Books read Sept 25

Nantucket by Nan Rossiter
Have read many of the authors other works and have enjoyed them. Love how the book got it's cover and what it means.
Starts out with Liam who has taken over his uncles boat building business on the island after he passes away. He had raised him after his parents died and he knows the business from all angles.
When he was a teen he met a woman Arcadia and they dated for a bit but she left the island. Coop always warned him she would be trouble as her money and high class status was from the other side of the tracks.
Life goes on for Liam and his dog and cat in the house his uncle refurbished by hand. Love all the talk of what he does in the business using his hands and the terminology of his craft and tools. Love learning new things along the way.
Such  a touching, caring story. He does meet her again He talks to her to find out why she never answered his calls or letters. She's got a bigger secret she's kept from him over the years...and so much more.
It's all so fast and so many struggles to still overcome. Love the characters, how strong they are with one another and others as they enter their lives.
I received this book from The Kennsington Books in exchange for my honest review

Jewels by Danielle Steel
This book is about Sarah and her life. Starts out when she is young and marries a guy in high society. She soon learns he is using her name and status to get what he really wants.
They divorce and the parents are lucky to drag her over to England where they attempt to set her up with a new interest, to no avail.
She ends up meeting a duke that acts like a regular guy and he's one she can talk to about world affairs. They end up marrying and she really wants the chateau in France on 10 acres of land.
The war takes them from each other and she misses her sister, brother in law and children, along with her parents. Love all the scenes of her fixing up the house where they will live, the war invasion and how she befriends the German soldier that delivers her 2nd child.
Happy and sad events as she travels, after the war to visit her mother in law...love how strong she is during the whole time under siege and after the war as she helps others heal from their wounds.
Like hearing of her design work and how her career took place....travels around the world.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

As Close as Sisters by Colleen Faolkner
Mackenize, Aurora, Lily and Jeanine all met on the beach when young and now they meet again as adults as they have gone in different directions.
Chapters from each of them, Mac is writing the diary and she's dying of cancer. At 42 she's arrived at the beach before the others arrive.
The ghosts will return from the nightmare...liked the part where I learn new things, time between tides and how caring Mac is as she undergoes treatment that will help others but it's too late to help her.
Sad and happy times as they remember the past years at the beach house...
I received this book from The Kennsington Books in exchange for my honest review

Sea Story by Sam Llewellyn
Liked all the adventure and the reaching of the different ports along the journey of the race.
In this book there are really two stories, the one on land and the one on water. And one photographer along the way
and his interpretation of the sailing of the yachts isn't quite how it is for those who actually sailed it. Fascinating to hear of the land part, all the politics
that really make the race or break those sailing it in.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

You Are My Pumpkin (Emma Books)
Colorful children's book about pumpkins along the lines of 'you are my 'sunshine' but with Halloween themed pictures.
Other works by the author are highlighted at the end.

Farm Farts!
Other works by the author are highlighted at the start.
Colorful children's rhyming book about Eddy and the day at the farm. He didn't notice when Lucy went into the car and off he drove.
Lucy likes the farm animals and wants them to taste some of the baked beans the family has made for their big party....what a bad choice LOL

The Jungle Crew (Bedtime Stories for Children, Bedtime Stories for Kids, Children's Books Ages 3 - 5)
Children's colorful story of a lion who has no friends, His appearance to others seems hard to get along with, his has sharp teeth and he roars.
He finally sees a hippo and they get to talking and become friends in the jungle. love all the colorful animals.
Next they run into a giraffe who wants a friend....
Other works by the author are highlighted at the end.

Frugal Living Tips: 100 Frugal Living Tips: Live Frugally and Save Money on Everything (Spend Less Money, Save Money Tips, Frugal Life, Living Frugally, Ways to Save Money, How to Save
 Advice on how to save money, gas, etc so you can buy the things you really need. Lots of ways listed.
Links to eat healthier are included. Most are common sense things that you might have learned the hard way.
Other works by the author are highlighted at the end.

