What? I can’t always put out amazingly fun posts. Though I hope you’ll enjoy this one! It isn’t exactly a normal review post. It’s a collection of short reviews (with a longer review included for those who want to know more).
Hopefully you’ll enjoy this post, and even if you don’t, I’m offering a quick gift because I love you all and want you to get real worth out of my posts. So even if you don’t read for the post, read for the gift (and the accompanying announcement)!
Also, with this post, I’ll be down to eleven reviews due! I mean, obviously I’m going to need to read through fifteen books I need to read, but whatever. Let’s call it eleven. *facepalm* Yeahhh, reading slumps are no fun!
A Bride in the Bargain by Deeanne Gist
Second bluest skies host heated romance for a Christian novel.
This was actually a pretty amusing novel, but there was a ton of physical attraction between the leads. Basically, Anna is drooling over Joe’s superior muscles and whatnot, and it was soooo annoying – and then there were several almost-sex-scenes between the characters (who eventually married, of course)! Also, it rains a lot more in Seattle than in this book.
Content: 4/5 for multiple references of marital relationships and a ton of lusting.
Buy on Amazon ~ Add on Goodreads
I’ll Be Seeing You by Melody Carlson
In need of editing, but intriguing plot and characters captivate!
There is no way on heaven or earth that the girl on the cover is Irish. She’s Italian or Spanish at the very least. There were several historical inaccuracies in this novel as well, and like I said, it needs a lot of editing. I did enjoy it, though!
Content: 2/5. Written for adults and contains romance, but no inappropriate content.
Buy on Amazon ~ Add on Goodreads
As Time Goes By by Melody Carlson
Second book shows Margaret becoming annoying and includes more typos.
In the second book, it seemed to drag a bit, and I really came to dislike Margaret, who is an unrepentant worrier. Also, there mother is the worst mother in the history of mothers. Please grow up a little, woman, and support your family! Also, someone edit this series.
Content: 2/5. Romance once again, and some references to immoral movie stars. However, no outright content.
Buy on Amazon ~ Add on Goodreads
String of Pearls by Melody Carlson
We all knew the love interest wasn’t going to die.
Okay, but honestly, didn’t we all know that going in?! 😉 In this book, Molly is perfect, Bridget is nonexistent, Colleen is constantly guilted by everyone even though she doesn’t deserved it, and Margaret worries. And the mother is still stupid. So.
Content: 2/5. Romance, war stuff, no outright negative content.
Buy on Amazon ~ Add on Goodreads
We’ll Meet Again by Melody Carlson
Adultery is okay, but having a male friend isn’t.
In this book, Margaret develops a friendship with a neighbor – a male neighbor – and it’s treated like she committed adultery. However, men who actually commit adultery are forgiven and the women who don’t immediately forgive them are judged and reprimanded. Uh, excuse me??? It was terribly mixed up. In addition, there was just too much unnecessary drama between Margaret and her husband – not even related to the adultery incident – and the content SOARED in this one.
Content: 4/5. Multiple mentions of marital relations/when and how a married couple had sex/etc. A character commits adultery and then talks about it when his wife, giving her a complete account of the event. It’s glossed over. Meanwhile, Margaret’s friendship with a man which resulted in no inappropriate behavior is blown out of proportion, and this is what causes the break in their marriage. Um, excuse me?
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More Than a Carpenter by Josh McDowell
Jesus is all He claimed – and that’s all there is.
This book is the most inspiring thing I’ve read in decades. I’d recommend it to any Christian – because I believe that although faith is the only principle you can base your relationship with God on, it’s super nice to be able to say, “Hey, this is real. I’ve looked into it,” if someone ever asks you. This book is an absolute treasure!
Buy on Amazon ~ Add on Goodreads
The Fragrance of Geraniums by Alicia G. Ruggieri
Incredible but sad story which ultimately leads to hope.
This was an incredible, powerful story of redemption. Without being too preachy, this book gives us a gritty, real-life story with gritty, real-life characters. It was sad, yes, and the happy ending wasn’t quite what one would expect, but it makes an incredible impression.
Content: Grace’s father is terribly immoral; he has a mistress who he keeps in a house right next to his home, and his family is an utter mess because of it. It was handled with discretion, but it still somewhat gritty. Not recommended to readers -16 for this reason.
