Love Unscripted

 

This book was a fairly easy read that held my attention all the way through.  Set in coastal North Carolina, it had all the bea<chy vibes with the added bonus of a bookstore nearby.  Book stores always hook me and reel me in. 

Chloe Anderson has written a best-seller that is being adapted into a movie.  The actor playing Ledger, the hero of the book is Liam Hamilton, a Hollywood hunk with a pretty bad reputation.  Chloe doesn't realize she's on speaker phone when she is informed that Liam will play the lead and she does not react well to the news.  From there, life gets interesting, to say the least. 

Denise Hunter has written a pretty standard novel using the romance novel formula--and when it comes down to <boy loses girl>, it is done in a most spectacular fashion where all kinds of secrets are revealed. Betrayal is rife, even though it was a rather bit player in the book who does the betraying. 

There is a very cute side story going on at the same time where Chloe's brother and her best friend, Meghan, become enamored of each other. And it is Meghan who finds out who truly betrayed Chloe. 

The one thing I have against this book is that it is labeled as a Christian book but Christ is not mentioned anywhere in the book.  There is no mention of faith or active Christian lifestyles. It IS a clean romance, where passionate kissing is the steamiest part of the book.  

Four Stars. 

Thomas Nelson Fiction provided the copy I read for this review.  All opinions expressed are solely my own. 

The British Booksellers

I've read several of Kristy Cambron's books and found in them something worth reading.  The ones I have read have a depth to them that is missing in most of what I read for enjoyment.  Sometimes I just choose fluff over substance. While this book has more substance, it does not quite reach the depths of her other books.  There are a few lighter moments in this one than in some of her other books.  That's not a bad thing, it just is the way it is.  

The book begins with the three main players:  Will, Charlotte, and Amos.  There is a parallel plot that is included in the narrative of the book as it plays out for the reader.  The parallel is World War I and World War II.  For the World War II line, one character is missing, while another two major players and several minor players have entered the scene.  The major ones being Jacob and Eden entering in and Will is missing in this plot line.  

Amos has been in love with Charlotte forever, but he gave her up the first time for Will because Will is titled and carries more power than Amos does.  When both Will and Amos enlist during World War I, Will becomes Amos's commanding officer. They are able to put their animosity behind them to fight a common enemy. 

As the plot moves through both World Wars, more of Amos's and Charlotte's history is revealed, including the love they had and still have for each other, in spite of them having bookstores across from each other. When the blitz hits Charlotte's store, Charlotte and Amos have to make some pretty hard decisions for their futures.  

On a side plot, Eden, Charlotte's daughter, is the subject of a lawsuit in the United States.  She has been willed half of an estate that could mean a whole lot to her own estate.  Jacob Cole comes from Detroit to serve her with the lawsuit papers. Jacob stays on instead of going straight back home.  The longer Jacob stays, the more attached he becomes to Eden.  

The writing in this book is tight enough to keep the reader engaged and looking forward to what will happen next.  The plots are easy to follow and still keep up.  The setting is one of my favorite kinds of settings--book stores!  The characters are well-developed, and easily likable in spite of them holding on to secrets.  I give this book four strong stars.  

Thomas Nelson Fiction provided the copy I read for this review.  All opinions expressed are solely my own. 

To Spark a Match

This was not my favorite of Jen Turano's books that I've read to date.  I found it a bit silly and over the top with forced humor.  There is a bit of intrigue included within the plot of the book which will keep the reader engaged to some extent.  

There is a point in time where one has to outgrow the follies of youth and I found that Adelaide is a Peter Pan who never grew up.  She did have some mature ideas, but for the most part, she stayed childish.  There is a difference between childish and child-like and Adelaide never crossed the line.  That was rather off-putting for me.  I recognize that others will see her child-mindedness as endearing and this is only my opinion.  

Because the setting is in New York and in the neighborhood of the Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency, Ms. Turano missed an opportunity to bring back some of those characters and weave them into the warp and woof of this book.  I would have loved to have them come back and make another appearance.  

Gideon Abbott is a most worthy hero in the novel and makes a compelling leading man.  He is the redeeming factor in this book.  He tries to do what is best for Adelaide, even though his attempts are misguided at times.  

I am not sure how I would improve the book but some of the "fun" was a bit too over the top, FOR ME.  Like every other reader, I go through reading moods where silly is just what I need, and at other times, I want something to sink my teeth into some meaty ideas that make me think.  Maybe it was just the wrong type of book for the current mood.  In light of that, I will give it 3.5 stars, rounding up to four. 

