When I Fall in Love by Susan May Warren {Litfuse Blog Tour!}

My Review:
An endearing, sweet release from Warren!

I have loved every second spent with the Christiansen family, and let me say, When I Fall in Love is really close to topping Take a Chance on Me. Honestly, Grace and Max were amazing and their story reminded me how much I love Ms. Warren's books! Not to mention most of their story unfolds on the beaches of Hawaii? And who doesn't love that idea? I admit, though, I'd react to the long plane ride much like Grace does...

But moving on, I was pleasantly surprised by the depth and personality inside Max, Grace, Casper, and even Raina. Out of the characters I've named, I think Max is my favorite. His struggles and his fears came across the page and struck me. I sympathized for him more than the other characters. In a similar way, I felt like I related to Grace more. While we do not share many of the same traits, there are a few that we have in common, and it's enough to endear me to her.

I love how as Ms. Warren tells one story, she begins another. It makes the story world feel almost 3-D. While something is happening with Raina and Casper, we know that Max and Grace are having fun doing something in Hawaii. It adds a realistic touch to the whole novel and it doesn't give only two characters the spotlight.

All this said, I easily recommend this novel to fans of Ms. Warren's other work and fans of the age fifteen or older. If you're looking for a relaxing, sweet book to read during the afternoon, When I Fall in Love is an excellent choice.

I received this book from Tyndale through Litfuse in return for an honest review of my opinions, which I have done. Thanks!!

Back Cover:
Hawaii was the last place Grace Christiansen ever imagined she’d vacation, much less fall in love. But when her family surprises her with a cooking retreat in paradise, she is pulled—or maybe yanked—away from her predictable, safe life and thrown headfirst into the adventure of a lifetime.

Max Sharpe may make his living on the ice as a pro hockey player, but he feels most at home in the kitchen. Which is why he lives for the three-week culinary vacation he takes each year in Hawaii. Upon being paired with Grace for a cooking competition, Max finds himself drawn to her passion, confidence, and perseverance. But just when Grace dares to dream of a future beyond her hometown, Max pulls away.

Wrestling with personal demons, Max fights against opening his heart to a love he knows he should never hope for. And as his secrets unfold, Grace is torn between the safe path in front of her and what her heart truly desires. If love means sacrificing her ideal happily ever after, Grace’s faith will face its toughest test yet.
Susan May Warren's newest book in the Christiansen Family Collection, When I Fall In Love,  has won over readers' and critics' hearts alike. With critical reviews like, ". . . an exquisite romance. Profoundly touching on the topic of facing fears, this book is a true gem," and more than 60 five-star reviews at Amazon, When I Fall in Love is sure to please.

Susan has teamed up with some amazing food bloggers for a fun food challenge and a KitchenAid Mixer giveaway!

  One grand prize winner will receive:

• A KitchenAid Mixer
• The first three books in the Christiansen Family Collection.
• Melissa Ringstaff’s Kitchen Planner
• Jackie Brown's Freezer Inventory sheet

Grab your aprons and wire whisks and buzz on over to the When I Fall in Love website to learn more and enter the Hawaiian Chef Showdown! Susan is challenging you to make a Hawaiian-inspired dish using coconut, mango, or one of the other ingredients mentioned in the book. You’ll get extra points for creating your own recipe—plus she might share it on the When I Fall in Love site! Or if you're not up for an adventure in the kitchen just click one of the icons below for easy entry.

Hurry, the giveaway ends on August 10th. All winners will be announced August 13th at Susan's blog.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to visit Susan's blog on the 13th to see if you won!

Happy Saturday!! {Winner!}

Hey all! Summer is in full swing and I can't believe Fall is already on the horizon. Unfortunately, college has kept this girl pretty busy and that won't change until my Graduation next spring. Bear with me, friends. Starting in October, I simply will not have time anymore to read and review books. This saddens me a great deal as I will miss the blog, the books, and most importantly, the people, a whole lot. The positive side to this is that I know when I'll be back. If all goes well, I shall be back from my seven-month hiatus May 2015. Thankfully, October is still two an a half months away! ;-D

Now that we're past that little update let's uncover who won my INSPY giveaway!

*drumroll*

Jillian H.!

