Traveling Light is a lovely novel about finding oneself with a little help from friends. Alisa is endearing, though a bit naive, always seeing the good in others and opening herself up to strangers, which seems to work in her favor for the most part. The trip from North Carolina to New Mexico keeps the story moving as Alisa goes from town to town, finding new adventure at each stop, while also giving the reader an interesting back drop to the story. Branard's use of flashbacks bring depth to the story that would be missing if everything centered around the present. Traveling Light is a heartfelt and enjoyable read.

Sandy M’s review of Traveling Light by Lynne Branard
Contemporary Romance published by Berkley 10 Jan 17

Not your typical romance, Traveling Light is an easy, quirky, and fun afternoon read. It is also the way our main character, Alissa, grows after leading a not-so-exciting life.


Alissa’s father hopes she’ll take over the family business, but suddenly she’s ready to explore life a bit more, think outside the box, and just live with some spontaneity for a while. All because she impulsively bids on an abandoned storage unit and inside she discovers an urn with the ashes of a man named Roger Hart. She learns he’s from New Mexico, so a road trip is in her foreseeable future, hoping to find out a bit more about this forgotten man from his family. So she heads west with Casserole, her three-legged dog.

Only to be sidetracked along the way by both people and places. She picks up a young hitch hiker, Blossom, who is on her way to see her dad in Texas. Despite their age difference, these two share a bond by the end of their trip together. Blossom has been through a lot in her short life, is going through nearly as much presently, all more than anything Alissa has experienced in her own life. They definitely teach each other quite a bit. Blossom’s boyfriend joins the fray, thus more emotion and more fun in the works.

The only thing that bothered me is things seem to be left hanging a bit at the end. There is a romance on the horizon, but we don’t get to see the fruit of that labor at all. I realize that isn’t the main theme of the book, and it is at least a happy ending for Alissa after her eye-opening experiences, and delving a little into it would have been nice. Otherwise, though, a well-written and well-developed story that I enjoyed. Enough that I will check out some of the author’s other works.

Grade: B

I can't say that I fell in love with this novel, but it was a good read. Alissa's experiences were not only educational and entertaining but were thought-provoking at times. My primary issue was that I never felt like I had this huge, climactic moment in the story. It was great, but I was left wanting something after I finished reading. Alissa was obviously wanting more from her life and her career, however, I didn't feel like anything was really resolved by the end of the novel. It was a fun read, it just feels as if something was missing.

Have you ever wanted to just take off on an adventure? That is exactly what Alissa Wells, a 30-something single gal from Clayton, North Carolina does. After winning an abandoned storage shed in an auction Alissa finds a box of ashes inside. She decides it's time to take some of those vacation days and she is going to drive to New Mexico to deliver Roger Hart's ashes to their rightful resting place.

Al, as she prefers to be called, has never left her hometown or her home for that matter. When her mom died young, Al took over caring for her dad and her sister. When it was time to find a job, she naturally went to work for her dad at the local newspaper and she has been there ever since. This road trip is just the diversion that Al needs in her life. The paper can manage without her for awhile and she is in no hurry to return. Al loads up her dog, Casserole and they are off on what will be a life-changing adventure for Al.

During one of her restaurant stops, Al's waitress Blossom decides to hitch a ride with her as far as Texas. Blossom, a 17-year-old former hippie, has decided to go back and live with her dad in Texas and Al's road trip is the perfect opportunity to get there. Then, few stops later, Blossom's ex-boyfriend is also tagging along for a ride to Texas. These three characters who would have never crossed paths are now lifelines to each other as their lives intersect.

Al's journey, both figuratively and literally, gets her to stop and assess her life. Since the story is told in the first person, the reader feels like they are riding right along with Al across the country. Stops in Nashville, Memphis, and Oklahoma City give the reader glimpses into the attractions and why Al and her entourage have decided to stop and visit. The characters are quirky, naive, and lovable. When each of them come to a crossroads and has to make a decision, the reader is cheering them on, hoping that the decision is the right one.

Lynne Branard, who also writes as Lynne Hinton, has a talent for writing about friendships, unforgettable characters, and heart-warming stories. Much like her previous novel, THE ART OF ARRANGING FLOWERS, readers will enjoy the quick chapters and real-life situations full of funny mishaps and surprises along the way. Her witty metaphors and priceless wisdom fill the pages and will make the reader pause and reflect. Branard dedicated this novel to her many hospice patients she met as a chaplain. The title, TRAVELING LIGHT reminds all of us to let go of our burdens and to learn when to linger in life and when to move on. Maybe reading this book will inspire you to start your own life-changing adventure.

Favorite quotes:

"We do not let go of the details of those who shape our lives."

"What I'm saying is that we don't always get the happy endings we want;
but that shouldn't change what we try to make right."

