Friday, July 31, 2015
My Review: Irish Meadows
Description:
Brianna and Colleen O'Leary know their Irish immigrant father expects them to marry well. Recently he's put even more pressure on them, insinuating that the very future of their Long Island horse farm, Irish Meadows, rests in their ability to land prosperous husbands. Both girls, however, have different visions for their futures.
Brianna, a quiet girl with a quick mind, dreams of attending college. Vivacious Colleen, meanwhile, is happy to marry--as long as her father's choice meets her exacting standards of the ideal groom. When former stable hand Gilbert Whelan returns from business school and distant relative Rylan Montgomery visits Long Island during his seminary training, the two men quickly complicate everyone's plans.
As the farm slips ever closer to ruin, James O'Leary grows more desperate. It will take every ounce of courage for both sisters to avoid being pawns in their father's machinations and instead follow their hearts. And even if they do, will they inevitably find their dreams too distant to reach?
About the Author:
Susan Anne Mason's debut historical novel, Irish Meadows, won the Fiction from the Heartland contest from the Mid-American Romance Authors Chapter of RWA. A member of ACFW, as well, she lives outside of Toronto, Ontario, with her husband and two children. She can be found online at www.susanannemason.com.
My Review: 3 stars
Irish Meadows is the first book in Susan Anne Mason’s, The Courage to Dream series. This is the first book I’ve read by Ms. Mason, so I had no idea what to expect. What I found satisfied, but didn’t go beyond that, as I always hope a book will. I didn’t “hate” this book, but it won’t be finding a place on my keeper shelf.
Ms. Mason does an excellent job with the descriptions and historical details, but I actually found them overwhelming after a while. In her desire to bring the story to life and color it with words, it ended up leaving me with a sense of bombardment. While I really appreciated her descriptive wording and the imagery it provided, I found myself skimming over the seemingly unnecessary words toward the end. The historical detail is wonderfully done and I appreciated the research time Ms. Mason put into making the story historically accurate, even going so far as to include a letter at the end, noting her discrepancies and the literary license she’d taken.
I have mixed emotions regarding the characters. This was an odd book for me, because I started out preferring one sister and then about half way through the story, I noticed that my affections had changed and I liked the other one better. That being said, I never really disliked either one. Both are interesting and well-rounded characters, though I rarely felt I connected with them. The story does come from Brianna’s perspective a little more often, but I actually found more depth in Colleen’s and felt I knew her better. I really liked both of the heroes. While very different characters, they both have all of the marks of great heroes. I honestly did have a preference, though I won’t share which, lest I affect your opinion before you read the book.
I’m sorry to say that I found the spiritual side of the story rather lacking. Though prayer is touted often and God appears a key component, I didn’t see much change in Brianna or Gilbert. Colleen is definitely the redemptive story here and I loved watching her grow and change. That being said, we didn’t actually witness much of the transformation. It was almost like flipping a switch, the way her behavior changed. And though prayer is the often recommended method of working through problems, there was a lack of follow through. They may pray about an issue, but then they handle it themselves, without considering the consequences or God’s will until much later. Which, truth be told, is probably what we all do. I just wanted to see some instances of faith in action, rather than simply talking about it.
The romance was interesting and wasn’t overwhelming, what with so many other things going on, but toward the end it simply felt drawn out. One couple had everything worked out (for the most part), but the other was still being pulled apart by slight misunderstandings. I found the lack of communication annoying and it definitely altered my opinion of that particular heroine. She seemed more and more self-centered and I found her very irritating. It was realistic for a while, but after about the fifth disagreement, it just became frustrating. I wanted someone to sit them down and tell them to work it out. I really wanted to skip the last twenty or so pages, but I had come so far, I didn’t want to give up then.
If I’m being completely honest, I have to admit that my biggest point of discord with this story is the fact that it reminded me of a series by one of my favorite authors and that comparison undoubtedly ruined me for loving the book. So, anything I comment on, please, take with a grain of salt. This story is actually very little like the others, but there were just enough similarities for it to catch my attention and bother me for most of the book. The authors have very different writing styles and even with the major differences, my mind kept going back and forth, making it very difficult for me to really get into the story. I’m not sure there’s anything Ms. Mason could’ve done differently so that I wouldn’t have had that problem, short of changing the entire book.
