Tuesday, April 30, 2024

Books read April 2024

 


   

 

A Chain of Pearls (Martha's Vineyard Murders Book 1) by Raemi A. Ray
This story starts when Kyra is just coming to the island, where her father lived, but he's dead now.  She finds the while thing a big mystery and needs more clues because they just don't add up. She is able to uncover many things about his life on the island. The detective
Tarek is there to help her along and she finds him comforting during many difficult times. She is able to meet many of the residents of the island that knew her father. 
There is so much going on in this story that make it a very interesting read. Very descriptive details and I can picture myself there. Love that she and others have many clues to lead to the outcome...something for everyone. Politics, land deals, off island bank transfers, green and wind energy conflicts, marriage gone bad, etc. Next book in teh series is noted at the end.
Received this review copy from the publisher and this is my honest opinion.



 
 
The London Spymaker: A Riveting WW2 Historical Saga of Espionage, Love & Betrayal. Based on a real story. (A Resistance Girl Novel Book 7) Kindle Edition
by Hannah Byron 
This story starts out with Ansel and she's the oldest girl in the family. Her mother, father and twin girls made up the whole family. They are Jewish but able to stay safe for a while but need to get to a  safer location.
They have bare necessities and end up in the field between Germany and Poland. The nuns help them survive. No food, very cold and there is much death. They finally get a way out, by flying to England to her mothers brother that lives there. He is quite wealthy and takes them in. He has plans for Ansel. First they all get new names. Her father opens a book shop, and her uncle trades in diamonds with many nearby countries.
She ends up spending time with the pilot that brought them there but she's only 16.    She was able to be sent to the finishing school in Switzerland where she meets and befriends Pearlie. They form a lifelong bond.
She gets a job where she interviews women who want to help fight the war in France. They are trained and she notes where they'd be the best asset in the campaign.
She is in the bunkers under the city but she is also considering marrying the well to do man but she fears he's too much of a playboy for her. He has her life in his hands when he tells her of his plans  She devotes her time to the SOE and even after interrogating others during the war crime trials to find out more information about the agents she sent off the fight in France. Anna learns what happened to them all.  The war does end  along with all the threats made to her life. She has important papers that allow her to travel where she needs to go. Just one last mission for her...
Never saw it ending as such, very powerful, emotional, lots of travel, love lullaby’s translated into English, entertaining learning about the struggles, hardships, tragedies and death and how they survived and why.
This book by the author is the best out of the whole series, so detailed descriptions, something just connected with me in this read to keep it one of my top 5 books this year.

A KEEPER!

   


 
 


 

bethany meets her match by Lisa Lin
Story starts out with Dr. Beth and she's meeting together with all the othes that greducated and will be starting work.  She also meets Dr. Ethan who she's taken with. Dr. Ethan mothes in China wants to come take care of him.  Ethan wants to be himself as he will be working many hours a day still.  He doesn't want to mislead her but she wants grandbabies...
Love the challenges they put upon each other. Love how they also work as a team. Great read.
Received this review copy from the publisher and this is my honest opinion.
 

 

 
Texas Reckless Cowboy by Rebecca Crowley
Starts when Georgia, assistant district attorney is on the ballot for the big seat.  Story is also following Cy, a powerful man in Last Stand. He has a plan that will mutually benefit the both of them. Yes there are problems, many of them and on and off again relationship but Cy has the solution.
Descriptive with details and plot of the story. Can't wait to read the next book in the series. Like learning about the politics as well as the events in town. Good read.
Received this review copy from the publisher and this is my honest opinion.


