A Novel Proposal by Denise Hunter Review

 

Wow, what a great story. 

I absolutely loved A Novel Proposal by Denise Hunter. 

Sadie Goodwin loves writing westerns, however, due to circumstances beyond her control, she has been told she needs to write a romance, something she feels she can not do, due to never being in love. So, she takes off to North Carolina to spend the summer at the beach where she meets her less-than-friendly neighbor Sam Ford. 

Sam has been in love, but has been hurt and just wants time alone away from everything. Yet, here he is, suddenly neighbors with Sadie, who he finds quite annoying.

They find themselves working together to solve an intriguing mystery involving a book and a ring. 

I loved that the story featured a little library. Loved the finding of the ring in the book and the journey it took them on. Especially loved the big revelation of the story of the ring. I definitely didn't see that coming. I thought it was neat that the author included little Romance Writing 101 snippets at the beginning of each chapter, especially getting to see how they related to that chapter.

I really enjoyed this story and highly recommend it. 

My Refuge by Ashley Al Saliby Review

 

I really enjoyed My Refuge by Ashley Al Saliby. Very powerful stories of four teen girls struggling with different issues, but who learned to turn to Jesus as their refuge. I wasn't sure how it feel about four different stories about four different girls who had no connection, besides their need to trust in Jesus. This book was like four short stories in one book, but we alternated between the girls stories. I ended up really liking this format.

These girls were struggling with some heavy topics. I love how the author brought each girl hope, some who already knew Jesus but struggled, but also one who was just discovering Him for the first time.
Yes, very powerful and emotional, and uplifting A reminder to look to God in all circumstances, to praise Him, to be open in prayer.

I can't wait to read their continuing stories

Friday Fun - August 30, 2024

Welcome to my Friday Fun post. This is where I share with three different book parties that post on Fridays: Book Beginnings on Fridays, the Friday 56, and First Line Friday.

This week I have one book to share with you.

I am currently reading A Novel Proposal by Denise Hunter for a couple of my reading challenges. 

        Book Beginnings on Friday     

(Please join Gilion Dumas for Book Beginnings every Friday to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author's name.)

and

First Line Friday

(Please join C arrie for First Line Friday.)

Here is my Book Beginnings/First Line Friday selection:

  A Novel Proposal by Denise Hunter:

"Sadie Goodwin's literary dreams came to a shuddering halt in the middle of her favorite SoHo coffee shop."

How upsetting.

Now for:

The Friday 56

The Friday 56 is normally hosted over at Freda's Voice. But Anne from My Head is Full of Books is taking over for a while. 

Rules:

*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader
(If you have to improvise, that's ok.)
 *Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it) that grab you.
*Post it.
*Add your (url) post below in Linky. Add the post url, not your blog url. It's that simple.

Here is my Friday 56 selection:

A Novel Proposal by Denise Hunter:
 

"Her heart thumped at the invitation. After all, they'd worked together so far, and it was nice that he wanted to keep it that way. 'I'd love to . . . but I have a date tonight.' She wasn't sure why she'd used that word, but she couldn't seem to keep herself from testing the waters. And maybe it had its desired effect, because there was a long pause before he responded."

Reviews:

Last week I shared three books in my Friday Fun post. Here are the links to my reviews:

:

The Mobster's Daughter by Rachel Scott McDaniel

Finishing School by Jennifer Mistmorgan

The Light Keeper's Wife by Jennifer Mistmorgan 

The Mobster's Daughter by Rachel Scott McDaniel Review

 

Oh wow, The Mobster’s Daughter by Rachel Scott McDaniel is an awesome book. 5 stars from me for this un-put-downable book. I have never read a book by this author before, and only picked up this book because it was this month’s reading challenge for one of my groups. I am so glad I had a chance to read it.

The book is about a young lady who had been abandoned by her father as a child. She was left in Italy while he made his way to America. At the opening of the book, she is a young lady in her 20s and we find that she has made her way to America, Pittsburgh PA to be exact. And she is shocked to discover her father is a notorious crime lord. Fast forward 9 months and we find Kate Chamberlin, as she has decided to call herself, is now working for KDKA radio and is quite famous for her musical talents, both vocal and playing the piano. Suddenly she finds herself in danger and under the protection of detective Rhett Jennings, who she discovers is the son of a man her father is accused of murdering. Now, not only does she need to keep her identity secret from the crime families who may be planning to cause her harm, but she also can’t allow Rhett to discover her true identity.

I loved seeing their relationship evolve, but felt for Kate as she struggled with the lies that she felt she had to keep. Lies that she felt would bring God’s wrath down on her, as she knew of His righteous justice, but not of His mercy and love.

Would she ever find a place where she belonged, where she didn’t feel everyone was being ripped from her? Would Rhett ever get justice for the death of his father. Would he be able to get beyond the bitterness that the anger and need for vengeance? Redemption and forgiveness play a big role in this story. As does the importance of truth.

There were twists and turns in this story that kept me turning the pages. Suspense and danger as well as moments of compassion and caring, plus some humor and sadness as well. The author made me fall in love with these characters and I needed to know what was going to happen. And yes, I found myself in tears at times. Quite the emotional roller coaster.

And the author also did a wonderful job of bringing 1920's Pittsburgh to life. I loved the little bits of real history she added to the story

Definitely a book I highly recommend.

The Light Keeper's Wife by Jennifer Mistmorgan Review

 

The Light Keeper's Wife is a wonderful post-WW2 story which I loved. Amy Smee and Stuart Lewis from the Jennifer Mistmorgan's short story, Finishing School, are now married and have left their lives in London where they worked for the intelligence service. Stuart is desperate for a quiet life and he hopes to find it in the small, seaside town of Eden Cove, where his uncle is a lighhouse keeper. Though this isn't Amy's choice, she wants to support her new husband. 

Soon after arriving, a person from her past who she'd hoped she'd never see again, shows up and convinces her to do some undercover work. 

There's intrigue and deception, danger and twists I didn't see coming. In fact, it was quite suspenseful at times. But there was also faith, though I did wish it developed a bit more in the characters' lives. But we saw the struggles that each of them were going through. 

A great historical fiction book that I recommend. I love that this is one of over a dozen multi-author, multi-genre stories in the Our House on Sycamore Street series. I can't wait to read more of them.

I received an e-copy of this book as a member of the launch team and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own honest thoughts.

Friday Fun - August 23, 2024

Welcome to my Friday Fun post. This is where I share with three different book parties that post on Fridays: Book Beginnings on Fridays, the Friday 56, and First Line Friday.

This week I have three books to share with you.

I am currently reading The Mobster's Daughter by Rachel Scott McDaniel for one of my reading challenges. 

I'm also reading  Finishing School by Jennifer Mistmorgan. It is a free novella from signing up for her newsletter. The main reason I am currently reading it is because characters from this book are in the new book I am on the ARC team for (posted below this one). 

I'll be starting The Light Keeper's Wife by Jennifer Mistmorgan later today. 

        Book Beginnings on Friday     

(Please join Gilion Dumas for Book Beginnings every Friday to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author's name.)

and

First Line Friday

(Please join C arrie for First Line Friday.)

Here are my Book Beginnings/First Line Friday selections:

  The Mobster's Daughter by Rachel Scott McDaniel:

"Snapping wind yanked at the letter in my hand, and my fingers tightened, the crisp edge biting into my palm."

What's so important about this letter that she is hanging onto it in the wind?

Finishing School by Jennifer Mistmorgan:

"Amy Snee knew one thing for sure."

And what would that be?

The Light Keeper's Wife by Jennifer Mistmorgan:

"'Home.' 
Amy Lewis whispered the word and let the thrill sink deep into her heart."

Hmm, why was she not at home and how long had she been gone that this was such a thrill.

Now for:

The Friday 56

The Friday 56 is normally hosted over at Freda's Voice. But Anne from My Head is Full of Books is taking over for a while. 

Rules:

*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader
(If you have to improvise, that's ok.)
 *Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it) that grab you.
*Post it.
*Add your (url) post below in Linky. Add the post url, not your blog url. It's that simple.

Here are my Friday 56 selections:

The Mobster's Daughter by Rachel Scott McDaniel:
 

"The truth will set you free. Madre Chamberlin's reedy voice echoed off the brittle places of my heart. My lashes lowered, but I could still see my former guardian's pale eyes - always filled with conviction but never love. A sigh rattled my chest, but I wouldn't give it place. In my life, the truth wouldn't free me, only destroy."

Finishing School by Jennifer Mistmorgan:

"He heard she did brilliantly in the test. He wasn't there to see it because Paxton removed him from his station.
Good thing, too. He might have done something stupid. Again."

The Light Keeper's Wife by Jennifer Mistmorgan:

"At the sound of the housekeeper's approach, she pocketed the list and replaced the folder and the pill in the drawer, hearing the click of the lock just as the other woman entered."

Reviews:

Last week I shared two books in my Friday Fun post. Here are the links to my reviews:

:

Under the Stars by Cali Black

Murder Goes Caroling by Malissa Chapin

Murder Goes Caroling by Malissa Chapin Review

 

Another hilarious, hijinks-filled tale of Piper Haydn and her friend Rosie taking matters into their own hands to solve a mystery, much to the chagrin of the police chief, who Piper might just happen to have a crush on.

Murder Goes Caroling is the third book in Malissa Chapin's Piper Haydn Piano Mysteries series and I loved it, just like I loved the first two.

This book takes place in the weeks leading up to Christmas and is filled with all sorts of planning for holiday events that Piper has found herself in charge of. There's the Caroling Extravaganza, and the Cranberry Harbor Christkindlmarket, the tree lighting ceremonty, plus the performance that the students at her music academy will be putting on.

Of course, disaster strikes and Piper and Rosie decide to sneak around trying to solve the mystery of the vandalized Nativity scene, even though they have been told multiple times to keep their noses out of police business. And of course, cozy mystery that this is, the amature sleuths notice things they aren't sure the police have noticed. As I read the book, I was like, come on ladies, don't you think you should learn your lesson and listen to the police chief. Of course, if they did, we wouldn't have a story, now would we? LOL.

Add in a grouchy Scrooge, a rumor tattling blog, and suspicious characters and you've got a great mystery that includes a bit of danger and suspense.

I love the small town togetherness in this story, and getting to see the owners of the different shops we have been introduced to in the previous books.

Murder Goes Caroling was a wonderful, Christmasy cozy mystery that I highly recommend. Each book is a stand alone story, but we get to learn more about the characters as the series continues, so I personally recommend reading the books in order.

I received an e-copy of this book as a member of the launch team and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own honest thoughts.