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jerjen

Alissa finds herself being the proud owner of a storage unit and all of its belongings. Among other things, she finds an urn with the remains of a deceased man. She finds out that the deceased is Roger Hart. What she cannot find out is why his ashes are in a storage unit in the first place. So she plans a road trip to return his remains to his family. Maybe she can find some answers to that question. Little does she know that she will find out so much more. She will meet some quirky characters and learn some important life lessons on her journey.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is a quick easy read. I found myself swiping page after page, totally enthralled with the story. I usually do not like reading books written in the first person, but this time it worked really well.

The author is very talented in her descriptive writing. I could visualize the places that Alissa traveled through on her journey, such as Nashville and Memphis. I felt like I was right there, listening in on the conversations that she had with all those she met.

The characters are well rounded and well developed. They really came alive on the pages for me. Who does not love her three legged dog, Casserole? I felt Alissa was a bit naive when the book first started but she grew as the book progressed. I enjoyed getting to meet and know Blossom. The relationship they formed and their interactions and conversations added another level to the story.

This is the second book that I have read by this author and both of them were very good. She seems to have insights into people’s feelings and thoughts and she brings them alive on the pages. This book is a feel good story that will make you think about your own life. It is a story of learning to let go and seeing where life might take you. I would recommend it to anyone who would enjoy a humorous women’s contemporary read.

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

Alissa (Al to her friends) decides on the spur of the moment to bid on a storage unit. She saw a TV show where the lucky folks found antiques and the like in theirs. She knows she won't be that lucky but she also thinks there might be something of interest in there. There was...

Berkley and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for review (thank you). It will be published on January 10th so you can grab a copy then.

What Al finds is someone's ashes. She has his name, his previous location, and now a desire to take him home. She doesn't know anything about him and really doesn't care. She just thinks that a man from New Mexico would rather be set free there instead of where he ended up. After all, her life is boring and it's the same thing day in and day out. Why not go on an adventure?

Al ends up making friends along the way. A waitress in one small town hitches a ride with her. Then they run into her old boyfriend. As Al's life gets more complicated, she finally feels like she's really living. She helps as she can. Blossom causes her a few problems by creating a Facebook page for her. Al's crush from her younger years is divorced and would like to see her again. She says OK, when she gets back.

The real theme here is to just live. Follow your passion, do things because you want to and never give up. Al's dad is marrying a woman younger than she is. Her crush is still not a good boyfriend but she finds out soon enough to give him up. She sells her inheritance, the newspaper, because she doesn't want to do that anymore than her father does. And when someone comes to visit her where she's restoring a boat she bought, her life starts to look a lot brighter. Al finally knows what she wants to do...

What was not to love about this book
Loved every second of it!

Escape with Women’s Fiction Best Bets for January 2017
Scarlettleigh
Reading is escape, and the opposite of escape; it's a way to make contact with reality after a day of making things up, and it's a way of making contact with someone else's imagination after a day that's all too real.”
-Nora Ephron
Of course we all know this—we’re readers after all! But nothing makes you appreciate reading more than a great book and in this month releases there are some excellent books. Make contact with someone else’s imagination because these authors shine as storytellers!

I Liked My Life by Abby Fabiaschi

(Amazon | B&N | Kobo)
A story from debut author Abby Fabiaschi that is “as absorbing as it is illuminating, and as witty as it is heartbreaking.”
Maddy is a devoted stay-at-home wife and mother, host of excellent parties, giver of thoughtful gifts, and bestower of a searingly perceptive piece of advice or two. She is the cornerstone of her family, a true matriarch...until she commits suicide, leaving her husband Brady and teenage daughter Eve heartbroken and reeling, wondering what happened. How could the exuberant, exacting woman they loved disappear so abruptly, seemingly without reason, from their lives? How they can possibly continue without her? As they sift through details of her last days, trying to understand the woman they thought they knew, Brady and Eve are forced to come to terms with unsettling truths.
Maddy, however, isn’t ready to leave her family forever. Watching from beyond, she tries to find the perfect replacement for herself. Along comes Rory: pretty, caring, and spontaneous, with just the right bit of edge...but who also harbors a tragedy of her own. Will the mystery of Maddy ever come to rest? And can her family make peace with their history and begin to heal?
Strengths: Multi-faceted characters; Imaginative concept; Uplifting ending
Measure of Love:  Dash
Mood: Poignant
Why You Should Read this: What a spectacular debut! Reading the book summary, you might think, oh, I’ve read a ghost/matchmaking book like this before –but I dare say you haven’t! Wonderful emotional intensity, fabulous characters and imaginative storytelling. The mystery of Maddy’s death, the struggle of her family will keep you turning the pages. While the story is poignant, it is never dark.