Delicious Cake and Dessert Recipes: A Family Inspired Cookbook of Classic Italian, Swiss and British Patisserie
Lots of tips learned from her grandmothers over the years and their cookbooks. Shortcuts and what works when doing certain techniques.
As this is a book written by one who bakes in England some of the ingredients might be hard to find in the US.
Color photos and ingredient list is in grams. Very detailed instructions on how to make the recipe.
Some very fancy desserts and some plain.

Healthy Crock Pot Recipes: Easy Delicious and Healthy Crock Pot Recipes Your Family Will Love (The Best Healthy Recipes)
Love this book as it has nutritional information for every recipe but no photos.
Very healthy alternatives for meals. Many other works by the author are highlighted at the end.

Pork Chop Recipes: 101 Extraordinary and Delicious Pork Chop Recipes for Everyday Meals
Free clickable link to get a free book at the start of the book. We occasionally have pork chops and I usually just bake them in the oven with potatoes and vegetables. I know bland.
Hope this book will show me how else I can prepare them.  Grilled and with pineapple would be a hit for my husband, he loves them both!
Like the guidelines of how to shop for chops and what not to do to them to keep them fresh.
Colorful photos of each dish but no nutritional values or serving sizes. LOTS of ideas and what spices to use. Other works by the author are highlighted at the end.

Cooking for Two: 365 Days of Fast, Easy, Delicious Recipes for Busy People (Cooking for Two Cookbook, Slow Cooking for Two, Cooking for 2 Recipes)
Free gift book is highlighted at the start of this book along with other books available by the same author.
Cookbook contains no pictures and no nutritional information. Does has a wide variety of dishes for the meals and how to make them.
No serving size is listed but the recipes are for two but not sure of the serving size, in ounces.
Lots of casseroles and cooking in the crock pot but what fascinated me was all the recipes for two for desserts. Those I know I can substitute healthier ingredients.

The Fireman's Fair
Rob Wyatt is redoing his life, moved and taking things slower and realizing just what is important in his life.
Ex lawyer and Hurricane Hugo has gone through Charleston, moves to the beach bungalow.
Family and girlfriend relationships and out of work but trying to keep it all together as he helps others out that complicate other relationships.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

At the Rainbow's End  by Joann Ferguson 

1898 Samatha Perrry has just lost her paretnts and  she knows she must leave her brothers house.
She accepts Joel Houseman's proposal from the Yukon to wed. Problem is Joel is actually two different men and they both proceed to win her over for their bride.
Love hearing of the nature and distant land and gold mining in such a desolate area.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

Intimate Strangers by Juliette Mead
Story of 2 families swapping houses for 2 months. One family from USA, other from UK. They each bring their whole family with them and
each has set up interesting things they think the other family will want to do when abroad.
Interesting to hear of the problems they each have as they are in uncommon situations. Just the things around the houses are so different than what they are used to.
Christy visiting in England is given free rein of the house and discovers Oliver's book and his thoughts and wonders if the events are true. Mystery around the book arises
and there is more to swapping than just their houses.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

 Garden Magic In Your Backyard!: The Experts tell you how.
Like how this book starts out, what to expect by chapters: planning, pruning, etc. Never though of dividing my flower plants but it might be something I will be doing this fall as some bulbs have disappeared totally from the garden-they have no room.
Liked the ideas of pruning and when depending on the tree/flower. Tools of the trade was informative if you don't know the difference between some.
So much information and easy to understand and follow to having the perfect gardens and lawn.

Mouse Goes To The Doctor: Rhyming Bedtime Stories - Rhyming Picture Book (Mouse Tales)
Colorful rhyming children's book about Lincoln who has a mouse that is always by his side. He plays with him during the day and sleeps with him at night.
When the mouse gets a broken leg he asks his mom for help to take him to the doctor. He has no money to pay but he has other things...

70 Clever Secret Hiding Places. DIY Household Hacks On How to Stash Your Stuff!: (secret hiding places, secret hiding safes, money safety box, how to ... hide things, hide money travel Book 2)
Interesting places room by room of where to hide your valuable things from bulgars and how to disguise them.
Also has a list of where not to hide things...