After a Fashion by Jen Turano

Harriet Peabody always prays for a birthday wish.  This year she has left it up to God, and just asks for something wonderful.   Now can she survive the journey and find out what it is he has in mind for her?

I always enjoy books written by Jen Turano, and this book is no exception.  Harriet is a very likable character.  She is surrounded by a cast of characters that is both fun and crazy.  Harriet is a very strong woman.  She has plans and dreams and is going to make them happen.  Oliver is a very nice, if somewhat crusty gentleman.  It is fun to watch the relationship develop between them.  I also enjoyed watching Oliver develop his relationship with God. 

Books by Jen Turano are always a fun, light read.  The characters find themselves in impossible situations but they always manage to come out on top.  I would give this book 4/5 stars.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House. 

Paper Hearts by Courtney Walsh

Abigail Pressman has everything she has ever wanted.  Almost.  The opportunity to finally expand her business is finally happening.  If she can only buy the building before someone else does.  Abigail has seen love fail too many times to want to have it happen to her.  But, then the handsome Dr. moves to town.  Can she open her heart and let God lead her?

The characters in the book are fun.  Abigail has her quirks and is a very likable character.  You want her to be happy and to have her dreams happen.  There are a lot of fun, quirky people in the little town of Loves Park.  The town is obsessed with love, and it would be fun to visit.  Jacob is conflicted, but nice.  I had a hard time with the fact that he was so easily okay with kicking Abigail out of the building.  The paper hears was a really cute idea.  I like that the book tries to show that love isn't always perfect.  There are hard times and good times.  I would give this book 4/5 stars.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Tyndale. 

The Secret of Pembrooke Park by Julie Klassen

I really enjoyed this book.  Abigail Fosters family has recently lost most of their fortune, and they have been forced to seek a new home.  During their search they are approached with an offer that is too good to be true.  Soon they find themselves moving into a manor house that has been abandoned for almost 20 years. Soon they start to hear rumors about what happened to the former occupants and also what might be hidden in the home.  What is in store for Abigail and her family?

I really liked Abigail.  She is a very interesting, real character.  She has her good and bad parts and she is portrayed in a convincing manner.  I also generally liked the person that she was.  The book itself kept me guessing.  I wasn't sure how things would turn out in the end.  The mystery was interesting.  I liked learning the back history of the home and Pembrooke family.  I felt like the book had a good pace, and it revealed things at a good rate.  Not to fast, but also enough to keep you interested and guessing.  I would give this book 4/5 stars.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House.

Buttermilk Sky by Jan Watson

Mazy is tired of everybody else making all of her decisions for her, so she decides to make some for herself.  She enrolls in Secretarial school and moves away from home.  Chanis Clay is sure that she will come back and marry him, but will Mazy meet someone new while she is away?

Mazy is a fun character.  She is a good girl who is trying to find out what she wants from life.  The story was sweet, but overly simplistic.  There were many themes that could have been explored more deeply. There were a lot of elements of the story that were just barely touched on.  Some things were mentioned so briefly that I wondered why they were included at all.  Other times things happened with absolutely no build up, or hinting, and they didn't seem to fit the characters involved.  Overall, it was a sweet story, but it could have used a lot of reworking.  I would give it 2.5/5 stars.  I received a complimentary copy of this book from Tyndale.

Candy Aisle Crafts by Jodi Levine

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Blogging for Books program.  This book is adorable!  It is amazing the cute things that can be made out of a couple of pieces of candy.  The book is well laid out.  There are sections on the different kinds of candy that you can use.  There are a lot of pictures to help you know what to do.  The instructions are nice and easy to follow.  I can't wait to show this book to my kids!  I would give it 5/5 stars.

Sweet: Our Best Cupcakes, Cookies, Candy and More by the Editors of Food Network Magazine

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Blogging for Books program.  I love this cookbook!  Every single recipe has a picture.  The index even has all of the pictures in it.  Everything looks delicious.  The recipes are simple and well laid out.  When necessary they have pictures showing the steps.  They even have a whole section on Fake-Out Cakes.  My kids are already planning on what they want for their next birthday.  This is a great cookbook, and I am super excited to use it!  I would give it 5/5 stars.

A Match of Wits by Jen Turano

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House.  I always enjoy Jen Turano's books.  She has strong characters that like to charge into situations.   Agatha Watson is no different.  Agatha has a penchant for getting herself into difficult circumstances.  She also is good at getting herself out of sticky situations.  Agatha is traveling the west looking for stories for the newspaper that she writes for.  One night she discovers that her old crush, Zayne Beckett is in the same hotel.  Agatha convinces Zayne that he needs to return to his family in New York, and she returns with him.  Unfortunately, whoever had been sending her death threats still wants her dead.  Craziness ensues.  The characters are fun, if not always believable.  I always feel like I need to suspend belief when I read Turanos books, but the ride is so fun that it is worth it.  I would give this book 4/5 stars.