Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Heart of Gold by Robin Lee Hatcher

About the book:

Against Shannon's wishes, love stakes its claim in her heart. Will she discover treasure or treachery?

When Shannon Adair accompanies her minister father to the western gold rush town of Grand Coeur, she's certain she'll never be happy away from her beloved Virginia, even though the South is still gripped in civil war.

Wells Fargo driver Matthew Dubois isn't sure the lovely Shannon belongs in Idaho Territory either, but he is a desperate man. His widowed sister is dying and leaving her young son, Todd, in his care. Matthew wants to return to driving coach for the express company soon—so he'll have to find a wife to look after the boy when he's away.

Shannon is determined not to lose her heart to a man who is neither a Southerner nor a gentleman. But love stakes its claim. Now, will her heart survive learning the truth behind the courtship?

My Review:

I have read a handful of Robin Lee Hatcher's books over the years and they have never disappointed. I find they are great books when you are wanting a fun and simple story. They make great vacation books! I happened to read this one while in Atlanta for the a weekend getaway and ended up not getting as much sleep as I wanted because it kept up late turning pages (or clicking the button on my kindle!). I liked how this book takes place during the Civil War but instead of being in the North or South it was set in Idaho Territory. It gave a different perspective of who should win and why because there were people that really had no stakes for either side. I will have to say in the beginning of this book I really did not like Shannon Adair, she came off as judgmental and thought she was better than those around her. As the book unfolded she slowly grew up more and more and became a lot more likable. This book does center around the theme of going where God leads even though it is hard and also on the issue of not judging people who are different from you. I would recommend this 4 star book to anyone who likes a good fun historical romance.

*Note: I received this book from booksneeze.com in exchange for my honest review. Thank you booksneeze!

Monday, January 30, 2012

The Winner of Sweeter Than Birdsong

Congratulations to Anne Payne you are the winner for my first blog giveaway ever.

Look for an e-mail from me soon.

Friday, January 27, 2012

Where Wildflowers Bloom by Ann Shorey

About the book:

How far will she go to follow her dreams?

The Civil War stole a father and brother from Faith Lindberg--as well as Royal Baxter, the man she wanted to marry. With only her grandfather left, she dreams of leaving Noble Springs, Missouri, and traveling west to Oregon to start a new life, away from the memories that haunt her. But first she must convince her grandfather to sell the family's mercantile and leave a town their family has called home for generations.

When Royal Baxter suddenly returns, Faith allows herself to hope that she and Royal will finally wed. But does he truly love her? Or will another man claim her heart?

My Review:

Where Wildflowers Bloom is book on in Ann Shorey's new Sisters at Heart series. It is set in post Civil War and the characters are trying to deal with life after the war. This book touches on the condition we know today as PTSD but back then it was called solider's heart.  

I enjoyed reading this book though it is somewhat predictable like so many books are but that doesn't take away the enjoyment of the story. Ann Shorey did a great job at making the characters feel real. They had real feelings and were trying to figure out how to cope with life. The characters in this book came alive as well as the setting. I could picture myself visiting this town and have that feeling that I am visiting friends. I love books that are able to transport you to the time and place and this book does just that. This is a great book for anyone who loves historical fiction, or a great first book into the this genre. I would give this book a solid 4 stars and will look forward to reading more book in the series.


* I received this book from Revell for the purpose of this review.


“Available January 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Wreath by Judy Christie


Wreath Willis just watched her mother die in her arms and only hours later is on the run. She has something that her mother's last abusive boyfriend, Big Fun, wants and will do anything to get it. Wreath makes lists for just about everything and the most important one is this: find a place to live, get a job, graduate high school and avoid notice. She finds herself in small town in Louisiana and meets an array of peculiar characters. Clarice is a lawyer in town who happens to show up offering help at all the wrong times according to Wreath. Law is the cute boy who ends up really liking Wreath and has more in common with her then they both realize. Julia is a teacher at the school who really wants to be an artist and connects to Wreath through art and school. Finally there is Faye who is an older lady running the furniture store in town. While Wreath navigates her senior year of high school she finds it more and more difficult to go unnoticed and this cast of characters are with her every step of the way and really work hand in hand to help her out and most importantly provide a home and life for her.

This is not your typical young adult book and there really needs to more like this out in the market. Many young adult books deal with the same old high school drama and while they have a place they don't really tug at your heart. Wreath wraps you up into the story and makes you really feel for her. It makes you really question life and what people are dealing with. Each character in this book is going through something whether it is death in the family, abuse, feeling frustrated that life is going as planned and more.     

I loved this book and would love to read more books like it. I really hope Judy Christie writes more young adult fiction since she did an amazing job with her first. This book did not take me long to read at all since I was so invested into the story and had to know how everything will turn out. There were times that Wreath made me mad at her because I just wanted her to accept the help so many were trying to give. At other times I cheered her on as she excelled in school. I recommend this book to all teen girls and even adults too! Way to go Judy Christie on a great book! 

*I received this book from netgalley.com for the purpose of this review

Monday, January 23, 2012

Sweeter than Birdsong by Rosslyn Elliott and Giveaway

Sweeter than Birdsong (A Saddler's Legacy Novel)

About the Book:

Music offers Kate sweet refuge from her troubles…but real freedom is sweeter.

In Westerville, Ohio, 1855, Kate Winter’s dreams are almost within reach. As the first woman to graduate from Otterbein College, she’ll be guaranteed her deepest wish: escape from the dark secret haunting her family. But with her mother determined to marry her off to a wealthy man, Kate must face reality. She has to run. Now. And she has the perfect plan. Join the upcoming musical performance--and use it to mask her flight.

Ben Hanby, Otterbein College’s musical genius, sees Kate Winter as an enigmatic creature, notable for her beauty, yet painfully shy. Then he hears her sing—and the glory of her voice moves him as never before. He determines to cast her in his musical and uncover the mystery that is Kate. Still, he must keep his own secret to himself. Not even this intriguing woman can know that his passionate faith is driving him to aid fugitives on the Underground Railroad.

A terrifying accident brings Kate and Ben together, but threatens to shatter both their secrets and their dreams. Kate can no longer deny the need to find her courage—and her voice—if she is to sing a new song for their future.

Sweeter than Birdsong is a stirring novel of hope and faith inspired by real historical people and events.


My review:

Sweeter than Birdsong is Rosslyn Elliot's second novel in the Saddler's Legacy series and is just as great as the first one, Fairer Than Morning. As soon as I finished reading the first book I was excited to read the next and was not disappointed. The second book picks up about 32 years after the first book and it focus is on Ben Hanby, Will's son. Such a fun part of this book, as well as the first, is that the Hanby's are real people and are considered Westerville, Ohio's most celebrated citizens. I really enjoyed getting to learn about this wonderful family and the sacrifices they made to help slaves escape via the underground railroad. I have really grown to love historical fiction, it makes learning history so much fun and interesting. Rossyln Elliott really weaves together a great story with historical accuracy, flawed characters that overcome many obstacles, and gives something to make the reader think about. I will be looking forward to reading more books from her!

*I received this book from booksneeze.com for the purpose of this review!

Giveaway time:

Here are the rules:
1. Leave a answer to the question below
2. Must leave e-mail and be located in the US
3. If you are a follower or become one you get a second entry
4. Giveaway ends at midnight Jan. 29th 

What is your favorite setting for historical fiction?

Thursday, January 19, 2012

The Guardian Duke by Jamie Carie


Lady Alexandria Featherstone has been told her parents are dead but she doesn't believe it all. She just knows they must be alive and that something has happened to them while our on their last treasure hunt. Gabriel, the Duke of Easton, has been assigned guardian of Lady Alexandria by the king and he wants to fulfill that assignment the best he can. The problem is Alexandria does not want to allow and runs of on her own in search for her parents. She manages to always stay one step ahead of the Duke who is bound and determined to catch up with her and bring her back to London safely.

This was such a fun book to read. I loved reading the letters written between Gabriel and Alexandria and wondering what would happen next. This book kept me guessing all the way through. As soon as I thought he would catch up to her she came up with a new way of getting ahead. Jamie Carie did a great job at keeping the story interesting and weaving the two characters stories together. This book left me very excited to read the next book in the series. It ended with a big cliffhanger that left me with more questions and the thrill of what will happen next. The next book, The Forgiven Duke, releases in July 2012.

The book trailer (which I think is so much fun to watch):


Note: I was given an advance review copy of this book from the author and publisher in exchange for my honest review. This book releases in February 2012.

Love Blooms in Winter by Lori Copeland

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!



Today's Wild Card author is:


and the book:


  • Harvest House Publishers (January 1, 2012)

***Special thanks to  Karri | Marketing Assistant |Harvest House Publishers for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Lori Copeland is the author of more than 90 titles, both historical and contemporary fiction. With more than 3 million copies of her books in print, she has developed a loyal following among her rapidly growing fans in the inspirational market. She has been honored with the Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award, The Holt Medallion, and Walden Books' Best Seller award. In 2000, Lori was inducted into the Missouri Writers Hall of Fame. She lives in the beautiful Ozarks with her husband, Lance, and their three children and five grandchildren.

Visit the author's website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

This new romance from bestselling author Lori Copeland portrays God’s miraculous provision when none seems possible. An engagement, a runaway train, and a town of quirky, loveable people make for more adventure than Tom Curtis is expecting. But it is amazing what can bloom in winter with God in charge.

 1892—Mae Wilkey’s sweet next-door neighbor, Pauline, is suffering from old age and dementia and desperately needs family to come help her. But Pauline can’t recall having kin remaining. Mae searches through her desk and finds a name—Tom Curtis, who may just be the answer to their prayers.

 Tom can’t remember an old aunt named Pauline, but if she thinks he’s a long-lost nephew, he very well may be. After two desperate letters from Mae, he decides to pay a visit. An engagement, a runaway train, and a town of quirky, loveable people make for more of an adventure than Tom is expecting. But it is amazing what can bloom in winter when God is in charge of things.





Product Details:

    • List Price: $13.99
    • Paperback: 304 pages
    • Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (January 1, 2012)
    • Language: English
    • ISBN-10: 0736930191
    • ISBN-13: 978-0736930192


AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:


