Check Out Snack Time Devotions!

Hey guys!

I thought I'd post a direct link to this week's post on my other blog, Snack Time Devotions.

My thought was about why God made you. And me. And us. Check it out here.

God bless you!

Why I Review Books

So about a year ago, I had decided to review books more professionally, and posted my first formal review. I had just been offered my first contract and found out I was pregnant, so taking all this time to read was, well...

Kind of wonderful. :)

But it's also time consuming.

In the last year, I've reviewed 16 books. I know that's nothing for most people, but that number is on top of my personal reading, youth ministry, working full time, writing, being pregnant, and being in and out of the hospital all year. Most of them were books I received from publishing houses and blogger programs. A few of them were books I just loved so much I wanted to help spread the word about them.

This picture shows all the books I reviewed in the last year, as well as the three I will be reviewing soon. (Yes, I'm one of those people. I read more than one book at a time.)

So why did I decided to start formally reviewing books? Well, there was a number of reasons.

1) Books. That's a great reason.

2) Books again. :)

3) As an author, it's part of my job to read books. I need to know what kind of stories are selling, how they touch readers, and be able to converse about them somewhat intelligently.

4) It would help build my presence and readership on social media.

5) Because some reviewers can be mean.

Honestly, that was the main reason. I had read a review of a book I was interested in, and was shocked. I'm weird because I like to read the negative reviews, too, because they tell me things that the positive reviews don't. This reviewer ripped into the book. I was appalled. The worst part was this reviewer said they were also an author.

I just thought, "If you're an author, how can you be so cruel and derogatory about a story into which someone poured their heart and soul?" The author was just trying to convey this one important lesson, which they ignored. There was no respect.

I've said several times on this blog that a book wasn't my taste. Not every book or every author is for every person. I don't always like the popular story trends. However, I always try to look for the positive points in a story. And I hope reviewers will do the same for me.

The main reason is because God sees the positive in me, despite all my flaws. So I try to do that for that for others. That's why I review books.

God bless you guys! :) See you April 10th!

V. Joy Palmer

Review of A Daring Sacrifice

 

From the back cover:

The only thing harder than fighting for what's right... is fighting their feelings for each other.

For three year, the Cloaked Bandit has terrorized Wessex, robbing the nobility by knifepoint and a well-placed arrow. But little does anyone know, this bandit is in fact Juliana Wessex, the rightful ruler of the land and a girl her tyrannical uncle - the current Lord Wessex - believes was killed along with her father.

Juliana has become skilled at hiding from Lord Wessex in the forest, using her stolen goods to provide food and shelter to the peasant her uncle has taxed into poverty. But when she robs Collin Goodrich, her red hair betrays her true identity. Lord Collin remembers Juliana from their childhood - and challengers her to stay on his estate for a week in hopes she will leave her thieving ways and become a proper lady once more. Juliana is intrigued by Collin and his charms, but only time will tell if he can overcome her distaste of the nobility - as well as win her heart.

My thoughts:

I read An Uncertain Choice, the first book in this series, last year and enjoyed it but it was a little on the sweetly corny side. I looked forward to reading A Daring Sacrifice, which features one of the knights from An Uncertain Choice. I suppose I was expecting something of a similar nature. However, I was pleasantly surprised.  I really enjoyed A Daring Sacrifice by Jody Hedlund!

I thought Juliana Wessex was a smart, realistic, albeit jaded character. She realizes that just because the nobility don't understand the hardship and persecution of peasant life, that not all of them are evil, and that she should stop judging them. Juliana realized that if she is going to fight battles, it needs to be done the right way, God's way. She's realistic and flawed, and I liked that.

I absolutely loved Collin Goodrich! He was a charming, witty, swoony knight. He wasn't so full of himself to believe that he was doing everything perfectly. Collin realized that he could do more to serve his people. He learned what sacrifice really meant.

The chemistry between Juliana and Collin was intense, and I liked how the author handled their physical attraction and the temptations they faced. The story ends in a similar fashion to An Uncertain Choice, and all I can say that they had better keep Collin safe! A Daring Sacrifice was a sweet love story with an accurate portrayal of what needs to be at the core of every relationship - sacrifice.

I received a copy of A Daring Sacrifice by Jody Hedlund from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my honest opinion, which I have given.

V. Joy Palmer

Review of Katie in Waiting

From the back cover:

Is this it?

Katie McCoy has spent her whole life waiting for the right guy and he isn't coming.

After relocating to Carrington Springs, Missouri, Katie finds herself getting more and more frustrated. Can't God see that she's trying her best to meet someone? Doesn't He care that she's lonely? What is she doing that is making Him not bless her with this?

