Book Review: "Love Finds You in Sunset Beach, Hawaii" by Robin Jones Gunn

Summary from the publisher: When a wealthy friend offers Sierra Jensen a vacation at an oceanfront beach house, she envisions a quiet retreat where she can plan her next move. Instead, she arrives at the start of the noisy surfing competitions and is surprised to learn that her friend had an ulterior motive—namely, introducing Sierra to Jordan Bryce, the tenant staying below them. Jordan is a photographer whose lens and attention are focused on the surfers, and he is not willing to let anyone get in his way of landing the next cover shot for Surf Days magazine.

Sierra and Jordan came to Sunset Beach looking for different things. But as the surf pounds the North Shore, will they discover something better than either of them had imagined?

Reading this book totally made me feel nostalgic. I grew up reading the Sierra Jensen books (as well as the Christy Miller series) by Robin Jones Gunn and have been eagerly awaiting to see what would happen to this favorite character of mine. When the series ended, I will admit that things did not turn out the way that I had hoped. I was a little ticked off at how one character chose to treat Sierra and I felt her pain. I am glad that with this book, time has healed wounds (for both Sierra and me).

I also love books set in Hawaii and since Gunn had spent many times there (and now currently
lives there) she really knows the setting. I felt like I was drawn into a paradise but not one that is entirely free of faults. What I have always appreciated from Gunn is her ability to portray realistic characters with real emotions that don't act too good to be true. Sierra is just one of those characters. She is torn between many feelings in this book such as her relationship with others (her sister, her former love, her roommate, the new guy) and decisions about her future. She does not come looking for love around every corner even though she does yearn for true love. Jordan is the same. He is not your typical romance hero, he is concentrating on his work and just happens to find love at the same time.

This is not your typical romance story which I greatly appreciated. I never once felt like I was reading something that made me want to roll my eyes because it was so unrealistic. Sierra and Jordan acted just like how I would expect a man and a woman their age would act. Even their faith was realistic. It's there and they both share strong beliefs however they don't purposefully exploit to to the point of becoming stereotypes.

Overall I was very impressed with this book. It brought a satisfying end to a story that I have been following for years. I still think readers unaware with Sierra's story will enjoy it but for those of us that have been avid fans, this is like a homecoming for us. I would love to see this couple pop up again in the future but if it's not meant to be I know at least that they are happy.

Love Finds You in Sunset Beach, Hawaii by Robin Jones Gunn is published by Summerside Press (2011)

This review copy was provided by the publisher

Around the World in 80 Kisses Blog Tour

Around the World in 80 Kisses: Smooch Stop #9

The International Kissing Club by Ivy Adams is the story of four best friends: Piper, Cassidy, Mei, and Izzy--the misfits of Paris, Texas. Their whole lives, they’ve dreamed of escaping small-town life and seeing the world. So when Piper is the victim of an embarrassing prank that goes viral online, she gets the idea that the girls should escape via the school’s international exchange program, in search of fun, love and internet redemption.

Emily McKay along with writing partners Shellee Roberts and Tracy Deebs writes under the pseudonym Ivy Adams. They shop, gossip and watch movies in Austin, Texas.

Top Ten Movies to watch when you’re home alone sick.

I have to preface this blog with a story. Back when my hubby and I were newly married, I had to have eye surgery for a detached retina. Most people who detach a retina doing something cool and active, like sky diving or rappelling. Not me. My big hobbies are reading and baking and yoga. So I have no idea how I detached a retina. The surgery wasn’t bad, but the recovery is two weeks of “taking it easy” (i.e. lying on the sofa) and dilated eyes—which means no reading! Ack! No reading? Two weeks lying on the sofa without books?

So sent hubby out to rent me some fun romcoms to watch while I recovered. Those were his instructions: “fun romcoms.” He came back with Romeo + Juliet, Le Miserables, and Rob Roy. Seriously. That was his idea of fun romcoms. I don’t know if he just has a different idea of fun or if he didn’t yet know the meaning of the term romcom. And just for the record, only one of those movies made it onto my list.

The Good

These are the movies that will just cheer you up when you’re sick.

You’ve Got Mail – Romcoms just don’t get anymore charming. Plus, Tom Hanks shows up to take care of her while she’s sick. How cute is that!

The Little Mermaid – ‘Cause you just can feel down when Sebastian sings Under the Sea.

Anne of Green Gables/Anne of Avonlea – Hey, if you’re sick, you have time to wade through six hours of movie to get to a single chaste kiss ... it’s so worth it!

Pride and Prejudice – I’ve gone on record as admitting that I’d watch this story if someone was performing it with sock puppets. I just love Lizzie and Darcy in any form. So bring it on, whether it’s the Colin Firth BBC six-hour extravaganza or the more recent Keira Knightly version. Or Bridget Jones. Or even Lost in Austen (if you haven’t seen this yet, get thee to a Netflix! It’s totally charming). Or you if

want to stretch, try the YA retelling, Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging. Or, hell, you’re sick—watch all of ‘em!

