March 18, 2015 | By: Cynthia Marcano

Review: After A Fashion by Jen Turano


After A Fashion
Author - Jen Turano
Rating - 5 out of 5 Stars
Would I Recommend: YES!!!

Back Cover...

Miss Harriet Peabody dreams of the day she can open up a shop selling refashioned gowns to independent working women like herself. Unfortunately, when an errand for her millinery shop job goes sadly awry due to a difficult customer, she finds herself out of an income.

Mr. Oliver Addleshaw is on the verge of his biggest business deal yet when he learns his potential partner prefers to deal with men who are settled down and wed. When Oliver witnesses his ex not-quite-fiance cause the hapless Harriet to lose her job, he tries to make it up to her by enlisting her help in making a good impression on his business partner.

Harriet quickly finds her love of fashion can't make her fashionable. She'll never truly fit into Oliver's world, but just as she's ready to call off the fake relationship, fancy dinners, and elegant balls, a threat from her past forces both Oliver and Harriet to discover that love can come in the most surprising packages.

What I Loved...

After A Fashion is the reason I will read 10 good books in search of one great book. After A Fashion is one great book. I am a fan of Jen Turano and if you are too, After A Fashion won't disappoint.

Harriet is my kind of heroine. She knows what she wants and takes us along with her on a romantic, hilarious and faith filled journey to get it.


What I Liked...

Oliver isn't my favorite Turano hero, but I liked him alot. He is a mix of confidence, trouble, romance and no nonsense.


Other...

LOVE LOVE LOVE the cover. In fact, it is my favorite Turano cover.

While I most certainly loved this book, I did want to mention that I found a few bits of the plot obvious and as soon as I read it, I knew what was going to happen later on. I like surprise and knowing what to expect can make a book drag on and boring to read. However there was enough really other good stuff going on with characters and the plot to make me think of it as a minor annoyance rather than a huge nuisance.

I am most anxiously anticipating the next book in the series.


Disclaimer: This book was provided by the publisher through Netgalley Book Publishers. The opinion of this book, is my own and I was not paid or compensated for for my review.


March 12, 2015 | By: Cynthia Marcano

Review: Betting On Hope by Debra Clopton


Betting on Hope (A Four of Hearts Ranch Romance)
Author - Debra Clopton
Rating - 4 out of 5 Stars
Would I Recommend: Probably 

Back Cover...

In Wishing Springs, Maggie finds what she has always been looking for: a community and a home. But when her past catches up to her, it threatens everything, even the tender hope that this town holds all of her heart's desires.

What I Loved...

There are tons of cowboy books and I mean tons on the market and as a reviewer I get really excited when I read one that has everything I love (Christian perspective and values, a swoon worthy hero, and some laughs) AND a unique plot. I am very happy to say Betting On Hope is all of that.

What I Liked...

I really like Maggie, the heroine....

WARNING SPOILER...
I really liked that she was not a goody two shoes and has a past with a very messed up family.
END OF SPOILER

Other...

I like the cover although I pictured Tru much more handsome than the cute guy pictured. Although Betting On Hope has all of the ingredients needed for me to absolutely love a book, I found the book missing that special something that I can't quite put my finger. I didn't have that warm fuzzy feeling when I finished reading the book.

I wasn't too fond of the ending. I felt it lacked and can only suspect that we are going to see more of Maggie and Tru is the second book of the series, but I would have still liked a better wrap up to their story.


Disclaimer: This book was provided by the publisher through Netgalley. The opinion of this book, is my own and I was not paid or compensated for for my review.


March 5, 2015 | By: Cynthia Marcano

Review: My Keepsake Bible by Sally Ann Wright


My Keepsake Bible
Author - Sally Ann Wright
Rating - 4.5 out of 5 Stars
Would I Recommend: Yes

Back Cover...

My Keepsake Bible" combines baby records, family history, and Bible stories. The padded hardcover book is the perfect gift for a new baby and the ideal way to begin to teach the little one God's story. Children will learn early that their family's story is a part of God's story.Full-color, adorable art complements these stories, prayers, and places to record baby and family info. It's a memory book and a Bible story book in one.

What I Loved...

Although the book is only 144 pages, it packs lots of biblical accounts within the 144 pages. It also contains scripture infused prayers between the accounts. A great teaching tool for children to begin to learn to pray.

The beginning pages of the bible contain space to add lots of information like a family tree, birth statistics and milestones.

What I Liked...

The font of the book is adorable and is reminiscent of font used on scrolls with a modern twist. No fancy letters, but instead eye pleasing while easy to read.

The front is cover of the book is a soft plush cover with a durable gloss cover that is sure to survive some toddler use.

Other...

The back cover is not soft but hard cover which I am not too fond of. I would have preferred soft cover all around or hard cover all around. It just feels weird.

The inside pages are a heavier paper. However, I would not recommend this book for toddlers to read alone. They can probably easy rip the pages. This definitely is meant for a early school aged child (1st grade).

When I first saw the artwork I was not too fond of it, but it did grow on me. I can easily picture my children trying to replicate the drawings. They appear so simple with easy lines yet so full of life. Having said that I am not sure that children would actually like the images. With such high tech graphic cartoons these days, simplistic yet beautiful may not resonate with today's children.

I did ask my seven year old and he said they were beautiful drawings. However, he doesn't use that word too often and now I am only left wondering whether he was saying what he thought I wanted to hear. God bless him...lol.

Disclaimer: This book was provided by the publisher through Tyndale. The opinion of this book, is my own and I was not paid or compensated for for my review.