Elevated by Elana Johnson

Grade: A
Rating: PG-13
Caution:(talk of mature themes, contact me for specifics I don't want to spoil it... Not graphic).

Me: A book completely in verse? that couldn't possibly be for me.
Book: Oh come on, just give me a try...my cover is pretty right?
Me: Yes... it is. But you're still in verse.
Book: True, but it's a love story and you love love stories!
Me: Well... maybe.
Book: The main characters get stuck in an elevator and I'm more than just a pretty cover. Promise!
Me: You had me at elevator.

Oh wow... this is one talented author. After a chapter I didn't even notice that it was in verse anymore. Really! It was like this book boiled everything non-essential out of it by using verse and left only what was absolutely necessary. It was a very quick and satisfying read. I will definitely read more by this author!

Weekend Freebies: The Cupid Caper by Kristen Ethridge

Book Summary: 

Sometimes you've got to take Cupid's bow and arrow into your own hands. 

Amanda Marsh is in love with love. As a high school English teacher, she is surrounded by poetry and classic literature, including the love stories written by her favorite author, Shakespeare. She knows she’ll never find anything as romantic as the stories that have stood the test of time, so she’s settled on having a crush on chemistry teacher Luke Baker from a far.

Luke Baker left his career as a research chemist behind to share a love of science with students. And he’s about to make his pet project a reality as the curriculum lead for the district’s new specialized science and technology academy. When a poem shows up on his desk drawing him into The Cupid Caper, the Valentine’s Day-themed dance and fundraiser for Skyview High School’s Student Council, Luke dismisses the whole thing as a silly game. But when he realizes that winning the grand prize in The Cupid Caper is the one way he can help a star student attend the new STEM Academy, he decides to play along.

Paired together, the English teacher and the chemistry teacher both realize The Cupid Caper is more than a game, but neither can tell the other their feelings are no joke. When an education in happily ever after is on the line, will a man whose life has been ruled by the scientific method and a woman who quotes sonnets miss the mark, or will Cupid’s arrow finally ring true?

The Holiday Hearts Series: Heartwarming Stories of Finding Love on the Most Special Days of the Year

Please Note: The Cupid Caper is a sweet contemporary romance novella with a word count of 27,000 words.

**I have not read this book, but it is listed as a CLEAN romance and totally FREE today!  Click HERE to download this book free. 

Victoria's Promise by Julie Wright

Rating: PG-13 (there is mention of substance abuse- in the subplot)
Grade: B+/4 stars
Recommend: Yes- great beach book

So it's no shocker that I love bachelor books by now right?!

Victoria's promise is part of the Newport Ladies Book Club series. This is the first book I've read in the series and it read fine as a stand-alone (but did make me interested to read more in this series).

Victoria Winters (Tori), is 2nd AD on the set of Vows.  After a run-in with Christopher Caine (don't you just love that name!) she finds herself thinking about him more and more.  Tori is part of the Newport Ladies Book Club and we are introduced to the other ladies an their stories throughout the book.  I am very curious to read Ilana's story after this book!

Chris Caine, is the bachelor. Enough said... :) Or maybe not, he's southern, sweet and totally off limit's for Tori.  I wish I had seen a little more of Chris Caine, but he was great.

What I liked: I liked that this book was an easy light-hearted CLEAN read.  I've read other books by Julie Wright and I really enjoy her writing style. And of course I love that it was written in first person narrative despite being a women's fiction book (Women's fiction tends to use 3rd person I've noticed-which I don't care for).

I liked that this romance took a little time to build.  The MC's actually talked about real things, not just their feelings: books, her scripts etc.  That was sweet and felt real.

This was a fun book because you got a feel for being behind the scenes on the set of the bachelor (something I would love to do).  I also really liked the scenes with Ilana, a woman who is struggling with prescription drugs.  I loved that this book wasn't afraid to talk about tough issues- I am interested to read more of her story.

