Review of a Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke (Book 1)

Brief Synopsis: 

Hannah Swensen, a born raised Minnesotan has always been known in her little town of Lake Eden as the resident banker. However, when a murder occurs and her close friend is killed she volunteers to do some detective work to help catch the killer. But this task is not easy when until detective work is done everyone in this small little town is considered a suspect. Will Hannah be able to uncover who the real murder is in time to stop them from hurting anyone else or will she just put her self in harms way? Can Hannah survive her mother running her love life? 

My Review:

After reading an ARC of A Blackberry Pie murder I was very much interested in reading the rest of the series starting with the first book. I think that Joanne did a great job of developing the back story on the main character Hannah and setting the scene of the book in Lake Eden. However, I felt that book fell short of what I was expecting as there was just too much fluff put in the book between the two murders in the book. I think this fluff was when she stuck too much time in to the different people she investigated for the murder. I felt either the chapters could have been slimmed down or combined into one chapter.

In addition, I felt like the author gave a little too much back story on Hannah's sister Andrea. If Andrea would have played a bigger part in the book then i would have totally understood. However, she only came in to the story three, maybe four times in the whole book.

Lastly, the last part that I felt the author could have spent more time on was when she had the murder divulge why they killed two people. It had very little lead up to it happening which was weird considering of how the rest of the book was read.

All in all for a first book in the series I would consider it a decent book but not one that I would read again. I think that the rest of the series is worth reading as I have read a later book in the series and had liked that one better. I definitely think Joanne created the perfect character in this book series and we will just have to continue to read the books to see how she continues to have Hannah grow and see her love life flourish.

Review of A Worthy Pursuit by Karen Witemeyer

Synopsis:

Charlotte Atherton has only cared about one thing, the safety of the children that she watched over at Sullivan's Academy. So when the school closes and three of her students are out of a place to live and are in danger of being sent to an orphanage, Charlotte does the only thing that she can think of.... She takes the three children and escapes in the middle of the night. The only problem is that one of the children Lily is considered kidnapped because her grandfather wants to take her home. Will Charlotte be able to protect the children with out the security of the school?

Stone Hammond, the best known tracker in Texas is hired by Lily's grandfather to retrieve his granddaughter and bring her back. Stone doesn't think twice when the thought of a child being held against their will. However, when Stone arrives he quickly learns that things aren't always as they have been told. Can Stone uncover the real truth? Will he be able to protect Charlotte and the kids but also get justice served? Will Charlotte be able to trust someone other than herself?

My Review:

I received this ARC book courtesy of Bethany House publishers in exchange for an honest non-biased review. This is the first story that I have read of Karen Witemeyer's so I was not familiar of her style of writing. I found that Karen did a great job of developing the characters. By her description and backstory on the characters you as the reader were able to understand the better and why they acted the way they did.

In addition, I enjoyed how she incorporated the history of the time into the scenery so that you really felt like you were back in time. From the description of the clothes to the food they ate. Each item you could tell was well researched and though of to be incorporated into the book.

Lastly, the thing that I enjoyed most about this book was that it incorporated a couple different of styles from christian fiction to historical fiction, romance, mystery and action. This was the first time that I read a christian fiction book that incorporated the styles. By Karen doing this it really made her stand out among similar books.

I would definitely recommend this book to my family, friends and readers that enjoy romance, faith, action and mystery in books. I finished this book in 3 days and if I didn't have to work and sleep would have finished it sooner!

Review of Ever after by Jude Deveraux

Summary

Ever since Hallie could remember her life has always revolved around one thing, her step sister Shelly. However, that all changes when she is given the opportunity to inherit a house in Nantucket and a new job. But with all new and exciting things comes challenges and for Hallie that challenge that comes in the form of her newest patient James Taggert. Will Hallie be able to make her stamp in this new place and new house or will her past catch up with her? 

James Taggert has always had everything and anything a child could ever want when he was younger so when he is given the opportunity to give back by joining the army he jumps at the chance. Things continue to go well for him in his career until while serving overseas his jeep is hit by an IED and all of his comrades are killed and he is badly injured. After not really completely healing from his war injury he is involved accident while skiing and sent to Nantucket to recuperate. James is against this and believes he will back on a plane to Colorado to recover until he meets Hallie and her no bullshit attitude arrive. Will James be able to open his heart and let Hallie in to help him heal? Can James make Hallie believe that someone can love her over his step sister? 

My Review:

I received an ARC of Ever After by the publisher Penguin in exchange for an honest non biased review.

This is the 3rd book that I have read in this series by Jude.  As was done in previous books in this series, Jude did a great job of developing both the characters and the background of this book. She really had you understand both Hallie and James back story so that you understand why their personalities were the way they were.

Another key aspect of this book that I thought was very interesting was when she got into PTSD and how it affects veterans and those around them. It really makes you think as a reader how it not only affects the veterans but also the family members and if untreated can result in bad things. PTSD however was not the only aspect that Jude dove into with this book. She also touched upon over bearing mothers and non existent fathers and how the way they treat their children when they are younger can affect how they turn out.

All in all I was very impressed with this book and I am interested to see who Jude has be the main characters in her next book in this series. I can definitely see this series going on for a long time as there a characters that were brought up in this book that can be used in future ones.

I would encourage readers that like romance and drama stories to read this book. I think this book touches on all these aspects and much more.

Review of A Love Like Ours by Becky Wade

Summary

Jake Porter has always only loved one person his whole life, Lyndie James. As children they did everything today up until the day Lyndie and her family had to move from Texas to California. Jake moved on with his life by graduating from high school and joining the marines. However, things took an ugly turn years later when Jake was involved with an accident when he is away on tour that leaves a couple of his fellow marines dead and Jake badly scarred on the face. After arriving home to his brothers ranch Jake finds solace in being alone and training horses. That is until he hears Lyndie James is back in town....

Lyndie James returns to Holley, Texas with two things on her mind. Finding a job working with Thoroughbreds and finding love. Things begin to start looking up for her as she finds a job on the Porters ranch training horses wither childhood best friend. However, Jake is no longer the boy that she remembers but rather a man with secrets and scars.

Will Lyndie be able to work her way in to Jakes heart? Can Jake get beyond his past and the fears he has to open himself up to love? 

My Review:

I received and ARC of this book from Bethany House Publishers for a honest, non biased review. This is the second book that I have read of Becky's and I was worried that I was not going to like it. However, that was not the case. I really enjoyed learning about another of the Porter men and see his love for Lyndie grow from the beginning of the book to the end. 

Becky does a great job of bringing in well developed characters and setting a great scene. As a reader you get to really know the characters and feel like you really know them. An item that I also enjoy about Becky's books are these four items: Family, Faith, Friends and romance. She is able to weave those items through out the book which makes it that stronger of a book. 

Another great aspect of this book was the incorporation of Lyndie's sister Mollie! I really enjoyed seeing the closeness that Lyndie and her sister had. It showed that family really is one of the most important things in life that can either keep a family together or tear them apart. 

I guess if I had to find one item in this book that I did not care for was that they really didn't have an ending to Amber and Will's story. I got really hooked on that couple as well so I wanted to see what happened with them. I really felt like that story could have had more added or even in its own book.

I recommend this book to readers of all ages and those that like stories that have laughter, sadness and love! Below are a couple of my favorite quotes: 

"Lyndie saw the perfect symmetry of it then. If she and Jake were irrevocably linked together then of course God had intended them equally for the good of the other. Her for him. Him for her."

"A bleak and unholy light inhabited Jake's eyes. It was more than enough to cause an old lady to have a heart attack, a young girl to run from him in fear, and a thirty-year-old with a dreamer's heart to want to love him so much and so relentlessly that he'd have no choice but to come back to life."

