Book Review - The Sweetheart Fix by Miranda Liasson

My Review

Juliet Montgomery works as a couples counselor in Blossom Glen, Indiana. She is excited about her work, but clients are put off by her own personal track record - which includes three (or two point five, according to Juliet!) messy public break ups.  When Juliet goes to appeal a parking ticket, she gets pulled in to help settle a dispute over a tree.  This all happens at Mayor Jack Monroe's office.  He offers Juliet a part-time job settling conflicts for the Mayor's office.  Juliet and Jack are as different as night and day, but sparks fly every time they are together.

I wanted to read this novel because I love small town settings, and this sounded like a cozy, enjoyable read.  I had not read Miranda Liasson before (my mistake -- now I have to catch up with her books!).  This is the second book in the Blossom Glen series but it reads as a standalone.  I have not read the first book and had no problem jumping in and enjoying this book.

Juliet is a great book protagonist - smart, sassy, and good hearted. She wants so much to overcome her past romantic foibles in the town's eyes.  Jack is an appealing book boyfriend, and the book comes alive every time they are in a scene together.

This was such an fun book. It is well written, with lively characters and a charming small town that is almost another character in the book.  I can easily see this novel as a Hallmark movie.  It would be perfect!

I recommend The Sweetheart Fix for fans of women's fiction, small town romance, and comforting, upbeat books -- perfect for a weekend read!

Book Synopsis

Juliet Montgomery absolutely loves her small town of Blossom Glen, Indiana, and everyone loves her. Except for the fact that she’s a couples counselor who suffered a very public breakup that no one can forget. And now her boss asks her to take a step back…which is exactly when the town’s good-lookin’ and unusually gruff mayor offers her an unexpected job.

Jack Monroe absolutely loves being the mayor of his small town. Except when he actually has to talk to people. Can’t he just fix the community problems in peace? Like right now, he’s mediating the silliest dispute two neighbors could possibly have. When the town sweetheart steps up and solves everyone’s problems in five minutes flat, Jack realizes what this town really needs…is a therapist.

Juliet is able to soothe anyone–other than the surly mayor, it seems. But there’s a reason they say opposites attract, because all of their verbal sparring leads to some serious attraction. Only, just like with fireworks, the view might appear beautiful–but she’s already had one public explosion that’s nearly ruined everything…how can she risk her heart again?

Each book in the Blossom Glen series is STANDALONE:
* The Sweetheart Deal
* The Sweetheart Fix

Author Bio

Miranda Liasson is a RWA Golden Heart winner and an Amazon bestselling author whose heartwarming and humorous small-town romances have won accolades such as the National Readers’ Choice Award and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence and have been Harlequin Junkie and Night Owl Reviews Top Picks. She lives in the Midwest with her husband and three kids in a charming old neighborhood which is the inspiration for many of the homes in her books. mirandaliasson.com

Book Review - Rebuilding Beautiful by Kayla Stoecklein

My Review

Rebuilding Beautiful: Welcome What Is, Dare to Dream Again, and Step Bravely Into What Could Be is Kayla Stoecklein's story of how she rebuilt her life after her husband's suicide. There are elements of the memoir here but this book is also an inspirational guide to moving forward after loss.

I wanted to read this book because I have had a difficult personal loss this past year and Rebuilding Beautiful looked like an inspiring read. It is.

I really like the way the author organized the book in short themed chapters like Cultivating Community, A New Narrative, I'm So Proud of You for Trying, Habits of Self-Compassion, and Defiant Joy.

The writing is fresh and real.  The author illustrates each chapter with stories from her own life. She also gives practical suggestions (i.e. in the Cultivating Community chapter) and sometimes addresses the reader directly for truths.

I recommend Rebuilding Beautiful for anyone who is rebuilding their life after a loss of any type. I found it reassuring, comforting, and thought provoking. I think you will too.

Book Synopsis

Speaker and author Kayla Stoecklein delivers an inspiring message of how she came face-to-face with crushing personal loss and discovered how to rebuild a beautiful life. 