My parting opinion is this: I don’t regret the time I spent reading this book, though I am sorry I didn’t enjoy it more. I honestly doubt I will read the rest of this series, solely because of my comparison issue. I would recommend this book to those who love historical fiction and are looking for a unique read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review, which I have given. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.
As always, thank you so much for taking the time to read my review! I'm sorry it wasn't a positive one, as much as I hoped it would be. If you'd like to look into it further, perhaps read some other reviews (I know it has many 5 star reviews), here are a few links.
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Christian Book
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
My Review: Hope Harbor
I love this book cover! It's so pretty! And well reflects the story. :)
Description:
Tracy Campbell never wanted to leave Hope Harbor, Oregon, or the idyllic three-generation cranberry farm where she grew up. But life--and love--altered her plans. When tragedy strikes and changes her plans yet again, she finds herself back in her hometown with a floundering farm to run and a heartbreaking secret. Romance is not on her agenda. Nor is it on Michael Hunter's. The visitor from Chicago has daunting secrets of his own. But when Tracy recruits him to help save a struggling charitable organization, the winds of change begin to sweep through Hope Harbor, bringing healing, hope, and love to countless lives--including their own.About the Author:
Irene Hannon is the bestselling author of more than forty-five novels, including That Certain Summer, One Perfect Spring, and the Heroes of Quantico, Guardians of Justice, and Private Justice series. Her books have been honored with two coveted RITA Awards from Romance Writers of America, a Carol Award, three HOLT Medallions, a Daphne du Maurier Award, two Reviewers' Choice Awards from RT Book Reviews magazine, a Retailers' Choice Award, a Booksellers' Best Award, and a National Readers' Choice Award. In addition, she is a two-time Christy Award finalist, and Booklist included one of her novels in its "Top 10 Inspirational Fiction" list for 2011. She lives in Missouri. Learn more at www.irenehannon.com.
My Review: 4 stars
“’If only.’ Those must be the two saddest words in the world.” - Mercedes Lackey
This review is going to be a bit different from my usual MO, as you can probably already tell. I’m not including this quote because it’s found in the book, or because the author used a variation of it, but because it came to mind while I was reading this book and I feel it sums up one of the main themes of the story quite well. Much of the focus of the story is regret. All of the characters feel it in some way, a few have many regrets. This is also a story of redemption, in more ways than one. This is definitely a theme that is done often, but Irene does an excellent job of bringing life to this sometimes over-used topic.
As I’ve probably stated in previous reviews, I’m a huge fan of Ms. Hannon’s, particularly her suspense books. That being said, I’ve also discovered an affinity for her contemporary books. There is definitely a different depth to them. I will confess, that she almost made me cry a few times, at the gravity of the emotions found among the pages. I also think I get to know the characters better, without the mystery driving the story. It is more character driven, something I really enjoy. As always, Irene does an excellent job with the details and descriptions. I will confess that it took me a while to get into the story, but once I did, I didn’t want to put it down. I loved the imagery she used, bringing Hope Harbor to life.
I really liked all of the characters and appreciated the depth I found in them. They came off the page and I was able to easily relate to them. Tracey is a hardworking lady with so many plates balancing in the air that I was half waiting for them to come crashing down. She is strong willed and doesn’t let life get her down, for the most part. I loved her caring attitude and desire to be generous with her time, even though she didn’t have much to spare. She has her own grief and regrets, which actually brings me to my biggest sticking point with this story - I felt they were glossed over, when we finally did find out what held her back. It seemed so much time was spent with her holding back for some then unknown reason, then within a page or two, her issues were mostly resolved.
I also really liked Michael. This book felt like it was more his, than Tracey’s, which was interesting. He had more things to overcome, more grief and regret to deal with. I appreciated seeing a “hero” that wasn’t this macho, fearless, always in control guy. Before I make him sound like a sissy, he isn’t. He’s simply wounded when the story starts out and is trying to figure out how to move forward when he is afraid to make the same mistakes twice. Beyond that, he is also strong, confident, and kind. I loved his relationship with Tracey and following them as they both learned to learn from the past, but to also let it go.
My only other sticking point is the spiritual side of the story. While God is mentioned several times and prayer is relied on, there are several things that happen which are chalked up to providence. It is questioned whether it is a coincidence or God’s work, but we’re left with kind of a gray area, as it’s never completely clarified one way or another. One character makes a rather clichéd comment about coincidence being a moment when God chooses to remain anonymous, but beyond that, there isn’t much resolution to the question. This bothered me a bit, because while I understand Irene is attempting to reach out to the secular crowd, I really wanted her to clear it up, one way or another.
