All Mel wants is to run the business of her dreams.
Melody Carmichael’s mobile pet grooming business might sink before it can sail when a favorite pet escapes her care. Doggie escape-artist, Daphne, got a taste of freedom, and the Afghan hound refuses to be found.
Enter Zeke Solomon. Desperate to bring the dog home for his grandmother, Zeke steps in to save the day.
And working together with … home for his grandmother, Zeke steps in to save the day.
And working together with Zeke would be a snap—if they could just find the dumb dog.
Zeke is desperate to prove himself worthy of the Solomon name and step out from his father’s shadow. With his father breathing down his neck and demanding he return to the company business, Zeke must decide whether confronting the man he admires most is worth the risk of alienation.
Everything’s falling apart, and Mel’s dream transforms into a nightmare. She thought this was what God wanted for her life, but can you blame her for second-guessing everything?
Was it all just a mistake?
Mishaps off the Mainland is the fifth “Merriweather book” in a new series featuring five islands, six authors, and a boatload of happily-ever-afters.
The Independence Island Series: beach reads aren’t just for summer anymore.
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Mishaps Off the Mainland is the fifth installment from the Merriweather and Independence Islands series by various authors. I have had the pleasure of reading and enjoying previous books by Tabitha Bouldin. I was not disappointed with this one. I found it to be a delightful read. It was so entertaining meeting Melody and Zeke. They were such a fun duo that made me keep reading the whole book in one sitting. I enjoyed their story from start to finish. They were such a fun duo. I really liked this book.
Mishaps Off the Mainland will be getting four and a half stars. I recommend it for readers who enjoy quick and clean contemporary romance set on a beautiful island. It is most definitely worth a read and not to be missed.
I received Mishaps Off the Mainland from the publisher. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.
With a brilliant and witty dialogue, this was the perfect escape at the end of a busy day. Ms. Bouldin’s characters battle real-life problems as they chase their dreams in a perfect blend of romance, family and faith. Wonderful addition to the Independence Islands.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Mishaps off the mainland
I loved Mel was a dog groomer in Mishaps off the mainland. Mel has lot of mishaps in her dog grooming business. One of the dogs she is grooming escapes. She spends a lot of time trying to find the dog. Will she be able to find it? Then she has problems with her truck because her business is mobile. How will her business survive? I love books with dogs in it. Mishaps off the mainland is a very good book with dogs. I definitely recommend reading this book. I enjoyed this book so much.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. This book review is my own opinion.
Mishaps off the Mainland – Her Merriweather Hero by Rachel Skatvold is a delightful story set on Merriweather Island. Loved the beach scenes. I could see and hear the waves washing up on the shore. Holding a starring role in this book was Faith in the Lord. He is our anchor in the storms and in the calm. He won’t let us go. One can drift away but the Lord holds on waiting patiently for our return. This story worked through those times we moved away from God and found our way back. Fear is another topic the book covered. Remaining fearful keeps you from living your best life. There are many special people wiling to serve for the benefit of others. May God keep them all safe. I would recommend this book, especially those that like Christian Fiction Romance. Worth the read.
This book was provided through Celebrate Lit and the author for me to read. The opinions expressed are my own thoughts.
I have Thoroughly enjoyed the books in this series, and this fifth book, Mishaps off the Mainland is just as enjoyable. I love the visit back to Independence Island and meeting some old and new friends. This story belongs to Melody and Zeke. Both are wanting each of their businesses to make a go on the island. It seemed everything wrong was happening to Mel, but when she made the mistake of a lifetime, what it she to do.
The characters here are such fun and they developed well throughout the story. I love the sweet segments of Romance and the quirky interactions between the characters. Zeke and Mel are so much fun and will have you laughing quite a bit in this story. I loved the doggie part of the story, it really made the story for me. And there is a lot more going on in the story but you can read this book. I encourage you to check out Mishaps off the Mainland and the other books in this series! I give Mishaps off the Mainland Five Stars
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
I have very much enjoyed each and every one of my trips to the Independence Islands through the books of this series. Mishaps On the Mainland is yet another entertaining yet encouraging novel with the island setting. It features Melody Carmichael, owner of a mobile pet grooming service and Zeke Solomon who has escaped a desk job in his father’s company in order to follow a life more suited to his personality. He also desperately wants to prove himself to his dad.
