teaser at the end was a great bonus!!!

Read the first book but had forgotten much of it. Loved jumping into the world of these characters again, remembering what happened before, and reading what happens next. A perfect read.

This was a lovely book that explored grief but was full of hope. You could read this book without having read the other book and short story in the series, but I enjoyed returning to Dove Pond to spend more time with the characters while also meeting some new ones.