On Moonberry Lake, written by debut author, Holly Varni, started wonderfully! I adored the writing, was drawn in by the storyline, and was loving all the quirky characters. Then, as Cora and her Moonberry Lake neighbors developed their relationships and conversations ensued, I was extremely surprised and so sad to encounter New Age and other beliefs saturating the pages instead of Biblical, Christian faith.

The author is very talented. I was ever so desperate for at least one of the characters to correct the beliefs that made me cringe because they are so far off from the Bible and some statements/beliefs that are just far off enough that concerns me even more. I struggled horribly finishing this book.

On Moonberry Lake is categorized as Christian Contemporary Fiction. The Christian faith is not represented well (if at all) in this novel, in my opinion. There are countless, ideal opportunities in this story to share the Truth via the Gospel and/or personal testimonies and/or Scripture -- with not only the characters in the story -- but, most importantly, the readers! Obviously, this was not the goal or focus for Holly Varni.

I am so disappointed that so many opportunities to shine the light on God’s Word and His ways were not included. With pang of conscience and true sadness, I cannot recommend this book.

I received an eARC of On Moonberry Lake from Revell and NetGalley -- a positive review is not required. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Holly Varni has written an excellent debut novel. Cora has been left a lodge her grandparents owned, one she spent many happy days in as a child only to move away with no explanation. Surrounded by good-hearted, quirky characters, Cora has to decide whether to keep the lodge or sell.

This is a sweet book. Cora develops lovely relationships with neighbors and the local handywoman. She is kind and wants to befriend everyone. Occasionally she needs guidance on exactly how to do that with some of the crustier characters.

The pacing got a little rushed towards the end, and the plot took a bit of a left turn, but overall this is a solid debut that I enjoyed. This is listed as Christian fiction though there is not much of a faith element here, and at least one of the characters is a bit New Age.

Family friendly.

I absolutely loved this book. I began this book expecting a sort of Hallmark story, but it was much more than that. Cora's mother abruptly cut all ties with her grandparents when Cora was a child, and Cora never forgave her for that. As a result Cora's own life was restless, unfocused, and with never any sense of belonging anywhere. When Cora's mother died and Cora went home for the funeral she discovered she had inherited the inn where she lived as a child if she could stay there for one year. During that year she discovers that good friends can become family, she finds a relative she never knew she had, and she found a place she could call home. She also finds romance, but that is a very secondary part of Cora's story. I loved the townspeople, and am looking forward to a promised sequel that a tells the story of some of the other people in Moonberry Lake. I received this as an arc from NetGalley and am under no pressure for a positive review.

On Moonberry Lake is the story of Cora Matthews who returns to her former home as a child as part of the request after her mother passes away. She learns she will have to stay at her grandparent's lodge for one year.

Cora and her mother left years ago and never saw her grandparents again. She never understood why she left, and her mother never explains why.

The lodge itself is run down after years of not being maintained. It is more work than she is able to do on her own. Cora slowly starts to meet her neighbors who are a little quirky. But she comes to rely on them the more she gets to know them. But a family secret threatens her new happiness once it is revealed.

This is a very special story. It is warm and inviting as well as entertaining from this quirky group of people. It will warm your heart.

I recently had the pleasure of reading On Moonberry Lake, and I must say, it’s a fantastic inspirational romance novel. The plot is engaging and well-written, and I couldn’t help but connect with the quirky cast of characters. The author does a great job of weaving together a heartwarming story that is sure to leave readers feeling inspired. Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a great read that will leave them feeling uplifted.

Thank you to NetGalley and Revell for allowing me to read and review this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for providing me with this ARC. Cora is a twenty-something young lady who has just lost her mother and has left her fiancé at the altar. She finds out that she has inherited her late grandparents’ crumbling lodge at Moonberry Lake in northern Minnesota. Since she’s currently homeless, she decides to investigate and finds that she must live in it for one year or give up the inheritance. Cora has had a hard time with forming lasting relationships and she has a tough beginning. However, one by one she forms attachments to the new people in her life.

This was a new author to me and I will definitely be looking forward to what she writes next. Moonberry Lake is a place I'd love to visit. The neighbors themselves are, for the most part, good people and main character Cora comes to realize she might just have found another family in them.

