A Simply Enchanted Life

The Silence of Winter by Wanda E. Brunstetter

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’ve been itching to pick up the rest of these and was so excited that I was selected to review the series!

I literally couldn’t put these down. I was obsessively reading to figure out what would happen with Luke and Meredith and at times nervously worried they might not make it back to one another.

I do hope that one day all six volumes will be available in a collection as I think that individually I would have gotten frustrated with having to wait to see how the story wrapped up.

I also think that individually the cost of each book is a more than I’d be willing to pay. It has nothing to do with the story line or the writing but I do prefer a more traditional delivery than mini novellas.

Meredith has learned of Luke’s death and as to be expected is devastated. It is bad enough that they parted on uneasy ground but to never have a chance to tell him that she’s expecting his baby is absolutely heartbreaking.

Her life is thrown into a tailspin and when she almost loses the baby—my heart just sank! Luckily, nothing like that happened and her sister moves in to help care for her. Also, an old friend shows up to offer his support as well and I quickly saw how interested he was in her even though it is entirely too early for her to be ready for any relationship.

Hours away, Luke lies in a coma. Badly beaten and fighting for his life in the hospital—no one knows his identity and his family wrongfully believe he has died. Ooooh, drama and suspense! I knew it was very unlikely to happen but I couldn’t help but feel apprehension of Meredith possibly moving on while she still had a husband!!!

Book two concluded entirely too soon and I quickly picked up book three to see where this story would lead! If you’re planning to pick up this series I strongly suggest waiting and getting all six books at once as frustration at having to wait to read the next installment is highly probable.

The story is definitely five stars—I am still wary of the value and cost of these individual novellas so please take that into consideration when you pick these up!
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A nationally recognized authority on the Amish community, Wanda E. Brunstetter has seen her book sales over the two million mark. Wanda enjoys an uncommon kinship with the Amish and continues to visit their communities throughout the country. Her books have won numerous awards and topped several bestselling charts. http://www.wandabrunstetter.com/

I received this book free from the publisher through Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own

Afloat by Erin Healy

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I was really excited to read this book. It sounded sort of sci-fi/dystopian and it grabbed my interest.

However, I found that I quickly lost interest within the first four chapters of the book.

The story line was a great concept and I wanted to love it but it just couldn’t hold my attention.

I felt that some of the catastrophe and chaos was so over the top that it was hard to follow exactly what happened and though I have finished the book I am not entirely sure if it was a bomb that caused the problem or if it was a volcano or earthquake.

As a reader who grasps allegory and comprehends books quite well it isn’t often that I feel such loss and confusion. Perhaps such feelings came from not falling in love with the characters or maybe it was something else but I just didn’t really connect with this book. I couldn’t really fall in love with the characters nor did I feel particular loss when something bad happened to them.

In addition to my other complains; I think for me the multiple character views were a big hindrance in my ability to form a bond with the characters. I think this will be one of those books that you either love or hate depending entirely upon personal tastes in writing styles so I would still probably suggest the books for others who love action and sci-fi.
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Who will you trust when dark waters rise?

Eagle's Talon is an architectural marvel-shining residential units afloat in a protected cove of the gorgeous Rondeau River. The project is nearly complete, partially occupied, and ready to make investors rich when a sinkhole gives way. Then torrential rains and a flood leave a ragged collection of builders, investors, and residents stranded in one floating building, cut off from the rest of the world.

They're bitterly divided over what to do next.

Architect Vance Nolan insists they should sit tight and wait for rescue. Developer Tony Dean wants to strike out into the darkness. And single mom Danielle Clement, desperate to protect her young son, Simeon, struggles to hold their motley band together.

Power failure, a pall of unnatural daytime darkness, explosions in the distance, then a murder ratchet tensions to a boiling point. But Danielle's young son, Simeon, has spotted something strange underwater-beautiful, shifting lights in the dark water below.
In this watery world where everyone's secrets will eventually come to light, salvation may mean more than just getting out alive.
Giveaway




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Erin Healy is the best-selling co-author of "Burn" and "Kiss" (with Ted Dekker) and an award-winning editor for numerous best-selling authors. She has received wide acclaim for her novels "Never Let You Go", "The Baker's Wife", "House of Mercy", and "Afloat". She and her family live in Colorado. Erin can be contacted through her website ErinHealy.com or through Facebook at erinhealybooks.

Find out more about Erin at http://www.erinhealy.com.

I received this book free from the publisher through a fantastic program called Litfuse Publicity. I was not required to write a positive review. The thoughts and opinions I have expressed are my own. This giveaway is being sponsored by Litfuse
as part of a blog tour for Afloat. To view other reviews and learn more about this tour please visit the Litfuse group by clicking here

Erin Healy is celebrating the release of her latest novel Afloat (Thomas Nelson) with an iPad Mini giveaway.

One winner will receive:

• An iPad Mini 
  
• iTunes gift card
• Afloat by Erin Healy 
  

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 15th. Winner will be announced on Erin's blog on June 17th. Save the date and click HERE to see if YOU won the iPad Mini!

Don't miss a moment of the fun; ENTER today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Visit Erin's blog on the 17th!