Monthly Archives: September 2013

Coming Soon…..

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… On a Bookshelf Near You!

This is what I am looking forward to in October.
I have read Kristin Higgins before and loved her books.

the perfect match

Publication Date:  October 29, 2013
Publisher: Harlequin HQN

Goodreads: What if the perfect match is a perfect surprise? Honor Holland has just been unceremoniously rejected by her lifelong crush. And now—a mere three weeks later—Mr. Perfect is engaged to her best friend. But resilient, reliable Honor is going to pick herself up, dust herself off and get back out there…or she would if dating in Manningsport, New York, population 715, wasn’t easier said than done.

Charming, handsome British professor Tom Barlow just wants to do right by his unofficial stepson, Charlie, but his visa is about to expire. Now Tom must either get a green card or leave the States—and leave Charlie behind.

In a moment of impulsiveness, Honor agrees to help Tom with a marriage of convenience—and make her ex jealous in the process. But juggling a fiancé, hiding out from her former best friend and managing her job at the family vineyard isn’t easy. And as sparks start to fly between Honor and Tom, they might discover that their pretend relationship is far too perfect to be anything but true love….

What is coming soon… On a bookshelf near you?
Let me know – I am always looking for a good read!

Redesigning Rose

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Author: Lydia Laceby                         redisigning rose
Publisher: Lydia Laceby
Pages: 279
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Source: Lydia Laceby

Goodreads:  Rose Parker’s husband has been lying. About everything.

When a conversation with her husband triggers questions, Rose Parker uncovers alarming answers that shatter her perfect life. But it is only when she shoves her belongings in her SUV and drives off that Rose realizes just how far from perfect her life actually was. She has nowhere to turn.

While debating between distressing sleeping arrangements-her mother’s house full of questions or a hotel room with too much solitude-Rose bumps into an acquaintance from her gardening class and allows bubbly, exuberant Becky to indulge her in a wild night full of whiskey, weeping, and whispered confidences. Suddenly, Rose has a new friend, a roof over her head, and two gorgeous men moving her out of her marital home.

As Rose struggles to settle into her new life, she remains determined to comprehend her past. And with time and distance and especially wine, comes knowledge. Frank wasn’t the only one lying to her. Rose was lying to herself.

Ope’s Opinion:  If you are divorced, you may enjoy this book.  Since I am not in that situation, I found this book hard to relate to.

The characters were well written.  I think it shows how people cope with divorce.  I think it is pretty realistic.  Rose’s friend Becky was a real friend and someone I would appreciate if I had been in Roses position.

I enjoyed Rose’s relationship with her mother.  Their relationship grew and deepened.  Her mother was able to tell Rose about her own marriage and about her Gram.

Rating:  Three Chairs – I like the book enough to suggest it to a friend or two.
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A Rose for Melinda

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Author:  Lurlene McDaniel                            a rose for malinda
Publisher: Laurel Leaf
Pages:  208
Genre: Young Adult
Source: Kristi of Kritters Ramblings

Goodreads:  Told in letters, journal entries, e-mails, doctors’ reports, and instant messages, the heartbreaking story of an aspiring ballet dancer battling leukemia. 

From: Melinda Skye
To: Readers
Subject: Jesse

Hi! I can’t believe it. What a surprise from Jesse. When he got my e-mail about being accepted by the Washington School of Classical Dance’s summer program, he called to congratulate me! I loved hearing his voice. We’ve been friends forever–could it turn into something more?
Melinda

From: Jesse Rose
To: Readers
Subject: Melinda

I couldn’t believe the news. Melinda is so young! How could she be sick? How did she get leukemia? She’s got to get better. She’s got to.

Ope’s Opinion:  I do not usually read books written in text, diary, email form.  It is not my favorite read, so I was hesitant to read this one.  It did not flow like a regular book to me.  I had to stop and figure out who was talking and who they were talking to.

The story was good, but very predictable.  The characters were real and had their flaws.  I did care about the characters, but I wasn’t totally intrenched in the story.

Jesse and Melinda’s love story was very sweet. I really enjoyed that part of the book.

Rating:  Three Chairs – I like the book enough to suggest it to a friend or two.
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The Good Wife

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Author: Jane Porter                   good wife
Publisher:  Publisher
Pages:  432
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Source: BookSparks

Goodreads:  Is it possible to love someone too much?

Always considered the beauty of the family, the youngest Brennan sister, Sarah, remains deeply in love with her husband of ten years. Boone Walker, a professional baseball player, travels almost year-round while Sarah stays home and cares for their two children. Her love for her husband is bottomless—so much so that her sisters say it will end up hurting her.

