Monday, April 24, 2017

"The Beloved Hope Chest" by Amy Clipston



About this book:

  In the final installment of the Amish Heirloom series, the Fisher sisters learn the mystery behind their parents’ marriage—and about the sibling who has never been spoken of.
  Mattie Fisher’s three daughters know that she’s been keeping a secret from them. With each item pulled from the beloved family hope chest, they’ve discovered a new clue about their mother’s past.
  But there’s a reason Mattie has been keeping her history hidden, and she’s not sure she’s ready to reopen old wounds. Will dredging up the past change the way her children view her? Or her marriage to their father? And can she handle the pain of revisiting the memories that preceded the last few happy decades?
  Mattie’s story is one of grief and learning to love again. But like the best things preserved in a hope chest, it's a story of love and redemption born out of heartache—and it's past time to share it.”



Series: Book #4 in the “Amish Heirloom” series. Review of Book #1 Here! #2 Here! & #3 Here!


Spiritual Content- Scriptures are quoted, mentioned, read, talked & thought about; Prayers & asking God why something happened; Thanking God; Church going; Talks about God, His will & having faith; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Mattie thinks God is punishing her when *Spoiler* the baby is stillborn *End of Spoiler*; Many mentions of God & His will; Many mentions of prayers, praying & silent prayers over food; Mentions of reading Scriptures & a devotional; Mentions of church services, church going, hymns, ministers & sermons; Mentions of blessings & being blessed; A few mentions of having faith; A couple mentions of youth groups.


Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘stupid’; A bit of eye rolling & sarcasm; Passing out, Pain & Sobbing (sadness); A nightmare about someone’s death (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of deaths (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of an abusive husband aiming a gun & someone else being killed (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of a woman acting like she’s going to be hit & hollered at by her husband (but he never actually does); Mentions of pain & blood; Mentions of violence; Mentions of envy; A few mentions of lies, lying & liars; A couple mentions of a dog that was hit & killed; A couple mentions of a hunting trip; A couple mentions of divorces; A couple mentions of childhood bullies.  


Sexual Content- a hand kiss, five cheek kisses, four forehead/head kisses, four barely-above-not-detailed kisses, two semi-detailed kisses, and a detailed kiss; Wanting to be kissed & kiss someone (up to semi-detailed); Remembering kisses (up to semi-detailed); Touches & Embraces (up to semi-detailed); Noticing, Staring, & Smelling; Remembering touches, embraces & noticing (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of marital intimacy, sharing a bed & a wedding night (very lightly hinted at, not specific; there is one part where they go to a bedroom & the door is shut (no details or mentions of what happens)); Mentions of kisses, touches/touching, smelling, & noticing (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of Leroy’s father who left his wife & sons and went to another state with a woman; Mentions of dating, girlfriends & boyfriends; A few mentions of other married couples kissing; A few mentions of blushes; A couple mentions of flirting; Love, falling in love, being married, & the emotions;
             *Note: Labor, Pain & *Spoiler* the baby is stillborn and the after feelings *End of Spoiler* (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of miscarriages; Mentions of changing clothes in front of a spouse & the husband’s boxers (nothing sexual, just uncomfortable); A few mentions of hormones.

-Mattie Fisher, age 56/57 {24/25}
-Leroy Fisher, age 57/58 {26}
                                  P.O.V. switches between them
                                          {Set mostly in 1989}
                                                        320 pages

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Pre Teens-
New Teens-
Early High School Teens-
Older High School Teens-
My personal Rating-
{Add ½ star for older girls who have read the previous books in the series}
Have I mentioned that I’m not a pretty crier? I try not to be jealous of those who are pretty criers, but honestly.
Why in the world am I mentioned about (not) being a pretty crier? Y’all. This book. Oh, my goodness. I try not to get emotionally attached to any characters, but it’s so hard when they’re so well written like Mattie & Leroy in this novel. I really enjoyed the previous books in this series and seeing all the hints of the girls’ parents’ story. Actually reading it, however, I was sniffling and just wanted to hug everyone while inwardly bawling for them! (What can I say? I’m a hugger and an emotional wreck.) I definitely recommend reading this series in order, because I got pretty giddy (through my tears, mind you) seeing the raspberry pie recipe, the courtship basket, and the quilt. Talk about tying everything up with a bow!
Aww, well, Miss Amy Clipston did it again with another great series—I’m so sad it’s over, but I’m so looking forward to meeting & getting to know her new characters!


See y’all on Wednesday with a new review!


*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.
*I received this book for free from the author for this honest review.