Kayla Stoecklein became an unexpected widow in August 2018 when her husband, Andrew, the pastor of their large church in California, died by suicide. With three young boys also grieving and a heart full of pain, it became her mission to bring hope and help to others who have faced unexpected hardships. Rebuilding Beautiful shows people that they not only have a purpose, but that they can build a beautiful life once again.

In Rebuilding Beautiful,Kayla shares the life experiences that have turned into lessons, including

• acknowledging the pain;
• making the choice to start healing;
• finding courage in uncertainty;
• embracing God’s constant presence; and
• exploring a new path and falling in love with life all over again.

Sometimes, the journey from agony to awe takes time. Rebuilding Beautiful is the perfect roadmap for anyone who’s on the path from heartache to a life that is a new kind of beautiful.

Author Bio

Speaker and author Kayla Stoecklein delivers an inspiring message of how she came face-to-face with crushing personal loss and discovered how to rebuild a beautiful life. 

Kayla Stoecklein became an unexpected widow in August 2018 when her husband, Andrew, the pastor of their large church in California, died by suicide. With three young boys also grieving and a heart full of pain, it became her mission to bring hope and help to others who have faced unexpected hardships. Rebuilding Beautiful shows people that they not only have a purpose, but that they can build a beautiful life once again.

In Rebuilding Beautiful, Kayla shares the life experiences that have turned into lessons, including

• acknowledging the pain;
• making the choice to start healing;
• finding courage in uncertainty;
• embracing God’s constant presence; and
• exploring a new path and falling in love with life all over again.

Sometimes, the journey from agony to awe takes time. Rebuilding Beautiful is the perfect roadmap for anyone who’s on the path from heartache to a life that is a new kind of beautiful.

 

 

 

Book Review - A Lot Like Forever by Jennifer Snow

My Review

Whitney Carlisle is a workaholic living in the small town of Blue Moon Bay, California.  She is a real type A personality and very driven -- so much so that she can't focus also on her wedding plans to Trent Connolly.  (As in, can't even get started making plans!)  Whitney is also hiding a health secret -- while Trent has a secret of his own.

I wanted to read this book because the small town romance sounded appealing.

This is the third book in the Blue Moon Bay series, but it also read well as a standalone.  

I liked the structure of the storytelling, with some parts "Now" and others "Then."  We are able to see how Whitney and Trent got together, what appealed to them both about each other and their relationship, and their individual backgrounds.

Whitney has a lot going on.  Her mother is struggling with Alzheimer's and Whitney also has a serious health issue that she is not addressing.  I sometimes felt a bit frustrated with her extreme drive to work and to tamp down her feelings (with Trent and with not spending as much time with her mother, who needs her).  The conflict Whitney and Trent have could have been resolved by better communication -- and not keeping secrets.

That said, I got really engrossed in this book and kept reading (late at night!) because I wanted to see how it would all resolve.  I kept pulling for Whitney and Trent to open up to each other.  The supporting characters in this book (especially Trent's family) were very appealing as well.

I recommend A Lot Like Forever for fans of small town romance.   Based on the author's storytelling and sensitivity telling this story, I think the entire series would be a good read.

Book Synopsis

Whitney Carlisle has everything under control–or at least that’s what she needs everyone in Blue Moon Bay to think. She has always faced the hard times in her life head-on and come out stronger for it. But this time, she isn’t so sure. Whitney knows she needs help, but how can she put that burden on Trent, her fiancé? How can she crush his dreams by telling him the plans they made for a future together have to change?

All Trent Connolly wants is to get married, have kids, and spend the rest of his life loving Whitney. Their relationship has had its share of ups and downs–like any other couple–and they’ve always managed to get through it unscathed. So when Whitney is clearly struggling with something, Trent is ready to help. His fiancée’s strong will is part of what draws him to her–but this time, it feels like it’s pushing him away.

Whatever Whitney is hiding from everyone has to be big. Possibly life-changing. She must believe that revealing her secret would do Trent more harm than good, even if it crushes her under the weight of it. The only thing he can do now is be there for her in whatever way she needs…until a secret of his own comes to light that threatens to steal their chance at forever.

Each book in the Blue Moon Bay series is STANDALONE:
* A Lot Like Love
* A Lot Like Christmas
* A Lot Like Forever

Author Bio

Jennifer Snow is an award-winning, contemporary romance author writing for Harlequin, Grand Central, and Berkley/NAL. She lives in Edmonton, Alberta with her husband and son. Find out more at jennifersnowauthor.com.

Book Review - The Weekly Gratitude Project by Zondervan

My Review

The subtitle for The Weekly Gratitude Project is "A Challenge to Journal, Reflect, and Grow a Grateful Heart." That is exactly what this book is about - mindful journaling to become more grateful.  

I found this book appealing because I love to journal, like devotional books, and found the idea of a weekly gratitude project appealing!  Years ago I wrote a gratitude list at the end of every day and it really changed my outlook. I realized that even on the worst days there were still blessings to be grateful for.

This is a beautifully designed book - a hardcover with sewn-in ribbon bookmark. The book is divided into themes and then weeks under each theme. The book's themes are: 

Purposeful

Motivations

Promises

Gifts

Applications

I love the format of each week.  It begins with a Bible verse, then a short paragraph about the week's theme, and then several journaling questions with room to write. The writing sections are lined, and the pages are illustrated with beautiful leaves and plants.

I am putting this book aside for the new year and look forward to going through and journaling in it. The Weekly Gratitude Project is a lovely book and it would be a great gift - or a purchase to prepare for a year of mindful journaling and gratitude!

Book Synopsis

Publisher: Zondervan; Illustrated edition (November 10, 2020)

Hardcover: 144 pages

It’s time to start a project that will grow a grateful heart. The Weekly Gratitude Project is a 52-week guided gratitude journal that offers a life-changing journey through reflection prompts and inviting questions to guide you into a deeper relationship with God. This yearly gratitude journal features beautifully illustrated journaling pages that will help you discover more intimacy and joy in your spiritual life.

The Weekly Gratitude Project is:

• Perfect for a beginner in faith and practicing gratitude, but strong and thought provoking enough for someone who already has a solid foundation
• An easy-to-use journaling format designed to help you focus on adding more gratefulness into your day
• A helpful companion for individual worship, Bible studies, and small groups

Each week includes:

• A biblical theme to focus on
• A short but impactful Bible verse to help you reflect and meditate
• Inspirational insight to guide your thoughts and jumpstart your gratitude project
• Journaling prompts and lines to help you reflect and grow a grateful heart

This 12-month journal:

• Showcases beautiful photography and calming colors
• Has a pretty ribbon marker, so you never lose your place
• Provides a ton of journaling space, but easily fits on your nightstand, tote bag, or a gift basket
• Is perfect for a self-purchase, Mother’s Day, National Best Friend Day, a welcoming gift for Bible study groups, birthdays, and holidays

Check out the rest of the series, The Weekly Prayer Project and The Weekly Faith Project.

Book Review - The Summer House by Lauren K. Denton

My Review

The Summer House is the story of Lily Bishop, who wakes up one morning to find her husband Worth has left her a goodbye letter and divorce papers - right after they relocated to Alabama's Gulf Coast for his job. Stuck in a new place with no family, Lily scrambles to find a job. She finds work as a hairdresser at a senior apartment community, where she can live above her shop. At Safe Harbor, she becomes friends with Rose, a divorced woman in her 60's who owns the community. She also slowly becomes friends - with some romantic interest - with Rose's nephew, Rawlins, who is a single father. Over the summer Lily finds a way to reinvent her life, with a little help from her friends.

I wanted to read this book because I have read all of Lauren K. Denton's books and loved every single one of them. The Summer House sounded like a perfect beach read!

This is my favorite Lauren K. Denton book yet!  I absolutely loved everything about it.  Lily is such a sweet, likable protagonist.  She is a kind, gentle soul who longs for a happy life like her childhood in North Georgia.  Her husband, Worth, was a poor match for her -- he is very driven, from an Atlanta society family, and he doesn't share Lily's love of the simple things in life.

I loved the slow building friendship/romance between Lily and Rawlins.  Rawlins is so sweet with his young daughter Hazel.  He is devoted to his Aunt Rose (who is also Lily's boss) and works hard as a shrimper.

