The Happy Camper

December 23, 2019
Carlson (Christmas in Winter Hill) delivers a light romance in this cute inspirational. Inconsiderate and unpunctual Brandon Kranze has made Dillon Michaels wait one too many times. After she ends their relationship, she asks God for help and leaves her job in Colorado Springs to head home to Oregon to care for her grandfather. There she finds her newly single mother has moved into Dillon’s old room, leaving Dillon to sleep on the couch. When Dillon’s grandfather gives her an old trailer on his property, she loves it and quickly gets to work fixing it up. It doesn’t hurt that doing so gives her a reason to see Jordan Atwood, the handsome owner of the local hardware store who also happens to own a vintage trailer. She’s eager to get to know him better, but someone else is competing for Jordan’s affections. Brandon also shows up, determined to win back Dillon’s heart. Dillon, through it all, relies on God’s strength to see her through. Memorable characters and a satisfying inspirational core make this one a winner.

March 1, 2020

Dillon Michaels slaves away at an office job that she doesn't care much about while she dates a guy she's trying a little too hard to love. In the space of a few days, she walks away from both the man and the job to live on her grandfather's farm in Oregon. There, she finds that her grandpa is depressed, her mother is as dysfunctional as ever, and the house is a mess. Rediscovering the joy of manual labor, Dillon tries her hand at refurbishing a vintage camping trailer, with help from a handsome hardware store owner, and discovers that, with a little diligence, just about anything can be restored. At times a lovable cliché, this story is a satisfying, light spring break read. VERDICT Packed with a lot of small-town charm and a little bit of faith, Carlson's latest (Christmas in Winter Hill) delivers a fun romance with crossover appeal. The author is prolific, but she hasn't lost her touch for modern romantic fiction. Recommended as a stand-alone for new Carlson readers and fans of Courtney Walsh and Sandra D. Bricker.--Christine Barth, Scott Cty. Lib. Syst., IA

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