theresidentbookworm's reviews
3256 reviews

I absolutely loved Krista McGee's First Date. It was fun, heartfelt, and didn't stray away from some tough spiritual questions. A lot of times, I can't fully love romances because there's just something missing: God. In First Date, God was a moving force in the novel, and thankfully that was also the case in Starring Me.

I was reunited with Kara, Addy's best friend from The Book of Love, on the brink of landing a gig that could help her career take off. She auditions for a teen variety show starring pop star Chad Beacon with a bunch of other girls, living with them and an eccentric house mom, Flora. Kara is so busy with her life and what she wants she doesn't think she needs God. Of course, God knows better, and he wants Kara's heart. He pursues her relentlessly through the people around her: Addy, Flora, and even Chad. It was a wonderful reminder to me how much God wants us, how he pursues us. I needed that reminder because lately I've felt like he doesn't care anymore. Kara doesn't instantly believe in God. No one does. It's a process, and it's never finished. Being a Christian is a marathon, not a sprint. It's perseverance and faith and knowledge.

I didn't realize until after I finished the novel that this was loosely based off the story of Issac and Rebekah. It was a very clever tie-in by Krista McGee. I would've just been happy with the sequel and another appearance from Addy and Jonathan, which I did get, but no, she also makes it have a biblical origin. Rock on!

As a novel, Starring Me is good. The writing is good, the dialogue funny, and the characters dimensional. Tiny plot twists (ex. Jillian) lost it a star, but everything else was awesome. I definitely recommend!

Until about a year ago, I had a strict policy about not mixing my religion and my literature. I had judged that most Christian books were cliched and poorly written, and I used Angela Morrison's Taken by Storm as a defense. It turns out that I'm an idiot and Taken by Storm is just a really bad novel like any other.

Redeeming Love is a fantastic Christian romance novel. Heck, it is a fantastic romance novel period. Take God out of the equation altogether, you still have an honorable mad trying desperately to love and take care of a women so haunted and broken by her past in Gold Rush California. How does that not scream amazing love story? Adding God back into the equation, you have an incredibly moving story about God's love and the various ways it saves, both when we want it and when we don't. Based on the Book of Hosea in the Old Testament, Redeeming Love beautifully interprets its source material. It's the story of a man loving a women even when she leaves him and hurts him, and it is also the story of God loving even when his children reject it or scoff at it. Angel's whole backstory made me want to wrap her up and never let her go. Oh man, do I hope I can find a Michael Hosea one day. What a man. Redeeming Love did a rare thing to me. It clenched my heart. I just wanted it to end well. I wanted Angel to decide to stay with Michael once and for all, and each time she left I took it just as hard as Michael did. I loved the detail put into the historical setting of the story. I loved all the supporting characters: Miriam, her mother, and even Paul by the end. I'll admit the ending was a little bit cheesy, but it didn't bother me too much. I wanted that happiness for Angel and Michael. I wanted them to have a family together.

Redeeming Love is a story I'll reread again and again. I hope it becomes one you will too.

Instead of writing a lot of useless words, I thought I'd show you exactly what I liked about My Stubborn Heart.

Kate



Matt



Gran



Audrey Hepburn references







The swoon-worthy romantic moments







The not at all tiresome use of God as a moving force in the plot

When I read the description for Out of Play, I got really excited and couldn't wait to read it, but I was actually pretty underwhelmed by it all. Here are my problems with it:

1. I do not believe a guy in a famous Grammy winning band could go to small town anywhere, interact with people, and not be recognized by at least more than one person. Sorry, not buying, never have and never will.

2. If Bishop had such a huge problem, why just send him of to detox? If you really want to help him, get his ass in rehab! On a similar note, Gary doesn't seem to actually do much other than talk to Troy on the phone and have unsuccessful therapy-like talks with Bishop. He gives a kid detoxing a bit too much free reign for it to be realistic for me.

