Review: Surviving Henry

Surviving Henry: Adventures in Loving a Canine Catastrophe by Erin Taylor Young

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


You don't always know what you're getting into when you bring home a puppy. Enter Henry, a boxer who suffers from Supreme Dictator of the Universe Syndrome. He vandalizes his obedience school, leaps through windows, cheats death at every turn, and generally causes his long-suffering owner Erin Taylor Young to wonder what on earth she did that God would send this dog to derail her life.
Through his laugh-out-loud antics and escapades, Henry will steal readers' hearts. Anyone who has ever owned a dog, especially a canine catastrophe like Henry, will enjoy this lighthearted book about a dog who brings new meaning to the concept of unconditional love.

--My thoughts. I am a HUGE dog lover, so I was so enthralled with this book. I took it along the lines of Turner and Hooch or Marley & Me. When your dog fails obedience school, you know you have a special dog! think one of my favorites was the life jacket story. Erin did an excellent job with this book and it went by way too fast. The walk was another good story. Very enjoyable, laugh out loud book, one all animal lovers should enjoy, especially if the canine ones are your favorite!

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.



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Review: 90 Minutes in Heaven

90 Minutes in Heaven: A True Story of Death & Life by Don Piper

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


As he is driving home from a minister's conference, Baptist minister Don Piper collides with a semi-truck that crosses into his lane. He is pronounced dead at the scene. For the next 90 minutes, Piper experiences heaven where he is greeted by those who had influenced him spiritually. He hears beautiful music and feels true peace.
Back on earth, a passing minister who had also been at the conference is led to pray for Don even though he knows the man is dead. Piper miraculously comes back to life and the bliss of heaven is replaced by a long and painful recovery.
For years Piper kept his heavenly experience to himself. Finally, however, friends and family convinced him to share his remarkable story.

--My thoughts. I was really disappointed that this book didn't cover more of his actual story. I think his story is tainted by what he thinks everyone wants to hear -- versus what might have actually happened, or did happen. I don't believe this book for one single minute and I feel as if I wasted my time. These types of books sway a lot of people and I hate when they come out, because it causes a lot of people to not use their brains -- Come on people. Think for yourselves.

This is all about his recovery not the accident and his 90 minutes, more like his 90 minutes of fame. Please don't give him that. I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.



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Review: Debt-Proof Living

Debt-Proof Living: How to Get Out of Debt & Stay That Way by Mary Hunt

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Mortgages, credit card balances, student loans, car loans, and home improvement loans have become a way of life for the majority of us. And debt is putting not only our present at risk as we live paycheck to paycheck, but our futures in jeopardy as shockingly few of us have enough put away for retirement. Personal financial expert Mary Hunt wants readers to embrace the radical but simple truth that they don't need more credit or more stuff--that they can live their lives debt-free.
In her classic book "Debt-Proof Living," " "Mary reveals the secrets to getting out of debt and staying out of debt for the rest of your life. At no time in history has this liberating approach to a no-debt lifestyle been more desperately needed. Those who have been struggling to pay the bills or feel like they just can't make their finances work without taking on debt need this book. It can change their lives.

--My thoughts. Well this book is a radical thinking book. If you aren't ready for change, then it probably isn't for you. One thought was, one of the most powerful debt-proofing tools you have at your disposal is your attitude. What is debt-proof living? This is a great book to purchase for those graduating from high school or college or those that are struggling, or in addition to Dave Ramsey's course. I really think it is a great way of thinking!

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.



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Review: Nowhere to Turn

Nowhere to Turn by Lynette Eason

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The day Danielle Harding takes her 11-year-old son, Simon, and flees from her abusive husband, is the same day Kurt Harding dies. A relieved Dani believes she and her son are finally safe--but in reality, the danger has just begun. When Kurt was alive, he took something important to a mysterious person. That person wants the item back and believes Dani now has it. As she and her son run for their lives, they have nowhere to turn, until she hires Adam Buchanan of Operation Refuge and goes into hiding. Unfortunately, she won't be able to hide for long . . .

From the first breathless scene, this tension-laced story will hold readers in its iron grip. Bestselling author Lynette Eason propels readers along at a breakneck pace in a race to discover the truth and a better future.

--My thoughts. Action packed from the very beginning. Danielle thinks once she runs away, she will be safe, but the danger is JUST beginning. Dani runs and runs, until she can't run any more. What a mystery that will hold you until the very end. A little bit of a love line thrown in for good measure never hurts either! Eason does an excellent job holding your attention. I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.



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Review: A Bouquet of Love

A Bouquet of Love by Janice Thompson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Cassia Pappas has found herself in a nearly impossible situation. She wants to spend her time immersed in her new job at a Galveston Island floral shop, arranging blooms and brightening occasions with her lovely creations. But her huge Greek family–especially her father–has other ideas. They’ve all relocated to Galveston to open up a new family restaurant location on the Strand– directly across the street from the Rossis’ popular pizza place–and they want Cassia’s full participation.
To make matters worse, as Cassia is trying to develop a strong professional relationship with Galveston’s premier wedding coordinator, Bella Neeley, her own father is intent on stealing all of the Rossi family’s faithful customers. Not exactly the best way to get into Bella’s good graces!
Still, at least Alex, that hot delivery guy from the nursery, is always hanging around the flower shop . . .
Fan favorite Janice Thompson gives readers one more romp with Bella, Galveston, and the bustling wedding biz in the final installment of her popular series. Anyone who loves quirky families, loads of laughter, and tender romance will find themselves hooked.

--My thoughts. SO much fun! Janice Thompson just really gets readers. This book was just laugh out loud hilarious and I thoroughly enjoyed each minute of reading it. Cassia was a completely enjoyable character - You know you are Greek when.. I loved reading each one of those starting out the chapter. Greek people are big on family traditions so when Cassia continues to work at the flower shop instead of with the family, it doesn't go well.