On Moonberry Lake is a very well written Inspirational romance. I throughly enjoyed the plot and the cast of quirky characters. I definitely recommend this book. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and Netgalley. This is my unbiased review.

On Moonberry Lake is a wonderful story about strength and resilience and the truth always finding its way into the light. When Cora finally goes back to her grandparent’s lodge they’re no longer there. They passed away years ago. But now her mother has passed too. And somehow she left the lodge to Cora.

Cora has such good and happy memories of her grandparents and their lodge. That is until that one summer when they never came back. Cora never forgave her mother for keeping her away from her grandparents and the place she’d been the happiest.

Will Cora fight to get the lodge restored? She’s got help from the most unlikely sources. As she starts to build friendships she finds something she hasn’t felt in a long time. She finds family and belonging. Will she go through with her thoughts of just fixing it up and selling? Or will it turn into her forever home? Can she truly leave these wonderful people who actually care for her?

And can she come to terms with what her mother did even after she learns the why behind it?

And what about natural disasters and weather? What about when people grow old and hide the truth?

This was such a wonderful book. I enjoyed reading it. It was like meeting up with friends within every page. The characters were so quirky and still loveable. You’re going to love this one!

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

No cursing
No sex- small sweet kisses. One almost make out session.

I really loved this book- it was just the type of “hug” i needed from a book! The characters were just so lovable! The MC Nora grew so much throughout this book! And I loved her ability to see people in a different light- once she gave them a chance and got to really know them!

This book is a Christian book by a Christian publisher. I did find some minor theological differences, that didn’t change my love for the book but made me go 🤔

One character, Adriel, was a little new-agey to me. She talks about her spirit sensing Nora’s energy, how Nora and this guys in the book spirits are being pulled together and talks about the universe pulling them together as well.
The other character, Kitty, works/ lives in a cemetery and has become “friends” so to speak, with the spirits there. She says she can often “feel” them like the wind.

She also says “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.”

Again, some theology differences 🤪

But all in all- this is a fiction story which isn’t meant to be taken seriously, so it will keep its 5 stars from me! Because it allowed me to see and realize that there are many people around us that are different than us - and community can still happen! There was a strong emphasis of community in this book! Even if you are so different than your neighbor❤️

Since the plot is very well summarized in both Goodreads and Amazon, the following review is limited to my reactions to the book.

The term "quirky" perfectly describes the goofy, but lovable, characters who live in the small town of Moonberry Lake. I like a book with humor, and this certainly fulfills that requirement. There is some God talk, but it's not heavy handed. And a nice little romance certainly added to my enjoyment.

This was an easy, quiet read. Would I buy the sequel? Probably not. However, I commend this author for a job well done.Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

4.5/5 stars

This was a sweet surprise for me.

Cora Matthews returns to her Moonberry Lake, Minnesota hometown to bury her estranged mother. A young Cora was abruptly uprooted from her grandparents’ idyllic lakefront lodge there and spent years moving place to place with her nomadic mom. She never knew the "why" behind the sudden rift in her family. She is therefore shocked to discover that her mom has left her grandparents' lodge to her with the stipulation that she live there one year before she decides its fate.

As she works to restore her dilapidated legacy, she is helped along the way by new and old-found friends and begins to feel a balm to her soul. Through triumphs and disasters, Cora finds her footing but also still wonders what happened that tore her family apart all those years ago.

I really enjoyed this book. It had more depth than I was expecting, more heart…just more of everything that makes a good story. It was a pleasure to watch Cora as she evolved from stunned and ready-to-bolt to strong, fearless and steadfast. It had a bit of a “Hope Floats” (movie) feel to it, and the small-town vibe and connections were spot-on and endearing.

A winner for me and definitely looking for more from this podcaster/author.

My sincere thanks to the author, NetGalley and Revell for providing the free early arc of On Moonberry Lake for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

Cora, suddenly torn from her Moonberry Lake family at age seven, is taught to run when things get tough by her mother until she runs back to Moonberry Lake as an adult. Here we find family again, maybe not all blood-related, but nonetheless, maybe even better.