3. It is very easy to see what Bishop sees in Penny, but I'm not sure what she sees in him. He's broody, secretive, and (my one major no-no) smokes. If I were looking through Penny's eyes, I'd be staying far away from Bishop. (And lip piercing? Yuck!)

4. Though I like Penny, I do not always understand her. I guess we're just too vastly different (she'd hate me because I despise hockey in all shapes and forms) because I couldn't understand why she wouldn't want to at least consider the option of going to one of the awesome schools offering her a scholarship. Idiot!

5. Penny's mom just got under my skin! What a horrible excuse for a mother! Sure, you can sneak around with a boyfriend and leave your daughter to run your house, but see her sneak back in once and you throw a fit? She didn't even seem to know Penny at all.

6. Penny lingers on liking Mitch for too long. That whole thing should've been wrapped up sooner.

So, now that I've effectively trashed major points to the book, let me praise it a little bit. I loved the banter between Penny and Bishop, and while the romantic scenes felt familiar, they were enjoyable. I did like Penny. I felt like she was a huge change from the typical girl in these books. You know, the one that is holding onto some deep dark secret and then falls in love with some alpha male who protects her? Nope, Penny ain't having none of that. She's more than capable of taking care of herself, and I would definitely say she is a great example of someone young girls could look up to. It's good to know those kind of girls still exist in YA. My favorite character had to be Gramps because he was just so funny and real, and I've never had a grandfather but I'd want mine to be like Gramps.

Out of Play was neither a hit nor a miss for me. It fell in the middle. Not sure if I recommend.

P.S. You don't need to know anything about hockey or drumming to enjoy this book. (Just in case that was a concern.)

It's been a while since I read this. I think I finished it on the plane over spring break if that gives you any indication of how fuzzy my brain is on it right now. For some reason, I just couldn't think of anything funny and intelligent to say about this book other than I really liked it. I liked, and I still really don't.

Though I read the collaboration effort that is Out of Play, this is my first real (solo) experience with Nyrae Dawn as a writer. I found it to be an intensely enjoyable experience. Brynn's story made me sad and furious at the same time, and I could not believe all the shit she was put through. Christian was basically the best book boyfriend ever, and his mom was all kinds of awesome. One of the main highlights of Dawn's writing for me is that she does not create unnecessary drama for the hell of it. She creates characters with real issues needed to be worked out, and it was a refreshing change of pace.

Even with hazy details, I can tell you I definitely recommend Searching for Beautiful.

I have to admit, after reading so many "new adult" romances, I was very wary of Pushing the Limits. Of course, reading it just proved that I'm stupid and Katie McGarry is awesome.

Pushing the Limits has everything I love: awesomely cool and kind of fragile but strong heroine, bad boy with a heart of gold, perkily fun best friend, steamy (but not explicit) romance, a butt load of issues (mental illness, death, etc.), and a happy ending that did not feel too cliche or unrealistic. Not everything ends perfectly in Pushing the Limits, and that's okay. It doesn't need to know, though I do hope Echo and Noah feature somewhat in Beth's story. Can't wait to read more by McGarry!

P.S. This review is short because I really have nothing bad to say about Pushing the Limits and it's easier to write long reviews when you're trashing something.

Totally recommending this one!

Yet again, I like the book from the boy's point of view better than the original. This is a strange reoccurring pattern: Walking Disaster, Forever You, Losing Hope... In this case, both books earned the same rating since the content didn't actually change much or be added to drastically. Still, Cam was much easier to like than Avery. Would I like a guy in these books that didn't screw everything in a skirt before meeting "the one"? Yes. Otherwise, Cam is a good guy (and a good brother. I know if I went through what Theresa did, my brothers would probably kill the guy. Or worse, turn him over to my mom). He made me laugh, and I loved how gentle he was with Avery. J. Lynn still lacked some of the polishing I would've liked to see with Wait for You, but she did delve into her characters a bit more here. If you liked Wait for You, this is must.

The Rumpelstiltskin Effect, Or Why I Would Never Date A Kyler

In the popular TV show Once Upon a Time, Rumpelstiltskin and Belle are one of the show's most popular couples. Affectionately referred to by fans as Rumbelle, their story began when Belle signed her life away to live in Rumple's palace so that he will save her kingdom. It's basically the Beauty and the Beast story with a few minor tweaks. Belle takes care of the household for Rumple, known as the Dark One for his immortality and unlimited dark magic. Gradually, the two fall in love. Belle kisses him one day, hoping to change him back into a regular man. Her kiss does start to work. Of course, that doesn't fly with Rumple, but that's a whole other story.

What is actually frightening about Rumbelle and even the original Beauty and the Beast is the idea that loving a person enough can completely transform them for the better. A beauty falling in love with a beast will change him into a real man. A good girl believing in the heart of a bad boy will redeem him. It's an idea central to so many of our love stories, and it might be the worst lie we're ever told. Love helps people, to be sure, but the key isn't being given it. My Relationships teacher has been telling us that love has to start with you, and you can't give it or fully appreciate it until you love yourself. You have to believe yourself to be worthy of love in the first place, or you will never have it.

So I disagree with Kyler's whole notion that he is changing because of Sydney. I think so much of his behavior in the book is awful. It's just garbage to be honest. If he doesn't think he's worthy of Sydney, why try to further that opinion by sleeping with every girl he meets? Why not tell her how he feels initially if he thinks there's not a chance anyway? Kyler changes because he needs to change, no matter what he thinks. To accept Sydney's love, he has to start loving himself. I do think this relationship is highly doomed and flawed. Between two different sets of mounting insecurities, I wish Kyler and Syndey luck. Then again, actual relationship dynamics don't seem to be a factor in new adult novels. Lucky them.

Frigid was a waste of $1.99 or so of my Amazon gift card. Do not make the same mistake.

OH MY GOSH!!!! I don't even know what to say about this one. It was so intense and romantic and sometimes scary and usually hilarious! I heard a lot of mixed things about this one, but I can't wait for the second one in Travis's point of view. Then I can really judge! Still, this a book you love or hate, and I loved it! It was funny, witty, intense in a way I've never experienced, and ultimately a great love story. Yes, Travis is kind of a madmen sometimes, but he's also crazy romantic. I personally am not going to judge this relationship because I've never been in love. I don't know if love can be that intense. I do know it kept me interested and entertained. (Anyone else looking forward to this movie? If they don;t get Travis right, I'll scream!) I'm kind of a sucker for a cute bad boy, but I also liked all the other characters. Abby was a wonderful narrator, and I loved what her hidden past turned out to be. I would've never expected that! America was the ultimately best friend, and Finch was great comic relief. (And I disagree with people who call him the token gay character! What does that even mean anyway? Can't a person be gay in a story without it being some major plotline?) I felt bad for Shepley for always being caught up in Travis's problems, but I thought he was a good friend and cousin. I despised Parker only because of my love of Travis.

READ! READ! READ! You'll either love it or hate it, but I hope you love it!

*insert giggly squeal* Finally, we get to see into the head of Travis Maddox! *insert happy dance* Though some people (people who seriously suck in this reviewer's opinion) might say that a companion novel to Beautiful Disaster in Travis's POV might be unnecessary and redundant, I will confidently refute that statement and say that Jamie McGuire is kind and wonderful to give us such a novel. Authors rarely do, and so I clap my hands (only because I can't give her snaps due to a lack of ability) to her.

Oh, Travis! You are so much more wonderful after reading this! We actually understand your craziness a little more, and a lot of things make more sense. I liked learning the meaning behind Abby's nickname, and I adored the epilogue. I want more on this couple. Like, now!

Though only fans might enjoy this, I still encourage you to read. Read Beautiful Disaster, fall madly in love with it, and purchase the second one. Do it!