Summer of Joy ~ Review

Summer of Joy
By Ann H. Gabhart

1964 is drawing to a close and Jocie Brooke has an English teacher who seems to have it out for her and she has no idea why.  Christmas is just around the corner and Jocie wants to have some special touches added to the Christmas program, but you can't mess with tradition in Hollyhill.

Wes, still recovering from his and Jocie's tangle with the tornado, is the understanding and sympathetic ear always willing to help Jocie through her problems.  But the past is about to come for a visit to Hollyhill and Wes and Jocie are about to have their lives turned upside down yet again.

But there are also periods of joy as her father and Leigh move closer to marriage and all of Hollyhill is looking forward to the big news if and when it happens.  And then there is Stephen Lee, Tabitha's sweet baby is the family's pride and joy - even Aunt Love's!

And Hollyhill is a typical small town with the gossip that spreads and if you've read the previous Hollyhill novels you will just get a real laugh out the juice bit of gossip Zella finds herself caught up in.  Get ready to enjoy some small town charm, as you get swept up in the simple innocence of what was.  And get ready for a Summer of Joy - 1965 looks to be a pretty good year, though Jocie does have a few bumps along the way.   I also like that the book doesn't shy away from the difficult issues that both the country and the individual characters are facing.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher, Revell, in exchange for my honest review.

About Summer of Joy:

As summer draws to a close Jocie's world seems serene--but is it just the calm before a storm?
Unbeknownst to Jocie Brooke and her family, two people are making their way to the small town of Hollyhill, Kentucky. One everyone thought was gone for good and the other no one's ever heard of. Still, one thing is sure--they promise trouble. The past is coming to call, threatening to destroy strong relationships that everyone has simply taken for granted.

The summer of 1964 may be winding down, but the controversy in this little community where nothing ever seems to change is just heating up.

Bestselling author Ann Gabhart invites you to Hollyhill for a story both exciting and enduring that will stick with you long after you turn the last page. 


Ann H. Gabhart is the bestselling author of several novels, including Angel Sister, Small Town Girl,Scent of Lilacs, and Orchard of Hope. She lives with her husband a mile from where she was born in rural Kentucky. Find out more at www.annhgabhart.com.