A Dance In Donegal by Jennifer Deibel – 5 Stars!

Boy was this a dance!  One in Donegal Ireland in 1920.  The book is lush with history, multi-layered in stories and the ways of those living at the time.  There are so many things that come to mind when I think of this story, this author doesn’t stop at just one-story line, she gives you so much to learn about the customs and ways of the people in the book.  There is suspense, love, a few mysteries, culture, superstitions, author Jennifer Deibel will delight your senses and leave you thinking about this book long after you have finished it. 

 

I received this book free from NetGalley.com in kindle format, the opinions and words above are my own freely given.  #ADanceinDonegal #NetGalley #JenniferDeibel #HistoricalRomance

 

Description From NetGalley.com:

All of her life, Irish-American Moira Doherty has relished her mother's descriptions of Ireland. When her mother dies unexpectedly in the summer of 1920, Moira decides to fulfill her mother's wish that she become the teacher in Ballymann, her home village in Donegal, Ireland.

After an arduous voyage, Moira arrives to a new home and a new job in an ancient country. Though a few locals offer a warm welcome, others are distanced by superstition and suspicion. Rumors about Moira's mother are unspoken in her presence but threaten to derail everything she's journeyed to Ballymann to do. Moira must rely on the kindness of a handful of friends--and the strength of Sean, an unsettlingly handsome thatcher who keeps popping up unannounced--as she seeks to navigate a life she'd never dreamed of . . . but perhaps was meant to live.

Jennifer Deibel's debut novel delights the senses, bringing to life the sights, sounds, smells, and language of a lush country and a colorful people. Historical romance fans will embrace her with open arms.

 

A Cowboy For Keeps by Jody Hedlund – 4 Stars

I do enjoy my mail order bride stories.  I know they aren’t very deep…but interesting.  This one is based on Fairplay, Colorado. Greta has to travel there with her sister to leave a city where no one would marry her because her sister was a prostitute and died leaving her with a daughter that no one wanted to take on if they married her.  The entire city was talking about it so she left town, got a ticket for a mail-order bride for a man when she arrives, she finds out has died.  The Mayor in the little town says he’ll help her, he does by telling Wyatt that help invest in his herd of cattle to help him out if he’ll marry and start a family to help change the reputation of the city….more families….less men who are troubled and hang in saloons eventually.  It was a fast read, interesting Jody Hedlund can always weave a story, I always  trust her books….I liked it.

 

I received this book free in the kindle format from NetGalley.com my opinions and comments on this book are my own and freely given.  #ACowboyforKeeps #JodyHedlund #NetGalley

 

 

Description From NetGalley.com:

Greta Nilsson's trip west to save her ailing little sister, Astrid, could not have gone more wrong. First, bandits hold up her stagecoach, stealing all her money. Then, upon arriving in Fairplay, Colorado, she learns the man she was betrothed to as a mail-order bride has died. Homeless, penniless, and jobless, Greta and her sister are worse off than when they started.

Wyatt McQuaid is struggling to get his new ranch up and running and is in town to purchase cattle when the mayor proposes the most unlikely of bargains. He'll invest in a herd of cattle for Wyatt's ranch if Wyatt agrees to help the town become more respectable by marrying and starting a family. And the mayor, who has promised to try to help Greta, has just the candidate in mind for Wyatt to marry.

A Cowboy Kind Of Love by Donna Grant – 4 Stars!

I loved this book – shorter than some – Second Chance Romance – Mystery – Suspense – Shoot Outs – oh my!  Little racy with the sex scenes for anyone who doesn’t like that kind of thing, I don’t mind.  One can dream right?  Anyway, enjoyed the book.  Had some interesting twists.  

I received this book free through NetGalley.com.  My words and opinions are my own freely given.  #ACowboyKindofLove #NetGalley #DonnaGrant

Description as found on NetGalley.com:

A dashing cowboy gets his second chance at romance in A Cowboy Kind Of Love, the next book in the Heart of Texas series by New York Times bestselling author Donna Grant.

Who wants to rodeo again?

Jace Wilder has been rebuilding his life since the love of his life, Taryn, up and left town unexpectedly. But when she mysteriously returns, Jace’s dependable world comes crashing down. Taryn is hiding a dangerous secret, and no matter how hard he tries, Jace can’t stay away—especially when Taryn is at risk. And especially when the attraction he thought he’d buried long ago is back and hotter than ever. Will he be able to trust Taryn again?

Taryn Hillman’s world fell apart one horrifying night, and it’s never been the same since. When she sees a small chance at untangling herself, she takes it, though it means returning to Clearview—and seeing Jace again. But when he vows to protect her, will Taryn take a chance, and this time, never let him go?

“A captivating romance novel with a sexy cowboy making this perfect for anyone who loves a steamy romantic read.”—Fresh Fiction on My Favorite Cowboy

Gone For Good by Joanna Schaffhausen - 5 Stars

 

A really good novel starring Detective Annalisa Vega.  This is a cold case where The Lovelorn Killer murdered seven women then disappeared.  This is a great mystery.  It pulled me in from the first couple of pages.  The novel was suspenseful, I thought I knew who it was a couple of times only to be proven wrong.  If you want a book to pick up and read through in the first sitting this book is for you.  I loved the suspenseful twists and turns to this book.  I’ve never read Joanna Schaffhausen, but I’ll be looking for her next book!

 I received this book through NetGalley.com in the kindle format a review was not required.  The opinions are my own and freely given.

 Description from NetGalley.com:

Gone For Good is the first in a new mystery series from award-winning author Joanna Schaffhausen, featuring Detective Annalisa Vega, in which a cold case heats up.

The Lovelorn Killer murdered seven women, ritually binding them and leaving them for dead before penning them gruesome love letters in the local papers. Then he disappeared, and after twenty years with no trace of him, many believe that he’s gone for good.

Not Grace Harper. A grocery store manager by day, at night Grace uses her snooping skills as part of an amateur sleuth group. She believes the Lovelorn Killer is still living in the same neighborhoods that he hunted in, and if she can figure out how he selected his victims, she will have the key to his identity.

Detective Annalisa Vega lost someone she loved to the killer. Now she’s at a murder scene with the worst kind of déjà vu: Grace Harper lies bound and dead on the floor, surrounded by clues to the biggest murder case that Chicago homicide never solved. Annalisa has the chance to make it rights and to heal her family, but first, she has to figure out what Grace knew—how to see a killer who may be standing right in front of you. This means tracing his steps back to her childhood, peering into dark corners she hadn’t acknowledged before, and learning that despite everything the killer took, she has still so much more to lose.

 

Spirit In Time by Julie Howard - 5 Stars

 

I’m always attracted to books that mention time travel.  This book has that with some very interesting twists on it, as well as romance, history, mystery and ending I sure didn’t see coming.  I absolutely loved the book!  I couldn’t put it down.  This book involves a ghost-blogger who is thrown back into 1872 looking for her boyfriend Mason Chandler.  The description below is from NetGalley.com and tells the highlights very well.  You better not have things to do when you pick this book up you’ll be putting it off to see where this book goes!  I love time travel.

 

I received this book from NetGalley.com at no charge in the kindle format.  I wasn’t required to review the book, but I enjoy doing that for a great book.  The words and opinions above are my own freely given.  #SpiritInTime #NetGalley #JulieHoward

 

Description

Time travel isn't real. It can't be real. But ghost-blogger Jillian Winchester discovers otherwise when an enigmatic spirit conveys her to 1872 to do his bidding. Jillian finds herself employed as a maid in Sacramento, in an elegant mansion with a famous painting.
The artwork reveals another mystery: Why does the man within look exactly like her boyfriend, Mason Chandler?
Morality and sin live side by side, not only in the picture, but also within her. As her transgressions escalate, she races the clock to find the man in the painting, and hunt down a spirit with a disconcerting gift.
But will time be her friend or foe?

