Hello, Love: a funny, heartwarming love story

 Hello, Love by Karen McQuestion is the story of moving forward. A year after the death of his beloved wife, Christine, Dan is barely holding on. The only thing that gets him through the long and lonely nights is their cherished dog, Anni. One night, Anni is stolen from his front yard, Dan and his teenage daughter, Lindsay, are devastated and do everything they can to find her and bring her home. Meanwhile, in another part of town, Andrea Keller is recovering from the heartbreak of a messy divorce. While servicing a notice to tenants, she recuses a defenseless dog and her life changes in ways she never could have imagined. Providence causes Dan and Andrea to cross paths again and again and slowly they are drawn to each together but unable to make that final connection. Will Anni find her way home? Will Dan and Andrea find a second chance at happiness? 

Hello, Love is a heartwarming story of finding love a second time. It was an easy book to get lost in and devour in a day. I could not put it down as I waited to see if Anni would make it home and if Dan and Andrea would truly end up together. I loved the growing tension as each potential meet brings Dan and Andrea closer together. There are moments of laughter and moments of shock and tears. Dan and Andrea’s lives are filled with wonderful, colorful characters which help push them outside of their comfort zones and closer to each other. It’s not an overly complicated story and it's not a book that takes itself too seriously. It is simply a “feel-good, read in an afternoon” kind of book. If you are ready to set back and read a heartwarming, feel good story, I recommend Hello, Love. 

Hello, Love is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook. 

Easily Amused: a cute, funny story about life, love and finding yourself.

Easily Amused by Karen McQuestion is the story of Lola Watson. At 29 years old, she inherits a house on King Street from her great-aunt May, a woman she barely remembers. As she begins to enjoy her new house, her neighbors begin to welcome her and try to pull her into their community. She is content just to live there and not engage with any one unless she has to. When her heartbroken high school friend, Hubert Holmes, comes to stay at her house and her young sister, Mindy, announces that she has moved her wedding date, to Lola’s thirtieth birthday, she quickly becomes discontent with her new home. But when the mysterious neighbor, the handsome Ryan Moriarty, enters her life, Lola begins to believe she has found the perfect guy and the cherry on top, the chance to one-up her sister. Will Lola open herself to the new friendships of the neighborhood? Is there more to Ryan than meets the eye? 

Easily Amused is one of Karen McQuestion’s first published worlds and as I have read her newer books, I can see how she has evolved as a writer. The story was cute and funny. Although I found Lola to be very annoying and opinionated, especially about situations that she has no experience with, she redeems herself in the end. In Easily Amused, it is the secondary characters that were the most interesting. The residents of King Street, an eccentric but great group, were the heart and soul of the story. They are able to show Lola that family is more than who you are related to. Through Hubert, Lola finally sees there is more to her neighbors than her first impressions. The story was fun and entertaining. It is a lighthearted story which doesn’t try to take itself too seriously but gives us the reminder that love, family and a sense of belonging can be found where we least expect it. I recommend Easily Amused. 

Easily Amused is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook.