Back in the Saddle (Double S Ranch, #1)

This book was an interesting read for me. When I first picked it up I knew that I had not read many western's or western set books; it was only when I finished it and began my process of reviewing it that I realized I actually had never read one which was actually labeled as western. So really, I do not have much experience with westerns on which to base this review. However, despite my lack of exposure, I still really liked this book.

As far as plots go, I felt that this one was original and intriguing. I had no problem reading through it in a few days, and definitely enjoyed it. I really liked the characters. They felt very real, more real than in most books. My one negative thought on the characters was that at the very beginning, there was one section in which Noah did not sound as young as he was supposed to be. Other than that, all the characters were great and interesting, each with their own twists and backgrounds. 

Overall I enjoyed this book and would recommend it 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.

Citrus: Sweet and Savory Sun-Kissed Recipes

I'll be the first to admit that I don't do much cooking, but I can honestly say that despite my inexperience I would feel pretty comfortable attempting the recipes in this book. After a brief introduction, the author shares many great tasting recipes. Each recipe has a list of ingredients, as well as detailed instructions on how to make it. Additionally, each one has a beautiful picture of the end result, which was super helpful to me to see how it is supposed to turn out, as well as tempt me to try it.

I liked that there was a section that went over specific types of certain fruits, such as oranges and apples. That will definitely come in handy for someone not as food-smart--like me. The book gave me lots of new ideas to try out someday, as well as ideas to tweak other recipes I know of.

This is a recipe book that I would recommend to others, as well as use myself. 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.

Reservations for Two (Two Blue Doors, #2)

I liked this book--it was different. It was the kind of book that was much more realistic, because everything didn't work out just like the main character hoped it would. Not even at the end. I'm not sure the main character even knew what she wanted to happen, either, which happens all the time in real life.

Part of the book that I really liked was the letters that Juliette found from a deceased relative. I loved getting to a point where another letter was revealed. The writing and voice of the letters sounded so real. I love learning about characters through letters. It was fun piecing together the person's life, since obviously the letters didn't contain every single detail of what was going on.

Overall I really liked this book, and 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.

Book Review: The One

The One is a great book for those who are in a relationship, or single and preparing for a future relationship. The book begins by enlightening the reader to the love story of Ryan and Amanda Leak, who got engaged and married in the same day. After their super big day, they posted a documentary on youtube about their surprise wedding, and the video went viral.

After the initial introduction to the authors' story, the book moves on to talk about singleness and how to prepare during that time period of life, relationship obstacles, leading and submitting, expectations, culture, creatively loving, and much more. One of the chapters that I particularly appreciated was one on sexuality, particularly relating to ones who have had premarital sex or who struggle with sexual temptations in some way or another. With so many people struggle with this issue, I thought the Leak's take on it was great, and a much needed address both to those who have failed in this area and to those who look down on those who have.

Overall I thought this book was a great resource for those looking to lead a Godly, fulfilling, intentional relationship with their significant other, future or present. 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: Inspiralized: Turn Vegetables into Healthy, Creative, Satisfying Meals

This is the first cookbook I have ever gotten myself, so I wasn't sure what exactly to expect or hope for. However, I am pleased to say that I think I will enjoy and use Inspiralized once I've settled into my future home--although some of the recipes can be made in a college dorm, as well! Now I just need to find myself a spiralizer...

I was very impressed by the easy and understandable setup of Maffucci's book. At the beginning, she introduces the book by explaining the importance of eating healthy, but also how her recipes allow  versatility depending on individual food interests. I liked that she gave an overview of the spiralizer itself, and explained which blades should be used for certain results, as well as what vegetables should and should not be used with it. For a cooking newbie, I found this very helpful (without making me feel super stupid).

Inspiralized also includes charts showing the health benefits of the fruits and vegetables used, as well as in comparison to dishes such as regular pasta. Overall, I thought the book was very informative of basic healthy eating essentials, as well as containing countless recipes for healthy and creative dishes. 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: Heart Wide Open

Heart Wide Open is a book intended to help you open yourself up and grow closer to God. The goal is to fully surrender to Him and grow your passion for Him as you allow Him to ignite it further. The book was set up well, and the layout and purpose was attractive. Unfortunately, for me, most of the points were things I had already known or practiced.

