Sharon R. Paavola

Life moments and Book Reviews

Blogroll

  • Amazon Books
  • Deeper Shopping
  • NetGalley
  • The Book Club Magazine
  • The Book Club Network
  • WordPress Blog

Facebook page

  • Sharonrpaavola.com
  • Home
  • About

The Grumble-Free Year Book Review

November 17, 2019 by admin Leave a Comment

The Innkeeper’s Daughter – A Fascinating and Intriguing Read!

October 28, 2018 by admin Leave a Comment

The Innkeeper's Daughter (The Bow Street Runners #2)The Innkeeper’s Daughter by Michelle Griep
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I delighted in this novel, another in the Bow Street runners series. Joanna works her heart to the bone at the Blue Hedge Inn her family owns. She watches over her young brother and her aging mother who are her world. The Inn’s holds a rough crowd in the lower class section of Dover, England, but it’s her life and she must make ends meet to pay the rent. Unbeknownst to her, an undercover officer has taken up residence under her roof, with the name of Alexander Morton. He’s not the usual customer since he pays ahead of time for his room and board. The bar brings in ruffians and some aren’t who they seem to be.

I enjoyed the intrigue and mystery played out in the plot. The two main characters cannot deny the chemistry that develops between them. Alexander struggles to maintain his strong, godly beliefs while he discovers who is smuggling at the docks. The author incorporates some humorous and colorful characters, such as Mr. Nutbrown, who only speaks through his puppet and skips paying his bill by climbing out his window.

Michelle Griep, one of my favorite writers, brings depth, true human flaws plus graces into her books. She clearly believes that faith in God is worth clinging to in any circumstance.
My thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review The Innkeeper’s Daughter. All thoughts are my own.

View all my reviews

No One Ever Asked – Riveting Must Read!

August 27, 2018 by admin Leave a Comment

No One Ever AskedNo One Ever Asked by Katie Ganshert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This brilliant book ranks as the best book I’ve read in months! Katie Ganshert births a marvelous group of characters. Each one vital to the depth of emotions that run through a community when forced to integrate two school districts. Racism pitted against living out one’s faith and beliefs caused this reader to search my own heart and mind. The players all have a voice revealing the angst behind their actions. The parents, teachers, and students affected, create dramatic statements. What would you do in their situations? This timely and delicate subject makes No One Ever Asked a must read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

View all my reviews

Where I End: A Story of Tragedy, Truth, and Rebellious Hope – Inspiring and Uplifting!

July 10, 2018 by admin Leave a Comment

Where I End: A Story of Tragedy, Truth, and Rebellious HopeWhere I End: A Story of Tragedy, Truth, and Rebellious Hope by Katherine Elizabeth Clark
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Katherine Clark’s story moved me to deeper faith and trust in our Heavenly Father. What started out as a lovely afternoon at a playground became a horrific tragedy for her and her family. On the ground after a child jumped from a jungle gym falling on top of her, she really thought she would just get up. How wrong she was as she spent months in the hospital and in recovery with a diagnosis of quadriplegia. Her determination and strength in God created a miraculous advance in her dire prognosis. Scripture, prayers, and her resolution to walk again shored her up while unbelievable odds stacked against her. Her experience proves the premise of knowing the Bible and its truths as it will prepare a person for whatever may come. Her foundation of faith, family, and dreams of the future lifted her beyond the impossible.

Where I End is inspiring and uplifting as this young mother rises above circumstances. I highly recommend it.
I received a copy from Net Galley. I was not compensated for this review. All thoughts are my own. 

View all my reviews

No One Ever Asked – Brilliant!

May 14, 2018 by admin Leave a Comment

No One Ever AskedNo One Ever Asked by Katie Ganshert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This brilliant book ranks as the best book I’ve read in months! Katie Ganshert births a marvelous group of characters. Each one vital to the depth of emotions that run through a community when forced to integrate two school districts. Racism pitted against living out one’s faith caused this reader to search my own heart and mind. The players all have a voice revealing the angst behind their actions. The parents, teachers, and students affected, create dramatic statements. What would you do in their situations? This timely and delicate subject makes No One Ever Asked a must read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

View all my reviews

Straightened – Highly Recommend!

July 11, 2017 by admin 2 Comments

Straightened (Kennedy Stern #4)Straightened by Alana Terry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Alana Terry takes on a controversial subject in this next novel in her Kennedy Sterns Christian Suspense series. One of her characters searches to place himself as a homosexual or not. His family who is from her first book in the series, holds to a conservative, Christian view. The novel contains varying opinions never preaching or maintaining one point over the other. It’s an excellent dialogue within a story and well worth reading. Kennedy battles with her thoughts and emotions for the young man’s choices and the reactions he receives. The outcome kept me reading and surprised me. I highly recommend this book!

I received a copy from The Book Club Network and the author. All thoughts are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

View all my reviews

Summer on Sunset Ridge – Fascinating and Absorbing!

July 8, 2017 by admin Leave a Comment

Summer on Sunset Ridge (Forever Freedom #1)Summer on Sunset Ridge by Sharlene MacLaren
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Rebecca Albright, lives on her Quaker family’s farm near Philadelphia during a tumultuous time as the Civil War is brewing. Through circumstances she created her father demands that she nurse the man who he shot back to health. When the man becomes conscious they discover he has amnesia. The family’s only course of action is to help him recover, gain his strength, and hopefully regain his memory so he can return from wherever he came from. Rebecca is quite reluctant and wants nothing to do with him accept to dress his wounds and feed him. She struggles with how her faith fits in with the slavery issue, how she as a woman can assist in the Underground Railroad, and also, keep from involving her emotions with this unknown man under her care. Does God have plans for her? It seems He does but she will need to trust him on Sunset Ridge. I really enjoyed this novel by Sharlene MacLaren!

