Monday, June 14, 2010

Book Number in 2010: 50

Author:
Karen Harper
Title: Down River

Series:
Stand Alone
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 388

Book From:
Library
My Rating:
4.5

Date Started:
June 1, 2010
Date Finished: June 14, 2010


My Comments:
When Lisa was just 8 years old she witnessed her mother not only kill herself, but also her baby sister while trying to kill Lisa along with them by jumping off a cruise ship..

26 years later Lisa is a lawyer on an adventure with her firm.  And including herself, three junior partners try to make the one senior partner spot available.

But someone tries to kill Lisa, not once, but four times during their trip to Alaska where her ex-fiance has a resort their not that he inherited from his uncle.. Mitch was also the previous senior partner and the one who keeps coming to her rescue now... but from who?

This is a great book full of suspense and excitement!  I loved every minute of it and look forward to reading more by this author.  :)


Description from the publisher:


Attending a corporate retreat at a remote resort in Alaska, Lisa Vaughn is plunged into the frigid rapids of the Wild River. Swept away, battered and alone, she has been left for dead. Lodge owner Mitch Braxton knows something is terribly wrong when Lisa fails to turn up for a private meeting to clear the air and close the book on their broken engagement. Embarking on a heroic search that takes him miles downriver, he saves Lisa from the deadly water, but not before they've been swept deep into the wilderness.

Far from civilization, the former lovers must put aside their hurt feelings and find the will to survive against nature. There's a killer on the loose and, for now, they must measure their future together in days rather than years

Friday, June 11, 2010

Book Number in 2010: 49

Author:
Terri Blackstock
Title:

Series:
Stand Alone
Genre: Christian, Mystery
Format: Hardcover, large print
Pages: 458
 
Book From:
Library
My Rating:
5

Date Started:
June 6, 2010
Date Finished: June 11, 2010


My Comments:
Could not put this book down, totally gripped me into their world whenever I started reading and would forget everything around me.. :)

A story about a song writer and her best friend the performer, Serene.. Parker's dreams are to also perform, but after a murder starts to unfold she isn't sure she wants to be in this life after all.

A great look at the behind the scenes of a musician and song writer's life and their family.  Inspiring story.


Description from the publisher:


The young girl with the Bohemian style was on the floor where she'd fallen, between Parker's computer case and her file cabinet. She wore a long, flowing skirt---lavender, the color of calm---and camel-colored Uggs. She lay on her back, her long, wavy blonde hair matted with blood.For struggling singer/songwriter Parker James, the music business has just turned deadly. Her desk in the reception area of a busy recording studio has become a crime scene, and Parker finds herself drawn into a mystery where nothing is as it seems. Unraveling the truth puts her own life at risk when she uncovers high-level industry corruption and is terrorized by a menacing stalker. As the danger escalates, Parker begins to question her dreams, her future, and even her faith. Double Minds is a double treat---combining a compelling suspense novel with an inside look at the world of the Christian music industry in Nashville. Terri Blackstock grabs readers at page one and keeps them riveted until the final plot twist is untangled

Tuesday, June 08, 2010

Book Number in 2010: 48

Author:
Lori Wilde
Title: Sweetheart's Knitting Club

Series:
1st in Twilight Texas series
Genre: Romance
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 384

Book From:
Library
My Rating:
4.5

Date Started:
May 27, 2010
Date Finished: June 8, 2010


My Comments:
My first Lori Wilde book will not be my last Lori Wilde book!  Wow, what a great story  :)  She really pulled me into the world of the characters. I cried and laughed with them all and I am left wanting to know more about the people of Twilight, TX!! :)


Description from the publisher:


"Throw a penny in the fountain of the Twilight town square, and you'll be married to your first love . . . "

For ten years, pretty Flynn MacGregor has been turning down the same solid, upright man's marriage proposal. Her friends at the Sweethearts' Knitting Club tell her they're a match made in heaven, but Flynn knows there's only one dangerous reason why she keeps saying no: high school sweetheart Jesse Calloway. She was just sixteen when Jesse was forced out of town under a cloud of suspicion . . . but he's never left her heart.

Now Jesse is back, and every time she turns the corner he's there--gazing at her with his smoldering eyes and tempting her with his kisses. Jesse has never played by the rules, and he's made it clear that he's not going to now. And Flynn, who's always done just what her family, friends, and fellow knitters have told her to do, must finally break free and claim the love that binds Jesse to her heart.

Tuesday, June 01, 2010

 Book Number in 2010: 47

Author:
L.J. Smith
Title: Soulmate

Series:
6th in Night World
Genre: Paranormal, Young Adult
Format: Trade Size Paperback
Pages: 229

Book From:
Library
My Rating:
4

Date Started:
May 31, 2010
Date Finished: June 1, 2010


My Comments:
Very gripping story about the second vampire in existence and a human girl with thousands of years of past lives where they found each other, but could never make it together.. will they finally beat the evil they faced this time around?  :)

Can't wait till I get to read the next book in this series!  These are just so mesmerizing :)



Description from the publisher:


Eternal Love Hannah Snow's life was so together. Friends, terrific grades, dreams of a career in paleontology. Everything was perfect... until the notes started appearing. Notes in her own handwriting, warning her of the danger that was coming. Dead Before Seventeen.

The psychiatrist was supposed to help. But what came out of the age regressions were memories of another time, another life. And of a stranger who tore her world apart... a vampire who killed a village in his rage. Until, in the eyes of a dying human girl, he recognized his soulmate.

Now the stranger is back. He has searched for Hannah throughout the years, trying to make amends, waiting for her to be born. Now he is Thierry, the Lord of the Night World-- and nothing in heaven or hell will keep him from his soulmate again. But if her destiny is death, can even Theirry's love protect her?

Monday, May 31, 2010

Book Number in 2010: 46

Author:
Barbara Freethy
Title: All She Ever Wanted

Series:
Stand Alone
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 392

Book From:
Library
My Rating:
4.5

Date Started:
May 25, 2010
Date Finished: May 31, 2010


My Comments:
What a great story of true friendship torn apart by a tragic death!

I didn't want to stop reading this! And I didn't want it to end either.. There was so much to it.. so many twists and turns that I didn't see the them coming!!


I will for sure be looking into read more books by this author soon! :)


Description from the publisher:


During a college party gone awry, vibrant but physically fragile Emily Parish, ringleader and emotional pivot of a group of female friends self-christened the Fabulous Four, falls to her death from their sorority house roof. Traumatized, the remaining three go their separate ways and lead outwardly successful yet personally problematic lives. Then 10 years later, a mysterious, pseudonymous author publishes a bestselling novel packed with intimate details about the thinly disguised Fab Four-and accusing one of them, Dr. Natalie Bishop, whose own memories of the tragic night are a blank, of murdering Emily. As Natalie delves into the past to save her reputation and career, she not only rediscovers her old gang (including Emily's brother Cole, an ex-boyfriend who'd always blamed Natalie for his sister's death) but, gradually, disquietingly, realizes that all had motives for murder. Unfortunately, the real killer's character gets short shrift, making the book less than compelling as a mystery. Still, Rita Award-winner Freethy (Summer Secrets, etc.) succeeds in developing a suitably eerie atmosphere that doesn't eclipse the story's main focus on the renewal of fabulous friendships and romances.

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Book Number in 2010: 45

Author:
L.J. Smith
Title: The Chosen

Series:
4th in Night World
Genre: Paranormal, Young Adult
Format: Trade Size Paperback
Pages: 212

Book From:
Library
My Rating:
3.5

Date Started:
May 28, 2010
Date Finished: May 29, 2010


My Comments:
I didn't feel as gripped into this story as I was with some of the previous stories in this series.. It felt a little forced to me.

Rashel loses her mom and friend Timmy to a vampire when she was just 5 years old.  She grew up with the need to get revenge and became a vampire hunter. 

The ties in the story were just to easy to guess as well.. Made it less enjoyable. I won't say what I mean because I don't want to spoil it for anyone else.. I just it found it too obvious and easy to see where the story was going..



Description from the publisher:


Vampire Slayer She stalks the lonely back alleys of Boston, the deserted industrial docks of the harbor, seeking revenge on the vampires who killed her mother. Rashel Jordon knows where they live. But they don't yet know that the black-haired, green-eyed girl is as deadly as she is beautiful, killing the Night People one by one. Armed with a wooden stake, martial arts, and the will to resist a vampire's mind control, she is safe as long as her true identity remains a secret. But when she rescues Daphne Childs from certain death, she's suddenly swept into the Night World Slave Trade, gateway to the vampires' secret enclave. Here Quinn is the gatekeeper... dark, dangerous, irresistible. He decides who is chosen. He holds the keys to the realm Rashel is desperate to enter. She looks into his eyes, stunned, to see her soulmate-- a vampire whose entire she has vowed to destroy..

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Book Number in 2010: 44

Author:
Jenn McKinlay
Title: Sprinkle with Murder

Series:
1st in A Cupcake Bakery Mystery
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 215

Book From:
Library
My Rating:
5

Date Started:
May 22, 2010
Date Finished: May 25, 2010


My Comments:
Loved this cozy and can't wait for the next one!! The friendship between Mel, Angie and Tate made it fun and the meddling between Angie's seven brothers and Mel's mother made it so funny :)

I loved that they had old movie night and constantly repeated quotes from them to each other... no matter what the situation was they had one to share.  :)

I did however, guess the killer right from the start, but not figure out how it all came together until it was revealed .. Nonetheless it was a great book and start to a new series.. I for one am looking forward to more soon! :)



Description from the publisher:


Melanie Cooper and Angie DeLaura are finally living out their dream as the proud owners of the Fairy Tale Cupcakes bakery. But their first big client is a nightmare. She's a bridezilla who wants 500 custom cupcakes for her wedding.

When Mel stumbles upon the bride-to-be dead-by-cupcake, she becomes the prime suspect. To save themselves and their business, the ladies need to find the real murderer, before the cupcake killer ices someone else.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Book Number in 2010: 43

Author:
L.J. Smith
Title: Dark Angel

Series:
4th in Night World
Genre: Paranormal, Young Adult
Format: Trade Size Paperback
Pages: 209

Book From:
Library
My Rating:
4.5

Date Started:
May 23, 2010
Date Finished: May 23, 2010


My Comments:
I couldn't stop reading until I finished!  Her little stories just grip me right in.  :)

In this story Gillian hears someone crying in the woods walking home from school in the snow.. She falls into a creek and almost dies trying to find them.. This is the opening of the story and it is just so gripping to read about what happens next!!  :)


Description from the publisher:


After a near death experience, Gillian returns to her body accompanied by an angel who helped her come back. An invisible guardian that only Gillian can see, he helps her achieve the popularity she has always yearned for. But then, Angel begins to make bizarre demands. At last, Gillian must face the terrifying question: What kind of being has she brought back from the Other Side?

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Book Number in 2010: 42

Author:
Jillian Hart
Title: Heaven Sent

Series:
Stand Alone
Genre: Christian Romance
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 250

Book From:
Library
My Rating:
4

Date Started:
May 11, 2010
Date Finished: May 22, 2010


My Comments:
Cute, sweet story!  I've been so addicted to these Love Inspired books that I just want to read them all!! Unfortunately this isn't easy at all because of the way they are published.. But on a good note they have been reissuing them in special editions that have 2 books in one.  :)

I fell in love with each of the characters in this story and wish it was a series.. There was three love stories and it could have been made into three books that featured all the characters in each book but focused on one couple in each one.. :) 


Description from the publisher:


Matthew Shaw and Hope Ashton are from two distinct worlds. Hope is a single, carefree photographer who travels the world. Matthew is a widower raising triplet sons in Montana. Can these two incredibly diverse individuals come together and make love work?

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Book Number in 2010: 41

Author:
Richard Castle
Title: Heat Wave

Series:
1st in the ABC Castle series
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 196

Book From:
Library
My Rating:
3.5

Date Started:
May 17, 2010
Date Finished: May 20, 2010


My Comments:
I really enjoyed this! Was like reading an episode of Castle only the characters had different names, which was a good thing since in other TV-tie in books I ended up feeling confused between the book being the same characters but so many differences in the storylines..  Can't wait to read Naked Heat now!!  :)


Description from the publisher:


A New York real estate tycoon plunges to his death on a Manhattan sidewalk. A trophy wife with a past survives a narrow escape from a brazen attack. Mobsters and moguls with no shortage of reasons to kill trot out their alibis. And then, in the suffocating grip of a record heat wave, comes another shocking murder and a sharp turn in a tense journey into the dirty little secrets of the wealthy. Secrets that prove to be fatal. Secrets that lay hidden in the dark until one NYPD detective shines a light.

Mystery sensation Richard Castle, blockbuster author of the wildly best-selling Derrick Storm novels, introduces his newest character, NYPD Homicide Detective Nikki Heat. Tough, sexy, professional, Nikki Heat carries a passion for justice as she leads one of New York City's top homicide squads. She's hit with an unexpected challenge when the commissioner assigns superstar magazine journalist Jameson Rook to ride along with her to research an article on New York's Finest. PulitzerPrize-winning Rook is as much a handful as he is handsome. His wise-cracking and meddling aren't her only problems. As she works to unravel the secrets of the murdered real estate tycoon, she must also confront the spark between them. The one called heat.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Book Number in 2010: 40

Author:
Toni Andrews
Title: Beg for Mercy

Series:
1st Mercy Hollings
Genre: Paranormal Romantic Suspense
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 307

Book From:
Library
My Rating:
5

Date Started:
May 13, 2010
Date Finished: May 16, 2010


My Comments:
What a strange story!  But oh wow so good! 

I enjoyed these characters so much that I can not wait to read the next one!! Mind control and telepathy made this book so exciting that I just could not put it down. :)


Description from the publisher:


I've never been certain I'm human Oh, the X-rays and blood tests are normal, and most people have no reason to suspect I'm more than I appear to be. But if I tell you to do something? You do it--no ifs, ands or buts. My name is Mercy Hollings, and if you think that having the power to control people makes my life easy, you're dead wrong.

Because when I get angry, everyone around me is at risk--Sukey, my friend who has frightening taste in men; my clients, who, ironically, come to me for help; my neighbors, who regard me as a loner; and Sam, a man who wants to know my darkest secret. And I'm afraid my anger is taking over

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Book Number in 2010: 39

Author:
Merrillee Whren
Title: Four Little Blessings

Series:
Stand Alone
Genre: Christian Romance
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 247

Book From:
Library
My Rating:
5

Date Started:
May 8, 2010
Date Finished: May 11, 2010


My Comments:
Great story!! Cassie is a single 21 year old woman who takes in her 4 nieces and nephews when her sister's wild life lands her in jail..  Cassie has quite the challenge dealing with their issues from the past...

Taylor is 7 and very shy and is afraid of things quite often, she takes care of the younger kids because that's what she knows to do.. Makayla is 5 and very loud and pushy because she had to always fight for attention.. Jack is 3 and lives in fear of being hit or locked in a room.. Danny is only 1 and thankfully has no bad memories..

Wade lives next door after his recovery from cancer and he never thought four young kids and their aunt would help make him whole again..

Angie is Cassie's mentor who gave them a place to live when Cassie had no where else to take these children.

It was an emotional story yet an inspiring story and a sweet romance as well.  I will be looking forward to reading other books by this author in the future!



Description from the publisher:


Make That Five Blessings The four little noisemakers who'd moved next door to Wade Dalton came with a bonus: their beautiful aunt. Raising the children herself due to some tough circumstances, Cassie Rankin impressed Wade with her selflessness and her beauty. But she was also at least a dozen years his junior--she was too young for him, wasn't she? Besides, Wade came with a secret that would only make life harder for Cassie and the children he'd come to adore, which meant keeping his distance. Something those four little blessings weren't about to let him do

Saturday, May 08, 2010

Book Number in 2010: 38

Author:
Carol Steward
Title: In His Sights

Series:
Reunion Revelations
Genre: Christian Romance Suspense
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 214

Book From:
Library
My Rating:
2.5

Date Started:
May 6, 2010
Date Finished: May 8, 2010


My Comments:
Usually these Love Inspired series books don't matter much if you read them as a stand alone book.. Not the case with this one.. so I was left feeling like I missed a whole lot before the story started and didn't even get a full conclusion of the suspense at the end. :(

I did enjoy the characters at least, but the writing was a little bumpy/jumpy to me.. maybe because I felt so "lost".  I may try the last two books in the series if i can find them somewhere...


Description from the publisher:


All eyes were on Dee Owens--including a killer's.The publicist's job was to assure the Magnolia College community that the campus was safe...despite two murders. But someone was watching Dee too closely, following her, making anonymous phone calls in a voice that sounded eerily familiar. And every time she turned around, there was her boss, handsome Brazilian Edgar Ortiz. He insisted

on protecting her. And now it wasn't just fear sending those chills racing up her spine...

Thursday, May 06, 2010

Book Number in 2010: 37

Author:
Cheryl Wolverton
Title: Among the Tulips

Series:
Stand Alone
Genre: Christian Romance
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 249

Book From:
Library
My Rating:
4

Date Started:
May 3, 2010
Date Finished: May 6, 2010


My Comments:
Sweet story about a widow with two grown step children who control her.  Annie's friends push her to take a summer dream vacation in Holland.  She decides to go for it and take the trip of her life!  But on her first day in Holland an accident has her staying with a stranger who seems familiar.. This is a very emotional story that makes you smile and cry.. :)


Description from the publisher:


A new beginning.
Turning forty is a major milestone for Annie Hooper, who has been married, with stepchildren, since she was seventeen. The birthday gift of a trip to Holland offers some unexpected and exciting changes to her routine. And when a car accident in Amsterdam leads to her rescue by a handsome celebrity, she begins to wonder whether God has a new direction for her.
Victor Richardson offers his château to Annie so she can recover and resume her vacation — with him as guide. And while Annie's arm mends, she discovers that her Prince Charming requires God's grace, and her help as well, to make a fresh start of his own.

Monday, May 03, 2010

Book Number in 2010: 36

Author:
Annie Jones
Title: April in Bloom

Series:
Stand Alone
Genre: Christian Romance
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 239

Book From:
Library
My Rating:
4

Date Started:
April 30, 2010
Date Finished: May 3, 2010


My Comments:
What a really great story! It made you smile, laugh and cry.. Miss Cora was a hoot!!

Made you think about life and love in the terms of gardens growing.. very inspirational

"Nobody likes me, everybody hates me, I'm going out to the garden and eat worms.  Big, fat, juicy ones. Itty-bitty, slimy ones..."


Description from the publisher:



Sheriff Kurt Mulldoon had moved to a home out of town to get away from meddling townspeople and attractive women, but one of each was standing on his front porch.
It seemed ninety-year-old Miss Cora, his house's previous owner, had convinced the one woman who piqued Kurt's fancy, April Shelnutt, to take her for a visit. And not long after they arrived, Cora suffered an injury—to her backside.
Kurt's neighborly duty meant he'd offer his help, and let them into his home. But he wasn't letting April into his heart, no matter how pretty—and right—she looked standing in his doorway.

Sunday, May 02, 2010

Book Number in 2010: 35

Author:
Nina Wright
Title: Whiskey on the Rocks

Series:
1st in A Whiskey Mattimoe Mystery
Genre: Mystery
Format: Trade Size Paperback
Pages: 248

Book From:
Library
My Rating:
0.5  (yup.. that bad!)

Date Started:
April 25, 2010
Date Finished: May 2, 2010


My Comments:
Terrible terrible terrible!!! Can't begin to explain how terrible!  :(

First of all an innocent animal should never be abused in any form.. especially not sexually!!! What a terrible thing to put in a book!!

Other than that it was too chaotic and too much confusion to even focus on the darn story let alone care about any of the characters!! I think I only liked Chester, the 8 year old boy next door.

I hate to say bad things, but I just couldn't like this one.. I will never read this author again..


Description from the publisher:


Still reeling from her husband's death, thirty-three-year-old realtor Whiskey Mattimoe is adjusting to a new life, which includes the embarrassing purse-snatching antics of her mischievious Afghan hound. That's bad for business, but not as bad as having clients die on the premises. When one of her properties turns into a murder scene, Whiskey becomes hopelessly tangled in a devious scheme involving identity fraud and priceless art.
Dodging a house fire, break-ins, and attempts on her life, Whiskey manages to keep her sense of humor throughout the chaos with help from a part-time police force, her eight-year-old neighbor, and other eccentric characters in the Lake Michigan resort town of Magnet Springs.
This fast-paced, darkly comic tale is the first in a series of mysteries featuring the amateur sleuthing of Whiskey Mattimoe.
Click here to download Book Club Questions for "Whiskey on the Rocks," prepared by author Nina Wright!

Friday, April 30, 2010

Book Number in 2010: 34

Author:
Stella Cameron
Title: Out of Body

Series:
1st in A Court of Angels trilogy
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 392

Book From:
Library
My Rating:
3.5

Date Started:
April 20, 2010
Date Finished: April 30, 2010


My Comments:
Took me awhile to get used to the style of writing in this one.. And what a very strange story :)

I grew to like Marley and her crazy family (Willow, Sykes, Pascal and the Boston Terrier, Winnie) and I enjoyed the relationship between Marley and Gray.. Gray's father Gus was a nice addition to the story and I hope we see more of him in the rest of the series..




Description from the publisher:


Born of an ancient family of clairvoyants, Marley Millet finds that her psychic gift is both unsettling and incredibly dangerous. She never wants to "travel" again--but the choice is not hers to make.After glimpsing the fates of two missing New Orleans jazz singers, Marley knows she has no choice and must speak up before more women disappear. Flinty cop-turned-writer Gray Fisher, who interviewed both chanteuses before they vanished, takes a special interest in Marley's incredible story--and in Marley.

Scouring the wild clubs of the French Quarter, Marley and Gray make an unlikely and uneasy team. But their determination is matched only by the heat between them...and the evil they have uncovered

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Book Number in 2010: 33

Author:
Patricia Thayer
Title: Coming Home to the Cowboy

Series:
Bella Lucia
Genre: Romance
Format: Hardcover (large print)
Pages: 283

Book From:
Library
My Rating:
4.5

Date Started:
April 24, 2010
Date Finished: April 25, 2010


My Comments:
Another great story by Patricia Thayer.. Always makes me emotional :)

Rebecca goes to a Wyoming Ranch for her job ad falls for a single dad and his two children.