Enjoy this fantastic read. It is so much fun! I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.



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Review: Death Takes a Ride

Death Takes a Ride by Lorena McCourtney

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Cate Kinkaid arrives at H&B Vintage Auto Restorations to give a friend a ride. But trouble finds Cate even there -- this time in the form of one dead man, one wounded man, and what appears to be a pretty obvious case of self-defense. Owner Matt Halliday wants to hire her, but not for this case. Instead, Cate is charged with finding a man who owns a particular motorcycle Matt would like to buy. As her search progresses, she begins to suspect that the shooting in Matt's office may not have been as cut-and-dried as it appeared.

--My thoughts. Fun murder mystery. I really enjoyed getting to know this cast of characters. When you add in animals, love and murder with mystery, makes it so much fun. You might guess it, but the ride is so much fun. Cate is a hoot, and you will fall for her character, feeling like she might be one of your great friends by the end of the book. I haven't read any of the other books, but this book stood alone. Made me want to pick them up though. I love books like this, light-hearted, fun to read, with an air of mystery, and a bit of a love line!

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.



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Review: One Perfect Spring

One Perfect Spring by Irene Hannon

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Claire Summers is a determined, independent single mother who is doing her best to make lemonade out of the lemons life has handed her. Keith Watson is a results-oriented workaholic with no time for a social life. As the executive assistant to a local philanthropic businessman, he’s used to fielding requests for donations. But when a letter from Claire’s eleven-year-old daughter reaches his desk, everything changes. The girl isn’t asking for money, but for help finding the long-lost son of an elderly neighbor.
As Keith digs reluctantly into this complicated assignment, he has no idea how intertwined his life and Claire’s will become–nor how one little girl’s kindhearted request will touch so many lives and reap so many blessings.
Through compelling characters and surprising plot twists, Irene Hannon offers readers this tenderhearted story of family connections that demonstrates how life is like lilacs–the biggest blooms often come only after the harshest winters.

--My thoughts. Cute, fun, predictable but fun of lots of spunk and has some good points. One that readers will enjoy an afternoon reading. Claire and Keith both are identifiable characters, and easy to like. I enjoyed getting to know them on the pages of this book that did end up surprising me in a few places. I always enjoy that, sometimes you can predict it for the most part, but that does make it a bit more fantastic in my eyes!

I hope that you pick this up, you will enjoy and root for our two!

I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion.



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Review: The Dream Dress

The Dream Dress by Janice Thompson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A seamstress at a swanky bridal boutique, Gabi Delgado dreams of doing more than ripping out seams and fitting dresses to doe-eyed brides. She wants to see her own dress designs gracing the young women of Texas. When Jordan Spencer, the editor of Texas Bride magazine visits the shop to do a feature, Gabi is devastated to lose her job in his very influential presence. Convinced she'll never get her dreams off the ground now, Gabi needs lots of encouragement--especially from her friend Bella Neeley--to take a chance and start her business. And as she gets to know Jordan, she discovers that she may have to take a chance on love as well. Could it be that she'll have to design her own wedding dress soon.

--My thoughts. Although this is the third book in the series, this is my first one. It does stand alone. It is fun and it is a quick read. I really enjoyed it from beginning to end. This is why I read, I enjoyed the message woven throughout. Thompson's writing you will enjoy.. I loved the quotes at the beginning of the chapters. What nice touches. I can't wait to go back and read the previous ones. She keeps it light, fun and yet with a message.

I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion from Revell.



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Review: The Woman Code

The Woman Code: 20 Powerful Life Strategies You Need to Navigate Today's Challenges by Sophia A. Nelson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Popular TV commentator, former White House correspondent, and motivational speaker reveals the 20 principles that will help women achieve their dreams, purpose, and destiny.

--My thoughts. I think there is so much in here, I am going to be giving my girls each a copy for Christmas so they can highlight and underline and mark the heck out of for themselves. I loved each chapter and think it is so important as they become young ladies that they discover and find out how to build themselves and each other up. I especially loved the part about gossip. Women love to do it but it is bad ladies. Really not good for us. Also important is to apologize. You don't find many people apologizing these days.

I received a copy of this book from Revell in exchange for my honest opinion.



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Review: Rich in Years

Rich in Years: Finding Peace and Purpose in a Long Life by Johann Christoph Arnold

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Why shouldn’t growing older be rewarding?

Johann Christoph Arnold, whose books have helped over a million readers through life’s challenges, wants us to rediscover the spiritual riches that age has to offer.

Now in his seventies, Arnold finds himself personally facing the trials that come with aging. But he knows, from decades of pastoral experience, what older people and their caregivers can do to make the journey more fulfilling.

So what’s the secret of those who continue to love life regardless of their health or circumstances? In Rich in Years, Arnold blends the wisdom from some of the world’s great thinkers with stories of people he has known and admired to show that one doesn’t have to be young to enjoy life, or physically fit to make an invaluable contribution to society.

No pop psychology or self-help manual, Rich in Years tackles tough issues such combatting loneliness, living with dementia, reconciling with family, and making end-of-life decisions.

"On these pages are wonderful words of hope. Savor them." -- Pete Seeger, musician

"Using profound and stimulating stories, Johann Christoph Arnold welcomes us into an elegant fabric of elderly life, abundant with significance and relationships. I know you will find this book spiritually enriching." -- Marva J. Dawn, author

"In this compact yet compelling book, Johann Christoph Arnold brings the reader a wealth of personal stories about growing older -- a time when opportunities flourish for living with purpose..." -- Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York

More offers at http://www.richinyears.com

--My thoughts. "The best way to face death is to really live." Carole Neal. This book has lots of great pearls of wisdom. You might agree with it all but as we get older you really start think about death more, as your loved ones start to age and pass. It is going to happen, it is inevitable. We, as a younger generation, I think don't look to the older generation as we once did. Which is sad. We think we are so smart. There is wisdom in years.

