bellesmoma2021's reviews
931 reviews

Calling on the Matchmaker by Jody Hedlund

emotional hopeful inspiring fast-paced

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

5.0

I loved every minute of Calling on the Matchmaker by Jody Hedlund. I actually feel a tad overwhelmed because I did enjoy every aspect of this well-written Historical Romance, so I don’t feel I can do this story justice in a single review. Let me begin by saying that Calling on the Matchmaker has all the hallmarks of an excellent Hedlund story: superb attention to historical detail, a unique historical setting, endearing and relatable characters, and timely themes. And it made me feel ALL the feels. I honestly could spend the whole review discussing any one of these features, but what I’m going to address are reviews already posted and a cautionary theme.

So, reviews I’ve read. Several stated that they didn’t appreciate, or were uncomfortable by, the steaminess of the story. One of my favorite things about Hedlund books is her realistic and relatable characters. Personally, I didn’t find this story particularly steamy. Our main characters are two young and very beautiful people who have instant attraction to one another. They never break with the rules of their Society. Even when it appears that they do, they actually don’t. There is one scene where they are in bed together. The heroine is caring for the hero who has cholera. She falls asleep. That’s it. I actually worried for her because I didn’t want her to get sick, too. I mean, cholera! They do exchange a few kisses, but it did not feel opened-door steamy. It didn’t even feel closed-door steamy. It felt like two young people having a hormonal moment who then gather their wits and DO THE RIGHT THING. People have passions and people make mistakes. Personally, I don’t want to read a book about perfect people. I find those books tedious, unrelatable, unrealistic, moralizing, and super boring. I like seeing characters face weak moments and then choosing to react in a strong, moral way. It’s the reactions after these weak moments that illustrate really good teachable moments. Moments I actually want to evaluate and think on and put myself into the situation of to see how I might react. So, I don’t agree with many of the reviews I’ve read stating this book is too steamy for Christian/Clean-Read audiences. I think it actually has really good teachable points we all could learn a thing or two from.

Next up is the cautionary theme. Early on, Finola flashes back to a great, big, awful time in her life. In this horrible moment, Finola’s mother says to Finola, “What did you do?!” Those words devastated Finola to her core. They changed her emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. They physically damaged her. And they set her on a path that she probably would never ha chosen had her mother not said those heart-breaking words. This one single, seemingly-insignificant moment stuck with me throughout the whole book. I struggle with my words. Some of the most convicting parts of the Bible deal with controlling the tongue. As a mother, I want so desperately to nourish my daughter’s emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical well-being. I want her to feel loved by her mommy no matter the situation she finds herself. However, I am honest enough with myself to know that some of my words have hurt my daughter. I’m sure deeply. This single moment in the story had a profound effect on me, and I see it as cautionary because I have been Finola’s mother. Perhaps, if you’re a mom you’ve been in the same situation — you’ve said something that hurt your kiddo’s heart, too. I think the moral of the tale is to pay attention to our words. How do our words hit those we are speaking to? Do they speak life, or do they cause hurt? If they speak life, great! If they speak hurt, then we’ve got to face that honestly and ask for forgiveness.

Whew! Sorry for my verbosity, I just have much to say about this seriously excellent story. If it isn’t clear yet, I highly recommend this book. If you’re a fan of engaging Historical Romances that make you gush, then check out Calling on the Matchmaker. I really don’t think you’ll be disappointed you did.

I purchased a copy of this novel in eBook form from Amazon.com on December 17, 2023, in order to review. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Women of the Word: How to Study the Bible with Both Our Hearts and Our Minds by Jen Wilkin

challenging hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

Women of the Word by Jen Wilkin has single-handedly illustrated to me that I have never read my Bible correctly. Put simply, this text has convicted me. Yes, I have been reading the Bible selfishly and emotionally, and this is all wrong.

Here are the immediate questions of the text that had me evaluating all I thought I knew about reading God’s Word:

Am I reading my Bible understanding that it’s a book about God?
Am I making the Bible a self-help guide?
Am I reading the Bible making it all about me?
Am I coming to Bible study focusing on me, me, me OR God, God, God?

God desires a relationship with us, and we should absolutely crave a relationship with Him. We know that one of the BIGGEST goals as a Christian is to become a new creation and to work towards being like Jesus. We are called to be imitators of God (Ephesians 5:1-2). So, we go to our Bibles to see how we can be more like Jesus. But in this, we run the risk of turning the Bible from a book about God into a self-help manual. One of my favorite quotes from the text is: “The Bible tells us who we are and what we should do, but it does so through the lens of who God is” (loc. 238). So when we read the Bible we need to ask ourselves, “What does this passage teach me about God?” When we do this, we can then compare who God is to whom we are and make the necessary changes. Well, we can at least attempt to make the necessary changes; it’s really God doing all the work. All I’ve stated to this point is a microcosm of all that Women of the Word attempts to teach. It’s a really tiny book, but it is jam packed with gem after gem. For sure, this book has completely revolutionized how I approach Bible studying from now on.

Women of the Word is a text that forces readers to make a perspective shift. It is a text full of tools to get us to shift from emotion to reason, to sound Bible study that gets us to Bible Literacy. It is a text that illustrates that the whole aim of the Bible is to get us to desire all the things God desires. I absolutely devoured this book, loved every convicting moment, and now wholeheartedly intend to put all the many tools, tips, and techniques of this book into practice so I can actually become the woman God wants me to be — one who loves all that He loves. If you can’t tell by this point, this book is invaluable and I highly recommend it.

I received a copy of this text in eBook form from the author on October 23, 2018, in order to review. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own. 

While the City Sleeps by Elizabeth Camden

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

While the City Sleeps by Elizabeth Camden is a well-researched, highly engaging Historical Romance that I thoroughly enjoyed. One of my favorite aspects to this novel is the mystery. This book is such a good whodunit that kept me reading well into the night. I was turning pages furiously to see if my hunches were correct or not. In addition to the mystery, I really loved how deep this story is. There’s all kinds of themes discussed: various family issues, a great discussion on pride and what lying really means, difficulty to forgive once you’ve been hurt deeply by someone you care for, and regret after a loss. While the City Sleeps would make for an excellent book-club choice as there are tons of topics for discussion.

As far as characters go, I really appreciate how colorful and vivacious and unique all of Camden’s characters are. The women who reside at the Martha Washington Hotel are warm, supportive, and tough. I really loved learning about Dr. Edgar “Painless” Parker and his incredibly forward-thinking dental establishment. The world would be a better place if more people thought like Dr. Parker. As far as the hero and heroine go, I LOVED Jonathan. He is the best kind of hero. He is strong, capable, and handsome. He is also the kind of guy who runs into a bad situation to save as many as he can. Jonathan is a hero through and through. Of all his qualities, my favorite is his maturity. Jonathan has lived through a tumultuous childhood. He had to grow up very quickly in an environment that didn’t allow for kids to be kids. This allowed Jonathan to grow into an adult who is compassionate towards the downtrodden, but not gullible to the seedier sides of humanity. And this is why he is such a good cop…and a good match for Katherine. I’m gonna be honest, Katherine drove me bonkers. She is such a Pollyanna, and she is so confident in her certainty it is annoying. She definitely needed Jonathan to come into her life and help her mature into a better woman. And that is what I loved the absolute most about this story — how Jonathan and Katherine, together, make each other better people, people God always meant them to be. Having someone in your life who helps draw the best out of you is quite a blessing for sure.

While the City Sleeps is a great beginning to what I feel will be an excellent series by Elizabeth Camden. If you’re a fan of excellently written Historical Romances and Mysteries then you will not want to miss out on this story.

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

A Guarded Heart by Heidi Kimball

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

I have a goal this year, and that is to read books already on my bookshelves. A Guarded Heart by Heidi Kimball has been on my bookshelf since 2020. Why haven’t I read it yet? Well, it just wasn’t time to read this book until now. And I am really glad that I did. A Guarded Heart is a good story. As far as pacing goes, A Guarded Heart is on the slower side but that is OK. I didn’t find the unhurried nature a detraction from my enjoyment of the storyline at all. In fact, I felt like I could savor every minute. As far as characters go, Kimball’s are realistic and relatable. Eleanor made my heart hurt. It’s like the world believes she’s their personal punching bag. Every time she pulls herself up from being knocked down, someone or something knocks her back down. I wanted to reach in to the book and make the ugly people and situations stop. But Eleanor doesn’t need me. She’s the kind of character who never gives up. She gets sad. She gets frustrated. She gets angry. But she doesn’t get hopeless and she doesn’t lose her sense of self. I love the undercurrent of strength that flows through Eleanor throughout the entire story. I also appreciate how much she genuinely cares for others. Eleanor is an all-around good person, and I really cheered for her. I wanted her to get her happily ever after. My feelings about Edmund are slightly conflicted. I really do get why he is the way he is. When one has demanding parents who judge you based on the actions and reputation of their favored child, trusting that someone chooses you and sees the true value of you is not an easy thing to do. So I do get Edmund’s cynicism and his constant state of waiting for the other shoe to drop. But he made me sad for a good chunk of the story. Edmund is an assumer. He assumes things based on his insecurities and then acts upon those assumptions. This really hurts people. He doesn’t mean to hurt people. His heart is not evil or anything like that. Quite honestly, his heart is super big and he feels deeply. He just doesn’t think through things, and that costs him and others so much. What I do love about him, though, is that when Edmund realizes he’s made an error, he takes responsibility, asks for forgiveness, and does all he can to repair relationships. I love this about him because it is they way we all should behave once we realize an error we’ve made towards someone else.