Nitpicking aside, I would like to add that I really enjoyed the redemptive storyline and the reminder that it’s never too late to reach out to someone. I also appreciated the emphasis on making sure you don’t leave this life with a pile of regrets trailing behind you. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a thought-provoking summer read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review, which I have given. I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.
*Please note: I own no rights to the quotation used within my review. No infringement intended.
Thank you so much for stopping by and taking the time to read my review! I hope you enjoyed it! If you'd like to look into the book further, perhaps read some other thoughts on it, here are some links to get you started. :)
Have a wonderful day!
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Christian Book
Saturday, July 18, 2015
Interview with Jen Turano, plus GIVEAWAY!
I rarely do author interviews, so I was super excited when Jen Turano agreed to let me pester her with questions! She is one of my favorite authors and her books always make me laugh out loud! Her newest book, In Good Company, was set to release July 7, but actually showed up in book stores a couple week early (something I never complain about!). You can read my review for it here. So, without further ado, say "hi!" to Jen!
Jen Turano, author of six books, is a graduate of the University of Akron with a degree in clothing and textiles. She is a member of ACFW and lives in a suburb of Denver, Colorado. Visit her website at www.jenturano.com.
First, some questions about you. :)
Are you an introvert or extrovert?
I’m definitely an extrovert, although I used to be quite shy when I was a little girl and would hide in my closet when my mom and dad’s friends would visit. Funny how that’s certainly changed over the years.
I can actually say the same about myself, which I'm finding odd. I used to be such an introvert, but joining the workforce has compelled me to become more of an extrovert . . . though I will admit to still needing my space after a while. :)
What are three “fun” or “unique” things about you?
I get along really well with animals and once had a goat follow me around a farm for hours – I really wanted to take it home with me, but alas, it wasn’t meant to be – the farmer, you see, was somewhat attached to that specific goat. I’m the only person in my family who has red hair, and…I absolutely loathe caviar.
Oh, the goat sounds so cute! And I cannot blame you for the hatred of caviar. I've never tried it, but it just sounds really gross.
Describe yourself in one word.
Peculiar
That's a great word! I'm pretty sure most people would use that or something similar when describing me.
What is the most random question someone has asked you about writing/being an author?If I write in the nude – I must admit that I graciously refrained from answering that particular question.
Okay, that is not at all what I was expecting you to say! Wow! That is a very weird question!
If you were meeting me for the first time and I had never read your books, how would you describe them and your writing style?
Light-hearted romps written in a style that embraces a sense of the ridiculous.
I love that! I may borrow it, for later use. :)
I heard you began writing when your son was a small child and you made up stories for him. Out of curiosity, has he read any of your published books?Yes, the first story I wrote was a middle-grade for my son when he was in third grade. He’s now in college, but I’m afraid he’s put his foot down in regards to reading one of my historical romances. He wouldn’t even read another middle-grade I wrote clear back in the day titled “Mildred Mystique and the Curse of the Goblins,” because Mildred was the main character and she was a…girl.
That would present a bit of a problem for a boy, I suppose.
What is a random or interesting (to you) fact that you discovered while doing research for In Good Company?
That the mansions the socially elite owned were called “cottages.”
If you could have coffee (or your drink of choice) with any of the characters from your A Class of Their Own series, who would you most like to chat with?I’d have to choose Miss Millie Longfellow because she’s just so amusing, although I wouldn’t mind discussing fashions with Miss Harriet Peabody, and then Miss Lucetta Plum is one of those practical sorts, and…well, I guess what I’m really trying to say is that it would be delightful to sit down with all of my characters – then I could finally discover what they really think about the stories I’ve given them.
Your books are all set in The Gilded Age. Why did you choose this particular period in history?
It’s just a fascinating period, what with the scandals, the new money, the new inventions, the building up of New York, and don’t even get me started on the fashions. One of my favorite designers is Charles Worth, and his designs were the designs to wear during the Gilded Age – Ladies traveled to Paris and ordered entire wardrobes from The House of Worth, and then had them shipped to the States. Interestingly enough, before The Gilded Age really got a bit crazy, Paris fashions were kept in trunks for a year or two because they were considered too fashion-forward at first. Then, after Alva Vanderbilt and her ilk descended on the scene, that changed fairly quickly.
What do you hope readers will take away from In Good Company?
That the measure of a person isn’t what wealth they’ve accumulated or that they run around in the right social circles. The measure of a person can be seen in how they treat other people, and a person who is kind, caring and selfless is really the type of good company everyone should strive to keep.
I definitely saw that in the story. There are so many wonderful people that are passed over because they don't fit our mold or expectations. Those are usually the people that surpass them, if we give them the chance. I'm definitely thankful that God doesn't judge by our appearance. There are endless things we can learn from His example, and that is without question an important one.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Thank you so much for having me on your blog, Sarah. I wish you and all of your readers a fabulous rest of the summer, and hope you’ll spend it in the good company of those you love.
Thank you so much for being "here" Jen! And for letting me quiz you!
If you'd like to connect with Jen on social media, you can find her Facebook page here. She is also on Goodreads, a great place to find book recommendations (as if I need the help, right?), and you can find her here.
About the book:
After spending her childhood in an orphanage, Millie Longfellow is determined to become the best nanny the East Coast has ever seen. Unfortunately, her enthusiasm for her job tends to bring about situations that have employers looking askance at her methods. After her most recent dismissal, Millie is forced to return yet again to an employment agency.
At wit’s end with both Millie and Everett, the employment agency gives them one last chance—with each other. Everett is wary of Millie’s penchant for disaster, and she’s not entirely keen on another snobby, grumpy employer, but they’re both out of options. As Millie falls in love with her mischievous charges and tries to stay one step ahead of them, Everett is more focused on achieving the coveted status of society’s upper echelons. As he investigates the suspicious circumstances surrounding the children’s parents’ death, will it take the loss of those he loves to learn whose company he truly wants for the rest of his life?
I had to include a photo of this book, even though it doesn't release until March, 2016. I'm so excited for Lucetta's book! Plus, I love the cover! :)
Now, I did promise you a giveaway, didn't I? I ended up with two copies of In Good Company, purely by accident, and thought I would share one with a fellow reader.
The giveaway will be open until Wednesday, July 22nd. The winner will be notified that same day (hopefully). To be entered, please leave a comment, including your answer to one of the questions below and your email address. I cannot enter you without your email address (because if you won, I would have no way to contact you). You may gain additional entries by sharing this giveaway on social media and "following" my blog. If you do either of these, be sure to let me know!
Questions:
What is something "fun" or "unique" about you?
If you could have coffee (or your drink of choice) with a fictional character, who would you most want to meet?
Describe yourself with one word.
Thank you so much for stopping by! I hope you're having a wonderful day!
Jen Turano, author of six books, is a graduate of the University of Akron with a degree in clothing and textiles. She is a member of ACFW and lives in a suburb of Denver, Colorado. Visit her website at www.jenturano.com.
First, some questions about you. :)
Are you an introvert or extrovert?
I’m definitely an extrovert, although I used to be quite shy when I was a little girl and would hide in my closet when my mom and dad’s friends would visit. Funny how that’s certainly changed over the years.
I can actually say the same about myself, which I'm finding odd. I used to be such an introvert, but joining the workforce has compelled me to become more of an extrovert . . . though I will admit to still needing my space after a while. :)
What are three “fun” or “unique” things about you?
I get along really well with animals and once had a goat follow me around a farm for hours – I really wanted to take it home with me, but alas, it wasn’t meant to be – the farmer, you see, was somewhat attached to that specific goat. I’m the only person in my family who has red hair, and…I absolutely loathe caviar.
Oh, the goat sounds so cute! And I cannot blame you for the hatred of caviar. I've never tried it, but it just sounds really gross.
Describe yourself in one word.
Peculiar
That's a great word! I'm pretty sure most people would use that or something similar when describing me.
What is the most random question someone has asked you about writing/being an author?If I write in the nude – I must admit that I graciously refrained from answering that particular question.
Okay, that is not at all what I was expecting you to say! Wow! That is a very weird question!
If you were meeting me for the first time and I had never read your books, how would you describe them and your writing style?
Light-hearted romps written in a style that embraces a sense of the ridiculous.
I love that! I may borrow it, for later use. :)
I heard you began writing when your son was a small child and you made up stories for him. Out of curiosity, has he read any of your published books?Yes, the first story I wrote was a middle-grade for my son when he was in third grade. He’s now in college, but I’m afraid he’s put his foot down in regards to reading one of my historical romances. He wouldn’t even read another middle-grade I wrote clear back in the day titled “Mildred Mystique and the Curse of the Goblins,” because Mildred was the main character and she was a…girl.
That would present a bit of a problem for a boy, I suppose.
What is a random or interesting (to you) fact that you discovered while doing research for In Good Company?
That the mansions the socially elite owned were called “cottages.”
If you could have coffee (or your drink of choice) with any of the characters from your A Class of Their Own series, who would you most like to chat with?I’d have to choose Miss Millie Longfellow because she’s just so amusing, although I wouldn’t mind discussing fashions with Miss Harriet Peabody, and then Miss Lucetta Plum is one of those practical sorts, and…well, I guess what I’m really trying to say is that it would be delightful to sit down with all of my characters – then I could finally discover what they really think about the stories I’ve given them.
Your books are all set in The Gilded Age. Why did you choose this particular period in history?
It’s just a fascinating period, what with the scandals, the new money, the new inventions, the building up of New York, and don’t even get me started on the fashions. One of my favorite designers is Charles Worth, and his designs were the designs to wear during the Gilded Age – Ladies traveled to Paris and ordered entire wardrobes from The House of Worth, and then had them shipped to the States. Interestingly enough, before The Gilded Age really got a bit crazy, Paris fashions were kept in trunks for a year or two because they were considered too fashion-forward at first. Then, after Alva Vanderbilt and her ilk descended on the scene, that changed fairly quickly.
What do you hope readers will take away from In Good Company?
That the measure of a person isn’t what wealth they’ve accumulated or that they run around in the right social circles. The measure of a person can be seen in how they treat other people, and a person who is kind, caring and selfless is really the type of good company everyone should strive to keep.
I definitely saw that in the story. There are so many wonderful people that are passed over because they don't fit our mold or expectations. Those are usually the people that surpass them, if we give them the chance. I'm definitely thankful that God doesn't judge by our appearance. There are endless things we can learn from His example, and that is without question an important one.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Thank you so much for having me on your blog, Sarah. I wish you and all of your readers a fabulous rest of the summer, and hope you’ll spend it in the good company of those you love.
Thank you so much for being "here" Jen! And for letting me quiz you!
If you'd like to connect with Jen on social media, you can find her Facebook page here. She is also on Goodreads, a great place to find book recommendations (as if I need the help, right?), and you can find her here.
About the book:
After spending her childhood in an orphanage, Millie Longfellow is determined to become the best nanny the East Coast has ever seen. Unfortunately, her enthusiasm for her job tends to bring about situations that have employers looking askance at her methods. After her most recent dismissal, Millie is forced to return yet again to an employment agency.
Everett Mulberry has suddenly and quite unexpectedly found himself responsible for three children he barely knows. Attempting fatherhood while also pacifying the less-than-thrilled socialite he intends to marry is made even more complicated when the children scare off every nanny he hires. About to depart for Newport, Rhode Island, for the summer, he’s desperate for competent childcare.
I had to include a photo of this book, even though it doesn't release until March, 2016. I'm so excited for Lucetta's book! Plus, I love the cover! :)
Now, I did promise you a giveaway, didn't I? I ended up with two copies of In Good Company, purely by accident, and thought I would share one with a fellow reader.
The giveaway will be open until Wednesday, July 22nd. The winner will be notified that same day (hopefully). To be entered, please leave a comment, including your answer to one of the questions below and your email address. I cannot enter you without your email address (because if you won, I would have no way to contact you). You may gain additional entries by sharing this giveaway on social media and "following" my blog. If you do either of these, be sure to let me know!
Questions:
What is something "fun" or "unique" about you?
If you could have coffee (or your drink of choice) with a fictional character, who would you most want to meet?
Describe yourself with one word.
Thank you so much for stopping by! I hope you're having a wonderful day!
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
My Review: The Cactus Creek Challenge
Description:
"Anything he can do, I can do better."
At least that was what Cassie Bucknell thought before she pinned on Ben Wilder’s badge and took to patrolling the streets of Cactus Creek, Texas. Cassie has been in love with Ben since primer school, but Ben treats her like a little sister.
