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Thursday 31 May 2012

My Stubborn Heart


Back Cover

Kate Donovan is burned out on work, worn down by her dating relationships, and in need of an adventure.  When her grandmother asks her to accompany her to Redbud, Pennsylvania, to restore the grand old house she grew up in, Kate jumps at the chance.

Upon her arrival in Redbud, Kate meets Matt Jarreau, the man hired to renovate the house.  Kate can’t help being attracted to him, drawn by both his good looks and something else she can’t quite put her finger on.  He’s clearly wounded – hiding from people, hiding from God, and from his past.  Yet Kate sets her stubborn heart on bringing him out of the dark and back into the light…whether he likes it or not.

When the stilted, uncomfortable interactions between Kate and Matt slowly shift into something more, is God finally answering the longing of her heart?  Or will Kate be required to give up more than she ever dreamed?

Review

My Stubborn Heart was a very refreshing read - something I had been waiting a long time for.   The story flowed nicely and was well-developed.  The dialogue felt natural and the characters were real.  I could envision them in my mind and feel their emotions as the story unfolded.  Kate Donovan held a spark of optimism to bounce off Matt’s more reserved, brooding character. Kate’s strong faith was evident and encouraging.

Reading about the relationship develop between Kate and Matt was liking watching a butterfly come out of a cocoon - beautiful and incredibly touching.  

This is a very promising debut novel for Becky Wade.  I started and finished this book in one day and it left me wanting more.  I rarely read books twice, but I know I definitely will be reading My Stubborn Heart again.

…and again…



Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.  Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Monday 28 May 2012

Submerged


Back Cover

Bailey Craig vowed never to set foot in Yancey, Alaska, again.  She has a past, and a reputation – and Yancey’s a town that doesn’t forget.  She’s returned only to bury a loved one killed in the plane crash, but then dark evidence emerges and Bailey’s expertise becomes invaluable for the case.

Cole McKenna can face dangerous rescue dives.  He can face the fear a murder may be threatening his town.  But facing the reality of Bailey’s reappearance is a tougher challenge.  She broke his heart…but doesn’t seem to be the same girl who left Yancey ten years ago.  And he’s not the same guy she left behind.

Racing against the clock and a rising body count, Bailey and Cole must move beyond the hurts of their pasts to work together until the truth of what is hidden in the depths finally surfaces.

Review

Submerged is an intriguing story that mixes history, romance, tragedy, and suspense.  Bailey is on a journey of forgiveness and redemption, and pulls the reader along for the ride.  One can never underestimate the power of change – especially at the hands of an all-powerful God.  Sometimes it takes other people awhile before they can accept a changed person, but sometimes, it takes time before the changed person can accept themselves.  That is where Bailey is at.  She has changed, and she knows that, but she still doesn’t feel worthy to accept any good gift God gives her.  In this story, the gift comes in the form of Cole McKenna, her former love.

I enjoyed following Bailey’s journey and seeing the growth her and several other characters experienced.  This novel had a very satisfying ending and I look forward to book two in the “Alaskan Courage” series. 


Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.  Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

The Pursuit of Lucy Banning

 

Back Cover

Lucy Banning may live on the exclusive Prairie Avenue among Chicago’s rich and famous, but her heart lies elsewhere.  Expected to marry an up-and-coming banker from a respected family, Lucy fears she will be forced to abandon her charity work and squeeze herself into the mold of the well-dressed wife who spends most of her time and money redecorating.

When she meets Will, an unconventional young architect who is working on plans for the upcoming 1893 World’s Fair, Lucy imagines a life lived on her own terms.  Can she break away from her family’s expectations?  And will she ever be l9oved for who she truly is?

Get swept away into the lavish world of Chicago’s high society as Olivia Newport brings to life an age of glitz and grandeur, stark social contrasts, and one woman who dares to cross class lines for what she believes.

Review

Lucy Banning is a rebel in her own way.  Even though she has grown up in a lavish lifestyle, she expresses distaste for extravagance and prefers to spend her time assisting the local orphanage or attending college classes—both of which would be frowned upon by those of the same class, not to mention, her parents.  Lucy finds herself performing a balancing act between her family’s expectations and her true desires. 

The Pursuit of Lucy Banning was a nicely, well put-together novel.  I enjoyed the characters, and the budding romance between Lucy and Will.  This novel is a great start to Olivia Newport’s “Avenue of Dreams” series.  I look forward to the following books in the series, and especially to learn more about the mystery surrounding Lucy’s maid, Charlotte.  All in all, a satisfying read.


Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.  Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.