Review: "Throw Like a Girl" by Sarah Henning

I read this book a while ago and just never got the review posted ... but there's no time like the present, as Throw Like a Girl made Modern Mrs. Darcy's Summer Reading Guide!

Review: "Hope and Other Punch Lines" by Julie Buxbaum

Julie Buxbaum is one of my go-to YA fiction writers when I'm looking for something that has a little more depth. (Don't get me wrong—I enjoy a fluffy romance, obviously, but every once in a while I'm in the mood for something a little more serious.) She's also become an "auto get" for me, so when Hope and Other Punch Lines came up for review, I pounced 😉.

Review: "Unbreakable" by Sara Ella

I finally found time to dig into Unbreakable, the final book in Sara Ella's Unblemished trilogy. What a wild ride!

Review: "Unraveling" by Sara Ella

When it comes to sequels—especially ones so closely connected to their predecessors—I'm often at a loss when it comes to writing a review. How can I talk about the book without spoiling book one? Really, I can't. So consider this your spoiler alert: If you haven't read Unblemished yet, go ahead and skip this review.

"The Engagement Plot" by Krista Phillips

Well, shortly after posting my Spring TBR list, I can check one off: I finally started The Engagement Plot, and it's a quick, engaging, enjoyable read!

"Blue Ridge Sunrise" by Denise Hunter

Denise Hunter is one of my must-read authors. Her books routinely make my yearly "best books" lists, and I often stay up far too long while reading her books.

That's why I was so disappointed when her last book, Sweetbriar Cottage, didn't land for me. Of course, I still had hope for the books to come, saying,

I have great hope that Hunter's next book, Blue Ridge Sunrise (also set in Copper Creek, Georgia), will be a return to the achingly romantic, captivating stories that are Hunter's hallmark.

Thankfully, my hope wasn't misplaced, as Blue Ridge Sunrise is wonderful!

"If I'm Found" by Terri Blackstock

The sequel to Terri Blackstock's (INSPY Award-winning) If I Run is just as compelling as its predecessor—it's a thrill-ride from start to finish!

"The Versions of Us" by Laura Barnett

The moment I heard of Laura Barnett's The Versions of Us, I knew I wanted to read it. Multiple versions of the same people, showing how their lives would be different if they'd made different choices? I'm always down for that!

"The One That Got Away" by Leigh Himes

As someone who is always a sucker for those "waking up in a new life" stories (The Family Man, Lifetime's Comfort & Joy, ABC Family Freeform's Holidaze), the concept of Leigh Himes' debut novel appealed to me. I wasn't so sure about it when I started reading, but as I went on, something about The One that Got Away really drew me in.

"the secrets of flight" by maggie leffler

I absolutely love World War II novels, and that's what drew me to The Secrets of Flight. In actuality, only about half of the novel is set during the war, but the story is so captivating that I didn't even care!

---

Estranged from her family since just after World War II, Mary Browning has spent her entire adult life hiding from her past. Now eighty-seven years old and a widow, she is still haunted by secrets and fading memories of the family she left behind. Her one outlet is the writing group she’s presided over for a decade, though she’s never written a word herself. When a new member walks in—a fifteen-year-old girl who reminds her so much of her beloved sister Sarah—Mary is certain fate delivered Elyse Strickler to her for a reason.

Mary hires the serious-eyed teenager to type her story about a daring female pilot who, during World War II, left home for the sky and gambled everything for her dreams—including her own identity.   

As they begin to unravel the web of Mary’s past, Mary and Elyse form an unlikely friendship. Together they discover it’s never too late for second chances and that sometimes forgiveness is all it takes for life to take flight in the most unexpected ways.

---

Told in alternating viewpoints and set in both the present and the past, The Secrets of Flight is a captivating novel from beginning to end. The narrative switches between the perspectives of Mary, an octogenarian whose only real human contact is through the writers' group she runs at the local library, and Elyse, a young girl who joins the group because she is desperate to become a writer. Mary is immediately drawn to Elyse, as Elyse reminds Mary of her sister Sarah, who died young. When Mary hires Elyse to type her memoir, secrets Mary intended to take to her grave slowly come to light, and both women find their lives irrevocably changed.