I received a copy from the The Book Club Network and the author. All thoughts are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

View all my reviews

Unplanned by Alana Terry – Absorbing and Gripping!

June 28, 2017 by admin Leave a Comment

“>Unplanned (Kennedy Stern #1)Unplanned by Alana Terry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Unplanned is the opening novel in Alana Terry’s newest Kennedy Stern series. She drew me into the story immediately and I couldn’t stop reading. Kennedy is a first year pre-med student at Harvard and away from her missionary parents in China.

She reconnects with old family friends and becomes a volunteer for their pregnancy hotline before she can bat an eye.. She has very little time to spare and no idea what she is involved with and no idea what to say if someone were to call on her watch. She receives a disturbing call which pulls Kennedy into an intriguing, suspenseful, and frightening situation.

The subject of this book is abortion. The author doesn’t preach or rant for one side or the other but gives the reader much to ponder. I appreciated her approach and feel that even though she is a Christian author her writing opens the door for anyone to read it.

This book grabs you on page one so fasten your seatbelt until the last page. I kept reading the next book in the series until I completed all of them. Tune in for my reviews on the rest of the Kennedy Stern series.

I was given a copy of Unplanned by the author for my honest review which I have given here.

View all my reviews

Where Two Hearts Meet – Outstanding Book 2 in The Prince Edward Island Dreams Series

June 17, 2017 by admin Leave a Comment

Where Two Hearts Meet (Prince Edward Island Dreams #2)Where Two Hearts Meet by Liz Johnson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As a fan of Liz Johnson’s first book in the Prince Edward Island Dreams series, The Red Door Inn, I looked forward to opening Where Two Hearts Meet. Two new components of this book were Caden, the chief at the Inn and Adam, a journalist staying on the island temporarily. Both struggle with their individual challenges. The beautiful and awesome island may be just the place for them to discover answers for the peace they need. I enjoyed this novel that deals with real life issues and hope you will, too. This would be great for your TBR beach or summer list.
~I received a copy from Revell and have given my honest review.

View all my reviews

Home – Fabulous Read!

April 13, 2017 by admin Leave a Comment

HomeHome by Ginny L. Yttrup
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love when an author gives her characters real struggles, with deep angst, and life-changing decisions throughout the novel. Melanie and Craig Vander face different choices out of the tragedy that struck them years before. Will what they choose keep their marriage off the brink it is on or tear them apart?
To keep them financially afloat, Melanie desperately writes another novel and her characters may help her find what she needs. Her neighbor struggles with her own challenges. Grab this book and see for yourself what their relationship creates.
From the first page, I realized I was reading an above average book by a Christian author. The validity of the concerns, how she knit them into the story, and how each person concludes their situations excelled beyond my expectations! This book can be read by non-Christians. Her use of scripture and faith occur naturally.
I can’t wait to read another one of Ginny Yttrup’s books!
I received 2 copies of this book, an ebook from NetGalley and the paperback from Barbour Publishing. I have written my honest opinion and review here.

View all my reviews

Next Page »

About Me

Sharon's passion to release women from their past, from depression, and from pain so they can move on to hope, freedom, and living in the present drives her to speak, write, and encourage whenever possible. Her openness allows women to identify with her own life experiences yet see where they, too can conquer their battles. She is devoted to her home life with husband, Eric and 2 Bichon mixes, PIerre and Stewart. She and Eric have 3 grown children and live in the San Diego, California area.

Blogroll

  • WordPress Blog
  • Amazon Books
  • NetGalley
  • The Book Club Network
  • The Book Club Magazine
  • Deeper Shopping

Facebook page

  • Sharonrpaavola.com
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Sharon's books

The Sound of Music Story: How A Beguiling Young Novice, A Handsome Austrian Captain, and Ten Singing von Trapp Children Inspired the Most Beloved Film of All Time
Morning's Refrain
Shadows of the White City
Dawn's Prelude
Veiled in Smoke
Forsaking All Others
Appointments with Heaven: The True Story of a Country Doctor's Healing Encounters with the Hereafter
Gentleman Jim
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
Into the Wild
No Journey Too Far
The Last Thing He Told Me
My Name is Eva
Between Sisters
Summer Island
The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water
The Record Keeper
The Bottoms
Call Your Daughter Home
The Girl Without a Name


Sharon Paavola's favorite books »

Sharon’s quotes


Goodreads Quotes

2022 Reading Challenge

2022 Reading Challenge
Sharon has read 30 books toward her goal of 65 books.
hide
30 of 65 (46%)
view books

Categories

  • A Promise to Protect
  • Amish
  • Anxiety
  • Betrayal
  • Book review
  • Christmas
  • Depression
  • Family relationships
  • Forgiveness
  • Friendship
  • Honor
  • Hope
  • Hopeful Living
  • Inspiration
  • Lyn Cote
  • Medication
  • Mental Health
  • Mystery
  • Patricia Bradley
  • Sleep
  • Suspence
  • Suspense
  • Uncategorized

Copyright © 2023 · Beautiful Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in