Valentine, Oklahoma is a small town that I think many of us would for sure want to visit, and possibly live in. The people there all care for one another, and look out for each other, and when a young family is in trouble they pitch in to help without calling in social services. However, there's one hitch in this...Valentine, Oklahoma is a fictional place, and the only way to visit is to read the novels from Curtiss Ann Matlock, the newest of which is CHIN UP HONEY.

While reading the book I knew I was missing some knowledge of the residents of Valentine, but never felt as though I was so unaware of their lives as to be feeling like an intruder looking through a window into a private home. I believe it takes a certain talent to take a reader like me, who isn't familiar with the people and the town to make me feel welcome, and to want to go back in time, and read the earlier books. Ms. Matlock did that flawlessly.

There are several story lines in CHIN UP HONEY, but the predominant family featured is the Berry family. There are several changes afoot in the Berry home, and as I read I wanted to cry and cheer for how Emma and John Cole were working to adapt to the changes in their long marriage rather than following through with the divorce they were planning. I think what helped them to realize what they had was the engagement of their only child to another only child, and the doubts that Johnny, and Gracie were encountering on their way to the alter.

Overall I would recommend CHIN UP HONEY, but I would also recommend that you have some dedicated reading time because I'm confident you won't want to set the book aside readily. When I turned the last page I was happy with all the story line resolutions, but was also pleased to see that enough was left unresolved for me to get another invitation to visit Valentine, Oklahoma.

Book Summary

It takes a lot of work to plan a wedding—and even more to save a marriage—but in Valentine, Oklahoma, there's always someone to help you keep your chin up.

Emma Cole's son is getting married, and she's determined to make everything perfect—even if that means asking her estranged husband to come home and pretend they're still together. John may be an imperfect husband, but he's a devoted dad. He's happy to oblige Emma—especially since he didn't really much like living apart from her anyway. Now he wants a second chance.

As Emma sorts through the mess of her own marriage, she puts her heart into planning Valentine's wedding of the century. But there's one big problem: the bride's ambitious mother wants more for her daughter than marriage to a small-town boy.

As the wedding approaches, the many meanings of love, commitment and happiness capture the hearts of folks in town. And surrounded by the warmth and spirit of her neighbors, Emma starts to see new beginnings instead of endings.