My review of The Deepest Waters by Dan Walsh

 Title: The Deepest Waters

Author: Dan Walsh
Genre: Christian historical fiction with a touch of romance
Publisher: Revell Books

Date released: May 1st, 2011

ISBN: 0800719808
Stars (out of 5): ***
Age rating:  PG-12
This book was completely clean ( beside the occasional kiss) and would be appropriate for a 12 year old, although it wasn't very exciting and probably wouldn't be very entertaining to them.
Back cover (from Goodreads.com):
What began as a fairytale honeymoon in 1857 for John and Laura Foster aboard the steamship SS Vandervere becomes a nightmare when a hurricane causes their ship to sink into the murky depths of the Atlantic. Laura finds herself with the other women and children aboard a sailing ship while John and a hundred other men drift on the open sea on anything they could grab as the Vandervere went down. Suspecting her John is gone but still daring to hope for a miracle, Laura must face the possibility of life alone--and meeting her new in-laws without their son if she ever reaches New York. Readers will be holding their breath as they sail through this emotional and honest story of hope, faith, and love in the face of uncertainty. Talented author Dan Walsh skillfully tells an epic story through an intimate focus on two lost lovers. Inspired by real events, this moving novel will capture the hearts of all who dive into its pages.
My Thoughts: 
Deepest waters is the tragic tale of newlywed couple Laura and john forgets....and I though I'd never get to the end, but in a good way. The story starts out with Laura Foster on the a ship named the Cutlass, sailing away from a ship wreck and her doomed husband. The story was almost agonizing with how some people missed each other by mere seconds sometimes, or at least it seemed that way. And I almost didn't have enough courage to read the last chapter, least a certain someones, didn't make it. But as a historical novel, the details were spot on, and though the story was centered on romance, I didn't feel there was quite enough for me. But of course, to me, there is no such thing as too much romance. Unfortunately, this is one of those books, that when given the choice, you probably wouldn't read again just because you already know how it ends and that is the the most exciting part of the story. But this book is a nice edition to my bookshelf and if your a history nut, I know you'd find enough interesting facts and history to keep turning the pages.
 
*This book was given to me by the publisher in return for my honest review. I was not compensated in any way or influenced to write a positive review*

Available May 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. 

If you'd like to know more about Dan Walsh and his books, go to:
The Publisher
His Website
Goodreads
 


 I want to give a shout-out to Coco and Renee (Coco's Mommy). Happy 3rd Birthday sweet Coco and Happy Blogaversary to you Renee!!! Love, love, LOVE your blog and Coco is just the cutest, can't wait to see what you guys going to do next. ;~)

And  I have a lot more reviews to come, so be on the look out. 

Love Y'all,

Ashley

Guest Blogger's of Things I Wish I Knew Before I got Married by Gary Chapman

I'm back guys, well sorta. Actually it's my sister who is appearing on my blog today with her review of Things I wish I knew Before I Got Married. My sister was in engage and I really wanted to get her something I knew she would use, so when this book was up for review, I just had to get it for her. Only problem: she had to write a 200 or more word review on it. Needless to say, she went along with it and so here is her review...

Title: Things I Wish I Knew Before I Got Married
Author: Gary Chapman
Genre: NONFICTION - ADULT: Family & Home: Family & Relationships: Other

Publisher: Moody Publishers
Date released: 09/01/2010
ISBN: 9780802481832
Stars (out of 5): ***
Age rating:  This book is geared toward mostly engaged and married couples
Back cover:
"Most people spend far more time in preparation for their vocation than they do in preparation for marriage,” Dr. Gary Chapman


No wonder the divorce rate hovers around fifty percent.
Bestselling author and marriage counselor, Gary Chapman, hopes to change that with his newest book. Gary, with more than 35 years of counseling couples, believes that divorce is the lack of preparation for marriage and the failure to learn the skills of working together as intimate teammates.
So he put together this practical little book, packed with wisdom and tips that will help many develop the loving, supportive and mutually beneficial marriage men and women long for. It’s the type of information Gary himself wished he had before he got married.
This is not a book simply to be read. It is a book to be experienced. The material lends itself to heart-felt discussions by dating or engaged couples. To jump-start the exchanges, each short chapter includes insightful “Talking it Over” questions and suggestions. And, the book includes information on interactive websites as well as books that will enhance the couples experience.
Dr. Chapman even includes a thought-provoking appendix. By understanding and balancing the five key aspects of life, dating couples can experience a healthy dating relationship. A revealing learning exercise for dating couples is included at the end.


