Category Archives: Book Opinion

A March Bride

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Author:  Rachel Hauck                                        march bride
Publisher: Zondervan
Genre: Contemporary Christian Fiction 
Source: Netgalley 

Goodreads:   Susanna has found her true prince, and their happily ever after is just around the corner. But when Nate asks her to give up something precious to her, Susanna can’t help but wonder if it’s a sign that their love is not meant to be.
Susanna Truitt (Once Upon A Prince) is three weeks from royalty. She’ll soon marry King Nathaniel II of Brighton Kingdom. But when the government insists she renounce her American citizenship before the wedding, coupled with the lack of involvement by family and friends, her heart begins to doubt whether this marriage is God’s plan for her.
Nathaniel would do anything for his bride-to-be. But he knows his position requires that she give up a lot to be with him. Her life will never be her own — right down to her very identity. When she travels home to St. Simon’s Island, Georgia, right before the wedding, Nathaniel fears she won’t return. Gathering his courage, he devises a plan to win his bride all over again, and together they seek out a kingdom to treasure above all.

Ope’s Opinion:  This is very much a cinderella, princess story.  It was a very fast, easy read. It was a sweet story.  There was a small twist before the expected ending.

This was a faith based book, which I enjoy.  At times, I did feel I was being lectured to about faith, instead of persuaded by their faith. 

I am looking forward to the rest of “A Year of Weddings”.

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

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Author:  Steena Holmes                       memory child
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Genre:  Women’s Fiction
Source: BookSparks

Goodreads:  When Brian finds out that his wife, Diane, is pregnant, he is elated. He’s been patiently waiting for twelve years to become a father. But Diane has always been nervous about having children because of her family’s dark past. The timing of the pregnancy also isn’t ideal ? Diane has just been promoted, and Brian is being called away to open a new London office for his company. Fast-forward one year: being a mother has brought Diane a sense of joy that she?d never imagined and she’s head over heels for her new baby, Grace. But things are far from perfect: Brian has still not returned from London, and Diane fears leaving the baby for even a moment. As unsettling changes in those around Diane began to emerge, it becomes clear that all is not as it seems. A woman’s dark past collides head-on with her mysterious present in this surreal and gripping family drama.

Ope’s Opinion:   This book should come with a warning:  Do Not Start Unless You Have Time To Finish It !!!!  The story itself is amazing and it is so well written, it just sweeps you away.  It is a page flipper. 

This story is told from Diane and Brian’s alternating points of view. The pieces of the story are slowly revealed from the past and present.  It was clear there was something wrong, but I kept changing my mind as to what I thought was really going on.  

I found myself actually holding my breath at times wondering what was going to happen next.  Steena Holmes can really kept me on the edge of my seat.

  Although you were given hints, it was not clear what happened until the very end.   


Rating:  Five Chairs – This book is so good it will be passed on and on and on….
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Becca by the Book

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Author:  Laura Jensen Walker                            becca
Publisher: Zondervan
Genre:  Christian Fiction
Source:  Purchased

Goodreads:  Sales clerk, barista, telemarketer, sign waver …At twenty-five, free-spirited Becca Daniels is still trying to figure out what she wants to be when she grows up.What Becca doesn’t want to be is bored. She craves the rush of a new experience, whether it’s an extreme sport, a shocking hair color, or a new guy. That’s why she quit her bookstore job, used her last bit of credit to go skydiving, and broke her leg. And that’s why, grounded and grumpy, Becca bristles when teased by friends for being commitment-phobic. In response, Becca issues an outrageous wager—that she can sustain a three-month or twenty-five date relationship with the next guy who asks her out. When the guy turns out to be ‘churchy’ Ben—definitely not Becca’s type—she gamely embarks on a hilarious series of dates that plunge her purple-haired, free-speaking, commitment-phobic self into the alien world of church potlucks and prayer meetings. This irrepressible Getaway Girl will have you cheering her on as she ‘suffers’ through her dates, gains perspective on her life’s purpose, and ultimately begins her greatest adventure of all.

Ope’s Opinion:  This is book three ( final book ) in the Getaway Girls series.  I think Becca’s attitude for life in general is my favorite.  She just wants to do whatever comes to mind at the moment.  She doesn’t have to fit into the traditional form of marriage, husband and kids.

I like seeing faith, church and Christianity from someone who is not sure it all works for her.  I like that she went places and did things with Ben that she wasn’t excited about. I think it is good to learn about yourself by trying different things.

The ending was not what I thought it was going to be.  It was kind of nice to see a different ending then you usually get at the end of a chick lit series.


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

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Author:  Laura Jensen Walker           paige  
Publisher:  Zondervan
Genre:  Christian Fiction
Source:  Purchased

Goodreads:  Welcome to the in-between world of Paige Kelley. At thirty-five, she’s put her dreams on hold to care for her ailing, high-maintenance mother. Three years after her divorce she’s still not dating, still working at her temp job, and still longing for motherhood even though, as her own mother often points out, ‘You’re not getting any younger, you know!’ When her Getaway Girls book club friends urge Paige to break free and get on with her life, she desperately wants to try. But how? What about her mom? The unexpected answers come from a surprising source. A trip to Scotland and a potential new love interest help launch an exciting new chapter in her life, and lead Paige to discover that God’s plan for her life promises to be more than she ever imagined.This latest release in the Getaway Girls collection delivers a smart, funny, and warm account of one woman’s challenge to reconcile who she is—a dutiful Christian daughter—with the fulfilled woman she longs to be. It will appeal to any woman whose ever forgotten, even momentarily, that God’s timing is perfect.

Ope’s Opinion:  This is the second in the series of three books in the Getaway Girls.  Once again, Laura Jensen Walker brought these characters to life.  It was good to see all three of them together again.  It was obvious Paige had a lot of faith in God. It seemed real and natural.  

This was another quick, easy read.  I was surprised how fast I finished the second one.  I think knowing all the characters made it read faster.

Although I was ready to be done with Scotland before the book was, I enjoyed the book and I am looking forward to book three.

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

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Author: Laura Jensen Walker                                chloe
Publisher:  Zondervan
Genre:  Christian Fiction
Source:  Purchased

Goodreads:   When Chloe Adams’ fiance dumps her—the night before their wedding—two girlfriends from her book group decide a little adventure is in order for the three of them. After all, why let a perfectly good honeymoon cruise go to waste?Adventure? Chloe Adams? No way! Chloe’s lived in one town her whole life. The closest she’s ever gotten to actual adventures is reading about them. But her girlfriends won’t take no for an answer.One good adventure calls for another as Chloe’s friends try to coax her out of her post-dumping funk, and soon she finds herself living out the adventures in her book club’s latest selections. Hiking. Sailing. River rafting. Traveling to new places and eating exotic food. The play-it-safe Chloe begins to blossom into a new, daring Chloe. A Chloe who just might be ready to take on her biggest adventure of all …Laura Jensen Walker has a knack for quirky heroines and real-life humor. In Chloe, she’s created another memorable character who will live on in readers’ hearts.

Ope’s Opinion:  This is the first of three books in this series.  It is Christian fiction, but not over the top. Each characters faith was apart of the story, but not the center of the whole story.  I thought Laura Jensen Walker portrayed real characters.  I like that she introduced all three characters in the first book.  It gave you insights into each of  their personalities.

The Paris trip took a little longer then I would have liked.  For me a little description goes a long way in a museum.

It was nice that Chloe ( the focus of this book ) did not find a guy, but found out what she wanted in life.  It was nice to see a different ending to a book.

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

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Pups of the Spirit

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Illustrations:  Deborah Melmon               pups
Publisher: Zonderkidz
Genre: Children
Source:  BookLook

Goodreads:  ‘God gave each puppy a gift of its own, and PUPS OF THE SPIRIT is how they are known!’ Peanut is patient, and Kay is so kind. Each of these nine loveable puppies has a special trait to help them grow closer to God. From love and joy to patience and kindness, children will have fun learning about the fruits of the spirit with these playful and cuddly companions.

Ope’s Opinion with Emma:   I had as much fun reading this book to Emma ( my four year-old granddaughter ) as she did listening to it.  We talked about the different pups on each page.  She wanted to hear it again  and again.  I decided to leave it at her house so she could look at all the pups whenever she wanted to.                                 me and emma

Rating:  Five Fingers ( according to Emma )   red five

Evening Stars

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Author:  Susan Mallery                               evening
Publisher:  Harlequin MIRA
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Source: Harlequin

 

 

Goodreads:  New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery returns to Blackberry Island with the poignant tale of two sisters on the verge of claiming their dreams.

Small-town nurse Nina Wentworth has made a career out of being a caretaker. More “Mom” than their mother ever was, she sacrificed medical school—and her first love—so her sister could break free. Which is why she isn’t exactly thrilled to see Averil back on Blackberry Island, especially when Nina’s life has suddenly become…complicated.

Nina unexpectedly finds herself juggling two men—her high school sweetheart and a younger maverick pilot who also wants to claim her heart. But as fun as all this romance is, Nina has real life to deal with. Averil doesn’t seem to want the great guy she’s married to, and doesn’t seem to be making headway writing her first book; their mom is living life just as recklessly as she always has; and Nina’s starting to realize that the control she once had is slipping out of her fingers. Her hopes of getting off the island seem to be stretching further away…until her mother makes a discovery that could change everything forever.

But before Nina and Averil can reach for the stars, they have to decide what they want. Will Averil stay? Will Nina leave? And what about the men who claim to love them? Does love heal, or will finding their happy ending mean giving up all they’ve ever wanted?

Ope’s Opinion:  Susan Mallery can really tell a story!  This was a great read.  All her characters are flawed and are realistic people you can relate to.  There are several supporting characters that are an important part of the story.  All the family interactions lets you see all the personalities.  

Although this book is part of a series, you can read it as a stand alone.  It is written so well you will not feel you have missed anything from the previous books.

This would make a good book club book.  You can weigh in on the side of things happening to you, so you live with them or you choose your path regardless of what life throws at you.

The ending answered all my questions and left me feeling good.


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

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Author:  Robyn Carr                       the chance
Publisher:  Harlequin MIRA
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Source:  Little Bird Publicity

Goodreads:  Share the joys, heartbreaks, challenges and triumphs of the people who inhabit the small Oregon town of Thunder Point with #1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr 

With its breathtaking vistas and down-to-earth people, Thunder Point is the perfect place for FBI agent Laine Carrington to recuperate from a gunshot wound and contemplate her future. The locals embraced Laine as one of their own after she risked her life to save a young girl from a dangerous cult. Knowing her wounds go beyond the physical, Laine hopes she’ll fit in for a while and find her true self in a town that feels safe. She may even learn to open her heart to others, something an undercover agent has little time to indulge. 

Eric Gentry is also new to Thunder Point. Although he’s a man with a dark past, he’s determined to put down roots and get to know the daughter he only recently discovered. When Laine and Eric meet, their attraction is obvious to everyone. But while the law enforcement agent and the reformed criminal want to make things work, their differences may run too deep…unless they take a chance on each other and find that deep and mysterious bond that belongs to those who choose love over fear.

Ope’s Opinion:  Oh, this book is so good!!  It is the fourth in the series.  You could read it alone, but the back story makes you more involved with the people.  Meeting new characters and getting up dates on the past people we met in Thunder Point made the story move really fast.

One of the new characters was a family with three boys.  It was a heart wrenching story line.  I hope we see more of them in future books.

Laine’s family had a lot to deal with in this book.  It had some really good twists and turns.  Not everything was solved at the end of this book, so I am anxiously waiting for the next one!

Side note:   This book will be available for purchased tomorrow – it will be worth buying!

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

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Author:  Phyllis Reynolds Naylor          alice
Publisher: Atheneum Books
Genre:  Young Adult
Source: Purchased

 

 

 

Goodreads:  In her last adventure before starting college, Alice takes to the open sea for the summer and nothing can stop the tides of change.

Everything Alice has ever known is about to change from where she sleeps at night to how close her closest friends will be. So Alice is meeting that seasick feeling head-on by setting sail as staff on a Chesapeake Bay cruise ship. And like any last great adventure before starting college, Alice knows she will need sunblock, an open mind, and oh yeah, all her best girlfriends. It is the perfect summer job. Perfect, that is, when things are going perfectly. But when they are not, Alice has to figure out how to weather unexpected storms of all sorts. Which could be perfect after all;perfect training for her next big adventure college.

Ope’s Opinion:   It was great to see a young lady work before she leaves for college.  Alice was very independent.  

I have lived near the ports that the ship stopped at, so it was interesting to read about them.

I did feel like nothing really happened in this book.  Alice and Patrick’s relationship did not move forward – they did not break up.  Actually, they had little contact with each other.  The other girls in the group did not change their relationships much at all.

I will read the last one to see what happens when they all leave for college.

Rating:  Three Chairs – I like the book enough to suggest it to a friend or two.
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Anna and the French Kiss

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Author: Stephanie Perkins                anna
Publisher:  Speak
Genre:  Young Adult
Source: Purchased

 

 

 

Goodreads:  Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. She is less than thrilled about boarding school in Paris – until she meets Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming, beautiful, he has it all – including a serious girlfriend. Will Anna get her French kiss?

Ope’s Opinion:  Amazing!  That is the first word that comes to mind when I think of this book.  It is well written, easy to read and hard to put down.  The descriptions are so vivid I could see the exact picture Perkins was drawling.

Stephanie Perkins wrote the most engaging characters.  I enjoyed watching their relationships grow and change.  It was great to see how they related to each other and their families.  It all felt realistic to me.  I liked seeing the friends of the Anna and St. Claire have their own story lines.

The pace of this story was a steady incline.  I did not want the story to move any faster because I was savoring each moment.  I was in no hurry for this one to end.

I could recommend this to teens or to adults.  It captures the attention of anyone who enjoys reading young adult books.  I like that the language and sexual content are appropriate for age.

I am anxiously waiting to read Lola and the Boy Next Door.  And Isla and the Happily Ever After will come out this summer.                                                steph

Side note:  My daughter Kristin of Kritters Ramblings
and I were fortunate to meet  Stephanie Perkins at an
author signing. She is sweet and fun to talk to.
Thanks Stephanie!

 

 

Rating:  Five Chairs – this book is so good it will be pass on and on and on …..

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