This was a sweet read. The characters were well developed as was the storyline. A woman searching to belong and a town waiting to embrace her. Her past keeps haunting her and she can’t forgive her mother from keeping her from the truth of her past. The story has some great redemptive moments and forgiveness. I didn’t see any strong Biblical truths, I could not categorize this book as Christian Fiction due to the leaning of New Age practices. It was a good fun read.

When I saw the cover of On Moonberry Lake by debut author Holly Varni, in addition to hearing some really good things about this story, I jumped at the chance when it came up for review. On Moonberry Lake starts out in a way that immediately grabbed my attention, so I thought I was really going to enjoy it. The writing style is good and some of the characters are quirky and funny, but sadly, the things I did not like about this story far outweighed the things I did.

I enjoy reading a quirky character every now and then, but in this story there are just so many of them that, in my opinion, it became too unrealistic and bordered on silly. While I could’ve overlooked that, some of these characters seemed to have some beliefs that sounded more like New Age to me. This totally surprised me since this story is published by Revell, a Christian publisher. As I kept reading, I didn’t like the tone of the book and I was not connecting with any of the characters, including our main character, Cora.

After doing a little research and talking to a few trusted reviewers, I found out there were even more significant things coming in this story that are in direct conflict with my beliefs, so I decided to DNF this one. Sadly, this was a missed opportunity to share the Gospel of Jesus.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own. DNF.

On Moonberry Lake by Holly Varni has Cora Matthews inheriting her grandparent’s lodge after her mother’s death. Cora is surprised since she was estranged from her mother at the time of her demise. The lodge is in serious need of repair. Cora needs to adjust to living in a small town where everyone knows your business. On Moonberry Lake is a character driven story. In the beginning, we are introduced to one character after another (there are so many of them). The people that live around the lodge are a quirky lot. I had to laugh at Kitty’s gnome collection because I have a large number in my garden as well. I was not able to connect with Cora or any of the characters. I liked the humor sprinkled throughout (Widgy provides many entertaining moments). I found that the story moved slowly (which made it hard to continue reading). There are some heartwarming scenes in the latter part of the story. There were some encounters with the Moonberry Lake residents there were repetitive (Widgy showing up at the crack of dawn each day for example). The author’s vivid descriptions allowed me to envision Moonberry Lake, the town, and the lodge. The Christian element is light. I was surprised by the New Age statements and beliefs. The romance is clean. On Moonberry Lake has a feel-good ending. Would I want to visit Moonberry Lake again? I would admire the scenery, but I would keep on driving.

On Moonberry Lake reminded me of The Mitford series with the small-town quirky characters and they are as much fun! When I started the book, I thought it would be a Hallmark style romance, but it was much more about friends.
Cora inherits her grandparents' lodge after her mom dies and need to fix it up while leaving there for a year. She quickly finds that friends are easily made in Moonberry Lake, many quite a bit older than herself. Her new friends give her a new family who work together to help her get the lodge going.
I will be giving this novel as a gift this year. It's a perfect book for small town lovers.
I received a complimentary copy of this book thanks to Revell and NetGalley, but all opinions are my own.

DNF 33%. This Christian Fiction book was one I was really anticipating for the Fall of 2023. The premise sounded like such a good story. I think the writing is good, the characters were making me laugh and I was loving the small town setting. She does a great job immersing you in this new town and describing it. Unfortunately, this is not for me and I am disappointed in the new age beliefs displayed. Based on what I read 33% in, I feel this book had a good opportunity to share the love of Christ - the true Gospel of Jesus - but instead, I found a girl who truly needed good, Godly friendships but she was becoming good friends with the wrong influence. Not to bash this author in any way, I am just very disappointed and surprised in the amount of new age statements shown for a Christian marketed book.

This book is about Cora, who has no family, her mother recently passed away and she has inherited her grandparents lodge and is trying to start new in this new area. She is getting to know people and we see how she truly needs a friend.

Where I have a problem with this -- we have the following:
- Page 1 mentions the main character being able to tell when someone was dying or pregnant and explains it as she has a premonition
- A character - Kitty - who talks to gravestones as if they're people and is described to be a bit witchy
- Another character - who is a bit of a hippie artsy character - who starts off saying she can make Cora some Jewish bread (or other cultural bread) and how the act of baking and creating bread can be meditative and it "centers your spirit at the present moment".
- The same character above talks about her being a hippie at heart and how they come to accept and love her and then they continue talking about "talking to people in the cemetery", how people who have died are still with us and make us better listeners.
- Our main character, Cora, makes a fool out of herself twice in front of someone and this friend says "Wow, the universe desperately wants you to cross paths with this person." Then Cora says how this person is a good influence on her and she is thankful for her new friend.

I stopped here.
I read many other reviews that say these types of things and honestly, this is just a missed opportunity to share the Gospel of Christ as I said. You have to be SO careful of your friend circle and who you are "very close" friends with. From what I read thus far, are we encouraging these types of influences? Yes, we need to minister to these friends but your close circle - should be considered very carefully and discernment should play a role in that.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts are my own.

