Summer Book Trek Time

So it is that time again. READ, REVIEW, then ENTER TO WIN FREE BOOKS! Free books are my favorite. Join me at it here.

OK. Here is my hope to read and review if I get enough personal time this month list:

1. Legally Wedded by Jannifer Griffith
2. Marrying Christopher by Michelle Paige Holmes
3. First Light by Michelle Paige Holmes
4. Second Chance Ranch by Liz Isaacson
5. Third Times a Charm by Liz Isaacson
6. Fourth And Long by Liz Isaacson
7. Chemistry Lessons by Rebecca Jamison
8. Bethany's New Reality by Rachel John
9. I am Delilah
10. Mistakenly Married by Victoria Leiske
11. Beyond the West Sea by Misty Moncur
12. Sealed With A Kiss by Kimberley Montpetit
13. Storm by Kate Palmer
14. Olivia by Kate Palmer
15. Alexis by Kate Palmer
16. Taylor Lynne by Jennifer Peel
17. Jessie Bell by Jennifer Peel
18. His Personal Relationship Manager by Jennifer Peel
19. The Girl Who Heard Demons by Jeanette Rallison
20. Vocal Crush by Lisa Swinton
21. Autumn Masquerade
22. A Midwinter Ball
23. Spring in Hyde Park
24. Summer House Party
25. Road Trip Collection
26. Rail Order Bride Collection
27. Gladly Beyond by NicoleVan
28. Refine by Nicole Van
29. The Secret Life of Daydreams by Licinda Whitney
30. Playing with Heartstrings by Lydia Winters
31. Eye on Orion
32. Not Your Match by Linzee Armstrong
33. Cupcakes and Cowboys by Linzee Armstrong
34. O'er The River Liffey by Heidi Ashworth
35. Echoes of Summer by Laura D. Bastain
36. Winter's Kiss by Laura D. Bastain

I Am Delilah by Josi S. Kilpack

I Am Delilah by Josi S. Kilpack

Dust Jacket:

Although Delilah works in New York, she’s a small-town girl and eager to finish her job as a nanny and return to Big Fork Montana where she’ll marry her high-school sweetheart. When she ends up the focus of a Hollywood stunt centered around her being the Oscar date of Hollywood heartthrob Sam Hendricks, life as she knows it becomes a thing of the past. Delilah promptly refuses him, only to find that it isn’t so easy to step out of the limelight once you’ve ended up in the middle of the public eye.

Sam Hendricks is not used to taking no for an answer, and when his rejection become a leading story, he determines to do whatever it takes to turn the tide of public opinion back in his favor. Again and again Delilah refuses him until she proposes an offer—if he’ll spend two weeks on her family’s dairy farm, she’ll be his date to the Oscars. In no way is this a fair trade, but Sam feels he has no choice and therefore agrees to her proposal—they both agree no one will ever know.

Unfortunately for them both, there are plans other than their own at play, and when everything goes wrong they are faced with another fallout, bigger than the first.

(I AM DELILAH was originally published as STAR STRUCK in 2004)

My Review: 4 Stars

The title and cover combination drew me in and had me snatching this book up right away. Books about movie star and country life culture clashes always promise some sass and whit, and this book didn't disappoint. I Am Delilah is a hilarious battleground of Hollywood glamor vs good old country values. I loved every part!

Sam Hendricks is our cocky, self absorbed movie star. Per tradition every year he asks a "nobody" to be his date to the awards ceremony. He is applauded and his Cinderella date is elevated to celebrity status over night. This year he asks Montana native, Delilah, who is working as a nanny in New York City, to be his date on television. When she refuses he must scramble to change her mind and his reputation. But Montana girls with solid fiance's aren't so easy to convince. What pursues is an entertaining and engaging clash of worlds that will keep you turning pages.

Two pages into the book I realized I've read this book before - Starstruck, same author, came out in 2004. The book has been re-faced and titled. It is still a great book!

This book is clean, and maybe a little self-righteous. I would recommend it to anyone!

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

We Three Kings by John Pontius

We Three Kings by John Pontius

Dust Jacket:

"For six hundred years we have been living and dying because of our faith in someone that none of us has seen. Now that Christ is living on this earth, it is madness to not go and seek him."

When the signs of the Savior's birth appear in ancient America, the prophet Nephi witnesses another miracle—the Liahona starts working again. Now he must begin a quest that will take him far across the ocean to find the King of kings.

Join Nephi, Timothy, and Cephus on a journey that ultimately changes their lives—and the course of history—as they become the legendary Three Wise Men.

Masterfully written and wonderfully entertaining, this book is bound to become a family favorite for years to come.

My Review: 3.5 Stars

Interesting adventure, cheap relationship, written for men.

The Good: So there are some really great things I loved about this book. It was really creative and thought out. It flowed pretty smoothly from actual scriptural account to fictional account. Some things were pretty far fetched, but when you get to fill in the holes, you can put whatever you want in there, right? I loved the interactions with the Christ Child. Nephi's journey to Jerusalem felt like a recreation of Lehi and Nephi's journey from Jerusalem, from the Liahona to the wickedness to the doubting and complaining.

The Not-So-Good: This book felt very man-fantasy-adventure. Though very creative and eventful, after lots of details, reasons, planning, purpose and faith our hero saves the day. Feelings are not pondered over and do not weigh heavily upon our characters but put into action. The romance is also underdeveloped. It would have been better left out. Instead it felt very, "Me, man. You, wife." On my soap box I'd say, don't bother including a relationship in a story if you aren't going to develop the relationship. She just becomes an objectified trophy at the end of his quest. I am sure 80% of the readers thought it was just fine.

Though interesting, I probably won't pass this book around.

Content: drinking, some (non-graphic) violence, scantly clad women

Marrying Christopher by Michele Paige Holmes

Marrying Christopher by Michele Paige Holmes

Dust Jacket:

From Amazon Top 100 Regency Romance author, Michele Paige Holmes, comes MARRYING CHRISTOPHER, a regency romance from the Hearthfire Romance series.

Having seen both his sisters Grace and Helen happily married, Christopher Thatcher is free to pursue his dream of life in America. With adventure in his heart and mind, he boards one of the first steamships set to cross the Atlantic in the record breaking time of only twenty-five days. Within the first two of those, his resolve—to avoid women and the complications they often bring to a man’s life—falters when he meets Marsali Abbott, a young woman with a past even more troubling than his own. Whether from years of habit protecting his sisters, or simply because he feels drawn to Marsali, Christopher chooses to help her and becomes her friend. As the truth about what awaits Marsali in America becomes evident, he is faced with a more difficult choice, one that will impact their lives far beyond four weeks together at sea.

Other Hearthfire Romances:
Saving Grace
Loving Helen


My Review: 5 Stars!

'Nurturing Love in Barren Soil' kind of book. Loved it!

Christopher is determined to be independent of his sisters, charity, and any woman. Embarking on a journey by steam ship across the Atlantic, at a time when these ships were brand new, he attempts to avoid the three other passengers on ship, all women. Even though Christopher is done taking care of his sisters and anyone else, he can't help himself but want to watch out for a woman, Marsali, who gratefully takes care of herself, even in horrible circumstances.

Among circumstances seemingly barren, an unexpectedly beautiful flower of friendship, true love, and admiration unfold. The nature of the characters provide all the nutrients needed to grow a loving garden and new life for Christopher. (Maybe corn or wheat is more manly than a flower, but you get the idea. Love that Christopher wants to be a farmer and work the land and that this first "crop" took root at sea. Did I say I love Michele Paige Holmes? Can't wait for her next book!)

Can be read as a stand alone BUT the first two books are so good. Just read them, too!

This book is clean and the characters inspiring. I would recommend it to anyone.

*Received a copy for an honest review.

