Dream by Barbara O'Connor

 

Dream by Barbara O'Connor

3.5 Stars rounding up to 4

I loved Wish by Barbara last year and was so excited to see the Dream audiobook available on NetGalley! Suzy Jackson does such a great job narrating. As a southern Tennessee gal, I love her accents for the characters and it feels like home. 

As a follow up to Wish, Dream follows Idalee Lovett, who lives in the small town of Colby, North Carolina. Idalee's Mama is going on tour for the summer with her cover band and Idalee works on her songwriting skills. There is a local radio songwriting contest and Idalee is determined to win with her songs. Idalee needs a new guitar and there is supposedly long-lost treasure for her and her friends to find hidden somewhere in their house from her late grandfather... the friends spend their time helping Idalee trying to find it, while sneaking around. 

We see Howard, Charlie and Wishbone from Wish helping out in this book - loved seeing them again. You can technically read this outside of reading Wish, but I think you best enjoy it after reading Wish.

I liked this one in general. We have quirky characters who rent out rooms in the house, great friendships, a sweet dog and a sweet ending. Wish is still my favorite, but this was a good companion. 

However, while I enjoyed the book, I wasn't a fan of a side character portrayed as a pet fortune teller/psychic with orange "aura". She acts kind of weird around pets pretending to be a pet fortune teller and the kiddos talk about her being convincing and think she really may be one. There is also a brief mention of tarot cards and general fortune tellers. It wasn't anything overboard, brief mentions, but I didn't love those parts. I also wish we had a bit more of Wishbone in the story as the cover indicates.

Loved her song and the ending, so very sweet.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for a complimentary copy of the audiobook to honestly read and review. All thoughts are my own.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7783105553
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4olbzBp

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

The French Kitchen by Kristy Cambron

The French Kitchen by Kristy Cambron 

3.5 - 4 Stars

Read if you love:
- Historical Fiction
- Undercover Operations
- Julia Child 
- Hidden Identities 
- Dual Timeline
- WWII Fiction
- Paris/France Settings
- French Language 
- Kitchens and Cooking in Books

Kristy Cambron really has the attention to detail in her books and this one was really interesting! We follow Kat, who is recruited by the OSS as an agent in 1943. She is hoping to find her missing brother and agrees to go to France as a spy. Years later in 1952, she is still searching for her brother and becomes acquainted with others she knew during the war time. We see different timelines here for the same characters, with multiple identities and plans. 

I really liked Kat's character, she is very sharp and in her undercover operations she is working in a kitchen that caters to the Nazi elite. She is tied in with the resistance and there is a lot of suspicion. 

In 1952, we see her marriage to Gerard, a man she married for several reasons...but not love. Kat does not truly trust him and their marriage is very unique in tension, small bits of affection but not a huge romantic one. 

As others have mentioned, this book takes a lot of brain power to keep up. We have many timelines, different POVs and code names that took me out of the story at times. I loved the writing style, the characters and food/kitchen bits, but I did struggle to keep up with what was going on. If I am honest, I believe I missed several pieces and this book deserves more of a deep dive, re-read from me one day. 

The ending was great to see so much resolved and the bit of romance development that occurred. 

Regardless of those things, this is a very immersive story that you should take time to sit with and anyone who enjoys a good WWII fiction story will like it. I think the added layer of Julia Child was also nice because so many know of her from her cooking/kitchen days. 

Thank you to Thomas Nelson, NetGalley and Kristy Cambron for a complimentary copy of the audiobook and ebook to read and review. I have this one pre-ordered as well and look forward to meeting her at our local bookstore on her book tour! All thoughts are my own.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7569676359
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/619927
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Uy94Oi

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

If All Else Sails by Emma St. Clair

 

If All Else Sails by Emma St. Clair
5 Stars 

Let's start this review out with....I LAUGHED SO MUCH IN THIS BOOK! I read this with my friends Oceana and Lindsay and we both really enjoyed it! So many laughs and just an overall great rom-com!

This is Emma's first traditionally published book with Thomas Nelson and I HIGHLY recommend! I have loved all of Emma's books I've read, she just has such a way with writing funny, clean rom-coms and this did not disappoint!

Tied to the Appies Hockey series, we have Wyatt, Josie's brother's best friend and Hockey Player, who spend the summer together. What happens when the "enemies" spend a summer together including sailing, forced proximity situations and a sweet dog accompanies them? FEELINGS! 

Our characters spend time together, feelings come to the forefront....their walls come down as they get to know each other more deeply and we really get to know them. Emma always tells stories that are filled with depth and I love that because they are REAL people with REAL issues - more than just your average rom-com.

I loved seeing Josie open up to Wyatt about what she had been through and how much Wyatt grew from his grumpy self in the beginning to the end.

Another great read from Emma I highly recommend for a clean romance!

*content warning for mention of attempted sexual assault recounted. no spice, kisses only, no language

Thank you to Emma, Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for complimentary copies of the ebook and audiobook to read and review. All thoughts are my own.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7688713722
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4l4DgLV
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/619936

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

 

God Speaks Your Love Language by Gary Chapman

 

God Speaks Your Love Language by Gary Chapman

4 Stars

I really enjoyed this book. It's heartwarming, encouraging and a good reminder that the Lord meets us where we are. Most people have heard of the 5 Love Languages and Gary Chapman's books. In this one, Gary takes the concept of the 5 love languages and beautifully shows how God speaks to us in the ways we best receive love. I loved how this was not just a theory but he added scriptures tying it back to my own personal and relatable walk with the Lord.

