Book Review of 'Nellie' by Amy Walsh

Hello Book Lovers!

Happy Galentines Day to all my book loving gals! I am super excited to be here with you today!! I love discovering new-to-me authors and today I am featuring an author I've recently been introduced to. I hope you enjoy my thoughts on this delicious novel and have a wonderful day!

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Nellie by Amy Walsh, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Nellie
Series: Apron Strings #2
Author: Amy Walsh
Publisher: Walsh Mountain Publishing
Release Date: February 15, 2024
Genre: Historical Romance

Finances are tight for the O’Dwyer family who live on a mountain outside of Scranton, Pennsylvania in 1931. Life gets even harder when their beloved Dadaí must cease work as a coal miner to become a patient at the West Mountain Sanitarium.

Nellie is her preferred name, but family and friends have heard Mam shout “Fenella Aileen O’Dwyer!” all too often with the countless predicaments she got herself into throughout childhood. So, it’s not altogether surprising when Nellie impulsively accepts a job as an assistant cook at the Clarinda House in a case of mistaken identity -- though she’s the last person her family would ask to prepare a meal.

Fortunately, along with determination, a talent for acting, and the gift of blarney, Nellie has Mrs. Campbell’s Cookery Book, a treasure she discovered at a Red Cross drought relief sale.

As her reluctant admiration for her employer grows, Nellie wishes she could be the sort of truthful woman of faith that Mr. Mason Peale esteems. If she confesses all, will she lose her job along with the friendships she’s formed at Clarinda House?

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon

My Review

Nellie is the delicious addition to the Apron Strings series and the first installment that I’ve read. It is also the first novel that I’ve read by author Amy Walsh. I love the overall premise of this series and couldn’t wait to get to know Nellie.

I will say, this novel has a choppy start, but Nellie herself has such a cute personality that her charm is practically jumping off the pages. I adored the scenes with Nellie and her siblings, especially her little brother, Johny. The characters are definitely the stars of this novel.

Nellie’s first solo attempts at cooking is so real. I am not a cook by any stretch of the imagination, so it was almost autobiographical in its exactness to my own personal experiences. I just wish I would’ve had a Mrs. Owen by my side during my attempts!

The recipes at the end of the book sound so good that it actually makes me want to cook, which says a lot! I was wondering while I was reading if they would be included and was so pleased when I saw them. I am not a chef by any means but figure if Nellie can learn to cook so can I!

As far as the novel itself I didn’t love the overall writing style, especially at the beginning, and it took me a bit to get into it but, just like Mason and his family, I couldn’t help but be charmed by Nellie. I am so glad I stuck it out. This was such a fun and cute read that is oozing with charm, a few tongue-in-cheek moments, and will leave you feeling happy...and hungry!

My Rating: ★★★★

About the Author

Amy Walsh writes historical and contemporary romance, mysteries, speculative fiction, and women’s fiction. She is a 5th-grade writing teacher in an urban public school. Amy and her husband, Patrick, have three children. Amy considers herself greatly blessed in the roles God has given her as an earthling, including aspiring wordsmith, teacher of youngsters, nature appreciator, tea aficionado, avid dessert fan, book fanatic, lover of family and friends, and Christ-follower.

Connect with Amy by visiting walshmountainpublishing.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will win a $50 Amazon gift card, print copies of Nellie and Voices in the Sanitorium, and some historical memorabilia from the West Mountain Sanitarium!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight February 12, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on February 19, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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