About this blog...

Welcome to "Off the Shelf", a book review blog for the rest of us.

What does that mean?  Well, it means we're not professionals.  We're everyday readers, just like you.  To use the popular phrase, we don't know much about art, but we know what we like.

The contributors to this blog have been chosen because we each read a lot of different kinds of books, and at least one of us can offer something the others can't.  Sure, sometimes we'll overlap -- sometimes you might even get two reviews of the same book, from two entirely different viewpoints.  But this way, we can run the gamut from mystery to romance, literary to mainstream, fiction to nonfiction.  To be thorough, we won't just review the new stuff -- we'll go back and review some of the books we've already read, some we liked, some we loved, and a few that we absolutely hated.
 
While we all reserve the right to read and review whatever we want, in general: Lizzie is our romance, mystery, and Christian fiction reviewer.  Princess Ladybug is our mainstream and paranormal romance expert.  Phineas is our resident teenager, computer guru and mystery buff. Cleggy tends to read the nonfiction and literary stuff.  He also works for a library, so occasionally you'll see a repost of a review he did for their Teen blog.  This is not an attempt to "pull a fast one"' -- we just see it as an opportunity to give you more books to choose from.

We are all excited to have this forum to share our thought and opinions, and we hope you'll enjoy the reviews, enjoy the books, and support the authors who make it all possible.

Just a quick note about the reviews: the actual review format was borrowed (with kind permission) from Gene Ambaum and Bill Barnes, the talented, hilarious and humble folks behind UNSHELVED.   Please show your support and appreciation by visiting their site, reading their comic strip... heck, order something if the spirit moves ya!  These guys deserve it.

See you later!

A Wedding Blunder in the Black Hills

TITLE: A Wedding Blunder in the Black Hills

AUTHOR: Kim O'Brien

REVIEWED BY: Lizzie

BRIEF SUMMARY: David is a widowed dentist with a son who is being aggressively pursued by a patient. Millie is the single owner of the local cafe who is being set up on blind dates by her mother at every opportunity. When Millie becomes a reluctant patient of David's due to a lost
filling they come up with a plan to stop her mother's interference and his overly aggressive patient. They will pretend to be dating. This seems the perfect solution until they begin to really care for each other. What happens now?

WHY I PICKED IT UP: I really enjoyed the plot as it was outlined and though I
would enjoy it.

WHY I FINISHED IT: I got caught up with the characters and could really relate to
Millie and had to see if it worked out.

WHO I’D GIVE IT TO: Anyone who loves happily ever after stories.

OTHER NOTES AND CONTENT WARNINGS: I can't think of any content warnings. This book is due for release in September 2011.

Will they discover "The Art of Romance"?

TITLE: The Art of Romance

AUTHOR: Kaye Dacus

REVIEWED BY: Lizzie

BRIEF SUMMARY: In the second book in "The Matchmaker" series Ms. Dacus once again tells the perfect romance story. Dylan Bradley is an artist who is trying to forget his past as a cover artist for "racy" romance novels. His work has led him to do things he is not proud of including moving in with and dating his boss at the college he works for. Caylor Evans is a writer of Christian romance novels, but has a secret of her own. When their grandmothers try to play matchmaker with them will their pasts keep them apart or will the discover "The Art of Romance?"

WHY I PICKED IT UP: I had read the first book in this series (Love Remains) and
could not wait for this one. The synopsis on the back just made it sound so interesting.

WHY I FINISHED IT: I started reading it and could not put it down. I got so
caught up in the story I just had to see how it ended.

WHO I’D GIVE IT TO: Any one who loves romance novels.

OTHER NOTES AND CONTENT WARNINGS: There is some reference to pre-marital sex and the inference to what is in those "other" types of romance novels.

Will she fumble through love or will this be "Her Best Catch"?

TITLE: Her Best Catch

AUTHOR: Lindi Peterson

REVIEWED BY: Lizzie

BRIEF SUMMARY: Allison Doll leads a dull life. She is a single woman who has moved back in with her mom after her father's death to help out her mom. She has friends, church and work to fill her life. However, her life changes drastically when her two oldest friends begin dating and she decides to go on a mission trip. Can things get any more confusing? Yes! Ex-baseball pitcher Ashton Boyd joins her Sunday School class and decides to join the mission trip. Allison's life is getting more exciting.

WHY I PICKED IT UP: The cover looked interesting and the description seemed fun.

WHY I FINISHED IT: Once I started it I could not stop. This is a new author to me and her writing style just kind of grabs you and holds on. I could really relate to the characters and began to care about what happened to them.

WHO I’D GIVE IT TO: Anyone who loves romance novels, even if they have never read a "Christian" romance.

OTHER NOTES AND CONTENT WARNINGS: There is nothing bad in this book. There are a few scenes dealing with death, however.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS are not always right

TITLE: First Impressions

AUTHOR: Debra White Smith

REVIEWED BY: Lizzie

BRIEF SUMMARY: Edie Bostwick and Dave Davidson take on the iconic roles of Elizabeth Bennett and Fitzwilliam Darcy in this updated version of Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice set in present day East Texas. When they meet during a local production of Pride and Prejudice life begins to imitate art. They argue, fight and fuss.... in the end will true love conquer all?

WHY I PICKED IT UP: I love Jane Austen books and had read some of Debra's other books.

WHY I FINISHED IT: I loved the story and the way it was written.

WHO I’D GIVE IT TO: Any Jane Austen fan or anyone who likes to read romance novels.

OTHER NOTES AND CONTENT WARNINGS: There are references to premarital sex and drug use.