I have already been in contact with Jillian and will be mailing her book to her within a week or so. Thanks to all who entered and promoted the giveaway! Have a blessed weekend!

Mini-Reviews {INSPYs}

Hey, everyone!

As you probably noticed, this past weekend the winners of the INSPY awards were announced! I was very blessed to be a part of the General Fiction judging panel this year and I'm already looking forward to next year! ;-D Anyway, now that the winners have been announced I thought I would write up some quick mini-reviews of the five nominated books, including the winner. Stick around, there's a surprise at the bottom!

I'm going to start off with the other books and save the winner for last. Sound good? Great, here we go.

Iscariot by Tosca Lee

Personally, I LOVED Iscariot! It shows that Ms. Lee did her research on Jewish customs and traditions. She doesn't give us too much information and keeps the balance right. Having done some study on Jewish feasts, this book was fascinating for me. However, I recommend this book with caution. I suggest readers to be sixteen-seventeen or older due to some minor content in the novel.

Widow of Gettysburg by Jocelyn Green

Widow of Gettysburg was probably my favorite novel out of the five. I connected with Liberty off the bat. I also really enjoyed the historical setting/fresh look at the war and those impacted. I studied the Civil War in depth for school last year and it was nice to see such accuracy and care taken. I highly recommend this novel to historical fiction lovers out there. 

To Know You by Shannon Ethridge and Kathryn Mackel

I struggled with To Know You. While the theme and underlying message were great, I didn't connect with the characters easily. This book is written for an age group above me, and this contributed to my struggle. It also took me time to adjust to the head-jumping/many points of view. Nonetheless, I believe that women anywhere from their early-to-mid-twenties and up will enjoy this book and get a lot out of it. 

When Mountains Move by Julie Cantrell

Unfortunately, I have not read the first in this series. If I had, reading this book might have been easier on me. Cantrell's characters are well formed and the story is well developed but overall, the book fell short due to some confusion at the start. That being said, I plan on going back and reading the first book to hopefully get a better grasp on Millie and her past. I recommend this novel to those who enjoy reading historical fiction, particularly the late 1930s and early 1940s. 

Last, but not least, the INSPY winner! 

Wings of Glass by Gina Holmes

Wings of Glass is written as the main character telling a story. Ms. Holmes truly made Penny and her friends come alive off the page. It probably wasn't easy penning a story about spousal abuse. For me, this book was hard to read at times, due to some of Penny's idiotic decisions. However, I'm sure that any woman under Penny's circumstances might have done the same thing. I do not recommend this book lightly, the topic is a hard one to swallow at times but if you're up for it then by all means read it! 

To celebrate Wings of Glass receiving the INSPY award, I'm giving away a copy of the book! Enter using the Rafflecopter below. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*I received all the books for the INSPYs from their publishers, thanks!

{Book Review:} Mark of Distinction by Jessica Dotta

First off, I am getting this review up terribly late. My sincerest apologies to Tyndale and Ms. Dotta!! 

My Review:

A lovely story reminiscent of the classics! 

Mark of Distinction is technically the second in a so-far marvelous series. I have not had the privilege of reading the first, but I will be remedying this. That being said, it did take extra effort to get into the story, but once I was sufficiently hooked there was little stopping me from turning the page. Dotta writes a marvelous story in a fresh, new perspective.

At times, my like for Julia, the main character, swung back and forth like a pendulum. I couldn't figure her out! There were times I wanted to comfort her and times I wanted to shake her. This is probably the trait that makes her a good character, no matter how frustrating. She definitely is indecisive and I didn't like some of the choices she made. 

Nonetheless, I have to gush about Isaac for a moment. Talk about the perfect gentleman! I think it's safe to say I much prefer Isaac as a suitor for Julia over Edward; although I haven't read the first book so maybe that will change my opinion. Isaac is pretty awesome though... Ahem, moving on. 

I am truly impressed and in awe with Ms. Dotta's fantastic piece of art. I cannot believe we must wait until next year for the conclusion!! It seems an eternity to wait after such a ending. Before I close out this review, I will say the story had a dark/depressing atmosphere for the whole novel, adding to the Gothic feel. I highly and easily recommend this novel to readers familiar with Bronte and Gothic fiction at least fifteen or older. 

I received this book from the Tyndale Blog Network in return for an honest review of my opinions, which I have done. Thanks!

Back Cover:

London is said to be the glittering jewel of society, a world unto itself—but to Julia Elliston it is a city of shadows. Her life is swiftly dissolving into scandal. And in Victorian society, even a whisper of scandal—substantiated or not—can be the death of a young woman’s reputation.

When Julia discovers that Lord Roy Pierson, her guardian and one of most influential men in England, is the father she has never met, she begrudgingly accepts his protection. But Chance Macy’s power is far-reaching as well.

Thrust into society as the Emerald Heiress, Julia is the toast of London, a celebrated curiosity. But in reality she’s trapped between the clutches of two powerful men. Aided only by a gentleman whose intentions she prays she can trust, Julia must finally take control of her own fate—but outwitting one’s foe rarely goes according to plan.

It Had to be You by Susan May Warren {Tyndale Blog Tour!}

My Review:
Another sweet, endearing story from Warren!

In this Christansen family novel, we watch Eden grow and figure out where God wants her to be. I really liked the little bit of Eden we saw in Take a Chance on Me, and I was so excited to read her story. I don't know what I expected, but I wasn't let down in the least. I can't say it quite topped Darek and Ivy's and Jensen and Claire's story though.

Eden is a cheerleader. Not literally, of course. She's the mother hen who doesn't want to see her chick, or her little brother, fail or get hurt. I admired this aspect of her character. It's a big sister trait, I think. But just like any older sibling, they all must learn to let their little sibling stand on their own two feet. It is no easy lesson.

At first I really disliked Jace, but then he grew on me, and it was too hard not to like him. Except when he had a momentary lapse of judgement and I wanted to slap him... Ahem. Anyway, I loved watching him come into his own, watching him mature. All main characters grow in a book whether or not it is obvious. In the same way, I feel like Jace was a classic case of someone misunderstood, thanks to the media. To me, it's simply the truth that you can't judge someone by their cover.

All in all, I totally enjoyed reading about Eden and Jace. I can't wait to see which Christansen is up next! I recommend this book to fans new and old of Warren's work ages sixteen and up. This book is geared more for women than teenage girls so keep that in mind. :-)

I received this book from Tyndale in return for an honest review of my opinions, which I have done. Thanks!

Back Cover:
Eden Christiansen never imagined her role as her younger brother Owen's cheerleader would keep her on the sidelines of her own life. Sure, it feels good to be needed, but looking after the reckless NHL rookie leaves little time for Eden to focus on her own career. She dreamed of making a name for herself as a reporter, but is stuck writing obits--and starting to fear she doesn't have the chops to land a major story. If only someone would step up to mentor Owen . . . but she knows better than to expect help from team veteran and bad-boy enforcer Jace Jacobsen.Jace has built his career on the infamous reputation of his aggressive behavior--on and off the ice. Now at a crossroads about his future in hockey, that reputation has him trapped. And the guilt-trip he's getting from Eden Christiansen isn't making things any easier. But when Owen's carelessness leads to a career-threatening injury and Eden stumbles upon a story that could be her big break, she and Jace are thrown together . . . and begin to wonder if they belong on the same team after all.

About the Author:
Susan May Warren is the RITA award-winning novelist of over thirty novels. A five-time Christy award finalist, a two-time RITA Finalist, she’s also a multi-winner of the Inspirational Readers Choice award, and the ACFW Carol Award.

A seasoned women’s events speaker, she’s a popular writing teacher at conferences around the nation and the author of the beginning writer’s workbook: From the Inside-Out: discover, create and publish the novel in you!.

She is also the founder of www.MyBookTherapy.com, a story-crafting service that helps authors discover their voice. You can find her online atwww.susanmaywarren.com.

You can read a Q&A with the author HERE!

Heart of the Country by Rene Gutteridge and John Ward {Tyndale Blog Tour!}

My Review:
A heartfelt story of overcoming one's past.

Faith and Luke have a fairytale life... until Luke is arrested for being a part of a Ponzi scheme. He claims he wasn't involved, but admits to his knowledge of the scheme. Frustrated and angry, Faith packs a suitcase and walks out the door going to the place she once called home. 

