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.