Best Books That I Read in 2016!

Okay, so here we go! The top ten books I've read in 2016! Some of these I've written reviews for, others I haven't. I'll leave a synopsis below each photo. :) Thanks for reading!

10) Courageous (Book #3 in the Valiant Heart series) by Dina Sleiman 

Inspired by the vision of the Young Lady Sapphira, Rosalind of Ipsworth joins a group of men, women, and children as a defender of the cross, seeking to free captives from prisons near Tripoli. She gladly gives herself to the cause, as she's haunted by a tragic mistake and no longer deserves such joys as marriage and family might bring.

Sir Randel Penigree was reared to serve in the church, but dreams of protecting the innocent as a knight. Joining a crusade to escape humiliation at home, he finds himself drawn to Rosalind as they partner to train and protect a group of young adolescents. When they face political machinations, danger, and an unknown enemy bent on their destruction, they are forced to reconsider their priorities and the very nature of the God they serve.

(from Amazon description)

Purchase it here!

9) The Golden Braid (Book #6 in the Medieval Fairy-tale series) by Melanie Dickerson 

Rapunzel can throw a knife better than any man. She paints beautiful flowering vines on the walls of her plaster houses. She sings so sweetly she can coax even a beast to sleep. But there are two things she is afraid her mother might never allow her to do: learn to read and marry.

Fiercely devoted to Rapunzel, her mother is suspicious of every man who so much as looks at her daughter and warns her that no man can be trusted. After a young village farmer asks for Rapunzel’s hand in marriage, Mother decides to move them once again—this time, to the large city of Hagenheim.

The journey proves treacherous, and after being rescued by a knight—Sir Gerek—Rapunzel in turn rescues him farther down the road. As a result, Sir Gerek agrees to repay his debt to Rapunzel by teaching her to read. Could there be more to this knight than his arrogance and desire to marry for riches and position?

As Rapunzel acclimates to life in a new city, she uncovers a mystery that will forever change her life. In this Rapunzel story unlike any other, a world of secrets and treachery is about to be revealed after seventeen years of lies. How will Rapunzel finally take control of her own destiny? And who will prove faithful to a lowly peasant girl with no one to turn to?

(from Amazon description)

Purchase it here!

8) A Daring Sacrifice (Book #2 in the An Uncertain Choice series) by Jody Hudland 

In a reverse twist on the Robin Hood story, a young medieval maiden stands up for the rights of the mistreated, stealing from the rich to give to the poor. All the while, she fights against her cruel uncle who has taken over the land that is rightfully hers. Forced to live in the woods and hide with the poor people she's grown to love, she works to save and protect them, but she never anticipates falling in love with the wealthy knight who represents all she's come to despise.

(from Amazon description)

Purchase it here!

  

7) Chivalrous (Book #2 in the Valiant Hearts series) by Dina L. Sleiman

Read my review here!

and then

Purchase it here! 

6) Rules of Murder (Book #1 in the A Drew Farthering Mystery series) by Julianna Deering

Drew Farthering loves a good mystery, although he generally expects to find it in the pages of a novel, not on the grounds of his country estate. When a weekend party at Farthering Place is ruined by murder and the police seem flummoxed, Drew decides to look into the crime himself. With the help of his best friend, Nick Dennison, an avid mystery reader, and Madeline Parker, a beautiful and whip-smart American debutante staying as a guest, the three try to solve the mystery as a lark, using the methods from their favorite novels.

Soon, financial irregularities at Drew's stepfather's company come to light and it's clear that all who remain at Farthering Place could be in danger. Trying hard to remain one step ahead of the killer--and trying harder to impress Madeline--Drew must decide how far to take this game.

(from Amazon description)

Purchase it here!

5) Summoned to Forgive (Book #2 in the Value His Mission series) by Kaitlyn Newlon 

Read my review here! 

and then 

Purchase it here!

4) Playing the Part (Book #3 in the A Class of There Own series) by Jen Turano 

Read my review here!

and then

Purchase it here!

3) Prophet (Book #1 in the Books of the Infinite series) by R.J. Larson 

Ela Roeh of Parne doesn't understand why her beloved Creator, the Infinite, wants her to become His prophet. She's undignified and bad-tempered, and at age seventeen she's much too young. In addition, no prophet of Parne has ever been a girl. Worst of all, as Parne's elders often warn, if she agrees to become the Infinite's prophet, Ela knows she will die young.

Yet she can't imagine living without Him. Determined to hear the Infinite's voice, Ela accepts the sacred vinewood branch and is sent to bring the Infinite's word to a nation torn apart by war. There she meets a young ambassador determined to bring his own justice for his oppressed people. As they form an unlikely partnership, Ela battles how to balance the leading of her heart with the leading of the Infinite.

(from Amazon description) 

Purchase it here!

2) The Silent Song Bird (Book #7 in the Medieval Fairy-tale series) by Melanie Dickerson 

Evangeline is gifted with a heavenly voice, but she is trapped in a sinister betrothal until she embarks on a daring escape and meets brave Westley le Wyse. Can he help her discover the freedom to sing again?

