super x read!
Surrender to Temptation by EB Walters
This family saga is about Chase and the woman of his dreams. He runs many successful restaurants. Keira is a food critic for the LA Times.
Nikki has arrived at the ranch to make a web page for them. Chase is the rancher and she has ulterior motives. Her sister was at his restaurant when it burned one night, scarring her and leaving her with many surgeries.
She has found Chase to have an eye problem since the fire and she and he both are sexually attracted to one another.
Love hearing of the food combinations and the lifestyle on the ranch-so many new things to learn about.
Hot steamy passionate love scenes and a mystery man who may have started the fire after all as others in the family check out the trails and clues.
Excellent read even by itself but it's always nice to catch up with the family...
I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.
The Lightkeeper by Susan Wiggs
Fantastic story about a man Jesse Morgan who operates the light house at Cape Disappointment. It's a tricky section of the coast in the northwest.
He has already lost his wife and their unborn son and is a hermit, keeping to himself until one day he rescues a pregnant woman and tends to her health.
Over the months he learns about her Irish upbringing and who the father is. She learns his secrets as well. He births the child and she says it's their son.
When he returns one day after chores and finds that his sister in law has been to the cottage and now everybody is gone. He tracks Mary and her son David to the vessel that the coast guard had not even sanctioned seaworthy.
His sister in law and her husband Granger-the boy's bio father are in the vessel as well and he knows what he has to do to safe the women and child. He vowed never to turn the light off at the lighthouse...
Loved hearing the story of how in the 1850's they would use horses and stallions to rescue people on the shores. Loved the ending and learning about antique light floats.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
This book reminds me of the time we spent with our grandson this summer and we did make bubbles. So fun to be able to act like a kid again.
Illustrated very colorful children's book about bubbles. The girl is named Bubbles.
You get to play a guessing game what bubbles likes and on the next page it shows you what was suggested.
When you find out what bubbles likes the best it is shown how to do it and what makes it so fun.
I like this book because it reminds me of my grandson and how he loves doing step by step instructions.
I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.
Illustrated very colorful children's book about a snow day.
Gabbi, Abigail and Adam wake up and notice all the snow and collect all their clothes they will need to go outside.
When they get out there they all stick together and help one another to do some fun things, even make a snow woman.
They are very proud of what they did, together. Very simple concept for kids to grasp.
I like this book because it allows the child to image a day outside even when there is no snow yet.
Author's other works are highlighted at the end of the book along with her bio.
I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.
Homemade Christmas Cookbook: 31 Thanksgiving Christmas Recipes by Betty Belly Cook
Good selection of recipes for the holidays. Especially like the ones you can make ahead of time and the big casserole breakfast dishes.
My favorite is the one with Smithfield ham and hash browns-not sure I'd add a lot of other ingredients as we are watching our salt intake now.
Many ways to prepare the holiday turkey, very good useful information there.
Lots of side dishes to accompnay the turkey dinners.
B006HTH6D2
Homemade Christmas by Tawra Kellam and Jill Cooper
Glad to see crafts in this holiday book-I've just read through 10 holiday cookbooks.
Clicked on the link in the book and it shows how to create a new Christmas eve tradition where you fill a huge box and put a small gift in for all the family members and it's to be opened when it gets dark on Christmas eve.
Good tips for being a frugal spender and making the gifts-something I do myself.
Big plan and written lists help make life easier and check them off as they are done. Love hearing how they survive the days leading up to the holiday.
Tips for feeding Santa and the reindeer to make an exciting time for the kids.
Gifts to put together for men, women and the kids, priceless memories!
Easy bake oven cake mixes and other treats can be made and put into a jar/can along with the directions.
Candy wreath idea had to grow on me and it's a great one to help get rid of Halloween candy...
Love food recipes at the end of the book.
Thanksgiving Recipes - 50 Dishes Plus 12 Leftover Recipes by Carol Vale
Love that this book has recipes for leftover as I know after this Thursday they will come in handy.
Just looking over the listings there are many recipes for every category for the big feast.
The book has links to the author's other cookbooks as well.
My favorite is the Shepard's pie, hands down.
The Christmas Cookie Plate: 50 Years of Award-Winning Cookie Recipes from the Russell Kitchen by Julie Schoen
Love baking for the holidays and always finding more cookie recipes to try and like. Each year I try to create one myself.
Much of the book is telling of the Russell kitchen and family and trips and their favorite desserts.
Treasure cookies and Danish Coconut Islanders sound like my pick for this year.
So many different categories.
Holiday Recipes: 150 Easy Recipes and Gifts From Your Kitchen by Bonnie Scott
Always looking for new recipes, especially with the holidays upon us. Love all the different categories in this one.
Colorful pictures showing the completed items all decorated-tips on doing that for ease of shipping also is included.
A site with gift tags is also mentioned in the book. Just glancing through some of these and I know they would be big hits with my family.
Our favorites to try: buffalo wings that we make our self, reindeer cookies!
5 Family Favorite Casserole Recipes - The Quick and Easy Casseroles Collection (The Casserole Recipes and Casserole Dishes Collection) by Pamela Kazmierczak
I thought I would browse through this book and maybe try a few as it's winter and once you toss everything into a casserole pan your job is done.
Lots of extra things in this cookbook after visiting the authors page and Kindle free downloads.
Love added notes inside some recipes as the dish might fail if you don't read the notes.
My favorite as we are severely watching our salt and sugar intake would be the ham and asparagus casserole.
The summer dessert casserole would be my all time year round favorite for all year round as it's fresh fruit.
Celebrating Advent: Family Devotions and Activities for the Christmas Season by Ann Hibbard
Story starts out with a frazzled mother of toddlers who are down for a nap and she's just finishing the wrapping of the gifts and it's so much work!
The holidays are so commercialized now that the meaning is lost in the season.
The idea is to spend family time along with the holiday and everybody can participate. Family traditions over the years can be renewed.
A plan and how much you expect to spend are crucial. The advent tree is one of our favorite where you put an ornament on the tree each day til Christmas.
Scripture readings are also included along with instructions on how to make things, music for the season, etc.
Includes sheet music for the Christmas carols and many ideas and templates.
This book covers a lot more than I ever thought it would.
CoCo Saves Monstertown by Amy McNeil
Illustrated colorful children's book about monsters. Coco is the new monster in town and it's his first day at school. He hopes the other monsters like him.
They come in different shapes and sizes and colors. The other monsters all look mean and scary and Coco does not.
Monstermania contest for the scariest monster and we find Coco hiding in the firehouse when Meeko finds him and tells him to just be himself.
Love the message this book sends: to be yourself.
Other works by the author are featured at the end.
Last Chance Knit & Stitch by Hope Ramsay
I first wanted to read this book because it shows yarn and knitting needles.
I have read other books by this author and know it's going to be a good read.
Love that within the first chapter there is talk of a knit top done in the seed stitch. I had just finished a scarf with that stitch and it's stunning.
Molly Canaday is the tow truck driver and she stops at the side of the road to tow the man's car. Simon Wolfe It's an old football star that left town and never looked back. His father had just passed away and he was only in town for the funeral.
Her brother hands her a note from her mother informing her she's taken off to see the world, Molly needs to run the Knit & Stitch and make meals and learn how to cook.
Simon is an artist in CA. His aunt hopes he'll stick around, run the dealership and take care of his mother who has dementia. Molly and her buddy were going to lose the garage space where they restored cars in the dealership...
The book also follows others romances and breakups and there's always something going on in town: book club, knitting club, etc
Anything that can go wrong does and then more things go wrong and more and more...
Love the knit along for poppies and how they are distributed-such community...so many other charities they knit for. Love the surprise at the end of this book.
They talk of the past and clear up some misconceptions and tragedy strikes and the community helps as a combined force.
Excerpts and praises from the authors and her friends other works are at the end.
I received this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.
Secrets on Cedar Key by Terri DuLong
Love this series and know even without knowing who the book is about that it's another keeper. It involves knitting, a city in Florida and a sense of good community feelings.
Marin has lost her husband Andrew and moved to Cedar Key with her mother now that the boys are grown and set in their locations with work. She helps her mom and others run the yarn store. She wants to run a needlework area and when the contractor has a heart attack, Worth Slater takes over.
She finds out some money was being sent to two people who she has no idea who they are and will investigate.
The part I love about this book is the atmosphere of the yarn shop to everybody who walks in the door. The weekly meeting is also a time for great food, sharing and others with a similiar need to bond with one another.
As island life goes on Marin is getting closer to knowing the truth about her husband and arrangements are made for the funeral of a friend. She confides in others who are not sure what to believe and they are there for her regardless of the outcome.
If you have not read the other books in the series you are told of the important things that happened in the past-just NOT everything so the books can be read out of order. There are a lot of characters but you tend to remember who goes with who (names and careers are mentioned) and the story is easy to follow.
Marin takes things slow and gets acquainted with Worth. They have dinner a few times and she's able to go with him to his house where he claims he and his wife, now dead, had met her and Andrew at a charity function for the college. He had left an impression on her back then... and likewise...
Love all the charity work in the book: locks of love hair cuts, and fund raisers.
Funny how the gossip travels around town and the concept of a movie being filmed in town have some scurrying to shape up their shops. Love all the chat about the shops and changes that have occurred and new owners with other ones.
Marin learns neither of the boys will be home for Thanksgiving but her BFF will come for Christmas. She does have to face what to do with the account and tries to find some answers on the internet. Many stressful days and she books a flight to Paris which Andrew and her were to return to.
Her mother tells her why she was against her buying the house and she hopes she can forgive and move on with her life and that the trip to Paris will help. So many details besides booking the flight and she's grateful to have the offer of a place to stay while there.
Travel in Paris is breathtaking, many details and I feel as if I'm there, I've always wanted to go with my daughter.
She recalls things that bring up images of Andrew and their sons and how they interacted with one another and thought he did deserve forgiveness.
Symbolism of the afghans during the war was enlightening to listen to and so much needed then.
Sparks of romance and love in Paris. Marin feels good about herself and her decision, is it the right one?
Love how the book got it's name and this series just keeps getting better and better. I'm not sure how the author can put so much into 300 pages. If another wrote it, it'd have to be 600 pages. Prefer the 300 page myself. She's got a way with words, the right ones together.
What I also really like is having many generations of families so you see how the author is able to solve the current day problems with any age group.
I received this book from Kennsington in exchange for my honest review.
The Missing Dough by Chris Cavender
This mystery series is about Maddy and Eleanor and they own and run A Slice of Heaven pizzeria. They have part time help, one is Josh the police chief's son who's also a guru at the PC.
Grant, the ex husband is killed after being a nuisance to many in town during the fair and where many were threatening him when he dropped beer over them.
The woman are sisters and often spend the night at one another houses. This case is about the money that Grant had swindled out of others in the investment firm. His mother is also dead now and she's bequeathed something to Maddy in her will.
Rebecca is the sister who also is trying to find the money. There are ex's of Grants and his business partners that also come into the picture. Love the way the women come up with leads as to who the suspects are and how they are able to clear their names.
Love the tip at the end of the book, after the mystery is solved about left over bread dough. Love the combinations used and just the fun of experimenting...
I received this book from The Kennsington Books in exchange for my honest review
Serenades (Whispering Cove 9) by Nikki Duncan
This is 9th in the series and I've yet to read any of the prior ones.
I didn't feel too much out in the dark, felt right at home with the storyline. Aimee lives with her sister Carmen over the bar.
Aimee waitresses at the bar and care for her infant daughter. Others who know of the child have told her she needed to tell the father. Well she did try, several times but coudln't get through to him.
