Monthly Archives: May 2015

Coming Soon….

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….  On a Bookshelf near you!

In June I hope to read…

married

Publication Date:  June 9, 2015
Publisher:  Thomas Nelson

Goodreads:  With a big anniversary party in the works for her parents, Ryan will pretend to be Abby’s husband for just one last weekend.

Ryan McKinley has tried to move on from his ex-wife, Abby. He’s sulked, he’s gotten angry, and ultimately he bought her dream house. Big mistake. Living alone in the massive 2-story has only made him miss her more. When her parents call him out of the blue about their anniversary party in Summer Harbor, Maine, Ryan believes God has dropped a golden opportunity straight in his lap.

Abby McKinley never exactly told her parents about the divorce. A strained relationship with her dad has culminated in a distant relationship with her parents, but she’s finally succumbed to her mom’s pressure to make the drive for their 35th-anniversary party.

Then Ryan shows up on her doorstep, looking as devastatingly handsome as ever. When he insists he’s going to Seabrook, with or without her, Abby knows she can’t say no. Her parents still think they’re married and now Ryan knows it too. Besides, he only wants to check in with his best friend from college—her cousin Beau, who just lost his dad. It’s just a one-week road-trip with the man who broke her heart. What could possibly go wrong? 

What is coming soon …. to a bookshelf near you?

Let me know – I am always looking for a good read!

The One That Got Away

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Author:  Bethany Chase
Publisher: Ballantine Books                                the oe
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Source: Kristin of Kritters Ramblings

 

 

Goodreads:  Perfect for fans of Emily Giffin and Jennifer Weiner, this bright, funny debut from a fresh voice in fiction offers a delicious take on love, family, and what it means to build a home of one’s own.

Sarina Mahler thinks she has her life all nailed down: a growing architecture practice in Austin, Texas, and an any-day-now proposal from her loving boyfriend, Noah. She’s well on her way to having the family she’s hoped for since her mother’s death ten years ago. But with Noah on a temporary assignment abroad and retired Olympic swimmer — and former flame — Eamon Roy back in town asking her to renovate his new fixer-upper, Sarina’s life takes an unexpected turn.

Eamon proves to be Sarina’s dream client, someone who instinctively trusts every one of her choices — and Sarina is reminded of all the reasons she was first drawn to him back in the day. Suddenly her carefully planned future with Noah seems a little less than perfect. And when tragedy strikes, Sarina is left reeling. With her world completely upended, she is forced to question what she truly wants in life — and in love.

Full of both humor and heartbreak, The One That Got Away is the story of one woman’s discovery that, sometimes, life is what happens when you leave the blueprints behind.

Ope’s Opinion:  I was very excited to borrow this from my daughter Kristin of Kritters Ramblings.  It did not disappointment me.  The story itself is very relatable and the characters are realistic.  

If you like characters that are independent, won’t settle for less then they deserve, have families that feel real and are willing to work hard for what they want – you will love this book.  Sarina is that kind of person.  She has a job that she loves and is front and center in this book.

This book would have gotten a five or more in my ratings, but the constant use of the “f” word was distracting and totally unnecessary.

Rating: 4.5 – I like this book so much I know several friends to share it with.

Finding the Dream

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Author: Nora Roberts
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Contemporary Romance                 finding
Source: Purchased

 

 

Goodreads:  From the outside Laura Templeton’s life looks charmed: the daughter of a wealthy family, married to the man of her dreams and the mother to two beautiful daughters.

But her dreams are short-lived, and it all collapses when Peter doesn’t prove to be the kind of husband or father material Laura has dreamed of. With her best friends, Margo and Kate, recently married and starting their own families, Laura feels isolated.

Then her brother’s friend, bad boy Michael, asks to rent her stables and she reluctantly agrees. Laura finds him disturbingly attractive, but Michael is a man who has never stayed long with any project or commitment.

Dare she lay her heart open once again?

Ope’s Opinion:  This is the final book of Nora Roberts Dream trilogy.  It was an enjoyable read.

This book was Laura’s story.  I enjoyed seeing her life after her divorce.  I thought she was an awesome mom.   Laura’s daughters were written realistic for children dealing with separation from a parent.

