Book Review Letters from My Sister by Valerie Fraser Luesse

     Letters From My Sister is a story about two sisters who are very close, but one of them is hiding something. Callie knows her sister has a secret, but can't remember what it is. When they are separated they write letters to each other. Callie hopes to find what she can't remember within them.

    
    The characters are really well thought out in this book. I love how unique and real they are. Callie and Emmy have this special bond that is very well written.

    This book is not a "feel good" book. In fact, it touches on some real tragedies. I would read with caution if sad topics affect you.

    As for the plot, I really wasn't impressed. The big secret was a let down. I was left confused as to why it was a secret at all. Mostly this book is just tragedy, including the plot.

    This being said, I would still attempt another book by Valerie Fraser Luesse. Her characters alone are enough for my to try again. Her verbal imagery is beautiful as well. While I didn't like the story, the story was easy to picture.

I received this book for free from Revell in exchange for this honest review.

Book Review: This is Where it Ends by Cindy K. Sproles

 

    This was a beautiful love story, although not so much a romance story. Minerva has reached the age where she feels as if she might go any day. She also seems to be welcoming the coming of that day. That is, until she finds an unlikely friend in the young Del. When Del comes looking for answers to a secret long kept, Minerva must decide between an old promise and trusting a new friend.

    While I would still consider this book a love story, it also still has some very sad themes. Minerva has had some real struggles in her life. These struggles are portrayed in a way that makes her seem very real to the reader. I enjoyed learning every new thing about her.     

    The most beautiful part of this book is the character development we see in Minerva. It's truly beautiful watching Minerva experience a love she never has in the most unlikely of places. I also enjoyed that through her change, she never lost her witty sense of humor. While the plot is great, Minerva is what makes this book a "must-read".  I highly recommend this book.

I received this book for free from Revell in exchange for this honest review.

Book Review: Her Only Wish by Shelley Shepard Gray

     I was really excited to receive this book, having already read a previous book from the same series. I'm happy to say that Shelley Shepard Gray has stayed true to previous writing style and I enjoyed this book just as much as the last. You are in for a treat with this one.

    Romance usually isn't my genre. I would even call this a "mellow" romance. It's a very easy-going read. While usually something I would stay away from (I love the thrills), the book is written in a way that's so believable it's easy to picture yourself there. I think of these books as my "calming" reads. They are enjoyable and don't have anything that will keep up at night.

    The plot is steady, but at a slow pace. However, the characters are always exciting and well-written. I wonder if these characters are based on real people because of how easy they are to picture.

I highly recommend this as your next leisure read.  I received this book for free from Revell in exchange for this honest review.

Book Review: With Every Memory by Janine Rosche

         Lori and Avery are both learning how to cope with terrible trauma. Lori has lost her son and Avery her brother. Still, both are hoping for love and a second chance. Lori still has some physical trauma from the accident that causes memories to surface slowly. As they surface, she finds her love life may not have been what she thought it would have. Avery, is having trouble turning to her brother's best friend for help, but he may be just what she needs. 

        I enjoyed the way the book gave two very different perspectives on love. It focused on a long-term married relationship and a young new one. I liked seeing the similarities and differences in the struggles of maintaining a healthy relationship.    

        I was not a fan of the plot. I don't think the memories coming back were done very well. I would have liked to have more stories of the mysterious lost son/brother, Austin. The entire plot focused more upon love relationships than familial relationships or the trauma that had occurred. The biggest plot hole of the entire book is the lack of grief Lori has for the loss of her son. 

        I was not a fan of the characters. Michael, the husband, comes off as incompetent. Avery, generally comes off as a brat. Lori, comes off as selfish. Xander, the best friend of Austin, comes off as a door mat. I know real people have real flaws, but this was to a level that made the characters unrealistic. 

        This book does contain some powerful messages about forgiveness and things not always being what they seem. However, not one person in this book is a good role model. It's not a book I would tell someone not to read, but it's not something I would actively promote either.

        I received this book for free in exchange for this honest review.

Book Review: Windswept Way by Irene Hannon

     Windswept Way is very mild in terms of thriller, rich in terms of mystery, and drawn out in terms of romance. I love a romance that builds and it certainly does in this case. I also love that there are multiple levels to the mystery in this book. The "scary" elements are more cheesy than scary, but I prefer it that way.

    The characters are so well-written I found myself wondering if they were loosely based on real people. They have a good amount of history and stay true to their own unique personalities. The character growth is also very well-written. Jonathon was my favorite character because of how wonderful his story and growth are.

    The setting and plot are also wonderful and well-established. There's no big plot holes and it's a very satisfying read. 

    The one thing I wasn't a fan of is how inner dialogue is written in this book. I prefer "she wondered" or "he thought". The dialogue in this book is plain text. There is no italicize or mention of whose inner dialogue it is. It's easy enough to figure out through context, but it's not a writing style I enjoyed. This didn't take away much from the book. 

    I recommend this book and would definitely consider reading more in the series. I received this book for free in exchange for this honest review. 

Book Review: After the Shadows by Amanda Cabot

     This book has a little bit of it all. It has romance, suspense, and mystery. Despite this book fitting multiple genres, it's surprisingly well rounded. The romance was believable, mystery was well thought out, and the suspense was just right. The plot is very well-written. 

    Another thing done very well is the characters. They all have very realistic emotions. I feel like the dialogue always fits the character and it's very well written. The characters are very believable and relatable. 

   I think my favorite part is the way Cabot writes the setting. Not only does she include a map, it's verbally described well too. The town has a history. Emily's home has a history. It's a town you will want to revisit when Cabot writes the next book to the series.

    I highly recommend this book. I received this book for free from Revell Reviewer Program in exchange for this honest review.

Book Review: Second Time Around by Melody Carlson

     Carlson either did a lot of research on interior design or already knew a great deal on the subject. It often felt like all I was reading was descriptions of buildings. I really felt like I had a sense for the room the characters were in. However, I never got a real good sense of the characters themselves.

I felt like the characters lacked emotion and passion. Mallory was going through some big life changes. She loses someone she shared a lot of time with as a child. The author takes time to write out memories about the shop that was inherited, but not about the grandmother she lost. Even through such a big loss the main character seems to be emotionless about everything except buildings.

While interior design is a great passion, it shouldn’t be the only passion inside of a romance novel. For me, it was very hard to get past that. However, if you enjoy thorough setting descriptions then you may really enjoy this book. Carlson is extremely skilled at helping you envision the setting.

While this wasn’t the book for me and I have a hard time even considering it to be a romance, the author clearly has great skill in setting description. This book was well-researched and descriptive. I think while it’s not my cup of tea, it just might be someone else's.

I received this book for free from the Revell Blogger Program in exchange for this honest review.

Book Review: Daughter of Eden

     Daughter of Eden is a retelling of the biblical Eve’s life. While a lot of us know the basic stories, Jill Eileen Smith dives into what Eve’s emotions and thoughts might have been. She goes more in depth of how life might have been outside of the garden.     

    It’s honestly a little hard to read about Adam and Eve having to learn about earth for the first time. It was hard to wrap my head around adults having to learn about something as basic as fire. That was a completely new perspective for me. This book is filled with moments like that.

I think sometimes we glaze over Bible reading without taking time to think what it actually might have been like. This book is an amazing tool to allow you to better understand a piece of scripture. It’s also a pretty great story. 

    While I did find it difficult to read a story I already knew all the major plot twists too, there were some points from the author’s imagination that I did enjoy. It was interesting to compare what I imagined of the life of Eve to someone else’s perspective.

    I highly recommend this book. It may just help you see Eve in a whole new way. 

    I received this book for free from the Revell Blogging Program in exchange for this honest review.

Book Review: Cold Light of Day by Elizabeth Goddard

Police chief Autumn Long is battling a new crime wave and fighting for her job at the same time. A newcomer, Grier, has proven helpful. However, Autumn’s not sure he can be trusted. Would partnering with him be a mistake endangering her job and her town? Still, she feels drawn to him. 

This book has plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. There’s secrets and danger at every turn. The author does a great job feeding you just a puzzle piece at a time making it hard to put together until the ending. I love a good thriller and this one did not disappoint. 

The characters are well-written and believable. Autumn is strong in person and in faith, making her a great role model. The author also did a great job of portraying the setting and Autumn’s connection to it. You can feel Autumn's love for her town and her need to protect it.

If you like a good romantic suspense novel, then you will like this. I’m looking forward to the next book in this series. 

I received this book for free from the Revell Blogging program in exchange for this honest review.

Book Review: Her Heart's Desire by Shelley Shepard Gray

      This book is about young adults making their way in life. Jayson has responsibilities to his family, but his commitments have left him feeling empty. Mary Margaret is doing her best to forget a childhood mishap that left her friendless and lonely. They become drawn to each other, but they each have obstacles to overcome if they are going to be able to accept each other's love. 

    The summary I read on the cover of the book mentions the two main characters and one intriguing plot line. However, this book is filled with relatable characters and plots that keep you turning pages. The author does an amazing job seamlessly telling and interweaving multiple stories in a way that is easy to understand and enjoy. The characters grow and change throughout the book while remaining true to their own unique personalities. 

    Because each character is so unique I found myself gathering multiple messages within the book. Trusting God, repentance, forgiveness, change, and self-image are messages I found to be prominent for me in the book. However, you might relate to different characters and get completely different messages out of this book. 

    I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for their next read because of how relatable both the characters and many plots are. The small summary on the cover does not do justice to the many messages within.  

I received this book for free from the Revell Blogger Program in exchange for this honest review.