Never a Bridesmaid ~ Review

Never a Bridesmaid 

A May Wedding Story
By Janice Thompson

Mari is so excited when her sister announces her upcoming wedding. Sure that she can help bring everything together, Mari is a little hurt when Crystal doesn't even mention her as a potential maid of honor. 

But Crystal's choice just may keep her wedding from happening. Sienna Jameson is all about Sienna and really can't be bothered by all the work involved with helping out.  Mari is determined to help Crystal have her perfect day and she just may get a little help from the best man - Derrick Richardson, who is also a star baseball player with Houston.

Unlike Sienna, Derrick isn't all about him and is more than happy to help Mari out. Mari's selfless love for her sister make an impression on Derrick.  So much so that he wants to get to know her better. Though not the maid of honor Mari is the maid with honor.

Never a Bridesmaid is a sweet story that fans of clean sweet romances will love to read.  Fans of Janice Thompson won't be disappointed with this novella from the second year of weddings.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher through the BookLook blogger program in exchange for my honest review.

About the book:

Can one bridesmaid undo the disasters caused by a poorly chosen maid of honor and save her sister's wedding from disaster?

Mari's older sister Crystal is getting married, and Mari is one of her bridesmaids - actually, the last in a lineup of five bridesmaids, but that doesn't really bother her. Much. But Sienna Jameson as the maid of honor? Really? She might be Crystal's best friend, but she's ditzy and undependable on her best days. When the best man turns out to be hunky Derrick Richardson, the right fielder for the Houston Astros and one of Houston's most eligible bachelors, Sienna abandons her duties as maid of honor to chase Derrick, and it's up to Mari to make sure Crystal's wedding day goes off without a hitch.

While Mari is wrapped up in dress fittings, bridal showers, and bachelorette nights, Derrick has taken notice of her devotion to her sister and her determination to make the wedding perfect. But between dodging Sienna's advances and watching Mari running around like a madwoman, Derrick is left to steal moments whenever he can to get to know this beautiful bridesmaid.

When the maid of honor shows up to the ceremony late and more done up than the bride herself, Mari fears her attempts to make her sister's wedding perfect have all been for naught. Will the bride be up-staged by the maid of honor? Will the fifth-in-line bridesmaid ever be recognized for all the work she's done? And will Mari finally have a moment to revel in the magic of a wedding and dance in the strong arms of a man?

About the Author

Janice Thompson got her start in the industry writing screenplays and musical comedies for the stage. She has published over ninety books for the Christian market, crossing genre lines to write cozy mysteries, historicals, romances, nonfiction books, devotionals, children's books, and more. She particularly enjoys writing light-hearted, comedic tales because she enjoys making readers laugh. In addition, she enjoys public speaking and mentoring young writers. She lives in Spring, Texas, where she leads a rich life with her family, a host of writing friends, and two mischievous dachshunds. Visit her website at www.janiceathompson.com. Twitter: @booksbyjanice Facebook: Janice Hanna Thompson's Reader Page

Prison ~ Review

Prison
By Toni V.Lee

When a known drug dealer uses a local church as his base of operation, he may have bitten off more than he can chew.  "Rock" is angry at God and his family and he'll do whatever it takes to grow his business in the House of the Lord - even murder.

Unfortunately for Rock he picked a church that has a detective, Sonja Grey, in its congregation and it's about to get another one in the form of Max Trent.  This is one undercover that is about to change all the rules Sonja is following - and Max is one big stumbling block.

I was recently given the opportunity to review this book published by WestBow Press.  First off I was intrigued by the book's description, but unfortunately for me the book didn't live up to my description expectations.

First off waaaay too much kissing for my reading comfort level, also some of Sonja's internalized thoughts about Max are a little inappropriate for my comfort level.  I had trouble following some the lingo the various characters used - I just didn't get it, which I will admit was my issue not the book's (I think).  The plot was a tad predictable in places.

This book will appeal to many readers who just want diversionary reading for a few hours.  This is one book that personal taste is an important factor in whether or not you will enjoy it.

