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staceyhust88's review against another edition
3.0
Originally Posted At:
www.thebookishloner.com
My Thoughts
Finding Focus is a story about a girl finding her place in the world. It’s bittersweet at times and full of hope at others, it’s the type of story that leaves your heart happy.
"Someone once said life is a like a camera. Just focus on what’s important and capture the good times, develop from the negatives, and if things don’t work out, take another shot."
Sheridan Reed is the type of MC that we all can relate to. From her work troubles, to her family troubles, to her boy troubles; it’s safe to say we’ve all been there. I think that’s what makes us hope for her happy ending, because if it can work for her, it can work for us. Micah is your stereotypical southern charmer, which is to say, I loved him. Chivalry is NOT dead, it’s alive and well down in the south.
While I completely enjoyed the book, it didn’t shoot off any fireworks for me. It solidly falls into your run of the mill contemporary romance, which is not a bad thing at all, I just don’t have a lot of opinions on it other than to say if you’re looking for a good, fun, entertaining couple of hours then Finding Focus will definitely fill that hole for you. Do I recommend it? Yes. Do I think it will change your life? No. But does a book need to change your life in order for it to be good? I don’t think so.
www.thebookishloner.com
My Thoughts
Finding Focus is a story about a girl finding her place in the world. It’s bittersweet at times and full of hope at others, it’s the type of story that leaves your heart happy.
"Someone once said life is a like a camera. Just focus on what’s important and capture the good times, develop from the negatives, and if things don’t work out, take another shot."
Sheridan Reed is the type of MC that we all can relate to. From her work troubles, to her family troubles, to her boy troubles; it’s safe to say we’ve all been there. I think that’s what makes us hope for her happy ending, because if it can work for her, it can work for us. Micah is your stereotypical southern charmer, which is to say, I loved him. Chivalry is NOT dead, it’s alive and well down in the south.
While I completely enjoyed the book, it didn’t shoot off any fireworks for me. It solidly falls into your run of the mill contemporary romance, which is not a bad thing at all, I just don’t have a lot of opinions on it other than to say if you’re looking for a good, fun, entertaining couple of hours then Finding Focus will definitely fill that hole for you. Do I recommend it? Yes. Do I think it will change your life? No. But does a book need to change your life in order for it to be good? I don’t think so.
agrutle's review against another edition
5.0
Thanks to the authors for the book in exchange for a honest review.
Dani is adrift right now. She lost her job and she's not enjoying the relationship she's in anymore. Especially since he's leaving on vacation by himself. Sureeee by himself! Her best friend calls in the nick of time with a freelance job in Louisiana. It was the perfect thing for her at the time. Bag packed she set off on what she hoped was the first in many jobs. Being in Louisiana is just like being home, the area soothes her soul.
Her job is to photograph the Landry Plantation. She falls in love with it, its beautiful and it makes her feel more alive than ever. The house and the people make her feel right at home. Anne Landry is the mom and she's in charge. Dani can't help but love her and everyone there. Then she meets Micah. She doesn't know his name just yet but our first sight of him isn't in the most flattering light. He's a bit of a playboy, but something about the way he is is intriguing to Dani.
Micah makes not apologies for the way he lives his life. He's single and young, why shouldn't he live the way he wants? He meets Dani and he wants to 'straighten' up. He likes her but he knows he's got to take it slow with her but she's worth it!
Life works in mysteries ways, now that Dani has experienced true family she is hesitant to go back to her dull life in New York. When she goes back she's not happy, in fact she's even more unhappy to be away from everything she grew to love in Louisiana.
I really enjoyed Dani and Micah's story. They were adorable together. Easy and peaceful. I read this one in an afternoon and like always regretted it as soon as I was finished. I tend to read books that I love and get sucked in to. I don't come up for air until I'm finished with them and this was one of those books. Grab it today here. Leave some love in the form of a review!
