bellesmoma2021's reviews
924 reviews

An Inconvenient Letter by Julie Wright

hopeful inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I thoroughly enjoyed An Inconvenient Letter by Julie Wright. This was another story I read late into the night as I was totally engaged from page one. The pacing is perfect — pages flew by! I especially loved the characters in this delightful and charming story. Etta is a great heroine. She is strong, independent, and completely knows her own mind. She is also genuinely compassionate and pays attention. She sees a situation for what is truly is, and she understands why people act they way they do because of those situations. In other words, Etta is really good at seeing the heart of a matter and she cares deeply. I appreciate her use of un-sent letters for cathartic purposes. I relate to Etta because I, too, have penned many letters I didn’t send just to get my feeling about people and circumstances out. So, when her un-sent letters get sent, I really felt her pain. I can’t even imagine how I would have felt if any of my diary-like, intimate, private letters had been mailed out. I think I would have died from embarrassment. But Etta is amazing. Not even this faux pas gets her down. She makes lemonade from these unfortunate lemons. And this unlucky letter-mailing brings her back in contact with a childhood friend, Gerard Hartwell. Gerard is a good hero. He is a seriously hard worker, he has a good heart, and he wants to do right by his family, friends, employees, and tenants. But Gerard is also a bit myopic. He needs Etta to open his eyes to some of his truths. I really appreciated this aspect of the story the most — how Etta and Gerard’s relationship grows over time and allows them to become the best versions of themselves. That’s genuinely what a good romantic relationship should really be all about.

An Inconvenient Letter is a sweet Regency Romance that I genuinely enjoyed and highly recommend. If you’re a fan of well-written, engaging storytelling with a delightfully fun romance then An Inconvenient Letter is definitely the book for you!

I received a review copy of this novel in eBook form from the publisher, Shadow Mountain Publishing, via NetGalley. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Loyally, Luke by Pepper Basham

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I don’t know what to say. I mean, I have ALL the feels right now. I’m sad, I’m happy, I’m sad again. Izzy, Penelope, and Luke have become like family to me, and I’m genuinely going to miss them. I hate that my time with these characters is up. Isn’t that crazy? Or, rather, a testament to Pepper Basham’s stellar storytelling abilities. Her characters are SO well created I feel like they are a part of me. As much as each character’s romance became a thing I rooted for in book 1, 2 and 3, I found myself more drawn to Josephine’s, Izzy’s, Penelope’s, and Luke’s family dynamics. I love how they do family. They are clearly unique human beings with their own talents, passions, dreams, and foibles. And they each accept that about one another. They not only accept it, they encourage each other to be exactly their true selves. The love and support, no matter what, is my favorite aspect to this family. I love Josephine’s craziness and her matchmaking ways (And I have to say, there is a Josephine revelation at the end of Loyally, Luke that had me laughing so hard tears streamed down my face. Be prepared to laugh hard!). I love Izzy’s literariness and courage to follow her dreams. I love Penelope’s creativeness and zest for life. She is literal walking sunshine. But it has always been Luke who truly captured my heart from book one. And not because he is a hot book-boyfriend. Nope…it’s because he is the single best brother I have ever read in the history of books.

I am drawn to Luke because he is the brother I wish I had. He is so good. Yeah, he’s a boy, so he pokes fun and annoys and is sarcastic, but he is fiercely loyal, the right kind of protective, and genuinely kind, compassionate, and supportive. He sees who people really are and makes it safe to be that person. When you’re around Luke, there is no shame in being who God made you to be, quirks and all. If you made mistakes in your past, Luke doesn’t hold them against you. And when you are around Luke, there’s no room for fear. You see, Luke is a dragon slayer. Whatever the dragon may be — fear, anxiety, uncertainty, a broken door hinge, whatever! — Luke says and does what is necessary in order to help get a person back on track. Making a mistake in front of Luke is OK because he is never going to hate you, leave you, or think badly of you. He may have some manly sage advice to share, and it will probably be inspired by movies like Rambo and Jason Bourne, but he’s still going to love you. Izzy is right when she tells Luke that he is kryptonite to a broken heart. I wish more people were like Luke. The world would be a much better place.

Loyally, Luke by Pepper Basham is an exceptional conclusion to what has been one of the best Contemporary Romance series I’ve ever read. I will absolutely miss my time with these characters, but I am super excited to see what Basham has in store for us readers next. I’m positive it will be as amazing as this Skymar series has been.

I received a galley copy of this novel in eBook form from the publisher, Thomas Nelson, via NetGalley, in order to review. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Blue Ridge Sunrise by Denise Hunter

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Blue Ridge Sunrise by Denise Hunter is a good story. Like all Hunter novels, the pacing is super fast — pages flew by! I enjoyed the small-town setting, and found the camaraderie and support of the characters as a community heartwarming. The premise of the story is good, as all Hunter stories are. There is a perfect blend of romance, character growth, and suspense. As far as the characters go, they are relatable and quite realistic. Cruz is a good man. He didn’t get the best cards dealt to him as a child and teen, but Cruz didn’t let that get him down. He is a really hard worker, he’s incredibly loyal, and he is uber protective (in a good way, not a clingy, ick way). Cruz is exactly the man Zoe needs in her life. Gracie, Zoe’s 4-year old daughter, is absolutely precious. She is my favorite character in this story. I loved every moment she is on scene because she is sunshine and sweetness and innocence and hope. She genuinely made me smile every time she showed up in the storyline. Zoe, the heroine, is complicated. I liked her, but I also really struggled with her. As a teen/young adult, she is a rebellious, selfish girl. As a 24-year old, single mother, she is still oddly immature and self-focused. I say oddly because the last four years of her life were rough. Usually people tend to grow up a bit because of the toughness. But Zoe doesn’t seem to do that. She is still impulsive. She still makes knee-jerk reactions. And she does something that is SO dangerous and utterly stupid it’s more the actions of a sheltered teen than a grown-up woman. These things made it really difficult for me to like her. My feelings about Zoe aside, I still really enjoyed this story and highly recommend it. I am very excited to get my hands on book 2 to see how things work out for Hope and Zoe’s brother, Brady.

As with all Denise Hunter novels, I did enjoy my time with Blue Ridge Sunrise and I do highly recommend this read. If you are a fan of page-turning Contemporary Romances with relatable characters and themes, then this is definitely a story for you.

I purchased a copy of this novel in eBook form from Amazon.com on July 22, 2021, in order to review. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Love in Tandem by Becca Kinzer

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Love in Tandem by Becca Kinzer is one of the funniest, most endearing stories I’ve ever read. This book had me laughing so hard tears streamed down my face. I loved every single second of this delightful story, and I am genuinely sad my time with these characters is over. Charlotte is a wonderful heroine. She is sarcastic and silly and quirky. I love her dedication to her students, her school, her family, and her hometown. And I really appreciate how she chooses to see the best in every situation. Zach is the best kind of hero. He is strong and protective, but he also has a wonderful playful side that came out in spades in this story. I love how he pushes Charlotte out of her comfort zone when she needs it, but isn’t afraid to be a teddy bear when she needs a good hug and someone in her corner. I really loved the give-and-take relationship between Charlotte and Zach. They are a great partnership because they bring out the best in each other. And their chemistry…WOWZA! So good! I also really loved the various themes discussed in this story. My eBook is highlighted like crazy. Specifically, I love the discussion on faith — genuine faith vs. superficial faith. I won’t spoil anything, but there is a character who believes their faith is solid…and then that faith gets tested…and then this character realizes their faith isn’t as solid as they believed, which makes this character think that maybe they’re a fraud. This realization rocks this character’s world, but leads to some really awesome character growth and a great HEA. And I was there for every single second!

Love in Tandem is a must-read novel. I HIGHLY recommend this excellent, hilarious, heartwarming story. If you need a good belly laugh, if you want a read that will leave you smiling ear to ear, then this is definitely the book for you!

I received a copy of this novel in eBook form from the publisher, Tyndale House, via NetGalley, in order to review. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

My Lucky Charm by Courtney Walsh

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

My Lucky Charm by Courtney Walsh is the perfect read! I devoured this book in about 24 hours and loved every single glorious second. Walsh is queen of crafting the best romantic tension and angst. This is what had me up on a week night well past my bedtime furiously turning pages. I absolutely adored her characters. They are so charming and quirky and unique and relatable. Eloise is sunshine personified. She genuinely loves people — no one is a stranger to Eloise, and it’s genuine. But it’s also exhausting. She gives so much of her heart and, unfortunately, most people step all over it. I cheered for this girl the entire time. I needed her to get her HEA in a bad way! Gray is the best kind of snarky, gloomy, brooding hero. And how he thaws over the course of the story because of Eloise is the best. It had me goofy smiling the whole read! What I love so much about Gray is how relatable he is. Gray is the guy who keeps making the same mistake even when he works so hard not to. At one point he berates himself and says, “Why? Why do I do this? It’s like I know what to do, and I still do the wrong thing” (266). Yes, exactly! I have been there. In the middle of my passionate outbursts, I will actually think to myself, “Nicole, what are you doing? Again? You’re falling back into this stupid pattern again?!” Thank God my Eloise (my sweet, sunshiny hubby) showed up to teach me how to release my emotions better and more rationally. I really appreciate that Eloise never makes Gray feel badly about himself because he makes mistakes. She is soft with him. Eloise doesn’t let him get away with anything, rather she helps Gray by showing him how to do his feelings and frustrations in a more productive and healthy manner. Gray is able to become a better man because Eloise takes the time to see who he actually is and what he is really dealing with. The world would be a much better place if we were all a little bit like Eloise.

My Lucky Charm is another one of those superior stories where one review could not do this book justice. This endearing and awesomely sweet Romance must be experienced! If you are a fan of perfectly executed Contemporary Romances that will leave you smiling for days, then My Lucky Charm is definitely the book for you!

I purchased a copy of this novel in eBook form from Amazon.com on February 22, 2024, in order to review. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own. 

How to Plot a Payback by Melissa Ferguson

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

How to Plot a Payback by Melissa Ferguson is a delightful, light-hearted Rom-Com that I thoroughly enjoyed. This was a story I didn’t even know I needed. I read one review for How to Plot a Payback that said this Rom-Com is more Com than Rom, and I agree. This story had me chuckling the whole time. I may have even guffawed out loud once or twice, too. Life has been rather hard lately, and I desperately needed the comedy this story brings. I enjoyed many aspects to this story, but it’s the characters I loved the most. Lavender is a total sunshine personality, and I fully needed her brightness, her joy for life, and her ability to see the good in every person and every situation. Lavender’s character made me feel hopeful and happy. She is the breathe of fresh air I needed this week. Finn is a unique hero because for most of the story he is the anti-hero. Finn’s anti-hero-ness is what makes a lot of this story so funny. Nothing works out for him. He reminds me of Coyote from the classic Roadrunner and Coyote skits from Looney Tunes. I read in some reviews that readers found Finn petty, but I disagree. Finn is frustrated, and for once he just wants his life to go the way he plans. But Lavender keeps unknowingly messing up Finn’s life in BIG ways. After years of this, Finn has become a little obsessed. His reasoning has snapped where Lavender is concerned. Should he be an adult and let bygones be bygones? Sure, but that’s the problem. As soon as he moves on, Lavender strikes again. It is enough to drive him a tad mad, and it’s in these moments that the hilarity ensues. Does Finn grow up and get over himself? Well, you’ll just have to read the book to find out. But I can assure you this story ends perfectly.

How to Plot a Payback is a great Rom-Com that I highly recommend. If you’re in the mood to laugh, if you need a silly, delightful escape from our exhausting world, or if you just want a light-hearted read that will make you smile the whole time, then pick up a copy of this story today. You won’t be disappointed you did!

I received a copy of this novel in eBook form from the publisher, Thomas Nelson, via NetGalley, in order to review. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own. 

