The Life I Now Live

Posted on November 8, 2013 by opesopinions

Author: Marilyn Grey
Publisher: Winslet Press
Pages: 182 the life
Genre: Contemporary New Adult Source: Winslet Press

Goodreads: Book 3 in the Unspoken Series

After her husbands death, Heidi Chase refuses to take off her rings and swears another man will never steal her heart. She is extremely faithful and while her friends think it’s virtue binding her to the past, it’s really fear.

Patrick Wheldon never intended to give his heart to Heidi. Not until her vows to her previous husband were no longer standing between them. But he did and the relationship between them quickly changes into a battle he’s not sure he has the strength to fight.

Follow Heidi and Patrick as they question the definition of soul-mates and discover the true meaning of love.

Ope’s Opinion: I thought this book was another amazing read by Marilyn Grey. I am a slow reader and I read this in one day. I did not want to put this book down. A couple of times it took my breath away – can’t tell you why – would spoil the book.

Patrick and Heidi’s story is a different love story. I love how Heidi showed how important it is to be faithful, even when those around you don’t understand why you would be.

I am really looking forward to Heart on a Shoestring.

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

Rituals of the Season

Posted on November 6, 2013 by opesopinions

Author: Margaret Maron
Publisher: Mysterious Press
Pages: 320
Genre: Mystery
Source: Purchased

Goodreads: “High Country Fall, Margaret Maron’s most recent installment in the Deborah Knott series, was published in Mysterious Press hardcover in 8/04, with a first printing of 40,000 copies.- Margaret Maron swept the top mystery awards with her first Deborah Knott hardcover, “Bootlegger’s Daughter (Mysterious Press, 1992), receiving the Edgar1 Award for Best Mystery Novel, the Agatha Award, the Macavity, and the Anthony. She also won a 1992 Agatha Award for the short story that introduced the character of Deborah Knott, and later, she received the Agatha Award for Best Novel for “Up Jumps the Devil (Mysterious Press, 1996). Maron was nominated for an Agatha Award for “Home Fires (Mysterious Press, 1998), and most recently, “Storm Track (Mysterious Press, 2000) won the Agatha Award for Best Novel. “Last Lessons of Summer (Mysterious Press, 2003), was also nominated for an Agatha Award.- “Last Lessons of Summer, Slow Dollar, and Uncommon Clay were all selected as Mystery Guild Main Selections.

Ope’s Opinion: This book started out very slow. I was half way through the book and did not have a clue as to how the victim died in the first chapter. The second half of the book picked up the pace and gave you clues.

Along with the murder, a wedding is the main focus of the book. It is a nice combination. The writer, really brought the two events together. She made the two story lines twist together.

I did not know this book was part of a series until after I was finished reading it. I would read another by this author.

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

Shades of Blue

Posted on November 4, 2013 by opesopinions

Author: Karen Kingsbury
Publisher: Zondervan
Pages: 333
Genre: Christian Fiction
Source: Purchased

Goodreads: Brad Cutler, twenty-eight, is a rising star at his New York ad agency, about to marry the girl of his dreams. Anyone would agree he has it all – a great career, a beautiful and loving fiance, and a fairy tale life ahead of him when memories of a high school girlfriend begin to torment him. Lost innocence and one very difficult choice flood his conscience, and he is no longer sure what the future will bring except for this: He must find his old love and make amends. Haunted by the past and confused about the future, he turns to God seeking forgiveness and redemption.

Ope’s Opinion: This was an awesome story! Take out all the preaching and the judgement that I felt and I would have given this book five chairs. If I knew someone who had an abortion and was looking for answers from God, I would tell them to read Francine Rivers book – An Atonement Child. It was a much better book at letting you know how forgiving God is.

Emma seemed to be a real person with questions about God. Brad was not perfect either. I liked that. Laura on the other hand seemed like she was beautiful, perfect, and always forgiving. Sorry that is just not very realistic. If she got upset with Brad – it just didn’t come across very well in the book.

If you love Christian fiction and are looking for more great reads – go look and see what Francine Rivers is writing.

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

The Perfect Match

Posted on November 1, 2013 by opesopinions

Author: Kristan Higgins
Publisher: Harlequin HQN
Pages: 448
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: Little Bird Publicity

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 thereor 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.

Ope’s Opinion: I really do like Kristan Higgins’ writing. The main character in this story just didn’t appeal to me as much as her characters in the past. I found Tom unlikeable until the very end. Then he seemed to take an abrupt turn. It was a little hard to keep up with the change. Tom’s one redeeming trait is his love for Charlie. It was nice to read about a man caring for a boy who was not his own.

