🌨️ ❄️ 💗 "While It Was Snowing" (Restoring Heritage 2.5/Novella) 💗 ❄️ 🌨️ - Book Review

MY REVIEW

 

 

Series: Restoring Heritage (Book #2.5)

Paperback: 146 pages

Publisher: Faris Fiction (October 29, 2020)

Language: English
ISBN-13: 978-8553411091
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“Danielle Fair has been working at her dad’s mechanic shop since she could talk and she loves fixing cars. There is only one part she doesn’t love: everyone sees her as one of the guys - they even call her Dan. And maybe she is…after all without sisters or a mother, Danielle is lost when it comes to girly stuff. However, when she is forced to embrace her inner girly girl and Nate and Olivia’s winter wedding her makeover wakes up not just the attention of the guys she works with but the one man she actually cares about--Gabriel Matthews—Danielle is suddenly beset with way too much attention and no clue of who she should be.

There were always two things Gideon Mathews could count on: his beloved Detroit Lions not making it to the playoffs and Dan Fair being his best friend. But when Dan – no Danielle - shows up to his sister’s wedding dressed as, of all things a girl—no, a very beautiful, breathtaking, heart-stopping girl, he isn’t sure what to do with his sudden rush of emotions. Of course, he’s always known she was a girl, but suddenly he can keep his eyes, or mind…or heart away from her. Only now every guy in town seems to have the same problem. Did he lose his chance with Danielle by missing what had been in front of him for so long? Or can he convince her to be his by Christmas?

It’s Miss Congeniality goes to a winter wedding in a Christmas Cinderella tale. From snowed into snowball fights, Christmas trees to Christmas dances. This story has everything you need for a perfect holiday read.

 Fuzzy socks and hot cocoa not included but encouraged while you read.”

 

Thank you in advance to the author, Tari Faris, for providing a complimentary electronic advanced review copy (I went and bought a physical copy since it was on sale). A positive review was not required and all words are my own.

Until I signed up for the launch team for Until I Met You (UIMY), I hadn’t heard of the author. But, I bought and quickly read her debut book You Belong With Me (YBWM) which is the first book in the series. That is unless you count the prequel P.S Goodbye (available in Kindle or Paperback) that was released shortly after.

 

While it Was Snowing picks up after UIMY and features Danielle the “serial reader” from that story along with Gideon.

 

The whimsical cover definitely matches the whimsical story herein with Gideon having some serious thoughts about Danielle after seeing her in a dress at his sister’s wedding (hint –> Nate and Olivia). But, he is reluctant to lose their friendship.

 

Danielle wants her father’s repair shop and Gideon needs to prove to his family that his business venture is going to pan out. And, Danielle begins trying to attract Gideon and learn to “act like a girl”. That definitely makes for some drama in this sweet little story. It gets even more interesting when Danielle’s father sees a good partnership with Gideon’s venture and Danielle owning the auto shop, in addition – dad is a bit of a matchmaker.

 

Gideon, while good looking, is awkward with girls. He doesn’t date and has never had a girlfriend despite the number of girls who are smitten with him.

 

Some of my discord was the lack of communication (carrying over from UIMY) between Gideon and Danielle. But, it was definitely interesting to see the character growth and development with Libby who returns in this story to guide Danielle. She even provided some value guy and girl emotional insight.

 

While getting to know each other, Gideon realizes Danielle doesn’t do Christmas because of how her father treated the day when she was growing up. As a result, Gideon sets out to help her celebrate Christmas.

 

Gideon eventually realizes that he does want to be with Danielle but is unsure of what she wants. He knows one thing – the nickname “Dan” doesn’t suit her anymore, and with changing their status, it is a big risk. And, Danielle finds it is hard to be a girl among not only the guys she works with, but her brothers and father. She even asks why she can’t she be both and why should she have to choose to be a great mechanic and a girl.

 

Fans and readers of the previous books will definitely enjoy this novella which definitely has that “Hallmark” movie vibe and there is even a reference to that in this story.

 

This has that “feel good, snow-fights, love, and other emotions” vibe that gets one ready for the holidays and injects some holiday spirit.

 

As a novella, this is a short story so there isn’t a lot of room for character or plot development and was a fairly quick read. I read it in one sitting, about an hour or so.

 

Given that this is an uncorrected ARC, there are a few typos. And, eagle-eyed readers will find a continuity error when it comes to Danielle’s age when her mother died. In UIMY she is 5, in this novel she is 1. I found this out when researching if she was the “serial reader” from UIMY as it has been over two dozen (27) books I’ve read after that, and it has been roughly three (3) months. That error doesn’t hinder the enjoyment of it though. As I am on the author’s launch team, she was advised to leave everything as it was and make a note at the back of the book. And, I am making the note to the same.

