Christine Cunningham

I really enjoyed this story. I wasn't sure if I was going to like it as much as I did at first because it's the second book in a series. I received a copy of Spring Argyle from WLC (World Literary Cafe) for review and overlooked the "series" aspect of this book. Although it is number two in the Willow Reed series, this didn't seem to affect my level of comprehension for the story. If I didn't look into the book a bit more like I had, I don't think I would have noticed that there was more outside of this work. I think that's the type of series it is; a series of stand-alone novellas with the town of Willow Reed being a common bond.

What I especially enjoyed about this was its brevity. I read this book in about two sittings. It was short and fast paced, but worth taking the time to read. I think it'd be great for a sunny summer afternoon. The style wasn't taxing at all on the mind. It was very simple and easy to follow along with. I think it would have worked out well as a more lengthy work with more depth given to the characters and more description of the town itself, but this was necessary. Sometimes reading something that touches lightly on the story at hand makes for a more lighthearted story.

As always, I like to touch on anything negative I found. There wasn't much to mention. The only thing I had an issue with (a very small issue) was the editing of the book. In the version I read, there were a few sentences here and there that were missing a word or two. I was able to insert the correct word while reading so it didn't get in the way. A quick read through could fix these errors though and I think the story would be much more polished. With this said, I don't know if the copy I have is the finished one. For others who have read this and didn't see any need for another proofread, feel free to let me know here so future readers will know not to worry about the need of corrections.

To sum this all up: there were enjoyable characters, interesting relationships between them, and an all-round enjoyable read. It might not have been the most in-depth love story I've read, but sometimes I would rather a fun lighthearted tale over a 300 page story that has more room to drag on unnecessarily.… (más)

Novellas are the type of story that will either really capture my interest or will bore me because of the lack of good character development. "First Snow" won me from the get-go. It handed me characters that I both enjoyed and felt a connection to. Penelope (Nell) was a woman that felt real and true to life with an honest desire and fear. Hasan, Nell's friend, was not as connectable for me - at least not in the beginning, but by the end, I was adoring him.

This story is based around the Christmas holiday, but could be an anytime read. It is sweet, clean, and had a nice cozy quality that I thoroughly enjoyed. With this being the first volume in the series, I'll be anxiously awaiting the next as I really want to find out what the next chapter in Nell's life holds!… (más)