Josh is back in town for a special appearance with his band at the bar. It's Christmas and after she does tell him there are hot passionate love scenes but he has one stipulation about Christmas. When he
leaves to tend to some business Carmen thinks he's run out on her. Will he return or is Aimee going to have to carry the burden?
Love the group of musicians and think the rest have their own story in the other books in the series. Interesting the things that come into play in this book.
I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.
Behind the Fire by Susan May
This book starts out with the trial of Bobbie and Emily Jessup. It alternates back in time to when the black things were discovered by Em.
I wanted to read this book because of the talk of coal mines. I love hearing how the brave men work down below the surface and the new technology that some have in place to aid the miners and keep them safe.
The book goes back to when Bobbie first discovered the paper by a man who had rented a truck and he started putting things together and found himself at many of the sites.
Em is stricken when her brother Jimmy is in the mine when the accident happens and only one man makes it out alive. He tells of the black form thinking it's poisonous gas that is forming the shape. Nobody can understand what he's talking about.
At the court trial again Bobbie testifies and then it's Em's turn and her testimony isn't what they had planned for her to say...
Love the mystery and the unknown and allowing the reader to form their own opinions.
I received this book from Library Thing via the author in exchange for my honest review.
Merry and Bright by Jill Shalvis
Love that this book actually has three stories from Jill included.
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Finding Mr. Right
This book is about Maggie and she's a chemist and knows tons of random facts on any subject. She's given up on her social life to get to where she's at. She meets the contractor on the job working on the companies renovations and realizes Jacob who was once in her chemistry class is the contractor.
Her sister wants a Christmas gift that Maggie will have sex with Mr. Wrong and Jacob hears their conversation and wants the job and before you know it, things get out of hand and her sister has her wish come true. Problem is someone was in the office at the time and she's not sure what's missing.
Hot steamy sex and trouble when she learns her tire is flat-Jacob tells her it's been slashed. They find more trouble at her house and notify the police. They can't keep their hands off one another...
Love hearing the technical side of her work and things she's uncovered.
Love the mystery and the lots of sex combination.
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Bah, Handsome!
Hope O'Brien runs the B&B outside of Denver, CO and business is not really good.
One stormy night a man appears-one of her girlfriends wishes her up a man with that knows how to use his sexual organs.
Her step brothers accountant Danny Shaw, and he's not there to give her an extension. She intends to send the money and reassures him of that.
For now he's stuck at the B&B and offers to help her-look over her financial records. She refuses and puts on a good face-til the water freezes up the next morning.
Ben and Lori who live the next place over could help but the pipes are just one thing that's gone wrong. The whole places needs a major uplift. Hot steamy sex scenes.
They get locked in the basement where the radiator is on and they start taking off layers of clothes...Ben and Lisa also come up with some ideas to get the two of them to spend time with one another.
Danny leaves the firm and loves the country and plans for the B&B and wants to help her out of a jam...
Misunderstandings get straightened out ...
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Ms. Humbug
City planner Cami Bennett is going to the Christmas party and all she can think about is O's, organization and order and of course organisms.
Before she leaves she heads to the ladies room and encounters a couple having sex in the stall. She thinks it's Matt the mayor because of the shoes. Later at the party she is upstairs going through files and she thinks it's Ned behind the mask and it appears as if it's not him at all.
Lots of miscommunications and they get to talk to learn why she thinks it's him that is spreading rumors. Hot steamy sex and they do team up to combat the culprit. They are taken unawares and a gun is pointed at them when they realize they have gone too far....
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I enjoy holiday reads but found the sex just a bit over the top and distracting from the story.
I received this book from The Kennsington Books in exchange for my honest review.
Time for bed bunny by Brenda Ponnay
Illustrated colorful children's book about a bunny and the things he needs to do before it's bed time, picking up the toys, putting pajamas on, brush teeth, change pajamas, read a story.
Nice routine for a child also.
Other books from the author are shown at the end.
Time for Bed Doggus by Emily Tenson
Illustrated colorful children's book about Doggus and the others are in bed and he's not quite sleepy yet.
He looks at the children and the other things in the hall. He hears a lot of creepy scary noises.
One girl couldn't sleep so they read books in bed til they do fall asleep.
Hard to read the words due to the background being so dark at times.
I usually read woman's romance novels and I found this book refreshing in many ways. First because it is from the male point of view-they are very descriptive details but in a different way from the woman counterpoint.
The book captivated me in many ways: the northwest as we've traveled once a year there while visiting relatives and to revisit them was great! Tidbits of information that only locals would know about that reminded me of the days we spent there in Oregon.
I loved the travel up and down the coast especially. The fashion industry was a bit hit-I only know a few knit designers and the drape is what I look for and I felt the men nailed the industry on the head. The company and make up of the people that gave their all in getting the company to what it is came through as ones' heart and soul was put into it.
Loved hearing all about the fisherman and their take and how the one writing the story finishes his commitments and has a personal life but is able to spend time with each of them to get an idea of what they have brought to the company.
I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.
Aloha Rose Quilts of Love Series by Lisa Carter
Such a beautiful quilt on the cover. Laney Carrigan has just arrived in Hawaii with the hopes of meeting some of her mothers family. She was adopted and had done research to track them down.
She was to meet Teah or Elyse but Kai Barnes, SAR pilot was the one that showed up to take her to the family. He was also adopted and raised by the family.
She only had the one clue-red snowflake on a white background appliqued quilt she was wrapped in as an infant.
They didn't hit it off from the start..Love the descriptive tours. Kai takes her for tours and they get many chances to really talk to one another and we find out they have much in common due to her writings. She can make things happen due to her connections...
She's overwhelmed with all the relatives she meets and it takes her time to get used to their ways, their ceremonies, religion and Spam. She is a freelance writer and she will do research while there on the Big Island as she's combining this as a leisure/business trip.
So much to take in on the trips around the islands, the sights, sounds, nature, flowers, sea and their talks of the war.
