A jilted bride. A struggling innkeeper. And a romantic mountain getaway that changes everything Rising Hollywood star Mia Emerson is looking for a safe place to land in the wake of a public breakup and celebrity scandal, and she finds it in the lake town of Bluebell, North Carolina–the location of her canceled honeymoon. She wants nothing more than to hide and wait for the tabloids to die down. … tabloids to die down.
Soon after her arrival at the Bluebell Inn, Mia meets Levi Bennett, who runs the inn along with his two younger sisters. Drawn to one another from the start, Mia trusts Levi to keep her location from the press, and Levi confides in Mia about the precarious financial state of the inn–a secret he’s been keeping from his sisters.
When Mia and Levi discover an old journal that hints at a rare diamond necklace hidden in the inn, they set off on a treasure hunt to find the long-lost heirloom. What they don’t expect to surface are feelings they thought were safely locked away. Mia and Levi must decide if falling in love again is too big a risk–or if it will uncover a treasure of its own instead.
“A breeze of brilliance! Denise Hunter’s Carolina Breeze will blow you away with a masterful merge of mystery, chemistry, and memories restored in this lakeside love story of faith, family, and fortune.” –JULIE LESSMAN, award-winning author
- The second novel in the Bluebell Inn Romance series
- Book one: Lake Season
- Book two: Carolina Breeze
- Book three: Autumn Skies – Available October 2020
- Full-length romance (c. 87,000 words)
- Includes Discussion Questions for Book Clubs
more
Having enjoyed my first visit to the Bluebell Inn, I was excited to return and see the slightly stuffy Levi meet his match in Hollywood starlet, Mia.
Their romance definitely had a lot to overcome to get off the ground, but it was so fun to see Levi’s sister’s freak out about the famous actress, while he was clothed in nonchalance. As ever, the Inn provided a wonderful secondary character with another enticing secret to be revealed from within its walls.
If you are looking for some lovely, light relief from life, this one comes highly recommended.
Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary copy of Carolina Breeze by Denise Hunter for the purpose of reading and reviewing prior to publication. My opinions are my own and no one has influenced them in any way.
Carolina Breeze is a well-written novel with engaging characters and an intriguing plot. There is an excellent mystery involving a treasure hunt. The pacing kept me enmeshed in the tale from the first page to the last.
Mia Emerson’s character is an actress who comes on what should have been her honeymoon without the groom. Her grandparents owned the Blue Bell Inn, and she wants to learn more about them since she never met them. Her backstory had me vested in her character from the start. My heart ached for the bewildered and rejected child she must have been.
Levi Bennett is a hero with all the traits I enjoy the most. He’s a brother determined to do right by his sisters. When their parents die in a car crash, his dad lived long enough for him to ask Levi to watch over his sisters. He takes it to the extreme and shelters them from the reality that their parent’s inn is in deep financial debts which he has been juggling. He is no time for romance, but when Mia checks in, he’s a goner. His backstory also pulled me in and had me wanting to give him a hug and a shoulder to help him carrying what he perceives as his burdens.
The romance between Levi and Mia is sweet and creates a powerful bound of friendship. Levi can’t resist her though, so he recognizes his feelings for her could easily develop into love. Mia is struggling with a dilemma that puts her on the radar of social media which has the potential to ruing her acting career while recovering from the break off of her engagement. She’s pulled to Levi, but it takes her a little longer to realize she’s falling in love with him. I really wanted them to find a way to make their happy ending work!
If you enjoy Christian romances with characters that will tug at your heartstrings and have you rooting for them, then you will love Carolina Breeze as much as I. I plan to go back and read the first book in the Blue Bell Inn series. Happy reading!
