Watercolor Dreams by Sherry Kyle

Synopsis: He strolled into her painting . . . and into her heart.

It's 1910 and Anna Lewis is praying that God will help her become a premier watercolor artist of the lush beaches of Carmel, California. When a man strides down the beach and stops to face the ocean, Anna sketches him into her painting. Was it a mistake? Anna thinks so when he tells her he doesn't have spare change to purchase her work. Spare change indeed! But while she seeks God's leading for her art career, she'd better keep her day job as nursemaid to two rambunctious boys.

The minute Charles Jordan walks away, he regrets criticizing the woman's painting but as he told the artist, he's just been jilted at the altar.

How will a secret from Charles' past affect his chances of loving again? And how will Anna have the hope she needs when tragedy strikes and she must rely on the one man who crushed her spirit?

Thoughts: **I was given a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**

This was an enjoyable quick and easy read. It's a period piece, set in California in 1910, a time when women still didn't have the independence we can enjoy today--and that fact plays a big part in the story. 

Anna has six months to prove to her father that she can make a living with her watercolors, or she will be forced to return to San Francisco to marry his business partner. Charles has just been left at the altar by a woman who had fallen in love with his cousin. A series of unfortunate remarks and assumptions add a humorous touch to their story, as does the persistent matchmaking of Charles' Aunt Clara.

All of the characters were very well developed, and the story was well written overall.The message of love,understanding, and forgiveness was woven throughout.

Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys Christian fiction.

Rating: Four stars

Confessions Of A Teenage Rape Survivor by Holly Dae

Synopsis: Before she was raped, almost sixteen-year-old Allison Sommer knew exactly what she wanted and was in total control of her life. Get through high school, go to college to appease her dad, somehow stay fit, lithe, and athletic through all the stress and become a professional cheerleader. Normal teenage stuff. Simple. At least it was simple before she was raped.

Now Allison's whole life is out of her control. She can't trust in her own choices, can't rationalize anything anymore, so she just goes through the motions, hoping that eventually she'll go back to normal, can stop pretending. That doesn't happen, especially when she's forced to reveal what happened to her family and closest friends.

On the MTV commercials and reality shows that emphasize that she has nothing to be ashamed of and guide viewers to some website like don't-be-a-victim.comand a support hotline, no one warns her that the aftermath is more difficult than the rape itself, that her family's efforts to be supportive make her feel more alone and confused. 

And being raped has more devastating consequences than Allison ever imagined, forcing her to make one of the most difficult decisions she's ever had to make. It should be a no-brainer, everyone says, but being raped makes Allison question everything and everyone she thought she could trust.

Either way, Allison won't let anyone force her to do anything again, not like her rapists did, even if it makes her already difficult enough circumstance more difficult. Uncensored and unflinchingly honest, these are the confessions of a teenage rape survivor.

Thoughts: **I was given a copy of this book by the author in return for an honest review**

Easily my favorite book of this year so far! The emotions of the main character were so raw and believable, as were the reactions of all those around her---before they knew she had been raped and afterwards,as they all had their own opinions about the decisions she was making. 

At times I was so wrapped up in the emotion of the story, it was more like reading a memoir than a novel. I cried for the main character more than once, and just wanted to reach out and hug her SO many times---while at the same time wanting to smack a few of the other characters for their treatment of her.

I would highly recommend this to teens and parents alike.

Rating: Five stars

Tackle Your TBR Read-a-thon -- Random Page Challenge

Random Page Challenge
Pick a random page of the book you are currently reading and share it with us, without giving anything away about the book :).


I'm reading The Moment Of Everything, by Shelly King. On page 38, it says:
Perhaps on Avi's home planet tree bark tea tasted sweet, but here under our sun it had a bitter, woody taste of, well, tree bark.
"Nice tea," I said.

Tackle Your TBR Read-a-thon Update for Day One

Monday, September 8, 2014
What I read today: 404 pages
Today's finished books: The Book Stops Here, by Kate Carlisle
                                     Dissonance, by Erica O'Rourke
Total number of finished books: 2
Titles of finished books: The Book Stops Here, by Kate Carlisle
                                    Dissonance, by Erica O'Rourke

Dissonance, by Erica O'Rourke

Synopsis: Some decisions have unimaginable consequences.

Every time someone makes a choice, a new parallel world is spun off the existing one. Eating breakfast or skipping it, sneaking out instead of staying in bed—every decision creates an alternate universe in which an Echo self takes the road not travelled. As a Walker who can navigate between these realities, Del is training to help keep the dimensions in harmony.

When Del secretly starts to investigate other dissonant worlds, she get tangled up with an Echo of her longtime crush. She knows she shouldn't keep seeing him. But as Del persists, she uncovers a truth that the Council of Walkers is trying to hide—a secret that threatens the entire multiverse.

Thoughts: **I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**

The idea of every choice a person makes creating a parallel universe is a fascinating one, and this book does a fabulous job of exploring it.

The main character is very well written, and easy to like. Some of the terminology sent me scrambling for a dictionary, but most of it was explained in the book itself. The story is full of adventure, suspense, and romance. There's a love triangle between the main character and two boys--I have my preference, but I'll keep that to myself for now.

This was a real page-turner, and I look forward to the sequel.

Rating: Five stars

The Book Stops Here, by Kate Carlisle

Synopsis: Brooklyn Wainwright is thrilled to be appearing on the hit TV show This Old Attic as a rare-book expert. Her first subject is a very valuable first-edition copy The Secret Garden. Its owner, Vera, is eager to have Brooklyn recondition it for resale. But a furious man viciously accosts Brooklyn, claiming that Vera found the first edition at his garage sale, and he wants it back - or else. Randolph Rayburn, the handsome host of This Old Attic, is terrified by the man s threats. He confides in Brooklyn that he fears he is being stalked. In the days that follow, Brooklyn visits Vera s flower shop and discovers her dead. Brooklyn had better find the clever killer soon or more than her chance at prime time may be canceled permanently.

Thoughts: This book was better, to me, than the last two in the series. There was something less annoying about Brooklyn this time, although I couldn't put my finger on it. There was plenty of action, both in the main plot and in the subplots. All of the supporting characters are again well-written and enjoyable. There is plenty of humor, as usual, so that the suspense doesn't get overwhelming.

Rating: Four stars

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? September 8, 2014

What I read in the last two weeks:
1)  The Tumble Inn, by William Loizeaux
2)  Your Hidden Riches:Unleashing The Power Of Ritual To Create A Life Of Meaning And Purpose, by Janet Bray Attwood and Chris Attwood
3) The Lyre and the Lambs, by Sydney Avey
4) Hotel Apocalypse Volume IV, by Bennett Gavrish
5)  Angel of Losses, by Stephanie Feldman

6) Before, During, After, by Richard Bausch

7) Bury Me With Barbie, by Wyborn Senna
8) The Resurrection Of Hannah, by Kathryne Arnold
9) The Photograph, by Kristen Otte
10) The New Elvis, by Wyborn Senna

What I listened to in the last two weeks:
1)   Peril In Paperback,by Kate Carlisle
2)  Making Rounds With Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat, by David Dosa
3) Cookbook Conspiracy (A Bibliophile Mystery), by Kate Carlisle

What I'm currently reading:
1) Dissonance, by Erica O'Rourke
2) Watercolor Dreams, by Sherry Kyle
3) The Moment of Everything, by Shelly King

What I'm currently listening to:
1) The Book Stops Here, by Kate Carlisle

What I plan to read this week:
1)  The Kennedy Connection, by R.G. Belsky
2) All We Had, by Annie Weatherwax
3) Confessions of a Teenage Rape Survivor, by Holly Dae
4) Suspicion of Murder, by G.K. Parks

What I plan to listen to this week:
1) Never Fear Cancer Again: How To Prevent and Reverse Cancer, by Raymond Francis
2) A Taste For Murder, by Claudia Bishop