Heidi Reads...

Monday, September 18, 2017

Review: Kiss Me in the Rain by Lindzee Armstrong

Heidi Reads... Kiss Me in the Rain by Lindzee Armstrong

My rating: 2 stars / It was okay

Synopsis

Will she risk the home she treasures for the man she loves?

Cypress Grove has always been a treasured constant in Layla's perfect life. Now the mansion will be sold to the highest bidder if she doesn’t date an investor's son. The problem? The man she really wants just rolled into town.

Tyler is done being responsible and never going after what he wants. Layla's finally given him the courage to quit grad school and use his student loans to flip houses. And he's decided to move near Cypress Grove to do it.

When Layla happens upon suspicious ledgers at the mansion, her family's financial woes take a sinister turn. As Tyler and Layla work together to find the culprit, the attraction between them threatens to burst into flames. But admitting their feelings could spell disaster for Cypress Grove.

My Review

This story did not capture my interest as I read. I think it began with not being able to connect with Layla and Tyler due to a lack of character development. It might have been different if I had read the previous book they were introduced in. I felt like I started the story halfway through. Things just started happening and I was reading what was going on, but felt removed from it all. Layla came across as snobbish in some ways (judging others as "gauche"), yet didn't understand why Tyler thought she wouldn't be okay dating someone who didn't fit her standard of living. The fake engagement plot felt a little over the top, and I agreed with Tyler when he called it a "crazy alternate reality." I thought it was cool that he wanted to restore old properties and flip the houses, but didn't think that using his student loan money was an honest way to get started. Shouldn't he have gotten a personal loan or business loan for that? It felt like the story jumped back and forth between Tyler's project and Layla's project instead of being more cohesive. Even though I thought this book was just okay, some of my other reviewer friends enjoyed it so you still might want to give it a chance, especially if you read Kiss Me in the Moonlight by the same author.

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

Part of the Destined for Love Mansions series:

Kiss Me in the Rain by Lindzee Armstrong
Roping His Heart by Jaclyn Hardy
The Princess and The Pizza Man by Cassie Mae
Mending Faces by Lorin Grace
Love Me at Sunset by Lucinda Whitney
Saving Her Plantation by Cami Checketts

Tackle your TBR Update!

It's halfway through the read-a-thon, and I've read 5 out of the 8 from my goal list! Plus two more I snuck in there ;) I'm excited to be able to meet my goal this year since I was much more realistic!

Books Read: Kiss Me in the Rain by Lindzee Armstrong

Pages Read: 238

Total Books Read: 7

Total Pages Read: 2,494

Finished Books:

Review: The Promise of Dawn by Lauraine Snelling

Heidi Reads... The Promise of Dawn by Lauraine Snelling

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Book 1 in the Under Northern Skies series

Synopsis

When Signe, her husband, Rune, and their three boys arrive in Minnesota from Norway to help a relative clear his land of lumber, they dream of owning their own farm and building a life in the New World. But Uncle Einar and Aunt Gird are hard, demanding people, and Signe and her family soon find themselves worked nearly to the bone in order to repay the cost of their voyage. At this rate, they will never have land or a life of their own.

Signe tries to trust God but struggles with anger and bitterness. She has left behind the only life she knew, and while it wasn't an easy life, it wasn't as hard as what she now faces. When a new addition to the family arrives, Signe begins to see how God has been watching over them throughout their ordeal. But after all that has happened, can she still believe in the promise of a bright future?

My Review

This book is about work, work, and more work. I would have thought that the descriptions of the never-ending tasks that fell to Signe would have lost my interest, but I was actually fascinated. It was like Little House on the Prairie for adults. The author skillfully and subtly wove in the myriad of emotions Signe felt, including frustration, compassion, exhaustion, loyalty, motherly love, humor, and exasperation. I couldn't help but admire her work ethic and dedication. It made me take a good hard look at myself and my own housekeeping habits! When it seemed that nothing would change in Gird and Einar, the dynamics began to shift ever so slightly and then more quickly, and I loved the direction the story went. There's not much romance, but we do see the love, support, and admiration Rune and Signe have for each other in subtle ways. So many rich themes in this book are subtle, and it was heartwarming to see the patience and efforts of Rune and Signe pay off in the end. I'm looking forward to the next book in the Under Northern Skies series!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

Sunday, September 17, 2017

Tackle your TBR Update!

Books Read: The Promise of Dawn by Lauraine Snelling

Pages Read: 384

Total Books Read: 6

Total Pages Read: 2,256

Finished Books:

Friday, September 15, 2017

Review: Freedom's Ring by Heidi Chiavaroli

Heidi Reads... Freedom's Ring by Heidi Chiavaroli

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Boston, 2015
Two years after nearly losing her life in the Boston Marathon bombing, Annie David is still far from “Boston strong.” Instead she remains isolated and defeated―plagued by guilt over her niece, crippled in the blast, and by an antique ring alongside a hazy hero’s face. But when she learns the identity of her rescuer, will he be the hero she’s imagined? And can the long-past history of the woman behind the ring set her free from the guilt and fears of the present?

Boston, 1770
As a woman alone in a rebellious town, Liberty Caldwell finds herself in a dangerous predicament. When a British lieutenant, Alexander Smythe, comes to her rescue and offers her employment, Liberty accepts. As months go by, Alexander not only begins to share his love of poetry with her, but protects Liberty from the advances of a lecherous captain living in the officers’ house where she works.

Mounting tensions explode in the Boston Massacre, and Liberty’s world is shattered as her brother, with whom she has just reunited, is killed in the fray. Desperate and alone, she returns home, only to be assaulted by the captain. Afraid and furious toward redcoats, Liberty leaves the officers’ home, taking with her a ring that belonged to Alexander.

Two women, separated by centuries, must learn to face their fears. And when they feel they must be strong, they learn that sometimes true strength is found in surrender.

My Review

I'm torn over whether or not I like a split timeline in a book, but I think it was done successfully here. Initially the two stories feel completely foreign to each other, but as the common thread of the ring is researched by Annie and her rescuer Brad, the deeper themes begin to weave together and by the end of the book I felt like there was unity between the separate eras. All the characters are flawed and make regrettable choices, but learn over time how depending on our faith and relying on God's strength is what makes us strong and carries us through to a new day and new choices. I loved Annie and Brad's sweet friendship and romance the most. I felt a bit disconnected from the emotion in Liberty's story, but it was a fascinating one. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

Tackle Your TBR Update!

Books Read: Freedom's Ring by Heidi Chiavaroli

Pages Read: 388

Total Books Read: 5

Total Pages Read: 1,872

Finished Books:

Thursday, September 14, 2017

Link-up: Free / Bargain Books

Sharing the Love of Books
Enjoy our selection of New Releases / Free & Bargain Books this week

Authors please feel free to add your own books
Readers please free to add your own finds
(any genre except erotica welcome)

This weekly link up is hosted by Beck Valley Books & these awesome book loving blogs...
Monday
Leels Loves Books | IrishdaisylovesRomance | Book Babble | Traci Hayden
Tuesday
Celticlady's Reviews | First Time Mommy Adventures
Wednesday
Beck Valley Books | Jude Ouvrard
Thursday
Miki's Hope | Heidi Reads...
Friday
Ebook Addicts | I Love Romance | Colorimetry | J.C. Clarke
Saturday
3 Partners in Shopping | I Create Purty Thangs | Wishful Endings

Sunday

Ali - The Dragon Slayer | Deal Sharing Aunt | Magic of Books Book Blog

For Pre-orders post - PRE-ORDER / genre / title /author

For New Releases post - NEW / genre / title / author

For Free Books post - FREE / genre / title / author / end date

For Bargain Books post - SALE / price / genre / title / author / end date
(Strictly no Erotica please. Steamy romance is fine but watch those covers people, in case any underage child is viewing it!)

Here is this weeks awesome selection!

Would you like to share our linkup on your site? click here
Would you like to become a weekly host? sign up here

Come back and check out the new selection every week!

Review & Giveaway: Love Remains by Sarah M. Eden

Heidi Reads... Love Remains by Sarah M. Eden

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

From the USA Today Bestselling author of the Longing for Home series, LOVE REMAINS is a new romance novel set in the beloved world of Hope Springs.

For nearly a year, Tavish O’Connor has carried the crushing weight of his family’s future on his shoulders. He has taken on the care of his youngest brother, Finbarr, who lost his eyesight in a terrible accident. But the lad needs more than Tavish can provide. Finbarr needs hope.

Cecily Attwater specializes in hope. As a tutor to the newly blind, she has dedicated her life to helping others overcome the obstacles she herself has conquered. Her new assignment in a remote corner of Wyoming proves trickier than usual: Finbarr refuses to learn. To make matters worse, his family—and the other Irish townspeople—are less than thrilled to discover an Englishwoman in their haven.

Cecily’s only hope lies in securing the cooperation of her pupil’s brother, Tavish, who happens to be her harshest critic and quite possibly the most frustrating man she’s ever known.

For Finbarr’s sake, Tavish and Cecily forge an uneasy alliance that, as the weeks pass, tiptoes toward something deeper than either dares admit or face, and toward a future they know to be impossible. There can be no hope of a happy outcome for an Irish man and an English woman amongst a people reeling from violence and centuries of hatred between their two homelands.

My Review

Okay, in order to prep for reading this book I read the first two in the series (I had read the first book back when it was released, and hadn't read the second book yet) and then read Love Remains... all in two days. It was pretty awesome so be so immersed in Hope Springs, Wyoming for three books in a row! As much I I love Katie from Longing for Home, there was so much anxiety and almost a feeling of hopelessness in the circumstances of the feuding town. Love Remains takes place after the feud is resolved so I didn't feel so heavy reading it and was more focused on Tavish and Cecily. It's definitely my favorite of the series and can be read well as a stand-alone, although reading the series in order gives you a better sense of the town and all the characters in the O'Connor family and community, as well as the history there.

I loved that this third book delves into the deeper layers of Tavish and his struggles. He is so charming and ready to make the people around him laugh and smile, but he's not as light-hearted as he seems. Cecily is straight-forward and blunt, the nature of her job has her telling things as she sees them. She has so much confidence, and yet has hidden vulnerabilities that surface during her time in Hope Springs with the O'Connors. There has been so much loss and heartbreak, and dealing with grief is a major theme of the book. I was brought to tears no less than three times, and was touched by the emotion that permeates from the characters and story. But don't worry, there is plenty of humor and sweetness in this love story between two people who are initially frustrated with each other, then align purposes and form a friendship that develops into more as their attraction grows and they provide support in each other's most heart-wrenching moments.

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

About the Author

Sarah M. Eden is a USA Today Bestselling author of witty and charming historical romances, including AML's "2013 Novel of the Year" and Foreword Review’s 2013 “IndieFab Book of the Year” gold medal winner for Best Romance, Longing for Home, as well as 2014 Whitney Award winner for "Best Romance" and "Best Novel of the Year," Longing for Home: Hope Springs. Combining her obsession with history and affinity for tender love stories, Sarah loves crafting witty characters and heartfelt romances set against rich historical backdrops. She holds a Bachelor's degree in research and happily spends hours perusing the reference shelves of her local library. Sarah lives with her husband, kids, and mischievous dog in the shadow of a snow-capped mountain she has never attempted to ski.

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