Book Review - Hatteras Girl by Alice J. Wisler

At the beginning of the year, I resolved to do my best to post at least one book review a week. I had a stack of books I had promised to review for publishers and friends. I felt very bad seeing this stack of books, knowing that I loved to read, but was not accomplishing what I said I would. So this year, I made a RESOLUTION! Resolved: To read and post one book review a week.

The first two books went quickly and easily. I finished last week's on Monday. It was great. That left me a whole week to re-read a book by one of my favorite authors, Lori Wick, and still complete my book review book. I read my Lori Wick book and started my book review book. After a few chapters, I picked up the next book in my Lori Wick series, The Californians, and finished that one. Then I read a few more chapters in my book review book, and picked up the next book in the Lori Wick series, and the next. Then I realized I really needed to get my book review book done, so I picked it up and pushed through to finish it.

Hatteras Girl is centered on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The main premise of the story is about a single Korean-American girl who has two dreams. One to be married, and one to be the owner of The Bailey House with her best friend, Minnie. Both were childhood dreams, and it looked like they were going to come true and be intertwined. What more could a girl want?

Well, for starters, a girl might want a main character who put a little more thought into her life. While Jackie Donovan (a good Korean name) is very easy to relate to, she seems a little shallow. There does not seem to be a lot of depth to her, except when it comes to Bailey House, but even then it's still not that deep. You are left to assume she has a relationship with God by the fact that she goes to church and there is one page where she and her good friend, Buck, talk about God. Other than that, she seems to leave God out of every decision.

There are other parts of the book that are fairly predictable. I figured out who she would end up with early in the story, even though they never really had but one time of really close interaction. The plot itself had a lot of holes in it for me. We never really got below the surface of anything. Even when she ended up with her man, it was a little unexciting for me.

All this to say, I really didn't hate the book. I am still not a great fan of first-person stories, and this one was a prime example, but I found myself liking the character if I did want to yell at her a couple of times. I was very intrigued by her roommate, and would love to see a story about Minnie and her young son, Zane, as they heal from the loss of Minnie's husband and find life and joy again. I thought the book had a lot of potential, I just wished that it had more depth to it.

All in all, I think Ms. Wisler shows promise and will definitely follow her to see how she grows in further books.

This book was provided to me for review by Bethany House Publishers.

Book Review - A Rush of Wings by Kristen Heitzmann

Twenty-three-year-old New York socialite, Noelle St. Claire is running. From who or what she's not sure. All she sees are images here and there, but she knows she needs to hide to be safe. As her father and fiancee' wait back home, will she find the answers she needs at the ranch nestled in the Colorado Rockies? Will she find the safety and love that she desires?

Then there's Rick Spencer, the owner of the ranch where Noelle St. Claire ends up. Can he break through her shell to help her find God and see that only He can heal her hurt? Will his faith stand up to everything that is coming?

It is very rare for a book to grab my attention from the very first page, but the flight of Noelle St. Claire did just that. Kristen Heitzmann is a master of descriptive phrases and leaves nothing out in any of her settings. The characters were well developed, letting you into their lives quite easily. There were a couple of scenes where I thought the characters went a little quickly into the situations, but all-in-all it was a very-well told story. I look forward to following one of the secondary characters, Morgan, in his book, "The Still of the Night".

This book was provided for review by Bethany House Publishers.

Book Review - Amy Inspired by Bethany Pierce

With rejections piling up, she could use just a little INSPIRATION...

Amy Inspired could almost be described as a coming of age novel except the main character is 30 years old. Amy Gallagher is a 30-year-old College Professor who teaches Freshman English and Creative Writing at a small college in Ohio to support herself while she pursues her real passion, writing. With an eccentric roommate, off-the-wall professor friends, and a love-sick freshman surrounding Miss Gallagher the story will make you smile and at times just shake your head.

Amy is forced to examine her past to see how it affects her present circumstances and future decisions. She learns that maturing means adding experiences not changing who you are. Bethany Pierce does a wonderful job of weaving this story. It took me a couple of chapters to actually get into the story, but give yourself some time and let the characters come alive. After reading the author's notes at the end, I wonder how much of this story is actually autobiographical.

All in all, this was a good solid book with good characters.

This book was provided for review by Bethany House Publishers.

Book Review - Beguiled by DeeAnne Gist & J. Mark Bertrand

From the picture on the front cover, I thought I was getting ready to read a story set in the 1920's or 1930's set in Charleston. I know, I know, if only I had read the back cover, I would have known, but very rarely do I read back covers preferring rather to be surprised by the story. Surprised is a pretty accurate term when I started reading about Rylee Monroe as she unclipped a leash from a dog collar. Wait, this story is about a dog walker? Did they have dog walkers in the 1920's. As I kept reading, my dog walker had roller blades, so I finally figured out it was set in present day.

