Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult

Life with Willow has always been interesting. One trip to Disneyland changes the family's life forever when the doctor's note for Willow gets left behind. Questions arise and time spent apart makes Charlotte and Sean upset. Meeting with a lawyer brings up a question neither thought about, what if they had known from the start that Willow had Osteogensis Imperfecta? Would Charlotte had an abortion even though it goes against her being Catholic?

Ms. Picoult does it again. It all drives home how they want to make sure Willow has the best of everything. Her characters have so many problems physically and emotionally. Yet they must learn to work through them and figure out what is going to be best for them. Their lives are wrapped up and around the center of what is going on.

Charlotte just wants to protect her family but wants to be able to finally provide everything that Willow needs to be safe. Sean is frustrated with how Charlotte wants to go about getting the money. He thinks Willow will think more of the wrongful birth lawsuit than even Charlotte can imagine. Among the chaos is Amelia who is caught in the middle, she loses attention but never doesn't love Willow. They mean the world to each other.

This book was tough to read at times. It also had a lot of points of view between Sean, Charlotte, Amelia, and their lawyer Marin. Just the every day struggles that they had from birth to present day with Willow being 5, it just blew my mind. The book was one big roller coaster for the most part but I was glued. I had to find out what would happen. Ms. Picoult does it again. There are some people who do not care for the book but I couldn't get enough. And as always there is a twist at the end, but to find that out you'll need to read it.

Jodi Picoult/ Fiction/ Family/ Lawsuit/496 pages/ 5 out of 5

I finished this one awhile ago but couldn't come up with a good review. Hoping to read one more book this month.

Death and the Easter Bunny by Linda Berry

Trudy Roundtree is the only woman police officer at the Ogeechee Police Force in Georgia. She struggles cause her cousin is the chief. She is determined to prove herself. She is just happy to be home again. A murder has them all getting fired up in more ones than one. Reed Ritter is the victim of a fire but the he was dead before the fire was lit. Secrets aren't easy to hide in a small town. There are way too many suspects, can Trudy discovers some secrets might be worthy of a murder.

Ms. Berry does fantastic job with juggling all the characters. The point of view is all through Trudy's eyes. The small town life is very well represented. I was also impressed with how clean the book was due to the fact of finding a dead body. I loved all the aspects of each character and the developments with each little storyline.

Trudy is so much fun. Even though she is a widow and is dealing with the death of her hubby, she is a very light hearted person. She sees things very well and keeps her chin up. She is a determined lady who just wants to show what she can do. Her family is a bit nutsy since she lives in her Grandmother's house as well. Henry Huckabee is the chief of police and her cousin. He is a good guy but he is stubborn as well. He is learning his position and so wants to do it all himself. Phil Pittman is the editor of the newspaper as well as a volunteer fireman. He does his best to answer any questions Trudy might have about the town since she has come back.

I truly loved this series. I have the second one and I am curious to see where a few story lines are going. It is a true cozy with no blood and guts. I couldn't get enough. I hope Trudy finally gets her feet wet and gets somewhere. Ms. Berry has me captivated from the very beginning!

Linda Berry/ New author/ Small Town/ Police/Family/ Cozy Mystery/ 251 pages/ 5 out of 5

FTC: This book is part of my personal collection that was either bought or given to me as a gift.

I am hoping to start the next one in the series tonight!!

A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg

Molly has a unique take and relationship with food. Both her mother and her father have different perspectives and that has shaped her from early childhood. The recipes in this book vary from the simple to a little on the difficult side. Yet I am intrigued to try most of them. The writing style is straight forward. I also felt like I got to know the writer personally through her stories and recipes.

Ms. Wizenberg blew me away. I wasn't sure what to expect at all and I found myself captivated! She puts her whole self in her writing. I never felt like she held back anything though I am sure there had to be something.

I fell in love with this book. Whether you are a foodie or not, since I am becoming one, this book is for you. It is a wonderful journey and I can't wait to try some of these recipes. I can't wait to see what Ms. Wizenberg writes next and will be patiently waiting for it to come out.

Molly Wizenberg/ New author/ Non-Fiction/ Food/ Family/ 352 pages/ 5 out of 5
I don't want to give it all away but I highly recommend this book! Off to start another one while still reading Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult.

Hurricane by Karen Harper

Julie Minton is trying to get her girls that she watches over to safety while a hurricane comes their way. But all she can think about is her daughter Randi who has ridden off on a jet ski with Thad. She hopes they are safe. Yet in her heart, she begins to wonder if something is wrong since they are not back yet. With the help of Thad's father Zach, she hopes to find them before the storm hits. Law enforcement is no help due to the storm so they are on their own. They must work together to get through the storm that has hit and escape an enemy that is lurking in the shadows.

Ms. Harper writes a fantastic suspense story. I was on the edge of my seat. There was tension of all kinds and yet nothing seemed out of place. I loved how clean it was and not bloody, gory, or full of sex. It was a nice change of pace and the characters were well detailed. I felt like I was in the midst of the book. I love reading the credits to see how much help they had and it showed how important she felt it was to seek out help to write an accurate story line.

Julie is a woman I can relate to with being a mom. She truly cared for her daughter even though it didn't always show. Running a resort for cutters kept her busy. She had help in her friend Kaylin to run the resort. Kaylin is tested by the emotions of Randi gone as well as helping the girls and not returning to her old ways of cutting to deal with the stress. Zach is a tough guy but even he is stressing out. He doubts finding the kids alive but won't stop looking. With his SEAL training, it may just be the one thing that would save the kids.

This book was very good! I was impressed with how well paced it was and with the diversity of characters. I would definitely read more of this author's work. I'm not sure what problems people might have with this writing style, but give it a try. I hope the rest of her work is just as good if not better. I am definitely happy with how it all played out.

Karen Harper/ Thriller/ 400 pages/ New Author/ Weather/ Family/ 4 out of 5

I finished this one yesterday but was not able to post the review. I'll post my monthly stats and reads tomorrow! Oh and I bought three books today The Cat, The Professor and The Poison by Leann Sweeny, A Killer Plot by Ellery Adams and Murder is Binding by Lorna Barrett. I can't wait to read them!! :)

Persuasion by Jane Austen

Anne Elliot's family has financial trouble. So the only thing that can be done to save Kelly Lynch Hall is to rent it out. But due to her father's pride, it is not something that they want advertised. They are able to find a husband and wife who will follow their small requests. But the wife's brother happens to be Captain Fredrick Wentworth who was once engaged to Anne. Anne, eight years ago, was persuaded by her mother's friend Lady Russell that the man was not worthy of her. So Anne broke off the engagement even though she still had very strong feelings for the gentleman. Now that they are becoming re-acquainted. She wonders if their love can be rekindled?

Ms. Austen writes a fantastic story for the most part. The gossip was a little much at times. And the stereotypical situations and feelings were accurate even if a little annoying. The story flowed fairly well. I was impressed with keeping all the different characters and traits separate. Just a lot going on and different story lines. I was impressed with how much was in the book and everything was wrapped up neatly. Some things hadn't happened yet but you knew what was going to happen.

I truly felt for Anne. She was trying to follow the influence of a friend since her mother was dead. I understand but she finally had to figure out for herself what was right and stick to it. Things seemed to go better now that she was older. Family and friends didn't fight things for her so much. Of her family members I loved her older sister Mary the best. She had her moments where she would get “sick” or get frustrated with her husband for making plans when plans were already made. But she had to learn to speak up as well. The women just kind of sat back and did nothing sometimes.

All in all, I enjoyed the book. The drama was a little bit overwhelming but I had to find out how it ended. I wanted to know if Anne and Fredrick would end up together. I could see how things would all play out or at least how I hoped it would end up. Ms. Austen is an amazing author and I cannot wait to read more of her work. I only took half a point off cause of the drama. It got down right annoying.

Jane Austen/ Classic Novel/ 247 pages/ Family/ Drama/ 4.5 out of 5

I hope to make a library run tomorrow. We'll see how it goes.

FTC: This book was a gift to me.

Double Shot by Diane Mott Davidson

Goldy Bear wakes up on the ground and isn't sure how she got there. That is just the beginning of the book. Goldy must figure out who attacked her, why they were trying to sabotage her catered lunch, and what to do now that her ex-husband is out of jail? It only gets worse once he is found dead. All signs point to her but Goldy only found the dead body. She is frustrated and wants to solve the crime but knows it will be difficult. If only there was more time in a day.

Ms. Davidson creates situations that truly could happen. I wondered who could have really killed John Richard Korman, Goldy's ex-husband. The recipes also are interesting and am curious to try a couple of them. I liked how at least in the hard cover they were all in the back of the book instead of interspersed in between chapters or in the middle of chapters. There is a range of characters in the book as well as some old familiar ones.

