Lone Survivor |
I used to be drawn to the mountains, and to be honest, I still love them! But more and more, these days my heart is running to the beach. And right now, I just can’t get there. There’s no time and with my husband’s work schedule, it’s not gonna happen. Plus, I don’t really want to see people running around in colored underwear! So, I take a vacay via books! And I am so excited to share my reviews of this indie published series! |
*Just so you know, this is a sweet romance series, with minor steamy scenes (my copies are censored to meet my personal convictions.) I recommend this series to mature adult readers. *
Treasured in Turtle Bay
I love Roman and Molly's different personalities; how they show that you don't have to be the same to love each other! And I love Molly's highlighter system! The Pineapple Love story analogy was so sweet and sad too... I also loved the reference to the USO center at the airport because I feel like civilians like me don't usually know about things like that. (I did know about them, but only because I'm a military fanatic and have friends in the service.) And finding out that there were certain things Roman couldn't do in the military because his dad was from Italy was fascinating to me. AND CAN WE APPRECIATE THAT ROMAN WAS HOMESCHOOLED???
Content: pre-marital kissing, hugging and deception.
*I received an early copy of this book for review purposes. All thoughts are my own.*
Promises in Pyramid Rock
Content: alcohol (brief, not drunk); noticing physical attributes but not too detailed/risqué); kissing hugging prior to marriage; mentions of drugs, immorality (clear it's wrong).
Stranded on the Sandbar
Content: alcohol, refers to drunkenness as a diseases, swimwear, touching, kissing, thoughts, unmarried couple stranded together overnight for a few days.
Romance on the Reef
Content: N/A (Forgot to list it when I read it, pregnancy brain 😉)
Heartbeats in Honolulu
Christmas in Kailua
This story was so vibe-y! It’s everything I would expect from a Hawaiian Christmas and I so want to visit! All the found family vibes and 😍 I loved the on going arc with Logan and his brother and I will say, I even enjoyed screaming at my book/phone when Jimmy was in the picture. I hate him. And Jess did a great job making sure I did. And the Christmas trees. Guys 😭
I loved the military tidbits scattered through the story and the peek into military life! That’s probably my favorite element of this series! And shot out to Jess for making us first time moms feel seen!
(There are a few things in the book I wasn’t a fan of, those are under content.)
Logan is the literal best y’all. He’s honest about his feelings of insecurity about being a step dad, he’s such a hero family member his brother (and learns he’s maybe too much so!), and he’s so protective of Tess and Sadie! This girl needed him 💚 Even with the *spoiler alert* miscommunication, he wasn’t about to let her go and I love him for that *end of spoiler* Also the Christmas tree scenes. All of them.
Tess grew on me. She wasn’t my favorite of the gals, but definitely not one I disliked! She’s young, dumb and way too trusting and I love her’s and Nora’s relationship 🥰 She’s a great mom to Sadie and as I said, I felt so seen! And at one point I wanted to slap her, but when we switched to her POV, OH MY GOODNESS I WAS SO PROUD OF HER! I can’t give deets, but read this book so we can fangirl! Cause this trope (see above spoiler) was done right!
Content: pre-marital touching and kissing; divorce (I do not believe this is biblical, however, it does happen, and in spite of, I enjoyed this book); lots of talk about what people look like in the beginning, but it wasn’t overbearing to me; flirting; alcohol talked about in a casual manner.
Hope you have a lovely time on your trip to Hawaii ;) What are your favorite beachy reads? Share them below!
Have a great summer!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22
Why it Stresses Me Out
I don’t know why, but having a deadline pretty much guarantees that I will not finish on time. I get so nervous about it that I just freeze up. So giving myself a stack of books to finish in a month is a bad idea for me.
2| I’m a Mood Reader
This is something that I am figuring out about myself, but my mood heavily dictates what I want to read. If I’m not in the mood for romance (clean ones!), I’m going to take the romance book slow or stop completely. Even if I’m enjoying it, I just can’t seem to force myself to finish it without going into a slump.
3| I Have Trouble Focusing when I have too many Pre-Scheduled Books or Not Enough Time
Hailing back to reason 1, my brain freezes up under pressure. I feel panicky, even though I’m the only one putting pressure on myself. I don’t like being a quitter. It’s deeply ingrained in me, and I am trying to break that mindset in regards to reading.
4| Did I mention I hate Deadlines?
Yeah, I just really, really, hate deadlines.
What I’m Doing to Enjoy Reading Again
Not enjoying the book, I’m stopping. Sometimes it takes me a page, sometimes a few chapters. But when I realize I don’t like it, that’s it.
2| Reading comic books to help me feel accomplished.
I need to see progress happening. I need to see my number of books read growing. Comic books are a great way to feed that need while also reading longer works. This why, I don’t feel like I’m spinning my wheels.
3| Trying new authors and new genres
A few years ago, I never would have read anything remotely romantic or related to manga. Now, I’m cautiously dipping my toes into these genres and am eyeing suspense novels too!
4| Reading books I love, regardless of what others may think.
Relating to those two genres I just mentioned… Many people have a stigma attached to romance and manga. Let me be clear. I am very selective with the one I read and I am not above censoring my copies. But as long as I don’t feel God telling me not to or my husband for that matter, I don’t have to justify my reading habits to anyone else. Some books I mention on here are not going to be for everyone. And that’s okay!
5| Shelving books that I’m just not clicking with in that moment.
Some books just aren’t right for the moment, ya know? Classics usually do this to me. If they don’t intrigue me from chapter one, I probably won’t stick with it/have to take a break. They will keep for the right time. (Also, audiobooks help!)
6| Reading the first chapter of multiple book and picking the one I’m most interested in.
I never used to do this, but now, I’m finding this really helps me pick my books! I highly recommend grabbing four or five books you can’t choose between and reading the first chapter before deciding!
How about you? What are your tips and tricks? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Have a blessed day!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22
I love picture books. Always have and recently I have discovered I still do! Is my baby too young to understand stories? Yes. Is she too young to enjoy the pictures? No! And she loves getting books at our library and looking through our personal collection! We’ve been enjoying them so much, I thought perhaps y’all would like to see some of our favorites from the past couple months! So, here’s our first round up of picture books for your enjoyment! |
When I was Young in the Mountains by Cynthia Rylant
We Are the Gardeners by Joanna Gaines
The Curious Garden by Peter Brown
Spring for Sophie by Yael Werber
Mushroom Rain by Laura K. Zimmermann
Moose’s Book Bus by Inga Moore
Little Mole Finds Hope by Glenys Nellist
Hugo and the Impossible Thing by Renée Felice Smith
The Deer in the Wood based on the works of Laura Ingalls Wilder
Hello Moon by Julie Downing
A Year in the Forest with Badger by Katarzyna Piętka
Anne of Green Gables adapted by Mary Sebag-Montefiore
A Book List From Brighter Day Press || April's List
Posts I’ve been enjoying:
A Calling to New Life: Are We Embracing It? || Sophia E., Glorious Daughters
Vacation || Rebekah A. Morris, Read Another Page
Question of the Day: What is one of your favorite Picture Books?
Have a blessed day!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22
But today, I am here and I am posting a fun tag with Katja @ Little Blossoms for Jesus, sharing about my current WIPs! I hope you enjoy reading about them!
The Rules
- Thank the person who tagged you & link to their blog.
- Link back to the creator, Katja @ Little Blossoms for Jesus, & add the tag graphic.
- List the rules.
- Answer the questions.
- Feel free to add snippets!
- Tag as many or as few people as you wish & let them know they’re tagged.
- Add a clean copy of the questions at the end of your post for the “tagged.”
The Questions {And Answers}
Yes! My current WIP is The Battlefield is Silent, book 5 in The Battle for Heritage Series. It’s bittersweet working on the final book in this series…it’s exciting and heartbreaking for me, reaching this milestone.
I’m also doing work on Book 2 in the Natty’s Warrior’s Series, To Save a Marriage. And I’m going to mention here, there is no special publishing schedule for the series. Each book can be read on it’s own, so I’m not panicking trying to get them out rapid fire.
2| Have you a synopsis for your WIP? If so, give it to us! If not, can you give us a blurb on what your WIP is about?
I don’t have a proper one for either of them, but here’s what I’m working with!
The Battlefield is Silent: They don’t know it, but the war will end this year. At least, that’s what the history books try to tell us. But we all know better…the war will never be over. Final clashes of arms, betrayed trusts, nightmares, unjust taxes, murder and mental breakdowns threaten to pull the Mason family down deep into a whirlpool of despair. When the good guys lose, how can the possibly see God’s hand in it all and keep their heads above the water?
To Save a Marriage: Before there was a survivor, there was an abortion. Cammie Carter-Tate has fought for her position as director of her prestigious clinic. Unlike many clinics around her, she has a sanitary building, has a hotline to a hospital should something go wrong and has a 98% success rate. Life is good. But the few failures they’ve had and one negative review threatens to bring it all crashing down around her. What’s worse, her own nephew is a survivor. Her husband wants kids; she refuses. A rainy night reveals her darkest secrets and spirals her married life out of control. Is there anyway to bring it all to a halt and rebuild the life she has so carefully curated…without turning into the one woman she despises with all her heart?
3| Have you a working/mock cover for your WIP? If so, show us! If not, have you an idea in mind?
I don’t have covers for my books, but I definitely have some ideas! I can’t talk about them much, but I will share my base colors. The Battlefield is Silent is Gray and To Save a Marriage is Blue.
4| How did you get the idea for this story?
Nothing super special for books 5, it just follows in line with the rest of the series, lol!
But To Save a Marriage wasn’t supposed to happen. But everyone fell in love with my hurting abortion clinic director and begged for a book just about her story and hopefully a redemption arc. Y’all know I hate those, lol! But for her story, it actually worked. So, Cammie’s story in is progress!
5| How long do you think it will be? Is it longer or shorter than you thought it would be?
I have no idea! TBIS will probably be over 400 pages. There’s so much to wrap up, I honestly might have to turn it into two books.
I figure this one will be about 250 pages or so, close to the first one. Maybe 300, but I’m not sure yet.
6| Who’s your favourite character so far?
Michael and Jeremy. Hands down. But Burdy is being adorable as usual.
Cammie, even though she stands for everything I am against. She just needs to let God’s love take over… And Chris, her husband. I feel. so. bad. for him…
7| What’s your favourite memory related to this WIP?
N/A
8| Any special person(s) who helped create it?
Not TBIS, but TSAM was created with Katja, Kassie, Rebekah, Lissa, Jenna, Hannah and Angie (did I miss anyone? 0.0)
9| What’s your favourite scene so far (if you can tell about it without spoilers!)?
Sorry, no can reveal XP
10| Can you give us a snippet?
Nope *halo*
11| Is the story still what you thought it would be or has it thrown you a couple curve-balls?
Both books are throwing curve-balls faster than I can dodge them. As you can see, they don’t know this is baseball and are aiming their throws at my head and heart XD
12| Is there a Bible verse, poem, hymn, picture, or quote that helped shape this story?
Not really, for either of them yet. But I know they are coming, because I always get verses and quotes and songs…
Well, this isn’t a hymn, but The Southern Girl’s Reply and Your Mission both influence TBIS.
13| When and where have you done most of the writing so far?
In bed or on the couch XD
14| Where do you get inspiration for this story?
Watching movies about the Wars Between the States, Pinterest and picture books on the war.
Pinterest, Instagram and rereading To Save a Life.
15| Are you a plotter or a pantser?
I am a plotser (I HATE the term plantser.) I have to have an idea of where the story is going, but if I get too detailed I lose motivation.
16| Do you have a little ritual before you start writing?
Not really, but I’m trying to make one. I do try to get something to drink and something to listen to. Also, a sleeping baby is preferable, lol!
17| Are you thinking of publishing this story?
Absolutely! I think people would riot if I didn’t XD
18| What things have you learned while writing this story?
1865 is depressing and pro-choice people still need to know God’s love.
The Clean Copy
- Has your WIP a working title? If so, tell us! If not, have you any idea of what it might be?
- Have you a synopsis for your WIP? If so, give it to us! If not, can you give us a blurb on what your WIP is about?
- Have you a working/mock cover for your WIP? If so, show us! If not, have you an idea in mind?
- How did you get the idea for this story?
- How long do you think it will be? Is it longer or shorter than you thought it would be?
- Who’s your favourite character so far?
- What’s your favourite memory related to this WIP?
- Any special person(s) who helped create it?
- What’s your favourite scene so far (if you can tell about it without spoilers!)?
- Can you give us a snippet?
- Is the story still what you thought it would be or has it thrown you a couple curveballs?
- Is there a Bible verse, poem, hymn, picture, or quote that helped shape this story?
- When and where have you done most of the writing so far?
- Where do you get inspiration for this story?
- Are you a plotter or a pantser?
- Do you have a little ritual before you start writing?
- Are you thinking of publishing this story?
- What things have you learned while writing this story?
“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers…”—Anne Shirley
Ryana Lynn+Dixie Cross
Jude 22
Ryana Lynn
Christian. American. Southern. Author.
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