Angela's Thoughts:
Things I wish I knew before I got married was an interesting book. It was well written and clear in its presentation of the information. I would like to see some more suggestions on how to fix concerns that are brought up in each chapter. Concerns are presented and explored but with little help on how to avoid or correct anything. As a woman who is recently engaged and fast approaching my marriage, this book scared me. I see the potential for disaster around every corner and don’t know how to avoid any of it. The information is well presented though. Each issue is explored in detail and has examples to clarify any misunderstandings. This book could be very helpful to any person with a little more advice. I knew that marriage was not going to be easy but I did not know all the situations I would be facing. This book did open my eyes to issues I had not considered. I would love to see more help in this book. More helpful suggestions and things that will improve these issues.


*Many thanks Moody Publishers for sending me a copy of Things I Wish I Knew Before I Got Married. I was in no way paid for my review and is my honest opinion of this book*
 

 
If you'd like to know more about Gary Chapman and his books go to:
HIS WEBSITE
PUBLISHER
GOODREADS
 
 
 
 
 
Well, I'm off with Angela to Atlanta to actually pick up her wedding dress (coindenece?). As always...
 Love Y'all,
Ashley

My Review: The Vigilante's Bride by Yvonne Harris

Only a few left! Almost done.

Title: The Vigilante's Bride
Author: Yvonne Harris
Genre: Historical inspirational romance

Publisher: Bethany House
Date released: August 1st 2010
ISBN: 978-0-7642-0804-1
Stars (out of 5): *** 
Age rating: PG-12:

The Hero in this story is the ring leader in many lynching mobs, which is a pleasant thing and may be a bit gruesome, though I didn't find that to be true in this book.

Back cover (from Bethany House):

Is Her Kidnapper the Only Man Who Can Keep Her Safe?

Robbing a stagecoach on Christmas Eve and abducting a woman passenger is the last thing Luke Sullivan expected to do. He just wanted to reclaim the money stolen from his pa, but instead ended up rescuing a feisty copper-haired woman who was on her way to marry Sullivan's dangerous enemy.
Emily McCarthy doesn't take kindly to her so-called rescue. Still, she's hoping Providence will turn her situation for good, especially when it seems Luke Sullivan may just be the man of her dreams. But Luke has crossed a vicious man, a powerful rancher not used to losing, and Emily is the prize he's unwilling to sacrifice.


My Thoughts:
The Vigilante’s Bride, started out strong, but got weak towards the end.


Emily is too old to stay at the orphanage, so the Board is sending her away to be a mail-order bride. No amount of arguing on her side will get them to change her mind, and next thing Emily knows, she half way to Montana. Enter Luke Sullivan, vigilante, and cattle-rustler-punisher. He hangs a criminal every other week, but the job has gotten too much for Luke, and he decides to head back to the only home he has known, to the orphanage. But, while stopped at a tavern, Luke over hears that his enemy, the man who stole his families land, is expecting a shipment on the stage, that very night. What ensues is calamity filled evening for both Emily and Luke.

I liked how Emily wasn’t a simpering female, but I feel as if her character could have been stronger and more detailed. Luke was one of the more interesting characters and definitely had a history I wanted to know more about. I did like the romance between Emily and Luke was sweet, but it seems that Bartholomew Axel, Luke's enemy and the man who ordered Emily from the orphanage to be his bride, didn’t care as much as the synopsis on the back of the book. I think I would have liked Bartholomew to fight more, to get Emily back; at least then there would have been more actions. The book had some nice details that draw me in, but the plot and overall story lost me and left me wanting. This is not to say, you shouldn’t give it a try.

*This book was given to me by the publisher in return for my honest review. I was not compensated in any way or influenced to write a positive review*

 
 
If you'd like to know more about Yvonne Harris and her books, go to:
The Publisher
Her Website
Goodreads





Love Y'all,
Ashley

My Review: Still House Pond by Jan Watson

Three Down. I'm no anywhere close to done, but I'm getting there.

Title: Still House Pond

Author: Jan Watson
Genre: Historical inspirational

Publisher: Tyndall House
Date released: August 1st 2010
ISBN:1414323867 

Stars (out of 5): ***1/2
Age rating: PG-13:

The story is a little intense at some points and suggestive content between Manda and a mysterious man.

Back cover (from Tyndale House):

Lilly Gray Corbett loves living on Troublesome Creek, but she would much rather play with her best friend than watch her little brother and the twins. Her mama, Copper, is often gone helping to birth babies, and Lilly has to stay home. When Aunt Alice sends a note inviting her to visit in the city, Lilly is excited to go, and Copper reluctantly agrees to let her. Later, when they hear the news that the train crashed, Copper and her husband, John, rush to find out if their daughter is injured . . . or even alive.

My Thoughts:

Still House Pond is the continuation of the Troublesome Creek series and centers on Copper’s daughter Lilly and herself and their hired girl, Manda. An invitation for Lilly Gray to come visit her Deceased father’s sister arrives and disrupts their household. But Copper is too busy help to-be mothers, to see Lilly off, but asks Manda too instead. But, Manda has met a young man in town and as Manda and Lilly are waiting for the coach, the mysterious man shows up and this is Manda’s chance to get to better know him. What transpires after that is one a series of unfortunate. I very much disliked Manda’s sisters; they seemed so mean and hateful and treat Manda more like a slave instead of a sister. Lilly is just like any other twelve year old girl. She wants adventures outside of her childhood home and this trip is the perfect opportunity for her to be grown up and on her own…sort of. I liked how the authors had many plot twists, that I had never expected and that made the story exciting. The overall story was gripping and real and the characters were rich in details. But, I felt like I was missing something by not reading the author's first series, which ties into this book. The only BIG thing I also didn't like about this book was that the story was rushed and too short.  

*This book was given to me by the publisher in return for my honest review. I was not compensated in any way or influenced to write a positive review*

To learn more about Jan Watson and her books, go to:
The Publisher
Her Website
Goodreads






Love Y'all,
Ashley

My Review: The Sheriff's Surrender by Susan Page Davis

Everyone is making up New Year's resolution for 2011, and I have a few of my own I've come up with, but one of them will actually begin before the new year. See, I've been so behind on reviews that I have a stack of them waiting to be written, so my resolution is too complete all my book reviews before 2011, so that I'll be able to start the new year with a fresh book review pile. And so, the challenge begins...NOW!

Title: The Sheriff's Surrender

Author: Susan Page Davis
Series: The Ladies' Shooting Club Series #1

Publisher: Barbour publishing
Genre: Inspirational historical romance
Date released:  December 1st 2009
ISBN: 1602605629

Stars (out of 5): ***
Age rating: 12 & up
There wasn't anything inappropriate and there was hardly any romance to speak of. There were two murders, but not gruesome enough to be "scary".

Back cover (from):
A murder in Fergus, Idaho, has the town’s women scared. But the men don’t seem able to stop the rash of thefts, assaults, and vandalism that follow. Half a dozen women band together to arm themselves against trouble. The gunsmith's plain sister, the emporium's owner, a couple of rancher's wives and saloon girls take their shooting lessons seriously. The men are skeptical at first and slightly amused. The new minister's wife shocks the town by joining the club, and other women follow her lead. When they show no sign of letting up on their drill, the men beg the sheriff to disband the club and put their women back where they belong. Those are fighting words to the ladies. Domestic rebellion threatens until a new murder grabs everyone's attention. Will the sheriff and his men find the killer and put him away? Or will that honor belong to the Ladies' Shooting Club?

