Duchess

Title: Duchess
Series: Daughters of Fortune
Author: Susan May Warren
Publisher: Summerside
Published: March 1, 2013
Pages: 352
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Rosie Worth, now starlet Roxy Price, has given up everything to become an actress. And she’s found everything she’s ever wanted in the glamour. With adoring fans and a studio-mogul husband, she’s finally silenced the heartache of the past. Her future shines bright and the possibilities are endless until one Black Friday when everything comes crashing down around her feet and leaves her reeling.

The Golden Age of Hollywood is known for making stars but it’s also known for breaking them too. It seems like Roxy’s career is over and when she loses almost everything, she finds herself disgraced, penniless, and without jobs. Her only hope of survival and possibly revival is to team up with Belgian duke Rolfe Van Horne, a longtime film investor and old flame.

But just when it seems like life will once again right itself Roxy finds that Rolfe is not what he seems and that he is using his film and Roxy to support a growing unrest in Europe. His plans could break her heart and endanger her life and it’s up to her to decide which side she stands on. Roxy won’t give up without a fight but now she has to choose whether her fight will be for what’s right or for her career.

Will Roxy come back to the faith she left behind with her past or will she spend the rest of her life empty and alone? Will Roxy choose a simpler yet more fulfilling life or will she give up her chance for normal to fight retirement? Will Roxy support or disagree with Rolfe’s stand on the unrest in Europe? What will she do when she finds out? Will she leave him or will she help him?
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This is my first full-length novel from this author so I didn’t fully know what to expect or whether I would like it. The writing style and detail of the book was amazing but I felt parts drag on and in some places there too much emphasis on the setting or Hollywood background and not enough put on our heroine. Even though I appreciate this author’s efforts to make a book with a different tone, I found it hard to relate to this story and its characters.

The story is placed in the viewpoint of Rosie/Roxy only and that made it drag a bit. The majority of the story was the behind-the-scenes details of the 1930’s Hollywood scene and though that’s fascinating there tends to be a point where you want to read something other than it. Not to mention our heroine is kind of unrelatable. Her drive to get praise from complete strangers means she gives up almost everything and her choices throughout the book aren’t the best nor, for me, very understandable. Though she did a lot of growing throughout the course of the story, her constant stubborn “my way always” attitude and her wishing for what she can’t have made the book drag on for me.

The story, for most of the book, is a look into the Hollywood acting scene in the 1930s and was fascinating and somewhat appalling. It describes in detail about eyebrows being plucked to literally nothing and hair falling out because of the peroxide, age destroying a career, etc. and though it’s fascinating, and I love a lot of historical content, when chapters at a time are mostly about the historical value and not character development the story tends to drag on a bit.

The storyline really picked up after Roxy started working with Rolfe and that part of the story really saved this book from completely failing for me. I would’ve loved the beginning shortened and the ending lengthened. The ending was awesome and what I really want to read in a novel and even though it adds a bit of mystery from her viewpoint I would’ve loved to have gotten inside Rolfe’s head and been give. More details to what he was doing.

This author is really a first for me and though I didn’t love this book I feel like this author has a great writing style and maybe I’ll enjoy something different by her. This author had gotten acclaim for years on her writing skills and I loved her novella that I had the opportunity to read, so I do want to read more from her just maybe something more contemporary or something more historical. I can’t really recommend the author due to my lack of experience with her books but I don’t really recommend this novel.

Overall, the story dragged on for most of the book but the ending saved the book from being a complete disaster. This is great for people who like novels about Hollywood or novels set in the 1930s. This is perfect for adults but it’s best to keep it away from younger readers and possibly teens. I give this book a two and a half out of five.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for this review. All opinions expressed are my own.*

Scent Of Lilacs

Title: Scent Of Lilacs
Series: Hollyhill
Author: Ann H. Gabhart
Publisher: Revell
Published: May 1, 2005
Pages: 352
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Jocie Brooke lives in Hollyhill, Kentucky, a small town known for its lack of news. Life changing events very rarely occur and when they do they’re few and far between. However, in the summer 1964, they all happen at once. Everything seems fine but Jocie keeps thinking everyone has a secret they’re hiding from her and themselves. As she starts digging into her family’s past she uncovers a whirlwind of secrets.

Jocie doesn’t know what she’s doing nor does she intend to uncover anything, but a few well placed questions and some accidental stumble-upons change not only her summer but her life forever. Some prayers are answered for this thirteen year old and some she didn’t even think to say are answered in different ways.

