The Amish Christmas Matchmaker by Vannetta Chapman

The Amish Christmas Matchmaker by Vannetta Chapman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A lovely sweet almost typical, Amish read with a bit of a twist. This book asks you the question "what if" -what if you fall in love with someone who wants something very different from you? And that is what this book asks us. I can't say that I was thrilled with the outcome, but that is because I am not an Amish woman and I was brought up so very different. Then again Annie is a little different from your typical Amish woman!

This was a fast, sweet, sometimes frustrating read and well worth the price.

*ARC supplied by the publisher.


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The Third Mrs. Durst by Ann Aguirre

The Third Mrs. Durst by Ann Aguirre
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This was not the type of book that I expected from this author, but it was an interesting change of pace from her. (I haven't read her in years though, so she may have ventured into this genre before and I just didn't know it)

Had I bought this book, I think I would have sent it back based on the fact that the synopsis doesn't quite do it justice. As an ARC I get the same synopsis that Amazon and Goodread publishes, and I got the impression that it was going to pretty much, be the typical southern 'damsel in distress with rotten husband' book with a bit of a twist. Little did I know that it was going to be the twisted blood fest that it was.

It took me about half of the book to finally realize what was going on (yes, I guess I'm slow!) and even though I know from the title page that "some people just need killing" the hate and violence and subterfuge just made my stomach roil. It didn't stop me from finishing the book though!!!

*ARC supplied by the publisher.


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Labyrinth (FBI Thriller #23) by Catherine Coulter

Labyrinth by Catherine Coulter
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I don't usually allow myself to take an ARC when I haven't read the rest of the series. I figure that I wouldn't know enough about the background of the characters, but I allowed myself to indulge this time because the synopsis made the book sound so exciting and so many of her other books got such kudos. Plus it is such a long-running series that I figured it must be excellent.

Yes, this was an interesting book for being half FBI thriller and half speculative fiction. I must wonder if Ms. Coulter writes all of her books with two distinct and separate stories/plot-lines and if they are always featuring the paranormal?

Unfortunately what kept this book from getting more stars is the fact that two different stories were going on at the same time and I was unable to work up enough emotion and to keep the passion I did manage to get to continue throughout the novel.

(view spoiler)[Sherlock's amnesia was a useful plot device and will keep the faithful reader wondering about the future. (hide spoiler)]

The next problem I had was parts of the ending just seemed like excessive usage of monologues on the roles of some of the characters. The speeches were more of a 'verbal vomiting' of everyone's guilt and a very cliched end to one of the main characters.

Although I wasn't thrilled with this particular book -I did like it well enough to look into the rest of the series.

*ARC supplied by the publisher.


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The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J.Ryan Stradal

The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Synopsis "A novel of family, Midwestern values, hard work, fate and the secrets of making a world-class beer, from the bestselling author of Kitchens of the Great Midwest
Two sisters, one farm. A family is split when their father leaves their shared inheritance entirely to Helen, his younger daughter. Despite baking award-winning pies at the local nursing home, her older sister, Edith, struggles to make what most people would call a living. So she can't help wondering what her life would have been like with even a portion of the farm money her sister kept for herself.
With the proceeds from the farm, Helen builds one of the most successful light breweries in the country, and makes their company motto ubiquitous: "Drink lots. It's Blotz." Where Edith has a heart as big as Minnesota, Helen's is as rigid as a steel keg. Yet one day, Helen will find she needs some help herself, and she could find a potential savior close to home. . . if it's not too late.
Meanwhile, Edith's granddaughter, Diana, grows up knowing that the real world requires a tougher constitution than her grandmother possesses. She earns a shot at learning the IPA business from the ground up--will that change their fortunes forever, and perhaps reunite her splintered family?

Here we meet a cast of lovable, funny, quintessentially American characters eager to make their mark in a world that's often stacked against them. In this deeply affecting family saga, resolution can take generations, but when it finally comes, we're surprised, moved, and delighted. "

Review

The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal

If you love the rambling family-centric style of Fannie Flagg with an added dose of learning about IPA's, then you are sure to love this book.

This may not have been a heart-warming tale of love between sister's that we are used to, but I found it to be about genuine lives.

This book teaches you that even if more than 50 years pass, love between sisters cannot die. I know that is not always true, but that's what we had here. This book also shows you more than you might want to know about beer brewing, and it was genuinely fascinating. Written so that even the most beer/IPA ignorant among us (me especially) can grasp, it was teachy without being preachy.