Dani is adrift right now. She lost her job and she's not enjoying the relationship she's in anymore. Especially since he's leaving on vacation by himself. Sureeee by himself! Her best friend calls in the nick of time with a freelance job in Louisiana. It was the perfect thing for her at the time. Bag packed she set off on what she hoped was the first in many jobs. Being in Louisiana is just like being home, the area soothes her soul.
Her job is to photograph the Landry Plantation. She falls in love with it, its beautiful and it makes her feel more alive than ever. The house and the people make her feel right at home. Anne Landry is the mom and she's in charge. Dani can't help but love her and everyone there. Then she meets Micah. She doesn't know his name just yet but our first sight of him isn't in the most flattering light. He's a bit of a playboy, but something about the way he is is intriguing to Dani.
Micah makes not apologies for the way he lives his life. He's single and young, why shouldn't he live the way he wants? He meets Dani and he wants to 'straighten' up. He likes her but he knows he's got to take it slow with her but she's worth it!
Life works in mysteries ways, now that Dani has experienced true family she is hesitant to go back to her dull life in New York. When she goes back she's not happy, in fact she's even more unhappy to be away from everything she grew to love in Louisiana.
I really enjoyed Dani and Micah's story. They were adorable together. Easy and peaceful. I read this one in an afternoon and like always regretted it as soon as I was finished. I tend to read books that I love and get sucked in to. I don't come up for air until I'm finished with them and this was one of those books. Grab it today here. Leave some love in the form of a review!
blmiller0280's review against another edition
4.0
If you're looking for a feel-good contemporary romance, stop looking!!! You found it!! I am so in love with these characters, I feel like they are family! Can't wait to start Chasing Castles!!
apagetoturn's review against another edition
5.0
My rating: 5
This book you guys. It warms my sweet little southern heart.
I read this book at the exact moment that I needed to. It found me in a rough moment, in between a book I couldn't finish and when I just needed a happy ending! I've had a hard time finding a good book since finishing Colleen Hoover's It Ends With Us. That book broke me... and this one just helped put me back together. Walking into this story felt like home... it makes me feel like I can travel to LA and walk through the door to the smell of biscuits and gravy, surrounded by family! Ha!
I instantly connected to Dani. Sheridan Reed is a photographer, she looks at life though a lens and sees the beauty in things that most of us miss. She's a southern belle in the big city and didn't realize how much of the south was still in her blood until she got fired from her job... then sent to backwoods Louisiana to do a freelance piece on a grand southern plantation. Coming back south connected her to her roots, and her Granny. Dani's Granny reminds me so much of my Gram - the baking and recipes. That was what I shared with my grandmother and it was bittersweet since I'm coming up on three years from losing her to lung cancer. This book hit very close to home for me.
“I think her recipes are my most treasured possessions. When I read over them and see her handwriting, I feel like she’s right there with me. Sometimes, when I’m missing her the most, I’ll pull one out and just cook. I can hear her voice, feel her presence, and the smells take me back to her kitchen. Those are my happiest memories.”
Enter the Landry family. Annie and Sam, Micah and Deacon... Tucker and Camille, Carter... all the people that welcome Dani with open arms. The cast of characters in this book are just fabulous and super well developed! Best friend Piper, and even her boyfriend, Graham. Bless his heart. I loved to hate him... but everyone else I could picture someone in my life relating to each of them and that was a neat thing to realize. Annie is a lot like my Mother-in-law; super hospitable and cares about others, no judgement at all. Cami was a lot like one of sisters and Piper is a dead ringer for my bestie, Laura.
Dani and Micah had an undeniable connection from the very beginning and it's so sweet to watch that develop as she is learning more about herself and trying to find her focus in life. She's still a little lost after college and being fired... coming home to the south sets her back on a path to happiness.
Best conversation to be had; I literally spit coffee across the room reading this right here:
“Who doesn’t like hamburgers?”
“Vegetarians?”
“Deep down, I bet even vegetarians crave a big ol’ juicy hamburger.” She laughs.
