46 books read
- The Prayer Box by Lisa Wingate
Tyndale mini-interview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8IAxfgzzqI
The TV interview with Emily Iazzetti: http://www.momseveryday.com/video?videoid=2647866
The TV interview with Emily Iazzetti: http://www.momseveryday.com/video?videoid=2647866
Mini-Movie Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvuDuh8PdDs&feature=c4-overview&list=UUeRpQGXe2yAw99CfIPBFXFw
ISBNs: 978-1414388250
978-1414386881
Hardcover, $19.99
Paperback, $15.99
e-book, $15.99
385 pages
September 1, 2013
Tyndale House Publishers
Book Synopsis
When Iola Anne Poole, an old-timer on Hatteras Island, passes away in her bed at ninety-one, the struggling young mother in her rental cottage, Tandi Jo Reese, finds herself charged with the task of cleaning out Iola's rambling Victorian house.Running from a messy, dangerous past, Tandi never expects to find more than a temporary hiding place within Iola's walls, but everything changes with the discovery of eighty-one carefully decorated prayer boxes, one for each year, spanning from Iola's youth to her last days. Hidden in the boxes is the story of a lifetime, written on random bits of paper--the hopes and wishes, fears and thoughts of an unassuming but complex woman passing through the seasons of an extraordinary, unsung life filled with journeys of faith, observations on love, and one final lesson that could change everything for Tandi.My review
Pub date Sept 1, 2013 The Prayer Box by Lisa WingateFirst wanted to read this book as part of the summer reads for the whole family campaign by JKS communications.
Love the setting for this in the outer banks and she recalls being there with her grandparents, closeby the house that was featured in 'Nights in Rodanthe'. There is also talk of the ship that didn't make ti to shore and the wild ponies.
She has run away from her husband in TX after having suffered an injury from falling from a horse-and she's attempting to get off of pain killers and just drives til she reaches the end of the road. She meets a 90 year old woman who rents her the bungalow out front and she and her teen daughter and younger son live with her.
She's trying to get a job with no luck as it's only April-tourist season won't start for another month or so. After she finds the old woman dead and learns the church will inherit the house and bungalow she agrees to clean the house for the church in lieu of payment for the bungalow.
Tandi also has met a guy there, Ross who house sits and does long haul trucking.
She is determined to just rid the house of all personal possessions til she reads a few of the letters the woman had written to her father. Then she discovers a rosary and knows she must go through every box before just tossing them out.
She has been feeding the cat but she has no idea how he gets in/out of the house and water in the bathroom is running at times-almost like a ghost wants her to do something n a certain room upstairs.
She's been finding so many clues as to who Iola Anne really was, and Zoey her daughter comes down with an illness that will keep her from her many jobs.
Really liked how this book moved along-never a dull moment. Troubles arise when her sister tracks her down and she does cause trouble...
Loved most the seashell store and all the design work, pink and light blue seaglass and what those working there mean to Tandi.
Few characters that are easy to keep track of while others are introduced.
Loved how she fought for what she believed in...
She feels a bond knowing others had to raise her and she finds out why...I liked this book so much I did buy 4 other books by this author.
I received this book from JKS Communications in exchange for my honest review.
Liked this book so much I also go her other works and the prequel to this one: Sea Glass Sisters.
Sea Glass Sisters - prelude to The Prayer Box
Synopsis:
Elizabeth Gallagher has been balancing on the ragged edge for a while now. Then a rough case on the boards of her 911 operator’s job collides with a family conflict at home, and Elizabeth finds herself finally coming apart at the seams. A four-state road trip—trapped in a car with her mother—is the last thing she needs. Their destination may be beautiful Hatteras Island, but the reason for going is anything by pleasant. After one disastrous hurricane, and with a second one working its way up the coast, it’s time to convince Aunt Sandy to abandon her little seaside store on North Carolina’s Outer Banks and return to the family fold in Michigan. But when the storm sweeps through, the three women will discover that sisterhood and the sea can change hearts, lives, and futures . . . often in the most unpredictable of ways.My review
Sea Glass Sisters by Lisa Wingate
I first wanted to read this book after reading The Prayer Box by the author and the fact I love sea glass..
Elizabeth is a 911 operator and she raises with her husband two high school kids, one boy, one girl and both are graduating this year.
Her mother who live close by is up in arms about the family compound and how her sister wants to sell parts of it rather than leave it for the families and generations down the road.
This hits home with me as some of my family wants to do the same thing. After the really bad night at work with nightmares abound she leaves with her mother from Michigan to drive to NC on the outer banks to try to persuade her sister.
Elizabeth is kept abreast of things happening at home with the missing child and her kids and husband and news of the hurricane approaching an her aunt's bad health. They batten down the hatches and help others in the town with chores so they will remain safe. One visit is to the 90 year old Iola Anne who also appears in The Prayer Box=a book by the same author.
Love that this woman has a jewelry/seashell shop near the ferry, on the ocean with sand dunes and the feeling of community as they all gather. Love the idea of the hurricane party-we usually have them after to use up food that will spoil.
She is trying to believe in God again to help her get through the work crises and the hurricane.
Miracles can happen ...Excerpt from The Prayer Box is included.
I received this book from Net Galley, Tyndale House Publishers via JKS Communications in exchange for my honest review.
The Doctor's Christmas Quilt by Kathi Macias
I first wanted to read this book because it focuses around a Christmas quilt-two of my favorite things. When I read the synopsis I knew it'd be a story I'd enjoy.
Dr. Laura Branson's medical school daughter is back home before the Thanksgiving break. Megan has informed her that Alex is history and she's pregnant.
Not only does the story follow Laura's part but Megan's part as well as others.
Jenny's Treasure store is a major part of the quilt storytelling aspect of this book. The woman are able to meet at lunch most daily visits where each square holds a story about the life of the first female doctor.
The recipient of the quilt God will inform her in time for Christmas. Everybody is against abortion til Laura overhears something that might change her mind..
The story also follows Alex, a med student also and he and Megan had dated and on his way home for Thanksgiving a car crash...
Laura prays to God in how to help Megan. The women get to cook dinner and do spend hours bonding...
Love hearing how the story is pictured in the quilt and what it all means. Love the travel and places they visit as I've yet to visit Colorado.
Megan does have a discussion with her mother on the plans after the semester is finished...
Amazing how this story is bound together by God and believing in him.
I received this book from The Book Club Network (bookfun.org) in exchange for my honest review.
Hidden Riches by Nora Roberts
Dora Conroy owns an antique shop but others break in.
Ex police captain, Jed Skinerhorn, has had to leave the family house-it holds too many memories.
The shop is a magnet for trouble because of the shipment that she ordered. Smugglers have put other items inside the trinkets.
Hot steamy sex scenes add to this story. Love where the clues lead them to.
Lives are lost and they gather to combine forces to fight them together.
The one who hired the man to get the items learns of others who are protecting her.
Love hearing of the play and theater and the museum where all the collection is held.
Love how SING is used in this one!
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
Who's Under The Bed Bedtime Stories Book For Children's (Ebook About Monsters) (Good night & Bedtime Children's Story Ebook Collection) by Ally Nathaniel
Illustrated colorful children's book about how a monster is the one in bed and he is thinking scary kids are under his bed.
Quite surprised at the ending and loved how there is the comparison between monsters and children that tells you how they are the same.
SNOW ALLIGATORS Rhyming Children Bedtime Short Stories by Peter Collier
This illustrated very colorful children's book about how a town where it starts to snow and it's winter.
The rules of winter have been to always build a snowman to guard and protect the town. This year everybody has a cold but Johnny gets over his first and goes outside to build 4 of them. The snow alligators have come and have taken kids hats, mittens and scarves. This year because of what Johnny has done you will be surprised to find out what happens.
Fly Away by Kristin Hannah
Maura's best friend is dead. They used to hang out as a group but now the others push her aside as she tries to clean out the clothes and other items.
The story goes back in time to when she suffered through cancer and chemo til even the earlier years of their life's.
Some chapters are from the present and they are so hard to read, the things she is forced to go through.
She loves one man but he will never be with her. She gave up her journalism job to help care for Katie and he has nothing good to say about Maura.
She has a few friends she can call on still...So many others blame themselves, thinking they caused her to die.
Just a handful of characters to follow, the plot is a bit scattered at times as the story goes continually from the past to the present with the different characters.
Touching ending, I didn't see that coming.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
Whiskey Beach by Nora Roberts
Eli Landren was back in town writing his novel.
Some others in town think he did kill his wife as they had argued earlier that day.
the woman neighbor, Abra Walsh next door makes pancakes and cleans his house, does his laundry and will give him a massage. Abra is very good friends with his grandmother.
His dead wife, Lindsey, her parents were filing a wrongful death suit and his lawyer are working on the case.
Love all the down home cooking done as it's the way I cook also. Quite the mystery as to who is seeking information about him and how now others are attacked.
Things really heat up in the house and with their relationship as their lives are threatened and those of their loved ones... They plot to surprise who they think is the culprit.
His ancestors and what's up in the attic may hold the solution. Love what SING signifies in this book for protection.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
Christmas on 4th Street by Susan Mallery
Thanksgiving in Fool's Gold and the holidays are approaching fast. Love this series and this one is devoted to Noelle Perkins who runs the Christmas Attic. She left behind a huge legal business and moved to Fool's Gold.
She's doing Felicia a favor by going to her house to feed the dog and let him go out. Problem is she meets head first the snowbank and then at the house it's not locked but there's a man there, Gabriel, Gideon's brother.
He's just in time for the Christmas festivities: parade, live nativity with an elephant and all the decorating and well wishes from the townsfolk. Felicity is in charge of all the town festivities now.
The Boylons were to arrive and spend the holidays. They were raised as if they were in the military and both boys had joined up. Gabriel is not sure he wants to re up when his time is done as he's tired of the military transports but he's free til just after Christmas.
They had such a good thing going but it's too fast for him and til she shares her secret with him he thinks it's too much for her to handle...
Total order like the avalanche was planned. Everybody does their job and the crisis is averted...
Even with the offer from the mayor he knows he has to return to the Army...
Love that there is a scavenger hunt in this book also it's like getting another gift from the author.
I received this book from Net Galley via Harlequin HQN in exchange for my honest review.
JOANNE FLUKE’S LAKE EDEN COOKBOOK by Joanne Fluke
Love Joanne Fluke books and just thought this would be a recipe book but I was wrong. There is a story in there
about the cookie swap they have. It's easy to keep track of everybody over the years and I love these series.
Book also includes a hard copy of a recipe along with all the recipes from the Cookie Jar which Hannah runs in Lake Eden.
Love how the recipes give you not only tips on how to make them but other most useful tips on brands, measurements and how to serve-hot or cold and anything else she feels might be needed. I can't wait to try some of the ones in this book.
Love hand drawn pictures of different vegetables, dishes, etc. I wish this book was spiral bound so the print would be bigger and it'd fit on my recipe holder better.
Can't wait to make the Angel Kiss Cookies. Love the tip about the size of baking pans!
Loved hearing all the stories they shared while feasting at the cookie swap. The stories brought a smile to my face!
