Hope Harbor By Irene Hannon

Come home to Hope Harbor--where hearts heal . . . and love blooms.
Tracy Campbell never wanted to leave Hope Harbor, Oregon, or the idyllic three-generation cranberry farm where she grew up. But life--and love--altered her plans. Now she's home again--with a floundering farm to run . . . a tragic secret . . . and a wounded heart. Romance is not on her agenda. Nor is it on Michael Hunter's. The visitor from Chicago has daunting secrets and devastating regrets of his own. But when Tracy recruits him to help with a project that is close to her heart, winds of change begin to sweep through Hope Harbor, bringing healing, hope, and love to countless lives--including their own.

My Take: 

This is the first book of Irene Hannon's that I've read and I loved it, I can't wait to read more from this author! 

Micheal and Tracy were both great characters in this book I liked how they were so willing to help people and it was really sweet to watch them overcome their pasts and find a second chance at love. I also really liked Anne's character and I loved how Michael helped her come out of her shell/isolation. And the setting was perfect. Oregon is beautiful! reading this book brought back memories of a vacation my family took there and even though the town of Hope Harbor is fictional it seems to fit perfectly.  The part I loved most of all was the strong message of forgiveness and second chances throughout the book. All of the main characters had hurts and mistakes in their pasts and it was awesome to see how God worked through each of their lives to bring them to a place of healing and love. Everything about this book was wonderful! I can't wait to visit Hope Harbor again in book two! 

*I received this book from Revell Publishers in exchange for my honest review.

TAKEN By Dee Henderson

An investigator who knows tragic loss firsthand, and his new client, missing far too long...

Abducted at the age of sixteen and coerced into assisting the Jacoby crime family, Shannon Bliss has finally found a way out. She desperately wants to resume some semblance of normal life, but she also knows she has some unfinished business to attend to. She might have enough evidence to put her captors behind bars for a very long time. 

When Shannon contacts private investigator Matthew Dane, a former cop, to help her navigate her reentry into society, he quickly discovers that gaining her freedom doesn't mean her troubles are over. If the Jacoby family learns she is still alive, they'll stop at nothing to silence her. 

If justice is to be done, and if Shannon's life is ever to get on track again, Matthew will need to discover exactly what happened to her--even if it means stirring up a hornet's nest of secrets. 

My Take: 

If your looking for a different spin on a usual Romantic Suspense book look no further than Taken. Taken is a different book because it reveals what happens when someone who's been missing reappears after 11 years, and the process of what they have to go through to get their life back. 

There were several things I liked about this book.

I like that Shannon's faith remain strong despite her ordeal and I really enjoyed the conversations she had with Matthew about faith.

I enjoyed the developing friendship/romance between Matthew and Shannon.
The plotline dealing with bringing Shannon's abductors to justice was interesting.

I like that Shannon was portrayed as a survivor. Impacted by her kidnapping but not crippled by it.

I like that characters from Dee's other books were in this one.

I liked Matthews prayer before one of the meals towards the end of the book it has to be one of my favorite book prayers ever! Lol!

It's a good book but there were a few things that kept me from loving it.

The story is mostly from Matthew's point of view, and we never see/hear the story from Shannon's point of view. When I'm reading a book, especially a romance. I like hearing the female characters thoughts/voice because it helps me to better connect with both characters and the story.

The plotline is more about uncovering past secrets than solving a present problem. I didn't mind too much because the story was interesting anyway but the back of the book portrays that there is action involved.

I wish there would've been a bit more of what was in the diary.

All in all I like this book, it's a little more on the relaxing side but that's nice every once and a while.  If you haven't read any of Dee Hendersons recent books you might be slightly confused at certain parts in this story. 

Favorite Quotes:

"God decided to create a world where free will was more important than no one ever getting hurt. There must be something stunningly beautiful and remarkable about free will that only God can truly grasp, because God hates, literally abhors, evil, yet he created a world where evil could happen if people chose it. God sees something in free will and choice that's worth tolerating the horrifying blackness that would appear if evil was chosen rather than good. I find that utterly remarkable."

