Bearskin by Jamie Robyn Wood

When Conrad, Moiria, and Heppson’s evil enchantress mother tries to convince them to follow her dark ways, they must each decide where the line lies between good and evil, magic and mythology. Based on a lesser-known fairy tale, this young adult book features an impossible romance, an intricate plot, and twists you won’t see coming.

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I am not familiar with the fairy tale this book is based on so I was pretty clueless coming in.  I would like to find and read the original fairy tale though and see how it compares.

For me this book was very slow going.  I had a really hard time staying with the book and in the moment.  The first chapters are pretty much all in the characters head with very little dialogue or action going on.  It was really hard to get through.  I realize the author was setting things up for what comes later and much of it was important information but it really was tedious to be in each character's head for so long.

I started enjoying things more when Heart starting interacting with Bear.  I had more dialogue and the story started progressing more quickly (although still slowly compared to most YA fantasy books).  The last couple chapters of the book are by far the best as we reach the climax and the characters reach their potential.

I felt like this book was more technical than emotional.  I was reading the story but I wasn't feeling the story.  I was more like an outsider looking in on a story unfolding.  I really liked the concept though there was just something lacking in the execution.

Content:  Clean.  No swearing or sexual situations.  Mild violence and some dark magic.

Simply Anna by Jennifer Moore + $25 Giveaway

Suffering from a cruel heartbreak, Lord Philip Hamilton has been driven to seek refuge from the painful memories haunting London, and his father’s Jamaican sugar cane plantation provides just the escape he needs. Philip finds solace in his hard work and takes comfort in the fact that his distance from society ensures that his heart will be protected from future entanglements. Protected, that is, until the unexpected appearance of a mysterious woman with no memory of her past. The only clue to her identity is a necklace inscribed with a name: Anna. In a matter of weeks, this gentle, intelligent, and impossibly beautiful stranger turns Philip’s world upside down. But as the bond between the pair grows, the threat of Philip losing his heart once more is only the beginning of the dangers that await. Island renegades and a ruthless band of pirates clash in a swashbuckling battle, and it soon becomes clear that these villains may be the key to unlocking Anna’s past . . .

 * Goodreads * Amazon * Deseret Book *

My happy dance comes out in full force whenever I get to read a new book by Jennifer Moore.  There is always something more to her books that pull on your heartstrings.  In this book, it's slavery.  And boy, is it heart wrenching.  I'll never understand how we as people can be so cruel to each other.  Jennifer mentions in her afterwords how difficult it was to write about the slavery.  I can only imagine how hard that was because it was hard to simply read about it.

I loved how this book progressed.  Lord Philip goes from arrogant and full of himself to generous and kind.  His hard work earns respect.  I'm sure glad that happened because in the beginning I wasn't sure I was going to like Philip!  By the end I loved him.  I love how he loved Anna.

Anna is intelligent, gentle and kind.  She is self motivated and capable.  I fell in love with her from the very beginning.  We get to know Anna in the first bit and when she loses her memory, thankfully, we don't lose ours.  I liked knowing about Anna so that when she has flashes of memory, I know exactly what she is remembering.  So often as a reader, we are clueless as to what is really happening because the story unfolds slowly.  It is sometimes frustrating to be left in the dark.  This book made me feel empowered.  I knew things the character didn't.  :)  That seems so petty but it's true.

I loved the setting in Jamaica.  It's someplace I'd love to go someday.

All in all, I loved this book.  It was fantastic.  :)

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A Million Miles Away by Lara Avery

Perfect for fans of Nicholas Sparks, this breathtaking story of love and loss is guaranteed to break your heart and sweep you off your feet.

When high school senior Kelsey's identical twin sister, Michelle, dies in a car crash, Kelsey is left without her other half. The only person who doesn't know about the tragedy is Michelle's boyfriend, Peter, recently deployed to Afghanistan. But when Kelsey finally connects with Peter online, she can't bear to tell him the truth. Active duty has taken its toll, and Peter, thinking that Kelsey is Michelle, says that seeing her is the one thing keeping him alive. Caught up in the moment, Kelsey has no choice: She lets Peter believe that she is her sister.

As Kelsey keeps up the act, she crosses the line from pretend to real. Soon, Kelsey can't deny that she's falling, hard, for the one boy she shouldn't want.

 * Goodreads * Amazon *

I really liked the blurb for this book so I thought I'd pick it up for review.  My thanks first to the publisher, Little Brown, for allowing me to read and review this title for them.