The further Jocie’s accidental digging goes the more Jocie finds and some of the secrets she uncovers have been buried for over forty years. Her father has tried to protect her and he’s done so, but he can’t protect her from everything, not when more than in person knows. This is the summer of discovery, lost innocence and answered prayer. This is the summer when life as she knows it ends.

Will Jocie uncover a little too much about the secrets her family holds or will she find just enough to answer questions without changing her life? Will Jocie handle the secrets she finds well or will it change her view of the secret holder forever? Will Jocie’s faith be able to hold her through this summer or will it test it too much to hold on to?
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I’ve read a book last year by this author and enjoyed it, so I wanted to review this one. I didn’t quite know what it was about other than it involved secrets and that interested me. However, though this was a good book this wasn’t really my type of book. It’s no bad it’s just not what I would naturally lean towards. I do plan on finishing the series but this wasn’t what I expected and wasn’t the light-hearted read I was looking for.

The premise of the story is great and I think the execution of it was too but I think after reading two or three books that weren’t your average light-hearted read, this probably wasn’t the best book to read on the tail of those. This book is good though. The secrets unfold in perfect sequence and intervals and though most don’t surprise they do answer questions that are asked at the beginning. The author does leave a few unanswered for the next book though and it makes you want to come back for more.

The characters in this book are each important but I feel like there could’ve been some more depth to some of them. I liked the quirks each one had and their attitudes towards life and faith. You even get to see some of the characters grow towards the end of the book. You also start to see the possibilities for romance for the next book and possibly some more conflict if my suspicions are correct. The characters aren’t perfect but they don’t take away from the story.

Like I said before this book is good but it wasn’t what I expected or really wanted to read right now. I think if I had just gotten off of a romance binge this book would’ve had a better reception with me, but because I hadn’t, it just didn’t hit the mark for me. This book is well written and well developed and, despite my misgivings with, it was an enjoyable read just not a light-hearted one. I do look forward to the next book in the series and maybe it will get a better reception, for many reasons.

This author captured my heart last year with her unique romance. This year her book didn’t thrill but didn’t ruin me to her. She writes amazingly and all of the stories that I’ve read by her (grand total of two) have been well written and amazingly developed. This book should e a hit for those who don’t want a romance or for those who want a break from the romance novels. This book wasn’t for me but I recommend this solely for how it’s written.

Overall, not what I wanted to read but a well written, great development, and good characters. This book is perfect for those who want a change from the normal. This book is from the point of view of a thirteen year old so if you don’t mind some questionable (but well handled and not too graphic) situations then teens of around that age can read, as well as adults and older teens. I give this book a three out of five.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for this review. All opinions expressed are my own.*

Hook, Line, and Sinker

Title: Hook, Line, and Sinker
Author: Susan May Warren
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Released: September 8, 2011
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Because of the size of the book, this review won’t be long.

The New Haven annual fishing tournament draws professional an amateur anglers alike to win the money reward, and this year Ross Springer is determined to win the top prize. He needs the money to leave a lasting impression at Bethel College. He had no idea that the scheme would hook Abigail Cushman, the girl who reminds him of all he had and lost every time she looks his way.

Abigail may not know the difference between a bass and a trout but she’s a fast learner and determined to get a win over Ross. The guy she’s been trying to figure out ever since their tragic end years ago.

Will they be able to put aside their differences and fun each other again? Will love spring from tackle and bait or will both be hurt again?
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This book is pretty much what you’d expect from a novella. It’s a really short story that rushes along the romance and storyline. It kind of leaves the reader feeling unfulfilled by the end of the story. This book wasn’t any different.

This story was a quick read. I finished it in two hours and I felt that this book can’t really hold its own. Compared to the Love Inspired novellas this book is a weak light weight. But then again, I don’t think this book was made to have much weight to it. I think it was supposed to be just a fun fast read.

This book was well written in concepts and descriptions, but I felt that the book was a tad bit choppy and off topic at times. Due to the novella factor, character development was scant and on a need to know basis. Leaving a few gaps in the story.

Overall, a fast read, but not one that leaves a lasting impression. Perfect for someone looking for a book to read on the bus or on a long car ride. I give this book a two out of five.

I received this complimentary galley from the publisher and net galley for this review. All opinion expressed are my own.