When Beauty Tamed the Beast by Eloisa James
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Loved it! This may be due to the fact Belle has always been my favorite but I still loved this take on the tale as old as time. I loved the combination of House and Beauty and the Beast, it was pretty ingenious. There were less people than in the 1st of this series which made it a much easier read. I really liked it and would recommend it to all who love fairy tales.

Excited to keep on reading!

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Forever and a Day by Jill Shalvis

And completing the Lucky Harbor series for now is Grace's story. It's remarkable how hot friends come in threes, the original 3 sisters who all got together with 3 friends, this set of 3 chocoholics manage to fall in love with 3 friends (and workout partners). Sometimes it just seems a little too meat and tidy for me which is not my favorite. Overall I did enjoy this story, much much more than Amy's for sure. However if Jill Shalvis uses the work "sinew" in anymore of her books I may have to stop reading them because that seems to be the only adjective she knows and it's tiresome after reading a whole bunch of her novels. Any maybe it's just me but I love getting the happy ending epilogues and I would really like to see them a bit longer. Something about reading about them for 200 pages trying to get together makes me want to know what they are like once they are together. See Julia Quinn's 2nd Brigerton epilogues. I enjoyed most of the story, I liked the ready made dysfunctional family for Grace to come into. I liked the humanity in Anna's situation and how Toby just wanted a mom. I think the characters are so real and have such great stories to share with one-another. I did enjoy this novel but I get tired of the same situations over and over again so if there are more Lucky Harbor novels not sure I really want to go back at this point.

At Last by Jill Shalvis
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

After gobbling down Mallory's story I moved right on to Amy's story. The only problem is that I never really related to Amy. I feel this trilogy follows parallel to the original Lucky Harbor trilogy of Maddie, Tara and Chloe and I never found any attachment to Tara. This story followed along the same lines.

I love the underlying story with Facebook and Lucille's clan.

Amy's sob story with Riley was nothing big for me. I just really did not find much enjoyment from this installment. I will continue of with Grace's story though, I am excited to learn more about the leading men. They have truly been the highlight of the entire lucky harbor series for me.

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Lucky in Love by Jill Shalvis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

So recently my life has become really busy and reading was just not on my to do list due to other commitments. I went from reading a book every 4 days to not reading at all in 4 months. When I saw this next set of Jill Shalvis books come along my mindset flipped. I could not wait to get my hands on a book for the first time in forever. So once I got this book I did nothing but read. I was so excited to get back into a series I enjoyed.

I love Mallory, I fell in love with her when I read the first chapter at the end of Chloe's story. Plus Mysterious Cute Guy was all throughout the other novels and it was nice to get his story. I related to Mallory just like I was able to relate to Maddie in the original Lucky Harbor novel. She is so likeable and Ty is just dreamy. The bad girl lessons were hysterical it was just a good story.

I am glad I got back into reading with Lucky Harbor. I recommend this series to everyone. it's got great characters, great heart and a nice escape from the world we live in which is far removed from Lucky Harbor is ridiculous. Thanks Jill for giving me an outlet.

On to Amy's story now.

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Weddings & Wasabi by Camy Tang
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book, since it had been a while since I had read the others, I had a little bit of a hard time remembering everyone. But I love the bond of the cousins.

This is Jenn's story. I was disappointed that it was a short story - only 110 large pages.

Jenn wants to quit her job and open a catering business. But she was afraid due to her mom's past cancer and no health insurance, due to her family using her as a doormat. Can she over come all these and hear what God wants her to do with her life?

Humor comes in the form of Pookie.

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Patchwork Dreams by Laura V. Hilton
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I probably liked this more than 3 stars but not 4 stars worth.

Jacob was sent from Pennsylvania to help out distant amish relatives for the summer, or was it part of a bigger plan?
Right from the beginning you could 'feel' the chemistry between Jacob and Becky. Of course there were many (too many?) obstacles that had to be overcome. I loved how many times they went to Mcdonalds though.

I also felt there were a few things that went unanswered - now I know there is another book in but I am not sure if it talks about these characters, guess I will find out when the book arrives and I start reading it. Annie? Mathew? Naomi's baby? Jacob and his dad? Kent?

Cathy just never sat right with me, it was very odd, the role she ended up playing in this book. I am still shaking my head on that one.


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Covenant Child: A Story of Promises Kept by Terri Blackstock
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Have you ever wanted to read a book for so long and when you read it, it wasn't what you wanted it to be?

That was this book for me.

This is the story of twin girls who after their father dies goes to live with the maternal grandparents. What these girls have to go through is heart breaking. Knowing that their life could of been so much better if they were allowed to stay with their husband's wife. I don't understand he system and how this kind of stuff happens wit no follow up.

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Hard To Handle by Lori Foster
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

So after 3 months I finally found the time to finish this book. I bought it and 2 others at Half Price Books during their sale because it was Lori Foster and I do love her.

I did enjoy this book. This is not the same as the series I first fell in love with, her Men who walk the edge. I did enjoy. I did not read the first two in the series (mainly cause I did not realize there were 2 before this one). There were a lot of characters and sometimes it was hard to keep track of who was who and how they all meshed together.

I loved the secondary romance of Barber and Jasmine. I really got attached to Barber and wished I got more of him throughout.

Overall, I did enjoy this book and I will continue the series when I have some time. And of course I am looking forward to Lori's new series.

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Saving Gideon: A Clover Ridge Novel by Amy Lillard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was my first book by this author.

I enjoyed this book.
We meet Avery right after she has walked in on her finance and another girl. She flees and due to bad weather runs herself off the road. Gideon, a amish man struggling himself, hears the car horn and rescures her.

After recovering (super glue) she decides to hide out there for a while and re evalute her life.

I really came to care for these characters and hope that there might be a follow up to see what happens with some of the extended family that we met.

http://jnut1-ilovebooks.blogspot.com/

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Faith, Hope, and Luck: Discover What You Can Expect from God by Andy Stanley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was my first Bible Study by Andy and I can't believe it has taken me this long to do one. I loved it, he talked to me, about things that were going on with me and how I treat God. How people make him a back pocket God or a back pack God.

How God does say No and that is usually so that we will draw closer to him. We can not change Gods mind. We need to lean on Him and live for Him.

Easy short 5 week study with little homework.





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