"We all walk into marriage with a mental list of expectations. When those expectations go unmet, we feel let down. Whether your husband fails to fulf "We all walk into marriage with a mental list of expectations. When those expectations go unmet, we feel let down. Whether your husband fails to fulfill a request on your honey-do list, forgets to pay the cable bill on time, doesn't spend enough time with the children, fails to read your mind that you could use a little help in the kitchen, or puts on an extra thirty pounds since your wedding day, it is only a matter of time before he lets you down in some form or fashion."
I love my fairy tales so much that just the title sucked me! I started reading it, and wouldn't have put it down if not for the demands of 3 little ones. I loved it so much that I've already bought one of Vicki's other books with plans to read it *very* soon!
I always feel the need to defend my fairy tales. Despite loving fairy tales and sweet romance stories, I don't leave them with unrealistic views of real life. Now, anyway. I KNOW that the day after that fairy tale "I Do", they probably argued over something stupid. I've been married 8 years and I have 3 little ones 4 and under. I know life is hard! My husband doesn't read fairy tales or romances. In fact, about the only thing he MIGHT read is something sports related. I *guarantee* you he gets just as annoyed at me as I sometimes get at him. It doesn't matter how "prepared" a couple walks into a marriage, there's still a rude awakening to be had.
That said, if you're a newlywed, this book is a magnificent wake-up call as to what marriage *will* be when the newness wears off. I might have been just a tad bit delusional when I first got married. Okay, so I admit I was highly delusional! I was given lots of great *realistic* views of marriage before I got married. I should have known better, but I was convinced my marriage would be almost perfect. Ha! I remember telling someone that when I found my "soul mate", he would never make me cry. Ha, again! Not possible, ladies!
In my first post, I recommended that single girls not read this book. I take that back! I actually *highly* recommend it, so you can get a realistic picture of married life to compare with the perfect men and lives that romance books and movies create in those that don't know better. ;) I was once that person, so don't take offense. I'd just recommend skipping the chapters on sex. But, each and every person has to decide for themselves how pure their mind can stay while reading, so it's for you to decide.
"Imagine the disappointment for women who, in the aftermath of their romance binge, encounter a husband who is laid out on the sofa, more mesmerized with the football game on the TV than their cute selves. Or a boyfriend who would rather focus on his fantasy football team than take them our for frozen yogurt and tell them how wonderful they are...again, for the third time this week."
Vicki has a casual, down-to-earth, *humorous* way of writing that I just fell in love with! I seriously LOVED her writing!
This is more of an inspirational memoir more than anything. It's amazing how far I've came with the world of memoirs. I remember at one point not too long ago that I couldn't even finish one of the things, I disliked them so bad. Now, give me a great humorous memoir written by someone as imperfect as me, and honest about it, and I can devour the thing!
One of my favorite parts is when she talks about her daughter revealing the night before that if she brings an example of mold, she would get extra credit. A trip to the fridge, and "Hello, extra credit!". There was even enough for her friends to get extra credit, too. I love it! It makes that bag of lettuce I found in my fridge a little easier to accept.
I took a great deal away from this book! So often, I read books that are awesome, but I forget it by the next day. I don't take away a great deal that I can easily put into practice. THIS book is different. It's filled with so much simple, PRACTICAL advice that it makes it so much easier to remember and attempt put into practice. For example, she discusses the difference between a dream house and a dream home. She talks about having to close a magazine when she starts daydreaming about changing things in her house that she's no longer content with after seeing beautiful new pictures. Now I *try* to do the same thing. When pinterest/magazines/book reviews starts making me not content with what I have, I try to step away. Honestly, finding contentment with my books are my biggest struggle!
"Do we put more time and energy into filling our home with things that will perish or memories that will last? Do we treat the Lord as a regular member of our household or an occasional visitor that is only welcome when invited? If walls could talk, would they tell stories of open Bibles and bedtime prayers or Bibles with dusty covers grabbed on the way out the door on an occasional Sunday morning? Would they talk about the laughter shared around the dinner table or meals eaten alone in front of a TV or computer? Would they say that the Lord's name was spoken often or uttered in vain? Would they share about raised voices and slammed doors or sinners who lose their temper, but are quick to apologize and ask for forgiveness."
