Weddings, Willows, and Revised Expectations Review & Giveaway

Weddings willows and revised expecatations

About the Book

Book: Weddings, Willows, and Revised Expectations

Author: V. Joy Palmer

Genre: Contemporary Romantic Comedy

Release Date: February 14, 2019

Weddings, Willows, and Revised ExpectationsSeventeen years after being orphaned, Apryl Burns and her twin sister Courtney have their own expectations for life. While Courtney continues to shine at everything, Apryl holds fast to the mantra that as long as her potato chip stash remains intact, then she’ll be fine.

But when their beloved grandmother ends up injured and unable to manage her struggling antique store, Courtney makes it their mission to revamp the business and save what’s left of their family’s legacy. Despite rampant doubts in her abilities, Apryl finds herself trapped under the weight of family loyalty as they transition to a wedding venue decorating service. Soon shes forced to ask (translation: blackmail) their grandmother’s renter/handyman, Chance McFarland, for help, an arrangement that is made even worse by the fact that Chance is her former (ahem, and current) crush.

Chance knows a few dozen things about family loyalty, which is why he begrudgingly agrees to Apryl’s insane plan. While Apryl claims they’re archenemies, the girl Chance only glimpsed in their teens starts to emerge, stealing what remains of his heart.

But expectations are a powerful thing. Amidst the glamorous weddings and swaying willows, can those old expectations be revised into something new?

 

Click here to purchase your copy,

Guest Review from Mindy Houng

This is the first book by V Joy Palmer that I have read and it was a refreshing change of reading style for me since I read quite a bit of historical, Biblical, and suspense fiction. The book has a lot of sass, sarcasm, wit, and laugh-out-loud moments, especially when Apryl narrates her part of the story in first person. Apryl and Chance both possess a wicked sense of humor and carry on sharp-edged dialogue. There are many movie and pop culture references throughout the story that bring an extra layer of fun to the story.
Apryl is gifted in her creativity but dragged down by self-doubt and negativity. Chance is someone she grew up with and had a crush on for many years. Due to interference from Chance’s father, they become “mortal enemies” by teenage years and still don’t see eye to eye years later. Chance is a steadfast, loyal, hard-working, and tender man who is still working through past hurts even as he puts his faith and hope in his Savior. As circumstances throw them together in a venture that leave them uncomfortable yet irresistibly drawn to each other, they learn about forgiveness, trust, faith, and love that withstands obstacles. There is a subplot involving Apryl’s twin sister Courtney and her boyfriend Dallas which is also sweet and heart-warming as they learn about how God can work through two imperfect people to bring about good.
This book is a follow up to V Joy Palmer’s first book Love, Lace, and Minor Alterations but it can be read as a stand-alone (I did not read the first book prior to reading this one and thoroughly enjoyed it). If you enjoy a well-written contemporary romantic comedy with a wonderful faith component, you will absolutely love this book. I’m hoping for a third book that will concentrate on Izze, Courtney, and Apryl’s housemate and friend Kaylee.
I was given a copy of the book by WhiteFire Publishing via Celebrate Lit Tours and JustRead Publicity Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.

About the Author

V. Joy PalmerJoy Palmer is the author of Love, Lace, and Minor Alterationsand a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is also an avid blogger and co-founder of Snack Time Devotions. In her spare time, Joy is an unprofessional chocolate connoisseur/binger, and she loves acting crazy and drinking coffee with the teens she mentors. When Joy isn’t urging the elves that live in her computer to write, she’s hanging out with her husband, their adorable baby girl, and their socially awkward pets.

Connect with Joy on her website, personal blog, devotional blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

 

More from Joy

I’ll confess something to you guys.

For about a year, I hated these characters. Like I vehemently hated them. For their refusal to bow to my will, I counted the ways I could take revenge against them for my own sadistic pleasure, and I seriously considered printing the manuscript just so I could burn it in an oil drum while I laughed like a Disney villain. I’m told my “Ursula laugh” is uncanny.

Some of you may be laughing. Some of you may be rolling your eyes. Some of you may be gasping in horror at the thought of an author killing her beloved characters. Or some of you may smirk and say, “I’ve been there, only I did kill my characters.”