Find your purpose and peace in a long life lived. I received this book for free, in exchange for my honest opinion.



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Review: The Road We Must Travel

The Road We Must Travel: A Personal Guide for Your Journey by Francis Chan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Highly respected, best-selling spiritual mentors, including Francis Chan, Eugene Peterson (The Message), Bill Hybels, and others, provide guidance as you navigate uncharted roads ahead.

--My thoughts. This book is so wonderful, one that you will have to give as gifts to all you know. Read it, use it for your bible studies. One of the many things I really liked was, instead of looking to Jesus for our significance and value, we often look to insignificant things. That is so true. There are 12 stops. These authors, some I didn't know well, and some I did. I loved hearing their thoughts and studying from them.

I received a copy from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.



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One Perfect Spring by Irene Hannon

Claire Summers is a determined, independent single mother who is doing her best to make lemonade out of the lemons life has handed her. Keith Watson is a results-oriented workaholic with no time for a social life. As the executive assistant to a local philanthropic businessman, he’s used to fielding requests for donations. But when a letter from Claire’s eleven-year-old daughter reaches his desk, everything changes. The girl isn’t asking for money, but for help finding the long-lost son of an elderly neighbor.
As Keith digs reluctantly into this complicated assignment, he has no idea how intertwined his life and Claire’s will become–nor how one little girl’s kindhearted request will touch so many lives and reap so many blessings.
Through compelling characters and surprising plot twists, Irene Hannon offers readers this tenderhearted story of family connections that demonstrates how life is like lilacs–the biggest blooms often come only after the harshest winters.

--My thoughts. Cute, fun, predictable but fun of lots of spunk and has some good points. One that readers will enjoy an afternoon reading. Claire and Keith both are identifiable characters, and easy to like. I enjoyed getting to know them on the pages of this book that did end up surprising me in a few places. I always enjoy that, sometimes you can predict it for the most part, but that does make it a bit more fantastic in my eyes!

I hope that you pick this up, you will enjoy and root for our two!

I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: Love Comes Home by Ann H. Gabhart

Love Comes Home by Ann H. Gabhart

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


World War II is finally over and the people of Rosey Corner are busy welcoming the boys home. The Merritt sisters in particular are looking toward the future. Kate is eager to start a family and live out her dream of happily ever after with Jay. Evangeline wants a beautiful house and encourages Mike to pastor a big-town church. Victoria wants what can never be–a life with a man who will never come back. And little Lorena is growing up and wondering more and more about her birth family.
Through the heartfelt storytelling of bestselling author Ann Gabhart, readers join these endearing characters as they walk an uncertain road. Each sister must learn to hold her plans with a loose hand, trusting that God will guide and strengthen them as they share the joys and sorrows of life in their little corner of the world.

--My thoughts. Sigh, I loved this book. I started with the cover and I couldn't wait to find out what she was waiting for. So simple and that is what drew me in. I love books about love, loss and so much more. Each sister complex and yet not. Each sister, four of them total. One wanting something different, trusting God to guide their paths. Ann did a fantastic job holding my attention until the last page.

You will love them until the end, wanting more! I don't want to spoil it for you, so you just must read it!

I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion.



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Review: The Stress Cure by Linda Evans Shepherd

The Stress Cure: Praying Your Way to Personal Peace by Linda Evans Shepherd

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


We live in a world filled to the brim with advice, and when it comes to dealing with stress, there's plenty of advice to go around. Sleep more, eat better, avoid this, seek out that. But more advice on coping is not necessarily what the stressed and anxious person needs. What we need is a cure. Linda Evans Shepherd has discovered it.
The true remedy to stress, she says, is prayer. In this inspiring book, Shepherd shows readers how to recognize God's continual presence and yield their troubles to the Prince of Peace. Through captivating stories, explorations of fascinating biblical characters, and examples of deeper-than-ever prayers, she brings within readers' grasp the peace that passes understanding. Anyone who is overwhelmed by all of the urgent demands on their time will find in this book a lifeline to true peace.

--My thoughts. I will be adding this book to my shelves. I always love any books by Linda, and this one was no exception. The book says, praying your way to personal peace. It doesn't give anything that you can't really think of yourself, but get your bible out and get ready to dig in. One of my favorite things from this book, of many was, "the best way to develop a grateful heart is to learn how to walk in step with God."

There are areas for you to write down what you are learning and how God is speaking to you, journal areas basically and prayers if you can't think of your own, or to springboard yourself.

God be with you.



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The Daughter

The Daughter: A Novel by Jane Shemilt

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


How well do you really know those you love?

Jenny loves her three teenage children and her husband, Ted, a celebrated neurosurgeon. She loves the way that, as a family, they always know each other's problems and don't keep secrets from each other.

But when her youngest child, fifteen-year-old Naomi, doesn't come home after her school play and a nationwide search for her begins, secrets previously kept from Jenny are revealed.

Naomi has vanished, leaving her family broken and her mother desperately searching for answers. But the traces Naomi's left behind reveal a very different girl to the one Jenny thought she'd raised. And the more she looks the more she learns that everyone she trusted has been keeping secrets.

How well does she really know her sons, her husband? How well did she know Naomi? If Jenny is going to find her, she'll have to first uncover the truth about the daughter she thought told her everything.

--My thoughts. Okay, we all have thought this. I think anyway? So, what would you do? Secrets come out. Wow. This book is chalk full of them! This is such a mystery you go back and forth, did she run away or did something more sinister happen to Naomi?

One secret after another and then you think ahha maybe this is the secret that will unravel everything. We also have a bit of a love triangle and other stuff going on that will delight the reader. I can't believe this is her debut either! Talk about an excellent new author coming out!

