books read June 2013

64 books

Our bookclub won copies for each of us and there are video clips where we discuss different things in the book.

  pub june 18, 2013 sweet salt air by barbara delinsky
What I look for in a new book is travel and hope to learn something new. This book does that and more.
Love that the book starts out and they are talking about knitting intricate Irish patterns. One of my favorite things to do.
Charlotte and Nicole haven't seen one another in 10 years time but have briefly emailed one another. They are meeting on the island to work on an island cookbook together.
That's one of the main reasons I wanted to read this book, the island, the cookbook and I love the author's other writings over the years.
Charlotte is the photographer and interviewer. Nicole is the agriculturist and chef. This may be their last summer on the island as with Nicoles fathers death the estate will be sold...
Loved hearing of how they had met and summered together.
Small community where everybody knows each others business and is there in one's time of need.
Like gradual blend of new characters, where they aren't forced upon you, easy to keep the characters straight.
Love learning all the tidbits of information for the herbs and how to use them and for what reason.
The health of Nicole's husband is something very private although he is a world renown surgeon. She is able to open up to Charlotte and explain how she's coped over the years. She also is ready to leave on the dime to be with him when he calls.
They each still hold close to them secrets that might jeopardize their friendship but treasure what they have had in the past..til Julian's health takes a drastic turn for the worse and Charlotte knows she can help. Everybody has choices and decisions to make and they wish upon the red leaf clover that they selected the right ones.
Recipes and meals talked about are a treasure as you can put them together yourself without the measurements of the ingredients. Wish you could smell while reading about it.
Stumbling blocks are put in place with the recipes...Julian's health and Charlottes love life. Love that her boyfriend is an author as we follow his path to success and failure and doubt..
 

Book is based on an island the girls vacationed during summer months when they were younger. This video is where our book club talks about our seasonal island.

Book club meeting MS and how what he went through was similar...knitting caught our attention, herbs

cookbook and knitting stitches, boyfriend sweater

Book called SALT, book overall...

Tuscan Holiday by Holly Chamberlin
Marina Caldwell just graduated from college and before she marries her graduation gift from her parents is a 2 week trip to Tuscany. She's excited til she finds out her mother is going with her.
Her fiancee has a surprise-the honeymoon he's planned for them will be in Hawaii. She had hoped to go play tourist at the Grand Canyon and Sedona in Arizona.
On the trip of a lifetime many times men approach her mother and she's not swayed by them. She accepts drinks and the daughter can't fathom that men find her mother attractive.
She's constantly looking for a gift for her intended although they do a bit of sight seeing.
Love the daily journal and all their deepest thoughts to one another coming to light.  The journey is one that puts you right on the street/museum with them as the details as so great.
Other surprises occur and Marina comes to realize she's not made any decisions as a couple for their wedding. That doesn't quite sit well with her and she plans to rectify that.
I received this book from The Kennsington Books in exchange for my honest review

The Summer everything changed by Holly Chamberlin
Have read most of the authors book in the past and enjoyed them as they are mostly about areas I am familiar with-Northeast coast.
This book is about Isobel and she's just turning 16 this summer. Her mother Louise runs the Blueberry Bay Inn at Maine with help from others.
She's agreed to hostess a wedding during the summer for a celebrity. She does not realize that it means a lot more than just having the event at the inn.
At times the wedding planner calls and tells her she must do things like have the right deodorant there for the bride, have a lobster boat on the lawn, etc.
Isobel's best friend Gwen takes her shopping to different places and she meets Jeff-one of the high class soceity boys who is home for the summer to help his father with the business.
She dates him and sometimes Gwen accompanies them to the movies or to a farmer's market where there are also crafts and vintage jewelry. Izzy has her own blog to stay in touch with others in her past from MA
where she lived before the divorce happened. Her father has let her down by not spending any time during the summer with her when she was to visit his new family in Newport, RI.
Jeff at times, acts weird and it's almost like he's forcing Izzy to do something she doesn't want to do. It causes a rift with Gwen. Other date Izzy sees how he treats others and it's nothing she likes to even be part of.
She talks with her mom about dating him and they talk about sex and birth control, etc. She has a lot of adult choices to make and hope she's had enough guidance along the way to make the right ones...
Love how she realizes there is a problem and how she researches at the library and we hope it's not too late to take action...
I received this book from Library Thing via Kensington Books in exchange for my honest review.

Dandelions on the Wind: The Quilted Heart Novella One   by Mona Hodgson
I wanted to read this book because it's about quilting and I love the 1860's. I do knit for a settlement within 2 hours of my house.
The fact that Maren is blind really hits home for me as well.
Gabi is the little girl whose mother died giving birth to her. She lives with her grandmother and Maren cares for her and the crops and farm animals.
Now her Papa is home-Wooly and he has hair like hers.
Maren especially likes Thursday-quilting day with others. Loved hearing of all the different charity quilts they each will work on... She was to be a mail order bride but when her intended found out she was going blind, he didn't want her.
Now that Wooly was back, if he took over the chores she could return home to Denmark.
Loved learning about the zither!
Love how the book got it's title and it's explained how she feels with the expression...Harvest time where everybody helps one anouther out.
Love glossary of words at the end to guide you along the ay.
Passages from the Bible are quoted according to events happening at the time..
Surprised at the ending and it's to continue in other books in this series.
I received this book from Edelweiss by Random House, Watermark and Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

I have read others in this series and loved them all.
Please consider ranking my review-it means I can get more books to review, thanks

101 Kids Choice Knock Knock Jokes by Darcy Sparkle
I found this book to be exactly what we needed. We talk to our grandson via the computer and
he has some good ones but this will keep us busy for many hours and they are short and to the point.
I like the animal ones as he does frequently mimic some of their sounds.

A Day at the office or The Bastard by Jane Oldaker
Her boss and the things he does really irk her. She tries to stay calm, rid the pressure but she finds more things as her day goes on...
No matter how bad things get she looks forward to returning home to her husband who cooks for her even when it's her day to cook the meal...
Surprise ending for sure!
Other excerpts from the author's other works are included at the end.
I received this book from Library Thing via the author in exchange for my honest review

  pub June 25  The Summer Girls by Mary Alice Monroe

I wanted to read this book because of the cover-the beach scene.
The grandmother of the 3 girls has invited them to the island so they can be together for the last time before she heads to a retirement center.
No spouses or children. Carson on the west coast=her TV show job had ended and she was out of money.
Dora in SC, divorced with an autism child, Harper in NY, personal asst to her mother.
This book hit home real quick as I plan to give one strand of my pearls to my daughter in June.  This summer, 3 months she hoped to reunite 3 women with 3 necklaces. She would also tell them of their father-they each had a different mother.
Love hearing all about the ocean and nature along the shore. Such fascinating facts about dolphins. With the history of the area I feel as if I am there.
A stipulation for the girls and can the women live up to what is expected? Their lifes secret could really become a problem if the others knew...
Interesting to watch each of them pick out one true gift they want..Love hearing about kiteboarding, such good instructions..
At the end of book 1, this means there will be other books in this series, facts about dolphins are given. Now I can't wait for the other girls to get their own books and to keep up with the others.
I loved this book for the travel/locale detailed descriptions as if I was there, friendship and sometimes painful moments they share and that is to come.
I received this book from Edelweiss by Random House in exchange for my honest review.

