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.