Review: Whispers in the Reading Room by Shelley Gray

Book Cover and Synopsis:

Just months after the closure of the Chicago World's Fair, librarian Lydia Bancroft finds herself fascinated by a mysterious dark-haired and dark-eyed patron. He has never given her his name; he actually never speaks to a single person. All she knows about him is that he loves books as much as she does.

Only when he rescues her in the lobby of the Hartman Hotel does she discover that his name is Sebastian Marks. She also discovers that he lives at the top of the prestigious hotel and that most everyone in Chicago is intrigued by him.

Lydia and Sebastian form a fragile friendship, but when she discovers that Mr. Marks isn't merely a very wealthy gentleman, but also the proprietor of an infamous saloon and gambling club, she is shocked.

Lydia insists on visiting the club one fateful night and suddenly is a suspect to a murder. She must determine who she can trust, who is innocent, and if Sebastian Marks—the man so many people fear—is actually everything her heart believes him to be.

My source for book: Review Copy

My Thoughts:
I found it very interesting to watch Lydia and Sebastian form a friendship despite their extremely different lifestyles. I liked how Sebastian seemed slightly different when he was around Lydia, because her influence made him want to be a better person. Honestly I'm not sure how realistic the whole storyline is, but it's definitely intriguing and it makes you think about differences in lifestyles, class, and even good vs. bad parts of town.

I was somewhat appalled by Lydia's mother's behavior as she languished in bed waiting for her daughter to catch a man to save them from their money troubles. I don't know how authentic this was, but it certainly shows the emphasis placed on a good match in the era. I liked how Lydia didn't necessarily follow her mother's money-grabbing wishes; instead Lydia thought to look ahead to her future instead of only her present circumstances.

This is apparently the final book in a series, however it works well as a stand alone. There are a few quick references to side characters that feel placed especially for those who've read the other stories, but I personally haven't read any of the previous books and I had no trouble jumping right in to this one.

Overall I mostly enjoyed the story, though I do feel it lost some momentum towards the end and unfortunately it never really recovered. The "separation" that always comes near the end of romances seemed a bit forced and didn't really fit the tone that the book had already established. Still, I did mostly enjoy the book and it makes me curious to try some of the author's other works.

My Rating: 4 stars

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

Review: Firefly Valley by Amanda Cabot

Book Cover and Synopsis:

Marisa St. George is devastated when she is a victim of downsizing and has no choice but to return to the small Texas town where she grew up. Though it's a giant step backward, she accepts a position as business manager at the struggling Rainbow's End resort. The only silver lining is Blake Kendall, a new guest who is making her believe in love at first sight. But will her dreams of happily-ever-after be turned upside down when she discovers who he really is?

My source for book: Local Library

My Thoughts:
Though I enjoyed the first book in the series, this one unfortunately wasn't able to live up to its predecessor. The characters didn't have much appeal for me...some of them were minor characters in the previous book and were enjoyable there, but to bring them into a starring role for this book just didn't work for me.

I liked the idea that Blake was an anonymous best selling author, but I didn't care for the fact that the questionable content of his books was such a huge topic. Both sides of the issue seemed overly preachy to me and I honestly didn't want to take either side because it was all just a bit over the top. The scene where Blake ultimately sees the impact his books have on impressionable people was a bit too obvious and felt out of place with the flow of the story.

Marisa's abandonment and anger issues towards her father were very valid and understandable from my point of view, but at the same time her unbending nature starts to get old and ultimately makes things feel a bit repetitive, especially since it affects her relationship with Blake. They are very on again/off again and it got to the point where I didn't really even care if they stayed together or split.

I can usually judge my opinion of a book by how long it takes me to finish it. My favorites I finish in under a week, and others take me longer. This one took me a month because I had so much trouble staying interested. By the halfway point I was tired of it and ready for things to wrap up, and at the three-quarter mark I considered (many times) just quitting because I no longer cared about the characters. For better or worse I pressed on and did finally finish, but it was out of sheer stubbornness. Honestly I'm sure there are many people out there who will enjoy the story, but it just didn't resonate with me at all.