read 6/24 Mitchell Parker's Anniversary Gift by Jane Oldaker
What attracted me first to this book was the subject matter. We am close to our 40th wedding anniversary also and I thought it'd be cool to see how others celebrate.
Felt such a connection to this as we also did not travel for our honeymoon til 9 months later in the fall. Mitchell has the whole evening planned out, their yearly ritual.
Love the detailed descriptions of the travel involved.
He finds the gift so much earlier than the actual anniversary date. Like how it ends where his usual night is given up to another.
Other excerpts from other writings are included at the end.
I received this book from Library Thing via the author in exchange for my honest review

read 6/24
Meant to Be by Terri Osburn
Was first attracted to read this book by the word 'island' on the cover. After reading the description I really wanted to read the book. It's so much like the life I grew up with.
Living on the island during the summer getting there via ferry. I felt for her pain as she crosses for the first time with her anxiety problem. When she realizes her fiancee's brother was on the ferry and she talked to him after hearing about what she'd be like-she's the total opposite.
Problem is Lucas must return to the city and she will stay there with his parents and brother til he returns...
Lucas is more of a materialistic guy while Joe is very satisfied with his dog and his boat.
Love hearing about the Outer Banks as I've yet to visit there, very detailed descriptions of the locale, sounds heavenly.
Like how she pitches right in with the bar for the family..she's meeting all the regulars and feels most times right at home.
She finds a craft store and loves the woman running it. Love about her time spent there.
There is a rift among the islanders to sell out to the Wheeler Development Corp.
She finds out much about the Wheeler family and takes it upon herself to organize the businesses and rally them towards the Wheelers.
Tingles and sparks ignite when they are around one another when Joe takes Beth to the lighthouse and to see the wild horses.
Misunderstandings lead to the wrong conclusions and they don't get cleared up...
Love that there is another in this series...
I won this book from the author by entering a contest at Priscilla's blog http://priscillashay.com 

read 6/22
Bannon Brothers; Triumph by Janet Dailey
In this family saga the book is about Deke and he works with the agencies.
Kelly and her photographers were filming how the city is wasting money at an abandoned building when shots ring out and she's brought to the ground by a man who is now her guardian angel. She would've been shot without him being there.
She remembers who he is now and she's trying to advance her anchor career and thinks this might be her time.
Lots of action and adventure as they try to help each other out without getting killed. She agrees to tape a conversation for Deke and Hux who are working a banking investigation.
In return they have information they share with her about the shooting and she agrees to travel and help them with her expertise.
As they try to solve the murders more are committed and they are tied in with the financial and art worlds.  Enjoyed the different career paths and their reasoning behind the case they are all determined to solve.
Some facts the men know before Kelly does, her life is threatened and some things she figures out before the men.
I received this book from The Kennsington Books in exchange for my honest review.

read 6/21
Midnight Sons Volume 3: Falling for Him / Ending in Marriage / Midnight Sons and Daughters
Continuing family saga of Hard Luck, Alaska where 3 brothers have started up a bush pilot service for the residents.
The town is small and they also have jobs for women who want to move there to live and work.
The brothers watch as each one finds their one true love they will marry and start a family with.
Love the wilderness and hearing of it on the trips. Light romance.
Especially like the 3rd book in this compilation where Scott was once a child himself just having moved to town with his mother and sister and now he's all grown up and is going to join the family business.
He has apologizing to do to make things right with the girl he left behind...
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

read 6/21
Danny and the Dinosaur by Syd Hoff
This audio book I listened to and it's about Danny and how he discovers dinosaurs at the museum.
He pretends the dinosaur is real and can talk and they set out on an adventure-a ride around town.
They see different things around town as they see the sights. Some waiting for a bus just hopped on his tail for a ride.
They go to the baseball game and cheer for the team and he turns his body into a boat and acts like a boat.
The zoo is a bit hit but they are asked to leave as everybody just wants to see the dinosaur and not the other animals.
The kids teach him tricks and they all have a good time. The best part is the hide and seek game because the dinosaur is so big he can't hide well but the kids have an idea that works.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).




read 6/21

 Journey by Danielle Steel
She works with an anchorman at the news station and takes on more work for the commission. It is an organization to help
battered women to feel good about themselves and to gain courage to take action and do what they have to, to get on with their lives.
She has knowledge and lives it daily but there are no outward signs...
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).


read 6/20

Ted and Raymond's Sea Adventure by Rhonda Patton
I wanted to read this book to my grandson because he is not close by on the west coast to the sea life I am on the east coast.
Love introducing him to new things that I take for granted in my everyday life.
Illustrated colorful children's book where Ted and Raymond set out on a sea adventure.
They go to a center where they are given snorkels and underwater cameras. Ted and Raymond are not quite human but they have human qualities also.
The guide takes them out to a coral reef after they all get life jackets on-safety first.
Love the detailed descriptions giving color and shape and name of the fish they do find.
My favorite is the page showing a lot of different sea shells.
On land they give some children making a sand castle some shells to help decorate it.
What a great adventure! There website is http://www.thecroak500.com/
Wish coloring was a bit more realistic, it's rather bland..

                Pub  June 18, 2013  Knit Your Socks on Straight A New and Inventive Technique with Just Two Needles by Alice Curtis

Wanted to read this book because 1. I love knitting and 2. I've knit socks but need to improve my skill level and thought this is a different way to knit socks.
First are the basics and then different techniques and why they might work for some socks and sometimes other methods look better in the long run.
One thing I found most helpful was the discussion of the different heels and the different toe shapes. I've done a few just following a pattern on 4 needles.
Like the layout of the patterns and what is needed, gauge and just the cleanness of how it's all laid out in front of you.
Love the magnified stitch of each of the socks, and their very colorful playful names for the socks.
Most important to me as I can wear a man's size 10 shoe, love the variety of sizes available.
Fireside would be my favorite, elegant but simple stitching.
For the more challenging there are 5 patterns that are charted. The others are all row by row written instructions.
Great book, one for all levels and you can feel great about being able to make socks if you've dreaded the complications of making them. This book makes them an easy thing to do.
Comes with abbreviations and diagrammed glossary of how to do some techniques. The spiral bound book also would be great for not losing your place as the book can lie flat.
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 post at my blog:

He Belongs To Me By Theresa Rizzo
Book starts out with Catherine graduating and she can't wait to be reunited with her young son, Drew.
The temporary custody she gave her parents years ago they have now turned into legal guardians for the boy.
She'd have to move back to Chicago to get her son and give up her whole life and reunite with her husband who's she not seen nor legally separated from.
As the book goes back in time to when Catherine and Thomas had brought the twin newborns home we find out other details...Court trials...returned letters...death.
This is a painful journey for me as my son was not returned after his father had weekend visits.
Shame you have to not only get the police involved but the court system.
She and Tom come up with a plan to get Drew back but Tom won't leave this time, if it works..
So many things come out in the trial that not many knew of and it helps explain everything.
I enjoyed reading all about the depositions and other legal things as I didn't go through any of that, interesting to find out the process and the paramedic training that comes up.
Like the romantic sex scenes...Catherine and Tom both have friends that help support them through the difficult time.
The family is so damaged I don't think they can ever recover from the harm done..but they are a forgiving group..
I received this book from Library Thing via the author in exchange for my honest opinion

 

 

post Mid June  pub Jul 9 2013  Rosemary Cottage by Colleen Coble

 First I wanted to read this because of the author, I've read many of her novels and they are just great. This one spoke to me because I've not traveled to the Outer Banks yet

but love the movies I've seen of it. Very detailed descriptions of the water and seashore make me wish I was there now-so calming.
Amy is there to find out what happened to her brother Ben. In November he had been surfing and those in the room to help her with missing details told her of what they each knew.
Curtis has a few secrets about the event and he's lost his sister also, and he's left to raise her child, Raine.
Dara is in town for the senator's campaign and she has questions of her own about the deaths-she might have some more clues as well.
Bit confusing at first with all the characters-keeping them straight but after a while you get a handle on things and the events..
Heather is there as a spy and as the story goes along we find out what her motive is...
So many clues to go through and I love the prayer journal-never knew of them. Tenses rise when things heat up: Custody, drugs and love...
Finding religion had saved Gina's life one time.
Loved reading about the bank horses and the food is to die for! Loved hearing about the herbs.
Good story line, adventure, love, food and travel and love all mixed in.
I received this book from Thomas Nelson via Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion

    

     

 pub June 18, 2013 Island Girls by Nancy Thayer

This book I wanted to read for the pretty cover and I've been an island girl, growing up off the shore of RI where the tourists  come tenfold during the summer months and just 100 are there for the winter months.
Talks about each of the women now and how they were summoned to the island for their fathers funeral. Each is from a different mother so not all got to be with their father as they grew up.
We learn of each of the girls ambitions and their careers and I wonder how they will ever survive in the same house. The terms of the will are a bit ordinary but the girls will give it a try.
Arden has a TV show called Simplify This a similar show that Martha Stewart has these days.  She hopes to meet others on the island that might help advance her career.
Meg teaches at a college on the mainland and has a professor in the English dept the same one she works in, that she has taking a liking to.
Jenny is the home body-she likes to cook even. She runs her computer company from her location.
The girls have arguments right off the bat: which bedroom to sleep in, everybody wants the same one, schedules for cleaning and cooking...   they all miss him...
We get a feel of the island life when some go out on dates with men, sailing, swimming and dining out or dressing up going to cocktail parties.
Title has such a cool meaning to the girls, after all this time has gone by.
 Love how the sisters are working together...fascinating watching they do their career work, in action.
when the 3 woman get their mothers to the house on the island for one day/night things are becoming very interesting to say the least...
Love their talk of staging the house and decluttering.
I received this book from Edleweisse and Ballantine Books in exchange for an honest review.




pub june 18 The Lovebird   by Natalie Brown
Like how each chapter starts out with a Latin phrase with English translation under it. The reason why I selected this
book to read was the cover, it's so pretty and peaceful and that it's about a Latin professor. I remember my brother had
a book of Latin and I remember when I was able to read with my new glasses I would look through the book and found it fascinating.
Book starts out with Latin professor Simon Melinkoff at a university in San Diego and she, Margie Fitzgerald tries to get his attention by sitting in the front row of his class.
She's got a crush on him and tries to learn all about his life. We are told of her life, where her father raised her. Simon enriches her life on being green and not harming animals
or eating meats. She joins him and others in doing deeds and protests to help free the animals from harm.
He's in his 50's and has a young daughter, Annette. Margie is not sure if his wife died or just up and walked away from everything. He has his own secrets and she has hers.
When she's put in charge of the group she runs an info session to recruit more and things get out of hand. Things prior to that get the authorities onto her trail. She must leave the area...
The traditions of others that she is sent to are very informative and interesting. They sustain themselves on what they grow...
Descriptions of the fair are phenomenal! Love Indian time!
Love all the different relationships in this book and how they interact with one another.
I received this book from Edelweiss by Random House in exchange for my honest review.

 

  pub 6/16 Restrike by Reba White Williams

I wanted to read this book because there is an art forgery and I had recently watched a movie about something similar.
Cousins  Coleman Greene runs the art magazine. Dinah run the print gallery, both in Greenwich Village, NY.
Coleman has a mystery going on with a magazine on the west coast always printing a week prior to her magazine the same articles and she asks others to help her solve who it could be.
Dinah has her own mystery also-how did the man who's now dead get his hands on the 'skating girl' and the next day it sold for mucho bucks.
Everything that is made, from clothes to shoes to food and hotels has a label, a designer label and the two of them know all the names. It gets to be a bit much at times as I'm just a country girl and can't be swayed by a label.
Love all the detailed descriptions and although there are many characters in the book it's easy to keep them straight.
The book also follows Rachel Ransomme who is overseas and is heavily into art as she's very well trained to spot a fraud.
Murders, places being bugged, forgeries and hidden funds are just a few things going on in this action packed book.
Grand finale is at the end where all the pieces come together and family from the past make an appearance.
Love that this will be part of a series of books using some of the same characters, can't wait to see what next they will uncover.

read 6/14
Wings by Danielle Steel
This is the story of Cassie who's got a lot of other sisters and her father really wanted a boy so he could take over his flying business.
With the help of Nick, the other pilot when she gets older she takes the plane up, during a storm to prove she can do it. After she lands her father tells her he will teach her to fly, Nick helps also.
Her mother finally has a boy, Christopher and his father trains him to take over the business and to fly. He has NO interest in it and doesn't like it.
After high school she didn't want to marry and have babies so she told them she wanted to go to college-an engineering degree. Bobby has proposed and she turns him down for now.
She is in the air show and others are there that want them for their own business-a sky girl-you not only fly planes but go out on dates, publicity etc. She has many choices to select from...
She's offered a world tour and then her brother dies in a plane crash and she remains home for several weeks. She asked Billie to be her co pilot for the trip but it won't be for another year.
Nick makes it back home also finally.  So many tragedies that draw her home again against her husbands wishes-it's all about the tour for him. Love all the travel involved.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

read 6/13
Field of Daisies by Barbara Hattemer
What first attracted me to this book was the cover as it is summer and my daisies are in bloom. When I read the synopsis I hoped this book would help with an aging parent dealing with the same illness.
Seems every week we visit she forgets more things and it's frustrating.
Lans has just talked to her father and he's offered him the VP of the company and after he retires the company would be totally his. Andrea likes the idea of moving from NY to PA where her grandparents had the farm.
Love hearing of the field of daisies as they settle into their new life=her mother has organized parties for them to attend to get to know everybody and has even picked out their house.
Andrea finds out more after her father dies and she realizes he had covered up much of his wife's lapses of memory.  She also witnessed some of her grandparents illness when she spent time at the farm.
The solution they come to is for her mother to move in with them and she does. Evelyn relies on Andrea more though.
Over the present day Andrea goes back to when she was growing up at the farm-where she had first met Lars and their relationship started. Love hearing of all the travel and all the things they did the summer Lans was at the farm.
Lans has given up on their marriage as Andrea doesn't have time for her husband or children-who are at college.
Daisy chains and fireflies-what times they were ! Lan's mother Katherine comes to her rescue with not only praying with her but offering help in a new experimental treatment available.
When Andrea finds out she's more at risk for sudden onset of the disease she reaches out to Katherine again and she in turn hopes her son Lans will be there for her...she again gets help from Katherine and from another angel who comes into their lives but will Lans return to her.
Only their faith in God will prevail, lots of scriptures are quoted throughout the book relating to the problem.
I received this book from The Book Club Network (bookfun.org) via the author in exchange for my honest review.

read 6/13
Midnight Sons vol 2 by Debbie Macomber
This book contains 2 of the series. Hard luck, Alaska where 3 bush pilots advertised for mail order brides.
.
Daddy's Little Helper
This book is mainly about      
but we catch up with all the residents of the town.
Bethany Ross is there to teach at the school. She's met a few of the kids and she believes Ben is her bio father.
Ben runs the cafe.
Mitch has a daughter, Chrissy who wants to hook him up with the new schoolteacher.
Mariah is the new secretary. She has Christian all upset-she can't seem to do anything right. Her father has hired a female lawyer to bring suit to the brothers.
She tries to smooth things over...
We also learn about John's relationship with Sally when he shows up to propose to her and finds her pregnant...

read 6/13
The Widow Waltz by Sally Koslow
Laughed when Lucy and Nicola were reciting 'good night moon' phrases as it's one of my favorites to read with my grandson. What a treasure to find it in this book.
Such heartache when Georgia learns that she has not much money left-her husband rather led a different life she knew nothing of. Her brother Stephen helps her to solve
some mysteries: the money, ring, etc.
Besides Ben's death there is a pregnancy, mortgages where she thought they owned all the houses outright...
As the story goes on we learn all the background that help you understand what's not only going on but things that happened in the past shed light on current things.
Loved learning about the jewelry designing and love all the travel, NY, Paris, etc.
Didn't expect the ending the book had but it was just perfect! Loved where it went!
I received this book from Edelweiss by Penguin Group (USA) Inc.in exchange for my honest review.

read 6/13 Pub Sept 10, 2013 The Christmas Wish by Lori Evert
Anja's dream is to become one of Santa's elves.
She prepared by doing things for others to get ready for the big day.
Besides her horse she has help from a red cardinal and she knows what other signs to look for: stars, Northern lights, etc
She has help from others and they are able to tell a tale from a book she is carrying.
She is given something special by Santa and she wonders if she has dreamed all of this..
What I like about this book besides the story are the pictures, brilliant colors and so many creatures to point out in their native land.