She was also there to meet her father and some family members are keeping secrets. Surprises in this book around every corner she takes...
After the accident God speaks to her and now she knows the route she must take...All the Hawaiian words put you in the mood as if you are on the island and there is a dictionary at the back.
Excerpt from Tempest Course the next in the Quilts of Love series is featured at the end.
I received this book from Net Galley via Abingdon Press in exchange for my honest review.
Real Romance by Ginny Baird
Love that this is a Thanksgiving love story. This is one holiday I find gets lost with the larger than life Christmas right on the doorstep.
Maggie McCloud runs the bookstore and is friendly with others that work there. Cecil runs the coffee shop part and they have been an item for 5 years now.
She's getting the signal that she needs to hitch up with someone soon and produce children and get on with her life but Cecil is not one to hurry. He's got his own agenda.
David Lake, the optician in the strip of stores in the mall has helped her get a new pair of frames. He attempts to get Cecil's help with learning what it is woman want...
Maggie gets a letter from Cecil and now she's single again and takes things slow with David and they do have some common connections. I found the Thanksgiving dinner at her house a bit comical with her family around them.
Loved the area-snow and foliage and just fun free things to do. Hot steamy romance and sex scenes just add to this book. Like how they each have fantasies about the other...
Excerpt from the next book is included at the end along with a note from the author.
I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.
On the Right Side of a Line by Shandy Kurth
This book is about Valen and how he has had to join the group to get protection for his family and make money.
It's a hard life on the streets and he has many interruptions from others that he once sees as distractions and then something else.
Love the beach scene and how it's described-felt as if I was there..
Love how we hear what he's thinking when he learns that his brother wants him and the family to leave...
Liked how the book is from a gang member and his point of view-I mostly read romance novels so this is a refreshing change once in a while as you can picture the scenes taking place in front of you as the descriptions are so detailed and true to life.
I felt like I was on the edge of my seat and couldn't read it fast enough as the action is fast paced.
MY REVIEW
I wanted to read this book after reading the synopsis. Sounded like a book that would explain about how a cattle ranch runs, something I'll probably never see in my lifetime.The story starts out with Maddie and how she lives in a condo in NYC. She had once traveled and at a diner sat and talked to Jonah and they kept in contact with one another over the years. Next thing she knows she's a published writer and things are not going so well in the boyfriend department.
She gets a letter from a lawyer that Jonah has left her half his ranch. She goes to Arkansas and stays for some time til her condo is refurbished. She finds the boys, Abe and Mark and their Uncle Gideon who's now back home from the war with PTSD.
She is able to cross paths with Gideon and she stays out of his way while writing in her new novel. She learns of the boys birthday, 16th and wants to throw him a bash and before she knows it the whole will come to celebrate. She has a gift for him that he's been wanting.
Besides the work on the ranch I was able to learn about the new project Jonah was experimenting with. This is amazing because my father was hired to feed the steers here in town due to this new experiment. Liked learning about the cows and their significance.
Things start going bad, rustlers stealing cattle and a bad gang might be connected. Action really heats up when some forces join. Hot steamy sex scenes. This is a great story on many different counts.
Love how she is so strong she is able to pick up where Jonah left off-his dreams of the ranch.
I received this book from Tribute Books in exchange for my honest review.
A Holiday Sampler: Delicious Excerpts From Your Favorite Authors
This is a great way to find a new author to read. The stories are varied subjects.
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Six to Eight Black Men- by David Sedaris. is the story of the Netherlands and the customs of when Saint Nicholas brings gifts for Christmas.
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See You Again Yesterday- by David Sedaris. trips to France over the years and learning new phrases.
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Kiss the Girls by James Patterson- killing of people, planned and very sick to read about...
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The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks-an elderly couple and after she gets dressed with help he reads a notebook to her-it's about their life but she has no idea...
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The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller-I remember watching this as a movie and enjoyed it.
This is the story of Robert Kincaid and he's a photographer, once married his traveling was too hard on the marriage and she left. Love the travel and what he focuses on in his pictures.
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The Shack by Wm. Paul Young-conversation with God about Jesus...
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The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks-living on the streets
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Witch and Wizard by James Patterson-new government in charge and they conduct business in unusual manner..
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A lot of the genres I don't really care to read but did glance over all of them. Enjoyed the writing of a few new uathors to me and will search out their other works.
30 Delicious Apple Dessert Recipes by Pamela Kazmierczak
The Ultimate Apple Desserts Recipes Including Apple Pie, Apple Cake, Apple Cupcakes, Apple Cookies, Apple Bread, Apple Muffins and More
I like apples enough to use them while I'm baking treats and always looking for new ideas.
The one combination I want to try is apples and cranberries.
Great resource but there are no pictures in this version. Loved the selection of recipes, even the ones using a cake mix to speed up the recipe.
Homeport by Nora Roberts
Amelia had left the pearls and other items to family members. She gave Miranda the art collection.
Miranda Jones is shaken by the one who slashes her tires and grabs her bag.
She heads to Italy to verify the authenticity of the 'dark lady'.
Others think she is not capable of making the decision. Ryan Valdeere is a thief. he loves the thrill of getting in and out undetected.
Radiation and xrays proved it was genuine, she had seen the results. Why then was it a fake, how did it happen, when?
And now the bronze has been stolen! Ryan blackmails her into verifying another fake bronze.
They must work together and they get the files about the employees who worked for them and he thinks that will lead them to the solution.
When they have to act like a married couple she's not sure she can pull it off...
Love the action, adventure and mystery and the travel...
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
Merry and Bright by Jill Shalvis
Love that this book actually has three stories from Jill included.
.
Finding Mr. Right
This book is about Maggie and she's a chemist and knows tons of random facts on any subject. She's given up on her social life to get to where she's at. She meets the contractor on the job working on the companies renovations and realizes Jacob who was once in her chemistry class is the contractor.