What descriptions. One of my favorites were, "Mad fragments of words hit against the lining of my skull." Such imagery. This book really will make you think and you will be delighted you read it. The very last paragraph will have you!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.



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The Bookseller

The Bookseller by Cynthia Swanson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A provocative and hauntingly powerful debut novel reminiscent of Sliding Doors, The Bookseller follows a woman in the 1960s who must reconcile her reality with the tantalizing alternate world of her dreams

Nothing is as permanent as it appears . . .

Denver, 1962: Kitty Miller has come to terms with her unconventional single life. She loves the bookshop she runs with her best friend, Frieda, and enjoys complete control over her day-to-day existence. She can come and go as she pleases, answering to no one. There was a man once, a doctor named Kevin, but it didn’t quite work out the way Kitty had hoped.

Then the dreams begin.

Denver, 1963: Katharyn Andersson is married to Lars, the love of her life. They have beautiful children, an elegant home, and good friends. It's everything Kitty Miller once believed she wanted—but it only exists when she sleeps.

Convinced that these dreams are simply due to her overactive imagination, Kitty enjoys her nighttime forays into this alternate world. But with each visit, the more irresistibly real Katharyn’s life becomes. Can she choose which life she wants? If so, what is the cost of staying Kitty, or becoming Katharyn?

As the lines between her worlds begin to blur, Kitty must figure out what is real and what is imagined. And how do we know where that boundary lies in our own lives?

--My thoughts. We travel between past and present. What is real and what is imaginary? One cannot tell until the VERY end. At first it all seems so innocent, one life from the other. But as time goes on, it becomes more than that. Sad and heartbreaking, both lives.

Swanson did an excellent job mastering the job of teetering between both so carefully as to not have it become a distraction and keep us in suspense the whole time. I am a Denver native and I loved the nod to all the old places -- I have a hard time believing this is her debut!

If you are looking for a feel good book or a lighthearted book this is not it. This one simply is not one you can read on the beach and put down whenever! It begs to be read in one sitting! Enjoy.

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.



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Review: Sisters of Heart & Snow

Sisters of Heart and Snow by Margaret Dilloway

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The award-winning author of How to Be an American Housewife returns with a poignant story of estranged sisters, forced together by family tragedy, who soon learn that sisterhood knows no limits.

Rachel and Drew Snow may be sisters, but their lives have followed completely different paths.

Married to a wonderful man and a mother to two strong-minded teens, Rachel hasn’t returned to her childhood home since being kicked out by her strict father after an act of careless teenage rebellion. Drew, her younger sister, followed her passion for music but takes side jobs to make ends meet and longs for the stability that has always eluded her. Both sisters recall how close they were, but the distance between them seems more than they can bridge. When their deferential Japanese mother, Hikari, is diagnosed with dementia and gives Rachel power of attorney, Rachel’s domineering father, Killian becomes enraged.

In a rare moment of lucidity, Hikari asks Rachel for a book in her sewing room, and Rachel enlists her sister’s help in the search. The book—which tells the tale of real-life female samurai Tomoe Gozen, an epic saga of love, loss, and conflict during twelfth-century Japan—reveals truths about Drew and Rachel’s relationship that resonate across the centuries, connecting them in ways that turn their differences into assets.

--My thoughts. We have past and present of two sisters and then a warrior, Tomoe Gozen. I enjoyed learning about Tomoe and the history. As always, Dilloway did an excellent job with this, weaving the past and present so seamlessly, I couldn't get enough. I loved the sisters, Drew with her carelessness or so it seemed, and then responsible Rachel.

I love how Dilloway brings her own background in each time for stories. I am a huge fan, and each time she just gets better and better. This one is so amazing, I think each sister, and Tomoe came away knowing a bit more about themselves and maybe more about the past-- I love that moment in a book when you say ahah, that is what the title means.

Killian has such a dark presence in this book at times though you just want to shake him and the mother. What a time to live in. Brilliant, just fabulous beyond words. Must read!

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.



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Review: Before the Storm

Before the Storm by Steena Holmes

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Fans of Jodi Picoult and Elin Hilderbrand will fall in love with this new series that sets the stage for her upcoming novel, Stillwater Rising, from NY Times bestselling author Steena Holmes.

Before the first shots are fired within the walls of Stillwater Elementary School, life went on as normal for five women who were close friends. Their monthly girls' night was coming up and they couldn't wait to get together. They all needed this night to run away and be carefree - from their husbands, their children, their church - with no expectations, no responsibilities, where they weren't mothers or wives.

No one expected their lives to be torn apart, their friendships tested in one short minute when their town is rocked by a danger lurking in their tight-knit community. I can't wait to read more about Stillwater and all the inhabitants and find out how each come to terms with what is left of the devastation and violence and the decisions each one has made.

This novella gives you a glimpse into the town of Stillwater Bay and its residents. You will see what their lives were like BEFORE the storm that rocked their little community descended upon them.

This is a novella and comes before Stillwater Rising and a portion of proceeds from this novella will be donated to KidsPeace.org to help stop school violence.

--My thoughts. I love Stillwater even more after reading this one. I love each lady even more now, reading a little bit of background, setting it up. Having read Stillwater Rising first, and now Before the Storm second. Sigh, each lady is so good, I couldn't possibly pick a favorite now. Each lady is complicated and woven together so wonderfully I sigh with each page turned.

You will get the background on Gabriel, you will be sad when the last page comes, wanting more and it ended way too soon for me. This has no happy ending, as it doesn't in real life either. How can we not want to read this book and realize we can't hide from this? Also, this book is wonderful purchase, since the proceeds go towards kidspeace.org... happy reading!!!



