Smokescreen by Traci Hunter Abramson

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews
Mar 122012
 

Smokescreen

Author: Traci Hunter Abramson

Publisher: Covenant Communications

Published Date: January 2011

Softcover; 249 pages

Genre: Mystery-Supense

ISBN# 978-1-60861-183-6

Reviewed by: Shanda

FTC FYI: reviewed a library copy but will be purchasing my own copy as soon as possible

Summary

From Goodreads:

Taylor Palmetta has spent the past year in Europe building her art career and hiding from Navy SEAL Quinn Lambert, the man who broke her heart. But Taylor can’t seem to hide from trouble. When Taylor seeks safety with her family in Virginia Beach, a series of threats puts her on high alert- and puts Quinn into protective mode.

Despite the private loss that continues to haunt him, Quinn can’t deny his renewed attraction to Taylor. But just as the romance heats up, a plot against the very foundation of the American way of life surfaces, and Taylor’s paintings may hold the key. The Saint Squad is back in action as the team frantically tries to protect their nation’s security-and Taylor and Quinn search for courage to unlock the troubled past.

My Review

Smokescreen is another great book by Traci. I have enjoyed every book in her Saint Squad series, but I especially liked this one. There’s something about Quinn that makes him so easy to love, and I really liked Taylor. She was a great match for Quinn. There was a great amount of suspense and mystery, and the description during the Saint Squad’s mission made it feel more like I was watching a movie than reading a book.

The romance between Quinn and Taylor was paced well and felt very natural. I really liked seeing the previous Saint Squad members and their wives throughout the story. I was (mostly) surprised by the twist near the end and I really loved how it played out. The suspense had me ignoring everyone and everything until I finished the book.

I highly recommend Smokescreen. Well done, Traci!

Buy Smokescreen: AMAZON | DESERET BOOK

 

Emerald City by Alicia K. Leppert – Blog Tour

 Posted by  Blog Tours, Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews, Special Features
Mar 052012
 

Emerald City

Author: Alicia K. Leppert

Publisher: Sweetwater Books/Cedar Fort

Published Date: April 2012

Pages: 320

Genre: Romance

ISBN# 978-1-59955-864-6

Reviewed by: Shanda

FTC: ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Book Description:

One city of 600,000 people.
One broken girl.
One mysterious boy.
One fateful night,
Two worlds collide.

Seattle, Washington. The sprawling, industrious city set in a blanket of pine. I have never known a day that wasn’t spent inside this concrete jungle. It’s my home, and for that I love it. But it’s also the setting for the tragedy called my life, and so I loathe it.

I live alone in a cold, empty studio apartment. The tiny square room closely resembles a cell. That’s my life: solitary confinement.

Here, in this desolate place that perfectly reflects my soul, my story begins.

Summary

Olivia Tate has had a tough life. She is barely making it through each day, simply going through the motions, when she overhears unkind words about her. She is in the depths of despair and can see no way out except through a bottle of pills.

When she wakes up in the hospital, the nurse tells her she was saved by her neighbor, a young man with green eyes named Jude. Jude is genuinely kind, yet quiet and incredibly private about his life. Olivia finds herself drawn to Jude, and as they build a friendship she finds that hope and light are returning to her life again.

My Review

I was drawn into Emerald City from page one. While it starts out a little dark I was pulled right into the story of Olivia and the mysterious young man from the next building. If I hadn’t been so tired I would have read straight through the night.

I really liked Jude and was very intrigued by him and his story. While I had a suspicion about the truth behind Jude, it was wanting to know more about him (and see if I was right) that kept me turning pages. Yes, I am purposefully not telling you what it was or if I was right or not. No spoilers here! I appreciated seeing Olivia seek help and recognize her strength and value. She opens up a little to others around her, sees their kindness and even makes a new friend at work.

While Emerald City has a hint of YA feel to it, Olivia is 20 years old, so it fits more in the “new adult” category and will appeal to both mature teens and adults. As far as content goes, I don’t remember any language and there is no sex, though Jude does spend the night often.

I don’t know if Emerald City is part of a series but if it is, I would definitely read the next book.

