Blue Heart Blessed - Susan Meissner

Summary:
Left standing at the altar, Daisy Murien, a wounded but hopeful romantic, opens a secondhand wedding dress boutique, hoping to soothe her broken heart while giving doomed wedding dresses a second chance at love. Her predictable days take a sharp turn, though, when the retired Episcopal priest who blesses the tiny, blue satin heart she sews into each dress falls ill. When the priest's brooding and recently divorced son arrives with plans to take his ailing father away, a contest of wills begins between two stubborn--and hurting--souls. While fighting to keep Father Laurent close by, Daisy finally begins to understand why she has routinely convinced potential buyers "not" to buy the one gown that started her business--her own: She doesn't want to give up on the dream of a fairytale romance.



About The Author:
Susan Meissner was born in San Diego, California, the second of three. She spent her childhood in just two houses.
Her first writings are a laughable collection of oddly worded poems and predictable stories she wrote when she was eight.

She attended Point Loma College in San Diego, and married her husband, Bob, who is now an associate pastor and a chaplain in the Air Force Reserves, in 1980. When she is not working on a new novel, she is directing the small groups ministries at The Church at Rancho Bernardo. She also enjoy teaching workshops on writing and dream-following, spending time with my family, music, reading great books, and traveling.


I have to say first off, this was NOT the book I thought it was going to be. I did not like it! It was SO weird! I found myself hurrying to finish it just because I didn't like it.

One of the things I didn't like about it and thought was weird, was that she wrote herself letters! No, not the typical read in the future type. Nope, she had like this alter ego thing, that she wrote to telling everything that happened that day. She even named her alter ego Harriet! Then she would answer her OWN letters as Harriet! Is that weird or what? I don't know what this author was on when she wrote it, but geez!

And Daisy was kinda selfish. When Father Laurent falls ill, and his son wants to take him to live with him, all she can think of is who's going to bless her blue hearts. Really? He's ill, first he had a heart attack, then he's diagnosed with cancer! And all you can think about is who's going to bless you hearts?

She's also somewhat stupid. She keeps dreaming of her ex-fiance wanting her back! She also tries everything she can to stop people from setting her up on dates. One time she got so mad at her mom for doing that. The entire time she was at the restaurant, she practically ignores the guy. Then when he calls her, she ignores his calls too!

I can't tell you much about Ramsey, the guy she finally falls for, at the END of the book. Because the book was in first person, so I only know really about Daisy.

Suffice to say this book is not getting a good rating.

Emily's Rating:


My next book will be Over The Edge by: Mary Connealy.

To Win Her Heart by: Karen Witemeyer

Summary:
Having completed his sentence for the unintentional crime that derailed his youthful plans for fame and fortune, Levi Grant looks to start over in the town of Spencer, Texas. Spencer needs a blacksmith, a trade he learned at his father's knee, and he needs a place where no one knows his past. But small towns leave little room for secrets...
Eden Spencer has sworn off men, choosing instead to devote her time to the lending library she runs. When a mountain-sized stranger walks through her door and asks to borrow a book, she steels herself against the attraction he provokes. His halting speech and hesitant manner leave her doubting his intelligence. Yet as the mysteries of the town's new blacksmith unfold, Eden discovers hidden depths in him that tempt her heart.
Levi's renewed commitment to his faith leads Eden to believe she's finally found a man of honor and integrity, a man worthy of her love. But when the truth about his prodigal past comes to light, can this tarnished hero find a way to win back the librarian's affections?



About The Author:

CBA bestselling author, Karen Witemeyer, writes historical romance fiction for Bethany House, believing that the world needs more happily-ever-afters. In 2011, her debut novel, A Tailor-Made Bride, was a finalist in the Best First Book categories for both the prestigious RITA® award and the National Reader's Choice Award. Karen holds a master's degree in Psychology from Abilene Christian University and is a member of ACFW, RWA, and her local writers' guild. She is an avid cross-stitcher, shower singer, and bakes a mean apple cobbler. Karen makes her home in Abilene, TX with her husband and three children.

I am really in love with Karen's books!

I liked Levis character. Yes, he was a prizefighter, but he's given that up and gave his life to Christ. He's looking to start over in a town that doesn't know him and his reputation. He found Spencer, Texas. Spencer needed a blacksmith and he learned all the tricks when he was young, watching his father. He wasn't looking to hide his past, he was just waiting till the right moment to tell.

Eden was hurt by a man years ago, when he wanted money more than her. Her father had tempted the guy with money to see where his heart lay and he took the money and ran. So Eden decided she was going to shy away from men and stay a spinster. She also abhors any type of violence. I have to agree with her there. I hate any type of violence. I shy away from it. I can't stand to hear or see anyone being hurt. But I also forgive people IF they have repented and vowed to never hurt anyone intentionally again.

I do have a hard time forgiving people who intentionally hurt people for fun, or to gain more appreciation with other people. Doing that is sick and I don't much like people who do. Just because you have such low self esteem doesn't mean you should put others down to help you. I'm sorry about that rant, but I feel very strongly about this topic.

Back to the book. Eden has a hard time forgiving people, and at times she was a bit of a hypocrite. She was all set against raising money to send Bibles to the prisoners in a jail close by. She thought just because they ruined their life doesn't mean she had to send them her precious money so they can have a change of heart. Then all of a sudden, because she started having feelings for Levi, (This was after she found out about his past.) she was so mad at people for discriminating Levi because of his past. Um? Hello? That's EXACTLY what she was doing for like half of the book!

I did like Duncan McPherson though! But, I'm biased I like any Scottish guys in books. :P I also liked Chloe. She had a I-don't-care-what-other-people-think attitude. She told you what she thought and you never had to wonder what was on her mind!

All in all it was a good book. There were parts I didn't particularly like, but that's in any book.

Emily's Rating:


My next book will be Blue Heart Blessed by Susan Meissner.

Short Straw Bride by: Karen Witemeyer

Summary:
No one steps on Archer land. Not if they value their life. But when Meredith Hayes overhears a lethal plot to burn the Archer brothers off their ranch, a twelve-year-old debt compels her to take the risk.

Fourteen years of constant vigilance hardens a man. Yet when Travis Archer confronts a female trespasser with the same vivid blue eyes as the courageous young girl he once aided, he can't bring himself to send her away. And when an act of sacrifice leaves her injured and her reputation in shreds, gratitude and guilt send him riding to her rescue once again.

Four brothers. Four straws. One bride. Despite the fact that Travis is no longer the gallant youth Meredith once dreamed about, she determines to stand by his side against the enemy that threatens them both. But will love ever be hers? Or will Travis always see her merely as a short-straw bride?


About The Author:

CBA bestselling author, Karen Witemeyer, writes historical romance fiction for Bethany House, believing that the world needs more happily-ever-afters. In 2011, her debut novel, A Tailor-Made Bride, was a finalist in the Best First Book categories for both the prestigious RITA® award and the National Reader's Choice Award. Karen holds a master's degree in Psychology from Abilene Christian University and is a member of ACFW, RWA, and her local writers' guild. She is an avid cross-stitcher, shower singer, and bakes a mean apple cobbler. Karen makes her home in Abilene, TX with her husband and three children.


Okay I gotta say I LOVE Karen Witemeyers books! But so far this is my favorite one! But, I'm biased. I love any convenient marriage story. And this one is one of the best convenient marriage books I've read.

I loved Meridith's character. She was strong and dependable. And she wouldn't let anyone push her around, even her new husband! Travis was constantly telling her to stay put or stay in the house while he dealt with whatever was out there, but she never listened. She always found herself in the mix of the trouble somehow. Whether it was in the line of fire literally, or being kicked in the head by a mule, trouble always found her. But, Travis was always there to help her and get her out of the way.

I liked Travis's sense of responsibility. Yes, I do think sometimes he went too far with that, but he was just trying to protect his family. He did everything in his power to keep his family safe. Even if it meant barring up their land and not letting anyone on their land period. Until Meridith stepped over that line and found her way into Travis's heart. Yes, in the beginning, he felt obligated to protect her because she was an Archer now. But during the story his feelings changed from obligation to love.

I liked reading about Travis's brothers. Crockett was the jokester. Jim was the stoic yet fiercely loyal one. And Neill was the younger one, not yet a man, but when needed he stepped up to the plate. And if you want to keep up with the brothers, she's got Crockett's story Stealing The Preacher on the way!

