New Beginnings

 

I have been MIA for quite some time from here. I have been busy working full time and taking care of my three teenagers full time. I am in the process of a divorce after being married for 16 years. I never thought I would be here. If you were to go through this blog and you read some of the things I have posted in the past, you might not ever have thought I would be here either. It is a prime example of you just never know what is going on behind closed doors. I was never physically abused but I am so happy to be out of a marriage in which I (and my children) were consistently neglected except for on the rare occasion that he wanted to tell everyone what a great person he was so he would do something grand so he could show off what an "amazing" person he was. It is also a lot easier to be a single parent when you are actually a single parent and there isn't that disappointment or stress that the person you were relying on being your partner and teammate just stays checked out. I am so much happier on my own and I can't wait to get back to who I used to be before he stole all of my joy through emotional abuse and neglect. That part of my life is in the past, and this part of my life is something I really missed. So I will be back here posting reviews again. It will probably be mostly book reviews since that is my main source of entertainment, but I will probably write some other reviews as well, and post about any travels that occur. I may also write about my journey into being a single woman in my 40's with three teenagers, two cats, and a dog. I am so glad to back!

The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren

*Disclosure of material connection- I received the book in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book- 

Single mom Jessica Davis is a data and statistics wizard, but no amount of number crunching can convince her to step back into the dating world. Raised by her grandparents—who now help raise her seven-year-old daughter, Juno—Jess has been left behind too often to feel comfortable letting anyone in. After all, her father was never around, her hard-partying mother disappeared when she was six, and her ex decided he wasn’t “father material” before Juno was even born. Jess holds her loved ones close, but working constantly to stay afloat is hard...and lonely.

But then Jess hears about GeneticAlly, a buzzy new DNA-based matchmaking company that’s predicted to change dating forever. Finding a soulmate through DNA? The reliability of numbers: This Jess understands.

At least she thought she did, until her test shows an unheard-of 98 percent compatibility with another subject in the database: one of GeneticAlly’s founders, Dr. River Peña. This is one number she can’t wrap her head around, because she already knows Dr. Peña. The stuck-up, stubborn man is without a doubt not her soulmate. But GeneticAlly has a proposition: Get to know him and we’ll pay you. Jess—who is barely making ends meet—is in no position to turn it down, despite her skepticism about the project and her dislike for River. As the pair are dragged from one event to the next as the “Diamond Match” that could launch GeneticAlly’s valuation sky-high, Jess begins to realize that there might be more to the scientist—and the science behind a soulmate—than she thought.

My thoughts-

One of my favorite current author's is Christina Lauren (who are really a duo of best friends tag teaming their authoring duties, which makes them even more compelling to me). I think I have read pretty much all of Christina Lauren's books at this point and was super excited for The Soulmate Equation! I thought the book started out kind of slow but once it got going I couldn't put it down. I love the concept of the book, DNA telling you who your soulmate is, and I love the dynamic between Jess and River from the very beginning. I also like the strong bonds Jess has with her family and her daughter. This book was equal parts funny and sweet, with a health dose of drama to keep it interesting. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys contemporary romance novels. 

I Love My Dog Embroidery 380 Stitch Motifs for Dog Moms and Dads by MakikoArt

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the book-

I Love My Dog Embroidery is a collection of 380 adorable dog-themed stitch motifs for pooch parents and their beloved fur babies, with project ideas, how-tos, and templates.

Created by embroidery artist MakikoArt and six other amazing embroidery artists, this “dog fanciful” collection of stitch motifs celebrates all things canine. With this lovely embroidery guide, you can create all manner of pups, including:

The sweet Labrador retriever, fluffy poodle, noble German shepherd, and many others

Dogs doing what they do best—classic poses, postures, and tricks—like “roll over,” “give me your paw,” and the ever-popular “rub my tummy”

Pooches disguised as people—the farmer, the artist, the businessman—and who can resist the sneaky but lovable mailman?

Mutts in different styles and shapes, including borders, frames, and alphabets

You’ll also find guidance on how to customize a motif to fit your favorite Fido, plus a gallery of project ideas for showcasing your stitches. So grab a needle and floss and take everything in your home and wardrobe from drab to double-dog fabulous!

My thoughts-

I have decided that for 2019 I am going to find more hobbies and crafts to try and embroidery is at the top of that list. I have a sweet dog who is my best buddy so I thought this would be a fun book to check out. There are so many cute different patterns in here to give a try. As a novice, I am not sure that it is all explained to me well enough, but I am still going to give it a try for the sheer number of patterns available. Pretty much every dog breed imaginable is included and there are several different sub-categories of different types of dogs (Dog yoga poses anyone? Or dogs with occupations! They are all so cute!). I would recommend this book to absolutely any dog lover that has an interest in embroidery. 

Life After by Katie Ganshert (Book Review)

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Blogging For Books in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions are 100% my own.

About the book-

It could have been me.Snow whirls around an elevated train platform in Chicago. A distracted woman boards the train, takes her seat, and moments later a fiery explosion rips through the frigid air, tearing the car apart in a horrific attack on the city’s transit system. One life is spared. Twenty-two are lost.

A year later, Autumn Manning can’t remember the day of the bombing and she is tormented by grief—by guilt. Twelve months of the question constantly echoing. Why? Why? Why? Searching for answers, she haunts the lives of the victims, unable to rest.

Paul Elliott lost his wife in the train bombing and wants to let the dead rest in peace, undisturbed and unable to cause more pain for his loved ones. He wants normalcy for his twelve-year-old daughter and young son, to see them move beyond the heartbreak. But when the Elliotts and Autumn are unexpectedly forced together, he fears she’ll bring more wreckage in her wake. 

In Life After, Katie Ganshert’s most complex and unforgettable novel yet, the stirring prose and authentic characters pose questions of truth, goodness, and ultimate purpose in this emotionally resonant tale.


My thoughts-

I don't know how she does it, but Katie Ganshert consistently outdoes her previous work with each new book. I've yet to read a book she's written that I didn't immediate fall in love with. Ganshert is great at writing relatable characters with imperfections and faults, the easiest characters to relate to when reading. Life After is very different from any of her other novels with this added huge thing of a train exploding that kills everyone on board but one sole survivor, Autumn. This is the story of Autumn wanting to tell the stories of those who perished. Her mission leads her on a journey of learning about the others who welcome her with open arms, with the exception of one, Paul Elliot, who wants to leave the past in the past. It was difficult to go on this journey with Autumn, but it was a story that gripped me from the very beginning and had me until the end. I absolutely loved this book and I think anyone who enjoys contemporary women's fiction will enjoy it as well.

The Prime by Kulreet Chaudhary, M.D. (Book Review)

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Blogging For Books in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book-

READY TO GIVE UP THE FIGHT - AND WIN THE WAR?

Integrative neurologist Dr. Kulreet Chaudhary discovered a beautiful side effect to the eating and lifestyle tools she gave her brain patients--spontaneously shedding excess pounds. In this, her first book, she shows us how to sharpen the brain, and smarten and heal the gut. Weight gain is not about the food, but about the body’s environment. Excess weight is a result of the body being in a toxic, inflammatory state. If your body is not prepared or ‘primed’ for weight loss, you will fight an uphill biochemical battle.  Her program is not about what you can't have or do, it's about adding simple teas and herbs, and succeeding without giving up any foods you love. With The Prime, Dr. Chaudhary has reverse engineered our way of eating, so we can stop dieting backward and start losing weight instead. You'll learn:

--The importance of neuroadaptation, food addiction, and the brain (or, why your brain and gut have made it so hard to lose weight in the past!)
--Why it’s not about what you eat, but what you digest
--How to determine if you have a Leaky Brain—and what The Prime can do about it (hint: everything)
--How to easily crush cravings (no willpower required), ignite energy and fat, and biohack your lifestyle habits.

Lastly, you’ll learn how to live fully Primed, the secrets of the Super-Primed, and when you’re ready to explore new foods, how to eat according to your unique constitution.

PREPARED TO LIVE AT YOUR PRIME?

