In a Nutshell Reviews

In a Nutshell Reviews are my version of mini-reviews, because sometimes, you just want the highlights.

---

Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez
Published by Forever on April 11, 2023
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Goodreads

A novel of terrible first impressions, hilarious second chances, and the joy in finding your perfect match.

Dr. Briana Ortiz’s life is seriously flatlining. Her divorce is just about finalized, her brother’s running out of time to find a kidney donor, and that promotion she wants? Oh, that’s probably going to the new man-doctor who’s already registering eighty-friggin’-seven on Briana’s “pain in my ass” scale. But just when all systems are set to hate, Dr. Jacob Maddox completely flips the game . . . by sending Briana a letter.

And it’s a really good letter. Like the kind that proves that Jacob isn’t actually Satan. Worse, he might be this fantastically funny and subversively likeable guy who’s terrible at first impressions. Because suddenly he and Bri are exchanging letters, sharing lunch dates in her “sob closet,” and discussing the merits of freakishly tiny horses. But when Jacob decides to give Briana the best gift imaginable—a kidney for her brother—she wonders just how she can resist this quietly sexy new doctor . . . especially when he calls in a favor she can’t refuse.

Every time I finish an Abby Jimenez book, I talk about all the crying I do. Well, this time, I would say the bulk of my tears were shed because I was so touched or terribly happy. 

Both Jacob and Briana suffered some bumps and bruises in their romantic lives. It was such a joyful event that they found each other in this world, but their union was not without roadblocks. Though Bri was so good at seeing and accepting all parts of Jacob and knowing what support he needed with respect to his anxiety, she wasn't as open to fully receiving the love Jacob had to give. Let me tell you, Jacob was a top notch unicorn man. He was gentle and kind and just the sweetest. A big part of this story was about how love and relationships require work, and I was rooting for these two to go the distance.

As expected, Jimenez filled the cast with fabulous characters. I got to catch up with Alexis and Daniel from Part of Your World while also reveling in the chaos of Jacob's family. Believe me, you would want an invite to dinner. Briana was equally as blessed with a caring mother and a brother with whom she shared a strong bond. 

Another amazing book from Jimenez, and as always, I hope she will return to this world.

---

The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen
Published by Bantam on March 16, 2010
Age/Genres: Adult, Enchanted Realism

Goodreads

In her latest enchanting novel, New York Times bestselling author Sarah Addison Allen invites you to a quirky little Southern town with more magic than a full Carolina moon. Here two very different women discover how to find their place in the world--no matter how out of place they feel.

Emily Benedict came to Mullaby, North Carolina, hoping to solve at least some of the riddles surrounding her mother’s life. Such as, why did Dulcie Shelby leave her hometown so suddenly? And why did she vow never to return? But the moment Emily enters the house where her mother grew up and meets the grandfather she never knew--a reclusive, real-life gentle giant--she realizes that mysteries aren’t solved in Mullaby, they’re a way of life: Here are rooms where the wallpaper changes to suit your mood. Unexplained lights skip across the yard at midnight. And a neighbor bakes hope in the form of cakes.

Everyone in Mullaby adores Julia Winterson’s cakes--which is a good thing, because Julia can’t seem to stop baking them. She offers them to satisfy the town’s sweet tooth but also in the hope of rekindling the love she fears might be lost forever. Flour, eggs, milk, and sugar . . . Baking is the only language the proud but vulnerable Julia has to communicate what is truly in her heart. But is it enough to call back to her those she’s hurt in the past?

Can a hummingbird cake really bring back a lost love? Is there really a ghost dancing in Emily’s backyard? The answers are never what you expect. But in this town of lovable misfits, the unexpected fits right in.

Mullaby is a town that holds its secrets close. When Emily comes to live with her grandfather following her death of her mother, she is determined to learn more about her mother's past. While uncovering secrets, she also built some wonderful relationships with the people of Mullaby. 

Allen always leaves me warm and fuzzy. Once again, she pulled me into a fantastic small town where people found redemption, forgiveness, love, and a home. I would say the focus of this tale was Emily's desire to know more about her mother, Julia dealing with her past, and the bond that formed between the two, but there was a lot of attention given to all the residents. 

Their friendship between Julia and Emily was definitely a standout element for me. It truly showcased Julia's heart. She became a surrogate mother/big sister to this young woman who was the child of someone who made her teen years miserable, and I thought it was rather beautiful the way she took her under her wing. 

Julia had a great storyline of her own as well. She was back in Mullaby with the intention of rebuilding her father's business in order to sell it and open her own bake shop. It was also a time for her to reconnect with pivotal people from her past and make peace with what had happened between them. 

As expected, there were bits of magic woven throughout the story. Some of it was fun while other bits warmed my heart. My one complaint was that I wish the ending went a bit further because it was such an exciting moment and I wanted more. Nonetheless, I adored spending time in Mullaby and finished this book with a smile on my face and tears in my eyes. 

Favorite cake?
Let us know in the comments!