Untethered by Marcia Lynn McClure

Untethered by Marcia Lynn McClure

Summary from Goodreads:
A man tethered by pain and guilt borne of past tragedy,
A young woman with the soul of a guardian angel,
And an unspeakable evil about to be unleashed.

As Cricket lay in the soft comfort of her bed, continuing to let her mind nest on thoughts of how truly wonderfully attractive Texas Ranger Thibodaux was, she giggled, thinking that looking at him was more refreshing than swimming naked on a summer Sunday afternoon. He was a tall drink of water—far taller than most of the other men in town—and his shoulders were as broad as the state of Texas itself. Sky-blue eyes, bronze skin, square jaw, and dark hair—and that smile! In truth, Cricket had only seen Heathro Thibodaux smile three or four times, but each incidence was something she’d never forget. His smile was bright and white, and the gold tooth he owned on the upper-right incisor of his smile only embellished the richness of it.

That one tooth. Cricket’s smile faded as she thought of it. Oh, no doubt the flash only added to the splendor of his smile. Yet it also served as a reminder to anyone who had ever read or heard of what had happened in Texas one year before. No doubt it was a powerful remembrance to Heathro Thibodaux himself—a visual indication of true barbarity, pain, and loss. 

In that moment, Cricket wondered—when Heathro looked in the mirror each morning and saw that tooth, did he think of eight dead girls buried in the bottom of a bleak and barren canyon? Did he think of the eight dead girls that he, for no fault of his own, had been unable to save?

4 Stars

Read September 2013

Historical Romance, Free e-book on Kindle (read on phone and tablet)

My Review:
This historical romance has some really wonderful aspects.  I loved the main character and her friends.  They were a great group of girls that would be fun to know.  

Between the conflict and the romance, there were situations in this book that were intense.  I would consider this book clean, but it had heavy kissing and discussion of "how babies are made" and white slavery.

Warnings: Heavy kissing, white slavery

I would not let my 15 year old daughter read this book at this time.

V is for Virgin by Kelly Oram

V is for Virgin by Kelly Oram

Summary from Goodreads:
When Val Jensen gets dumped for her decision to stay a virgin until marriage, the nasty breakup goes viral on YouTube, making her the latest internet sensation. 

After days of ridicule from her peers, Val starts a school-wide campaign to rally support for her cause. She meant to make a statement, but she never dreamed the entire nation would get caught up in the controversy. 

As if becoming nationally recognized as “Virgin Val” isn’t enough, Val’s already hectic life starts to spin wildly out of control when bad boy Kyle Hamilton, lead singer for the hit rock band Tralse, decides to take her abstinence as a personal challenge.

How can a girl stay true to herself when this year’s Sexiest Man Alive is doing everything in his power to win her over?

5 Stars

Read September 2013

Teen/Young Adult, e-book on Nook

My Review:
I have been thinking about this book for days.  It was not at all what I expected, and that is a good thing. 

What I was expecting:
A cute teen read about a girl who stays true to her decision to remain a virgin until marriage.  

What I got:
An in depth look at the decisions we each make, why we make them, and how we stay true to them.  

And, a look at standing up for something we truly believe in, not just for ourselves, but in front of the community, and for the people that live in it.

And, so much more.

I can't put in to words the thoughts I have had about this book.  But I'll try to put some of them down.  The characters felt real to me.  If I agreed or disagreed with their opinions, they still brought up valid questions.  The main decision questioned in this book is Val's decision to remain a virgin until marriage.  However, I was most struck by how that decision brought up questions about so many other topics.  One of the characters identifies with Val because he wants to make his own decision about a completely different issue.  I found myself questioning decisions I have made in my life and why I made them.  So many things to think about!

There were so many characters in this book which each had vital roles in the story.  They were each different and brought different perspectives to the situations in the book.  I appreciated getting all opinions and views on the subjects that were brought up.

