Rose Allen McCauley

This is a simple love story. The main characters are seeking to know God's will in their lives. The story flowed well and the characters were well developed. The story wasn't real deep. It was an easy read. I finished the book in three short reads. The editing was well done also. But, there wre a couple of areas that really didn't get resolved. I will leave you to figure that out so as not to spoil the story. I also didn't care for the ending. It ended as expected in one way, but oddly. I would recommend this book for girls of early teen years. This book was given to me in exchange for my honest review.… (lisätietoja)

Surrender to Peace is a lovely story. Joy had searched for what she thought would make her happy, but it wasn’t until she surrendered her life to God’s plan that true happiness found her.
When Joy arrives at her honeymoon destination alone, she wants nothing more than to be left alone in her sadness and despair. But her new friend Ramona won’t let that happen, making sure Joy sees the sights of her beautiful nation of Puerto Rico. Joy meets Ramona’s nephew Ben and begins to realize that not all men are like her ex-fiancé.
As Ben and Joy fall in love, they encounter obstacles in the path to their happiness together. Both fall back on prayer, learning to trust God with their current circumstances and with their future. He does not disappoint them.
Surrender to Peace is a lovely story. Joy had searched for what she thought would make her happy, but it wasn’t until she surrendered her life to God’s plan that true happiness found her.
Surrender to Peace is rich with Puerto Rican history. The setting is described through the eyes of one who has visited Puerto Rico and finds it in her heart to share her experience with others. Thank you Ms. McCauley for a sweet, romantic read, a lesson in trusting God’s timing and letting us experience this beautiful place with Joy and Ben.
I received this book from bookfun.org in exchange for my honest opinion.
… (lisätietoja)

Joy is all set to marry, but suddenly her fiancé backs out and she decides to take the honeymoon trip on her own. She travels to Puerto Rico and stays at a lovely Bed &Breakfast Inn where her friend Ramona is the owner. As a travel agent, Joy knew this would a breathtaking place to explore, but she never intended to be here alone.

Joy settles in for her two week stay and meets Ramona's nephew, Ben. He becomes her tour guide and takes her to historic places that Joy had read about. Ben knows that Joy is hurting from the traumatic breakup, but he hopes to ease her pain with kindness. One evening as they are dining at a restaurant the subject of how they each have experienced the loss of a parent and the loneliness it brough lonely was painful to overcome . . Their loss is hard for each of them and Ben tells Joy, "Look at it as the rainbow after the rain. What we see as painful , God can use for good."

The author has written a beautiful story about two people each seeking answers from God to direct their path. Will Joy be able to forgive her fiancé and open her heart to someone else? Can Ben convince her to stay in Puerto Rico? Their relationship begins slowly like a delicate flower and blossoms as they each open their heart to His guiding. They begin to spend more time together and Joy starts to feel relaxed and happy around Ben.

The story is filled with the history of Puerto Rico and sites that take your breath away as the author uses expressive words to make the history come to life. I loved how she showed Joy praying and seeking God to heal her hurts. The book is a lovely story of taking chances and relying on faith and and listening to the wisdom God speaks . I encourage readers of light romance to read this book and explore with Joy and Ben as they take you on a journey of love, forgiveness and believing in yourself. As you read this book remember, "I'm learning we're all broken in some way, but God sees us as perfect ."

I received a copy of this book from The BookClub Network for an honest review .… (lisätietoja)

Christmas Belles of Georgia
This book is actually four novellas written by four different authors that are woven together into one story. Although each section has its own flavor, there is still a sense of unity among the whole. Each story begins with a letter from a Georgina law firm to one of four separate women. Unknown to each of them, they are actually identical quadruplets born to a young unwed mother who died shortly after their delivery. The girls were subsequently put up for adoption, and while two of them know they were adopted (while two of them did not) none of them knew they had biological siblings. Each one is invited to Monticello, Georgia, their birthplace, on Christmas day for a reading of their maternal grandmother’s will. It will be the first time they we meet each other face to face and the first time they find out the true nature of the will and its author.
Christmas in Dixie by Jeanie Smith Cash is the first of the novellas. In this story, Holly Davenport, an esthetician, flies to Monticello to find out exactly what’s going on. She is especially shocked by the news since she had no idea she was even adopted. Unfortunately, shortly after her arrival, she has an appendix attack. Dr. Grayson Brockman, her attending physician, also happens to be the brother of her ‘deceased’ grandmother’s lawyer. Mutual attraction turns to love, but she still has to come to grips with her bitterness toward her parents. This story sets the stage for the other novellas, although each contains enough background information to make them stand alone.
Nick’s Christmas Carol by Rose Allen McCauley is the story of Carol Peterson. Carol was raised by a wealthy, though sometimes distant couple, and grew up with every privilege. Although she never lacked for material things, she sometimes felt empty until she became a believer. Unfortunately, her adoptive parents are not interested in her faith. When she gets the news that she is actually a quadruplet, she rushes to Georgia to find out more. Much to her chagrin, her maternal grandmother’s property is managed by a former acquaintance - Nick Powers. Their meeting as teens holds unhappy memories for both of them since Nick was a mere ‘pool maintenance boy’ while Carol was a rich snob. However, their new found attraction for each other won’t be kept at bay.
Starry Night by Jeri Odell follows Starr Evans, a skeptic who doesn’t even believe the revelation is authentic until lawyer Camden Brockman makes a personal visit to her California home. She finds the news hard to accept since her parents never told her she was adopted, even though her father was a pastor and always preached ‘the truth’. Unfortunately they died in a car accident, and so she is left to piece together the puzzle on her own. With Camden’s help, she is able to find peace, and along with that, love.
Loving Stetson by Debra Ullrick is the last of the stories. Noel Brady knows she is adopted and is perfectly secure in her large family on a Colorado ranch. When the news that she has biological siblings reaches her, she is curious and naturally wants to meet them. Where she feels some confusion, however, is in her relationship with ranch hand Stetson Laramie. Although she has always felt some kind of chemistry between the two of them, there is something holding Stetson back. Will his long time secret be the thing that brings them together or drives them apart?
The epilogue, written by Cash, finally brings the four sisters together for the reading of the will. I enjoyed reading this book. It was an interesting premise and each story was short and sweet with just enough conflict to keep the reader interested. Christmas Belles of Georgia is a light, easy read – and you don’t have to wait until Christmas to read it!… (lisätietoja)