When they are picked to swap jobs for a month as part of the annual Cactus Creek Challenge in their Texas hometown, the schoolhouse is thrown into an uproar, the jail becomes a temporary bank vault, and Cassie and Ben square off in a battle of wills that becomes a battle for their hearts.
About the Author:
Erica Vetsch is a transplanted Kansan now residing in Minnesota. She loves books and history, and is blessed to be able to combine the two by writing historical romances. Whenever she’s not following flights of fancy in her fictional world, she’s the company bookkeeper for the family lumber business, mother of two, an avid museum patron, and wife to a man who is her total opposite and soul mate. Erica loves to hear from readers. You can sign up for her quarterly newsletter at www.ericavetsch.com
And you can email her at ericavetsch@gmail.com or contact her on her author Facebook page.
My Review: 4.5 stars
The Cactus Creek Challenge surprised me in more ways than one. For some unknown reason, I was under the mistaken impression that it was a novella, so I was very pleasantly surprised to find a full length novel. This is actually the first book I’ve read by Erica Vetsch, so I had absolutely no idea what to expect. I can very happily say that I loved this book and will definitely be looking for more of her writing!
When I first heard about this book, I was intrigued. It was a new premise, one that sounded like loads of fun and I was anxious to find out where Ms. Vetsch would take the story. It was definitely a wild ride! I had a blast following the characters through their days as they learned to work together and get all of their respective jobs done. I definitely laughed out loud several times and had to smile and shake my head at some of the situations the characters found themselves in. I loved the creativity, both in the premise itself and how the characters managed each task.
Erica definitely does an excellent job with the descriptions and historical details. I was able to easily picture the town of Cactus Creek and I really enjoyed the little reminders she added here and there, that kept the scenes fresh in my mind. The story flows very smoothly and kept my attention from the first page to the last. I didn’t want to put it down and saw more than one late night, wanting to know what would happen next! My only negative comment for the entire story is that there were a couple words the author used a few times that didn’t really fit the story or were not used correctly for the sentence structure. Yes, I’m going to nitpick that, because grammar is important to me and I found it a little annoying. It didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the story, just bugged me a bit when they would pop up.
Another thing I immensely enjoyed was that the story came from the perspective of all of the contestants. I thought it was just Cassie and Ben’s book, but I was wrong. There is another layer to the story that I really loved. I adored all of the characters and getting to meet them. They are so realistic and I was able to relate with each of them. They all have something to work toward, something they are striving for. Amanda and all of the students were so cute and such a fun addition to the story! I loved how well drawn even the secondary characters were. Erica took the time to bring the whole town to life, not just the main characters and I really appreciated that.
There is definitely romance in this book and I enjoyed watching the thick-headed men (and sometimes women) slowly come to the realization that maybe there was something more for them than just the course they had chosen for themselves. It was fun and quirky, while at the same time being really sweet and endearing. Following each of the characters on their journey definitely had me rethinking a few things and I appreciated the reminder that despite our best laid plans, sometimes God throws a wrench into the works to make us look up and notice what He has waiting for us.
Speaking of God, this book actually doesn’t do much of that. It is definitely Christian, but there isn’t a lot of preaching, or even talking about Him. Instead, it shows us and leads us to the suggestion of His hand in all of it, but rarely comes right out and says it. I would easily be able to recommend this book to my non-Christian friends without having to worry about them complaining or becoming offended.
I could probably talk about this book for another few paragraphs, but no one particularly wants to read that, so I’ll stop here. My last comment is that I really hope Erica sets another book in Cactus Creek so that I can visit again! I immensely enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction filled with humor, romance, and suspense.
I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley for my honest review, which I have given. I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my review! I hope you enjoyed it! Obviously, I really liked this book, so I hope you'll check it out! You won't be disappointed! :)
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Christian Book
Monday, July 6, 2015
My Review: The Marriage Agreement
I really like this cover. It's very pretty and very much a Love Inspired Historical. Honestly, there's a part of me that would like Harlequin to branch out a bit, cover-wise, but these are very recognizable and I don't have to sift through the other books they publish to find the good ones.
Description:
Promoted to Wife?
Always the dutiful daughter, Fanny Mitchell surprised everyone when she broke her engagement. Now she's working at the fancy Hotel Dupree—and falling for the mysterious, handsome owner, Jonathon Hawkins. But when she and her boss are caught in an unexpected kiss at a ball, will her reputation be tarnished forever?
