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?

 * Amazon * Goodreads * Deseret Book *

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/

• August 24: Mylissa’s Reviews and Book Thoughts
• August 25:
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• August 27: Heidi Reads
• August 28:
• August 29: Inklings and Notions
• August 30: Robyn Echols Books
• August 31: A Bliss Complete || My Book a Day
• September 1: Literary Time Out || Mel’s Shelves
• September 2:
• September 3: Jorie Loves a Story
• September 4: Katie’s Clean Book Collection
• September 5: Emmy Mom
• September 6: The Singing Librarian
• September 7: Getting your Read on || Wishful Endings
• September 8: Fire and Ice Reads
• September 9: Rockin’ Book Reviews
• September 10: Overstuffed Life

Getting Kole for Christmas by Kimberly Krey

Kylie’s been crushing on Kole for two years now, but can she get him to see her as more than a friend?

For years Kylie has watched her older sisters get asked to every school dance there is. Yet once she’s old enough to go, the invites are in short supply. While getting overlooked has never felt good, it hasn’t really hurt the way it does this year. Because now there’s someone she really wants to go with: Kole Kingston. Kole is charming and funny. Gorgeous and kind. And everything she wants in a guy. Trouble is, he’s also her very best friend. Can Kylie tear herself free from the friend-zone in time to get asked to the Christmas dance? Or will she – like so many others – find that a romance between them will never be?

 * Amazon * Goodreads *

I am so super-dee-dooper excited that one of my fave's in the writing world dipped her foot into the YA genre!  Yay!  This YA novella tells me that she should do more than dip, she should immerse.

I think the two words I would use for this novella are "so cute".  From the cover to the sweet story inside, cuteness is everywhere.

Kylie is one of many teenage daughters in her family.  She often feels lost in the shuffle of everyone else.  Her teenage insecurities shine through- spot on.  The whole anxiety about getting asked to a school dance and watching everyone else be asked?  Yeah, that has happened in my house on more than one occasion.  I felt like I was reading a story about my daughter!  

Kimberly Krey nails the whole thing because Kylie's voice is perfect.  I loved Kylie and I loved Kole.  What a sweet, sweet story.  It made me smile.

And now Kimberly Krey has starting something.  I can't wait to see what she come up with next!  

Content:  Clean!  :)

Hope Unbroken (Unveiled #3) by Crystal Walton

Accustomed to loss, twenty-two-year-old Emma Matthews learned long ago how to shield her heart from hope. But she never expected it to be the only thing she has left.

A two-thousand-mile flight to Nashville should’ve been enough time for Emma to sort out her future with Riley. Then again, when has time ever played fair? With a contract ultimatum jeopardizing Riley’s career and a ruthless vendetta sabotaging Emma’s efforts to save the Portland center, the fires they spent the last four months facing are far from over.

As danger strikes, rifts emerge, and delays snowball, the unrelenting war between the past and future tests Emma’s convictions until she has no choice but to put her faith in the one thing she’s always doubted.

Will time once again steal the dreams she’s fought so hard to believe in, or will it finally teach her how to trust in a hope that remains unbroken?

 * Goodreads * Amazon *

This is the final book in this Unveiled series and I'm very, very happy to be at a conclusion and resolution for Emma and Riley.  The road to happiness has been long and hard for them both as they've grown, made choices, and fought to stay together.

In this book, even more real life problems face Emma and Riley.  I liked the feel of this book as Emma and Riley face more of the difficulties together instead of apart.  They became a better support to each other.   Riley has finally reached his limits with being far away.  He finally put his foot down and headed back to Emma so they could be there for each other.  I liked his determination to figure things out while together instead of apart.  Their relationship was the most important thing to him.  That is what changed the tides of the book for me.  That was the moment that Riley became a grown up to me.  He wasn't sacrificing his music career, he was just finding a way to make it work within his relationship with Emma.