On Moonberry Lake is an unexpected treasure. This is a new author for me however the characters jumped off the page and into my imagination. I am able to recommend this to customer who do not want foul language but are weary of Amish romance novels.

Funny, hopeful, suspense little novel that will take you in a little town on the lake where people care for each other even if they are weird and seem a little hostile at first.
New beginnings, God's way that seem wrong at first and turn out to be the best you could ever imagine.

Cora didn't have plans to return to Moonberry Lake any time soon. She had many fond memories of spending her childhood there. She also had questions of what really happened so many years ago.
She was completely taken by surprise when she inherited Moonberry Lake Lodge.

Cora met some quite interesting people in town. How can you not love Kitty and her care for others? Or Widgy and her dog? As you read this wonderful book, the residents of Moonberry Lake become family. I loved getting to know them. You will, too.

I hated to say goodbye when I finished this delightful book. It was touching. It was funny. If I could, I would move to Moonberry Lake. How about you?

This is my first book by Holly Varni, but I have found a new author to love! This book was so wonderfully written. The characters intertwined so much. Cora needed a family and she found one returning to her childhood home at Moonberry Lake. I enjoyed every person Cora encountered and the snippets from the newspaper! This is exactly what small town life is like! I can't wait to read the next book in the series!

4.5 stars!
What a delightfully unexpected debut by masterful storyteller, Holly Varni! Whether it's the beauty of falling leaves in autumn or the shimmer of a small-town snowscape, Varni skillfully uses descriptive imagery to ensnare her readers—and quirky, eccentric, charming characters to keep them there.


I really didn't mesh with Cora Matthews to begin with. She appears stuffy and apathetic in my opinion. However, I found a kindred spirit when I learned she didn't like coffee, just the smell of it. lol She inherits her family's lakeside lodge but isn't quite sure she's up to the task of restoring it to its former glory or even wants to stay in Moonberry Lake. The residents in this quaint town step up to the plate to help, but man, are they weird! And loving, talented, and selfless—family who teaches Cora a lot about herself.


I deleted half a star because I skimmed the tombstone scenes...something about those left me spiritually unsettled. However, this was an amazing novel that emitted unladylike guffaws, girly girl tears, and a whole lot of introspection.


"It was amazing how, in stepping out of her comfort zone and getting to know people who lived a bit “outside the box,” she was discovering a new self. A better self."


*I received an ARC from Revell via NetGalley and was under no obligation to write a favorable review.*

I enjoyed this novel. It is slower paced but full of quirky characters. I loved watching Cora come to appreciate the beauty in each one. Widge made me laugh. She’s tough on the outside but a softie on the inside. I appreciated Kitty’s wisdom. “If you ever find anything in life that makes the light within you shine brighter, you know it’s a part of God’s plan. Don’t reject a gift that’s being offered to you” (location 5159).

Moonberry Lake has a hysterical newspaper. I loved reading the clippings. It reminded me of the little town my grandma lived in. “To the relief of many, Mary Mackie’s absence from church last week was not due to illness but to a bad hair day….Mary said, ‘There was no way I was going to enter the house of God with my roots showing so bad. Sin is one thing, but two inches of gray outgrowth seemed sacrilegious!'” (location 2409).

The friendships built were beautiful. The one part that didn’t work for me as much was the romance. It had very little build up and didn’t seem to have much foundation to warrant the gentleman’s declarations.

Thank you to Revell for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Cora never knew why her mother took her away from her grandparents when she was seven. Now she’s inherited her grandparents’ dilapidated lodge. As she sets out to restore it, a zany cast of characters bring new meaning to life. Flamboyant artist Arielle, the elderly Kitty, whom the young Cora thought was a witch in the cemetery across the street, the mannish Widget who does all manner of restoration work, the enticing dentist, Sam, who guides her in her reacquaintance with Moonberry Lake but has secrets. This is a heartwarming story that started slow, but grew on me. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This is a wonderful book full of life lessons. It is so good that I couldn’t put it down and finished it in one day. Cora was not close to her mother when she died unexpectedly. She is back in Moonberry Lake for the funeral, where she has not been since she was seven years old, when her mother took her away and never went back. She learns that she has inherited her grandparent’s lodge and needs to stay there for a year to get her inheritance. Along the way she develops friendships and learns a lot about herself.

On Moonberry Lake is an unusual book filled with quirky characters. Each character in the story has many layers and is important to the storyline. Cora, the main character, shows so much growth throughout the story, brought about by her new neighbors.

The story is heart-warming and unfolds beautifully, capturing my heart. I was drawn into the story within the first few pages and continued to draw me in. It is filled with humor, laughter, joy, and a sense of belonging and love.

The setting of Moonberry Lake is magical, and the secrets, although painful, can bring about healing and peace. A wonderful story that will have you mesmerized. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and voluntarily chose to review it. A positive review is not required. All opinions are my own

With a debut like this, I absolutely cannot wait to see what Holly Varni does next. Truly, it was a beautifully written story and I didn't realize it was a debut until sitting down to write this review.

