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Review Date: 5/18/2016
My mistake was not reading the first two pages before I bought the book to try a new author. It was a great indication of how trying it would be to continue reading. Pg 7 how sexy drinking a sports drink was-really?! His hair "tangled like unset taffy"--I am nauseous and not in a good way. Calling each other Loser, dummy-yeah real friends here. Hannah is totally self conscious and so over the top into Will it is painful to read about when he does absolutely nothing in the first 50 pages (I literally couldn't force myself to read each page after that) to explain the attraction. Pg 28 Hannah wants to "...[be] his shark cage, the person who made everything okay, who made it so he could breathe..." How is this book getting such high reviews?! The main character hit the nail on the head pg 53 "My twelve-year-long, pathetic, ridiculous crush." Between the constant eye rolling and general nausea this book induced I just cannot recommend it to anyone. I hope it is the last time I am sucked in my a good blurb on the back without reading the beginning of the story.
Review Date: 2/26/2017
Short, easy to read in one sitting. A dear friend's husband is suffering from Alzheimer's and I wondered what this novella would show me about it. It seems such a terrifying thing to lose someone long before they die. I like that Noah loves his Grandpa so much he thinks of ways to help like reminding him who he is and who his Grandma was. Noah has so many strong memories of his Grandpa he isn't bogged down by the fear and sadness, he seems happy just to be in whatever moment he can be with his Grandpa.
Review Date: 6/25/2016
An important topic, written specifically to Christians with heavy references to scripture and prayer. Yet I think everyone can benefit from its topic and research.
Anger is the opposite of love. "Love draws you toward the person; anger sets you against the person."
"We can't control our bodily reactions; however, we can control our mental and physical responses to anger."
"Anger is like a red light flashing on the dash of a car. It indicates that something needs attention."
"...anger is to motivate us to take positive, loving action to seek to set the wrong right..."
"...restraining our immediate response is extremely important in establishing new patterns."
"'Anger' is one letter short of "danger." Author Unknown"
Sharing information (how you are feeling) rather than judgment is the 1st step in processing distorted (perceived) anger.
Focus on the situation that sparked anger emotion, rather than on the person.
"Anger was designed to be a visitor, never a resident, in the human heart."
"...we can learn from the past, and the other is that the past often affects our present behavior."
"Forgiveness is not a feeling; it is a commitment to accept the person in spite of what he or she has done. It is a decision not to demand justice but to show mercy..."
"Do not teach your children never to be angry; teach them how to be angry and sin not. Lyman Abbott"
"The call of God is that we will trust Him in the darkness as we trusted Him in the light. He has not changed, even though our circumstances have been painfully altered."
Anger is the opposite of love. "Love draws you toward the person; anger sets you against the person."
"We can't control our bodily reactions; however, we can control our mental and physical responses to anger."
"Anger is like a red light flashing on the dash of a car. It indicates that something needs attention."
"...anger is to motivate us to take positive, loving action to seek to set the wrong right..."
"...restraining our immediate response is extremely important in establishing new patterns."
"'Anger' is one letter short of "danger." Author Unknown"
Sharing information (how you are feeling) rather than judgment is the 1st step in processing distorted (perceived) anger.
Focus on the situation that sparked anger emotion, rather than on the person.
"Anger was designed to be a visitor, never a resident, in the human heart."
"...we can learn from the past, and the other is that the past often affects our present behavior."
"Forgiveness is not a feeling; it is a commitment to accept the person in spite of what he or she has done. It is a decision not to demand justice but to show mercy..."
"Do not teach your children never to be angry; teach them how to be angry and sin not. Lyman Abbott"
"The call of God is that we will trust Him in the darkness as we trusted Him in the light. He has not changed, even though our circumstances have been painfully altered."
Review Date: 5/18/2016
** spoiler alert ** I didn't like this one, it was semi interesting to learn about what would be considered a pharmacist job in those days and some of the characters were mildly interesting. Seemed Lilly had too many suitors throughout to make it believable as to why and never really satisfied as to what happened with her mother. Sad about Mary as well. I don't know, as much as I got the message you have to leave something/lose it to realize its value it never really seemed Lilly would be happy in apothecary for the rest of her life.
Review Date: 10/26/2017
Helpful Score: 1
Wow, I love Corbin! This was such a sweet one. The advice he gets to be noticed is hilarious. It was funny to read but as I was telling my husband about the scenes I was laughing so hard I had tears falling from my eyes. Poor Corbin, Clara must have thought him strange indeed.
Edmund and Alice are great additions to the story and I'm glad I read Drops of Gold before this one to better understand Caroline. I love the Jonquil family and this one did not disappoint.
The abuse in Clara's past was handled with care and not graphic detail which I appreciated. Corbin and Clara seem like such a great match for each other. I loved the message of being loved "As you are" and not for some other version of yourself.
Edmund and Alice are great additions to the story and I'm glad I read Drops of Gold before this one to better understand Caroline. I love the Jonquil family and this one did not disappoint.
The abuse in Clara's past was handled with care and not graphic detail which I appreciated. Corbin and Clara seem like such a great match for each other. I loved the message of being loved "As you are" and not for some other version of yourself.
Review Date: 5/20/2017
First time reading this author, didn't realize it would have Beauty & Beast elements but I loved that it did. Also a fair amount like The Selection. I really liked the characters and the idea that people should be respected no matter their birth station. That if you let yourself get to know a person you don't know what you'll find behind a title or job label. It also showed how even though Avelina was instructed to take Dorothea's place she still acted and spoke as herself. I didn't feel the religious component was too overdone, mostly when Avelina needed help. A great clean romance, I really liked the story and need to look up the other books by this author.
Review Date: 4/14/2017
I was so nervous since Beauty and the Beast is a favorite story of mine. Started out slow but then I literally couldn't read fast enough, I had to know what would happen next. I loved this version with no Gaston and sweet sisters and a brother-in-law to look out for Beauty. The messages still come through so beautifully, that inner beauty can transform a person and the power of love. The magic/enchantment elements were well woven in, interesting without being unbelievable. I loved how Beauty's horse was a character unto himself, well thought out and described. I really enjoyed this version and am so glad I took a chance on it.
Review Date: 5/18/2016
I enjoyed it. It is a fast read and surprisingly good for the author's first novel. I liked the heroine and her strength in spite of difficult circumstances. I was pleasantly surprised that the switching between Amelia and William's perspectives was not distracting or confusing. It helped to understand the story and move it along. The fight scenes were exciting and interesting without being gory. I felt like the supporting characters (Sidney, Riley, Tobias, Dr. Spinner, Slushy) were well fleshed out and a great addition to the main characters. The book left me smiling and it was a clean sweet romance.
Review Date: 5/18/2016
I liked it, it was exciting, sad, interesting, so many things at once. It was a clean book without stuff that I didn't need to read about. The flashbacks to the past were informative enough without being distracted. I loved the time period and the representation of restrictions on women and what it would look like for one of them to challenge everything. Henry is amazing, real without being unbelievable. Kate's family mad me sad but it was believable and contributed much to who she was and what motivated her to be that way. I didn't understand the last scene with the grandfather, it was confusing and I would have preferred to leave with her first meeting with him in my mind. It was great though and I didn't want to put it down.
Review Date: 6/25/2016
Good story about things you can do that don't involve a tv or even electricity. About spending time together as a family and discovering the places you live and what is around you. The main character is a boy but illustrations make them look more girly to me so that was confusing.
Review Date: 5/18/2016
Interesting read, never heard the tale from the Grimm brothers before. I liked the journal style, it was clear who was "talking" the whole time. Dashti is a great character, committed to her role as a maid but not without her own strengths. She serves Saren but thinks too. I really like Tegus as well. I think I would go insane in a tower without a view of outside which is crazy because I love to be at home reading and not looking outside. Quick read and I liked the ending.
Review Date: 6/25/2016
I love the premise of this book and am glad I could find it at my library. My toddler had no problems with the fact that it has no pictures and went around the house quoting this book for days! So in that sense I suppose it was a hit. I, as an adult, feel absurd reading about "boo boo butt" and "head made of blueberry pizza" so for that reason I can't give it more than 3 stars.
Review Date: 8/19/2017
I kept feeling like I had read this for at least the first 1/3 of the book. Loved Nicholas throughout but never cared much for Emily who came across as shallow.
Liked the Bow Street Runner parts but it did increase the violence within the book. I'd say the book is half mystery with some romance. I didn't like how Wren's story was handled. Religious aspects were better integrated in this one than in The Captive Heart.
More detail with attempted rape than I wanted to read. 13 pages before the end Nicholas concludes all that happened but you have no idea how he figured out the details.
Liked the Bow Street Runner parts but it did increase the violence within the book. I'd say the book is half mystery with some romance. I didn't like how Wren's story was handled. Religious aspects were better integrated in this one than in The Captive Heart.
More detail with attempted rape than I wanted to read. 13 pages before the end Nicholas concludes all that happened but you have no idea how he figured out the details.
Review Date: 4/14/2017
I think I liked Ove better but this one was good too. One of the skills of the author in my opinion is writing characters you can picture, people with details about their lives without getting bogged down in it, so that you feel you live with them for a time.
At its heart Britt-Marie is about a person who has been living for someone else for so long she almost doesn't know herself. About an unlikely town and group of people who help her see what she wants from life. The story is about the desire in all of us as humans to be noticed and seen.
Chapter 29 had me literally shaking with laughter, I have no idea if that was the late hour at which I was finishing the book or just the way Britt-Marie is you just laugh sometimes. The sections with both Kent and Sven are pretty funny too. I waited the whole book to find out Somebody's name and am impressed that it really works to have her called Somebody when Britt-Marie is telling the story. I'm not sure it is really clear what becomes of Britt-Marie's life but you discover how she changed the course of the lives in Borg and that is more what the story is about anyway-the effect a person can have.
At its heart Britt-Marie is about a person who has been living for someone else for so long she almost doesn't know herself. About an unlikely town and group of people who help her see what she wants from life. The story is about the desire in all of us as humans to be noticed and seen.
Chapter 29 had me literally shaking with laughter, I have no idea if that was the late hour at which I was finishing the book or just the way Britt-Marie is you just laugh sometimes. The sections with both Kent and Sven are pretty funny too. I waited the whole book to find out Somebody's name and am impressed that it really works to have her called Somebody when Britt-Marie is telling the story. I'm not sure it is really clear what becomes of Britt-Marie's life but you discover how she changed the course of the lives in Borg and that is more what the story is about anyway-the effect a person can have.
Review Date: 8/19/2017
First read by this author. Interesting setting with an Englishwoman on the rugged frontier unprepared for the rigors of life there. I liked the idea of events directing you to an unforeseen future, living a life you didn't think you could have and realizing the blessings in it. Strong theme of redemption from previous life choices.
Loved Grace, she was a fun character to break up the seriousness of life. To me it never seemed that Eleanor really accepted the Cherokee part of Samuel, she was barely adjusting to the frontier lifestyle. Biz and Molly were nice additional characters.
Religious aspects didn't feel well woven into the story.
Lots of restrained passion, some kissing, essentially clean and left for the reader to understand the behind the scenes parts.
Loved Grace, she was a fun character to break up the seriousness of life. To me it never seemed that Eleanor really accepted the Cherokee part of Samuel, she was barely adjusting to the frontier lifestyle. Biz and Molly were nice additional characters.
Religious aspects didn't feel well woven into the story.
Lots of restrained passion, some kissing, essentially clean and left for the reader to understand the behind the scenes parts.
Review Date: 8/3/2016
A book about what happens while you are busy doing other things. I like Caterina and her lists, I think a lot of over organized parents can relate to her. She wants to have the perfect day at the beach and doesn't realize that to do that sometimes you have to go with the moment and not follow a list of to-do's.
Review Date: 7/21/2016
Very cute book, tons to look at in the colorful illustrations but even more important is the message of the book. Caterina loves lists, summer, and her scooter which breaks before the 1st page of the story. Appearing in the story with her is her little brother Leo. In order to get a shiny new scooter Caterina figures out how to raise money (a good concept for children to understand money doesn't appear because you want it)-a lemonade stand. However she isn't the only one in the area with the same idea. Instead of giving up Caterina goes a step farther to figure out how to set her lemonade stand apart from the rest. Again great lessons for children in persevering and thinking outside the norm. Her end result is creative and successful and when she gets the new scooter it is a beautiful message on the last page about why she wanted to get it. A wonderful story.
Review Date: 8/3/2016
About how no matter how much you plan, things often do not go according to plan. How to lean on friends and adjust when that happens. Caterina is a great character to teach important concepts to children. Illustrations are cute and fun to look at.
Review Date: 8/4/2017
I got to chapter 4 and got really confused about Maya & Ben, come to find out there is a book before this called Chances Are. Having not read that one I don't know how well they stand alone, I'm assuming this one is more of a sequel/extension of that one. That being said I liked this one once I established there was a bigger back story I was missing.
Some good messages about wanting to be noticed/loved for who you are, not what you do (in this case professional baseball). Also about determining what people are willing to do to make love work.
Has some medical and baseball scattered throughout, I know a little about both so I could mostly follow it but I read it more for the relationships. I loved the siblings Ben and Kari, they seemed really close and my only brother is named Ben lol. I also liked reading about the closeness of Kari & Maya and assume I would know more if I had realized there was another book with them in it.
Rushed courtship but seemed believable and sweet. Easy to imagine meeting someone on school break and then wondering how to make it work when busier schedules come back. Not my normal type of read but I liked it.
Some good messages about wanting to be noticed/loved for who you are, not what you do (in this case professional baseball). Also about determining what people are willing to do to make love work.
Has some medical and baseball scattered throughout, I know a little about both so I could mostly follow it but I read it more for the relationships. I loved the siblings Ben and Kari, they seemed really close and my only brother is named Ben lol. I also liked reading about the closeness of Kari & Maya and assume I would know more if I had realized there was another book with them in it.
Rushed courtship but seemed believable and sweet. Easy to imagine meeting someone on school break and then wondering how to make it work when busier schedules come back. Not my normal type of read but I liked it.
Review Date: 2/26/2017
Ugh, I'm trying to console myself with the fact that I cannot be the only one who picked this up based on the author. This book dragged and left me feeling weighted with ugly things. I wish I had saved myself the time. If swearing, nudity, extra-marital affair, supposed love at first site, pre-marital sex, violence, kidnapping, torture, and murder are your thing you'll find it all jammed into this. If they aren't please don't waste your time putting it all into your life because that is what you'll have at the end of this book.
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