Summer Brides - Varies

Summer Brides by Susan Wiggs

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Three short stories - I enjoyed 2 out of three of them but for the most part there are not enough time in these short stories (about 100 pages each) there is not a lot of time to get invested.



The story by Susan Mallery is part of the Fool's Gold series that she writes, but we didnt' see or hear much about Fool's Gold.



Sheryl Woods was about San Francisco(and since I grew up there I liked reading about some of the places I used to visit)



The Susan Wiggs was didn't hold my interest.



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Christmas Singing - Cynthia Woodsmall

The Christmas Singing by Cindy Woodsmall

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Short, amishish novel about Mattie Eash who has her heart broken and moves away. Tragedy stricks and she returns home to be re- connected with Gideon Beiler.



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A Stolen Life - Jaycee Dugard

A Stolen Life: A Memoir by Jaycee Dugard

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I did this book as a book on CD and listened to it vs read it.

It was read by Jaycee.



I liked it - it did some skipping around and at a few points I was confused but over all the story that she told / lived was wild. Things that could never be imaged and lived through happened to her. I wish her and her children a 'normal' life!



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Lead Me On by Victoria Dahl

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Read this book in under 24 hours. Usually my like of books go down the higher they are in a series (just like movies). However, this one was definitely my favorite of the Tumble Creek series. Very steamy, good read. I really enjoy these characters and can relate to the events in their lives and respect how they handle turmoil. Love it!



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Record Time by Beverly Brandt

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


It's an ok book. I think I keep telling myself I like her books more than I do because once I start I remember that I am not a huge fan. Her story telling takes a long time and I still feel like I do not get the details I want to envision the scene. However, her humor is priceless and I did find myself laughing out loud during multiple parts in this book.



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Lonestar Angel - Colleen Coble

Lonestar Angel by Colleen Coble

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Eden is about to be proposed to when what she thinks is her ex husband arrives and tells her a) they are still married, b) their daughter that they thought had died is still alive.

Eden and Clay leave her life behind and head to where they believe their daughter is. They get hired at a camp for foster children taking care of the age group of their daughter. They take DNA samples of all of the girls in hope of finding out which one is theirs.

As you can tell just from that - there are a lot of things that do not hold true in the real world but we read books to get lost in the unreal world.

I enjoyed this book, I tried not to think too much about what was 'way out there' and just enjoyed the read, enjoyed the little Christian push, the romance, the mystery.





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The Wedding Quilt - Jennifer Chiaverini

The Wedding Quilt: An Elm Creek Quilts Novel by Jennifer Chiaverini

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is the 18th book in the Elm Creek series.



I have read them all and in order but I will admit when I started this one I was a little lost as so many years had past since the last one. Once I understood that I enjoyedhte walk down memory lane in this book, while learning some new pieces to the puzzle.



Sarah's daughter Caroline is getting married. This is the book of everyone coming back together for the wedding and as we do this Sarah has a few walks donw memory lane. To me it was sort of a remonder book of what has gone on in the past books and really I was grateful. I read a lot of books and as these only coming out yearly, it is hard to remember everyone and everything.







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The Survivor - Shelly Shephard Gray

The Survivor: Families of Honor, Book Three by Shelley Shepard Gray

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This was the third book in the Families of Honor Series.



I enjoyed it for the most part - but was a little disappointed as I don't think we got closer on all the characters by the end of the book / series.



Maddie, fianlly cancer free tries to refind her faith and love. She asks her best friend to find her an Amish gentleman to court her, he of course is crushed as he wants to be the suiter. Then there is Jenna, who dated Graham (the best friend) for a short period and finds herself pregnant and decides to tell everyone Graham is the father - although they never even kissed.



I just was left a little unsatisified when this book was done.







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Longing - Karen Kingsbury

Longing by Karen Kingsbury

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Longing is the third book in the Bailey series. Bailey has loved Cody since she was in high school and she is now in New York dancing in Hair Spray.We have watched her finish high school, go to college, film the movie Unlocked and move to New York. We have watched this relationship hit high points and very low points. In the last book (maybe it was the one before) Bailey started a relationship with Brandon Paul, a very popular movie star from Hollywood that she filmed Unlocked with.



So at first I go - hummmm this is just like the Dayne and Katie story. Been there done that - and after reading Longing I still kind of feel that way. I have been a team Cody fan from the beginning because I watched their love grow but after reading Longing, I might have to change my mind. I don't want to change my mind but I think Cody still has some grwong up to do to be worthy of Bailey's love. I also feel that Bailey is out of her league a little with Brandon. She is a small town girl who yes earns a spot in a Broadway musical but having a realationship with a major star?



But this is a book not to be missed - there is so much growth in the characters and the bonus of the Baxters showing up and being able to catch up with the going on's of their lives. Then there is the Bible Study group that Bailey started



What happens with Cody and Chey is just not to be missed. That is not to take away the magic of Baily and Brandon. It is just amazing to see how God works in all these situations and circumstances. I love how God speaks to their characters, I am not that lucky.



Can't wait for the final book!







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Real Men Will by Victoria Dahl

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The third and final books of the Donovan Brothers series did not disappoint one bit. As I have said in the other reviews for this series, I have found a new favorite author. I am so thrilled with this book, her writing style and the series. Victoria continues to write witty romance with a a grounding in the real world. So often I read romance novels and think 'never in a million years.' With these novels, her characters are so real, down to earth and you know that if these situations were presented to you this is exactly how you would react. One of my favorite aspects of all this series is that the couples do not get married at the end, they do what most adults do- be in a relationship. So many novels have the couples get engaged or married as soon as they get through their "big issue." Victoria stays true to what society and most individuals do, which is date and get to know each other and one anothers' families. I just loved this entire series. And I look forward to reading her other novels (which are currently sitting on my shelf to be read).




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