Anywhere With You by Britney King - I gave this 4 Stars!

I guess this book was the second story of Jack and Amelie, I wouldn't have known it.  It seemed to have their story pretty well mapped out it didn't seem like an extension.  This book is about that someone in your life that you feel you really love, maybe you are always out of sync with the other and things just don't seem to be happening at the right time, so you grab second and third chances for those fleeting  moments of extreme happiness and hopefulness that it can last.  Amelie has some problems with depression, she has to address it or she will start drinking.  She has to get a handle on her health in order to really be of any good to anyone in including herself.  You can not really love anyone properly until you can love yourself I believe.  This their story Jack and Amelie, he talks her into taking a road trip before going back to the man she is engaged to and also works for.  He tells her she can pitch this as a trip to photograph perfect places to send someones ashes into the world at the end of their life.   Jack lost his Father.  The characters are very believable and real, they invite you into their world and you want to keep reading to find out if they will in the end be with each other!
I won this book through Good Reads!

Here is the description of the book as found on Good Reads: They say opposites attract. For Jack and Amelie, that statement is about as close to the truth as it gets. 

She runs from anything that so much smells like love. And, well, as for Jack, he's always been a fan of the chase. Especially where she's concerned. 

Which is exactly what happens when he proposes... to accompany her on a cross-country road trip. 

A bet is made. True to form, Jack puts everything on the table--while Amelie keeps her cards tucked close to her heart. 

The question remaining when it all shakes out--is whether it's possible they can both win? 

Will a road trip across the country finally teach them to meet in the middle? Or simply drive them further apart? 

This is the continuation of a love story that (like many) was never really over.

The Orphan's Tale by Pam Jenoff - I gave it five stars

I've always had a fascination of that period during WWII, there were so many stories.  This particular story is the coming together of two women, who don't realize how much they have in common until they've been together a very long while.  One was married to a German officer, who was told that his wife who was Jewish, was no longer accepted as his wife, he threw her out of the house on the German's say so.  She returned to the only thing she knew the circus.  She couldn't go back to her family's circus that was disbanded as they were known as Jews.  No she has to go and beg for a spot with a circus that had always been a competitor.  She was well known as an aerialist.  She changes her name and goes to work hoping to blend in.  She finds a man with the circus that she grows fond of.  She doesn't know until the story is almost over how much he thought of her.  The other girl a 16 year old dutch girl kicked out of her home because she was pregnant by a German officer, she cleans the stop at the railway in order to get food and a roof over her head.  Her baby when born was taken from her before she could see him. 

She is outside by one of the railcars and hears babies crying, she looks in and the car is filled with babies bound for the concentration camp.  She takes one of the children and runs, she isn't dressed for the winter snow and she ends up face down in a snow bank not doing well when a circus worker finds her and the baby.  She is taken in by the circus, telling everyone the child is her brother, of course anyone who takes care of the baby boy knows it's a Jewish child as he was circumcised.  She is told she can stay but only if she can learn to be an aerialist the other woman, an expert really resents that she has to train this woman and really doesn't believe she can learn to do what she must in a few weeks.  The stories are two lives so intertwined with those of the others in the circus which travels and performs in cities across Germany until one day when something awful occurs.  I loved reading about the circus and the entire history lesson that is combined with the fiction.  I gave the story 5 stars.  They don't let you say 4.5....I loved it, I didn't feel it was amazing.....which is what 5 stars is supposed to be.
I received the book, I believe, from Good Reads in exchange for an honest review.

Here is the description of the book from Good Reads: A powerful novel of friendship set in a traveling circus during World War II, The Orphan's Tale introduces two extraordinary women and their harrowing stories of sacrifice and survival .

Sixteen-year-old Noa has been cast out in disgrace after becoming pregnant by a Nazi soldier and being forced to give up her baby. She lives above a small rail station, which she cleans in order to earn her keep… When Noa discovers a boxcar containing dozens of Jewish infants bound for a concentration camp, she is reminded of the child that was taken from her. And in a moment that will change the course of her life, she snatches one of the babies and flees into the snowy night. 

Noa finds refuge with a German circus, but she must learn the flying trapeze act so she can blend in undetected, spurning the resentment of the lead aerialist, Astrid. At first rivals, Noa and Astrid soon forge a powerful bond. But as the facade that protects them proves increasingly tenuous, Noa and Astrid must decide whether their friendship is enough to save one another—or if the secrets that burn between them will destroy everything.

Here


A powerful novel of friendship set in a traveling circus during World War II, The Orphan's Tale introduces two extraordinary women and their harrowing stories of sacrifice and survival .

Sixteen-year-old Noa has been cast out in disgrace after becoming pregnant by a Nazi soldier and being forced to give up her baby. She lives above a small rail station, which she cleans in order to earn her keep… When Noa discovers a boxcar containing dozens of Jewish infants bound for a concentration camp, she is reminded of the child that was taken from her. And in a moment that will change the course of her life, she snatches one of the babies and flees into the snowy night. 

Noa finds refuge with a German circus, but she must learn the flying trapeze act so she can blend in undetected, spurning the resentment of the lead aerialist, Astrid. At first rivals, Noa and Astrid soon forge a powerful bond. But as the facade that protects them proves increasingly tenuous, Noa and Astrid must decide whether their friendship is enough to save one another—or if the secrets that burn between them will destroy everything.

Nickerbacher - A Chapter Edition by Terry John Barto - Pick it up if you have children to read to you won't be disappointed!

I received this book from the author Terry John Barto, as I had read the picture book about Nickerbacher the Dragon and loved it so much! The author wanted me to see this book which had been expanded into an early chapter edition. The book was so cute, I loved all of the fabulously funny drawings on every page, no color this time! I could see the reader if a kid owned the book coloring the pictures and making the book their own. Coloring for a past time is so in right now!!

Nichbacher has a job, to guard the princess Gwendolyn. He doesn't like his job, and wants to pursue becoming the first stand up comedian dragon! He and Gwendolyn are friends and she said she would help him, they came upon others who had never heard of dragons doing stand up, but they were supportive. Nichbacher's Father was not supportive, he didn't want his son to do anything but his assigned job!! Dragon's don't do comedy! They blow out flames and protect princesses!

Nichbacher had a try several times but he finally gets his chance to star on The Knight Show. The book is not only charming for children. There are so many things in the book that are a play on words which the children may not pick up on but the adults absolutely will. The book is a fun read for children and adults alike! I love the book and am going to be sending it to the library I support with books that I review. Mom is a volunteer librarian and they have story time at their library in Linden Iowa. The kids will love it I'm sure!

When you get a chance if you have children who read, pick this book up, you won't be disappointed!

Here is the description as found on Good Reads: Nickerbacher is a dragon and aspiring comedian who travels to La La Land to audition for The Late Knight Show. Hoping to prove to his father - and the world - that dragons can be funny. Nickerbacher befriends a prince and a princess who help him realize his dream while paving the way for equal rights of all citizens.

If Not For You by Debbie Macomber - Five Stars

This book is about Beth and Sam.  Beth's Mother is the queen of manipulating a person to make them do as she wishes.  She wants to control her daughters life, her daughter does what she can to get away, she makes a deal with her Mom to leave her alone for six months.  No contact.  Beth went to live near her Aunt Sunshine, who is a big hit in the Art world.  Aunt Sunshine never married, and she has nothing to do with Beth's Mother, they don't speak haven't as far back as Beth can recall no one will tell her why.  Beths friends set her up for a blind date, only they don't tell the guy that Beth is coming to meet him, he knows what is going on the minute he meets her.  This book is about living, how people can't help themselves they have to meddle in others lives, they want to help them, make things better, and it often flys back in their face but they keep trying.  It is also about how life happens and often times we have so much pride we will make a decision not best for our life but it is made during an emotional time, and we won't go back and say it was our fault, let's fix this.  
People do the most stupid things in the name of love, and they often enough have too much pride to want to go backwards.  So the book is about living really and it does have really well developed characters,, is well written, I've heard it is 3rd in a row of books around some of these characters, but it didn't stand out as a series book.  It was great as a stand alone I wouldn't have picked it as one in a series.  Debbie Macomber writing as she does with great love for her characters and great endings for them also!  Loved the book!