One Wrong Move by Dani Pettrey

challenging mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I wanted to love One Wrong Move by Dani Pettrey so much, but this story just didn’t work for me. The piece I struggled with the most is the setting up of three separate romantic pairs of characters and all their storylines. The perspectives shift throughout this book so much I had a difficult time keeping up. I do appreciate when an author begins a series and lays ground work that will play into books 2 and 3, but ground work for other books should be less than all the nuances and events and character building for the main storyline. In this book, which is 400 pages long, the main story is supposed to be Christian and Andi, but we also get Harper and Deckard, and Greyson and Riley. Then there are three sets of bad guys to keep track of as well. It’s a lot. I had to stop reading many times to try to remember who was who. If you’re a fan of intricately detailed Romantic Suspense novels, then this book is 100% for you. It will keep you on your toes the whole time. But I just wanted an escape story. I will say, if I had one romantic couple to pay attention to I know I would have been able to focus better on this story. I believe I would have been better able to keep track of the bad guys and who was working what angle if I only had to focus on one love story. I did really like Deckard and Harper’s characters. I look forward to seeing how things work out for them in a future novel. Greyson seems a bit mysterious, and he clearly has a thing for Riley, but he is working hard to hide his true feelings. That makes me want to see how things turn out for them as well. Overall, there are some things I really enjoyed and I am curious to find out how things will work out for characters in future installments, but I was just too overwhelmed by the three romantic set-ups and the three sets of bad guys.

As I said above, One Wrong Move is an intricate story filled with multiple perspective shifts, and twists and turns that will keep the reader on her toes. If you love deeply detailed Romantic Suspense novels, this book is definitely the story you need to read ASAP.

I purchased a copy of this novel in eBook form from Amazon.com on February 5, 2024, in order to review. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own. 

The Berlin Letters by Katherine Reay

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The Berlin Letters by Katherine Reay is my number one read for 2024. Yes, I’m calling it. This story is utterly outstanding and I will never forget my time with this read. In fact, this book should be required reading for every human on this planet. My most favorite aspect to this impeccable novel is the history. I learned more about the Cold War, Berlin, the Soviets, Punk music, and the insanely tumultuous powder keg known as Eastern Europe circa 1958-1989 from this one book than I ever learned in all the history classes I’ve taken. The best part is how Reay weaved this authentic learning experience into her highly engaging, seriously suspenseful father-daughter storyline. I wasn’t just a reader during the course of this story, I was also a student and I LOVED every minute. From chapter one, I was hooked and HATED when I had to put this book down. This was a story that had me reading well past my bedtime. The characters are superb. I loved journeying with Louisa as she not only discovers who her father truly is, but in the process realizes who she truly is as well. I enjoyed watching her grow and change and turn into the woman God always meant her to be. SO good!!! I also really loved Haris. Well, at the beginning of the story I wanted to pop him in the nose, but he quickly becomes one of the best characters I’ve ever read. And he is such a good dad…to the punk kids he takes under his wing, to Manfred, and to the daughter he loves with all his heart, but couldn’t be with for 28 years. I really loved the father-daughter dynamic of this story. I loved that Louisa fights for her dad. Not just fights for him, but crosses into terrifying East Berlin to attempt to free Haris from a Stasi-run prison. If this isn’t a beautiful illustration of Christ-like, sacrificial love then I just don’t know what is. I also appreciated Reay’s caution about judgement. It’s a subtle message, but it really punches the reader in the solar plexus…at least it did to this reader. It is SO easy to sit back today and judge the happenings in East Berlin all those decades ago — to judge the neighbors who snitched, the bosses who snitched, the friends who snitched — and find those people wanting. But those of us in 2024 who sit in the securities of our Western homes have no clue what the people of East Berlin went through. The depravity, the losses, the torture, the fear, the threats — I truly do not know if I would have survived. I appreciate this reminder from Reay not to judge others. God judges hearts, not us. This is a truth I hope never to forget.

The Berlin Letters is an excellent story. One I won’t soon forget. If you are a fan of excellently-detailed, highly engaging Historical Literature then I highly recommend checking out this story.

I received a review copy of this novel in eBook form from the publisher, Harper Muse, via NetGalley. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The Way I Heard It by Mike Rowe

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective fast-paced

5.0

I’ve been a fan of Mike Rowe since I first saw him on an episode of Dirty Jobs decades ago. I have also been an avid listener to Rowe’s podcast, The Way I Heard It, since I discovered it about a year ago. I like what Rowe stands for. I like his honesty, integrity, intelligence, his sense of humor, his willingness to get dirty to get a job done, and his ability to see value in others. I like that Rowe recognizes and acknowledges that all humans are essential and bring something unique to the table. I also like that he seeks out the stories most people tend to ignore or gloss over. On his podcast, Rowe treated his readers to 35 episodes dedicated to his book, The Way I Heard It. The Way I Heard It (the book) is 35 chapters long, with each chapter broken down into two parts. First, a biographical, historically-researched story on some unique famous person — movie stars, writers, sports figures, musicians, etc. After these biographical pieces, Rowe follows with a story from his own life that touches on the theme from the biographical story. Essentially, Rowe demonstrates how all life reflects the broad human condition even through our differences and uniquenesses. Each chapter is quick and to the point, but HIGHLY captivating. I learned so many cool facts about people I thought I knew, but clearly didn’t have the whole story. I love how Rowe tells stories. He hooks the reader or listener from the first sentence and makes you think one way, but then twists everything you thought you knew into a reveal that makes the reader/listener go, “Whoa! That was awesome!” Well, at least that’s how I reacted to the stories in this book.

I am not a big re-reader of books, but The Way I Heard It is definitely a book I would come back to for a second and third read. I loved every minute of this book, and highly, highly recommend it. If you are a fan of diverse, unique stories told in an intriguing and captivating manner then this is definitely a book you will want to check out. Personally, I recommend listening to Mike Rowe read his book on his podcast because after he reads each chapter he then treats his listeners to a fantastic discussion about that chapter with an excellent guest or two. In all honesty, The Way I Heard It is the most fun book I’ve ever listened to.

I listened to a copy of this book via Mike Rowe’s podcast, The Way I Heard It, in order to review. I also purchased an eBook copy of this book from Amazon.com on March 1, 2024, so I could re-read it whenever I want. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

A Heart Sufficient by Nichole Van

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A Heart Sufficient by Nichole Van is one of the best Historical Romances I’ve ever devoured. Hands down, I loved every single second of this masterful Romance. This book is so good all on its own, but as a series concluder, it’s total perfection. This book had me feeling all the feels. I chuckled, I teared up a little, I wanted to punch the hero a couple of times, and I cheered SO hard for Tristan and Isolde. I wanted them to grow to love one another so much. There are many things about this story that I enjoyed, but the characters and the super sweet ending are my favorite aspects. Don’t worry. I won’t give away any part of the ending. Just know this story ends perfectly happily ever after, and brought a few tears of joy to my eye. I’m a sucker for character cameos, but the epilogue cameos in this series were the best. So sweet, and a perfect wrap-up to the four storylines. As far as characters go, what I have enjoyed about all of Van’s characters is how strong and capable and endearing all of them are. Each couple has been realistic and relatable. Tristan and Isolde are no exception. Both are strong, stubborn, highly intelligent, and unique. Tristan can be the absolute worst guy ever, but it comes from a place of deep pain and major childhood abuse. Once Tristan feels safe, he is the biggest, squishiest marshmallow ever. I loved getting to see this side of him, and I love that Isolde is the one who brings out Tristan’s soft, gooey heart. This story is an enemies-to-lovers story. Usually, this is not my favorite trope because I can’t stand all the fighting, but Van has done this trope right. At just the right time, both Tristan and Isolde begin to thaw towards one another and it leads to some of the sweetest and swooniest moments of the series. Another aspect to this series that I’ve really enjoyed — Van’s novels are not fluffy, Hallmark-y Romances. As with the prior three books, A Heart Sufficient is another story I highlighted like crazy. There are so many good moments, timely thematic moments, that could lead to some deep, heartfelt discussion. A Heart Sufficient would make for a really good book-club book.

I have loved every single second of the Penn-Leiths of Thistle Muir series, but A Heart Sufficient will go down as my favorite. This book is just perfect. I’m sad my time with these characters is over, but I’m leaving this series with such a sense of giddiness and joy that can only come from the best of stories. If you’re a fan of superb Historical Romance then I cannot recommend this series enough. I implore you to purchase a copy of the Penn-Leiths of Thistle Muir series today. You will not be disappointed you did.

I purchased a copy of this novel in eBook form from Amazon.com on February 6, 2024, in order to review. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.