Monday, March 31, 2014

"Sealed With a Kiss" by Beverly Lewis {Day 7 of the Countdown!}

{For those just joining us: I'll be seeing/meeting the very talented author, Beverly Lewis, on April 7th for her book tour...so every Monday & Friday we'll post a review of one of her books! Starting the 10th of March and ending the 7th of April. So, more reviews of awesome books!}
                                                We're on day 7 of the count down!



About this book:

“Too many little white lies can create one big jam. Holly and her best friend, Andie, are having a race to see who can collect the most pen pals by Labor Day. The contest was exciting and fun at first, but Holly eventually finds herself in a bit of a mess when she starts writing to a male pen pal. College-aged Lucas Leigh, Holly's newest and top-secret pen pal and the nephew of her favorite author, thinks Holly is a much older, published writer. Holly is thrilled when Lucas suggests they read each other's manuscripts, but her seemingly innocent deception backfires when Lucas asks to meet Holly in person: Now Holly must give up the opportunity to meet her favorite author or face the consequences of telling lies.”


Series: “Holly’s Heart” Book #3 (review of Book #1 here and #2 here!)
 
 
Spiritual Content- A couple Scriptures are mentioned; Prayers; Talks about God; Mentions of God, Jesus, & forgiveness; Mentions of prayers & praying; Mentions of witnessing; Mentions of churches, church going, Sunday school, youth group, a church choir, hymns, services, & pastors; Mentions of devotions; A few mentions of being/becoming a Christian; A few mentions of Heaven; A few mentions of a Christian rap group; A couple mentions of missionaries; A couple mentions of someone being religious.
 
 
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: three ‘stupid’s and four ‘dumb’s; Eye rolling & sass; Holly talks back to her mom & can have an attitude; Seeing someone almost drown and then get hypothermia (they are okay); Holly is not happy about the man her mom is dating & wants to come up with a plan to keep them apart; Mentions of lies & keeping secrets; Mentions of Holly’s parents’ divorce; A few mentions of someone who died from cancer; A couple mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of eavesdropping; A mention of blackmail;
             *Note: A few mentions of famous people (George Washington, John Kennedy, Winston Churchill, Laura Ingalls Wilder, and Billy Graham); Mentions of car brands; A couple mentions of brand names (Jell-O & Sears).
 
 
Sexual Content- Blushes; Noticing cute boys; Holly is a bit boy crazy; Many mentions of boys, cute boys, & crushes; Mentions of dates, dating, & girlfriends/boyfriends; Mentions of a two-timer (Book #1); Mentions of flirting; Mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of blushes; A couple mentions of seeing couples kiss;
             *Note: Holly lies to her (older, male) pen pal about her age (when he requests a picture, Holly goes on a mission to make herself look older, *Spoiler* she later regrets not being honest and telling him her age, and before meeting him at a public event, she stuffs tissues “in all the right places” to appear older, but decides to tell the truth *End of Spoiler*); Holly talks about her figure & how it’s developing with her best friend & mom; Holly gets her period (Andie calls it the “monthly miracle”, no details except Holly being excited that she’s now a woman and gets to use the supplies she’s been waiting to use); A couple mentions of other girls’ curves.
 
-Holly Meredith, age 13
                                         1st person P.O.V. of Holly
                                              160 pages     

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens-
New Teens-
Early High School Teens-
Older High School Teens-
My personal Rating-
{Add a full star for girls in Public or Private school.}
I personally found this “Holly’s Heart” book to be the most enjoyable thus far, though it did have it’s moments of bad decisions and harsh words from Holly. Thankfully, she’s learning and growing, which is nice to see. There’s still quite a bit of friendship and boy troubles, but it’s less than the prior two books.
 
 


*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

Friday, March 28, 2014

"The Missing" by Beverly Lewis {Day 6 of the Countdown!}



{For those just joining us: I'll be seeing/meeting the very talented author, Beverly Lewis, on April 7th for her book tour...so every Monday & Friday we'll post a review of one of her books! Starting the 10th of March and ending the 7th of April. So, more reviews of awesome books!}
                                                We're on day 6 of the count down!




About this book:

  “Twenty-one-year-old Grace Byler longs to find her missing mother and to uncover the secret that drove her to leave them three weeks before. Grace suspects the reason has to do with her father and his reserved, uncommunicative ways. This conviction led Grace to break off her betrothal to her quiet, staid beau, and she is now resigned to remain single. But when the young Amishman she thought was courting her best friend takes a sudden interest in her, Grace is befuddled and wonders if he can be trusted.
"Englisher" Heather Lang has come to Amish country to relive fond memories of her mother and to contemplate a grave medical prognosis of her own. While in Bird-in-Hand, Heather meets Grace Byler and the two young women strike up a fast friendship, amazed by how well they click.
Following the only clue they have, Grace and Heather travel together in hopes of finding Grace's mother and bringing her home. Will they find what they're looking for...or something much more?”



 Series: “Seasons of Grace” book #2 (Books #1, “The Secret” here!)


Spiritual Content- Scriptures are quoted; Prayers are said & Blessings over food are said; Talks about God & His Will; Heather seems lost, only praying when she needs something.


Negative Content- a ‘cr*pshoot’ (?) is said by Heather’s dad.


Sexual Content- A baby is born out of wedlock;


-Grace Byler
-Heather Nelson

                                P.O.V. switches between them, Lettie, Judah, Jakob, Adah & Martin
                                                                           330 pages

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre & New Teens-
15+-
My personal Rating-
Just like the first book in the series (review here!), it took me about half the book just to really get into the story, that’s the only thing I didn’t like out of this story. But I liked it once I got into it.





*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

"A Lasting Impression" by Tamera Alexander


About this book:

“To create something that will last is Claire Laurent's most fervent desire as an artist. It's also her greatest weakness. When her fraud of a father deals her an unexpected hand, Claire is forced to flee from New Orleans to Nashville, only a year after the War Between the States has ended. Claire's path collides with that of Sutton Monroe, and she considers him a godsend for not turning her in to the authorities. But when they meet again and he refuses to come to her aid, she realizes she's sorely misjudged the man. Trading an unwanted destiny for an unknown future, Claire finds herself in the middle of Nashville's elite society and believes her dream of creating a lasting impression in the world of art may finally be within reach.
All that Sutton Monroe holds dear lies in ruin. He's determined to reclaim his heritage and to make the men who murdered his father pay. But what he discovers on his quest for vengeance reveals a truth that may cost him more than he ever imagined.”



 Series: “Belmont Mansion” book #1. Can be a stand-alone novel. (book #2, “A Beauty So Rare”’s review will be posted next Wednesday.)


Spiritual Content- Ephesians 2:10 in the front; Claire pray and reads the Bible; Scriptures are quoted and Blessings over food are said.


Negative Content- One or Two bloody parts, not-detailed.


Sexual Content- Quite a few (not-detailed) kisses.


-Claire Laurent
-Sutton Monroe

                                         P.O.V. switches between them.
                                                                           426 pages
                                          Set in 1866

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
12 and up- 

New Teens (13&14) and up- 
(and a half)

My personal Rating-

(Because the size can be intimidating, Pre & New Teens may (or may not- like me. ;) ) freak out the size of the book. That's why the first two ratings are lower.) I absolutely adore the fact that in the Preface, the Author, Miss Tamera Alexander, thanks the reader for “entrusting her with your time”. How sweet and amazing is that?! I didn’t know if I wanted to read “A Lasting Impression” or another book first, so I read the beginning of each and when I read that- I didn’t even pick up the other one!  
The sequel just came out and when I got it in the mail, well… this was my face:
 
"Guess what just came in the mail!!!! I screamed so loud my friends thought I hurt myself! I wouldn't stay still so the picture's blurry. ;D "
Needless to say, I was excited. :) Review of that book, “A Beauty So Rare” coming next Wednesday!


See you on Friday for the continuation of our Beverly Lewis Countdown!




*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.