Eva's Sanctuary: November 2010

Friday, November 26, 2010

Rescuing Olivia

Julie Compton

Minotaur Books 2010

ISBN 978-0-312-37876-9

Anders Erickson has fallen for Olivia. Olivia is somewhat secretive about her past and always hedges around questions she is asked. Anders has things from his past that he doesn't want to discuss either. During an outing, they are forced off of the road and Anders wrecks the motorcycle that they are riding on. Olivia is seriously injured.

Olivia's father blames Anders and refuses to allow him to see her. Anders will stop at nothing in an attempt to see her; but in the process, Olivia mysteriously disappears from the hospital. In an attempt to find her, Anders gets pulled into a game of cat and mouse. Time is running out in his attempt to find her. Anders will have to confront his own past in order to rescue Olivia.

This is my first read of Julie Compton and the second novel that she has written. The first third of the book was rather slow moving. After I reached a certain point, I was unable to put the book down. The story was packed with action and adventure. Intertwined in the story is a family drama that many will be able to relate to. There was quite a mix of dynamic characters; but they were also an odd mix of dysfunctional people. Just about all of them seemed to have some real issues hanging around them. Generally speaking, I enjoyed this book tremendously and highly recommend it. I will most certainly be looking forward to another Julie Compton book.

my rating

Monday, November 22, 2010

Seek Me With all Your Heart

Beth Wiseman

Thomas Nelson 2010

ISBN 978-1-59554-824-5

Emily Detweiler and her family move to Canaan, Colorado after a personal tragedy upsets everything that she believes in. Her parents hope that this move will help her begin to rebuild her life and erase the horrible memories of what happened.

David Stoltzfus's family moves to Canaan for reasons he cannot understand. Sadly, the move does not turn out to be what they had hoped it would be. David is concerned his health condition will lead to an early death so he wants to return to Paradise, Pennsylvania. When David meets Emily, she starts to stir feelings in him that he is not prepared to pursue.

Emily's growing love for David concerns her because she is afraid he will find out what happened to her. Can these two hurting young people be right for each other?

This is the first book in A Land of Canaan series. I was pulled in from the very start and could not put the book down. I devoured the book cover to cover in one sitting. Beth shows how love can capture your heart in the most troubling of circumstances if you are willing to give yourself over to the Lord. If you pray and place your troubles in his hands, he will guide you in your path. This is a sweet love story that will capture you heart. I highly recommend this book and I am sure you will fall in love with the characters as much as I did. If you are in the market for a nice warm hearted read, sit back, relax and enjoy.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

A Time to Love

Barbara Cameron

Abingdon Press 2010

ISBN 978-1-4267-0763-6

Jenny King goes to her grandmother's house in an Amish community to recover from a bombing accident that she suffered while working as a war correspondent. The accident has turned her world upside down. She has lost her self esteem and is unsure as to whether she will ever be able to return to her journalist job. Upon her return, she runs across Matthew Bontrager, a man she had a crush on as a teenager. Will Jenny be able to get past all the emotional scars that she has to allow those feelings to surface once again?

This is the first book in the Quilts of Lancaster County series. It is a sweet love story of two people who are from two different worlds. It is filled with hope, love, and the possibility that love can bridge the gap between two very different people. It also shows if you believe in and allow God to direct your path, nothing is impossible. I enjoyed this book very much and I highly recommend it. If you are a lover of Amish fiction or just like a tender love story, this is the book for you. I will anxiously await A Time to Heal to come out.

my rating

Beg Me

Shiloh Walker

Published by Shiloh Walker on Smashwords 2010

Tania Sinclair had an almost perfect life. She was happily married to a man who willingly indulged her kinky sexual fantasy. All is well until he is killed in a tragic automobile accident and she is later attacked by someone she should have been able to trust. Everything has been taken from her including her fantasies and the good memories of her husband.

Tania is determined to take her life back. First on her agenda will be her fantasies and the memories of her husband. The only person who she trusts enough is her husband's best friend, Drake Bennett. She asks him for a favor...can it possibly be... Well, you will have to read it and find out for yourself.