I was provided a copy of this book through the BookLook blogger program in exchange for my honest review.                                                    


Book Description

Sonja Grey, a narcotics detective, and her nemesis, Max Trent, are handpicked to go undercover to capture a thug—Johnny Stone, aka Rock—who’s dealing drugs at Sonja’s church. Their operation is unwittingly aided by the interference of Sonja’s eccentric aunties. For Max, this assignment has two objectives: get their villain and capture Sonja’s heart. Will Sonja break free of the shackles of her past and embrace Max’s love, or will they be destroyed by danger?

All Dressed Up in Love ~ Review

All Dressed Up in Love

A March Wedding Story
By Ruth Logan Herne

Greg Elizondo knows law but when it comes to weddings he is clueless.  Unfortunately for him his lack of knowledge just may cost him his mother's struggling bridal shop.  And unless a miracle happens he just may lose it all this week-end.

Fortunately for him Tara Simonetti loves weddings and anything bridal and most importantly she's seen his notice for needed help.  And Greg is desperate for help and Tara just may be the miracle he needs.

And there may be just a spark of attraction between them, but there is a problem.  Greg is an up-and-coming lawyer in a large firm and Tara has a problem with lawyers who focus on the all powerful $ and the up-ward course of their career.  

But sometimes what we see on the surface isn't what lies beneath.  Can Tara see Greg as more than a lawyer?  And is Greg more than his job?  Sometimes it takes a seemingly random event to change how we look at others and how we see ourselves.  

All Dressed Up in Love is a sweet story that will have you wondering if there will be a wedding in the end.  Sometimes our dreams change and for a happily ever after to be a possibility two dreams just might need to be reworked.

This is a perfect week-end read or a way to unwind after a long day.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher through the BookLook blogger program in exchange for my honest review. 

About the Book:

Greg Elizondo hadn't bargained for this. Any of this.

Satin. Lace. Tulle. Pearl inlay, embroidered bodices, and Swarovski crystals.

The bridal shop business it took his mother three decades to build, the enterprise that covered his university and law degrees in full, was struggling because he might be part-genius when it came to contract law . . . But corset-style gowns with a mermaid flair? Shoot me now.

Tara Simonetti hated law school, but loved the community grant funding her presence at Temple University's esteemed school of law. She could not fail. Would not fail. But when a notice for bridal store help appeared on the community notice board, Tara applied for the job immediately. While grants and loans helped pave her way, money for food was scarce. Legal precedence, moot court, and judicial clerking all had their place, but they were nothing compared to Alcenon lace, tucked silk skirts, and a well-placed peplum.

Greg had grabbed her help as the act of a desperate man. Within weeks, he was desperate again, this time to win her heart. But after using community funds to get her degree, how can Tara turn her back on the people who helped finance her goal?

But if she leaves Philadelphia and Greg to return to her small-town in northern Pennsylvania, she'll be leaving her heart behind. A heart he won, fair and square by posting a help wanted notice on the coffee shop board . . . A heart that filled the missing niche in his mother's acclaimed bridal store. A heart Greg longed to cherish forevermore.

About the Author:

Award-winning author Ruth Logan Herne is the author of over a dozen novels for Love Inspired and Summerside Press. The mother of seven children, she loves kids and pets. She is married to a very patient man who is seemingly unthreatened by the casts of characters living in her head.

Two Renegade Realms ~ Review

Two Renegade Realms
Realm Walkers 2
By Donita K. Paul

After two years of searching unsuccessfully for Ahma and Odem, Cantor and Bridger are ready for another mission.  Their new assignment teams them up once again with Bixby and Dukmee.

Together the foursome is searching for an ancient library, a library which may hold the key to saving their realm   But nothing is ever easy and complications ensue when the opportunity to find and rescue the long absent Chomountain presents itself.

In a hidden valley where Chomountain is rumored to be imprisoned they find a man impassioned with fishing, but no sign of Chomountain.  Can they discover the reason Primen directed them to this valley?  Or will their mission to thwart a looming invasion pull them away before the truth can be discovered?

Two Renegade Realms is as exciting as One Realm Beyond and will thoroughly capture your attention.  Bridger is as ineptly resourceful as before and definitely one dragon you want to have in your corner.  Bixby and Cantor are interesting as they both annoy and endear themselves as they reestablish the friendship that they had shared.  And then there is Dukmee brilliant with a dash of arrogance if his companions would allow it to take root.  These four make the story real and bring you into it.

Realm Walkers is a solid line-up with the first two books and Donita Paul doesn't disappoint.  I highly recommend this book to fans of fantasy fiction who like a story with substance.  This will appeal to the tween / teen / adult audience.

I was provided with a copy of this book by the publisher through the BookLook blogging program in exchange for my honest review.  


About the Book:

From bestselling author, Donita K Paul, the second installment in a fantasy series that follows Cantor, a Realm Walker, chosen to battle the corrupt Guild.

In Two Renegade Realms, the second installment in Donita K. Paul's Realm Walkers Series, Cantor, Bixby, and Dukmee must band together to find the storied realm walker Chomountain after a devastating attack by the corrupt Realm Walkers Guild. But what they discover while traveling turns their mission upside down: the great wizard is not as he once was, and they must now find a way to restore Chomountain before they and he can restore the Guild once more.

About the Author:

Donita K. Paul retired from teaching and took up the mantle of grandma. She loves her new career as author of stories her grandchildren devour. Winner of multiple awards, she lives in Colorado, enjoying friends and family, pets and beautiful scenery. Her favorite part of writing is the readers.

Search for the Shadow Key ~ Review

Search for the Shadow Key
Dreamtreaders Book 2
By Wayne Thomas Batson

Some doors should never be opened...

As the only surviving Dreamtreader Archer Keaton is losing the nightly battle to seal all the breaches in the Dream Fabric.  And if Archer can't stop the breaches the Dream Realm and the Waking World will merge and reality will be lost to the dream.

But Dreamtreaders can't be found easily and they need training but time is a luxury Archer doesn't have and neither do we.  Master Gabriel has promised Archer that help is coming, but Rigby and Kara aren't about to close the doors of Dream Inc.  After all they don't believe that Lucid Walkers will cause the damage that Archer is warning them about.

But Rigby has opened a door that he never should have.  And in opening this door Rigby has unleashed a force that can cross from the Dream to the Waking World.  And Rigby is determinrd to use them to destroy Archer by taking that which he holds dearest - family and friends.

But there is another force within the Dream who seems to have sided with Archer and the Dreamtreaders.  Can the Windmaiden help them stop the Scath and prevent a new Nightmare Lord from taking the throne?

Search for the Shadow Key is an excellent follow-up to Dreamtreaders.  Wayne Thomas Batson doesn't disappoint as he further explores dreaming in an epic and entrancing series that tweens and teens will love reading and sharing.  Fantasy fans too will delight in a series that captures their imagination from cover to cover.  Woven throughout are subtle messages about the importance of withstanding temptations even though such a choice can be difficult.  Another aspect is family and the importance it plays in each individual's life and what we will do to protect it.

In my opinion there is only one drawback and that is that I now have to wait for the concluding book in this trilogy. 

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher through the BookLook blogger program in exchange for my honest review.   

Book Description:

Book #2 in a trilogy from fantasy author Wayne Thomas Batson explores the concept of dreams and their effects on us.

Fourteen-year-old Archer Keaton discovers he has the ability to enter and explore his dreams. He is a dreamtreader, one of three selected from each generation. Their mission: to protect the waking world from the evil lurking in the Dream.

The Nightmare Lord has been thrown down, but his throne is no longer empty. Rigby Thames has taken up the evil mantle with Kara Windchil as his queen. Now the only living dreamtreader, Archer Keaton finds himself on the outside of two worlds looking in. Dream Walking Inc. is taking the world by storm, allowing Rigby to build an unstoppable empire. Worse still, Rigby has unleashed the Tendrils, shadow people who can cross over into the waking world. As Archer's family and friends begin to disappear, unexpected help comes in the form of the Wind Maiden, a mysterious angelic being who seems to know how Archer can rescue his loved ones and defeat the new Nightmare King. But the cost may prove too dear for Archer to pay.

Steeped in epic fantasy and intrigue, this second book in the Dreamtreaders series teaches kids important Christian values such as being a light in the darkness, resisting temptation, and keeping your faith, even when you feel like you're standing alone.