Desperate to flee a political marriage to her cousin King Richard II’s closest advisor, Lord Shiveley—a man twice her age with shadowy motives—Evangeline runs away and joins a small band of servants journeying back to Glynval, their home village.

Pretending to be mute, she gets to know Westley le Wyse, their handsome young leader, who is intrigued by the beautiful servant girl. But when the truth comes out, it may shatter any hope that love could grow between them.

More than Evangeline’s future is at stake as she finds herself entangled in a web of intrigue that threatens England’s monarchy.Should she give herself up to protect the only person who cares about her? If she does, who will save the king from a plot to steal his throne?

(from Amazon description) 

Purchase it here!

1) Lodestar (Book #5 in the Keeper of the Lost Cities series) by Shannon Messenger 

Read my review for the series here!

and then 

Purchase it here!

If you purchased, read or love any of these books because of my reviews, please let me know in the comments! If any of these books look interesting to you READ THEM! You won't be sorry! And then share this blog post with your friends! :) 

Keepers of the Lost Cities ~ A Book Series Review

When Your Life Turns On Its Ear, Who Can You Trust?

Sophie Foster finds out there is more to her than she thought. In fact, there is more to the world than she thought. She's always known she's been odd. Being able to read thoughts tends to do that. 

But when she is told by a strange boy with the bluest, strangest colored eyes she has ever seen that she is an elf, well that's the start of a grand adventure. 

It turns out Sophie had more than just the ability to read minds. She's also not normal even by elven standers.

Join Sophie, Fitz, Dex, Keefe, Biana, Tam, Linh and the rest of Sophie's friends and family as they fight a new sort of evil in the world and face a threat they aren't sure they will ever be able to beat.

~   ~   ~

DISCLAIMER! This book is not a Christian series but is clean, funny and has a good message for right always winning, despite the cost. 

That being said .... I FREAKING LOVE THIS BOOK!!!!

So I'm going to try to leave as few spoilers as I can, but I love these characters and I think this series is the top of my love list for non-christian books. 

There are a lot of twists and turns in this book. Lodestar made me cry, but that is set off with TONS of hilarious comments from Fitz, Tam and Keefe. I can't put down these books and that can be a problem when I'm trying to be constructive during the day. Haha. 

The only problem is ... HAVING TO WAIT FOR THE STINKING SIXTH BOOK!!! Why, Shannon, WHY?! I love this series, cannot say enough but if you can't wait a year for the next book WAIT! It's torture to wait. 

My favorite characters are:

1) Keefe

2) Fitz

3) Sophie

Comment yours as you read! I'd love to know who's actually taking me up on my books suggestions!

Mrs. Messenger! I LOOOOOOOOVE your books!! I can't put them down and please please please have Fitz kiss Sophie in book 6! I cannot stand this suspense! (Keefe is acceptable too but I've been waiting forever for Sofitz)

Summoned to Forgive ~ A Book Review

Will He Find the Strength to Forgive?

Morgan and Gen are back in the second book in Value His Mission Series!

Morgan is struggling to put the events of six months ago to rest in his mind, but this trip to India with Gen and her family threaten to undo him. When a powerful young man in the village they're making a clinic for disrespects his dead father, Morgan feels a bitter hatred at the man. As trails and triumphs plague the Taylors and Morgan, will he be able to follow God's summoned to forgive? 

♥♥♥

The second novel by Kaitlyn Newlon is just as amazing!

Gen and Morgan become all the more real. With Gen's klutziness, Morgan's humor and caring and just the general family feel made me smile and cry!

I loved the family setting so stinking much!!! The brothers teasing the sisters is sooooo relatable to me! Coming from a family of eight myself, I loved it! Caleb and Hannah are totally my favorite!

However, Miss. Newlon was very evil as well. I mean, it is expected of writers, but serious?! The amount of mauling to both Gen and Morgan was enough to bring me to tears.

Despite all that, I have to give this book a FIVE STAR review! I love, love love this book and I cannot wait to read book three when she releases it! 

Bravo Miss. Newlon! Bravo!

Playing the Part ~ A Book Review

Lucetta Plum is anything but a damsel in distress! 

But everyone else sees the young actress only as the characters she portrays on the stage. When one over-zealous fan drives Lucetta and Mrs. Abigail Hart - the lady persistent on finding a match for Lucetta - from their home, the two ladies seek refuge at Abigail's grandson's ... castle? 

Bram Haverstein has a flare for the Gothic and it is evident in the fact that he bought Ravenwood castle! With all his secrets, his loyal but once less the law-abiding staff, and a 'haunted' castle, Bram has more than his share of adventures. When he meets the actress he's been falling for for a long time, Bram wants to sweep this lovely lady off her feet. But he soon learns that Lucetta isn't the lady waiting for her knight in shining armor he envisioned her to be. In fact, Lucetta isn't anything that Bram imagined and that might just upset the balance of his well-balanced, secret filled life. 

With haunted castles, crazed fans and a match making grandmother and friend, will Lucetta and Bram ever make it to the curtain call? Or will the curtain fall well before then?

