like a Flower in Bloom Review!!!!!!!

like a Flower in Book by Siri Mitchell

Book Description:

He Stole the Work She Loved.
Will She Let Him Steal Her Heart as Well?

It's all her uncle's fault. For years Charlotte Withersby has been free to pursue her love of plants and flowers by assisting her botanist father. But now that she's reached the old age of twenty-two, an intrusive uncle has convinced her father that Charlotte's future--the only proper future for a woman--is to be a wife and mother, not a scholar. 

Her father is so dependent on her assistance that Charlotte believes he'll soon change his mind...and then Edward Trimble shows up. A long-time botany correspondent in the South Pacific, Trimble arrives ready to step in as assistant so that Charlotte can step out into proper society--a world that baffles her with its unwritten rules, inexplicable expectations, and confounding fashion. 

Things aren't perfectly smooth between Trimble and her father, so Charlotte hatches a last gasp plan. She'll pretend such an interest in marriage that the thought of losing her will make her father welcome her back. Only things go quickly awry, and she realizes that the one man who recognizes her intelligence is also the person she's most angry with: Edward Trimble, her supposed rival. Suddenly juggling more suitors than she knows what to do with, Charlotte is caught in a trap of her own making. Will she have no choice but to leave her beloved flowers behind?

My Opinion:
A Simply charming and entertaining book!  I absolutely LOVE this book and the inspiration it gave me!  It has immediately jumped to my Favorites Books List!  This is the first of Siri Mitchell's books that I had the pleasure to read!  I found her style and humor to be wonderful from the very first!  The pace is speedy with no lulls and the characters are fantastic!  I LOVE Charlotte, she is a highly entertaining character that made me smile nearly all the way through!  I also felt a connection to her and what she goes through!  The conversations between characters and the surprises that take place are fabulous!  I didn't want to put this book down!  Filled with a witty humor at every turn this is a Must read that I couldn't help but share!  I enjoyed learning more about botany as well as what was considered polite society and "good manners" at this time in history (sometimes I laughed so hard during "scandalous" scenes I almost cried)!  I really enjoyed the point Siri brings out, that if people, at this time, were allowed to express their thoughts and feelings things wouldn't get so confusing sometimes!  (but it was highly entertaining when things did get confusing for these characters! LOL!) I love how it starts, I love how it progresses, and I love how it ends!!!!  I would love to read it again and I can't wait to read more from Siri!

Songs that go with the book: "The Nutcracker - Waltz Of The Flowers" performed by Berlin Symphonic Orchestra and 
"Just As I Am" performed by Alan Jackson
Songs etc. May be changed and/or added in the future. ~ASC

Colossians 3:17

~ASC

*I requested and received this book from Bethany House for the purpose of reviewing it.  This in no way affected my opinion and the above are my true thoughts and feelings about like a Flower in Bloom. ~ASC

Book Club or Discussions????

I have been apart of a book club/promotional group for Bethany Houses' The Secret of Pembrooke Park and I was inspired with an idea of a cyber book club.  
I've never had the opportunity where I live, or probably the time either, to join and be apart of a book club, but there are always some interesting discussion questions in the back of the books I read.  So I was wondering if anyone would be interested in participating in a book club of sorts.  
I'm toying with the idea of putting up 3 books I've read recently in a poll our post and over a certain amount of time you vote or comment on which one you want most, then that's the book I'll take questions from, we can share our favorite parts, favorite quotes, and so on.  If this sounds interesting to anyone please let me know! :)

Kathryn Springer's The Dandelion Field Kindle Fire Giveaway!!!!

Get ready for Valentine's Day with a new story of romance and falling in love in Kathryn Springer's The Dandelion Field. The handsome firefighter makes a living “coming to the rescue,” but Gin is used to fighting her own battles. Can a woman who doesn't believe in happy endings take a chance on a new beginning? 

Celebrate a second chance at love and family with Kathryn by entering her Kindle Fire giveaway!

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• The Dandelion Field

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on February 15th. Winner will be announced February 16th on the Litfuse blog.

  {NOT ON FACEBOOK? ENTER HERE.}

Hidden Agenda Review!

Hidden Agenda by Lisa Harris

Book Description:

Michael Hunt is alive--and on the run. Presumed dead by friends and family, the undercover assignment he's been working for the past eight months has just been blown. With a hit out on his life and corruption inside the Atlanta police department, Michael finds himself hunted by both the cartel and the law. His only hope is the daughter of the man who wants him dead.

This nonstop chase from taut suspense writer Lisa Harris will leave readers breathless as they race to connect the dots before it's too late.

My Opinion:
An interesting wrap up to an interesting series.  I have followed the Southern Crimes series all the way through!  And I'm glad I did!  Lisa Harris was a new author to me, and while I am torn with this last one I'm still happy I was able to get into this series!  Lisa has a beautiful and real way of weaving Faith and great messages into her suspense books!  Avery is still one of my favorite characters and many past characters come back as the whole family tries to get things sorted out along with a batch of fresh "faces".  Now when I say I am torn with this book it is because there were scenes I was on the edge of my seat, scenes where I laughed, but then there were scenes that I felt were just okay or  in the wrong place.  The beginning started out GREAT!  Fast paced and suspenseful!  I dove right in, but then there where some lulls in the pace as the book progressed.  There where a couple of times when the writing didn't line up with the rest of the story also.  The overall mystery or topic is interesting and centered around the cartel, but it did seem that topics jumped around without really landing on one in particular.  But in the end I LOVE how Lisa wraps it all up, and I LOVE the way Lisa writes the Christian messages!!!  If for nothing else I recommend this book for those messages, and these great characters!

Songs that I think go with the feelings in the story: "Greater" by MercyMe, "Voice Of Truth" by Casting Crowns, "Hurricane" by Natalie Grant, and "Oh Fear (My God Is Near)" by Moriah Peters
Songs etc. May be changed and/or added in the future. ~ASC

Luke 8:17, John 8:31-32

~ASC

*I requested and received this book from Revell for the purpose of reviewing it.  This in no way affected my opinion and the above are my true thoughts and feelings about Hidden Agenda. ~ASC