Book Review: Cottage at the Beach by Lee Tobin McClain

Author: Lee Tobin McClain

Title: Cottage at the Beach

Series: The Off Season #1

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Chick Lit, Christian Fiction

Format: Paperback

Pages: 301

Published: February 25, 2020

Where I got It: My shelf (Used Book Store)

Summary: 

Escape to the Chesapeake Bay, where beach life is full of love, surprises and second chances…

When an injury forces K-9 officer Trey Harrison onto the sidelines, his only thought is getting back to the police force where he belongs. And he’ll do anything to make that happen—even volunteer in a small waterfront community, just to please his boss. But no one ever said Trey had to enjoy it…

Since the surgery that destroyed her dreams of having children, schoolteacher Erica Rowe has grown even more dedicated to her work with at-risk teens. So she doesn't need some cop with a chip on his shoulder putting the program's future in jeopardy. But when Trey finally connects with the students, Erica's heart melts. And when, in a tender moment, he admits he longs to have children, her heart breaks. She's convinced he'd be better off with someone who can give him everything, but she can't seem to shake the hope that maybe love is enough…

Review:

Honest to goodness, I do not recall where I got this book. I want to say it was one of the used book stores around me *thinks for a long, long time*. Whelp, I don't recall, so that is what I'm putting down. Eeee. I'm terrible. It's been bugging me so much while reading this...where did I buy this???? Was it a gift????? Whoopsies. 

Okay, so we have Trey and Erica. Trey was injured due to a big mistake he made, and now he's trying to get back on track. He wants to get back on the force with his K9 pal. He'll do anything, including volunteering in a small waterfront community. Enter Erica, whose dreams of having kids were dashed due to a preventative surgery. With that dream gone, she has made a new one to help at-risk teens. She has set up a program, but she will have to work side-by-side with Trey, who is bitter and grumpy. Things change when Trey finally connects with her students and her crazy dog. He has found the key to her heart, but he wants more than what she can give him. Will it be enough?

This town is making me yearn for spring and summer. I want to sit on my porch in the sun and read! I can't wait!

I didn't realize this technically falls in the "Christian Romance" section until I was done reading it. I assumed it was just a clean romance, and that was fine. God was mentioned a couple of times, but it never overwhelmed the plot or made me feel uncomfortable like I was having it shoved down my throat. So yayyy for that. 

The beginning was a bit of a struggle. Yes, Trey had issues, but man, was he so unlikable at first. Once he chills out and you see the soft side of him, he will win you over. But man. It was touch-and-go for the first few pages. I'm glad I stuck to it.

I did want to smack both of them during a certain scene. JUST tell him, man. The way she went about it was terrible and mean. I get why he reacted the way he did. GRRRRRR!

And please....the proposal? WHY!? You had like ONE date, sir. CALM DOWN. *grumbles*

But I will say the epilogue was very sweet and nice. 

THE DOGS STOLE THE SHOW!

I hated the side stories. Okay...hate is strong, but it didn't help the plot along. It felt like filler and nothing more. Don't get me wrong, I liked the side characters, but their story could have waited until book 2. Maybe give us some teasers and etc, but meh. 

In conclusion.....this was entertaining enough. Some issues, but I couldn't walk away. I was invested! Not sure if I'll read book 2, but maybe? If the price is right. 

3 stars. 

Reading Challenge(s)

- Reading Romance Challenge #6 (Book starts with same letter as your name)

Book Review: The Christmas Catch by Toni Shiloh

Author: Toni Shiloh

Title: The Christmas Catch

Genre: Contemporary, Sports Romance, CF

Format: Paperback

Pages: 224

Published: September 1, 2024

Where I got It: My shelf (Used book store)

Summary: 

When two high school sweethearts reunite, will they take another chance at love or let life sideline them at Christmas?

