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

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Christian Book 

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

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Christian Book  

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.

 

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.

 

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!  

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!  :)

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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

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Christian Book

My Review: In Good Company

 

I love the model's expression!  She very nicely reflects what I imagined Millie's expression would look like.  Though, I do have to confess that my favorite part of this cover is definitely the back - it's gorgeous!  I really appreciate how Bethany House is focusing more on the back and making sure it's distinctive.

 

Description: 

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.

 

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?
 
 

 About the Author:
 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.

 







My Review: 5 stars
A thoroughly wonderful book!
In Good Company is the second book in Jen Turano’s, A Class of Their Own series. I’ve become a huge fan of Jen’s books, especially after absolutely adoring the first book, so I was of course, supremely excited to read this one. I can very happily say that it lived up to all of my expectations. 

I always adore Jen’s writing. Her details and descriptions are fantastic and it’s obvious that she puts a lot of time and research into each story. I love how she brings each character and setting to life. Her humor comes across on almost every page and had me chuckling or full-blown laughing several times. The story never lags or stalls. There was never a moment that I wanted to skip pages, unless it was to find out what was going to happen next! I can see Jen’s writing changing a bit with each book. Where her first series focused more on the humorous situations the characters found themselves in, as well as the mystery, these books are a bit more serious. They still focus on the characters and there is humor, but there more depth to them. She digs deeper into the shallow society of the day and where they occasionally went astray, rather than keeping the focus on humor. This is in no way a negative point for me, though I know a few of her readers may be rather disappointed. I personally love the deeper moments that give me pause and cause me to stop and think, if only for a few seconds (because I can‘t possibly put it down for longer than that). I was vaguely dismayed in the beginning of the book that the mystery was being cut back, but I have to say that the story works wonderfully as it is. So many things would have been glossed over or completely removed from the story, had Jen changed the focus. I wouldn’t wish that change, so I just took a moment to readjust my expectations.

I absolutely fell in love with Millie Longfellow! I had enjoyed meeting her in “After a Fashion” and had been anxiously anticipating her story. She is such a sweet heroine, though with a strong dose of spice thrown in. I appreciated her unconventional teaching methods and had to laugh out loud at the mischief she often found herself involved in. She is the type of character that I could see myself being great friends with. She is quirky and cute, but also has a strong backbone and doesn’t allow anyone to walk all over her. I also loved her faith. In her own quirky way, she reminded me how important it is to trust God, especially when you don’t understand what He’s doing.
 Everett Mulberry is an excellent hero. Strong, stubborn, but with a soft spot not many see. I confess, I found him rather annoying at the start of the book, but that made falling in love even more fun. He is definitely the character I saw the most growth in and I loved watching his eyes be opened to the world around him. He is something of a snob in the beginning (not that he would admit it) and is very self centered. Then, I saw him slowly come to the realization that some things were so much more important that what society thought. He also must consider if he’s truly someone to be proud of. That journey is what sold me on him. It isn’t a sudden change, but it was the little moments, where he’s trying so hard, that made me fall in love with him.

Their romance was incredibly sweet, too! There are the usual social standings discussions and things that conspire to keep them apart, but it was never overdone. They had legitimate concerns that were handled expertly. I always tire of drawn out issues that never seem to be reconciled, but that never happens in this book, much to my relief. I loved watching them slowly fall in love, despite that they both fought it with all they had. And Abigail is such a dear, doing her best to play matchmaker, then taking all of the credit for their “happily ever after.”

As the five stars probably already informed you, I have absolutely no complaints about this book! I loved every moment of it, even those in which Everett was a bit annoying! Because there was hope for him. If readers of this book don’t take away anything else, I truly pray that they will be reminded that there is always hope, even in their darkest moments.

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.  
 
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my review!  I hope you enjoyed it! 

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My Review: Sanctuary Breached

Description:
Lieutenant Sam Myerson’s latest mission goes horribly wrong when his SEAL team is betrayed and he is kidnapped. But the problem doesn’t end there—it stretches all the way to the secret witness protection town of Sanctuary…and Sam’s wife.

Beth Myerson is on a mission of her own since her parents were assassinated. Nothing feels right, and it doesn’t get better when Sam shows up determined to protect her and their unborn son. Someone has discovered her location, and they won’t stop until they get their hands on what Beth is hiding.

When the real reason Beth was sent to Sanctuary is revealed, Sam puts the pieces of the puzzle together. But the enemy is closing in.

(Side note: I'm sorry, but I really want to add something to the end of this description.  Maybe something like, "And they're running out of time" or "and the threat is closer than anyone imagined."  I don't know. Something.  It just seems like it cuts off there.  I actually thought I missed something when I copied it.  Anyway, onward and upward. :) )

 About the Author:
A British ex-pat who grew up an hour outside of London, Lisa attended Calvary Chapel Bible College where she met her husband. He's from California, but nobody's perfect. It wasn't until her Bible College graduation that she figured out she was a writer (someone told her).
Since then she's taken the Apprentice and Journeyman writing courses with the Christian Writers Guild, and discovered a penchant for high-stakes stories of mayhem and disaster where you can find made-for-each-other love that always ends in happily ever after.
Lisa can be found in Idaho wearing either flip-flops or cowgirl boots, depending on the season. She leads worship with her husband at their local church. Together they have two children--a sparkly Little Princess and a Mini Daddy--and there's only one bunny rabbit now (sad face).