Her sister wants a Christmas gift that Maggie will have sex with Mr. Wrong and Jacob hears their conversation and wants the job and before you know it, things get out of hand and her sister has her wish come true. Problem is someone was in the office at the time and she's not sure what's missing.
Hot steamy sex and trouble when she learns her tire is flat-Jacob tells her it's been slashed. They find more trouble at her house and notify the police. They can't keep their hands off one another...
Love hearing the technical side of her work and things she's uncovered.
Love the mystery and the lots of sex combination.
.
Bah, Handsome!
Hope O'Brien runs the B&B outside of Denver, CO and business is not really good.
One stormy night a man appears-one of her girlfriends wishes her up a man with that knows how to use his sexual organs.
Her step brothers accountant Danny Shaw, and he's not there to give her an extension. She intends to send the money and reassures him of that.
For now he's stuck at the B&B and offers to help her-look over her financial records. She refuses and puts on a good face-til the water freezes up the next morning.
Ben and Lori who live the next place over could help but the pipes are just one thing that's gone wrong. The whole places needs a major uplift. Hot steamy sex scenes.
They get locked in the basement where the radiator is on and they start taking off layers of clothes...Ben and Lisa also come up with some ideas to get the two of them to spend time with one another.
Danny leaves the firm and loves the country and plans for the B&B and wants to help her out of a jam...
Misunderstandings get straightened out ...
.
Ms. Humbug
City planner Cami Bennett is going to the Christmas party and all she can think about is O's, organization and order and of course organisms.
Before she leaves she heads to the ladies room and encounters a couple having sex in the stall. She thinks it's Matt the mayor because of the shoes. Later at the party she is upstairs going through files and she thinks it's Ned behind the mask and it appears as if it's not him at all.
Lots of miscommunications and they get to talk to learn why she thinks it's him that is spreading rumors. Hot steamy sex and they do team up to combat the culprit. They are taken unawares and a gun is pointed at them when they realize they have gone too far....
.
I enjoy holiday reads but found the sex just a bit over the top and distracting from the story.
I received this book from The Kennsington Books in exchange for my honest review.
Time for bed bunny by Brenda Ponnay
Illustrated colorful children's book about a bunny and the things he needs to do before it's bed time, picking up the toys, putting pajamas on, brush teeth, change pajamas, read a story.
Nice routine for a child also.
Other books from the author are shown at the end.
Time for Bed Doggus by Emily Tenson
Illustrated colorful children's book about Doggus and the others are in bed and he's not quite sleepy yet.
He looks at the children and the other things in the hall. He hears a lot of creepy scary noises.
One girl couldn't sleep so they read books in bed til they do fall asleep.
Hard to read the words due to the background being so dark at times.
Quote from bestselling author Victoria Howard
"A poignant love story that will have you reaching for
the tissues...Every woman needs her own Finn MGraw..."
BLURB:
They say
it’s better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.
Finn
McGraw disagrees.
He was
just seventeen when he had a torrid summer affair with the girl who stole his
heart—and then inexplicably turned on him. Finn may have moved on with his
life, but he’s never forgotten her.
Now, ten
years later, he’s got more than his lost love to worry about. A horrific
accident turns his life upside down, resurrecting the ghosts of his long-dead
family and taking the lives of the few people he has left.
Finn
always believed his estranged brother was responsible for the fire that killed
their family—but an unexpected inheritance with a mystery attached throws
everything he knows into doubt.
And on
top of that, the beguiling daughter of his wealthy employer has secrets of her
own. But the closer he gets, the harder she pushes him away.
The Seacrest is a story of intrigue and betrayal, of
secrets and second chances—and above all, of a love that never dies.
My Review:
The Seacrest by Aaron Paul Lazar
Finn McGraw grows up on the cape in MA where his family runs the blueberry farm during the summer months.
I feel like this is two books in one because each chapter tells of a different age of the characters.
The chapters alternate in time and that is sometimes confusing. There are mainly two people-when they first meet on the beach and spend time to get to know one another. First love and sex scenes.
And the present day where the woman has died along with his brother and he now owns everything his brother had.
He is living and working at the manor of Seacrest and Libby is the one that gets him up and moving rather than just lying around the cottage on the estate after he learns of his wife's passing.
Through each of the time frames we learn of the family's past and how the others had died...
So much pain when he finds out what his brother did that broke he and Sassy up from dating.
Love the location of the sea and the cape and journeys throughout the book. Love the story line but not all the sex scenes-was a bit much.
I received this book from Vickie Dold I.O. Book Tours via the author for my honest review.
The Christmas Wish (Heart of Montana) by Katy Regnery
Lucas Flynn out of prison, works as a short order cook at the diner.
Tess Branson is a waitress at the diner. He's watched how others have bullied her and he knows she is special=to others who are down on their luck and children and lone dogs.
The reason I wanted to read this book is because I love holiday books and love the setting of the Yellowstone River in this one.
He asks her for a date and she agrees after hearing how he got back the 3 bullies in the diner.
She had given up wishing on a star, maybe this one would be different...He sets teh record straight when he asks to walk her home and she can't believe he is true to his word.
She tells him why they don't even set up a tree any longer.. He sticks up for her at dinner and she knows the perfect gift to get him for Christmas...
Liked that this is a standalone book but part of a series as well.
I received this book from Library Thing via the Author in exchange for my honest review.
What You Wish For by Fern Michaels
This book starts out with Helen and she's married to Daniel. Everything is perfect in their life if you consider him beating her every time he wants her to do something. She finally has had enough when he tosses the dog and she's a breath away from being dead.
She is able to defend herself and runs into the street where a passerby takes her to the local vet. He takes her in, cares for the dog and gets a woman to take care of her injuries. She moves them into a woman's shelter and trains her how to take care of herself as she heals.
When she is through with the program they relocate her and with her studies and volunteer time she takes on a job and gets on with her life. She meets with an online counselor at nights and Boots knows she is on her way to recovery. Her job is to keep the husband away from her.