The one point that was really helpful to me was to admit that you don't love Him. It was a bit surprising at first, but the point the author made was that you can't grow closer if you are not being honest. And sometimes honesty hurts. God already knows what's going on in your heart, so you may as well admit it and ask Him to help you from where you currently are. It was an interesting point.

This isn't a book that I would recommend on a regular basis, but possibly to a new believer somewhere down the road. 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 Broken Kind of Beautiful Review

Title: A Broken Kind of Beautiful
Author: Katie Ganshert
Labels: Fiction | Christian | Romance
Publisher: Waterbrook Multnomah
Publication Date: April 15, 2014
Recommended To: YA, Women, Adult
Contains: Mild mature topics/references

Buy It: Amazon | Book Depository | Kindle
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Blurb From Goodreads: Fashion is a fickle industry, a frightening fact for twenty-four-year-old model Ivy Clark. Ten years in and she's learned a sacred truth -- appearance is everything. Nobody cares about her broken past as long as she looks beautiful for the camera. This is the only life Ivy knows -- so when it starts to unravel, she'll do anything to hold on. Even if that means moving to the quaint island town of Greenbrier, South Carolina, to be the new face of her stepmother's bridal wear line -- an irony too rich for words, since Ivy is far from the pure bride in white.
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This is quite possibly my new favorite book. Ganshert's latest book reminds me very much of her first book, Wildflowers from Winter, in that the emotion was very raw--which I liked. The entire plot had me engaged and hooked from the beginning, and kept me flipping pages far later in the night than I should have been reading, and hurrying through homework just so that I could read more.

I stinking loved the story line. I thought it was very original, and although it was a romance, it had more to it than just the romance plot line. The characters--all of them--each had their unique struggles and reasons for why they did the things they did. I was especially interested in Davis' background. Early on in the story I had a rough guess as to what was his "demon of the past," but I never could really figure it out completely, therefore drawing me in further to unravel it--and it surprised me, it wasn't quite what I had expected it to be. The main character, Ivy, I loved--she had such a real and emotional background, and I loved reading more about her.

Overall, this is now one of my favorite books by a long shot. I would recommend it in a heartbeat! Katie Ganshert has proven herself to be an awesome writer, and is definitely one of my favorites.  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 Power of A Half Hour

Title: The Power of A Half Hour
Author: Tommy Barnett
Labels: Inspirational
Publisher: Waterbrook Press
Publication Date: 2013
Recommended To: YA, Adult
Contains: N/A

Buy It: Amazon | Book Depository | Kindle
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Blurb From Goodreads: What can you do in 30 minutes? Have lunch? Watch television? Check Facebook? How about change your life? Why do some people achieve far more than others? We all get the same 24 hours in a day, yet a special few seem to have superhuman abilities when it comes to accomplishing great things in life.
Tommy Barnett, a proven master at “getting things done,” says the key to maximizing your productivity is to make use of small, manageable moments in your day—just 30 minutes at a time.  In this remarkably practical book, Tommy shows how to begin a whole new life of fruitfulness. You’ll see immediate results in all areas of your life, including your—Purpose and values, Personal goals, Faith, Character and attitude, Dreams, Career, Relationships, Marriage and family, Church involvement and ministry
Why not change time from being your worst enemy to your everlasting friend? It all starts with the amazing things you can do in only a half hour.  Through inspiring stories and biblical principles, discover how your downtime can have a major upside. Get going—you don’t have a minute to lose!
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Although, I'm currently very disciplined in my time management, I haven't always been this way. And due to my busy schedule, I'm always on the lookout for ways to increase my time management and get the most out of my time. Hence, when I was given the opportunity to read and review The Power of a Half Hour, I jumped right on it. I don't regret it for one minute.

In this book, Barnett talks about ways and reasons to use half hour segments to the best of your ability and for the greatest purposes and outcomes. One of the things I really liked about the format of the book was that each chapter was short enough that even a slow reader could easily read at least one chapter within a half hour (I found myself making it through 1-3 per half hour). This format allowed me to immediately put into practice Barnett's concept of using half hour segments to accomplish goals.

