A Nantucket Fling by Kathryn Freeman

 With unseasonably warm weather this week and Valentines Day  just a few days away, I treated myself to reading a fun little romcom by Kathryn Freeman.  A Nantucket Fling, being published June 9, 2026, by HarperCollins Publishers, is just the thing for an enjoyable virtual getaway.  

    Olivia Davies is a career driven woman, with no time or patience for pursuing a man or a marriage. She is on the fast track to being CIO for a well known London company. Olivia is competing against Stuart for the promotion she has worked 15 years toward. Fighting the "gold ole' boys club" all the way up the ladder.  A few weeks before her interview process begins she must attend a family wedding across the pond in the United States, Nantucket, Massachusetts to be exact.  As the single younger sister, accompanied by her two older sisters and the wedding party, she is challenged to enjoy a little harmless fling while on vacation.  Nothing serious, just some outings with the hot young chef , Connor, helping to cater the "hen party," and wedding dinner.  What could it hurt to let her hair down and enjoy the attention of a younger man?

Back home in England, she finds herself back in the grind, pursuing her promotion when she reconnects with Connor once again.  The relationship rekindles, but Connor hasn't shared everything about his life with Olivia. His world is more complicated than he has led her to believe.

 Olivia is guarded with her own doubts. How could a virile younger man fancy a career driven woman ten years older than him, and is that man worth changing her plans for? She doesn't want marriage, or a family...her only desire is to meet her goal.  Is the cost too high?

I thoroughly enjoyed the story.  As a light read to chase off the winter doldrums or perhaps a summer read by the pool, A Nantucket Fling by Kathryn Freeman is just perfect.  I am so appreciative of HarperCollins Publishers for the advance e-proof copy distributed by NetGalley in exchange for this honest review.  I give A Nantucket Fling  four stars, and hope to see it fly off the shelves this coming June.

#ANantucketFling #NetGalley

Bratty Pets, A gift from God?

     My dog is like a little kid. Weighing her options while deciding the value of consequences versus rewards.  But aren't we all. 

    For her, the consequences are doled out by the cat.  There is a great sibling rivalry between my dog and cat. One (the dog) feels everything in the house is hers to have even though she has her own things. The cats toys are hers, the parents are  hers. The parents socks are hers, and she will patiently wait until the cats not paying attention to take anything and drag it under my bed to her den. 

    The cat is often angry because of the dogs possessive nature.  So she plots revenge. She taunts the dog by placing toys in her path to steal knowing full well that an attack is imminent if she goes to retrieve the toys. The cat also places herself in the path of the dog's toys or even in the doorway leaving a room or an exit so the dog must pass by the cat to get where she wants or needs to go.  The cat will chase, ambush or flat out attack the dog, biting and scratching her. 

    The dog knows this. Yet she still lets her possessive tendencies rule her behavior. She will endure the pain of attack to steal another cat toy or cross the path to her escape.  The consequences of the cat may slow her progress, but she will patiently weigh her options and endure discomfort to feed her own wants. 

    How similar we are to  them?

    When you think about it, doesn't this mirror our own sinful natures?  We know certain behaviors are sinful, or harmful, yet instead of avoiding them completely, we weigh the consequences.  How much guilt or discomfort is worth the pleasure we get from the moment of following our own wants. 

     For me this might result in coveting or envy, the act of wanting what someone else has just because I really admire it or, sharing gossip or information that doesn't need to be shared  dressed up as concern.  I can always make a case for the defense of my actions. Yet that doesn't change the true nature behind them. 

    I'm in awe of the ways God puts illustrations right in front of us to remind us of his will for our lives and how we should lead them.  Thankfully, he doesn't often bonk us on our heads and say...I told you not to do that, but He shows us a mirror reflection when we are being selfish, or nosy or prideful.  Sometimes he even puts a dog or cat in our lives to remind us (me) to not be petty and willful, but show more kindness. 

I am thankful for God's love and concern and his will for me.  I am also thankful for the example he gives me through my bratty pets, to remind me to share, treat others well, and get out of the way of myself and others when He directs my paths.