Description from the publisher:

New York advertising executive Rebecca Valentine is now facing her biggest challenge -- her biological clock. In an effort to get her life sorted out, Rebecca travels to a tranquil ranch in Wyoming... . Charming, easygoing Mitchell Tucker isn't at all what Rebecca expected. For this rancher is not only a millionaire businessman but also a world-class dad devoted to his two adorable children. Rebecca can't deny their attraction. But can she really leave the life she thought she wanted -- to reach for the unknown?

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Book Number in 2010: 32

Author:
Jennifer Crusie
Title: The Cinderella Deal

Series:
Stand Alone
Genre: Romance
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 278

Book From:
Library
My Rating:
4

Date Started:
April 19, 2010
Date Finished: April 20, 2010


My Comments:
A total "awwww" story ;)  It was so cute and sweet my teeth hurt!  But I loved every single world of it!!

Daisy, who is an artist and Linc is a college history professor who couldn't be more different.. But when he needed help Daisy offered and it was the start to their very strange romance story.  :)

I love the cover of this one!  So bright and cute..


Looking forward to more Jennifer Crusie soon. I hope her newer books are just as good as these older ones!


Description from the publisher:


Daisy Flattery is a free spirit with a soft spot for strays and a weakness for a good story. Why else would she agree to the outrageous charade offered by her buttoned-down workaholic neighbor, Linc Blaise? The history professor needs to have a fiancée in order to capture his dream job, and Daisy is game to play the role. But something funny happens on their way to the altar that changes everything. Now, with the midnight hour approaching, will Daisy lose her prince, or will opposites not only attract but live happily ever after?

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Book Number in 2010: 31

Author:
Margaret Daley
Title: Vanished

Series:
Stand Alone
Genre: Christian, Romance, Suspense
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 250

Book From:
Library
My Rating:
4.5

Date Started:
April 6, 2010
Date Finished: April 18, 2010


My Comments:
Yet another intense Love Inspired Suspense.. I am so glad I found these books.. They are so full of emotions and good clean stories.. I just want to read them all!

This was my first by Margaret Daley, and I really enjoyed her story telling..

My only wish was that we got a 2nd book with these characters telling us more about the romance that developed between J.T. and Madison and how the family all came together after this horrifying experience...


Description from the publisher:


As a detective in Chicago, J.T. Logan had put away a lot of criminals-- and had made a lot of enemies. However, the last thing the widowed father and current small-town sheriff expected was crime in his own backyard. Until his young daughter was kidnapped. FBI agent Madison Spencer found herself working with J.T. again, on a case painfully different from their previous one. She could only watch as he struggled to remain coldly professional while his heart was in anguish. And what of her own heart? Romance should be the furthest thing from their minds. All she could do was hope-- and pray-- for them all
Book Number in 2010: 30

Author:
Jennifer Crusie
Title: What the Lady Wants

Series:
Stand Alone
Genre: Romance
Format: Mass Market Paperback (read part of it as an ebook)
Pages: 233

Book From:
Library
My Rating:
4

Date Started:
April 1, 2010
Date Finished: April 18, 2010


My Comments:
Too funny! I laughed my way through this crazy romance/mystery wondering what nutty things would be said next.  :)

I am looking forward to more by this author soon!


Description from the publisher:


"If he's Cary Grant, where's his Girl Friday?" Mitch Peabody was learning pretty fast that the life of a private detective was nothing like the movies. He'd envisioned a world of tough-talking detectives and smart-mouthed, stunning dames. Instead he saw case after case of cheating husbands, suspicious wives and unsuspecting mistresses...until she walked through the door.

Right down to her stilettos, Mae Sullivan was a knockout with a lethal body--and a lethal family to go with it. There was something not quite on the up-and-up about her, but she came with a case he couldn't afford to refuse...and left him with a case of lust he hadn't had since high school. It didn't take long for him to fall for her, hook, line and sinker. But was Mae interested only in catching the double-crossing crooks who murdered her uncle...or did the lady want to catch him?

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Book Number in 2010: 29

Author:
Melinda Wells
Title: The Proof is in the Pudding

Series:
3rd in A Della Cooks Mystery
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 291

Book From:
Library
My Rating:
4.5

Date Started:
April 13, 2010
Date Finished: April 17, 2010


My Comments:
I love this series!! I love how the author incorporates proper (loving) pet care into her stories, I love reading about the cooking show and recipes they make. And I love the friendships that have tied together all of the characters in the series..

I also love that I was clueless until about the last 30/40 pages of who the killer might be.. I had some early theories about a few people, but just couldn't fit the pieces together to figure it out too early on. :) Makes a great story even better! :)


Description from the publisher:

Owner of a Santa Monica cooking school and cable cooking show star Della Carmichael is one of three judges for an A-list cook-off-but it's the celebrities who are getting knocked off.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Book Number in 2010: 28

Author:
Clare O'Donohue
Title: A Drunkard's Path

Series:
2nd in A Someday Quilts Mystery
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Format: Trade Size Paperback
Pages: 259

Book From:
Library
My Rating:
4.5

Date Started:
April 10, 2010
Date Finished: April 13, 2010


My Comments:
This series has quickly become a new favorite!! There is so much packed into these stories.. murder, mystery, romances, family ties, friendships, quilting and art..

I feel so drawn to Nell and her grandmother, Elenor, her dog, Barney and Jess, the police chief Nell has been "seeing".  Not to mention the quilting group and descriptions of the quilts.. so much to love!!

We had two new characters in this book that I hope we hear more from in the next books.. Can't wait to read more soon!!


Description from the publisher:



In the sleepy town of Archers Rest, Nell Fitzgerald is finishing her first quilt and preparing for her first date- with Police Chief Jesse Dewalt. When Jesse stands her up, it turns out he has a good reason-the body of a murdered young woman has been discovered near the Hudson River.

Meanwhile the members of Nell's quilting circle encourage her to take drawing classes with the famous artist Oliver White. When Nell's professor meets her grandmother Eleanor, owner of the Someday Quilts shop, he seems instantly smitten. But once another woman's body is found outside her grandmother's home under a blanket of snow, Nell begins to patch together clues and follow a path of evidence that suggests her professor may also have a degree in the art of murder.

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Book Number in 2010: 27

Author:
Melissa James
Title: The Bridegroom's Secret

Series:
6th in The Wedding Planners
Genre: Romance
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 240

Book From:
Library
My Rating:
3.5

Date Started:
April 7, 2010
Date Finished: April 10, 2010


My Comments:
I loved this series, but found this last book tobe a little off.  The story was good, but the author was from Australia and it just made things seem off because the story was set in Boston, MA.. I found things to be distracting. Maybe it's because I am from the Boston area.  The main character was from Australia so it made it somewhat acceptable to be reading it told that way.. just felt awkward to me at times..


Description from the publisher:


With a glittering wedding to plan, Julie Montgomery is the happiest girl in town. Their engagement party is the talk of Boston--but then Julie discovers everyone seems to know more about her groom-to-be than she does....Matt McLachlan wants to protect his beautiful fiancee from the complications in his life--he only wants good things for her. But Matt has to learn that marriage is about sharing everything, for better and for worse. Before he says "I do," he has to tell Julie a secret..

