A recipe for success or a design for disaster?Although they're sisters, Paige and Erin Forrester are like oil and water, night and day, denim and silk. Paige is an outgoing fashionista who loves to be the center of attention, while Erin is more comfortable sporting vintage garb and recording the action around her. When a near disaster turns into the opportunity of a lifetime, these two very-different sisters are given the chance to star in their own fashion-TV show. A guest spot on a hot teen-reality series and their first big red-carpet assignment give this unlikely partnership plenty of room for success---and even more for failure.
My review:
I enjoyed this story because it was a bit different since the character Erin was the only Christian in her family. She was also the one who never wanted to be in the limelight. Her sister was beautiful and talented. Her mom was involved in the entertainment industry through the local news. I enjoyed reading those segments. I also enjoyed the dating scenarios and the reality show aspect of the novel. It felt very behind-the-scenes so the setting seemed natural to me.
I wished there had been more romance in the story because it seemed lacking in romantic tension. I did like the message in the story and how the author didn't make the girls crazy and worldly. Plus, the character Erin seemed natural to me. I liked how her sister Paige ended up listening to her when she had her crisis over Benjamin. I'm not into fashion or haute couture, so that didn't do much for me. I'm not even sure if I spelled it right. I read the teaser for the next book and honestly, it didn't turn me on, so I probably won't be reading it. But I did enjoy this first book in the series. It was interesting and fun, and not too heavy-handed in the faith department.
Compelling read
Premiere was published by Zondervan and released in June 2010.
A young seamstress weaves her own story in a world run by men. After hearing news of a silver strike in Calico, California, Abigail Watts packs up her needles and thread and follows her beloved father out West. But when she’s suddenly left alone in the rough mining town, Abigail finds herself pressed into a marriage of convenience with the local livery owner, Nathan Hawk. Determined to uncover the mystery surrounding her father’s death in the mines, Abigail agrees to stay in Calico. But when the truth sets her free, she must decide whether to leave the town - and Nathan - for good.
My thoughts:
Wish I had some. I was hoping to read this book before I did the giveaway and provide a review, however, the book never arrived. Sorry!
M. L. (MaryLu) Tyndall grew up on the beaches of South Florida loving the sea and the warm tropics. But despite the beauty around her, she always felt an ache in her soul--a longing for something more.
After college, she married and moved to California where she had two children and settled into a job at a local computer company. Although she had done everything the world expected, she was still miserable. She hated her job and her marriage was falling apart.
Still searching for purpose, adventure and true love, she spent her late twenties and early thirties doing all the things the world told her would make her happy, and after years, her children suffered, her second marriage suffered, and she was still miserable.
One day, she picked up her old Bible, dusted it off, and began to read. Somewhere in the middle, God opened her hardened heart to see that He was real, that He still loved her, and that He had a purpose for her life, if she'd only give her heart to Him completely.
She had written stories her whole life, but never had the confidence to try and get any of them published. But as God began to change her heart, He also showed her that writing had been His wonderful plan for her all along!
ABOUT THE BOOK
For the sake of her ailing mother, Marianne Denton becomes engaged to Noah Brennin---a merchantman she despises. But as the War of 1812 escalates, Jonah's ship is captured by the British, and the ill-matched couple learns vital information that could aid America's cause.
Relive the rich history of the War of 1812 through the eyes of Marianne Denton and Noah Brenin, who both long to please their families but neither one wishes to marry the other. Noah is determined to get his cargo to England before war breaks out, and Marianne is equally determined to have a wedding so that her inheritance can be unlocked and her destitute family saved. When their stubborn games get them captured by a British warship, can they escape and bring liberty to their country—and growing love?
Meridith can handle anything: guardianship of three distant siblings, a dilapidated Bed-and-Breakfast, even an ever-present handyman who's dismantling more than her fireplace--or can she?
When the death of Meridith's estranged father leaves her with custody of three siblings she's never met, she reluctantly goes to Nantucket to care for them--but only until their uncle returns from his trip. Little does she know, the uncle is already there under the guise of her friendly handyman, with plans of his own.
Will the love that grows between them be strong enough to overcome the secrets that brought them both to Driftwood Lane?
My review:
Driftwood Lane is another fabulous romance by Denise Hunter. I loved how she made a compelling case for her heroine's fear and used the family pet to illustrate that in a Pavlovian way that made sense to the reader and to the hero. Not that she compared her to a dog, but the fear was the same. Different causes, but same overwhelming need to protect and preserve. Growing up with a mentally ill mother and a father who essentially abandoned her was a key part of the need she had to control everything about her life.