The story is set in a wealthy neighborhood in Charleston, South Carolina. Rylee Monroe is a sweet, caring dogwalker who's only ambition is to make sure the needs of her ailing grandmother are met. She surrounds herself with her family of dogs and is quite content until she becomes unintentionally involved in a string of robberies committed by an unusual burglar. Who the burglar is and why he/she is doing what they're doing is the premise of the book, and just where does the mysterious newspaper reporter, Logan Woods fit into the whole picture.

I must say that this book had me guessing a couple of times, which is a good thing and most books are not able to do. I have to say, though, my favorite part of the book was the Authors' note at the end. It was very charming and actually made me want to visit Charleston even more than the book did.

I would highly recommend this book. I am looking forward to reading more books from each of these authors individually and hope they will collaborate again.

This book was provided to me to review by Bethany House Publishers.

Book Review - Never Say Never by Lisa Wingate

I opened this book to the first page, read the first sentence, and said to myself, "Oh no, it's a first person book". I've said this before, but I really don't like books written in first person because most of the time the way the character is acting or reacting is against my personality or character and I just get so frustrated. I end up wanting to beat the main character in the book. However, this is a book given to me to review so I push through to Chapter 2 and...

"Oh rats, there's two main characters." That's it, I basically told myself to give up because not only was the book written in first person, but there were two main characters who were so totally opposite of me that I knew I was going to hate this book.

I love surprises! Ok, no, I don't really, but that's an entirely different subject. This book actually surprised me. I found myself slowly, but surely getting drawn in to the characters. There were a couple of slow parts where I really found myself wondering did I need this much detail, but it turned out in the end, I did.

The story follows two characters, an older southern belle from Daily, TX, Donnetta, on her way to take a cruise with her two friends, and Kai, a drifter who has never put down roots in one place too long, a trait she got from her daddy. There are twists and turns as these ladies attempt to outrun a hurricane, meet up with some good ol' Cajuns from the Texas bayou (which I didn't even know there were any bayous in Texas), and then try to rebuild after the storm.

I also liked the way the author through in a free lesson about telling those you love how much they mean to you on a daily basis. That was unexpected, but we can all use that reminder.

All-in-all, I would be happy to recommend this book to any of my friends and welcome the opportunity to read more books by Lisa Wingate.

This book was provided to me for review by Bethany House.

Book Review - Not a Sparrow Falls by Linda Nichols

Have you ever wished you could run away from your past? Have you wanted to hide out and just pray that it never finds you? Mary Bridget Washburn needed desperately to get out of the life she was currently living, but can you really reinvent yourself when you're on the wrong side of the law? Once given the opportunity, will she be brave enough to take it and do what must be done? Can God really use someone with her past to heal the hurts of a family in crisis?

Not too far away is a father who is caught between secrets from his past and a congregation that is divided in whether he should be their pastor; a daughter at the beginning of her teen years, who is scared and desperately wants someone, anyone to show they care; and twin babies who just need someone to love and care for them.

This book is a powerful reminder of the power of intercessory prayer, God's grace and mercy, and the way God can use his people if we'll just get out of His way. Linda Nichols seamlessly weaves all these truths throughout this book. You will find your heart racing as Mary runs for her life, pray with the intercessors when Satan is trying his best to wreak havoc in different situations, cry when they cry, and laugh when they laugh.

Not a Sparrow Falls will warm your heart in many ways, and leave you wanting more.

This book was provided to me by Bethany House Book Reviewers.

The Power of Respect by Deborah Norville

The concept of this book is fantastic. If you want to go farther in life, get along with people, harmony in your home, remembering to respect those around you will go along way. Remembering that the woman checking you out at the grocery store is a person just like you, more than likely, with the same problems that you have will go a long way to helping you show respect and making her day, and yours, go a lot smoother. This principle is true in every facet of any relationship you have no matter how small or insignificant or how great and dynamic. This is a concept that has definitely gone by the wayside for many people. In today's society there are only a handful of people that are willing to remember there are others around them that are just as important as they are.

My only complaint about this book is that the author, very eloquently said it all in the first chapter or two. Every other chapter was the same concept presented in a slightly different way, but ultimately saying the same thing. It has taken me almost 9 months to muddle my way through and I actually couldn't bring myself to finish it. I felt like I was literally beating my head against a wall hearing the same thing over and over.

If you have not heard this concept before, you might thoroughly enjoy this book, but for those who practice respect on a daily basis, it will probably not be anything new.