Eye On Orion by Laura D Bastain

Eye On Orion by Laura D. Bastain

Dust Jacket:

Falling in love with your gorgeous new neighbor isn't a bad thing, but when he turns out to be the bodyguard of a princess from a planet nine billion light-years away, life gets complicated. Seventeen-year-old stargazer Holly Adams never imagined she’d find herself trying to prevent the overthrow of an alien government. When Jai and his sister Amira move into the house down the street, Holly is immediately drawn to them. Jai acts suspicious of her from the start, making Holly more curious about their oddities. When Holly learns they are from a different planet, she does what she can to help protect Amira from Shander, a man who wants to marry her by force in order to take over the kingdom her father rules. Mistaken identity, a botched kidnapping, and a first kiss that bonds Holly and Jai for life are hard enough, but when Shander believes Holly to be the princess, things get even more dangerous.

My Review: 5 Stars!

Wow! This book is Awesome! It is a stargazer's story - not exactly sci-fi. Filled with the wonders of two people coning together from worlds across the universe. This is a sweet YA story that is very creative and even believable. There is just enough reality and 'what if' weaving though the story line to keep you turning pages.

This story could be a stand alone but you will want to read the sequel to find out what happens to the rest of the characters. It is clean with some modest kissing. It is even somewhat educational as they talk about the stars, their stories, and the universe. I would recommend it for all ages.

The Kiss That Launched 1000 Gifs by Sheralyn Pratt

The Kiss That Launched 1000 Gifs by Sheralyn Pratt

Dust Jacket:

Each weekday from 2:00-4:00 p.m., Grace and Ashton cohost Battle of the Sexes, a radio program arguing the he-said/she-said issues of the day. Their fiery debates often have listeners wondering if there’s more to their relationship than just talk, even though Grace has been dating Phillip, Mr. Tall, Dark, and Perfect, since long before she ever met Ashton Miller.

Yet when news comes that Battle of the Sexes is on the bubble for cancellation, Grace and Ashton need to step up their efforts to engage their audience to keep the show alive. When a charity organization approaches them and proposes that the two of them kiss for a fund raiser, Grace and Ash agree to kiss for a good cause. A kiss is just a kiss, right?

Or can one kiss really change everything?

My Review: 4 Stars

This book was full of sassy and sexist banter. Tall handsome macho male co-host clashes with is petite spitfire feminist counterpart in daily battle of the sexes radio show. Sparks are flying all over that sound booth. Even the listeners think their getting together is inevitable. But she has a three year boyfriend and he knows he doesn't have a chance.

This book was fresh, fun, sassy, and kind of sexy. Lots of oogling each others hot bodies and denied attraction. The banter and show debates are really well done. The author switches points of view, keeps the characters and their positions clear all while smoothly delivering clean and quick moving story.

Content: Oogling body parts, talk of rape, talk of characters' sex lives, relationship mostly built on sexual tension and consistent history of interest

Meet Your Match (No Match For Love) by Lindzee Armstrong

Meet Your Match (No Match For Love) by Lindzee Armstrong

Dust Jacket:

Sixteen-year-old Brooke Pierce doesn’t need her mom to tell her all boys are trouble. After watching her dad break up the family for a woman half his age, dating is the last thing on her mind.

On the first day at a new high school Brooke meets Luke, the school flirt with a reputation for heartbreak. He’s interested. She’s not. That only makes him chase her more. After a shocking revelation from her dad, Brooke and Luke form an unexpected bond, complete with crazy rules to keep them safely in the friend zone. Problem is, that’s the worst place to be when you’re falling in love.

My Review: 4 Stars

This novella is a prequel to Miss Match. It is sweet and clean. In this story High School Brooke and Luke start building the solid foundation of their friendship, even though they are attracted to one another. They deal with life issues and learn to navigate the opposite sex. The story sets up the first book in the series, Miss Match.

Content: clean, friendship, maybe a few crude comments

My Pride, His Prejudice by Jenni James

My Pride, His Prejudice by Jenni James

Dust Jacket:

When Will Darcy proposes out of the blue, Eliza Bennet's world comes crashing down. Of course she tells him no, but why would he ask her in the first place? Haven’t they always been enemies? For the past year, Eliza has worked for Will's company, Revolutionary Innovations, as an efficiency expert. Her whole goal has been to raise profits, finish her contract, and then get out. She assumed Will wanted the same, but now she's not so sure. And more importantly, she has begun to wonder if she made a mistake in telling him no.

