Spring Hope by Martha Rogers

At times, this book was hard for me to read because I wanted to reach through the pages of this book and protect Libby and give her a much better life.  My heart broke in the beginning because I hated the life she had.  However, it turned into such a beautiful story of hope, which is exactly how I believe all of our lives turn out. 

 

At times, I found myself wanting Libby to tell someone but then I remember the time setting in which this book takes place.  Women weren't treated well during this time and it wasn't unusual at all for people to pretend that abuse didn't happen to women.

 

I like Cory from the beginning.  I loved how his love blooms for her and how he protects her and feels a need to watch out for her.  Libby has a lot of issues to work through, understandably, but I like how Rogers doesn't shy away from the tough emotions that abused women have.  Forgiveness isn't easy, but its a beautiful thing to watch the process.  That's exactly what you get to see in the pages of this book....someone learning to forgive who doesn't deserve forgiveness.

 

This book is the fourth book in the Seasons of the Heart series.  Having not read the first three books, I didn't feel like I was lost.  Rogers did a good job at making sure she gave enough information for her new readers.  I still want to read the other books, though!

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

After All by Deborah Raney

This was a different kind of book for me.  It was very good and I had a hard time putting this book down.  It's hard to describe why the book felt different and was so enjoyable.  Maybe it was because the plot was more complex or perhaps it was the layout of the book.

Starting with the front cover, it made me want to pick it up.  As I was reading it, I loved the layout!  It was different than most books because it had quotes on one side at the beginning of each chapter.  Then it had a cute decoration on top of the chapter page.  It was very appealing to me as I was reading and it was something I had never stopped to really think about until I picked up this book.  The chapters were short, so it was easy to stop and start without losing my place or feeling like I needed to go back a few pages to remind myself of what had happened.

The story focuses on three people.  The first is Susan Marlowe.  Her husband was a firefighter and died fighting a fire at a homeless shelter that she had started.  It wasn't her fault but her husband and several other men and one woman never made it out of the fire.  They had problems in their marriage like the typical marriage, and had hardly seen each other, but Susan was convinced they still loved each other.  That changes when she receives some news about a secret that David, her husband, never told her.  Just as she was moving forward, the news makes her go back to the beginning of the grieving process again.

Andrea Morley is the second character.  She also lost someone in the fire, but she can't really express her sorrow about him.  After all, she's not really supposed to talk about him to anyone else.  Why is that?  Apparently she's attracted to people that she can't have...people like missionaries and military people or pretty much anyone who can't give her what she wants.  Oh, and married men should have been included on that list.  She wants to be married and have children, but she doubts that will ever happen now.  Will she come clean about her affairs or will she continue pursuing men that need to be left alone?

Peter Brennan is the last main character.  He is the fire chief who works almost all of the time.  He was responsible for the firefighters who died the night of the big fire.  He was also friends with Susan Marlowe and had heard of the rumor that Susan has just been informed of.  He has befriended Susan since her husband had died and is constantly trying to get over his guilt that something else could have been done to save the men.  He also just might fall in love with a woman who is passionate about something he is not.

This book is third book in the series.  I have never heard of or read any of the other books, but I plan to download the other two now.  I wasn't lost at all when it came to the characters but I'm curious to know who was carried over from previous books.  Deborah Raney is definitely an author that I'm adding to my favorites list.

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I received this book free from Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster in exchange for my honest opinion.

Heart Echoes by Sally John

The third book in the Side Road Series, Heart Echoes is a book that can speak to every person.  I haven't read anything by Sally John before, nor have I read the first 2 books in this series.  With that said, I had no difficulty figuring out who was who and what was going on.  I don't really know if the characters carry over from book to book but I didn't feel like I had missed out on not knowing a certain character if it had.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  I think I experienced a wide range of emotions while reading it.  It was incredibly hard to read the exchange between Teal and her dad.  My heart broke for her.  Not only that, but it was difficult to read what Teal had experienced in her life as well as River.  However, it was a heartwarming story at the same time and I found myself in tears over Teal's sister, Lacey and how her future looked (don't want to spoil the story for you!).  I loved how the book wrapped ended...it wasn't all perfect but it was how life usually turns out. 

Who knew an earthquake could change so much in the lives of three people.  Teal is a mother to Maiya and the wife to River.  Maiya is a daughter who just wants to know who her biological father is.  Did I  mention that she's a bit rebellious at the moment?  However, if Maiya finds out who her biological father is, it could upset Teal's life even more.  No one, and I do mean no one, knows who he is except for Teal.  Not even her husband knows. 

There's a wonderful side story about Lacey, who is Teal's sister, as well.  You get to hear the story from her point of view, too, and hear her struggles and thoughts as she goes through her trials with her husband Will.

Will Maiya find her biological father or will she decide that having a loving step dad is enough?  Will Teal be honest with her husband in order to build a stronger marriage?  Can River ever get through all of the trauma he has faced in his past?

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

Beyond Molasses Creek by Nicole Seitz

I just finished this book a few days ago and really felt that I needed to review it quickly to capture the feeling that I have about this book.  This book was written in first person so it took me a few chapters to get used to reading in that way because all of the previous books I had read were your typical third person views.  Once I got into the character, I was hooked.  The book was kind of predictable but they storyline wasn't, as far as the circumstances within the story weren't.  When I came to the last page and closed the book, I had the weirdest feeling that was truly indescribable.  The book was wonderful and I think it made me reflect on it long after the book had ended.  It was a beautiful story of reflection.  Perhaps the best way for me to sum it up.

Ally is an ex-flight attendant who loves to travel to get away from the one man in this world that she can't have.  Vesey Washington lives on the other side of the creek and is the man that has stolen Ally's heart.  What reasons could possibly keep these two apart?  And how does a girl from Nepal who is escaping for slavery happen to have in common with Ally?

This book is one that anyone will enjoy.  When you read it, let me know your thoughts!  I'd like to know if it leaves anyone else with such an odd feeling that makes it hard to describe this book because it's so good and so unique.

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To read more reviews on this book, visit this site:  http://litfusegroup.com/blogtours/text/13454766

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I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.