Despite my extensive research on the subject, I still learned a great deal from this book and I definitely believe I gained from it. I definitely would recommend it to anyone who is looking to increase their time management and gain a better understanding of just how valuable half hours really are. 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.

Christmas in Apple Ridge

Title: Christmas in Apple Ridge
Author: Cindy Woodsmall
Labels: Fiction | Contemporary
Publisher: Waterbrook Multnomah
Publication Date: October 9, 2012
Recommended To: Women, YA, Adult
Contains: Clean romance.


Buy It: Amazon | Book Depository | Kindle
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Blurb From Goodreads: Experience the holidays with the Plain folk of Apple Ridge, Pennsylvania, in these touching novellas centered around love, romance, heartache, and restoration from best-selling author Cindy Woodsmall.
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Since this is a three-in-one, I'm going to briefly review each novella individually.

The Sound of Sleigh Bells: I thought this novella was really good. It was an interesting read, and I loved that it had a secrecy strand running through it. The secret that Beth carried throughout the better part of the book added depth and built up the story well. It ended up not being quite as dramatic as I had expected--however I over exaggerate things in my head--but I thought it was a real life issue that can be relatable to the guilt felt by many people today. I loved Jonah to death. He was such a cool character with an awesome background. My favorite part was probably that they wrote letters to each other, which I love the idea of!

The Christmas Singing: This was probably the most unique Amish story I've read, hands down. Mattie is a professional cake decorator, who was once in love with Gideon before he brutally dumped her with the misleading belief that he was having an affair. As it turns out, the real story behind his reasons were heartbreaking and made the story so much more deep and real. Loved it!

The Dawn of Christmas: First off, I just need to say that I absolutely love the name Levi. Definitely one of my favorite guy names. Anyway, I thought this novella was very interesting and had a lot of unexpected twists and turns to it. It starts off with Levi getting hurt, and Sadie saving his life by coincidentally finding him. Both characters have scars from the past and an intriguing fear of commitment, that I think most people can identify with on some level. I thought this was really great and well worth the read.

Overall I thought these three novellas were fantastic, and definitely got me in the Christmas mood! Highly 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.

Redeeming Love

Title: Redeeming Love
Author: Francine Rivers
Labels: Fiction | General | Romance
Publisher: Waterbrook Multnomah
Publication Date: May 9, 2005
Recommended To: Adults
Contains: Mature topics

Buy It: Amazon | Book Depository | Kindle
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Blurb From Goodreads: California's gold country, 1850. A time when men sold their souls for a bag of gold and women sold their bodies for a place to sleep. Angel expects nothing from men but betrayal. Sold into prostitution as a child she survives by keeping her hatred alive. And what she hates most are the men who use her, leaving her empty and dead inside.
          Then she meets Michael Hosea. A man who seeks his Father's heart in everything, Michael obeys God's call to marry Angel and to love her unconditionally. Slowly, day by day, he defies Angel's every bitter expectation, until despite her resistance, her frozen heart begins to thaw. But with her unexpected softening come overwhelming feelings of unworthiness and fear. And so Angel runs. Back to the darkness, away from her husband's pursuing love, terrified of the truth she no longer can deny: Her final healing must come from the One who loves her even more than Michael does...the One who will never let her go.
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This book was really deep and emotional, but I loved it. Redeeming Love is a retelling of the Biblical account of Hosea and Gomer. For those of you who may not be familiar with this account, Hosea was a Biblical prophet who, by the instruction of God, marries a prostitute. God's purpose in this marriage was to show a picture of the relationship between Himself and Israel.

Coming into this book, I was already well aware of the Biblical account of this particular couple, so I was very interested in seeing where Rivers would go with it. She ended up going above and beyond my expectations. I wasn't expecting the way in which these two unlikely characters ended up together, but it fit the story well. While some details differed from the Biblical account, the changed details worked well for the story and the overall plot followed the main point.

I thought this book was fantastic. It showed the struggles on both sides, and dug deep into the emotional spectrum of it. I was glad it showed those struggles without crossing any lines between appropriate and inappropriate. I would highly recommend this book to adults--adults because it does touch on mature topics. 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.