A Guarded Heart packs a lot of story into 216 pages. This review barely touches the surface of all that takes place. There is a lot of heart and a lot of depth, and I am really glad I finally got around to reading this really well-done Regency Romance. If you’ve not yet read this book and you’re a fan of well-written Historical Romances, then I highly recommend A Guarded Heart.

I purchased a copy of this novel in eBook form from Amazon.com on November 29, 2020, in order to review. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The Holiday Stand-In by Kortney Keisel

emotional funny hopeful 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 had my eye on The Holiday Stand-In by Kortney Keisel before it released. The cover is what drew me. It looks super cute, and it gives off the right kind of Christmas vibes. In case you’re wondering what the right kind of Christmas vibes are, for me, it’s everything NOT Hallmark. After I read the synopsis I thought, “This sounds like a story I would enjoy.” And enjoy it I did! I am not a fan of the character-swap trope. The lying and the cheating turn me off immediately. I told myself that if these two items were not addressed adequately in the book, I would DNF it right away. Keisel does a great job of tackling the lying and the potential for cheating throughout the story. She demonstrates how lies, small and big, are always problematic. Guilt festers and eats at us, and we truly are not set free until we get everyone in our life on the same correct page. Keisel also illustrates how cheating is more than just physical. She shows how foolish and naive it is to even suggest a swap in a relationship and expect to come out the other side unphased, unharmed, and unaffected. Summer and Caleb, our main characters, are actually quite strong morally and do everything in their human power to stay faithful to Justin, Caleb’s twin brother and Summer’s boyfriend. They both know Justin’s swap idea is dangerous and tell him his plan is foolish. But he is Justin — read the book, and you’ll understand what I mean by that — he thinks his plan is foolproof.

In a perfect world, Summer and Caleb would have said no immediately, but that would leave us readers with no story. So Summer and Caleb do become a fake couple. They do this in order to appease Summer’s family. Summer is the baby of the family with four older sisters who are each happily married and with children. Summer’s family is loud and quirky and unique, and they love BIG and BOLD. But they lay it on thick where Summer’s relationships are concerned. And this is the foundation of every single complication in this story. Well-meaning, elderly family members want the best for their children and grandchildren. But they often go about this the wrong way — with guilt, pressure, and double-speak. They’ll say things like, “All in God’s time” and in the next breath, “What’s wrong with you? Why don’t you have a boyfriend yet?” It is this pressure that causes Summer to enter into a fake relationship in the first place. It’s crazy the lengths we’ll go to in order to appease our loved ones. As you can probably imagine, things get pretty crazy for Summer, Caleb, and Justin, but I found the journey well worth the read!

The Holiday Stand-In is an excellent story. I enjoyed every single minute, and I’m sad my time with these characters is over. If you’re a fan of well-written, fast paced, and highly engaging Holiday Rom-Coms with substance, then this is a story I highly recommend.

I purchased a copy of this novel in eBook form from Amazon.com on December 2, 2023, in order to review. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own. 

Up from Dust: Martha's Story by Heather Kaufman

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

Up from Dust by Heather Kaufman is an outstanding piece of literature. I have always been intrigued by Martha, Lazarus, and Mary in the Gospels. Naturally, I want to know more about this group of siblings and their uniquely personal relationship with Jesus. What a blessing to have been counted as close friends of God! Kaufman does a fantastic job weaving fictional “might have been” with well-researched historical and Gospel detail. I appreciate how Kaufman envisions an emotional and plausible childhood and young adulthood for Martha, Lazarus, and Mary. Kaufman does a good job crafting legitimate Jewish characters who could have lived in Israel in the time of Jesus who also feel life-like and pull at the reader’s heartstrings. My heart hurt so badly for Martha. Her pain runs deep. Many times I wanted to enter into the story just so I could give her a big hug and tell her, “I see you!” And her moments with Jesus…tears streaming down my face! These moments are so, so good. To know that Jesus sees you and acknowledges all you’ve been through, could anything be more satisfying?