As the title implies, Mel’s life is fraught with one mishap after another. Her worst nightmare has seen the light of day in the escape of a client’s dog. To make it worse, she has not been able to find the dog for days on end – not even with the help of Zeke, the client’s handsome grandson. An older grooming vehicle that has one expensive breakdown after another does not help her situation and Mel fears that her business may be over barely before it begins. A match-making grandmother and parents complicate things even more.
The plot moves at a steady pace with delightful characters and great dialogue. It was fun running across characters from previous books in the series. I loved Mel’s honesty about her discouragement in her faith and Zeke’s steady support and encouragement through her problems even when he had issues of his own. The resolution to Mel’s problems was a pleasant surprise if not 100% how life usually turns out. But miracles do happen, even if God uses someone else to provide them.
I would recommend each and every book in this series. Each can stand on its on but there is also a connection between them that adds to their enjoyment.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
Such a fun read. I really enjoyed it. It read quickly and had lots of laughs that kept me in giggles. This whole series has been amazing and I can’t wait for the next ones to come out so I can continue on the journey.
A mobile pet grooming business sounds interesting. I honestly hadn’t really heard of mobile businesses until this series. I mean, I knew they were a thing but I’d never seen one. I’d heard of food trucks etc but never seen them. I can now excitedly say that I actually saw a mobile pet grooming truck the other day!! Might have been more excited than called for.
Mel is loving her job as a groomer. It’s what she’s good at and what’s she’s always wanted to do. But did she get ahead of God when she bought this truck? It’s always breaking down and not working right. And then, she loses a dog.
Zeke is the grandson of the owner of the dog who is a sweet little lady. But he’s a bit annoying as he insists on helping her find the dog and she insists on making this business work on her own. She will be independent!
What a great read. Definitely read the whole series though or you’re going to be missing out. Not missing out as in this book won’t make sense but missing out as in you won’t get all the fun back stories on the other characters which are so fun. I can’t wait for all of the other characters to get their stories told in the next books.
I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received through Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.
Having read the other books in this series, I was excited to read this fifth installment. Melody and Zeke come across as faith-filled strong characters. Their personalities shine throughout the pages of the book.
While I currently have no pets and no desire to add any to our family, the animals in this story add to the tempo and flow of this book. The dynamics between Zeke and his father portray what I know difficulties with a parent feel like in real life. I found this book rather quick to read and definitely enjoyable. So check it out for yourself.
I received a complimentary copy of this book, but this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.
Cheers for an all-around great book by a new-to-me author, Tabitha Bouldin. Bouldin joins forces with several other Christian authors to tell the tales of various small businesses on a group of islands off the coast of Georgia. While the books are loosely connected, I did miss a few without feeling like I was missing any vital facts pertaining to this story, Mishaps off the Mainland. I always want to applaud for a novel whose title is especially apropos, and Bouldin’s creation is one of these. Contemporary romance is not my first love, but Bouldin makes me forget that as she introduces characters like Mel (owner of Zoomin’ Groomer) and Zeke and Miss Evelyn. These three stole my heart, as did the dogs and cats involved. The easy, everyday language flowed smoothly, while Bouldin’s snarky humor made me stop to laugh. Consider the following:
“Dressed in a navy pencil skirt, white flowy top, and carrying what looked like a real Gucci bag under her arm, with her nose lifted so high she couldn’t possibly see the ground, this woman would not tolerate a single dog hair in her presence.”
“Penciled-in eyebrows struggled against the Botox holding them aloft as the woman shook her head.”
Themes of chasing one’s own interests more than chasing God, and needing an earthly father’s approval make for great conflict, along with a fledgling relationship that sometimes needs to be handled with kid gloves. I heartily recommend this book for those who love Christian contemporary romance, who love dogs and cats, or who have ever struggled to receive a parental blessing or figure out God’s will.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and publisher through Celebrate Lit. I also purchased my own copy. I am voluntarily leaving this review. All opinions are my own.
First things first. If you haven’t read the first books in this series, stop everything. Now go grab a copy of each one and binge read. Next read this story and you will find familiar characters scattered throughout each book. This has become one of my all time favorite series. Each story ties into the other in a unique way. Now lets delve into what I loved about this gem.
