Review: Flirtation Walk by Siri Mitchell

Book Cover and Synopsis:

Trying to escape the shambles her con-man father has made of their reputation, Lucinda Curtis arrives in West Point, New York, determined to land a husband from the military academy. Campbell Conklin is first in his class and preparing to embark upon a storied career in the U.S. Army. Lucinda thinks Campbell will make the perfect husband . . . as long as he does not find out about her father.

Seth Westcott also has taken a liking to Lucinda. He's kind, smart . . . and working extremely hard to graduate last. Tradition states that the worst cadets are assigned to the cavalry out west. And west is where Seth must head to track the swindler who stole all of Seth's mother's money. Seth is smart enough to vie for the top spot, but life isn't fair and this is his chance to catch the man who ruined his family. It's too bad Campbell is all shine and no substance, but Lucinda will surely see through all of that, won't she?

My source for book: Review Copy

My Thoughts:
The premise of Flirtation Walk is actually really good, but unfortunately I was unable to connect with the characters. Parts of it I enjoyed, but for the most part it had trouble holding my attention. One thing that especially perplexed and frustrated me was how Lucinda developed feelings for Seth so quickly when she had hardly spent any time with him at all. 

The best part of the book for me was Seth's crazy scheme to bring his grades down by acting out and not studying. This really amused me as it was a pretty clever idea for the difficult situation he was in, but I did feel there were too many scenes of Seth whining to his friends about it. While I appreciated that it was difficult for him to do sub-par work after a life of being an exemplary student, I just really wanted to see him completely commit to doing mediocre work instead of going at it half-heartedly--and only then with major prodding from his friends.

Honestly I really wavered between a 2 and 3 star rating, but I decided on 3 because I really do like the story idea. For some reason I just couldn't connect with the characters though, no matter how hard I tried. It took me over a month to finish because often when I would think of picking it up I'd just skip it because I had no desire or pull to visit with the characters. I think it's just one of those things that didn't connect with me, but I'm sure most people will likely enjoy it. If you're a fan of the author or the story sounds intriguing to you, I do think it's worth checking out.

My Rating: 3 stars

Thanks to the publisher (Bethany House) for providing me with a review copy via NetGalley.

Review: Like a Flower in Bloom by Siri Mitchell

Book Cover and Synopsis:

For years Charlotte Withersby has worked as an assistant to her father, an eminent English botanist. As she approaches the old age of twenty-four, her father pushes her out into society, swayed by an uncle who believes God's only two roles for women are marriage and motherhood. When one of the Withersbys' colonial correspondents, Edward Trimble, returns to England, he's drafted as the new assistant so Charlotte is free to marry. This suits Edward's plans quite well, since the last thing he wants to do is reunite with the family he is ashamed to call his own.

Though Edward proves himself vexingly capable on the job, Charlotte won't surrender the job without a fight, and schemes with her best friend to regain her position. Perhaps if a proposal seems imminent, Charlotte's father will see his error and ask her to return. Charlotte tries to make headway in her town's social life, but reveals herself to be unaware of all the intricacies of polite society. Though Edward pitches in, tutoring her in society's expectations, she just seems to make things worse. And the more she comes to know of her father's assistant, the more trouble she has imagining life without him. Caught in a trap of her own making and seeing the hopelessness of her prospects, will Charlotte get to keep her work or will she have to cede her heart?

My source for book: Review Copy

My Thoughts:
Though I really wanted to like this one, it unfortunately grated on my nerves quite a bit. Much of the story has a very repetitive feeling with Charlotte constantly trying to bring the same scheme to fruition. She doesn't often change her tactics, so she just takes the scheme further and further until she is in completely over her head. She's extremely (and a bit unbelievably) clueless about society and relationships, which makes her very unsuited to pull off her society-based scheme.

Botany was apparently a popular fad in this era as literally almost everyone had an interest--however small--in it. Some people, like the rector (pastor), seemed to have flower collections only because it was expected and fashionable, and whether or not they actually enjoyed the hobby seemed of little matter. Though this does shed some light on the things people do only because it's expected of them, honestly all the talk about flowers got old and seemed a bit unrealistic. It seemed as if no one had any other interests at all.