This is my favorite message of the novel: Jesus knows our pain and suffering. He sees how all the events in our lives connect to make us who we are today. There is no “I don’t like you because you make mistakes” kind of judgement. There’s grace and mercy. And there is correction, sure, but it is clearly born out of love. I admit it, I’ve judged Martha for being “mean” to Mary in Luke 10. I’ve wondered how she could not get sitting at Jesus’s feet was the better option. Kaufman’s story, however, taught me what grace in the moment looks like by reminding me that a single moment is just that, and it is preceded by many, many moments I didn’t see. I need to be very careful when judging a moment, and a person in that moment, because I often don’t see the whole picture. But God does. Jesus speaks to Martha with compassion and grace in Luke 10. He isn’t yelling at her or scolding her like she is a recalcitrant child, but rather He is instructing her in grace and love. And I need to do the same. I need to see people as hurting people who are in a moment, and I need to come at them with grace and love just as Jesus does. What a wonderful reminder from a very exceptional story!

There is no way to do this book justice in one review. I have barely cracked the surface! Up from Dust is a wonderful story that will stick with me long after the final page has turned. This is a story not to be missed.

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

Sadie and the Bad Boy Billionaire by Jenny Proctor, Emma St. Clair

emotional funny hopeful 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

Sadie and the Bad Boy Billionaire by Emma St. Clair and Jenny Proctor made me SO happy. This book is highly engaging. It hooks you from chapter one and doesn’t let go. Pages were flying by! I absolutely adore Sadie and Ben. Their characters are great. I totally love Sadie’s independent nature, but I also get her need for impenetrable walls around her poor, battered heart. She keeps Ben at arms length for a good portion of this story, but it makes sense — after what she went through in her past, she needs time to see Ben in action. Talk is cheap but actions speak volumes, and Sadie needs to see what kind of man Ben actually is considering his very public reputation as a bad boy. Ben, regardless of his supposed reputation, is the best kind of hero. Sure, he’s handsome and incredibly intelligent and flirty and fun. But he’s also the guy who pays attention and then acts. At the start of this story, Sadie gets sick. Immediately, Ben is on it. Medicines…check. Fluids…check. Head massages…check. Waiting on Sadie’s beck and call is like second nature to him. I really love this aspect to his character — Ben’s love language is acts of service, and, boy, does he serve others very well. I love his big heart, and I love how well he cares for his friends, his employees, and Sadie. Everyone Ben comes to care for becomes like family. This is such an endearing quality, and I wish more people were as compassionate. And speaking of family, I so much enjoyed getting to see how Sadie’s, Merritt’s, and Eloise’s families grow and expand over an 11-year period. This book wraps up the entire series in a sweet, endearing, happily-ever-after, and I loved every single minute!

Sadie and the Bad Boy Billionaire is a wonderful conclusion to what has been a seriously delightful Contemporary Rom-Com series. I loved every single story, and I am really going to miss all these outstanding characters. I highly recommend not just Sadie and the Bad Boy Billionaire, but the entire Oakley Island series. If you’re in the mood for excellently written Rom-Coms with BIG heart that will leave you smiling, then you definitely need to get your hands on this series. You won’t be disappointed you did!

I purchased a copy of this novel in eBook form from Amazon.com on January 7, 2024, in order to review. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own. 

The Earl Next Door by Ashtyn Newbold

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

The Earl Next Door by Ashtyn Newbold is SO good. Like the “could not put it down,” “stayed up WAY past my bedtime,” “everyone who loves Historical Romances should read this book now” kind of good. I admit that I wasn’t expecting much from this book. Don’t get me wrong, Ashtyn Newbold can not write a bad story. But I assumed from the cutesy cover that this book was going to be just that — cutesy. I assumed I would get a sweet Romance, a few good chuckles, and a happily ever after. I got that and so much more. I was not expecting, or ready for, the heart-wrenching depth of emotion I got from this story. Oh my word, did my heart hurt for Charlie and Henrietta! This story begins as all enemies-to-lovers novels do with the hero and heroine instantly at odds. But it does not follow this trope’s typical pattern. Instead, this story goes on a path that had me scratching my head clear beyond the 80% mark, wondering how Newbold was going to get her characters together. This, in turn, made the pages fly by. I loved Charlie’s and Henrietta’s characters so much that I just had to get to their HEA. And the sadness I felt for both of them — a couple of times I wanted to chuck my book into the corner, I was so frustrated by the situations Charlie and Henrietta found themselves trapped within. But this book isn’t all sadness and frustration. It’s also super sweet and hilarious. There are some moments that had me laughing out loud. And the chemistry between Charlie and Henrietta is intense, and the kisses are super swoony. All in all, The Earl Next Door is an utterly fantastic novel, and I loved every minute.

