Category Archives: Book Opinion

Dear Carolina

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Author: Kristy Woodson Harvey                
Publisher: Berkley                                           dear
Genre: Contemporary Women’s Fiction
Source: Kristy Woodson Harvey

 

Publication Date: May 5, 2015
Tomorrow!!

 

Goodreads:  A moving debut novel about two mothers—one biological and one adoptive—from a compelling new voice in Southern women’s fiction.

One baby girl.
Two strong Southern women.
And the most difficult decision they’ll ever make.

Frances “Khaki” Mason has it all: a thriving interior design career, a loving husband and son, homes in North Carolina and Manhattan—everything except the second child she has always wanted. Jodi, her husband’s nineteen-year-old cousin, is fresh out of rehab, pregnant, and alone. Although the two women couldn’t seem more different, they forge a lifelong connection as Khaki reaches out to Jodi, encouraging her to have her baby. But as Jodi struggles to be the mother she knows her daughter deserves, she will ask Khaki the ultimate favor…

Written to baby Carolina, by both her birth mother and her adoptive one, this is a story that proves that life circumstances shape us but don’t define us—and that families aren’t born, they’re made…

Ope’s Opinion:  Kristy Woodson Harvey has written the two voice in this book very distinctly.  Even if there were not titles of who is talking at the beginning of each chapter, you would know whose voice you were reading.

These two woman have a  unique relationship before Carolina becomes a part of their lives.  It was very interesting to see adoption from both mothers perspectives. This is the most precious adoption story I have ever read. All the characters in this book did a lot of growing up.

The quote from the book ” You can never have too many people love you.” is what I used to tell my children as they were growing up.

I would definitely read another book by Kristy Woodson Harvey.

Rating: 4 – I like this book so much I know several friends to share it with.

Hold Me

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Author: Susan Mallery
Publisher: HQN Books                                  hold me
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: Emer Flounders

 

 

Goodreads:  New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery’s classic blend of lighthearted humor and intense emotional conflict works its magic on two newcomers to the California town of Fool’s Gold, which Library Journal calls “a setting so real and appealing readers will want to start scoping out real estate.”

Destiny Mills believes passion has its place—like in the lyrics of the country songs that made her parents famous. After a childhood full of drama and heartache, she wants a life that’s calm. Safe. Everything that Kipling Gilmore isn’t. Her temporary assignment with the Fool’s Gold search and rescue team puts her in delicious proximity to the former world-class skier every day. Part of her aches to let go for once…the rest is terrified what’ll happen if she does.

Though an accident ended his career, Kipling still lives for thrills—and a hot fling with a gorgeous redhead like Destiny would be a welcome diversion. Yet beneath his new coworker’s cool facade is a woman who needs more than he’s ever given. With her, he’s ready to take the risk. But love, like skiing, is all about trust—and before you soar, you have to be willing to fall.

Ope’s Opinion: This is another good story by Susan Mallery.  She has a way of writing characters that you root for and can relate to.  Although this is the sixteenth book in the Fool’s Gold series, you can read it as if it were a stand alone book.  

As usual, I could have lived without the sex scenes.  I don’t need those details.

I really enjoyed the relationship between Destiny and Starr.  Being half sisters and not growing up together didn’t keep them from getting to know each other.  It was nice to see them support each other and learn to be a family.

The ending is predictable, but getting there took a lot of side roads.  I do feel it was wrapped up a bit fast in the last few pages.

Rating: 4 – I like this book so much I know several friends to share with it.

Take Another Look

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Author: Rosalind Noonan
Publisher: Kensington                 take another
Genre: Thriller
Source: NetGalley

Publication date:  April 28, 2015

 

 

Goodreads:  When Jane Ryan discovers she’s pregnant with twin girls, she faces a heart wrenching decision. On her own and unable to afford to care for both babies, she sees no choice but to keep one and give up the other for adoption. But fourteen years later, Jane’s decision comes full circle.

“Family is everything.” It’s one of the first things Isabel, the twin Jane gave up, says when they unexpectedly meet. Without warning, she and her adoptive mother have moved to the town where Jane and her daughter, Harper, live. But are they really family? In the throes of a willful adolescence, Harper is as sullen as Isabel is eager to please. Still, the sisters appear to bond quickly–until unsettling things begin to happen. Disturbing pranks, questionable accidents, strange ailments. Are the girls allies, or enemies? Is Harper acting out, or is Isabel not all she seems? Soon, Jane is convinced there is something darker at work than sibling rivalry. But who is to blame, and is this only the beginning?

In a novel that is both suspenseful and deeply emotional, Rosalind Noonan explores the complex challenges of motherhood, and of truly knowing what lies in another’s heart–even those we love best.

Ope’s Opinion:  This book is so suspenseful, you will hold your breath while you are reading it.  I read this book in two days ( I am a slow reader – that is amazingly fast for me ).  I just couldn’t wait to flip to the next page.

It is hard to say too much about this book without giving away the ending.  This book looks at the nature vs nurture question.  It is a unique way to look at it.

Let me just say this – READ IT!!  Before you start page one – make sure you have time to keep reading – you will not want to put it down.

Rating: 5 – This book is so good it will be passed on and on and on…..

City Love

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Author: Susane Colasanti
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books           city love
Genre: Contemporary Young Adult
Source: Won it!

 

 

 

Goodreads:  Sadie, Darcy, and Rosanna are living together in New York City the summer before their freshman year of college begins. With no parents, no rules, and an entire city to explore, these three girls are on the verge of the best summer of their lives.

Sadie is a native New Yorker. She is hopeful, romantic, and an eternal optimist who is ready to find her soul mate. Then she meets her dream boy: cute, funny, and quirky in all the right ways. The chemistry between them is unreal. Could he be the one?

Darcy is a free spirit from SoCal with rebellious tendencies and unlimited financial resources. Moving to New York City is just another adventure for her. Darcy wants this summer to be all about boy adventures—nothing serious. But how much fun is too much?

Rosanna leaves Chicago for NYC so she can put her past behind her and reinvent herself. The only thing standing in her way is the grand total of seventy-three cents she has saved. Then she meets a guy who wants to show her the glamorous side of New York—a side that she would never get to experience on her own. If Rosanna doesn’t resist, she may find herself in city love.

Told from alternating points of view, City Love captures the moments in each girl’s life when everything is thrilling, amazing, and terrifying all at once . . . in a way it will never be again.

Ope’s Opinion:  This is the first book in Susane Colasnti’s series.  You meet three girls Sadie, Darcy and Rosanna.  You will be able to identify with one of the girls or a part of each one.  

Susane Colasanti brings NYC alive through these girls eyes.  They explore the city and love.  They support each other through the ups and downs – they show a great example of friendship.

The ending was very open, since this the beginning of the series.  It will be fun to watch these girls grow and change in the next book to come.

Rating: 3.5 – I like the book enough to suggest it to a friend or two.

Never Too Late

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Author: Robyn Carr                       never
Publisher: MIRA
Genre: Romance
Source: Little Bird Publicity

 

 

Goodreads:  #1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr examines the lives of three sisters as they step beyond the roles of wife, mother, daughter and discover the importance of being a woman first.

Clare Wilson is starting over. She’s had it with her marriage to a charming serial cheater. Even her own son thinks she’s given his father too many chances. With the support of her sisters, Maggie and Sarah, she’s ready to move on. Facing her fortieth birthday, Clare is finally feeling the rush of unadulterated freedom.

But when a near-fatal car accident lands Clare in the hospital, her life takes another detour. While recovering, Clare realizes she has the power to choose her life’s path. The wonderful younger police officer who witnessed her crash is over the moon for her. A man from her past stirs up long-buried feelings. Even her ex is pining for her. With enthusiasm and a little envy, her sisters watch her bloom.

Together, the sisters encourage each other to seek what they need to be happy. Along the way they all learn that it’s never too late to begin again.

Ope’s Opinion:  Oh, Robyn Carr is such a good writer.  Her books ( and this one is no exception ) are such a pleasure to read.  When I hear the words “pleasure reading” Robyn Carr comes to mind.  The title fit the story.  It was not too late for several of the relationships.

I enjoyed all three of the McCarthy sisters and their men.  Each one had their own story, but they were intertwined.   The sisters relationships with each other was fun to read about too.

