The Magnolia House Listening Room Experience

If you are a repeat visitor to the blog, you know by now that I love to read and I have a crazy little thing called Alpha Gal Syndrome that greatly impacts my life. With those two factors, it is probably not a surprise that I don’t get out much. Evenings are one of my favorite times to cuddle up with the pups and a good book. Eating away from home is always a risk; I don’t deign to micromanage another cook’s kitchen and failing to do so could result in accidental allergen consumption, which is never a good time for my family or me. So when my dear friend Rachel at Magnolia House Listening Room informed me the menu for a particular dinner concert would be vegan and totally safe for me, I set aside my book for an evening and enjoyed a night out. Sit back and get cozy, and I will tell you the tale of a girl who had a magical experience practically in her own backyard.

Magnolia House is a darling little coffee shop in an historic building in the heart of downtown Prairie Grove, Arkansas. Just down from Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park, you will find Magnolia House lining the street alongside a handful of fascinating little shops in beautiful old storefronts. The front porch is inviting on a balmy day, but step through the doors to meet some of the sweetest people you will ever meet. During the daytime and Thursday evening open mic nights, you can sample their handcrafted coffees, house blended teas and homemade pastries. Their brunch and lunch menus will delight even the soggiest curmudgeon. I could go on for days about how their food is made from scratch in a cozy little kitchen just like my grandmothers did, or how blissful it is to sit and soak up the nostalgia as you enjoy your culinary delights. But a very different kind of magic happens on Saturday nights, when Magnolia House dons her exclusive elevated identity and shines as Magnolia House Listening Room.

The light outside was fading and the streets of small town America were tucking themselves in for the night on this particular evening. Patrons stood with bated breath, waiting for the doors to open and allow us to find a table in preparation for the carefully curated three course meal. Homemade hummus anchored the appetizer with a glorious pour of olive oil, accented by fresh cut vegetables and freshly made flatbread. This hummus sang with vibrant, fresh flavors, and enough garlic to make the body feel joyful for having consumed it. I could have made a very satisfying meal on the appetizer alone, but then the entree was discreetly swept into place and I found myself looking at the very portrait of a perfectly crafted baked sweet potato. Well seasoned, perfectly cooked black beans, slivered fresh red onions, a delicately portioned mound of perky little sprouts, and a well balanced sprinkle of scallion weighed perfectly on the fork and satisfyingly on the tongue. Closing my eyes and savoring each bite, my body thrummed with energy, good health, and great happiness as life leapt from fork to tongue. To be honest, one half of this masterpiece could have sufficed as supper, the second as dessert. But the creative genius behind this meal left no such opportunity, as a moist and flavorful spiced apple cake was set before me. My heart and body were so very blissful. And then the music began.

The delightful fare provided by MHLR.

Looking at the venue area of Magnolia House does not evoke thoughts of great acoustics or a particularly special listening experience. But do not be fooled. The music in the Magnolia House Listening Room is unamplified, so it is not overwhelming, but it will take someone more familiar with sound engineering than I to explain how the particular shape of the room manages to take that sound and channel it directly to the soul. And the musical magicians of this evening are storytellers who speak directly to the soul, haunting and delighting and tickling the spirit with musical Ozark folklore that evokes a visceral reaction. Still On The Hill delights like no one I have heard before, and I noticed several times that I was holding my breath, leaning forward in my chair or settling relaxed in my seat, depending on the lyrical story they were telling. With quilted slideshows and instruments that tell their own stories, the duo carried me away like pixies in the night, and slipped me home none the wiser by morning. And when the show ended, I was surprised to find that any time at all had passed. The only appropriate response I could give was to sit in my seat, eyes closed, cells humming joyfully through my body, and savor the experience. I might have actually been to enthralled  to applaud, but in the intimacy of the setting, I’m sure they felt the extent of my gratitude.

Woman By Grace and Magnolia Rachel with Kelly & Donna of Still On The Hill

My Partner In Dine for the evening was my heart’s sister and Magnolia House bakery genius, Rachel.