All three sisters had their stories come to satisfying conclusions.  Even though you know it will be a happy ending, getting there is so much fun!

Rating: 4 – I like this book so much I know several friends to share it with.

Holding the Dream

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Author: Nora Roberts
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Contemporary Romance         holding
Source: Purchased

 

 

Goodreads:  In the second novel of the Dream Trilogy, Nora Roberts continues the story of three women who shared a home and a childhood—but grew to fulfill their own unique destinies… 

Surrounded by the sweeping cliffs and beauty of Big Sur, Kate Powell treasured her life at Templeton House…and the family who raised her like one of their own. Although Kate lacked Margo’s beauty and Laura’s elegance, she knew she had something they would never possess—a shrewd head for business. Driven by ambition, Kate measured her life’s success with each soaring promotion. But now faced with professional impropriety, Kate is forced to look deep within herself—only to find something missing in her life…and in her heart.

Ope’s Opinion:  The second book started off back at the childhood of all three girls. I was a little confused at first because I expected it to pick up where the other book left off.  It needed to start back at the childhood, so you had information on Kate that was important later.

This book centers around Kate, although you see Laura and Margo all the time and their stories are advanced.  Kate has a lot to work through since she lost her parents at such an early age.

There is also a little mystery in this book – I really enjoyed this part.

I am ready to read the final book in this series.  I want to know how it all ends for each one of the girls.

Rating: 4 – I like this book so much I know several friends to share it with.

Daring to Dream

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Author:  Nora Roberts
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Contemporary Romance                         daring
Source: Purchased

 

 

Goodreads:  In the first novel of the Dream Trilogy, Nora Roberts begins the story of three women who shared a home and a childhood—but grew to fulfill their own unique destinies… 

Margo, Kate and Laura were brought up like sisters amidst the peerless grandeur of Templeton House. But it was Margo whose dreams first took her far away . . .

Margo Sullivan had everything a young woman could ask for. But while growing up along the rocky cliffs of Monterey, she couldn’t help but dream of bigger things. The daughter of the Templeton’s stern Irish housekeeper, Margo had been treated like a member of the family. Deep down, she knew that money could not buy the thing she craved most—her mother’s acceptance.

Maybe things would be different if she could be sweet like Laura—or had Kate’s shrewd head for business. But all Margo knew how to do was be Margo, and that meant doing things her own way—no matter what the consequences . . .

Ope’s Opinion:  This is the first book in the Dream series.  In this book we are introduced to three main characters and a few minor characters. The three girls move from their childhood, swiftly into young adulthood.  

I really enjoyed this read.  The story kept moving and the characters were being developed throughout the story.

The ending left me wanting to read the next book in the series.

Rating: 4 – I like this book so much I know several friends to share it with.

The Liar

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Author: Nora Roberts
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons                 liar
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Source: Netgalley

 

 

 

Goodreads:  Shelby Foxworth lost her husband. Then she lost her illusions …

The man who took her from Tennessee to an exclusive Philadelphia suburb left her in crippling debt. He was an adulterer and a liar, and when Shelby tracks down his safe-deposit box, she finds multiple IDs. The man she loved wasn’t just dead. He never really existed.

Shelby takes her three-year-old daughter and heads south to seek comfort in her hometown, where she meets someone new: Griff Lott, a successful contractor. But her husband had secrets she has yet to discover. Even in this small town, surrounded by loved ones, danger is closer than she knows—and threatens Griff, as well. And an attempted murder is only the beginning …

Ope’s Opinion: Nora Roberts really twisted a story of family relationships, romance and mystery into one great book!  Part of the read felt like a really good book about Shelby and her family, then a little romance was introduced.  Along the way this mystery was woven into it.  I thought it balanced out the book really well.

All the characters were well developed.  Even the secondary characters had their own story lines going on, but it never felt overwhelming or bogged down.  It added to Shelby’s story and made you understand her better.

I had figured out who I thought was the person behind most of the mystery very early on and I was right, but it did not take away from the story or the suspense.  There were a few twists along the way that made me second guess myself.

My only complaint – one you have heard before from this blog – the over use of foul language – especially the “f” word.  As I have said before I just didn’t think it added anything and at times actually made me disappointed there wasn’t more creative thought to find another word to replace it.