My thoughts-

I was drawn to this book because I think there is a lot of food addiction going on in our country and I think I am one of many people who struggles with this problem. I have a really hard time with sugar specifically. I think the book is on to the right outlook for this problem and offers interesting advice for how to tackle it. A good majority of the book is not in layman's terms, which may make it more difficult for some people to understand what is being said. There are also a lot of supplements and things that would need to be bought in order to follow this plan, which makes it unattainable to many. I think it is worth a read for the advice, but I feel like the amount of supplements needed is overwhelming. I do think The Prime is a good introduction into Ayurvedic medicine.

The Painter's Daughter by Julie Klassen (Book Review)

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions are 100% my own. 

About the book-

Sophie Dupont assists her father in his studio, keeping her own artwork out of sight. In private, she paints the picturesque north Devon coast, popular with artists--including handsome Wesley Overtree, who seems more interested in Sophie than the landscape.

Captain Stephen Overtree is accustomed to taking on his brother Wesley's responsibilities. Near the end of his leave, he is sent to find his brother and bring him home. Upon reaching Devonshire, however, Stephen is stunned to learn that Wesley has sailed for Italy and left his host's daughter in serious trouble.

Stephen feels duty-bound to act, and strangely protective of the young lady, who somehow seems familiar. Wanting to make some recompense for his own past failings as well as his brother's, Stephen proposes to Miss Dupont. He does not offer love, but marriage "in name only" to save her from scandal. If he dies in battle, as he fears, she will at least be a respectable widow.

Desperate for a way to escape her predicament, Sophie finds herself torn between her first love and this brooding man she barely knows. Dare she wait for Wesley to return? Or should she elope with the captain and pray she doesn't come to regret it?

My thoughts-

I don't even know where to begin with this story. I loved every single second of every single page, just as I have become accustomed to with each new Julie Klassen novel that comes out. This one is still her usual regency era fare, and it still has a very Jane Austen-esque feel which I love, but this book had the added element of scandal which was new and I quite enjoyed. Life isn't usually cookie cutter clean, even back in the day, so I appreciated a look into what might have happened in a scandalous situation in that time period.  I was immediately sympathetic for Sophie's character and enthralled with Stephen Overtree from their first meeting. He had a little bit of Mr. Darcy's brood going on, but right away we are shown he has a soft and caring heart, regardless of how it seems on the outside. I am glad that there was an opportunity to get to know Stephen as he and Sophie get to know each other before he went off to war. I enjoyed the entire cast of characters that live at or visit Overtree Hall. Klassen does a wonderful job of really making you feel like you understand the characters and the descriptions of the settings are amazing too. I absolutely recommend The Painter's Daughter (and all of Julie Klassen's novels) to anyone who enjoys regency era romances. She is, in my eyes, our current day Jane Austen and for that I am grateful.

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This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp (Book Review)

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book-

10:00 a.m.
The principal of Opportunity, Alabama's high school finishes her speech, welcoming the entire student body to a new semester and encouraging them to excel and achieve.

10:02 a.m.
The students get up to leave the auditorium for their next class.

10:03
The auditorium doors won't open.

10:05
Someone starts shooting.

This explosive, emotional, page-turning debut about a high school held hostage is told from the perspective of four teens—each with their own reason to fear the boy with the gun.
Marieke Nijkamp is a storyteller, dreamer, globe-trotter, geek. She holds degrees in philosophy, history, and medieval studies, and is an executive member of We Need Diverse Books, the founder of DiversifYA, and a founding contributor to YA Misfits. She lives in the Netherlands. Visit her at mariekenijkamp.com.

My thoughts-

I was a Junior in high school the year that the Columbine massacre took place. I know there were many mass school shootings before that, but we were the first generation to have 24/7 access to what was happening in the world and I think because of that, these shootings have been occurring more often in the years since Columbine. I think This Is Where it Ends did a wonderful job of portraying what it might be like, what it would feel like, for the teens in the novel that are in the situation. It helps us understand not only their fear, but each student's perspective offers more insight into the perpetrator's life and the time leading up to the event.  It was not an easy read at all, but it was well done nonetheless. I couldn't put it down and read it in just a couple of days. I would recommend This Is Where It Ends to anyone who likes fast paced books and who don't mind heavy subject matter.

