Cynthia Marcano's Blog, page 8

Review: The Covered Deep & Giveaway

The Covered Deep Weekend Join me this weekend as Christian Fiction Addict Blog helps introduce a new Christian Fiction author...award winning author Brandy Vallance. Reviews, Interviews & Giveaways. Friday - Review & Giveaway BeginsSaturday - Author Brandy Vallance Interview & Giveaway Continues
Sunday - Bianca Marshal (Book Heroine) Interview & Giveaway Continues

The Covered Deep
Author - Brandy Vallance
Time It Took for to Read - 2 Days
Rating - 4.5 out of 5 Stars
Would I Recommend: Yes!Bianca Marshal is holding out for the perfect husband. Finding a man that meets the requirements of her must-have list in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains has proven impossible. Bianca s mama insists that there s no such thing as a perfect true love, and that Bianca s ideal man is pure fiction. On the eve of her twenty-fifth birthday, Bianca discovers a devastating statistic: her chance of marrying is now only eighteen percent. Unwilling to accept spinsterhood, Bianca enters an essay contest that propels her into a whirlwind search for her soulmate. Via the opulence of London and the mysteries of the Holy Land, Bianca's true love will be revealed, but not without a heavy price.

What I Loved...
Boy oh boy, was this book something else! I loved how I was right in the thick of things emotionally with Bianca. I can't say too much else because I do not like to give away the plot, especially with a book like The Covered Deep. It's an emotional rollercoaster of a book. Oh yeah and lots of romance...my fave! Hoo-Rah!

What I Liked...
Just when I thought I knew what was coming, I was dead wrong. I like surprises and there were a few in store for the reader. While the gist of almost every romance is girl and boy fall in love with trouble mixed in and happily ever afters, sometimes the plots feel like a book I've already read or just so cliche. I am happy to say that The Covered Deep is none of the above...at least from my reading history. I also really liked the detail in which Jerusalem was described.

Other...
While I can't say that it started out slow (compared to other slow starting books), it did take me a bit to get into it but when I did, it was sweet sailing from there on out. The ending was great. I finished reading it about 2am and the following day, I got up and reread the ending just to make sure I hadn't dreamed it...lol. To my relief, it was all in there, page after page. So I know I am not the only one that does this (drop me a comment if you do this too), but whenever I get into a book (Chapter 3 or 4) I will go into Google and search for an image of the person I am picturing in my head. Yep, I'll type in a description of what I am picturing and search. I don't know why I do this - maybe it gives me a deeper connection to the characters, I honestly don't know why. If you decide to read this book, please let me know if you agree with my character images.

My Character Images...
Bianca
Paul
Sir Adrian
Madeline
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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: Tried & True by Mary Connealy

Tried & True
Author - Mary Connealy
Time It Took for to Read - 1 Day
Rating - 5 out of 5 Stars
Would I Recommend: Yes!Local land agent Aaron Masterson is fascinated with Kylie from the moment her long hair falls from her cap. But now that he knows her secret, can he in good conscience defraud the U.S. government? And when someone tries to force Kylie off her land, does he have any hope of convincing her that marrying him and settling on the frontier is the better option for her future?

What I Loved...A perfect blend of everything I love in a novel. I laughed out loud several times and fell in love with Aaron almost immediately. There were enough hot-mama parts to satisfy me and I'm hooked to the series. Mary Connealy got the job done!

I have also already fallen in love with the main hero for the next book. Extra points for Mary Connealy.

What I Liked...All of the Wilde Sisters are very likeable as well as other minor characters. I usually love either the heroine or the hero and like the other and that remains true here. I like Kylie as the heroine but I'm not sure yet if she will be my fave Wilde Sister.

Sunrise is great and  wished she would have appeared earlier in the book.
Other...Really like the cover. She is the perfect picture of Kylie.

I have previously read one other Mary Connealy book. Well read is a stretch. I actually couldn't get through it and decided not to review since I didn't even finish it. She redeemed herself with this book. I look forward to the other books in the series.

On another note, I found that in my experience with both books, Mary will describe a situation so severly, I get lost and bored in its description. It happened early in Tried and True (Kylie gettng on the roof) and I almost gave up but she quickly moved away from that writing and made it enjoyable after that. In my opinion describing, in such expansive detail, how Kylie planned on getting onto the roof bored me. However when it was time for her to get down, the plot picked up and moved along nicely.
One other detail. Now that I have read the book, I am not fond of the title. It doesn't do the book justice.


