For Sale by Owner by Marlene Bateman + Giveaway

Title: For Sale by Owner
Author: Marlene Bateman

Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.

Release Date: October 3, 2016
Genre: Inspirational Contemporary Fiction

McKenzie Forsberg is headed home. She's quit her big-city job to return to her roots in the small town of Lake Forest. Kenzi hopes to buy her childhood home from her brother, Tom, as a way of revisiting the peace and security she's been missing in her life. But soon she is shocked to discover that the house has a pending sale, and Tom won't budge from the sale—not even for his sister.

Handsome widower Jared Rawlins catches Kenzie's eye until she realizes that he's the one who is buying her house—but he can only close the deal if he sells his own house by Christmas Eve. Jared is more than a little interested in Kenzie but has second thoughts when it seems that she may be sabotaging the sale of his home.

Slippery feelings of animosity and distrust ensue, with both Jared and Kenzie denying the chemistry between them. But then an unexpected discovery about their connected past puts a new twist in the dynamic. Now, can they put their differences aside and come to terms on a relationship that could last forever?

I was drawn to For Sale by Owner, a novel by Marlene Bateman the moment I laid eyes on the cover. How sweet, and that color teal, LOVE it! This is my first encounter with the author, as well as a Covenant Communications published novel, so I'm not so sure what to expect. It took just a few short hours to finish this novel, and I walked away feeling satisfied. Satisfied because this was an easy and sweet read. It's one of those cozy novels that you can enjoy when you're short on time or when you want something light. Along with a cup of hot cocoa, this would make for some lovely snowed-in read.

As I take a moment to think back, I will say that our main character, Kenzie can be quite unlikable. She's selfish, inconsiderate and hypocritical at times. Then I thought, wait, aren't we all? Sometimes we're so blinded by what we want, that we forget how we ought to be. Though it is understandable in the story, it still doesn't negate how her actions have caused pain to others. In truth, I see a little of myself in Kenzie or vice versa - the selfishness at times, and I can't help but smile at her impulsiveness and how cute she is with Jared, even during the banters. The past connection in the story was a nice touch. The emotional thread between Kenzie and her father was honestly the most well written part of the story. Other areas, there are sentences that just didn't connect well. However, the story is still cuddly and like I've said, a satisfied read.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and have not been compensated for this. This is my honest opinion.

For my review policy, please see my Disclosure page.

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Marlene Bateman was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and grew up in Sandy, Utah. She graduated from the University of Utah with a bachelor’s degree in English. Marlene is married to Kelly R. Sullivan and lives in North Salt Lake, Utah. Her hobbies are gardening, camping, and reading. Marlene has been published extensively in various magazines and newspapers and has written a number of nonfiction books. Her first novel, a mystery romance, was the best-selling Light on Fire Island.

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