The Blue Enchantress by M.L. Tyndall.

The Blue Enchantress is a story of a young woman finding redemption when she never thought it possible. Hope is destitute. She is captured with no way out when a saviour comes from an unlikely place. This is a love story about a girl trying to forget her past, trying to make things right, and always failing. Captain Nathaniel Mason is trying to build his business and make a name for himself. He needs nothing less than a spoiled girl to look after. When he has to give up his prize ship to save Hope, he didn’t realize how much it would take.

This book is a yes. It was fun to read, light, and fast paced. Nathaniel and Hope’s relationship grew slowly, and it had enough setbacks to be believable. I don’t know how historically accurate it was, but it fit well with the story. I think you would enjoy it if you’re a fan of historical fiction, or if you’re just looking for a light read.

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

Seeds of Turmoil by Bryant Wright

Author Bryant Wright describes the roots of the conflict in the Middle East. He goes back to the Old Testament. Visiting Abraham’s decisions with his offspring, he describes the Biblical roots of the conflict.

This book was interesting. It was well researched and well thought out. Wright is insightful as to what the root of the conflict is and why there is such an issue over land. It was interesting to see how the term Arab developed, and the Biblical geography. The history in it was interesting as well, and especially to see how he tied it into what is happening there today.

Personally, this isn’t my kind of book. I’d usually read anything like this, and I picked it up because it was about the Middle East, and I kinda like that place. :) Usually I read fiction, so it was a bit slow to be reading this type of book. It was good for what it is, just not something I’d pick up again. But again, just my personal reading tastes. 

If you’re interested in history, Biblical or not, or the issues in the Middle East, you may enjoy this.

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

the Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen

Macy watched her father die the day after Christmas, and there was nothing she could do. Since then, her life has been put back together: she has a perfect boyfriend, Jason, a new job working the research desk at the library, her older sister Caroline married a wealthy man, and her parents' business, now run by her mother, has begun to expand. On the inside, though, nothing is right. She feels stifled by Jason's perfection, her stagnant life, and her busy mother.

Then she meets Wish Catering. They cater a party of her mother's and she finds herself with a job and friends like she's never known. Slowly, she begins to step out.

Out of the four or five Dessen books I've read, this is my favorite. It doesn't move too fast, and Macy, the main character, really grows on you. The artwork...my favorite part of the story. The game of Truth...my other favorite. If you've read any Dessen, or just want a sweet love story, you should try this one out.

the rundown.

Just a short list (cause you know how much I love a list!) of the books I've been reading lately.

1) Matched, by Ally Condie. I absolutely loved this book. Cassia was such a relatable character and I really loved watching her grow. Her relationship with Ky was timed perfectly; they didn't rush into it too quickly. This was an amazing book...I can't wait for the next one to come out!

2) The Truth About Forever, by Sarah Dessen. This was the third (?) Dessen book I've read, and so far, it's been my favorite. The characters are really likeable, it's entertaining and intriguing. Macy was a great MC. One of my favorite aspects of this story was Will's art and how that worked with the rest of the story.

3) The Moon by Night, by Madeleine L'Engle. I'm a long time L'Engle fan, and this book was just as good as her others. I think it's the first in the Vicky Austin series. I've read one of the later books, a Ring of Endless Light, and I picked this one up to see how her story begins. It's entertaining and, like many other L'Engle books, has some good God stuff written in with the story.

4) Through Painted Deserts, by Donald Miller. This book deserves its own post at BLAK. It's my go-to road trip book, and I read it all the way through the Kansas and Colorado desert. It's one of my favorite Miller books.

I know there's more, but it's almost Tuesday, I'm very tired, and I'm going to try to crank out a post at BLAK.

Holiday break reading? Any 2011 books I should keep my eyes open for?

Double Shot by Erynn Mangum

Double Shot is the third book in Erynn Mangum’s trilogy about Maya Davis, a coffee obsessed, slightly crazy, completely loveable barista. Maya works at Cool Beans, a local coffee shop. In Double Shot, she’s just become engaged to Jack. Everything will work out perfectly...won’t it? Maya is faced with the challenge of a possible move to Seattle, honeymoon decisions, her premature nephew, and planning a wedding in only three months. Her faith in God is challenged as she struggles to accept the possibility of leaving her family and her friends.

I really enjoyed this book. When I requested it, I didn’t realize that it was the conclusion of a trilogy. Even though it was the end of the trilogy, it was still great. I was impressed that Eyrnn was able to write a book that could stand on its own, without requiring the first two books. As in the Lauren Holbrook series, Maya has the same coffee obsession and likeable personality.

Unlike the Lauren Holbrook series, I felt like the God thing was better incorporated into this book. In Lauren’s series, I felt like Erynn ended most chapters with one to two paragraphs about God, and that was it. She did a much better job in this novel.

It’s a great read!

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

Double Shot- Erynn Mangum

I shrug. "I'm no theologian. I just have my beliefs."
Jack grins again. "Like your belief that God's favorite color is pink?"
Andrew about loses his mouthful of ravioli. "Pink?" he sputters. "Why pink?"
I have a very good reason for this. "Sunsets and sunrises are always at least a little bit pink," I say. "Since God takes so much time to create those, I figure it has to be a favorite color or His."
Liz is smiling. "I like your logic, Maya Davis."
"Thanks, I like your cooking."
She laughs.
Double Shot pg. 114

Erynn is witty. Every book I read by her doesn't finish and make you want to be inside the story of that book, but instead the book is like lessons learned with a biblical perspective. "Double Shot" is a splendid book. Maya Davis (the main character) is hysterical. I enjoyed reading about her personality and weird quirks that just make the book even better. Jack (the fiance) is a great example of a Godly guy who is looking to lead his soon to be family. Together the two make a wonderful pair that worships God, and has funny stories that will make you crack up.
I enjoyed this book a lot, and highly recommend it to you.

~Ali

Disclaimer: I received this book free from NavPress Publishers as part of their blogger review program. I wasn't required to be have a favorable opinion, but a honest one.

Angry by Laura L. Smith

Emma is angry. Angry because, when she only wants to have the life of a normal teenage girl, things seem to be out of control. She’s angry at her father for having an affair and splitting her family. She’s angry at her siblings because she always has to watch them. She’s angry at her mother for avoiding much of the responsibility after her parents’ separation. Emma is angry at God, too. She feels like in the midst of all her family trouble, he has abandoned her.

This book was interesting. It was a short, quick read, and I managed it in an afternoon. It was a good book, and I would recommend it for anyone who feels anger towards a divorce in their family or something of that sort. It wasn’t relevant to me. The story seemed to develop too quickly, and Emma’s character lacked depth. I felt like the author would forget about the main plot line, Emma’s anger, during the drama scenes and such. When she came back to that, it was somewhat sudden and unexpected.

Other than that, the book was enjoyable. Personally, it wasn’t a favorite, but I think that you could give it a try.

Note: I received this book free of charge for NavPress. I was not required to write a favorable review, only an honest one.