With two new friends, Eliza and Ashten, by her side, Katie starts to realize that maybe God has bigger plans for her life than she could have ever imagined.

My thoughts:

I love all of Erynn Mangum's books, and this was no exception! It's full of her trademark dialogue, loveable friends, and real emotion.

Katie moves from NYC to a sleepy little town in Missouri. All by herself. She struggles with God about being alone because she has always wanted to get married and have children. She becomes friends with two young women (who will each take a stab at being the main characters in the upcoming books), and suddenly there are not one, not two,  but three men who are showing romantic interest in her.

I will give away one spoiler. Katie doesn't end up with anyone by the end of the book. I hope in the future books that we see Katie's desire to fall in love and get married actually happen. Erynn Mangum, I'm rooting for Luke, by the way. :)

I honestly think this story has an important message that EVERYONE should read. At some point in our lives, every girl, young and old, has felt like this. We have all endured seasons of waiting. It's a wonderful message that we don't have to feel ashamed for not understanding God's plans or struggling with it. It's a loving reminder that despite our hurt, God is enough, wants to be enough. This is a heartfelt story, and you should make it a priority to read Katie in Waiting this year.

Katie in Waiting is the first book in the Carrington Springs Series. I can't wait for the next book which is coming summer of 2016. Once Upon Eliza features Katie's fun friend, Eliza. Yay!

God bless you guys! See you next time! :)

V. Joy Palmer

Review of Mermaid Moon

 


From the back cover:

Mallory’s mother died fifteen years ago. But her father’s last words on the phone were unmistakable: “Find . . . mother.”

Shame and confusion have kept Mallory Davis from her home for the last fifteen years, but when her dad mysteriously dies on his mail boat route, she doesn’t have any choice but to go back to Mermaid Point.

Mallory believes her father was murdered and childhood sweetheart Kevin O’Connor, game warden in Downeast Maine, confirms her suspicions. But Kevin is wary of helping Mallory in her search. She broke his heart and left—without a word—years ago.

When Mallory begins receiving threats on her own life—and her beloved teenage daughter, Haylie—their search intensifies. There’s a tangled web within the supposed murder, and it involves much more than what meets the eye.

As answers begin to fall into place, Mallory realizes her search is about more than finding her father’s killer—it is also about finding herself again . . . and possibly about healing what was broken so long ago with Kevin. She just has to stay alive long enough to put all the pieces together

My thoughts:

When Mallory's father dies, her mission is to make sense of his dying words, "Find...mother." Unfortunately, she needs the help of her ex-beau, Kevin. I love it when characters have deep, emotional histories. It adds to the romantic drama. While there was certainly romantic tension between Mallory and Kevin, I didn't connect to them as much as I would have liked.

This story was certainly full of plot twists! It kept me guessing, and there were turns I didn't see coming. I've read some of Colleen Coble's stories and loved them, but I didn't think Mermaid Moon was up to her normal standards. I liked it, but it didn't grip me the way her previous novels did. Also, one of the earliest plot twists changed the mysterious tone of the story, which is what drew me into the story initially.

I must say, though, that this cover is gorgeous! I love the colors and the design. I feel like it really captured the setting of the story. I've been to the Maine coast before, and Colleen Coble did an excellent job describing its beauty.

While Mermaid Moon wasn't my favorite story by Colleen Coble, I still think it was an excellent read and would recommend it to my friends. This is the second book in the Sunset Cove Series, but you do not need to read the books in order to enjoy the story.

I received a copy of Mermaid Moon by Colleen Coble published by Thomas Nelson from Book Look Bloggers in exchange for my honest opinion, which I have given.

God bless you guys! See you on March 10th. :)

V. Joy Palmer

Review of The Prophetess

From the back cover:

"At last, the mystical figure of Deborah comes to life! Jill Eileen Smith gives vivid voice to the women at the center of Israel's victory over Canaan. A tale of strength and faith that bears relevance even today. Not to be missed!"--Tosca Lee, New York Times bestselling author

Canaan has ravaged Israel. The people are in hiding. All that stands between surrender and hope is one untested woman.

Deborah will never forget the day her father and brothers left to worship at the Lord's tabernacle--or the wails of her mother after finding their bodies at the city gates. The memories of Canaan's cruelty haunt her and all of Israel. Now in this dark time, the Lord calls on Deborah to lead His people away from the idols of other nations and back to Him.

