Dining With Joy by Rachel Hauck

About the Book:
When her dad dies, Joy Ballard takes over his popular cooking show. She is pretty, personable, and great on camera, but she can’t cook. Joy has fooled everyone by turning her show into a humor fest, a sort of America’s Funniest Home Videos: Stupid Cooking Tricks. But now she has a new producer, one who expects her to actually cook. Worse yet, this aggressive, ambitious woman is determined to take Joy’s show to one of the largest cable networks. Luke Davis is an extraordinarily talented chef, but he’s lost his fancy Manhattan restaurant and moved to a small town in South Carolina. He’s desperate to get back to the culinary art’s upper echelon, and he just may be the answer to Joy’s dilemma, not to mention her love interest. With its sparkling dialogue, witty premise, and convincing characters, and the popularity of television cooking shows, this subtly inspirational tale is sure to entertain readers.

My Thoughts:
I absolutely loved reading Rachel Hauck's books Sweet Caroline and Love Starts With Elle (so if you haven't read them, check them out. If this was a review about them, I would definitely rant and rave about them because they're amazing. But since it's not, you better just go and buy them and take my word for it!).
But this review is about Dining With Joy. I bought this book for my Kindle, because I wanted something that to read. I had a ton of books that I could've been reading, but this one popped out at me when I was on Amazon.com and I could NOT say no to it.
From the first page, the book drew me in and wouldn't let me stop reading. I read the whole thing in two days. The characters were intriguing, and the story line was deep, and amazing. I don't regret buying the book at all. (Rachel Hauck should be happy - I NEVER, EVER buy books. Ever. Mom usually gets books to review, or I get them free on Kindle.)
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good Christian romance book.
I also recommend any books by this author. She is amazing.
As a writer, I love to read books that are well-written because they inspire me to become a better writer.
Rachel Hauck's books do this to me.
~Ashley

Every Tear by Molly Evangeline

As soon as I finished reading The Pirate's Daughter's Promise, I emailed Molly Evangeline to ask if it would be possible for me to get the next three books in the series to review as well. I've had them for a while, but they've been sitting on my Kindle, waiting to be read.

About the Author:

Molly Evangeline is a home school graduate who lives in Wisconsin. She loves to journal and express herself through writing, creating characters and plots you will come to love. Her passion for writing began when she was eight years old.

About the Book:

Aside from the nagging and sometimes troubling memories and questions of his past, life for Will over the last year has been truly blessed. His relationship with Skye grows daily as he plans and prepares a future life for them. However, all he envisioned is endangered by an unexpected stranger with a shocking identity. Suddenly, Will learns more about his past than he thought he'd ever know, but it comes at a steep price when he and everyone closest to him are thrown into the middle of a dangerous plot that threatens all their lives. Every Tear, the moving sequel to The Pirate Daughter's Promise, is an example of how God never leaves our side, even in our most troubling and sorrowful moments, taking every tear into account.

My Thoughts:

I'm not exactly sure how to write a fitting review for this book. Again, I must say, this kind-of story has never drawn me in. I have never read books like this before, because I didn't enjoy them.
But when I read Molly's books, I am completely drawn into the story. I think it's partly to the fact that she knows how to establish believable characters and make them real to the people reading the book. (Which is something that I truly admire, because I only hope that I make my characters as believable as she does hers!)
The story line for Every Tear was action-packed and definitely a page-turner. Once I got into the book, I was curious where it was going to go next, what was going to happen, when it was going to happen, etc.
This story, a sequel to The Pirate's Daughter's Promise, started soon after the first one ended and I was able to jump right back into the story, not wondering what happened to the characters in the period that was missed.
Another thing I really like about Molly's books are that they have a little bit of everything mixed into one book. They have action, fun, some romance, the love of a family. It makes the story seem more real when all of this is put into one story.
This story is definitely a page-turner and for those of you who love action, and fun, you'll love this story.

You can visit Molly's website here. And buy her books here.

The Pirate's Daughter's Sectret by Molly Evangeline

Orphaned at a young age, Skylar McHenry grew up as little more than a servant and shunned by everyone around her because of her reputation as a pirate's daughter. Each day Skye faces is marked by some new struggle. Her only hope is to rely on her heavenly Father's care and comfort and the solace of her best friend, Will, who has become more than dear to her.

Just when an unexpected encounter gives Skye a small glimmer of hope that things might change in her favor, her world is shattered. She is awakened in the night by cannon blasts. Pirates storm the orphanage, drag her away, and force her aboard their ship. The cruel captain's intentions are clear. He will extract from her, through any means necessary, the location of the treasure hidden by her father. For Skye to divulge the location would mean breaking the last promise she made to him. She's certain she never will, but what happens when the lives of those dearest to her are at stake?

