And My Beloved is Mine by Kate Nash

Kaycee, thinks she's got everything figured out. Graduate from high school, get out of the small town that she's from, get into Art School, and move to New York with her best friend. She has plans.

Logan didn't even want to move to the tiny town with his family. He has his own plans for his life, plans that don't include a brown eyed girl in a small town.

Can Kaycee come to understand and accept the kind of love that Logan offers? Will their different plans tear both of them apart? Will they find the kind of love that so many spend their entire lives searching for, and so few find?

Christina's Review: After reviewing Fight For You on amazon I was approached by this author to read and review her book, And My Beloved is Mine. I am not the type of reader/reviewer that looks at a book and critiques writing style or technique. I want to read a book that is entertaining and clean. If a book doesn't catch me from the first few pages then I don't want to keep reading. This book had me hooked from page one. I did not want to stop reading. In fact I read it in one day! There were some editing errors but my eyes just catch those. The errors did not deter from the story and the few errors didn't keep me from reading on. The love story was sweet and sappy and clean. . . reading it was just like watching a happy chick flick. I love books like that. A happy love story. An escape from the stresses we face in reality. The characters were good and the storyline was cute and entertaining. The Williams family was really sweet and loving. It would have been easier to endure high school with a sweet handsome boy like Logan. It is a good book and one that I would recommend. I look forward to reading more by Kate Nash!

My Sweetheart (Love and Dessert #3) by Shannon Guymon

Loved it! Strong finish to the trilogy. Loved Jane's story. Great to see all the story lines tied up. Shannon Guymon is a great writer! She has a way of pulling you into her story, into her character's life. There were moments in the story that my eyes got a little misty :) I loved the trilogy. Each book was fabulous! Loved the Kendall sisters and their special bond . I recommend this book -- after you read the first two of course!! And I am already looking forward to whatever Shannon writes nex...more Jane Kendall loves her new life. She loves baking. She loves working with her sisters. And oh yeah, she loves Tate Matafeo most of all. Which would be great if he loved her back. Jane refuses to let heartbreak rule her life though, so she turns to Google and finds 10 easy steps on How To Fall Out Of Love. As helpful as Google is, Tate Matafeo is a hard habit to break especially when her new friend Meredith insists she come to a Rugby game and Tate happens to be on the team. Alex Foster is one man willing to take her mind off of Tate, but Jane knows trouble when she sees it and ends up getting a restraining order. Between Kit’s wedding, Tate’s mixed signals, Alex’s obsession and her father’s rehab, Jane wonders if she’ll ever get her happy ending Christina's Review: Loved it! Strong finish to the trilogy. Loved Jane's story. Great to see all the story lines tied up. Shannon Guymon is a great writer! She has a way of pulling you into her story, into her character's life. There were moments in the story that my eyes got a little misty :) I loved the trilogy. Each book was fabulous! Loved the Kendall sisters and their special bond . I recommend this book -- after you read the first two of course!! And I am already looking forward to whatever Shannon writes next.

Short-Straw Bride by Karen Witemeyer

No one steps on Archer land. Not if they value their life. But when Meredith Hayes overhears a lethal plot to burn the Archer brothers off their ranch, a twelve-year-old debt compels her to take the risk.

Fourteen years of constant vigilance hardens a man. Yet when Travis Archer confronts a female trespasser with the same vivid blue eyes as the courageous young girl he once aided, he can't bring himself to send her away. And when an act of sacrifice leaves her injured and her reputation in shreds, gratitude and guilt send him riding to her rescue once again.

Four brothers. Four straws. One bride. Despite the fact that Travis is no longer the gallant youth Meredith once dreamed about, she determines to stand by his side against the enemy that threatens them both. But will love ever be hers? Or will Travis always see her merely as a short-straw bride?

CHRISTINA'S REVIEW: Another book from Karen Witemeyer to read and enjoy. I picked this one up from the library and loved it. I am so glad that Deseret Book has been putting more books like these on their website to give me ideas of what to read. I have ventured away from only reading LDS fiction and have started reading some Christian fiction.  This will not disappoint. The author pulls you in from the very first page. As a young girl Meredith trespasses on Archer land and meets Travis who becomes the hero of her dreams. When she meets Travis again her dreams and reality crash together. She has always loved him but how does he feel? She is forced to marry one of the four brothers and they draw straws, which isn't a flattering way to be chosen as someone's bride. Travis has always put his land and his brothers first. Will that change? Will he be able to love Meredith as much as he loves his land or will the land always be top priority? Meredith struggles to help her hero throughout the book. She is always trying to help him whether he wants her help or not. She loves him and only wants him to love her back. It is a cute love story; clean romance. Good read. I enjoyed the book.

