The Bookshop on the Corner

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bookshop

Author: Jenny Colgan
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Genre: Fiction
Source: William Morrow

 

Goodreads:  Nina Redmond is a literary matchmaker. Pairing a reader with that perfect book is her passion… and also her job. Or at least it was. Until yesterday, she was a librarian in the hectic city. But now the job she loved is no more.

Determined to make a new life for herself, Nina moves to a sleepy village many miles away. There she buys a van and transforms it into a bookmobile—a mobile bookshop that she drives from neighborhood to neighborhood, changing one life after another with the power of storytelling.

From helping her grumpy landlord deliver a lamb, to sharing picnics with a charming train conductor who serenades her with poetry, Nina discovers there’s plenty of adventure, magic, and soul in a place that’s beginning to feel like home… a place where she just might be able to write her own happy ending.

Ope’s Opinion: I read this on the plane on the way to Seattle.  It was such a nice relaxing, easy read.  Nina ( the main character ) started out in a bad place and I was afraid the whole book was going to be negative – just the opposite.  It was a very uplifting, positive book.

This book was set in Scotland, so if that appeals to you, you would really enjoy this book.  She talks about the landscape and places she goes, so if you are familiar with it, you would connect with this book.

I,( like Nina ), love to find “homes” for my books ( I do not sell them ).  After I read a book I enjoy finding someone I know who would enjoy it.  I think that would be such a great job!  The romance of the book was fun and not explicit, so I really enjoyed that part too.  Overall, a good book.

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Create N Take Class

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My daughter Jennifer has a store in Berryville, VA called Create N Take that teaches arts and craft classes. On Saturday we took this class on how to make a wreath from coffee filters and look how it turned out!!

wreath

I am like the least crafty, creative person and I did this!!
If I can do it, anyone can!!
Come try her other classes.

class

This is an amazing way to learn new things.
Here is the link to her website with all the classes.

Waiting On You

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waiting

Author: Kristan Higgins
Publisher: Harlequin HQN
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source:  Kristin of Kritters Ramblings

Goodreads:  Does being nobody’s fool mean that you’re nobody’s love?

Colleen O’Rourke is in love with love… just not when it comes to herself. Most nights, she can be found behind the bar at the Manningsport, New York, tavern she owns with her twin brother, doling out romantic advice to the lovelorn, mixing martinis and staying more or less happily single. See, ten years ago, Lucas Campbell, her first love, broke her heart… an experience Colleen doesn’t want to have again, thanks. Since then, she’s been happy with a fling here and there, some elite-level flirting and playing matchmaker to her friends.

But a family emergency has brought Lucas back to town, handsome as ever and still the only man who’s ever been able to crack her defenses. Seems like maybe they’ve got some unfinished business waiting for them—but to find out, Colleen has to let her guard down, or risk losing a second chance with the only man she’s ever loved.

Ope’s Opinion:  I started reading this before I went on my vacation to the beach and finished it while I was there. It was the perfect book for this vacation.  Since I read Blue Heron one and two, picking up three was easy to get into.  It was fun to see where all the characters are now. 

Colleen’s story was a fun one to read. I enjoyed reading about her Lucas.  They had a long complicated love story.  Seeing their second chance at love melted my heart.

The ending was exactly what I expected and what I wanted.  I am looking forward to the next one that Kristan Higgins writes. 

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Gridley Girls

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gridley girls

Author: Meredith First
Publisher: Sparkpress
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Source: Kristin of Kritters Ramblings

Goodreads:  Sometimes you have to go back before you can move forward. Meg Monahan was born to be a secret keeper. From the moment she became a peer counselor in high school, Meg has been keeping her friends secrets from sordid family drama to their sex lives that she never wanted to know. Flash forward to adulthood when Meg is a recruiter for the world s hippest (and most paranoid) high-tech company and now Meg is a professional secret keeper. When sudden tragedy strikes before Meg hosts the wedding of her childhood BFF, Anne Calzaretta, the women are forced to face their past and their secrets in order to move on to their future. In 1978, Meg, Anne, Jennifer, and Tonya were such close friends, they were known as The Group in their hometown of Gridley, California. But in ninth grade, their lives were changed forever. Loss, lies, and secrets separated them, but could not break their bonds of friendship. Thirty years later, Meg and Anne reminisce about those days dealing with parents, school, boys, sex, love, and betrayal. Anne remembers their freshman year as an easier time, but Meg, still feeling guilty about a betrayal of Anne s trust, is haunted. Even now, Meg is keeping a secret she s not prepared to face, let alone share. In her debut novel, based on true events, Meredith First tells a timeless story about the bonds of friendship, loss, and betrayal and the forgiveness that is within everyone. Can anyone really keep a secret forever?”