This book has caused *change* around my home and for that I am grateful! It's small change and a work in progress, but change none the less! I'm *still* thinking about the things I've read in it. The great thing is that while the book is filled with Vicki's imperfections, which makes us all feel more normal, she also always keeps the focus on God. It's filled with practical advice on how to grow closer to the woman God intends us to be, be a better wife/mother, AND we get to laugh at Vicki's journey(which is also ours to an extent) to that goal.
A few more thoughts I enjoyed:
"We need to cut ourselves some slack when it comes to the pressure we feel to measure up to an impossible standard to do everything and do it perfectly."
"Don't think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. When we succumb to playing the pretender game and only allow others to see the cherry-picked Stepford moments(some even staged), we miss the opportunity to share life with others on a deeper, more meaningful level."
"Oh, we can gather enough highlights to put together a montage of happy moments and make our lives look like a fairy tale if we really want to fool our audience."
I think you can tell how much I enjoyed Ever After: Life Lessons Learned in My Castle of Chaos. Married ladies, I highly recommend it to you!
*Note to author: *Thank you* for including the picture of "Bubba"! I laughed so much, I had to show Jonathan, which gave him a good laugh, too. *I* now want a picture of "Bubba", so I can laugh every time I see it. :) (After receiving the final copy, I automatically flipped through hunting the picture!)
*I was provided a review copy through Shelton Interactive in exchange for my honest opinion. ...more
Didn't finish. (I got 67% through before quitting).
This is a fantasy, but it won't really seem like one for awhile. There's a bit of mystery throughoDidn't finish. (I got 67% through before quitting).
This is a fantasy, but it won't really seem like one for awhile. There's a bit of mystery throughout reading until almost halfway through as to what the characters actually are. I already knew, though, and that was the only reason I decided to read it.
It's also a historical book, taking place in 1915 at a boarding school. Both of which are pretty cool aspects of the book!
Why didn't I finish?
At first, I was reading this book very fast. It was going so slow, though, that I found myself having a hard time picking it back up. Also at first, the profanity was very mild. When "g-d" was used, followed soon by the f-bomb, I decided it was time to set it aside.
I am truly impressed!! This was an AMAZING debut novel!
The various loves portrayed throughout The Ryn warmed my heart and brought tears to my eyes. TI am truly impressed!! This was an AMAZING debut novel!
The various loves portrayed throughout The Ryn warmed my heart and brought tears to my eyes. The knight in shining armor of this story was one of the sweetest men I've ever encountered in my reading.
The Ryn is full of knights and pirates(can't wait to read more about Cazien), scribes and magical beards. My favorite was the storytellers who could bring their characters "to life" with simply a breath across their palm. There's even candle-like walls and glowing "fish". Those little creatures stole my heart, for sure!
Fairytale re-tellings are my favorite kinds of reads, and The Ryn has been added to my favorites among those! I can't wait to read more in this series. As I read the fairy tale of Snow White and Rose Red, I couldn't help but smile at the little parts that Serena added into her story. Yet, she still kept it completely original! My only disappointment is that I have to wait for the next one!...more
Twerp is written in the form of short stories(diary entries) by 12 year old Julian Twerski. His teacher, Mr. Selkirk, made a deal that he could get ouTwerp is written in the form of short stories(diary entries) by 12 year old Julian Twerski. His teacher, Mr. Selkirk, made a deal that he could get out of some other assignments if he wrote these stories. It's so easy to imagine Mr. Selkirk sitting behind his desk chuckling away at these things, too! The whole book comes into existence because of some bullying event that Julian was involved in, and an attempt to find out just what did happen.
Twerp mainly consists of the mischief and adventures of a group of young guys. It takes place in the 1960s, so it's in a time when television and electronics weren't so much in the picture. I'm a bit more scared about the fact that I have 3 boys so close together. Lots of mischief potential!! At first, the stories don't seem to overly connect, but they start to pretty quickly. There's hints from the very beginning of the bullying event, but it's not until the last chapter that we have that story. At times, it was too easy to forget the reason for the writing assignment. I was just so caught up in the life of this group of kids!
It reminded me throughout the whole story of the movie, The Sandlot. That's always been one of my favorite movies, so it's no wonder I couldn't seem to stop turning the pages. I read this at record speed for me these days. The last chapter left me in tears, but I still wish that game of "battle" was played! I'm still a little disturbed at just what happened, too. It was pretty impacting!
