A Dangerous Legacy

I really liked A Dangerous Legacy, although that may admittedly be because the male main character, Colin Bechwith, in this book was British, so every time I read from his point of view I had a British accent going in my head. Haha! I really did like Colin, though. Not only was he entertaining, but he had an interesting background and wasn't quite what the female main character, Lucy Drake, thought. Plus his personal struggles made him a much more realistic (not perfect) character.

Lucy Drake, on the other hand, is an American who works in the same building as Colin, although for a rival telegraph company. Her family feud with her uncle draws Colin into her family affairs. The one thing that did frustrate me a little was that Colin was obviously after a rich wife in America--he blatantly admits to it, even after he and Lucy clearly have a thing.

I received this book from the publisher for free; I was not required to write a review, nor a positive one.

A Love So True (Teaville Moral Society, #2)

A Love So True was good, but not particularly my favorite. I had previously read the first book in the series, and I think I preferred the first book to the second. Not that the second was by any means bad, I just personally didn't find it quite as interesting.

This book continues the series in Teaville, where Evelyn Wisely seeks to help both orphans and their mothers, many of whom are stuck in a life of prostitution. Her efforts leads here to cross paths with David Kingsman, who has his own problems with his father's business. I did like that it wasn't just about the orphans, but also about the mothers. What did drive me a lil crazy was Evelyn's secret reason for resisting David's attempted relationship with her. Personally, I thought she should have just told him instead of holding back all the way to the end of the book. But that's just me.

Overall, it was a good story, just not my favorite in the series. I received this book from the publisher for free; I was not required to write a review, nor a positive one.

Wildwood Creek (Moses Lake, #4)

Seems like it's been a very long time since I read a book all the way through, let alone reviewed it with the busyness of planning a wedding, having said wedding, moving 1,500+ miles, and getting settled in. Despite all that and being out of the swing of it, once I arrived at my new home and began reading this book, I finished it quickly. It was an easy read for the most part. The story of Wildwood Creek is divided into two time periods--part of the book is told from the viewpoint and time period of Allie Kirkland in present day Texas, while the other part is told from the viewpoint of Bonnie Rose in 1861 Texas.

I usually like split viewpoints, with one flashing back to a past time in the same location. My only problem with this one was that some times it was difficult to get through Bonnie's chapters due language barriers. Bonnie and some of the slave characters were at times difficult to understand because of their poor grammar. Don't get me wrong, it was completely understandable and true to the time...it was just difficult to read through sometimes because it didn't flow smoothly whenever a patch of dialogue hit. Other than that, the duel time periods/characters worked pretty well to communicate the story.

I liked the story line, plot, and characters. Bonnie's chapters had an eeriness to them that made me shy away from reading it at night or when I was home alone. I did feel like the romance in the story could have been developed a bit better over a longer period of time, but it wasn't terrible. I would recommend it. I bought this book, and therefore was not asked nor required to write a review. These opinions are my own; I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated for this review.

Delilah: Treacherous Beauty (Dangerous Beauty, #3)

I really wasn't sure what the expect when I began reading this, but it was a surprisingly good take on the biblical story of Samson and Delilah. I was glad that it did not twist the actual biblical account, but only speculated on what may have potentially gone on in the details which are not stated in the biblical narrative.

For example, the first chunk of the book is focuses largely on the events which broke Delilah and brought her to a place where she met Samson, and eventually needed him, fell in love, and betrayed him. It was interesting to see Hunt's take on what may have motivated Delilah to betray her lover--I also appreciated that in this fictional take of the true story, Delilah is shown to actually love Samson, rather than solely manipulating him purely for money. Rather, her love for her son and her need for vengeance are what bring her to the point of making the decision to betray him.

I thought Hunt did well with her take on the potential details which may have surrounded the story, and what may have motivated Delilah to do as she did. I would recommend this book in the future. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher for this review. These opinions are my own; I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated for this review.

A Heart Most Certain (Teaville Moral Society, #1)

It's been a while since I've been this emotionally invested in a book. A Heart Most Certain was an awesome novel centering around Lydia King, a morally upright woman who at first does not realize she is not helping the poor or morally astray nearly as much as she thinks she is through the activities of the town's church moral society. Co-starring the novel is Nicholas Lowe, who at first glance appears arrogant and self righteous, as well as incredibly stingy and unwilling to give to "worthy" causes.

First off, I really loved the name Nicholas. I don't know why, I just did. I guess I don't see that name very often in books, and it's an attractive name. Okay, I really just loved his whole character. Although he ended up turning out better than Lydia first thought when she met him, he still had character flaws and made mistakes, which made him realistic. Plus, they both had to work for their happy ending.

I would certainly recommend this book, and will likely read it again in the future. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher for this review. These opinions are my own; I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated for this review.

A Worthy Heart (Courage to Dream, #2)

A Worthy Heart was one book that was so much better than I had expected it to be. Okay, maybe that sounds incredibly cynical of me, but I'll be the first to admit that I pick books based on their covers. I know, it's a terrible practice, but I'm attracted to pretty/interesting covers. I try not to let my eyes decide whether to give a book a shot...but it happens anyway. Anyway, I'm getting off-topic.

I really did like the cover of the book, which led me to give it a shot. However, I was initially a little hesitant for some unknown reason. I think I was just expecting it to be very similar to many of the other books that I have already read (you know how sometimes they all start sounding the same?). Despite this, the book was quite original and very well written. I loved the tension in the book between characters, and the very real insecurities and emotions going on between the main characters. I also liked the risks the author took in what happened to my favorite character (I won't spoil it by going into details). Honestly, some authors are just scared to put the favorite character on the line, but this wasn't the case with this one. Which only made me love it more.

Overall, it was a fantastic story with very real characters and circumstances. Definitely recommended! I received a free copy of this book from the publisher for this review. These opinions are my own; I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated for this review.

Until the Dawn (Until the Dawn, #1)

Until the Dawn was an interesting, refreshing read. It wasn't quite as captivating as some other books I've read, but it was interesting and a good read nonetheless. Sophie is a girl who has gone through some struggles, but still remains a positive, God-believing woman who only wants to help others and feel needed. Quentin, on the other hand, is initially a negative, rude atheist who desperately loves his son and wants to feel loved by his son. However, as time disintegrates for Quentin, his urgency to raise his son ends up being counterproductive and ruining the relationship repeatedly.

It was interesting to watch the two opposite characters interact and slowly change each other for the better. I liked the mystery and history behind the estate which the two attempt to save, as well as the background behind each of the characters. The end was a bit surprising; I'm not sure I saw it coming in the way that it did.

Overall, it was a good book and I would recommend it. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher for this review. These opinions are my own; I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated for this review.

The Lost Heiress (Ladies of the Manor, #1)

It's been a while since I really, really liked a book beyond others. I wasn't quite as crazy about it in the first few chapters, as the way in which Brook ended up reuniting with her long lost family was a bit uneventful, but nevertheless was necessary in order to establish the backstory and foundation of Brook's relationship with Justin. The relationship between the two was interesting to read and watch develop throughout the story; Brook's insecurities were realistic given the circumstances.

I loved the plot and descriptions, as well. Not an overload of description, but I was easily able to imagine the places the events unfolding for Brook. The plot was interesting in the twists that it took throughout the story. While it ultimately ended how I hoped it would, there were plenty of plot twists to make me wonder if it would ever end up working out in the end and to keep me guessing about how it would unfold.

Overall, I really liked this story, and would definitely recommend it (I'll probably reread it again sometime in the future as well). I received a free copy of this book from the publisher for this review. These opinions are my own; I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated for this review.

Love Everlasting (Brides of Seattle, #3)

Love Everlasting is the third and final book in Tracie Peterson’s series Brides of Seattle. Prior to reading this book, I had read the second book in the series, but not the first (I still have yet to read the first). While the second book in the series focuses on Militine’s love life, this third book focuses on that of Abrianna. I wasn’t sure at first if I would like the book, since I wasn’t as interested in Abrianna while I was reading the second book. However, I ended up liking Abrianna in the third book, as it focused more directly on her and her thought process and actions.