He meets us where we truly are in each season of life. This books truly helped me to see that we are all designed with a unique way to connect with His love.

If you feel distant from God or unsure of how He is speaking to you personally, I would recommend adding this book to your bible study time. A very gentle reminder that His love is not just general.....it is very specific to you. 

I love how he shared different stories from others with their own personal experiences too. Many were relatable and it made me slow down and notice the little things. A very practical Christian Non-Fiction that is easy to read that I would recommend.

Thank you to Moody Publishers for a complimentary copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7766033115
Moody Publishing Books: https://moody.pub/BookLoverAmanda
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3H5Oa5Z

The Sands of Sea Blue Beach by Rachel Hauck

The Sands of Sea Blue Beach - Rachel Hauck
4 Stars 

Rachel sure does know how to deliver a heartwarming, emotionally layered story! This one is filled with second chances and healing. If you want a book with depth, charming seaside town and a second chance romance, check this out.

Emery Quinn is our main character and she is very relatable with her realistic feelings of grief after losing her mother to cancer when she was a teen. Cut to being in her 30s with no real career or relationship and her step sister is set to be married. She struggles with comparison and the complexity of her blended family. She goes back to Sea Blue Beach and starts a new role at the struggling Sea Blue Beach Gazette. Here is where she runs into her old boyfriend from a summer long ago and they reconnect in many ways, recounting events of the past. Caleb Ransom has a sense of devotion to his nephew and preserving the town's history - you really root for him and Emery. 

Their reunion 16 years later if filled with so many feelings. There is a sweetness to their romance but also a lot of hardship. We see family wounds brought to the surface, community divisions and issues with the paper they try to work out. 

Emery is such a layered character because we see every aspect of her mother's cancer diagnosis leading up to her passing away. You learn about their past together in flashbacks and why they drifted apart so long ago.

This is a story about coming home and finding second chances. An emotional, sweet and raw story. I love the town's motto is "Emmanuel, God with us." and how that tied in with the ending for Emery. I do think I would have liked a bit more of her faith journey explored, but it was a realistic take on someone walking through grief, emotions of anger and frustrations to God and coming back to being open to Him. 

I always love Rachel's family stories and look forward to more by her. Highly recommend.

Thank you to Bethany House for a complimentary copy to honestly read and review.

Content: lots of discussions and feelings about grief surrounding loss of a parent with cancer, flashbacks to those moments real time with the parent. clean romance.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7624148512
Amazon: https://amzn.to/42SkDVz
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/618521

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

 

The Collector of Burned Books by Roseanna M. White

The Collector of Burned Books by Roseanne M. White
5 Stars

This books was breathtaking for me! I loved it so much. I related to the characters and felt the passion Roseanna had with writing this story from the very first chapters. What made this story really shine was the interconnected characters, themes of freedom, faith and honesty. 

Roseanne really shares a story with depth and the Catholic faith displayed was beautiful and authentic to the time and characters. Set in Nazi-occupied Paris in 1940, we see a story of resistance, not just with weapons but with words.

We follow Corinne who is a young woman finding refuge and purpose in a secret library filled with banned books. Her love for truth and literature make her a fierce heroine and that really comes to light as we get to know her.

On the other side of the war is Christian Bauer, a German professor trapped working for the Nazi's, forced into a role he never wanted. He has quite the internal struggle and his rebellion is beautifully portrayed as he works from within to preserve what the regime wants to destroy and control.

I loved seeing Christian and Corinne together in this story - they had chemistry, connection - it was great.

My favorite excerpt from this book was towards the end: 
"Read novels, because they will put you in someone else's skin. Read poetry, because it will give wings to your soul. Read science, because it will show you what's possible. Read politics, because it will teach you how strongly people care about how their fellow men are treated, wherever they stand on hat the best way is." ....."Read things you hate and things you love an things you never thought you'd understand. And never, never accept the excuse that you're not strong enough to handle it if you read something that offends you. You are. You're strong enough to be offended an then try to understand why. You're strong enough to grant that someone can be different and still be worthy of dignity.  And if you aren't? Then read more, until you are."

Overall...I will be thinking about this book for a while. Absolutely amazing. Readers of historical fiction will love this. I love that it felt like a love letter to books also. Highly recommend.

Thank you to Tyndale House Publishers, TLC Book Tours and Roseanna M. White for a complimentary copy of this book to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7562966242
Amazon: https://amzn.to/44Mzssy
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/617727

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Tame Your Thoughts - Max Lucado

                                                   Tame Your Thoughts - Max Lucado - 4 Stars 
            
This was a solid, encouraging Bible study with some good biblical reminders about renewing your mind and replacing lies with God’s truth. The concept of being intentional with your thought life, especially the tools like picky thinking, identifying those bad thoughts, uprooting them and replanting with scripture was easy to understand and helpful in a practical, real-life way.

While I didn’t find anything super deep or theologically profound, the simplicity of the message is exactly what some of us need in a busy or anxious season. It’s great for newer believers or anyone looking to refocus and get back to the basics of truth-filled thinking.

I especially appreciated how the study addressed things like anxiety, guilt, and rejection in a compassionate, Scripture-based way. This one might not be revolutionary, but it’s definitely a great reset for your mindset—and sometimes that’s exactly what we need. 💛

Note this comes with study videos also that I enjoyed hearing Max speak. It would be great with a group of people to study with because it gives a lot of thought provoking questions people can discuss in a group setting, as well as some personal study pieces too.

Thank you to the publisher for an e-book copy to read for review. All thoughts are my own.

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7745098927
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4o69h99

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.