Books read Nov 2017

Holy Fool, Holy Father by Nicholas A. Marziani
Starts out with glossary of words and what they mean.  This book will entertain you throughout the course of reading it as it has a bit of everything that will keep you interested and turning the pages.
Story starts out with the life of Misha as a boy in Russia and how he's trained from others to believe in God and he likes adventure.
He hopes to improve by going to school.  Love correlation of dance and religion.
Love skills the parents teach him so he can survive in the future.
Love hearing of the customs, traditions and locations traveled to, so enlightening. Learned so much from the perspective of the priests side of things.
Dancing just brings everything together as it holds a special place for both.
Loved learning about the love locks, have seen them in locations we've visited but never knew the whole story.
It's the little things like Murano glass that makes an appearance here. I search for the other treasures hidden throughout this book.
Book goes forward and love the premonitions of things to occur and I can see the world as described in my own eyes and think electric/digital age could expire.
Love hearing of the electrical/electronic discussions and all the math and numbers and combined with everything else, it matters.
I was given the book by the author via Book Fun (The Book Club Network) and this is my honest review  #bookfun

Miss Christmas: A heartwarming romance and 2017 Hallmark film by Gigi Garrett 

This story starts out on and ocean island where Holly and her friend Erin in July are vacationing at the beach. 

Holly is now the new Rockefeller Center tree coordinator and it's her first time choosing the tree. She's grown up around trees her whole life having stepped into her dads shoes at the Christmas tree farm in Ohio.

On their way back to the mainland she gets a text and a picture of the perfect tree and she heads to Klaus, MA where she meets Sam who's land the tree sits on. She stays in town at a relatives house, love the blueberry festival and how the town welcomes her. B&B has everything anybody would ever want.

She is introduced to the father of the land and he and his daughter agree she can come back and spend the whole day with them and get to know them better before they decide.

After she spends the whole day learning about what is important to each one she knows Sam is set against the tree being cut down and she heads to her car in defeat.

Recall letting our tree go as well and that is what touched me about this story. Great timing and like the adventure they all go on from start to finish. Such a magical story.

My Review:

The Thursday Night club and other stories by Steven Manchester
Have read other works by this author and have enjoyed them all immensely.
This collection of holiday stories will reach age group. Talks of times when things were simpler and not as commercialized as the holidays are today.
Love memories of visiting the shrine with all the lights, right at dusk and everything goes quiet as the lights go on. Slow down and enjoy the reason for the season.
Also up the road to the railroad and ferris wheel where weather is always 10 degrees colder there than anywhere else. We have recently visited these places doing research of things to do when grandchildren visit.
I love that the author can bring you into the book with such detail you can picture it all in your head. Love additional, new to me holiday stories because they also bring up great memories of caroling around the relatives house each year where we'd bring our own musical instruments of a pot with a spoon to bang on while we all sang. We'd stop in for a cookie and milk then all would leave to go to the next house.
Have to bring the newer generations up to speed because it's all about the simple easy things.
Loved all the books equally as each will bring a smile to your face. This author knows how to write and can't wait to read the new stories.

Received a review copy from the author and this is my honest review.

Love and Other Hazards by Claudia Riess.
This book starts right in with adult situations although it's a little girl that is crawling all over a male unclothes statue.
Mother is there and uses it as a learning experience. There is also a man there with his little daughter and they realize both the kids go to the same school.
The adults are not compatible but they are thrown together at work.  
Enjoyed learning about Russian foods at dinner and how the words are defined.
Didn't care for how some will have sex with others although seeing another. It's just the way I was brought up.
This is NY and you can feel the atmosphere of the locations of where each live. Misunderstandings occur and men are mishandled. 
Discussing who the father is having sex with is just not my idea of a family talk. Sex itself doesn't really show they care much for the other as it's more an animal instinct to have sex.

There are a lot of characters and I got easily confused as to who was who.