The Bad

Here are the movies that you secretly want to rewatch every time you’re just a little bit blue. If you’re like me, it’s embarrassing. These movies are my secret shame. But I’m home alone, right? And I’m sick! No one can criticize my pedestrian taste under these circumstances!

Die Hard (All of them) – ‘Cause when you’re sick, sometimes you just want to see Bruce Willis blow shit up. That’s all there is to it.

The Twilight movies – These are movies I could never, ever, ever let my husband know how often I watch. I have them on iTunes and watch through Apple TV. I live in fear that someday Apple will add a feature that let’s you see what has been recently watched. But if I was sick, I couldn’t be held responsible for my bad taste in movies.

Shaun of the Dead/Hot Fuzz – Because Simon Pegg and Nick Frost are frickin’ hysterical. When you’re feeling your most zombie-like, you can start with Shaun of the Dead, then when you start to perk up, move on to Hot Fuzz. Warning: Don’t watch these once your cold has moved into your lungs. You don’t want to be coughing up a lung and laughing your ass off at the same time.

The Ugly

The ugly cry, that is. If you’re having a phlegm-fest anyway, you might as well have a good cry while your nose is already red. One note of warning: drink plenty of fluids. You have to really hydrate to make it through these movies.

Out of Africa – This is my go-to cry-till-you-wanna-puke movie. We all have one, right? Well this is mine. I can’t even tell you why. Once, when I watched it and there were others around, I cried so much someone asked if I needed them to call the doctor for me. True story. Now it’s strictly a home alone kind of movie. Plus, Meryl Streep gets syphilis in the middle. So, no matter how bad you feel, it’s still better than syphilis, right? Oh, and this is Robert Redford when he was still youngish and pretty hot.

Romeo + Juliet – Guns, tripping acid, and suicide, oh my!

Harry Potter 7.1 & 7.2 – From the beginning of 7.1 when Hermione obliviates her parents until the final battle with Voldemort, it’s just a sob-fest all the way through. (And btw, that scene with Hermione isn’t in the book, ‘cause it happens “off screen” ... and it’s one of the few moments where the movie is clearly better than the books.) Plus, there’s the great Snape-sob-fest. At the theater, I cried so much I had to time blowing my nose with the explosions. By the time it’s over, you’re crying not just because Fred died (or was it George?) but because ... it’s over! The movies based on the best books ever written ... and it’s over! It still breaks my heart. Is there some sort of HP anonymous group therapy I can join?

Leave a comment telling me you’re favorite movie to watch whilst abed and be entered to win the Around the World In 80 Kisses daily and weekly prize and also become eligible to win the Grand Prize, a Kindle Fire. For a list of all our Smooch Posts you can visit and earn more entries to win, visit us here.

Next Smooch Stop: Friday, December 9th at Mundie Moms

Mailbox Mondays

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia of A Girl and Her Books and is being hosted by Savvy Verse and Wit this month.

Here are the books I got this week.

For Review:

The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott
The Bone House by Stephen R. Lawhead

Waking Hours by Lis Wiehl with Pete Nelson
Out of Oz by Gregory Maguire

From Paperbackswap:

Love Finds You in Nazareth, Pennsylvania by Melanie Dobson

O Hai There

Well, in case you noticed (or maybe you didn't) I haven't been blogging in a while. Even more of a shocker, I haven't been reading either. It's quite absurd I know. The result of me not doing either has been a snowstorm in October on the East Coast! That's how off balanced I made the world!

No seriously, I just haven't felt like reading lately. I'm not apologizing by any means. Obviously this is my blog and I can do what I want! Ok back to being serious, I'm just in a slump. It's not because of what I'm reading because I was reading some fantastic books and I got a bunch of great ones lined up. I think I was just pacing myself too much by trying to have a book reviewed every week day and if life got in the way, my schedule got screwed up.

I think I will take things a bit more easier. I don't have to compete with other book blogs and it's not like the publishers/authors/publicists will kill me if I don't put up a review when I said I was going to (well I hope they don't). I also really need to put up those movie reviews, saw yet another last night (so much for my "There's nothing I want to see in 2011 besides Harry Potter!" theory).

Moral of the story: Don't pressure yourself. I've been blogging for over 5 years. If people stop coming to my blog because I don't blog for a week, so be it.

Book Winner

Congrats to the winner of Reasons to be Happy by Katrina Kittle:

Julie from Booking Mama

Mailbox Mondays

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia of A Girl and Her Books and is being hosted by Savvy Verse and Wit this month.

