Waiting for Dawn: A Review

As a fan of the Team Hope series, I was excited to read this prequel to the books I enjoyed so much. Although this story is short, there is a lot of action packed into each page.

When Jim Micah's team is captured in Afghanistan, Lacey and John risk their lives to save him through a covert mission. When bullets fly, so do emotions. Lacey finds herself pulled between an exciting love and a strong, stable love.

This story/novella was a great introduction to the characters for new readers and an extra adventure for faithful readers.

I received this book in exchange for my review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Bittersweet Surrender: A Review

The last few years of Carly's life have been tough: she beat breast cancer but lost her husband in the process. She runs a successful spa, but her best friend and spa manager passed away. With a little chocolate and support from her friend Scott, her life seems to be on the upswing, especially when her high school crush Jake moves back to town. When old secrets are revealed, will Carly have the strength to trust and to love again? 

This book is more than a romance. It's about life's secrets and the ripple effects they have on others. Although the topics are hard (cancer, divorce, gambling, lies), this book is still a light read with funny characters like Magnolia and humorous incidents like mishaps with spa clients.

I also enjoyed the fact that the characters were older...in their 40s or so. Although I'm not yet at that age, I think it's a nice break from the 20-something year old heroine in most Christian romance novels.

Overall, fans of Christian fiction will enjoy this sweet novel.

I received this book in exchange for my review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Lonestar Angel: A Review

Eden and Clay Larson have endured every parent's worst nightmare. Their precious little girl was kidnapped and presumed dead. Unable to face their loss, the two drifted apart. Now they are reunited as the kidnapper makes contact after years of silence. Will the two be able to find their daughter and their way back to one another?

This book kept me intrigued from the first to the last page. The fast-paced plot was intricately woven and contained twists and turns in each chapter. I had read the previous books in the series, and it was nice to see familiar characters play a supporting role in Eden and Clay's story. The romance element was interesting as well since it was a couple who was already married...that was a nice change from the typical romance.

I have a heart for kids in foster care. I taught several kids in the system and mentor a teen in foster care now. The storyline of girls in foster care was done well---showing the flaws and successes. The girls' stories added an emotional element to a suspense novel, raising the overall impact of the story and making it my favorite book in the series.

Fans of Christian fiction will enjoy this addition to the Lonestar tales by Colleen Coble.

I received this book in exchange for my review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Attracted to Fire: A Review

When the vice president's daughter receives death threats, Meghan is given the assignment of protecting the young woman as she goes through therapy for drug addiction on a secluded Texas ranch. When the vice president is sworn in as president, the threats against Lindsay increase and the ranch is attacked. Will Meghan be able to save the president's daughter even if it means losing her heart to the Special Agent in Charge?

I enjoyed this book. I loved the characters, especially Meghan, from the first chapter. She's a great heroine: strong and independent. Even the supporting characters were well-developed and added to the overall theme of the novel. The mystery of who was threatening Lindsay was fast-paced and even though the reader finds out who it is by the middle of the book, the adventure was in finding out how the person would be caught.

Overall, fans of Christian suspense will be delighted with another great book by DiAnn  Mills.

I received this book in exchange for my review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

A Wedding Invitation: A Review

When Samantha Bravencourt receives an invitation to Avery's wedding, she assumes it is her old college friend. However, when she arrives at the wedding, she discovers it's a different Avery. Deciding to stay at the wedding despite not knowing the bride or groom, Samantha runs into a former student, a Vietnamese refugee who is now in America, and her fellow teacher who broke her heart years before. Will Samantha be able to move on from the past hurt to see a beautiful future?

Although slow in some parts, this book is much  more than a romance. It is about past hurts hindering a happy future. The book alternates between the past when Samantha taught the refugees and the current storyline, set in 1993/94. The flashbacks give depth to the plot and, more importantly, the characters although there sometimes seemed to be too many characters. Because there were such great characters, it seemed most of the book was about the characters themselves, not necessarily them doing anything, which stalled the pace of the novel.

Overall, A Wedding Invitation is a thought-provoking read.