Her new business takes off and she meets a man who also has a dog and the dogs take up with one another. The story is terrifying as we learn of what Helen has gone through and what she has to endure, along with others.
She tells her sponsors of her love life and she breaks away from them and she knows her husband is on her trail so she leaves with the dogs to head back to CA where it all started. Love how the story plays out...
Love the strong things Helen does along with the travel. Very few characters and they are easy to keep track of.
I received this book from The Kennsington Books in exchange for my honest review
Rock Harbor Search and Rescue: Lost and Found by Colleen Coble
Book is confusing at the very beginning as the characters in the story are just thrown out there. It takes a bit to understand who belongs to which family.
Emily and Olivia are friends and they are working on a surprise anniversary party that leads them to find a photo of the wedding day. While searching for the photo they come across a photo with adoption written on it with other information.
Emily strives to track down who the name belongs to. The baby would be her friend Olivia at 3 months old when she was adopted. Neither of them knew this. She follows the name to a lawyer firm but the lawyer has since retired.
Emily is in training with the search and rescue dogs. She spots her real mother, Marika near the woods and blames her for so much. The science lab catches on fire and the whole town comes together to figure out who started the fire.
A SAR dog is sick with possible poisoning and a boy has gone missing and they need a dog to go search for him...The mother is now missing...
The grandmother is able to use God and examples from the Bible to help her understand about forgiveness and trust in God.
Love how all the clues lead to the solution to so many problems...
I received this book from Thomas Nelson via Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.
Gobbles and His Turkey Trick by Beatrix S. Tambunan
Illustrated colorful children's book about the life of a turkey. First he is hatched from an egg, then he eats and as time goes on he grows and grows and grows.
He walks one day and notices a place that is a turkey processor. Before he realizes what is going to happen he wants to save the rest of the turkeys...
101 Christmas Jokes For Kids by Michelle Zimmerman
Few illustrated colorful pictures in this book of jokes about Christmas.
Fun for not only kids but adults. Loved knitting one and about dropping needles the best as I am a knitter.
Had us laughing for hours.
The Ghost of Christmas Present by Jenny Massie Lykins
Alane has rented the cabin for the holiday. She needs a bit of solitude to get her sketching back.
Problem is Jared the ghost resides at the cabin. He appears and scares her into a faint. They talk
and she finds herself missing him and wanting to know more about him. All she can see is his image and he's quite handsome.
David her boyfriend wants to come up and join her but she tells him know she wants to be alone-except for Jared's company.
She finds out why he can't leave, ever. He is up on the times but they can't find a movie to watch so they listen to her CD's.
David shows up and she reads him the riot act and after he leaves she sits down and starts painting while talking to Jared.
His life is drained and he is very weak from his actions...He tells her of the curse...The new owners want to see their cabin but Jared and Alane have other plans...
Love this novella and especially the outcome...
Fields of Elysium (a romantic fantasy, book
Molly Bennett and her family had just recently relocated from NJ to CA. She takes her dog Pandora up into the woods to do some hiking and she gets away from Molly.
She does find her in a cave and goes in after her and discovers an aurora and goes through the light to find another whole universe there. 6 other guys show up and take a last swim for the summer and they talk of other things she has no idea about yet.
She does manage to get home by going through the aurora again and she knows she will never tell anybody about what she had seen and witnessed.
Molly discovers many new things about the other side of life when Weston comes with her to her side and she goes to his side.
Lots to learn in the new place and some help her.
Very descriptive details of what is behind the Aurora and that world. I found the time took forever because of all the details.
Conflicts between young love and very adult subject matters. Loved the mystical magical aspect of this book. Excerpt from the 2nd book in the series is included at the end.
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Malice by Danielle Steel
This book is a bit difficult to read because of all the abuse. Her life is troubled when her mother forces her to have sex with her father.
After the mother dies she attacks him and ends up in prison. Love hearing of the charity work she does for others through the years and how
she is able to get over her past and have a love relationship with a special male.
Others do find out about her past ...
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
The Christmas Wedding Quilt
Love the idea of this book-not only is it about Christmas, but quilting and a wedding and the fact that there are 3 different authors.
All these factors led me to want to read/review this book.
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Let It Snow by Emilie Richards
This story starts out with Jo Miller returning home from overseas and being handed a package from an aunt that had passed away.
The quilt square was for Olivia's wedding, her cousin. The letter that comes with the quilt block speaks of what she had intended others to do to complete it.
The girl cousins had taken quilt lessons from their grandmother during the summer months when they were growing up.
During her holiday vacation she travels to the town of Kenowa Lake where her father had lived..
Brody Ryan, a neighbor and friend recuses her during the storm when she arrives during a northeast blizzard. They are able to catch up with each other.
Story also follows how Ryan spends his time in the town and also goes back to when they secretly dated in high school. We learn how and what broke them up...
She learns from Eric's mother who's giving her his baby clothes for Eric and Olivia's quilt more about Brody and she wonders if his father's health was the reason they broke up.
Especially like the talk of the vineyard that he runs an it's progress over the years and all the talk of the quilt she's working on-a round robin type where she will work on one section then send it off to another cousin for them to do the next section.
Kind of like how this book was written-where the next in line will pick up where the first author leaves off...
Love how each of them are so devious to do things so they will end up spending more time with one another...
She comes up with a gracious gift for him but will he see it as such??? She learns more about his business at the same time he's talking to her mother about Jo's life.
They confront one another but will they go their own way to combine forces...
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You Better Watch Out by Janice Kay Johnson
Ella Torrence is an artist in Seattle with ceramic pieces. Ella is also the cousin of Jo from the previous story and she will be getting what Jo's finished for Olivia's Christmas wedding quilt. Ella had finished her section and it's soon to be sent to Rachel in Australia.
The quilt is in her car but someone had just stolen it...
Brett Hollister is a lawyer in town and things the past month hadn't gone his way... Ella runs into him and he realizes how frazzled she is..
