"A Bride for Noah" by Lori Copeland

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A nice, light read from Lori Copeland. Evie partners up with a "kindly, older gentleman" and heads out west to make her way in the world. There she meets Noah who has gambled everything on a fresh start in life. Noah as been badly hurt by a woman before, so he is less than happy to see Evie show up--but he can't stop thinking about her.

I love that the book is based on real people. I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline of building a new settlement in virgin territory. Evie was really irritating for the first half of the book. Yes, she had gone/was going through some rough time, but her actions ranged at times from slightly annoying to totally obnoxious. Thankfully, she matured some and became a much more likeable character later in the book. Miles, Evie's partner, starts out a kindly man and ends up being a royal pain throughout most of the book. I enjoyed most of the other characters in the book--let's face it, you're not supposed to like some of them! The storyline was great, but things just seemed to wrap up so perfectly in just a chapter or so which detracted from the book somewhat in my opinion.

I received a digital copy of this book from Harvest House through NetGalley.com for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

"Once Upon a Prince" by Rachel Hauck

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Susanna Truitt is scrambling to rebuild her life after being dumped by her boyfriend of twelve years. Prince Nathaniel is taking one last holiday as his father is terminally ill and he knows he will be king within a year. Neither expected to fall in love.

I'm having a hard time reviewing this book. It is such a mixture of laugh-out-loud funny, eye-roll silliness, some please-don't-tell-me-you-really-went-there groans and a few sweet moments all rolled together into one book. There are some great characters in this book, and a really lovely story line. I had a real issue with Susanna waiting for twelve years through military training, multiple deployments and all being a military girlfriend entails and then so quickly "realize" that you didn't really love him, it just was a "safe" plan that you got caught up in. Major issues keeping Nate and Susanna apart are magically fixed up with ease with plot "twists" that you see coming a mile away. Like I said, I liked the characters and the idea of the book was nice, it all just gets mucked up by some really over the top plot "twists" that nearly ruined the book for me. If you're looking for a super light read, this might be just what you're looking for.

I received a digital copy of this book from Zondervan through NetGalley.com for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

"The Fourth Fisherman" by Joe Kissack

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Five fishermen set out in a small boat for a few days' fishing trip. They run out of fuel and are carried out across the ocean. Two of the fishermen don't make it, but three survive the nine months and are heralded as a miracle when they are rescued thousands of miles from home.

Joe Kissak has it all--or so he thinks. In the race to get ahead, he actually starts a downward spiral to nearly losing everything through drugs and alcohol before "finding God".

I have to admit, I was very disappointed in this book. I was expecting a book on the fishermen's story--with God as the "fourth fisherman", and maybe a couple of chapters or so relating how the story affected the author. It was so very not what I was expecting! Out of forty chapters (not counting the epilogue), only SIX were about the fishermen's story. They were mentioned some later in the book, but very little. The book was mainly focused on the author and his story and the two really didn't seem to relate. Everything was about Joe Kissack and, frankly, he struck me as a very self-centered man. Nearly half the book is about his struggle to connect with the men and get them to sign the papers giving him the rights to their story so he could make a movie out of it--which still has yet to me done.

This story was supposedly about faith, but the "faith" talked about was very vague. Joe's "salvation" experience had nothing to do with the salvation of the Bible: no repentance, no trusting in Christ and his death, burial and resurrection--just a feeling of peace. "Christianity" is reduced to anyone who talks about God, and nothing of his family's view of God or religion is even mentioned that I noticed.

I really, really wanted to love this book. Unfortunately, it left me frustrated and annoyed wanting the fullness of the fishermen's story and not so much of Joe.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/blog/2...

http://www.thefourthfisherman.com/

"Limitless: Devotions for a Ridiculously Good Life" by Nick Vujicic

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Nick Vujicic knows there is no greater hope than trusting in God’s plan for your life. Born without arms or legs, Nick has experienced both the peak of hope and the depth of despair. But he has overcome his circumstances and physical limitations by clinging to his faith and understanding the limitless love and power God has for every person.

