Books read Jan 2019

Deadly Blood by William Manchee
This one starts with Stan and yes he's found himself wrapped up in another murder trial. He's not a trial laywer but he is not bad because he has a lot of others to help him.
He gathers clues and brings the case to trial and some things don't go according to plan nor the outcome.
State has a hard time convincing the jury that Melody the young high school student murdered her father. Back history is given about her and the adoption.
Love how the details are collected and descriptions of events-they are very precise so you can follow along.
Just when you think it's all over with as the jury has a verdict, it's not the end of the book by a long shot.
Another murder involving a lot of people from the first trial is uncovered and we start in all over again.
Some of the evidence collected leads to more information than the jurors have and you wonder at what point it will be a mistrial.
Love how it ends and can see a lot of turmoil brewing for the next book...   love reading these books, although very lengthy there are details you have to hear about to make the case.  Take my time because I do not want the book to end.
Can't wait for the next one. What I also like is that there are not a ton of characters-small handful that we know about already from previous books in the series and new ones for the current trial.
No gory or graphic parts to make me put the book down never to finish it.

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

Second Chair by William Manchee
Have read a series, Death Pact by this author and loved it so much I bought the others in the series.
Liked this book as it starts out with Stan Turner being shown to a jail cell where there's a lazy boy recliner, fridge with cold beer and a TV in the cell.
Story starts and I found there are two stories in this book. One is he's being charged with an incident at his house when having a Christmas party for his clients. He's a laywer and appreciates them all.
He takes on a client who's been charged with murdering her own baby. Lots of twists and turns and very investigative details. Love hearing about them all although I didn't like the subject-I am a romance reader and reviewer.
Like to go outside my genre from time to time and glad I was able to read this book.
Really enjoyed this one and look forward to more from this series.
Received this book years ago from the author and this is my honest opinon.

Mission Subhero by Linda Armstrong
Very entertaining fun book to read.
Starts with other works by the author and a short introduction to the story.
Love hearing of the app the students are required to write and Nelson is writing one to aide his blind aunt that he and his mother live with. We learn of her death when he was six and how Auntie M was always here for him.
Love hearing of the progress of the app coding and where he gets his ideas from. Like hearing of his other universe and how at ease he is with both worlds.
Mayehm occurs when certain acts are televised, that were not planned, a noolidge.
Can't wait to summarize this book for our grandson who's 12, he'd get a kick out of it because it involves kids and practical jokes, of a sort.
Everybody has a part to play, no matter their age or skill. love how that all comes together.
Kinda reminds me of a Dr. Seuss book because it is so silly at times and then again it's very serious as well. Super combination of a good story.
He listens to his auntie and she makes a lot of sense for it all to happen.
Love the initials of the agencies and the part they play in the app and implementation...
Silly: OMG, DUH, NVM, etc too wicked funny!  Love all the scientific things going on also, grandson would love this!
Just when the app is operating successfully the government sticks their nose into it.... Love the treasures my parents left behind for me, priceless!
First time reading this author and can't wait to read more.   Can't wait to read the next one in this series...

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

Let Her Go by D.J. Adamson
Book starts out with her pondering if she could go back and do things different.
Lillian Dove and she's been sober for 5 years now...she inherited the liquor store and the owners house because she had worked for him.
On her way back from trying to find her Christmas tree she sees a man, blood on his shirt, with a knife. She calls it in and the man goes down and tells her the family is still inside and the man is getting away.
She runs for the house to help...police show up...
Lilian cheks in on her mother who's back at the condo, and she has a boyfriend there...missing girl is still missing and they know her of time volunteering at the retirement center...
She also checks on her father who's comfortable with others dropping in from time to time...
She is still investigating, collecting clues as to the crime...
She had forgotten about the woman who approached her upon leaving the scene, she'd have to fill the cops in ...
Lilian has the rep of solving the crime in their town. Cop Sampson used to be FBI and now works locally and they don't get along together-they are opposites.
She ends up talking to a lot of people piecing things together... Like this book and can't wait to read more of this town from the author. Some parts are graphically gory.
First time author for me and like her style of writing and the detailed descriptions-I can picture myself seeing it all happen.
Received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.

