Carol E. Keen

What a nice refreshing story that brings Christmas in July for me. I was so comfortable reading this enchanting story, that I completely lost track of time. I have always wondered what it would be like to be famous. Of course you have fame and money, but there is always another side that we don't hear much about. I remember one particular Christian artist that fell hard and hit rock bottom. The media was all over it and pretty much crucified him in the news.

This story was nice to read because Starla could sense that something was off with her. She was on top of the charts, concerts just about every night, but she couldn't feel God anywhere. I loved how the author showed us a side of Christian music where we hardly get a glimpse of. Starla recognizes that it it time to take a break and spend some time alone with God. The message is clear that sometimes we forget to invite God into our lives. Her need to refuel and seek God for direction was amazing to read. I loved all the scriptures and her heart to heart talks with God.

Mason was going through similar struggles as Starla and I enjoyed how God brought them together. Mason was a great character and I liked his openness to Starla. His life wasn't always easy but as he shared his story, Starla could see how much God had changed him. It's a great story with a little twist that took me by surprise. We always need to be on guard as the enemy will use anyone to cause us to stumble. The enemy loves to control us so he can cause havoc in our lives.

I enjoyed the characters and how much I got from the story. Be prayfull about all things, trust God and listen to your heart. He does have a plan for each of us . We need to be able to have open ears and trust him. Enjoy this story of two people seeking God and finding happiness.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.… (mehr)

This is a re-telling of the classic book "Beauty and the Beast". The story of Ethan Mansthrope, a man with scars both on the inside and the outside and Annabelle Giles, a young woman with a tarnished reputation. When Annabelle Giles stumbles across Ethan in the garden, her life changes forever.



This is a story of how to love from the inside out, a story of forgiveness and healing.

"Beauty and the Beast will certainly love this novel. It is well written and keeps the reader captivated.





Even though this is the second in the series, the reader can jump right in without reading the first book.



I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

… (mehr)

The description on the back cover is very accurate. It is a retelling of "The Beauty and the Beast." It is a short book packed with lots of nuggets that remind us that beauty is only skin deep. It is true that many of us have scars no one can see. Ethan is very private and almost detached from the world. We know from reading the book he has physical scars. Those scars turn heads and frighten people. As I read the part about Ethan I thought about a man I saw recently. He was severely burned on part of his face and arms. Our eyes locked as we passed each other in the store. My heart was overwhelmed with the pain he has endured. For that brief moment as we looked as each other, God reminded me to look past the scars and see the scars on his heart. Not only did he have physical scars but emotional scars that for some reason God allowed me to feel. Ethan is much like the man I saw in the store. He was hurting inside but no one really thought about it. People were afraid of him because he looked different.

Annabelle was a beautiful woman but underneath her beauty, was the scars no one could see. I was outraged at how her family treated her . The author eludes to an incident that happened between Annabelle and a young man. I didn't quite understand how it ruined Annabelle's reputation and wanted the author to explore it in more detail. Her banishment from her home was sudden and I knew just where she would end up. It was predictable but I still took away valuable lessons from the story. We judge people by looks and we push people aside when they are emotionally damaged. I enjoyed the book, but felt there were a few things missing from the story which would have made the characters easier to understand. I do love the author's writing but this one fell a bit short for me.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.… (mehr)