Hidden is the first book in the Jacobs family series by Vanetta Chapman. After surviving a tragic and violent childhood. Dana Jacobs is now a supervisor in charge of a Department of Homeland Security in Taos, New Mexico. Her team is at the ready to handle any threat. Benjamin Marshall is the newest member of Dana’s office. Straight from a six year military deployment, Benjamin is not what Dana wants or needs. However, Ben knows that God has a reason for putting him with Dana’s team. When a local school is threatened, they pursue a man who is filled with bitterness and anger that Dana can understand; however, there is a difference. She is justified and it remains hidden and she hurts no one. Can Dana accept her own morality? Can she truly understand what it means to forgive and to be forgiven?
Hidden is a Christian romantic suspense. While it is not a genre I normally read, I was looking forward to reading a suspenseful story filled with faith and romance. The book opens with the aftermath of a violent encounter in Dana’s childhood. Leading to her as an adult who still has nightmares of that night, Dana is now a leader of a team. Benjamin is coming to her team on his first day. I liked Dana as a woman who has lived a hard life and keeps her emotions close to the vest. I also liked Benjamin as a man of faith who knows he would be a good fit for the team. Overall, I enjoyed the faith and morality discussions; however, the romance was a bit far-fetched and the suspense was lacking. If you enjoy Christian romantic suspense, I recommend you check out Hidden.
The Pet Doctor is the third book in the Emerson Pass Contemporaries series by Tess Thompson. Breck Stokes returns to Emerson Pass to take over his mother’s veterinarian clinic. He loves being back home in his small town and loves animals and the occasional nap. He can’t explain it but he is drawn to the lovely but reserved Tiffany Birt. Tiffany arrived in Emerson Pass and soon became their favorite wedding planner. What her friends don’t know is that she hides behind a wall and holds a secret of a haunting childhood. When her past becomes national news, she must decide if she continues to hide or confront her demons and make sure those who hurt her and others pay. Will she be free at last and be able to pursue a future with Breck? Or will the men from her past continue to haunt her?
The Pet Doctor was a sweet, funny and dramatic clean romance. The story opens as Tiffany breaks free from the cult that wanted to bind her into servitude. She builds her life and settles in Emerson Pass where she catches the attention of Breck. Breck is sweet and quiet who has his own traumatic past. However, when he learns of Tiffany’s past, he becomes the support she needs. I loved them together and their romance was sweet. The drama about the cult was doing well without being overwhelming to the overarching story. There was also drama between Breck and his mother that was well done as well and I cheered when he finally spoke his mind. Overall, I enjoyed this story and I am looking forward to the rest of the series. I highly recommend The Pet Doctor. I do recommend you start with book 1, The Sugar Queen.
The Pet Doctor is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook
The Whisper in Wind by Rachael Bloome is the sixth book in the Poppy Creek series. Lucy Gardener is ready to settle down and start her dream career. When her brother, Jack, asks her to help document the town’s fall festivals for a promotional video for the Whispering Winds Inn, she looks forward to it. However, she was not prepared to share the task with Vick Johnson, the brooding former marine and her secret crush. Vick has one foot out the door. He always knew his time in Poppy Creek would be temporary and while he has plans to leave, the close-knit community is making it difficult to leave. Especially Lucy with her bright smile. With their obvious connection, will Lucy and Vick take a chance on a happily ever after?
I truly love this series and I wish Poppy Creek was a real town I could visit and maybe even live. I loved the close knit community friendships. In an uplifting style, The Whisper in Wind is an inspiring romance story with the characters’ finding a purpose and a home. I could not put this book down as Lucy and Vick struggle with their sense of purpose and trying to find their place in the world. Their journeys as individuals and as a potential couple was sweet and heartwarming. I loved that they connected over the love of a book. There were sweet moments throughout the story and I cannot wait for the rest of the series. I highly recommend The Whisper in Wind and the previous books in the Poppy Creek series.
The Whisper in Wind is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook
The American Roommate Experiment by Elena Armas is the sequel to The Spanish Love Deception. Rosie Graham has a problem, make that “problems”. She quits her high paying job as an engineer to focus on her romance writing career. Her first book was a success and now the deadline for her second book is just weeks away and she has writer’s block. Then the ceiling of her New York apartment falls down around her. She simply packs up and heads to her best friend’s empty apartment. Lina is on her honeymoon and probably wouldn’t mind if Rosie crashes there. What Rosie doesn’t know is that Lind has promised the apartment to Lucas Martin, her visiting cousin from Spain. They come to an agreement to share the apartment. When Rosie confesses her writer’s block, Lucas offers to take her on a series of experimental dates meant to fuel her muse. What does she have to lose? Lucas’s stay has an end date and her deadline is looming.
I enjoyed The Spanish Love Deception so much that when I saw Ms. Armas had written a sequel, I grabbed it. The American Roommate Experiment is the same slow-burn, steamy and swoon-worthy romantic comedy as its predecessor. On the About the Author page, Ms. Armas states she hopes to “make your heart skip a beat or two, your palms a little sweaty, and your cheeks flush in that rosy pink that makes other people want to peek at the page you are reading.” And boy does she succeed! Wow! This story has it all. There are sexy flirting moments. Moments with deep hurt, heart and healing. And moments that would make any reader sigh. I loved Rosie. I loved Lucas. And I loved them together. I smiled. I laughed. I sighed and I even blushed. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this story! I highly recommend The American Roommate Experiment. Although it is not necessary to enjoy this book, I also recommend The Spanish Love Deception.
The American Roommate Experiment is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook
Not Today, Cupid by Jennifer Bonds is the second book in The Harts series. Scarlett Evans works as the executive assistant to Miles Hart while in grad school for a Master’s degree in industrial organizational psychology. She also admires Nick Hart, the sexy CEO, from afar. While Nick is sexy, the man doesn’t smile and has gained the nickname of Hartless. He runs a tight ship and doesn’t seem to care that the employees are miserable. After his brothers bet him to implement a suggestion from the company’s suggestion box. Scarlett is recruited to help Nick plan a Valentine’s Day Social to celebrate the release of the company’s newest venture and to hopefully boost morale. As they work together, Nick’s icy exterior begins to melt and Scarlett feels emboldened to speak up in areas she tends to keep quiet. Soon a spark ignites a fire that they cannot ignore.
While I had not read the first book in the series, Not Today, Cupid was enjoyable. So enjoyable that I want to go back and read the first book before the third book is released. It was not quite the laugh-out-loud story as described; however, I definitely grinned and chuckled as Nick and Scarlett’s relationship went from cool indifference to passionate fervor. I could not put it down and read well into the night which I haven’t done in a long time. There are some spicy love scenes and tender moments between them. I enjoyed Scarlett’s witty comebacks especially when dealing with Nick. I loved that there was a heart and caring spirit hidden deep behind Nick’s grumpy exterior. I thoroughly enjoyed Not Today, Cupid. I will definitely read the rest of the series. If you enjoy grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity romance, I highly recommend Not Today, Cupid.
Not Today, Cupid is available in eBook and audiobook
Prince Not Quite Charming by Liz Talley is a novel in the Morning Glory series. The story picks up right after the events of book 2, Perfectly Charming. A city girl can survive…she hopes. Frances Genovese agrees to stay in Morning Glory after her brother’s wedding in order to finish the remodel of his new pizzeria. She may not know small town Mississippi but she does know the restaurant business. What she doesn’t bargain for is a country boy contractor naysaying her every decision. Clemson “Clem” Aiken III knows two things: what it means to be a country boy and the small town market. When he and Frances clash on ideas for the restaurant, he knows he needs to teach her a thing or two about country life. Frances reluctantly gives Clem three days to teach her country life and change her mind about the restaurant design. What can be so hard about fishing, frying chicken and line dancing?