Ramonst by A F Knott
Starts out with a boy and his mother taking a plane ride discussing the dog that foamed at the mouth and had died and they did not know why after testing at UTN.
Memories of Clyne holding a cat down on the slide and slicing it open...
Talk of incest and raping....summer with the counsins in East TN. Uncle is there with war stories...
Lots of memories of the lazy summer days in 60's that comes along with news reports that I also recall growing up.
Love hearing of the games played with the relatives-we never got to play flashlight tag because there were 5 of us and we didn't have 5 flashlights. Cousins also in the neighborhood also had large families.
Didn't understand the lingo but got it after a while and at times found it revolting as we were not rasied the same way.
At times the book is a very deep dark story and there are many secrets that come to the light.
Not really my genre but glad I read this book til the end.  Very detailed and descriptive, sometimes very graphical in nature.





Hairspray and Lighter by J Jupes

This murder mystery thriller story is about a crime that was committed and how the dectectives go about solving who did it.

There are a lot of characters as they question a lot of people that were in the way of things that happened.

I found it super very materialistically descriptive-brnad names for everything then the story goes back to the details.

I don't read gory, very graphically books and this I would classify as one. Did like parts of the story but they are overshadowed by the dark ones.

Appreciate hearing from others side to the story as well. Like how the guys get to play cards.

Author has quite the imagination with the story line-I can't even fathom some of the events that take place.

Saw to cut one's hand off, children beaten, raped, cut up into small pieces, slavery is just the tip of it all.

Foul language also, be forewarned but it fits in with the story and the events that take place.

Last Duke Standing by Cheryl Bolen
Have enjoyed the series and this one starts out with Alex and Lord Slade and they are gathered in the library discussing the death of Alex oldest brother. Alex will now inherit everything but his intended fiancée must be told....
She upon seeing his body thinks he was suffocated and she and Alex will work together to find out who murdered Freddie.
They spend a lot of time together, actually getting to know one another and like each other a bit more... Georginna doesn't want to spend a lot of time at her mother's because her grandkids are hellions and not under control by their parents who also live there.
She has to show him the letters that point to another who could have killed his brother...there are other leads that Alex takes up.

Some clues lead to Alex but she knows in her heart it couldn't have been him...
Like the politics and art mentioned in this book and land deals and what they could mean to others...
He knows who killed his brother because of the horse and he knows horses!  They are coming after him next...love the trio and how they stand by one another.
Other works by the author and summarized at the end.

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

Restless Waters by Mona Ingram
Book starts out with Sarah and it's May 1849 and she's on a ship heading to CA. She's leaving the Boston area because she knows she will never advance with her medical degree nor with a spouse. Disturbing events have caused her to make up her mind.
She meets many on her voyage and I enjoyed the trip along with the stops. She trusts others to help her once they arrive and some have unforeseen things happen.
Love how she is just so caring to everybody, especially when they need medical attention. She was brought up right with her father the doctor in the city she left behind.
Story also follows a man that is on his way out west to help the bank he works in but he knows he wants something different and he has opportunities to change his life as a relative has left him a lot of land.
Love how she is able to once again have her brother there with her and surprised at the ways they were able to make a living-priceless! Loved hearing about bowling-of all things out in the wilderness.
Sounds like a good series to be reading. So very detailed I can picture myself there with her.

Seascapes: Poems by Judith Shepard
Received this a gift and treasure it. The photos are just so perfect for our life.  Lots of sealife and weather beaten scenes that surround our home and paths we travel to for a daily hike. It's the perfect book as you read through the poems to calm you inner soul.
B000KITQ7K

Sweet Fat Bombs: 35 Tasty Keto Recipes for Weight Loss and Healthy Eating (Quick & Easy Recipes for Ketogenic, Paleo & Low-Carb Diets) by Joan Keller
Never heard the term before but glad to understand what it is now.
Starts with a table of contents where there is are categories for cocoa, chocolate, berry nuts, and vanilla fat bombs.
Into about fat bombs and keto diet. Tells you what you should be eating and what to avoid.
Each recipe start with a title, big color photo, prep, cook time and servings.
List of ingredients are included and I'm not sure if you can substitute for your healthier dietary needs: low sodium, low fat and low sugar products.
There are tips along the way also.
Nutriton inclues claories, fat-NOT broken up into good or bad, fiber, carbs, sugar and protein.
These all look so yummy. Other works by the author are highlighted at the end.

