the Beautiful Pretender

Melanie Dickerson has become my favorite author of fairy-tales and medieval fiction. The Beautiful Pretender is by no means an exception to this.

I was able to borrow “The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest” from the library before I got this book in, and I will say it helps keep some of the characters straight, but you don’t have to read the first one to enjoy this book.

How would you feel if you only had two weeks to find a wife, and you had a list of only ten girls you were allowed to choose from? The mangrave of Thornbeck faces this problem and his only option is to invite the women from the King’s list and decide which young lady will be his bride.

Avelina is a maid-servent from a neighboring area. When her mistress runs away the blame is laid at Avelina’s feet. To save her family from banishment Avelina must go in place of her mistress, making sure that the mangrave does not pick her at all costs.

The story takes some elements from the princess and the pea, which is one of my favorite fairy tales, and a story to mix into this series of fairytales. A good amount of historical detail is also put into this book, just like most of Melanie’s books, and to me it just makes her books all the more enjoyable.

Something that has made this book more dear to my heart is how marriage is viewed by Avelina, and what she wants from it. So many marriages, both back then and now, turned sour and left children with a horrible idea of what marriage is or what it will be like for them. Avelina explains that a woman wants to be loved for who she is. Not for her money, her family name, or for her looks, but for the person they are. I screaming “YES!!! AT LAST SOMEONE GETS IT!!!” all throughout this scene.

The Beautiful Pretender is by far the best book Melanie Dickerson has published yet. I am very much looking forward to her next book “Silent Songbird”.

So if you are looking for a good fairytale or wanting to know if this one is any good then I hope you have found the answers!

Well folks that’s all for today. Until next time folks, I hope you have a blessed day!

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.

Magnolia Duchess

I had been looking forward to reading The Magnolia Duchess by Beth White, the third book in the Gulf Coast Chronicles series, as I had enjoyed reading the second book in the series, The Creole Princess. (My first book in the Revell review program). It didn’t take me long to find myself lost in the world Beth white created with war, love, and loyalty as it’s main theme.

I really enjoyed the historical aspects woven throughout the plot of the story. I don’t remember too much of the history of 1814, but reading the Creole Princess and The Magnolia Dutchess has gotten me interested!  There is such detail about the settling of the coastal areas around the Gulf of Mexico. This story provided me with a better understanding of some of the details that helped to make the Gulf Coast a part of the United States of America.

It’s always fun to reconnect of the characters from previous titles in this series came back into the story throughout this book. I enjoyed seeing how their lives were playing out since the previous books.

I really struggled with one of the main characters in this book – Charlie Kincaid. As I read, I found his character to be hard to get a feeling for.. As a main character, his reactions to situations are  highly unpredictable – often not in sync with who he’d been portrayed to be earlier in the book. His interactions with other characters were also  seemed forced.

Some relationships were also rushed, making the story a bit difficult to keep up with

I loved reading The Magnolia Duchess, but it wasn’t up to par with its predecessors in the series.

If you’re looking for an informative yet enjoyable read on this time period I’d definitely recommend picking up a copy of each of the books in the Gulf Coast Chronicles series by Beth White. It is a good mix of solid facts and good storytelling

Well that’s all for now folks. Until next time I hope you have a blessed day!

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.

Counted with the Stars

I wasn’t sure what to expect from Counted with the Stars. Most Biblical fiction is very dark, like the authors are highlighting the horrors instead of the hope. That is not the case with Connilyn Cossette’s “Counted with the Stars”. If you are looking for a realistic historical fiction with the message of hope we seek in Christian fiction then you’ll find it in this book!

Counted with the Stars takes place in the timeline of Exodus, telling the story of young Egyptian woman sold into slavery after all her father’s ships are destroyed at sea. To save her mother and her disabled brother from the same fate she has to work for a mistress who is cruel and wishes for nothing more then to see Kiya fail.

I did not expect to feel such a close connection to Kiya. Her character is so real, that you want to do nothing but cheer her on, tell her it’s going to be okay.

Another problem that Kiya faced, and one I think we can all relate to, is finding where you belong. As a merchant’s daughter turned slave Kiya was ostracized not only from the high ranking society, even the commoners and slaves would have nothing to do with her. Being in such a state is hard for anyone and one I could relate to.

This book also always had the same constant message; God is the way.

Many of the fiction books that take place in biblical times seem to lose this somewhere along the way, and even if it’s brought back in the end it still feels like it was put there to keep it in the “Christian” section. Counted among the stars did not have this problem at all and kept tied in with events of Exodus and how they might be viewed by the Egyptians.