I received a kindle copy to read and give an honest review from http://NetGalley.com.  I would give this five stars. Couldn't put it down.

From Good Reads the description: An emotionally stirring novel that shows how obstacles can be overcome, differences can be strengths, and sometimes a choice can seem wrong even though it s absolutely right

If not for her loving but controlling parents, Beth Prudhomme might never have taken charge of her life and moved from her native Chicago to Portland, Oregon, where she s reconnected with her spirited Aunt Sunshine and found a job as a high school music teacher. If not for her friend Nichole, Beth would never have met Sam Carney, although first impressions have left Beth with serious doubts. Sam is everything Beth is not and her parents worst nightmare: a tattooed auto mechanic who s rough around the edges. Reserved and smart as a whip, Beth isn t exactly Sam s usual beer-drinking, pool-playing type of woman, either. 

But if not for an awkward setup one evening, Beth might never have left early and been involved in a car crash. And if not for Sam who witnessed the terrifying ordeal, rushed to her aid, and stayed with her until help arrived Beth might have been all alone, or worse. Yet as events play out, Sam feels compelled to check on Beth almost daily at the hospital even bringing his guitar to play songs to lift her spirits. Soon their unlikely friendship evolves into an intense attraction that surprises them both. 

Before long, Beth's strong-willed mother, Ellie, blows into town spouting harsh opinions, especially about Sam, and reopening old wounds with Sunshine. When shocking secrets from Sam s past are revealed, Beth struggles to reconcile her feelings. But when Beth goes a step too far, she risks losing the man and the life she s come to love.

Eat Beautiful: Nourish your skin from the inside out, by Wendy Rowe. Foreword by Sienna Miller 3 Stars

Eat Beautiful: Nourish your skin from the inside out, by Wendy Rowe.  Foreword by Sienna Miller

 I found this book to be overwhelming.  For those looking to get healthier from the inside out, this book would be great for them.   She talks about fasting, things you should stop eating as they are bad for your gut and your skin.  She basically tells you how you should change your diet, then she has the book split into four seasons with recipes and beautiful photos of the meals, she tells all of the nutrients, calories, what will be good for your body with that particular recipe and how.  She really goes into detail with recipes that are for foods found readily available for that season.  The photos of the models and the foods are beautiful.  She has at the end of the book some recipes for facial masks, toners, etc. some of her own recipes….and why you should use it.  I wonder why they only chose to show young beautiful models, not anyone with skin problems, no faces of different ages, no men……

This book would be great for someone looking for these types of solutions.  For me, it is overwhelming and I wouldn’t use it personally.

"I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

Description as found on Good Reads:

World-renowned beauty and make-up expert Wendy Rowe knows skin inside out. In this refreshing beauty book, Wendy will teach you how to keep your skin healthy and let your inner and outer beauty shine.

Wendy has devised over 70 easy and delicious recipes specifically designed to feed your skin with the nutrients it needs to glow. Each of the recipes correlates to an essential skin-feeding ingredient that will help target specific skin problems and common complaints. From cucumbers, ‘the internal cleanser’, to limes, ‘the natural astringent’ and carrots, ‘the immunity booster’, there are also breakdowns of the vitamins and nutrients each of these familiar ingredients provide.

And not only will there be methods for feeding your skin, there will also be suggestions on how to keep your skin pampered with recipes for homemade masks, scrubs, mists, cleansers and toners, as well as an informative troubleshooting section for confidence-zapping skin problems. Wendy provides specific advice for foods to embrace or avoid depending on your skin. 

Split into the four seasons, this stunning book can be dipped in and out of, or followed like a seasonal plan, and will ensure that you achieve beautiful, radiant skin all year round.