Out of the storm by Jody Hedlund

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 

Surprised by Love by Julie Lessman

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 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 as Marcello Forelli

Luke Mitchell as Luca Forelli

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

 Aiden Turner as Fortino Forelli

Emilia Clarke as Gabi Bettarini

Teresa Palmer as Lia Bettarini

Natalie Dormer as Lady Ramona Rossi

Diane Lane as Adri Bettarini

Liev Schreiber as Lord Paratore

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! :) :) :)

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