Head in the Clouds by Karen Witemeyer

Adelaide Proctor is a young woman with her head in the clouds, longing for a real-life storybook hero to claim as her own. But when a husband-hunting debacle leaves her humiliated, she interviews for a staid governess position on a central Texas sheep ranch and vows to leave her romantic yearnings behind.
When Gideon Westcott left his privileged life in England to make a name for himself in America's wool industry, he never expected to become a father overnight. And five-year-old Isabella hasn't uttered a word since she lost her mother. The unconventionality of the new governess concerns Gideon--and intrigues him at the same time. But he can't afford distractions. He has a ranch to run, a shearing to oversee, and a suspicious fence-cutting to investigate.
When Isabella's uncle comes to claim the child--and her inheritance--Gideon and Adelaide must work together to protect Isabella from the man's evil schemes. And soon neither can deny their growing attraction. But after so many heartbreaks, will Adelaide be willing to get her head out of the clouds and put her heart on the line?

CHRISTINA'S REVIEW: Another enjoyable book from Karen Witemeyer! I liked this story but it wasn't my favorite of all the books she has written. Adelaide is a likeable character. She loves to read and is looking for her own happily ever after like in books. She makes a foolish choice to follow after a man but it eventually ends up with her following a different path. She prays a lot in the story and puts her faith in the Lord to make sure she is following His plan for her. I think this one the characters are more religious than her others which is not a negative. It is a clean romance and a cute story!

A Tailor-Made Bride by Karen Witemeyer

From Goodreads.com:
Jericho "J.T." Tucker wants nothing to do with Coventry, Texas's new dressmaker. He's all too familiar with her kind--shallow women more devoted to fashion than true beauty. Yet, except for her well-tailored clothing, this seamstress is not at all what he expected. Hannah Richards is confounded by the man who runs the livery. The unsmiling fellow riles her with his arrogant assumptions and gruff manner while at the same time stirring her heart with unexpected acts of kindness. Which side of Jericho Tucker reflects the real man? When Hannah decides to help Jericho's sister catch a beau--leading to uproarious consequences for the whole town--will Jericho and Hannah find a way to bridge the gap between them?

Christina's Review: I have read several books from Karen Witemeyer recently. I have enjoyed all of them. JT and Hannah have chemistry. Hannah is a dressmaker and gets an incredible gift to open her own dress shop. JT thinks it is shallow because beauty should come from within. His mother put outward beauty first so JT labels her as shallow. The main characters debate over and over again whether looking pretty is evil and vain or not. Hannah is cute and sweet and JT is outwardly gruff but sweet and thoughtful inside. It is a clean and cute romance. It was an enjoyable read. I really liked the plot and the characters. Once you read one of her books you will want to read more!

A Heart Divided by Kathleen Morgan

Taken from Goodreads.com: It is 1878 and the Caldwells and Wainwrights have been feuding for decades. Still, Sarah Caldwell has misgivings when her father pressures her into distracting a ranch hand while he and her brothers rob the Wainwright place. When it becomes clear that hand is actually Cord Wainwright, Sarah realizes she needs to lay low. But Cord spots her in town and, with the sheriff away, makes a citizen's arrest, dragging her off to the Wainwright ranch until the sheriff's return. As the feud boils over, Cord and Sarah make a most inconvenient discovery--they are falling in love. Can they betray their families for love? Or will their families betray them?
Against the beautiful and wild backdrop of the Rocky Mountains comes this sweeping saga of romance, betrayal, and forgiveness from beloved author Kathleen Morgan.

Christina's Review: This is another book I found on Deseret Book's website. I had a baby in December and I have spent a lot of time reading lately as I feed my newborn a bottle.I thought this was a good story. Cord and Sarah are born into a feud and become sucked in by their fathers. They try and help dissolve the feud as they fall in love but there is too much hate between the two families. Can their love survive the feud? I like Sarah and Cord. Cord has to deal with being a constant disappointment to his father and Sarah has to be caretaker of her family and shoulders a lot of responsibility after her mother dies. The book has a good plot, clean romance, good characters, and a family feud! I have read a few online reviews and there are some list some cons in the book but I guess I got too caught up in the story that I didn't notice these. But I read to enjoy and I enjoyed this book. 

Unrivaled by Siri Mitchell

Synopsis from Goodreads.com: Three-Time Christy Finalist Pens Another Winning Historical Romance
Lucy Kendall always assumed she'd help her father in his candy-making business, creating recipes and aiding him in their shared passion. But after a year traveling in Europe, Lucy returns to 1910 St. Louis to find her father unwell and her mother planning to sell the struggling candy company. Determined to help, Lucy vows to create a candy that will reverse their fortunes.
St. Louis newcomer Charlie Clarke is determined to help his father dominate the nation's candy industry. Compromise is not an option when the prize is a father's approval, and falling in love with a business rival is a recipe for disaster when only one company can win. Will these two star-crossed lovers let a competition that turns less than friendly sour their dreams?

Christina's Review: Since reading this blog I have ventured out from my comfort zone of reading just LDS fiction and a few YA novels. I have started reading some Christina fiction from the library. Some books I have read after reviews on this website and others from looking at deseretbook.com. I saw this one on Deseret Book's website. I immediately checked my library here in Indiana and was happy to see they had it. This is a new book, it was published at the beginning of March. I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed reading a clean romance. I enjoyed the rivalry between Lucy and Charlie. I thought it was well written and it had a very engaging storyline. The book also talks about change and forgiveness. Both characters have to deal with forgiveness, forgiving others, themselves, and learn a great deal about the Lord's forgiveness. Lucy and Charlie learn to put the past behind them and move forward.

Short-Straw Bride by Karen Witemeyer

Summary:
No one steps on Archer land. Not if they value their life. But when Meredith Hayes overhears a lethal plot to burn the Archer brothers off their ranch, a twelve-year-old debt compels her to take the risk.

Fourteen years of constant vigilance hardens a man. Yet when Travis Archer confronts a female trespasser with the same vivid blue eyes as the courageous young girl he once aided, he can't bring himself to send her away. And when an act of sacrifice leaves her injured and her reputation in shreds, gratitude and guilt send him riding to her rescue once again.

Four brothers. Four straws. One bride. Despite the fact that Travis is no longer the gallant youth Meredith once dreamed about, she determines to stand by his side against the enemy that threatens them both. But will love ever be hers? Or will Travis always see her merely as a short-straw bride?

From Misty:
Witemeyer's books never disappoint me. Plus the covers are aDORable. Darling and predictable, but not at all what I was expecting, and I definitely had expectations because I have been dying to read this book. It surprised and delighted me.

In this story Witemeyer succeeds in creating believable characters with both strengths and vulnerabilities. They were relatable and likeable (except for the villians--they were appropriately scummy). I so dislike stories where the main characters are completely unlikable, have no redeeming qualities,and are selfish and self-centered (*cough* young adult novels *cough*), and you just don't run into that in Witemeyer's books.

Witemeyers books have an appeal to readers of Christian fiction. That element is definitely there in Short-Straw Bride, and as always, is tastefully done with respect and knowledge. Short-Straw Bride is inspiring and uplifting, and definitely appreciated when there is so much icky garbage being published.

5 stars--definitely recommend.

A Reluctant Queen the Love Story of Esther by Joan Wolf

On the back cover:
"You've read it as a biblical tale of courage. Experience it anew as a heart-stirring love story.
She was a simple girl faced with an impossible choice. He was a magnificent king with a lonely heart.
Their love was the divine surprise that changed the course of history.
The beloved story of Esther springs to fresh life in this inspired novel that vibrates with mystery, intrigue and romance."

My review:
If you know the story of Esther in the bible by heart you probably won't like this book. It veers from the bible story and has fictional turns that I quite enjoyed. I don't know the story past Esther saving her people by showing herself to the king and him allowing it because of his love for her.

A Reluctant Queen is a beautiful love story, and I was so ready for a beautiful love story. A girl brought up in the Jewish community by her uncle. She is taken out of that innocent world into the palace where she is to try for the king's hand.

There is one part, before she is let into the harem, that was disturbing and I had to kind of skip over.

I've read a few reviews that complained about the "sex" in the book. I am shocked. There was passion but no sexual details.
"Then he leaned forward and kissed her mouth. It was not like the brief kiss he had given her in the bridal tent. This was a long kiss, a kiss that began tenderly but one he soon deepened and made slightly more demanding. She was passive at first, hesitant to respond, but then, as he continued the kiss, asking patiently, she opened her lips. After a while, her hands came up to hold his shoulders. Carefully he laid her back on the bed, continuing to kiss her as his hands began to move, slowly and knowledgably, over her body. Esther closed her eyes."
That is the first "sex" scene. That is where the chapter ends.

No cussing, a bonus in my book! I really enjoyed this book and felt happy for days following.

I give A Reluctant Queen; The Love Story of Esther four stars.

