Book Review: Summer's Dream by Mary E Hanks

Summer's Dream

Second Chance Series Book 3

by Mary E Hanks

Series: Second Chance Series
Paperback: 314 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (October 20, 2015)

Kindle Edition
File Size: 2114 KB
Print Length: 314 pages
Publication Date: October 19, 2015
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC

Ratings: ★ ★ ★ ★ 

My thoughts:

I love second-chance romances, immediately purchased this without reading the whole synopsis. The story is sweet and heartwarming. I liked that the author wove a realistic relationship between husband and wife. The reconciliation with their newfound faith feels so right. Looking forward to reading Ms. Hanks other books in this series.

Purchase your copy

About the book:

Summer dreamed of becoming an artist and painting natural beauty on canvas. But all that changed when she married Joshua Hart, a man carrying a powerful dream of his own. With a temper to match his wild-boy good looks, he stormed out of their marriage to pursue a life as a musician, leaving her alone and, unbeknown to him, pregnant.

Five years later, Summer is busy raising her daughter and managing the family's camp and retreat center in the woods of Eastern Washington. With her artistic dreams all but forgotten, her world turns upside down the day Josh shows up with an offer to help her get the camp ready--and plans for divorce.

Only Josh didn't expect to find a blue-eyed darling who calls him "Daddy" living at Hart's Camp. Not to mention his surprise over the attraction he still feels for Summer Day. Can he make amends for the past? Or is it too late?

Ty and Winter Williams, marriage-retreat speakers, share their heartwarming story of second chances, and Summer and Josh must face the choices they've made. Is God's grace enough to carry them through the divorce? Or can He change their hearts and help them find their way back to love?

Book Review: The Promise by Beth Wiseman

The Promise 

by Beth Wiseman

Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (October 7, 2014)

Kindle Edition
File Size: 1385 KB
Print Length: 294 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1401685951
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (October 7, 2014)
Sold by: HarperCollins Christian Publishing

Audible Audio Edition
Listening Length: 8 hours and 26 minutes
Program Type: Audiobook
Version: Unabridged
Publisher: Oasis Audio
Audible.com Release Date: September 30, 2014

Note: I received a review copy of this book free from Booklookbloggers.com. The review posted below is based on my personal thoughts while reading the book.

Ratings: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★


My thoughts:

The book tells the story of Mallory Hammond's promise to a dying cousin. Since she couldn't donate her kidney to Kelsey as she was too young for an operation, she vowed to do it and save someone else's life when she's older.

Right after college, Mallory spent all her time literally looking at every opportunity where she can save life. She even worked in a medical clinic so she can help people while waiting to fulfill her promise.  One day, an opportunity came knocking on her door. A dying girl from Pakistan needs to travel to the US so she can have a chance for a better treatment. Although she knew traveling to a war-torn Pakistan would be a dangerous mission, she packed her bag and went to fetch the Pakistani girl.

Thought The Promise is the best Christian book I have read from Thomas Nelson. It talks about how people with different faith and background, still could get along, could feel love to one another as long as they respect each other's belief. Mallory, the main character is a non-believer while her boyfriend is a devout Catholic, her boss and his fiancée are both Muslim. The Promise is tagged as a Christian book, which is usually a slow read. I was pleasantly surprised that the story is intense, lots of action and suspense. Overall, this is an extremely good read, can't wait to read more from this author!

About the book:

Mallory's search for happiness leads her to a faraway place. There she finds heartache, betrayal--and danger. Can the only man she's ever loved rescue her before it's too late? Mallory Hammond is determined not to let her boyfriend, parents, or anyone else get in the way of her #1 goal--to save a life. She had that chance when she was a teenager, and the opportunity slipped away, leaving a void she's desperate to fill. 

Then a new friend she met online offers her the chance she's dreamed of. But she'll have to leave behind everyone she loves to take it. Tate Webber has loved Mallory for years. He understands that Mallory's free spirit has to fly, and when he gives her the space she needs, he hopes that when she lands, the two of them will be in the same place and can marry at last. In a bold move--and with lots of resistance from Tate and those closest to her--Mallory decides to travel across the world to fulfill her dream. Tate begs her not to go, but Mallory embarks on the dangerous journey to Pakistan anyway, only to discover how swiftly and easily promises can be broken. Her new friend isn't who he says he is. And Mallory can only pray she'll make it out alive. 

Inspired by actual events, this riveting story will take you on a wild journey and have you asking yourself: How far would I go for love?

About the author:

Beth Wiseman is the best-selling author of the Daughters of the Promise series and the Land of Canaan series. Having sold over 1.3 million books, her novels have held spots on the ECPA (Evangelical Christian Publishers Association) Bestseller List and the CBA (Christian Book Association) Bestseller List. She was the recipient of the prestigious Carol Award in 2011 and 2013. She is a three-time winner of the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, and an INSPY Award winner. In 2013 she took home the coveted Holt Medallion. Her first book in the Land of Canaan series--Seek Me With All Your Heart--was selected as the 2011 Women of Faith Book of the Year. Beth is contracted with HarperCollins Christian Publishing into the year 2018, and she has published twelve novels and nine novellas to date.

As a former newspaper reporter, Beth was honored by her peers with eleven journalism awards, including first place news writing for The Texas Press Association. She has been a humor columnist for The 1960 Sun in Houston and published articles in various publications. However, writing novels is where her heart is. She left her job as a journalist in 2008 to write novels full time. 

Beth has a deep affection for the Amish and their simpler way of life, and while she plans to continue writing Amish love stories, she is also branching out into other areas. Her first non-Amish, contemporary--Need You Now--released in April 2012 and landed on the CBA Bestseller List. She enjoyed writing the story based in a town near where she lives, and she chose another small Texas town for her next non-Amish contemporary--The House that Love Built--which is based in Smithville, the same quaint town where movies such as Hope Floats and Tree of Life were filmed. 

In a daring new novel, Beth jumps way outside the box. The Promise will take readers far away from Amish Country and small Texas towns to a dangerous place on the other side of the world. Inspired by actual events, Beth believes this is the book she's been working toward for a long time. 

Beth and her husband are empty nesters enjoying the country life in Texas with three dogs, two cats, and two potbellied pigs. When she's not writing, she loves to travel, paint, and enjoy time with friends and family. You can find Beth at Fans of Beth Wiseman on Facebook where she interacts with readers or visit bethwiseman.com to learn more about Beth and her books.

Book Review: Secrets of the Porch by Sue Ann Sellon

Secrets of the Porch

by Sue Ann Sellon

Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Tate Publishing (March 4, 2014)

Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: Tate Publishing (October 28, 2014)

Note: I received a review copy of this book free from the author, Sue Ann Sellon. The review posted below is based on my personal thoughts while reading the book.


Ratings: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★


My thoughts:

When Sophie lost her mother, the only one who has shown her real love, she felt God has forsaken her. She questioned HIM for almost every bad thing that comes her way. She became cynical, believing the only way to survive is to be dishonest and selfish. Her boyfriend Gabe, proves this to be a great 'life strategy'. By doing this, he has managed to survive on the street for years. 

One night, Sophie and Gabe were caught robbing a gas station. Gabe was sent to prison while Sophie, as she's a minor, was given a choice to either enter the juvenile detention or live with her grandmother, return to school, and all other conditions which should be met within a year. The latter sounds like a good choice, but thinking about her mom's past, Lila and her husband must have done something wicked that her mother decided to leave them for good, so it couldn't be that good.

After considering her two choices, she decided to try the second one: live with Lila in Nebraska but she will definitely go back to the city once the 'punishment' is completed.

The author wrote a very good, compelling story. Secrets of the Porch has it all; family, maternal affection, friendship, romance, faith, etc. I was intrigued by the secrets ...Why did Sophie's mother left her parents? Why didn't Lila looked for her daughter? Who is Charles?  Once you open the first page, you will feel the need to keep on reading. The 'secrets' were carefully woven, they managed to keep the story interesting until the last pages of the book. These secrets also gave me a wave of emotions I cannot adequately explain, couldn't count the number of times I had to pause reading as my tears kept on falling. 

There are few references to God and faith so I would also label this as a Christian book, though not a hard-core one. This is certainly a very good book I want to recommend to my dear readers. And I thank the author for sharing this book with me, looking forward to reading more from you!

About the book:

How long can a person hold their secret safe? The agony alone is unbearable. This porch has a story, a life. It breathes with memories of love and secrets. 

Sixteen-year-old Sophie Mae Randolph, caught robbing a gas station with her boyfriend Gabe, avoids the juvenile detention center by accepting the Judge's alternative: that she spend a year on a Nebraska farm with her grandmother, Lila, whom she has never met. None too happy at first, Sophie eventually settles into farm life and opens up to the love of her grandmother, a dog named Hunner, and a new boyfriend named Blake. 

Along the way, Sophie realizes that not only does she have her secrets, but Lila does too. 

When Gabe reappears, Sophie's very life may be in danger. Will Sophie and her grandma share their deepest secrets, or will they hide in the shells they've created for so many year? Discover the transforming power of love and the Secrets of the Porch.

About the author:

Sue Ann Sellon was born and raised along the Missouri River in Nebraska City, Nebraska. Married to her husband and best friend, Dr. Paul Sellon, together they share a love and interest in their historical home and a taste for cooking. Sue Ann was previously a chef and owned her own restaurant, as well as a fashion franchise. Sue Ann has four grown children and six grandchildren.

Secrets of the Porch, an inspirational romance, is Sue Ann's second novel. Her first novel, Carly's Calling was released in 2003. Sue Ann hopes to write many more stories that speak to the power of faith and the endurance of the human spirit.