The Burbs and the Bees by Cathryn Fox - 5 Stars

A really cute story!  I had some laugh out loud moments from this story.  The author really laid out a nice read, one that keeps you involved in the story and keeps you wanting to read on and not do anything else.  I was totally engrossed. I learned some things I never knew through the story line also! The description of the book is laid out below, as found on NetGalley.com.

I received the book in the kindle format through NetGalley.com  My opinion and thoughts on the book are entirely my own and freely given. #TheBurbsandtheBees.  #NetGalley.   #CathrynFox.

Description as found on NetGalley.com:

I just inherited an apple orchard in Nova Scotia.

That’s definitely a sentence I never would have imagined saying in my life.

I’ve only ever been a socialite from New York, but that orchard is my chance to prove to my family, and myself, that I can do more. Be more. I may not exactly know what I want out of life yet, but I’m determined to stick to something—and no, I’m not talking about the bee farmer next door.

Here’s what I know. If I can’t tough out one full month of a rooster waking me at sunrise, a poolhall parrot with a foul mouth, and a llama that swings both ways, not only will I lose my self-respect, I’ll lose my trust fund too.

Here’s what I don’t know. Why my neighbor with the bad attitude and a whole lot of sexy seems hell bent on sending me home. Well screw him. Not literally, of course. Except I just stumbled into his apiary, and got a look at the head beekeepers…stinger.

 

Shoulder Season by Christine Clancy – 5 Stars!

 This takes place in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.  Nineteen-year-old Sherri Taylor, goes with a friend to the new Playboy Resort to interview for a job.  She is the most unlikely of people to ever get a job there, but she does and the book just keeps getting more interesting and engrossing as the story goes on.  She learns a lot during her years there, and is caught up in things she would never have imagined doing while growing up.  There are some surprises in the book and I did like the ending.  One of those books you don’t want to put down.  I really enjoyed it and gave this book 5 Stars.

I received the book in kindle format through NetGalley.com.  My thoughts on the book are my own and freely given.  #ShoulderSeason #ChristineClancy #NetGalley

Description as found on NetGalley.com:

A dazzling portrait of a young woman coming into her own, the youthful allure of sex, drugs, and rock and roll, and what we lose—and gain—when we leave home.

The small town of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin is an unlikely location for a Playboy Resort, and nineteen-year-old Sherri Taylor is an unlikely bunny. Growing up in neighboring East Troy, Sherri plays the organ at the local church and has never felt comfortable in her own skin. But when her parents die in quick succession, she leaves the only home she’s ever known for the chance to be part of a glamorous slice of history. In the winter of 1981, in a costume two sizes too small, her toes pinched by stilettos, Sherri joins the daughters of dairy farmers and factory workers for the defining experience of her life.

Living in the “bunny hutch”—Playboy’s version of a college dorm—Sherri gets her education in the joys of sisterhood, the thrill of financial independence, the magic of first love, and the heady effects of sex, drugs, and rock and roll. But as spring gives way to summer, Sherri finds herself caught in a romantic triangle—and the tragedy that ensues will haunt her for the next forty years.

From the Midwestern prairie to the California desert, from Wisconsin lakes to the Pacific Ocean, this is a story of what happens when small town life is sprinkled with stardust, and what we lose—and gain—when we leave home. With a heroine to root for and a narrative to get lost in, Christina Clancy's Shoulder Season is a sexy, evocative tale, drenched in longing and desire, that captures a fleeting moment in American history with nostalgia and heart.

 

A Timeless Christmas by Alexis Stanton – Narrated by Kate Rudd - 5 Stars!

A really charming audiobook about two people from two different centuries.  Meg Turner works for a home that was turned into a museum, or part of it was.  She meets a man, Charles Whitley, from the past who suddenly turns up, he was the owner of the house.   He had it in his will that if he died, the house, at least part of it was to be turned into a museum.  He liked to work on clocks, while working on one he was suddenly in his home but it was decorated for Christmas and strangers were walking through it with a tour guide.  Meg and the others who work in the home, seemed to accept his getting thrown into the future fairly readily.  That was kind of strange to me.  Although the rest of the story was basically a pretty enchanting Christmas story, with a bit of time travel thrown in.  I did like the narrator, she moved along at a good pace and I liked her voice, she did assign a different voice for the man in the story, the rest she read in her regular voice.  It worked.  I enjoyed being able to go about my chores in the house and still be able to read a book.  This was my first audiobook and I really enjoyed it. 

 

I received this audiobook from NetGalley.com, my thoughts on this book are my own and are freely given.  #ATimelessChristmas. #NetGalley.

 

Description as found on NetGalley.com:

Soon to be a Hallmark Original Movie!

They’re from two different centuries, but they’re perfect for each other.

Megan Turner is in love with the past. As a tour guide at a beautiful historic mansion, she tells visitors about its original owner, Charles Whitley. An inventor and businessman in the early 1900s, he rose from poverty to wealth…only to disappear without a trace. Charles was always intrigued by the future. He just never expected to go there. But when he repairs a mysterious clock he bought on his travels, he’s transported to the twenty-first century, with his home decorated for Christmas and overrun by strangers. Charles is determined to find a way back to his own era, especially when he learns about what happened after he left. But as Megan introduces him to the wonders of smartphones, pizza, and modern holiday traditions, they both feel a once-in-a-lifetime connection. Could it be that, somewhere in time, they belong together? This magical holiday romance includes a free Hallmark original recipe for Stuffed Crust Italian Pizza.

