Hometown Girl Memories (Hometown Series Book 6)

by Kirsten Fullmer
Hometown Girl Memories (Hometown Series Book 6)
"I was crying one minute and laughing the next. A definite must read!" Winnie is content in her role as the reining matriarch of Smithville, but when a letter arrives from a long-lost friend, the door to her past is reopened. Memories come flooding in, drawing her back to 1968, her college days; a time filled with people and events she hasn’t allowed herself to recall. Tara knows her husband, Justin, is up to something. She may be crazy busy running her inn and trying to manage little Bella, but her gut tells her there’s more to Justin’s busy schedule than just work, and she’s determined to find out what it is. Join in the fun as Smithville’s leading ladies unite in this charming, must-read novel filled with love; past, present, and future.

Hometown Girl Memories (Hometown Series Book 6) Details

TitleHometown Girl Memories (Hometown Series Book 6)
Author
ReleaseOct 1st, 2019
Rating
GenreFiction, Thriller, Mystery, Drama

Hometown Girl Memories (Hometown Series Book 6) Review

  • Grady
    January 1, 1970
    Memories are made of thisAuthor Kirsten Fullmer has worked in the field of engineering, has been a teacher at the college level, was a freelance consultant, and has an affinity for art. Now retired, she has published seven novels, her favored HOMETOWN SERIES now lists six books, HOMETOWN GIRL MEMORIES being the sixth entry.Kirsten celebrates women in this series set in the small town of Smithville – a town that could be anywhere because each of us has a similar reminiscen Memories are made of thisAuthor Kirsten Fullmer has worked in the field of engineering, has been a teacher at the college level, was a freelance consultant, and has an affinity for art. Now retired, she has published seven novels, her favored HOMETOWN SERIES now lists six books, HOMETOWN GIRL MEMORIES being the sixth entry.Kirsten celebrates women in this series set in the small town of Smithville – a town that could be anywhere because each of us has a similar reminiscence focal point in our history on which to reflect the genuine substance of her writing. Though doubtless reading the full series in sequence would enhance the pleasure of this novel, the book is so strong that it may be read as a standalone. The manner in which this author opens the portal to her story is warmly inviting – ‘Winnie took Isabelle’s plump little hand in hers and smiled reassuringly. She knew the two-year-old wasn’t used to taking her morning nap at her Nana’s house, but since her momma, Tara, was so busy running the Inn, it was the best solution. It didn’t bother Winnie to put aside her chores and spend time with Bella. It was a pleasure to sit on the edge of the bed and hum her to sleep. She cherished these grandma moments. Something about sitting with a sleeping child calmed one’s nerves. Bella shifted under the handmade quilt and tugged her hand from Winnie’s arthritic fingers. “No, no, Nana. ‘Eyes’,” she demanded. Winnie started again, this time humming the first few bars of ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You’….In this brief passage the central characters are defined or suggested and the story flows well as Kirsten’s summary outlines: ‘Winnie is content in her role as the reining matriarch of Smithville, but when a letter arrives from a long-lost friend, the door to her past is reopened. Memories come flooding in, drawing her back to 1968, her college days; a time filled with people and events she hasn’t allowed herself to recall. Tara knows her husband, Justin, is up to something. She may be crazy busy running her inn and trying to manage little Bella, but her gut tells her there’s more to Justin’s busy schedule than just work, and she’s determined to find out what it is.’A love story, a small town romance – yes, but in Kirsten Fullmer’s hands there are so many more aspects of the impact of relationships and the force of nature and the fine reflection of that richly colorful era of the 1960s that make this a little jewel of a book. A refreshing experience.
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  • Elizabeth Price
    January 1, 1970
    This for me is Fullmer's best book yet! I couldn't put it down! I've always loved her books, and how real they are, but this took it to a new level! It took a journey through so many different stages of life: young love, marriage, parenthood, aging, and so much more. I throughly enjoyed how she presented the delicate history of the late 60s in a way that caused me to stop and think, and yet there was still much humor and laughter as well.
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  • High Light
    January 1, 1970
