Bite-Sized Reviews :: Edition Eleven

I am so terribly behind on getting my reviews up! So instead of bunches of separate reviews, I figured it was time for another bite-sized review post. Yay and all that jazz, right? :) I’ve been reading quite a bit in the last couple months and definitely been enjoying some great stories.

Beyond All Dreams by Elizabeth Camden
The synopsis for this one convinced me to read it. The heroine, Anna, works at the Library of Congress, how awesome is that?! Getting a behind-the-scenes look at life at the Library in the late 1890s utterly fascinated me. For instance, I had no idea that map librarians even existed, or that they assisted members of congress. Add in a handsome congressman who has great chemistry with Anna and this book instantly became a keeper! I loved Anna. She's so quiet and bookish, which I could totally relate to. Also, Anna and Luke both have to grow and learn during the story and watching them banter with and frustrate each other, as well as slowly fall in love is fun. Reading this one reminded me why I enjoyed Ms. Camden’s older books, so now I’m anxious to read her other more recent stories!

One Among Men by Connie Almony
After reading a great review from a fellow blogger (thanks Amber! :), I decided to try this one and proceeded to devour it all in one sitting! It has officially become a new favorite. I particularly enjoyed how real and true to life it felt. Sam struggled with her insecurities and doubts, yet never let them overtake her completely. So many of the other characters were much the same, especially Chris. The slow peeling back of each of their layers was well done, proving that there was so much more to them than any initial impression. Ms. Almony also didn’t hesitate to cover a variety of serious subjects, but always in a careful and respectful manner. The emotions of Sam and Chris constantly flowed through their every action and watching the two of them together? Ah my heart. I loved their slow and sweet romance! I was also impressed with how Sam consistently stayed true to her beliefs and how everyone around her came to admire that. A little suspenseful, a little romantic, and a lot engrossing, this is one story well worth reading! It’s part of a series, but have no fear of dreadful cliffhangers. Just watch out for anxiousness for the next installment!

Lost and Found by Karey White
This is such a sweet romance! Lydia and Blake are adorable together and watching the two of them encourage one another, yet be willing to call the other out on inconsistencies made them feel like real people. They’re both a little lost at the beginning of the story and it takes an impulsive adventure to search out a mysterious box to help them figure out where they want their lives to go.  A fun, quick read that kept me grinning! It’s definitely one I’ll reread when I’m in need of a little delightfulness to sweep me away for an hour or two.

A Lady at Willowgrove Hall by Sarah E. Ladd
Ms. Ladd has quickly become a favorite writer of mine! Her ability to write stories that keep me swept up in the mysteries and eagerly turning pages, while making me swoon with the romance is fabulous. I’ve always enjoyed regency stories, but she's given me a new appreciation for fine writing in that genre. Cecily and Nathaniel have so much learning to do and I appreciated that, while their slow romance was sweet, the focus of the story was mostly on them seeking answers to their individual questions and growing into who they’re meant to be. And once they reach that point, only then can they truly accept one another and love each other fully. With many secrets abounding, a few despicable villains, romantic tensions, and a fascinating time period, this is a beautiful story you should absolutely add to your to-read list!

Meant to be Mine by Becky Wade
*happy sigh* This is such a delightful story! I have no earthly idea why I waited so long to read it, but I could shake myself. Because once I started it, I very quickly was hooked in and unable to stop reading until the very last page! Celia and Ty have such awesome chemistry and watching them attempt to deny the inevitable is too cute. Seriously, I could NOT stop grinning while reading this. Those two are so entirely stubborn! Of course, it’s perfectly understandable from Celia’s point of view, broken trust is hard to rebuild. And Ty? He was a bit frustrating for a good portion of the first half of the story, but once he finally got his head on straight, oh my! I don’t know how Celia was able to resist him for so long! ;) I hadn’t read one of Ms. Wade’s books for a while and had forgotten how utterly engrossing they are. And just how good she is at writing a swoony romance! This is one book that I am very happy that I have on my shelf and I know it’ll get lots of rereading. If you haven’t read it yet, stop being a goober and go read it now! :D