War Room by Chris Farby

My edition: Kindle Unlimited
Pages: 404
Standalone
Genre: Christian, Faith, Prayer
Published: August 4, 2015
Rating: 5 star

Synopsis:

Prayer is a Powerful Weapon

Tony and Elizabeth Jordan have it all — great jobs, a beautiful daughter, and their dream house. But appearances can be deceiving. Their world is actually crumbling under the strain of a failing marriage. While Tony basks in his professional success and flirts with temptation, Elizabeth resigns herself to increasing bitterness. But their lives take an unexpected turn when Elizabeth meets her newest client, Miss Clara, a wise, older widow who challenges Elizabeth to start fighting for her family instead of fighting against her husband.
 From the award-winning creators of Fireproof and Courageous comes War Room, a compelling drama with humor and heart that explores the power that prayer can have over marriages, parenting, careers, friendships, and every other area of our lives.

Review:

Most people think ‘God helps those who help themselves’ is in the Bible. Listen, God helps those who have come to the end of themselves.

Oh my Lanta, this was a wild ride for me. I was crying for the MCs and the struggles they went through.

At the beginning of the book Elizabeth and Tony are married in the same house but it seems like they are worlds away. One day Elizabeth meets Clara who teaches her about her war room. From there Elizabeth becomes more serious and creates a war room of her own.

I loved this book!!! I can’t wait to sit and watch the movie. I love when Elizabeth takes a stand and fights for her family. I was cheering at that part! There is so much I want to talk about this book but I don’t want to ruin it. I highly recommend it! Excuse me, but I have a war room of my own to start.

A lot of people don’t pray because they don’t believe it works. But unfortunately it doesn’t work because we don’t really pray.”

The Never King by James Abbott

My edition: Paperback
Pages: 499
Standalone
Genre: High Fantasy, Action
Published: May 18, 2017
Rating: DNF

Synopsis:

A new legend begins . . .

Xavir Argentum is rotting in gaol. Sentenced to life in the squalor of Hell’s Keep, punishment for an atrocity he didn’t commit, the once legendary commander is all but forgotten. His elite band of warriors are dead – and the kingdom he was poised to inherit is oppressed by the tyrant who framed him. For half a decade now, Xavir has ruled nothing but a prison gang.

Yet vengeance comes to those who wait. When a former spymaster infiltrates the Keep, bearing news of his old enemy’s treachery, plans are forged. A few are compelled to restore peace – an exiled queen, an outcast witch, and an unlikely alliance of rogues and heroes. But peace and vengeance make poor companions. And first, Xavir must make his escape . . .

Review:

Young men will have to die now. All for one man’s pride and stupidity.

I really didn’t know how I was going to feel about this. The average Goodreads rating didn’t show much promise. Amazon’s rating showed more promise. So how did I fare?

I got bored. I am not interested. I put this down about two months ago and I cannot pick it back up so I am just going to DNF and move on.

Pippa of Lauramore by Shri L. Tapscott

My edition: Kindle Unlimited
Pages: 334
Series: Eldentimber #1
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Romance
Published: March 15, 2015
Rating: 3 STARS

Synopsis:

Act like a lady. Don’t swim in the waterfall. And whatever you do, never steal into the woods for a romantic, moonlit ride.

For as long as Pippa can remember, she’s looked forward to her eighteenth birthday. The number represents freedom—and the end of her boring lessons with dreary tutors. Unfortunately for the princess, it’s also the age she is expected to marry Lionel, the stern prince of Vernow.

Eager to escape her future with the Lionel, Pippa convinces her Father to hold a traditional marriage tournament. Thirty men travel to Lauramore to compete, including Galinor, the dark-haired, blue-eyed prince of Glendon.

Galinor is everything Pippa dreams a prince can be. He’s handsome and strong, virtuous and true. Immediately smitten, Pippa decides she will do everything in her power to ensure Galinor wins the tournament—even if she must convince her friend Archer to win it for him.

Dragons and fairies, poison and lies—Pippa will let nothing stand between her and Galinor’s future.

But despite how well the tournament begins, Pippa may soon learn even the right prince can be the wrong man.

Review:

It’s a great honor to receive the two extra points a princess may give to her chosen, and it has made the difference in dozens of close tournaments. Winning means prestige, honor…and me.

