A Review of Bittersweet by Miranda Beverly-Whittemore

I never know what to expect when I read a novel by a new author. I was hoping it would  be a good book, but I didn't have my hopes up. I was surprised by how much I really enjoyed this book. The characters have very colorful personalities. You will either love them or hate them, but you will not forget them. Miranda is a great writer and the book was easy and fun to read. I really enjoyed the plot. A poor girl becomes friends with a rich girl who invites her to spend the summer at her family's summer playground. As the reader you become absorbed into this world as well and you are just as curious as Mabel. The family is filled with secrets and it's fun to find out what they are as you read the book. There were many twists at the end, which I did not expect. I liked how the book ends and everything was wrapped up. It's a fun book filled with drama, love, mystery, and scandal. I would definitely recommend this book!

 I received this book from Blogging for Books for my honest review. 

Visit the link below for more information on the author and novel.
http://www.randomhouse.com/author/183774/miranda-beverly-whittemore

A Review of The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks

I just finished this book and as I am typing I still have tears in my eyes. I don't know how he does it, but Nicholas Sparks always manages to tug on my heart strings. As I read the book I kept turning the pages, wanting to know what happened next. Before I knew it I was halfway done with the book and finishing it was easy. I love Dawson and Amanda and their love story. Tuck was a silent character, but he played a big part in the story as well. There were so many parts to the story and I could tell that it was all going to come together in the end. As the ending came closer I started to predict what was going to happen. That's when the tears started and my predictions came true. It was so heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time. It's a beautiful love story, but it's also a tragic love story. Kleenex is necessary.

A Review of A Matter of Heart by Tracie Peterson

When I began reading this book, I didn't realize it was the third book in the Lone Star Brides Series. This book did not make a good stand alone novel. I think I would have enjoyed it better if I read the previous books. So much had already happened in the plot and with the characters that I did not know about. I definitely felt like I was coming in late to the story and I was not able to fully enjoy it. There were so many characters and I would always get them confused. If you had been introduced to the characters in book one you already knew who they were. I didn't know what was going on. The stolen certificates were a big part of the plot in this book and that is an issue that started in book 1. The characters from the previous books also had a big role in this book, so it was hard for me to really get into the third book. The first half of the book was more about Jessica trying to make herself better. The second half was about her and the love triangle. I didn't think that Jessica's relationship with Austin seemed genuine because it all happened so quickly. It seemed like they went from liking to loving way too fast and it didn't seem realistic to me. Overall the story was good and it was an enjoyable book to read. I would have liked it more if I had read all the books in the series. With that said, I would recommend anyone wanting to read this book to start with book 1 of the Lone Star Bride Series.

I received this book for free from Bethany House Publishers for my honest review.

A Review of Promised to Me by Robin Lee Hatcher

This is the final book in the Coming to America Series. I was expecting something similar to the previous books and that's what you get. If you  have enjoyed any of the other books, you will enjoy this one too. I would give the book 3.5 stars. I thought it was a good book, but not great. A lot of the things that happened in the book were very cliche. It's something I have read in multiple Christian fiction novels. The story was very predictable. The book won't be memorable, but it was a quick and easy read. I would recommend the book to fans of Robin Lee Hatcher.

Review of A Bride in Store by Melissa Jagears

I was looking forward to reading this book because I really liked Jagear's first novel: A Bride for Keeps. For some reason this one just didn't excite me. The plot was interesting and I like reading mail order bride stories. I did like the characters and I enjoyed the brief cameo some of the characters from the first book made. Unfortunately, I thought Will came off a little weak. Although he would come to Eliza's rescue, he was also taken advantage of a lot in the book. One of the reasons the book seemed a bit slow for me is because some of the issues seemed repetitive. It seemed that Will was always deciding to leave town even though he wanted to stay with Eliza. Eliza would always say that she couldn't be with Will because owning a store was her dream. Towards the end I felt like every chapter the characters were repeating their issues over and over again. Overall it was an interesting story, but it just didn't catch my interest as much as the first one did. I would still recommend it to Melissa Jagear's fans and also to fans of mail order bride novels.

I received this book for free from Bethany House Publishers for my honest review.

