Hurricane Allie, book #25

Well, I got my little first world problem figured out on my Paperwhite (PW), but it involved a little work on my end.  See, when you download all these great, inexpensive books on your PW and then you finish a book and want to see what you want to read next, you go to your home page to decide.  Only what happens is there are only two views for you to choose from: book cover or book title list.  So guess what?  Are you with me? 

YOU CAN'T TURN IT OVER TO SEE WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT!!!!!

So, I then spent a good amount of time on Amazon looking up each book I had downloaded and did a little copy and paste of the title, author, # of pages, and a summary on a document.  And how long is that little document? Oh, approximately 14 pages and counting.  Because I have now bought more books since this weekend.  But it is printed in small font.  Whatever.  

So, I haven't been able to read much lately with all of life craziness as it is, and while I did finish the last book rather quickly, I was debating if I had time to read another one before I needed to start reading the one for book club.  Since my new document has pages numbers on it, I found this little novella with only 97 pages and knew I could blow through it pretty quickly.  Ha ha ... get it, blow through it ... a book about a hurricane ... Yeah, that's where I am these days.

Anyhow, I highly recommend this little gem for a quick read.  It is by one of favorite authors who writes a lot about weddings, and if it got a little cheesy at times, and you knew exactly how it was going to turn out, I still didn't mind adding it to my list.  

Even natural disasters can't stop love!
Wedding bells are chiming for Allie Stetson and Kyle Landon. As Allie rushes through wedding preparations days before her wedding, Kyle makes a last minute trip to New York to secure a new client.
Meanwhile, a hurricane bears down on the coast days before their wedding. Is it a bad sign the storm is named Allie?
Stuck in New York, Kyle struggles to find a way home. Meanwhile, Allie scrambles to find Plan B. Her perfect wedding is ruined but not even the forces of nature can stop a wedding that was meant to be. (picture and description at amazon)

O:)
Melissa

The will of wisteria, book #24

Since I was having some first world problems with my Paperwhite, I decided to read this one from my dear friend Denise Hildreth-Jones.  We had a copy in our church library, but somehow we lost it so I finally ordered another one.  I started it just a few days ago and spent the first 1/3 of the book deciding if I had read it after all some other time.  I was starting to get grumpy about it, but about 1/2 way through I did indeed realize I had not.  What a relief!  There are too many books in this world I want to read that I don't want to waste my time reading one I have already read!!  I mean, hey ....

Alas, I digress.  Ok, about the book.  Ahhh... it is set in Charleston, SC which I have visited once in person and several times in books.  Reading this brought back to mind all those hot muggy days we were there, but also I could exactly picture where the characters were.  It is different than her other books, but now after having read all of them, I see what a diverse fiction writer she is.  The first ones I read were the Savannah series, which had me rolling in laughter the entire time.  The First Gardener had me tears the whole time.  Hurricanes in Paradise had me set right in my dream place in the Bahamas.  This one, however, took me a little time to get into.  I mean, yeah, getting kidnapped in the middle of the night and ending up in a dark room with your estranged siblings, it does "grab" you, but I just kept trying to decide if any of them really understood what was at stake.  Once the book got rolling, though, I'm pretty sure I read it in about 4 days because there was never a place to stop and leave these folks ... I HAD to see what was going to happen next!!!  

Thumbs up for this one, and actually anything my by good buddy!!

Four headstrong siblings must satisfy their father's dying demands--or risk losing his fortune. Let the clash of wills begin.

Charleston blue blood Clayton Wilcott "got religion" late in life; so late, it turns out his kids never took to it. So he's left a provisional will delivered in a highly unorthodox way.
Now they're going to have to honor Daddy's commandments from beyond the grave--for a full year--or be cut off from their substantial inheritances.The scent of wisteria lingers in the air as the four spoiled Wilcotts battle for their birthright. Told in Denise Hildreth's trademark blend of humor and heart, this Southern tale is about learning to love, learning to live, and learning to bend.

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(picture and description from amazon.com)

O:)
Melissa

Under the sheets, book #23

Good book. You should read it.  The end.

Dr. Kevin Leman knows even married people have lots of questions about sex, but sometimes they feel too embarrassed to ask or don't know where to turn for the best answers. For all those questions readers couldn't imagine asking their pastor or even their close friends, Dr. Leman is ready with open ears and expert advice.

With his trademark humor and wit, he offers frank answers to the burning questions all of us have about sex. Covering such topics as God's original intentions for sex, body image, attraction, expectations, sex drive, sex after children arrive, and much more, Turn Up the Heat is comprehensive in scope and just what the doctor ordered. Readers will get not only the answers they crave but plenty of the hearty chuckles they expect from Leman. Perfect for newlyweds or couples who have been married for years. (pic and description from amazon) 

O;)
Melissa

Between us girls, book #22

A pleasant surprise.  When I first started reading this book I wasn't sure I was going to like it, but the more I got into it I could hardly put it down.  I fell in love with Jasmine, Sam and of course sweet Mama Liv!  I fell in love with the Casa de Vida "detainees"!  And I'm pretty sure I may have fallen in love Keagen who has no first name.  But that's another story .....

