Review: "More" by Heidi Marshall

 I'm back with another book review! This time it's "More" by Heidi Marshall.

Here's the book cover, and also the synopsis:

Twenty-something Kate Henry lives a simple life in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. She fills her days managing a bookstore that she loves, spending time with her best friends and their young children, and trying to convince herself that she will someday have what she’s always wanted – a family of her own. Wounded by a father who abandoned her, Kate is desperate to find a man who wants to know and love the real her. The real her who talks to inanimate objects, loves to cook for others, and named her favorite pillow Mr. Darcy. Will the reliable lawyer Ian realize after ten years of friendship that Kate is the one? Will the exciting and spontaneous Ben sweep her off her feet? After facing one heartbreak after another, Kate begins to wonder if perhaps she was meant to be alone. She faces some life-changing decisions, but always manages to keep her sense of adventure and humor. 

My Thoughts:
I originally downloaded this (on my kindle) as the cover caught my eye and I thought the story sounded cute. I really wanted to connect with Kate, but sadly I was never able to feel more than apathetic about her story. Parts were okay, but I found myself a bit distracted as often the descriptions of people and places seemed a bit flat. Not bad or wrong, just....plain, I guess would describe it. 

The style is straight forward and matter-of-fact so it's definitely an easy read, I finished it in only 4 sittings. Despite not connecting with Kate, I was curious what would happen so I never really considered not finishing. 

One thing that did seem odd to me was the 4 different bathroom stories the characters told for laughs to their friends. I've never encountered this in Christian Fiction before. Most were the type of stories girls will tell other girls, but I just can't fathom these things being sharing in mixed company, which is the way it played out every time. If I had a (girl) friend tell me the stories in real life I'd no doubt find them humorous, but it struck me strange for them to be included in a book, and the guys' presence just didn't sit right with me. One story in particular (that Kate's friend Darren told to her) I found extremely unnecessary and quite inappropriate for the situation; it painted a mind-picture I would have rather not seen.

I had a bit of trouble deciding on a rating, I was hovering in the area of 2.5 to 3ish stars, and ultimately I went with 3, just as a round-up from 2.5. I felt there was some un-used potential, which ultimately left me feeling that while this is an easy read, it's mostly forgettable.

My Rating: 2.5 3 stars

Review: Claire's Not-So-Gothic Romance by Bonnie Blythe

My rating: 5 stars!

Claire Parnell has always equated herself with Jane Eyre, being of the "plain" variety of women. Her eccentric mother has decreed that Claire should marry a doctor and settle for nothing less, but it's not like Claire has even had a chance to "settle". When she wakes up at the hospital with a foggy brain, Claire frantically believes she's dying and decides her last act will show her mother she at least "tried" to honor her wishes. Impulsively kissing the first doctor that approaches her bedside--and watching him back away horrified--she soon finds out death is actually not in the foreseeable future. (Unless you count death by humiliation.) Oh, and the doctor she kissed? He was actually only a nurse. Let the humiliation, and this enjoyable story, begin!

My thoughts:

This book was an absolute blast to read! Claire is such a real character, I could totally relate to her. I loved how she acted when Sam (the nurse) kept showing up everywhere, her actions were so realistic and humorous. Claire's eccentric mother is completely strange and adds tons of awkward humor. Sam was also a great character, his relentless pursuit of Claire was very charming. It was cool to see that such a nice guy can come from a rough background. 

Being a fan of Gothic romance novels, Claire has a very wide vocabulary and often uses large and obscure words to convey her feelings--both in her speech and also in her thoughts. It took me about the length of the first chapter to get accustomed to her "voice" and use of such words... by that point I had gotten so sucked into the story that it no longer mattered. Some of the words gave me a chance to use the dictionary feature on my kindle, which always makes me feel rather cool. :)

Though a totally fun and light-hearted read, there are some tougher issues tackled here as well, such as a Christian dating a new believer with a past that's not so pure. This is something I haven't seen a ton of in Christian fiction, but I have to applaud the author for her delicate and appropriate handling of the issues. There were several twists that caught me off guard and left me saying "Really!?", but it kept things fresh and several times had me staying up way too late to read "just a little more!"

This is the first book by Bonnie Blythe that I've read, and I have to say I'm impressed. If you're a fan of Christian chick-lit/romance, do yourself a favor and check this one out. It's just too fun of a story to let slip by!

My rating: 5 stars! 

As of this writing, Amazon's price for the kindle version of this book is only $1.00, an absolute steal for such an entertaining book! :)

Review: Wonderland Creek by Lynn Austin

Yikes! I'm afraid I've been somewhat remiss in posting reviews lately. I fear things won't get less busy until after Christmas, so this may be my last post of the year. If it is, be assured that I'll be back next year with plenty more reviews! ;) And now, on to Wonderland Creek....

My rating: 4 stars

When book-lover Alice Ripley was let go from her library job, she never would've guessed she was about to be pulled into an adventure of novel proportions!

Up to this point Alice has lead a safe but mostly boring life, keeping her nose in a book most of the time. When her boyfriend dumps her and she loses her job, Alice feels a need to get away and ponder the direction of her life. Hitching a ride with her Aunt and Uncle, they drop her off in the little mountain town of Acorn, Kentucky, with a promise to return for her in two weeks.