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Review: Stillwater Rising

Stillwater Rising by Steena Holmes

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


After losing her son in an elementary school shooting that devastates the tight-knit community of Stillwater Bay, Jennifer Crowne finds herself unable to settle back into her role of perfect stay-at-home mom and committee organizer. Meanwhile, her best friend, Mayor Charlotte Stone, struggles to keep the town together, and Charlotte’s husband, the school principal, may not be the hero everyone thinks him to be.

As they try to heal from this irrevocable trauma, Jenn and Charlotte find themselves at a crossroads—within the town and within their friendship. For Jenn, broken and grieving, there is no going back, and she demands that the school be closed so that she can bury the past. Yet Charlotte is equally desperate to hold the town together, fighting the school closure and helping the shooter’s mother regain her place in the community. Jenn and Charlotte’s relationship is put to the ultimate test as each weighs her own interests against the bonds of their friendship.

-- My thoughts. Told in several different voices, we learn lots, and there is one sure mystery. This is a tragedy we have to deal with these days. It really makes you think about what would you do. Holmes does this in an excellent way, weaving a tale that makes you want more of Stillwater, more of its inhabitants, more of the small town and everything even if it is bad.

I can understand the anger Jennifer had towards Julia. I also understand the feeling that you look back and wonder what you could have done to stop it, seen signs. But we have to move on. I like when she goes to the beach and then sees the anger that Merrill's husband has. Charlotte is the mayor and she is just trying to be the glue and keep everyone together. I love the coffee shop, I hope it is included more...

Great storyline, Holmes is a fabulous storyteller and I think you will come to love Stillwater and it will end way too quickly and I can't wait for the next part!



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Review: The Dress Shop of Dreams

The Dress Shop of Dreams by Menna van Praag

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Since her parents’ mysterious deaths many years ago, scientist Cora Sparks has spent her days in the safety of her university lab or at her grandmother Etta’s dress shop. Tucked away on a winding Cambridge street, Etta’s charming tiny store appears quite ordinary to passersby, but the colorfully vibrant racks of beaded silks, delicate laces, and jewel-toned velvets hold bewitching secrets: With just a few stitches from Etta’s needle, these gorgeous gowns have the power to free a woman’s deepest desires.

Etta’s dearest wish is to work her magic on her granddaughter. Cora’s studious, unromantic eye has overlooked Walt, the shy bookseller who has been in love with her forever. Determined not to allow Cora to miss her chance at happiness, Etta sews a tiny stitch into Walt’s collar, hoping to give him the courage to confess his feelings to Cora. But magic spells—like true love—can go awry. After Walt is spurred into action, Etta realizes she’s set in motion a series of astonishing events that will transform Cora’s life in extraordinary and unexpected ways.

--My thoughts. Breathtaking. You have a main story going on here. Cora and Walt. Cora being a nerdy scientist who's parents died in a fire and Walt owns a bookstore and neither can see the forest for the trees. Then you have the grandmother, who owns the dress shop, and it does fantastic brilliant things when you come in. The music plays, so magical! I wish I had a grandma like Etta! The cakes, I drank some Maraschino cherry tea while reading this book, it went so fantastic with the chocolate cherry cakes they were eating!

Just the way Praag writes is so fantastic and out of this world, I can't get enough. You have lots of other characters, and there is a mystery, did Cora's parents really just die in the fire or were they possibly murdered? Grandmother Etta has her own secret too. Will Cora and Walt be able to make the love connection or does this world have other people for them? Each character you come to love, I can't say one is my favorite more than the other.

Read it today, let Praag put her spell on you!

I received a copy of this book electronically from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.



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Review: Mercy Snow

Mercy Snow by Tiffany Baker

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


In the tiny town of Titan Falls, New Hampshire, the paper mill dictates a quiet, steady rhythm of life. But one day a tragic bus accident sets two families on a course toward destruction, irrevocably altering the lives of everyone in their wake.

June McAllister is the wife of the local mill owner and undisputed first lady in town. But the Snow family, a group of itinerant ne'er-do-wells who live on a decrepit and cursed property, have brought her -- and the town -- nothing but grief.

June will do anything to cover up a dark secret she discovers after the crash, one that threatens to upend her picture-perfect life, even if it means driving the Snow family out of town. But she has never gone up against a force as fierce as the young Mercy Snow. Mercy is determined to protect her rebellious brother, whom the town blames for the accident, despite his innocence. And she has a secret of her own. When an old skeleton is discovered not far from the crash, it beckons Mercy to solve a mystery buried deep within the town's past.

--My thoughts. Everyone knows that the Snows are trouble. So when Mercy, her brother and her little sister show up in town and then the crash happens, it is only probably the thing to do to blame it on him right? But, I think there is more going on in Tital Falls than meets the eye. June is not a nice lady. She is a mitten hiding, briber and nasty woman in my opinion. I love this book! You can smell the mill on your clothes. I used to live close to a mill and it stinks, so I am very familiar with it. Tiffany is a master at storytelling and she did an excellent job with each character. I love Hazel too. Her and her sugar babies! You must read this book. Come join us at shereads.org as we read it this winter and our other books too!

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.



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Review: The Unveiled Wife

The Unveiled Wife: Embracing Intimacy with God and Your Husband by Jennifer Smith

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


As a young bride, Jennifer Smith couldn't wait to build her life with the man she adored. She dreamed of closeness, of being fully known and loved by her husband. But the first years of marriage were nothing like she'd imagined. Instead, they were marked by disappointment and pain, as Jennifer and her husband struggled to become physically intimate. Trapped by fear and insecurity, and feeling totally alone, Jennifer cried out to God: "What am I doing wrong? Why is this happening to us?" It was as if a veil had descended between her and her husband, and between her and God--one that kept her from experiencing the fullness of love.How did Jennifer and her husband survive the painful times? What did they do when they were tempted to call it quits? How did God miraculously step in during the darkest hour to rescue and redeem them, tearing down the veil once and for all? "The Unveiled Wife" is a real-life love story; one couple's refreshingly raw, transparent journey touching the deep places in a marriage that only God can reach. If you are feeling disappointment or even despair about your marriage, the heart-cry of this book is: "You are not alone." Discover through Jennifer's story how God can bring you through it all to a place of transformation.

