A Bound Heart By: Laura Frantz Genre: Historical Romance, Fiction Publisher: Revell Publication Year: 2019 Series: Stand Alone My Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars Synopsis:
Though Magnus MacLeish and Lark MacDougall grew up on the same castle grounds, Magnus is now laird of the great house and the Isle of Kerrera. Lark is but the keeper of his bees and the woman he is hoping will provide a tincture that might help his ailing wife conceive and bear him an heir. But when his wife dies suddenly, Magnus and Lark find themselves caught up in a whirlwind of accusations, expelled from their beloved island, and sold as indentured servants across the Atlantic. Yet even when all hope seems dashed against the rocky coastline of the Virginia colony, it may be that in this New World the two of them could make a new beginning–together. ~Taken from Laura Frantz's website: http://laurafrantz.net/a-bound-heart/ My Thoughts: I have to admit, as much as I wanted to love this book, it was hard for me to get into it. One of the reasons I think I had a hard time getting into this story is because every couple of pages I found myself flipping back to the front of the book to look up a word in the provided Scottish word reference. While I appreciated the authenticity, having to flip to the beginning so often kept jarring me from becoming immersed in the story. I also found the story line to move a bit slow at times. I enjoyed Lark and Magnus and their integrity as they stood for what they believed was right in a time when most just followed society's trend. Lark was full of compassion throughout the book. Even when circumstances forced her away from her beloved island she didn't get angry, bitter or hard-hearted. She continued to care for others and love them, even when her own heart was hurting. While some of their circumstances where hard to believe, I guess you could always say that God's blessing was on both Lark and Magnus. While I prefer a faster paced, adventure or mystery type story, this story was still good and it did hold me interested until the end. (Although, that may just be me making sure Lark ended up with who I thought she should!) Recommend? If you enjoy history and some Scottish brogue, then I would suggest this for you. Cheers, Rebecca Revell Reads sent me this complimentary copy to review for them. All opinions expressed are my own.
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The Masterpiece By: Francine Rivers Genre: Contemporary Fiction Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc Publication Year: 2018 Series: Stand Alone My Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars Synopsis:
In this unexpected and redemptive love story, successful LA artist Roman Velasco appears to have everything he could possibly want—money, women, fame. Only Grace Moore, his reluctant, newly hired personal assistant, knows how little he truly has. The demons of Roman’s past seem to echo through the halls of his empty mansion and out across his breathtaking Topanga Canyon view. But Grace doesn’t know how her boss secretly wrestles with those demons: by tagging buildings as the Bird, a notorious but unidentified graffiti artist—an alter ego that could destroy his career and land him in prison. Like Roman, Grace is wrestling with ghosts and secrets of her own. After a disastrous marriage threw her life completely off course, she vowed never to let love steal her dreams again. But as she gets to know the enigmatic man behind the reputation, it’s as if the jagged pieces of both of their pasts slowly begin to fit together . . . until something so unexpected happens that it changes the course of their relationship—and both their lives—forever. New York Times bestselling author Francine Rivers returns to her romance roots with this probing tale that reminds us that mercy can shape even the most broken among us into an imperfect yet stunning masterpiece. ~Taken from Francine Rivers' website: http://francinerivers.com/books/the-masterpiece/ My Thoughts: What an amazing read. The book captivated me and drew me into the lives of Roman and Grace. Their struggles were real and deep, but the beauty of God's grace and love shined all the brighter. I really enjoyed both Roman and Grace's stories. Francine jumped back in their stories more than once to give you a look at their childhoods and young adult lives. The story was written in such a way that you could see how past decisions, hurts, or frustrations led to different outcomes in their lives, but left them both with an overwhelming need for Christ in their lives. I think one of the reasons I really enjoyed this book is the raw grittiness of Roman's growing up situation and how it affected him as an adult. But then there was the beauty of how Grace came to know the Lord as a young child and her conviction as an adult. The chilling encounter Roman had with death was gripping and poignant. I love books that include the Holy Spirit directing. The still whisper that comes when they were facing decisions was realistic and not something easily talked about in today's society. Francine wove together an amazing story with two beautifully broken characters that reminded me we are all God's masterpiece and He has an amazing design for all of us. Recommend? Yes, with caution for the younger adult reader as this book deals with the consequences of sin. Drinking, drugs, one night stands and sex are all mentioned throughout the book but in a way that isn't graphic. Cheers, Rebecca |
Welcome!My name is Rebecca and this blog is dedicated to my thoughts and opinions of the books I read. I hope you enjoy reading through my reviews. And hopefully you will find a good one to get lost in! Archives
November 2019
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