Better Than Chocolate (Life in Icicle Falls, #1)
by Sheila Roberts (Goodreads Author)

Dec 28, 2013  

4 of 5 stars

bookshelves: 2013-new-authors-for-me

Sweet Dreams Chocolate Company has been in the Sterling family for generations, ever since Great-Grandma Rose literally dreamed up her first fabulous recipe. But now it looks as if they're about to lose Sweet Dreams to the bank—and that would be a disaster, not only for the family but for the town of Icicle Falls, Washington. Can Samantha, the oldest daughter and new head of the company, come up with a way to save it?After Samantha does some brainstorming with her mother and sisters, inspiration strikes. They'll have a chocolate festival! Time's running out, but the Sterling women are determined and the town's behind them, so everything's bound to go smoothly….

Or not. Events seem to be conspiring against Samantha, and her mother's attempts to help aren't helping. To make matters worse, the fate of her company is in the hands of her archenemy, Blake Preston, the bank manager with the football-hero good looks. It's enough to drive her to chocolate. But Blake's also enough to convince her that (believe it or not) there's something even better than chocolate.

My Review:
I decided to read this book because of the title. I was intrigued with it since I am a chocoholic. It turned out to be a good book. It showed how families can work together to achieve certain goals. Your biggest asset is your family It is important to have families that support one another as this book showed. It was a book about small-town life and how sweet it could be.There were humorous parts in the book. It showed how you can successfully balance business and love. Each chapter began with a quote about living life to the fullest. It was definitely an inspirational book. This book was Book #1 in the Icicle Falls series. I am looking forward to reading the other books in the series.

Paradise Valley (Virgin River, #7)
by Robyn Carr

Dec 16, 2013  

4 of 5 stars

I wasn't pulled into this book of the series as I was with the others. This book focuses on 4 couples.

I found Walt and Muriel's relationship to be boring. It did nothing for me. It was part of the book and that was as far as I am concerned. I don't care either way if they continue to be part of the series.

On the other hand, I liked reading about Cam and Abby's relationship even though it wasn't very realistic about how they met and fell in love the same night and what the outcome was of that night. I was glad to hear the true story about Abby's ex-husband. Quite different than I expected. I am looking forward to reading more about their marriage and children.

I liked reading the continuing story behind Rick and Lizzy's relationship. I am glad the book ended with their relationship going in the right direction.

I was very surprised to read about Cheryl and Dan's budding relationship. I never expected it at all after reading about them briefly in the earlier books of the series. I am interested in reading more about how it goes for them.

As always, I enjoy reading about the continuing lives of all the Virgin River residents.

Temptation Ridge (Virgin River, #6)
by Robyn Carr

Nov 26, 2013  

4 of 5 stars

At twenty-five, after five years as her mother's caregiver, it's time for Shelby to experience freedom and adventure. Time for travel, college and romance. But when she visits Virgin River, she runs into Luke Riordan, decidedly "not" whom she has in mind. A handsome Blackhawk pilot, Luke exited the army after twenty years, four wars and having been shot out of the sky three times. At thirty-eight he's tough and jaded. His major was in one-night stands, with a minor in commitment avoidance.

Technically, these two are all wrong for one another. But sometimes what you want and what you need are two different things...two very "good" things.

I love reading the Virgin River books. I like catching up with all the characters from the previous books in the series. It's fun to read about what their lives are like with each installment. Each book introduces new characters with new budding romances and situations. I love the interaction and love the characters show for one another. They are always looking out for one another. I would love to have most of them as friends. There were sad parts in this book and I needed tissues while reading it. There were happy times too. Robyn Carr definitely brings out the emotions in people!

Hold The Cream Cheese, Kill The Lox (Ruby, the Rabbi's Wife, #4)
by Sharon Kahn

Nov 08, 2013  

3 of 5 stars

Read from November 03 to 07, 2013

Ruby, the rabbi's wife, travels from one side of the United States to the other investigating the murder of a master lox cutter, whose roots are traced back to Nazi-era Denmark.

I liked this light hearted cozy mystery. Parts of it were comical due to the parts of Essie Sue , who has a narcissistic personality and her nemesis Ruby, who is an amateur sleuth. I don't know how Ruth allows Essie Sue to get away with the things she does. Somehow, Ruth gets roped into watching Essie Sue's wild 13 year old twin boys. The antics they end up pulling are unbelievable. Meanwhile a murder has happened in their Texas town and this is where Ruth jumps in and wants to help solve the crime.