I am a new follower of Shiloh Walker so this was my first read of hers. All I can say is "Oh my goodness." This novella just about blew me away. You must go into the book with an open mind and be prepared for shocking details. There is actually a warning that the story involves light bondage, rape fantasy and role-playing. If your sensibilities do not allow you to think of such things, then I strongly recommend you don't start reading. If you are up for it, then you are in for a fantastic piece of writing. Do I recommend it for everyone? No. Only you can be the judge. Will I read another Shiloh Walker book? You betcha!

my rating

Happy Ever After

Nora Roberts

Berkeley Publishing 2010

ISBN 978-0-425-23675-8

This is the fourth addition to the Bride Quartet. Four friends turn their childhood game of Wedding Day into a dream business called Vows. In each of the previous books, one of the friends falls in love and plans to marry. In Happy Ever After, Parker Brown, who is the face of Vows, has to decide if she will allow her hardened heart to be once again opened by a man.

Mechanic Malcolm Kavanaugh loves to figure out how things work and Parker Brown with the mile long legs is no exception. There is one small hitch. He is good friends with her brother. You just don't go after your friend's sister. In Parker's case, he is willing to make an exception. The big question. Will Parker be willing?

As usual, Nora Roberts has not disappointed me. Some will say that the story is too predictable. I myself like predictable sometimes. I find nothing wrong with boy meets girl, falls in love and happily ever after. In between, you get all the good stuff that makes the falling in love special. There are times I want to sit back, kick my shoes off and let myself fall in love with someone I know I will never have. You see, for me to like a book; I have to become one with the book. If I can live in the characters for just the time I am reading the story, the author has done their job for me. This may not be sufficient for everyone. When I read for enjoyment, I don't want to have to figure out what an author is writing. I want to live through those characters. Nothing more, nothing less.

my rating

Saturday, November 20, 2010

My Books

I have been asked if I really have so many books. The answer is yes I do. These are pics of my book shelves . The paper backs are two and three deep. The hard backs are two deep. As you can see, I have started on the floor.

The Art of Racing in the Rain

Garth Stein

Harper 2008

ISBN 978-0-06-153796-7

Enzo, a free thinking dog, tells the story of his life with the Swift family. His master, Denny, is a race car driver, who in all actuality is more up and down then successful. His wife Eve comes on the scene after Enzo has been around for awhile and then Zoe comes along to complete their family. Enzo becomes ill and proceeds to go back and tell of his life before and after Eve and Zoe. This canine friend is quite the philosopher and has a way of making you stop and think about life. He is known to be quite critical at times and is adept at stating the way things should have been, at least as he sees them.

Anyone who owns a pet or is a pet lover can easily relate to the behind the scenes vocalizations of Enzo. Many of us have probably wondered what our pets were thinking as they watched from the side lines. The author elicits many emotions while reading this story. You may laugh, cry, become angry and maybe even a little self righteous at times. I did, however, want to nudge the story line. There was a little to much mention of the race car scene to suit me and felt the story dragged just a bit. I also found the talking dog narrator a little too hokie for my taste. All in all though it was not a bad story.

my rating

Friday, November 19, 2010

The Dead Travel Fast

Deanna Raybourn

Mira Books 2010

ISBN 978-0-7783-2765-3

     Theodora leaves Edinburgh and a suitor behind with a meager inheritance and her few possessions in hand. She is bound for Rumania to visit an old school chum and to write a book that she hopes will give her the independence she so desires.
     Theodora arrives at a decaying old castle in the Carpathians where tales of vampires are still whispered. She finds her friend caring for a sickly dowager who is the mother of the castle's master, Count Andei Dragulescu.
     Despite the Count's brooding and bewitching manner, Theodora finds herself drawn to him. He awakens feelings in her that she is unable to hide. He ignites her imagination which is as exciting for her, as it is the Count. Is Theodora just one more under his influence?
     Theodora encounters strange and terrifying things while living at the castle. Before her novel is complete, she may fall under more then the passions that have been awakened in her.
      I was drawn into the story from the moment I started reading.Theodora was not going to be a mousey, quiet, do as your told Victorian woman. First of all, she is an authoress. Women just did not write novels. Secondly, she is determined not to follow what her bother-in-law feels is best for her. After all, she doesn't need anyone to take care of her. Her determination sets the stage for the remainder of the book.
      There is nothing dull in any of the writing. I was kept on the edge of my seat throughout. Mysterious things are happening that only take place in fairy tales, or do they? Read the book with your imagination and open yourself once again to those things you believed in as a child. Ms. Raybourn makes you believe in the impossible. Sit back and enjoy the ride.