♥♥♥

Okay so this is the third book in the A Class of Their Own series by Jen Turano  and I loved it almost as much as the first two! (Read my reviews for those here) This follows the story of Lucetta Plum, Harriet and Millie's friend who is determined to NOT be a lady in need of saving. The reason why is heartbreaking, but I don't want to give away too much info! :)

So the characters.

I found Lucetta to be a little hard to relate too. She's not a lady who needs or wants to be saved, and to be honest, I'm not like that at all. I'm the one who wants a guy to be strong for me, someone I can lean on. Being an actress WAS something I could relate to however, so that was cool.

Is it pathetic that I related to the guy more? Seriously! Bram is a whole lot like me! (Minus the love for the morbid, death and shackles bit.) You'll find out many secrets about him, (one that had me rereading the sentance about three times!) and he is humorous, which I like. I could totally picture him from Jen's description which I LOVE to be able to do.

Abigail was hilarious, as the norm. A little plot twist in the epilogue will have you aw-ing all over the place.

Millie is in it too! Which had me ROLLING as she is by far my favorite character in the series. Well, her and Everett.

Harriet make a brief appearance and they mention her husband, Oliver.

Over all, I give this book 5 FREAKING STARS! Make sure you check out the first two in the series and comment below who your favorite character is!

Bravo Mrs. Turano! I can't wait for your next series! 

    

First Date and Starring Me ~ TWO Book Reviews

Addy Davison has been chosen to be in The Book of Love - a reality TV show - with ninety-nine other girls. The prize? A date with the president’s very handsome, very popular son, Jonathon. Addy is also the only one who doesn’t want to be there. She hates the spotlight and is sure she’ll be eliminated right away, especially since all her ‘co-stars’ and the producer seem to hate her guts.

But Jonathon seems to really like her and the odd meetings they keep having seem to form a special bond between the two. 

As the show moves on, Addy realizes that maybe, just maybe, this is right where God wants her. Perhaps, as her loving uncle reminds her, God’s put her here for such a time as this. 

Based roughly on the story of Esther in the Bible, First Date will leave you in stitches and then in tears. 

Kara McKormick was born to be on the stage. It’s been her dream for as long as she can remember. When she is called back for the role of co host on an all new teen talk show, she is off the walls with excitement. Literally, her family and best friend, Addy, could barely hold her down 

Chad Beacon became an overnight popstar sensation once we won America’s Next Star. Now, with his new talk show on a new teen channel, he’s eager to find his co-host. Except for one little problem. His parents insist on her being a Christian. Not that Chad disagrees. But the stress is awful. 

When both Chad and Kara meet at Jonathon’s house (which just happens to be the White House), they form a bond. But Chad knows that Kara isn’t a Christian. And if only Chad Beacon could be the star she might be playing opposite! 

Starring Me is an amazing sequel to First Date and show what happened after The Book Of Love finished!

♥♥♥

Okay, so. These books were so so so SO good! I finished First Date the day I got it. Same for Starring Me. They are both so hard to put down once you start reading them! 

Addy and Kara were both so real! I could totally relate to Addy, being angry and frustrated with God when His plans don’t match up to what I want. But, like Addy, ultimately I realize that I am where I am for a reason and God’s not going to just make my problems or my situation disappear. 

While I related with Addy, I am much much MUCH more like Kara. I love acting. Though admittedly I’m not as outgoing nor as outspoken. But she was so spunky and fun that I just ended up laughing and crying with her. 

I also really liked how these stories are based roughly on Biblical narratives! As my summary says, First Date was based off Esther. I love that story (Veggietales does an amazing parody of it by the way. Great songs) so this book grabbed me thanks to that. Starring Me, however, took some thinking on my part to find the Biblical parallel. I thought Chad’s parents wanting a Christian for the costar sounded familiar and then it hit me. Issac and Rebekah! It’s so cool to see that unfold in the book. 

So, my rating? 5 out of 5! For sure! I highly highly HIGHLY recommend these books for a quick, lighthearted read! I will for sure be picking up more of Mrs. McGee’s books in the near future!

Chivalrous ~ A Book Review

She refuses to bend to future she doesn't want!

Gwendolyn would rather fight in the countryside than wear gowns and flirt with royals in court. But that is exactly what is expected of her, now that her father has returned from war. 

Harsh, unyielding Lord Barnes is determined to marry Gwen off to the harsh, prideful, domineering Gawain. 

To make things worse, Gwen has fallen for Allen of Ellsworth. 

Allen long ago lost his heart to the beautiful Lady Merry when he was an outlaw with her and the other children in Farthingale forest. But now that she is engaged to Sir Timothy Grey, Allen knows it's time to strike out on his own. 

So he heads off to Britannia, a land that is best known for being like Sir Author's Camelot A place devoted to God and the pursuit of His will. 

  When he arrives, the city is in the midst of preparation for a grand joust, just the thing for a newly appointed knight to try.

It is here that Gwendolyn and Allen meet and fall in love with each other. But they must decide if their's is a love worth fighting untold odds for. In the twists and turns of this book, Gwen and Allen learn what it means to be truly Chivalrous.

