Reached by Ally Condie

Description:

After leaving Society to desperately seek The Rising, and each other, Cassia and Ky have found what they were looking for, but at the cost of losing each other yet again. Cassia is assigned undercover in Central city, Ky outside the borders, an airship pilot with Indie. Xander is a medic, with a secret. All too soon, everything shifts again.

My Opinion:

You know how people who have read Twilight or The Hunger Games have teams? Edward or Jacob? Gale or Peeta? Well, I have never read Twilight and I am team Peeta for The Hunger Games.

I can't choose a side for the Matched series though. Xander and Ky are BOTH amazing guys! Sure, I have my favorite for Cassia. However, if I was to choose which one I overall liked better I couldn't choose. They both have their pro's and they both have their con's. What do they call it when you can't pick a side? Team Switzerland?

Reached was probably my favorite of the series. So much more happened in it. It was non-stop the whole way threw. Not one dull moment. It was also the most interesting out of the three for me. As I was progressing towards the end I kept on thinking, "Wow... that's awesome! How did she come up with this stuff and have it all fit together so perfectly?" Things are re-surfaced from both the first and second book that help bring everything into perspective.

Rating: 5 Stars

That's Life (C'est la vie)

I'm sorry to say that for a temporary time I will not be able to post reviews as often as I would like. My family and I are having our Internet canceled for awhile...:( I don't know how long it will last but I am hoping to be able to post as many reviews as I can through my local library. Thank you for your understanding.

Crossed by Allie Condie

Description:

The hotly awaited second book in the dystopian Matched trilogy. 

In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky - taken by the Society to his certain death - only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake. Cassia's quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander - who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia's heart - change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever.

My Opinion: 

Great second book:) I'm really liking this series.

This book digs deeper into Ky's life and explains the choices he makes. It actually has us read through Ky's perspective which I did not expect. I thought all the books would be completely in Cassia's perspective like Katniss in the Hunger Games. I really liked how I got to read Ky's thoughts. It helped me understand his character a lot more. I saw how much he loves Cassia and things he struggles with because of his past. I also got to see him overcome obstacles that had been holding him back.

I don't know who thinks like these characters do in real life but their thought processes are beautiful. Poetry is a big part of this series. Normally I don't like poetry, because I am terrible at writing it and understanding it. However, the poems in these books are broken down over and over again and thought of in different ways, depending on which characters perspective your in. That helped me comprehend them a lot easier! I always thought that their could only be one meaning for a poem, but every person thinks differently and can get their own hidden message from it. I still don't think I will ever enjoy writing poetry but I think I will be a little bit more interested in reading it:)

Like I said in my last review, I love the romance in these books. It's not so BAM IN YOUR FACE like other books are. It's sweet and subtle. Of course their was definitely more in this book than in Matched, but it still wasn't overdone.

I think my favorite quote from this book was:
 “I climb into the dark for you
Are you waiting in the stars for me?”

Rating: 5 Stars

Matched by Ally Condie

Description:

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate... until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.

The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

My Opinion:

YES! A secular book that I can enjoy:)

Even though this book is secular it is definitely clean also. There were a few kisses throughout the book but they weren't descriptive. Most of the romance was a knowing look, brush of the arm, actions done, or holding of hands. Cute stuff that pretty much starts off a relationship. It was very enjoyable;)

The beginning half of the book was kind of slow for me and the writing was not my favorite, but the story by far made up for my dislikes.

Matched is a Dystopian, "an imaginary place where people lead dehumanized and often fearful lives." I am definitely a fan of books like this although I have not read many.

In this story, everything is supposed to be predictable, pre-ordained. From what you eat to if you will finish a race first. From what your future career will be to whom you will marry. From the time you are born to the time of your death, everything you do the officers knew whould happen. Isn't that a weird thought? It's like the people in charge are trying to play God?

However, even though the peoples lives in Matched are supposed to be predictable, I love that Ally's story is not. I have no idea what will happen in the next book, Crossed. I ordered it as well as Reached from the library the minute after I finished this one. Can't wait to read it!

Rating: 5 Stars

This is really random but I absolutely loved this quote from the book. - "...And they will turn from ash and nothing into flesh and blood." I have no idea why, it just impacted me in a way I can't explain. I think it's really cool and I just thought I would share it:)

The Cowboy's Unexpected Family by Linda Ford

Description:

Her dream—on her terms with her own business, Cassie Godfrey is finally self-sufficient. But her plans are interrupted by four young orphans—and one persistent cowboy. If she'll care for the children until their uncle claims them, Roper Jones will build Cassie's house. To her business mind, the proposal makes sense. To her independent spirit, it's a reminder of the commitments she's promised to avoid.

Roper can't help admiring Cassie's pluck, even if he's exasperated by her stubbornness. All he can offer Cassie is the love and acceptance she claims not to need. But dreams, like hearts, can change and grow… in a land made for brave new beginnings.

My Opinion:

This book took me alittle while for a Love Inspired book. It was a good book with a good story, but I was not a fan of the way it was written. I feel like it was alittle choppy.

I really did like the story though. It was about learning how to love again without feeling like it's an obligation. Cassie struggled with this because of her past. She felt she couldn't accept anything from anybody without giving something in return, because she hated feeling like she owed something. In her opinion that was like being controled, which is something she never wanted to experience...

Untill she accepts a business agreement with Roper:)

Roper had a hard life growing up, and because of it he doesn't stay anywhere awhile because he feels unaccepted, like he doesn't belong. His motto is Don't lay down any roots, and so he moves on whenever and wherever he wants.

At first it is hard for Cassie to accept Ropers kindness because she feels he is giving more in the agreement than her. As time goes on Roper helps her see that it is okay to receive something as a gift without strings attached while he is learning that his past does not need to effect his choises in his future.

I thought it was a very enjoyable read with two lessons worth learning. People now days need to know that they are not chained by things they've done/had done to them in their pasts, and that they can change their futures if only they believe they can and see themselves through Gods eyes.

Rating: 4 Stars

Deeanne Gist Interview

Interview with Christian Historical Romance Author Deeanne Gist. She answers one of my questions;)

Please check out this video. It's very interesting listening to an Authors thoughts and opinions as well as listening to them answer questions from fan readers. This video was taken May 9th. Enjoy:)

Most of the questions/topics talked about in the interview have to do with Deeannes most recent novel, It Happened at the Fair. Here is an Image of the book.

Click the picture to go to a book description as well as my review on the book:) Thank you!
Check out It happened at the Fair on Amazon here!

Shattered Rose by T.L. Gray

Definition:

When obsession and love blend, and darkness consumes the mind and spirit, is it even possible to recognize the light?

Set in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, nineteen-year-old Avery Nichols embarks on a journey of love, loss and recognition that perfection is often an illusion. She gives all she has to the one man who cannot love her back, but still refuses let her go. Now another fights to give her everything she doesn't believe she deserves.

It is the beginning of her sophomore year at Winsor University, and Avery is determined that nothing will stop her momentum, not even the internal battle she has fought for four years. Forced to live on campus because of her alumni scholarship, Avery is thrilled when she is placed in the coveted University Apartments and is swept away by her roommate’s cousin, Jake, whose charm and charisma touches every part of her soul and shatters every piece of her heart. Broken and lost, Avery meets Parker, a man who not only offers her hope, but also teaches her to love in ways she never thought possible.

Jake is complicated and damaged, fighting to find his way after the loss of his mother, and despite his every attempt to stop it, Avery gets behind his defenses and forces him to feel once again. He doesn't want to love her, but can’t let her go. Parker is genuine, honest, and falls for Avery the moment he sees her. He wants nothing more than to love her, if she would only let him.

My Opinion:

This book was a very good read and I enjoyed it a lot. However, even though it is Christian and has a good ending it was a very emotional read. It also had a ton of adult content. I would not recommend this book to anybody under age 17, but that's my opinion. Some reasons I say this are because their is: sex before marriage, underage drinking, partying, and an eating disorder in the book. It used the word "Hell" in the book as a swear word a few times which might also bother some people. I'm not trying to make it so you don't want to read the book, because it was good, I'm putting this in here for warning that way you know what you are about to read if you decide to read it. This book doesn't sugar coat.

When those things that I listed above took place in the book Avery never really felt guilty when she was doing it, but after she felt completely horrible and worthless. She would also feel like she didn't deserve anyone's love. Through the book she realizes that she may not be worth God's love, but that he is willing to give it freely anyway if she lets him.

I'm not going to say anything about the guys, Jake and Parker, in the book because I do not want to give away which one she ends up with;)

Shattered Rose is told in first person which I liked a lot, because when I read the 'I did's or the 'I felt's I really did feel like I was going through her struggles/feeling her every emotion which was very important for the story in this case. I needed to feel these emotions so I knew what it would feel like for these things to actually happen to me. That way if I am ever put in some of Avery's situations I will not be tempted because I know the consequences of what could happen. If that makes any sense.

In my opinion this is a subtle Christian book. One that Christians and Non-Christians alike can appreciate.

This book was a self-published book, I received it in trade for a written blog review. I hope you like it:)

Rating: 4 Stars