Brett agrees to take her in his car to follow her stolen car and explains why the quilt top is so important to her. He agrees to help her the next day also because he hates to fail...
Love hearing via email from Jo and the and all about the saga of the quilt top...
Brett has issues with his job and his father and tries to relieve the pressure by playing racquetball with a neighbor.
Love her studio and the hot steamy sex scenes. With Brett's father medical emergency he is able to figure out what part of being a lawyer he wants to pursue.
Ella and Brett do run into problems as they listen to one another about their pasts.
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Nine Ladies Dancing by Sarah Mayberry
Rachel MacIntosh lives in Australia as a librarian and is the 3rd cousin who will sew a border around Olivia's Christmas wedding quilt. Jo and Ella have done their portion.
When she got the quilt she knew she was in trouble. She had not quilted in over 15 years...
Leo Bennett is recovering from his best friends death and is living home while his mom Gabby took care of him. Gabby has agreed to help Rachel with the quilt top and will have her over many times to teach her new things.
Leo had taken a few classes with her in years prior and he's now a firefighter. Rachel just sees him as being rude and crude.
Loved hearing of the choices of how to finish the quilt top.
Leo confronts Rachel at work and she does tell him what happened years ago that made her not like him at all...
He holds all his pain inside, the day of the incident when Cameron died. Gabby is concerned about him and knows he needs to talk to somebody about that day.
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Loved this book because it introduced me to a few new authors and loved the saga of the quilt and all it stood for.
Travel was another really big hit for me and the things I learned along the way. Loved how the round robin worked out for the quilt and the authors.
I have read others similar to this but this one was a seamless transition.
I received this book from Net Galley via Harlequin in exchange for my honest review.
Miracle Road An Eternity Springs Novel by Emily March
Enjoy reading this series so when another book became available I asked to review it.
Gorgeous cover tells the story. Lucca Romano had led the basketball team to its victory. The kids were doing it for the ones they had lost.
Lucca feels as if it's his fault and take it out on himself and tosses the check that was awarded to him.
Hope Montgomery in Eternity Springs has her own pain when March rolls around. We learn of her accident also but the town has helped to put her on the road to better health and understanding.
At the baby shower we learn of the comings and goings of the others in town. Love catching up.
Lucca's mother and sister bring him back to heal at Eternity Springs and as he's settling in her dog has bit him and he leaves the cabin to confront her.
Things are confusing for them as they assume things about one another. They each have painful pasts and many secrets.
Besides Lucca who will help his mother make the place into a B&B others in the family come to help but will it be enough?
Love lessons about the stars, so much to know. Loved hearing of the charity work and how the town comes together.
Hope called Lucca out on his past to help him see it was not about him... The GPS of Life. Caving is an adventure and I love how they help heal one another. There is also a bit of a mess with Lucca's mom that the whole family gets involved with.
Love how the book got its title and there is an excerpt of the next book in the series, at the end.
I received this book from Net Galley via Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine in exchange for my honest review.
The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen
Emily helps run the summer rental beach properties. Her sister has graduated with a degree and is trying new techniques for the rentals.
They also deliver the VIP products, chilled wine and a cheese platter with a welcome card.
Book follows her life growing up and as a teen she meets her real father and he helps her with books to get her into college. She is accepted but now he writes back something happened and he can't send money for her.
Her mother has always just wanted to give her 'the moon and more'... Some new relationships and some end as she grows up that summer.
Interesting to see the end result and how she put herself out there...love how she knows when she's home...
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
She runs the town yarn store after the original one in town burned down. She heads up the town knitting club also and it's just a week from Thanksgiving.
The knitters ambushed her into decorating the shop because they knew why she'd never do it herself and we learn as the story goes on the reasons why...
This story also follows Mark Leland who is returning to the town to host his 'Fact or Fiction' myth buster show...
He is torn between keeping his promise to Carrie about NOT mentioning their busted relationship or cashing in on that for the show...
Hot steamy sex scenes and he knows he lives on the west coast and she in Texas and there's no way they will ever be together and she knows she may have him one night but forever??
Loved the scenes with Christmas decorations, so very detailed!
. read vol 1-4 at the same time
They are delivering a Christmas Angel gift to the family less fortunate this year. The weather man advised of the ice storm about to hit the area.
Love little tips at beginning of each chapter for a perfect Christmas. His past once again catches up with him...
Community comes together...
I received this book from Edelweiss by HarperCollins in exchange for my honest review.
. read vol 1-4 at the same time
Her cat had recently died, she'd never have kids and her parents were in Europe to spend Christmas with his brother, who is a GI.
Eli, who she had known from high school was back in town to get a cake for his 14 year old daughter's birthday. They have a lot of time to catch up on...
Love the idea of fantasy vacation, camping and hiking! They both know they have to take things slow but their physical attraction to one another says differently.
There is no way this is going to work, they each have businesses that are so far apart from one another...the birthday party does not go as planned and it could be the end of their relationship..
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read vol 1-4 at the same time
She works at the Horny Toad Bar in town... She wanted closure and agreed to let Nate, a returned from the war SEAL hang up Christmas decorations for her. She also put a 'help wanted' sign in the window of the bar.
Shannan Dugan had wandered into town and applied and got the job. She had been dealt a raw hand after her grandparents had died..
Lots of mysteries and secrets and I love the talk about the cookie swap!
Hot steamy sex scenes.. read vol 1-4 at the same time
Morehouse Farm Critter Knits: 20 Easy Patterns & Designs for Animal Scarves, Hats & Mittens by Margrit Lohrer
I have seen paid for patterns for some of these and plan to make one for my grandson this winter.
The patterns are fun, colorful and so easy. Caterpiller scarf for him.
Lobster mittens and lobster tail scarf are my favorites. Surprise at the end is an excerpt of the next version of this book.
Each and every pattern has a color photo of the item knitted along with the full pattern. What a treat!