35 Italian Chicken Recipes by Jean Pardue
Starts out with table of contents where recipes are all chicken based-no specific order to them.
Dedication and short into pages.
Recipes start with a title, color photo for a handful of recipes, list of ingredients and directions.You should be able to subsitute for your healthier dietary needs: low sodium, low sugar and low fat products.
There is NO nutritional information.
Some recipes do not contain a color photo and some have servings sizes.
Like the combination of herbs and spices they use.
Other works by the author are included at the end. 

Mug Recipes: Amazing Mug Meal Recipes for Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks, Dinner and Dessert by Emily Morris
Starts out with other works by the author and table of contents where recipes are broken up into meals.
Intro about the recipes and how easy they are to make.
Each recipe starts with a title, color photo and list of ingredients which you should be able to substitute for your healthier dietary needs: low sodium, low sugar, and low fat products.
Directions are given but there is NO nutritional information available.
Some recipes have a brief summary of the dish prior to the color photo.
Cinnamon roll cake looks so appealing but would take me too long to make first thing in the morning, maybe for a snack later in the day.
I find why make it just for a mug make the full meal then you will have leftovers and nothing to do to actually heat it up for another day/meal.

Decorating: The Ultimate Guide by Julia Collins
Starts with offer of a free ebook, table of contents where each chapter is broken up into a room.
Lights and walls are highlighted for each room. Short into and what is available out there.
Been in a lot of hotel rooms and have experienced a lot of lighting choices also.
What I love about this book are the tips for lighting for every room in your house.
There are pictures that will show you what would look good in certain rooms with many options.
What a way to go shopping-do your homework first then go to the store.
Other free ebooks are listed at the end along with other works by the author.
Short section on essential oils.

How to Crochet: A Beginners Guide to Learning to Crochet Today (The Ultimate Crocheting Book to Unlock Your Inner Artistic Talent) by Victoria Lane
Starts with a table of contents where many subjects are covered.
Some photos, but some are hard to see. Explampes and instructions on what you will need to get started.
basic stitches are very small photos/diagrams, like section on advanced stitches.
tips about hooks and yarn are included. Also give you ideas of what to avoid being a beginner.
Instructions for easy items to make are included with small color photos.
Be nice if items started at the top of a new page-they are mixed up some starting at the middle of the previous page.
Notice there is no gauge or size when making these. So a baby blanket could be less than 20" across-quite small..
Termination is discussed and how to read a pattern.
I've seen better books...

Lectin-Free Cookbook: 50 Easy&Delicious Recipes to Feel Amazing, Lose Weight and Enjoy Your Life by Ethan Murphy
Table of contents where chapters are broken up into meal categories.
Intro about what lectin is and what benefits you should expect from eating the foods in the categories.
Love tips about beans as we grew our own last year and enjoy Love the listing of what you can eat along with the words and color photos of the items.
Each recipe starts with a title, big color photo, short intro about the dish, list of ingredients and how to make them.
NO servings, Not every recipe has a color photo. There is NO nutrtional information.
Best to check with your doctor before taking this diet on.
No bake chocolate chip zucchini breakfast bars would be my choice to try.

Meal Prep Cookbook: Meal Prep Recipes for Beginners by Bethany Aderholt
Starts with a table of contents where chapters are broekn up into meals by days also by category: clean eating, muscle building, wegiht loss , low carb, vegetarian shopping lists.
Intro about eating healthier, shopping,  save money, waste less, etc.
Like that you can make things and save half of the dish for another week. We cook that way also.
Lots of tips along the way.
Each recipe starts with a title, servings, prep and cook time. Summary of the dish and list of ingredients. Should be able to substitute for your healthier dietary needs: low fat, low sodium, low sugar products.
Nutritional info: calories, total fat: sat. fat, protein, carbs, fiber and sugar are listed.
There are NO photos. Think I'd rather have all breakfast recipes listed at once, rather than day by day.
References and resources are listed at the end.  Info about dirty dozen and clean 15 is columnized at the end.  Conversion charts are also listed.