I received this book from Edelweiss and Random House in exchange for my honest review.

read 6/13
Evergreen by Brenda Pandos
Loved learning about the way mermaid and her family live and how they are going to revenge her capture by getting her released. They must travel by car across the country to the safe house in Florida
where others will come to their aid.
Ashlyn will be going to college in Florida-that's the plan as we ended with book 1. But some of Fin's family has remained behind to cause her pain.
In Florida there is mayhem also as others have come after escaping the king and are in danger of dying...
The full truth does come out as to who is royalty and their powers and the mistruths about the clan.
Liked this book and there is another in the series, everlost
I received this book from the author in a book giveaway.

read 6/12
Everblue by Brenda Pandos
When I first saw the cover of this book I wanted to read it and then found out it was about mermaids and I thought that it'd make for an interesting read.
I know nothing of mermaids and I'm not sure I believe in them. This young adult story is about Ash and she's human and in high school on the swim team which she excels at.
Alternating chapters are about Fin and his family who are mermaids and mermen.They have rituals which you learn about and the father is sent away on a mission. The others in the family go through other rituals
which the children were told they'd be able to choose when the time was right. Ash's best friend is Tatiana who is Fin's sister but she goes missing and nothing can explain where she is. The whole family just vanished.
One day she rows their boat to the island and claims their longtime friendship buried capsule and something happens to make her go overboard and almost drown. She is rescued and she learns other things. She is able to go to her prom
and she loves telling Tat about the drama at school as Tat is homeschooled.
Love how the 'promising' works and they pledge to get revenge on the empire to get their daughter back.
Love where this story leaves off and the next one takes up which I've also started reading today.
I received this book from the author in a book giveaway.

read 6/12
Superb and Sexy by Jill Shalvis
This book in teh Sky High series is mostly about Brody and his love for Maddie.
Starts right in where he's attempting to get her back to the job of dispatcher for the company. She does so much more but we find her hiding out with her sister in a log cabin in the woods. No attempt Brody has made will even make her talk to him. She slams the door in his face repeatedly.
You know he probably has no clue as to what he's done to her, this time LOL.
We learn that her sister is being blackmailed so the others in the airline company will help and Maddie can take her place..
Love Leena's career choice and how she tries to get out of trouble by herself but Maddie and her talked about The Plan and no matter what they will pull it off.
Brody attempts to help her and there is mucho sex scenes and you know it's not gonna end well...
There are other books in the series-excerpts at the back of this one. can't wait to read the others.
I received this book from The Kennsington Books in exchange for my honest review

Time Flies by Claire Cook
Class reunions only allow those who have succeeded at their goals, show off.
Melanie had no plans to go. She had been married for decades and she was divorcing him, Kurt. She is a metal sculptor where she would use
any metal she could recycle and create a piece. Loved hearing the welding terms as that is one job my husband was trained to do.
Love hearing of all the decorating ideas Barbara (bj) has plans for the reunion tables.
Listening to the transformation of the box springs is genius, love hearing how they progress..and go for a ride of their life!
I am finding this book hilarious at times as it reminds me of my reunion/school days and the same songs, style of clothes, etc.
Love hearing about all the seashore things, sea glass, as I'm from the same area and she realizes the time has flown by as she sees the drastic changes, even the beach has suffered.
So many songs and lyrics from my neck of the woods also that I totally remember.
Reunion does not go as planned...love this book a lot for the work she does with her hands and her designs.
I received this book from Edelweiss by Simon & Schuster in exchange for an honest review.

read 6/11

Midnight Sun Vol 1 by Debbie Macomber
Hard Luck Alaska, the town is cold but our hearts are warm.
This book includes two novellas: 3 O'Halloran brothers are running a scheme to get unmarried women to their town.
Sawyer, Charles and Christopher are the 3 brothers...
.

Brides for Brothers
Abby Sutherland is arriving in town but she neglects to tell them she's bringing her children with her.
She's lost her librarian job in WA and the boys agree to move with her.
Men are getting the cabins ready for the women that were chosen for jobs in Hard Luck.
The men realize things have changed since the women showed up-they are at each others throats. Love the Christmas scenes.
Love hearing all about the area as it's one place I will never travel to in my lifetime.
Things don't go as planned and Abby and her family must leave to go back to the lower states...
.

The Marriage Risk
The reporter is there to find out how the bush pilots are attempting women to come to Hard Luck to marry and live there.
She's there after college, before her newspaper job and she's there to find out about her grandmother's house that is there vacant.
She is there to learn why the war between the families exist. Lenny feels cheated out of her heritage.
Charles thinks she's the new secretary and she will stand in for a bit while she cleans out her grandmothers house. The wedding of Abby and Sawyer is about to take place also.
She helps the kids gather flowers in the meadow for the wedding til a bear charges them...
Love the travel and the wedding and honeymoon while this book is mainly about Lenny and Charles it's great to catch up with others in the town.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

Midnight Sons vol 2 by Debbie Macomber
This book contains 2 of the series. Hard luck, Alaska where 3 bush pilots advertised for mail order brides.
.
Daddy's Little Helper
This book is mainly about      
but we catch up with all the residents of the town.
Bethany Ross is there to teach at the school. She's met a few of the kids and she believes Ben is her bio father.
Ben runs the cafe.
Mitch has a daughter, Chrissy who wants to hook him up with the new schoolteacher.
Mariah is the new secretary. She has Christian all upset-she can't seem to do anything right. Her father has hired a female lawyer to bring suit to the brothers.
She tries to smooth things over...
We also learn about John's relationship with Sally when he shows up to propose to her and finds her pregnant...
 .

Because of the Baby
Karen's ex husband Matthew, she is done with him and Alaska.  She missed him and Alaska. She caved in when he sent her a Valentine card and she showed up and spent the night with him.
He just couldn't hold a job but otherwise he was perfect.  She returns to the lodge he runs til after the baby is born.
Abby and Sawyer are also having a baby. So many weddings, births the town has grown a lot over the past several years.
Ben gets advice from Sawyer about getting his wife back-picnic at the lake-like he did with Abby and camping out where you zip the bags together.
Must be something in the water as everybody is having misunderstandings and they don't appear as if things can be worked out...
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

The Quarryman's Bride by Tracie Peterson
1880's, St. Cloud MN. Loved the first book in this series, The Icecutter's Daughter and the timeframe. Was so happy to learn I could get this one and the next.
Emmalyne Knox and her father are staying at her fiancee Tavin MacLachlan family house due to the tornado that wiped out not only the younger girls but their house and Emmas' future.
She can not marry-now it's her responsibility to care for her father and mother=because now she's the youngest in the family. She chooses to obey God and not her heart...
11 years later we find Emma, Angus her brother and parents moving back to St. Cloud. Mr. MacLachian has a house they can rent and she's learned Tavin probably went to Maine to find quarry work after they had left the area.
The others in her family no longer had time for God, she still believed in his qualities to guide her in life.
The new doctor Jason, comes to see to her mother's ailments and he is taken with Emma.  Emma is busy cleaning and whitewashing the rooms downstairs as the house is a disaster. When Angus becomes sick the mother, Rowena seems to have spark in her life again along with her faith in God.
The story also follows the MacLachian family and the hardships they endure at home with the sister and at work with union worker's problems and failure of equipment.
Tavin is to return home and help his father run the quarry. He has furthered his career working with stone. He is still in love with her and will hate working where her father and brother work but he gave his father a promise he would work for the contract.
Loved hearing how the stone is alive and can tell stories...Scotish traditions of churning the butter sound so magical-driving the fairies away.
Love how things are solved, not with fists but talking. The priest also helps them to understand that they must have faith in God about all the circumstances that occur to them and friends. Others talk more freely of God also and that sways others to think about Him.
Like that there are two families and few characters to keep track of-with a few others mixed in. So easy to keep track of the people. Love hearing all the detailed descriptions of things-I learned so much.
Many scriptures are quoted to help aide them in decisions and their faith.
I received this book from Net Galley via Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.

