Hatteras Girl, by Alice J. Wisler

Jackie Donavan has two things she’s looking for: a strong, wonderful man to marry, and a bed and breakfast she’s planned on owning since childhood. Her well-meaning family has tried to help her with this first ambition, setting her up for numerous blind dates, none of which prove successful. For the time being, she works for a magazine near her home, helping to pay for the old Bailey Place, the bed and breakfast she’s been saving up for. On a mission to buy the Bailey Place, she meets Davis Erickson, the handsome and available owner of the Bailey Place. Have her dreams been fulfilled?

Alice J. Wisler did a great job on this novel. Jackie is a likeable and relatable person, and Buck was amazing. The book is set in a beach town (in South Carolina, possibly? My geography is terrible.) and the description was lovely. My only problem with this book happened to be Jackie: I was upset as soon as Davis walked into the picture. They moved way too fast and that wasn’t cool. It was slightly predictable, but that’s expected of chick lit, right? The book was sweet and the ending satisfying.

Note: I received this book free of charge from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a favorable review, only an honest one.

Amy Inspired, by Bethany Pierce.

Amy Gallagher is a college professor and an aspiring writer. Her passion for words caused her to give up a safe job that she loved to pursue the last item on her childhood list of careers: famous novelist.

Her rejection slips are piling up when Eli, odd and unavailable, comes to live in her apartment by her roommate’s invite. Eli, who is an artist, wears his hair in a ponytail and has a long distance relationship with his girlfriend in Europe, slowly turns Amy’s world around. Despite Amy’s reservations, he proves that he may be the inspiration she’s been looking for.

I enjoyed this book. It was a classic chick lit: girl meets boy, boy is unavailable/undesirable. Girl becomes friends with boy. They have a falling out. Boy leaves. They meet again, girl realizes boy in available/desirable. It ends happily ever after.

I thought that the book, although lovely, was slightly depressing. Amy is walking around, single, her ambitions unfulfilled, and that’s how it continues for the majority of the book. The scene that saved it was the end of the book, where Amy is looking at his art in the display. That scene was magical. It formed a clear picture in my mind, and that’s what I walked away with from this book.

Note: I received this book free of charge from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review, only an honest one.

Heaven is for Real

Heaven is for Real, by Todd Burpo, is the story of a little boy's brush with death and his trip to Heaven and back.

Colton Burpo, aged 4, astounds his parents when he casually says something about speaking to Jesus in Heaven. It began a few months before.

Colton was in the hospital with a ruptured appendix. The doctors at the previous hospital had dismissed the idea of a ruptured appendix, and tried other treatments over a five day period. 
His parents decide that it’s not working, and move him to a different hospital. Colton has emergency surgery, during which he spends three minutes in Heaven.

Over the next few years, more details become evident. He displays knowledge of relatives who died before he was born, as well as meeting his miscarried sister.

I did enjoy this book. The story was interesting enough to keep me reading, especially Colton’s stories of Heaven. But besides that, the story didn’t really hold me. Yes, it was interesting, but that was all. The words didn’t pull me in. I finished it, and sat there thinking, “Well, the whole Heaven thing was cool.” The book was great for it’s purpose: telling Colton’s story. That’s as far as it went with me.

Note: I received this book free of charge from Thomas Nelson Publishing. I was not required to post a favorable review, only an honest one.