My Final Breath by Paige Dearth – 5 Stars

 

This was an unusual story.  I really had no idea what the book would be about when I received it.  I know what proxy by Munchausen is.  This is the story of Molly 12 years old who spent her last four years on this earth in and out of hospitals when she was home, she was sick.  She would get worse and then have to return to the hospital.   Her Mother seems to care very much for her, she takes care of her and seems to be by her side 24/7 when she is ill.  Molly loves her Mom.  Then Molly dies and wakes up in Limbo where her guardian makes her watch all of the things her Mother did to her to make her sicker, so that she could bask in the light of admiration from all the nurses, doctors, neighbors, teachers etc.  She was evil incarnate and Molly has too watch it all before she can leave Limbo and go on to Heaven.  Then she finds out that she is not the only victim in this plot and really struggles against acceptance of her fate, which she must do before she can move on.  Really a creepy sort of book.  That Mother did things I would never dream of doing.  I don’t know how she even thought of those things.  The book is riveting and you can’t put it down.  Also, as it is being told, the story of Molly, by the guardian in Limbo showing her scenes from her life.  Unreal, a must read!

I received this book free from Good Reads in the kindle format and my opinions and comments are my own and freely given!

 

Description as found on Good Reads:

An unbearable tragedy. A life cut short. A dead girl searching for truth.

Twelve-year-old Molly suddenly wakes up dead in Limbo after spending four years in and out of hospital beds. Fearful of being forgotten by her family, she wants nothing more than to return to Earth, until her guardian exposes the grim truth about her demise.

Devastated, Molly learns everything she believed about her life and death was a lie. But the greatest blow arrives when Molly discovers she isn’t the only one who suffers from unexplained ailments.

Unable to reach the living, Molly can only hope for an intervention to prevent the same terrible consequence from happening again.

My Final Breath is a suspenseful psychological thriller about an intolerable offense ripping a family apart. If you like twisted tales of loyalty, deception, and intentional acts of evil then you will love this gripping story

Searching For Rose – Dana Becker – NetGalley – 4 Stars

 

This was the most unusual and spellbinding book I’ve ever read that involve the Amish people.  It was an unusual read.  I read it fast, it was one of those you didn’t want to put down and I didn’t see some of the twists and turns coming.  I would recommend it to anyone who like to read about the Amish or like to read mysteries.  The characters were well written and the storyline was really good.  It was a little slow starting up but it soon sped up.  It doesn’t have as much of the Amish people in it as the cover makes you believe, but the main character helping her search for her sister is Amish.

 

I received this book through NetGalley.com in kindle format free.  I wasn’t required to put up a review, although that is the wish.  The thoughts and opinions of this book were mine freely given.  I gave it four stars.

 

Description as found on NetGalley:

Courageous and vulnerable, April has survived Philadelphia’s tough city streets. But when her sister disappears, April’s search will lead her to the Pennsylvania Amish countryside—where the peaceful setting belies a brand of danger all its own . . .
 
With a childhood shattered by alcoholism and abandonment, April learned the hard way to trust only herself and her younger sister, Rose. But suddenly, Rose is gone without a word—and April’s purpose in life is to find her. She has only one ally: Joseph Young, a handsome Amish man with whom she’s struck up an unlikely flirtation in the bakery where she works. He’s knowledgeable, steadfast—and when they join forces, April’s life takes a radical turn . . .
 
In the heart of Amish farm country, April and Joseph grow closer. Yet April fears there’s no future for them. Especially when vicious, too-personal warnings and strange attacks make her wonder just whom Joseph is really trying to protect. And as her unconventional investigation roils a community with much to conceal, April will find some secrets are killer—and some dreams may be too lethal to trust . . .

Nothing Short of Wondrous by Regina Scott - 5 Stars

 

Reading this book made me want to go to Yellowstone!  They describe the beautiful area so well and I’m sure it is just as scenic now.   It is based in 1886 and is based in Yellowstone.  The US Cavalry control of Yellowstone to protect the trees and the animals that live there.   Kate Tremaine is a widower that runs a hotel with her son.  This is a love story, as well as a historical novel and is written so well that I’m sure it will encourage many to go and visit Yellowstone!  The book is also Christian based. I really enjoyed reading about what it took back then to protect the park from poachers and vandals.  It was Nothing Short of Wondrous!

 

I received this book in the kindle format from NetGalley.  My thoughts and comments are my own and freely given.  I gave the book 5 stars. 

 

Description

It is 1886, and the government has given the US Cavalry control of Yellowstone. For widowed hotelier Kate Tremaine, the change is a welcome one. She knows every inch of her wilderness home like the back of her hand and wants to see it protected from poachers and vandals.

Refused a guide by Congress, Lieutenant William Prescott must enlist Kate's aid to help him navigate the sprawling park and track down the troublemakers. But a secret from his past makes him wary of the tender feelings the capable and comely widow raises in him. As they work together to protect the park and stand firm through injustice and tragedy, they may just find that two wounded hearts can share one powerful love when God is in control.

The Christmas Swap by Melody Carlson – 4 Stars

 

Two families decide to switch houses for Christmas.  One is in Arizona the other is in Colorado.  Tyler decided to stop back at home before meeting his family in Arizona and meets one of the family members that will be doing Christmas at his home, Emma.  He’s so struck by her that he decides to put off leaving for Arizona in order to get to know her better so he stays in the Guest House out back that had been turned into his studio for his singing career.  Of course he never leaves!  This is a wonderful little Christmas story, a novella, that speeds you along in the story.  Just the right length for the busy days leading up to Christmas.  Melody Carlson does Christmas and Romance very well and I gave this book 4 stars!  Pick it up and read it.  There are all of the great feels you are looking for in a Christmas story.

 

I received this book free through NetGalley.com in the kindle format.  My opinion was freely given.

 

Description

All Emma Daley wants this holiday season is a white Christmas. But the young teacher and struggling musician sure can't find that in sunny Arizona. Luckily, there's someone living in a perfect mountain home in the Colorado Rockies looking to make a vacation trade this year.

