Heaven Help Heidi

Heaven Help Heidi

Author:  Sally John

Website: www. sally-john.com/

Number of Pages: 352

Publisher: Harvest House Publishers

ISBN-13:  978-0736954686

Release Date: February 1, 2015

Market: Christian

Genre: Fiction

My Rating: 4.5 of 5 Stars

Description (from the back cover): Welcome to the Casa de Vida--eleven quaint bungalows located three blocks from the Pacific Ocean in tiny Seaside Village, California. Owner Liv McAlister never advertises vacancies beyond a small hand-lettered sign out front, preferring to trust that God will send the right tenant at just the right time. And He always does.

Heidi Hathaway's life has been turned upside down. After an accident leaves her injured, unable to work, and incapable of negotiating the stairs in her multilevel oceanfront condo, she leases her home and moves into a cozy little cottage in the charming garden complex where her friend Piper lives. There she finds so much more than a place to rest and recover.

Piper Keyes knows Jared is not coming back from Afghanistan. After making it through the fifth anniversary of his death, she wonders if she's at last ready to get on with life. She gingerly explores new avenues--photography, cooking, and buying her own boutique--and learns to open her heart again.

The most comforting thing about living at the Casa is that the women there become each other's mentors and confidantes, learning from their own mistakes and arriving at new, healed places in their lives.

How and Why I Acquired this Book

I received a free copy of the book from Harvest House Publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review.

My Expectations

This is the first time reading Sally John’s work.  I liked the cover, and Harvest House has a good reputation for publishing awesome books.

Were My Expectations Met

Absolutely!  I will definitely read more books by Sally John.

The Writing

The writing flowed smoothly, and I enjoyed Sally John’s writing style.  I could hear the characters talking in my head and see the various locations in the story.  I felt like I was actually present, not just reading a second hand account of the story.

The Storyline

There are so many different stories going on that this could become a TV show.  It was great!  The characters were realistic.  They were all flawed in some way.  Wounded.  Broken vessels.  Yet, together they formed a beautiful community to help each other grow and heal with Mama Liv at the center of it all.  The story is also about friendship, change, and how we can show love to others in need.

 

Spiritual Aspect

God is the center without being thrown in the face of the reader.  I feel like this novel really shows us how to be Jesus with hands…how to act out true love for God and others in daily life.  It shows how to come beside someone in need without beating them over the head with the Bible.  It’s a beautiful story.

Questions I Have

I do want to know what happens with Val and Livvie.  Do Val and Adam figure out their mother’s lie?  Who moves into the Casa next?  Is this story “to be continued?”  I hope so!

Audience Appropriateness and Appeal

People who like stories about overcoming tough obstacles will like this story.  Also, those who don’t like a lot of mushy romance will enjoy this book.

Conclusion

This is a great book! 

Pros:

§  Real characters that offer different points of view

§  Great theme and writing style

§  Cons:

§  It ended

Better All the Time

Better All the Time

Author:  Carre Armstrong Gardner

Website: www. carregardner.com

Number of Pages: 416

Publisher: Tyndale House Pubishers

ISBN-13:  978-1414388151

Release Date: April 2015

Market: Christian

Genre: Fiction

My Rating: 5 of 5 Stars

Description (from the back cover): Seraphina Darling has always struggled to stand out. With her weight issues at the forefront of her mind, Sephy prefers to place herself comfortably in the background. But when Sephy’s best friend and older brother announce their engagement, she vows to make a permanent change in her appearance and her life.

Meanwhile her younger sister, Amy, lands her dream job: coordinating the restoration of the community theater’s arts programs. As the deadline for the project’s completion approaches, Amy continues to run herself ragged, struggling to delegate and trust anyone but herself.

As the Darling sisters move through tragedy and triumph, between shadows and the limelight, each must find a path into the freedom of who God intended her to be.

How and Why I Acquired this Book

I received a free ebook from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. 

My Expectations

This is the first time reading anything by Carre Armstrong Gardner.  I have previously enjoyed books published by Tyndale, and I liked the cover of this book.  I was attracted to the happy title font, and I love the beach, which is a real treat for someone from Wisconsin.

Were My Expectations Met

My expectations were exceeded.  I completely enjoyed this book.  It was fabulous!

The Writing

The details in this book were vivid, and the dialogue flowed smoothly.  The personality of each character was beautifully portrayed, and although there were several characters, I didn’t get them mixed up.  As I read, I recognized people from my own life in some of the Darling family members.  I think I can say that there are stories within the larger story of Sephy’s life.