A big part of the plot focused on Abrianna’s hesitancies toward marriage. It wasn’t that she didn’t love the man who was pursuing her; instead, she had fears about what would change in the relationship upon marriage. I thought this point was very realistic and relatable to many young women even today. The ways in which she handled it and worked through it, and the way it eventually ended, was realistic, relatable, and offers hope and comfort for women who hold the same hesitancies.

While I wouldn’t say this book is necessarily one of my favorites, I would certainly recommend it to others. It is a good, clean read with many good points and encouragements. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher for this review. These opinions are my own; I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated for this review.

Book Review: Refining Fire

Refining Fire was a book which intrigued me based on the back cover description of the plot--the summary pricked an area of interest in my life, and so I was interested to read it. My only real complaint with the book is that the back cover led me to believe the book was primarily about Militine and Thane...however, I felt that Militine's friend, Abrianna and her friend Wade were actually the main characters of the story.

The story between Abrianna and Wade was interesting, and was totally fine for the main thrust of the story. I was just very confused through the whole book over who was the main characters. The part of the book which did deal with Militine and Thane didn't hold my interest very well. I felt it wasn't as deep as it could have been.

The plot of the book wasn't bad; it just wasn't what I was personally expecting or hoping for. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher for this review. These opinions are my own; I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated for this review.

Book Review: Beyond All Dreams

I loved this book. Beyond All Dreams was highly unique in its plot. The story line followed a young, female librarian in a time period that was just beginning to accept females as employees. Anna served as a map librarian in the library of Congress; she was a vivid character that was well rounded and developed, as well as unique in her interests.

Equally as vivid and rounded was the co-main character, Luke. In this plot, he played the part of a young, ambitious congressman who was quickly making his way to the top when he gained an interest in Anna as soon as their paths crossed. Their brewing romance was made more real by Anna's reluctance to participate in favor of her job.

I liked that both characters had their own flaws and dark parts of their histories, but that both overcame them in the end. I would definitely recommend this book to others. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher for this review. These opinions are my own; I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated for this review.

Book Review: After A Fashion

After A Fashion was a book I wasn't sure of initially, but became very glad that I decided to read it. This was one of the most entertaining books I've read in a long time. The main character, Harriet, had a wit that was very amusing to read. The interactions between her and Oliver, the other main character, were original and interesting.

The plot was crazy original, so much so that I really had no idea what was going to happen most of the time (not so crazy as to lose interest, though). The ending caught me by total surprise. It caught me by surprise, and unraveled in such a way that I felt like I was in Harriet's shoes, being totally blown away and caught off guard as it happened. This was definitely a refreshing read after a semester of reading for school!

I would definitely recommend this books. I'll also be holding onto this book for my personal collection; I'm sure I'll reread it at some point in the future. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher for this review. These opinions are my own; I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated for this review.

With Every Breath

Title: With Every Breath
Author: Elizabeth Camden
Labels: Fiction | Historical Fiction
Publisher: Bethany House
Publication Date: August 5, 2014
Recommended To: Adult, YA
Contains: Clean

Buy It: Amazon | Book Depository | Kindle
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Blurb From Goodreads: In the shadow of the nation's capital, Kate Livingston holds a respectable position as a government statistician when she encounters a rival from her past, the insufferable Trevor McDonough. A Harvard-trained physician, Trevor never showed the tiniest flicker of interest in Kate, and she's bewildered at the way he suddenly seeks her out. Surprising even herself, Kate agrees to Trevor's entirely unexpected and risky proposal to work side-by-side with him in his quest to rid the world of tuberculosis, a contagious and deadly disease.
          As Kate begins to unlock the mysteries of Trevor's past, she realizes there is much more to him than she could have imagined. His hidden depths may fascinate her, but his most closely guarded secrets and a shadowy enemy lurking in the background carry a serious threat to their future. When the truth of the past comes out, threatening to destroy everything they hold dear, how will Trevor and Kate ever overcome all that stands in their way?
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I ended up really liking this book, despite my initial hesitation due to the fact that I wasn't crazy about the cover. Yes, I am one of those obnoxious people who have it ingrained it in them to judge books by their covers. My apologies. Anyway, I gave it a chance and was rewarded with a great story.

