We Were On a Break

❤❤❤❤

Is it a break? Or is it a blip? 'You've just had a holiday,' I pointed out, trying not to yawn. 'Wasn't that enough of a break?' 'I don't mean that kind of break.' There's nothing worse than the last day of holiday. Oh wait, there is. When what should have been a proposal turns into a break, Liv and Adam find themselves on opposite sides of the life they had mapped out. Friends and family all think they're crazy; Liv throws herself into work - animals are so much simpler than humans - and Adam tries to get himself out of the hole he's dug. But as the short break becomes a chasm, can they find a way back to each other? Most importantly, do they want to?

This may be a book that is mostly enjoyed by the quit young> I'm older (maybe 20 years older than the main characters)and I did not find this a funny book at all. What I did find was that this was a sad look into dating and I am thanking goodness that I don't have to do it anymore. I also found this to be a book filled with...er...fillers. Constant reiterating of what was happening/had happened. It held my interest enough for me to finish it and I would recommend this to a younger crowd, but other than that, I would not put this in my 'to be re-read' pile. *ARC Supplied by publisher

Mulberry Moon by Catherine Anderson

 ❤❤❤

The New York Times bestselling author of New Leaf returns to Mystic Creek, Oregon, where a wounded heart finds a place to call home. . . .  After a career on the rodeo circuit, Ben Sterling longs to settle down on his farm and start a family like his brothers. He’s searched all over for the woman of his dreams. Yet the only one to spark his interest is the new owner of the local café. Getting her attention, however, won’t be easy. Sissy Sue Bentley has worked hard to make it on her own, and she doesn’t need another man in her life. From her alcoholic father to the men she’s dated, who were after only one thing, they are nothing but trouble. Except Ben keeps showing up whenever she really needs help. Sissy struggles to deny her growing feelings for him—but soon Ben’s tender concern has her hoping for a happier future. Then her past comes barreling back into her life, and it will take more than the love in Ben’s heart to hold them together. 

Well it looks as though I am going to be one of the very few not as enamored of this books as all the others. I know that Ms Anderson writes some very sweet romances (I adored her book Blue Skies to the point that I've worn the backing away). 

But this book just made the heroine Sissy into a very childlike (and for me unrealistic and nearly unlikable creature -come on? A Pack Rat???) and Ben into a 'prince charming'; again unrealistic outside of a Christian romance. I understand that Sissy was abused to some point (and you will find that point near the ending of the book), it was hinted at all though out the book. I also understand that Ben does not want to hook up to any woman that doesn't share his likes and dislikes. I found this to be unrealistic and a bit on the cruel side - he wanted his women to adore his animals; ALL of his animals as much as he did and he wouldn't settle for anyone who merely liked them - with him it was all or nothing. I do NOT like characters that 'give' ultimatums -on either side. This is what I felt Ben to be doing with his other relationships.

This book felt to me as if it had been hurriedly written with a lot of thinking about sex and once you get to the act it was like a deflated balloon -disappointing. Don;'t get me wrong, I don't like or dislike sex in books- this just seemed to be especially poorly written and not engaging at all.

Had I read about Ben's chest just one more time - I would have tossed my Kindle out of the window.

*ARC supplied by publisher.

Dr. Do-or-Die (Doctors in Danger #2)by Lara Lacombe

Book Description: Two doctors are on thin ice as they race to save the world from a deadly disease.
Epidemic researcher Dr. Avery Thatcher has studied countless illnessesbut nothing prepares her for what she finds at a remote Antarctic base: the man she never wanted to see again and a mysterious ailment ravaging inhabitants. Avery will do whatever it takes to discover the illness's cause, and she vows to keep her heartbreaking history with Dr. Grant Jones in the pasteven if reignited passion brings them dangerously close.
For Grant, ending this outbreak and regaining Avery's trust are vital. As their hunt to contain a lethal pathogen escalates, he'll put everything on the line to avert disaster. But will another insidious threat stop them both cold?" 

❤❤❤  

Quit simply, this was a very typical Harlequin romance with the added quirk that it was set in Antarctica. The idea that the CDC is involved and that our heroine is a hot-shot doctor FOR the CDC even at such a young age, is even better but again, Harlequin can be contrary that way LOL! 

While the plot may be difficult to swallow (terrorism via an ice core sample from the Antarctic)it is not ALL that difficult to swall and the author did a great jopb in making me beleive that it can really happen. The plot was a little cliched (what's new?) and the rest of the story had the proper amount of the angst that Harlequin is famous for, rapid character growth ( because the books are so short) and a set up for the next book in this trilogy (series?).