Prince Not Quite Charming had me laughing and smiling from the opening chapter. There were many laugh out loud moments and moments that left huge smiles on my smile. Frances, the hard nosed Italian New Yorker, spends a few weeks with Clem, But there’s more to the country boy Clem than meets the eye and as the two spend time together, the attraction is obvious from the start. I loved the flirty banter between the two especially from Clem, reminds me of my husband and I. There were sweet moments of heart-to-heart talks between the two. One of my favorite moments is when Frances and Clem were frying chicken with Ida Mae Robinson and Frances made a comment about being a woman and doing things on her own. To which Ida Mae replies, “Well, baby, I can do it too but why would I want to?” I highly recommend Prince Not Quite Charming. Opposites certainly attract in this fun novella.
Prince Not Quite Charming is available in eBook and audiobook.
Perfectly Charming is the second book in Liz Talley’s Morning Glory series. Jess Culpepper is desperate to move on from her divorce. When the chance to get out of Morning Glory for a while comes up, she takes it. She takes a temporary nursing job in Pensacola, Florida, And thanks to the bequest of her late friend, Lacy, she rents a condo right on the beach. Little does she know she is in for the surprise of a lifetime. Living a few doors down from her is Ryan Reyes, her old high school chemistry lab partner. Once known as “The Brain,” Ryan has worked hard to be more than the shy nerd. Walking away from a brilliant science career, he now runs a charter fishing business and spends his time catching up on the debauchery he missed. He is thrown for a loop when the girl of his teenage fantasies enters his life. At first, their relationship starts as old friends catching up but soon turns into an attraction neither can deny. Their no-strings-attached fling becomes complicated when they return to Morning Glory for a friend’s wedding and they are forced to confront the painful past. Can they find their happily ever after? Or will old wounds keep them apart?
After reading a previous book that was deep and depressing, I needed a light, fun pick-me-up and Perfectly Charming delivered. It is a very sweet story filled with sexy fun and heartfelt moments between friends and lovers. There were a lot of sighs, smiles and laughs. I loved Jess’s vulnerability and hesitation moving forward from her divorce. She doesn’t trust herself to feel again and is determined not to get hurt again. She decides a good, fun fling is what she needs and she decides that Ryan is good for that. I also loved Ryan who I identified with as the shy nerd. While I wasn’t bullied as he was, I was known as the brain among my classmates and was looked to for the answers. I understood and related to his desire to be more than “the smart guy.” Their inevitable conflict was believable and the resolution was sweet. I loved Jess’s friends, Rosemary and Eden, and their tough love as they help Jess realize her fling has become more than that. I’m loving the Morning Glory series and can’t wait to dive into book 3. I loved Perfectly Charming and recommend it as well as Charmingly Yours, which I recommend reading first.
Perfectly Charming is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook.
Book 1, Charmingly Yours, is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook.
According to National Day Calendar.com, September is
Classical Music Appreciation Month. I love classical music. It is great music
to relax by, to get energized, and much more than just instrumental music. From
the Medieval era to the Romantic period of the late 19th century,
classical music has brought advancements in instruments, musical tone and
expression with each style reflecting different periods of history. It isn’t
just music of the past but music which has led to other musical genres. It is
music that can be enjoyed today as it was many years ago. Music which has led
to the advancement of instrument we still play today. Let’s dive into a brief
review of each period and the importance it has on the development of music and
its enjoyment.
The Medieval era is generally considered to be between
500-1400 CE. Music during this era was heavily connected with the church.
Liturgical (sacred) music was performed in church and was mostly vocal with
choral music and chants. A chant is monophonic, meaning single melody with no
accompaniment or instruments and were distinctive by regions. In Spain and
Portugal, the Mozarabic chant was influenced by North African music. In Milan,
the popular chant was the Ambrosian chant named for St Ambrose. The Roman
Catholic Church began to standardize the Mass and chants through the combined
efforts of Pope Gregory I (540-604) and Charlemagne (742-814). According to
music historian, the Gregorian chant developed from the Gallican chant from Gaul
(modern day France) and the Roman chant. The music from the Medieval era is
important because it began the foundation for music notation. Music could be
shared between musicians and choral groups. The rhythmic notations of musical
notes and rests first appeared with formal structure between 1130-1300.
