On Moonberry Lake by Holly Varni

On Moonberry Lake by Holly Varni

ISBN-13: 9780800744977
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Revell
Released: September 26, 2023

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Cora Matthews has long wondered why her mother stopped taking her to visit her grandparents' lodge in the small Northwoods Minnesota town of Moonberry Lake. Now, after burying her mother and breaking off her engagement just two weeks before her wedding, Cora has a chance to find out. Once there, she is stunned to learn that the old lodge is her inheritance--with a surprising condition attached. Maybe some time to regroup on the shores of a beautiful lake is just what Cora needs to figure out what's next for her.

But Cora's days on the lake are anything but relaxing. The only thing that's a bigger mess than her own life is the dilapidated building she's living in. Add a cantankerous handywoman, an angry neighbor, and an elderly woman who spends all her time talking to the "residents" in the cemetery and Cora's not sure she can stick it out. But if she can, she may find a love she never expected--from the most unexpected people imaginable.


My Review:
On Moonberry Lake is a Christian romance. Cora's father and father's family were never mentioned. I kept expecting her to discover that the fallout between her mother and her parents was about Cora's father, but it's not. I was disappointed that Cora's mother completely cut off communication with her parents and refused to forgive them over the actual reason as the main offense wasn't even against her.

Cora's good at one thing: running away from uncomfortable situations. She even left her winter coat behind in frigid weather because she felt embarrassed. She was left her grandparent's lodge in an effort to get her to stick out hard situations and learn to deal with them. She must stay at the lodge for one year, and the building needed a lot of hard work to fix all of the problems. As Cora made friends with the quirky neighbors, she found the family she's been longing for and learned to accept and even love people who initially made her uncomfortable.

The characters were entertaining and engaging. Ben, the very normal love interest, was supportive, kind, and patient. The neighbor who's a pastor is the only character that was obviously Christian, and some of her friends probably weren't. (The artist kept referring to the universe directing things.) Cora's not a Christian, yet at the end she connected with God and felt enveloped in His care despite the hard things happening to her and her friends. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this novel to those who enjoy quirky characters.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.