61 reviews
read 7/31 The Christmas Cookie Collection due out oct 29
Waterfront Weddings
When I first saw the cover I wanted to read the book, that and the title.
There are actually two books in this one book.
Wedding to Remember in Charleston, South Carolina by Annalisa Daughety
Jefferson Boudreaux and Summer dated in high school. Their knit circle calls them the 'it' couple.
Problem is she met Luke Nelson who cared for the lawn. They married and were having an anniversary soon.
Ashley Watson works at Summer's wedding business in Charleston.
Summer is an event planner and very busy. Luke works as a park ranger and also plays in a band some nights, bowls and is busy most nights.
Their marriage is on the rocks and then she finds out he used the baby fund money, he doesn't even consider her feelings...
She can't understand why the Lord has let them down. She's got faith, Luke has lost all his with the events that happened in the past several months.
He has problems of his own and opens up to Summer just as the hurricane is heading towards the hotel they are at where she's the wedding planner.
Justin and Ashley are also there and they get to talk about things also..
Love the location and also how both of their sides of the story are told, very fun one to read..
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I received this ebook from Barbour Publishing's NetGalley Public Catalog in exchange for an honest review.
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A Wedding Transpires on Mackinac Island by Cara Putnam
Alama is back on the island to help run her parents art store since her mother is caring for her father who's had a stroke.
It's been over 11 years and when her brother died she's not been able to make peace with the details. Jonathan lives there and does event planning, works with many committees to get tourists to come to the island.
Never traveled there but have heard many others describe the locale. Seems a very friendly atmosphere and many different types of shops.
She is also a trial lawyer and had just finished a case when in walks the man who got off and buys a $5k painting.
They live next door to one another and share a dock. They each hold many secrets and over time we learn of some of them.
There are many mysteries and some are uncovered as the story goes long. Some she has clues to and must solve herself.
The past she finds clues of what happened the night her brother died. And now she's been volunteered to help the committee and to find the missing $25k. and her mother shows up and she questions her about the paintings that are so unlike her mother's that she leaves the next day.
With Jonathan's help they are able to solve some things and she does turn to God to guide her to do the right thing.
I received this ebook from Barbour Publishing's NetGalley Public Catalog in exchange for an honest review.
Crossing the Bridge by Michael Baron
I have enjoyed many of this author's works and when I noticed Libboo was offering it for buzzing I applied and won a copy.
This is the story of Hugh, alternating chapters of past and present. His life and those in his life along the way. His younger brother Chase is now dead
and Hugh has been on the road since then. He has a thing for his brothers old girlfriend Lisa and they meet while she's in town. He had to return home to take care of his father's store after the heart attach.
His mother is still living and he stays with them temporarily. We find out the links they all share to the past over time.
Heartbreaking memories of his brother that he never got out of his system and he fears his father never finished grieving for him also. I was happy to learn of the games they play when Chase was the one who would play.
Loved hearing the wood shop and his strolls through the house when he's there by himself to help him remember Chase.
Like how the book got its title. Ten year anniversary is approaching and they are trying to deal with new information...
I received this book from Libboo.com in exchange for my honest review.
read 7/31 The Rocking Chair by Steven Manchester
This is the story about a rocking chair that sits on the porch of a Montana cabin. John and Alice had met at the Grange Hall and danced and later got married.
Love the traditions and hearing of the quilt Alice had made. They have very strong faith in God.
Now that she's older and losing her memory John is very upset because she no longer knows who he is. Elle, the daughter in law comes to help them cope with everything and the cabin-she lives nearby with her husband, Hank.
John summons all the grand kids home as he feels Alice doesn't have much longer.
Hank needs to make peace with his life and that of his family. Tender, gentle, touching, calming ways.
The story also follows all their children and their lives-quite different but interesting. Like the story as we are going through the same thing as Alice. Amazing how this author can get the story across where it takes other 500 pages to do the same.
A gift passed down from God. Love grandpa John's tips in plain farm terms and how he helps the younger ones with their life problems.
I have read some of the author's other works and find the stories very moving and touching. I also have a rocking chair since I was first married and they no longer make em like that.
Excerpts from 2 other novels from the author are included.
I received this book from Libboo.com in exchange for my honest review.
read 7/30
Demon Rumm (Loveswept, #197) by Sandra Brown
Kristin Rumm is writing a book about her husbands life and his work.
There is a movie that is coming out about it with Ryan North playing the major role. He moves into her beachfront house so he can get a feel for the hero.
He finds himself very attracted to her an she leans into him as well...
He agrees to do the stunt himself, the crash that had ended her husbands life. Something doesn't go just right and his gloves are smoldering and he's on his way to the hospital...
He had cuddled her the night before when she cried out because of the nightmare of when her husband had died. She keeps reliving it and now she delivered the script changes to the set and saw the crash again for herself.
She still has questions about the original crash and is able to visit the airport and ask those who were on duty more questions to help ease her mind..and they are able to reenact his time at home prior to the crash..
Hot steamy sex scenes and I especially liked the house layout-the dining room specifically where it hangs over the cliff with 3 walls open to the ocean scene below.
Three Little Words by Susan Mallery Fool's Gold #13
This Fool's Gold book is mainly about Isabel and Ford.
Lots of fun scenes and heartbreak for many along the way. Glad to catch up with the others and how their life's intertwine.
We do catch up with the others in the town, marriages, births, new business openings, etc.
Such a fun loving caring community where everybody turns out when one of their own is in need.
Ford had returned to start the business with Justice and Angel. He was dreading coming back as he's been in the military and his mother and sisters hover over him...
Isabel is back in town to bring her mothers bridal shop up to date and to get it ready to be sold, then she will return to NY.
There are other romances and new people come to the area to live and work. The outcome isn't what you would typically think...
