Books read Dec 7

The Dark Side by Danielle Steel
Story of a woman who grows up to be just like her mother. the hero, the one who wouldn't leave the very sick daughter at any cost.
She is now raising her own child but the child is very sickly and the ER nurses know them by name. She has rules and goes through many nanny's so she can work at her non profit that will help a lot of others who've been abused.
Her husband knows her back story and can't understand why she just won't put up fences so the daughter won't wonder the house and stairs and get hurt.
She is very over active and wants rules for everything.
Things go drastically wrong for the little girl, always in the hospital and mother jumps to conclusions about aches and pains.
Mother in law figures something out as to her profession and tells her son and he finds it's spot on...
He confides in the primary pediatrician and she gets the ball rolling. What a sad story.
So heartbreaking and you hope they get to her in time...
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

The Magic and Mystery of Trees by Jen Green
Great book about different types of trees, where trees grow well and so many other facts.
Liked learning about the parts and what they each do especially to their neighbor trees.
There are many secrets about them.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

On the Vineyard: A Year in the Life of an Island by Jane Carpineto

I've lived on an island off the ocean and things don't seem right here. The author to me sounds like she visited, maybe a few weeks in the summer and maybe a weekend at other times in the year but that's it.

You don't get to be close to the real islanders with that amount of time spent there. 

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

The Three Christmases of William Spencer by Derek Blount 

Book has three main sections all on Christmas day throughout the lifetime of William Spencer.

First one is when he is very young and he hopes to get the red sled from the store down the street.

He realizes things by the end of the chapter about his father and how hard he works...

Second story is when he is in his forties. Nothing goes right, at all.

Third one is when he's by himself at the end of his life and he recalls his past. 

Good read. Other works by the author are highlighted at the end.

A Hunter Brothers Christmas by M. S. Parker

This story is about a family where they are many brothers. Some have married, other single and some are in the process of other life events.

They find a cabin of their grandmother's after she has passed on and the family decide they can all spend the holiday together. There are many things going on as they recall memories of how one met and even the grandparents.

Book goes back in time to when the events took place so you have to pay attention to the dates at the start of the chapters. Lots of drama but enjoying it.

One woman does not want the child she is carrying, another have announced they are pregnant and there's another woman who wants a child and can't conceive.

Love hearing about all their careers and how they are done.

Love gift each of the grandparents left the kids, like how they found out about it all.

Sexual scenes Can't wait to read more from this author, like this series, first book in the series I've read.

Angels of our Lives A Pearl Maker short story by Melissa Storm

Short story of how a dog comes to the rescue of a little girl who has lost the use of her legs.

The dog helps with therapy til they discover she can feel her toes that the dog is licking as it tickles her.

Follows from the young girl, the heartache of nobody liking her in school as she's changed in the wheelchair but she gains friends who know what's really inside her.

Follows her all the way til she goes off to college, sweet touching story.

About the author is included at the end.

Wired Steampunk romance by Liz Maverick

Don't understand this genre but thought I'd give it another try.

To me it's futuristic and lots of techno terms where there's no standard set yet.

Wirecrossing is like going through time warps/holes and why do you want to keep repeating the same day over and over just like groundhog day.

Don't think things will be changing and if so there are very small changes that don't change the outcome.

Imaginative I can say.

His Christmas Wish by Melissa McClone

Starts out with the death of Nick and Liam who had gone hiking on the Mt. Hood.

It's around Christmas and Carly has bad dreams about it every year, enough to just get up to move across the country to PA.

She's called back years later when her sister in law is remarried and having a baby-the 3rd. She and Jake, her long time friend still living on town take care of the two kids and get the house ready to Christmas festivities.

They also renew their friendship.  During the season the group is called out again for a rescue mission and she can't sit around and take it anymore-she has to leave.

Great read, lots of emotions. Author's other works are highlighted at the end along with summary of next in the series.

Better than Before by Kathyrn Shay

This story is about Spence along with his 3 half brothers, they run a company. One wants to start a dating site and Spence is off to proof to them why it won't work.

Problem is the profile he filled out online for the total opposite of himself has fallen in love with #6 client. The do meet and go further in their relationship, she has a lot of baggage and kids but they do hit it off.

Story also follows Annie who is ready to start dating but takes things real slow...

Lots of family interactions on both side and it works. 

Lots of sex scenes but they break up towards the end and you wonder if they overstepped....

A note from the author, about the author and other works in the series along with an excerpt.

Comfort and Joy by Judith Arnold

Starts out with Robin attending her son's classroom to meet the new teacher. A man approaches the teacher with an envelope and she overhears bits of the conversation.

He later tells her of the divorce decree=he's a lawyer. Jessie finds himself hanging around with Robin and her son Phillip as they go to the mall, etc.

With help from her friends she is able to spend more time with Jessie as she has a babysitter for Phillip. She was raised in an Army family so Christmas is tradition. She and Phil have things the do every year.

This year her ex has tickets to Orlando and Phil wants to go. I recall having my son for just a small amount of time on Christmas so I know the heartache she goes through.

Jessie comes to spend time with her making cookies and decorating her house while Phil is gone and she learns more of his upbringing. She now understands why he is an atheist...

Love it when they realize what Christmas really means. Other works by the author are highlighted at the end and about the author.

The Italian Cook Book The Art of Eating Well by Maria Gentile

Starts with table of contents and then preface. 

Recipes are not written out in normal format. Name of item in English and then Italian, is included, summary of what is it in-no measurements and tells you what to do with the ingredients. How to cook them and use them.

Different words and phrases are explained in detail.

There are NO pictures and there is NO nutritional information.

One soup  says to select 3 or 4 vegetables, shred or chop and put them over the fire with small amount of cooking oil. Then add broth and cook til vegetables are very tender.  Very vague.

When you get to pastry and dessert area there are measured ingredients listed and how to make the dish. 

Includes an index at the end.