The Pirate Daughter's Promise is full of daring high seas adventure; sweet, wholesome romance; surprising discoveries; unlikely new friends; and the rewards of trusting in God even when life seems impossible.

You can learn more about Molly here, or by visiting her blog. The Pirate Daughter’s Promise is the first in a series of 4 books, called the Pirates & Faith Series.

These books are all available on Amazon.com and are also available for the Kindle.

MY THOUGHTS:

I passed this book along to Ashley when it arrived, not sure at all what her thoughts might be. I was pleasantly surprised. I’ll let her take over from here ---

Mom got this book for me to review and I wasn’t sure what to expect of it. Because, well, I’ve never really been interested in pirates. At all.

So when I saw the book, I was kind-of reluctant to read the book. I let it sit in my room and wait to be read. Eventually, I picked it up and started to read.

And I was really surprised.

As soon as I started it, I couldn’t put it down! It surprised me. It had suspense, romance, a little bit of sword-fighting, everything that people want to read in a book.

I didn’t want it to end! I wanted it to keep going on. As with any good book, they end way too soon.

I recommend this book to any teenager! If you like romance, suspense, pirates, you’ll like this book! It had such a great mix of everything you would want in a book.

I hope to read the next books in this series, as soon as I can get a hold of them.

The Prophecy by Dawn Miller

In this intense, emotionally charged supernatural thriller for young adults by author Dawn Miller, the angelic forces of heaven and hell wage battle over mankind, placing five gifted teenagers in the middle of a war only they can end. Each of the five has struggled since a terrifying night in their childhood, and as memories of that evening’s events come rushing back, and the dark angels make themselves known, they discover that what was meant to destroy them has instead opened their eyes to a world otherwise hidden from humankind.

Dawn Miller is an award-winning filmmaker and author who has written and produced several books, a music video and an urban teen drama. She lives in St. Louis with her teenage son and is currently at work on the graphic novel and feature film version of "The Watcher Chronicles".

MY THOUGHTS:
This book is not one that I would've just found at a library, or read about on the internet, and wanted to buy, or pick up.
Just by reading about it - you can tell that it's going to be some sort-of fantasy type book and truthfully, fantasy is not my thing at all.
Starting this book was hard for me - I tried many times and couldn't get myself to read past the first couple of pages.
Then, one time, I knew that I had to open the book and actually read it.
So...I did.
I read the first chapter and then the second...and then the third...and the fourth and so on.
And once I was started, I couldn't get stopped. I read this book so fast.
Although it was fantasy and that isn't my favorite type of book, I absolutely LOVED this one.
And I can't even really tell you why. It was a suspenseful fantasy book, that made me want to keep turning the pages to see what was going to happen next.
So I did.
I'm not sure who to recommend this book to. Definitely to people who like fantasy books.
But if you're not a fantasy person...I don't know what to say. You might like it, you might not.
I liked it, but that might mean that you'd hate it. :P
Something that I really liked about this book - is that it had 5 main characters and in the book, it alternated chapters, between characters. So it was like getting into each of their perspectives.
At any rate, I enjoyed the book. You might too. :D
I can't wait to see if I can get more of this series to review! :)

Asking For Trouble by Sandra Byrd

About the book:
When her family moves to London, 15-year-old Savvy Smith has to make her way in a new school and a new country. She just knows the school newspaper is the right place for her, but she doesn’t have the required experience, and the cute editor-in-chief is not looking to train anyone. She has to come up with a way to prove herself and nab the one available position on the newspaper staff at Wexburg Academy.
London Confidential is a new series where British fashion, friendships, and guys collide, and where an all-American girl learns to love life and live out her faith.

About the Author:

After earning her first rejection at the age of thirteen, bestselling author Sandra Byrd went on to publish more than three dozen books including her widely-acclaimed adult fiction debut, Let Them Eat Cake and it's sequels, Bon Appétit and Pièce de Résistance. Her new series, releasing this month, is a tween/teen fiction series, London Confidential.