My Thoughts:
I liked The Sheriff's Surrender, but didn't "love it". I thought the characters were written well and I liked the overall style of this book. At first seeing this book, I thought the story would center around Gert, but that was not so. The plot focused more on the general store owner and Ladies Shooting club, as a whole. And for a romance novel, there didn't seem to be a whole lot at all and the only thing that kept me reading was the murder mystery aspect of the story. Though, I will say, I enjoyed the antics of Ladies Shooting Club and that also made the story more exciting.

Overall, I liked this book, but I probably wouldn't read it again.

*This book was given to me by the publisher in return for my honest review. I was not compensated in any way or  influenced to write a positive review*

To learn more about Susan Page Davis and her books go to:

The Publisher

Her Website
Goodreads





Love Y'all,
Ashley

My review: Touching The Clouds (Alaskan Skies Bk.1) by Bonnie Leon

Title: Touching The Clouds ( Alaskan Skies Bk. 1)

Author: Bonnie Leon  
Genre: Historical Christian Romance

Publisher: Revell Book Publishers
 Date released: July 1st. 2010
ISBN: 978-0-8007-3359-9

Stars (out of 5): ***1/2

Age rating: PG-13

There was only one scene in the the beginning-ish part of the book, where a businessman hires Kate to fly him to a little town in Alaska, where he procures Moose antlers. When Kate asks him what he does with them, the man hesitantly tells her that he sells them to a man in China, who sells them to others for the supposed benefit of "increasing sexual urges". Though the scene is only about three sentences long, it might be a little inappropriate for a younger reader. Other than that, Touching The Clouds is very clean.

Back cover (from Revell):

She went looking for adventure . . . and found more than she bargained for.

Kate Evans is an adventurous and independent young woman with a pioneering spirit. When she leaves her home in Washington State to follow her dream of being an Alaskan bush pilot, she knows it will be an uphill battle. But she never expected it to be quite like this. As the lone woman in a man's world, she finds that contending with people's expectations is almost as treacherous as navigating the wild arctic storms.

When she crosses paths with a mysterious man living alone in the forbidding wilderness, she faces a new challenge. Can Kate break through the walls he has put up around his heart? And will fear keep her from realizing her dreams?

Book 1 in the Alaskan Skies series, Touching the Clouds will draw you in with raw emotion and suspense, all against the stunning backdrop of the Alaskan wilds

My Thoughts:

Touching The Clouds is the first book in the Alaskan Skies series and it centers on a young lady pilot, named Kate Evans. Kate is expected to settle down and raise a family, but adventure calls to her from the Northern frontier. So, Kate packs up her stuff, on what would have been her wedding day, climbs into her red Bellanca, and flies away from her parents and, her frightening past.

I'll say I liked this book, but, I didn't love it. I liked how Kate was adventurous and resourceful.  I loved the action-packed flying scenes and all the details and info the author added to it. Ms. Leon had a way of making me want me to visit Alaska,  yet with as detailed as it was, I felt as if I’ve been living there for years. The writing style was nice and the overall story was well written.But, when I pick up a romance novel, I expect to see a some romance in it, which there just didn't feel like there was any. Throughout Touching the Clouds  Kate had two men falling head over heels in love with her and one who already had, but we barely got to join her on any of her dates and the closest we got to a kiss, wasn't until the very last page.Which for me, was a little disappointing.  I also felt that Kate's relationship with Paul the was lacking detail, passion and tension I love to see in books like this. Aside from these issues,  I enjoyed Touching The Clouds and I'll be on the lookout for the next next book in the Alaskan Skies series.

  *Thanks so much to Donna Hausler @ Revell for giving me a free review copy of Touching The Clouds in exchange for my honest thoughts on the book. My review is in no way swayed by the publisher and/ or the author of the book.*

 

  Touching The Clouds is available July 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

To learn more about Bonnie Leon and her books go to:

The Publisher

Her Website

Goodreads


Love Ya,
Ashley

Revell Blog Tour: A Love Of Her Own (HeartOf The West bk.3) by Maggie Brendan

Title: A Love Of Her Own
Author: Maggie Brendan
Publisher: Revell Books

Date released: June 1st. 2010
ISBN: 978-0-8007-3351-3

Stars (out of 5): *** 1/2
Age rating: PG-12
I didn't read anything that could be considered "inappropriate" in this book. It was very clean.

