Books read July 20

Ring of Fire by Susan Fox
Have read other works by the author and have enjoyed the books.
This one is about Lark Cantrell and she's the fire chief at Caribou Crossings. Her mother and 10 year old son are used to her leaving in the middle of the night to guide the other firefighters and help put fires out.
I do enjoy firefighter stories as I learn so much from them, interesting topic and I'm not sure why.
Within the first 50 pages I've already learned a few new things: what horn on saddle is for, how CP patients and those with articial legs can do things...
Major Eric Weaver is doing rehab there in British Columbia, on leave from the army when Lark pulls him out of the burning house he was renting. Her son Jayden who has CP and he are paired with horses, it's therapy and I love hearing all about it.
Lark has sworn off men since her husband had walked out after learning their baby had CP but she starts to get hot and bothered about Eric.
She likes how Jayden has another male he can talk to-things she can't relate to...They become lovers over time and then some unexpected things occur that might help or not..
hot steamy sex scenes.  Excerpt from a Holiday in Your Heart is also included at the end. Would enjoy reading more of this town in BC.
I received this book from The Kensington Books in exchange for my honest review

East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Have read this book many times and always enjoy the read. I seem to get something different out of it each time I read it.
It's about a few families that have migrated to the Salinas valley in CA. Love the detailed descriptions of the flowers in the valley.
The Hamilton family are basically farmers-he had left Ireland and came to CA to farm although his land is rock ridden he knows many things that others profit on.
Also follows a family from the Northeast and he's been in the army, got wounded and came home to his family. He brought back diseases that caused his wife to die. He quickly marries. One female marries Adam Trask and they move out to CA.
Quite the adventure and travel and how the two families become connected. So many lies and deceptions. Glimpses of the war also.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

The Four Seasons by Mary Alice Monroe
The funeral will bring the sisters together: Jillian, Beatrice (Birdy), Rose. Mary the 4th is now dead.
Model in Paris, pediatric doctor and word processor working from the family home,  were their professions. In Mary's last wish video they learn she wants them to find Spring and give her the share of her money from the estate.
The book goes back in time to when she told her parents she was pregnant and we learn all the details.
Alternating chapters from the present to the past...She's sent away to a convent for unwed mothers and they will give the baby to a family.
The woman and daughter gather together to trace the one baby given away. Feel the emotions as they go through them, different for each of them as they go onward.
The secret I wonder, will it come out as to who the father could really be or remain a secret forever.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

The Only Way Out by Susan Mallery
Have read many of the authors other works and have been on her street team to promote her books.
This one is a very old one and so different from the Fool's Gold series that I'm actually enjoying the strategy of it all.
Jeff has watched his wife and child die in the blast, Krey is the culprit and in time he will get revenge. On the island he lays low and almost takes Krey out but a woman gets in the way.
It's his ex-wife and she's there to get the child Krey had kidnapped. He runs into her as she's escaping with the child and they plan together how to get off the island when the airports been shut down from Krey's order...
Like the survival skills he teaches her.  Bits of romance but really liked the action and adventure.
I actually bought this book because it was one I had never read or was given a copy to review.

Bitsy's Bait and BBQ  by  Morsi_ Pamela
With the divorce settlement she buys off ebay a B+B.
Emma and Kate and her 5 yo son Josh were on their way...
Humorous and each chapter has tips to help the situation along LOL,  It's not a B+B but a bait and BBQ shop...
Story also follows the life of Shawn, he helps him mother run the burger joint.  He's gone missing and had married the girl, Kate they hired.
She's made sure the child has child education fund and trust fund for college.
Kate receives a letter stating the father wants to revisit the visitation and sue for custody.. She knows it's not Shawn but his mother that wants the child.
Shawn and his mother and the laywer show up and rent a cabin for the summer while trying to get the grandchild away from their mother. Shawn is not for this at all and helps her in other ways to get her business off the ground thus giving them time to talk to one another...
Like the ideas of how to make the business a success with help from the townsfolk. Sex scenes also. Bit confusing at times with some of the townsfolk drama.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

Avoiding the Medicaid trap, how to beat the catastrophic costs of nursing-home care by -Budish_ Armond D
Many strategies to avoiding paying more for care later in life.
There is so much to this I had to stop and re read many sections as they will relate to me.
1970's version so some tax preparation, laws have changed but still good basic information.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

Sixty plus & fit again, exercises for older men and women  by Rosenberg_ Magda
1977 edition but thought I'd check it out. We definitely are more mobile now than 20 years ago and realize the more you keep moving the longer you will live and be healthier.
Especially like the face and neck exercises.

I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

A Christmas escape by Anne Perry
Starts out when Charlie arrives in Stromboli, a mountainous island off the coast of Greek. He can't wait to walk to the mountain top where the volcano sometimes erupts.
Candace startles him, a 17 year old girl.  Like tour of this area as I'll never get to see it for myself, very descriptive!
Events occur that leave a man dead. There are only a handful of people there and the killer is one of them. Charlie takes Candace under his care. They investigate to see who'd want the man dead...
The volcano has erupted!
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

Marry me at Christmas by Susan Mallery
Madeline is the wedding gown store owner. It starts out with some trying the gowns on and it looks like they are pumpkins.
Fool's gold and the bridal shop owner is in charge of all the details of a local bride and groom.
Roselind has just started working there as her kids are back in school now.  Madeline helped them be happy with whatever combinations they wanted.
Lots of back story and the characters that live there. This is the town where females are the leaders in every department in the town: mayor, fire chief, event planner, police chief, etc.
Ginger is to be married and the mayor needs her to do everything.  Johnny Blaze is the brother of the bride.  Wedding will be in 7 weeks time and during the Christmas season.
Story also follows Johnny and he's a movie star, travels a lot and is everybody's love fantasy. Lightening and tingling when they shake tips her off that she's found her 'one' as her mother would say, it's a family trait.
Have read all the other Christmas holidays books in this series and the same events happen with live nativity.
Lots of pregnant women and the men they are married too, we are brought up to date with their lives. Predictable ending.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).