Pippa has talked her father into hosting a tournament for her hand. She did this so she wouldn’t have to marry Lionel. So during the opening banquet, she looks for a man who could beat Lionel and she can be okay with marrying.

For the most part, Pippa is an annoying heroine. Besides her, some of the other characters don’t make the best decisions. I am a little upset because she doesn’t end up with the guy I wanted her to end up with, but whateves. I don’t know if I am going to move on with the rest of the series. I might read Lord Rigel’s book. He was the one that stole my heart for sure.

Maid and Minstrel by Kate Stradling

My edition: Kindle Unlimited
Pages: 145
Standalone
Genre: Retelling, Fantasy, YA
Published: April 26, 2022
Rating: 5 STARS

Synopsis:

Rosalind always shared her birthday with her father’s horses, but she never expected to share their fate.

Sheltered and pampered, beautiful Rosalind of Lovana turns eighteen with fluttering excitement. Nobles and dignitaries across the land are to celebrate with her—including young King Philip of Mallinae, whom she secretly adores.

But instead of a party, she descends to an auction where she is the prize up for bid. Incensed, she ridicules the guests, slinging a willfully hurtful barb at Philip in their midst.

Her father, enraged to have his moneymaking schemes thus ruined, delivers a seething ultimatum: Rosalind must marry a beggar that very night, or she dies.

Review:

For all the stupid couples Seriously, just talk to each other

When I read the dedication page, I knew I was going to like this story.

Rosalind is turning eighteen and her father decides she can finally have a celebration. Only when she comes to her supposed party she is told by her father to choose a husband of one of the many noblemen who bought an invitation. So she insults every single one that showed up. Even her childhood crush Philip.

Due to the insults not only to the kingdom’s nobles but to her father as well, he gives her the ultimatum to marry the beggar who knocked on his door or die. She then marries the beggar and has to leave her father’s lands.

I loved this. I do wish for a bit longer but it was amazing. I love Rosalind and Barnabus. They are so caring towards each other. I loved it. I am so adding more of Stradling to my TBR.

Voyage with the Vikings by Marianne Hering & Paul McCusker

My edition: Kindle Unlimited
Pages: 80
Series: Imagination Station #1
Genre: Children’s, Christian
Published: March 1, 2011
Rating: 4 stars

Synopsis:

Mr. Whittaker, a kind but mysterious inventor, has sent cousins Patrick and Beth to Greenland through the Imagination Station. It’s the year 1000, and they meet Viking Erik the Red, who is angry about the new God. Mr. Whittaker wants the cousins to find a Sunstone, but what does one look like? And what does it have to do with the mysterious letter found in the inventor’s workshop? Most important, can Patrick and Beth find a Sunstone before Erik’s son Leif sails away with the Imagination Station on board his ship?

Review:

There isn’t much that I can say about this but it was super cute. I liked it. It’s a Christian form of Magic Tree House. Instead of siblings, it’s cousins. Instead of a tree house, it is a machine that was made by Mr. Whittaker who owns Whit End. It’s a definite book series I will get for my son when he is old enough to read.

The Hard Way Home by C.W. Farnsworth

My edition: Kindle Unlimited
Pages: 270
Series: Hard Way Home #1
Genre: YA, Romance, Sports
Published: July 1, 2021
Rating: 3.5 stars

Synopsis:

STAR PITCHER. TOWN GOLDEN BOY. HEARTBREAKER. NEMESIS.

Caleb Winters was a familiar name long before he deigned Landry High with his presence. It took me all of ten seconds to determine he’s everything I’m not: charismatic, captivating, and celebrated.

Unlike most of Landry, he doesn’t shy away from my messy background. Or pretend I don’t exist. He answers my caustic remarks with choice retorts of his own. Our notorious bickering aside, I don’t have time for the town golden boy. I have actual problems. Challenges. Crushing responsibilities.

But when I’m suddenly forced to spend more time with him, I unexpectedly discover Caleb Winters might be more than just the entitled jock I’ve sparred with since freshman year.

And that realization can only end badly. For me.

Because everyone knows he’s destined for big, impressive things, and I’m… not.

