A Talent for Trouble by Jen Turano April 4, 2014

Summary:

For years, Miss Felicia Murdock’s every thought and action have been in pursuit of becoming a minister’s wife. When the minister she’d set her sights on has other ideas, she decides something in her life needs to change–and soon–before she wastes any more time pretending to be someone she’s not. If that means spreading her wings and embracing a more lively way of life, who’s to say nay?

Grayson Sumner, Lord Sefton, has had his fill of spreading his wings and only hopes to settle into the life of a respectable New York gentleman. Prompted by friends to lift the spirits of the disappointed-in-love Miss Murdock, he is surprised to encounter an adventurous young lady with an unfortunate knack for stumbling into troublesome situations.

Just as Grayson decides he’s had quite enough of her antics, his past comes back to haunt him and his presence in Felicia’s life endangers her. As they work together to extricate themselves from this latest complication, will Grayson and Felicia decide they want to spend the rest of their lives keeping each other out of trouble?

Author Bio:

Jen Turano is the critically acclaimed author of The Ladies of Distinction Series, published through Bethany House. Her novel, A Most Peculiar Circumstance, was chosen by Booklist as a Top Ten Romance for 2013.

Jen grew up in St. Clairsville, Ohio, a small city bordering Wheeling, WVA. Meeting her husband, Al, when she was working at a department store in upstate New York, she married him mere months after they’d met, to everyone’s concern. Twenty-something years later, she and Al are still going strong, proving the concern was all for naught. Her son, Dominic, was born after she’d been married for quite some time, and it was then she decided to hang up her heels and settle into the best job of her life – Mom.

Her writing career began rather oddly, right when Dominic was in the third grade. Disgusted with a series they’d been reading together, Jen and her son set about writing a book of their own. It was a strange story, filled with smelly beasts who had a propensity for eating children, or at least wanting to eat them, but Dominic proclaimed it to be perfect and that was all it took for Jen to begin writing in earnest. Her earlier works were met with swift rejections, but when she settled on romance, she managed to snag an agent and she’s been writing romance ever since.

When Jen’s not writing, she spends her time hiking around Colorado, socializing with friends and family, and taking great pride in watching Dominic, who will soon be off to college, turn into a remarkable young man. (For readers of A Change of Fortune – Dominic was the inspiration behind little Ben – which is why you won’t be surprised to learn Jen’s been slightly taken aback over the fact Dominic’s turned out so well.)

My Review:

This is the first book I have read by Jen Turano. I have to say I definitely will be reading more of her books. I really enjoyed all of the characters. I had no ideas she had written so many books. I liked this one so much that I will be in search of previous books so I can get caught up on her other works. The main character in A Talent for Trouble, Felicia, had me in stitches half the time. She cracked me up. I also loved Grayson. He is the perfect match to Felicia since he is so down to earth. I would definitely recommend this book because of how much I enjoyed the characters and their storyline.

I received a copy of this book to read and review from the publisher. You can read more about these authors and other books by this publisher at their webite: http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/bethanyhouse.

My review is not biased by the fact that I was given this book. I HONESTLY read and review any book whether bought or given to me. If I did not like the book I would definitely not give a rave review or recommend it.

A Cowboy at Heart by Lori Copeland and Virginia Smith July 14, 2013

Summary: Kansas, 1886–Jesse Montgomery is beginning to feel restless. He’s been off the Chisholm Trail and on a family farm for a year now. Though he is grateful to Luke and Emma for helping him get on his feet again after a few bad choices and some hard living, surely the Lord doesn’t want him to stay in Apple Grove forever. Doesn’t the Almighty have plans for this reformed rowdy cowboy to build a life of his own?

When an unscrupulous cattle baron tries to steal Amish land, Jesse intervenes and is wounded. Lovely Katie Miller, a healer in the district, tends to him while trying to guard her heart. This young Amish widow cannot risk falling in love again–especially not with an Englisch cowboy. And yet…could God possibly have a plan for both of them far beyond what they can see?

Author Bio: Lori Copeland is the author of more than 90 titles, both historical and contemporary fiction. With more than 3 million copies of her books in print, she has developed a loyal following among her rapidly growing fans in the inspirational market.

