Book Review: The Tutor's Daughter by Julie Klassen

*****--5 Stars.
January 2013, 416 pages.

Description (from Amazon): Award-Winning Regency Romance from Bestselling Author Julie Klassen.

Emma Smallwood, determined to help her widowed father regain his spirits when his academy fails, agrees to travel with him to the distant Cornwall coast, to the cliff-top manor of a baronet and his four sons. But after they arrive and begin teaching the younger boys, mysterious things begin to happen and danger mounts. Who does Emma hear playing the pianoforte, only to find the music room empty? Who sneaks into her room at night? Who rips a page from her journal, only to return it with a chilling illustration?

The baronet's older sons, Phillip and Henry, wrestle with problems--and secrets--of their own. They both remember Emma Smallwood from their days at her father's academy. She had been an awkward, studious girl. But now one of them finds himself unexpectedly drawn to her.

When the suspicious acts escalate, can the clever tutor's daughter figure out which brother to blame...and which brother to trust with her heart?
 
My Review: Thunder and turf!!! I loved this book!! It almost had a Jane Eyre feeling to it (and that is one of my all-time favorite books), yet it was different enough that it wasn't a copycat.

Emma Smallwood's father is a tutor, who used to run a school for boys. When a family fails to send their younger two sons to the school, they contact the family to see if they want their sons tutored in-house and the offer is accepted. What Emma and her father don't expect to find is a very chilly reception. The two older sons come home for some family business and there are some very strange happenings going on.

I love how tender Emma is, despite her very prim and organized way. I was going back and forth with myself in rooting for the guy--who should I choose? There were some slower parts, but I still found myself enjoying them a lot.

Content: clean.

To purchase, click here.

Book Review: A Timeless Romance Anthology: Autumn Collection by various authors

*****--5 Stars.
July 2013, 305 pages.

Description (from Amazon):  Six Award-Winning Authors have contributed new stories to A Timeless Romance Anthology: Autumn Collection. Readers will love this collection of six romantic suspense novellas, all with one thing in common: Romance.

In Heather Horrocks’ charming story, A Hound Dog Named Elvis, interior designer, Kaitlin Hartley returns to her hometown of Aspen Grove, California, to the job of her dreams after a year of specialized training in New York. During the town’s Autumn Festival, she enters her dachshund, Elvis, into the Running of the Hallowieners race. Joshua Moore, the man who hadn’t wanted her to leave Aspen Grove, but hadn’t waited for her either, enters Elvis’s sister, Priscilla. When Kaitlin gets home afterward, she realizes Elvis has left the building—with Joshua. She has the wrong dog! Can she get her dog—and the man she’s never stopped loving—back?

Eye for an Eye, Stephanie Black’s thrilling novella, follows Mallory as she is just getting her life back together, living with her sister and brother-in-law and starting college. After a difficult few years following a family tragedy, she’s finally ready to move forward, which includes getting to know the charming Darien better. But when illegal drugs turn up in her sister’s drawer, the first person accused is Mallory, and suddenly she doesn’t know who to trust. She turns to Darien, but with all evidence pointing at her, she doesn’t know if Darien is the man to save her.

In First Heist, a suspenseful novella by Heather B. Moore, Mia, an undercover agent is about to make a handoff to co-agent, Omar Zagouri. But before she can complete her assignment, her cover is blown, and she finds herself escaping with Omar. The only problem is, her boss warned her about Omar and his sketchy history of landing himself in the middle of danger. After losing her mother in an attack planned for Mia, pulling off any heist with a man like Omar is the last thing she needs for her career . . . or her life.

Sarah M. Eden’s cozy mystery, Letter for Two, we meet Sophia, who looks forward to the 5:30 p.m. mail sorting she does with her next door neighbor, Ethan. They live in a renovated house, now split into two apartments. Ethan is one of those dreamy, smart guys, but he shows no interest other than being friendly toward Sophia. When they find a mysterious letter addressed to Eleanor, dated to 1953, Sophia and Ethan determine to solve the puzzle together. Sophia knows that spending evenings with Ethan in ‘research’ might be her only chance to convince him that she should be more than just a neighbor.

In the enchanting novella, Silver Cascade Secrets, by Rachelle J. Christensen, Jillian is the master landscaper at a beautiful park. Meeting Travis there soon after breaking up with her boyfriend, Jillian is wary at first. Travis seems like a great guy, but Jillian had fallen for great guys before. When she learns that his brother, Craig, was murdered six months before, her heart goes out to Travis. True to her curious nature, she starts asking questions and learns about Craig’s close connection with the park. But finding the answers puts Jillian’s life in danger, and she must decide who she really trusts.

Chocolate Obsessed, a captivating romantic suspense by Annette Lyon, we meet Whitney, an executive pastry chef who is working her resort’s booth at the New York Chocolate Show. The only problem is that she shares the shift with her arch rival, Stephen. But then an unexpected visitor shows up: Jeremy, a man who lost a dessert competition she judged. When Jeremy confronts her and becomes threatening, Stephen steps in and gets Jeremy dragged off by security. But that doesn’t throw Jeremy off for long; soon Stephen and Whitney are running for their lives.

My Review: I am a big fan of romantic suspense and these are some of my favorite authors!! Once again, I love how these are little bite-sized stories that are just enough to satisfy a reader. It's a lot of fun to read stories by different authors because their styles are similar, yet so different and that's very apparent with the mystery and suspense elements added. They each have a unique way of unfolding the story and solving the mystery. This would be a great book to read in October--some were a little spooky and creepy, but not over the top. No horror here. I always try and choose a favorite and as I've said before with these anthologies, I'm sure I could read it again in a week and have a completely different favorite, but this time around, I would have to say it's Rachelle J. Christensen's, if only because all I could picture was Hook. :)

Content: kissing; some had a little language; a little creepiness.

This will be a definite re-read for me. To pick it up, click here.

WINNER of the Lazy Days of Summer Giveaway!!

CONGRATULATIONS to Beth D. who is the winner of my Lazy Days of Summer Giveaway!! 

She has been contacted and has accepted the prize.

Thank you to everyone who entered!!

Happy Summer!!

Book Review and Author Interview!! Sworn Enemy by A.L. Sowards

****--4 Stars.
April 2013, 276 pages.

Book Description: June 1944--As World War II rages, the people of Eastern Europe are hopelessly trapped between two formidable forces: Hitler’s Germany and Stalin’s Soviet Union. In their midst, a band of heroes works to defend against the inevitable Communist takeover. After narrowly escaping her Nazi captors, French Resistance worker Genevieve Olivier has fled to Allied territory with the help of American Lieutenant Peter Eddy. Their connection is undeniable, forged in the crucible of danger. But despite their blossoming feelings for each other, they must both finish the work they began . . .In the safety of England, Genevieve hopes to find purpose as a nurse—all the while unaware that the Gestapo still seeks the woman who slipped through their grasp. When she is called upon to resume a life of danger as a French spy, will her desire to prove herself be her downfall? Recruited by an elite special-ops team intent on thwarting the Nazis, Peter finds himself engaged in a personal battle as well—there is a traitor among his comrades. Deep in the Carpathian Mountains, Peter combats an unknown foe. The stakes are high as he fights to save the lives of his teammates. They are miles apart, yet as Genevieve and Peter fight for their own survival, they find a common well of strength in their faith—and their determination to be reunited.

My Review: I was completely amazed by this story. I've come to find that A.L. Sowards is a master at telling sides of stories that aren't overdone and commonly shared--at least, not that I've read. This is book 2, but can definitely stand alone. There were a couple of paragraphs that summed up the basic gist of book 1. However, the twists and turns in this one made up a totally different story. In some aspects, it built on Espionage, but it was definitely it's own story.

The reader sees what happens immediately following the end of book 1. Peter goes on a mission to Romania, which once again took me by surprise. I've never given any thought at all to this country during WWII. I felt that I learned so much, yet was entertained--I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Even Genevieve goes on a dangerous mission as a spy. I can't help but think about myself in the shoes of these characters and I swear I would die on the spot at some of the situations they found themselves in. Peter is so brave and tries so hard to stick to his values. He is a natural leader and is also very quick-thinking, not to mention well-liked...at least by the good guys. Genevieve is very brave as well and also does well at thinking and planning on the spot. Can people really do that?! I know I can't--I'm not that brave and there's no way I could endure the captures and torture and all that goes with war. I was fascinated at watching this story unfold.