Review:

Lennon has been an outcast most of her high school life. Senior year is a bit different. It seems after the winter break, Caleb Winters is there around the corner almost every second. The more she talks to him the more she starts to realize he’s starting not to be her enemy.

Super quick read. This is the second book I have read by Farnsworth. Like the first book I read by her, the characters use last names a lot when talking to one another. I do plan on starting the second book. I like Caleb and Lennon’s bickering/flirting. I do want more of them which thankfully the second book continues on their story.

The one thing I didn’t buy into too much was everyone staying clear of her because of her dad and mom. That didn’t make much sense to me. I wonder if we will see more family dynamics with Caleb’s family in the next book?

The Quarterback and the Ballerina by Anne-Marie Meyers & Maggie Dallen

My edition: Kindle Unlimited
Pages: 210
Series: The Ballerina Academy #1
Genre: YA, Sports, Romance
Published: March 7, 2020
Rating: DNF

Synopsis:

He thought he knew what he wanted.
Turns out, all he wanted was her.
Collette

I’d kill to be the kind of dancer my mom wants me to be, but it’s just not in the cards. I’m sick of dieting. I’ll never fit into the perfect ballerina mold and I’m tired of wishing that I could.

I’m over it. I’m done trying.

I’m perfectly content to dance alone in the dark while the rest of the school is sleeping.
Ethan

Coach says our football team needs discipline. That dancing alongside a bunch of prissy prima donnas is how we’ll learn our lesson.

Only problem?

I don’t have time for ballet. Not when I’m busting my butt to be the star quarterback, the dutiful son, and the perfect student…all so I can achieve my father’s dream.

When I meet Collette, I can’t help but take notice. She’s a vision of grace and beauty all wrapped up in snark and sass. And she helps me see that my own dreams aren’t so stupid after all.

I just wish she could see that in herself. But when I try to bring her out into the light, I can feel her slipping away. Her walls are built up so high, I fear they’ll never come down. I want to love her like she deserves—but that’s just the problem.

She doesn’t believe she deserves it.

Review:

To start off with, I have only read one of Anne-Marie’s books and I didn’t give it the highest rating. With Maggie, I have read a couple of her books and I DNFed them. So when I picked up this book off my TBR and noticed Maggie as the author then went and looked at Anne-Marie I started not to have high hopes. It’s not because they have bad writing. Their writing tends to hit the younger demographic which I haven’t been in for about eleven to twelve years. But I decided I was going to give this the good ole college try.

When Coach Reynolds told me what he’d planned as punishment for my teammates, I’d thought he was joking. The entire starting lineup for the Oakwood High football team taking ballet lessons? He couldn’t be serious.

The starting line with the exception of Ethan got caught partying the night before a game. The coach decides that their punishment will be learning ballet. Ethan purposes to help out Collette.

I want to point out one thing… many famous football players actually participate in ballet to enhance their performance. Don’t believe me, google it. I did try to keep an open mind. There really wasn’t anything wrong with the story. I’m just bored. I think it has more to do with the fact that I just finished a five-star book and this really is pointed to a younger demographic.

I’m sure if I had picked it up at another time, I probably would have liked it but unfortunately, that is not the case.

The Heir and the Spare by Kate Stradling

My edition: Kindle Unlimited
Pages: 300
Standalone
Genre: Fantasy
Published: Feb. 19, 2021
Rating: 5 stars

Synopsis:

An evil princess, a ruthless persecutor, a wretched match.

Tormented at home and bullied during her studies abroad, second-born Iona of Wessett hides in the quiet corners of her father’s castle. Her art and music provide refuge, but her cruel sister Lisenn ever lurks like a monster stalking its prey.

Such has been her life for twenty years.

However, a promise of reprieve and retribution arrives when the neighboring kingdom of Capria proposes an alliance between their new crown prince and Wessett’s heir to the throne. The treaty will rid Iona of the toxic Lisenn, and the potential groom is none other than her erstwhile bully, Jaoven of Deraval. The marriage could not be more poetic: each deserves the misery the other might inflict.

Except that Jaoven, humbled by the war that elevated his rank, appears to have reformed, and the fate of both kingdoms now hinges on the disastrous union he’s about to make.

Review:

First, I want to say I love when books start off with bible quotes. This one started with Luke 17:3.