Normally I talk more about the plot and romance and stuff like that, but for this book I was to talk more about the characters. The characters impressed me the most because they were very well rounded and fleshed out, and were very interesting and real--and that's a hard combination to come by. I loved that Kate had a strong motivating factor based on her fears, which is easy to relate to for most people. But her motivations and persona wasn't just around Trevor, but rather carried over into her relationship with her brother and family, as well as other characters in the story. As for Trevor, I liked him for essentially the same reason. His own motivating factor drove him to be the person he was, and carried across the board in his life. It just all struck me as something that was very real in everyone's life. Not only were they motivated by individual things, but they were eventually able to overcome and change those motivations with work.

The entire story and characters carried a great relatable story and inspiration. Definitely recommended. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher for this review. These opinions are my own; I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated for this review.

A Sensible Arrangement (Lone Star Brides, #1)

Title: A Sensible Arrangement
Author: Tracie Peterson
Labels: Fiction | Historical Fiction
Publisher: Bethany House
Publication Date: April 1, 2014
Recommended To: YA, Adult, Women
Contains: Age appropriate innuendos

Buy It: Amazon | Book Depository | Kindle
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Blurb From Goodreads: Marty Dandridge Olson is a widow looking for a way out of Texas. Widower Jake Wythe has secured a job as a bank manager in Denver, only to discover that the bank board wants him to be a married man. With Texas in his roots, he advertises for a Lone Star bride, and Marty answers the call. They both agree they are done with romance and love and will make this nothing more than a marriage of convenience.
Marty works to carve out a new life in high-society Denver as Jake works to guide the bank through a collapsing economy. But when money goes missing at the bank and accounting discrepancies point to Jake, he must find a way to prove his innocence. Yet all he wants to do is go back to Texas and own his own ranch. Marty, on the other hand, owns a ranch–one she’s never told her husband about. She hates Texas because it represents the losses in her life. But as the couple grows closer and love begins to bloom, Marty realizes she needs to tell Jake the truth. Can she come to terms with the past and her anger toward God in order to make room for love?
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Due to college, this is the first pleasure book I've read in a long time--and it came as a welcome relief! I've been dying for some fiction for so long, and this definitely helped my fiction addiction. Marty and Jake both quickly grew on me and their story interested me and, despite the lack of time, I managed to finish the book in a relatively short period of time.

For the better part of the book I was dying for Jake and Marty to legitimately get together (hopeless romantic kicking in...). The suspense got to be a bit much for me by the end--apparently I need to learn some more patience while reading. Haha! The plot was definitely unique, and one which I'd never seen done before, nor in the way Peterson chose to do it.

Overall I thought this was a great book. I found it easy to get lost in and involved in the characters and plot. I was happy with the ending, although I'll admit I wish there had been a little more detail or a little longer ending. Definitely recommended! I received a free copy of this book from the publisher for this review. These opinions are my own; I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated for this review.

Emma of Aurora (The Change & Cherish Trilogy)

Title: Emma of Aurora
Author: Jane Kirkpatrick
Labels: Fiction | Christian | Historical
Publisher: Waterbrook Multnomah
Publication Date: November 5, 2013
Recommended To: Women, Adult, YA
Contains: Slightly mature references/clean