If you are looking for a book for your christian book group this is the one. If you’re looking for a great historical fiction book with realistic settings and characters this is the book for you. If you are looking for a book filled with the message of God’s love and how the Old Testament illustrates that then Counted with the Stars is the book you have been looking for!

I cannot give this book enough praise, and I hope you readers will pick up a copy.

Well that’s all for now folks. Until next time I hope you have a blessed day!

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, which I have given

On Lone star Trail

A motorcycle ended Gillian's career as a renown concert pianist. The irony that another motorcycle accident brings her face to face with a man trying to outrun his own tragedy is not lost on her. As circumstances force them to interact with each other, small step by small step God finds a way to heal them both

The final book in the Texas crossroads trilogy has left a stamp on my heart as one of my favorite series. Lone star trail brings back characters we loved from the first two books and gives us two new characters to fall in love with. Greif was a theme in this book. Handling any type of grief is hard, from the loss of a loved one to the loss of your entire future. Both are difficult to understand. The fear of the unknown would love to swallow Gillian, while Benjamin wants to race into the unknown to outrun his past.

 I also love that this book show God can use any tragedy to not only further His kingdom, but to bring two people together and bring healing in both of their lives.

I really did have a hard time putting it down, though book two is still my favorite of the series, this one put the perfect ending to the series. I will miss these characters, though I can’t wait to see what this author will come up with next! it’s going to be hard to trump this amazing texen series, but it has been done before.

Until next time folks. I hope you have a blessed day!

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.

Her one and Only; The end of the Porter family series

I started out on this series unsure if I would really like what would come next. Much similar to a crescendo the Porter Family series gets better with each book that comes next!

I thought Becky Wade couldn’t do better when she wrote A Love like ours, boy was I wrong. Dru Porter is the youngest member of the family, and the only girl in a line of boys. Four older brothers and a tour in the marines makes one able to stand tall against what life throws at you, and the constant judgement of others. Dru now works as a bodyguard, and no one is better at her job. But past mistakes hover over her and make her co-workers weary of her, and being a woman makes most of her clients head tilt in confusion. Dru is determined to prove she is up to the task of being the bodyguard of the NFL star Gray Fowler.

Gray Fowler has to be one of my all time favorite characters now. He is relatable, and his past makes it easier for guys to relate to him as well. It also helped me be more understanding of a few guys I use to know and why their pasts made them have trouble with love.

The action in this book also set it apart from the previous books in this series, giving it an extra draw to an already interesting story. Then the teasing between these two, oh my goodness I could barely contain my laughter most days! And to see the rest of the Porter family, and to have them mixed in more than most book series that have a returning cast just..just made the ending to the series even better than I could have imagined! Finishing this book was like watching the series finale of your favorite TV show. It's wonderful, but then you know you're going to miss seeing new adventures for the characters you have come to love.

The final book in the Porter family series will have you at the edge of your seat, your heart melting, and your head singing praises as these two battle the odds. God’s love really does heal all wounds and this book shows it well.

I hope Becky Wade writes more book series after this. I think I would cry if she didn’t! But if you’re looking for a fun book series to read during the summer I would tell you to pick up this series right now. You won’t regret it!

Well that’s all for now folks. I hope you have a blessed day!

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.

A Summer time Journal

Many of you probably don’t know that the Blogging for books Program merged with another publishing company some time ago and now offer more than Christian fiction books. I saw this cute journal and could not resist getting it.

Made to look like a favorite dessert of mine this journal has an open spine to keep in theme, and a puffy hard cover to look like the cookie. I had expected a little better quality for the price, especially since this journal is about the size of a mass market paperback book. The glue on the spine seems like it may chip off in spots, and a few pieces of thread binding the spine came undone before I even got it.

I also don’t care that the middle of the pages, the part that has white on the outside, has no lines. Maybe this is for making little doodles or to put something else in it’s place, but I need lines to keep my writing straight and it just looks funny to have lines only on the top and bottom of the pages.

All in all it’s a very cute journal, but not one I would consider getting again or getting for a friend.

I hope this review helps.

This is all I have for today folks I hope you have a blessed day.

I received this journal in exchange for an honest review, which I have given

A Sweet Misfortune

Will Rachel's life story be a list of unfortunate events, or will this spirited young women find God's plan for her in the last place she expected to find it?

Rachel Matthews isn't one to rely on others to take care of her. Destitute and alone, she still wants to make her own way and her own money--even if she's forced into the life of a dance hall girl. Horrified by her circumstances, Rachel's brother sends a friend--the widely admired cattle baron John McIntyre--to rescue her, then sets off to earn enough money to buy back the family ranch. But when months pass without her brother's return, Rachel isn't sure she can take one more day in John McIntyre's home--especially once she discovers that he's the one who holds the deed to her family's ranch.