I received this book in exchange for my review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Bittersweet Summer: A Review

Nine-year-old Katie is not having a good summer. Her best friend is gone for the summer, her father is thinking about moving to another city, and her annoying neighbor Claire is determined to get their teacher to fall in love with her dad. When she and her brother get a surprise visit from their country music star mother, Katie learns what bittersweet means and what a family really is.

I found this to be a wonderful book. Although I have not read the previous books in the series, I was able to catch up quickly. The characters are well-developed and intriguing. The book deals with difficult topics like a mother who walked out on her family to pursue her dreams, moving, and family dynamics. Each topic is handled in an age-appropriate way with humor keeping the book a fun read.

I recommend this book for younger readers, and I plan to read the rest of the books in the series.

I received this book in exchange for my review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

A Lasting Impression: A Review

When Claire Laurent flees New Orleans, she hopes to leave her past behind, a past of forging paintings for her father and uncle. She ends up at Belmont Mansion as a personal liaison for Adelicia Acklen, one of the wealthiest women in America after the Civil War. When her past comes back to haunt her, will Claire be able to right the wrongs and look to creating a beautiful future?

This book is amazing. I love that Tamera Alexander set the book in the mansion of a real historical legend. The characters are vivid, fresh, and compelling. The plot develops slowly, with each event leading to the revelation of Clarie's past and her final redemption.

I could go on and on about the plots in this book. In addition to the main story of Claire are vivid stories of the effects of the Civil War, family dynamics, and the arrangement of relationships and marriages in that time. These stories add to the overall story of Claire and give a beautiful glimpse into one of America's most tumultuous times.

I recommend this book to Christian fiction lovers. This book captured my attention from the first page and kept me enthralled until the last page.

I received this book in exchange for my review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Fireman Dad: A Review

Marissa has been burned by firemen before. Her father always chose his job over his family, and Marissa grew up longing for a relationship with him. Her late husband lost his life fighting a fire. So when she meets Jake, a firefighter, she is determined to ignore her growing feelings for him. As they plan a fundraiser for firefighters who lost their jobs together, will they be able to get over their differences to find a common ground--love?

Betsy St. Amant knows the world of firefighting since her husband is one, and it shows in this book. The characters and their character growth is realistic and compelling. The added mystery of threats to the fire department adds a little spice to this sweet romance. Fans of Christian romance will enjoy this book.

Book Giveaways!

Congrats to Dawn for winning this week's giveaway! I'll mail your book soon.


I've mentioned that I'm moving, so I am weeding out my books. This week I'm doing something different.  I'm going to list a number of books, and you can get one just by following my blog.
First, follow the blog.
Second, leave a comment with your first two choices of books from the blog post and your email address so I can contact you.
I'll send the books first come, first serve, which is why you should list a few you would want just incase someone else picked the one you want. When the books run out, so will the contest.
I can only ship to the US.


I think that's about it.
Here's the list:
A Thousand Tomorrow's by Karen Kingsbury
Restless in Carolina by Tamara Leigh
Crimson Eve by Brandilyn Collins
Violet Dawn by Brandilyn Collins
Priced to  Move by Ginny Aiken
Always the Baker, Never the Bride by Sandra Bricker
Freedom's Stand by Jeanette Windle
Happily Ever After by Susan May Warren
Blood Lines by Mel Odom
Breaker's Reef by Terri Blackstock

Restless in Carolina: A Book Review

Summary: Widow Bridget Pickwick-Buchanan is determined to find a an eco-friendly buyer for her uncle's land so that he can right a wrong in the family's history. When two men are interested in purchasing the property and also in pursuing Bridget, she has to figure out which man is the one for her and which one is just a "widow sniffer." Will she find out the truth before her heart is broken again?

My thoughts: I enjoyed this book. At first, it was a little hard to get into the book because I didn't click with Bridget as quickly as I did the characters in the previous books in this series. However, I think that shows the character for who she is: rough on the edges and a little odd but after a while, people see her heart and all she has to offer. Bridget's zany idiosyncrasies like her refusal to read the words "happily ever after" to her niece lighten the serious theme of the book, Bridget's anger at God for taking her husband and her struggle to live and to love again.

Overall, it was an enjoyable conclusion to the series, and readers will enjoy seeing what is finally done with Uncle Obe's property.

I received this book in exchange for my review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.