Summer Book Trek 2014

I participated in this last year and had a great time, and even won a few books (which is always fun). New LDSFiction is hosting a challenge to read LDS authors during the month of July (you don’t have to be LDS to participate). They will be giving away prizes throughout the month as well. I never really paid that much attention to it before, but there are a lot of popular LDS authors out there. After last years Trek I even created a shelf on Goodreads devoted to LDS authors, I'm still adding to it and I've got over 100 so far. Below are my book choices for this year, it was hard to narrow it down and I'm sure I'll be updating it as I go.

 

Son of War, Daughter of Chaos by Janette Rallison

Werewolf Dreams by Katie O'Guinn
Werewolf Rage by Katie O'Guinn
Werewolf Revenge by Katie O'Guinn
Werewolf Betrayal by Katie O'Guinn
Hunted by Katie O'Guinn
Dreaming of Ivy by Shannon Guymon
On the Fence by Kasie West
The Husband Maker by Karey White
Uncovering Cobbogoth by Hannah Clark
Romance Anthology: Summer in New York
What Is Hidden by Lauren Skidmore
Sweet Confections by Danyelle Ferguson
Reese's Cowboy Kiss by Kimberly Krey
Becoming Lady Lockwood
Just One Wish by Janette Rallison
Persuaded by Misty Dawn Pulsipher
Accidentally Married by Victorine Lieske
Diamond Rings are Deadly Things by Rachelle Christensen 

Love & Trust Trilogy by Shannon Guymon

This series takes place in the same charming town of Fircrest, WA. Rob owns the Iron Skillet, where his sister Taryn is the manager. His youngest sister Bailey works for the local newspaper. They’ve all been burned in love and are slow to trust.

I really enjoyed this trilogy. It was fun seeing each character open themselves up to love and to find their perfect match. We met Rob in the previous series and it was fun to see him find his happily ever after in Come to Me. Bailey’s story was great, she had been seriously burned before and had closed herself off completely. It takes a really special and determined man to bring down her walls. Her love story was full of romance, tension and a sweet love story. The last book, Tough Love, is all about the humbling of Taryn. Her story is a bit of a roller coaster and she fights who she is meant to be with, but it just makes their ending all the more sweet. Overall, another great trilogy. I love the setting, characters and love stories.

Love & Dessert Trilogy by Shannon Guymon

Sisters Layla, Kit and Jane are reunited when their grandmother passes away, leaving her bakery to them. The sisters move home to Fircrest, WA to take over the store and to get a fresh start on life. Layla is a burned out social worker, having seen the worst men have to offer she has closed herself off from relationships. Kit recently caught her boyfriend with another woman feels the same way. Jane is a hopeless romantic and optimistic about finding true love. They decide that since they are reunited and starting a new business they will open their hearts and be open to finding love.
Everything isn’t as easy as it seems though, there are a few people out to make sure the girls don’t find success in love or in business.

I fell in love with this series right from the start. The first book, You Belong With Me, focuses mainly on Layla. She’s a no-nonsence lady who will do anything for her sisters. The next book, I Belong With You, focuses on middle sister Kit. I liked Kit, she is a talented artist and beautiful. It was fun to see her find someone who saw the real Kit. The last book, My Sweetheart, is about Jane. Jane was my favorite and I loved her story. She has a kind heart and likes to find the good in everyone. All three books have sweet romances and swoony leading men. There is a mystery that runs throughout the book and added some excitement to the stories. Overall, a really fun series.

Falling for Rayne by Shannon Guymon

Garrett Murphy is used to rejection. As a child, he was rejected by his mother and as a man he was rejected by Jane Kendall. Going without love has turned Garrett into a man who doesn't trust in a woman's heart. So when he meets Rayne Nyman, she's too good to be true. She's beautiful, talented and sweet. She also happens to be a world renowned pianist. He knows there's no way she'd ever want to stay in Fircest with him when she could be living the life she was born to. Rayne is determined to prove him wrong and show him that love can be forever but when she comes under fire and her life is put in danger, she might not have the chance.