There are directions on how to join their newsletter and where to find their yarns.
Saving Each Other by Victoria Jackson and Ali Guthy
This book is about a girl in her teens that develops a mystery illness.
Interesting how the book works. Parts of it are told by the daughter and some from the mother's side, as they are going through each day. You get a really good idea of what's going on.
I also have a rare eye illness and have been to the best and I have just learned to live with what I have left.
Lot of doctor terminology and it's up to them as to what treatments they do try. They do end up traveling to a lot of different big cities to follow the doctors around that know of the disease and how to treat it.
Everybody is different and they pray on the 2% that will survive.
At times it's difficult for me to read as I recall many of the same experiences of my illness.
Love how they use their resources to come up with help for them and others with the same disease. My friends and I started a local support group for lyme disease and we did attempt to get grants to help educate everybody so I know how hard the task is.
Praying helps get them through it all and some swearing...
Treasure Me by Christine Nolfi
This is the first book of a new series about Liberty, Ohio.
This one starts out in the present day but goes back in time to the Civil War and how blacks were taken out of the south via the Underground Railroad system to start new life's in the north.
This is about Birdie and her family over the centuries of time. She is a thief-it's all she knows how to do thanks to her mother. Her father is in jail for a car theft and she travels to Liberty, OH to find the treasure.
She reads a book about being a lady, the etiquette and manners. We find her in a restaurant where she's just gotten a job waitressing and will be living in the apartment upstairs. She will have to share it with Hugh, a newspaper reporter.
They tend to get along ok at times not so well. She finds the clues she was looking for in her search for the rubies. She talks to many in town and finds more. Problem is Hugh's friend at the paper is onto a story about Birde's parents and how they stole the money in the investment firm.
This is also the story of many others paths that she crosses and they all have a bearing in the story. Took me quite some time to actually get into this story and I'm so glad I stuck it out as it is an adventure, some travel, and some romance.
Especially like the ending and how everything fits into place.
There is an excerpt from the next book in the series, at the end.
I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.
Autumn Escapes in the Pacific Northwest By Lauren Braden
Very informative book on places to visit, what to do and where to eat and sleep.
Found we had traveled to many of the places mentioned but we didn't go in the fall. usually we are in the area in Mar-April
and the book does say to stop any time of the year. This book focuses on events and the fall harvest. Lots of good ideas for our future trips.
The Sugar Cookie Sweetheart Swap by Donna Kauffman, Kate Angell and Kimberly Kincaid
Wanted to read this book because it's 3 books in one and it's all on the same theme-Christmas sugar cookies. I love to bake and experiment. Recipes included.
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Where There's Smoke by Donna Kauffman
Clara Parker has a job to do for the paper, cookie recipes and a column up til Christmas.
Her friends Lily and Abby would help but they are busy with their jobs as well.
She buys a new cookbook and runs into her old college friend, fireman now, Will. Next day he checks in on her to discover her house on fire.
He saves her from trying out a recipe from her new book. She is now a guest at his cabin and together they learn about one another again and treasure what they've found.
She agrees to have Christmas with him and she does trust him. Hot steamy sex scenes.
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The Gingerbread Man by Kate Angell
This portion of the saga is about Abby Denton and she is a baker and sells her atomically correct gingerbread men online.
Lauder is on her coach - she had saved him after the car accident where earlier he came to the town's center for their annual cookie swap and purchased the gingerbread men.
All he can recall is a peppermint stick penis! The blizzard will keep them snowed in for days and she knows how to use the cabin fireplace for cooking. He's concerned because of all the handicap equipment in the bathroom...
He's got bruised muscles in his chest from her dragging him up the hill and she's hurt her big toe. As they decorate the tree they find out a lot more about one another and remember their holidays of the past.
Bubble and glass blown ornaments are my favorites. never knew of the Austrian tinsel. Games of naked scramble and hot steamy sex...
She gave him a box of candy out of the dozen that was meant for her grandmother as a Christmas gift when he left. He remembered her wish and we wait to see if it will come true this year.
Such imaginations when it comes to decorating the cookies!
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Sugar and Spice by Kimberly Kincaid
This part of the book is about Lily Callahan and she's a professional baker with a very small apartment to bake in. Clara is there to help her and she learns of the $10k cookie contest. That would be enough for her to have a real business.
Peter Mancuso is the one who had dumped Clara but he didn't see it as such, just a different business side to their lifes. They are both competing in the cookie contest and there is a twist to the rules. They are paired and will be working through the first phase of eliminations.
They pretty much wing the recipe...the resort has the numbers in from the viewing audience and their segment was a lot higher than others and make a deal to keep them in the competition, maybe a kiss here and there on camera to boost the charity donations...
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Especially liked how the very beginning is-the three woman and the book has each of their stories and the ending is them all together again and especially loved the recipes!
I received this book from The Kennsington Books in exchange for my honest review
Wild Fruits Thoreau's Rediscovered Last Manuscript
1850's This lost manuscript is mostly about Thoreau and his time studying the plants he lives near.
Everything from when they first come out in the spring, the crop they produce and the taste and the history of the plant itself and how it was used in the past.
Wish I had the actual book as it might come with pictures of the actual plants that I could then identify here locally but this is a book on tape.
Playtime with Monster (A Gorgeous Illustrated Children's Picture Book about a Cookie Eating Monster) by Michael Yu
Illustrated very colorful children's book about a little boy and going to bed.
Eric hated to get ready for bed, brushing his teeth, washing up, etc. His mom came up with a story about a monster that she told him.
He gets ready really quick and they head to the kitchen to get a plate of cookies for the monster. Then she tells him to say a simple rhyme and the monster may come out to play with him.
He is so surprised when he gets a horsey ride around his bedroom then he's put to bed.
This continues for many nights til the mother doesn't have any cookies, all she has is apples...will the monster come to play???
Excerpts from the author's other works are shown at the back of the story.
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