I loved some of those side characters and others almost had me cringing in fear, especially when I realized that there are really some people that evil in the world.

I will definitely be keeping an eye out for this author's future works!!

Content: kissing (clean); war violence (not overly graphic).

About me:
I was born in Atlanta, Georgia and grew up in Moses Lake, Washington. Then I came to Utah to attend school and ended up staying. Books have always been an important part of my life. I remember writing self-illustrated storybooks at my grandparent's house when I was in elementary school (none of those made it to publication for many good reasons) and attending my first writer's conference when I was in third grade.
Another big part of my early life was swimming. I swam for the Big Bend Manta Rays, the Moses Lake Manta Rays, Moses Lake High School, and Brigham Young University. In addition to swimming, I studied Political Science and English at BYU.
Now I'm a busy mom of twin toddlers. I still love to read and I also love to write. I'm usually reading a couple books at once and working on multiple writing projects too. Other than that, my life is pretty ordinary. I'm grateful for that. I'll let the characters in my books have all the adventures.
What can you expect from my books?
A little mystery, a little history, a little romance, and a lot of action, adventure, and suspense. Primarily, I write to entertain. I also hope my books will teach readers something new about history or about life (anything from the wisdom of wearing your seatbelt to the truth that it's never too late to change). Most of my novels are set during wartime, so there is some violence, but it's not gory or excessive. I keep the language and romance family-friendly. My goal is for my writing to be thrilling, clean, and uplifting.

  
 Interview:

1. How did you decide what to write about?
One day, shortly after I had finished editing Espionage yet again, I went for a swim. I had thought I’d leave those characters alone, because they were kind of beat up at the end of the book and it would be mean to put them through anything else. But I got thinking about how much happened between D-day and V-E Day, and I wanted those characters to be involved in some of it. I thought Yugoslavia would be an interesting setting, and while I was doing research on WWII Yugoslavia, I read about how many airmen crashed in Serbia on their way back from bombing oil fields in Romania. That got me researching Romania, and the rest is history (well, historical fiction).

2. How much research did you have to do?
I’ve lost track. For me, research is an ongoing thing. I’m usually reading a WWII book of some sort, and even if it’s about the war in the Pacific, I can pick out details about the time period that would apply to my characters in Europe. I also subscribe to a WWII history magazine, so when I’m not reading books on the subject, I can read articles instead.

3. Do you base any of your characters on real-life people?
Not really. Many characters share traits with people I know, but I wouldn’t say they’re based on any one real-life person. In my head, Daniel Fisher looks a lot like Rupert Grint (the actor who plays Ron in the Harry Potter movies), and Major Baker looks like Wesley Idol from the P90X Kenpo video. Fortunately, I don’t know people as evil as most of the villains in my books.

4. What did you love best about writing this book?
I had a lot of fun writing the battle scene and editing the romantic parts.

5. What was the hardest thing for you in writing this book?
My publisher wanted me to cut Sworn Enemy’s word count by about 17%. It was so hard—that’s like cutting out every fifth or sixth word. But I learned a lot about writing in the process, and I think overall the book is better because of it. Author Related Questions: 6. When do you do your writing?
During my children’s nap time. They don’t always sleep, but we still call it nap time.

7. Do you have to have anything to write (snacks, music, etc)? If so, what?
Just my computer and relative quiet.

8. What did you do to celebrate your first published novel?
I sent copies to test readers and family members, went and looked at it in the stores, and listened to the audio version.

9. Do you have anything else in the works?
I’ve finished a third book involving characters from Espionage and Sworn Enemy, and now I’m working on another WWII spy thriller, this time with new characters. After that, I’m going to try something other than WWII. I love writing WWII novels and I have lots of ideas, but I don’t want to box myself in.

