Another Great Book by Denise Hunter

This is for 'A Cowboy's Touch' by Denise Hunter. It is A Big Sky Romance.

I had fallen in love with Denise Hunter's books when I read a 'Convenient Groom' and was so excited when I saw this book on the book list and beyond thrilled when I got a copy of it.
Once again Ms. Hunter does not disappoint. It certainly did not hurt that a ranch and horses are a key part of her story. I absolutely adore horses and could almost imagine myself riding along with Abigail and Maddy in the beautiful country of Montana.
I also have to add that I loved the name of the ranch, Stillwater Ranch. It sounds so peaceful there it makes you wish you could go and visit it.

This book is not only the story of Abigail, the investigative reporter, it is the story of a hurting father and his daughter.
The daughter is obviously in desperate need of a mother and it is nice to see Abigail be able to fulfill that role in whatever small way she can as her nanny.
You never know what someone might be carrying around with them. Whether it is guilt over a long ago situation or sadness over something you couldn't help.

These characters come alive as they struggle with everyday problems and trying to find balance in a crazy life. I'm sure many people can relate to the closed off feeling that Wade carries with him always. Once a deep hurt has reached someones very core it can practically take a miracle to pry it open again and the let light through.

I also have to commend Ms. Hunter on her background characters. They were just involved enough to keep the story interesting without being to large a focus and taking away from the main story point.
I especially like the quirkiness of Abigail's Aunt Lucy.

Abigail ends up stuck between a rock and a hard place like so many people do sometimes. Read this wonderful book for yourself and find out whether she makes the right decision in the end. :o)

While 'Convenient Groom' is still my favorite so far by Denise Hunter, I definitely will hang on to this book and look forward to reading her next one!

Happy Reading to you all!
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.

A Very Good Read!

This Review is for the book 'Here Burns My Candle' by Liz Curtis Higgs.
I haven't read that many of her books but I usually love Scottish themed novels so I requested the book hoping I would like it.
I did in fact enjoy the book quite alot.
For me it started out a little slow as I had a bit of trouble keeping up at first with who was who. Two of the main characters share the same title and there are several women who are written about. After about a chapter, however, I got it straight. After that little hiccup this book was enjoyable from start to finish and I cannot wait to read the next installment of it.
I applaud the author as I know how much research writing a book of this caliber took. It is rich with Scottish history and I love learning things about it. I could envision the rainy Scottish town and the rolling green countryside. It made me wish I was there to see it for myself! Not in the books time period as there is a war being fought but current day would be lovely! :o)
You are drawn in with the characters and hold your breath right along with them when the plot gets a bit intense. I could easily envision the lovely dresses they wear and them reading and eating by candlelight.
Ms. Higgs does an excellent job of making you 'see' what she is describing. The heart of this book is family and faith. Joy when you are with the ones you love, heartrending pain when you are betrayed by the ones closest to you and grief over losing someone dear. Faith and God are delicatly woven throught the pages of this book, skillfully and not preachy or in your face, it is a gentle almost quiet presence throughout the book, quiet like our Lord himself. Gentle, patient and ever faithful. The mother-in-law only has her two sons left, and their wives. She holds secrets in her heart which pain her. The rest of them have their own secrets as well. The journey of faith that Lady Elizabeth takes is eloquent. She goes from being a simple weavers daughter to a Lady of title and seems to almost struggle with the two different worlds. What once was acceptable for her no longer is. Having a husband who is whispered about in the streets doesn't help her situation. I have to say that Elizabeth was my favorite character. I questioned her a bit at first but enjoyed watching her grow as the story progresses. I was skeptical the first few chapters but was thoroughly won over to this lovely book by the last page and will be reading the next installment.
I highly suggest this book and will look for more writing by this author.


What are you reading today?
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.

