Sunday, June 21, 2015

Review: A Bouquet of Love by Janice Thompson


Heidi Reads... A Bouquet of Love by Janice Thompson

My rating: 2 stars / It was okay

http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.comhttp://www.goodreads.com

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)
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Review: A Brush With Love by Rachel Hauck


Heidi Reads... A Brush With Love by Rachel Hauck

My rating: 3 stars / I liked it

http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.comhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

Revealing the beauty in other women might be Ginger Winters’s specialty—but it will take an unexpected kind of love to help Ginger see the beauty in herself.
Ginger Winters drapes her hair over her right shoulder and adjusts the scarf around her neck to cover her scarred, withered skin. She’s had the scars since she was twelve, but she’ll never get used to the ugliness.
The fire changed Ginger’s life, but out of the pain and humiliation of her own disfigurement, one quality unexpectedly emerged: a gift for bringing out the beauty in other women. In a twelve-year ascent from top salon jobs in New York, Atlanta, and Nashville, Ginger traveled the world as personal stylist to country music sensation Tracie Blue. The success was almost enough to make her forget her own appearance.
Almost. Now that she’s opened her own salon in Rosebud after a dozen years away, the truth is staring Ginger in the face again: she’s still that girl, ugly and scarred, forever on the outside looking in. And this weekend she’ll be looking in as “beauty-maker” for the Alabama society wedding of the decade.
But when high-school crush Tom Wells shows up looking for a haircut, Ginger’s thinly veiled insecurities threaten to keep her from love once again . . . despite Tom’s best efforts. Can this professional beauty-maker manage to recognize the beauty in herself, or are some scars too deep to powder over?

My Review

I loved how this book started out- such an interesting plot with dynamic characters, but as Ginger keeps on angsting and playing the victim, as well as not giving Tom a chance, the flow stalled for me since there was not much progression happening. Tom's religious and preachy conversations with a mentor also slowed the pacing down. Tom and Ginger had some nice moments together, but Ginger retreats back into her defensive shell so quickly that it was hard to savor. She didn't allow herself to believe that she was worthy of his attention, and her never-ending doubts put a real damper on things. Her perspective on beauty and confidence is skewed by her past trauma but also the tactless and shallow comments by her mother from the time of the accident to present day. It's only once Ginger finds happiness that her mother is able to see the true beauty in her daughter. I was disappointed that the full romance between Tom and Ginger was left out at the end of the story and the epilogue jumped forward to the "happily ever after."

(Thank you to Zondervan Publishing for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)
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Saturday, June 20, 2015

Review: The Healthy Family Slow Cooker Cookbook by Christina Dymock


Heidi Reads... The Healthy Family Slow Cooker Cookbook by Christina Dymock

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.comhttps://deseretbook.com/p/healthy-family-slow-cooker-cookbook-pprhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

Feed your family the foods they love—with a healthy twist.
Everyone knows slow cookers are a busy mom’s best friend, but it can be a struggle to find healthy Crock Pot recipes your kids will actually eat. Not anymore.
These delicious family-sized meals are perfect for parents and kids alike.
  • Chicken and Artichoke Fettucini
  • Teriyaki Pulled Pork
  • Cajun Rice with Shrimp
  • Butternut Squash Soup
  • Chicken Quesadillas
You’ll even find some tasty ideas for sugar-free desserts, like the Blueberry Pudding Cake. And every single recipe can be made in the morning and ready to eat by dinnertime. With a little prep and planning, you’ll soon be enjoying nutritious, healthy, home-cooked meals every night of the week!

My Review

I really need to use my slow cooker more, especially now that we are in the hot summer months and turning on the oven seems like a crime :) I was super excited to read this book since a few months ago I started "eating clean" and I'm loving the benefits of a healthy diet. The author starts out with a few pages of the health benefits of slow cooking, slow cooker basics, and how to care for your slow cooker. The recipes are them divided up into six sections: Poultry, Pork, Beef, Soup & Salad, Sides, and Sweet Endings. The recipes are right up my alley- basic, easy, with no fussy ingredients (you know, those hard to find gourmet ingredients that I often have to look up on the internet just to figure out what they are...) There is a definite use of spices and seasonings which I appreciate since I'm not great at knowing which ones to use (or how much) so my food doesn't taste bland. Every single recipe in this book is one that I would feel comfortable making and feeding to my family. Not kidding. I've never experienced that before with a cookbook. I highly recommend it for individuals and families alike! My only complaint is the quality of the images. It's obvious that a professional food photographer was not used since the color, lighting, and sometimes even the focus was off. Of course, as a photographer that's just me being nit-picky. Don't let that prevent you from buying this book!

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

About the author

Christina Dymock is a graduate of the University of Utah. She has had careers as an editor at an advertising agency, an adjunct instructor at Salt Lake Community College, and author.
An avid cook, Christina divides her time between the kitchen, her computer, and books and her family of six. (Naturally, the family gets the biggest share.) Because she reads everything, she also feels compelled to write in several genres. Her latest book, Blue Christmas, reached the Amazon top seller list in 7 categories as part of the Christmas anthology, Christmas in Snow Valley.

Christina attends multiple writer’s conferences each year, is a part of several critique groups, and enjoys learning about writing. She has been featured during the cooking segment of several local morning shows, published in Woman’s World Magazine and the Deseret News, quoted in Womans’ World Magazine and Parents’ Magazine, published in seven Chicken Soup books, and has published clean romantic fiction under the name Lucy McConnell.




“The Healthy Family Slow Cooker Cookbook” blog tour


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Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Review & $25 Amazon Giveaway: Kisses in the Rain by Krista Lynne Jensen


Heidi Reads... Kisses in the Rain by Krista Lynne Jensen

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

http://www.amazon.comhttps://deseretbook.com/p/kisses-in-the-rain-ppr?autocomplete=truehttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

Georgie Tate is a survivor. She's survived an abusive relationship. She's survived the car accident that took the life of her controlling fiance. Now she just needs to survive the memories that haunt her. Escaping to her aunts' cozy home on a tiny island outside of Seattle, Georgie finds just the change of pace she needs to pick up the pieces of her life. Taking a job at a local seafood restaurant is the first step in reclaiming her sense of self, but she is completely unprepared for the battle that awaits her there.

Jace Lowe has loved and lost, and he's determined that it will never happen again. Hardened by heartbreak, he stays focused on his work as sous chef at one of the island's top seafood restaurants. When beautiful Georgie takes her place on the restaurant staff, Jace is resolved to keep her at arm's length, and his downright rudeness her first week goes a long way in achieving that goal. Georgie, on the other hand, doesn't want anything to do with Jace anyway and prickles against his abrasive behavior. As the combative pair comes together on a joint project for the restaurant, they find their distaste for one another dwindling. The connection is undeniable--and it terrifies them both. Can two people jaded by the past be softened by the promise of once-in-a-lifetime love, or is this just another recipe for disaster?

My Review

I love that this book made me feel the emotions of the characters! Not only Georgie and Jace, but even the minor characters were portrayed in such a skillful way that it was so easy to put myself in their shoes. The setting is evocative with the weather, locations, and travel giving the scenes a definite vibe. I especially enjoyed the fast pace and intensity of the interactions in the restaurant kitchen. It provides a contrast to the slower scenes and creates a nice flow throughout the story. The friendship and subsequent chemistry between Georgie and Jace builds slowly but steadily as they move past first impressions and bring light into each others' worlds.

I was drawn to Georgie's struggles with overcoming depression, sifting through painful memories, finding her true self again, and trusting new friends and people in her life. Her quirky-clever sense of humor, often self-deprecating, balances the heaviness of her introspection and also creates fun banter with Jace since he never knows what she is going to say :) Oh yeah, and I had to wipe away some tears at one point... and that afterglow feeling after finishing the book was wonderful!

The characters in this book are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. There are some brief references specific to Mormons, but the overall themes are universal to all Christians and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys contemporary romance.

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