Review: Honeysuckle Dreams by Denise Hunter

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This was my introduction to Denise Hunter and her A Blue Ridge Romance series. Since I didn’t read the first book and after finishing Honeysuckle Dreams, I feel this could be read as a standalone. Since this book was a really nice read, I’d recommend reading the first book before because I’m sure it will only enhance your liking of the series.

Let’s start with that beautiful cover. That just puts you in the mood for a really nice, relaxing novel. Like I mentioned before this is the second book in her A Blue Ridge Romance series which featured the story surrounding Hope, Brady and his son Sam. Their story was really sweet to read. They were lovable characters that had obstacles that made you not want to stop reading. 

Let me tell you, Brady, can be your book boyfriend. He is such a lovable character that you will be rooting for throughout the book. After the death of his wife, his world had been rough. Then one day, her parents decide to drop a bombshell on him that they want custody of his son. If that wasn’t bad enough through this turmoil, he gets the shock of his life. He finds out his wife wasn’t the gal he thought she was and got the news that he wasn’t really the father. Scandalous!

So, Hope has been friends with Brady for a really long time. You know what they say, best friends make for the best relationship. This has been said over the years but nothing really materialized from it because Hope fell in love with someone that ended badly. Actually that situation affected her ability to care about anyone but keep that in the back of your mind. When you read the book, you'll find out why but these two given the right circumstances would be perfect for each other. And fast forward, fantasy becomes reality when Brady accidentally lets his lawyer think they are engaged. Can they pull this off?

Hope, just got the chance of a lifetime to do what she dreamed as an on air personality but having to pretend to be married to help Brady keep custody of his son poses some dilemmas. Will this affect her chances of making her dreams come true? Can these two pull off the charades to help Sam? Can love conquer on for both Hope and Brady? Honeysuckle Dreams brings together two lost people who learn to trust whats meant to be and find the path their hearts lead them to.

Overall, I loved their journey but I have one issue with their transition. It’s not a bad thing but maybe I missed something. In their transition with their “fake engagement,” I just thought things shifted so quickly from “friendship” to “relationship.” I know they’re really good friends and then shifted to be a “married” couple but in my mind I was like, they just shifted after the wedding into that role so fast. It’s ok because it didn’t affect the quality of the storyline. I loved getting to know these two and where it ended up. It's always nice reading a sweet story. If you have read book one, catch up. I hope there’s a third book but until then, add this one to your TBR!

Review: 18 Hours to Us by Krista Noorman

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Unfortunately, this was not the book for me. I did not necessarily have a pleasant reading experience. There were several instances where I raised my eyebrow at the material. But first let’s discuss the premise, which did have some potential.

The story centers around two high school teens, Natalie Rhodes and Colton Daynes. Natalie has had a crush on Colton since she was 6 years old. Due to an accident, both teens miss the bus for their senior class trip. Determined to not miss the fun, Natalie and Colton carpool from Michigan to Virginia Beach to try to catch up with the rest of their peers.

Like mentioned previously, the premise of the book did have potential. And if executed well it could have been an exciting, cute, and funny road trip story. Unfortunately, 18 Hours to Us was not. Everything felt overly unnecessary and dramatic. I understand that it centers around two teenagers, but some situations in the book were a bit too much. For example, the major climax.

The entire event could have been avoided if Colton would have been honest. Instead, he chooses to cowardly avoid the situation and makes things worst by not listening to Natalie. It was quite annoying.  

The book felt very judgmental at times and featured a lot of unnecessary girl hate. It left me with a bad taste in my mouth.

Final Analysis

18 Hours to Us does not live up to potential, instead it completely misses the mark and lacks the execution.

Review: The Caregiver by Samuel Park

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In Samuel Park’s “The Caregiver”, Mara tends to her charge Katherine, a woman who, at forty-four, is reluctantly facing death at the hands of stomach cancer. Over Katherine’s decline, Mara has taken on the illusionary role of daughter, filling a gap for Katherine that seems permanent, given her diagnosis and lingering divorce from her ex-husband, Nelson. If only she had known just how few chances life gives, she would have made it work before it was too late. It is often implied that Katherine considers leaving her striking yet empty Bel Air home to Mara; who else does she have? For Mara, an undocumented immigrant with little money, it’s a dream just impossible enough to hope for.

Katherine knows little of Mara’s real mother, and nothing of the pair’s hidden past: a past Mara has seemingly left behind. Their story is revealed at length against the poverty of 1970’s Copacabana, Brazil, where Mara’s mother Anna works as a talented but poorly paid voice actress dubbing glamourous American films into Portuguese. We see Anna through the eager and adoring eyes of young Mara; a loving and all-powerful woman, stylishly smoking cigarettes with the world at her fingertips. The reality is that she is desperate and hungry. Her motherly duties lead her to a role far beyond her control when she agrees to a job collaborating with revolutionary militants against the tortuous, corrupt, and truly all-powerful chief of police, Lima. The tragedy that follows is irrevocable, and apparently inescapable for Mara, who ten years later is still unravelling the secrets of the arrangement; who exactly had made a deal with whom? How much responsibility resided with her mother? with Lima? with herself? And why, given her role as Katherine’s caregiver, was she sharing so many of these confidences with Nelson?

In his final novel, Samuel Park tours the bifold nature of love, its inherent secrets, and the poignant baggage so often carried to death’s doorstep. It does so with an ornate prose that leaves one transported; from a sick bed in 1990’s Bel Air to the gritty banks of a bygone Brazil, to the warm hollow of a mother’s lap. It is hard to know who is influencing whom in this veritable magnum opus left to us by Park. Even more powerful than the mystery are the emotive undercurrents which will hit you within the close of the first chapter. This is a mother-daughter duo fit to rival that seen in Janet Finch’s “White Oleander”, minus the malice

Each section of the book is more compelling than the other, almost making you forget that there are in fact two halves of the story unfolding. In fact, one of my only disappointments with the novel was having to give up Mara’s childhood in Brazil to go back to her adulthood in LA. Her past could have stood alone and, at times, I almost wish it had. That, however, would have robbed us of Katherine’s raw valiancy and acceptance in the face of death (an aspect of the book which I loved). For me, “The Caregiver” was everything a book is meant to be; an enlightening escape. Perhaps the compelling elements which comprised it, the palpable wisdoms of Katherine and the love manifested between Mara and Anna, stemmed from the fact that the subject matter was known all too-intimately by Park: a man born in Brazil, raised in LA, and who, after his own long struggle with stomach cancer, recently passed away. To say that his was wonderful writing would be to understate an inestimable truth. Through “The Caregiver”, Samuel Park has left us with a gift.

Review: Where Hope Begins by Catherine West

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When people say a book hooks them from the beginning, Where Hope Begins really snatches you and doesn’t let you go until you turn that last page. Not only that and the review ratings can back this up is this an amazing book. I don’t even think there are words that could capture the experience of this book. It’ll get you riled up on an emotional journey taking sides and feeling all sorts of emotions that for those of you who have been in her shoes, it’s really hit home.

The book really opens with a bang. I’m talking about you know who side your going to take instantly. When Savannah is introduced in the book, you are immediately put in her shoes. When she finds out her husband, after everything they have gone through, decides to leave her with the request of a divorce, she retreats to her parents’ lake house to figure out how to put her life back together. Side note - there was many times here that if there was a character that you wanted to reach out and yell at, it was towards him. Even though she doesn’t know if she is coming or going, people are put in her life at the right moment and she finds a glimpse of hope and sense of purpose that begins a journey of healing for her. 

I really loved her time in the book at the Lake House. The transformation of being broken yet opening up yourself really showed us something really special. Savannah has been through so much and has carried the burden for many years of a tragedy that has plagued her and then the loss of her child, we really get to the core of her. It was so impactful how she handled, dealt with and worked through this testing period of her life. You talk about the power of strength and forgiveness. The wisdom she gained from Clarice, the friendship that developed with Brock (I wish they had ended up together) and the joy she gained from being around his daughter healed her pain from her own loss but gave her a sense of purpose that she was worthy of love.