My biggest complaint is some of the "guy talk" about a certain body part they have. There's an accident where a guy falls on a fence split legged. It refers to the "area" hurt and even mentions that he shouldn't be looking at a girl or something will happen that shouldn't with his "area" in that condition. (Is that vague AND clear enough? If you want more details, I'll be glad to give them to you.) As far as girls go, be prepared to explain if she's somewhat sheltered. If she goes to public school, she's already knows! ;) There's also mention of a mom sunning with her bikini on. Honestly, it depends on how conservative you are whether or not this would bother you. I'm pretty conservative in this area, and want to go to any lengths possible to keep my sons' minds pure. I don't think these things will help them with that goal. That said, you'll easily see much worse on a family channel commercial break! I hope I've explained that well enough. I wouldn't want to recommend a book, and then you be so surprised, you never take my advice again. ;)
Other than the warnings I've given, I HIGHLY recommend Twerp! There's a note from the author at the end that I wish I could quote. Since I read an e-ARC, I can't. It made me smile, though. I'm glad he has been talked into changing his writing ways! I'll be picking up his future books as quickly as I can.
*I was provided an e-ARC through the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion....more
20 years ago, Mr. Bennett left his family to start a new one with his daughter's friend. All these years later, even after his death, his first family20 years ago, Mr. Bennett left his family to start a new one with his daughter's friend. All these years later, even after his death, his first family is struggling with hurt and confusion.
Julia is an artist, like her dad. She's engaged, but maybe not to the right guy. When her former friend, Marty, her dad's second wife, announces she has cancer, Julia has to decide if she is willing to return to Edisto to care for her 3 half-siblings during recovery time.
This book started a little slow for me. It actually took me a couple of attempts before getting into it. The chapters alternate between quite a few characters, and it took some time to sort through all of them. After I did, I actually enjoyed the many points of view.
Moon Over Edisto is a story of healing and forgiveness. It has a sad, overall tone to it. My heart went out to the children! They were so neglected, it just made me mad. While Marty is represented as a loving mother, it was shameful at the living conditions those children had to endure.
I enjoyed all the artistic references made! I don't have an artistic bone in my body, but I do enjoy reading about those who do. :)
Spoiler Alert!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I didn't like the relationship progress in this story. In my opinion, when you have a fiance, you don't go on dates with other men. You also don't hug other men for comfort that you might have feelings for. Don't get me wrong. If you're having second thoughts about that fiance, by all means, don't marry him! I wish there was more honesty going on in regards to the fiance. Julia was cheating, in my opinion, even though there was no kissing while engaged. It was never addressed as such to satisfy me, in the end.
End Spoiler
If you enjoy slower books with a sad tone, tough issues, and little romance, Moon Over Edisto might be a good match for you. If you enjoy lighter, up beat Christian romance, I'd go elsewhere. In general, I tend to go more towards "light and fluffy". I did still find it enjoyable, though!
*I was provided a review copy through Booksneeze in exchange for my honest opinion. ...more
Alexandra(a.k.a. Lexi, Xandra, or X)is in her senior year of high school. She's quite the music snob, since her dad(Gavyn) hosts a radio show3.5 stars
Alexandra(a.k.a. Lexi, Xandra, or X)is in her senior year of high school. She's quite the music snob, since her dad(Gavyn) hosts a radio show. Her mom left them years earlier and now Lexi hates her, despite the fact that she hasn't seen or heard from her since. Her two best friends, Eli and Bailey, have started dating, which leaves her alone and sad. When Lexi and Eli sleep together, and she discovers her dad was trying to reach her as he died at the same time, her world falls apart. She leaves New York behind, since there's nowhere to go, and joins the circus in order to survive.
I really enjoyed reading this book! Except for the last portion of the story, I'd give it 4 stars. For me, though, the ending kind of dragged, and I didn't necessarily like how it all ended. It's a realistic kind of story, though. It's definitely not an "everything tied in a nice, neat bow" book. It's full of bad choices and broken hearts. It's kind of sad, but at the same time I loved Lexi's sarcastic voice. I found myself laughing quite often throughout the book. When I read that she was a snarky kind of girl in the description, I had my worries that I wouldn't like her, but she's surprisingly quite likable.
The chapters alternate through most of the book from present time to just before/after her dad's death. Little details are slowly revealed, although there's really not a huge mystery to unravel or anything. It does help to see things more clearly, though.