I have to admit that several times I considered giving up, but through sheer stubbornness (much like Charlotte, actually!) I finally finished the story. I just could never connect with Charlotte or the plot at all. She struck me as being sort of whiny, and her constant use of the word "specimen" in reference to flowers, though amusing at first, eventually grew quite stale. In my opinion Mr. Trimble was without a doubt the most interesting character in the whole book, and by far my favorite, yet Charlotte was always hating on him--even going so far as to sabotage some of his work. Right from the beginning it was fairly obvious how the story between these two would ultimately end, but I had a hard time getting on board with the outcome due to my feelings towards Charlotte.

Though I think the overall plot, as well as Charlotte's clueless personality, was probably intended to be charming/amusing, it just didn't hit the target for me. Honestly, I can't really recommend Like a Flower in Bloom, though judging by other reviews I am in the minority. That's ok though. I've really enjoyed many of the author's past books, so I will continue to follow her, though maybe with a bit more caution as to which books I pick up in the future.

My Rating: 2.5 stars

Thanks to the publisher (Bethany House) for providing me with a review copy.

Review: Love Comes Calling by Siri Mitchell

Book Cover and Synopsis:

A girl with the best of intentions.
A heart set on Hollywood.
An empty pocketbook.

That's all it takes for Ellis Eton to find herself working as a telephone operator for a look-alike friend. For Ellis, this job will provide not only acting practice but the funds to get her a start in the movies. She's tired of always being a disappointment to her traditional Boston family, and though she can't deny the way he makes her head spin, she knows she's not good enough for Griffin Phillips, either. It's simple: avoid Griff's attentions, work, and get paid. But in typical Ellis fashion, her simple plan spirals out of control when she overhears a menacing phone call...with her very own Griff as the target.

My source for book: Review Copy

My Thoughts:
Ellis has a problem of not being able to focus on any one thing for very long, with her thoughts jumping around from one thing to another, often taking hairpin turns. According to the author's note, Ellis was deliberately written with ADHD tendencies. It's quite obvious, and the first person style of writing really showcases the jumpy pattern of her thoughts. In theory, this sounds like the type of character that I would find charming, but unfortunately I never could completely connect with Ellis... I don't know if it's a result of her ADHD or not, but she struck me as being rather immature and a bit wishy-washy. In the process of trying to solve her "mystery", she rehashes many of the same clues and circumstances over and over, making the story bog down a bit in some areas.

There were elements of the story that I truly did like, such as Ellis switching places with Janie, trying to blend in and not be caught. The details of the central telephone switchboard and the girls who worked there were also very intriguing to me. The setting mostly succeeds in bringing the time period alive, with peeks into speakeasies and a look at the rampant corruption inside the police force and political scene.

I generally liked Griff and what he brought to the story. The relationship between him and Ellis was enjoyable, and I especially liked that Griff didn't try to conform Ellis to society's standard of "normal", unlike her parents and siblings. I wish Griff could have been featured a bit more, but sadly Jack the policeman was given close to an equal amount of page time. While Jack's position on the police force offers an interesting inside look, mostly I found myself a bit annoyed every time he came around...though I admit his attempt at redemption towards the end was a nice touch.

I'm a big fan of much of Siri's work, but this one unfortunately isn't at the top of my list. It's "OK", but it's honestly not something that I'll recommend very often. As I said, there are elements that I enjoyed, but overall it just doesn't seem up to the normal standard. If you're a die-hard Siri fan, go ahead and give it a try... but, if you're new to Siri's books, I would recommend first starting with something like "She Walks in Beauty", or even one of her contemporary releases, such as "The Cubicle Next Door" or "Kissing Adrien".

My Rating: 3 stars

Thanks to the publisher (Bethany House) for providing me with a review copy via NetGalley.

Review: Unrivaled by Siri Mitchell

Book Cover and Synopsis:

Lucy Kendall always assumed she'd help her father in his candy-making business, creating recipes and aiding him in their shared passion. But after a year traveling in Europe, Lucy returns to 1910 St. Louis to find her father unwell and her mother planning to sell the struggling candy company. Determined to help, Lucy vows to create a candy that will reverse their fortunes.

