Catch a Falling Star by Beth K. Vogt

I am new to Beth K. Vogt and her books, but she is now added to my favorites list.  I love her humor that she puts into the book at just the right moments.  I also like the personality of her characters.  She doesn't tell all of the details in the beginning, but leaves some mystery about them so it can unfold at different times during the book.  

Griffin Walker puzzled me a bit.  He was a little stubborn, in my opinion, and a little harsh.  However, knowing about his parents and his illness and what happened because of both of those things helped me to see that perhaps he just might be having trouble dealing with all of this sudden change.  Ian didn't help matters much either, with all of his trying to fit in and taking everything Griffin said personally.  At first I didn't like Ian, but halfway through I saw him struggling and really wanting to be good, but just trying to figure out how to deal with his whole new life.

My favorite character was Kendell Haynes.  I liked her spunk and how the one person who she would end up with is the one person she can't stand at the moment.  She doesn't shy away from sharing her mind with him. I could relate to her because that was what happened when my husband and I met.  I guess I saw a little of myself in her!

Beth writes this book with great medical knowledge about asthma/allergies since her husband is a former Air Force family physician.  I think that is another reason I really liked this book.  We have been walking down the asthma/allergy road with both of my children for a year and I liked the attention she brought to something that sounds so small, but can be a huge deal if it went untreated.

This is the second novel of hers and I've already bought it so I can go back and read it.  I'm anxiously awaiting more of her books.  This is the perfect book to read on a beach or on vacation!

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

Katie's Choice by Amy Lillard

I really liked the plot of this book.  I was instantly hooked on this book because of the first chapter.  I was intrigued by Zane Carson who was wounded in the Middle East during a journalism assignment. Wanting to get back into his assignments in danger zones, he accepts an assignment to live with the Amish for three months and write about them.

I liked Zane for some reason.  He was honest about how he didn't believe in God at first and then I liked watching his journey.  I also liked Katie Rose Fisher and how her natural beauty caught Zane's attention from the first day.  I'll admit that Zane had to convince me that he was ready for a relationship after the way he treated his "sort of" fiancé.  I thought he was quite self-centered at the beginning of the book but really matured a lot while with the Amish.

I am new to Amy Lillard but I really enjoyed her writing.  She was to the point, which made her book so captivating.  She offered details, but I think it seemed more "to the point" when it was from Zane's point of view.  I actually liked those contrasting way she wrote, whether she realized it or not.  She captured the way the man thinks....that's quite a feat!
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I received this book free from the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and B & H Publishing Group in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger

This cover is beautiful!  I'm a big fan of hardcover books so I enjoyed reading this book.  I liked the issues that came up with this book and the angle in which William Kent Krueger explored throughout these pages.

I liked how forgiveness and revenge was brought up when we had been touched by the murder of someone we love.  Our natural desire is revenge, but by the grace of God we can truly forgive.  I liked Frank and the relationships the family had with each other and how strong their bond was.

The only thing that I didn't like about this book was that it included some adult language.  I don't like reading books with language in it because it's the one thing I feel like I don't have to censor.  With that said, the language wasn't disrespectful in nature, but I just don't see the need in expressing yourself in that way.  It's my own opinion and it only took away some of my view of the book.  It probably will not even be a factor to most.  With that issue aside, this book was very interesting and it definitely flowed and the story captured my attention. 

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I received this book from the publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

It Happened at the Fair by Deeanne Gist

I like all of the books I have read so far by Deeanne Gist.  She is a gifted author who knows just the right details to share with readers.  I liked this book in particular for that reason.  Based on Chicago's World Fair in 1893, there was a lot of history to be sifted through.  She gave the reader the history facts, but intertwined with fiction.  At the end, she tells you what she made up, what was real, and the historical facts that fills in the pieces that helped to lay the foundation for her story.