The Memory Quilt by T.D. Jakes

On the inside flap:
"A perfect Christmas for Lela Edwards this year would include the presence of her husband, her three daughters, and her favorite granddaughter, Darcie. They would each be happy, healthy, and properly married. But life doesn't always unfold in a perfect way, even for God-loving, churchgoing people like these. Lela's husband of fifty years, Walter, has recently passed, and the daughters now live in towns and states far from the Chicago neighborhood where they were raised.
Darcie is traveling to Missouri City, Texas, to be with her mother, not to Chicago to be with her grandmother, whom she expects to come done hard on her for deciding to divorce her husband and the father of her unborn child. Lela is upset and annoyed with Darcie and herself for breaking her own time-honored tradition of making a quilt to celebrate each family wedding. The quilt is still in separate pieces, and apparently so is the marriage of Doug and Darcie.
The Christmas season is about celebrating the birth and meaning of Christ; about the hope and inspiration that the story we revisit each year offers. So, as the days of the season progress, Lela participates in a Bible study group that focuses on the Virgin Mary. This is the cold season in Chicago and rough weather, literally and figuratively, is ahead for Lela, her family, neighbors, and fellow church members, but in the Scriptures are messages and guidance. If they heed the lessons of the Virgin Mary, they will learn from their mistakes and misjudgments of each other and find favor with God."

I was not excited when this title showed up as our next book group book. I didn't realize that a book with Bible study and quilting could be so appealing. I found myself wanting to be a better person, a better mom. Anytime a book can motivate me to be better then it is worthwhile!

There are twists and turns that show a glimpse of what life can be like for some.
""I called your cell a hundred time, : said Eileen, as soon as Lela picked up. Eileen lived in the house next door on the right with her eighty-two-year-old father, James. "Why didn't you pick up?"
Lela crunched down her irritation. "I don't like using it."
"Why have a cell phone if you don't use it?"
"I'm sure you called for a reason, Eileen."
..."Daddy thinks he heard someone trying to break into your garage while you were away."
Lela listened but though, his imagination, more than likely. Wasn't it only last month that he thought he heard someone breaking into her house and called the police? Turned out to be only the wind.
"When I passed your garage, your door was wide open," Eileen said."

Lela- the mother in this book- has quite different relationships with each daughter she has. So true to real life. It helped me focus on individual personalities and appreciating each child for what they brought to the table.

I give The Memory Quilt 3 1/2 stars.

"In Every Heartbeat" by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Alright .. brief synopsis: three friends, Libby, Pete and Bennett, all grow up together at an orphanage school in Missouri in the early 1900's. Pete's parents kicked him out when he was seven, Libby's parents died when she was young, and Bennett never knew his parents. They all get scholarships to the University of Southern Missouri and go away to college. This is where the story begins. Libby dreams of becoming a journalist at a time in history when apparently women writers were not accepted in the news world, Pete wants to become a preacher and feels it's his calling from God, and Bennett goes in to the engineering program, though I am not really sure if that would be his first choice. The story switches between the three characters so we as the reader get to see each viewpoint. This book takes us from September 1914 until about Christmas of the same year, and details the struggles the three young people have in learning who they are and where they fit in the world.

I really quite enjoyed this book. It was well written, I loved being able to look through each characters eyes, and it had a happy ending. =) Libby was feisty, Pete honorable, and Bennett the resident "bad boy" (every book needs one!). There was enough romance to keep me interested, but it wasn't over-done, and it was done modestly (except for Libby's writing, but it works for that and gets resolved at the end). This book is apparently the sequel to "My Heart Remembers" which I haven't read, but I didn't feel like I was missing any back story and wouldn't have known there was a story before the story if I hadn't read other reviews. I would recommend this to anyone looking for an uplifting story with good characters. I liked it enough to find more of Kim Vogel Sawyer's books for next week. =) Definite read.

Review: The Apothecary's Daughter

"The Apothecary's Daugher" by Julie Klassen was... a bit disappointing for me. I typically like Regency novels and like clean, uplifting stories, but this one really didn't have much of a story. After finishing, I still was not sure what the point of the story was. A brief synopsis: Lilly Haswell, a girl who never forgets anything, dreams of adventure and seeing the world instead of working in her father's apothecary shop in a small village in England in the early 1800's. She has a mentally handicapped brother and her father to take care of since her mother disappeared, but when the opportunity arises to visit London, she leaves to be her own woman. She returns home for a visit, finding her father very ill, and the shop in ruins, and decides she must stay to fix things, giving up her dreams. At that's about it for the story line. Along the way, there are five different men who show interest in her, or consider courting her, which to me was a little over the top. I like a good love story, and I usually like a good love triangle, but this did not work for me. I liked Lilly, though. I thought she was a good character and well written. Very likeable for the most part. I would not give this book more than 3 stars. The story line led to nowhere, there was too much guess work on who she ends up with, and I didn't find it very uplifting for being classified as a Christian or inspirational fiction. However, if you like a clean read, and don't want to feel preached at, and don't mind a somewhat disappointing ending, then this just might be the book for you.