Jeremiah 5:22 

Do you not fear me? Says the Lord. Do you not tremble before me? I placed the sand as the boundary for the sea, a perpetual barrier that it cannot pass; though the waves toss, they cannot prevail; though they roar, they cannot pass over it. 

"The ocean is vast. Big. Powerful. It's free. I love that. And it's contained where it belongs by God. I love the ocean for what it is, and for what it tells me about my God." 

* I received this book for free from Bethany House publishers in exchange for my honest review. 

Click Here to go to Dee Hendersons webpage


Watch the book trailer Here!

A Love Like Ours By Becky Wade

Former Marine Jake Porter has far deeper scars than the one that marks his face. He struggles with symptoms of PTSD, lives a solitary life, and avoids relationships. 

When Lyndie James, Jake's childhood best friend, lands back in Holley, Texas, Jake cautiously hires her to exercise his Thoroughbreds. Lyndie is tender-hearted, fiercely determined, and afraid of nothing, just like she was as a child. Jake pairs her with Silver Leaf, a horse full of promise but lacking in results, hoping she can solve the mystery of the stallion's reluctance to run. 

Though Jake and Lyndie have grown into very different adults, the bond that existed during their childhood still ties them together. Against Jake's will, Lyndie's sparkling, optimistic personality begins to tear down the walls he's built around his heart. A glimmer of the hope he'd thought he'd lost returns, but fears and regrets still plague him. Will Jake ever be able to love Lyndie like she deserves, or is his heart too shattered to mend? 

My take:

This is the first of Becky Wades books that I've read. It's the third book in the series the Porter family novels. Even though it was the third book it wasn't confusing. 

What I liked:

- The setting: i've always loved horses and horse racing so I loved the storys setting.

- The complex characters. I like that Becky Wade didn't treat PTSD as an "easy fix" where Jake finds love and suddenly has no issues. I also really liked Lyndie. 

What I didn't like: 

Ty is described in this book and  throughout the series as very good-looking. However, in this book, he is married. Yet, Lyndie's friend gets flustered around him because he's so hot and comments/notices his good looks a few too many times. It thought it had an uncomfortable feel to it. 

Missionary dating:

Lyndie starts dating Jake fully aware of the fact that he's not a Christian/committed to the things of God. And then prays that she won't fall in love with him! Well, for 1 that's not logical and 2, does that mean that it would be okay for him to fall in love with her!? This bothered me so much that I put the book down for a while. I finally did pick it up again just to see if it would have a good ending. Thankfully it did. 

Overall this was an okay book. I won't go out of my way to read the rest of the books in the series but if I happen to stumble across one I might read it. 

May free stuff!

I think this was the best month ever for free stuff!

I got this box of goodies free to review from Influenster! 

This book free to review from Bethany House! 

This toilet paper free to review from Crowdtap!

This free box of stuff to try for SampleSource!

And these Playtex Sport Combo sample packs. The top 2 boxes were from Crowdtap and the bottom one was from Pinch Me 

I also got another one in the mail and I have no idea where it came from! I don't remember requesting it and it didn't say where it was from on the label. Anyway thanks if it was you! 

Blossom VoxBox Review

INFLUENSTER BLOSSOM VOXBOX REVIEW!!

I was so excited to receive this VoxBox from influenster! It was really fun testing all the products! 

BEANITOS:

Item description:

SUPERFOOD, Not junk food! Beanitos are made from super nutritious whole beans, without corn or wheat, and baked two crispy perfection. One serving of Beanitos chips naturally contains up to 6 grams of healthy fiber and 4 grams of complete protein. Beanitos snacks are real food, full of fiber and protein, free of preservatives, and made only with natural, gluten-free, and non-GMO ingredients.

My Take: i'm not much of a healthy chip type of person, when I eat a chip I want to eat a regular junkie chip. Not a healthy chip. Lol! All in all the Beanitos chips were okay but I thought they had kind of a strange aftertaste but if you like healthy chips you might like them. 

