Book Review The BlueBonnet Betrayal

Title: The Bluebonnet Betrayal

Author: Marty Wingate

Stars: 4 out of 5

Review:

The author has the ability to make you believe you are in England with her vivid descriptions of the people and places where the story takes place. A tidy murder is presented and then the reader is led down the proverbial garden path in an effort to solve the crime. Can the reader understand the subtle clues that are strewn about and solve the murder before the author presents the murderer? If seeking to do so always remember what a red herring is used for.

I gave this book a four star rating and would recommend it anyone who likes a relative non violent crime which requires some thought to solve.

I received an ARC from Netgalley for my unbiased review.

Synopsis: 

Pru’s life in England is coming full circle. A Texas transplant, she’s married to the love of her life, thriving in the plum gardening position she shares with her long-lost brother, and prepping a Chelsea Flower Show exhibit featuring the beloved bluebonnets of the Texas hill country. Technically, Twyla Woodford, the president of a gardening club in the Lone Star State, is in charge of the London event, but Pru seems to be the one getting her hands dirty. When they finally do meet, Pru senses a kindred spirit—until Twyla turns up dead.

Although Twyla’s body was half buried under a wall in their display, Pru remains determined to mount a spectacular show. Twyla would have insisted. So Pru recruits her husband, former Detective Chief Inspector Christopher Pearse, to go undercover and do a bit of unofficial digging into Twyla’s final hours. If Pru has anything to say about it, this killer is going to learn the hard way not to mess with Texas.

About The Author:

Marty Wingate is a Seattle-based writer and speaker about gardens and travel. She is the author of the Potting Shed mysteries from Random House/Alibi, about Pru Parke, middle-aged American gardener who moves to England and digs up more than weeds. The first two in the series are The Garden Plot and The Red Book of Primrose House, followed by the third in late summer 2015. Her new cozy mystery series, Birds of a Feather, begins in June 2015 with The Rhyme of the Magpie. You can hear Marty on the podcast A Dry Rain, free from iTunes and always available at adryrain.net. She leads garden tours to European and North American destinations.

School Out For Summer

Everyone is out of school and our month of June is filling up fast with fun activities, lots of visits to the local library not to mention the bookstore as well. Thanks to my amazing reviewer Frank otherwise we would have a lot of empty days.

My kids are home for 7 weeks and than school starts up again July 25th. 3 out of the 4 will be in school and number 3 is super excited because she wants to be like her older sister so much. Number 3 is reading but gets upset when she can't read the chapter books like Dork Diaries which her 1st grade sister is reading. Thankfully number 2 loves to read out loud so she reads to her little sister every night before bed.

My oldest loves the Butt books. I am trying to get hims to read the James Patterson Middle school books even though he is only entering 5th grade. If you have a boy and don't mind the gross things they come up with this series is really funny. My son will be reviewing his book soon.

http://www.amazon.com/Butt-Wars-Final-Conflic…/…/ref=sr_1_1…

My kids are excited to be review books this summer. If you are interested in having a 1st graders, 4th grader and a preschools view your children's book than my kids are the ones for you. My kids all read above grade level including my preschool is reading Level one books with a little help.

I have to mention I am having trouble saying No to people who send book request because every single one sounds amazing.

The one word I am not good at I am asking all authors to please have. Patience!! I will get those review to you I promise.

Happy Memorial Day

Book Review The Viscounts Bride

Title: The Viscount's Bride

Author: G. L. Snodgrass

Stars:‏ 4 out of 5

Review:

This is the first book by this author that I have had the pleasure to read even though she is an accomplished author with many titles to her credit. But I assure you it will not be the last. My attention was grabbed in the first chapter and held until the epilogue. The story has drama, love, a believable plot and a satisfactory ending. These items are all critical for a good historical romance. After reading the first two chapters of The Earl's Regret, included at the end, I have placed it on my to be read list.

I obtained this Kindle book from Amazon.

I gave this a four star rating.

Synopsis:

Sometimes, a woman needs a hero.

*** A steamy Regency Romance ***

Miss Caroline Jennings is facing a life of shame and poverty. She has lost everything. Her home, her father, and any chance of happiness. What is more? If her father’s secret is exposed. She will be known as the daughter of a traitor.

Surely, life cannot get much worse.

When a carriage accident throws her into the river. - fitting punishment for her father’s crimes. - She is tempted to allow herself to succumb. It is only the thought of her two younger sisters and the strong arms of her rescuer that keep her among the living.

Alexander Vessey, Viscount Beachmont, ex-soldier, and one of the richest men in Britain. A classic hero if she’d ever seen one. Big, strong, and commanding. Any woman’s heart would flutter like hers to be saved by him.

