Life's a Beach by Claire Cook

★★★☆☆

Life's a bit of a beach these days for Ginger Walsh, who's single at forty-one and living back home in the family FROG (Finished Room Over Garage). She's hoping for a more fulfilling life as a sea glass artist, but instead is babysitting her sister's kids and sharing overnights with Noah, her sexy artist boyfriend with commitment issues and a dog Ginger's cat isn't too crazy about. Geri, her BlackBerry-obsessed sister, is also nearly over the deep end about her pending fiftieth birthday (and might just drag Ginger with her). Toss in a dumpster-picking father, a Kama Sutra T-shirt-wearing mother, a movie crew come to town with a very cute gaffer, an on-again-off-again glassblower boyfriend, plus a couple of Red Hat realtors, and hilarity ensues. The perfect summer read, Life's a Beach is a warm, witty, and wise look at what it takes to move forward at any stage in life.

Overall I was disappointed in this book, Life's a Beach.  I chose it to read next because I was looking for something light, funny, and set in a beach town, and the book description seemed to match.  Sadly, I was disappointed.  Maybe it was just that I couldn't really connect with Ginger, the main character, or really anyone in the book for that matter.  Maybe it was just that the storyline was kind of boring.  I did enjoy the last 30 pages or so, but that's really it.  I would say it was a mildly entertaining book, but definitely not one I would recommend running out and purchasing.  It has some quirky characters, but none I really fell in love with or could relate to.

Miss Match by Erynn Mangum

★★★★★

Lauren Holbrook has found her life's calling: matchmaking for the romantically challenged. And with the eclectic cast of characters in her world, there's tons of potential to play "connect the friends."
 
Lauren sets out to introduce Nick, her carefree singles' pastor, to Ruby, her neurotic coworker who plans every second of every day. What could possibly go wrong? Just about everything.

I loved Miss Match!  I had downloaded this book while it was free, not sure what to expect.  It was so, so cute.  It is a Christian Fiction book.  The characters are so likeable.  It's about a young twenty-something girl, Lauren, navigating the things of life, setting up her friends, and working.  Lauren is just a normal girl trying to figure things out, but I love how she incorporates her Chrisian perspective into the desicions she makes.  I really enjoyed this book (and I'm a mom with 2 kids!), but I think it would also be great for a high school/college girl navigating relationships and friendships.  This is the first book in a series, and the next two are both on my reading list.  Definitely recommended as a fun, light, uplifiting read.

Miranda's Big Mistake by Jill Mansell

★★★★☆
Now a New York Times and USA Today Bestseller

Miranda's track record with men is horrible.
Her most recent catastrophe is Greg. He seems perfect—gorgeous, witty, exciting. And he and Miranda are in love… until Miranda discovers he left his wife when he found out she was pregnant.

With the help of her friends, Miranda plans the sweetest and most public revenge a heartbroken girl can get. But will Miranda learn from her mistake, or move on to the next "perfect" man and ignore the love of her life waiting in the wings…

Even the worst mistake of your life can lead to true love in the end…

I really enjoyed Miranda's Big Mistake!  It's the second book I've read by Jill Mansell (the first was Millie's Fling).  Mansell is a British author, and I love how you can just 'hear' her characters speaking with British accents while you are reading!  This book was a fun, enjoyable read.  The characters are loveable and quirky.  One thing I loved about this book (as well as Mansell's other) is that it is a longer book.  A point comes in the story where many other authors would have chosen to end the novel, but Mansell continues with the rest of the story.  Many times when I finish a book, I feel like, "Yes, it was a good story, but what happened later?"  Mansell continues her stories to the point where all the loose ends are wrapped up and you feel satisfied with the ending.  I love that about her books, and this book is no different.  I would recommend Miranda's Big Mistake if you are looking for something light, fun, funny, and witty!

Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

★★★★★
When a mysterious young woman named Katie appears in the small North Carolina town of Southport, her sudden arrival raises questions about her past. Beautiful yet self-effacing, Katie seems determined to avoid forming personal ties until a series of events draws her into two reluctant relationships: one with Alex, a widowed store owner with a kind heart and two young children; and another with her plainspoken single neighbor, Jo. Despite her reservations, Katie slowly begins to let down her guard, putting down roots in the close-knit community and becoming increasingly attached to Alex and his family.

But even as Katie begins to fall in love, she struggles with the dark secret that still haunts and terrifies her . . . a past that set her on a fearful, shattering journey across the country, to the sheltered oasis of Southport. With Jo's empathic and stubborn support, Katie eventually realizes that she must choose between a life of transient safety and one of riskier rewards . . . and that in the darkest hour, love is the only true safe haven.


Oooooh, Save Haven was such a good book!  I'm a definite fan of Nicholas Sparks, and this book certainly didn't disappoint.  As always, the characters have depth and a history.  There are some heart-pumping scenes in this story and an unexpected twist.  Of course there is a great love story as well.  It was definitely a great book, one I would recommend for sure.

Just Beyond the Clouds by Karen Kingsbury

★★★★☆
#1 bestselling author Karen Kingsbury tells the heartwrenching story of Cody Gunner, a widower fighting for stability, and the woman who wants to help him trust again--even when trust is the most terrifying thing of all.

Still aching over his wife's death, Cody Gunner can't bear the thought of also letting go of his Down's Syndrome brother, Carl Joseph. Cody wants his brother home, where he will be safe and cared for, not out on his own in a world that Cody knows all too well can be heartless and insecure. So when Carl Joseph's teacher, Elle, begins championing his independence, she finds herself at odds with Cody. But even as these two battle it out, they can't deny the instinctive connection they share, and Cody faces a crisis of the heart. What if Elle is the one woman who can teach Cody that love is still possible? If Cody can let go of his lingering anger, he might just see that sometimes the brightest hope of all lies just beyond the clouds.

I really enjoyed Just Beyond the Clouds.  What I didn't realize until after I'd read it was that it's the second book in a series! (The first is A Thousand Tomorrows, which I haven't read).  You definitely don't need to read the first book in the series to get up to speed in this book, but I may go back and read the first one anyways.  This was a really sweet and enjoyable story.  Elle works with handicapped young adults, and their personalities are so sweet and innocent.  I loved reading about Elle and Cody and how they carefully navigate their relationship.  This is the second Christian fiction book I've read by Kingsbury, and she is definitely on my list of authors to watch for.  A really enjoyable and sweet read.

(By the way, A Thousand Tomorrows and Just Beyond the clouds are available as one Nook book here!)

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

★★★★☆
BROOKLYN: Andi Alpers is on the edge. She’s angry at her father for leaving, angry at her mother for not being able to cope, and heartbroken by the loss of her younger brother, Truman. Rage and grief are destroying her. And she’s about to be expelled from Brooklyn Heights’ most prestigious private school when her father intervenes. Now Andi must accompany him to Paris for winter break.

PARIS: Alexandrine Paradis lived over two centuries ago. She dreamed of making her mark on the Paris stage, but a fateful encounter with a doomed prince of France cast her in a tragic role she didn’t want—and couldn’t escape.

Two girls, two centuries apart. One never knowing the other. But when Andi finds Alexandrine’s diary, she recognizes something in her words and is moved to the point of obsession. There’s comfort and distraction for Andi in the journal’s antique pages—until, on a midnight journey through the catacombs of Paris, Alexandrine’s words transcend paper and time, and the past becomes suddenly, terrifyingly present.

Jennifer Donnelly, author of the award-winning novel A Northern Light, artfully weaves two girls’ stories into one unforgettable account of life, loss, and enduring love. Revolution spans centuries and vividly depicts the eternal struggles of the human heart. 

Revolution is probably not a book I'd typically pick up, but I checked it out from the library on my Nook.  I didn't have anything else I really wanted to read at the time, so I gave it a go.  I am so glad I did!  Andi is a girl with a very hard exterior, but I love how the story reveals who she really is.  Alexandrine is a girl who lived centuries ago, and Andi finds her diary and wants to learn more about her.  The author is able to weave stories of these two girls together in a captivating way.  This was definitely a unique and unpredictable story, and it was very interesting in a good way.  I also enjoyed the historical Paris setting.  I'm glad I checked it out from the library on the Nook!

Like Dandelion Dust by Karen Kingsbury

★★★★★
Jack and Molly Campbell can imagine no greater happiness than sharing their lives with their adopted son, Joey. Then, suddenly one day, their joy is dispersed like dandelion dust in the wind: A judge rules that four-year-old Joey must be returned to his biological father. As the Campbells desperately search for a solution, they begin to grapple with the moral core of life's problems. A heart-wrenching, ultimately uplifting novel.

Wow.  I thought Like Dandelion Dust was a fantastic novel.  It was the first Christian fiction book I had read in a while, and I thought it was wonderfully written.  The story is very rich - it explores both emotional and moral dilemmas.  Kingsbury makes you feel the gut-wrenching situations and decisions as her characters are experiencing them.  I liked the 'unpredictable-ness' of this book and thought it was a great read.  Very uplifting.  After reading this, I downloaded a few more of Kingsbury's books to my Nook - I have a new author to follow!