My Review: 4.5 stars
First thought: it’s over?! NO!!! (4.5 stars)
Caution: Words like “love” and “adore” and “awesome” and “amazing” will probably be overused in this review.

I should also note that I’m a huge fan of Lisa Phillips’ books, so that undoubtedly will make this a slightly biased review. I have adored all of her books, so of course, I jumped at the chance to review this one, as well. Her stories grab my attention from page one and don’t let go until long after the final page, and this one is no exception! I didn’t want to put it down and read late into the night more than once, trying to find a good stopping point. If you pick up this book let me make it easy for you - there are none! Every time I would start to put it down, something else would happen!

“Edge of your seat” doesn’t adequately describe the suspense in this story. It’s more like “fall out of your chair, did-that-really-just-happen?!” suspense. And I loved every minute of it! Lisa’s books always keep me guessing and I’m never quite sure what will happen next! She’s one of the few authors that can still make me gasp with surprise - then bust out laughing on the next page. I love the dialogue, because it’s so realistic and something I might actually say. The descriptions are excellent, without being overwhelming. There is a great balance of details, descriptions, and dialogue. The town of Sanctuary comes to life within each book and I love the new details she adds with every story.

Though this is the third book in a series, they don’t have to be read in order. There are pieces of the stories that carry over into the next book, but each can stand alone. Lisa fills in plenty of the blanks with little reminders of what happened in the last one so that it isn’t confusing. Though, I would highly recommend reading the other ones, because they were great too!

I adored the characters, too! Well, except the villain. I really just wanted someone to shoot him. But they are all so realistic and I could easily relate to them! We go through several view points throughout the book and I did find it a little difficult to keep up with at times, but on the other hand, I really enjoyed getting the story from several places and opinions. It would just take me a moment or two to switch over to the new position. I appreciated the extra information this allowed the author to incorporate and it kept me up to date with everything going on without adding umpteen conversations about it.

I was a bit surprised that Beth Myerson became a little more of a minor character toward the end of the book, but looking back over it, I understand. There are so many things going on and so many details to cover, that focusing on her would have taken away from the rest of the story. Especially since she isn’t in the middle of the action constantly, like the other characters. I did enjoy getting to know her and seeing the world through her eyes. Her thoughts add a depth to the rest of the story and give clarity to several things. We also get to see Sam through her eyes, which was great. I loved Sam. If he wasn’t fictional and already spoken for . . . . *sigh*

As already noted, I loved Sam Myerson! He is an awesome hero! He is strong and brave, but there is also a crack in his armor. His faith. He struggles to make sense of everything, on top of figuring what he believes and where to go from there. He kind of has the wounded warrior thing, but I loved how he kept chasing after Beth and striving to make their marriage work. I also appreciated his commitment to taking care of the residents of Sanctuary, as well as finishing the mission for his team.

The romance is pretty low-key, which actually works great for this book. If there had been more, I think it would have been overdone and would have taken away from the rest of the storyline. I have to give Lisa major credit for knowing where to draw the line and not following the set pattern for romantic suspense novels. Her books are always so unique in how she chooses to handle each situation with her characters. I appreciated that she stepped away from the mold to do what would be best for this particular story.

Lisa does something unique with the spiritual side of the story (big surprise there, right?), which I found I really enjoyed. Sam struggles with how to trust God in a position where he has no control, while John Mason prays almost continually because he knows only God can truly handle the situation. I loved this contrast of opinions and faith. It was interesting, seeing how each man dealt with the circumstances. Honestly, I could see myself in both of them, which was probably intentional. I want to be like John, who relies on God, while doing everything he can. But I tend to be more like Sam, who doubts and tries to do it all on his own, and when he’s at wit’s end, turns to God. While there are some other important questions of faith, this is definitely the largest part of the spiritual aspect of the story that stuck with me. It definitely made me think, which is always something I look for in a book.

Though I’ve nitpicked here and there, I have to end with saying that I did love this story, which is why the rating is up to five stars. The things that bothered me were seriously just me being picky and wanting things a smidge different. But, that’s the wonderful part of reading - authors allow you the privilege of getting to meet the amazing characters they have created. They open themselves up to criticism from readers who don’t always see things quite they do. So, while I may have changed a thing or two, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be that brave, so ignore my nitpicking and I hope you love this book as much, if not more than I did.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the author 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.

Once again, sorry for the long winded review!  I hope you enjoyed it anyway!  Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by and read my ramblings!  As usual, purchase links are below.  :)

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