Review of 'Out of the Ordinary' by Jen Turano

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

Review of 'Where We Belong' by Lynn Austin

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

Review of 'The Two of Us' by Victoria Bylin

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

Review of 'A Name Unknown' by Roseanna M. White

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

Review of 'Wings of the Wind' by Connilyn Cossette

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

Review of 'Delayed Death (Temptation in Florence #1) by Beate Boeker

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

Review of 'Behind the Scenes' by Jen Turano

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

Review of 'The Inn Keeper of Ivy Hill' by Julie Klassen

I got this book in exchange for my honest review from Bethany House Publishers.


Julie Klassen has been one of my very favorite authors for a few months now. So, when I saw this book was up for a chance to review it I was thrilled. Like the rest of her stories it is written beautifully and draws you into the story right from the start. If you've ever wanted to know what it is like to run your own inn, read this book. It goes through the ups and downs of being in charge of an inn, even talking about learning to cook if your cook quits and how to find help outside of where you may normally look. 

All in all, I feel like this story had a few too many characters. It was a tad bit tedious to try to place each of them and understand why they were important. However, I figure it is probably going to be explained in other books in the series as this is the first in the 'Tales from Ivy Hill' collection. Thora and Talbot were my favorite characters. I loved their storylines and actually found myself searching for the bits about them over the others. 

Julie Klassen still remains one of my very favorite authors, even if this one isn't one of my favorites of hers. There wasn't anything bad about it as it was a great story with lively characters, but it failed to grab me like some of the others have. I give it four stars because it is written well, the characters are good, and the storyline is intriguing. 

To buy a copy - 

https://www.amazon.com/Innkeeper-Ivy-Hill-Tales/dp/0764218131/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1483898014&sr=1-1&keywords=the+innkeeper+of+ivy+hill

Review of 'Fatal Frost' by Nancy Mehl

I got this book in exchange for a honest review from Bethany House.

This is the first book from Nancy Mehl that I have read and I was pleasantly surprised. The characters were real - especially the main character, Mercy Brennan (love that name!) - and I was moved by both Mark and Tally as well. Given the story is about gangs and I don't typically read books like that, I was quite surprised that I enjoyed it.

In all honestly, it wasn't my favorite book, but it wasn't bad. I liked the action and the constant twists and turns held within the pages. A few moments I did get choked up and the faith element is very strong - but not over done. There were a few things I figured out before it was revealed in the plot, but it didn't make me dislike the story.

All in all, it is a good read and one that many people would enjoy. I rate it 3.5 stars because while it is good, I just wish it had held my attention a bit more instead of being one that I read a few chapters and put it down and then came back to read a few more a couple days later.

To purchase a copy of the book: https://www.amazon.com/Fatal-Frost-Defenders-Justice-Nancy/dp/0764217771/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1479835481&sr=1-2&keywords=fatal+frost

Have a character named after you in Julie Lessman's book!!

Here is the link to the AWESOME, AMAZING, and SPECTACULAR contest: http://www.julielessman.com/contest/

Review of 'No Other Will Do' by Karen Witemeyer

Thank you to Bethany House for my copy in exchange for my honest review!

The cover of No Other Will Do caught my attention right away. The colors and the pocket watch (big fan of pocket watches) made me want to read it. Then I read the back and the description made me curious to know more. So, I picked it as my review book and was blessed enough to get it. 

Isn't it lovely?! Bethany House always has awesome book covers. :)

The prologue seemed a bit out of place because it made me wonder why I should care about this poor boy, but it made more sense as the story went on and by the end I understood the importance of having it. One thing I really liked about the prologue was when Mal met Emma. It was so cute! - and the line about being allowed to keep him was adorable. That was the moment when I knew I would enjoy the story because up to the point I was wondering. 

The aunts were hilarious. I kept giggling whenever they were in a scene. One of my favorite lines was when Bertie was informing Henry about Mal using explosives. It made me laugh so hard. 

There are strong ties of faith, friendship, romance, and camaraderie throughout the plot - which made this an enjoyable story. The prayer said by the preacher was wonderful and one of my favorite parts. 

