Influencer Review- Now and then and Always by Melissa Tagg

Hey guys! Wow, it is HOT and humid here in Appomattox! It's only May, and it has been in the 90s for the last 2 weeks. How warm is it there? Are you a hot or cold blooded person? I love summer, but I am naturally hot natured already, so sometimes this weather just kills me. But I'm delving into a lot of great books, and thinking cool thoughts to make myself feel better. 

Wanna know what else makes me feel better? The wait is OVER! Well...it is for me. You will have to wait just a liiiittle longer for this new one from Melissa Tagg:

                    

Almost two years since our last adventure to Maple Valley, and OH, it was worth the wait. Can I teleport to Maple Valley, Iowa? Please? I promise I am fully aware it is "only" a fictional town, but it has become like a second home to me. I was so excited when Melissa decided that Maple Valley had more of a story to tell.

But first...let's back up. The cover. Isn't it pretty? Melissa decided she wanted to stray a bit from her usual covers for this series, and I have to say, I was unsure at first. Melissa has had such pretty cover models! And I like to have a face sometimes. But this cover is just so pretty and whimsical and mysterious and...I think it just fits the story so perfectly.

But let's talk about what we really came for, because haven't you heard you can't judge a book by its cover? ;)

Marshall. Mara. Marshall & Mara. I. Love. Them. 

Normally, a female reader might feel like they can identify more with female characters. I know sometimes I do. But a big piece of me has to admit that Marshall was who really grabbed me. Pulled me in and kept me hanging on for the next page, the next sentence. His raw pain tugged at my heartstrings throughout the story and his friendship with Mara? Oh-my-goodness-sigh-worthy stuff right there. From their first meeting, I just knew that these two broken people had a special story to tell. 

And oh, what a story! Mysterious but believable, I found myself wrapped up in the magic as the tale unfolded. Actually, these characters were so relatable, I cried. Cried! I have only maybe ever cried at a book once in my life. And this one had me tearing up on the porch swing. Also, did I mention I have this kinda weird, inane love for B&Bs? I've never even stayed in one, but I love them. I don't know whether it's my love for people, or home decor, or making breakfast, but I'm just so drawn to them. Everwood made a story I was already in love with even better. SO, at least now I know where to stay when I teleport!

 Often people think that fiction stories are just fluff, not worth wasting their time. Melissa writes in such a way that, when you read her books, you are seeing a little piece of her heart in every chapter. Not just the little things, like her adoration of Need to Breathe (But can I get an amen on that?!), but her passion for her Lord and Savior. The hard, beautifully written, Biblical truths made that absolutely evident. I am so thankful for the authors that use their gift of storytelling to lift people up in life, and in their own walks with Christ. And Melissa is truly gifted! Dust off a spot on your bookshelf and pick this one up...you won't be disappointed.

*Summary*

“It was just a house. Just a craggy old house in a hidden grove, shuttered and still . . . ” 

Last year, after traumatic circumstances forced her from her job as a nanny, Mara Bristol finally found a place to belong—the winsome Everwood Bed & Breakfast at the edge of Maple Valley, Iowa. For months, she’s helped its owner, Lenora, maintain the ramshackle property despite their shortage of guests. But when Lenora fails to return from a month-long trip and the bank threatens foreclosure, Mara worries she’s once again alone . . . abandoned . . . about to lose the only true home she’s ever known. 

Detective Marshall Hawkins is no closer to whole today than he was two years ago . . . the day his daughter died. Between his divorce, debilitating migraines, and a dependence on medication, his life is falling apart. And when a reckless decision on the job propels him into administrative leave, he has no other plan but to get in his truck and drive. A one-night stay at the Everwood was supposed to be just that. But there’s something about the old house—or maybe its intriguing caretaker—that pulls him in. 

Together, Mara and Marshall set out to save the Everwood. But its secrets run deeper than they could’ve imagined. As they renovate the house and search for its missing owner, they’ll each confront the pain that brought them to the Everwood in the first place . . . and just maybe discover a faith and love to help them carry on.

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*I received this book free of charge from the author.


Happy Reading,

Nicki