Review: Between Heaven and Earth by Michele Paige Holmes

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Cassandra Webb’s every waking minute is devoted to being a great mother and wife. She takes five-year-old Noah to the library each week, volunteers in his kindergarten class, and even coaches his soccer team. She makes sure her husband’s uniforms are always laundered—even though he hasn’t worn them the last six years—always has his game day snacks on hand, and meets him for date night every Friday—which consists of one sided conversations at his bedside and watching his favorite take out remain untouched.

Pearl, a mysterious visitor at the care center, suggests that it is only Cassie’s love still tying Devon to Earth when he has been ready to move onto Heaven for quite some time. If Cassie will but open her eyes and heart, she will discover the path she should travel, one that will bring relief to Devon and much joy to her own life. But Cassie vowed never to give up on him. She never has and she can’t now, even after meeting hapless, single, soccer-dad Matt.

My Review

Talk about heart-wrenching! I think I cried about five different times while reading this touching and emotional book. The author did an amazing job of balancing the difficult circumstances with Cassie's positive and hopeful attitude so it wasn't a depressing book, but rather a glimpse into the complex dynamics of grief and hope, holding on and letting go. Matt and Cassie's personalities were vividly brought to life with their mannerisms, thoughts, compassion, and struggles. They bring each other the comfort of friendship and support with their sons, but their relationship has the potential for more as Matt begins to yearn for her in a romantic way and Cassie feels conflicted between her loyalty to her husband and the joy she feels with Matt. Miss Pearl plays the tough role of helping Cassie see that letting go is not the same as giving up, and I felt that the reactions and process that Cassie goes through are so true to life. I'm particularly sensitive to themes of death and grief but reading the experiences of Cassie, Matt, and the sons of each of them was actually cathartic. Highly recommend!

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

Review: A Lady Unrivaled by Roseanna M. White

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Lady Ella Myerston can always find a reason to smile--even if it's just in hope that tomorrow will be better than today. All her life everyone has tried to protect her from the realities of the world, but Ella knows very well the danger that has haunted her brother and their friend, and she won't wait for it to strike again. She intends to take action . . . and if that happens to involve an adventurous trip to the Cotswolds, then so much the better. 

Lord Cayton has already broken two hearts, including that of his first wife, who died before he could convince himself to love her. Now he's determined to live a better life. But that proves complicated when old friends arrive on the scene and try to threaten him into a life of crime. He does his best to remove the intriguing Lady Ella from danger, but the stubborn girl won't budge. How else can he redeem himself, though, but by saving her--and his daughter--from those dangerous people who seem ready to destroy them all?

My Review

The drama over the red "Fire Eyes" diamonds continues as Lady Ella and the characters from previous books try to protect themselves and their families from evil men who wouldn't hesitate to kill over their greed and obsession. Since this is the third in the Ladies of the Manor series, the author catches the reader up with some general background from the previous books, but I would definitely recommend reading them in order. Ella is an easy character to love with her sparkling personality, full of loyalty to her family and a sweetness with children. Cayton tempers her cheerfulness with his broodiness, yet he can't help but be attracted to her light. I loved that his hidden passion for sketching and painting is revealed and shows his vulnerable and sensitive side. Another aspect I appreciated was the way Ella was comfortable with her faith and that Cayton was seeking to increase his own. It took me a little bit to get into the book, I felt the story was slowed down by the additional perspective of the ballerina mistress of the man seeking the diamonds, although it did offer insight into the plot and increased the feeling of suspense. The Edwardian time period isn't one I read much of but I felt like these books were successful in making the setting come alive. I'd recommend this book and the entire series to fans of historical fiction!

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

About the Author 

Roseanna M. White pens her novels beneath her Betsy Ross flag, with her Jane Austen action figure watching over her. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two children, editing and designing, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels and novellas, ranging from biblical fiction to American-set romances to Edwardian British romances. She makes her home in the breathtaking mountains of West Virginia. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.

Giveaway from Roseanna M. White

I’m giving away a complete set of the Ladies of the Manor Series PLUS a special surprise straight from England! (US addresses only for paperbacks; an international winner is eligible for digital gifts, though!)

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e146afbf28/?

Review & Giveaway: Baby, Baby! by Diane Stortz, illustrated by Ailie Busby

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

A sweet, colorful board book that appeals to a baby's interest in looking at other babies

Babies enjoy books, looking at other babies, and their own flowering abilities. This short rhyming poem combines all three in a sweet and happy way, while introducing babies to God's love for them. The simple words are paired with colorful images of babies engaging in familiar activities, allowing the book to be used as an introductory concept book as well. And it ends with a reminder that Baby is always loved by God.

My Review

It's never too early to read to a baby, and this adorable book is perfect with its simple phrases and illustrations. The pictures are colorful without being overwhelming, and shows babies in various activities like eating, clapping, giggling, and wiggling. I love the message of God's love and the mirror at the end of the book really makes it personal. There is even a space for you to write the child's name so he or she becomes part of the story. This would make a great gift for expecting parents or the baby in your life!

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

Entry-Form

Review: Christopher and Jaime by Jennifer Peel

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Jaime Seger has two goals in life: marry her best friend, the man that owns her heart and soul, and buy her very own grand piano. But Christopher McKay, who has no idea Jaime's been in love with him since she was eleven years old, never gets the memo and marries someone else.
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When Christopher's wife dies, Jamie finds herself helping him raise his young daughter. A year later, she is on the other end of a very unlikely proposal, promising everything she thought she ever wanted.
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But will Christopher help Jaime finally realize both of her dreams, or will she only be left with broken promises?

My Review

First off, this didn't feel like a novella! The story arc is so complete that it really felt like a full-length book. I love stories of best friends falling in love, but this had a twist- it was in first person perspective from Jaime's point of view, so we don't really know how Christopher is truly feeling, especially since he's not the best at communication. Jaime's flashbacks to their early relationship provides the reader with answers to why she is in love with someone who seems so flawed. The years and his first marriage have changed Christopher and his values and goals no longer align with Jaime's. With their marriage falling apart due to broken promises and hurt feelings, Jaime is faced with an opportunity to gain insight into Christopher's thoughts. I appreciated that we could finally see what was behind his seemingly selfish actions. I understood why Jaime felt so mistrustful of him, but it was gratifying when he recognized how to show her what his true priorities were. Lots of emotion and angst with just the right amount of romance and chemistry. Loved it!

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

#TackleTBR Wrap-up

  
I loved participating in the Tackle Your TBR read-a-thon! The challenges and twitter chat were fun and I got some great books read and stayed caught up on my reviews for them. Looking forward to next year!

Tally:

Total Pages Read: 2,044

Total Books Finished: 7 

Review: King of the Friend Zone by Sheralyn Pratt

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Esme Taylor has an amazing fiancé, a lifelong best friend, and a problem.

The problem stems from the fact that her best friend is named Hunter and, well. . .he’s kind of (totally) hot. It’s hate at first sight when her fiancé, Jon, and Hunter meet. Jon’s convinced that Hunter is in love with Esme, and that Hunter must be out of the picture if their upcoming marriage is to succeed.

Esme thinks Jon is paranoid.

The truth is, Jon’s not that far off. Hunter is in love with his best friend and always has been. What Jon has wrong, however, is that Hunter never had any plans of ruining Esme’s happily ever after. Hunter wants what’s best for Esme, even if that’s not him.

When Jon pushes hard to end Esme and Hunter’s friendship, opposition comes from the most unlikely of places. It’s an eccentric lady with a cookie cart who suggests a different solution to Esme’s problem: Hunter and Esme should give each other a chance.

They’ve both thought of the possibility over the years—of course they have. But with a ring already on Esme’s finger and a heap of hurt feelings and broken trust in the mix, there hasn’t been a worse time to explore the depths of their feelings for each other.

Both Esme and Hunter think it’s time to move on and leave childhood crushes in the past. The question is: Can one woman and the taste of one cookie change their minds?

My Review

As it always happens, whenever I read a book by Sheralyn Pratt, I can't put it down until I've devoured the entire thing in one sitting. And since I usually read at night after my kids go to bed, this makes for some pretty late nights ;) This time it was 2:52 am, but even after that I couldn't sleep and had to type some notes about the story in my phone to share in my review. I was a bit of a zombie the next day but it was totally worth it! Don't you just love books that leave you feeling totally satisfied?

So, what stood out to me about King of the Friend Zone is what I thought was the most creative use of  Miss Pearl of all the books in the Power of the Matchmaker series. I loved the cookie angle and how it reflected the "flavor" of a relationship. Miss Pearl was pretty subtle about it at first which I liked since it made it not seem gimmicky.