I loved Mal! Seriously, he was one of my favorite "heroes" that I have read about in a long time. I adored how he called Emma his angel and how the young kid, Andrew, stuck by his side. It made me wish I had someone like him in my life. I enjoyed the thread of showing Mal who he really was and how God was with him throughout his life. 

I'm also glad the storyline included more than one villain as it gives the plot more of a mystery feel. The final chapter was my favorite and brought me to tears as well as made me laugh. It also held my favorite line in the whole book - which is the last line. I'll not spoil it here, but it made me love the book even more. 

If I had to nit pick about something it would be the amount of women. It was a bit hard to keep track of them and their individual story lines, but it wasn't impossible. 

All in all the book became one of my favorites and I look forward to the next in the series. I give it 5 stars.

Here is the link to purchase the book: https://www.amazon.com/No-Other-Will-Karen-Witemeyer/dp/0764212818/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1466961284&sr=8-1&keywords=karen+witemeyer

Review of 'Someone Like You' by Victoria Bylin

Thank you to Bethany House for the book in exchange for my honest review.


This is the first book by Victoria Bylin I have read. It turned out to be a great story with lots of ups and downs, struggles and breakthroughs of faith. When I started the book I found myself thinking of how it would make for a wonderful movie and I could picture Candace Bure or Melissa Joan Hart playing the part of Julia Dare. Now I know Candace and Melissa don't look like the description of the character, but they were who I kept picturing the whole time I read. This could be because both Candace and Melissa have played in movies similar to the story (not so much the actual plot, but the style of the plot).

The story failed to grab me during the first five chapters because it felt like it was meant to be a movie and not a book. That is until I met Julia's mom, Ellen. Ellen is the kind of character I enjoy reading about and when she meets George - well, let's say the book bloomed into life. After that I found myself hooked and unable to put it down, but it was because I wanted to know what happened with Ellen and George. I wish I could say I loved Zeke and Julia, but they were a little lackluster for most of the book. As the story progressed it got better and better, to the point where I did care for Zeke and Julia by the end.

I saw a photo of a shirt on pinterest and I think it is fitting. It said, "I don't care who dies so long as the dog lives." Change dog to horse and add the names Ellen, Max, and George and you've got how I felt about the book. I don't care who dies so long as the horse, Ellen, Max, and George live. Now, I will give you a spoiler - no one dies, so relax. :)

The cover of the book is beautiful and quite like the covers I would love to do for a series I am writing.

All in all, I liked the book. I didn't love it, but I did like it. I give it 3 1/2 stars because I still think it would be a better movie than book.

One last thing - I love the acknowledgement to Victoria's husband. It made me laugh. How cute. The dorky pink hair bow. :)

To buy a copy, go here: http://www.amazon.com/Someone-Like-You-Victoria-Bylin/dp/0764217372/ref=sr_1_1_twi_pap_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1464151737&sr=8-1&keywords=Victoria+Bylin

Review of 'The Reluctant Duchess' by Roseanna M. White

Thank you to Bethany House for my free copy in exchange for my honest review. 


This was the first Roseanna book that I have read. I didn't even know who Roseanna M. White was until a few months ago when I attended a book party on Facebook. She had been talking about her first book in the Ladies of the Manor series, 'The Lost Heiress'. That book sounded very intriguing, but after the party ended life got in the way and I forgot about it. When the Bethany House email came around for us to choose which book we would like to review, I picked The Reluctant Duchess for three reasons. One - it was the only one which sounded like something I would enjoy, Two - because I knew Roseanna's name (I couldn't recall why I knew her name, but I knew that I knew her name), and Three - the cover was lovely (What? I am picky about covers. I know, I know - 'You can't judge a book by its cover'. Well, I can and I do.)   Boy was this a great choice!

Right away I got a real feel for Rowena's personality and could practically hear her voice in my head. This similar thing happened with Brice and Ella. I could picture them and what they looked like and acted like. In my opinion this is the mark of a great story. 

There were moments when the plot line seemed to stretch on quite long when it could have been shortened and there were a few side stories that felt like they didn't quite fit with the main plot, but there weren't too many. All in all, the story was written beautifully with a strong line of faith weaved throughout it. Moments made me cry, some made me laugh, a few I related to, and a couple made me swoon. What? Come on, Brice is amazing!