A sweet Misfortune is book two in the Virtues and Vices of the old west, but I was able to fully enjoy this sweet novel without having read the first book, though i really want to now. This book is one you can sit with in a chair on the back porch in the sunshine and happily stay there for hours.

Most novels that are set in the old west have one of two problems;

1. They are too dramatic.

Authors want to make books interesting, so they add all sorts of dangers throughout the book, making it a little hard to believe that anyone could run into that much trouble.

2. They are too dull.

Some authors try to be as historically accurate as possible with their books, putting their novels in a bit of a bind with where the plot can go.

A sweet Misfortune had neither of these problems, which for me as a reader made the experience of reading all the more enjoyable There was a right blend of humor, friendship building into love, some chaos thrown in, with a message of God’s love to complete it. So if you are looking for a good book to start your Summer reading list I recommend trying this series by Meggie Breden.

Well folks that’s all I have for today. Until next time I hope you have a blessed day!

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.

NKJV Chronological study Bible

I have been looking for a Chronological study bible, and when I saw this one I couldn’t wait!

I truly enjoyed this bible and to see each book of the bible in the order, and the NKJV is a good translation to go with this type of study bible, in my opinion. The print size was also a good size, though I think it would help to have it a little bigger.

If study Bibles were in large or giant print it would help when I am in the middle of a Bible study class and I am trying to read a verse aloud.

Either way this is a good NKJV study bible if you’re looking for one. The full color images, maps, and all the little tid bits of information are interesting as you read through scripture. The binding is well done, the brown color eye appealing, and the soft leather like material makes it a good gift.

Not much more I can say on this other than if you’re interested in a chronological study bible this is a good one.

Until next time folks I hope you have a blessed day!

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review which I have given.

(Un)Qualified

I became a fan of Steven Furtick when I read his book “Crash the Chatterbox” but with this small book he has blown his other three books out of the water!

I never expected Steven to write anything better then Crash the Chatterbox, it was so good and at the time nothing else compared to it in my mind. Now we have (Un)Qualified. A book that gets you to look not at how the world sees you, not how the person in the mirror sees you, but on who God says you are.

Being overweight makes it hard to feel pretty or loved, I should know, but Steven Furtick’s book makes you look at scripture and truly ask yourself the hard questions we all need to face. Steven opens up on his own trials with self image and self doubt as a pastor and book writer in the same way we have come to expect of him. Steven Furtick bring humor (and a few tears) into his book, but more than anything he brought a new sense of purpose to his book.

It’s hard to explain, but in the past years authors are putting more into their books. If you look at books done by Colleen Coble, Denise Hunter, and a few others out there you will notice a change. You have to read their previous works to understand, but this change has seemed to come about Steven as well. His words are more...confident and powerful. I had a hard time putting this book down after chapter 1.

I am sure there are plenty of reviews out there that rave on about (Un)Qualified, and I guess it is now time to add mine to the pile. I hope all who are reading this review right now will take a moment to pick up this book. It will change and challenge you.

Until next time folks I hope you have a blessed day!

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.

Black and white Bible, Black and blue Wife

I had not planned not ordering this book. If you could look on my Amazon Wishlist I have all my blogging books for nearly the entire year, but this one came up when I was checking to see what books I could order. It sounded like an amazing testimony of Ruth A. Tucker and others, I really looked forward to reading it too, but that wasn’t exactly what I got.

I am in no way diminish the horrible experiences these women went through, nor do I condone what their husbands or boyfriends did to them. I was expecting a memoir, and there are pieces of that in the book, but if felt much more like a rant about domestic abuse. After chapter 2 I felt like there was some hidden meaning between the lines of these pages that I couldn’t figure out, and I’m not sure I want to know what it is.

I did find it helpful in becoming more aware of some details of domestic abuse, how hard it is for these women and children to speak of them or to find the lines between normal discipline and domestic abuse. The lines can be more blurred than we think. Still, I found little of their actual stories in this book like I first thought, nor did I see how God played a part in helping her overcome the trauma of the past. There was actually little refernce to God in her actual life and more of a...side by side comparison to stories of the bible. Not to say that’s a bad thing, but even that was a bit minimal. I guess I should not expect any more then that from Zondervan books nowadays (I’ll explain that in another post) still I had hopes for this book.

It’s not a bad book, but if you are looking for an actual memoir that will not only explain the past of the author and illustrate God’s loving ways then I do not suggest this book for you.

That is all I have for now folks. I hope y’all have a blessed day!

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review which I have given.