Rhe’s Bookshelf – Echoes, Robin Jones Gunn

Happy Saturday everyone!  I am happy once again, to bring you a book from The Glenbrooke Sereis, by Robin Jones Gunn.  Echoes is the third book in this wonderful series.  I was able to get my hands on it and couldn’t wait to find, buy and receive number two, so I just went ahead and dove right in.

Echoes, Glenbrooke Series #3
 
Summary: In this dramatic contemporary romance by bestselling author Robin Jones Gunn, Lauren Phillips enters the wild, uncharted territory of the Internet on her home computer and “connects” with a man known only as “K.C.” As she struggles to recover from a broken engagement, Lauren keeps busy by working full time and striving to finish her college degree. But her correspondence with K.C. quickly becomes the thing she loves most…and the source of dreams she cannot bear to relinquish. When the opportunity comes for them to meet after a year of corresponding, Lauren faces a tough choice: Is she willing to risk everything…including a broken heart? Readers will stay “on-line” to find out in this bestselling former Palisades release, now the third book in the new Glenbrooke series.
Will Lauren risk losing her heart…to a man she’s never met?
Lauren Phillips tries to keep busy while recovering from a broken engagement. Then one day, through her home computer, Lauren accidentally connects on the Internet with a mysterious man she knows only as K.C.
Lauren’s e-mail relationship with K.C. quickly becomes the thing she loves most in life..and the source of dreams she cannot bear to relinquish.
After a year of corresponding, the opportunity appears for them to meet. Lauren faces a tough choice: Is she willing to risk everything…including another broken heart?
What I thought:  As I said in my brief introduction I am a huge fan of Ms. Gunn and this series.  The Glenbrooke series is a sweet series all taking place in and around the lives of those of the small town of Glenbrooke.    Book Three takes place in a time when computers, email and chat rooms are a new thing.  I must admit it was kind of weird to be catapulted back to a time when that was all new.  I remember that time!  Despite that, the book was still relate-able and didn’t feel outdated in any way.  It was sweet and cute and reminded me of You’ve Got Mail, or its older inspirations – The Shop Around the Corner and In the Good Old Summertime (movies I recommend everyone check out if you haven’t!).  Its a timeless story, and one that I think most women would love.  Sure, it might seem unbelievable at times, finding true love through someone you’ve never met.  It is a beautiful story, one full of inspiration and lessons about trusting God.  This is a Christian novel, make no mistake.  It is carefully woven through the story, but also carefully not rammed down your throat in a offensive way.  It is full of inspiration and life lessons of trust, and letting go.  I highly recommend this book, and the series as a whole to be young and adult women.
5 out of 5 stars!
I received this book as a part of the Blogging for Books program with Multnomah Publishing.  I was not compensated in any other way.  My thoughts are opinions are my own.
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Twice A Bride: A Novel – Mona Hodgson

Full of resolve, young widow Willow Peterson decides to pursue her dreams to be an artist as she settles into a new life in the growing mountain town of Cripple Creek.  When she lands a job working as a portrait painter with handsome entrepreneur and photographer Trenton Van Der Veer, the road before Willow seems to be taking a better-than-anticipated turn. 

With questions tugging at several hearts in town, including the Sinclair Sisters’ beloved Miss Hattie, change is traveling down the tracks as several unexpected visitors make their way out West.  Will the new arrivals threaten the deep family bonds of the Sinclair sisters and the roots of love that are just taking hold for Willow?

Filled with the resonating questions that all women face, this romance awakens hope against grief, love against loss, and dreams against life’s unexpected turns.

This is #4 in the series, The Sinclair Sisters of Cripple Creek.  Let me tell you I am so sad that I didn’t read the ones before this.  It is a book that can stand all by itself, and talks about the characters in such a way that you don’t feel like you are completely lost.  However, if you are like me then you will read the book wondering about the lives of the sisters (that is alluded to) in the book and just be dying to pick up book 1-3.  I adore this book.  Ms Hodgson is a wonderful writer, with a true understanding of how a reader (me) wants to read a book.  The characters are real, experience real things – both happy and sad – and work through them.  They are a family and are strong in their faith, but you aren’t beat over the head with it either. I would absolutely recommend this book; and I give it 4 out of 4 stars.

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I received this book in partnership with WaterBrookMulnomah and Blogging For Books.  I was not compensated in any other way.  My opinions are my own.

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Rhe’s Bookshelf – Be Still My Soul

Hi everyone.  It is time for another review from the bookshelf here at Cammo Style Love.  This time I am reading another Christian novel.  I’ve not read too many Christian novels, not since my days of reading Mandie (which btw if you’re looking for a great kids series these are amazing!), but I decided to give them a shot.  As I’m writing this review I’m still a little bit torn about how I feel about this book.  It’s written well and there is a very deep and emotional story.  However I ended up being slightly conflicted when all was said and done.  Before I get into that, let me give you a run down of the book.