Esme and Hunter share a special bond, but they do spend much of the story avoiding or denying their deeper romantic feelings since their dynamic is based on the fear of risking their friendship or facing rejection. Hunter identifies with a friend Luke, who pines after a woman who married someone else, but can't move on and insists on being there for her as a friend. Esme's fiancé provides much of the conflict when he coerces her to cut Hunter from her daily life, and Hunter sees that even being the third wheel isn't part of his future with her. Part of me was mad that Esme was so conciliatory to Jon, but the author does such a good job of showing the personalities and vulnerabilities in play that I could see why everyone was acting the way they were, and it felt realistic and complex. 

The other aspects of Hunter and Esme's lives blend seamlessly into the plot and add another dimension to their characters. A crisis they handled together demonstrated how perfect they are together, not because they match (like she and Jon did) but because their differences complement each other and there is a deep foundation of trust. Some of the unexpected twists in this book had my jaw dropping as I was reading and made me think "what the what?!?!" I loved that the story wasn't completely predictable or cliché, but had me seriously glued to the pages as Hunter and Esme angst their way to a happy ending.

And... hands down the most epic best man toast at the engagement party.

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

#Tackle TBR Daily Update - Day 12 & 13

 

Day 12 & 13


Darn it. Reality intervened and I had to spend my spare time editing photo sessions to get out to clients instead of reading. I still need to write my review for King of the Friend Zone by Sheralyn Pratt (which I loved) so I haven't started my next book yet, which will be Christopher and Jaime by Jennifer Peel. I did get my challenge photos posted on Instagram for the Duo-Color and Name challenges.

Tally:
Total Pages Read: 2,044
Total Books Finished: 7

Giveaway: Daughters of His Kingdom series by Amber Lynn Perry at Stitches Thru Time

Swing by Stitches Thru Time to enter for a chance to win Amber Lynn Perry's entire Daughters of His Kingdom series! I love these books and highly recommend this amazing inspirational historical romance series!

Double Review: Blessing the Nephite Children and The Holy Ghost by Catherine Christensen

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Snuggle up with your kids and learn about Jesus's visit to the Nephites. This colorful board book is perfectly designed for little fingers and small attention spans. Experience the beauty of Christ's personal love in the Book of Mormon with your little ones and come to see the ways the Savior reaches out to them today.

My Review

This is an adorable little book with such a sweet message. My three year old absolutely loves it and we've read it over and over again. The words are simple enough for a toddler to understand, but the message is powerful. I'm not a fan of the font chosen for the text, but other than that I think this is the perfect book for a child to learn more about Jesus and His love for all people and especially children.

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

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Get to know the Holy Ghost, from baptism on! This engaging book provides fill-in-the-blank stories, coloring pages, and other fun activities for your kids to help get them ready to receive the Holy Ghost and rely on Him for the rest of their lives. Come to understand and feel the Spirit, one of the greatest gifts from God.

My Review

This is a great activity book for children preparing for baptism and confirmation, as well as those who already have been. My nine year old really enjoys reading and doing the activities in this book on Sundays. They are challenging enough to keep her attention while still being age-appropriate. There are quite a few pages and I feel like it will keep her entertained for a long time and help reinforce the gospel principles she learns in our home and at church.

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

About the author

Catherine Christensen graduated magna cum laude from BYU with a degree in English and editing. She worked in her dream job acquiring and editing books before switching to her other dream job of full-time mother. She is a dual citizen of the United States and the United Kingdom and has lived most of her life in England. She currently resides in Springville, Utah, with her husband and daughter. Catherine is the author of “I Can Pray Everyday” and “Emily’s Perfect Christmas Tree.”

#TackleTBR Daily Update - Day 11

 

Day 11

I wasn't getting much reading done yesterday until the kids went to bed, and then I read King of the Friend Zone by Sheralyn Pratt straight through until 2:52 am. There's something about her books that I just can't put down! I even tried at about 1 am to get some sleep but I soon gave up and devoured the rest of it.

I made my final picks for the first three challenges on Wishful Endings and got the first picture taken for the Fall Challenge! My girls had a blast throwing all the extra leaves up in the air and making a huge mess, but it was worth hearing their sweet giggles :)

Tally:
Total Pages Read: 2,044
Total Books Finished: 7