Dwadlo, North Dakota, 1892 
  The winter of ’92 is gonna go down as one of the worst Dwadlo’s ever seen,” Hal Murphy grumbled as he dumped the sack of flour he got for his wife on the store counter. “Mark my words.” He turned toward Mae Wilkey, the petite postmistress, who was stuffing mail in wooden slots.
  “Spring can’t come soon enough for me.” She stepped back, straightening the row of letters and flyers. She didn’t have to record Hal’s prediction; it was the same every year. “I’d rather plant flowers than shovel snow any day of the week.”
  “Yes, ma’am.” Hal nodded to the store owner, Dale Smith, who stood five foot seven inches with a rounded belly and salt-and-pepper hair swept to a wide front bang. “Add a couple of those dill pickles, will you?” Hal watched as Dale went over to the barrel and fished around inside, coming up with two fat pickles.
  “That’ll fix me up.” Hal turned his attention back to the mail cage, his eyes fixed on the lovely sight. “Can’t understand why you’re still single, Mae. You’re as pretty as a raindrop on a lily pad.” He sniffed the air. “And you smell as good.”
  Smiling, Mae moved from the letter boxes to the cash box. Icy weather may have delayed the train this morning, but she still had to count money and record the day’s inventory. “Now, Hal, you know I’d marry you in a wink if you weren’t already taken.” Hal and Clara had been married forty-two years, but Mae’s usual comeback never failed to put a sparkle in the farmer’s eye. Truth be, she put a smile on every man’s face, but she wasn’t often aware of the flattering looks she received. Her heart belonged to Jake Mallory, Dwadlo’s up-and-coming attorney.
  Hal nodded. “I know. All the good ones are taken, aren’t they?”
  She nodded. “Every single one. Especially in Dwadlo.”
  The little prairie town was formed when the Chicago & North Western Railroad came through five years ago. Where abundant grass, wild flowers, and waterfalls had once flourished, hundreds of miles of steel rail crisscrossed the land, making way for big, black steam engines that hauled folks and supplies. Before the railroad came through, only three homesteads had dotted the rugged Dakota Territory: Mae’s family’s, Hal and Clara’s, and Pauline Wilson’s.
  But in ’87 life changed, and formerly platted sites became bustling towns. Pine Grove and Branch Springs followed, and Dwadlo suddenly thrived with immigrants, opportunists, and adventure-seeking folks staking claims out West. A new world opened when the Dakota Boom started.
  Hal’s gaze focused on Mae’s left hand. “Jake still hasn’t popped the question?”
  Mae sighed. Hal was a pleasant sort, but she really wished the townspeople would occupy their thoughts with something other than her and Jake’s pending engagement. True, they had been courting for six years and Jake still hadn’t proposed, but she was confident he would. He’d said so, and he was a man of his word—though every holiday, when a ring would have been an appropriate gift, that special token of his intentions failed to materialize. Mae had more lockets than any one woman could wear, but Jake apparently thought that she could always use another one. What she could really use was his hand in marriage. The bloom was swiftly fading from her youth, and it would be nice if her younger brother, Jeremy, had a man’s presence in his life.
  “Be patient, Hal. He’s busy trying to establish a business.”
  “Good lands. How long does it take a man to open a law office?”
  “Apparently six years and counting.” She didn’t like the uncertainty but she understood it, even if the town’s population didn’t. She had a good life, what with work, church, and the occasional social. Jake accompanied her to all public events, came over two or three times a week, and never failed to extend a hand when she needed something. It was almost as though they were already married.
  “The man’s a fool,” Hal declared. “He’d better slap a ring on that finger before someone else comes along and does it for him.”
  “Not likely in Dwadlo,” Mae mused. The town itself was made up of less than a hundred residents, but other folks lived in the surrounding areas and did their banking and shopping here. Main Street consisted of the General Store, Smith’s Grain and Feed, the livery, the mortuary, the town hall and jail (which was almost always empty), Doc Swede’s office, Rosie’s Café, and an empty building that had once housed the saloon. Mae hadn’t spotted a sign on any business yet advertising “Husbands,” but she was certain her patience would eventually win out.
  With a final smile Hal moved off to pay for his goods. Mae hummed a little as she put the money box in the safe. Looking out the window, she noticed a stiff November wind snapping the red canvas awning that sheltered the store’s porch. Across the square, a large gazebo absorbed the battering wind. The usually active gathering place was now empty under a gray sky. On summer nights music played, and the smell of popcorn and roasted peanuts filled the air. Today the structure looked as though it were bracing for another winter storm. Sighing, Mae realized she already longed for green grass, blooming flowers, and warm breezes.
  After Hal left Mae finished up the last of the chores and then reached for her warm wool cape. She usually enjoyed the short walk home from work, but today she was tired—and her feet hurt because of the new boots she’d purchased from the Montgomery Ward catalog. On the page they had looked comfortable with their high tops and polished leather, but on her feet they felt like a vise.
  Slipping the cape’s hood over her hair, she said goodbye to Dale and then paused when her hand touched the doorknob. “Oh, dear. I really do need to check on Pauline again.”
  “How’s she doing?” The store owner paused and leaned on his broom. “I noticed she hasn’t been in church recently.”
  Dale always reminded Mae of an owl perching on a tree limb, his big, dark blue eyes swiveling here and there. He might not talk a body’s leg off, but he kept up on town issues. She admired the quiet little man for what he did for the community and respected the way he preached to the congregation on Sundays.
  How was Pauline doing? Mae worried the question over in her mind. Pauline lived alone, and she shouldn’t. The elderly woman was Mae’s neighbor, and she checked on her daily, but Pauline was steadily losing ground.
  “She’s getting more and more fragile, I’m afraid. Dale, have you ever heard Pauline speak of kin?”
  The small man didn’t take even a moment to ponder the question. “Never heard her mention a single word about family of any kind.”
  “Hmm…me neither. But surely she must have some.” Someone who should be here, in Dwadlo, looking after the frail soul. Mae didn’t resent the extra work, but the post office and her brother kept her busy, and she really didn’t have the right to make important decisions regarding the elderly woman’s rapidly failing health.
  Striding back to the bread rack, she picked up a fresh loaf. Dale had private rooms at the back of the store where he made his home, and he was often up before dawn baking bread, pies, and cakes for the community. Most folks in town baked their own goods, but there were a few, widowers and such, who depended on Dale’s culinary skills. By this hour of the day the goods were usually gone, but a few remained. Placing a cherry pie in her basket as well, she called, “Add these things to my account, please, Dale. And pray for Pauline too.”
  Nodding, he continued sweeping, methodically running the stiff broomcorn bristles across the warped wood floor.
  The numbing wind hit Mae full force when she stepped off the porch. Her hood flew off her head and an icy gust of air snatched away her breath. Putting down her basket, she retied the hood before setting off for the brief walk home. Dwadlo was laid out in a rather strange pattern, a point everyone agreed on. Businesses and homes were built close together, partly as shelter from the howling prairie winds and partly because there wasn’t much forethought given to town planning. Residents’ homes sat not a hundred feet from the store. The whole community encompassed less than five acres.
  Halfway to her house, snowflakes began swirling in the air. Huddling deeper into her wrap, Mae concentrated on the path as the flakes grew bigger.
  She quickly covered the short distance to Pauline’s. The dwelling was little more than a front room, tiny kitchen, and bedroom, but she was a small woman. Pauline pinned her yellow-white hair in a tight knot at the base of her skull, and she didn’t have a tooth in her head. She chewed snuff, which she freely admitted was an awful habit, but Mae had never heard her speak of giving it up.
  Her faded blue eyes were as round as buttons, and no matter what kind of day she was having, it was always a new one to her, filled with wonders. Her mind wasn’t what it used to be. She had good and bad days, but mostly days when her moods changed as swift as summer lightning. She could be talking about tomatoes in the garden patch when suddenly she would be discussing how to spin wool.
  Mae noted a soft wisp of smoke curling up from the chimney and smiled. Pauline had remembered to feed the fire this afternoon, so this was a good day.
  Unlatching the gate, she followed the path to the front porch. In summertime the white railings hung heavy with red roses, and the scent of honeysuckle filled the air. This afternoon the wind howled across the barren flower beds Pauline carefully nurtured during warmer weather. Often she planted okra where petunias should be, but she enjoyed puttering in the soil and the earth loved her. She brought fresh tomatoes, corn, and beans to the store during spring and summer, and pumpkins and squash lined the railings in the fall.
  In earlier days Pauline’s quilts were known throughout the area. She and her quilting group had made quite a name for themselves when Dwadlo first became a town. Four women excelled in the craft. One had lived in Pine Grove, and two others came from as far away as Branch Springs once a month to break bread together and stitch quilts. But one by one the women had died off, leaving Pauline to sew alone in her narrowing world.
  Stomping her boots on the porch, Mae said under her breath, “I don’t mind winter, Lord, but could we perhaps have a little less of it?” The only answer was the wind whipping her garments. Tapping lightly on the door, she called, “Pauline?”
  Mae stepped back and waited to hear the shuffle of feet. Pauline used to answer the door in less than twenty seconds. It took longer now. Mae made a fist with her gloved hand and banged a little harder. The wind howled around the cottage eaves. She closed her eyes and prayed that Jeremy had remembered to stack sufficient firewood beside the kitchen door. The boy was generally responsible, and she thanked God every day that she had him to lean on. He had been injured by forceps during birth, which left him with special needs. He was a very happy fourteen-year-old with the reasoning power of a child of nine.
  A full minute passed. Mae frowned and tried the doorknob. Pauline couldn’t hear herself yell in a churn, but she might also be asleep. The door opened easily, and Mae peeked inside the small living quarters. She saw that a fire burned low in the woodstove, and Pauline’s rocking chair sat empty.
  Stepping inside, she closed the door and called again. “Pauline? It’s Mae!”
  The ticking of the mantle clock was the only sound that met her ears.
  “Pauline?” She lowered her hood and walked through the living room. She paused in the kitchen doorway.
  “Oh, Pauline!”

Monday, January 16, 2012

The Rose on Winslow Street by Elizabeth Camden

Rose of Winslow Street, The, Elizabeth Camden, 978-0-7642-0895-9

About the Book:

In the small town of Colden, Massachusetts, Libby Sawyer leads a quiet, predictable life. Yet beneath the surface, she is haunted by a secret.

Newly arrived on American shores, Michael Dobrescu is far from predictable, and his arrival in Colden is anything but quiet. Michael's shocking claim to be the rightful owner of Libby's father's house immediately alienates him from the appalled citizens of Colden.

Despite her own outrage, Libby is unwittingly fascinated by this enigmatic man who seems equally intrigued by her. As the court's decision about the house looms and the layers of mystery surrounding Michael's past are unveiled, Libby's loyalties are tested in ways she never imagined.


My Review:

As soon as I finished The Lady of Bolton Hill, Elizabeth Camden's debut novel, I could not wait to read this book. She has easily become one of my favorite authors and I look forward to reading many more books from her in the years to come. As soon as I started The Rose on Winslow Street I was hooked. I ended up reading the book in just over 24 hours since I was that drawn into the story. Elizabeth Camden does a wonderful job at weaving together a great story filled with multi-layered characters, a captivating plot, and twists and turns. 

*I received this book from the Author and publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Chasing Mona Lisa by Tricia Goyer and Mike Yorkey


About the book (from Revell):

One enigmatic smile. Two passionate protectors. And a relentlessly ticking clock.

August 1944. Paris is on the cusp of liberation. As the soldiers of the Third Reich flee the Allied
advance, they ravage the country and steal countless pieces of irreplaceable art. In fact, Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring will stop at nothing to claim the most valuable one of all—the Mona Lisa—as a postwar bargaining chip. But the woman with the mysterious smile has some very determined protectors. Can Swiss OSS agents Gabi Mueller and Eric Hofstadler rescue Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece before it falls into German hands? 

With nonstop action and intrigue, Chasing Mona Lisa is sure to get your adrenaline pumping as you join the chase to save the most famous painting in the world. From war-ravaged Paris to a posh Swiss chateau, the race is on--and the runners are playing for keeps.

My Review:

When I saw this book was available to review I was so excited for it and couldn't wait to read it. As soon as I started the book I had a hard time getting into it, and struggled to finish the book. I wanted to like it so bad but in the end I couldn't. I did not feel like the action was non-stop and I had a hard time following the story. This is technically the second book from them and from what I read it picks up where the first book, The Swiss Courier, ended. I am not sure if I had read the first book it would have helped with understanding this book. I will say I did like some of the history but felt like there was way to much and not enough romance and suspense. In the end I have to give this book 3 stars. 

*I received this book from the publisher Revell in exchange for my honest review.

About the Authors:

Tricia Goyer is the coauthor of The Swiss Courier as well as the author of many other books, including Night Song and Dawn of a Thousand Nights, both past winners of the ACFW's Book of the Year Award for Long Historical Romance. Goyer lives with her family in Arkansas. 

Mike Yorkey is the author or coauthor of dozens of books, including The Swiss Courier and the bestselling Every Man's Battle series. Married to a Swiss native, Yorkey lived in Switzerland for 18 months. He and his family currently reside in California.

Available January 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Beyond Molasses Creek by Nicole Seitz



About the book:
Three lives are bound by a single book . . . and the cleansing waters of Molasses Creek.
Having traveled to the ends of the earth as a flight attendant, Ally Green has finally returned to the Lowcountry to bury her father as well as the past. But Vesey Washington is still living across the creek, and theirs is a complicated relationship--he was once her best friend . . . and also part of the reason she's stayed away so long. When Ally discovers a message her father left behind asking her to quit running, it seems her past isn't through with her yet.
As Ally's wandering spirit wrestles with a deep longing to flee again, a young woman on the other side of the world escapes her life of slavery in the rock quarries of Nepal. A mysterious sketchbook leads Sunila Kunari to believe there's more to her story than she's ever been told, and she's determined to follow the truth wherever it leads her.
A deep current intertwines the lives of these three souls, and a destiny of freedom, faith, and friendship awaits them all on the banks of Molasses Creek.
My Review:
This is a type of book that is not for everyone, it deals with some tough issues and the characters have some real emotions they need to deal with. I will say I enjoyed this book but did find it hard at times to really figure out where everything was going. It is written from three different point of views in first person narrative and sometimes this writing style can be awkward to read. It was fun trying to figure  how the stories would all intersect. I really liked Sunila's story , a woman from Nepal and learning about her struggles there and what life can be like there, which is not all happy.  There are times in the book that things seemed kind of far fetched which didn't seem to always fit the more serious issues, but in the end this is a fictional tale and worth reading. I give it 4 stars.
*I received this book from booksneeze.com in exchange for my honest review. Thank you booksneeze!

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Pirate of My Heart by Jamie Carie


Dorian Colburn may not be a real pirate but Lady Kendra Townsend says he is the pirate of her heart because he has taken it, but neither one of them realize the extent of their true feelings for most of the book. Lady Kendra has been sent away by her uncle to America to live with family she has never met because she won't marry the man he picked out for her. The problem is that there is much more to it then Kendra can even imagine and her uncle will do anything to get his hand on her tiny inheritance that is coming to her from her mother's said. Dorian Colburn is the captain of the ship that Lady Kendra is on and is bitter to the idea of love and marriage after what happened in his first marriage. When trouble comes to Kendra will Dorian feel that she is worth the risk both physically and emotionally?

Wow, after reading this book it made me wonder why I had never read any of Jamie Carie's books before. I really have been missing out on a great author, but not anymore. Like many of us do I read the back of the book and kind of made my predictions of what I thought would happen, well I was wrong on most of them and that made the book so much better. This book is a page turner that was so hard to put down. I ended up reading the last half of it one night because I couldn't wait to find out what will happen. With romance, danger, suspense and adventure there is a little something for everyone. A solid 5 star book!

*I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.

Sunday, January 8, 2012

The Keeper by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Book Description:
A family. A farm. A heart. All in need of repair.

Life on Windmill Farm hasn't been the same since Julia Lapp's father has had trouble with his heart. But that doesn't stop Julia from hoping for a bright future. She has planned on marrying Paul Fisher since she was a girl. Now twenty-one, she looks forward to their wedding with giddy anticipation. But when Paul tells her he wants to postpone the wedding--again--she is determined to change his mind. She knows who is to blame for Paul's sudden reluctance to wed: the Bee Man.
   
Roman Troyer, the Bee Man, travels through the Amish communities of Ohio and Pennsylvania with his hives full of bees, renting them out to farmers in need of pollinators. A mysterious man who relishes his nomadic life, Roman especially enjoys bringing his bees to Stoney Ridge each year. But with Julia seriously at odds with him, Windmill Farm is looking decidedly less appealing.
   
Can Julia secure the future she's always dreamed of? Or does God have something else in mind?

My Review:

4 Stars

I enjoyed reading this simple story about Julia Lapp and her family. It is a very easy and light read. I found the first half of the book to be just okay but the second half was so much better and had some twists that I was not expecting. While this book is set in the Amish Community I found it a lot different from other Amish stories that I have read because it really did not dive into what they believe and why. This story is mainly a contemporary romance set in the Amish community where the characters have a faith in God and are trying to seek his will. I really enjoyed Roman Troyer's story the best and he made me wanting to know why he lived a nomadic life. I found myself interested in the beekeeping part of the story even though I really do not like bees at all and tend to stay as far a way as I can get. I never realized how much work and skill really goes into it. I am looking forward to reading more of the Lapp family in August 2012 when the second book in the series, The Haven, releases.

*I received this book from the publisher, Revell, in exchange for my honest review.

“Available January 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

Giveaway and Facebook party info:

Suzanne is hosting a "honey of a giveaway"during the blog tour for The Keeper! During 1/3-1/17 you can enter to win an iPad2 from Suzanne and connect with her on January 17th at The Keeper Facebook Party!



During the giveaway one Grand Prize winner will receive a Prize Pack valued at $600:

  • A brand new 16 KB iPad 2 with Wi-Fi
  • A $25 gift certificate to iTunes
  • A copy of The Keeper
But wait there's more! Just click one of the icons below to enter, then on 1/ 17 join Suzanne for The Keeper Facebook Party! During the party Suzanne will announce the winner of the "Honey" of an iPad Giveaway and host a fun book chat and give away some fun "honey" inspired prizes - It'll be 'sweet"!

RSVP early and tell your friends!

Enter via E-mail Enter via FacebookEnter via Twitter


Monday, January 2, 2012

The Accidental Bride by Denise Hunter



This was such a fun, light book to read. The Accidental Bride is technically book two in Denise Hunters Blue Sky Romance series but you can read the books in any order. I enjoyed following Shay Brandenberger 's adventure that all begins when she is accidentally married at the Founders days wedding reenactment. The groom ended up being her high school sweetheart, Travis McCoy, that got cold feet at their wedding many years ago. It was fun watching Travis, who had never stopped loving her, convince her to take the marriage seriously and to fall in love with him all over again. What was more important about this simple, very unrealistic story was the underlying message that Denise wove into it. Shay and her daughter both start to learn the lesson that they need to serve God and not please people. What a message so many of us need and a great reminder of what is really important in this life.