I was really rooting for Honor. I wanted her to be loved and I was very disappointed her friend Dana was not really her friend. I find it hard when women do not respect other women.

I do love this family. I like how they support each other no matter what is going on with the other one.

Although this is not my favorite Kristan Higgins book, I did enjoy it. I am looking forward to the next one to see where all the family members are now.

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

The Best Man

Posted on October 31, 2013 by opesopinions

Author: Kristan Higgins
Publisher: Harlequin HQN
Pages: 432
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: Little Bird Publicity

Amazon: Sometimes the best man is the one you least expect…

Faith Holland left her hometown after being jilted at the altar. Now a little older and wiser, she’s ready to return to the Blue Heron Winery, her family’s vineyard, to confront the ghosts of her past, and maybe enjoy a glass of red. After all, there’s some great scenery there….

Like Levi Cooper, the local police chief—and best friend of her former fiancé. There’s a lot about Levi that Faith never noticed, and it’s not just those deep green eyes. The only catch is she’s having a hard time forgetting that he helped ruin her wedding all those years ago. If she can find a minute amidst all her family drama to stop and smell the rosé, she just might find a reason to stay at Blue Heron, and finish that walk down the aisle.

Ope’s Opinion: I would give this book 3.5 chairs if I had a half of a chair! It was very predictable, but had some little surprises along the way.

The main characters are well developed and enjoyable to follow as they grow up. Watching their relationships change over the years had a very natural progression.

There was a large cast of minor characters. They were easy to keep track of and follow. Some of the side stories felt like page filler – Pru’s for example – her and her husband’s sex life was weird and did not add anything to the rest of the story. I wish I had heard more about Pru’s part of the family business.

In the end, I understood why Faith was trying to get her father to date. But the women she came across in the process were not realistic.

Let me just say, an absolute shout of happiness at the fact that there was not much foul language in this book. I also loved that when two people were intimate – it was not explicit. You knew what they were doing, then they just woke up together the next morning! That is all I need!! I loved that part of this book!

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

Coming Soon….

Posted on October 29, 2013 by opesopinions

….On a Bookshelf Near You!

This is what I am looking forward to in November.

Publication Date: November 19, 2013
Publisher: William Morrow

Goodreads: At twenty-one, Shandi Pierce is juggling finishing college, raising her delightful three-year-old genius son Natty, and keeping the peace between her eternally warring, long-divorced Catholic mother and Jewish father. She’s got enough complications without getting caught in the middle of a stick-up in a gas station mini-mart and falling in love with a great wall of a man named William Ashe, who willingly steps between the armed robber and her son.

Shandi doesn’t know that her blond god Thor has his own complications. When he looked down the barrel of that gun he believed it was destiny: It’s been one year to the day since a tragic act of physics shattered his universe. But William doesn’t define destiny the way other people do. A brilliant geneticist who believes in science and numbers, destiny to him is about choice.

Now, he and Shandi are about to meet their so-called destinies head on, in a funny, charming, and poignant novel about science and miracles, secrets and truths, faith and forgiveness,; about a virgin birth, a sacrifice, and a resurrection; about falling in love, and learning that things aren’t always what they seem—or what we hope they will be. It’s a novel about discovering what we want and ultimately finding what we need.

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

The Prayer Box

Posted on October 25, 2013 by opesopinions

Author: Lisa Widget
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Pages: 400
Genre: Christian Fiction
Source: Kristi of Kritters Ramblings

Goodreads: When Iola Anne Poole, an old-timer on Hatteras Island, passes away in her bed at ninety-one, the struggling young mother in her rental cottage, Tandi Jo Reese, finds herself charged with the task of cleaning out Iola’s rambling Victorian house.Running from a messy, dangerous past, Tandi never expects to find more than a temporary hiding place within Iola’s walls, but everything changes with the discovery of eighty-one carefully decorated prayer boxes, one for each year, spanning from Iola’s youth to her last days. Hidden in the boxes is the story of a lifetime, written on random bits of paper–the hopes and wishes, fears and thoughts of an unassuming but complex woman passing through the seasons of an extraordinary, unsung life filled with journeys of faith, observations on love, and one final lesson that could change everything for Tandi.

Ope’s Opinion: Lisa Wingate really knows how to tell a story. I never felt like I was being preached to or that judgement was being passed on the characters in the book.

Wingate let the characters, especially Tandi grow and become independent. Watching her healing process showed that God could heal anyone. Her self esteem was slowly restored, which made it feel real – not rushed.

I am not usually a fan of books in letter form. This one was better then most. The writing carried me through parts that I thought were a bit slow. I had just finished reading The Sea Glass Sisters – it was such a short, fast moving book – I was wishing this one would have been a bit faster moving.

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

Inexcusable

Posted on October 23, 2013 by opesopinions

Author: Chris Lynch
Publisher: Atheneum Books
Pages: 176
Genre: Young Adult
Source: Purchased

Goodreads: “I am a good guy. Good guys don’t do bad things. Good guys understand that no means no, and so I could not have done this because I understand.”

Keir Sarafian knows many things about himself. He is a talented football player, a loyal friend, a devoted son and brother. Most of all, he is a good guy.

And yet the love of his life thinks otherwise. Gigi says Keir has done something awful. Something unforgivable.

Keir doesn’t understand. He loves Gigi. He would never do anything to hurt her. So Keir carefully recounts the events leading up to that one fateful night, in order to uncover the truth. Clearly, there has been a mistake.

But what has happened is, indeed, something inexcusable.

Ope’s Opinion: This book was so difficult to read. I felt like the author was just rambling all over the place. It was so repetitive, I found my mind drifting off while I was reading.

This felt like a male justification for rape. In the end, I wanted Keir to see he made a mistake. All he did was continue to say I am a good guy, so I couldn’t do it. No growth in his character. I wanted to yell at him to grow up and take responsibility for his actions. I hope this character is not a reflection of this author.

Rating: Two Chairs – I may have one friend who might like this book.

A Whisper To A Scream

Posted on October 21, 2013 by opesopinions

Author: Karen Wojcik Berner
Publisher: CreateSpace
Pages: 267
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Source: Karen Wojcik Berner

Goodreads: Ovulation detectors. Hormone surges. Anxiety-ridden dreams. This is the world in which Annie Jacobs is thrust when she and her husband John receive a diagnosis of unexplained infertility. A 37-year old PR executive, Annie has wanted to be a mother since she first cuddled her Baby Tenderlove at age five. She is dreading another Christmas of relatives asking when they will be hearing the pitter patter of little feet, and Uncle Joe slapping John on the back, telling him to relax and take a cruise. Lots of people get pregnant on vacation, you know.

Across town, stay-at-home mom of two, Sarah Anderson, attempts grocery shopping with a toddler intent on hurling items from the cart at passersby. She notices a box of rice heading straight for a gray-haired head. Leaping across the aisle, Sarah grabs it, saving the woman from certain doom, or at least a minor head injury. Little Alex screams at being thwarted. The unknowing octogenarian shakes her head and admonishes Sarah for not knowing how to keep her child quiet in public.

“A Whisper to a Scream” is the story of two women on opposite ends of the child-bearing spectrum who come to realize the grass is not necessarily greener on the other side of the fence. A vivid portrayal of contemporary marriage and its problems, the novel speaks to a longing in all of us, a yearning that might start as a vague notion, but eventually grows into an unbearable, vociferous cry.

Ope’s Opinion: I enjoyed seeing two women deal with the issues of having children. I was disappointed that the two stories did not intertwine more. The two women were not involved with each other as much as I expected.

The author did write the two main characters in such a way that I could relate to each of them. I felt sorry for them in different ways. I could see where each thought the other one had the better life.

I did not feel like the ending gave me a feeling of resolution. I know this is a series and may be followed up in the coming books, but I wanted these two characters to find some peace in their situations.

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

Operation Oleander

Posted on October 18, 2013 by opesopinions

Author: Valerie O. Patterson
Publisher: Clarion Books
Pages: 192
Genre: Realistic Young Adult
Source: Purchased

Goodreads: Ninth-grader Jess Westmark had the best of intentions when she started Operation Oleander to raise money for a girls’ orphanage in Kabul. She named her charity for the oleander that grows both in her Florida hometown and in Afghanistan, where her father is deployed. But on one of her father’s trips to deliver supplies to the orphans, a car bomb explodes nearby and her father is gravely injured. Worse, her best friend’s mother and some of the children are killed, and people are blaming Operation Oleander for turning the orphanage into a military target for the Taliban. Is this all Jess’s fault?

Ope’s Opinion: This book is so good I am saving it for when my granddaughter gets older. I have a shelf of books for her, so this one will definitely be on it.

It was good to see the support of the military children. You hear about the support for adult members, but this really showed the children of the military.

I enjoyed watching the characters develop. The story moves at a nice, quick pace. I would like to have heard more about Jess’s coming into this family.

This book should be in school and public libraries. It would open up a conversation for students with military families.

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

Ope's Opinions

Blogging about books, life, and the beach.

The Life I Now Live

Rituals of the Season

Shades of Blue

The Perfect Match

The Best Man

Coming Soon….

The Prayer Box

Inexcusable

A Whisper To A Scream

Operation Oleander