Living apart most of the time makes life difficult, especially since Sarah often wonders whether Boone is sharing his bed with other women on the road, even though he swears he’s been true to her since his infidelity three years ago. While she wants to be happy and move forward in her life, Sarah constantly fears that Boone will break his promise. Now with Boone facing yet another career change, tension rises between the two, adding more stress to an already turbulent marriage. Emotionally exhausted, Sarah can’t cope with yet another storm. Now, she must either break free from the past and forgive Boone completely, or leave him behind and start anew . .

Ope’s Opinion:  Again Jane Porter brought the Brennan  family alive!  Jane Porter is so good at making the people seem like real family members.  It was so good to see Sarah’s story.  When Jane introduced Lisa and Lauren, I wasn’t sure where their story was going to go and how it would intersect with Sarah’s.  It was an interesting twist.  I enjoyed watching all the interactions.

It was good to see the sisters all together again.  It was awesome to see them support each other and pull together.  Ridding their emotions through the struggles was a great ride!  Having a sister is such a blessing.    Jane wrote these sisters the way I think most sisters truly are with each other.

I love this book. I liked how Jane brought the stories of all the family members up to date.  I just wish she would continue this series.  I want to know more!!

Rating:  Four Chairs – I like this book so much I know several friends to share it with.
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I’ll Be Seeing You

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Author:  Lurlene McDaniel                            I
Publisher: Laurel Leaf
Pages: 208
Genre: Young Adult
Source: Kristi of Kritters Ramblings

Goodreads:  Carley Mattea never expected to become friends with a boy as handsome as Kyle Westin–especially not in the hospital. Seventeen-year-old Kyle was blinded when a chemistry experiment exploded. His doctors don’t know whether he’ll get his vision back, and he’s deeply depressed. Carley understands how miserable it is to be in the hospital. At sixteen, she’s had plenty of experience. But Carley is keeping a secret from Kyle. She knows boys like girls who are pretty–and she’s not. Scarred by a facial deformity, she has always used her sense of humor to cope. But now that she’s become so close to Kyle, she’s worried that if his bandages are removed and he sees her, it will be the end of their relationship. Carley wants what’s best for Kyle. But what will that mean for her?

Ope’s Opinion:  This was  a very good, easy read.  The author made you feel for each of the characters situations.  The challenges in each persons life seemed unsurmountable.  The story showed that we each have our own issues to deal with.  Some seem more difficult then others.  

This book shows how we should get to know someone before we judge who they are.  You just don’t know how someone ended up in the situation that they are in.  Take a second look at that person, give them the time to get to know them.

I am going to read more of Lurlene McDaniel.

Rating:  Three Chairs – I like the book enough to suggest it to a friend or two.
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All I Need

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Author: Susane Colasnti                   Colasanti_AllINeed_PreSales.indd
Publisher: Viking Juvenile 
Pages: 240
Genre: Young Adult / Contemporary 
Source: Purchased

 

 

Goodreads:  The last night of summer is only the beginning.

Skye wants to meet the boy who will change her life forever. Seth feels their instant connection the second he sees her. When Seth starts talking to Skye at the last beach party of the summer, it’s obvious to both of them that this is something real. But when Seth leaves for college before they exchange contact info, Skye wonders if he felt the same way she did—and if she will ever see him again. Even if they find their way back to each other, can they make a long-distance relationship work despite trust issues, ex drama, and some serious background differences?

Teen favorite Susane Colasanti returns to the alternating-voice style of her beloved debut When It Happens in this Serendipity-inspired story about summer, soul mates, and the moments that change our lives forever.

 

Ope’s Opinion:  I really enjoyed reading this book.  I thought it was very realistic.  It is a carefree, quick, easy read.  I will be saving it for when my granddaughter gets older for her to read.

I really liked seeing what was going on from both Skye’s and Seth’s point of view.  In real life you can’t see what is going on with the other person, so it was fun to read it from both perspectives.

This is not a deep book, but I did not expect it to be. I enjoyed it for what it was – a wonderful light summer romance.  I have read other Colasanti books and I will read her again.

 

Rating:  Four Chairs – I like this book so much I know several friends to share it with.
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Back to Life

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Author:  Kristin Billerbeck                             back to life
Publisher:  Avon Inspire
Pages: 272
Genre: Christian Fiction
Source: Kristi of Kritters Ramblings

Goodreads:  Lindsay took to marriage like a starlet to stilettos, but her husband had a deeper love for his business. Left alone after his death, Lindsay must find out who she is when there isn’t a party to plan or another person’s life to be organized. Can she find her way Back to Life?

Lindsay realized when she married Ron, a man seventeen years her senior, that the odds were he’d see heaven before her, but she never expected to be a widow at thirty-five. She knows there’s too much of life remaining for her to just sit around in mourning, but she can’t seem to kick-start the rest of her life. Then unexpected help arrives…when Ron’s first wife, Jane, shows up at Lindsay’s front door.