Buy It: Amazon | Book Depository | Kindle
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Blurb From Goodreads:
A Clearing in the Wild: When Emma’s outspoken ways and growing skepticism lead to a clash with the 1850s Bethel, Missouri colony’s beloved leader, she finds new opportunities to pursue her dreams of independence. But as she clears a pathway West to her truest and deepest self, she discovers something she never expected: a yearning for the warm embrace of community.
A Tendering in the Storm: Determined to raise her children on her own terms, Emma suddenly finds herself alone and pregnant with her third child, struggling to keep her family secure in the remote coastal forest of the Washington Territory. As clouds of despair close in, she must decide whether to continue in her own waning strength or to humble herself and accept help from the very people she once so eagerly left behind.
A Mending at the Edge: As a mother, daughter, sister, and estranged wife, Emma struggles to find her place inside—and outside—the confines of her religious community. Emma reaches out to others on the fringe, searching for healing and purpose. By blending her unique talents with service to others, she creates renewed hope as she weaves together the threads of family, friends, and faith.
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Book One: I thought this was a fantastic start to what I anticipated would be a great trilogy. I thought Emma was an interesting character in an interesting and unusual setting. She is considered an outspoken woman in her community where women do exactly what they are told and don't question. I will admit I would have liked to have seen small signs earlier in the book that more women secretly felt the same way she did about issues, even if they still remained in silence. I think the complete submission from all other women made the community a bit distant to the reader initially. This, however, changed later on. I thought this was a great start as Emma made the journey with her husband and other men to a site for the building of a new community, and the trials faced along the way.

Book Two: This second book in the trilogy had me beating my head on a wall just a little bit. Not because it was bad, but because I could see where Emma's choices were taking her and I kept telling her not to do it and evidently my pleas weren't working... It was cool to watch and see how Emma was brought to a new point of understanding of life and people, and a new viewpoint of those around her. I also really liked that we got to see Louisa's point of view from time to time. It made her character much more real and helped to round the readers view of all that was going on and better understand the opinions held by the characters.

Book Three: This book was a great end to the series. It was great to watch Emma learning, growing, and slowly finding her place in her new home at Aurora. Not only was she finding her own place in the midst of the community, but she was also helping others who found themselves in their own difficult situations. As her viewpoint continued to change--as it began to in the second book--she learns to see the good in others. Old enemies slowly become equals as Emma matures, though still possessing her quirky uniqueness.

Overall I thought these were great books and great series. I loved following along beside Emma throughout her life.I thought it was really cool that this series is based off a real person, a fact I hadn't realized until I was reading the acknowledgements in the back. Very cool. I would definitely recommend this series! I received a free copy of this book from the publisher for this review. These opinions are my own; I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated for this review.

Sweet Sanctuary

Title: Sweet Sanctuary
Author: Kim Vogel Sawyer
Labels: Fiction | Historical Fiction
Publisher: Bethany House
Publication Date: April 1, 2013
Recommended To: Women, Adult, YA
Contains: Clean.

Buy It: Amazon | Book Depository | Kindle
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Blurb From Goodreads: Lydia Eldredge longs to provide a sanctuary for her son, Nicky. But a constant threat comes from Nicky's drug-addicted father, who wants the boy and seems willing to do whatever it takes to get him.
Dr. Micah Hatcher serves the immigrant population in Queens, but under cover of darkness he provides another service that must not be discovered lest his and his brother's lives be in danger.
When Lydia and Micah's paths cross, they are suddenly wrapped up in each other's callings. Through unforeseen twists and turns, they seek a refuge of safety--for Nicky, for themselves, and for the needy people God unexpectedly puts in their lives.
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Sweet Sanctuary is probably one of the most unique books I've read in a long, long time. I'm a big fan of historical fiction, and this book seemed to be placed in a time period that is not often touched on--of course, I could be wrong on that, and simply haven't run into books based on this period of time. The plot itself was an interesting mix.

The overall basis of the plot had a budding romance, smuggling scheme, psycho-father-after-his-abandoned-kid, recover and redemption, and more. Everything intertwined with each other, drawing it all into a complicated life story of the two main characters. I liked that the romance between the two had some back story to it--an interesting, unusual one at that.

Each character seemed to have its own life, its own motives for why it did the things it did. This was definitely  a one of a kind book. It's got the complete package, twisted with new motives and turns throughout it. I would definitely recommend picking it up and giving it a try. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher for this review. These opinions are my own; I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated for this review.

