Surgery

Our little boy is having surgery tomorrow. I hope it goes well. It's not a serious surgery but I still worry for him. Saying prayers for our little guy.

Emma: A Latter-Day Tale Review

This story follows the Jane Austen story line of Emma with a few subtle changes. These changes include names and a twist with the latter day values and morals. Emma is bent on matchmaking after successfully helping her Aunt Tanya marry. She finds Harri, short for Harriet, to be her first project for giving a makeover and a boost in finding her perfect soul mate. Like the Jane Austen version, the wrong man is picked and Emma spirals out of control on the decisions she makes in trying to influence for good, but rather makes more mistakes along the way.

Her best friend, Justin is there telling her constantly of her mistakes but she does not listen to him until the end when she realizes that she loves him and could possibly lose him.

I liked this Latter Day version of Emma. It held to the basic Jane Austen Story of Emma, but maintained a latter day perspective to it which I appreciated. I felt the author gave definition to the characters and I truly liked Justin. I could see him as a modern Mr. Knightley.

I felt that the story did drag just a bit waiting for certain things to happen but that could be because I knew the Jane Austen version of Emma and wanted to get to the next part of Emma. Also I wished there was a bit more romance between Emma and Justin. I felt the same with Jane Austen's version as well. You just love those two characters that you want more interaction between them through the story. Overall, this is a book that I will keep in my library to read again.

I was given a free complimentary copy from Cedar Fort, Inc for my honest opinion.

Follow the Heart Review

Follow the Heart is about a Kate, a woman considered to be a spinster, who is jilted and forced by her father to go to England to live with her mother's brother. She is escorted by her brother, Christopher and both are told to marry wealthy to save the family from financial ruin. Kate has not much experience being courted by men let alone English aristocrats. She feels a strong pull to follow the mandate given by her father until she meets Andrew Lawton, an English Landscaper who works for her uncle. Kate strives to follow the strict code of conduct and tame her heart just as Andrew tames his plants, but her heart longs to be wild and free to choose her own path to Andrew. At a point in the story she meets a crossroads where she must make the ultimate decision to sacrifice her love or her family.

I really liked this story about Kate and how she is overwhelmed with responsibility. I could feel as if I was with her at being torn between duty and love. I felt the love between her and Andrew seemed to grow and the fight they gave to prevent it from developing. I only wished the author had show more of the building of romance between them. I really liked Christopher. He was a good brother who looked after Kate and I liked his approach to living his life to be happy rather than conforming to his father's edict. I only wished I could have seen Edith get a taste of her own medicine by the Uncle. Overall it was a great read and one that I should read again.

I received this complementary copy of Follow the Heart from B&H Publishing Group for my honest and unbiased opinion.

Undeniably Yours Review

 
Meg inherits her father's estate though they were not close. She takes on the role of trying to step into his shoe for the Company he ran. Hesitant to follow in her father's footsteps completely, she strives to take on only the things she feels she has some interest in. The horse farm is not in her interest and she tries to close it down but meets the irresistible, handsome cowboy Bo, who will not let it close without a fight. Bo convinces Meg to give him more time with the horse farm and Meg agrees.

Meg is a woman who lacks confidence in herself and strives to try to fit into her father's world though she hates it. Bo is the confident, faith driven, cowboy who feels inadequate around Meg due to their difference in material wealth. Yet both are attracted to each other and can't help the feelings that grow between them.

I received this free complementary book from Bethany House publishers for my honest opinion. I felt this was a simple sweet clean romance. I liked Meg's character and the fact that though she was pretty, she felt those insecure feelings that most women do about themselves. She seemed more down to earth. I liked Bo's character as well and how the author brought the opposites attract theme into it.

As usual, there is a bad person in the story and I felt that he really was more of a distraction than an addition. I don't understand why he chose to go back to find Meg when he was so good at hiding his trail. It made no sense to me why he even cared to find her.

I still give it four stars because this would be a story that I would read again just for a bit of light romance on a rainy day for entertainment.

The Tudor's Daughter Review

Emma Smallwood is a dutiful daughter. She takes care of her father in every way from helping him teach at his school to worrying over their financial situation. She takes and chance and ends up on a journey that changes her life forever.

She follows her father to a Cliff top Manor to tudor two youngest sons of a Baron. She is hesitant to leave her well established life because she fears meeting the the oldest son, Henry because they were not friends. She hopes the second son, Phillip is there because he was her friend.

She finds that at her temporary residence at the Cliff Manor that all is not what it seems. Mystery and mischief lurk there. She finds herself wondering if a past nemesis is recreating mischief, but yet she finds herself drawn to a side she has never seen of him.

I found that Julie Klassen wrote another excellent story. I enjoyed the mystery that she weaved in this story. I was constantly guessing wrong conclusions as to who was behind the chaos at the Manor. I loved that Emma realized that people change and I found her romance to be sweetly written. I would definitely recommend this book as a favorite read and one I will read over and over.

I was given this complimentary book from Bethany House for my honest and unbiased opinion to share.

Almost 3 Weeks to Go!

Thanksgiving is this thursday and I will have 3 weeks left until this lil guy comes into the world. Mike and I went to dinner with Levi saturday night and I asked him if he was nervous about this one. He said that he was nervous in other ways. I asked what he meant and he said...being able to provide for the family as we grow.

I expressed to him that Heavenly Father has blessed us since I made the choice to stay home and raise the kids. Mike's been able to provide and though it may be tight, there are doors that open to help us get through the hard times. I won't say that I have been tempted to go work part time, but I have seen that happen with others and it seems that once they are away from home, things pop up that keep them out in the working world. I know sometimes there is no choice and I pray that we will always have the choice for me to stay home. I love it though it is challenging and hard at times.

I went to lunch with some old co-workers on friday and then stopped to see my old boss for a minute to visit. It brought such a strong impression on me that I just don't miss the work. I do miss some of the associations with my former co-workers but I feel I am happier not to be there.

I guess this Thanksgiving, I am grateful that Heavenly Father blessed my family as I stay home with the kids. I just hope that we continue to do the best we can to keep it that way. I am also grateful for my wonderful Husband. Mike is truely my best friend in life and the only regret that I have is that we did not meet sooner. He means so much to me that I can't imagine life without him.

And to my sweet son, Levi and his soon to be brother, Hunter...I love being with you even on days that life can be difficult. I hope to be the mom you wish me to be.

Whispers in the Wind Review

Cassie Lockwood is a "Annie Oakley" that grew up in the Wild West Show that her father put together. After the show is disbanded, she finds documents that shows her father had a deed to land in a valley in South Dakota. She and some of her friends have traveled to find that someone already turns out to have put a ranch on her land. Having discovered part ownership, she strives to find a way to claim a bit of what she owns.

The Engstroms have conflicting emotions about Cassie showing up. Mavis, the matriarch, immediately strives to help Cassie feel at home. Her two sons have different reactions. Ransom has no trust for Cassie and feels cheated that half of his property belongs to another. Lucas, the youngest son, feels immediate attraction to Cassie.

Soon the two groups learn to work as a family to build up the Ranch and Cabin that Cassie has been given for her and her friends to stay in. Cassie strives to find ways to support her family of friends so she does not rely on the Engstroms. Ransom keeps a watchful eye on her trying to find hidden motives and Lucas strives to win Cassie's approval.

This is the 2nd book in the series. I have not read the first one, but was able to follow the storyline. I find that this story kept my interest and I was able to finish it within a day so I gave it three stars. I do wish that author would have added a bit more romance to the characters. I know they are just getting to know one another in this book, but felt there could have been a bit more spark between Cassie and the brothers. I know the third novel should hopefully shed more light on this, but I was disappointed that there was not more there. I am curious to know the conclusion find out what happens to Cassie.

This book was sent to me by Bethany House as a complimentary free copy for my unbiased opinion on the story.