Review of Love? Maybe

Title: Love? Maybe

Author: Heather Helper

Series: no

 

Chapters: 21

Pages: 267

Genre: Teen chick lit

Rating: 4 stars

    

     Piper is a teenage girl who even though she was born on Valentine’s Day she still is critical of love. After seeing her mother gets divorced twice Piper doesn’t believe in love or happy ever after. Her friends try to convince her to give dating a try. Claire and Jillian don’t understand her someone so young could be so against love. Her best guy friend Charlie and next door neighbor has always been there for her, doesn’t understand why Piper in Ben the most popular guy in school.

      

     Love? Maybe was a cute main stream teen fiction I don’t remember any cuss words in it. Piper is a teenage girl who grows and learns a lot through the novel. To me the cover was cute and I’ve always been partial to stories that include the boy next door. 

reading this week

Finished

A baby between them by Winnie Griggs

Mud, Sweat, and Tears by Bear Grylls

Cool Beans by Erynn Mangum

Currently reading

Addison Blakey: Confessions of a Pk by Betsy St. Amant

Discovering the Treasures of A Godly Woman: Proverbs 31 by Elizabeth George

My stubborn Heart by Becky Wade

Redemption Ranch by Leann Harris

Getting ready to read

Skip Rock Shallows by Jan Watson

While He Was Away by Karen Schreck

A Long Way from You by Gwendolyn Heasley

Sweetheart Reunion by Lenora Worth

Love of a Lifetime by Carol Voss

For school 

On My Kindle

Stuck in the Middle by Virginia Smith

That Boy by Jillian Dodd

Reviewing

End of the Trail by Vickie McDonough

In which I do a quick review of teen books I've read

Title: The Academie

Author: Susanne Dunlap

Series:   no

Chapters: 50 plus epilogue

Pages: 356

Genre: Teen Historical fiction

Rating: 4 ½  

     Main characters Eliza Monroe daughter of James Monroe

     Hortense daughter of Josephine Bonaparte

     Caroline Bonaparte Napoleon’s sister

     The Academie is a cute teen historical fiction story that for main stream teen fiction it really is a clean read I don’t remember any profanity in the book.

Title: Scarlet

Author: A.C. Gaughen

Series:   no

Chapters: 16

Pages: 292

Genre: Teen fiction retold myths

Rating: 3 stars I gave this rating because of the use of profanity PG-13 for profanity and violence

Main characters: Will Scarlet (Scarlet), Robin Hood, John Little (Little John), and Much

     Growing up I always loved the story of Robin Hood and his band of merry man. I was excited to see a story with a new twist to the legend. Will Scarlet was the youngest member of Robin’s band, but what if Will wasn’t a boy but a young woman Scarlet who was running from her past. I enjoyed the story up until the author used a cuss word that I couldn’t over look. To me I think the story would be even better if it hadn’t had all the language in it. 

Title: The Pregnancy Project

Author: Gaby Rodriquez

Series:  

Chapters: 13

Pages: 218

Genre: Memoir

Rating: 4 Stars

     Pretty good read and informative. Gaby was a girl how wanted to make a difference. 

Review of Kisses from Katie

Title: Kisses from Katie

Author: Katie J. Davis and Beth Clark

Series:   no

Chapters: 20

Pages: 288

Genre: Nonfiction biography Memoir

Rating: 5 stars

     Katie Davis much to the dismay of her family fore goes college and moves to Africa to follow God’s call on her life. She was only supposed to go on a short term mission trip but ends up staying in Africa, and adopting fourteen girls. In the book Katie admits that sometimes the only thing that keeps her going is knowing that God will get her through.

     I can’t help but wonder after reading this book how much better things would be if Christians myself included would be willing to listen to what God was telling us and go where He tells us to go. For a twenty something year girl she has an awesome faith and is on fire for God.

     Kisses From Katie was an awesome book I highly recomned to everyone. There were quite a few places in the book were I was in tears. But on the other hand there were times when I was laughing as well. I enjoyed learning about Katie’s ministry as well.  

Title: Starring Me

Author: Krista McGee

Series: the main character in Starring Me was in First Date also by Krista McGee

Pages: 320

Genre: Teen Christian Fiction

Rating:  4 ½ stars

     Kara McKormick thought that she was auditioning for a teen reality show, but she ends up finding some much more. She has a chance to star on a teen reality show opposite of Chad Beacon  who has become a star, Chad’s Christian faith is as strong as Addy’s was in First Date. Being around other Christian’s shows Kara that the Christian Faith is about a relationship not rules. You are first introduced to Kara as the only girl who befriends Addy in First Date. Will Kara learn that starring in God’s story for her life is the greatest role of her life?