I also liked the Jewish culture that was part of this book. It brought me back to when I was a child and used to listen to my grandparents speak Yiddush to my parents.

If you want to read a quick comical mystery then i think you might like this book.

The Longest Ride
by Nicholas Sparks (Goodreads Author)

Nov 01, 2013  

4 of 5 stars

Read from October 26 to November 01, 2013

Ira Levinson is in trouble. At ninety-one years old, in poor health and alone in the world, he finds himself stranded on an isolated embankment after a car crash. Suffering multiple injuries, he struggles to retain consciousness until a blurry image materializes and comes into focus beside him: his beloved wife Ruth, who passed away nine years ago. Urging him to hang on, she forces him to remember their love story and recount their life together. This is how the reader learns about the deep love they had for each other.

A few miles away, at a local rodeo, a Wake Forest College senior’s life is about to change. Recovering from a recent break-up, Sophia Danko meets a young cowboy named Luke, who bears little resemblance to the privileged frat boys she has encountered at school. Through Luke, Sophia is introduced to a world in which the stakes of survival and success, ruin and reward -- even life and death – loom large in everyday life. As she and Luke fall in love, Sophia finds herself imagining a future far removed from her plans -- a future that Luke has the power to rewrite . . . if the secret he’s keeping doesn’t destroy it first.

Ira and Ruth. Sophia and Luke. Two couples who have little in common, and who are separated by years and experience. Yet their lives will converge with unexpected surprises.

My review: I think Ruth and Ira's life together was so touching and sweet. They were so devoted to one another which is not always seen nowadays. I enjoyed reading about the budding romance of Luke and Sophia too. I kept changing my thoughts about which romance story I liked the best. I also kept wondering how these two couples would meet up with one another. I was quite surprised how it happened. I never expected it. This story ended on a happy note which is always nice to read.

Gingerbread Cookie Murder (Hannah Swensen #13.5)
by Joanne Fluke, Leslie Meier (Goodreads Author), Laura Levine (Goodreads Author)

Oct 25, 2013  

4 of 5 stars

This book has 3 short stories involving gingerbread cookie murders. They are written by 3 different authors.

The first story, from Joanne Fluke, is about Hannah Swenson and her ever-going-on argument with neighbor Ernie Kusak and his Christmas music. But when she goes over there to talk to him about it, she finds him dead. So now Hannah, with the rest of Lake Eden, try to find out who could have killed Ernie. There are Christmas details that will get you into the holiday spirit. The whole story was fast paced and very humorous. There are some of the recipes from the story that are listed in the book.

The second story, from Laura Levine, is about Jaine Austen and her kitty, Prozac. Instead of spending the holidays in Los Angeles, she has decided to have Christmas with her parents in Florida. Hank (her Dad), has purchased a spinning gold tree from infomercials and her Mom won't stop feeding human food to Prozac. When the gingerbread man in a 2-bit play ends up dead, Jaine- along with her Dad who thinks he's a private-eye, try to find out who killed the gingerbread man without ending up dead themselves. Funny, quirky, and another fast read.

The last story, by Leslie Meier, is about Lucy Stone. When a child she adores ends up missing just before Christmas, she tries to find out who could have kidnapped him. It was such a heartwarming story that ended on a positive note. Even though Christmas is commercialized this story showed the true meaning of the holidays.

Out of the 3 stories, I liked the first and second the best because of the humor and quirkiness.

74 Seaside Avenue (Cedar Cove, #7)
by Debbie Macomber

Oct 17, 20 13 

4 of 5 stars

Dear Reader, I'm living a life I couldn't even have" dreamed" of a few years ago. I'm married to Bobby Polgar now (you know, the famous chess champion who just happens to be the man I love ). And we've got this beautiful house with a view of Puget Sound.

Lately something's been worrying Bobby, though. When I asked, he said he was 'protecting his queen' and I got the oddest feeling he wasn't talking about chess but about "me." He wouldn't say anything else.

Do you remember Get Nailed, the beauty salon in Cedar Cove? I still work there. I'll tell you about my friend Rachel, who's got two men interested in her (count 'em, "two"). And I'll let you in on what I've heard about Linnette McAfee, who left town when her love life fell apart. ("That" kind of trouble I know all about.) Come in soon for a manicure and a chat, okay?

Teri ( Miller) Polgar

MY REVIEW
This book continues the Cedar Cove saga, which I really enjoy. Each book concentrates on one set of characters while keeping the other residents of Cedar Cove in the story. The main story line in this book center on Teri and her new husband Bobby, but Olivia, Grace, and all the others are included as well as the introduction of some new characters and new story lines to remember and keep straight in your head as you read. That is the only thing that bothers me about The Cedar Cove books; too many characters and too many story lines. What I do like is that Debbie Macomber briefly recaps the characters and situations (from previous books) in each book in case the reader doesn't read the books one after another. This book ends with some cliffhangers which makes the reader want to go on to #8 in the series.

Starry Night: A Christmas Novel
by Debbie Macomber

Oct 14, 2013  · 

4 of 5 stars

Carrie Slayton, a big-city society-page columnist, longs to write more serious news stories. So her editor hands her a challenge: She can cover any topic she wants, but only if she first scores the paper an interview with Finn Dalton, the notoriously reclusive author.

Living in the remote Alaskan wilderness, Finn has written a mega bestselling memoir about surviving in the wild. But he stubbornly declines to speak to anyone in the press, and no one even knows exactly where he lives.

Digging deep into Finn’s past, Carrie develops a theory on his whereabouts. It is the holidays, but her career is at stake, so she forsakes her family celebrations and flies out to snowy Alaska. When she finally finds Finn, she discovers a man both more charismatic and more stubborn than she even expected. And soon she is torn between pursuing the story of a lifetime and following her heart.

My Review
What I liked about this book was that it was a simple sweet romance book that focused on one plot. I found it to be a quick read which was different from what I have been reading lately.

Some parts were a little unrealistic for me such as falling in love in such a very short period of time,but then again it is a fiction book. I liked how we found out what Finn's life was like before he became a recluse. I liked how Carrie changed all that in a positive way and that the book ended on a happy note. I also could not believe how strong and independent Carrie was to follow through with her mission to find Finn and not to be frightened away when she discovered how he was living and his appearance too. It wouldn't be me doing what she did. I can see there being a sequence written for this book.

A Tap on the Window
by Linwood Barclay

Oct 04, 2013  

5 of 5 stars

Read in October, 2013

I absolutely loved this book!! Linwood Barclay is such a great suspense writer. His books are domestic thrillers with this one being no exception. The main character is Cal Weaver, private investigator. Strange deaths, disappearances of characters, secrets between residents are all part of the crimes going on in Griffon, NY where the book takes place. The book is written in the first person so you feel as if you are solving the crimes with Cal as he goes through his investigations. The reader can only make guesses and learn if they are right as the book progresses. There is another subplot, written in italics, in third person and the reader doesn't learn who the characters involved are in that plot until much later on in the book. The two plots eventually merge into one and it starts to make sense. It just adds to the suspense of the story. Everytime I thought I knew what was going to happen there was a twist. I love reading books with twists. They make it more intriguing. Even though it was a 500 page book it was a quick read. I can't wait until Barclay comes out with his next thriller. He can't write them fast enough for me.

Blindsighted (Grant County, #1)
by Karin Slaughter (Goodreads Author)

Sep 25, 20 13  

5 of 5 stars

bookshelves: new-to-me-authors

This was my first Karin Slaughter book. It was recommended to me since I like to read thrillers involving detectives and crimes. I was not disappointed by this one at all. The book opens up with a murder and of course that is just enough to make the reader want to keep going with the book. There were so many characters which was difficult to keep track of but my list came in handy as I was reading. I like these type of stories because they are page turners and I like to take all the events in the book and try to solve the crimes. Some the crimes in this book were gory and sick but I still liked the book. I also liked the book because there were twists in the plot and that is always captivating to me. I will definitely be reading more of Karin Slaughter's books.

A Seaside Christmas
by Sherryl Woods

Sep 17, 2013  

3 of 5 stars

Read from September 11 to 14, 2013

#1 New York Times bestselling author Sherryl Woods takes you back to Chesapeake Shores for another heartwarming holiday season

As the only child of a single mom, Jenny Collins wanted nothing more than to be part of a large, rambunctious family like the O'Briens. Ironically, though, when her mother married into that family, Jenny found herself feeling more like an outsider than ever.

Now, after years in Nashville as an established songwriter, Jenny's drawn back to Chesapeake Shores to collaborate on a Christmas production, and to make peace with the past. As if that's not challenging enough, Caleb Green, the singer who broke her heart, has followed her to town, determined to win her back.