NOTE: I read the revised Christian version, which has had all explicit scenes/language taken out of it. I have heard that the original copy is rather explicit. Depending on how you feel about such things, you may want to take that into consideration.

The Winnowing Season (Amish Vines and Orchards, #2)

Title: The Winnowing Season
Author: Cindy Woodsmall
Labels: Fiction | Contemporary Fiction
Publisher: Waterbrook Multnomah
Publication Date: April 2, 2013
Recommended To: Woman, Adult, YA
Contains: Clean.

Buy It: Amazon | Book Depository | Kindle
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Blurb From Amazon: The tornado that devastated Kings’ Orchard pushed Rhoda, Samuel, and Jacob to make a new start in Maine. Are they strong enough to withstand the challenges of establishing an Amish community—and brave enough to face the secrets that move with them?
          On the eve of their departure to begin a new Old Order Amish community outside of Unity, Maine, Rhoda Byler is shocked to discover that choices made by her business partner and friend, Samuel King, have placed her and her unusual gifts directly into the path of her district’s bishop and preachers. She is furious with Samuel and is fearful that the Kings will be influenced by the way her leaders see her, and not what they know to be true—that Rhoda’s intuition is a gift from God.
          Jacob King won’t be swayed by community speculation. He loves Rhoda, believes in her, and wants to build a future with her in Maine. But when the ghosts of his past come calling and require him to fulfill a great debt, can he shake their hold before it destroys what he has with Rhoda? Samuel has a secret of his own—one he’ll go to great lengths to keep hidden, even if it means alienating those closest to him. Throwing himself into rehabilitating the once-abandoned orchard, Samuel turns to a surprising new ally. Book 2 of the Amish Vines and Orchards series asks: can the three faithfully follow God’s leading and build a new home and orchard in Maine? Or will this new beginning lead to more ruin and heartbreak?
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Well, here I am again, reading books out of order. Haha. One would think I'd learn to stop and read in order, but nope. I guess what prevents me from learning my lesson and dropping this out-of-order habit is the fact that rarely do I come across a book in a series that can't stand alone enough for me to read and understand everything. The Winnowing Season is one of those books that can stand on its own two feet (so to speak) and not lose the reader.

The Winnowing Season is a continuation of the first book in the Amish Vines and Orchards Series, A Season For Tending. The first book compliments it by giving more back story into previous events, but The Winnowing Season has its own unique and individual story line as well. This is the kind of series I like--reading all the books in order gives you a deeper and richer experience overall, but you can still pick up any one of the books and read it separately.

This is definitely one of my favorites from Cindy Woodsmall. I've read several of her books, but this one really topped the rest, at least for me. I loved the character development, the real thoughts and feelings of the characters, the unique way each handled different situations. I felt like Woodsmall really brought the characters to life. Not only that, but there was a lot more controversy in this book than I personally have found in most Amish books--which I liked. There were all kinds of situations and dilemmas that arose, threatening each character in a different way. The ending impressed me as well--it wasn't quite what you'd call your typical happy-ever-after ending, and left me wanting to get my hands on the next book to find out what happens next. 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.

Wishing on Willows

Title: Wishing on Willows
Author: Katie Ganshert
Labels: Fiction | Christian | Romance
Publisher: Waterbrook Mutlnomah
Publication Date: March 19, 2013
Recommended To: Women, Ganshert fans, YA
Contains: Clean.

