Eventide by Shelley Shephard Gray

Eventide is the riveting conclusion to The Days of Redemption trilogy by Shelley Shepard Gray, celebrated author of tender Christian romance novels set in Amish country.
 
Honest and faithful Elsie Keim falls for her new neighbor, Landon, but she can’t bear to tell him the truth: She’s going blind.
 
Landon is enamored with Elsie. When Elsie’s brother Roman steps in and shares the truth of Elsie’s disease, Landon is floored. His job is demanding and takes him away from home, sometimes for days at a time. He wonders how he’d be able to keep up with his responsibilities and take care of Elsie.

In Eventide, three generations of the Keim family come together to make their dreams come true.
 
Shelley Shepard Gray, bestselling author of the Sisters of the Heart books, draws her Days of Redemption trilogy to a heart-warming finish

Goodreads Summary

This was one book that I can say I really enjoyed the beginning, middle, and end of the series.  Elsie has quite the confession to make-she's going blind.  Personally, I couldn't imagine having to figure out what to do and how to live much less tell someone about it.  I felt terrible for Elsie throughout the entire book.  Landon is falling in love with Elsie, but he is not yet aware of her situation.  Some men (and women) would not want to deal with someone (in a romantic capacity) who might end up blind.  Landon, on the other hand, rises up the situation and begins to prepare and hope he can help Elsie.  Landon discovers Elsie's problem in the worst way-his brother tells him rather than Elsie telling her secret.  I thought that that was a shame.  If I were in Elsie's shoes, I would want to tell Landon myself.  

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel.  I thought that author kept the plot moving at a nice, lively pace and that the characters were easy to get to know and love.  Elsie was a very intense and sympathetic character.  I really loved Landon because of his easy acceptance of Else's condition.  He was handsome, capable, and charismatic-what more could you want from a love interest? I thought that the author summed up the ending well, too.  This book is perfect for those who have previously loved this series as well as adults who enjoy Christian fiction.

4 Stars


This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.

Beautiful Battlefields By: Bo Stern

Bo Stern realizes life is full of fierce and unexpected battles. When her husband was diagnosed with a terminal illness, she knew she had found her Goliath. With winsome sincerity, Bo points to the battle plans available to us in Scripture and to our God who brings beauty from the struggles we face.

Goodreads Summary


Although I haven't endured the battle of my life yet (not looking forward
to it), I've seen and heard how others (friends and family) have met and
dealt with their "Goliath".  One family member began with little religious
faith...and ended with even less.  He did not see the beauty in the battle
- only the loss and heartache. Others found strength in family ties and
spirituality.  Friends who faced battles that didn't end in death seemed
to experience stress, but approached the situations with humor.

Bo Stern's description of her response to her husband Steve's ALS
diagnosis and illness is a gift to those who are fighting their own
battles.  It's a gift for someone like me - to see how I may approach my
own future battle.  It's a gift to learn how to help (in some small way)
those who are being crushed by the weight of despair and wondering "Why
me?".

Stern invites us, "Let's find some beauty, shall we?", and she does.  Even
if we don't know what greater good God intends to come from our battles,
there is a larger purpose.  There is endurance...and endurance may lead to
joy.  Stern includes so many wonderful quotes from Scripture.  A favorite
for me was from Romans:  "We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that
suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and
character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame."  Some battles
are too hard and too long (I wish no one had these battles), but Stern
helps to put a new perspective on what's really important to the fight.
Assemble your army - and help one another.  Appreciate every minute of
your day...and the beauty of people and nature around you.

5 Stars


*Reviewed by Kristin*

This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.

Sweet Dreams by Carla Stewart

It's 1962, and Dusty Fairchild, daughter of a self-made millionaire and oilman, wants to go to college. Instead she is sent to a private finishing school in East Texas. Although she's never wanted for material possessions, Dusty longs for independence and adventure. The only upside to attending Miss Fontaine's is having her cousin and best childhood friend, Paisley, join her. Paisley has traveled the country with her bohemian mother, but she dreams of putting down roots and living a settled life. At Miss Fontaine's, their loyalty to each other binds them, but when they fall in love with the same handsome young man, their relationship teeters on shaky ground. Only after a tragic accident do they learn where their true hearts-and dreams-lie.

