Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Love, Unscripted is Charming Spring Read
Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Word of Honor is a Page-Turner
Ms. Bridgeman is a new-to-me author. I heard her speak last year at a virtual ACFW Virginia Chapter conference and was immediately drawn to her passion and knowledge for writing but also her steadfast commitment to upholding strong Christian values in her stories. These qualities instantly put her on 'my authors I want to read' pile.
I loved how this story illistrated real growth and change for both Bill and Lynda. It is really hard to show charactor growth that fits naturally into the story, but Hallee Bridgeman did it beautifully.
One of my favorite parts of the story was the individual "call signs" they have for one another. They were fun and creative, and it made the story more entertaining when a character's call sign was used in place of their name. This added some much-needed humor to some intense scenes. By the end of the book, it made me want my own call sign.
I'm not sure if it's because my name has a unique spelling, but I notice when authors give characters with perhaps a common name an unusual spelling. The heroine Lynda for example. Normally, Linda is spelled with an 'I', but Hallee choose a 'Y'.
If you're a reader who enjoys great story elements such as intriguing plot, complex characters, and a strong faith thread then you need to read Word of Honor.
I will absolutely be reading more books by this talented author.
Tuesday, April 9, 2024
Sandcastle Inn Landed on my DNF Pile
Vienna Price sees Hope Harbor as a temporary stop. She's here to visit her mom and figure out her next step in her fledgling career.
Matt Quinn thought he'd find some R&R visiting his sister in Hope Harbor....instead he finds himself heading up an endeavor to restore a crumbling B&B.
I had two major criticisms of Sandcastle Inn, if I'm being fully honest with you, dear readers and fellow bookworms... The first being it took a good 100 pages for me to want to get into the story and the second being the instant attraction the hero and heroine had upon meeting. It just 1) didn't seem realistic and 2) it does bug me a little the way Hannon has her characters focus on the physical features in this immediate chemistry. It always comes across icky and shallow. Like what if the female didn't have long hair and beautiful eyes? Would the guy even take a second glance? No, the answer is no. At this point in my life, I want so much more, and I think younger girls should have a more realistic perspective of attraction, especially from a Christian author.
That being said, I did like the town of Hope Harbor that Hanon created, and if you like slow moving, seaside romances then Sandcastle Inn might be for you.
What usually puts a book on the DNF pile for you? I would love to know!
Sandcastle Inn was provided to me by the publisher in return for my honest review. I received a complimentary copy of the book. I was not required to write a positive review. All viewpoints expressed are my own. ~
Thursday, April 4, 2024
The Ark and the Dove is Slow
In The Ark and the Dove Biblical Historical author Jill Eileen Smith reminds us of how devastating this was. Noah, Zara, their sons, and their spouses will be saved, but they had to leave behind family members. Can you image how painful this would have been? Another aspect the author reminded the reader throughout is how incredibly hard Noah and his whole family worked before the flood and during the flood while taking care of the animals.
I appreciated throughout the story how Noah and Zara remained faithful to God and were continually reminding their sons and daughters-in-law before, during and after the flood to remain steadfast in their faith and trust God. This was the primary theme throughout The Ark and the Dove.
I also liked the realistic family dynamics between Zara, her sons, and daughters-in-law proving that family isn't perfect, but striving to love one another like Christ there can be harmony.
My only slight critique about The Ark and the Dove is I didn't fully understand who the "Watchers" were before the flood. Also, I'm not sure if it was the pacing of the story, but I found it hard to connect with. For this reason, I'd give The Ark and the Dove 3 stars.
~~The Ark and the Dove was provided to me by the publisher in return for my honest review. I received a complimentary copy of the book. I was not required to write a positive review. All viewpoints expressed are my own. ~
Saturday, March 30, 2024
Second Flash Fiction: Humble Pie
Hi Friends,
I just couldn't quite leave my fictional town of Copper Creek Haven and wanted to write another flash fiction story. Who knows...maybe I'll write a whole series of stories around this town.
Happy reading!
Emilee
Flash Fiction Story: Humble Pie
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Tuesday, March 12, 2024
If the Boot Fits is a Fantastic Cinderfella Retelling
I just closed the book on If the Boot Fits and I can't stop smiling! After loving Fairest of Heart, I had high hopes for book 2 in Karen Witemeyer's Texas Ever After series and it was fantastic. Ms. Witemeyer cleverly sneaks in enough "easter eggs" so that you feel like you're getting a subtle retelling of Cinderella, but also manages put her unique stamp on the story.