Rose is also an interesting character.  She is cool and reserved, but she has been hurt in the past too, and is just cautious with her heart.  As she spends takes care of Hazel for Rawlins, befriends Lily, and has an unlikely romantic interest of her own, she blossoms. At one point Hazel remarks:  "'Aunt Rosie is named after a flower too,' Hazel said. “Rose and Lily.” (Kindle position 1638).


The descriptions of small town southern life on the Alabama Gulf Coast are just lovely.  They made me want to pack my bags and spend some time there!  For instance:

"The weathered cedar house was up on stilts, with a screened porch up a set of stairs. Twinkle lights were strung all along the ceiling of the porch. Down below the house, two hammocks and a wooden swing hung from the rafters. On the other side of the patio, grass stretched all the way to the water and a short dock. As she watched, a brown pelican glided to a stop and perched on top of one of the posts. She laughed. 'It doesn’t get more picturesque than this.'" (Kindle position 2939).

Safe Harbor is also a charming place, full of quirky active seniors.  The chapters are punctuated by little daily newsletters about life at Safe Harbor.  They are fun to read and sometimes have some humor too!

I highly recommend The Summer House as a perfect summer read.  It is such a lovely, relaxing book getaway!

Book Synopsis

Sometimes it takes losing everything to find yourself again.

Lily Bishop wakes up one morning to find a good-bye note and divorce papers from her husband on the kitchen counter. Having moved to Alabama for his job only weeks before, Lily is devastated, but a flyer at the grocery store for a hair stylist position in a local retirement community provides a refuge while she contemplates her next steps.

Rose Carrigan built the small retirement village of Safe Harbor years ago—just before her husband ran off with his assistant. Now she runs a tight ship, making sure the residents follow her strict rules. Rose keeps everyone at arm’s length, including her own family. But when Lily shows up asking for a job and a place to live, Rose’s cold exterior begins to thaw.

Lily and Rose form an unlikely friendship, and Lily’s salon soon becomes the place where residents share town gossip, as well as a few secrets. Lily soon finds herself drawn to Rose’s nephew, Rawlins—a single dad and shrimper who’s had some practice at starting over—and one of the residents may be carrying a torch for Rose as well.

Neither Lily nor Rose is where she expected to be, but the summer makes them both wonder if there’s more to life and love than what they’ve experienced so far. The Summer House weaves Lauren K. Denton’s inviting Southern charm around a woman’s journey to find herself.

 

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

 

Author Bio

Born and raised in Mobile, Alabama, Lauren now lives with her husband and two daughters in Homewood, just outside Birmingham. In addition to her fiction, she writes a monthly newspaper column about life, faith, and how funny (and hard) it is to be a parent. On any given day, she’d rather be at the beach with her family and a stack of books. Her debut novel, THE HIDEAWAY, was a Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Amazon Charts bestseller. Her second novel, HURRICANE SEASON, released in spring of 2018, is a USA Today bestseller. GLORY ROAD will release in March, 2019.

.

Connect with Lauren

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Book Review and Giveaway - A Spark of Romance by Jamie K. Schmidt

My Review
A Spark of Romance is a small town romance. Kayleigh Baker grew up in Mulberry and now serves as the town Fire Chief. She has a lifelong crush on the boy next door, police chief Liam MacAvoy.  They are friends who banter back and forth - although there clearly is a romantic spark.  This summer, though, there is an obstacle between them.  Kayleigh wants to host the town's annual 4th of July fireworks show in honor of her late mother.  Liam worries about the safety and cost.  As they work through this conflict, they also both want to get closer.

I wanted to read A Spark of Romance because I like small town stories and this looked like a fun, light summer read.

A Spark of Romance is a sweet, old fashioned love story.  The small town setting is very appealing.  There are some charming descriptions of the county fair, which is a big deal for this town -- pie judging, a chili cook-off, treats on the midway, and rides like the ferris wheel. 

There was also an overarching sense of neighbors helping neighbors and everyone knowing everyone else.  I found this comforting and very nice for a read this summer.

Kayleigh and Liam are so obviously perfect for each other -- and they have decades of friendship and chemistry.  They both make little missteps here and there that push the other person away.  I enjoyed the slow give and take of their courtship.