The son of a woman of ill repute, Jonathon knows that gossip can destroy lives in an instant. And he won't allow sweet, lovely Fanny to suffer the consequences. When he proposes a marriage of convenience, Jonathon believes he can keep his heart to himself. But the more time he spends with Fanny, the more he realizes he may just be in love—with his wife.
About the Author:
Renee Ryan grew up in a Florida beach town outside Jacksonville, FL. Armed with a degree in Economics and Religion from Florida State University, she explored various career opportunities, including stints at a Florida theme park and a modeling agency. She currently lives in Savannah, Georgia with her husband and a large, fluffy cat many have mistaken for a small bear. Renee can be contacted through her website at www.reneeryan.com
My Review: 4 stars
The Marriage Agreement is the ninth book in Renee Ryan’s, Charity House series (if you'd like to see the full list, you can find it here). While I’ve read a couple of the books in the series, I actually haven’t managed to read them in any order. That being said, you definitely don’t have to start at the beginning to thoroughly enjoy this book. Though I’m sure it would have most likely helped me keep the characters straight while I was reading, I didn’t feel lost or spend the entire story trying to catch up. I confess, I didn’t have many expectations for this book, since I haven’t read anything of Renee’s recently. If I’d had any, I believe they would have been surpassed, as I immensely enjoyed this book.
I very much enjoy Renee’s writing style and this book is no exception! Her descriptions are great and quickly pull me into the setting and the story. I love the historical details she includes and appreciate the research that must go into her books. I do confess that there were a couple instances that I questioned Renee’s choice of wording as it didn’t seem to fit the time period. As I obviously didn’t live in the chosen period, I can’t say for absolute certain that it was not historically accurate, but regardless, the dialogue didn’t seem to fit the character speaking. But, this is mostly me nitpicking. The wording didn’t effect my enjoyment of the book or even give me much pause while reading.
This book definitely held my attention and didn’t want to let go! I found myself picking it up during every spare moment and not wanting to put it down. It kept me up well past when I should have been asleep and I grabbed it again almost as soon as I woke up. It is fast paced and never lags. The story flows quickly from point to point and I found myself rushing through it, all the while reminding myself to slow down and savor it. Obviously, the latter didn’t happen very often. Though, I must confess that I found the ending a bit abrupt. I do generally feel that way with most of the books I read, so this isn’t actually saying very much. I would always like the ending to be longer, simply because I’m rarely ready to say “goodbye” to the characters.
I really enjoyed the characters, as well. Fanny and Jonathon are both very realistic and I was able to easily relate to both of them. Fanny is sweet and kind, though somewhat impulsive. She is also strong, stubborn, and intelligent. I loved her heart for others, as she always tried to put them first. She loves deeply and forgives quickly, something I definitely need to learn. Jonathon is her opposite in many ways. He holds himself aloof from everyone, giving only the impression of openness. He has a good reason for this though - he doesn’t want to hurt anyone, nor does he want to be hurt. I loved watching him grow and change, as he learned to love Fanny fully and open himself to others.
The romance was very sweet, if a bit predictable. But that’s to be expected and I personally enjoy reading books where the “happily ever after” is a given, rather than a possibility. I adored watching both Fanny and Jonathon fall in love. They had several obstacles to overcome, something that made their happy ending even more rewarding. They must learn compromise and put their spouse’s needs before their own. I appreciated that Renee took the time to explore their marriage a bit and specifically point out that every marriage takes hard work and determination to make it last.
The spiritual element is an important one, for the story as well as the reader. Much of the focus is on forgiveness. I loved this quote that I feel sums up the theme quite well, “Forgiveness was hard, and came at a price, but the cost of bitterness was far steeper.” - Jonathon Hawkins* He had to learn how to forgive, but also how to accept forgiveness and God’s grace. I appreciated the care Renee used with this topic. It certainly isn’t an easy one, but she definitely does it justice, never rushing the story to make it fit within the constraints. There is a slow progression, allowing us to follow each step of his journey toward God’s grace.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical romance and marriage of convenience stories!
I received an advanced reading copy of this book through NetGalley for my honest review, which I have given. I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.
*Quotation used with permission from the author. I do not own any rights to the story. No infringement intended.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my review! I hope you enjoyed it! :) As always, if you're interested, purchase links are below.
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
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