The debut author of On Moonberry Lake, Holly Varni, did an exceptional job of world-building. I was truly transported to the dilapidated lodge on Moonberry Lake, seeing everything through her amazing prose. Now let me mention her outstanding, quaint, and quirky side characters that stole the show! My number one overall pick is none other than the one and only Marry-em and Bury-em Widgy, who learned her handywoman skills from her five husbands. Hands down one of the best side characters I have read in a very long time! Number two without question is Kitty, the caretaker of the graveyard, who is keeping its residents alive by telling their stories. My heart went out to her, and I wanted to sit with her among the headstones and just be.

Definitely a debut worth reading, but for me, I felt cheated at the very end. After reading the entire book, I was left hanging. Ahh!  Do not worry, folks, as after the ending, Holly Varni gives you a sneak peek into her next book, returning us to Moonberry Lake. Hopefully, we will not have to wait too long to read what happens with Cora and Ben, plus all of the other great characters we are just getting to know.

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Revell through Interviews & Reviews for my honest opinion. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

This is a delightful book that you will not want to put down. We learn that family is not necessarily blood, but priceless friends.

Upon the death of her mother, Cora Matthews finds herself now the owner of a lodge that has been in the family for generations and is very run down. She is in such a time of change in her life with the last person in her family now gone, and her engagement broken that she is having to try to figure out what to do with herself.

She becomes friends with a quirky group of people in town who make her see what friendship, love and family really are. You will enjoy each of these people and what they contribute to the book.

This is a great book that is a story of how very different personalities can come together to form family.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and enjoyed it so much.

Thanks to NetGalley and Revell for this advanced copy. The opinions expressed are my own.

This Christian romance is based on finding who you are and what is most important to you in life.

For the main character, Cora, it is finding the family she never had. Not a blood family, but a found family, comprised of members of her community with all their quirks and eccentricities.

This was easy to read, easily finished in an hour.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for my honest review.

This book was good as far as storyline, but I felt it was very slow paced. I found myself almost not caring about the story because there were just too many quirky characters and Cora fell a bit flat for me as a main character.

This book was a bit of a slow starter for me, found it too overly descriptive of every little thing at first. But as the story flowed I started to become attached to the main character Cora. Secretly or somehow I believe we all wish to have that chance of starting afresh somewhere whether that be a childhood town or a new place. So I felt connected to the story. Absl loved Arielle and all her hippy vibes, totally me! Finished reading this book feeling all warm inside 🥰

This is a place you'll want to visit often - Moonberry Lake. It will be my new favorite series when I want a pleasant read. The characters are likeable, although a bit eccentric. As the book goes along, we find out more of what makes each person who they are. The life and God lessons in this book come off as conversation and not "preachy" I found out Holly has a podcast that can take you back to Moonberry Lake. I look forward to listening to that. This book has it all -- humor, love (not mushy),tragedy, reconciliation, and hope. Be careful. You'll likely be hooked like I was.

Thank you to NetGalley for introducing me to this delightful author. The opinions expressed are my own.

Reads like a Hallmark movie in the best possible way!

This novel was the perfect way to wind down the summer, but could be thoroughly enjoyed at any time of year!
I loved all the quirky characters in the town that added so much to the story and look forward to reading many more novels from Holly Varni!

I have never heard of Holly Varni before, but I liked the description so I requested it from NetGalley. I'm glad I did! It was a good read! It had a few slow bits, but I persevered because I wanted to know why she stopped visiting her grandparents.

Cora Matthews has just buried her mother and ditched her boyfriend. She isn't sure what she wants to do, but discovers that she has inherited her grandparent's lakeside house with the condition that she lives in it for a year. The house is very large but in bad shape. Cora decides to take the offer and begins what seems to be an impossible task. Along the way, she meets some very quirky, but adorable neighbors and locals. With each high and low, Cora learns that many times, family is not just blood related, but of the heart.

On Moonberry Lake was an overall enjoyable read! It has a great plot line with wonderful characters, light romance, and a mystery to solve. It reminds me of Irene Hannon's Hope Harbor series. I would recommend that you read On Moonberry Lake!