Book Review: Love Finds You in Hershey, Pennsylvania by Cerella D. Sechrist
by Cerella D. Sechrist
Copyright 2010
Summerside Press
347 pages
ISBN: 978-1-935416-64-7
Fiction/General/Romance
From Amazon.com:
Sadie Spencer has learned that in life, as well as in food, sour balances sweet. Returning to her hometown of Hershey with a five-year-old daughter, she manages to rise from the ashes following the death of her husband and the passing of her mother and the dissolution of her career as a TV chef. She opens a restaurant and looks forward to savoring the sweet side of lifeuntil a handsome Russian entrepreneur arrives in town, apparently intent on opening up his own restaurant in direct competition to hers. Sadie becomes obsessed with honing the one skill shes never had creating desserts to keep up with her adversary and in the process, she finds a love thats simply icing on the cake.
My Review:
Okay I should have waited until the end of the year to read this book...you know save the best for last and that sort of thing. I LOVED this book and I'm so excited to add Cerella Sechrist to my "must read" author list. What a way to start the new year!
You all know that I love the Love Finds You series but Love Finds You in Hershey, Pennsylvania, is by far, my favorite. There's a little bit of everything in it, including romance (*sigh* some scenes in this book are soooo romantic, think Romeo and Juliet balcony scene) and humor (I'll never think of the bathroom in the same way again) plus it made me cry! Oh yeah, did I mention there are even Russian mobsters?! Seriously!
It's not too often that I can say this about a book, especially an author's first novel, but I loved every minute of it. Sadie was terrific and it was easy to relate to her feelings of inadequacy and the need to compete to achieve "perfection." This book dealt with the important issues of seeking God's forgiveness as well as the forgiveness of others and yourself and letting go of the past. Sadie had to learn to mix the sweet and sour to create the perfect recipe for her life.
This book is definitely a sweet success!
To learn more about the author and her book visit,
Her website:
http://cerelladsechrist.com/
Her Blog:
http://www.thecerellalife.com/
Important Announcement!
Stop back...I will be posting an interview in the upcoming weeks with Cerella along with a special announcement that you will all be very interested in, I'm sure!
*I received this book from the author to review.*
Great review, Renee. You seemed to really enjoy the book, and your enthusiasm is contagious.
ReplyDeleteSWEET! *wink* I'm so glad you loved Cerella's book! I hope to read it sometime this week.
ReplyDeleteIsn't she a sweetheart? We've quickly become friends. :)
Yet another great review...keep 'em coming!
{{hugs}}
Thanks for the review. Now I'm even more anxious to read this book. I already knew it would be great because its in PENNSYLVANIA!!!! whoot, whoot! Lol!
ReplyDeleteWhen I close my eyes, I can still smell the chocolately goodness of the Hershey factory and museum. mmmm....
Great review! My wish list is getting way too long...
ReplyDeleteAwww, this sounds so cute! Is it available for purchase yet, and if so, where can I get it in Massachusetts?? :-P
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone for stopping by! This really was a very cute story that I will read again.
ReplyDelete@ Colletta- Are you a PA girl too? You're very enthusiastic about the state so that leads me to believe you are LOL!
@Rachel- This book comes out in February but I believe it's already available on Amazon. I see a lot of these books at Wal-Mart and I saw them one time at K-Mart, other than that I haven't seen them but I BELIEVE that Borders has them!
XOXO~ Renee
I want to read this one! I'm in the middle of Love Finds you in Lonesome Prairie, Montana. My favorite ones I've read so far of these is Love Finds you in Poetry, Texas and Love Finds you in Liberty, Indiana.
ReplyDeleteHi Jennifer! I have LFY in Lonesome Prairie coming to me and I have read LFY in Poetry, TX (good book) and I have LFY in Liberty, Indiana and Valentine, Nebraska in my TBR pile! So I love these books too! Thank you for stopping by and following!
ReplyDeleteXOXO~ Renee
Oh yeah I have LFY in Treasure Island, FL too...maybe I should read that one and dream of warmer weather :-P
ReplyDeleteXOXO~ RENEE
Sounds like a good one. And I've always wanted to go to Hershey.
ReplyDeleteI'm so humbled by this SWEET (I know, I know...but I just can't help saying that!) review! :) I really appreciate Renee reviewing my debut novel here. I'm fortunate to have lived within an hour's drive of Hershey my entire life - it really is a sweet little town. (And yes, you really CAN smell the chocolate as you drive through the streets.) =D I can't wait to stop back here for my interview in a few weeks! :)
ReplyDeleteCerella
www.cerelladsechrist.com
www.thecerellalife.com
Hi, Very nice blog you have here Renee. I am Cerella's agent and a Huge Steeler fan myself, living outside the BURG! So sad right now as we realize the season is over. sniff! Thanks for the review. This is one of my fav reads too. It won't disappoint the reader for sure.
ReplyDeleteGreat review! This is already on my wish list but this makes me run out and go get it now! lol
ReplyDelete@ Carole- I want to go to Hershey too, I want a fresh Peppermint Patty LOL!
ReplyDelete@ Cerella- It was my pleasure to do a review for your book. I love to do reviews for books I enjoy, they're the easiest reviews to write! If I ever make it to Hershey, we should do lunch...errr maybe dessert :-P
@ Diana- Thank you much for visiting and complimenting my blog. I really appreciate it! I need all the compliments I can get to help lift my spirits since the Steelers are out of the playoffs *cry* :-P
@ Angie- I hope you enjoy it!
I visited Hershey PA plenty of times, so this one sounds like one to buy soon. I have Love Finds You in North Pole Alaska to read.
ReplyDeleteI read your review on goodreads, but I wanted to comment here too :) I looked for this series at my Borders and they didn't any Love Finds You titles. And I had a coupon too, lol!
ReplyDeleteoh yeah , I saw that at Walmart. the book cover makes me want to buy.. I rather to wait. Great review.
ReplyDelete@inthehammockblog - what?! Borders didn't have the LFY titles?!? How dare they! LOL! My local Borders here in PA used to carry the series, but someone recently told me they haven't seen them there in awhile. I'm hoping they'll at least carry my title - Love Finds You in Hershey. They need to share the chocolate love. LOL
ReplyDeleteEveryone else - if you give Love Finds You in Hershey a read, feel free to LMK your thoughts by contacting me through my website: www.cerelladsechrist.com :) Thanks!
My Borders is closing...probably because they didn't share the LFY love with their customers who decided to shop elsewhere.
ReplyDeletexoxo~ Renee