Love end result of the charity.
I received this book from The Kennsington Books in exchange for my honest review
A Seaside Christmas by Sherryl Woods
This family saga is about Jenny Collins=her mom went and married the elder O'Brien and they had a son. She just didn't fit in but her aunt Bree talked her into coming back after years of trying other things: college and songwriting in Nashville. She had broken up a year ago with Caleb Green.
This book also follows Caleb and his life in Nashville, listening to others sing Jennie's songs. He wants to buy that song and will go to Chesapeake Shores and talk to her-something he hadn't done when they broke up.
In town everybody in the family is trying to get Jenny on board to attend the welcome home party and to make amends with her mother... She's also working with Bree on the Christmas play songs. Caleb hits town to apologize to Jenny...
Dillon, another local guy she used to play music with is divorced and wants to date her. Super surprise what her mom and step-dad give her when she's back in town, it's so perfect.
To help Bree and her new production company they agree to work together so she'll have a really good season.
Love catching up with all the families and especially during the holiday season.
Caleb's idea to decorate her yard with decorations-he gets the go ahead by Bree who in turn sends all the males to the house to help complete the job. They hope she appreciates and likes it especially the special piece he found.
He wins the males over with the lure of a benefit concert for their land and preservation ideas...
Jenny listens to how he's changed and she's seen it for herself but she has some doubts he will go back to his bad ole self ... and he does have the part where he kisses the older female in the play...til she finds out another reason he came to town...
I received this book from Net Galley via Harlequin MIRA in exchange for my honest review.
Merry Christmas Cowboy by Janet Dailey
Paula Lewis this holiday season is not only working as a cop but she's helping out at the Christmas House. There are many rooms with different themes and visitors come and pay an entrance fee and have safe fun with their friends and family.
Zach Bennett had left his familys ranch and is in town as a carpenter which the House can use. They do hit it off and are great company for one another.
The story also follows Brandon and he's a teen and all the mishaps he has. And elderly Edith who runs the whole show and what problems she has.
Love that different generations are in this book.
Medical problems and things are stolen are a few of the things that keep this story interesting along with love stories. Loved the setting, the house and the snow and instructions.
I received this book from The Kennsington Books in exchange for my honest review
The Memory Tree by Joseph Pittman
I had read and really liked a previous book by the author and when one came up for review I requested it. Love the scene on the front cover.
Love Christmas stories..This is another book in the Linden Corners series. This one is about Janey Sullivan, just 10 years old and she treasures her dreams..
The magic of the windmill allows Janey to look back in time to when she was first born and her mother Annie and father Danny were still alive.
People in this town lived for Christmas every year and it was just Thanksgiving.
Alternating chapters of Brian- bar keeper, Cynthia- vegetable stand grower and Trinia - caretaker of her elderly father and managing the local motel.
Love the detailed descriptions of the atmosphere around the Thanksgiving table, the food, and warmth.
Love how the book got its title and what it means to them.. Brian's parents come to visit for several weeks and hopefully to bond with Janey as others are leaving town for better work.
The local traditions are done to the amazement of the newcomers who had never experienced them...The color of magic is seen by all.
Tragedy strikes and the town rallies together..New beginnings for many and secrets are told that might make wishes come true...Has excerpts from A Christmas Wish..
I received this book from Net Galley via The Kennsington Books in exchange for my honest review
The Best Man by Kristan Higgins
Have read many of the authors works and have loved them all. Book #1 of the Blue Heron series. Finger Lakes area along with vineyards and Mennonite farmlands.
Faith Holland had been left at the altar, Jeremy was her to be husband. He was a doctor and they spent a lot of time together in town, in love til the day they were to marry. We learn he was gay and thus didn't want to marry her.
Her sister, Honor had called and summoned her back home to the vineyard as she thinks their father is about to marry a young woman. Faith plans to restore the stone barn into a wedding/event area with the vineyard right there. She's a landscape designer.
Levy Cooper the local police chief. He's back from the war and now the police chief of the town and he pulls Faith over upon her return. They are total opposites but could they be attracted to one another?
The chapters go back in time so you can follow what happened in the past as it relates to the present day life's.
Levy knew of the secret, why Jeremy couldn't marry Faith...
Hot steamy sex scenes and her secret and guilt about the death of her mother comes out...
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
Poison Makers by Jimmy Olsen
I agreed to read and review this book as I had just read his other works about diving around the islands.
I have read other books about voodoo in the islands so am kind of familiar but not first hand knowledge. This book described the missing knowledge that made the book not only interesting but a new learning experience.
Was a bit of diving included but I wished there had been more.
EJ is summoned to help find out about Adam Quists death. He is an ambassador for the US. Love how he not only seeks advice and information from the family but others on the islands.
Love all the hidden places-what a treasure the island holds. I can't imagine a party like the one his sisters and mother have in regards to my family-I was laughing so hard when he found out.
The enormity of the poor country hit me when his housekeeper rents a set of teeth for the party as she is the server.
Loved hearing of the Arlington Cemetery as my son was on duty there for a while. Places in NY were cool to read about as I also was in the city in the 1970's.
Love how he follows the clues to the murder mystery and gets in so deep as to what it is all really turning out to be.
Not sure I believe in the life the people were turned into but it did made for a good read.
Very detailed descriptions I felt like I was there with them on their journey.
I first wanted to read this book because my grandson loves ladybugs and doesn't harm them-he knows their good uses.
Very colorful illustrated children's book about 2 horses that have a colt. They are blessed with a boy.
They were so in love with the new one that they didn't realize he was a ladybug and not a colt at all.
The part I like the best is when they ask advice from the doctor on how to care for the ladybug so they can continue to care for him.
They realize the ladybug, Polkadot, won't life as long as they so they made everyday count with the things they did together to show their love.
Love the story of how this book came to be, for TJ.
Lamps by Marie Moorman
Love learning new things, especially about the hobnail glass and lamps. Love scenery as it's that time of year here in the Northeast also-can't get enough of it. I had seen this type of glass on my mothers table, just didn't know the name of them.
3 generations of a family will be together for a day. The elder grandparents: he is battling lung cancer and the fear of pneumonia and she is using all her power and strength to help him while maintaining the house.
Their daughter Dorothy: she has a feud with her mother.
Her daughter: Ann and children set out for a day visit to the elders.
The garden has gone untended and Dorothy takes the time to go see the garden with her mother.
She knows she has to devote more time to go help out. Such a great read as my sister and mother are going through their own rift.
I received this book from Library Thing via Marie Moorman in exchange for my honest review.
Raw Edges Quilts of Love Series by Sandra D. Bricker
I had just read another Quilt of Love book and it was not a digital copy and truly fell in love with it and I know this book will measure up nicely with it and hope it will help me come up with an idea for all the fabric i've been saving to use for a quilt.
The McDonoughs: Jenna, Gray and Sadie were a family til Jenna died from an illness. He struggles with his 9 year old daughter and hopes he is bringing her up right-the way Jenna would've done things.
They would read from Jenna's journal and it would bring smiles and tears to their eyes.
The story also follows Annabelle Curtis story of working at the aquarium, having ovarian cancer and how the quilting group is helping her to cope and heal.
Sadie talked her dad into going to the support group meeting-where the women will talk and make a memory quilt.
At the end of chapters a bit of Jenna's journal is quoted along with a Bible passage.
Loved learning new things: about penguins feathers, fixing raw edges, and just all the ideas to help others cope with their pain and suffering.
Although Gray does not quilt or sew he is able to come up with an idea to help the project along. Sadie tries to get them together and it backfires.
Extras like the food recipes are such a great contribution. As the adults become closer Sadie is allowed to go with Annabelle to church then onto a quilting lesson where they learn so much-so did I.
Surprised who bought the quilt at the auction-didn't see that coming. Sadie going back to church was just the beginning...
Excerpt of The Christmas Quilt, Quilts of Love series is also included.
I received this book from Net Galley via Abingdon Press in exchange for my honest review.
H is for Halloween by Sharlene Alexander
Illustrated very colorful children's book showing the alphabet using Halloween themed examples.
Wow the 3 pages with answers on other pages after the story are priceless! A picture with a bunch of items to find in the picture.
Good for not only Halloween themed items but for counting.
I feel like I got a prize as these are extra things.
I liked the J page for Jack O' Lantern the best.
Ghosties by Gerald Hawksley
Illustrated very colorful children's book about Halloween and they take us to go find a ghost.
Has to be dark and in Ghostie Town.
Good rhyming and silly things add to this story.
Locks and socks was my favorite section...
Horribly Good Halloween Recipes with Coffee by Billy Taylor
Something about this title got my attention because I do not drink coffee but I like to desserts with coffee.
Really liked all the information about the coffee you will be using in these recipes and flour.
Loved the stories that went along with the recipes, tips on how to make them and even how to store them, like there's gonna be any left...
My favorite in this collection would be Damned Soul Cakes and really liked the story and yes I do have Halloween shaped cookie cutters!
What I really liked was that the recipes were no nonsense and right to the point. Wish there had been more pictures of the items.
Our Magic Bunk Bed: The Bedtime Adventures of Ally and Arthur by Adam Zollinger
Illustrated very colorful children's book about Ally who is getting help from not only the baby brother but the father.
They are going to make it into a special bunk bed. She uses her magic spell and her princess wand and viola they are transported into an airplane, flying around.
She had no idea how to fly a bunkbed and then before they knew it they were driving a stagecoach. I love this book for the imagination factor. allowing a child to do/have whatever they want.
There are so many discussions one can have on every page.
There are many other adventures they go on, Ally and Arthur. My favorite would be the ship.
They realize the best place after all for them to be and go there. Excellent read.
Wish Me Tomorrow by Karen Rock
Christie is a grief counselor and also an RN. She heads up the group that meets at the local YMCA and counsels those with cancer.
She does meet Eli when he's there with John-his neighbor. When he goes to the hospital with John, Christie tells him she will look after his kids.
They are striking out but he's not seeing things. He's in remission from cancer and his wife had taken off from them all. Beckie the teen girl is lashing out by telling another they will die because they smoke cigarettes. She's also failing classes.
The little boy, Tommy is also at a loss, Eli won't allow them to talk about cancer. When the principal talks to him he sets up counseling for them all and Christie is the one who's there and helps them all to some degree.
What I like about this book already is the up to date topic of cancer and how to deal with it, with adults and teens.
I have read some of the authors other works and they are just super!
Love that they have so many outlets ... Christie is so upbeat and always a positive attitude. When one dies she takes it hard and opens up to Eli about her past life as he's told her some things of his past.
Love bond created from her of Eli and his daughter..few characters and easy to keep track of with others coming into some scenes.
Tragedy strikes again and all bets are off...what will they do now? Love how the book got it's title.
I received this book from Stephanie from www.romanceaddictbookblog.com in exchange for my honest review.
Lace One-Skein Wonders 101 Projects Celebrating the Possibilities of Lace by Judith Durant
This follows the series of one skein wonders, in different formats: knit, crochet and now lace.
Love the sections, broken up into: head to toe( has things for heads, hands and feet), knits for kids (baby wear),
it's a wrap (scarves, cowls, shawls, wraps) and accessories(bags, headbands, etc), and for the home( pillows, bath sets, cozies). includes an appendix showing diagrams on many techniques and helpful information about certain stitching.
All the items are knit using a lacy pattern. There are MANY hats to select from. All are charted and written out with row by row instructions.
My favorites are the dishcloths in the bath sets. I like this book as a resource better than the standard knit one skein wonders because the patterns are challenging and not hard to follow.
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.
Only Love by Elizabeth Lowell
1860's Colorado Rockies after the Civil War.
Mitt Moran a wanderer.
Shannon Connor Smith, a widow that's never been a wife.
The Culpepper's are the family that want control over everybody. They think Shannon's husband is the bounty hunter-Silent John and nobody's seen him for years.
She traded her gold wedding ring for food at the market-enough for just a few weeks.
Love book for the story and how she's survived on the land all this time, her friends and her dog.
Mitt had caulked the logs in her cabin, chopped her wood, killed a deer and other animals for her to cure for the winter and a lot of other chores she was not able to do herself.
Slow hot sex scenes and I love that she shared John's secret locationss with him.
Loved all the outdoor things in this book and learning new tips on tracking animals. Love how he just takes care of her.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
Songs of the Humpback Whale by Jodi Picoult
Jane has married Oliver who studies the ocean. Jane and Rebecca drive across America to her uncles in MA. There are letters waiting for them at various post offices along the way.
Songs are passed on down from male speaker to male speaker.
Find the abuse sections hard to listen to. No need to slap anybody around.
Really liked the journey, all the places they are able to experience along the way, but am fearful he will find them before too long and really beat them up...
Rebecca is the teen daughter who's lifestyle leaves something think about.
Love the talk about the apple orchard and all the tips of information available. Correlation between the trip and the whales is interesting.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
The Shoreline by Lindsay Chamberlin
Alexi and her two other girlfriends: Lori and Jordan are at the beach house for another week. They have all graduated college and just one more fling before they must find full time work and pay bills, loans and get on with their adult life's.
They meet with some guy and fall head over heels in love with them.
Lori and Brian, and Jordan and Ty and Alexi and Jason. The three men are on the surfing circuit and due to leave for Fiji so their one week together is very fast paced.
Love the water scenes, dune gliding and the surprise the girls get when they are shown what the men have contributed to locally. So much information.
Bit of a drama when Alexi sees Jason ex hugging and kissing him and her sister treats them with evil looks while waitressing their table. Love the English connection...
I really wanted to read this book because of it's location. I've never been there and have seen movies and read other books. This author made me feel like I was there on the beach.
Alexi plans to go with Jason on the circuit but she does have work lined up so it's anybody's guess that she will go. Found book very very very very deep with caring, not only sex scenes but a caring for the environment in the area.
She wants to overcome her fear and Jason helps her but it didn't work. They all have secrets that do come out in time and some they never tell.
Great to know this is just volume 1 of Following the Crest Series.
I received this book from the Library Thing via the author in exchange for my honest review.
Peanut the Fuzzy Chicken by Dani Marie
Children's illustrated colorful book that allows a child to image what it would be like to be an animal because the book tells you what the animals do every day on the farm. Very good educational tool if a child lives in the city.
Peanut lives on a farm with many animals. He does not look like the other chickens in the coop.
He thinks he might want to be a cat and chase mice-maybe not..
He thinks he might want to be the farm watchdog...He pretends to be a real chicken and paints himself yellow-good thing it's bath day.
His job is to watch the new chicks and he gets a surprise when they all hatch...
Loved all the animals and birds Peanut comes acros at the farm and at the town market.
The Ghost Next Door by Ginny Baird
I was kinda leery about reading this book. I do love a romance book but not too keen on a mystery/ghost story.
This one is a bit different and not that scary. Starts out with Elizabeth Jennings who has moved to the small town in VA, along with her daughter Claire.
Her job is to restore the old newspaper office and put out an edition of the paper for the townsfolk. They move into a house just near a deserted house near a cemetery.
The sheriff Nathan is very helpful in helping her move into the office in town and introducing her to the locals.
They are both single and go for lunch dates and one planned trip to the Shenandoah Parkway. Love this area of the country and have been to the national park there and the countryside is just that, country.
Claire is having a hard time adjusting to the new school and the kids that attend. She seems to have ruffled the girls feathers by going to the harvest festival with Perry. He tells her she has a few choices on how to deal with them.
I love not only the area and the detailed descriptions of the area but that the story is about both of the ladies: Claire's problems and her mothers problems.
The plot thickens for Halloween night and the light goes on to clear up all the mysteries...
There are other characters in the story but the book is very easy to follow along.
I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.
Winter in full bloom by anita Higman
Book starts out with Lily on a plane traveling when a girl sits next to her Jenny and talks her through the anxiety of flying. She starts to tell her of why she's traveling and the story of her visiting her mother once her husband Richard had died and her daughter had gone off to college.
Her mother thinks it's time to tell her of her twin sister-which she knows nothing about.
Her sister, Camille Violet and she's Lily Anne. The only head she has is the church she goes to and that doesn't pan out but Marcus, a local meets her in the botanical gardens and they talk and he seems to think he knows her-she does look similar to Lily. They have dinner and talk more in hopes of seeing Camille.
Love the gardens and travel as I've never been to Australia. So many new foods, places that would also excite me.
When she does find her sister Camille is not very open but things change with their lives and now she's heading back to the state. Love the talk of how similar they really are, I'm amazed at all the small similarities.
Because of their bond they have moved Marcus into making some life resolutions. Love banter Lily and Marcus have with book features, names of characters in the children's book that she has a bond to also.