Goodreads Summary

Dusty and Paisley are cousins and best friends that had very different lifestyles. Dusty
grew up sheltered and without a mother; as an adult, she now wants to attend college and
become a geologist. Finishing school and a marriage are what Dusty’s father has planned for
her instead. Paisley thinks she is fated to follow her mother all over the map forever, leaving
one bad situation only to find another, in vain attempts to gain stardom. Flint Fairchild, Dusty’s
father, loves Dusty and Paisley. After Dusty asks if her cousin can attend Miss Fontaine’s
finishing school, Flint is happy to pay Paisley’s tuition. At the school, the girls learn about
themselves, face their fears, and test the strength of their relationship.

Dusty and Paisley are strong young women that have goals they worry may be
impossible to achieve. Geology is not a “typical” major of southern girls, and Paisley’s unstable
upbringing has led her to believe she cannot establish herself in a community. Dusty and
Paisley are girls that I might meet during a class or when spending time with my friends. Carla
Stewart’s writing is smooth and descriptive; I could easily picture the beautiful house where
Miss Fontaine holds her etiquette classes and the opulent stores where the girls shopped.
Lovers of coming-of-age stories or readers who like to read about unbreakable friendship will
love Sweet Dreams.

4 Stars

"Reviewed by Chelsea"

This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.

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Of Beast and Beauty by Stacey Jay

In the domed city of Yuan, the blind Princess Isra, a Smooth Skin, is raised to be a human sacrifice whose death will ensure her city’s vitality. In the desert outside Yuan, Gem, a mutant beast, fights to save his people, the Monstrous, from starvation. Neither dreams that together, they could return balance to both their worlds.

Isra wants to help the city’s Banished people, second-class citizens despised for possessing Monstrous traits. But after she enlists the aid of her prisoner, Gem, who has been captured while trying to steal Yuan’s enchanted roses, she begins to care for him, and to question everything she has been brought up to believe.

As secrets are revealed and Isra’s sight, which vanished during her childhood, returned, Isra will have to choose between duty to her people and the beast she has come to love.

Goodreads Summary

Stacey Jay has a magical ability to pull readers into the strange worlds she creates. Her
powerful, poetic writing caused me to lose myself for three hours as I devoured her book. Of Beast and Beauty is unlike her previous novels, Juliet Immortal and Romeo Redeemed. Jay’s latest novel is a retelling of the classic story Beauty and the Beast that she has made her own.

Beast is a princess named Isra who must die to ensure her people will live. Blind and a “Smooth
Skin” that is afraid she is “Monsterous”, Isra is part of a curse she knows nothing about. Gem is Beauty, a man labeled “Monsterous” that lives in the desert, working against Isra to save his own dying people. Isra and Gem come from different worlds, but share an inner strength and perseverance. To save themselves and the people they love, the two will face an ancient evil.

Although Of Beast and Beauty was difficult to put down, the culmination of the plot was
unsatisfying. The plot flowed too easily and left me feeling disappointed; the book proceeded exactly as expected. I felt as though I knew how the book would progress as soon as I began reading. Still, falling into the world of Isra and Gem was enjoyable, and I would recommend the book to readers who have enjoyed Jay’s earlier novels or other retellings.

3.5 Stars

"Reviewed by Chelsea"

This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.

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Unthinkable by Nacy Werlin

Fenella was the first Scarborough girl to be cursed, hundreds of years ago, and she has been trapped in the faerie realm ever since, forced to watch generations of daughters try to break this same faerie curse that has enslaved them all. But now Fenella’s descendant, Lucy, has accomplished the impossible and broken the curse, so why is Fenella still trapped in Faerie?

In her desperation, Fenella makes a deal with the faerie queen: If she can accomplish three acts of destruction, she will be free, at last, to die.  What she doesn't realize is that these acts must be aimed at her own family and if she fails, the consequences will be dire, for all of the Scarborough girls.

