Double Shot

Double Shot
By Erynn Magum

In the final installment of the Maya Davis series by Erynn Mangum ( read about Cool Beans and Latte Daze), Maya seems to have it all. She’s engaged to her long time best friend and now sweetheart, Jack, and everything should be just peachy, right? Wrong! Maya can’t shake her doubts and questions. What if this happens? What if that happens? When Jack is offered a once-in-a-lifetime job in Seattle Maya begins to panic even more about the future.




Sad as I was for the series to end, I think it’s the best book in the series. We really see Maya questioning what she is doing, where is going, and learning to rely on God even when things don’t go as she had hoped.



Erynn really has a knack for funny one-liners and relating the Bible to real life through her characters weekly church Bible study. I can’t wait for her next series.



Favorite Quote:

“But then again God is God. And He does have a way of changing my plans. After all, I am marrying Jack Dominguez instead of Justin Timberlake. Seventh grade was interesting.”


I received this book free for review from NavPress Publishers

Rating: 5 carats

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On A Whim

On A Whim
By Robin Jones Gunn

On a Whim is the second book in Robin Jones Gunn's Katie Weldon Series(read about book one, Peculiar Treasures). The book starts in Katie's senior year of college when she thinks she has things figured out with Rick Doyle. Rick's work schedule makes things a challenge and Katie ends up spending time with Rick’s new roommate Eli. After star gazing in the desert with Eli, Katie begins to wonder about everything she had planned out for her life.




Reading about Katie is like spending time with a friend. Katie is sweet, relatable, and just as confused as the next person. Robin has a heartwarming way of weaving the lives of her characters into the hearts of her readers, leaving an imprint there. The Katie Weldon series displays the depth of the friendship between Katie and Christy as their lives go in two different directions. I get so excited to see anything new from Robin. I'll be a lifelong reader.



Favorite Quote:

"If there's one thing I've learned it's that good friends are like gold."





Rating: 5 carats

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Safe Haven

Safe Haven
By Nicholas Sparks

In Safe Haven the main character, Katie Feldman, moves to a small, sleepy town on the east coast determined to make it her refuge. Katie rents a small cabin and begins to work at a local restaurant. As the days go by Katie meets a kindhearted widower, Alex, with two kids and an empathetic neighbor, Jo. She slowly lets her guard down and begins to feel part of the community. Can Katie really keep her past behind her? And will her secret put those she’s drawing close to in danger as well?




This book starts out like it is going to be a sweet southern love story and I really liked it. Halfway through the point of view shifts to that of Katie’s husband, Kevin, and we are drawn into his obsessive, controlling world as he stalks around trying to find where Katie has fled to. I stopped liking the book at this point. It turns into a thriller and just isn’t my style. However anyone who likes sitting on the edge of their seat would probably really like this book. Nicholas Sparks is an amazing writer and will definitely read another one of his books.





Favorite Line:

"That he would love her no matter what she told him, and that he was the kind of man who loved her already and would love her forever."



I received this book free for review from Hachette Audio

Rating: 3 carats

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She's Gone Country

She's Gone Country

By Jane Porter

After a painful divorce, Shey Lynn packs and moves to Texas from New York City to be with her family and regroup. She is left with three boys who do not want to be in Texas and her own doubt of whether she'll ever find happiness again. Conflict after conflict arises when Shey can't get along with her mother, doesn't feel comforted by her brothers, and her sons act out trying to get her to send then back to NYC. If that isn't enough she runs into Dane, her high school crush and begins to wonder what would happen if she had ended up with him.

The whole book seemed like Shey was just wandering aimlessly and even though there is a resolution in the end, it doesn't seem like Shey grew as a person or learned anything from her experiences. Shey is obviously hurt and struggling for answers but the books as a whole didn’t go anywhere or accomplish anything.



Favorite Line:

"Remembering hurts"

I received this book free for review from Hachette Book Group

Rating: 3 carats

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