Friday, December 18, 2015

The Painter's Daughter


The Painter’s Daughter by Julie Klassen was a wonderful book that kept me entertained for its’ entirety. Even thought it was over 400 pages, I read this relatively quickly since I didn’t want to put it down once I started reading the story of Sophie DuPont. Sophie works at her father’s art studio, and she finds herself in a love triangle between two brothers, the artist Wesley Overtree and Captain Stephen Overtree. When Sophie finds herself left behind by Wesley, she marries his brother and returns to their family home at Overtree Hall. Before she can even become too comfortable with her new husband, he is forced to leave her for his military position. When Wesley again enters the picture she is put in an extremely difficult position, as she is married to the brother of the man she first fell in love with.

 

As I said, I really enjoyed reading this book, and I would be interested in reading more books by Julie Klassen in the future. I liked how there was a mix of romance, military, and family interactions.

 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher, Bethany House. 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."

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Lightning


Although I’m not the biggest fan of Science Fiction books, I thought Lightning, in the Sone Braide Chronicles by Bonnie Calhoun, would be a good book to read after I enjoyed the first book in the series. Selah, who was reunited with her father, is now looking for her step-father, mother, and brother who must now be rescued from the Mountain. The fast pace book follows Selah on this mission while she faces many challenges along the way!!

 

I think this book is best read in order with the other books in this series. It would be confusing to understand if you did not read the other books. Although I read the first book in this series, there are still questions that I’m looking to see resolved. Maybe they will be revealed in the 3rd book in this series!

 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher, Revell. 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."

Keeping Christmas


I always enjoy reading new Christmas books as soon as the holiday season starts, and Dan Walsh’s new book, Keeping Christmas, was the perfect short book to read over the Thanksgiving Holiday. The cover is what really made me want to first read the book, and the story within the pages definitely did not disappoint.  Stan and Judith are the focus of Keeping Christmas, and they are empty nesters with their three children unable to spend the holidays with their parents. As so often happens, spending the holiday season alone causes Judith to become depressed, which her husband tries desparately to remedy.

 

This was a great, short book that can be read if you are going through an experience similar to Judith’s, or if you are just looking to remember the joy behind the Christmas season.

 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher, Revell. 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."

Every Girl Gets Confused




Every Girl Gets Confused, by Janice Thompson, is the second book in the Brides with Style series, and it is just as good a book as the first book. Although you don’t have to read the first book in the series to follow the story of Katie Fisher and Brady James, it does help you to better understand what is going on in the first few chapters. Katie is working at a successful bridal shop, she has a great boyfriend, and her grandmother is getting married. While all of this is going on in Katie’s life, she is facing some major obstacles in her life, like the reappearance of her ex-boyfriend. She is also planning the best Black Friday sale for Cosmopolitan Bridal. As you could imagine, all of these things combined cause Katie’s life to become “Confused”, as the title suggests.

 

I really enjoyed this book, and I thought the characters were very relatable. Any time you face changes in your life, you think “what if”, and that’s exactly what happened with Katie has to learn to let God have control over her life.

 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher, Revell. 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."