Tyler Prescott is an in-demand songwriter and talented musician who put his own singing career on hold to write songs for celebrity acts to perform. When his mother convinces him to do a vacation trade for Christmas, he never imagined one of the houseguests would be so sweet--or so strikingly pretty. Naturally, he decides to stick around, and, to get better acquainted, he poses as the house's caretaker. But when Emma's friend Gillian discovers his true identity and sets her sights on him, things
get . . . messy.

Fan favorite Melody Carlson is back with another delightful Christmas tale to warm your heart on those cold winter evenings.

 

The Paris Library – A Novel – Written by Janet Skeslien Charles - 5 Stars

 This was a most compelling read. It’s a book rich with the history and stories of true characters who lived and worked at the American Library in Paris during World War II. Most of them librarians and their lives as they spun out during that time, many of them very brave as they worked so hard to share books with their members. This novel connects Odile Souchet as her life plays out in Paris during this time, and her life after the war when she meets her neighbor a young girl (Lily) who has a love of language as she does, in Montana 1983. The book spends much time going back and forth from Paris 1939’s Odile and her story with Lily in Montana 1983. The book is rich with the history of the time, the war, the people and literature. It really does teach a lot about the consequences of our choices and how they effect ourselves and those around us. The novel has a lot to teach us, it’s one of those books you may want to go back and read again to make sure you didn’t miss anything!

I received this novel in the kindle format through NetGalley.com. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. #TheParisLibrary #NetGalley

Description as found on NetGalley.com -
Based on the true World War II story of the heroic librarians at the American Library in Paris, this is an unforgettable story of romance, friendship, family, and the power of literature to bring us together, perfect for fans of The Lilac Girls and The Paris Wife.

Paris, 1939: Young and ambitious Odile Souchet has it all: her handsome police officer beau and a dream job at the American Library in Paris. When the Nazis march into Paris, Odile stands to lose everything she holds dear, including her beloved library. Together with her fellow librarians, Odile joins the Resistance with the best weapons she has: books. But when the war finally ends, instead of freedom, Odile tastes the bitter sting of unspeakable betrayal.

Montana, 1983: Lily is a lonely teenager looking for adventure in small-town Montana. Her interest is piqued by her solitary, elderly neighbor. As Lily uncovers more about her neighbor’s mysterious past, she finds that they share a love of language, the same longings, and the same intense jealousy, never suspecting that a dark secret from the past connects them.

A powerful novel that explores the consequences of our choices and the relationships that make us who we are—family, friends, and favorite authors—The Paris Library shows that extraordinary heroism can sometimes be found in the quietest of places

The Key To Love by Betsy St. Amant – 4 Stars – Netgalley.com

 

Kind of a quirky romance set mostly in a bakery where Bri Duval works for two aging owners. She hopes she’ll be able to keep the bakery after they no longer wish to work, she doesn’t dream of going anywhere other than that bakery and she wants to live a love life like that of her parents who are deceased.  She’s had them on a pedestal for years.  Then a handsome travel writer for Trek Magazine rolls into town to write about the bakery and the lovelock wall she created behind the bakery that mimic’s that of the famous Parisian one.  She created that to help the struggling bakery, and as an homage to her parents and their love story that played out in Paris so many years ago.

The writer Gerard Fortier didn’t want to write this story but he does want to get his promotion so he’ll do as he’s told and get the story even though he seems to not like sweets, or Bri Duval, or so he tells himself.  This is an unexpectedly sweet romance with two people who keep telling themselves they have no attraction to each other.  You’ll have to read the story which has many good things to say about itself to find out how things work out.  I recommend it, if you are looking for something that’s somewhat of a sweet diversion in your otherwise boring pandemic day.

I received this book in kindle format from NetGalley.  I was not required to give a review or a positive review, the words and opinions of this book are my own freely given.  #TheKeyToLove #NetGalley

The only thing Bri Duval loves more than baking petit fours is romance. So much so, she's created her own version of the famous Parisian lovelock wall at her bakery in Story, Kansas. She never expects it to go viral--or for Trek Magazine to send travel writer Gerard Fortier to feature the bakery. He's definitely handsome, but Bri has been holding out for a love story like the one her parents had, and that certainly will not include the love-scorned-and-therefore-love-scorning Gerard.

Just when it seems Bri's bakery is poised for unprecedented success, a series of events threaten not just her business but the pedestal she's kept her parents on all these years. Maybe Gerard is right about romance. Or maybe Bri's recipe just needs to be tweaked.

Novelist Betsy St. Amant invites you to experience this sweet story of how love doesn't always look the way we expect--and maybe that's a good thing.

You Can’t Catch Me – Catherine McKenzie - 5 Stars

This book grabs you from the first page and you want to keep reading until the last.  It kind of sits in your brain and you keep thinking about it once it’s ended.  The characters were well written and interesting and the mystery and suspense were there as well.  Catherine McKenzie hasn’t ever let me down, at least not yet in any of her books.  They were always a great yarn and delivered as promised.  I absolutely recommend this book to those who love a good mystery!

I received this book free in the kindle format from NetGalley.com.  I wasn’t required to write a review positive or otherwise.  The opinions expressed are my own freely given.  #YouCantCatchMe.  #NetGalley.

 

A riveting new novel of suspense about a disgraced young journalist caught up in a grifter’s game, and the trail of identically named victims she uncovers, from the instant bestselling author of I’ll Never Tell and The Good Liar.

Assumed identities. A con game. Unwitting victims.

After being fired from her investigative journalism job for plagiarism, Jessica Williams is looking for a break from the constant press coverage. She decides to escape for a week to a resort in Mexico boasting no connections to the outside world. While waiting at the airport for her flight, she encounters a woman with the exact same name, who she dubs Jessica Two. Drawn together by the coincidence, they play a game of twenty questions to see what other similarities they share, and exchange contact information.