Virginia Smith is the author of more than 20 inspirational novels and over 50 articles and short stories. An avid reader with eclectic tastes in fiction, Ginny writes in a variety of styles, from lighthearted relationship stories to breath-snatching suspense.

My Review: This is the third book in The Amish of Apple Grove series. I read the first two books as well, and it was nice to have the characters from the previous books in this one as well. Once again these two authors wrote a splendid story that I thoroughly enjoyed. The lifestyle of the Amish is rather interesting, so reading about them makes for a nice relaxing read.

I loved the main characters. Jesse is an Englisch cowboy who was an alcoholic and finally got his life straightened out staying with his friends, Luke and Emma. When one of their Amish friend’s land is taken, Jesse goes to stay with him to help protect the rest of the land. In the process of defending the property, Jesse gets hurt. He is tended to by Katie Miller, an Amish widow. Katie begins falling in love with Jesse, but does not see any hope for a relationship with Jesse since he is not Amish.

I would definitely recommend this book, and also the two previous books in this series. These two authors work very well together in creating stories that are pleasant to read and keep me coming back for more.

I received a copy of this book to read and review from the publisher. You can read more about these authors and other books by this publisher at their webite: http://www.harvesthousepublishers.com.

My review is not biased by the fact that I was given this book. I HONESTLY read and review any book whether bought or given to me. If I did not like the book I would definitely not give a rave review or recommend it.

The Heart’s Frontier by Lori Copeland and Virginia Smith June 5, 2012

Summary: Kansas, 1881–Halfway through a six-day journey to visit relatives, Emma Switzer’s Amish family is robbed of all their posessions, leaving them destitute and stranded on the prairie. Walking to the nearest trading settlement, they pray to the Lord for somene to help. When a dusty cowboy lands in the street at her feet, Emma looks down at him and thinks, The Lord might have cleaned him up first.

Luke Carson, heading up his first cattle drive, is not planning on being the answer to anyone’s prayers, but it looks as though God has something else in mind for this kind and gentle man. The Switzers prove difficult to deny, and it’s not long befor romance whispers in the whistling Kansas wind.

But plain and rugged–do the two mix? And what happens when a dedicated Amish woman and a stubborn trail boss prove to be each other’s match?

Author Bios:

Lori Copeland is the author of more than 90 titles, both historical and contemporary fiction. With more than 3 million copies of her books in print, she has developed a loyal following among her rapidly growing fans in the inspirational market. She has been honored with the Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award, The Holt Medallion, and Walden Books’ Best Seller award. In 2000, Lori was inducted into the Missouri Writers Hall of Fame. She lives in the beautiful Ozarks with her husband, Lance, and their three children and five grandchildren.

Virginia Smith is the author of more than a dozen inspirational novels and more than fifty articles and short stories. An avid reader with ecclectic tastes in fiction, Ginny writes in a variety of styles, from lighthearted relationship stories to breath-snatching suspense.

My Review: I just realized looking back that I read a previous book with these two authors paired together. This particular novel is an Amish novel in The Amish of Apple Grove series. This is book one. I definitely liked it enough to be on the lookout for the nex book.

Emma is traveling with her family on their wagon when they are robbed and lose everything they have, including their wagon. They continue on not knowing what to do but pray. As they pray for someone to come alone to help them, God answers them in the most curious way, or at least they think it is an answer to their prayers.

Luke has troubles of his own trying to fit into his new position as trail boss. He has a lot riding on this job, as his father is well known for being the best trail boss out there and he is trying to live up to his expectations. Running into a family of Amish was definitely not what he had planned, and the detour takes him further away from his plans than he could have imagined. Following the story of these two is well worth the time it takes to relax with this book.

I loved the characters and once again the pairing of these two authors. I will be on the lookout for A Plain and Simple Heart, book two in this series, set to come out in September 2012.

I received a copy of this book to read and review from the publisher. You can read more about these authors and other books by this publisher at their webite: www.harvesthousepublishers.com.

My review is not biased by the fact that I was given this book. I HONESTLY read and review any book whether bought or given to me. If I did not like the book I would definitely not give a rave review or recommend it.  

 

Lonestar Angel by Colleen Coble April 9, 2012

 Summary: Five years ago Eden and Clay Larson’s baby was stolen and never found. Eden blamed herself, Clay lost himself in work. Their young and rocky marriage ended. Or so Eden thought.

Now Eden has moved to a new town. She has found faith and is trying to rebuild her life. She’s even dating again–a sweet guy who plans to marry her someday. But then Clay arrives out of the blue and delivers shocking news: they’re still married. What’s more, Clay has ben searching for Brianna all this time. And he believes he has found her: their daughter is in Bluebird, Texas, at a youth ranch.

To uncover the truth, Eden and Clay sign on as counselors at Bluebird Ranch. Working together, they rediscover their love for each other. But danger is closing in–Eden, Clay, and their young charges are in jeopardy. As they fight to save their family, Eden realizes sthat God has been fighting for them all along. And His plans are for a more abunant life than they’ve dared to hope.

Author Bio: Author Colleen Coble’s forty novels and novellas have won or finaled in awards ranging from the Romance Writers of America prestigious RITA, the Holt Medallion, the ACFW Book of the Year, the Daphne du Maurier, National Readers’ Choice, the Booksellers Best, and the 2009 Best Books of Indiana-Fiction award. She writes romantic mysteries because she loves to see justice prevail and love begin with a happy ending. She isthe author of several romantic suspense series including the Mercy Falls, Lonestar, and Rock Harbor series. She lives with her husband, Dave, in Indiana.

My Review: I have read many novels by Colleen Coble and loved every one of them. This one is no different. The main characters are Eden and Clay. They were once married, until their daughter was kidnapped and the relationship just couldn’t handle the pressures of it all. Eden moved to get away from it all and go forward with her life. Just as she is preparing to begin a new relationship in a new town, Clay returns to tell Eden that they are still married and he thinks their daughter is still alive. In order to find her, Clay and Eden take off on an adventure at a youth ranch. What they find as they spend time there is a very tangled web of connections to family that they would never have dreamed of. Will their lives ever be the same again? How will they make it through these trials? They both find that God has been with them every step of the way even when they were not aware of it.

I would definitely recommend this book. It is full of plenty of suspense, some romance, friendships, and family. The characters are loveable. Each of them made me want to cheer them on as they went through trials. Also, just like a scary movie, I wanted to holler out to them not to make the next move they were about to make. Colleen Coble never disappoints when she writes a novel. Once again, that is the case with Lonestar Angel.

I received a copy of this book to read and review from Amazon. My review is not biased by the fact that I was given this book. I HONESTLY read and review any book whether bought or given to me. If I did not like the book I would definitely not give a rave review or recommend it.

Love Finds You in Sundance, Wyoming by Miralee Ferrell December 9, 2011

Summary: Angel Ramirez is tired of living a lie. But can she live like a lady? On the run from a dangerous outlaw, Angel works her way across several states disguised as a boy and working as a varmint tracker and horse wrangler. After taking a job on a Wyoming ranch owned by a bachelor and his widowed sister, she finally reveals her true identity and must fight to prove her worth as a ranch hand while somehow discovering her role as woman. Hiring a woman doesn’t sit well with Travis Morgan, and the dark-haired beauty is causing a ruckus among his cowboys. Just as Angel decides she’ll never be able to please her boss, an unexpected surprise arrives from across the ocean and makes trouble on the ranch. Will Angel leave with the person who’s come so far to claim her?

Author Bio:  Miralee Ferrell is the acclaimed author of The Other Daughteer; Love Finds You in Last Chance, California; and Love Finds You in Bridal Veil, Oregon. She lives in Washington with Allen, her husband of more than 37 years, and has two grown children. She serves on staff at her local church and is actively involved in ministry to women. Read more at www.MiraleeFerrell.com.

My Review: Angel is a woman living in a man’s world, as she wears men’s clothing and pretends to be a man to fit into the life of being a horse wrangler. Angel grows weary of all this lying and wants to reveal her true identity as she begins a new job. Little did she know that doing so would bring changes she had not planned upon. I found myself feeling like I was right there with Angel and wondering what it would be like to be her, trying to prove she was just as capable at her job as the men around her yet also knowing that even proving her skills would still leave men doubting her just because she’s a woman. The author drew such a portrait of the scenery and characters that I felt like her experience was real to me.I would definitely recommend this book to anyone. It was such a great storyline and I truly enjoyed it.I think this is the best one of Miralee’s books that I have read, and I love every one of her books.