Review of To Win Her Favor by Tamera Alexander

Summary

Maggie Linden has always had three constant things in her life, horses, her home and her father. So when the threat of her losing one of those she agrees to her fathers request, which is to marry Irish born Cullen McGrath. In return for the marriage her father agrees to let her race thoroughbred.

Cullen McGrath used to have it all, a wife and a child. Sadly because of terrible his mistake his brother made back home he was forced to leave with his family to come to america. Little did he know that they would not make it through the journey as they would fall ill. With no family to speak of Cullen tries to find a home so that he can build a new life. However, quickly he finds that no one will give him the time or the chance until he meets Maggie Linden's father. In exchange for marrying his daughter, Mr. Linden agrees to sell his land to Cullen.

Will Cullen and Maggie learn to work together to build a family and a home? Can two people from two different backgrounds learn to love each other?

My Review:

I received an ARC of the book "To Win Her Favor from Tamera and her publishing company in return for an honest unbiased review. I think that Tamera did a  great job of setting the scene of the book. By setting a great scene it allowed you to feel like you are living in the same period with the characters. In addition, she did a great job of developing both of the main characters in the beginning thus allowing you to understand them better once you got further in the story. It was also interesting to see how the characters changed from the beginning to the end. They truly had evolved from beginning to end.

Another part of the story that I found interesting and actually kept me wanting to read the book and finish it was the story that they had with the end of slavery and how even though they were free they were still be targeted. I think she did a good job of keeping it interesting but also staying true to the time and making it as realistic as possible.

I think all in all it was a great historical fictional romance story that I would recommend to all readers. I think it incorporates romance, history and family.

Can't wait to read the next book in the series.

Special Interview by Melissa Tagg with Donovan McNabb's Mom & Giveaway

Hi Everyone -

Check out this great interview that Melissa Tagg did with retired NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb's mom Wilma. Also enter for a chance on her website to win a great prize. Following the link below to get to this interview: 

Melissa Tagg interview with Wilma McNabb 

Review of From the Start by Melissa Tagg

From the Start by Melissa Tagg 

Summary:

Every girl dreams of living happily ever after with their prince. Kate Walker is no different all she has ever wanted was true love and to write meaningful stories. However, things don't go as planned as Kate is single and writing T.V. romance screen plays. Life, however, has other plans for her when she gets a call after a devastating tornado reacts havoc on her little town of Maple Valley.  So she drops everything and rushes home to be there for her family and friends and hopes it will give her guidance on what she should do next.

Colton Greene has only ever planned on one thing continuing in his life and that was football. However, things change when he is permanently sideline in the NFL after a career ending injury. Lost and not sure what to do he accepts a call from a college friend to help clean up the small town destroyed by a Tornado.

Fate has brought Kate and Colton together to help rebuild a town and their hearts. Will Kate be able to open her heart to love or will she remain closed off to everyone. Can Colton get past his career ending and find out what he should do with his life?

My Review

I received this ARC book from Bethany House Publishers for an honest unbiased review.

This is the first book that I have read of Melissa Tagg's. I think Melissa did a great job of building the back story of the two main characters, Kate and Colton. By doing this it allowed the me, the reader to understand their personalities better which was helpful once you got further in the story. In addition, to doing a great job of building a great back story for both characters she did a great job of setting the scene of the book. Melissa made you feel that you were part of the small town of Maple Valley.

I also really enjoyed reading this story because it had a great pace. It didn't feel like the story was too short or too long. Melissa also did a great job of throwing in the love, romance and heartbreak aspects in this book which I think ultimately makes a great romance if you have all of these in a book.

Lastly, I think Melissa did a great job of incorporating faith and God in the book. It never felt like what she was writing was not believable or unreachable. It truly felt like something that could happen to me or someone else I know. It really added to the story rather than hindering it which I have seen in the past.

I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy reading books about love, romance, and faith. You will not be disappointed and it will leave you wanting to read more stories about the characters in the book.