Goldy is a stubborn woman but that's what makes her so endearing. Yeah she seems to get beat up in every story which does get old after awhile. Yet she never lets it get her down. Her husband Tom is such a sweetie. He is so good for her and they complement each other very well. Archie, her son, seems to struggle with his dad's death the most. I saw that as understandable and just hoped the kid would work through his grief as quick as he possibly could for a story. I'll have to see how it plays out in the next story.

This story was full of twists and friends Goldy hadn't seen in a long time. Marla was there to help her out. The twist at the end of the story really got me. There was no way I could have seen it coming. Ms. Davidson does it again and I cannot wait to read more in this series!

Diane Mott Davidson/ Cozy Mystery/ Food/Murder/Family/320 pages/ 4.5 out of 5

It'll be awhile before I read my own books. I may make a library run tomorrow to read one more book this month. We'll see.

The Truly Terribly Horrible Sweater that Grandma Knit by Debbie Macomber and Mary Lou Carney

Cameron Girard is always excited for the birthday gift from his grandma Susan. But this time when he opens the box and finds a multi-striped sweater, he just doesn't get it. He knows she spent a lot of time knitting it. He tries to get rid of it at first but eventually when his grandma comes to visit he wears it for her. But can he keep it a secret what he really thinks of it?

Ms. Macomber writes a fantastic children's book writing with Ms. Carney. The story is so captivating cause Cameron is so determined to get rid of the sweater. It's creative and a little repetitive which makes it a great book for kids. My son soon started saying the repeated phrase along with me!

Cameron is a precocious kid who just wants to get rid of what he thinks is a horrible sweater. His friends will laugh at him if he wears it. His parents try to get him to understand that it took a lot of time for Grandma to knit it.

This is a story that I have had my eye on since I heard about it. It was all that I expected and more! It's a story that will be enjoyed by all ages whether the reader is a knitter or not. I laughed really hard and couldn't wait to see how it would turn out! I hope there is more to come in Children's books by these authors!

Debbie Macomber/ Mary Lou Carney/New author/ Children's Fiction/ Family/ 32 pages/ 5 out of 5

Not sure what is up next. I do have a book that Kiddo needs to read from his library so may read that tomorrow. Other than that, no clue! Lots going on this week! :)

FTC: A loaned book from my library.

The Fashion Hound Murders by Elaine Viets

Josie Marcus gets a call from her boss Harry. He has another place for her to mystery shop. It's a pet store that has been in the news and Josie is more than reluctant to help them out. Even if they did ask for her specifically. Finally gives in but is less than happy about it. Alyce comes along with her. Pets 4 Luv has been accused of taking puppy mill dogs. She just hopes that she is wrong. While working the case, she has a chance to go visit a puppy mill and is more determined to help. But when a pet shop employee gets killed over talking to her, Josie is in way over her head. She begins to question taking the job.

Ms. Viets has done her research and puts everything well balanced. There are some funny moments but serious ones as well. She really puts her heart into the story. I was very impressed with how well the story flowed no matter what the mood was. Everything comes alive on the page.

Josie really is doing her best. I am so surprised at the work she does and how difficult it is. Being like every one else isn't easy and she has to blend in without standing out. Alyce is always a helpful friend who helps her to blend in even more. Amelia keeps her level headed. Amelia is also quite the smart mouth kid and keeps things in perspective. Jane, Josie's mom, may have quite the bark to her but in reality it is just a cover for watching over her daughter.

This series keeps getting better. It definitely gets personal. I hope things settle down for Josie. That girl has more ups and downs in her life than a roller coaster sometimes. I also am learning to appreciate the things that secret shoppers do as having experience with them in my personal job. I'm on the edge of my seat just hoping there are more books in this series to come!

Elaine Viets/ Cozy Mystery/ 304 pages/ Secret Shopper/ Family/5 out of 5

So glad to read the first one in the cozy mystery challenge. I am hoping to read more next month.

Ireland by Frank Delaney

Ronan O'Mara, at the age of nine, has a life changing experience when a story teller comes to stay at his house. For three nights, he is captivated by the stories told at his fire place. The story teller is banished from the house for blasphemy. From there, Ronan wants to know more about the history of Ireland but longs to find the Story Teller.

Mr. Delaney weaves history into this fiction that blew me away. Some of the events told are too old to know what really happened. Yet everything is set before you like you are actually there while it is happening. Mr. Delaney has a way of putting you right in the midst of the story. I was blown away not only by the details but how each story was laid out. It was never so long that it overwhelmed you and the jumps between the stories and Ronan's story flowed so easily.

Ronan's love of history is cultivated by the Story Teller and encouraged by his father. His mother is a bit quiet but you can tell that she loves him in her own way. His aunt Kate gushes over him when his mother either can't or won't. It's not always easy to distinguish what her reasons were. John, Ronan's father, makes sure to help Ronan in his love of history in every possible way that he can. Even if it means he takes him on trips to go see people who might help them on his journey.

This book was so good that I didn't want to see it end. I fought to read the last bit as it completely captivated me. Having a love of Ireland, the stories presented here made me appreciate them since I knew about most of them. They were very well told and the personal experiences on the part of the story tell at the end had me in awe. The twists in the book surprised me and I never saw them coming. Mr. Delaney is a master at story telling and I definitely hope to read more of his work.

Frank Delaney/ New author/ 651 pages/ Ireland/ Family/Stories/ 5 out of 5

FTC: This book was bought and is part of my book collection.

Dating Games by Leigh Michaels

Rachel Todd is sick of friends wanting to set her up. She would rather stay single. “Crash” McKenna is his family's only client and they want to see him just as happy as they are. Yet if they work together, maybe it will finally get the line of dates off their backs. “Crash” knows their plan isn't all that simple so why is he going along with it?

Ms. Michaels is a fantastic writer. She has this family series that keeps you in stitches. The story moves along at a great pace and the twist at the end is one that I never saw coming. Though I rarely do see them coming in all honesty. She keeps you hoping for the best for the characters even if they are denying it themselves.

Rachel keeps all men at a distance. She knows her career could go somewhere and relationships just aren't her thing. She is a sweetheart but knows something is missing. The thing is the secrets in her past keep her locked away. “Crash” is sick of being fixed up by his family. He longs for his own family but knows that it will come along at the right time. The whole situation he finds himself in isn't how he'd have it happen but he's not about to turn away a gift.

Even though this is the last in the series, I loved it so much! I honestly didn't even know it was part of a series so it had no effect on the book itself. It can certainly be read alone and I'd love to get my hands on the rest of the series eventually. Ms. Michaels writes with such emotion that I had to go back and read the ending a second time cause tears were streaming down my face. The majority of the book was light and had me in stitches. It was nice to know that even older, authors still like to write clean simple romances. So much can be experienced in a simple kiss. I will definitely seek more of this author's work out! I think I found a new favorite author.


Leigh Michaels/New Author/Romance/187 pages/ Family/ Matchmaking/ 5 out of 5

Now off to something different, a Harlan Coben book. :)

If You Really Loved Me by Ann Rule

Most people would do anything for love. But would they go to the lengths where they would kill? That is the story of David Alan Brown and his fourteen year old daughter Cinnamon. His wife Linda was shot in her sleep by Cinnamon but first she said she did it, then she didn't remember but could she finally tell the truth. David was a powerful man with his data recovery program. Women fell at his feet. Cinnamon did finally confess and was sentenced to prison for twenty four years. Her world crashed around her and the one person she trusted seemed not so trustworthy anymore. There is more to this story than it first appears.

Ms. Rule truly delves deep into this one. She gives a lot of information that at times didn't seem all that relevant but at the end made sense. Intricate details were given and the pictures truly did help develop the story. She asked questions and got the answers she could. Looking into as many documents she could. I am not sure how much she had access to but with the things she was able to write about, there had to have been a lot.

That is definitely one thing I like about this true crime author, she never leaves a stone unturned. It may mean meeting with the people involved in the case if she is able. Obviously Linda was no longer around and that's so sad. I don't think I will ever understand what went on but I am okay with that. Ms. Rule truly does a wonderful job. This is one author who never disappoints and the after word was truly helpful. I may be noisy but I wish all that were involved that they find peace.

Ann Rule/ Chunkster/ Non-fiction/True Crime/Family/Murder/ 608 pages/ 4 out of 5

This was a good book and at times pretty creepy. Off to a thriller. :)

Fit to be Tied by Karen Kendall

Jen feels so happy now that she's engaged to Tom. But things seem to fall apart from there, her parents are getting a divorce, Tom seems to act caged in, and to top it all off his ex wife shows up at the wedding reception. Jen cannot take much more so she decides the marriage is off! But doubting her decision at her every turn certainly is not helping her feel good. But will she lose her mind as well as her husband?