His heroics unfortunately have saved her for a life of loneliness and want.

However, when he offers her a marriage of convenience it seems the perfect solution to regain her life. The only danger she faces now is the possibility of losing her heart.

About the Author:

 

Book Review: Silent Sentry

 
Title: Silent Sentry


Author: Theresa Rizzo


Stars: 5 out of 5


Review:
  For a romantic suspense nut this book was perfect. Action packed, well research, characters who made since and didn't go outside the boundaries causing the readers to wonder what the author was thinking.
Nope this book is perfect for me.
I love the Mob history of Detroit area and keeping the story modern and up to date. I couldn't but this perfect blend of suspense, romance and action that I couldn't out the book down.
Two words to describes this book would be Perfect Blend.
AC from Netgalley and Theresa Rizzo

Synopsis:

Award-winning author Theresa Rizzo delivers a thrilling crime novel packed with suspense, romance, and redemption.

The Scarfilis and Donnatellis love deeply and protect fiercely. “Family takes care of family” is the code they live by.

So when a hacker threatens Gianna Donnatelli’s life, Dr. Joe Scarfili is determined to keep her safe, only he has no police or tech experience, and Gianna’s penchant for aiding Detroit’s underprivileged is the same kind of altruism that got his wife killed. Gianna protects Joe with the same unyielding resolve.

Gianna pushes all his insecurity buttons. Joe tries her patience like no other. But together they’ll fight to save each other and their love… Or die trying.

About The Author:
 
Theresa Rizzo is an award-winning author who writes emotional stories that explore the complexity of relationships and families through real-life trials. Born and raised in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, she now lives outside of Boulder, Colorado with her husband of thirty-two years. 

Motherhood Monday Galactic Fruit War

This is how I feel every day after school I am in the middle of a Galactic Fruit War just to get my 9 year old son to eat fruit. Do not think for a second I haven't tried everything because I have.
Here us my list
1. Dip it in something yummy like chocolate, caramel, frosting, whipped cream, nutella, peanut butter, cheese. Name it I have tried it.
2. Try it in a smoothy. HAHAHAHAH now that was funny.
3. Bake it in something warm. HEHEHEHAHAHA even funnier
4. Try different types of fruit. Yup if I could even get him to take a bite I would. He looks at everything like I am going to poison him. 

We will keep battling until he decides what fruit he likes and finally eats it.

To all those mothers out there who can't get their kids to eat healthy. I hear ya sister and to all those moms who have those amazing kids who eat fruit. Rock on sista.

Summer has arrived! Help Me Please

Everyone is out of school and our month of June is filling up fast with fun activities, lots of visits to the local library not to mention the bookstore as well.  Thanks to my amazing reviewer Frank otherwise we would have a lot of empty days.

My kids are home for 7 weeks and than school starts up again July 25th.  3 out of the 4 will be in school and number 3 is super excited because she wants to be like her older sister so much.  Number 3 is reading but gets upset when she can't read the chapter books like Dork Diaries which her 1st grade sister is reading.  Thankfully number 2 loves to read out loud so she reads to her little sister every night before bed.

My oldest loves the Butt books. I am trying to get hims to read the James Patterson Middle school books even though he is only entering 5th grade. If you have a boy and don't mind the gross things they come up with this series is really funny.  My son will be reviewing his book soon.

http://www.amazon.com/Butt-Wars-Final-Conflict-Griffiths/dp/0439747503/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1464485120&sr=8-1&keywords=BUtt+Wars

My kids are excited to be review books this summer.  If you are interested in having a 1st graders, 4th grader and a preschools view your children's book than my kids are the ones for you.  My kids all read above grade level including my preschool is reading Level one books with a little help.


I have to mention I am having trouble saying No to people who send book request because every single one sounds amazing.

The one word I am not good at I am asking all authors to please have. Patience!! I will get those review to you I promise.

Book Review One O'clock Hustle

Title: One O'clock Hustle

Author: Joanne Pence

Stars 4out of 5

Review:

An easy to read murder/romantic mystery that is sure to please those looking for a down to earth book. I found the main character (Rebecca Mayfield) to be a gutsy San Francisco homicide police inspector who is not afraid to take chances and bend the rules to almost the breaking point. She solves a difficult murder, or three, while also finding a bad boy romantic interest.

I enjoyed the book and gave it a four star rating. I would read other books in the series.

I obtained the book from Amazon in Kindle format.