I received this book from Net Galley and the author in exchange for my honest review.
read 7/29 Hawk O'Tooles Hostage by Sandra Brown
Book starts out with Scott being kidnapped and his mom Miranda won't let them take just the boy. The Indians hold them hostage because her ex husband had shut down the mine where the Indians work.
They travel and stay with other Indians along the way, rural, no phones and others she meet won't help her get away.
Love hearing of the locale of where they do live while negotiations are being worked on.
She fancies herself falling for Hawk and she knows she can't. One night she and Scott attempt to escape but they are caught...
She finds out the truth about her ex husband and Hawk's plans...Will she ever have freedom again? Hot spicy sex scenes.
Tidings of Joy excerpt is included at the end.
I received this book from the author via FB in exchange for my honest review.
Leap of Faith by Danielle Steel
Marie Onge has lost her parents and brother on their way to Paris to drop him off at school.
The old nanny was too old to care for her so they sent her to Iowa to live with her great aunt where she was a slave to the woman in a wheelchair.
She met Tom who was the foreman and he helped her from time to time.
She meets a boy in school who she teaches French to and he teaches her to write in the English way.
After the years and she is now 21 and he had given her a car to get back and forth to college she has to tell him the news the lawyer had just given her.
She was leaving for France with a promise she'd be home for Christmas. Billie had a local girlfriend but he really did love her.
She stopped to see the lawyer and she was paying Billie back for the car by giving him a Porsche.
She finds out the truth about Bernard who she meets living at her old house in France when she arrives and falls in love with him.
Lots of action.
read 7/26
Against the Storm by Kat Martin
Maggie had a man take her camera away from her. She had photographed a woman leaving her lawyers office. She was a celebrity.
Maggie now needs his help-Trace Rollins, he used to be in the service and now runs a security office.
She has been threatened with the notes left on her car.
He is highly attracted to her and he should turn it over to another associate...
She agrees to tell her all about her past so he can find whoever it is that is threatening her..
Someone has been in her house and the cops have to be told. Problem is Trace doesn't know she has a past with the cops....Lots of hot steamy sex.
Scary that she is being stalked and there are clues. Love the talk of her work in the photography field and her events to promote her works..Just when they think they have solved the mystery they go back to their regular life and stop paying attention to clues.
Maggie's sister also has a chance at love, with her baby and a man..
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
Don't Be A Chicken by Binks from Member Giveaways at LibraryThing.com for my honest review.
I was happy to get this book as I enjoy kids books that I was never able to see when I was young being that I was blind.
Illustrated very colorful children's book about the chickens that Aunt Sissy takes care of. She makes sure they have food and a nice house to live in.
They in turn give her eggs. One day she finds an abandoned egg and brings it to the head chicken to sit on. The egg hatches and it's not quite a chicken but something else...
Gander grew up and he likes the water and puddles and being outside. The chickens do not. Gander protects them against the dog barking and other noises.
He is so brave. Gander must go south as the weather is cold now and he's so big, too big to stay inside. He has big wings and he can fly. The others tell him to come visit in the spring.
He tells them how they can be the same as he is...
Tour Details: http://www.jkscommunications.com/virtual-book-tour-for-deborah-plummer-busseys-the_family_that_stays_together/
Brief Description:
When a television celebrity becomes suspect inthe murder of her ex-fiancé, sister sleuths Kathy and Tina rally
to support their family friend. Soon they end up in trouble. Will
family ties be strong enough to protect a suspected murderer?
my review:
The Family That Stays Together by Deborah PlummerLove that the family sticks together in time of need but I did find the characters a bit confusing.
Seems this might be a series and not a stand alone book so I felt left out not knowing their past.
The sisters TIna and Kathy are hot on the trail to find out who murdered the ex but they find themselves on the hot seat trying to help. Liked how the clues are given.
There are a lot of other characters that play a part in helping them.
I received this book from Net Galley via JKS Communications in exchange for my honest review.
Montana by Debbie Macomber
Molly is not only going through a divorce but her husband had dragged her name through the court trials when he took money from others.
Now that she's moved back home to her father's ranch in Montana she has a lot on her plate. No job but taking care of everything on the ranch.
Sam Dakota is the hand that has not only taken care of the ranch but her father's ailing health. She finds out other tidbits about how desperate things really are.
There are so questions as to why things are breaking and other incidents that don't sit right with her. The lawyer wants her to sell everything when her father Walt dies.
As she has no outside income she has to keep the ranch for her and the boys. The fences are now down and the cattle is moving. What next..
She thought Sam was different than other men but he had asked another ranch for a job - after her father was dead...
The story also follows the woman next door, Pearl. She has many hardships and others are threatening her..
Walt has an idea for Sam and Molly to get married-that will secure the ranch.
Cattle rustling, fires, killings and then being shot at, lots of action in this book.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
read 7/26
Fingerprints by Barbara Delinsky
Carly Quinn is now under the witness protection program and she lives in MA. She has visited a few local touristy places to help fit in.
Her father she only calls when she really needs him. He has no access to call her but he has access to the agents who can help her.
Ryan Cornell, a lawyer, is new to her complex. Ryan is the runner she had walked across his path earlier. He had locked his keys in his car.
Sam Loomis is the agent and his partner is Riley. She had seen something that will put others away in jail forever. If it comes to trial she will have to testify.
Needlepoint helps calm her. Her mentor is Sylvia and she loves to teach her new things.
Gary Culvert is the criminal she hopes to put away.
I got wrapped up in this book and can feel/sense the danger just around the corner. Things aren't going good with her as the criminal is appealing the decision and he may get off...
Lots of hot steamy sex as she learns to trust him.
Sheila is back in her life now also as she moved to Boston. Ryan sets up his brother Tom to date Sheila so they are a foursome now.
Carly almost wants to confide in Ryan about her past but will it be safe?