Rating:  4 – I like this books much I know several friends to share it with.

 

The Guest Cottage

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Author:  Nancy Thayer
Publisher: Ballentine Books            guest
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Source:  Netgalley

 

 

Goodreads:  The New York Times bestselling author of Nantucket Sisters whisks readers away to the island of Nantucket in this delightful story about two single parents who accidentally rent the same house one sunny summer.

Wendy Anderson is 35, the mother of two children, and happily married—until she discovers her husband Zack has cheated on her. Confused, angry, and lost, she rents a house on Nantucket for two summer months. When she and her children arrive at Isle Stay, she discovers that Trevor Black, 30, recently widowed, and his son Dylan, 5, have also rented the house. Neither one is willing to give up their much-needed vacations, so Wendy and Trevor devise a plan to share the house for the summer. Preparing meals in their one kitchen, Wendy and Trevor become friends, and chemistry builds throughout the seabreezy summer. But the house is full of their children, and neither is sure they’re ready to move on after recent heartbreaks. Over the last sun-soaked weekend of the summer, as chaos reigns and emotions run as high as the temperatures, Wendy must decide where her heart truly lies.

Ope’s Opinion:  This story started out very slowly. I felt like Trevor and Sophie’s thoughts were on constant repeat.   At first I thought the pace was appropriate – a woman with children contemplating divorce, not wanting to jump into a new relationship seemed like it should move slow. As I kept reading I wanted the story to move along a little faster.  All of a sudden the story took off, then ended.  

The subject of divorced was dealt with so casually, as if it’s no big deal.  Neither Sophie nor her children were very upset about the pending divorce.  

The story was good, the pace just seemed off for me.

Rating: 3 – I like  book enough to suggest it to a friend or two.

Relax-a-bye Baby

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Author: Mimi Sommers
Illustrator: Dana Theveneau                  relax
Genre:  Children’s Book
Publisher: Angus MacGregor Book
Source: New Shelves

 

 

 

Goodreads:  Ever have trouble getting your little one to settle down for bed? Relax-a-bye Baby is a painless bedtime guide as well as a fun and interactive approach to body relaxation and mindfulness. Think of this book as a useful bonding tool for parents and other caregivers. Let’s put an end to the bedtime frustration and embrace the wonders of bedtime – one child at a time.

Ope’s Opinioin: This is the perfect bed time book.  It relaxed my granddaughters and me too!!!  It has a nice rhythm to it.  I enjoyed reading it as much as the girls enjoy hearing it.  This is one of those books that I think I will passed down to the next generation.

emma and payton

These are the girls I get the privilege to read to.  Emma my five year old granddaughter asked her dad to read it at bed time.

Rating:  We all gave it a high five!

 

 

Come Back to Me

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Author: Melissa Foster
Publisher: World Library Press                       come back
Genre: Romance
Source: Kristin of Kritters Ramblings

 

 

Goodreads:  Tess Johnson has it all: her handsome photographer husband Beau, a thriving business, and a newly discovered pregnancy. When Beau accepts an overseas photography assignment, Tess decides to wait to reveal her secret—only she’s never given the chance. Beau’s helicopter crashes in the desert.

Tess struggles with the news of Beau’s death and tries to put her life back together. Alone and dealing with a pregnancy that only reminds her of what she has lost, Tess is adrift in a world of failed plans and fallen expectations. When a new client appears offering more than just a new project, Tess must confront the circumstances of her life head on.

Meanwhile, two Iraqi women who are fleeing honor killings find Beau barely alive in the middle of the desert, his body ravaged by the crash. Suha, a doctor, and Samira, a widow and mother of three young children, nurse him back to health in a makeshift tent. Beau bonds with the women and children, and together, with the help of an underground organization, they continue their dangerous escape.

What happens next is a test of loyalties, strength, and love.

Ope’s Opinion:  Oh, this book really drew me in and kept me on my toes while I was reading.  I could believe Tess’ story.  I felt like I was with her the whole way.  I did need a few tissues to make it through this read.  

I kept thinking about what else I wanted to tell you about the book, but I don’t want to spoil it. There are surprises along the way.

The ending is still something I am not sure about.  Would I have ended it that way? Still thinking about it….

Rating: 4 – I like this book so much I know several friends to share it with.