 


   

Unbreak My Heart by Dakota Harrison
Story starts with Simon and he and his brother run the family business. He also sometimes tend bar at the spotted cow. He knows how to do a lot when it comes to building a house. He had one once with his wife and they were starting their young family. Then he lost it all. He has anxiety issues that keep him from talking to women and much more.
He meets Eva and after talking to her, he feels calm so invites her to a hotel room for the night. Things don't go as planned....
She is the new architect at the company to refurb the bar and quarters over it.
His brother is amazed that they know each other.  Like how she invites him into her family, meeting her mom and son and how the son reacts.
She is able to put things into action with what is known about the design and style of it. He is beside himself at the party when he discovers what's really going on.
Love how he cherishes, uplifts her and she's not s super model so that more than makes her fall for him.  He's such a gentleman also.
Love this tender story and outcome.
Great read, can't wait to read more of the back stories in the series.
Received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.
 

  

 
Make You Mine (The Walker Family Book 1) by Nan Reinhardt 
Story starts out with Maddie and she's arrived in town looking for her new job, managing a builders crew.  She applied but was not chosen to be interviewed.   Then she gets a call after the last guy has left and its very high price and she takes it.
Besides the romance there are big mysteries as to who is sabotaging the work sites. She loves her job, and even helping do some of them to show the people how to do the job efficiently.  
Her boss, Jack is one to not leave by himself.
She comes up with an idea to merge all the buildings and work as one. 
She is able to confront the culprit, all by herself and he pulls her into the framed house, she falls down the stairs into the basement....
She has a few tricks up her sleeve but there's no way she can overtake him by herself. While this is going on Jack is busy wheeling and dealing with other builders...Like how Maddie links up with other females.
Something for everyone in this book: mysteries, sabotage, romance, careers and how to do them 
 

 
Christmas Crime at Kingfisher Falls by Philipa Nefri Clark
This story starts out with Charlotte and she's moved to take a job at the bookstore in town. She is new to the area and Rosie the owner just loves her and the help she is given during the busy Christmas holiday season. There are so many weird things happening along with trees, decorated are being stolen all around town. Charlotte has her own thought on who the culprits are but as she gets around town more she tapes pictures on her phone to prove things to others.  Rosie is even threatened from the book club. SO many people are after them and other families in town. There are a lot of mysteries surrounding this town that she is able to solve.  Love nature walks and the descriptions. So pretty.
Received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.
 


 
Airport Christmas by Maria Vermisoglou
Cute holiday story about a woman heading to gather for family holiday. Problem is the blizzard has stopped all airlnes til the next day. She  has options, none that shes fond of so she wanders around  the airport. She finds one place that is all about the holiday.  Touching story.
Received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.

 








 
   

Once Upon a Summer Night (Bourbon Falls Book 3)by Kyra Jacobs

Story starts out with Hannah and she's been raising her friend Beth's son since birth. The two women had left where they grew up after Beth found out she was pregnant. Now that Hannah is on her way back home to where all her family live she is concerned about the custody of Noah as the other family want him.  She ends up taking over her father's job at the fire house, on the computer, organizing everything. He's laid up at home on crutches. She also runs into her life long friend Chase who has not forgotten her.

She has no idea why he didn't show up for her graduation..... Chase is now a fire fighter under her father and they get along ok.

Lots of secrets, mysteries and will Hannah be able to fit into the family life and keep Noah and maybe even Chase. Adult situations. Great read, wish I had read all the prior books in order but I didn’t feel like I missed anything-just back story of others.

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


    






HEART OF THE TEXAS DOCTOR by Eve Gaddy
In this story we find  the matchmakers at it again. Getting others together that they think would be a great pair. They introduce  Graham the local heart doctor to the salon owner Bella. She has her own apartment and loves her cat.
They become very familiar with one another and the cat is jealous. Love realistic things that occur during this story. Love dates and times they are able to spend together. There are obstacles in the way of past dates with others and an ex wife.
Love learning how to pet the horse and other thing relating to the first ride.
He is in love with her before he knows it and he knows what he has to do.   They are in too deep for onte another.
With his schedule and hers you know there is no way they are going to stay together.
How how his family intervenes…and her girl friends also…
Fiery hot adult situations.
Ends with excerpt from the next book in the series, which can be read as a stand alone.
Received this review copy from the publisher and this is my honest opinion.
 


