Category Archives: Book Opinion

Love on the Beach

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Author: Kerry Evelyn
Publisher: Swan Press
Genre: Christian Fiction
Source: Kasey

 

Goodreads:  After quitting her job at a high-profile magazine in Boston, idealistic journalist Shelby Porter retreats to her hometown of Crane’s Cove, Maine, to regroup and refocus. As the pastor’s daughter, she’s welcomed back with open arms and opportunities to serve. However, the solace and support from the townspeople isn’t enough to soften painful memories or bring her closer to her goals. Shelby’s plans run up against another obstacle when the new guy in town walks into her life. Despite their connection, she resolves to not let love get in the way of fulfilling her purpose.

Tragedy drives Detective Damon Saunders from his job in Atlanta to the tiny resort town. Wanting to escape the ugliness of the big city, he now patrols the peaceful streets of the seaside community. The hardest part of his new role is earning the trust of the locals—especially Shelby. He’s drawn to her quiet strength and desire to help people, but she has plans that’ll take her far away from the place where he’s trying to plant new roots. Maybe falling for her will complicate his life, but he’s willing to take that chance.

Shelby denies her growing feelings for Damon, but when her four-year-old nephew is in danger, he’s the only one who can help. Can Damon overcome the shadows of his past to save a child and win her—and the town’s—heart?

Ope’s Opinion: If you belong to a church that has a library – this book series belongs in there. This is the third book in the series, but the first I have read. I did not feel lost.   It is such a good clean, God centered book.  It is obvious that Damon and Shelby want to know God’s will. 

It was great to read a book where two people are attracted to each other – not just physically, but they really do want to know each other.  It was fun to watch them struggle with their feelings and knowing what is right.

Although the ending did not close everything up, it satisfied me.  There is another book to come, so you know the story lines will eventually be completed.

 

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill

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Author: Abbi Waxman
Publisher: Berkley Books
Genre: Fiction
Source:  Purchased

Goodreads:  The author of Other People’s Houses and The Garden of Small Beginnings delivers a quirky and charming novel chronicling the life of confirmed introvert Nina Hill as she does her best to fly under everyone’s radar.

Meet Nina Hill: A young woman supremely confident in her own…shell.

The only child of a single mother, Nina has her life just as she wants it: a job in a bookstore, a kick-butt trivia team, a world-class planner and a cat named Phil. If she sometimes suspects there might be more to life than reading, she just shrugs and picks up a new book.

When the father Nina never knew existed suddenly dies, leaving behind innumerable sisters, brothers, nieces, and nephews, Nina is horrified. They all live close by! They’re all–or mostly all–excited to meet her! She’ll have to Speak. To. Strangers. It’s a disaster! And as if that wasn’t enough, Tom, her trivia nemesis, has turned out to be cute, funny, and deeply interested in getting to know her. Doesn’t he realize what a terrible idea that is?

Nina considers her options.
1. Completely change her name and appearance. (Too drastic, plus she likes her hair.)
2. Flee to a deserted island. (Hard pass, see: coffee).
3. Hide in a corner of her apartment and rock back and forth. (Already doing it.)

It’s time for Nina to come out of her comfortable shell, but she isn’t convinced real life could ever live up to fiction. It’s going to take a brand-new family, a persistent suitor, and the combined effects of ice cream and trivia to make her turn her own fresh page.

Ope’s Opinion:  Oh, so many great things to say about this book.   My daughter Kristin of Kritters Ramblings liked this so much she recommended I buy a copy, so I did!  It was worth every minute of time I spent with it and every penny ( maybe more ) I spent to purchase it. 

If you are a book person, who likes to read about other book people, book stores and bookish things – go buy this one!    You will enjoy it from the beginning to the end.

The relationships in this book were so much fun to read and watch grow. Nina was a wonderful character I won’t soon forget.  I relate to her love of being alone with her books.

It was a feel good book.  The ending was exactly what I wanted.

 

Things You Save in a Fire

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Author: Katherine Center
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Genre: Romance
Source: Jessica @ St. Martin’s Press

Goodreads:  From the New York Times bestselling author of How to Walk Away comes a stunning new novel about family, hope, and learning to love against all odds.

Cassie Hanwell was born for emergencies. As one of the only female firefighters in her Texas firehouse, she’s seen her fair share of them, and she’s excellent at dealing with other people’s tragedies. But when her estranged and ailing mother asks her to uproot her life and move to Boston, it’s an emergency of a kind Cassie never anticipated.

