Break My Fall (fall #2) - Jessica Scott

 

I loved this book!!! It feels different from past books. Josh is recently out of the Army but has no idea how to be a civilian. He is trying to go to college but feels out of place. He fights the demons from his time at war and some personal issues. He finds it hard to socialize and adjust to not being part of the army.

Abby is beautiful, amazing and also fights her own demons. She is in college and completely focused on her studies and future. She's been burned in the past by boyfriends and abusive men her mother dated after he father was killed.

I love the internal struggles they both have. Ironically they are similar in their struggles. I also love the fact we have a white man with an African American woman. This brings up issues with race and prejudices (ironically Abby's parents were the same way). Both characters experienced big growth within themselves and together as a couple. They both had to deal with their past to heal their future!

Never Never Part 3 - Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher

I was so excited this morning when I get up and this was on my Kindle!  I devoured this 3rd part in just a few hours.  I loved that we picked up where we left off, but we figure out that Silas hasn't lost his memories this time.  He's realized Charlie still doesn't have her memories and the timer is on.  He has 48 hours to make her fall in love with him again.  He plays a game with her called "Silas Says".  These things make her do outrageous things, things she used to love about him.  Charlie realizes the truth about her father and how he isn't the man she thought he was.  They both realize they have been raised up "privileged" and neither one really respects each other.  We spend a furious 48 hours learning so much and allowing Charlie to fall back in love with Silas.  Does she find that love she needs to retain her memories? 

Only Forever (Book #4) - Cristin Harber

I loved the ending of this series.  Emma has hid her biggest secret from Grayson (and her family) and it might be a deal breaker.  She finds herself in series trouble and has to ask Grayson to save her, even if he is mad.  Together, they figure out the mess she is in and how to live as a family.  Grayson works through his past and realizes he isn't to blame for his childhood, the death of his mother or the death of his father (or the man he was).  He's not like his father in any way.  He's finally able to be the man he's wanted to be for Emma and Cally. 

Only For Us (Book #3) - Cristin Harber

Book 3 picks up where 2 left off.  Emma and Grayson have to deal with their past together as a couple and individually.  Emma's family (excluding her mother) takes a while to come around to the fact that Grayson is back and he means to stay.  They have a lot to work through, including trust issues.  In the end, they find a new found love and respect for each and Grayson falls in love again... twice.

Only For Her (Book #2) - Cristin Harber

The 2nd book continues where the first one left off.  Three years later after Grayson has left Emma.  She now has a daughter (HIS daughter) and she thinks he's died in the war.  She's working 3 jobs (one of which has her stripping and dancing) and going to school full time.  She's determined to make the best life for her daughter, the one thing she has of Grayson.  She's completely focused herself on her schooling and her daughter, which has left her no time for other romance.  Her heart still belongs to Grayson.
Grayson doesn't die!  He comes back and fights for her.  He's determined the right the wrongs of the past 3 years (and before).  He soon learns he has a daughter.  Her name is Cally (named after his mother, who he blames himself for her death).  Again, he's forced to relieve his past and deal with those things he's tried so hard to run from.  His abusive father, the death of his mother and the girl he loves.
Shit, shoot, shit!  Oh my!

Only For Him (Book #1) - Cristin Harber

I picked this book up on netgalley last year but for whatever reason I didn't get around to reading it until now.  I was hooked from the very beginning.  I didn't realize how much I enjoy the YA/ New Adult storylines.  I felt a connection with Emma and Grayson.  I was sucked into the storyline before I even realized it.  Their love for each other was instance, though either one was willing to admit or act on it.  I loved that Gray was damaged and came from a broken family.  Emma is perfect in so many ways and he needs that.. he needs her.  His ability to get through the "crap" in his day revolves around her and she doesn't even know it.  I was torn into pieces at the cliffhanger and couldn't believe he just left.  But, you can't blame him.  He felt he could never be what she wanted or what she deserved.

A Prince in Plain Sight (Happyily Ever After book #2) - LuAnn McLane

This book picks up where the first book leaves off.  Nick has left suddenly and Anna Lee is left to pick up the pieces of her broken heart.  Just when she thinks she might of mended her broken heart, Nick shows back up and reveals his big "secret".  Her hand is forced into helping Nick and hiding him "in plain sight".  She looses her heart to him again and just as quickly as he came, he leaves again.  This time she's been taken to him and finds out the best news of all.  I would say the cover to this book, should probably be the cover for the NEXT book. 

Donbridge: The Miracles of Midwife Sutton (Novella #3) - RD Vincent

This is my favorite of the 3 books so far.  Maybe because there was more "meat" to the story.  I love Sarah's story from when she was a little girl and "tinkering" with her father.  She grows up to be an amazing Midwife and helps to save her small town.  I also love the "lesson" that is taught to Michael by his grandmother about him being the miracle of his grandfather who was tragically killed. 

Donbridge: The Witch of Tamarack Hill (Novella #2) - RD Vincent

 

This book is almost a "prequel" to the first as we go back into time.  We learn more about Sarah and Lavinia.  I love RD Vincent's ability to tell a story.  He can create such a great picture in my mind I can imagine the folklore as if it's happening.  I love the magic and the mysteriousness about the stories.

Donbridge: The Ring of Lazarus by RD Vincent (Novella #1)

This was a short novella.  It reminded me of a "ghost" story we would sit around and tell each other as kiddos at a sleepover.  Lots of mystery, magic and folk lore. 

A Reason to Stay - Kellie Coates Gilbert (3 book in Texas Gold Series)

I really liked this book. It is very different from the first two in the series (please note that all the books are stand alone books and you don't need to read them in order). This book is told in two settings. One before the accident and one after the accident. I love that you bounce back and forth between the two time periods to fill in the gaps. You don't have all the information to start with and it allows you to gradually learn all the details while trying to understand the circumstances.   I really liked this book. It is very different from the first two in the series (please note that all the books are stand alone books and you don't need to read them in order). This book is told in two settings. One before the accident and one after the accident. I love that you bounce back and forth between the two time periods to fill in the gaps. You don't have all the information to start with and it allows you to gradually learn all the details while trying to understand the circumstances. Faith was an amazing woman, though it took her a while to figure it out. She is worthy of love and attention even though she didn't get that from her family when she was younger. She grows by leaps and bounds in her personal life, career, love life and her walk with God. She so desperately wanted to plan things (to a "T") and life doesn't work that way. I often find myself in the same boat when trying to do things "my" way. I also appreciated the author notes and understanding where the idea of the story came from. What an amazing testimony to life and being resilient. Life is hard work and so is love. You have to work at both. Some days you get it right and some days you don't. But you get up the next day and you try again. Through it all, God is always faithful even when it feels like your world is falling apart.

Molly Crabapple - Drawing Blood book review.

I didn't love this book but nor did I hate it. I liked being inside the world of an artist and "seeing" how she viewed the world. I sometimes felt manic in her writing. She had some really great highs and then some really low lows. I can't understand some of her life choices but I think that is what drew me to the book. I could live inside her world while being safe in mine. I can't imagine being all the places she has been and all the experiences! Her drawings are amazing and she is incredibly talented. Her drawings tell so much of her story and who she is as a person. It is a way for her to rationalize what isn't really rational.  Art was an outlet for her.  She didn't seem to have much guidance when she was young as her parents were rather free and "hippie" like.  Somewhere along the way she found herself and who she is as a person.  Her art speaks volumes about her and her life experiences.