* * *

Thank you to both Alicia and Cedar Fort for the opportunity to participate in the Emerald City blog tour.

 

 

 

 

 

Read more Emerald City reviews: BLOG TOUR CALENDAR

Pre-order on AMAZON

Connect with Alicia: WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS

Connect with Cedar Fort: BLOG | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS

 

 

 

Friends and Foes by Sarah M. Eden

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews
Feb 272012
 

Friends and Foes

Author: Sarah M. Eden

Publisher: Covenant Communications

Published Date: January 2012

Softcover;  269 pages

Genre: Regency Romance

ISBN# 978-1-60681-376-2

Reviewed by: Shanda

FTC FYI: free review copy in exchange for honest review

Summary

Phillip Jonquil, Earl of Lampton, a dandy in brightly-colored frock coats with a quick-witted humor and Sorrel Kendrick, a woman with a shrewish attitude whose body and dreams were forever shattered in a painful accident, are enemies immediately upon meeting. Both are protecting something: Sorrel, her heart damaged by lifelong abuse, and Phillip, his secret career hunting spies for the Foreign Office.

They declare themselves at war and oppose each other throughout the month-long Christmas holiday they must spend together while visiting common friends. With plenty of time to get to know the enemy, they find themselves forming an unexpected trust and friendship.

When Sorrel unknowingly overhears the very information Phillip needs to catch a notorious spy he refuses to put her at risk, but Sorrel knows he needs her to identify the men she saw. When the situation turns more dangerous than they expected, Phillip fears he will lose the woman he loves forever.

My Review

Friends and Foes was just as good as I expected, having enjoyed all of Sarah’s other books. I got a kick out of Phillip. He’s an easy hero to love, with his wit, good looks, and dangerous job. It was nice to get inside his head and see the man behind the dandy.

I also enjoyed watching the relationship between Phillip and Sorrel develop. Sorrel is strong because she feels vulnerable inside. Spending time in the same house with Phillip allows her glimpses behind his make-light-of-everything mask. He challenges her when she needs it, and soon there is a trust between them that is budding into friendship.

I read Friends and Foes in one sitting and loved every minute of it. I can’t wait to read more from Sarah. I hope we get the chance to know Phillip’s many brothers better in future books. (Please say we do, Sarah!)

 

Buy Friends and Foes: AMAZON | DESERET BOOK | SEAGULL BOOK **

**These links are provided for the reader’s convenience and are not affiliate links.

 

Of Grace and Chocolate by Krista Lynne Jensen

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews
Feb 202012
 

Of Grace and Chocolate

Author: Krista Lynne Jensen

Publisher: Covenant Communications

Published Date: January 2012

Softcover; 194 pages

Genre: Contemporary Romance

ISBN# 978-1-60681-865-1

Reviewed by: Shanda

FTC FYI: review copy in exchange for honest review

I realized that I haven’t posted my official review of Of Grace and Chocolate yet, so let me do it now.

Of Grace and Chocolate is Krista Lynne Jensen’s debut novel. She currently has two more books under contract with Covenant, so we have more to look forward to from her.

Summary

After a childhood of neglect and abuse, Jill has created a new life for herself. The order and routine make Jill feel safe and secure–until the day Scott, a man from Jill’s past who doesn’t remember her, steals her phone and keys to get her attention. All he wants is a date, but Jill isn’t interested, knowing that he doesn’t remember her and how he hurt her.

But Jill’s day isn’t over yet. Her runaway sister shows up on her front porch, setting Jill’s highly ordered life onto a path that will change her forever.

My Review

Of Grace and Chocolate is a story full of emotion, choice and consequence, suspense, forgiveness and love. I’ve read it twice, and cried both times. Jill and Evie’s story touched me, and my heart broke for their past suffering.

I appreciated how the relationship between Jill and Scott developed with an emotional maturity not often seen in a romance novel. Great story, clean writing, engaging characters, and some really nice kisses all add up to an unforgettable read that comes highly recommended from me.

5 stars out of 5. I can’t wait to read more from Krista.

Visit Krista’s BLOG.

