Destination

by Andrea Renee Cox

This collection of novellas was a true delight. Here's what I thought about the individual stories:

Bare Feet and Warm Sand by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Who doesn't love green sea turtles? This humanitarian story was short but sweet. Kim Sawyer's trademark messages of hope came through beautifully in this novella. She really made the beach scenes feel realistic – so much so that I thought I felt the sun on my back and the sand between my toes!

Sufficient Grace by Constance Shilling Stevens

Sufficient Grace is a delightful battle between bullying and doing what's right. I enjoyed the humanitarian angle of trying to save a Cherokee burial ground. This novella was beautiful, and I hope to read more by Constance Shilling Stevens, a new author to me.

One thing my copyediting eye noticed was that six out of ten chapters began with “Nora.” This was awkward to me and something I hope the author will improve for her next story.

Better Together Than Apart by Rose Allen McCauley

Compromise is crucial to any relationship, and I love that it was featured in this mission-field story. The trend of humanitarian work continued in this novella.

At times, this story felt like an advertisement for a particular cruise line and music artists. This was a bit off-putting to me, even though I'm a fan of a couple of the artists.

There was one particular inconsistency that bugged me: A character said he was finding his guitar to lead the sing-along, but when that sing-along was taking place, that same man was doing construction work.

This story grew on me over the course of the chapters, and by the end, I found it to be a sweet romance that featured a heart for missions. It was a unique tale, one that I'm glad I read.

A Shelter in a Weary Land by Julane Hiebert

This is the first Civil War story I've enjoyed. I disliked that it had a smidge of sexual innuendo and a coarse joke or two, but the rest of the book was very moving. The ending felt a bit abrupt, and there was no punishment for the bad guy. But oh, did I weep! What an emotional journey!

Cotton Candy Skies by K. Marie Libel

Lovely end to this collection of novellas. I really enjoyed the author's bubbly writing voice and the grand adventures the characters experienced. There was a sweetness to this story that was exquisite.


While I noticed a few typos and inconsistencies throughout the collection, these did not stop me from finding delight, tears, joy, and hope in this book. If you're looking for a fun summer read – for any time of the year – choose Destination: Romance.

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I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, authors, and sites like Netgalley, Litfuse Publicity Group, and Blogging for Books. They do not require me to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.