St. Louis newcomer Charlie Clarke is determined to help his father dominate the nation's candy industry. Compromise is not an option when the prize is a father's approval, and falling in love with a business rival is a recipe for disaster when only one company can win. Will these two star-crossed lovers let a competition that turns less than friendly sour their dreams?

My Thoughts:
Thinking about this novel, the first word that comes to my mind is "unique". Very unique. In a very, very good way!

The point of view switches back and forth between Lucy and Charlie, with first person writing (which I love because it puts you RIGHT THERE in the characters heads). I really enjoyed the interaction between Lucy and Charlie. It's obvious they "click", they just kind of fit together, but the long standing feud between their fathers' rival candy companies inevitably pits them again each other. They frustrate each other to no end, especially when it becomes apparent that neither is afraid to play dirty (often with amusing results) in their quest to disrupt the others candy business.

I really liked Lucy's personality...some of the thoughts that run through her head seem more fitting for a girl of today, rather than early 20th century, but not in a bad way at all. I actually really liked this as it made her very easy to relate to and sympathize with. She gets put into some humorously strange situations, and it's quite fun to watch how she reacts.

The time period is a good one; I really enjoyed "visiting" an era so full of progress and change. Automobiles are coming into popularity, mixing with horses and buggies on the streets. The telephone is available and used at many businesses, yet it's still "new" enough that many people have never used one. (Charlie's first encounter with a phone is seen, which is interesting and humorous at the same time.) Advertising is only by word-of-mouth or printed posters, and defacing or covering up a rival's poster is considered fair game.

As the story progressed and the rivalry between Lucy and Charlie escalated, the stakes got larger than I ever imagined possible. It's kind of a wild ride, and there were times when I was absolutely clueless as to how things could ever be neatly wrapped up! I must admit that fairly early on I had a sneaking suspicion about who the "bad guy" would be....and when the reveal came, it turned out I was partially right, but I did still have alot of fun getting there.

I highly recommend this one! I'm a long time fan of Siri Mitchell, and once again she's delivered an excellent story. The candy-centered plot is fun, unique, and very memorable. Pick this one up, you won't regret it!

My Rating: 5 stars

Thanks to the publisher (Bethany House) for providing me with this e-book for review via NetGalley.   

Review: The Cubicle Next Door by Siri Mitchell

Book Cover and Synopsis:

What if God has more planned for your life than you do?
 
Jackie Harrison is a civilian who loves her job at the U.S. Air Force Academy. That is, until she is forced to divide her office into cubicles and share the space with a new history instructor, Lt. Col. Joseph Gallagher. A charmer in a flight suit, Joe wants to explore both Colorado and a growing relationship with his new cubicle mate. The office was bad enough, but Jackie’s beside herself when Joe shows up in her home and church, even turning her grandmother’s weekly bridge game into poker night! 

Jackie goes online to vent, but she eventually finds herself admitting her conflicted feelings about this office neighbor who drives her crazy and makes her heart flutter. But when her blog—The Cubicle Next Door—is featured on TV, everyone begins to read it, including Joe. Will he figure out the anonymous confessions and frustrations are written about him? And how will Jackie ever express her heart offline? 

My Thoughts:
Jackie has vowed to never get married or fall in love, so desperate is her fear of repeating her mother's mistakes. At 31 Jackie has never had a boyfriend, never dated, never been kissed. She lives a secluded life... or at least she used to, but ever since Joe entered the picture she finds herself constantly getting sucked into his plans and outings, simply because she doesn't have a valid reason to say "no".

I loved how Joe came into Jackie's life and sort of acted like they were already in the middle of a friendship; from day one he was dragging her out to lunch and asking favors like they were old pals. He constantly involves Jackie in situations that pull her out of her comfort zone, things that she would normally avoid at all costs... but despite her reservations and much to her surprise, she always ends up enjoying herself. (Example: when Joe signs her up to play a dead woman in a casket race!)

