Book Review: Twilight at Blueberry Barrens by Colleen Coble

I have read many of Colleen Coble’s Christian romance novels, but she truly shines when she writes suspense.  The Sunset Cove series has been creepy and twisted from the very beginning, but reaches new heights in the latest book, Twilight at Blueberry Barrens.  I love Ms. Coble’s writing style.  She doesn’t shy away from topics that are generally taboo in religious fiction.  That’s certainly the case here.

Kate Mason was sick and about to die when she found her long-lost twin, Claire.  Claire gave Kate her bone marrow and she’s healthy now, and maybe ready for some changes in her life.  Her mother and uncle are both in prison, and she’s looking for a fresh start.  Her families’ blueberry barrens aren’t doing well, so she decides to fix up her mother’s old house and rent it out for the summer.  Drake Newham has had custody of his two nieces since his brother and sister-in-law were killed a few months earlier.  When someone breaks into his Boston home, he decides to take the girls to Sunset Cove for a visit.  He hopes to be able to investigate his brother’s death more thoroughly while he’s there.  He rents Kate’s cottage, and also hires her to be his nieces’ nanny for the summer.  The two begin to develop feelings for one another, but someone doesn’t want that to happen.  Someone is peeping at women, and leaving scary messages for Claire and following Kate. When Kate’s uncle escapes from prison, he is the likely suspect.  But there is something more sinister lurking.  Is the person who killed Drake’s brother connected to Kate’s stalker?  Is Kate’s uncle responsible for breaking into Kate’s house?  When Kate is in danger, will Drake and Luke find her in time?

As someone who has read most of Ms. Coble’s suspense novels, I figured out very early on who the stalker was, but there was enough mystery and suspense left that I still loved this book.  I read it in less than a day, and absolutely could not put it down.  While I figured out the stalker, I could not guess who killed Heath and Melissa, and the answer did surprise me.  I also enjoyed the romance that developed between Kate and Drake, and her decision to be brave and give herself a chance to live.  It’s obvious that she had a lot of pain and heartache in her life, and was emotionally abused by her guilt-ridden mother.  It was great to see her begin to put all of that behind her and learn to live her own life. 

I loved the characters in this book.  I like that the author has further developed the relationship between Kate and Claire, showing how great it is that they found each other, but also some of the difficulties that arise in such situations.  I loved that Luke was so supportive of his new wife and her twin.  Kate is such a great character, too.  I loved when she took the iPads from the girls at the dinner before Drake had even hired her.  She was so feisty and pulled no punches with Drake or the girls.  I also loved the cameo appearance by a character from Denise Hunter’s Summer Harbor series, which is another of my favorites!

I LOVE this book, but also this whole series.  You will need to read the first two Sunset Cove books before this one to really understand the story.  Trust me, it’s worth your time to read them all!

Happy reading!

Lyndsie

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for this review.  All opinions are my own.  Look for Twilight at Blueberry Barrens at your favorite bookseller on or around September 2o, 2016.    

Book Review: Just a Kiss by Denise Hunter

I have only recently started reading Denise Hunter’s books, and I quickly became a fan.  If you haven’t read any of her sweet romance novels, you’re missing out!  After finishing The Goodbye Bride I couldn’t wait for the next book in the series to come out!  Just a Kiss is every bit as good as its predecessor. 

Riley and Paige have been best friends most of their lives, but Riley has a secret.  He’s been in love with Paige since the summer they were seventeen.  When she started dating his brother, Beau, Riley was so heartbroken, he joined the Marines and was deployed to Afghanistan.  When Paige and Beau broke up, Riley was determined to come home and win her heart.  He didn’t count on the IED that would leave him emotionally and physically scarred.  While Paige is determined to help Riley, every minute he spends with her is torture, especially when she’s going out with her new boyfriend.  But when Paige’s feelings begin to change, too, Riley will discover that her love isn’t the only thing he needs to make him whole. 

The storyline of a girl and boy who are best friends and fall in love isn’t exactly new or original, but Ms. Hunter makes it work in her trademark way.  I like that her stories always make it look like it’s going to work out, then it’s not, then it is again.  The Callahan brothers are simply dreamy, and I think a girl could easily fall in love with any one of them.  I did find it a little strange that so many of the characters in this novel set in Maine seem to have southern names—like Beau.  But these characters are so loveable that doesn’t bother me much. 

I have a few Denise Hunter books in my Kindle library that I now MUST go back and read.  I think I’ll start with The Conveniet Groom since it was recently made into a movie on Hallmark.  After that I definitely need to read about Beau and Eden.  Anyone have a suggestion for others that I should read?  Leave me a comment letting me know if you have a favorite!

Happy Reading!

Lyndsie

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my review.  All opinions are my own, and a favorable review was not required.  Look for Just a Kiss on or around September 6.    

Book Review: The Wedding Shop by Rachel Hauck

If you have read very many reviews on this blog, you know that I am a huge fan of Rachel Hauck.  In my opinion she has never written a bad book.  I loved The wedding Dress, I loved The Wedding Chapel, and now comes The Wedding Shop.  Can you guess how I feel about it?  Ms. Hauck is a master at telling multiple stories at one time, and somehow weaving them together into one incredible book.  This latest “wedding” book is no exception.

Miss Cora is the owner of the wedding shop in Heart’s Bend, Tennessee, in the 1930s.  She spends her days making other women’s dreams come true, while her own seem to be on hold.  She’s met the man of her dreams in Rufus, a riverboat captain who’s building his fortune.  He promises that one day he’s coming to marry her, but the day never seems to arrive.  Cora may miss out on true love while holding on to the broken promises of a more dashing suitor.  In the present day, Haley has served out her term in the military, and has returned home to Heart’s Bend to start a new life.  She doesn’t have a clue what she wants to do, but a promise to her childhood best friend to reopen the old wedding shop keeps ringing in her mind.  Even though everything seems to be against her, Haley is determined to open the shop and turn it into a success.  After a previous heartbreak, she isn’t looking for love, but her friend’s ex-fiance is working to change her mind.