*ARC Supplied by publisher

Days Like These by Sue Margolis

👎🏻

"Book Description: In the new novel from the author of Losing Me, one woman is about to discover what happens when you take the “grand” out of “grandma.”
Recently widowed, Judy Schofield jumps at the chance to look after her two grandchildren for six weeks while their parents are out of the country. After all, she’s already raised her own daughter—and quite successfully, if she may say so herself. But all it takes is a few days of private school functions, helicopter parents, video games, and never-ending Frozen sing-alongs for Judy to feel she’s in over her head. As weeks become months, Judy feels more and more like an outsider among all the young mothers with their parenting theories du jour, especially when she gets on the wrong side of the school’s snooty alpha mom. But finding a friend in another grandmother—and a man who takes her mind off all the stress—almost makes it worthwhile. She just needs to take it one incomprehensible homework assignment and one major meltdown at a time. . . ".

I thought that this book would be right up my alley. An older woman taking care of her grandchildren while her daughter and son-in-law leave the country to help an impoverished nation through a tragedy of massive destruction. I thought that this would be a humorous read per the books description - what with an older woman trying to fit in with the modern idea of raising a family and instead I found it to be a book about taking sides, class distinction, no humor to be found and more neurosis than you can shake a stick at. Very unoriginal and done with little finesse.

What I did take away from this book is that the parents of these children are quite selfish for putting their careers ahead of their family. I DO understand that what they did was extremely altruistic and I should be admiring them, but I did not. These parents are already helping people just by being Dr.’s and one could have left to tend to this devastated country while the other stayed home and then switched places.

I also realize that if both parents hadn’t left at the same time, there would be no book. 

The Britishisms and slang started to get on my nerves and I had to use my dictionary more times than I spent reading the actual novel. Yes, this book was by a Brit author, I GET IT. But seriously if a book is going to be marketed to the USA then tone down *some* of the Brit speak please. 

I also found the character’s to be very annoying, dislikable, selfish, spoiled, one dimensional and a bit clichéd. So was the plot (what there was of a plot). Some authors can do a wonderful job of writing simply about the days in the lives of their characters with nothing guiding these character’s but to get to the end of the book -this was not one of these books.

I could go on about why I thought that this wasn’t a good book, but it IS a good book, and therefore why I gave it a higher star rating than I normally would have. However, it was just not for someone like me (who is actually the age of the Grandmother) who was raised to believe that family came first in most cases; a career (both mothers AND fathers) came in second. Not always, but mostly.

*ARC supplied by publisher.

The Obsession by Nora Roberts

The riveting new novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Liar.

👎🏻

Book Description:

“She stood in the deep, dark woods, breath shallow and cold prickling over her skin despite the hot, heavy air. She took a step back, then two, as the urge to run fell over her.” 

Naomi Bowes lost her innocence the night she followed her father into the woods. In freeing the girl trapped in the root cellar, Naomi revealed the horrible extent of her father’s crimes and made him infamous. No matter how close she gets to happiness, she can’t outrun the sins of Thomas David Bowes.

Now a successful photographer living under the name Naomi Carson, she has found a place that calls to her, a rambling old house in need of repair, thousands of miles away from everything she’s ever known. Naomi wants to embrace the solitude, but the kindly residents of Sunrise Cove keep forcing her to open up—especially the determined Xander Keaton. 

Naomi can feel her defenses failing, and knows that the connection her new life offers is something she’s always secretly craved. But the sins of her father can become an obsession, and, as she’s learned time and again, her past is never more than a nightmare away."

REVIEW:ONE STAR

This book is so much like The Witness that I wonder if Ms Roberts is just using a template and filling in a few (very few) new details.  This book starts off with and interesting premise, though a little clichéd. 

A young girl follows her father through the woods on a moonless night expecting to find a hidden treat for her Birthday and finds something completely horrible instead.  Naturally this colors her life from then on.  Now other women in Naomi’s new neighborhood are falling victim to the same thing.  Is there a serial killer on the loose?  Or a stalker?

Sounds good, right?  Well this book would have been if ¾ of it hadn’t been taken up with DIY details on the new ‘old’ house she bought.  It would have been better without the endless repetitious details on repairing this house and let us not forget the details on the meals she cooked for the new man in her life. Let us also not forget that this man is so dislikable, he is almost to the point of being caricature of the Alpha male in werewolf books!

The dialogue is tedious and written in a very odd style.   When I read, I want to ‘hear’ inflection and emotion in the characters’ voices.  In this book, nobody (and I do mean nobody) had any inflection, emotion, no tone of voice.  They are talking about murder but could have been talking about the price of milk for all the emotion that was put into the dialogue.

Then there is the problem with this book being written in what I call -text speak.  It seems like extraneous words and punctuation are left out.  There is an over use of commas instead of inserting a simple ‘and’ where appropriate.  We have sentences like these:

“That got your attention. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I have to keep pressure on it.” Xander fixed his mouth on hers. “I have to hurt you. I’m sorry.”

Or this doozy:

“She took Harry’s hand as Xander carried her.  “When did you come? How did you get here so fast?” “Private jet. We’ve got connections…”

All in all, I feel sorry for all the readers who paid the asking price for this book.  I’m lucky that I got it during a sale and only paid 5 bucks or I would have had to have returned it and gotten my money back.

I feel so ashamed for Ms Roberts. Then I must wonder, did she even write this tripe or did someone else do the honors? 

