Monday, March 16, 2015

Out of the storm by Jody Hedlund

Out of the Storm (Beacons of Hope, #0.5)
Description:
Having grown up in a lighthouse, loneliness is all Isabelle Thornton has ever known--and all, she assumes, she ever will know. But when her lightkeeper father rescues a young man from the lake, her sheltered world is turned upside down.

Bestselling author Jody Hedlund's Out of the Storm is her first ever novella and introduces readers to Beacons of Hope, a new series set in the 1800s amid the romance, history, and danger surrounding the Great Lakes lighthouses of Michigan.

My Opinion: 
I thought the idea for this novella was thrilling and am sad that it was so short, since I devoured the pages to quickly. It was fun and entertaining, especially with Henry's comical and flirtatious behavior, although I wish at times he was a little more serious. 

Which is another reason why I wish Out of the Storm lasted longer. I liked seeing Henry's serious side, all jokes kicked to the curb, and I wish I had the chance to enjoy more of it. 

I also liked Isabelle. She wasn't a perfect character. Most heroines in a story are so close to perfect with insecurity being their only flaw, but Isabelle had something to be insecure about. With that issue thrust into Henry and Isabelle's relationship, it forced her to accept herself the way she was and forced Henry to become the responsible man his Father needed. One that was honorable, trustworthy, and someone he could rely on. 

Not to mention, it forced Isabelle's Father to let go of the reigns of her life, and let her live the way God planned for all of us. 

With all the characters needing to accept the fast approaching truth of God's bigger picture for their lives, their is also a scoop full of romance to add to the drama. 

Stars: 4 

Monday, March 9, 2015

Surprised by Love by Julie Lessman

Surprised by Love (The Heart of San Francisco #3)

Description:

Shy and unattractive as a child, Megan McClare has always been teased by her classmates. But when she returns home from her senior year in Paris, the wallflower has suddenly blossomed into a beauty. With ambitions to become a lawyer or doctor, Megan accepts an internship at the district attorney's office only to discover that she will be working with Devin Caldwell, a boy who mercilessly mocked her at school--and with whom she was hopelessly enamored. She turns to her dear friend Bram Hughes for support and advice. But Bram's vision is clouded by his sudden unwelcome attraction to a girl he had always thought of as a kid sister. He advises forgiveness, but can he forgive himself for pushing the woman he loves into the arms of another man?


My Opinion: 

Something that I will never get over and never stop cherishing about these books is the easy camaraderie between the characters. Their is tons of dialogue and at no time does it seem forced. The conversations are hilarious, emotional, informative, and entertaining. Not once did I get bored over the story or plot. It all smoothly rolled along scene by scene, and I didn't want to miss a moment of it. Just like Julie Lessman's other books series: Daughters of Boston and Wind's of Change, I felt like I was a part of the story. Seeing everything through their eyes. When Bram would take Meg's hands in his and comfort her, I felt like it was my hands he was holding. When Blake and Jamie joked around with Bram, I felt like they were joking around with me. When the family sat down for dinner together, I felt like I had my own place mat. 

I cannot get over how real these stories become to me, and that is the reason I get so much out of them. The lessons that Julie shares with us are things we can impart in our daily lives. The situations and struggles these characters go through are hard to read, but only because they are SO relate-able for the majority of people today. Their problems strike home for most of us, and truth be told, Julie does not take it easy on us in her writing. Their stories grab and twist your heart until you think you can't take anymore pain, but then she redeems us with the love of God washing over the characters, to the point where I can't put the book down. 

I love the time period that Julie writes about, the late 1800's - early 1900's. I don't come across many authors who write about that period. But what I think I like most about that is she picks to write about ordinary people. Not famous people, not people in a war, but ones you could walk passed down the street. Then she goes on to continue the series with someone else from the family, not a whole new unrelated character, but someone we already know a bit about. This allows us to go DEEP, she doesn't giveaway everything about a character in the first book, but we learn more and more as their life progresses. This is my favorite type of writing. 

Now I am to understand that Julie is about to take on her very FIRST contemporary novel. Which, of course, will turn into a series. It's a given. Even though modern stories have not been my 'thing' in the past I pray that Julie will be the one to change that. After all, she does have a way with words. 

Stars:5 

Sunday, March 1, 2015

Want the River of Times Series to Become a Movie? ME TOO! Here is what you can do!

A dream-casting site for my River of Time Series. Have an actor or director you want to nominate? Just want to support me by "supporting" the concept? (No moola involved...) -->>> GO HERE

Click the above picture to go to the website!

Thank you to my friend Abbie for showing this to me! She is so awesome! I hope all of you River of Times fans go to this website in support for them to become movies. I also hope you share this on facebook, twitter, instagram, pinterest, any site you can think of! Even if you have never read the books, wouldn't you want to see an awesome movie? 

I'm not saying that this will ever happen, but if we want it to, we must try to get as many people as possible involved. For these books to become hit movies would be a dream come true. 

Lets just say I am a little obsessed with these books...

For the people who have never read them here are summaries of each one of the books, hopefully they will grab your attention to the point where you want to read them!

Waterfall

Waterfall (River of Time, #1)
What do you do when your knight in shining armor lives, literally, in a different world?

Most American teenagers want a vacation in Italy, but the Betarrini sisters have spent every summer of their lives among the romantic hills with their archaelogist parents. Stuck among the rubble of the medieval castles in rural Tuscany, on yet another hot, dusty archaeological site, Gabi and Lia are bored out of their minds...until Gabi places her hand atop a handprint in an ancient tomb and finds herself in fourteenth-century Italy. And worse yet, in the middle of a fierce battle between knights of two opposing forces.

Suddenly Gabi's summer in Italy is much, much more interesting. 

Cascade

Cascade (River of Time, #2)
Mom touched my underdress—a gown made six hundred years before—and her eyes widened as she rubbed the raw silk between thumb and forefinger. She turned and touched Lia’s gown. “Where did you get these clothes?”
Gabi knows she’s left her heart in the fourteenth century and she persuades Lia to help her to return, even though they know doing so will risk their very lives. When they arrive, weeks have passed and all of Siena longs to celebrate the heroines who turned the tide in the battle against Florence—while the Florentines will go to great lengths to see them dead.
But Marcello patiently awaits, and Gabi must decide if she’s willing to leave her family behind for good in order to give her heart to him forever.

Torrent

Torrent (River of Time, #3)
When Gabi and Lia finally learn to surf the river of time, they realize they must make hard choices about life and love in the third and final book in the River of Time series.

Gabi and Lia Betarrini have learned to control their time travel, and they return from medieval Italy to save their father from his tragic death in modern times.

But love calls across the centuries, and the girls are determined to return forever—even though they know the Black Plague is advancing across Europe, claiming the lives of one-third of the population. In the suspenseful conclusion of the River of Time series, every decision is about life … and death.

Bourne & Tributary

Bourne & Tributary (River of Time, #4)

It's possible to beat a She-Wolf.

But you cannot keep her down...


The Bettarinis and the boys they love are back with these two novellas that follow 
Waterfall, Cascade and Torrent.

In 
Bourne, t he story picks up right where Torrent left off...Find out what happened to wounded warriors returning from battle, to the Betarrinis, fighting for the men who've captured their hearts, and what will happen to them next...

A year later, in 
Tributary, Lia struggles to overcome the fear that constant battle has heaped upon her; Gabi and Marcello face an unexpected crisis; and Lord Greco may be ready to leave the grief and loss of his past behind him, so that he might grab hold of the future... 

Deluge

Deluge (River of Time, #5)Click on picture for my book review.


The Bettarinis and Forellis have found rich fulfillment together in medieval Italia. But after fighting off countless enemies, they now must face the worst foe of all. As the Black Death closes in upon them, threatening everything and everyone they hold dear, Lia and Gabi–and the knights they love–must dig deep within to decide how they might remain safe…and if they need to risk it all in order to truly live as they’re called. 


Here are some actors that I have thought for the bigger roles:
Henry Cavill- MarcelloHenry Cavill as Marcello Forelli

Luke Mitchell another idea for LucaLuke Mitchell as Luca Forelli

Justice Joslin - The Husband CatalogJustice Joslin as Lord Greco (He is not an actor, but a model)

Aiden Turner - Really liked this guy in the "Being Human" BBC series, just realized he's Kili in the new "Hobbit" movie. Good for him! Aiden Turner as Fortino Forelli

The shocking way Emilia Clarke became Khaleesi!Emilia Clarke as Gabi Bettarini

Teresa Palmer as Bella (17). She's Princess Belle from Beauty & the Beast. She tries to be independent and nice, but the Beast is a freaking jerk. She's very intelligent, but very loyal. She doesn't have that many friends until Harrow comes and makes things different.Teresa Palmer as Lia Bettarini

NATALIE ~ THE YEAR SHE FILMED HER FIRST SEASON OF  "THE TUDORS"  / ONE OF MY FAVORITE PICS OF HER  (I LOVE HER BRUNETTE)Natalie Dormer as Lady Ramona Rossi

Diane Lane - Dr. Grace Trevelyan GreyDiane Lane as Adri Bettarini

liev schreiber... Love Ray DonovanLiev Schreiber as Lord Paratore

SAM CLAFIN, Somebody asked me why he was on this board, I just pointed to his face and said "DER!"Sam Claflin as Lutterius and Georgii (Identical twin knights for the Forelli castle)

That's all I have for now, but I hope it shows you just how excited I am about this whole thing! Please feel free to post your choices for the characters or propose them on the website by clicking the top picture! :) :) :)