As the Light Fades

The opening paragraph of As the Light Fades hooked me, and the characters who waltzed into the story without a misstep totally captured me until the last page. The author, Catherine West, definitely knows how to seamlessly weave characters into a story, and this reader came to know each one.

The storylines are told through several points of view, however I wasn't confused or taken out of the world this author created. I grew to care about the characters. I find it hard to pick a favorite. But here's a few I really liked: There's Liz, a woman who struggles with trust and is searching for a new path in her life. There's Mia, a teenager full of anger, yet seeks understanding. And there's her Uncle Matt ... Come to think of it, I guess I do have a favorite, because I adore him. He's unselfish, caring, and unwilling to give up on his niece's well-being. Last but certainly not least, there's Drake, Liz's father. He's a famous artist, but fading into a world of dementia. Oh, how this pulled at my heartstrings! There's more well-developed characters, and maybe one will capture you as well. You'll have to read this book to meet them all.

Sensitive subjects, such as dealing with past abuse, cutting, and dementia are handled with grace and understanding. Trust and faith are strong themes without being preachy. As the Light Fades is an emotional and uplifting read centered upon long-term residents in Nantucket. Lives entwine, and love abounds. This book is a must read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Net Galley. All opinions are my own.

5 stars

Whose Waves These Are

Whose Waves These Are is a dual-time period book. It drew me in from the first page, and never let go. Both of the time periods are equally compelling. I adore the twin bothers, Robert and Roy, in the WWII era. Annie, the present-day character, is seamlessly tied in. 

Even thought I fell in love with the primary people in this lovely book, the secondary characters are well developed, and adds more substance to the storyline..

This novel is the first I've read by Amanda Dykes, and I'm ravenous for more of her writing. This is the best book I've read in a long time ... and I'm a voracious reader. 

I received a copy of this book from Net Galley. All opinions are my own.

5 stars 

The Key to Happily Ever After

The Key To Happily Ever After depicts the myriad aspects in the loving and sometimes conflicting aspects between sisters. 

I'm the oldest of three sisters, and I totally related to the strong bond between Mari, And, and Pearl. Each one of these characters have their own personality, yet still allow qualities each can contribute to the de la Rosa company. I with there was more about their Filipino culture, as I found it a fascinating aspect of the respect given to the birth order of siblings. 

The family wedding boutique, Rings and Roses,  requires a lot of cooperation between the sisters, and many times there is a lot of give and take ... as well as a dose of conflict thrown in. I love how the family pulls together to solve the toughest of situations in both business and personal life. All of the primary and secondary characters feel real, and the visual settings throughout the book plays like a movie to me. I love it when I can fully immerse myself in a book like I did this one.

The bonds of sisterhood weaves thought this story. Though it's categorized as a romantic comedy, I feel it's more along the lines of women's fiction with a bit of romance sprinkled in. Either way, it's an enjoyable read. I loved it!

 4 stars. 

The ARC copy of this book was obtained through Net Galley. Opinions expressed are my own.

Glory Road

Glory Road brought me back to my southern roots, complete with a porch swing and sweet tea. I love the feeling this book evoked. The author, Laura Denton, has a way of making a reader actually discover the comfort waiting for you down the dirt road leading back home. 

Jessie returns home after a troubled life. She finds refuge for herself and  her teenage daughter in her childhood home on Glory Road. The story of the family members are told beautifully in three POVs. Each chapter is titled with a name, but I didn't need it because every character's "voice" rang clear. I was never lost in the the telling of this story. 

Jessie, a proud owner of a plant shop with a clever name, Twig, savors hard work and routine after her rocky marriage and divorce. She's raising her daughter, Evan, and their relationship is a beautiful thing to behold. ( I fell in love with this teenage girl.) 

Evan is at the brink of starting high school, and dealing with newfound feelings for a guy down the red dirt road. A bit of lovesickness and friendship rolled into a confusing ball leaves her confused. This teenager is close to both her mother and grandmother, and I love the open communication they share. 

Gus, a funny name that fits the spit-fire grandmother of Evan, and Momma of Jessie, stole the show in many scenarios. I laughed out loud several times at her antics and sharp tongue. Gus tries to hide an issue which frightens her, but when it becomes a blaring problem, she must finally accept help. This is a hard thing to do for such an independent woman, but it is well told, and believable.

The secondary characters are well-developed. The varying challenges force all to break out of their comfort zones. You will savor this story with its Southern charm. I didn't want this book to end. This novel is one of the very few that I will read again, and again to relive the feeling of home, trust and family dynamics. Don't miss out on this wonderful read! 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through Net Galley. Opinions expressed are my own.

5 stars

  

Maybe It's You

Maybe it's You is an inspirational romance. It appropriately depicts edgy and sometimes uncomfortable subjects. The main character, Reagan, has only one experience with church, and it wasn't pleasant. No wonder she stresses out when she's tricked into attending. (You'll love this scene.) 

Regan is more comfortable with a planned, itemized, know-what's-next kind of life, because her childhood was anything but. This edgy character is a spit-fire. Her snarky attitude, blunt opinions, and dedication to friendship are a lovely mix. However, to her dismay, she's not always in control. Dash-rendered-stupidity is unfortunate and unexpected.

Dash is on the road to redemption, so to speak. He's decide to get his life in order without distractions, and decided to take a year long break from dating. Regan was in his sights long before he turns his life around, and he decides to reach out to develop a friendship and share his faith with her. He'd kidding himself on both ventures. Their relationship is filled with laughter, growth, confusion, and frustration. 

This story deals with struggles of newfound faith, and how to instill it in every aspect of life, be it dating, work, friends or your own inner thoughts. I enjoyed this book because it didn't skirt around real live issues. I must mention: At times the storyline became preachy, however that is my opinion, and it didn't take away from the story. That being said, I recommend this read. 

3 stars


I received a copy of this book from Net Galley. All opinions are my own.