Loved it! By far my favorite of the entire series. And isn't that cover gorgeous! We meet Garrett in the Love & Dessert and Love & Trust trilogies and I was so excited when I found out he would be getting his own book! Garrett has had it rough, especially when it comes to the women in his life. His mom skipped out on him when he was a little boy and it seems any woman who enters his life just leaves again. He's built up a wall around his heart and doesn't want to let anyone get too close. Rayne and her sister have moved to Fircrest to escape from their world and to hide out from a possible murderer. Their parents were killed in a suspicious car accident and until they have more answers they want to play things safe. Rayne has spent her entire life trying to please her parents, who have demanded perfection. She is a world famous pianist and unlucky in love. Garrett and Rayne have chemistry right from the start. I liked that they didn't let that get in their way of disagreeing with each other, they had some fun fights. Although they come from different backgrounds, they have a lot in common. They bring out the best in each other and were a great couple. I really loved their story! It was fun seeing characters from previous books (I especially liked the resolution between Tate and Garrett) and returning to the charming town of Fircrest. I also liked meeting new characters Ivy, Cleo, Beckett and Asher (I hope we see them again the next books).

Overall, it was a fun story, with a touch of mystery that keeps you on your toys. Loved it! Now I need to go read it again.

Content
Romance: Clean
Violence: Mild

Prejudice Meets Pride by Rachael Anderson

After years of pinching pennies and struggling to get through art school, Emma Makie’s hard work finally pays off with the offer of a dream job. But when tragedy strikes, she has no choice but to make a cross-country move to Colorado Springs to take temporary custody of her two nieces. She has no money, no job prospects, and no idea how to be a mother to two little girls, but she isn’t about to let that stop her. Nor is she about to accept the help of Kevin Grantham, her handsome neighbor, who seems to think she’s incapable of doing anything on her own. Prejudice Meets Pride is the story of a guy who thinks he has it all figured out and a girl who isn't afraid to show him that he doesn't. It’s about learning what it means to trust, figuring out how to give and to take, and realizing that not everyone gets to pick the person they fall in love with. Sometimes, love picks them.

I am a huge Rachael Anderson fan, I seriously love her books. So, when I got Prejudice Meets Pride I told myself to take my time and maybe spread it out for the weekend. Nope, once I started reading I got sucked into the story like I always do and I couldn’t put it down. I guess I’ll just have to re-read it.

Emma is a really likable heroine. She really steps-up when she needs to and would do anything for those she cares about. She has a big heart, lots of talent and she can be a bit stubborn. Kevin was awesome, I really liked him. He was maybe a bit judgy at first, but he is such a sweetheart. Together Emma and Kevin really bring out the best in each other. They kind of balance out each other’s weaknesses and draw out their good qualities. They are better together than they are apart. I thought they had great chemistry, they had a bumpy start, but I liked how they are drawn to each other. They seemed very real to me, I especially liked learning about Emma and her life. She is a gifted artist and would love for her to come paint my kids rooms!

I really enjoyed the story; Emma has to move to a new town with her two nieces. Things are tights and she is under a lot of stress. I like her strong work ethic and positive outlook. Noah is doing well professionally and is happy with life. Or at least he thinks he is until Emma bursts into his life and shakes things up. I thought this story was a lot of fun; I loved the setting and side characters. I was so excited when I got to the end to see there will be two more books in the series. I can’t wait to read about Noah, he really deserves his own happiness. And Sam will be fun to read to, I love cowboy stories so I already know I will love that one.

If you love contemporary romance this is a great heartwarming story. Love it!

Content: Clean

The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back by Sariah Wilson

Everyone knows how all those fairy tales go. The princess gets beautiful, nabs her prince, falls instantly in love, lives happily ever after and leaves her evil stepsisters in the dust. But what happens when you’re the ugly stepsister and your obnoxiously perfect—read pretty, smart, and, worst of all, sickeningly nice—stepsister is dating the charming, tall, devastatingly handsome guy you’ve had a thing for since you were nine years old? Quirky, artistic and snarky Mattie Lowe does not lead a charmed life. Her mother is constantly belittling her on Skype. Mercedes, the school mean girl, has made it her personal mission to torment Mattie. But worst of all? Her stepsister Ella is the most beautiful, popular girl in school and is dating Mattie’s secret longtime crush, Jake Kingston. Tired of being left out and done with waiting for her own stupid fairy godmother to show up, Mattie decides to change her life. She’ll start by running for senior class president against wildly popular Jake. Ella can keep her Prince Annoying. Mattie’s going to rule the school. And no one, not even a cute and suddenly flirty Jake, is going to stop her.

I ended up really enjoying this one. I got it when it was a kindle freebie and I'm not sure why I waited so long to read it. I liked Mattie. She starts with a low self-esteem, but I like how she sticks up for herself and stands up for what she believes in. She just doesn't see herself the way other people do. To say she was obsessed with Jake would be a it of an understatement, but I liked how even though she was all swoony about him, she still didn't let him push her around. I just thought this was a fun Cinderella type stories. It had fun characters, a good plot and was well written. I thought it had a good message about believing in yourself, taking risks and standing up for what you believe in. I liked the relationship between Ella and Mattie, and how supportive Ella was of Mattie. She was just a cool chick. I liked Jake, he was a fun character.