With the help of a little O'Brien holiday magic, will Jenny and Caleb find a way to make sweet music forever.

MY REVIEW:

This was my first book to read from the Chesapeake Shore Series. I don't know if that is good or bad since it is the newest and I missed everything that lead up to this one. I read this book for a book tour and was lucky enough to read this as an ARC before its release in Oct.

The book has a theme of betrayal and forgiveness. I liked the book because it was an easy read about how the members of a family help and support one another whenever needed in coping with life's ups and downs.I like to read about close knit families. The setting is in a small town which I like to read about also. I liked the outcome of the story since it ended on a happy note.

However, I found the plot to be too simple and predictable with no twists which I like in books. I felt the book was not captivating enough for me. This does not mean I will not go back and read the other books in the series. I would like to learn more about the characters.

READ OTHER REVIEWS FOR THIS BOOK :

Upcoming  BOOK TOUR
 "A Seaside Christmas" by Sherryl Woods

Saturday - September 21st  -  A Book Addicts Musings

Sunday -    September 22nd - My Recent Favorite books

Monday -   Sept. 23rd - Creative Madness Mama

The Time Between
by Karen White

Sep 03, 2013  

3 of 5 stars

bookshelves: 2013-new-authors-for-me

Read in September, 2013

I thought this book was a good story with the theme of betrayal, forgiveness, getting past guilt and moving on with life. I was pleased with the outcome of the story. However, I found myself losing concentration because of the slow pacing of the plot. Why I kept going with it was because I wanted to find out the character's secrets.

This was the first Karen White book I have read. I am willing to read more of her books but if they all go at a slow pace like this one did, then she is not an author for me.

Upcoming  BOOK TOUR
 "A Seaside Christmas" by Sherryl Woods

Friday -     September 20th - PJ's Book Nook

Saturday - September 21st  -  A Book Addicts Musings

Sunday -    September 22nd - My Recent Favorite books

Monday -   Sept. 23rd - Creative Madness Mama

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt
by Beth Hoffman (Goodreads Author)

Aug 24, 2013   

3 of 5 stars

Read from August 10 to 23, 2013

This is not the type of book I usually read but decided to go ahead with it because of the good reviews. This southern charmed book touches on mental illness and its impact on families,
a child's loss of a mother and an unsympathetic father and a renewal of life. The vivid setting takes place in Savannah, Georgia during the racial tension of the 1960s. The author uses plenty of metaphors in this book which makes it easy to picture everything. The characters are stereotyped for the time period and location. Some of them are eccentric which brings quite a bit of humor to the book.

***Spoilers***
Cee Cee is only 12 years old but goes through a lot of different emotions and experiences for her age. Her experiences include worry, happiness, embarrassment, guilt, wonder, revenge, fear, grief, sadness, humor, forgiveness and delight. She learns to see the world through different characters which helps her deal with her life.

There were parts of the book that went kind of slow for me. I am glad I finished it though. I like how it ended for Cee Cee. She finally found peace with all her issues.

6 Rainier Drive (Cedar Cove, #6)
by Debbie Macomber (Goodreads Author)

Aug 22,20 13  ·  

4 of 5 stars

This is my 6th book read from The Cedar Cove Series. I honestly feel like all the characters are my friends. I am learning more and more about each of their lives as I move on through the series. Some are happy moments that I am pleased with and some I am not pleased with. There were marriages, births, reunions, heartache and a scandal in this book. Mysteries were being solved with some surprises for sure. There was a new character introduced into this book which we will learn more about in the next book. Macomber always leaves us with cliffhangers so we can look forward to reading the next book which I will be doing.

Rose Harbor in Bloom (Rose Harbor, #2)
by Debbie Macomber (Goodreads Author)

Aug 20,20 13  

5 of 5 stars

Read from August 17 to 20, 2013

This book is the second book in The Rose Harbor series which is a spinoff from the Cedar Cove Series. Some of the CC characters are revisited in this book.

Rose Harbor in Bloom allows the lives of three women to cross paths. One,Jo Marie, has lost her husband while he is in Afghanistan, but she fears he is still alive. The next woman is Annie who throws a wedding anniversary party for her grandparents and is disappointed when they start fighting like an old married couple. Last but not least is Mary who has cancer and should have married the man of her dreams long ago, but she chose to leave. She now comes back in hopes of settling things before she possibly dies of Cancer.

I found this book to be a quick, touching read. There were emotional parts as well as comical parts.
I enjoyed reading about Mary and George the most. Even though their story was emotional, I was compelled to read about it. The next storyline I liked was Jo Marie's. I was anxious to see if her husband was alive and if not how her life was going to change and if it includes a relationship with Mark who seems to have a past worth looking into. Annie's storyline was the least interesting to me.

Debbie Macomber definitely left some cliffhangers at the end so I am assuming there will be another book in this series. I just hope I don't have to wait a year before it comes out.

The Newcomer (Thunder Point #2)
by Robyn Carr

Aug 09, 2013  

5 of 5 stars

 

Read from August 04 to 09, 2013

I really enjoyed this second book in The Thunder Point Series. I like how Robyn concentrated on the developing relationships from book one. I am happy to see how Mac/Gina and Coop/Sarah's relationships progressed in this book. I felt bad for the teenage relationship between Ashley and Downy. He was nothing but a louse. What Ashley went through was so sad and humiliating. All I can say is that as a parent, I am very fortunate that I didn't have any issues like hers when my kids were teenagers. Teenagers can be so cruel to one another.

It will be interesting to see what happens in the third book of the series which will be out in a few weeks. I am curious as to which way Coop and Sarah's relationship will progress. Also I am interested in finding out how Spencer, Austin and Eric affect the lives of Coop/Sarah and Gina/Mac/Ashley. I am sure that Robyn will introduce more characters as she does in her other books.

Speaking of Robyn, I love her style of writing. She really draws you into the lives of her characters. She brings out all sorts of emotions for the reader as well. I love her book settings. She makes the reader feel that they wished they lived in the small town settings of her books. I especially love the setting of Thunder Point since it is near the ocean.

The Wanderer (Thunder Point, #1)
by Robyn Carr

Aug 06, 2013  

4 of 5 stars

Read from July 17 to 28, 2013

SYNOPSIS:

From Robyn Carr, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the popular Virgin River novels, comes Thunder Point-the highly anticipated new series that will make you laugh, make you sigh, and make you fall in love with a small town filled with people you'll never forget. Nestled on the Oregon coast is a small town of rocky beaches and rugged charm. Locals love the land's unspoiled beauty. Developers see it as a potential gold mine. When newcomer Hank Cooper learns he's been left an old friend's entire beachfront property, he finds himself with a community's destiny in his hands.

Cooper has never been a man to settle in one place, and Thunder Point was supposed to be just another quick stop. But Cooper finds himself getting involved with the town. And with Sarah Dupre, a woman as complicated as she is beautiful.

With the whole town watching for his next move, Cooper has to choose between his old life and a place full of new possibilities. A place that just might be home.

MY THOUGHTS:

I think this new Robyn Carr series is going to be a good one. There were many subplots where all the characters in the series are introduced. It tells about their present lives in Thunder Point and touches on what their earlier lives were like and how it molded them into what they are presently like in the book. There are likeable characters with their promising relationships. I feel like they are friends of mine already. There is one family in particular that I detested and I feel they are going to get what they deserve. I was surprised that we find out in the first book the ending to a mystery that was introduced in the beginning of the book. I thought it would come out later on in the series.

I like the setting of the book because it takes place by the beach and I love the beach. While reading it, I could smell the ocean water and feel the ocean breezes. It also takes place in a small town which I seem to be reading in my choice of books lately.

In a way I was able to connect with this book. One of the characters is in the Coast Guard and my son-in-law is too. He doesn't deal with the search and rescue aspect of it though. When it was mentioned that they get reassigned every few years, I definitely wasn't surprised since I knew that already. One of the ranks that was mentioned was Lieutenant JG and I knew exactly what the was since my son in law was that rank at one point.

I am looking forward to reading The Newcomer which is the next book in the series. I have already started it and am loving it so far.

BOOK TOURS:

I was asked by a friend to be part of a book tour. I had no idea what that meant. After it was explained to me, I said,"sure, why not." A book tour is when a group of people read the same book within a period of time. Each member writes their own review of the book and shares it on their own blog. In turn, all the members' reviews get shared on one another's blog. It's a way to introduce an author and promote their style of writing and the book. By the way, one of the member's of this book tour is the one responsible for getting me hooked on Robyn Carr's books. Thanks Angela!
Speaking of Angela-- she was fortunate to do an interview with Robyn Carr. Lucky her. Read about the interview on her blog.
http://griperangsbookmarks.blogspot.com/

ABOUT ROBYN CARR:

From the Author
|
From Wikipedia

Robyn Carr is a RITA® Award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling author of almost fifty novels, including the critically acclaimed Virgin River series. Her highly anticipated new series, Thunder Point, will be released March 2013. Robyn and her husband live in Las Vegas, Nevada. You can visit Robyn Carr's website at www.RobynCarr.com.