What I didn't like: I find I am less and less interested in writing this section because when I read what someone didn't like about a book I tend to focus in on that one thing more than I would have before I read it. So my comments in this section will be kept brief from here on out (unless I REALLY don't like something or object to it morally).  I would have loved to read more at the end.  I am a sucker for epilogue's, I guess I just don't like to leave a characters' world once I'm in it.  I would have loved to see a wedding or what they were like after the end of the show... But I also know that this was about the show vows and it was a perfect ending, so, ya.

I would recommend this movie.  It is great for the beach. It is a cute book that I finished quickly.

If you like this book, also check out:

Second Chances by Melanie Jacobsen
Reality Check by Karen Tuft

Mile 21 by Sarah Dunster

Grade: A
Rating: PG-13 (no language or sexual situations)
Content: Clean (death of a spouse)
Recommendation:  Highly Recommend (Read this book when you really want to FEEL something and have a box of tissues)

Best Quote: The whole dang book was awesome, but I will try to narrow this down.


A few months ago I saw this book and past over it. it kept coming up and I kept passing by it... the cover seemed a little 1980's from the gold rings to the pink rose. Well, I was in a bit of a book slump and this one popped up again, so I decided to try a sample... by page two I was hooked. I'm so glad I read this one!  I recommend this book, its the first book in a LONG time to make me favorites list.

This book is about a girl named Abish who is recently widowed. She is 21, not married, but not "single" and struggling to get through her life as an undergrad at BYU-I. She is training to run the marathon the her husband never was able to run.

What I liked:  Oh Abish, I cried, I laughed, I nearly threw my kindle a few times, but most of all I really rooted for you. I loved this book! Yes it was heartbreaking and I don't usually pick up these kind of books, but something about this book... wow! 

I loved reading Abish's internal monologue.... wait, dialogue? It was so real, so touching. Her bishop/boss was stern, but so perfect, so real. Her roommates, oh wow... made me glad I never had them. Mama, Pen and Suzy... and of course Bob.  Abish felt like a real person to me.  And I mean she was REAL: her emotions,  her depression, her thoughts, her actions.  Sometimes she made choices that made me cringe.  I couldn't believe the things she did at times, and yet, it was exactly right.  I was so curious how the author was able to create such an honest story. Read more about Sarah Dunster's story here. I am amazed at Sarah and her ability to take such a difficult life experience and pour all that emotion into an incredibly beautiful and inspiring story. Don't misunderstand,  Mile 21 is not Sarah's story, it's Abish's; however, the feelings, the emotions, are real and raw and just right. 


What I didn't like: The only thing about this book I didn't like was the characters' names... Bob, not a swoon worthy name...Abish eek hard one to get past, admittedly one of the reasons I kept passing it up. There are others like a girl named Steve and the "turd" too. But the names were the worst part for me... so that is really saying something. 

The pace of the book was a little slower than what I've been reading recently, but it fit the story perfectly.

Content: Clean
(there is talk of the first husband passing away and of miscarriage...)

She walks in Beauty by Siri Mitchell

Grade: B
Rating: PG+
Content: Clean

Best Quote:

“This table is a pigeon trap. A dozen different forks and knives and spoons. Four different goblets. All of them just waiting to be knocked over or misapplied and mishandled. It’s a wonder anyone is ever tempted to eat.” -Clara Carter, She Walks in Beauty


This book is about Clara Carter, a debutant in 1890's, the gilded age. Corsets, balls, opera's and dazzling dresses.  Clara has been tasked by her Aunt and father to win the hand of Mr. De Vries, the De Vries fortune Heir.  She is hurried into society before she is ready and is moved like a pawn from one social event to the next.  She catches his eye and the eye of his brother as does her best friend Lizzie.  The story takes off from there.

What surprised me about this book is that it is a historical ficition that paints such a realistic view of what it would have actually been like to live in the Victorian Era.  We follow Clara as she learns about the tenements in New York and the plight of the immigrant, we learn the horrors of corsettes and the horrible effects they had on young women at that time, the race to win a husband and all the preparation of debuting. When I first started this book, I had the impression that it was much more of a light hearted romance; What I actually found in this book was a discussion on much more serious topics.  I enjoyed learning more of the truth behind this time period and I can see that the author really did her homework before writing this book.