A Review of With Every Breath by Elizabeth Camden

This is the first book I have read by Elizabeth Camden and I think she just became one of my new favorite authors. This book was so good and had so many great aspects to it. First of all, it was so easy to read it, I couldn't stop flipping the pages. Camden writes really well and I didn't notice any slow parts to the novel. The plot is so unique and different. This is not a cookie cutter Christian Romance. The book is about a doctor trying to find a cure for tuberculosis. It's a subject matter most of us do not think about and I found it fascinating to read about. I loved both the characters Kate and Trevor. I love that Trevor is not your typical male character. He is dark and broody and has an edge to him, but under all that is an amazing person. There is real depth to the characters. I liked watching the relationship between Kate and Trevor grow and blossom.  I enjoyed the mystery in the book as well. What is Trevor hiding and who is trying to destroy him? There is a huge bombshell in the middle of the book that I was not expecting at all. I can usually predict something in a book, but I did not see this coming and I love that I was so surprised.  Again, it's an awesome book and I would definitely recommend it!

I received this book for free from Bethany House Publishers for my honest review.

A Review of The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn by Lori Benton

The book started out really slow for me. It took me a while to actually want to read it. It seemed interesting, but it was a little boring. The book get better after a few chapters. The author is very descriptive with her writing. Some readers may like this, but for me it just made the book longer. Although the story was good, I felt like it took a long time for me to finish it. It also started to get a bit repetitive because they constantly would have to be on the run again. They would stop at one place then leave, go to another place, then leave. I just wanted them to either be caught or escape for good. The journey was dragged out. My favorite aspect of the story were the Native Americans because I find it interesting to read about the culture. That is what brought my rating of the book up from a 3 to a 4. Another positive were the characters, I liked them all and they were well developed. I also enjoyed the ending. It was very creative and unexpected and it tied everything together well.

Below is a link to the author's website if you would like more information.
http://loribenton.blogspot.com/

I received this book for free from Blogging For Books for this honest review.

Review of In His Arms by Robin Lee Hatcher

This is Book Three in the Coming to America Series. I would give it 3.5 stars. This book, just like the others, is just ok. It's a short easy read. The book doesn't get in depth with the characters and issues. It was a good book, but not great and it is something I will quickly forget. I do like the fact that the book has people from all aspects of life. You shouldn't judge someone before you know them and why they made the choices they have made. I appreciate that Robin Lee Hatcher includes characters that make mistakes and they aren't sinless. It makes the story more realistic because that's how real life is. Overall this was a good book, I did enjoy it, but I didn't love it. If you like the author then I would recommend the series.

Review of Captured by Love by Jody Hedlund

This is the third book I have read by Jody Hedlund. I enjoyed the other books, but they didn't stand out for me. I was expecting the same from this one. I did not expect to enjoy it as much as I did. I never wanted to put the book down. I loved the main characters. Pierre really stood out in the story. I loved how wild and with nature he was, but at the same time he was kind and sweet. He was the perfect male character for the story. You could almost feel the passion and chemistry between Pierre and Angelique. This is something that is hard to find in books. I would completely get lost in the story and I needed to know what would happen next. They both fell in love, but circumstances made it difficult for them to be together. I was rooting for them the whole time and I could feel their love, happiness, and despair. You will get lost in the story and fall in love with the characters. This book is definitely one of my new favorites.

I received this book for free from Bethany House Publishers for my honest review.

Review of Through the Deep Waters by Kim Vogel Sawyer

I would give this book 3.5 stars out of 5. This wasn't a bad book, but it wasn't great either. It seemed a little bland to me. The plot was interesting, but it was just missing something. The story was told from 3 different perspectives. This actually added to the story. Unfortunately, I wasn't really drawn to any of the characters. I felt bad for Dinah and what she went through and I could understand why she was so quiet and kept to herself, but sometimes she came off a little rude. Just because you went through something traumatic doesn't mean you should give everyone the cold shoulder. That's the impression I had of the character until the end of the book. Ruthie started out as a sweet girl, but then you started to see this other side of her. She could be jealous and mean. The first time she acted that way I was taken by surprise because I thought she was this nice girl and the pastor's daughter. She always saw the wrong in her behavior, but it did surprise me a bit. Amos was probably my favorite character. He was very likeable. Towards the end I didn't like how he was acting, but I couldn't blame him after what he went through. Overall the story was interesting, but it's a book that I will quickly forget. It was a little slow and just ok. If someone is a fan of Kim Vogel Sawyer, then I would recommend this book. You probably enjoy her style of writing and it's a good story.


 I received this book for free from Blogging For Books for this review.

You can check out the author's website if interested in the books.
http://kimvogelsawyer.com/

A Review of Full Steam Ahead by Karen Witemeyer

I have read other books by Karen Witemeyer and I have enjoyed all of them. I knew what to expect with the author and I was hoping for another great book. I was definitely not disappointed. This was a really good book. I loved both the characters. Nicole felt bad that her dad didn't have a son and she felt that she could never be what he wanted. However, she was a strong female character and she was also smart, which I liked. Darius is different from the normal male role in romance novels of this genre. Darius was smart and he was a scientist on a mission. Even though Nicole and Darius fell in love in two weeks it felt longer than that to me as a reader. I think that is why it felt believable. Usually I would role my eyes, but not in this case. Their love seemed genuine and real. The drama with the dagger added some excitement to the book. This book was very entertaining and well written and I would definitely recommend it. Another great one by Karen Witemeyer.

I received this book for free from Bethany House Publishers for my honest review.

Review of Patterns of Love (Coming to America Series) By Robin Lee Hatcher

I would actually give this book a 4.5. It isn't quite a 5 for me, but it did come close. I liked the first book, but I wasn't necessarily excited to start this one. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. I found Inga easy to relate to. I think many of us have loved someone who didn't love us back and being with that person even if they didn't love us back would be better than nothing. Lucky for Inga Dirk ended up falling in love with her as well. I like that Inga was plain looking and not a beauty. She was self conscious about herself, like many women are. The reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because at the end Inga started to annoy me. Dirk was trying hard to win her affections, but she kept on pushing him away. It seemed dragged out to me. The side story with her sister was also interesting. Overall it was a really good book and I would recommend it. I will continue the Coming to America Series.

A Review of Dear Lady (A Coming to America Novel) By Robin Lee Hatcher

The adjectives that pop into my mind when thinking about this book is cheesy and cliche. It reminded me of the typical romance novel, but the story was a little different. Beth and Garret fell in love so quickly it made me want to roll my eyes. They had only spoken a few words to each other and already they were in love. Also, like most typical historical romance novels, the three main characters were in danger in some way and it made the other character realize that they loved them. That's why I found that book cheesy and cliche. Normally a book like this I would only give 3 stars, but there was something about it that I actually liked. Although Garret annoyed me a bit with his attitude towards Beth, I liked both him and Beth. Bunny and Patsy reminded me of the two step sisters from Cinderella and they made they story more interesting. They helped add some humor to the book. If you are looking for a quick and easy read then I would recommend this book.

A Review of The Princess of Sparta by Aria Cunningham

I won this book as a Goodreads Giveaway and although I was looking forward to reading it, I was not sure what to expect. This book is slightly different from the normal genres I read. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. I thought it started out a little slow and it did take me a while to get into it. I think it was around the time Paris entered the picture that I started to become more interested. What stood out to me in the book was the characters. I really liked both Helen and Paris. Sometimes in books the chemistry between characters feels forced and as a reader you don't get it. With Helen and Paris you could feel the tension and the chemistry between them. As a reader, their love was believable and you were really rooting for them to have a happy ending. I also enjoy a forbidden love story and this book has that. They shouldn't be together, but yet they are drawn to each other in a way that they cannot resist. I liked the ending and I would read the next book in the Heroes of the Trojan War series. I would recommend this book to other readers.

I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads and this is my honest review.

Review of Here to Stay by Melissa Tagg

This book is the follow up to "Made To Last." In MTL we were introduced to Blake. This book is Blake's story. You don't have to read the first book before this one, but I recommend it. It made me want to read the book more because I already liked Blake. I enjoyed the first book and I was looking forward to finally reading Blake's story. I have to say, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. I liked the first one, but I loved this one. A great story needs to be entertaining, have great characters, and make a connection with the reader. This book did all of that for me. There were a few times that I had no make myself stop reading so that I could get to sleep, and that is a sign of a really good book. I think Blake is an awesome character and I would like to read another book about him. I liked Autumn as well, but she was stubborn about following her dream at times instead of realizing what she already had. Their love story was a sweet one and and it was enjoyable to read their journey. I liked that the book was from both Blake's and Autumn's perspective and I think I enjoyed Blake's perspective more. He was my favorite character. I was surprised at how much I liked this book and I would definitely recommend it. 

I received this book for free from Bethany House Publishers for my honest review.

