Moonlight Masquerade

Moonlight Masquerade

by Ruth Axtell

About the book (from the back cover):

Lady Celine Wexham seems the model British subject. French by birth but enjoying life in 1813 as a widowed English countess, she is in the unique position of being able to help those in need -- or to spy for the notorious Napoleon Bonaparte. When Rees Phillips of the British Foreign Office is sent to pose as the countess's butler and discover where her true loyalties lie, he is confident he will uncover the truth. But the longer he is in her fashionable townhouse in London's West End, the more his staunch loyalty to the Crown begins to waver as he falls under Lady Wexham's spell. Will he find the proof he needs? And if she is a spy after all, what then will he do? With sharp wit, fast-paced dialogue, and infectious intrigue, Ruth Axtell deftly creates a world where black and white burst into a confusion of colors -- and no one is who they seem.

My take:

I was drawn into the book at the very beginning as Rees ("Mr. MacKinnon") is searching through Lady Celine's dressing room for evidence that she is a spy. I felt my heart beating faster and faster as it became certain that he was going to get caught. I was eager to keep reading, but was kind of disappointed when the chapters to come failed to keep my attention. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood for this sort of book at the time, but I never did find the same excitement as I did at the beginning. I thought the idea for the story was great, but it didn't intrigue me the way I thought it would.

I give this book a "3."

Available March 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.


About the author:

Ruth Axtell is the author of thirteen novels, including Wild Rose, one of Booklist's Top Ten in Christian Fiction. Currently a resident of Downeast Maine, Axtell has lived in the Canary Islands, Miami, and the Netherlands.









Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Picture Perfect

Picture Perfect

by Janice Thompson

About the book (from the publisher):

Feisty wedding photographer Hannah McDermott has dealt with her share of difficult brides. But none can compare to the ultimate Bridezilla she's dealing with now. Still, she's trying desperately to impress Bella Neely, Galveston Island's most sought-after wedding planner, so she can take the top spot in Bella's list of recommended photographers -- a spot currently occupied by her arch-rival, Drew Kincaid. What she doesn't count on, however, is falling head over heels for the competition.

My take:

I really loved this book. From the very beginning I felt drawn into Hannah's story and her "rivalry" with Drew Kincaid. I love photography, so all of the photography references struck a chord (or should I say "hit the shutter"?) for me. I also loved how "Irish" this book was. Being Irish myself, it was fun to read about an Irish-American family. 

I think my favorite part of the book was the aspect of forgiveness. This wasn't just a romantic comedy. It hit on some real issues that people have, including jealousy and unforgiveness. I really liked how the author made these issues a part of the storyline.

I also enjoyed reading about Bella Neely. She and her family were fun characters. Now that I know there are 3 other books with her in them, I will make sure to read them. I am also looking forward to the rest of the books in this series.

I give this book a "5" and recommend it to anyone who enjoys romantic comedy with a message.


Available February 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.


About the author:

Janice Thompson is a seasoned romance author and former screenwriter. An expert at pulling the humor from the situations we get ourselves into, Thompson afford an inside look at TV land, drawing on her experiences as a screenwriter. She is the author of the Weddings by Bella series and Stars Collide. She lives in Texas.







Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

The Deposit Slip

The Deposit Slip

by Todd M. Johnson

From the back cover:

Erin Larson is running out of options. In the wake of her father's death, she found a slim piece of paper - a deposit slip - with an unbelievable amount of money on it. Only the bank claims they have no record of money, and trying to hire a lawyer has brought only intimidation and threats. Erin's last chance is Jared Neaton. When Jared wearied of the shady ethics of his big law firm and went out on his own, he never expected the wheels to fly off so quickly. One big loss has pushed him to the brink, and it's all he can do to scrape by. He's not sure if Erin's case is worth the risk, but if the money is real, all his problems could vanish. When digging deeper unleashes something far more dangerous than just threats, both Jared and Erin must decide the cost they're willing to pay to discover the truth.

My take:

I really enjoyed this book, but found it to be very slow moving for my tastes. That being said, I loved the premise of the story. I found myself wondering if a bank really could hide a deposit (this seemed kind of unlikely to me, as I believe all banks are part of the FDIC). But it was still an interesting thought to ponder. The book reminded me a lot of a John Grisham novel, without the language and immorality. One thing I wished would have been a bit more prominent is Jared Neaton's love interest. Maybe it's because I'm a girl, but I really enjoy reading a good love story. I know this wasn't meant to be a romance, and I'm not trying to make it into one, but I would have enjoyed reading a bit more of the "romantic tension" in the story. I am kind of hoping the lack of it means there will be a sequel. Overall, I really did enjoy this book and give it a "4."


About the author:

Todd M. Johnson has practiced as an attorney for over thirty years, specializing as a trial lawyer. A graduate of Princeton University and the University of Minnesota Law School, he also taught for two years as adjunct professor of International Law and served as a U.S. diplomat in Hong Kong. He lives outside Minneapolis, Minnesota, with his wife, his son, Ian, and his daughter, Libby. This is his debut novel. Visit his website at www.authortoddmjohnson.com.





Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

The Scent of Rain

The Scent of Rain

by Kristin Billerbeck

From the publisher:

When deprived of her most prized sense, Daphne discovers a life she never expected, right under her nose. 

Daphne Sweeten has left Paris - and a career she loves - in order to marry a man she loves more. But when he stands her up on their wedding day, Daphne's left reeling. Trained as a professional "nose" or perfume creator, Daphne soon realizes that her sense of smell has somehow disappeared too. In the days following she moves to Dayton, Ohio, to take on a job creating fragrances for household products. Without her sense of smell, she must rely on her chemistry skills, and hope that her handsome new boss, Jesse Lightner, doesn't notice before she can figure out how to get it back. Despite her desire to return to Paris, she can't deny the way Jesse makes her feel. But when Daphne approaches former contacts, she learns her ex-fiance has somehow snagged her old job. As Daphne and Jesse work on a signature scent for their new line, she feels God at work in her life as never before. And the promise of what is possible is as fresh as the scent of rain.

My take:

When I first read the description for this book, I couldn't help but be reminded of Melody "The Nose" (played by Mimi Rogers) in my favorite Christmas movie, The Christmas List. I never realized that there really were people who could pick up the subtlest of scents within a perfume. This heightened sense of smell fascinates me!

Scent of Rain was an enjoyable read. I have read quite a few of Kristin Billerbeck's other books and this one didn't fail to disappoint. It started out a bit slow for me, but as I kept reading, I became more invested in the story line. I was especially interested to figure out the reason Daphne had lost her sense of smell and how she would recover it.

The other part of the book that drew my attention was the fact that it took place in good old Dayton, Ohio! I found myself wondering how Kristin came up with the idea for Dayton to be the main setting of the book. Being from Ohio myself, I enjoyed reading about Dayton.

If you are looking for a light fiction read, I would recommend this one! I give it 4 stars.

About the author:

Christy Award finalist and two-time winner of the ACFW Book of the Year award, Kristin Billerbeck has appeared on The Today Show and has been featured in the New York Times. Her books include A Billion Reasons Why and What a Girl Wants. She lives with her family in Northern California.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from BookSneeze. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Baroness

Baroness

by Susan May Warren

Yes, this is another book review I wasn't required to write! But since I did a review on Heiress, the book that preceded this one, I thought I should follow up on my excitement for the series! I certainly wasn't disappointed with this second book!

Baroness picks up a few years after Heiress left off. It jumps into the stories of Lillie Hoyt (daughter of Esme Price Hoyt) and Rosie Worth (daughter of Jinx Price Worth). The two girls are 19 years old and on a vacation in Paris in the Roaring 20s. When Paris becomes more a place for broken hearts for the two girls, Lillie ends up trying to go back home to Montana and Rosie goes back to New York City.

Like the first novel, I found myself not wanting to put this one down - though, I have to admit that I liked the style of Heiress a little better. Again, I found myself drawn to the way Susan May Warren created her characters so "real," with faults just like you and me. I am really hoping she writes a third novel - though I have looked at her website and Amazon and haven't found a title or synopsis yet! I definitely recommend this one!

About the author:

Susan May Warren is an award-winning, best-selling author of over twenty-five novels, many of which have won the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, the ACFW Book of the Year award, the Rita Award, and have been Christy finalists. After serving as a missionary for eight years in Russia, Susan returned home to a small town on Minnesota’s beautiful Lake Superior shore where she, her four children, and her husband are active in their local church.

Susan's larger than life characters and layered plots have won her acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. A seasoned women’s events and retreats speaker, she’s a popular writing teacher at conferences around the nation and the author of the beginning writer’s workbook: From the Inside-Out: discover, create and publish the novel in you!. She is also the founder of www.MyBookTherapy.com, a story-crafting service that helps authors discover their voice.

Susan makes her home in northern Minnesota, where she is busy cheering on her two sons in football, and her daughter in local theater productions (and desperately missing her college-age son!)

A full listing of her titles, reviews and awards can be found at: www.susanmaywarren.com.

The Shadow of Your Smile

The Shadow of Your Smile

by  Susan May Warren

Description from the publisher:

A beautiful blanket of snow may cover the quaint town of Deep Haven each winter, but it can't quite hide the wreckage of Noelle and Eli Hueston's marriage. After twenty-five years, they're contemplating divorce...just as soon as their youngest son graduates from high school. But then an accident erases Noelle's memory. Though her other injuries are minor, she doesn't remember Eli, their children, or the tragedy that has ripped their family apart. What's more, Noelle is shocked that her life has turned out nothing like she dreamed it would. As she tries to regain her memory and slowly slips into her role as a wife and mother, Eli helps her readjust to daily life with sometimes-hilarious, sometimes-heartwarming results. But can she fall in love again with a man she can't remember? Will their secrets destroy them...or has erasing the past given them a chance for a future?

I absolutely loved this book. Having read two other Susan May Warren books that I thoroughly enjoyed, I had high expectations for The Shadow of Your Smile. Let me tell you that this book didn't disappoint me in the least. In fact, it made me love Susan May Warren even more! Her ability to tell a compelling story with memorable characters and scenes is evident in this book. I highly recommend The Shadow of Your Smile. On a side note, I can't even type the book's title without hearing the song..."The Shadow of your smile/When you are gone/Will color all my dreams and light the dawn..." It is one of my favorite songs, and this book has also become one of my favorites. I enthusiastically give it a 5!

Come Back to Deep Haven and Win a $200 Visa Card from @SusanMayWarren!

Sometimes love requires a little forgetting ... Come back to Deep Haven and find out what's been happening in your favorite quaint hamlet. If you're new to the Deep Haven series - this is the perfect book to start with - each book in the series is a stand alone story.


Susan is celebrating the release of The Shadow of Your Smile by giving away a prize pack worth over $200 from 1/9-1/28.

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A $200 Visa Gift Card (Use that to rekindle a little romance, treat yourself to a spa day, snap up those shoes you’ve been eyeing, or purchase a few great books!)

• The entire set of Deep Haven Books 

The winner will be announced on 1/30/12 on Susan’s blog, Scribbles! Just click one of the icons below to enter and tell your friends about Susan's giveaway on FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.

About the author:

Susan May Warren is an award-winning, best-selling author of over twenty-five novels, many of which have won the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, the ACFW Book of the Year award, the Rita Award, and have been Christy finalists. After serving as a missionary for eight years in Russia, Susan returned home to a small town on Minnesota’s beautiful Lake Superior shore where she, her four children, and her husband are active in their local church.

Susan's larger than life characters and layered plots have won her acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. A seasoned women’s events and retreats speaker, she’s a popular writing teacher at conferences around the nation and the author of the beginning writer’s workbook: From the Inside-Out: discover, create and publish the novel in you!. She is also the founder ofwww.MyBookTherapy.com, a story-crafting service that helps authors discover their voice.

Susan makes her home in northern Minnesota, where she is busy cheering on her two sons in football, and her daughter in local theater productions (and desperately missing her college-age son!)

A full listing of her titles, reviews and awards can be found at: www.susanmaywarren.com. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from LitFuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Chasing Mona Lisa

Chasing Mona Lisa

by Tricia Goyer and Mike Yorkey

From the back cover:

One enigmatic smile. Two passionate protectors. And a relentlessly ticking clock. August 1944. Paris is on the cusp of liberation. As the soldiers of the Third Reich flee the Allied advance, the ravage the country and steal countless pieces of irreplaceable art. In fact, Reichsmarschall Hermann Goring will stop at nothing to claim the most valuable one of all - the Mona Lisa - as a postwar bargaining chip. 

But the woman with the mysterious smile has some very determined protectors. Can Swiss agents Gabi Mueller and Eric Hofstadler rescue Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece before it falls into German hands? 

With nonstop action and intrigue, Chasing Mona Lisa is sure to get your adrenaline pumping as you join the chase to save the most famous painting in the world. From war-ravaged Paris to a posh Swiss chateau, the race is on - and the runners are playing for keeps.

I wanted to like this book. The cover makes it sound very intriguing - and with my love for the World War II era, you would think this would be a book I couldn't put down. But try as I might, I could not get into it. Whether it was the fact that there were too many characters to keep track of or the fact that there was so much going on it was hard to figure out what was what, I had a hard time reading Chasing Mona Lisa. I can't say it was horrible, but it wasn't very enjoyable for me either. This is the second book in a series, sequel to The Swiss Courier. Perhaps if I had read that book first, I would have understood the characters more.