Emily's Rating:


My next book will be To Win Her Heart by Karen Witemeyer.


God bless!

A Tailored-Made Bride - Karen Witemeyer

Summary:
Jericho "J.T." Tucker wants nothing to do with Coventry, Texas's new dressmaker. He's all too familiar with her kind--shallow women
more devoted to fashion than true beauty. Yet, except for her well-tailored clothing, this seamstress is not at all what he expected.
Hannah Richards is confounded by the man who runs the livery. The unsmiling fellow riles her with his arrogant assumptions and gruff
manner while at the same time stirring her heart with unexpected acts of kindness. Which side of Jericho Tucker reflects the real man?
When Hannah decides to help Jericho's sister catch a beau--leading to uproarious consequences for the whole town--will Jericho and Hannah find a way to bridge the gap between them?


About The Author:

CBA bestselling author, Karen Witemeyer, writes historical romance fiction for Bethany House, believing that the world needs more happily-ever-afters. In 2011, her debut novel, A Tailor-Made Bride, was a finalist in the Best First Book categories for both the prestigious RITA® award and the National Reader's Choice Award. Karen holds a master's degree in Psychology from Abilene Christian University and is a member of ACFW, RWA, and her local writers' guild. She is an avid cross-stitcher, shower singer, and bakes a mean apple cobbler. Karen makes her home in Abilene, TX with her husband and three children.

Karen is a new author for me. And I LOVE her work! If this book is anything to go on her other books, I will be waiting to read her latest ones.

First of all, I loved Hannah's character. She's so fun, sweet, and determined. She's as stubborn as a mule! Hannah will not back down, she finally got her dressmaker shop and she is going to put up a fight to keep it. J.T's character, his opinions are a little far fetched. He thinks just cause Hannah is a dressmaker and she likes to wear pretty clothes, she's shallow and a snob. Far from the truth! She believes that women can wear pretty clothes and still be humble and still be nice. Hannah does NOT look down on the women who can't afford the nice clothes, the way J.T thinks she does.

But mostly he's mean to her because he's attracted to her and he doesn't want to be. He was attracted to her from the beginning, and he tried to hide his infatuation with his gruffness. Even though Hannah could see the true J.T underneath all his gruff and standoffish ways. I liked it when Hannah found out his real name and decided she was going to call him that. Every time she mentioned his real name Jericho, he scowled and glared at her. It was funny!

There's this one scene in the book that was funny! She was renting a horse from J.T, and his assistant heard her call him Jericho.
'Hannah collected the reins, and the horse stomped the ground in anticipation. "Thank you for your help, Jericho."
"Um..." Tom (his assistant) sidestepped up to the buggy, shooting leery glances at his employer as he moved. He cupped his hand around his mouth as if to tell a secret but forgot to lower his voice. "He don't like that name, ma'am. Nobody calls him that."
"I do." Hannah grinned and flapped the reins. The roan set off down the street, leaving a stunned Tom and a scowling Jericho in its wake.'

Emily's Rating:


My next book will be another of Karen Witemeyers books, Short Straw Bride.

Menu For Romance and Case For Love by: Kaye Dacus

Sorry that this will be the last two books in one blog, but some personal problems crept up and I forgot to blog the Menu For Romance.

Summary:
Cater to your craving for fabulous fictional fare with Menu for Romance, where a party planner finds herself torn between the contractor and the cook. After eight years of unrequited love, Meredith Guidry makes a New Year's resolution to find someone new and end her single status before the year's over. And when she meets a handsome contractor on New Year's Day, it seems like her prayers have been answered. Executive Chef Major O'Hara has forsworn relationships, knowing he could never saddle the woman he loves with a family situation like his. But when it seems he's about to lose Meredith Guidry to another man, he realizes he must concoct a menu for romance to win her back.

About This Author:
Kaye Dacus is an author and editor who has been writing fiction for more than twenty years. Pursuing her passion for writing, she earned a Master of Arts in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. She is a former Vice President and long-time member of American Christian Fiction Writers, and is also a founding member of Middle Tennessee Christian Writers. Kaye lives in Nashville, Tennessee, and writes contemporary and historical romances. Her books are available at most major retailers.

I'll start with my review of Menu For Romance.
I was not impressed by this book. The entire book you read Meridith complaining that she was in love with Major, but she didn't want to be so she made a New Year's resolution to not be single and get over Major. But that didn't happen. So what did she do throughout the ENTIRE book? Constantly nag that she had feelings for Major but did nothing with them! Then when it was in Majors point of view he complained about having feelings for Meridith but did nothing about them either! For eight years they had feelings for each other but neither of them did anything about it! That was SO annoying. I hate it in a book that they have feelings for someone and does nothing about them.

I did like Majors mom though. She has schizophrenia and sometimes she just says what shes thinking. I like that in a person. I never have to know what they think about me cause they'll just tell me. :D She also is really into John Wayne. That's also a plus cause hello, old movies especially westerns is where its at! :P

Over all I can't say I much enjoyed this book. It was not as good as the other one.

Emily's Rating:

Summary:

TV society reporter Alaine Delacroix feels like David facing Goliath when she takes on the biggest corporation in town to keep them from putting her parents’ garden center out of business. Lawyer Forbes Guidry wants nothing more than to stand up for the endangered local-business owners—but it will mean risking his job and crossing his powerful parents. Can Alaine and Forbes make A Case for Love?

I did like this book. It was kinda like Alaine was playing hard to get even though she really wasn't. She liked Forbes from the beginning. I mean watching him jog in their neighborhood in the morning? She likes him. And he's liked her from the beginning too. In the second chapter he asks her out. She is a little flirtatious there and plays hard to get and doesn't essentially say yes or no. But after she finds out that it's his family that's trying to buy the place her family's store and house is, she considers him the enemy. Even though he knew nothing about it and when he did find out he tried to get to the bottom of it. He also tries to woo her even though she gives him the cold shoulder. She tries REALLY hard to not like him and not fall for him, but he's persuasive and won't take no for an answer. :D He even gets her to agree to take ballroom dancing lessons with him.

Even though Forbes is really controlling and tries to be in everybody's business, he means well. He does it cause he wants the best for his family. This book was the best of them all.

Emily's Rating:

The next book I'll be rating is A Tailored-Made Bride by: Karen Witemeyer.

God Bless!

Stand In Groom - Kaye Dacus

Summary:
Get ready to attend the quirkiest wedding ever in this delightful romance by Kaye Dacus, a new voice in women's contemporary fiction. When wedding planner Anne Hawthorne first meets George Laurence, she thinks she's found the man of her dreams. But when she discovers he's a client, she knows planning his wedding will be no honeymoon. Can Anne remain professional while falling for the groom? Or will she risk her heart, her values, and her career in the midst of planning the wedding of the century?




About The Author:

Kaye Dacus is an author and editor who has been writing fiction for more than twenty years. Pursuing her passion for writing, she earned a Master of Arts in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. She is a former Vice President and long-time member of American Christian Fiction Writers, and is also a founding member of Middle Tennessee Christian Writers. Kaye lives in Nashville, Tennessee, and writes contemporary and historical romances. Her books are available at most major retailers.

I was trying out Kaye Dacus again. I had read one of her other books Ransome's Honor. Unfortunately, it was not the best book I've ever read. So for the longest time I said I was not going to read any of her books. But I came across this book, and it sounded interesting. I mean a wedding planner falling for the groom? Too funny! It wasn't as good as I'd hoped. It was good don't get me wrong. But it wasn't the best. It had some funny parts, mostly with Anne's cousins. I loved that George was British. When the people in the books have an accent, it just makes the book better! I always read what they say in in my head in that accent. ;) I didn't like that George had to lie to Anne almost throughout the entire book. In the beginning, he pretended to be someone he wasn't. Then at the end he had to not tell her who his employer was. That was frustrating!

Then Anne she does NOT trust well! Someone says something and she's real angry and doesn't talk to them for days! She pouts and doesn't even think that maybe they were doing it for someone's best interest. She overacts then afterwards she feels terrible, and thinks she's a horrible person and the person does not deserve to be in the same room with her!

I loved Mama Ketty though. She was Georges housekeeper. She was so wise and funny. She was always saying everyone had too much skin and bones they needed some meat on their bones. :D I liked Anne's cousin Jennifer (Jenn). She was funny. She was constantly telling Anne that George was hot and if he had a younger brother for her. :P

I won't give away much because you really have to read it to know a lot.

Emily's Rating:

My next book will be the next book in this series Menu For Romance, Meridith's story.

God Bless!

Finally Getting Back Into It!

I have not blogged in FOREVER!! My life has been CRAZY to say it lightly. ;) I don't think I've blogged since before my first brain surgery. The last book I rated was Unlawfully Wedded Bride by: Noelle Marchand in March of last year. Since I last blogged, I've been in the hospital more than I've been out. I've had two brain surgeries and my count of lumbar punctures is now 20. And on top of that, some personal family issues have sprung up, that are so scary and unbelievable that I've had to stop a lot of things I used to do. Including this blog. It's only recently I realized how long it's been since I last blogged. I am hoping to continue this blog even through all that's going on. Lord willing, I don't go in the hospital again, but if I do, I'll just blog between the times I'm in the hospital. Without further ado here's my first book rating since March of 2012!

I chose my first book carefully. I just finished reading the last book in the Midwives series by Laurie Alice Eakes. I know I rated the first book A Lady in the Mist. (If you're interested in reading my rating here's the link. http://emilybookratings.blogspot.com/2012/02/lady-in-mist-laurie-alice-eakes.html) I didn't rate the second one Heart's Safe Passage, but just know that I gave that one a five star rating!

Summary:

Esther Cherrett comes from a proud line of midwives and was trained by her mother to take over the family calling. But when a scandal threatens all she holds dear, Esther takes a position as a teacher in the western mountains of Virginia instead. There she finds herself in the midst of a deadly family feud and courted by two men on opposite sides of the conflict. When it seems as though her past has followed her all the way into the mountains, all she wants is to run away again. In this gripping story of trust, deception, and bittersweet loss, a young woman learns the true meaning of choices of the heart.

About The Author:

Laurie Alice Eakes used to lie in bed as a child telling herself stories so she didn’t wake anyone else up. Sometimes she shared her stories with others; thus, when she decided to be a writer, she surprised no one. Family Guardian, her first book, won the National Readers Choice Award for Best Regency in 2007. In the past three years, she has sold six books to Baker/Revell, five of which are set during the Regency time period, four books to Barbour Publishing, as well as two novellas to Barbour Publishing and one to Baker/Revell. Seven of her books have been picked up by Thorndike Press for large print publication, and Lady in the Mist, her first book with Revell, was chosen for hardcover publication with Crossings Bookclub. She also teaches on-line writing courses and enjoys a speaking ministry that has taken her from the Gulf Coast to the East Coast.


I LOVED this book! First of all it's Tabitha and Dominick's daughter Esther! Second it's got two guys fighting over her! I don't know about y'all but I love a good storyline that has guys fighting over one girl. I love reading about how the other guy tries to over do the other! It's also got some good mystery, humor, and great facts about herbal remedies. I've always been interested in the herbal medicine. It's fascinating how God knew exactly what we would need and he supplied it here on earth! So, any ailment, God provided a plant, root, bark, to help with it. And this book has a lot of that in it.

I had a hard time relating to Esther like I did with Tabitha and Phoebe (the other midwife book). She believes running away is the best way to solve her problems. It's SO not, I know I have some pretty hard situations in my life now, and I'd like nothing better than to run away from them and forget them. Maybe to Fiji, or the Bahamas! :P Unfortunately, you can't. Your troubles will just follow you. As Esther found out. She tried running away from the troubles and the whispering behind her back. She did run away from them and got away from them psychically. But, they followed her in her guilt and her head. The only way to really get away from them is to release them to God, and let Him handle it. And she had a hard time doing that. She believed God abandoned her. I understand that feeling. Now I never felt He abandoned me, but I did feel like I did something wrong to get what I'm going through in life. I've since realized that He put it into my life to make me stronger, and really trust in Him, and always go to Him in times of trouble!
Now I won't spoil the book and say who she chooses, but just know the guy she chooses is my favorite! :D


Emily's Rating:

My next book will be Stand In Groom by Kaye Dacus. I tried one other book of hers but I did not like it. I'm giving her another chance!

God Bless!