Book Review

Excited about Reading…

/ Dora Hiers / 13 Comments


Or not!

Know the last date I posted a book review? October 13th!

Yikes! How can that be? I love to read!

Lately, though, I’m battling the reading “ho hum’s.” Usually, while hubby watches TV in the evenings, I read. But recently, I’m quite content to veg out in front of the television with him. I can even spout off all the latest sports news. Big Al with the Charlotte Hornets is out with an injury, but they haven’t missed a beat. Have you watched them play? Pure poetry on the court! The Carolina Panthers are smokin’ hot! Jeff Gordon said goodbye to racing at the close of this season, and Tony Stewart retires next year. (Bummer!) Sadly, I can’t recall the names of the characters of the current book I’m reading. Or not reading. 🙂

It’s not for lack of trying. How many books have I picked up since October? But they just seem to fade on my kindle. What’s up with that?

Do you ever feel like you’re bombarded with books?


NetGalley overwhelmed me, with all those wonderful looking books calling my name. But I finally surrendered and stopped requesting books because the pressure to write a review by the release date just added to the stress of reading. Also, I download all the freebies that sound interesting, but that just bloats my kindle. Used to be, I panicked when my TBR stack ran low. Not now. I’m stressing because of too many! 


Sigh…


What’s my problem? I want to read. I just can’t seem to make myself follow through with an actual book.

Maybe, after months and months of editing, I’m just plain burned out on reading. Now that I finally uploaded Roping the Marshal, my second self-pubb’d book, and can move on to finish writing the third, I’m not sure I’ll remember how to actually create. lol. 

Or could it be that since I juggle writing Christian romance and mainstream contemporary romance now I fall between the reading cracks? Seems every mainstream book I pick up, I reach the 30% mark and ram right into a sex scene. 

Remove from device! 


Many Christian books seem too tame, borderline preachy, while contemporary romances ratchet my spice-ometer past acceptable.


Help!! Do you go through reading slumps? How do you get your reading mojo back?

Here’s how I hope to spend my weekend. How about you?
Reading
Photo courtesy of Pixabay

Happy reading!

Excited about Reading: SHE’S MINE by Tammy Doherty

/ Dora Hiers
Amazon Buy Link

The cover story~
Caitlin Harrington has a new job and a new life away from her menacing ex-boyfriend, Adam. Issues with her parents, losing her previous job and the death of her beloved grandmother leave her wondering if God has abandoned her. Two things she is sure of: she’s a lousy judge of character and men just can’t be trusted. Now a volunteer firefighter who has come to her rescue more than once is dangerously close to breaking through her defenses.

And not everyone in sleepy Naultag, Massachusetts is welcoming. Someone is leaving ominous notes on her door.

Sean Taggart likes being a rescuer. But a failed engagement has taught him to be cautious with his heart and Caitlin is a threat. Women just can’t be trusted. Still, he’d like to save Caitlin from whatever demons have her so spooked. If only she’d let him.

Threatening notes. Scratching at the windows during the night. A shadowy figure lurking in her yard. Caitlin must tell the police about Adam, but everything he told her was a lie. Who is Adam? And if Caitlin trusts Sean to protect her, will his life be in danger?

Can Sean rescue Caitlin before the stalker becomes a killer?

Sharing my takeaway~
After reading Celtic Cross (FREE as of the date of this post) by Tammy Doherty, I couldn’t wait to dive into She’s Mine. Settling back with a book by Tammy Doherty is a lot like chatting with a dear friend over coffee. 🙂

Such three dimensional characters with emotional and physical scars! Caitlin Harrington. Math lover, teacher, taking up residence in her beloved Grandmother’s house back in Naultag. She learned from her mother’s promiscuous relationships and avoids egotistical, controlling men. Most men, actually, except a couple friends from her past.

Mom driving away, leaving me behind as if I was nothing more than a piece of furniture. Except Mom came back for the furniture. 


Hero Sean Taggart, firefighter and campground owner. Recovering from physical injuries sustained during the story, he battles depression, insecurity and even jealousy. 

Caitlin was like a late-night fire–you saw the flames but the full extent was hard to judge and there was a high risk of getting burned.


I really appreciated the genuineness of the characters. Both struggled with failures and asked some tough questions, which made the faith thread flow naturally. The pages were filled with flirty, witty dialog, with a bit of sarcasm thrown in occasionally. Awesome descriptions transported me into the New England area of Naultag. More than one person wasn’t happy that Caitlin returned to Naultag. I had an inkling about creepy Adam but never would’ve guessed the actual scenario that played out, a palm-slicker for sure. Be sure to grab your copy of She’s Mine, a perfect book to laze away a rainy weekend afternoon!

Romance, love and marriage–and divorce–had no clean, easily solved equations.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book while it was listed free on Amazon. I was in no way compensated for my fair and unbiased review. 

Excited about Reading: Sweetwater Gap by Denise Hunter

/ Dora Hiers / 2 Comments
Amazon Purchase Link

The Cover Story ~

A story of love and second chances. She wished she could go back and change things . . . but life doesn’t give do-overs. Could anything but good-byes be waiting on the other side of Sweetwater Gap?

Josie Mitchell’s sister Laurel thinks she’s come home to pitch in with the apple harvest and save the family orchard. Her brother-in-law Nate thinks she’s there to talk the overworked, very pregnant Laurel into finally selling the family business. The orchard’s new manager Grady Mackenzie just thinks she’s trouble with a capital T. They’re all right . . . and all wrong. Because no one really knows what drove Josie from home in the first place. Why she’s never come home before, even for her own father’s funeral. Why she pushes herself so hard . . . and what she’s running from. And nobody, not even Josie, is prepared for the surprising new fruit she’ll find on her last trip home.

Sharing my takeaway ~

A guilt-inducing phone call from her brother-in-law brings Josie Mitchell back home to Sweetwater Gap to help with the apple harvest. Orchard Manager Grady Mackenzie doesn’t appreciate the help, especially when Josie admits she came home to convince her sister to sell the orchard.

Relating to Josie was a challenge. She carried a staggering amount of guilt for years, choosing to bottle it up inside rather than talk about it with her sister or aunt, and wrestled with low self-esteem. She made a conscious decision before the story started that I didn’t understand (no spoilers). Maybe she had too many issues. On the other hand, Grady, aka Marlboro Man, was easy to like. Betrayed by his ex-wife, he’s vulnerable and lonely, and fears that Josie only cozies up to him to convince him to sell his small share of the orchard. Even so, he’s kind and sweet, regardless of how she treats him.

Usually, Hunter’s true-to-life characters and oh-so-delectable romance jerk me right into the story until I lose all track of time. But for me, Josie’s heavy unresolved issues overwhelmed the actual romance in this book. That said, Sweetwater Gap is definitely one of those books that will leave you pondering long after you turn the last page. 

Disclaimer: I purchased Sweetwater Gap. The opinions expressed in this review are my own, and I received no monetary compensation.