An Uncertain Choice

Due to her parents' promise at her birth, Lady Rosemarie has been prepared to become a nun on the day she turns eighteen. Then, a month before her birthday, a friend of her father's enters the kingdom and proclaims her parents' will left a second choice-if Rosemarie can marry before the eve of her eighteenth year, she will be exempt from the ancient vow.

Before long, Rosemarie is presented with the three most handsome and brave knights in the land. But when the competition for her heart seemingly results in a knight playing foul, she begins to wonder if the cloister is the best place after all. If only one of the knights-the one who appears the most guilty-had not already captured her heart.

My thoughts: I was blown away by this book! It is a fun story of knights, fair maidens, and old fashioned contests. I love how Jody Hedlund brought the time period to life with her compassionate heroine who thought her adult days would be spent sequestered in an Abbey to fulfill an ancient vow. The characters are wonderful, and I love that the story has some competition, romance, and a bit of a mystery. This book is an incredible new addition to the YA world. Be sure to check out the author's site for more info on her wonderful books!
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review

Spring TBR list

This week's Top Ten topic is the top ten books on one's Spring "To be read" list. Because it is almost Spring! (we are over joyed in our house) So, without further ado, here is my list for the week!

1. What is Lost

Okay, so I have already started this one, so it might be done by the time the first day of Spring rolls around. It's a winner!

2. Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor

I adored the first book in this series (though I am not sure if it really is a series, so much as loosely connected?), so I can't wait to finally start this one!

3. Chance of Loving You

I'm super pumped about this one! Sometimes, it is just nice to have a few short stories on hand, especially with the warmer weather making me want to spend more time outside.;)

4. Better All the Time

I loved that the first one in this series was such a wonderful, unconventional tale of a couple who deals with infertility. I can't wait to get to know each of the siblings better!

5. Finding Me

This one just looks amazing!

6. The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest

This one just looks gorgeous!

7. Sisters of Blood and Spirit

This one looks interesting!

8. The First Principle

I won this one recently, and can't wait to start it!

9. Enough Already:Winning Your Ugly Struggle With Beauty


10 Wilderness Rising

I couldn't put the first one down, and now the second one is finally available!

So, what's on your TBR list for the Spring?

Miracle at Higher Grounds Cafe

After a very public split from her NFL superstar husband, Chelsea Chambers retreats behind the counter of the Higher Grounds Café, an old-fashioned coffee shop in dire need of reinvention. But when her courage and cupcakes fail to pay the bills, this newly single mom finds herself desperate for help—or a miracle.

Then a curious stranger lands at Chelsea's door, and with him, an even more curious string of events. Soon, customers are flocking to the Higher Grounds Café, and not just for the cappuccino. They've come for the internet connection to the divine, and for answers to life’s biggest questions.

When catastrophe strikes, Chelsea finally finds the courage to ask her own questions…and heaven answers in a most unexpected way.

My thoughts: I enjoyed this story! It's an easy one to get into, and I like that it is a smaller book and easy to get through quickly, which is a plus for this mama.;) I love reading what others think of angel ministry, and this one is slightly outside the box, which is fun. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and loved the coffee shop! Two thumbs up.
I received this book from Lit fuse in exchange for my honest review.

How Many Times Do I Have to Tell You?

You’ve probably said these things to your kids, but have you listened to what you’re saying?

“I remember the day you were born.”

“Turn down the music!”

“This is going to hurt me more than it’s going to hurt you.”

“Hold my hand.”

Your heavenly Father wants to tell you many of these same things. Rachael Carman knows how noisy it can be when you’re raising children—she has seven! But this lovely devotional book will help you to hear God’s still, small voice amid the chaos of carpools, cut fingers, and carpet crawlers. You’ll learn how to recognize God’s instructions for you, even as you seek to follow His example as a parent.

My thoughts :Even though I only have one child, at this point, and she is pretty young,  I found that this book had a lot of wonderful information about parenting and the relationships we have with those around us and with God. Sharing her own lessons she has learned through parenting 7 children, Rachael opens up her heart, sharing stories and scripture verses that have touched her life. The great thing about this book is that a lot of the subjects can be applied to not just our relationship with our children, but also our relationships with friends and other loved ones. This really helped me to pay attention to the things God has laud on my heart about the areas I need to work on. I appreciate the author's honesty, since I might not of payed attention as well if she presented her book like she has sll thr answers. ;) This book is a wonderful resource for those longing to deepen their relationships. Two thumbs up!
I received this book in exchange for my honest review.