I found myself completely drawn into the world of The Secrets of Flight—both the part set in the present and the part set in World War II, which is essentially Mary's memoir. As Mary told her story, I was able to guess where it was going and how Mary and Elyse would become connected, but author Maggie Leffler wrote it in such a way that I didn't even care that I'd guessed the "big" secret—I just wholly enjoyed the journey. The Secrets of Flight is a beautiful book, and I highly recommend it! 4-1/2 stars.

Content note: The Secrets of Flight does contain a fair amount of swearing (which didn't bother me much, but I felt I should alert you), as well as one fairly graphic almost sex scene (which did bother me). Modern Mrs. Darcy talks about the 8-line edit, and I wish it could have been employed here. Though the "almost sex" served a purpose in the story, I wish it hadn't been quite so graphic ... or even in the novel at all. If you do choose to read this book, please don't be mad at me for recommending it, as I am giving you fair warning as to the content!

Buy the book.

---

Maggie Leffler is an American novelist and a family medicine physician. A native of Columbia, Maryland, she graduated from University of Delaware and volunteered with Americorps before attending St. George's University School of Medicine. She practices medicine in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she lives with her husband and sons.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this product free for review from Amazon.com through its Vine reviewer program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"a little in love" by susan e. fletcher

It's no secret that I am totally, completely, 100% in love with Les Miserables. The musical, not the book. Never read the book, just an abridged version with one of my ESL classes, though I plan to remedy that this year as part of the MMD 2016 reading challenge I'm doing with my family. (Truly? I'll be reading it for the "a book that intimidates you" category—'cause that thing is a beast!) Anyway, I'm also in love with adaptations of famous novels, so A Little in Love, a retelling of Eponine's story, sounded like a lot of fun to me. And it is ... basically.

---

Inspired by Victor Hugo's classic, Les Miserables, A Little in Love beautifully conveys the heartbreaking story of street girl Eponine.

Paris, 1832

A girl lies alone in the darkness, clutching a letter to her heart.

Eponine remembers being a child: her swing and the peach tree, and the baby brother she loved. But mostly she remembers being miserable. Taught to lie and cheat, and to hate the one girl, Cosette, who might have been her friend.

Now, at sixteen, the two girls meet again, and Eponine has one more chance. But what is the price of friendship--the love of a boy?

---

A Little in Love takes Eponine's tale and expands it. (Well, I'm assuming it expands it. At least, it expands it beyond what's in the musical.) Eponine is the oldest daughter of the Thenardiers, who are mean, thieving innkeepers. Though she has a good heart, her parents force her to lie, steal, and be mean to Cosette, a girl who comes to live with them. As time passes, Cosette is rescued by Jean Valjean, and Eponine's life just gets worse and worse.

When the family ends up in Paris, Eponine meets and (nearly instantly) falls in love with Marius ... who happens to fall in love with Cosette, who lives in splendor with Valjean. Eponine's choices lead to the book's heartbreaking end, which is no surprise to anyone familiar with either the novel or the musical.

Overall, A Little in Love is an enjoyable read. While it takes place in a rough setting, it's very easy to read, and the horrible things Eponine witnesses are not described in too much detail. Fans of Les Miserables, at least the ones who also enjoy YA lit, will appreciate this adaptation; YA fans who are unfamiliar with the source material will have no trouble following along.

As an adult, I may disagree that Eponine was actually in love with Marius (and instead call it infatuation or even obsession), but I well remember how those feelings of infatuation can be confused for love, especially when you're a hormonal teenager! This fits well in the YA market (and it is much more appropriate for teens than many of the genre's offerings), and if it interests someone new in Les Miserables, well then all the better! 4 stars.

Buy the book.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this product free for review from Amazon.com through its Vine reviewer program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"movie star by lizzie pepper" by hilary liftin

Three years ago, in the middle of my Dawson's Creek obsession, Katie Holmes shocked the world (and Tom Cruise) by filing for divorce. Of course, I wondered what went on behind the scenes of their crazy romance and the demise of their relationship. So far, Holmes hasn't written a tell-all, but this is the next best thing ...

