About the Book

Publisher:‎ Revell (September 26, 2023)

Publication date: September 26, 2023

Printed length: 328

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Cora Matthews’s life is a mess. A broken engagement and the unexpected death of her mother have left her wondering if things will ever return to normal. Whatever “normal” is.

It certainly isn’t what she finds at Moonberry Lake. After she receives her family’s dilapidated lakefront lodge as an inheritance–with a surprising condition attached–Cora finds her life overrun by a parade of eccentric neighbors who all have something to say and something to teach her.

As Cora works to put her life back together, she must decide if she is willing to let go of the past, open her heart to love, and embrace the craziest version of family and home she could ever have imagined.

My Thoughts

I connected with Holly Varni years ago on Twitter after reading the On Moonberry Lake stories she shared on her blog. What I thought would be a one-sided, girl-fanning tweet became a full-blown chat. I was surprised by Holly’s warm and friendly personality.

That sweetness is also found in her characters and stories. Reading On Moonberry Lake, I was struck by how much it reminded me of Jan Karon’s Mitford series. Like Mitford, the setting is a small town with quirky, lovable characters.

A tale of hope, freedom, and renewal, OML is about finding friends who love you like family. Or, in Cora Matthew’s case, better than family.

As a fan of character-driven fiction. I enjoyed Varni’s characters. I may have laughed out loud several times. And why not? Widgy was something else. Her coffee recipe was the best surprise.

On the other hand, Kitty was a mixed bag for me. If I met her on the street, we would be friends. But I would have to share the truth about her New Age beliefs.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not upset about Kitty’s character. As writers, we don’t always get to choose what our characters say or do. Still, as creators of Christian fiction, we must shine the light in the darkness lest our readers think non-Christian practices are okay. However, as I said before, this is a series, so I can’t know what Varni will do with her characters in the upcoming stories. I can only hope.

Moving on . . .

As for Cora Matthews, I empathized and cheered for her. A little lamb in need of nurturing. For the rest of the population On Moonberry Lake, they didn’t disappoint.

Like Ben Walker. The scene at the dance. The picture. The kiss. Memorable.

I thank the author and Revell for a free copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

About the Author

Holly Varni is a native Minnesotan of strong Norwegian descent, who was raised in the Lutheran Church that Garrison Keillor made a career depicting. Between the lutefisk, grumpy grandparents, and crazy neighbors who mowed their lawn wearing pajamas, the seed to
becoming a storyteller was planted. Though she, her husband, and their three sons live along the Central Coast of California, her beloved Midwest roots continue to haunt everything she writes. She hosts the Moments from Moonberry Lake podcast where she shares more stories of her beloved characters. Learn more at http://www.hollyvarni.com.