Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Books read May 20



 What She Really Wants by Barbara Delinsky
Cute short story about Tom who needs a wedding anniversary gift for his wife. He overhears her on the phone one day to her mom telling her that yes she knows he's bought her expensive jewelry and other gifts over the years.
This year she's given him the clue to just watch her and he'll know what to get her. He asks the daughters and in turns out they want gifts that will benefit them. He asks others at work to no avail. they are just not gifts for her.
It dawns on him one day what it is he needs to do.....the gift is priceless!
Guys just sit back and listen to what we say without words.
Free from the author in time for mothers day 2015




The Christmas Box Miracle by Richard Evans
Story of how the Christmas Box book was written and the whole story behind how it even got published.
Happy to learn of how the book effects others. Many quotes from the Christmas Box as they relate to this book.
Today show interview with Katie and Brian I think really set the trend for others to obtain this read and what it could mean to their own lives.
Struggles to make the local Angel Statue and I applaud him to his devotion and to learn there are many around the US. Love the advocacy of caring for children.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).









 Saving Grapes by J.T. Lundy
The cover with the vineyard laid out in front of me made me want to read this story. Love trees and producing things that are healthy.
Story starts out with him getting in trouble, losing his job, the woman who raised him only to find out he inherits a vineyard, in France. Due to his law troubles he's not to leave the country to tend to the vineyard. He also has to pay back losses of $60k for his antics.
Jason and Stumpy head off with others passports to France...and find the nuns own some of the vineyard and they don't want to sell it.
All the coniving escapades to get what is rightfully is, more than you know til the end. Funny scenes, almost like a SNL wayne's world. anything that can go wrong will, and then some kinda hilarious.
Learning in a  sense also. Great read
I received this book from Library Thing in exchange for my honest review.




Uncommon Heroes and Cars by Carey V. Azzara
The book summary appealed to me and glad I was able to review this one. WOW. So much in so few words.
Many stories about heroes from everyday life experiences. Felt a common goal with many of them and the ones that appealed to me the most were the car ones. My brother still today works on foreign cars and growing up with boys in the family somebody was always working on cars, my husband included.
Used to just sit and watch, sometimes hand them a tool they needed and learned so much. Learned a lot more in this book, the technical side of the cars problems. Loved also learning more about Nova Scotia which we have yet to visit. Such descriptive details. Paying it forward in any way you can is a plus within this book. look for the examples.
Hard to pick just one, you really should just read them all, they are fantastic. Looking forward to reading more of the author's works.
I received this book from the author via Goodreads in exchange for my honest review.


The Story of Grandma Gatewood
Was interested in reading this because it's about the Appalachian trail which I've been on a few feet of it in TN and MA.
At 67, in 1955 she left Ohio and took a bus to WV and onto Georgia where she started her trail hiking.
Love hearing of all the nature and can picture it all in my mind. Amazing that my family has relatives that live in the same town as where she was from.
Lots of history with politics and events that happened over the days: first major highways made...
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).



I Love My Mom - Over 50 Cute Animal Babies with Their Mothers: A Celebration of Motherhood Kindle Edition
by Bob Frothingham
Pictures of 50 animals with their offspring, each stating why they love their mom.
Very colorful, lots of uncommon to the US animals.  My favorite would be the deer as we see them in their natural habitat every weekend we walk at the nature preserve.
Another book I love my dad is also excerpted at the end of this book.
Like feature at the end where it states what the offspring of the animal is called.


Delicious Traditional Amish Cooking: Learn How To Cook The Amish Way
Hoping to find some healthy recipes from the Amish. My husband's mother grew up around the Amish and she cooked traditionally herself...
Although many use high fat content for flavor I am pretty sure some could be substituted with healthier oils of today. Can't wait to try the cornbread.
No pictures and no nutritional information.  Lots of good recipes, enjoy. Especially liked which herbs to put into beef stew.
 The Fire by John A. Heldt
This book in the time travel series is about Kevin Johnson who has figured out the time travel and as it's summer he's landed where he wanted to investigate more.
July 1910, the big fire is about to happen and he wants to learn more about his relatives. Once he spends time in 1910 he meets a woman and he wants to spend more time...
Like where he shows up and takes over where others have failed and how he is able to talk others into his beliefs. Sad that he didn't want to change the world and the events but he gave it a strong effort.
Love the recap on the series. Quite the outcome when they find themselves in the fire...
I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.

Old Farmer's Almanac of Everyday Advice
Lots of different advice throughout the years. Found how to tell time and direction by the stars the most fascinating facts.
So many really cool things from the olden days that still work....what flowers represent...
mixing and using of herbs to rid of common colds and other ailments.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).


