Tima Murrell

Smashwords book reviews by Tima Murrell

  • The Terminal Diner on Aug. 24, 2011
    (no rating)
    Elaina's mother left when she was sixteen. Her only advice - "Men like pies." So Elaina has spent the past twelve years working in the family diner making the best pies in the state. Her sister has a life, her friends have a life, but her life is the diner and making pies that men love. Then 9-11 happens and her life (and the lives of many others) will never be the same. For some reason I started reading this book expecting a murder mystery. There is murder and a bit of mystery, but I would classify this as more of a romance than a murder mystery. The story centers around a group of people and a diner located close to the airport (hence the name of the diner). I'll be honest, for the first several chapters of this book I was very bored. I know that the author had to lay some groundwork for the story to make sense, but the story just plodded along. Then, all of the sudden, it picked up and I couldn't put the book down. There were a couple of characters that could have been developed a bit more to help with the story line, but for the most part I enjoyed the book once I made it past those first few chapters. I will definitely be checking out her other books. I received this book free of charge in exchange for my honest opinion.
  • Shero on Aug. 31, 2011

    This was not a book that impressed me. The description sounded interesting so I agreed to read it. But from the very beginning the book seemed forced and contrived. I tried so hard to enjoy the story and ignore the whining of the main character, but I just couldn't get past it. If the author wanted sympathy for the main character I think he could have made him slightly less annoying and it would have helped quite a bit.
  • Hannah's Blessing on Sep. 12, 2011

    Hannah is distrustful of men. Her husband drained her trust fund and then moved on to other women. After his death she takes her daughter and tries to move on with her life. Then Devlan enters the picture and changes all of her ideas about men and having that forever kind of love. But she's still so scared that she almost ruins everything. I loved the way that this book was written. It grabbed my attention from the very beginning and never let go. The story flowed well and kept me entertained the entire time. Would definitely recommend if you want a feel good romance. I received this book free of charge in exchange for my honest review.
  • Forever Sunshine on Sep. 28, 2011

    Cherisse takes a call from her sister that will forever change her life. Her sister Shelly is living in an abusive relationship and needs a place to stay until her husband calms down. But it doesn't go exactly as planned. Before the night is over Cherisse will meet a man that will help not only her, but her sister. The book deals with abuse, grief and love. The Prologue begins with Cherisse writing about how her doctor told her that perhaps writing about her grief would help her get past the pain. So you know that there will be sad parts from the very beginning. The author warned me that the book would be sad, but it was also nice to have the warning at the beginning. Just in case I wanted to have some tissues handy. There are some books that capture your interest from the very beginning and never let go. When I get a book like this I am so into the book that I fail to notice what is going on around me, I don't notice if something is worded wrong or misspelled. The world fades and I begin living the story. This is just that sort of book. I couldn't put the book down. The subject of spousal abuse was handled so well. It really showcased what is going on in the lives of these poor women. This book is labeled as fiction, but truly felt like I was reading a true story. The main character is telling her story in first person. So I felt like I was given an even closer look into her life by hearing the story in her own words. I arrived early for an appointment and finished this book in the car. I sat in my car and cried my eyes out. I HATE sad stories, but I would read this book again, it was that good. And also to be fair, only about 2 chapters are sad. The story ends well and left me feeling thankful for my wonderful husband in more ways than one. I appreciated the way the author showcased a beautiful marriage and an abusive one. It leaves hope for the abused wife that there are wonderful marriages out there. I would highly recommend this book and can't wait to read the author's next book. I received this book free of charge in exchange for my honest review.