 

I didn’t care for how Gideon’s father reacted when he finally learned of the young man’s project. This coldness was in stark contrast to Gideon’s wise, loving mother who doled out this fantastic gem of advice – “make sure you’re thinking with your head. Don’t walk into something because it feels good in the moment”. This definitely seems so relevant in life.

 

Since it is independently published by the author and connected to the Revell books, it is a clean read and there are some references to God, but no overt preaching or biblical references.

 

As it is connected to the series, it is best that the books be read in order so the reader has a complete idea of who everyone is, even Otis. While no antics this round, he is mentioned as are some of the exploits.

 

Since I have read Faris’ previous novels (except P.S. Goodbye), and am on the launch team for the third (3^rd) Revell book in the series, it goes without saying I will definitely be reading future novels. And, I would like to get the prequel novella in print as well as this one.

 

As always, the title comes from one of the last lines in the book.

 

Those who have read the other novels and love Faris’ work should definitely consider this little gem.

 

 

RATING:

 

4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads

 

4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Bookbub

 

4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html)

 

 

 

Other books in the series:

 

Series: Restoring Heritage (Prequel Novella)
Paperback: 172 pages
Publisher: Independently Published (September 19, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1693826046
ISBN-13: 978-1693826047
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“What if a woman who’s all about the goals and plans falls in love with man who no longer believes his life has a purpose? A novice life coach needs to cement her reputation with one great success story. When a wounded former Special Forces operator walks back into her life looking for a job, she decides to work with him—a win-win for them both. If Caroline Williams had her way, she’d help everyone in town find their purpose in life—unfortunately, no one seems to want her help. But she refuses to give up, and her new status as a certified life coach should provide her with some badly needed credibility. All she needs is her first client. When Grant Quinn walks in looking for a job, Caroline knows he needs more than that—he needs a new plan for his life. But when Grant refuses to be honest about his dreams and his struggles, Caroline’s business might come crashing down before it starts. Wounded former Special Forces operator Grant Quinn understood the cost when he enlisted and served his country with pride. The scars on his face are reminders of what he lost, but he is moving on—now if he could just convince his family that he’s fine. When Caroline steps back into his life and offers to help find him a job in exchange for being her Guinea pig in her new life coaching business, he agrees. After all, what better way to show his family he’s okay than with a new, stable job? But when the anxiety he’s been running from ruins his one interview, his plans come crashing down. Can he trust Caroline enough to be honest about everything?”

 

 

Series: Restoring Heritage (Book #1)
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Revell (September 3, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800736478
ISBN-13: 978-0800736477
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“Realtor Hannah Thornton has many talents. Unfortunately, selling houses in the town where her family name is practically poison isn't one of them. When a business tycoon determines to raze historic homes in the small town of Heritage, Michigan, and replace them with a strip mall, Hannah resolves to stop him. She sets about helping Heritage win a restoration grant that will put the town back on the map--and hopefully finally repay the financial debt Hannah's mother caused the town. But at first no one supports her efforts--not even her best friend, Luke.

 Luke Johnson may have grown up in Heritage, but as a foster kid he never truly felt as if he belonged. Now he has a chance to score a job as assistant fire chief and earn his place in the town. But when the interview process and Hannah's restoration project start unearthing things from his past, Luke must decide if belonging is worth the pain of being honest about who he is--and who he was.”

Series: Restoring Heritage (Book #2)
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Revell (September 8, 2020)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800736486
ISBN-13: 978-0800736484
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“When she hears that the small town of Heritage, Michigan, is looking for a new librarian, Libby Kingsley jumps at the opportunity. Little did she know the library is barely more than a storage closet stuffed with dusty, outdated books. What the community really needs is a new building. But the only funds available are those being channeled into the new town square, and the landscape architect in charge of the project wants nothing to do with her plans.

 All Austin Williams wants to do is get the town square project finished so he can do right by the family business and then extricate himself from the town that reveres the brother who cost him so much. But the local media and the town's new librarian seem to be conspiring against him at every turn. Will the determined bookworm find her way into his blueprints--and possibly even his heart?”

 

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

Tari Faris is the author of You Belong with Me, P.S. Goodbye (prequel novella), and Until I Met You. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers and My Book Therapy, she is the projects manager for My Book Therapy, writes for https://learnhowtowriteanovel.com, and is a 2017 Genesis Award winner. She has an MDiv from Asbury Theological Seminary and lives in the Phoenix, Arizona, area with her husband and their three children. Although she lives in the Southwest now, she lived in a small town in Michigan for 25 years.

 

You can follow her on these social media accounts:

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tari.faris.author/

 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tarifaris/

 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FarisTari

 

Website: https://www.tarifaris.com/