Ope’s Opinion:  I enjoyed this book.  I liked the flip from present to past.  It was a great to way to learn about the past and understand how each character got to where they are in the present. 

It was fun to hear the songs that brought to mind Meg’s events from the past.  Songs always take me to places I have been.

I moved so much of my school years, so I did not have “the group” that these girls did, but it was fun to read about their relationships.

I would be interested in another book by Meredith First.

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Swept Away

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swept away

Author: Robyn Carr
Publisher: Mira
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source:  Lisa Wray of HarperCollins

Goodreads:  The emotional story of a young woman’s journey as she leaves behind all the things she thought she wanted only to discover who she really is. #1 New York Times bestselling author ROBYN CARR explores the challenges facing women today as they are valued for what’s on the outside rather than the inside.

Jennifer Chaise is proud of her life. Coming from nothing, she’s used her beauty to her advantage and is swept up in a glamorous world of wealth and privilege as the mistress of a high-flying businessman. But when she walks in on a violent scene in their Las Vegas hotel room, Jennifer knows she can no longer ignore the truth about her boyfriend and she flees. Desperate to escape the men searching for her, she invents a whole new persona—with a new look and a new name—as she hides out in a small Nevada town.

Working as a waitress in the local diner, she finds a mentor in Louise, a retired professor who takes her in. As Jennifer begins to embrace a new life, she realizes how much was missing from her old one: a sense of community and purpose… But it’s not easy to simply disappear. Her neighbor Alex is a cop, and while he’s friendly enough, he may also suspect that Jennifer is not what she seems.

Although she is under constant threat of being discovered, Jennifer is surprised to realize that, for the first time, she’s genuinely happy. Suddenly this real world is all she wants. But will it be enough when her past catches up with her?

Ope’s Opinion:  If you like Robyn Carr’s books you will definitely like this one.  This is a very different one then I am used to her writing, but done just as well.

It took me a little while to really like and understand Jennifer.  Her choice of life style ( dating married men ) made it hard to relate to her at first.  Seeing her struggles when she was young helped me to understand her more.

There was one intimate scene, I could have lived without.  If you took it out, the rest of the book would have been fine.  I understand that was put in there for the romance readers that enjoy it – just not necessary for me.

The ending was predictable – which is part of Robyn Carr’s charm in her books.

44727-3chairs

Our Chemical Hearts

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our chemical hearts

Author: Krystal Sutherland
Publisher: Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
Genre: Contemporary Young Adult
Source: BEA 2016

 

 

Goodreads:  John Green meets Rainbow Rowell in this irresistible story of first love, broken hearts, and the golden seams that put them back together again.

Henry Page has never been in love. He fancies himself a hopeless romantic, but the slo-mo, heart palpitating, can’t-eat-can’t-sleep kind of love that he’s been hoping for just hasn’t been in the cards for him—at least not yet. Instead, he’s been happy to focus on his grades, on getting into a semi-decent college and finally becoming editor of his school newspaper. Then Grace Town walks into his first period class on the third Tuesday of senior year and he knows everything’s about to change.

Grace isn’t who Henry pictured as his dream girl—she walks with a cane, wears oversized boys’ clothes, and rarely seems to shower. But when Grace and Henry are both chosen to edit the school paper, he quickly finds himself falling for her. It’s obvious there’s something broken about Grace, but it seems to make her even more beautiful to Henry, and he wants nothing more than to help her put the pieces back together again. And yet, this isn’t your average story of boy meets girl. Krystal Sutherland’s brilliant debut is equal parts wit and heartbreak, a potent reminder of the bittersweet bliss that is first love.

Ope’s Opinion:  It took me a little while to get interested in where this book was going to go.  These characters are interestingly weird.  It was good to read a story from a teenage boys perspective, usually books are written with the female as the main character.  I liked it for a change of reading.

