A Broken Kind of Beautiful by Katie Ganshert

The more I read by Katie Ganshert, the more a fan I become. Ms. Ganshert's newest novel, A Broken Kind of Beautiful gives the reader a glimpse into the world of modeling and fashion photography. The reader will find themselves caring deeply for the characters residing in Greenbrier, South Carolina.

It is the story of fashion model, Ivy Clark and former Fashion Photographer turned church handyman, Davis Knight. Their story is a journey of their self-discovery out of their brokenness and into a new life of hope, love and forgiveness. There were times I wanted to reach out and shake them to get their attention, but then I had to remind myself it was only a story.

When Ivy's dreams are shattered she must learn to trust in God before she can move forward with her life. Watching her journey throughout the pages of this book were at times difficult and painful but the outcome was well worth the time spent. The character of Davis needs to learn to forgive himself and until he does, he will continue to blame himself for past mistakes.

I found A Broken Kind of Beautiful a story of broken dreams being restored into new dreams all by our wonderful Creator. There is a lesson to be learned in this book and I guarantee you that it is a lesson worth learning.

I would highly recommend A Broken Kind of Beautiful to anyone who enjoys a good clean read that shares a lesson within its pages.

On a 5-Star Scale = 4 1/2 Stars!!!!

I would like to thank Blogging for Books and Waterbrook Press for my copy of A Broken Kind of Beautiful. Blogging for Books provided this book to me for free in exchange for an honest review.

Smiles & Blessings,

  

Forever Friday by Timothy Lewis

For those who are regular readers of my blog, you know that I love the work of Dan Walsh. Well, I have now discovered an author who has a very similar voice to Mr. Walsh, and that author is Timothy Lewis and his book Forever Friday is an absolute gem.

The story moves back and forth through time, much like some of the books Dan Walsh writes. Forever Friday begins in 2006 as Adam Colby, an owner of a small estate-sale business, rescued several photo albums that the bargain hunters and antique buyers overlooked. Within the pages of the photo albums were picture postcards. These weren't just any postcards, each one had a poem expressing the love Gabe Alexander had for his wife Pearl Huckabee (she goes by the name of Huck). Gabe sent one to her so she would receive it every Friday for sixty years.

Adam Colby is divorced and while reading the postcards he becomes intrigued with the depth of commitment that Gabe had for Huck. Can he discover the secret to their long passionate love or did it die with them? He soon meets Yevette Galloway, the daughter of Priscila Galloway, the long-time housekeeper for the Alexanders. She begins to reveal the story behind the postcards and Adam knows it is a story that needs to be told.

Mr. Lewis did a wonderful job of bouncing back and forth between the years. He takes us on the wonderful journey of Gabe and Huck as they meet for the first time in Cecil's Fish Market & Seafood Emporium and when they walk into eternity together from the Bayshore Extended Care Facility. I was pulled into Gabe & Huck's story from the first page and they became like family to me.  The characters of Gabe and Huck were vibrant and believable. The story read more as a memoir to me then a story of fiction, but that could be because Mr. Lewis based the story loosely on the life of his great-aunt and great-uncle, who left a legacy of postcards behind as well.

Forever Friday is a story of love and commitment between man and wife that spanned a lifetime. I must admit that I laughed and I cried throughout the book. Mr. Lewis touched my heart with this book and I could easily see it made into a movie.  Are you listening Hollywood? Besides, Mr. Lewis also writes screenplays so you needn't look beyond him.

I would highly recommend Forever Friday to anyone who enjoys reading a good book.

On a 5-Star scale - 5 HUGE Stars!!!!!

I would like to thank Blogging for Books and WaterBrook Press for my advanced reader's copy. I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest review, which I have done.

Please enjoy the video promo below.
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Smiles & Blessings,

Wishing on Willows by Katie Ganshert - a review

I became a fan of Katie Ganshert after reading her debut novel, Wildflowers from Winter (read my review here).  So when I was given the opportunity to read her sophomore novel, Wishing on Willows,  I jumped at the chance. I wasn't disappointed.

Wishing on Willows is a sequel to Wildflowers from Winter but it can also be read as a stand-alone book.  It is a sweet novel of healing, second chances and renewed hope.

Robin Price is a widow and single parent of Caleb, an energetic 3-year-old. She owns and operates Willow Tree, a local cafe in the small Iowa town of Peaks.  Willow Tree was a dream she and her deceased husband, Micah had for their lives.  Unfortunately, Micah dies before Caleb is born and before the cafe comes to life.

Enter Ian McKay, a project manager for his father's firm, McKay Development and Construction.  It is there plan to buy out the owners of the property on the south side of Peaks in order to build condominiums.  A new factory is being erected in Peaks, and the Mayor and Town Council want to gain as much tax revenue as they can by having the condos built before the factory is completed so the new factory workers will choose to live in Peaks and not in a neighboring town.  The problem is, Willow Tree is on the land that Ian McKay chooses to buy.  Fireworks fill the air as these two wonderful characters interact with each other.

Ian and Robin have both suffered great loss and these losses are revealed slowly throughout the book.  Ms. Ganshert has a phenomenal way of creating believable characters that pull you in and won't let go.  I laughed with them and cried with them and I wanted to fight for them as well.

I could go on and tell you all the wonderful gems that were revealed in this book but that would be releasing a spoiler and I will never do that intentionally.

If you like to read good clean romantic fiction this is definitely a book you need to pick up.  I read it in one day, it is just that good.

On a 5-Star Scale = 5 BIG Stars!!!!!

I would like to thank WaterBrook Multnomah and Blogging for Books for my Advanced Reader Copy.  I received my copy for free in order to read and give my honest review, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,

Not This Time by Vicki Hinze - a review

Terrorist attacks, a kidnapping, a blood soaked mattress and a sweet love story all loom within the pages of Vicki Hinze's book Not This Time, the third book in her Crossroads Crisis Center series.

Having read the first two books in the series, Forget Me Not and Deadly Ties, I couldn't wait to read Not This Time.  To be honest, out of the three books in the series, Not This Time is my favorite.

Not This Time is a story rich in believable characters that take the reader on a fast paced, extremely suspenseful journey.  The twists and turns within the story keeps the reader guessing until the very end.  I must say I was not disappointed in the outcome of the story.  I'm not sure if there will be another book in this series but I would definitely love it if Ms. Hinze came back with at least one more.

If you enjoy good Christian fiction that has believable characters and is filled with love and suspense, Not This Time is a book for you.  I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

A a 5 star scale - 5 stars!!!!!

I received my copy of Not This Time from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group Blogging for Books.  I received my copy for free in order to read and give my honest review, which I have done.  No monetary compensation was received.

Blurb from back of book:

SMALL TOWN SCANDAL.

INTERNATIONAL TERRORIST ATTACK.

WHO AMONG THEM IS THE TRAITOR?

Sara and Beth have built a multi-million dollar business together, but their once solid friendship is now strained.  Beth is leery of Sara's husband, and when he is kidnapped, authorities consider Beth their prime suspect.

     Then their small town of Seagrove Village is rocked by an act of terrorism, and Beth doesn't know who to trust.  Someone she knows is linked to the attack, but who?  Is there a connection to Crossroads Crisis Center?  In the midst of the confusion and fear, Beth finds herself attracted to a man from her past.  She knows she shouldn't fall in love with him, but she can't resist or even explain their bond.  As her world unravels around her, she wonders, is it possible to be beyond redemption?

Smiles & Blessings,