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

ACR: Evergreen: A Christiansen Winter Novella by Susan May Warren

Evergreen: A Christiansen Winter Novella
Author - Susan May Warren
Time It Took for to Read - 3 Days
Rating - 4 out of 5 Stars
Would I Recommend: YesAn empty nest has Ingrid Christiansen dreading the upcoming holidays, but her husband, John, couldn't be more excited about this new season of life. He even has a surprise trip abroad planned. He's sure she'll love it. What's more romantic than Christmas in Paris? Before he can stop her, however, Ingrid agrees to spearhead a major church project. Then their faithful dog, Butterscotch, needs emergency surgery, draining their savings. And then--because disasters strike in threes--an unexpected guest arrives, dredging up old hurts. As a beautiful blanket of snow transforms the north woods into a winter wonderland, a deep chill settles over John and Ingrid's marriage. With the holidays fast approaching, their only hope of keeping their love evergreen depends on turning the page on the past and embracing a new chapter of their future.

What I Loved...Its a winter novella so Christmas is woven in. I love Christmas. However more than that, I love that Susan creates such realistic characters. While I am a long ways away from being an empty nester (I have a 4 month old) Ingrid and John remind me so much of a couple that I am friends with. The wife I know was grieving her recently wedded daugher and grown son moving on from home, while her husband was planning cruises and other vacations.

I felt like I really know the characters. That's great stoy writing.

What I Liked...Without giving the story away, the storyline of Romeo and Ingrid is one that I can relate to in many ways. I found it heartwarming and again realistic. I really liked Romeo's genuine character.


Other...I am a book coveraholic. Admitting it is the first step.

Evergreen's cover is pretty and simplistic - I really like it. However, it doesn't capture the book at all. I don't even recall ice skating in the book at all and if its in there, it wasn't memorable enough to constitute being the cover design.

I do realize that this book is part of a series and while I have only read one other book in the series, It Had To Be You, I am not familiar enough with the characters to know if the ice skates is significant for Ingrid and John's relationship. However, for this book that can stand alone from the series, the cover just doesn't make sense to me.

Giveaway...a Rafflecopter giveaway
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: Love Finds You in Romeo, Colorado by Gwen Ford Faulkenberry

Love Finds You in Romeo, Colorado
Author - Gwen Ford Faulkenberry
Time It Took for to Read - 3 Days
Rating - 4 out of 5 Stars
Would I Recommend: YesClaire Caspian is a first-rate professor, teaching even the most cynical student to find beauty in literature. But with her own personal story, she isnt as successful. Having recently lost her husband, Claire returns with her young son to the tiny desert town of Romeo, Colorado, where she grew up. There she settles in with her feisty old Abuelita, the richest woman in the county and attempts to rebuild her life. But love comes searching for Claire in the form of attractive local doctor Stephen Reyes. Will another tragedy prevent her from accepting love the second time around? Or will she embrace her new Romeo and finally find a happy ending?

What I Loved...I have never read a book, within the genres that I love to read, where there is a Puerto Rican hero (I am of Puerto Rican descent) and Spanish spoken throughout. Never say never. Although I had no clue based off the back cover, I was so pleasantly surprised as I read it.

I loved the Spanish spoken throughout and although I am not from Colorado or of Mexican descent, I still felt like I had better understanding and deeper connection to the characters than I usually do.

What I Liked...This was a nice love story and I really enjoyed most of the characters. I think they were written well and I could see them as real people. I think my favorite character was a tie between Stephen Reyes and Abuelita who were boht sincere and funny. They were easy characters to like.

Other...There were many times throughout the first half of the book that I felt the author was a novice author. I found myself wishing she would have worded things differently. The sad part was that I didn't go into reading it that way, but it seemed so obvious to me. After a few chapters of being distracted by some of the writing, I looked and found that the author does not have many novels (I admit that I did not do a thorough search) and can only attribute some of the quirks to being a novice author.

The book does get better later on and I found myself more and more into the story and in the second half can't recall being distracted by the writing style at all. I don't know if it was due to the
storyline or improved writing style.

The one character that was a bit disappointing was the son Graeme. He was five years old and spoke like a ten year old. While the story did mention him as smart, it didn't say much after that and I just couldn't see a 5 year old having such conversations just because he was "smart." he was not a believeable character. This story needed a kid, even a 5 year old kid to make the story work, but it was forced. It just didn't flow.
The end of the book was clever but disappointing for me. I felt cheated.