Benched with a career-ending injury, NFL wide receiver Jahleel Walker is forced to return to his hometown of Peachwood Bay, Georgia, during the holidays to heal, despite his rocky relationship with his father. Nothing shocks him more than running into Lucille "Bebe" Gordon.

Bebe Gordon came home to Peachwood Bay three years ago with a divorce certificate and her daughter. When Jahleel returns--for the first time in eight years--all the memories of the past come rushing back. The connection between them is still strong, but Jahleel has no plans to stay in Peachwood Bay, and Bebe won't risk him leaving her again. As their hometown's Christmas festivities bring them together, Jahleel must decide if he's only home for the holidays or if the Christmas spirit that brought them together will last all through the year.

Review:

While at the used book store, I saw this, and it sounded cute. Look at that cover! Plus, I've been meaning to read more Football romances. And it's Xmas? *chef kiss*

Here we follow Jahleel and Bebe. They were High School friends and then sometimes more than friends. However, things fell apart when they went to college, and Jahleel had the NFL in his sights. Years later, Jahleel is back home with a career-ending injury. Bebe has been back home for the last three years, but with a divorce certificate and a kid. As their hometown's Christmas festivities bring them together, they must decide whether they can overcome the past and find love again. 

Christian Fiction REALLY needs to have a label on it. The cover states "Sweet Romance," and that is fine! I love a nice, sweet, and clean romance, but as I started diving in..........the religious stuff was peppered on heavily. I looked on Goodreads and yep....Christian Fiction. Sighs. Normally, I don't mind sprinkles of religious chat, but when it is saturated in it...I literally can't.

I pushed on as much as possible, but it was a LOT. I started skimming because I was really curious about how these two would finally find love again. I was invested at this point, but I, for sure, had to do some serious skimming. 

Overall, this was very sweet, and I liked Bebe and Jahleel, but the religiousness was too much for me. I don't mind a bit of religion mixed in, especially if it helps the plot and character development, but this one had A LOT. Meh. 

2 stars. 

 

DNF - The School Mistress by Tess Thompson

Author: Tess Thompson

Title: The School Mistress

(Emerson Pass Historicals #1)

Genre: Historical Romance, Western, Christian Fiction, Chick Lit

Format: ebook

Published: April 1st 2020

Where I Got It: My shelf (Amazon)

Summary: How easily can an open heart unlock the door to happily-ever-after?

When Miss Quinn Cooper arrives in Emerson Pass, Colorado, her entire life is packed into one small suitcase. Her widowed mother and baby sister are depending upon her for their survival back home in Boston. And the self-appointed mayor of the rugged mountain community is counting on Miss Cooper to prove herself a fitful teacher for the young and old alike.

Lord Alexander Barnes is determined to bring a bit of English civility to the wild terrain of Emerson Pass. Using his own resources, the widower and father of five builds a schoolhouse and recruits a young teacher from the east to provide an education for both the adults and the children in his rapidly growing mining town. But when the lovely, and much younger than anticipated, Miss Cooper arrives to town, Lord Barnes finds himself providing more than just employment when the boarding house proves to be an unsafe accommodation for the school mistress.

As Miss Cooper takes a room in the Barnes' home, the five Barnes children are delighted. They are sure Miss Cooper is the perfect woman for their lonely father. But when a friend of the Englishman turns up dead, the hope for progress in the untamed town seems immediately lost. Can Miss Cooper and Lord Barnes bring change to the closed-minded locals? And will their endeavor open their hearts to something more?

Review:

This was a freebie on Amazon. It sounded good so I picked it up. 

Okay...so I tried. I really, really tried with this one. I wanted to like it so bad. 

After looking on Goodreads the masses seemed divided....you either love it or you hate it. I guess I fall in the latter category since I'm tossing in the towel. 

Sighs. I got about 40% done (give or take) and I couldn't read a page more. Nope. I had to DNF. WAHHH! There goes my streak!

I can look past the Christian aspects...that doesn't bug me especially since Christianity was very popular back in the day. And it wasn't preachy so I was happy with that. 

