Wednesday, February 28, 2018

The Heart Between Us Review


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About the Book

Megan Jacobs always wished for a different heart. Her entire childhood was spent in and out of hospitals, sitting on the sidelines while her twin sister Crystal played all the sports, got all the guys, and had all the fun. But even a heart transplant three years ago wasn’t enough to propel Megan’s life forward. She’s still working as a library aide in her small Minnesota hometown and living with her parents, dreaming of the adventure she plans to take “once she’s well enough.” Meanwhile, her sister is a successful architect with a handsome husband and the perfect life—or so Megan thinks.

When her heart donor’s parents give Megan their teenage daughter’s journal—complete with an unfulfilled bucket list—Megan connects with the girl she meets between the pages and is inspired to venture out and check off each item. Caleb—a friend from her years in and out of the hospital—reenters her life and pushes her to find the courage to take the leap and begin her journey. She’s thrown for a loop when Crystal offers to join her for reasons of her own, but she welcomes the company and the opportunity to mend their tenuous relationship.

As Megan and Crystal check items off the bucket list, Megan fights the fears that have been instilled in her after a lifetime of illness. She must choose between safety and adventure and learn to embrace the heart she’s been given so that she can finally share it with the people she loves most.(Goodreads)


My Thoughts

I love reading new to me authors! This book intrigued me, though I am rather picky with contemporary stories. I really enjoyed this book. The characters were well written and changed over the course of the book, which I always like to see. I loved the different travel settings throughout the story. I could better relate to Crystal and her storyline but I enjoyed reading both parts. Some parts of the book were slow, some were slightly rushed through. I really loved the marriage aspect with Crystal and her husband. It was real and written in a way that just worked. I also loved the journey Megan takes. There is some slight romance but the sisterly relationship was the one I liked the most.  I think Harrel has some great potential with her future books and I am excited to see what she will come up with next!

Four stars.
"I received this book from BookLook Bloggers. All opinions are my own."














 

Thursday, February 22, 2018

Where the Fire Falls Review


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About the Book

Stunning Yosemite National Park sets the stage for this late 1920s historical romance with mystery, adventure, heart, and a sense of the place John Muir described as "pervaded with divine light."

Watercolorist Olivia Rutherford fashioned her image as an avant-garde artist to appeal to the region's wealthy art-collectors. When she lands a lucrative contract painting illustrations of Yosemite National Park for a travel magazine including its nightly one-of-a-kind Firefall event, she hopes the money will lift Olivia and her sisters out of poverty.

After false accusations cost him everything, former minister Clark Johnson has found purpose as a backcountry guide in this natural cathedral of granite and trees. Now he's faced with the choice of becoming a National Parks Ranger, but is it his true calling?

As Clark helps open Olivia's eyes to the wonders of Yosemite, she discovers the people are as vital to the park's story as its vistas-- a revelation that may bring her charade to an end. (Goodreads)




My Thoughts

I love anything that has to do with the National Parks. This is the second book in a series but both can be read as a stand alone. I think that Karen has really grown in her writing especially with this series. This book was fun and grabbed my attention from the start though it did slow down just a tad, it was still an enjoyable read. I had a difficult time with loving Olivia's character, she was difficult for me to relate to but she does grow through the book. I LOVED Clark and the setting is wonderful. The secondary characters are well written and really bring the whole story together. There are some great history tidbits (the fire falls part of this makes a lot more sense!) and having been to Yosemite it was easy to imagine many of the scenes. I am eager to read more of Karen's books to see what she comes up with next!

Four Stars.

LOOK FOR THIS BOOK  JUNE 5th 2018!




"I received an ARC copy of this book from Blogging for books. All opinions are my own."


















Saturday, February 17, 2018

The Masterpiece: My Thoughts


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About the Book

New York Times bestselling author Francine Rivers returns to her romance roots with this unexpected and redemptive love story, a probing tale that reminds us that mercy can shape even the most broken among us into an imperfect yet stunning masterpiece.

A successful LA artist, Roman Velasco appears to have everything he could possibly want―money, women, fame. Only Grace Moore, his reluctant, newly hired personal assistant, knows how little he truly has. The demons of Roman’s past seem to echo through the halls of his empty mansion and out across his breathtaking Topanga Canyon view. But Grace doesn’t know how her boss secretly wrestles with those demons: by tagging buildings as the Bird, a notorious but unidentified graffiti artist―an alter ego that could destroy his career and land him in prison.

Like Roman, Grace is wrestling with ghosts and secrets of her own. After a disastrous marriage threw her life completely off course, she vowed never to let love steal her dreams again. But as she gets to know the enigmatic man behind the reputation, it’s as if the jagged pieces of both of their pasts slowly begin to fit together . . . until something so unexpected happens that it changes the course of their relationship―and both their lives―forever. (Goodreads)

Check out the author's Goodreads to learn more. 

My Thoughts

I have been mulling over this story for a couple of days now. I honestly have no idea how to rate this book. I love Francine Rivers and was so excited for this story and it is completely unique to anything Rivers has ever written. The characters in this story are very well written. Roman grows so much in this book and how Rivers intertwined Roman and Grace's stories together was superb. The book is also unique in that it flips around a lot. Only a talented author would be able to do this and not have the reader confused. You will be reading in present day, flip back to when Roman was little, present day, flip to when Grace was little, etc. It was very well done! Now there are things in this book that most people wouldn't expect to read about in a Christian book, but all clean in my opinion. Real life issues are dealt with and it makes the book all the better. There is a strong emphasis on believing in Christ and living the Christian life, even when it is a struggle. The only thing that I didn't love is when abortion is brought up and I felt like it wasn't addressed properly. Otherwise I really enjoyed this book and for those who love Rivers books, get ready for an adventure!