--My thoughts. I have followed the Unveiled Wife and the Husband Revolution for a long time! A huge fan! I love how Jennifer can be so open and honest. This world needs more people like them! I really enjoyed how she was so open with us in this book. Each chapter is short, with questions and thoughts for you to really think about your own story and life.

I love how they have come to the place of being unveiled, but of course nobody has "arrived". If you can catch the trailer for this book, do. You will love it. I also highly recommend her first book, Wife After God. Lovely devotions. Jenn is just amazing woman of God and lovely lady in all!!! I highly recommend her blog too!

I received an ebook from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.



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Review: The Wednesday Group

The Wednesday Group by Sylvia True

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Gail. Hannah. Bridget. Lizzy. Flavia. Each of them has a shameful secret, and each is about to find out that she is not alone… Gail, a prominent Boston judge, keeps receiving letters from her husband’s latest girlfriend, while her husband, a theology professor, claims he’s nine-months sober from sex with grad students. Hannah, a homemaker, catches her husband having sex with a male prostitute in a public restroom. Bridget, a psychiatric nurse at a state hospital, is sure she has a loving, doting spouse, until she learns that he is addicted to chat rooms and match-making websites. Lizzy, a high school teacher, is married to a porn addict, who is withdrawn and uninterested in sex with her. Flavia was working at the Boston Public library when someone brought her an article that stated her husband had been arrested for groping a teenage girl on the subway. He must face court, and Flavia must decide if she wants to stay with him. Finally, Kathryn, the young psychologist running the group, has as much at stake as all of the others.

As the women share never-before-uttered secrets and bond over painful truths, they work on coming to terms with their husbands’ addictions and developing healthy boundaries for themselves. Meanwhile, their outside lives become more and more intertwined, until, finally, a series of events forces each woman to face her own denial, betrayal and uncertain future head-on.

From author Sylvia True comes The Wednesday Group, a captivating, moving novel about friendship, marriage, and the bonds that connect us all.

--My thoughts. Well, all the ladies were super interesting. Some I loved better than others. Of course I am sure we all thought that. They all grew on me, don't get me wrong! Gail, at first she drives you nuts. But by the end, you love her! This isn't a happy go lucky story, by any means. But it is life. If you think this book is really about sex addiction, it isn't. It is about being there for friends, and really what choices these ladies are going to make for themselves.

Hard to believe this is Sylvia's first book. She did a fantastic job! You have clearly a book that will stick with you for awhile. Even the cover is outstanding! I was kind of bummed that a couple of the ladies stories ended soon, hence the four stars. and it was just kind of left hanging. That is a book for you I guess but for me, I am like, no way! So, I am very glad that I read it. I look forward to seeing more, this is an author that you want to keep an eye on. I can't wait to see what she will be up to in the future!

This book will be excellent discussion in groups, seeing what other ladies think, because we all probably have views about what they should have done. In reality though, it isn't that easy. Life is messy. I think my favorite is Hannah, and maybe it was just because we got to know her the most. Maybe True will do more books about these ladies. I don't know. I am excited to see what she does next!



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Review: The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy

The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy by Rachel Joyce

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


When Queenie Hennessy discovers that Harold Fry is walking the length of England to save her, and all she has to do is wait, she is shocked. Her note had explained she was dying. How can she wait?

A new volunteer at the hospice suggests that Queenie should write again; only this time she must tell Harold everything. In confessing to secrets she has hidden for twenty years, she will find atonement for the past. As the volunteer points out, 'Even though you've done your travelling, you're starting a new journey too.'

Queenie thought her first letter would be the end of the story. She was wrong. It was the beginning.

--My thoughts. Well I didn't read the first book. I probably should have so I had a bit of a background to go from. I did enjoy this book. That being said, Queenie is quite the character! I loved every single person in this book. All the dying people at the hospice are dear. We go back and forth from past to present to find out exactly why Queenie was running away from Harold Fry, while she is waiting for him, in her last days.

I was holding my breath, wondering if he would really show, and I thought it was really sweet how everyone was waiting with her, putting up maps of his journey. Queenie is in love with Harold Fry, but Harold doesn't know it. Harold is married. But Queenie shows her love by thinking she is taking care of his son, David, who is a bit of a wild child. But it backfires on her. A sad story really.

I gave it four stars because the end just left me kind of like, that is it? That is all you have for me? I couldn't believe it ended so flat. I did enjoy all the descriptions of her sea garden, and her life there. That was so beautiful, made me want to build one of my own! This book is worth reading, I promise you that!



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Review: The Secrets of Midwives

The Secrets of Midwives by Sally Hepworth

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A novel about three generations of midwives (a woman, her mother, and her grandmother) and the secrets they keep that push them apart and ultimately bind them together

THE SECRETS OF MIDWIVES tells the story of three generations of women devoted to delivering new life into the world—and the secrets they keep that threaten to change their own lives forever. Neva Bradley, a third-generation midwife, is determined to keep the details surrounding her own pregnancy—including the identity of the baby’s father— hidden from her family and co-workers for as long as possible. Her mother, Grace, finds it impossible to let this secret rest. For Floss, Neva’s grandmother and a retired midwife, Neva’s situation thrusts her back 60 years in time to a secret that eerily mirrors her granddaughter’s—a secret which, if revealed, will have life-changing consequences for them all. Will these women reveal their secrets and deal with the inevitable consequences? Or are some secrets best kept hidden.