Review of Love Comes Calling by Siri Mitchell

This is the third book that I have read by Siri Mitchell. When I first started reading this book I did not think that I would like it. As some other readers have mentioned, the character has A.D.D. and I found her annoying. It wasn't until Ellis started working as a hello girl that the book started to get interesting for me. I actually enjoyed reading about the process of taking and transferring calls. At that point I started to get interested in the storyline. There were still moments where I found Ellis annoying, but there were also moments where I could relate to her. Griffin wasn't a huge character in the book, but I did like him and the love story between him and Ellis. I was annoyed with how Ellis acted towards him for a big portion of the book because she planned to move to Hollywood. Overall I think it was a good book. Siri Mitchell writes well and before I knew it I was done with the book. It's not my favorite, but I would recommend it; it's a fun story.

I received this book for free from Bethany House Publishers for my honest review.

A Review of A Beauty So Rare by Tamera Alexander

First of all, I have only read the Timber Ridge Reflection series by Tamera. Those books were good, but nothing great. This book surpassed my expectations. I really enjoyed it.The story's plot was different and really interesting. I enjoyed that Tamera mentioned some real historical figures such as Gregor Mendel. I was a biology major, so I was excited to see his name in a book I was reading. There were moments when it was hard to put the book down because I wanted to know what would happen next. Although the ending was somewhat predictable (it almost always is in romance novels) the storyline itself was not predictable. The storyline between Eleanor and her father was really sad to read about. The only issue I had with the book was with Eleanor's thoughts and decisions towards the end of the book regarding Marcus. She did annoy me because she had the chance to have what she wanted and made up some excuse why she couldn't. It wasn't what I was expecting from her. Overall, it was a really good book and I would definitely recommend it. So far this is my favorite novel by Tamera Alexander. I also look forward to reading more books from the Belmont Mansion Series.

 

I received this book for free from Bethany House Publishers for my honest review.

A Review of "The Dancing Master" by Julie Klassen

This is the fourth book by Julie Klassen that I have read. I consider her one of my favorite authors and I have high expectations for her novels because I know how good they can be. Unfortunately, this novel was a disappointment. It wasn’t bad, but it just wasn’t as good as the others I have read. I would give this book 3.5 stars, but because she is a favorite author of mine I rounded up and gave the book a 4. The title is “The Dancing Master” and that’s who I felt the book was about. The impression that I had from the book is that it was mostly about Alec and his struggles moving into the new town. The book was also from Julia’s perspective and we read about her problems as well, but I felt that it wasn’t the main point of the book. I also thought it would be more of a romance novel, but it wasn’t. There was a love story in the book, but it wasn’t the main theme in the book. That is ok and some readers may prefer to read a novel with a little less romance, but I wish it had a bit more. There were a few twists in the book, which is one of the things I love about Klassen’s writing. The dancing issues weren’t as interesting to me, which is probably another reason why I didn’t give the book 5 stars. Everyone has his or her own preferences and likes and dislikes. This book just didn’t do it for me. I would still recommend it to Julie Klassen fans. If you are a new Julie Klassen reader I would recommend reading one of her other novels first. Again, this isn’t a bad book; it just isn’t one of Klassen’s best in my opinion.

I received this book for free from Bethany House Publishers for my honest review.

A Review of Courting Trouble by Deeanne Gist

I thought that the book started out a little slow. It was hard for me to be interested in it at first. It started going in one direction and then all of a sudden the story changed. I think that’s the point where it started to interest me. I actually enjoyed the book. I liked Essie and I was always rooting for her. What I enjoyed about the story is that it was different and unique. It was unlike any other story that I have read. I love that Gist wrote about a touchy subject and that Essie made a huge mistake, but she was able to overcome and move past it. It’s an extremely realistic story of things that really happen in the real world. Most love stories are not perfect and sometimes it’s refreshing to read a book that isn’t a carbon copy love story that I have read hundreds of times.

A few reviewers have mentioned the sex scene in the book. It is not descriptive at all. The book does discretely discuss what happened between the characters, but it’s not something that should stop you from reading the book. I do not understand why some people are uncomfortable with sex. This is far from an erotic novel and it’s a little annoying that some readers made such a big deal over the scene. If you get grossed out or embarrassed over any mention of a sexual encounter then this book might not be for you. It annoys me when people make such a big deal about sex. If you are mature enough and can handle it, then you will enjoy this book. Humans are not perfect, we make mistakes. God can forgive us of our mistakes and make us new again. That’s what this story is about.