Kim

Meet Charlotte (not like the spider!) – a college sophomore who is currently staying in the dorms and out of her current roommate’s love life. In order to pass the time, this gorgeous but weird introvert finds refuge in the 4th floor lounge of her building. She also finds a few good friends and that’s all she needs. No one else. Since she was young, her older brother’s friends would always flirt with her to get a rise out of her, so she can never trust the guys in her life. She is NOT a talker and she likes to blend into the background. She is constantly approached by guys but finds that they only want one thing and she’s not willing to go there. Her new friendships are jeopardized when she begins to have feelings for one of them.  Can she find a way to keep her feelings to herself and keep her friends?

I thoroughly enjoyed this lighthearted story about the inner thoughts and feelings of a young college girl. She is not perfect but she is real. She has real fears and feelings and dilemmas. She is not a social butterfly. She has her crises and turns to her parents and her church for help. Having been down the college road recently (and being somewhat an introvert), I can identify with her.

The writing is easy to follow and has good pacing. I loved all the characters with their real life reactions and feelings. Not your typical college story of romance, but one that is equally satisfying to read. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for an easy and fun romantic comedy novel!

9 different stories about arranged marriages set in the past. Will these couples be able to find love and hold on to their faith even in the most bizarre circumstances? One bride must marry a man who has suffered so much he does not know how to laugh. One bride must marry the man who mistakenly gives her the last button for her button string. One bride consents to marry a doctor headed for the Oregon Trail – a man she only really knows through letters and his sister’s recollections. Four young ladies find themselves out West answering a bridal order but must find a way to still marry for love – even unconventional matches will do. One pregnant widow travels west to work as a housekeeper for a man who sent for a wife. One young lady must fill in for her sister and marry the man she loves but who chose her sister instead. They all need love and their faith to get through some of the most difficult situations.

I have read 5 of the 9 stories before in other novellas. I enjoyed the stories then and enjoyed reading the stories a second time. The characters are full of flaws making them very realistic and very relatable. The stories are a little faster paced than I prefer but the authors do a great job at keeping the reader’s interest. Each bride’s feelings are well represented and understood by the reader.

I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy a fun and easy read. I received this copy for free from NetGalley but was not required to give a positive review.

Victoria “Tori” Anne Taylor, MD desperately needs a new heart and as a successful oncology surgeon, she knows what needs to be done but she’s never had the surgery performed on her before. As a doctor, she is adored by her residents and hated by her nurses as she demands perfection in every aspect of critical care. When her job security is threatened and she is forced to stop working and go to therapy, she begins a rocky relationship with Phin MacGrath, the transplant team’s social worker. Tori begins having memories that are not her own that she believes belonged to her heart donor. She begins her own investigation into the death of the woman who gave her heart and her new lease on life. Tori not only has horrific memories but she also has become more compassionate. She can sense what others are feeling and what they need. She is curious to find out more about whose heart she received.

Woven throughout the story is another story of Christian and his love for Emily. Christian’s family is on furlough from the African mission field and is falling in love for the first time.

As Tori and Phin investigate what happened, someone begins to stir up trouble for her and threaten her as she tries to investigate further into the fire that she dreams about but never personally experienced. She senses that her memories are evidence of foul play and has no idea what she is delving into.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book by Dr. Harry Kraus. The medical details greatly enhanced the story and brought an authenticity to the story that I enjoyed. The characters were so believable and their development was natural. My only critique would be that the story starts out a little slow but it was an exciting mystery that I ended up solving along with the heroine. I loved how the message of Christ’s grace and redemption was naturally woven into the story.

I would definitely recommend this book and will be looking into more books by this author. I received this book for free from NetGalley in return for an impartial review.