     I enjoyed Starring Me I loved Kara’s bubbly attitude and her refusing to give up. I love how Krista McGee uses humor and life issues to bring a story to life. Reading her  novels are like stepping into the characters shoes. Krista McGee’s books show teens and adults that Christian’s aren’t prefect but saved by Grace. I enjoyed Starring Me and look forward to Krista’s next book.

     I received a copy of Starring Me from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts in this review are my own.

Starring Me releases from Thomas Nelson Publishers on July 10, 2012

Reading this week

Finished

Cowgirl Trail by Susan Page Davis

The World of Downton Abbey by Jessica Fellowes

A Love Forbidden by Kathleen Morgan

Wentworth Hall by Abby Grahame

Currently reading

Addison Blakey: Confessions of a Pk by Betsy St. Amant

Discovering the Treasures of A Godly Woman: Proverbs 31 by Elizabeth George

A baby between them by Winnie Griggs

Mud, Sweat, and Tears by Bear Grylls

My stubborn Heart by Becky Wade

Getting ready to read

Skip Rock Shallows by Jan Watson

While He Was Away by Karen Schreck

A Long Way from You by Gwendolyn Heasley

Sweetheart Reunion by Lenora Worth

Love of a Lifetime by Carol Voss

Redemption Ranch by Leann Harris

For school 

Not till August

On My Kindle

Stuck in the Middle by Virginia Smith

That Boy by Jillian Dodd

Cool Beans by Erynn Mangum

Reviewing

End of the Trail by Vickie McDonough

Giveaway

Thanks to Janis Backing Publicity Manger  at Moody Publishers I am able to give away a copy of Harvest of Rubies by Tessa Afshar on this blog. I reviewed the book after getting a e copy from Netgalley. The giveaway will run from today June 18, 2012 through July 18, 2012. I will pick the winner using random.org. To enter just leave a comment with either your favorite Biblical person, your favorite fiction novel, and or favorite author.

Feel free to spread the word to others.

Review of The Wedding Dress

Title: The Wedding Dress

Author: Rachel Hauck

Series:   no

Chapters: 27

Pages: 343

Genre: Christian fiction, Christian chick lit

Rating: 5 stars

     Charlotte owns a bridal boutique she loves helping brides but can’t bring herself to plan her own wedding. Charlotte and Tim had a whirl wind relationship that ended in an engagement after only a few months.  Charlotte ends up buying an old trunk at an estate sell that has a hundred year old wedding dress in that looks like it’s never been worn; but it’s been worn by three different brides.  Emily in 1912, Mary Grace in 1939, and Hillary in 1968, and the dress fit all of them without the dress ever being altered.

     Will learning each bride’s history help Charlotte face her future and let go of the past. The Wedding Dress is the first book by Rachel Hauck that I have read and I loved the book. I will be reading more of her books in the future. The thing that I loved most about the book was the dress fitting all of the brides without being changed reminds me of the love of Jesus it always fits and it is meant for everyone.

     I loved the wedding dress on the cover, this book is from my own collection of books and the review is my own thoughts. 

New blog background for Father's Day

Since tomorrow is Father's Day and I am trying to avoid posting on Sunday's I thought I would post my Father's Day post today. My blog of the Marine Corp symbol is in honor of the number one Marine in my life, my father. As a child my dad and I didn't have a close relationship, because of his job in the Marines and  the military, he was gone a lot. Now that I am older I realize that dad was doing what he was called to do; to help protect the freedoms that many American's take for granted. 

For me time spent with dad was about quality not quantity. Unlike military now days dad was on active duty before web cams, and before emails and internet were well known. So we kept in touch through    letters the  snail mail way.

Looking back I am thankful he is my dad. My dad, My hero, My Marine. 

Title: Summer of Promise

Author: Amanda Cabot

Series:   Westward Winds

Chapters: 24

Pages: 410

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction, with a little romance

Rating: 4 ½ stars

     Summer of Promise is the first book in the westward winds series. The new series by Amanda Cabot, Summer of Promise is the first book by her that I have read. Abigail Harding  travels to Fort Laramie, Wyoming because she is worried about her married sister Charlotte. She thinks that it will be a quick summer trip and at its end she will return to Vermont and marry. On the journey her stagecoach is attacked but meets Lieutenant Ethan Bowles in the process. While there Abigail hopes to make a difference but instead begins to wonder where her place really is. 

     While I enjoyed reading the book which really well written it really wasn’t my type of book. With me I prefer more western in my western romance books than romance.  If western romance is your type of reading then this is a great book. While it wasn’t what I normally read I still enjoyed the book. And will read the next two books in the series.  The book does have action in it, I just wish it had more but it was still good.