This story hooked me on the first page and made it hard to put down. Conflict loomed on every page, I truly didn't know what direction the story was headed. I went from page to page curious to the outcome. There were many instances I was concerned emotions would be downplayed or overdone; however, the authors handled each character with delicacy and stayed true to life.

That being said, some situations in the book were confusing and didn't make sense, such as Luke's role with the Michov Brothers. It was probably due to all the head jumping. Thankfully, when I watched the movie, it clarified what was going on. Other than that, I enjoyed the writing and depth to the plot and story, something that can't be shown on screen.

To sum up, I enjoyed the book a lot, but the movie let me down. You wouldn't think there would be so many differences or nuances, especially when the screenplay writer helps write the novelization. Yes, I like my movies to stay true to my books and in this case the saying is true, the book is always better than the movie.

I received this book from Tyndale in return for an honest review of my opinions, which I have done. Thanks!

Back Cover:
Faith and Luke Carraway have it all. Faith is a beautiful singer turned socialite while Luke is an up-and-coming successful businessman. After taking his inheritance from his father's stable, lucrative business to invest in a successful hedge fund with the Michov Brothers, he's on the fast track as a rising young executive, and Faith is settling comfortably into her role as his wife. When rumors of the Michovs' involvement in a Ponzi scheme reach Faith, she turns to Luke for confirmation, and he assures her that all is well. But when Luke is arrested, Faith can't understand why he would lie to her, and she runs home to the farm and the family she turned her back on years ago. Meanwhile, Luke is forced to turn to his own family for help as he desperately tries to untangle himself from his mistakes. Can two prodigals return to families they abandoned, and will those families find the grace to forgive and forget? Will a marriage survive betrayal when there is nowhere else to run but home?

The Prayer Box by Lisa Wingate

My Review:
A compelling, heartfelt, story!

It's safe to say I have not read a book like this one ever before, and I mean that in the best way possible. Wingate shares with us two stories separated by time. She artfully weaves Iola Anne's story into Tandi's in an intriguing way that pulled me deeper within the pages. The use of letters and a prayer box is such a beautiful concept!

Before I ramble about Tandi, I want to focus on Iola for a moment. This woman is amazing, generous, and compassionate. Her heart is so big. She doesn't even judge or feel any kind of bitterness toward her neighbors for how they treat her. That is simply amazing. People like Iola in real life are few and far between. We as readers need to learn from this wonderful fictional lady.

As for Tandi... Wow. She's been through so much. She has this strength within her, that she doesn't realize is there. Her life is truly messed up, but as she meets her landlady, through her landlady's prayer boxes, she is slowly transformed from the inside out. I don't want to spill too much, but I like watching positive actions get positive results.

To conclude, The Prayer Box fell short of my expectations by a small amount. I requested this book without realizing it is geared for women a generation older than I. Nonetheless, I found it a good read and Wingate's writing is up to par in her latest release.

I received this book from the publisher in return for an honest review of my opinions, which I have done. Thanks!

Back Cover:
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.

Take a Chance on Me by Susan May Warren {Tyndale Blog Tour!}

My Review:
What an amazing, heart-squeezing, read!


After reading so many great things about Warren's writing, I opted to give her a shot when Tyndale offered up her latest book Take a Chance on Me for review. I am glad to report that I loved the book! Tiger, Darek's son, is A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E! I loved reading about Darek caring for him, it was so sweet and helped endear me to Darek after he was so grumpy in those opening chapters.

Ivy, our heroine, really brings to life the sad realities of our foster care system. I really connected with her sweet personality and love for helping other people. I also really liked how over the course of the novel Warren showed her slowly allowing herself to accept God's unconditional love. I hope we get more glimpses of her in the next Christiansen Family novel, Walk on By, because I truly enjoyed reading about her.

With two primary couples heading the storyline, I thought for sure it would put me off. But it didn't. I found myself completely waist deep in both of their stories and wouldn't change a thing. I'm in love with the small town of Deep Haven and I can't wait to get my hands on some of Warren's earlier works. Fans new and old should enjoy this one!

I received this book from Tyndale in return for an honest review of my opinions, thanks!

