Cynthia Marcano's Blog, page 6

Beyond The Ashes by Karen Barnett

Beyond The Ashes
Author - Karen Barnett
Rating - 2.5 out of 5 Stars
Would I Recommend: Not ReallyBack Cover...
Where better to rebuild and face one’s fears than in 1906 San Francisco, a city rising from the ashes? Ruby Marshall, a young widow, is certain she’ll discover new purpose assisting her brother Robert with his cancer research, but she doesn’t anticipate finding new love. Dr. Gerald Larkspur dreams of filling his empty home with family, but he’d always hoped it would be a wife and children. In the aftermath of the great earthquake, the rooms are overflowing with extended family and friends left homeless by the disaster. When Robert’s widowed sister arrives, the close quarters seem close indeed. Ruby and Gerald’s fledgling romance is put at risk when Gerald develops symptoms of the very disease they’re striving to cure. Together they must ask—is it worth a second chance at love when time might be short?

What I Loved...Most of the books I read have a strapping, manly hero and that isn't a complaint! I love me a brooding, flirty, fierce and strong hero. But every now and then and if written the right away, a "Nerdy" hero can make me love a book. Such is the case with Dr. Gerald Larkspur. Let me clarify a bit. He isn't the clumsy, bumbling, fool kind of a nerd. Nope, he is a smart, not quite so flirty, a little of unsure of himself but not necessarily shy, but loving hero and my favorite character from Beyond The Ashes. A Dr. McDreamy if you will.

What I Liked...The family dynamic of Beyond The Ashes is quite sweet and funny. A house full of women, is always a riot and or dramatic. Either way, it makes for good reading.
Liked

Other...Ruby Marshall if the heroine of this book. I have found that no matter how much I can like every other aspect of a book, if I am not fond of the heroine, I end up not being too fond of the book as a whole. Such is the case with Beyond The Ashes. Couple that with the fact that I didn't read the first book in the series, although this is a stand alone book, I didn't come into the series loving the characters. I would like to hpe that I having read Out Of The Ruins , that perhaps I would have liked this book better. As it stands, I am not a fan of Beyond The Ashes.


Disclaimer: This book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley. The opinion of this book, is my own and I was not paid or compensated for for my review.

A Worthy Pursuit by Karen Witemeyer

A Worthy Pursuit
Author -Karen Witemeyer
Rating - 5 out of 5 Stars
Would I Recommend: Yep!

Also Available at Christianbook.com
Back Cover...Stone Hammond is the best tracker in Texas. He never comes home empty-handed. So when a wealthy railroad investor hires him to find his abducted granddaughter, Stone eagerly accepts.

Charlotte Atherton, former headmistress of Sullivan’s Academy for Exceptional Youths, will do anything to keep her charges safe, especially the little girl entrusted to her care after her mother’s death. Charlotte promised Lily’s mother she’d keep the girl away from her unscrupulous grandfather, and nothing will stop Charlotte from fulfilling that pledge. Not even the handsome bounty hunter with surprisingly honest eyes who comes looking for them.

When the teacher he’s after produces documentation that shows she’s the little girl’s legal guardian, Stone must reevaluate everything he’s been led to believe. Is Miss Atherton villain or victim? She acts more like a loving mother than an abductress, and the children in her care clearly adore her. Should Stone break his perfect record?

Then a new danger threatens, and Charlotte is forced to trust the man sent to destroy her. Stone becomes determined to protect what he once sought to tear apart. Besides, he’s ready to start a new pursuit: winning Charlotte’s heart.

What I Loved...Stone. Stone. Stone. From the moment I read that the male centered character was named Stone, I knew I would love this book and Karen Witemeyer didn't disappoint. He is a wonderfully and well written character. Charm, wit, smarts and all man. Love it!

Romance, a bit of action and comedy are what I have come to expect and love from Witemeyer and I am always satisfied. If you have never read any of her books, you better hurry and start. She is consistently good and this book is right up there with all of her others, which means you have a lot of catching up to do.What I Liked...The gifted children in the book (the students of main character Charlotte) were a great addition to the plot. Extraordiarily talented children are rare in Christian Fiction books from this era. Nice and lovely surprise. I can't help but wonder if Karen plays the piano herself. She describes the emotions of a piano player getting lost in the music so vividly as one who has experienced it herself.

Other...The cover is cute, as is all of her covers, except I didn't picture Charlotte that way at all and I imagined Stone a larger man than the one covered. However, this is a must read for all Christian Fiction lovers or newcomers.


Disclaimer: This book was provided by the publisher through Netgalley. The opinion of this book, is my own and I was not paid or compensated for for my review.

Review: A Love Like Ours by Becky Wade

A Love Like Ours
Author - Becky Wade
Rating - 4.5 out of 5 Stars
Would I Recommend: Yep!Back Cover...Former Marine Jake Porter has far deeper scars than the one that marks his face. He struggles with symptoms of PTSD, lives a solitary life, and avoids relationships.

When Lyndie James, Jake’s childhood best friend, lands back in Holley, Texas, Jake cautiously hires her to exercise his Thoroughbreds. Lyndie is tender-hearted, fiercely determined, and afraid of nothing, just like she was as a child. Jake pairs her with Silver Leaf, a horse full of promise but lacking in results, hoping she can solve the mystery of the stallion’s reluctance to run.

Though Jake and Lyndie have grown into very different adults, the bond that existed during their childhood still ties them together. Against Jake’s will, Lyndie’s sparkling, optimistic personality begins to tear down the walls he’s built around his heart. A glimmer of the hope he’d thought he’d lost returns, but fears and regrets still plague him. Will Jake ever be able to love Lyndie like she deserves, or is his heart too shattered to mend?

What I Loved...I was super excited to read A Love Like Ours because I am a big fan of the Porter Brothers and I couldn't wait to read Jake's story.

While I am partial to the flirty hero who turns into a hopeless romantic for one woman, I loved Jake Porter's brooding character. I have seen the brooding character done more times than I can count, but Jake's character was written very well. He had a genuine purpose for being a brooding hero as opposed to many other characters who are deep and distant just for the sake of it.

Ty and Celia made an appearance! Yay...Meant To Be Mine is still my fave Becky Wade, but A Love Like Ours is second.What I Liked...Lyndie wasn't what I expected. I expected her to be a more upbeat and playful character but I found that wasn't the case, but I liked her nevertheless. The horse ranch setting was cute and I could totally picture them watching and riding horses. Whispering Creek ranch became more real to me in A Love Like Ours than it had been in Undeniable Yours.

Other...I follow Becky Wade's blog and facebook page so to see all of the covers for the book was fun. The one she chose was my favorite.

I didn't give this book five stars because I didn't particularly care for Lyndie's character believing that her sister with CP (I think) had a healing power. Not that it isn't possible, Becky just didn't do a good enough job of convincing me that her character had that effect on anyone. I felt that part of the story was left wanting.

I am hoping that Becky is adding one more boo to this collection with Porter Sister Dru's story! Pretty Please!


Disclaimer: This book was provided by the publisher through Bethany House Publishers & Netgalley. The opinion of this book, is my own and I was not paid or compensated for for my review.

Review: The Creole Princess by Beth White

The Creole Princess
Author - Beth White
Rating - 4.5 out of 5 Stars
Would I Recommend: Yes
On Sale Today at Christianbook.com for $9.99 Back Cover...All along the eastern seaboard, the American struggle for independence rages. In the British-held southern port of Mobile, Alabama, the conflict brewing is quieter--though no less deadly. The lovely Frenchwoman Lyse Lanier is best friends with the daughter of the British commander. Rafael Gonzalez is a charming young Spanish merchant with a secret mission and a shipment of gold to support General Washington. As their paths cross and their destinies become increasingly tangled, Lyse and Rafael must decide where their true loyalties lie--and somehow keep Lyse's family from being executed as traitors to the British Crown.

What I Loved...My favorite kind of hero in a book is a flirty, cool kind of guy. I always seem to love those books the best. Rafi is that kind of hero and I just loved his character! Plus he is Spanish! He is my first Spanish male hero and I was so excited about it. I am so happy to say that his character didn't disppoint.

As I have mentioned many times before, I love history so a book with lots of swoony bits that incorporates real history is always a great read for me. Loved all of the history. Learned lots of new things.

