Review & Giveaway: Someone Like You by Victoria Bylin

My rating: 3 stars / I liked it

Synopsis

Julia Dare is trying to run her own business, raise her young son, Max, and help her widowed mother. Her biggest worry, though, is keeping Max's father from being a bad influence while still allowing the boy to spend time with his dad. When an account from her event-planning business sends her to Caliente Springs resort, she's shocked to encounter Zeke Monroe, her college sweetheart.

Zeke is determined to keep Caliente Springs running despite financial trouble. When Julia walks back into his life, he's surprised at the feelings she stirs up. As they work together on an important client's wedding, the fate of the resort soon depends on their success. With Zeke and Julia both pushed to their limits, will their history put up walls between them or bring them together?

My Review

I have mixed feelings about this one. The characters are well-developed and the setting well-described, but there was an intense feeling of anxiety that I felt as I read about Julia's conflicts with her ex, Zeke's struggles with his faith, and the precarious state of the resort. The highlights for me were the rekindling romance between Julia and Zeke as well as some humorous moments involving Ladybug, the resident goat with attitude problems. A secondary romance involving Julia's mother felt distracting and I found myself skimming through those sections. There is a strong theme of God's love getting us through hard times, but I was disappointed that with Zeke's issues of the shame of falling short of perfection, the healing power of repentance and forgiveness through Christ's atonement wasn't brought into the narrative.

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

About the Author

Victoria Bylin writes contemporary and historical romances known for their realistic, relatable characters. Her work has finaled in contests such as the Carol Awards, the RITAs, and the RT Reviewers' Choice Award. A native of California, she and her husband now make their home in Lexington, Kentucky.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

Giveaway

Click the image below to enter the author's giveaway for five copies of Someone Like You!

Review: London Tides by Carla Laureano

My rating: 3 stars / I liked it

Synopsis

Irish photojournalist Grace Brennan travels the world’s war zones documenting the helpless and forgotten. After the death of her friend and mentor in the field, Grace is shaken.

She returns to London hoping to rekindle the spark with the only man she ever loved—Scottish businessman Ian MacDonald. But he gave up his championship rowing career and dreams of Olympic gold years ago for Grace ... only for her to choose career over him. Will life’s tides bring them back together ... or tear them apart for good this time?

My Review

Grace returns to London unsure and hesitant about her life's new direction... or lack thereof. Ian is also feeling unsettled in his career, and those feelings reflected on the vibe I felt while reading the story. Even as the story progressed, it seemed a bit aimless, and I was not sure what was driving it. I felt for both Grace and Ian as they tentatively rekindle their relationship and simultaneously seek for meaning and passion in daily life. The descriptions of London and Grace's photography excursions were especially interesting, it made me want to take my camera downtown and shoot away :) PTSD rises to the surface as a theme as Ian begins to recognize the symptoms in Grace and as she struggles against it. A trip to Scotland they shared for the wedding of Ian's brother Jaime is sure to be enjoyed by those who have read the author's previous novel, Five Days in Skye. Even though this book didn't quite strike a chord with me I'm looking forward to reading more of the author's work.

(Thank you to David C. Cook Publishing for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

Review & Giveaway: The Quieting by Suzanne Woods Fisher

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

The Stoltzfus family faces serious problems, both in the church and at home. Everyone in the community expects minister David Stoltzfus to fix things--fast. But David doesn't work fast. He prefers to wait for God to work in individual hearts. However, even he is left wondering if the solution to their most pressing problem might be a Quieting. 

When David's mother arrives, uninvited, more upheaval is in store. She has matchmaking plans for everyone in the family, including David and her eligible granddaughters--and especially for David's niece Abigail. When Abigail stumbles onto a curious connection during her genealogical research, it could help David solve one problem--but will it create another? 

My Review

Once again I was swept away to the slow and steady pace of life in Stoney Ridge. The storylines from the first book in the series, The Imposter, continue as the minister David struggles with what to do about the bishop's unrepentant heart. The bishop's sister Birdy brings him peace and helps him see life in new perspectives. Katrina and Thelma implement a new source of income on their oil-rich land that has the potential to solve the church's financial problems. Jesse learns to stay out of trouble- for the most part- as he works to make his buggy shop a success. I thoroughly enjoyed the new characters who joined the community, David's mother and nieces who both help and make life difficult for members of David's family. His mother has his best interests at heart, but her disapproval turns his store upside down and disrupts his relationship with Birdy. So many times I just wanted him to stand up to her and shut down her meddling! He does his best in his own quiet way though.

Abigail's point of view was especially interesting since she views life so literally. She thrives on order and organization, and her quest to fill the mystery gap in the Glick family tree for Dane bring the two closer together. She doesn't quite know what to make of his happy personality and is surprised by his kindness toward her when she has endured criticism her entire life. Her mannerisms are funny and bring a subtle humor to the narrative. I loved her enthusiasm for genealogy and the idea that seeking out our ancestors helps us understand our roots and ourselves.

David's anxiety over following the Lord's will in resolving the problems of the church is compounded by pressure from his domineering mother. He wants so desperately to do what is right, but feels strongly that he must wait on God's prompting. The way he continually turns to scripture and prayer is inspiring and I loved the passages from the Bible he drew comfort from. The compelling drama from multiple points of view kept me enthralled and I can't wait to read the next book in the series, The Devoted, which will be released this October.

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

 

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Suzanne is giving away a grab bag of Amish-made gifts worth over $100! 

Love in Bloom Giveaway Hop

I love this time of year! My favorite flowers are blooming and we're already starting to harvest from our little garden. It seems like summer is right around the corner and we're looking forward to days at the beach and some fun road trips. Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win Playing for Keeps by Ranee S. Clark! (Check out my review here)

Synopsis

Football-loving TyAnne Daws has long admired BYU's star quarterback from afar. This semester, she's determined to step away from the sidelines and she has the perfect game plan for winning the heart of Anthony Rocket Rogers. When some smart moves land her in one of his classes, she finds herself in the perfect position to make her play. But as she gets to know the real Anthony, away from the lights of the stadium, Ty realizes that this is no game; she's falling in love . . .

Anthony takes full advantage of his all-star status, holding girls at arm's length for one reason: it keeps him from repeating the same mistakes that once led to a devastating heartbreak. When he meets Ty, his assumption that she's just another pretty face is quickly proven wrong. Though he's completely drawn in by this sweet young woman, her intriguing mix of amusing football know-how, and her quiet selflessness, he will not let himself fall in love. But when faced with the reality of losing the woman he's come to care for despite himself, Anthony's resolve is tested. It's getting harder to keep his head in the game when his heart's on the line.
 

Entry-Form