Alice has been corresponding with the librarian in Acorn; after hearing of the mountain people's desperate need for books Alice started a book-drive and has collected 5 boxes full. This roadtrip offers her the chance to deliver the books in person, and while she's there she plans to volunteer at the library for the two weeks until her Aunt and Uncle return for her. There's no time to write and ask if this is okay, but Alice assumes it will be. After all, Alice is bringing 5 boxes of donated books; she will be openly welcomed, right? Amusingly, Alice is shocked to find things in Kentucky are not at all what she expected, and that's where this story really takes off.

Wonderland Creek was really a unique read for me, the story isn't like anything I've read before. The amount of things packed into this story is amazing: mystery, intrigue, attempted shootings, faked deaths, a 60 year old feud between two mountain clans, romance, packhorse librarians!, and the list goes on and on, but if I said anything else it would be too spoiler-ish.

Initially I had a smidge of trouble really latching on to the story, but eventually I got sucked in and really wanted to see what would happen next, and how things would end up. This is definitely a unique and well-done story, and you know, I think it has something for just about everyone! Check it out, I think you'll be happy!

One more thing I want to say:

Back cover art of Wonderland Creek.

The cover art on this book is simply gorgeous! Sometimes I'd just stare at it before I started reading, and I could just about imagine walking down that dirt road with the dreamy clouds hanging above. The back is just as stunning, showing Alice on a white horse (Belle), again done in that sort of dreamy coloring. Absolutely marvelous!

My rating: 4 stars 

(I received this book courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own, a positive review was not required.)

Review: Lilies in Moonlight by Allison Pittman

My rating: 4.5 stars!

It's the 1920's, and Lily Margolis is what people call "that kind of girl." With her bobbed hair and forward ways, she fits the term "flapper" to a tee. Translation for us in the 21st century: She's a major flirt and party crasher. ;) 

It's Lily's forward and modern ways that land her in the Burnside's flowerbed with a hangover and a sprained ankle. Cullen Burnside disapproves and wants nothing to do with Lily, but his dementia-afflicted mother, Betty Ruth, takes an immediate liking to the modern girl and wants Lily to stay on until her ankle heals. Cullen goes along with the idea since Lily is an amusing distraction for the confused Betty Ruth, temporary though it may be. Cullen is all too aware, and painfully so, of how temporary and fragile Betty Ruth's mind and memories are.

Lilies in Moonlight is really a unique and surprising story. Initially I had trouble getting pulled in as Lily's flirtatious attitude didn't amuse me at all; however after several chapters the plot really got going and I suddenly found myself quite hooked!

At times it reminded me ever so slightly of Beauty and the Beast... Cullen's scarred face and the way people look (or don't look) at him is heart-breaking, you just can't help but feel sorry for him. Then there's his mother: she can't see his scars through her clouded mind, doesn't even realize he went to war. Though Cullen is 30 years old and is running his late fathers giant corporation, his mother still sees him as a young boy, late to school or perhaps with homework that needs finishing.

Lily doesn't let the scars affect the way she sees Cullen, but she's just a temporary guest, soon to be gone; it's what the circumstances demand. If Cullen didn't want her to leave, it wouldn't matter, and even if Lily herself didn't want to leave, it still wouldn't matter. It's not up to either one of them...

This is really a gorgeous and complex story; there's so much more to it than what I've written, but I don't want to give too much away. I highly recommend Lilies in Moonlight, I very much enjoyed it and was sorry to see it end. This one is a keeper! It's the first book by Allison Pittman that I've read, and now I'm definitely interested in finding out what other books she has available.

So, bottom line: Lilies in Moonlight, check it out, you won't be sorry! 

My rating: 4.5 stars! 
(I received this book courtesy of Waterbrook Multonomah Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own, a positive review was not required.) 

If you're interested in the book, here is an excerpt from chapter one:

Review: The Doctor's Lady by Jody Hedlund

My rating: 4 stars!

Priscilla has felt the call to mission work for years, and the pull was only strengthened when she learned of her infertility. Determined to never marry because of her disgraceful state, she applies to the Missions Board to fulfill her missions call with work overseas in India.

She learns of the board's rejection to her application just as Eli Ernest comes into town seeking support for his start-up mission in Oregon territory, ministering to the Nez Perce tribe. But the board has denied Eli’s application as well. The reason for both denials: Unmarried missionaries are no longer being sent out.

Both yearning to fulfill God’s call to the mission field, Eli and Priscilla enter into a marriage of convenience and in name only. The mission board readily accepts them, and they set off on the treacherous 7 month journey to Oregon territory to start up the mission. It’s an unheard of trip for a lady, and if they succeed Priscilla will become the first white woman to ever cross the continental divide.

Covered Wagons were used for part of the journey.

The Doctor’s Lady is an entertaining and thoughtful look at traveling across the country in the early 19th century. It’s much more than just the average historical fiction, it really pulled me in and brought the experience to life.

Upon reaching the end of the book and reading the author’s note, I was surprised to learn that this book was actually inspired by the lives of real-life Narcissa and Marcus Whitman. Some of the basic outline for the story is taken from Narcissa’s personal diaries; learning this brought the story to life even more for me. The things these people endured to fulfill God’s call are truly inspiring.

I very much recommend The Doctor’s Lady, especially to fans of historical fiction. It’s a wonderful glimpse into the life and hardship that people endured, and a great example of never giving up your dreams or calling, no matter what the circumstances may be.

My rating: 4 stars
(I received this book courtesy of Bethany House in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own, a positive review was not required.)