What I Liked...Lyse, the heroine, was a likable character and I could picture her clearly barefoot and in all of her splendor as well. She is a well written character that grows as the story progresses. I enjoyed reading her character.

Other...The cover is stunning, although I didn't quite picture Lyse that way.  The book covers the era of history when The colonies are fighting for freedom from England and includes points of view from the Spanish in the Florida area, the French in the New Orleans area, the British loyalists and American Colonists as well as slaves.

The book packs a punch of both love and history and I truly enjoyed it. I would definitely read Beth White again.


Disclaimer: This book was provided by the publisher through Netgalley. The opinion of this book, is my own and I was not paid or compensated for for my review.

Review: After A Fashion by Jen Turano

After A Fashion
Author - Jen Turano
Rating - 5 out of 5 Stars
Would I Recommend: YES!!!Back Cover...Miss Harriet Peabody dreams of the day she can open up a shop selling refashioned gowns to independent working women like herself. Unfortunately, when an errand for her millinery shop job goes sadly awry due to a difficult customer, she finds herself out of an income.

Mr. Oliver Addleshaw is on the verge of his biggest business deal yet when he learns his potential partner prefers to deal with men who are settled down and wed. When Oliver witnesses his ex not-quite-fiance cause the hapless Harriet to lose her job, he tries to make it up to her by enlisting her help in making a good impression on his business partner.

Harriet quickly finds her love of fashion can't make her fashionable. She'll never truly fit into Oliver's world, but just as she's ready to call off the fake relationship, fancy dinners, and elegant balls, a threat from her past forces both Oliver and Harriet to discover that love can come in the most surprising packages.

What I Loved...After A Fashion is the reason I will read 10 good books in search of one great book. After A Fashion is one great book. I am a fan of Jen Turano and if you are too, After A Fashion won't disappoint.

Harriet is my kind of heroine. She knows what she wants and takes us along with her on a romantic, hilarious and faith filled journey to get it.


What I Liked...Oliver isn't my favorite Turano hero, but I liked him alot. He is a mix of confidence, trouble, romance and no nonsense.


Other...LOVE LOVE LOVE the cover. In fact, it is my favorite Turano cover.

While I most certainly loved this book, I did want to mention that I found a few bits of the plot obvious and as soon as I read it, I knew what was going to happen later on. I like surprise and knowing what to expect can make a book drag on and boring to read. However there was enough really other good stuff going on with characters and the plot to make me think of it as a minor annoyance rather than a huge nuisance.

I am most anxiously anticipating the next book in the series.


Disclaimer: This book was provided by the publisher through Netgalley Book Publishers. The opinion of this book, is my own and I was not paid or compensated for for my review.

Review: Betting On Hope by Debra Clopton

Betting On Hope
Author - Debra Clopton
Rating - 4 out of 5 Stars
Would I Recommend: Probably Back Cover...In Wishing Springs, Maggie finds what she has always been looking for: a community and a home. But when her past catches up to her, it threatens everything, even the tender hope that this town holds all of her heart's desires.
What I Loved...There are tons of cowboy books and I mean tons on the market and as a reviewer I get really excited when I read one that has everything I love (Christian perspective and values, a swoon worthy hero, and some laughs) AND a unique plot. I am very happy to say Betting On Hope is all of that.

What I Liked...I really like Maggie, the heroine....

WARNING SPOILER...
I really liked that she was not a goody two shoes and has a past with a very messed up family.
END OF SPOILER

Other...I like the cover although I pictured Tru much more handsome than the cute guy pictured. Although Betting On Hope has all of the ingredients needed for me to absolutely love a book, I found the book missing that special something that I can't quite put my finger. I didn't have that warm fuzzy feeling when I finished reading the book.

I wasn't too fond of the ending. I felt it lacked and can only suspect that we are going to see more of Maggie and Tru is the second book of the series, but I would have still liked a better wrap up to their story.


Disclaimer: This book was provided by the publisher through Netgalley. The opinion of this book, is my own and I was not paid or compensated for for my review.