Here are the books I got this week.
For Review:

Unexpected Dismounts by Nancy Rue
Desired by Ginger Garrett

Here's to Friends by Melody Carlson
Composing Amelia by Alison Strobel

A Lasting Impression by Tamera Alexander
The Opposite of Art by Athol Dickson

Love Finds You in Sunset Beach, Hawaii by Robin Jones Gunn
A Marriage for Meghan by Mary Ellis

The Rivals by Daisy Whitney
Say You'll Be Mine by Julia Amante

Valley of Dreams by Lauraine Snelling

Book Review: "A Necessary Deception" by Laurie Alice Eakes

Summary from BN.com: When young widow Lydia Gale helps a French prisoner obtain parole, she never dreams she will see him again. But just as the London Season gets under way, the man presents himself in her parlor. While she should be focused on getting her headstrong younger sister prepared for her entrée into Society, Lady Gale finds herself preoccupied with the mysterious Frenchman. Is he a spy or a suitor? Can she trust him? Or is she putting herself and her family in danger?

I don't why international stories don't fare as well in Christian fiction but I adore them. I especially love stories that take place during the Regency era. While I'm not a huge regency buff, I do enjoy the time period, fashions, customs and history of the era. In this book, readers are introduced to characters who are debating with being loyal to their country or helping out those truly in need. A masquerade ball takes on more than one meaning as national alliances are tested. Romances with those those in enemy territory ensue. Spies, secret midnight rendezvous and never knowing who is really who are just some of the elements included in this story.

I would have liked to have known more about Lydia's relationship with her father. It seems that it has never really been on good terms. I wonder if in future books more about his relationship with his daughters is explained.

There were many times when I was horribly confused by the story. There was a big cast of characters to keep up with as well as many having disguises and multiple identities. I didn't know who was who or what side someone was on. It was very hard to keep track of in the story. Eakes also has a technique in her writing that I do not like at all. She will end a chapter on a cliffhanger and then in the next chapter we have moved on to something else. I feel like nothing gets tied up or actions happen off screen which is very frustrating. I have found many readers who are also frustrated with this so I'm hoping that in the future Eakes stops doing this because it is something that can make or break the entire book.

Overall, I have mixed feelings about the story. The setting, historical aspect and details of the story were fabulous. As I stated I do love regency era books and I really loved the international aspect of the story. I do want to read more about British/French relationships and I would like to hear more about the characters. I just did not really enjoy the writing of the book. It was just a bit confusing and not as strong as it could have been. I will have to wait and see if I decide to continue with the series in the future.

A Necessary Deception by Laurie Alice Eakes is published by Revell (2011)

This review copy was provided by the publisher

Book Review: "The Wonder of Your Love" by Beth Wiseman

Summary from BN.com: Katie Ann Stolzfus lives in the small Amish community of Canaan, Colorado. At forty she is widowed and raising her first child. But baby Jonas will never know his father, and Katie Ann wonders if her Heavenly Father hasn't forgotten about her as well. Is it really God's plan for her to be a single parent?

Eli Detweiler has come to Canaan for a wedding and a long vacation. Having raised six children following the death of his young wife, Eli is finally an empty-nester. He's enjoying the slower pace of having no one to care for but himself.

When Katie Ann and Eli meet, there is an instant connection. Yet as strong as the attraction is, they both acknowledge that a romance would never work. He is done parenting, while she has just begun.

But as their friendship slowly blossoms into feelings that are as frightening as they are intoxicating, Katie Ann and Eli question if the plans they made for themselves are in line with God's plans.

Can Katie Ann entrust her heart to another man, and rediscover the wonder of God's love?

I know most people think that if you've read one Amish book, you've read them all. This could be a correct statement of many of the books in this genre, but Beth Wiseman's books are different. Yes, they are about the Amish but they are not necessarily always the same thing. This book for instance tackles issues that you don't normally read about in Amish fiction. Infidelity, single mothers and Amish traveling are just some of them brought up in here. If you haven't read the first book in the series, I highly recommend reading it before reading this one because it introduces Katie Ann and her struggles that are a big plot in this book.

I was a bit surprised at the fate of Katie Ann's husband. I swore after reading the first book in this series that he had only left her and nothing else had happened. Next thing I know, I open up the book and he's dead. To me this seemed like a cop-out way to handle the situation. I would have much preferred seeing how infidelity in the Amish is handled. What we are left instead is the women having to deal with Ivan's actions. This rather bothered me because we never really know why he did what he did and what he was thinking. I didn't agree with how Katie Ann handled the situation. In fact, I was like "seriously???! Typical Christian fiction."

I'm not sure if the bit with Danielle was supposed to go somewhere. I felt that she was brought abruptly near the last bit of the story and then it didn't really go anywhere. I hope that she will be included in another book because I didn't really feel as if I knew her. One more small thing that irked me was that Katie Ann thinks in her head that Martha should join the Amish community because it is the only way. Many thoughts ran through my head while reading this but all I will say is that it irked me.

Other than these qualms, I rather enjoyed reading the story. I've enjoyed most of Wiseman's Amish books and for the most part this fit into that category. The writing wasn't as strong as her past books but it was still a good story. Fans of Amish stories will enjoy this one. I think it is interesting seeing the community in a new setting as it shows that they are not just limited to certain areas. I'll be interested to see where they will end up next.

The Wonder of Your Love by Beth Wiseman is published by Thomas Nelson (2011)

This review copy was provided for a blog tour with LitFuse Publicity