Rachels Deception

                   
 Rachels deception
Author: Karen Ann Hopkins
  Pages:324
Published: May 8th 2015

Summary: Growing up Amish is difficult…but leaving it behind is even harder.

Noah was Amish...Rose wasn't. Being together should have been impossible. But somehow they found a way to make it work. They are finally a family, but their happily-ever-after is still a long off. Will Rose and her friends be able to force real change in the community?

Karen Ann Hopkins returns with a gripping new book in the YA Temptation series. The powerful family saga continues with Rachel's Deception, as events spiral out of control in the sleepy farming community of Meadowview. And Rachel Miller has her own secrets to hide. Noah’s younger sister has been living a double life. That is, until Justin Cameron, Rose's little brother, catches her in the act. Rachel is not the obedient Amish girl that her sister was, and her rebelliousness takes her to a very dangerous world. A world that only her true friends can help her escape from.

As Rachel questions all she has been taught about love, family, and commitment, Rose discovers what it really means to be shunned. And an evil shadow looms on the horizon, threatening not only Rose, but everyone she holds dear.



My Review:
I have reviewed all three of the first books in the series and I fell in love with everything. The writing, the Amish lifestyle, the storyline and the action that came with and I thought that the 3rd book in the series would be the last one and I got sad knowing there was no more of Rose and Noah's story. There was so much I wanted to know yet. I wished for just a little bit more of there life and when Karen announced that there would be another book I fangirled a little bit.

I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy of "Rachel's Deception." Even though the fourth one was more about Noah's sister Rachel and Roses sister Justin, I sill couldn't wait.

I started this book as soon as it came in the mail and if I'm being honest, I felt like the beginning went a little slow. For some reason I couldn't stay in the story and my mind wondered to other things and I started putting it down and reading something else. After finishing another series I started off where I left off and finished the last half of the book.

Maybe I was out of my book slump but the second half was definitely more intriguing and help my attention a lot more. So if there's more of you out there thinking that you just cant get through the book, there hope! I wanted to read more and more. There was more action and I loved every part. I was sitting on the edge of my seat biting my nails with suspense.

If you loved the first 3 books in the series. You wont be disappointed with this one. We have a different view on different characters and its a nice change. I'm just wondering...... Will there be another one?


3/5 stars



Read my interview with Karen here .

Becoming Beauty book review

Title: Becoming Beauty
Author:Sarah E. Boucher
Pages: 243
Publication Date: November 11 2014









Summary:
Claws. Long, filthy, and dangerously sharp.

They’re the first thing Bella sees after what’s been the worst day of her life. If Bella were the quintessential Beauty—gorgeous, kindhearted, and self-sacrificing—she might have a chance at transforming this monster into a man, but she’s never been the toad-kissing kind. Obsessed with landing a wealthy nobleman and escaping her humdrum life, Bella will stop at nothing to achieve her goals. Which is precisely what landed her here, at the mercy of the Beast.

In this imaginative retelling of Beauty and the Beast, Bella's sense of entitlement strains both her family's finances and patience. As punishment for her selfishness, she's sent into the Beast's service where she must choose whether to follow the path she's always dreamed of—or risk it all for something even greater.



Review:
 

Retellings of the classic fairytales have been becoming more and more popular. We have movies, shows and books popping up everywhere with their take on the fairytales we all grew up to know and love and most of them have been so compelling and interesting that I can’t stop reading or watching them. 

Becoming Beauty did not disappoint me. I fell in love with the characters from the first page. The main character Bella is self centered and a brat who only wants the finest gowns and jewels, she puts her needs before the whole family. And while a character like that usually annoys me, I found her oddly engaging. I wanted to keep reading about her life and who she was as a person. 

This retell of the “The Beauty and the Beast” was magical. I loved who Bella became and how she made the characters come alive. The plot was different from anything I’ve read and I liked the twist she made in the plot. 

I would say Sarah’s first book is a success and I can’t wait to read what she has coming out next!

5/5 stars

Snack Girl to the Rescue Review

Snack Girl to the Rescue
 Author: Lisa Cain
 Pages: 273
Publication Date: April 15th 2014








  Summary: From popular blogger Lisa Cain, aka "Snack Girl," a common-sense guide to healthier eating and weight loss, including 100 Weight Watchers-friendly recipes. Since 2009, Lisa Cain has been blogging at Snack-Girl.com about how to make healthy changes in your diet and lifestyle. Her mission is to share the secrets and recipes that have helped her stay fit and healthy, without sacrificing fun or flavor. Snack Girl to the Rescue contains Lisa's best advice on avoiding common weight-loss pitfalls, shopping healthier on a budget, and getting in shape, along with 100 recipes for fun, quick, and affordable meals and snacks. Written in Snack Girl's signature voice--down to earth, encouraging, and funny--this is the go-to resource for anyone looking to incorporate healthier food choices into their lives, whether they are looking to lose weight, have more energy, or just feel more confident about their family's nutrition.



Review:  

 For years I have wanted to “eat healthy” and exercise to lose a little bit of weight. But as soon as I would see a donut or candy my brain screamed “eat me “ and I would cave in and consume empty calories.

After several attempts of eating better and saying no to certain foods, my body craved the sugar and fat and I would eat the whole house out of sweets. I would constantly get mad at myself for eating these foods that I know are not good for me but because they were there and accessible I ate them.

After I found this cookbook online I grew excited to see that it was for healthy snacks and food that still tasted good. 

After I received it in the mail I went through it right away to pick out the recipes that I wanted to try first. 

There were so many to choose from so I just chose a couple of recipes for food that I had around the house. 

I made the Cinnamon, Vanilla, and Sugar Roasted Almonds which tasted so good! You wouldn’t even think it was that healthy, but it was great tasting and 183 calories per serving. My boyfriend is the pickiest eater and even he liked it. 

 Some of the recipes you might have to tweak but I loved every single recipe I tried to make. 

People who are looking for a healthier choice in their meals for the day should go pick up a copy of Snack Girl to the Rescue. Lisa Cain motivates you and teaches you how to shop healthier. It’s not just a cookbook it’s a helpful guide to get you on the right track.

5/5 stars

*I received this book from blogging for books.

Reasons My Kid is Crying Reivew

Reasons My Kid is Crying
Author: Greg PemBroke
pages:196
Publication Date:April 21 2014








Summary: 
 A glimpse into the tribulations of parenting that is part documentary, part therapy, and completely hilarious.
 
It all started when busy father Greg Pembroke posted a few pictures online of his three-year-old son, mid-tantrum, alongside the reason his son was crying: He had broken his bit of cheese in half. In Reasons My Kid is Crying, Greg collects together photos sent from parents around the world, documenting the many, completely logical reasons why small children cry.  Among them: “I let him play on the grass” . . . “He ran out of toys to throw into his pool” . . . “The neighbor’s dog isn’t outside”.  The result is both an affectionate portrait of the universal, baffling logic of toddlers—and a reminder for burned-out parents everywhere that they are not alone.



Review:

This book is absolutely hilarious. Each page has a picture of a baby or toddler crying with a caption. If you’re not laughing with tears coming out of your eyes then you’re not reading it right.

As a new mother of twins I found myself thinking of all the little cry’s and tantrums my boys are going to have.  This book is such a fun and fast read that you’re going to want to take this book wherever you go and show it off just so everybody can have a good laugh.

Greg had a great idea in capturing the world of toddlers and their innocence of the world.

 I received this book for free from blogging for books.com

3.5 stars

Better off Friends Review

Better off Friends
Author:Elizabeth Eulberg
publication date: February 25 2014
pages:288


 Summary:
 For Macallan and Levi, it was friends at first sight. Everyone says guys and girls can’t be just friends, but these two are. They hang out after school, share tons of inside jokes, their families are super close, and Levi even starts dating one of Macallan’s friends. They are platonic and happy that way.

Eventually they realize they’re best friends — which wouldn’t be so bad if they didn’t keep getting in each other’s way. Guys won’t ask Macallan out because they think she’s with Levi, and Levi spends too much time joking around with Macallan, and maybe not enough time with his date. They can’t help but wonder . . . are they more than friends or are they better off without making it even more complicated?

From romantic comedy superstar Elizabeth Eulberg comes a fresh, fun examination of a question for the ages: Can guys and girls ever really be just friends? Or are they always one fight away from not speaking again — and one kiss away from true love?




Review:

What first drew me to this book was the cover. I’m a sucker for teenage romance. I love reading cute, predictable romances so I kind of went into this book predicting the whole thing. But what I didn’t realize that for most of the book the main characters were pretty young. 

I usually don’t like to read books where the characters are so young. I feel like when you have young characters, they seem to be more immature, but they were that was not the case. 

What I really liked in Better of Friends was the POV change. I love being able to read and hear both sides of the characters and their emotions. 

The main point of the book was to prove that boy, girl friendships didn’t have to turn into relationships. And while they both drifted apart some, and had other relationships, they just couldn’t get rid of each other. I think that is very much possible to be best friends with the opposite sex and have no feelings for them, even though this book was a typical YA romance, I loved every minute of it. 

It was easy to connect with the characters. Elizabeth has a way with words, I have read every one of her books and every time I read a new one, they keep getting better and better. 

Better off Friends is a cute and fun read that readers of all ages can enjoy!

3.4/5 stars

Patchwork Reality Review

 



Title: Patchwork Reality
 Author: Pauline Hansen
 pages:132
publication date:February 11 2014




Summary: Through a series of dreams and delusions, Curtis Hansen becomes convinced that he and his wife, Pauline, are part of an intricate game devised for the entertainment of wealthy onlookers. To win, the couple must stay together despite a series of temptations and trials designed to break up their marriage. After playing “The Game” with Curtis for nine arduous years, Pauline makes a shocking discovery. Read the riveting, true account of her decade in the dark and her return to reality after Curtis is diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.




Review:

WOW! This book is so intense.

Patchwork Reality is a true story about what is was like being married to a Schizophrenic. This book is written by the wife and told by her point of view of what her marriage was like. 

This book started off with them falling in love and their honeymoon period. Her husband showed no signs of Schizophrenia yet but slowly the signs started showing up. 

First off, I would just like to say how understanding and patient this woman was. Her husband slowly started going crazy, having all these bouts of paranoia.  Honestly, I have no idea how I would have reacted in this type of situation.

Her husband wanted to do so many crazy things, and it damaged their lives and still she loved him so much that she went along with anything he said. Of course she didn’t know what was happening with her husband but I’m sure she had to know something was wrong. 

I really give props to her for putting up with everything her husband did and said. It broke my heart at times to hear the things she went through. 

Every day people get diagnosed with Schizophrenia and it must be so hard to put up with times. I know that if I really loved someone like she did I would put up with it as much as she did. I didn’t have as much as an understanding before reading this book as I do now. I’m really glad I got to read about her hardships and understand better.

3/5 stars