Hey, everyone! Today, we’re sharing the first of many upcoming book reviews, and if you love to read as much as I do, I’m sure you’ll appreciate some of the new titles we’ve found!
Our first book up for review is one that I’ve been reading for a couple of months now. Before you get the wrong impression, no, it wasn’t boring! I’d pick it up, get intrigued and read a few chapters, then have to set it down to run off and do something else. Thankfully though, we ended up going to the cattle auction a couple of weeks ago and I knew I was going to have several hours of free time on my hands. Don’t get me wrong, I love listening to the auctioneer and watching the animals come flying through the ring, but after three or four hours of it, you start to wish you had something else to do than play Temple Run!
So, I actually managed to finish the entire book and was so glad I brought it along! (You didn’t hear this from me, but I actually caught at least one of the guys reading over my shoulder and, yes, they now know who Trey is!)
Before I can get into the book, I think would should get to know Sara a little bit better, don’t you?
Sara Meisinger is the busy wife to Mark and mom of three boys, on their farm in central Kansas. She enjoys balancing a life of writing, farm and house work, and teaching a variety of ages and classes at the private, Christian school she graduated from. (You can find her social media and website linked at the bottom of this post.)
Now let me just say this – Wow! I thought I had this book all figured out by chapter seven (by the way, that’s one of the best scenes I’ve read in awhile!), but boy was I wrong. I ended up ignoring everyone around me; the offers for a pop and slices of chocolate pie, the fact that my legs were screaming to get up and stretch, and the whooping and hollering from the cowboys down below us, because this book was that good.
*** SPOILERS AHEAD ***
First, let me give you the summary from Amazon:
“Hailey’s fairytale marriage to her childhood sweetheart imploded under the pressure of her husband’s political ambitions and her familial obligations. Their nearly three-year separation has put more than distance between them, and Trey is ready to call it quits for good. But things change when he discovers Hailey’s secret: they have a daughter.
Pressured to keep her disabled father’s farm operating, Hailey is torn between the love of her life and the weight of responsibility–a weight Trey doesn’t understand. Trey wants to be part of his daughter’s life and will do whatever it takes to make that happen… even if it means shattering Hailey’s heart.”
Let me just start by saying that Autumn’s Grace wasn’t quite what I was expecting. I felt like Sara took many of the scenes that I’ve mentally highlighted from a thousand other books or created in my mind and put them into a single work, just for me. I literally would finish one chapter and think, “Oh my gosh, what if ___ were to happen next?!” and in some cases, it did, but even better!
Needless to say, I really enjoyed the book and am keeping it on my bookshelf as I know I’ll be rereading it again in the future.
~ A quote from my favorite scene in the book. Comment below and let me know what you thought of it!
Now here a few things that stuck out the most to me while reading it:
- The plot was exciting and had several twists in it that you’d normally only expect to happen once or twice in a story. I appreciated that Trey learning that he and Hailey had a daughter wasn’t towards the end of the book and the only big secret that was being held. There was so much more that happened and it all really pulled the story together nicely.
- I felt like Sara really did her research and knew what she was talking about when it came to the running of the farm, the campaign in D.C., etc. (Of course, she would as she lives on a farm! You can find her blog and website linked at the bottom of this post.)
- Hailey’s father, Jim, about drove me crazy at points, while at others, I just felt like crying over how he could treat the people around him. He had a very strong character and the only complaint I had was that it would have been nice if there was a little more shared at the end about him and his reconciliation with his family. As it was though, it was even a happy ending for him!
- The only flaws I could find with the two main characters (Trey and Hailey) were fairly small. When Trey finally decided to forgive Hailey, he seemed rather quick about it. Then later at a couple of points, it almost felt like he was falling back into his old habit of not being very understanding about her going back to Kansas, etc. Hailey’s flaw seemed to be that she came across just a tad bit whiney or indecisive. I would catch myself finishing a chapter thinking, “Why are you doing this? Again? Really?” But keep in mind that she’d been through a lot and was entitled to some uncertainty and fear.
