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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
What a sweet uplifting story. A few holes, but the overall plot and tension were spot on.
This was a really sweet book, and I certainly shed some tears. My only issues were the amount of character stories added into the book, there were too many and it felt a little choppy and it was hard to remember who was who. The romance was just too rushed, and really the couple is very young with a lot of responsibilities... I just didn't think it was believable.
This is such a feel good story. You can't help but love Johnny and Dori. They have both been dealt a rough hand by life. They are so young, yet they had to grow up so fast that they seem older. It was a little slow going in the beginning for me, but once it got going I couldn't put it down. You can't help but want a happy ending for them. Great read!
Picked this up on a whim, and I am so glad I did. Sometimes, you just need to read a small town Southern romance. This book tugged at my heart. An adorable, heartfelt read, with a healthy dose of humor and hope!
As seen on Nelle's Nightstand
We saw Dori and the Pine boys a bit in Count Your Blessings. I was excited to read their story! Sharon Sala sure knows how to deliver!
This is a story of small town life and how it can be cruel at times. The story is written with multiple POV’s so it can be hard to keep track at times but oh so worth it to get the thoughts and feelings of the whole town or just the most prominent characters.
The story starts off with two different kinds of tragedies, but first a little background. Dori is young teenage single mom who lives with her grandfather. She works as a dishwasher and her Granddad watches Luther Joe while she works. She’s from “decent” family. Johnny is raising his two small brothers after his dad goes to prison for life and his mother dies. Johnny is from the wrong side of the tracks.
Beep is beaten up at school by 4 older boys. Boys that belong to some influential town personnel. I love how Johnny comes storming in and won’t take crap from that principal! He gains the support of the town doctor, a cop, a lawyer and the town hairdresser.
One tragic night, Dori’s house catches fire and her grandfather dies of a heartattack. All of her neighbors wish her well and say they will pray for her but leave her to fend for herself! The only one’s to offer her help that night was Johnny and the boys because they went to check out the fire because the boys wanted to be sure there sitter was ok. My heart melted!
The rest of the book was terrific! We have one of Dori’s old neighbors, who’s ashamed, get vindictive toward Dori and Johnny because they are living together and are “unwed”. True southern town politics! I love how the story plays out.
Dori and Johnny are attracted to one another but they take it slow until circumstances arise to thwart that. I’m telling you the plot twists in this are spectacular and I can’t wait for the next entry into the Blessings, Georgia series!
We saw Dori and the Pine boys a bit in Count Your Blessings. I was excited to read their story! Sharon Sala sure knows how to deliver!
This is a story of small town life and how it can be cruel at times. The story is written with multiple POV’s so it can be hard to keep track at times but oh so worth it to get the thoughts and feelings of the whole town or just the most prominent characters.
The story starts off with two different kinds of tragedies, but first a little background. Dori is young teenage single mom who lives with her grandfather. She works as a dishwasher and her Granddad watches Luther Joe while she works. She’s from “decent” family. Johnny is raising his two small brothers after his dad goes to prison for life and his mother dies. Johnny is from the wrong side of the tracks.
Beep is beaten up at school by 4 older boys. Boys that belong to some influential town personnel. I love how Johnny comes storming in and won’t take crap from that principal! He gains the support of the town doctor, a cop, a lawyer and the town hairdresser.
One tragic night, Dori’s house catches fire and her grandfather dies of a heartattack. All of her neighbors wish her well and say they will pray for her but leave her to fend for herself! The only one’s to offer her help that night was Johnny and the boys because they went to check out the fire because the boys wanted to be sure there sitter was ok. My heart melted!
The rest of the book was terrific! We have one of Dori’s old neighbors, who’s ashamed, get vindictive toward Dori and Johnny because they are living together and are “unwed”. True southern town politics! I love how the story plays out.
Dori and Johnny are attracted to one another but they take it slow until circumstances arise to thwart that. I’m telling you the plot twists in this are spectacular and I can’t wait for the next entry into the Blessings, Georgia series!
i wish this had been better because i LOVE the set-up for dori/johnny, two people who grew up too fast finding and helping each other and becoming a family, but the execution left a lot to be desired.
It's the characters that are so important in this series and Sala once again brings us wonderful ones. Not only Dori and Johnny, but Johnny's little brothers and those people in the town who are so willing to lend a hand when needed.
Life hasn’t always been kind to Dori or Johnny, but they have never given up. They work hard at making a good life for those they care about and when life brings them into the same sphere, that dedication expands to encompass both families. But while life keeps throwing them punches, now they have each other and it is so very sweet watching them fall in love. I’m impressed at how, being so young but having to take on so much responsibility, they still manage to keep a good attitude. They aren’t naïve but they aren’t letting it turn them bitter either. They are such a fantastic match and I was so very happy that they found each other.
As with the other books, Sala continues to bring a great cast of secondary characters … unfortunately not all of them have a good heart. It isn’t always pretty, but Sala manages to do a fantastic job of capturing that small town feel. There are caring people, who help and support those around them, but there are also those that only look out for themselves. It’s both kinds of people that bring Dori and Johnny to their eventual HEA. And while it isn’t always roses and sunshine, thee good definitely outweighs the bad in their lives, which I think is what most of us hope for.
If you haven’t read Count Your Blessings (previously titled Color Me Bad) or Curl Up & Dye, it's OK because all of these books can stand on their own. But it does help to give you an idea of the small Southern town charm and politics that Sala captures so well. And as much as I loved the first two stories, I think this one is my favorite (so far, because I can’t wait to see what Sala has in store for us next).
(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review.)
Life hasn’t always been kind to Dori or Johnny, but they have never given up. They work hard at making a good life for those they care about and when life brings them into the same sphere, that dedication expands to encompass both families. But while life keeps throwing them punches, now they have each other and it is so very sweet watching them fall in love. I’m impressed at how, being so young but having to take on so much responsibility, they still manage to keep a good attitude. They aren’t naïve but they aren’t letting it turn them bitter either. They are such a fantastic match and I was so very happy that they found each other.
As with the other books, Sala continues to bring a great cast of secondary characters … unfortunately not all of them have a good heart. It isn’t always pretty, but Sala manages to do a fantastic job of capturing that small town feel. There are caring people, who help and support those around them, but there are also those that only look out for themselves. It’s both kinds of people that bring Dori and Johnny to their eventual HEA. And while it isn’t always roses and sunshine, thee good definitely outweighs the bad in their lives, which I think is what most of us hope for.
If you haven’t read Count Your Blessings (previously titled Color Me Bad) or Curl Up & Dye, it's OK because all of these books can stand on their own. But it does help to give you an idea of the small Southern town charm and politics that Sala captures so well. And as much as I loved the first two stories, I think this one is my favorite (so far, because I can’t wait to see what Sala has in store for us next).
(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review.)