10. If you could be any character in a book, who would you be and why?
I don’t think I’d want to be a character in any book. Authors are kind of hard on their characters. Think about how many times Harry Potter almost died, and I know I put mine through the ringer.

11. What superhero power would you want most and why? I’d want the ability to stop time for everyone except me. Can you imagine how much I could get done if I could do that?

12. What book (or author) has influenced you the most? That’s a hard question, because so many of the books I read influence me in some way. It could be a useful tidbit of information from a research book, a question I get when I read a novel, or an emotion evoked in a memoir that I want to duplicate somehow in one of my stories. I started off going for a Jack Higgins or Alistair MacLean style, so I’ll leave it at that.

13. Which time period would you like to live in?
I don’t know—I’m pretty happy with my air conditioning, fast internet connection, and indoor plumbing. Now is hard to beat. It would be really cool to be a journalist during WWII though.

14. What is your dream job?
Probably what I’m doing right now—being a stay-at-home mom and writing books.

Chocolate or vanilla?
Chocolate

Hot or cold? Cold, because it’s not too hard to grab a blanket, put on layers, or sip some hot cocoa. But I really prefer fall and spring temperatures.

Night or day?
Depends on how tired I am. Sometimes going to sleep is the best part of the day.

Paperback or e-book?
E-books for most things. I love the highlighting feature for my research books, and I like being able to use just one hand. That, and I'm running out of shelf space for physical books.

A BIG THANK YOU to A.L. Sowards for doing this interview for me!! It's so much fun to get to know her better.

Click here to buy this book!!

Book Review: Espionage by A.L. Sowards

****--4 Stars.
March 2012, 256 pages.

Book Description: France, 1944: Nobody expects Peter Eddy to survive his first commando mission—to retrieve a code book stolen by the Nazis—so when he does come back alive, his success is rewarded with an even more daunting assignment. Partnered with the French Resistence leader Jacques Olivier, Eddy must identify which of three Allied contacts in Calais is a double agent and use the traitor to help implement a strategic Allied diversion that might win the war. Eddy and Olivier secretly cross the English Channel to confront their suspects one at a time, but what appears to be a clean assignment soon turns disastrous, and a shocking betrayal leaves Eddy in the grip of the Gestapo. With the courageous aid of Olivier and his sister, Genevieve, Eddy evades his captors with a dangerous escape plan. But as the Allied invasion approaches, treachery in the least likely places leads to fresh graves in the bloodied European soil—and only the power of loyalty and love can transform tragic endings into new beginnings.

My Review: First of all, I love the cover!! It fits the story so well and looks like it was from 1944. My grandfather fought in WWII and didn't like to talk about it much until the last few years of his life. Even then, it's so hard to imagine the horrors and situations that people went through during this time. I really enjoyed reading this book that took me on a journey that was not what I was expecting. It brought up issues that I hadn't really thought about.

Peter Eddy is a small town kid from Idaho, of all places and he's a member of the LDS church. Jacques and Genevieve are from France and are good people, doing what they need to do to survive the war. I fell in love with that cute little neighbor girl, Birgit. What a doll!!

Here's what I really thought was interesting: I never really thought about people betraying loved ones and close friends to stay alive. How can a person live with herself doing those kinds of things?! I also wondered how in the world could spies could do that kind of work? I was almost stressed out thinking about the missions and disguises and captures--completely on edge!! And the torture!! How awful.

I thought this was a very interesting view on an important piece of our history that's told in a way that is both informational and entertaining. I'm looking forward to reading the next one (Sworn Enemy).

Content: war violence that isn't over-the-top graphic, but still a little disturbing for the faint of heart. To purchase, click here

Book Review: Second Chances by Melanie Jacobson

****--4 Stars
March 2013, 272 pages.

Description: After walking out of a thankless job at a prestigious marketing firm, feisty California entrepreneur Louisa Gibson is going into business for herself. Lou’s pioneering venture, The Mormon Bachelor, is a reality dating web series sure to be fabulous advertising for her new marketing firm. And as a bonus, she can solve a problem close to home: while Huntington Beach is crawling with eligible, sun-bronzed Saints, they’ve forgotten the vital skill of dating. Lou hopes the reality show will finally inspire this group of hangout enthusiasts to pair off. But shortly before filming begins, the unthinkable happens—Trentyn, a.k.a. The Bachelor, gets a girlfriend. And Lou needs a new leading man—fast.