Jenni James, author of The Jane Austen Diaries series for teens, does it again! Now she's creating a whole new series just for adults, Austen in Love. Book #1 is a delightful adaptation of Pride and Prejudice that has all the components of Jane Austen's amazing love story, sticking true to the original theme, while taking modern liberties to give this a fresh, new twist for the clean romance genre.

My Review:

Fun, modern remake of Austen's Pride and Prejudice. This story starts right in the middle at Darcy's wedding proposal. While kind of strange, it works. This is not an exact remake but rearranges and omits elements of the original book, while really becoming its own. The story still keeps the tension and banter and sweet discovery of Austen's story. The story was a little bit short, but the amount of plot the author covered it was a great length. It felt like someone remade a scene to your favorite play, but included elements of the other scenes to make a complete story.

It was clean and fun. I look forward to other books in this series.

Snowed Inn by Kate Palmer

Snowed Inn by Kate Palmer

Dust Jacket:

A woman rancher hitches the community’s dreams to her sleigh ride business and ropes in a heap of trouble for them and her heart.

Jayne Gardner turned her family’s ranch into the successful Snowed Inn Lodge and Restaurant. After she learns the community has one month to earn funds needed for a grant, she donates her company’s sleigh rides for a community fundraiser.

When Jayne’s new volunteer sleigh driver turns out to be Forrest Hunsaker, the man who left her three years ago, Jayne sets up three rules to maintain a professional distance and protect her heart.

When vandals strike Snowed Inn, Jayne must team up with Forrest to prevent a fundraiser fail. Now Jayne must decide if breaking all her rules will break her heart. Again.

My Review: 4 Stars

An All-in-one Cowboy Family Mystery for the Holidays.

This 'one that got away' novella is set on a snow covered ranch and is full of mystery, danger, love, horses, teens, family, capable entrepreneurs, and a fundraiser. Read how this family and community pull together in (hopefully) the craziest holiday season of their lives.

The emotional tone of the story feels real and believable. The flow is good. The romance is sweet and natural. The mystery and dangers are engaging. Great quick read that will keep you turning pages.

Content: clean

Ideal High by Valerie Ipson

Ideal High by Valerie Ipson

Dust Jacket:

There’s no way Taryn’s taking Blake’s place as president of the student body. As soon as the memorial for him and six of their friends is over, she’s resigning as VP. Really. Except people say the fire was no accident. (She says it’s way too easy to blame someone who’s dead.) When Taryn reads the writing on the wall, literally, the bathroom wall, she knows what it means. To get to the truth she has to come out from under her paisley comforter. But, seriously, what stage of grief says Taryn has to be the one to fix what’s wrong at Ideal High? Maybe she’s the one who’s broken.

My Review: 4 Stars

Teen grieves the passing of her best friends in high school after a tragic accident. While roughly moving through and on, she tries to make herself and the school into something better because of it.

Kind of sad. Kind of inspiring. Good message. Worth the read. A mystery without the intense feel of danger.

Clean.

Love At The Apple Blossom Inn by Kristy Tate

Love At The Apple Blossom Inn by Kristy Tate

Dust Jacket:

A small town girl.
A rock star living a lie.
Their paths cross and lead them down a road neither of them expected to find: love at the Apple Blossom Inn.
Janey knows that life doesn’t come with a happy-ending guarantee. She needs to keep her feet securely on the ground working two jobs, going to school, and caring for her little brother. She has no time or room for romance.
After an accident leaves his charmed life in ruins, Derrick abandons his Hollywood lifestyle and checks into rehab. The world believes that Derrick Cordell the rock star is dead. And despite his beating heart and breathing lungs, that’s exactly how he feels until, disguised and living incognito in the tiny town of Rose Arbor, Washington, he meets Janey, who loves him as plain old Eric Roudell, the wanna-be music teacher.
But secrets have a way of unraveling. When Janey discovers the truth about Eric/Derrick, how can she love someone she doesn’t even know? Especially since love is not on her to-do list?