Buy on Amazon ~ Add on Goodreads
All Our Empty Places by Alicia G. Ruggieri
Second book just as powerful – though Sarah’s a bit annoying!
In this book, Sarah drove me wild. I understand that humans take time to adjust and learn things and stop being so dumb and stubborn, but it was just hard to take in a fictional book and soon grew repetitive. Other than that, it was pretty enjoyable, and the message was great. Only other problem was that Grace and Paulie needed to stop messing around and commit! I’m sorry, but I think they were wrong to avoid each other like that. *shrugs* They just made a mess of things!
Content: Sarah is fixated on her past, so of course that comes up a couple times.
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A Love To Come Home To by Alicia G. Ruggieri
Conclusion to series is a bit disappointing, but still powerful!
I loved to see Ben’s journey, and that was pretty powerful. Unfortunately, my two favorite characters were complete idiots the whole book through and deserve to be slaughtered. Grace made dumb decisions, Paulie made dumb decisions, and it all became a mess as I had foretold when I read book 2! It got sorted, but it made it a very frustrating read! It was also a tad rushed.
Content: Some mentions of the characters’ terrible father, etc.
Buy on Amazon ~ Add on Goodreads
Baroness by Susan May Warren
Just as exasperating as book one – and even more rambly.
I decided to read the sequel to Heiress (read my review here) against my better judgement because I owned it and wanted to see what it was like. It wasn’t an improvement upon book 1, unfortunately. Just as much drama and inappropriate content and unlikable characters. Besides, it just felt pointless and was definitely not good for the soul!
Content: I can’t remember what all exactly, but lots of sexual innuendos/mentions of sex, lots of immoral characters doing immoral things, lots of almost-sex and considering doing immoral things, etc. Basically, not recommended.
Buy on Amazon ~ Add on Goodreads
No Place for a Lady by Maggie Brendan
Incredibly cheesy and just a bit immature, but good time-waster.
Not a bad little historical romance, but it rambled in the middle, and it felt a little all over the place. I found it a little unbelievable what with Crystal to be so willing to join a cattle drive. Um … it takes a while to learn to ride a horse with any competence, let alone cut cattle! And I say this as a ranch-girl with a bit of experience even if we don’t own any horses or go on drives. I suppose she could have. I just doubt she would have. 😉
Buy on Amazon ~ Add on Goodreads
Martin Hospitality by Abigayle Claire
Beautiful, very well-done and tactful story only lacks pacing.
This was overall a fairly good story that was probably the best and cleanest depiction of a difficult situation (teen pregnancy & unwed mother) that I’ve ever read. However, I personally found it a little blah. The plot went on and on, especially in the middle, and I didn’t find it too interesting or suspenseful. Then the ending came in a rush, with romance that appeared to come out of nowhere.
Content: 100% clean, though it is a story about an unwed mother. Still, I think anyone over perhaps 13 could read it with ease. It’s that well-portrayed.
Buy on Amazon ~ Add on Goodreads
The Gift
The gift is, anyone who has read this post, comments below, and sends me an email (kellynroth@gmail.com) including the password “My Special Gift” in the subject section will receive an ebook copy of whichever of my published books they want.
This offer is only good until Friday, so send me your email by then, and I’ll reply as soon as possible.
Because of my internet problems (more below), this ebook may be a while in coming, but I promise you will get it.
But why? you say.
Because I like giving people gifts – and because we need to celebrate the fact that REVERIES NOW HAS 854 SUBSCRIBERS AND CLIMBING!
So yes, that was really what this post was about. 😉
Just so y’all know, my internet has been down on and off since Friday and then permanently since Sunday night, so all the work I’ve been doing has been at work/the museum/the library.
Soooo … yes. Things have been super stressful and helter-skelter, but hopefully we’ll get the internet back and all will be well eventually!
TTFN!
~Kellyn Roth~
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p.s.
Have you read any of these books? Did you like them or dislike them? Share your thoughts! What’s a book you read recently that you enjoyed? One you put down because it was too awful? One you finished but still disliked? Spill!
