The Happy Camper

I've been reading a lot of heavy fiction lately and I knew it was time to add a light, fun read to my reading plans. This was the perfect book- it's light and romantic and has some interesting characters. I learned about glamping. Glamping is a combination of "glamorous" and "camping", and it means going camping and taking all of the amenities of luxury along with you.

Dillon walks away from her long-term boyfriend and her job within two days and decides to go back to her grandfather's small farm in Oregon to decide what to do with her life. She plans to surprise her grandfather but when she got there, she was surprised to see her mother living there. She and her mother had never really gotten along with each other so she wasn't happy to show more find her where she planned to rest and re-group.
Dillon is thrilled when her grandfather gives her a small Oasis camper that she can fix up and live in. It's a lot of work but Dillon spends a lot of time on so that she can have a place to sleep other than her grandfather's lumpy couch.

As part of the rehab of her new camper, Dillon meets the owner of the hardware store, Jordan. After some missed signals between them, Dillon feels that there may be a chance for a relationship between them. That is until her old boyfriend shows and asks her to go back to her old job and into their old relationship. Dillon has to decide if she wants to go back to the person and place that she left or stay at her Grandfather's farm and start a new adventure with camping and with Jordan.

This is a light fun look with well-written characters but it is more than that. It's about family and love and forgiveness. When you need a light romance book, give this one a try. show less

The Happy Camper is a lovely and lively romance that was a great tonic for me. I had made the mistake of reading two dark manuscripts back to back so reading this bright standard story next was lovely. The characters in this book are realistic and fun to follow. You can't help but root for Dillon and want everything to go right for her. I read this book fast and enjoyed it immensely and would love to see more from this author. All in all, thank you Melody Carlson for giving me a book of hope, love, and putting forth a Christian character that you want to be friends with.

After losing her job and her boyfriend, Dillon Michaels heads back to the place she’s always known as home, her grandparents’ farm in Oregon where she grew up. Her grandpa lives there alone since her grandma passed away about a year earlier. Deciding that her grandpa could use some help and cheering up, she says goodbye to her roommates and heads to Oregon where she plans to spend quality time with her grandfather while figuring out what she should do with her life. But when she gets there she discovers that her elusive mother has beaten her to it. Dillon’s comfy little room has been taken over by her mom who’s experiencing relationship troubles of her own, and Dillon is relegated to the lumpy couch. This, she decides, will not show more work. As she contemplates leaving the farm, her grandfather surprises her with an old, rundown camper that Dillon sees as a diamond in the rough that she can fix up and live in while staying on the farm. She’s beginning to feel super excited about fixing up her camper, the handsome hardware store owner, and the progress she’s making on the strained relationship she has with her mother. Things are looking up. But when her ex-boyfriend shows up unexpectedly, proclaiming his undying love at a very inopportune time, could his crazy antics cause Dillon to lose out on the prospect of a new love?
I truly enjoyed The Happy Camper. It didn’t hurt that I love everything associated with RVing and cute little vintage campers. So when I saw this book I knew I had to read it, and I was not disappointed. It contained so much that made my little heart happy—sweet romance, camp trailers, a farm, an adoring grandfather, a contrite mother, a cute set of young twin girls and so much more. I read intently and envisioned one old, neglected camp trailer carefully restored, inside and out, and then meticulously decorated to appease the new owner, who made it into a cozy, cute living space for herself. I could picture the interior with its turquoise and orange accessories and original appliances. It was a vintage camper-lover’s dream book! The pace of the book was even with many sweet scenes that brought a smile to my face. And although it ended a bit abruptly, it contained all the makings for a lovely story that was fun and uplifting.
Thank you, Revell Books, for an ARC of The Happy Camper. All opinions expressed about it are my own. show less

I really enjoyed this fun read. I think it would be interesting to set up shop in a camper and maybe even be able to go a few places in it. Dillon really has her hands full when she goes home to help out her grandfather and it gets even fuller when she realizes her mom is there too. I really enjoyed the characters in this book and found it funny at times as they got everything sorted out.
I received a copy of this book to read, the review is mine.