Spicy Recipes :The Ultimate Guide by Daniel Tyler
Starts with a table of contents where recipes are broken up into snacks and meals.
Each recipe starts with a title, prep, cook times, ready in along with servings.
List of ingredients that you should be able to substitute for your healthier dietary needs: low sodium, low sugar and low fat products, also use fresh vs canned.
Some have over 15 ingredients-be sure you have them all before cooking.
Directions in how to make  are included aong with tips on how to serve and with what.
Recipes do NOT always start at the top of a new page. There are NO pictures.
There is NO nutritional information. Format of recipes is not uniform throughout. Some recipes are also using European measurements: grams vs US American oz.
Offer of free ebook at the end.

Fruit Infused Water: 60 Thirst Quenching Recipes for Weight Loss, Maximum Hydration, and Detox (Natural Vitamin Water - Fruit Infused Water Recipes - Detox Diet - Liver Cleanse - 100 Percent Health by Aubrey Azzaro
Starts out with other works by teh author.  Table of contents where  recipes are not broken up into any specific order.
There are SO many combinations of fruit infused water options.
Lists of different ingredients and why use water sections.
Recipes do NOT start at the top of a new page.
Each recipe starts with a title and a bit about the ingredients.  How to prepare the items and make the drink.
There are NO pictures and no nutritonal information although fresh fruit and vegetables are used.
Like that they tell you the benefits of the ingredients that are added.
Love the chart at the end showing different colors and foods that will give you the one you want along with health benefits.

Couponing for the Beginner: A Guide to Couponing for the Uninitiated by Jenny Dea
Table of contents about all aspects of couponing. I have been doing it since the kids were young, they are now in their mid 40's.
With just the two of us now I still find us using coupons from various sources to help save a bit of money. e
Into about what a coupon is, the language, . Rules at certain stores are also explained and links are included for online reading.
Where to obtain them is linkable also. Color photos help explain about coupons also throughout the book.
Reward programs are also explained to get even more money back.
Great if the stores you shop at are also highlighted in this book.
Helpful resources are listed.

Home Canning and Preserving Recipes for Beginners by Louise Davidson
Starts with table of contents where recipes and sauces are not listed in any order. Offer of free ebooks by the author are included.
Intro and all about canning and preserving food at home, everything you'll need to accomplish this.
Pictures are included along the way.
Each recipe starts with a title, big color photor and total time, prep and cooking times along with servings.
List of ingredinets and you should be able to substitute for your healthier dietary needs: low sodium, low fat and low sugar products.
Directions are included also. there is NO nutritional information.
Rather surprised thought this would be just for jams and jellies. Has not only applesauce but salsa, etc.
Has sections for water bath and pressure cooking methods.
NOT every recipe has a color photo.
Other works by the author are highlighted at the end. Charts for altitude for water bath processing, pressure canning, useful volume measurements, cooking conversions charts are also included at the end.

Smoothie Recipes: Gain Energy, Lose Weight, Detox and Feel Stronger by Madison Miller
Starts with a table of contents where recipes are not broken up in any specific order.
Offer of free ebooks by the author and a summary of this book are included.  Intro talks about smoothies and how great it is for weight loss and good health.
Each recipe has a title, summary of the item, nutrional info: calories, total fat-NOT broken up into good or bad, carbs and protein.
List of ingredients and how to make it.
There are NO pictures.
Great comibnations of fruits and vegetables in a smoothie.
a 7 day plan is also available.
 More books by the author are highlighted at the end.
Chart showing measuring equivelents and oven temperature

Jams and Jellies: Preserving By The Pint In Minutes: Delicious Fresh Preserves You Can Make In Under 30 Minutes With A Jam and Jelly Maker by Jennifer Williams
Starts with a talbe of contents where recipes are broekn up into jams and jellies. Highlights the maker via Amazon.
Into and acknowledgements  and getting started using the jelly maker and other handy tools.
What I like about this book are the recipes: classic, lower sugar and specialty james.
Each recipe starts with a title, short summary, prep, cook times and servings.
List of ingredients along with directions.
Tips along the way. There are NO pictures and NO nutritional information.
Love that it tells you how long you can refrigerate the item or freeze it for.
Also has a section for happy hour jams...