Wednesday, April 07, 2010

Book Number in 2010: 26

Author:
Susan Meier
Title: Millionaire Dad, Nanny Needed

Series:
5th in The Wedding Planners
Genre: Romance
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 243

Book From:
Library
My Rating:
4

Date Started:
April 1, 2010
Date Finished: April 7, 2010


My Comments:
This is such a fun series reading about the planning of weddings.. :)

In this book Audra is the accountant for the Wedding Belles and we didnt actually see as much wedding fun as in the previous 4 books, but it was still a great story about a guy from a high powered family who had to take over the family business AND gained custody of his 6 month old nephew after his brother and brother's wife died in an accident. A lot for the family "playboy" to handle getting used to!  ;)


Description from the publisher:


One minute, wedding planner Audra Greene's balancing budget sheets, the next she's changing baby sheets for handsome millionaire Dominic Manelli Corporate tycoon Dominic needs help with his newly orphaned nephew, and he knows exactly who to ask--reliable, trustworthy Audra. He knows his playboy ways will only break Audra's heart and that he shouldn't get involved with the hired help. But every look, every touch and every smile is making Dominic want to swap nights out on the town for nights in with Audra and the baby..

Monday, April 05, 2010

Book Number in 2010: 25

Author:
Irene Hannon
Title: Crossroads

Series:
Stand Alone
Genre: Christian Romance
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 247

Book From:
Library
My Rating:
4.5

Date Started:
March 31, 2010
Date Finished: April 5, 2010


My Comments:
Another beautiful story of love and faith by Irene Hannon.. What an amazing ability this author has for telling stories of great emotion and inspiration in such a way that you have to force yourself to put the book down!

The characters in this story (Tess, her son Bruce, his principal Mitch and Mitch's Uncle Ray) all face their own crossroads in the story.. what an incredible inspiration to read how all 4 lives came together in ways to help each other overcome their obstacles..


Description from the publisher:

Struggling to raise her teenage son, single mom Tess Lockhart seeks help from his school principal, Mitch Jackson. Rich in faith and understanding, these two people also find romance with one another and work together to become a family.

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Book Number in 2010: 24

Author:
Irene Hannon
Title: Never Say Goodbye

Series:
Stand Alone
Genre: Christian Romance
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 252

Book From:
Library
My Rating:
5

Date Started:
March 28, 2010
Date Finished: March 31, 2010


My Comments:
What a beautiful story of love and faith..

Scott was just released from prison after 3 long years after driving drunk had caused an accident that had resulted in the death of his 4 year old daughter, a man in the other car and landed his wife in the hospital with a concussion..

Jess never intended to speak with Scott again, but she slowly found herself wondering about him and the each and acceptance he seemed to have achieved.




QUOTE:
Even on the coldest, darkest days of winter it's important to remember that Spring always comes.


Description from the publisher:


Never Say GoodBye by Irene HannonJess and Scott Mitchell were a perfect couple whose lives were full of faith and love. But tragedy struck, tearing them apart and causing both to doubt their beliefs. Now, five years later, they are seeking reconciliation -- with God and each other.

Monday, March 29, 2010

Book Number in 2010: 23

Author:
Wendy Lyn Watson
Title: I Scream, You Scream

Series:
1st in A Mystery A la Mode
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 300

Book From:
Library
My Rating:
4.5

Date Started:
March 19, 2010
Date Finished: March 29, 2010


My Comments:
Is it September yet?  Because I can't wait to read the next book in this series!!! It was all over the place with keeping me guessing!! I never fully figured out "whodunit" until it was revealed.. I love books like that :)


Description from the publisher:


Recently divorced Tallulah Jones is mortified when she?s stuck scooping sundaes for her two-timing ex-husband?and his bodacious new girlfriend, Brittanie?at his company luau.

But when Brittanie drops dead, Tally is suddenly the prime suspect in her murder investigation. To catch the killer, Tally will have to dip deep into her small Texan town?s darkest secrets and churn up stories some would prefer to keep in the past. But can she uncover the real culprit before a murder charge puts her dreams on ice for good?

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Book Number in 2010: 22

Author:
Patricia Thayer
Title: Brady: The Rebel Rancher

Series:
Texas Brotherhood
Genre: Romance
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 239

Book From:
Library
My Rating:
4.5

Date Started:
March 26, 2010
Date Finished: March 28, 2010


My Comments:
You know a book is great when you stay up later just to finish it and you sit there crying your eyes out while you do ;)

This book is part of the Texas Brotherhood series and each book focuses on a different man of the Randell family.. 6 brothers and 2 cousins.. Unfortunately this appeared to be the last story.. I wasn't too lost though since the couples of the previous books only appear as minor characters for the most part.. I do hope to go back and read more of their stories someday soon.


Description from the publisher:


Brady Randell has always been a rebel. Even now, injured out of the air force, he's a dark presence on the Randell ranch. But enter lovely Lindsey Stafford, and a glint appears in the headstrong pilot's eye.
Despite her innocence, Lindsey takes Brady's brooding nature in her stride. But her arrival has rocked the Randell family to the core. She has secrets that could destroy them.
Now it's up to Brady to fight once more. Not for his country this time, but for the woman who's found a place in his heart.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Book Number in 2010: 21

Author:
Patricia Thayer
Title: Wedding Bells at Wandering Creek Ranch

Series:
Western Weddings
Genre: Romance
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 241

Book From:
Library
My Rating:
5

Date Started:
March 24, 2010
Date Finished: March 25, 2010


My Comments:
Patricia Thayer is just so awesome!!  Reading her books is like having a great conversation with an old friend.. I think I've said this before.. but it is just so true!

Willow and Jack were great characters with real issues that made the story more enjoyable.. Such powerful story telling and sweet romance :)

Looking forward to starting another book by her next :)


Description from the publisher:


P.I. Jack Sullivan, black-eyed and dark-hearted, is at Wandering Creek Ranch on official business--business that doesn't include falling for the striking blonde who tries to throw him off her land....Willow Kingsley's ranch in the Hollywood Hills is her sanctuary. She'll fight the gorgeous stranger and protect her own. What she doesn't realize is that Jack's on her side, and when she's in his arms he'll do everything in his power to keep her safe..

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Book Number in 2010: 20

Author:
Kathryn Shay
Title: A Man She Couldn't Forget

Series:
Stand Alone
Genre: Romance
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 245

Book From:
Library
My Rating: 4.5

Date Started:
March 19, 2010
Date Finished: March 23, 2010


My Comments:
What a great, gripping story!! Would have been a 5 star if not for the last 20 pages feeling rushed and a little disappointing..

I wasn't happy with the outcome of why Clare had blocked out parts of the night of her car accident.. I didn't feel it gave the story enough justice..   But I adored all of the characters!! :)


Description from the publisher:


Clare Boneli has felt like a stranger to herself ever since the night an accident took her memory. The night she made a choice between two very different men.Both Brady Langston and Jonathan Harris are good men. But their versions of her are so opposite, it's as if she's two different people. One man holds her career future and one man seems to hold her heart. Because when she's with Brady everything feels so true, so right. As she moves closer to the truth about that fateful night, Clare has to choose again. To stick with the life she's made for herself. Or listen to what her heart's been trying to tell her..

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Book Number in 2010: 19

Author:
Paula Graves
Title: Case Files: Canyon Creek Wyoming

Series:
Cooper Justice
Genre:
Romantic Suspense
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 215

Book From:
Library
My Rating:
4

Date Started:
March 15, 2010
Date Finished: March 18, 2010


My Comments:
My first Harlequin Intrigue.. And it will not be my last!! I'm hoping I can find the next Cooper Justice book in the library, Paula Graves is an awesome writer and I am looking forward to more!! This book had it all.. So much emotions and suspense and a beautiful romance. :)


Description from the publisher:


What was supposed to be a quiet vacation in scenic Wyoming turned deadly when Hannah Cooper became the target of a serial killer. Although she survived the attack, the ordeal was far from over. But she wasn't alone. Not when Riley Patterson appointed himself her protector.
Beneath Riley's strapping, solemn exterior hid a hard-driving sheriff who would stop at nothing to catch a killer. He promised Hannah safety, but it was the danger he posed that drew her in. Riley was as much a mystery as the man who sought to take her life. Trapped on his ranch, with no one but each other to trust, only justice could set them free...and possibly separate them forever.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Book Number in 2010: 18

Author:
Patricia Thayer
Title: A Mother for the Tycoon's Child

Series:
Rocky Mountain Brides
Genre:
Romance
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 181

Book From:
Library
My Rating:
4

Date Started:
March 8, 2010
Date Finished: March 16, 2010


My Comments:
What a sweet story! Patricia Thayer really knows how to get to my emotions..  :)

The characters in this story were so vivid and real.. I loved the building relationships between Morgan and Justin and his little daughter  :)

I am looking forward to reading more by her very very soon..


Description from the publisher:

Everyone in the town of Destiny thinks dedicated Mayor Morgan Keenan has no time for relationships. It takes newcomer tycoon and caring single father Justin Hilliard to see past her defenses. With the help of his cute little daughter, Justin slowly helps the beautiful, willowy redhead understand that she can love and be loved in return. Morgan belongs with them-- not only as his adored wife, but as the mother she was meant to be

Monday, March 15, 2010

Book Number in 2010: 17

Author:
Joanne Fluke
Title: Apple Turnover Murder

Series:
13th in Hannah Swensen series
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 290

Book From:
Library
My Rating:
4

Date Started:
March 13, 2010
Date Finished: March 15, 2010


My Comments:
Not as great as previous books.. I also figured out the killer and why they did it before the murder even took place in the story. And I knew who would save Hannah in the end and how they would do it too..

But even still, I love these characters so much and can't wait to read the next one :)



Description from the publisher:


Early summer brings plenty of work for baker Hannah Swensen, even before Mayor Bascomb's wife drops by The Cookie Jar to place an order for her charity event...for eleven-hundred cookies! And Hannah almost flips when her business partner, Lisa, suggests setting up an apple turnover stand. But she places her faith in Lisa and agrees to be a magician's assistant in the fundraiser's talent show...
The only snag is the show's host, college professor Bradford Ramsey. Hannah and her sister, Michelle, each had unfortunate romances with Ramsey, and when the cad comes sniffing around between acts, Hannah tells him off. But when the curtain doesn't go up, she discovers Ramsey backstage—dead, with a turnover in his hand. Now Hannah must find a killer who's flakier than puff pastry—and far more dangerous...

Friday, March 12, 2010

Book Number in 2010: 16

Author:
Livia J. Washburn
Title: Killer Crab Cakes

Series:
4th in A Fresh Baked Mystery
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Format: Trade Size Paperback
Pages: 270

Book From:
Library
My Rating:
4.5

Date Started:
March 9, 2010
Date Finished: March 12, 2010


My Comments:
Another great mystery for this series!  I really love this group of characters :)  And the setting of this one was so much fun!  I love a story set in a Bed and Breakfast.. In this story Phylls and her "gang" had been staying at her cousin's Bed and Breakfast to keep it running while her cousin was away.. All was peaceful until a man was found dead on the docks instead of fishing! :)  Such a fun story..  Looking forward to the 5th book in this series already.


Description from the publisher:


When Phyllis?s cousin asks her to look after her Oak Knoll bed-and-breakfast for a few weeks, Phyllis jumps at the chance?mostly because the inn is located close to the annual Rockport, Texas, Just Desserts competition. Determined to beat her friendly rival and enjoy some peaceful downtime with her boyfriend Sam, Phyllis concocts the ultimate sweet treat.

But Phyllis?s holiday turns bitter when she and Sam discover a dead body?and all signs point to murder. Dismayed that bad luck seems to pop up wherever she goes, Phyllis wants to stay out of this one. But as the list of suspects gets too close for comfort, she decides to throw herself into the mix. Because when it comes to solving murders, Phyllis is one smart cookie.

Monday, March 08, 2010

Book Number in 2010: 15

Author:
Sherryl Woods
Title: The Inn at Eagle Point

Series:
1st in Chesapeake Shores
Genre: Romance
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 384

Book From:
Library
My Rating:
4.5

Date Started:
March 4, 2010
Date Finished: March 8, 2010


My Comments:
I can't wait to read the next book in this series now!!  I fell in love with the family in this book and am dying to learn more about Abby's sisters Jess and Bree :)

I do hope that we get to glimpse more into the relationship of Trace and Abby and her adorable twins Carrie and Caitlyn. :)


Reading about the inn made for a beautiful story.. I am looking forward to seeing Jess in action there and seeing how well she does.. It's such a beautiful setting and described perfectly.  I could just picture the rooms in my mind and want to take a vacation there myself!!  :)


Description from the publisher:


It's been years since Abby O'Brien Winters set foot in Chesapeake Shores. The Maryland town her father built has too many sad memories and Abby too few spare moments, thanks to her demanding Wall Street career, the crumbling of her marriage and energetic twin daughters. Then one panicked phone call from her youngest sister brings her racing back home to protect Jess's dream of renovating the charming Inn at Eagle Point.

But saving the inn from foreclosure means dealing not only with her own fractured family, but also with Trace Riley, the man Abby left ten years ago. Trace can be a roadblock to her plans...or proof that second chances happen in the most unexpected ways

Wednesday, March 03, 2010

Book Number in 2010: 14

Author:
Sue Ann Jaffarian
Title: Ghost a la Mode

Series:
1st in A Ghost of Granny Apples Mystery
Genre: Cozy Mystery, Paranormal
Format: Trade Size Paperback
Pages: 286

Book From:
Library
My Rating:
5

Date Started:
Feb 28, 2010
Date Finished: March 3, 2010


My Comments:
I was totally sucked into this story!! Granny Apples was a fun ghost and Emma is a great character that could be a real person.. Reading this felt like talking to an old friend.

Watching Emma develop from someone who didn't believe in ghosts to someone who not only sees, but talks to them was a riot! :)

Very well written, flowed nicely and I was clueless about the "whodunit" until they were revealed..

Can't wait for the next Granny Apples!


Description from the publisher:


Granny was famous for her award-winning apple pies-and notorious for murdering her husband Jacob at their homestead in Julian, California. The only trouble is, Granny was framed, then murdered. For more than one hundred years, Granny's spirit has been searching for someone to help her see that justice is served--and she hits pay dirt when she pops in to a seance attended by her great-great-great-granddaughter, modern-day divorced mom Emma Whitecastle. Together, Emma and Granny Apples solve mysteries of the past--starting with Granny's own unjust murder rap in the final days of the California Gold Rush. Along with a sprinkling of history, this spirited new mystery series features the amateur sleuth team of Emma Whitecastle and the spirit of her pie-baking great-great-great-grandmother, Granny Apples. "A charming tale, as appealing as apple pie. I predict a long life (and afterlife) for Sue Ann's latest series."--Harley Jane Kozak, Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity award-winning author of Dating Dead Men "Take colorful characters in a charming setting, mix in a dash of romance, add a pinch of the paranormal, and serve it up like one of Granny's famous pies. I guarantee you'll be back for seconds."--Deborah Sharp, author of Mama Rides Shotgun

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Book Number in 2010: 13

Author:
L.J. Smith
Title: Spellbinder

Series:
3rd in Night World
Genre: Paranormal, Young Adult
Format: Trade Size Paperback
Pages: 238

Book From:
Library
My Rating:
4.5

Date Started:
Feb 25, 2010
Date Finished: Feb 27, 2010


My Comments:
Great story about witches!! Thea and Blaise were raised as sisters by family members after their parents all died when they were young.  Their mothers were twins whoboth died during child birth.. on the same night!

Very imaginative story  :)

Thea could get into the minds of animals and Blaise worked amazing spells that she just couldn't seem to mature enough to use probably.

I am looking forward to the next 3 Night World books soon :)


Description from the publisher:


Blaise's black magic is powerful. The only way Thea can fight back is to use her own white magic, to bewitch Eric herself as a bluff. But soon Thea finds herself getting too close to Eric, feeling forbidden emotions, breaking Night World laws by falling in love. As halloween and the Night of the Witch draw closer, can Thea save Eric and herself from Blaise's revenge?

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Book Number in 2010: 12

Author:
L.J. Smith
Title: Daughter's of Darkness



Series:
2nd in Night World
Genre: Paranormal, Young Adult
Format: Trade Size Paperback
Pages: 238

Book From:
Library
My Rating:
3

Date Started:
Feb 22, 2010
Date Finished: Feb 24, 2010


My Comments:
I couldn't get into this story as much as the first one.. I still wanted to know how things turned out, but I just couldn't connect with the characters the same way I did with Secret Vampire..


Description from the publisher:


Unearthly Beauty There's something strange about the new girls in town. Briar Creek, Oregon, has never seen anything like the supernatural grace of Rowan, Kestrel, and Jade, three sisters who move into the dilapidated old house next to Mark and Mary-Lynnette Carter. Mark is obsessed with Jade-- but she and her sisters have a secret. And when Mark and Mary-Lynnette follow them into the woods one night, they are plunged into a nightmare beyond their imagination. Because the sisters are fugitives from the Night World, and their brother Ash is hot on the trail behind them. He's ruthless, gorgeous, and he has orders to bring the girls back at all costs. And when he sees Mary-Lynette, he decides to take her too..

Monday, February 22, 2010

Book Number in 2010: 11

Author:
L.J. Smith
Title: Secret Vampire

Series:
1st in Night World
Genre: Paranormal, Young Adult
Format: Trade Size Paperback
Pages: 242

Book From:
Library
My Rating:
5

Date Started:
Feb 18, 2010
Date Finished: Feb 22, 2010


My Comments:
At first I thought this series was a Twilight copy, and then I realized it was published 9 years earlier than Twilight.. I'm so glad I read this one!  And can't wait to start book 2 (Daughter's of Darkness) tonight!! :)

This one was a very emotional and sweet story.. Poppy was a young high school student that found out during summer vacation that she had a fatal illness that may mean she would never make it to her next school year.. :(


Description from the publisher:


The diagnosis for Poppy was death. there was no hope--until James, her best friend and secret love, appeared in the hospital. But this was a James she didn't know. He offered Poppy eternal life. Only he could open the door to the Night World. They're soulmates--but can she follow him into death and beyond?

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Book Number in 2010: 10

Author:
Clare O'Donohue
Title: The Lover's Knot

Series:
1st in Someday Quilt Mystery series
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Format: Trade Size Paperback
Pages: 293

Book From:
Library
My Rating:
4.5

Date Started:
Feb 14, 2010
Date Finished: Feb 18, 2010


My Comments:
What a great story!!  It had it all  :)  A murder mystery, a romance, quilting and a great group of characters/friends.. And it made me cry, i made me laugh and smile and it made me guess (and be wrong!)... Loved it to pieces  :)

Can't wait to read about Nell and the quilting group again soon!!! :)



Description from the publisher:


Nell Fitzgerald is thrilled when she receives a gorgeous handmade quilt in a lover's knot pattern from her grandmother Eleanor as an engagement gift. Her joy is short-lived, however, when her fiancé announces he's calling off the wedding. Heartbroken, 25-year-old Nell flees New York City for her grandmother's home in quaint Archers Rest. In this small town Eleanor's life revolves around her quilt shop, Someday Quilts, and the members of the shop's quilting circle.

When the body of a local handyman known for his flirting is found in the quilt shop, murdered with a pair of quilting scissors, Nell finds herself drawn into the case - and drawn to the handsome police chief. As a pattern of clues begins to emerge, one of the prime suspects is Nell's ex-fiancé, whose arrival in Archers Rest seems suspicious. The ladies of the quilting circle continue to piece together their quilts as Nell unravels the mystery. For quilters and mystery lovers alike, The Lover's Knot is a delightful and promising debut.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Book Number in 2010: 9

Author:
Debbbie Macomber
Title: The Snow Bride

Series:
Stand Alone
Genre: Holiday Romance
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 189

Book From:
Library
My Rating:
4

Date Started:
Feb 8, 2010
Date Finished: Feb 11, 2010


My Comments:
Cute story :)  Although it was extremely similar to her book "Mail-Order Bride", which I wasn't thrilled about especially since I only read that one a short time ago.

I really loved Jenna and Reid.. I wish this story was longer and dug deeper into their story and relationship.

That was my last Debbie Macomber book for awhile :(  Going to take a break and read something else now.. However, I am looking forward to more by her very soon!  :)



Description from the publisher:


Practical Jenna Campbell has done something impractical. She's met a man on the Internet and now, a month before Christmas, she's going to Alaska to marry him. Dalton Gray seems to be everything she wants in a husband -- sensitive, gallant, romantic....

On the flight to Fairbanks, she has the misfortune to sit beside Reid Jamison, who obviously isn't sensitive, gallant or romantic. However, he's not impressed with her plan to marry Dalton, a man he detests (for good reason, as Jenna later finds out). So Reid takes it upon himself to change her destination -- and her marriage plans.

Which is why Jenna ends up at Reid's cabin in tiny Snowbound, Alaska. It's currently a one-woman town (and the other woman's out of town). That leaves Reid, a bunch of eccentric old men, a few grizzly bears -- and Jenna. Kidnapped! And then there's a blizzard. The two of them alone, stranded in Snowbound.

Sunday, February 07, 2010

Book Number in 2010: 8

Author:
Debbie Macomber
Title: The Christmas Basket

Series:
Stand Alone
Genre: Holiday Romance
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 177

Book From:
Library
My Rating:
4

Date Started:
Feb 5, 2010
Date Finished: Feb 7, 2010


My Comments:
I loved this story!! It was so cute.. Very predictable, but didn't bother me at all. :)

Noelle and Thom broke up ten years ago and Noelle has never come home to Rose, Oregon since.. When she comes home to help plan her sisters' wedding and spend the holidays with her family, Thom was the first person she saw.. before she even got off the plane!! 


So very cute!! :)



Description from the publisher:



That summer -- more than ten years ago, while they were still in high school -- Noelle McDowell and Thomas Sutton fell secretly in love. Secretly because their mothers had been locked in a bitter feud for decades. But despite the animosity between Sarah McDowell and Mary Sutton, Noelle planned to elope with Thom. Until he jilted her.
This Christmas Noelle McDowell is home to celebrate the holidays with her family. (After all, December 25 is also her birthday.) Unfortunately, Noelle's feelings about home -- or rather, her hometown of Rose, Oregon -- were changed forever the day Thomas Sutton broke her heart.
This Christmas the feuding mothers find themselves working together to fill Christmas baskets for charity. What irony! And what an opportunity for reconciliation . . . if only they could see it.
This Christmas Noelle and Thom discover they're still in love. Regardless of their mothers' reactions, they want to be together. Is that possible? Can old rivalries be set aside? Will Sarah's Christmas daughter have a second chance with Mary's charming son?
Maybe she will . . . this Christmas!