---

Actress Lizzie Pepper was America’s Girl Next Door and her marriage to Hollywood mega-star Rob Mars was tabloid gold—a whirlwind romance and an elaborate celebrity-studded wedding landed them on the cover of every celebrity weekly. But fame, beauty, and wealth weren't enough to keep their marriage together. Hollywood’s “It” couple are over—and now Lizzie is going to tell her side of the story.

Celebrity ghostwriter Hilary Liftin chronicles the tabloids’ favorite marriage as Lizzie Pepper realizes that, when the curtain falls, her romance isn't what she and everyone else thought. From her lonely holidays in sumptuous villas to her husband’s deep commitment to a disconcertingly repressive mind-body group, Lizzie reveals a side of fame that her fans never get to see in a story that will have every reader guessing the real-life inspirations for its players. Full of twists and turns, Movie Star by Lizzie Pepper is a breathless journey to the heights of Hollywood power and royalty and a life in the spotlight that is nearly impossible to escape.

---

Anyone with a passing knowledge of American pop culture over the last decade will have no trouble identifying the inspiration behind Movie Star by Lizzie Pepper—the infamous TomKat, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. And it's that inspiration that both helps and harms this novel.

As you read, it's fun to see the parallels between Rob & Lizzie and Tom & Katie. But the similarities to the real-life story (or at least the version reported in tabloids and entertainment magazines) also cause this story to falter a bit. Every time I read a seemingly significant detail that I wasn't aware of in the TomKat story, I would stop and wonder if the detail was just the author telling her fictional story or something that was real and I was just unaware. The lines between fiction and reality are quite blurred in this novel.

I did appreciate Liftin's choice to make the ending differ from the TomKat ending, though the revelation is a bit rushed. It was almost as though the author was trying to prove that Rob and Lizzie really aren't Tom and Katie by making the ending unexpected, and she didn't spend the time necessary to make it a truly believable and satisfying plot point.

But my favorite, favorite, favorite aspect of the novel is something that I hope is not based in reality! I don't want to spoil anything, but the reason Lizzie decides to leave Rob is both horrifying and morbidly hilarious, and it made everything about the book suddenly fall into place.

Overall, though, Movie Star by Lizzie Pepper is a fun, light read—perfect for a day at the beach! 3-1/2 stars.

Note: While not prevalent, several profanities are scattered throughout the novel. Also, there is some discussion of sexual situations, but nothing explicit is mentioned.

Buy the book.

---

Hilary Liftin is a collaborator specializing in celebrity memoir. Since 2006 she has worked on fifteen books, ten of which hit the New York Times bestseller list. Hilary has also written three books under her own name. The first, DEAR EXILE, is letters that she exchanged with her co-author, Kate Montgomery, when Kate was in the Peace Corps in Kenya and Hilary was in New York. It was published by Vintage in 1999 and is still in print. CANDY AND ME: A Love Story is Hilary's memoir told through different kinds of candy. MOVIE STAR BY LIZZIE PEPPER is her first novel. 


Before becoming a full-time writer in 2006, Hilary worked in the publishing industry for ten years, holding positions in editorial, marketing, and business development at Houghton Mifflin, Barnes & Noble.com, and the ebook division of Time Warner Books (now Hachette). 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this product free for review from Amazon.com through its Vine reviewer program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"burning bush 2.0" by paul asay

In Burning Bush 2.0: How Pop Culture Replaced the Prophet, Paul Asay dives into popular entertainment to show where God can be found.

---

Maybe God doesn’t speak through prophets as often these days because he knows people wouldn’t listen. Maybe God speaks to us in different ways—and in the places he knows where we congregate: in our movie theaters, living rooms, iPods, and smartphones. Maybe God still longs to connect with us, and so goes into the places where we’re most likely to listen. Burning Bush 2.0 is a whimsical and sincere examination of the ways God communicates with us—sometimes subtly and secretly—through our media and entertainment streams. Asay examines how faith and God’s fingerprints mark movies and music, television and technology. Through word and picture, God still speaks to us through unsuspecting voices—in ways we’re best able to hear—even if we don’t fully comprehend it completely in the moment. God is everywhere, and doesn’t ask permission to speak, shout out, or whisper his name. Includes study guide for individuals and church groups.

