The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Although I enjoyed it, this book will challenge you emotionally. Victoria, the main character, is a foster child who has grown up and aged-out of a broken system. As Victoria tries to make her way in life, she struggles to come to terms with her broken past and the relationships that she left behind.
The Language of Flowers is a well written story of heartbreak and redemption. Told through flashbacks and current events, we get a true picture of Victoria and the people in her life, both past and present. The author uses flower references to share the story, just as the character Victoria uses flowers as a substitute for the language she cannot express.
Although I don't typically enjoy books that try to neatly tie everything together, the ending of this book felt like closure, and after all of the heartbreak and struggle, the ending helped provide the reader with some relief.
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The Apartment by Danielle Steel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Just in time for summer beach read season, Danielle Steel's newest novel is a fun story about a group of friends who share an apartment in New York City. The four main characters face struggles with work and love as they move through their lives, and they use each other as a surrogate family and support system. In typical Danielle Steel fashion the story is completely unrealistic, absolutely predictable, and a lot of fun to read. The ending is weak, but positive as each other characters finds exactly what she is looking for in life. Danielle Steel novels are always a nice escape from reality for a few hours, and The Apartment would make a wonderful beach read this summer.
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Jet Set Dreams: A Girl's Guide To Flying High by Shantelle
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
If you love to travel, this is a fun little book where the author shares some of her travel adventures. The book includes some great photos, and the author shares some of her favorite experiences traveling, including trips to Thailand, India, and Jamaica. The author also share some travel tips, like what to pack and what to keep in your carry-on luggage. The writing was casual and friendly, and the content was basic at times, but overall pretty good. Although Shantelle is encouraging and inspires everyone to go out and travel, I would have liked the author to share even more personal stories about her adventures. Overall it was a fun and quick read.
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
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An Irish Heart by Jackie Zack
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was a cute story with lots of potential, but the ending felt a bit too rushed. Even though there is no mention in the book description, this is definitely Christian fiction. The author seemed to throw in references to God more towards the end of the book, and some of them felt out of placed or forced. The characters were fun, but at times the writing did get a bit jumbled, especially at the ending, and the ending itself was predictable. Overall it was a pretty good story and a fun read.
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