♥♥♥

I. Love. This. Series!!!! And I absolutely love love love Dina Sleiman's books. 

The Valiant Heart series continues in Chivalrous with Allen, who was in Dauntless as the spiritual pastor of the Fathingale Forest Ghost. He's recently been promoted to a knight and decides to seek out a different place to live, away from Merry and Timothy. 

I loved the fast pace, ever changing story! The characters from book one come into play and Dina introduces characters that are going to be in book three in a epic way! I can't wait until it comes out. 

Allen was a favorite of mine in Dauntless and I loved the new characters of Gwendolyn and Rosaland. Both Allen and Gwen are strong, courageous people and the battles, adventures, and missteps they have strengthen them and make them wonderful role models.    

I am so excited for book three that's due to come out in July of this year! 

I give this book 5/5! Can't wait for more Mrs Sleiman! 

   

The Choosing ~ A Book Review

Being chosen is everything.

So when Carrington is passed over, her whole world comes crashing down. Her mother, her father, her little brother...gone. 

Now Carrington is a Lint - a girl who wasn't chosen forced to work the rest of her life and follow the Authority. It's a nightmare and when rumors of rebellion being to circulate, all of Carrington's beliefs are rattled. 

When she goes to see the mysterious Aaron speak, her beliefs become more than rattled. 

Join Carrington as she discovers she has always been chosen. It just looks different than what the world says. 

♥♥♥

This book was really, really good! Rachelle took a cue from her father and wrote a world in which perspective is skewed from right and wrong and it take the reader to discpher what that is!

It strats right at the Choosing Ceremony. That was a little confusing, but I soon understood what was happening. Talk about depressing! The poor girls who weren't choosing are never allowed to marry, are forced to work in slummy gross places and are now labeled Lints!

I loved how the figure of Aaron was symbolic to Christ and how he chooses each and every person! He loves us all even when we can't love ourselves and it was truly wonderfully written that way!

The whole deal with the stuttering guard, Renko, Carrington and Issac was so frustratingly wonderful! I won't get into it (Spoilers!) but let's just say I was on the edge of my seat many, many times!

The only thing about this book I disliked was how it made me super moody! If what you read affects your moods, thoughts etc. I would shy away from this novel. It is super depressing for a good chunk of it!

I give this book 4/5! Well done Mrs Dekker! Can't wait for book two!

I was given this book for my honest review from the Book Club Network. 

The Shock of Night ~ A Book Review

The Darkwater claims all who enter it.

And yet here is Willet Dura. Somehow he's escaped it, the lone survivor of a company of soldiers to escape it. Now plagued with sleep walking, (or so he believes it to be,) he is haunted by the things he cannot recall.

Head reeve to the King of Bunard in a world divided by those with gifts and those without, Willet is tasked with solving the mysterious murder of two men - a simple guard and the man he serves. But as the priest is dying, he grasps Willet and screams in a strange tongue. He dies without explaining. 

Now Willet is back to the task of solving the murders. As more and more people show up dead, he discovers a new power to see into the deepest, darkest thoughts of those he touches. Digging deeper, Willet discovers he is now one of the gifted - with a gift that shouldn't exist. 

Join Willet as he strives to solve the murders of those around him and come to grips with his new and potential deadly gift. 

♥♥♥

Patrick Carr is one of my all time favorite fantasy writers! Like, seriously his book Cast of Stones was captivating on so many levels! 

That said, when I saw this book on the Book Club Network I was ecstatic! 

I was slightly less so when I saw the font! 

It is a super duper tiny font that made the book daunting for those of us having a hard time focusing. Add that to the fact that the book is already 450 pages and it makes it quite a heavy read! 

But despite that, I still was enthralled with the premise and twist in The Shock of Night. Nothing is as it seems. While the back of the book seems to tell you exactly what will  happen, the characters and settings take on a whole new meaning as more and more facts come to light. 

The characters were so refreshing! Willet Dura and Gale, his fiance, were fun and witty. The description of the little pickpockets followed nicely with the Prequel Novella I read a few months back. 

All and all, Patrick W, Carr has introduced us to a whole new world of good versus evil and I have to applaud him! 

I give this book a 4/5! Bravo Mr Carr! I can't wait for the sequel to The Shock of Night!

I was given this book by the Book Club Network for my honest review, which I have given. 

Mississippi Nights ~ A Book Review

Two brothers, a car fire and the power of forgiveness.

When firefighter David Boyette's fiance dies in a car fire, one of the first responders is police officer Jeremy Boyette', David's older brother. Unable to do anything, Jeremy is riddled with the guilt of letting his little brother down.

So he leaves.

It's been three years since the devastating crash and Jeremy has finally come home. Deciding he wants to try and mend the rift between himself and David, the brother's must decide if they are willing to forgive.

Will the bond of brotherhood overcome the shadow of hate?  

♥♥♥

This book was amazing!! 

The characters were fresh and the story line unique. I felt the guilt that Jeremy had over letting his little brother down and the pain of losing your true love like David did. 

I loved loved loved the writing style of D.M. Webb. It reminded me of some of my other favorite authors and drew me right in!

That said, I give this book a 5/5! Great job Mrs. Webb! I will be coming back for more!