How can she possibly choose to hurt her own cherished family not to mention the new man whom she’s surprised to find herself falling in love with? But if she doesn’t go through with the tasks, how will she manage to save her dear ones?

Goodreads Summary

Fenella was stolen from her family and saw the boy she loved killed. Then, Fenella and all her
descendants were cursed because she could not solve a riddle given to her by her captor. Fenella
watched generations of daughters fail at solving the riddle, after which they were forced to join her in
the land of the faeries. After hundreds of years, Lucy was able to break the curse with the help of her
family, and Fenella is now free. With her freedom, Fenella wants to die. Her desperation to die leads
her to make a foolish contract with the Faerie Queen. Fenella will lose her immortality if she carries out three destructive tasks against her family. Should Fenella fail, she and her family will pay a horrible price. To fulfill the agreement she foolishly entered into, Fenella will hurt the people she loves and the man she is beginning to care about.

Nancy Werlin is a master storyteller. Her talent for creating complex characters and
extraordinary situations is enviable. Every book Werlin has written, I have loved and reread numerous times. Teen readers will feel empathy for Fenella and cheer for her as she battles her doubts, fears, and past.

4 stars

"Reviewed by Chelsea"

This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.

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Wild Cards by Simone Elkeles

After getting kicked out of boarding school, bad boy Derek Fitzpatrick has no choice but to live with his ditzy stepmother while his military dad is deployed. Things quickly go from bad to worse when he finds out she plans to move them back to her childhood home in Illinois. Derek’s counting the days before he can be on his own, and the last thing he needs is to get involved with someone else’s family drama.

Ashtyn Parker knows one thing for certain--people you care about leave without a backward glance. A football scholarship would finally give her the chance to leave. So she pours everything into winning a state championship, until her boyfriend and star quarterback betrays them all by joining their rival team. Ashtyn needs a new game plan, but it requires trusting Derek—someone she barely knows, someone born to break the rules. Is she willing to put her heart on the line to try and win it all?

Goodreads Summary

Teen drama is Simone Elkeles’ specialty. Wild Cards is extremely similar to her popular Perfect
Chemistry trilogy that teen girls adored and devoured. This resemblance to her earlier work is good;
readers of her novels expect and want to read about heartache, drastic situations, and the growth of the characters who are trying to navigate their complicated lives.

The heroine of Wild Cards is Ashtyn Parker, a girl who takes no prisoners when playing football,
but is terrified of being left behind. She is the captain of her high school varsity football team, a position she was elected to by her fellow players who admire her determination and skill. Landon, Ashtyn’s boyfriend, wanted to be captain and refuses to play on a team that he will not be leading; so, he leaves his team of three years to join the school’s rivals. He even helps his new rival team to harass Ashtyn. To beat their rivals and play college football, Ashtyn is going to need a miracle.
 
Derek, the hero of Wild Cards, might be that miracle. A football hero who refuses to play,
Derek’s antics cause him to be expelled from his fancy boarding school. Expulsion means that Derek is forced to follow Brandi, his pregnant stepmother back to Illinois, where she grew up. Derek plans to finish his senior year and then leave; falling for Ashtyn was not part of his plan. Ashtyn is Brandi’s
younger sister and Derek’s sister-in-law. The twist-and-turn filled plot of Wild Cards is the ideal balance of romance and growth.

4.5 stars

"Reviewed by Chelsea"

This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.

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Interview and Giveaway for Conjured by Sarah Beth Durst!

1) Did you have a specific inspiration for the plot?

There's a myth that inspiration always comes as a lightning strike.  Sometimes it does.  But sometimes it's more like little flames that are drawn to each other -- sometimes even when you're not looking.

CONJURED was like that.  Eve began as a minor character in another (unfinished) story, but I couldn't stop thinking about her and soon she eclipsed her genesis and became the heart of this story.

