What I'm Reading

Operation Bonnet

Author: Kimberly Stuart 

Date Read: January 25, 2013 

Medium: Free Kindle Book, Purchased Nook Book (Bought it than days later they offered it free on Kindle. Grrr)  

First Sentence: "I didn't set out to be the town luminary." 

Genre: Comedy, Christian Fiction, Young Adult 

I "Laughed Out Loud" Quote: "I will apologize," he said, taking a deep breath. Aggressively mocking a person takes it out of you."

Reviewed for: Me, Myself and I

Stars: ★★★★☆  

Twenty-year-old Nellie Monroe has a restless brilliance that makes her a bit of an odd duck. She wants to be a private investigator, even though her tiny hometown offers no hope of clients. Until she meets Amos Shetler, an Amish dropout carrying a torch for the girl he left behind. So Nellie straps on her bonnet and goes undercover to get the dish. But though she’s brainy, Nellie is clueless when it comes to real life and real relationships. Soon she’s alienated her best friend, angered her college professor, and botched her case. Operation Bonnet is a comedy of errors, a surprising take on love, and a story of grace.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -My Review - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Operation Bonnet, what a story. This will probably be one of the harder reviews to write, as figuring out where to start is difficult. I'll admit it took me a "hot minute" to get into this story. [read: a few months] I clicked this book so many times, yet moved on so many times its not even funny. The first chapter kinda of overloads you with information about Miss Nellie Augusta Lourdes Monroe, and while it is interesting, its not very relavent to the remainder of the book. But that is my humble opinion of course. 

Upon "meeting" Miss Monroe, I got the distinct impression she was much younger than the twenty years stated in the book. She's incredibly flighty and prone to be violent at a moments noticed. The more I read the more I felt like I could relate to ... some parts of her that is.(Apparently I have developed a reputation of being mean to boys in particular in my youth.. I am currently working to restore my image. Its hard work. Lemme tell you!)  Though I found her constant sarcastic nature a bit grating, and her constant attempts at humor a bit tiring,  I loved how strongly she loved despite her different ways of showing it. :) 

When its all said and done I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars, once you get started it was hard to stop! 

What I'm Reading

The Lady of Bolton Hill 
by Elizabeth Camden 
 
When Clara Endicott and Daniel Tremain's worlds collide after twelve years apart, the spark that was once between them immediately reignites into a romance neither of them thought possible.

But time has changed them both.

Daniel is an industrial titan with powerful enemies. Clara is an idealistic journalist determined to defend underprivileged workers.

Can they withstand the cost of their convictions while their hearts--and lives--hang in the balance? 

The following review was done on my own, without any endorsement from the publisher or author. Thank you. 

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For the first time ever, I’m actually reviewing this book as I read it. Something that never happens people. My reviews might be more interesting if I did this more often. Hmmm. But anyway:

WARNING SPOILER ALERT!

Wow.

That’s the only word that comes to mind as I’m reading the “The Lady of Bolton Hill”. I’ll be the first to admit I judge books by their covers, and I was pretty secure in thinking this would be another romance with the twist of having the characters know each other in the past. I was wrong. Daniel and Clara are best friends united by their love of music. (one of the parts that made me really love this book) However Daniel is from the “poor” side of the tracks while Clara has lived a privileged lifestyle.

They have enjoyed growing up together but Clara’s family realizes she is becoming a young lady, and Daniel is NOT an option for her. So in an effort to nip this relationship in the bud, they pack Clara off to England. And things start to become interesting.

The first chapter starts off with Clara in jail, and subsequently being rescued by her brother and shipped back to America. Didn’t see that one coming? I didn’t either. Then we find out that Daniel has done very well for himself, he’s grown up, owns his own, prospering business, but he has changed. He’s become more hardened, angry, bitter. Something Clara was not prepared to deal with at all.

Daniel is holding on to deep set rage towards the company that killed, in his mind at least, his father, and is dead set on destroying said company brick, by, brick. Regardless of who or what he has to hurt.

But what Daniel doesn’t know, is there are others out to get him.

And for the first time… I kinda of want the bad guy to win. Daniel to this point, has annoyed me. Especially his treatment of Clara. He says he loves her, and doesn’t want to live without her but when she does something that angers him, he sue’s her? REALLY?

For the first time, I really hope Clara can find someone else to turn her mind to, but admire the fact that she’s willing to stick by her friends, and I can’t say that I wouldn’t and haven’t done the same. However that doesn’t change the fact that Daniel is a royal jerk.

The Knapping of Clara sends Daniel into a tail spin, though this part went a little fast for my tastes, she’s gone for a day and Daniel turns to God, someone he’s distained to even think about before?

The rest of the book was a bit disappointing to me.

Clara converts the evil henchmen, and starts him back on the path to “goodness”.

Cue the happily ever after music.

Isn't that what you wanted to happen Erin? Sure.... but with all the build up, it felt like such a letdown for everything to be resolved in the next couple of chapters. How in the world do they all get to return home and have nothing happen? You got kidnapped but no hard feelings?

Geez.

So yes.

That is my review of Lady of Bolton Hill.

What a letdown. 

What I'm Reading

Pirate of My Heart: A Novel 

By: Jamie Carie

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

When her doting father dies, Lady Kendra Townsend is given a choice: marry the horrid man of her cold, money-grubbing uncle's choosing or leave England to risk a new life in America with unknown relatives. Armed with the faith that God has a plan for her, Kendra boards a cargo ship and meets American sea captain Dorian Colburn. But the captain has been wounded by a woman before and guards his independent life. A swashbuckling man doesn't need an English heiress to make him slow down, feel again, or be challenged with questions about his faith-or so he thinks. It is not until Dorian must save Kendra from the dark forces surrounding her that he decides she may be worth the risk.

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I love pirate stories, especially if the girl happens to be the adventurer.. as soon as I saw the title of this book, I was interested in reading the r'r'r'rest of the story. Unfortunately I was very disappointed. I felt the plot line was un-clear, the story seemed to jump from point to point, rather than flow.

Not to mention, the one encounter with pirates was very.... boring to say the least. I felt that the story was a bit predictable, the mother was dead, and with in a couple of pages, the father had passed on, the Uncle turned evil, and the main character is shipped off, meets her true love on board said ship...but decides to continue onto her (surprise!) evil relatives.

To be honest I had to force myself to continue reading the book, as after a certain point it wasn't a "good read" anymore.

I wish there was a little more depth to the story, something to make me connect with the character and want her to succeed.

Received for review from NetGalley and Publisher

View all my reviews