Finally and Forever

Finally and Forever
By Robin Jones Gunn
About the book:
What was she thinking? Katie Weldon wonders if she was crazy to spontaneously fly off to Africa on a mission trip. Suddenly she is dealing with a new culture, a world she's never experienced---and Eli, a friend who is quickly becoming much more. It's all overwhelming ... and exciting. As her life turns topsy-turvy, however, she begins to think this might be exactly what she needs. Here, God might give her a glimpse into His will for her life. But just as Kenya and its people find a place in her heart, and her relationship with Eli begins to get serious, Katie is faced with unanswered questions from her past and unresolved issues with Eli. Is she really headed down the same path into the future he is? It doesn't look like it. Why can't she finally and forever settle into a set direction? Living in this new and captivating place, one thing she knows for sure: anything might be possible. Finally and Forever is the final book in the Katie Weldon Series.
My Thoughts:
I don't really know where to begin with this one. It's been so exciting to get and to read but it's the end of an era. Robin Jones Gunn is done writing about Christy Miller, Sierra Jensen, and Katie Weldon.

Katie is on her way to Africa for a missions trip with her boyfriend,Eli, and is in for a total culture shock. To her surprise Katie finds a deep love and calling to continure to serve the African people. It's a call Eli doesn't feel. Can their relationship survive the different directions their life is about to take?

Robin Jone's Gunn wrapped up the series satisfyinly and gave us great closure to everyone of the characters that many of us have grown up with. Sad as it is the end of the series may be final but the love for her stories will live on with us forever.

*I received this book free for review from Zondervan Publishers*

Rating: 5 carats



visit robin Jones Gunn's website

The Scent of Rain

The Scent of Rain
By Kristin Billerbeck
About the book:
Daphne Sweeten has left Paris - and a career she loves - in order to marry a man she loves even more. But when he stands her up on their wedding day, Daphne's left reeling. Trained as a professional "nose" or perfume creator, Daphne soon realizes that her sense of smell has somehow disappeared too.
In the days following she moves to Dayton, Ohio, to take on a job creating fragrances for household products. Without her sense of smell, she must rely on her chemistry skills, and hope her handsome new boss, Jesse Lightner, doesn't notice before she can figure out how to get it back.
Despite her desire to return to Paris, she can't deny the way Jesse makes her feel. But when Daphne approaches former contacts, she learns her missing ex-fiance has somehow snagged her old job.
As Daphne and Jesse work on a signature scent for their new line, she feels God at work in her life as never before. And the promise of what is possible is as fresh as the scent of rain.
My thoughts:
Being a regular reader of Kristin Billerbeck's blog, I have been anticipating this book as she posted about the struggles of writing it as well as what she learned through her research.

Daphne Sweeten is a professional "nose" someone companies hire to smell things and put together scents for their products. Her life is glamourous and she has everything she could dream of but is willing to give it all up for to marry the guy she thinks she loves.

When she is suddenly left at the alter she has no where to go but to the life she had planned for after she was married including moving to Dayton, Ohio from Paris and working for company formulating cleaning products. To make matters worse, the trauma of it all has caused Daphne to loose her most precious asset, her sense of smell.

Is this really what God had planned for her? Can she survive without everything she thought she needed?

I really liked Daphne's character. She's straight forward and honest about what she is going through as she tries to sort it all out. She makes a lot of discovers that help her to grow personally and spiritually without loosing who she was.

Kristin Billerbeck took a traditional romance and filled it with the spunk of chick lit making for a unique read.

* I received this book free for review from Thomas Nelson publishers*

Favorite Quote:
"Though knowing that logically and believeing it emotionally were two different things."
Rating: 5 carats




visit Kristin Billerbeck's website

The Fiddler

The Fiddler
By Beverly Lewis
About the book:
Amelia "Amy" DeVries, a 24-year-old violinist, is disillusioned with life and love after the collapse of her long-running romance. Weary of endless rehearsals and performances, Amy sets out on a road trip through the Pennsylvania mountains. She leaves her cell phone behind so life's demands can't intrude on her solitude. She doesn't know, nor care, where she will end up.
When her car breaks down deep in the mountains, Amy realizes the flaw in her "no cell phone" plan. She abandons her car and walks the winding roads, searching for help. Following the smell of woodsmoke and the sound of music, she finds a rustic log cabin. There she meets a young Amishman--and through him a community--that will change her life forever.
My thoughts:
Beverly Lewis is back with a new book, the first in the Hickory Hollow series but also a book that could stand on its own.

Amelia is an accompilished classical violinist that finds more joy living and playing under her psueodnym, Amy, as a country music fiddler.

Michael is an Amish man still deciding whether or not he wants to commit to Amish ways and his father has given him an ultimatum, join the church or leave forever.

As the two get to know each other they begin to understand the other's lifestyle and see how the grass isn't always greener on the other side.

Beverly Lewis wrote a satisfying book and did a great job of exploring relighion through dialogue instead of prose. Her charcters asked real question and gave real answers.

*I received this book free for review from Bethany House Publishers*
Favorite line:

" Does your life maximize or minimize Christ?"

Rating: 4 carats





Visit Beverly Lewis's website