The Whole Town's Talking by Fannie Flagg

Book Overview:

Elmwood Springs, Missouri, is a small town like any other, but something strange is happening at the cemetery. Still Meadows, as it’s called, is anything but still. Original, profound, The Whole Town’s Talking, a novel in the tradition of Thornton Wilder’s Our Town and Flagg’s own Can’t Wait to Get to Heaven, tells the story of Lordor Nordstrom, his Swedish mail-order bride, Katrina, and their neighbors and descendants as they live, love, die, and carry on in mysterious and surprising ways.
Lordor Nordstrom created, in his wisdom, not only a lively town and a prosperous legacy for himself but also a beautiful final resting place for his family, friends, and neighbors yet to come. “Resting place” turns out to be a bit of a misnomer, however. Odd things begin to happen, and it starts the whole town talking.
With her wild imagination, great storytelling, and deep understanding of folly and the human heart, the beloved Fannie Flagg tells an unforgettable story of life, afterlife, and the remarkable goings-on of ordinary people. In The Whole Town’s Talking, she reminds us that community is vital, life is a gift, and love never dies.

If anyone likes Fannie Flagg or thought provoking, light fiction -I just finished (and turned right around to read it again)The Whole Town's Talking

What a sweet and entirely thought provoking book. This is written in very short chapters by many different points of view and spans time from the founding of this town in the 1880's to 2021 and the generations that come from the (Swedish and German)founding fathers. There really is no plot (well two tiny mysteries, but they are more of an aside) and this is written in an almost diary type style with no ones voice any louder than any others. This is simply a novel about the founding, growth, happiness of a town and its inhabitants.

Funny at times, sad at others I imagine that you'll be as surprised at the ending as I was and then sent into a what if mood.



But I think it's worth it - I may even read it for a third time over the weekend.

It is the perfect calming book - no chase scenes or sword fights, no great angst or lust filled sex scenes, just quiet loves and lives lived to the fullest. Not always the best of lives; just the fullest.


*ARC Supplied by publisher.

Miracle on 5th Avenue by Sarah Morgan

Book Description:

“Look for Miracle on 5th Avenue, the exciting new novel from Sarah Morgan, available from HQN books Nov 29, 2016. Pre-order your copy today!

It will take a Christmas miracle for two very different souls to find each other in this perfectly festive fairy tale of New York! 
Hopeless romantic Eva Jordan loves everything about Christmas. She might be spending the holidays alone this year, but when she's given an opportunity to house-sit a spectacular penthouse on Fifth Avenue, she leaps at the chance. What better place to celebrate than in snow-kissed Manhattan? What she didn't expect was to find the penthouse still occupied by its gorgeous—and mysterious—owner. 
Bestselling crime writer Lucas Blade is having the nightmare before Christmas. With a deadline and the anniversary of his wife's death looming, he's isolated himself in his penthouse with only his grief for company. He wants no interruptions, no decorations and he certainly doesn't appreciate being distracted by his beautiful, bubbly new housekeeper. But when the blizzard of the century leaves Eva snowbound in his apartment, Lucas starts to open up to the magic she brings…This Christmas, is Lucas finally ready to trust that happily-ever-afters do exist?”

If you love your hero’s dark and brooding, and your heroines perky and uplifting, then this is going to be the perfect read for you.

This book was a perfect book for a quick holiday read -although very dark and down on the part of Lucas, it was light and perky on the part of Eva.  It should balance things out for readers quite nicely.

Unless you are like me and need the heroine (Eva) to have some flaws.  If I think deeply enough Eva may have just one flaw and that is the need do what is best for those around her.  Flaw? No, not really.  Annoying?  For me yes it was.  She was just too perfect for me.

This quote pretty much says it all about any book we read >>>” Characters in books are more believable if they’re no black-and-white. The all-good person is boring to read about and the all-bad person makes readers roll their eyes because the truth is there is good and bad in all of us and it’s what brings out the good and the bad that makes for interesting reading.”

The story itself does not suffer from what I consider Eva’s overly solicitous and uber happy outlook on life and seeming naiveté.  The only thing that suffered because of this was me.  I’m a little too cynical to believe that anyone is this perfect.

Don’t let my complaint color your choice of book -this was a very good book with complex character’s, a great, though predictable, story line and a requisite HEA.

*ARC supplied by publisher.

A Whole Latte Murder by Caroline Fardig

A Whole Latte Murder -A Java Jive Mystery

By Caroline Fardig

Book Description/Synopsis:
“Coffeehouse manager and reluctant sleuth Juliet Langley returns in a gripping novel from the bestselling author of Death Before Decaf and Mug Shot. Just as things are perking up in Nashville, a serial killer sends tensions foaming over. Juliet’s personal and professional lives have recently received an extra jolt of energy. Her romance with the hunky detective Ryder Hamilton continues to simmer, and business at Java Jive has never been better. But her good mood quickly turns as stale as day-old espresso when she finds out that Ryder has been promoted to his precinct’s homicide division. With him risking his life to catch the worst kind of criminals, Juliet’s growing sense of unease ignites when a local college student goes missing. Suddenly every Nashville resident is on high alert, especially Juliet’s neighbor Chelsea. Juliet does her best to calm the girl’s nerves, but her worst fears are confirmed when she finds Chelsea dead. Even though she tries her best to stay out of it, Juliet’s involvement puts a strain on Ryder’s first homicide case.  The situation soon becomes even more personal for Juliet and her best friend Pete Bennett when one of their employees disappears during her shift. As a killer lurks in the shadows, Juliet, Pete, and Ryder seek out a double shot of justice.”