It was the characters. They were so 2D. All of them. The side characters...the main characters....all of them. 

The introduction of Lord Alexander's children had me grinding my teeth. 

This was rough. Not for me I suppose. Onto the next friends!!  

Audiobook Review: The New Year's Bride by Kit Morgan

Author: Kit Morgan
Narrator:  Michael Rahhal

Title: The New Year's Bride
(Holiday Mail Order Brides #2)

Genre: Historical Romance
Pages: Audiobook
Published:  December 1st 2013
Where I Got It: My shelf (Audible)



Sheriff Spencer Riley and his mother recently ordered his big brother Clayton a mail order bride for Christmas! Too bad neither one of them bothered to tell Clayton, so imagine his surprise, and Spencer thought it to be one of the funniest things ever...until it happened to him! "After all," his mother told him. "If Clayton can have a mail order bride for Christmas, why can't you have one for New Year's?" So much for the annual scarf and mitten set she usually got for him this time of year! Just what sort of mail order bride was HE going to get?

Elle Barstow spent most of her life at Winslow's Orphanage but now it was time to leave and either find a job (of which there were none) become a mail order bride, or take to the streets of New Orleans and hope for the best. Becoming a mail order bride looked like the safest option, but Elle soon learned things don't always go the way we think they will. Unwittingly involved in a horrendous encounter before she leaves New Orleans, Elle can't possibly marry her future husband when she doesn't know if she's considered guilty of murder! She figures her only chance is to avoid the law, not to mention her future husband, until she finds out what really happened. Easier said than done. Her future husband IS the law!

Book 2! I couldn't stop myself from starting right away. I wanted that brother of Clayton's to get his just dessert!

The story follows the new sheriff, Spencer, and his bride-to-be Elle. After helping Mama Riley get a mail order bride for his brother, Clayton, it is now his turn to be married off. Elle grew up an orphan at the same orphanage as Summer from the previous book. However, on her way to Nowhere, something terrible happens and she has to defend herself. She is haunted by the fact that she may have murdered someone. Sure, it was self-defense, but what if this comes back to bite her in the romp?

This was WAY better than book 1. 100% better. Sure, book 1 is important to the story...I guess...but I enjoyed this so much more. I was hooked from page 1. Yes, this is cheesy in some spots, but I wasn't annoyed at all. 

I liked Elle and I liked Spencer. OMG people just talk to each other!!! Elle tell him what happened! Gah!

Again, this was technically"Christian", but I am glad the author keeps it to a minimum. God is mentioned naturally and realistically. It was very sweet overall.

I am so glad Charlotte and her terrible mother got a hair better in this. Sure, they are still terrible sometimes, but Charlotte gets a slice of humble pie a few times and it woke her up a bit. Yayy! I now want Charlotte to have a HEA. She needs a tough man who won't take her or her mother's scheming ways. But yes - she deserves love now. 

OooooOOOooo that ending had me nervous. I figured it out, but I was still nervous on how everything was going to be fixed. Poor Elle. I would've been scared out of my mind!

The narrator did well. Again, the voices for the girls made me chuckle, but I felt they were better-ish. Or maybe I just got used to them? 

Overall, I liked this WAYYY more than the last one. I liked Elle and Spencer more and the story wasn't AS cheesy as the last one. For sure worth it even if you skip the last one ;) I'll give this 4 stars. Quick, sweet, and funny. 

Technically this takes place xmas and then new years at the end, but I'll count it as a non-xmas ;)

Audiobook Review: The Governess of Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky

Author: Carrie Turansky 
Narrator: Velda Dehmlow

Title: The Governess of Highland Hall
(Edwardian Brides #1)

Genre: Historical Romance, Christian Fiction
Pages: Audiobook
Published: January 1st 2013
Where I Got It: My shelf (Audible)



Missionary Julia Foster loves working alongside her parents, ministering and caring for young girls in India. But when the family must return to England due to illness, she readily accepts the burden for her parents’ financial support. Taking on a job at Highland Hall as governess, she quickly finds that teaching her four privileged, ill-mannered charges at a grand estate is more challenging than expected, and she isn’t sure what to make of the estate’s preoccupied master, Sir William Ramsey.