I would have to give this book a 3.

This book is available January 2012 from your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

About the authors:

Tricia Goyer is the coauthor of The Swiss Courier as well as the author of many other books, including Night Song and Dawn of a Thousand Nights, both past winners of the ACFW's Book of the Year Award for Long Historical Romance. Goyer lives with her family in Arkansas.

Mike Yorkey is the author or coauthor of dozens of books, including The Swiss Courier and the bestselling Every Man's Battle series. Married to a Swiss native, Yorkey lived in Switzerland for 18 months. He and his family currently reside in California.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

7 Money Rules for Life

7 Money Rules for Life

by Mary Hunt

I am currently taking a class on finances and debt at my church, so I am very interested in reading books about financial freedom. Mary Hunt's book 7 Money Rules for Life is one such book that would be very helpful to anyone who is interested in learning how to live life debt free. Hunt starts out with her personal story of how she incurred $100,000 worth of debt and how she rid herself of it. She then goes through 7 guidelines for financial freedom.

I very much enjoyed reading this book and know that I will refer back to it in the future. There are many helpful tips in this book, and many more can be found on Mary's website, Debt Proof Living. 

I give this book a 5.

This book is available January 2012 from your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

About the author:

Mary Hunt, award-winning and bestselling author, syndicated columnist, and sought-after motivational speaker, has created a global platform that is making strides to help men and women battle the epidemic impact of consumer debt. Mary is the founder of Debt-Proof Living, a highly regarded organization consisting of an interactive website, a monthly newsletter, a daily syndicated column, and hundreds of thousands of loyal followers. Since 1992, DPL has been dedicated to its mission to provide hope, help, and realistic solutions for individuals who are committed to financially responsible and debt-free living. As a speaker, Mary travels extensively, addressing conferences, corporations, colleges, universities, and churches at home and abroad. A frequent guest on radio and television, she has appeared on dozens of television shows including Dr. Phil, Good Morning America, The Oprah Winfrey Show, and Dateline. Mary lives with her husband in Orange County, California.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Book Reviews of the Week: Oct 9-15, 2011

Check out these reviews! All of them look great!



Tammy at Bluerose's Heart blogs about Carla Anne Coroy's Married Mom, Solo Parent: Finding God's Strength to Face the Challenge here.










Deborah at Books, Movies & Chinese Food writes about Donna Johnson's Holy Ghost Girl here.

Becky at Christian Chick's Thoughts reviews Tricia Goyer's Along Wooded Paths here.











Katie at Legacy of a Writer shares her thoughts on Kathi Macias' Deliver Me From Evil here.







Chantel at Life, Laughter & Little Things writes about Lawrence O. Richards' It Couldn't Have Just Happened here.








Christy at Southern Sassy Things blogs about Kathy Herman's False Pretenses here.












Wall to Wall Books reviews Susan May Warren's Baby, It's Cold Outside here.

Book Reviews of the Week: Oct 2-8, 2011

Check out these book reviews!

Becky at Christian Chick's Thoughts posted a review on Stephanie Grace Whitson's A Most Unsuitable Match. Read it here.

Renee at Doorkeeper writes about Katie's Davis' Kisses from Katie here.

Christy at Southern Sassy Things blogged about Tracie Peterson's House of Secrets here.

Lydia at The Overweight Bookshelf reviews Debbie Viguie's Kiss of Night here.

Tammy at Bluerose's Heart writes about Amy Parker's Night Night Blessings here. 

These all look like interesting books!

Until next week,

Holly

Book Reviews of the Week!

Check out these book reviews:

My friend Becky at Christian Chick's Thoughts posted a review on Susan May Warren's novel, Heiress, here.

Deborah at Books, Movies, & Chinese Food posted a great review on Kim Cash Tate's Cherished here.

Katie at Legacy of a Writer writes about Maggie Brendan's Deeply Devoted here.

Lydia at The Overweight Bookshelf reviewed Adina Senft's The Wounded Heart here.

Wall-to-Wall Books posted a review on Life Application Study Bible Devotional Daily Wisdom from the Life of Jesus here. She's also giving away a copy, so go on over there and post a comment for a chance to win!

Tammy at Bluerose's Heart reviewed Anne Elisabeth Stengl's Veiled Rose here.

Happy 2 Be Scrappin' writes about Jenny B. Jones' There You'll Find Me here.

Christy at Southern Sassy Things posted a review on Tosca Lee's Havah: The Story of Eve here.

I don't know about you, but I think all of these books sound great!