I have enjoyed this series and the journey of Emma and Riley from the first meeting, through the bumps of their relationship and now to the end here, which is really just the beginning.  It's been a good ride, filled with emotion and real life drama.  I love that this series is clean- no swearing or sexual content beyond kissing.  It is now time to say goodbye to Emma and Riley but I do so with satisfaction and contentment.  :)

Eyes Unveiled by Crystal Walton

Twenty-one-year-old Emma Matthews lost the song in her heart the same night she lost her dad. With an unfulfilled promise and an ultimatum shadowing her junior year of college, maybe it’s better that way. You can’t hurt if you can’t feel.

But when the reflection she sees in musician Riley Preston’s eyes borders dangerously close to the one she’s spent the last five years searching for, Emma discovers her walls can’t guard her heart from its fiercest desire. Terrified of what she’s experiencing, and even more afraid of what she might lose, Emma grapples for the courage to hold on to one dream without abandoning the promise of another.

Contemporary Inspirational Romance novel Eyes Unveiled lets you relive those heartfelt moments when you don’t know how you’d survive a day without your best friend, when you’re trying to figure out who you are and what you’re supposed to do with your life, and when falling in love changes everything.

 * Goodreads * Amazon *

If you are looking for a book that is emotionally driven, this is your book.  I went through a whole array of emotions while reading this book.  This is a story about self-discovery, friendships and love.

I loved the immediate interest and attraction Emma had when she saw and heard Riley sing.  He spoke to her soul and I loved that.  Riley and Emma share a connection through music but they develop a friendship that expands beyond just music.

Emma was an easy character to relate to.  She seemed very human although maybe just a titch naive.  She doesn't ever expect the worst of people.  Emma has good friends and a good relationship with her brother.  I liked that support system for Emma.  It was good to see Emma grow and strengthen throughout the book.  Her struggles made her stronger.

There is a huge love triangle in this book and love triangles aren't my favorite, but I know they do happen in life and I can accept that.  The resolution of the triangle in this book seemed a bit unrealistic to me though.  

Overall, I enjoyed this book.  It was clean (no swearing or sexual content) and I'm always grateful for that.  I hear the next book in the series is coming out in July so I'll be looking forward to that.

Ring On Her Finger by Lisa Swinton

What happened in Vegas should stay there, not follow Amanda home wedded to the man who broke her heart. 

After celebrating college graduation with her friends in Las Vegas, Amanda St. Claire wakes up with a terrible hangover and a ring on her finger. Her day gets worse when she finds out she's married to rich playboy Blake Worthington - the guy she has loathed the past four years. Amanda convinces Blake to legally terminate the marriage and they both return home like nothing ever happened. That is, until Blake shows up on her doorstep and Amanda has to come clean with her family. 

Together for better or worse while the legalities are cleared, Amanda reluctantly plays along, but then the unthinkable happens - she finds herself falling in love with Blake. Can they overcome the past? Or will it end their future before it even starts?

 * Amazon * Goodreads *

This is a book I was looking forward to reading.  From the blurb I knew the plot would be fraught with misunderstanding and hold undercurrents of romantic tension.  Both are things that I love when working through a romance book.  This romance book is clean- yay!

Honestly, I didn't really like Amanda.  I never really got what Blake could see in her to keep coming back for more and more abuse.  Amanda is mean to him.  Like mean, mean.  Yeah, she was hurt, but she holds onto that like a lifeline.  It was almost too much - to the point where I wanted to strangle her because my eyes were sore from rolling them so much.  Blake is obviously sorry.  He says it, he shows it.  He tries to overcome it but Amanda is so very stubborn.  And did I mention mean?  Mostly I just felt sorry for Blake and if it were real life, I would say that Blake has a tough marriage road ahead of him with a girl that cannot forgive and delves into so much meanness when she gets hurt.  The way she made Blake grovel was insane.

Okay, so the Amanda tirade is over now.  I did really enjoy Blake.  I thought he was a good, strong character.  He made some mistakes but he was honest and upfront.  He worked hard to prove himself and he tried really hard to extend kindness to others in every situation.  The man should be named Saint Patience.  He was the character that made this book good.  Thank goodness for Blake.

The ending was swoon worthy- because of Blake.  Hopeless romantic.  I'll take a Blake ending any day of the week.  :)  Very romantic.  And sweet beyond measure.  I loved the ending.