Widowed and left to care for his two young children and his deceased cousin’s two teenage girls, William is consumed with saving the estate from financial ruin. The last thing he needs is the distraction coming of a kindhearted-yet-determined governess who seems to be quietly transforming his household with her persuasive personality, vibrant prayer life, and strong faith.

While both are tending past wounds and guarding fragile secrets, Julia and William are determined to do what it takes to save their families--common ground that proves fertile for unexpected feelings. But will William choose Julia’s steadfast heart and faith over the wealth and power he needs to secure Highland Hall’s future?


Needed a book about a governess and this was the first thing that popped up that caught my fancy. Didn't realize it was a Christian Fiction at first...but then I was in too deep and I had to find out what happened next. 

The story follows Julia and William. Julia and her parents just came back to England from many years over in India as missionaries/doctors because of her father's failing health. To help her family financially she decides to get a job at Highland Hall to be the governess of William's two kids and his two young cousins. William is widowed and his cousin died leaving Highland Hill to him. The two have secrets and have past wounds that hinder them to trust others. 

This was super Christian-y, but not the worst I have read. It didn't overshadow the story or our characters, so it was easy to glance over for the most part. There were some parts that I had to skim through because it dragged on and on and on about God. I get it. I do, move forward pleasssssssse. 

I did enjoy watching Julia and William get to become friends and then they started falling for each other. It was slow, but it made sense. Different social classes, different personalities, and they are employer-employee. It worked well for a slow burn. 

The side stories were fun, but I did get annoyed with Mrs Emmett and the other idiot. Grrr! The motivations they had made barely a lick of sense to me. Horrible, horrible. I was also mad they really didn't get the karma they needed. (Spoiler but not spoiler). Not cool. I hate lose ends. 

Sara's little romance was cute. I was cheering for her the whole time! I wanted more of her story!

Now...the ending annoyed me. It was too perfect. Perfect solutions to real-life problems. What are the chances??????? Not likely and it all seemed too suspect to me. Meh. 

The narrator was good. I liked her. I would listen to more by her. She did well with different accents and made everyone sound different. 

Overall, this was not bad. The Christian aspect didn't hinder the story or characters, but there were some bits that made me skip forward because I was bored and annoyed. The side characters were fun except for the two. Ugh they deserve some sort of punishment! The ending left me rolling my eyes. Too convenient if you ask me. I'll give this a......mmmm....2.  

About a Governess. BINGOOOOO! lol

Audiobook Review: Redcoats and Sleigh Bells by Carol A. Spradling

Author: Carol A. Spradling
Narrator: Stacey Tisdall
Title: Redcoats and Sleigh Bells
Genre: Historical Romance, Christian Fiction
Pages: Audiobook
Published: May 14th 2012
Where I Got It: My shelf (Audible)

It took more than a bullet wound to stop Holly Masters from completing her intelligence mission. Generals, patrols, and experienced scouts had been her sport, until she met Dr. Nicholas Clayton. Severely injured and now his patient, in order to complete her assignment, she must decide if she can kill the man who saved her life.


Nicholas has healed wounded men for both the Patriots and the Crown, but he never expected to find a wounded woman, dressed in a British military uniform, on the edge of his property. Tucked into her coat sleeve, she holds many secrets that will change the course of the war.


As an officer, Nicholas has a duty to prevent her from leaving his custody. As a doctor, he has the means to prevent her from revealing what she knows. Trained for every action, nothing has prepared him for what he knows he must do.

A secret of mine, which is not a well-kempt secret mind you, is that I morally support the Continentals, but I love a good looking fella in a Redcoat uniform. They look SO dashing. Give me a man dressed in the Redcoat uniform any day over! ;) So when this popped up as a freebie, I grabbed it right away. 