 Instant Temptation by Jill Shalvis
This Wilder family saga is about TJ. He's the planner for the group.
Harley is a nature biologist and she and TJ have a sexual past but he was drunk and doesn't remember a thing.
She is under pressure, the rent is overdue and she needs to make a choice about her job. TJ has offered tours, she can guide others that will keep her away a few weeks at a time.
He's got a thing from her so bad that his way to avoid her is to escape to Alaska and do wilderness tours.
If she can get the grant she can relocate to CO and get a good paying job there.
Sexual tensions arise when she's out tracking the coyote population as part of her job and he shows up. They are able to talk and get things off their chests...

Instant Gratification by Jill Shalvis
Emma St. Clair is the doctor in the emergency care in Wishfull, CA. This family saga is about Stone. His other brothers, The Wilder brothers operate the lodge and offer extreme sports tours. They each have their own book.
Everybody had a bear story but she was yet to see one. She has temporarily taken over her father's practice. They were opposites.
Victorian house is converted so she can live where she works.  Stone arrives and thinks he just needs a band aid. Cam and TJ, his brothers, spent time out of town.
She is a city girl and is very bored. They run the outdoor adventure business. He just wants the band-aid and she needs to stitch him back together.
We also get to catch up with his brothers and their love interests.  Stone and Emma each are physically attracted to one another and know they are off limits-no hands, ever.
Stone takes her up the mountain to help deliver the baby...Spence, a doctor friend of Emma's is there for a bit of relaxation and he ends up finding a love interest but he lives in NY and she is in town.
Lot of hot sex scenes and innuendo.  Over time she learns about her real father and how her mother kept her away from him. She also learns more about the work Stone does, orphaned children that he
takes on climbs, etc.  Her father informs her of his health and that he might want to just sell the practice...
She also learns who paid for her college years and thinks she may have to confront them about the money... She has so many choices and options to choose from...
Loved the hiking and nature.

More Than You Know by Nan Rossiter
The girls are all back home to attend to their mother's funeral. As they are going through her thing they do find a ring with a card from David. None of them know who he is.
Love how the phrase in the book describes love and is the title. I have a similar one for one of our grandson-to the moon and back and his response is I love you more... Love to hear Micah and Charlottes response as it is so near to ours.
Their personal lives are in turmoil, for the most part as we find out more deeply about each of them.
The story also follows the life of Micah-a local who now runs a bookstore in Quincy, MA. His wife died and he has their daughter Charlotte to care for while living at his parents.
He helps them with more clues of who David is. There are newspaper clippings and I love hearing of the Old Man in the Mountain as I've seen it myself and have traveled there just last year to see what's left.
Love how they all get along, so easy with one another and as they find more clues in the letters she left them.  Mia had met David when she worked at the artist colony serving meals. Her burden is a heavy one til the day before he's due to leave the area.
Loved learning so much from this book! I had just read the aviator's wife about the Lindbergh's.
Tragedy strikes the family anf they all rally together.  Very detailed descriptions of the places and there are a handful of characters-easy to keep track of them all.
Recipes are included at the end!
I received this book from The Kennsington Books in exchange for my honest review

 The Twins   by Saskia Sarginson
This book is about the bond between twins. In one neighborhood in the 1970's there is a family with two twin girls raised by their mother who becomes a drunk.
The girls go out into the forest and play in the fairy house with a set of twin boys from town. Later on as time goes by we find out somre details as to why one
of the girls is in the hospital and one of the boys is dead.  I found this to be a dark book but really loved the detailed descriptions of the forest and the things
found there-although gory at times it went with the scenery and made the book what it is. Mother meets up with a teacher who has a daughter and they are going to, over
time and dating, get married. Events occur and the whole thing goes awry. The book is set in England, which I have no understanding as to the scenery and social things there
but I did enjoy the story lines of the characters. Especially liked Dot and all the talk of drawing. Love to hear of others using their hands-doing something productive.
 I received this book from Net Galley and Random House in exchange for my honest review.
0749958677

A Healing Heart by Angela Breidenbach
The cover is what attracted me at first to this story. Then I read the description and really wanted to read it.
I and many others were able to chat with the author and we got to listen to her about the quilting and photo transfers. I have done tshirts using this method and it's time consuming.
The book starts out with a stressed Mara and she's going through photos to put into a memory quilt for her daughter who will be off to college soon. She's under business pressure and runs the family ski business. Her husband David had died 3 years ago and left her with the children and that's when she lost her faith in God.
Joel Ryan is there with the government contract that will bring more business to her. After she breaks her ankle her daughter Candence will take care of her while Joel helps with the business aspect..
 ' You have a brilliant interpretation of God's design for Cadence's life in quilt art'  Love this and so happy to hear her daughter will be helping her with the quilt.
Love how all the chat about the quilting is directly linked to God. So detailed!
Joel steps in to coach her with her business and Jill helps. When Mara has heart problems the family rallies together and prays.
Mara hates to ask for help...Love how she is able to pass along the heritage to her daughter with the beading...
Love all the surprises along the way...
I received this book from The Book Club Network, Inc at http://www.bookfun.org/ via the author and the publisher Abingdon in return for an honest review.

The Summer Girls by Mary Alice Monroe
I wanted to read this book because of the cover-the beach scene.
The grandmother of the 3 girls has invited them to the island so they can be together for the last time before she heads to a retirement center.
No spouses or children. Carson on the west coast=her TV show job had ended and she was out of money.
Dora in SC, divorced with an autism child, Harper in NY, personal asst to her mother.
This book hit home real quick as I plan to give one strand of my pearls to my daughter in June.  This summer, 3 months she hoped to reunite 3 women with 3 necklaces. She would also tell them of their father-they each had a different mother.
Love hearing all about the ocean and nature along the shore. Such fascinating facts about dolphins. With the history of the area I feel as if I am there.
A stipulation for the girls and can the women live up to what is expected? Their lifes secret could really become a problem if the others knew...
Interesting to watch each of them pick out one true gift they want..Love hearing about kiteboarding, such good instructions..
At the end of book 1, this means there will be other books in this series, facts about dolphins are given. Now I can't wait for the other girls to get their own books and to keep up with the others.
I loved this book for the travel/locale detailed descriptions as if I was there, friendship and sometimes painful moments they share and that is to come.
I received this book from Edelweiss by Random House in exchange for my honest review.