When I first began to read the book, I wasn't sure if I would be able to get into it or if I would end up keeping it - but now you may have to pry it from my hands if you wish to borrow it. I have fallen in love with the characters and look forward to many more Roseanna books in the future. Five out of five stars! 

Here is the link to buy a copy: http://www.amazon.com/Reluctant-Duchess-Ladies-Manor/dp/0764213512/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1461193919&sr=8-2&keywords=The+Reluctant+Duchess

Review of 'Dressed for Death' by Julianna Deering

Thank you to Bethany House for my copy in exchange for my honest review. 

As much as I try to convince myself that I don't have favorite authors, I know this just isn't true.

Reason I say this? I LOVE Julianna's books. 

She has become one of my very favorite all-time authors. The characters she creates are so alive and wonderful that I feel sad when the story comes to an end. Because of my love for Drew, Nick, and the others I have gotten my mother and sister into the series. I plan to work on my father eventually as well as my other friends and some family. Julianna is very talented and inspires me to continue to keep going with my own writing even when at times I feel like giving up. 

Another reason I adore her books is because she always manages to surprise me. I am not one who is typically surprised by mysteries, but each time Julianna does it. The first book in the series I was completely wrong, the second one I kinda suspected but doubted it was that character, the third I was sort of right, and the fourth... well...

With the fourth book in the series 'Dressed for Death' I was left a bit speechless. I had figured one part of it out about half-way into the story and was almost yelling at the book what was going on (ha-ha), but the person I suspected turned out to not be who it was. Granted I figured out who it was a few chapters before the end - which is an improvement over how I have done for the last three - but it is still a delightfully frustrating thing for me because I can usually spot the culprit pretty fast (if not right away). 

The characters were still just as wonderful and alive as ever, and the fact that she opened the story with a grand collection of Jane Austen references made me love it as soon as I read the first chapter.

It was wonderful to have Carrie and her brother show up in the story as well. 

There were moments when I cried, moments when I laughed, and moments when I was so stunned I had to put the book down for a bit. 

All in all, I can only say really one thing and that is - Julianna Deering has done it again! Five stars and a wonderful spot on my shelf with the other three. 

To buy a copy - http://www.amazon.com/Dressed-Death-Drew-Farthering-Mystery/dp/076421411X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1459028204&sr=1-1&keywords=dressed+for+death

Review of 'Cold Shot' by Dani Pettrey

Thank you to Bethany House for my copy in exchange for my honest review. 

First and foremost, I have to say I love Dani Pettrey's Alaskan series. So much so that I have picked out songs that remind me of the characters and even built a board on pinterest with quotes and people I can see playing her characters. I began with the third one in that series, and then read four and five before going back and reading one and two. So, though I read them out of order I quickly fell in love with the characters, Dani's writing style, and the strong elements of faith throughout. 

Now, onto Cold Shot. 

The cover is quite lack-luster to me. I think a lot of it has to do with the color tones. I'm not sure why the cover artist picked those tones, but it throws me. When it was first revealed, I didn't like it and having the book in my possession makes me like it even less. I don't know what it is, but after the Alaskan covers - this falls flat. 

Unfortunately, the theme of stuff falling flat continued through the plot. In a lot of ways, the story reminded me of an episode of Castle that you want to love, you want to get into, you want to care about - but for whatever reason you just don't. Just like Castle, you grow to love the style of the writer and coming off the previous series you have high expectations - but something is just missing. This makes me very sad because I so badly wanted to love it just like the others from Dani. 

I have seen many, many reviews from readers and other authors alike that loved Cold Shot. So, it could be a "me" thing. 

There are a few spots that caught my attention (again, it could just be a "me" thing) that made me wonder if the editor rushed through reading it - whether because of a time issue or a fascination with the story. In a few spots phrases were repeated really close together, a couple small words were misspelled (they instead of the), and the dots! 

Oh... my... gosh... the amount of dots in this book were... out of control. I don't mind a few uses of dots (just not 25 uses in three or four chapters - yes, I counted) to mean a trailing off of thought, but it is one of my biggest pet peeves when it comes to writing, editing, and reading. 