Two women separated by years of time, but both looking for a way to make the impossible happen.  The Wedding Shop will have you wishing you could walk down the grand staircase in the dress of your dreams to where Miss Cora is waiting at the bottom with a glass of lemonade!  This feel-good read reminds us what it’s like to have a dream come true—even if it’s not the way we expect!  It’s a must-read for fans of Rachel Hauck and Denise Hunter.  I think you’ll love it!

Happy Readingj!

Lyndsie

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for this review.  All opinions are my own and a favorable review was not required.  Look for The Wedding Shop on or around August 16 or pre-order today!      

Book Review: They Danced On by Carre Armstrong Gardner

Have you ever come to the end of a book or a series and felt like you were saying goodbye to a friend?  That’s how I felt when I realized that They Danced On is the final book in The Darling Family series.  This has been one of my favorite series of all time, and I eagerly waited for the release of each new book.  It’s hard even to describe why the Darling family is so appealing.  These books aren’t full of mystery, suspense or even romance.  They’re basically just the tale of a family. They love each other, but are far from perfect.  Throughout the series we’ve seen them struggle, fight, fall in love, deal with disappointment and heartache, and ultimately triumph with the care and support of each other.  They Danced On brings the story full circle as they face their hardest battles yet.

Jane Darling is the matriarch of this big, crazy family and she has loved Leander for most of her life.  When he faces a serious illness, Jane can only cling to faith that he will be miraculously healed.  But her denial his condition only hurts Leander.  It takes all of her children working together (and perhaps a little Divine Intervention) to help her see that her husband needs her support now more than ever.  Meanwhile, Laura is fighting her own battles in her new home in Arizona.  She went there for a fresh start after dealing with substance abuse, but when her new life begins to crumble, Laura has no one to turn to, and her old addictions come calling again.  Only a tragedy will bring her to her knees.  Nick and Ivy are also having problems with their adopted son, Hammer, and some new anger issues that have arisen with him.  Amy and Mitch are slowly building a friendship until the day he’s been one-year sober and they can begin dating.  Justice and Sephy are happily serving in Africa as a veterinarian and a nurse/midwife, but they have trials of their own ahead, too.  The Darlings will face all of these problems head-on with the same courage and determination that they’ve always had—and with the love and support of family.

While I hate to see this series end, I think this book was the perfect way to complete the Darlings’ story.  And even though we thought some of the characters got their happy ending in the precious books, they aren’t finished yet.  Real life doesn’t always have happy endings, and some of the Darlings will find that out.  I guess that’s part of the appeal of this series.  The Darling family could be your family, or your neighbors, or people from your church.  None of them are perfect, but they’re always there for each other.

This book has a lot of happy and sad moments, and even some heartbreaking ones.  The epilogue is literally one of the best endings I’ve ever read.  I actually closed the book and cried.  The only negative thing I can say is that I wish this book had more of Sephy, since she’s my favorite character, but that’s just personal preference, and not a true negative.  I dare you to read The Darling Family series and not fall in love with their family.  However, definitely don’t start here!  You absolutely MUST begin with All Right Here and Better All the Time.  Fortunately for me, I love the cover art on all of these books, so they earned a place on my physical shelf instead of the digital one!

Even though The Darling Family has ended, I truly hope that Carre Armstrong Gardner will write many more books in the future.  I plan to read them all!  I love her style, and how she writes about every day, ordinary things in a way that makes them seem extraordinary. I highly recommend this wonderful series.

Happy reading!

Lyndsie

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for this review.  All opinions are my own and a favorable review was not required.     

Book Review: If I Run by Terri Blackstock

Can a book written by a best-selling Christian author that begins with a girl covered in blood running from a murder scene be anything but wonderful?  When that book is If I Run by Terri Blackstock, the answer is, “NO!”  You may be tired of hearing me say how great all the books I’ve been reading this year are, but I promise you, I have read some of the best fiction I’ve ever read in just the past couple months.  Terri Blakcstock has written some incredible suspense novels in the past.  Those that top my list are Predator, The Last Light Series, Downfall, Double Minds and Covenant Child—just to name a few!  I will definitely be adding If I Run to that list.

Casey Cox is running away from her friend Brent’s murdered body.  She’s covered in blood, and she knows her DNA and fingerprints are all over the scene.  She also knows that if she’s caught, she will not be able to prove her innocence, if she’s even given the chance.  She goes to her apartment and packs a few things in a bag, takes all of her savings, and runs away.  She begins a new life for herself, determined to find enough evidence to find Brent’s killer—and the people who murdered her father thirteen years ago.  Brent’s isn’t the first body that Casey has discovered.  When she was only twelve years old, she found her father hanging from the ceiling fan in their living room.  Her family isn’t convinced it was suicide, but the local police ignored all evidence to the contrary.  Brent was trying to help her find the truth, and he paid the ultimate price.  Brent’s family is determined find Casey, so they hire an old family friend to chase her.  Dylan Roberts is a retired CID officer, struggling with demons of his own.  As he digs into Casey’s past, he can’t seem to reconcile the friendly, outgoing girl with the one the police say brutally murdered a friend.  As he follows Casey across the country, he realizes that he must first find out the truth about Casey’s father before he can find the truth about Brent. 