Things don't add up and Ryan figures a few things out. There are other signals that Carly doesn't see...
read 7/25 The Castaways by Elin Hildetbrand
Each of the 3 couples think they may have contributed to the death of their friends. They leave behind 2 kids.
The story goes back in time to when they all grew up and met on the island to live.
Alternating chapters of the individuals get to talk about how they feel they were at fault and why they think so. The investigation proves
other things are at fault. Lots of memories from 9-11 are brought up as they play a part in the whole thing. Everybody confesses what they know to the chief of police.
Love the descriptions of the places they traveled to and how the book got it's title.
read 7/24 Hometown Girl Chesapeake Diaries #4 by Mariah Stewart
Brooke is back in town living at her brothers (Clay) house and he runs the vineyard.
Her son is just now 8 and her husband never got to celebrate his birthday-he died in the war.
She's been busy with classes and now her new cupcake business that is taking off as others are helping to sell them at events.
She runs into Jessie who is also now back in town to take over where his dad left off at the lawyer business. She's getting all her and her sons' affairs in order.
Happy to hear of the ideas of decorating cupcakes differently.
Her lawyer and her petition Uncle Jason to find out the status of the company that Brooks husband had with his brother Jason.
Jason takes things the wrong way and sells it all and delivers a check to her. That was so far from what she wanted-he didn't stick around to learn about things.
She has choices to make-she can live in town, closer to work but further from Clay. What is the best thing for Logan?
If I Had Long, Long Hair by Angela Hunt
Illustrated colorful children's book about a girl that wants more than anything long hair.
Loretta can braid it so her friends can jumprope with it. There are many other examples of what she'd do
to help others if she had long hair. Such silly ideas.
Crazy Town Upside Down: An Alphabet Book by Vanessa and Philip Rouse
Illustrated very colorful children's book that is silly, a good silly.
This alphabet book is a bit different than others I've read. It shows the letter and with arrows shows you how to draw it.
There are also many words on the page of each letter page and the words are also shown for a lot of different things.
Each page is showing moving things making this a very fun book to read. there are so many things to talk about on each page.
At the end there is a sample worksheet page with the letter d and h.
Really enjoyed this alphabet book as it's for the children that are having a problem with writing.
Children story-"Dancing With The Sun" (Girls Empowerment & Self Esteem Ebook Series) by Ally Nathaniel
Illustrated very colorful children's book about how dancing can help a girl with self esteem.
The little girl sees herself as having wings as her arms and when she stretches them she can reach places so far away.
There are many other examples in the book but you get the idea it allows one to dream and make things happen that make them happy.
I liked the story for the creativity and for allowing a child to show what she can do to express her words.
I am an ELF: a children's picture book by Amabel Pearl
Illustrated very colorful children's book showing an elf in Christmas attire.
I love the concept of how to use this book-they only want you to concentrate on the main word of ELF on
each page. but there is also a story on the other pages making it a complete story.
At the end there is a section to visit the author's website for more of their works feautring the same concept of learning words.
The Maine Woods by Henry David Thoreau
1961 Book is broken up into different parts of Maine and then by category of trees, flowers and Indian words, etc.
I was fortunate to visit his cabin at Walden Pond in Concord, MA where you can walk and see how he lived there and survived on the land.
Loved the tips the Indian gave him on direction and how to use nature to tell you where you are and how to figure out where you needed to go to.
Really enjoyed the adventures and the things they saw together and at the very end is the index of trees and whether they are common or not and
other little tips during the trips stating what kind of tree to use for the fire to cook certain animals they had killed and why that particular tree.
So much to learn!
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
Lucky in Love by Jill Shalvis
Ty has 4 year old nightmares that wake him up. He was a SEAL and he had escaped, alive. He's in lucky Harbor now he is a private contractor for the government. His last job contract when he fell out of the 2 story house had broken his leg. He's there to recuperate.
Love little different 'chocolate' sayings at the beginning of each chapter.
Mallory Quinn is a nurse and lives in Lucky Harbor. During a freak spring snowstorm she and Amy get trapped in the bakery shop when the tree falls on the shop.
After she saves him he is able to return the favor at the auction-many times over.
Hot steamy sex scenes. Love the excusions they go on. When drugs are missing at the center will she take the fall and leave her job to protect him and she's not sure it was him that took the drugs or ...
Others step in to take the fall that is most unexpected and more secrets are told...
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
Ladybugs Have Lots of Spots by Sheryl and Simon Shapiro
Very colorful illustrated children's book showing how to use shapes to help a child count.
Book starts out with circles with examples of everyday things in our life's : buttons, inner tubes, ladybugs, foods etc.
My favorite is the picture of the globe showing the Earth.
I received this book from Net Galley via Annick Press Ltd. in exchange for my honest review.
Between You and Me by Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus
This is a story of Kelsey who has now become a rock star and her cousin Logan. She does come to visit in Hollywood and gets to see how Kelsey's life is-so different than her job behind the desk in Oklahoma.
When it becomes apparent the assistant is not going to work out Kelsey wants Logan to work for her and she accepts. We travel with them and the details are so well described that I felt like I was there with them.
All the little details come out and I especially liked the path near her house and what treasures they find there.
There are many family problems along the way..and some secrets should not be told.
I received this book from Net Galley via Simon & Schuster, Inc. Atria Books in exchange for my honest review.
Ernest Hemingway (Bloom's Modern Critical Views) by Melissa McDaniel
Bio and memoirs of Ernest the writer.
Good summary of his life and his works and things
that really did happen to him in real life. Very adventurous man-he'd go chase after a story
rather than wait for it to come to him. The story is set straight about the wartime years-
reports of him carrying others to safety. he wasn't even able to move himself.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
read 7/19
The Island by Elin Hildenbrand
Tate woemn-two generations in the family beach cottage.
Secrets they all hold.
Birdie Cousins is helping her daughter with her wedding preparations.
Chez cancels it all....Birdie calls on her sister and the other daughter for help.
Summers past have their own chapters to help understand what transpired prior to this gathering.
What happens to Chez next is unforeseen... The others in the house try to hold it all together.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
read 7/18 A Summer Affair by Elin Hildenbrand
Claire is not one to say no. She's married with 4 kids and she wants to chair the gala for the summer.
The women had met at the bar and Daphne had way too many that night. Many had blamed themselves for her driving herself home and getting in an accident. They set up meals to be delivered to the family. Lock is her husband and Claire feels guilty.
Claire is a glassblower and I love watching them do their art. She's to meet Lock to plan the children's gala for the summer.
Jason her husband was going to kill her as they had been together for over 14 years total and here she was accepting another duty that will keep her away from him and the kids.
Her glassblowing almost killed the youngest child so she was going to put that on hold til school age but the charity needed her to do an item.
Others intrude and are on the committee that rub Claire the wrong way. Problem is the person she has to work with is a man, one she wants, and they enjoy wine and other things.
Claire feels guilty when the affair starts and knows she has to end it. Besides the art she must create Claire also has to stick to her guns with others when they want to change items on the invite: the name of the place it will be held, her name, name of the event itself.
Other parts of the book follow other important people that are helping on the gala.
Shavon is the one providing the food and will be at the gala doing the same.
Story also follow Mac West and his addictions...
Gavin feels people owe him so he skims off the top and will not get caught-Lock owes him also..
Relationships are stretched to the max and the potential for them to break up is high. Hard to watch this happen and you hope things change along the way so the truth comes out and others forgive to save them all.
Things start going wrong and the gala is just a few weeks away, can it be saved?
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
read 7/18 Twisted in Tulips by Nikki Duncan
Misty Morgan was rescued from the attack by Jace Nichols. He had even saved her shoes-her most prized possessions.
She helped run Tulle and Tulips Designer Weddings with others.
Jace was hoping to get a high tech job with the security company but because he had saved her from the attack, the cops came and that put him very late for the interview.
At the bar they are with others at separate tables and after she leaves Jace follows her and with his military background he is able to gain access to her town house.
He tries to explain to her to cover up more that she's inviting unwanted men to stalk her. When he wakes from the nightmare he knows he has to get out of there as he doesn't want to divulge his secrets to her, yet.
Misty has her reasons for dressing as she does.
Love the wedding decoration ideas and how to cut costs for other parts of the wedding.
He surprises her with not only a note ... and something she thought she'd never have again. She knows what and how she will repay him with.
Like how this is a series and some of the same people are in the same books. They can be read out of order. Love how the book got it's title and there are excerpts of other works at the end.
I received this from the author and will post my honest reviews.
read 7/17
Aspen Gold by Janet Dailey
From the glitzy coast where movies are made she has to go back to her home in Colorado to take care of her fathers estate.
Kit has many choices along the way, to sell everything and go back to her life or to stay and carry on with Clint who's always been there for her.
After the movie where John has also always been there for her she must come to a decision...
It comes to light that somebody was lying about selling the land. When Sondra approaches Kit it's with the intent to kill her..
Confessions and truth comes out..
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
read 7/17
Animals Give Kisses too, Messages of Love and Friendship for Children by James Mayrose
Illustrated colorful children's book showing not only the animals but tells a story of how they are able to express themselves.
29 different stories are highlighted and my favorite would be the penguins.
I received this book from The Library Thing (librarything.com) via the author James Mayrose in exchange for my honest review.
B00DYKHWHW
read 7/15
Uncharted: An On the Island Novella by Tracey Garvis Graves
i had read On The Island and it was the best I had read for that month and was happy to learn there was another book to go along with it.
This one is about Owen Sparks and he's had enough of his corporate world. He makes arrangements to just disappear for a month which he pays for along the way.
The story in the journal is told to Anna and TJ when Owen visits them.
Interesting to find out the things he encountered vs what Anna and TJ had found.
While the story is told Anna and TJ both have times when they do compare what happened to them on the island to what Owen is telling them...
Owen has unfinished business on the island and that's why he's there now...
Liked how all the ends are finally tied up together, linking their stories.
There is also an excerpt from 'Covet' at the end of this book-a new one out this fall by the author.
I received this book from Net Galley via PENGUIN GROUP in exchange for my honest review.
read 7/15 The Guest House by Erika Marks
I first wanted to read this book after listening to Erika and other authors talk in a Writerspace chat about their latest releases.
Love having the book in my hand-even feels like the canvas that covered the old wooden sling chairs at my grandparents beach house around Sachusett Point back in the 60's.
This book is about a house on Cape Cod and we learn that Mr. Tucker had a thing for Mrs. Wright. We learn as the chapters go back in time to the present that it started a family feud.
Now that each of the families have children and they are grown up we get to follow their paths in life. We do find Lexi (Alexandria) has just returned from being overseas and shes an architectural photographer.
Lexi's brother Owen has a daughter Meg who also lives in town as he's a carpenter.
Cooper Moss now is a writer but he is stumped as to what to write about..
Lexi's mom, Edie when she was younger did everything she could to join her dad's building company and now in her 60's she has her own building company.
When she hears from Cooper about photographing their houses for sale but first to be put in the historical society she jumps at the chance for it. She had gone out with his older brother, Hudson. Hud was the one to give her the first real camera she had.
It held other significance as well. Other treasures are found aking the way.
There are other family members that are followed in this book but they are easy to keep track of. I love the fact that so many generations and their related problems are brought up: everything from teens, to over 30 to over 60 groups.
To me that makes a well rounded tale. Surprises for all.
Love the locale, cooking/recipes, people with careers using their hands, descriptions of the seashore, wash-ashores-reminds me of the island I grew up where not many are left but plenty of others, all the tech photography talk, all the little details.
Hope Meg gets her book along with catching up with the families and maybe one of them can buy and move into the Moss house?
