ILLUMINATED by ERICA ORLOFF

Title: Illuminated

Author: Erica Orloff

Publisher: Speak; Original edition (December 8, 2011

Pages: 256

Every now and again, I come across a book by an author I never read before, and ILLUMINATED by ERICA ORLOFF, is one of them. I started reading YA books a few years back, and I have yet to be disappointed.

ILLUMINATED by ERICA ORLOFF is a refreshing read filled with subtle, yet just the right amount of drama, mystery, adventure, romance and faith. The writing is excellent, written in first person. The characters are well thought-out, and come to life. I especially enjoyed Callie’s, Uncle Harry, and his partner. Though I don’t agree with same sex marriages, I don’t believe in judging others, either. MS ORLOFF did an amazing job with them. I couldn’t help but love them for who they were.

 

Callie Martin hasn’t a clue what’s in store for her when her Uncle Harry sends her on a mission to the house of a brilliant antiquarian, with the intention of pairing her up with the man’s son, August. From the moment August sets eyes on Callie, he’s smitten. Together they embark on a journey of a lifetime, and find love along the way.

 

The pace of the book is good, and keeps you turning the pages. The characters are three-dimensional. The story ended well, tying up loose ends. However, I was disappointed with the end results of August and Callie’s relationship. The reader was left with an amazing confession from August that didn’t match Callie’s or how the story concluded. Their romance ending wasn’t as satisfying as I imagined it could have been. Other than that, it was a great read.

COUNTDOWN TO FIRST NIGHT by JILLIAN HART, MARGARET DALEY, and BRENDA MINTON

Title: Countdown to First Night

Author: Jillian Hart, Margaret Daly, and Brenda Minton

Publisher: Harlequin (January 2, 2013)

Pages: 320

COUNTDOWN TO FIRST NIGHT by JILLIAN HART, MARGARET DALEY, and BRENDA MINTON, is three stories between the covers of one book.

WINTER’S HEART by JILLIAN HEART

Shelby Craig moves back to Snow Falls with her kids after losing her home, to stay with her grandmother. It was just her luck to run into Ronan Winters on her first night. Even though Shelby had once crushed Ronan’s heart, he still found himself attracted to her. Even when she made it perfectly clear she wasn’t interested in a relationship.

SNOWBOUND AT NEW YEARS by MARGARET DALEY

Ellie Summers, a children’s book author, heads out to illustrators, Brody Kincaid’s home. As she heads up the mountain, the weather has her walking the rest of the distance to Brody’s house, intent on discussing his latest drawings for her book. If she thought she was going to leave any time soon, she was mistaking. The weather wasn’t about to cooperate. Meeting his daughter’s changes everything, including Ellie’s feeing for their father.

A KISS AT MIDNIGHT by BRENDA MINTON

 

I have to admit; A KISS AT MIDNIGHT by BRENDA MINTON, is why I purchased COUNTDOWN TO FIRST NIGHT. A huge fan of BRENDA MINTON, I purchase every book she puts out.

Creating a romance in only ninety-six pages is no small task. But if anyone can do it, it would be BRENDA MINTON. It’s no surprise I loved her characters as well as the plot. Her writing skills were certainly not in questions, and on all accounts, she didn’t disappoint.

Jolie Godwin never did forget the kiss she and Jake Wild shared on New Year’s Eve years ago. And apparently either did he. The past threatens to keep Jolie at a distance, but Jake will have nothing to do with it. He’s not the man she has him made out to be, and hopefully he can convince of that.

THE MOUNTAIN BETWEEN US by CHARLES MARTIN

Title: The Mountain Between Us

Author: Charles Martin

Publisher: Broadway Books (June 28, 2011)

Pages: 336

THE MOUNTAIN BETWEEN US is only the second book I've read by author, CHARLES MARTIN. I intent to read each and every one he's written.

Dr. Ben Payne is seated next to a beautiful woman, Ashley Knox, on a plane about to take off. She, heading home for her wedding. He, from a conference. When their plane is delayed, Ben seeks the help of a pilot that owns a private plane. At a last minute thought, he decided to ask Ashley if she'd like to share the ride. Neither of them could have predicted what was to happen next.

The first book I read by CHARLES MARTIN, WRAPPED IN RAIN, blew me away. It was in reading that book that I fell I love with MR MARTIN'S writing. There are books that are fast paced, and those that are slow. THE MOUNTAIN BETWEEN US I read at a slow, steady pace, yet found it captivating, engaging, moving, and even educational. When I was finished, I felt as if I were better equipped to survive such a situation.

 

CHARLES MARTIN has an uncanny way of roping in his readers. Once your begin, it's as if you're living inside the pages. His characters are so rich. So life like. You feel every emotion they feel. You experience what they are going through, as if you're going through it yourself.

 

MR MARTIN is now included in my list of favorite authors. One that I will continually be looking for his next release.