Especially loved the bagpipes playing and the Irish poem-it's my favorite one as I have an Irish ancestry.
Love Camille's career choice, explains a lot of what's in the book. When they approach their mother to get to the root of the problem they find God has always been missing from their early years.
Detailed descriptions, even about making spaghetti sauce and time is short. Love the pact the woman make.
Before she can commit to her new relationship she must finish up with the last one and others end their other relationships...
I received this book from The Book Club Network (bookfun.org) in exchange for my honest review.
The Curse of the Squirrel by Laurence Yep
Willie and Howard are brothers and the farmer wants to go hunting. Willie is scared and he is scared of the squirrels but the farmer wants to hunt them.
Howie leaves to go hunt the squirrel and does find him and his name is Shag. The squirrel bit him putting a curse on him. by day he will be a dog, at night he will be a squirrel.
The cabbages on the farm are stolen. The tracks look like a dogs print. Howie is acting like a squirrel, hoarding nuts and cabbages and eating the farmers peanut butter sandwiches.
Howie and Willie go together to the swamp to get rid of the curse...
The dogs know how to get rid of the squirrel and their trick does work. the farmer is amazed!
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
Midnight Snowman by Caroline Feller Bauer
Because it never snows Elizabeth has to imagine that oatmeal is snow and her bedsheets are snow.
She hopes to make a snowman tomorrow. They start with just a snowball and they push it til they can't push it anymore.
They get a friend with a shovel and everybody else comes to help. The snow party is growing big.
Now it's spring and when the wind blows the flowers off the tree it does look like snow.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
No Girls Allowed by Jan and Stan Bernstein
Sister bear liked to play with her brother bears, their marble games. She's a lot faster runner and a climber.
She even hits the baseball better. The father thinks it's a good thing she can do these things. When there were no boy cubs around she
picked flowers for her mother and did other things. The cubs were building a clubhouse and it's only for boys.
The girls had an idea to make their own clubhouse-no boys allowed.
Love how they get together at the end, it's not who you are, but how you play the game.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
Crazy in Love by Luanne Rice
Georgia and Nick are the perfect couple. They live on the family compound.
Nick commutes via seaplane to work. He and 3 others work at Wall Street.
Seaside, CT maybe the binds are not so strong.
The grandmother has done and been doing some crazy things with paint around the house that is irreversible.
She secretly worked as a maid and saved the money for a surprise for Nick. He never suspects as he's so busy with billion dollar deals.
She was awarded grant money to study humans and make profiles. She did tell Nick and he's ok with her work.
Georgia has a lot of gossip and uncovers many family secrets.
She's used to going with Nick on some overseas business trips but lately he's told her she has to stay behind.
That causes her more stress and she faints when her mother is in the hospital with a heart attack and now she's pregnant and she needs to take care of her grandmother...
She's eager to tell Nick about the baby and he surprises her and Mark with his arm around her when he gets home. She tries to explain that he's got a crush on her and he's the photographer she's been using for work projects.
She realizes what her mother had done for them all when she's hospitalized and when they can no longer care for the grandmother they put her in nursing care but what she realizes makes them do something drastic.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
The Christmas Basket by Debbie Macomber
Noelle MacDonald was returning home. She hadn't returned since Tom Sutton had jilted her because of their mothers.
She writes in her journal, she booked the flight to Rose, home...She even lost some weight and she's prepared to see Tom.
Sarah and Mary are the mothers and Sarah wants to book the club for next summer. Problem is Mary is in charge of all that now...there are new rules in place and she must do 10 hours of community service before the end of the year.
She and Mary are to work together-buy toys for the baskets together. The story comes out about the tea service the mothers had words over and about her and Tom's to be wedding mishap that made her leave.
At the Christmas Club dance they are dancing and they hash over what happened that night they were to wed...
Tom and Noelle do get to talk, many times to help solve the problems their families and themselves have. Is it going to be enough....
When the ice storm throws the women together we wonder if they will become friends once again...
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
The Daisy Chain by Heather B. Moore
Something about the cover drew me to want to read this book. I remember chaining flowers together in a chain to wear around my neck and wrists when I was a young girl.
This is the story about Jess and it goes back in time to when she was first married to Charlie. You learn a lot about their past life's into the present day.
Charlie had 2 kids older than Jess when he married her. A year after he died in the car crash she is still heavily mourning him. The kids were suing for the inheritance and she had one of Charlie's friends as a financial adviser checking into things for her.
She feels if she goes to the meeting with the judge she will be betraying Charlie by meeting other men-Preston her financial adviser and the 2 kids will be there. Her friends talk her into going - to fight for what Charlie wanted her to have.
What happens at the meeting is most unexpected as the kids produce a box of cards from their father to Jess over the period of seven months. They ask for forgiveness from her and agree to drop the lawsuit. The kids had once thought she was a gold digger but the cards proved otherwise..
He takes her on a drive to relax her and they end up at the marina and she realizes he's bought Charlie's yacht. They had sold it because it was just too big for just the 2 of them. The kids never wanted to use it.
Jess was happy to learn about Preston and Charlie's relationship with the will but as friends also and he shared with her what Charlie thought of her and he could see it.
Love the descriptions of the places they went to, her studio and how she makes the jewelry.
After making his sister a bracelet and they deliver it to her she realizes she knows about a lot of her over the past year and Jess is afraid others will read too much into it.
She's afraid they are moving too fast and it's just too soon after Charlie has left.....
Love how the book got it's title.
The other books in the series are highlighted at the end of this book.
Little Gifts to Knit 30 Quick and Colorful Patterns by Jean Moss
This colorful illustrated book about quick gifts you can make has so many adorable ideas.