My Rating: 2.5 stars

Review: Falling Like Snowflakes by Denise Hunter

Book Cover and Synopsis:

When the Christmas season finds Eden in Summer Harbor, Maine, she's on the run from trouble. Romance is the last thing on her mind.

Riding in a bus in the thickly falling snow, Eden Davis wonders how it ever came to this--fleeing under cover of night with young Micah sleeping fitfully in the seat beside her. When a winter storm strands them in Summer Harbor, Maine, Eden wonders if what might have been the end could be a new beginning.

Beau Callahan is a habitual problem-solver. He's recently left his job with the sheriff's department to take over the family Christmas tree farm to save it from insolvency. But he's flummoxed. During the busiest season of the year, he's shorthanded. Then Eden shows up looking for work, and Beau believes he's been rescued. Competent, smart, and beautiful, Eden's also guarded and quiet. He soon figures out she comes with a boatload of secrets. But Beau can't seem to help himself from falling for her.

As Christmas Eve approaches, Beau discovers he'll do anything to keep Eden safe. But who's going to protect his heart from a woman who can't seem to trust again?

My source for book: Review Copy

My Thoughts:
It's the start of a new series from Denise Hunter, and it's another winner! With Eden and her son, Micah, on the run from people who want to do them harm, this story immediately grabbed my attention and didn't let it go. I thought it might be a bit difficult to keep things straight when they had to assume new names for safety, but surprisingly it wasn't.

I wasn't excited about the fact that Beau already had a girlfriend when Eden entered the picture, as that just makes things sticky, awkward, and can easily toe the right/wrong moral line. But thankfully Beau handled it as well as he could when he realized his feelings were starting to change, and ultimately he did the honorable and right thing. He's a good guy and his law enforcement past made him very knowledgeable and helpful for Eden's situation which I thought was pretty cool!

The storyline of a kid (Micah) who doesn't talk due to a traumatic situation seems a bit cliche, but in this case it's actually done pretty well and it doesn't make any of the scenes awkward. (In truth it actually makes things a bit easier for Eden as she doesn't have to worry about Micah accidentally revealing too much about their situation.) I liked how things came about for Micah to slowing start talking again, and how his first word showed the surprising trust he had placed in a new friend.

Overall, I really enjoyed "Falling Like Snowflakes". The story is set in winter and around Christmas, but it's not necessary to read it at that time of year...though the descriptions of the cold snowy weather--especially at the beginning--were so vivid that for a second I really thought there was snow outside my window! I really liked Eden and Beau, but the rest of the characters were also very good and each was portrayed with lots of individual personality. It's easy to imagine the series switching the focus onto these other characters as it progresses, and I'm anxious to see what happens in their lives. The Summer Harbor series is off to a great start, and I'll definitely be picking up the rest of the books as they release.

My Rating: 5 stars

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

Review: At Bluebonnet Lake by Amanda Cabot

Book Cover and Synopsis:

Marketing maven Kate Sherwood’s world is fast-paced, challenging, and always changing. The last thing she wants to do is slow down to a crawl at Rainbow’s End, a dilapidated resort in the Texas Hill Country. But she cannot deny her ailing grandmother’s request to visit the place where she and her deceased husband spent one glorious week (albeit fifty years ago). There Kate meets Greg Vange, the resort’s handyman. But there’s more to Greg than meets the eye–billions more, in fact, as he recently sold his successful software company and is at the resort in search of what’s next for his life.

Kate isn’t looking for romance, but she can’t deny the sparks of attraction that fly every time she and Greg are together. She even starts to see potential in the rundown resort. Could there be a future there? Or will Kate’s long-sought promotion take her back to the big city?