A week later, Jessica returns home and discover that large cash withdrawals have been made from her bank account. Security footage from the bank confirms her suspicions—Jessica Two has stolen her money. She goes to the police, only to be told that the crime is a low priority. Frustrated, she meets up with a trusted old friend, Liam, who is an investigator. When the two Google “Jessica Williams,” they get thousands of hits—Jessica was the most popular girl’s name in 1990 and Williams is almost as ubiquitous as Smith. Convinced that this isn’t the first time this scam has been run, Jessica is determined to catch the imposter, and writes a Facebook post hoping to chase down some of Jessica Two’s other victims. When she gets a number of responses, she sets a plan in motion to catch the thief, encountering a string of identically named victims along the way.

Then, the threatening messages start arriving.

Filled with incredible twists and turns, You Can’t Catch Me is a tantalizing, character-driven exploration of how far people will go to get revenge.

Looking For a Cowboy by Donna Grant – NetGalley – 5 Stars

This book had suspense, romance, passion, and great characters!  I loved the book.  It was a very fast read. Kind of edge of your seat in places.  I was disappointed when the story ended.  I believe there will be a follow up to the book.  I would buy it! I gave this book 5 Stars!

I received this book at no cost through NetGalley.com in the kindle format.  I wasn’t required to write a review nor was I paid to do so. The words I wrote about the book were my own and freely given.
#LookingForACowboy. #NetGalley

Description

A cowboy finds love in the most unlikely place in New York Times bestseller Donna Grant's newest Heart of Texas novel, Looking for a Cowboy.

A beautiful stranger has come to Clearview, asking questions that are nobody’s business. Cooper Owens also wasn’t born yesterday. He knows that this out-of-towner is hiding a dark secret of her own. Much as he knows he should head in the other direction, he can’t make himself turn away. . .

P.I. Marlee Frampton always wanted to lead a nice quiet life, working as a cop in her local police department. But that dream came to an end when her sister was murdered—and her baby kidnapped. Now Marlee’s come to Texas to investigate the Harpers, who may be linked to shady adoption agencies. Cooper can’t believe that his friends could be involved in anything so sinister...and soon he makes it his mission to help Marlee discover the truth—and keep her safe in his arms.

“Filled with passion, suspense, and strong characters.”—Rendezvous with Romance on My Favorite Cowboy (5 stars)

The Woman In The Green Dress written by Tea Cooper – 3 Stars

I read the book in the evening before going to bed.  Then my kindle gave out. I had to wait for a new one to finish this book.  I was really struggling to keep with the book as she would be with one character from one time period and within the same chapter in the next paragraph, she would have changed time periods and characters without any break.  At least that is the way it came in kindle format.  Very hard to get caught up in, I never thought I would finish it.  I got used to the changing format when I got the new kindle and returned to the book the last half of the book seemed to move much faster and be more interesting.  I usually don’t mind stories that change time periods and characters but this was handled in such a strange way I didn’t enjoy it.  There was a ton of research that went into the book, much of the interesting things for me were in the latter half of the book and I don’t want to give it away.  This really wasn’t the book for me although from the reviews I saw that people loved it or really had a hard time with it.  I gave it three stars because I did find interest in it eventually but kept putting it down before my kindle gave out.  I fall into the latter category where the book just wasn’t for me.  Therefore, the three stars.  It may be the book for you if you enjoy these time periods and mysteries and don’t mind changing story lines mid chapter.  If you do give it a go.  It’s a slow starter but picks up very much towards the end.

I received this book through NetGalley and wasn’t required to write a review or to give it a positive one.  I wasn’t paid to read the book.  The words above are my own and freely given.

Description as found on NetGalley.com:

A cursed opal, a gnarled family tree, and a sinister woman in a green dress emerge in the aftermath of World War I.

After a whirlwind romance, London teashop waitress Fleur Richards can’t wait for her new husband, Hugh, to return from the Great War. But when word of his death arrives on Armistice Day, Fleur learns he has left her a sizable family fortune. Refusing to accept the inheritance, she heads to his beloved home country of Australia in search of the relatives who deserve it more.

In spite of her reluctance, she soon finds herself the sole owner of a remote farm and a dilapidated curio shop full of long-forgotten artifacts, remarkable preserved creatures, and a mystery that began more than sixty-five years ago. With the help of Kip, a repatriated soldier dealing with the sobering aftereffects of war, Fleur finds herself unable to resist pulling on the threads of the past. What she finds is a shocking story surrounding an opal and a woman in a green dress. . . a story that, nevertheless, offers hope and healing for the future.

This romantic mystery from award-winning Australian novelist Tea Cooper will keep readers guessing until the astonishing conclusion.

“Readers of Kate Morton and Beatriz Williams will be dazzled. The Woman in the Green Dress spins readers into an evocative world of mystery and romance in this deeply researched book by Tea Cooper. There is a Dickensian flair to Cooper’s carefully constructed world of lost inheritances and found treasures as two indomitable women stretched across centuries work to reconcile their pasts while reclaiming love, identity and belonging against two richly moving historical settings. As soon as you turn the last page you want to start again just to see how every last thread is sewn in anticipation of its thrilling conclusion. One of the most intelligent, visceral and vibrant historical reads I have had the privilege of visiting in an age.” —Rachel McMillan, author of The London Restoration 

“Refreshing and unique, The Woman in the Green Dress sweeps you across the wild lands of Australia in a thrilling whirl of mystery, romance, and danger. This magical tale weaves together two storylines with a heart-pounding finish that is drop-dead gorgeous.” —J’nell Ciesielski, author of The Socialite

Full-length historical story with both romance and mysteryStand-alone novelIncludes Discussion Questions for Book Clubs

The Librarian Of Boone’s Hollow – Kim Vogel Sawyer – 5 Stars

I loved this book I couldn’t put it down.  I love reading everything by this author and this book did not disappoint.  I’ve read another book about a librarian who delivers books by horse, but this book was very much different.  It was also as interesting in a very different way.  She puts a different slant on the subject, there is a love interest, conflict and jealousy.  Really a fun read I do recommend it to everyone!