There is also some cute humor involving Kayleigh's neighbor and her very naughty husky dog.  At one point Kayleigh is cooking her first romantic dinner for Liam and the neighbor's husky, Quinn, actually climbs up on his roof!  Kayleigh has to engineer the rescue with some disastrous results (although the dog is completely safe and happy).

I recommend A Spark of Romance for fans of small town, clean romances.  It is a sweet, old fashioned story -- would make a great Hallmark movie!  It makes a fun weekend read.

Book Synopsis

Is she out of reach?

Fire Chief and former Army sergeant Kayleigh Baker is determined to save Mulberry’s annual Fourth of July fireworks display. She doesn’t want to disappoint the kids and the fireworks are a bittersweet memory of her mom’s last summer. As the town prepares for the summer parade and picnic, Kayleigh works to convince her former high school crush — now the straight-laced police chief — to help her cause.

Does he stack up?

Police Chief Liam MacAvoy doesn’t like the chaos the fireworks cause for his department and can’t hide his relief when they’re cancelled. But now he’s got the woman he’s been in love with for as long as he can remember asking for his help. How can he say no? What he’d really like is to show her that fireworks and town traditions are not the only things worth fighting for.

Can the boy next door and the town hero find the courage to finally seize their chance at love?

.

 

Purchase Links

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

 

Author Bio

USA Today bestselling author, Jamie K. Schmidt, writes contemporary love stories and paranormal romances. Her steamy, romantic comedy Life’s a Beach reached #65 on USA Today, #2 on Barnes & Noble and #9 on Amazon. Her Club Inferno series from Random House’s Loveswept line has hit both the Amazon and Barnes & Noble top one hundred lists and the first book in the series, Heat put her on the USA Today bestseller list. Her dragon paranormal romance series from Entangled Publishing, has been called “fun and quirky” and “endearing.” 

 

Connect with Jamie

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Giveaway

Win a cute 4th of July bracelet!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review - Carolina Breeze and Lake Season by Denise Hunter (Bluebell Inn Romance)

My Review of Carolina Breeze
Carolina Breeze tells the story of Mia Emerson, an actress who decides to get away from Los Angeles after she is unwittingly caught in a manufactured scandal.  She just broke up with her fiance, and ends up going on the honeymoon on her own, just as a way to escape  This takes her to Bluebell Inn in North Carolina  There she meets Levi Bennett, who is running the inn with his sisters.  Mia and Levi are both very reserved, but slowly get to know each other.  There are complications with Levi's issues running the inn and Mia's past history.

I wanted to read Carolina Breeze because I enjoyed the first book in the Bluebell Inn series, Lake Season.

This was a very enjoyable read! Levi and Mia are both a bit closed off emotionally, and the reader gets to know them slowly as they get to know each other. They are both very sympathetic characters who want connection - although they approach it cautiously.

There is a fun subplot about a long-ago missing blue diamond that may or may not be at the inn.  I enjoyed the details of the search for the diamond!

There are also subplots about Molly (the protagonist of Lake Season) and her boyfriend and Grace, the youngest sister, who wants to start a business instead of going to college.

The Bluebell Inn series is faith-based and faith is handled beautifully in the books;  characters show their faith by their actions and strength of character.

I recommend Carolina Breeze (and the earlier book, Lake Season) highly for anyone looking for an enjoyable beach read or weekend book getaway!  I already am looking forward to the next book in this series.

My Review of Lake Season
After their parents die in a tragic accident, siblings Molly, Grace, and Levi Bennett pull together to open the family inn that their parents dreamed of.  During the renovation process, Molly finds a letter that was written in 1962 and never sent;  she decides to solve a decades old mystery and contact the letter's recipient.  She is helped by a guest at the inn (and her crush).  Adam Bradford is a reclusive writer working under a pseudonym.  He is immediately drawn to Molly, but he has secrets of his own.

I wanted to read Lake Season because I love Denise Hunter's books.  They are perfect beach reads populated by characters who are so likable and realistic.

Lake Season is a wonderful start for this new book series!  I really liked Molly, who is the focus of this story - and the little glimpses of her siblings too.  Molly and Adam are an intriguing romantic pair -- starting as friends, shyly getting to know each other, and working to solve the 1960's mystery.

