Under the Summer Sky by Debbie Macomber #bookreview #romance

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Title: Under the Summer Sky

Author:  Debbie Macomber

Publisher: MIRA

Publication Date: July 2, 2024

Page Count:  362

My rating: 3 1/2 stars

About the book:

Love finds you when you least expect it…

Marriage Wanted

Weddings were Savannah Charles’s business and she was an expert on marital bliss, but she’d given little thought to her own day of joy. Until divorce attorney Dash Davenport offered a proposal that would benefit them both. Dash claimed he’d never be convinced “I do” could last forever. So when he asked Savannah Charles to marry him, it was out of mutual necessity—not love. Yet he never expected to marry Savannah—the most passionate woman he’d ever tried not to love…

First Comes Marriage

When Zach Thomas merged his business with the Hartman family firm, that was the only Hartman-Thomas merger he wanted. But Janine Hartman’s grandfather had other ideas—ones belonging to a different place, a different time, when marriages were arranged by families. “It would be a perfect match,” he insisted. “You two suit each other.” Zach and Janine didn’t agree. In fact, they agreed on only one thing—that Gramps was a stubborn, meddling old man. But…what if he was right?

First thing I will mention about Under the Summer Sky by Debbie Macomber is that this is not one singular story but two novella length romance stories which are roughly the same length and combined into the one book. Both stories in Under the Summer Sky have different couples on their way to marriage which ties them together while being very different plots.

First we have Marriage Wanted where we meet Savannah Charles who makes a living out of helping others find their way to the alter. Savannah has a new client excited for her wedding but finds the client’s brother, Dash Davenport, is completely against the wedding so Savannah does everything she can to show Dash that marriage is as magical as she believes it to be.

Next in First Comes Marriage Janine Hartman is thrown for a loop when her grandfather introduces her to Zach Thomas. Zach has been preparing to merge his business with Janine’s grandfather’s but her grandfather has his eye on a different merger and suggests to the couple that they marry. Well, Janine of course is completely against an arranged marriage even if it worked for her grandfather back in the day but the more time she spends with Zach planning against her grandfather the closer they become.

Debbie Macomber is an author I’ve read many times before so I will admit to picking this one up without paying attention it being more than one story. Being split into two I was left with my usual novella feel of wanting more to each to get to know the characters better when the story ends so quickly. Pushing that to the side though I’d say I enjoyed Marriage Wanted a bit more than First Comes Marriage with I think the arranged marriage idea just making feel a bit dated or something. Overall I’d give both combined stories three and a half stars having enjoyed them but preferring the authors longer full length novels.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Find this book online:

Goodreads  /  Amazon

About the author:
Debbie Macomber is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of today’s most popular writers with more than 200 million copies of her books in print worldwide. In her novels, Macomber brings to life compelling relationships that embrace family and enduring friendships, uplifting her readers with stories of connection and hope. Macomber’s novels have spent over 1,000 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Fifteen of these novels hit the number one spot.

In 2023, Macomber’s all-new hardcover publication includes Must Love Flowers (July). In addition to fiction, Macomber has also published three bestselling cookbooks, three adult coloring books, numerous inspirational and nonfiction works, and two acclaimed children’s books.

Celebrated as “the official storyteller of Christmas”, Macomber’s annual Christmas books are beloved and six have been crafted into original Hallmark Channel movies. Macomber is also the author of the bestselling Cedar Cove Series which the Hallmark Channel chose as the basis for its first dramatic scripted television series. Debuting in 2013, Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove was a ratings favorite for three seasons.

She serves on the Guideposts National Advisory Cabinet, is a YFC National Ambassador, and is World Vision’s international spokesperson for their Knit for Kids charity initiative. A devoted grandmother, Debbie and Wayne live in Port Orchard, Washington, the town which inspired the Cedar Cove series.