Bethany House provided the advanced copy I read for this review.  All opinions expressed are solely my own.  

 

The Memory of Lavender and Sage

 My first book by Aimie K Runyan to read and I must say there is a depth to this book that gratifies the reader.  At the same time, there are some characters the reader will love to hate simply because of their attitudes. 

When Tempesta's father dies and leaves her none of his estate, Tempesta's brother reveals that her mother had her own estate that went entirely to her.  Tempy's mother was from Sainte Colombe in Provence in France, and so Tempy decides to move back to France to get to know her mom better through the people in her town.  Her welcome was at first rather cool, except for Jenofa, a woman who had watched Tempy's mom grow up.  Tiberi shows up to help put Tempy's house to rights, and there is a lot that needs to be done.  Tiberi and Tempy work together to bring the hundreds years old house into the modern age, and then they work together to revitalize the village.  There are some recalcitrant citizens of the village who don't want the progress or the influx of tourists that Tempy's ideas will bring, but they are soon won over.  

Aimie has done such a masterful job of developing her characters in this book, the reader feels a kinship with some, a strong distaste for others, and still others fall somewhere in between.  The settings she has included in the book make the reading far more interesting.  

This is a five star book, with two thumbs up, and an herb garden that will help and heal your ills. 

Harper Muse provided the copy I read for this review.  All opinions expressed are solely my own. 

Wildflower Falls

This is Book 4 of the Riverbend Romance series.  The first two were a lot of fun to read, the third one was a bit dark and hard to get through.  This one had its ups and downs.  What Denise Hunter got right when she discussed the Appalachian Trail culture is the way trail names are handed out. I also appreciated the way she brought in the horse culture and wove it into the story seamlessly.   

Both Charlotte and Gunner have past hurts that need to be worked through and though they did, it wasn't the most healthy way.  It did work for the story, and I guess that's all the author wants.  I love the way Jeff, the step-father to Gavin and Cooper, settles situations with his two pennies on the table.  He lets you know that he has thoughts about your conundrum, but it's up to you to decide that you want to hear his thoughts.  He won't push them on you, but lets you know  he's got his two cents worth to inject into the circumstances.  If only more adults took that perspective and used that method, a lot less hurt would be hurled around.  

I enjoyed reading the book.  The pacing of the plot kept me engaged, and the characters were believable as well as likable.  

Four Stars.

Thomas Nelson provided the copy I read for this review.  All opinions expressed are solely my own. 

 

Capturing Hope

 This book was hard for me to read.  The plot seemed dark and unrelenting and the characters seemed flat to me.  

Nadia Roenne's father tasked David Reid to get her out of Poland and to England safely.  At every turn, Nadia thwarted his attempts to leave the country.  Along the way, she collected all kinds of children, a couple of mothers with the children, and a baby whose mother died shortly after childbirth.  For the baby, she also had to get a goat for the milk to add to the entourage.  Given the chances she had to leave Poland, she gives them up to others and creates more havoc throughout the book.  

I appreciate the work Angela K Couch put into the research for the events in Poland and the difficulties experienced by the Poles at the hands of the Germans.  For me, the book lacked dimension, it seemed to be a retelling of events rather than a cohesive story.  The best part of the story came in at the epilogue when all the bits and pieces got all tied up in a nice, little package. 

I know Barbour Publishing has put a lot of work in bringing this series to its readers.  Overall I love the Heroines of WWII series.  This one felt just a bit off for me.  Three stars

Barbour Publishing did provide the copy I read for this review.  All opinions expressed are solely my own. 

Kingdom of Love

 

Tracie Peterson is a prolific author who has honed her craft to an artform! This new collection of three short novels is one of my favorite anthologies I've read this year.  I truly enjoy Medieval stories, although I wouldn't give up my modern conveniences for anything.  The dukes and duchesses who are responsible for the lives of those entrusted to them take those responsibilities seriously in these three stories.  From an arranged marriage that becomes a love match, to a group of orphaned children collected along a journey to the northern part of the country, these tales have something for every romance reader, gentle heroes who can be firm when needed, loving heroines who see things beyond how they look on the surface, a bit of treachery, and a loving reunion among long, lost relatives.  

The first two stories in the book make a short series, while the third one takes place about two hundred years later.  

Tracie's skill in bringing characters and settings to life is unparalleled.  Her research into the lives and times of those living in such primitive times is spot on.  Her ability to craft such enjoyable prose makes me envious of her talent.  

This is a five-star book, with two thumbs up, and a rescuer of damsels in distress.  

Barbour Books provided the copy I read for this review.  All opinions expressed are solely my own.