Iona is second princess to Wessett. When she was younger she was sent to Capria to attend their royal college. Her parents sent her away to escape her older sister Lisenn. While she was at Capria she was bullied. Her main tormentor… Jaoven of Deraval. When negotiations for her older sister to the new crown prince come about, Jaoven learns that he wasn’t tormenting a lesser noble from his homeland but the second princess of the neighboring kingdom.

I felt sorry for Iona. The abuse she had to suffer from her sister and her father not really caring. Her sister got away with way too much. I didn’t think I would finish this in a day. But I did. I didn’t think I would like this but I ended up loving it. I will definitely be adding more books by Kate to my TBR. I do have another one that is on my kindle. I am now a bit worried that I will go into a slump. That’s how good the book was. I do wish for more of Iona and Jaoven. Though it has more to do with wanting to dig deeper into the romance and let it grow.

The Miller’s Girl by Nina Clare

My edition: Kindle Unlimited
Pages: 332
Stand Alone
Genre: YA, Fairy tale retelling
Published: April 16, 2017
Rating: 2.5 stars

Synopsis:

Once upon a time there was a foolish miller who claimed his daughter could spin straw into gold…

All Adela wants is to keep her family together, keep a roof over her brothers’ heads, put food on the table, and not draw attention to herself – for she’s no time for suitors.

But all that is shattered when she’s dragged from the village by a greedy king and ordered to spin straw into gold – or die. Suddenly life has become very dangerous, and which impending fate is worse – execution or a forced marriage to a mad, old king?

It will take faith, courage, and otherworldly help for Adela to outwit those who would destroy her and her loved ones. And a happy ending is something she can only hope for.

Review:

Adela is the daughter of the village miller. She has three brothers Lukas, Herbil, and Six. Her father is a drunk who spends all their money. Adela has several suitors after her, one being the bailiff who works for the king and collects their monthly fee. When the bailiff comes to collect, Adela outwits him with the terms of the contract between miller and king. They have two weeks to get the monthly fee along with the late fees as well.

Prince Johann has returned to govern in his father’s place. His father is slowly losing his mind. (My guess is dementia.)

I wasn’t really a fan of this story. I was kind of bored through most of it. About the 70% I just skimmed to the end and read the ending. It took a long time before the romance started and by then I wasn’t invested in either Adela or Johann.

Say Anything by Madeleine Labitan

My edition: Kindle Unlimited
Pages: 128
Standalone
Genre: YA, High School, Romance
Published: Feb. 14, 2019
Rating 2.5 stars

Synopsis:

Falling for him wasn’t part of the plan…

“I heart Lincoln Evans.”

Riley Ellison has been writing those words in her journal for months, pouring her teenage daydreams within its pages.

Because the cutest boy in school isn’t aware of her feelings for him and it’s going to stay that way. She wouldn’t be able to live it down if he ever finds out and rejects her. That would be downright mortifying.

So when Noah Pritchett—Lincoln’s best friend and Riley’s next-door neighbor—finds out the truth, Riley’s world turns upside down. What will she do? Will he say anything?

But instead of outing her, Noah is suddenly offering to help her get Lincoln. It seems to be working…until Noah starts acting like he doesn’t want to play cupid anymore. Did he lose interest or is there something more going on?

Review:

I wasn’t a big fan of the writing. I also don’t like that the two moms of the main characters were so caviler about their kids having sex. Especially, while they were home. No, the MCs don’t have sex but the moms hint at it and even joke about it.

This is a boy next-door romance. Riley really likes Lincoln. Noah finds out when he sees Riley’s journal which is filled with creepy middle school girl crush kind of things about Lincoln. (She has names for their future kids) Noah says he is going to help Riley get Lincoln.

This had potential. The plot wasn’t developed all the way. I’m still wondering why Noah offers to help Riley. The love between these two felt insta and I wasn’t fully bought on it. I have read another book by this author before though I had no memory of the said book. I looked at the review I wrote on it. I had DNF it on page 6 due to the writing being too immature and not well thought out. I kind of had that problem with this book but not bad enough that I DNF. I have a couple other books of hers on my TBR. I think if the next book I read of hers is too immature, I will just take her other books off and put her on my do not read.