Buy Of Grace and Chocolate: SEAGULL BOOK | DESERET BOOK

 

 

 

Delivering Hope by Jennifer Ann Holt – Blog Tour

 Posted by  Blog Tours, Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews, Special Features
Feb 062012
 

Delivering Hope

Author: Jennifer Ann Holt

Publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc.

Published Date: February 8, 2012

Softcover; 224 pages

Genre: General Fiction

ISBN#: 9781599559025

Reviewed by: Shanda

FTC FYI: received a PDF review copy in exchange for an honest review

Backcover:

Olivia Spencer wants to be a mom more than anything else in the whole world, but years of infertility have wounded her soul and placed a strain on her marriage to Michael. Now, Olivia finds herself wondering if the life she has built will even survive.

Allison Campbell is a recent high school graduate who discovers that a moment of excitement has led to an unplanned pregnancy and an overwhelming heartache. As the lives of these two women touch, we see that deep love can pave the way for sacrifice, and we all learn the true source of hope and healing.

Review

Author Jennifer Holt draws on personal experience to add emotion and perspective to both sides of the adoption process in her debut novel, Delivering Hope. The first section of the book pulls the reader into the anticipation and then ultimate heartbreak of Olivia, who wants more than anything to have a child, and her husband, Michael, who worries he is losing his happy, loving wife to the bitterness of infertility.

In the second section of the book we meet Allison, a good, intelligent LDS high school graduate with a scholarship and plans for the future. She makes a poor choice after a graduation party and learns that every wrong choice has consequences, in this case, a pregnancy. The father wants nothing to do with the baby, and Allison soon falls in love with the tiny, innocent life growing inside her. Allison is hard-working with a supportive family and she is looking forward to raising her daughter. As time goes on, though, Allison realizes she must decide if, as a single mother, she can provide everything her precious baby needs.

While Delivering Hope is more tell than show, I was pulled into the stories of these two families enough that it didn’t really matter to me. I especially felt Allison’s anguish as she tried to decide whether to place for adoption the baby girl she wanted to keep so badly. There was one particular quote that touched me during a scene with Allison and her father:

“When the heartache became almost more than she could bear, her dad squeezed her tighter, and Ally’s heart broke as she realized that her baby would not have the safety of a father’s arms to be held in when she cried.”   -page 118

There are strong themes of turning to the Savior, repentance, forgiveness and love running throughout the story that will uplift all readers, and those who have had experiences similar to the characters will particularly enjoy Delivering Hope.

Delivering Hope Contest

Jennifer will be giving away a signed copy of the book to two individuals, and a signed bookmark and Delivering Hope magnet to five individuals. There will be several ways to enter, and you can enter using one or all of the ways.

1. Become a follower of Jennifer’s blog: www.jenshopefulwriting.blogspot.com and leave a comment letting her know you stopped by!

2. “Like” the Delivering Hope facebook fan page: www.facebook.com/DeliveringHopeNovel

3. Watch the book trailer: www.bit.ly/peCixw and post a comment on the Facebook page telling what you liked about it.

The winners will be randomly chosen at the conclusion of the blog tour and posted on both Jennifer’s blog and the Facebook fan page by 10:00 am on Saturday, February 11th.

There’s No Feeling Quite Like THIS

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews
Jan 162012
 

  –  –  –  –  – 

I hold the long-awaited book in my hands, poised to open the stiff and shiny cover, then hesitate.

THIS MOMENT.

Before a single word is read.

Before the spine shows a single crease.

Before corners of pages become bent and worn.

I love this moment.

Full of anticipation and so much potential.

A new world full of new people.

Will I lose myself, setting aside my worries until the last word has been read?

Will I finish with a sigh and a smile, rereading here & there before returning it to the bookshelf?

OR,

Will I put it down after a few chapters to be found later under a layer of dust?

I run my thumb along the book’s edge, causing pages to fan and words to blur.

The smell of ink on paper reaches me. I’m ready.

Anticipation. Potential.

A soon-to-be-discovered favorite or just another book I’ve read?

Cover is opened, pages turned, first line found.

I’ll know the answer soon enough.

  –  –  –  –  – 

There’s nothing quite like the moment just before you start a new book, is there?
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