Deborah never asked to be a prophetess or a judge over God's people. Still, she cannot deny His voice or the visions that accompany it. Can her family ever understand? Will her people believe God's calling on her life? And can the Canaanite menace be stopped?

With her trademark impeccable research and imaginative storytelling, Jill Eileen Smith brings to life the story of Israel's most powerful woman in this intriguing and inspiring novel.
 

My thoughts:

Wow. Just Wow.

This book was incredible. I highly recommend The Prophetess by Jill Elieen Smith.

Please remember that Biblical fiction is just that - fiction. It's based on hours of laborious research, but it's just one person's point of view and insight on a story that we know so little about.

But again. Wow.

There were actually five points of view in this novel - Deborah, Lappidoth, Jael, Barak, and Talya who was Deborah's daughter in the story.  Jill Eileen Smith truly made Deborah come alive. I loved seeing Deborah as a wife and mother who questioned her destiny and struggled with her family. She is very relatable!

I loved how the author added Talya as Deborah's daughter. Talya's storyline was expertly crafted, and added so much to the story. By the end of the story, she had grown tremendously, but she wasn't perfect. She was still human, selfish, stubborn, and a dash impertinent. However, I can't imagine the story without her.

We read so much in the Bible about the Israelites oppression, but I think we gloss over the words. We don't think about the pain and agony. The questions during the persecutions. The cries for deliverance. The depth of the victory afterwards. There was so much heartache, triumph, love, uncertainty, and destiny in this novel. Despite being set in the days of old, this novel is very relevant today.

I was given a copy of The Prophetess by Jill Eileen Smith from Revell in exchange for my honest opinion, which I have given.

See you guys again on March 1st! God bless you guys!

V. Joy Palmer

Review of With This Ring

From the back cover:

Sometimes Love is Found in the Most Unexpected Places!

Love isn't always a fairy tale, and it doesn't always go as planned. Sometimes the best stories, though, are the ones that are the most unexpected. Join Karen Witemeyer, Mary Connealy, Regina Jennings, and Melissa Jagears for novellas that celebrate the power of love to triumph . . . even when circumstances go awry!

The Husband ManeuverWhen ranch foreman Daniel Barrett seems ready to leave her life forever, Marietta Hawkins decides to grab the reins on their relationship. But to have any hope of maneuvering him into a proposal, she has to act fast or risk losing him completely.

Her Dearly UnintendedJosiah Huckabee just wanted to make sure Katie Ellen Watson was safe, but when the only bridge to her farm is washed out, the two find themselves alone. Alone, that is, until a menacing stranger appears. Maybe by pretending to be newlyweds, they'll save their reputations--but can pretending to be in love turn into the real thing?

Runaway BrideHired to help Carrie Halsey escape from a dangerous man intent on making her his wife, Big John Conroy never expected the job to interrupt his solitary Texas Ranger life. But now that he's promised to keep Carrie safe, he discovers he may just want to make a few more promises.

Engaging the CompetitionHarrison Gray and tomboy Charlotte Andrews have been rivals for years. With Charlotte intended for someone else, it seems they'll never settle their differences until an accident changes things completely. When Charlotte breaks Harrison's glasses--without which he's nearly blind--she must help with his teaching position, and working together forces these former adversaries to reconsider everything.

My thoughts:

This was a great collection of Historical Romances! My only real compliant was that there wasn't more. I would have loved to see all of these as full length novels. More swoon worthy moments, more laughs, more fun. I think these short stories were the love stores for side characters in the authors' other novels, but someone not familiar with their stories could easily follow along and enjoy them.

The Husband Maneuver by Karen Witemeyer

I cannot tell a lie. This was my favorite story. Marietta was tons of fun, and Daniel Barrett was completely swoon worthy! And I adored the ending!

Her Dearly Unintended by Regina Jennings

This story was a lot of fun. The heroine frustrated me a little bit, but you come to realize that her actions come out of a place of deep hurt. I loved that the couple had known each other for such a long time.

Runaway Bride by Mary Connealy

This was the only couple in the story who didn't know each other for years and years. This was a fast paced story filled with gun fights, being on the run, good friends, and romance.

Engaging the Competition by Melissa Jagears

I enjoyed the fun spin with the heroine being a tomboy and the hero being the book nerd. I like swoon worthy book nerds, too. This was loads of fun filled with unrequited love...until the end that is!

I received a copy of With This Ring a novella collection by authors Karen Witemeyer, Regina Jennings, Mary Connealy, and Melissa Jagears from Bethany House in exchange for my honest opinion, which I have given.

God bless you guys! See you on February 20th! :)

V. Joy Palmer