Something Wild in Anchorage

Something Wild in Anchorage

Alaska Adventure Romance #5

Renee Hart

Lissa is a disaster waiting to happen. So she hopes that she can manage to hang on to her new job with the Fish and Game Department in Anchorage. But from the very beginning she is making mistakes and hurting other people. The only good thing is the friends she's made at a local coffee shop.  

I have the large print edition and it was still only 153 pages, so this is definitely a novella. Despite it being book five, it can be read as a stand-alone. I'm sure that characters fro the previous books are mentioned, but I didn't feel lost or notice references from previous books. The style of writing was very young adult and often made me feel like I was reading about high school characters instead of adults. Their interactions and conversations were puerile. I also noticed quite a few grammatical errors. I think the book has potential, it just needs some editing. Overall, this was not a story that I would choose to read again, but might interest my young daughter.

I received a copy of this book. All thoughts expressed are my own.

Paris Fashions

Forever Inspired Coloring Book

Paris Fashions

It looks like an adult coloring book, but has been designed for a younger demographic. Each has a black and white design pulled from French fashion. The artist can then fill in the colors to create a beautiful fashion plate. The pages are perforated so they can be torn out and used for decor or inspiration.

My daughter is always begging me to get her a "grown-up" coloring book. These fit her request perfectly. My little fashionista fell in love with the variety of clothing and the setting that the designer put behind each model. The spaces were perfect for her skill level and she loved being able to tear the pages out for better access or for hanging on her wall. There are several books featuring different places in the world and I will be getting more when she finishes with this one.

I received a copy of this book. All thoughts expressed are my own.

Shannon Popkin's 'Control Girl' Blog Tour and Prize Pack Giveaway

Are you trying to stay in control of your quest for peace, joy, and security . . . and you're exhausted? Shannon Popkin's debut book, Control Girl, is a must-read for anyone with a heart that craves control. Join Shannon as she shares what she has discovered about her own control struggles and about God from studying seven Control Girls in the Bible. Whether it was Eve's desire to know instead of trust, Sarah's inability to wait for God to move, or Rebekah's controlling hand on her family's future, each of these women's stories contain warnings and lessons for us today.

Learn how to give up control to God and become a Jesus girl! Enter to win a prize pack that will help you give up your Control Girl tendencies.

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of Control Girl
• A Vera Bradley tote
• A rose gold arrow bracelet
• A set of Moleskine journals

Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on February 21. The winner will be announced February 22 on Shannon's blog.

The American Heiress

The American Heiress Brides Collection

Lisa Cox Carter, Mary Davis, Susanne Dietze, Anita Mae Draper, Patty Smith Hall, Cynthia Hickey, Lisa Karon Richardson, Lynette Sowell, Kimberley Woodhouse

 

Nine authors have come together to write novellas about about wealthy heiresses in a sweet historical collection. Each story is tied into the book by the theme, but otherwise stands alone. Each author has brought her sense of writing style and strong Christian faith to play in the books. 

I enjoyed each of these stories. Each one was different and yet fit together. The characters were well developed and the surroundings and circumstances were well described. Each story was sweet, romantic, and had elements of faith. I also found quite a bit of humor in several of the stories, which I really enjoyed. Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Christian historical fiction. It would also work if you are limited on time as each little novella stands alone.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts expressed are my own.

Seven Brides

Seven Brides for Seven Texans Romance Collection

Erica Vetsch, Amanda, Barratt, Susan Page Davis, Lorna Scilstad, 

Keli Gwyn, Gabrielle Meyer, Vickie McDonough

 

7-Heart Ranch is located in central Texas and run by a man who loves his seven sons, but wants to have some grandchildren to carry on his legacy when he's gone. But none of his boys seem remotely interested in getting married. So the father issues an ultimatum. Marry by the end of the year or lose your inheritance. The chaos and romance that ensues is only entertaining to the father. The boys are not amused.

I absolutely loved this story. Some stories were a bit more my style or better written than others, but all of them captured the plot idea and ran with it. They were sweet, romantic, sometimes funny, and filled with a strong sense of faith and family. Several of these authors are ones that I've enjoyed reading before. But it's always nice to try out a new author with a novella to get a feel for their writing style. If you enjoy romance, entertaining family drama, and historical christian fiction than definitely pick up this book. 

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts expressed are my own.

For the Record

For The Record

Regina Jennings

Betsy has big dreams of leaving her small town and becoming an important writer for a newspaper in a big city. Working at her uncle's newspaper should technically help, but no one seems to be taking Betsy's writing seriously. So she comes up with the idea to create a romantic, fiction serial for a newspaper. She based the main character on their new deputy. She'd be horrified if he ever read what she thought of him, but since no one ever reads the big city newspapers she knows she's fine.
Deputy Joel does not want to be in Pine Gap. But he left Texas under some rather uncomfortable circumstances and returning isn't an option at the moment. So he has to put up with the shenanigans of the locals and that nosy journalist Betsy who won't leave him alone.

This story took a while for me to get in to. It wasn't the author's writing, she writes with suspense, drama, and a touch of the romance that draws the reader in. It was the characters. I just couldn't bring myself to like them, mainly Betsy. She was selfish, whiny, and didn't fit with the time period. And her character didn't really grow through the book. I ended it feeling the same way about her. Joel was okay, but a bit too weak for me. The Christian elements, usually stronger in these types of stories felt like an ad-on. Overall, I finished the book because I was writing a review, but was so disappointed in a writer I've enjoyed in the past. Despite my negative comments, I do think readers who enjoy Christian romance, will fall in love with this author, but should perhaps start with one of her other books.

I received a copy of this book from Bethany House. All thoughts expressed are my own.

The Goodbye Bride

The Goodbye Bride

Denise Hunter

Lucy wakes up on the floor of a bathroom wearing a wedding dress. She's hit her head and can't remember anything. The only thing she remembers is being engaged to Zac. But when she places the call for him to come get her, she finds out that she's lost almost a year of her memory. She might be wearing a wedding dress, but it isn't for Zac. She left him right before the wedding, move to another town, and become engaged to another man. Problem is, she still feels like she's in love with Zac and has absolutely no memory of any of the previous actions. 

This was an interesting premise. The entirety of the story was on how the two main characters work through their emotions, their past, and their differences to reach a romantic conclusion. There is a lot of emotional drama, angsty moments, and introspection. The story flows well, the characters are well defined, and the author brought her usual amazing writing skills in to play. This just isn't my favorite style. I'm not a huge fan of angst that is through the whole book. The author brought some great spiritual thoughts into the story without coming across as preachy. Overall, it was a well written story that fans of romantic, Christian fiction will enjoy.

I received a copy of this book. All thoughts expressed are my own.