This book review is for the lovely novel "When I fall In Love" by Susan May Warren.

Let me just start off by saying how much I love the cover art for this book! It is so cute and summery it really does a good job of making me excited to pick up the book and see what kind of world awaits between its pages.

Susan is always a good story teller and this book is no exception.

So be warned, I'm thinking that not only will this book make you hungry but will make you itch to sink your toes into that amazing Hawaiian sand!

The book is not all sunshine and rainbows (pun intended) though as both our main characters have their own personal struggles. I like, though, how Susan threw them both out of their comfort zones and just maybe something beautiful can come from that.



~~~~~~~~~~
Grace Christiansen loves to cook. Ask anyone who even knows her a little and they will probably rave about her kitchen skills. And her family has just the thing to help her kick it up to the next level...a surprise trip to Hawaii for a cooking retreat!

Leading man Maxwell Sharpe may be a star on the ice but the kitchen is where he warms back up.
Cooking is a passion and a distraction from his life on ice. A three week annual cooking vacation in Hawaii is just what he needs.

What he doesn't know is that a certain beautiful fellow chef may be what he needs even more.
~~~~~~~~~~


Susan May Warren's newest book in the Christiansen Family Collection, When I Fall In Love,  has won over readers' and critics' hearts alike. With critical reviews like, ". . . an exquisite romance. Profoundly touching on the topic of facing fears, this book is a true gem," and more than 60 five-star reviews at Amazon, When I Fall in Love is sure to please.

Susan has teamed up with some amazing food bloggers for a fun food challenge and a KitchenAid Mixer giveaway!

  One grand prize winner will receive:

• A KitchenAid Mixer
• The first three books in the Christiansen Family Collection.
• Melissa Ringstaff’s Kitchen Planner
• Jackie Brown's Freezer Inventory sheet

Grab your aprons and wire whisks and buzz on over to the When I Fall in Love website to learn more and enter the Hawaiian Chef Showdown! Susan is challenging you to make a Hawaiian-inspired dish using coconut, mango, or one of the other ingredients mentioned in the book. You’ll get extra points for creating your own recipe—plus she might share it on the When I Fall in Love site! Or if you're not up for an adventure in the kitchen just click one of the icons below for easy entry.

Hurry, the giveaway ends on August 10th. All winners will be announced August 13th at Susan's blog.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to visit Susan's blog on the 13th to see if you won!

Make sure to get your entry in to win! And my personal recommendation is to check out the other books in the series to read about the other Christiansen siblings!
I have really enjoyed every single one that I have read and look forward to hopefully more adventures about them!


Jenny



Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for a review. I am not required to post a positive one. All opinions expressed are my own and they are sincere. 

Sweet Tooth Friendly

This review is for the second novel in the Weddings By Design series by Janice Thompson.

*The Icing on the Cake*


I was superbly excited to get the second book in this series. I have read many many novels by Janice and have been superbly thrilled with her writing. She has a way of blending so many different types of characters into a melting pot of personalities and walks of life. While still leaving you feeling like they are all connected somehow no matter the background. I always eagerly turn that first fresh page and prepare to dip my toes into the pool of wonderment Janice creates.

Grab a steaming cup of coffee, tea or cocoa, whichever your heart prefers ;) and join me on this delicious journey.

My only complaint, Ms. Thompson, is the fact that your writing is so descriptive I could almost smell the baked goods and it made me hungry more than once while reading this newest novel!


~~~~~~~~~~~~
Scarlet Lindsey works hard for her living but it isn't a hardship in any way. She gets to do what she loves and she always smells good. Her Aunt Willy (who is a book all unto herself I think) has financed her long held dream of opening her own bakery and she is determined that backing will not be in vain. Aunt Willy means well even though she can have a double edged sword as a tongue when speaking to Scarlet.
Besides that fact, things are looking pretty good as far as Scarlet is concerned. Single she might be (and not necessarily loving it) but her bakery now resides in a primo spot on Galveston's most popular street and has the famous Rossi Pizzeria as it's nearest neighbor. She has a wonderful personal and working relationship with famed wedding planner, Bella Neeley and business is booming for them both! There is a bit of a mess, not of the baking kind, however, when Bella's very handsome brother, Armando appears in Scarlet's life. Should she risk everything to follow her heart or stick to the old tried and true? Learning to step out in faith might be Scarlet's greatest lesson to date.
~~~~~~~~~~

What more can I say about this awesome series besides go on and read it for yourself! I commend your exceptional talent with words, Ms. Thompson!