And the 1962 mystery!  I loved the dual storyline about Lizzie (Elizabeth) Van Buren and her star-crossed love for Ben Schwartz.  The 1960's setting is charmingly evoked, and it adds so much to the story.  I enjoyed the way readers get to learn more about the mysterious letter as Molly and Adam did.

I can't say enough about how much I enjoyed Lake Season!  I loved the characters (present day and 1960's), the romantic stories in both timelines, and the quaint North Carolina setting.  It definitely made me want to read the rest of the series.  Highly recommended for fans of women's fiction, small town romance, and dual storyline novels.

Author Bio
Denise Hunter is the internationally published bestselling author of more than 25 books, including A December Bride and The Convenient Groom, which have been adapted into original Hallmark Channel movies. She has won The Holt Medallion Award, The Reader’s Choice Award, The Carol Award, The Foreword Book of the Year Award, and is a RITA finalist. When Denise isn’t orchestrating love lives on the written page, she enjoys traveling with her family, drinking green tea, and playing drums. Denise makes her home in Indiana where she and her husband are rapidly approaching an empty nest.

Book Review and Giveaway - Dali Summer by T.J. Brown

My Review
Dali Summer is a historical novel set in 1917 Cadaques, Spain.  It is the story of Dolors Posa, a quiet, reserved librarian who is living her life with tremendous caution.  Dolors was born out of wedlock and her mother committed suicide;  her grandmother, who raised her, instilled a sense of shame in Dolors. One summer Dolors' life changes as she meets a brother and sister who are "summer people" in Cadaques. The sister is a beautiful fortune teller and the brother is handsome, mysterious, and a bit more reserved. Dolors also meets a young painter (13 years old) on the beach named Salvador Dali.

I wanted to read this novel because the setting and characters sounded unique and interesting.  I love novels that feature art history and was intrigued by the Dali character.

This is a really unusual book.  Dolors became color-blind (she only sees black, white, and gray) as the result of a childhood accident. During the summer of 1917 she begins to have visions and headaches and sees vivid colors.  This is a big part of the story.  The visions add a bit of a magical realism element to the storytelling.

Dolors is a unique character.  She has such a strong sense of decorum that she is repressed and afraid to live.  Her grandmother is a thoroughly awful person who has treated Dolors badly all her life, and Dolors still lives her life according to her grandmother's wishes.  There are a couple of other characters in this book who are highly unsympathetic and who cause harm to Dolors (I won't say more, no spoilers) and I found some of these scenes difficult to read.

It was heartening to see Dolors break free of her grandmother's grip over the summer as the result of her new friendship with the summer people and a young Dali.  I enjoyed the book more as Dolors felt more freedom to live her life and pursue her own dreams.

The sense of time and place in Dali Summer is beautifully evoked by T.J. Brown.  I could really picture the small beach town from the author's description.

Dali Summer is a novel that will interest readers who are intrigued by art history and the early life of Salvador Dali, fans of historical fiction, and anyone who wants to spend some time in 1910's coastal Spain.

Book Synopsis
Her wild and vivid visions inspire an icon…
 
Nothing is more important to prim, colorblind Dolors Posa than family and living down the shame of her illegitimate birth, but when the sudden onset of fantastical visions threaten her sterling reputation, she must search for answers before the inhabitants of the tiny village of Cadaqués brand her as demente– crazy like her mother. In a quest to stop her hallucinations, she befriends a beautiful, intoxicating fortune teller and her handsome anarchist brother, as well as becoming a reluctant muse for thirteen-year-old Salvador Dali. In a summer that changes everything, Dolors must choose between her family’s reputation and a life filled with adventure, friendship, rapturous color and the possibility of love.
 
Set against the political upheaval of 1917 Spain, Dali Summer captures the fierce spirit of Catalonia, the generosity and stubbornness of its people and the blossoming promise of a woman who thought life was bland and empty and had long ago had passed her by.