     I did love the underlying theme in the book; learning who you are. But more importantly learning to trust God and listen to Him about where He wants you to be. God’s plans are always better than ours. 

Review of Cowgirl Trail

Title: Cowgirl Trail

Author: Susan Page Davis

Series: Texas Trail Series

 

Pages: 305

Genre: Christian Historical fiction, Christian Western

Rating: 5 stars

     Cowgirl Trail is the 5^th book in the Texas Trail Series that follows the Morgan family through four generations in Texas.  Maggie Porter has returned home to family ranch after her mother’s death only to find her father in her failing health and a ranch in trouble.  Maggie cannot believe that the foreman Alex Bright her childhood crush has let the ranch hands walk out before a cattle drive. Maggie is determined to get the cattle to market even if she has to use cowgirls in the form of the town’s woman to get the cattle to market. She will not lose her family’s ranch.

    

     Even though the books are in a series you do not have to read them in order. Cowgirl Trail is the first book in the series that I have read and I enjoyed every minute of the novel. I loved Maggie’s spunk and her determination to save her family’s ranch. She is a cowgirl in every sense of the word. Alex is a ranch foreman who is turn between the ranch he loves and the ranch hand who he feels are right to a point.

     I look forward to reading the other books in the Texas Trail series. I received a copy of this book from Netgally in exchange for an honest review. 

Reading this week

Finished

A Heart Divided by Kathleen Morgan

The Deputy’s Duty by Terri Reed

Almost Amish by Nancy Sleeth

Twenties Girl  by Sophie Kinsella

The Mystery of the Orphan Train by Gertrude Chandler Warner

Currently reading

Addison Blakey: Confessions of a Pk by Betsy St. Amant

Discovering the Treasures of A Godly Woman: Proverbs 31 by Elizabeth George

Cowgirl Trail by Susan Page Davis

A baby between them by Winnie Griggs

Staring Me by Krista McGee

Mud, Sweat, and Tears by Bear Grylls

The World of Downton Abbey by Jessica Fellowes

Getting ready to read

Tennessee Brides by  Aaron McCarver

A Love Forbidden by Kathleen Morgan

My stubborn Heart by Becky Wade

For school 

Not till August

On My Kindle

Waterfall by Lisa Tawn Bergren

Cowgirl Trail by Susan Page Davis

Stuck in the Middled by Virginia Smith

That Boy by Jillian Dodd

Cool Beans by Erynn Mangum

Staring Me by Krista McGee

Reviewing

Cowgirl Trail by Susan Page Davis

Staring Me by Krista McGee

Review of Getting Over Garrett Delaney

Title: Getting Over Garrett Delaney

Author: Abby McDonald

Series:   no

Chapters: 28

Pages: 319

Genre: teen chick lit

Rating: 3 ½ stars

If it was a movie it would be: pg-13

     A kind of cute mainstream teen chick lit. It also dealt with teen issues. I could have done without all of the curse words. But those aside it was still pretty cute. The story line was pretty simple. It’s mainly about Sadie learning to get over her best friend who happens to be a guy; Garrett.

     She takes a summer job at a coffee shop and meets a whole different group of people. Who decide to help her find out who she really is without Garrett?

     I mean who doesn’t love a story about a teenage girl who learns who she is. A story of the simplicity of high school summers. Getting over Garrett Delaney was the second book that I read by Abby McDonald and I liked it more than I did the first book that I read. 

Review of The Merchant's Daughter

Title: The Merchant’s Daughter

Author: Melanie Dickerson

Series:   sort of she has one other book out with similar themes.

Chapters: 21 plus epilogue

Pages: 270

Genre: Teen Christian Historical Fiction, Fairy tales retold

Rating: 5 stars

     The Merchant’s Daugther by Melanie Dickerson is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast with a Christian theme. It is the first book that I have read by Melanie Dickerson.

     Annabel Chapman is a Merchant’s daughter whose father has died and her family can’t pay the debt they owe. Annabel agrees to go in her brother’s place. She becomes a servant in lord Randulf Le Wyse house in order to escape the advances of Ballief Tom Atte Water. Annabel is taken under the wing of Mistress Eustacia. Annabel only planned to be a servant but she finds so much more.

I loved The Merchant Daughter, mainly because Beauty and the Beast was my favorite fairy tale growing up. Since Beauty and the Beast was the fairy tale that stressed the importance of what was on the inside. Which makes it the perfect fairy tale to retold with a Christian theme.