Synopsis:

Homicide Inspector Rebecca Mayfield and Richie Amalfi were introduced in the Angie Amalfi mysteries, and they now have their own mystery series. This is their first full-length story.

When San Francisco Homicide Inspector Rebecca Mayfield arrives at the scene of a deadly shooting, she's shocked to find that the witnesses have caught the killer, and that he's someone she knows. Rebecca's a by-the-book detective, and she's always done her job according to the rules, without hesitation ... until Richie Amalfi comes back into her life.

Richie knows his way around everything and everyone in his city. When people say they "know a guy who knows a guy," Richie's the guy they're talking about. He can usually help people out of tight situations, but suddenly finds he can't get himself out of hot water when he's accused of murder.

Richie's on the run, and he runs straight to Rebecca to help him prove his innocence. From the nightclubs of North Beach to the scenic heights of Twin Peaks, dangers lurk and more deaths happen. As Rebecca discovers there's a lot more to Richie than she thought, and a lot more to like than she imagined, she soon fears not only for her life, but also her heart. 

About The Author:

  Joanne Pence is a USA Today best-selling and award winning author of two mystery series, contemporary and historical romance, fantasy and thrillers. She is the author of the Angie Amalfi culinary mystery series, which is still in print after twenty years, and now has 15 books (the latest, COOKING SPIRITS was an April 2013 release), and a novella (Cook's Christmas Capers, Dec. 2013). She has just begun a new series, the Rebecca Mayfield mysteries. ONE O'CLOCK HUSTLE is the first full-length novel, and THE THIRTEENTH SANTA is a novella which shows how the two main characters met.

Joanne's books have won many awards and honors, including RWA's Golden Heart and Rita Award nominations, the Independent Book Seller's Golden Quill, the Daphne du Maurier award, the Willa Cather Literary Award in Historical Fiction (for DANCE WITH A GUNFIGHTER), and the Idaho Top Fiction Award for ANCIENT ECHOES.

Joanne was born and raised in San Francisco and now makes her home in the foothills of Boise. She has been president of the Boise chapter of Sisters in Crime, a founder and board member of the Popular Fiction Association of Idaho, and founding member and current board member of the Idaho Writers Guild. A graduate of U.C. Berkeley with a master's degree in journalism, Joanne has written for magazines, worked for the federal government, and taught school in Japan.

Joanne Pence is a USA Today best-selling and award winning author of two mystery series, contemporary and historical romance, fantasy and thrillers. She is the author of the Angie Amalfi culinary mystery series, which is still in print after twenty years, and now has 15 books (the latest, COOKING SPIRITS was an April 2013 release), and a novella (Cook's Christmas Capers, Dec. 2013). She has just begun a new series, the Rebecca Mayfield mysteries. ONE O'CLOCK HUSTLE is the first full-length novel, and THE THIRTEENTH SANTA is a novella which shows how the two main characters met.

Joanne's books have won many awards and honors, including RWA's Golden Heart and Rita Award nominations, the Independent Book Seller's Golden Quill, the Daphne du Maurier award, the Willa Cather Literary Award in Historical Fiction (for DANCE WITH A GUNFIGHTER), and the Idaho Top Fiction Award for ANCIENT ECHOES.

Joanne was born and raised in San Francisco and now makes her home in the foothills of Boise. She has been president of the Boise chapter of Sisters in Crime, a founder and board member of the Popular Fiction Association of Idaho, and founding member and current board member of the Idaho Writers Guild. A graduate of U.C. Berkeley with a master's degree in journalism, Joanne has written for magazines, worked for the federal government, and taught school in Japan.

Book Review Seconds to Live

Title: Seconds to Live


Author: Melinda Leigh


Star: 5 out of 5


Review:
Melinda Leigh has the ability to pull readers in from page one.  I truly had no interesting in Mac's story he didn't seem like an interesting characters in the other books. However I wanted to see how all the characters developed and where they were going.
Mac was the wild child in the family. Life choices made his direction is life clear but when he returns home he finds that maybe those choices are not what he really wanted.
Melinda Leigh drives home the importance of family.  I enjoyed how each family member realizes they need each others support even though they were raised to be independent and strong.
 Seconds to live has the perfect blend of action to keep readers locked in until the last page.
AC From Netgalley and the Author

Synopsis: 
Wildlife biologist Mac Barrett avoided his hometown of Scarlet Falls for years—too many bad memories. But when he receives the news that his father is dying, he rushes home only to discover he’s too late. Shaken, Mac retreats to his remote cabin seeking peace and solace. Instead, he crashes his jeep to narrowly avoid running over the naked body of a woman lying in the road. Even more disturbing, when he regains consciousness, the body is gone.

