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.

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: Catching Fire (Hunger Games, #2)

Catching Fire was a great addition to the Hunger Games series. The book begins with Katniss and Peeta going through the victory tour, only to fail to accomplish anything that could possibly continue to keep themselves and their loved ones safe. The top it off, the two receive news which rocks both their worlds far more than either could ever imagine.

I really like the point of view the book takes--going right into Katniss' head and telling the story as she sees it. It's so easy to get into the story when you feel like you're right there living with her. I liked that this way of relating the story allowed the reader to gather pieces of the puzzle and put some together, but still end up just as confused as Katniss, or whatever other emotion she was experiencing at any given scene.

While the violence continues in the book, I do believe Collins does a remarkable job in relating what can happen when people become callous to violence. I would recommend the book and the series to young adults and adults. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Cascade (River of Time, #2) [Review]

Title: Cascade
Author: Lisa T. Bergren
Labels: Fiction | YA | General
Publisher: David C. Cook
Publication Date: June 1, 2011
Contains: N/A
Buy It: Amazon | Book Depository | The Publisher

My Rating: ★★★★☆ (I liked it)
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Blurb: Mom touched my underdress—a gown made six hundred years before—and her eyes widened as she rubbed the raw silk between thumb and forefinger. She turned and touched Lia’s gown. “Where did you get these clothes?”
          Gabi knows she’s left her heart in the fourteenth century and she persuades Lia to help her to return, even though they know doing so will risk their very lives. When they arrive, weeks have passed and all of Siena longs to celebrate the heroines who turned the tide in the battle against Florence—while the Florentines will go to great lengths to see them dead.
          But Marcello patiently awaits, and Gabi must decide if she’s willing to leave her family behind for good in order to give her heart to him forever. [Taken from Goodreads]
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Note: This is going to be a short review, because I finished the book like 3-4 weeks ago, but since I was taking an intensive college course at the time, I didn't have the time to write the review. Hence it will not be as in depth as I would have liked.

          Gabi, Gabi, Gabi, Gabi. She always manages to get right into the heart of battle, no? So Cascade picks up right where Waterfall left off...quite literally. Like, a lot of sequels will have at least a short time span between the two, whereas this one picks up literally minutes after the first book ends. Which is fine. I just thought that was interesting.

          It was cool that on the second trip back to medieval Italy Gabi and Lia got to bring their mom with them...but then I was kinda disappointed that their mom didn't have a stronger role in the story. I don't know, maybe it's just me, but I kinda felt like their mother got left on the sidelines once the arrived, and Gabi and Marcello picked right back up and stole the spotlight for the rest of the book. I mean, I get that the book is basically their story. But I guess I would have liked to have seen Gabi and Lia associate more with their mother, instead of the mother being there just for the ride.

          To me it felt like there was a lot more action in this volume of The River of Time Series, which was great. That meant there was less time for Gabi and Marcello to be all ooey gooey, and be more like legit medieval warriors than lovesick teenagers. Maybe that was a little harsh. But it was starting to get to me how they were always so...sappy? (for lack of a better word)...over each other. Less kissing, more fighting! :P

          To make up for my distaste of overly gooey romances, a new character was introduced to the mix -- Lord Greco. Now him, I liked. He might be a new fav. character for me....along with Luca. Because Luca, he's cool.

          Sadly, I wasn't crazy about the ending. I'm not going to say what happens at the end, because that would ruin it. But it wasn't as great as I was hoping it would be. I kinda felt like the last event was just slapped onto the end. Other than that I thought the book was really good.

The Wounds of God by Penelope Wilcock [Review]

         Any apprehension I had about this book, and the series, (as I previously stated my skepticism in my review of book one) is thoroughly gone. Now, this doesn't necessarily mean I agree with every single practice exercised in this book, but as for the book as a whole, I enjoyed it greatly. What really hooked me in was the characters.
         The characters always seem so real to me. I won't go into great detail, to save from spoiling the story. But I always felt like each and every character was distinct, full of true, relatable emotions aroused from believable situations. Each character seemed to have their own struggles, struggles we all face in everyday life.
         I didn't find it to particularly heavy, or hard to understand, even when doctrinal/theological topics were brought up. While there are serious scenes and moments, I found a healthy mix of laughable sections, amusing quotes to lighten and balance it out. I found it to be an easy read, so much so I read it in a total of three days -- something I haven't done in years! All in all, I enjoyed this book immensely. Now, go read it :-)

I received this book for free from Crossway for this review.