Buy It: Amazon | Book Depository | Kindle
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Blurb From Goodreads: A three-year old son, a struggling café, and fading memories are all Robin Price has left of her late husband. As the proud owner of Willow Tree Café in small town Peaks, Iowa,  she pours her heart into every muffin she bakes and espresso she pulls, thankful for the sense of purpose and community the work provides. So when developer Ian McKay shows up in Peaks with plans to build condos where her café and a vital town ministry are located, she isn’t about to let go without a fight.
          As stubborn as he is handsome, Ian won’t give up easily. His family’s business depends on his success in Peaks. But as Ian pushes to seal the deal, he wonders if he has met his match. Robin’s gracious spirit threatens to undo his resolve, especially when he discovers the beautiful widow harbors a grief that resonates with his own. With polarized opinions forming all over town, business becomes unavoidably personal and Robin and Ian must decide whether to cling to the familiar or surrender their plans to the God of Second Chances.
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          One of the things I remember most about Ganshert's first book, Wildflowers from Winter, was the raw emotion in it. I loved it--every minute of it. It was probably one the most emotionally engaging books I've ever read. In Wishing on Willows, we get the same moving emotion, but it was different. Refined. While the first book was raw, leaving it all out there on the floor for you to recover from for the next week, the second was refined emotion that keeps bringing you back to the thought of it.
          I liked the plot line of Wishing on Willows. While certain details reminded me of Ganshert's first book, the plot wasn't quite what I was expecting. It kept me interested, engaged, and turning pages. At the end I honestly had no idea what was going to happen, but the whole thing still moved along smoothly and naturally.
          Katie Ganshert has yet to disappoint me. Her books are full of emotion, realistic situations, and crazy twists. Oh...and her guy characters are really cute...but at the same time, very human. I look forward to ready any and all future books from this talented author. 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.

Clouds (Glenbrooke, #5)

Title: Clouds
Author: Robin Jones Gunn
Labels: Fiction | Contemporary
Publisher: Waterbrook Multnomah
Publication Date: May 14, 2004
Recommended To: Women
Contains: Clean as a whistle.

Buy It: Amazon | Kindle
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Blurb From Goodreads: Coming home wasn’t supposed to feel this way. After five years as a flight attendant, Shelly is home again, in a house alive with happy memories. Yet she feels strangely lost. Without direction. Alone.
          Where is Jonathan Renrield when she needs him? Jonathan, her best friend nearly all her life, her first and only love. Shelly hadn’t meant to hurt him when she left him behind to chase her dreams. And she misses him more than she’s ever admitted. When they unexpectedly meet in Germany, Shelly manages to hide her feelings from Jonathan—and his fiancée. But she can no longer hide them from herself. Will she ever be ready to tell Jonathan the truth? Will she have the chance?
          Not until a business trip takes her to charming Glenbrooke, Oregon does Shelly finally understand: only the truth can set her free. But is it too late for her and Jonathan?
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         First off, I loved the names of the two main characters, Shelly and Jonathan. I don't know, maybe it's a personal thing, but to me "Shelly" just kinda rolls off the tongue in a great way. And I can't remember the last time read a book with the main character named "Jonathan," so it was a really great pick.

          I really liked the way the plot played out. I have a personal love for books that take place--or have scenes--in foreign countries, especially when they let the culture show through. The better part of this book took place in Germany. I felt like the topic was interesting and a legitimate possibility, and it was interesting to watch as the characters handled it in their own ways.

          Lastly, I loved the cover! It's beautiful on the web, and even more gorgeous on the physical book! I loved this book. It had some really cute scenes, and I loved the way it ended. 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.

Wildflowers From Winter

Title: Wildflowers From Winter
Author: Katie Ganshert
Labels: Fiction | Romance | Contemporary
Publisher: Waterbrook Press
Publication Date: May 8, 2012
Reading Range: YA | Adult
Contains: (baby) Labor scene.

Buy It: Amazon | Book Depository | The Publisher
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Blurb From Goodreads: A young architect at a prestigious Chicago firm, Bethany Quinn has built the life she dreamed of during her teen years in a trailer park.  An unexpected interruption from her estranged mother reveals that tragedy has struck in her hometown and a reluctant Bethany is called back to rural Iowa.  
          Determined to pay her respects to her past while avoiding any emotional entanglements, she vows not to stay long. But the unexpected inheritance of five hundred acres of farmland and a startling turn of events in Chicago forces Bethany to come up with a new plan.
          Handsome farmhand Evan Price has taken care of the Quinn farm for years.  When Bethany is left the land, Evan must fight her decisions to realize his dreams. But even as he disagrees with Bethany’s vision, Evan feels drawn to her and the pain she keeps so carefully locked away.
          For Bethany, making peace with her past and the God of her childhood doesn’t seem like the path to freedom. Is letting go the only way to new life, love and a peace that she’s not even sure exists?
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          I'm not the kind of person who cries easily. Like...rarely. Extremely rarely. This book almost made me cry, multiple times. (almost, mind you. I did manage to keep from it :P) The raw emotion in this book is incredible, especially for a debut book. I'm still trying to rack my brain to figure out how Ganshert did it.