Right from the start, the story drew me in. We learn that Cora's mom has a knack for knowing when people are going to die... to include herself. After her passing and a broken engagement, she returns to her grandparents' lodge in Moonberry Lake where she had not been since she was a child. She has many questions she wants to have answered. Throughout the story, we get to meet a wide variety of people from the town... and boy what an eclectic mix it is! Each of them was so unique and quirky... and I absolutely loved that. While Cora's character was great, of course, it was definitely this eclectic group of characters as a whole that made this story so very entertaining. There was romance, which I loved... but I definitely appreciated the friendships and found family in this story even more! If you enjoy Christian romance with small town vibes, this is absolutely one to check out.

**I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All opinions are my own.

What a beautiful cover! I love all books centered around a lake. This contemporary christian/ romance and debut will give off heartwarming vibes. The small town of Moonberry Lake in Minnesota has some of the most eccentric characters that will have you laughing in their lovable humor. When Cora's estranged mother dies, she inherits her grandparents' lodge. In order to keep it, she must agree to stay one year and restore it to its ultimate. Even though it reeks with Green Acres quality, she learns to love it and the people.
Cora had just broken off an engagement prior to her mother's death, so she is caught up in self-pity, but round up some of the most unique people that will have her screaming, crying and laughing.
Widgy, the handy-woman, and known for her 5 husbands and their deaths, Kitty, an elderly woman that speaks to the dead with some of the best advice and quotes and lastly, Ruth Ann, who works at the deli in the grocery store....all of them make up worthy friendships that make Cora realize whats important.
This is a feel-good book that you will not regret reading about the simplistic nature and laid back town that also suffers hardships, but reminds us to pull together.
Thank you NetGalley and Revell for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is an amazing thought-provoking book with multiple layers that had me enthralled from beginning to end. The premise of Cora having to return to her old home at Moonberry Lake and try to discover the secret why she and her mother left suddenly when she was a child is one that promised from the start to be revelatory and it was. I enjoyed the story and the faith that undergirded it, but mostly I really enjoyed getting to know the characters who were all different and who all added to the tale. Cora was the vulnerable one who needs to find her place in the world. Sam is her helpful guide, the one who meets her and explains the requirement that she stay in her grandparents’ old lodge for one year in order to inherit it. Kitty is my hands-down favorite; she keeps the cemetery orderly and offers wise advice if anyone will listen. I even liked the old grumpy neighbor who insists that Cora is living on his land and he will get it back, one way or another! I think the most memorable character is the handywoman named Widgy who not only fixes things but she also tries hard to apply her lifetime worth of knowledge to fixing people, too. She is homespun hilarity in a bundle of energy! The story is an emotional one that made me laugh, cry and even think a lot as I read about Cora’s quest to make a new life for herself that doesn’t include constantly moving to a new place or running from old entanglements. The novel is very well-paced and totally engaging, but the characters make the story and the setting adds the charm. This is a debut novel but I would not be able to tell it from the masterful craftsmanship displayed in the telling of a story of finding hope for the future and depending on virtual strangers to be kind.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

I was excited to read this author’s debut novel since I’ve been hearing such great things about it. It was an interesting novel with memorable characters. Cora’s journey was a fulfilling one where she went from a confused, broken, lonely young woman always running to a content, settled member of a beautiful and loved community. The secondary characters really made the book - from Widgy the cantankerous handiwoman to Kitty the wise caretaker of a nearby cemetery, these small town neighbors with long memories and big hearts made Moonberry Lake come alive.
Unfortunately the writing fell a little flat for me. There was a lot of “telling” and not enough “showing”, causing the plot to slow down and become dry at times. The narrative voice was third person limited to Cora’s experiences but had a detached quality. This confused me since there was no nostalgic tone to the voice to make it feel like recounting the past but it didn’t quite feel like I was right there with Cora either.

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Revell via NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

This debut novel started strong with an intriguing scene that caught my attention right away. The author does an excellent job describing Moonberry Lake and the surrounding town. It wasn’t difficult to picture Cora’s lodge or the cemetery across the road.

I didn’t connect with Cora at all, or anyone in the story. The large cast of secondary characters are distracting in that they are more than just a little bit quirky (and there are just so many of them). I love a quirky character, but not four or five of them at the same time. There is also a pastor involved in the story, but his role brings up more questions than answers that are left dangling at the end.

This women’s fiction story moved slowly, though some scenes were quite sweet.

This story is something I’d expect to find in the general market since there’s a lot of New Agey beliefs discussed at length (from the quirky hippie character), and a woman who talks to gravestones as if they’re people (who also has gnomes in and outside of her house in the hopes they’ll leave treasure). There isn’t an obvious biblical faith thread, yet ample opportunity within the storyline to point characters that way.

I received an ecopy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

On Moonberry Lake by Holly Varni

“A delightful novel. Full of characters who take up residence in your heart. The best of “News

From LakeWoebegon and Father Tim combined”

Very warm cozy read . Great characters. I recommend this book.

Thanks to Net Galley for sending me an advanced reader’s copy for my review.