“Night’s chill tickled her skin. Lonnie pressed her hands together and glanced up. He was even more handsome up close. Having grown up the shy, awkward daughter of Joel Sawyer, she’d hardly spoken to any boy, let alone the one who had mothers whispering warnings in their daughter’s ears and fathers loading shotguns.

Pretty Lonnie Sawyer is shy and innocent, used to fading into the background within her family, and among the creeks and hollows of the Appalachian hills. Though her family is poor and her father abusive, she clings to a quiet faith.  But when handsome ladies’ man and bluegrass musician Gideon O’Riley steals a kiss, that one action seals her fate. 

Her father forces her into a hasty marriage with Gideon—a man she barely knows and does not love. Equally frustrated and confused by his new responsibilities, Gideon yearns for a fresh start, forcing  Lonnie on an arduous journey away from her home in Rocky Knob.

Her distant groom can’t seem to surrender his rage at the injustice of the forced matrimony or give Lonnie any claim in his life.  What will it take for Gideon to give up his past, embrace Lonnie’s God, and discover a hope that can heal their two fractured hearts?

I received this book as a before sale, unedited, preview copy, which was a first for me.  Kinda cool and very exciting!  It is slated for release October 2012.

How I felt after reading the book changed once I started to actually think about what I was going to write down.  When taken apart, some of the details take new form.  I don’t particularly want to ruin the book that might want to read it later, but I have issue with this description.  Reading this you see the phrase, “steals a kiss”.  In the book it actually plays out more like he’s trying to take advantage of her, and later on in the book appears to be “accidentally” abusive.  Although I’m not really sure how accidental it really is.  You could argue that the physical part might have been but the way he treated her was horrid.   The story line moved very quickly, and while I get that for movies..but in books you have the ability to pass implied time.  This wasn’t really the case and I would have appreciated that a little bit.  The author did a marvelous job discussing the realities of abusive households, and the ability of God to change people, and in showing that Faith is an amazing thing.  I realize that the time in which this book takes place is different then present day.  Things were done differently and the honor of family wasn’t something to be trifled with.  Arranged marriages happened all the time and women had nothing to say in the matter.  People had to learn to be in love.  I understand all of that.  Even still I wish it had been arranged a bit better in order to make the reader more comfortable with it.  It did end happy and well, and there was some romance to it.  God can conquer all.  Love is a powerful thing. 

It’s not a terrible book, but its not the best book.  There is much to be learned about this time in history and how life was back then.  Its a strong testament to faith and how it can change anyone.  Although I feel that for many people it may be too hard to separate some of the things that occur in the book from the world we live in now, compared to then.  A portion of the author’s audience may be lost as a result.

I give it 2 1/2 out of 5 stars

 I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.  I was not compensated in any other way for a positive review.  My opinions are my own, take ’em or leave ’em

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Rhe’s Bookshelf – Zooey and Her Solider; a book for Military Kids

 

 

Zooey and Her Soldier, by Andrea Kelly

 Zooey’s best friend, Doug, is in The National Guard. Sometimes he has to go away for a little while. When he’s gone, Zooey misses him a lot. She can’t wait for him to get back! But Zooey’s about to discover something – something that will make the wait much, much easier!
Zooey and Her Soldier is a great book for children dealing with a parent or family member in the Armed Forces, (or even one who has to travel a lot!). As tough as those moments are for parents, they are often even harder on the children, especially those that are still too young to understand the entire concept. Zooey is a positive and relatable character for young kids, who has a helpful idea on how to feel closer to the ones you love, even while they are far away!

Ideal for bedtime stories and new readers – an enjoyable book for young and old alike!

What I thought:

An adorable book that you should add to the collection of a military child.  We have several books in our collection and this is one.  It is a sweet and simple book; and it would be really good for a child that is just beginning to read.  With darling illustrations and adorable kitty as the main character, I think most little children would really like this book.  Zooey and Her Soldier is perfect for ages 3 or 4 and below.  It is short and sweet, and could keep the attention of my daughter.  She responded to the story and thought Zooey was cute.  My son listened but was not quite as interested in my daughter.  They both were able to relate Zooey being sad and missing her soldier (Like Daddy) when he was gone and were very excited when he returned home to them.  I personally appreciated the sweet simplicity of this book.  It is really aimed directly at relating to children in the desire for them to completely be able to understand and relate.  It would have been a really good tool for me to use in talking with my children the first time my husband went away.

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I received a copy of this book in cooperation with the Author.  I was given a book to aid in my review but was not compensated for a positive review.  The reviews and opinions stated here are my own…and my kids’ of course.

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