Mars with Venus Rising Book Review

I picked this book because it just caught my eye.  I didn't understand the title but who could pass up on the colorful cover!  Mars...with Venus Rising by Hope Toler Dougherty was an obvious choice when I started reading and found out that they lived in a town called Mars.  I was ready to learn about the rest of the story as soon as I started!!

A meddling horse, paper bag floors and a flying saucer on the town square. The little town of Mars has it all—including a brand new resident who might spell heartache for one of its own. Twenty-something Penn Davenport yearns for an exciting life in the big city and wants to shed the label of orphan that she's worn for years. To achieve that dream, she must pass the CPA exam then move away from the two aunts who reared her after her parents died in a plane crash. When John Townsend—full of life and the joy of living—moves to town, he rattles Penn's view of herself, her life, and her dreams... which isn't such a bad thing until she falls for him and discovers he's a pilot.

I was hooked from the start on this great book!!  The writing and the characters are wonderful.  I loved Penn and John and couldn't wait to find out what happened next in their relationship.  I was totally amused by the meddling aunts Winnie and Jancie (it took me 100 pages before I knew that it wasn't Janice).  They were so funny with their cooking and meddling in Penn's life.  The small town was the perfect setting for these wonderful characters and it made you feel like you were right in the middle of it.  It was heartwarming to see the town supporting each other and made you really want to live in this cute little small town of Mars (yup, weird name but adds to the cuteness).  The best part of the book is there are some funny and lighthearted parts and other very serious parts which really balance each other out for a well rounded book.  I hope that you enjoy this book as much as I did!  I know that I am looking for other books in the series to read soon!!

**I received a copy of this book for my review and opinion.  All opinions here are my own.