The tough, old-school Boston firehouse is as different from Cassie’s old job as it could possibly be. Hazing, a lack of funding, and poor facilities mean that the firemen aren’t exactly thrilled to have a “lady” on the crew, even one as competent and smart as Cassie. Except for the handsome rookie, who doesn’t seem to mind having Cassie around. But she can’t think about that. Because she doesn’t fall in love. And because of the advice her old captain gave her: don’t date firefighters. Cassie can feel her resolve slipping…but will she jeopardize her place in a career where she’s worked so hard to be taken seriously?

Katherine Center’s Things You Save in a Fire is a heartfelt, affecting novel about life, love, and the true meaning of courage.

Ope’s Opinion:  This is my first Katherine Center book, now I will be looking for more from her.  When I started reading, I was pulled into the story right away.  The more I read the more I wanted to read.  It was like a snowball going downhill – the story got more intense and I wanted to read faster and faster!

Katherine Center is  a master at character development.  She made each character ( even minor ones ) have such depth and multiple sides to them.  The romance of this book is perfect for me – you can feel them fall in love, but the physical part of their relationship is mostly kept behind the doors ( where is should be! ).  The story is about sooo much more then the romance – it’s about life, forgiveness, being female, accepting yourself and more.

The story had some turns, right up to the end.  Then epilogue tied everything into a nice little bow ( maybe just a little too perfect? ) – but wonderful none the less.

Coming Soon…..

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…. On a Bookshelf near you!

In August I hope to read….

Things You Save in a Fire

Publication Date: August 13, 2019
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

 

Goodreads: From the New York Times bestselling author of How to Walk Away comes a stunning new novel about family, hope, and learning to love against all odds.

Cassie Hanwell was born for emergencies. As one of the only female firefighters in her Texas firehouse, she’s seen her fair share of them, and she’s excellent at dealing with other people’s tragedies. But when her estranged and ailing mother asks her to uproot her life and move to Boston, it’s an emergency of a kind Cassie never anticipated.

The tough, old-school Boston firehouse is as different from Cassie’s old job as it could possibly be. Hazing, a lack of funding, and poor facilities mean that the firemen aren’t exactly thrilled to have a “lady” on the crew, even one as competent and smart as Cassie. Except for the handsome rookie, who doesn’t seem to mind having Cassie around. But she can’t think about that. Because she doesn’t fall in love. And because of the advice her old captain gave her: don’t date firefighters. Cassie can feel her resolve slipping…but will she jeopardize her place in a career where she’s worked so hard to be taken seriously?

Katherine Center’s Things You Save in a Fire is a heartfelt, affecting novel about life, love, and the true meaning of courage.

What is coming soon …. to a bookshelf near you?

Let me know – I am always looking for a good read!

Past Perfect Life

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Author: Elizabeth Eulberg
Publisher: Bloomsbury YA
Genre: Young Adult
Source:  Book Expo 2019

Goodreads:  Small-town Wisconsin high school senior Allison Smith loves her life the way it is-spending quality time with her widowed father and her tight-knit circle of friends, including best friend Marian and maybe-more-than-friends Neil. Sure she is stressed out about college applications . . . who wouldn’t be? In a few short months, everything’s going to change, big time.
But when Ally files her applications, they send up a red flag . . . because she’s not Allison Smith. And Ally’s-make that Amanda’s-ordinary life is suddenly blown apart. Was everything before a lie? Who will she be after? And what will she do as now comes crashing down around her?

Ope’s Opinion: This book had perfect pace.  It started out sort of slow with no drama.  So you might think, why keep reading??  Well, it was how Ally’s life started out.  She was happily living with her dad, thinking all was normal until she started applying for college.  Then the pace of the book picked up and secrets were revealed…

I highly recommend this to a YA or adult reader.  It will keep their attention, the characters are realistic, the emotions are real and friendships are positive.  The only negative was the “f” word was used a couple of times – both in high stressed situations.

The ending made me see how strong Ally was ( a good example ).  She handled her situation better then some adults would.  I felt it was very positive and uplifting.

The Two Lila Bennetts

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Author: Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Genre: Thriller
Source: Book Expo 2019

 

Goodreads:  “One fateful decision. Two unexpected endings. A perfect summer read!” —Wendy Walker, bestselling author of The Night Before

Lila Bennett’s bad choices have finally caught up with her. And one of those decisions has split her life in two. Literally.

In one life, she’s taken hostage by someone who appears to be a stranger but knows too much. As she’s trapped in a concrete cell, her kidnapper forces her to face what she’s done or be killed. In an alternate life, she eludes her captor but is hunted by someone who is dismantling her happiness, exposing one secret at a time.