I know this was a romance book, so I expect some sex scenes ( that I am not fond of ).  This book had a few too many and were too detailed for my taste.  If it had not been for that part I would have given this book a five.  So if you like steamy – you will like this book.

The ending was very satisfying.  I liked where everyone ended up and who they ended up being with.  Overall, a very good book.

Rating: 4 – I like this book so much I know several friends to share it with.

 

The Precious One

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Author:  Marisa de los Santos
Publisher: William Morrow & Company         precious
Genre: Fiction
Source: Kristin of Kritters Ramblings

 

 

Goodreads:  From the bestselling author of Belong to Me, Love Walked In, and Falling Together comes a captivating novel about friendship, family, second chances, and the redemptive power of love

In all her life, Eustacia “Taisy” Cleary has given her heart to only three men: her first love, Ben Ransom; her twin brother, Marcus; and Wilson Cleary — professor, inventor, philanderer, self-made millionaire, brilliant man, breathtaking jerk: her father.

Seventeen years ago, Wilson ditched his first family for Caroline, a beautiful young sculptor. In all that time, Taisy’s family has seen Wilson, Caroline, and their daughter Willow only once.

Why then, is Wilson calling Taisy now, inviting her for an extended visit, encouraging her to meet her pretty sister — a teenager who views her with jealousy, mistrust, and grudging admiration? Why, now, does Wilson want Taisy to help him write his memoir?

Told in alternating voices — Taisy’s strong, unsparing observations and Willow’s naive, heartbreakingly earnest yearnings — The Precious One is an unforgettable novel of family secrets, lost love, and dangerous obsession, a captivating tale with the deep characterization, piercing emotional resonance, and heartfelt insight that are the hallmarks of Marisa de los Santos’s beloved works.

Ope’s Opinion:  It was interesting to see a father from two different daughters points of view.  He did not have many redeeming qualities to me.  It is hard to believe one person could be so self centered.

I found the way Taisy’s and Willow’s relationship developed was believable.  Coming from two very different places it was hard for them to accept  each other.  Seeing the changes from both points of view was interesting.

There were a lot of issues dealt with in this book.  Maybe a few too many for me.

I did feel like the ending was predictable and took a little longer then necessary to get to.

Rating: 3 – I like the book enough to suggest it to a friend or two.

Return to the Beach House

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Author: Georgia Bockoven
Publisher:  William Morrow                   return
Genre: Fiction
Source: Purchased

 

 

Goodreads:  Over the course of one year, in a charming cottage by the sea, eight people will discover love and remembrance, reconciliation and reunion, beginnings and endings in this unforgettable sequel to Georgia Bockoven’s The Beach House and Another Summer.
Alison arrives at the beach house in June to spend a month with her restless grandson before he leaves for his freshman year in college. Over a decade before, Alison lost her beloved husband, and has faced life alone ever since. Now she discovers a new life, and possible new love.
August brings together four college friends facing a milestone. Across summer’s final days, they share laughter, tears, and love—revealing long-held secrets and creating new and even more powerful bonds.
World-class wildlife photographer, Matthew, and award-winning war photographer, Lindsey, arrive at the beach house in January, each harboring the very real fear that it will mark the end of their decade-long love affair. Alone in the house’s warm peace, they will be forced to truly look at who they are and what they want, discovering surprising truths that will change their lives forever.

Ope’s Opinion: This is the third and I think final book in The Beach House series by Georgia Bockoven.  The renters in this book were enjoyable to read.  It was fun to see one of the renters in there during the winter season.

This is definitely a great series to take to the beach.  With the book divided into renter months, it lets you read each part easily.  The book cover really went with the stories inside – being at the beach house and feeling like it was a healing place.

I have a couple more of Georgia Bockovens books on my shelf and I am really looking forward to reading them.

Rating: 4 – I like this book so much I know several friends to share it with.

Another Summer

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Author:  Georgia Bockoven
Publisher: William Morrow                                      another summer
Genre: Fiction
Source: Kristin of Kritters Rambling   

 

Goodreads:  Weaving together love and laughter, heartache and hope, promise and passion, Another Summer returns to the world of The Beach House with new stories entwined in a powerful emotional journey.