Back Cover:
Darek Christiansen is almost a dream bachelor—oldest son in the large Christiansen clan, heir to their historic Evergreen Lake Resort, and doting father. But he’s also wounded and angry since the tragic death of his wife, Felicity. No woman in Deep Haven dares come near.

New assistant county attorney Ivy Madison simply doesn’t know any better when she bids on Darek at the charity auction. Nor does she know that when she crafted a plea bargain three years ago to keep Jensen Atwood out of jail and in Deep Haven fulfilling community service, she was releasing the man responsible for Felicity’s death. All Ivy knows is that the Christiansens feel like the family she’s always longed for. And once she gets past Darek’s tough exterior, she finds a man she could spend the rest of her life with. Which scares her almost as much as Darek learning of her involvement in his wife’s case.

Caught between new love and old grudges, Darek must decide if he can set aside the past for a future with Ivy—a future more and more at risk as an approaching wildfire threatens to wipe out the Christiansen resort and Deep Haven itself.

Go here to read the first chapter!

Damascus Countdown by Joel C. Rosenburg (Tyndale)

My Review:
Oh. My. Word.

I am saddened at how long it took me to read one of Joel's books! This was a fantastic read! As a big thriller/suspense fan, Damascus Countdown is perfect for me. My mom has always told me how good his books were, but I always shrugged it off because of other priorities. I should have listened sooner, for sure!

While this is the last in this series and I have not read the first two, I did not feel like I was missing anything or confused at all. This book is so well written that I'm taking notes for myself as a writer! An admirable trait in any book, Rosenburg thickens the plot and raises the stakes to unimaginable heights. Right when you think things can't get worse, they do. It's classic and awesome.

The main hero in this trilogy to my knowledge is David Shirazi, alias Reza Tabrizi. He's a CIA deep undercover agent in Iran trying to prevent a war... until, that is, the Israelis start one barely a chapter into the novel. Then his new mission is to find the two nukes that the Israelis didn't get in their attack and deactivate them. I found him to be very likable and very real to me.

Rosenburg takes a serious look at prophesies in the Old Testament and applies them to his fictional today. I cannot fathom the research that has gone into this but it is all worth it. I won't drag out this review too much farther, but I will say that I wouldn't recommend this to younger teens or anyone who doesn't love a good thriller. But if you do, I'd recommend you check out this series. I know I'll be reading The Twelfth Imam and The Tehran Initiative in the next few weeks. :-)

I received this book from Tyndale in return for an honest review of my opinions, which I have done. Thanks!

Back Cover (from Tyndale):
All eyes are on the Middle East. Israel has successfully launched a first strike on Iran, taking out all of their nuclear sites and six of their nuclear warheads—and causing The Twelfth Imam to order a full-scale retaliation. US President William Jackson threatens to support a UN Security Council resolution condemning the Jewish State for unprovoked and unwarranted acts of aggression.

Meanwhile, CIA operative David Shirazi has infiltrated the Iranian regime and intercepted information indicating that two Iranian nuclear warheads survived the attack and have been moved to a secure and undisclosed location. In danger not only from the ongoing missile strikes on Iran but also from the increasingly hostile and suspicious governments of multiple countries, David and his team are in a race against time to find the remaining nuclear warheads before disaster strikes.

Les Misérables (Tyndale)

My Review: 
In light of the new Les Mis movie, I jumped at the chance to review this Audio drama from Tyndale.

Focus on the Family takes the book written by Victor Hugo and turns it into a marvelous story you can listen to with the whole family. (It recommends ages 12+.) I loved the cast, they were wisely chosen and well suited to their roles.

Les Miserables is a moving story of redemption, forgiveness, and doing the right thing even when you don't want to. Jean Valjean, convicted for stealing some bread, served nineteen years for his crime. Now back out in the world, no one will accept him. He gets set back on the straight and narrow by a kind priest. Jean then goes out to change his life, hoping to leave the name Jean Valjean behind forever.

Having never read the book, it was fascinating to see what parts of Les Mis were not included in the musical. I was glad to see there wasn't much cut for the musical, and that what was cut or changed wasn't crucial to the story.

All in all, this was a great listen! If you have older children, this might be a fun thing to play for the family before you go see the movie. It's about three hours total. (Great for car rides!)

I received this audio drama from Tyndale in return for an honest review of my opinions.