Wednesday, February 03, 2010

Book Number in 2010: 7

Author:
Debbie Macomber
Title: Mrs. Miracle

Series:
1st in Mrs. Miracle
Genre: Holiday Romance
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 337

Book From:
Library
My Rating:
3.5

Date Started:
Jan 28, 2010
Date Finished: Feb 3, 2010


My Comments:
I wanted to like this one so much more than I did.. It just seemed a little jumpy to me (going from one character or couple to another)

I enjoyed the story between Seth and Reba and even enjoyed the ending between Reba and her sister, Vicki.. But I felt the argument's between Seth's children's grandparents were a little on the dull side and didn't really seem needed to tell the main story.. It was just a filler.


Description from the publisher:


Seth Webster's heart never healed after he lost his adored wife. Now, with Christmas approaching, wild twin boys to raise alone, a home in chaos, and the latest in a long line of exasperated housekeepers quitting in disgust, Seth needs more than help to keep his family togethe...he needs a miracle.

And then a miracle arrives on his doorstep. Her name is Mrs. Merkle, but the kids call her "Mrs. Miracle"--and from the moment the warm, knowing, and very patient nanny appears, everything is different. Her sassy spirit is infectious, and it gives Seth the courage to approach Reba, a beautiful travel agent who's been hurt and betrayed, and is afraid to ever love again. Through the magic of faith--and with a little help from a children's Christmas pageant and a lot of encouragement from Mrs. Miracle--Seth and Reba might just be able to find a Christmas miracle of their very own: true love

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Book Number in 2010: 6

Author:
Debbie Macomber
Title: Mail-Order Bride (short story in Small Town Christmas)

Series:
Stand Alone
Genre: Holiday Romance
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 174

Book From:
Library
My Rating:
3.5

Date Started:
Jan 26, 2010
Date Finished: Jan 28, 2010


My Comments:
This one was very cute, but on the silly side.. It held my attention, but didn't have me running back to read more.

I felt the ending was cut a little short as well.. I would've liked to get a little deeper into how things ended up.


Description from the publisher:

Caroline Myers had been eighteen when she'd discovered how potent her great-grandfather's recipe for "tea" was. So, when her two maiden aunts suggested a vacation to Alaska, Caroline was certain they'd overindulged in the family brew. Why go now - especially after she'd just been jilted by her erstwhile fiance?

But Caroline didn't know that her well-meaning relatives had cooked up a scheme - they'd decided that becoming a mail-order bride for rugged Alaskan Paul Trevor would be perfect for Caroline. And, after gazing into Paul's dark eyes, Caroline had to agree...and wonder if she’d just found a more potent elixir than Grandfather’s tea could ever be.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Book Number in 2010: 5

Author:
Debbie Macomber
Title: Return to Promise

Series:
8th in Heart of Texas
Genre: Holiday Romance
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 197

Book From:
Library
My Rating:
4

Date Started:
Jan 24, 2010
Date Finished: Jan 26, 2010


My Comments:
Debbie Macomber is quickly becoming my new favorite author!! I want to devour all her books as fast as I can!  But I won't because her books need to be savored.. And I wouldn't want to get "burn-out". .  But I do plan to read a couple more of her holiday books still before getting on to other authors/books this year.  :)

THis story would've been even more enjoyable had I read the rest of the series first.. but that is my fault :(


Description from the publisher:


The town of Promise, Texas, is a good place to live, to raise a family, to spend the rest of your days with the person you love.
Cal Patterson and his wife, Jane — also known as Dr. Texas — certainly think so. The last thing they expect is a threat to their marriage. But in September, disagreements begin to escalate — with the "help" of an attractive young woman who's got her eye on Cal.
After months of emotional upheaval brought on by doubts about the marriage, the two separate, and Jane returns to her childhood home in California, taking their children.
Cal, now alone on his ranch, is forced to confront what he really wants in his life, what he needs. Jane is confronting the same questions....
How seriously does Cal take his marriage vows? And how important is Promise to Jane? Is there hope for a reconciliation — in time for Christmas?

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Book Number in 2010: 4

Author:
Debbie Macomber
Title: Can This Be Christmas

Series:
Stand Alone
Genre: Holiday Romance
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 91

Book From:
Library
My Rating:
5

Date Started:
Jan 22, 2010
Date Finished: Jan 24, 2010


My Comments:
A group of strangers all aboard a train heading from Bangor, ME to Boston, MA are stranded in a train depot in a small NH town during a bad snow storm on Christmas Eve..

Each person (or couple) is on their way to spend the holidays with family and special friends... All have their own set of troubles that make them all nervous and/or short tempered.  But as the day wears into evening they begin to connect to each other and make things better as best they can by coming up with ideas to cheer up the kids and cure the boredom.

I loved this story! Feel connected to all of the characters in a special way :)



Description from the publisher:


In this short hardcover, Debbie Macomber shows how a group of train travelers stranded in a New Hampshire depot on Christmas Eve find the true meaning of Christmas. Len Dawber, a navy man stationed in Maine, is desperate to get home to Texas, where he intends to propose to his sweetheart Amy. Cathy Norris, devastated by her husband's recent death, doesn't expect to enjoy the holiday with her daughter's family in Boston. Burned-out computer salesman Matt McHugh, emotionally estranged from his wife and two kids, nurses his resentment and contemplates divorce. Kelly and Nick Berry fear they're losing the closeness they once shared as they struggle to adjust to their new roles as adoptive parents. When a blizzard forces these characters, and several others, all cranky and argumentative, to spend the night before Christmas together, they find that a little kindness and the courage to open their hearts go a long way toward making it a Christmas to remember. A good choice if you're looking to get in the Christmas spirit.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Book Number in 2010: 3

Author:
Debbie Macomber
Title: The Perfect Christmas

Series:
Stand Alone
Genre: Holiday Romance
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 232

Book From:
Library
My Rating:
4.5

Date Started:
Jan 18, 2010
Date Finished: Jan 21, 2010


My Comments:
Adorable, yet predictable, sweet holiday romance story..

This was my first book by this author and I plan to read many many more if they are all written with the same friendly style. I found myself sucked in to Cassie's world and dreams for finding the perfect man and perfect Christmas.  The story made me laugh, smile and even cry with Cassie.  :)


Description from the publisher:


WHAT WOULD MAKE YOUR CHRISTMAS PERFECT?

For Cassie Beaumont, it's meeting her perfect match. Cassie, at thirty-three, wants a husband and kids, and so far, nothing's worked. Not blind dates, not the Internet and certainly not leaving love to chance.

What's left? A professional matchmaker. He's Simon Dodson, and he's very choosy about the clients he takes on. Cassie finds Simon a difficult, acerbic know-it-all, and she's astonished when he accepts her as a client.

Claiming he has her perfect mate in mind, Simon assigns her three tasks to complete before she meets him. Three tasks that are all about Christmas: being a charity bell ringer, dressing up as Santa's elf at a children's party and preparing a traditional turkey dinner for her neighbors (whom she happens to dislike). Despite a number of comical mishaps, Cassie does it all --- and she's finally ready to meet her match.

But just like the perfect Christmas gift, he turns out to be a wonderful surprise!