A Wedding Invitation by Alice J. Wisler November 16, 2011

Summary:After returning home from teaching in a refugee camp in the Philippines, Samantha Bravencourt enjoys her quiet life working at her mother’s clothing boutique near Washington, D.C. When she receives an invitation to her friend’s wedding in Winston-Salem, NC, she’s excited to reconnect with her college pals.

But the wedding turns out quite dfferently than Sam expects. A chance encounter leads  to a reunion with Carson Brylie, a fellow teacher and the man who once broke her heart, and Lien, a young Amerasian girl who desperately needs Sam and Carson’s help.

But working with Carson might put Sam’s tender heart at risk once again. Is she willing to forgive the past and take another chance on love?

Author Bio:Alice was born in Osaka, Japan in the sixties. Her parents were Presbyterian career missionaries. As a young child, Alice loved to walk down to the local stationer’s store to buy notebooks, pencils and scented erasers. In her room, she created stories. The desire to be a published famous author has never left her. Well, two out of three isn’t bad. She’s the author of Rain Song, How Sweet It Is, Hatteras Girl and A Wedding Invitation (all published by Bethany House).

 

Alice went to Eastern Mennonite University after graduating from Canadian Academy, an international high school in Kobe, Japan. She majored in social work and has worked across the U.S. in that field. She taught ESL (English as a Second Language) in Japan and at a refugee camp in the Philippines. She also studied Spanish at a language institute in San Jose, Costa Rica.

 

She has four children–Rachel, Daniel, Benjamin and Elizabeth. Daniel died on 2/2/97 from cancer treatments at the age of four. Since then, Alice founded Daniel’s House Publications in her son’s memory. This organization reaches out to others who have also lost a child to death. In 2000 and 2003, Alice compiled recipes and memories of children across the world to publish two memorial cookbooks, Slices of Sunlight and Down the Cereal Aisle.

 

My Review:This book was kind of interesting. I liked the storyline, but I think the title didn’t really go along too much with it. Yes Sam received an invitation to a wedding and yes she went to the wedding, but all of that occurred in the very beginning of the book and after what happened, which wasn’t really very eventful, the wedding really had nothing to do with the story. Sam worked in the Philippines as a teacher and had her heart broken by Carson. Unfortunately, Sam never quite got over it. She ends up seeing Carson later after being back in the United States and she finds it difficult to be around him. The rest of the story really is about these two, but it seems rather slow moving. Don’t get me wrong, I did like these two characters and the background story between them, but it just didn’t seem to flow smoothly. I did like the book, but I can’t say that it was one of my favorites.

I received a copy of this book to read and review from the publisher. My review is not biased by the fact that I was given this book. I HONESTLY read and review any book whether bought or given to me. If I did not like the book I would definitely not give a rave review or recommend it.

Judgment Day by Wanda L. Dyson May 22, 2011

Summary: The weekly cable news show Judgment Day with Suzanne Kidwell promises to expose businessmen, religious leaders, and politicians for the lies they tell. Suzanne positions herself as a champion of ethics and morality with a backbone of steel–until a revelation of her shoddy investigation tactics and creative fact embelishing puts her in hot water with her employers, calling her credibility into question and threatening her professional ambitions.

Bitter and angry, Suzanne returns home one day to find an entrepreneur she is investigating, John Edward Sterling, unconscious on her living room floor. Before the night is over, Sterling is dead, she has his blood on her hands, and the police are arresting her for murder. She needs help to prove her innocence, but her only hope, private investigator marcus Crisp, is also her ex-fiance–the man she betrayed in college.

Marcus and his partner Alexandria Fisher-Hawthorne reluctantly agree to take the case, but they won’t cut Suzanne any slack. Exposing her lack of ethics and the lives she’s destroyed in her fight for ratings does little to make them think Suzanne is innocent. But as Marcus digs into the mire oef secrets surrounding her enemies, he unveils an alliance well worth killing for. Now all he has to do is keep Suzanne and Alex alive long enough to prove it.

Author Bio:Wanda L. Dyson lives on a working horse farm in Maryland, boarding and keeping a menagerie of critters. She is the author of four acclaimed suspense novels, including Sheperd’s Fall, and she is the co-author of Why I Jumped, the true story of Tina Zahn.

My Review: Suzanne Kidwell is a journalist who thrives on sensationalism. She will do anything to get her story, even to the point of altering a story to make it more newsworthy or just plain making it up to drive up the ratings of her show. Suzanne ends up in trouble, accused of a murder she did not commit. Unfortunately, her only option is to hire a private investigator to find out who the real murderer is. The problem with this is that she hires an ex-boyfriend she once betrayed but feels he is her only hope. He has a partner who is not too keen on taking the case of his ex-girlfriend, knowing the history behind their relationship. Once they do take the case, they begin to uncover things they never expected to find. <br/><br/>This was a highly suspenseful novel that addressed a very different issue. It definitely was a turn of events that I never saw coming. I enjoyed this book and the characters in it. My only problem was with the quick changing of scenes to introduce new characters. There was a lot going on at the beginning, but in the end it was worth completing the book. I would recommend this book to friends who enjoy a good suspenseful novel with a little romance and intrigue.

I received a copy of this book to read and review from the publisher. My review is not biased by the fact that I was given this book. I HONESTLY read and review any book whether bought or given to me. If I did not like the book I would definitely not give a rave review or recommend it.

Blog Tour for Bound by Guilt by C.J. Darlington March 25, 2011

Summary: Roxi Gold is a throwaway, shuttled from one foster home to another for most of her life. She longs for a family and will do anything to fit in–even if it’s against the law. Soon she’s traveling the country stealing rare books from unspecting bookstores, until a first edition of The Great Gatsby catches up with her.

Police officer Abby Dawson has seen the worst of society, and not just at work. The job she once loved has become a chore, the world isn’t any safer, and there’s no joy in her life. One fateful night a man’s innocent blood changes both Roxi’s and Abby’s lives forever. One searches for justice; the other finds herself on the run. Will the power of forgiveness set them free, or will they both remain bound by guilt?

Author Bio:  C.J. began writing the story that would become her first novel, Thicker Than Blood, when she was a 15-year-old homeschool student. Later it won the 2008 Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild Operation First Novel contest. She has been in the antiquarian bookselling business for over 12 years, scouting for stores similar to the ones described in her novels before cofounding her own online bookstore. In 2006 C.J. started the Christian entertainment web site www.TitleTrakk.com with her sister, Tracy, and has been actively promoting Christian fiction through book reviews and author interviews. She makes her home in Pennsylvania with her family and their menagerie of dogs and cats. Visit her website at www.cjdarlington.com.

My Review: Have you ever made a choice in your life just to please someone and then find out that it didn’t matter what you did anyway you would never please that person? That is what happens to Roxi, a 16-year-old girl who struggles to find the love she never felt from anyone. In trying to do so, she makes choices that she regrets that unfortunately have adverse effects to everything she was trying to achieve in the first place. Roxi is a very likeable character that I can relate to, as I believe many others will also. I understand her lack of trust in people due to her past and her desire to just be loved. She’s trying to make right choices, but the more desperate she gets her choices do not seem to be going very far until a stranger named Jan sees her struggle and following her own instincts decides to follow what she feels God is calling her to do.

Roxi’s story made me cry at some points and rejoice in others. I felt the depth of her character with the raw emotions displayed in every choice she made and the thought process she went through. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends and even to teens. I also read C.J.’s first book, Thicker than Blood, and neither one of her books disappoint. Both are definitely worth anyone’s time to read. If you need a good book to travel with, relax with, or just enjoy a good story then Bound by Guilt will fit the bill.

I received a copy of this book to read and review from the author. My review is not biased by the fact that I was given this book. I HONESTLY read and review any book whether bought or given to me. If I did not like the book I would definitely not give a rave review or recommend it.

 

An Unusual Topic February 22, 2011

Summary: Battling his own personal demons, Police Chief Jonah Westfall has experienced the dark side of life and is committed to eradicating it. When a pair of raccoons are found mutilated in Redford, Colorado, Jonah investigates the gruesome act, seeking to unmask the perpetrator before the crime escalates and destroys the tranquility of his small mountain town. Jonah fights for answers–and his fragile sobriety–amid a rising drug threat and never-ending conflict with Tia Manning, a formidable childhood friend with whom he has more than a passing history.

But he can’t penetrate every wound or secret–especially one fueled by a love and guilt teetering on madness.

From best-selling author Kristen heitzmann comes a spellbinding tale of severed connections and the consequences of life lived alone.