The Storyline

Sephy’s story is the main storyline, a story of being invisible, overlooked, taken advantage of, and wondering if her prince will ever come.  When she makes the decision to change her life, not everyone is supportive of her.  Sephy experiences setbacks, but she also overcomes obstacles.  God is the center of this big, boisterous, albeit dysfunctional at times family.

Not only is there conflict in Sephy’s life, but there is conflict in nearly all the characters’ lives.  The conflict makes the book hard to put down.  I found myself constantly making predictions of what was going to happen to each of the characters, and I was often wrong. 

 

Spiritual Aspect

The Darlings are a praying family, and the message that God loves us, hears our prayers, and answers us comes gently off the pages of this book.  This family lives according to God’s word (most of them), and it’s encouraging to see busy people who regularly talk to God.

Questions I Have

I wonder if the Hallmark or Up Channel will make this book (probably the series) into a made-for-tv movie.  I would LOVE to see this on the screen even though I generally believe that the book is better than the movie.  I’d still watch it…several times.  Oh!  My question about the book is: will Sephy eventually reveal what happened to her at the airport to Liberty or Justice?  Yes, this is a minor issue in the book, but still I’d like to know.

Audience Appropriateness and Appeal

This book comes with a G-rating.  It would be great for anyone, especially for those who identify with Sephy and her appearance issues.  Anyone who enjoys the Hallmark or Up Channels with their encouraging stories of overcoming challenges will enjoy this book, too.  I haven’t read the first book in the series, but I am definitely going to go back and read it, and I will read future stories of the Darling family, too.

Conclusion

Overall, this book is worth your time and effort to read it.  I give it two thumbs up! 

Pros:

§  The characters were believable

§  There was a variety of conflict

§  It’s part of a series (Yeah!)

§  Cons:

§  I have to wait (maybe a year) for the next book in the series to come out.  

Like a Flower in Bloom

Like a Flower in Bloom

Author:  Siri Mitchell

Website: www.sirimitchell.com

Number of Pages: 368

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers

ISBN-13:  978-0764210372

Release Date: January 6, 2015

Market: Christian

Genre: Inspirational, Romance

My Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars

Description (from the back cover):

It's all her uncle's fault. For years Charlotte Withersby has been free to pursue her love of plants and flowers by assisting her botanist father. But now that she's reached the old age of twenty-two, an intrusive uncle has convinced her father that Charlotte's future--the only proper future for a woman--is to be a wife and mother, not a scholar.

Her father is so dependent on her assistance that Charlotte believes he'll soon change his mind...and then Edward Trimble shows up. A long-time botany correspondent in the South Pacific, Trimble arrives ready to step in as assistant so that Charlotte can step out into proper society--a world that baffles her with its unwritten rules, inexplicable expectations, and confounding fashion.

Things aren't perfectly smooth between Trimble and her father, so Charlotte hatches a last gasp plan. She'll pretend such an interest in marriage that the thought of losing her will make her father welcome her back. Only things go quickly awry, and she realizes that the one man who recognizes her intelligence is also the person she's most angry with: Edward Trimble, her supposed rival. Suddenly juggling more suitors than she knows what to do with, Charlotte is caught in a trap of her own making. Will she have no choice but to leave her beloved flowers behind?

How and Why I Acquired this Book

I acquired a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

My Expectations

I have read a Siri Mitchell book before, and I enjoyed her work.  I liked the cover and what appeared to be a flower theme.  Of course, I really enjoy Christian romance books.  I feel like my expectations were met.

Prose and Dialogue

Because I read a review e-copy, the book wasn’t in its final form.  There were lines of dialogue from two different people in the same row.  The “ff” was missing in all words that required them, and I’m certain these minor inconveniences will be fixed before the book is printed in final form.  The dialogue was natural, and it really helped to bring out the personality and upbringing of each of the characters.

Characters and Viewpoints

There were a nice amount of characters without having too many to keep track of.  They were developed enough for me to understand them.  Unfortunately, I completely identify with Charlotte’s lack of filing ability.  I, too, am one who makes piles of papers.  I would have liked to read more description of the people – what did they look like?  The physical description was more sparse than rich.

Story Structure and Pace

There was a lot of backstory, but it was almost necessary to help show Charlotte’s personality.  Scientific minds are definitely different from creative minds.  Charlotte was a bit slow in awakening to her emotions.  She was so scientific it made her naïve to being a woman.  I would have liked to see her awaken prior to finishing 60% of the book.

Conflict and Tension

The story is moved along by Charlotte’s false search for a husband and her learning how to perform in social situations.  At the beginning of the novel, her bantering with Mr. Trimble was funny, but the romantic tension wasn’t there until the end.  Charlotte did grow and change over the course of the novel, but it did develop slowly.  She was definitely single focused until the end.

Research and Story World

Siri Mitchell did an excellent job displaying the research she did for this novel.  She also captures the public sentiment on women’s roles and responsibilities.  I do appreciate the picture she paints of Charlotte’s life and how it all seems to fall apart, yet truly comes together for her own good as the story moves along.

Romantic Tension

I thought the beginning was funny, and I found myself laughing out loud.  However, the characters weren’t being romantic at the time.  It is probably time and personality of the characters (which is true for some in life), but they did seem to have difficulty expressing romantic feelings.  Charlotte did overcome both personal and external conflicts, while Edward’s were not focused on at length.  I’m glad they ended up happy in the end, but I would have liked to see more tension amongst the major characters.

 

Spiritual Aspect

The spiritual aspect of this book wasn’t emphasized.  It did bring out a relationship between religion and science.  How? vs Why?  That is certainly realistic.  With a rector, there was some spiritual talk, but it was more muted.

Questions I Have

I would like to know the story of Miss Templeton and Mr. Stansbury (in another book?) as well as what happened to Charlotte’s father.  What does life look like in New Zealand?

Audience Appropriateness and Appeal

This book will appeal to people with knowledge of botany and those who don’t want a bunch of romance.  I think non-Christians would enjoy this book because it doesn’t have a strong spiritual message.

Engagement, Entertainment, and Investment

I felt a range of emotions while reading this book:  I laughed.  I cried.  I was suspicious of Miss Templeton.  Definitely, a person who loves plants in a scientific way will enjoy this book.  I think there is room to write another book that focuses on Miss Templeton and what happens next in New Zealand.  I would read that next book.

Conclusion

Overall, this book didn’t fit the normal pattern for inspirational romances.  Normally, the romantic conflict starts by chapter 4.  I can excuse that because I see Charlotte as someone who lost herself in botany and helping her father, while ignoring typical social obligations of the day.

Pros:

§  Intelligent, strong female character

§  Funny

§  Nice depiction of life for a female botanist

Cons:

              §Slowness of the romantic development

Small-Town Billionaire

Small-Town Billionaire (Love Inspired)

Author:  Renee Andrews

Website: www.reneeandrews.com

Number of Pages: 212

Publisher: Love Inspired Books

ISBN-13:  978-0-373-87909-0

Release Date: September 2014

Market: Christian, Romance

Genre: Inspirational

My Rating: 4 of 5 Stars

Description (from the back cover): As the CEO of Brooks International, Ryan Brooks has money, power and a sought-after family name. But here on his sister’s ranch in Claremont, Alabama, the billionaire only wants to be loved for who he really is. So when small-town shop owner Maribeth Walton ignores him and his valuable business advice, he’s determined to figure out why. Problem is Maribeth knows he’s not sticking around and she won’t let him get close. Or could it be she’s keeping a secret, one that may hold the key to why she’s so reluctant to admit she’s falling for the billionaire?

How and Why I Acquired this Book

I entered a contest online, and I won this book!  It actually came in a pack of 10 free books.  Does it get any better than that? 

My Expectations

Renee Andrews was a new author to me.  However, I recently finished a Love Inspired book, so I had expectations of reading a sweet story.  At the beginning, I was guessing or hoping that Maribeth didn’t want to expand her business because she was perhaps a billionaire herself.

Were My Expectations Met

This book had a great storyline.  It was well-written, and there were some really interesting plot twists.  Was Maribeth a billionaire?  You’ll have to read it to find out.  I don’t like to give away the ending. 

Prose and Dialogue

I finished this book in a day.  It was difficult to put down, and I enjoyed every page of the book.  The dialogue was natural and believable.  The descriptions in the book make me want to visit a dude ranch in Alabama.

