Restless In Carolina *Enter to Win a Copy of this Novel*

This book review is for the novel "Restless In Carolina" by Tamara Leigh

Starting off I have to say that I absolutely loved this book! I will definitely be looking for more books by this author.

Bridget Pickwick-Buchanan is a mess. A complete and total mess from her blonde dreadlocked hair to her dirty fingernails and her bitter angry attitude.

A smack of reality in the face comes in the form of her making her five year old niece cry. Not to mention the dressing down that comes from her sister after the incident with little innocent Birdie.

If she had just been able to say the words happily ever after then none of it ever would have happened. But she refuses to further help the deluding of small girls that happily ever after exists because in her world it just doesn't.

The grief that she still wallows in after four years of widowhood refuses to let her out of its grip. Not that she is fighting it and the darkness of it very hard though.
The dreadlocks that she has carefully crafted instead of her silky blonde hair, the sleeping in the guest room instead of her and Easton's room, the shadow of grief and sadness she casts over every family gathering and the not taking proper care of herself. All of this lends to a small intervention on her sisters part.
Making her daughter cry was the straw that broke the camel’s back with her little sister. And it is the smack of reality that Bridget needs to start her feet on the right path again.

It is a slow process but God is working in her life whether she likes it not. No matter how much or how far she runs He is still waiting for her to return to Him.

When her Uncle seeks to sale the families’ Biltmore-inspired mansion that is surrounded by hundreds of acres of unspoiled forestland, Bridgette determines to sell the property to J.C. Dirk, who is a high energy green property developer. Bridgette is all about the environment and she cannot stand the thought that the beautiful estate will be sold to developers that will ruin the beauty and environment that she longs to protect.

What she doesn't realize is that getting J.C. Dirk involved in this is going to complicate her life more than she ever realized.

J.C. Dirk holds secrets himself and can't quite believe it when one Ms. Bridget Pickwick-Buchanan stomps into his important meeting dressed to the nines and determined to get what she wants.


What follows is a story that I almost couldn't put down and which has a twist at the end that I didn't see coming. I highly recommend this novel!


Happy Monday all! What are you reading this week? Anything good to recommend?

Jenny



P.S. If you wouldn't mind, please take a moment and rank my review. I love to write them and enjoy getting your reaction as well. Not to mention if you rank this review and confirm your email address you will automatically be entered to win a copy of this amazing book for yourself! *Also, be sure to confirm your email address in the email that is sent to you. You only have to do this one time and never again. You will also not get any other emails from them unless you choose to receive them.*





*Note* I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group in exchange for posting a review about it. I am not required to post a positive review. Any opinions expressed are my own and they are sincere.

Gone To Green

This review is the novel "gone to green" by Judy Christie
This is the first novel I have read that was written by her and I look forward to reading the sequel to it called "Goodness Gracious Green".

One of the things that I love so much about reviewing is discovering new authors that you might not otherwise have known about!

Lois Barker is our main character; she has a corporate lifestyle working at the city desk of a large newspaper in the Midwest. She is in her 30's, single and has a group of good friends. Mostly, however, it seems her life revolves around her work at the newspaper.

The thing that stood out to me about Lois is that she seemed a bit overly cautious, jaded about God and hesitant about most things. She is always second guessing herself. That is what I got from her character throughout the whole book. Toward the end...she seems to come into her own more but it is obvious she still has growing to do.

I have to say that I really like the cast of characters that Ms. Christie introduces throughout the book. You can almost hear the southern lilt in their voices and see them as they make faces at Lois, whether it is an eye roll, a not so nice look, or a big southern grin accompanied by a hug.

For the most part it seems the book is centered on Lois and all the decisions that she has to make whether difficult or easy, but it is nicely fleshed out with all these other characters. I would like to find out more about Katy's character. I think she has her own story to tell.

Lois has a good friend on the newspaper she works at, Ed. He buys "The Green News-Item, which is a twice-weekly newspaper down in rural Green Louisiana.

Right before Ed is supposed to leave for Green to finally take over his newspaper, he passes away from an unexpected illness. Come to find out, he left the paper to Lois in his will.

That means that our dear Lois now has a whopping line of credit at the bank in Green and a year to turn the paper around and start profiting so she can sale it off and get back to her normal life.

Between moving to the "sticks", gaining a newspaper that comes with a loan attached, corrupt people filling the town, a city girl living in a country house (gasp! there was a rat!) and an odd assortment of people now filling her life...Lois is definitely a fish out of water.

Watch as she makes the best of her odd situation and maybe, just maybe, make some of the best friends a girl could ask for.

I recommend this book to anyone who likes a fun read with interesting characters.

What are you reading this week?



Have a joyful Monday!
Jenny





*Note* I received this book for free from Abingdon Press in exchange for a review about it. I am not required to post a positive review. Any opinions expressed are my own and they are sincere.

Upcoming Reviews :o)

Hi All! I just wanted to give you an update on which titles I will be reviewing next. Look for reviews on:

Restless in Carolina by Tamara Leigh

gone to green by Judy Christie

The First Gardener by Denise Hildreth Jones &

Sweet Sanctuary by Sheila Walsh and Cindy Coloma


There will be other reviews on more titles coming up but I will make another post about those when I receive them. So many books! I'm loving it! Books will not necessarily be reviewed in this order.

Strap on your heels and freshen your lipstick!

This review is for the novel "Premiere" by Melody Carlson.
It is the first novel in the 'On The Runway' series.


Melody Carlson has written over 200 books and it definitely shows when you read her creations.

Paige and Erin Forrester are sisters but they are different as night and day.
Paige is obsessed with fashion and owns many name brands. From Prada to Badgley Mischka she knows them all by site and fabric quality. And shines like a star in the spotlight, be it in a group of friends or doing spots on her mother's nightly news program.

Erin is far more comfortable behind the camera than in front of it. She got dumped a good long while ago by her boyfriend of two years and has pretty much let her appearance go. Much to the almost disdain of her sister and friends. They mean well and say it with love but her friend gets on her about her appearance and she ends up letting Paige do a makeover on her.

After Paige does a segment on the news, which turns from a feature on a newly opened theme park to a fashion critique of the people entering the park, she is spotted by a famous reality television producer. She is interviewed and offered a reality show of her own critiquing fashion on the red carpet and runway shows. Erin is brought along for the ride as the producer wants her to be her sister’s sidekick, helping to film her and banter back and forth.

Add in a few guest spots on another hot teen reality show, a good looking boy and a few catfights and you've got 'Premiere'.


One of the things that I liked about this novel is that it was different from a lot of books I have read.
Erin is a Christian who enjoys going to her group at church but her mother and sister are not. Their dad, who was a news anchor, died in a plane crash.
I read the book in a matter of days and absolutely loved it. It kept me interested and turning pages till the end of it.

Also, by the last chapter, Paige realizes, after some hard things happen, that although she has believed in God, she needs to make room in her life for God and prayer.

The ending left me wanting to read the next book as soon as possible!
I commend Ms. Carlson on writing an engaging "teen" novel without compromising the message.


Have you read a book by Melody Carlson that is your favorite?


Have a Wonderful Wednesday!
Jenny :o)




*Note* I received this book for free from Zondervan Publishers in exchange for a review about it. I am not required to post a positive review. Any opinions expressed are my own and they are sincere.

Lights, Curtains, Action!

This review is for "In Between" by Jenny B. Jones. It is the first book in A Katie Parker Production series.
In a side note I want to commend Ms. Jones on her character development and all the interesting characters she brings to this book.
I would love to read a book that is based on Maxines character! Just a thought ;)


I knew from reading the back of the book that I was going to like this novel. But, I couldn't believe how much I actually did end up really really enjoying this book! I am definitely looking forward to reading the other books in this series and will for sure look for other titles by Ms. Jones.

This book is not your usually Christian fiction as Katie questions things. She doesn’t just automatically believe because her foster parents do. She questions and tries to figure out if and what she believes of what she hears in church. She wants to believe but she’s had a hard life and questions. It does have a happy ending though. But I liked that she didn’t just automatically be like I believe whatever you believe. I connected with this character because she goes to a place that I think we have all been.
I just can’t say enough about this book.

You've got Katie whose life is just a mess. Plain and simple you would not want to be in this girls shoes.
Her mother is in jail, she's living is a crappy home for girls and her dad is a deadbeat.

Being sixteen can be hard enough without adding in a drug peddling mom and a no show dad.

She seems to have no faith in God and definitely has an overdramatic streak running through her.