The cool thing about true love is the out of control feeling it gives. You love it and it scares you at the same time. This was so well illustrated. You crave what you need and want to run screaming at the same time. Ms. Hunter really laid a solid foundation for these characters and continually put the heroine in situations where she had to let the hero get one step closer. This novel was well thought out and had a forward moving plot despite the slower pacing. I really enjoyed how the tension kept building and how it helped her to see that what she thought was love before was simply settling for security. I am sure that some women who are dating men who are merely "safe" will read this book and rethink what they are doing in their love lives. This story really makes you think about that.
True love requires trust and if there is no trust things never go deeper. Unfortunately things started out based on a lie. The author made a compelling case for why he kept his identity from her. Better than most. The foundation was solid as was the many reasons why it never seemed to be the right time to tell the truth. The necessary blowout for any good romance novel was well done.
Though the heroine was a new Christian, she handled it like anyone would. Second guessing things, doubting herself, worrying about how this might apply in other ways to trust, etc. But ultimately the problem is worked through. I found this aspect of the novel very believable, too. A lot of times the "dark moment" feels forced or a bit fake. This felt real to me. I know whenever I read one of this author's books that I'll get a solid romance. I have read all of her books in this series to date with the exception of the second book. I need to pull it out and read it soon! Meanwhile, this story is making my favorites list for 2010. I read it in less than two days!
Thank you, Wynn Wynn for sending me a review copy of this book. :)
Nancy Moser is the award-winning author of over twenty inspirational novels. Her genres include contemporary stories including John 3:16 and Time Lottery, and historical novels of real women-of-history including Just Jane(Jane Austen) and Washington's Lady (Martha Washington). Her newest historical novel is Masquerade. Nancy and her husband Mark live in the Midwest. She’s earned a degree in architecture, traveled extensively in Europe, and has performed in numerous theaters, symphonies, and choirs. She gives Sister Circle Seminars around the country, helping women identify their gifts as they celebrate their sisterhood. She is a fan of anything antique—humans included. Find out more at
They risk it all for adventure and romance, but find that love only flourishes in truth...
1886, New York City: Charlotte Gleason, a rich heiress from England, escapes a family crisis by traveling to America in order to marry the even wealthier Conrad Tremaine.
She soon decides that an arranged marriage is not for her and persuades her maid, Dora, to take her place. She wants a chance at "real life," even if it means giving up financial security. For Charlotte, it's a risk she's willing to take. What begins as the whim of a spoiled rich girl wanting adventure becomes a test of survival amid poverty beyond Charlotte's blackest nightmares.
As for Dora, it's the chance of a lifetime. She lives a fairy tale complete with gowns, jewels, and lavish mansions--yet is tormented by guilt from the possibility of discovery and the presence of another love that will not die. Is this what her heart truly longs for?
Will their masquerade be discovered? Will one of them have second thoughts? There is no guarantee the switch will work. It's a risk. It's the chance of a lifetime.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Masquerade, go HERE.
View the book trailer:
My review:
I have read several enjoyable "Gilded Age" stories this past year. This one was good. I liked the premise of the rich girl and the maid switching places and trying to pretend to be what they were not. Their masquerade didn't work out well for either of them. Lying just complicated their lives. On the other hand, God did take care of them...probably because He knew that they would come clean. The author did a great job of showing that God does have His eyes on us and does listen when we call on His for help.
Some things about this story were amazing, like the settings. The stuffy families and the societal rules all rang true for me. The author did a great job with the culture as well. I felt like I was in the tenements with the characters as well as in the mansion with Charlotte, AKA Dora. I enjoyed watching the characters' personalities transform because of their faulty situation and how they learned to be less self-focused and more other-focused, especially the character who grew up rich and traded places with her maid. Their names switched several times so it got a bit confusing, but I was able to follow along.
I am not sure that I totally bought into Lottie's complete transformation, though I can see how her circumstances could rub down those rough edges and make her a more caring person. I can also see how being exposed to children taught her that she had a heart for them. In the realm of the wealthy, children are treated very differently than in the world of the poor. It was heart wrenching for me when Lottie found the abandoned baby. Especially when there was a Foundling home not far away. (I used to work for CPS and people still abandon babies in this generation.)
At any rate, I really enjoyed the story and the romantic threads entwined in the lives of both women and their men. While the ladies went about things the wrong way, God redeemed their situations. That was what made the book special to me. They came clean and were rewarded for repenting and turning their lives around. I still felt bad for The Tremaines, however, because they got the short end of the stick.
To enter for a chance to win a copy of this book simply post a comment regarding why you want to read this book. Do you enjoy reading about the different English dynasties and the struggles for the throne? I find that subject fascinating. So post a comment and when I get twenty individual comments I will pick a winner. So don't waste any time. :) Tell your friends, too.
About the book:
The second book in Philippa's stunning new trilogy, The Cousins War, brings to life the story of Margaret Beaufort, a shadowy and mysterious character in the first book of the series - The White Queen - but who now takes center stage in the bitter struggle of The War of the Roses. The Red Queen tells the story of the child-bride of Edmund Tudor, who, although widowed in her early teens, uses her determination of character and wily plotting to infiltrate the house of York under the guise of loyal friend and servant, undermine the support for Richard III and ultimately ensure that her only son, Henry Tudor, triumphs as King of England. Through collaboration with the dowager Queen Elizabeth Woodville, Margaret agrees to a betrothal between Henry and Elizabeth's daughter, thereby uniting the families and resolving the Cousins War once and for all by founding of the Tudor dynasty.
My review:
The Red Queen by Ms. Gregory was very well done in that the characters felt real to me and the setting pulled me into the past. While the story was a bit long, the novelization of the struggle between the Yorks and Lancasters was necessarily drawn out. The number of times the throne switched hands, or important people were at risk of being killed because they were on the wrong side at the moment, was staggering. I enjoyed the way the author pulled history into this book and made it come alive.
I found the details of Margaret's three marriages fascinating and incredibly sad. I hurt for her and wished that somehow she could have found happiness, but it wasn't meant to be. Over time she just became more bitter. She wasn't taken seriously and was seen as a means to an end, nothing more. I found the way her first husband was portrayed as a child rapist (though he was begrudgingly fulfilling his duty to have an heir,) the second as a coward, and the third as a scheming two-timer quite compelling. Each marriage had a purpose, and while Margaret suffered during each union, she learned a lot in the process.
I appreciated that the battle scenes were not overly gross. There were plenty of disgusting details of war without being over the top. I felt bad for all of the people getting their heads chopped off as it was. I loved how the author portrayed Lady Margaret's firm conviction that it was God's will that her son Henry become king. Based on her painful life up to that point, it made sense that she would put everything she had into seeing him fulfill his destiny (which she believed was the reason he was born,) and then her suffering would be for a good reason and not just cruel luck. I found her religious zeal interesting, too. She really believed she was favored by God because she prayed all the time. It caused her to be too proud of herself, and quite arrogant.
Of course, the Yorks felt that they were destined for the throne as well. Since King Henry had lost his mind the author made a compelling case for why fear overruled loyalty. I just felt bad for the common English person who fought for either side and the many lives lost over the right of one family or the other to rule England. This was the first book by Ms. Gregory that I've read and it won't be the last. I have The White Queen and plan to read it in the next year.
This novel was provided for me to review by Touchstone Fireside (A division of Simon and Schuster, a CBS company.) I was given no compensation other than receiving the book to review for free. The Red Queen was released on August 3, 2010.
To enter for a chance to win a copy of this book simply post a comment regarding a favorite Christmas themed story that you've read. Personally, I think most of them are corny. This one was actually pretty good. I also enjoyed Dan Walsh's book, The Unfinished Gift. Now it's your turn. Do you have a favorite? I will chose a winner using the Randomizer program next Sunday, August 29th.
About the book:
Sarah Beachy has plenty to be joyous about as autumn leaves start to fall. She loves her job at the English bed-and-breakfast where she cooks and refreshes rooms between guests. She has a serious beau, and everyone expects an engagement soon. Why, then, would she jeopardize everything by suddenly deciding to take a trip to Cleveland to track down a brother who left the Order years ago?
Her family’s faith in God is put to the test as the holiest night of the year approaches and Sarah remains far away. Sarah’s mother, Elizabeth, has been missing her son for such a long time…will she lose her daughter to the English world as well? Or will the Beachy family receive an unexpected Christmas miracle?
