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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Don't Kiss Him Goodbye

Don't Kiss Him Goodbyre
By Sandra Byrd

Don't Kiss Him Goodbye is the third installment of Sandra Byrd's London Confidential series(read the first two Asking For Trouble and Through Thick and Thin). Savvy Smith has been living near London, England for almost a year now beginning to settle in and feel like she is making friends. As spring arrives she learns of the annual May Day Ball and longs to be asked. Savvy makes a list of all her potential dates only to see they already have asked someone. All except for one that is, the mysterious and good-looking Rhys who seems interested in her but who also has a reputation for trouble. What will Savvy do? Follow her heart? Or follow what she knows to be true?




Each Savvy Smith book draws me in more and more. I have really begun to not only like Savvy but to care about and root for her to make the right decisions, intrigued how she is so easily torn between two worlds.



This is a light and fun read written so descriptively you’ll keep turning the pages.



Favorite Line:

"We locked eyes for a moment and felt the bond of the sisterhood between two Christians who has hopes and dreams that seemed to have stalled over the Bermuda Triangle."


I received this book free for review from Tyndale House Publishers
Rating: 5 carats

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Through Thick and Thin

Through Thick and Thin
By Sandra Byrd

Through Thick and Thin is the second book in Sandra Byrd's London Confidential series,(read the review of Asking For Trouble) Savannah Smith is starting to settle into her new life near London, England and soon sees the opportunity she has been waiting for - a chance to write a column for the school newspaper. Savvy carefully plots out her plan of action and is determined to execute it but when things start to unravel she is forced to choose between her family and friends or her dream job.




I really liked digging deeper into Savvy's life. Her biggest struggle was wanting to liked with real friends however it seems as though having people like her comes at a price which causes Savvy to dislike herself and hurt some people she cares deeply for.



Sandra Byrd did a great job of showing Savvy's challenges of going after her dreams and staying true to who she is while throwing in dashes of British culture and fashion.



Favorite Line:

"Chic through thick and thin."


Rating: 5 carats

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The Shape of Mercy

The Shape of Mercy

By Susan Meissner
Having grown up in a wealthy family, Lauren decides to defy the tradition of relying on family money and step out on her own. She attends a public college and has to fend for herself. Always interested in literature, Lauren sees an ad for a transcription job and immediately applies. Lauren gets the job. Her first assignment is to transcribe the diary of a teenage girl, Mercy Hayworth, set during the Salem witch trials, and is soon drawn into a tale she knows will end in heartbreak. As Lauren digs deeper into the diary she begins to see herself and her life in a new light.




Just as Lauren was drawn into Mercy's story I was drawn into this book. Lauren gripped me with her love for the written word and her determination to make a life for herself. I loved following both Lauren and Mercy as they asked themselves the same question about life and where they were going while living in two different eras, experiencing different situations. It proves that no matter how different we seem on the outside we are still similar on the inside.



I listened to the audio version of this book and the narrator had a gentle, almost haunting voice which seemed perfect for the scenes of the witch trial.



I received this book free for review from Christianaudio.com



Favorite Line:

"We understand what we want to understand. That's the way it is, the way it will always be."

Rating: 5 carats

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