---

I've been familiar with Paul Asay for several years, due to his work at Plugged In, an entertainment review site. I often go to Plugged In when I'm considering whether to watch a movie. (While Plugged In points out every teensy little thing that someone might find offensive, I like having a good idea of a movie's content so I can make an informed decision.) So I was intrigued when I learned that Asay had released a book about pop culture. I've ended up having mixed feelings about it.

I'm going to start at the end, because I feel like it's the strongest section. In it, Asay talks about the importance of discernment in entertainment choices, and he's careful to point out that for each person, this will look different because we are all prone to certain sins and temptations. He also encourages readers to always go into entertainment with their brains engaged—to not just let entertainment wash over them but to be an active mental participant. He then gives a list of conversation starters that will help people discuss works of entertainment. I think this is the most valuable section of the book, and I would have loved to have the whole book focus on this.

The rest of the book (the first 10 chapters) is about finding God (or at least biblical principles) in pop culture. Each chapter focuses on a different aspect of pop culture—superhero movies, video games, music, and reality TV, to name a few. This part is fine, and I enjoyed Asay's thoughts on things, but I didn't find it particularly engaging or enlightening. It's a lighthearted and conversational book, which I appreciated, but some of Asay's jokes fell a bit flat—he tends to harp on certain entertainers (Miley Cyrus), and I found it offputting.

Honestly, I'm not sure who Asay's target audience is. Obviously, Christians—I'm not sure why someone who doesn't believe would pick up this book. But beyond that, is the audience Christians who are in tune with pop culture? (I'd say no—because it doesn't take a lot of movie knowledge to realize that films are full of Christ figures or that something redeeming can be found in much of today's entertainment if you look deeply enough.) Christians who only watch Christian films and listen to Christian music? (Again, I'd say no—many of the examples in this book are decidedly not family friendly.) It's almost like this book doesn't quite know what it wants to be.

I know this review has been largely critical, but I did enjoy the book. I just didn't find it particularly memorable, and I'm not sure who I'd recommend it to. 3 stars.

Buy the book.

---

Paul Asay is associate editor at Plugged In, a ministry that reaches more than six million people with movie reviews that help people understand popular cultural trends and how they intersect with spiritual issues. Paul is an award-winning journalist who covered religion at The (Colorado Springs) Gazette and whose work has been published by such outlets as The Washington Post, Christianity Today, Youth Worker Journal and Beliefnet.com. Paul has a special interest in the unexpected ways faith and media intersect. He lives in Colorado Springs with his wife, Wendy, and two children. Feel free to check out his website at www.paulasay.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this product free for review from Amazon.com through its Vine reviewer program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"deepest roots of the heart" by chautona havig

A young man encounters more than he expected when he returns home following World War II to reclaim his home.

---

During WWII, Avelino Carrillo spent four harrowing years in the South Pacific with one thought driving his survival: to return to his beloved home in Napa Valley.

The Carrillos have a history in the valley that stretches deep, like grapevine roots in the soil. For a century, they worked the vineyard at their family home, la Casa de los Sueños, until they lost the property to a wealthy land baron. Now, Avelino is determined to reclaim the land and home he loves so much. When he meets Amelia, a young woman who lives at the vineyard with her grandfather, he finds that regaining his birthright isn’t his only struggle—he battles the longing of his heart as well.

Can Avelino overcome the local bigotry and personal demons that face him to create the life he desires?

---

Deepest Roots of the Heart intertwines two stories: one involving a WWII veteran in 1945 and one beginning in 1836 at the Battle of San Jacinto involving his namesake. Avelino Carrillo's story is intriguing: he returns home from war to discover a beautiful young woman and her grandfather living in the house he grew up in. As he works to regain ownership of his family's land and vineyard, he finds himself falling for Amelia, that young woman. But many things stand in the way of their happiness—poverty, prejudice, and Avelino's own stubborn pride.

As Avelino gets to know Amelia, he tells her the story of the first Avelino, Avelino Aguilar. Honestly, that story didn't intrigue me nearly as much as Avelino and Amelia's story did, and I found myself skimming the pages. Also, while the first Avelino's story wrapped up, the story of how the second Avelino's family came to be in possession of the vineyard didn't, and I thought that was the point of Avelino's story.

Deepest Roots of the Heart is well researched and written, but I felt like the story could have been told in about 100 fewer pages; it just seemed like the story dragged on a bit. It's not a bad novel, but it's also not as engaging as I would have liked. 3 stars.

