Review: Prudence Pursued by Shirley Raye Redmond

 

Prudence Pursued by Shirley Raye Redmond
Published: July 2014, Astraea Press, 259 pages
Source: I received a copy in exchange for an honest review

Description: At the advanced age of twenty-seven, vicar’s daughter Prudence Pentrye is on the shelf. Content to occupy her time by attending meetings of Mr. Wilberforce’s Abolition Society and helping her father administer vaccines in an effort to prevent a small pox epidemic, Prudence is resolved to see that her younger cousin Margaret does not share her own unmarried fate.

But Margaret is plain and shy. She is repulsed when a swashbuckling baronet, Sir James Brownell, makes her an offer of marriage. With his sunburned skin, eye patch, and indifference to fashion, Sir James is not Margaret’s idea of a romantic suitor. Nor does Margaret enjoy his tales of fighting against Malay pirates and trekking through tropical jungles on the island of Borneo in hopes of capturing a living orangutan.

Prudence, however, finds herself secretly smitten. Will she maintain control of her traitorous heart or will she trust God to make her life richer and more rewarding than the one she had planned for herself?

 

My Review: This story started out with Prudence helping with vaccinations in order to help curb the small pox. I was a little disgusted at the methods they used and appalled at how barbaric they seemed. It made me really grateful to just be able to go in and get a shot for things like this. 

As the story progresses beyond that point, Prudence is asked to help encourage her younger cousin to marry a man whom she has no desire of marrying. Not wanting Margaret to end up an old maid like herself, Prudence is determined to help out. Nothing Prudence says can change Margaret's mind, yet it does everything to change Prudence's. Previously, she'd been convinced she'd never marry and now she wonders...

I felt there was a lot of repetitive talk in parts, with Prudence trying to convince Margaret and Margaret adamantly refusing--over and over again. That aside, it was a fun story with fun characters. I love it when a romance novel has good-looking characters, but I love it just as much, if not more, if they're described with flaws or as plain looking. Not everyone is a supermodel and I love watching characters get to know each other--the real, deep inside, characters. And these characters are great fun! I think my favorite thing is when Sir James can't get Younghughes name right. I know it's on purpose, but I found it very funny. Of course, I loved the way things all worked out.

Content: some mildly disturbing descriptions concerning the vaccines; mild romance; otherwise, Clean!

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Review: On the Fence by Kasie West

 

On the Fence by Kasie West
Published: July 2014, HarperTeen, 296 pages

Description: For sixteen-year-old Charlotte Reynolds, aka Charlie, being raised by a single dad and three older brothers has its perks. She can outrun, outscore, and outwit every boy she knows—including her longtime neighbor and honorary fourth brother, Braden. But when it comes to being a girl, Charlie doesn't know the first thing about anything. So when she starts working at chichi boutique to pay off a speeding ticket, she finds herself in a strange new world of makeup, lacy skirts, and BeDazzlers. Even stranger, she's spending time with a boy who has never seen her tear it up in a pickup game.

To cope with the stress of faking her way through this new reality, Charlie seeks late-night refuge in her backyard, talking out her problems with Braden by the fence that separates them. But their Fence Chats can't solve Charlie's biggest problem: she's falling for Braden. Hard. She knows what it means to go for the win, but if spilling her secret means losing him for good, the stakes just got too high.

 

My Review:  Charlie is a total tomboy. How could she not be, growing up without a mother and three older brothers? I'm the oldest in my family and I always wanted at least one older brother. Well, after reading this book, I'm sure glad I didn't have any! I'm sure it's great sometimes, but those brothers of Charlie's were ruthless. I couldn't believe some of the things they did to her--tackling, throwing her into the pool, the dares, etc. Of course, the perks are having them be very threatening and overprotective towards any potential boyfriends. Wait...is that a perk? All that aside, I absolutely loved the relationships they all had with each other. I wish my kids loved each other that much...

When Charlie is "forced" to get a job, she finds a new side to herself--a girly side. Trying to figure out who she is and who she wants to be is tough. She finds herself really confiding in her honorary brother (and neighbor), Braden, especially when she starts to develop feelings for him. She is also dealing with nightmares surrounding her mother's death--maybe it's time to learn about and face the truth.

