Amy Inspired By: Bethany Pierce

Rejection after rejection has Amy Gallagher feeling stuck. With a master's degree under her belt, Amy thought she would've been a published writer by now. Teaching freshman English at the university wasn't on her list of things to do before age thirty. With her birthday fast approaching Amy fears the worst: she has settled. Plans to do so much more with her life conflict with the steady rhythm she has fallen into. But when a man named Eli is thrust into Amy's life her entire world changes but will she have the courage to accept it?
Once I start a book my goal is to inevitably finish it. Whether or not I like it doesn't matter. In forcing myself to read an entire book cover to cover I am enabled to give an honest review instead of tossing it aside and limiting my ability to review it. I get the complete story.
With Amy Inspired, I definitely felt like giving up. I feel satisfied with my completion though, experiencing my own little triumph. However, I did not enjoy this book at all. The chapters were too long. The entire book cut into three parts gave off a sporadic vibe. Amy Gallagher, just a nagging woman who feels sorry for herself. Tell me something I don't know! I want to be Wowed and this book did not do it for me. And I got to say, I would not recommend it to a friend. However, the one thing I did like was the description of Eli's sculpture. I could see it so vivid in my mind.

I was given a free copy of this book by Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

Jessie D

I think every single person I know completely knows that I am a huge Michael Buble fan! This is a picture of him during the making of his "Hollywood" video and I have to admit, the whole time I was reading The Vigilante's Bride by Yvonne Harris I kept picturing that Luke Sullivan looked like this LOL:


Isn't he gorgeous!!! :)

The Vigilantes Bride By: Yvonne Harris

Sent to marry a man she's never even met, Emily McCarthy is on her way to wed Bartholomew Axel when the stage coach she is riding in gets robbed, and she is kidnapped.
Luke Sullivan only wanted what was rightfully his! He certainly wasn't expecting a woman to be in the stagecoach that night. All he cared for was his father's money Axel stole. Either way, that little lady was mighty lucky he was able to rescue her from making a huge mistake. And he doesn't care what she thinks, he saved her from Bartholomew Axel, a very evil and dangerous man and that's for sure.
My hands idly, keep turning the pages like they have a mind of their own. My eyes scanning each and every word without any sign of drowsiness. My mind completely immersed into the story. If anyone entered the room, it was beyond my knowledge. My nose submerged, in a frozen state between the covers of The Vigilante's Bride. A rather sleepless night for me.
I absolutely loved it! I was kept on the edge of my seat the whole time. Of course there were a few minor infractions. The very first chapter was a bit awkward but after Emily met Luke the first chapter didn't matter at all anymore! I also felt like there should've been more conflict with Bartholomew Axel, it would've been the cherry on top! Oh! also Axel's first name did not sit well with me, at all! Very gross!
However, all three infractions can be forgiven because I loved the story regardless! And Luke Sullivan may only be a character in this book but he sure as hell took my breathe away! So I say, " Bravo Ms. Harris!"

I was given a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

Jessie D

Masquerade By: Nancy Moser

It's the 1800's in England and Charlotte Gleason is just a naive rich girl, who always gets what she wants, from a family highly ranked on the social ladder or so she thought... When Charlotte finds out the truth her world is turned upside down and inside out and is sent off to America, with her maid Dora Conners, to marry Conrad Tremain. Looking for an adventure Charlotte forces her maid to switch lives and identities with her in order to seize the opportunity. Charlotte has no idea what is coming her way and it definitely is an adventure she gets but not necessarily the one she wants!

Masquerade: definitely not in love with the title! It brings to mind a cheesy Halloween party where the host seems to be trying to hard. I absolutely hated the character, Lottie Hathaway, she was so ignorant and naive. Many times during the book I wished I had been there to slap her! However, Lottie is what kept me interested so I say hats off to Nancy! I very much enjoyed reading Masquerade, especially Dora Conners' situation. Many times I felt so embarrassed for her!
I would absolutely recommend this book to my avid reader friends and I am glad to have it on my bookshelf.

I was given a free copy of this book by Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

Jessie D

Love's First Bloom By: Delia Parr

The year is 1838 in New York City and Reverend Livingstone has been accused of a heinous crime involving a prostitute. Wanting to keep his daughter from being tainted by scandal, he is forced to send her to Tom's River under a new identity along with an innocent child, whom Ruth is to assume the role of her widowed mother. With a reporter out to ruin the lives of these two innocent people, can faith in God be found amongst scandal and gossip...?
My first thoughts after finishing Love's First Bloom were: "It was cute." And indeed it was but this book did not amaze me. I wasn't up all night trying to finish reading it, like I usually do with a book I love. I found it rather too slow paced for my liking. I mean yes, the story line was good but it took too long to get there.
Delia Parr set me ablaze with Hearts Awakening, and yet the fire she set seemed to have burned out leaving Love's First Bloom to fall flat in comparison. However, there were parts which I did enjoy but too few and I waited the rest of the time for something more to happen.

I was given a free copy of this book by Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

Jessie D

Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball By: Donita K. Paul

It's Christmas time and Cora Crowder is on her way to find a gift for her Uncle Eric in a rather unusual bookstore, on a rather unusual street which doesn't seem to be noticed much. While at Warner, Werner, and Wizbotterdad's bookstore on Sage St. Cora runs into coworker "Serious Simon Derrick" and from then on, her whole simple organized world changes. For better of worse you ask? Well, it seems to me you will just have to read it to find out.
I had never read anything by Donita K. Paul before Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball. But as I was doing some research, I kept running across reviews with nothing but praise for her; setting the bar extremely high for Ms. Paul before I had even begun to read! And I have to admit I felt leery about believing other's opinions about her since I am not too trusting because of my own personal preferences. Ha! but that woman blew me out the water! This is one of those books you make a tradition out of and I sure do plan to do just that! It's a delightful Christmas story and I could not put it down.
I was given a free copy of this book by the Blogging for Books program in exchange for an honest review.

Jessie D