          Bethany goes back to her hometown, only to face blow after blow of tragedies...which I can't name lest I give away the awesomeness :P. I was a tad skeptical of the plot-line at first; since the whole going-back-to-home-town-and-fall-in-love-with-the-cute-dude seems to a common baseline of late. However, this book gave the concept a fresh look, and really surprised me. Excellently done!

          Wildflowers From Winter sucked me right into the story, involved me in each of the character's stories, and made me want to read more. The romance aspect was definitely interesting. Both characters were initially turned off by each other, and yet admired certain traits the other possessed. Both were hurting, and eventually saw the best in the other. Very, very good :-)

          Katie Ganshert is by far one of the most talented debut authors I've ever seen! Wildflowers From Winter is among the best, well-written books I've read, and is now one of my favorites. 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.

Not This Time (Crossroads Crisis Center, #3)

Title: Not This Time
Author: Vicki Hinze
Labels: Fiction | Suspense
Publisher: Waterbrook Multnomah
Publication Date: February 21, 2012
Contains: Some violence.
Buy It: Amazon | Book Depository | The Publisher

My Rating: ★★★★★ (Fantastic!)
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Blurb From Goodreads: Sara and Beth have built a multi-million dollar business together, but their once solid friendship is now strained. Beth is leery of Sara’s husband, and when he is kidnapped, authorities consider Beth their prime suspect. 
          Then, their small town of Seagrove Village is rocked by an act of terrorism, and Beth doesn’t know who to trust. Someone she knows is linked to the attack, but who? Is there a connection to Crossroads Crisis Center? In the midst of the confusion and fear, Beth finds herself attracted to a man from her past. She knows she shouldn’t fall in love with him, but she can’t resist or even explain their bond. As her world unravels around her, she wonders, is it possible to be beyond redemption?
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          This is a ridiculously crazy good book. Just sayin'. Beth is the center character, the co-owner of a multi-million dollar business, along with Sara, her best friend. Ironically, this book isn't labeled as a romance, but that's the part I liked the best. I can't help that I'm a hopeless romantic. Anyway, Beth is a girl who's managed to harden herself against men after having her heart broken by a complete jerk. While she really likes Joe, her past relationship keeps getting in the way.

          Alright, on to the real point of the book. So how would you like to be living in this awesome little village...with a terrorist group knocking on your door? This terrorist group, NINA, has some big plans for this village, and it doesn't take long for Beth to figure out she has to be careful who she trusts. The farther on the plot goes, the more suspenseful it becomes. This is a page turner!

          Yeah, so this book is too good to write a humongous review on, especially without giving anything away. All I can say is it kept me guessing--without ever losing my interest. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher for this review. Recommended! These opinions are my own; I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated for this review. 

The Scent of Cherry Blossoms [Review]

Title: The Scent of Cherry Blossoms
Author: Cindy Woodsmall
Labels: Fiction | Contemporary
Publisher: Waterbrook Multnomah
Publication Date: February 21, 2012
Contains: Clean as a whistle.
Buy It: Amazon | Book Depository | The Publisher

My Rating: ★★★★★ (Fantastic!)
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Blurb From Goodreads: Annie Martin loves the Plain ways of her Old Order Mennonite people, like those revered by her beloved grandfather. Retreating from a contentious relationship with her mother, Annie goes to live with her Daadi Moses in Apple Ridge.  
          But as spring moves into Pennsylvania and Annie spends time amongst the cherry trees with the handsome Aden Zook, she wishes she could forget how deeply the lines between the Old Order Amish and Old Order Mennonite are drawn. Can Annie and Aden find a place for their love to bloom in the midst of the brewing storm?
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          I'm pretty sure I can summarize this book in these two words: utterly fantastic! This is now among my favorites, and definitely one of the most enjoyable books I've read...ever. Both Annie and Aden are fantastic, unique characters with a whole lot of personality.