I dove into the story with a wide-eyed innocence that came from thinking I was in charge of the story. My characters slapped that doe-eyed look off my face, letting me know I had no idea what I was doing. Sure, I knew the basics… They start off arguing, then fall in love… I had a couple great kiss scenes planned… Worth in God would be explored… Jokes would be made… But I could not get these stubborn characters to cooperate, and I was pulling my hair out by the roots trying to force them to get on board with my excellent program! I didn’t understand them, and their actions didn’t make any sense. Then my computer crashed…and died…taking over twelve thousand words with it. (A part of me thinks Apryl was behind it.) Suddenly, I was at square one, but I was actually a little relieved. Now I could start over.

Cue muffled sobs here.

After the untimely demise of my computer, I went to the 2016 American Christian Fiction Writers conference. At that conference, Ted Dekker said something in one of his keynote sessions that changed everything for me.

“Write to discover yourself.”

I still get chills when I think about this, and it has nothing to do with the below zero temperatures in my neck of the woods.

My writing changed after that. I made myself vulnerable, pouring my heart into Apryl and Chance’s journey like it was my personal journey. And as my literary world started to blossom, my literal world felt like it was being scorched by an exploding sun of heartache. And when that nasally (or does it only sound that way in my head?) voice whispered that I was worthless, God’s declaration of love was a big, bold font across the pages.

Through Apryl and Chance, I rediscovered my own worth to my Father.

And I hope you can, too.

I hope you laugh (the seagull scene is a favorite of mine). I hope you swoon (Apryl and Chance Forever!!). I would be especially pleased if you had to look up one or two pop culture references because I’ll just feel cool. But more than anything I hope you can rediscover your worth in our Father’s eyes, whether it’s for the first time or the seven hundred and eleventh time.

Our worth isn’t defined by our jobs, our mistakes, our families, or the plans we have. Our worth is in a loving God who calls each of His children by name. Our worth is in our Father.

Set to the tune of a romantic comedy, there are a lot of little truths sprinkled throughout Weddings, Willows, and Revised Expectations, but our worth in God is the glue that holds it all together – at least for me! This was the truth I wanted to convey in Weddings, Willows, and Revised Expectations all along. But until I started to understand this (I definitely haven’t mastered it!) in my own heart, how could I write about it?

I hope you guys enjoy Weddings, Willows, and Revised Expectations. I hope this truth touches your heart in some way.

And I hope you laugh. A lot.

Hugs,

Joy Palmer

 

Blog Stops

Simple Harvest Reads, April 27 (Guest Post from Mindy Houng)

Pause for Tales, April 27

The Becca Files, April 28

Moments, April 28

Godly Book Reviews, April 29

Just Your Average reviews, April 29

Kat’s Corner Books, April 30

Creating Romance, April 30

Maureen’s Musings, May 1

Hallie Reads, May 1

For Him and My Family, May 2

Vicky Sluiter, May 2

Wishful Endings, May 3

Emily Yager, May 3

The Christian Fiction Girl, May 4

Inklings and notions, May 4

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 5

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 5

Through the Fire Blogs, May 6

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, May 6

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 7

A Baker’s Perspective, May 8

Cultivating us, May 8

Texas Book-aholic, May 9

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 9

A Reader’s Brain, May 10

janicesbookreviews, May 10

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Joy is giving away a grand prize package that includes a signed copy of Love, Lace, and Minor Alterations,
a signed copy of Weddings, Willows, and Revised Expectations, a Hand-Carved Reading Willow Tree Figurine,  a Character-Inspired Locket,
a Custom Roaring Twenties Book Sleeve from The Cozy Life Etsy Shop, an Anne of Green Gables Mug Rug from Bookish Star Designs Etsy Shop, and a Chai Latte Soy Candle in a Vintage Mug from Joplin House Cafe!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/dfea/weddings-willows-and-revised-expectations-celebration-tour-giveaway

1 thought on “Weddings, Willows, and Revised Expectations Review & Giveaway”

Comments are closed.