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.

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.

Review: Paper Hearts by Courtney Walsh

Paper Hearts Author - Courtney Walsh Rating - 4 out of 5 Stars Would I Recommend: Yes

Back Cover...

Abigail Pressman would never have guessed that love notes penned on paper hearts by an anonymous couple could restore her belief in love. As a business owner in a quaint town at the base of the Rockies, she's poured everything into dreams of expansion . . . and resisting the matchmaking efforts of the Valentine Volunteers, who gather in her store to continue Loves Park's tradition of stamping mail with the city's romantic postmark.When Abigail is unwillingly drafted into the Volunteers, she encounters the paper hearts, a distraction that couldn't come at a worse time. A hard-to-read doctor has become Abigail's new landlord, and he's threatening to end her lease to expand his practice.As she fights a growing attraction to this handsome man crushing her dreams, Abigail is inspired to string the hearts in her store, sparking a citywide infatuation with the artsy trend. But when a new batch of hearts reaches the Volunteers, it appears something tragic has happened to the couple. Will uncovering their story confirm Abigail's doubts about love, or could it rescue her dreams . . . and her heart?

What I Loved...

The paper hearts in the story is very unique and I really liked it. Its refreshing to read some unique when you read lots of books in the same genre. Kudos to Courtney. The Valentine Volunteers was cute too!

What I Liked...

I liked the darker side of the main hero Jacob. Often times the heros are goody goody and not realistic. Not that that is bad, its just good to read a different side to an already well written characters.

I liked the heroine Abigail too. She seemed to normal and real to me. Like someone I could know. Her little quirks were genuine and not forced. She wasn't an over the top kind of character that can sometimes take over the story. That kind of makes her sound boring, but she wasn't. She was real. That is exactly how she should have been written for this book.

Other...

So the cover caught my attention immediately. I love the paper hearts and the store fronts, BUT the characters on the cover (even from behind) just don't match my characters at all. In fact, I think in my head the characters don't even look like what she describes...lol. My imagination truly did run away...

The older ladies in the story are a hoot, especially Ursula. I think a prequel of her story would be really fun!

Paper Hearts started out really slow but does pick up so hang in there if you feel like its taking a while to get going. I think the book kind of left some things unresolved and hope that there is are some future books to clear up the very minor things. They really are minor but I just can't help feel incomplete.

Here is how I imagined Abigail...I think its how she describes the shape of her face. Warning: She has big blues not browns and I think she may be naturally blonde...\

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