Ms. Kendall knows how to keep the humor going. There were quite a few moments that I thought Jen was going to lose it but she kept calm. The family dynamics in this story would make any sane person question the reason for getting married. Yet Tom trying to be the voice of reason through it all just isn't enough for Jen.

Jen feels like her world is tipped upside down. Things can't get any worse in her mind. Her wedding day will certainly test her but she must keep up appearances. Tom has never told her about his ex wife and that is going to come back and bite him in the butt. Her parents refuse to be civil to each other. And the best man Chase is being a complete jerk. He loves his womanizing ways! At least the honey moon is looking up right?

This is one book that was up and down through out the book. There were times I was getting really frustrated that situations were more down than up. It was pretty depressing. But Jen had to work through her emotions and figure that no matter what you are responsible for your own future regardless of the actions your family members might take. I really came to love this book by the end. The characters were far from perfect but they had to figure out how to work things out. Definitely an author I want to read more by!

Karen Kendall/Family/ New Author/ Romance/ Weddings/336 pages/ 4 out of 5

This was a great book! I am off to read another chunkster!!

No Angel by Penny Vincenzi

The Lytton family own the publishing company Lytton's. Celia had her sights on getting Oliver and once she had him, life was sweet! Yet when World War 2 hit, life changed. Celia is bored and wants things to do. She meets Sylvia Miller and helps her with her daughter Barty. But the worst decision of all has to do with Sebastian Brooke. It could cost her so much. From the Edwardian Era to the roaring 20's, this family will go through it all but can they survive?

Ms. Vencenzi writes a family saga that puts you through all the emotions. You get to see the family grow and develop and go through some tough times. The rich plot and characters pull you in even though you may have never experience what they go through. You cheer and root for them and want to see what will happen next. Drama all over the place leads you to find that this family is far from perfect.

Celia wants to fee accepted and loved not only by the company that is part of her life with her husband but by her own family. Her children are not used to seeing her around much but does that make her a bad mom? Oliver wants to keep the company afloat with his older sister's help. He wants to make his dad proud. LM wants just to have a great life but it will throw her a curve ball she isn't expecting. Jack has to find his place in the world but will it be with his own family?

Things are up and down but turning pages won't be a problem. They'll zip faster than you can imagine. There is so much going on but character names aren't difficult to balance and things are fairly easy to follow. Being a first in a trilogy, I definitely want to read the rest! This is a new author that I enjoyed immensely!

Penny Vincenzi/New Author/ Chunkster/ 836 pages/ Family/ England/ 4 out of 5

Off to a couple short stories and hopefully one more chunkster this month!

19 Minutes by Jodi Picoult

That's all it takes to change the lives of so many people. Peter took a gun to school and shot at the kids who had tormented him all his life. But in the aftermath, Josie Cormier had to face life and try to forget what she saw. But she cannot remember a lot in the first place. Her mother Alex wants to see her taken care of but is there anything she can really do? Is there anything anyone can do?

Ms. Picoult writes a gripping emotional novel that I could not put down for nothing. Seeing things in hind sight in this book, I was upset that things weren't taken care of better. I really liked how you got to see things from all angles. I got a clear picture of what was going on and how things kept getting neglected.

Josie just wanted to fit in and when she got the chance she hung on as hard as she could. Her mother Alex wasn't always there for her but she did her best. But so did Lacy, Peter's mom, but yet she also neglected him in a few ways. High school is never easy to deal with and these kids pick on each other all in the name of “fun”.

Definitely a must read for any parent of a child, this book will grab you from the beginning and won't let you go. It asks a lot of questions but doesn't answer them for you. That is the one thing I like about Ms. Picoult, she gets you to think and wonder but lets you decide. This is one author who never ceases to amaze me.


455 pages/Chunkster/Jodi Picoult/ Family/ School shootings/ Fiction

Great author and just bummed about her not coming to town for a book signing. It happens and I will get over it. :) But definitely recommend this author not only cause she makes you think but she is down to earth person too. :)

The Secret Between Us by Barbara Delinsky

Going home on a rainy night, Deborah lets her daughter get practice on the drive home. The visibility is nothing but Grace is being a good learner and taking her time. When they hear a thud going down a country road, the car stops. Deborah gets out and finds a man injured who is none other than Grace's teacher. Lying to the cops that she was the one driving is only the beginning of their problems. But can they come out on the other side?

Ms. Delinsky had her hands full with this story line. It's never right to lie no matter the situation and this proves it one more time. It will come out in the end because it hurts. A mother lying for her child is not right either. The conflicts were driving most characters nuts not to mention the other situations in the book. She had to wade her characters through a lot of things and I was curious to see how it would all turn out.

Deborah may be a single mother now but she wanted what she thought was best for her kids. She had a lot of grieving to do as well since she had recently lost her mother and her marriage had fallen apart. Dealing with multiple things at once had clouded her judgment. Grace pulled inside herself not sure how to express and even though her mom was willing to listen, it just didn't seem like it was enough.

This story was heart wrenching but well done. I appreciated what was the situation and how well it was handled at the end. Things were cleaned up for the most part but I felt horrible for the man who was injured because it turned out to be more in the end. You'll have to read it yourself to find out.


Barbara Delinsky/ Family/ Lies/507 pages/ Chunkster/ 5 out of 5

Okay onto The Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood. :)

Dana's Valley by Janette Oke and Laurel Oke Logan

The Walsh family has always relied on their faith. Life has been relatively easy and they are enjoying moving to a new home. It's not what they all want at first but realize that they need more space for everyone. Yet slowly, Dana gets sick. It takes her longer to get better and the whole family has to learn to deal with what is going on. But can their faith really hold them together?

Both authors are wonderful writers. This book has you laughing, crying, and praying along with the rest of the family. The story is told through Erin's eyes and what she sees happening to the family. There is a lot of stuff that a young girl shouldn't have to face but it often happens. I cannot imagine how these authors wrote this book but I'm sure they had a way figured out. It was seamless and nothing didn't seem like it wasn't supposed to be there.

Erin gave her thoughts and I appreciated it. It was a little one sided at times but this book would have been much longer if we had seen more insights. Dana voiced hers as well as her parents. Though you only had one main point of view, their actions showed how they were feeling and did an amazing job. There was a lot of people to consider in this story and it never truly like there was a lot to process. You got a good handle on the family life before the conflict hits.

This was a good book though at times hard to read. I kept reading cause I wanted to know if Dana would get better and if Erin would ever accept the wonderful things happening around her in spite of the tragedy.

Janette Oke, Laurel Oke Logan, Christian Fiction, Family, 300 pages, 4 out of 5

This was a good one and I finished it yesterday but was pretty wiped out. Now off to The Secret Between Us by Barbara Delinsky.

Comfort and Joy by Fern Michaels, Marie Bostwick, Cathy Lamb, and Deborah J. Wolf

Comfort and Joy by Fern Michaels

Angie Bradford took over her mother's gift wrap business in Eagle Department store, and ever since her and the store chief Josh Eagle have been butting heads and going to court multiple times. The store is failing and so she needs to get things renovated hopefully if Josh will agree to it. But with Josh leaving the store at the first of the year and unexpected snow coming, Angie never expects an miracle to come out of the blue.


This is not my first story by Ms. Michaels and certainly won't be the last. I am intrigued and definitely want to read more of her work. Her characters are full of emotions and stand up for what they believe. If only they can work together and get past some of the issues that hold them back.

A High Kicking Christmas by Marie Bostwick

Kendra Erickson needs a break from Christmas. Being a Rockette for the last ten years has drained all the joy out of Christmas for her. But breaking her leg sends her off to a small town in Vermont, she may just right smack in the middle of a Christmas pageant that needs help. Kendra just might see Christmas in a whole new light.

Re-birth of Christmas in Kendra's heart is such a great story that Ms. Bostwick has won me over. I am so glad I have another one of her books on my shelf cause I want to read it soon! Definitely an author who will warm your heart in every word she writes.

Suzanna's Stockings by Cathy Lamb

Suzanna's life has all been planned out. But waking up floating over her own body wasn't part of it. Now she's in a coma, how she isn't sure and she needs to figure out how to get her life back. Jack Benson never leaves her side but she isn't sure why. Can she figure out what to do in time?

The searching that Suzanna goes through keeps this story very poignant. She reflects on all that is going on around her. Ms. Lamb keeps things focused on everything in this small town as well as the wanderings of Suzanna. A story that will warm your heart.

Family Blessings by Deborah J. Wolf

Things seemed odd when Kacey's mother seemed to stare off into the distance or repeat herself. But when in the middle of September, Kacey visited to find her mother decorating for Christmas something just didn't add up. Reuniting her family isn't going to be easy but their mother is dealing with something serious. It just might bring the family together again.

Heart wrenching is what Ms. Wolf is good at. There is light at the end of the tunnel. This family must come together to let go of the past. It's a journey none will ever forget.


These four stories touched on the hope, love, peace and family that is so much a part of Christmas. I will certainly not forget these stories. I hope to read more by this authors soon.

Fern Michaels, Marie Bostwick, Cathy Lamb, Deborah J. Wolf, Christmas story, Romance, Family, 352 pages, 5 out of 5

Definitely a good book to end the year on! I'll post my year's book records tomorrow! Happy New Year!

The School Run by Sophie King

Five families all make the same run to school. Whether its the school teacher taking the bus, a mom who isn't sure about her marriage, another mom with a disappearing husband, a dad who is coping with the loss of his dead wife, or an au pair who thinks the children she is watching are horrible. Yet something will happen that will connect them all together.

Ms. King is a fantastic writer. She keeps things paced very well. The names when the character's stories changed helped a lot. I was impressed at how much depth you get into each character. That is not always easy to do.

Of all of them I really liked Pippa. She had the most she was dealing with in my opinion even more so than Harriet who wasn't sure about her marriage. Health issues make people think. All of them had their faults but getting the perspective really helped.

This is a good debut. I had parts where I would get upset. Other times not so much. I am curious to see what else she has written. She knows how to write all different kinds of characters and that makes her one well rounded author.

Sophie King/ New Author/ Family/ School/352 pages/ 4 out of 5

Off to reading some more. Just started another a Daniel Silva book.

The Secret Thief by Judith Jaeger

Connie doesn’t want to help her grandmother clean up the house since it is sold. That means giving up her summer before she starts to teach. Her mother pushes her into it, so Connie finally gives in. Her grandmother always is rough with her so she is not sure she wants to go out there. Yet while cleaning and going through boxes, she finds things she never knew about. She begins to question the things her mother told her and wonders what really is the truth.

Ms. Jaeger has such a way with words. I could feel into Connie’s heart. The small town was a hoot and it came alive in this story. Secrets are often hid back past things. I was pleased not only with how things came out but the ending of this story.

Connie does not mind using the five-finger discount but then she wonders if she is really doing her self any good. The things she has been told while growing up suddenly sound false. But she has to figure out what is the truth and what isn’t. It’s going to be tough but she might just finally see the world for what it really is. The grandmother keeps things close to her heart to make sure things don’t repeat themselves. Connie’s mother is very controlling and must keep things in order. She is hurt by the decisions she made in life and now feels better once she is able to control things.

This is a book full of ups and down but when you close it, you’ll just feel like everything was pretty much figured out. There aren’t many lingering questions but that is a nice change. The author truly lets you into the mind of Connie so you can see where she is coming from.

Judith Jaeger/ New Author/ 194 pages/ Family/ Secrets/ 4 out of 5

Well off to read the author of the month. :) Then another one from the stacks. :)

Really Something by Shirley Jump

Allie Dean is going back home and it is the last place she wants to go in all honesty. But scouting out a spot for the newest movie might just be the thing that will jump start her career. Though the first person she runs into when she gets into town is also the last person she wants to see. Duncan Henry broke her heart back in high school. He is not used to being stood up and has not had anyone to talk to since his best friend Allison left town. Allie is just after finding the place to shoot and Duncan wants her in his bed. Who will get what they want first?

Ms. Jump does a fantastic job at the whole coming home story line. I loved how Allie just wanted to prove herself and possibly get a little revenge. The characters were all over the board, which made this book come more alive. Even the minor characters were fantastic.

Allie had horrible memories but she knew this would be the perfect spot to film the B horror movie. It was not going to be anything flashy but Allie knew this was the stepping-stone to getting where she wanted. Duncan just wants someone to talk to but Allie seems to be a beautiful woman as well. He just keeps thinking he knows her from somewhere.

This book had me flipping pages fast. I could not get enough. The tension between Allie and Duncan was really great. There was going to be a lot to deal with if Allie would only come forth, but things might go better. She is just nervous. Duncan just enjoys someone to talk to and wishes for more. I just hoped the outcome would be one that would seem real no matter what it was.

Shirley Jump/New Author/Romance/ Family/Relationships/ 352 pages/ 5 out of 5

Off to go do some more writing!