Police detective Stella Dane wants to believe Mac, even if his story about the vanishing body seems far-fetched. But when Mac’s description matches the missing woman she’s been searching for, it raises a disturbing question: How does a dead body disappear?

Mac and Stella will have to work together to find the answer and catch a psychotic kidnapper—and quickly. The killer has a deadly message to send, and the case is about to become personal…

ebook, 348 pages

Expected publication: June 28th 2016 by Montlake Romance

About The Author: 
 
 Melinda Leigh is a fully recovered banker. A life-long lover of books, she started writing as a way to preserve her sanity while raising her kids. Over the next few years, she learned a few things about writing a book and decided the process was way more fun than analyzing financial statements. Melinda's debut novel, SHE CAN RUN, was nominated for Best First Novel by the International Thriller Writers. Her bestselling books have twice been nominated for the Daphne du Maurier Award.

Melinda holds a 2nd degree belt in Kenpo Karate. She's dabbled in Arnis stick fighting, studied Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and taught women's self-defense. She lives in a messy house in the suburbs with her husband, two kids, a couple of shelter dogs and two rescue cats who clearly run the show. With such a pleasant life, she has no explanation for the sometimes dark and disturbing nature of her imagination. Find out more about Melinda by visiting melindaleighauthor.com.

Book Review: Closer Home

 
Title: Closer Home


Author: Kerry Anne King


Stars: 4.5 out of 5


Review:

 My interest was engaged from the first chapter and never waned through the entire book. A modern romance with heartbreak, grief, comedic relief and unspoken love between the main characters, which does not waiver, even tho it takes ages to come to fruition. The characters and plot are both believable and will stand the test of time.

I gave this book a 4.5 star rating and would like to see a follow story about Ariel in the future.

I received an ARC from Netgalley for my unbiased review.

 Thank you Frank for all your review!

Synopsis:
When Lise Redding’s estranged sister, country-pop star Callie Redfern, is killed during a publicity stunt, the small-town music teacher is dragged from her quiet life into the spotlight.

Lise hadn’t spoken with Callie in ten years, ever since Callie’s betrayal split them apart, so she’s shocked to discover that she’s inherited her sister’s massive estate. Not only that, but Lise is now the guardian of her sixteen-year-old niece, Ariel, to whom she’s practically a stranger.

Overwhelmed by grief and her new responsibilities, Lise thinks things couldn’t get worse. But overnight she becomes the paparazzi’s latest obsession. Suddenly she and her longtime friend Dale are plastered over the front pages of the tabloids. Desperate to escape both the media and her memories, Lise sets off with Ariel on a search for the girl’s father. Yet instead of granting Lise a reprieve, the quest brings her face-to-face with long-buried secrets. Only by learning to forgive will she be able to find her way back home. 

About The Author: 
Kerry Anne King holds a BA in English from York University and a M.Ed. in counseling psychology from Washington State University. She lives with her Viking in a little house surrounded by trees, the perfect place for writing books. Kerry spends her days working as an RN in a clinic, spinning her tales early in the morning and in the evenings after work. In addition to women's fiction, she also writes fantasy and mystery novels as Kerry Schafer.

Motherhood Monday and its Late I know

Every Sunday I sit down and write whatever crazy thing happened to me and the list this week is small but emotional. I have decided to keep a lot of it to myself until thing settle down and I can better understand what to do next.

Instead here is my tale of the computer. I sat down last night and went to turn on my computer my "Only" outlet to the "real world" it didn't start. FREAKING out but I thought out loud "No Big Deal."

 I save everything to the cloud or one-drive or goggle thingy. No big deal. Until I realized I hadn't done it yet. I was waiting to do that after I finish scanned all the family documents and photos.  Why would I do that you ask? I have no idea.

When my computer didn't start the crazy anxiety train took off and all I could think about was the three months of my husbands family history I had scanned and the last month of scanning my personally family photos. Than it hit me I hadn't put any photos from the last two years on the cloud and there were ALL on my compute. 3. 2. 1. FREAKING OUT! 

I couldn't think of anything else but that I just lost all of my 3 year old son's last two years of his life. Freaking out in my head my husband worked his magic and BAM it turned back on.  We quickly went to work moving everything to the cloud.  Now anyone who wants to hack my life can do it but trust me its lots of kids singing, being super cuter random photos and just my family.

As I am typing from my computer I have learned an amazing world BACKUP!!!  15,000 photos BACK THEM UP!!

Alright now that I yell at all of you to BACK up your stuff. Hopefully I will remember that from now on so I don't lose my mind for several hours.