Promise Me This

Title: Promise Me This
Author: Cathy Gohlke
Labels: Fiction | Historical Fiction
Publisher: Tyndale House
Publication Date: January 24, 2012
Recommended To: Historical fiction and romance readers.
Contains: Clean.

Buy It: Amazon | Book Depository | Kindle
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Blurb From Goodreads: Michael Dunnagan was never supposed to sail on the "Titanic," nor would he have survived if not for the courage of Owen Allen. Determined to carry out his promise to care for Owen's relatives in America and his younger sister, Annie, in England, Michael works hard to strengthen the family's New Jersey garden and landscaping business.Annie Allen doesn't care what Michael promised Owen. She only knows that her brother is gone--like their mother and father--and the grief is enough to swallow her whole. As Annie struggles to navigate life without Owen, Michael reaches out to her through letters. In time, as Annie begins to lay aside her anger that Michael lived when Owen did not, a tentative friendship takes root and blossoms into something neither expected. Just as Michael saves enough money to bring Annie to America, WWI erupts in Europe. When Annie's letters mysteriously stop, Michael risks everything to fulfill his promise--and find the woman he's grown to love--before she's lost forever.
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Promise Me This is a book that I've been picking at for a long time. Not because it was boring--not by any means--but because the copy I have of it is an ebook and I rarely have the opportunity to read ebooks. This was probably a really good book for me to have as an ebook, however, because it was interesting and memorable enough for me to go weeks--and occasionally a month--without reading any of it and still being able to remember everything that was happening when I got an opportunity to read a few chapters.

I love historical fiction, and this book covers a time period I don't often have the chance to read. It covered the better span of two peoples lives, Annie Allen and Micheal. Despite the huge period of time covered, the book as a whole flowed nicely and kept me engaged. I loved how the plot was intricately weaved. One more than one occasion I couldn't predict the next twist, which kept me turning pages.

Overall I really enjoyed Promise Me This. This is a book I would gladly recommend. Maybe even read again in the future--though I'm unlikely to forget it's fantastic plotline. I bought this book off Amazon. These opinions are my own; I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated for this review.

Swept Away (Trouble in Texas, #1)

Title: Swept Away
Author: Mary Connealy
Labels: Fiction | Historical Fiction
Publisher: Bethany House
Publication Date: March 1, 2013
Recommended To: Women, YA, Adult
Contains: Clean. Slightly suggestive of some marital occurrences, but in a clean way.

Buy It: Amazon | Book Depository | Kindle
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Blurb From Goodreads: Swept away when her wagon train attempts a difficult river crossing, Ruthy MacNeil isn't all that upset at being separated from the family who raised her. All they've ever done is work her to the bone. She prayed for a chance to get away, and then came the raging flood. Alive but disoriented, she's rescued by Luke Stone...so unfortunately, there are more chances to die in her immediate future.
Luke is heading home to reclaim the ranch stolen from his family. But the men who killed his father are working hard to ensure Luke doesn't make it alive. He has no choice but to keep moving. Still, he can't just abandon Ruthy, so she'll have to come along.
His friends--a ragtag group of former Civil War soldiers--take a fast interest in the pretty gal. Luke thinks that's rather rude--he's the one who found her. And the more time he spends around the hard-working young woman who is a mighty good cook, the more he finds himself thinking beyond revenge and toward a different future. For the first time in a long time, Luke is tempted to turn from his destructive path and be swept away by love.
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          I'll be honest, this wasn't my favorite book that I've ever read, but it wasn't bad. For the most part it kept me engaged and interested. The characters were all unique, but at times I felt like they were kind of one dimensional. I mean, everyone had their reason for doing what they did, and an overall motive. But nothing ever really stood in the way of that one motive; nothing really challenged their way of thinking. I felt like none of the characters really had any conflicting opinions that got in the way.