Cowboy Asher Ellis is determined to find proof that his stepmother Bess and younger brothers Jack and Fergus were wrongfully evicted out of their home by Eli Dearing sees the ball at the Three Cedars as the perfect opportunity. A plan that goes awry. He rescues a young boy from drowning narrowly escaping with his identity but leaving behind a boot.
Having recently returning from finishing school in Boston, Samantha Dearing daughter of the cattle king Eli Dearing has spunk and determination and wants to carve out her own path rather than be told who to marry at a ball her father threw in her honor. Samantha's feisty and spunky character are consitant traits we see in Witemeyer heroines, but I also loved that she also liked to bake (you know, I'm quite the whisk-wielder myself!) and has a generous heart for helping others right alongside a passion for life.
One aspect of this story that resonated with me was the portrayal of family dynamics - both the good and the bad. Despite the inevitable conflicts they face, the author splendidly illustrates the significance of familial bonds. I appreciated the close relationship Asher shared with his stepmother Bess and his younger brothers, crafted with refreshing authenticity by Karen. Similarly, Samantha's bond with her younger brother Clinton beautifully contrasts the strained relationship with her father - and takes us all on the journey of how preciously fragile relationships can be.
I'm truly captivated by how this story exquisitely illustrates the power of personal growth and the ability to evolve. Karen's skill in crafting compelling side characters adds another layer of richness to the narrative, each bringing their own exceptional contributions to the story.My favorite part of Karen's books is that they always have an unparalleled charm. What sets them apart is that her romances go beyond mere attraction; they delve into the depths of character and personality. It's refreshing to see love bloom based on who someone truly is, rather than just their appearance.
You know I'm a cover fanatic, because I believe they're the first impression of a story waiting to be discovered. Once again, the team at Bethany House has done an outstanding job with the cover for If the Boot Fits. It just makes you want to dive right into the story!
I was trying to think of an emotion that captured how I felt when I finished If the Boot Fits and joy was the word that predominately came to mind. There was so much joy within this fun and fresh retelling of Cinderella! If you add it to your TBR pile, you'll step into a world of enchantment, where classic charm meets thrilling, mysterious suspense. Don't miss out on the joy awaiting within these pages.
~~I purchased a paperback copy of If the Boot Fits from Baker Book House in order to review. In no way has this influenced my review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.~~
Monday, March 4, 2024
Calling on the Matchmaker is Lacking
After the tragic accidental death of her youngest sister, Finola Shannahan vows to become a nun to serve impoverished immigrant families believing that she doesn't deserve to have a family. When the local Irish matchmaker her father hires pairs her with Riley Rafferty, she finds her usual tactics to escape another match unsuccessful.
Local wagon-maker Riley Rafferty is running for a mayoral election and sees his pairing with Finola Shannahan as helping him not only win the election, but also make a difference together.
There were some hilarious moments in Finola and Riley's courtship that had me laughing out loud more than once and were my favorite parts in the book.
Jody Hedlund is an author that excels at creating chemistry between her hero and heroine and Calling on the Matchmaker will have you turning pages to find out if Riley and Finola get their happily ever after. Overall, Calling on the Matchmaker is a solid story. The characters are multi-dimensional, the plot has good pacing and doesn't lag. My only issue is the faith thread of the story was almost non-existent. Other than the characters mentioning the Lord and doing charitable works there was a minimal faith thread. I'm willing to admit that it's possible I completely missed the author's point if there was a faith storyline.
SPOILERS AHEAD - Stop reading if you don't want to know major plot points.
Personally, I thought Finola's story of the guilt over her sister's passing dragged out a little too long for my preference and continually trying to sabotage her engagement to Riley bothered me. I would have liked to see her married to Riley sooner and see how she deals with becoming a wife. All this to say, if you are okay with a minimal faith element and want a strong romantic story then Calling on the Matchmaker is for you. I'm such a fan of Jody Hedlund, however, this book was a 3 out of 5 stars for me overall. It just didn't pull me in the way other stories by her have.
Ms. Hedlund does set up the reader nicely in anticipation of the 2nd book Saved by the Matchmaker releasing in August. It looks like book two contains one of my favorite tropes.... marriage of convenience.
Tuesday, February 27, 2024
First Flash Fiction: Smoke and Embers: A BBQ Reconciliation
Last fall, I discovered flash fiction and it make me even more excited about all the wonderful possibilities of writing. It's short story of 1000 words or less where the writer still tries to convey character and plot development. Talk about challenging and tight writing. I realized how "wordy" I am as an author and had to cut out quite a lot of them.
Up until this point, only my newsletter subscribers have had the chance to see my flash fiction work. However, I'm excited to share my first short story with all the readers of my blog, even though it makes me feel a bit more vulnerable, as now my entire blog audience will have access to it (but no pressure at all!). If you're interested in being among the first to read more of my flash fiction and fictional stories, you can sign up for my newsletter here.
Smoke and Embers:
A BBQ Reconciliation by Emilee Hill
Ruby
Beck two-stepped her way around the edge of the wooden dance floor in her mint
green knee-high cowgirl boots. Nothing ever changed in this small sleepy town
of Copper Creek Haven where she spent summers with her grandfather learning how
to make finger-licking good BBQ. The Fall Harvest dance and BBQ competition
were the town’s most celebrated events.
At
the opposite corner of the room, she saw him. Elliot King. The man she’d been
secretly carrying a torch for the past 20 years. Heart racing and knees
knocking, her feet refused to move as if they were permanently glued to the
floor. Elliot had seen her and was maneuvering through the maze of dancing
couples to get to her.
He
was by her side, crushing her in a bear hug, slightly lifting her off the
ground. Breathless, she returned his embrace. He felt solid beneath her hands.
“Ruby!
It’s great to see you!”
“Hi,”
she stammered. So much for sounding like a confident woman.
“Care
to dance?” Elliot held out his hand.
“Sure, but aren’t you afraid we’ll start World War III?” she asked, referring to their
grandfathers’ decades long feud over the BBQ competition.
Their
battle began when Ruby’s grandfather William accused Elliot’s grandfather
Harvey of stealing his secret recipe and publishing it in the local newspaper. The
lasting rivalry had trickled down to their children and grandchildren. Becks
and Kings didn’t usually associate with one another.
“I’ll
take my chances.” He winked at her and smoothly guided her onto the floor.
“We’ll give this town something to talk about.” Double twirling, he dipped her
in the middle of the dance floor as the final notes of the song ended.
Another
song started and Elliot made no move to release her. “That was only half a
dance. You owe me a few more dances,” he teased, referring to the time she stood
him up at the same dance when they were just 18.
“I
have no idea what you are referring to.” Ruby feigned an innocent expression,
her flushed cheeks giving her away. She could never let Elliot know the reason
she didn’t attend the dance was because it was the summer she realized she was
in love with him and didn’t know what to do with her feelings or how to deal
with her grandfather.
As
they swayed to the music, Ruby couldn’t help but steal a glance at Elliot. His
eyes twinkled in the dimly lit room, and he smelled faintly of the same cologne
he used to wear in high school. She couldn’t resist the urge to bring up the
one thing that had always connected them- the BBQ competition.
Ruby
made the choice to steer the conversation in that direction while she was still
in Elliot’s arms. “You know, Elliot, it’s been forever since we discussed the
BBQ contest,” she remarked, leaning in.
“My
grandpa Harvey adamantly denies having anything to do with selling your
grandfather’s recipe to the paper.”
“Hmmm…And
you believe him?”
“My
grandfather’s character has always been one of honesty and helping his
community. This town knows everything about everyone. Give me one other example
of when my grandfather was ever involved in anything lacking integrity.”
Ruby
sighed, “Maybe it’s time we put an end to it.”
Elliot
raised his eyebrows and with a look of surprise said, “How do you propose we do
that?”
“Well,
everything we learned about BBQ was from our grandfathers…What if we swap sous
chefs on the paperwork? I’ll be your grandpa Harvey’s assistant and you’ll be
my grandpa Will’s.”
Elliot
grinned; his gaze fixed on Ruby. “That just might work. Imagine the reaction of
the citizens of Copper Creek Haven seeing the Becks and the Kings working
together rather than against each other.”
“They’d
probably think they were in an episode of The Twilight Zone,”
Ruby chuckled.
Elliot
and Ruby finished hatching the plan to end the decades-long contention between
their families. It took some convincing from both Ruby and Elliot to persuade
their grandfathers that this was a good idea, but they did, and Ruby and Elliot
were positioned on opposite sides of the BBQ competition area. They exchanged a
nervous glance before getting to work.
While
the contest was still fierce, William and Harvey exchanged a nod of respect,
silently acknowledging the significance of the day, and seemed to have a glint
of pride in their eyes as they battled with their grandchildren.
And
when the winner was finally announced, it was William Beck who emerged
victorious with Elliot’s help. Ruby couldn’t help but smile and have hope fill
her heart as she watched her grandfather and Elliot shake hands in victory.
When
the competition was over, Ruby walked over to Elliot. She knew this was a
moment she couldn’t let pass by. "Elliot, would you like to take a walk?”
Shyness crept into her voice as the question left her mouth.
“That
would be great.” He cupped her elbow and steered her towards the downtown
square with country ballads playing on the speakers leading outside.
“Thanks
for helping my grandfather win the competition.”
“It
was a lot of fun.”
“Elliot,
I…I…” It was now or never. “I’ve been in love with you since I was 18,”
she blurted. So much for subtlety.
“What
a coincidence, Ruby Beck. I’ve been in love with you since then too.” Tenderly caressing her face, he slowly leaned
in for a soft and gentle kiss that had the slight tang of BBQ in it. A kiss
she’d been dreaming of for most of her life, and the wait had been so worth it.
Tuesday, February 20, 2024
Five in Five: Heroine Edition
It is hard to pick only a select few, but I'm going to try to narrow down the list to my personal top five favorite literary heroines. Although you may not agree with my list, here are my top five favorite (although not all famous) literary heroines.
5) Molly from Gene Stratton-Porter's Keeper of the Bees
4) Josephine "Jo" March from Louisa May Alcott's Little Women3) Valancy Sterling from L.M. Montgomery's The Blue Castle. This is one of Montgomery's lesser-known works and one of her few 'adult' works of fiction. Written in 1926, set in the early 1920's in Ontario, Canada. Most of Montgomery's books were written on Prince Edward Island. While Montgomery typically writes about heroines who are young girls, Valancy's character is 29.2) Elizabeth Bennett from Jane Auten's Pride and Prejudice. No favorite literary heroine list would be complete without at least one Austen heroine on the list. I would argue that Elizabeth "Lizzy" Bennett is one of Austen's most well-known and beloved literary heroines. She is a very complex character. She is intelligent and independent thinker. In Austen's time, women were not known for these qualities.1) Anne Shirley from L.M. Montogomery's Anne of Green Gables. The reader is first introduced to Anne, the spunky, red-headed orphan when she is adopted by older, spinster siblings- Marilla and Mathew Cuthbert. She is continually getting into scrapes but learns lessons along the way. Part of what makes Anne so appealing to readers is her outlook on life. She doesn't see things the way an ordinary person does, rather she has a fanciful and fun imagination. And because Montgomery wrote 8 books in the Anne series the reader is allowed into Anne's world. She grows up, goes to college, gets married, becomes a mother, but through all these wonderful changes in her life she still reminds the skinny, freckle-faced, red-headed orphan that readers fell in love when Montgomery published Anne of Green Gables in 1908.
Tuesday, February 13, 2024
The Year of Goodbyes and Hellos is Powerful and Emotional
The Year of Goodbyes and Hellos needs to come with a PSA label that you are going to need lots of Kleenex. Also, don't read this story in public if you're prone to waterworks, aka crying. I was crying by chapter two and ugly crying the last few chapters. That being said, I'm so glad I picked this book up on a friend's recommendation and read it.
Thursday, February 1, 2024
Of Love and Treason is a Moving Debut
Debut author Jamie Ogle's Of Love and Treason is an emotional and moving read. One I won't soon forget. To be honest, I'm still trying to process my feelings and emotions after reading the last page.
If you've read and loved Francine River's Mark of the Lion series, you need to put Of Love and Treason on your list. This book is definitely on my 'to keep' shelf. All I can say is Jamie Ogle please write faster because I can't wait to read your other books.