Sometimes you just have to follow your instinct -- or more accurately, your passion.  If there's a character you can't stop thinking about or an idea that nags you when you're doing something random, like cleaning the dishes or taking a shower... sometimes you have to take the risk and follow it where it leads you.

2) What would you do/how would you react if you were in Eve's position?

If I were me... well, I wouldn't be me.  And that's Eve's most serious problem: she has no identity.  She has to build herself up from scratch, trying to separate truth from lies and memories from dreams.  She has to go from no one to someone.  If I were in her shoes...  I hope that, like Eve, I'd be able to string the pieces together and come up with a new whole self that's my own design, not someone else's.  

3) What is one power you would love to have and why?

I'd love to have telekinesis because it has such potential for awesomeness.  Then again, I'd feel such guilt if I didn't use it to save the world on a regular basis!  Great power, great responsibility, and all that.  Maybe it would be easier to have a smaller power... like never saying anything stupid.

4) Who was your favorite secondary character to write about?

I adore Malcolm.  He was really comforting to write because he's full of such solid strength and integrity.  But the character who was most fun to write was Zach.  He has a tendency to babble, and he only tells the truth.  Writing him felt a bit like turning on a faucet of refreshing water.

5) If you could choose a love interest from the book, who would you choose?

Malcolm.  Zach's a bit too young for my taste, plus he and Eve need each other too badly for me to interfere.

6) Are you currently working on any other novel?

Yes.  Actually, two!  My next novel, THE LOST, will be coming out from Harlequin/Mira in June 2014.  It's my first novel for adults and the first in a trilogy.  My next YA novel, MIND OVER MAGIC, will be coming out from Bloomsbury/Walker in fall 2014.  I'm really excited about both!

Thank you so much for interviewing me!

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Barefoot Summer by Denise Hunter

Madison’s heart closed the day her twin brother died.

Since losing her twin, Michael, in a drowning incident, Madison has rejected the faith he lived by. Instead, she’s devoted her life to fulfilling Michael’s dream—winning the River Sail Regatta in their small Indiana town, Chapel Springs.

As she trains for the regatta, Beckett O’Reilly is teaching Madison to swim. But he’s keeping a painful secret from her—and as they grow closer, that secret threatens to upend their lives . . . and the lives of both their families.

Goodreads Summary

Barefoot Summer is the ideal poolside or vacation read.  Madison McKinley lost her twin brother
as a teen, but continues to struggle with his loss as an adult.  She hopes to gain closure by achieving her
brother’s dream of winning their home town’s annual regatta.  Though she cannot swim and does not
know how to sail, Madison is determined to honor her brother’s memory. 
Beckett O’Reilly has been in love with Madison since they were teens.  After a disastrous
attempt to ask Madison on a date results in her despising him, Beckett decides to ignore his feelings. 
However, when Madison needs his help, Beckett immediately agrees to assist her.  The romance and
personal growth that follow create a whirlwind plot; both characters find God and personal peace and
build a relationship.  Denise Hunter’s novel is well-written and has left me eager to read the rest of the
series.

4 stars

"Reviewed by Chelsea"

This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.

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Broken is $4.99 as an ebook!

Click here to find this book on Amazon at a sale price!

The Last Gentle Dentist Spotlight!

Based on actual events, spanning continents from San Francisco to Paris, from Amsterdam to Odessa, from New York to Siberia, The Last Gentle Dentist is a novel about a modern age Casanova, a romantic-vigilante, who is fond of pain medications and elective plastic surgery, whose life is a tumultuous river running with the speed of a putrid pond, which makes an unexpected turn when he goes on the run from the law due to charges of medical fraud.
 “The narrator finds himself a wanted man and begins his odyssey through Europe and America, a fast-paced and often sexually explicit journey from one stranger’s bed, couch, bathroom and bungalow to the next.”-Kirkus Reviews
 The novel has received honorary mention at the 2013 South West Book Festival and 2013 San Francisco Book Festival. The Last Gentle Dentist on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1akxct4 Website: http://www.thelastgentledentist.com/ Giveaway Info Oliver is giving away prizes, including an e-copy of his book at each blog stop on his tour AND two Grand Prize Giveaways of a $50 Amazon gift card OR a signed hardback copy of his book.
 To win an ebook: Leave a comment on this blog post to be entered to win a book. Be sure to leave your email address in the comments so we can contact you if you’re the lucky winner. This giveaway ends five days after the post goes live. To win the $50 Amazon gift card, or a signed copy of The Last Gentle Dentist click the link to go to Oliver’s website here: http://www.thelastgentledentist.com/ and enter the Rafflecopter at the bottom of the page. Winners will be randomly selected on September 30th.

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Oliver Pearl’s Bio: Age: Early Forties
Place Of Birth: At Sea
Physical Description: Reclusive, yet to be seen
Residence: South of France
 Links The Last Gentle Dentist website- http://www.thelastgentledentist.com/ The Last Gentle Dentist on Twitter:

Links

The Last Gentle Dentist website- http://www.thelastgentledentist.com/

The Last Gentle Dentist on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LastGentleD

The Last Gentle Dentist on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLASTGentleDentist

The Last Gentle Dentist on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1akxct4

The Last Gentle Dentist on Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/1cZRNUq

Banned Book Giveaway Hop!

On this blog you can choose a banned book!


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Chat with Gayle Forman-author of Just One Day!

JUST ONE DAY is @PenguinUSA’s Twitter book club pick for September &
tonight is the final Twitter chat with Gayle Forman!

TIME: 7:00 – 8:00 PM Eastern
TOPIC: General discussion about Just One Day
Follow the conversation and ask questions using the hashtag #readpenguin!

Afloat by Erin Healy

Dark waters are rising.
There’s sabotage lurking in the waters of Eagle’s Talon, an elite floating community designed by gifted architect Vance Nolan. There’s also something else in the water—a mysterious presence friendly to some and hostile to others. And when disaster strikes, not even the saboteur expects it to be the first in a series of crushing blows.
Stranded by a flood and surrounded by unnatural darkness, a limping band of residents, builders, and investors set their sights on escape. Single mom Danielle Clement will do whatever it takes to save her young son Simeon, but she doesn’t know who to follow: her charismatic lover and aspiring politician Tony Dean, who dotes on her and her boy, or the selfless Vance, who promises protection for everyone who stays with him—based on a vision and a faith she doesn’t share.
In this watery world where everyone’s secrets will eventually come to light, survival might have more to do with uncovering the truth than with getting out alive.

Goodreads Summary

I love books concerning scary mysteries.  This book made me read it straight through...I literally couldn't put it down.  This book is filled with disasters-everything from sinkholes to mysterious presences that are both dangerous and benevolent depending on who the character is.  As people struggle to survive in the midst of these problems secrets emerge that affect the group as a whole.  The reader will find him/herself glued to the pages as the secrets unfold.  

I really loved the plot of this story.  Some readers (like myself) may find the book initially confusing, but it soon becomes easier to read as the backstories clarify themselves.  I didn't like all of the characters, but I wasn't necessarily supposed to.  Many readers will find themselves torn between the two love interests.  It was easy to get caught up in Danielle's life.  I really wanted to slide in to the story and make the decision for her.  Overall, this book is ideal for adult readers.

4 Stars

This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.

Pennsylvania Patchwork by Kate Lloyd

ONE HEART. TWO LOVES. ONE CHOICE.

Seattle native Holly Fisher is smitten by Lancaster County, its simplicity and her long lost relatives. In the sequel to bestselling  Leaving Lancaster, Holly embraces the Amish culture, learning to slow down to see what  - and who – really matters.  Meeting the family that her mother had kept hidden from her, Holly comes face to face with her real life and blood legacy. She also falls for the charming Zach, a handsome Mennonite veterinarian who is everything she’s ever wanted in a husband: confident, kind, successful, and authentic. And Zach proposes marriage. Is this too soon? Is this the right choice? Mother and Amish grandmother think she’s rushing into too much of a lifestyle change. Holly is in love with Zach and that precludes everything. Until she meets an attractive Amish man. And an old suitor shows up. 
Pennyslvania Patchwork is the moving, richly told story of one woman’s heart, her faith and trust, and the choices she makes. Never easy, but one choice can change your destiny.

Goodreads Summary

I would hate to be torn between a few guys...like poor Holly is.  Holly has been thrown for a loop-she did not even know her mother had a family that she sort of kept secret.  When she finally meets them and the life she could have known, she isn't quite sure what to make of it.  She is further confused when she meets Zach and begins to fall in love with him.  Her feelings are not really scaring her, but she is unsure of what course she wants to take when an old suitor pops up and she begins to have feelings for an Amish man, as well.  If I were her, I would just choose and stay the course, but the reader will get to follow her thought process as she attempts to decide.

I did like Holly, but I didn't like how indecisive she was.  I wanted to shake her and tell her to make up her mind.  I honestly didn't have much of a preference when it came to the guys.  I felt like they could all offer her something-though I wasn't as fond of the old suitor.  Ultimately, this book is for adults who enjoy an engaging love story.

4 Stars

This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.

Barefoot Summer by Denise Hunter

Madison’s heart closed the day her twin brother died.

Since losing her twin, Michael, in a drowning incident, Madison has rejected the faith he lived by. Instead, she’s devoted her life to fulfilling Michael’s dream—winning the River Sail Regatta in their small Indiana town, Chapel Springs.

As she trains for the regatta, Beckett O’Reilly is teaching Madison to swim. But he’s keeping a painful secret from her—and as they grow closer, that secret threatens to upend their lives . . . and the lives of both their families.

Goodreads Summary

How would you feel is your twin died?  I really can't even imagine the incredible pain and horror that Madison, the main character, must have felt.  Madison felt like she lost her connection to God when her twin, Michael, died in a drowning accident.  She decides that she is better off trying to win the River Sail Regatta-a dream of her late brother's.  The more she trains, the more she interacts with Beckett O'Reilly...and they begin to grow closer.  Beckett holds a painful secret close to his heart; he needs to learn to trust Madison and allow her to help him before it's too late.  

I did like the plot of this story.  I thought that the secret Beckett had to tell was surprising and I never would have guessed it if I hadn't peeked into the back of the book.  It was interesting to see how Beckett's secret tied in to other families' lives and affected Madison.  It was odd for me to learn more about Beckett that I did not necessarily like because he is just such a "great guy."  He is the guy that a lot of girls would swoon for-charismatic, handsome, caring, etc...  Overall, this is the perfect book to take on an airplane or read near the lake; this book is recommend to adult readers.

4 Stars

This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.

The Bare Naked Truth by Bekah Martin

The Truth About Sex and Waiting ... Uncovered Purity. Sex. Boys. Waiting. There's something about those words that makes everything complex in a heartbeat, and raises more questions than answers. Is there something wrong with me if I don't kiss a boy after a date? Or am I doomed if I DID? What if waiting is just a one-way trip to life as a crazy cat woman? And what if I tend to, um, think about a certain boy in a certain way? It seems that the lady at church and your friends have two very different opinions on the subject. And 'Your Budding Womanhood: Staying a Beautiful Flower for Jesus' just isn't cutting it. Bekah Hamrick Martin knows the waiting game isn't easy or straight-forward. In The Bare Naked Truth, she lays everything on the table---including some embarrassing moments---as she explores the honest, naked truth behind what God means by purity. With additional entries from popular authors, you'll see the bare naked approach to waiting isn't always easy, but it's worth the risk.

Goodreads Summary


I think that this book might not be for everyone...but that it certainly contains useful information that will help girls in relationships.  I wish I had had this book about a year ago (I would have loved to know alternatives to every situation).  This book contains plenty of embarrassing stories that will make the reader cover her face with the book, but I think it is worth plowing through.  In the end, I was grateful that the author was that honest.  Everyone has different opinions on boys, dating, purity, etc... and I found the authors' opinion very valuable.

This book does contain multiple Bible references and verses-why this book might not be for everyone.  However, I did find the truthful tone very refreshing and think it would be interesting if young girls gave this book a chance.  This book is recommended to teens/young adults.

4 Stars

This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.

Rocky Road Book Blast!

Rocky Road It was supposed to be a girls’ weekend in scenic St. George, Utah that would include shopping, trying out the local cuisine, and participating in a breast cancer fundraiser. The fact that one of the organizers of the fundraising event, a local doctor, disappeared two months ago was not supposed to be Sadie’s problem. In fact, she refuses to participate in the grassroots investigation her friend Caro, and Caro’s cousin, Tess, have put together prior to her arrival. But then she meets the ex-wife of the missing doctor. How could she not ask a few questions . . . that lead to a few more questions . . . that lead to a small town and yet even more questions. Before she knows it, Sadie is in the middle of yet another murder investigation and trying to piece together a convoluted trail of good intentions, hidden motivations, and philanthropy turned big business.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

 

Author Josi S. Kilpack Born and raised in Salt Lake City Utah, I met my husband in high-school--well, he wasn't my husband then, just the cute guy in weight training with the permed mullet--and we married in 1993. I wrote my first book while on bed rest with my third child and have gone on to publish 20 novels, the most recent being part of The Sadie Hoffmiller Culinary Mystery Series. I currently live in Willard, Utah with my husband, children, and cat.  

Website * Twitter * Blog

 

Tour Schedule

Culinary Mysteries by Josi Kilpack

  BookBlast Giveaway $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 10/6/13   Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Little Fish Book Feature and Giveaway!

Summary:

To eighteen-year-old Ramsey Beyer, the transition from a high school in small town Michigan to freshman year of college at a bustling art school wasn't entirely easy. Like most college freshman, Ramsey experienced an entire range of emotions through the year, from being painfully homesick to gleefully independent - and everything in between. And yet, overall, and in Ramsey's own words, at college she felt "limitless . . . like I'm challenging everything I thought I knew." Little Fish artfully tells the story of that different kind of year.

• Zest Books Little Fish Blog Tour page: http://zestbooks.net/little-fish-blog-tour 
• Zest Books Little Fish book page:http://zestbooks.net/little-fish/

Little Fish can be ordered now:

• IndieBound: [and your favorite independent bookseller by extension!] http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781936976188
• Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Little-Fish-Memoir-Ramsey-Beyer/dp/1936976188/
• Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/little-fish-ramsey-beyer/1114267270
• The Book Depository (for those of you who have readers outside of the USA, this site offers free shipping internationally to any country): http://www.bookdepository.com/Little-Fish-Ramsey-Beyer/9781936976188
• The Little Fish book page has a page also has a “buy now” button: http://zestbooks.net/little-fish/

MORE about Zest Books:

Zest Books is an award-winning publisher of smart and edgy titles that focus on the colorful chaos of teen life, covering timely topics in creative ways by incorporating solid life advice, practical how-to instruction, and humorous commentary. Little Fish is part of Zest Books' line of True Stories memoirs and first person accounts. Distributed by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, you can learn more about Zest Books at http://www.zestbooks.net

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The Reluctant Bachelorette is FREE on Amazon!

The Reluctant Bachelorette by Rachael Renee Anderson

Unknowingly cast as the bachelorette for her town’s charity event, Taycee Emerson wants out. Especially when she discovers her old teenage crush, Luke Carney, is one of the bachelors and it’s up to the viewers–not her–to decide which bachelors stay or go.

Coerced into participating, Taycee does what any self-preserving girl would do. She launches a subtle attack on Luke’s good name with the hope of getting him voted off the show. Unfortunately, Luke’s an eye-for-an-eye kind of guy, and when he discovers what she’s up to, it means revenge.

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The Fallout by S.A. Bodeen: Guest Post!