I have read only two of the three books in this series; the first one I never finished because it just didn’t live up to the hype and was a little too similar to other series.  It had many issues and I had hoped that the author would have dealt with them.  Unfortunately, she did not and the issues got worse as this her newest novel, went along.

Don’t get me wrong, this is a perfectly acceptable light mystery read if you don’t mind a main character who is whiny, immature, overly impulsive and oft times condescending.  She has a foul mouth, blames all of her problems with her temper on having red hair and she tries too hard to act like she is twenty when she is supposed to be a fairly mature character in her 30’s.

The plot to this book was a pretty complicated one featuring many red-herrings.  The biggest mistake is that Juliet’s relationships took up more pages than the actual mystery. The main male character and Juliet’s lover (Ryder), became very dislikable in this book.  I know that from my past reading that he is dealing with (and not very well) the death of his wife and a lot will be explained and solved in this book, so that explains a lot of his poor behavior…but still.  You   have to be willing to read the whole novel to see how this all works out.

 To add insult to injury - there is now a third man in Juliet’s life.  The best part is that this book doesn’t have any sex in it - yet.  But I suspect that given a little time this will become just like the Stephanie Plum series (author Janet Evanovich).  As it is this series is a little too reminiscent of author Cleo Coyle’s Coffee House series, but without the panache and believable characters and themes.

In one aspect, this book ends with a bit of a cliff hanger. No, not with the mystery, but with Ryder and Juliet’s relationship and with Ryder’s job.

This is a fine cotton-candy read (much lighter and more forgettable than a potato-chip read) that won’t tax your brain, but may frustrate the heck out of you!

*ARC supplied by publisher.

The Other Sister by Dianne Dixon

One sister has everything. Her twin hates her for it.Would life be better without Ali? Probably. At least then people might think about Morgan. Ali's always gotten everything — she doesn't even realize how much Morgan resents her.
Ali also doesn't realize that when she shuts Morgan out entirely, she will unleash a chain of events that show just how dangerous the underside of love really is. As their lives spin toward something neither one of them can control, a terrifying crime reveals how those who know us best can destroy us...or save us.

Is this truly written about adults? Is it really written BY an adult??? I am really not enjoying the way this was written what with choppy chapters, a lack of character development, moving to something new with no explanations or closure, the immaturity of the character's - there is a distinct lack of vital information in the beginning -although I'm hoping that some of this is explained later in the book. (one moment dressed the next moment with no description -naked -then running naked to scream and hurt sister? Ugh.) I think the idea of twin sisters who really aren't twins, with one being the beautiful popular one and one being the plain boring one that becomes psychotic, has been done to death. Then again they both feel psychotic to me. Add in a boyfriend who seems to be less/more than what he appears to be and you have trite and cliched storytelling. Frankly, I have given it more than 100 pages and I am tempted to give up. There is just so much time and too many books.  *ARC  Supplied by publisher

Mistletoe Cottage (Harmony Harbor) by Debbie Mason

Mistletoe Cottage (Harmony Harbor) by Debbie Mason

"'Tis the seaon for love . . . Sophie DiRossi loved growing up in Harmony Harbor. But after fleeing in disgrace many years ago, it is the last place she wants to be. Left homeless by a fire, she's forced to go back to the small coastal town that harbors a million secrets, including her own. Sophie sees this secret reflected every day in her daughter's blue eyes-and she must keep it hidden from the only man she has ever loved.
Sophie's return is a shock for everyone . . . especially Liam Gallagher. The firefighter had some serious feelings for Sophie-and seeing her again sparks a desire so fierce it takes his breath away. Now Liam will do whatever it takes to show Sophie that they deserve a second chance at love, even if everything they've concealed threatens to keep them apart. In this special town at this special time of the year, Sophie and Liam can only hope for a little holiday magic..." 

If ever a book needed to come with a warning, this one should have.  The warning?  “Lies beget lies.”  And this book and this town was filled with them.  Everyone seems to have a big secret and/or lie following them around so I can see this as a fairly long running series.  And that may be a good thing because this was one of the most enjoyable books I have read in a very long time.  It is going to be interesting just exactly what everyone is hiding.

 Mistletoe Cottage might make you frustrated and even make you dislike Sophie a bit for not coming clean (but then it would be a different book), it may frustrate you that her daughter is, eventually, using her PTST as a sort of weapon.  (I can understand, it but I didn’t have to like it). You may become frustrated with Liam for not getting the help he needs (and for the author to not have delved into Liam’s issue a tad more).

