Category: Five Star Adult

REVIEW: Belle AND Ella by Sarah Price

REVIEW: Belle AND Ella by Sarah Price

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of Ella from Netgalley and the publisher, Zebra. All opinions are my own. ]

Belle: An Amish Retelling of Beauty and the Beast – Summary

Belle’s father wasn’t really cut out to be a farmer. In his heart and his mind he is an inventor. Unfortunately, inventing doesn’t bring in any money if no one will buy his designs. As the youngest of three daughters still at home, Belle knows the best she can do is be sure the house is cared for, complete her chores, and hope maybe one of her sisters will get married. A husband could help with the things her father doesn’t do on the farm.

But an accident puts their whole family in jeopardy. Her father is woefully behind on the mortgage, his latest invention was destroyed in the accident before he could sell it, and in desperation he sold the family’s home and farm to the reclusive Adam Hershberger.

Belle knows the townspeople sometimes call Adam a “beast” because of his scars from a fire years ago. His gruff manner doesn’t help that reputation. But Belle is desperate to help her family. So she agrees to marry Adam if he will let her family stay at the farm.

Review

This was delightful! Beauty and the Beast is my favorite of the Disney princess stories. This Amish twist on the story was terrific. Early on, the parallels to the Disney version were almost too on point. But after the wedding, the story developed its own flavor and details that were original and perfect for the context.

I loved Belle and Adam. The Beast-ish moments – the growling, the secrecy, the anger and bitterness – were frustrating. Why wouldn’t he just TALK to her? I loved how Belle stood up to the people in the community for her husband even when she wasn’t sure where she stood with him. The only disappointment for me was the lack of a library scene!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

 

Ella: An Amish Retelling of Cinderella – Summary

Ella Troyer was a teenager when her father told her he was getting married again. Her mother had been gone for awhile and Ella needed a woman in the house to teach her all she would need to know as an adult in the Amish community. His new bride was a widow from another town who had two girls around Ella’s age. Even though her father had never met the woman before, they were to become a  family.

Six years later, Ella is a virtual servant in her family home. After her father’s death, Ella’s step-mother took over his business – the town’s general store – and Ella became the sole caretaker of the home She did all the chores around the house, tended the garden and the livestock, and did all the cooking.  If her step-sisters didn’t want to work their shifts at the store, she also did that. Between her fear of her step-mother and the promise she made to her dying mother, Ella felt she had to take the high road and suffer through all of the abuse without complaint, hoping God would eventually set things right.

When the store starts having money trouble, Ella’s step-mother starts looking into taking on a partner for the business. The family considering the deal sends one of their sons to check out the Troyer family and the business. Hannes is smart and funny. He makes Ella feel special and important. But Ella’s step-mother is determined to drive Hannes away – or claim him for one of her own daughters instead.

Review

This was fantastic! Even better than book one. I don’t read a lot of Amish fiction, but this series is so incredibly good I want to read it again and again.

The author does an excellent job adapting the original fairy tale to an Amish setting. I loved the nods to the classic – mice, a pumpkin, etc. – even though the magical elements are left out. And the way the author works in the “fairy godmother” and the “glass slipper” parts literally made me sit up and cheer. I could see the pieces start to come together, and when they finally did, it was perfect!

Ella’s situation through most of the story was infuriating. Her Amish step-mother used all the Amish traditions about hard work and peace and obedience to manipulate Ella, but didn’t apply them to her own daughters. I longed for them to be put in their places, and when it happened, I was supremely satisfied.

I highly recommend this for fans of romance novels, Amish fiction, Christian fiction and readers who enjoy re-fashioned fairy tales. This was a delight from start to finish. Book three – Sadie – which focuses on the story of Snow White is scheduled for Fall 2018. A new character mentioned in this book could be a hint at a fourth book in the series.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck by Bethany Turner

REVIEW: The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck by Bethany Turner

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Sarah Hollenbeck seemed to have it all. Her husband was handsome and successful – her high school sweetheart. From the outside, their life looked perfect. But the love was gone. Patrick was sleeping with anyone but his wife. Sarah hadn’t worked since college because she got married and focused on helping Patrick with his business and his image. Without him, what does she have?