                                 Please join my friends on our Book Tour
                                        for "The Wanderer"!

August 5th  http://griperangsbookmarks.blogspot.com/

August 6th - http://readingnks.blogspot.com/

August 7th - http://p-j-630.blogspot.com/

August 8th - http://www.create-with-joy.com/

50 Harbor Street
by Debbie Macomber (Goodreads Author)

Aug 02, 20 13  

4 of 5 stars

Read from July 30 to August 02, 2013

Debbie Macomber is a good storyteller who creates characters that are real and that readers care about. Although the book focuses mainly on the McAfee's, there are numerous subplots going on as she has done with all the previous books in the series. Macomber will focus on one set of characters in one chapter, another set in the next chapter, yet another set in the next and so on throughout the book which can be confusing. There seems to be no rhyme or reason for which character is featured. I often had to flip back to see what had happened several chapters back. There is a character guide in the front of the book, which is helpful. With so many characters, Macomber does an amazing job of continuity through all the books (this is the fifth in an ongoing series), even referencing things in past books.

In this book, 2 new characters are introduced and I found them both to be trouble and obnoxious. I was happy to see that the mystery that was plaguing Roy and Corrie McAfee in the previous book was finally solved. I had a feeling who the mysterious person involved was and I was right.

I felt sorry for Maryellen and Jon with all the troubles they were having but hopefully the solution to them will help Jon reunite with his parents in the next book.

I felt so bad for Justine and Seth because all their dreams were destroyed by a punk. To think Allison, who is in high school, was in love with this loser. What is wrong with her?

I was happy to see that Grace and Cliff finally got their heads together and got married.

I can go on with my thoughts about the other relationships but I think I will stop here. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

44 Cranberry Point (Cedar Cove, #4)
by Debbie Macomber (Goodreads Author)

4 of 5 stars

Read from July 15 to 22, 2013

This is the 4th book in the Cedar Cove series. I enjoyed learning more about the lives of the inhabitants of Cedar Cove. The 3rd book left the cliff hanger of who killed Maxwell Russell. I am glad we finally find out at the end of this book who it was. I was quite surprised by it. I didn't see it coming even though I should have. I just wish it didn't take the whole book to find out. This book is leaving us with more cliff hangers. I think the most strangest and exciting one is going to be why and who is sending strange messages to Roy and Carrie. I hope it doesn't take the whole next book again to find out.

I am looking forward to reading book 5 in the series. I want to see how the other residents of Cedar Cove continue with their lives. There a lot of questions to be answered. At this point I feel like I live in Cedar Cove which I wouldn't mind living in.

I am so glad I have a list of all the characters in the book and little notes about them. It gets confusing after a while especially since the different subplots intertwine with one another. Each chapter concentrates on one at a time. Just when you are really getting into the subplot, it switches over to another and doesn't show up again until chapters later. So there is a lot of switching back and forth. Quite a few books by different authors use the same technique. I am not sure if I like that but I am compelled to finish reading this series. First because it is now a television series and I am hooked.

Book Tour:THE WANDERER by Robyn Carr  Aug. 5-8 participants:

This will be my first time participating in a book tour.  Stay tuned for upcoming reviews.

  August 5th - http://griperangsbookmarks.blogspot.com/

  August 6th -   http://readingnks.blogspot.com/

 August 7th - http://p-j-630.blogspot.com/

 August 8th - http://www.create-with-joy.com/

311 Pelican Court (Cedar Cove, #3)
by Debbie Macomber (Goodreads Author)

Jul 17, 2013  ·  

4 of 5 stars

Read from July 09 to 12, 2013

I thought this book was good. I was sorry to see that Zach and Rosie got a divorce. I was also surprised by the difficult arrangements for visitation rights. I am glad it caused them to get back together which is very unusual. Also happy to see that Cynthia played a role in bringing Allison back to the way she was before her parents divorce.

I don't like Stan at all. Who is he to think that he can march right back into Olivia's life after divorcing her years ago.