This book was told from three different perspectives and each perspective from a different year or set of years.

I adored this book, and I will be putting it on my comfort book/reread shelve and most likely be reading it at least twice a year. Even though I have gotten this as an ARC, I will be buying my own in support of this author.

*ARC supplied by the publisher.


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The Corpse Wore Stilettos by M.J. O'Neill

The Corpse Wore Stilettos by M.J. O’Neill
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

SHE WORE A DONNA KARAN MARKED FOR REPOSSESSION

Since Kat Waters’s father took a trip to the slammer on what she’s sure are trumped-up racketeering charges, life’s been tough. All their assets are frozen, and she’s down to the last few pairs of Jimmy Choos she can swap for rent. To keep her family out of the homeless shelter, the former socialite took a job at the local morgue—a job she’s about to lose when the body of a murder victim goes missing on her watch.

HE WORE A CAPTIVATING SMILE

While Kat’s processing the latest victim in the prostitute serial killings, ex-Special Forces soldier Burns McPhee strolls in with an air of confidence, expecting access to the Jane Doe. While Burns tries to flirt his way into examining the latest victim, whom he thinks is connected to the death of his best friend, someone else steals the body right out from under them.

THE CORPSE WORE STILETTOS

Dodging questions from the cops and kidnapping attempts from a body-snatching psycho, Kat and Burns forge a deal. He’ll clear her name and keep her safe if she gets him information on her peculiar coworkers, one of whom he’s certain is involved with the body heist. But digging up secrets can lead to a lower life expectancy. The unlikely team will need all their talents not to end up as the morgue’s next clients while they hunt for a murderer, the missing corpse, and a pair of diamond-studded stilettos.

Review:
Unfortunately, I could not finish this book There were just too many issues with it for my taste and more importantly my happiness. Too many characters are doing too many different things and I couldn't keep the 'bad guy' straight. There are secondary character's that are just downright annoying and unnecessary.

I got to about 30% before I gave up and let me say this, this would have been a damn good book considering the premise (former rich girl forced to used her minor in biology to work in a hospital morgue, father in jail for possibly being in the Mafia, family lost all their money and home, Grandmother with Alzheimer's but a hoot) had there been no murder!!! I also understand from reading other review's that there really is no conclusion to this book -it ends on a cliffhanger.

*ARC supplied by the author.


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The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"Synopsis -The only child of a single mother, Nina has her life just as she wants it: a job in a bookstore, a kick-butt trivia team, a world-class planner and a cat named Phil. If she sometimes suspects there might be more to life than reading, she just shrugs and picks up a new book. 

When the father Nina never knew existed suddenly dies, leaving behind innumerable sisters, brothers, nieces, and nephews, Nina is horrified. They all live close by! They're all—or mostly all—excited to meet her! She'll have to Speak. To. Strangers. It's a disaster! And as if that wasn't enough, Tom, her trivia nemesis, has turned out to be cute, funny, and deeply interested in getting to know her. Doesn't he realize what a terrible idea that is?

Nina considers her options.

1. Completely change her name and appearance. (Too drastic, plus she likes her hair.) 
2. Flee to a deserted island. (Hard pass, see: coffee). 
3. Hide in a corner of her apartment and rock back and forth. (Already doing it.)

It's time for Nina to come out of her comfortable shell, but she isn't convinced real life could ever live up to fiction. It's going to take a brand-new family, a persistent suitor, and the combined effects of ice cream and trivia to make her turn her own fresh page."

Review:

This is not going to be a great review---I'm just too happy with this book to be able to express my feeling distinctly!!! As a matter of fact, even though I got this as an ARC I am going to be buying my own copy...I also put this on my 'comfort read' shelf!
This is the type of book that you can get lost in; you can love and sometimes hate the character's, love and sometimes dislike the storylines (there are several in this book). However, ultimately you will be rooting for Nina (at least I did!).
Nina is a great character if you love b oos as much as most of us do-she is the consummate bookworm and even schedules reading time; she IS a tad anal about her life and when you know more about it you will understand why.
In this book, you will find romance, a long lost family, humor, deep belly laughs, and even tears.
I found it all with this book and I hope you do also.
*ARC supplied by the publisher.

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