    This book was absolutely delightful to read! Even though there are sad and bittersweet memories throughout, the story itself is concise, sweet, and comedic all in one. This is the story of two women: Winnie (Wynona), an aged soul living by herself and the diligent Tara (owner of her own Inn) who is strong-willed and determined even though at times it can cause great anxiety and stress on herself. Tara has her own little family to take care of in addition to managing the books and overall well-be This book was absolutely delightful to read! Even though there are sad and bittersweet memories throughout, the story itself is concise, sweet, and comedic all in one. This is the story of two women: Winnie (Wynona), an aged soul living by herself and the diligent Tara (owner of her own Inn) who is strong-willed and determined even though at times it can cause great anxiety and stress on herself. Tara has her own little family to take care of in addition to managing the books and overall well-being of her Inn. Winnie is a family friend of Tara’s and she often looks after Tara’s toddler daughter Bella. Her forlorn memories of her college days in the Hippie 60’s started when she received a letter from a mysterious character from her past, informing her that he/she will be coming home for a reunion after years of separation. All throughout the book, Winnie has recollections of the past from the time she and her lifelong friends, Roy and Claudia, arrived at college in Pittsburgh from smallish Smithville, to the time she meets her significant other Thomas to the time when she and these friends of hers become either anti-Vietnam War or downright Conservative.I enjoyed this book a lot. Not because it had friends who became enemies but because it was so simple and sweet and engaging overall. I smiled at some moments where the very outgoing Claudia came up with ideas that nowadays would be the Internet and the telephone caller ID who frowned at Roy and Claudia’s concerns over her partying ways and sexual escapades with college guys. It brought back my own memories of college life and how it was so carefree and wild and how some people did not even get to finish their education due to being frivolous and non-serious. One remarkable element of this book is the inclusion of current events in the 60s like the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights Movement, and the popularity of the British band The Beatles. I read this book in three days but could have been two or one simply because I like to take my time with books since I tend to read two at a time.I recommend this book which is a romance novel to those who love Small town love stories. This book does not contain any sexual content and that’s a plus. The romance lies within the memories of Winnie whose young life can be described as magical and innocently sugary until she experiences losses that cause her heart to break. I had read another novel, the 5th book of this Hometown series from Kirsten Fullmer and I must say, that one and this book were hard to put down once I started reading them. Fullmer’s magic lies in the interaction between her characters and their simplistic, uncomplicated lives. There is so much harmony among them with little quarreling and dispute. I think when the next book in this series comes out, I’ll be waiting in line happily to buy a copy of it. It’s really worth my time…and yours!
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  • Valery
    January 1, 1970
    Hometown Girl Memories (Hometown Series Book 6) by Kirsten Fullmer is a beautifully written story and being the sixth in the series, stands well on it's own. It may be beneficial however to read the previous selections in the series to get a real foundation for the stories. This is a small town story, featuring likable and relatable characters like Tara, and Winnie, each with their own set of unique problems and challenges. A letter arrives for Winnie, who is elderly, and this pulls her back to Hometown Girl Memories (Hometown Series Book 6) by Kirsten Fullmer is a beautifully written story and being the sixth in the series, stands well on it's own. It may be beneficial however to read the previous selections in the series to get a real foundation for the stories. This is a small town story, featuring likable and relatable characters like Tara, and Winnie, each with their own set of unique problems and challenges. A letter arrives for Winnie, who is elderly, and this pulls her back to her younger days in the 1960's, and it basically opens up a lot of memories for her. Tara has her own issues, dealing with work, a young daughter, and a complicated relationship. All of these elements combine to create a finely written novel, one that has a classic tone, a romance contained within, and well fleshed out, thoughtful characters. This book will definitely pull at your heartstrings as you realize how often the past can affect the present. Highly recommend.
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