Caprese Recipes: Simple Italian Cooking Caprese Style by BookSumo Press
Starts with other works from the author.  Includes about the author and an intro about the book.
Table of contents where there are a few categories.
Chart showing common abbreviations. Each recipe starts with a title, list of ingredient sand how to make.
There is some nutrtional information: calories, fat-NOT broken up into good or bad, sodium, cholesterol, carbs and protein on a 2000 calorie diet.
Also has servings and prep and total times.
Great color photos but not of the food.
Saw one recipe for 2 that calls for a pound of cheese-that's  a bit much for our dietary needs.
Like some of the food combinations and most of the recipes call for a lot-more than 10 items to make the dish.
Torte would be my choice to make but more than an hour to do that....
Love 3 ingredient salad!

Goodnight Zoo by Michelle Zimmerman
This book kinda reminds me of Goodnight moon. Great children, colorful book.
Rhyming book also! There are so many animals that we learn about and where they go to bed.

Ribbon of Years by Robin Lee Hatcher
Enjoyed this book as it is two stories in one. Starts out with the life of Miriam and how she grew up and even into adulthood and family of her own.
Also follows Julianna and she's on her own but stumbles into an estate that holds the events of Miriams' life in the remains of the house.
Enjoyed the read, a lot of scripture and praying at the end-almost too much for me. Loved the story and how it eveolved over the years from all angles.

Eggnog Murder by Leslie Meier
This is a collection fo stories from different authors with the same theme: eggnog murders.
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Eggnog Murder by Leslie Neier
This story starts out with Lucy and her family that live and work in Tinker's Cove, Maine. I have read many in the series and enjoy them as they are not very graphic.
This one has a lot to offer as it's Christmastime in the small village and things are happening.
The community has a lot going on some to raise money for the charities the community donates to.
Love hearing all about the events and especially the charities. Lucy is feature reporter for the local paper and she helps to solve the murders in town.
Red bear santa club sounds like a good cause as they raise a lot of money. There are a few deaths and with Elizabeth coming home from Paris and the house already full it's going to be a challenge to get through it all.
Love hearing about the LBD and how it can be enhanced. Hope the story about PTSD gets written and things happen that can aid others.
Amazing who the culcprit was in this story as it points to many along the way.
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Death by Eggnog by Lee Hollis
First time reading this author so playing a bit of catch up with the characters.
Hayley works at the Island Times and she gets along with a crime reporter Bruce but they don't mesh all the time.
The town is having their annual restuarnt dinner where everyone brings their establishments best treats to sample. Some are allergic to nuts and some to dairy.
Nobody gets along with the 80 librarian but none wanted her dead either. Amazing that we have been to this town in Maine-Bar Harbor and enjoyed other places nearby: Jordan's Pond, Mount Desert, etc. Awesome place to find nature, outside and peace.
Lot of characters but easy to keep track of who is who and does what for a living. Has recipes.
Love how Hayley helps solve the mystery of who the murderer was. She does talk to a lot of others in town and asks a lot of questions.
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Nogged Off by Barbara Ross
First time reading this author and enjoyed the book. This one starts out with Julia and she's on her way from Maine to NY to close out her apartment that she sublet and will sell to her in a weeks time. Problem is when she arrives things don't go according to plan.
After they arrive back in Maine with the furniture and other belongings things go haywire and the truck and it's contents are stolen. Love haring of the town and especially the events that take place annually-what a treat!
Julia takes it upon herself to help solve the mystery of the murder and who it really is. So much information about identical twins-so fascinating to learn about this.
Good story line and hope to read more from this author. Enjoyed the characters.
I received this review book from The Kensington Books and this is my honest opinion.