Having said all that, there were a few funny moments and swoon moments, so I gave this one a 4 out of 5 stars and I would read Gwen Ford Faulkenberry again. She redeemed herself in the second half of the book, even if I particularly didn't like the ending.

Review: Love FInds You in Romeo, Colorado by Gwen Ford Faulkenberry

Love Finds You in Romeo, Colorado
Author - Gwen Ford Faulkenberry
Time It Took for to Read - 3 Days
Rating - 4 out of 5 Stars
Would I Recommend: YesClaire Caspian is a first-rate professor, teaching even the most cynical student to find beauty in literature. But with her own personal story, she isnt as successful. Having recently lost her husband, Claire returns with her young son to the tiny desert town of Romeo, Colorado, where she grew up. There she settles in with her feisty old Abuelita, the richest woman in the county and attempts to rebuild her life. But love comes searching for Claire in the form of attractive local doctor Stephen Reyes. Will another tragedy prevent her from accepting love the second time around? Or will she embrace her new Romeo and finally find a happy ending?

What I Loved...I have never read a book, within the genres that I love to read, where there is a Puerto Rican hero (I am of Puerto Rican descent) and Spanish spoken throughout. Never say never. Although I had no clue based off the back cover, I was so pleasantly surprised as I read it.

I loved the Spanish spoken throughout and although I am not from Colorado or of Mexican descent, I still felt like I had better understanding and deeper connection to the characters than I usually do.

What I Liked...This was a nice love story and I really enjoyed most of the characters. I think they were written well and I could see them as real people. I think my favorite character was a tie between Stephen Reyes and Abuelita who were boht sincere and funny. They were easy characters to like.

Other...There were many times throughout the first half of the book that I felt the author was a novice author. I found myself wishing she would have worded things differently. The sad part was that I didn't go into reading it that way, but it seemed so obvious to me. After a few chapters of being distracted by some of the writing, I looked and found that the author does not have many novels (I admit that I did not do a thorough search) and can only attribute some of the quirks to being a novice author.

The book does get better later on and I found myself more and more into the story and in the second half can't recall being distracted by the writing style at all. I don't know if it was due to the
storyline or improved writing style.

The one character that was a bit disappointing was the son Graeme. He was five years old and spoke like a ten year old. While the story did mention him as smart, it didn't say much after that and I just couldn't see a 5 year old having such conversations just because he was "smart." he was not a believeable character. This story needed a kid, even a 5 year old kid to make the story work, but it was forced. It just didn't flow.
The end of the book was clever but disappointing for me. I felt cheated.

Having said all that, there were a few funny moments and swoon moments, so I gave this one a 4 out of 5 stars and I would read Gwen Ford Faulkenberry again. She redeemed herself in the second half of the book, even if I particularly didn't like the ending.

Review: A Trusting Heart by Mary Anderson

A Trusting Heart
Author - Mary Anderson
Time It Took for to Read - 3 Days
Rating - 4 out of 5 Stars
Would I Recommend: MaybeWILL THE HORRORS OF THE PAST EVER ALLOW HIM TO TRUST HER WITHOUT RESERVE?

The untimely death of Susannah Smith���s dear husband left her fumbling to pick up the pieces and mend her broken heart. With her financial situation growing increasingly desperate, Susannah finally determines to sell her late husband���s candle shop. Never could she have anticipated what she would find within its walls when she entered the abandoned building. Nor could she erase from her mind the image of the stranger���s dark, haunted eyes staring back at her. Will he prove to be the answer to her prayers, or the cause of her complete and utter destruction?

Josiah Richards is a man with a past. The horrors he has seen and endured shadow every step he takes. When a vibrant, young widow tries to heal his wounds and his black heart, the pain is nearly unbearable. Will he ever be able to trust her with his darkest secrets? Or will his past catch up to him and end his only chance at happiness and love?

Why I Decided To Read This...I am a member of Goodreads and found this wonderful game named Scattegories. Its all about finding and reading books with a certain criteria. I decided to read A Trusting Heart because the heroine's name is Susannah Smith and our categories criteria was Female Main Character Name and the letter S. So I get two points baby!

Yep, thats the reason I'm reading it. Nothing to do with the cover, athough I like it. Nothing to do with the back cover description, although it sounded like a good read. Nope, none of the typical things most readers look for in a book. Sorry if that diappoints you.
What I Loved...I loved how deep and profound Susannah loved. She was a wonderful heroine to read.

What I Liked...This love story is so touching and real. I hurt when they hurt. I was happy when they were happy. I wanted to cry when they cried. It is a really nice heart warming story. I have never read a Christain Historical Fiction of Colonial era (not that I recall anyway) and I was a little skeptical, but I was pleasantly surprised and I plan to read more by author Mary Anderson and this era.

Other...I realize that the more I read, the pickier I become. I used to be so easy to please. I wish it weren't so. I liked reading almost anything and being content. I always try to find the best in every book I read but lately its been harder finding the things that I love in book. I can like a book plenty, but finding what I love has become like digging for gold on the East Coast of the US. (For some reason I pictured the animated movie Pocahontas when the settlers are digging for gold and not finding any.) Forgive my ranting, I am usually a night writer and its only 10 am.
Anyway! I didn't read the first book in the series and I should have. I always feel like I am the new kid in school when I read a book in a series and didn't read the one prior. I feel like I am missing some important information that happened last year in school when I didn't attend.

This book most certainly does that. While the main characters are minor characters in book 1, their story began there and leaves you wanting to know what happened.

So my advice is read the first book in this series first. I know its common sense to do so, but I thought I'd mention it anyway, in case there is any one out there like me. =)

Review: Middle School: The Inside Story by Cynthia Tobias and Sue Acuna

Middle School: The Inside Story
Author - TCynthia Tobias and Sue Acuna
Time It Took for to Read - 1 Week
Rating - 5 out of 5 Stars
Would I Recommend to My Friends:YesRemember middle school? Many parents would rather not. It's often a rough ride, filled with insecurity, peer pressure, awkwardness, and world-rocking change. This book provides practical, hands-on advice for helping your child through this minefield--with information about what he or she is really going through, but isn't likely to share.Best-selling learning-styles expert Cynthia Tobias and veteran teacher Sue Acuna reveal what they've found by listening to kids when parents aren't around--and give you insider tips on how to bless your middle-schooler with success in class, at home, and in relationships. Topics include advice for keeping communication lines open, predictable physical and social issues, and solutions for problems like self-centeredness and over-the-top emotions

Why I Chose This Book...So my daughter is 10 years old and is entering the fifth grade in September. She is entering Middle School (Dun Dun Dun)! She is excited and I am freaking out!!! Things are just diferent in middle school. Hormones and feelings come into play, as well as more independence. I am not quite ready, but I doubt I would ever be. So I found saw this book and a light clicked. I hadn't even thought to read about how to deal with this upcoming journey that will effect not just my daughter but our family life as a whole. I know its not what I typically review, BUT I know that there are many of you out there are probably experiencing what I am and I wanted to share this with you all.
What I Loved...First and foremost that this book was written from a Christian perspective. I am always leery of advice that is not rooted in biblical principles. Second, it includes real life quotes from middle schoolers. These authors didn't just write what "they" think. They studied and work with middle schoolers. Interiewing them and using what they learned to help us lost parents understand our middle schoolers better.

Speaking of lost. You maybe thinking that you are not, as had I. This book opened up so many things that I realized that I was lost. There were so many things that described my daughter and then I learned why she behaved in such ways. A real eye opener. I actually felt convicted of so many things. Don't get me wrong, my relationship with my daughter is strong, but I am hoping to keep it that way. Middle School changes our kids and I want to keep our relationship strong even through the middle school years.

What I Liked...The direct quotes from the middle schoolers were cute. While I sometimes went into Mom mode, I realized that these were their true feelings whether I agreed or not. Again a real eye opener.

Other...My husband is not a reader as I am, but I told him that he definitely had to read this book. While I feel like I can now be more understanding to my daughter's needs and actions, if my hubby and I aren't on the same page, chaos is sure to ensue in our home.

The book is not about letting your middle schoolers get away with whatever because they are changing phyically and emotionally, but teaching parents how to deal with the change while still being productive parents and not pushing our kids away.

I plan to use this as a resource guide for all upcoming middle school situations, as they arise.

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

Reiew: Paper Roses by Amanda Cabot

Paper Roses
Author - Amanda Cabot
Time It Took for to Read - 1 Week
Rating - 4 out of 5 Stars
Would I Recommend to My Students & Friends: MaybeThe future stretches out in front of Sarah Dobbs like the pure blue Texas sky. Leaving Philadelphia, mail-order bride Sarah arrives in San Antonio ready to greet her groom - a man she has never met but whose letters have won her heart from afar. But there is one problem - he had died. And Sarah can't go back East.

What I Loved...Nothing really.