I received the book from WaterBrook & Multnomah through NetGalley.com in the Kindle format.  I wasn’t required to write a review or paid to do so.  The words above are my own and freely given.

Description as found on NetGalley:

A traveling librarian ventures into the mining towns of Kentucky on horseback—and learns to trust the One who truly pens her story—in this powerful novel from the best-selling author of A Silken Thread.

During the Great Depression, city-dweller Addie Cowherd dreams of becoming a novelist and offering readers the escape that books had given her during her tragic childhood. When her father loses his job, she is forced to take the only employment she can find—delivering books on horseback to poor coal-mining families in the hills of Kentucky.

But turning a new page will be nearly impossible in Boone's Hollow, where residents are steeped in superstitions and deeply suspicious of outsiders. Even local Emmett Tharp feels the sting of rejection after returning to the tiny mountain hamlet as the first in his family to graduate college. And as the crippled economy leaves many men jobless, he fears his degree won’t be worth much in a place where most men either work the coal mine or run moonshine.

As Addie also struggles to find her place, she’ll unearth the truth about a decades-old rivalry. But when someone sets out to sabotage the town’s library program, will the culprit chase Addie away or straight into the arms of the only person who can help her put a broken community back together?

Growing Season (Book #1) by Melanie Lageschulte (Goodreads Author) – 4 Stars

After 25 years of working in the big city, Melinda Foster mut leave her job, big downsizing and no new jobs to be found. She and all of her friends are at a loss.  She receives a call from her Aunt and Uncle who own a small-town hardware store in Iowa. It’s been in the family forever and they really need her help as her Uncle had an accident and had to have surgery, he won’t be running the store any time soon and her Aunt can’t run the store as he needs much taking care of.  She sublets her place for the summer and turns up to help out. She finds a place out in the country with a for rent sign, a beautiful farmhouse that needs some TLC, when she calls, she decides to go and see it.  She agrees to take care of the place in exchange for a really low rent and finds that she’ll be taking care of the owner’s dog who has a main role in the book, along with chickens, sheep and a garden.  The owner agrees to go to the nursing home where his brother is living, he’s lost his room mate and is starting to lose his memory.  They feel if he goes there, he may want to stay there and also that he will help his brother remember some of the past and the present by being his room mate and helping him out.  The owner doesn’t want to leave his farm unless he feels his dog will have a keeper that will care about him and that someone will take care of the far with as much care as he would.  There are some twists and turns and I have always lived in a big community of Michigan and have family also in Iowa.  I always said after one visit that I would never return.  This book gave me more insight into small town living/country living and I see more why my family once moving there enjoys living there.  I still don’t plan to move, at 61 I don’t see a big change in my future but you never know. 

I thoroughly enjoyed the book.  I received it in a kindle format for free and my words above were my own freely given. I wasn’t required to give a review and wasn’t paid for my review.  I would love to read the next book in the series, “Growing Harvest!”

Enjoy the first novel in a heartwarming rural fiction series! Melinda Foster is already at a turning point when the "for rent" sign beckons her down a dusty gravel road. Facing forty and downsized from her copywriting job at a Twin Cities ad agency, Melinda is struggling to find her way forward when a phone call brings her home to rural Iowa. It's not long before Melinda is living in a faded farmhouse, caring for a barn full of animals, and working at her family's hardware store in the community of Prosper, whose motto is "The Great Little Town That Didn't." And just like the vast garden she tends under the summer sun, Melinda soon begins to thrive. Filled with memorable characters, from a big-hearted farm dog to the weather-obsessed owner of the local co-op, "Growing Season" celebrates the challenges and joys of rural life.

The Crushing Depths (Coastal Guardians book 2) by Dani Pettrey – 5 Stars

This may be book two, but I didn’t realize it until after I read it, so it stands on it’s own.  Great book about oil rigs, very suspense filled, ending was a twist I didn’t pick up on, the characters were all had interesting stories of their own.  I would give this book five stars.


I received this in the kindle format from NetGalley.com.  I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.  #TheCrushingDepths #DaniPettrey #NetGalley

Description as found on NetGalley:

When an accident claims the life of an oil-rig worker on the first drilling platform off the North Carolina coast, Coast Guard investigators Rissi Dawson and Mason Rogers are sent to take the case. Tensions surrounding the oil rig are high and the death has everyone on edge. Environmental activists are threatening to do whatever it takes to stop the structure from being completed, while rumors are being whispered about ancient curses surrounding this part of the ocean.

Mounting evidence shows the death may not have been an accident at all. Was he killed by one of the activists or, perhaps more frighteningly, a member of his own crew? Rissi and Mason have to sort through not only a plethora of suspects, but also their own past and attraction to each other.

Just as the case seems like it'll break open, worse news arrives. A tropical storm has turned their way and soon they're cut off from any rescue--and right where the killer wants them. It's a race to discover his identity before he eliminates the threat they pose.

Small Town Big Secrets (Trinity River #2) – Elsie Davis Author – 4 Stars

I did enjoy this small town clean sweet romance of a book.  Easy to read in a day.  It held my interest and I wanted to see one of the characters get his comeuppance!  I really loved the romance that sparked between the two main characters.  All of the characters were well written and worked together.  This book is the second in this series, I didn’t know it was a series nor did I feel as if I had missed out on anything by not reading the first in the “Trinity River” series.  My Grandmother lived in a very small town and so I was able to relate, the book’s small-town feel was very real to me.  Everyone knows everyone else’s business, although there is one little boy in the book that not everyone knows everything about and he’s written as such an engaging cute character that you just want to see do well.  