Loved this book so much I went and ordered the author's 2 other books.
read 7/14
What Will I Play While You Are Away? (Deployment Series) by James Thomas
first wanted to read this book because I thought what a unique idea for a book.
Love the ideas in the book, especially the paper chains and how the days are counted til your dad is back home.
Lots of things to play with and to take photos of them all and mail them so they don't feel left out.
The Plateau: Voices of the Earth by Maureen Dudley -
Author Website: http://maureendudleybooks.com/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16270767-the-plateau
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Maureen-Dudley/575738965779233?fref=ts
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Plateau-voices-Maureen-Dudley/dp/0978539397/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1370992433&sr=8-1&keywords=Maureen+Dudley
My review:
The Plateau: Voices of the Earth by Maureen DudleyI received this book as part of the Summer Reads Blog Tour, summer reads for the whole family.
Besides highlighting the event I wanted to read all the books in the category so you, the reader would know about them from my view.
This one starts out with Catherine and her father is in the hospital with a heart attack. She travels to be with him and her twin sister, Maria who is there who is dead.
Her husband Henry will meet her there. She endures many sights along the way.
The story is also following a colony that lives under the earth and they are able to foresee the happenings of the people that helped form the earth.
Ternan is able to see exactly what is happening to Catherine and her father and others. He attempts to gain historical documents so he and others can trace the past.
It was a bit confusing to see how the two are related and their pasts as you learn about them over time. Good story but on a bit of science fiction...
Mystical, Magical powers where they can be transferred to others when one dies... So much to learn...
There is a mental bond between the present and the past and if they can they might be able to change the events of the past leaving the paths to the present different...
Saga continues on in Book 2 and then Book 3.
I received this book from JKS Communications in exchange for my honest review.
read 7/13
BACK IN THE GAME Holly Chamberlin
I enjoy reading Holly's works and this is another good one.
Starts out with alternating chapters of four women who are getting or going through a divorce.
They share their triumphs and days of misery with each other and some even find online or group sessions to help them over the problems that arise.
Also at the beginning of every chapter are tips or quotes from other publications about divorce.
One man turned gay, another had his wife cheat on him, another wants a baby and he doesn't and another has found his own true love.
Their life's go through the dating scene again and what they find and how they cope with it all.
I did find with the very short alternating chapters (some are long chapters) it was hard to follow each of them and keep them straight as to who was who.
Love the locale and descriptions of the Boston area...
References to Sex and The City are made and you can see the connection. Love how it all ends up where everything is tied together in harmony.
Excerpts of The Summer Everything Changed is included at the end of the book.
I received this book from The Kennsington Books in exchange for my honest review.
read 7/13
Your Daddy Was Just Like You by Kelly Bennett
I bought this book after reading the accompanying 'mommy' book. There are so many memories of things the grown ups did as infant and children.
I especially loved how he turns himself into a race car driver as I know when my grandson se
es this he will turn one of the big boxes they have
into his own race car. Good motivation to keep practicing at school with numbers and letters.
A Capital Holiday by Janet Dailey
Jocelyn Wakefield's dad is the president an she is tired of all the body guards and never being able to go anywhere by herself.
Around the holidays she talks to her grandmother and they figure out there is an escape for her after all.
Grady Tucker writes about the area and she reads his column. She escapes under a disguise and his dog Molly runs into her and they share a cup of coffee when a stranger talks to them about Christmas.
She remembers seeing him at the White House Tour. After he leaves the dog gets tangled and trapping Grady causing him to fall and get injured.
The old man comes back and because Grady won't go to the doctors they go to his apartment and she helps take care of Grady while he's hurt. She had worked out a system with her grandmother in case she needed to alert her.
After she leaves the old man shows Grady in the newspaper just who she is and they plot so he can find her...
Now she has to figure out how to get back to the White House undetected!
Loved all the details of the location as I've yet to travel there.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
read 7/12 The Island by Jen Minkman
Saul is in charge of everything at The Manor. He tells you what to read, when and who will even stay there, and who will go out to learn survival skills.
At then when she and Colin joined the manor they were taught how to make fire, how to hunt, fish and all about the Force.
Once you turn 19 you are to leave their mother informs Leia when she also tells her that her father is dead. Saul knew of this a month ago but never told her or her twin Colin.
Something's not right and they both speak of leaving but she has to be married or be spoken for before she leaves.
They live like in a cult where the word from the Book is the law but she's been told there are other things in the Book that the leaders haven't told them about.
After she takes the Book she runs and hopes to hide it to read at a later date...
Walt from the other side aids her and she gives him info about the sailor who was shipwrecked on her side of the island and who got captured.
The necklace her mother gave her held a hidden clue from her grandmother that makes things come to light!
Liked the book for the sci fiction part as well and this would make a great read if it was a year long life on the island. Glad they found out the truth about it all.
Love in Plain Sight: Love n' Marriage / Almost An Angel by Debbie Macomber
Love how these two stories came about.
Love n' Marriage
Stephanie has to work for Jonus who uses a cane and he is the president of the company. She is just a temp as the regular secretary is out of medical leave.
She tries to kill him with kindness to throw him off.. She meets with her other secretary friends for a drink after work and they are gearing up to make the boss meet someone to love.
One of her jobs is to accompany the boss to Paris because she knows French and will be an asset in the meetings there.
They do share some of their pasts with one another and then they return to the states.
She has a thing for him and the women give her romance novels to get her in the mood so they can read his signals... Things go wrong after that til she loses her job..
.
Almost an angel
Bethany Stone works for Joshua Norris and is furious with him and how he treats her. He is worried about her daughter..
He has custody of Angie but he has no idea how to help her dress so he gives Bethany a raise and she's more than happy to help with the girl. They return to the house where she is shown the rooms and the lake where she falls in-it's February.
Besides laced coffee she is given wine at dinner after a hot shower and his robe til her clothes are dried.