Traveling Light by Lynne Branard

(Amazon | B&N | Kobo)
Driving from North Carolina to New Mexico with her three-legged dog, a strange man’s ashes, and a waitress named Blossom riding shotgun isn’t exactly what Alissa Wells ever wanted to be doing. But it’s exactly what she needs...
It all starts when Alissa impulsively puts a bid on an abandoned storage unit, only to become the proud new owner of Roger Hart’s remains. Two weeks later, she jumps in her car and heads west, thinking that returning the ashes of a dead man might be the first step on her way to a new life.
She isn’t wrong.
Especially when Blossom, who just graduated from high school, hitches a ride with her to Texas, and Alissa has to get used to letting someone else take the wheel. Posting about their road trip on Facebook, complete with photos of Roger at every stop, Blossom opens Alissa’s eyes to the road in front of her—and to how sometimes the best things in life are the ones you never see coming…
Strengths:  Engaging Characters; Unique Premise; Uplifting ending
Measure of Love:  Dash
Mood: Poignant
Why You Should Read This: How many people would decide to travel across country to return a stranger’s ashes? Someone who has gotten in a rut, and is not sure how to get out of it.  The story is a little bit quirky and fun but also authentic in its examination of life, and the decisions that define us. A great road trip!

On Second Thought by Kristan Higgins

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Ainsley O'Leary is so ready to get married—she's even found the engagement ring her boyfriend has stashed away. What she doesn't anticipate is being blindsided by a breakup he chronicles in a blog…which (of course) goes viral. Devastated and humiliated, Ainsley turns to her older half sister, Kate, who's struggling with a sudden loss of her own. 
Kate's always been the poised, self-assured sister, but becoming a newlywed—and a widow—in the space of four months overwhelms her. Though the sisters were never close, she starts to confide in Ainsley, especially when she learns her late husband was keeping a secret from her.  
Despite the murky blended-family dynamic that's always separated them, Ainsley's and Kate's heartaches bind their summer together when they come to terms with the inevitable imperfection of relationships and family—and the possibility of one day finding love again.
Strengths:  Wonderful new beginning story; Authentic messy scenarios; HEA  
Measure of Love:  Teaspoon
Mood: Poignant & Humorous
Why You Should Read This: Higgins is a master at writing pathos and humor and this book shines in that regard.  Excellent insights into the emotional rollercoaster of lost and grief.

The Guests on South Battery Street by Karen White

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With her extended maternity leave at its end, Melanie Trenholm is less than thrilled to leave her new husband and beautiful twins to return to work, especially when she’s awoken by a phone call with no voice on the other end—and the uneasy feeling that the ghostly apparitions that have stayed silent for more than a year are about to invade her life once more.
But her return to the realty office goes better than she could have hoped, with a new client eager to sell the home she recently inherited on South Battery. Most would treasure living in one of the grandest old homes in the famous historic district of Charleston, but Jayne Smith would rather sell hers as soon as possible, guaranteeing Melanie a quick commission.
Despite her stroke of luck, Melanie can’t deny that spirits—both malevolent and benign—have started to show themselves to her again. One is shrouded from sight, but appears whenever Jayne is near. Another arrives when an old cistern is discovered in Melanie’s backyard on Tradd Street.
Melanie knows nothing good can come from unearthing the past. But some secrets refuse to stay buried....
Strengths: Strong interesting characters; Fascinating Setting; Uplifting Ending
Measure of Love:  Dash
Mood:  Atmospheric and Humorous
Why You Should Read This: The “I see dead people” concept, the compelling mystery, the sly humor and the fabulous setting make this one addictive series. Book five is just as enticing as the first with plenty of twist and turns and surprises.

A Night In With Grace Kelly by Lucy Holliday

(Amazon | B&N | Kobo)
The LOL finale to the series that started with A Night in With Audrey Hepburn. Perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella and Lindsey Kelk.
Fate has got it in for Libby Lomax. She realised, far too late, that her best friend Olly, is the actual Love of Her Life. Now he’s in love with the so-nice-it-hurts, Tash, and it looks like her happy ending is completely out of reach.
Things start looking up when she, quite literally, runs into the completely gorgeous Joel. Libby discovers that there is more to Joel than his six-pack, not least, the incredible fact that he honestly believes he has found his fairy tale princess in her.
And if this wasn’t enough, an unwanted guest shows up on Libby’s enchanted sofa; Grace Kelly, wearing her iconic wedding dress and convinced that Libby is figment of her imagination. But one thing that Grace doesn’t believe in is fairy tales. Grace believes that if you really want something, then you’ve got to make it happen yourself; words which give Libby hope that happy endings aren’t just for fairy tale princesses…
Strengths: Fun and lighthearted; Perfect escapism reading; HEA
Measure of Love:  Teaspoon
Mood: Lighthearted  
Why You Should Read This: Entertaining and satisfying ending to an amusing three book series. Readers and Libby had to wait a bit for her happy ending, but the journey was diverting and charming.

H&H Editor Picks:
First Look: Kristan Higgins’s On Second Thought
Why Romance is the Perfect Place to Tackle Tough Issues
February 2017 Romance New Releases