If Not For You by Debbie Macomber

[Joni]

Debbie Macomber returns with a powerful and uplifting novel set in the same world as her "New York Times "bestseller "A Girl s Guide to Moving On."
After living in the shadow of her overbearing parents for twenty-five years, Beth Prudhomme is finally taking charge of her life. She moves from Chicago to Portland, reconnects with her favorite aunt, and finds a job as a high-school music teacher. Everything seems to be coming together except for her love life, which is going nowhere. Her friend Nichole introduces her to Sam, but the tattooed mechanic is her parents worst nightmare. Then tragedy strikes, forcing Beth to reevaluate everything because sometimes life can be so wrong it s right."

Debbie Macomber does not disappoint. I look forward to her new book each year. This book is about love, about moving out on your own, about broken family relationships and about mending those relationships. I really enjoyed it.

[Nicole R]

I read Macomber's Christmas books every single year, but don't read much else by her. I also like her themes of love and family, and they are always feel good books -- which I devour like candy at Christmas time.

But, for other times of the year, she is a little too cozy romance for me (like cozy mystery where the action is off screen). But I know tons of people who love her books and I always think I should give her non-holiday books a whirl.

[Joni]

I really enjoyed her Cedar Cove series. That would be a great start.

[Nicole R]

Those are the ones I thought about reading! Your endorsement definitely bumps the first one onto my TBR.