Back cover (from Revell):

She has everything her heart desires . . . except the one thing money can't buy
Still cautious after a broken engagement, April McBride fully intends to guard her heart when she travels to Lewistown, Montana, to attend her brother's wedding. One look around the small mining town convinces April that doing so won't be difficult--just a bunch of dusty shops, bad service, and ill-bred cowboys. But a run-in with horse trainer Wes Owen opens up vast possibilities for frustration, embarrassment, friendship, and . . . love?
Can April and Wes see past their differences to envision a future together? Or are they destined to live the rest of their lives alone?

Book three in the Heart of the West series, A Love of Her Own is an adventurous, spark-filled ride through love in turn-of-the-century Montana.

My Thoughts:
I'm probably the biggest fan of western romance novels, this side of the Mississippi. So, a series, with the title "Heart Of The West",I can't help but read it. LOL
I was first introduced to author Maggie Brendan when I read her first book, No Place For A Lady. Since then, I've been eagerly been waiting the last book in the series. And the book was worth the wait.

I thought A Love Of Her Own was good!! We first meet April McBride in Lady and believe me, she wasn't a favorite of mine. She was a spoiled brat, who was manipulative and stubborn. But in Love, we get to see things through April's eyes, and we understand why she is the way she is. But, in A Love Of Her Own, I really enjoyed "watching" April slowly go from a spoiled daddy's girl to Lewiston's sweetheart. I also liked that April wasn't a "girly,girl" and wasn't afraid to be different from the other young ladies.
Gentle romances usually aren't my thing, but Ms. Brendan writes as if she has been writing for years, and she just has a way of sweeping you right up in the story from page one. Though this might be a sweet romance, the characters sure aren't. Their real and down to earth people who add depth to the story. However, I wish the main characters would have more depth, themselves.
When April first comes to Lewiston, nobody much likes her. Then she meets Wes Owens, who is just as stubborn as she is, and when they're together...Boy! youhad better stand back, cause you just might get singed by all those sparks flyin' about.

One of the reasons I only gave Love 3 1/2 stars, was because I haven't yet read bk.2 , Jewel Of His Heart. I think that if had, I probably would have recognised a lot of the secondary characters that appeared in Jewel and better understood the recent history of Lewsiton . In the end, when April was meeting the town's people for the first time, so was I. Nevertheless, I loved this book and I would recommend it to anybody who is new to western romance novels, as this is a great introduction book to that genre.

*My many thanks to Donna Hauler @ Revell Books, for sending this review copy of A Love Of Her Own. The review is my honest opinion of this book and isn't influenced by the publisher and/or author.*

A Love Of Her Own will be available June 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

If you'd like to learn more about Maggie Brendan and her books go to:
The Publisher
Her Blog
Goodreads

CAN'T WAIT FOR MS.BRENDAN'S NEXT BOOK!!! ;)


Love Y'all,
Ashley

P.S
At the back of Love, in Ms.Brendan's bio there is a surprise for the thorough reader. Can anyone find it? If you already did, aren't you so excited? I know I am. LOL ;D

Revell Blog Tour: The Homecoming by Dan Walsh

Title: The Homecoming

Author: Dan Walsh

Publisher: Revell Books

Date released: June 1st. 2010

ISBN: 978-0-8007-3389-6

Stars (out of 5): ***1/2

Age rating: PG

Although this book is very clean, besides the one "gory" part, that really wasn't that graphic, I feel anyone under 13 yrs. old would probably find The Homecoming a little on the dull side

Back cover (from Revell):

A reluctant war hero returns home and encounters a new chance at love.

No sooner has Shawn Collins returned home from the fighting in Europe than he is called upon to serve his country in another way--as a speaker on the war bond tour. While other men might jump at the chance to travel around the country with attractive Hollywood starlets, Shawn just wants to stay home with his son Patrick and his aging father, and grieve the loss of his wife in private. When Shawn asks Katherine Townsend to be Patrick's nanny while he's on the road, he has no idea how this decision will impact his life. Could it be the key to his future happiness and the mending of his heart? Or will the war once again threaten his chances for a new start?