- I want to pause here for a second to say that Sara perfectly captured the tension between Trey and Hailey. There were times when I was sitting in my seat at the cattle auction and just wanted to bounce right up and yell “Yes! Finally! I didn’t you’d ever get around to it!” at one of the characters. I have to say, it was a page turner! (And no, I remained in my seat and didn’t buy any livestock!)
- One last thing.. Oh my goodness, how sweet were some of those scenes? I’m not talking sappy sweet, but I mean real-life, genuine, wish-I-was-there sweet. I would have loved it if I could have just been a fly on the wall in that last airport scene.
So.. Final verdict? The book was a win! I will for sure be putting this as one of the top novels on my shelf and I hope you can give it a read!
You can pick up your own copy of Autumn’s Grace here, on Amazon!
Follow Sara Meisinger for more info on her upcoming books, life, and everything in between here:
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Last, but not least, stayed tuned on PGC for our upcoming review of the newly released Jody Hedlund book, For Love & Honor!
Coralie says
This sounds like a great book. I haven’t heard of Sara Meisinger but she sounds like a great author. Thanks for the review. I will check it out.
rika says
Sounds like a great book… I will pass this info to my parents in law, they always buy new books from Amazon!
CourtneyLynne says
Ooooo now this sounds like one fantastic read!!!!! I need a new book so I might just have to check this one out!
Kiwi says
Thanks for the book review. It will be summer book reading season soon and this is a great suggestion for many people to have.
Angie Rose says
I’m always looking for a new read and a new book to pick up. This looks like a great read! Wonderful review 🙂
Oyinkan Ogunleye says
I need to get back to reading books again. I usually read about fashion and/or black history.
Louise Bishop says
This sounds like an intriguing book! I am like you and struggle to get time to read but I eventually get a book in here and there!
Eloise says
sounds like a good and DEEP book… and by deep I mean a little on the dark side (which can be fun to read!) That would be the mother of all secrets to keep a child secret from the other parent, my goodness… I’m intrigued to read it!
Kathy says
Sounds like a great book to read. I haven’t had much time for reading lately, but I’d love to get back to reading again. I’ll see if my library has this book!
Victorial Heckstall says
love to check this out! im sure my mom wil love this book!
Chrishelle Ebner says
Sounds like a great book to read on the beach. I can definitely see myself lounging under an umbrella and reading all about Hailey’s life in Autumn’s Grace.
Love U Wedding says
very interesting book! i always look for a review before purchasing one! gonna check thiss out!
chubskulit says
Sounds like a great book to read! I wish I have a lot of time so I can go back to reading again.
My Teen Guide says
sounds very interesting book! i would like to add this book to my mom’s birthday box!
Ana John says
It seems to be a wonderful books as a new addition in my collection of the year. This books sounds exciting. Thanks for sharing your review. 🙂
Annemarie LeBlanc says
I will have to add this book to my reading list for the second quarter of this year. I love books that are hard to put down and I am positive this book is going to give me that level of excitement. Thanks for the review!
Lisa Favre says
I had never heard of this book but I visit our local bookstore on a weekly basis. Will definitely have to see if they have it on their shelves.
Dogvills says
The book sounds interesting and I would love to read it. I love a twist.
hey sharonoox says
This sounds like an interesting book with a twist. I might want to check this one out. Love a good novel to read before hitting the sack.
Elizabeth O. says
This is my first time hearing about the book. I think it’s really interesting especially with the events in the book.
Mimi Green says
I love a good plot twist, I find myself talking back to the book. Although it obviously can’t hear me I get all into it. I need to make time for reading, I’m so missing out.
Sara Meisinger says
Thank you, Ashleigh, for a great and thoughtful review! I’m so glad you finally got to read it! For the record, I had those same thoughts about Hailey and Trey. Sometimes I even yelled at them on my computer! Thank you!!
Heather says
I do like plot twists but I find that I am draw more toward success stories and inspirational.
Sarah Bailey says
Ohh what an interesting sounding book, I totally need to check out more about it and add it to my summer reading pile!
Joely Smith says
This sounds exciting with the plot twists! That is the kind of book I enjoy! Thanks for the review I need to check this out!
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
This sounds like a REALLY good read! I haven’t read a good book in so long. I have to give this one a shot.