          Aden and Annie are two young adults belonging to two different yet very similar religious communities, communities which forbid marriage outside of their own community. Despite this rule, the two take a liking to each other, falling a little more for the other each time their paths cross. Finally, after being driven to her grandfather's farm due to problems at home, Annie realizes her feelings for Aden have deepened a great deal. The two teeter on the fence line of going their separate ways in favor of their community and family peace, or committing to a relationship that could quite possibly hurt everyone they love and rip their communities apart.

          I'm really at a loss for how to convey the awesomeness of this book, so I'm just going to stop here. Basically, this is a great read for anyone who loves romance - from the mushy kind to realistic to practical romance. Get it. Read it. I received this book for free from the publisher. I was not require to write a review, nor a positive one. I was not compensated for this review.

Eye of the Sword (Angelaeon Circle, #2) [Review]

Title: Eye of the Sword
Author: Karyn Henley
Labels: Fiction | Fantasy
Publisher: Waterbrook Multnomah
Publication Date: March 13, 2012
Contains: N/A - Clean as a whistle.
Buy It: Amazon | Book Depository | The Publisher

My Rating: ★★★☆☆ (It was okay)
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Blurb From Goodreads: In Camrithia, a land of shadows and mystical secrets, Trevin lives to serve King Laetham. But his heart belongs to the princess, Melaia. When the King sends Trevin on on a dangerous quest to find the missing comains—captains in the king’s army—he must leave Melaia to the advances of a swaggering Dregmoorian prince. 
          Challenged to prove his worth, Trevin throws himself into his quest. Striving to prove his love, Trevin undertakes a second mission—find the harps Melaia seeks in order to restore the stairway to heaven. Through fire caves, rogue winds, and murderous threats, Trevin remains steadfastly dedicated to his quest—even when he is falsely accused of a heinous crime. As Trevin’s time runs out, he realizes he must face the shame and horror of his own past and the nightmare that has come to life. Will he have the courage to finish what he has started?
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          This is probably a bad way to start off a book review, but here I am again reading a book out of the middle of a series that I've never touched. Bit of a bad habit for me, yes? Anyway, Eye of the Sword is the sequel to Breath of Angel, and is the second book in the Angelaeon Circle series. Since, as previously mentioned, I haven't read the first book, I can't give a contrast to how it is compared to the first book. My apologies.

          Probably mostly due to the fact that I jumped into the middle of this complex series, I had a hard time keeping up with what was going on and the significance of it all for about half the book. The unusual names tripped me up for a while but before too long I could keep them all straight. Due to all these conundrums - caused by my own silliness, more likely than not - I ended up enjoying the latter half more than the first.

          I guess the only real problem I saw with this book (excluding my initial self-caused trip-ups) was the lack of engagement I felt. I found it kinda hard to get into the characters, which I think possibly was because of the fantasy nature of the characters - angels, creepy immortal bad guys, and the like. I had a hard time relating to any of the characters, making me feel kinda outside the story.

          Nonetheless, once things got moving along and I started having a better understanding of the plot and settings, it was interesting to watch things play out. 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 Canary List [Review]

Title: The Canary List
Author: Sigmund Brouwer
Labels: Fiction | Suspense
Publisher: Waterbrook Multnomah
Publication Date: June 21, 2011
Contains: Touchy subjects
Buy It: Amazon | Book Depository | The Publisher

My Rating: ★★☆☆☆ (Didn't like it)
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Blurb: Protected by the dark of night, Jaimie Piper runs. But is anywhere safe when Evil is hunting you? She’s just a twelve year-old girl, bumped around between foster homes and relegated to school classes for challenged kids, those lagging in their test scores or with behavioral issues. But her real problem is that she can sense something the other kids can’t—something dark. Something compelling her to run for her life.
          All Crockett Grey wants is to mark the anniversary of his daughter’s death alone. But when his student Jaimie comes to him, terrified, her need for protection collides with his grief, and a tangled web of bizarre events sends them both spiraling toward destruction. Crockett’s one hope of getting his life back is to uncover the mysterious secrets of Jaimie’s past and her strange gift. It isn’t long before his discoveries lead him to a darker conspiracy, secrets guarded by the highest seat of power in the world—the Vatican.
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          This is going to be a relatively short review in comparison to my past ones, because in my opinion, The Canary List had little going for it. I really hate giving bad reviews, but this was one book where the cons outweighed the pros.