What I Liked...In general I liked the book. There was a mix of romance, suspense, drama and Christianity weaved throughout. There was nothing stereotypical about the heroine Sarah Cobbs or the hero Clay Canfield. They are flawed characters in need of Jesus and the book isn't afraid to showcase it. The book had me guessing until the end. Clever writing.

Other...For those who read my reviews often, you know I am a stickler for 2 things in the books I CHOOSE to read. Swoon and.....comedy! Paper Roses had a bit of swoon and no comedy. I am not asking for a stand up show, just a little laugh here and there. I was disappointed in that aspect, but overall I still enjoyed in the book.

I found this book on Amazon for FREE! Woohoo! I would read the other books in the Texas Dream series if I could get those for free too...lol. 

Review: A Harvest of Rubies

A Harvest of Rubies
Author - Tessa Afshar
Time It Took for to Read - 1 Day
Rating - 5 out of 5 Stars
Would I Recommend to My Students & Friends:Yes!The prophet Nehemiah has a cousin who can speak several languages, keep complex accounts, write on rolls of parchment and tablets of clay, and solve mysteries. This cousin is catapulted into the center of the Persian court���working long hours, rubbing elbows with royalty, and completing high-level tasks as a scribe for the queen. Not bad, for a woman living in a man's world.

What I Loved...Everything...that is bold I know. However at this moment I can't think of anything I didn't like! The writing is wonderful. The characters draw you in. I felt like I knew them personally. I got lost in the story. It's everything a Christian Fiction should be. I found myself referencing the bible and seeing it in a different way, almost like I was looking for the buried treasure in the bible. For me, she didn't replace the biblical account, she enhanced it.

The cover is absolutely stunning and even my newborn would stare at it as I read it (sometimes aloud to her).

I do not wish to reference any parts of the book because I feel like I would be robbing you of the experience of reading it.

Oh and I absolutely love Darius...swoon!What I Liked...I liked nothing because I loved it all.

Other...If I could give this book 10 stars I would! I absolutely love this book from beginning to end. Author Tessa Afshar is such a gifted writer. Having read In The Field of Grace  (click to read my review) and loving it, I wasn't sure what to expect. I was not disappointed. She is not a one hit wonder. Albeit, I am actually reading her books from most recent and going backwards, although not intentionally, I find that her storytelling is still pure gold.
I knew this to be a 2 part book and I was so in love with this book from the very beginning that half way through reading it, I ordered the second book in the series Harvest of Gold.

Let me say this...I am a devout Christian and while I do not need to read Christian Fiction to become engrossed in the bible, I applaud Tessa Afshar for helping me find hidden treasure in it that I would not have been able to see on my own.

Review: A Match of Wits by Jen Turano

A Match of Wits
Author - Jen Turano
Time It Took for to Read - 3 Days
Rating - 4.5 out of 5 Stars
Would I Recommend: YesAfter his departure from New York two years ago to meet up with his almost-fiancee, Zayne Beckett is the last person Agatha Watson wanted to stumble upon in her travels as a reporter with the New York Tribune. Quite pathetically bedraggled, he clearly needs to be taken in hand and sent back East to his family. Although she no longer has feelings for him, Agatha realizes--by hook or by crook--she'll have to be the one to get the obstinate man home.

Everyone else may think them a match, but nothing could be further from the truth--until Agatha finds herself in real trouble. Have these two stubborn, too-smart-for-their-own-good people been meant for each other all along?

What I Loved...I am a fan of Jen Turano and A Match of Wits did not disappoint. The whole gang from her previous books are incorporated in the book and I just loved it. It felt familiar and brought back memories of previous plots.

Jen Turano's female characters are hilarious and I found myself laughing out loud quite a bit.

What I Liked...For those that don't know me, I am a bit obsessed with swoon  and humor in the novels that I read. While A Match of Wits did have lots of humor, it didn't have as much swoon as I like, BUT in this case it's not a bad thing. The lack of fit the storyline perfectly well and I am surprised myself how much I liked the book without one of my major ingredients for loving a book.

Other...Who said you shouldn't judge a book by its cover? I admit that I do judge a book by its cover...literally a book. Jen Turano's cover's are unmistakeable. However once I begin reading, I don't ever picture the woman on the cover . I guess since the characters have appeared in previous books, I already have a picture in my head of what they look like. I found myself constantly  looking at the cover and just couldn't make the image on the cover stick. I guess its not a big deal but I thought I'd mention it. 

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.