My Thoughts:

I first saw The Homecoming on the publisher's website and thought it sounded like a great book . And from what I had heard, It was full of details of WWII and a sweet romance story. But, I thought, wait! A man writing romance?This I had to read. So when Revell was offering this up for review, I had to sign up.

The Homecoming is the sequel to The Unfinished Gift, and centers around the return of the, now widowed, Patrick Collins. I love WWII novels and I liked the insight I got when I read The Homecoming but, I think I would have enjoyed the book so much more, if I had read the first book, The Unfinished Gift. I felt detached from the characters and I didn't fully understand their background with each other. I also felt like their was un-important dialogue between the characters and that we never really get "inside" the main character's head and understand things from that character's POV. Although I would have liked the romantic relationship between Shawn and Kathrine to be stronger, again I have the feeling that had I read the first book, I could have understood it all better. But, besides all that, I loved the mini history lesson I got, plus the exciting WWII action and that little dash romance added in. Overall, if you love WWII, I think The Homecoming would be the perfect read, I just highly recommend you read the first book in the series, The Unfinished Gift, first:)

*Many thanks to Donna Hausler @ Revell Books for sending me a review copy of The Homecoming. The review is my honest opinion on this book and is no way influenced by the publisher and/or the author.*

To learn more about Dan Walsh and his books got to:
His Website
The Publisher
Goodread

Love Y'all,

Ashley

Review: Sixteen Brides by Stephanie Whitson

Title: Sixteen Brides

Author: Stephanie Grace Whitson

Publisher: Bethany House publishers

Date released: April 1. 2010

ISBN: 978-0-7642-0513-2

Stars: ***3/4

Age rating (out of 5): PG- 12

I don't believe there was anything inappropriate in this book however, there is a scene when one of the women is almost "rapped". Although it wasn't graphic whatsoever and was very brief.

Back cover (from Bethany House):

In 1872, sixteen Civil War widows living in St. Louis respond to a series of meetings conducted by a land speculator who lures them west by promising "prime homesteads" in a "booming community." Unbeknownst to them, the speculator's true motive is to find an excuse to bring women to the fledging community of Plum Grove, Nebraska, in hopes they will accept marriage proposals shortly after their arrival!
Sparks fly when these unsuspecting widows meet the men who are waiting for them. These women are going to need all the courage and faith they can muster to survive these unwanted circumstances--especially when they begin to discover that none of them is exactly who she appears to be.

My Thoughts:

Like a lot of books coming out this year, I'd been waiting for quite sometime to read Sixteen Brides and I was so excited to see Bethany House offering it up for review, I just couldn't resist the chance. The book centers on six women, widowed by the war, going out west to claim their "free land", or so said Mr. Hamilton Drake of Dawson County. What the women didn't know was that the men of Dawson County had plenty of "free" land for these gals.....they'd just have to marry up first ..and to one of them. I like mail-order bride stories and it was different to read basically six-in-one but, I felt that the characters weren't detailed physically enough for me, to really visualize them in my head. However, it was easy to connect to the characters because, their personalities were so genuine and real. The book moves at a good pace but, probably a little slow for me. There just wasn't enough excitement for me and when there was a little, the characters tried making it seem more dramatic then it really was. But, one of the biggest problems for me (and I promise this will me the last) was the fact that I felt as if there were pages, or at least paragraphs, missing. I'd be reading and then BOOM!, the subject would change like the weather in Nebraska!But, besides all that, I LOVED the historical details, the romances that developed between several of the characters, the friendships formed between the six ladies and felt that overall, the book was very well written. This definitely won't be the last time I read a book by Stephanie Whitson and I would recommend this book to anyone who LOVES a good historical novel, with a sweet romance.. er, romances. :D

*Many thanks to Jim Hart @ Bethany House for providing a review copy of Sixteen Brides. This is my honest opinion of this book and is in no way influenced by the author and/or the publisher*

If you would like to learn more about Stephanie Whitson and her books (I know I would!) go to:

Her Website

The Publisher

Goodreads

Love Ya,

Ashley