Books read Aug 17

The cast by Steel_ Danielle
Book starts out with Kate and she's leaving work, turned in her column, had a drink with colleagues and left to get a tree to help decorate her huge apartment.
Kids and granddaughters were to arrive the next day-she'd cook the day before Christmas so they could all sit back and enjoy.
Loved hearing of the past relatives and how they survived = especially baking cookies, then cakes, etc.
Love that Kate is in her 50s kids live around the US and other countries and she's happy with her live-without a man...
Like how her friends throw a new year eve party and she attends, meeting one who puts the idea of writing about her family, casting it for a tv movie. like hearing the process of getting the show written, casted and filming..
With the blizzard she starts writing the scenes and meets with Zach later that week-he loved it...
Everyday drama occurs and Kate is the one to fix it all...
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

Going underground_ Mount Rushmore_ Badlands_ Wind Cave by Graf_ Mike - Leggitt_ Marjorie
Have read other works by the authors and really learned a lot more about our national parks and other things to do while there.
This one is one we've yet to visit-mt. Rushmore but we plan to, just not sure when.
Love the guided tours, off the beaten paths and mysteries surrounding poachers...
Like what else you can do-headphones while on the trail so you know what you're looking at-this is priceless to me!
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

The mistress by Danielle Steel
Book starts out following Vladimir and he's a Russian billionaire. His girlfriend of 7 years is Natashia and he found her n the streets in the winter and offered her help. After a year she accepted and had been with him ever since.
It's their understanding he wants no kids, no ties to one another, he treats her well with money, clothes, etc as long as she's there when he wants her. Love hearing of the life style-so extravagant.
Story also follows a painter who had died, his spouse only sold a few of his items. She and her son run a restauarant where all the pictures are on display.
Vladimir wants more in his collection and everybody has a price...
Years go by and Theo paints her portrait just from memory and they meet when it's on display.
Vladimir wants the rest of the art display and Theo tells him they are not for sale...a robbery occurs and Natashia finds them hidden...she's stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Where do her loyalities lie? Will she make it out alive-so unpredictable.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

The girls in the picture by Benjamin_ Melanie
This story follows the life of Mary Pickford and her screen writer, Frances = Lady Marion. Love how it starts when they are young when the movies are just starting out.
Love affairs and journey to the war to cover it and keep the morale of the troops high.
Like the women's connection and how they stick to their guns.
Alternating chapters between the two women.
Like behind the scenes whether it's about the movies or the war.
Have read other books by this author, very detailed and she does her homework!
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

The Darling Songbirds by Rachael Herron
Have read other works by this author and have enjoyed them.
This one is about Adele and she's returned to Darling Bay in Oregon where the last of older generation of the family has died, Uncle Hugh.
He ran his own saloon, cafe and hotel but it's not how she finds the place.
Story also follow Nate who has been one of the most helpful throughout Hugh's life and working at the bar.
They do get along with one another-he's a fixer and she wants to do things herself.  Lots of heated sex scenes.
Like the locals and what they stand for, scenery, different ideas of how to make it in the saloon world.
Like how this story ends. Author bio at the end, links to connect along with other works by the author.
Excerpt from the next book in the series is included.

Healing Honey For Beginners by Dr Brad Turner
Starts with table of contents: history, different, varieties, and health benefits, nutritional facts and recipes.
Photos during the introduction parts help explain what the words are saying. Like different flavors of honey as they are shown with a picture and summary of the herb/flower.
Each recipe startts with a title list of ingredients and you might be able to substitute for a healthier dietary needs: low fat, low sugar, low sodium products.
Details are given. No servings, no pictures and no nutritional information.

Chicago Cookbook: Taste the Windy City with Easy Chicago Recipes by BookSumo Press
This book starts out with free ebook offers, about the author and intro about cooking effortlessly.
Table of contents broken up by main meat source. List of common abbreviations.
Each recipe starts with a title, list of ingredients which you should be able to substitute for your healthier dietary needs: low sodium, low sugar and low fat products along with fresh produce rather than canned.
Directions are given. Nutritional information has calories, fat-NOT broken up into good or bad, cholesterol, sodium, carbs and protein for a 2000 calorie diet.
Servings and prep, total times are included.
There are no pictures of the dish.  There are photos of the area throughout the book-doesn't state where they are taken.

5 Ingredient slow cooker cookbook by louise davidson
Table of contents where recipes are in meal categories.
Short intro about slow cooking. Chapters on slow cooking tips and safety and more.
Each recipe starts with a title, servings, prep and cook time. List of ingredients and you should be able to substitute for your healthier dietary needs: low sodium, low fat, low sugar products.
Direction are included and some nutritional information per serving: Calories, carbs, protein and sodium.
There are NO pictures.About the author is listed at the end, other works by the author and cooking conversion charts, oven temperatures.

High and Dry by Lesley Ann McDaniel
Starts out with Karen and she's on the way to her mother's B&B in Oregon from Seatlle where she lives. When she arrives she finishes up her call with work but drops her phone and it breaks and she falls.
She also notices a nice looking guy that is taking pictures of her moher's flowers and they get to talking and then she heads into the inn where she proceeds to her mothers business room to finish her call and change into different skirt.
Nothing goes well as she puts on sweat pants and then tries to find her mother. She learns over time that her mother has sold the inn, they are getting married and she's yet to even meet the man.
She starts rummaging through boxes and wants to keep so much of it's contents til she realizes the power has gone off and the tree has crashed through the roof of the carriage house-where she is.
The guy, Doug has found her and she prays to the Lord for help as she knows there's only one rescue truck in town. His father comes to the rescue as he tries to safe her also.
She really went overboard on the assumptions and if she had only taken the time to really listen to what her mother had been talking to her about the past half a year she'd realize what was really going on.
Surprise unprdictable ending.
Excerpt from the next book in the series is inlcuded. Other works by the author are highlighted.
Received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.

The Cabin: an Off the Grid suspsense thriller by John Koloen
Book starts out with Jacob and he's just gotten married, to the most gorgeous woman ever. He soon realizes that she's just out for his money as she's caught cheating on him.
He's tired of being the guy to give her everything and walks out into the WI wilderness and soon finds a place where he can call home. Love what he does to survive-watching others cabins for money while they're not there and what's in his cabin.
Story also follows a group of men who are religious based but also milita patriots who are out to make a name for themselves.
One leaves and they realize he knows much about their organization and they have to get him back-at least his phone. They track him down to a small town and drive him and an kidnapped FBI agent to a cluster of cabins....
Love hearing all their thoughts from beginning to end and the outcome. Very brutal at times but very herioc as well.
Was a good break from the romance books I read.
Excerpt from another of the author's works is included at the end. Author bio also.

When I Wake Up by Joanna Liu
On the tablet you are forced to read landscape mode, can't enlarge text size.
Children's colorful sketchy book about going to bed and it's not always fun.
She thinks of things she might do the next day as they go by in her thoughts pictured above.
Interesting how they make it so not always fun LOL

Sand in my Hair by Sandra Beaumont

Childhood memories of growing up in the 50/60's sounds like such a great read as that is the time my family were youngsters.

They live by the sea and it's a bit different than in the US but we played outside more than inside. We had relatives of all ages living in the neighborhood.