The fun part of reviewing local authors is that I may know them. I've  known Andrea since we were teenagers. Just yesterday, right Andrea?  We share a love of writing and have gotten to know each other a bit better the last couple of years. Today I'm excited to review her new book. 

How Sweet IT IS takes place in a fictional town in northern Minnesota set along the shores of Lake Superior. Susan May Warren created this fictional town and then as her books grew in popularity she created an author mentorship program along with a publishing house, Sunrise Publishing. She invited authors to write in the world that she created, expanding the stories available to readers set in Deep Haven. 

This is Andrea's fourth book set in Deep Haven, but is her first book in a new series. True to the other Deep Haven Books, this has all the elements of a cozy romance read. Professional baker Robin Fox, leaves her career in Paris, and travels back to her hometown to give her grandparents a much needed break from their jobs at the local bakery. While back home, she runs into her high school crush, Sammy, who didn't see her as anything more than a friend in high school. While that isn't the case now, Sammy is working through some post traumatic stress and recurrent pain issues from a car accident two years earlier. He doesn't know if it is fair to involve Robin in his issues. As their friendship deepens into more than friends, Robin's stent in her home town comes to a close, leaving Robin to begin to question what she really wants in life. 

I recommend this book for a beach/vacation read, a lazy Saturday, or to unwind after the end of a busy day. I guarantee you'll fall in love with this quaint town on the North Shore, and who doesn't love a cozy romance filled with sweet aromas and mouth watering breads and cakes. Me! I do!

Andrea Christenson grew up in Wisconsin, but now lives in Minneapolis with her husband and two children. You can check out her author blog here. 

Wisteria: Rekindling faith and purpose is a debut novel from Pine Island, Minnesota resident Ginny Graham. It is the story of Angela, who becomes a widow after a tragic car accident kills her husband and two of his friends. 

The story follows Angela's journey of rebuilding a new life for herself as she tries and makes her flower shop, Wisteria, a success to be able to support herself now that she no longer has her husband's income. 

The friendship between the three women, who all lost their husbands at the same time, and the support group that they created for themselves is a strength of the novel. The novel is classified as Christian contemporary fiction, and we see Angela struggle to reconcile her faith with the loss of her husband. It is not a fast paced story, but for those of you who enjoy stories centered around small towns, small businesses, families, and the friendships of women you will enjoy it.

I interviewed Graham for the News-Record, our local newspaper, and she writes from personal experience. Graham's personal research and fascination with flower decorating comes through strong in the book. She had shared with me that she spent a lot of time popping into flower shops and asking to watch them make arrangements. 

She is a widow and she lost her husband after a long battle with cancer. She was left with her husband's small town butcher shop to run until she was able to sell it. Her desire to write the book came from her personal experience with reaching books with widows in them. She could always tell which authors had their own personal experience and which were fabricating what they thought being a widow would be like. 

Her book can be purchased on Amazon here: Wisteria: Rekindling faith and purpose
Visit her website: Ginny Graham if you'd like to learn more about her.