It wasn’t Dillon’s best weekend. First she breaks up with her boyfriend, then she gets fired. But the boyfriend wasn’t ideal, being too self-centered to care about Dillon, and her boss expected Dillon to drop everything and report to work whenever she called, even on Dillon’s days off. So Dillon says good-bye to ex-boyfriend, ex-job, and ex-roommates, and moves back home to Grandpa and his farm. But her mother, having left her own boyfriend, has beaten her to it, and has taken over Dillon’s old bedroom. Dillon is relegated to the saggy sofa, but not for long. An unexpected gift from her grandpa sparks new life into Dillon. And meeting the handsome hardware store owner also dispels any lingering sadness. Unfortunately, her ex show more has decided he wants what he no longer has and sets out to reclaim Dillon, upsetting her and her new life. These charming characters are entertaining and delightful in this lighthearted romance. Ms. Carlson tells a sweet tale without using profane language, and, while not preachy, still exhibits Christian tenets in her writing. Dillon may not inspire you to acquire a trailer and head off for the campgrounds, but she sure makes it sound wonderful! show less

"Her only recourse---a lesson she'd learned long ago, but sometimes forgot---was to give her heartache to God. She knew his ways were higher than hers. And she knew he could handle her brokenness...and that, in time, he would restore her. She would get past this."

Dillon Michaels is such a special person but she hasn't always had it easy. A boyfriend unable to commit to marriage, an ogre for a boss, and a mother who has always seemed like the child in their relationship. Dillon finally decides to put it all behind her and go back to her grandfather's home to help him adjust to her grandmother's death but her mother has already arrived. Sleeping on a lumpy couch and dealing with her mother are certainly not the best of circumstances but show more things turn around when her grandfather gives her his old camper to renovate. Her frequent trips to the local hardware store allow her to get to know Jordan Atwood, the store owner, and Dillon is thrilled to find advice and friendship with this confirmed bachelor.

This is such an entertaining story and I enjoyed watching a budding romance develop between Dillon and Jordan. I also found The Happy Camper to be educational because I actually found some great tips about renovating a used camper. There are, of course, memorable characters that both complicate and enhance Dillon and Jordan's lives and there are situations that suggest an unhappy ending. Dillon's mother Margo is frustrating, to say the least, but her grandfather is always there to support and guide her. There is also another woman who has her eye on Jordan and Dillon's old boyfriend shows up, wanting to get back together. Through it all, faith and family play an important role and I appreciate that there are many reminders that forgiveness is the key to finding peace and happiness and that trust in God is essential.

Melody Carlson has once again created a fun, clean, and inspiring story and I can already imagine it as a Hallmark movie. I recommend The Happy Camper to all who enjoy contemporary Christian fiction.

I received a copy of this book from Revell. I wasn't obligated to write a favorable review and I am voluntarily sharing my honest thoughts. show less

When her boss fires her for failing to work overtime and she realizes the relationship she's in is headed nowhere, Dillon Michaels moves back to her grandfather's farm in Oregon. She doesn't expect to find her mother occupying her bedroom--and ends up on an uncomfortable couch. En route, she managed to get stuck between a couple of vintage RVs as she exited to find lodging overnight. She discovered the campground rented such RVs and fell in love. She stops at the hardware on her way to her grandfather's and meets Jordan. When she tells her grandfather more about her trip, he gifts her with an RV she can fix up. She discovers she loves the work of fixing up RVs and is good at it! She's surprised when her old boyfriend shows up. It's a show more pretty predictable Hallmark-type book from there on. As a work of Christian fiction, church-going does play a part in the narrative and Christian witness takes place in forms of prayer and one brief moment with her mom. I enjoyed this book as a change of pace from some of the other things I've been reading. show less