The decision to write came a little out of nowhere, and her early poems were horrible. But over the course of 6 weeks, she poured herself and her angst over her marriage and divorce into a steamy story of love. And it was a hit! Two books later “Raine de Bourgh” is famous for her graphic, saucy romances.

Then Sarah meets Jesus. A conversation with a friend turns into a prayer to Christ. And Sarah’s life is suddenly on a new track. But how will she reconcile her old life – and current book contract – with her faith? And how can she tell the sexy widowed pastor at her church that she’s the author of these scandalous books?

Review

This was excellent from start to finish! The transformation of Sarah from the shallow, needy woman at the beginning to the strong, centered woman she becomes is inspiring. Her desire to do right by her new relationship with Christ is sincere. She’s still figuring things out, but she’s determined.

The characters in the story are people I would want as friends. Well, most of them. And the chemistry between Sarah and Pastor Ben is terrific. He’s not perfect, but he is devoted to her, to honoring God in their relationship, and he’s compassionate when the newness of her faith is apparent in the things they are working through.

The story was excellent. I cared about what happened to the people in the story. This is everything I want Christian fiction to be. Strong story, characters I care about, and a faith at the core that feels natural and authentic. Highly recommend!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown

REVIEW: I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown

Posted on by Jaymie

Austin Channing Brown shares her experience as a Black woman in America. From her name – people often assume she is a white man before they meet her –  to her experience in predominantly white environments, Ms. Brown has a lot of experiences to explore. This is part memoir and part discourse on race in America. I enjoyed the writing style and voice all the way through. This reads like a friend talking with you over coffee.

In the midst of that conversational tone, though, there is pointed content. It made me uncomfortable at times – even convicted and ashamed. I like to think there are no racial biases in me, but I think it would be hard to grow up in white America and not have them. My job now is to recognize them and challenge and change them. I was grateful for the faith pieces in the book. They were an anchor for common ground and for hope that we can change – that life for Black folks in America can be different than it is now.

Read this with an open mind and an open heart. If you are a person of faith, ask the Holy Spirit to show you where you fit in Austin Brown’s narrative. Prayerfully consider how her story can change and challenge you.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Convergent Books for the opportunity to read an electronic copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Finish by Jon Acuff

REVIEW: Finish by Jon Acuff

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary and Review

There are a ton of factors that can keep you from accomplishing your goals. When it comes to the factors in your own head, Jon Acuff has some suggestions.

Jon wrote a book called Start several years ago to help people take the first step toward their dreams. Then he noticed that a lot of folks are “chronic starters.” Those folks don’t need a book to help them start things; they are almost too good at that. Where they need help is getting past the perfectionism that keeps them from finishing anything.

Finish addresses the places where perfectionism can get in the way of readers accomplishing their goals – setting goals that are too big and quitting at the first roadblock instead of building on the progress made, knowing what works as an incentive for you, etc..  Each chapter includes questions to help readers apply the insights from the book to their current goals.

For me, every chapter was on target. I’m an only child – of course I have issues with perfectionism! I underlined, starred, and laughed my way through the book and finished with renewed energy for my goals. In fact, this is the first Acuff book I have ever finished. I am something of a “chronic starter” when it comes to nonfiction books. This particular one is a book I’ll keep close by so I can apply it to new goals as time goes on. I anticipate that it will also be a great resource when I get stuck in my journey to accomplish some dreams this year.

I’ve heard great things about the audio book, too. I have it, but haven’t started listening to it yet. If audio is more your style, this is supposed to be a great book to explore in that format.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: The Writing Desk by Rachel Hauck

REVIEW: The Writing Desk by Rachel Hauck

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Tenley’s first book was a best-seller. An award winner. But she can’t get one word written for a follow up. With a famous father and great-great-grandfather who were authors, shouldn’t this be easier? Is she destined to be a one hit wonder?