Buy the book.

---

Chautona Havig is a prolific writer of fiction, including the popular Past Forward series and Ready or Not, among many other novels. When not writing, she enjoys paper crafting, sewing, and, of course, reading. She lives in a small, remote town in California’s Mojave Desert with her husband and seven of her nine children.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this product free for review from Amazon.com through its Vine reviewer program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"hidden in the stars" by robin caroll

Whether you prefer your romance to be historical, contemporary, or suspenseful, Abingdon's Quilts of Love series has something to offer. Hidden in the Stars fits nicely into the contemporary suspense category.

---

A quilt holds the secret to a killer still at large—and who his next victim will be.

Following an attack that killed her mother and stole her ability to speak, 21‑year‑old Sophia Montgomery has no choice but to accept her estranged grandmother’s offer to return to their family home. Although detective Julian Frazier is working hard on the case, Sophia unknowingly frustrates him because her inability to speak thwarts her eyewitness evidence. The fact that Julian is undeniably attracted to Sophia doesn’t help either, so Julian hides his feelings as concern for a trauma victim and focuses instead on finding the killer.

Little do they know, the clues to solving the case may be right in front of them, displayed in Sophia’s mother’s “special” quilt design. Who will realize the secret Sophia’s unwittingly been hiding in plain sight? When the truth comes to light, will Sophia find her voice again? Or will the murderer—still at large—silence her forever?

---

I had the opportunity to review Hidden in the Stars several months ago when it went on tour with a company I often work with. I passed on it, a move I regretted once the excellent reviews began rolling in. So when it popped up as an offering through Vine, I requested it immediately.

From the very first page, when Sophia wakes up battered and confused in the hospital, I was completely hooked. The mystery about Sophia's mother and the attack is unraveled at a good pace, and I absolutely flew through the pages.

Oftentimes in romances, especially short ones like this, the author spends so much time on the relationship between the hero and the heroine that everything else takes a backseat. Not so in Hidden in the Stars. The friendship between Sophia and Charlie, the woman who reads her lips when she cannot speak, is actually more developed than the romance, and I think it's one of the highlights of the novel.

Overall, Hidden in the Stars is a great suspense novel with a touch of romance. It also provides a glimpse into the ballet world that I found fascinating. I highly recommend it! 4-1/2 stars.

Buy the book.
Read my reviews of other Quilts of Love novels.

---

Robin Caroll is the author of 22 published novels. When she isn’t writing, Robin spends time with her husband of 20‑plus years, her three beautiful daughters and two handsome grandsons, and their character‑filled pets at home in Little Rock, Arkansas. She gives back to the writing community by serving as conference director for ACFW. Her books have been named finalists in such contests as the Carol Award, HOLT Medallion, Daphne du Maurier, RT Reviewer’s Choice Award, Bookseller’s Best, and Book of the Year.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this product free for review from Amazon.com through its Vine reviewer program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"love letters" by debbie macomber

Take a return trip to Cedar Cove in this captivating novel by Debbie Macomber.

---

In this enchanting novel set at Cedar Cove’s cozy Rose Harbor Inn, Debbie Macomber celebrates the power of love—and a well-timed love letter—to inspire hope and mend a broken heart.

Summer is a busy season at the inn, so proprietor Jo Marie Rose and handyman Mark Taylor have spent a lot of time together keeping the property running. Despite some folks’ good-natured claims to the contrary, Jo Marie insists that Mark is only a friend. However, she seems to be thinking about this particular friend a great deal lately. Jo Marie knows surprisingly little about Mark’s life, due in no small part to his refusal to discuss it. She’s determined to learn more about his past, but first she must face her own—and welcome three visitors who, like her, are setting out on new paths.

Twenty-three-year-old Ellie Reynolds is taking a leap of faith. She’s come to Cedar Cove to meet Tom, a man she’s been corresponding with for months, and with whom she might even be falling in love. Ellie’s overprotective mother disapproves of her trip, but Ellie is determined to spread her wings.

Maggie and Roy Porter are next to arrive at the inn. They are taking their first vacation alone since their children were born. In the wake of past mistakes, they hope to rekindle the spark in their marriage—and to win back each other’s trust. But Maggie must make one last confession that could forever tear them apart.