The Worlds Best Limericks by Peter Paupper Press
Lots of categories and they are rhyming and so funny.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).


 Help my Apartment has a Kitchen cookbook
 Great cookbook for one whose always relied on their mother to make dinner and now they have moved out of the house and are on their own.
Lots of mother tips are included and most of the recipes are very easy to make. Lots of useful information about how to do things, utensils and pots and pans you will need.
Funny inserts from the college guy along the way. No nutritional information but lots of recipes and how to make them..
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

Arranged
Sounded like an interesting subject: like mail order brides but more up to date.
Ann knows she needs to get on with her life-after she's left her boyfriend who she found cheating on her, for many years. She finds a card on the ground for a dating service and contacts them.
It's not a dating one but a marriage service. It costs many thousands of dollars and she's able to finance it with the book she has just written. Many tests and therapy sessions later we find her on her way to Mexico with others to get married.
She meets up with Jack and they become acquainted and they do agree to marry and spend more time living together to learn more about one another.
Water sports and trips to the ruins and pyramids was added travel I hadn't though of to hear about. Hot steamy sex scenes.
They start to fall in love and then she reads the project he's working on, about getting married....she wonders if she's just a project....
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

 A Christmas Hope by Anne Perry
Have read the author's other Christmas works and enjoyed them.
This one is about a party at Christmas but the events lead to a death. Someone has brought along a woman of the streets and there is a fight and she ends up dead.
Claudeen has gone outside for a breath of air when she comes upon the scene and Derek appears with a lot of blood all over himself and quite drunk.
She doesn't realize til the next day at things are not what they appear. She proceeds to find more clues and talk to many more and she does find them in time.
Will it be enough to free the wronged man from jail a Christmas hope when that's all that is left....
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
 Firefly Beach  by Luanne Rice
Have read the other works by the author and love them all. This will be a good read also.
Starts out with the three sisters, coming home to Firefly Beach.
Decades ago his father was killed and the girls witnessed it as young girls. The man stated his wife was off with their father and didn't love him anymore and he wanted to take what their father loved-one of the girls. Caroline wrote to Joe, the son about things around town. She had once mentioned the wreck off the coast that she could see from her house.
Augusta now runs an artist colony and the girls live closeby. The oceanographers want accommodating for the summer, they salvage buried treasures in shipwrecks.
Sky wishes it was her that had been shot and drinks heavily and gets into a car crash.  As she heals we learn of things from the past and realize how much the events had on her life.
Love the light keepers daughter diary and how it brings the whole book together along with letter excerpts from Joe and Caroline as younger kids.
Story also follows the other sisters and their lives during the months...liked hearing of the sisters bond with one another but the males have something just as good...
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

 The Villa by Nora Roberts
Families combine their expertise in the wine business and some are upset...
Sophia Jumbelle, runs the PR for the family vineyards. The head of the family Teresa has announced a merger with the McMillins.
Now Sophia has to work with Ty and they must each train the other for their jobs. Love learning everything about pruning the vineyard and how she promotes the company.
Story also follows the head of the family and Sophia's parents who are getting divorced and they each lead their own new lives. Murder happens and they try to figure out who poisoned the wine and who it was really meant for.
More threats come and there are hot steamy sex scenes. Well rounded book but mostly love the travel and the vineyard.  Betrayal and espionage...
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).


 No Excuses Fitness, the 30 day plan by Donovan Green
Dr Oz personal trainer. this book is from him and he combines diet, exercise and attitude to make a difference in toning your body.
Listing of myths and facts about a lot of different subjects dealing with your health, diet and exercising. Love the recipes as they use the freshest of ingredients.
What things to avoid. Stretching, strength and resistance exercises to gain more control over parts of your body are an added plus for me.
Lots of tips to help you achieve your goals throughout the book.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).


Indecent Proposal by Molly O'Keefe
Liked the summary so giving this book a chance. Starts out with Ryan who is a barmaid and she's noticed a blonde male who comes in, gets a Corona and says thank you. He's so into his phones that he doesn't notice his surroundings.
Excerpt for this night, he gets a Scotch and she finds out more information about him. Harry and she knows he's not a laborer from the feel of his hands.
His anger and grief draw her closer to talking to him....he just wants to help his sister...they end up having hot steamy sex for the one night stand... She wakes to a note that he can never see her again.
Story also follows Harry Montgomery and his sister had been kidnapped and he's made it possible to rescue her for the ransom. He is also running for the House of Representatives and can have no skeletons in his closet.
Problem is he hears from Ryan-she is pregnant...Harry has a solution for 2 years time. She and neighbors are bombarded with reporters and she must set things right...
Like how she handles his mother, puts her right in her place. Hot steamy sex scenes. She helps him with the political campaign...
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