The first section is baby and not only does it have the tiny caps but also an illusion afghan. The directions are charted and row by row instructions.
Next section is Hers and the pieces are so elegant, lacy, and romantic. The berets would be my favorite
Next section is for Him and my favorite there would be the beannie cap-love doing cable work.
Home section favorite for me would be Welcome door hanging=so different!
Book includes special stitches used, the technique of using them; Yarn Information-where to obtain the yarn used in the samples; and a section on selecting the right buttons and trimmings.
Knitting abbreviations is next, needle and hook sizing, and a project index with pictures and page numbers for quick reference.
Index and bio about the author are also included.
What I liked about this book is a lot of the quick projects can also be used in the charity work I do locally and some look challenging while others with the pattern look very easy.
The very high quality photographs will speak volumes to you!
I received this book from Net Galley via The Taunton Press, Inc. in exchange for my honest review.
You Knew Me When by Emily Liebert
Book starts out with Katherine who is an ad executive-high end.
Laney runs a day spa=a gift from her husband Rick.
The girls both live on either side of Luella. She loved having the girls just drop in to play cards or go for a swim as we learn of their earlier years together.
Now that Luella has passed away and left the house and everything in it to them. There are stipulations that will force them back together again if they are to sell it...
The story alternates from the past to the present and you learn what broke them all up. Grant and Kitty were an item at one time and Kitty and Laney were like sisters.
Luella was the glue that kept them all together. Loved the scenes of dress up with the jewelry-I can't even imagine doing this!
As time goes on decisions have been made and it destroys them all but they have a second chance to get it right...
I received this book from Edelweiss by Penguin Group (USA) Inc.in exchange for my honest review.
Forever Friday by Timothy Lewis
Adam Culby is the one conducting the estate sale when he finds the postcard albums and keeps them back from the sale. As he reads some of the poems he wants to learn how
the postcards hold the secret of forever lasting love that Pearl and Gabe Alexander had with one another as his own marriage had broken up. He was lucky to track down Yevette who was the caretakers' daughter of Pearl before she went to the assisted living facility.
Love how the story goes and the things I learned along the way.
I had a hard time getting my chores done while reading this book. It does tell the story of Pearl and how she grew up and was engaged to Clark Richards but met Gabe and because of what happened one night she did not marry Clark.
She has guidance along the way from a guardian angel. There are other secrets and mysteries along the way that really make this an action packed read as you try to solve the mysteries.
Splash Day, Anacacho Orchid, Palms and religious scriptures, Long Division, secret glen, Spanish doubloons, poem postcards all have a part in this 'ever lasting love' for one another.
Love how she was able to stick up in her beliefs, strong to the point where she was in control of cutting her own hair. Love the simple things they shared with one another.
Love how he went about showing love, devoted romance and how he felt about picking out her clothes...such an awesome read there is so much to this tale. Travel and new places to see..
I received this book from Blogging for Books via WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Co. in exchange for my honest review.
The Wishing Thread by Lisa Van Allen
' knit people’s most ardent wishes into beautiful scarves and mittens, granting them health, success, or even a blossoming romance' This phrase in the description caught my eye as I do knit for many charities and some of the patterns I do use do tell a story about te one I'm knitting for.
The Stitchery was owned by the Van Rippers and now that Mariah had died others didn't know what was to become of the store and it's magic.
Aubrey had been raised by her aunt Mariah and she knew of some of the magic, the rest she'd have to learn.
Every night after dinner for one hour the 3 girls would knit with their mom: Meggie, Bitty and Aubrey. What a tradition and legacy!
One had to sacrifice something for the knitted wishes to come true-money wouldn't do it. had to be something sentimental to the one who wanted the wish to be granted.
Love the ideas of what type of yarn to use, what stitch and for what project. When the will is read they all learn of what's to become of The Stitchery and Mariah's wishes for them, all together...
The sisters should've moved on but that's not what happened.
The Tappan Watch was also up in arms about the town taking over the square and there's a lot of support for the owners of the shops to stay strong.
There are a handful of people with others coming and going and it's easy to keep track of who is who.
Especially like the quotes from The Great Book everything about knitting and then some...
The threads speak. Loved this book for the ideas and for the yarn itself. The magic story just spun it's own ball of yarn to be used.
I received this book from Net Galley via Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine in exchange for my honest review.
Lessons from the Lion, the Ox and their little friends Four fables from Aesop by Ripple Digital Publishing
Illustrated very colorful children's book with not only a story but a life lesson.
First one: the lion and the mouse. We see the lion asleep and the mouse is running up and down his body. The lion wakes up and grabs him and the mouse pleads to let him go that maybe he can help him one day.
The lion is caught the next day and tied to a tree when the little mouse finds him and is able to help. Morale: Little friends may prove great friends.
.
The Four Oxen and the Lion
When the four oxen were together the lion had to stay away because at least one of them had horns directed at him. One day the oxen had a fight and each went to a separate corner of the field...
Morale: United we stand, divided we fall.
.
The Ant and the Grasshopper
The ants gathers corn for the winter but the grasshopper wanted to play then and not worry about the winter months.
Morale: It is best to prepare for the days of necessity.
.
The Frog and the Ox
One summer day a frog was telling his father about the ox and just how big he was. His father took in a breath and expanded his body and asked-as big as this?
Morale: self-conceit may lead to self-destruction.
Cute short stories.
Into The Free by Julie Cantrell
From the book club chat I was to receive When Mountains Move and was surprised to get this book also. This is the first book in the series so I read it first. Then I'll read and review When Mountains Move.
I wanted to read this book because of the summary of the book-travel to a place I've never been to.