I was given this book by the Book Club Network for my honest review which I have given. 

Secrets She Kept ~ A Book Review

1973~
Hannah is looking for answers. Answers about her mother and why she seemed to hate Hannah her whole life. When Hannah discovers a grandfather she didn’t even know she had, she travels to Germany. Grossvater is keeping secrets, and Hannah feels like she is in the middle of a heated battle between her grandfather and his doctor friend. With the help of a German taxi driver who becomes her only ally in all of war torn Germany, can Hannah discover the truth of her mother’s past and the Secrets She Kept from her all those years.

1945~
Lieselotte is the daughter of a high-ranking German officer. With WWII in full swing and the communist Germany unfurling its wings, Lieselotte discovers her closest friends are smuggling Jews over the German border. Willing to take the risk and help her friends, and her childhood sweetheart, can Lieselotte stand strong even through the midst of unspeakable pain?

♥♥♥

This story had me in tears numerous times! Set in two different eras, it switches between Hannah Sterling in 1973 and her mother Lieselotte in 1945. The twists and turns of this story tore at my heart and, if I’m to be completely honest, often left me quite depressed. Mrs. Gohlke didn’t shy away from the hard, horrible facts of the Holocaust and spoke plainly about all those women endured in camps.

Hannah’s story was uniquely written, as you learned more about her mother from Lieselotte’s chapter, it tied over into Hannah’s. I loved how characters from Lieselotte’s life come into Hannah’s.

Lukas and Lieselotte’s love was so real. He was so worried about her getting hurt that he distanced himself from her even though he loved her. I thought that was a cool new angle of romance in a story that I don’t see very much.

I don’t want to give away too much. All I can say is I loved loved loved this book and highly recommend it as long as you can handle slightly depressing books! Five stars!

I was given this book for my honest review by the Book Club Network which I have given. All opinions expressed were my own. 

Only One to Love ~ A Book Review

"Morgan, hate never works," His father used to say to him. "It only makes things ten times worse. Whatever you do, love. Do not hate."

~Only One to Love~ 

By: Kaitlyn Newlon

Gen Taylor loves helping people in need. She and her family do it all the time, part of being a missionary kid. So when a village in Africa has a need, the family of eight doesn't hesitate to head out to help them. Once there, Gen finds out how real the need is. She convinces Doctor West and his son, Morgan, to go with her to retrieve some medicine from a nearby city.

But the plane on which they travel goes down - into the biggest fear of Gen's life. 

As Gen and Morgan - the lone survives from the plane crash - struggle to survive on the remote island, will Morgan show Gen that she has nothing to fear from the water? And will Gen help Morgan to see that God has never left, even through all the terrors of his past? That he has never been alone and that there has always been Only One to Love? 

♥ ♥ ♥ 

This book was riveting. I have never been much into contemporary fiction based around missionaries, but his book had me by the first page. The characters were real and I could so relate to having a large family, coming from a family of eight myself. 

When Gen's brother's are grieving, worrying that she is dead, brought tears to my eyes, as did the final chapter in it's entirety. This book was the perfect blend of sweetness, suspense and mystery. The subtle romantic feelings between Gen and Morgan were just enough that it kept me wondering. 

I so hope Miss Newlon writes more to this series. It's undoubtedly a keeper! 

Five stars all the way! Encore and bravo! 

  

The Traitor's Heir ~ A Book Review

Every man has a destiny. His is to betray.

For over five hundred years the River Realm has laid in the hand of the Master. And it is the dream of every young man to join the Gauntlet; the Master's army who is out to overthrow the growing rebellion of Serpents. For Cadet Eamon Goodman, that dream is about to become reality as he takes the oath to serve the Master. 

But in his swearing ceremony, something unexpected happens and a dark, haunting voice starts to control his thoughts, offering him unlimited power. Eamon is confused and unsettled. When his friend is captured and found guilty of being a Serpent, he volunteers to take her to Duntruik, the capital, with the hope of rescuing her.

When their ship is set upon by Serpent men and a young cadet is hurt, Eamon finds he has the power of the King's Grace. Even more confused than before, Eamon discovers that the stories he had been told as a child are true. The line of Kings is alive and well, and the next king is his old friend Hughan, whom he thought long dead. 

Swearing to serve the King as his First Knight, a name that stirs him as none before, Eamon is sent to serve the King in the heart of the Master's kingdom -  Duntruik itself. 

With two completely conflicting, completely unbreakable vows on his shoulders, who is Eamon going to decide to serve? The self enthroned Master? Or the one true King? 

♥ ♥ ♥

First off let me say that The Traitor's Heir was a great allegory of the gospel. I could see how Hughan (The King) was the figure of Jesus or God. His grace came upon Eamon and enabled him to do things he was unable to do apart from him. He gave Eamon a peace and a power he did not understand. Hughan was thought dead by those close to him and revealed himself first to Aeryn, (who we find out later is his betrothed) the close friend of Eamon who he later saves from death. 

Eamon shows the person of faith and the walk of it. He is sworn to serve the Master, and struggles with staying true to the King. He vows to serve the king in the heart of the Master's domain. My favorite part of the book is where Hughan asks Eamon to serve him in this way.    