 
Finding her cowboy by April Murdock
Story starts out with Addy and she's run away from her fiancee and headed to Texas to stay with her sister. Her door is always open. She actually overhears others talking and now Addy can apply for the assistants job  at a nearby ranch.  While at her sisters a man appears with a horse and he wants to know where to put it. She's vague as it's not her job. When she arrives at the ranch she heads to where he's working, not knowing he even had a job there. She missteps and lands in the mud. She salvages the situation and ends up with his shirt on.  Others will have questions but she doesn’t care.  Their friendship blossom’s as she got the job and is setting up for the event. Annie the lady in charge is astonished  at what Addy has accomplished in no time.  There are more missteps and more situations and a lot of secrets and miscommunications and you wonder if the two will ever  get together....
Great read. Can't wait to read more form his author.
 
  



 
  Again  Alabama by Susan Sands
 Story starts out with  Cammie and she is returning to help take care of her elderly mother. She owns Evangeline Events where people go for special events. Cammie me not only takes care of her but the meals that were to be catered by someone else in town. Story is also following Gray who lives next door with his father and his daughter. They had a history together but there are a lot of missing pieces a lot of secrets and a lot of mysteries. It's really interesting to see how this whole story evolves.  what I really love about it is it is about different age groups from a   fourth grade child to around 80-year-old and everything in between.  All the problems that arise and how they deal with them and how solutions are made. Great read for the story, very descriptive. Left me with warm feelings towards them all. Excerpt for the next in series is included. There is another book in a different series that has an excerpt also at the end. 
 



 
 

All’s Fair with Love and Cowboys (The Marshall Brothers of Texas Book 1)
by Kristine Lynn 
Story starts out with Maggie and she's looking at his last will. He had worked himself to death and she loves San Antonio and everything he had built for her. She's arrived back at the ranch and decides she wants to fix it up before she sells it. She also runs into the neighbor who had asked her to marry him when they were younger. major misunderstandings and she left for the city. She runs her own cmopany that she informs the town about and they want to get onboard with the product.
Love how the other neighbors help her out in the ranch to get things back as they once were. When the group lead the cattle to the canyon there are major problems.
Unexpected letters explain everything the way Bennett had told her it went down.  
Received this review copy from the publisher and this is my honest opinion. Great read.
 


CHILDREN'S BOOKS

  

 
Trick or Treat! by Lisa Strattin
Colorful, chidlrens, story. Cute story about the bee family and it's time for Halloween. They have many choices when it comes to costumes.
Cute story.
Other works by the author are highlighted at the end.





 

I Like to Camp by Lisa Strattin
Cute childrens colorful story about going camping. There are so many things you can do and they are shown on the pages inside.
Other works by the author are listed at the end.


 

Cassie Goes to Kindergarten by Lisa Strattin
Colorful childrne's story about the first day of kindergarten for the bee family.
Cassandra is a bit scared but also looking forward to going. See what happens that day. 
Other works by the author are  listed at the end.






 
Cassie Bakes a Cake by Lisa Strattin
Colorful, children's book about Cassie and she is going to bake a cake.
SO enteraining to watch this on each page. Other works by the author are listed at the end. 







Making Friends is Fun by Lisa Strattn
Children's colorful story. It's amazon who she makes friends with.
Other works by the author are listed at the end.



  

 

Facts About the Bananaquit by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chapters include:  their life cycles, habitat, what they eat, etc. Each chapter also includes a full size photo showing different things about the songbird.  
Never heard or seen these.


 
Facts about the Hairy Woodpecker by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chapters include:  their life cycles, habitat, what they eat, etc. Each chapter also includes a full size photo showing different things about the woodpecker.  
Never heard or seen these.




 
Facts about the Moray Eel by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chapters include:  their life cycles, habitat, what they eat, etc. Each chapter also includes a full size photo showing different things about the eel.  
Never heard or seen these.



