Book Reviews

Saving Justice
by Susan Crawford
Rating: 4/5
Redbud Press – Fiction | Christian Romance
Release Date: March 24, 2015

Nash has made great strides to overcome his poor and underprivileged upbringing in a bad neighborhood. He has vowed to never return, but circumstances bring him back to his old home in need of renovation and into a young boy, Justice, and his teacher, Kinley.

Kinley is on a mission to provide the best care and education for her elementary students. She stops by her student Justice’s house to find him vandalizing Nash’s car. Kinley is sure that Justice didn’t mean to do it and will pay Nash back with community service — by helping with house repairs. Kinley is convinced that she can reach her students before they fall to far into the gangs and end up dead like her brother.

Nash and Kinley butt heads because Kinley thinks that her students can be saved from a life of poverty and destruction but Nash just thinks she’s got her head in the clouds. The odds are not in favor of Justice. What is Justice involved in? Can Nash and Kinley save Justice before it’s too late. Is someone after Kinley because of her meddling? Is it possible for Nash and Kinley to get along to save Justice?

This debut novel by Susan Crawford was an excellent read. I was captivated by the characters from the start. She wrote from a very interesting perspective: a teacher that’s determined to make a positive impact on her students. Kinley reminds me of the kind of teacher I would want to be if I had chosen to teach. She just loves on her students and truly cares what happens to them.

I loved the play on words with the title. What a great name for a little boy. It was interesting to see Nash, who had overcome his past, begin to see his own value in the lives of those from his old neighborhood. Justice just needed a good male role model in his life. He needed hope that his life was not the end of the road if he didn’t want it to be.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Christian romance with a bit of intrigue.

I received this book for free from Redbud Press in exchange for an honest review.

How to Catch a Prince
by Rachel Hauck
Rating: 5/5
Royal Wedding #3
Zondervan – Fiction / Contemporary Romance

American heiress, Corina Del Rey, has a secret that no one knows. She was once married to a prince who she was in love with, but that was a long time ago. The marriage was annulled and she can go on with her life, except she still can’t escape her family falling part after her brother was killed in action. Her journalistic tenacity says that there’s a story there and just wants to know how and why her brother died. She doubts she’ll ever see the prince again.

Prince Stephen of Brighton Kingdom is a war-veteran-turned-star-professional-rugby-player. Although he tries to forget the past tragedies that came with war, he is still haunted by a secret and survivor’s guilt. Just as he determines to grow up and take his place as prince, he receives a notice saying that he is still married. If he wants the marriage to be annulled, he and his wife will need to make an appearance before the courts. What will happen now? Can Stephen track down Corina in time before his coronation? If he finds her, can he tell her the truth about why he left her? Can she ever forgive him? Can he ever forgive himself?

I absolutely LOVE this series. Rachel Hauck is such a talented writer. I am always so impressed with her characters. Corina and Stephen are characters who seem so real and endearing. I had no problem taking a few hours to completely submerge myself in the story. I always enjoy Hauck’s writing because she doesn’t shy away from the faith aspects.

Your worth is not determined by who you are or what you do, even what you don’t do. It’s determined by the work of your Savior. If our Lord bore the cross to declare  you worthy, then indeed you are, and nothing–not war, nor death, regrets, injury, broken hearts, or tabloid headlines–can change it. Only if you choose not to accept it.

(Sorry. Don’t have a page number because it was from the ARC ebook.)

We all go through hard times where we question our worth, our identity. I love how the story addresses both Stephen’s and Corina’s insecurities.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys contemporary romance, especially involving royalty.

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.