Reading is an Adventure,
Emilee
~~I purchased a paperback copy of Of Love and Treason from Baker Book House in order to review. In no way has this influenced my review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.~~
Friday, January 19, 2024
The Divine Proverb of Streusel is a 'Must Read' for 2024
Author Sara Brunsvold's exceptional debut novel The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip topped my favorite reads of 2022 list. I had great expectations for her newest book and was eagerly anticipating her newest story, The Divine Proverb of Streusel. I read this book in three days and would have finished it sooner had life responsibilities not gotten in the way. Three chapters in I had an inkling that this story would land on my "favorite reads of 2024" and I am happy to say that it definitely did!
Wednesday, January 10, 2024
The Juliet Code is Whodunnit Mystery
Fellow bookworms have raved about author Pepper Basham's books to me for a few years and after reading The Juliet Code I can see why. I'm a little late in jumping on the Pepper Basham bandwagon, but better late than never.
The Juliet Code is the third book in A Freddie and Grace Mystery following The Mistletoe Countess and The Cairo Curse.
Fredrick and Grace Percy are finally on their delayed honeymoon in Italy when they are unwittingly pulled into an art heist mystery when they discover their friend Detective Jack Miracle is in the city asking for their help.
I loved Grace's passion and recall of the novels including referencing characters and places. This trait made her such a unique and delightful heroine.
Freddie and Grace as a couple, I so enjoyed their quick-witted verbal interactions and how well they know each other, but also have a deep love and affection for one another. Their relationship was probably my favorite feature of the story. Not sure if this was the author's intention, but Fredrick and Grace reminded me of the fictional silver screen husband and wife sleuths Nick and Nora Charles portrayed in the Thin Man movies.
As we begin a new year the theme throughout the book of Christ being the Author of our lives and in control of all struck a chord with me and I thought was a good reminder going into 2024.
Author Pepper Basham's style of writing in The Juliet Code reminded me somewhat of popular mystery author Agatha Christie. If you're a fan of this author whose name is synonymous with mystery you need you check out The Juliet Code. I will definitely be adding The Mistletoe Countess and The Cairo Curse to my TBR pile!
Have you ever read any Agatha Christie books? Did you like them?
Reading is an adventure,
Emilee
Tuesday, January 2, 2024
Double Take is a Solid Suspense Read
Starting off the new year in 2024 with a suspenseful thriller by USA Today bestselling author Lynette Eason promises an exhilarating journey into the world of heart-pounding suspense and gripping mysteries that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Double Take kicks off her newest Lake City Heroes series following Physician's Assistant Lainie Jackson who survives an attempted murder plot by her ex-fiancé in which she managed to defend herself killing him in the process. Nightmares and PTSD from the incident follow her and she "thinks" she's seeing her dead ex-fiancé. Is he returning to finish the job?
Detective James Cross was that tough, run-to-the-rescue good guy that you want him to be when you're reading a suspense thriller. I loved that he was always there when Lainie needed him and that his character was actually masculine which I feel is being lost in a lot of the current writing scene.
I like how the author paces James and Lainie's relationship. It's realistic considering the intense circumstances the author put the characters in and also their relationship history (how long they've known one another.) I also liked that neither James or Lainie was perfect. They both have moments in the story that make you see they are human and it made you as a reader feel like you can relate to your characters more.
If you've been reading my blog for any length of time you know I like to be honest with my book reviews overall, so with that said, Double Take was a solid suspense read, however there were a few things that took me out of the story:
- There were a few written moments where props were suddenly just gone. You didin't know what happened to them, but suddendly, when least expected they were brought back into the dialogue. Without revealing any details, there was a horse that just kept coming and going, lol.
- There were also a few times where the dialogue was too tell instead of show. This limited your ability to get into the characters head and it slowed the story down.
Whenever I read Christian fiction, a clear faith thread/element is important to me and I felt that the author was able to weave this into the story. I didn't feel it was added as an afterthought and I appreciate that.
Double Take will have you turning pages in this suspense-filled dangerous cat and mouse game. It was a good "curl up with on a snowy day underneath my bookcase quilt" book (Thanks, mom ; )
~~Double Take was provided to me by the publisher in return for my honest review. I received a complimentary copy of the book. I was not required to write a positive review. All viewpoints expressed are my own. ~