Willowleaf Lane by Raeanne Thayne
Like this series because it's so real, the problems, the solutions and the community working together.
This one is about Charlotte Caine and she now runs the Sugar Rush, where she makes gourmet sweets. She also has other sweets from other distributors on hand.
Spencer Gregory is back in town with his daughter Peyton who stops in to buy chocolate but is given them as a welcome to the town gift.
He doesn't realize that they knew one another when she was 15. Then she was much overweight and he wouldn't have given her the time of day. He was the high jock who went on to college and got hurt there.
He's back now to be in charge of the rec center that is just being built.
She had tutored him so he could pass and go onto college with his sports scholarship. He didn't treat her very well.
Love hearing about the plans for the center for injured vets and their families. She realizes he's not in it for the publicity.
Nice to learn of the struggles of Peyton and how she fits into everything...
Angel of Mercy-just love this and how others in town pull together when they are needed.
Loved hearing about beading and books and all the yummy food! Due to Peyton's illness they are drawn together more and she finds out what really happened once he left the town when he was 19.
Didn't care for how the book ended and I'm pretty sure there will be more in the series..
I received this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion

 read 6/20      The Newcomer by Robyn Carr
Love catching up with Landon and his mom, Sarah the rescue helicopter pilot and her love interest Cooper who runs a local beach bar after his friend left it to him.  Sarah is concerned about her future and her brother as she's informed about some news from work.
Ashley is involved with Downey who is at college and she shows up to figure out why he doesn't call or text her anymore. Her mom, Gina tries to console her when she returns and the local cop is there-her moms love interest, Mac. Ashley goes to counseling to help
her overcome her pain...
Love what the townsfolk did for Rawley when his dad passed away and all the things Cooper did=so admirable.
Mac has raised his 3 kids along with his sister's help and now his ex is back in town wanting to visit=but CJ gave up all rights...
Love how problems are dealt with that relate to the internet-so up to date...
So hard to hear what all the kids are going through...but I like the solutions that are working.
Kept looking for the newcomer-thinking it was Cooper but he was new in the last book. There are many nice surprises and a lot of worries for many that sometimes don't get worked out..
The saga continues...
I received this book from Net Galley and Harlequin MIRA in exchange for my honest review.

Two of a Kind by Susan Mallery
The Fool's Gold book is mainly about Felicia and others we are able to catch up to date on their happenings. There is enough backstory that gives you tidbits of information about everybody in town so you won't be left in the dark.
She is the smart one and can do wonders but she's not the social type-doesn't know how to take things, even meant as a joke. The mayor wants her to head up the festival as she and others know she will do an excellent job of it.
Gideon attempts to come to her rescue when she screams due to a spider but his war memories crept up on him and he vacated the bulding. He had been held for over 2 years in a 'prison'.
He runs the local radio live station for the folks of Fool's Gold.
Without giving away too much of the plots, some have family closeness problems and they tend to run and others in town come to their rescue.
The bodyguard business is coming along as new equipment has arrived.
Consuela joins the bodyguards in town and she's an asset and lays down the rules to moving in with Ford and Angel.
Felicia figures out quickly that if things are in order for all the major events things fall into place because of her bodyguard friends..
Very hot steamy sex scenes add to this book.
He takes things back to a normal relationship and they talk and learn about each others past and to first dates.
Love hearing of others wedding plans and how Noelle is setting up the Christmas store. Love specialty shops.
4th of July and booths are set up, the one Mrs. Hendrix has is explosive!
Learned all about wine flights! Just when you think things are normal, typical everyday things occur, the surprises pop out. Everybody has them-too many to mention but it'll keep you busy with them all.
There are hints that other businesses are arriving in town along with more people...
I received this book from Net Galley and Harlequin HQN and from the author herself in exchange for my honest review.


What is your favorite part of this book?  When you buy the book and/or join Susan's mailing list  , be sure to let me know, thanks!

Enter the TWO OF A KIND blog tour contest once a day every day from June 25 through July 7 for a chance to win a $25 Amazon or BN.com gift card!  Remember Cheerleader Julie, if you win, I’ll win a gift card, too!

 

Click here to enter: http://www.susanmallery.com/contentpage.php?id=0016

 

Just a simple question to the excerpt will get you an entry into this contest.

Barefoot Summer,  Series: A Chapel Springs Romance (Book 1)

New Series Coming June 4, 2013!

I can't wait until Barefoot Summer releases! This is the 1st book of my new Chapel Springs Series. Set in a midwestern river town, this 4-book series will feature the close-knit McKinley family. I've fallen in love with the McKinleys, and I hope you will too! Each of the 4 adult siblings will be featured in his or her own romance--and let me tell you, the sparks are a-flying! Here's a sneak peek at Barefoot Summer:

"Hold-your-breath romance, heartache, and laugh-out-loud moments. It's more than a good read. It's a delight." --Lisa T. Bergren, best-selling author of Glamorous Illusions

In the years since her twin brother’s drowning, Madison McKinley has struggled to put it behind her. Despite the support of her close-knit family and her gratifying job as a veterinarian, the loss still haunts her. To find closure, Madison sets out to fulfill her brother’s dream of winning the town’s annual regatta. But first she has to learn to sail, and fast.
Beckett O’Reilly knows Madison is out of his league, but someone neglected to tell his heart. Now she needs his help—and he’ll give it, because he owes her far more than she’ll ever know.
Madison will do anything—even work with the infamous Beckett O’Reilly—to reach her goal. And as much as she’d like to deny it, the chemistry between them is electrifying. As summer wanes, her feelings for him begin to grow and a fledgling faith takes root in her heart.
But Beckett harbors a secret—one that will test the limits of their love and the depth of Madison’s faith. Can their new romance survive summer’s challenges? And will achieving her brother’s dream give Madison the peace she desperately seeks?

My Review;

June 4, 2013 Barefoot Summer,  Series: A Chapel Springs Romance (Book 1) by Denise Hunter
Madison's family is large and they own a lot of land that need help with the crop harvesting. Some of the kids have grown up and left the area. Some are still around to help even with their own life's.
The story goes back in time to when she and others in the neighborhood were teens. She excelled in 10th grade and the guy she liked was older. He was a trouble maker and always got caught. He would come with his drunk dad to help with the harvesting.
They are from different sides of the track. She is now the vet and he fixes motors.
Love the scenery of the tower and what it means to them and also the talk of the boating. I found myself drawn to more learning on the subject and also felt a connection with the women at the nursing home as I knit for our local one. They all pray for Maddie and her friends and family.
Her twin brother Michael had drowned when he was 17 and he spent all the money he earned on a boat so he could race in the annual regatta and win all the money. She is terrified of the water and with help from Evan she is able to get used to the water.
She won the auction bid of sailing lessons from Beckett. He also builds custom boats besides fixing motors. She hopes to fulfill her brothers dream after she learns how to sail and fix up his boat to make it seaworthy.
Problems arise when Evan is called away and won't be sailing with her. There is much talk of time spent in church and prayers and bible study throughout the book. Some times they question why God let Michael die.
She is praying for peace at the end of the boat race and to find closure with Michael. Beckett has a secret that may help her or harm her.
Love how Beckett takes charge of everything in his family and just takes over and makes good decisions.
Although there are not many characters there are a handful and they are easy to keep track of. Such a fun easy going book to read I had a hard time putting it down at the end of the night.
Lots of mysteries along the way that only enhance this book to making it a really good read. Trust in God. Love how the book got it's title.
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

About Denise

Denise lives in Indiana with her husband Kevin and their three sons. In 1996, Denise began her first book, a Christian romance novel, writing while her children napped. Two years later it was published, and she's been writing ever since. Her books often contain a strong romantic element, and her husband Kevin says he provides all her romantic material, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too!