Characters and Viewpoints

It’s nice to see the viewpoints of both Maribeth and Ryan.  They each have baggage from past relationships, and that baggage influences their actions and holds them back.  I really appreciated that we saw how Ryan thought through the big issues in his head.  It seemed very likely that a business man would think like Ryan did.  It also showed some spiritual maturity, or maybe that was spiritual newness.  Maribeth, as is often characteristic of women (sorry!), was highly emotional, and wasn’t ready to think the issues through until Ryan showed up at her apartment to help her see truth.  In both cases, we see imperfect people who are loved and forgiven by an awesome God.

Story Structure and Pace

This story had some very interesting twists!  I didn’t want to put it down, which should be obvious because I finished it in one day. 

Conflict and Tension

The book had a good amount of tension from the beginning.  Ryan, as CEO of a Fortune 500 company, is used to getting what he wants, so he pushes for what he sees as a smart business move.  Maribeth resists, and we don’t exactly know why…until the big conflict that spans the last few chapters.

 

Spiritual Aspect

I love the scripture quoted before the story starts.  It’s from Luke 12:2, and it says, “There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.”  In other words, you can run, but you can’t hide from your past.  Although this is true, the story also shows that “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us (Psalm 103:12).”

Questions I Have

Because I received the book free, I didn’t look it up to see if it was in a series.  As I was writing this review, I noticed that it is part of the Claremont series.  Hopefully the books can be read independently.  I wonder how much information about each of the characters in this book has been revealed in a past book.  Hmmm….

Audience Appropriateness and Appeal

This book is totally appropriate for anyone who enjoys romantic, Christian fiction.  This will appeal to anyone who lives with secrets from his/her past or has a hard time forgiving him/herself for past actions.  It’s therapeutic.

Conclusion

This is definitely a good read. 

Pros:

§  I enjoyed the conflict.

§  The message is appropriate for our culture and times.

§  Great writing!

Cons: 

§  Nothing.  

Mist of Midnight

Mist of Midnight

Author:  Sandra Byrd

Website: www.sandrabyrd.com

Number of Pages: 384

Publisher: Howard Books

ISBN-13:  9781476717869

Release Date: March 10, 2015

Market: Literature/Women’s Fiction

Genre: Gothic Romance

My Rating: 5 of 5 Stars

Description (from the back cover): In the first of a brand-new series set in Victorian England, a young woman returns home from India after the death of her family to discover her identity and inheritance are challenged by the man who holds her future in his hands.

Rebecca Ravenshaw, daughter of missionaries, spent most of her life in India. Following the death of her family in the Indian Mutiny, Rebecca returns to claim her family estate in Hampshire, England. Upon her return, people are surprised to see her...and highly suspicious. Less than a year earlier, an imposter had arrived with an Indian servant and assumed not only Rebecca's name, but her home and incomes.

That pretender died within months of her arrival; the servant fled to London as the young woman was hastily buried at midnight. The locals believe that perhaps she, Rebecca, is the real imposter. Her home and her father's investments reverted to a distant relative, the darkly charming Captain Luke Whitfield, who quickly took over. Against her best intentions, Rebecca begins to fall in love with Luke, but she is forced to question his motives—does he love her or does he just want Headbourne House? If Luke is simply after the property, as everyone suspects, will she suffer a similar fate as the first “Rebecca”?

A captivating Gothic love story set against a backdrop of intrigue and danger, Mist of Midnight will leave you breathless.

How and Why I Acquired this Book

I received a free ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

My Expectations

I read another review on Goodreads, and it was very positive, so I expected this to be a very good read.  I expected it to be creepy and suspenseful since it was called a gothic romance.

Were My Expectations Met

Absolutely!  This book had just the right amount of eerie creepiness mixed with suspense, romance, and Christianity.  I loved that Luke was always in question throughout the story.

Prose and Dialogue

This book was very well written.  There were two or three grammatical errors that I am confident will be corrected in the final version (electronic and print forms).  I loved the background that was given, and the dialogue amongst the characters was natural, but it didn’t give away too much information at once.  The reader is kept in suspense about several things, and all are revealed in the end.

Characters and Viewpoints

Rebecca was very likeable, flaws and all.  I appreciate her perseverance and strength.  She was very gracious and didn’t condemn others.  I disliked Michelene from the beginning, and she did not disappoint me in the end.  Luke was the big mystery throughout the story.  I enjoyed the seed ideas that he was both good and bad that were planted throughout the story.

Story Structure and Pace

This book moved along smoothly, and I was able to finish in a couple of days.  It’s a story that I didn’t want to put down.  I wanted to find the ending, and it was a very good ending.

Conflict and Tension

There was passion and conflict throughout the story.  The passion and conflict changed per person and from scene to scene.  There were tense moments up to the end of the story.  This was very well done!

 

Spiritual Aspect

As a daughter of a missionary, Rebecca was able to quote plenty of scripture.  A scripture theme for this book could be, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35).

Questions I Have

I wonder if Luke became a believer rather than a doubter in the end.  I personally like to believe he did because of the ending and the epilogue.

Audience Appropriateness and Appeal

This is a book that women will love.  It’s romantic and mysterious.  Anyone who loves Christian fiction and gothic romances will enjoy this book.  The cover looks great, too!

Conclusion

Overall, I loved this book.  I recommend it to anyone who likes to read Christian fiction. 

Pros:

§  There is a lot of conflict and tension, but not too much.

§  All mysteries are solved at the end of the book. 

§  This book is a page turner.

§  This is the first in a series, so there is more to come!

Cons:

§  The book had to end.  

The Deputy's New Family

The Deputy’s New Family (Love Inspired)

Author:  Jenna Mindel

Website: www.jennamindel.com

Number of Pages: 217

Publisher: Love Inspired Books

ISBN-13:  978-0-373-87910-6

Release Date: September 2014

Market: Christian, Romance

Genre: Inspirational

My Rating: 4 of 5 Stars

Description (from the back cover): Because of her painful past, teacher Beth Ryken has one rule when it comes to men and marriage: never fall for a cop.  So when Nick Grey, the new sheriff’s deputy asks her to tutor his young son, she agrees to work with the boy while hoping to avoid the handsome widower.   How will she possibly protect her heart from breaking all over again?

How and Why I Acquired this Book

I entered a contest online, and I won this book!  I received a signed copy from the author. 

My Expectations

I have been reading Christian fiction for about 18 months, and I’d never read anything by Jenna Mindel before.  I also had never read a Love Inspired book.  Because it was a division of Harlequin, I was not sure if it was going to be a sweet romance or if it was going to be a little more involved.

Were My Expectations Met

This book turned out to be a very sweet romance.  I was really happy that it did not get racy.

Prose and Dialogue

The book was well-written.  There was a nice mix of conversation amongst the characters and prose that provided good insights into the characters.  Punctuation and grammar helped this book to be a very quick read.

Characters and Viewpoints

I was able to identify with Beth as a teacher.  She is a caring person, but she chooses the safe path.  She has a great relationship with her mom, yet, there is a communication issue, too.  They never truly talked through her father’s death.  Neither of them fully healed, but they function fine on the outside.  When Nick and his son Corey come into their lives, Beth is faced with her fears, which does lead to her healing.  There is a point in the book where Beth and Nick both say that the other comes with a lot of baggage.  Is not that true of all of us?

Story Structure and Pace

This book was an easy read.  I could have read it in a day if my schedule allowed it.  It was paced well.  There were no places where I wished it would hurry up and move on to the next scene.  It did a nice job leading up to the predictable ending.  I read this type of book because I like happy endings, so predictable is a good thing for me.

Conflict and Tension

The conflict is not very intense in this book.  There are obstacles, but most of them are easy to pass through.  The most intense moments center on the boat ride at the end of the book.  There is tension, but there is not nail-biting suspense.

 

Spiritual Aspect

The scripture quoted before the story begins is Isaiah 43:1-2.  It perfectly sums up the book.  Another scripture that would fit is Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you.”  Everyone in this book has a Christian background.  The big issue is Beth being able to trust God with what she can’t control in her safe little world.

Questions I Have

I wonder why Beth had her car at school in the parking lot while she tutored Corey (p155).  She lived across the street.  Why would she drive to school?  I think this may have been an author oversight.  Oops!

Audience Appropriateness and Appeal

Everything in this book is totally appropriate.  It’s innocent and sweet.  Anyone who enjoys Christian fiction that is evenly paced will enjoy this book.  Anyone who enjoys a clear spiritual message will enjoy this book, too (Trust God, and do not fear!).  If you’re from the Lake Leelanau area of Michigan, you may be particularly interested in reading this story.  It’s fun to read books that feature your geographical area.

Conclusion

Overall, I really enjoyed this book.  I was engaged, and there were times that I didn’t want to put it down.  Personally, I recommend this book. 

Pros:

§  The characters were likable.

§  There was a happy ending. 

§  It was a sweet, innocent romance.

Cons:

§  It could have had more intense conflict.