Living Separate Lives

Living Separate Lives by Paulette Harper Johnson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Interesting novella about 4 friends from college who get together for a weekend reunion years later. It is advertised as Christian so expect that, please. It does have a mature theme to it and is intended for adults, I believe. The 4 friends were at different places in their lives, some married, some successful, others not and each was at a different level of belief. The story is told from each woman's view of things. It is a novella so it was hard for me to connect with any one person. However I was invested in the story and it did hold my attention. It even left me wanting more. I was able to figure out where the story was headed but not how the author would handle it. I was impressed that she kept that real. There was not a holier than thou attempt at forgive and forget. Real reactions played out. Even a time frame for healing. No one was miraculously healed overnight. I really appreciated that. I think it gives readers a realistic look at being a Christian faced with a painful situation. You need to work at relationships, you need to work at forgiveness. You can be hurt, angry, lose it and still be a Christian. I think that is the power in this short story. You will make mistakes, you will hurt, you will fall as a Christian and you will get back up, be forgiven and grow as a Christian.

Disclosure: I was given a copy of this book for review purposes. I review a wide variety, mostly non Christian books. This review contains my honest impression of this title. My beliefs are my own and may or may not be Christian. I received no compensation for this review.

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Oh So Hot!

swingers by Abyrne Mostyn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow! I think my Kindle nearly set on fire! This was my first read by this author and of this...umm...type. I have read erotica before just not this...situation. It was oh so steamy. It is short - the story spans one night. It is told from several POV's and that worked great! Very fun and interesting look into a swinger party. It was perfect for the now chilly nights of Alaska. If you are looking for something short, (but to read slowly and perhaps aloud with someone), hot and juicy to heat up your night, (day?), this is your book. I am definitely looking forward to more by this author.

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Cover Reveal Ladd Haven by Dianne Venetta

Coming Soon!

\When Troy Parker returns home, a pregnant Casey Owens rejects him outright, asserting he lost his right to honesty when he abandoned her to pursue his fortune in Kentucky. Jimmy Sweeney, friend and ally to Casey, never cared for Troy and is more than willing to take part in her deception.

Jack Foster has a few tricks of his own, beginning with reconciling his daughter Felicity Wilkins with the Foster family. Her mother, Delaney Wilkins, wants nothing to do with family reunions, knowing some relations are best left buried.

But as time passes, lies unravel. Casey can no longer deny her feelings for Troy and confronts him about the pregnancy. Felicity is doing some confronting of her own now that she’s learned a disturbing truth.  Yet it’s Delaney's confession that causes families to collide as folks take sides, shattering both past and future generations, ensnaring Casey and Felicity in painful complications for which neither is prepared...

Family feuds run deep and wide, threatening even the most solid of unions. Find out who survives the perils in this chapter of Ladd Springs.

Look for it late October 2013

Check out Dianne Venetta on Amazon 

And her blog BloominThyme.com

The Drive-By Wife

The Drive-By Wife by Mike Wells
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow. That was intense! This was one of those books that you get close to the end you want to slow down and make reading it last a little longer. Trouble is you are hurtling along at a 110 with sketchy brakes. The story was absolutely twisted. Early on I found myself trying to imagine what I would do. I'm a hiker. Thankfully I do not hike alone or, after reading this, I might never have hiked again. Towards the end I was just trying to breathe evenly. I do not like recapping a story - the author has a synopsis; my retelling may give something away. I do have to say this is one of the rare books where I did not like either the husband or the wife, (though she is a bit above him, if I were forced to choose the more likable one). With the ending the way it played out, I am disturbed the person I liked most was the maniac. I cannot recall that happening to me before. Definitely not certain what that says about me. Haha. Drive-By Wife is a thriller that will keep you reading. Good thing it is not long because once I really started I did not want to stop for any reason. The author has woven a tight psychologically intense story. I will be thinking about it for awhile. If you are into psychological crime thrillers grab this book. I need a whiskey or four and a smoke now, (interesting since I am only a social drinker).

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Spare Change

Spare Change by Bette Lee Crosby
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What an amazing story. This is my first book by this author and it totally blew me away! I had actually added Jubilee's Journey to my TBR when he author let me know to read Spare Change first as it is the first book in the series. I am so happy I took her advice! I have to advise you to have a box of tissue near when you read this book. I laughed, cried and was angered throughout the book. Ultimately, I felt uplifted. In the end I was smiling through my tears. The genre I would select for this book is life. It is a book about life; sometimes happy, sometimes sad, often messy, rarely perfect and people who are perfectly imperfect. Some you will love, some you will feel sorry for and a few you will hate. Just as not much in life is as it seems on the surface, so goes with this book. I was surprised at the end; delightedly surprised. It is written from several POV's which the author did an awesome job with. I truly felt like I knew the people, the characters were so realistically written. I loved reading it and, even though I am aware of how it ends, I know I will read it again. I highly recommend this book.

For those who wish to know: Some sexual references, (nothing graphic), mild swearing, violence and a bit of Christianity are in the book. I wouldn't let any of that stop me from reading it as they were all a part of the story. I didn't feel as any of it were there for "shock" value or to preach. They are all elements of the story and as such important to the telling of it.

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I Smell Sheep: News: Kallysten's Shades of Pink charity anthology...

I Smell Sheep: News: Kallysten's Shades of Pink charity anthology...: Shades of Pink Charity Anthology As you may know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month . For this occasion, 33 authors have alli...

When Snow Falls Review

When Snow Falls by Brenda Novak
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Make sure you have a box of tissue near you for the ending. This book was intense and emotionally satisfying. The book is Cheyenne's story. What a heartbreaking story! The ending nearly killed me even though I saw it coming. I love how the author showed that two children raised together could take very different paths. I believe the difference for them was twofold; Cheyenne had a dream, Presley had a secret. Each weighed heavy on them and contributed to what drove them on. I have spent a lot of time thinking about that while reading this, (and most likely will continue to). I love books that make me examine the characters long after I close the book. This one is one of those for me. I hope the author explores it a bit more with a novella on Presley at some point in the future. I'm not sure a full book would be necessary as much is covered in this book. I absolutely love the Whiskey Creek series. Each book draws you in with enough reality that you could forget it is fantasy. At the same time there is enough fantasy to let you float away from reality. The characters are well written so you get to know them and love them. The characters become friends. As each story unfolds you discover so much about them, much as it does in life. You could read the books as stand alones but I would recommend the entire series. I am reading them out of order so I sometimes know how is with who. Normally that might be a problem but in this book, (and so far, the series), the complete story is so rich my knowledge takes very little away. If you like the angst of not knowing, then read them in the order written.

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Take Me Home for Christmas Review

Take Me Home for Christmas by Brenda Novak
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love this story best so far. So much of this story hit me so personally. Sophie's story touched me so deeply. I am a DV survivor. There were so many times when I read that story that I had to take a breath. The author describes what it is like to feel you deserve to be mistreated accurately. People always say why don't they just leave and it is so complicated. The reasons vary so much and many times there are more than one reason. I think the common one most have, is the silent one addressed in this book. We take it because we feel, for whatever reasons, we deserve it. It is the one I say is silent because rarely do you hear someone admit that. Part of it is shame, (we are admitting that we have done something that we believe was bad), and part of it is we know it will not be accepted. You need not say the words before you hear, it's not your fault. You didn't deserve it. I respect that and I understand the need for it. But for the longest time I just wished someone would validate my feelings, whether right or wrong, just allow me to acknowledge them. Finally, this author has and I thank her for it. There were so many twist to the plot, much like life. I think that is why I love this series so much. The author has done an awesome job with fantasy plots that feel realistic and characters you love, hate, change your mind about as you get to know them. Can you read this series as stand alones or out of order? Yes, though you will no doubt, want to read the others. Your curiosity will demand it. I am reading it out of order and even though I know some of who is with who, I am still breathless while I read. I am captivated by the story. I recommend this book to get you in the Christmas mode. It will make you laugh, be angry, cry, cheer and ultimately feel good about the journey.

Take Me Home For Christmas will be available late October 2013 and is available for pre-order on Kindle and in Paperback.

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For more on Brenda Novak please see her webpage at http://www.brendanovak.com/