 


Their Christmas Miracle by Lynne Marshall  #TheirChristmasMiracle #NetGalley
Story starts out with Tracy who's a nurse fulltime but also gets up early to bake desserts for Wood's Cafe. Lately she's been running into the boss Hunter himself.
He's a very quiet keep to himself kinda guy but she gets to talk and he divulges some of his secrets of the past. He asks her questions about her life also and tells him some, but not all.
He shows up at her door one night with his cousins baby that he's caring for and she helps get him off to sleep, and tells Hunter to get some rest also. Over the pages we learn more about each of them, the cafe in Charity and why Hunter is going to end up with the child.
Love hearing of how he takes care of the child, like a first time parent with amazement at what the child is doing-so real. There are misunderstandings and you wonder if they will ever bridge the gap again...
Few characters and like recap of things to come with them and others in the community. Love just all the little surprises, you don't have to look hard to find them.
Other works by the author and Tule Publishing are highlighted at the end. Can't wait to read more from this author.
Received this review copy from the author via Net Galley and this is my honest review.

A Tumbled Stone by Marcia Lee Laycock
Book starts out with Andrea in the Saskatchewan wilds where she lives with her foster parents.
She's in charge of the farm animals and they are cruel and it's hard work.
Desolate prairies and barren lands and she's pregnant from her boyfriend and she will be leaving for a year to stay with the sister of the foster mother.
Story also follows Alex and he's on his way to find his sister-he assumes she was also put in foster care when they were younger.
Alternating chapters and Andrea learns from her new location that God is not mad at her and she has friends who help her understand God.
Alex and his wife are on the trail and know where she was prior to leaving the area...
Andrea brings them all together over time and she has choices and many options from all directions. Like that the characters are not all thrown together in one big lump but gradually so you can get their story down before others are introduced.
Like the fact that family matters and how it helps here.  Love how they list the pro and cons of the situation and it helps clear her mind, also praying to God.
Love what the stone does for her...Story has a bit of everything for your reading pleasure: romance, travel, family situations, mysteries, and forgiveness.
Other works by the author are highlighted at the end.
Received this review copy from the author via The Book Club Network and this is my honest opinion.

Healthy Five Ingredient Recipes: Delicious Recipes in 5 Ingredients or Less (Five Ingredient Cooking Series Book 2)  by Hannie P. Scott
Book starts out with an introduction, free gift, table of contents and table of abbreviations used for measuring.
Listing of other books the author has written are listed.
Each recipe starts out with a title, servings and ingredients which you should be able to substitute for a healthy choice for your dietary needs: low fat, low sodium, etc.
Most are fresh ingredients on the low side of sodium already. There are directions in how to make.
There is no pictures and no nutritional information but the ideas and recipes are awesome.
What I like about this book are the fresh ingredients that are healthy on their own and how to make them into snacks. For places where it calls for beans I'd make them myself from soaking overnight rather than from a can.
Love taco seasoning mix as I have all the ingredients and needed to replenish ours on the shelf as we use it on our chicken when we roast.
Zucchini fritters and peanut butter energy bars which we'e made a bit different sound like ones I'll be trying this week.
A KEEPER!

Penguin Christmas: Christmas Stories, Christmas Jokes, Games, Activities, and More! by Uncle Amon
Book starts with offer of a free gift and other fun activities along the way with a lot of Christmas stories.
Love the colorful, children's Christmas collections. Each of the penguins are named after a trait: gracious, loving, sharing and each have their own story to tell.
Story with meanings. Especially love the one about knitting hats for all the penguins as I am a knitter and do make hats for those less fortunate.
Jokes and mazes and other books by the author are highlighted at the end.

Make Ahead Meals: Quick and Healthy Dinner and Lunch Recipes: Low Carb, Low Cal, Low Fat by Jesse Morgan
Have quite a few over the years and always looking for new ones to add to the freezer.
This book starts out with a free gift about food safety guide tips on shelf life and a table of contents along wtih an intro.
Author mentions other books he's written as well and how others helped write this book.
Tells the difference between fresh and freezer meals in many categories and how to preserve them properly.
States what you can and shouldn't freeze.
Recipes start out with a color photo, title, low fat and servings, prep and cook time. Has a list of fresh ingredients that you should have no problem substituing for your healthier dietary needs: low sodium, low fat, low sugar, etc.
Instructions  are included. Nutritional information includes calories, fat-NOT broken up into good or bad, carbs, protein, sodium and sugar.
Like some of the recipes because they are for two so if you do double it there's still enough for the meal that night. Would substitute canned items for fresh or make overnight the day before.
Turkey wrap would be my favorite to try but using turkey from a fresh baked turkey, NOT deli turkey.
Don't like so much use of canned products-way too much sodium.

50 Amazing Christmas Cookies Recipes - The Best Holiday Cookies (The Ultimate Christmas Recipes and Recipes For Christmas Collection Book 3)
Book starts with a table of contents and an short intro along with a link for getting more of the authors works.
Each recipe includes a title, list of ingredients and how to make
There are no pictures and no nutritional information and not even servings.
So many of these I make every year to send to the kids or to give away.
Think I'll keep this one around so I have all my recipes in one place on my tablet.
Too much butter for us to consume even one cookies never mind sodium.

Cooking with the Authors of Summer Heat by Caridad Pineiro
Cookbook starts out with a table of contents, intro and listing of recipes in no particular order and the authors names.
Each recipe has a title and tells you what book it came from and the author's name. A summary of the dish in the story and tips.
A list of ingredients and how to make it. There are no pictures and no nutritional information.
Like the book parts more than the recipes because there are no pictures.
Novellas in the Summer Heat collection are noted at the end.

Meatloaf Recipes: Top 50 Most Delicious Meatloaf recipes, 30 bonus crock pot recipes by Nancy Kelsey
Starts with a table of contents  and then the recipes.
Each recipe starts with a title, total prep and cook time along with servings.
Color photo and list of ingredients that you should have no problem substituting for your healthier dietary needs: low sodium, low fat, low sugar, etc
Directions are included along with variations. Wish recipes had their own page or at least started on a new page. Some ingredients are listed in English measurement so it's a bit of a trick to determine how much they really want you to use.
I'd not use any canned products but fresh tomatoes and other items.
30 bonus recipes also included which the recipes include a title, prep and total time, servings, list of ingredients and how to make. No pictures and no nutritional information.

Homemade Popsicle Recipes: 50 treats for kids (Cooking with Kids Series) by Debbie Madson
Although we don't have kids here any longer we do like Popsicles without added sugar.
This book starts out  with a short intro about the authors website and tips for when kids help out.
Tools you will need, read through the recipes, make sure you have all ingredients and supplies and how to use molds.
Color pictures along the way with a table of contents.
Recipe start with a title, ingredient list and how to make them. Servings is included.
Color photo on the next page.  Not all recipes have a color photo.
There is no nutritional information and you should be able to cut down or substitute for the sugar by using other fruits and spices.
Like the idea of a creamsicle and jello ones. Other works by the author are highlighted at the end.

Willy the Dinosaur & the Magic Cake (Bedtime story about a Dinosaur) by Robert B. Grand
This is a cute children's colorful story about a dinosaur who's having his fifth birthday and he wants all his friends to come for cake.
He was told the cake was magic and he'd be granted a wish so he ate it all up. Friends didn't want to stay then so he helped make another cake and apologized and hoped they'd come back for magic cake.
Like the story and words are easy to see with colors used.

The Little Blue Digger and the Christmas Tree - A Festive Construction Site Story for 2-5 Year Olds by Harriet Tuppen
Had just read the book about how the blue digger came to help others when they needed him.
This story is about how the long necked orange digger could help when needed also, but in a different way then the blue digger.
Love all the machines and what they can do in this colorful children's book.

Louisiana Cooking: Easy Cajun and Creole Recipes from Louisiana by Sarah Spencer
Book starts out with an explanation about the difference between Creoe and Cajun.
Table of contents has many categories to choose from.
Free gift offer. Introduction about the area and differences between the cultures.
Recipes start with a title, cook, prep time and servings. List of ingredients and you should be able to substitute for your healthier dietary needs-low sodium, low fat, etc
There are a large selection of spices and herbs used and there is a list of directions.
There are NO pictures and there is no nutritional information.
Not so sure about eating alligator and rabbits and other creatures.