“I couldn’t be a vegetarian. I like bacon too much.”
“Bacon is the gateway meat.”
“The what?” she asks.
“Gateway meat. It’s the one that sucks them in.”
“Them, who?”
“Vegetarians. It’s basically the marijuana of the meat world.”
I also have to mention that I've been wanting a tattoo recently, a compass. Now, I know why and how it would relate to me, my marriage and my life. I know exactly what I want and can't wait to call my artist and get her to draw it up! That was the best part of this book to me - the story behind the story. The heart of it all. So beautiful. I've already started and almost finished the sequel, Chasing Castles, as well. It's Deacon and Cami's story. It's a beautiful mess and I can't wait to finish it and share that review later this month!
This book you guys. It warms my sweet little southern heart.
I read this book at the exact moment that I needed to. It found me in a rough moment, in between a book I couldn't finish and when I just needed a happy ending! I've had a hard time finding a good book since finishing Colleen Hoover's It Ends With Us. That book broke me... and this one just helped put me back together. Walking into this story felt like home... it makes me feel like I can travel to LA and walk through the door to the smell of biscuits and gravy, surrounded by family! Ha!
I instantly connected to Dani. Sheridan Reed is a photographer, she looks at life though a lens and sees the beauty in things that most of us miss. She's a southern belle in the big city and didn't realize how much of the south was still in her blood until she got fired from her job... then sent to backwoods Louisiana to do a freelance piece on a grand southern plantation. Coming back south connected her to her roots, and her Granny. Dani's Granny reminds me so much of my Gram - the baking and recipes. That was what I shared with my grandmother and it was bittersweet since I'm coming up on three years from losing her to lung cancer. This book hit very close to home for me.
“I think her recipes are my most treasured possessions. When I read over them and see her handwriting, I feel like she’s right there with me. Sometimes, when I’m missing her the most, I’ll pull one out and just cook. I can hear her voice, feel her presence, and the smells take me back to her kitchen. Those are my happiest memories.”
Enter the Landry family. Annie and Sam, Micah and Deacon... Tucker and Camille, Carter... all the people that welcome Dani with open arms. The cast of characters in this book are just fabulous and super well developed! Best friend Piper, and even her boyfriend, Graham. Bless his heart. I loved to hate him... but everyone else I could picture someone in my life relating to each of them and that was a neat thing to realize. Annie is a lot like my Mother-in-law; super hospitable and cares about others, no judgement at all. Cami was a lot like one of sisters and Piper is a dead ringer for my bestie, Laura.
Dani and Micah had an undeniable connection from the very beginning and it's so sweet to watch that develop as she is learning more about herself and trying to find her focus in life. She's still a little lost after college and being fired... coming home to the south sets her back on a path to happiness.
Best conversation to be had; I literally spit coffee across the room reading this right here:
“Who doesn’t like hamburgers?”
“Vegetarians?”
“Deep down, I bet even vegetarians crave a big ol’ juicy hamburger.” She laughs.
“I couldn’t be a vegetarian. I like bacon too much.”
“Bacon is the gateway meat.”
“The what?” she asks.
“Gateway meat. It’s the one that sucks them in.”
“Them, who?”
“Vegetarians. It’s basically the marijuana of the meat world.”
I also have to mention that I've been wanting a tattoo recently, a compass. Now, I know why and how it would relate to me, my marriage and my life. I know exactly what I want and can't wait to call my artist and get her to draw it up! That was the best part of this book to me - the story behind the story. The heart of it all. So beautiful. I've already started and almost finished the sequel, Chasing Castles, as well. It's Deacon and Cami's story. It's a beautiful mess and I can't wait to finish it and share that review later this month!
sandizzlereads's review against another edition
5.0
Love Jiffy Kate so much!! When I find a new to me author and fall in love with their writing I have to do a deep dive and read everything, and that is what I’m doing, this book was released in 2015!!