Review: My Keepsake Bible by Sally Ann Wright

My Keepsake Bible
Author - Sally Ann Wright
Rating - 4.5 out of 5 Stars
Would I Recommend: YesBack Cover...My Keepsake Bible" combines baby records, family history, and Bible stories. The padded hardcover book is the perfect gift for a new baby and the ideal way to begin to teach the little one God's story. Children will learn early that their family's story is a part of God's story.Full-color, adorable art complements these stories, prayers, and places to record baby and family info. It's a memory book and a Bible story book in one.

What I Loved...Although the book is only 144 pages, it packs lots of biblical accounts within the 144 pages. It also contains scripture infused prayers between the accounts. A great teaching tool for children to begin to learn to pray.

The beginning pages of the bible contain space to add lots of information like a family tree, birth statistics and milestones.

What I Liked...The font of the book is adorable and is reminiscent of font used on scrolls with a modern twist. No fancy letters, but instead eye pleasing while easy to read.

The front is cover of the book is a soft plush cover with a durable gloss cover that is sure to survive some toddler use.

Other...The back cover is not soft but hard cover which I am not too fond of. I would have preferred soft cover all around or hard cover all around. It just feels weird.

The inside pages are a heavier paper. However, I would not recommend this book for toddlers to read alone. They can probably easy rip the pages. This definitely is meant for a early school aged child (1st grade).

When I first saw the artwork I was not too fond of it, but it did grow on me. I can easily picture my children trying to replicate the drawings. They appear so simple with easy lines yet so full of life. Having said that I am not sure that children would actually like the images. With such high tech graphic cartoons these days, simplistic yet beautiful may not resonate with today's children.

I did ask my seven year old and he said they were beautiful drawings. However, he doesn't use that word too often and now I am only left wondering whether he was saying what he thought I wanted to hear. God bless him...lol.

Disclaimer: This book was provided by the publisher through Tyndale. The opinion of this book, is my own and I was not paid or compensated for for my review.

Review: Paper Hearts by Courtney Walsh

Paper Hearts
Author - Courtney Walsh
Rating - 4 out of 5 Stars
Would I Recommend: Yes Back Cover...Abigail Pressman would never have guessed that love notes penned on paper hearts by an anonymous couple could restore her belief in love. As a business owner in a quaint town at the base of the Rockies, she's poured everything into dreams of expansion . . . and resisting the matchmaking efforts of the Valentine Volunteers, who gather in her store to continue Loves Park's tradition of stamping mail with the city's romantic postmark.When Abigail is unwillingly drafted into the Volunteers, she encounters the paper hearts, a distraction that couldn't come at a worse time. A hard-to-read doctor has become Abigail's new landlord, and he's threatening to end her lease to expand his practice.As she fights a growing attraction to this handsome man crushing her dreams, Abigail is inspired to string the hearts in her store, sparking a citywide infatuation with the artsy trend. But when a new batch of hearts reaches the Volunteers, it appears something tragic has happened to the couple. Will uncovering their story confirm Abigail's doubts about love, or could it rescue her dreams . . . and her heart?

What I Loved...The paper hearts in the story is very unique and I really liked it. Its refreshing to read some unique when you read lots of books in the same genre. Kudos to Courtney. The Valentine Volunteers was cute too!

What I Liked...I liked the darker side of the main hero Jacob. Often times the heros are goody goody and not realistic. Not that that is bad, its just good to read a different side to an already well written characters.

I liked the heroine Abigail too. She seemed to normal and real to me. Like someone I could know. Her little quirks were genuine and not forced. She wasn't an over the top kind of character that can sometimes take over the story. That kind of makes her sound boring, but she wasn't. She was real. That is exactly how she should have been written for this book.

Other...So the cover caught my attention immediately. I love the paper hearts and the store fronts, BUT the characters on the cover (even from behind) just don't match my characters at all. In fact, I think in my head the characters don't even look like what she describes...lol. My imagination truly did run away...

The older ladies in the story are a hoot, especially Ursula. I think a prequel of her story would be really fun!

Paper Hearts started out really slow but does pick up so hang in there if you feel like its taking a while to get going. I think the book kind of left some things unresolved and hope that there is are some future books to clear up the very minor things. They really are minor but I just can't help feel incomplete.