Some issues I had with the writing/story...I wish Val's parents were more involved.  She has an adult "mentor" in the book, but she expresses a need to discuss things with her parents, but those scenes aren't in the book.  I think parents are MOST important and I wish we could have seen that relationship more.  There was too much eye rolling.  Pet peeve of mine. 

Warnings: Virginity/Sex is the main topic of this book.  So there is a lot of mature talk.  There is a lot of kissing (some fairly intense) and some attempted petting.

I would not allow my 15 year old daughter to read this book at this time.  However, that is because she is not even allowed to date at this time.  She is fairly innocent in this subject matter.  At this point in her life, she hasn't been on a date or kissed a boy, let alone explored her feelings and decisions about sex.  

I think this book would be appropriate for teens who are actively dating and potentially sexually active.  It brings up valid questions for teens and adults alike.

EDENBROOKE is on SALE!

Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson is on SALE right now!

It can be yours for your NOOK or KINDLE for just $1.99!  What a steal for this fantastic book.  Enjoy!

And, I can't wait to read Blackmoore, coming soon!

Finding Sheba by H.B. Moore

Finding Sheba by H.B. Moore

Summary from Goodreads:
An ancient legend is reborn . . . One that might prove the Bible false.

For centuries, historians have theorized the Queen of Sheba as only a seductive legend, and scholars have debated over the legitimacy of King David or King Solomon. When undercover Israeli agent, Omar Zagouri, stumbles onto a tomb in Northern Jerusalem he unknowingly finds the final clue that threatens to overthrow government claim to the Holy Land, pits wealthy collectors against one another, and sends ruthless archaeologists scrambling to find the queen’s secret burial place. An assassination attempt on the Coptic Pope, His Holiness, Patriarch Stephanus II, is only the first in the chain of lethal crimes. Omar must find a way to prevent the greatest discovery of the century from becoming the most deadly.

4 Stars

Read August 2013

Adventure/Thriller/Historical Fiction, e-book on Nook

My Review:
I love how I can't define the genre of this book.  It is an adventure, a thriller, historical fiction, a romance...this book has so much!

This book follows three story lines.  I like getting all the views of what is going on.  However, there were times that it got a little bit confusing.  It wasn't enough to upset me, but I did occasionally have to go back and re-read.  During the last third of the book all of the story lines converge and the story accelerates.  

I like the characters, good and bad.  There are several main characters and lots of secondary characters as well.  I like that sometimes I can't tell if a character is good or bad.  I like the settings, happening in several different countries, some in cities, some at archaeology sites.  I like the subject matter.  I don't know much about the Old Testament in the Bible and this caused me to dust it off and look for the references myself.  I appreciate that I was drawn in to this story and got emotionally involved.

Overall, I love archaeology and all things related, I love the action/adventure, and I love the romantic  ties.  I joked once that this book was going to be like reading an Indiana Jones movie.  Well, it was like that, but even better.  

Warnings: murder, some graphic battle scenes, but not a lot.

I would let my 15 year old read this book.  I even recommended it to my husband, but we'll see if he reads it or not.

Lord Haversham Takes Command by Heidi Ashworth

Lord Haversham Takes Command by Heidi Ashworth

Summary from Goodreads:
Lord Haversham feels as if he is always running, first from Lord and Lady Avery, his foolish parents, then from the consequences of a schoolboy prank gone awry. Now a secret service agent to the young Queen Victoria, he has run back to England from traitors who seek his life. Little does he know he is running into danger of a different kind; the perceptive, sapphire-blue gaze of his childhood love, Miranda Crenshaw. How is he to win her heart without giving away his secret and endangering the life of the Queen? 

Mira's parents, Sir Anthony and Lady Crenshaw, had always assumed their daughter would wed her lifelong friend, Harry. However, when he returns to England after a long absence, gone is the boy they had known and loved. Instead he is Bertie, a silly fop exactly like his flibbertigibbet parents. As such, her parents feel obliged to wed her to George, the young Duke of Marcross, whom Mira despises. Instead, she dreams of the man Harry was meant to be. When she catches a glimpse of him beneath his silly facade, she must find a way to persuade her parents he is the man for her--before he once again runs out of her life.

4 Stars

Read August 2013

Historical Fiction, e-book on Kindle (Phone App), currently only 99 cents, but price will undoubtedly go up.

My Review:
I enjoyed Miss Delacourt Speaks Her Mind and Miss Delacourt Has Her Day a few years ago.  Then this last Christmas, Heidi Ashworth published Lady Crenshaw's Christmas.  I was so happy there were more stories about Miss Delacourt and her family.  How could I not like Lord Haversham Takes Command?

This story has all of the things that I liked about the other books.  It has great likeable characters, evil and annoying ones too, a historical English setting, romance and adventure.  There are great kisses in this book.  Each chapter is told from 3rd person POV for the two main characters.  It gives us a glimpse at what each is experiencing and feeling.  I like knowing what each is experiencing in the story.  

And I would be happy to have another story from Heidi Ashworth if she would like to continue this next generation of stories.

Warnings: Shooting with pistols

I would let my 15 year old read this book.

Working it Out by Rachael Anderson

Working it Out by Rachael Anderson

Summary from Goodreads:
A chance encounter . . . 
Grace Warren's life is safe and predictable—exactly the way she likes it. But when she gets roped into going to an auction to help out a friend, everything changes. She meets Seth Tuttle—a guy who unexpectedly kisses her then disappears, leaving her flustered and upset. If she never sees him again, it will be too soon.

A chance for love . . . 
Weeks later, when Seth limps into Grace's rehab clinic post surgery, he's every bit as frustrating and annoying as she remembered. Yet there's something about him that makes her second-guess her carefully placed boundaries even though he's everything she's sure she doesn't want in a man. But maybe Seth is exactly what Grace has needed all along—assuming she's willing to risk safe and predictable for a chance at love.

4 Stars

Read August 2013

Contemporary Romance/E-book on Kindle (read on my phone App)

My Review:
This was a clean romance.  It had a fun story, but also had some serious moments that caused me to reflect on life and what is important.  There were moments of great frustration and moments of laughter.  
Overall, I liked the idea of accepting people and loving them for who they are, but also knowing our own abilities and limitations in being able to have those people in our lives.  I can love someone, but not be able to live with them on a day to day basis.  The best comes about when people are able to accept and love each other and compromise to find the fit that allows you to be together.  

Warnings: Death, serious injury, living with disability

I would let my 15 year old read this book.

Sweet Cherry Ray by Marcia Lynn McClure

Sweet Cherry Ray by Marcia Lynn McClure

Excerpt from Goodreads:
“Cherry glanced at her pa who frowned and slightly shook his head. Still, she couldn’t help herself and she leaned over and looked down the road.
She could see the rider and his horse—a large buckskin stallion. As he rode nearer, she studied his white shirt, black flat-brimmed hat and double-breasted vest. Ever nearer he rode and she fancied his pants were almost the same color as his horse, with silver buttons running down the outer leg. Cherry had seen a similar manner of dress before—on the Mexican vaqueros that often worked for her pa in the fall.
“Cherry,” her pa scolded in a whisper as the stranger neared them. 
She straightened and blushed, embarrassed by being as impolite in her staring as the other town folk were in theirs. It seemed everyone had stopped whatever they had been doing to walk out to the street and watch the stranger ride in.
No one spoke—the only sound was that of the breeze, a falcon’s cry overhead and the rhythm of the rider’s horse as it slowed to a trot….”

4 Stars

Read August 2013

Historical Romance, free e-book from Amazon (read on my phone app)

My Review:
This was a quick, fun read.  The characters were delightful and witty.  I liked the humor, the romance, the stupid troubles that came up, and the setting.  

This is the first book I've read by Marcia Lynn McClure and I look forward to reading others.

Warnings: Steamy kissing, talk of saloon girls and what they do, gun fights/killing

I would let my 15 year old read this book.