Books read May 16

The Runaway Jury by John Grisham
Read one other book by this author and thought I'd try another as I enjoyed the process of the clues to solving the mysteries that arise.
Love how he captures your attention and holds it for the whole book as the plot moves along.
Interesting learning how the tobacco company didn't feel they were to blame for the people who died from smoking.. I know nothing of the jury process so that part was interesting to learn about.
Liked all the statistics and the ongoings of the people during the trial on the jury.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

Knitting Yarns by Ann Hood
Loved reading this author's other works and knew I'd like this. It is a compilation of other writers who also knit and why they knit and what knitting has done for them over the years.
Some find it calming, others do it to relieve grief, make gifts for those we love.
Don't think one of the stories really needed the swearing to get the point across....
Love that men authors are also included here in this anthology.
Patterns also included. Especially liked 20 people at the party were going to learn to knit, with their own set of needles and yarn pre assembled=each block will be sewn into an afghan for the new mother.
Enjoyed all the stories. Never realized the common things with these two crafts: writing and knitting.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

Morning Glory by Sarah Jio
Have read many of the author's other works and really appreciated the feeling that she knows me and what I'm going through.
This story is about Ada who's left NYC and arrived in Seattle. The houseboats we had visited ourselves a few years ago and love the descriptions of not only the floating houses but the calming effect and the sites of the city. We've yet to visit Glass Works but hope to this year with a kite.
Also Penny and Dexter have alternating chapters-they also live on Boat Street. Such a caring community...Bach on the Dock like a block party sounded real fun!
Realize a few chapters in that Penny and Dexter lived in the houseboat Ada is renting many years prior. She finds a trunk and lots of treasure and so many mysteries to solve. Love the legends of the morning glory vines.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

Silent Night by Robert B. Parker
Have read other books by this author and nice to learn others pick up his unfinished works after his death.
Love what this story stands for and I've not yet this series yet, but the Jesse Stone ones.
Orphan in the city and land disputes. Love how the PI's get involved, even for high class holiday events.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

Angelina's Christmas by Katherine Haliburt
Everyone at her school stayed late to help decorate for the play. Most houses had lights and were decorated for the holiday, except for one house.
She makes cookies in hopes of giving one away to the old man. Her brother Henry wnats to give his to Santa Claus. Next day her mother and her bring holiday food to his house and the dad and Henry cut a tree for him.
He dresses up as Santa as everyone decorates the tree and tells them a story of when he was not able to drive his US Postal truck to deliver the presents...
Nice surprise for what the town does for the old man, Mr. Bell.  Henry participates.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

The Greatest Gift: Unwrapping the full love story of Christmas by Ann Voscamp
Quotes from bible are connected to regular questions like what do you want for Christmas.
Traces the link down through generations of what the greatest gift is.
Book has devotional stories beginning with Dec 1 going all the way through Dec 25. Reminds me of the advent calendar we'd hang up on the back of the door and put an ornament on the tree each year when the kids were young.
Love the easy ways you and the whole family can participate in the things that are being described.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

A Quilter's Holiday, by Jennifer Chalverni
Have read most of the other books in this series and enjoy not only the patterns but the friendship others get by coming together to sew for charity.
Love hearing of the occupants of the house and what the latest is with their families.
Thanksgiving tradition by sewing quilt blocks and why they selected that particular one..
Quilting marathon and everyone has brought a leftover dish from the special day to share with all quilters that have assembled. Snow is due and a lot of it.
Loved hearing of how to name a quilt and of the advent calendars-much like the one our kids when younger had.
Loved learning of the importance of the 9 block and how many other things in our lifes correlate to it.
Alternating chapters from those at the celebration talk about what's going on in their lives. So many mysteries and clues throughout.
Auction of their items, proceeds go to food bank, so generous! Hate that the snow brings about a lot of tragedies....love hearing of the winter get together and where the proceeds for that go.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

The Rana Look by Sandra Brown
This book written under her alias name is a loveswept romance novel.
Ruana has left her modeling career and gone back home to start a new career when pushed too hard by family. She stays at Aunt Ruby's boarding house and Trent arrives.
A nephew ...fun, flirtful scenes and he proposes a pact. Trent and his secrets and tragedy occurs ...steamy sex scenes....
Misunderstandings and money get in the way of their happiness....
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

The Stand UP Guy by Stuart Woods
My first book from this author and I'm enjoying it. A man has gotten out of prison after he's served his 25 year sentence for armed robbery. There were 5 in on it and there are only 2 others left. Some of them know where the money is and he's being shot at and gets help from the PI Stone.
He has many ideas for him and follows them to start a new life and lay low.
The president is also trying to help his wife become president and they are a friend of Stone..
Very detailed plots, there are many as the players come together to get back what is theirs. Didn't care for the ending and have a feeling I'll be meeting up with these characters in another book...
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

The Last Juror by John Grisham
In this book we learn about the history of the paper and how putting in controversial obits makes a difference. The new editor also posts a lot of local community news: group meetings, killings, etc.
One has been sent to prison for rape and killing a woman. He tells the jurors he will come after them if they find him guilty. They do and after his time he's released. The author really goes into learning about the people, their lifes and all about them.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

Return To The Beach House by Georgia Bockoven
I have not read the first book in this series but will probably get it to read as I like this one so much.
Story starts out in June with Aliison Kirpatrick and she's vacationing on the west coast where her grandson joins her for a month before he heads off to college.
He's into horses and he meets up with Grace-who's cooking for her dad next door who's into surfing and tending the orchid nursery. They trade horse lessons for surfing lessons.
What I love about this is the lessons about riding a horse-what not to do. I can't wait to try it for myself, when I do get to go.  Love that Alison also has a life and love her exploring of the area as the places she's going to, describing were ones we didn't stop at on our trip up the PCH.
This book is broken up into sections where each section is about a different couple that are staying at the beach house at a different time during the year.
So interesting to learn about them all, their careers and what they love about the ocean and surrounding areas.  He learns things about his father and grandfather that help him to stir himself into a new direction after the summer ends.
Alison realizes some truths also....
August story:  Four women who went to college reunite at the beach house and catch up on why they didn't get together at the 5 year mark. So many different problems. Love the secret they've carried with them for years.
Sad to hear of some of their secrets but glad when others are revealed.
January story: Love that this story starts out with an update from the first story! This one is about a photographer who's at the airport to meet his girlfriend.
Love the stories of the photography part. Lindsey is not adjusting to being back in the states and does not want to go back to the war zone.
House seems so different to all the occupants but it makes them feel like they are home with just one item.
They must come to terms about their relationship and work....
End of the book has the author's other works which I'll be checking into myself.
I received this book from Library Thing via the author in exchange for my honest review.