Category: Revell Reads

Book Reviews, Revell Reads

~Book Review~ “A Moonbow Night” by Laura Frantz

Jenna Evans


Goodreads Synopsis:
“After fleeing Virginia, Temperance Tucker and her family established an inn along the Shawnee River. It’s a welcome way station for settlers and frontiersmen traveling through the wild Cumberland region of Kentucke–men like Sion Morgan, a Virginia surveyor who arrives at the inn with his crew looking for an experienced guide. When his guide appears, Sion balks. He certainly didn’t expect a woman. But it is not long before he must admit that Tempe’s skill in the wilderness rivals his own. Still, the tenuous tie they are forming is put to the test as they encounter danger after danger and must rely on each other. With her signature sweeping style and ability to bring the distant past to vivid life, Laura Frantz beckons readers to join her in a land of Indian ambushes, conflicting loyalties, and a tentative love that meanders like a cool mountain stream.”

My Review:

As I have been reading “A Moonbow Night”, I keep thinking that it’s going to get better. I am going to like the book. It’s like the little blue engine saying “I think I can”. I keep reading and sometimes I feel as if I am going nowhere. Looking at the cover and then reading the back of the book made me really want to read this book. I believe that this book is really a good book. I am just having a hard time reading the language that is used throughout. It could be that I am reading on my lunch at work and my brain is so tired that I don’t have much energy to even make the words make sense. I don’t know at this point, but I am going to continue reading until I finish. I have been reading this book now for 3 weeks and for some reason the language of this book just is not getting through to my brain. I have read other books by Laura Frantz and liked them a lot, but for some reason I just am having a hard time with this book. The storyline is really good and I will continue reading it, but because of me having these issues I am going to give the book a 3 out of 5 stars.
I received this book in exchange for my review from Revell Reads. 

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Book Reviews, Revell Reads, Uncategorized

~Book Review~ “The Christmas Joy Ride” by Melody Carlson

Jenna Evans

  
Goodreads Synopsis:

Miranda did not put adventure on her Christmas list, but thanks to her eighty-five-year-old neighbor Joy, that’s exactly what she’s getting this year. When Joy tells Miranda that she plans to drive an old RV decked out in Christmas decorations from their Chicago neighborhood to her new retirement digs in Phoenix–in the dead of winter, no less–the much younger Miranda insists that Joy cannot make such a trip by herself. Besides, a crazy trip with Joy would be more interesting than another Christmas home alone. Unemployed and facing foreclosure, Miranda feels she has nothing to lose by packing a bag and heading off to Route 66. But Joy has a hidden agenda for their Christmas joyride–and a hidden problem that could derail the whole venture.
No one captures the heartwarming fun of the Christmas season quite like Melody Carlson. Fasten your seat belt, because it’s going to be an exciting ride!


My Review:

I really enjoyed reading this book. Christmas is a big thing in my family so with Christmas in the title, I knew it was a book I was going to like. Christmas Joy is a sweet elderly lady who loves to blog and give to people. This is a story of giving, selflessness, and companionship with a sweet side of romance added in. Like a lot of books, romance is not the main subject in this book which was kind of refreshing. I still enjoy my romances, but sometimes a breather is a good thing! Reading about Miranda and Joy made me think that it would be fun to take a road trip in a motor home. The story was so funny and lighthearted. I laughed, cried, and smiled all throughout this book. If you like Christmas or just want to hear a story about an 85 year old lady driving a motor home, you should read this book. It is only about 165 pages so it only took me a couple hours to read!


I received this book from Revell Reads in exchange for my honest review. I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars.

Book Reviews, Revell Reads

~Book Review~ “Surprised by Love” by Julie Lessman

Jenna Evans

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Shy and unattractive as a child, Megan McClare has always been teased by her classmates. But when she returns home from her senior year in Paris, the wallflower has suddenly blossomed into a beauty. With ambitions to become a lawyer or doctor, Megan accepts an internship at the district attorney’s office only to discover that she will be working with Devin Caldwell, a boy who mercilessly mocked her at school–and with whom she was hopelessly enamored. She turns to her dear friend Bram Hughes for support and advice. But Bram’s vision is clouded by his sudden unwelcome attraction to a girl he had always thought of as a kid sister. He advises forgiveness, but can he forgive himself for pushing the woman he loves into the arms of another man?

My Review:

Another amazing book from Julie Lessman! All of the characters in these books are just so well written and I feel as if I am actually watching a movie in my head when I am reading her books! I have been in a reading slump for the past couple months so I have been making myself read. This book took me out of that slump and now I want to read all the time. Meg McClare became a beautiful woman in this story from the shy girl that she had been in the rest of the series. Bram definitely became the hero of the book! The conflicts between Logan and Andrew and then Amelia and Devin helped make this book the amazing read it was.

I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars. I received this book in exchange for my honest review from Revell Reads.

Book Reviews, Revell Reads

~Book Review~ A Bouquet of Love by Janice Thompson

Jenna Evans

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Cassia Pappas has found herself in a nearly impossible situation. She wants to spend her time immersed in her new job at a Galveston Island floral shop, arranging blooms and brightening occasions with her lovely creations. But her huge Greek family–especially her father–has other ideas. They’ve all relocated to Galveston to open up a new family restaurant location on the Strand– directly across the street from the Rossis’ popular pizza place–and they want Cassia’s full participation.
To make matters worse, as Cassia is trying to develop a strong professional relationship with Galveston’s premier wedding coordinator, Bella Neeley, her own father is intent on stealing all of the Rossi family’s faithful customers. Not exactly the best way to get into Bella’s good graces!
Still, at least Alex, that hot delivery guy from the nursery, is always hanging around the flower shop . . .
Fan favorite Janice Thompson gives readers one more romp with Bella, Galveston, and the bustling wedding biz in the final installment of her popular series. Anyone who loves quirky families, loads of laughter, and tender romance will find themselves hooked.

My Review:

This book was really good! Probably one of my favorite books I have read this year. I have always liked family feuds especially between 2 hot headed families as the Rossi and Pappas families. They are Italian and Greek which means they both are going to do everything they can to win. This story is about the coming together of 2 families but with a lot of headaches along the way. Another thing about this book I likes, was how Cassia loved Judy Garland and the musical “Meet Me in St Louis” which is one of my all time favorite musicals. I give this book a five out of five stars.

I received this book in exchange for my honest review from Revell Reads.

Book Reviews, Revell Reads

~Book Review~ “In Perfect Time” by Sarah Sundin

Jenna Evans

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Flight nurse Lt. Kay Jobson collects hearts wherever she flies, but C-47 pilot Lt. Roger Cooper is immune to her charms. Throughout Italy and southern France, as she evacuates the wounded and he delivers paratroopers and supplies, every beat of their hearts draws them where they don’t want to go.

My Review:

I loved this book so much! World War 2 and the 40s have always been a favorite time period of mine when it comes to reading historical fiction. The cover of this book made me know exactly what era this book was placed in and I wanted to read it even more! Then getting into the book I could not put it down. I was reading it on my breaks at lunch just so I could know what was happening with Roger and Kay. These characters entranced me! The storyline of the guy being the religious one and the girl not being one was a twist. Normally with Christian fiction it’s the other way! I just really loved this book! I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars.

I received this book in exchange for my honest review from Revell Reads.

Book Reviews, Revell Reads

~Book Review~ “Blind Trust” by Sandra Orchard

Jenna Evans

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Goodreads Synopsis:

“Kate Adams had no idea she was carrying counterfeit money, and she can’t believe that it came from her sweet neighbor. Or that it lands her in the middle of another one of Detective Tom Parker’s investigations. Determined to prove her neighbor’s innocence, Kate stumbles into a pit of intrigue that is far deeper than a two-bit counterfeit operation–and strikes too close to home for comfort. As family secrets come to light, her world–and her budding romance with Tom–begin to crumble. To Kate, it’s clear that she won’t be safe until she uncovers all of Port Aster’s secrets. But is it too late for her and Tom?
Award-winning author Sandra Orchard draws readers into a world of rogues, red herrings, and romance as she unfolds the continuing story of amateur sleuth Kate Adams.”

My Review:

Ok, so this book has me kind of torn about whether to like it or not. I could not stop reading the book because I liked it so much, but then when I finished the book, I was disappointed not because of it ending but that it just kind of left me hanging. I was not expecting it at all. This book gave me so many twists and turns that I didn’t know who had committed the crimes and that is what kept me reading. Tom and Kate are great characters and have great chemistry from the very get go. This book is a second book though so I was kinda lost the first chapter. Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. I give the book a 4 out of 5 stars.

I received this book in exchange for my honest review from Revell Reads.

Book Reviews, Revell Reads

~Book Review~ “While Love Stirs” by Lorna Seilstad

Jenna Evans

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Good Reads Synopsis:

After graduating from Fannie Farmer’s School of Cookery in 1910, Charlotte Gregory is ready to stir things up. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to travel, lecture, and give cooking demonstrations on the very latest kitchen revolution–the gas stove–and certainly doesn’t mind that the gas company has hired the handsome Lewis Mathis to perform at her lectures. Lewis encourages her work, especially her crusade to introduce fresh, appetizing, nutritious food to those convalescing in hospitals. But young hospital superintendent Dr. Joel Brooks is not convinced any changes should be made–especially by this outspoken young woman.

When Charlotte and Joel are coerced into planning a fund-raising gala for the hospital, will this combustible pair explode?

Fan favorite Lorna Seilstad is back with a breezy, lighthearted love triangle that will keep readers guessing. Attention to historic detail adorns the timeless story of a young woman looking for true love and making her way in a rapidly changing world.

My Review:

This book is a must read. Lorna Seilstad took the characters of Charlotte and Joel and made them feel like real people. There were real situations in this book unlike some books where it is all fairytale and no reality. I like fairytales, but sometimes its nice to see more of real life. From the love triangle to the scene with the tornado to all of the fights, I was captured. I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars.

I received this book in exchange for my honest review from Revell Reads.

Book Reviews, Revell Reads

~Book Review~ “One Perfect Spring” by Irene Hannon

Jenna Evans

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Claire Summers is a determined, independent single mother who is doing her best to make lemonade out of the lemons life has handed her. Keith Watson is a results-oriented workaholic with no time for a social life. As the executive assistant to a local philanthropic businessman, he’s used to fielding requests for donations. But when a letter from Claire’s eleven-year-old daughter reaches his desk, everything changes. The girl isn’t asking for money, but for help finding the long-lost son of an elderly neighbor.
As Keith digs reluctantly into this complicated assignment, he has no idea how intertwined his life and Claire’s will become–nor how one little girl’s kindhearted request will touch so many lives and reap so many blessings.
Through compelling characters and surprising plot twists, Irene Hannon offers readers this tenderhearted story of family connections that demonstrates how life is like lilacs–the biggest blooms often come only after the harshest winters.

My Review:

One Perfect Spring makes for one perfect story! The little girl Haley stole my heart from the very first chapter. Once I started reading it, I couldn’t wait to get home and read some more! Keith and Claire and David and Maureen are great characters and Irene Hannon intertwined their stories in such a way that was amazing. Irene Hannon’s books have always been some of my favorite books and this one goes right in the pile with the others! I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars.

I received this book in exchange for my honest review from Revell Reads.

Book Reviews, Revell Reads

~Book Review~ The Pelican Bride by Beth White

Jenna Evans

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Goodreads Synopsis:

It is 1704 when Genevieve Gaillain and her sister board a French ship headed for the Louisiana colony as mail-order brides. Both have promised to marry one of the rough-and-tumble Canadian men in this New World in order to escape religious persecution in the Old World. Genevieve knows life won’t be easy, but at least here she can establish a home and family without fear of beheading. But when she falls in love with Tristan Lanier, an expatriate cartographer whose courageous stand for fair treatment of native peoples has made him decidedly unpopular in the young colony, Genevieve realizes that even in this land of liberty one is not guaranteed peace. And a secret she harbors could mean the undoing of the colony itself.

My Review:

This book captured me with the names Genevieve and Tristan. I always look at the names of the characters on the back of the book to make my choice of what to read. I really liked this book. I learned about the Huguenots and the French colony that is now Louisiana. I don’t normally see books with a time period of the 1700s so this really struck me. It was different, but I really liked it. The way that the women were treated made me sick, but that is the way it happened back then so I understood. The characters Marc-Antoine, Commander Bienville, La Salle, Dufresne, Mitannu, Nika, Father Mateiu, Genevieve, and Tristan all work together to make this story one I will not forget. I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars.

I received this book from Revell Reads in exchange for my honest review.

Book Reviews, Revell Reads

~Book Review~ “What Follows After” by Dan Walsh

Jenna Evans

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Goodreads Synopsis:

“In October 1962, Colt Harrison and his little brother, Timmy, hatched a plan. They would run away from their Florida home, head for their aunt’s house in Savannah, Georgia, and refuse to come home until their parents got back together. But things go terribly, terribly wrong. Colt’s mother and father must come to grips with years of neglect and mistrust in order to recover their beloved sons, their love for one another, and their broken marriage.
In this emotional story, Dan Walsh takes readers on a journey to rediscover the things that matter most in life–love, truth, and family.”

My Review:

When I seen this book, I did not know if I was going to like it or not. I normally read books with a pretty girl on the front because it is normally a hopeless romantic story. This book might not have drawn me in because of the cover, but once I started reading this I could not stop. It drew me in and kept my interest until the end. Scott, Gina, Colt, and Timmy were characters that I loved to read about and couldn’t wait to here more about. I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars.

I received this book in exchange for my honest review from Revell Reads.