The secrets that were revealed were some what of a surprise and maybe a little unrealistic ( not that all books have to be realistic ).  Murray’s Australian words and accent were sort of annoying.

It may sound strange, but the ending was my favorite part.  It felt realistic and was a nice change from the traditional endings.

44727-3chairs

The Good Dog and the Bad Cat

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Author: Todd Kessler, Jennifer Gray Olson               good dog - bad cat
Publisher: Coralstone
Genre: Children’s Book
Source:  BEA 2016

 

 

 

Goodreads:  A mysterious thief is stealing from the Lee family household and bakery and it’s up to little puppy Tako to catch the culprit. Tako succeeds in exposing Allie, a feisty cat, but when she gets thrown out of the house Tako begins to have second thoughts about the consequences of his actions. Tako may be the only one who can uncover the truth, but to do so he will have to fight the vicious river rats and learn there may be more to the mischievous cat than what meets the eye.

me with emma and bad cat

Ope’s Opinion:  It was fun to read this to Emma.  At first she did not realize the cat was the one taking things, then she did not realize what the cat was doing with the things.  It was fun to watch her realize what was going on.

Emma’s Opinion:  Emma worried about where the cat was when it wasn’t staying at the house with Tako.  Emma has a big heart and doesn’t want anyone hurt.  She did give this one her five finger seal of approval!   hand

 

 

 

 

 

good dog with emma

 

 

 

 

Don’t Tempt Me

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don't tempt

Author: Lori Foster
Publisher: HQN Books
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source:  BEA 2016

 

Goodreads:  Love comes along when it’s least wanted 

Jason Guthrie has no time for entanglements—between helping out his widowed brother and teenage nephew and getting his hometown back on its feet, his days are spoken for. But his nights are another story… And when his lovely new neighbor, Honor Brown, reluctantly accepts his help in remodeling her house, Jason finds himself wishing his handyman skills could knock down the defenses she keeps building around herself.

Martial arts teacher Sullivan Dean knows real danger when he sees it—even when it takes the form of the gorgeous blonde helping her friend move in across the street. After putting his wayward past behind him to focus on teaching control to troubled kids, Sullivan has learned to avoid party girls like Lexie Perkins. But Sullivan can’t seem to keep his hands off the real woman behind that flirty charm—or keep his heart from landing at her feet…

Ope’s Opinion:  I love how independent Honor is.  I like stories of strong women, they are encouraging and set good examples.  The renovations on the house was my favorite part of the story.  The constant explicit sex scenes  was my least favorite part of the story.  I know this book is in the romance genre, so I expected some intimate relationships, but this just seemed to be too much of the focus for me. 

I did like how Jason, his brother and his nephew helped Honor from the minute she moved into the house next door.  They were really good neighbors to her, became friends and quickly moved the relationship on from there.

Lexie was a good friend to Honor, but her idea of relationships with men was way off for me.  I wish she had more respect for herself and higher standards.

If you are a fan of Lori Foster you will probably love this book.

44727-3chairs

Coming Soon…

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…. On a Bookshelf near you!

In September I hope to read….

the life she wants

Publication Date:  September 27, 2016
Publisher:  MIRA

Goodreads:  #1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr creates an emotional and uplifting ensemble of characters in this rags-to-riches-to-rags novel about women, friendship and the complex path to happiness 

In the aftermath of her financier husband’s suicide, Emma Shay Compton’s dream life is shattered. Richard Compton stole his clients’ life savings to fund a lavish life in New York City and, although she was never involved in the business, Emma bears the burden of her husband’s crimes. She is left with nothing.

Only one friend stands by her, a friend she’s known since high school, who encourages her to come home to Sonoma County. But starting over isn’t easy and Sonoma is full of unhappy memories, too. And people she’d rather not face, especially Riley Kerrigan.

Riley and Emma were like sisters—until Riley betrayed Emma, ending their friendship. Emma left town, planning to never look back. Now, trying to stand on her own two feet, Emma can’t escape her husband’s reputation and is forced to turn to the last person she thought she’d ever ask for help—her former best friend. It’s an uneasy reunion as both women face the mistakes they’ve made over the years. Only if they find a way to forgive each other…and themselves…can each of them find the life she wants.

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

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