Once Upon a Winter's Heart by Melody Carlson

A family seems like it's being torn apart with little hope of reconciliation.  A lot of thoughts were circling around about the "grass being greener on the other side" and love that hasn't been invested in over the years, as well as mistakes made and forgiveness not being offered.

Emma was jaded in the love department but she was my favorite.  Her sister, Anne, drove me nuts with her false claims over Lane.  Her mom did, too, for practically taking sides over sisters.  It reminded me of Cinderella and the stepsisters some!

This was a cute Valentine's Day story.  It was a fun holiday novella that got me in the mood to celebrate a holiday that I normally gloss over.  I can't remember ever reading a Valentine's novella before so it was refreshing to celebrate a smaller holiday!

I have always liked Melody Carlson's books.  They are sweet and fun reads that are a nice escape.  The shortness of the book was a good change for me too after reading really long books.  Sometimes it's nice to read something in a few hours!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Over the years, Melody Carlson has worn many hats, from pre-school teacher to youth counselor to political activist to senior editor. But most of all, she loves to write! Currently she freelances from her home. In the past eight years, she has published over ninety books for children, teens, and adults--with sales totaling more than two million and many titles appearing on the ECPA Bestsellers List. Several of her books have been finalists for, and winners of, various writing awards.

She has two grown sons and lives in Central Oregon with her husband and chocolate lab retriever. They enjoy skiing, hiking, gardening, camping and biking in the beautiful Cascade Mountains.


ABOUT THE BOOK

Emma Burcelli has suffered over a decade of dating disasters. But she concludes that love is officially dead when her grandfather Poppi suddenly passes, leaving her grandmother Nona devastated. To help out, Emma works in the family bookstore, which Nona insists must be decked out in sweetheart décor as Poppi would have done for Valentine's Day. Although she feels like a V-Day Scrooge, Emma quickly learns to enjoy the task with the help of a handsome family friend, Lane Forester, who shows her that hanging hearts is much more fun when done to the tune of Dean Martin. As Emma and Lane share time and memories of Poppi, she reconsiders the notion that romance is alive.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Once Upon a Winter's Heart, go HERE.

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I received this book free from CFBA and Bookish Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Gabriel's Bride by Amy Lillard

I really like the bright colors on the cover of this book.  It is a very attractive cover and eye-catching.  The pages inside are just as well done as the cover.  This is the third book in the Clover Ridge series.  I've come to like each character in this book, but Gabriel and Rachel very quickly grabbed my heart.  I understood why Gabriel didn't want to be married and Rachel's attachment to her goats. With all that Rachel had lost in her life, I wanted her to finally be happy and have her dreams come true.

I did want them to realize they were perfect for each other and get over themselves quicker!  I guess that because I saw it, I wanted them to realize it and move forward a little quicker than they really did.  I guess that because I saw that she was the answer to his housekeeping problem and him the answer to her staying, it was obvious.  However, I know in life that we sometimes miss the obvious, so it was a good reminder for me.

I think my favorite person in this book though was Gabriel's 6-year-old son who liked old people because "all old people have peppermints."  I liked that he had a disability and was still loved and valued and not pushed away by his brothers.

Amy Lillard is such a good writer of Amish fiction.  I'm looking forward to what she writes next.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I’m a wife, mother, and bona fide Southern belle. Published author, expert corn bread maker, and Squirrel Princess.

I live in Tulsa, though I was born in Mississippi. I moved to the Sooner State when I was seventeen and met my soul mate and best friend not long after. I’ve retained a little of my Mississippi accent though most people think I’m from Texas. (?) Rob and I have been married for over twenty years and have a son–a mom proclaimed prodigy, of course!

I love homemade tacos, shoes, and romance novels–not necessarily in that order. I’m a big fan of country music, a staunch proponent of saving the Oxford comma, and I’m shamefully obsessed with all things Harry Potter.

I believe that God is love. I guess that’s why I adore romances.

I have always been intrigued with the Amish culture, their gentle ways and slower-paced lifestyle. (And I love, love, love the fact that they stay married for their lifetime.) But until recently I never thought to blend this interest with my penchant for romance. Okay, okay, I’m a bit old-fashioned and even enjoy the gender roles that are present in this culture. I love to cook and take care of my family. Yes, that’s me June Cleaver with a laptop.

I dislike people trying to convince me to read the Twilight series (I’ll get to it or I won’t, either way I’m good with it), gratuitous violence, and strawberry ice cream. (I know I’m alone on this last one, and again, I’m good with it.)