Book Review Dangerous Games

 
Title: Dangerous Games

Author: Lisa Hughey

Stars: 5 out of 5

Review:
Barbara goes on a blind date with Ken who just happens to be friends with the one guy she had cared about for whole life. At the Korean Embassy Things go south when terrorists crash the party and everyone is wondering why it seems more like a show than actual terrorist event. I have read the 1 and 2 of the Black Cipher series and just like those I didn't feel lost. The story is super fun, fast pace and the banter between Barbara and Ken is so much fun.
My only complaint is the fact they can't seem to stop thinking about making out with each other while terrorists are looking to kill everyone in the room but it makes for some fun moments.
I recommend this book to romantic suspense readers who want a quick funny read.

I received this book from Netgalley for an honest review.

Synopsis:
A blind date with a sexy double agent on a covert mission…what could possibly go wrong?

Barb Williams is on the blind date from hell. She realizes she’s being used as a decoy, but before she can ditch her sexy date, the embassy party they are attending is crashed by terrorists.

Ken Park is on a very personal covert mission to uncover the intel that will exonerate his father, but his exotic, sensual, distracting date is messing with his focus.

When masked mercenaries take over the embassy party, can Barb and Ken overcome their trust issues and band together to save the day?

Dangerous Game is the fourth installment in the Black Cipher Files series. This is a shorter work than the original trilogy (about half the length of Blowback, Betrayals, and Burned)

The Black Cipher Files is a fast-paced, edgy romance and espionage series that features hot, alpha heroes and kick-ass heroines, working to uncover long-buried secrets from the past so they can save their future.
 
About The Author: 
 
USA Today Bestselling Author Lisa Hughey has been writing romance since the fourth grade, which was also about the time she began her love affair with spies. Harriet and Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys later gave way to James Bond and Lara Croft and Jason Bourne. Exploring the complex nature of a profession that requires subterfuge and lies fascinates her. She loves combining her two passions into fiction and hopes you love the results.

You can find her on the web at http://www.lisahughey.com, or the group blog http://www.pensfatales.com ,on Twitter @lisahughey and on email: lisahughey@pacbell.net , Like her on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lisa-Hu...

She loves to hear from readers!
Happy reading! 

Book Review: The English BOy

 
Title: The English Boys



Author: Julia Thomas


Stars: 5 Out of 5


Review:

A superbly written murder mystery that will keep your interest from beginning to end. The manner in which the story unfolds allows you, the reader, to form opinions and deductions which may or may not be correct in the end. I thoroughly enjoyed the ending and felt that justice was well served. After reading the book what opinion will you formulate?

I rated this book five stars for content, plot and the ability to hold my interest.

I received an ARC from Netgalley for my unbiased review.

Synopsis:
Daniel Richardson and his best friend, Hugh Ashley-Hunt, both rising British actors, are in love with the same woman, the free-spirited Tamsyn Burke. Reluctantly, Daniel steps aside when Tamsyn decides to marry Hugh. Shortly before the wedding, however, she's murdered, and suspicion falls on the family, friends, and associates present.
Motivated by both Hugh's grief and his own, Daniel joins forces with Tamsyn's younger sister, Carey, to find out who killed her. In the process of digging into Tamsyn's past, Daniel tries to discover what secret she was hiding, and why someone close to her might want to silence her forever.

 
About The Author:

Julia Thomas is the author of The English Boys, which debuts in July 2016. She is married to mystery novelist Will Thomas, who writes the Barker and Llewelyn crime series set in Victorian London.

Book Review: So Many Boots, So Little Time

 
Title: So Many Boots, So Little Time

Author: Kalan Chapman Lloyd‏

Stars: 4.5 out of 5

Review:

This is book three in the series The Misadventures of Miss
Lilly. I was intrigued by the heroine Miss Lilly from chapter one. This is a romance, comedy, and mystery all rolled up together in one story. The only thing I was disappointed with was that I had not had the good fortune to have read the first two books of Miss Lilly's misadventures. If you are a fan of tough, while genteel, southern ladies this is the book to read.

I give this 4.5 stars and would recommend it to anyone seeking a light comedic novel to pleasurable past the time.

I received an ARC from Netgalley for my unbiased review.

Thank you Frank for your Review

Synopsis: 

“You need to stop all this yoga crap and find your inner badass again.”

Old love. New Love. A love you wish would just die.

A kinder, gentler Lilly?

Small-town lawyer Lilly Atkins has calmed down. She’s doing yoga, her hair is relatively tame, and she hasn’t shot anyone in a while.