You may need a scorecard to keep everyone straight -there are a lot of character’s and I mean a lot.

 I loved the biggest bomb that I never once saw coming.  Total shock!

 I loved that this book dealt with the issues like it was ‘real life’ and not a fictional novel. 

I loved this book…period.

*ARC supplied by publisher.

The Lullaby Sky - Carolyn Brown

Description
After seven years of misery and abuse, it’s all over—Hannah O’Malley is officially divorced. Hallelujah. It’s like every Christmas in her life all rolled up into one glorious day. Not only does Hannah get to keep her grandmother’s spacious old house, but she has full custody of her sparky five-year-old daughter. All Hannah has to do now is put the past behind her.
And now that she’s free, she wants to make a difference. With the help of her warm, close-knit circle of friends—including her high school crush, Travis Wilson—Hannah begins turning her home into a safe house for other women who’ve endured the pain she’s known. But even as life and laughter return to Hannah’s home, she’s haunted by the memory of her dangerously unstable ex. With a second chance at love on the horizon, Hannah must face down her past in order to let the sunshine back into her life.

When this author was new and fresh to me, I found that I loved her work. I was thrilled to read her newest work. However it might have been that it was what I was was choosing that kept me so happy. But the last few books I have read are so similar in theme that wonder why I am even bothering with reading them. I can tell exactly how it is going to proceed and end. 

The Lullaby Sky is the traditional 'Southern small town abused by rotten husband woman becomes strong but has a poop load of friends to help her recover and who stand behind her and a totally hot man who loves her - but 'secretly' story.

I don't remember the author using this much preaching in her last books - but I read so much that maybe she did and I just didn't notice.



*ARC supplied by publisher

The Chang's vs the World

 

Charles Wang is mad at America. A brash, lovable immigrant businessman who built a cosmetics empire and made a fortune, he’s just been ruined by the financial crisis. Now all Charles wants is to get his kids safely stowed away so that he can go to China and attempt to reclaim his family’s ancestral lands—and his pride.
Charles pulls Andrew, his aspiring comedian son, and Grace, his style-obsessed daughter, out of schools he can no longer afford. Together with their stepmother, Barbra, they embark on a cross-country road trip from their foreclosed Bel-Air home to the upstate New York hideout of the eldest daughter, disgraced art world it-girl Saina. But with his son waylaid by a temptress in New Orleans, his wife ready to defect for a set of 1,000-thread-count sheets, and an epic smash-up in North Carolina, Charles may have to choose between the old world and the new, between keeping his family intact and finally fulfilling his dream of starting anew in China.
Outrageously funny and full of charm, The Wangs vs. the World is an entirely fresh look at what it means to belong in America—and how going from glorious riches to (still name-brand) rags brings one family together in a way money never could.

This was a very unique and mind boggling book, and by unique I mean that if you love books that have a lot of passages that needs a translator but didn't have one, is full of shallow characters (that do grow a bit, but are still shallow) and seems to be written by a biased, prejudiced against 'white people' author - then this book might be right up your alley. This books description also promises that this would be a humorous book - no, not so much. The idea was a good one and that is why I picked this book - a rich family has to learn what it is like to be poor due to a bankruptcy and they need to do so on a cross-country trip. Spoiler, sort of>>>>does this book have a conclusion? Not really; at least not a satisfying one. In my opinion, it was more like the last episode of Newhart or the dream episode from Dallas (if you are old enough to remember those shows!) I started this book with my whole heart and full attention and ended up after about 40% just skimming a lot of it until something actually happened. Or until they switched back to English. ARC supplied by publisher

A Change of Heart

Overview
“A rising talent.” —BooklistDr. Nikhil 'Nic' Joshi had it all—marriage, career, purpose. Until, while working for Doctors Without Borders in a Mumbai slum, his wife, Jen, discovered a black market organ transplant ring. Before she could expose the truth, Jen was killed.
Two years after the tragedy, Nic is a cruise ship doctor who spends his days treating seasickness and sunburn and his nights in a boozy haze. On one of those blurry evenings on deck, Nic meets a woman who makes a startling claim: she received Jen’s heart in a transplant and has a message for him. Nic wants to discount Jess Koirala’s story as absurd, but there’s something about her reckless desperation that resonates despite his doubts.
Jess has spent years working her way out of a nightmarish life in Calcutta and into a respectable Bollywood dance troupe. Now she faces losing the one thing that matters—her young son, Joy.  She needs to uncover the secrets Jen risked everything for; but the unforeseen bond that results between her and Nic is both a lifeline and a perilous complication.
Delving beyond the surface of modern Indian-American life, acclaimed author Sonali Dev’s page-turning novel is both riveting and emotionally rewarding—an extraordinary story of human connection, bravery, and hope.  