So, I have some mixed feelings about this book.  I am a fan of Nicholas Sparks and I'm telling you that this book in no way compares to his books.  The depth wasn't there, the believability wasn't there, the emotional pull just wasn't there.  At least for me.  Yes, there was love and yes, there was loss but nothing on the level of Nicholas Sparks.  This book was just too juvenile and predictable to be compared to Nicholas Sparks.

There was just too much in this book that I found unrealistic and unbelievable.  I am married to an identical twin.  Even when I was first getting to know him, I never confused him with his brother.  They are very alike not just in looks but in personality as well. Anyone caring to know them even a little bit would never confuse them.  A passerby on the street, yes.  Someone who didn't know them well at all, yes.  But someone claiming to love them?  No.  Never.  So, the whole twin confusion thing just didn't fly for me.  Especially since Kelsey and Michelle were so very different in style and personality.

Kelsey is certainly a flawed character without much of a moral compass.  Even flawed, she was likeable and certainly had some redeeming qualities mixed in the book.  I think mentally she showed some growth but for the most part I was frustrated with her.  Peter is a forgettable character.  He was patient and kind in the book but I didn't connect emotionally with him or Kelsey in this book.  Where my heart should have been breaking it just wasn't.

The book from beginning to end was completely predictable, which isn't always a bad thing, but I just felt a little let down.  I don't know, I just didn't buy it.  Even the ending.  I read the book, I finished the book.  I didn't hate it but it was just okay for me.  There was some content in the book that I didn't love (like the swearing and sexual innuendo).  It just didn't need to be there.

Content:  Swearing, sexual innuendo and underaged drinking (parties).

SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED: TRUTH BE TOLD + GIVEAWAY

SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED: TRUTH BE TOLD

Sunday September 13 9:00 PM / 8:00c

The POstables are on a mission to deliver a soldier's letter from Afghanistan, while Oliver's estranged father surprises him with news that shakes him to the core.

Check out more about the movie HERE.

I am a fan of the TV series, Signed, Sealed, Delivered.  My kids think might think I'm sappy but I love this series for more than one reason.  First, it brings in real life issues for real life people and deals with them in a kind and gentle way.  Every episode may have hard and sad things, but there is always the overwhelming feeling of hope as well.  Second, I love shows and movies that leave me feeling good and that is what this TV series does for me.  I love the characters and the quirks of each one.

How exciting that there is a new Signed, Sealed, Delivered movie coming out THIS SUNDAY!  I was seriously over the moon that I got the chance to preview it ahead of time so I could share it with you!  There is nothing better than sharing the things that you love with other people in the hopes that they will love it too.

This movie was so good.  I loved the continuation of the TV series right into this movie.  Hallmark is so awesome.  This movie deals with a young girl who lost her mother in Afghanistan.  While she is being bullied for holding out hope that her mother will return, the Postables are trying to get this letter to her.  Rita and Norman are tentatively stepping into a new phase of their friendship, and Oliver's father makes a surprise and unwelcome appearance back into his life.

There are small sparks of romance, a bit of drama, friendship and lots of warm fuzzies going on in this movie.  It was nice to take a couple hours to settle in all comfy and watch this movie.  I hope you will tune in and love it too!

And now for the giveaway!  Here's what you get:

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Every Little Kiss (Kissed by the Bay Book 1) by Susan Hatler

When Wendy Watts left Blue Moon Bay, she vowed never to return to the small coastal town where her parents had abandoned her and her brother. Now she’s a successful Realtor, and a workaholic who stays away from complicated emotions—until her grandmother dies, leaving Wendy the Inn at Blue Moon Bay and mandating that if Wendy sells it, she must put it on the market herself “in person.”

As soon as Wendy arrives in Blue Moon Bay, bad memories, the inn’s poor condition, and her brother’s pleas to keep the inn overwhelm her. Then she meets a sexy laid-back stranger on the beach, and Wendy does something she never does . . . she opens up and confides her problems to him. Since Max Huntington’s only in town for one night, Wendy spontaneously kisses him, hoping to be distracted from her troubles for just one evening.

But when Wendy begins the painstaking process of fixing up the inn in order to sell it, Max tells her he’s staying on longer. He’s enchanted by the charming inn and even more with the kisses they shared on the beach. He wants to help her with the repairs, and she reluctantly accepts his offer.