Jenny






Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for a review. I am not required to post a positive one. All opinions expressed are my own and they are sincere.

Weddings By Design

This is a review for the novel "Picture Perfect" by Janice Thompson.

It is the first book in the series by Janice, Weddings by Design.

I have loved all of Janice's books so far that I have read especially the ones with Bella Neeley in them!

I was super excited to see that she had a new series coming out and one that indeed included our favorite Bella!

This book was definitely not a source of disappointment at all and I loved how she weaved a new beloved character into the story while seamlessly adding Bella and her lovable and gigantic Italian family into the story!

This book had just about everything you could want from an old nemesis to a new love.

We follow Hannah McDermott along as she tries to find her feet running an ever successful photography business out of her own studio. While she may look like she has it all figured out, in Hannah's mind she has nothing figured. She is the last remaining unmarried daughter left in her parents house, seemingly clumsy at times and a handsome fellow photography who she sees as her fiercest competition. Throw in a crazy celebrity wedding, a beyond demanding publicist and a girl who just needs to find her joy in life again and you have Hannah. If she can just learn to let go and let God she just might find things she never knew she was looking for with people she might have otherwise considered one huge threat to her very way of life.

Sometimes letting go and learning to not doubt yourself all of the time is the best way to get ahead.


I really enjoyed this book overall and am eager to read the next one in this series!! Keep them coming, Janice!

Hope you all enjoy this book as much as I did!

Jenny


Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for a review. I am not required to post a positive one. All opinions expressed are my own and they are sincere.

The Director's Cut

This book review is for the novel "The Director's Cut" by Janice Thompson. It is the third book in the Backstage Pass series.


I really enjoyed the book but it took me a few chapters to get into it and the characters. I kept feeling like I should have read the other two first. Except for that fact, however, I really did enjoy Janice's characters and how much you can't wait to turn the next page to see what happens!

She has created very lovable characters and it was fun to see a few of them that I recognize from one of her other books.

I have never read anything by Janice that I did not enjoy.


~~~~~~~~~~
Tia Morales is good at her job, no scratch that, she is GREAT at her job. But outside the film set, she can't seem to quite get her feet underneath herself. She is used to being able to give the orders and people jumping to do them. In real life, however, it doesn't always work out this way. Take for example an over eager mother trying to set her up with a too handsome car insurance agent or brothers who are taking far longer than they should to do her home renovations. Or...her having feelings for a handsome cameraman but being unsure what to do about it. For Tia life is just seems to be easier on the screen.
~~~~~~~~~~

Like I said I really enjoy Janice's novels! They can quickly suck you into whatever world she is trying to create with her characters and not only are they interesting but they are a truly fun read. I always look forward to her books and this one is no exception. A definite recommended read!

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

Jenny



*Note* I received a copy of this book in exchange for my review. I am not required to write a positive review. Any opinions expressed are my own and they are sincere.

A Wedding To Remember

This book review is for the novel "A Wedding To Remember in Charleston, South Carolina" in Annalisa Daughety.