          The one thing I can say in the positive is the natural, believable voice of Jaimie Piper. I did like that in any chapters from her point of view, everything was portrayed just as a twelve-year-old girl would see it. The way she thought accurately showed the understanding she had as a twelve-year-old, while still giving way to things she couldn't understand due to her age. It was a good balance.

          As for the cons, well, I don't particularly approve subjects such as child abuse, or abuse of any sort for that matter. Anything pertaining to inappropriate sexual actions is a black letter in my book. Hence, I'm afraid I could not enjoy this book as the topic repeatedly came up as a prominent part of the plot.

          The other major element to this book that I didn't like was the involvement of demons and perversion in the Catholic church. I myself am not Catholic, but even so it turned me off to have to read of such things. True, there are such people today in any denomination of religion, but the book, to me, seemed to make it a ridiculously big conspiracy. And the apparent involvement of demons did nothing to help my opinion of this book. I'm afraid I cannot and will not recommend this book to anyone.

          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 Scroll [Review]

Title: The Scroll
Author: Grant R. Jeffrey & Alton L. Gansky
Labels: Fiction | Suspense | Christian | Futuristic
Publisher: Waterbrook Multnomah
Publication Date: September 6, 2011
Contains: A few crude comments.
Buy It: Amazon | Book Depository | The Publisher
Book Trailer: Click Here!

My Rating: ★★★★★
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Blurb: Dr. David Chambers, leading archaeologist, has spent his professional career uncovering the facts in the artifacts. His work sets the standard for biblical research in the Holy Land. But surrounded by the evidence, David has sunk into an abyss of doubt. A painful experience with a seemingly unresponsive God has left him without hope. The Old Testament scriptures that used to fill his mind with wonder now drive him to frustration. His unanswered questions have ripped him from both his academic pursuits and the love of his life, his fiancee, Amber.
          An old friend and mentor reaches out to David, enticing him with the riches described in the enigmatic Copper Scroll. Losing ground with his peers, his love, and his faith, David Chambers has a choice to make. Will he undertake one final dig to unlock a secret that could alter the course of history? Do the mysteries of the Old Testament hold the key to the political turmoil of the Middle East? In a world where faith has been eclipsed by the allure of doubt, The Scroll offers a different journey: a gripping adventure to find truth worth dying for.
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          Suspense is definitely a well-suited label for this book. At first, when I found out the book is set in 2012, I wanted to plant my face into a wall. I couldn't help but wonder if this was going to end up being a end-of-the-world type book that would only feed the world's crazy contemplation of what next year will bring. Thankfully it didn't turn out to be like that...for the most part.

          While the book itself never actually came out and spelled out the end of the world coming in 2012 (supposedly), it occasionally alluded to it, particularly at the very end of the book and in the epilogue. But enough about that. That fact that is was set in the near future helped the setup, for sure. The team of archaeologists that David Chambers is recruited to comes into possession of some pretty sweet high tech devices, which I won't name specifically for the sake of keeping this spoil free. Even though most of these devices don't exist (at least that I know of....), it's easy to imagine such technology within the near future. The fact that the book is set within the next year also helped in that while the author's had some room to grow the technology, it was close enough to present times to keep most everything else the same as it is today.

          The obvious danger of the 'mission' Chambers and his colleagues are on makes this book ridiculously interesting. Something always seemed to be up, whether it was the paranoid head of security (one of my fav characters), ex-fiancee distracting him, annoying coworkers, assassinations....you name it. It was kinda crazy how many characters had died by the last chapter, quite a few of them extremely awesome, lovable characters at that. It added some sadness between all the epic explosions of events.

          I really don't know what else to say without blowing the entire plot. In short, the plot was just amazing. The characters were fantastic, well rounded, realistic...I'm pretty sure they're actually real, still hiding out in Israel and digging up holes. *wink wink*

          This book is now a new fav of mine. The suspense and excitement started on the first chapter and only grew, right up to the very end. Highly recommended! The ending also left off with a very interesting setup, should there ever be a sequel...

          I received this book for free from Waterbrook Multnomah through blogging for books for this review. These opinions are my own; I was not required to write a positive review.