This is a sweet southern slow burn that is going to captivate you and make you fall in love. I fell in love with the characters, the town of French Settlement Louisiana and all the other places Micah and Dani go.
The title really gives this story away if you think about it, because it’s really a story of Dani finding her purpose and finding her way back to where she feels most at home.
Jiffy Kate knows how to write sexy southern men with hearts as big as their other parts
This is a sweet southern slow burn that is going to captivate you and make you fall in love. I fell in love with the characters, the town of French Settlement Louisiana and all the other places Micah and Dani go.
The title really gives this story away if you think about it, because it’s really a story of Dani finding her purpose and finding her way back to where she feels most at home.
Jiffy Kate knows how to write sexy southern men with hearts as big as their other parts
debs_shelves's review
5.0
Dani's boyfriend is a jerk and she's finally realized it when he heads off on vacation - without her! Add in that she recently lost her job, and life isn't going too well.
Her friend offers her up a job taking photographs of a family and their home in Louisiana, and off she goes.
We meet Micah, Deacon, Annie - and the whole Landry gang. How could Dani NOT fall in love with the whole family? I know I sure did!
Add in all the yummy food, scenery, and the wit and you have a great book!
Looking forward to the rest in this series!
Her friend offers her up a job taking photographs of a family and their home in Louisiana, and off she goes.
We meet Micah, Deacon, Annie - and the whole Landry gang. How could Dani NOT fall in love with the whole family? I know I sure did!
Add in all the yummy food, scenery, and the wit and you have a great book!
Looking forward to the rest in this series!
readswithsel's review against another edition
4.0
Finding Focus (Finding Focus, #1) by Jiffy Kate (2021/02/18)
Rating 3.5/5 Stars
Disclaimer: All thoughts and opinions are my own
Finding Focus is the first book in the Finding Focus series and can be read as a standalone. This story follows Sheridan “Dani” Reed who is a recently unemployed photojournalist and lives in New York City. When her boyfriend decides to go on a vacation without her, she decides to talk up her best friend's offer of a freelance job in Louisiana for a magazine called Southern Style.
She then meets Micah Landry who is known as the town's playboy. As she spends more time at the Landry’s Plantation and with him, she starts to really care for him and his family. But, when she gets and unexpected phone call which makes her head home she thinks that’s the last she’ll ever see of him or so she thinks.
I really liked this story; I loved the Landry family. I also really liked the side characters and how atmospheric the story was. I loved how the characters developed a really strong friendship before getting into a relationship.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story, and I cannot wait to read more from this author duo and from this series.
TW: Mentions Death Of Loved One, Cheating.
Rating 3.5/5 Stars
Disclaimer: All thoughts and opinions are my own
Finding Focus is the first book in the Finding Focus series and can be read as a standalone. This story follows Sheridan “Dani” Reed who is a recently unemployed photojournalist and lives in New York City. When her boyfriend decides to go on a vacation without her, she decides to talk up her best friend's offer of a freelance job in Louisiana for a magazine called Southern Style.
She then meets Micah Landry who is known as the town's playboy. As she spends more time at the Landry’s Plantation and with him, she starts to really care for him and his family. But, when she gets and unexpected phone call which makes her head home she thinks that’s the last she’ll ever see of him or so she thinks.
I really liked this story; I loved the Landry family. I also really liked the side characters and how atmospheric the story was. I loved how the characters developed a really strong friendship before getting into a relationship.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story, and I cannot wait to read more from this author duo and from this series.
TW: Mentions Death Of Loved One, Cheating.
the_clavicule_of_ac's review against another edition
3.0
You’ll find a typical romance trope with this book, however I was looking for a sweet and easy read- and this book delivers. I had a hard time with the main characters at first, but they grew on me. Some small editing errors here and there, but nothing drastic that would throw you out of the story. If you are looking for a nice read without much drama, this book will do the trick.
emmalouisekreads's review against another edition
4.0
Cute and sweet slow burn contemporary romance. Loved the family aspect. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️