Here is how I imagined Abigail...I think its how she describes the shape of her face. Warning: She has big blues not browns and I think she may be naturally blonde...\




Disclaimer: This book was provided by the publisher through Tyndale Book Publishers. The opinion of this book, is my own and I was not paid or compensated for for my review.

Review: Like A Flower In Bloom by Siri Mitchell

Like A Flower In Bloom
Author - Siri Mitchell
Rating - 4 out of 5 Stars
Would I Recommend: ProbablyBack Cover...For years Charlotte Withersby has worked as an assistant to her father, an eminent English botanist. As she approaches the old age of twenty-four, her father pushes her out into society, swayed by an uncle who believes God's only two roles for women are marriage and motherhood. When one of the Withersbys' colonial correspondents, Edward Trimble, returns to England, he's drafted as the new assistant so Charlotte is free to marry. This suits Edward's plans quite well, since the last thing he wants to do is reunite with the family he is ashamed to call his own.

Though Edward proves himself vexingly capable on the job, Charlotte won't surrender the job without a fight, and schemes with her best friend to regain her position.
What I Loved...The character of Charlotte is brilliant. Truly loved her. She is absolutely hilarious and a very fun read.

What I Liked...I really felt like I was walking into society with Charlotte. Siri Mitchell did a great job of making me feel like I could have been Charlotte entering society...clueless. I also liked the relationship between Charlotte and her society friend. It was refreshing and realistic, not catty or too stuffy.

Other...I love the cover of the book and that is exactly how I pictured Charlotte. All in all the book was well written. In retrospect I am amazed how the plot went along so well with all kinds of troubles and no real villain.

The only thing that I would have liked more, was extra romance between the hero and heroine. There was some, but I need lots more. It's just my personal preference.

If however you like strong female leads, light romance, lots of hilarity and history woven in (which I do) than this book is perfect for you.

4 out of 5 Stars for me!

Disclaimer: This book was provided by the publisher through Netgalley. The opinion of this book, is my own and I was not paid or compensated for for my review.

Review: A Steadfast Heart by Tracie Peterson

A Steadfast Heart
Author - Tracie Peterson
Rating - 3.5 out of 5 Stars
Would I Recommend: Not sureBack Cover...Lenore Fulcher isn't pretentious despite her spoiled upbringing. Her deepest desire at the age of twenty is to find true love. However, her father believes she's wasted enough time searching for a suitable husband, and he wants to marry her off to one of his business partners--thirty-seven-year-old James Rybus. But the idea of marriage to a man so much older is out of the question for Lenore.

Kolbein Booth, a lawyer from Chicago, arrives in Seattle looking for his headstrong sister who he believes may have answered an advertisement for mail-order brides. Sick with worry, he storms the Madison Bridal School, demanding to see his sister, only to learn she isn't there. But Lenore Fulcher is, and something about her captures his attention.

Is this the man Lenore has been searching for? She may not have long to find out...

What I Loved...The character of Abrianna was refreshing and fun to read. Loved her!

What I Liked...I have recently read another book that takes place near Seattle in the same time period where the men are buying wives etc, etc, etc... I had never heard of this before and in the span of two weeks I came across two books that have a similar background for its plot. Steadfast Heart took a completely different approach than A Bride In The Bargain by Deeanne Gist which I was very happy with. I liked ABITB by Gist and feared that reading a very similar story would have been boring so close together, but I was able to read it without any further coincidence in the plot.

Other...I wasn't too fond of the cover. She looks sort of depressed. Anyway, I actually only gave this book 3.5 stars because the first half of the book contains more of the character Abrianna than it did Lenore. Actually the whole book does. I was bored reading about Lenore. At one point I thought the back cover was wrong and Kolbien and Abrianna were the main characters.

I would recommend the book because I truly enjoyed Abrianna's story that has yet to continue in the next book. I feel a little manipulated cheated.  This book is supposed to center around Lenore and Kolbien and it actually didn't and most of the time was an afterthought. I feel like Peterson couldn't deliver two fantastic storylines at the same time. Lenore and Kolbien's story was boring, unfulfilling, unromantic (if that is a word) and just a filler for Abrianna's story.


My Character Images...
Abrianna

Disclaimer: This book was provided by the publisher through Netgalley. The opinion of this book, is my own and I was not paid or compensated for for my review.