This was a very sweet romance with a little mystery. I loved the setting of Bluebell, NC and the inn. I also loved the characters. The siblings are great and Mia is a doll. You really feel for her with all of the press and lack of privacy. The romance between Mia and Levi is very explosive. They both have walls up but boy! when they come down!!! I haven’t read the earlier book in this series but will have to add it to my TBR pile. Loved it!!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
A sweet, tender romance that I have come to love from Denise Hunter. I thoroughly enjoyed returning to Bluebell, NC. The scenes are so well written that I can fully see the setting and the characters in my mind while reading. Levi is a bossy, controlling big brother who is not prepared for Mia, the famous movie star who shows up at his own. I loved learning more about Levi and his motivations as well as his heart. Mia is facing unbelievably tough circumstances and uses the inn as a safe haven from the media storm that is threatening to destroy all that she has worked so hard to achieve. Mia and Levi have instant chemistry and I love how they draw each other out. I also really love that even though the focus is on Levi, it is still about the rest of his family and how they interact together. A must read for all fans of Denise Hunter. It is the second book in a series and would be best enjoyed if read in order.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and all opinions expressed are my own, freely given.
What a pleasure to read about another of the sibling owners of the Bluebell Inn in the Appalachian Mountains! Your attention will be caught when Mia Emerson, a young Hollywood actress, shows up for the honeymoon suite minus a husband! Mia reads the journal left behind by a previous owner of the inn (her grandmother she never met) who states her blue diamond necklace is hidden in a safe place. Levi Bennett joins Mia in searching for the necklace and in fending off the paparazzi when Mia’s location is discovered! In book 1 of the series, Levi did not want his sister to fraternize with guests but he can’t resist when the guest is the attractive Mia! Denise Hunter has a way with words that will keep you reading. I recommend this contemporary romance to others. I received complimentary e-book from the publisher through NetGalley. This is my honest opinion.
I enjoyed meeting Mia and learning her story. She certainly has had a lot to deal with. It was interesting seeing what really happens and what a “star” has to deal with. We see that life isn’t always fair. What about Levi? Could you shoulder everything that he was trying to handle? Can you relate to what he was trying to do? I would love to visit the Bluebell Inn. It sounds wonderful. The countryside sounds so awesome and the folks in small towns are my favorite. I love these folks and the story. I hope you do too. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.
This was a really good book. I love stories placed in the Carolinas and this one also incorporated a B&B, so we were good to go almost from the start. It does have a movie star as one of the main characters, which is normally a turnoff for me, by Ms. Hunter made Mia so “unstarlike” (yes, I know that’s not really a word), that I connected with her anyway. She may have had some problems that only superstars would have, but she also had issues that were so basic to mankind and the heart that it surpassed that for me.
I absolutely love Levi and his sisters! The family drama and the love all tie together nicely. The little mystery thrown in was a bonus that together with the romance made the book a delight to read. I can’t wait for the next Denise Hunter book!
I loved being back at the Bluebell Inn and with the Bennett family, and we are also introduced to Mia Emmerson a successful Hollywood actress.
I loved how Mia was related to the inn, and how it all played out with her visit, sad and happy, all at the same time.
The author gives us a lot of family dynamics here, and through it all we find a love of God and those who he has placed in our lives. We see the pressure of every day life here, whether we are a celebrity, or just trying to make a living. I did enjoy the treasure hunt that went on here, but then when averse things take place we hope for the best.
I am hoping we will be back with this family and we have another sibling!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Thomas Nelson. and was not required to give a positive review.
I haven’t read a Denise Hunter novel since I read the Chapel Springs Romance Series – which is excellent by the way. And now, I am asking myself why I waited so long! I really enjoyed everything about this wonderful sweet romance! I loved the setting and the premise and I can’t wait to go back and read Molly and Adam’s story, Lake Season. I’m also looking forward to reading Autumn Skies, the third book in this trilogy which comes out in October.
I loved Levi! Like Mia said, he has a beautiful heart. After the death of their parents, Levi took over the role of parent to his two sisters and the pressure of getting the family inn up and running and profitable. Even though he may have made mistakes along the way, his heart was always in the right place. I loved Levi and Mia’s relationship. It progressed naturally and there were no silly misunderstandings or lack of communication. I thought they were perfect for each other! I also really liked the family dynamics between Levi, Grace and Holly. This is a perfect summer read! I highly recommend it!
I was so happy to return to the charming Bluebell Inn! While reading the first book in this series (Lake Season) I started anticipating Levi’s story and was thrilled to see he was up next. The setting of North Carolina was beautiful and the relationships crafted between the characters were just as amazing. This was the perfect novel to escape into for a few days.
Carolina Breeze is the second installment in Denise Hunter’s Bluebird Inn series. The first book centered around middle sibling Molly Bennett and how she navigated the first season as the siblings reopened the inn that was their late parents’ dream. This novel takes place a year later and features older brother Levi. Levi is a bit rigid about the inn and fulfilling his parents’ dream, as well as his firm belief that it is his duty to watch out for his sisters as he had promised on his father’s dying breath.
Levi had been very critical when Molly became attached to a guest, author Adam Bradford, in the first installment. Levi now finds himself in a similar position when Hollywood starlet Mia Emerson arrives as their lodger. After a scandal places her in a most precarious position, Mia decides to get out of town and take advantage of the nonrefundable booking of the Bluebird Inn her former fiancé had made. With the inn to herself since Wesley had booked the entire inn, and transportation included, Mia finds herself in a perfect situation as the Bennett siblings take offering their lodgers complete anonymity seriously.
As Levi is the designated driver, he and Mia spend a considerable amount of time together, and when she sprains her ankle on a hike, they become even closer. When Mia decides it is time to confront the paparazzi that gathers outside the inn, Levi is thrown into the public eye as the real love of this beauty.
This is a fun story with great characters, a beautiful setting, and a series that makes the reader anxious for the next installment! I did enjoy this book and I do recommend it!
Set in the relaxing, beautiful, small lake town of Bluebell, NC, we are once again introduced to the owners of the Bluebell Inn…Levi Bennett and his two sisters, Molly and Grace. Levi is the perfect hero—hunky, honorable, and hardworking. However, Mia Emerson is really the star of this story (literally) and her light shines brightly, straight into Levi’s heart. What a lovely heroine – both inside and out. As Levi helps to protect Mia will he fear his growing feelings towards her are futile and too big a risk?…as they are from two completely different worlds? What ensues is plenty of angst, misunderstandings, and lotsa kissing in between, of course!
‘Carolina Breeze’ is a beautifully written story interspersed with humor, secrets, romance aplenty, and rejection issues. Thus my emotions were all over the page and I admit it. I cried. Super ugly cried. I love it when an author can do that to me. I highly recommend this delightful novel and stocking up on tissues before reading. 😉
“God loved her. He wanted her. He’d never leave her. She wasn’t replaceable in her own life or in God’s story. That was the truth, and that was enough to sustain her. She’d believed a lie for too long.” {Favorite quote from Carolina Breeze}
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.*
This was such a pleasant read. The characters were developed and the descriptions weren’t too long. The story had some romance, but it wasn’t over the top. Over all, this is a good, clean, Christian romance. The action wasn’t quite edge of the seat, but the book did pull you back to it.
Carolina Breeze is book 2 in Ms. Hunter’s new series, and it spotlights Levi, the older brother of Mollie and Grace, and Mia, an actress fleeing from a Hollywood scandal. As always, the author does a beautiful job of building her characters. They are likable and well developed. I thought the lessons each character learned through their experiences and relationships were valuable and could be applied to my own life. My only negative would be Levi’s reason for breaking off his relationship with Mia. I found it frustrating and common in romances; in Levi’s situation, it didn’t seem to fit his character.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley. This review is my honest opinion.
A mountain getaway on a lake with no worries at all. What a dream vacation! Oh yeah, someone has to pay for that to happen. Must keep working. Anyways, Denise Hunter’s newest novel takes readers back to the Bluebell Inn with Molly, Grace, and Levi. In the first installment, readers became familiar with Molly and her love, Adam. In this addition, readers learn more about Levi and what he is sacrificing to bring this inn to life for his parents. Alot. Then Hunter threw in the heroine, Mia, and all her problems of becoming a famous movie stars. Lies. Deceit. Boyfriends. What a mess! It all comes crashing down in this sweet tale of love and hunting for a precious necklace that belonged to Mia’s grandmother. Overall, Carolina Breeze by Denise Hunter is a great beach read or when readers take a vacation up in the mountains. It is delightful and a wonderful way to spend a couple of hours.
I received a complimentary copy of Carolina Breeze by Denise Hunter from Thomas Nelson Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.
This is a well written book that hooks you on the first page and doesn’t let go. The author made the book come to life with her words. The people in the story become your friends and you hate to see the book end. This book would be wonderful for a book club, it has discussion questions at the end. It is a beautiful sweet heartwarming story and I can’t wait for the next book in this series. This book was a joy to read! Thank you Thomas Nelson–FICTION via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
This is the second book in the Bluebell Inn series. After reading the first book, I was eagerly awaiting this second book and can not wait for the third book. This is a charming, romantic story with a bit of a mystery within as well. In the first book, readers are introduced to three siblings. The first book focuses on Molly. In this book, readers get to know Levi who has been doing all of the marketing and business aspects of the inn. Levi is really struggling with the financial aspects of the inn and trying to act as if everything is okay when talking to his sisters. A guest, Mia, comes to the inn to get away from her life. She was supposed to be there on her honeymoon, but the wedding falls through. She is working on healing from the difficulties she has faced and Levi and Mia become friends. After discovering a journal, they began a search to discover a missing necklace. This story is refreshing, engaging, and a great escape to a relaxing environment. After reading this story, I want to go stay at the Bluebell Inn! This book can be read as a stand-alone, but you will enjoy reading the first book before this one. I loved this refreshing series and can not wait for the last book to release! I highly recommend this book (and all of Ms. Hunter’s books) and know you will not be disappointed!
***I was given a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review. This is my honest opinion. Even though I received this copy free, I have purchased her books before.
This was a sweet romance and the second in a planned trilogy centered around the fictitious Bluebell Inn on a mountain lake in NC.
While I think I enjoyed the first book a little more (Molly’s…”Lake Season”), this one was engaging as Levi strives to fulfill his parents’ dream of running a successful inn and taking care of his sisters while also having a life of his own. Mia, an actress escaping to the inn as a hideaway from scandal, longs for family connection and love. Guess where this is going??! Oh, and there’s also a bit of a mystery to solve (which also relates to the title of the book).
While I do enjoy the romances, I really love the interaction/connection of the three siblings in this series. Heartwarming and charming. Looking forward to Grace’s story next.
Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #ThomasNelson for providing me the ARC. The opinions are strictly my own.
I found this book to be better than the first one in the series. Levi came across very rigid, which I guess is his personality, but it was a huge turn off for me and i had a hard time liking him. The love story was done well and i loved the premise of the famous movie star falling in love with the hometown boy.
It was also fun to see the relationship of Molly and Adam continue in this book.
This book is not one of my favorites from the author, but I am glad i read it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Denise Hunter has done it again with a funny, deep, and wonderfully sweet story in Carolina Breeze. Hunter is the master of relatability, especially in regard to characters and emotions, which makes her stories a perfect depiction of real life while still captivating the reader.
I devoured this book. It is so sweetly, achingly romantic, and Mia and Levi’s relationship is perfectly captured, as Hunter flawlessly portrays growth amid faith and love. Hunter is not only a master at depicting romantic relationships, but her ability to write familial relationships is unmatched. I laughed out loud several times when the Bennett siblings interacted, and I was also able to relate to the harder moments siblings can experience in their relationship. Hunter is able to show several sides of relationships, both romantic and familial, in ways that will leave the reader profoundly moved.
Readers will also love seeing the continuation of Molly and Adam’s story from Lake Season (Book #1 in this series), and are offered intriguing sneak peeks into the fiery yet complex Grace, whose story will be the subject of Autumn Skies (Book #3 in this series, releasing October 20, 2020).
Hunter’s books are ones I have only recently discovered, but readers will never be disappointed with one of her books. Do yourself a favor and grab a copy of Carolina Breeze and any other Denise Hunter book you can find!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.