Eamon looked once more at Hughan. "What would you have me do?" he asked. 

"Keep your promise to the Hands. Go with them to Dunthruik and there, First Knight, in the very heart of my enemy's stronghold, I would ask you to serve me." 

~ The Traitor's Heir • By Anna Thayer ~

I feel that this is the exact thing our King of Kings asks us to do every day. To serve him in a world steeped with the the Master (devil) and he is our power against him.

While I did love this book, I have to give it less than five stars due to a couple things.

1) While the allegory was wonderful, there was a use of profanity that shocked me. The term b*****d was used multiply times as were d**n, d****d, b***h and a*s. While this is a UK published book, and things are laxer over there then here, there is no reason for this amount of swearing. Especially since this is a 'Christian' publisher. 

2) Eamon is a man who is losing himself in the Master's world. This said, he is being tempted and lured by the Master to reveal his secrets. One way is by a lady. There is parts where Eamon falls and succumbs to the woman's beauty and what she offers him. Nothing explicit is mentioned, but a observing reader knows where they are going and what they are doing. 

I can't tell you what to read. You must be the judge. I loved this book apart from the two things mentioned above. I won't be recommending it for anyone younger than 16 and will be hesitant to share it with anyone I know is new to the faith, struggles with swearing, etc. There are two more book sin the series as well, so if you are a must-read-every-book, I wouldn't suggest this book to you. 

I give this book a four star out of five. 

I was given this book for my honest review from the Cook Club Network.       

Crazy Little Thing Called Love ~ A Book Review

Wedding bells and storm clouds collide in the first engaging novel in a brand-new series about destination weddings, the power of love, and the possible mishaps and missteps that happen on a couple’s journey down the aisle to “I do.”

Paramedic Vanessa Hollister has put her adolescence behind her, including the unwanted label of being the new kid in town over and over again, thanks to her father’s military career. She’s overcome what her mother called “the biggest mistake of her life” and is planning an elegant destination wedding in Destin, Florida with her new fiancé. But will the reappearance of her first husband from her what-were-you-thinking teenage elopement disrupt her dream of an idyllic beach wedding?

As a professional storm chaser, Logan Hollister is used to taking risks. However, a reckless decision during the last tornado season has him questioning the future of his team, the Stormmeisters. Coming face to face with his ex-wife eight years after their divorce compels him to confront his greatest regret: losing Vanessa. Does their past give him the right to interfere with her future?

A fast-moving, powerful hurricane throws Vanessa and Logan together as they evacuate to a storm shelter along with other residents of the Florida Gulf Coast. Forced to spend time together, the pair battles unexpected renewed feelings for each other.

Vanessa and Logan are faced with a choice: Should they accept, once and for all, their teenage marital mistake? Or is God offering them a second chance at happily ever after? 

(Taken from https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23492612-crazy-little-thing-called-love?ac=1)

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This book ... oh my word. I was a little hesitant due to the fact that Vanessa and Logan were divorced and she was engaged and the her and Logan got back together. Sound kinda fishy right?

But this book was anything but! Mrs. Vogt weaves the past a present together into a perfect blend of faith, love and destination weddings!

Logan is a stormchaser, which honestly was super cool! The past he is struggling to let go of isn't just letting Vanessa go; it also is the fact that one of his team members ended up in the hospital. I love how he learns to forgive himself. 

Vanessa also learns to forgive. But she also learns what true faith in God is. I thought it was awesome how, once she finally gives everything over to God, how he brings the pieces of her life back together. Who better than the creator of the universe to organize this crazy mess we call our lives? 

I give this book a five stars. Mrs. Vogt blends the past with the present and I am crazy in love with this book.   

I was given this book for my honest review by the Book Club Network for my honest review which I have done. 

The Potter's Lady ~ A Book Review

Rosemaire McKay, newly graduate of the Philadelphia School of Design for Women, convinces her brother, Ewan, to buy a pottery. She is convinced that she can bring in the contracts for her brother. She also reconnects with Joshua Harkness, who owns a rival pottery business but vows to help her.

Rylan Campbell has never liked change. So when Ewan McKay buys the pottery he works at, he braces himself for all sort of change. But it isn't Ewan who brings the change, it is pretty Rose

McKay. When they begin to lose business, Rylan suspects Joshua to be taking advantage of Rose.
When a contest design is announced, can Rose and Rylan put aside differences and join forces to save the pottery both love?

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This book was very sweet and well written. Rylan's character jumped out at me, because like him, I hate change. The way he handles Rose and the changes she brings shows that God can bring good things from the bad. 

The deceit of Joshua hit a little to close to home as well. My family and I have gone through our share of betrayal and it was comforting to know it happens to everyone. 

I loved that the main characters were Irish. It added a flavor to the book that made it even more enjoyable. I learned a lot about pottery as well, which I thought was cool. When I was younger, I wanted to make pottery and it was interesting to see the advanced process that it took to make them in the late 18th century. 

This book was given to me for my honest review which I have give. All opinions expressed are my own. 

