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Reviews
Four Weddings and a Kiss by Robin Lee Hatcher, Mary Connealy, Margaret Brownley, Debra Clopton
bookwoman1967's review against another edition
2.0
Character development is never a strong point in short stories, but since the whole point of this collection seemed to be that these characters were unusual matches, it seemed especially a problem here. I like most of these authors individually, guess my prejudice against short stories is showing.
rgyger's review against another edition
4.0
Four Weddings and a Kiss was a delightful read. The frame style is one that I have only seen once before, but I thought it worked really well for this collection of stories. I found Spitfire Sweetheart to be funny and cheered for Maizy when she stood up for herself. A Love Letter to the Editor was completely Hatcher's style and a great sample of her work. A Cowboy for Katie turned out to be truly sweet, while Courting Trouble had a good sense of danger for such a short read.
This collection held great themes, as well as the over arching theme that God can bring together the most unlikely of people and use them to his glory. I look forward to reading the next collection by these four authors (hopefully they will write another).
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
This collection held great themes, as well as the over arching theme that God can bring together the most unlikely of people and use them to his glory. I look forward to reading the next collection by these four authors (hopefully they will write another).
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
beastreader's review against another edition
4.0
I am such a sucker for a cowboy western story. Four Weddings and a Kiss anthology mixes the best of both worlds with the cowboy western with four of these stories. I enjoyed reading them all. Each one had charming loveable characters. Although, I have to say that my favorite stories were Spitfire Sweetheart and A Love Letter to the Editor. This is because both Maizy and Molly in my opinion really stood out. They were more bold and I liked this quality about them. Plus, they were not afraid to really speak their minds. They stood up for what they were about and still got their men in the end. Of course, all four stories did have happy endings. The romance in each one I would call as sweet and mild. There was not much other action that took place then kissing involved.
farmfreshlisa's review against another edition
4.0
What a fun collection of novellas from some of my favorite Christina fiction authors! I think I enjoyed the one about Katie and Treb the most with Katie dealing with her PTSD after the tornado.
meezcarrie's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed all the stories in this collection (a rarity for me in novellas like these) and especially loved Brock's Perry Mason/Matlock/Columbo moment at the end of his story. Who knew Abraham Lincoln used that technique before TV's most beloved attorneys/detectives haha!
ghumpherys's review against another edition
5.0
I love these collections of short stories! This one had four stories that fall in the Christian historical Western category. The religious aspects were not overly done, which I appreciated and the stories were all sweet and fun!
booksforchristiangirls's review against another edition
2.0
About this book:
“In 1885 five western preachers sit around a campfire talking about unlikely couples they've seen God bring together.”
Series: As of now, no.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Spitfire Sweetheart” by Mary Connealy
“Maizy MacGregor's reckless ways injured rancher Rylan Carstens, endangering his livelihood. So she signs on as his caregiver--but just until he's well enough to run his ranch. Maizy's tender care soon has Rylan falling hard and fast. Can these two willful souls give up their solitary ways to embrace love?”
Spiritual Content- Prayers are said & Scriptures are quoted.
Negative Content- A horse gets shot (no details); A bear fight (semi detailed).
Sexual Content- 3 Semi-detailed kisses; A hint about a honeymoon “and began their married life finally, fully, and passionately.”
-Maizy MacGregor
-Rylan Carstens
P.O.V. switches between them
Set in 1879
81 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star (and a half)
Early High School Teens- Two Stars
High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Two Stars (and a half)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“A Love Letter to the Editor” by Robin Lee Hatcher
“Molly Everton writes the most popular features in her town's newspaper. When newcomer Jack Ludgrove is named the new editor, Molly is flabbergasted. She wants the position for herself and will do what it takes to get it. But Jack is not easily intimidated. He’s determined to change Molly's mind about him--and win her heart too.”
Spiritual Content- Prayers & Scriptures are said; Talks about God, and His plans for us.
Negative Content- N/A
Sexual Content- 1 semi-detailed kiss and 1 not-detailed kiss; a hint about a baby (after marriage)“After all these weeks of keeping each other warm in our bedrolls.”.
-Molly Everton
-Jack Ludgrove
P.O.V. switches between them
Set in 1879 (last chapter set in 1881)
114 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Stars
Early High School Teens-Three Stars
High School Teens- Three Stars (and a half)
My personal Rating- Three Stars
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“A Cowboy for Katie” by Debra Clopton
“After the tornado, Katie Pearl must rebuild her ranch. But she can't do it on her own. Treb Rayburn is a cowboy with a serious case of wanderlust. He signs on to help Katie so he can afford a new horse. But once Treb gets to know Katie, will his desire to stay drown the call of the open road?”
Spiritual Content- Prayers; Talks about God, His plans for us & His Faithfulness; Scriptures are mentioned.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘biddies’ and a ‘stinkin’; One or two (not detailed) blood scenes.
Sexual Content- One detailed kiss.
-Katie Pearl
-Treb Rayburn
P.O.V. switches between them
Set in 1871
96 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Courting Trouble” by Margaret Brownley
“Grace Davenport is a young widow in a heap of trouble. When her son asks attorney Brock Daniels to take on her case, Brock plans to say no. But then he meets the lovely Grace. As Brock and the boy work to free Grace, Brock discovers that her arrest may be the best thing that's ever happened to him.”
Spiritual Content- Jesse says the Reverend asked him if he (Jesse) was a Methodist or a Presbyterian and Jesse replies that he’s a Democrat; A few Prayers are said but not written; This novella had the least amount of Spiritual Content out of all four.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: an unfinished “What the--?”.
Sexual Content- Three semi-detailed kisses.