Still On The Hill is one of the phenomenal artists who have graced the patrons of the Magnolia House Listening Room, and the schedule is packed past and future with more acts that are not to be missed. Each one specifically curated by the musical genius of owner and outstanding musical artist, Rachel Fields. You can find the lineup and purchase tickets online: https://www.magnoliahousepg.com/events and I recommend doing just that. For less than the cost of a night on the town, we were immersed in a magical experience that is simply a shame to miss. 

Book Review - The Collector of Burned Books

What is it about the written word that causes people to fear it? And what kind of beliefs must one have that they cannot stand against reading what is written from a different point of view? Roseanna M. White probes these questions in her upcoming release, The Collector of Burned Books, in which two literature professors in very different circumstances find themselves both thrown together and pulled apart.

Set during the occupation of Paris in 1940, Corinne Bastien and Christian Bauer find themselves on opposing sides politically. But despite the glaring differences, they find that free thinking and literature brings them together in a dangerous way. Bauer is assigned the task of library protector, including responsibilities at the rather curious Library of the Burned Books, a place with which Corinne is quite familiar. Though their political responsibilities are as different as darkness and light, their intellect and sensibilities find each other in the city filled with strife. White’s research shines in this novel, allowing the reader to see the contrasts and similarities in humanity through focused shaping of the setting and characters. The debates about literature, censorship, and free thought are well balanced and provocative, inspiring the reader to consider their own stance on the situation. The reader is reminded that there is often a very true person hiding beneath the projected facade. Though Corinne and Christian are the main characters, understanding and openness shine in their small corner of the City of Lights. The Collector of Burned Books is an enthralling read for its fiction, and an inspiring one for the light it shines on literature as a valuable conduit for thoughts and ideas.

The Collector of Burned Books by Roseanna M. White releases July 15, 2025 and is currently available for preorder from your favorite local bookseller or online:

Baker Book House    Christian Book    Amazon     Barnes & Noble    Walmart

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for allowing me a copy to read and review. All opinions expressed here are my own and are completely genuine. 

Book Review - Sunrise Reef

If you are also a longtime resident of Hope Harbor, I welcome you home. If you are a visitor, I hope you enjoy your stay. In the decade since Irene Hannon released her first Hope Harbor novel, many people have found home in this place where hearts heal and love blooms. Some are characters in the eleven novels of the series, but many are readers who have fallen in love with the town and its cast of vibrant characters.

Sunrise Reef is the eleventh Hope Harbor novel and focuses on Bren Ryan, one of our favorite baristas at The Perfect Blend. With a past full of heartache, Bren has started to find healing in her new home. Everything seems well settled for her until the day she finds herself in need of a temporary home, accosted in the middle of the night, and opening her arms to a stranger who feels like a kindred spirit. Noah Ward has a laser focused plan for his visit to Hope Harbor, and the sooner he can convince his father to move back to St. Louis, the sooner he can end this faux vacation and get back to work. That laser focus is how Noah has climbed to success in his world and how he will achieve his goal. This naturally means that Bren and Noah inevitably collide in glorious fashion on a regular basis. Hannon takes this seriously and delivers one run-in after another that will have to make or break this opposites-attract couple in a cozy and adorable page turner that keeps all of Hope Harbor on their toes.

Not one to shirk her supporting character duty, Hannon creates a supporting cast like no other. A job partially done by the lovingly crafted characters of the previous novels, the supporting characters are rounded out by some new additions, including Emma Blair. Emma has been riding a wave of bad luck for several years and it seems to have run out when her car dies in Hope Harbor. Fortunately, it never seems to be bad luck for anyone to get stuck in Hope Harbor, and though I enjoyed the way Hannon developed her story, I do hope Emma gets her own book someday. Sunrise Reef is a charming addition to the Hope Harbor series, but I am not going to judge too harshly if you decide to read it as a standalone. It will flow just fine. However, for real richness, indulge in the series and build all that backstory that comes with a decade of knowing and loving the residents of this hopeful little seaside town with big heart.

Sunrise Reef, the eleventh novel in the Hope Harbor series by Irene Hannon, is available now from your favorite local bookseller or online:

Baker Book House    Christian Book    Amazon    Barnes & Noble    Walmart

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for allowing me a copy to read and review. All opinions expressed here are my own and are completely genuine.