39 Responses
I’ve never read any of these books, but I really liked reading the mini reviews! And thanks so much for the cool giveaway!!! It’s so amazing!!!!!! 😄😄😄😉😍😍😍😍❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Absolutely! 😀 It’s fun to put this thing on, and I figure I can afford to do something fun like this fans every once in a while. 😛
Well, I’m glad to now know what books not to read! 😂
And that is such a cool gift!! *runs off to send you the email*
RIGHT!? I honestly enjoy negative reviews more – like, “Dodged that bullet!”
I have not read any of those books! But the ones by Alicia G. Ruggieri looked interesting. Thank you sharing your thoughts!
Yes, I did enjoy those ones!
Wow! This is an epic cool gift! Thank you Kellyn!! I’ve been wanting to read your books but have ran out of book money. 😂#problemsofabookaholic I’ll shoot you an email. Also, in exchange, I’d love to review each of them on Goodreads too. Thanks!
I now know a book to take off my tbr list by Susan May Warren. :-(.
Sorry you’re in a reading slump. (No. I have no idea what it’s like, none at all! I type as I pretend I don’t have nine books I should be reading…)
Yeah, that was a disappointment. 🙁 I thought it was gonna be interesting, but it ended up being non-stop drama and unlikable characters … not to mention the content! *shudders*
Haha, I get that! I think I have fifteen … *tries to remember what I said at the beginning of this post*
I loved your little reviews, and your giveaway!
And (I hit post comment before I finished typing) I’m sorry about your internet. I’m at my grandparents right now and their internet goes in and out so I know your struggle…
Aw, that’s too bad! We live out in the country, so even on a good way it’s not necessary at its best.
Thanks, Loretta! 😀
This was a cool post, I enjoyed it!! 😀 I hope your internet will be back up soon!
I will definitely email you 😉
Yeah, hopefully it will! 😛
I’ve read one book by Sean McDowell before (and I’ve actually met him xD) and loved it, so I’ll have to check out More Than a Carpenter as well. Congrats on the subs! I hope your internet will be back to normal soon <3
Whoa, you’ve met him?! That’s so cool! I’ve never met him, obviously, haha. 😉 It was an incredible book! 😀
I actually really liked the mini reviews! They kept my attention a lot better than long reviews…and I also liked the paragraph afterward to give some more info about it. 🙂 More Than a Carpenter sounds really cool! Is it a scholarly work or something like that? I also think The Fragrance of Geraniums sounds good.
The special gift was super fun! (I’m glad I read this post, hehe.) Congratulations on all the subscribers–that’s awesome! Also, I hope you get your internet back soon!
Book I read recently and enjoyed: Wonders of the Universe by Brian Cox…an astronomy book! It was pretty cool. Also…I decided that I want to read all the LDS standard works of scripture in a year, which includes the Bible… (but I’m doing the LDS institute readings of the Old Testament, which cuts it down to about a third in length so that I can actually read it in three months) Anywayyy…I’ve been reading in Genesis at work and I’m enjoying that!
Book I put down because it was too awful: Ummm…I actually can’t think of any at the moment? I honestly haven’t been reading much recently.
Book I finished but still disliked: Count Down to Love by Julie N. Ford. It wasn’t awful but it just felt…cheap. Like it didn’t have much substance. So I got annoyed with myself for reading it and actually finishing it instead of doing something productive…which led to me wanting to create a new reading plan for myself to be able to read good books with substance. But I haven’t gotten around to making the plan which is okay because at the moment, I haven’t had much time to read. 😛
Sorry for the long, rambly comment, hehe. I hope you’re having a fantastic day, Kell! 🙂
Yes, and they were fun to write! I’d like to read more posts with summarized reviews – as well as write them! 😀 Unfortunately, gotta start reviewing long to catch up … xD
Yes, More Than a Carpenter was sort of a scholarly work, I suppose you could say! 🙂 Yes, that one was amazing! I just got it in paperback actually … partially because of the cover …
Well, the internet is now back on, so that’s good! 😛
Ooh, interesting! I haven’t done a ton of astronomy research, haha. Not really my thing, though it would probably be interesting … hmm.
That’s cool! I’ve half-read the Bible through in a year so many times, lol. I always end up finishing MOST of it, but by December I’m like, “Oops… did we not read as much as we should have …?”
Yessss, I should be reading good books… I’ve just been so swamped and then reading review copies when I can! #liesItellmyself #Ishouldreadgoodbooks
That is fun! I need to update Goodreads with the books I’ve read recently, heh…
That sounds cool! I want to read it sometime!
Yay! 😀
Yeah, I’m not sure why, but I really like astronomy. (Probably because of the amazing pictures, actually…) I’m actually taking an astronomy class this fall at college, which I’m excited for!
Haha, yep! So far I’m on track, but it hasn’t even been a week yet, so…we’ll see. 😛
#samehere (minus the review copies, hehe)
I didn’t update GR for a couple weeks and then I did some catchup. xD Wasn’t easy. But then I’ve also been in a major reading slump, haha.
Amazing pictures are, well, amazing! I need to decide if I’m doing any community college classes … I thought I had plenty of time and now I’m running late! *facepalm*
Well, good job on catching up! I also wrote some reviews on Goodreads today and got caught up… *high fives*
Oooh, that sounds like fun. (We could be college buddies together!) What classes would you want to take?
Hey, good for you!! *highfives back*
(Well, kinda, though I wouldn’t be full-time! 😉 ) I want to look into a Spanish class because I really want to learn Spanish and it would be sooo useful at my job (hard to talk to people sometimes), maybe writing/literature/something of the sort, and graphic design … but we’ll see where that takes me!
Thanks!
Oooh, that would be fun! I took two years of Spanish in high school…I don’t know a ton, but I do know the basics at least. And yesss, a writing class! I wanted to take a creative writing class this semester, but the classes that fit in my schedule were all full. 🙁 I am taking an English class, though. And graphic design would be awesome!
I tried to take Spanish at least three separate times, but I never stuck with it for more than a year so I didn’t learn much … so I need to start up again! And really learn something! 😛
Yes! Then we can talk in Spanish to each other. 😀
Si.
Wait. That’s yes, right? 😉 😛
Si. 😉 (Although, technically, it needs to have an accent on the i, otherwise it means “if”, but…basically the same thing. 😛 )
Oh my goodness, I loved this post! You said it technically wasn’t one of your amazingly fun posts, but….it kind of was?? I found myself thoroughly enjoying every bit of it! (Not to mention that your reviews are so nice and descriptive and yet not spoilery and YET they still touch down on all of the things that I’m concerned about when it comes to books?? Like how. How do you do this.) And I’m sorry, but I think I kind of died at “We all knew the love interest wasn’t going to die.” LIKE OH MY WORD I LOVE THIS REVIEW SO MUCH. 😂 I want it framed on my wall, please. XD I’ve actually never read any of these books, but I MIIIIIIGHT just have to pick up The Fragrance of Geraniums? That one really spoke to me for some reason. It sounds amazing. (Plus it’s unlike anything I’ve ever really read before, so this would be a cool sort of stepping out of my reading comfort zone, you know? Maybe? XD)
And holy cow, that gift is amazing!!! But I’d feel so bad accepting it??? Like you worked HARD on that book, and I don’t want to just take it from you????
Awwwww, thank you! I’m so glad you liked it! <3 😀 (Uhhh ... practice makes perfect, I guess, haha! I review a lot.)
HEY HE WASN'T GONNA DIE! Love interests don't just die in historical romances. Because they gotta live on to romance another day.
The Fragrance of Geraniums was fantastic! If you get a chance, definitely read it! 😀
Aww, well, I wanted to do something extra special! 🙂 It only lasts through tomorrow, so pay heed. 😛
I’ll definitely keeping that in mind. XD I want to get better at reviewing the books I read. I have literally reviewed on book on my blog. WOOT WOOT. XD
“Because they gotta live on to romance another day.” << I'M LAUGHING SO HARD, HELP. XD XD XD
I'm definitely adding it to my TBR!!! It looks amazing….
I TOOK THE PRIZE!!!! And, as predicted, I don't feel like I totally blew a wonderful opportunity, as I know I would have had I not. XD
Yup. Romance on, y’all … 😛
Wow!! Once again you get me on cloud nine to get me to read these books. They all sound like wonderful books to get my hands onto
There are definitely some amazing books on that list! 🙂
Oh, I’m so commenting. This was a great post, and I nearly had a panic attack because I was like, “IS IT FRIDAY YET? WHEN WAS THIS POSTED? Oh, whew. There’s still time. Haha.
LOL, yep, plenty of time! 😀
Fun post! 🙂
Yes!! “More Than a Carpenter” was amazing!!! 😀
AGREED!