I enjoyed The Merchant’s Daughter by Melanie Dickerson and I plan to read more of her books

Reading this week

Finished

The Wedding Dress by Rachel Hauck

Mistaken Bride by Renee Ryan

The Academie  by Susanne Dunlap

The Cupcake Caper by Gertrude Chandler Warner

Riverboat Ruse by Carolyn Keene

A Harvest of Rubies by Tessa Afshar

Currently reading

Addison Blakey: Confessions of a Pk by Betsy St. Amant

A Man to Trust by Carrie Turansky

Discovering the Treasures of A Godly Woman: Proverbs 31 by Elizabeth George

A Whisper of Peace by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Cowgirl Trail by Susan Page Davis

A Heart Divided by Kathleen Morgan

A baby between them by Winnie Griggs

Getting ready to read

Tennessee Brides by  Aaron McCarver

Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle by Wanda McCaddon

A Love Forbidden by Kathleen Morgan

For school 

Not till august

On My Kindle

Waterfall by Lisa Tawn Bergren

The Booker award

Melanie from  Christian Bookshelf Reviews gave me  The {Booker} Award recently and I'm so excited about it! I love receiving blog awards and the rules for this one are great!

Thanks, Melanie for passing this award on to me! :)

The Rules:

1. This award is for book bloggers only. To receive this award the blogger's blog must be 50% about books (this includes writing blogs or reader blogs).

2. When you accept this award you must also share what your top five all time favorite books are. Going over five is encouraged.

3. You must pass this award on to five to ten other book blogs that you adore :)

Here are some of my favorite books (not completely in order):

Courting Morrow Little by Laura Frantz 

In Too Deep by Mary Connealy

The Colonel's Lady by Laura Frantz 

The Wedding Dress by Rachel Hauck 

Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis 

The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks 

There You'll Find Me by Jenny B. Jones 

Heidi by  Johanna Spyri 

The Merchant's Daughter by Melanie Dickerson 

First Date by Krista McGee 

The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks 

Sketchy Behavior by Erynn Mangum 

The Measure of Katie Calloway 

Road Side Assistance by Amy Clipston 

Wonderland Creek by Lynn Austin 

Just to name a few 

I'm passing this award to:

Ruth  at http://booktalkandmore.blogspot.com/

Laura at http://thetravelingowl.blogspot.com/

Brenda at http://www.curlingupwithagoodbook.com/

Casey at http://enjoyingthewritingcraft.blogspot.com/

Amber at http://seasonsofhumility.blogspot.com/

Debz at http://debzbookshelf.blogspot.com/

Review of Bewitching

Title: Bewitching

Author: Alex Flinn

Series:   sort of

Chapters:

Pages: 342

Genre: Fairy tales retold

Rating: 4 ½ stars

     Bewitching is sort of a sequel to Beastly in a way it is sort of Kendra’s story. It is also a retelling of Cinderella with a twist. Kendra befriends Emma who is sort of the Cinderella in the story. While Emma is suppose to be Cinderella she’s not the most beautiful girl in her school, but she is the only one who befriends Kendra. Lisette is the evil step-sister and the only thing that fits with the Cinderella story is that she is the evil step sister.

     I liked the retold fairy tale, even if Cinderella wasn’t really my favorite as a child. I loved that Alex gave more of Kendra’s story. You find out what happened to her to make her the way that she is, and why she made the choices she made. After reading Bewitching it seems to me like it’s just the first in a series of books about Kendra. Kendra is the witch from Beastly; which is also a movie all and all I enjoyed the book. However it wasn’t my favorite by Alex Flinn, Beastly is still my favorite by her. 

Book review of Harvest of Rubies

Title: Harvest of Rubies

Author: Tessa Afshar

Genre: Biblical fiction 

Rating: 5 stars

     Harvest of Rubies is the second book by Tessa Afshar her first book was Pearl in the Sand the story of Rahab. In Harvest of Rubies Tessa tells the story of Sarah Nehemiah’s cousin who unlike most women of the time can read and write and speak many languages. She becomes the main scribe to the queen. The story sort of reminded me of the Biblical story of Esther. That Sarah become the queen’s scribe when the queen needed her most, because Sarah discovered a plot against the queen.

     What I love about Tessa Afshar is that when she writes novel she remains as close to the Biblical record as possible. Ms. Afshar makes her characters come alive and allows the reader to be drawn into the story. Harvest of Rubies is a fiction read that will entertain you, but it will also encourage you. Tessa Afshar books in my opinion will encourage you to pick up your Bible to confirm that she stays true to the Biblical account as much as possible.

     I enjoyed reading Harvest of Rubies and look forward to the next book from Tessa Afshar. 

I was given a free copy for my kindle from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.