My review/thoughts about the book:
This story kept my interest until the end. I am not a huge Amish fiction fan, but if the story is interesting enough it will hold my attention. This story was sweet and had some strong redemption themes. It's wasn't much different in plot than most Amish novels, but it was unique enough that I enjoyed it. It was also a fairly short story, less than half the length of most Amish novels, so the story ended quickly but with a satisfying resolution. There was also a great point that one of the characters made. You can make someone love you. They have to do that because they want to and trying to possess them isn't going to make them love you more, but less. The other theme was that a mother's love knows no bounds. Like a prodigal, one of the characters returned and the mother did exactly what that lost and hurting soul needed. She loved unconditionally like mother's usually do. That always brings healing. That was well done and made this book above average. One more note... the main character is 19 and the girl on the cover looks barely twelve, so don't mistake this book for an elementary school aged reader. It's for young teens on up.
Eighteen eighty-six, New York City: Charlotte Gleason, a rich heiress from England, escapes a family crisis by traveling to America in order to marry the even wealthier Conrad Tremaine. She soon decides that an arranged marriage is not for her and persuades her maid, Dora, to take her place. What begins as the whim of a spoiled rich girl wanting adventure becomes a test of survival amid poverty beyond Charlotte's blackest nightmares. As for Dora, she lives a fairy tale complete with gowns, jewels, and lavish mansions--yet is tormented by guilt and the presence of another love that will not die. Will their masquerade be discovered? Will one of them have second thoughts? There is no guarantee the switch will work. It's a risk. It's the chance of a lifetime.
My review:
I have read several enjoyable "Gilded Age" stories this past year. This one was good. I liked the premise of the rich girl and the maid switching places and trying to pretend to be what they were not. Their masquerade didn't work out well for either of them. Lying just complicated their lives. On the other hand, God did take care of them...probably because He knew that they would come clean. The author did a great job of showing that God does have His eyes on us and does listen when we call on His for help.
Some things about this story were amazing, like the settings. The stuffy families and the societal rules all rang true for me. The author did a great job with the culture as well. I felt like I was in the tenements with the characters as well as in the mansion with Charlotte, AKA Dora. I enjoyed watching the characters' personalities transform because of their faulty situation and how they learned to be less self-focused and more other-focused, especially the character who grew up rich and traded places with her maid. Their names switched several times so it got a bit confusing, but I was able to follow along.
I am not sure that I totally bought into Lottie's complete transformation, though I can see how her circumstances could rub down those rough edges and make her a more caring person. I can also see how being exposed to children taught her that she had a heart for them. In the realm of the wealthy, children are treated very differently than in the world of the poor. It was heart wrenching for me when Lottie found the abandoned baby. Especially when there was a Foundling home not far away. (I used to work for CPS and people still abandon babies in this generation.)
At any rate, I really enjoyed the story and the romantic threads entwined in the lives of both women and their men. While the ladies went about things the wrong way, God redeemed their situations. That was what made the book special to me. They came clean and were rewarded for repenting and turning their lives around. I still felt bad for The Tremaines, however, because they got the short end of the stick.
There was no information on the internet that gave a synopsis of this title (probably because it doesn't officially release until August 31st.) I found the book posted numerous places, but not with a description attached. I hope to update this review with the official synopsis when it's posted. But for now I'll summarize it a bit. Two congregations now exist from a church split. One had burned to the ground from arson, and the other stood. The question is who burned the other church to ashes, and why would someone do that? The story also follows the marriage of newlyweds Vanessa and Willie Green, who both pastor the same church. I'll leave it at that so as not to post any spoilers.
My review:
Soon After was an interesting insiders look at the aftermath of an arsonist's attack on one church, and the merger of another congregation. This is the first book I've read by Sherryle Kiser Jackson. I felt like I missed out on a whole lot of history from not having read the former book(s) in the series, if there were any books with the same characters in them. I got the impression that the previous book by Ms. Jackson had the some of the same characters in it. I did get an uncorrected proof to review so there were a lot of spelling and grammatical errors that I assume will be corrected in the finished book. Regardless, there were many things to like about the story.
The author made her characters flawed and real. They struggled like everyone else in this world, and weren't protected just because they were Christians. I also loved the insider's look into the church hierarchy and how things were run. I loved how the author had her characters face temptation and deal with issues related to pride, fear, the temptation to lie, etc. I always enjoy a good story with realistic players.
The cultural elements in this book are very strong. Having visited a number of African American congregations over the years I felt very comfortable and familiar with the structure of the church and the way services were portrayed. I also loved the way Vanessa was forced by circumstances to relinquish control of her life and let God do the work He had intended. I can't say more than that because it would be a spoiler.
I enjoyed reading about the arson investigation and getting to know the reporter, Alexis, from the news station. Those investigative scenes all felt real, like I was there with the characters. The mystery elements and her drive to solve the case kept me reading...along with Vanessa's mystery illness. I love it when things have a twist on them, as long as the conclusion is believable. In this case, the author did a great job with that part of the plot. I also get the impression from the way things ended that there may be another book to conclude the series.
"When they finally kissed it was like, WOW! It was hot. The sparks flew off the pages... it's making my best fiction of 2010 list. -- Edgy Inspirational Author Blog, Michelle Sutton (for Maid to Match)
Here is an older reference to a review I posted for Courting Trouble...
"[Gist] created a dynamic, quirky, unique characterization in Essie ... This story gave me a powerful emotional experience ... It is the best of her three books."
-- Michelle Sutton, ACFW Book Reviews
and... for A Bride in the Bargain...
Edgy Inspirational Author blog, Michelle Sutton:
“[A Bride in the Bargain] delivers on all counts. I highly recommend it.”
And how about Diane' Noble's blog here... just found this one and the one above today...
(Diane writes) Here are a couple of the reviews that I think captured the heart and soul of The Sister Wife:
Reader Reviews:
"The best part of this book (besides the delectable romance) was probably the spiritual portion. Hannah had every reason to believe God had abandoned her. She responded like any human would in a similar situation. Of course God never left her, but the journey she took toward that realization was awesome. I loved this story! "--Michelle Sutton,Edgy Inspirational Reviewer
...and I am on many more sites. These were just a few of the fun ones. I've seen my name on Revell's site and Harvest House's site before, to mention a few. I just felt like sharing this today. Thanks for indulging me. ;)
To enter for a chance to win this book simply post whether or not you lost a loved one who was in the military and which war they were in. I'll select a winner using the Randomizer program next Sunday! Best wishes!
Win a copy of this new Love Finds You book by Tricia Goyer and Ocieanna Fleiss!
(I really want to read this one, but don't have the book, wah! I love WWII era fiction.)
About the book:
The Second World War has stolen Rosalie's fiance from her. But rather than wallow, Rosalie throws herself into her work at the Boeing plant in Victory Heights, shooting rivets into the B-17 bombers that will destroy the enemy. A local reporter dubs her Seattle's Own Rosie the Riveter, and her story lends inspiration to women across the country. While Rosalie's strong arms can bear the weight of this new responsibility, her heart cannot handle the intense feelings that begin to surface for Kenny, the handsome reporter. Fear of a second heartbreak is a powerful opponent - but will it claim victory over love?
Three years after the unexpected death of Kate Sterling's husband, she moves back to Harvest Bay, Ohio, with her young daughter. She soon discovers that things have changed in the sleepy little community she grew up in. When she suffers another devastating loss, she finally understands that the One who loves and cares for her has given her a second chance at love. But is God leading her to a love linked to the past... or to one who will walk with her into the future?
My review:
The Heart's Journey Home was an exceptional debut novel by a fantastic new author. This story was complex and deeply romantic, but also spiritual and incredibly edifying. I learned a lot about the characters, about myself, and also about forgiveness, healing, and following God's voice from this story.
Sometimes God leads us places and though we don't realize the full impact of His reasoning until He reveals it to us, if we are sensitive to God's leading He will give us more than we hoped for or imagined. This story showed how each Christian needs to realize that what we think is best may not be what He thinks is best, so we have to know His voice in order to be fully in God's will. I loved how this book illustrated all of those things, and so much more.
The characters in this novel were all complex and three dimensional. I loved how the author showed how strong love is and how it doesn't have to be mutually exclusive, or limited to one person. She also allowed her characters to feel many different things and to seek God's will in the process. I loved how much of a tender and emotional journey this book was for me. I loved how detailed and intricately complex the heart was portrayed to be.
The title for this book was perfect because it did show the heart's journey home and the healing that took place in all of the characters' lives as they were transformed by God's love. I adored this book. It made think. It made me smile. It made me sigh. That's a great novel. I am now a devoted fan of Ms. Stephen's work. This novel is making my best fiction of 2010 list! The Heart's Journey Home was published by Sheaf House and released in Feb 2010.