A twentieth high school reunion reunites lovers who must learn to trust again. Teenagers from opposite worlds discover that having a chip on their shoulder only makes it harder to get through doors. An ambitious corporate attorney finds herself falling for the man she has vowed to destroy in the courtroom. A young family, reeling from a devastating loss, meets a mysterious older couple and a half-starved stray cat that will guide them back to each other.

None of these people will leave the beach house the same as they were before. . . .

Ope’s Opinion:  This is the second book in Georgia Bockoven’s series The Beach House.  The renters in the this book are very different from the first book and very different from each other.  You will probably find one that you really relate to.  

The July renters for me were not as well developed characters and the story went from really sad to really happy and all settled too fast.  I needed more on that story.  I would give the rest of the book a 5!

I am looking forward to reading the third book in the series.

 

Rating:  4 – I like this book so much I know several friends to share it with.

 

The Beach House

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Author:  Georgia Bockoven
Publisher: William Morrow                  beach house
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Source: Purchase

 

Goodreads:  The beach house is a peaceful haven, a place to escape everyday problems. Here, three families find their feelings intensified and their lives transformed each summer.

When thirty-year-old Julia, mourning the death of her husband, decides to sell the Santa Cruz beach house they owned together, she sets in motion a final summer that will change the lives of all the families who rent it year after year. Teenaged Chris discovers the bittersweet joy of first love. Maggie and Joe, married sixty-five years, courageously face a separation that even their devotion cannot prevent. The married woman Peter yearns for suddenly comes within his reach. And Julia ultimately finds the strength to rebuild her life—something she once thought impossible.

With equal measures of heartbreak and happiness, bestselling author Georgia Bockoven’s unforgettable novel tells of the beauty of life and the power of love, and speaks to every woman who has ever clung to a child or loved a man.

Ope’s Opinion:  Georgia Bockoven wrote such deep, compelling characters in this book it brought me to tears.  When you pick up this book to read  ( and you should pick it up to read ) be sure to bring a couple of tissues with you.

I really liked how the book was layed out in months – with chapters in each month.  It made the story flow.  Each month brought new people to the house and kept you up with the other people in the stories.

I am looking forward to reading the second book in this series.  I am sure Georgia Bockoven will bring more interesting characters to the beach house.

Rating: 5 – This book is so good it will be passed on and on and on…..

The Wishing Season

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Author:  Denise Hunter
Publisher: Thomas Nelson  wishing
Genre:  Christian Fiction
Source:  NetGalley

 

Goodreads:  She daydreams of whipping up sauces and souffles in her own restaurant. His heart is set on helping foster children. Both dreams are at stake. So are their hearts.

With grand plans to open her own bed & breakfast in Chapel Springs, PJ McKinley can’t afford the most crucial part: the brick and mortar. But when the owner of a local historic home announces a contest and promises her property to the worthiest candidate, PJ makes a fervent wish and tosses her name into the hat.

Cole Evans is cool, confident, and successful, but he’ll never forget his roots. He’s thankful for how far he’s come and knows his life could have turned out drastically different. If he can win the stately old mansion, he’ll turn it into a home for children aging out of the foster system.

When the eccentric house owner narrows the entries down to only two applicants, she extends the contest, giving PJ and Cole one year to prove which one of them can make the best use of her beloved home. As the pair competes in close proximity, something deeper than rivalry sparks between PJ and Cole. And in this battle, they’re likely to lose their hearts.

Ope’s Opinion:  Another good story from Denise Hunter.  She just seems to able to write a story that draws me in and keeps me wanting to read more.  I especially like the McKinley family.  This is the third book – there is one more – can’t wait!!

I think PJ’s story will hit home with the youngest in a family.  Everyone seems to have an opinion about how she should live her life and who she should live her life with.  It makes her second guess herself.

I like when a fiction story teaches me a little something along the way.  I didn’t really think about how hard it would be as a foster child to just be homeless at the age of 18.  I liked learning about transitional homes.  Just another way Denise Hunter writes awesome fiction that feels so real.

Rating: 4.5 – I like this book so much I know several friends to share it with.