35 Healthy Chicken Recipes For Your Slow Cooker by Pamela Kazmierczak
Starts with introduction and table of contents. Each recipe starts with a title, short summary and list of ingredients and they do use low sodium products.
Directions are included along with serving suggestions.
There are no pictures and there is no nutritional information.
You should be able to substitute a can of diced tomatoes for the fresh product itself-no sodium that way.
No servings are mentioned either but should be enough for 3-4 people.

(2017 Holiday Book Festival Grand Prize Winner!) Off the Hook: A Christmas Ornament Adventure by John Arvai III
Colorful children's book about Christmas ornaments and about how it all started with them on the tree.
Helpers come on Christmas eve and straighten things up, fix lights, guard milk and cookies for Santa and make sure Santa can see the glow to your house.
The family tree ornaments, a toy solider and a leaders of the Thompson family tree named FAO watched as the cat knocked the star down into a gift bag and it ends up missing as a relative takes it to her house by accident.
Great tale as you track down all the details of the big mystery and how it's all fixed.
Cute story.

Goodnight, Swampy the Little Monster By Ellie J. Woods and A. Keegan
Colorful children's book about a mother. The colors are not so brilliant and the words are a bit frilly, making it hard to read as they are not uniform in size.
Cute story and my favorite scene was the ladder to climb into the tub. Like rituals before bed, good habits to get into.
A good nights sleep is a good thing for everybody.
Other works by the author are highlighted at the end.

Things My Grandmother Taught Me About Organized Living
Book starts out with a table of contents and an introduction on their grandmother.
There are chapters on food genius, morning routine, housekeeping and much more.
Lots of tips that are highlighted along the way showing you how to deal with things that will free up time you get to spend with your family when all are gathered at home.
Routines make it all worthwhile I have discovered and make things run smoothly.

Christmas Cookies - Just Like Your Mother Used To Make by Charlotte Stevens
Book starts out with free gift, table of contents.
Each recipe has a title, temperature, time and servings.
List of ingredients and you might be able to substitute for a healthier dietary needs-low sodium, low sugar, etc
Directions are included, some with frosting even.
There are NO pictures. There is NO nutritional information.
Some I felt were more everyday cookies as we would use them as.
Some of the same exact recipes by Joan Chadwick, not sure what the connection is.

Christmas Cookie Recipes - These Are Your Mother's Christmas Cookie Recipes by Joan Chadwick
Book starts out with free gift, table of contents.
Each recipe starts with a title, temp, time and servings and list of ingredients. You might be able to substitute for a healthier dietary needs-low sodium, low fat, etc
There are directions.
There are NO pictures. There is NO nutritional information.
Some of the same recipes from the cookbook by Charlotte Stevens, not sure what the connection is.

Wish You Were Mine by Tara Sivec
Book starts out with a letter from Aiden to Everett... he needs Everett to go to Cameron and help her out.
This is a story of a camp that was once a cotton plantation in the Civil War, 40 acres of land near Charleston, SC. The camp is now a safe haven for kids who are going through problems due to their parents who are/have served in the military and some ddn't return home or came back damaged.
The three kids: Cameron, Aiden and Everett all attended the camp during the summer months as her relatives ran the camp back then. It's now her project but after Aiden has left it's on her shoulders and this year the person in charge of doling out money has new requirements.
Everett has his own past that led him overseas to help others in need to return after the letter and drank himself til his brother stepped in and got him in rehab.
She needs help and hopes he will come to her aide. It's all for a good cause...
Story is told with alternating chapters between them and at times it goes back in time and other times it's the present. Took me a while to get the hang of that although I've read many books in this same format.
What I like about this book is the location, the planned activities for the kids, help the counselors can give the children and parents alike and how those involved all come together to make it happen, hopefully for more years down the road.
The stories are hard to hear about, struggles they endure, heartaches and death. Some truths you just don't even hear about til it comes out at the end.
Adult sexual scenes.  Wow surprise ending, didn't see it coming.
Received this review copy from Forever (Grand Central Publishing) via Net Galley and this is my honest review.

