Showing posts with label Rachel Ward. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rachel Ward. Show all posts

Thursday, September 7, 2017

Right Next To Me by Rachel Ward


After high school Sydney's friends scattered to different colleges across the country. Over Thanksgiving break they are reunited, and much to Sydney's surprise, she discovers that her best friend has kept quiet flame for her for years. Sydney is faced with making an impossible decision: stay with the perfect boyfriend or go for the best friend who s always loved her?


This coming of age story is full of big life decisions for Sydney as she navigates home and family responsibilities, relationships and school.  The author did a great job of capturing that time in life where so many big things are happening and change is inevitable.  

I enjoyed getting to know Sydney through present time and a series of flashbacks.  Sydney is an easy character to like.  I love the support and help she gave her mother in caring for her siblings and home responsibilities.  

This is the kind of book that is easy to recommend to teenagers on up.  There is no swearing or sexual content aside from some kissing.  The characters make (mostly) good decisions and learn valuable life lessons along the way.  It was cute and I enjoyed the journey!

Oh, and I love the cover and the colors involved.  It's so cute!!


Rachel grew up reading every book she could get her hands on and spending time with her cat. At least, that was the report in every annual Christmas letter. The humiliation was enough to spur her into action, and she began writing, and never stopped. Rachel studied English at Brigham Young University-Idaho and then blogged and wrote in between the births of her six children. She currently lives in West Jordan with her family, and while she no longer has a cat, she still reads every book she can get her hands on. Right Next to Me is her second novel.

Website: rachelwardauthor.com
Blog: screamandhug.blogspot.com
Instagram: @rachelsueward
Twitter: @rachelsueward
Facebook: facebook.com/rachelsuewardauthor/



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Saturday, August 20, 2016

Dear Jane by Rachel Ward

“Dear Quinn,

This is a hard letter to write. I have been thinking a lot about us for the past few weeks, and I can’t shake the feeling that we just aren’t meant to be…”

Quinn had her life perfectly planned out when she left on her mission: come home in eighteen months, marry her stunningly handsome boyfriend, and live happily ever after. But all of that changed when Quinn got a Dear Jane email from the man she thought she was meant to be with. Now she’s stuck at home with no boyfriend, no job, no major, and absolutely no social life.

As Quinn struggles to find her path forward, she begins to learn that life is not perfect and happily-ever-afters don’t always turn out how we expect them to. Will Quinn ever find the path that leads to her eternal happiness?


First off, I need to mention that this is an LDS fiction book.  References specific to the LDS religion are made.  There is nothing preachy, but some not familiar with this religion may not understand the references.

I really enjoyed this book.  I read through it quickly and it made me smile.  The characters were well defined and I could picture the scenes and places so easily.  It's hard to say much without giving away the content of the book which the blurb doesn't really mention.

Quinn is a good, solid character.  I really liked her.  Her family was flawed and imperfect but hers.  There was love with that imperfection and it was a good representation of most families.  There is always struggle and hard things in life.  Always.  Things rarely go as we expect them to.  People disappoint us, we make mistakes, we lose people we love.  Sometimes we just don't understand.  That is life.  Messy and hard.  I guess that was what I loved most about this book- even though all of those things were happening, there was still love and joy, forgiveness and hope.  That is life too.

The author did a good job of balancing the weightier things with happy things so that as a reader I never felt bogged down or overwhelmed.  It was good!

Content:  Some weightier issues- suicide, drug addiction, mental illness, divorce, abandonment

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.



Rachel Turner Ward graduated from Hillcrest High School after spending two years writing for the yearbook and the creative writing magazine. She then studied English at Brigham Young University­—Idaho, graduating with an emphasis in Literary Studies. She has contributed to several online publications, including Mormon Mommy Blogs and SheSteals. She has written a personal blog since 2009, Trapped Between a Scream and a Hug.  Rachel lives in Salt Lake with her six children and husband of 15 years.

Twitter and Instagram: @rachelsueward

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