I received this book in the kindle format through NetGalley.com and I thank them for once again giving me a good book to read.  My opinion and words on this book are my own, freely given.  NetGalley.com doesn’t require a positive review or a review at all if you don’t want to give one which is why I love reading their books.  #SmallTownBigSecrets. #NetGalley #Smalltownromance

Description as found on NetGalley.com:

To save her son, shy but determined waitress Becky McAllister would do just about anything. But she never expected “anything” to include the brother of the man who broke her heart.

Steve Parker needs a wife, now, if he has any hopes of winning his local DA election and becoming the advocate for the underserved, he’s always dreamed of being. The sweet waitress seems like just the person—if he can get her to agree.

One year of marriage—no strings, no personal attachments. Becky gets the insurance funds she needs for her son’s surgery while Steve’s poll ratings soar. Neither planned on a commitment in their future, so they should have no problem making it through the year without getting emotionally involved, right?

Except Becky’s holding on to a secret from her past—one that would change everything.

A Bride Of Convenience (The Bride Ships #3) by Jody Hedlund – 5 Stars

I’ve always liked Jody Hedlund’s books although I haven’t read the previous books in this series. This is definitely a stand-alone book you don’t feel you’ve missed much when you read it.  Jody Hedlund always does such a great job of researching backgrounds for books and then writing characters that are believable into those backgrounds.  I love reading Bride of Convenience books, they always have such great stories to them.  In this book Jody is a mill worker who emigrates to British Columbia and ends up taking in a native’s infant.  There are many who want to marry her but they don’t want the native infant as part of the plan.  She marries a Pastor who agrees to the marriage as one of convenience, although neither really loves the convenience part.  Zoe proves to the Pastor that she is very much a woman who is becoming as a Pastors wife as she loves doing for others.  She even teaches Pastor Abe a thing or two about God and serving him.  I really enjoyed reading this book and heartily give it 5 stars.


I received this book in the kindle format from Netgalley.com and once again thank them heartily for a great book!  My words are my own and freely given.  #BrideOfConvenience #Netgalley.com #JodyHedlund  #HistoricalFaithRomance

Description as found on Netgalley.com:

Unemployed mill worker Zoe Hart jumps at the opportunity to emigrate to British Columbia in 1863 to find a better life and be reunited with her brother, who fled from home after being accused of a crime.

Pastor to miners in the mountains, Abe Merivale discovers an abandoned baby during a routine visit to Victoria and joins efforts with Zoe, one of the newly arrived bride-ship women, to care for the infant. While there, he's devastated by the news from his fiancée in England that she's marrying another man.

With mounting pressure to find the baby a home, Zoe accepts a proposal from a miner of questionable character after he promises to help her locate her brother. Intent on protecting Zoe and frustrated by his failed engagement, Abe offers his own hand as groom. After a hasty wedding, they soon realize their marriage of convenience is not so convenient after all.

Always The Last To Know by Kristan Higgins – 5 Stars!!

A thoroughly engrossing read with very real characters that have you totally invested in each one, you absolutely are waiting till the end to find out what their ending will be.  Kristin Higgins has always been on my favorite authors list, although I don’t have money to buy many books, so winning one was exciting!  I couldn’t wait to crack open the book and it didn’t in any way disappoint.  When I first realized uh oh, each chapter is about a different character, and can sometimes be in the past. I found that it wasn’t a problem after all, they all blended into a great story and I wasn’t left scratching my head wondering where I was in the story like in some books.  I was able to see and compare events happening in the story similar in ways to my own family or had, and the characters were so well written so real, with so many very real and relevant changes happening in their lives as the story wove it’s way on through the years.  The ending was beautiful and I was happy after reading this book.  Disappointed it had to end and hoping to read another Kristan Higgins book in the future. 

I won this book through the contest with Berkley Publications.  My thoughts/opinions on this book are my own and not required in order to get the book.  #AlwaystheLasttoKnow #KristanHiggins



Description as found on Goodreads:

Sometimes you have to break a family to fix it.

From New York Times bestselling author Kristan Higgins, a new novel examining a family at the breaking point in all its messy, difficult, wonderful complexity.

The Frosts are a typical American family. Barb and John, married almost fifty years, are testy and bored with each other...who could blame them after all this time? At least they have their daughters-- Barb's favorite, the perfect, brilliant Juliet; and John's darling, the free-spirited Sadie. The girls themselves couldn't be more different, but at least they got along, more or less. It was fine. It was enough.

Until the day John had a stroke, and their house of cards came tumbling down.

Now Sadie has to put her career as a teacher and struggling artist in New York on hold to come back and care for her beloved dad--and face the love of her life, whose heart she broke, and who broke hers. Now Juliet has to wonder if people will notice that despite her perfect career as a successful architect, her perfect marriage to a charming Brit, and her two perfect daughters, she's spending an increasing amount of time in the closet having panic attacks.

And now Barb and John will finally have to face what's been going on in their marriage all along.

From the author of Good Luck with That and Life and Other Inconveniences comes a new novel of heartbreaking truths and hilarious honesty about what family really means.

Storing Up Trouble by Jan Turano – 4 Stars

This book had some laugh out loud moments.  It moved along quickly was an easy read and had romance, history, science, and a mystery all mixed up together.  What more could you ask for!  Fun reading about the beginnings of Marshall Fields.  They sure didn’t pay much and the rules for working there I wouldn’t have made it.  Fun read, I would recommend it. 

I received this book in the kindle format from NetGalley.com as an advanced read copy.  My comments and thoughts on this book are my own and freely given, not required. 