Stinky Toe by Dan Alatorre
This book starts out with listing of other children's books works by the author.
This is a colorful children's rhyming story about a mom Jo, Mama Jo and her son Bo.
She is always telling him it's time to wash his stinky toe. He insists he does not have a stinky toe.
Thing I like about this book is the subject-it's not widely discussed but we all have this problem. 
He asks how it happens and I like the colorful pictures of where it happens...
Hilarious when he does discover yes indeed he has a stinky toe. Letters seem to get smaller as the story goes on and you can enlarge them on a tablet device.
About the author and illustrator are included at the end.
It's a keeper!
Received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.

The Zombunny by Dan Alatorre

This chapter book for young readers is about a bunny Tom.

Tom likes to play outside and he has a lot of bunny friends.

There are problems and Tom does not want to listen to his friends so they take him to a doctor who tells him how to fix the problem.

He needs a good night time sleep and he has to eat good healthy foods.

He gets better but not every night and that's when it happens: It effects everything.

I found this story delightful as it was told from a 2nd grader and how they describe the zombies.

The fact that a kid can get away with the words used is priceless.

Never thought about a zombunny-so original and cute.

Pictures are hand drawn depicting the scenes of the page in black and white.

Liked how the chapters were broken up so you could read one or two a night.

Real life situations arise-pinkeye, etc that make this all so realistic to todays world. Love the message this book sends.

Author bios at the very end.

Received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.

An Angel on Her Shoulder by Dan Alatorre
Book starts out with praise from others and table of contents.
Story starts out with a few things alternating chapters that don't make sense. As time goes on you can understand it so stick with it.
Events follow a husband and wife and young daughter as they all have dreams and things are happening that make them feel weird, lucky but they were so close to dying.
Other story that has alternating chapters is about young teen age boys as they grow up near Indiana. Funny thing about these stories is they mimic much of the way we grew up in New England as we had tons of relatives and kids to play with as we lived next door to one another. Always something to do, to get intro trouble.
Husband seeks help from a priest then a seeker who has answers that help explain things, til they don't.
Lots of adventure and magical mysterious things happen along the trail, they will keep you on your toes.
Enjoyed the read although it's not one of my favorite genres. I'd read more from this author because of his style of writing. Liked the religious interventions and prayers along the way.
Section on the author is included at the end.
Other works by the author are highlighted and summarized at the end.

I received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.

Significant Me? Our Need to be noticed and remembered by George M. Weaver
Love this book for many reasons. Not only does it state the incidents that occurred in 800BC but it encompasses, AD and the current day events.
Fascinating part of this is that there are references that are quoted and denoted at the end as they occur. Link how the author states something from the past and the same things in the present day.
Like the links and how they come full circle.  Questions for reflection really bring out your thoughts and what you got from the chapters.
You don't have to be known for something: good or bad, God knows what you are capable of.
I was given the book by the author via Book Fun (The Book Club Network) and this is my honest review

Her Baby, His Love by Lynne Marshall

Taylor, a nurse looked at the picture of him in the paper and it was his marriage to another...

Not the first time it happened to her but still devastating.

She ends up in Charity Montana to reinvent herself-pregnant and she has a place to stay in. 

The house she rented is in bad shape but the elderly woman is welcoming-Dixie.

Native American Joe her property manager and owner of the nursery and Joe helps ex cons find work under supervision. 

Love hearing of the nurser and the plants and their attributes. Joe is attracted to her upon sight.

Alternating chapters of Joe and then Taylor and their interests as they keep running into one another. Like how she investigates her new surroundings, all stores have woman's first names 

Love hearing the meditation garden-I can just imagine it and what all the symbols stand for.

She opens up to him and he to her as to their past. Her ex is not yet ready to be done with her although he's married.

Misunderstandings and you don't know who she's going to end up with, including her own baby...Love Joe's solution although he's staying away from her.

Love knitting, don't see that very often any more and religious interjections. Toe ring-just don't get these, like tattoos.  Human chain gang, novel idea!

Other works by the author are highlighted at the end.  Their Christmas Miracle is excerpted and an author bio.

Received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.  

The strawberry apple tree by  Patterson_ Grace Daniel 

Story starting in early 1900's of a young girl and the land she was raised on and how they got there.

Loved hearing of all the different trees that grew fruits.

Reminds me so much of my mother in law as she'd talk about the farm house and all the buildings and farm area.

Very detailed descriptions of the house, potato house LOL

Farming methods were my favorite to hear about. 

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

A Ladys Life in the Rocky Mountains

1873 Mining towns and other adventures on her way home to England.

Isobella Byrd traveled on horseback and met quite the variety of colorful characters.

Book contains a collection of letters from Isobella to her sister as she describes in very detail her travels and things she sees along the way.

So very detailed it sounds so beautiful. Boric acid use for getting rid of bugs-we use it today even!

So many sites are seen up close and personal.

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

33 Amazing Recipes For Homemade Brownies by Pamela Kazmierczak 

Recipes include ingredient list which all have butter and a large amount. Then there are the directions.

There are no photos. There is no nutritional information.

There are serving suggestions.

Nothing we could eat and not very appealing when you can't see the outcome.

365 ways to cook chicken by  Lyren_ Carl 

Like categories as they can be made from parts of the chicken, especially the broth which we use.

Talks about the history of chicken from back in 1930's and how it's widely used now.

Starts with table of which chickens by pound are good for.

Not sure when this book was made but some practices have been updated since this book.

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

Soft Rain, a story of the Cherokee Trail of Tears by Cornelissen_ Cornelia 

Tragic story of the life of a young child as she and her mother are taken from the tribe and are told to move with others.

They do not take her blind grandmother.

Loved hearing how they are reunited and that the white children helped clothe and feed them along the trail to their new home.

Resourced are noted at the end.

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

10 Cheeky Monkeys by Kat Michels 

Cute children's rhyming colorful book about what happens to some monkeys. Hard to read some of the words on some of the pages.

Glossary of words used are explained at the back with photos.

My favorite was page where monkey is reading a book, very studious.

The identicals by Elin Hilderbrand

Have read many books from this author and have enjoyed them.

This was start out with the identical twins and each lives on an island off the coast of MA. One living with their mother, the other with their father. Identical twins and they have pulled their pranks on teachers and boyfriends over the years.

You get a lot of the back story as to how they ended up there and how one had a daughter who's a teen now in the story.

Alternating chapters from them and also other family members. Due to the parents death they are drawn together and then a medical emergency where the two sisters kinda swap islands to accomplish what needs to be done.

Romances and teen problems with drugs and drinking and breakups and finding their one soul mate but it's all a farce as they learn how they are related to the one couple that bring them all together.

Lots of drama and I especially liked the island adventures and quiet spots and all about the fashion industry and what works. Also enjoyed the renovations and technical chat about that.

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

Winter's bounty by Jensen_ Muriel 

At an extended familys gathering in Astoria, OR MaryJane

realizes her family is messed up. Her mother once an actress has remarried and moved form Hollywood to Oregon where her new spouse owns a lumber yard. She's having a family Christmas reunion and everybody will be there.

She marvels at how her step brother James who didn't even show for the wedding will be there. It intrigues her enough to attend...

She is able to have a talk with him when the dog jumps her but James is there to rescue her and he sets the record straight about the events...

Mary gets a gift ahead of time, so unexpected but she can handle it all...

James convinces her she needs to stay closer to her relatives and move and he has it all worked out.

He goads her to no end and she's able to handle his sons grief over his loss of parents. Lots of past secrets we learn about over the course of the book.

Road hazards and he tries to protect her as much as he can...

So much physical attraction and steamy sex scenes. 

Love the locations and how the tree industry terminology is explained when spoken. Love learning about it.

Misunderstandings happen and you wonder if they can work through them...

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

The Book Reviewer Yellow Pages
What I love this year is how the categories are broken up.
Starts with all the aspects an author will need and how to approach bloggers to read and review their books and what to pay attention to.
As a book blogger I don't want a very long detailed email about your book-let me judge if I want to read and review the book-don't send it along with the intro email.
Has FAQ section and how to read the key codes on the blogger notes.
Everything is pretty straight forward and I like the different formats available in darker style. Also a section for how the author should handle the negative reviews and keep track of who's reviewed the book or is it time to send them a reminder.
Don't care for the section where others can solicit to get paid but it's out there for anybody to use and sections for blog tours and what they are all about.
Like how everything is indexed at the end.  Hope to get a copy next year.
Received this review copy and this is my honest opinion.

The Little White Christmas Lie by Kristy Tate
Cute holiday story of a woman who's a writer and she's on her way to an inn.
Millie's never met the woman who called but has a feeling she needs to be there.
On the train she meets a man who's heading in that general direction. In her travels she runs off the road and the man on the train, Carson-his grandmother owns the inn.
He rescues her and gets her to the doctor then back to the inn where she stays longer than expected through all the activities planned for friends and family. Before you know it others have them engaged...
The inn is in trouble and the pageant doesn't go off as planned and one little girl blames herself. In midst of the fighting she leaves and the others send out people with flashlights to find her.
Millie thinks she's overstayed and leaves with her ex when she realizes who it is that she wants to be with. She's bought the inn and Carson doesn't think she needs to do that-it's a money pit.
Lots of misunderstandings and you wonder if they will ever see eye to eye.
Love hearing of the events that occurred to celebrate the holiday at the inn but wish there had been more. Loved the scenery and surroundings.
Excerpt from Making music is included at the end.

Bedtime Bubble Rhyme by Patrick Leifer 

Colorful children's rhyming story of bubbles in the tub and getting clean.

Love the part the parents help and there are lots of hands cleaning....

Love the getting ready for bed parts, so cute and fuzzy warm feelings.

Still I Will Follow by Cathy Bryant
Have read other works by this author in the Miller Creek series so know I am going to enjoy this one.
Bella has returned to Miller's Creek as a teacher, music for elementary school. Others shun her because of her past, they think she is still bad news. She's broken her tail bone. She also prays that the rumors from the past wills tay away from the kids she's teaching...
Story also follows Clay who is a farmer and had dated Bella and wondered about her life now...
Like hearing how he manages the ranch and even hiring others-he knows what questions to ask. Love hearing how the disabled children are able to come to the ranch and how they respect the rules of riding.
Love that I know some of the characters from previous books read.
Like alternating chapters, Clay and his ranch and environment disasters, and Bella her struggles to prove herself and dealing with the kids.
Like that they get together to discuss their problems with one another...
So much action takes over involving drugs, accusations about God and how the townsfolk stick up and believe.
Misunderstandings are talked out and we learn more about the family. Lots of surprises along the way.
Author bio included. Other works are highlighted at the end.  Book club discussion questions at the end.
Excerpt from Crossroads is included.  Love how we've met the character highlighted in the next book so we kinda know them a bit already before they get a book/story of their own to tell.
Received this as a free gift and this is my honest review.

Seal's Promise by Sharon Hamilton
Start out with other works by the author and a synopsis of the book.
Enjoy watching home of the brave tv show and seals and swat teams shows as they are go getters.
Play hard and play at fun also. Love hearing of contributions to the projects to aid those who return to us in the USA from the wars.
Frankie and Shannon were getting married and she knew she'd be marrying the rest of the Seal team.
Story also follows TJ who's a Seal on the team and we learn of his past history of growing up in foster homes and how much he missed from being raised in a typical family setting.
TJ is the godfather of the baby girl she's due to have but Frankie dies in a mission and TJ is the last person she wants around.
Very explicit sexual scenes as he tries to comfort her and she welcomes it.
When she travels back home to her parents he wonders if it's him she's running from... Wish there was more of the story rather than 70% of bed time. Interesting learning more about TJ's family...
Then the real action starts taking over the majority of the rest of the book.  Excerpt from the next book in the series is included.  Author bio, other works by the author and reviews.
Free via Kobo and this is my honest opinion.

Children's Book: Kala's Special Flowers (Happy Motivated children's books Collection) 

Book starts out with a free gift in the form of a kit.

Colorful children's book about Kala and she found a bag of flower seeds and decided to plant that to see what would grow.

Others told her to just go buy some flowers they'd never grown.

Everyday she watered the seeds and told a story...cute story.

Other works by the author are highlighted at the end.

Mediterranean Diet: Mediterranean Diet Demystified: Your Natural Weight Loss Solution Includes 25 Mediterranean Rec (Clean Eating Recipes) Kindle Edition

by Charity Wilson  by Darrin Wiggins

Not sure why this ISBN# belongs to two different people depending on the site you are posting your review on.

Starts with a table of contents and a short into about the Mediterranean diet.

It's not only the diet but a whole new lifestyle.

Food is broken down into different categories and discusses what you need from each.

How to make the small changes to start with.  Discusses in real words what 3 oz of meat is and compares it to things we have in our lives today.

Commit and make the changes and learn how to enjoy them. Recipes start with a title, servings and list of ingredients.

Some of the ingredients you should be able to substitute for your healthier dietary needs-low salt, low fat, etc.

Directions on how to make and there is so nutritional information: calories, fat NOT broken up into good and bad, carbs and protein.

I'd be more interested in the bad % of fat and sodium levels.

There are no pictures.

Lots of fresh vegetables and herbs and spices are the way to go.

Portion control the most.

Wasn't really impressed with this book, but it's a start for those who have no idea what the diet is all about.

Breakfasts in Jars Cookbook: Healthy, Quick and Easy Mason Jar Recipes  by Louise Davidson 

Book starts out with free gift and intro and table of contents in no order.

Explains how to use jars in preparing the dishes the night before or even in the freezer.

Each recipe starts with a title, servings and list of ingredients and I'm not sure if you can substitute for your healthier dietary needs: low sodium, low fat, etc.

Directions are included along with some nutritional information-in grams.

calories, fat-NOT broken up into good or bad, carbs, protein and sodium.

Author bio included at the end.  I don't understand the purpose of getting everything in the jar for the next morning. Take less time to just make it fresh.

Dump Cake Recipes by Alexandra Gauthier 

Starts with a table of contents and an intro. Chapters telling what dump cakes are along with a few pictures.

Each recipe starts with a title and list of ingredients you will need. Not sure if you can substitute for your healthier dietary needs: low sodium, low fat, etc.

Directions are included. There are no pictures and there is no nutritional information.

Some recipes include servings.

Chapters include: cheery, strawberry, peach apple and pumpkin recipes.

Bonus gift included at the end.

Instant Pot Quick & Easy Cookbook: 30 Wholesome recipes quick & easy to cook (Instant Pot Cookbooks) by James Miller 

Starts with a table of contents broken up into different meals.

Introduction that talks about the unit and then more details about why it's a great machine to be using.

Each recipe starts with a title, prep time and servings. A color picture and list of ingredients.

Like how each category is separated by a purple line bar. Directions are  include along with nutritional information: calories, fat-NOT broken up into good or bad, carbs and protein, and fiber.

Wish there was sodium mentioned. Should also be able to substitute for your healthier dietary needs: low fat, low sodium, etc.

Honey carrots sound like an interesting combination to try.

Not sure what cornstarch juice is ???  Nothing else really struck me as I've seen a lot of instant pot cookbooks.

The Big Instant Pot Cookbook: 600 Easy Recipes of Delicious Meals by Frank Morgan 

Book starts out with table of contents by meal or category. 

An introduction about this new technique of a machine. 

Each recipe starts with a title and brief summary, prep and cook time and servings.

List of ingredients and you should be able to substitute for your healthier dietary needs: low sodium, low fat, etc.

Directions  are include along with nutritional information about calories, fat-NOT broken up into good or bad, carbs and protein. no sodium levels!

No pictures. Some of the numbers don't add up for me, a soup using 24 onions and 24 cups of stock for 12 servings. so each person gets 2 c of onion and 2 cup of stock, but why is it only 5g of fat? stock is a lot more than that by itself.

One recipe I found has 19 items, says it takes 10 mins to prep, doubt it, just gathering everything, never mind dicing the items.

Cough syrup looks interesting. Bonus gift at the end.