-Grace Davenport
-Brock Daniels
P.O.V. of switches between them
Set in 1882
99 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star (and a half)
Early High School Teens- Two Stars
Older High School Teens- Two Stars (and a half)
My personal Rating- Two Stars
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Overall Ratings:
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star (and a quarter)
Early High School Teens- Two Stars
Older High School Teens- Two Stars (and a half)
My personal Rating- Two Stars (and a half)
I don’t normally read novella because they’re normally short & rushed...Only one of the stories in this novella collection didn’t feel like novella. Let’s break them down;
The first book, “Spitfire Sweetheart”, was pretty good, rushed with the falling in love part but the cute title makes up for that.
Book Two, “A Love Letter to the Editor”, wasn’t rushed at the beginning but speeded up at the end.
Number #3, “A Cowboy for Katie”, was my favorite because I enjoyed “Crazy Katie” and her shootin’ guns.
And the last book “Courting Trouble” was very rushed and a bit confusing.
These novellas gave a little bit size taste of the author’s work were you can read them and decided if you want to read more of that author’s work. Like me, I’m looking forward to reading more of Debra Clopton’s other works soon!
Link to review:
http://booksforchristiangirls.blogspot.com/2014/06/four-weddings-and-kiss-by-mary-connealy.html
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Thomas Nelson) for this review.
“In 1885 five western preachers sit around a campfire talking about unlikely couples they've seen God bring together.”
Series: As of now, no.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Spitfire Sweetheart” by Mary Connealy
“Maizy MacGregor's reckless ways injured rancher Rylan Carstens, endangering his livelihood. So she signs on as his caregiver--but just until he's well enough to run his ranch. Maizy's tender care soon has Rylan falling hard and fast. Can these two willful souls give up their solitary ways to embrace love?”
Spiritual Content- Prayers are said & Scriptures are quoted.
Negative Content- A horse gets shot (no details); A bear fight (semi detailed).
Sexual Content- 3 Semi-detailed kisses; A hint about a honeymoon “and began their married life finally, fully, and passionately.”
-Maizy MacGregor
-Rylan Carstens
P.O.V. switches between them
Set in 1879
81 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star (and a half)
Early High School Teens- Two Stars
High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Two Stars (and a half)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“A Love Letter to the Editor” by Robin Lee Hatcher
“Molly Everton writes the most popular features in her town's newspaper. When newcomer Jack Ludgrove is named the new editor, Molly is flabbergasted. She wants the position for herself and will do what it takes to get it. But Jack is not easily intimidated. He’s determined to change Molly's mind about him--and win her heart too.”
Spiritual Content- Prayers & Scriptures are said; Talks about God, and His plans for us.
Negative Content- N/A
Sexual Content- 1 semi-detailed kiss and 1 not-detailed kiss; a hint about a baby (after marriage)“After all these weeks of keeping each other warm in our bedrolls.”.
-Molly Everton
-Jack Ludgrove
P.O.V. switches between them
Set in 1879 (last chapter set in 1881)
114 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Stars
Early High School Teens-Three Stars
High School Teens- Three Stars (and a half)
My personal Rating- Three Stars
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“A Cowboy for Katie” by Debra Clopton
“After the tornado, Katie Pearl must rebuild her ranch. But she can't do it on her own. Treb Rayburn is a cowboy with a serious case of wanderlust. He signs on to help Katie so he can afford a new horse. But once Treb gets to know Katie, will his desire to stay drown the call of the open road?”
Spiritual Content- Prayers; Talks about God, His plans for us & His Faithfulness; Scriptures are mentioned.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘biddies’ and a ‘stinkin’; One or two (not detailed) blood scenes.
Sexual Content- One detailed kiss.
-Katie Pearl
-Treb Rayburn
P.O.V. switches between them
Set in 1871
96 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Courting Trouble” by Margaret Brownley
“Grace Davenport is a young widow in a heap of trouble. When her son asks attorney Brock Daniels to take on her case, Brock plans to say no. But then he meets the lovely Grace. As Brock and the boy work to free Grace, Brock discovers that her arrest may be the best thing that's ever happened to him.”
Spiritual Content- Jesse says the Reverend asked him if he (Jesse) was a Methodist or a Presbyterian and Jesse replies that he’s a Democrat; A few Prayers are said but not written; This novella had the least amount of Spiritual Content out of all four.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: an unfinished “What the--?”.
Sexual Content- Three semi-detailed kisses.
-Grace Davenport
-Brock Daniels
P.O.V. of switches between them
Set in 1882
99 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star (and a half)
Early High School Teens- Two Stars
Older High School Teens- Two Stars (and a half)
My personal Rating- Two Stars
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Overall Ratings:
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star (and a quarter)
Early High School Teens- Two Stars
Older High School Teens- Two Stars (and a half)
My personal Rating- Two Stars (and a half)
I don’t normally read novella because they’re normally short & rushed...Only one of the stories in this novella collection didn’t feel like novella. Let’s break them down;
The first book, “Spitfire Sweetheart”, was pretty good, rushed with the falling in love part but the cute title makes up for that.
Book Two, “A Love Letter to the Editor”, wasn’t rushed at the beginning but speeded up at the end.
Number #3, “A Cowboy for Katie”, was my favorite because I enjoyed “Crazy Katie” and her shootin’ guns.
And the last book “Courting Trouble” was very rushed and a bit confusing.
These novellas gave a little bit size taste of the author’s work were you can read them and decided if you want to read more of that author’s work. Like me, I’m looking forward to reading more of Debra Clopton’s other works soon!
Link to review:
http://booksforchristiangirls.blogspot.com/2014/06/four-weddings-and-kiss-by-mary-connealy.html
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Thomas Nelson) for this review.
cjanette's review
3.0
I definitely liked some stories more than others, so this was hard to vote for, but altogether this was a fun and enjoyable read.
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