" I received this book from Tyndale Publishing . All opinions are my own."























Friday, February 9, 2018

What I Am Loving Right Now








This is just a little snippet not only for my readers but also for myself to look back on. Life hasn't changed much but here are some little things that I have been enjoying.  So far, I have read some excellent books this year so I am excited about that! 

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I finished The Masterpiece by Francine Rivers. Review to come, it was the most unique book I have read so far this year. It made me think and stuck with me awhile after reading it. 

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I finished The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah. This book kept me up until two am. (Take note, it is not Christian fiction) I LOVED this book and I admit I bawled my eyes out after reading it. I also read her book Night Road and holy wow it basically had me emotional the whole time. I rarely cry over books, but Kristin's books get me almost every time. 

I have really been enjoying my Young Living Products and I am eager to try their new makeup line. Check it out! (My YL Number is 2021084 if you want to learn more or sign up!)

I have also been drinking a lot of tea these days, loving this Twinings Tea.    

https://www.twiningsusa.com/our-products/darjeeling
 
Watching a lot of Castle and Dick Van Dyke  
(Weird Combination I know)

http://www.gstatic.com/tv/thumb/tvbanners/184002/p184002_b_v8_af.jpg


http://img.sharetv.com/shows/standard/castle.jpg


All that to say these things are getting me through the cold months. I am eager to start watching When Calls the Heart in a couple of weeks (yes, I am a Heartie). Do you have any TV shows or good movie recommendations? Great books you have read lately? Music? I feel pretty stuck in my normal rut so I will take any and all ideas! 





 

Thursday, February 8, 2018

Winter Continues...





These pictures are a couple of years old but I just like having some snowy pictures this time of year.

Last Stop in Brooklyn Review



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 About the Book

It's the summer of 1894, and an infidelity case has brought PI Mary Handley to a far corner of Brooklyn: Coney Island. In the midst of her investigation, Mary is contacted by a convicted man's brother to reopen a murder case. A prostitute was killed by a Jack the Ripper copycat years ago in her New York hotel room, but her true killer was never found. Once again it's up to Mary to make right the city's wrongs.
New York City's untouchable head of detectives, Thomas Byrnes, swears he put the right man behond bars, but as Mary digs deeper, she finds corruption at the heart of New York's justice system, involving not only the police, but the most powerful of stock titans. Disturbing evidence of other murders begins to surface, each one mimicking Jack the Ripper's style, each one covered up by Thomas Byrnes.
As Mary pieces together the extent of the damage, she crosses paths with Harper Lloyd, an investigative reporter. Their relationship grows into a partnership, and perhaps more, and together they must catch a killer who's still out there, and reverse the ruthless workings of New York's elite. It'll be Mary's most dangerous, most personal case yet. (Goodreads)

 *Note: There is a lot of cussing and a couple of more gruesome scenes in this story.

My Thoughts

Well I will be honest in saying this was not my favorite book. It moves super slow and I couldn't get into the mystery or the characters. I liked the setting and there was slight excitement but I just didn't love it. I thought some of the phrases and wording was modern and it didn't seem like it was in a different time period much of the time. I am sorry to say I don't recommend this book. I do love the cover though!
Two Stars. 

"I received this book from Blogging for Books for free. All opinions are my own."

  






 

Tuesday, February 6, 2018

The Lost Castle Release Day!




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About the Book

Launching a brand-new series, Kristy Cambron explores the collision of past and present as she discovers the ruins of a French castle, long lost to history.

A thirteenth century castle, Chateau de Doux Reves, has been forgotten for generations, left to ruin in a storybook forest nestled deep in France's picturesque Loire Valley. It survived a sacking in the French Revolution, was brought back to life and fashioned into a storybook chateau in the Gilded Age, and was eventually felled and deserted after a disastrous fire in the 1930s.

As Ellie Carver sits by her grandmother's bedside, she hears stories of a castle . . . of lost love and a hidden chapel that played host to a secret fight in the World War II French resistance. But her grandmother is quickly slipping into the locked-down world of Alzheimer's, and Ellie must act fast if she wants to uncover the truth of her family's history.

Sparked by the discovery of a long forgotten family heirloom, Ellie embarks on a journey to French wine country to uncover the mystery surrounding The Sleeping Beauty--the castle so named for Charles Perrault's beloved fairy tale--and unearth its secrets before they're finally silenced by time.

Set in three different time periods--the French Revolution, World War II, and present day--The Lost Castle is a story of loves won and lost, of battles waged, and an enchanted castle that inspired the epic fairy tales time left behind. (Goodreads)







My Thoughts

Kristy Cambron writes in such a unique style that you get carried away into another world easily. This books takes you into three story lines that end up weaving together nicely. I was "at the edge of my seat" throughout most of this book. I so wanted to know what was going to happen as there is SO much going on. I LOVED the fox tie in, I love foxes and this added to the story. The setting is perfect and all of the characters were well written. I will say that since there are three story lines, you have to pay attention and I wish I could have gotten to know the characters a tad better. If you are looking for a French escape with some light romance this is the book for you!  The history is wonderful for us history lovers, and I am eager to see what Cambron has in store for us next!


Five stars!

"I received this book from the publisher for free. All opinions are my own."