My Review: 4 Stars!

Cute Novella.

I should have looked at the page numbers (or read the little wording on the cover top) before I started reading this book. I figured it would be getting a fully developed relationship at the end. Just when I thought it was getting started, the book started winding down. I sort of felt like I was being short sheeted, but I guess I should have checked it out before I started. So, ATTENTION, this is a sweet novella, not an in depth full length book.

As a Novella, this book was really cute. From what we know the characters are lovable and believable. I love the setting. The side characters are a perfect support. The book is just sweet and wholesome with some fun and funny scenes. Despite the heavy background of our main characters the book is still light and fresh. Two people try to discover who they are and what they will do with their lives and they each influence the other.

A quick, cute, fun, clean read. I would recommend it to anyone.

The Professional Bride by Lucy McConnell

The Professional Bride by Lucy McConnell

Dust Jacket:

Amber Appleby is not the blushing bride. She makes a career out of being a wife—a business wife that is. After signing divorce papers with her third husband, Amber’s looking forward to a few months in a tropical location when Pamela, owner of a matchmaking service for the ultra wealthy, calls her into the office to ask a favor. Pamela explains that her life-long friend has passed away leaving a world-class ski resort and extensive financial holdings to his grandson, Rym, with the stipulation that he marry a BMB bride to coach him through his first year as a billionaire. Amber’s up for the assignment but Rym turns out to be a maverick—and a gorgeous one at that. Amber’s skills as a life coach are tested at every turn right along with her heart. Faced with a law suit that could wipe out the resort Rym’s grandpa built from scratch, Amber has to decide if she’ll protect her marriage or the thing Rym loves most. Marriage was much simpler when love wasn’t involved.

Early on, Pamela Jones realized she had an unusual talent for putting two people together. Over the years, she's turned it into a successful matchmaking service for the ultra wealthy: Billionaire Marriage Brokers. While she specializes in "business" marriages -- paring people off because of their skills, education, or training -- she can spot a potential love match a mile away. When Pamela has a "good feeling" about a bride and groom - a business marriage can become so much more.

My Review: 5 Stars

Another cute arranged marriage story by Lucy McConnell. It is a clean and fun read. It isn't all that different from the others in the series, but has new characters, new talents and new scenery.

Lucy McConnell has grabs your interest from the beginning and keeps it until the last page. When you read her stories you feel like you are in the cool club. You can always expect to be entertained and engaged when you read her books. I look forward to reading the next one.

California Dreamin' Collection (A Timeless Romance Anthology Book 11)

California Dreamin' Collection (A Timeless Romance Anthology Book 11)

Dust Jacket:

Six brand new contemporary romance novellas with bestselling and award winning authors.

In the sweet novella TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE by Heather B. Moore, Gwen uses her wedding photography business to keep her life simple and focus on something other than her own broken heart. When Jack, a guy too handsome for his own good, helps her clean up after a photoshoot, then asks her out, she doesn’t know if she can handle dating again. But Jack’s charm wins her over, and she agrees to meet him for dinner. The more she gets to know Jack, the more she likes him, but everything about him seems too good to be true.

GONE FISHING, a charming novella by Kaylee Baldwin, follows Claire as she tries to convince her dad to leave his start-up company as a boat guide and come back home to Colorado. He’s the only one who can defend Claire against her domineering mother. But when she arrives at the San Diego harbor, she’s met with more than one surprise. First, that her dad is truly living his dream and has never been happier, and second, she’s unexpectedly attracted to his business partner, Miguel.

In THE PIER CHANGES EVERYTHING, an enchanting novella by Annette Lyon, Alexandria has one last task to perform for her late husband, who died much too young: scatter his ashes in the Pacific Ocean. She goes to the Santa Monica Pier to do just that, but her plans get sidetracked after meeting Michael and feeling an immediate connection to him. They grab lunch, and the more time they spend together, the more they discover that they have in common—including past romantic hardships. As the day wears on, Alexandria begins learn that her heart just might be able to find love again.