 

The Shell Collector by Nancy Naigle – 5 Stars

 

I’ve not read anything by Nancy Naigle but I sure would do so again.  I heartily enjoyed this book.  I loved the character Maeve, the older woman who makes friends with Amanda and her two children.  Amanda moved to a small home on the beach near where she married her husband.  He’s been gone two years, he died while on duty as a Marine.    

Seashells keep popping up all over town on the beach after the water goes out and they have writing in them.  All types of messages that give the finder a great piece of advice or tells them what they need to hear at the time they find them.

Maeve spends her time ever day walking the seashore collecting shells, Amanda and her kids start looking for shells with her.  Amanda had thought she would start a business at home, but found out due to her dog living there it wouldn’t be approved.  A big disappointment.  So she decides in the fall she is going to teach, so she’ll be at home when her kids are home.

This book is full of love, loss and believe it or not second chances.  It’s a great read.  If you ever had a friendship or connection with an older woman, you will love reading about the friendship between Amanda and Maeve.  The book pulls at your heartstrings!

 

I received this book through NetGalley.com at no charge in the kindle format.  I was not required to write a review, I like doing them for good books and this one was great!  The thoughts and opinions above are my own freely given.

 

Description from NetGalley.com:

“A beautiful story full of love, loss, and second chances.”—#1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber

A touching novel of a friendship that crosses generations, and learning how even the smallest gifts can change a life for good, from USA Today bestselling author Nancy Naigle.

Two years after her husband’s death, Amanda Whittier has two children to raise alone, an abandoned dream of starting a business, and a fixer-upper cottage by the sea. She has no room in her life for anything else and little interest in moving on after losing the man she loved. 

Paul Grant is a relative newcomer to the area, and his work with former military dogs needing rehabilitation has been good for the town. Though he loved once before, he’s convinced he’s not suited for romance and is determined to find meaning—alone—through his work and role in the community. 

Widowed Maeve Lindsay was born and raised on Whelk’s Island. Spirited, kind, and a little mischievous, she pours her life into the town. But she carries a secret that shapes her every move. 

Together, these three souls find encouragement in the most mysterious places and discover a love that’s bigger than their pain, healing their wounded hearts in ways none of them could have hoped for or expected.

The Bookshop at Peony Harbor (An Aster Island Novel) by Rosie Summers – 5 Stars

 

Eloise Paisley went through a bad divorce; she was left with a cottage that had been in the family forever.  Just when she thinks she may have to sell it she receives a letter from her Grandmother who has been dead for 20 years with a deed for a bookshop on Main Street that is in such bad shape everyone assumes there is a shed there.  Eloise wants to open the bookshop again so much.  She needs help from her three children.  Will she have to sell the bookshop in order to keep the cottage to stay near her children or will she be able to breathe new life into the decrepit book shop.  Boy if I received a letter from my Grandmother I would be so excited and would wonder as she did where it came from after all those years.  Who sat on it and sent it just as she needed it?  Come read about the Paisley family on Aster Island and their struggle with the Bookshop at Peony Harbor, you’ll be glad you did!  Great book.

 

I received this book in the kindle format from NetGalley.com.  I was not required to write a review if the book is good, I will always write one. This book was great.  The opinions and words above are my own freely given.  #TheBookshopAtPeonyHarbor #NetGalley #RosieSummers

Description from NetGalley.com:

Eloise Paisley needs cash, and she needs it fast. Thanks to an unexpected divorce, Eloise is low on funds, and if she doesn’t figure out a way to make ends meet—soon—she’ll lose the beachfront cottage that’s been in her family for over three generations.

Then one morning, out of the blue, Eloise receives a mysterious letter from her grandmother who has been gone for over twenty years. Inside the envelope is the deed to a rundown bookshop on Main Street—a gift for Eloise. Is she up to the task of breathing life into the almost-derelict building, or will she have to sell the beloved property so she can afford to stay on the island near her children?

Fortunately, Eloise isn’t alone in her decision. She’s got three grown children on her side, though each has problems of their own.

Jack, the eldest, is running his own company. Despite his success, he finds that something in his life is missing. Next is Lilah, a mother of two young children whose husband has been spending unexplained late nights at the office, and she’s determined to find out why. The youngest, Angelica, is a free spirit traveling the world for her career. But when she encounters an old flame at home, is it enough to draw her back?

Come visit the Paisley family on Aster Island and follow their journey as they explore new love and second chances, as they travel far and return home, and as they throw their hearts and souls into making a dream come true.

 

Rose Gardner’s Florist by Bonnie Dee – 4 Stars

I really enjoyed this book.  I was up reading it during the night instead of sleeping.  It really held my interest.  I like reading a story based during a year that is very different from the present.  Reading about the romance between the working-class girl who did manage to open her own florist shop and a man who has grown up with and owns quite a bit, a cultivated chap was an enjoyable read.  Rose doesn’t feel she has a chance with this gentleman, he’s out of her league and at first meeting she isn’t attracted to him at all.  At first meeting he’s tongue tied around her, he finds himself attracted to her and doesn’t know what to do.  The characters are likeable, and well developed.  I wanted to get to keep reading to find out how Rose and Will work out their differences.  Rose finds herself asking Will for help in saving a young woman from her guardian.  She soon finds that Will has a lot more going for him than he seemed at first meeting.  A fairly light book with enough going on that you want to keep reading.  I gave it 4 Stars.

I received this book in the kindle format free from Netgalley.com.  A review was not required.  The words and opinion of the book above are my own freely given.

#RoseGardner’sFlorist #BonnieDee #NetGalley

 

Description as found on NetGalley.com:

Romance blooms between a common flower girl and a cultivated gentleman.

Rose Gardener is a common flower girl from Covent Garden, whose grandest wish has come true in the opening of her own florist shop. Despite years of belittling by an unsupportive family, she is proud of her achievement, yet self-doubt lingers under the surface when she is faced with a chance at romance. Surely the quiet, bookish gentleman who buys posies from her could not possibly be interested in a working-class girl.

Struck by the lovely proprietress of a local florist, Will Carmody finds one pretext after another to purchase flowers so he might exchange pleasantries with her. A shy, awkward fellow dedicated to scholarly pursuits has no business fostering lovelorn dreams about a vivacious young lady with a bright future. Will thinks he has little of interest to offer her.

When a young woman threatened by her guardian unburdens herself to Rose, the florist becomes her ally in solving the predicament. But it will take Will’s steady presence and support to face down a dastardly scoundrel.  During their quest for justice, two wallflowers grow stronger and more confident under the bright sunlight of love.

The Moonlight School by Suzanne Woods Fisher – 5 Stars

Those of us who take reading for granted should not.  Reading this book brought so many feelings to the forefront for me.  I have read a few books about the people of the hill country, in different areas,  and this book made me so appreciative of those things I have in my home and my life.  Lucy Wilson goes to help out Cora Wilson Stewart at first to ride a horse (she didn’t know how to ride when she first came to the mountain) into the country and to help the people write letters to others and to read letters those who received them.  These adults can’t read and write, and they live in such primitive conditions.  Yet they are so full of pride for what they do have.  She ends up helping Cora to put together a school for adults, that takes advantage of the time when the children aren’t in school.   Also, when the adults aren’t needed to work in their fields.  This helps give Lucy a purpose, as she has been at loose ends ever since her sister disappeared and years later her Father remarried.  She also meets Brother Wyatt with his unusual way of writing music down with words so that the people can follow them when he leads singing get togethers.  This book is so full of reasons to read it, you won’t want to put it down, you’ll be horrified by the way the people live, their speech, and yet proud of them as they do so much with so little.  Pick this book up!  You’ll not be disappointed.

 

I received this book in the kindle format through NetGalley.com and the words above were my own freely given not required by NetGalley.
#TheMoonlightSchool #SuzanneWoodsFisher  #NetGalley

 

Description

Haunted by her sister's mysterious disappearance, Lucy Wilson arrives in Rowan County, Kentucky, in the spring of 1911 to work for Cora Wilson Stewart, superintendent of education. When Cora sends Lucy into the hills to act as scribe for the mountain people, she is repelled by the primitive conditions and intellectual poverty she encounters. Few adults can read and write.

Born in those hills, Cora knows the plague of illiteracy. So does Brother Wyatt, a singing schoolmaster who travels through the hills. Involving Lucy and Wyatt, Cora hatches a plan to open the schoolhouses to adults on moonlit nights. The best way to combat poverty, she believes, is to eliminate illiteracy. But will the people come?

As Lucy emerges from a life in the shadows, she finds purpose; or maybe purpose finds her. With purpose comes answers to her questions, and something else she hadn't expected: love.

Inspired by the true events of the Moonlight Schools, this standalone novel from bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher brings to life the story that shocked the nation into taking adult literacy seriously. You'll finish the last page of this enthralling story with deep gratitude for the gift of reading.

The Newcomer by Mary Kay Andrews - 5 Stars

 

Mary Kay Andrews never fails to keep me involved in her books to the very end.  This book didn’t disappoint, I didn’t want to put it down and hated it when it was time to go to bed and my kindle ran out of juice.  I do a lot of reading on it lying next to my sleeping husband.  Then he wonders why I want a nap the next day.  This book had great characters and was so well written, it sure doesn’t have to be a beach day when you read it, but you’ll wish you were there.  I am not going to write a about the story because the description as found on NetGalley.com covers the story.  Just don’t pass by this book if you get the chance to buy it, you’ll enjoy it from beginning to end.  It has suspense, mystery, some romance, and the beach!  What more could you want?

 

I received this book through NetGalley.com free in the kindle format.  I am not required to write a review, although I usually do, I like to help out authors and readers.  The review was my own, thoughts on the book were mine!  #TheNewcomer #MaryKayAndrews #NetGalley

 

Description From NetGalley.com:

Summer never ends with MKA

In trouble and on the run...

After she discovers her sister Tanya dead on the floor of her fashionable New York City townhouse, Letty Carnahan is certain she knows who did it: Tanya’s ex; sleazy real estate entrepreneur Evan Wingfield. Even in the grip of grief and panic Letty heeds her late sister’s warnings: “If anything bad happens to me—it’s Evan. Promise me you’ll take Maya and run. Promise me.” So Letty grabs her sister’s Mercedes and hits the road . . .

With a trunkful of emotional baggage...

and her wailing four-year-old niece Maya. Letty is determined to out-run Evan and the law, but run to where? Tanya, a woman with a past shrouded in secrets, left behind a “go-bag” of cash and a big honking diamond ring—but only one clue: a faded magazine story about a sleepy mom-and-pop motel in a Florida beach town with the improbable name of Treasure Island. She sheds her old life and checks into an uncertain future at The Murmuring Surf Motel.

The No Vacancy sign is flashing & the sharks are circling...

And that’s the good news. Because The Surf, as the regulars call it, is the winter home of a close-knit flock of retirees and snowbirds who regard this odd-duck newcomer with suspicion and down-right hostility. As Letty settles into the motel’s former storage room, she tries to heal Maya’s heartache and unravel the key to her sister’s shady past, all while dodging the attention of the owner’s dangerously attractive son Joe, who just happens to be a local police detective. Can Letty find romance as well as a room at the inn—or will Joe betray her secrets and put her behind bars? With danger closing in, it’s a race to find the truth and right the wrongs of the past.

Shadows Of The White City - Jocelyn Green - 4 Stars

 

This book was written during the time of the World’s Fair, which was well researched.  Sylvie Townsend is working at the Fair and she has finally a family of her own, she took in a Polish immigrant Rose Dabrowski and they are very happy. She believes this to be true, until one day Rose disappeared when she was supposed to be taking her violin lesson.  She never showed up.  As her daughter is 17 and hasn’t been gone long enough, she is brushed off by the authorities.   Sylvie goes on a search of her own with the help of Rose’s violin instructor.  The book is full of the Worlds Fair, the characters are well written, there is mystery, suspense and in the end a little romance. 

 

I received this book through NetGalley.com free in the Kindle format.  The review above was written with my own words and thoughts, not required by NetGalley.com.    #ShadowsOfTheWhiteCity #JocelynGreen  #NetGalley

 

Description

The one thing Sylvie Townsend wants most is what she feared she was destined never to have--a family of her own. But taking in Polish immigrant Rose Dabrowski to raise and love quells those fears--until seventeen-year-old Rose goes missing at the World's Fair, and Sylvie's world unravels.

Brushed off by the authorities, Sylvie turns to her boarder, Kristof Bartok, for help. He is Rose's violin instructor and the concertmaster for the Columbian Exposition Orchestra, and his language skills are vital to helping Sylvie navigate the immigrant communities where their search leads.

From the glittering architecture of the fair to the dark houses of Chicago's poorest neighborhoods, they're taken on a search that points to Rose's long-lost family. Is Sylvie willing to let the girl go? And as Kristof and Sylvie grow closer, can she reconcile her craving for control with her yearning to belong?

 

From This Moment by Kim Vogel Sawyer – 5 Stars

 

There are some great laugh out loud moments with the character Lori, she is full of life, although very insecure as she has big red hair and is over weight and has eating issues.  Those have come from her Father being critical of her very much every day after her mother dies.  She doesn’t feel she is worthy of love, but when she meets the new youth minister, she is so attracted to him.  He has come to Kansas to serve as the youth minister after losing his fiancée’ suddenly in a car accident.  He’s taken the job to get a fresh start, but he can’t seem to get his confidence in God back and is really struggling in embracing his new life.  This book had me drawn in from the beginning, I learned a bit while reading it.  I love books by this author and Kim Vogel Sawyer didn’t disappoint me with this book.

 

I received this book in the kindle format from NetGalley.com.  My words and opinion of this book are my own freely given.  #FromThisMoment #NetGalley #KimVogelSawyer

 

The lost ring brings together two wounded souls--a youth minister haunted by the past and a spunky church custodian--in this heartwarming romance from the bestselling author of The Librarian of Boone's Hollow.

Growing up in the foster care system, Jase Edgar always dreamed of one day starting his own family. But his fiancée's untimely death shattered his plans. Moving to Kansas and serving as a youth minister should be a fresh start, but he can't seem to set aside his doubts about God's goodness long enough to embrace his new life.

Newly-appointed church custodian, Lori Fowler is battling her own challenges. Her strained relationship with her father and her struggles with overeating convince her she's not worthy enough for love. When an Amish weaver enlists their help locating the owner of a ring found among the donated clothing she uses as fabric, Jase and Lori find themselves drawn to each other. But will they be able to release the past and move forward from this moment into a joyful future?

An Ordninary Life by Amanda Prowse - 5 Stars

  was drawn into this book from about page three.  I walked around my house tending to things but reading as I went along. I couldn’t put it down.  It was very well written, the story very well plotted out, everything seemed to flow.  I wanted to see how it was going to end very much from the beginning.  I became invested in the characters and wanted to keep reading.  If you are looking for a good book to pick up, this one won’t disappoint you.  It has suspense, romance, danger……Great story.