 The United States Cookbook, Recipes from all the states
Tasty tour and other facts about the states for children but I find it fascinating.  No nutritional information in this audio version.
Safety and basics are discussed.  So many fun facts about all the states. Will be making Maine blueberry cornbread. sounds easy and quick to make this treat.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
Widow's Walk by Robert B. Parker
This mystery is about a well to do wife and husband and he's been murdered. Mary Smith doesn't really have a good alibi and her lawyer doesn't even believe her....
Spenser and his side kick Hawk follow the clues as they investigate not only that murder but many more... Spencer is able to question many others who have been friends with Mr. Smith
and then they get fired from their job and then end up dead....he gets the cops involved when he is shot at-for who he's interviewed.... action, adventure and mysteries.
Love street action as I'm familiar with the area and how he investigates.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

 Montana Bride by Joan Johnston
Have read other works by the author and have enjoyed the books.
Carl has ordered a mail order bride and she has 2 kids. Problem is it's not their mother that accompanies the children to marry Carl.
Story takes us to where they are at the end of  their journey and the one with the children falls over a cliff and dies and the Chinese man helps the woman to learn about nursing, herbs ad medicine as she becomes familiar with the kids, who are actually older than Carl is expecting...
Henrietta just wants the children to grow up with a family and not in foster care or one where Grace would have to be a prostitute. Griffith likes to carve horse heads out of wood.
She had first seen his best friend Dennis and prefers him over Carl.... Carl sees that what she had written previously was not the case now: the kids seemed older, she seemed younger and the fun and joy and laughing was not what she portrayed in her letters.
Hot steamy sex scenes.   Book follows each of the kids, husband and the wife and some of the people that work at the timber yard. Lots of secrets come out...
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

 Jangles, a big fish story by David Shannon
Children's audio book about a boy who is trying to catch the ever illusive fish. He has so many hooks hanging from his mouth and has never been caught.
One story states the fish saved a baby that had fallen from a canoe. The fish brings him to his cave in the water, very far down.
When they go back to the surface the boy wraps the line around the fish because nobody would believe he had caught the giant fish.
The right thing should be done...
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).


Lost and Found in Cedar Cove by Debbie Macomber
Have enjoyed this series and glad it ended at the 20th book or so and this is one of the offshoots from that series.
This is the story of Jo Marie and she's widowed and living at her inn after her husband had died in the war.
Her handyman, Mark loves cookies and she makes them often. She plans an open house and wants a rose garden started for her open house.
While they are planning the garden positioning the dog Rover, a rescue dog ahs gone missing, not following them back into the house.
The inn is a healing place and Rover she feels was a special gift from her husband.
Story also follows Amanada who will be tutoring Connor.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

Last One Home by Debbie Macomber
Have enjoyed the other works by the author and this one sounded interesting.
Starts out with hide and seek with the neighbor kids...then the story moves to the present day...a story of domestic violence and Cassie is with Maureen as she goes through the court process, charging her husband with abuse...
After Cassie returned to WA she found out her father had died and none of the family can aide her with money...Cassie ends up with a hairdressing job and volunteers at the women's center.
Story also follows Karen and Nicole, each of their lives and families. Karen has contacted Cassie to come get the furniture from their mothers house who had passed away...and now Cassie is eligible for a Habitat House for her and her daughter as long as she gives back with volunteering..
She's also eligible for catering which will give her money to get a rental truck to get furniture from her mothers house...
Story follows all three women and their life's as adults and memories of days spent together when they were younger...
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).




Jewelled Path by Rosalind Laker
Late 1800's Irene has  a new Russian stepmother, Sophia and is married to Edmund, he designs jewelry for her.
Growing up she outfits her in new clothes, common, practical and colorful. Sophia also takes her to museums and art galleries and they stop in Edmund's jewelry shop where he designs.
Irene had learned so much from watching the process of the workers at the jewelry shop throughout the years.
designs jewelery something she always wanted to do. Her father wants her married. He visits the art and craft center and agrees her to go, if she uses their transport. She also meets many men who teach her many things...
Loved hearing of all the technical side of the gems and settings, how things are created, the meaning of the processes.
Hot steamy sex scenes. Story follows Irene, her stepmother Sophia and her father and their other lifes....death, more mysteries arise and she tracks down the sources...
The eggs are most fascinating to learn about....so many upheavals
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
0385180896

No comments: