The One by Keira Cass

As the Selection continues America and Maxon continue to acknowledge their attraction for each other, but both of them are afraid to let the other see their true feelings. Maxon still has 3 other girls to choose from which makes America doubt his care for her, therefore she is unable to express her true feelings for him for fear of becoming too vulnerable. At this point I want to say, blah blah blah! But THE ONE isn't all that bad. There still is the Southern rebellion making itself known to the castle, a meeting with new allies, the King and his continued threats to America to leave, Maxon and Aspen.

America still has not told Maxon about Aspen, so of course we know that is going to come and the fallout is not going to be pretty. For the most part I enjoyed reading THE ONE, but I am glad that the selection is now over. We have a winner, and I must say I am quite happy with how it all turned out.
 

*WARNING*

THE ONE did take a couple of turns into some bedroom scenes that I don't recall having in THE SELECTION or THE ELITE. Nothing graphic, but still a bit more sensual than the other two books. There was also some mild language used.

My Reviews of:

The Selection

The Elite


I would give all 3 books 5 hearts on their cover designs! They are all beautiful, but my favorite is the first one.

Four Weddings and a Kiss

 About the book:

In the Prologue a group of pastors are each going to take turns telling a young preacher about different couples and the difficulties they overcame to be together in an effort to convince the young man to put aside his reservations about the woman he is in love with.

MY REVIEWS:

Spitfire Sweetheart by Mary Connealy

In the first story Maizy MacGregor has been raised on a cattle ranch by her father. When new neighbor Rylan Carstens first meets her Maizy is in a pair of pants getting ready to go work out in the pastures. Rylan is stunned by his attraction to Maizy and covers it up by criticizing her appearance in men’s clothing. When an accident caused by Maizy brings the two into close proximity for weeks at a time Maizy’s father insists that she learn to act and dress like a lady, and Rylan is just the man to teach her. 

I enjoyed Maizy and Rylan’s story. I loved how Maizy was a take-charge kind of gal. Both Rylan and Maizy learned a good lesson on accepting and being who God created them to be.

A Love Letter to the Editor by Robin Lee Hatcher

Molly Everton’s father owns the local newspaper. Molly is upset when her father doesn’t hire her as the new editor. Instead he has hired Jack Ludgrove, a man that Molly is determined to run out of town and give her her rightful spot as editor.

Molly has had several suitors in her time but none have captured her heart. Jack has come west to find adventure and only plans on staying in town a couple of years. Will these two be able to deny the attraction they feel for each other in order to follow through with the plans they have for their own lives? 

A sweet story showing the reader that God’s plans are not always our plans, no, they are so much better! I enjoyed Molly and Jack’s story very much.

A Cowboy for Katie by Debra Clopton

Treb Rayburn is a rambler. He’s been all over and intends to continue to travel. His horse has just died and so he must find work to afford another horse and be on his way. While asking for a job in Midway, Texas a young woman named Katie Pearl pokes her head into the mercantile and hires him on the spot. Her father has just been killed in a tornado that went through their property and since then Katie has not been “right” in the head. People have taken to calling her “Crazy Katie”. She talks to herself and has run everyone off of her land with a gun. Treb is just the person she needs to help her rebuild her home. He’s a man who isn’t interested in stealing her land or in marrying her, a wanderer in need of money who will then move on. But they are both lonely souls without any family who find comfort in each other’s company. What will happen when Katie’s home is rebuilt and it is time for Treb to move on?

I loved Katie and Treb! Treb has demons of his own that he is carrying around, but he has made his peace with God. I love how he helps Katie not only rebuild her home, but also rebuild her confidence. His tenderness with her is touching. Of course I always love a feisty female character and Katie doesn’t disappoint. She carries a gun and a whip and she knows how to use them much better than some men that have come sniffing around her property! Yet there is a vulnerability about her that Treb is drawn to which adds a softness about her and allows his protectiveness to shine through. I think I would like to have read a longer version of their story.

Courting Trouble by Margaret Brownley 

Brock Daniels is a lawyer from Philadelphia now practicing in Colorado. When young Jesse comes into his office and offers him fifty-six cents to represent his mother in her upcoming trial. Grace Davenport is known among the townspeople as The Black Widow. After all her most recent husband to die was number 3! 

Brock agrees to take Grace’s case after he meets her. He can’t help but see her innocence. The last time Brock defended someone though they were wrongly found guilty and hung. Brock knows the law, but in such a small town the rumors have flown and everyone believes that Grace is guilty of murdering her husband. With the trial held in the local saloon, and disinterested drunks as jurors will Brock be able to prove that Grace did not kill her husband?

I really liked the characters in this story. I liked how Brock took Jesse under his wing and started teaching him the law. I liked how Jesse cared for his mother and wanted to defend her and protect her and always believed in her innocence. I thought the romance was a bit rushed, but what is a reader to expect in a short story?

Summary:

I enjoyed FOUR WEDDINGS AND A KISS very much. Each story was unique and fun to read. I loved all of the characters and found that I might have liked to read “more” of some of their stories. I liked how all of the stories were tied together by the Prologue of the pastors telling these stories to a young pastor that isn’t sure he can marry the woman he loves because she has some unconventional ways about her. The book ended with the Epilogue and this young pastor making up his mind about his lady love. 

