Thursday, February 27, 2020

Book Review: Sense without Sensibility by Keena Richins

Sense without Sensibility by Keena Richins is a story about family, wealth, and true love.

When her father is debilitated by a stroke, Elinor works to keep his company and their family together. But, with her step-brother in control of financial affairs, and his obnoxious wife Fanny using her money and influence to put forth her own agenda, things quickly deteriorate.

In walks Edward, Fanny's brother, who is in charge of diving into Elinor's father's company's records to see what changes need to be made to attract a buyer. Elinor plans to fight Edward with all she has, but the surprise is on her when she discovers a much kinder and personal foe than she could have imagined. New plan: get Edward on her side. In order to succeed, he would need to go against his wealthy and influential family. Would he do it to save Elinor and her family from ruin?

I am at a slight disadvantage to some other folks who have read Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility. I've never read an Austen story. I don't feel, however, this kept me from enjoying Sense without Sensibility.

With a great plot and superb characters, this novel is an easy read. You are engaged from the beginning. Edward is full of secrets and surprises. Elinor is the dutiful daughter holding everything together. Then there is the side story of Marianne and Jack and Brandon which adds another interesting element.

While all the loose ends seemed to get tied up very quickly at the end, this romance is sure to delight readers. I would definitely read more from this author again. If you're a Jane Austen fan, Sense without Sensibility should be added to your wish list.

Series: Pemberley Estates (Book 3)
Paperback: 284 pages
Publisher: Independently published (June 23, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1074858077
ISBN-13: 978-1074858070

I received a copy of this book from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Enter for your chance to win a digital copy: https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/908009305/





Sunday, February 16, 2020

Book Review: Emma Blooms at Last by Naomi King

If Amish fiction is a favorite of yours, then Naomi King is an author you need to read.

In Emma Blooms at Last, the second book of King's One Big Happy Family series, Amanda and Wyman Brubaker are thrilled that their blended family is bonding together. But when construction on Wyman's grain elevator is delayed causing the cost of the project to rise, Amanda's rallying of the children to work and help with the family's finances comes into conflict with Wyman's sense of responsibility as the provider.

Meanwhile, Amanda's nephew Jerome has been sweet on Emma Graber for a long while. While he wishes to get to know shy, quiet Emma better, she isn't sure how to trust fun-loving, never-serious Jerome. As they struggle to understand each other, the Brubakers face a challenge that allows them all to discover what it means to fight the Amish way.


I have not read a book by Naomi King in so long, I truly forgot how much I loved them. Her characters are real. You understand and sympathize with their plights. You want them to succeed. The reader can meet the Brubakers in the first book of this series if they want to start from the beginning, but it is not necessary. Emma Blooms at Last is a total stand-alone novel.

In this heartwarming story, you have two plots running: the Brubakers dealing with a financial crisis and Emma unsure of Jerome's intentions and how they could ever be a couple. Since all of King's books create that sense of community so often found in Amish fiction, these two stories blend nicely. You see family member roles evolving as challenges present themselves.

What's truly nice to see in this story is Emma's transformation. She learns things about herself and her abilities along the way to discovering her feelings for Jerome. So, Emma Blooms at Last is not only about the romance between Emma and Jerome. It is a story of woman taking a leap of faith that she can use her God-given talents to help her community and that the man God has brought into her life is right for her.

Emma Blooms at Last is a touching story that fans of Amish fiction will enjoy from beginning to end. I hope we see more from King soon.


Series: One Big Happy Family (Book 2)
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Berkley (November 4, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9780451417886
ISBN-13: 978-0451417886
ASIN: 0451417887

I received a copy of this book from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.



Wednesday, February 12, 2020

Shelf Control - Feb 12



Shelf Control is a weekly celebration of the unread books on our shelves sponsored by Lisa at Bookshelf Fantasies. Pick a book you own but haven’t read, write a post about it (suggestions: include what it’s about, why you want to read it, and when you got it), and link up!

Want to join in? Shelf Control posts go up every Wednesday. Here's how to jump on board:
  • Write a blog post about a book that you own that you haven’t read yet.
  • Add your link in the comments!
  • Link back to Bookshelf Fantasies in your own post.
  • Check out other posts, and…

I love remembering the books I've bought and why I bought them. That's why this is such a great meme.




BLURB:  In this book, Rosalie Rymarski guides you through dozens of letters from the Nahum Daniels Day family correspondence circa 1857-1872. It is an innovative experience of what is happening on the home front during the Civil War. She accompanies the letters with citations of what is happening in history, during the Civil War, making the time period much more realistic. Discovery in the Attic: A Family's Shared Past Revealed is a smooth read, even if you don't prefer historical literature, because of the relatability developed within the family's dynamic. This book commemorates the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War in a distinctively unique way!

DATE BOUGHT: 4/29/17

WHY I BOUGHT IT: I participated in an authors fair at our local library and this author was there, too. We each had a chance to present about our work. Her presentation sounded fascinating, and I love reading anything about the Civil War, so I picked up a copy.

I have skimmed through it, but haven't read it yet. I need to do that this year.

Monday, February 10, 2020

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - Feb 10



It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.


Somehow, we are at Monday again. I hope you had a great week. I had to take a couple weeks off from this meme: 1) because I was too busy to do much reading, and 2) I hate sharing the same books over and again.

I finished this book, so look for my review this week. Great story, as always.


These books I need to dig into for reviews coming up.





After that, I have to catch up on these others:










What is a book you've enjoyed lately? What's up next for you?

Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Shelf control - Feb 5



Shelf Control is a weekly celebration of the unread books on our shelves sponsored by Lisa at Bookshelf Fantasies. Pick a book you own but haven’t read, write a post about it (suggestions: include what it’s about, why you want to read it, and when you got it), and link up!

Want to join in? Shelf Control posts go up every Wednesday. Here's how to jump on board:
  • Write a blog post about a book that you own that you haven’t read yet.
  • Add your link in the comments!
  • Link back to Bookshelf Fantasies in your own post.
  • Check out other posts, and…
Just in case you thought I went into hiding this week, I figured I better post this meme. I swear, life gets away from me sometimes.



BLURB:

Elvis, Paul Newman, Judy Garland and JFK, Jr. can teach you about wills. Shakespeare and Jane Austen have tips about signatures and changes to your magnificent will or trust. This book also includes excerpts from other books by Pauline G. Dembicki.

DATE BOUGHT: Yesterday

WHY I BOUGHT IT: Sometimes you buy a book for no real reason except curiosity. This is one of those books. It's not something you have to read from front page to back. You can skip around and read what you want.

Would this book interest you?