A former textbook acquisitions editor, Sandra is also an accomplished non-fiction writer and author. Her articles have appeared in numerous publications such as Radiant, Focus on the Family's Clubhouse Magazine, Christian Parenting Today, Today's Christian Woman, Pockets, Decision, and Guideposts. During the past eight years Sandra has mentored hundreds of students through the Christian Writer's Guild.
Interview With the Author:

Tell us about yourself and why you got into writing.
When I was a kid I wanted three careers: to be a hair stylist, to be a waitress, and to be an author. After I mohawked my Barbie and gave myself a bad red dye job I knew I wasn’t cut out for the hairstylist career. I actually was a waitress in a Jewish deli when I was a teenager, and I worked for a caterer. Although I loved talking to my customers, especially Holocaust survivors, and watching them slice a clover-stained cow's tongue, writing was the real passion. And it stuck!

You actually write books for both adults and teens. What do you like about writing for both groups?
I love writing for women of all ages - young women, i.e., tweens and teens, and adult women all the way into their eighties. Funnily enough, even though we all mature in so many ways, a lot of the concerns we have as young women stick with us. We are relational, we are emotional, we seek to find our unique place in the world in whatever situation and during whatever age we find ourselves. And because women ARE relational I often hear from them via my website after they read my books. I love that!
Your new series is London Confidential. Book 1 is called Asking for Trouble. Savvy Smith moves to with her family to London. How would you describe the journey she goes through in the book dealing with her new surroundings?
I think she finds out a lot about herself, her family, and her God. Each of us can relate to not fitting in, and Savvy certainly finds out that while everyone speaks English there are many things she has to learn about living in London. This series is really a fun series, though. Lots of excitement, mishaps, friendships, fashion, and good times.

Why did you write the London Confidential series?
Each of us, as women, remember what it's like to be a young woman, struggling to find our place in the world. Some girls have family issues, some have friendship issues, some have school issues, most of us have more than one concern. Whenever I write for young women I hope to provide them with an enjoyable read that validates their concerns, shows them that they are not alone, and provides encouragement to stay the course and see what wonderful things the Lord has just around the next corner.
The world feels a little depressed right now, too. I wanted to provide a happy, hopeful read and not a heavily issues-driven series. The London Confidential books are, I hope, fun to read.
What are some of the biggest struggles for teen girls today? What do you hope teen girls will take away from the series?
Truly, as Eccelsiastes says, there is nothing new under the sun. The issues that young women had when I was growing up are the same ones that my daughter has. Who am I? How can I make a difference? Where do I fit in? Am I loved? Why are people hurtful? While they may have different formats, for example, the internet, texting, or movies, the issues remain essentially the same.
But that's good news! That means that we women have walked these paths and have hopefully found our way. It enables us to be Girl Guides, the British world for Girl Scouts, in a physical, emotional, and spiritual sense. Just as we're instructed to do in Titus 2. We can do this in person, or we can do it by buying a good book to pass along to our daughters, granddaughters, nieces, and friends.

You say books can bring mothers and daughters together. How?
Books provide a non-threatening, impersonal forum for mothers and daughters to discuss issues. A mother can ask questions like, "What do you think of her choices? Is that a temptation kids at your school face? Do kids act that way in your school? Is the way these girls acting normal? Do you think those girls should be allowed to date?" That way you're not pointing to or calling our your daughter's behavior, specifically, but you're allowing her to express what her world is like. Just be sure not to offer a correction or comment to her every response!
Why did you decide to set the series in London?
I think, at heart, we are all fantasy travelers, excited about visiting new places - especially places that speak English! London is such a fun, cosmopolitan town. They speak English, but with an enchanting accent that American girls often imitate because it sounds so, well, posh! I noticed there is a facebook group that some of my readers are members of called, "I wonder if British people sit around trying to talk in American accents." We love their royalty, their history, the fact that they are both very similar and yet different from us.
The girls who read the London Confidential books may not be able to visit London in person this year, but they can go there via the book. And then plan the REAL trip to follow.

What can readers look forward to in the final two London Confidential books?
The final two books in the series release on September 1, 2010 and talk about good friendships and bad, why it's important for Christian girls to stick with only liking, even crushing on, Christian boys, how to persevere in times of trouble, and taking your first adult steps in your faith. When girls open any of the books, they'll find a girl who is a lot like them, with dreams and hopes and fears like theirs, and God who works things out in ways they would not have imagined. There are friendship ups and downs, school ups and downs, guy ups and downs, family issues and lots of fun. I wanted to write books that would be fun to read, and yet still be meaningful. I hope the girls find the books to be just that.
My thoughts:

I liked this book a lot. I could definitely relate to the main character, because she was into writing and so am I.
I read this book really fast - it's not a very long story - a small book, with not many pages. Although, even in without many pages, it had a pretty long story.
I think that I read this book in less than a day - I sat down and just read and read and read.
I would definitely recommend this book to girls who enjoy reading, writing, or journalism. :)