The Inconvenient Marriage of Charlotte Beck by Kathleen Y'Barbo

I received a complementary copy of this book from Water Brook through their Blogging for Books program.  The main characters are fun, and the story is interesting.  The surrounding characters are very flat, and I felt like there were plot points that I was missing.  Charlotte has her heart set on getting an education and the working in her fathers business, but her father wants her to get married.  They come to an agreement wherein they are both satisfied.  Charlotte must marry Alex if she is to work for her father.  The two know and like each other, but both enter the marriage for business purposes. The story was a little far-fetched in that they obviously like each other quite a bit, but they don't want to be married, and are doing everything they can to avoid the marriage.  Overall it was a light, fun read.  I would give it 3/5 stars.

When Sparrows Fall by Meg Moseley

I received a complementary copy of this book from Multnomah through their Blogging for Books program.  I enjoyed this book.  The characters were interesting.  I was interesting to see inside of the religious group.  I felt that a lot of things were glossed over, that could have been better explored.  My heart was so sad for Miranda and all that she had gone through.  I found some parts of the story a little to convenient.  It seemed that Miranda would have put up more of a fight to some of the changes that Jack introduced into the family.  Also, I had a hard time understanding why Jack fell for Miranda.  It seemed to happen much to fast.  I would give the book 3/5 stars.

A Reluctant Queen by Joan Wolf

I received a complementary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through their BookSneeze program.  I enjoyed this story.  It is based on the biblical story of Esther.  It is fun to see how the author imagined the story.  There were some parts that seemed a little to contrived to me, but overall it was a fun read.  The author talks about the love between the king and queen, but I don't feel that she shows that love developing.  She just tells us that it is there.  The characters are enjoyable.  I would give it 3/5 stars.

Desert gift by Sally John

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Tyndale.  Jack and Jill have been married for 24 years, and have what seems to be a perfect marriage.  Then one day Jack informs Jill that he wants a divorce.  The announcement sends Jill on a soul searching journey.  She discovers a lot of things about herself, most things that she doesn't like.  She also learns how to trust in God and have faith.  The characters in this story were interesting.  I would give it 3/5 stars.

Dragons of the Valley by Donita K. Paul

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Water Brook through there blogging for books program.   Both I and my husband tried to read this book.  We both found it confusing, and hard to read.  There were new races that we did not understand.  Also the names used in the book are hard to read and hard to remember.  This made it hard to get into the story.  I generally enjoy sci-fi/fantasy novels, but could not get into this book.  I would give it 1/5 stars.

Beyond all Measure by Dorothy Love

I received a complimentary copy of this book through the Thomas Nelson BookSneeze program.  Ada has recently lost everything.  Her father and Aunt suddenly died, leaving massive debts.  She had to sell almost everything to pay them off, and now she must find a way to support herself.  Her desperation has lead her to take a job in Hickory Grove Tennessee.  When she arrives she discovers that her job as companion to an ailing older women is not everything that she was lead to believe.  She also finds a man that she could love if she let herself, but she feels to broken from her last love.  This is a well written story.  Interesting characters and dilemmas.  I would give this book 3.5/5 stars.

My Foolish Heart by Susan May Warren

This was a very sweet story about learning to overcome the obstacles and trials that we have in our lives.  There are a couple of romances in the story.  Issy has been struggling ever since her mother died in a car accident.  She has been slowly making progress.  When she meets her new neighbor she starts to realize that maybe she doesn't have all the answers and sometimes she just needs to let go.  It is fun to watch the characters grow and heal in this story.  It was a very good read.  I would give it 4/5 stars.