Overall, this was a fun, heartwarming type book. One I would easily recommend to anyone, especially teens. It's really hard to find good clean teen-lit now days and I was glad to have found this one.

Content: Clean

Stolen Songbird by Danielle Jensen

For five centuries, a witch’s curse has bound the trolls to their city beneath the ruins of Forsaken Mountain. Time enough for their dark and nefarious magic to fade from human memory and into myth. But a prophesy has been spoken of a union with the power to set the trolls free, and when Cécile de Troyes is kidnapped and taken beneath the mountain, she learns there is far more to the myth of the trolls than she could have imagined. Cécile has only one thing on her mind after she is brought to Trollus: escape. Only the trolls are clever, fast, and inhumanly strong. She will have to bide her time, wait for the perfect opportunity.

I really liked this one. I love when you pick up a book and you can tell right away that you're going to enjoy it. When you see that it is almost 500 pages and glad it's going to last awhile. That's how I felt when I started reading this one. The writing was well done, I never felt bogged down by unnecessary details. Everything was told for a reason and helped move the story along. It also helps when you like the heroine, which I did. Cécile starts off as a normal farm girl, who had an amazing gift for singing. She has just turned seventeen is about to leave her country life to go live in the city with her mother. Her plans quickly chance when she is abducted and sold to trolls.

I enjoyed the world building here and the world of Trollus. It was easy to picture their kingdom and the trolls within. I like that Cécile had a strong spirit and never gives up. I liked her relationship with Tristan. I thought their bond was interesting and unique. I also liked how Cécile was able to see the good in those around her and make friends. At times I think she was a little naïve, but it was also nice that she is optimistic and genuinely wants to help. I didn't like Tristan at first, he just rubbed me the wrong way (and not because he was an evil troll) and I wasn't sure if I would like him. He does grow on me though and the more we get to know him the more I liked him. I will say, at times some of the language seemed too modern for the setting and would take me out of the story a bit. I actually would have liked more of Tristan's POV, we get a few here and there and I would have liked to see more.

Overall, a great start to a new series (a little bummed that I have to wait so long for the next book). If you enjoy high fantasy, kickbutt princesses and swoony princes then you need to pick this one up!

Content
Romance: Clean
Language: Mild
Violence: Mild

Wish You Were Italian by Kristin Rae

Pippa is in Italy for the summer and, despite her parents’ wishes, she has no intention of just studying the local art! She has a list of things of her own to do: from swimming in the Mediterranean Sea to getting a makeover – and falling for an Italian boy! As Pippa explores the dramatic ruins of Rome and Pompeii, she is swept into her own drama with two guys: an irresistible local she knows is nothing but trouble and a cute American archaeology student . . . Will she find her true love?

Affascinante! This book was totally charming. Maybe it’s because I’ve always wanted to visit Italy, ever since I was very small. I still hope to get there one day, especially after reading this book.

While I think it’s totally insane to send your seventeen-year-old daughter alone to Italy, it did make for a fun plot here. Pippa goes to Italy to study art. Once she arrives she decides to go her own way and explore the country she has always wanted to see and photograph. Pippa was pretty likable, I thought she fit her age well, but still had a good maturity about her. It was fun to watch her explore Italy and also discover herself along the way.

I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but I actually enjoyed the love triangle in this one. Maybe since she meets both guys at the same time and has to spend time with each to really decide who she likes best. Seemed realistic to me. Both guys had their own charm, but there is definitely one I liked more. Bruno was the hottie Italian she was hoping to meet. He is charming and knows all the right things to say. Darren is the cute American who is sweet and kind and a little slower in showing his feelings. I’m never sure how these travel romances are going to work out, so I was glad to see how things wrap up. I loved Pippa’s BFF Morgan and I hope she gets her own book. She is such a good friend, I loved the goal journal she made for Pippa. Such a fun idea.

Overall, a charming read and one I would highly recommend. I’ll definitely be keeping my eyes open for what this author comes up with next!

Content: Clean!

Love Gone Wild by Amy Matayo

As the daughter of a well-known politician, Anna Lloyd has been groomed for success. There’s only one problem: for her, success never sticks. Texas-bred rancher Jay Maddox wants one last chance at fun. After a lifetime of being responsible for siblings, mortgages, and a dysfunctional mother, he’s ready for an adventure that’s all his own. When both of them arrive to begin taping the show, they’re joined by three other couples, and all are eager to get started. Until the producers make a decision that throws everything into chaos. Now Jay and Anna are alone in the wilderness—forced together against their will into a partnership neither one bargained for. How is Anna supposed to get her boyfriend to commit to her when she’s stuck with this southern cowboy instead? How is Jay supposed to survive a solid month with this big-city girl who gets under his skin in more ways than one?

I’ve been looking forward to this one ever since I finished The Wedding Game. It didn’t disappoint, I was quickly engaged in the story and rooting for Jay and Anna. I liked both Anna and Jay and it was fun watching them fall in love. They do so under some pretty dire circumstances and will probably make their relationship stronger in the long run. I thought the setting was fun, although I wouldn’t go rushing off to Alaska any time soon. I was surprised by how much time they were actually alone during the filming of the show; I guess I was expecting more of a Survivor type setting (only in freezing Alaska). As in most of these type stories there are some obstacles for the couple to overcome. It was a tad frustrating; I wanted to shake Anna a few times. I understood her though; I got how she couldn’t or wouldn’t want to disappoint her family. It’s a lot easier said than done and her behavior and choices seemed realistic. I was happy with how everything worked out.

Overall, a super fun read. Ms. Matayo is quickly becoming an auto-buy author for me! Can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.

Romance: Clean, a few passionate kissing and very mild innuendo
Language: Can’t remember any, if there was it was mild

Compromising Kessen by Rachel Van Dyken

The last thing career-driven Kessen Newberry wants is to leave her home in Colorado to spend a Season in London, far away from her job, her friends and the memories of her mother. However, her father, the Earl of Newberry, threatens to disinherit her unless she gets in touch with her British roots. She complies, but has no intention of enjoying the experience. That is until she meets Christian Vandenbrook, the arrogant and irritatingly handsome future Duke of Albany and her father’s business partner. Unfortunately, Christian hates Americans. And coffee. And apparently, Kessen. A hatred this passionate can only lead to one thing… marriage. Caught in the middle of a Regency-inspired nightmare, Kessen and Christian are forced to marry in only one week’s time. Resigned to their fate, the two resolve to give the relationship a chance—which would be much easier if everyone would stop interrupting them every time they found a moment alone.

This was charming! I loved how lighthearted it was, I caught myself smiling a lot throughout the book. Christian and Kessen had great chemistry, I liked their banter. I also loved their friends Nick and Duncan, they were a riot. I loved how they were trying to keep them apart before the wedding and also how they wanted to help them get to know each other. I think the characters would probably die if they knew I've never had a drop of coffee or tea! There was a lot of kissing in this book! They couldn’t keep their hand off each other. And while I think that’s important in a relationship, I also think there are more important things for long-term success. By the end I still kind of felt the main component for their relationship was lust. I hope that when things mellow out and they settle down they are able to build on their friendship and have their HEA. Overall, a fun escape and I agree with another review that said this would make a fun movie!

Content
Romance: Pretty clean
Language: Mild

The Ripple Effect Romance Novella Series

I thought this was a great idea for a series. Basically, the action of a character in the first book directly affects the main characters in book two, and so on down the line. So, while the books could stand on their own, they are better read in order. I thought this was a fun concept. The authors came up with their own plots and then worked together on how to weave their stories together. The first book will be released in early March and then each consecutive book will be released a couple weeks later (release dates below). Full reviews of each book can be found on my Goodreads or Amazon profile.

Home Matters (March 10): I liked this one. I thought it was a fun story about discovering what you really want out of life. The romance was sweet (I liked how our couple initially meets).

Silver Linings (March 24): I wanted to like this one more than I did. I know others will probably love it, and I did like it, I just would have tweaked a couple things. Drew and Eden are cute together though and you’ll be happy to see them get their HEA.

Righting a Wrong (April 7): Great story about second chances. This one had a lot of heart. Not only was the romance sweet, but I loved the relationship between father and daughter. I was also happy to see Jace get his HEA, especially after all he went through in Silver Linings. Cute read!

Lost and Found (April 21): A fun story full of romance and mystery. I thought this was a sweet read, the characters were likable and you can’t help rooting that they can find a way to be together. Heartwarming and a good message on what is truly important.

Second Chances 101 (May 5): It’s never too late to find love and to have new beginnings. I thought this was a cozy read. I liked the college setting and the relationship between Francie and Alex and Sam. I wish this one was longer!

Immersed (May 19): Super cute! This had a fun premise and was just fun to read. I liked Erik and Lisette. Creative idea for a story with a lot of charm.

Overall, a super fun contemporary series. I loved how the books connected together, but stood on their own. Very charming and sweet. Highly recommended!

Content: Clean