 About the book:
Why did their differences matter so much?
Link Whitman has settled into the role of bachelor
without ever intending to. Now he's stuck in a dead-end job and, as the next Whitman wedding fast approaches, he is the last one standing. The pressure from his sisters' efforts to play matchmaker is getting hard to bear as Link pulls extra shifts at work, and helps his parents at the Chicory Inn.
All her life, Shayla Michaels has felt as if she straddled
two worlds. Her mother's white family labeled her African American father with names Shayla didn't repeat in polite-well, in any company. Her father's family disapproved as well, though they eventually embraced Shayla as their own. After the death of her mother, and her brother Jerry's incarceration, life has eft Shayla's father bitter, her niece, Portia, an orphan, and Shayla responsible for them all. She knows God loves them all, but why couldn't people accept each other for what was on the inside? For their hearts?
Everything changes one icy morning when a child runs into the street and Link nearly
hits her with his pickup. Soon he is falling in love with the little girl's aunt, Shayla, the beautiful woman who runs Coffee's On, the bakery in Langhorne. Can Shayla and Link overcome society's view of their differences and find true love? Is there hope of changing the sometimes-ugly world around them into something better for them all? 
About the author:
Deborah Raney's novels have won numerous awards including the RITA,
National Readers' Choice Award, HOLT Medallion, the Carol Award, and have three times been Christy Award finalists. She and her husband, Ken Raney have traded small-town life in Kansas-the setting of many of Deb's novels-for life in the city of Wichita.
Find out more about Deborah at http://deborahraney.com.
Join Deborah on Thursday, March 23, for a live author chat party in her Facebook groupwith fun prizes to be won! Click the graphic below for more details and to RSVP. Hopeto see you there-bring a friend or two who loves to read!
I am very saddened to see this series come to an end. I have enjoyed my time in Chicory Inn. The author has made readers feel like part of the family. The inn was the central point of each story as the family gathered there for dinners, marriages and spending quality time togther. Each story in the series seemed to build on to each other. We became acquainted with the Whitman family and experienced their trials and accomplishments. The final book in this engaging series is the most powerful and emotional book the author has ever written. She has surpassed my expectations of a storyline that some will consider uncomfortable and writes with real depth and honesty. Thank you for saving the best for last. I wiped away tears during many scenes and at times I was angry because of the ignorance of people that still see others differently.
Shayla is a beautiful black woman who helps her dad at the family owned bakery. She is a hard worker and fiercely protective of her niece. After her mom died, her father seemed a bit more stern in watching over Shayla and Portia. Her father has faced many hardships in his life and I admired his determination to make things better for Shayla and Portia. Shayla is bitter over the irresponsible choices her brother has made and it showed how one bad choice can have a ripple affect on others.
Link Whitman has run into Shayla several times in town and finds himself smitten with her. I loved how he looked past the color of her skin and saw the beauty she had inside. The story tackles the issue that goes on still today. Shayla knows what it is like to look different and wishes she looked like her mom. Her mom was beautiful with blonde hair and blue eyes. It was tough to be in a biracial marriage and the consequences for Shayla's mom was devastating.
Portia is a firecracker of energy and her smile is contagious. She is very well mannered and innocent. What crushes my heart is when she comes face to face with prejudice. Link is convinced that he can win Shayla over but after witnessing an altercation at the movies between Shay, Portia and some ill mannered young men, he starts to understand why Shayla is so unsure they should have a relationship. Will their relationship out Shayla and her family in danger?
This is one book where the author writes with passion as she shows readers how society still treats others with little respect. Will we ever get to the point where it doesn't matter what color our skin is? When will we remember that children are innocent and should not have to face hate at any age? I was very impressed with Link and his family. They welcomed Shayla into their home and made her feel welcome. I wish miss Chicory Inn but the author leaves us with a powerful message. Love is all we need and with faith we can overcome anything.There are bonus questions at the end of the book that you don't want to miss. I want to thank Deborah Raney for writing a book that we all need to read . Thank you for your love for everyone and helping us through Shayla and Link's story to examine our hearts and see people the way Jesus sees them.
I was given a copy of this book from Litfuse Publicity Group. The review is my own opinion.
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