But with bad boy Cash Stetson out of rehab, former FBI agent-turned-attorney Spencer Locke dogging her steps, and a ghost from her past who just won’t go away, her trigger finger is starting to itch.

When cattle rustlers hit a little too close to home, and she’s forbidden to investigate, the only thing to do is get up off the yoga mat and grab her gun.

Will Lilly stay zen? Or get her groove back? 

About The Author: 

 

 Kalan Chapman Lloyd is an attorney and author currently residing in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She enjoys big hair, Supreme Court Decisions on Intellectual Property, hats, the sound of construction and the feel of brand new sweatshirts. Kalan grew up in the small town Tahlequah, OK where she graduated from Tahlequah Senior High School. She attended Oklahoma State University and the University of Tulsa College of Law and has been a member of the Oklahoma Bar since 2008. She and her husband enjoy parenting their left-handed, strong-willed children. She is a Junior League dropout.

Her first book, Home Is Where Your Boots Are, the first in the series, The MisAdventures of Miss Lilly was a finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards and spent several weeks at No. 1 on the Literature and Fiction list of Lulu.com. It is set for re-release in May 2015. Her second in the series, These Boots Are Made For Butt-Kickin’, is due out in June of 2015.

Kalan writes about The South and its caricatures.

Her favorite authors are Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Janet Evanovich, Mary Kay Andrews, Jen Hatmaker, Dorothea Benton Frank and Dixie Cash, along with Faulkner, Welty, and Fitzgerald.

Motherhood Monday Its Not That Bad. I Promise

When I woke up Sunday I woke up with aches in my arms from loose joints due to having 4 babies, A pinch nerve that really won't ever go away no matter how much yoga and physical therapy I do. I am a proud tiger strip momma. It might not be as bad as some but I have my Tiger strips from 4 babies. My breast are not those perky ones I used to have in face I would say they are sad little pears. Will I get a boob job to fix them? Nope I don't like pain. I was in bed grabbing for my bottle of Advil so I would be able to move and make it downstairs with just a little less pain in my face. 
4 babies changed not only my body but my heart, mind, strength and love.

 I made my way downstairs to my wonderful husband who made me a the best pancakes I looked around and realized the 18 year old I girl I was years and years ago who swore she would never have children was gone. In fact the 27 year old woman who looked at her husband and said "You have your one child and its boy."  from 10 years ago is gone.

 I love being a mom.  Its hard, I cry and some days I realized I could have had my dream car a Porsche 911 turbo by now and completely paid off with how much money I have spent and will spend on those 4 big blue eye that looked at me with excitement.

Number 2 (GIRL) had made a gift and had been begging me to open it since Friday. When I did I found a picture frame with little pink and green fingers making a flower. She big blue eyes staring at me from behind her very experience glasses that keep her eyes from crossing were filled with excitement waiting for my reaction to her gift. I praised her telling her how much I loved it and said it will go some place special.

Number 1 asked me to open his present and as I did I looked up to see worry in his eyes. I knew he was worried I wouldn't like his gift. When I pulled back the paper I found another frame only this time it was a southwest sunset with a cactus and birds in the sky, It was so beautiful and I quickly thank him for the wonderful gift. He said the two bird represented us having fun playing together. 

Number three drew me endless pictures and at preschool made strawberry freezer jam which she made by hand.  With the same big eyes I enjoyed everything single yummy bite and it was yummy.

Number 4 just turned three so in true toddler fashion I was the only person he wanted all day. So basically a normal day.

Hubby had worked hard all week and all morning making mothers day special for me so as I watched him fall asleep, I wondered how I was lucky enough to have married an amazing man who understands me even when the crazy train has left the station and isn't come homing for a while. My husband wrote me an email because he knows it is the first thing I check in the morning before I crawl out into the world. I cried knowing that the person I fell in love with, the person I have 4 crazy children with understands all that I do.

The two frames are on my bookcase and said my son and daughter said "WOW mom that is the special place you keep only your books on." That is not true it is where I keep all the frames with my kids art work. Enough said I have 7 frames with 7 different works of art that I will never get rid of.

I hope to remember the feelings I felt today so on the days when I want to pull my hair out and scream (There will be days my guess tomorrow its Monday) I can look at my bookcase and remember the feelings I had today.

Love, Compassion, Feeling Loved and knowing I am Mom!

Happy Mothers Day

To all those mothers who question their sanity after watching the same movie for the 5th time in one day. The ones that change endless diapers and wonder if their child will be going to high school in a daiper and those moms who can't imgaine any mother job.
Happy Mothers Day!

What are you reading?