If you’re looking for a good read that will have you biting your nails before you reach the end, this is it!  I literally could not stop reading this.  Casey is a compelling character, and you will really feel like you know her.  Her friendly personality and helpful nature get her in trouble along the way.  I found myself begging her not to help every needy person she met, but her kindness got the best of her.  She definitely made some wrong choices, and these nearly led to her capture several times, but she decided that saving others was more important than saving herself.  Dylan’s battles with PTSD and his determination to find the truth about his friend’s death are another highlight of this novel.  His struggles are real, and at times heartbreaking.  As his research begins to reveal a sinister plot, he isn’t sure that he can trust his instincts, and he’s no longer sure what’s real.  He prays for God’s will and guidance, while Casey, who isn’t a Christian, is learning that there is a God, Who does hear and answer prayers.

I can’t recommend this book highly enough.  Murder, dirty cops, intrigue and deception combine for a fast-paced thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat.  I was shocked when I turned a (digital) page and realized it was over!  I don’t know how I will wait until Ms. Blackstock writes the next book in this series.  I laid awake half the night just thinking over it all again.  I promise you that If I Run belongs on your “best books ever” shelf, too!

Happy Reading!

Lyndsie

I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for this review.  All opinions are my own, and a favorable review was not required.  Look for If I Run on sale on or around February 16.

The Newsmakers--A 2016 Must-Read

I’m really excited about this first book in my “2016 Must-Read” series.  Lis Wiehl is a favorite author of mine, and I felt that her background in law made her Mia Quinn series a cut above many others in the mystery genre.  In the same way, I feel that her experience as a Fox News contributor has made this new book something special, too.  The Newsmakers is written in the same vein as the Mia Quinn novels, except it explores crimes from a media point of view rather than legal.

Erica Sparks has just landed her dream job with a major news network.  She has moved to New York City, leaving her eight-year-old daughter behind.  Her dream is to make it big, and bring Jenny to live with her.  She lands a major story her first day on the job, and while setting up to interview Duchess Catherine, she witnesses a terrible tragedy, and catches it on film.  It’s just the break she needs for her career to take off.  But the more she investigates the incident, the more suspicious she becomes.  Only a few weeks later she is interviewing another important figure, when a second tragedy occurs.  Now she’s convinced that something more sinister is going on.  She asks a colleague to help with her investigation, and he’s attacked and nearly killed.  Erica realizes that her life is in danger, and as she delves deeper into the investigation, she begins to fear for her daughter’s life as well.  She can’t deny the feelings developing between her and her producer, Greg, but she has no idea who is involved in the conspiracy, and is afraid to trust him.  In a spine-tingling finish, Erica must expose a murderous plot to save not only her life, but many others in the midst of a terrible hurricane. 

Why it’s a must-read:

This book is great on so many levels. Ms. Wiehl writes realistic characters that readers can relate to.  Erica is far from perfect, and she’ trying to hold it all together, and leave her mistakes in her past.  She hopes to rebuild her daughter’s trust in her and make a new life for them.  I like that she isn’t portrayed as a perfect woman who has it all together!  The portrayal of the owner of the new TV station is spot-on as well.  So many young geniuses are making it rich and starting dream companies these days, and here’s one who will stop at nothing to get what he wants.  And of course every book needs a dashing love interest like Greg to make things interesting!

In addition to the wonderful characters, this book has as awesome plotline.  The story builds to a climax that will truly leave you on the edge of your seat.  You’ll be biting your nails along with Erica while trying to figure out who is behind all the terrible things that are happening, and how many of her new “friends” are involved. 

In true Lis Wiehl fashion, this book is meticulously researched and well-developed.  This book is on my must-read list because I feel that it will be enjoyable to lovers of many different genres.  It is action-packed and exciting, but has no language or scenes that I found offensive.  It’s a clean read, but won’t leave you with that feeling that something is missing like many Christian thrillers. 

The final scene of this book seems to indicate that a sequel is forthcoming, and I can only hope it’s true!  If you’ve never read Lis Wiehl’s books before, this is the place to start!  You won’t be disappointed!

Happy Reading!

Lyndsie 

I received an advance galley of this book in exchange for this review.  All opinions are my own and a favorable review was not required.  Look for The Newsmakers on or around January 5, 2016.

Book Review: The Wedding Chapel by Rachel Hauck

Sometimes when I hear that a certain author has written a new book, I know that I must read it as soon as possible, and that I must recommend it to all of my friends.  Rachel Hauck is that kind of author, and The Wedding Chapel is that kind of book.  I have read many of Ms. Hauck’s books in the past, and have never been disappointed.  My book wishlist is full of every book of hers that I have not read yet.  Suffice it to say, I am a fan.  Her stories are full of lovable and unusual characters.  Most of her books seem to be about second chances for love, and not only between a man and a woman, but sometimes between mothers and daughters, sons and fathers and siblings.  I read The Wedding Dress a while back and loved it, so when I saw that The Wedding Chapel was written in the same vein, I knew it would be great.  

The Wedding Chapel centers around Jimmy Westbrook and the girl he loves, Collette Greer, in the late 40s and early 50s.  Jimmy loved Collette from the moment he first saw her face in a picture.  He wooed her and won her love, building a lovely wedding chapel where he planned to marry her when he returned from Korea.  However, Collette ended their relationship, left town and Jimmy never saw her again. 

Fast forward sixty years.  Collette is a famous soap opera actress on the verge of retirement.  She’s been asked to write her memoirs, and she’s decided to reveal all of the secrets that she’s held inside so long.  Collette has remained estranged from her family, but when she connects with her niece, Taylor, she learns that Jimmy is planning to sell the wedding chapel.  In her heart, Collette knows what she must do to make things right.

Taylor is having problems of her own.  She eloped with the handsome Jack Forrester after dating him only a few months.  Now she’s unsure if he still loves her.  Jack does love Taylor, but he’s suffered so much pain and rejection in his life, he doesn’t know how to tell her.  The two of them have a lot to learn, and Jimmy, Collette and their wedding chapel may be just what they need to help them figure it all out. 