          The plot was interesting, and I'll admit that there were two twists that I didn't see coming. One was good in the sense I wasn't expecting it, but even that wasn't as exciting as I would have preferred. The second twist was just plain funny. It was hilarious to read that section from a guys point of view--I got a kick out of the explanations and reasoning of the dude's head. Definitely made it worth the read.

          Overall, while it wasn't my favorite, Swept Away was a good read. It had it's corny, stilted moments, but the section of humor was all worthwhile. This is a book that definitely got better as it progressed. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher for this review. These opinions are my own; I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated for this review.

Touching the Sky (Land of the Lone Star, #2)

Title: Touching the Sky
Author: Tracie Peterson
Labels: Fiction | Historical Fiction
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Publication Date: June 1, 2012
Recommended To: Women, Adult, Romance Lovers
Contains: Clean.

Buy It: Amazon | Book Depository | Kindle
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Blurb From Goodreads: When Laura Marquardt first meets Brandon Reid, their encounter is anything but pleasant. But when the two are seated together at a dinner party, they soon find that they share similar interests--Laura desires to educate blacks, and Brandon, as a white officer over colored troops, eagerly supports her cause.
When Laura's sister, Carissa, marries her Confederate beau, Laura finds herself in a difficult situation when she overhears plots to kill Union soldiers. Though in her heart she feels she should share this information with Brandon, Laura fears she will betray her sister's trust and possibly endanger her sister's life. And when Brandon's motives for pursuing her come into question, her heart is even more conflicted. Where is God leading her?
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          Laura and Brandon meet in an amusing and unlikely way, and soon find their paths crossing. Both have an attraction to the other, but problems arise under the surface when Brandon decides to court Laura, despite the fact he knows his motives will eventually be questioned. He's left working in secrecy, all the while wondering if he should tell come clean to the girl he loves. Laura, on the other hand, begins to have her suspicions, adding a whole new level to this complicated relationship.

          I was slightly disappointed at the lack of involvement I felt as this story unfolded. I didn't feel quite as able to relate to the characters or as "walking in their shoes" as I would have liked. Other than that, the book was pretty good. The plot unfolded smoothly and the impending decisions of the characters kept me interested to the end, though slightly distanced. I'm interested to read the next book in the series, Taming the Wind, to see where the continuing story takes Laura's heartbroken sister, Carissa.

        Recommended. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher for this review. These opinions are my own; I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated for this review.

Skip Rock Shallows (Copper Brown, #3)

Title: Skip Rock Shallows 
Author: Jan Watson
Labels: Fiction | Christian | Historical
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Publication Date: May 18, 2012
Recommended To: Women
Contains: Zippo.

Buy It: Amazon | Book Depository | Kindle
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Blurb From Goodreads: Lilly Gray Corbett has just graduated from medical school and decided to accept an internship in the coal camp of Skip Rock, Kentucky. Her beau, Paul, is doing his residency in Boston and can't understand why Lilly would choose to work in a backwater town. But having grown up in the mountains, Lilly is drawn to the stubborn, superstitious people she encounters in Skip Rock--a town where people live hard and die harder and where women know their place. Lilly soon learns she has a lot to overcome, but after saving the life of a young miner, she begins to earn the residents' trust. As Lilly becomes torn between joining Paul in Boston and her love for the people of Skip Rock, she crosses paths with a handsome miner--one who seems oddly familiar. Her attraction for him grows, even as she wrestles with her feelings and wonders what he's hiding.
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          This wasn't quite the book for me. It took me a long, long time for me to get even mildly interested in what was going on. I never really connected with any of the characters and by the end I still wasn't super interested in how it would end.

          Besides feeling disconnected from the characters, I felt like there was too much telling and not enough showing. Yeah, I know, I'm getting a little nitty-picky here. But instead of feeling like I was following right along with the characters, I felt like I was just reading the words and watching from a distance. While descriptions were great, the story line was too slow for me to really enjoy.

          On the positive note, Watson did do a good job in making unique characters. Despite the abundance of characters interacting in this story, I did feel like each had their own unique personality. If you like books with very distinct characters, this would probably be a good book to read. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher for this review. These opinions are my own; I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated for this review.