Author Website:  http://www.denisehunterbooks.com/

My Review: 



Mystic Perceptions by Jacqueline Paige

 Loved the idea of the book and that's why I entered the contest at the author's website. http://jacqpaige.webs.com/hiddensensestrilogy.htm is the site that has the books in that series and information on them. Love how this series starts out. It reminded me so much of the Mentalist on TV and how Simon goes about solving murder mysteries. In this book Jacinda (love that name!) has senses that come to light when she's near furniture-the wood can tell her stories of the history and what's occurred. There are two detectives that are hot on collecting information of the murders in their town and then Jac Brown is called to help them. She is brought in to help with her abilities that she tries to keep hidden. She analyzes the clues and has some other insights as to what else could link them all together. She knew one of them-a family member had used her services prior to being killed. Didn't see the romance because I was so caught up in following the mystery behind all the murders, quite happy how that all evolved. Also didn't see who the murderer was til the very end-just kinda popped out when you think the case was done/closed. Few characters and very easy to keep track of the others that make a brief appearance. Loved hearing about the sense and out of body experiences-scary for those experiencing it and the ones viewing it from the outside. There is a sample chapter of the next one in this series at the end. At end end Jac searches for information for Sandy in help with another case and that case will be the next book in the series. Can't wait to read that one!
I received this book from the author after filling out a giveaway/contest at their website.
 Also received a cool pen showing small pics of another series: the magic seasons.

Author website Hidden Senses Trilogy Information:
http://jacqpaige.webs.com/hiddensensestrilogy.htm 

read 6/10   Once in a Lifetime by Danielle Steel
Author Daphne Fields was struck by a car and her flashbacks she has of all the extreme heartache over the years she suffered.
The story of her life then is told to us...Christmas eve and the annual party of her friends Daphne is there. On her walk home she is hit by a car and a nurse at the hospital knows who she is and she loves her books and they have made a difference in her life.
Her past college life, getting married to Jeff, having a baby Amy, fire on Christmas that took them away from her but left her pregnant with a baby boy 9 months later. He's deaf and mute and others want to institutionalized.
She finds love again as she lives close by where her child is being raised in the school with kids his age...
Her novel takes off and she does the screenplay in LA with visits to Andrew and sometimes he comes to her. Her love life was going good til she returns one trip. She's always confided in Matthew who spends more time with her son than she...
Love the places this book took me to and the story behind it all. Just a handful of characters, easy to keep track of who is who.
Lots of heartache and pain and faith she will find another 'once in a lifetime' love..
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

read 6/10
Message from Nam by Danielle Steel
Paxton is raised in the south and with an older brother she feels so much closer to the nanny/chef, Queenie than her mother and brother.
Her father had passed away several years ago and she wanted to make her own path in the world. It was just after JFK had been shot and she has strong desires to follow her path and stand up for what she believes in.
When she didn't get accepted at Harvard she chooses Berkley in CA.
She moves in with others at college and forms a bond with Gabby who's there to get a husband and her brother attends to study for his law career. Paxton is into civil rights and she talks to Peter a lot over the months.
Peter is in love with her and she with him as they discover sex. After the first year she returns home to the job at the paper-the society page but she wants to be part of the protests about the Vietnam war. Peter has been protesting by sit-ins.
She has a falling out with her family and goes back to college in CA where she lies with Peter and his sister til Gabby pregnant gets married and moves out. Peter is drafted and not even his father, owner of the newspaper can keep him safe-out of the war.
Family is notified of his death by friendly fire and Pax goes to be with his family for a while.
Although others are looking out for her in the field they take her to the front line...
Love hearing about all the travel and the war details were not so gory to make me stop reading..
She does have a love interest but he's married and they both know she has no stake in each other. She has no home but feels as if Saigon is her home and she feels comfortable there. She travels back there again to be the newspapers war respondent.
She keeps going back to find him...
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

read 6/9  Smart and Sexy by Jill SHalvis
Sky High air charter company: pilots Noah Fisher, Shayne and Brody.
Noah is just back after a 6 month hiatus and he's being held hostage and told to fly the plane to Mammoth Mountain.
He's gotten himself into a hot sticky mess, very dangerous with the sex and the people who are chasing them to get their money from her.
Noah tries to keep his mind on the case, not the woman who's got curves he enjoys touching and rubbing up against.
Love the travel in this book and why they have to go to so many places.
SO many mysteries as where things are hidden, love it! Like this series, only a few books in it and about the 3 guys life's.
Excerpt from the next book is included.
I received this book from The Kennsington Books in exchange for my honest review

read 6/8
Starry Night A Christmas Novel by Debbie Macomber

read 6/7
Ripples Along the Shore by mona Hodgson
Third book in the series and I've read the prior two. Love this series, It's about family, love and surviving with the work your hands do.
This one is mainly about Caroline and how she travels to St. Charles after being notified her husband was killed in the war. She will at least have her friends and one sister around her-the quilting ladies and her sister, neices and one nephew.
1866 is the timeframe when life was simple.  Garrett Cowlishaw is the man who comes to their rescue with getting her trunks to her sisters house. He had also delivered the letter about her husband.
Many times prayer is quoted during the book depending on the circumstances-they are most rewarding revlations.
For so many of the widows and soon to be married women it's a new era, God has a plan for their new changes in life.
Love reference to scraps of cloth and how it relates to grief! " A quilted hear is a transformed heart"
Garrett along with many others hates how Jewell is treated from her husband in a wheelchair. Caroline is having thoughts of also going in the wagon trail heading west...
Double wedding in a barn-what a ceremony!  Love prepared sounds heavenly!
Love references to the ladies who meet once a week to quilt. Love hearing about the quilting blocks they are making and assembling 2 quilts and the cause.
Interesting to find out who will be going on the trek west and for what reasons. The story also catches up with the others in town, their families and lifes.
Authors other works are noted at the back.
I received this book from Net Galley via Random House and WaterBrook Multnomah Publishers in exchange for my honest review.

read 6/7
Castles on the Sand by EM Tippets
Pelican Bluffs, the rich section of town, off the PCH in CA.
This book is about Madison and her friends and enemies. There are a handful that the book concentrates on so it's not so confusing.
She hangs out with Madison whose parents are super rich and own a lot of businesses in town, the Inn, the gallery where her mother exhibits her clay and art for sale.
She was told her father doesn't matter as he's not part of their life but then she meets her brother-a boy that is clearly a Mormon.
Funny to me is all her friends climb in at night to meet with her, through her window.
She saves her friend Kallie's butt many times but when Madison complains about her ex boyfriend Ben Kallie retaliates by hacking into her fb account and posting bad things.
The boy running after her the other day is at her front door saying he's her brother. He's got all the facts about her and her mom Sharon correct. She was told her father was out of the picture..
She finds out also her mom was a Mormon and from her brother John she learns of the other family members. She researches the Mormons to find out all she can about her real background.
She has low self esteem about her life, looks and others want to really be her friend. Some guys just want sex with her and she can't tell the difference yet..
She's not sure who really she can trust-she used to trust Kallie but that's backfired a few times and blew up in her face.
Sometimes she considers Kallie her friend, other times not and we learn what transpires later and it's all on Madison's shoulders to do something...
Love how she uses religion to turn things around..
I received this book from the author after winning a contest at Brittany's blog: http://www.brittanyandbiancablabbooks.blogspot.com/?zx=617e46ecf62fe5b

read 6/6
Against the Odds by Kat Martin
Sabrina Eckhart has inherited land from her uncle, a silver mine if she can find it.
Private PI and pilot Alex Justice flies her there but there is a crash.
After they are rescued they wonder who sabotaged the blades. Lots of spicy hot sex scenes.
She hires an engineer and he does find the mine and took samples to test. Alex accompanies her all the times.
Her car is once again tampered with...and the security team are hot on the trail of leads to find out who's trying to kill them.
Lots of action and adventure..
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

read 6/5

Sea Glass Winter by joann Ross
Matt moved with his mother, Claire to Oregon. He's a basketball player in high school.
They had left the LA area due to the drug influence on Matt.
Love hearing the local attractions to visit when Matt is escorted around the first day of his new school, Amy who he spends a lot of time with.
Claire is a seaglass jewelry designer she blows her own pieces and gets some from the seashore. This book is up to date noting the tsunami and debris washing up on Oregon beaches.
Dillon is a veteran of the wars and is back in Oregon teaching physics and coaching basketball and loved how he could get others to engage in sports.
Love how the class gets rewarded for doing their classwork and teamwork.
This book also follows Feebee who's a chef after having lived in women's shelters after leaving an abused husband. She feels safe now.
She was just going with Ethan, a farmer when she was served papers...
Love catching up with the others in the community, so much always going on..
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