 
Guess the animal pattern by Lisa Rusczyk, ED.D.
Colorful childrens book. It's about patterns and how they start off with just a few pen strokes. can you guess the animal shape?
There are nine shapes , cute story.








  




Facts about the Hognose snake by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chapters include:  their life cycles, habitat, what they eat, etc. Each chapter also includes a full size photo showing different things about the snake.  
Never heard or seen these.









Facts about the Grizzled giant Squirrels by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chapters include:  their life cycles, habitat, what they eat, etc. Each chapter also includes a full size photo showing different things about the squirrel.  
Never heard or seen these.



 
Facts about the Lar Gibbons by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chapters include:  their life cycles, habitat, what they eat, etc. Each chapter also includes a full size photo showing different things about the apes.  
Never heard or seen these.
 
  

 
Facts about the Inchworm by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chapters include:  their life cycles, habitat, what they eat, etc. Each chapter also includes a full size photo showing different things about the worm.  
Never heard or seen these.




 
Facts about the Sandpiper by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chapters include:  their life cycles, habitat, what they eat, etc. Each chapter also includes a full size photo showing different things about the bird.  
Have heard of and seen these.



 
Facts about the Gelada baboon by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chapters include:  their life cycles, habitat, what they eat, etc. Each chapter also includes a full size photo showing different things about the baboon.  
Never heard or seen these.








Facts about the White cheeked pintail duck by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chapters include:  their life cycles, habitat, what they eat, etc. Each chapter also includes a full size photo showing different things about the duck.  
Never heard or seen these.



 
Facts about the Golden Eagle by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chapters include:  their life cycles, habitat, what they eat, etc. Each chapter also includes a full size photo showing different things about the animal.  
Have heard of and seen these.


 


 
Facts about the Map Turtle by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chapters include:  their life cycles, habitat, what they eat, etc. Each chapter also includes a full size photo showing different things about the turtle.  
Never heard or seen these.
 






  


 
Facts about the Sparrowhawk by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chapters include:  their life cycles, habitat, what they eat, etc. Each chapter also includes a full size photo showing different things about the hawk.  
Never heard or seen these.

 

 
Facts about the Chickadee by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chapters include:  their life cycles, habitat, what they eat, etc. Each chapter also includes a full size photo showing different things about the bird.  
heard of and seen these.

 

 
Facts about Pakistan by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chpaters include:  population, government, natural wonders, terrain, native animals, etc.  SO much to learn about.


 
Facts about the Banana Spider by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chapters include:  their life cycles, habitat, what they eat, etc. Each chapter also includes a full size photo showing different things about the spider.  
Never heard or seen these.

 

Facts About the Iberian Lynx by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chapters include:  their life cycles, habitat, what they eat, etc. Each chapter also includes a full size photo showing different things about the wild cat.  
Never heard or seen these.


 
 
Facts about the St. Andrews Cross Spider by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chapters include:  their life cycles, habitat, what they eat, etc. Each chapter also includes a full size photo showing different things about the spider.  
Never heard or seen these.



 
 
Facts about the Red eyed tree frog by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chapters include:  their life cycles, habitat, what they eat, etc. Each chapter also includes a full size photo showing different things about the frog.  
Never heard or seen these.
 




  




Facts about the Wedge Tailed eagle by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chapters include:  their life cycles, habitat, what they eat, etc. Each chapter also includes a full size photo showing different things about the eagle.  
Never heard or seen these.

 






Facts about the Mockingbird by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chapters include:  their life cycles, habitat, what they eat, etc. Each chapter also includes a full size photo showing different things about the bird.  
Heard of and seen these on TV.





Facts about the Guinea Baboon by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chapters include:  their life cycles, habitat, what they eat, etc. Each chapter also includes a full size photo showing different things about the animal.  
Never heard or seen these.





Facts about the Red eared slider by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chapters include:  their life cycles, habitat, what they eat, etc. Each chapter also includes a full size photo showing different things about the turtle.  
Never heard or seen these.