In Jennifer Moore’s captivating novella A HERO’S SONG, AnneMarie’s career as a romance novelist is skyrocketing and her agent books her on a late night talk show. The host gets her to admit that she was in love once, with a guitar player. Moments after her segment, Lance Holden appears on the same stage, to perform his newest song. Is it a terrible coincidence? AnneMarie hasn’t seen Lance ever since he broke her heart ten years ago, and she has refused to think about him again. Their lives are worlds apart, but as Lance tries to reconcile with AnneMarie, she finds herself taking a second chance.

In STAY WITH ME, an endearing novella by Shannon Guymon, Jolie moves to L.A. to take on a nanny position for the summer, since apparently having a degree in art doesn’t translate to getting a job as a graphic designer. When Fitz, the family’s chauffeur, picks her up at the airport, she wonders if every man in LA is model-gorgeous. When Jolie meets her two charges, she finds them adorable and needy. But it’s harder to hold onto her job than she thought with a hostile Mrs. James and her spoiled brother. Fitz becomes both the silver lining of her job and the man who just might convince her to stay in L.A.

In the delightful novella, A PLACE TO CALL HOME, by Sarah M. Eden, Ada is the best realtor around. The best. She prides herself in matching each client with the house that will fit all of their needs. She hasn’t failed yet. So when Craig hires her to find him the perfect condo for him and his son, Ada is up for the challenge. What she may not be prepared for is her unforeseen attraction to Craig, her immediate attachment to his nine-year-old son, and her heart telling her that it’s okay to take another chance.


My Review: 4 Stars

Six novellas. Six excellent authors. Six California dreams come true! This is a great set of sweet and fun stories.

TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE by Heather B. Moore = Artsy photographer meets normal billionaire on the beach.

GONE FISHING by Kaylee Baldwin = High strung daddy’s girl meets reformed homeless guy on a fishing boat tour business.

THE PIER CHANGES EVERYTHING by Annette Lyon = Former fat camp romance is rekindled as she spreads husband’s ashes and he avoids ex-fiance's wedding.

A HERO’S SONG by Jennifer Moore’s = Small town romance novelist and former bad boy rock star meet and try to rekindle love after betrayal, rehab and years apart.

STAY WITH ME by Shannon Guymon = Jobless artist turned nanny meet’s handsome chauffeur while wealthy Hollywood employer’s spoiled brother-in-law tries to get her fired.

A PLACE TO CALL HOME by Sarah M. Eden = Best real-estate agent around is set up with gun-shy single accountant dad while looking for a house.

Clean, cute and creative. I loved these novellas! Great light read. Would recommend them to anyone.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Don't You Marry the Mornon Boys by Janet Kay Jensen

Don't You Marry the Mornon Boys by Janet Kay Jensen

Dust Jacket:

As medical students at the University of Utah, Andy and Louisa fall in love - but can a mainstream Mormon and a Fundamental polygamist overcome the cultural barriers between them? Both realize that their choices will not only affect their own lives, but will also have an impact on their family, friends, and even their communities. Fearing that the sacrifices required of them would be too great, they go their separate ways.

Yet for Andy in Kentucky and Louisa in Utah, life does not go as they'd planned. While Andy is serving as a country doctor and trying to bury his pain, Louisa is coming to terms with the fact that all is not as perfect in her tight-knit community as she'd believed. As doctors, each will have to choose between keeping the peace in their communities or doing what they know is right. And someday, both will have to face their past and decide if they can make the sacrifice to be together.


My Review: 4 Stars

I really enjoyed this book. What pulled me in most were the cultural insights. It touches on Utah polygamist culture as well as some Utah Mormon (LDS) culture both past and present. The story also gives an insiders look at small town rural Kentucky and another smaller look at Finland. That sounds kind of eclectic, but the author did a really good job at pulling it all together and showing the similarities we have as humans despite our differences. The story is also woven with folklore, backwoods remedies, and old time songs.