Book starts out with Millie and she lives in MS with her mother and father. Jack rides in the rodeo and is usually not at home.
Marie does laundry and other chores for the people on the plantation. Although they live in servants cabins they have a deal with Mr. Sutton and pay a monthly rent.
Her life is described on a daily basis of the places she goes around the woods and fields to her neighbor Sloth who allows her to accompany him on his chores-collecting eggs for the master Sutton and other chores.
She hides when her mother is beaten and finally gets up the nerve to see her father at his rodeo show. Accidents happen and she was lucky to meet River, a gypsy who travel through town once a year. She learns from the old woman that she has to find out about her past before the future can be shown to her.
She finds the box and the old woman gives her the key-a Pandora's box of sorts. She confronts her mother as to the meaning of all the items in the box-her past. She learns so much about her other families and realizes why they don't accept her into their lives.
Circumstances leave her in the care of the Millers and she finds out secrets about them and her mother. When a tragic event occurs she makes up her mind and tracks down where her mother was taken to so she can get anything she left for her.
She confides in Mabel throughout the story and they have a treasured friendship. She has a choice to make: go with River the gypsy on his journey or go with Bump and Mr. Tucker who run the rodeo and shows as they have taken care of her and her family for everything she ever needed.
Not sure if her decision is the right one...
What I really liked was the very detailed descriptions of the land and learning new things about the horses and the ways of they gypsies.
I received this book from Book Club Network (bookfun.org) in exchange for my honest review.
When Mountains Move by Julie Cantrell
This book was the one I actually wanted to read because of the travel through places I've never been to.
The package also came with the first book in the series, Into The Free which I've read and will post it's review here after this one.
If it's anything like the first book I am going to feel like I am traveling with them, seeing the things Millie sees as first being away from MS.
This story picks up where the first left off, Bump and Millie have married and a bit of the past is remembered but not spoken. Jack's mother will arrive in CO after a month to help them set things up.
They get the help from another who lives in his own teepee on their land and others in town don't want him to be near them. Mr. Tucker and his recent fiancee and her fathers mother are arriving from MS for a few weeks and Oka stays longer after the men set up the pasture and corrals for all the horses they now have.
Oka is a godsend as a horse has kicked Millie and she starts bleeding-she's pregnant and the doctor doesn't know how much longer she will keep the baby. Millie has a secret from the past and she is able to share it with Oka and she does all the chores, milks goats, gathers eggs, cooks, etc.
Parts I loved the best are the scenery, you can tell the scene in front of her just takes her breath away when she sees the mountains for the first time. Love the talk about herbs and plants and what to do with them, the knitting and the quilting.
Love that Millie's Indian name means strong. She proves that over and over during the months at the ranch and everything that is expected of her. When she's tried everything and it's not working she turns to God for help.
Bump has a lot of pressure with the ranch and all the new things that come to the ranch for him to handle, he wonders if just one thing goes wrong they will have to go back to MS...
Millie's friend Kat causes her some heartache that Oka helps to soothe the pain til she gets to talk to Bump about it.
So much they are able to accomplish but the past is always there in the back of her mind...River shows up and there are a lot of misunderstandings and Millie has a choice, which one? Trust and faith in God get her through and I love the tale of how the mountains moved and the clover crowns.
I received this book from Book Club Network (bookfun.org) in exchange for my honest review.
The Storyteller by Jodi Pioult
Sage is a baker and she finds out her grandmother was a survivor of the Holocaust. She recalls sitting on her lap and playing with her bracelet and noticing the numbers on her arm.
She learns a lot from Joseph who comes to the bakery daily and writes in his black book. He is a widow and remembers the olden days. Joseph told her he was a SS guard.
The story also follows her grandmothers journey when she was growing up in Poland.
The story also follows Leo. He tries to find answers for those who were Jewish during the war in Poland.
Since his divorce his Jewish mother has just started setting him up with dates.
Sage learns more about Joseph and he asks her to forgive him, then he can die. He has nothing else left.
Next part is about the camps and the work, lack of food, sleep and beatings. This is hard to read...
Joseph wants her to not only forgive him but help him to die. Her ex husband sees her having dinner with Leo and now he wants to divorce his current wife to go back to her.
Amazing to learn how they are all connected after all this time..
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
The Miner's Lady by Tracie Peterson
Love that I can read and review all the books in this series-so far.
This is the third one I've read and it's about the job of being a miner. I have read many books and find a bond-I'm not sure why
but I think it has something to do with one of my father's job. He used his hands on all his jobs and mostly liked being outside.
This is set in Ely, MN 1890's a time frame I really enjoy reading about.
Isabella Panetta wants to marry a man their family has had a feud with for centuries. When her sister Chantel returns from Italy she hopes she will help her.
She and her intended hoped when they married the feud would end, especially when they had a child that all sides would cherish and have to share...
Love hearing of the one year life in Italy each single person gone through at their grandparents house/vineyard. The feud was over a mule that got killed and the children don't really know the full story behind that as nobody will speak of it.
Accident at the mine is so real as we have watched the outcome on the TV in past days but it makes Isabella's father think about the feud and that it has to end.
Loved hearing of all the different foods especially around Christmas...
Loved all the talk of the lace that Chantel makes, tatting and the special threads.
When the grandmother falls sick after church and is brought to the Panetta's house the doc is called and her family finds out about her health problem is it going to be possible for them to overcome their feud to help her illness?
Everyone also tries to use God to help persuade the two grown men to give up on the feud and to be friends again quoting many scriptures along the way. Nothing goes as planned...Only a miracle will bring the 2 families together again..
I received this book from Net Galley via Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.