More Info  HERE!

HAIR FOOD ROOT CLEANSING SHAMPOO:

Item description: 

Inspired by the benefits of nutrient-packed, vitalizing ingredients like strawberry and ginger, Hair food root cleansing shampoo deeply cleanses hair to remove buildup for lustrous, natural shine. Similar to how a juice cleanse can detoxify your body, the Hair food root cleansing shampoo cleanses the hair of dulling residues and can be used as a regular shampoo or a deep clean supplement to your routine.

My Take: I really liked the hair food shampoo! It made my hair feel really clean and soft and it has a really nice smell that stays in your hair for a while instead of leaving soon after you wash your hair like some other shampoos. The only thing I didn't like was the pump on the bottle it refused to pop up and no matter how hard I tried it wouldn't work so I had to unscrew the lid to get it out and that caused it to get all over the place! 

More Info HERE!

BEAR NAKED GRANOLA:

Item description: 

Bear naked granola not only brings great tasting ingredients together, it also includes. Thoughtful Combinations that are uncomplicated and delicious! So here's a big, tribal call out to all those who live simply, wholly and awesomely -to those who live Bear Naked. You're invited to join our epic adventure. Now, try Bear Naked's two new flavors: Coconut Almond Curry and sea salt Carmel Apple! 

My Take:

I really like the caramel apple flavored bear naked granola I think it's the best granola I've ever tasted in my life! It has caramel apple chunks and dried apple pieces it was wonderful! But the coconut curry was horrible it would've been fine without the curry but the two just didn't mix. 

More Info HERE!

NYC NEW YORK CITY PROOF 24HR EYE SHADOW: 

Item description: 

Want round the clock color that never fades or creases? This waterproof eye-shadow delivers vibrant color for up to 24HR wear! In eleven on-trend shades perfect for any look. All you have to do is twist, glide and go!

My take:

I'm not much of an eyeshadow girl but this one seems pretty good! it went on really easy and it has a really vibrant color I didn't fade or crease! It also feels really good on your skin it's not heavy at all. All in all this is a very trendy product! 

More Info HERE!

NAYOSA PASTA ZERO:

Item description:

Nasoya Pasta Zero Noodles are traditional Japanese shirataki noodles that I have only 15 calories and 4 grams of carbs per serving! They easily absorb the delicious flavors you cook with... and will save you about 200 calories versus a serving of regular pasta!

My take:

 This is the most interesting pasta I've ever tried! I found a recipe on the Nayosa website that I used, it was very fast! it took a total of five minutes to prepare!  But the pasta kind of had an earthy smell when I took it out of the package which kind of turned me off and when I tasted  it after it was done it was okay, but the pasta had a strange texture. Anyway I think I'll stick with Regular pasta but if you're looking for pasta with hardly any calories this is for you!

More Info HERE! and the recipe I used HERE 

SALLY HANSEN AIRBRUSH LEGS:

Item description: 

Get irresistible, perfect legs in an instant and gorgeous, healthy looking skin! The light weight formula hides imperfections and won't rub off on clothes. Find Airbrush legs in the Sally Hansen section at your local retailer. Available in five shades to match any skin tone.

My take:

The Sally Hansen Airbrush legs is awesome! It comes in 5 different shades, mine was medium. It kind of has the same look as tanning lotion does but it's so much easier! You don't have to wait for it to set like you do with tanning lotion, and if you missed a spot you can just put more on. It had a strange smell when I first put it on but it went away after a while.  It's very lightweight, it doesn't feel like you have anything on it just makes your legs look really good! I had it on for a couple days and it didn't fade or rub off. I washed it off with soap, water and  a washrag and when I rubbed it came off very easily. 

Tanning lotion Vs Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs: 

Tanning lotion: 

- Takes a couple hours to set.

- When it does you can see all the spots      you missed.

- You can't easily take it off whenever you want you have to wait for it to fade.

Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs:

- Sets immediately.

- If I missed a spot I can easily correct it.

- I can easily take it off whenever I want

- Makes my legs look healthy and hides my imperfections. 