 

Purchase Links

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

Author Bio
Well behaved women rarely make history. Teri Brown lived that quote way before she ever even heard it. The two things she is most proud of, (besides her children), is that she jumped out of an airplane once and she beat the original Legend of Zelda video game. She is a novel writer, head banger, pet keeper, math hater, cocktail drinker, booty shaker, book reader, city slicker, food fixer, French kisser, rule breaker, wine sipper and word scribbler. She loves her husband, kitties and chocolate.
 
Find out more about Teri at her website, and connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.


Giveaway 
One lucky reader will win a copy of Dali Summer (your choice - print or eBook).  The winner will be chosen to Rafflecopter entry (see below).  Giveaway ends midnight, 5/21.  The winner will be notified by email and needs to respond within 48 hours or a new name will be drawn.  Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review and Giveaway - Fierce, Free, and Full of Fire by Jen Hatmaker

My Review
Fierce, Free and Full of Fire is an inspirational self help book about finding (or rediscovering) your true self.

I wanted to read this book because the description was very appealing. I tend to be a people-pleaser and liked that this book addresses that.  I also liked the emphasis on choosing your own path.

Fierce, Free and Full of Fire is divided into five sections:

Who I Am
What I Need
What I Want
What I Believe
How I Connect

The book starts out with an instantly relateable sentence:  "I grew up around well-behaved women." The author then goes on to explain how being well behaved and people pleasing often subverts our own goals and plans.  She writes:

"Understanding and embracing who we are, how we've been created, is the launching pad for living a fearlessly genuine life, where we're no longer pretending or trying to be something other than what we are on the inside" (Kindle location 133).

She talks about labels that we all have -- sometimes from parents, or teachers, or even from ourselves in the past.  I found this a very eye opening discussion.  I think we all (and most especially women) have some of these labels.

I found the idea of seeking our authentic self and doing what we really want to - our goals, our plans - very exciting and liberating.

I especially loved some of her writing about dealing with other people.  "I Want To Connect Without Drama" was something I really related to and appreciated.

I recommend Fierce, Free, and Full of Fire to anyone who is looking for a fresh, unique Christian self help book about living an authentic life and choosing your own dream.

The author has a fresh, sassy voice.  This is my first book by Jen Hatfield, but she has a unique style that makes for a compelling, thoughtful, and fun read!

Book Synopsis

New York Times bestselling author Jen Hatmaker, with cheeky candor and fearlessness, guides readers to a deep dive into how they are wired and provides them with the tools to walk in that identity with freedom and guts.

Stuck in people-pleasing or fear, many women hide and pretend, then end up sidelined in their own lives. But what they want is to be brave, to claim every gift, dream, quirk, and emotion inside, to stop performing and start living.

Beloved New York Times bestselling author Jen Hatmaker understands the struggle to find firm footing in a culture that operates from stereotypes and often unreachable expectations. In this new book, she offers women encouragement, challenge, and humor as she helps them identify everything that makes them tick and gain the confidence to live it all out. She leads them through five self-reflective categories—who I am, what I need, what I want, what I believe, and how I connect—and helps them:

• identify the exact ways they pretend, and learn instead how to be genuine at all times, in all ways, in all contexts;
• be empowered to say yes and no without guilt;
• learn to voice both their spiritual questions and convictions; and
• opt out of drama and into healthy adult relationships.

With wry humor, earnest passion, and been-there insight, Jen calls women to the life-giving freedom of leaning into the identity, convictions, and community they’ve been given.

Purchase Links

Amazon |Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble | Thomas Nelson

Author Bio

Jen Hatmaker is the author of the New York Times bestseller Of Mess and Moxie (plus twelve other books) and the host of the For the Love! with Jen Hatmaker podcast. She and her husband, Brandon, founded the Legacy Collective and also starred in the popular series My Big Family Renovation on HGTV. Jen is a mom to five, a sought-after speaker, and a delighted resident of Austin, Texas, where she and her family are helping keep Austin weird.

