Review: All I Want for Christmas Is You by Miranda Liasson

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One of my favorite series comes to an end with her latest, All I Want for Christmas Is You. If you haven’t read anything by Miranda Liasson, now that the weather is getting cooler, she has the perfect love stories that you can curl up with near the fire.

I purposefully took my time because being this is the last book in the Angel Falls series, I didn’t want it to end. I’ve grown so fond of the Langdons and really didn’t want to say goodbye. As with all good things that must come to an end, this has to be my favorite of all. She saved the best for last concluding the series featuring Rafe and Kaitlyn.

So, if you’re not familiar with Rafe, he has had things pretty hard. After he lost his wife and baby, he basically shut down love and relationships that potentially would be long term. With the support of great family and friends, the biggest hurdle has been him opening himself up and breaking down the protective walls of hurt and pain. He has everything good going for him but the love of a great gal that would make things complete. If you have followed the series than you know out of the ladies that have come his way, there has been no one as special as his friend Kaitlyn.

She has had life tough but has made a great life for herself. With the support of the Langdons and her friendship with Rafe, life couldn’t have been better. In the last book, we left off with them at a wedding and they had a night that they both will never forget. Fast forward to this book, the awkwardness that has been between them turns around when Kaitlyn finds out something that changes both their lives forever.

Overall, like with all her books, she captures something special in her characters that makes you want them to be a part of your life. Out of the Langdons in this series, Rafe is the one that you want to root for the most to get his hea. Kaitlyn is such a loving and relatable character that you just want to be your best girlfriend. Without sharing too much, their friendship will shift and fate will step in big time for a sweet gift for the readers. This was a wonderful wrap up to the series that will leave your heart full and complete. If you haven’t read the series, start from the beginning. If you have followed along like me, make sure you add it to the list to read.

Review: The Escape Room by Megan Goldin

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Summary:

Vincent, Jules, Sylvie, and Sam are ruthlessly ambitious high-flyers working in the lucrative world of Wall Street finance where deception and intimidation thrive. Getting rich is all that matters, and they'll do anything to reach the top.

When they are ordered to participate in a corporate team-building exercise that requires them to escape from a locked elevator, dark secrets of their team begin to be laid bare.

The biggest mystery to solve in this lethal game: What happened to Sara Hall? Once a young shining star—”now gone but not forgotten”.

This is no longer a game.

They’re fighting for their lives.

Review:

The Escape Room was an unexpected surprise. Alternating between Sara and her coworkers in “the escape room”, this book had me hooked. I will say that the first part of the book was like a slow simmer but then the second part of the book took the book to a place of no return. I would love to see this as a movie.

I had a love/hate relationship with the characters. I say that in the most endearing way with much love to Megan Goldin.I hated these characters because they were so ruthless but that was the addictive charm to flipping those pages. We learn a lot about her coworkers in that team building exercise that let’s just say they get what’s coming to them with karma served on a gold platter. The drama that unfolded between them was nonstop and you feel like you are in there with them.

I really liked Sara. She represented the good in that awful corporate world. Getting to know her was a nice contrast to the alternate pov of how the book played out. What happened to her was terrible but then a major plat twist happens and it just makes this where you don’t want to stop reading. 

Overall, I thought this was an awesome psychological thriller that builds up to be fantastic. I can’t wait to read more from this author and I’m recommending adding this to your TBR.

Review: I Am Redeemed: Learning to Live in Grace by Mike Weaver and Jim Scherer

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Summary

Mike Weaver, lead singer of Big Daddy Weave, shares from personal experience how when all we can see is our struggles and failures, God reminds us of who we are. . . . His children. Loved. Set free. Redeemed.

I Am Redeemed is an open book of Mike Weaver’s life, bringing into the light everything from his battle with self-hatred to the near death of his brother and bandmate, who ultimately had both feet amputated to save his life. Mike shares the lessons learned in the loss of his father and dealing with the spirit of suicide within his band, Big Daddy Weave.

At the lowest of lows, with Mike feeling rejected and alone, God broke through to speak truth and life into him. Thankful for God’s plan and timing and methods, he is especially grateful for the new identity Jesus had paid for on the cross. In spite of his faults and failures, Mike learned that only God can take the stuff you hate about yourself and use it to reach people.

Through the million-selling song “Redeemed” and now the powerful story behind it, as well as inspiration from Scripture, you will be encouraged to embrace God’s redeeming grace so you, too, have the opportunity to be beautiful offerings to the Lord.

Review

Going into the book, I’d never heard of Big Daddy Weave. So glad I didn’t because it gave me a better chance to get to know Mike Weaver and learn about him and the group. I couldn’t help but sneak a look on YouTube to check out their song, Redeemed. I was inspired and moved by the song and the journey shared in the book.

I Am Redeemed, shared the personal journey of Mike Weaver, lead singer of the Big Daddy Weave. A wonderful message through his experiences was the assurance of when we are at the lowest point of feeling forsaken, if you are faith-rooted, your back is always taken care of. You might not believe it at the moment or feel life is fair but it has a way of bringing you back to where you need to be.

I was taken back by Mike’s honest and candid feelings sharing some of the most intimate parts of his life. He shared his personal experiences in his own life, family and friends. The vulnerability of opening himself up allows you to connect and those with similar experiences can find comfort or a shared affirmation that you aren’t alone. Opening his heart to faith in his deepest point of despair, he was able to find light in life and find the joy of what life was meant to be.

Overall, I thought the book was wonderful. I found his transparency and honesty refreshing. I think his experience is relatable and can inspire those who have had similar thoughts or feelings. Big Daddy Weave fans I know will enjoy this one. I’d recommend checking it out.

Review: Mother Knows Best by Kira Peikoff

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Buy on Amazon | Audible

Buy on Amazon | Audible

Summary:

There’s only room for one mother in this family.

Claire Abrams’s dreams became a nightmare when she passed on a genetic mutation that killed her little boy. Now she wants a second chance to be a mother, and finds it in Robert Nash, a maverick fertility doctor who works under the radar with Jillian Hendricks, a cunning young scientist bent on making her mark—and seducing her boss.

Claire, Robert, and Jillian work together to create the world’s first baby with three genetic parents—an unprecedented feat that could eliminate inherited disease. But when word of their illegal experiment leaks to the wrong person, Robert escapes into hiding with the now-pregnant Claire, leaving Jillian to serve out a prison sentence that destroys her future.

Ten years later, a spunky girl named Abigail begins to understand that all is not right with the reclusive man and woman she knows as her parents. But the family’s problems are only beginning. Jillian, hardened by a decade of jealousy and loss, has returned—and nothing will stop her from reuniting with the man and daughter who should have been hers.

Past, present, and future converge in this mesmerizing psychological thriller from critically acclaimed author Kira Peikoff.

Review

I almost didn’t read this book. I’ve read Kira’s other books and to be honest, the subject area on what it was about, I was on the fence. Despite my initial reservations, this gripping emotional roller coaster became an instant page turner blurring the lines of ethics and the length a mother will go to protect her child.

This book had me zoned in. I didn’t think I was going to like it but I was so very wrong. She made the terminology comprehensible and you can tell her experience in this area of expertise was seamless throughout the book. She made their story interesting and I couldn’t get enough of them.

I really enjoyed the overall plot. There was something that each character brought to the book that made it a good page turner. I loved how the book was divided in parts which balanced everything out. This had everything you would want in a great thriller, including the drama and suspense. I think you should check this one out and add it to the reading list.

Review: Clickbait by Lisa Suzanne

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Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

After finishing Clickbait, I'm unsure about my feelings. I certainly did not hate the book, so I guess I'll settle with the standard "it was okay."

Clickbait centers on Courtney, a romance blogger, who randomly meets Carter King, the heir to a very successful company. Her first impression is that he's a jerk. But after he makes it his mission to purse her, she comes to realize that maybe he isn't so bad.

One of my main complaints with Clickbait is that it's extremely fast pace. Everything in this book felt like it moved at lightening speed. The plot. The romance. Everything. There was not gradual increase. It felt like a race, and unfortunately, I really didn't have time to enjoy the scenery.

Within the books, readers are told that there is such an attraction between Courtney and Carter. But unfortunately the book doesn't spend time building a believable relationship for them. There wasn't enough time soaking in their relationship or time to get to know them as individuals.

One thing that I did enjoy about Clickbait was the narrative. The book is told entirely through Courtney's POV and blog post. I find that to be an interesting creative choice. With Courtney's POV, it felt like a conversation and I thought that was nice. It was easy to read and inviting.

Final Anaylsis

Clickbait fails at establishing a memorable romance due to the fast pace and underdeveloped characters.

Review: Breakthrough The Miraculous True Story of a Mother's Faith and Her Child's Resurrection by Joyce Smith With Ginger Kolbaba

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Summary

The impossible true story about the powerful impact of prayer that inspired the major motion picture starring Chrissy Metz, Topher Grace, Dennis Haysbert, and Josh Lucas.

Through the years and the struggles, when life seemed more about hurt and loss than hope and mercy, God was positioning the Smiths for something extraordinary–the death and resurrection of their son.

When Joyce Smith’s fourteen-year-old son John fell through an icy Missouri lake one winter morning, she and her family had seemingly lost everything. At the hospital, John lay lifeless for more than sixty minutes. But Joyce was not ready to give up on her son. She mustered all her faith and strength into one force and cried out to God in a loud voice to save him.

Miraculously, her son’s heart immediately started beating again.

In the coming days, John would defy every expert, every case history, and every scientific prediction. Sixteen days after falling through the ice and being clinically dead for an hour, he walked out of the hospital under his own power, completely healed.

Breakthrough is about a profound truth: prayer really does work. God uses it to remind us that He is always with us, and when we combine it with unshakable faith, nothing is impossible.

Previously published as The Impossible.

Review

Let me begin by saying that this book is definitely a testament to one’s faith. I’m going to preface this by saying this book is definitely faith based and this family's journey is one that was truly inspiring. For those of you who may not be spiritual, the miracle that happened for this family is one that would I feel inspire the strongest nonbeliever. I just want to throw that out there for those where a strong faith is not a part of your life.

I haven't seen the movie yet but after reading the book, I'm curious to see how they capture their story on screen. The emotional impact from experiencing this unfold from their perspective really pulls at you. It’s like you’re right there with them experiencing every moment of angst, tears, happiness and everything else wrapped up into one. Considering the climate today, it was really inspiring reading this miracle happen and seeing not only the power of prayer from their community but this family’s endless foundation of faith to keep fighting even when there seemed to be no hope. This was such a testament to the strength of this mom's faith and the love of her child to never give up hope remaining patient and optimistic through their struggle. It was a really nice read and I hope you consider it to check out.