Jackie is on the serious side and isn't afraid to make her many opinions known, but Joe isn't intimidated and banters right back with her on all sorts of amusing and crazy topics. Her anonymous online blog adds a unique twist to things, and helps to show a different and softer side than the all-serious attitude she displays to the world. When Joe becomes a fan of the blog and starts talking to Jackie daily about it, speculating on the "anonymous" blogger's identity and actions, well, I just couldn't help but be amused! Such fun!

Siri Mitchell has a style in her contemporary books that I just love, it never gets old. Honestly, I just had a blast with this book, and I'm sad to have reached the end, but it was great while it lasted. :) I definitely recommend picking up The Cubicle Next Door, and while you're at it, do yourself a favor and check out Siri Mitchell's Kissing Adrien and Moon Over Tokyo as well. They're all keepers! 

My Rating: 5 stars

Review: Moon Over Tokyo by Siri Mitchell

Siri Mitchell happens to be one of my favorite authors, so when I found a copy of Moon Over Tokyo at a secondhand shop I couldn't resist "rescuing" it and giving it a new home. It's a book I've been wanting to read for quite a while now, so I was actually rather thrilled to run across it.

Book Cover and Synopsis:

Though Stars and Stripes reporter Allie O’Connor has lived in Japan for two years, she still feels like a foreigner. As her best friend prepares to move away, she prays for a new friend. Just a friend.

Soon after this prayer she runs into Eric Larsen at church, an old classmate from high school. Eric has recently been assigned to the U.S. embassy and lives in Allie’s district in Tokyo. In school they had been polar opposites. He had been captain of the debate team; she had edited the literary magazine. He drank espresso, while she preferred green tea. He is definitely not the friend she was looking for. And yet...here he is. Here she is.

Will Allie accept this unexpected answer to her prayer? And will she be brave enough to really see the person she once chose to overlook?

My Thoughts:
I've never given much thought to Japan before, but this novel manages to paint a vivid picture of the foreign culture as seen through the eyes of Allie, a reporter for the Stars and Stripes newspaper. Even after two years of living in the Tokyo metropolis Allie still feels like an outsider; not knowing the language limits her understanding of the culture and keeps her isolated in a small world that consists only of her co-workers and a few people from her church.

After Allie sends up a desperate prayer for a friend, her biggest enemy from high school suddenly shows up in Tokyo. Eric is everything she doesn't want in a friend, and yet there he is... an English speaking person with a good grasp of the Japanese language and culture, offering to open up Japan for her to explore and discover.

I really liked how much time Allie and Eric spent together, and the amount of bantering dialogue between them. Often times in books the characters will have a sudden attraction that seems completely out of the blue, but that is definitely not the case here. We get to see their relationship grow and progress from rivals, to friends, to possibly more.

While Japan isn't high on my list of places to go, I did enjoy reading about it from Allie's perspective. I will admit that I found her personal life much more interesting than the touristy places she visited... but thanks to her travels in and out of Tokyo I now have something to picture in my mind when I hear about Japan, rather than just a shape on a map! :)

I thought it was very cool how the whole story sort of revolves around Allie's prayer at the beginning for a friend. A simple thing for most people, but to Allie a friend who she could communicate (in English!) with and spend time with was everything, and it was just so cool to see how God answered her prayer. Eric wasn't anything like what she wanted, but was exactly what she needed. The book is fictional of course, but nevertheless it's still a great example of how God is always at work in our lives. 

My Rating: 5 stars

Review: The Messenger by Siri Mitchell

Book Cover and Synopsis:

Hannah Sunderland felt content in her embrace of the Quaker faith...until her twin brother joined the Colonial cause and ended up in jail. She longs to bring some measure of comfort to him in the squalid prison, but her faith forbids it. The Friends believe that they are not to take sides, not to take up arms. She is not allowed to visit him, even if she were able to secure a pass.

Jeremiah Jones, a Colonial spy, needs access to the jail to help rescue men important to the cause. Upon meeting Hannah, a plan begins to develop. Who would suspect a pious Quaker visiting a loved one?