So, I know it seems like I have picked the book apart and that I hated it and wished I never read it - but that is not the case at all. In all honesty, I did like it - I just wish it was more. More what? I'm not sure, but more. 

Dani's Alaskan series was amazing! Her characters were full of life, the plots were so intriguing that I couldn't stop reading until I was finished, the covers were beautiful, and the faith was very real. 

With Cold Shot, the faith seemed forced in some ways and some of the characters (unfortunately, this includes Griffin and Finley) were a bit boring. However, a few characters were perfect and so much like the Dani characters I know and love - Parker (He is my favorite! Love him!), Avery, and Griffin's parents. 

I promise, I did like the story! 

There were some twists and turns I wasn't expecting, it turned out to be a different ending than I thought it would be, and Griffin's journey he took in the book was very real and well done. 

You can tell Dani really knew the area where the story was based and she did do an impressive amount of research to really bring the story full circle. 

There were some moments when I chuckled, and a few towards the end when I teared up. I really got a sense of what the characters look like (and am planning to make collages of who I can see playing them). 

The epilogue saved this story and brought me to a place where I could see the Dani I know and love. It was perfect in so many ways. The characters that were a bit flat suddenly sparked to life, and the introduction of the other characters really brought the story to a very satisfying ending. Because of the epilogue and Parker, I am giving this story four stars because it gives me a lot of hope for the rest of the series - just please control the dots! They... can... get... annoying. 

http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Shot-Chesapeake-Valor-Pettrey/dp/0764211978/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1456425456&sr=1-1&keywords=cold+shot+dani+pettrey

Review of 'A Worthy Heart' by Susan Anne Mason

Thank you to Bethany House for my copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Cover -

I think the cover is intriguing. It was the reason I picked the book to read. Actually, the model reminds me a lot of Alexis Bledel.

Review -

Susan does a wonderful job of writing this story. The overall theme of forgiveness is powerful and heartfelt. I truly believed everything that happened could have happened in real life. I enjoyed the different points of view going from Adam to Maggie to Gabe and so on. It gave me a chance to get to know the characters and the way they responded to different events. I ended up growing attached to Adam and Maggie.

I found the note from Susan in the back of the book interesting because I loved Adam from the moment he stepped onto the page (so to speak). Granted that being said, I have not read the first book in the series (I didn't realize this was the second book until it arrived in the mail).

This book can easily be read without reading the first one, but if I had the chance to go back - I would have wanted to read the first one and then this one just so that I knew who some of the characters were.

Now, I have to admit that at first I wasn't too thrilled with the book. It seemed a bit flat (except the parts with Adam and Maggie) and I was able to guess a good amount of what would happen before it did. Because I am a writer, I can't say that the average reader will be able to guess as well as I was.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. It turned out to be a lovely story and I am very glad I kept reading. I give the book a solid four because while I liked it enough to keep it, I didn't love it. I look forward to reading more of Susan's books in the future.

Oh, one last thing - I loved the fact that Maggie and her family are from Ireland and I think Susan did a wonderful job making them sound like they came from that area.

To buy a copy, here is the link - http://www.amazon.com/Worthy-Heart-Courage-Dream/dp/0764217259/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1453430332&sr=1-1&keywords=a+worthy+heart

Review of 'The Painter's Daughter' by Julie Klassen

Thank you to Bethany House for my copy of Julie Klassen's latest work - The Painter's Daughter - in exchange for my honest review.


Let me start with the cover of the book -

While I think the model is a good fit for the way Sophie is described - I pictured someone more frail as I read (by that I mean very skinny and short). The dress the model is wearing is beautiful, but seeing the other covers that Julie Klassen has for her books - this really doesn't surprise me much. :)


And now my review -

The Painter's Daughter is filled with drama, mystery, and romance that will have any lady who enjoys books along the line of Pride and Prejudice swooning. It is a book that keeps you on your toes with some twists and turns you wouldn't expect in the plot. This is a good thing because then the book doesn't become boring to read. Some of the twists I managed to guess (this might be only because I am a writer also), and some that I didn't even think of putting together. There were a few instances I would have done a different twist if it had been my story - but that just makes it all the more fun.