This is a fun, touching, and perfect coming-of-age story. I love the way Kasie West writes; the emotion and way she has of writing really brings the characters to life, from the main characters right down to the secondary ones. I feel that I just lived a summer vicariously through Charlie.

Content: no language or violence; mild romance. Clean!

 

Amazon  *  B&N

About the Author:

I write YA. I eat Junior Mints. Sometimes I go crazy and do both at the same time. My novels, published through Harper Teen are: PIVOT POINT, its sequel SPLIT SECOND (Feb 2014), and THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US (a contemporary novel). I also have two more contemporaries, ON THE FENCE coming out July 1, 2014, and THE FILL-IN BOYFRIEND coming out the summer of 2015. My agent is the talented and funny Michelle Wolfson.

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Review: Girls Who Choose God by McArthur Krishna & Bethany Spalding

TITLE: Girls Who Choose God

AUTHOR: McArthur Krishna & Bethany Spalding

ILLUSTRATED: Kathleen Peterson

PAGE COUNT: 48 *Hardcover 10 X 10

PUBLISHED: August 2014, Deseret Book Company

Description: From Eve to Esther, from the Samaritan woman at the well to the widow with her two mites, many women in the Bible have made courageous choices. All through the ages, women have chosen to help, to solve problems, to stand up for others, to strengthen families, and to follow God no matter what. Girls Who Choose God invites young readers (and those who love them) to make important choices of their own, following the examples of great women in the scriptures. With breathtaking illustrations, beautifully told stories, and insightful discussion questions, this delightful book is perfect for sharing, reading aloud, and drawing children into the scriptures.

My Review: I loved the way each story was set up. A woman from the Bible was introduced and a brief synopsis of her story was given in a very simple way. At the end of the page, a choice was given--she could do this or she could do that. The next page told what that particular woman chose to do. A question was then asked about a situation or choice the reader has made. The questions always had to do with the story and was a great way to personalize things to the reader. I read this aloud with my two youngest children and we talked about those questions and thought about things that we've done to answer them. This book can be as simple or as thoughtful as you want it to be. It can be read straight through or used as a great tool to have some fun discussions. As a bonus, the pictures were  beautiful!

 

Goodreads  *  Deseret Book  *  Amazon  *  B&N 

Thirty-Two Going on Spinster $50 Book Blast

Thirty-Two Going on Spinster by Becky Monson

Julia Dorning is a spinster, or at least on the road to becoming one. She has no social life, hates her job, and lives in her parent’s basement with her cat, Charlie.

With the arrival of Jared Moody, the new hire at work, Julia’s mundane life is suddenly turned upside down. Her instant (and totally ridiculous) crush on the new guy causes Julia to finally make some long-overdue changes, in hopes to find a life that includes more than baking and hanging out with Charlie.

But when the biggest and most unexpected change comes, will the new and improved Julia be able to overcome it? Or will she go back to her spinster ways?

Purchase your copy for just $2.99!!

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  Praise for Thirty-Two Going on... Spinster   "Oh my, oh my. I have just finished wiping the tears of laughter from my eyes. This is seriously funny." ~Julie Darley (Never judge a Book by its Movie) "This was a refreshing change of pace for me to read. Some good clean romance was found in it’s pages and that is a rare find these days. It was some great chick-lit. I would not have thought this was Becky’s debut book, it was so well done." ~Liberty Ann (SnifferWalkBooks)

 Author Becky Monson By day, Becky Monson is a mother of three young children, and a wife. By night, she escapes with reading books and writing. In her debut novel, Becky uses humor and true-life experiences to bring her characters to life. She loves all things chick-lit (movies, books, etc), and wishes she had a British accent. She has recently given up Diet Coke for the fiftieth time and is hopeful time will last... But it probably won't. Becky runs a large book club on Facebook called "This Chick Reads".  

Facebook * Website * Twitter * Pinterest * Goodreads * Blog

BookBlast Giveaway $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 9/30/14 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
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Book Sale! Sweet Montana Bride Series

Sweet Montana Bride Series Sale! 

Kimberly Krey's Sweet Montana Bride Series is on *SALE*! Only .99 cents for each one. 

Looking to rope yourself some Labor Day reads? Well saddle up, 'cuz the entire Sweet Montana Bride series is on sale at last. We've got Reese's Cowboy Kiss, Jade's Cowboy Crush, and Cassie's Cowboy Crave. Three sweet and steamy clean romance novels complete with cowboys, romance, and happily ever afters. Featuring the witness protection program - rancher style, these ebooks sale for $3.99 a piece, but this week you can snag 'em for just .99 cents each on Amazon.

Here's a bit about each book just to whet your appetite. Happy romance reading!

Reese's Cowboy Kiss:
Texan pageant winner, Reese Taylor, has a former classmate who wants her dead. Now she must leave her friends and family to enter a protection program on Emerson Ranch. A group of good-looking cowboys awaits her, but Reese has her eye on Blake Emerson, the one man too busy with the ranch to give her a chance. Blake Emerson has no time to go lookin’ for love. He’s got a ranch to run, positions to fill, and an ache in his heart from love gone wrong. So when he agrees to harbor a witness to help on the ranch, Blake assumes his first two problems are solved. But he never dreamed his new guest would be a woman. One he was destined to lose his heart to. With sparks burning hot and danger around the bend, one question lingers in his mind: Has he only added to his list of troubles, or has Blake just found the woman of his dreams? * Though this novel is considered clean romance, it does contain passionate kissing and a few minor curse words. *

Jade's Cowboy Crush:
Single mother, Jade Miller, has just witnessed a murder. Now, set to testify against the cold-blooded killer, Jade must be placed under protection. While she is grateful to the kind folks who’ve offered to take in her and her son, Jade is surprised to find the man escorting them from L.A. to Montana is Gavin Emerson. A womanizing, far-too-attractive-for-his-own-good, rebel cowboy. Jade assures Gavin that she has sworn off men until her son is grown, but all too soon she finds herself fighting back feelings for the man who’s agreed to care for them. Gavin wants nothing to do with ranch life. Not since the ugly fallout he had with his father over eight years ago. But when he agrees to come back, harboring Jade and her son for a time, Gavin falls in love with life on the land once again. Above that, he finds his heart has been captured by his lovely house guest, Jade Miller. After reservations on both parts, the two are finally ready to open up and give their new-found love a try. Only they aren’t in the clear just yet, and as a dark and deadly threat falls upon them, Gavin finds that his bad-boy past may have led the danger right to their door. *Though this novel is considered clean romance, it contains passionate kissing & a few mild curse words.*

Cassie's Cowboy Crave:
Twenty-four-year-old Cassie Lovell has a great job, good friends, and an apartment with a killer view. That is, until life is turned upside down. Without the chance to say goodbye, Cassie is forced into a witness protection program on Emerson Ranch. Just when she fears life is doomed, Cassie meets Shane Emerson, the stunningly handsome cowboy who’ll be posing as her newlywed groom. Shane Emerson is determined not to fall for the woman he’s agreed to harbor. Especially since the whole thing was his family’s way of trying to get him hitched. So why is it when he takes Cassie into his home, Shane wants nothing more than to turn their make-believe marriage into more than just a sham? In a moment of weakness, Shane steals a kiss. In return, Cassie steals his heart. Yet before they confess their undying love, a hidden danger threatens to tear them apart. *Though this novel is considered clean romance, it contains passionate kissing & a few mild curse words.*

Spotlight: The Teen Wytche Saga by Ariella Moon

 

 Tour Schedule

The Teen Wytche Saga by Ariella Moon
Think magic will solve your problems? Bring you love? Cure you? Protect you? Help you find someone who is lost? Think again. Magic tests friendships. It hisses, chirps, stinks up the room, backfires, and explodes. Magic forces you to make tough decisions. Shatter limitations. Discover your true self. When you use magic, expect results in the ultimate triple-un—unpredictable, uncontrollable, and so undeniable. And you thought navigating high school was tough.

Excerpt #1 from Spell Fire, Book #3, The Teen Wytche Saga

Thor's eyes met mine. Our gazes locked, and I swear he did a Zen mind meld. Soothing waves of chi — energy — flowed through me. The brimstone stink evaporated, replaced by the calming scent of lavender and sage.

Hazel's gaze swiveled from me to Thor, then back to me. Looking buffeted by an unseen wind, she silently returned to her seat.

