Dating, Dining, and Desperation by Melody Carlson

I am enjoying this Dear Daphne series by Melody Carlson.  It takes the reader on some unexpected twists that are just enough to throw you for a loop.  In this book, it took me awhile to figure out Jake.  I was just as confused as Daphne about whether he liked her or not during certain times in the book.


Sabrina was a ball of energy.  It tired me out just reading her words and imagining her energy.  I'm more of an introvert, so that personality is a bit overwhelming to me at times.  I found it funny that it was overwhelming to me in a book, too!  She was a good character and I liked her, but I had to get used to her stories and energy.


The deal behind Daphne getting to keep the house and car is a bit far-fetched, I think, but I'm not one of those who has to read a book just for real life stories.  In fact, sometimes the unrealistic ones are the ones that are my great escape and let me be free to open my imagination.


I liked Appleton.  If it looks anything like the cover, it seems like such a fun town to explore and settle down in.  The cover was well done to capture the imagination of the reader.  In fact, to be honest, that was the reason I started this series.  Lock, Stock, & Barrel had a fun cover, plus I like Melody Carlson. 


I am sad that the publishers are only doing ebooks for books 3 and 4 in this series.  It would be nice to have the paperback versions, too.  I'm not certain why they are not printing, unless it's to save costs.  I'm glad that Carlson took the time to explain that to her readers because I would have been searching the bookstore for them.  I do hope they change their minds, though!  Either way, I'll be sure to read 3 and 4, which are supposed to be coming out soon.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Over the years, Melody Carlson has worn many hats, from pre-school teacher to youth counselor to political activist to senior editor. But most of all, she loves to write! Currently she freelances from her home. In the past eight years, she has published over ninety books for children, teens, and adults--with sales totaling more than two million and many titles appearing on the ECPA Bestsellers List. Several of her books have been finalists for, and winners of, various writing awards.

She has two grown sons and lives in Central Oregon with her husband and chocolate lab retriever. They enjoy skiing, hiking, gardening, camping and biking in the beautiful Cascade Mountains.


ABOUT THE BOOK

Daphne Ballinger has learned to accept her deceased, eccentric aunt’s strange request that she marry in order to inherit her estate, along with taking over her aunt’s hometown paper’s advice column. But knowing and accepting that God’s will be done becomes harder when a new neighbor, a divorced socialite, learns of Daphne’s predicament and takes on the task of finding her the perfect man, even if it includes speed dating. When God does open Daphne’s heart, it is instead to take in a young girl left parentless and in the care of her dying grandmother. It may be a temporary arrangement until the girl’s uncle returns from the Marines, but God uses Daphne to speak His heavenly love and protection into the life of the child -- whom Daphne soon discovers has a very handsome and single uncle.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Dating, Dining, and Desperation, go HERE.

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I received this book free from CFBA and B & H Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.