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



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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

Perfectly Ridiculous

Perfectly Ridiculous
By Kristin Billerbeck
About the book:
Daisy Crispin is at a crossroads. In one direction lies the promised land--life at college, away from her embarrassing and overprotective parents. In the other direction is reality--her strapped bank account, an ailing father, and family priorities. Daisy knows the "perfect" daughter wouldn't have to think twice. But maybe Daisy was never really perfect on any level, because she does not want her life to look the way her parents think it should. She won't let that stop her, though. Now that she has been given an exciting free trip to Argentina before going to college, she's thrilled--until her parents decide to go along with her.

My Thoughts:
Perfectly ridiculous, the third book in the Universally misunderstood series, is ridiculous. A lot of people would say it's only fluff with a dash of humor and it is, there's a lot of funny scenes but it really is so much more.

Daisy and her best friend Clare are ready to hop on a plane for an elaborate graduation gift of a trip to Argentina when Daisy finds out in order to receive her scholarship to college she has to complete a missions trip.

A missions trip in Argentina? It'll kill two bird with one stone. But the journey Daisy is on is more about learning who she is and what she is worth than she even expected.


“Available July 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

Rating: 4 carats




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The Secret Keeper

The Secret Keeper
By Sandra Byrd

About the book:
The author of To Die For returns to the court of Henry VIII as a young woman is caught between love and honor. Juliana St. John is the daughter of a prosperous knight. Though her family wants her to marry the son of her father's business partner, circumstances set her on a course toward the court of Henry VIII and his last wife, Kateryn Parr.
Sir Thomas Seymour, uncle of the current heir, Prince Edward, returns to Wiltshire to tie up his concerns with Juliana's father's estate and sees instantly that Juliana would fit into the household of the woman he loves, Kateryn Parr. Her mother agrees to have her placed in Parr's household for "finishing" and Juliana goes, though perhaps reluctantly.
For she knows a secret. She has been given the gift of prophecy, and in one of her visions she has seen Sir Thomas shredding the dress of the king's daughter, the lady Elizabeth, to perilous consequence.
As Juliana learns the secrets of King Henry VIII's court, she faces threats and opposition, learning truths about her own life that will undo everything she holds dear.

My Thoughts:
The Secret Keeper" is the second book in Sandra Byrd's Ladies in Waiting series (read about TO Die For)
The book follows the same format as To Die For and is equally filled with deep and luxurious descriptions whisking you away to 1540s England.
We follow Juliana St. John as she waits on Lady Katelyn Parr. Juliana is incredibly loyal to Kate through everything and we see a wonderful and strong display of friendship throughout the entire book. Something that makes "The Secret Keeper" unique is that it is from the persepcitve of a friend instead of the main character herself.
Ayone who likes historical fiction will love this book as well any wanting to learn about a new era.
*I received this book free for review from the publisher*
Rating: 4 carats


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Katie Up and Down the Hall

Katie Up and Down the Hall
BY Glen Paskin
About the book:
 For families and animal lovers everywhere, Katie: Up & Down The Hall is the heartwarming story of how five neighbors living in a New York City apartment building are brought together by the purchase of a remarkable cocker spaniel.




Based upon a widely-read article published in Family Circle (“Granny Down The Hall”) here is the transcendent tale of how three generations of strangers and a dog create their own little family amidst the pressures, haste, and intensity of big-city life.



At the center of it all is Katie, an astutely intelligent spaniel with an unforgettable face who becomes a celebrity in her New York City neighborhood. There she is, alternately racing up and down an eighty-foot hallway between apartments, pushing open doors with her paws, or trotting outside along the Hudson River, surrounded by her “pack” of human friends. Through her soulful eyes, we witness nearly fifteen years of antics and family adventures spanning everything from Hollywood high times to the terrors of 9/11.


My Review:
There was so much hype surrounding this book from having the stories already published and loved in a magazine that I thought it would be better than it was.  It sounds like a great story, who wouldn't think a dog uniting an  apartment complex was a sweet story?  But i really found the book dull and somewhat lifeless.

*I received this audiobook free for review from Hachette Book Group*
Rating:3 carats

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Barcelona Calling

Barcelona Calling
By Jane Kirkpatrick
About the book:
Annie Shaw is a writer with lots of challenges. She has a new editor, her publisher would like a little more romance in her romance novels, and her latest novel set in a prison complex appears to be going nowhere. Only her first novel hit the bestseller charts and that was Annie's own story written before she divorced her husband who still comes around asking for money. To support her. Annie's cadre of friends decide that the way to get a bestseller is to get Oprah to know her name. What follows is a raucous effort to find fulfillment and how a Jack Russell Terrier, a trip to Barcelona, Spain and good friends help Annie discover that friendship is more important than fortune or fame.

My thoughts:
Barcelona Calling is about an author struggling with self doubt and trying to make her next book a best seller.
She has a great bunch of friends who support her and thats what really makes the book a good read. They all believe in her so much they are willing to help her in any way they can for her to achieve the success she craves. They decide to set out on a journey to get her book chosen as part of Oprah's book club.
This book was a fast and sometimes funny read but it also felt very drawn out and at times dull
*I received this book free for review from Zondervan Publishers through NetGalley.com *

Favorite Quote:
"I don't have to be perfect. Perfection doesn't mean without errors or omissions; it means complete"
Rating: 3 carats