Mel is a delightful character with a big heart for animals. She won my heart with her compassion for dogs and the care she gives them. Her poor truck is another matter though. I have to say it really is a piece of junk held together by duct tape and love. She has poured everything into this business and it is not going well. What do you do when you lose a client and have to go confess to the owner? This is where I absolutely adored the connection between Mel and Miss Evelyn or Nana as she likes to be called. To me this is the meat of the entire story. She tells Nana that she doesn’t feel God anymore. I burst out crying and wanted to hug Mel. Nana with her grace listens to Mel and gives her exactly what she needed. What is that, you ask? Why a gentle nudge to allow God to work in Mel’s life.
Zeke is a man looking for direction. He escapes the mundane job his father has for him and comes to the island. He has a plan to open his own business but something is stopping him. I loved the encounter Zeke has with Mel. They hit it off right away or do they? They take snarky little jabs at each other but I wasn’t fooled. Zeke working with the youth is inspiring and I loved how he shows that they matter. He has a big heart. The escapades of Zeke and Mel trying to find an escaped dog is quite amusing. That dog is having the time of its life playing hide and seek.
The story is a wonderful journey as two people mend relationships. One will find their way back to God and the other will repair a relationship with a parent. It did get a little emotional as these two allow God to guide them to forgiveness and trust. I hated to see the story end because Mel and Zeke became like friends to me. Their journey was fun to read and the faith element in the story reminded me to trust God and not run from my problems.
“Too often we run when all we need do is stand still and wait.”
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
Oh, how I love this island series. Each book is like another season of a favorite show. Onward with the life of a pet groomer—might I say a struggling business with a series of mishaps.
A star of the novel is a runaway dog—an escapee. She ties, and tries, the lives together of many characters as she remains elusive. I can relate as a recent rescue dog owner. My Tully is a puppy, a rather large puppy, begging to be set free to roam. I never intended to have a dog, but I think God had another idea. I rescue cats too. My latest was a mama-to-be cat who gave us six babies—we kept two.
As the heroine Mel explores her options as a groom, she continues to rescue, love, and foster animals. She is an inspiration for us all. If you like animals, this tale is relatable. Sometimes animal lovers do crazy things for the good of the furry “beasts.” Live, laugh, and wander the islands with Mel, Zeke, and the escapee.
Mishaps off the Mainland by Tabitha Bouldin is the fifth book in the Independence Islands series. I have read the previous books in this series and much like the others, I found this book to be unique and fun, full of romance and true Christian faith. This book might just be my favorite for the sweet pets throughout and their shenanigans. I think Zeke’s family dynamics are very relatable. The characters in this book are so alive and real which adds such depth to the story. Readers of Christian romance and Christian fiction will not be disappointed. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher. These opinions are entirely my own.
Melody and Zeke are two characters with whom you can identify. Both are strong, yet imperfect, and are filled with faith and hope.
Pair them with a cast of impossibly adorable animals, one welcoming island town, and several snags that come about.
It made me smile, laugh, and it’s one delightful story by talented author, Tabitha Bouldin.
This has been a great addition to the Independent island series! Tabitha has a knack for descriptive writing and brilliantly witty and authentic characters. She draws you in with witty banter and humor between Mel and Zeke and then digs deep into each character’s faith journey and life-long desires.
All the while, she draws you into the island setting effortlessly with descriptive prose that sets you right in the sand and the waves. She also does a fabulous job with side characters, and I hope to hear more from those side characters in future books.
I highly recommend this contemporary Christian romance!
5 things from Mishaps off the Mainland
by Tabitha Bouldin
1)Mel forges ahead with her Mobile Grooming business, despite losing a dog, her truck dying every 5 minutes, and Zeke’s handsome helpfulness.
2)Zeke is forging his own way with the Solomon name, trying to establish his own dream business.
3) A German Shepherd named Sarge who is trained in maneuvers.
4) Homemade Icecream and non-dates
5)”Zeke, please tell me you used some tact with Mel. Anyone with a heart as big as Mel’s will take anything you say personally.”
I love how Tabitha Bouldin weaves faith so naturally through her stories. Real problems, Sticky solutions, Big God. Such a powerful reminder to ask the Lord for guidance. And then to sit back as He answers.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.
This in no way influences my review. All opinions are my own,