Here are a few books I will be settling into since my insomnia has taken control of my life once again.

Book Reivew: The House By The Lake

 


Title: The House By the Lake


Author: Ella Carey

Stars: 4 out of 5


Review:

A brilliant mix of history and fiction that will make you want to read the entire book in one sitting. It is told in two parts (1930's and 2010) and will leave you sad, happy and elated when you reach the final paragraph. A story of love unfulfilled and love as it begins to blossom.

I give this book a four star rating and would buy it for myself and recommend it to others.

I received an ARC from Netgalley for my unbiased review.

Thank you Frank for your review this week.

Synopsis:

Anna is content with her well-ordered life in San Francisco. But her world is turned upside down when her beloved grandfather, Max, reveals a startling secret: Anna is part of an aristocratic family who lost everything during World War II. What’s more, Max was forced to leave behind a precious item over seventy years ago in their estate in old Prussia. It’s now his ardent wish that Anna retrieve it.

Anna burns with questions as she heads for Germany: What memento could be so important to her grandfather? And why did he keep their history hidden? As she searches for answers, she finds herself drawn to Wil, a man who may hold the key to unlock the mystery. Together they discover that her family’s secrets are linked with an abandoned apartment in Paris, and these secrets go deeper than she ever imagined.

Alternating between 1930s Europe and the present, The House by the Lake illuminates the destiny of a family caught in the tumult of history.  

About The Author:

 

Ella Carey is the author of PARIS TIME CAPSULE- inspired by the true story of Marthe de Florian's abandoned apartment in Paris. The novel has been adapted into a feature film screenplay. Ella's second novel, THE HOUSE BY THE LAKE was released with Lake Union Publishing on 29 March, 2016. Ella has an arts degree majoring in European history and nineteenth century women's literature, and a music degree in classical piano. She has traveled extensively in Europe and has a particular fondness for Paris. When Ella is not writing, she is either busy with her pair of teenagers, walking her pair of Italian greyhounds while cooking up future novels and greeting the many people who think the dogs are whippets, reading, or dreaming of being in Paris.

For more information about Ella's books and her writing, please visit her at https://www.facebook.com/ellacareyaut... or come and visit her at her brand new website at http://www.ellacarey.com/

ThrowBack Thursday Book Review Vegan Virgin Valentine - Carolyn Mackler

Monday, December 6, 2010

Vegan Virgin Valentine - Carolyn Mackler

Title: Vegan Virgin Valentine
Author: Carolyn Mackler
Publisher: Candlewick Press
ISBN: 076362155-2
Copyright: 2004
Pages: 228

Quick Review: 3 stars (out of 5)

Why I Read It: Saw a news story from Texas where a parent is trying to get the book removed.

Where I Obtained the Book: Got it from my local library

Synopsis: From the author of the award-winning THE EARTH, MY BUTT, AND OTHER BIG ROUND THINGS comes the racy story of an overachiever who learns to get over it — and get a life. Mara Valentine is in control. She's a straight-A senior, a vegan, and her parents' pride and joy. She's neck-and-neck with her womanizing ex-boyfriend for number-one class ranking and plans to kick his salutatorian butt on her way out the door to Yale. Mara has her remaining months in Brockport all planned out, but the plan does not include having V, her slutty, pot-smoking, sixteen-year-old niece — yes, niece — come to live with her family. Nor does it involve lusting after her boss or dreaming about grilled cheese sandwiches every night. What does a control freak like Mara do when things start spinning wildly out of control?

Review: The story of the Valentine girls, on the verge of finishing school and transitioning into their adult life. Fairly easy to identify the controversy as the “good” girl learns to chill out and gets it on with her 22 year old boss/boyfriend (she is a 17 year old HS senior). Plus she decides to slow her march through academia to spend more time on her life and with her guy. The “wild” one smokes pot and decides a bad reputation is a viable way to make yourself noticed in a new environment.

The above paragraph is a simplistic breakdown of the plot that does a disservice to the story, and provides a misguided view to what is going on. Having read a lot of books about teen girls lately (it is amazing how many of these books parents try to get banned) I think Mackler did a really good job. You have the one girl skipping her youth trying to be some image of what perfection is. That is always a losing gambit and typically a person will just self destruct in a fiery crash. But enter in her wild niece, whose whole life is in transition, who spends her time avoiding commitment and responsibility. Together they bond and learn there is a happy medium to be found. Life on the extremes does not make for a happy life.

In the end the two find happiness and friendship. It is a good read for any of your young friends trying to find their way through the vicissitudes of life.

