He wasn't a bit shy, and Santa was just perfect!! Next year might be different!
Thursday, December 1, 2022
Sunday, November 6, 2022
Books 37-44
The Secrets We Keep by Nolon King
He thought what happened in London would stay in London. He was wrong.
John Treadwell should be happy. He’s a successful author with a wife and two daughters that he loves. But while an ocean away from his family, he drunkenly hooks up with one of his biggest fans to chase away the loneliness.
After his one-night stand, John is sure he’ll be able to hide this moment of weakness from his wife and daughters. After all, the woman he slept with lives in London, and there’s no way they’ll ever see each other again. He’ll be able to pretend it never happened.
But John isn’t about to get away so easy. His biggest fan has much bigger plans than a single drunken night..
John Treadwell should be happy. He’s a successful author with a wife and two daughters that he loves. But while an ocean away from his family, he drunkenly hooks up with one of his biggest fans to chase away the loneliness.
After his one-night stand, John is sure he’ll be able to hide this moment of weakness from his wife and daughters. After all, the woman he slept with lives in London, and there’s no way they’ll ever see each other again. He’ll be able to pretend it never happened.
But John isn’t about to get away so easy. His biggest fan has much bigger plans than a single drunken night..
I read 12 by this author and really enjoyed it but it's like another person wrote it ! This is very much a 'Fatal Attraction' story. A one night stand between a married author and an obsessed fan who turns out to be his worst nightmare. Pretty raunchy in parts. Lots of twists and turns, fairly predictable, but it does keep you guessing at times.
Secret Seal Isle Mysteries by Lucy Quinn
Book 1: New Corpse In Town
FBI agent Cookie James is enjoying her extended leave from the agency on Secret Seal Isle, managing her quaint inn and flirting with the oh-so sexy-handyman, Dylan Creed…until her sixty-year-old mother goes skinny dipping and is almost drowned by a corpse.
A phone call to the sheriff should mean the end of Cookie’s involvement, but when it’s clear the sheriff has no interest in the investigation, Cookie calls in reinforcements…her ex-partner Hunter O’Neil. Suddenly it’s like old times while the pair questions the residents of Secret Seal Isle. Except it’s not. Now she has both Hunter and Dylan vying for her attention, a wayward hippy mother, and a potential killer on the loose.
With her love life heating up, her mother lighting up, and all signs pointing to the most unlikely suspect, Cookie does the only thing she knows to do—focus on solving the case.
Cookie and her mother Rain have moved to this island because of Cookie's past involvement with the FBI and the mob. She isn't on the right side of the mob so she is trying to lie low and protect herself. However, those FBI instincts kick in with the dead body and the lack of interest from the deputy on the island. Cookie calls in her ex-partner Hunter, and life gets interesting for them and the town. This is just a light, fluff summer type read.
Book 2: Life In The Dead Lane
All Cookie James, FBI agent and Innkeeper extraordinaire, wants is a romantic date with her hot handy man… but what she gets is a corpse presented with a big red bow.
When she and Dylan discover a boat with a dead body, not only is her picnic ruined, but a woman from Dylan’s past returns to the island. The famous rock star appears to want a comeback tour with her former bodyguard. But Cookie doesn’t have time to worry about that, because her oh-so-sexy ex-FBI partner has arrived, too. And he’s ready to make a little music of his own.
With an entangled love life, too much manscaping, and a songbird in trouble, it’s once again Cookie’s job to wrap up another murder.
The local sheriff calls in Hunter, Cookie's former FBI partner to assist in the investigation as her department does not have that much experience with murders.Cookie and Hunter are at it once again to solve another mystery. Rain continues to be quirky and amusing with her outrageous behavior, I still don't find her Mom funny - just annoying. Completely did not see the reason for the drama in the story until the end.
The body winds up being the brother of a famous singer who is being forced to do some things to keep her secret secret.
The local sheriff calls in Hunter, Cookie's former FBI partner to assist in the investigation as her department does not have that much experience with murders. The love triangle continues.
The local sheriff calls in Hunter, Cookie's former FBI partner to assist in the investigation as her department does not have that much experience with murders. The love triangle continues.
Book 3: A Walk On The Dead Side
All Cookie James wanted was a romantic island picnic with her sexy handyman, Dylan Creed. What she got was a lobster trap full of drugs. As an ex-FBI agent, Cookie's determined to hand the evidence off to local authorities and stay out of the fray. But when a package arrives with a gory warning, she has no choice but to call in her former partner, Hunter O'Neil and investigate the case.
Hunter’s arrival brings more than crime fighting expertise. He'd like his connection to Cookie to finally be more than professional. There's no denying the sparks between them. Except with Dylan in the picture, Cookie's realizing someone else might be lighting her fire. Unfortunately, her love life is going to have to wait. Between kidnappings, attempted murder, and stolen kisses, Cookie James has a case to solve.
Hunter’s arrival brings more than crime fighting expertise. He'd like his connection to Cookie to finally be more than professional. There's no denying the sparks between them. Except with Dylan in the picture, Cookie's realizing someone else might be lighting her fire. Unfortunately, her love life is going to have to wait. Between kidnappings, attempted murder, and stolen kisses, Cookie James has a case to solve.
Even though it was obvious to figure out the outcome it didn't take away from the book at all. It did leave off in a sort of cliffhanger. Cookie has found more trouble and requires the help of Hunter yet again. With all the excitement she's always getting into, in this addition we find Cookie facing the fact that she isn't quite over being in the FBI. This takes a toll on her love life, and we finally see her forced to make a decision between the men in her life.
Secrets of Willow House by Susanne O'Leary
Maeve McKenna is on the verge of a breakdown. Having worked herself into the ground as a sought-after interior designer in London, she’s in desperate need of a vacation.
Philomena Duffy is a little lonely. After losing her husband, their crumbling mansion, Willow House, feels awfully empty.
With the rugged shores of Ireland calling, Maeve visits her aunt Philomena in Sandy Cove, where she once, as a teenager, kissed a wild, mysterious boy – a kiss she has never been able to forget. The beautiful night’s sky is dotted with stars as far as the eye can see, and Maeve is worlds away from her chaotic life in the city.
As Maeve throws herself into restoring Willow House to its former glory, a deep friendship with Philomena begins to blossom. Surrounded by the faded walls and peeling carpets of the old mansion, together they stumble across a secret that turns their family upside down.
All the while, she can’t stop thinking about the enigmatic boy from her past, and that magical kiss… Is he still in Sandy Cove?
Just as she’s beginning to feel at home, reality calls. Part of Maeve can’t bear to leave Willow House and its rocky beach. Does she have the courage to leave the security of her old life behind, and put down new roots in Sandy Cove, or is that just a daydream?
Philomena Duffy is a little lonely. After losing her husband, their crumbling mansion, Willow House, feels awfully empty.
With the rugged shores of Ireland calling, Maeve visits her aunt Philomena in Sandy Cove, where she once, as a teenager, kissed a wild, mysterious boy – a kiss she has never been able to forget. The beautiful night’s sky is dotted with stars as far as the eye can see, and Maeve is worlds away from her chaotic life in the city.
As Maeve throws herself into restoring Willow House to its former glory, a deep friendship with Philomena begins to blossom. Surrounded by the faded walls and peeling carpets of the old mansion, together they stumble across a secret that turns their family upside down.
All the while, she can’t stop thinking about the enigmatic boy from her past, and that magical kiss… Is he still in Sandy Cove?
Just as she’s beginning to feel at home, reality calls. Part of Maeve can’t bear to leave Willow House and its rocky beach. Does she have the courage to leave the security of her old life behind, and put down new roots in Sandy Cove, or is that just a daydream?
I quite enjoyed this book. The secret was pretty obvious from the beginning but what they did with it solved a lot of problems.
Dead Man's Money by K.J. North
Private Investigators Troy and Eva Winters are thrilled when Troy’s sister, Sadie, announces that she and her family are moving to Elk River, only a twenty-five-mile drive from New Haven, where Troy and Eva live. Now, Sadie will be close to her family, and with their support, they can try to help her overcome her debilitating panic disorder of agoraphobia.
Troy’s joyful Christmas holiday is suddenly shattered when he receives a cryptic message from his ten-year-old niece, Willow. Her cry for help and the startling message that says, ‘the bad guys are here,’ sends Troy’s distress alarm into overdrive. It doesn’t take him long to realize the deadly consequences that lie ahead.
With Eva out of town, Troy sets out for Elk River on his own with no idea of the danger he’ll soon be facing. He’s close enough to Willow to know the threat is real, and the urgency in her voice confirms it. Just when a flicker of hope appears, Eva goes missing. Time is not on Troy’s side and the clock is quickly ticking down.
Troy’s joyful Christmas holiday is suddenly shattered when he receives a cryptic message from his ten-year-old niece, Willow. Her cry for help and the startling message that says, ‘the bad guys are here,’ sends Troy’s distress alarm into overdrive. It doesn’t take him long to realize the deadly consequences that lie ahead.
With Eva out of town, Troy sets out for Elk River on his own with no idea of the danger he’ll soon be facing. He’s close enough to Willow to know the threat is real, and the urgency in her voice confirms it. Just when a flicker of hope appears, Eva goes missing. Time is not on Troy’s side and the clock is quickly ticking down.
Lots of twists and turns as the story unfolds Keept my interest throughout the story. I would recommend.
Dare Game by Melinda Colt
One dead body, one ace of spades… Is the playing card an oversight—or a trademark?
Detective John O’Sullivan needs to find out if the murder was a one-off, or if the killer plans to work his way through a whole deck of cards. The plot thickens as his team discovers more unsolved murders with the same modus operandi—worldwide.
Amber Reed stumbles into the middle of the investigation when she discovers her teenage daughter is a key-player in the Dublin murder case. Determined to do the right thing, Amber and her daughter help John, even though doing so puts their lives in danger.
Pressed by time and duty, John has to protect them and crack the case before the killer strikes again.
Detective John O’Sullivan needs to find out if the murder was a one-off, or if the killer plans to work his way through a whole deck of cards. The plot thickens as his team discovers more unsolved murders with the same modus operandi—worldwide.
Amber Reed stumbles into the middle of the investigation when she discovers her teenage daughter is a key-player in the Dublin murder case. Determined to do the right thing, Amber and her daughter help John, even though doing so puts their lives in danger.
Pressed by time and duty, John has to protect them and crack the case before the killer strikes again.
A move across the ocean, a murder across the street from her new home and a game on the dark web. This story was intriguing and had interesting twists and turns. Mystery, crime, police, teenage angst with a bit of romance. This was a page turning thriller worth reading.
Summer with a Star by Em Farmer
All Tasha Pike has wanted for the past twenty years is to rent Sand Dollar Point for a summer. The grand Victorian on the beach of Summerbury, Maine was the object of her childhood fantasy and her standard of romance—and it was finally happening.
Her dream summer is ruined, however, when she arrives in Summerbury to find that Hollywood superstar Spencer Ellis has muscled his way into the house instead. His offer that they share Sand Dollar Point is not only infuriating—it’s insulting.
He’s a celebrity—and one she’s determined to hate.
Spencer’s summer in Maine was supposed to help him get his head screwed on straight. One look at Tasha, however, made that impossible. She’s beautiful. She’s angry. She doesn’t care who he is. She doesn’t care about his fame. In fact, she doesn’t even like him.
She’s irresistible.
He’s only got the summer. She’s only got her heart. They’ve only got each other.
Her dream summer is ruined, however, when she arrives in Summerbury to find that Hollywood superstar Spencer Ellis has muscled his way into the house instead. His offer that they share Sand Dollar Point is not only infuriating—it’s insulting.
He’s a celebrity—and one she’s determined to hate.
Spencer’s summer in Maine was supposed to help him get his head screwed on straight. One look at Tasha, however, made that impossible. She’s beautiful. She’s angry. She doesn’t care who he is. She doesn’t care about his fame. In fact, she doesn’t even like him.
She’s irresistible.
He’s only got the summer. She’s only got her heart. They’ve only got each other.
It’s the sort of book that once you start, you can work out what is going to happen and where it’s going to go after a few chapters, but in the main it is an easy to read piece.
Tuesday, November 1, 2022
Halloween!
His mommy titled this picture 'Bad to the Bone'🎃❤️😊
We had 24 little 'trick or treaters' last night. We haven't had that many for many years. I think it had a lot to do with the time change doesn't happen until next week. They started coming at 5:00 and we had the last one at 6:45 when it was getting dark!! All age about 10 and under. No teenagers coming ringing the bell at 8 or 9pm.
It's snowing right now and we are under a snow warning. It's good it held off until today.
Thursday, October 27, 2022
Snow!!
Well, it had to happen! 29cm of snow last weekend. The wet heavy stuff. Neighbours shovelled the front for us and we left the driveway to melt for a few days. That's a first for DH as he usually wants to get it shovelled immediately! There is so much on the front lawn, that faces north, it will probably be there until spring. Kelsey and her hubby both had covid last week. Kelsey has asthma and bronchial problems so she was in pretty rough shape and had a terrible cough. Her hubby was asymptomatic. The baby seems to have come through all this with flying colours. They wore a mask all the time around the baby. Not much else happening around here. Will be doing another books post soon as I have three of them in drafts.
Monday, October 17, 2022
Wednesday, October 5, 2022
Books 27-36
The Favourite Daughter by Patti Callahan Henry
Ten years ago, Lena Donohue experienced a wedding-day betrayal so painful that she fled the small town of Watersend, South Carolina, and reinvented herself in New York City. Though now a freelance travel writer, the one place she rarely goes is home--until she learns of her dad's failing health.
Returning to Watersend means seeing the sister she has avoided for a decade and the brother who runs the family's Irish pub and has borne the burden of his sisters' rift. While Alzheimer's slowly steals their father's memories, the siblings rush to preserve his life in stories and in photographs. As his secret past brings Lena's own childhood into focus, it sends her on a journey to discover the true meaning of home.
Returning to Watersend means seeing the sister she has avoided for a decade and the brother who runs the family's Irish pub and has borne the burden of his sisters' rift. While Alzheimer's slowly steals their father's memories, the siblings rush to preserve his life in stories and in photographs. As his secret past brings Lena's own childhood into focus, it sends her on a journey to discover the true meaning of home.
Lena and her siblings – Hallie and Shane – band together to plan a birthday party and create a memory book for their father. The book is filled with old photos and stories written by Lena and Hallie. Some surprising family secrets are unearthed putting the book together and the family must grapple with the truth over that as well as the betrayal from ten years ago. Even though both sisters could be very annoying I did enjoy this book.
An Invitation to Murder by A.G.Barnett
Mary Blake had it all.
Actress, icon and darling of the nation, she was the queen of TV crime drama.
Then she turned fifty.
When replaced on the show by a younger woman, she thinks her days in the limelight are over when an invitation to a murder mystery party from an old friend throws her back into the public eye. This time as a murder suspect.
After playing a detective for years, Mary must now become one as she tries to prove her innocence with the help of her puppy-like brother and her surprisingly useful friend and assistant, Dot.
Actress, icon and darling of the nation, she was the queen of TV crime drama.
Then she turned fifty.
When replaced on the show by a younger woman, she thinks her days in the limelight are over when an invitation to a murder mystery party from an old friend throws her back into the public eye. This time as a murder suspect.
After playing a detective for years, Mary must now become one as she tries to prove her innocence with the help of her puppy-like brother and her surprisingly useful friend and assistant, Dot.
There were enough characters who had an excellent motive for committing the murder that I gave up trying to work out who was who and who it was.
Bizarre collection of people and unclear motives or too many motives so you were kept guessing to the end.
Ghost of a Chance by Cate Dean
Welcome to Holmestead, England ~ where an American ex-pat, an archaeologist, and murder turn this small, picture postcard village upside down.
Maggie Mulgrew runs The Ash Leaf, an antique shop in the quaint village of Holmestead, England ~ which has nothing to do with Sherlock, thank you very much.
She sells her goods to tourists, and locals who appreciate her eclectic taste.
Professor Pembroke Martin is hunting down an artifact that had been stolen by a former assistant ~ a hand-blown apothecary jar that is the center of an old ghost story. His search leads him to Holmestead, and a stubborn, fascinating American who has acquired the box that once contained the rare jar.
When the missing jar turns up, clutched in the hand of the very dead local historian, Martin becomes the prime suspect. He and that dead historian were bitter rivals.
With his future on the line, Martin turns to Maggie for help, and they join forces to find the real killer.
Maggie Mulgrew runs The Ash Leaf, an antique shop in the quaint village of Holmestead, England ~ which has nothing to do with Sherlock, thank you very much.
She sells her goods to tourists, and locals who appreciate her eclectic taste.
Professor Pembroke Martin is hunting down an artifact that had been stolen by a former assistant ~ a hand-blown apothecary jar that is the center of an old ghost story. His search leads him to Holmestead, and a stubborn, fascinating American who has acquired the box that once contained the rare jar.
When the missing jar turns up, clutched in the hand of the very dead local historian, Martin becomes the prime suspect. He and that dead historian were bitter rivals.
With his future on the line, Martin turns to Maggie for help, and they join forces to find the real killer.
This story was pretty simplistic and unrealistic. It seemed like the ghost was thrown in at the end to justify the title of the story!
Location scout and Jane Austen aficionado, Kate Sharp, is thrilled when the company she works for lands the job of finding locations for a new film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, but then her boss, Kevin, fails to return from a scouting trip to England. Afraid that Kevin has slipped back into some destructive personal habits he struggles with, Kate travels to England to salvage Kevin’s and the company’s reputation before word gets out that he is missing.
Things go from bad to worse when Kate arrives in Nether Woodsmoor, a quaint village of golden stone cottages and rolling green hills, only to find no trace of Kevin except his abandoned luggage. Even the rumpled, easygoing local scout they consulted, Alex, doesn’t know where Kevin might be.
Increasingly worried about Kevin and with an antsy director waiting for updates about the preproduction details, Kate embarks on a search that includes a pub-crawl and cozy cottages as well as stately country manors. But Kevin remains missing, and she begins to suspect that the picturesque village and beautiful countryside may not be as idyllic as they seem.
Things go from bad to worse when Kate arrives in Nether Woodsmoor, a quaint village of golden stone cottages and rolling green hills, only to find no trace of Kevin except his abandoned luggage. Even the rumpled, easygoing local scout they consulted, Alex, doesn’t know where Kevin might be.
Increasingly worried about Kevin and with an antsy director waiting for updates about the preproduction details, Kate embarks on a search that includes a pub-crawl and cozy cottages as well as stately country manors. But Kevin remains missing, and she begins to suspect that the picturesque village and beautiful countryside may not be as idyllic as they seem.
Ash Mountain by Helen Fitzgerald
Fran hates Ash Mountain, and she thought she’d escaped. But her father is ill, and needs care. Her relationship is over, and she hates her dead-end job in the city, anyway.
She returns to her hometown to nurse her dying father, her distant teenage daughter in tow for the weekends. There, in the sleepy town of Ash Mountain, childhood memories prick at her fragile self-esteem, she falls in love for the first time, and her demanding dad tests her patience, all in the unbearable heat of an Australian summer.
As old friendships and rivalries are renewed, and new ones forged, Fran’s tumultuous home life is the least of her worries, when old crimes rear their heads and a devastating bushfire ravages the town and all of its inhabitants…
Simultaneously a warm, darkly funny portrait of small-town life – and a woman and a land in crisis – and a shocking and truly distressing account of a catastrophic event that changes things forever, Ash Mountain is a heart-breaking slice of domestic noir, and a disturbing disaster thriller that you will never forget…
She returns to her hometown to nurse her dying father, her distant teenage daughter in tow for the weekends. There, in the sleepy town of Ash Mountain, childhood memories prick at her fragile self-esteem, she falls in love for the first time, and her demanding dad tests her patience, all in the unbearable heat of an Australian summer.
As old friendships and rivalries are renewed, and new ones forged, Fran’s tumultuous home life is the least of her worries, when old crimes rear their heads and a devastating bushfire ravages the town and all of its inhabitants…
Simultaneously a warm, darkly funny portrait of small-town life – and a woman and a land in crisis – and a shocking and truly distressing account of a catastrophic event that changes things forever, Ash Mountain is a heart-breaking slice of domestic noir, and a disturbing disaster thriller that you will never forget…
The time travel in this story became confusing at times. Parts of this story are very emotional and intense.
Bloombay Beginning by Lilly Beckett
Welcome to Bloombay, a small island off Seattle’s coast with stunning ocean views, picturesque vineyards, and a tight-knit community.
Sisters Emily, Donna, and Olivia Abernathy miss each other dearly. Residing in different cities, they only see each other a few times a year. But when Emily, the eldest sister, is forced to move to Bloombay, Donna and Olivia immediately visit her to make sure she’s okay. They find themselves at crossroads in their own lives too, and the island charms them in unexpected ways.
Emily Abernathy has dedicated the past twenty years to raising her children. When her husband leaves her for a younger woman, she’s forced to move out of their house. Living in LA is expensive, and at forty-five, she knows she’ll have a tough time on the job market, but she’s lucky to find a job at a small hotel on a small island she’d never heard of before: Bloombay. Once Emily moves to the island she finds out her new job isn’t as secure as she thought.
Olivia Abernathy’s friends all think her boyfriend, Noah, is definitely going to propose, but she isn’t so sure. As a surgeon in Seattle, he works longer hours than she does as a graphic designer, but Olivia wonders if there’s more to his recent late nights out and sudden cool behavior. When she confronts him with her worries, she gets an unexpected response that makes her want to rethink everything in her life. Spending time with her sisters is just what she needs. And the handsome architect who insists on joining her on her morning runs seems to have more than friendship on his mind.
Donna Abernathy is a successful doctor in San Francisco. She works tirelessly and takes great pride in what she does. Her laid-back relationship with a lawyer who thrives on a busy schedule is just what she needs. Except Donna has always wanted to be a mother, and as time passes, that wish only grows. But when things don’t work out as expected, she desperately wants a change of scenery and pays a visit to her eldest sister, Emily, in Bloombay.
Emily Abernathy has dedicated the past twenty years to raising her children. When her husband leaves her for a younger woman, she’s forced to move out of their house. Living in LA is expensive, and at forty-five, she knows she’ll have a tough time on the job market, but she’s lucky to find a job at a small hotel on a small island she’d never heard of before: Bloombay. Once Emily moves to the island she finds out her new job isn’t as secure as she thought.
Olivia Abernathy’s friends all think her boyfriend, Noah, is definitely going to propose, but she isn’t so sure. As a surgeon in Seattle, he works longer hours than she does as a graphic designer, but Olivia wonders if there’s more to his recent late nights out and sudden cool behavior. When she confronts him with her worries, she gets an unexpected response that makes her want to rethink everything in her life. Spending time with her sisters is just what she needs. And the handsome architect who insists on joining her on her morning runs seems to have more than friendship on his mind.
Donna Abernathy is a successful doctor in San Francisco. She works tirelessly and takes great pride in what she does. Her laid-back relationship with a lawyer who thrives on a busy schedule is just what she needs. Except Donna has always wanted to be a mother, and as time passes, that wish only grows. But when things don’t work out as expected, she desperately wants a change of scenery and pays a visit to her eldest sister, Emily, in Bloombay.
I did enjoy this book even though it was very predictable.
One Summer in Italy by Lilly Mirren
When the Summer sisters discover their grandmother's journals after her death, they unlock a mystery that shakes their family to the core. Who is Charlie Jackson? Is he their grandfather? And if so, what happened to him?
Reeda leaves the Waratah Inn and returns to Sydney, her husband, and her thriving interior design business, only to find her marriage in tatters. She's lost sight of what she wants in life and can't recognise the person she's become.
Instead of facing her problems, Reeda embarks on a journey to discover more about the grandfather she never knew, leaving her troubles behind her.
Her search takes her to Italy, where a trail of clues leads her across the country with few answers to satisfy her burning curiosity about the past. And instead of helping her to forget, her pilgrimage reminds her of everything she loves and what she's left behind.
Under the Italian sky, Reeda discovers that the joy she was searching for was hidden inside her all along. And instead of running from her problems, she embraces the healing she needs to face them.
Reeda leaves the Waratah Inn and returns to Sydney, her husband, and her thriving interior design business, only to find her marriage in tatters. She's lost sight of what she wants in life and can't recognise the person she's become.
Instead of facing her problems, Reeda embarks on a journey to discover more about the grandfather she never knew, leaving her troubles behind her.
Her search takes her to Italy, where a trail of clues leads her across the country with few answers to satisfy her burning curiosity about the past. And instead of helping her to forget, her pilgrimage reminds her of everything she loves and what she's left behind.
Under the Italian sky, Reeda discovers that the joy she was searching for was hidden inside her all along. And instead of running from her problems, she embraces the healing she needs to face them.
This is the second book in a series. I didn't read the first one but I don't think I missed out on any thing. Lots of twists and turns that kept this book interesting.
In a Jam by Cindy Dorminy
Andie Carson has to do three things to inherit her grandmother’s lottery winnings—sober up, spend a month running her grandmother’s Georgia coffee shop, and enter homemade jam in the county fair. If she can’t meet those terms, the money goes to the church, and Andie gets nothing. She figures her tasks will be easy enough, and once she completes them, Andie plans to sell the shop, take the money, and run back to Boston.
After a rough breakup from his crazy ex-fiancée, Officer Gunnar Wills decides to take a hiatus from women. All he wants is to help make his small town thrive the way it did when he was a kid. But when wild and beautiful Andie shows up, Gunnar’s hesitant heart begins to flutter.
Gunnar knows that Andie plans to leave, but he’s hoping to change her mind, fearful that if her coffee shop closes, Main Street will fold to the big-box corporations and forever change the landscape of his quaint community. But convincing her to stay means getting close enough to risk his heart in the process. Even though Gunnar makes small-town life seem a little sweeter, Andie has to decide if she’s ready to turn her world upside down and give up big-city life. One thing’s for sure—it’s a very sticky situation.
After a rough breakup from his crazy ex-fiancée, Officer Gunnar Wills decides to take a hiatus from women. All he wants is to help make his small town thrive the way it did when he was a kid. But when wild and beautiful Andie shows up, Gunnar’s hesitant heart begins to flutter.
Gunnar knows that Andie plans to leave, but he’s hoping to change her mind, fearful that if her coffee shop closes, Main Street will fold to the big-box corporations and forever change the landscape of his quaint community. But convincing her to stay means getting close enough to risk his heart in the process. Even though Gunnar makes small-town life seem a little sweeter, Andie has to decide if she’s ready to turn her world upside down and give up big-city life. One thing’s for sure—it’s a very sticky situation.
This again was a very predictable read which I enjoyed.
Squall by Sean Costello
Bush pilot and family man Tom Stokes is about to face the worst day of his life. On a clear winter morning he sets out in his Cessna 180 to do some repairs on a remote hunt camp, leaving his five year old son and very pregnant wife snug in their beds.
On the return trip, a squall forces him into an emergency landing and he winds up—quite literally—in the lap of petty criminal Dale Knight. Dale, now a fugitive from the law—and worse, from a merciless drug lord who just happens to be his brother—draws Tom into a web of mayhem and treachery that puts not only his life at risk, but the lives of his wife, son…and unborn child.
On the return trip, a squall forces him into an emergency landing and he winds up—quite literally—in the lap of petty criminal Dale Knight. Dale, now a fugitive from the law—and worse, from a merciless drug lord who just happens to be his brother—draws Tom into a web of mayhem and treachery that puts not only his life at risk, but the lives of his wife, son…and unborn child.
Lots of twists and turns in this thriller involving an incident family and a drug deal that's gone very wrong.
The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
In the idyllic small town of Pagford, a councillor dies and leaves a 'casual vacancy'-an empty seat on the parish council.
In the election for his successor that follows, it is clear that behind the pretty surface this is a town at war. Rich at war with poor, wives at war with husbands, teachers at war with pupils...Pagford is not what it first seems.
I have to say I was quite disappointed in this book. I have read every book that J.K.Rowling has written. Loved all the Harry Potter books and also the Robert Galbraith. Cormoran Strike series.I was actually quite bored during parts of this book because the story dragged on so much.
Wednesday, September 7, 2022
Finally some pictures
Walker Erin
5 days old
The next 3 pictures were taken by a professional photographer. They thought it would take about an hour. Four hours later, nursing him twice and many pictures taken, they were done!
11 days old
3 weeks old
4 weeks old
5 weeks old
6 weeks old
7 weeks old
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Sunday, July 31, 2022
Books 18-26
The Frederickson Wine Novels by Barbara Ellen Brink
-Entangled
One lost summer is time best left forgotten...When Minneapolis attorney, Billie Fredrickson, inherits her uncle's small California winery, she has no intention of actually moving to the west coast and starting a new life. Her only thought is to get it off her hands as quickly as possible. But her return to the winery after an absence of twenty years opens up more than the reading of her uncle's will. Childhood memories, long-buried, begin to surface, prompting questions that no one is able or willing to answer. A late night prowler, a break-in at the winery, and an unearthed box of shocking photographs is someone's way of pulling the welcome mat out from under Billie's feet, but it only makes her dig her heels in deeper. Secrets lie buried beneath Fredrickson Winery's innocent façade and Billie intends to get to the root. But disturbing the past lays bare the skeletons of others, including her mother's. Can she live with the consequences of full disclosure or will she run home where everyone is Minnesota nice?
I found the first third of this book very slow, boring and it dragged badly. Then it picked up and I did start to enjoy it. Quite a few twists and turns making the story much more interesting than how it first started.
Once Upon a Time by Demelza Carlton
-Enchant: Beauty and the Beast Retold
A beastly prince. An enchanting beauty. Only love can break the spell.
Once upon a time…
The wicked King Thorn forced the enchantress Zuleika to cast a terrible curse. She fled his court to travel the world, helping those who need her magic most. Until a search for her merchant father's lost ships leads her to an enchanted island, where Prince Vardan, the island's ruler, is afflicted by the most powerful curse Zuleika has ever encountered. She's not sure she can reverse the spell, but she's determined to try. After all, a prince who fights pirates can't be all bad…no matter how beastly his appearance.
Together, can the enchanting beauty and the beastly prince break the spell?
Once Upon a Time by Demelza Carlton
-Enchant: Beauty and the Beast Retold
A beastly prince. An enchanting beauty. Only love can break the spell.
Once upon a time…
The wicked King Thorn forced the enchantress Zuleika to cast a terrible curse. She fled his court to travel the world, helping those who need her magic most. Until a search for her merchant father's lost ships leads her to an enchanted island, where Prince Vardan, the island's ruler, is afflicted by the most powerful curse Zuleika has ever encountered. She's not sure she can reverse the spell, but she's determined to try. After all, a prince who fights pirates can't be all bad…no matter how beastly his appearance.
Together, can the enchanting beauty and the beastly prince break the spell?
Although we all probably know the story of Beauty and the Beast this is definitely a different interpretation of it. It involves magic and an enchantress which makes things quite interesting.
-Dance: Cinderella Retold
A dutiful daughter. A prince forced to find a bride. If the shoe fits...
Once upon a time...
When the Emperor's army comes recruiting, Mai signs up, seeing it as the perfect escape from her stepmother and a lifetime of drudgery. Armed with her mother's armour and a pair of magic shoes, Mai marches off to war...only to find herself sharing a tent with the General's arrogant nephew, Prince Yi.
The best swordsman in the Empire, Prince Yi wants to make war, not love, but the Emperor insists this will be Yi's last campaign before he must marry. Prince Yi has never met his match...until now.
Can one woman win the war and the prince's heart?
I really enjoyed it being set in China and the heroine being a swordswoman. It was interesting how the hero wants a real woman instead of the women who altered themselves to fit society. As it is set in China the slipper and foot binding are key elements.
In Sight of the Mountain by Jamie McGillen
In the devastating aftermath of the 1889 Great Seattle Fire, nineteen-year-old Anna Gallagher faces considerable pressure to marry well and soon.
She has two serious suitors: a well-meaning but condescending doctor, and an evasive fisherman who challenges her mind. But Anna has no intention of giving up her freedom to keep house; she has a dream to reach the summit of Mount Rainier.
Despite her family’s disapproval and her own self-doubt, she secretly trains, raises money for supplies, and buys a train ticket to the base of the mountain. If she succeeds in reaching its icy peak, she could pioneer the way for women mountaineers; but it’s a tall task and there’s much at risk—including the heart of a man who just might love her as an equal.
On the journey, Anna will face glaciers, avalanches, and frozen temperatures, all without knowing if she even has a family or a future to return to.
This was an easy read. Lots of the story was very unrealistic and lots of 'rose coloured glasses' moments, but it was enjoyable even though it was very predictable.
The Alice Network by Kate Quinn
1947. In the chaotic aftermath of World War II, American college girl Charlie St. Clair is pregnant, unmarried, and on the verge of being thrown out of her very proper family. She's also nursing a desperate hope that her beloved cousin Rose, who disappeared in Nazi-occupied France during the war, might still be alive. So when Charlie's parents banish her to Europe to have her "little problem" taken care of, Charlie breaks free and heads to London, determined to find out what happened to the cousin she loves like a sister.
1915. A year into the Great War, Eve Gardiner burns to join the fight against the Germans and unexpectedly gets her chance when she's recruited to work as a spy. Sent into enemy-occupied France, she's trained by the mesmerizing Lili, code name Alice, the "queen of spies", who manages a vast network of secret agents right under the enemy's nose.
Thirty years later, haunted by the betrayal that ultimately tore apart the Alice Network, Eve spends her days drunk and secluded in her crumbling London house. Until a young American barges in uttering a name Eve hasn't heard in decades, and launches them both on a mission to find the truth...no matter where it leads.
She has two serious suitors: a well-meaning but condescending doctor, and an evasive fisherman who challenges her mind. But Anna has no intention of giving up her freedom to keep house; she has a dream to reach the summit of Mount Rainier.
Despite her family’s disapproval and her own self-doubt, she secretly trains, raises money for supplies, and buys a train ticket to the base of the mountain. If she succeeds in reaching its icy peak, she could pioneer the way for women mountaineers; but it’s a tall task and there’s much at risk—including the heart of a man who just might love her as an equal.
On the journey, Anna will face glaciers, avalanches, and frozen temperatures, all without knowing if she even has a family or a future to return to.
This was an easy read. Lots of the story was very unrealistic and lots of 'rose coloured glasses' moments, but it was enjoyable even though it was very predictable.
The Alice Network by Kate Quinn
1947. In the chaotic aftermath of World War II, American college girl Charlie St. Clair is pregnant, unmarried, and on the verge of being thrown out of her very proper family. She's also nursing a desperate hope that her beloved cousin Rose, who disappeared in Nazi-occupied France during the war, might still be alive. So when Charlie's parents banish her to Europe to have her "little problem" taken care of, Charlie breaks free and heads to London, determined to find out what happened to the cousin she loves like a sister.
1915. A year into the Great War, Eve Gardiner burns to join the fight against the Germans and unexpectedly gets her chance when she's recruited to work as a spy. Sent into enemy-occupied France, she's trained by the mesmerizing Lili, code name Alice, the "queen of spies", who manages a vast network of secret agents right under the enemy's nose.
Thirty years later, haunted by the betrayal that ultimately tore apart the Alice Network, Eve spends her days drunk and secluded in her crumbling London house. Until a young American barges in uttering a name Eve hasn't heard in decades, and launches them both on a mission to find the truth...no matter where it leads.
I really liked the story in 1915 but the story in 1947 was just OK for me.
Telling two parallel tales, one of several female spies in Lille during WWI, the other of a pregnant college student looking for her cousin who went missing after the end of WWII. Eve Gardiner, one of the spies, is the link between the two stories.
I really enjoyed learning about The Alice Network and the history involving female spies.
A Villa in Sicily by Fiona Grace
Audrey is likeable if somewhat naïve so she manages to get herself in a few tight spots. The home needs lots of repairs but she's game to try to fix it up and she finds that it has some surprises!. Shortly after she arrives she has an argument with a contractor working on another house who winds up dead and she becomes the prime suspect. It is up to her to try and clear her name and find the murderer. This was a pretty easy read.
The Oysterville Sewing Circle by Susan Wiggs
At the break of dawn, Caroline Shelby rolls into Oysterville, Washington, a tiny hamlet at the edge of the raging Pacific.
Ten years ago, Caroline launched a career in the glamorous world of fashion. But her success implodes on a wave of scandal, forcing her to flee to the only safe place she knows.
And in the back seat of Caroline's car are two children who were orphaned in a single chilling moment-five year old Addie and six year old Flick. She's now their legal guardian-a role she's not sure she's ready for.
The Oysterville she left behind has changed. Her siblings have their own complicated lives and her aging parents are hoping to retire. And there's Will Jensen, a decorated Navy SEAL who's returned home after being wounded overseas. Will and Caroline were forever friends as children, with the promise of something more....until he fell in love with Sierra, Caroline's best friend and the most beautiful girl in town.
Caroline returns to the sewing shop where she first discovered her passion and learns that there are women living with the deepest of secrets. Thus begins the Oysterville Sewing Circle-where women can join forces to support each other through the troubles they keep hidden.
Yet just as Caroline and the children begin to heal from their loss, an unexpected challenge tests her courage and her heart. This time, though, Caroline is going to stand and fight for everything-and everyone-she loves.
This is a story of a typical love triangle-with a couple of children thrown in the mix. The bigger issue is the creation of the Oysterville Sewing Circle where women dealing with domestic abuse can come and feel like they are safe and among friends. This was another good read.
The Bend in Redwood Road by Danielle Stewart
Most days it's manageable. No more than a quiet wondering around the edges of her mind.
What has become of the baby she left behind?
Smiling through the pain and suffering in silence, Leslie Laudon marches forward. Embracing the life skillfully designed by her husband Paul. Living right could be penance for an impossible choice made with an uneasy heart. Dutiful and anchoring, Leslie poured herself into her other children. Nurturing them through infancy, protecting them as toddlers, guiding them as teens. As her youngest child heads off to college with her suitcases and coordinating dorm room accessories, so goes Leslie’s identity. The chaotic life of a busy working mother threatens to become dangerously quiet. Quiet enough to hear the voices she’s tried to silence for decades.
Gwen Fox was adopted by two perfect people. Noel and Millie have always treated her the same as their two biological sons. Her parents love is strong and unwavering, yet a soul-deep ache still lingers. Plagued by an unnamed, hard to explain, longing Gwen could never shake.
Riddled with doubt and dragged down by the undertow of unanswered questions, Leslie and Gwen both find their lives suddenly upended. One seeks the truth about the day she was born. The other seeks herself, the woman she was before motherhood. Before she made a choice to leave a piece of her heart lying asleep in the hospital nursery.
In this complex journey for answers, blame is abundant. Guilt is thick enough to choke on. Marriages are brought to the brink of disaster. As the ripples of the past vibrate through their lives, Gwen and Leslie realize there is no turning back. What they have put into motion cannot be stopped. The road toward the truth will be littered with casualties.
What has become of the baby she left behind?
Smiling through the pain and suffering in silence, Leslie Laudon marches forward. Embracing the life skillfully designed by her husband Paul. Living right could be penance for an impossible choice made with an uneasy heart. Dutiful and anchoring, Leslie poured herself into her other children. Nurturing them through infancy, protecting them as toddlers, guiding them as teens. As her youngest child heads off to college with her suitcases and coordinating dorm room accessories, so goes Leslie’s identity. The chaotic life of a busy working mother threatens to become dangerously quiet. Quiet enough to hear the voices she’s tried to silence for decades.
Gwen Fox was adopted by two perfect people. Noel and Millie have always treated her the same as their two biological sons. Her parents love is strong and unwavering, yet a soul-deep ache still lingers. Plagued by an unnamed, hard to explain, longing Gwen could never shake.
Riddled with doubt and dragged down by the undertow of unanswered questions, Leslie and Gwen both find their lives suddenly upended. One seeks the truth about the day she was born. The other seeks herself, the woman she was before motherhood. Before she made a choice to leave a piece of her heart lying asleep in the hospital nursery.
In this complex journey for answers, blame is abundant. Guilt is thick enough to choke on. Marriages are brought to the brink of disaster. As the ripples of the past vibrate through their lives, Gwen and Leslie realize there is no turning back. What they have put into motion cannot be stopped. The road toward the truth will be littered with casualties.
I quite enjoyed this book. Its not a subject that I had read about in a novel before. I found it to be quite a page turner and would recommend it.
House on the Harbor by Elizabeth Bromke
Meanwhile, her sister, Amelia, a struggling off-Broadway actress, enlists her hapless construction boyfriend to help with a local project, but he's more interested in summer tourists.
Second-youngest, Megan, is preoccupied with her divorce... but not too preoccupied to make a dating profile, much to her sisters' mortification.
Baby of the family, Clara, is single and refuses to date. She puts her teaching job above all else. Until a crushing revelation calls to question everything she knew to be true... including her reputation.
Even though its pretty easy to guess what the secret is I found it interesting seeing how it all unravelled.
I like the alternating perspectives in the chapter so we get to know each of the sisters, and more about their mother. I don't want to give anything away, but they end up having a bigger issue to deal with than who's going to get which property. I liked the way the situation was handled and that the sisters were closer at the end of the book. Each of them had come to decisions about their lives, some more painful than others.
The details of the will gives them an opportunity to change the direction they are all going and also brings them together to form a deeper bond as sisters.
When the lawyer reads the Will, there had been a change made and they hear something totally unexpected that will put their own issues on the back burner while they try to deal with their new reality! A family secret not dealt with now focuses their attention amid lots of drama along the way.
Saturday, July 16, 2022
He's Here!!!!
He finally came into the world this morning! Seven days overdue. After 30 hours of hard labour they decided to do a C-section as no progress was being made.
Walker Erin, 8lbs 11ozs. 221/2" long. He's so bright eyed for being less than an hour old in the picture!
We are now Great Grandparents, yikes!!! Kelsey calls us Grandma and Grandpa but she always called my mum and dad Nana and Granddad so that what we'll be called by Walker (when the time comes)lol.
Because of all the restrictions we won't be able to see him until they go home. Amazingly that will be in two days. They sure don't keep them very long these days! When I worked in maternity, back in the 70's, regular births stayed for 5 days and C-sections stayed for 7 days!! The moms loved it. Not any more. Probably a good thing, nobody wants to be in a hospital these days. At least she's in a private room.
I'm sure there will be lots of pictures to come.😊
Sunday, June 26, 2022
38 weeks!
38 weeks, can't wait for our Great Grandson to arrive! Can't come soon enough for Kelsey!!!
Wednesday, June 8, 2022
Saturday, April 30, 2022
Eggs
Next door neighbour came over yesterday with some farm fresh organic eggs for us. Her coworker had given her 4 dozen. Unfortunately the colours are not showing up very well. The one in the middle on the back row is a robin egg blue and the one second from the right on the front row is a quite dark green. The two brown ones are very dark brown. The one sitting in the lid is a store bought one just to show the difference in size. We're having some scrambled eggs for supper tonight!
Wednesday, April 27, 2022
Book 10- 17
Find You First by Linwood Barclay
Tech millionaire Miles Cookson has everything he could dream of-except time. Only forty-two years old, he's recently been diagnosed with a terminal illness, and there is a 50 percent chance that it can be passed on to the next generation. But Miles, a confirmed bachelor, doesn't have children. Or does he?
Two decades ago, a struggling young Miles, desperate for cash, donated his sperm to a fertility clinic. Somewhere out there, he has kids. And they might be about to inherit both the the good and the bad from him-maybe his fortune, and possibly something much worse.
AS Miles begins to search for the children he's never known, aspiring film documentarian Chloe Swanson embarks on a quest to find her biological father, armed with the knowledge that twenty-two years ago, her mother used a New York sperm bank to become pregnant. Chloe soon locates one sibling, a half brother, Todd, and she's eager to meet more.
When Miles and Chloe eventually connect, their excitement at finding each other is overshadowed by a series of mysterious and terrifying events. One by one, the other potential heirs are vanishing-every trace of them erased, as if they never existed at all.
Who is the vicious killer eliminating Miles's offspring-is it one possible beneficiary methodically eliminating rivals? Or is something even more sinister afoot? It's a deadly race against time...
This seems like this could all happen in real life. Pretty exciting in parts and kind of sad too.
The Incident by Lars Emmerich
- Inferno Rising
Special Agent Sam Jameson is having a bad week. People are trying to kill her.
That would be business as usual in the counterespionage world, except that it’s the good guys who have her in the crosshairs.
Why are the DC Metro police trying to kidnap her? Do her bosses at Homeland want her in a body bag, too?
And why does everyone she talks to seem to end up in the morgue?
Will a ruthless mercenary, a hapless American traitor, and a dead man’s cryptic clue hold the key to Sam’s survival?
That would be business as usual in the counterespionage world, except that it’s the good guys who have her in the crosshairs.
Why are the DC Metro police trying to kidnap her? Do her bosses at Homeland want her in a body bag, too?
And why does everyone she talks to seem to end up in the morgue?
Will a ruthless mercenary, a hapless American traitor, and a dead man’s cryptic clue hold the key to Sam’s survival?
-Reckoning
-Devolution
I read these books on my ereader. They were billed as a trilogy. I really enjoyed the first two books. They were exciting and real page turners. Everything seemed to be concluded at the end of the seconf book. Started the third one-Devolution-and I was completely confused. I was totally bored after about 100 pages and it had nothing to do with the first two books so I gave up on it.
I found thie following review of Devolution on Goodreads pretty well sums it up for me 'There are not too many books that I give up on, but this was one of them.
'After about 50 pages there were too many characters and so many different plot/story lines that I found it too much work to try to keep up. Also the author seems to be flaunting his knowledge of $10 words; really, is that necessary?'
The Magnolia Inn by Anne Marie Meyer
Maggie is thirty-six, recently divorced and embarrassingly unemployed. With a bank account nearing zero she does the only thing she can think of-makes a business proposition to her gorgeous and successful estranged mother.
To Maggie's utter surprise, her mother agrees. Any funds she can create off the sale of the dilapidated family inn on the island of Magnolia would be hers to invest.
So Maggie packs her few belongings and heads off to Rhode Island to make her dreams come true.
Clementine has been stuck in Magnolia her whole life. The moment her father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s she knew she could never leave. And it was unrealistic for her to rely on her older brother, Archer, who can't seem to outrun the ghosts of his past.
So when Maggie blows into town, both Clementine and Archer find themselves intrigued by the new move-in.
When they stumble upon an old photograph of Maggie’s grandmother buried up in the attic, Maggie can’t help but be drawn to a woman she’s never met. In an attempt to feel closer to a family she never knew, a book club is revitalized.
The Red Stilettos Book Club.
What starts out as an act of desperation, soon becomes exactly what the women of Magnolia island were looking for, a sisterhood.
When they stumble upon an old photograph of Maggie’s grandmother buried up in the attic, Maggie can’t help but be drawn to a woman she’s never met. In an attempt to feel closer to a family she never knew, a book club is revitalized.
The Red Stilettos Book Club.
What starts out as an act of desperation, soon becomes exactly what the women of Magnolia island were looking for, a sisterhood.
This was a great, light summer type read. It was very predictable. It didn't take too many chapters to figure what was going to happen but I quite enjoyed it.
12 by Nolan King & David W Wright
At 6 p.m. on a Wednesday in October, a gunman will enter Goldman’s Diner and commit one of the worst massacres the small coastal town of Palm Isles, Florida has ever seen.
Twelve hours earlier: twelve lives are on borrowed time, unaware that death is coming, or that their paths will collide in one tragic moment.
A young waitress and mother fights to protect her daughter from her violent estranged husband. Little does she know that a greater threat looms under her nose.
A cop is forced to decide between his job and his marriage.
A bullied teen with an abusive father is down to one friend when his world suddenly crumbles around him.
An old man struggles to hold onto his memories and do one last thing to honor his wife. But in doing so, he will have to reveal his darkest secret.
A cook with a shady past attempts to stay on the straight and narrow, until he gets a call which forces him to choose — his family or his honor?
A woman attempts to meet her father’s expectations, clinging to a struggling diner even as her relationship with her son falls apart.
TWELVE HOURS
TWELVE LIVES
WHO LIVES?
WHO DIES?
This book was really good. I didn't want to put it down. All the lives are in one way or another, connected to the diner. There's not much I can say without giving away what happens, I just highly recommend it.
The Obituary Society by Jessica L. Randall
When Lila Moore inherits her grandfather's house, she finds herself in a small Midwestern town where margarine is never an acceptable substitution for butter, a coveted family recipe can serve as currency, and the friend who will take your darkest secrets to the grave will still never give you the secret to her prize-winning begonias.
Lila is charmed by the people of Auburn, from the blue-eyed lawyer with the southern drawl to the little old lady who unceasingly tries to set Lila up with her grandson. But when strange things begin to happen, Lila realizes some of her new friends are guarding a secret like it's a precious family heirloom. It's a dangerous secret, and it has come back to haunt them. Lila is caught in the middle, and her life may depend on uncovering it. But even if she can, can she stay in Auburn when not everyone is what they seem, and even the house wants her gone?
Lila is charmed by the people of Auburn, from the blue-eyed lawyer with the southern drawl to the little old lady who unceasingly tries to set Lila up with her grandson. But when strange things begin to happen, Lila realizes some of her new friends are guarding a secret like it's a precious family heirloom. It's a dangerous secret, and it has come back to haunt them. Lila is caught in the middle, and her life may depend on uncovering it. But even if she can, can she stay in Auburn when not everyone is what they seem, and even the house wants her gone?
I did enjoy this book although it could have done with much more careful editing. Things were out of order and things happened out of sequence etc. But all in all it was pretty good.
Her Last Goodbye by Rick Mofina
Perfect wife. Doting mom. Jennifer Griffin was loved by everyone, including the women in her suburban neighbourhood book club. Their meetings sometimes went late, but Jenn always came home.
Until that night.
When Greg Griffin wakes to find his wife is not in bed, his blood runs cold. Her book club friends say Jenn left for home hours ago. Bur she's missing. Greg tells detectives their marriage is good, but his alibi is razor-thin. With their young son away at a sleepover, Greg had all night to commit a crime. And there are scrapes on his hands...
Investigators discover Jenn has troubling secrets, but she isn't the only one. With the threads of their picture perfect life unraveling, Greg is forced to confront the lies that hold their marriage together-and a dark past that refuses to stay buried.
I was quite engrossed in this book from start to finish. I had many theories throughout, and the most obvious answers didn't turn out to be correct. This is a novel full of twists and surprises that are sure to please even the most seasoned mystery readers. The only criticizme would be that I thought it was a bit too long and drawn out, and I while I love stories about missing people, I equally hate wrongfully accused characters and that got a bit tedious after a while.
The Last Bride in BallyMuir by Dorien Kelly
Miss Kylie "Soon-to-Be-a-Saint" O'Shea teaches at the Gaelic school, helps her neighbors and volunteers for every good cause. No one in Ballymuir can figure out why she keeps the interested lads at bay but they all warn her that she's in danger of fulfilling a local legend: becoming the last bride in Ballymuir. When a stranger named Michael Kilbride comes to the village wild rumors surround his every move. But Kylie, captivated by Michael's intense passions, lets herself go where Michael leads her -- into an awakening of dreams and desires...even if it means exposing her beloved village's and her own darkest secrets.
Michael the angry young man who hated everything and everyone at the beginning of the book, grew into a loving hardworking man who is fiercely protective of his family.
Kylie as well grew from a timid shy girl who kept away from most people embarrassed by her fathers sin and evasive of men due to her rape aged 18 also developed confidence and a bit of a temper.
Kylie as well grew from a timid shy girl who kept away from most people embarrassed by her fathers sin and evasive of men due to her rape aged 18 also developed confidence and a bit of a temper.
For me, the best character was Michaels sister because she didn't what anybody said or thought. This was an easy read.
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