This book was a great read! The cover originally drew me in with all it's bright colors and beachy theme and I am super glad I picked it up!

~~~~~~~~~~
Summer Nelson is a very successful wedding planner in South Carolina. She may be successful at her business, however, she isn't being very successful in her marriage.

Luke Nelson has always buried his pain very deep inside, not even sharing it with the closet person in his life, his wife, Summer.

Doing this might come back to haunt him, however, when things in their marriage quickly go south as old hurts and an old boyfriend comes to town.

In the middle of all of these problems, Summer is responsible for planning a wedding, what would have been her own dream wedding, for a client. She has been given total control over every aspect of it.

Dealing with a failing marriage and her booming business, she isn't sure where to start in cleaning up the mess that is becoming her life.

Will the Nelson's let God lead their life or are they going to continue fighting for their own wants?
~~~~~~~~~~~

I really did enjoy this book and loved the fact that even though this story was mainly about Summer and Luke there was also side stories of their family and friends. It kept things interesting and kept the story rolling along.

Pick up a copy for yourself!

Jenny


*Note* I received a free copy of this book from Barbour in exchange for a review. I am not required to post a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own and they are sincere.

**Love Finds A Way**

This book review is for the novel "Love Finds a Way" by Wanda Brunstetter.

It is three different romance stories in one book. It was a quick read for me but the stories were all cute.

~~~~~~~~~~
Blueberry Surprise
 Lorna Patterson is a widow but a very young one. She has been living with her husbands parents for the past several years in hopes of making dealing with their grief easier since they have each other to lean on. When she decides to go back to college, she is nervous that she will be the oldest one there and have a hard time fitting in. On her first day she meets an attractive student named Evan Bailey. At first she is not interested even though he very much is in her. While in college he is also taking an online cooking class and keeps trying to woo her with his awful baking skills. It is quirky characteristic like this that draws Lorna to him but she is still not sure she is ready to stop grieving her husband and start living again.
~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~
Grandma's Doll
 Sheila Nickels comes back to her home town to visit her grandmother, who has just moved from her beautiful old house to a retirement facility. She is there to see her settled and to pick one item from her grandmother's house that means something to her. Sheila only has one thing in mind for this precious possession and it is a very old doll that she and her cousins used to play with. She has always dreamed that the doll was hers and now it will be. Well it will, if she can only find it. Come to find out the doll has long been sold and the antique store that bought it has been bought by a young man. He can find no record of the doll or the sale but determines to help Sheila track it down and possibly win her heart in the process of it all.
~~~~~~~~~~
MatchMaker 911
Wendy Campbell runs her father's old barber shop and is not looking for a relationship in the slightest. She has her hands more than full running the business by herself and caring for her aging father.
When a handsome paramedic is called in one day to come to her fathers aid, it starts a chain of events in motion. She might not want a man but her father wants her to have a husband and he will not stop short of even faking 911 calls to throw the pair together.
Can love overcome fear and resentment? Can these two see past insecurities and find love?
~~~~~~~~~~~

I hope you guys are reading this weekend!

Jenny




*Note* I received a free copy of this book from Barbour in exchange for a review. I am not required to post a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own and they are sincere.

Love Finds You in Martha's Vineyard Massachusetts

This book review is for the novel "Love Finds You in Martha's Vineyard Massachusetts" by Melody Carlson.

So far, I haven't ever read anything not worth reading by Melody. I am amazed at all of the books that she has published and the fact that they just seem to keep getting better.

I also am loving everything I am reading by Summerside Press, I am excited to read more of their books and share my reviews on them.

~~~~~~~~~~
Waverly Brennan is a gifted artist that is desperate for a fresh start in life.

When her mother (who she has not such a close relationship with) calls her out of the blue and offers her a position at the gallery she and Waverly's aunt just acquired.

Feeling like this is an answer to her many uttered prayers, Waverly, jumps at the chance to move out to Martha's Vineyard. She quickly packs tings up and lets her apartment go, planning as she goes exactly what she will do with the gallery and how great her life will be on the island.

However, once she arrives, she realizes her mother's new business is not exactly what she had been picturing this whole time.

She is stuck there at least for the summer so she decides to make the best of it and give the job a go.

Not to mention the very distracting handsome man and his quirky daughter that have attracted her attention.

Little does Waverly know, there is a very important reason that her mother has asked her to take this job and spend all this time in the Vineyard with her and her aunt.
~~~~~~~~~~

I will admit that this book will probably make you tear up at least a little but it is definitely worth the read!

Jenny


*Note* I received a free copy of this book from Summerside Press in exchange for a review. I am not required to post a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own and they are sincere.

*Homecoming Queen*

This book review is for the novel "Homecoming Queen" by Melody Carlson.

This book is the book three in the Carter House Girls series.

I am loving this series by Melody! She really draws you in and makes you care about what is happening with the girls in this series. You really get invested in their lives and the happenings.

~~~~~~~~~~
After Taylor's scary disappearing act in the last book, they have had police and everyone looking for her non-stop. She suddenly shows back up in the middle of the night and refuses to discuss with DJ where she has been or what she has been doing.

On top of the mystery of where Taylor has been, two of the girls are nominated for Homecoming Queen. Eliza is campaigning like crazy with Kriti's help and Taylor takes a more laid back approach to it all. No matter how laid back it might seem at first even "laid back" can be cutthroat.

Among all of this going on, DJ throws herself in front of a moving SUV in order to save a little boys life and breaks her leg in the process.

Physical therapy, pain pills disappearing and your boyfriends ex-girlfriend suddenly reappearing back into his life and you have one crazy ride for at least a few weeks.

But through it all, homecoming, broken leg, pain pill problems and ex-girlfriends the Carter House girls are slowly learning to come together in the tough times.
~~~~~~~~~~

I am really looking forward to reading the next book and giving you guys the review for it! It will be coming soon so keep an eye out! :)

Jenny



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

Love Finds You in Sunset Beach Hawaii

This book review is for the novel "Love Finds You in Sunset Beach Hawaii" by Robin Jones Gunn.

I absolutely love anything and everything I have read by Robin Jones Gunn up to this point and this book is no exception!

I have long wondered and wanted to know what happened to Sierra Jensen after the last book in her series and was more than a little excited when I found out there was finally a sequel to it!


~~~~~~~~~~
Sierra Jensen has been in Brazil for the last four years doing ministry work wherever she was called to be and wherever she was needed.

Feeling a bit worn out and not sure what her next steps needs to be when her ministry program is cut and she is offered a different position, she accepts her friends invitation to join her for vacation in Hawaii.

Not knowing where to go or what to do with her life any longer is more than getting to Sierra and she can't wait to spend a little time on the beach and some time thinking about her future.

Instead of going straight to the condo with her friend, however, she has to make a brief stop on a Maui to see her sister who is there for a wedding.

Little does Sierra know that her quiet week is going to be turned upside down, from meeting an intriguing surfer/photographer to a wild partying friend she has to try to help, little thinking about her future is getting done.

What Sierra, needs to learn is to carve out time to be quiet and listen. Sometimes following your gut feeling isn't always what is going to make someone else happy but maybe it what's Sierra needs right now.

Letting God lead her is what she needs to do and hopefully get her happily ever after in the process.
~~~~~~~~~~

I cannot recommend this book enough! I absolutely loved it and will be sure and read it again!

Pick it up and read this amazing book for yourself!

Happy weekend to you all,
Jenny


Note: I received a copy of this book for free from Summerside Press in exchange for a review. I am not required to give a positive review. Any and all opinions expressed are sincere and they are my own.

~Stealing Bradford~

This book review is for the novel "Stealing Bradford" by Melody Carlson.

This is the second book in the Carter House Girls series.

Once again Melody delivers a great story!

~~~~~~~~~~
All of the girls in Carter House couldn't be more different from each other. Most of them have fashion in common but otherwise they are total opposites. They are all just starting to get to know one another and perhaps find common ground when one particular boy divides the group.

DJ is already having enough trouble figuring out what the heck went wrong with Connor when the drama of Bradford, who was dating Rhiannon, then dumps said Rhiannon for Taylor.