What I liked: I loved learning all the details about the time period.  Thanks to Scarlette O'hara, I knew that women desired to have a itty-bitty 18 inch waist, but I didn't know the extent of the horrors that women had to endure to get there.  I loved learning all the details about Clara's coming out.  The dresses and the rigourous schedule the girls had to maintain of late nights and lesson-filled days. The imagery and descriptions of the times were stunning.  I loved Harry and his innocence and his strength. I loved Clara and her conviction to do right after everything. I loved that she felt like a real person, with struggles, desires, and feelings.

What I didn't like:  I felt like this books romance took a back seat to the history lesson of the time period.  You know me, the love story is the most important thing in a book for me, so it didn't live up to my expectations in that way.  There was a lot of talking by the aunt, an inner monologue from Clara and a few conversations, but none that felt deep or especially moving.  I think this authors strong points are in imagery and historical details and not in dialogue or character interaction.  Dialogue moves a story along very rapidly and I think that is why the pacing of this story felt like it was a bit sluggish in points and why I wasn't as connected to some the characters esp. Harry and Clara as I would like to have been by the end.  Also, the ending was a bit rushed for me.  We learn alot of her circumstances, but the end to the love story, a bit rushed and not enough detail for me.  Again, that is so more a personal preference.

If you like this book(or time-period) then try these books:

Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson
Blackmoore by Juliaane Donaldson
Drops of Gold by Sarah M. Eden

Happy Valentine's Day! FRIDAY FREEBIES: FREE BOOKS FOR ALL!

Want a free clean romance novel to snuggle up with tonight for Valentine's Day?  Try She Walks in Beauty for FREE by clicking here. Enjoy! If you use this post please leave me a quick note in the comments section. Thanks!

Here's a Clean Christian Romance Freebie:  I haven't tried this one out yet, but it is marked as clean and has a goodreads rating of 4.09 stars! Click HERE to download for free today. Please leave a message in the comments section for me if you use this link :)  Thanks!

Also, fans of Katie McGarry can pre-order her latest novella, Red at Night (out April 1, 2014) for FREE today here.  *Please note that I have not pre-read this book so there may be content not appropriate for readers.

These Broken Stars (Starbound #1) By Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

Grade: B
Rating: PG-13
Content:

Best Quote:
“Major, to what extent did you act upon your feelings for Miss LaRoux?"
"Medium."
"Excuse me?"
"How am I supposed to answer that question?” 



Titanic meets... star trek, marries Lost? I'm giving this book 3.5 stars because while it is better than average, it never hits that pivotal peak... and there were a few parts that were downright strange. However, with such a beautiful cover- I couldn't resist picking it up. This book looks like it will be primarily about space, however, it is more accurately described as a "survivor" story, so don't be fooled. If you are looking for space travel try the books listed below.  I am pretty sure I am in the minority, the overwhelming majority on goodreads LOVES this book, for me it fell flat and here's why:

What I liked: It had enough to keep me turning pages and the beginning was very titanic-esque with its upstairs/ downstairs feel, so it pulled me right in. Combine that with a military love interest and I'm definitely engaged. I loved the characters names: Lilac Laroux and Tarver Merendsen... great names. Every once and a while I enjoy a sci-fi ya romance... This one was ok, but I think it would have been more interesting to spend time on the ship then on the planet exploring the dystopian nature of their world then on a sic-fi planet. Personal preference maybe.

What I didn't like: Unfortunately, it lacked any real connection between the main characters and then the end while technically I should like it... it didn't feel quite right, felt a little to perfectly wrapped up and hurried. And the Lilac thing near the end... what??  The whispers were weird, and I think I understand them now, but not really. The rift idea was interesting, but that part of the book went so quickly as compared to the rest of the book that felt super slow, so the pacing was off for me.  This book seemed to have a hard time deciding what it was: dystopian, sci-fi, mystery, or ya-romance, it just never really decided.  The sci-fi parts were vague and never amounted to much, the dystopian parts weren't developed, the romance pacing was all wrong to slow then bam they can't live without each other-felt forced. 

 It looks like their may be another book in this series, if so I will check it out at the library and give it a chance, but I won't mark it on the calendar if you get my drift.

Similar Books:

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder

For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfruend