Book Review: January 2018 Buzz Books Monthly by Publishers Lunch

January 2018 Buzz Books Monthly by Publishers Lunch
Collection of books to be released along with summaries and excerpts and lot of particulars about who helped put it all together.
Lots of information to find the books you want to read for the month. Wish all of them had covers and a summary right there rather than having to go to a site to read up on them.
I received this review book from Net Galley and this is my honest opinion.

Book Spotlight: Moon Rising Series by K. S. Haigwood

My Review:

Accepting the Moon: Prequel (Moonrising Book 0)  by K. S. Haigwood
Starts with a table of contents and listing of other works by the author.
Book has chapters of characters names as you hear about their side of things that are happening.
Mena is leaving her spouse because he's cheated on her, and Marc is now abusive as well.
Story also follows Jaxon and Phoenix who we learn what they are all about.
Big confrontation at the motel and Jaxon gets away with Mena on his back and fights through the demons to a safe area.
We learn what they have in common along with what will occur in the future as she is bitten by her ex and she will now take on transformations.
Book starts out so normal til you realize they are talking about vampires and werewolves. I was always fascinated as a teen and watch Dark Shadows as it was filmed near our house in RI.
Have also watched Twilight series and am currently watching The Originals.
What I like best about this prequel is that it not only has definitions for the words used but the author tells you her interpretation of things as they appear in the book. I've read many other shifter books and so far just this prequel is so good that I read it on the weekend and I don't read books on the weekend.
Can't wait to start the first book in the series as I know the background of the characters.
Free on Amazon

My Review:

Midnight Moonrising by K. S. Haigwood , Anne Conley
I usually stay away from audible books because they are such a hassle to get over to my tablet.
This one transferred and was waiting for me! Other have me and the author stumped for weeks til they send me a different format.
This book starts with Mena, her ex's funeral. He was the pack leader and how she's the leader. None of her friends knew he was a werewolf.
Others in important positions have her back and she won't be going to jail at all...
Her inner wolf wants her to do other things and she is strong...
She needs a right hand man and Darrin fills the spot but 27 others want the spot also. He orients her to the duties and other questions she has about the pack.
Her inner wolf wants to kill Phoenix so she can have Alex, the detective to herself.
They hope the witches have the answers to the killings...There are a lot of other creatures introduced that help also.
What I do like, even though to me it's all a fairytale is that there are problems and I like the way they find creative solutions to them.
Think I would like to read the next book if it's the end of the series but it's not really my genre but I enjoyed the series so far.
I received this review book from the author and this is my honest opinion.

Author Bio:

K. S. Haigwood

"Far from crazy, but equally as far from normal. There are voices in my head and I occasionally talk to them." - Kristie Haigwood

K. S. Haigwood is the author of the Save My Soul, Eternal Island and Moonrising series. By day, she is a CNC Machinist, but by night and weekend, she saves the world or destroys it in a single bound, depending on what mood she is in and if she has had her coffee. In addition to being an award winner for the 'Life Changing Read Award', she has also been nominated twice for Best Indie Book 2016 in the Paranormal category.

Characterization is one of K.S. Haigwood’s strongest points. You can understand each characters' predicaments and you can almost foresee their reactions. But. There’s always a but, with this author, because Haigwood can deliver enough twists and turns to turn a tornado on its head. Just as you think you’ve figured where the story is going next, she’s duped you again.

The whole of her novels are littered with good chuckle moments, and even in the darkest hour, the thinnest hint of a silver lining is still visible among the clouds.

Shock therapy for body and soul, delivered at a hundred miles an hour with the humor and charisma of a trendsetter, Haigwood is certain to be hailed the new wonder-drug to cure all ills.

Book Review: The Green Unknown: Travels in the Khasi Hills by Patrick Rogers

The Green Unknown: Travels in the Khasi Hills by Patrick Rogers
The story of the author as he travels through the remote areas of India. I've read other works from other authors of similar areas and this author describes the area in such detail you feel as if you are there.
Love the information i learned about living root bridges and jackfruit and benefits of each and how they make money by selling parts. Comical parts about WWE, who knew! Scenery as described along with traditional tribes and the political hierarchy is so profound.
How infants are named and the impact of our music on them, astounding!
Like hearing of the things tourists leave behind like garbage and how it effects the natural parts of this country.
Scary things like kwai and experiences using it and damage left behind by the mining processes.
Enjoyed this read so much I will search for other books by this author.
Love the beautiful cover of the living roots!  Website also has many other pictures of other locations in the area of the bridges. I am terrified of heights but would go across once in my lifetime if given the chance.
Received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.

Book Review: Caring for the Caregiver by Cheri Swalwell

Caring for the Caregiver by Cheri Swalwell
Book starts out with dedication page and other works by the author. I've read many of her books and have enjoyed them.
Love the straight forward words of encouragement as you go through the bad times. We went through similar situation with my husband who had a heart attack. I'd go with him to the doctors and hand them the blood work results and write everything down in my 3 folders of information.
Still go with him just to be sure we are on the right track.
Like endings and tips at end of each section. So much of what we went through is described in detail here with solutions and suggestions.
Love the parts about taking care of yourself or you'd not be able to take care of them or the children.
Love this book the best because it spoke to me of how I take care of my spouse daily and when he's ill. We were just raised to do that and chip in where needed.
When I heard the title I thought it would be about taking for an aging adult, glad I was wrong as we go through illnesses together throughout our lives.
Scriptures are quoted when they are relevant to the subjects being discussed. Like explanations of the different types of fasting and what is involved.
Love bible verses that are quoted at the end to help offer more encouragement.
Author bio and contact information is provided.

Book Review: Miracle on Chance Avenue by Jane Porter

Miracle on Chance Avenue by Jane Porter
#MiracleOnChanceAvenue #NetGalley
Book starts out with Rory Douglas and he's on the bull when he sees her as they open the gates.
He recalls seeing her at every rodeo stop along the circuit but she's never approached him. He knows she's there for him.
Sadie has followed her impossible dreams and she has followed him throughout the rides and even went in to see him at the hospital when he told her to get out. She just wants his baby but she can never tell him. Then her mom died and that crushed her.
She had worked at Big Sky but now works in town at her own business and she's saving for a family. She works at the real estate agency also and is waiting for a man to come to the house as he's rented it....
What I liked about this story was the theme-how do you tell someone that you've had a crush on that you want his baby. She's so determined and he remembers her at every stop. He feels she is his angel-looking out for him. He'd never settle down but he'd marry her in a heartbeat.
He'd done the renovation work himself in the house and had rented it out over the years. She has no clue.
She refinishes furniture that others throw out everything learned from her mother. Love hearing of one using their own hands to make a living and how they do it.
Loved hearing of the tree where you select a gift to get for a child and it strikes him as he's a caring man and the scholarships he set up for others in town over the years. The bad memories are leaving and good ones are taking their place.
Lots of heartache and fun and laughs also. When I started reading this series the Indian Paintbrush flower are the seeds I bought online to grow myself because the struck something in me and I knew my garden needed them also. Liked the praying for a chance, that's all he needed.
Loved hearing of the activities they do during the season and finding the perfect ornaments depicting the season.
I received this review book from Net Galley and this is my honest review.

Book Review: REBECCA’S REDEMPTION by Lee Carver

REBECCA’S REDEMPTION by Lee Carver
Have enjoyed the other books in this series although they are also stand alone books, love the locations and so much more.
Three things I like about a book: has a bit of romance, I have to learn something new and I have to be taken away. This book provides all 3!
This one starts out with Rebecca and she's arriving in the jungle to help as a missionary at the hospital center.
Dr. Ed is the main doctor when she arrives and he has two girls that live nearby. There are other nurses and one is hoping the doctor will pay attention to her now that his wife has been gone over a year.
Rebecca just does what she's told and tries to stay out of the nurses way, she wants no conflict.
What I liked about this book was it took me away from the very first page on the plane just about to land and I felt like it was me sitting there as I've experienced small plane travel.
Very descriptive details of the scenery and all the medical things done to patients. Like how they all get along so smooth. Especially liked how they get the things they need and the trips to other areas to enjoy themselves.
Love the books the children get and was so surprised when Rebecca was given a gift. Learned so much about the fauna and nature, animals and procedures.
Conflict does occur when an agency arrives to investigate and you wonder if they will shut the hospital down...
Loved hearing of the scriptures and how that helps Rebecca and Dr. Ed open up to each other about their pasts.
Thought this was the best out of the series but all are very good and so detailed and descriptive.
I was given the book by the author via Book Fun (The Book Club Network) and this is my honest review

Dec 1 Book Review: The Silver Music Box by Mina Baites

The Silver Music Box by Mina Baites 
Cast of characters are highlighted at the start of this book.
Love learning new things: silver smithing and the family business. Love the design work discussed.
We find Johann and he's making a special music box for his son Paul as he has to attend to some things that will take him away from home....
He meets with other family members as they discuss the war.
Johann will sign up to fight in the war-in another country to help the Jews.
Love how his wife wants to help out to help those in need-she will cook and serve at the synagogue. Story advances to when Paul is 19 and treasures his music box.
His father had died in the war...he will convert to Catholicism and then marry Clara who's also converting...
His passion is also a silversmith and the shop continues even after Wall Street collapse...being shunned because they are Jews but live as Christians.
Love how they hold out for as long as they can-losing jobs, no customers....
What I like about this book are the descriptions-they are so deep and detailed you feel you are there, in the trenches and hunched over the work table.
Love what the silver music box stands for and how it's passed from one to another over time, generation after generation.
Resourced and references listings at the end along with an author bio. Would read more from this author because they have done their homework with the facts making it an enjoyable story also.
Received this review copy via AmazonCrossing via Netgalley and this is my honest opinion.