This was an intensely cruel book that borders on being a horror novel and not a love story. Had I known more about this book I would have never chosen it. The characters - one who is trying to escape (Dr. Nikhil by drink) his horrid past and the other trying to save her young son, by pretending to have the heart of Nikhils' deceased wife - are truly shallow, however they do grow and change. Unfortunately it takes the entire book to do so. I don't think I have ever felt such anger when reading a book that should not have war warranted it. ARC supplied by pubisher

Like a Bee to Honey (The Honeybee Sisters #3)

Overview

Affectionately dubbed The Honeybee Sisters in their Wisconsin Amish community, the three Christner girls are devoted beekeepers who are coming-of-age—and discovering the sweet surprise of love…  Shy, skittish Rose Christner is more comfortable tending to the beehives on the family farm and keeping her aunt’s unruly cats in line than attending social gatherings with the rest of the die youngie. A childhood trauma and secret shame keep her heart under lock and key, and Rose just can’t accept the sweet attention she’s receiving from a handsome neighbor. But the more she shies away from Josiah Yoder, the more their families sneakily plot to bring them together. And when a vandal who’s been plaguing the Honeybee Farm starts targeting Rose, Josiah’s steadfast protection—and patience—just may lead her into his waiting arms…

This is a difficult review for me to write. I am not going to change how I feel about this book, just because I got the book from the publisher. Personally I didn't like this book and I really disliked the protagonist. One needs to read the entire book (an the first two books in the trilogy) to see why she is the way she is (timid, weepy, over-anxious to please, for me- annoying). This fact made this a very difficult book for me to read. I understand that the Amish culture is different, but humans are humans and I just can't get over the guilt that this woman was allowed to carry and how it stunted her. The author tried too hard and too obviously to pull on my heart-strings. *ARC supplied by publisher

Sunset in Central Park

Overview

In the chaos of New York, true love can be hard to find, even when it's been right under your nose all along…Love has never been a priority for garden designer Frankie Cole. After witnessing the fallout of her parents' divorce, she's seen the devastation an overload of emotion can cause. The only man she feels comfortable with is her friend Matt—but that's strictly platonic. If only she found it easier to ignore the way he makes her heart race…
Matt Walker has loved Frankie for years but, sensing how fragile she is beneath her feisty exterior, has always played it cool. But then he uncovers new depths to the girl he's known forever and doesn't want to wait a moment longer. He knows Frankie has secrets and has buried them deep, but can Matt persuade her to trust him with her heart and kiss him under the Manhattan sunset?

 
👍👍👍

The is no reason why you would HAVE to read the first book in this series (trilogy?) since this can be seen as a stand alone book. This was a mildly enjoyable romance novel that follows the formula to a T. The heroine is full of self-recrimination, distrusts men to the point that she is obsessive and panics whenever a man comes to talk to her. However, not with her male friend of many years (naturally) a friend that she, of course has the hots for and he for her. A little (okay a LOT) of angst, self-recrimination and over the top (to me) and lengthy inner-dialogue. Any character growth that happens will be with Frankie and it will happen just in the last tenth of the book. On a happy note for those that care, even though it takes Frankie and Matt more than 50% nearly 60% of the book to consummate their relationship, it was quite steamy. Things naturally clear up for the ending. *ARC supplied by ppublisher

Drone Threat (A Troy Pearce Novel)

Book Description:

Troy Pearce and his team of drone experts are called to action when ISIS launches a series of attacks on U.S. soil. On the eve of President Lane’s historic Asian Security Summit, a hobby-store quadcopter lands on the White House lawn carrying a package and an ominous threat: Fly the enclosed black flag of ISIS over the White House by noon today or suffer the consequences. The threat further promises that every day the flag isn’t flown a new attack will be launched, each deadlier than the first.
President Lane refuses to comply with the outrageous demand, but the first drone attacks, sending a shudder through the U.S. economy. With few options available and even fewer clues, President Lane unleashes Troy Pearce and his Drone Command team to find and stop the untraceable source of the destabilizing attacks. But the terror mastermind proves more elusive and vindictive than any opponent Pearce has faced before . . . and if Pearce fails, the nation will suffer an unimaginable catastrophe on its soil or be forced into war.

This was the 4th book in a series -while I would have loved to have read the first three to get me up to speed, it wasn't truly necessary.  Feel  fairly confident that you can read this as a stand-alone.  The characters are well fleshed and the back-ground was filled in just enough for me.

This issue is an important one in this day and age and the idea certainty gave me the chills.

This book seemed to be well researched and it was certainly very well written, it kept me on the edge of my chair and, was for me, very satisfying.