I want to read it over again for the folklore. I love how she weaves it, cultures and people together.

The Superstitious Romance by Anastasia Alexander

The Superstitious Romance by Anastasia Alexander

Dust Jacket:

Friday the 13th has always been unlucky for history professor Camille Britain, and this one doesn't seem any different. In an effort to escape her failed marriage, Camille is renting a cabin in beautiful Island Park, Idaho, where she meets wildlife photographer Jackson Armstrong, who scoffs at her superstitious ways and infuriates her with his offers of help.

Camille doesn't need another man—not even one as compelling and attractive as Jackson. Especially when he seems hung up on another woman. And yet Camille can’t deny the passion between them or the way Jackson makes her feel.

This Friday the 13th upsets both their worlds by forcing Camille and Jackson to see things about themselves, their families, and each other that might—with a little help—change them forever. Maybe this time superstition is on their side.

The Superstitious Romance is a "sweet romance" about a strong woman who feels weak, a man who doubts himself, and a powerful love that changes everything.


My Review: 3 Stars

This book is a mix of two middle age adults trying to reclaim themselves after their divorces and an academic paper on superstition.

All the historical superstitious traditions are interesting but sometimes take away from the plot line. Twisting them into the story does makes for some really funny scenes though. The divorcee baggage is a little griping (not my favorite) but feels quite genuine and at times heartbreaking. Their children are also funny and classic additions to the story.

I don't read many getting over divorce stories. They just aren't my thing. Other than that, for me, the story was a fun romance that teaches a lot about superstitions in a fun sort of way.

Content: mild language

Miss Match (No Match for Love Book 1) by Lindzee Armstrong

Miss Match (No Match for Love Book 1) by Lindzee Armstrong

Dust Jacket:

Billionaire CEO Luke Ryder doesn’t want to hire his best friend, Brooke, as his matchmaker. Not when he’s been in love with her for eight years. Too bad she doesn’t see him as relationship material and is engaged to another man. If the matchmaking company she works for closes, Brooke is out of a job, and Luke is out a best friend. There will be nothing stopping her from moving to Italy with her fiancé. And Luke isn’t about to let that happen.

Brooke’s dream career may be crumbling, and she will do anything to keep Toujour in the black. Even recruit Luke, America’s favorite bachelor, as her next client. Surely his perfect smile and swollen bank account will send clients swarming to their doors. But when matching up Luke works a little too well, Brooke wonders if she’s with the right man. Maybe she should finally forget Luke’s playboy image and admit he’s changed. All Brooke has to decide is if she’s willing to risk her heart.

My Review: 3.5 Stars

Friend Zone Rules, Penalties, and Obligations

Billionaire CEO throws himself at his engaged best friend and girl he loves while she attempts to set him up with other women to save her job.

Brooke is engaged. Luke is in love with her. They are best friends. He agrees that she can set him up to save her job. Can Brooke keep from falling for him and keep her fiance appeased with that friendship all while Luke is pursuing her and seeing the women she sets him up with all under the scrutiny of the paparazzi?

The story had a fun tone, lovable characters, and your heart is drawn into the complexities of their lives and hearts. It all makes an endearing book. The rules of their friendship are so classic! Don't we all have the same rules, just not written down. Such a cute concept.

Brooke and Luke are good friends who care about each other and have some attraction for one another. I don't think that these two are the perfect match at all.  The perfect match is something you should always work to become as you practice being a better person. I think the more the characters work on themselves the more matched they become. I love how this story embodies this concept.

I thought the book concept was really awesome, but I could have done without the premarital sexual relations and all the alcohol. It could have been done without them. Because of that, I would only recommend it to some. It is a personal preference.

Content: sexual innuendos, drinking, premarital sex implied

Science Fictioned by Lee Falin, PhD

Science Fictioned by Lee Falin, PhD

Dust Jacket:

What do goblins, zombie viruses, inept magicians, and alien-invasion survivors have in common? They all make wonderful story elements for teaching about real science.
Science Fictioned takes ideas from cutting-edge, scientific research papers and turns them into science fiction and fantasy stories. Learning science has never been this fun.


My Review: 4 Stars

This book is unlike any I've ever read. Reading it, I imagine myself in the basement of a library reading about some scientific concept. Then I fall asleep (with my face in the book) and have a random science fiction dream about the concept. Repeat several times.

The concept is creative and fun. The stories are original, and I'm learning a few random scientific theories. I guess I would put it on my bookshelf of REALLY short stories.

The Royal Spy by Cassie M. Shiels

The Royal Spy by Cassie M. Shiels

Dust Jacket:

I pushed myself up and nearly stopped breathing again. The man who I had just knocked to the ground was none other then Prince Jarin. Definitely not the shadow, I thought. "That's it, you-" the prince began as he pushed himself up and raised his fist. "Stop!" I guarded my face with both hands. "Katie?" "Ah...hello, fancy meeting you here," I stammered. Even though Katie is a royal princess, all she knows is how to be a spy. She constantly goes from mission to mission, never getting the chance to understand her birthright. This all changes when her father sends her on a mission to Floric with the cover of being a princess who is trying to win the prince's heart. This mission proves to be very different from the others with a shadowy figure to chase, secret passages to explore, secrets to keep and the problem of betrayal that she is about to discover.

My Review: 5 Stars

This story about a princess spy is aimed at middle grade/YA audiences, but is enjoyable to adults as well. The story is set in older times but does not feel historical. It is full of fun, humor, adventure, mystery, and quirky characters. I could easily see this book turned into a family movie. There is just something for everyone.

Content: sword fighting, murder, deception, and a platonic romance

The Perfect Fool by Bethany Z. Herbert

The Perfect Fool by Bethany Z. Herbert

Dust Jacket:

Plucked from the streets to become a court jester, Farragos' life couldn't be better, especially now that he's flirting with scullery maid Thea. But when Thea turns out to be a queen in disguise, Farrago may become as much a fool in love, as in his occupation. This medieval tale is filled with romance, humor, and twists that will keep you guessing to the last page.


My Review: 5 Stars!

Absolutely LOVED this book! When I read the dust jacket and saw the cover it looked a little quirky and I wasn't sure what to expect. It was awesomely quirky, witty, cleaver, and completely unexpected!

So the funny looking, out-of-the-box thinking, court jester is our hero. He goes from starving on the street to being the court jester to masquerading as a noble to compete for the queen's hand in a funny bachelorette-type competition. This book kept me sucked it. The plot is engaging but not predictable. Our hero is constantly put in in perilous situations and the way he gets out of them is unconventional.

This is a clean and funny read with some violence that I would recommend to the whole family and all ages.

After the Wind by Jaklyn M. Hawkes

After the Wind by Jaklyn M. Hawkes

Dust Jacket:

They say time heals all wounds.
Sometimes it doesn't.

After seeing her young family killed by a propane tanker explosion, the rest of Kristen's life seems more like a life sentence. Trying to escape the memories, she finds herself in a remote Idaho resort town where no one knows her story.

Her co-workers think she's intriguing.

Her neighbors think she's crazy.

She thinks she's hopeless.

Then she meets Joe.

My Review: 4.5 Stars

Devastated ski instructor hermit with PTSD catches the hearts of the next door pack of teenage brothers and their protective, semi-retired, father. Danger, tragedy, fear and faith ensue.

This story has great endearing male characters. The teenage sons are classic in their activities and role in the romance. The lead male is just everything women want the him to think and do. He is sensitive and thoughtful, passionate and responsible, and keeps his distance when asked but then breaks that rule when he knows you need it. He is so attentive that he can read what the female mind wants. (This could possibly be a training manual for the ideal man on how to read women.) The female lead is independent and needy but not helpless, and slightly blinded by her fears. The story line is engaging and keeps moving. And as always it includes a trip to the hospital.