For each of these characters, it will ultimately be a moment when someone wore their heart on their sleeve—and took pen to paper—that makes all the difference. Debbie Macomber’s moving novel reveals the courage it takes to be vulnerable, accepting, and open to love.

---

After reading Mr. Miracle, I'd pretty much written off Debbie Macomber. Sure, I loved her stories, but I was pretty confident that her writing style wasn't for me. But I'd already requested Love Letters for review, so I knew I'd have to suffer through it. Well, I was wrong. Love Letters is a beautiful, fun, compelling novel, and I couldn't put it down.

Love Letters is the third book in Macomber's Rose Harbor novels set at the Rose Harbor Inn in Cedar Cove and takes place over one weekend. Innkeeper Jo Marie is still mourning the death of her husband Paul, but she's also slowly moving toward a relationship with handyman Mark Taylor. Inn guest Ellie has come to Cedar Cove to meet Tom, a man she connected with online, despite her mother's loud protestations. And married parents Maggie and Roy hope that a weekend at the inn will help them get past the problems in their relationship and rekindle their romance.

While I did think that Maggie and Roy's story resolved a little too conveniently, I completely loved everything else about the novel, and I cannot wait to find out where Jo Marie and Mark's story goes from here. (I literally yelled, "That's it?!?" as I read the last page. Way to make me want to come back for more, Ms. Macomber ...)

Jo Marie's story is the only one that weaves through all the novels in the series, while the other stories are fully resolved in each novel. You could probably read each novel as a stand alone if you wanted to, but I would recommend reading them all to get Jo Marie's full story! 4-1/2 stars.

Content note: There are a few mild swear words.

Buy the book.
Read my reviews of Macomber's Rose Harbor in Bloom and Mr. Miracle.

---

Debbie Macomber is a leading voice in women’s fiction. Eight of her novels have hit #1 on the New York Times bestseller list, with three debuting at #1 on the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly lists. In 2009 and 2010, Mrs. Miracle and Call Me Mrs. Miracle were Hallmark Channel’s top-watched movies for the year. In 2013, Hallmark Channel produced the original series Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove. She has more than 160 million copies of her books in print worldwide.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this product free for review from Amazon.com through its Vine reviewer program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"mr. miracle" by debbie macomber

Readers who loved Debbie Macomber's Mrs. Miracle and Call Me Mrs. Miracle (either the book or film versions) are sure to enjoy her latest Christmas romance, Mr. Miracle. (The question is, will they enjoy it as a novel or as a film?)

---

Harry Mills is a guardian angel on a mission: help twenty-four-year-old Addie Folsom get her life back on track—and, if the right moment strikes, help her find love. Posing as a teacher at a local college in Tacoma, Washington, Harry is up to the task, but not even he can predict the surprises that lay in store.

After trying to make it on her own, Addie has returned home to Tacoma for the holidays, but this time she plans to stay for good, enrolling in the local community college to earn her degree. What she doesn’t plan to do is run into Erich Simmons.

Addie and her next-door neighbor, Erich, are like night and day. Growing up, he was popular and outgoing while she was rebellious and headstrong, and he never missed an opportunity to tease her. Now she intends to avoid him entirely, yet when they’re suddenly forced to spend Christmas together, Addie braces for trouble.

Perhaps it’s the spirit of the season or the magic of mistletoe, but Addie and Erich soon find they have more in common than they thought—and that two people who seem so wrong for each other may actually be just right. With a little prompting from a certain angelic teacher, the two are in for a holiday miracle they’ll never forget.

---

I'll be the first to admit that I'm more a fan of the film versions of Debbie Macomber's novels than of the novels themselves. I think she comes up with great stories (the film adaptation of Trading Christmas is one of my favorite Christmas movies), but the characters and dialog in her novels aren't always as developed as I'd like. This was true of Mr. Miracle. It's a charming story, really more focused on Addie and Erich than on Harry (Mr. Miracle). But there's not a lot of character development, and the romance, which I think will play fabulously on screen, didn't do much for me in print. To be honest, I requested this book just because I wanted to be able to compare it to the TV movie—it's one of Hallmark Channel's Christmas movies this year! (Rumor has it it's also a backdoor pilot, so we could be seeing another Debbie Macomber series on Hallmark in the near future.) The film stars Rob Morrow in the title role, and the farther I read in the novel, the stronger my desire to watch some Northern Exposure became. Too bad it doesn't stream on Netflix, Amazon, or Hulu ... what's up with that?