How to Catch a Prince

American heiress Corina Del Rey’s life was devastated by war. Every thing she loved was lost. But after five years of grief, she’s shed her grave clothes and started over in the sunshine along the Florida coast.

But some things are not so easily forgotten. When a secret from her past confronts her face to face, she realizes she must follow her heart. Even if it cost her everything.

Prince Stephen of Brighton Kingdom is a former Royal Air Command lieutenant turned star rugby player, trying to make sense of his life after the devastation of war.

When his brother, King Nathaniel, discovers Stephen’s pre war secret, he must deal with an aspect of his life he longed to forget. But how can he do so without exposing the truth and breaching national security?

Yet, true love has a destiny all it’s own. As the cathedral bells peal through Cathedral City, Corina and Stephen must chose to answer the call of love on their hearts.

Or let it be lost forever?

My thoughts: I've been a fan of Rachel Shuck's for some time now, having read a lot of her books. I think this one is my favorite so far! Probably because most of us, as young girls, dreamed of being a princess and living in a castle. I know I still like my "happily ever after" endings!
While their is loss and grief in this story, it also has a strong message of God's love and guidance in our lives. The characters are solid and I enjoyed getting to know them. This is a story you won't want to miss!
I received this story from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review

Take Ten

We have been reading a ton of books from the library, so I figured that this week, I will do top ten books for young children.
1. LMNO Peas

I love this one! I am a huge fan of text that rhymes when reading books to my daughter. This one is just fun to read!

2. Barnyard Dance

This is another one that is fun to read! (and, another one that I may have memorized...;))

3. Blue Hat, Green Hat

This one is a fun book to teach kids colors.

4. 1-2-3 Peas

This one is a bit different, since the counting starts to skip, and goes up to 100! Not to mention, I just have fun with all the little green peas.;)

5. I Had a Favorite Dress

I love how ingenious the mom is in this story!

6. The Monster at the end of this book

This one is just fun to read.;)

7. Happy Hippo, Angry Duck

I like this one for teaching children about different moods.;)

8. Little Green Peas

I promise that is the last Keith Baker I will post! Mostly because it is the last one by him about the little green peas.;)

9. Flippy Floppy Jungle Animals

I love how you lift each flap to reveal an animal, and then the set turns into an animal as well!

10. Lift the Flap Picture Atlas

The Promise of Palm Grove

A young Amish woman finds herself torn between the man she's pledged to wed and the man her heart desires in this heartwarming story of chance, duty, and choice in the face of love—the first volume in beloved New York Times bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray's new Amish Brides of Pinecraft series

Amish bride-to-be Leona is thrilled to be in Florida, on a mini vacation in the pretty town of Pinecraft. Her girlfriends think she's happy because she's away from the stress of wedding planning. They have no idea that Leona's real joy is in being away from her fiancé.

Edmund is a good man and will make a decent husband . . . just not for Leona. The more time she spends with him and his overbearing ways, the less she wants to be his wife. Her cousins are sure Edmund is the right man for her—and their certainty makes Leona begin to doubt herself. But when a chance encounter with a wayward cat brings her face-to-face with a handsome, fun-loving Amish man named Zachary Kaufmann, Leona's faced with two vastly different futures.

Leona must decide: Should she follow the path set out before her? Or take a chance with only the promise of what could be to guide her?

My thoughts: This is a sweet story that has more going on then first meets the eye. Leona is a lovely character who wins readers over from the get go! Life for her has been pretty predictable up to this point. But, now she is having second thoughts about the man she agreed to marry. Will a chance encounter with a young man in Florida be just the thing to encourage her to break things off with Edmund?
I like that Shelley Shepard Gray often tells a story from several different view points. She writes well and does a fabulous job of pulling readers in right off the bat. I enjoyed getting to know the people of Palm Grove, and look forward to the next book in the series (though, it looks like it will deal with some tougher topics).
I received this book from litfuse.com in exchange for my honest review.