More Info HERE! 

AUSTRALIAN GOLD SUNSCREEN LOTIN SPF 30:

Item description:

Get the color you crave and the protection you need with Australian gold. Now fortified with native Australian Kakadu Plum - delivering vitamin C and antioxidants for radiant looking skin.

My Take:

I put on the Australian gold sunscreen SPF 30 and laid out in my backyard for about an hour hoping to get a tan, but I didn't have much luck. Maybe I didn't lay out long enough I don't know. I'll  have to try it someday that I will be in the sun about all day long to see if that makes a difference. It felt kind of oily when I put it on, I thought it would go away but it didn't really. It also has a very strong smell but it dosent smell bad. If your going to be outside for a short amount of time and you don't want to burn this is probably for you. Or if your going to be outside for a long time give it a try and tell me what you think! 

More Info  HERE!

* "I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes, opinions are my own." 

Blossom VoxBox

Who hoo! I just got my #blossomvoxbox from influenster!! I can't wait to try everything! Product reviews coming soon!

From The Start by Melissa Tagg

Kate Walker used to believe in true love and happily ever after. While her own love life may have left her brokenhearted, it hasn't kept her from churning out made-for-TV romance movie screenplays...until a major career slump and a longing to do something meaningful send her running back to her hometown of Maple Valley. 

Permanently sidelined by an injury, former NFL quarterback Colton Greene is temporarily hiding out in a friend's hometown to avoid the media and the reminders of all he's lost. Maple Valley seems like the perfect place to learn how to adjust to normal life. The only trouble is he's never really done normal before.

While Kate plays things safe and Colton is all about big risks and grand gestures, they both get what it's like to desperately need direction in life. An unexpected project gives them both a chance to jumpstart their new lives, but old wounds and new dreams are hard to ignore. Starting over wasn't part of the plan, but could it be the best thing that's ever happened to them?

My Take:

If you're looking for a book that is witty, cute, and romantic look no farther than From The Start. This is the first of Melissa Taggs books that I have read but it definitely won't be the last! I could easily relate to the characters and I learned a lot about football and about life, I liked the Walker family, the town of Maple Valley and the cover although I pictured Colton more like Tim Tebow than that guy. I thought the town of Maple Valley was so cool, how everybody pulled together after and during a tragedy. I had read on Melissa's blog that she pictured Maple Valley like Stars Hollow from the TV show Gilmore Girls and I could definitely see the resemblance :) 

A book that can make me laugh and draw me in as much as this one did is a book worth reading! Definitely the best book I've read so far this year!

I read the prequel, Three Llittle Words before I began From The Start, which I loved (it's adorable! and the best written novella I've ever read!) and gave a great introduction to the town of Maple Valley. However, you could easily start the series with From The Start, as it can easily be read as a stand alone. But why should you when you can get it FREE!!! right now from AMAZON!! CLICK HERE!! 
As the first in the series, I'm looking forward to reading the following books, about the other Walker siblings! It's sure to be my new favorite series! 

What I loved:

- Kate and Coltons unexpected meeting. 

- The unfolding of Coltons past.

- The very likable and realistic characters.

- The unexpected twists Tagg wove into the story. 

Favorite Quote:

It's called taking a risk, Kate. Think about the characters in your movies. When they finally realize how they really feel – usually at the end – they act on it. The hero goes after the girl, or vice versa. Stop letting your characters be braver than you are. Be the girl who takes the risk. It's okay to admit what you want. When you do, you might finally get brave enough to go after it.

*I received this book for free from Bethany House publishers in exchange for my honest review.

Read a sample chapter HERE!
Take a tour of Maple Valley HERE!

THE AUTHOR

1. 

   © David’s Gallery

   Melissa Tagg

   Melissa Tagg, author of Made to Last, is a former reporter and total Iowa girl. In addition to her homeless ministry day job, she is also the marketing/events coordinator for My Book Therapy, a craft-and-coaching community for writers.  When she's not...

   Continue reading about Melissa Tagg