Paper Hearts by Courtney Walsh

I absolutely love the cover on this book. It is very visually  appealing and made me excited to pick up this book to read. I know they say not to judge a book by its cover, but if it doesn't have a pretty cover then I'm not as excited to read it. I'm not for sure why that is.

Of course, being a book lover (obviously), I enjoyed the setting of this book. Abigail owns a bookstore/coffee shop. Seriously. What book lover can't relate to this setting?! The two go hand-in-hand. Abigail has dreams of expanding and thinks that's possible at first. However, she quickly is let down when she sees a handsome man, although she hates to admit it, looking at the building. Jacob has come looking for a new start and just might have found it. This is how Abigail and Jacob's story begins to weave together with each other.

My favorite parts had to be when Abigail's mother intervenes in her dating life. Being from a small town, I can relate! I also liked the town natives, in general. They all had a huge interest in Abigail and wanted to see that girl married off!

Paper Hearts, the first book in this series, reminds us that we all make plans for our lives. We have the best intentions, but God ultimately knows the whole story of where we should be going in life and what we should be doing. It reminds us that we are to hold the reins loosely in our own lives and be willing to go and do whatever. It's a story of love and moving through the ugly in the past.

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I received this book free from Tyndale Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Born of Persuasion by Jessica Dotta

I can usually tell when I read a book whether or not I'm reading a fairly new author or not.  I'm shocked that Jessica Dotta has not written so many more books.  I'm glad to see that this is the beginning of a trilogy!  She had me liking even a mean old woman that I doubt many authors would 

have been able to get me to like.  I even liked Julia, who I couldn't believe that I did like.  She wasn't the typical person I usually like in books.

Julia has a sense of mystery around her.  Her mother has committed suicide, she's left alone, and top it off with she now will be moving to Scotland in two months to work as a servant--compliments 

of her new guardian who remains nameless and faceless.

That means that Julia has 2 months to find a man to marry.  At first that doesn't seem to hard since 

she is technically betrothed.  One problem, though.  Edward, her secret lover, has had a change of 

heart since she last saw him.  Needless to say, they don't quite see eye to eye on most things anymore because of one major issue.  That issue has driven a permanent wedge between them until 

Julia realizes what mistakes she's made.

I really did like Lady Foxmore.  She was a brutal woman, but I did like her humor for some reason.    

I found it funny that she would send notes at night and wake up the household.  I also found it funny how she spoke to Elizabeth and her mother. 

This book has romance, but it also has suspense and mystery.  It was a book that keeps you wondering until the very last page.  I can't wait to see what the next 2 books consist of.  It'll be hard to beat this book!

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I received this book free from T'yndale Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.