THE SWEETHEARTS’ KNITTING CLUB by Lori Wilde

by ⋅ 12 Comments


THE SWEETHEARTS’ KNITTING CLUB
Author: Lori Wilde
Source: Publisher (thanks Christine)
*I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review*

  • Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
  • Publisher: Avon (November 24, 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 006180889X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0061808890

SYNOPSIS:

“Throw a penny in the fountain of the Twilight town square, and you’ll be married to your first love . . . ”

For ten years, pretty Flynn MacGregor has been turning down the same solid, upright man’s marriage proposal. Her friends at the Sweethearts’ Knitting Club tell her they’re a match made in heaven, but Flynn knows there’s only one dangerous reason why she keeps saying no: high school sweetheart Jesse Calloway. She was just sixteen when Jesse was forced out of town under a cloud of suspicion . . . but he’s never left her heart.

Now Jesse is back, and every time she turns the corner he’s there—gazing at her with his smoldering eyes and tempting her with his kisses. Jesse has never played by the rules, and he’s made it clear that he’s not going to now. And Flynn, who’s always done just what her family, friends, and fellow knitters have told her to do, must finally break free and claim the love that binds Jesse to her heart.

MY TAKE:

BREATHTAKING! The perfect word to a perfect book!

At first I thought this was going to be about a bunch of old ladies sitting in a circle knitting. True, there are old ladies and knitting involved but that is just a piece of the story. Flynn is not old and she doesn’t know how to knit. Beau is her fiance, and he does not knit either. Jesse is an ex-con and Flynn’s true love and trust me, knitting is not how he passed the time in prison.

I found myself drawn to the romance between Flynn and Jesse. I thought Beau was a pushy cop who thought he could have whatever he wanted. He is constantly pushing Flynn to marry him and always backing her in a corner. I wanted to jump in the book and knock the crap out of him. Jesse was a pure Southern gentleman who may have been recently released from prison, but wanted to make a fresh start with Flynn. Whenever Jesse’s dialogue came up, I could just picture him in my head with his southern accent.

When a writer can describe a character with just what he is speaking, you know you have a new Bestselling Author! The author kept me glued to the pages, consumed by the passion and story that I never wanted it to end. It flowed great and was detailed perfectly.

A new author for me that I will keep an eye on for new releases. Once again, BREATHTAKING!

MY RATING:


Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading!

A CHRISTMAS CAROL:SPECIAL EDITION

by ⋅ 1 Comment


A CHRISTMAS CAROL : SPECIAL EDITION
Author: Charles Dickens
Edited by : Stephen Skelton
Source: FSB Media (Thank you)
**I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review**

  • Paperback: 128 pages
  • Publisher: Standard Publishing; Annotated edition (September 1, 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0784723915
  • ISBN-13: 978-0784723913

SYNOPSIS:
Celebrate the season with Scrooge, Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim, Jacob Marley, and the Spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Future—and discover how the greatest Christmas classic was based on the greastest story ever told. This special edition includes the complete text of A Christmas Carol along with notes and discussion questions written from a Christian perspective.

MY TAKE:
With the Christmas season quickly approaching, I found myself digging through my review pile for a quick Christmas read. A Christmas Carol is a classic and one that puts me in the holiday spirit!
This book is the Charles Dickens favorite with little extras along the way. We get to have the Christian insights to it and find new meanings with each page. It also includes discussion questions for Church Groups and family devotion. Great for your family and your Church to discuss around the holidays. A great revisit to an old tale full of meaning, spirit and love.

MY RATING:


Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading!

STICKY FINGERS by Niki Burnham

by ⋅ 2 Comments


STICKY FINGERS
Author: Niki Burnham
Source: PaperBackSwap

  • Reading level: Young Adult
  • Paperback: 288 pages
  • Publisher: Simon Pulse (August 23, 2005)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0689876491
  • ISBN-13: 978-0689876493

SYNOPSIS:

Busting my ass makes me feel good.

Bulletproof, that’s how Jenna Kassarian sees herself. It’s all about control: As long as she works hard, nothing can hurt her. So Jenna constantly pushes — for perfect grades, the ideal boyfriend, the best, best friend.

The only problem is, she doesn’t know if she can stop. If she relaxes even for a second, she’s afraid she’ll lose control completely.

Then Jenna decides it’s now or never. She goes to a party and has one drink. But one drink is all it takes for her perfect facade to shatter. Suddenly she realizes straight A’s can’t protect you in the real world.

MY TAKE:

This was one of those young adult novels that I had read good reviews about. So I ordered it from PaperBackSwap and anxiously awaited my turn. I jumped right into it and now I don’t know why.

This book was boring. Nothing happens until the very end, so the majority of this book was pretty dull. Yes, it has a learning experience focused for teens on the date rape drugs that are out there. But seriously, teens could learn about it in school with more enthusiasm than this book will. Lucas was boring and pushy. Jenna is boring. Her friends are boring. This book was boring. Enough said before I bore you.

MY RATING:


I did not enjoy this book.

BREATHLESS by Lurlene McDaniel

by ⋅ 3 Comments


BREATHLESS
Author: Lurlene McDaniel
Source: Library

  • Reading level: Young Adult
  • Hardcover: 176 pages
  • Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers; 1 edition (May 12, 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 038573459X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0385734592

SYNOPSIS:
What is the toughest request anyone can be asked to fulfill?

Travis Morrison is a champion diver and one of the most popular kids at school. On the first day of summer vacation, while boating on the lake with his friends, Travis attempts a silly stunt dive that goes wrong. He fears he has broken his leg. Instead, his trip to the hospital reveals he has a rare form of cancer, and to save him, the doctors tell his parents they must amputate. In an instant, Travis’s life and the lives of everyone around him are forever changed. Travis is determined that he and only he should decide the course of his life. He has a plan, but he can’t carry it out alone. Will he convince one of his friends to fulfill his most important request? Lurlene McDaniel tackles a controversial subject, probing the issues of personal choice and quality of life.
MY TAKE:
This book is an emotional book. I had to have Kleenex on hand the whole time I was reading it. Travis breaks his femur when diving off a cliff at the lake. The doctor’s inform his parent’s that he has bone cancer. We get to see Travis go through all the emotions that come with finding out you have a life threatening disease. He ends up losing his leg from it and realizes he will never be a diver again. Throughout the book you see Travis struggle with Chemo and the loss of a leg. He decides to tell his parents that he wants to sign a DNR. They refuse to let him. So Travis comes up with a plan to end his life on his terms with the help of his best friend. I was so into this book that I finished it within an hour. A short read, but a powerful read. Being a mother, all I could think about was that if this was my child, what would I do? What would I do if it were me?
An emotionally heartbreaking read that will leave a lasting impression with your heart and soul.

MY RATING:


Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading!