An Uncertain Choice by Jody Hedlund

Description:

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 Opinion:

I was so excited when this came in the mail, but was absolutely shocked by the size of it. It was over 100 pages shorter than most of Jody Hedlund's other novels. However, even though it was short I was in AWH of how Jody made the story come alive with an interesting plot in that time. 

I have never read a book with knights vying for a maidens attention in a competition to win her heart, and even though I found the idea unrealistic, it made for an entertaining read. I literally had a hard time putting this book down.  

I also liked how An Uncertain Choice was not just about the competition, but also about what was best for the kingdom that Rosemarie was about to rule. She didn't just think about what was best for her, but what was best for her people. She had to overcome her insecurities, and pull strength from the ones she loved to become the leader she was meant to be. She had to stand up for herself against the ones trying to undermine her authority. Summed up, I saw a young girl transform into a strong woman of honor, courage, and faith. 

One thing I would have done is give the 'winning knight' a flaw, that way there would have been more of a struggle for Rosemarie and him to be together than just other people getting in their way. 

Stars: 4

River of Time (Luca) Recast?

Wait...... WHAT?????

That's right guys! So, earlier today I was sitting down with some of my family and we started watching a series on Netflix called The Tomorrow People. It only lasted like a season or two, but what I have seen so far is pretty interesting. 

Well, anyway. There is this guy on the show John. WHEN I SAW HIM I IMMEDIATELY THOUGHT LUCA! Yes, more so than my last pick Bradley James. Let me show you the difference. By the way, the new guys name is Luke Mitchell if you want to look him up! 

  

Before (Bradley James)                      After (Luke Mitchell)

So, obviously they look nothing alike, but after today Luke just strikes me as being able to pull off Luca better if the books were ever made into movies. He even looks more like the guy on the cover!

He just has the look to him, here are some more pictures to prove my point if you are like me and need more of a visual.

       I hope you all like the new Luca who will be on my Pinterest board. I will still keep the pictures of Bradley James on there for the people who like him, and because he is already dressed as a knight. I decided to share this with all of you because I get excited about casting characters and I change my mind on them all the time, but when my older sister finally agreed on something with me that had to do with the River of Time I just had to share!

Beyond All Dreams by Elizabeth Camden

Description:

Sweeping and Romantic Historical Drama from an Award-Winning Author

Anna O'Brien leads a predictable and quiet life as a map librarian at the illustrious Library of Congress until she stumbles across a baffling mystery of a ship disappeared at sea. She is thwarted in her attempts to uncover information, but her determination outweighs her shyness and she turns to a dashing congressman for help.

Luke Callahan was one of the nation's most powerful congressmen until his promising career became shadowed in scandal. Eager to share in a new cause and intrigued by the winsome librarian, he joins forces with Anna to solve the mystery of the lost ship.

Opposites in every way, Anna and Luke are unexpectedly drawn to each other despite the strict rules forbidding Anna from any romantic entanglement with a member of Congress.

From the gilded halls of the Capitol, where powerful men shape the future of the nation, to the scholarly archives of the nation's finest library, Anna and Luke are soon embroiled in secrets much bigger and more perilous than they ever imagined. Is bringing the truth to light worth risking all they've ever dreamed for themselves?

My Opinion:

I had no idea what this book was about when I asked for it to review. When it came in the mail and I read the back of the cover I thought I was in for a boring story. A map librarian and a Congressman teaming up to discover what actually happened to a ship at sea fifteen years earlier just didn't strike me as interesting. My mind was blown when the story actually captivated my attention.

I liked how both Anna and Luke had unique past experiences, but that related to each others circumstances in a way that made it easy for these two polar opposites to connect. Growing up both of them were outcasts because of people in their families, but they wanted to be more than their family reputation. In doing that they both got noble jobs working for the government. Luke wanted to turn his life around not just for him, but for the future people to come from his family. Anna wanted do something with her life that would make her father proud.

In all that made them alike, it also put strains on their growing relationship. Both obsessed with their work and wanting to do what was best, their missions crossed paths that would lead to one needing to give up their life's work.

The struggles these two went threw not only to be together, but to be friends at all was astounding. And I loved watching them overcome every obstacle.

The only thing that bothered me about this book was that I thought Anna's obsession with the Culpeper was a little over the top, and she was EXTREMELY paranoid which became annoying.

Stars:4