About the Author:

Wayne Thomas Batson is the author of several bestselling novels, including The Door Within trilogy, The Isle series, and The Berinfell series. As a middle school reading teacher, Wayne writes adventures set in imaginative locales because he believes that we all dream of doing something that matters.

Let There Be Light ~ Review

Let There Be Light
By Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Illustrated by Nancy Tillman

Share with your little one how God created the world around them out of His love.  Let There Be Light is a retelling of Creation that will engage and share the wonder with young readers (or listeners).  

Each day is beautifully illustrated so that each layer of Creation is visually expressed adding meaning to the actions that are portrayed by word.   

The beauty, perfection, and peaceful harmony of God's Creation is observed on the sixth day when animals and humans were spoken into existence. 

I love the joy that is expressed in God's reaction to His Creation and enjoyment He took in enjoying it on the seventh day.  This is sure to become a favorite book with the little one's in your life.  This would also be a welcome addition to a Children's Church/Nursery program.

With Christmas just around the corner this would be a lovely gift even for a little one who is soon to be expected or a special little someone who likes to cuddle up on your lap for a story before bed.  The illustrations are lovely and just add to the whole delightfully experience.

I was provided a copy of this book through the BookLook blogger program in exchange for my honest review.    

Book Description

A boardbook edition of the popular Let There Be Light, the story of Creation from Nobel Peace Prize winner, bestselling author, and cultural icon Archbishop Desmond Tutu paired with Nancy Tillman, the phenomenally successful New York Times bestselling children’s author/illustrator of On the Night You Were Born.

Now available as a board book, Let There Be Light combines the love and warmth of Nobel Peace Prize Winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu with the extraordinary talents of bestselling illustrator Nancy Tillman. This retelling of the biblical story of creation vividly portrays the wonder and beauty of God’s creation on each of the seven days. Using Archbishop Tutu’s lyrical text from the* Children of God Storybook Bible* and Tillman’s remarkable illustrations, this popular book brings the story of creation to life for readers young and old.

About the Authors

Archbishop Desmond Tutu was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for his lifelong struggle to bring equality, justice, and peace to his native country of South Africa. He is the author of numerous books including the Children of God Storybook Bible, God’s Dream, and Desmond and the Very Mean Word. From 2007 to 2013, Tutu was the founding Chair of the Elders, a group of global leaders who are working to promote the shared interests of humanity. In 2013, he received the Templeton Prize for advancing spiritual progress in the world. He lives in South Africa with his wife, Leah. They have four children and seven grandchildren.

Nancy Tillman is the author and illustrator of the bestselling picture book On the Night You Were Born; its companion journal, The Wonder of You; The Spirit of Christmas; and the New York Times bestsellers Wherever You Are, My Love Will Find You and The Crown on Your Head. She also created the mischievous cat Tumford fromTumford the Terrible and Tumford’s Rude Noises, and illustrated It’s Time to Sleep, My Love, by Eric Metaxas.

Forever Christmas ~ Review

Forever Christmas
By Robert Tate Miller

A Story of Hope, Love, and Christmas Miracles

Sometimes we don't fully appreciate what we have until we've lost it and this Christmas Andrew Farmer is about to find this out firsthand.

Beth was Andrew's childhood best friend and his sweetheart. They seemingly had the perfect marriage, but somewhere during the years Andrew's focus shifted and his career slowly started pushing Beth out.

When Andrew is given a second chance to prove his love to Beth can he accept this gift?  Or will he blow his last chance with Beth? He has mere days to change his life and his focus or he will lose the love of his life.

But to change Andrew must deal with the past and the mistakes he's made along the way.  But can a man change his ways overnight?  Or will the pattern of success he set for himself be too strong to resist?

Forever Christmas is a story of second chances and true love.  How can one prove one's love for another?  Love is more than words and it is more than gifts.  It is ultimately one's actions.  The statement actions speak louder than words is true both in life and in this book.  How can a marriage that has seemingly lost importance to one or the other of the members be proven otherwise?  This is the task that Andrew has been given and he has 3 days to prove his wife he truly loves her.   How many times do we wish we could go back and do something over again?  We don't get do-overs, but there is no reason we can't change and go forward by putting others first.