But Jeremiah is unprepared for Hannah, for her determination to do right, to not lie. How can one be a spy and not lie? Hannah, in turn, is surprised by Jeremiah...for the way he forces her to confront her own beliefs, for the sensitivity and concern that he shows her despite the wounds he still carries.

In a time of war, can two unlikely heroes find the courage to act? 

My Thoughts:
Siri Mitchell has once again proven her incredible talent for bringing the past to life, this time with her newest novel The Messenger. Wartime and spy novels aren't normally my "thing", but I was quickly pulled into the intrigue of Hannah's mission and Jeremiah's struggles of being an informant, a position which simply fell into his hands.

Hannah and Jeremiah's characters are so vivid that they simply jump off the pages and call you to enter the past with them. I very much enjoyed them both, they were well developed and very different from the normal characters you generally find in historical fiction. Hannah's faith caused her to completely refuse to tell a lie, even if it meant her spy status could be revealed. You gotta admire that... of course it frustrated Jeremiah to no end, but it sure was amusing to read and ponder on. 

The Messenger is extremely unique, transporting the reader back to the troubling times of the founding of our nation and the British occupation. I'm somewhat ashamed to admit that I'm not extremely familiar with the events of this time period, so when the story opened I was a bit lost. It wasn't terribly long before I was able to surmise what was going on, but I wish a brief prologue with some small historical facts had been included to quickly establish the setting and situation for non-history buffs such as myself.

Walnut Street Jail, prominently featured in The Messenger

I also wasn't very familiar with Quakers and their beliefs, but I found it quite interesting to see how they lived and dealt with conflict. I enjoyed seeing Hannah's attitude and position slowly shift on different topics, it was done well and very realistically.

Overall, I'm very glad to have read The Messenger. It's extremely well written and very entertaining, while at the same time it takes your thoughts back to the beginnings of our country and the lengths some people went to, and sacrifices they made, to make America free. Even if historical or spy novels aren't your normal thing, give this one a try. I think you'll be glad you did.

My Rating: 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.
(I received this book courtesy of the publisher, Bethany House, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own, a positive review was not required.)

Review: Kissing Adrien by Siri Mitchell

One of Siri Mitchell's early works, this is one that I somehow never got around to reading. So when I saw it had been released on Kindle, I decided to pick it up... and I'm so glad I did!

Synopsis:
Claire Le Noyer, 29, wants a do-over. She wants the life where she majors in history, not accounting. Where she takes two-hour lunches, not ten minutes in front of her computer. Where her pastor boyfriend treats her like an attractive women he’s deeply in love with, not like a nice pet dog.

But for now she’s a Seattle numbers-cruncher with a wardrobe from REI sent to fashionable Paris to check out an apartment left to her parents by a mysterious cousin. When her childhood crush-- handsome, pleasure-loving, and very French Adrien--introduces Claire to the City of Lights, she cautiously begins to embrace another way of living.




My thoughts:
Siri Mitchell's books are always great fun, and Kissing Adrien is no exception. The first-person writing style puts you inside Claire's thoughts where her "voice" and view of things are extremely amusing. She's very easy to like and relate to.

The Eiffel Tower

Adrien is completely charming and fun to tour Paris with, however I think to meet him in real life could be a bit awkward. He claims to be a Christian but unfortunately some of his ideas seem slightly misguided. Claire's Christian beliefs are more standard, which causes the two to butt heads several times over their different views. Amusingly, Adrien has a knack for using logic to force Claire into agreeing with his ideals, which is annoying to Claire but extremely fun to see play out. Though Adrien's beliefs don't match up with mine, early on I decided to not take him too seriously and just enjoy the story, which is exactly what I did.

The vast cultural differences between America and France are prominently featured, with both Claire and Adrien being equally horrified by the way things are done in each other's country. This leads to some lively banter and great entertainment, all while providing food for thought as to why the cultures are so different. It also raises the idea that some things in religion are more cultural rather than moral, which is interesting to ponder. In reading this book I actually feel that I've learned quite a bit about Paris and it's people.

If you've ever wondered what it would be like to spend the summer in Paris: read this book. You'll feel like you did spend your vacation there, but without the cost of an airline ticket!

My Rating: 5 stars!