The executor of their late husband’s estate, Jane is everything Lindsay’s not: strong, stubborn, independent…and a lot older. There are other surprises as well, including Ron Jr. (whom Jane insists is not “really” Ron’s son). But against all odds, a most unlikely friendship begins to develop—as each woman discovers how to own up to her past mistakes and to reevaluate what is really important. Told in the alternating voices of Jane and Lindsay, and featuring the return of many of the unforgettable characters introduced in The Trophy Wives Club, Back to Life is a lighthearted, relatable read about where to turn when life goes in a direction you never planned.

Ope’s Opinion:  I liked this one a little more then the first Trophy Wife book. Maybe I liked it a little more because I felt like I knew some of the people.   It was nice to see things from both Jane’s and Lindsay’s perspectives.  I feel like you need to read the first book to really enjoy this one.

Even though it would be unlikely for Jane and Lindsay to have much of a relationship – under these circumstances it sort of makes sense.  You need someone who understands your situation when things are difficult.

I do like Kristin Billerbeck books – this series just isn’t my favorite of hers.  Still a quick, easy read.

Rating:  Three Chairs – I like the book enough to suggest it to a friend or two.
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The Trophy Wives Club

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Author:  Kristin Billerbeck                                   trophy wives
Publisher:  Avon Inspire
Pages: 272
Genre: Christian Fiction
Source: Kristi of Kritters Ramblings

Goodreads:  Haley Cutler is the consummate trophy wife. Perhaps was is the more accurate term. Haley married Prince Charming when she was only twenty—back in the day when highlights came from an afternoon at the beach, not three hours in the salon.

Unfortunately, after seven years as Jay Cutler’s wife, a role that provided significance and what she thought was love, Jay walks out, and Haley finds herself with few life skills that translate to the real world, not to mention a sense of amnesia about who she used to be. But before Haley can find her way, she must meet with Jay’s lawyer, the strikingly handsome Hamilton Lowe. Although she can’t stand his self-righteous contempt for her divorce, she takes his suggestion to attend a group at his church called “The Trophy Wives Club,” a Bible study composed of women who have been dealt a raw deal. Haley’s never been into the whole Jesus thing but could really use some friends to walk her through this phase (how do you apply for a credit card anyway?).

As Haley begins to realize that she really can stand on her own two feet, she also learns that sometimes in losing we find the real reward . .

Ope’s Opinion:  This book was a light easy read.  It was not my favorite Kristin Billerbeck book.  She is a good writer, this just wasn’t my favorite.  

It was interesting to see how people in the church responded to Haley being divorced.  It is great to have a good support group to help you go through whatever you are dealing with.

Why do we feel that Haley would not be complete until she was with another man?  I would have liked to have  seen her be a little more independent before someone else came into her life.

I will read the next book Back to LIfe – I hope I like it a little more then this one.

Rating:  Three Chairs – I like the book enough to suggest it to a friend or two.
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Two of a Kind

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Author:  Yona Zeldis McDonough                two of a kind
Publisher: NAL Trade
Pages: 448
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Source: Edelweiss

Goodreads:  Ten years after losing her husband, Christina Connelly has worked through the pain, focusing on raising her teenage daughter and managing her small decorating business. But her romantic life has never recovered. Still, it’s irksome to be set up with arrogant, if handsome, doctor Andy Stern at her friend’s wedding. If he wasn’t also a potential client, needing his Upper East Side apartment redesigned, she would write him off.

This is never going to work, Andy thinks. Still grieving his wife and struggling with a troubled son, he’s not looking for a woman, and certainly not someone as frosty and reserved as Christina. Their relationship will be strictly business. Yet to everyone’s surprise—including their own—these two find themselves falling in love.

But if reconciling with their pasts is difficult, blending their lives and children to create a new family is nearly impossible. They’ve been given a second chance…but can they overcome all the obstacles in the way of happily ever after?

Ope’s Opinion:  I think this story shows that you never know where you might meet someone.  You also might be surprised by who that person could be.  Being very similar or very different, works depending on the two people.  These two characters in this story are very different, but it works for them.

At first I did not care for Andy.  Yona wrote him in such a way that I thought he was self centered and arrogant.    Some times I felt like he was doing things on his own terms without taking other people into consideration.  He grew on me as the story moved along.

Christina was a strong independent woman.  I liked that she had her own business and was doing fine on her own before she met Andy. She suddenly changed her mind ( no details – I don’t want to spoil the story ) towards the end of the book without an event to spark the change.  It seemed like it was out of no where.

I felt like the end was a little abrupt.  There were a lot of questions that I felt were left unanswered.

I will read another book by Yona Zeldis McDonough.

Rating:  Four Chairs – I like this book so much I know several friends to share it with.
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