Although she’s determined to remain detached from the allure of her inn, Blue Moon Bay and Max, every repair, every stroll on the beach, and every moment spent with Max, draws her in and reminds her of the local legend she’d believed as a child: that being kissed by the bay under a blue moon will lead to love that lasts forever.

 * Goodreads * Amazon *

Well, it's the start of something new from one of my all time fav's, Susan Hatler!  The Kissed by the Bay Series has begun and it's going to be a fun ride.  I already love the setting- it sings to my heart.

Wendy left her home of Blue Moon Bay and vowed never to return, she left behind a group of people she really hurt.  Wendy was trying to escape and avoid dealing with the issues she faced there.  She was determined to build a successful career and a new life far away from her old one.  The process of Wendy's healing was a good one and I enjoyed watching her realize that in leaving her home, family and friends, she was dealing out the same hurts that had been dealt to her.

I think everyone needs a Max in their life.  Seriously, he is the knight on the white horse named Patience.  I liked that Max knew what he wanted.  He was steady and sure and so very kind.

This was such a sweet story.  It was more than just a romance (although the kissing was great!).  It was about reconnecting, forgiving, and loving.  I really enjoyed it!  I can't wait for the next book in the series, The Perfect Kiss, set to come out in November.  I'm really "over the blue moon" about Susan and this series!

Marrying Christopher (A Hearthfire Romance #3) by Michele Paige Holmes

Having seen both his sisters Grace and Helen happily married, Christopher Thatcher is free to pursue his dream of life in America. With adventure in his heart and mind, he boards one of the first steamships set to cross the Atlantic in the record breaking time of only twenty-five days. Within the first two of those, his resolve—to avoid women and the complications they often bring to a man’s life—falters when he meets Marsali Abbott, a young woman with a past even more troubling than his own. Whether from years of habit protecting his sisters, or simply because he feels drawn to Marsali, Christopher chooses to help her and becomes her friend. As the truth about what awaits Marsali in America becomes evident, he is faced with a more difficult choice, one that will impact their lives far beyond four weeks together at sea.

 * Goodreads * Amazon *

I was so excited to finally be able to settle in and read Christopher's story.  He is the last sibling in this series and I've watched him help his sisters find love and care.  I was anxiously awaiting this book so I could watch Christopher find his love because he deserved it.

This has been a fantastic historical romance series.  I've loved each book but I think Christopher may just be my favorite.  This one jerked my emotions all over the place and the last third of the book I seriously felt so desperate- like pulling my hair and yelling AAAHHHHRRRGGGHHHH!

Christopher is leaving his homeland of England to begin a new life in America.  He has dreams of owning his own land and being his own man.  Now that his sister's are both settled with men who adore them, Christopher feels this is his time.  Christopher knows how to take care of people.  His sister's have taught him how to work hard, how to be a gentleman and how to love well.  

If you don't fall in love with Marsali in this book, you are crazy.  She is gentle kindness itself.  But don't think that means she doesn't have a backbone- because she does.  Christopher and Marsali are perfect for each other.  I loved them both.  Together and apart.

I could easily picture the scenes from this book playing out in my head like a movie.  The characters were strong and each one had personality and definition.  This was a fantastic book for me and I really loved it.

Lost King $100 Book Blast

From USA TODAY bestselling author H.B. Moore Undercover agent Omar Zagouri has been ordered to Giza. A prominent Egyptologist was murdered, and a priceless artifact—the only complete version of the Book of the Dead—is missing. Omar is still reeling from the recent disappearance of his girlfriend, Mia Golding, but he puts his quest to find her on hold to track down the lost piece of history. Omar’s mission is not just to locate the sacred book; he must also rescue the two archaeologists kidnapped and forced to translate its hieroglyphics under threat of death. Their kidnapper is determined to discover the text’s rumored explosive revelation: that Moses did not receive the Ten Commandments from God but instead copied them from the Egyptians. Though Omar’s need to find Mia grows more urgent, he must focus on finding the enemy who will stop at nothing to ignite a controversy that will change history, and the world, forever.

AMAZON

 

  

Author H.B. Moore H.B. Moore is the USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of more than a dozen historical novels set in ancient Arabia and Mesoamerica. She attended the Cairo American College in Egypt and the Anglican International School in Jerusalem and received her bachelor of science degree from Brigham Young University. She writes historical thrillers under the pen name H.B. Moore, and romance and women’s fiction under the name Heather B. Moore. It can be confusing, so her kids just call her Mom.

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Book Blast Giveaway $100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 9/30/15 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway