Lily (Song of the River #1) - Diane Ashley & Aaron McCarver

This book popped up for free and I thought it looked like a nice read.

Lily is the story of an independent young woman who is determined that she will decide her own future.  Her mother is dead and her father has abandoned her.  When her aunt and uncle try to force her into a marriage without love, she takes her share of her inheritance and uses it to buy a controlling interest in a riverboat.

Blake thinks that all his problems are solved when he wins interest in a riverboat until he meets his partner: Lily.  He has grand ideas of turning a profit by hosting gambling on the river, while she is just as determined that they won't.  She believes that transporting cargo will be enough for her to support her sisters and that is all she asks for.

The man who Blake won the riverboat from is determined to get it back one way or another.  He starts out by trying to win Lily's affections, assuming that she will instantly fall for his charm and let him take care of the ship for her.  He needs to impress his father who believes that he is an irresponsible man.  Lily doesn't care for his attentions causing him to take more unconventional methods to try and force Lily away from the shipping industry.

I really enjoyed this book.  I liked the characters and the unique personalities of each of the sisters.  I appreciated that when Lily was being hypocritical, Blake would call her out on it and she would actually listen.  The second book in the series, Camellia, tells the story of Lily's younger sister.  I was able to pick that one up for $2.99.  I believe that these two are on sale since the third book in the series, Jasmine, is due to come out next month.  I have it on my watch list.  I can't say whether reading them in order is a necessity, but I'll update that once I read Camellia. As of June 8, this book is still free.  Good Book!

Editorial - The "social" side of Facebook when it comes to following authors

I normally don't blather on about random topics on here, but I wanted to make some observations about Facebook.  Yes, I am on Facebook, but I'm a virtual hermit on it, only poking my head out occasionally to "thumbs up" a post or picture by a family member.

I like to follow authors and find out when they are coming out with something new.  There are a couple that I follow on Facebook.  The problem I have is when they come out with a giveaway or special offer that you can only get through Facebook.  The link to your sign-up/bonus material is not available until you post something about it on Facebook. Honestly, I really have no desire to post on Facebook at all, so this usually causes me to just stop the process.  I understand that they want to spread the word, but when you are using my wall, give me the option to do it when/if I desire.

A few days ago, I had the opportunity to sign up for a giveaway for an ARC (advanced reading copy) of a book coming out this fall.  It was in an email and when I clicked the link, it took me to the dreaded Facebook page where I had to "Like" the person to enter the sweepstakes.  Then, I had to post on my wall.  Here's where I got clever.  When posting, I hit the little cog wheel in the corner and made it a custom post.  Then I just made sure that my husband was the only one to see it.  Ta-da!  Now I'm not irritating my friends, relatives and 'people I never talked to in high school' with it!  So next time I see one of those giveaways on Facebook that requires me to "share" with others, I can keep my privacy!

Also, Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee are doing the Book of Mortals series giveaway again.  I posted about it last week, so you can read about it HERE.  I entered last time, but I don't feel like playing the "Like" game on Facebook this week, so I'm out this time.  If you do enter, make sure you do it on both Ted Dekker AND Tosca Lee's pages.  Good Luck!

Trauma Plan (Grace Medical #1) - Candace Calvert

This is the first book in the Grace Medical series.  Having read all of her first series, Mercy Hospital, I was excited to read this one.  For some reason it has been on my Kindle for a long time.  I'm not sure why, I have really enjoyed this author's books.

This book is about Riley, someone we get to know a little bit in the Mercy Hospital series. She's the hospital chaplain, but wants to get back in the ER again.  Unfortunately, she had a run-in with someone who tried to kill her.  It has left her with enough nerve damage in her dominant arm that she is unable to perform the duties that would be required of an ER nurse.  It has been a year since the accident and she is frustrated that God hasn't restored her fully.

Jack is an angry man who looks for dangerous situations.  His badges of honor are the things he has conquered.  He runs a free clinic near a posh neighborhood and is in a battle with the residents.  He'll do anything to keep his clinic and lashes out at them every chance he gets.  His past is filled with regrets for his murdered friend and he feels he has a lot to prove.  Meeting Riley teaches him that he maybe he needs to look at things a little bit differently.

I ate this book up.  I couldn't put it down, because I just had to know what was going to happen.  The characters are well written and I liked the story line.  Rescue Team is the next book and is about Kate, a character we read a lot about in book 1.  I'm not sure about whether reading them out of order would make a difference.  We read some of Kate's back story in this book, but she's also moved away from Alamo Grace and is at Austin Grace so it may not make a difference.  I hope to get book 2 soon.  Definitely gets a Good Book review!

Trouble in Store Giveaway - Carol Cox

There is a giveaway in honor of Carol Cox's new book, Trouble in Store, called the Mercantile Mystery Sweepstakes.  This is a unique giveaway as the prizes are really interesting.  You have until June 20th to enter, so make sure you check it out!  Good luck!

Just click HERE to enter!

Also, make sure to check out the book itself.  You can read the summary and an excerpt of the book here.  It's about two people that aren't quite in agreement about who exactly inherited a mercantile in Arizona. I'm looking forward to reading this new book after enjoying Love in Disguise!

If the Shoe Fits: A Contemporary Fairy Tale - Sandra D. Bricker

I saw this one pop up and knew that I had enjoyed some of this author's Emma Rae Creations series, I knew that I would have no issues giving this book a chance.  Even though I didn't make it all the way through that series, I did enjoy her writing style and this book looked cute.  I would have finished it yesterday had it not been for a nasty migraine. It's kind of cute that my daughter is actually reading a different book with the same title right now, so we've got something in common!

Julianne and Will have been best friends since they were very young.  They have just started a law practice together when Julianne sees Prince Charming save a dog on a rainy day.  When he drops his boot and toolbox, she sees this as a sign from God that her personal fairy tale has begin.  She has to find this man so she can have her happily ever after.

Will has loved Julianne for as long as he can remember and hasn't ever had the courage to tell her.  The possibility that he could lose her all the way is something that he's not willing to risk.  As Julianne's Prince Charming doesn't add up to the dream Julianne planned in her head, Will wonders if she will ever see him as more than just a friend. Things don't look good for that outcome unless one of them admits the truth to the other.

I enjoyed this book a lot.  Julianne's quirky mannerisms and off-the-wall thoughts made me smile.  Some of the odd things she came up with (the whole mustache thing) sounds like something I would think of, so I liked her character.  I wasn't as fond of her at those times when she took Will for granted, but she eventually learns from her mistakes and we get the happy ending we all know is coming.  I recommend this book for anyone that wants a light, cute read.  Is it predictable? Yes, but it's all about the journey...Good Book!

A Memory Between Us (Wings of Glory #2) - Sarah Sundin

After reading book 1, A Distant Melody, and book 3, Blue Skies Tomorrow, I was ready and willing to finish the series with A Memory Between Us.

Jack is the brother that is expected to follow in his father's footsteps and become a preacher.  The problem is that he doesn't really feel that he is cut out for that particular task.  He's not really sure that it's his calling.  He has always felt the most at home in the air and that's the way he likes it.

Ruth is a nurse that is trying to take care of her family even though she has been forced away from them and they aren't all together.  She also has a past that she feels she'll never be able to forget.  Once she meets Jack, she is having to rethink what exactly she wants and what she needs.  Most of her life she has pushed everyone away, but Jack is determined to break through her walls whether she wants him to or not.

This was another intense book.  This one deals with the dangerous consequences of pride and the shame and scars left by rape.  As these two each struggle against their own issues, Jack pushes Ruth only to have her push him away.

Honestly, I kind of felt like I had fell asleep in the middle of a movie and woke up at the end.  Having read the beginning and end of the series really affected my overall enjoyment of the series.  Don't get me wrong, I love this series, I just would have been more invested if I had read them in order.  If you read them, take my advice and read them in order.  I enjoyed the depth of the characters and the different aspects that were addressed in each book.

One word of caution: If you have absolutely no interest in the Army Air Corp, WWII or anything surrounding it, I want to warn you that there are a lot of details in this series. While I completely loved all the details, I can see how someone who wasn't really into that would find all the descriptions a bit tedious.  All in all, this was a fabulous series and I look forward to reading more from the author.  Great Book!

The Book of Mortals Series - Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee - GIVEAWAY

This is posted on Ted Dekker's Facebook page:

Want a FREE copy of the Books of Mortals series? Read on...

The story that's taken readers on a redemptive journey just like The Circle did is drawing to an epic close. Sovereign, the third and final book, hits stores June 18th. To celebrate we're giving away one complete set (all three novels) every Friday between now and then. 

Throw your name in the hat. All you have to do is click LIKE. We'll announce the winner right here on Monday. And just so you know,Tosca Lee is also giving copies away on her Facebook page. : )

Being a fan of Dekker's, I was a little wary after finishing Mortal, book 2 in this series. I went ahead and signed up for the giveaway. Once I eventually get a copy of Sovereign, I'll be going into it hopeful that I won't be disappointed. Knowing the talented writers that are involved, I am honestly hoping that it's going to be a great ending.