Friday, April 21, 2017

"Pursued" by Lisa Harris



About this book:

  “Nikki Boyd's flight into Nashville was routine—up until the crash landing at the airport.
  When the dust settles, Nikki discovers that the woman who had been seated next to her on the plane is missing—and no one will admit she was ever there. When she learns that Erika Hamilton had been flying to Nashville with an air marshal as a key witness in an upcoming grand jury trial, Nikki wonders if her disappearance from the crash site means she’s running from trouble—or straight into it. Before Nikki can even see her family, she and her team are pulled into a missing persons case where the motives are as unclear as the suspects.”


Series: Book #3 in the “Nikki Boyd Files” series. Review of Book #1 review Here! and Book #2 Here!


Spiritual Content- 2 Corinthians 4:17 at the beginning; A couple Scriptures are remembered & mentioned; Many Prayers; Talks about God & Him being in control; ‘H’s are not capital when referring to God; Mentions of God, Jesus, & trusting Him; Mentions of prayers & praying; Mentions of churches; A few mentions of miracles; A couple mentions of Heaven.


Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘sucks’, two ‘stupid’s, three ‘stupid’s, and five ‘shut up’s; Pain, injuries, blood/bleeding, fighting/wrestling, being shot, being hit/attack, being chased by dogs, a break-in, a crash landing, explosions, a car crash, being held hostage, & nearly being killed (up to semi-detailed); Watching a few people die (including a suicide) (up to semi-detailed); Fighting over a gun & someone is killed (not Nikki, up to semi-detailed); Finding bodies, murders, checking pulses, blood & injuries/wounds (up to semi-detailed); A nightmare (semi-detailed); Many mentions of murders & murderers (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of the possibility of being killed (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of Nikki’s missing sister, the abductor, past murders & the possibility she was murder; Mentions of deaths & dying (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of brutal murder, a killer & killing; Mentions of murders, murderers, bodies, wounds & murder scenes (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of a car fire, explosion, a burned body & the smell of burning flesh (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of a suicide; Mentions of pain, those shot, injuries/wounds, & bleeding/blood (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of someone stabbed, a knife & blood (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of weapons, weapons shot & aimed; Mentions of snipers; Mentions of women who were held hostage for long amounts of time; Mentions of a car chase & one hitting a railing going into a gully; Mentions of illegal activities; Mentions of hit-men & thugs; Mentions of drinking, gambling, & addictions; Mentions of prisons, jails, inmates & an attack in a prison; Mentions of military tours & a bullet in a man’s leg; Mentions of the plane’s crash landing; Mentions of break-ins; Mentions of lies & lying; Mentions of divorces; Mentions of nightmares; Mentions of hunting; A few mentions of a drunk driver who killed another driver; A few mentions of gangs; A few mentions of drugs & drug trafficking; A few mentions of embezzlement; A co when someone was shot & almost died (barely-above-not-detailed); A couple mentions of a Mafia group; A couple mentions of burglaries & thefts; A couple mentions of tattoos; A mention of a war; A mention of domestic violence;
*Note: A mention of designers (Oscar de la Renta & Prada); A couple mentions of Star Trek;


Sexual Content- a forehead kiss, two barely-above-not-detailed kisses, and two semi-detailed kisses; Remembering kisses (up to semi-detailed); Touches, Embraces & Smelling (up to semi-detailed); Noticing; Mentions of an on-again, off-again affair (between the missing woman & her “sugar daddy”) and a child was conceived; Mentions of other affairs & a married couple with an “open relationship”; Mentions of a womanizer/player; Mentions of blushes; A few mentions of a teen guy who got a girl pregnant & she had an abortion; A few mentions of jealousy; A mention of an abusive boyfriend; A mention of a cheating spouse; A mention of swooning; Being in love & a bit of the emotions;
            *Note: Mentions of ovarian failure & infertility; A mention of butting into someone’s life.  

-Nikki Boyd
                                        P.O.V. of Nikki
                                                     300 pages

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Pre Teens-
New Teens-
Early High School Teens-
Older High School Teens-
My personal Rating-
{OHS girls can add up to a full star for interest in law enforcement &/or murder mysteries.}
Wow. What a crazy read. This was a highly anticipated read for me after the ending of the last book. I've waited nearly a year to get my hands on this one. And oh my goodness, this did not disappoint for my suspense-lovin' heart. Oh. This was just what I was expecting and more.
Nikki is back and just as awesome as ever. I loved all the twists and turns of this third book. Shockingly my heart wasn't racing as much as I thought it would be, but I did get completely involved into the plot and was quite literally pouting when it was over.
I also have to take a moment and just swoon over how this cover looks with the previous two books cover. And let's not get me started on the spines. #AllTheHeartEyes
Now that I know the news about the fourth book in the series about Nikki's sister. I’m going to say it's going to be intense, I'm calling it now.


See y’all on Friday with a new review!


*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.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Revell) for this honest review.