My source for book: Review Copy

My Thoughts:
Rainbow's End resort may not be a 5 (or even 4) star location, but it's the type of place that can start to grow on you. I enjoyed seeing the different ways that people reacted to it, some seeing nothing but run-down buildings while others saw the unique character and potential of the location. Kate's opinion is initially not very favorable, but she's kind of stuck there because her grandmother loves it. I enjoyed seeing what ultimately happens to Kate the longer she's there, unplugged from her big city job and all her technology (there's no cell service!). The adjacent small town is also a charming place with its unique little shops, and it compliments the resort setting nicely.

I liked how the story shows Greg--a billionaire--as just an average everyday guy with normal problems like everyone else. He's very down-to-earth and at first glance you'd never know he has oodles of money. Sometimes it's easy to think rich or famous people are different than everyone else, but they really aren't and Greg is a great reminder of that. I was amused and intrigued at the way he was sort of a handyman at the resort simply because he saw stuff that needed doing, and not because he actually had a job there (he didn't!).

I thought it was interesting how the story not only shows the growing relationship between Kate and Greg, but also the relationship between Sally (Kate's grandmother) and her possible suitor. Novels don't often show romance in the later years of life, and I appreciated the storyline even though I couldn't relate to it as well (simply due to my age, I'm sure).

This one sat around for quite a while before I read it; it was actually lost in my to-be-read pile for months. I'm glad I unearthed it though because it really is an enjoyable story. I've previously read some of the author's historical novels, and while they've been good I have to say I like her contemporary writing even better. This is the first in the Texas Crossroads series, and I'm definitely going to be checking out the rest of the series as it's released. I'm curious to continue the story of the Rainbow's End resort to see where it leads, and also to see what other relationships might be kindled there.

My Rating: 4 stars

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

Review: Said and Unsaid by Amanda Hamm

Book Cover and Synopsis:

Alexa Fenley has some complicated relationships in her life. With her mom, she’s trying to keep her temper. With her dad, she’s trying to avoid any subject more emotionally charged than what one would write on a postcard. And with her sister, she’s just trying.

Now Alexa has met someone new. She’s trying to get to know him, trying to stop herself from falling too hard too fast, and trying not to let him know what she thinks of his name. But it’s possible that this new relationship isn’t nearly as complicated as Alexa thinks it is.

My source for book: Review Copy

My Thoughts:
Oooh, this is a fun one! Alexa's "voice" feels genuine and real, and I found her inner thoughts and troubles amusing and also extremely easy to relate to...from the way she talks to her dog like he's a person, to her sticky family relationships. She has some OCD tendencies (though it's not specifically labeled that), and her noticing of things that aren't quite right or even--such as unlevel earrings or mismatched numbers on doors--are humorous and to a certain degree even reminded me of myself. I also really enjoyed how Alexa so badly wanted to further her relationship with Tracker but at the same time she was too afraid to make it known. That's just so real!

I loved how Tracker was kind of persistent--in a non-threatening way--about getting to know Alexa, but at the same time he also seemed a bit shy and unsure at times. (Great combination!) I really enjoyed the large amount of bantering dialogue between Alexa and Tracker as they got to know each other, often just asking random humorous questions to see what the other would say. Since the story is told in first person from Alexa's point of view we never get to see inside Tracker's head, but I actually like it this way as it keeps the interest alive by keeping some of his thoughts and motives a mystery, just like in real life.

The story ultimately shows how small miscommunications and mis-assumptions can easily alter a relationship and unknowingly give people a false impression of our motives. I really really enjoyed it, and there are even some good messages woven in as Alexa tries to deal with her sticky family situation (which is at times a bit comical). Some of Tracker's advice to Alexa actually came around and bit me in the back after I finished the story, and though I didn't appreciate it and it's hard to implement, Tracker really was right. The story leans more Catholic than straightforward Christian (basically they go to mass), but it's very light and nothing doctrinal is discussed so even if your beliefs are slightly different it should still be enjoyable, as it was for me.

I've read and enjoyed most of Amanda's books, but I really feel each one is getting progressively better. "Said and Unsaid" is right up there at the top of my favorites list, and I'm anxious to check out the rest of the Coffee and Donuts series as it becomes available.

My Rating: 5 stars

Thanks to the author for providing me with a review copy.