Rachel Hauck is a master of writing from different points of view, and even different time periods.  The narrative alternates between Jimmy, Collette, Jack and Taylor, and jumps between the 1950s and the present day.  But it’s never confusing or overwhelming, and reveals just enough of the story as is needed.    

This story was absolutely beautiful, and left me in tears.  It is a story about misunderstandings and mistakes, pain and sorrow, but ultimately, second chances and forgiveness.  I enjoyed it from the very first page, all the way to the end.  I recommend that you run, don’t walk (or type very quickly) to your favorite bookseller to buy this book.  It is in my opinion Rachel Hauck’s best book to date, guaranteed to sell like hotcakes, and you don’t want to miss it!

 

Happy Reading!

Lyndsie

 

 

I was given an advance copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for this review.  All opinions are my own, and a favorable review was not required.  Look for The Wedding Chapel on or around November 17.

Book Review: The Bronte Plot by Katherine Reay

Sometimes you come upon an author that you just love.  Katherine Reay is one of those authors for me.  I fell in love with her writing when I read her very first novel almost two years ago.  I love to read classic literature, (the Bronte sisters, Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, etc.) and I love that she writes about some of my favorite stories in new and interesting ways.  When I read her first novel, Dear Mr. Knightley, I expected a retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma, and was pleasantly surprised to find that it was not.  Ms. Reay writes stories that don’t mirror those they are named after in any way, but instead incorporates them into new plots and draws on the lessons learned in them.  Her first book was followed with a novel about two sisters, Lizzy and Jane, which is still my favorite to date.  But the excellence continues in her third book, The Bronte Plot, which will not disappoint  fans of Charlotte, Emily and Anne Bronte. 

Lucy Alling is the main character in this story about family ties and honesty.  She is employed by one of the most popular interior designers in Chicago.  Sid does the decorating, and Lucy runs the office and minds the gallery in his absence.  She loves the antiques and the history that surround her, but the best part for Lucy is the books.  Every Wednesday she spends the entire day with the rare and collectible books in the shop, taking special care of them.  It is through these books that she meets James, and falls in love with him.  But Lucy has a terrible secret, and when James discovers it, their relationship is shattered.  When James tells his family about Lucy’s deception, they are all angry at her, except his grandmother, Helen.  She invites Lucy to go on a trip with her to England.  Although she is confused, and James and his family are totally against the plan, she decides to go.  She learns some valuable lessons along the way to finding out if you truly must look back to move forward.

Ms. Reay writes wonderfully twisted plots.  Situations in her characters’ lives are never black and white, but fall into that indeterminable gray area.  While Lucy’s decisions would not be my own, I can see how she arrived at them, and I can also understand James’ anger over them.  I can definitely understand her desire to figure out if she can break the mold of her family’s less-than-upstanding past.  I admire her determination to make everything right, even if it costs her everything she holds dear.  Once more, Ms. Reay mirrors real life, as her story takes Lucy down a difficult path, that doesn’t necessarily end with a “happily ever after,” but with a better, more fulfilled life then she had before.  This isn’t really a love story, but there is a little romance woven in along the way. 

One of my favorite things about Katherine Reay’s writing is her characters’ love for literature.  While I do love to read, I can’t spout off obscure lines from Austen, Dickens and other classical writers at the drop of a hat. I enjoy reading about people who can though.  Now that I’ve followed Lucy’s adventures through literary sites in England, I’m anxious to go there myself someday.  I’ve also added a few “new” books to my “want to read” list.  This book is obviously well-researched and written with great attention to detail.  It's very evident in the beautiful scenery she describes and the completeness of her characters. 

If you haven’t read any of Katherine Reay’s books yet, I highly encourage you to do it now!  I think you’ll be like me and find a new favorite.  You’ll discover interesting stories, with characters and plots that will really make you think, and probably look at your life a little differently.  And you’ll get a new appreciation for the writers and fiction of the past.

Happy Reading!

Lyndsie

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for this review.  All opinions are my own and a favorable review was not required.  Look for your copy of The Bronte Plot on or around November 3, 2015.

    

    

Book Review: Love in the Details by Becky Wade

On the journey towards my goal of reading 115 books this year, I have found that sometimes nothing hits the spot quite like a novella.  The thing about novellas is that sometimes they can be a bit disappointing.  I’ve struggled through some less-than-stellar novellas in the past, and even given some up altogether.  Since they are often written by young, or new authors, they can sometimes miss some of the points of really good stories.  This novella by Becky Wade caught my eye and I decided to give it a try.  I’ve seen books by Becky Wade before, but I’ve never read any of them.  After reading Love in the Details I definitely plan to remedy that in the future.  My biggest beef with authors who write novellas, is that sometimes they just don’t have enough space or time to truly develop their plot and characters, or they give too much information in too short of space and the end of the story feels rushed.  But Ms. Wade manages to walk the fine line between these two pits.  I felt like her story was complete, without being overwhelming in the least.  I was able to connect with the characters and learn just enough about them to enjoy this sweet, albeit short, story.

Holly broke up with Josh eight years ago when he left for college, but that doesn’t mean she ever stopped loving him.  Now he’s returned to her small Texas town for a few short weeks and they are thrown together again.  They must both look beyond the pain of the past to find out if they have a future together.

I have read many of the stories written in the Year of Weddings series, and a few in the Second Year of Weddings series, and this one is one of my favorites.  Holly is charming, and endearing, and is not trying to win her man back by making him jealous, which seems to be a popular plotline in stories like this.  She’s determined to receive his forgiveness for hurting him so long ago, and then get on with her life.  Josh is not out to hurt Holly back, but is just searching for answers to old questions.  He is powerless to keep himself away from her, and finds excuses to be with her. 