Hearts Made Whole ~ Book Review

It's 1865 and Windmill Point, Michigan is the home of Caroline Taylor. She tends the lighthouse after her fathers death. But women aren't allowed to have such roles so it only a matter of tome before the high-strung lighthouse inspector appoints a man to fill her role.


But the problem is Caroline is a excellent keeper; Ryan Chambers is not. A veteran of the Civil War, Ryan is haunted by what he and his men did in battle and outside of it as well. On pain medicine and now a heavy drinker, he is unable to perform his duties. Thank God for Caroline. She is becoming much more then the feisty lighthouse keeps who was supposed to be gone by the time Ryan arrived. He also didn't except this attraction and neither did Caroline....

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Ah! I loved this book. It's written from my home state of Michigan and it was so cool read about real lighthouses that might be able to visit someday. I feel in love with Ryan and Caroline along with Esther and the twins. I never realized how hard it was for ladies in the late nineteenth century.


I thought that Ryan and Caroline's relationship did move pretty fast, though. Or maybe it was just that so much time past so quickly that it just seemed fast. Either way, I did feel like the elements, along with another part, make his book for readers 15+.


I did love this book though and will be passing it around to my family and friends to read as well! Four stars Jody Hedlund! Will be reading more from you!


I was given this book from the Book Club Network for my honest review.

After a Fashion and In Good Company ~ TWO book reviews!

      

  

After a Fashion is the first in a series about three young lady's and the men who win their hearts.

Harriet Peabody has big dreams of running a refashioned gown store for the working class women of New York. Unfortunately, a problem at the hat shop she works results in her getting fired.   

Oliver Addleshaw is close to sealing a big business deal. When he inadvertently gets a young lady fired, he ends up in a deal with the one and only Miss. Harriet Peabody. And a strange thing follows. 

Even though she loves fashion, Harriet can't shake the feeling that she doesn't fit into Oliver's fashion filled world. When a startling fact about Harriet's past, will it destroy the fragile facade she and Oliver have erected. 

The partnership is just for a short while, but maybe the feelings will last forever 

In Good Company is the second book about love in the highly fashionably world in which love is usually an after thought. 

Millie Longfellow is determined to be the best nanny New York social class has ever seen! She loves children and they are naturally drawn to her. But with her unfortunate streak for getting into scraps, she has been fired more times then she can count.

Edward Mulberry is determined to find a nanny to stay with his charges. The three children have the uncanny ability to scare every nanny the agency send him. He has met Miss. Longfellow, but with a tale of her almost drowning a charge of hers, he doesn't think she is the nanny for his children.

But with the employment agency is feed up with both Edward and Millie. They give them one more chance ... with each other.

Will Edward and Millie discover that they are the perfect match for each other? Despite the fact that they are different classes?

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Okay ... I love these books! Jen Turano is awesome writer and she made me laugh one minute and cry the next.

First of ... After a Fashion. Harriet's story had me riveted. And when the end came ... all I can say is I am Lucetta and my friend Isabella is Millie. We both love to write, but she is the one I picture to carry around a dictionary. And I love to do drama, so Lucetta is me. We would be the ones to tell our friend's boyfriend how to propose.

I love Abigail and how she is the matchmaker of the group. I like Reverend Gilmore and how he is the person who helped all three girls.

Okay ... In Good Company. What can I say? Edward and Millie made me laugh so hard in After a Fashion, that when I found out they'd have their own story, I literally screamed and scared my mom who was sitting in the living room! I loved how they went at it in Harriet's story and this story continued right where the last one left off.

Harriet and Oliver are mentioned several times in this story, but I loved how Millie came off the page in a whole new way. She gets in more scrapes and messes up the uses of words expensively, (or is the exponentially,) in this book that you will be rolling on the floor with uncontrollable laughter.  

I fell in love with Edward's little charges, having five siblings of my own. I ached for them as their past came out through the whole story.

So over all, each story won its five stars stand alone. Together ... they get twenty! I am so excited for Lucetta's story and am counting the days until it is released.

I was given these books for my honest review by the Book Club Network and I have given it. All opinions I have give are my own.  

From the Start ~ Book Review

Kate Walker used to believe that Happily Ever After would happen for her. But a relationship that has left her brokenhearted has also made her steel hearted against romance in general. Not good when you write romance TV screen plays for a living. Wanting to write something that means something meaningful, Kate feels lost in her career, unsure of what to do. But when disaster strikes her home town of Maple Valley, Kate hurries to help.


Injured in a football game that leaves him on the bench for good, former NFL quarterback Colton Greene is hiding out at his buddy’s house to avoid the onslaught of media. Wallowing in self pity, Colton’s friend urges him to do something meaningful. His agent is bugging him about writing a book, but where is Colton going to find an author? When his friend’s hometown is ravaged by a tornado, Colton heads along to help.


When Kate and Colton meet, sparks fly. But soon they realize they can help each other; Colton needs an author and Kate needs a job. So they join forces on Colton’s biography. Things seem to be going swimmingly. But life has a way of making itself challenging, even when things seem so right From The Start.