This book was a nice, refreshing break from what I have been reading where this a love story always simmering and did truly focus on the relationships of Liv, Jasmine and Sam.  They seem to come from three different backgrounds, but all their stories intertwined and made them seem like one.  Stories like these remind you are not randomly placed in situations or places for no cause, but the Lord is at work in every move and adventure you go on.  

Highly recommend!!

(and the good news is, this IS a series and I didn't even know it!  Of course, it is not being released until next February, but I can wait.  This book could be a stand alone because all the ends came together in one nice little bow.)

From bestselling Christian fiction author Sally John comes a brand-new series featuring broken lives, new beginnings...and unexpected romance.

Welcome to Casa de Vida—eleven quaint bungalows located three blocks from the Pacific Ocean in tiny Seaside Village, California. Owner Liv McAlister never advertises vacancies beyond a small hand-lettered sign out front, preferring to trust that God will send the right tenant at just the right time. And He always does.

Meet Jasmyn Albright—she’s had more than her share of bad breaks lately, beginning with the tornado that demolished her farmhouse. Emotionally fragile and feeling utterly alone, Jasmyn heads west, hoping to outrun her heartbreak. And she doesn’t stop until she notices a small sign that reads “Vacancy.” Before she’s quite aware of how it all happened, Jasmyn finds herself the newest tenant at Casa de Vida. She hardly dares to hope that her fortunes might be about to change…but of course when God is at work, anything can happen, and new beginnings are one of His specialties.

Sometimes among strangers, family happens. And sometimes, when we least expect it, romance is a welcome guest. (picture and description at amazon)

O:)
Melissa

Love in a Broken Vessel, book #21

Be still my heart.  I have found my new favorite book.  Maybe it's because I just finished two not so stellar books.  Maybe it's because I liked the cover. Maybe it's because there was a message for me in it.  Maybe it's because it's the first time I get the deeper meaning in a book.  But this is it.  My new favorite.  And I think everyone should read it.

As you know, I am not a big fan in general of fictionalized Bible stories, unless Francine Rivers writes them.  They just always make me nervous about how much "liberty" they are taking.  I read another book by Mesu Andrews and did not like it.  I wasn't even going to read any more by her, but my friend insisted I read this one so I gave it a shot.  I cannot thank her enough!

This is a rendition of the book/love story of Hosea.  Naturally I was a bit skeptical because who can top Redeeming Love?  Funny thing is, Mesu actually acknowledges this right off in the Note to the Reader: 

When you think of reading the story of Gomer and Hosea, what novel comes to mind?  Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers, right? I think I've read it at least four times.  It's tied for first place in my all-time favorites, and Francine Rivers is hands down my favorite author.  So why would I dare write a novel that might be compared to such a classic?  Because Love in a Broken Vessel is biblical fiction, and Redeeming Love is a biblical story set in a prairie romance.  Trying to equate the two stories would be like comparing apples and oranges--both are fruit, but very different yummy flavors.  My hope is that readers wil enjoy each one for the unique story it is.

So right off you know the author is not trying to "beat" Redeeming Love, but do a different spin.  You had me at "Hello."  

I think the thing that just resonated over and over with me is how God/Hosea keeps on loving me/Gomer, even when I/she feel(s) so unworthy.  Even when I/she fight(s) back, not wanting or feeling like I/she deserve(s) the love.  Not even being able to accept the gifts God/Hosea gives me/her.  It's like after I had children I kept seeing that parent relationship played out time and time again as I try to discipline my children, hearing God say the same words to me as I am saying them to my children.  

Hosea is a hard book to understand.  Even after reading Redeeming Love I still didn't feel like I understood the book.  THIS book really brought it more to life, the loving her despite the fact she runs away time and again, loving her children born of different men, waiting so patiently on her and rejoicing in the end when she does turn to him.  I had tears at the end, even knowing it was going to work out but having no idea how it would!!!  Needless to say, this book gets all my thumbs up!!


Hosea has been charged by God with a difficult task--marry a prostitute in order to show God's people the nature and depth of his love for Israel. When Hosea goes to Israel to proclaim God's message, the prostitute God tells him to marry turns out to be his childhood friend Gomer. He finds her broken and abused, unwilling to trust Hosea or his God. But when marrying Hosea becomes her only choice, Gomer does what she's good at--she survives. Can Hosea's love for God and God's love for Israel heal Gomer's broken spirit?

With her potent combination of in-depth research and masterful storytelling, Mesu Andrews brings to life a complex and fascinating biblical story of the power of love and forgiveness in the face of utter betrayal. (picture and description from Amazon.)

Happy Reading!

O:)
Melissa

Lock, Stock and Over a Barrel, book #20

Sigh, here we go again.  Another book, another series, another author who leaves us hanging.  At least this time she did wrap up some things, as compared to the last.  We Some people  I read this for book club and then we didn't even end up meeting because there was this little Tennessee hurricane that blew through right before the meeting.  And lots of people were just busy that night.  So now I read this book for no reason.  Alas .... 

That said, while I was reading the book, I did enjoy it.  It was a light, funny book (as compared to the last one!) with a little romance.  If you don't mind books that don't have closure and leave you wondering with baited breath what on earth will happen next, then you may like this book. 

With high hopes, Dorothy Ballinger lands her dream job at The New York Times. But it's not long until writing about weddings becomes a painful reminder of her own failed romance, and her love of the city slowly sours as well. Is it time to give up the Big Apple for her small hometown of Appleton?

When her eccentric Aunt Dot passes away and leaves a sizeable estate to Dorothy, going back home is an easy choice. What isn’t easy is coming to terms with the downright odd clauses written into the will.

Dorothy only stands to inherit the estate if she agrees to her aunt's very specific posthumous terms -- personal and professional. And if she fails to comply, the sprawling old Victorian house shall be bequeathed to . . . Aunt Dot’s cats.(picture and description at Amazon)


So I decide maybe I will invest in the next book, only to discover it also is apparently a cliffhanger with no resolution either.  And the third book isn't even out yet.  It could be considered a fail, but you could also say, "Well, at least I know now ..."


The good news is the book I am now reading is NOT in a series, which means there will be closure and I am thoroughly enjoying it!!

O:)
Melissa

Born of Persuasion, book #19

My response to this book? 

I don't THINK so!!!

So, this book was one that was on my bedside for a very long time.  I am not even sure how it got there, whether it was a donation that I thought sounded good and I wanted to read, one a bought at my beloved BAM! on sale, from my mom, who knows!!  In the mean time, as it collected dust, I learned the author is the wife of someone Roger knew who worked at LifeWay.  Since I got the Paperwhite, I was trying to whittle the books on my bedside by adding them to my Amazon WishList.  Also in the meantime I sort of stumbled on how to get books from the library on my Paperwhite.  Long story short, this is the first one I read via R.E.A.D.S. for free!  But, I only had seven days to read it and it has 450 pages!!  (Again, I have been working on this all week, not just since I last posted.)

Well, I get into the book and decide I really didn't like it.  At all.  But, I am also of the nature that no matter how horrible the book is, unless there is excessive language or other worldly topics, I'm gonna finish it.  I have to see if it gets any better or if there is any hope for these pathetic characters.  (Remember The Chance?) Well, this book kept me so stinking confused I could never tell which way was up!!  Who was good and who was bad. Apparently there were all sorts of secrets that everyone knew except the main character and some people would begin to tell her some of them, but would then decide it wasn't time.  There were lots of flash-forward moments (beginning with paragraphs like, "Later, when the whole story came out, I would see how important this truly was..." or "In hindsight the teaset really didn't matter" ... ) which seemed to occur every chapter at least once.  Are you kidding me?!?  I don't remember a one that was actually fulfilled, unless I took the time to actually buy the book and go back and hunt for each flash-forward and see if I could find where it came true.  But do you honestly think I am wasting any more time on this book?  No!!!

This is the beginning of a series and while I kept holding my breath for the end, well, don't hold your breath.  I'm all about series books, but not when you have an ending that demands you read the next one immediately.  That, dear authors, really ticks me off.  And I think it is selfish of you, like giving a child one bite of an ice cream cone and then taking it away and eating it all yourself while the child watches.  Like, purposefully withholding secrets to make you want to read the next book and spend another $10+ on it.  Or, even worse, when it is a new series and you get to an end like this and have to wait another 6 months to a year to find out what happens.  (This actually happened once to me and I actually threw the book across the room.  When the next book finally came out there was an author's note at the front that revealed I was not the only one who felt that way.  And the author actually apologized!)

Ok, enough about that soap box.  But I will tell you I'm not clamoring for finding Book 2 in the series.  I could care less what happens to Julia and if she and Edward ever end up together.  There are too many others "fish in the sea" to waste my time on them!! And, I haven't started the book for Book Club next Tuesday which promises to be considerably better!

The year is 1838, and seventeen-year-old Julia Elliston’s position has never been more fragile. Orphaned and unmarried in a time when women are legal property of their fathers, husbands, and guardians, she finds herself at the mercy of an anonymous guardian who plans to establish her as a servant in far-off Scotland.

With two months to devise a better plan, Julia’s first choice to marry her childhood sweetheart is denied. But when a titled dowager offers to introduce Julia into society, a realm of possibilities opens. However, treachery and deception are as much a part of Victorian society as titles and decorum, and Julia quickly discovers her present is deeply entangled with her mother’s mysterious past. Before she knows what’s happening, Julia finds herself a pawn in a deadly game between two of the country’s most powerful men. With no laws to protect her, she must unravel the secrets on her own. But sometimes truth is elusive and knowledge is deadly.  (picture and description from Amazon.)

O:)

Melissa