Stern... a book review

Stern

 

by Brenda Jackson

 

Series: The Westmoreland Trilogy #3

 

ISBN: 9780373732647

 

Available September 3, 2013

Stern Westmoreland never makes mistakes—until he helps his best friend Jovonnie "JoJo" Jones with a makeover…for another man.  Now Stern wants JoJo for himself.  Their attraction is undeniable and there's only one way to test it...  ~ Publisher's Description


I have enjoyed reading about the Westmoreland men.  Their strong commitment to family and friends is a dying virtue.  Each book in the trilogy has blended easily to the next one. 

Stern, who decided he would be a bachelor until age 35, is now seeing his other die-hard bachelor brothers and cousins succumb to the wedding bug.  Is it possible that he is ready for a full commitment before turning 35?  While he is considering the implications, his very best friend, JoJo, is asking him to help her catch the eye of another man.  Will he act on his awakening feelings for his best friend, or step back and let her find someone else to love?

My rating: B+

3.75 out of 5 stars

(predictable storyline)

I received a complimentary ecopy of Stern from NetGalley and Harlequin Romance for my honest review.

Blessings,

     Ellen

Canyon...a book review

Canyon

 

by Brenda Jackson

 

a Westmoreland trilogy... Zane, Canyon, and Stern

 

Available: August 1, 2013

 

ISBN: 978-0373732586

Years ago, Canyon Westmoreland let misunderstandings come between him and Keisha Ashford.  But when Keisha returns to town with a two-year-old son, it's time to settle things once and for all.  A blazing attraction still burns between them, and this time around, nothing will stop Canyon from claiming what is his - his woman and his child!  ~ Publisher's Description

 

 

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

 

Canyon knew Keisha left town when she thought he was being unfaithful.  Then, two years later, she returns to Denver and resumes working at her former law office.  After 10 months, they are no closer to discussing the reason she left, and Canyon needed her to believe his innocence.  The day he follows her home from the office to talk about their past, a whole new mystery surfaces.  Someone else is following her and her home is trashed....

 

I enjoyed the tension between Keisha and Canyon.  Brenda did a wonderful job is balancing the story between their love story / romance and the mystery.  The first book, Zane, made a terrific transition into this story line.  The seamless transition makes is easy to pick up any of the books without being lost! 

 

Brenda - thanks for another wonderful story!

 

My rating: A

4 out of 5 stars

 

I received a complimentary ecopy of Canyon from NetGalley and Harlequin Desire for my honest review.

Blessings,

     Ellen

Home to Whiskey Creek... a book review

Sometimes home is the refuge you need —

and sometimes it isn't.

 

Adelaide Davies, who's been living in Davis (Sacramento), returns to Whiskey Creek, the place she once called home. She's there to take care of her aging grandmother and to help with Gran's restaurant, Just Like Mom's. But Adelaide isn't happy to be back. There are too many people here she'd rather avoid, people who were involved in that terrible June night fifteen years ago.

 

Ever since the graduation party that changed her life, she's wanted to go to the police and make sure the boys responsible—men now—are punished. But she can't, not without revealing an even darker secret. So it's better to pretend….

 

Noah Rackham, popular, attractive, successful, is shocked when Adelaide won't have anything to do with him. He has no idea that his very presence reminds her of something she'd rather forget. He only knows that he's finally met a woman he could love.

New York Times bestselling author Brenda Novak presents Home to Whiskey Creek, the fourth book in the Whiskey Creek series. Readers gain a sense of community as characters deal with both life-changing experiences and learning how to forgive those involved. ~ Publisher's Description

 

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

 

This is the fourth book in the series, A Whiskey Creek Novel.  Had I known that before agreeing to review this book, I may have skipped over it.  So glad I didn't!  Although this isn't the first, or second, book in the series, I had no problem following the characters or plot.  The story held me captive from page one and I was sad to see it end... temporarily.  Book 5, Take Me Home for Christmas, will be available November 2013.

 

Many teenagers have either been the victims or the perpetrators of horrible crimes while in high school.  How many go unreported?  How does the horrible incident affect them in adulthood?  Brenda has focused on one such incident while giving the readers an insight into the emotional and psychological trauma that goes hand-in-hand.

 

I loved this book!  If you have not read any of Brenda Novak's books yet, start with this one!  You won't be disappointed!

 

My rating: A+

5 out of 5 stars

 

Available July 30, 2013

ISBN: 9780778315452

 

I received a complimentary ecopy of Home to Whiskey Creek from Harlequin Romance and NetGalley for my honest review.