Author Bio: While homeschooling her four kids, Kristen Heitzmann wrote her first novel, and it grew into a five-book historical series. Since then, she has written more historical novels and several contemporary romantic and psychological suspense novels, including The Still of Night, nominated for the Colorado Book Award; The Tender Vine, a Christy Award finalist; and the Christy Award-winning Secrets. She lives in Colorado with her husband, Jim, and sundry family members and pets. To find out more about this author and other books she has written visit her website at www.kristenheitzmannbooks.com.

My Review: I had a very difficult time getting into this book. I found there to be so many characters introduced in the beginning that I was getting confused. The storyline itself also took me a while to get into. Once it got going I was curious to see what was happening, but it still was just something I couldn’t quite hang onto. That being said, I have read many novels by this author and loved them all so I would recommend her books. Overall, this was still a good book to read, just not one of my all time favorites.

At the very beginning I wondered where the storyline was going when a pair of racoons were found sewn together. This personally for me was very difficult to fathom because I love animals. Jonah is the local police chief in a small Colorado town and it becomes his job to solve this crime. As it continues to happen, the local mayor wants Jonah to let it slide so as not to give their town bad publicity. In the midst of all this is Tia who has a history with Jonah and lives in this small town as well. She also has her own past to deal with. Between the two of them, they have issues that they can’t quite get past and neither one of them is happy.

This was truly a departure from what I usually read, and it was a little hard for me to follow, although I did want to know the outcome so I kept reading. The ending was definitely something unexpected.

I received a copy of this book to read and review from the publisher. My review is not biased by the fact that I was given this book. I HONESTLY read and review any book whether bought or given to me. If I did not like the book I would definitely not give a rave review or recommend it.

To see other books by this publisher and read other reviews visit  www.waterbrookmultnomah.com.

Hatteras Girl by Alice J. Wisler November 21, 2010

Summary:Jackie Donovan prays for two things: an honest, wonderful man to marry and to own a bed-and-breakfast on the beautiful Outer Banks of North Carolina. In the meantime, she works for Lighthouse Views, writing articles about local business owners, and interepidly goes on the blind dates set up by her well-meaning but oh-so-clueless relatives.

There’s one specific property Jackie dreams of purchasing: The Bailey House, a fabulous old home located right next to the ocean, a place where Jackie spent many happy childhood afternoons. But the Bailey House has strange stories and secrets surrounding it-not to mention its outrageous price tag.

When Jackie meets handsome Davis Erickson, who holds the key to the Bailey property, she believes God has answered both her prayers. But as Jackie learns some disturbing details about Davis’ past, she begins to wonder if her heart has lead her astray. Will she risk her long-held dreams to find out the truth?

Author Bio: Alice J. Wisler was born and raised in Japan as a missionary kid. After graduating high school, she got her BS in Social Work from Eastern Mennonite University in Virginia. She’s enjoyed staying at a number of bed and breakfasts in the South, in Japan, and in England, and would secretly like to run one if it just wasn’t so much work. The Outer Banks is one of her favorite vacation destinations. Currently, she lives in Durham, North Carolina, with her husband, Carl, and three children, Rachel, Benjamin, and Elizabeth. In memory of her son Daniel, she gives online grief-writing courses, designs remembrance cards, and speaks across the country on Writing the Heartache. To find out more visit her Web site at www.alicewisler.com.

My Review: I decided to review this book because my family has been talking about going to Hatteras Island for a vacation. My husband used to go there when he was younger and wanted us to take a vacation there. It was fun to read about the area. As for the book itself, I really enjoyed the characters. Jackie was completely torn on her decisions regarding a relationship, but knew without a doubt that she wanted to own the Bailey House with no clear vision of how to make that a reality. When she sees the perfect opportunity that also includes an oh-so-good-looking guy she wants to jump on it. However, things begin to happen that make her second guess her decision. The way things come together in the end wraps things up in a way that leaves me feeling completely satisfied with the resolution. I would recommend this book for those who enjoy a nice relaxing read with elements of mystery and romance that keep you wanting for more. In short, this was a great book that I really did enjoy.

I received a copy of this book to read and review from the publisher. My review is not biased by the fact that I was given this book. I HONESTLY read and review any book whether bought or given to me. If I did not like the book I would definitely not give a rave review or recommend it.