This Is Where It Ends will be available January 5, 2016. You can pre-order your copy on Amazon.com.

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Ashley Bell by Dean Koontz (Book Review)

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the book-

From #1 bestselling author Dean Koontz—the must-read thriller of the year, for readers of dark psychological suspense and modern classics of mystery and adventure.
 
The girl who said no to death.
 
Bibi Blair is a fierce, funny, dauntless young woman—whose doctor says she has one year to live.

She replies, “We'll see.”

Her sudden recovery astonishes medical science.

An enigmatic woman convinces Bibi that she escaped death so that she can save someone else. Someone named Ashley Bell.

But save her from what, from whom? And who is Ashley Bell? Where is she?

Bibi's obsession with finding Ashley sends her on the run from threats both mystical and worldly, including a rich and charismatic cult leader with terrifying ambitions.

Here is an eloquent, riveting, brilliantly paced story with an exhilarating heroine and a twisting, ingenious plot filled with staggering surprises. Ashley Bell is a new milestone in literary suspense from the long-acclaimed master.

My thoughts-

In my younger days, I read suspense and mystery pretty exclusively but these days it has to be a pretty interesting plot to catch my eye and pry me away from my preferred genres of the moment (historical fiction, contemporary fiction, ya, classics). Ashley Bell sounded like an interesting plot and I remember liking some of Koontz's other works so I was excited to dive in. I thought the novel started off a bit slow, but midway through I had an innate need to know what was happening in this book and it became a page turner for me. Upon reflection of the slow start, I realized it was just great character development that paid off later in the book. I enjoy books that keep me guessing and have new or rarely used plot points and I think Ashley Bell definitely met both of those expectations. Although I did find it to start slow, I enjoyed the pay off of those little details adding to the characters or of it adding a new dimension to  the loose ends as they were resolved at the end of the book. I would recommend Ashley Bell to anyone who enjoys suspense stories with twists and turns you may not be expecting!

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In Good Company by Jen Turano (Book Review)

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book-

After spending her childhood in an orphanage, Millie Longfellow is determined to become the best nanny the East Coast has ever seen. Unfortunately, her enthusiasm for her job tends to bring about situations that have employers looking askance at her methods. After her most recent dismissal, Millie is forced to return yet again to an employment agency.

Everett Mulberry has suddenly and quite unexpectedly found himself responsible for three children he barely knows. Attempting fatherhood while also pacifying the less-than-thrilled socialite he intends to marry is made even more complicated when the children scare off every nanny he hires. About to depart for Newport, Rhode Island, for the summer, he’s desperate for competent childcare.

At wit’s end with both Millie and Everett, the employment agency gives them one last chance—with each other. Everett is wary of Millie’s penchant for disaster, and she’s not entirely keen on another snobby, grumpy employer, but they’re both out of options. As Millie falls in love with her mischievous charges and tries to stay one step ahead of them, Everett is more focused on achieving the coveted status of society’s upper echelons. As he investigates the suspicious circumstances surrounding the children’s parents’ death, will it take the loss of those he loves to learn whose company he truly wants for the rest of his life?

My thoughts-

I love a good Cinderella story and the above description of In Good Company sounded like just that so I really wanted to see where the story went. As I started reading the book I realized it was something totally different. This is a book full of great shenanigans, usually with Millie right in the thick of things. I love her fun personality and how stubborn she can be. I also loved how her relationship with Everett started off pretty tense and enjoyed watching it evolve the further into the book I got. There is a character that you will love to hate, Caroline, she may well be the worst person every written into the pages of a book, but she absolutely adds an interesting dimension to the story. In Good Company is a great mix of romance, society life, and mystery. I laughed out loud so many times and couldn't stop turning the pages at the end when things become quite tense and crazy! This was my first Jen Turano book, but definitely won't be my last. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, especially of the historical romance persuasion. You will laugh, you will cringe, you'll be swept off of your feet. You will not want to put the book down until you have reached the last page.

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The Awakening by K.E. Ganshert (Book Review)

*This is book 2 in a trilogy. Be sure to read The Gifting prior to picking up The Awakening. 

About the book-

"I can't go home. It's not safe. Nowhere is." 

Tess Eckhart isn’t crazy. She’s not suffering from psychosis. She and Luka Williams are part of The Gifting. Before they can find out what that means, the man with all the answers turns up dead. The only thing he left behind? A few patient files that lead to the nation’s most lawless city. 

With authorities chasing them, Luka and Tess escape into the very heart of peril and against all odds, find an underground community of people just like them. They aren’t gathered together for the sole purpose of survival, either. They have a plan and a purpose–to awaken as many people with The Gifting as possible. It’s dangerous and deadly work. Tess wants to help. Luka is desperate to keep her safe–a task that proves increasingly difficult as Tess’s gifting comes to light. 

Is Tess Eckhart the One they’ve been waiting for? The One with the power to save them all?

My thoughts-

I flew through The Gifting in a few short days and I am so happy that The Awakening, the second book in the trilogy, was released just a few months later or I would be dying from anticipation!I bought it the day it came out and it didn't take long to be hooked.  It is a rarity that the middle book in a trilogy is much more than filler to hold us over until the third book and conclusion of the series, but that is not the case with The Awakening. I would even venture to say I enjoyed this one more than the first. There was so much action and so much suspense, I once again read through the entire book in just a few days...I couldn't put it down. I am so excited to read the conclusion in the final book, until then I will be on edge wondering what will happen to our hero Tess, her guy Luka, and all of the people with "the gifting".

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Everything You and I Could Have Been if We Weren't You and I by Albert Espinosa (Book Review)

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the book-

Can you imagine a future where everyone has given up sleeping?
From the creator of the television series Red Band Society and author of the international bestseller The Yellow World comes this uniquely special novel.
What if I could reveal your secrets with just a glance? And what if I could feel with your heart just by looking at you? And what if --in a single moment-- I could know that we were made for each other? Marcos has just lost his mother, a famous dancer who taught him everything, and he decides that his world can never be the same without her. Just as he is about to make a radical change, a phone call turns his world upside down.

Albert Espinosa has a peculiar talent for generating immediate congeniality around him, for shifting people's moods toward the positive and for reconciling them with themselves and the world, when needed.

My thoughts-

I was one of the many heartbroken fans that was disappointed when Red Band Society was canceled after one short season. The show had so much potential and was cute short way before it's prime. When I saw that the creator decided to delve into the world of YA fiction, I was definitely on board to give the book a try. Espinosa writes in a consistently fluid way that keeps you turning the pages. Before I knew it, I was already 50% in. I felt that the world that he has created  in Everything You and I Could Have Been if We Weren't You and I was intriguing and I would like to know more about it. The protagonist has a serious Oedipus complex which may frighten some readers away, but I think it is important to his story. The book ended on a note which I feel sets it up for a sequel. I would like to know what happens next, so I hope that I am correct. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy a fantasy or dystopian (although this story isn't really overtly dystopian) element to their YA books.

**For more conservative readers, this book tackles some mature themes that might be off putting to some. 

A Million Miles Away by Lara Avery (Book Review)

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book-

When high school senior Kelsey's identical twin sister, Michelle, dies in a car crash, Kelsey is left without her other half. The only person who doesn't know about the tragedy is Michelle's boyfriend, Peter, recently deployed to Afghanistan. But when Kelsey finally connects with Peter online, she can't bear to tell him the truth. Active duty has taken its toll, and Peter, thinking that Kelsey is Michelle, says that seeing her is the one thing keeping him alive. Caught up in the moment, Kelsey has no choice: She lets Peter believe that she is her sister.

As Kelsey keeps up the act, she crosses the line from pretend to real. Soon, Kelsey can't deny that she's falling, hard, for the one boy she shouldn't want.

Lara Avery delivers a breathtaking story of love and loss that is guaranteed to break your heart and sweep you off your feet.

My thoughts-

The premise of A Million Ways was just so interesting, I absolutely had to know what happened. I am a mother of twins, although they are many years younger,  so stories about twins are intriguing to me. I liked the aspect about Peter being in the military and deployed to Afghanistan as well and kind of wanted to see how the thing with Kelsey would play out. I couldn't put the book down and read it in just a couple of days. It is a very quick read and I can empathize with Kelsey to some extent, but the deeper in she got, the more I didn't understand why she would let it get that far. Grief does crazy things to people though, and I imagine especially to an identical twin. Overall, I thought it was a good story, but I thought it wrapped up a little too neatly to be believable. It wasn't at all what I would have expected to happen.  I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Young Adult fiction.

Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Book Review)

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the book-

From the acclaimed author of Forever, Interrupted and After I Do comes a breathtaking new novel about a young woman whose fate hinges on the choice she makes after bumping into an old flame; in alternating chapters, we see two possible scenarios unfold—with stunningly different results.

At the age of twenty-nine, Hannah Martin still has no idea what she wants to do with her life. She has lived in six different cities and held countless meaningless jobs since graduating college. On the heels of leaving yet another city, Hannah moves back to her hometown of Los Angeles and takes up residence in her best friend Gabby’s guestroom. Shortly after getting back to town, Hannah goes out to a bar one night with Gabby and meets up with her high school boyfriend, Ethan.

Just after midnight, Gabby asks Hannah if she’s ready to go. A moment later, Ethan offers to give her a ride later if she wants to stay. Hannah hesitates. What happens if she leaves with Gabby? What happens if she leaves with Ethan?

In concurrent storylines, Hannah lives out the effects of each decision. Quickly, these parallel universes develop into radically different stories with large-scale consequences for Hannah, as well as the people around her. As the two alternate realities run their course, Maybe in Another Life raises questions about fate and true love: Is anything meant to be? How much in our life is determined by chance? And perhaps, most compellingly: Is there such a thing as a soul mate?

Hannah believes there is. And, in both worlds, she believes she’s found him.

My thoughts-

My family and I had the wonderful privileged of taking a week long vacation on the gorgeous shores of Cape Cod. We enjoyed a lot of time on the beach and as a result, I got a lot of reading in. Maybe in Another Life was the first book I reached for during our beach vacation and it didn't take long at all for me to read it. I was quite taken with the premise, I loved the idea of two alternate realities that stemmed from one single decision because it is so true, every decision we make could possibly alter the path of our futures. As I was reading the two stories, I found myself rooting for one story in particular, but I also liked how the other one turned out. I loved how each story had some of the same things happen and all of the same cast of characters show up! Maybe in Another Life is the perfect summer beach read. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys contemporary fiction.

Maybe in Another Life will be available July 7, 2015. You can pre-order your copy on Amazon.com.


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The Gifting by K.E. Ganshert (Book Review)

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the book-

"If science is right, then I am crazy. And crazy is dangerous."

Tess Eckhart has always felt things nobody else can feel. Then the Ouija board incident happens at a high school party. Her complete freakout sends her family across the country—next to a nationally-renowned facility for the mentally ill. Worried that Tess suffers from the same illness that tormented her grandmother, her parents insist she see a psychiatrist.

But Tess is more concerned about fitting in at her new school, and hiding the fact that she’s seeing a therapist at the Edward Brooks Facility. She’s used to whispers and stares, but when it comes to Luka Williams, a reluctantly popular boy in her class, she’s unused to a stare that intense. Then the headaches start, and the seemingly prophetic dreams that haunt her at night. As Tess tries to hide them, she becomes increasingly convinced that Luka knows something—that he might somehow be responsible.

But what if she’s wrong? What if Luka Williams is the only thing separating her from a madness too terrifying to fathom? 

My thoughts-

Katie Ganshert has written several beautiful books in the contemporary Christian fiction world, but young adult novels are new territory for her. I am impressed at how effortlessly Ganshert can be a voice in both genres, it's like she's two completely different authors. Not only is she a fresh voice in the YA genre, she has woven in other favorite sub-genres (dystopian and paranormal themes) giving the book a bit of extra depth and more meat on it's bones. I am so excited that The Gifting is the first book of a trilogy and even more excited that the second book, The Awakening,  will be available in July! If you like ya and/or paranormal fiction, you will enjoy The Gifting. To me it felt like a cross between the Angel Eyes series by Shannon Dittemore and the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer (only because Luka reminds me of Edward, but in a really good way! There are no vampires or werewolves to be found here). I am excited to see whats in store for Tess in The Awakening!