The Renaissance (1400-1600 CE) was a period of great discovery
in science, literature and in music. The invention of the printing press and
helped distribute music far and wide across Europe. Music became more than just
for church. It became music to enjoy in the home and in the community. Music
began to have a variety in range, rhythm, harmony and form. It is also the
period in which tonality (musical keys) began to develop. It became a vehicle
for personal expression. One of the most famous Renaissance composers, John
Dunstaple (or Dunstable) (c. 1390-1453) was an English composer of polyphonic
music. Numerous copies of his music have been found in Italian and German,
which is proof that his fame was widespread. Later in the Renaissance period
saw the rise of English Madrigal music around 1588 which is an a cappella style
with 3-6 voices. Many instruments we know today originated in the Renaissance
period. For example, organs, trumpets, tambourine, and the bagpipe. Other
instruments would be used to develop future instrument such as the viol which
had six strings and played with a bow. It was like a cello.
The Baroque period (1600-1750 CE) followed and the musical
style was more elaborate and ornate with the use of harmony rather than
modality. This period saw the development of the concerto, cantata, and the
sonata. Chamber music was a common style at this time with professional
musicians expected to be accomplished improvisers. Dance suites were also
popular which were designed for listening rather than dancing. Johann Sebastian
Bach wrote a dance suite known as partitas. Further advancements were made with
instruments. The harpsichord, an instrument like the piano, was a very popular
instrument for the autocracy to play in their homes and for the entertainment
of their guests. Other famous pieces from this period are Georg Frideric
Handel’s Messiah (1741) and Antonio Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons (1725).
the Four Seasons is a group of four violin concertos. My particular
favorite, and many others as well, is the “Spring” concerto which conjures
images of flowing creeks and the singing birds as winter breaks away to the
warmth of spring.
The Classical period (1750/1775-1820) is characterized by
simple, cleaner music which focused more on melody than the Baroque period.
Woodwind instruments were added to the orchestra. This is the period most
people will think of when they hear “classical music” with popular composers
like Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig Van Beethoven. Some music historians
see Beethoven as a Romantic composer (which I will discuss next), other view
him as the bridge between the Classical and Romantic periods. The Classical period
had many great composers who are often left behind with the popularity of
Mozart and Beethoven. Frank Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) was known as the Father of
the Symphony and Father of the String Quartet as he composed over 100 symphonies
and 60 string quartets. Muzio Clementi (1752-1832) was a composer I was not
familiar with until I did my research for this post. He is known as the Father of
the Pianoforte as he revolutionized the art of playing the piano, techniques which
are still used today. Lastly, Antonio Salieri (1750-1825) who became famous as
a jealous rival of Mozart; however, he was an accomplished composer in his own right
and gave music composition lessons to Beethoven.
The Romantic period (1820-1910) saw the growth of the
orchestra with the expansion of the woodwind and brass sections with music
which was very expressive and emotional. The composers of this period, such as
Chopin, Liszt, Wagner, Tchaikovsky and Brahms, the music had a new
preoccupation with nature and fascination with the past and legends and myths.
Chopin was known for nocturnes. He would publish 18 in his lifetime, three more
would be published posthumously. Music meant to represent the fields and
forest. Wagner would write Ride of the Valkyries for his opera, Die
Walkure, with its dramatic notes represents the mythological Valkyries as
they ride over the battlefields choosing warriors to take to Valhalla and those
who will remain on Earth. And almost all mothers have sung or hummed Brahms’ Lullaby
(1868) to their child as they rocked them to sleep. It is still a popular
song to sing to a baby at bedtime. The Romantic period would give away to more
experimental music with the emergence of Jazz in America in approximately in
1919.
In conclusion, Sir Isaac Newton said in 1675, “If I have
seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” We discover new
truths by building on previous discoveries. It is true with music. With
geniuses like Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin and others who attempt to play
instruments and notes in new ways helped developed the music we know and love.
Classical music isn’t just wordless music. It is music which invokes passion
and other emotions. It can help us imagine the beauty and power of nature. It
is music that helped bring our favorite genres today. I encourage everyone to
learn about these composers, their music, their advancements and you will see
how musicians of today have built new music from their genius.