--My thoughts. Told in 3 different voices, granddaughter, grandmother and mother. Neva has a secret, that gets told at the beginning. She is pregnant. Won't tell who the dad is. She likes Patrick though. So, he begs, can they just date and say he is the dad? Sure! Grace, who is Neva's mom, but Neva just calls her Grace, is a midwife but believes you should do it at home, where Neva does it at a hospital, Grace is a bit more free. And then there is grandma, whom has a secret herself. No one, even her lover, Lil knows.

You know secrets will come out.. You will find out who the dad is, and will Patrick want to stick around? What is Floss's secret? I love all three ladies and the love between Patrick and Neva is adorable! This book can be finished in just a couple of hours so you will find it just pure pleasure I promise! Highly recommend! Especially the midwifery, I think in today's world, it is just so interesting!



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Review: The Good Girl

The Good Girl by Mary Kubica

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


"I've been following her for the past few days. I know where she buys her groceries, where she has her dry cleaning done, where she works. I don't know the color of her eyes or what they look like when she's scared. But I will."

Born to a prominent Chicago judge and his stifled socialite wife, Mia Dennett moves against the grain as a young inner-city art teacher. One night, Mia enters a bar to meet her on-again, off-again boyfriend. But when he doesn't show, she unwisely leaves with an enigmatic stranger. With his smooth moves and modest wit, at first Colin Thatcher seems like a safe one-night stand. But following Colin home will turn out to be the worst mistake of Mia's life.

Colin's job was to abduct Mia as part of a wild extortion plot and deliver her to his employers. But the plan takes an unexpected turn when Colin suddenly decides to hide Mia in a secluded cabin in rural Minnesota, evading the police and his deadly superiors. Mia's mother, Eve, and detective Gabe Hoffman will stop at nothing to find them, but no one could have predicted the emotional entanglements that eventually cause this family's world to shatter.

An addictively suspenseful and tautly written thriller, The Good Girl is a compulsive debut that reveals how even in the perfect family, nothing is as it seems….

--My thoughts. What just happened? It has taken me a few days to process this book. Talk about knocking my socks off. I had to put it down a few times, I couldn't believe what was happening. Told between several different people, past and present.. it isn't that hard to follow though. I LOVED this book. I highly recommend it. Very suspenseful. Colin is supposed to kidnap Mia. He doesn't know why, he just is suppose to. But he doesn't He can't see them hurting her. He needs the money bad, but he ends up taking her to a cabin that his dad used to take him to.

Lots of twists and turns in this book. Things you will NOT expect! Colin isn't what you expect him to be, and other people too. Things aren't always what you think, and people don't always appear to be who you would think they are. If you are looking for a nice, happy beach read, this will not be your book.

I think this book will be a HUGE hit this year. I tell every single person I know about this book and I can't wait to see it at the top of every chart!

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion as a part of she reads. Come join in the discussion at www.shereads.org --



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Review: The Magician's Lie

The Magician's Lie by Greer Macallister

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Water for Elephants meets The Night Circus in The Magician’s Lie, a debut novel in which the country’s most notorious female illusionist stands accused of her husband's murder --and she has only one night to convince a small-town policeman of her innocence.

The Amazing Arden is the most famous female illusionist of her day, renowned for her notorious trick of sawing a man in half on stage. One night in Waterloo, Iowa, with young policeman Virgil Holt watching from the audience, she swaps her trademark saw for a fire ax. Is it a new version of the illusion, or an all-too-real murder? When Arden’s husband is found lifeless beneath the stage later that night, the answer seems clear.

But when Virgil happens upon the fleeing magician and takes her into custody, she has a very different story to tell. Even handcuffed and alone, Arden is far from powerless—and what she reveals is as unbelievable as it is spellbinding. Over the course of one eerie night, Virgil must decide whether to turn Arden in or set her free… and it will take all he has to see through the smoke and mirrors.

--My thoughts. This book is spell binding. I was held captive until the last word. The Amazing Arden, did she kill her husband, saw him in half and leave him in that box? I didn't know. The perfect crime. Who was it really? I hated Ray from the moment we met him. We go back and forth from past to present, until we get to the very moment to who is in the box...I loved her and Clyde together, but I kept wavering back and forth. Macallister really did a fantastic job of keeping you in suspense about who it is! I sat on the edge of my seat a good portion of the book and I couldn't put it down.

You have it all in this book, a love story, mystery, passion, and evil. I think even though Ada is central to the story, I wanted to know more about Holt and sometimes Adelaine. I enjoyed this story so much, I recommend it to everyone!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion as a part of She Reads. Check them out and join in the discussion at www.shereads.org --



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Review: Choosing Him All Over Again

Choosing Him All Over Again: A Story of Romance and Redemption by Juana Mikels

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


She has everything that is supposed to make a young woman happy: handsome husband, dream job, new home, great vacations, fun friends, and plenty of money.
But she isn't happy.

Leaving husband, house, and friends behind, Juana begins her search for peace and happiness in earnest. Mistakenly, she thinks all she needs is "Mr. Right," but instead, Juana finds Jesus and the peace she has always longed for.

As she grows in her faith and her desire to please God, God rekindles in her heart a longing to be reconciled to her husband. However, the tables are now turned her husband doesn't want Juana back.

Juana learns how to let go and trust God, to let Him go to work and do what seems like the impossible . . . but will her marriage be restored?

My thoughts - I could here Juana speaking throughout this whole book. It is amazing how God uses Juana's story for all of us. No matter where you are at in your marriage, I know it is going to be a blessing because it is an amazing story of redemption, mercy, grace and God's redeeming love.

I had to stop and put it down and thank God for His love. Wow, Juana really bared it all and I thank her for sharing it. It is hard to open yourself up so the whole world can see your story I am sure. This book is one to add to my shelf to come back to again and again.

I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion.