In 1902, Birdie longs to throw off the expectations of her station. She wants to have her stories published and marry the man she loves. But the publisher she approached turned her down, and she never got her manuscript back. Her parents have arranged a marriage for her that will solidify her status in society for the rest of her life. But what about what she wants?

When Tenley heads to Florida to care for her estranged mother while she goes through chemo, she’s supposed to be writing her next book. Instead she takes steps that will draw her story and Birdie’s together across more than 100 years.

Review

This was terrific! First and foremost it’s a story of writers, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I adored Birdie. She showed great strength and determination as she made every effort to fight the destiny laid out for her. Her story was my favorite.

I empathized with Tenley. She’s lost. She doesn’t really know who she is. But she does the right thing in going to take care of her mom. And while they still had prickly moments, I loved watching them try to sort things out.

This is also a set of love stories (Jonas and his family are fantastic!! There are several laugh-out-loud moments of banter between Tenley and Jonas). And it is also a story of God who sings over both of these women, encouraging them to not be dismayed. This was absolutely lovely!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Draw the Circle by Mark Batterson

REVIEW: Draw the Circle by Mark Batterson

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary and Review

A 40-day prayer journey by the author of The Circle Maker. Each day’s entry includes stories and personal testimony, an idea for changing or enhancing your prayer life, and a take away/summary statement.

Ideas and challenges include making prayers more specific, persistence and thinking bigger.

It’s hard to describe this book well and really capture it. For me, this was an amazing little book. I enjoyed the writing style, and the prayer stories were inspiring. I looked forward to reading this each day. In fact, I longed to read the whole thing cover to cover and just soak it all in. But I knew if I did that, I wouldn’t get the same take-aways and growth.

This is a book I will keep close at hand and read more than once. In fact, but the time this posts, I will be wrapping up my second journey through this little book. I think any time you feel like your prayer life needs a fresh infusion of faith and energy, this would be the resource to grab. There’s also a study guide and a video series for group use. I liked this so much I put all of Batterson’s books on my TBR list. I can’t recommend this book highly enough. This was one of my top 10 reads from 2017.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: A Grave Issue by Lillian Bell

REVIEW: A Grave Issue by Lillian Bell

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

It started with an emu.

A dead emu. Rosemary and Alan Brewer said the barking is what killed it. In their opinion, Kyle and Lola Hanson’s dogs scared the emu to death.

The death of the emu led to the fight. At the funeral home. That’s how Desiree got dragged into the mess. She was working at her family’s funeral home when Rosemarie and Lola had an altercation over the emu. Desiree was supposed to be helping her family business. A fight during a funeral isn’t very helpful. Not Desiree’s best moment. (Also, not her worst!)

Things go from bad to worse when Alan is found dead and Kyle is arrested for the murder. Kyle has been like a second father to Desiree. And with her own father presumed dead after a surfing accident, Desiree is determined to track down the truth and exonerate Kyle.

Her skills as a former reporter and her ties to the folks in her home town could be just what Desiree needs to puzzle things out.

Review

This was excellent! The setting – a funeral home – is unusual and gives Desiree access to lots of folks around town. The mystery is complicated and the pacing for it was perfect. Every so often a new layer or wrinkle or clue comes along to keep the reader engaged and guessing. And there are side stories like Desiree’s sister’s pregnancy or her best friend’s maybe-stalker that serve to cement the other characters into the story. Everything connects and makes sense yet doesn’t overshadow the main plot.

Desiree is great. She’s smart and determined and likable. She’s hoping to reinvent herself eventually after a major gaffe. But she stays focused on the here and now – helping her family and proving Kyle innocent.

There are a couple potential love interests for Desiree and an overarching mystery that will carry into the next book. The overarching mystery is a brilliant thing I have seen in some other series recently. It draws readers onto the next book to see what happens. I know I will definitely be reading book 2 (If the Coffin Fits – Fall 2018) in this terrific new series.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for access to an electronic review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. It was a treat to read this one!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEWS: Two Self-Help Winners!

REVIEWS: Two Self-Help Winners!

Posted on by Jaymie

I’ve been having a hard time finding a day for these reviews, but I enjoyed the books so much, I didn’t want to push them off any longer. So today, you get two reviews. Happy Valentine’s Day! Show some love to yourself and check these out.

She’s Still There – Summary

Have you ever found yourself in a moment or at a cross roads and wondered “How did I get here?” And not in a good way! You had these plans, these dreams, these expectations. But nothing in your life looks like you thought it would.

Maybe you drifted. Maybe you took a short cut, lowered a standards, or took your eyes off the path and that changed your course. Maybe you got distracted. That temporary move, temporary job, “short season” of something has become your permanent location. Maybe circumstances outside your control have left you in a place you never intended to be. No matter how you got here, you can find your way back. The person you were once upon a time is still there. And Chrystal Evans Hurst wants to help you find her.

She’s Still There – Review

While this book is targeted to women in the title and in many of the examples, this really works for anyone. The book is broken into 6 sections with multiple chapters. Each chapter has reflection questions and Bible verses to go through. There are practical applications for every point from doing an assessment of your gifts and skills to ways of setting small goals to help you stay on track.

I read the book as part of a study with Proverbs 31. This included videos and Bible study ideas and conference calls. And all of that “bonus” content was great. But the foundation is the book, and it is all you really need to take a long look at your life and your current direction.

I found the book both challenging and encouraging. The writing is approachable. There’s a “me too” feel where the author shares from her own journey. She’s not perfect or an expert. She’s lived this and coaches from her place a few steps ahead of you. Great for personal study or for group study. I highly recommend this.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

 

The Wellness Revelation – Summary

The subtitle for this book is “Lose what weighs you down so you can love God, yourself and others.” For a diet/health/fitness book, this has a HUGE faith component.

There are 8 sections of the book, designed to lead the reader on an 8-week journey. Each chapter has five components, easily broken down for weekday usage if you choose. The first two sections include a chunk of information and encouragement and often an action step or two. There’s a set of Bible study questions in another section, reflection questions in the fourth, and a final “testimony” piece at the end.

The journey is intentionally slow paced. It doesn’t address much with food until week 3, and the exercise kicks in in week 4. This is by design. The author spends two weeks setting a spiritual foundation, encouraging readers to approach food and movement from healthy places. And she reinforces this message in each workout, podcast and Facebook Live posting.

The Wellness Revelation – Review

I loved this whole process from the beginning. I loved the faith pieces that are part of every breath of the program. I read the book as part of an online course through Facebook, and every leader online encouraged participants to seek the Lord and follow His leading on food, on movement, on pacing and on how our past influences our present.

There’s enough material in the book and online (workouts, podcasts, etc) to make this process a full time job. I had to choose to be content to do what I could, to emphasize the parts that were encouraging to me and be okay when I couldn’t keep up with it all. I’ve become a fan of their online workouts at RevWellTV (available for a monthly fee) – there are different types of workouts, different instructors, and different skill/intensity levels. Something for everyone.

If you feel like now is the time to invest in your health, I can’t recommend this book and the people behind it highly enough.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

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REVIEW: Aliens Abroad by Gini Koch

REVIEW: Aliens Abroad by Gini Koch

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

The Distant Voyager is the first manned long-range spacecraft for Earth. And it’s about to leave on its first mission. Kitty and the gang are there for a tour and Jeff’s big speech before the launch.

Unexpectedly (although, par for the course in Kitty’s life), the ship takes off early with Jeff, half of the Presidential Cabinet, Kitty, their kids, and a good portion of their extended family on board. The ship’s AI is uncooperative at best, there are signs of sabotage, and no one on board seems to be able to control their course – or change it.

Whoever is controlling things knows Kitty – the “Warrior Queen” – is a protector. If she can help a person – or a planet – in need, she will. And there are several races in dire need of rescuing. So while she might have been a reluctant participant at first, Kitty is on board for saving the day. Because if Kitty can’t help, the whole galaxy might not survive.