I am not thrilled that you are left hanging about the mystery of the dead man at the Bed and Breakfast, but I know Macomber left it as a cliffhanger so that you will find out in the next book in the series.

I was happy to see that Olivia finally married Jack. Their courtship was way too drawn out in the series.

I was glad to see that Grace finally found something worthwhile in her life.

Looking forward to how the characters' lives continue in the next book in the series.

Looking for Me

Looking for Me
by Beth Hoffman (Goodreads Author)

Jul 06, 2013  ·  

5 of 5 stars

bookshelves: 2013-new-authors-for-me

Read from July 03 to 06, 2013

I loved this book. It was vividly written with likeable characters. I was able to picture the settings, characters, and scenery so easily because of the vividness of the author's writing. To name a few themes, it's a story about love, hopes, loss, and fulfilling dreams. It's also a story about family life and the ups and downs of life in general. I felt different emotions while reading this book. I like when books do that for me. Even though I would like to discuss parts of the book with others, I don't want to discuss story details in this review because I don't want to spoil it for those who haven't read the book yet. I highly recommend it. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

palisades park

Palisades Park
by Alan Brennert (Goodreads Author) 

5 of 5 stars

Read from June 21 to 30, 2013

I loved this book. First of all, I think every New Jersey girl would like it. It brought back memories of Palisades Park for me. Olympic Park and Coney Island were other places in the book and I certainly have fond memories especially of Coney Island. I was familiar with all the town names too.

The book was definitely a historical saga taking place between the 1930s and early 1970s. The author included events such as what it was like during wartime, problems of segregation and the hardships of life during those years.

The characters were very real to me and the author did a lot of research for this book to make it as real as possible. There was a combination of happiness, sadness, and determination with the characters.

I feel the message that was being conveyed was always follow your dreams and don't let anyone or anything stop you from achieving them.

I am looking forward to reading other books written by this author.

204 Rosewood Lane (Cedar Cove, #2)
by Debbie Macomber (Goodreads Author)

Jun 20, 20 13  ·  

4 of 5 stars

Read from June 14 to 20, 2013

I thought this second book in the Cedar Cove series was good. It delves more into the complicated lives of the inhabitants of Cedar Cove. Without giving too much away, we finally find out what happened to Dan, Grace's husband. It was a little too dragged out for me. I kind of wish I didn't have to wait until the end of this book to find out about his sad story. It brought tears to my eyes.

As far as the other couples go, I am still curious which way their lives are going. Every one of them has some hurdle to overcome when it comes to either their marriage, separation, divorce, and their new budding romance and just life in general. A new couple is introduced into this book and of course they end up having marriage problems too. In their case, I feel the wife, Rosie, is the total cause of the problem. She always found her activities outside the home came first before her husband, Zac, and the kids. Not a good thing.

I see that the third book, in the series, will concentrate on this new introduced couple. Of course the other couples continuing stories will go on too. I am curious to read on and see what happens to all of them.

16 Lighthouse Road (Cedar Cove, #1)
by Debbie Macomber (Goodreads Author)

Jun 13, 2013 

5 of 5 stars

Read from June 08 to 13, 2013

I started to read this Cedar Cove book because starting this summer, The Hallmark Channel will have a series called Cedar Cove and I wanted to try to read the books first. I know I won't get them all done in time, but whatever I can get done will help.

I really liked this book even though there were so many characters in it. I had to write notes about each one so I wouldn't mix them up which I have done before in other books I have read. The book focuses on the lives of 5 people and the things that are going on in their troubled lives. So there are 5 subplots. Debbie Macomber wrote the book in such a way that she keeps jumping back and forth between subplots. There were heartbreaking situations as well as positive outcomes.

I liked most of the characters, but Justine was getting on my nerves because of her inability to make decisions. I thought it was pretty obvious about her future. I wanted to hit her on the head and tell her to wake up. I felt sorry for Grace and it should be interesting to see how things progress for her in the next book. I was happy that Cecelia and Ian were working out their differences thanks to Olivia. It's too early to make comments about the lives of Charlotte and Olivia.

I am looking forward to book 2 in the series---204 Rosewood Lane. It should be interesting to see how life continues for the characters. I think Cedar Cove would be a nice place to live.