Enter Nick, Lou’s devastatingly handsome ex-boyfriend. He’s the stereotypical actor: shallow, self-serving . . . and perfect for the job. A whirlwind of dating ensues, with Nick at the center of it all. Things are going according to plan—that is, until Lou is forced to step in as a substitute bachelorette, becoming an unwitting cast member on her own show. Despite Nick’s attempts to reestablish their friendship and the growing spark between them, Lou is determined to keep her distance. The show must go on—but what’s a girl to do when the Mr. Wrong of the past just may be the Mr. Right of the future?

My Review: I've said this before and I'll say it again: There's something about competition dating that is so fascinating to me, yet I don't watch The Bachelor. Maybe I should? I really liked this one because everyone had standards and it was done in a very nice way. In some of the others I've read, the contestants are sooo mean to each other, but this one showed maturity and kindness, which was very refreshing to me. And who doesn't deserve a second chance? I'm a big believer that sometimes you can find Mr. (or Mrs.) Right but the timing's all wrong. Enter second chances.

Nick is Louisa's ex-boyfriend, but when the real Mormon Bachelor suddenly finds love just before this web show starts, she's desperate to find a replacement and asks Nick for the favor. Lou is a very organized, almost OCD, person who learns some very important lessons along the way. Nick is great!! He had so many opportunities to bash the girls or to sabotage the show, yet he proved he is a true gentleman and acted in a very mature way. He went through some crazy dates and situations and handled it all very well. The characters are true to the author's formula--witty, cute, and a lot of fun.

I really enjoy this type of book because it's fun, clean, and not preachy, yet religion is mentioned a little.

Content: clean.

If you want to check it out, click here.

Book Review: Glimmer of Hope by Sarah M. Eden

Publication: June 2013
Length: 208 pages
Book Description: Stunning Miranda Harford once had the world at her feet. She was young, carefree, and desperately in love. But when her new husband left for London without her, her world fell apart. Devastated by his abandonment, Miranda fled their home, taking residence at her husband’s rarely visited countryside estate. For three years, she lived alone. But now, as the holidays draw near, an unexpected visitor arrives . . .

Carter Alexander Harford, Seventh Viscount Devereaux, is a man driven to succeed. His work is his life, and the position of Prime Minister of England is within reach. But in truth, Carter is a man haunted by lost love. Estranged from his beautiful wife, Carter is shocked to find Miranda—the woman he loved and who he believes left him—in residence at his country home. As plans for a holiday party move forward, the uneasy couple realizes that to avoid further scandal, they must keep up appearances in a charade of marital happiness. Thrust together by fate, it quickly becomes clear that they have both been living beneath a conspired cloud of misunderstanding. As family, career, and social pressures threaten to keep them apart, can love have even a glimmer of hope?

My Review: Let me just say this: I LOVE Sarah Eden!! She is a fantastic writer and a darling person. Her books are full of witty dialogue, fun characters, and interesting situations. She is the modern queen of the Regency era. However, this story was a bit on the depressing side. I tried to get a hold of this book before going on vacation, but it wasn't on the shelves yet, so I waited. And then I heard how sad it was, so I decided to listen to it on cd--a little here, a little there. It is quite the sad story, with just the tiniest glimmer of hope.

Because of some pretty hefty misunderstandings, Carter and Miranda, a married couple, have been separated for 3 years and the story picks up right when they first meet up again. I thought Carter was a total jerk at first, but then, as the story unfolded, I realized that he wasn't. Miranda comes across as a meek and accepting woman, one who is likable, yet a bit on the coward side. Yet again, as the story unfolds, she is not as she first appears to be.

I did like it, but was frustrated at the length of time it took to figure things out. If you're in the mood for something on the heavier (sad) side, then pick this one up here. If not, wait until you are.

Content: clean.