This was my first Julie Klassen book ever and I am pleased to say it will not be my last. The way Julie writes weaves together a beautiful story that fills the pages and the reader's imagination long after the book is put down. I can say that I thought of Captain Overtree, Sophie, and Wesley off and on whenever I had to put the book down.

Now, I do have to be honest - I almost gave up with the book after the first two chapters. Why? Because I can't stand weak female characters and Sophie reminded me of one the way she feared the Captain. It got to be a bit annoying - but I am happy to say that Sophie's character grew stronger as the story went on. I don't want to give anything away, but I was quite pleased with Sophie at the end of the story.

All in all, this book is one of the best I have read in a while. Julie Klassen may be one of my all-time favorite authors - which if you know me and how much I read, this is a hard thing to achieve.


Opinions of the characters:

Captain Overtree - I loved him the moment he stepped onto the scene (probably why I disliked Sophie so much at first...) He is exactly my type: strong, brooding, sarcastic, and secretly romantic - Mr. Darcy, anyone? ;) Speaking of Darcy, I had some friends attend Julie's book banter held on Facebook and one commented on the photos of the people Julie had used for inspiration. To my surprise and happiness, the one she picked for Stephen was indeed Darcy from Pride and Prejudice with Keira Knightley.

Wesley Overtree - What can I say about him? He is the reason Sophie is in the situation she is in the first place. He is a free-spirit type that goes wherever the wind blows him. Not my type of guy and honestly, though he gets better as the book goes on - I wanted him to just go away.

Sophie - At first, I hated her. She seemed so weak and fragile. But then, she grew and developed into one of my favorite characters by the end.

Keith - I liked him a lot. Yes, he had his issues - but you could see he had a heart of gold.

Miss Blake - Eh. She seemed rather bland. The only times I really liked her was when she was around Keith.

Captain Overtree and Wesley's Grandfather - I loved him! He was so cute and funny. Definitely made me smile whenever he was mentioned.

Kate - I enjoyed her personality. Julie pinpointed a young girl perfectly and made me giggle with her comments about the book that Kate was reading.

Winny - Honestly, she was a bit weird. I am neither here nor there on her character. The moments with the cat were probably my favorite with her.


Overall -

This book is amazing! If you find you are like me and want to put it down within the first couple chapters, you owe it to yourself to keep reading because it turns into an amazing story! Honestly, one of my favorites ever! Here is the link to buy a copy from Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Painters-Daughter-Julie-Klassen/dp/0764210726/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1450548163&sr=8-1&keywords=the+painter%27s+daughter+by+julie+klassen

Review of 'On This Foundation' by Lynn Austin

Thank you to Bethany House for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

On This Foundation is book three in the Restoration Chronicles series (the other two are 'Return to Me' and 'Keepers of the Covenant'). Lynn Austin does a fantastic job throughout the series of bringing the Old Testament to life.

The fact that she picked Biblical people that most would tend to look over, I love. 'On This Foundation focuses on Nehemiah. That was a huge factor for me in choosing this book to review because I have always loved Nehemiah (the name and the person). The other factor was that it was the third book and I wanted the whole series so far for my collection.

One of my favorite Bible verses was mentioned in the book: Joshua 1:9 - Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. 

As far as the characters, I really enjoyed Chana and her family. Her father was so cute with his daughters, and her sisters made me smile because their personalities were so on point with how sisters are. The relationship she had with her sisters was wonderful and made me happy.

Nava bugged me until later on in the story. At first, I liked her and understood her - but she stayed a bit too much the same for the majority of the book. Once she realized the truth of God, I liked her once again.

Shimon was my favorite character! I LOVED him! He was so kind and reminded me of a wonderful father figure. His secret didn't surprise me as I had guessed it early on in the book, but I am a writer - so just because I guessed it doesn't mean everyone will.

The interaction between Nehemiah and Chana made me laugh more than once. I loved the way Nehemiah wanted to take care of his siblings. It made him seem even more real. One thing I really liked was how Lynn brought Ezra back into the series. That made me happy because I really liked him from the other book.