*ARC supplied by publisher

We Are Unprepared -Meg Little Reilly

"Meg Little Reilly places a young couple in harm’s way—both literally and emotionally—as they face a cataclysmic storm that threatens to decimate their Vermont town, and the Eastern Seaboard in her penetrating debut novel, WE ARE UNPREPARED. Ash and Pia move from hipster Brooklyn to rustic Vermont in search of a more authentic life. But just months after settling in, the forecast of a superstorm disrupts their dream. Fear of an impending disaster splits their tight-knit community and exposes the cracks in their marriage. Where Isole was once a place of old farm families, rednecks and transplants, it now divides into paranoid preppers, religious fanatics and government tools, each at odds about what course to take.  WE ARE UNPREPARED is an emotional journey, a terrifying glimpse into the human costs of our changing earth and, ultimately, a cautionary tale of survival and the human..." I'm finished and thank goodness for that. If I had had to read anymore of this writing I would have plucked out my eyeballs. I'm not sure why this book is getting so many rave reviews...all I can think is that the reviewers connect more with these protagonist's,l the style of writting and maybe I am just too old to understand, empathize with or connect with protagonist's like this. (selfish, silly, stupid, whinny, suffering a variety of mental illnesses, entitled, bratty and did I already say stupid? etc ) Since the first third or more of the book was back-story and very boring except to lay the foundation of the Ash and Pias' flaws. This was a good thing, because it explains so much later on in the book. The back-story also explains that this couple had just been playing at being Vermonter's, and nearly deserved what they got. Yes, they were THAT unlikable. The next third of the book just---I don't even know if I could explain it ---just bogs down. Slow and clumsily written. The sad thing is that the concept was such a good one, but in my opinion the author tried to be too literary (fancy-shmansy)with it. To much introspection on the male protagonists part, not enough battening down the hatches preparing and waiting for THE STORM! The last 1/4 of the book was almost worth the time spent on it. I'm from New England and this book was insulting to me. *ARC supplied by publisher

We Are Unprepared -Meg Little Reilly

"Meg Little Reilly places a young couple in harm’s way—both literally and emotionally—as they face a cataclysmic storm that threatens to decimate their Vermont town, and the Eastern Seaboard in her penetrating debut novel, WE ARE UNPREPARED. Ash and Pia move from hipster Brooklyn to rustic Vermont in search of a more authentic life. But just months after settling in, the forecast of a superstorm disrupts their dream. Fear of an impending disaster splits their tight-knit community and exposes the cracks in their marriage. Where Isole was once a place of old farm families, rednecks and transplants, it now divides into paranoid preppers, religious fanatics and government tools, each at odds about what course to take.  WE ARE UNPREPARED is an emotional journey, a terrifying glimpse into the human costs of our changing earth and, ultimately, a cautionary tale of survival and the human..." I'm finished and thank goodness for that. If I had had to read anymore of this writing I would have plucked out my eyeballs. I'm not sure why this book is getting so many rave reviews...all I can think is that the reviewers connect more with these protagonist's,  the style of writing and maybe I am just too old to understand, empathize with or connect with protagonist's like this. (selfish, silly, stupid, whiny, possibly suffering a variety of mental illnesses, entitled, bratty and did I already say stupid? etc ) Since the first third or more of the book was back-story and very boring except to lay the foundation of the Ash and Pias' flaws. This was a good thing, because it explains so much later on in the book. The back-story also explains that this couple had just been playing at being Vermonter's, and nearly deserved what they got. Yes, they were THAT unlikable. The next third of the book just---I don't even know if I could explain it ---just bogs down. Slow and clumsily written. The sad thing is that the concept was such a good one, but in my opinion the author tried to be too literary (fancy-shmansy)with it. To much introspection on the male protagonists part, not enough battening down the hatches preparing and waiting for THE STORM! The last 1/4 of the book was almost worth the time spent on it. I'm from New England and this book was insulting to me. *ARC supplied by publisher

I'm Still Here (Je Suis Là) by Clelie Avit

 

Elsa is spending her thirtieth birthday in the hospital bed where she's lain for months after a devastating mountain accident. Unable to speak, see, or move, she appears to be in an irreversible coma, but her friends and family don't know that she's regained the power of hearing.
That day, a stranger named Thibault enters the hospital to visit his brother, who's just been injured in an accident that killed two young girls. He instead seeks refuge in the room where Elsa lies, and quickly becomes intrigued by the young woman, returning day after day to sit beside her, convinced that his words are being heard.
As their connection grows, the doctors deliver a devastating blow to her family. Is it possible that Thibault knows something no one else does, and can he reach her before it's too late?

This was one of the most amazing books I have read this year (one of them mind you!) I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a wonderful love story interspersed with what can only be called a horror story. Elsa is in the hospital in a coma and has been for months. Nobody believes that she will be coming out of this coma. She is going to be taken off of her life saving equipment. What everyone doesn't know, is that she can hear every word that is said. Thibault is at the hospital NOT visiting his brother who has broken the law. To escape his family Thibault ends up in Elsa's room...and he talks to her in a 'real' way (if you know what I mean). A love story erupts from this unusual meeting. This story is only told from Elsa and Thibaults perspective, with Thibault doing the talking and Elsa doing listening. This was a richly told tale, was a very fast read (you just won't be able to put it down until you find out how it ends) This is a very short book and I am amazed that the author was able to fit so much into so many in such a short time. *ARC supplied by publisher.