 

 

Building a World…

With The Fallout about to be released, I find myself wondering what readers will think about the setting, because it is quite different from that in the first book. Readers ask me all the time about the room with the yellow door in The Compound. The compound itself was quite static. By that I mean the reader was privy to basically the whole layout: the rooms, what was in them, where they were located. And that wouldn’t do. Not at all. I needed a secret. I just knew that there had to something that made Eli uncomfortable, and maybe something he didn’t know about, which then gave the reader something they didn’t know about and perhaps made them uncomfortable. (Because a comfortable reader is a bored reader. And I didn’t want that.) So I came up with the room with the yellow door. At first I had no idea what was behind that door. And then I figured it out, and I love how uncomfortable the contents of that room make the readers. Without giving anything away, I will say that while The Fallout doesn’t have a room with a yellow door, there is a room that, I suspect, will create a lot of discomfort among readers…

The House That Love Built by Beth Wiseman

Brooke has only loved one man. Owen's heart is filled with bitterness. Can a mysterious house bring them together for a second chance at love?

In the small town of Smithville, Texas, Brooke Holloway is raising six-year-old Meghan and ten-year-old Spencer on her own two years after her husband's death. Being a single-mom and running the family's local hardware store keep her busy.

While Meghan longs for a daddy, Spencer has threatened to run away if Brooke even goes out on a date. But the last thing on Brooke's mind is falling in love. When a stranger moves to town and buys a house with a mysterious past, Brooke can't contain her curiosity. As she spends time with the new owner, she wonders if maybe God is giving her another chance at happiness.

Owen Saunders fled the big city to start over in a small, rural town famous for baking the world's largest gingerbread man. Then he bought an old house to restore-for all the wrong reasons. If anything needs restoration, it is Owen's heart in the aftermath of his failed marriage. With little hope and lost faith, Owen is tempted by happiness when he meets Brooke, but his heart remains sealed shut.
As they learn more about Owen's house, one thing becomes obvious to both of them: God has put them together for a reason.

Goodreads Summary

I don't know what it is like to be a single mother, but I think the author does a terrific job of portraying this difficult duty.  Brooke is torn in two different directions-her youngest, Meghan, wants a dad like she wants air while her oldest, Spencer, does not want change.  Sometimes it takes a little change to find something great, however.  When a new man moves to town and starts to spend time with Brooke, Brooke can't help but wonder if it's meant to be.

Owen, the love interest, isn't all what he seems to be.  Owen is still hurt over his failed marriage (who wouldn't be?) and trying to run away from it.  When he meets Brooke, he is afraid to let himself get hurt again.  Throughout the book the reader sees Owen slowly opening up to Brooke and I definitely rooted for them. This book is perfect for those seeking a light-hearted romance.

4 Stars

This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.

Six Months Later by Natalie D. Richards

Chloe didn't think about it much when she nodded off in study hall on that sleepy summer day. But when she wakes up, snow is on the ground and she can't remember the last six months of her life. Before, she'd been a mediocre student. Now, she's on track for valedictorian and being recruited by Ivy League schools. Before, she never had a chance with super jock Blake. Now he's her boyfriend. Before, she and Maggie were inseparable. Now her best friend won't speak to her.

What happened to her? 
And why can't she remember?

Goodreads Summary

Chloe has a huge problem-she can't remember the past six months of her life and she doesn't know why.  I can't imagine what I would do in her situation.  She looks for clues and tries to discover past memories from her supposed "new" friends and boyfriend.  She can feel instinctively that something is off and has suddenly received amazing grades and a terrific SAT score (personally, I don't know if I'd *want* to know why I had such a surprising turn-around if that was me).  Chloe is horrified to learn that her best friend, Maggie, won't have anything to do with her.  She cajoles and apologizes until Maggie begins to slowly break down, but will she want to hear what Maggie has to say? 

The whole plot of this novel is awesome.  I know it's probably been done before (not exactly the same, but similar), but I really enjoyed the suspense and mystery that shrouded the plot.  I didn't really guess the whole ending correctly; I loved how I was surprised-that doesn't happen often.  I had a really hard time putting this book down.  I finished the entire novel in two sittings.  This book is highly recommended to young adult/teen readers.

5 Stars

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This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.