Early Bird (ARC) Review: My Foolish Heart

My Foolish Heart

Susan May Warren

Series or Stand Alone: Stand Alone

Release Date: May 2011

Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Pages: 384 (Paperback)

Author Site: http://www.susanmaywarren.com/

My Rating: 3.75/5

Source: Received for review from Litfuse Publicity Group

Synopsis:

[from goodreads.com]

Unknown to her tiny town of Deep Haven, Isadora Presley spends her nights as Miss Foolish Heart, the star host of a syndicated talk radio show. Millions tune in to hear her advice on dating and falling in love, unaware that she’s never really done either. Issy’s ratings soar when it seems she’s falling in love on-air with a caller. A caller she doesn’t realize lives right next door.

Caleb Knight served a tour of duty in Iraq and paid a steep price. The last thing he wants is pity, so he hides his disability and moves to Deep Haven to land his dream job as the high school football coach. When his beautiful neighbor catches his eye, in a moment of desperation he seeks advice from My Foolish Heart, the show that airs before his favorite sports broadcast.

Before he knows it, Caleb finds himself drawn to the host—and more confused than ever. Is his perfect love the woman on the radio . . . or the one next door?

Review:

I think I’ll always enjoy taking the time to read charming, contemporary romances that make me sigh in contentment. It was nice to get lost in a town like Deep Haven where the people care about each other, the businesses that have been around for generations, and even the high school football team. Although the team hasn’t won a championship since the famous Coach Presley was in a horrible car accident. His daughter, Issy, is still suffering from the traumatic event while he spends his days recovering at a care center. She may have walked away from the crash with just a few scratches but she lost a great deal on that night.

Now she mostly just spends her days in her mother’s garden and spends her nights with her online listeners. Despite the fact that she has severe panic attacks and hasn’t left her home in over a year and despite the fact that she hasn’t been on many dates or fallen in love she dishes out dating advice to millions of people as Miss Foolish Heart. It’s when two men enter her life that the safe world she’s created gets turned upside down. First Caleb Knight, a handsome, scarred man becomes her neighbor and then BoyNextDoor calls in seeking love advice. Little does Issy know that Caleb is the boy next door and the girl he’s seeking advice about is her.

While I wasn’t in love with My Foolish Heart, I still appreciated the strength of the characters, the loyalty of small-town living, the sweet romantic plot, and the inspirational moral of the story. Caleb and Issy have a lot to overcome and each have their individual weaknesses that keep them from fully living their lives. Juxtaposed against their story is Lucy and Seb’s story. Lucy is Issy’s closest friend and she’s famous for her families’ delicious donuts. Seb was the all-star quarterback for the Huskies when he went to the high school. Having just recently returned to Deep Haven in hopes of procuring the new football coach position, he has stirred up a lot of emotions in both Lucy and himself. The two must come to terms with their past and find a way to move forward if they want to be together again. I liked the fact that I wasn’t overwhelmed with the two different story arcs going on. Instead, I became attached to all of the characters individually and their distinctive struggles.

My Foolish Heart is a lovable and charming romance that is both uplifting and sweet. There is a somewhat strong reference to having faith in the novel but it wasn’t overwhelming. It was a nice part of the story that helped build the personalities and traits of the characters. I think many will enjoy Warren’s latest contemporary romance and I’m interested in seeing more of her work.

P.S. (cover talk)

It’s very sweet and it goes with the “small town” theme of the novel.

Expected Release Date:

May 1st

Review: The Mountains Bow Down

The Mountains Bow Down

Sibella Giorello

Series or Stand Alone: Raleigh Harmon series, book four

Series Order: The Stones Cry Out, The River Runs Dry, The Clouds Roll Away

Release Date: March 2011

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Pages: 336

Author Site: http://www.sibellagiorello.com/

My Rating: 3.75/5

Source: Received for review from Litfuse Publicity Group

Synopsis:

[from goodreads.com]

Everything's going to work out. Time away always makes things better... That's what FBI Special Agent Raleigh Harmon believes as she boards a cruise to Alaska. A land of mountains and gems and minerals, the Last Frontier is a dream destination for this forensic geologist who's hoping to leave behind a hectic work schedule and an engagement drained of romance. But when a passenger goes missing and winds up dead, Raleigh's vacation suddenly gets lost at sea. The ship's security chief tries to rule the death a suicide, but Raleigh's forensics background points to a much darker conclusion; somewhere onboard, a ruthless murderer walks free. Engulfed by one of her toughest cases yet, Raleigh requests assistance from the FBI and receives her nemesis - handsome Special Agent Jack Stephanson. As the cruise ship sails through the Inside Passage, Raleigh has five days to solve a high-profile murder, provide consultation for a movie filming onboard, and figure out her increasingly complicated feelings for Jack - who might not be as arrogant as she originally thought. And that's only her work life. Family offers even more challenges. Joined on the cruise by her mother and aunt, Raleigh watches helplessly as disturbing rifts splinter her family. Like the scenery that surrounds the cruise ship, Raleigh discovers a mystery so daunting that even the mountains might bow down before it.

Review:

Raleigh Harmon is on a much needed vacation on a cruise to Alaska. The company may not be ideal but the break from work is certainly welcomed. Her eccentric aunt has arranged Raleigh to be a consultant for a movie being filmed on the cruise. The lead actor is supposed to be an FBI agent in the movie but his acting skills might get in the way of the movie actually being good. But when the actor’s wife is found hanging off the side of the giant ship Raleigh’s vacation becomes no more. Although most believe the woman’s death is a suicide Raleigh finds more and more evidence that a killer is loose on the ship.

To make matters more difficult, Special Agent Jack Stephanson is called in to help Raleigh with the murder case. Raleigh simply doesn’t have time to pick apart her complicated feelings for Jack. She’s got a limited amount of time to solve the murder, find the killer, and keep her mother from completely falling apart.

Raleigh is such a great character. I really liked her in Giorello’s previous novel and she didn’t disappoint this time around either. I definitely don’t envy Raleigh’s life although parts of it are so fascinating. Raleigh is a forensic geologist and The Mountains Bow Down was full of really interesting facts and details that brought in Giorello’s knowledge of geology. The information added a lot of credibility to Raleigh’s character and I really enjoyed reading it.

Not only does Raleigh have to solve a murder but she has to battle her feelings for Jack. Now I don’t honestly remember much of Jack from the previous novel or much of Raleigh’s fiance’ DeMott. I’ll probably have to go back and re-read. However, I was still able to feel the tension between Jack and Raleigh although I couldn’t really remember what had happened between them. Honestly Jack won me over. He’s cute, quick-witted, and funny but can be very protective, loyal, and caring as well. He must have been a jerk to poor Raleigh for her to feel so conflicted towards him. There were times when I wish she would have given in but she’s got some major will-power.

Also on Raleigh’s mind is her mother. Again, I’m getting peeved at myself for not recalling any previous knowledge of Giorello’s prior novel. Apparently Raleigh’s mother is extremely fragile. Her state of mind borders on the line of breaking and Raleigh takes great care to keep her mother calm. This cruise definitely takes their relationship and her mother’s mind for a roller coaster ride. It’s both heart-breaking and scary to see and I’m interested to see what happens for both Raleigh and her mother in Giorello’s next installment.

The Mountains Bow Down is an excellent novel. It’s so easy to get lost in Giorello’s writing. Although there are previous novels in the series, I still think The Mountains Bow Down can be read as a stand-alone.

P.S. (cover talk)

It’s very nice to look at. I like how it ties in with both the story and the title. I really love the whole cover theme to the series. I also really adore the titles. They’re very creative and unique.