Liked hearing about things in New Orleans.
Her friends think she's being used to watch his daughter on weekends when he's busy with work things but she tries to tell them that is not the case..
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
read 7/11 Almost an angel
Bethany Stone works for Joshua Norris and is furious with him and how he treats her. He is worried about her daughter..
He has custody of Angie but he has no idea how to help her dress so he gives Bethany a raise and she's more than happy to help with the girl. They return to the house where she is shown the rooms and the lake where she falls in-it's February.
Besides laced coffee she is given wine at dinner after a hot shower and his robe til her clothes are dried.
Liked hearing about things in New Orleans.
Her friends think she's being used to watch his daughter on weekends when he's busy with work things but she tries to tell them that is not the case..
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
read 7/11
Love n' Marriage by Debbie Macomber
Stephanie has to work for Jonus who uses a cane and he is the president of the company. She is just a temp as the regular secretary is out of medical leave.
She tries to kill him with kindness to throw him off.. She meets with her other secretary friends for a drink after work and they are gearing up to make the boss meet someone to love.
One of her jobs is to accompany the boss to Paris because she knows French and will be an asset in the meetings there.
They do share some of their pasts with one another and then they return to the states.
She has a thing for him and the women give her romance novels to get her in the mood so they can read his signals... Things go wrong after that til she loses her job..
.
Samantha was dealt a blow when her husband leaves her for another because she's pregnant with his baby.
She works in the advertising field and he works on air with a TV station. Her boss tells her to take at least time off til April and she heads to her best friends mothers ranch in CA. She had formed a very good relationship with Caroline when the daughter had died.
She loves getting up early to be a ranch hand and do a lot of physical labor. She knows just a few of the 20 hands.
She is able to confide in Tate Jordan who also has pain in the relationships he's had over the years.
He leaves and she returns to NY where she's in charge of a film, staging actors and then traveling to take photos of the scenes. She is at the last ranch and takes a huge stallion for a ride and gets injured..
Love what she makes of her life to help others...
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
Nightway By Janet Dailey
Chad is the true son of him but Hawk comes to live with them after his mother dies. He leaves the reservation and the ways of the world there to come to the new world where everything is new to him.
Chad and Katherine are the real heirs but he knows his father did love his mother.
His father taught him to think for himself. He was able to spend time with his mothers family on the reservation and he also attended college.
Carol the younger sister loves to make the two boys fight over her-she craves the competition. A fight and the family is divided.
The story also follows the father and how on a road one night his truck stops and a woman comes to his rescue and after 3 months time they celebrate her birthday and he dies. The family comes to her and she is informed exactly who he is and she finds out from the lawyer what he's left her in his will.
Chad and Carole want their inheritance back and drug her. Hawk sees and takes her away to safety....
Many hot steamy sex scenes and I especially liked all the Indian traditional things talked about in this book.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
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
read 7/9 One True Love by Lori Wilde
Cupid, TX area 1920's This is the book that started the Cupid, TX series. Millie Greenwood had just lost her father and the owners of the mine where he worked hired her to take care of their house, 25 miles away.
She left her mother and brothers and sisters. She falls into the routine of cleaning and doing laundry and watching children and has met another maid such as herself after attending church one day and is invited to go visit the Cupid Caverns and have a picnic lunch there.
Millie has dreams of John Fant but he is in the upper class and she should not be thinking of him. Penelope=John's sister is in charge of the Ladies League and she finds an idea of dancing for charity that she hopes till rid the ill talk of the last maid who had to leave to have a baby.
Loved the scenes of the caverns and the Cupid statue! Millie will help while Penelope learns the dancing steps=she's learning herself.
When Penny gets injured wearing high heels they must find a substitute for the dancing marathon. They select Millie and she just knows she should decline but she wants to help Penny out by putting the Fant name back in good standing.
After hours dancing he tells her and she can't believe she fell for him-she should've known better...
What I really liked about this book is not only do you get this book, but excerpts for Love AT First Sight and All Out of Love are included along with a sample of Stealing Home by Jennifer Seasons, Lucky Like Us and The Right Bride both by Jennifer Ryan, Stuck On You by Cheryl Harper and Lachlan's Bride by Kathleen Harrington .
I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.
7/8 The Gin & Chowder Club by Nan Rossiter
This book is about 2 families on Cape Cod and it's summer. Traditions drew them together and keep them on the island along with their businesses.
Loved hearing how the book got it's title. The two brothers are in love. Asa is in love but he's torn and writes his poetry that he keeps to himself.
Isaac is into the nightly party scene and keeps busy with Jen-one of the girls on the island. He has another at college when he's there for the off season months.
They are both so confused as to love and relationships and like trying things out.
I especially liked the conflicts and the location, very detailed descriptions of the seashore and nature.
Not many characters and they are easy to keep track of. When the summer ends he heads off to college in NH.
He can't take the pressures and his father comes to the rescue but is it going to be enough? He had relied on God til he had met her. She is having a difficult time of things also and contemplates what to do.
Lots of romance and hot passionate sex.
I received this book from Ocean State Library Service.
7/9 The Plateau: Voices of the Earth by Maureen Dudley
I received this book as part of the Summer Reads Blog Tour, summer reads for the whole family.
Besides highlighting the event I wanted to read all the books in the category so you, the reader would know about them from my view.
This one starts out with Catherine and her father is in the hospital with a heart attack. She travels to be with him and her twin sister, Maria who is there who is dead.
Her husband Henry will meet her there. She endures many sights along the way.
The story is also following a colony that lives under the earth and they are able to foresee the happenings of the people that helped form the earth.
Ternan is able to see exactly what is happening to Catherine and her father and others. He attempts to gain historical documents so he and others can trace the past.
It was a bit confusing to see how the two are related and their pasts as you learn about them over time. Good story but on a bit of science fiction...