5 out of 5 stars

status	Read from June 03 to 08, 2013
review	I loved this 5th book in the Virgin River Series just like the first 4 books in the series. Even though it has been months since I read book 4, Robyn Carr has a subtle way of incorporating the previous characters and events so that each book in the series brings the reader back to the preceding books. In this book new characters and relationships are introduced. As always, I enjoyed learning about the new ones and how they interacted with the other Virgin River characters. As like her other book...more

Starting Now (Blossom Street, #9)
by Debbie Macomber (Goodreads Author)

Jun 02,20 13  

5 of 5 stars

Read from May 29 to June 01, 2013

Even though this was book 9 of The Blossom Street series, it definitely can be read alone. I have only read a few from that series(which was a while ago) and there was no problem about reading this one.

I loved this pleasant book. I was drawn right in due to the storyline. The book definitely held my attention and I wanted to keep reading to find out what the outcome of each situation would be. There were very touching and emotional parts. I loved all the characters except for Ava's grandmother but she was a victim of her own circumstances. The book showed how life can have its ups and downs but you are the one who chooses to take things into your own hands. It also shows what the important things in life really are. I was pleased with the outcome of the story. I am actually enjoying Debbie Macomber's more recent books than her older ones. Looking forward to the next one.

Right Next Door (The Courtship of Carol Sommars & Father's Day)
by Debbie Macomber (Goodreads Author)

May 28, 2013   

4 of 5 stars

I liked this book that had 2 stories in one because even though it was a romance book it was heartwarming and filled with romance and human relationships without subjecting the reader to a bunch of hot erotica scenes. The stories were fun loving and a relaxing read for me and I didn't have to think about what I was reading just read. Both stories have to do with single parenting, so they are good to read for all single parents if you are one. The stories had happy endings which is always nice to read.

Undead and Unappreciated (Undead, #3)
by MaryJanice Davidson (Goodreads Author)

May 28, 20 13  ·  

4 of 5 stars

Read from May 26 to 28, 2013

This was a new genre for me--paranormal. It was the 3rd book in the series. I picked this one up because I couldn't get #1 or #2 and I needed to read this genre to meet a challenge. I must say it was definitely different than what I am used to reading. I was a little confused at the beginning because of the vampire aspect. I wasn't sure if all the characters were vampires because they had non vampire characteristics. The main one, Betsy, was able to be awake during the day as well as be a vampire at night. I had to go onto GR and read the synopsis for book 1 and 2 to learn what had transpired in their lives to get them to where they were in this book even though the book hinted at the events that lead up to where they were. After doing that I understood the book better. When I think of vampires I think of really gory things going on and it wasn't this way at all in this book. Yes, there was some but it was done in a humorous way. The book was a fast enjoyable read which I liked.

Whiskey Beach
by Nora Roberts

May 25, 2013  ·  

4 of 5 stars

Read from May 19 to 25, 2013

I am giving this book 4*. I thought it was good. NR is great at her descriptive writing. The setting is a place that I wouldn't mind living in since it takes place at the beach. The house was intriguing too. I liked reading how Abra helped Eli get his life back to normal after suffering the trauma he did in losing his wife and having family members in danger. I liked how all the pieces of the crime and the solving of it were summed up at the end of the book. It was a happily ever ending book which is always nice to read. However, I thought it was a little too long with too many unnecessary details. I feel it didn't have too many twists like some mystery books have. The capturing of the suspect came off a little too easy and too quickly. I thought more of a struggle should have been involved. All in all NR is a great writer.

The Secret Life of Bees
by Sue Monk Kidd

May 18, 2013  

3 of 5 stars

bookshelves: 2013-new-authors-for-me

Read from May 15 to 18, 2013

I give this book 3 1/2 stars. I thought it was a good book.
It's got a little bit of everything: family drama, segregation, friendship, romance, religion, beekeeping within it and I thought it was interesting how the author compared the bee's life to a person's life. The part I was not thrilled with were the religious parts. I could not relate to them at all since I am not a follower of the talked about religion. I kind of tuned out when those parts were included.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder (Hannah Swensen, #1)
by Joanne Fluke

May 14, 2013  ·  edit

4 of 5 stars

This was the first book I have read by Joanne Fluke. It's also the first book in the Hannah Swensen mystery series and has some yummy recipes in it. There are 14 other books in the series. I will read them eventually. I liked the story. Even though it was a murder mystery it wasn't as intense as others I have read. There was some humor in it too. I also liked all the characters.

This book also had a short story in it which I liked too. There was a message in it. Never judge a person on what you heard about them. Meet them yourself first and see if you like them.