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Review: Keep It Shut

Keep It Shut: What to Say, How to Say It, and When to Say Nothing at All by Karen Ehman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Keep It Shutby Karen Ehman explores how to better control your tongue, knowing what to say and how to say it, and realizing when it is best to say nothing at all.

From Bible times to modern times women have struggled with their words. What to say and how to say it. What not to say. When it is best to remain silent. And what to do when you ve said something you wish you could now take back. In this book a woman whose mouth has gotten her into loads of trouble shares the hows (and how-not-tos) of dealing with the tongue.

Beyond just a how not to gossip book, this book explores what the Bible says about the many ways we are to use our words and the times when we are to remain silent. Karen will cover using our speech to interact with friends, co-workers, family, and strangers as well as in the many places we use our words in private, in public, online, and in prayer. Even the words we say silently to ourselves. She will address unsolicited opinion-slinging, speaking the truth in love, not saying words just to people-please, and dealing with our verbal anger.

Christian women struggle with their mouths. Even though we know that Scripture has much to say about how we are and are not to use our words, this is still an immense issue, causing heartache and strain not only in family relationships, but also in friendships, work, and church settings."

My thoughts -- I wish I could list every thought, every quote, but that would be the whole book, and we don't have the space or time, and you have to pick up the book! But, a few of my favorites.

Our words are powerful, and they have consequences. Our words are like sparks. -- A survey through the Bible reveals that God places great importance on the way we use our speech. Proverbs 18:21 The Bible says that life and death are in the power of the tongue. The mouth speaks what the heart has stored. On and on we could go. So many good things in our Bible and in this book to really dig into and Karen backs it up with verses from the Bible.

I adore Karen. I think she really secretly is watching me and knows my every thought. I always will remember her little skit about what hat we should put on every morning to make our days easier and every lesson I hear from her just is a blessing. She is the one I feel God speaking through the most, and just really, I adore her! I thank God every day for someone like her to really just teach us His word and use her!

I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion! I was not influenced in any way.



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Review: Saving Grace

Grace and Ted Chapman are widely regarded as the perfect literary power couple. Ted is a successful novelist and Grace, his wife of twenty years, is beautiful, stylish, carefree, and a wonderful homemaker. But what no one sees, what is churning under the surface, is Ted’s rages. His mood swings. And the precarious house of cards that their lifestyle is built upon. When Ted’s longtime assistant and mainstay leaves, the house of cards begins to crumble and Grace, with dark secrets in her past, is most vulnerable. She finds herself in need of help but with no one to turn to…until the perfect new assistant shows up out of the blue. To the rescue comes Beth, a competent young woman who can handle Ted and has the calm efficiency to weather the storms that threaten to engulf the Chapman household. Soon, though, it’s clear to Grace that Beth might be too good to be true. This new interloper might be the biggest threat of all, one that could cost Grace her marriage, her reputation, and even her sanity. With everything at stake and no one to confide in, Grace must find a way to save herself before it is too late.

Powerful and riveting, Jane Green's Saving Grace will have you on the edge of your seat as you follow Grace on her harrowing journey to rock bottom and back.

My thoughts. -- This was my first Jane Green book. It won't be my last though. Grace, or Gracie by those that know her best. It starts off, Grace is coming home, and isn't sure what kind of mood her author husband, Ted, is going to be in. He is a hot-head. Not your just run-of-the-mill hot-head. Throwing things, nutso hot-head. She is terrified of him. It goes back to her mother, her mother it turns out was diagnosed bi-polar and so she relives it every time Ted throws one of his fits.

Grace has it pretty good, but their assistant Ellen is going to take care of her mother and they should probably find a new one, one suddenly appears. Like sent from heaven, or so it seems, at first. Beth seems plain, but she seems very efficient and capable of doing a lot of tasks, and more than they required of her.

Then things start happening. I am not going to say anymore, but I couldn't put the book down, I read it in a matter of a couple hours. Jane writes with such passion and the bi-polar aspect really was amazing. I loved the love aspect. I was yelling through the last third of the book, begging her. Well mum is the word. I won't say more, but please, please do yourself a favor and read it. You won't regret it!

I received this book from a contest, in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: Season to Taste

Season to Taste by Natalie Young

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


A startling debut about the extraordinary end of a marriage and its very strange aftermath.

Meet Lizzie Prain. She is an ordinary housewife and lives with her lovely dog and her husband, who is a bit of a difficult fellow, in a quiet cottage in British country side. She's a wonderful cook. She enjoys her garden. And, occasionally, she makes cakes for the village parties.

No one has seen Lizzie's husband, Jacob, for a few days. That's because last Monday and Lizzie snapped and cracked him on the head with her garden shovel. No one quite misses Jacob though, and Lizzie surely didn't kill him on purpose. And now that she has the chance to live beyond his shadow, she won't neglect her good fortune. Over the course of the following month, with a body to get rid of and few fail-proof options at hand, Lizzie will channel her most practical instincts and do what she does best: she'll cook Jacob, and she'll eat him. But when Lizzie inadvertently befriends an isolated misfit, she will be tested: Will Lizzie turn to this new person for solace and abandon her desperate plan or will her new friend be an unwitting accessory to her crime?

Dark, unexpectedly funny, and achingly human, Season to Taste is a deliciously subversive treat. In Lizzie Prain, Natalie Young has created one of the most remarkable and surprising heroines in fiction.

--My thoughts. Well. What do you say when someone kills their husband and eats them. Wow. At first I wanted to see if it got better or why she really killed him. He might have had an affair. Was the other lady classier than her? I think I really was like in awe when she was eating the toes and stuff. The thigh.. yikes.

I was hoping something really crazy would happen but it just ended ho hum and that is why I gave it three stars. Lizzie was bizarre. I don't know how I felt but it was weird. She should have gotten better with cooking him.

I received this book from the goodreads first read program in exchange for my honest opinion.



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