Instead of a love triangle, this story has somewhat of a love square. I can't say I was happy with who she ends up with, but then I'm usually not when it comes to character's love choices in a love triangle or this case, square.
Overall, I DO recommend That Time I Joined the Circus! I had fun reading it, despite the sadness involved.
Content:
The "sex" incident is never described in detail. You just know it happens. There's only 2(maybe 3) mild words of profanity. It was pretty clean otherwise!
*I was provided an e-ARC through Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion....more
I was surprised to discover that the narrator of The Story Girl is a boy. I found this a little confusing at first, since his name is Beverley. I knowI was surprised to discover that the narrator of The Story Girl is a boy. I found this a little confusing at first, since his name is Beverley. I know several females named Beverley, but not a single male. Was that a common male name back then? I'm sure you see why I was confused at first, though. The strange thing about Bev's narration is that he doesn't refer to himself very often, or make himself the center of attention. He keeps the story's focus on his friends and relatives. I would be reading quite awhile when he finally refers to himself, and I'd think, "Oh, you're still here." It did make my reading experience a little strange, but still enjoyable.
The Story Girl is about a group of children that are friends or relatives. For the most part, it consists of several unrelated stories. There's some connection with many of them, but it was mostly just the varied days and adventures(and mischief) of a group of kids. A great deal of these adventures revolved around religion. These children had a great bit of bad theology in their minds, but it did make for some humorous reading. There were also quite a few stories from Sara(the Story Girl) sprinkled throughout the chapters. I thought these added a punch of fun to the story .
Sadly, I think my favorite part of the book was Paddy! He reminded me of McTavish, the barncat in Down the Mysterly River. I not only adored that book, but that cat, too.
"Paddy distinguished himself by catching a rat, and being intolerable conceited about it-until Sara Ray cured him by calling him a "dear, sweet cat," and kissing him between the ears. Then Pat sneaked off abjectly off, his tail dropping. He resented being called a sweet cat. He has a sense of humor, had Pat. Very few cats have; and most of them have such an inordinate appetite for flattery that they will swallow any amount of it and thrive thereon. Paddy had a finer taste. The Story Girl and I were the only ones who could pay him compliments to his liking. The Story Girl would box his ears with her fist and say, "Bless your gray heart, Paddy, you're a good sort of old rascal," and Pat would purr his satisfaction; I used to take a handful of the skin on his back, shake him gently and say, "Pat, you've forgotten more than any human being ever knew," and I vow Paddy would lick his chops with delight. But to be called "a sweet cat!" Oh, Sara, Sara!" (page 219-220)
This was only my second book of Montgomery's to read, but I don't think it will come close to making it on my favorites list. It was an enjoyable read, though! ...more
I'm not the best at reading descriptions before I pick up a book. I judged this one based on its cover, which isn't unusual for me, sadly! I thought iI'm not the best at reading descriptions before I pick up a book. I judged this one based on its cover, which isn't unusual for me, sadly! I thought it looked like a fun, contemporary story and decided to give it a shot. Plus, it's a goal of mine to read more "cultural" books, especially those with covers that haven't been "whitewashed". Apparently, those books have a harder time making it these days, so it's important to show some support!
This ended up not being a fun, contemporary story, but I still enjoyed it. "Enjoy" probably isn't the best word to describe my reading experience with this book, though. The Fire Horse Girl takes place in the 1920s. It details the journey of a Chinese family to America, paying close attention to Jade Moon...aka "The Fire horse Girl". It was amazing to see the mistreatment of the Chinese from both their fellow Chinese to Americans and other immigrants from different countries. They were treated like scum, to say the least. I appreciated the way the author handled the tough topics, like prostitution, "tongs"(Chinese mobs) and other general mistreatment. There were never great details, but I still got a good look at just how heartbreaking their situation was. She handled it in a way that I think this is a great book for even younger readers.
Jade Moon lives in a time and place where women are to be quiet and keep their eyes lowered. Since Jade Moon is a "Fire Horse" girl(the worst kind of girl there is, according to Chinese tradition), she finds these restrictions difficult. She prefers to let her opinions be known, and bad luck supposedly follows close on her heels. She's almost 17, which means she should have already been married, which is not something she wants considering her prospects. She's determined that if she can only get to America, her problems will be solved.
Due to the cover, I don't think it should come as a surprise that Jade Moon disguises herself as a boy at one point. Even though this part doesn't come until halfway or more through the story, I still don't feel like I'm giving any spoilers. Again, because of the cover. I will keep quiet about how and why, though. Girls who disguise themselves as boys(in order to survive...not simply for fun) are some of my favorite story plots! I really enjoyed this part of the book, and liked getting to see the relationships she was able to form during her time in disguise.
I'm also a fan of fairy tales, so I really enjoyed hearing some of the Chinese fairy tales that were included in the book. There was close attention paid to "The Weaver Girl" story. I'm assuming this story was a traditional Chinese story, as opposed to the author's imagination, but I still enjoyed it either way.
Overall, The Fire Horse Girl is a great peek into the world of Chinese immigrants during the 1920s, and I don't hesitate to recommend it, even for young readers.
Content: There's no profanity. There is some violence, but as I mentioned above, the author doesn't go into great detail. There's fighting, guns, mention of prostitution/brothels, poking/prodding/nudity during "check-ups" to get into America, etc.
*I was provided an e-ARC through Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. ...more
A couple of years ago, I read and loved TerKeurst's Made to Crave. I couldn't wait to get my hands on Unglued, too. I really connect with Terkeurst, bA couple of years ago, I read and loved TerKeurst's Made to Crave. I couldn't wait to get my hands on Unglued, too. I really connect with Terkeurst, both in Unglued and Made to Crave. I found myself laughing as she described her thoughts or actions and related a little too much. Plus, she's very open and honest about her imperfections, which I always appreciate.
"All these reactions I've described are not things I'm proud of. Yuck, right? Yes, but these aren't labels I carry around with me. These are things I'm identifying about myself so I can bring my raw emotions and unglued reactions under the healing authority of Jesus. And it's also important to clarify that I'm only talking about my unglued reactions here. When my emotions are level, I am like the little girl in that movie, The Help, to whom the beloved Aibileen leans down and whispers, "You is kind. You is smart. You is important." Jesus has made me a kind-hearted person, full of encouragement and eager to inspire any person who gets within ten feet of me. Jesus has made me smart enough to know that I need Him-desperately and fully. And Jesus has assigned all of us the important job of representing Him to this world, which means we re-present Him everywhere we go."
Becoming "unglued" doesn't necessarily involve raising one's voice! (Although, I do dream of one day being like Michelle Duggar in the fact that the madder she gets the lower her voice gets. Can't say I've achieved that yet). It could mean stuffing those feelings deep down inside, causing negativity to grow more and more. It could mean that negative thoughts and constant blaming are going on inside your head. It could mean taking these kinds of things(whether thoughts or actions) out on family/friends or strangers. We're all different! Terkeurst has a chapter explaining different kinds of "unglued" reactions and you can decide which one(s) most resemble you.
I bought the e-book version of the book Unglued(which is still only $3.79 as of this posting), but I was provided a review copy of the Unglued Devotional. I learned that the Unglued Devotional is pretty much the book broken up into 60 bite-sized pieces. Which one I recommend to you depends on what type of reader you are. I preferred the book. If you like doing little devotionals here and there or at a certain time each day, then the devotional might be best for you. I like devotionals fine, but I prefer sitting down with a book and reading as long as time will allow me. Plus, I'm not the best at reading a chapter a day kind of thing. I wish I was sometimes, and I do try it quite often. "Try" is the key word there!
Unglued was a wonderful book, and I highly recommend it. I think *most* of us come "unglued" in some way or another. ;)
"Some moms are equipped by the hand of God to be "that mom." They have been formed with the three-C gene - Cooking, Crafting, and Cleaning come easily and naturally to them. Others of us have been delightfully chosen to provide the comic relief necessary to keep the world entertained. And to keep future therapists in business."
*As I mentioned above, I bought the book, but I was provided a review copy of the devotional in exchange for my honest opinion. ...more
Maggie and her family are spies. Maggie, more specifically, is one of the best safecrackers around, even from an early age. She and her family move arMaggie and her family are spies. Maggie, more specifically, is one of the best safecrackers around, even from an early age. She and her family move around a great deal, changing names, and homes. There's never time to make friends, so it usually makes the move less difficult. When Maggie is assigned a case that involves enrolling in high school, her life includes a great deal of changes, including a couple of friends. It doesn't help that one is a boy, and he's the key to solving her case.
Knowing this book was about a family of spies, I just couldn't resist giving it a try! Where there's spies, there's got to be a bit of mystery, right?! I especially enjoyed that the whole family was involved, as opposed to just Maggie. There was an awesome group of secondary characters, too. Roux has her faults, like all of us, but she was fun, for the most part. I can't say I enjoyed everything about her, but I especially enjoyed her relationship with her doorman. That portion of the story got lots of laughs from me. Then there's Angelo. He's an older spy-friend of the family, and somewhat of a mentor to Maggie. I just loved him! Of course, there's a bit of romance involved, too. It was a very sweet romance, indeed!
As I mentioned above, there is a bit of mystery involved, but more than anything this story is about Maggie learning to live a new life in high school and make new friends. Some struggles with Maggie's family surface as she deals with all the "newness" of her life.
Overall, this was a sweet, fun book!
*Content: Before picking up this book, I read a content review that said this book was very clean with only one word of profanity. Imagine my surprise when I discovered there's closer to 50 words of profanity(I didn't actually count...guesstimate there), and about as many religious expletives. The profanity is mostly mild(he**, a**, da**, bi***, etc) and one bad one(g-da**). I did read an e-ARC, so maybe the final copy doesn't include all that. ?? There's also kissing and drinking at a party. One of the characters get VERY drunk! Other than that, it's clean.
**I was provided an e-ARC through Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. ...more
I was thrilled to discover that The Book of a Thousand Days has all Asian characters! I do like to go into most of the books I read not knowi4.5 stars
I was thrilled to discover that The Book of a Thousand Days has all Asian characters! I do like to go into most of the books I read not knowing very much. I like to know just enough to know it's clean and something I would enjoy. I'd heard from all over the place that this one was both clean and well loved. I didn't feel the need to read too much about it. I was surprised that it was absolutely nothing like what I expected! I enjoyed it, though.
The first half or so of the story was a little slow for my liking, but the second half made it worthwhile! I'd say it's fantasy, but VERY mild in that regard.
Content:
Some mild kissing and VERY mild violence. I'd say it's perfectly clean even for younger readers. There is pretty heavy talk of "gods" throughout the story and even praying to them. If that bothers you, then I wouldn't read this one. ...more
Lexi is in between jobs...again! She's determined to find the perfect job to fit her dreams, and insists that she shouldn't have to settle. Though sheLexi is in between jobs...again! She's determined to find the perfect job to fit her dreams, and insists that she shouldn't have to settle. Though she's living with her parents until she can get her act together, she's feeling the rush to get out the door not only from her parents, but herself. When she meets a handsome French guy at an upscale bakery, things start looking up...maybe.
Since reading Sandra's "Ladies in Waiting" series, and one of her YA books, Asking for Trouble, I've been anxiously awaiting getting the chance at her French Twist series, too. I was thrilled to finally have the opportunity to dive into it. Let Them Eat Cake was actually the first book I read on my Kindle Fire that my sweet hubby bought me. :)(And I quickly followed with the next two books!)
I'm not typically the target audience for contemporary Christian books. Generally, I prefer to save my contemporaries for non-Christian stories. This is one of those few books that break through that barrier for me. It actually took me a little time to adjust to the contemporary writing style, since I've grown accustomed to Sandra's historical writing style. I did enjoy the lighter, fun side of this series, though! I'd forgotten just how much I enjoy a good story with international accents. Hearing the French accents throughout this book warmed my reading heart for sure.
While there's almost always a certain amount of predictability in Christian books, there's some aspects of this book that took me completely by surprise! I thought I knew how it would turn out from the beginning, but it didn't happen that way. Despite that fact that I don't mind a predictable story in the slightest way, I did find this refreshing(especially in the 2nd book).
Cooking plays a huge part of the storyline, so there's lots of talk of food. You know my mouth was watering for some French cooking! Unfortunately, I didn't get to enjoy any, because as much as I was inspired to do some "French" cooking, I'm constantly reminded I'm not an expert in the kitchen. (I'm still determined to make a decent loaf of bread someday). There are recipes sprinkled throughout all three books. Some of them actually look simple enough for me!
Overall, Let Them Eat Cake is a fun and cute story!
*I was provided a review copy in exchange for my honest opinion....more
Lexi gets the opportunity of a lifetime! She's going to France to study cooking and work in Luc's family's bakery. This doesn't come without a price, Lexi gets the opportunity of a lifetime! She's going to France to study cooking and work in Luc's family's bakery. This doesn't come without a price, though! She's leaving her family and friends. It's especially difficult being away from her best friend, as things progress very quickly with her boyfriend. Lexi feels guilty not being there for her. Then there's Dan. Lexi doesn't know if she's leaving something special uncovered or not.
While in France, Lexi meets new people and friends. She even meets a little girl that she actually likes(she's not a kid person, to say the least). Plus, a new man enters her life.
I liked Let Them Eat Cake. It was fun and cute. It's with this book, Bon Appetit, though, that I fell in love with the series. I adored that it was set in France. I gained a better appreciation of the culture over there. You will learn the difference between preservatives and preservatifs! ;) I appreciated that laugh!
Lexi now has two amazing guys in her life, and I honestly didn't have a clue who she would end up with as the story ended. I enjoyed seeing Lexi's spiritual growth, and even passing that growth on to others. It was fun to see her thaw out many of the cold shoulders she encountered, and even strengthening her relationships with friends and family.
As I mentioned yesterday, once again there was recipes throughout this book. I have quite a few of them bookmarked!
Overall, I loved Bon Appetit, and jumped right into the next book.
*I was provided a review copy in exchange for my honest opinion....more
Lexi is back in Seattle, working at her dream job. It's a little more difficult than she imagined with responsibilities she didn't realize she was takLexi is back in Seattle, working at her dream job. It's a little more difficult than she imagined with responsibilities she didn't realize she was taking on with the job. She's determined to make it work, though, and quickly! It's only a matter of months before she could lose it all.
In Piece de Resistance, Lexi has to work through her feelings for both Dan and Phillipe. I had my pick, and anticipated who would win her heart pretty early on in this book. It still warmed my heart to see it all come together, though. I'm not one for "edgy" Christian romances. While I do have a few "edgy" authors I'm pretty loyal to, I prefer "sweet" romances. I love FEELING those looks across the room. Sandra's writing gave me that and more! When I can feel the warmth from two characters holding hands, or a simple kiss on the cheek melts my heart, I know I've found a talented author!(Of course, I already knew that with Sandra!) ;) While many of the "sweet romances" I've read sacrifice greatly in the romance department, that wasn't the case with this book! It was a "melt my heart" romance without the edgy, and THAT made me one happy and content reader as I turned the last page.
I grew to love this series more and more as it went along, and with Piece de Resistance, this series officially made it to my favorites list. Not to mention, I'll never look at suspenders without thinking of this series now. ;)
*I was provided a review copy in exchange for my honest opinion....more
Kyra is a master with potions, even extremely lethal ones. She's on the run after attempting to kill the princess, who was also her friend, with a poiKyra is a master with potions, even extremely lethal ones. She's on the run after attempting to kill the princess, who was also her friend, with a poisoned needle. She's still trying to digest her one and only "miss", but she's determined to find the princess in order to hit her target this time. Her former friends and ex-fiancee are now her enemies as they attempt to capture her. While crossing a river with a pig on her head, she meets a new friend. Fred is a goofy, yet handsome boy, and Kyra struggles to keep him out of her thoughts, and maybe even her heart. Throw in a few goblins and witches, and the adventure really begins.
It was fun to see little mysteries unraveling as the story progressed. Lots of secrets hide in the pages of Poison, and I loved being surprised as I learned what they were. Poison is a fairy tale at its sweetest. The precious little pig, named Rosie, was probably my favorite part of the story! You did notice the little pig peeking out of the ferns on the cover, didn't you?! She almost makes me want a little piglet of my own. Almost! ;)
Kyra is a tomboyish young lady, who would rather wear black than anything else. I found myself liking her immediately, despite the fact that she was on the run from an attempted murder. As the story unfolded, I liked her more and more. She has many layers that start showing as the story progresses. And, Fred! The author did such an amazing job of creating a handsome, appealing young man, despite his very goofy tendencies. He was a sweetheart, to say the least!
Overall, I greatly enjoyed my time in this adventure. I think it's a perfect fairy tale for both the young and old!
Content: Da** was used a couple of times, and I think I recall he** being used once. (I did read an e-ARC, so those words may or may not have ended up in the final copy). Violence was extremely mild. The author was very creative in assuring that nobody actually died in any of the fights. Very sweet, mild kissing is as far as anything goes in that nature.
*I was provided an e-ARC from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. ...more
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