If you're a fan of Debbie Macomber's novels, then you'll want to read Mr. Miracle. If not, I'd recommend you wait until November 29 to see the premiere of Mr. Miracle on the Hallmark Channel. 3 stars.

Content Note: There is absolutely nothing objectionable in this book, unless you're into angelology and wish your fiction to be theologically accurate.

Buy the book.
Read my review of Macomber's Rose Harbor in Bloom.
Learn more about all of Hallmark's 2014 Christmas movies.

---

Debbie Macomber is a leading voice in women’s fiction. Eight of her novels have hit #1 on theNew York Times bestseller list, with three debuting at #1 on the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly lists. In 2009 and 2010, Mrs. Miracle and Call Me Mrs. Miracle were Hallmark Channel’s top-watched movies for the year. In 2013, Hallmark Channel produced the original series Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove. She has more than 160 million copies of her books in print worldwide.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this product free for review from Amazon.com through its Vine reviewer program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"the chopped cookbook" by the food network

About the book (from Amazon): Never again let the question, “What's for dinner?” stump you. The Chopped Cookbook features secrets for combining pantry staples to make exciting meals. 
 
If you've ever looked into your fridge, hoping for inspiration to strike, let The Chopped Cookbook help you shake up weeknight dinners. Just as each basket on Chopped has many tasty possibilities, so, too, do the contents of your refrigerator. By showing you how to spin your favorite ingredients into 188 fun, doable, and delicious recipes—including go-to guides for making salad dressings and pan sauces, four-ingredient market baskets that can go in many tasty directions, and ideas for ways to reinvent pasta dinners—the culinary masterminds at Food Network set you up for mealtime victory every night.

My take: The Chopped Cookbook is a fabulous cookbook! However, don't go into it expecting to see recipes from the show. I honestly was a bit apprehensive when I requested this book because I've seen the show, and I know the crazy combos they come up with! But instead of weird combinations with obscure ingredients, The Chopped Cookbook focuses on using ingredients you probably already have in your pantry (or can easily obtain at any grocery store) to make easy, delicious meals.

In addition to the recipes, each chapter has a special bonus section—for example, "Play with your pasta" gives five easy pasta sauces to go with any cooked pasta. The book also includes flavor substitutions for several of the recipes, so you can mix and match oils, spices, etc. to create different combos.

Overall, this is a great book—and I will get so much more use out of it than I would have if it really featured Chopped recipes!

My rating: 5 stars

Buy the book.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this product free for review from Amazon.com through its Vine reviewer program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own.

"let's all be brave" by annie f. downs

About the book (from Goodreads): Annie F. Downs admits she's not exactly the bravest girl in the world. She still cries sometimes when she leaves her parents' home in Georgia, she's never jumped out of a plane, and she only rides roller coasters to impress boys. But Annie knows that courage resides inside each and every one of us, and she's on a mission to triumph over her own fears while encouraging the reader to do the same. As a single young woman, writer, speaker, and blogger, Annie Downs shares her journey toward bravery with honesty and humor. Using wonderful stories from her own life, contemporary real-life examples, and fascinating historical and biblical references, Annie encourages readers to grab hold of the brave life that they desperately desire. How often does fear hold us back from the very things we most want to taste, touch, and experience? The call to be brave isn't just for one person—it's for everyone. Let's All Be Brave is more than a book, it's a battle cry. Annie challenges us to live boldly, she calls us to step into those places that require courage, and she gives us the help to take the next step forward—even when it's scary. This non-fiction, essay-driven book opens the door to many different views of courage—nudging, encouraging, and inspiring readers to be brave whenever given the chance.

My take: I don't know Annie Downs, but I'm convinced that if we ever met, we'd be friends. I've been following her blog for a few years, and I watched with interest as her first few books were published. When I heard about Let's All Be Brave, I knew I needed to stop watching and start reading—because one thing I need in my life is more bravery!

In Let's All Be Brave, Annie challenges the reader to be brave—whatever that may mean. Maybe it's saying "yes" to something. Maybe it's saying "no." Maybe it's going after that long-buried dream. Maybe it's trying something and failing. Annie's message is applicable to anyone, whether young or old, single or married, healthy or sick. We all need to be brave.

Annie's writing style is incredibly warm and conversational—you almost feel like she's pouring out her heart over a cup of coffee. She's not afraid to talk about the bad times along with the good, all while encouraging you to be brave in the large and the small things.

Read this book—slowly, taking time to digest it. It's one that will stick with you long after you've finished reading it, and it will hopefully spur you on to do at least one of those things you've been too afraid to do before.

My rating: 5 stars

Buy the book.
Download the first two chapters free.
Watch the book trailer.

About the author: 

Annie F. Downs is an author and speaker based in Nashville, Tennessee. Flawed but funny, she uses her writing to highlight the everyday goodness of a real and present God.

Annie is the author of Let’s All Be Brave, a book for men and women about the power we each have to make a difference on this planet. She also has two books for teens: Perfectly Unique, a spiritual growth book for high school and college girls, and Speak Love, a challenge to women on how to use their words to make a difference in the world.

By weaving together personal stories, humor, and Scripture, she invites those reading to experience fulfilled lives with a God who made them on purpose and loves them deeply. You can learn more about her books here.

While she loves writing- books, blogs, articles, thank-you notes- Annie also enjoys traveling around the world speaking to young women, college students, and adults.You can learn more about her speaking events here.

Annie is a huge fan of bands with banjos, glitter, her community of friends, boiled peanuts, and football games.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this product free for review from Amazon.com through its Vine reviewer program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"dream treaders" by wayne thomas batson

About the book (from the publisher): Book #1 in a trilogy from fantasy author Wayne Thomas Batson explores the concept of dreams and their effects on us.

People are fascinated by dreams, and the Bible has a great deal to say about them. From Jacob’s dream of the heavenly stairway in Genesis 28 to angels visiting Joseph during dreams in Matthew 1 to the Apostle John’s “waking dream” from which he obtained the book of Revelation—dreams have been powerful ingredients of God’s plan as revealed through Scripture.

Fourteen-year-old Archer Keaton discovers he has the ability to enter and explore his dreams. He is a dreamtreader, one of three selected from each generation. Their mission: to protect the waking world from the Nightmare Lord, who wreaks chaos in the Dream World. But as Archer’s dreams become more dangerous and threatening, so too does his waking life.

Rigby Thames, the new kid from England, builds a suspicious rock star-like following at Dresden High School a little too quickly. Even Archer’s best friend and confidant, Kara Windchil, seems taken in by the cool guy with the wild blond hair, which definitely rubs Archer the wrong way. Archer must face two foes in two worlds, but he cannot succeed alone. Archer sets off to find other dreamtreaders in a desperate attempt to defeat the enemy terrorizing his friends and family.

My take: Dream Treaders begins as Archer is in the dream world, trying to infiltrate Shadowkeep. He must get back to his anchor before the Nightmare Lord gets him. Confused? I was. I struggled to get my bearings in this world that made no sense. Had the author chosen to introduce Archer in the real world, then go to sleep and begin his work as a Dreamtreader, I could have followed along. But as it is written, I was very confused and hadn't yet formed any kind of attachment to Archer, so I wanted to stop reading. Had I not agreed to review the book, I would have.

And I would have missed out on a great YA/fantasy novel. By about the third chapter, I was flying through the pages, anxious to see what would happen next. The whole novel unfolds at breakneck speed, but once I had my bearings, the speed worked well. It does end in a cliffhanger, but as it's book one of a series, I'm fine with that.

So much YA fiction is geared toward girls, so it was refreshing to read a YA novel that would appeal to both genders. This would be a great series for junior high and high school age kids.

My rating: 4 stars

Buy the book. 

About the author: Wayne Thomas Batson is the author of several bestselling novels, including The Door Within trilogy, The Isle series, and The Berinfell series. As a middle school reading teacher, Wayne writes adventures set in imaginative locales because he believes that we all dream of doing something that matters.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from Amazon.com through its Vine reviewer program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”