Facts about the Striped Hyena by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chapters include:  their life cycles, habitat, what they eat, etc. Each chapter also includes a full size photo showing different things about the hyena.  
Never heard or seen these.






Facts about the Mandarin Duck by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chapters include:  their life cycles, habitat, what they eat, etc. Each chapter also includes a full size photo showing different things about the duck.  
Never heard or seen these.







cookbooks




  

 

Vintage Recipes of the 1920s: A Retro Cookbook That Will Bring Back the Legendary Cuisine of the Mad Decade by Kevin Palmer McDermott
Bi dNUKUe qurg  KIR ID RGWAW EWXUOWA,'This book starts out with  table of contents where recipes are listed under meal categories and the recipes.
Short intro about the time of the recipe making.
Each recipe starts with a title,  color photo, prep and cook times and servings.
List of ingredients and you should be able to substitute for your healthier dietary needs: low fat, low sodium, low sugar and fresh vs canned items.
Some call for a lot of items, be sure to have them all first.
Directions are given and there is some nutritional information, not sure of serving size: calories, fat, carbs and protein. There are NO color photos.
Good memories of most of the food in this book as it's what we grew up eating.


 


 
Vintage Recipes of the 1940s: A Retro Cookbook That Will Bring Back the Memorable Cuisine from the Most Dramatic Decade in History by Kevin Palmer McDermott
This book starts out with  table of contents where recipes are listed under meal categories and the recipes.
Short intro about the time of the recipe making.
Each recipe starts with a title, prep and cook times and servings.
List of ingredients and you should be able to substitute for your healthier dietary needs: low fat, low sodium, low sugar and fresh vs canned items.
Some call for a lot of items, be sure to have them all first.
Directions are given and there is some nutritional information, not sure of serving size: calories, fat, carbs and protein. There are NO color photos.
Bit before my time and can't wait to try a few of the recipes.


 
 
 
Vintage Recipes of the 1950s: A Retro Cookbook That Embodies the Irresistible Flavors of the Past by Kevin Palmer McDermott
This book starts out with  table of contents where recipes are listed under meal categories and the recipes.
Short intro about the time of the recipe making.
Each recipe starts with a title, prep and cook times and servings.
List of ingredients and you should be able to substitute for your healthier dietary needs: low fat, low sodium, low sugar and fresh vs canned items.
Some call for a lot of items, be sure to have them all first.
Directions are given and there is some nutritional information, not sure of serving size: calories, fat, carbs and protein. There are NO color photos.
Good memories of most of the food in this book as it's what we grew up eating.

 

 
Vintage Recipes of the 1960s: A Retro Cookbook That Will Bring Back 
Culinary Treasures From a Bygone Timeby Kevin Palmer McDermott
This book starts out with  table of contents where recipes are listed under meal categories and the recipes.
Short intro about the time of the recipe making.
Each recipe starts with a title, prep and cook times and servings.
List of ingredients and you should be able to substitute for your healthier dietary needs: low fat, low sodium, low sugar and fresh vs canned items.
Some call for a lot of items, be sure to have them all first.
Directions are given and there is some nutritional information, not sure of serving size: calories, fat, carbs and protein. There are NO color photos.
Good memories of most of the food in this book as it's what we grew up eating.



 
 
Vintage Recipes of the 1970s: A Retro Cookbook That Will Bring Back 
Culinary Treasures From a Bygone Timeby Kevin Palmer McDermott
This book starts out with  table of contents where recipes are listed under meal categories and the recipes.
Short intro about the time of the recipe making.
Each recipe starts with a title, prep and cook times and servings.
List of ingredients and you should be able to substitute for your healthier dietary needs: low fat, low sodium, low sugar and fresh vs canned items.
Some call for a lot of items, be sure to have them all first.
Directions are given and there is some nutritional information, not sure of serving size: calories, fat, carbs and protein. There are NO color photos.
Good memories of most of the food in this book as it's what we grew up eating.


 

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