Connect with Jen

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Giveaway

Two lucky winners will win a copy of Fierce, Free and Full of Fire. Enter through the Rafflecopter form (below). The giveaway ends at midnight May 7. Winners will be contacted by email and need to respond within 48 hours, or another winner will be chosen. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review - Simon the Fiddler by Paulette Jiles

My Review
Simon the Fiddler begins in Texas in 1865.  Simon Boudlin is a fiddler who ends up being conscripted in the Civil War just before it ends.  He plays in a regimental band, and at one of the performances he glimpses an Irish governess who works for one of the military officers.  He falls in love with Doris Mary Dillon at first sight and determines to marry her.  When the war ends Simon makes a band with other musicians, and they travel through Texas.  He never loses sight of his dream though, and this novel is about his journey.

I wanted to read this book because I found the idea of a traveling musician post-Civil War fascinating.  Although I live in the deep south, I have read surprisingly few novels set during the Civil War and this sparked my curiosity.

The book starts at a leisurely pace with an introduction to Simon and his life as a young man and as a musician.  I found it picked up pace after he first saw Doris.  Their courtship - through letters, and at a stop and start pace  because of her status as an indentured servant for a wealthy family - is what makes the book come to life for me.

I also loved the details about music, the descriptions of songs Simon and the musicians played, with old fashioned lyrics and accounts of their performances.  The little ragtag band has adventures as they travel and play - some humorous and some heartbreaking. 

This is such a beautifully written book with passages that read like poetry.  For instance:

"Simon had seen many mezzotints of shipwrecked soldiers on rafts amid the mighty billows being tossed upon the stormy main, and he had imagined ocean waves as perpetually cone-shaped.  It seemed to him the waves would then arrive at a given shore as a collection of triangles.  Then they would fall flat on their faces, dissolve, and their place would be taken by yet another rush of water, et cetera.  Spiky.  He had imagined waves as spiky water.  But what he saw were long rolling terraces of blue water that rose and fell into sparkling foam in hushing sounds, over and over.  They had no end.  He could have watched forever" (pp. 49 - 50).

The story becomes an adventure the latter third of the book as Simon tries to set his plans in motion despite the danger this puts both he and Doris in.  After the sometimes languorous earlier storytelling, I found I couldn't put the book down because I wanted to know what happened with Simon and Doris.

I found Simon the Fiddler to be an unusual book because of the poetic language and the storytelling that was almost like an American fairy tale.  Once I got used to the pacing, it was very appealing and engrossing -- and a journey I would recommend to other readers who enjoy historical fiction (and especially a Civil War setting).

Book Synopsis
The critically acclaimed, bestselling author of News of the World and Enemy Women returns to Texas in this atmospheric story, set at the end of the Civil War, about an itinerant fiddle player, a ragtag band of musicians with whom he travels trying to make a living, and the charming young Irish lass who steals his heart.

In March 1865, the long and bitter War between the States is winding down. Till now, twenty-three-year-old Simon Boudlin has evaded military duty thanks to his slight stature, youthful appearance, and utter lack of compunction about bending the truth. But following a barroom brawl in Victoria, Texas, Simon finds himself conscripted, however belatedly, into the Confederate Army. Luckily his talent with a fiddle gets him a comparatively easy position in a regimental band.

Weeks later, on the eve of the Confederate surrender, Simon and his bandmates are called to play for officers and their families from both sides of the conflict. There the quick-thinking, audacious fiddler can’t help but notice the lovely Doris Mary Dillon, an indentured girl from Ireland, who is governess to a Union colonel’s daughter.

After the surrender, Simon and Doris go their separate ways. He will travel around Texas seeking fame and fortune as a musician. She must accompany the colonel’s family to finish her three years of service. But Simon cannot forget the fair Irish maiden, and vows that someday he will find her again.

Incandescent in its beauty, told in Paulette Jiles’s trademark spare yet lilting style, Simon the Fiddler is a captivating, bittersweet tale of the chances a devoted man will take, and the lengths he will go to fulfill his heart’s yearning.

Purchase Links

HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Author Bio
Paulette Jiles is a novelist, poet, and memoirist. She is the author of Cousins, a memoir, and the novels Enemy Women, Stormy Weather, The Color of Lightning, Lighthouse Island, and News of the World, which was a finalist for the 2016 National Book Award. She lives on a ranch near San Antonio, Texas.

Find out more about Paulette at her website.

I received a copy of this book from HarperCollins and TLC Book Tours.