Review

Wow! This was so fun! First of all, this is my favorite book series for adults. So any addition to the series, any book with these characters, is going to be one I am eagerly anticipating. Second, most of the book takes place in previously unknown parts of the galaxy. There are tons of new alien species and planets and galactic politics to explore. Third, there are at least four major events in the book. Reading this felt like binge watching a favorite show or binge reading a favorite book series all in one sitting. I got through the first event and still had hundreds of pages to go! I waited for this book for a long time. The wait was completely worthwhile.

Most of my favorite characters were along for the ride on this trip, so I enjoyed the little tidbits added to their stories. Continuing one of my favorite things from Alien Education, the kids play an important role in this book. In fact, the chapters where their role is really expanded I read twice. There’s a nice balance between the expected interplay and relationships from the series and all the new characters. In fact, to me the book felt weighted toward the new characters and events which gave this a fresh feel. I feel like this book and the next (Aliens Like Us) are going to have the same “interlude” feel that Universal Alien and Alien Separation did earlier in the series. It will advance the characters and the big picture, but it will keep the series from feeling like it is following a pattern.

Kudos to Gini Koch for this fast, fun, and fresh addition to the series. It’s everything I have come to expect from her in the last 6 years since I discovered the series. Many thanks to Netgalley and the folks at DAW (Penguin/Random House) for the opportunity to review an electronic review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My personal copy will be arriving any time now so I can start a re-read right away. Goodreads shows at least 4 more books coming in the series; I have all of them on my wish list and have pre-ordered Aliens Like Us so I don’t miss a moment of the action. If you love science fiction (with a little steamy romance thrown in ), I think you should follow my lead. If this is a new series to you, start with book one, Touched by an Alien, and carve out some serious reading time. This is a series you don’t want to miss.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEWS: 2017 Christmas Books

REVIEWS: 2017 Christmas Books

Posted on by Jaymie

I had something else scheduled for review today, but it didn’t work out, so I am going to plug in a few short reviews of some of the 2017 Christmas books I have been able to read this season. I hope you will find something here you like!

How the Finch Stole Christmas – The Christmas production of A Christmas Carol is headed off the rails thanks to a diva-level actor with a drinking problem. A dead body is not exactly what Meg and friends need on top of the production stress! This is book 22 in the Meg Langslow series, one of my favorite cozy series. I love that no matter how many books there are in the series, the stories and the characters stay strong and enjoyable. The mystery in this one was great. And Meg is one of my favorite protagonists of all time. Rating: ♥♥♥♥

 

 

Merry and Bright – The latest from Debbie Macomber focuses on a young woman whose family sets her up for an online dating service. Her best match turns out to the be last person she wanted it to be.  I really enjoyed this one! The plot is pretty simple and You’ve Got Mail-esque, but the characters are fantastic and really made this a fun holiday read.  This would make a darling Hallmark Christmas movie. Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

 

 

Holly and Ivy – A lonely widow meets a young girl with a great gift in this holiday story. For me, this story suffered from an unsympathetic character right from the beginning. I almost gave up on finishing this one. I pressed through the unpleasant character and things finally started to turn around about half-way through. The ending was great and made me glad I kept with it. Rating: ♥♥♥

 

 

Twelve Slays of Christmas – The first book in a Christmas Tree farm mystery series. A young woman heads home to Mistletoe, Maine after her Christmas Eve wedding is cancelled. Maybe some time at home, celebrating the holiday with family on the farm will be just what she needs. She certainly does NOT need a dead body or for her family and friends to be suspected murderers. This was a delight from start to finish! The setting was perfect – I loved the holiday activities the family does around the farm for Christmas. The characters were a lot of fun – the “voice” was great and there was humor and romance as well as a solid mystery. This is a series I will be following faithfully! Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

 

Sugar Pine Trail – A librarian finds herself taking care of two young boys at Christmas time. And her handsome neighbor pitches in. This is the 7th book in the Haven Point series, but I’m not sure the books are necessarily interconnected, except for the setting. This was so fantastic, though, I have added the rest of the series to my library wish list so I can check out all the rest of the books. The characters in this were spectacular. I loved the foster care angle, and the author did a great job of portraying that pretty realistically. The love story was terrific. Great romance to put you in the holiday spirit. Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