Reservations for Two by Hillary Manton Lodge (Book Review)

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book-

Food writer-turned-restaurateur Juliette D’Alisa has more than enough on her plate. While her trip to Provence might have unlocked new answers to her grandmother’s past, it’s also provided new complications in the form of Neil McLaren, the man she can’t give up. 
 
Juliette and Neil find romance simple as they travel through Provence and Tuscany together, but life back home presents a different set of challenges. Juliette has a restaurant to open, a mother combating serious illness, and a family legacy of secrets to untangle – how does Neil, living so far away in Memphis, fit into to her life? 
 
As she confronts an uncertain future, Juliette can’t help but wish that life could be as straightforward as her chocolate chip cookie recipe. Can her French grandmother’s letters from the 1940’s provide wisdom to guide her present? Or will every new insight create a fresh batch of mysteries?

My thoughts-

I did not realize that Reservations for Two was the second book in a series (Two Blue Doors). but overall it didn't make too big of a difference. I definitely want to go back and read the first book in the series, but not having previously read it, did not take away from my enjoyment of this book. I am drawn mostly to historical fiction, so on the rare occasion I am drawn to a contemporary book, I am always pleasantly surprised when it is also set in another era. There is just something cool about having a book that is kind of a two for one deal where you have something that is happening in the present and a story that ties in to it is presented from the past. In this case, it was letters from Juliette's grandmother during WWII Paris. I also think letter writing is a lost art form and wish people would get back to it, so I loved reading all of the elegantly written letters between Juliette's grandmother Marielle, her sister, and her love interest. The story of Juliette and Neil was less interesting to me, but I did enjoy the present day story of Juliette opening her restaurant. I love to read foodie themed books because they usually contain some recipes and Reservations for Two is no exception. There are some wonderful recipes sprinkled throughout the book. It ended on kind of a cliff hanger, so I am excited for and will be anxiously anticipated book 3!

The Inn at Ocean's Edge by Colleen Coble Blog Tour & Book Review + Giveaway

Disclosure of material connection- I received of a copy of the book from the publisher via Litfuse Group in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book-

Claire's visit to a luxury hotel in Maine awakens repressed memories, threatening all she holds dear.

In 1989, Claire Dellamare disappeared from her own fourth birthday party at the Hotel Tourmaline on the island of Folly Shoals, Maine. She showed up a year later at the same hotel, with a note pinned to her dress but no explanation. Nobody knows where Claire spent that year---and until now, Claire didn't even know she had ever been missing.

But when Claire returns to the Hotel Tourmaline for a business meeting with her CEO father, disturbing memories begin to surface . . . despite her parents' best efforts to keep them forgotten.

Luke Rocco lost his mother under equally mysterious circumstances---at the same time Claire disappeared. After a chance encounter reveals the unlikely link between them, Claire and Luke set out together to uncover the truth about what happened that fateful year.

With flashbacks swimming just beneath her consciousness and a murderer threatening her safety, Claire's very life depends on unscrambling her past . . . even if her family refuses to acknowledge it. Someone-maybe everyone-is hiding something from Claire Dellamare, and it will cost her everything to drag the truth out into the light.

My thoughts-

I always love the books Colleen Coble comes out with. She is great at weaving mystery with romance and creating interesting stories to keep us turning the pages. I think this has been my favorite Colleen Coble book yet! First of all, the book cover is beautiful and really sets the tone for the story. From the very first pages we are on a journey with Claire as she tries to figure out exactly what happened to her so many years ago. We get to discover bits and pieces of her past as she discovers them herself and I think that makes this book even more interesting. I also really liked the aspect of  Kate's relationship with Luke and him trying to figure out what happened to his mom. Sometimes my very favorite kind of book is the kind that keeps you guessing what happened or whodunnit or really gets you thinking trying to figure it all out and The Inn at Ocean's Edge does that very well. I really enjoyed the mystery of trying to figure out what happened to Kate and a child and loved the way it ended...in a way I wasn't expecting. If you enjoy suspense, I absolutely recommend you give this book a try!

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***Party with Colleen Coble on Facebook & Enter to Win a Kindle Fire!***

Someone—maybe everyone—is hiding something from Claire Dellamare, and it will cost her everything to drag the truth out into the light. Colleen Coble's new book, The Inn at Ocean's Edge, is a must-read for mystery and suspense readers. As Claire and Luke put together the pieces of a decades-old mystery, they discover that some family secrets refuse to stay buried. And some passions are worth killing for.

Celebrate the release of The Inn at Ocean's Edge by entering to win a Kindle Fire and RSVPing to her May 5th author chat party!

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• A copy of A Heart's Disguise
• A copy of A Heart's Obsession
• A copy of The Inn at Ocean's Edge

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 7th. Winner will be announced May 8th on Colleen's website. Plus be sure to clear your calendar on the evening of May 5th because Colleen is hosting an author chat party on Facebook to celebrate her A Journey of the Heart series and the release of The Inn at Ocean's Edge! RSVP here!

RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on May 5th!

A Brush with Love by Rachel Hauck (A Year of Weddings Novella) Book Review + Win a Kindle Fire

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the novella from the publisher via Litfuse Group in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions are 100% my own.

About the book-

Ginger Winters is a gifted hairstylist with scars no one can see. The last thing she expects from the New Year is a new chance at love.

Overcoming a childhood tragedy, Ginger emerges from the pain and trauma with a gift for bringing out the beauty in others. From the top big city salons to traveling the world as personal stylist to a country music sensation, success was almost enough to make Ginger forget she would never be one of the beautiful people.

that girl, forever on the outside looking in. But she needs her confidence this weekend. She’s the acclaimed “beauty-maker” for the Alabama society wedding of the decade.

When high-school crush Tom Wells Jr. also returns to town and shows up at her shop looking for a haircut, Ginger’s thinly veiled insecurities threaten to keep her locked away from love, Despite Tom’s best efforts, Ginger can’t forget how he disappeared on her twelve years ago and broke her heart. Can she ever trust him again?

When Tom challenges her to see her own beauty, Ginger must decide if she will remained chained to the past or move freely into a new, exciting future.

My thoughts-

I hadn't heard that there was to be a second Year with Weddings novellas, but I was so excited to get to read the first in the series and look forward to the ones coming up over the next year. I am a sappy girl who enjoys sappy love stories and novellas are a nice little break from longer novels since they are short and can be read in a very small time span. Overall I enjoyed the story and seeing Ginger go from sad and intimidated to being strong and confident and finding true love. I understand that she has scars (both literally and figuratively) from her past, but that she couldn't forgive someone who had hurt her 12 years previously or given him the benefit of the doubt about the way things went down was a little overbearing. I know that there are people out there like that though and thankfully Tom was persistent and she finally gets the full story of why he moved away abruptly. At that point, it makes sense as to why he hadn't previously told her exactly what happened when it did. I was happy to see the story come full circle and to have everything ironed out in the end. It was a great story of forgiveness, redemption and love. I recommend A Brush with Love to anyone who enjoys Christian romance.

About the author-

Rachel Hauck is a RITA finalist and award winning author. She writes from sunny central Florida. 

With strong southern stories, she infuses faith and real life into the lives of her fictional characters.

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A Brush with Love will be available on December 30th. You can pre-order it on Amazon.com


****Enter below for your chance to win a Kindle & a copy of A Brush with Love!****

"Fire" up the romance in the new year with Rachel Hauck's newest book, A Brush with Love, by entering her Kindle Fire giveaway! And be sure to catch a sneak peek of the soon-to-be-released How to Catch a Prince!

 One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• A Brush with Love by Rachel Hauck

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway only runs for a week, 12/30 – 1/5. Winner will be announced January 6th on Rachel's blog.
{NOT ON FACEBOOK? ENTER HERE.}