Incognito

      

The fact I read "Incognito" in one day may give you an idea of whether or not I enjoyed it... Yay you for guessing correctly! ;) This book was SO much fun! Fast-paced and with no boring parts- I couldn't put it down! I laughed out loud quite a few times, the situations and witty dialogue being my cup of tea! *Spoiler(?)*There were 2 kisses in this book that I would have been ok without, but that's really my only complaint and they got out of the way pretty quick. ;) I am really looking forward to reading Suzanne's 2 other regencies in the very near future, and highly recommend this fun and bright comedy to my fellow regency fans. (I could rant on about how good this was for a while so I'll just stop now and let you discover for yourself how fun it was. ;)) Sincerely,

The Coffee Campaign

~*~*~*~

This weekend I took the time to finish a trilogy which I had started awhile back (with the second book..because I didn't know there was a first and third...#blondemoment) and I wish I hadn't put these on hold!!!! They were wonderful!! "Love Inspired Hostoricals" quickly became my favorite source for clean Christian regencies when I read "Engaging the Earl" by Mandy Goff, and Regina Scott quickly became one of my favorite regency authors when I read "The Wife Campaign". These novels are full of wit, humor, mystery/plot, spiritual thoughts and encouragement, inspirational character growth, sweet/clean romance, and a charming peak into the regency world! This particular series has a very fun cast of "downstairs characters" as well as earls and dukes, lords and ladies...having the servants (particularly ladies maids and valets) orchestrate the matchmaking behind the scenes was a brilliant idea! They aren't heard from overly much and aren't constantly on the scene, however their influence and encouragement through subtle- and sometimes a bit more bold- hints and respectful observations to their masters is clearly visible. 

Each of these books were refreshingly captivating and I recommend them to all regency lovers!

Happy reading (and coffee consuming)!!!

Colorful-er and Colorful-er!

Have a very merry unbirthday!

Hatter

This was a brilliant work of art! Coleman keeps to the original Carroll style making for a madly wild ride of randomness! I really enjoyed reading about the life of "literature's most lovable lunatic" prior to Alice in Wonderland. It brought a whole new and understandable light to his character and I loved all of Coleman's subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) references or set-ups-for the classic; including characters! I loved spotting parallels in personality or appearance that gave their true "future" role away. The Cheshire Cat playing a part from the very beginning was genius! Loved the parts with him.
The writing style was fascinating and I was super happy there was no profanity in the dialogue! :D
(Btw, check out that purple top hat- amazing, huh?!)
This really gave me a new perspective on my favorite classic that is actually believable (well, in a Wonderland sort of way ;)) and didn't ruin my taste for any of it- it actually made me want to read Alice in Wonderland again, specifically to read it with this prologue in mind.

Sincerely,

Family Plot

It's been a while since I've read a mystery that actually had me baffled! I was able to catch on part way through to some of the ins and outs; however then I could not for the life of me think how it would all be revealed and resolved! Elementary, my dear Sheri! 
Family Plot had all the elements I enjoyed in A Dead Bore - mystery, intrigue, comedy, romance, some history, Scottish "scenery", and a fantastic cast of characters! (I loved Robert and his literary antics early on in the book! :D) John Pickett & Lady Julia Fieldhurst were just as hilarious and chummy as they were before- creating some great memories and winding up in so many strange and humorous situations as always!
After a slightly cliff-hanger(no pun intended) ending, I am really looking forward to the next installment in this saga. (Maybe this time our hero and heroine will join long-lasting forces and become an inseparable team. :))

Thanks, Sheri, for this grand and entertaining step-back in time. 

Sincerely,

Playing By Heart

I am always eagerly awaiting Anne's new releases, (which are not as often as I would like, but if they were, poor Mrs Mateer would never get a break! :)) and they never disappoint! 
Playing By Heart is a lovely story of friendship, relying and leaning on God through struggles and tragedies, and trusting that His will is best for our lives- even if (in the moment) we don't understand how.
I'm not much of a sports fan, and I never thought I would enjoy reading about basketball techniques and the game itself; however, Anne has a way of writing that has me captivated by any subject she chooses, and turn-of-the-century athletics was no exception. :)
This entire cast of characters was so charming and welcoming! Lula & Chet were a super sweet couple - though their friendship was a long time coming and I found myself wanting them to hurry along and stop reading into every word and action of the other. (Though it just made the ending sweeter.) (It's also a good reminder to everyone to stop doing that in real life situations, because it's annoying. Lol) A host of other friends keep the story interesting and Anne's talent for drawing you in makes you feel like you're in Dunn, Oklahoma right along-side of them!
Mateer's novels just get better and better- you don't want to miss this!

Sincerely,

A Kiss of Adventure

What an epic adventure! It's been a long time since a book had me on the edge of my seat, frantic to know what will happen next and just as frustrated as the characters in their desperate search for the treasure of Timbuktu. 
This book had a gripping plot, all sorts of characters- some that become like family as the story progresses, and make you miss them when it ends-, a moving and "tissues-required" redemption scene, and a profound message on the importance of discovering where our treasure is laid up. (Matthew 6:21)
I don't read many modern-era stories- especially in a desert or jungle setting- but this was highly recommended to me by a family member and so I gave it a try. I am sooooo glad I did!!! This book was truly riveting and had me from the first page! I found myself getting more and more interested in the setting and culture (which were very well-researched and vivid) and looking forward to the rest of the series.
I appreciated that the spiritual content was woven all through-out the book and that it was so real! The characters dealt with struggles just like we all do, and had doubts and fears like everyone else; the way they handled these challenges was encouraging to me and I grew just by "going through it with them" and applying the analogies and word-pictures to my own life. 
I highly recommend this to any fans of historical, inspirational, romantic (and clean!) adventure fiction!

Sincerely,