Overall, there is absolutely nothing that I didn’t like about this book. Actually, I know that I like many books but this is my favorite this year. If a book makes you that interested that you can’t put it down, than it serves it purpose. So many women out there who have been in this situation will relate and for those who have been in the shoes of Savannah, the author gives the reader a strong novel of the power of the through the good and bad, forgiveness and a true definition of second chances. This is one of the books that will leave such an impression that it will not be forgettable. Beautiful written story, memorable characters and a plot that will have you not wanting to put the book down. This is a definite add to the TBR pile!

Review: Whiskey Sharp: Torn by Lauren Dane

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Cora has gained a reputation being a success business woman running the family business. Their art gallery, a gift from her father to her mother, had become very successful and well sought out from many people looking for art. Always doing everything under and for her mother, giving her full attention, Cora got to a place where she couldn't do it anymore and keep up with the demands of the business. She decided it was time to find a personal assistant to take care of everything her mother needed so she could focus on what she needed to do for herself. Unexpected, then walks back into her life, Beau.

Already knowing who he was, while out with her friends at the Whiskey Sharp, tv cook/model Beau caught her attention. As the two make an instant connection, some secrets from Beau's past came out regarding his life before the fame. At a young age, he and his family were members of a cult led by his father who was pretty much controlled his life. When he realized that the life he was leading was wrong and he wanted to turn his father in, his wife told his father and then something that happened that changed his life forever. Being able to escape, he met two people who helped me make a respectable life. 

After a short time together, Cora and Beau realize that they are meant to be together. Besides this new chapter in his life, he is plagued by secrets of his past that he hired a detective to find out about. what happened. Despite his past, it doesn't matter to her but he wants to spare her his problems and as an effect holds back a part of him. Their journey together opens a new chapter for both themselves and the quest for unanswered questions.

Alright, so I should begin this with I didn't read the first two books so I can say whether or not there was previous info to the story that would've helped along. I'm going to be honest and say this book was not up my alley. It has nothing to do with the plot of the book because I ventured out of my norm and was fine with that. The explicit scenes, not my thing. I could've did without the here there and everywhere but that isn't a reflection of the book just a personal preference in my comfort level of reading. Something great was the close knit aspect of the relationships within the characters. That is always a great experience reading. Those traits of sticking together always puts you close to the characters. It would've been great for resolution in the end. It leaves you feeling like a puzzle piece is missing. That would've redeemed things majorly for me. Overall, the plot of the book was interesting minus the other stuff. Just wish there was more details about certain aspects of the story. I'm on the fence if there is another book to continue but are very curious to see what happens.
 

Review: The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder

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The Probability of Miracles is a hard book for me to describe my feelings for. It was an experience, however, I am not sure if it was a positive or neutral experience.  

The book revolves around a 17-year-old named Cam Looper. For several years, she has spent a considerable amount of time in the hospital due to her cancer. Unfortunately, she is not getting any better.  In search of a miracle, her and her family move to Promise, Maine, a town that is believed to have mystical powers.

In hindsight, I was very intrigued by the plot. It is pretty straightforward and does not include very many surprises. There were moments that were incredibly sad and also incredibly funny. It was nice balance that never felt overwhelming or out of place. However, it is worth mentioning, that I did not feel attached to the story as I wanted to be. There was sort of a disconnect for me and I think that could be contributed to the story being told in third person.

I wanted more of an insight to who Cam was as a person, and also more of her internal personality. From what was given, she was very sassy and at the end had this great character development. But I think I wanted to feel a great connection to her.

I expected the book to be a little more whimsical. There were times were it felt a little dry and nothing really was taking place within the plot. I wanted to know more about why people believed Promise was this mystical place.

Final Analysis

The Probability of Miracles is a YA that has a strong central plot and features an interesting main character. However, it is not a book that feels memorable.