We open with her riding along heading toward In Between Texas to be dropped off with her new foster parents. Or as Katie likes to refer to them as, her pretend-o-parents.

What makes it even "better" for her is as they roll through town, she sees the local water tower with the words "Home of the In Between Chihuahua". And realizes with semi-horror that her new high school mascot will be the Chihuahua. So not only does she get to be the new kid in school once again...she has to be a Chihuahua. Life just isn't looking up for one Ms. Katie Parker.

Her foster parents turn out to be a couple in their fifties. What she doesn't realize until the director, of the girls home, leaves her there is that her new foster dad happens to be a preacher. She is less than thrilled about this as she doesn't "do" church.

She is the typical get myself kicked out so I can go back to the home girl for just a little bit and then is able to turn it around.

She definitely has abandonment issues and thinks any little problem is going to get her sent back and eventually she doesn't want that.

Needless to say her foster parents are long suffering and try to give her a little leeway toward being able to make good decisions on her own.

She blows it first chance she gets and her butt lands in church and helping out others, in various ways, pretty quick. Which is what she needed even if she didn't know it yet.

Throw in Mad Maxine, her foster grandmother (who I could totally write a whole other review on just her), a huge drooling dog who likes to play dress up, a mystery daughter that no one speaks of and one jaded foster daughter and you have a whopper of a story.

There are so many interesting characters I can't write about them all or this review would turn into a novel of its own.

I think anyone will relate to this book. Especially if you have ever felt awkward in a group, like you maybe don't belong, been the new kid or even ever questioned faith. This novel is a gem and I would love for all of you to read it too as I think you would love it right along with me.


Venture along with Katie as she learns it's all right to count on God and faith and it's all right to let your guard down and really want something.

Hope you all are having the best Monday possible!


How is your week going?
Jenny




***Note*** You can check out Jenny B Jones website here http://www.jennybjones.com/ to read about the author and see the books that are currently out and ones coming out soon.





Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from NavPress Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Upcoming Review & Happenings

The little trouble maker himself...gotta love the cuteness!


Hi everybody!
I just want to let you know that I will be reviewing my newest read "In Between" by Jenny B. Jones shortly. Pretty neat she has my same name :)
I'm a little behind on my reading this week as we had a small bug bombing problem (and had to temporarily evacuate the premises) thanks to my lovely furry friend, Diesel, one of our (furbabies) dog. I am also going to try to work on the design for my blog this coming week. Hope you all are having wonderful and bug free weeks! ;)
Can't wait to finish reading this book and share it with you guys. Let me know how your weeks are going! What are you up to or reading?

More posts soon!
~Jenny~

Ever Wanted To Know How Peter Rabbit Was Brought About?

This is a review for the novel "Miss Potter" by Richard Maltby Jr.
The book is now a major motion picture. I have seen the movie and read the novel and both are quite good!

I was brought up on the wondrous tales of Miss Potter and was delighted to be able to read at least a little about her life. Some of it is kind of sad though, in my opinion.

According to this book she was 36 years old before she had her first book publicly published. She had previously had a private printing done. She used to make up the stories and little drawings in letters to children of family friends. We get to watch Beatrix go through her wonderment and joy of her world opening up as she gets her books published and makes her first true friend as well as the heartache she endures.

As I said this book is a "novel" and according to the back of the book the author expanded the plotline of the script, blending historical fact with imaginative interpretation to tell the story.

It tells the story of Miss Potter from when she first meets with F. Warne and Co. to see if they are interested in publishing her small children’s books.

They tell her they would be delighted to do so but in all actuality only take on the project to give their much younger brother who just joined in the family firm "her little bunny book" to keep him occupied.

Obviously not a story they thought would have any success but as all Miss Potter fans know, not only did the "bunny book" have remarkable success but is still a beloved children’s book today.

I was truly fascinated by the way that Beatrix Potter was portrayed as talking to her drawings and subsequent stuffed animals, made to look like her drawings, as if they were real people and truly her beloved friends. She would see them come to life and was very invested in all of them.

Knowing that part of the book was true and part fiction makes me want to read an autobiography of her real life and know which bits were true. She seems to have been a fascinating woman.

Overall this novel is quite entertaining and a lovely read.

Look for my upcoming reviews! New one next week or sooner :o)

Happy late Saturday night!
Jenny