Heidi Reads...

Friday, July 1, 2016

Review: Gladly Beyond by Nichole Van

Heidi Reads... Gladly Beyond by Nichole Van

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

An ancient curse, fractured at the birth of three brothers.
Two strangers helplessly drawn to each other.
A love story two hundred years in the making.

Claire Raythorn arrives in Florence, Italy, shattered, alone, and anxious to rebuild her life--preferably one without men. But she soon finds herself hunted and haunted-- literally--when a mysterious stalker dressed like Mr. Darcy from BBC central casting appears in her photos. And only her photos. Who is this man? And what does his ghostly presence mean?

Dante D'Angelo simply wants to safeguard his brothers, despite the family curse that hounds his vision. But then Claire Raythorn walks into his life, untouched somehow by his curse. Soon, everything Dante thought he knew about himself starts to unravel, dragging Claire down with him.

Set against the lush backdrop of Florence, Italy--both past and present--Claire and Dante fight for a future together. But, first, they must uncover their shared past . . .

My Review

Epic, fascinating, enthralling, imaginative! The dynamic between Claire and Dante was surprisingly powerful as they work side by side, competing for a lucrative job offer, and share secrets as their past lives intertwine with the present. I normally don't care for time travel stories, but found this book to be an exception, primarily because the past was observed rather than actively participated in. The concept of reincarnation is front and center and was creatively explored through the "gifts" of Dante and his brothers. The romantic tension is strong since Claire has walls up around her battered heart but Dante is determined to win her trust. A threatening stalker ramps up the suspense as Claire and Dante roam the city searching for answers from the past to solve the art mystery they were hired to investigate as well as their potent shared connection. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author, especially the upcoming books in this series from the other brothers' points of view.

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

Review & Giveaway: Would a Worm Go on a Walk? by Hannah C. Hall, illustrated by Bill Bolton

Enter the giveaway at the bottom of the post for a chance to win a copy of the book!

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

“Would a worm go on a walk, if you could lead him down the street? / Would he wear his tiny tennies, if he had two worm-sized feet?”

So begins this humorous and imaginative picture book that introduces children to the idea that animals are uniquely created by a loving and wise God. Would a Worm Go on a Walk?, with its colorful, comical illustrations, is a fresh, fun way to teach young children that God created all things very good. He gave all the animals, and children, too, wonderful qualities and unique strengths. Children will giggle over the ridiculous scenarios presented, and they will come away with the knowledge that we all are loved and special.

My Review

This is a cute, silly, and thoughtful picture book with fun rhymes and a good message. My 9 year old enjoyed reading it and my 2 year old especially found lots of joy in the illustrations of creatures trying things out of the norm. After each funny scenario presented of "would this animal do this?", the author explained the reality of what that animal would or wouldn't do in a few rhyming phrases. I liked when it showed why the animal was special, but I found the one for the worm inaccurate, saying it doesn't like to exercise, when really an earthworm (the one pictured) spends it's whole day digging through dirt and fertilizing gardens. The book wraps up by relating that God made the uniqueness of each animal and He made children to be special too. Overall a cute concept and one that encourages teaching moments.

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

About the Author

Hannah C. Hall is the author of best-selling children’s books, including God Bless You and Good Night and God Bless Our Christmas, as well as an award-winning blog, HannahCHall.com. Hannah lives in Prairie Grove, AK with her husband, Josh, a worship pastor, and their four children.

Website ~ Faceboo k ~ Twitter

Entry -Form

Thursday, June 30, 2016

$1.99 E-books by Amazing Authors!!!

(Be sure to double check the sale price before ordering)

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Review & Giveaway: A Date with Danger by Kari Iroz

Heidi Reads... A Date with Danger by Kari Iroz

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

https://deseretbook.com/p/date-with-danger?autocomplete=true&variant_id=135960-paperback

Synopsis

She just wanted to shake up her love life. Jacklyn (Jack) Wyatt is the typical twenty-five-year-old living the typical Provo single life with the typical bad luck—at least until the FBI recruits her for a completely different type of dating.

A young woman has gone missing, and all signs point to her online dating profile as the kidnapper’s operating ground. But when suspects who crossed paths with the missing girl begin contacting Jack, the FBI sees its opportunity for an inside man—er, woman.

Now Jack will have to play the field, dating each of the men in an attempt to weed out the kidnapper. But with such an unusual array of characters vying for her attention, pinpointing the culprit may prove even harder than finding Mr. Right. And as more young women disappear, will Jack stay professional and objective, even with the handsome Special Agent Damon Wade just a whisper in her hidden microphone away?

My Review

This book was definitely not what I expected! Even with Jack's self-deprecating and sassy humor, there is a vulnerability and longing in her character as she navigates the dating field in a Utah college town. While there are definite references to the Mormon church she belongs to, this is a book that can be understood and enjoyed by those from other faiths as well. One of the lines that caught my eye early on and appropriately describes the dating scene in the book is: "Clichés get that way because they're the extreme of something." While I spent my college experience dating one man and then marrying him, I was a highly entertained observer of friends and family members who endured similar experiences to what Jack goes through. The chemistry and banter between Damon and Jack are too good since they drive each other nuts but provide support as the tension steadily increases throughout the book. A highly climactic ending wraps the plot up nicely. A great blend of humor, romance and suspense!

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