Home To Chicory Lane: Book One of Chicory Inn Series By Deborah Raney

 I received this book from Litfuse Publicity for no charge in exchange for my honest review of this book. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Book Description:  

Audrey Whitman's dreams are coming true. Now that their five kids are grown, she and her husband Grant are turning their beloved family home into a cozy bed and breakfast, just a mile outside of Langhorne, Missouri. Opening weekend makes Audrey anxious, with family and friends coming from all over to help celebrate the occasion. But when Audrey's daughter, Landyn, arrives, the U-Haul she's pulling makes it clear she's not just here for a few days. Audrey immediately has questions. What happened in New York that sent Landyn running home? Where was Landyn's husband, Chase? And what else was her daughter not telling her? One thing was for sure, the Chicory Inn was off to a rocky start. Can Audrey still realize her dream and at the same time provide the comfort of home her daughter so desperately needs?


My Thoughts: 

Home To Chicory Lane is the first book in Deborah Raney's newest series, The Chicory Inn and I really enjoyed it. As a fan of Deborah Raney I was excited to have the opportunity to read this latest series. It has been a while since I have read Deborah Raney so it was refreshing to have this opportunity.  Audrey Whitman has always dreamed of running a bed and breakfast out of their family home and now with all of they children grown and on their own, Audrey and Grant Whittman put their all into The Chicory Inn, a mile outside of Langhorne,Missouri.  The Whittman's have an open house for opening weekend, enlisting help from some of their children. Their youngest Landyn makes a surprise visit from New York hauling a U-Haul truck behind her. When Audrey and Grant finally get to talk to Landyn they find out she has left her husband Chase after he subleased their apartment, moved them into a studio apartment for his art, and he quit his job to be an artist full time. This move would force Landyn to have to quit her job to find something closer.  As The Whittman Family circle around Landyn trying to help her make decisions, her husband realizes he needs to be Landyn. 

Home to Chicory Lane is a great book. I am a huge fan of Deborah Raney and I am so excited that she has a new series out! My dream has been to own a bed and breakfast or resort since I was in high school so this book really spoke to me about having those dreams and making them come true, having the faith to believe this is where God is leading you and trust His calling. So much of this book is about that faith and God's leading and what happens when you listen to that calling. Deborah Raney writes with authority about Missouri, New York, the Art world, marketing,and  running a B&B.
I really enjoyed meeting the Whittman family, Grant and Audrey, their 5 children, their son in laws, and their grandchildren, oh and Grants Mom CeeCee (there is a story there I hope to read).  This book was mainly about Audrey and Grant and Landyn and Chase but it was great to get to learn about the others in the family and the dynamics within their family, which I can't wait to learn more. I found it hard to put this book down once I got into it, wanting to know what would happen with Landyn and Chase. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Contemporary Christian Fiction, you will not be disappointed. I absolutely look forward to the next book in this series (there's a few  pages of the new book in this one). I give this book 5 STARS

The first book in Deborah Raney's new Chicory Inn series, Home to Chicory Lane, introduces us to Audrey Whitman, a mother who has launched all her children into life and now looks forward to fulfilling some of her own dreams during her empty-nest years. However, not all of her children are ready to stay out of the nest quite yet.

Deborah is celebrating the release of her new series with a $200 B&B Weekend Getaway and a Facebook author chat party.

 
  One winner will receive:

• A B&B Weekend Getaway (via a $200 Visa cash card)
• Home to Chicory Lane by Deborah Raney

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on September 9th. Winner will be announced at the Home to Chicory Lane Author Chat Party on 9/9. Deborah will be hosting a heartfelt book chat, giving away prizes, and answering questions from readers. She will also share an exclusive sneak peek at the next book in the Chicory Inn series!

So grab your copy of Home to Chicory Lane and join Deborah on the evening of September 9th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 9th!