2015 - Flops & Faves

Thanks to Goodreads, I discovered how many books I'd read in 2015. 
Guess how many...*drumroll*...
70. 
BOOM! 
If you want a full list of all the books I read, you can check this link out for the deets :)
 2015 | Books | Year In Review

I'd toyed with the idea of creating a book reviewing blog for...quite some time, but this Summer I finally made the decision to do it, and in the Fall- Books She Loves was born!

With reading 70 books, I've read nearly every fiction genre I can imagine (except horror or vampires- not my jam), a good dose of YA Fiction, some Dystopian, several Historical Fiction (my first- and forever love), Fantasy, Contemporary Thrillers, & Military Suspense.
I re-read some of my favourite authors, and also discovered some rad new ones. (Um...hello Ronie Kendig & Lisa T. Bergren) I read some gems, and some...not so fabulous ones. In honour of the closing of 2015, I'll share some of the highlights from each star category.

// 5 Stars \\                            // 4 Stars \\

Waterfall                                             Fatal Exchange

by Lisa T. Bergren                                                                  by Lisa Harris 

Torrent                                                Lethal Legacy 

by Lisa T. Bergren                                                                  by Irene Hannon

Talon                                                   The Messenger 

by Ronie Kendig                                                                     by Siri Mitchell 

Maire

by Linda Windsor

// 3 Stars \\                           // 2 Stars \\

Shattered                                               Dauntless 

by Dani Pettrey                                                                  by Dina L. Sleiman

Dangerous Passage                 The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest 

by Lisa Harris                                                            by Melanie Dickerson 

The Captain's Bride                              Taken

by Lisa T. Bergren                                                        by Dee Henderson

Beyond All Dreams                              Emissary 

by Elizabeth Camden                                                   by Thomas Locke

                                                     Along Came Jones 
                                                         by Linda Windsor 

// 1 Star \\

Esther: Royal Beauty

by Angela Hunt

Petticoat Detective 

by Margaret Brownley 

Pompeii: City On Fire

by T.L. Higley 

An Uncertain Choice 

by Jody Hedlund 

It was a good reading year- and I'm so glad I've finally started a blog, to chronicle all these books! Which ones have you read?
Any recommends for 2016?

Come say hello on Instagram- @bookssheloves for my reviewing account, and @ToAshleyNikole for my lifestyle one. Well, 2015, we bid you ado. Welcome 2016. 

Love Unexpected by Jody Hedlund

Beacons of Hope - Book 1

Setting: 1859 - Presque Isle, Michigan

This is the classic, marriage of convenience, quickly turns into the husband & wife falling in love type story, with a hint of mystery.

It is mostly a romance, with a few other subplots, but I'd say the main focus is our two MC's being married (only in name) and their process of falling in love & overcoming the hurdles of beginning their relationship out of necessity, and wanting to continue it as a married couple. If those kinds of stories aren't your jam, or you are under 18, I'd give this book a pass.

The plot flowed well and consistently. Since this book has hints of danger, but it isn't a thriller or suspense book, naturally it is going to be "slower", but in my opinion, it carried along nicely and didn't lag anywhere.

As for the romantic/sexual content involved...our two MC's are married, so their relationship has more allowance for them to be contemplating being physically intimate, since they are married. There are a few pretty steamy & passionate kissing scenes, and a good deal of contemplation as to whether their spouse finds them attractive...how to let their spouse know they desire them in a way a married couple would, vs. just a man & wife married in name only, etc etc.
In the end...
-----SPOILERS--------
Patrick & Emma leave the room 
to (it is eluded) be physically 
intimate, but the only thing we 
witness is the husband (Patrick) 
carrying his wife (Emma) out 
of the room. Their time together
is implied only. 

So as you've read, the theme is mature. The MC's process of falling in love isn't dirty & sinful- it is good & beautiful (& designed by God)...but depending on the reader's age, and the season of life they're in, it may or may not be what they need to read. That decision needs to be made by each person, based on where they're at.

I loved both Emma & Patrick as individual character's, and I loved watching them fall in love and their relationship as a couple. It was awkward and funny & real, and that's what I enjoyed about it.

Jody's writing style carried well and beautifully depicted the character's, but also the history of that time.

4 Stars & I'd recommend this book for ages 18-19 +

Hearts Made Whole by Jody Headlong (Review by Ashley Nikole)

I've read a handful of Jody Hedlund's books in the past, not been a huge fan (I'll get into the why) but saw this was a book immediately following the Civil War (I have a fascination with books from that time period currently), so I picked it up and gave it a read.

I loved the plot and how the main character's Caroline and Ryan came together in a tough predicament. Their romance was sweet and touching- it didn't venture into anything too steamy, but it was passionate and real.

Seeing Ryan struggle through remembering his past crimes from his days in the war, and learning how to cope without (and with) drinking himself into oblivion, was real and raw, making you feel as though you weren't just reading a story, you were there.

The one thing I didn't like about this book, which subsequently ruined the whole book (nasty when that happens) was the villain.


--------SPOILERS BELOW ------ WARNING!!!

Arnie Simmons (the bad dude that no one knows is the bad dude until it's too late) just personally, REALLY got on my nerves. I totally get that the bad guy is supposed to do that, but he did in a way that made me irked to even read about him as a villain.
He was gross, a seriously sorry excuse for a man, a coward, and weird weird weird. This high dislike for villains like him, is simply a personal preference of mine...so don't go discounting her writing for YOU, because sometimes the villains rub ME the wrong way.

Jody is a gifted author, I truly believe that, but you know, 'different folks, different strokes' it simply doesn't work for me- generally.
Reason being?
Several of the bad guys in previous books were religious people, who were straight up perverts. Like major creepo's. Again, I know that there are religious people out there who claim to be good, but are actually quite evil, but just for me, it really can work me into a dither when I read about a pious individual who is a total hypocrite and is a MAJOR VILLAIN. It just makes me feel slimed with crapola. Just me. Not everyone will feel that way.

But on the flip-side, two of her books were some of my favourites. So, sometimes it works for me to read & love her books, other times they can rub me the wrong way.

So for this book, I'd give it a 2 Stars outta 5. And that's all personal preference...not because I felt her writing wasn't good. Because she writes very well. Romance was on point. Good plot. Relatable characters.

Read this book? What were your thoughts?