Description as found on NetGalley.com

When Miss Beatrix Waterbury's Chicago-bound train ride is interrupted by a heist, Mr. Norman Nesbit, a man of science who believes his research was the target of the heist, comes to her aid. Despite the fact that they immediately butt heads, they join forces to make a quick escape.

Upon her arrival in Chicago, Beatrix is surprised to discover her supposedly querulous Aunt Gladys shares her own suffragette passions. Encouraged by Gladys to leave her sheltered world, Beatrix begins working as a salesclerk at the Marshall Field and Company department store. When she again encounters Norman on a shopping expedition, he is quickly swept up in the havoc she always seems to attract.

But when another attempt is made to part Norman from his research papers, and it becomes clear Beatrix's safety is also at risk, they soon discover the curious way feelings can grow between two very different people in the midst of chaos.

Love’s Mountain Quest by Misty M Beller - Four Stars

A young widow with a five-year-old son finds that he’s been kidnapped along with the woman watching him.  They were taken after a man is killed and they happened to see the gunman doing the killing.  Joanna enlists Isaac to take her to try and get them back.  They travel through very rough territory and Isaac soon has to reveal a secret about his past that will change how Joanna feels about him. He promised Joanna to get her son back and hopefully the other woman, and he’ll do just that no matter what happens.  They travel through such difficult terrain and he is injured, at that point I didn’t think he would be able to keep traveling.  I was quite invested in the characters in the book and wanted to continue reading all the way to the end to see how it would end.  There is a bit of a romance, the book is faith based, and based on the old west.  It was quite a yarn.  I gave it four stars.

I was given the book as an advance reader copy in the kindle format from NetGalley.com.  I wasn’t required to give a review and the thoughts and opinions on this book are my own and freely given.
#LovesMountainQuest. #NetGalley.com.

Description as found on NetGalley.com:

Young widow Joanna Watson is struggling to make a new home for her five-year-old son, Samuel, in the little mountain town of Settler's Fort. When she returns home from work to find Samuel and the woman watching him missing, with no lawman in town, she enlists a man she prays has enough experience in this rugged country to help.

Isaac Bowen wants nothing more than a quiet, invisible life in these mountains, far away from the bad decisions of his past. But he has a strong suspicion of who's behind the kidnapping, and if he's right, he knows all too well the evil they're chasing.

As they press on against the elements, Joanna fights to hold on to hope, while Isaac knows a reckoning is coming. They find encouragement in the tentative trust that grows between them, but whether it can withstand the danger and coming confrontation is far from certain in this wild, unpredictable land.

Line by Line by Jennifer Delamere - 4 Stars

I really enjoyed this book.  The author had done an extensive dip into the history of telegraphy.  As I was a dancer in a past life, the character in this book explaining how to dance using Morse Code to hear the beats in music was genius. The book had history, a picture of what it was like to work in an office as a woman in that century, romance and a bit of Christian values.  The spinster’s handbook included in the story with its tips and tricks of the time and how the character used what she read in it on the men around her was very fun.  Reading how she had that backfire on her was rather a fun twist also.  The book held my interest and I finished it easily in one day.  I’ve read books by this author before and she always has more than just a simple romance, she likes to include more in her books to keep you learning also as you are reading.  She always does her research!

I received the book as an advance reader’s copy in the kindle format from NetGalley.com.  My opinions of the books and comments are my own and freely given.  They weren’t required in order to receive the book.  #LineByLine #NetGalley 

Description as found on NetGalley.com:

Alice McNeil resolved at a young age to travel through life unencumbered by love or marriage, free to make her own decisions. A seasoned telegrapher, she's recently acquired a coveted position at an important trading firm, but when the company's ambitious junior director returns to London, things begin to change in ways Alice could never have imagined.

For Douglas Shaw, years of hard work and ingenuity enabled him to escape a life of grinding poverty. He's also determined to marry into high society--a step that will ensure he never returns to the conditions of his past.

He and Alice form a friendly relationship based on mutual respect, but anything deeper is not in their plans. However, when Alice accidentally raises the ire of a jealous and vindictive coworker who's intent on ruining her life, Alice and Douglas are forced to confront what is truly important in their lives. Will their growing bond give them the courage to risk finding a better way?

A Simple Wedding by Leigh Duncan - 4 Stars

An enjoyable romp of a book. Easily finished in one day.  I was kept interested in the storyline and in the characters.  I wanted to get to the end to find out how it finished although I had guessed part of the ending it was enjoyable.  I would recommend the book for a light read.  I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t make a movie of it.  I gave this book four stars.  


I received an advance read kindle format of this book through Netgalley.com.  There was no requirement that I leave a review, all thoughts and comments are my own freely given.  #ASimpleWedding #NetGalley.com

Description as found on NetGalley.com

Fall in love with Heart’s Landing, a romantic wedding destination, in the first book of a Hallmark series.

Jenny always dreamed of getting married at Heart’s Landing. But when she finally visits the charming small town, she’s there to make wedding arrangements for someone else: her cousin, who also happens to be her boss and a famous movie star. To keep the event secret and avoid a media circus, Jenny pretends she’s the one getting married.

Nick is intrigued by this bride-to-be who starts visiting his bakery every afternoon for sweet treats and conversation. He has to keep reminding himself that she’s already spoken for.

As Jenny deals with her cousin’s ever-changing demands, she tries to hide her attraction to Nick. Planning this wedding couldn’t be more complicated…and what will happen once the truth comes to light?

This funny, heartwarming romance includes a free original recipe for the best-ever Lemon Bars.