This is a short story about a woman Patriot spy who finds herself at the mercy of a Redcoat doctor. While she is healing from her wound, they bound and fall in love. 

It really was a sweet story with a hint of danger. It was a lot of fun. I liked Holly and I adored Nicholas. Yes, they fell in love pretty quickly, but they were both lonely souls who latched onto each other. This was technically a Christian Romance, BUT there really was no God talk. Soooo I'm not sure how this landed in that genre? There was a lot of lustful thoughts between these two. Not complaining, but just wanted to give a head's up for those that only read Christian romance...this really shouldn't have been put in that genre at all.

I feel for Holly but I also feel for her parents. I can't imagine! They are loyal to the crown while she is a Patriot. Not an easy relationship. Hopefully, after the war, they can all be family again! The brother, even though he was a Redcoat himself, still loves her and worries for her. A hot mess all around. 

The ending left me needing more. What happened AFTER the war? Ugh. There should've been more indeed!

Well..now I liked the story, but the narrator? Not so much. She seemed so bored. I really think I would've liked this more if I had read it. Bummer. 

In the end, I liked the story, but the narration was left to be desired. I'll give this 3 stars. 

Book Review: Keeper of the Stars by Robin Lee Hatcher

Author: Robin Lee Hatcher
Title: Keeper of the Stars (Kings Meadow Romance #3)
Genre: Christian Fiction, Romance
Pages: 306
Published: January 26th 2016
Where I Got It: Borrowed from library

 She blames him for her brother's death. Can she let go of resentment and open her heart to love?

Penny Cartwright found it difficult to understand why her younger brother would choose to join a country singer’s band rather than return to Kings Meadow after college . . . and the separation strained their relationship. Then a car accident made certain her brother could never return.

Trevor Reynolds has chased stardom in Nashville for more than a dozen years, but it remains out of his reach. After an accident kills his young drummer, Trevor goes to Kings Meadow to keep a promise—and perhaps to discover what truly matters in this life.

Thrown together by circumstances, Penny and Trevor must learn to give and receive forgiveness. And if they do, perhaps something beautiful can rise from the ashes of heartbreak1945 and the present day. 

A random find at my new library so why not? The cover is cute, the title unique, and the summary had promise. Alas…you cannot win them all. 

The story follows Penny and Trevor. Penny’s brother has died and she is bitter. She is sad. She is angry. Trevor was a bandmate of Penny’s brother. Penny blames Trevor even though Trevor didn’t do anything. We get to see some of the brother’s POV here and there. Which was fun. 

I really need to go to Goodreads first before picking up and reading any books. This was just sitting in the ROMANCE section so I was not aware that this was a Christian Romance. The genre isn’t bad, but it really isn’t my cup of tea unless written really well. But yes as I was reading this it dawned on me that this was not just a winter-time Romance with some heavy story of forgiveness. So much God talk. 

Normally I can handle some and it can add to the story, but this drowned out the story. I had a hard time enjoying the characters and their story. Too much God talk. It really overtook the story. Which is a super bummer. 

Penny and Trevor were meh. I wasn’t a fan of them. They were not BAD, but they were boring. They annoyed me especially Penny. Yes, yes, I get she is full of grief but it really wasn’t fair of her to blame Trevor. 

This wasn’t for me at all, but I held on as long as I could. Sadly, I skimmed so much just to get the end to see what happened. I’ll stamp this with 2 stars. Not horrible, but SO not for me. 

Book Review: The Shack by William Paul Young

Author: William Paul Young
Title: The Shack
Genre: Christian Fiction
Pages: 248
First Published: May 2007
Where I Got It: My Shelf (Xmas gift a while back)

Mackenzie Allen Philips' youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation, and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later in the midst of his "Great Sadness," Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend.

Against his better judgment he arrives at the shack on a wintry afternoon and walks back into his darkest nightmare. What he finds there will change Mack's world forever.

This has been collecting dust on my shelf for a bit. My aunt got this for me. I've avoided it because I knew this was going to be a crier and this did not disappoint. Also, this is technically a "Christian Fiction", so not normally something I grab, but sometimes I'll stumble upon one that looks good. 

Let's go back to the crying-ness. There some sad tears and some happy tears. Mostly sad tears. Ugh....I can't imagine having to deal with this...not at all. I do not have children of my own yet, but I have children in my life I care about. Just...horrible. 

Now, this book is about Mack (the father of the child) and his journey to self-forgiveness and coming to peace with what tore his world apart. It is also a book about Mack finding his way back to God and self-love. 

I didn't expect what the author did when Mack got to shack. Crazy and different. This was the part that got very heavy handed with the religious talk. It was interesting to read the author's view on Christianity. Now, I must applaud the author for not shoving Christianity down the throats of reader. This can be read by those who are not Christians. 

The ending was good. It made me cry. But it was happy tears. 

There is more I would like to say, but there are a lot of spoilers. I will say that I loved Mack's (and even his family's) road to recovery and being able to move forward. I loved the message that was given about forgiveness. Forgiving is important, but one won't ever forget what happened. Forgiving someone who did you ill is not necessarily for the person who did the bad thing...it is a way for the wronged to be able to move forward and not be stuck in the past and wrongs. 

In  the end, this was certainly worth the read even though it was a Christian Fiction and made me cry. I liked the characters. The religion was poured on a little thick, but that is my bias. I shall stamp this with 4 stars. 

Book Review: Washington's Lady by Nancy Moser

Author: Nancy Moser
Titles: Washington's Lady (Ladies of History #3)
Genre: Historical fiction & Christian Fiction
Pages: 414
First Published: Junes 2008
Where I Got It: Borrowed from Library

When a dapper, young George Washington comes into her life, Martha Custis is a young widow with two young children. Their love and loyalty toward each other—and the new nation they fight for, lasts a lifetime and is an inspiration even now, after 250 years.

I’ve always loved Martha and George, so this was a no-brainer for me to read when I stumbled upon this at the library randomly. Martha, in real life, is so strong and George is so brave. They are one of the cutest couples in History. I always felt bad they never had children together, but it was so sweet that George adopted Martha’s children from her first marriage. Cute.

Now, to this novel….this novel begins with Martha just losing her husband and her baby. Super sad. She experienced a lot of death in her youth. She only has her two kids left, but at least she is nice and wealthy. Things were super slow until George came into her life. 

George was a complete gentleman, like I pictured, and they pretty much had insta-love and I am okay with that. Back then you didn’t have time to mess around. Goodness knows when you would get some disease or get killed in battle. 

In real life, I adore Martha, in this book I wanted to punch her. She was selfish, petty, shallow, and weak. This is NOT the Martha I “know” and love. I get everyone has weaknesses and tries to grow from them. She is only human…totally get it. BUT she never learned from none of her mistakes…ever….ever. She was a little better near the end with the Revolution sparking up, but the first half the book she needed a good bash in the head. Martha…are you for realz? Not punishing your kid when he draws on the wall? And begin the scene: 

George: WE HAVE TO PUNISH HIM!

Martha: Oh George….kids will be kids.

George: That is expensive shit lady! He needs to at least clean off the wall and apologize.

Martha: BUT BUT I CAN’T PUNISH HIM!!!!!! 

George: Why?

Martha: Because he’s my baby boy and I want him to love me as much as he can! If I’m mean to him I’ll regret it FOREVER!

George: No. We are making him clean the walls.

Martha: Fine. *makes the kid apologize, but allows the kid to convince a slave to clean the wall and take the credit for it* Wow…maybe I should of listened to George, because I don’t want my kid to be a punk.

*Two minutes later*

Martha: I CAN NEVER PUNISH MY POOR INNOCENT BABIES!!! *resumes coddling and ignoring George*

GAH! 

Other than Martha, the rest of the book was entertaining. I didn't realize this was a Christian Fiction until I checked on Goodreads after I was done. Which is saying a lot and that makes me happy I didn't notice. I can't stand books that are dripping with an overdose of God-ness. Also, I loved seeing a young and pre-Revolution George. I just wish Martha was the Martha I’ve read about in other books. 

In the end, this was just overall okay. The version of Martha in this one bugged me. She was opposite of every other novel and story I’ve read about her and George. Simply Gah. Out of five stars, I shall unfortunately stamp this with 2 stars. 

Book Review: Born of Persuasion by Jessica Dotta

Author: Jessica Dotta
Title: Born of Persuasion (Price of Privilege #1) 
Genre: Historical Fiction, Christian, Mystery, & Romance
Pages: ebook
First Published: 2013
Where I Got It: My shelf (Amazon freebie)

The year is 1838, and seventeen-year-old Julia Elliston’s position has never been more fragile. Orphaned and unmarried in a time when women are legal property of their fathers, husbands, and guardians, she finds herself at the mercy of an anonymous guardian who plans to establish her as a servant in far-off Scotland.

With two months to devise a better plan, Julia’s first choice to marry her childhood sweetheart is denied. But when a titled dowager offers to introduce Julia into society, a realm of possibilities opens. However, treachery and deception are as much a part of Victorian society as titles and decorum, and Julia quickly discovers her present is deeply entangled with her mother’s mysterious past. Before she knows what’s happening, Julia finds herself a pawn in a deadly game between two of the country’s most powerful men. With no laws to protect her, she must unravel the secrets on her own. But sometimes truth is elusive and knowledge is deadly. 

How on Earth was this a Christian Fiction novel? It was SOOOO dark and a wee bit depressing, because Julia has a lot of bad things happening to her. And how on Earth do I stumble upon these CFs once in a while and not realize that they are CFs? Why do I keep reading when I learning that fact? Okay...I have found a couple good ones in my life, but overall I cannot stand them. They normally end with a character finding God and all is fixed. However, I must pat this book on the back, because this was not the case. Which thank goodness, because there was too much at play in this novel for a simple "I found God" to fix it. Especially with a psycho named Mr. Macy running around. 0.o 

I really wished I could say I liked this book. It sounds SO good in the summary, but alas....this almost ended up as a DNF which is rare with me, because I am a creature of torture and I cannot stop myself from reading even the most horrible of books. Oh you can bet I skimmed and skipped like a crazy kid, but I have the hardest time giving up on a book. Again, I must obviously like torturing myself.

The characters...meh. I did like Mr. Macy oddly, because he is a psycho and so complex that I had no idea what he is playing at. 

Julia...grow a back-bone. And why the Hell did you think marrying Mr. Macy was a good idea. Really? *sighs*

Edward...you confuse me.

Elizabeth...you are to blame for everything pretty much. You need a punch in the face.

Henry...you are little better then Elizabeth.

The only real redeeming part of the book was the last 75%-98% of the book. It was great and I was enthralled! However the beginning and middle lost me...and the last 2% annoyed me. This is part of a series. Nothing was really resolved and nothing really gained. Edward and Julia are back at square one and have no idea what to do. It was a huge cliff-hanger (but a calm one...hard to explain) and I did not like it. Why? Why drag this story on more then it has to? WHY?!!!! UGH!

I shall stop my rambling now.

This was...a total let down. Yes, a small section of the book was enthralling and I am so glad that when the character "found God" nothing was really solved, but the rest...meh. I recommend this if you want a book full of idiots or are looking for an Amazon freebie. Out of five stars, I stamp this with 1 star.  
Favorite Character(s): Mr. Macy & Churchill (the only one making sense in anything) 
Not-so Favorite Character(s):  Everyone else pretty much