Author Biography: Carolyn Mackler is the author of the popular teen novels, The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things (A Michael L. Printz Honor Book), Tangled, Guyaholic, Vegan Virgin Valentine, and Love and Other Four-Letter Words. Carolyn lives in New York City with her husband and two young sons. She is currently at work on her sixth novel.

Book Review: Brighten Belle

Title: Brighton Belle
Author: Sara Sheridan‏
Stars: 4.5 out of 5

Review:

I started reading this book with trepidation but after a few pages I was completely immersed in the story and was reading with anticipation. Sara Sheridan has captured the flavor, atmosphere and attitude of post war England very accurately. The story line involves prostitution, money laundering, insurance fraud, murder, Nazis, and stolen gold. In the end it is all brought together very well for a successful ending.

I rated this book 4.5 stars and would recommend it to anyone looking for a post war murder mystery.

I received an ARC from Netgalley for my unbiased review.

Synopsis: 

In post-World War II England, former Secret Service operative Mirabelle Bevan becomes embroiled in a new kind of intrigue…

1951: In the popular seaside town of Brighton, it's time for Mirabelle Bevan to move beyond her tumultuous wartime years and start anew. Accepting a job at a debt collection agency seems a step toward a more tranquil life.

But as she follows up on a routine loan to Romana Laszlo, a pregnant Hungarian refugee who's recently come off the train from London, Mirabelle's instincts for spotting deception are stirred when the woman is reported dead, along with her unborn child.

After encountering a social-climbing doctor with a sudden influx of wealth and Romana's sister, who seems far from bereaved and doesn't sound Hungarian, Mirabelle decides to dig deeper into the suspicious circumstances surrounding the death. Aided by her feisty sidekick--a fellow office worker named Vesta Churchill ("no relation to Winston," as she explains)--Mirabelle unravels a web of evil that stretches from the Brighton beachfront to the darkest corners of Europe. Putting her own life at risk, she must navigate a lethal labyrinth of lies and danger to expose the truth. 

About the Author:

Born in Edinburgh. I'm a complete swot - love books always have! Currently obsessed with Georgian and Victorian explorers, about whom I write and with 1950s Britain for my Mirabelle Bevan murder mystery series set in London and Brighton.

Book Review: An Appetite for Revenge

 
Title: An Appetite For Revenge

Author: Jennifer L Jennings

Stars: 4 Out of 5


Review:

This is the first book, by this author, that I have read and I was delighted with both the plot and manner in which it was told. The story was easily followed and completely believable. The investigation proceeded in a logical manner and did not leave you wondering what you missed in the telling. As a retired criminal investigator it is always nice, and also rare, to prove someone innocent.

I gave this book a four star rating and have placed the author on my reading list.

I obtained this book from Amazon in Kindle format. Thank you Frank for your review.

Synopsis:
Jealousy, Blackmail, Revenge
Sarah Woods, a rookie private eye from New Hampshire, decides to visit her boyfriend in Florida, for a much needed respite from the cold. The only problem is, Max's ex-girlfriend -- Jennifer Healy -- works for the client. Sarah tries to convince herself that Max and Jennifer are simply friends, but can't help feeling suspicious.
While Max is busy working on a project, Sarah plans to spend her days lounging on the beach. However, on the night of her arrival, Max's client, millionaire Dennis Foster has a heart attack. No big surprise considering the man is a chain smoker with high blood pressure.
Dennis's widow may or may not be distraught over her husband's death, but she wants to hire Sarah to help with a personal matter that involves sex and blackmail.
Carter agrees to make the trip to help Sarah with the investigation.
However things go dreadfully wrong when Carter makes an attempt to engage with a violent suspect, and must pay the consequences for his misjudgement.  

About The Author:
 

Secrets of the Vanished (Sarah Woods Mystery Book 19) will be released this summer of 2016

Jennifer L. Jennings is the author of The Sarah Woods Mystery Series on Amazon. She was born in Chicago, Illinois but has spent most of her life living in Maine. She was a massage therapist for fifteen years and worked as a glass artisan as well. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling the world, reading, writing and doing all things creative

Motherhood Monday This is not what was sold to me

I was sold on this picture when someone told me what it is like to be a mom! I thought I can do that Hugs, kisses, cuddles, I love you mom.

 9 years later I feel like the crazy lady with 4 kids. A son who thinks the world is ending when I ask him to clean up anything. A daughter who can't seem to understand when mom says she needs time GIVE HER FREAKING TIME. Another Daughter who seems to think her sister is the most annoying person on earth. Last a son who thinks Big Hero 6 is all that exist in the world. No wonder I feel like this picture every single day.