All the girls take a stand against Taylor for the dirty backstabbing against Rhiannon, who doesn't agree with the bashing of Taylor. She can't stand what she did but feels like she should still be treated with compassion as Christ calls for.

DJ ends up rooming with Taylor and being let in on some personal secrets that Taylor hasn't told anyone else so she feels stuck in the middle between the rest of the girls and Taylor.
~~~~~~~~~~

This book in the series had no end of drama, secrets and happenings. It kept me engaged from start to finish and I look forward to the rest of the books in the series!

Jenny



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

*Mixed Bags*

This review is for the novel "Mixed Bags" by Melody Carlson.

It is the first book in the "Carter House Girls" series.

I will admit to being a big Melody Carlson fan! I read the entire "On The Runway" series which featured some of the girls from Carter House Girls. As much as I loved the last series I knew I had to give this one a try as well. It was well worth it even though I breezed through the first book, I loved every minute of it!

I think some of Melody's books are geared toward a younger set than myself but I love them non-the-less and think you would too.

~~~~~~~~~~
Desiree or DJ as she would rather be known, is the first occupant of Carter House. Her mother passed away and her dad didn't seem to want her around after his new wife had twins. Finding herself shipped away to her grandmother, DJ feels out of place already as she is somewhat of a tomboy and her grandmother is a retired famous fashion model.

Somehow having DJ staying with her leads Mrs. Carter to get the great idea to take in girls as borders in her home and teach them refinement and possibly make them famous models.

As one after another beautiful and mostly wealthy girls come through the doors of Carter House, DJ only starts to feel more inadequate and boyish.

Nothing she does makes her Grandmother fully approve of her and she worries she is losing herself in the process of conforming to someone elses standards. Is looking nice and having her hair done something she wants for herself or is she just doing it to finally fit in?

Will anything help fill the void she feels in her life?

Can six teenage girls, who are vastly different, manage to get along and have a peaceful time?
~~~~~~~~~~
Come along on DJ's journey from self recrimination to self discovery and possibly a faith filled life and find out!

Once again I have to give kudos to Melody!



Loving this series already,
Jenny



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

*The Accidental Bride*

This book review is for the novel "Accidental Bride" by Denise Hunter.

It is "A Big Sky Romance".

~~~~~~~
Shay Bradenberger is raising her daughter all alone in Montana on her childhood ranch, which she is struggling to keep afloat by herself and one teenage hired hand.

Travis McCoy, the boy who broke her heart, is back in town and the last thing she wants to do is run into his smug face.

Add in a meddlesome town and a town event and you've got Shay not only running into Travis...you have her married to him in a freak accident.

Deciding to take Travis up on a crazy proposal in order to save her ranch, Shay may be in serious danger of losing her heart to this man for the second time in her life.
~~~~~~~


I am a huge Denise Hunter fan and was so excited to read this new release! I was not disappointed and will defiantly be putting this one on my shelf to read again!
Denise always manages to draw you into the story so well you don't want to put the book down until you have finished the entire story.


Highly recommend you pick this book up for yourself.

Jenny



*Note* I received this book for free from the B&B Media Group, Inc 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.

Southern Fried Sushi

This review is for the novel "Southern Fried Sushi" by Jennifer Rogers Spinola.

To start off with, the cover of this book is genius! It immediately makes you want to laugh and pick up a copy. The red cowboy boots make me want to own a pair and I'm loving the kimono!
Between the title and the cover I would have picked it up off the shelf for sure!

Shiloh Jacobs is 24 years old, has a prestigious job at the Associated Press in Tokyo and is engaged to an incredibly handsome and well to do man.

She has carried with her like a much loved purse and incredible amount of hurt and anger from her past and doesn't want to let God in. She refuses to acknowledge the fact that He is really in charge. She takes credit for any success that she has and has locked her heart down.

Receiving the unexpected news that her estranged mother has passed away, rocks Shiloh's carefully constructed existence. Furthering throwing her off balance is the fact that she needs to go to her mother's funeral in a quirky unknown southern town and deal with the house and belongings that have been left to her.

Shiloh heads for Virginia, angry, alone, without any family to really speak of and blocked off from any real emotion expect anger.

One thing after another begins to happen to her until she feels like every good thing in her life has been lost and stripped from her.

But just maybe it's all being removed so that God can put something even better together for her.

I love all the quirky characters that Jennifer brought to this novel. It was easy to go along with her vision for this book and feel like you had been dropped into a crazy seeming place right along with Shiloh.


Hope you are reading! Any suggestions for my book list?
Jenny


*Note* I received this book for free from Barbour Books 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.

Ciao (Which is the perfect name for this novel)

This review is for the novel "Ciao" by Melody Carlson.

This is the last book in the On The Runway series.

I always think that the last book in the series is a little bittersweet and have to wonder if the author of the books feels this way too? I was very excited to get the book and see what happens in the end after reading all of them. Melody does not disappoint but the book did leave me wanting more of the Forrester sisters story. It didn't seem like we were done with them yet and the story of their lives is far from over in my opinion. I am really hoping there will be more novels about these two.

In the last novel we see Paige trying to pick through the rubble of the disaster that was their Bahamas trip. I could never tell if her and Dylan were officially over or not. She still had and was wearing the ring so I was guessing not. Poor Paige cannot seem to figure out at first whether to trust Dylan or not.

Goodbye Dylan or Hello Again??? 

Melody did a very good job on keeping you guessing about Dylan and whether he is sincere or villainous. I wasn't sure myself how I felt about him for awhile.

I like that Erin always seems to finding herself and coming into her own. In this book we get to see a familiar face pop up that might have some positive changes coming about for Erin.

However, not only is she struggling with how to help her sister and what to say and not say, she has to deal with her feelings for Blake and decide what sort of feelings she has for him. Friends, more than friends?

All in all I loooooved this series and WISH there were MORE books! Hint, hint, Ms. Carlson! ;)

I reviewed all 6 books in the series in order. You can see the other five below:

Premiere

Catwalk

Rendezvous

Spotlight

Glamour


Happy Weekend! Hope you all got to read at least some :)

Jenny



*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.

~Too Rich For A Bride~

This review is for the novel "To Rich For A Bride" by Mona Hodgson.


This appears to be the second book in a series, the first book is called "Two Brides Too Many".
I honestly felt a little lost and behind because I did not read that book before this one. I can see where this book can be a standalone book but I would have connected better with the sisters and this novel if I had read the first one beforehand.


This novel follows Ida Sinclair, who is more than a little ambitious in her career plans. Especially given the fact that the time she lives in is clearly dominated by men. Women are not exactly welcomed into the career world but that is not something that will deter Ida. She has grown up with ambition and wanting to make money, as well as a name for herself and no one, especially a narrow minded man at that, will stand in her way. Pave way for feminism, Ida wants to be the spokeswoman!


After finishing her business schooling two weeks early, due to...well...you'll see, Ida heads off to join her two sisters Kat and Nell in a mining town in Colorado.


Things are a bit more rustic than where she comes from but she easily adapts, especially with her new job under a woman who has already proven herself to be a success in the business world. Not an easy feat in that day and age.


Business, money and success are Ida's primary concerns, never mind the fact that two men seem to take an instant interest in her the same day she arrives in this rough and tumble town.
She has no time for men and the distraction of it all when there is a world to conquer.


Ida, however, has a few things to learn about what's right, when to be still and listen and how exactly she is supposed to guard her heart, when unknowingly to her, God happens to be at work in her future and life.




I like that the author included bits about Ida's sisters, such as one sister writing articles for Harper's Bazaar, but I also wish she had included a bit of back story on each one of them for us readers who did not read their tale in the first book. They are both married and from the hints given it seems their story is an interesting one as to how they came to be married to the men that share their lives.



I did enjoy this book somewhat, however I felt the story was a little rushed when it comes to Ida and one of the men as well as her career. To me it just seemed like it all fit into a tidy package far to quickly. Odd feeling I know but that was my main feeling toward the end of the book...rushed.
While I applaud the author in the writing of this book and the story was interesting, it just wasn't my favorite read.



Have any of you read this book? What are your thoughts?

Here's wishing you a lovely day!
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. Thanks so much!








*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.

Beyond All Measure

This review is for "Beyond All Measure" by Dorothy Love.



This is the first book that I have read by Dorothy Love and I actually greatly enjoyed reading it.

Ada Wentworth is a young lady that comes from a well-to-do family in Boston. Tragic circumstances have taken her from the top of society in Boston down to the hills of Hickory Ridge Tennessee to be an older ladies companion. She has secured the position through an advertisement in the paper and has no idea what awaits her down in Tennessee. All she knows is that she is penniless, heartbroken and alone.

She is in for quite a shock when instead of the current ladies companion picking her up at the train station, a handsome, strapping young man arrives to cart her off to her destination.

Desperation is what drove her choices but hope and faith will be what sustains her.


I wasn't sure what to expect as I don't read historical fiction that much but this book was a delight. It kept me up far to late one night because I couldn't seem to put it down.

Be sure to check out Beyond All Measure. I look forward to reading other things by Dorothy Love and encourage you to do the same.



What are you reading lately?
Jenny





*Note* I received this book for free through the Booksneeze book review bloggers program in exchange for writing a review about it. I am not required to write a positive review. Any opinions expressed are my own and they are sincere.

Departures

This is a review for "Departures" Two Rediscovered Stories by Robin Jones Gunn.


I have to start off by saying that I am a huge fan of Ms. Gunn's! I read all of her Christy Miller and Sierra Jensen's books multiple times the past couple of years and currently have several of the collections residing on my bookcase just waiting for me to pick them up again. It is one collection I look forward to finishing rounding out. I, however, did not realize that I had never read Departures until I had the pleasure of requesting the book and sitting down and reading it on this beautiful Saturday!


It is a no less than I have come to expect from Robin. She pulls you into her stories and makes you care about what happens to the characters. It was a great treasure to discover these two novellas, packed into one book, about some of my favorite characters that she writes about.

I would highly recommend it for any reader whether you have read any of her previous books or not!


In Christy Millers adventure "Now Boarding At Gate 10" we get to go along with the Miller family as they venture back to Wisconsin for the grandparents 50th wedding anniversary. It appears to be the first time they have been back to their home town since moving to California and Christy gets to see her old grade school crush Matthew Kingsley. Christy, however, is not in grade school any longer. She is freshly graduated from high school and this trip comes on the heels of her break-up with Todd Spencer. Somewhere along the way both Matthew and Christy have to decide what to do about long buried feelings and just how to deal with life as you are growing up and become an adult responsible for your own decisions.



In Sierra Jensen's novella " In The Event Of A Water Landing" you go along with Sierra as she accompanies her friend Jana, Jana's older brother, Gregg and his friend Tim as they all head for the families cabin in Montana for the 4th of July.
After witnessing how uptight Jana gets when out of her homey comfort zone Sierra has her doubts about this trip, but is already committed to it and is determined to make the most of her trip no matter what problems arise.

Sierra and Jana are both somewhat late bloomers and have never expressed interest in boys until this fateful trip. What happens when you pair two late bloomers and three good looking boys...not to mention accident prone Sierra? A charming story about two girls coming into their own on the brink of womanhood. One ready to be more outgoing and maybe like a boy for the first time and Sierra watching her friend leave her behind with her own confusing feelings to work through. Strap in for "In The Event Of A Water Landing!" It's sure to be an exciting adventure! ;)



Loved both novellas and glad I get to add this awesome book to my collection!



Happy Saturday!
Jenny





*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.