Thank you to Bethany House for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Jen Turano has been one of my favorite authors for years now and each book is just as good as the last. She never fails to create believable and hilarious situations for her characters to get into. While we may be in a different time that bustles getting stuck to couches might not be common - unless you are in the theater world... cause who knows? - we each deal with things that are as hilariously random that seem like they belong in a fiction story than reality. It is the way of life.
The way the story flows shows the mark of a great writer. There is never a dull moment and many funny, lively, warm, funny, and captivating - did I mention funny? - characters to wiggle their way into your heart to stay - characters like Gertrude, Mrs. Davenport, Mabel and Henrietta, Asher and Permilia, Temperance, Harrison, and more. Each have their own unique personality that Jen Turano manages to capture rather perfectly as you are able to picture each with perfect clarity.
I really did like this book, though Permilia's book was more my favorite only because of her antics. Out of the Ordinary fits in well with the other one. If you want a series - and author - who will make you laugh until you cry and give you characters to remember, Jen Turano is one to check out. All in all, this is a great story and many of the situations in it reminded me of my own grandmother.
4 stars out of 5 - only because I liked the first book just a smidge better.
To buy a copy: Out of the Ordinary by Jen Turano
Thank you to Bethany House for my copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
For a long time now, Lynn Austin has been one of my go to writers. I have enjoyed her books many times before and so I had no doubt that her newest one was one I wanted to read and review. If it was like her others I knew the characters would be intriguing and the plot fascinating.
I suppose it is true that it was everything I mentioned above, but for some reason I just could not get into it. The book itself is written well, the plot interesting, and the characters all very lively.
However, the constant flipping back and forth between the present and the past was hard for me to follow at first. Once I got used to it, I enjoyed it more, but even then I found myself wanting to know what was happening more in the present than what happened in the past to shape the characters into who they were.
The way she weaved who God is into the plot and how each character changed and learned over time was nice. It also teaches you a lot about different places in the world - which if you aren't adventurous does help you feel like you know more of the world.
Lynn Austin is a very talented writer and this book will appeal to many, but for some reason it wasn't my style. I give it a solid four stars though because the writing is great, the characters are intriguing, and the plot is entertaining. It just wasn't my type of book, but that is okay. Not everything will be everyone's style and it doesn't mean it is bad. :)
To buy a copy: Where We Belong by Lynn Austin
I got a copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.
One thing I have learned about the author, Victoria Bylin, from the two other books I have read besides this one is she is unafraid to tackle real subjects. This is a good quality in a writer. Far too many skim over the top of difficult topics, but not her. She dives in and gives a viewpoint most may not see while going through it or knowing someone going through it.
The Two of Us deals with many real subjects that a lot of people deal with on an every day basis - Alzheimer's disease, pregnancy issues, and more. It is the sort of book that grabs your attention and pulls you in with relatable characters and situations. There is laughter and love - even in the heartbreak. The characters feel like real people you would know in your own life, perhaps we each do whether we realize it or not.
The Two of Us is a wonderful story filled with the love and peace of God woven through it. It doesn't come across preachy like some books. I think that is another talent the author has - to show who God is without it being over the top.
All in all, this is a book I am glad to have on my shelf and I am still a fan of the author. Look forward to the next one! 4 stars!
To buy a copy: The Two of Us by Victoria Bylin
I got a copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.
A Name Unknown is the second book from Roseanna M. White that I have had the privilege to read. The first book I read was a breathtaking story full of adventure, romance, and lively characters with good points to ponder when one was done reading it. Needless to say, I expected a lot from A Name Unknown (which is the first book in the Shadows Over England series). A Name Unknown didn't let me down. I'll admit at first I wasn't quite sure if I would be able to get into the story because I was a bit... bored, then again it was the same way with her other book. I had a difficult time being sucked into that one as well, but once I was... I was a fan of Roseanna M. White forever. This book was wonderful. Many moments when I laughed, a few when I cried, and quite a couple where my heartstrings were tugged on so much that I didn't want to put the book down.
Perhaps it is because I am an author, I found certain thoughts and actions and the way a character would get lost in... well, I won't give it away because it is one of the best parts of the story... to be very relatable. There is romance, adventure, true friendship, humor, mischief, and so much more bursting within the pages of A Name Unknown. I grew to love the main characters, though Grammy and Gryff are possibly my two favorites - even perhaps Mrs. Teague. The way the characters grow throughout the story, in particular the two main ones (Rosemary and Peter) is beautiful. I quite liked the way they grew to become friends.
Every time I think I have found my "favorite" book, I read another (typically from Bethany House) and fall in love with that one all the more until I re-read the one before. It is a conundrum - one which I can't see ever being able to solve, but that is all right with me. I have many favorites for many reasons and this one has been added to that list.
Five stars!
To buy a copy - A Name Unknown
I got a copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.
Wings of the Wind was the first book by Connilyn Cossette I have ever had the pleasure of reading. That being said when I chose it, I didn't realize it was the third book in the Out From Egypt series. I was concerned given that I had not read the first two that I would be lost, but thankfully it can be read as a stand alone.
Connilyn Cossette is an amazing writer! I wish I had taken a chance on her books earlier given how much I adored Wings of the Wind. I do plan to purchase the first two in the series now that I know I like her writing.
Wings of the Wind is the wonderful mix of love, forgiveness, mercy, grace, adventure, and friendship. Alanah's story is heart breaking, heart wrenching, and heart healing all at the same time. The story draws you in from the very beginning and holds your attention until the very end. Even at the end, you don't want it to be over because it is so full of life. The way Connilyn weaves the setting with the characters with the Bible is great. You get a feel for what it might have seriously been like to be living in those times.
I enjoyed this book so much I am tempted to start over from the beginning and I only finished it last night. Five stars!
To purchase a copy: Wings of the Wind
From the very first page the author draws you in with interesting characters. This only grows as you meet the whole crew. The size of the family and the crazy antics they get up to reminded me of my own family. Though I am not Italian, I had to laugh because change the names and the location and you’ve got my family in many ways - at least when we all get together.
The names of the characters (Nico, Teo, Marco, Benedetta, Carlina, Stefano, Fabbiola… etc) all bring to mind an Italian family and so that puts you in the right frame of mind to enjoy the story like you are meant to.
The suspense is great, the hints of potential romance are wonderful, all the characters are alive and truly fascinating. I dare say I am a bit like both Carlina and Stefano in terms of what they think of the whole crew as I think they are hilarious and completely nuts (in the most darling way, of course).
I had a few favorite characters - the two main ones (Carlina and Stefano), Nico with all his quirks, and Teo.
I must say that I guessed the person responsible right at the beginning, but I truly believe that is because I am really good at mysteries. It is not a flaw in the writing as there were multiple times when I started to wonder if I had been mistaken with my first guess. I was pleased to know I still am good at figuring them out with limited information.
All in all, this book had me riveted from the very beginning. I stayed up until two in the morning in order to finish it because it was that good. The writing is great, the plot is well done. I can’t wait to read the next one in the series as I must know what happens to everyone.
To buy a copy - Delayed Death by Beate Boeker
I recieved a copy of Behind the Scenes from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.
As a huge fan of Jen Turano, I knew this book was going to be wonderful - but just how wonderful would it be? I mean, what could top her other books that had me laughing so much?
I was surprised because it is in my opinion one of the author's best! I haven't laughed so hard or so loud in a long time and most of it was out loud with my family (particularly my father) wondering what on earth was wrong with me as it was every few pages.
It is a barrel of laughs with crazy moments and lively characters that you have to read to believe. The romance is top-notch, the secondary characters are just as great as the main characters, the mystery is clever (though I did figure out at least part of it), and the writing is spectacular as always.
One of my favorite books that will always have a spot on my bookshelf with all her others. If I could give it twenty stars instead of just five, I would without a doubt.
I can't wait for the next book!
To buy a copy: Behind-Scenes-Turano