If you are a fan of excellently written, highly engaging, emotionally appealing Historical Romances then The Earl Next Door is the book for you. You do not want to miss out on this delightfully endearing story.

I purchased a copy of this novel in eBook form from Amazon.com on March 27, 2023, in order to review. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own. 

Cold Threat by Nancy Mehl

dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Cold Threat by Nancy Mehl is a really good story. I was hooked from page one and hated to put this book down. I enjoyed being back in River and Tony’s world. Getting to meet Tony’s parents and sister is a hoot. Ray, Tony’s dad, is a seasoned Police Detective who very much does everything he can to see Justice fulfilled. I like how Ray is clearly good at his job, but respects the talents and skills of Tony and River. Ray could be full of himself based on all he’s accomplished and all his years as a detective, but he isn’t. He’s a humble man who knows when he needs help, and he is not afraid or ashamed to ask when he needs it. I really respect that about his character. Beth, Tony’s mother, is warm and caring. Her heart is as big as Texas. She is the sort of person who would give the shirt off her back if she thought someone needed it. Oh, and she feeds everyone. I wanted to jump into the pages of this book to get a yummy home-cooked meal. LOL! And then there is Aimee. Aimee is complicated. You’ll have to read the book to find out why. Regardless of Aimee’s issues, I very much enjoyed the role family plays in this story, and I loved seeing River interact with Tony’s family. River’s family dynamic is so different, comparatively speaking, it was fun seeing her adjust to a different way of doing family. As far as the mystery goes, I was pulled in immediately. The twists and turns that Mehl takes readers on are intense. It’s what made me read well into the night. I had to see if my guesses about whodunit were correct or not. I also really appreciate the timely themes discussed in this novel. Knowing when to work on a problem and when to give it to God, River’s questions about how (and if) God talks to us today, and justice vs. vigilante justice are just a few of the topics Mehl covers. I admit this was another one of those stories I would stop from time to time to talk about with my family. I love when books do that!

Cold Threat, all in all, is a really excellent story that I highly recommend. If you are a fan of well-written, highly engaging Romantic Suspense novels that also get you thinking about rather meaty topics, then you’ve got to get a copy of Cold Threat ASAP. You will love this book!

I received a copy of this novel in paperback form from the publisher, Bethany House Publishers, in order to review. In no way has any of this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Merritt and Her Childhood Crush by Jenny Proctor, Emma St. Clair

emotional funny hopeful 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

Merritt and her Childhood Crush by Emma St. Clair and Jenny Proctor is such a sweet story! I loved every single second and I’m so sad my time with these characters is over. There is so much to love. The writing is very well done; again, the storyline and pacing are so seamless it’s hard to believe two very unique and different authors wrote this story. A true testament to St. Clair’s and Proctor’s writing talents and teamwork. What struck me the most as I was reading is the depth of emotions I felt. There were moments my heart hurt for Merritt and Hunter. It is very clear from page one that these two characters are meant to be, but so much got in their way in the past they just aren’t together. But I felt deeply hopeful for these two and cheered the whole story for their happily-ever-after. One of my favorite things about this story is Hunter’s pack or unique animals. Hunter fosters and shelters special-needs creatures. Currently, he has several adorable puppies and one precocious racoon. Aside from being cute and adorable, and quite silly, I appreciate the animals for the message they illustrate in the story. There is a moment when Hunter ruminates on how difficult it is to communicate. Hunter is the king of running away from emotions and communicating how he truly feels. It’s just hard for him, and always has been. But his animals, once they feel safe and secure, do not have one once of fear when it comes to communicating their emotions and needs. If a puppy is excited to see you, he runs up in a state of pure joy and lets you know he’s so happy you exist. It’s easy. Puppies just do it. Hunter wonders why it’s so difficult for humans. I don’t know why I like this topic so much, but I do. It made me think about my puppies and how excited they are to see me when I come home from work. It’s so easy for them to show me how they feel, and they never shy away from communicating their love. It is quite humbling, really. And it makes me realize I need to be more open and vulnerable with the people I love. I need to share more love and hugs and kisses with my loved ones. I need to be more open about sharing feelings, rather than hold them all inside. Isn’t this such a great message? I absolutely loved it.

I heartily enjoyed every minute of Merritt and her Childhood Crush. This is a Contemporary Romance I highly recommend. If you are in the mood for a sweet and endearing romance with excellent characters and timely themes, then this is just the book for you.

I purchased a copy of this novel in eBook form from Amazon.com on January 30, 2023, in order to review. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.