Lila’s decorated career as a criminal defense attorney, her marriage, and her life are on the line. She must make a list of those she’s wronged—both in and out of the courtroom—to determine who is out to get her before it’s too late. But even if she can pinpoint her assailant, will she survive? And if she does, which parts of her life are worth saving, and which parts must die? Because one thing’s for certain—life as Lila Bennett knew it is over.

Ope’s Opinion: I wish this book had been written as two stories – read the book one way for one Lila and read the other way for the other Lila.  Going back and forth between the two stories frustrated me.

I did not connect with Lila.  She was self centered and more concerned about her job, then her husband or mother.  This made it hard for me to care when she was captured.  I kept reading because I wanted to see how it ended.

The ending was very disappointing for me. I think there was a lesson to be learned here, but it didn’t come across as positive.  I can’t say more or it will ruin your reading, if you choose to read this.

Summer on Mirror Lake

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Author: JoAnn Ross
Publisher: HQN Books
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: Lisa Wray at HarperCollins

 

Goodreads:  Summertime is the best time to lose yourself in the romance of Honeymoon Harbor…

When he lands in the emergency room after collapsing at the funeral of a colleague and friend, Wall Street hotshot Gabriel Mannion initially rejects the diagnosis of an anxiety attack. But when warned that if he doesn’t change his adrenaline-fueled, workaholic lifestyle he could end up like his friend, Gabe reluctantly returns to his hometown of Honeymoon Harbor to regroup.

As he adjusts to the sight of mountains instead of skyscrapers, Gabe discovers advantages to this small Pacific Northwest town he once couldn’t wait to escape. But it’s irresistible librarian Chelsea Prescott who, along with the two foster children she’s taken under her wing, makes slowing down seem like the best prescription ever.

Over the course of their summer romance, Gabe gets a taste of the life he might have had if he’d taken a different path. But with his return to New York City looming on the horizon, he’ll have to choose between the success he’s worked tirelessly for and a ready-made family who offers a very different, richly rewarding future…if he’ll only take the risk.

Ope’s Opinion: Chelsea and Gabes story was an enjoyable read.  Even though this is the third in the Honeymoon Harbor series, this could be a stand alone read.  JoAnn Ross does a good job of letting you know who everyone is and how they are related, so you don’t feel lost.

The descriptions in the book got too long for me.  My mind wandered and I lost track of where I was in the story.  Some of the details felt like they were added for word count, not to enhance the story.

The children were my favorite part of the story.  The ending was abrupt, but what you would expect from a romance book.

The Hideaway

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Author: Lauren K. Denton
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Genre: Fiction
Source:  Kristin of Kritters Ramblings

Goodreads:  “A story both powerful and enchanting: a don’t-miss novel in the greatest southern traditions of storytelling.” —Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author

When her grandmother’s will wrenches Sara back home, she learns more about Margaret Van Buren in the wake of her death than she ever knew in life.

After her last remaining family member dies, Sara Jenkins goes home to The Hideaway, her grandmother Mags’s ramshackle B&B in Sweet Bay, Alabama. She intends to quickly tie up loose ends then return to her busy life and thriving antique shop in New Orleans. Instead, she learns Mags has willed The Hideaway to her and charged her with renovating it—no small task considering her grandmother’s best friends, a motley crew of senior citizens, still live there.

Rather than hurrying back to New Orleans, Sara stays in Sweet Bay and begins the biggest house-rehabbing project of her career. Amid drywall dust, old memories, and a charming contractor, she discovers that slipping back into life at The Hideaway is easier than she expected.

Then she discovers a box Mags left in the attic with clues to a life Sara never imagined for her grandmother. With help from Mags’s friends, Sara begins to piece together the mysterious life of bravery, passion, and choices that changed her grandmother’s destiny in both marvelous and devastating ways.

When an opportunistic land developer threatens to seize The Hideaway, Sara is forced to make a choice—stay in Sweet Bay and fight for the house and the people she’s grown to love or leave again and return to her successful but solitary life in New Orleans.

“Two endearing heroines and their poignant storylines of love lost and found make this the perfect book for an afternoon on the back porch with a glass of sweet tea.” —Karen White, New York Times bestselling author.

Ope’s Opinion: My review will not do justice to this wonderful book.  It had everything I wanted in it – amazing characters, an awesome story with a few twists, and an ending that was very satisfying. 

I liked the dual narrative that let you see the past ( Mags ) and the present ( Sara ).  Each of them had a story that centered around family.  Part of the story is about fixing up an old house – I really enjoyed that part as well.

This was the kind of book that I curled up with and didn’t want to leave until the last word was read.  I enjoyed each moment with these characters.  I have another Lauren K. Denton book on my shelf and I will read it as soon as possible.