Favorite movies–(besides HP) French Kiss, Maid of Honor, A Lot Like Love, Just Married, and Sweet Home Alabama. Oh, and Miss Congeniality, Sabrina (both versions) and a 1940′s movie called Dear Ruth. If you haven’t seen it, you should! A-dorable. Anything with Doris Day and most all of Marilyn’s and Audrey’s.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Rachel Yoder has two choices: marry Gabriel Fisher or move to Ohio. As an orphan, Rachel doesn’t have much to offer; any match she can make will be a good one. She just didn’t plan on Gabriel with his big hands and permanent frown. As a widower Gabriel needs help caring for the farm and his six children. But he never thought he’d marry a slip of a girl who barely reaches his chin. Yet as time passes, Gabriel finds himself thinking about a real marriage. They have spoken vows to God and each other, but can he risk his heart with Rachel?


If you would like to read the first chapter of Gabriel's Bride, go HERE.

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I received this book free from CFBA and B&H Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.



Praying for Boys by Brooke McGlothlin

Boys are totally different from girls.  Even at such a young age, I have never seen so much energy put into one person!  Their interests are definitely different than mine and if I'm not on my knees every morning before he wakes up (or my daughter) and asking for wisdom and seeking Him, then I know I'm going to be in for one rough day. 

This book is such a practical and helpful book and one that I will be keeping beside me through the years and giving as a gift to the moms I know who have boys!  The first part of the book make you feel normal and that your son isn't the only one who goes from 0-50 in 1 second flat.  I can't help but laugh at the description of those creative little guys!  I love their hearts!  It's followed by a chapter on what prayer is and why we do it.  I love that she reminds people not to become legalistic about having their quiet time in the morning and offers encouragement to those moms who so desperately want one and feel like they have to squeeze it in.  I've been there and that was encouraging to read and I know will free other moms.

Then the specific prayers focus on things that we want them to know and learn to be a godly man.  Over the days/weeks, you will be praying for their heart change, obedience, fears, integrity, wisdom, pride, honor, pirating, a servant's heart, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, anger, forgiveness, and salvation. Who wouldn't want these things for their son (and daughter). 

At the end of each day, there are reflection or discussion questions.  These are fun to journal, too, which is what I did.

The book came out of her 21 days of prayer for sons challenge.  There is information in the back if you want to use this for a community study or an online study. 


Thank you for something to encourage moms of boys!

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

Dare to Love Again by Julie Lessman

I don't think that I have miss a single book by Julie Lessman and there's a reason for that.  She writes with such humor and attitude that you can't help but laugh throughout the book, even during serious scenes.  I never get enough of the Irish attitude!

Allison McClure had spunk!  Whenever her and Nick Barone (with a long e) were in the same room together, sparks and tempers flew.  I loved the scene with the hair pins and how imagination imagined that scene.  At first, I suspected Nick to be up to something and wasn't convinced his intentions were all that pure.  But that didn't make me like Allison's uncle any better.  I liked him by the last page and could understand his desire to protect his family, but for the most part he annoyed me.

The ending of the book broke my heart one minute and then made me laugh the next.  The cable car scenes were also pretty fun to imagine.  You can tell that Julie Lessman had a lot of fun writing this book.  I'm curious how much of her personality is in this book!  The characters are funny and real.  Meg was one that I liked because of her difference.  I hated that her friends couldn't see her beauty and love her for who she really was.

I'm looking forward to the next book in the Heart of San Francisco Series.

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

A December Bride by Denise Hunter

Denise Hunter is an author that I know I can always find a respite inside the pages of her books.  I like the idea of a year of weddings. What girl doesn't love a good wedding story?!

I was very impressed with how I felt like I knew Seth and Layla despite the short length of the book.  I liked how it covers a short amount of time and that the back history was easily summed up with none of the important details left out. 

I was left wanting to read more of these books, which is a good thing because I saw a lot of them come out this year!

Missing the Christmas season already, I loved stepping back into the season.  It was complete with the colors and vivid scenery.   It's the perfect book for a short, light read.

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I received this book free from Booksneeze and Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Friend Me by John Faubion

After reading this book, I'm disliking Facebook and social media!  Not that I ever truly liked it and trusted it, but it was kind of scary to put myself into the mindset of someone who wished to do harm to others using social media. 

Reading this book, I can see how people could so easily fall for schemes like this and it makes me wonder how many people do on a daily basis. It's kind of scary to even consider.

I was hooked on this book from the first page. The book is full of suspense and action. I'm not a huge suspense fan but I liked this book, which I think is good if I can read it and like it!

I'll admit that when I read the information about John Faubion, all I saw was that he was a missionary in Asia with his family for many years.  I figured he wrote with a lot of experience so that's why I chose this book. However, I was wrong.  He does write with a lot of experience, just not how I thought. He worked as a senior software developer for a large appliance chain so he has a lot of knowledge in this area.  He did a wonderful job relating to the reader using a topic that our culture is addicted to.  The lines are easily blurred and explained away when it comes to what adultery is.  I was glad that Faubion shows clearly how the heart knows when adultery is occurring and how giving into temptation once leads to a whole host of other consequences.

I'm interested to see if Faubion will write any more books.  I think he definitely has a gift to share and lots of knowledge from life experience.

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