Sweet Tea and Southern Charm--"Vixen's Diner" by Penny McIntosh—Review

 

My review:

"Vixen's Diner" by Penny McIntosh is “full of sweet tea, Southern charm and romance” (Goodreads).  I could not have said it better myself. Ms. McIntosh writes a contemporary romance with some magical realism.  The story takes place in a small Southern town.  I love the premise.  In the beginning, we meet Granny, who previously owned the family diner.  She wants Emmy to live the life Granny wanted for her and to not repeat the same mistakes of her ancestors.  She desires for Emmy to be strong and brave.  The only problem is Granny is dead and does not know how to contact Emmy. 

Throughout the story we watch as Emmy navigates life without her grandmother and is trying to run the family diner on her own.  We follow Emmy as she grows, makes choices and figures out who she is and what she wants in life.  Also, if you are into “book boyfriends,” I think you will really like Nick. 

Emmy learns some lessons along the way about not letting the past control her and that she has a choice in how she lives her life.  Be sure to read the special edition if you are sensitive to content.  There are some more serious themes in "Vixen's Diner,” especially surrounding a past boyfriend who is abusive and displays stalker-like behavior.  It is unsettling to read about his thoughts at times.  Overall, I really enjoyed this charming, nostalgic read!  I would recommend "Vixen's Diner" to anyone who enjoys Southern stories, romance, and contemporary women’s fiction. 

Content:  I give this book a PG-13 rating.  Be sure to read the special edition if you are sensitive to content.  Some examples of the content are: a woman is in an abusive relationship; women get pregnant and have children out of wedlock; the words “hell,” “sh*t,” “a**hole,” “b*tch,” and “da*n” are used; a woman is raped, but the book doesn’t go into detail; there is mention of losing one’s virginity; a man has an affair; sexual innuendos; the Lord’s name is taken in vain; characters drink alcohol and get drunk; there is a scene with a little foreplay.

Rating:  I give this book 5 stars!

I bought this book with my own money.  I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions are my own.

About the Author:

Penny McIntosh is a stay at wife, and mom of three. She has a degrees in Religious Studies and Teaching, and has always been drawn to the mystical and the unknown (something she tries to incorporate into all her books). She is an avid reader, and finds that the silence of the twilight hours offers the most inspiration for writing.

To purchase the book click here (make sure to get the special edition if you are sensitive to content)
To visit the author's website click here

An Ode to the Motherhood Journey--"Reflection of Me" by Penny McIntosh—Review

 

My review:

"Reflection of Me" by Penny McIntosh is a contemporary novel sprinkled with magical realism.  From the exciting opening, Ms. McIntosh instantly drew me into her novel.  The main character, Callie, is a wife and mother who is feeling unappreciated and struggling with her role in life and with her marriage.  She is given the chance to see her future and what she will become if she does not change her ways.  It’s fascinating to see how things play out.  I love the touches of magical realism and there are definitely some surprises along the way!  Ms. McIntosh masterfully portrays the emotions that many stay-at-home moms feel.  

You don’t have to be a mom to relate to Callie’s life and struggles.  Part of the story is about her journey as a mom and a wife.  Callie must learn to find peace and joy from within.  She has shut people out and kept them from helping her.  Can she learn to let people back in before it is too late?  Or is she destined to become the person the mirror portrays?  What if you were shown the future?  Do you think you would be able to fix things and change the outcome?  Find out what happens to Callie!  This book kept me turning the pages to find out what became of Callie and in the end it encouraged me to not take my husband for granted, to seek peace and joy within and make sure I am present in each moment of each day.  

Make sure to get the special edition that has all the “F” words removed if you are sensitive to language.

Content:  I give this book a PG-13 rating.  Some examples of the content are: a woman commits suicide; the Lord’s name is taken in vain; words “as*,” “bi*ch,” “sh*t,” “hell,” and “da*n” are used; a character drinks alcohol; a quick fade to black scene of a married couple

Rating:  I give this book 5 stars!

I bought this book with my own money.  I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions are my own.

About the Author:

Penny McIntosh is a stay at wife, and mom of three. She has a degrees in Religious Studies and Teaching, and has always been drawn to the mystical and the unknown (something she tries to incorporate into all her books). She is an avid reader, and finds that the silence of the twilight hours offers the most inspiration for writing.

To purchase the book click here
To visit the author's website click here

Fate, Choices and Soul Mates--"Her Choice" by Penny McIntosh--Review

My Review

“Her Choice” by Penny McIntosh is a novel about fate, choices and soul mates.  Ms. McIntosh employs magical realism in this contemporary story, with a good dose of romance as well.

From the first line, Ms. McIntosh hooks the reader into this cleverly crafted story.  The writing is amazing.  Lucy, the main character, is fun and relatable.  She needs to find out who she is and where she belongs.  In between deciding between her boyfriend and his best friend, Lucy learns a lot about life and herself in the process.  She learns about choices and when we make wrong choices, we can try to make something good from them.  Most of all, she learns where she belongs and to live fully in the present.

Fans of romance and contemporary stories (with a little magic on the side) will love this book!

Content:  I give this book a strong PG-13 rating.  Some examples of the content are:  the words “hell,” “crap,” “sh*t,” “bastard,” “as*,” and “bi**h” are used; the Lord’s name is taken in vain; talk of “getting into a woman’s pants,” sex, and “getting laid”; people drink alcohol; a woman is called a “whore”; there are scenes leading up to sex and then pillow talk afterwards; sex outside of marriage.


Rating:  I give this book 5 stars.

About the Author 

Penny McIntosh is a stay at wife, and mom of three. She has a degrees in Religious Studies and Teaching, and has always been drawn to the mystical and the unknown (something she tries to incorporate into all her books). She is an avid reader, and finds that the silence of the twilight hours offers the most inspiration for writing.

To purchase the book click here
To visit the author's website click here