The corners of Thor's full lips curved upward. Two urges warred within me — the desire to leap across the room and kiss him, and the urge to arch my neck and breathe fire.

Thor's smile widened.

Purchase on Amazon

 

Praise for the Teen Wytche Saga Spell Check  
“Ms. Moon has crafted a spellbinding story. I was entranced within the first chapter,” Tifferz, 5-star Amazon Review  

“Spellcheck is a delightful teen romance about best friends, magic, and bad decisions.” Romancewriter, 5-Star Amazon Review    

“A great read that kept me captive, I couldn't stop reading! Ariella Moon has created a piece of art! I can't wait for the next book!” Jennifer Badgett, 5-Star Amazon Review  







Spell Struck  
"A fantastic YA paranormal read, reminiscent of the film "Practical Magic"! Spell Struck combines quirky but fun teen characters dealing with new schools, romance, and family problems, with magic, and more serious topics like suicide and kidnapping." Sarah E. Bradley, InD’Tale Magazine 5 Stars, Crowned Heart for Excellence    

“The Teen Wytche Saga is a gripping series of books that combine otherworldly magick with the everyday struggles of growing up a teenager in America… Unexpected plot twists at every turn of the page grab you and hold on from start to finish.” Karyn Pickles, 5 Star Amazon Review  

 “I loved Spell Struck even more than I loved Spell Check!” Freddie, 5-Star Amazon Review

 Spell Fire    
“This book looked fun and magical from the start … I really want to go back and get the first and second book now and read the series from the beginning. Ariella has made me fall in love with the characters in the middle of the story. I also can not wait for the fourth installment.” Becca Wilson, 5-Star Amazon Review    

“Great cast of characters, diverse protagonist, fast-paced action and romance, and a touch of different types of regional magic all tied into a fantastic read. I would highly recommend these to any woman (no matter the age) looking for an uplifting paranormal romance!” Freddie, 5-Star Amazon Review    

“I loved it!!! Absolutely loved it!!!... “Overall a great book and an awesome series... I would definitely recommend this book to all the fantasy and YA lovers and hope that you guys will love it as I did.” CUTEsatarupa, 5-Star Amazon Review

Author Ariella Moon
Ariella Moon is the author of the Teen Wytche Saga, a sweet Young Adult paranormal series. Ariella writes about magic, friendship, high school, secrets, and love in Spell Check, Spell Struck, and Spell Fire from Astraea Press. Ariella spent her childhood searching for a magical wardrobe that would transport her to Narnia. Extreme math anxiety, and taller students who mistook her for a leaning post, marred her youth. Despite these horrors, she graduated summa cum laude from the University of California at Davis. Ariella is a Reiki Master, author, and shaman. She lives a nearly normal life with her extraordinary daughter, two shamelessly spoiled dogs, and an enormous dragon.  

Blog Tour Giveaway $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 9/7/14 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
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Review: The Alliance of Isian (Isian #2) by Serena Clarke

 

The Alliance of Isian (The Isian Series Book 2)  by Serena Clarke
Published: November 4th 2013 by Red Mountain Shadows Publishing, 219 pages
Source: I received a copy in exchange for an honest review

Description: War is coming and all the kingdoms must choose a side. Isian decides to make an alliance with their long time enemies in order to defeat a common enemy. So Isian sends a proposal, offering their daughter to the prince, in order to ensure an alliance.
Princess Gabrielle and her new husband, Prince Alec must learn to work together and trust each other in order to triumph in the approaching war.
With a mysterious beast attacking the kingdom, their lives in danger, and overcoming their vast cultural differences, will love grow despite their trials or tear them apart?

Enjoy the fantasy, danger, mystery, and romance!

My Review: I love a good story with an arranged marriage in it--especially if it involves royalty. How could I not love this one? Gabrielle is offered up to marry handsome Prince Alec in order to forge an alliance that will help in the coming war. Their relationship progresses slowly and naturally and I really enjoyed watching it unfold. 

Gabrielle wants to be loved, but she remembers the prince from her younger years and always thought of him as a playboy. I know I would have a hard time getting over those memories and she wasn't any different. I can't imagine being thrown (forced) into a new situation like that. I thought she did a good job of making the best of her situation. 

Gabrielle's kingdom uses magic and Alec's does not. In fact, he is quite opposed to it. I loved watching them give and take, working out their differences, as any married couple would do.

I loved the mystery and adventure and thought there was just the right amount of fantasy. Of course, my favorite parts were the romance. I loved how kind and gracious this couple was and how they worked together to find a solution to the problems at hand. I really liked the first book, but I loved this one! So far, they just keep getting better! I'm excited to see that there will be another book...at least, there had better be. It ended on a slight cliffhanger.  

Content: no language; mild fighting (attempted murder and kidnapping); romantic kissing between a married couple. Clean!

 

Goodreads  *  Amazon  *  B&N

About the Author:
Serena has a Bachelors Degree in Graphic Design and is a member of the Red Mountain Shadows Publishing team. She is passionate about learning, reading, art, and design. She enjoys designing her book covers as much as writing her books.
 

For Love and Country $50 Book Blast

 

For Love and Country When A Man Is Torn Between Honoring His Country And The Woman He Loves, The Best Option Might Be To Choose Both.   When Maggie du Woernig willfully ignores her parents’ admonitions and entangles herself with Nik Koenig, she is certain he’s the only man who will make her happy. Blind to Nik’s real intentions, she throws herself recklessly into a situation that could not only destroy her life but compromise the safety of her country.   Han Heinrich has resigned himself to working in the castle stables, mostly as an excuse to have contact each day with Maggie. His aspirations for a more fulfilling career seem fruitless, in spite of his father’s position as the duke’s highest advisor. But when Han learns about Maggie’s precarious situation, he is willing to sacrifice everything to protect the woman he loves, and to save the country he would die for. He only hopes that someday Maggie will forgive him.

Purchase your copy:

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iTunes * Google Play * Kobo

Praise for The Horstberg Saga: 

I completely enjoyed this book. The character development is fantastic. The author has a great sense of emotional storytelling that wraps you into the story as if you know,and can fully relate to the characters. This is the kind of story that touches the heart and the spirit. Well done. I look forward to the next chapter in the Horstberg Saga. This book kept me so interested, I had a hard time putting it down. Suspense, love without smut, emotions that so relate to everyday life. This author touched on it all. Such in depth understanding of human emotions with the characters. Firstly, I loved that this was a VOLUME! And what a great story to really sink my teeth into and get settled in with for more than just one sitting! Well written and thoroughly satisfying.   

Author Elizabeth D. Michaels 

 Elizabeth D. Michaels began writing at the age of sixteen, immersing herself ever since in the lives created by her vivid imagination. Beyond her devotion to family and friends, writing has been her passion for nearly three decades. While she has more than fifty published novels under the name Anita Stansfield and is the recipient of many awards, she boldly declares The Horstberg Saga as the story she was born to write, with many volumes in the works. She is best known for her keen ability to explore the psychological depths of human nature, bringing her characters to life through the timeless struggles they face in the midst of exquisite dramas. 

Website * Blog * Facebook

BookBlast Giveaway 

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 9/26/14 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. 

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Review: to Mormons, with Love by Crisy Ross

 

to Mormons, with LOVE by Chrisy Ross
Published: October 5th 2011 by American Fork Arts Council Press, 145 pages

Description: When Chrisy Ross and her family moved to a small-town LDS community--one she affectionately refers to as Mayberry--she underestimated her readiness as a nonmember for what turned out to be a cultural immersion. Sure, she knew Mormons didn't drink caffeine (cough), and they never swore (double cough), but life with family-centered folks would be cozy and wonderful. She could smell the fresh-baked bread just thinking about it. Join her as she honestly, humorously, and lovingly describes her quest to find someone with a real panty line problem, requests her LDS friends baptize her-after she dies-and considers her dad's suggestion to become a Jack Mormon. Although not a convert, Chrisy develops an understanding and respect for a widely misunderstood religion and has found a comfortable spot in her town, the community and the culture.

My Review: I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and I really appreciated this view on what it's like for someone who is not a member of my church to move into an area that is pretty much all Mormons. I thought the author did a great job in describing her feelings in a real, yet humorous way. I love how comfortable she is with her situation and how gracefully she handles her neighbors and life.

Content: a couple of mild expletives; no violence; no romance; a lot of religious talk, but nothing at all preachy.