My Review - Before I Saw You by Amy K. Sorrells

4 out of 5 stars

BEFORE I SAW YOU by Amy K. Sorrells was moving, thought provoking, and genuine, making for an emotional but fulfilling read.

Jaycee Givens’ life has been a difficult one. Loss, betrayal, and tragedies have plagued her, even before reaching adulthood. Even so, with her overcoming spirit, she refuses to give up on life, even if at times the obstacles before her seem insurmountable.

Jaycee has a unique circle of friends she has come to rely on and is making the best of her lowly situation. But when Jaycee literally stumbles into Gabe Corwin, a new guy in town, her daily life slowly changes. There is a spark between Jaycee and Gabe, and soon a friendship forms. However, when Gabe finds out Jaycee is pregnant, she feels his judgment in the way he keeps his distance. Gabe eventually apologizes for his behavior and soon becomes one of Jaycee’s strongest allies. Even though Jaycee has the support of her little community of friends, she realizes she has a very difficult decision to make-keep her child or give him the chance she never had.

BEFORE I SAW YOU draws you in, even if the pacing seems a bit slow. Amy Sorrell allows the story to build with an unhurried momentum which may not sit well with all audiences, but I think it allows the reader to absorb Jaycee’s story at a thought-provoking tempo. I would recommend BEFORE I SAW YOU to anyone who enjoys stories about real life without a lot of sugarcoating or frills.

Tyndale House Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.

My Review - Fearful Symmetry by C.F. Dunn

5 out of 5 stars

FEARFUL SYMMETRY – Just a few adjectives to start. WOW! Exhilarating! Suspenseful! Edge of your seat fiction! If you like a story that transports and completely draws you in, you need to read The Secret of the Journal series.

Though this is not my genre of choice-I’m not usually drawn to fiction that departs from reality- this series is the exception. I actually started the series by reading book two – Death Be Not Proud. I agreed to review book two for the publishing house not knowing the series had a Sci-Fi bent to it. So, I read with skepticism but that quickly changed. I was absolutely mesmerized! Wanting to find out more back story regarding the characters, I read book one. Again, I was completely blown away by the suspense, the intrigue, and the imagination of the author. I bought in to Matthew’s situation hook, line, and sinker.

So as not to give away the intricacies of the story, I will only say that C.F. Dunn birthed an exceptional series, hitting all the criteria. The chemistry between Matthew and Emma is off the charts. The intrigue-not knowing what is going to happen to them-is compelling. The suspense of not knowing when Matthew and Emma would finally let down their guard had me reading late into the night. Though I would’ve liked the series to continue, FEARFUL SYMMETRY provided for me a satisfying conclusion. It left me with peace regarding the characters and their future.

The Secret of the Journal series is escapism at its best!

My Review - Just Let Go by Courtney Walsh

4 out of 5 stars

JUST LET GO by Courtney Walsh is the typical opposites attract story but wrapped in a unique package.

Quinn Collins has been in a holding pattern for the last twenty years. That’s when her mother left town and never came back. However, when she buys the flower shop her mom once owned, and enters a floral contest her mom now judges, Quinn hopes to prove to her mother and herself, that she’s worthy of her mother’s approval. A small-town girl who has never ventured far from home, Quinn’s life is simple and quiet, but that is all about to change.

Grady Benson is a hotshot skier who can’t seem to stay out of trouble. He’s wild and irresponsible, and about to lose his spot on the Olympic team. When he gets into trouble in the small town of Harbor Pointe, Grady figures he’ll pay a fine and be on his way, but the judge has something else in mind. Community service. With only a few competitions left where he can qualify for the Olympic team, and him stuck in the little no-nothing town, Grady feels his chances slipping away.

When Grady is assigned to work with Quinn on the local Winter Carnival, they immediately butt heads. Quinn wants nothing to do with his arrogant, full-of-himself ways, and Grady thinks she’s too up tight for her own good. But, the more time they spend together, the more Quinn sees Grady’s softer side, and the more Grady sees an attractive, caring woman hiding behind a tough-as-nails façade. Though it takes a little time, eventually they come to realize their feelings for each other are genuine. Even so, they never really get a chance to explore those feelings before Quinn discovers Grady has lied to her.

With a lot of back and forth, and push and pull, JUST LET GO is a book you can’t put down for long. I found myself putting it down then picking it right back up again because I wanted to see how Quinn and Grady would navigate the latest obstacle they allowed to come between them. The townspeople of Harbor Pointe and Quinn’s family were lively, providing a colorful backdrop to the story. And with a few unexpected twists, JUST LET GO kept me engaged from start to finish.

I received a complimentary copy of JUST LET GO from Tyndale House Publishers.