I loved this story from start to finish, and definitely recommend to lovers of clean, simple, Christian romances.  It’s also great when you want a short read that won’t leave you feeling like you missed something along the way to a happy ending!

Happy Reading!

Lyndsie

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for this review. All opinions are my own, and a favorable review was not required.  Look for Love in the Details on or around October 27.

Book Review: The Inn at Ocean's Edge by Colleen Coble

I was so sad to see Colleen Coble's Hope Beach series end, but if The Inn at Ocean's Edge is any indication, the Sunset Cove series may just be better.  I am already a HUGE fan of Ms. Coble, and I will literally read anything and everything she writes.  This is absolutely my favorite book of hers that I have read to date.  There was so much suspense in this book, and I had no idea what was going on or how it was going to end.  There were so many different elements of the story and so many layers to the mystery.  Just when I thought I had one part figured out, she threw in another curve ball and I was off wondering again!

This book is about Claire Dellamare, who is making a business trip with her father to Folly Shoals, Maine to try and seal the deal on a large merger.  He doesn't know she's coming, and for some reason he's not happy to see her.  As soon as Claire enters the hotel where she'll be staying, she has a major panic attack.  While taking a walk to clear her head, she sees a young woman murdered and calls 911.  No sooner does she hang up the phone than someone knocks her out.  When she comes to the police have arrived, but there's no sign of the body.  It would seem that Claire has set in motion a disastrous chain of events just by coming to Folly Shoals.  Now she finds herself wondering who she really is and where she belongs.  Has she been in Folly Shoals before?  Why can't she remember?  Is the dream she's had for so many years really a nightmare, or is a horrible memory trying to resurface?  As the body count rises, Claire finds herself fighting for her very life.  The only person who believes her is Luke Rocco.  He's been searching for clues to his mother's disappearance for twenty-five years, and it seems that Claire holds the key--if only she could remember.  As Claire finally begins to remember the things that happened to her so many years ago, she finds herself in more danger than ever, and can only hope that Luke will arrive in time.

This book was slightly different than Ms. Cobles other books.  While the faith aspect was present, it was maybe not quite so pronounced as in other books.  The physical side of the relationship between Claire and Luke also seemed to be a bit more steamy to me than some of her other characters.  There was still a definite line though, that she didn't cross.  I didn't always find these characters to be as true-to-life as I've come to expect from this author, but it didn't hinder my love for this book in any way.  It has everything a great story needs in my opinion.  I couldn't put it down.   It's an absolute must-read for all Coble fans, as well as fans of Christian thrillers in general. 

Happy Reading!

Lyndsie

I was given an advance e-galley of this book by the publisher in exchange for this review.  A favorable review was not required and all opinions are my own.  Look for The Inn at Ocean's Edge from your favorite bookseller on or around April 15.

Book Review: The Accidental Empress by Allison Pataki

I must begin by warning  you that I am about to rave about this book!  I read and reviewed Ms. Pataki's first book The Traitor's Wife last year, and thought it was amazing.  She has absolutely outdone herself with The Accidental Empress.  She shows great attention to detail and her historical research is outstanding.  Her characters are so real--none of them are black and white.  Sometimes you love Franz, and sometimes you hate him.  The same is true of nearly every character in the book, including Elisabeth, the title character.  The only exception would be the Archduchess Sophie, who I hated the whole time.

This book is set in the late 1800s, a very tempestuous time in Europe.  Young Franz Joseph has come to power as the Emperor of Austria.  He is lead and guided (or perhaps ordered) by his mother, Archduchess Sophie.  When Franz is nearly killed by an assassin, Sophie decides it is time for him to find a wife, and produce an heir.  She chooses her niece, Helene, who is her sister's daughter.  Helene makes the trip to Austria from Bavaria with her mother and her beautiful, wild sister, Elisabeth.  Elisabeth, whom everyone calls Sisi, is only sixteen years old, but Emperor Franz Joseph falls in love with her immediately.  She returns his feelings, but knows that she cannot have him, and must help her sister win his heart.  However, for the first time in his life, Franz stands up to his mother and tells her it is Sisi he loves and he will marry her.  And so, while Sisi is barely more than a child, she becomes the Empress of Austria.  Even though she and Franz are in love, Franz still answers to his mother on every subject, many times leaving Sisi out of decisions or conversations altogether.  

The people of Austria love Elisabeth, perhaps even more than they love Franz Joseph.  But more importantly, the people of Hungary love Elisabeth.  They see her as an outsider like themselves.  Hungary has long been under the rule of the Habsburgs of Austria, but they long for some freedom, and their own parliament.  Years of time, hurt feelings, separations and betrayal have nearly destroyed any love between Franz and Sisi, and she is beginning to find love with someone else.  But when she is asked by the Hungarians to help them gain their independence, Sisi finds an opportunity to finally find the happiness and love she has been without for most of her life.

These few short words, and this basic summary cannot even convey to you how much I loved this book.  Allison has a way of tantalizing with little snippets of a future story--just glimpses of what will be, that make me want to keep reading just one more chapter before I close the book.  From the beginning the reader knows that Franz and Elisabeth's love will not last, but reading through the pages of their courtship and early marriage, it hardly seems possible.  You have to keep going just to see where it all goes wrong. 

It is so easy to identify with the characters.  You can't help but feel hurt along with Sisi as she does battle with her mother-in-law time and again and her husband never steps in on her behalf.  Any mother definitely feels her pain as each of her children are taken away from her to be raised by their grandmother.  And even though I cannot agree with Sisi's choices, I feel almost happy for her when the book comes to an end, and she is perhaps on the road to happiness again.

My European history is pretty rusty, and I could only remember that this royal family experienced an assassination that led to the star of World War I, so I looked up Franz and Elisabeth online.  What I found made me a little sad, but very excited to see where Allison may take this story next.  I truly hope that there will be at least one sequel to this book.  While The Accidental Empress could stand alone, it left me hungry for more of Sisi's story. 

Happy Reading,

Lyndsie

I received an advance copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for this review.  All opinions are my own and a favorable review was not required.  Look for The Accidental Empress on or around February 17.

Book Review: All That Glitters by Michael Murphy

To say that I am a fan of Michael Murphy's Jake and Laura Mysteries is an understatement.  I read the first book in this series last summer, and I've been watching for the second one ever since.  All That Glitters did not disappoint!  After saving the President's life and exposing a group of communists, Jake and Laura left New York City to travel to Hollywood.  Jake is looking forward to spending time with Laura, and working on his next Blackie Doyle novel.  Laura is headed out to film her first movie.  Things take a bad turn from the beginning when Jake gets into a fight with Eric Carville, an executive from Laura's film studio.  Things only get worse when Eric is found murdered, and Jake is the prime suspect.  Jake and Laura have a very small window of time in which to solve the mystery before Jake is arrested, and his writing career is destroyed forever.  This book, like the first is sprinkled with appearances by famous people of the time period, including Louella Parsons, William Powell and Jack Benny.  When you add in a few mobsters, this book really gets good!  I loved Mr. Murphy's nod to the popular fictional detectives of the thirties with his very theatrical revelation of the murderer at the end.

This series is like my favorite old-time radio detectives rolled up into one great story.  I think the author stays very true to the time period in his plots, characters and themes.  While I do wish he'd left out some of the more "colorful" language, it wasn't too bad.  At first I was a little annoyed with Laura because she seemed  determined to disagree with Jake at every turn, but she got better.  I also realized that part of their chemistry is the way that they disagree, but really come together in the end.  Jake couldn't have solved this mystery without Laura's help.  With his Pinkerton skills, and her acting talents, they can fish information from anyone.

Michael Murphy has fast become a favorite author of mine.  (And I truly appreciated his kind comment on my review of The Yankee Club.)  Dare I hope from reading the last chapter of All That Glitters that the next book will involve Amelia Earhart and perhaps a trip for Jake and Laura to Hawaii?  And could there be wedding bells in the third Jake and Laura Mystery?  We shall see!

Happy Reading!

Lyndsie

I was given an advance copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for my review.  All opinions are my own.  Look for All That Glitters by Michael Murphy  from your favorite bookseller on or around January 6, 2015.

Book Review: Motherless by Erin Healy

I haven't every read anything like Motherless before.  It's not only going on my "Best Books of 2014" list, but on my "Best Books I've Ever Read" list.  It made me question things I thought I knew.  Even though this book is not supported by the Bible's explanations of death and the afterlife (according to the Bible there is no forgiveness of sin or chance to redeem oneself after death), I could enjoy this book as a "what if?" kind of story.  It's hard to give a brief summary without giving away the plot--which was incredibly dark and twisting.  Every time I thought I knew what was going on, Ms. Healy jerked the steering wheel and sent the characters careening around another dangerous curve!
This book is about Garrett and Misty Becker--sort of.  It's really about their kids and what happened to them after their parents both died.  Misty Becker committed suicide when Marina and Dylan were just children.  Now, they're nearly adults, and are faced with the death of their father as well.  As they flounder around, alone in the world, Sara Rochester, their mother's cousin reaches out to help them.  Marina is convinced she's up to something, and Dylan is convinced she's really his mother and that she's been hiding all these years.  But none of them are prepared for the truths that will be revealed--especially the one person who is watching this whole story unfold and is powerless to do anything to stop it.
This story is told in first person point-of-view, but not by one of the characters who are in the story.  Does that sound confusing?  It is, but just enough that it adds depth to the story.  I found myself repeatedly flipping back to the beginning to re-read and see if I could figure out what was going on.  Erin Healy masterfully directs the plot to make you think one thing is happening and then, WHAM! you find out it's not what you thought at all. 
I feel like I can't rave enough about this book.  It is incredible!  If you like a real thriller, this is the book for you.  I can't help but wonder if all of Ms. Healy's books are this good.  I guess I'll have to read them to find out...




Happy Reading!
Lyndsie


I was given an advance copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for my review.  All opinions are my own.  Look for Motherless  at your favorite bookseller on or around November 11, 2014.

Book Review: Deceived by Irene Hannon

I have waited a long time for the third and final book in the Guardians of Justice series--and it was worth the wait! Deceived was just as good as Vanished and Trapped.  I'm only disappointed that Phoenix only has three PIs instead of five or six, because I can't get enough of them.

Just like his partners, Cal and Dev, before him, Connor Sullivan is about to find love while working on an investigation.  It's one of the strangest investigations that the Phoenix investigators have had.  Kate Marshall buried her husband three years ago after he drowned while fishing with their four-year-old son, Kevin.  Kevin's body was never found, but the police concluded that he died along with his father.  Kate has finally managed to move on with her life, and she's gotten a new job in St. Louis, helping battered women find jobs.  While riding an escalator in a shopping mall, she spots a boy who looks just like her son.  Startled, she calls out his name, and he turns to look at her.  Before she can get closer to him, his father rushes him out of the mall.  Knowing she'll never be able to forget the incident, Kate hires to Connor to find out if "Todd" is really her son, or if her mind is playing tricks on her.  As both the summer weather and the investigation heat up, a new relationship between Kate and Connor seems to be heating up as well.  Connor has made some mistakes in love in the past, and he's determined not to do it again.  He makes up his mind that as soon as this investigation is over, he will pursue a more personal relationship with his client, but he has to get there in time to save her life first...

As usual, I love Ms. Hannon's characters!  I've loved the stories of each of the PIs and how they found their true loves, all the while side-stepping the company policy about no personal relationships with clients.  Ms. Hannon's plots are always unusual, and this one was no different.  It was really interesting to see what steps Connor took to figure out if Todd was really Kevin.  Somehow I even found myself feeling sorry for Greg Sanders, even as I hoped that Connor could prove that Greg was a murderer and kidnapper.  My one problem with this book was the dialogue between Todd and adults.  I've never heard any seven-year-old who talked that well.  His vocabulary was much too advanced in my opinion.  But, besides that, this story was perfect in every way.  There was also a sneak peak of Irene Hannon's next book Buried Secrets at the end.  It's not due out until March, but I already can't wait to read it! 

Irene Hannon is one of my favorite Christian authors, and in my opinion, her suspense novels are among the best.  Read the Guardians of Justice series for yourself, and I think you'll agree.

Happy Reading,

Lyndsie 

You can read my review of Trapped  here and my review of Vanished here.


I was given a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for my review.  All opinions are my own.

Book Review: Buttermilk Sky by Jan Watson

I hate to admit this, but I've been in sort of a reading slump lately.  It's not that I'm not reading anything good, but nothing much has captured my interest.  Then I got Buttermilk Sky by Jan Watson in the mail from Tyndale House.  I love this book!  It was an easy, feel-good kind of read.  It is part of a series, but can stand alone.  I haven't read any of the others, but it didn't hinder me in reading this one.

It takes place in 1913 in Kentucky.  Mazy Pelfrey has left behind her small, mountain town to move to Lexington to enter secretarial school.  She left behind her beau, Sheriff Chanis Clay.  Chanis is in love with Mazy, and has been since the first time he set eyes on her.  Mazy, however, wants to experience more than life in a small town.  Lexington, though, is all new to her.  Her studies at the secretarial school are harder than she thought, and friendships aren't as easy to come by in the city.  Then she meets Loyal Chambers.  He's the dreamy young man that all the girls have their hearts set on.  His heart seems to be set on Mazy.  When Chanis pays her a visit in the city, Mazy will be forced to decide which direction she'll choose for her life.  Facing a possible rejection from the girl of his dreams, Chanis must look at his own life to decide what it is he really wants to do.

This book is light and fun and I really enjoyed it.  The characters aren't deep or complicated, but they were likeable.  I did feel like there were some small story lines that didn't seem to fit into the plot.  For instance, there were some parts about Eva that I thought could have been explored a little more deeply.  The resolution seemed to come too quickly, without as much conflict as I would have expected.  These things didn't detract from the story for me, and there was a little surprise at the end that I enjoyed very much.   

This is my first book by Jan Watson, but I hope it won't be my last!  I did a quick search on Amazon and found all of the other books by Jan Watson that preceded this one.  Now I want to read them all!  If you'd like to read something that just makes you feel happy, I think you'll enjoy Buttermilk Sky as much as I do!

Happy Reading,

Lyndsie

I was given an advance copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for this review. 

Book Review: Greetings from the Flipside by Rene Gutteridge and Cheryl McKay

It's been at least ten years since I last read a book by Rene Gutteridge, and to be honest, I can't really remember the plot of the ones that I read.  But I do remember that her books were very funny.  That's what I was hoping for in Greetings from the  Flipside.  And I wasn't disappointed.

This book is two stories, but really only one story.  Is that confusing?  Yes...but only unless you read it.  Hope Landon is a single girl with a dry wit who lives in Poughkeepsie, New York, but her dream is to move to New York City and make it big writing greeting cards.  Her dream is about to come true since she's going to marry her musician boyfriend, Sam.  But Sam leaves her at the altar and in her grief, Hope runs away.  Her mother had purchased a surprise exotic honeymoon for Hope and Sam (in the beautiful country of Idaho), so Hope decides to take the trip alone.  While stuffing her face with every potato dish know to man, Hope comes up with an idea for a new line of greeting cards for the heartbroken.  She returns to Poughkeepsie to begin work on her new plan, only to find out that while she was gone, her mother had her declared dead!  Since her mother has rented out her room to a stranger, Hope decides to take off on her own and go to New York City.  When she applies for an apartment and a job, she finds out that her mother had applied for her death certificate and she must prove that she is alive before she can even earn a paycheck.  At the same time she's trying to sell her new boss on her greeting card ideas, keep the Murphy bed in her room at the YMCA from killing her, reason with a precocious 11-year-old who has become her shadow and try not to fall in love.  All of her problems would be immediately solved if she could only get into the Social Security Office and prove that she's not dead.  Or would they?

Greetings from the  Flipside is HILARIOUS!!  I laughed so hard that tears came to me eyes!  The characters are awesome.  Hope's neurotic mother is priceless with her crazy prayers and Scripture quotations.  Hope herself is a memorable character.  I loved how she would say something totally in the wrong place at the wrong time or in the wrong way.  After all, who doesn't do that?  The double story line here nearly blew my mind.  It took me a while to realize what was really going on, which I'm sure was the authors' intention.  I rooted for Jake (both Jakes) and hated Sam (and Everett) and loved Mikaela.  The greeting cards were really funny too.  This story was great on all levels. 

If you like her heroine's with a little sass and some hilarity thrown in, this book is for you.  It's not a typical romance novel at all, and that's what I liked best about it.  This is a must-read for anyone who's looking for a story with laughs and a little love along the way!

Happy Reading!

Lyndsie

I was given a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for my review.  All opinions are my own. 

 

Book Review: Elly in Love by Colleen Oakes

I loved reading Elly in Love from page one!  Actually I loved it before page one.  The cover art itself is beautiful.  This is such a sweet book.  It is the first book by Colleen Oakes that I have read, and it was wonderful.  It wasn't a typical romance and it felt genuine to me.  The characters were charmingly flawed and lovely and I loved them all.   

Elly in Love is the second book in the Elly in Bloom series.  I wish I had read the first one, as it might have made things a little clearer, but it wasn't vital to enjoy this book.  Elly Jordan is the (slightly overweight) owner of a lovely little flower shop in St. Louis.  She has charm, she has wit, and she usually has some small stain on her rumpled clothes.  She is dating Keith, the (also slightly overweight) owner of a local deli.  Her life seems to be going along really well, maybe a little too well.  She is being bugged by her teenage employee--aptly referred to only as "Snarky Teenager"--to open a new, higher-end shop downtown.  Elly has been offered a spot on a top-rated reality TV series to design flowers for a celebrity wedding.  Then a creepy man appears to be stalking her.  On top of it all, she's pretty sure that Keith is hiding something from her.  As everything comes to a head all at once, Elly must decide what is the most important thing to her.  In the end she may lose her boyfriend, the only family she's every known and her business all in one fell swoop.

Elly Jordan may now be my favorite fictional character. She made me laugh and she made me cry.  She made me cringe and she made me look in the mirror.  I loved her character!  I could relate to her in so many ways.  She was so insecure--even when Keith told her how beautiful she was (once referring to her as a "curvy Grecian goddess) she never believed  him.  I almost have a crush on Keith myself.  He was such a sweetheart to Elly, even when he disagreed with her decisions.  Elly never thought she was good enough, or pretty enough and always compared herself to skinnier, prettier people.  Even when she thought she looked good, someone inevitably put her down.  I would have liked her to stand up for herself a little more, particularly with Snarky Teenager, but I also liked how she let her talent speak for itself.  In the end Elly realized what was important to her, and didn't care what anyone else thought.  She also learned a few important lessons about trust and forgiveness.   

The descriptions from this book were beautiful!  I loved picturing the beautiful scenery and bouquets that Elly designed.  Somehow Ms. Oakes made me even able to smell the things she was talking about.  I think I wrinkled my nose in disgust a few times during the Dennis scenes.  The description of the wedding scenery was amazing.  And I could only laugh at Elly in her designer dress and Crocs! 

I cannot wait to  read the third book Elly Inspired when it comes out, and I will also be going back to read the first book Elly in Bloom.  This book was a little confusing to me since it didn't claim to be Christian fiction, but did have some Bible verses, a couple little prayers and a church service.  However, there was some language that I did question.  Overall though, this book was great and I will be adding it to my list of favorites!!

Happy Reading!!

Lyndsie 

Book Review: Snack Girl to the Rescue by Lisa Cain

When it comes to diet books that are touted as "Weight Watchers friendly" I have read many.  I'm always on the lookout for new, tasty foods that won't make me feel guilty and gain a ton of weight.  Obviously the Weight Watchers cookbooks themselves would seem like a great option, but who has the time for all those steps and ingredients?  Not me.  Then there is the popular Hungry Girl series.  I like those books and have read and own several, but my problem with those comes with the odd ingredients.  I don't want to eat soy crumbles in place of hamburger or noodle substitutes instead of pasta.  While I have made multiple recipes from both of these sources, I'm always on the lookout for something better and different.

Enter Snack Girl.  The recipes in this book are beyond amazing.  Out of the whole book there may have been three or four recipes that I don't hope to try.  Every one looked tasty, healthy and, above all, easy to make!  The pasta dishes contained real pasta and the tacos had real hamburger meat!  No substitutes here!  The ingredient lists weren't long, and I didn't see a single one that I couldn't find at my local Kroger.  No complicated steps were involved, and there were even recipes for the slow cooker.  And every recipe has less than 400 calories per serving.  I entered a few into my PointsPlus calculator and the highest points I found was 8.  I love the entrees, but the snacks were great, too, and even cookies for dessert!

This book was so much more than just a cookbook.  Recently I've been more aware that there are bad things in the foods we eat, but Lisa really broke it down for me.  For instance, why is brown rice better than white rice?  I didn't know until I read this book.  Is there really any fruit in the toaster pastries you buy with fruit pictures on the box?  Why is it better to cook your food at home than to eat out?  This book has answers to these questions and many more.  Lisa tells the story of her life and how she went from eating what she wanted and being healthy, to being told by her doctor that she needed to lose weight.  She tried every diet out there (been there, done that!) and gives legitimate reasons why they don't work.  I felt like someone was telling my own story about realizing that if you want to be skinny and healthy, you're going to have to put forth extra effort. 

I had never heard of Lisa's Snack Girl blog before, but since reading this book I have become a subscriber.  This is also the first book that I have reviewed that I will actually buy as a hardcopy for myself.  This is the kind of book that I need within handy reach in my kitchen all the time.  It needs pages turned down, food stains on the pages and notes written in the margins.  This is the first cookbook I've read where I felt like the author really "gets" me.  Lisa Cain understands that grocery stores in small towns don't carry a lot of crazy health foods--and who wants to spend all that money on it anyways?  She made me realize that I don't  have to feel guilty for buying my fruit and vegetables at the grocery store rather than a farmer's market.  And she tells me it's okay if I lose control of myself sometimes at a party and eat more that I planned.  But she also helped me to realize that when I allow myself a treat in exchange for some exercise, it usually doesn't equal up.  It's better to say "no" to that doughnut than to promise myself I'll work it off later--when I probably won't anyways.  She understands, too, what it means to be a mom and just not have the time to take for herself. 

This is a book for everyone who wants to eat healthy, whether it be through calorie counting or Weight Watchers.  It's a book of real food and real recipes that are healthy and good for you.  I loved every page and can't wait to read it again...and again!

Happy Reading (and healthy eating!)

Lyndsie

I was given a free copy of this book as part of the Blogging for Books program in exchange for this review.