Mystical, Magical powers where they can be transferred to others when one dies... So much to learn...
There is a mental bond between the present and the past and if they can they might be able to change the events of the past leaving the paths to the present different...
Saga continues on in Book 2 and then Book 3.
I received this book from JKS Communications in exchange for my honest review.
read 7/6 Swim by Jennifer Weiner
Ruth Saunders helps seniors get into college. FOr a $5k fee she will get them ready for an interview, coach them on what to do, wear and discuss.
She and her grandmother had moved from MA to LA several years ago. She looses herself in the pool that she pays for. The car accident that killed her parents left her with a scar on her face, a big crater.
Rob meets her at the local coffee shop where she always gets there early to get a seat near the outlet for her computer. He wants her to help him set up a dating service where her job will be with the words others use to describe themselves.
Her swimming is her way of dealing with things as her world grows. She realizes after meeting Charlie that she was wrong about the girl she was being paid to help.
There are two chapters at the end of 'The Next Best Thing' by the same author.
Very mature adult scenes. I did read the next book in this series-this is a pre novella.
read 7/5 Crops on the Farm by Daisy Griffin
Illustrated children's colorful book showing what happens on a farm. Starts out with a farmer on his tractor as he plows his land.
His tractor prepares the soil and then plants the seeds. Sun and water will help the seeds grown into crops. Pictures shown in various stages
are sunflowers, corn, broccoli and cabbage, watermelons and peas, purple hull peas, pumpkins to eat and decorate for Halloween.
At the end are a sample of the author's other works.
Liked this book a lot for such detail about not only the crops but other factors of growing them.
The Twelfth Child by Bette Lee Crosby
This book is mainly about Abigail Anne Lannigan and how she grew up with a twin brother who was looked up to, where others looked down at her if they even acknowledged her at all.
Over the years we find out just how she would dream of the girl in the snow globe to help get her through the years.
The book is about when Abigail is in her 70's and Destiny Fairchild moves into the cabin next door and she gets to know her and gives her a lot of furniture and things for her bare cabin. She used to work at a bookstore, then as a waitress at night to make more money.
Her mother had just taken off when she was younger and others saw to taking her in for a few months at a time til she was old enough to work herself.
Problem starts when Elliott introduces himself to the Lannigans after they've sold the family farm and he claims he's related and wants a share of the profits.
We learn how Abigail was able to leave-she had promised her father to marry Henry from a neighboring farm once she was done with school...
Liked the detailed descriptions of things in the 20's and 30's but it was a bit hard to understand the years missing...
Very sad story of events when Abigail had arrived in Richmond..
The last half of the book covers the story of Destiny and her troubles with the law. The court drama is really played out well-good enough to be a TV show in itself because of
all the information that comes and goes.
Surprise ending and also links to a free chapter of the author's other novels.
I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.
read 7/04 DraculaVille - New York by Lara Nance
Talia met with the Board and she was not getting the soda campaign but a country redo travel one instead that wasn't going to make her a lot of money.
She is used to let downs and that makes her more determined to succeed. Gerri her best friend is a nurse and meets her at the bar where she's had enough of the pity party and leaves.
The bar tosses Talia out into the alley where she wakes up with a man curled into a ball. She helps him and Gerri picks them up and they take him, Drake Edwards to Talia's apartment where they learn
he is a vampire, has holes in his neck and elongated teeth and is starving for blood. He has no recollection of any of this.
I remember watching Dark Shadows with Barnabas and Quentin so I am familiar with the whole vampire blood sucking mortals and their traditions.
She gets her assistant Felix to go along with the plan: make a theme park around their new friend and vampire, Dracula to rejuvenate Romania.
Talia gets others in line to help with the campaign and it's going along smoothly...
He tells her the truth-that she is attracted to him and she's afraid to lose control. He knows some things of her past that have caused her pain. How does he know what she's feeling? She has a physical attraction to him...
She took some measures so she'd not be seduced by him. When they set up an event at a bar she meet with some resistance..
Loved hearing of the nightlife and the travel to Coney Island but they bring something back to Talia's.
Their lifes are at stake and only a few can even help ...
Love the ending and there is hope for their future, next stop LA, then Romania.
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
read 7/3 Your Mommy Was Just Like You by Kelly Bennett
I wanted this book particularly for our youngest grandson. When I started reading it many memories were brought to life as yes my
daughter did have her favorite stuffed animal and yes she knows all their names and the kitty cat had to go with her wherever she went.
Her son has the kitty cat now among hundreds of other animals that he assures me he knows what each and every name is!
Especially like the part where the child is in school and does not know all the letter nor all the numbers but practice helped.
After reading this one I knew I had to go and buy the Daddy book which I have done.
I won the book contest at Jean's site: http://www.jeanbooknerd.com/2013/05/your-mommy-was-just-like-you-by-kelly.html
and Kelly Bennett sent me the prize(S) Her FB page is here: https://www.facebook.com/kellybennettbooks
Got bookmarkers, postcards, signed book and pamphlet of her books and school visits, etc and a poster with Mommy and Daddy books.
Thanks so much!
read 7/3 All Out of Love by Lori Wilde
Lace Bettingfield, when she was a freshman in high school her cousin got ahold of a letter she wrote talking of her crush of the football team, Pierce. It was published in the Cupid Chronicle and everybody was reading it.
Years later she is back living in Cupid, and she has a PhD in Botany and runs the town's botanical gardens; one specifically where the love letters are left in a locked box for the committee to reply to if they are able to in the Cupid Chronicle..
Pierce is working on his fathers ranch due to Abe's poor health and he's also recovering from football injuries.
Love the title headers with bits of info about plants and parts of them; and the real botanic names of plants and the English translation; cave scenes.
His father goes from bad to improving then back to bad and worse. The town learns of its misfortune and many lose their jobs but with the help of her cousin from NY the town might be able to help.