 

Blessings,

 

    Ellen

The Guardian... a book review

 

Series: Home to Hickory Hollow #3

Available now

ISBN: 9780764209796

 
Publisher Description:
 
When schoolteacher Jodi Winfield goes for a morning run, the last thing she expects is to find a disheveled little girl all alone on the side of the Pennsylvania road, clad only in her undergarments, her chubby cheeks streaked with tears. Jodi takes the preschooler home with her, intending to find out where she belongs. But Jodi is mystified when no one seems to know of a missing child, and the girl herself is no help, since she can't speak a word of English. It's as if the child appeared out of nowhere. 
 

 *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

When Jodi returns Sarah to her family, she is drawn to the simple life of the Old Order Amish.  Amazed at how well the Amish children take to her, the bishop offers her a temporary teaching position at their one-room school house - just until the Amish teacher is available.  Jodi moves in with Sarah's family during her teaching time and slowly begins to seek God once again after her sister's death.

This book is a wonderful story of God's redeeming love and grace.  How many times do we feel like God has forsaken us? Left us alone in our grief? Depression? Loneliness?  Beverly Lewis has reminded us that God has a reason and a purpose for everything we go through.

I received a complimentary copy of The Guardian from Bethany House Publisher for my honest review.

Blessings,

     Ellen

Zane... a book review

Zane

 

Publisher: Harlequin Desire

 

Available: July 1, 2013

 

ISBN-13: 978-0373732524

 

Fiction / Romance / Adult theme

After losing his parents as a teenager, Zane has not allowed any woman to get close enough to break his heart.  He continually enjoys the company of different women; yet, each time, he tells them that he will not fall in love or marry any of them.  He is a self-confirmed bachelor.

Channing was one of his girls but she thought their relationship was different.  After nine months, she pushed him to either commit or not.  He refused; she moved from Denver to Atlanta.

Now, two years later she is back in town working.  Can they find each other again?  Will she be able to allow him access to her heart once again?

Read Chapter 1 HERE.

This is the first book from author Brenda Jackson that I have read.  Brenda draws the reader into the storyline from page 1.  The characters are written realistically and may remind you of people you know.  As an adult fiction book, it does not need to rely on the 'steamier" scenes to hook the reader.  The relationships between Zane and Channing and Zane and his family reminds us what life is all about... family.

I received a complimentary ebook of Zane from Harlequin Desire and NetGalley for my honest review.

Blessings,

   Ellen

Wishing on Willows... a book review

 

by Katie Ganshert

Available NOW

WaterBrook Press

ISBN: 9780307730404

Fiction / Christian / Romance

 

As the sole owner of Willow Tree Cafe, Robin has poured her heart and soul into the business.  After the death of her husband, Micah, she renovates an old storefront with blood, sweat, tears, as their long-awaited child grows within her.

 

After four years of running the cafe, the town hires McKay Corporation to build condominiums on the site of her beloved store.  Robin digs in her heels and refuses to sell to the builder; if she sells, then One Life Ministry would lose its space, too.  As she wrestles with losing her cafe and her memories of her late husband, Robin becomes attracted to Ian - the developer working with the town mayor who is trying to "force" her out.... of course, for the good of the town of Peaks.

 

Read Chapter One

 

Katie Ganshert has written a moving novel about loss, grief, and recovery.  We all live through painful seasons in life: death of a loved one, a job loss, a broken marriage, depression.  Wishing on Willows invites us into Robin's story of healing in God's timing and His direction and reminds us how God is with us... all the time!

 

For more information on the book, click HERE

and

remember to listen to the author's podcast.

 

My rating: A

4.5 out of 5 stars

 

I received a complimentary copy of Wishing on Willows for my honest review from their Blogging for Books review program.

 

Blessings,

   

    Ellen

Uncle Tom's Cabin... a book review

 

by Harriet Beecher Stowe

(June 1811 - July 1896)

Originally published in 1852



My son and I just finished reading Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe as part of our US History and Literature program for the year.  We utilize the Progeny Press study guide which includes vocabulary, literary terms, comprehension questions, and deeper thought-based questions.

 

More information on Progeny Press

can be found HERE.

A must read for everyone!  Just like other "banned" books, Harriet Beecher Stowe desires the readers to search themselves and decide for themselves their own beliefs and why.  Good books make the reader think deeply about personal and societal issues.  This is one such book.

Remember to read the classics alongside the contemporary novels and books.  You may just find a gem that speaks directly to your heart!

My rating: 5 out of 5 stars

A +

Blessings,

     Ellen