The Carrot Eating Monster (A Beautifully Illustrated Children's Picture Book;...  by Beata Noemi Balint  
A little girl plants a garden and then put it outside. After a while she notices something has been eating it.
Illustrated very colorful children's book. She stakes out the garden to find out who it is that is taking the carrots.
She told her father it was Yeti or Bigfoot and he laughed. This monster didn't like any of her other fruits and vegetables, just the carrots.
One night she and her father lie to wait for the monster and they do find out who it is and why they are taking the carrots!

Jade's Life Skills Series - Learning Manners or To Fart Or Not To Fart...  by Asaf Shani  
This illustrated very colorful children's book shows how you can fart in public but that it's embarrassing when you are in public and around other people. Had some good ideas on how to handle the situations, either at home or in public.

The Trouble with Trolls (A story of manners) by Kurt Zimmerman  
Children's book about trolls and they can teach manners to others in a unique way.
William the prince of the land is a traveler and he comes to a bridge that has a troll living under it.
The troll wants a toll for passing on the bridge. He wants something sweet and simple. William travels back to a farmhouse
and rudely asks for sugar. After the farmers wife corrects him William asks her politely and he is given sugar.
There are very few color pictures in this book. The sugar is not what the troll wanted. He watches others cross the bridge and he talks to the troll again to find out what
he needs to do to cross the bridge. He understands now...

Rachel and Sammy Visit the Forest - A Guide to Spring Woodland Wildflowers by Jannifer Powelson  
Illustrated colorful children's book showing what one can find in the forest.
Love walking on trails watching the new plants come to life in the spring and summer along the coast in RI.
They are able to take a walk in the forest and they do find flowers which are identified from the book they carry.
15 different flowers are featured along with descriptions of their shape and size and some have legends of how they got their names.

Pink Slips and Glass Slippers by  J.P. Hansen
Got a message on Goodreads from the author about his book-this one and directed me to Amazon. I really liked the description and
bought it and told him I'd post my review.
Starts out with Brooke just accepting a new job at Pharmcial where she is a vice president. At a board meeting she meets the head guy and can't even pay attention to what's being said. He's everything she'd want in a man, problem is she must remind herself is 'he's married'.
She is able to get together a team of other competent people to work with her but the whole department is dismissed.
The book also follows Chase and his son. We learn of his past marriage and that his wife wants the child but she was in rehab for a drug problem.  He is having dreams of Brooke and knows he can't date her while she's in his employ.
He has NO idea that the people he hired had dismissed the department she worked for.
There is some sex and romance and a few other peoples relationships come into play to make this a really worthwhile story.
Love hearing how Chase takes care of his son Parker and found the child CD just the perfect thing to do for our grandson while on long car rides.
Lot of misunderstandings on both parts and their faith in God may be able to save each of them..
Loved hearing all the songs and lyrics along the way and finding out what really happened with Brooke and Tanner..
Especially enjoyed the detailed descriptions of the seashore and the food-made me feel as if I was there.
Things really heat up with action towards the end and I love how the book got its title and what they signify.
This book has it all, excellent combination of family, love, romance and work and action and travel and nature.

Video Kill by Joanne Fluke
Wanted to read this book because I've read many other mystery/cooking books by her and loved them all.
This one is a lot different and deals with the movie industry. Learned so many background things by reading this book.
The real killer has photographed all the murders and now the movie industry is remaking them for the tv screen. Many of them are fashioned after Alfred Hitchcock shows.
Book follows Mr. Brother who is an accomplished person who films scenes-he also has a troubled past of death...
Many are trying to find out who the killer is and some are accusing others til they realize they have alibis and now they know where to go to find another death in progress, they hope they
are not too late. Love all the other circumstances that come into play...
Book also includes a sample of the next book in the series, Winter Chill..
I received this book from The Kennsington Books in exchange for my honest review




 

Mystic Perceptions by Jacqueline Paige
Loved the idea of the book and that's why I entered the contest at the author's website.
http://jacqpaige.webs.com/hiddensensestrilogy.htm is the site that has the books in that series and information on them.
Love how this series starts out. It reminded me so much of the Mentalist on TV and how Simon goes about solving murder mysteries.
In this book Jacinda (love that name!) has senses that come to light when she's near furniture-the wood can tell her stories of the history and what's occurred.
There are two detectives that are hot on collecting information of the murders in their town and then Jac Brown is called to help them. She is brought in to help with her abilities that she tries to keep hidden.
She analyzes the clues and has some other insights as to what else could link them all together. She knew one of them-a family member had used her services prior to being killed.
Didn't see the romance because I was so caught up in following the mystery behind all the murders, quite happy how that all evolved.
Also didn't see who the murderer was til the very end-just kinda popped out when you think the case was done/closed.
Few characters and very easy to keep track of the others that make a brief appearance. Loved hearing about the sense and out of body experiences-scary for those experiencing it and the ones viewing it from the outside.
There is a sample chapter of the next one in this series at the end. At end end Jac searches for information for Sandy in help with another case and that case will be the next book in the series. Can't wait to read that one!
I received this book from the author after filling out a giveaway/contest at their website.

sara's song by fern michaels
Dr. Sara Killian meets Dallas Lord, rock star musician. He brought one of the band into the hospital with a heart attack and sees her in action.
Her sister, Carly matchmakes her and Dallas when Sara delivers Billie's clothing to his house. She talks to him about the loss and she learns about his brother Adam and how he does all the bands promo work-all lies. The band members are married with families and that's what he wants a home life.
He has major conflicts with his brother Adam who wants more to his life than being his brother's protector after Dallas had fallen out of a tree when they were kids.
Dallas wants to build a wing at the hospital and he has an ultimatum to the administrator for that with a clause...
As a child Dallas always prayed to God to be like everybody else. The fall from the tree did some damage...
After she loses her job at the hospital he visits her at her house and remembers all her family holiday traditions and he knows he has to marry her-he can buy you whatever she wants, a hospital, etc
She agrees to marry him at his estate. Her wedding gift is the master copy of Sara's song on cd and only the 2 of them will have the copy but there is someone who also knows of its existence.
When his plane crashes the world thinks he is dead and he thinks that might be best for all to go on with their lives without him.....Adam picks up where his brother had been to deal with the estate and band, etc.
Because she has possession of the song and others want it her life and other friends/family are in danger. Others want to kill her...
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
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Crystal Cove  by Lisa Kleypas
My favorite parts: She runs the B&B and he's the only guest staying there, he bought the whole place to ensure his privacy.
Justine was on her way to visit her Wicca friends in her kayak because they live at the lighthouse but she capsizes.
Jason comes to her rescue and now he feels like he is in charge of protecting her/her life forever.
The ladies talk to her more about her powers and they can't understand why they are so powerful as she tells them about some episodes with other boyfriends.
They also explain why Jason has no soul...
Love this series and all the twists and turns and learning about new powers and how she uses them over time...
Locale is just perfect. Hot sex scenes are multiplied with her powers.
Love this series and can't wait for more
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).