Sunday, November 30, 2014

Love Without End by Robin Lee Hatcher

Fire up the romance this holiday with Robin Lee Hatcher's latest offering in the King's Meadow Romance series, Love Without EndFor two single parents with bruised hearts, it’ll take more than a little courage to get back on the horse when it comes to love.

Celebrate love rising from the ashes of tragedy with Robin by entering her Kindle Fire giveaway.
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 One grand prize winner will receive:
  • A Kindle Fire
  • Love Without End and the rest of the King's Meadow Romance series from Robin Lee Hatcher
Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on December 14th. Winner will be announced December 15th on Robin's blog.
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{NOT ON FACEBOOK? ENTER HERE.}
 
 
CAFE LILY'S REVIEW:
 
 I really enjoyed this book once I started it.  At first, I found  myself comparing this book with "The Horse Whisperer" movie.  So much in the beginning of this book reminded of the movie that I was a little distracted by it.

Once the story took off, I enjoyed getting to know the characters.  I always enjoy Robin's style of writing and for her long time fans, this book will not disappoint.  I did not realize this was the follow up to A Promise Kept, which I have not read.

I like that Robin keeps the romance clean, yet passionate and real between the main characters. They keep their boundaries clear, even though they are very much attracted to one another. For anyone who enjoys Christian romance, I highly recommend this one.
 
 
 

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Dancing For The Devil

 

An explosive memoir of transformation from a high-end former stripper and escort who hit rock-bottom, turned to God, and left the sex trade to found Eve’s Angels, a ministry reaching out to women in the sex industry. 

Growing up as the daughter of an NCAA Championship-winning basketball coach and a stay-at-home mom, Anny Donewald had a seemingly blessed childhood. Then, at thirteen, one of her father’s players sexually abused her, and Donewald embarked a path toward self-destruction. When Donewald was convinced to compete in an amateur night at a strip club, she found herself drawn into a world of drugs, money, and flesh peddlers in Michigan and Chicago—and eventually Las Vegas’ hottest XXX clubs. But the fantasy of fistfuls of hundred dollar bills quickly turned to the reality of bloodstains on bathroom floors and nights with customers in presidential suites at luxurious hotels. 

At an emotional breaking point and pondering the termination of the unborn son, Anny reached the gates of her personal hell. There, she found God. Then, this long-legged, fiery blonde fought to free herself from the sex trade, and, by the healing grace of God, launched her non-profit, Eve’s Angels, which reaches out to girls who want out of the sex trade. Dancing for the Devil takes an in-depth look at Anny’s struggles and sheds a new insider’s light on the horrible reality of the sex industry from someone who’s seen the worst of it. 

This captivating memoir shows how women from all walks of life find themselves trapped by the sex trade and, most importantly, explains how they can get out, start over, and find the love of Christ. Courageous and unforgettable, Dancing for the Devil is a heartbreaking story of darkness, grace, and, ultimately, redemption. 


Cafe Lily's Review:

Readers need to be forewarned that while the publisher and author did an amazing job of presenting such a horrific, explicit topic without profanity or overly graphic descriptions, this book is not what I consider suitable for all readers.  I would caution that this for mature audiences only.

This memoir was mentally taxing to read at times.  I found myself wondering how a young woman from such a loving, stable home would end up in such hellish environments. Anny answers that question and more, with her life story.  This was a very eye opening book and heart wrenching at the same time.  

I quickly learned that the term "high-end" stripper is an oxymoron.  

Anny shows her readers the rock bottom devastation of this industry, by slowly peeling away layers of her life and allowing a glimpse into what the industry is truly like.  It is dark and evil beyond what I could even begin to imagine.  

As a parent, it was gut-wrenching to read what her parents went through as Anny muddled in and out of clubs, breaking their hearts and their trust repeatedly.   The story turns from hopeless to inspirational, as readers see how God began working in Anny and now ministers through her, to others who have fallen into the sex industry.


Monday, November 3, 2014

At Bluebonnet Lake

From Goodreads:

Marketing maven Kate Sherwood’s world is fast-paced, challenging, and always changing. The last thing she wants to do is slow down to a crawl at Rainbow’s End, a dilapidated resort in the Texas Hill Country. But she cannot deny her ailing grandmother’s request to visit the place where she and her deceased husband spent one glorious week (albeit fifty years ago). There Kate meets Greg Vange, the resort’s handyman. But there’s more to Greg than meets the eye–billions more, in fact, as he recently sold his successful software company and is at the resort in search of what’s next for his life. Kate isn’t looking for romance, but she can’t deny the sparks of attraction that fly every time she and Greg are together. She even starts to see potential in the rundown resort. Could there be a future there? Or will Kate’s long-sought promotion take her back to the big city?


 Cafe Lily's Review:

I found this book to be easily predictable, yet it was lighthearted and sweet.  The characters were cute and entertaining.  The storyline isn't as deep and interesting as the historical fiction I usually read, but if you want a clean love story, this is a decent choice.  With the book being set in Texas, I think I was expecting a little more in the way of cowboys, ranches, and so forth.  I was also a little confused about why Kate referred to her grandmother as Sally. That struck me as odd, considering that Kate was raised by her grandmother. It just didn't seem respectful.

Overall, the theme of the book is about taking one day at a time, and breaking away to enjoy the little things. Life changes unexpectedly and love can take you by surprise, no matter what age you are.