Review for Izzy's Pop Star Plan~ Daily Devo

Izzy's Pop Star Plan is a daily devotional for tween/teen girls. It follows Izzy's journey toward trying to become a pop star while not losing herself and her walk with God. The difference between this devotional and others is this one reads like a novel with 90 days worth of devotional pages. It is set up like you are reading Izzy's blog day to day. I give it a thumbs up for uniqueness. There is even a website they put on some of the pages so that the reader can check it out on the computer as well as the book. I definitely think that the writing and the format that the book is in will encourage young girls to read their devotional for the day. I read it like a book and have to say that it kept me interested and entertained and I will be passing it along to my 10 year old niece. It seemed incredibly obvious that the writer modeled the singing competition off of American Idol but they did make it different by making it a competition with people from different countries. I am assuming by the ending of this book that there is another book to come and I have to say that I look forward to reading that one as well. I do suggest to the author that in the next book (if there is one) that they add a small place at the bottom of each page so the girl reading can write down her own prayer or thought for that day. In closing this review I will say that the book is well written and well thought out. A book that I will be proud and happy to pass on to my niece, confident in the fact that if she will read it, it will help point her in the right direction possibly when she will need it most. The book is not just well written, it has a point to it and is a light for goodness and morality in a dark world. Something daughters, nieces, friends, really any girl, needs in their book collection and their lives.

Happy reading to you all :)
Jenny

***Update***************
I just looked on a bookstore website and indeed there is a second book to this. It says it comes out in July of this year.
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Beautiful Mess

Sorry it has taken me so long to get this up!

This is a book review for the book 'A Beautiful Mess' The story of Diamond Rio with Tom Roland.

To start off I would like to give credit to the writer for producing this book. Books are definitely not an easy task to take on. While I appreciate the effort and time that was put into the making of this book, I did not enjoy it at all. To be honest, it was one of those books that start slow and stay slow. It got a bit better toward the end but not much. I found it dry and difficult to read. It was hard to concentrate and was not something I really cared to read. It might have been because it was my first time reading what was basically an autobiography written by someone else. But I didn't care for the style it was written in. I think that perhaps huge Diamond Rio fans would enjoy it though. You get a very good inside look at how the band came to be and the struggles that they each go through. The author does have an eye for detail and it is obvious that quite a lot of research went into the writing of this story. As I said in the beginning I appreciate the work put in by the author but it was just not this reviewer's cup of tea.

Update

Hi!
Just wanted to post a quick note to say sorry it is taking me so long for the Diamond Rio book review. I only have about a chapter and a half left of the book, I just haven't had the time to finish and get the review of up. Got super busy. It should be up very soon though!

Happy Reading,
Jenny

Update

Hello readers,
Just a quick update, I am in the middle of reading a biography about Diamond Rio. As soon as I finish that I will let you know what I thought about it and start on my next book.

Happy Reading on this rainy day,
Jenny

First Book Review!

Good afternoon my fellow readers :o),

This first book I knew was the one that I had to start my reviews with. It is called Savannah From Savannah by Denise Hildreth. Ever since I discovered this first book and the other two books that followed in this remarkable series, Denise has become one of my very favorite authors! Her writing style draws you into the story and makes you feel as if you truly know the characters and wish they could be your friends in real life. Her Savannah series is so relatable it is incredible. I think every single women will see at least a small part of herself in Savannah. I know that I did when I read them. Whether it is the fear of striking out on your own for the first time or the loss of a first love, you will find something that relates to you. Her series really is one that will make you laugh or cry or laugh so hard that you cry. I cannot seem to stop from laughing out loud when I read these. I own all three and have read them more than one time! They are definitely one to buy and keep in your bookshelf.

The first book, Savannah from Savannah first introduces us to the characters that will become quite familiar to you. It is a story of friendship, families, growing up, and coming into your own. Savannah is the daughter that is well loved but perhaps a bit to doted upon by her mother. Going away from her small town of Savannah for college gave her a bit of room to stretch her wings, but included regular updates on the happenings from her mother, Victoria, who runs Savannah and cares deeply for the city as evidence by her daughters name, as well as the Savannah Chronicle, (the town newspaper) that showed up each week in her mailbox at school. All which helped keep her roots firmly planted in the beloved city.
In an event that would bring her life back to the fair streets that she had called home, a life changing writing contest is won and a misunderstanding about her mothers constant meddling ways puts in motion events that will bring Savannah full circle back to the town she loves and the mother she will grow to slowly understand a bit better by the end of this delightful series.

Ms. Hildreths book is for sure a must read, I own every book that she has written and eagerly await her next release!

Until next time, Happy Reading,
Jenny