Lakehouse Promises

Laurel Cove Series, Book 1

By: Jodi Allen Brice

Narrated by: Leslie Howard

Carolina Johnson had the life everyone wanted. A solid marriage of 20 years. A gorgeous house in the most desirable neighborhood. Friends at the country club. Yet, somehow, she always felt the other shoe would drop.

And drop it did—when she discovered her husband’s affair with a girl half his age! Even more devastating, she’s pregnant.

Now divorced, she has to start over in a lake house with too many issues to list, a neighbor who doesn’t like her, and zero friends. To make matters worse, her outrageously rude former mother-in-law shows up and expects to spend a few days.

At 40 years of age, Carolina has to start her life over from scratch and draw on the last vestiges of strength she has to make a life for herself.

A new life, new problems, and new relationships...can Carolina find out what matters the most in life and discover what true love really looks like? Or will she refuse to let go of the past and the bitterness that threatens to steal her happiness?

This women’s divorce fiction book will have you rooting for the heroine and everything she has to overcome.

Welcome to Laurel Cove and all the loveable, quirky characters who live here!

©2022 Jodi Vaughn/Jodi Allen Brice (P)2022 Jodi Allen Brice/Jodi Vaughn

A Delight!

WHAT IT'S ABOUT
At forty years of age, Carolina has to start her life over from scratch and draw on the last vestiges of strength she has to make a life for herself.

MY TAKE
At first, Carolina came across as a total doormat. I was sympathetic but then it started to bug me. I guess it must have bugged her too because she came out of her shell of insecurity and began to take control of her life and face off with people. It was a beautiful thing to see.

This is one of those books where the community is another character. I enjoyed how the people she met (even the gruff and grumpy ones) can end up playing important roles. I'm excited there are other stories in this place, and that I'll get to see Carolina (and Thomas) again!

The narrator, Leslie Howard, did a great job!

Sweet Christian Romance!

This is the first book in the Laurel Cove Series. I read it, and loved it. The audiobook version is great! I like this series! Caroline's story is heartbreaking. I liked her strength and determination. Her faith helped her to keep going. Thomas, a widower, is a handsome grumpy handy man. I liked their slow burn romance. The storyline has angst, and twists and turns. This is a sweet Christian Romance. Leslie Howard did a great job with the narration. Looking forward for more in the series.

A Nice Listen

Chris and Carolina have been married for 20 years. He has been having an affair for the past year, and serves Carolina with divorce papers. While at the same party with the same friends, Chris brings his "fiancee" and she announces she is pregnant. The day the divorce is final... they get married and go off on a 3 week honeymoon to Paris. The divorce granted Carolina the "lake house" and a car and a mild alimony for 3 years and her clothes - literally, just her clothes. She has been under the impression the lake house they have had for 7 years has been rented out all that time, only to find it wasn't and hasn't been taken care of - specifically needing a new roof - and no furniture or household goods in the house. But it is her only home so she goes around town (small town) trying to find needed items, hiring a roofer, and getting to know all the townspeople. Every time a problem arises, someone in town helps her out. The rest of the story is just how she figures things out and makes a go of it at the lake house.

My review: Every where she went, she was given a discount, a freebie, a special deal, free help etc. It got to the point of being "so sweet it's fattening". Everything just fell into her hands. I stopped reading at chapter 13 as it was just over-kill. However, a few days later I picked it up and resumed reading and the X-mother-in-law comes on the scene and let the games begin!!! The story gets some life and Carolina got some backbone and stood up to the MIL and her x-husband and a few people in town that weren't that nice to her! It was rather enjoyable. Still, the problems arose and always - a quick resolution was at hand - she got a discount on the dishes because the shop owner needed the shelf space. She was suddenly able to trade her Jeep to a family that needed a larger car for their smaller car and $5000 she needed to pay off the roofer. She got things delivered for free because the delivery person just happen to be going that way anyway. Everything was "at the right place at the right time". In the end, she found out her MIL and X husband had each done a really rotten thing to her that put her in quite a bind and both things were unique and she called them out on it and stood up to them. Yea, Carolina! Only the MIL made restitutions. It was a nice read once things began to happen.

A few things I thought were very "off" were - how did she not know he was cheating on her for a year? Also, why did she not make any demands in the divorce, and her attorney didn't either. Husband "gave" her the lake house (not their expensive house in town), his older Jeep and not the Mercedes convertible, and her clothes and only her clothes and 3 year alimony. Why didn't she at least fight for personal items from her home? Her jewelry, furniture pieces, household items? Why didn't her attorney try to get her more or suggest she fight for more? how did she not know that the lake house was in such bad shape? They/she didn't go to the house even once in the 7 years they had it? The MIL bought a bedroom set for $5000 (no spoiler here!) - but never said where she used it - her place, Carolina's or her sons. Her son didn't tell his mother that he divorced Carolina and remarried and had a baby on the way so when she showed up at the Lakehouse, she thought he was there. Carolina told her what happened and it got no reaction from the mother. I thought that odd.

Also, the narration was about a 3 star. The female narrator didn't do the male voices very well. Thomas, a 40-somthing year old guy, the narrator had his voice sounding like a really old man, struggling to speak so that is what you imagine when you "see" him in your mind. It was also kind of like a "sing-song-y" kind of speech, always upbeat and happy sounding even when the bad things were happening. There was always an "up-swing" in the voice - kind of like if you are watching a murder happen in a movie, the back ground music would be "A Spoonful of Sugar" or something sounding cheerful.

Lakehouse Promises

Thomas is a roofer and handy man.
Carolina works at the green thumb nursery and was recently divorced and now.

Things just keep getting worse until a little help from the friends, she made in the small town.

Eventually everything works out.

This is a great small town romance with some twists and turns.

Great book Jodi Allen Brice !!!
I like the new series!!!