Now he wants you to experience that same reassurance of hope and the power of God, everyday. In these fifty inspirational devotions, Nick shares his most compelling, hard-earned wisdom to help you face obstacles with confidence and courage and point you toward God. Whether you struggle with faith, relationships, career challenges, anger, health concerns, self-esteem, finding balance, or doubt in your dreams, Nick’s biblical encouragement and positive attitude will transform your life and show you that you can be limitless because God is limitless.

The biggest thing this book did for me was make me want to read Nick's other books. I've seen bits and pieces of his story on the internet, and that along with the teasers in this book make me want to sit down and read his entire story. Nick is a fascinating man who chooses to trust in God instead of letting bitterness and anger at his physical limitations take over his life.

The only caveat I have with this book is the multiple Bible versions. I realize that I am somewhat in the minority when it comes to being King James only, but it always bothers me when people use multiple versions. It feels like they are picking and choosing which verses they like in which versions to suit themselves instead of just taking the Word of God as it comes. That is a personal opinion, but it did cause me to drop the review one star.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

http://www.lifewithoutlimbs.org/
http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/pdf/Sn...
http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalo...

DON'T FORGET THE GIVEAWAY ON MY KITCHEN BLOG! :-)

Don't forget to enter to win a new copy of "French Classics Made Easy" by Richard Grausman!!  Just 5 days left to enter.  Click here to go directly to the blog.  http://sandraskitchennook.blogspot.com/

Good luck!

"The Survivor" by DiAnn Mills

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Karissa Walker agrees to write the story of the brutal attack on Amy Garrett when she was a child in novel form, but someone doesn't want that book to be written. Karissa and FBI agent Santiago "Tigo" Harris broke off their relationship prior to the opening of the book, but are thrown back together as danger seems to stalk Karissa. Will Tigo finally give in to God? Will their relationship be put back together? Has Karissa gotten in over her head--again?

I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline of this book, but it had what seemed to me some major flaws.

Karissa Walker is an interesting character. Having gone through so much and been so close to death in the previous book, you'd think she'd have a little more wisdom and caution about her. No, that would make the book too boring, I guess. Never mind she and her sister and baby niece have been run off the road, someone is sending threatening emails, Amy's brother is threatening her and, oh yeah, someone has shot and grazed her as well, within less than 24 hours she's going stir crazy sitting in a hotel room, feeling like she's in prison. So let's up the ante and kill two more people and within 48 hours she's trotting off to a gun range to practice shooting by herself--no security. What an idiot!

Amy Walker is supposed to be a great Christian counselor and person, but lies, is rude, puts people in danger to fit her own agenda staying pretty much unlikeable throughout the book.

I really enjoyed Tigo and Ryan's characters. Ryan is a Christian--imperfect, but trying to win his partner to the Lord. Tigo is struggling with faith, but due to a promise to his mother and the desire to have Karissa in his life is still searching--not sure if he's willing to believe in and trust God, but not willing to give up yet. He also struggles throughout the book trying desperately to keep Karissa safe as she constantly makes boneheaded and dangerous decisions.

It was an unusual move to make most of the characters--including most of the victims/victims' families--rather unlikeable. There were precious few in the book that I really cared about by the end. I just wanted most of them to go away! Not the way I want to feel about a book! All in all, I'd have to say I really can't recommend this book. If the above things don't bother you, this just might be your cup of tea. Unfortunately, it definitely was not mine.

I received a digital copy of this book from Zondervan through NetGalley.com for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

"Behond These Hills" by Sandra Robbins

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It's 1935, and Laurel Jackson fears the life she's always known is about to become a memory. The government is purchasing property to establish the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and nearly all the families in Cades Cove have decided to sell. Laurel is determined to save the land her family has lived on for a hundred years.

Andrew Brady, the son of a wealthy Virginia congressman, arrives in the Cove to convince the remaining landowners to sell. Sparks fly when he meets Laurel, the outspoken young woman who is determined to thwart his every effort. Will they ever be able to put aside their differences and accept what their hearts already know?

I really enjoyed this book, especially as I live by the area it is set in. The characters feel real, like people I would enjoy knowing. They are not portrayed as perfect christians, always making the right decisions, but rather as flawed human beings with a deep love for God and desire to follow Him. This really draws Andrew both the to family and ultimately to God.

I had one definite issue with this book. When Laurel's mom and brother are having an argument in the kitchen and the dad walks in the mom says they're just having a difference in opinion. As they've been yelling at each other, the dad asks what it's all about and the mom actually says, "It's nothing for you to worry about, Matthew." His son is yelling at his wife--I would definitely call that something for him to worry about!! That dropped my review to only 4 stars.

I received a digital copy of this book from Harvest House through NetGalley.com for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

"Tangerine Morning" by Rita Garcia

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Jezzica has returned to Serenity Cove, a place of childhood memories, to recover from murder of her husband. His death is still an unsolved case leaving Jezzica with a bad opinion of law enforcement, which makes it hard going for Zack as he tried to draw her out. Jezzica's sister, Catylen, is battling her own issues while helping her sister get settled into a new life.

Serenity Cove draws you in and makes you want to move there! Great people, beautiful setting--it sounds like a little paradise on earth! A little romance, a little mystery and a nice cast of characters make for a pretty enjoyable book.

However, there are some downsides. The end of the book seems rushed. There are some hard times in the book for some of the characters, but then everything seems to fall in place for Jezzica, her sister and her nieces in a matter of pages. Zach and Jezzica go from basically one date to a proposal in hardly any time at all. I realize some may not agree with me, but crazy name spellings are a negative for me when I'm reading a book, especially if it's a major character. It's as distracting as if I'm reading a book filled with typos.

I received a free copy of this Ebook to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations. I am part of The CWA Review Crew.

I'LL BE BACK! :-)

I'll be out for a couple of weeks as a loved one is having surgery and I'll be helping take care of them.  I'll still be reading, though, so I should have several reviews to post when I return.  If I can get some good internet, I'll try to post as I can.

Happy Reading!!

"Not Guilty" by Teresa Pollard and Candi Pullen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Carrie Shepherd has everything going for her. She's a pastor's daughter, college senior and engaged to the man she loves with plans to go to Africa as a missionary after their marriage. Everything comes crashing down around her when she is attacked by a masked assailant on her way home from college one day, and brutally raped. Traumatized, she hides the fact from everyone until she discovers she is pregnant. Now this secret could tear apart everyone she loves along with her future.

On the whole, this is a well-written book. The trauma and emotions feel very believable. Some of her parents reactions when faced with a daughter who is obviously severely upset yet not pushing to find out what happened to her were a little less believable. Carrie decides not to tell anyone she doesn't have to about the rape even after finding out about the pregnancy, not wanting to deal with the shame. Unfortnately, that was not a good decision, and had far-reaching consequences.

The biggest negative to this book for me was the epilogue. On one hand, it's nice to know what happened to these people later in life, but it felt very fairytale-ish in that out of the 27 people covered, only about 3 of them were negative as far as how their lives played out from that time forward. That dropped this review down to 4 stars out of five. I understand it's fiction, but I prefer an underlying line of reality in this type of fiction.

This book is recommended for teens and young adults.  There is a section of resources and one of discussion questions for each chapter in the back of the book.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookCrash.com book review program, which requires an honest, though not necessarily positive, review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Cookbook giveaway!!

For those of you who may not know, I actually have two blogs.  My second blog is "Sandra's Kitchen Nook" and is a cookbook review blog.  I love cooking and cookbooks and wanted to share that love with others.  I'm giving away a beautiful copy of "French Classics Made Easy" by Richard Grausman.  Just go to http://sandraskitchennook.blogspot.com/ and enter using the rafflecopter.  This giveaway starts at midnight.

Good Luck!!