Review: A Healing Spirit by Melissa A. Hanson

My rating: 2 stars / It was okay

Synopsis

A freak ski accident brings nineteen-year old Mia Kinney within minutes of death. Hurt and scared, Mia is calmed by the southern drawl and clear green eyes of her rescuer.

Twenty-one year old Dylan Blackburn is one of the first Ski Patrol members on the scene. As his patient is airlifted to the local trauma center, he can’t shake her from his thoughts.

As Mia fights for her life, Dylan, is haunted by the blond hair beauty, and knows he needs to make sure she’s going to be okay.

With a troubled past Dylan has vowed never to completely open himself up to another girl, but Mia continues to knock down every wall he’s constructed. When his past arrives at his front door and threatens once again someone that he loves, will Dylan be able to save Mia yet again? Or will he be too late this time?

A story of love, friendship, and the determination to turn a horrible experience into something worthwhile.

My Review

The first third of the book is Mia's ski accident told from multiple perspectives- it was jumping around in brief vignettes so much that the flow was choppy and hard to hold interest; I ended up scanning much of it. The early character development was lacking, but the action moved things forward. The dialogue and narrative is not as stilted as the previous book in the series but could still use more depth. I don't think this is an author whose style is my cup of tea.

(Thank you to Ebooks For Review for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

Review: A Healing Heart by Melissa A. Hanson

My rating: 2 stars / It was okay

Synopsis

On a bitter cold winter night Bailey Walsh’s family was killed in a traffic accident. Two years later as she lives with her aunt and uncle in Southern California, Bailey is still plagued by the nightmares of that terrible night. Everywhere around her are reminders of what she lost. Even her aunt, in a cruel twist of fate, is not just her mom’s sister, but her identical twin. Babysitting Riley, a spunky two-year old, is a sweet distraction and one constant light in her life. One day as she takes Riley to the park she meets Collin McKenna, a senior at her high school and her life is changed forever as he helps her find herself and realize her life is worth living. As the romance between them grows her broken heart begins to heal. However, still nagging in the back of her conscious is the fear that her new found happiness could come crashing down and she could lose everything she loves, yet again. Outside forces begin to tear them apart and Bailey must learn to trust in herself and realize that she is worthy of happiness. That sometimes love and healing comes in unexpected forms.

My Review

This book has a great premise, but the writing fell flat for me. It started out fine as Bailey is relating her situation to the reader, but as she encounters Collin the narrative turns into a play-by-play of the day and unimportant actions, the dialogue is stilted, including polite greetings and clichés, and the inner thoughts have no depth. It's written in first person from three different perspectives- Bailey, Collin, and Savannah (Colin's childhood friend and Bailey's new competition). I didn't think Savannah's perspective was necessary- it was always short and could have been portrayed through Bailey's observations. I was disappointed the story felt rather two-dimensional, but the themes of grief and finding happiness in the wake of tragedy are ones I relate to. This is a story that I would recommend to young teenage readers.

(Thank you to Ebooks For Review for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

Review & Giveaway: Change of Heart by Molly Jebber

My rating: 2 stars / It was okay

Synopsis

Ohio, 1899. Soft-spoken midwife Becca Yost lived by her Amish faith's strict rules—until her fiancé jilted her before their entire community. She's never been away from home, but the bustling Englischer town of Massillon, Ohio, is a welcome unexpected refuge. Especially when she goes to work for Dr. Matt Carrington, who shares her passion for healing those in need. His outgoing spirit and gentle strength show Becca a surprising new world of choices—and irresistible love. But there is one formidable obstacle: Matt's wealthy mother is determined her son will marry a society woman.

With her newfound resolve challenged, Becca decides that she and Matt must not be destined for each other after all. She accepts that she will have to forge a life alone—until a wrenching crisis and life-changing revelations teach her that true faith lies in all things, especially impossible second chances. . .

