Book Review: An October Bride by Kate Ganshert

So I'm back with my second book review!  Twice in one week!!  I'm on a roll!!!  Today's book is:  An October Bride by Kate Ganshert.  I've read the majority of these Year of Wedding Novellas, finding some more successful than others.  I must say, this one, was FABULOUS!!  I don't think the blip on Amazon does it any justice!!

Emma Tate is reeling from the fact that her beloved father is dying.  The doctor has only given him months to live.  He's been using this time to take advantage to make life memorable.  While her parents are on a trip out of town, and Emma is taking care of their cat she discovers her father's bucket list.  He's managed to cross off just about everything off his list, everything he has control over.  However, Emma realizes there is one thing he has no control over, but she does.  The last item on her dad's bucket list?  To walk her down the aisle!! 

There's only one problem with this, not only is Emma not engaged presently, she's not even dating anyone, and hasn't since she broke up with her fiance two years ago.  She confides her discovery to one of her best friends, Jake Sawayer, who gallantly comes up with the plan for them to get married, and give her father something to remember!!  Of course at the time they tell each other (and themselves) that it's all pretend, but is it really??  Be sure to pick up "An October Bride" to find out what happens next!!

This was definitely a great book!!!  The plot sucks you in and you can't help but not want to put it down!  The characters seems almost real and you're heart definitely breaks for Emma in a way as you watch her try to deal with the fact that her Dad is really dying.  Having never read one of Kate Ganshert's books I was so excited that I loved htis book as much as I have!  It looks like I'll be checking out more from this author!!  I hope she writes a full length novel with some of the other characters from this book!! 

Book Reivew #1

Sooo... I know I posted earlier today, but like I said, I was hoping to do a book review, so I'm back on to do it!!  I love following some of my favorite authors on Twitter and Facebook so I know when a new book is released and/or one of the books is on sale!!  One of the Authors I follow is Dana Mentink, a fellow San Francisco Bay Area resident, and fabulous writer!  I received her November new release to read and review so I decided to re-read her Love Inspired Suspense Treasure Seekers series to gear me up for her new book!!!  (That I'm dying to read, but trying to resist because she specifically asked to post the reviews in the first week of November when it releases, and I know I won't be able to contain myself once I read it!!  And I read really fast soo.... )   I'll truly review the first book, but give snippets of the other two books in the series!! 

The Series first book is:  Lost Legacy.

This was definitely my favorite book in the Series!!!  It definitely doesn't hurt that it's based in San Francisco, and I can totally picture all of the imagery she so wonderfully uses in her book to describe the area and weather!  lol  Anyways... back to the plot.  Brooke Ramsey is a loving daughter trying to track down a previously undiscovered Tarkenton painting her father had found.  Her father, a known "art freak" who has devoted most of his life to art history, sent the said painting to a friend Professor Colda, who is an Art History Professor at Bayside College, to evaluate and determine if in fact it is the undiscovered Tarkenton painting he's been reading and searching for.  The problem is, the esteemed Professor Colda has gone missing!  Brooke goes to the Treasure Seekers Agency to help her track down the missing painting.  At first Victor Gage and his sister Stephanie turn down the case, a series of unfortunate events leads them to take the case after all.  Will the trio find the painting?  Did Professor Colda take it and try to run with it, and claim it as his own find?  And what past events in both of these families lives connect them more than they initially realized??  Read on to find out more!!! 

I LOVED this book!!!  The plots twists and turns kept me guessing until the very end!!  Which is not easy!!  Every time you think you've reached a conclusion something happens and you start second guessing yourself and the decisions you made!!  Being a Christian Romantic Suspense book there was definitely some lovely Christian themes running throughout the book, but not overtly.  I definitely give this book 5 stars and it will be one of those books I read over and over again! 

The other two books in the series are also great reads!! 

Dangerous Melody 

Dangerous Melody is Stephanie Gage's story and is slightly more predictable than the other two books in the series.  I will say that Dana Mentink upped the suspense in Dangerous Melody, which really makes up for the somewhat predictable ending.  I'd give this book 4.5 stars out of 5.  

Final Resort

Final Resort is the last book in the series and tells the story of Luca Gage.  This was my least favorite in the series, but definitely still a great read!!!  Great suspense, but somewhat unbelievable.  The ending is one of my favorites of any books I've read!!  The treasures they find are amazing and the true treasure is one we all need to make sure we hold dear!  This book I would give 4 out of 5 stars. 

Big and Rich

So this last week as been crazy busy... of me trying to beat this stupid cold I probably got from one of my lovely Preschool Kiddos at work.  Such is the life of a Preschool Teacher!  lol  After fighting it for a full week I thought I was on the mend, but then last Saturday morning hit and I found myself sicker than I have been in ages!  UGH!!!  I slept most of the day and felt marginally better on Sunday.  Monday I went to work, because unlike some of these insane women at my daycare, I don't call in unless I feel like I can't work. Luckily for me, after Monday I only got better!!  WOHOO!!!  Still fighting it slightly, but I think I'm on the mend!

So since moving to California we have found THE BEST RADIO STATION EVER!!!!  95.3 KRTY plays an awesome mix of music AND have some awesome concerts at one of the local clubs!!! The best part is the most expensive ticket so far has been $20, and I've always been first or second from the stage! Thanks to this amazing partnership I've seen The Swon Brothers, Haley and Michaels, Scotty McCreery, The Brothers Osborne, Eli Young Band, and a few others. 

Thursday night I saw Big and Rich!!!!!!  OMG!!!!!  What an AMAZING show that was!!!  The opening number, the Railers, wasn't too shabby, I loved their sound, but wasn't crazy about the songs they played.  Then it was time for the show!  It started out with DJ Sinister taking the stage and playing amped up mixes of some of Country's biggest hits.  After a 10ish minutes of this Big and Rich took the stage and started with their Hit:  "We're Coming to Your City,"  and it was a party that never stopped!!!! 

Being second from the stage was AMAZING!!!  I was able to see all the details like both of John Rich's guitars had writing in glitter underneath the strings on the neck, his Red Electric guitar said IN GOD WE TRUST, and his black Acoustic Guitar said FREEDOM.  Being second from the stage I touched both of their hands!  lol  And while attempting to touch John Rich's hand, hit his guitar as well, I know, I know I'm a dork!  lol

My highlight came at the end of the show when Big Kenny took a pocket knife out of his jeans and CUT his Tank Top off and knotted it then threw it into the crowd!!!  My first thought was:  "OMG I NEED to catch this,"  then it was "there's no way he's just going to throw it to the second row."  BUT as it turns out, he threw it right in my direction, it hit me as it fell to the ground at me feet.  Needless to say I was down on the ground grabbing it instantly!!  I have to say my Church Basketball days came in handy, as I had to snatch it away from someone else... I felt like I was fighting over a basketball all over again!  lol  But as my Mom likes to say still, I was good at that!!  I came up victorious with my prize!!  Only downside is they didn't hang around to sign it!!  lol

Anyways.... that's it for now... I want to do a Book Review here, hopefully today or tomorrow!!!!!