Loved catching up with the others in town as their life's go on and loved hearing of the past and legends.
Things may change with their new relationship as he finds out about his football career, will she travel with him or will he want to stay in Cupid?
Funniest scene: plant sex!
Hot erotic steamy sex scenes will make your eyes pop! There is another book in this series with an excerpt at the end along with mention of a Christmas Cookie Chronicles in Nov 2014.
Love how Lace has the right answer to many things tying this books situations all together.
I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.
Words Get in the Way by Nan Rossiter
After reading another book by this author I sought out her other works and was happy to find a few from the online library.
Loved hearing of the work Linden does with his hands, the art of building a stone wall. Loved the New England accents when he talks to others. Especially liked the tales of the AT, priceless!
This story is about Callie and her son Henry. She's back at her parents to live with hopes of taking care of her dad instead of the nursing home he's in. As the day care would no longer take care of Henry-he's autistic and they are not equipped to deal with him. So now she's unemployed and can take care of them both.
But her dad has a stroke. The house is across the street from where Linden lives and he has a houseful of animals, inside and outside pets.
He was still in love with her from high school and had never moved on...
Felt dreadful when he was running away and so happy when she read him Goodnight Moon as it's one of our youngest grandsons' favorite books to read.
Liked the alternating chapters from Callie to Linden. You learn about their past and the present.
Amazing what the animals do for Henry's illness to make him seem more human and normal...
Love learning all the tips that sometimes work to get an autistic child to be comfortable without speaking words. Such priceless information.
Callie relies on Linden more as the time comes for her to be with him while he's undergoing surgery....
Linden feels at ease with Henry and he points out how rewording sentences can help him...Love the family recipe secrets.
Loved learning all about cairns and stones and trails. Mostly liked the detailed descriptions of the countryside and things they would do over the years-traditions.
When Henry goes missing she blames herself for not being a good mom. She thinks God has dealt her this really bad hand as more things go wrong, til others talk to her and tell her how it really is...
She breaks off things with Linden as she knows she needs to concentrate on her son and her father and there's no time for Linden....
Discussion questions and an excerpt of Gin and Chowder Club is included.
I received this book from Ocean State Libraries.
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.
The Wishing Hill by Holly Robinson
This book is about Juliet, a painter who comes back to Boston to care for her mother who fell and broke her hip. In the nursing home she develops an infection and that puts her back in the hospital.
Juliet's brother comes from CT to help out. Desiree, their mother was an actress and is now in her 70's.
CLaire the next door neighbor remembers Juliet and saves her from going through the icy pond. The story tells of her life and marriage.
Love what the title means and remember my daughter speaking of this same thing that happened around their house near Seattle. My grandson calls them fuzzballs. Love the link in this story about them.
Claire and Desiree have their own secret and they are not sure how Juliet will take the news...
Love the detailed descriptions of the different places and Juliet's paintings.. Especially liked hearing of the knitting for the charity-didn't see this coming!
Love the path her career takes her to, so she can freely express herself.
I received this book from Edelweiss by Penguin Group (USA) Inc.in exchange for my honest review.
read 7/2
The Lemon Orchard by Luanne Rice
I wanted to read this book for a few reasons: 1. the author is from the same state as I and I've read all her other books and loved them=they make you think 2. it's about trees-love knowing others use their hands to make a living and know I will be learning something new in this book.
Book starts out with Jenny and her dad in the car on their way when there is an accident. Love the idea of moon picnics and we learn she was going to divorce Peter..
Next it turns to Roberto, an immigrant with a daughter in Mexico and he lives in East LA where they gangs live, he runs her uncles n his lemon orchard. His family heads to Ireland for a month and Julia Hughes is there to watch over the place. She's come to the west coast with the dog, Bonnie.
She had spent much time at her uncle John Riley's orchard over the years and he was the one to encourage her to study anthropology and she had. She also dined with Lion-an actor her aunt Gracie used to work with.
Love the bond and things Julia and Jenny did together! Love learning about the lemon trees.
Roberto tells her of how he lost his daughter and she pulls out her old research: she was in the desert in Mexico with her daughter one summer for her grad work. She may have some leads as to how to find her again. They start sharing dinners together...
Many others are involved and their clues lead them to more discoveries.
Particularly liked hearing of the terrain, the desert and the big city and especially the shoreline. Characters are easy to keep track of. Loved the new things I learned along the way.
I received this book from Edelweiss by Penguin Group (USA) Inc in exchange for an honest review.
The Lemon Orchard by Luanne Rice
I wanted to read this book for a few reasons: 1. the author is from the same state as I and I've read all her other books and loved them=they make you think 2. it's about trees-love knowing others use their hands to make a living and know I will be learning something new in this book.
Book starts out with Jenny and her dad in the car on their way when there is an accident. Love the idea of moon picnics and we learn she was going to divorce Peter..
Next it turns to Roberto, an immigrant with a daughter in Mexico and he lives in East LA where they gangs live, he runs her uncles n his lemon orchard. His family heads to Ireland for a month and Julia Hughes is there to watch over the place. She's come to the west coast with the dog, Bonnie.
She had spent much time at her uncle John Riley's orchard over the years and he was the one to encourage her to study anthropology and she had. She also dined with Lion-an actor her aunt Gracie used to work with.
Love the bond and things Julia and Jenny did together! Love learning about the lemon trees.
Roberto tells her of how he lost his daughter and she pulls out her old research: she was in the desert in Mexico with her daughter one summer for her grad work. She may have some leads as to how to find her again. They start sharing dinners together...
Many others are involved and their clues lead them to more discoveries.
Particularly liked hearing of the terrain, the desert and the big city and especially the shoreline. Characters are easy to keep track of. Loved the new things I learned along the way.
I received this book from Edelweiss by Penguin Group (USA) Inc in exchange for an honest review.
pub Sept 2013 You Knew Me When by Emily Liebert
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