My Review

This was a difficult book for me to get into. The biggest problem for me was how stilted the dialogue and narration is (example: "Matt is sitting by the window at Lizzie's. No one is with him. I am hungry. We should join him.") It was just not a smooth read where I'm excited to read the next sentence, but more of a struggle. Much of the dialogue is of mundane things that made no difference to the plot but took up page space and made me lose interest. The narration also told of the characters thinking or feeling things that didn't quite fit with what is going on. There is a lot of telling instead of showing which made the characters seem two-dimensional to me. I think it would have benefited from a more thorough macro and line edit. For fans of Amish fiction not as picky as me I think this book will still be enjoyed by many.

(Thank you to CelebrateLit Publicity Group for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

About the Author 

Molly Jebber is the author of CHANGE OF HEART, an Amish historical romance. Fascinated by the Amish history, culture, Molly pursued her passion to write. Her love of writing led to a book deal with Kensington Publishing as well as three more titles debuting in 2015 and 2016. Publisher’s Weekly magazine announced and listed this book number three in their best ten review list for 2015. Romantic Times gave Change of Heart 4.5 stars. Molly enjoys time with her family, friends, traveling, swimming and golf. She loves God and serving Him. Sign up for Molly’s newsletter for giveaways, appearances, and latest news on book releases.

A copy of the book will be given away at each stop on the blog tour! So there are several chances for you to enter to win!

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Nov 27: The Power of Words (http://booksmusicandlife.blogspot.com)

Entry-Form

Review: A Bouquet of Love by Janice Thompson

My rating: 2 stars / It was okay

Synopsis

Cassia Pappas has found herself in a nearly impossible situation. She wants to spend her time immersed in her new job at a Galveston Island floral shop, arranging blooms and brightening occasions with her lovely creations. But her huge Greek family–especially her father–has other ideas. They’ve all relocated to Galveston to open up a new family restaurant location on the Strand– directly across the street from the Rossis’ popular pizza place–and they want Cassia’s full participation.
To make matters worse, as Cassia is trying to develop a strong professional relationship with Galveston’s premier wedding coordinator, Bella Neeley, her own father is intent on stealing all of the Rossi family’s faithful customers. Not exactly the best way to get into Bella’s good graces!
Still, at least Alex, that hot delivery guy from the nursery, is always hanging around the flower shop...

My Review

This was a cute and funny story, but waaaay too chick-lit for me. Written in first person perspective from Cassia's POV, her love interest Alex played second string to a host of other characters, mainly her gruff and stubborn father who alienates his family and neighbors. Definitely reminded me of the film My Big Fat Greek Wedding. By the end of the book the story was focused 100% on Cassia's father and the family's passive-aggressive attempts at changing his competitive mindset. I ended up doing quite a bit of skimming, trying to find a continuation of the storylines involving the flower shop and romance, but they were only referenced briefly. The ending was incredibly cheesy but I suppose it would work in a romantic comedy. I guess this author's style just isn't for me.

(Thank you to Revell Publishing for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

Review: Rainy Day Dreams by Lori Copeland and Virginia Smith

My rating: 2 stars / It was okay

Synopsis

When the Burgert family moves to Seattle in 1852, Kathryn is convinced her father has destroyed her life. The backwoods settlement offers none of the comforts and culture she loves in San Francisco. She cares nothing for the new sawmill the townsfolk are so excited about. That is, until she meets Jason, a lumberjack with dreams for a bright future. As she comes to know Jason, Kathryn can't help catching his vision.

But the future they hope for is anything but secure. There are some who see Seattle as a threat and will stop at nothing to make sure the sawmill fails. With the harsh and rugged weather, at times it seems even the land itself is determined to thwart Seattle's very existence. Kathryn and Jason's plans for a happy future become entwined with Seattle's struggle to survive in the midst of adversity, both manmade and natural.

My Review

Boy did I have a hard time getting into this book. In fact, I was never able to connect with the characters or care about the plot. I wasn't exactly sure what the point of the story was until well past the halfway point. Kathryn is self-centered and entitled, while Jason is prejudiced and surly. There was never any chemistry between the two. The best characters in the story are Evie and Noah from the first book in the series. I did enjoy the setting of a newly settled Seattle.

(Thank you to Harvest House Publishers for an e-copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

Review: All Things Hidden by Tracie Peterson, Kimberley Woodhouse

My rating: 2 stars / It was okay

Synopsis

Gwyn Hillerman loves being a nurse at her father's clinic on the beautiful Alaskan frontier. But family life has been rough ever since her mother left them, disdaining the uncivilized country and taking Gwyn's younger sister with her.

In Chicago, Dr. Jeremiah Vaughan finds his life suddenly turned upside down when his medical license is stripped away after an affluent patient dies. In a snowball effect, his fiance breaks their engagement. In an attempt to bury the past, Jeremiah accepts Dr. Hillerman's invitation to join his growing practice in the isolated Alaska Territory.

Gwyn and Jeremiah soon recognize a growing attraction to each other. But when rumors of Jeremiah's past begin to surface, they'll need more than love to face the threat of an uncertain future.

My Review

I usually enjoy stories set in the Alaskan frontier more than this. I felt like the setting was the most interesting part of the story. The characters are two-dimensional and there is little chemistry between Gwyn and Jeremiah. The villain's point of view is shared throughout the book which is written over the top in my opinion. After finishing the book I was left with an overall feeling of disappointment.

(Thank you to Bethany House Publishing for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

Review: A Match of Wits by Jen Turano

My rating: 2 stars / It was okay

Synopsis

After his departure from New York two years ago to meet up with his almost-fiancee, Zayne Beckett is the last person Agatha Watson wanted to stumble upon in her travels as a reporter with the New York Tribune. Quite pathetically bedraggled, he clearly needs to be taken in hand and sent back East to his family. Although she no longer has feelings for him, Agatha realizes--by hook or by crook--she'll have to be the one to get the obstinate man home.

Zayne has no desire to be taken anywhere and is prepared to drag his heels all the way home . . . until he finds himself slipping back into the familiar banter of his former friendship with Agatha. Once they arrive in New York, Zayne realizes Agatha's determined nose for news has earned her a few enemies, and he hopes to repay her help with some help of his own. When she rebuffs all his attempts to prove himself a knight in shining armor, the lengths to which they'll go to win this battle of wills lead to some memorable antics.

Everyone else may think them a match, but nothing could be further from the truth--until Agatha finds herself in real trouble. Have these two stubborn, too-smart-for-their-own-good people been meant for each other all along?

My Review

Even though I read tons of great reviews for Jen Turano's Ladies of Distinction series... from the two books I've read now I've decided that they are just not my style. If I'm going to read about socialites I think I prefer the Regency era. The characters in A Match of Wits, while romping around on ridiculous adventures, come across to me as thoughtless and self-centered. They redeem themselves in the end, but it wasn't enough for me to really enjoy following their journey. I find that Mary Connealy's brand of humor and adventure is more to my liking since she infuses depth and compassion as well.

(Thank you to Bethany House for providing a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

Review: Beloved by Robin Lee Hatcher

My rating: 2 stars / it was okay

Synopsis

Diana Brennan came west on the orphan train and was given a home with a loving couple who cherished and spoiled her. At 17, she fell hard for Tyson Applegate, the son of a wealthy mine owner. After a whirlwind courtship and marriage, Tyson took off for adventures around the world, including fighting with the Rough Riders in Cuba. Receiving no word of him for seven years, Diana's infatuation with her dashing husband died an ugly death, and she is ready to move past the old pain and marry again, just as soon as Tyson is declared legally dead.

But when her husband returns, supposedly a changed man, he wants to reunite with his wife and run for the senate. While Diana suspects the election is his real reason for wanting her by his side, she agrees to maintain his home and to campaign with him, but when it is over, win or lose, she wants her freedom. He agrees with one condition- she must give him a chance to change her mind about him.

My Review

The premise was interesting... the book, however, was not. I really enjoyed the first two in the series so it was a let-down to not connect with the characters in this final book. There are flashbacks to the past throughout the story, but the basic content of the flashbacks had already been explained in the present-day text, so I felt it was repetitive and slowed the story down in a major way. It also brought Tyson's selfishness and indiscretions into the limelight, as well as Diana's hurt and role as the victim. It was difficult to feel compassion for Tyson when such a great deal of the novel was spent rehashing his mistakes, and his redemption was explained rather than shown. I found the romance lacking as well- Tyson was afraid to pursue his wife so he wouldn't scare her off, and Diana spent the majority of the novel keeping him and her feelings at arm's length (not that I blame her). The overall theme of forgiveness is an important one, and it was most compelling in the relationship between father and son. The story could have delved so much deeper if not for the bulkiness of the unnecessary flashback scenes.

(Thank you to Zondervan Publishing for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

Check out the first two books in Robin Lee Hatcher's Where the Heart Lives series

Belonging by Robin Lee Hatcher
My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

In the high desert town of Frenchman's Bluff, Idaho, Felicia Kristoffersen has set out to create a future for herself that is better than her painful past. Alone in the world with only her faith to sustain her, she must prove herself as this tiny community's new school teacher. She cannot, must not, fail. But, there are those who never wanted her there to begin with.
Five years after the death of his wife, local merchant Colin Murphy cares about just one thing: raising his daughter, Charity. Colin wants to give her the educational advantages he never had. The new schoolmarm's inexperience doesn't sit well with him, and if this teacher up and marries like the last one did, Charity's heart will be broken once again.
A woman who hasn't known love. A man who lost the love he had. In the midst of the wide, sage-covered plains, each is about to discover that life's bitterest circumstances truly can work together for good.

Betrayal by Robin Lee Hatcher
My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

It's the turn of the twentieth century and drifter Hugh Brennan is a man well acquainted with betrayal. Hugh finds himself drawn to the attractive widow, Julia, yet when he looks into her eyes, he recognizes the same hurt that haunts him. Julia Grace has little reason to trust men, but she's going to have to trust someone if she's to keep her ranch from the clutches of her dead husband's half-brother. Is it possible God had a hand in bringing Hugh to her door? The latest historical romance from award-winning author Robin Lee Hatcher and the second book in the Where the Heart Lives series, Betrayal will take you to the high desert of western Wyoming, through the crags of the Rocky Mountains, and into the hearts of two seekers learning to trust God's love no matter the circumstances. 

Review: Vow Unbroken by Caryl McAdoo

My rating: 2 stars / it was okay

Synopsis from goodreads.com

A spunky young widow hires a farmhand with a bad reputation to help her get her cotton to Jefferson to meet the wagon train, and sparks fly—but can she love a man who doesn’t love the Lord?

Susannah Abbot Baylor reluctantly hires Henry Buckmeyer to help her along the Jefferson Trace, the hard stretch of land between her Texas farm and the cotton market, where she is determined to get a fair price for her crop. It’s been a rough year, and she’s in danger of losing the land her husband left to her and the children, but she’ll need help getting both of her wagons to Jefferson safely. She knows Henry’s reputation as a layabout and is prepared for his insolence, but she is not expecting his irresistible good looks or his gentle manner. Soon they are entwined in a romantic relationship that only gets more complicated when Susannah learns that Henry doesn’t know God the way she does. Dangers arise on the road—but none as difficult as the trial her heart is going through.

Will Susannah and Henry’s love overcome their differences? And will she get her crop safely to the cotton market with enough money to save the farm? In this heartening and adventurous tale, a young woman’s fortitude, faith, and heart are put to the ultimate test.

My Review

I thought I would enjoy this book more than I did. The premise sounded interesting- two strong characters on an adventure... but something was off for me. I didn't care for the writing style- it didn't give me a good visual in my head of the setting, and there were long passages of dialogue interchange where I would lose track of who was saying what. The main character Susannah was prickly and judgemental of Henry, even after her prejudices and first impressions were proven false. Her thoughts often contradicted with her words and actions, which gave a hypocritical vibe, like when she was griping about taking a rest and meal at the home of a family Henry knew, but even after befriending the wife, she didn't admit that it was a positive choice. I guess her prideful personality just rubbed me the wrong way.

(ARC provided via Netgalley for unbiased review)

Review: Aloha Rose by Lisa Carter

My rating: 2 stars / it was okay

Synopsis from goodreads.com

When Laney Carrigan sets out to find her birth family, her only clue is the Hawaiian quilt a red rose snowflake appliqued on a white background in which she was found wrapped as an infant. Centering her search on the Big Island and battling fears of rejection, Laney begins a painstaking journey toward her true heritage. Kai Barnes, however, is determined to protect the people he s come to regard as family. He thinks Laney is nothing more than a gold digger and blocks every move she makes toward her Hawaiian family. As their conflict escalates, it puts at risk the one thing that Kai and Laney both want most a family.


My Review

I had a hard time staying interested in this one. The two main characters had no chemistry, instead treating each other with contempt and squabbling like siblings. The dialogue was disjointed and didn't flow. It seemed like physical attraction is the main thing that contributed to their relationship. The "mystery" of Laney's birth family was revealed in a quick and confusing manner at the beginning of the book, so as I read, there wasn't really a continuing plot to keep me invested. I liked the setting of the novel and the descriptions of the scenery were beautiful, but the Hawaiian words the characters used were often not easily understood or explained.

(ARC provided via Netgalley for unbiased review)

Review: Forget Me Not by Miralee Ferrell

My rating: 2 stars / It was okay

Synopsis from goodreads.com

Seven years ago, Julia McKenzie rejected the man she loved, wanting to experience more of life. Now, at the age of twenty-four, she regrets that decision. What will Seth think of her, when they encounter one another hundreds of miles from home? Will the man she cared for understand the direction her life has taken and love her in spite of her choices?

Pastor Seth Russell has never completely forgotten the girl he once courted. When she shows up in his new home of Baker City, all those feelings return. But why is she sneaking around town late at night? Even more important, will she reject him and break his heart again, or can God heal the breach between them? 

My Review

This novella is part of the Love Blossoms in Oregon series which I have enjoyed (see my review of Wishing on Buttercups). Pastor Seth makes appearances in the first two books of the series and I was so excited to read his story. I had a hard time relating to Julia- the introduction of her backstory was vague about why she jilted Seth and the intensity of her regret was inconsistent throughout the book. She ran hot and cold with him as their relationship began to redevelop, and could only see her situation in black and white- either isolate herself from society in order to serve the Chinese immigrants, or give up her charitable endeavor altogether if she ever wants a normal life. While she wanted to make a difference and fight prejudice, she was also judgmental of others who weren't as passionate as she. I liked the scenes where the characters from the previous novels get to know Julia and help her overcome her internal struggles and find peace. The "villian" in the story was Mrs. Evans, a busybody from Seth's church who didn't approve of Julia. I thought she was portrayed very over the top; she became a caricature. It bothered me that both Seth and Julia used the phrase "Mrs. Evans and her ilk" during their inner dialogues. Seth and Julia are both repetitive as they agonize over the choices in front of them which prevented the story from flowing smoothly for me.

I've read wonderful reviews from others who really enjoyed this novella, so please don't let my hang-ups prevent you from reading it if you are a fan of the series! I am looking forward to the third book, Dreaming on Daisies, which releases later this year.

(ARC provided by the author for unbiased review)