I did not know much about the World Fair except for one other fiction book I've read recently that included it as their storyline.  I was excited to learn a little bit more about it.  What set this book a part from most are the pictures that were included in the book.  I found that fascinating.  She showed different pictures from the World Fair.  I thought that was a great idea and it's something that other author's should consider when they are writing historical fiction.  It really helped to envision the environment and helped set the tone.

I liked Cullen and I felt bad for his girlfriend and how he just wouldn't set the date for their wedding. I know that it just probably never felt right to him, but I did feel bad that she was kind of dismissed.  Della grew on me.  I didn't like how she sent Cullen on a hunt from the very beginning, but I understood why.  When I look at the times, especially, I'm sure it was rare for a girl to be alone like that in such a big place.

If you are a historical fiction reader, be sure to add this one to your list.  You might as well read all of her other books too!
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I received this book free from Howard Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Duchess by Susan May Warren

There is something about the cover of this book that I really like.  It's mysterious, and eye-catching.  They different fonts really seem to catch my eye and the dark colors in the picture lends itself to mystery.

I really like Susan May Warren.  I have not read a book of hers yet that I have not liked and couldn't stop reading them when I picked them up.  This book was no different.  I have just started reading this series with this book, which is the 3rd (and last) book in the Daughters of Fortune series.  I felt like I came into the book understanding what was going on and that Warren did a good job giving the reader just enough information to catch up but not to overwhelm.  

I really liked Rolfe.  He had so many things surrounding him that he had a hand in and I just loved his personality.  Roxy was a character!  I loved watching her come to the end of herself and see that even with all the world could offer her, it still wasn't enough to fill the hole and take away the empty feeling inside of her.  I liked the acting setting for this story. It was a unique story line that fit so perfectly with the characters.  

Now I guess I'm going to have to find the first two books in this series to read!  To read more opinions about this book, go to http://litfusegroup.com/author/swarren.

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

A Noble Groom by Judy Hedlund

I absolutely love reading book from authors that deal with their passions or their personal history of either their lives or their families.  Their love for their own story/heritage shine out of the pages and you can't help but be grasped by the story.  This is the case with Judy Hedlund's new book, A Noble Groom.  It is about her father's legacy as the German father who worked hard and is still yielding the crops he has sown.  How beautiful of a dedication of a book is that?!

This book also was a bit more enjoyable for me because my brother and sister-in-law just moved to Germany in December for missions.  I have soaked in anything about Germany.  I guess it's my way of still feeling connected to my brother!

All of that said, this book is rich in the history of German immigrants coming to America.  I enjoyed learning about the history of the 1880s and the conditions that these German immigrants had endured and then endured when they came to America.  I loved Annalisa Werner from the beginning and as much as I know she wanted a husband, I knew Carl would be perfect!  I like watching her come to fall in love with her husband.  It was also very interesting as to all the things she had to do and think about with no husband.  I forget sometimes the amount of manual labor involved back then and how much work women had to do if no man was there.  Just thinking about it is exhausting!

I am looking forward to reading more by Jody Hedlund and hopefully I won't have to wait too long.  She writes beautiful, capturing stories, rich with history and fiction.
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I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group and Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

The Damascus Countdown by Joel Rosenberg

Joel Rosenberg is the one of the few authors that I read where their books are considered suspense and action.  Normally I don't like those type of books, but I like Joel Rosenberg and how he writes.  I also like how it tailors to Israel a lot and their relationships with other countries.  He has a close tie to Israel and so his books are full of knowledge and information that could only come from a first-hand perspective.

This book had me gripped from the first page.  There were moments when my heart raced and moments when I would pull my head out of the book and be like "whew...it's just a book."  Then I'd remember the state of our country and realize this could very well happen here and now.  Even thought this book is fiction, it still applies to today and the issues the United States faces today.  

Every book by him is good, but I really like this series, The Twelfth Imam series.  If you've never read anything by Joel, check out his nonfiction and fiction works.  His nonfiction is just as good as his fiction and I think that reading it helps you understand his fiction more.

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