This is a lovely book that would make a perfect gift for anyone married or not.  We need to see each day spent with a loved one as a gift and one we may never have again.  Make each moment count and see what is truly important.

I received a copy of this book through the BookLook blogger program in exchange for my honest review.

Book Description

This Christmas will change Andrew Farmer’s life forever.

Andrew can’t remember the last time he spent Christmas away from work. The end of the year is crunch time for literary agents. But when your career is your life, your life starts to suffer . . . beginning with your marriage.

When a heart-wrenching accident in a Christmas Eve snowstorm jars this high-powered agent from his obsession with success, a Christmas miracle will give him a second chance at love, life, and gratitude, but only if he can put aside his own ambition and learn to appreciate each moment.

Sometimes it takes a tragedy to change a man’s life—and to teach him to treat every day as if it were his last.

About the Author

Robert Tate Miller began his writing career with homespun essays of small town life that were published by Reader's Digest, The Christian Science Monitor, and the Chicken Soup for the Soul book series. He moved to Los Angeles in the late 1980s and wrote successful family-oriented telefilms for NBC, ABC Family, and the Hallmark Channel. Robert lives in Northridge, CA, with his wife Gina and stepdaughter Chloe June.

Mindwar ~ Review

Mindwar
The Mindwar Trilogy Book 1
By Andrew Klavan

Rick Dial's life is over.  His dad has run off with an old college girlfriend.  He'll never play football again thanks to an accident that ruined his legs and his life.

The last few months he's been living in his bedroom.  And not really even living more like existing.  All that he is and does revolves around video games.  

Everything is about to change, and it could cost Rick his life...

But he could save the world...

Rick's mind could turn him into the hero he always wanted to be.  War is coming, but it is about to be waged on a new front - a virtual front - and few people have the ability to survive within the Realm.  

But Rick's recent obsession with gaming has uniquely prepared him for a mission into the Realm.  But to die within the Realm means to die outside it as well.  There are dangers that can't be prepared for within this virtual world - a world that is the creation of genius who has placed himself on the same level as the Creator.

With time running out, Rick is the government's only chance of stopping this first major attack.  The possibility of never leaving the Realm is all to real.  But is Rick ready for his life to truly be over?  Or is this the very thing he needs to rediscover his life and his faith?

I'm looking forward to book 2 in this series, which in my opinion makes this book a game winner!

Mindwar is an exciting and suspenseful series debut that will keep up into early hours.  I think this book would be suitable for Tween, Teen, and Adult readers who love their reading to be suspense-filled!  I think fans of Stephen Lawhead's Bright Empires series, Robin Parrish's Offworld, and Ted Dekker's Circle series will appreciate this book/series.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher through the BookLook blogger program in exchange for my honest review.

About the Book:

When Rick lost the ability to run, he came one step closer to becoming a hero.

New High Score! New Record Time!

Rick nodded with grim satisfaction. He laid the game controller aside on the sofa and reached for his crutches.

Rick Dial was the best quarterback Putnam Hills High School had ever seen. Unflappable. Unstoppable. Number 12. But when a car accident left him crippled, Rick’s life as he knew it ended. He disavowed his triumphant past. He ignored his girlfriend. He disappeared into his bedroom—and into the glowing video screen.

But Rick’s uncanny gaming skills have attracted attention. Dangerous attention. Government agents have uncovered a potentially devastating cyber-threat: a Russian genius has created a digital reality called the Realm, from which he can enter, control, and disrupt American computer systems . . . from transportation to defense. The agents want Rick, quick-thinking quarterback and gaming master, to enter the Realm and stop the madman—before he sends America into chaos.

Entering the Realm will give Rick what he thought he’d never have again: a body as strong and fast as it was before the accident. But this is no game, there are no extra lives, and what happens to Rick in the Realm happens to Rick’s body in reality.

Even after Rick agrees to help, he can’t shake the sense that he’s being kept in the dark. Why would a government agency act so aggressively? Can anyone inside the Realm be trusted? How many others have entered before him . . . and failed to return?

In the tradition of Ender’s Game and The Matrix, MindWar is a complex thriller about a seemingly ordinary teenager who discovers a hidden gift—a gift that could make him a hero . . . or cost him everything.