I don't want to give too much away, so I will just summarize my review. There were many moments when I laughed, a few when I cried, my heart broke at a few spots. Overall, it was a wonderful story.

However, the ending seemed a bit too rushed and it didn't really explain how the story about Nehemiah and his enemies ended. I think Lynn could have expanded that section a bit more. Also, I would have liked to see certain characters get what they deserved instead of it seeming like it was almost "shoved under the rug".

The other thing that bugged me was Lynn's use of the NIV. I am not a stick in the mud about having only use the KJV, but there is a lot that has been removed from the NIV (and other versions) that is essential to God's word.

Anyway, as I said overall it is a wonderful book and will have a place on my shelf happily. I give it a 4 1/2 out of 5 because of the rushed ending and use of NIV.

Review of 'Shadow of the Mountain - Exodus' by Cliff Graham

Thank you to Bethany House for my free copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is the first book by Cliff Graham I have read. I actually had never heard of Cliff Graham until Bethany House sent me the email to pick a book to review. When I saw what Shadow of the Mountain was about, I picked it without even reading the other books on the list.

Why? - Because I had just finished with that part of the Bible and I thought it would be really interesting to read a book about Caleb, Moses, Exodus, etc. Also, because I love Biblical Fiction.

The cover of this book is amazing! It fits the actual story in the Bible perfectly, in my opinion. It, also, fits the story in the book quite well.

Now, for my actual review -

I am not sure what I think of this book. It is written wonderfully. The characters are alive and fascinating. The second part of the story is amazing! 

So, why do I feel so torn about if I liked it or not? I don't know...

The second part of the book was breathtaking. It made the plagues that struck Egypt so much more real. Don't get me wrong, I know it happened. I know they were horrible. However, the way Cliff Graham described them was painful, heartbreaking, and it made my love for God that much stronger. God is SO good in His judgements.

The first part of the book was interesting enough to read. I just could have done with the battle scenes toned down a bit - BUT they are battle scenes and therefore should not be toned down. The ending of the book was... different. It ended not like I expected, but for that I was glad.

When Caleb talked about meeting Joshua for the first time, I cried. Something about it, along with the plagues, just made me almost long for people of such strong faith.

So, as a whole I give this book 3 1/2 stars because while I liked it a lot, I don't know if I would read it over and over again.

The second part of the book with the plagues, I give 5 stars because it was breath-taking.

Review of 'From the Start' by Melissa Tagg

Thank you to Bethany House for my free copy in exchange for my honest review.

I completely adored Melissa Tagg's first book 'Made to Last', so when I saw this one was up for review I requested it right away. I was so excited to get it in the mail and started reading it that night. Much to my disappointment, I had a very hard time getting into it. I just couldn't bring myself to care about Kate and Colton, or the storyline - at first.

After putting it down for almost a week, I started reading it again determined to push past the first couple chapters. Partly because I needed to be able to review it, and partly because I know Melissa's talent. Sure enough, once I pushed past the lackluster (for me, at least, but then again I am not a football fan - someone who is may not have a hard time getting into it) I discovered why so many people have been raving about the book.

There is romance, humor, family ties, drama, and most important growth. The characters - and I am talking about all of them - grow on you until your heart nearly bursts with love for them. Truly, by the end of the book I felt like they were my characters, and I found myself wanting friends like them.

When Colton learned the truth, my heart broke for him and I longed to shelter him from the pain and heartache he had gone through. I cried, I laughed, and I, even, felt the chemistry between characters. One character made me laugh because she sounded so much like me when I was younger (her style and attitude, that is), it was a bit crazy - her name is even my name: Megan. I swear, I thought Melissa knew me when I was going through that phase of my life because she was me in a lot of ways.

The cover is perfect, but then again I LOVE the covers of Melissa's books. Seriously, she gets some of the best. Though, I do think the guy picked to represent Colton didn't fit him completely as I pictured a taller and more "footballer" type of guy - something like Tim Tebow.

Anyway, I ended up loving the book and it is going into my collection happily. However, I give it a 4 out of 5 just because I am not into football and because of that, it was hard to get into. Wonderful story! I can't wait for the next one from Melissa!