 

I received this book from NetGalley.com in the kindle format.  My words and opinion of this book are my own freely given. #AnOrdinaryLife #AmandaProwse #NetGalley

 

 

Description

From the bestselling author of The Girl in the Corner comes a tale of love, loss—and one last extraordinary dance.

Christmas Eve, 2019. Ninety-four-year-old Molly lies in her hospital bed. A stroke and a fall may have broken her body—but her mind is alive with memories.

London, 1940s. Molly is a bright young woman, determined to help the war effort and keep her head up despite it all. Life becomes brighter when she meets and falls in love with a man who makes her forget everything with one dance. But then war forces her to make an unforgettable sacrifice, and when she’s brought to her knees by a daring undercover mission with the French Resistance, only her sister knows the secret weighing heavily on Molly’s heart.

Now, lying in her hospital bed, Molly can’t escape the memories of what she lost all those years ago. But she is not as alone as she thinks.

Will she be able to find peace—and finally understand that what seemed to be an ordinary life was anything but

What A Dog Knows by Lisa Wilson – 5 Stars!

Ruby is a traveling physic who learns she can hear dog’s thoughts.  Out of no where she met a little dog that seemed lost in the rain, she takes him in and hears the dog.  She decides to stay in the town for a while, Harmony Farms, until she can find out who the dog really belongs to.  She ends up staying there, every time she plans on leaving things happen to keep her there.  This book is so interesting.  I’ve always found psychics to have a mystique about them and this book was so well written the characters were so interesting and well developed that I couldn’t put the book down.  It was really interesting to this person who has never even owned a dog or any pets.

 

I received this book free in the kindle format from NetGalley.com.  My opinions and words about this book are my own, freely given.  #WhatADogKnows #NetGalley #LisaWilson

 

Description

From New York Times bestselling author Susan Wilson comes What a Dog Knows, another heartwarming novel about humans and the dogs that change our lives.

Ruby Heartwood has always lived a life on the move. As a traveling psychic, she makes her living working at carnivals and festivals and circuses around New England. It's a life Ruby has made peace with—settling in one place has never been for her. She needs no one, and no one needs her.

Until one night, when she is camped by the side of the road in her trusty Volkswagon "Westie" van, a fierce thunder and lightning storm erupts. In the middle of the downpour, she hears a distinct voice telling her to "let me in." In jumps a little black and white dog, and to Ruby's astonishment, she can hear the dog's thoughts. Has she been struck by lightning? Did the storm do this? Is she losing her mind?

It turns out, Ruby can hear many dogs' thoughts. She decides to set up semi-permanent residency in the town of Harmony Farms, until she can sort out what is going on, and who the little dog, Hitch, belongs to. But some people in Harmony Farms don't want her there. And it seems that events keep preventing Ruby from leaving. What secrets is this town keeping? Why was she meant to find this dog? And what has Ruby really been running from, all these years?

 

The Healer – Lisa Fougere – 5 Stars

This was a very interesting book! It’s about a young woman, Leah, who has the gift of healing.  She can put her hands on someone see where the problem is in their body and make it just go away, or improve remarkably.  The book was very well crafted, with great characters, suspense, and some humor.  She realized at a very young age that she could see things about people.  If they were going to die, or if they were very sick.  It’s very engrossing and I highly recommend this read to everyone.  Looking for a new book to crack the cover on, this is the one for you!

 

I received this book in kindle format from NetGalley.com and the thoughts I’ve expressed in regard to the book are my own, freely given.

#TheHealer. #LisaFougere.

 

Description as found on NetGalley.com

Leah has a gift. The ability to heal others with the touch of her hands. This should be a dream come true, but her world begins to crumble under the weight of such a responsibility. With so many desperate people, how can one woman possibly help enough? Especially when there are those who seek to tear her down. Leah fights to control a situation evolving at lightning speed, and threatening life as she knows it.

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