Take The Lead - Shelley Shepard Gray - The Dance With Me Series - 5 Stars

Take The Lead – Shelley Shepard Gray’s – The Dance With Me Series

Having been a dancer for several years and one still at heart I did enjoy reading this book and loved all of the little descriptions of different dance styles and quotes at the start of each chapter.  I did enjoy the characters in this book, they worked so well together and I was disappointed when the book ended.  I would read more of Shelly Shepard Gray’s Dance With Me Series and will be following her new books as they come out.  I love finding a new author!

I received this book in kindle format from NetGalley.com.  The thoughts above and comments on this book are my own and weren’t required in order to receive a copy of the book.  #TakeTheLead. #NetGalley

Description as found on Netgalley.com:

The new novel in New York Times bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray's The Dance With Me Series

Growing up in foster care, Officer Traci Lucky had a rough start to life, but things are looking up now that she’s found a place in Bridgeport with two sisters she never knew she had. One night while on the job Traci finds Gwen, a pregnant teen caught up in a dangerous world of drugs, and takes her straight to the hospital. There Traci encounters the oh-so-charming Dr. Matt Rossi, who surprises Traci with his compassion—and his movie-star good looks.

A busy ob-gyn with a huge, meddling Italian family, Matt Rossi hasn’t had much time for love in his life. All that changes when he meets the beautiful Officer Lucky. He’s intrigued by her strength and the kind heart she tries to hide beneath her tough exterior.

When Matt confides that he needs to learn to waltz for his brother’s wedding, Traci reveals that her sister happens to be a ballroom dance teacher. Next thing they know, Matt and Traci are juggling busy careers, helping young Gwen with her pregnancy and personal safety, and learning to waltz together. But when Gwen’s escalating problems threaten to put all of them in danger, they wonder if they’ll ever find time for a little romance too.

Shelley Shepard Gray takes us back to Bridgeport, Ohio, a town where family comes in all different shapes and sizes, love has no limits, and community means everyone deserves a little help when they’re lost.

A Million Little Lies by Bette Lee Crosby - 4 Stars

I do love Bette Lee Crosby’s books and this one didn’t disappoint.  As someone whose very life growing up, had a life that I wanted to tell lies about, I understood this character very much.  I’m honest to a fault but I was able to find some things I connected with in the character of Suzanna Duff.  She starts telling lies after her Mother died when she was ten years old, and her Daddy starting coming home very drunk and out of control.  Suzanna was very lonely and she started lying to cover for her life when she is young and that grew out of control as she grew older.  Her lies threaten to destroy her life and she has to come to terms with it.  The book was a good read, with well fleshed out characters and a storyline that kept me going as Betty Lee Crosby’s books do.

I received this book free in the kindle format from Netgalley.com.  My comments and thoughts on this book are my own and I was not required to write a review in exchange for the book.  #AMillionLittleLies #NetGalley.com

Description as found on NetGalley.com:

A lifetime of lies, and a truth too painful to tell.

When Suzanna Duff was ten years old, she lost her mama, and that’s when the lies began. At first, they were just harmless little fibs, a way to hide her unbearable loneliness and the truth about a daddy who came home rip-roaring drunk every night. But in time, the lies grew bigger and now, when she is a grown woman with a daughter of her own, they threaten to destroy everything she loves.

The irony of this situation is that Suzanna never planned to stay in Georgia, she was simply passing through, looking for a fresh start in New Jersey. Attending that wake with her daughter Annie, was a fluke. An opportunity to enjoy a free meal. It should have entailed nothing more than a solemn nod and a brief expression of sympathy but, Ida Parker, the grieving widow mistook her for her the granddaughter who was carried off as an infant. Too embarrassed to do anything else, Suzanna played along. What harm was there in pretending to be someone else for a few hours? Hours turned into days and days into weeks; strangers became friends, love happened, and before long a year had flown by.

Now the past is standing on her doorstep and Suzanna must decide to leave here and disappear as she has done before, or tell the truth and break the hearts of those she loves most.

Summer At Orchard House by Ellyn Oaksmith – 5 Stars!!

Woohoo Loved This Book!  I’ve found a new author to love.  Her writing was so full of life, so descriptive, you learn about wine and grape vines, a romance that is a slow burn, so many laugh out loud moments. The main character Carmen is one sassy Latina. I loved the combination of Carmen with her sisters and her best friend. I can’t wait for Ellyn Oaksmith’s next book!

I received this book as a free kindle advance reader’s uncorrected copy from Netgalley.com.  My comments and thoughts on the book were my own and not required in exchange for the book.  #SummeratOrchardHouse. #Netgalley.com. #EllynOaksmith.

Description as found on Netgalley:

The Alvarez sisters have grown up and moved away—but now their father is in crisis, the family business is collapsing and it’s time to go home to Lake Chelan.

Carmen Alvarez is the reliable one. When her vulnerable father’s livelihood is threatened, she’s the person her sisters call. Abandoning her job in Seattle, Carmen races home to the family vineyard her dad built up from nothing to set things straight. But soon she’s fallen back in love with the dusty sage hills, the turquoise blue lake, the fragrant June orchards… Maybe she’s not just home for the summer?

Standing in the way of Carmen’s happiness is one very attractive obstacle: new neighbor Evan Hollister, who’s after her dad’s land. He’s arrogant, entitled and spoiled—everything Carmen hates—and she is all set to have a bit of fun driving him out of town so things can get back to normal. She isn’t ready for their relationship to get complicated…

But Evan is the least of Carmen’s worries. The business is falling apart and it starts to look like Carmen might lose much more than just her pride: employees have quit, the bank keeps calling and everything her father worked so hard for is slipping away. As she is pushed to breaking point, Carmen will learn that her true family are the people who will see her through the worst of times, and that love can be found in the most unlikely of places.

A heart-warming romance about embracing the unexpected, Summer at Orchard House will make you laugh, make you cry, and remind you that it’s never too late to start again. For fans of Robyn Carr, Carolyn Brown and Debbie Macomber.