The Two Mrs. Grenvilles

           Book Description: When Navy ensign Billy Grenville, heir to a vast New York fortune, sees showgirl Ann Arden on the dance floor, it is love at first sight. And much to the horror of Alice Grenville--the indomitable family matriarch--he marries her. Ann wants desperately to be accepted by high society and become the well-bred woman of her fantasies. But a gunshot one rainy night propels Ann into a notorious spotlight--as the two Mrs. Grenvilles enter into a conspiracy of silence that will bind them together for as long as they live....

I read this in hardcover form many years ago and I can certainly say that my tastes really must have grown a lot! What should have been a very interesting look at a 'Cinderella' relationship, quickly became a tedious look at the excesses of post war America of the ultra-rich. I could not stand smarmy Billy, his Mother (can we say trite?) who excelled at being the martyr and Ann who was also a trite character and highly unlikable. I know that Ann was supposed to be written this way, but couldn't she had at least one likable characteristic? Still, this was an interesting look at how the other half lived at that period in time.

All the Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood

Book Description:  As the daughter of a meth dealer, Wavy knows not to trust people, not even her own parents. Struggling to raise her little brother, eight-year-old Wavy is the only responsible "adult" around. She finds peace in the starry Midwestern night sky above the fields behind her house. One night everything changes when she witnesses one of her father's thugs, Kellen, a tattooed ex-con with a heart of gold, wreck his motorcycle. What follows is a powerful and shocking love story between two unlikely people that asks tough questions, reminding us of all the ugly and wonderful things that life has to offer.

If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck -then it is most likely is a duck. In my opinion this book is *only* about violence and pedophilia no matter how wonderfully it was written. Yes Kellen and Wavy waited, yes the book was ultimately about love - but still, 13 years old? And it WAS a wonderfully written book, and it even made me cry in parts -so it did hit me emotionally. I realize that this book took me out of my comfort zone just because it was about people and types of people I would never know. (drug dealers, runners, thugs and drug manufacturers) The look into their lives was quite interesting. Lastly, I read to take myself out of my real life. I read for entertainment and I found this book fascinating but not entertaining. It was a depressing read and I'm so sorry that the publisher chose not to explain what this book really was about -if they had I would never have chosen it. *ARC supplied by publisher.

Murder in the Mountains

 

Overview
When the peace and serenity of the Rocky Mountains is tainted by murder, Jennifer feels she must do everything she can to find the murderer clear the good name of her resort. With her close friend, Clint, she works to unravel the story of a gold heist, a mysterious historical society, and foul murder. They will have to bend the rules and call in favors if they are going to catch the murderer before he gets away.

I am truly trying to understand how this book came to have so many positive a glowing reviews. I know that everyone has differing likes and dislikes, but this book had so many flaws that I just don't gt it.

Luckily it was a very quick read. Cozy it was for sure, but the main characters are just so unlikable -bossy, petulant, lewd (and not in a good way) and unrealistic.

The fact that Clint is supposed to be a 'Christian' was mention many times, yet his actions spoke differently. 

Clint and Jennifer (obviously the main characters)take over the police investigation in a blatant and unbelievable way. I know that this is supposed to be a small town, but the actions of the police chief are unbelievable.

Lastly, the author has Clint make a bit of a speech about publishing and editing and the fact that poor editing and lack of editing is making the print media go down the tubes. Yet this author made so many truly horrible editing mistakes that I just can't take him seriously as an author.
For example he talks about an ARMORED car as being an ARMED car and does this several times until a chapter or two later when he then changes ARMED to ARMORED.

I really wanted to throw this book against the wall , but I was afraid I'd break my e-reader.

Lycan Unleashed by Shannon Curtis

Book Description:

"REVENGE IS SWEET, BUT SO IS DESIRE
On the hunt for his alpha's killer, Lycan Matthias Marshall is willing to go to any lengths to end his quest. Even if that means kidnapping the enemy. Well-trained tracker Trinity Caldwell can take him back to her pack and their treacherous leader. Yet convincing Trinity to betray her kind won't be easy. Nor will denying the pull his body feels toward hers.
Matthias has buried his heart along with his mate. Desire…love…have no part in his plan. But when Trinity risks her life for his, Matthias must decide how much vengeance means to him."

I really don't know if I'm going to be able to let you know exactly why I did not like this book. I think what mainly got to me, was that it was so formulaic. I know these kinds of romances from these kinds of publisher's are supposed to be. This is what keeps the readers very happy.
This book will do perfectly if you are looking for an 'instant attraction of the Romeo and Juliet type' story. This is very popular and I can kind of see why...it just doesn't work for me.

In this book out is even more difficult because you have to really go without a lot of information as the author is building her world -since I couldn't finish this book, I don't know if the author ever succeeds in her world building. 

The so-called romance (at the beginning) was your typical 'she's über hot I got to have her panting under me/he's über sexy with a big...well you know, I don't know why I feel this way but I MUST have him now). You get the picture.

The story was a little far-fetched too, but if you are looking for a sexy werewolf fighting and body fluid type book...have fun, because I think you'll like this more than I did.

ARC provided by publisher