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This book had me rolling with laughter...From The Start. Okay, not really, but I was laughing way more than I normally do with books. Miss. Tagg is so humorous in the way she writes! From the way Kate and Colt meet to the “shower fight” to the end, it was just so fun!


While the book was funny, there was a very real angle to it as well. Colton and Kate struggle with their pasts. Kate’s agent and friend also has a little boy with Leukemia. There is also a young, pregnant teen who Kate helps Miss. Tagg addresses these real life issues with grace and talent. I was crying at one point.


I give this book five stars, no doubt. I would say it is for older teens (+14) due to the issues addressed and some other parts.

I was given this book for my honest review, from the Book Club Network.

Together With You ~ Book Review

Carly Mason is an ex-social worker with a history in helping kids with fetal alcohol effects. When she finds little five year old Penny Tremaine in the stuffed animal shop where she now works at, she is determined not to get involved. But something about Penny tugs at Carly’s heart.

When Ryan, Penny’s handsome father, offers Carly a job as Penny’s nanny, Carly is shocked! She except, albeit rather reluctantly. But soon she is a part of the family., having been accepted not only by Penny, but Ryan’s sons, Kyle and Eric as well as Ryan himself.

When disaster strikes this family that Carly has grown fond of...maybe she even loves them...will she, with the strength of the Lord, be able to keep them from falling apart?

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This book… oh my word. I cannot express in word how drawn into it I was. As the author’s bio says, it did have a Sound of Music feel to it. I am a SoM fanatic, so this book hooked me!

I honestly had little knowledge of Fetal Alcohol Effects before reading this book and it was a real eye opener to see how much these kids, and in the case of the story, there parents struggle.

I give this book a four star review! I loved it, but the fact that Carly fell in love with a non-believer and still had a happy ending made me go “eh?” just a little. That doesn’t usually happen and heartbreak can come from falling in love with non-believers. I definitely say this book is for older teens (+15). Otherwise, great book!

I was given this book from the Book Club Network for my honest review.

Beyond All Dreams ~ Book Review

Anna O'Brien leads a predictable and quiet life as a map librarian at the illustrious Library of
Congress until she stumbles across a baffling mystery of a ship disappeared at sea. She is thwarted in her attempts to uncover information, but her determination outweighs her shyness and she turns to a dashing congressman for help.

Luke Callahan was one of the nation's most powerful congressmen until his promising career became shadowed in scandal. Eager to share in a new cause and intrigued by the winsome librarian, he joins forces with Anna to solve the mystery of the lost ship.

Opposites in every way, Anna and Luke are unexpectedly drawn to each other despite the strict rules forbidding Anna from any romantic entanglement with a member of Congress.

From the gilded halls of the Capitol, where powerful men shape the future of the nation, to the scholarly archives of the nation's finest library, Anna and Luke are soon embroiled in secrets much bigger and more perilous than they ever imagined. Is bringing the truth to light worth risking all they've ever dreamed for themselves? (Taken from http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22504481-beyond-all-dreams)

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I loved this book! From the main character sharing my name to the guy having my favorite guy name! I learned a lot about the Spanish American war I didn't know before. 

Luke was a good guy character. I liked that he wasn't overly friendly to her to quickly and that Anna was aloof and didn't fall for his charm. This book grabbed my attention from page one and held to the last page. I loved Anna and how much of a book worm she is, just like me!

I know this isn't a very long review, but I just can't think of anything else to say! This book was amazing and nothing was bad about it! The ending was hilarious and I laughed so hard I almost cried! I read this book in like three days and could hardly be parted from it.

I enjoyed it a lot and will be looking for more book by Miss. Camden in the future for sure! Five stars all the way!   

Dauntless ~ Book Review

Merry was once a noble woman destined to marry a handsome noble man. But with a fear of her arranged marriage, the kind noble offers to wait for her and seals that promise with a kiss. One kiss to last a lifetime. But with her father's failed attempt to over throw the evil King John, her whole life changes.

That was many years ago. Now, Merry is the leader of the Ghost of Farthingale Forest whoa re really just the children from her father's village, children who lost their parents due to the evil of the king. Merry would do  anything to protect these children. Except forget the kiss of that one very special boy...

Timothy has never forgotten Lady Ellison. Now working for a king's man, he is charged with finding the Ghosts. And he is determined to do it, no matter the cost. But when Timothy finds out who the real ghosts are, and who is their fearless, Dauntless leader is, will Timothy give up his job and potion for them? Or will his heart become an little bit more like Merry's?

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Okay, I have to say, I can't be real judgmental on this one! :-) I absolutely loved this book! From the plot to the every single character to the placing and time. Merry and her bow made me want to get mine out at start shooting right away! Timothy was a gentleman through everything he did, even if some of his choices weren't the wisest! I loved little Wren and wise 'pastor' Allen. 

I loved how the story mentions Robin Hood and his Merry Men and how the little band of outcast children strive to be like him. 

I can think of no bad part of this book! Only that the themes and feelings are more directed for older teens (14+)

I give this book a FIVE STAR!!!!Can't wait for book #2 in September!  

 I was given this book from the Book Club Network for my honest review, which I have given.