Each short story can be purchased on Kindle separately.

Thank you to the publisher through BookLook Bloggers for my copy of the book for review. These are my own opinions. 

A Deadly Business by Lis Wiehl with April Henry

This is the second book in the Mia Quinn Mysteries. I enjoyed it very much. We learn more about how Mia's husband died and what he was up to before he died.

Charlie Carlson suggests to Mia that her husbands death was not an accident. Trying to balance her job and her home Mia now must also help Charlie investigate her husbands murder.

Mia is also feeling pressure from her boss who is running for re-election. When 3 teens dump a grocery cart off a bridge onto a woman's head Mia must decide whether they should be tried as juveniles or as adults. Her decision could ultimately lose the race for her boss.

Mia is under so much pressure with all of the situations going on that I found myself wondering how she didn't just break down.

The pace of the book moved along quickly. I was invested in the characters. I did find myself a little irritated at Mia's son Gabe. He has a bit of a rant at one point and I wanted to reach through the pages and shake him, but then had to realize that he too is going through a lot of stuff since his father died. I loved the suspense leading up to the conclusion of the book, I was definitely on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happens. There is a bit of attraction going on between Charlie and Mia and another lawyer and Mia. I'm hoping that those will develop in future books. My vote is for Charlie even though he has been married 3 times before!

Check out my review of the first book A MATTER OF TRUST.

Thanks to the publisher Thomas Nelson for my copy of the book for review. All opinions are my own.

Tic Tac Tome by Willy Yonkers

This 1444 page cube-sized book has hundreds of different scenarios to play Tic-Tac-Toe. It claims that it will beat you at Tic-Tac-Toe. It also claims to be able to provide hours of entertainment. I don't doubt the hours of entertainment because it is tempting to keep trying and trying to beat the book. But the handful of times that I tried different scenarios I always ended up with a "cats" game. The book never won and I never won. So while I did find it interesting, I think that I would get bored with it after a couple of games. My 7 year old grandson is going to have his tonsils taken out in a couple days so I am going to pass this on to him and I am hoping that it will give him hours of entertainment while he recuperates.

The Sunflower Blog Award

Melanie at Christian Bookshelf Review awarded my blog this Sunflower blogger Award. Thanks Melanie! I'll follow "some" of the rules. ;)

The rules:

1. Share 11 facts about yourself
2. Answer the 11 questions the previous blogger asked
3. Tag 11 bloggers and ask them 11 new questions

11 facts about me:

1. I'm not a great rule follower! So I'll be sharing #1 and #2 but will pass on #3 because I have seen this award going around and any blogger that I would give it to would already have received it from someone else.

2. I am a Grandma to 3 rambunctious kiddo's whom I love with all my heart.

3. I have loved reading since I was 10 years old.

4. I am under 5' tall.

5. My husband and my anniversary is coming up in July. We will be married 29 years.

6. I bake for the youth group at our church every other Wednesday evening.

7. I will be 49 in July and am wondering if it will bother me to be a year away from 50.

8. I am not a fan of being outdoors. I laughingly call myself a "cave-dweller".

9. I love quiet. I can sit in quiet for hours. My husband is the opposite. Even if he is reading he likes to have music playing or a movie going.

10. I love to crochet.

11. I'm not a great traveler. I want to go places, but I hate driving and I hate flying. I wish there were a way I could just blink my eyes and be in a place!

Melanie's Questions For Me:

1. What's the last book you bought?

I think it was THE ONE by Kiera Cass. It is still on my Kindle...unread :(

2. What's the last movie you watched?

I think the last one we watched was Frozen since we had our granddaughters with us for a week. Currently we are watching The Tribulation Force while my husband reads and I do this :)

3. What's your all-time favorite book cover?

I love the Lunar Chronicles covers. I don't know if I have ever thought of them as my favorite, but I do love them.

4. What's your favorite summer activity, besides reading? ;)

Staying in an air-conditioned place. I don't like outside activities, especially in the heat of summer. One of my favorite things to do all the time no matter what season is getting together with family.

5. What is one of the worst/most-boring movies you've seen?

Years and years ago my husband and a friend rented a movie called "When Women Had Tails" it was horrible just like the title would imply! That would be the worst. The most-boring is one I watched recently: Eat, Pray, Love. If you are a fan of that movie I apologize, but I was dying for the ending to come it was killing me it was so drawn out!

6. If you could spend a week anywhere in the world, where would you choose?

Not a big traveler/tourist so I would choose somewhere with family.

7. Sneakers or sandals?

Definitely sneakers. My legs and feet ache if I don't have the support.

8. The beach or the pool?

The beach. Not to swim in, because after all I have seen JAWS, but to walk along and listen to the waves crashing against the shore.

9. What's the last book that made you cry or laugh-out-loud?

I just finished reading FULL STEAM AHEAD by Karen Witemeyer that made me laugh-out-loud. I try not to read books that are going to make me cry.

10. What's your favorite candle scent?

I haven't burned candles in a while since I have bought some Scentsy burners. I love all kinds of scents. My favorites are the fruity ones. I'm not a fan of flowery or vanilla ones.

11. Do you have a favorite B&W movie?

I like Pride and Prejudice with Greer Garson, but for the most part I'm a color film person.

There you have it! Thanks once again Melanie for giving me this award. If you are a blogger and would like to participate in this post feel free to post on your blog and answer the questions that Melanie asked me, or come up with some of your own :) Share in the comments section.

Full Steam Ahead by Karen Witemeyer

Nicole Renard has known for years that her father was disappointed he never had a male heir. She has tried for years to make up for being a girl. When her family is threatened by a feud that has been going on for years Nicole agrees to find an heir for her father from among his shipping acquaintances. When her destination is suddenly changed Nicole improvises a plan that sends her to the doorstep of Darius Thornton.

Darius is being chased by demons of his own. He knows first-hand what happens when a boiler explodes on a steam ship. Obsessed with finding a way to prevent such explosions in the future he works night and day experimenting with dangerous explosions. Needing a secretary to keep his notes readable and legible he has advertised for a male secretary. Nicole is not what he has expected at all.

I enjoyed FULL STEAM AHEAD. As always with one of Karen Witemeyer's books there is a strong-quick-witted female character that makes me laugh. There is also always the element of danger and suspense. Two evil villains are after Nicole and they will stop at nothing to get what they want from her. Darius makes a great damsel in distress rescuer as well as the absent-minded professor that wakes up to the beauty right beside him. I always appreciate the faith aspect of Karen Witemeyer's books as well. If you are a fan of Karen Witemeyer's writing then I think this is a great addition to the collection.

Thanks to the publisher Bethany House through NetGalley for my copy to review.

The Seahorse Legacy by Serena Chase: REVIEW

ABOUT THE BOOK:

a Pirate

bound by a centuries-old oath

a Knight

determined to prove her calling

a Legacy

demanding surrender

As Keeper of the Seahorse Legacy, Cazien de Pollis is a King among pirates, divinely appointed to dispense justice on the seas. Bound by the sacred oath of a long-dead ancestor, he must fulfill a contract to wed the green-eyed Oracle’s Daughter named therein—or risk losing everything he and his people hold dear. But at nineteen, with the identity of his betrothed only recently revealed, Cazien resents the contract—and the urgency within him to see it satisfied.

Erielle de Gladiel returned from the quest for the Remedy, changed. Not only are her formerly-blue eyes now a brilliant shade of green, but she must don gloves to hide inky evidence that her prophetically-bestowed title, the Oracle’s Daughter, demands more from her than the task already completed. Erielle’s dearest-held dream is realized when she is knighted by her King, but unbeknownst to her, that very honor jeopardizes the prophesied purpose to which she and Cazien have been called.

Just as Cazien summons the courage to collect his bride, dark rumors and darker deeds crawl up the coasts, calling its guardians, the Seahorse Pirates, into action—and Cazien away from Erielle. But even though the Oracle’s Daughter knows nothing of the contract to which she has been consigned, Cazien’s enemies have somehow learned of his interest in Erielle. And if they reach her before his ancestor’s weighty oath is executed, the Seahorse Legacy will be forfeited . . . and darkness will be given reign.

Subtly paying homage to several classic tales including Peter Pan, Robin Hood, The Little Mermaid, Much Ado About Nothing, and even The Three Little Bears, THE SEAHORSE LEGACY begins an epic re-imagining of the classic Grimm fairy tale, The Twelve Dancing Princesses which will conclude in Eyes of E’veria, Book 4: THE SUNKEN REALM. 

My Review:

Excuse me a moment while I gush…I.LOVE.THIS. BOOK!! Author Serena Chase knows how to make a person feel like they are right smack in the middle of the action with her writing! With descriptions like the odiferousness of The Men of Duroc, which had me wrinkling my nose at their stench, to the very vivid action sequences and the fun wordplay between Cazien and Erielle, THE SEAHORSE LEGACY is my favorite so far of the Eyes of E’veria series. 

PIRATES!!! Who can resist them? Especially Cazien de Pollis! I happen to love this particular pirate because he actually seems handsome enough to turn heroine Erielle’s head. He’s witty, and sneaky and actually honorable in that he really does wish to keep the Legacy even though it requires so much of him. Newly knighted Erielle starts out being a bit immature, but by the end of the story I think that her experiences will mature her but not break her. 

Of course there are the “bad guys” throughout the story. There are a couple such characters that I wanted to reach through and smack for Erielle’s sake! One being an uncouth knight who dances like a clod and the other being Cazien’s half-brother whom I’m afraid is going to be a fly in the ointment. But these two characters are mild compared to the smelly Men of Duroc and other pirates out to capture a bargaining chip to use against the Seahorse Captain.

Vivid and descriptive writing set this reader right in the middle of the story and had me staying up way past my bedtime to find out what happens. I found my heart racing and my blood pounding through my veins as the ending neared. Now I’m afraid I am going to find myself stuck on The Meredith(Cazien’s ship) until book 4 comes out in 2015. Not a bad place to be stuck let me guarantee you! 

See post below for contest entries!!