Life in Focus: a novella Review

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Life in Focus: a novella Review"Life in Focus" is a delightful read. From its artsy portrayal of small-town life to its delicate layers of Southern charm, you're left fulfilled, yet wanting more.
Ms. Jordan has made each of her characters relatable - Allison's anxiety about which direction to steer her life; her sister Lindsey's full-and-getting-bigger family; their mother's transition into Empty Nest Syndrome; her boss Nathan's habit of belittling Allie work; her best friend Jodi's undying but reality-dosed support; and Patrick's tender quest for the heart of the girl he loves. No matter where you are in your life, Ms. Jordan has a character who simultaneously feels your joy and pain.
The cover itself is a perfect illustration of the contents within: Often, we want to have our lives completely organized with a clear focus. Yet with its unpredictability, the picture usually turns out blurred and not what we expected or would have liked.
An easy yet heartfelt read, this book should be at the top of your reading list. So pour yourself a glass of sweet tea, take a seat on your quiet back porch, and dive in.Life in Focus: a novella Overview

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Baking Cakes in Kigali: A Novel Review

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Baking Cakes in Kigali: A Novel ReviewI picked up this book anticipating it would be the story of a tribal cakebaker and was pleasantly surprised to find it was set in modern day Rwanda, in a culture dealing with the restoration of the mess left behind by the horrors of genocide and struggling with the devastation of the AIDS epidemic. It is the story of a professor's wife in an apartment complex; a woman who is wise and compassionate, who hears stories and teaches lessons gained in her 50 years of living in an educated culture. She interacts with a variety of people: diplomats, prostitutes, single mothers, soldiers, neighbors; all needing cakes as their common thread, but all arriving at her doorstep with a different story. Many of their personal lives have been impacted by the war and it is shocking to realize what kinds of things people did to survive. Sure it touches on the typical womens issues: rape, abuse, prostitution, single parenting, even cutting. We don't think about the individual aspects and the personal stories of war and AIDS until they touch us personally. She too, has felt the impact as she is raising her children's children, as all were victims, and we watch her come to grips with that. She is a very real character, a great role model for older women in an enjoyable book.Baking Cakes in Kigali: A Novel Overview

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To Have and to Kill LP: A Wedding Cake Mystery (Wedding Cake Mysteries) Review

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To Have and to Kill LP: A Wedding Cake Mystery (Wedding Cake Mysteries) ReviewMary Jane Clark comes up with a great recipe for this murder mystery as the murderer certainly wasn't the one I thought it was !
Clark keeps the reader guessing as Piper, a struggling actress who is trying to get over a broken engagement and moves back in with her parents, to get her life back together joins in the family cake decorating/baking business. When she agrees to do the cake for a television star, life gets mighty interesting in the kitchen.
I liked the book; sure, it wasn't intense, but I read it for the sheer enjoyment of her writing style. The only thing that would have made the book even better would have been if Piper, the main character, and Jack (the handsome FBI Agent) had gotten together. They are friends, but if they had gotten together as a real couple in the end it would have been a nice ending.
My wife is anxious to try Piper's "Simple Buttercream Icing" recipe for the wedding cake that was included in the book. Also, I thought it was interesting that Piper was using Twitter -- looks like Clark is interested in showing that she's "with it" ! (smile)
An easy read because the chapters are short which enables readers to put it down and pick it back up. A good book that is enjoyable and will keep your interest.To Have and to Kill LP: A Wedding Cake Mystery (Wedding Cake Mysteries) Overview

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Flowers for Algernon Review

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Flowers for Algernon ReviewFlowers for Algernon is the story of a man named Charlie who works in a factory. Charlie was eligible to partake in an experiment which would make him smarter. He was deemed low-functioning when he was approached about participating in the study and the researchers assured him that undergoing the operation in conjunction with the study would improve his cognitive capacity threefold. What he did not know was what the long-term repercussions of having this operation would be and whether the results would be permanent or not. The entire story line parallels the experience of Algernon- the mouse who the experiment is performed on at first. As the reader, we see Charlie's rise and subsequent deterioration follow that of the mouse.
The story follows Charlie's journal entries from the time he was a man with an IQ of 68 approaching the operation, to when he becomes a practical genius, having tripled his initial IQ. The story resolves itself as the reader follows the disintegration of Charlie's intellect back to the base from where he started, with the potential to drop even lower.
I think that this book is perfect for middle school-aged children because of the variety of issues that it addresses-both scientific and psychosocial. After Charlie undergoes the operation and his intellectual capacity nears its peak, Charlie's awareness of his self and the way that others perceive him, and did perceive him when he was low-functioning, becomes apparent to him. Charlie realizes that his coworkers made fun of him and he grapples with his ability to stay at a place where he had been treated with such little respect before.
Reading the story with middle schoolers, lends itself to discussing issues of tolerance, acceptance, and inclusion. It creates a forum to talk about disabilities and how to treat people we encounter who have disabilities. It forces the children to examine the idea of inclusion versus isolation and what that means and how that can impact children who exhibit no disabilities at all. The story also calls on readers to be critical about their own situations-how they perceive themselves, and what their level of awareness and consciousness is with respect to their peers and the social dynamics of their communities.
The story is also a great book to read with middle schoolers in the technology era because it lends itself to creating interdisciplinary units. The book is perfect for bringing in issues of medical ethics. It's possible to discuss topics with students like cloaning and cryogenic freezing-even robotics and reconstructive surgery. When do we take science too far and when does it do more harm than good?
Finally, this book is a great means for studying literary devices-like symbolism, metaphor, etc. Overall, the book is timeless in its application to life because it will only grow increasingly relevant as technology continues to confront us with moral and ethical dilemmas. The lessons that it teaches young teenagers about acceptance and tolerance are also invaluable.Flowers for Algernon Overview

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The Search (Lancaster County Secrets) Review

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The Search (Lancaster County Secrets) ReviewI was curious about this series of books so when I read that Lit fuse was offering this one as a blog tour I put my name in and was lucky enough to be selected. I had submitted my name for one of the prior books but was not selected that time around to participate. It is interesting to get a peek into the lives of the Amish people. The only other fiction book I can recall reading recently about an Amish community was Jodi Picolt's Plain Truth. I enjoyed this book more than Plain Truth.
Fifteen year old Bess and her father Jonah live in Ohio in an Amish community. Jonah moved away from his father and mother after an accident between his buggy and a truck caused the death of his wife and a trial that put him in the spotlight which he was uncomfortable with. Bertha, his mother and Bess's grandmother, writes to ask that Bess come stay with her for the summer because she needs her help. It turns out there is more behind her request than might have been expected. Lainey has returned to Stoney Valley (??) after a fifteen year absence. Her mother and baby sister died fifteen years ago at the same time as the accident and her step-father disappeared so she was taken into foster care and has been working to save money to go to culinary school. Her car dies in town and she winds up with a job in a bakery and a room to rent so she stays, becoming friends with Bess and getting reacquainted with Bertha.
I really enjoyed seeing how these lives fit together and where they went from the beginning of the story to the end. It was also heartening how much the characters trusted in God for the paths that opened or closed in front of them. Lainey has some tough decisions to make based on things from the past that she trusted to God. Once I started reading I had a difficult time putting the book down. Even Bess at fifteen seemed to have more trust in her direction than many adults I've met.
One of the things Lainey notices about her Amish friends is that they accept each task for what it is and don't rush on to finish it, but value each for the worth it has. Bess shows Lainey how to wash sheets using a hand wringer. It is much harder than going to the Laundromat or using a washing machine at home, but instead of trying to hurry through this chore Bess accepts it and does it until she is done. So often I find myself rushing through something because I have more to do. Laundry for my family of 6 can be overwhelming and it seems I am always rushing to get all the chores done. I never really stop to appreciate each task for what it is. Maybe we as a non-Amish society would find more joy in things if we saw the value in them, doing laundry supplies your family with clean clothes and grocery shopping keeps your family from going hungry. That there really is a value to all the little things one does in a day.
The other thing I really noted in the book and thought was of value was how willing neighbors were to help each other out and to put their resources together for the good of the whole. Two characters get married in the story and the whole community pools there glasses and chairs and plates so there is enough for the celebration. So often people are unwilling or afraid to share with others, but these people valued each other more than their possessions and really connected with one another.The Search (Lancaster County Secrets) Overview

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Illinois Weddings (Romancing America) Review

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Illinois Weddings (Romancing America) ReviewIllinois Weddings is a joy to read. Following the lives of three generations of women in this three-in-one collection, Becky Melby and Cathy Wienke create characters that are both believable and likable. The first story describes Angel, the youngest of the women. Facing tremendous real-life challenges, she is an inspiration to those trying to find a Christian moral "compass" in today's society. Jeanie is highlighted in the second book, and her courage facing difficult past life choices is heartbreaking. The third book details Ruby's story, the feisty matriarch of the family who is trying to find her place in a changing world. All three stories offer redemption and forgiveness, and highlight God's ultimate grace in all situations. And, of course, there is plenty of tender romance peppered throughout the entire book.Illinois Weddings (Romancing America) Overview

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Reconsidering Happiness: A Novel (Flyover Fiction) Review

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Reconsidering Happiness: A Novel (Flyover Fiction) ReviewDon't look for a fast-paced story here because you won't find it. And that seems at least partly the point. These people--Vivette and Margaret, mostly, but also the men in their lives--are searching and constantly refining what it means to be happy. That's something that develops over time, and through scenes in a fractured timeline the reader gets the sense of that evolution. I love that these are not perfect people with great lives. They're pretty ordinary, and they're flawed, and that's what makes this book a really fascinating read. That and the beautiful language.Reconsidering Happiness: A Novel (Flyover Fiction) Overview

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The Fairy's Return (Princess Tales) Review

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The Fairy's Return (Princess Tales) ReviewThe Fairy's Return is a retelling of the golden goose story. Robin and Princess Lark love each other, but King Harrumphrey forbids their marriage. All seems lost until the fairy Ethelinda intervenes. This story is filled with subtle wit and plays on words. If you enjoy humor and fairy tales, read The Fairy's Return!The Fairy's Return (Princess Tales) Overview

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Fiscal Pear & Shimmer in The Call of River Whale Review

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Fiscal Pear & Shimmer in The Call of River Whale ReviewIn this adorable read we meet our two very interesting main characters, Fiscal Pear, who is of course a pear, but one who has grown arms and legs, and Shimmer, a lightning bug. Sounds like a strange duo? Hold on you haven't heard anything yet.
As we begin the story we are told of a little village that has several bakeries, The Bakery of Apples, The Bakery of Blueberries, the Bakery of Cherries, the Bakery of Peaches, and the Bakery of Pears. Everyday they make delicious bake good for the villagers, but there is one problem. The evil owner of the Bakery of Pears is not happy when all of her customers pass her by for the other Bakeries. What will this evil baker do?
She decides that something must be done and she gets in touch with the very evil, Butt Rott Root. The name alone should send shivers down your spine. This evil slimy thing teams up with, Cutter, his name describes him quite well, and devises a plan, that includes kidnapping Fiscal Pear, to put all the other Bakeries out of business. Now the adventure beings.
I have to say that our author has let her imagination go wild in this wonderful book, and the reader will be pulled into her world of fantasy. The storyline is quick moving, sure to keep any readers attention, and the characters are both good and evil, endearing and frightening. There is a hint of mystery as the story moves along, as all of your questions on just why Fiscal Pear has arms and legs, and what his purpose is in the world is is not answered, at least not in this book. Good touch. There is adventure, friendship, excitement all merging with just the right mix to make one enjoyable read.
I loved this book. It is definitely different, imaginative, and one that will hold your attention from beginning to end. Great book! Highly recommended.Fiscal Pear & Shimmer in The Call of River Whale Overview

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Heavenly Pleasures: A Corinna Chapman Mystery Review

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Heavenly Pleasures: A Corinna Chapman Mystery ReviewCorinna Chapman, former accountant now baker of bread, has a tendency to find herself in the midst of all kinds of problems, along with her lover, a former Israeli soldier and now private investigator in Melbourne. Things are never dull in the building where she lives and works.
First off are contaminated chocolates, laced with chili or soy sauce, from her friends' chocolate show. Who is trying to harm the women's business--and why? Then there is the self-styled messiah causing trouble with threats of Satanic evil. Then there is the mystery man who recently moved into the building. It's enough to keep a squad of detectives busy.
Best known for her Phryne Fisher series, the author introduced Ms. Chapman in "Earthly Delights", and now follows with a second installment. Perhaps not as eccentric as the Hon. Phryne Fisher, the baker, however, is more earthly and almost true to life. The novel is written in the same plain, simple style as the Fisher series, and is equally entertaining.Heavenly Pleasures: A Corinna Chapman Mystery Overview

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Cicada Review

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Cicada Review* Plot: Things definitely happen, although, perhaps timed a little off what they should be. Blair is a high school girl whose friends have all just graduated from high school, except she still has another year left. Everyone else is going through major life changes, especially when they all encounter a creature that appears to not be of this world. Her old friend Everett ends up being the most affected by this creature, and thus changes the most, and also makes some drastic changes to his future post-high school plans.
* Characters: Blair is a cute country girl from an inconsequential town in east Texas. Her brother, her grandfather, and her other male friends are so convincingly southern men--it's a hoot! I like Everett the best because he is different from everybody else, a nerd-boy who loves bugs and running into daunting situations head first without fear. He is super cute and I like that he gets to play the main hero character--not some popular jock boy. Although, he ends up going through some serious changes that left me, like Blair, a bit uncomfortable because I really liked Everett as the goofy, clumsy, silly guy.
* Writing: It's simple and effective. Nothing artful, but definitely decent. The southern YA voice was also really well done.
* Storytelling: I think the story could have benefited from starting a bit sooner. There is some back-story for a little while before anything important happens to start the plot. But, it does the job of helping us to get to know the characters. I really like the ambiance of the slow, hot, humid summer on an east Texas ranch, with cicadas whining and fireflies floating around under a blanket of twinkling stars. Very relaxing. It was easy to hear the characters speaking with their southern drawls. I love Blair's mother's rhymes as she spoke in rhymes all the time. It was quaint and sweet. "My Blair with the dark brown hair," things like that. It seems accurate as to what I know of real people from that region, particularly mothers.
* Overall Quality: Pretty decent and very compelling in parts. I would have liked more information on the inhuman element in the story and why it was around them, why it had been hiding for several years, where it came from, who were its enemies, and how all of that tied into the death of Blair's father and brother (which had already happened prior to the story). I like when I'm more in-the-know than not, but it doesn't mean it's a flaw, as it's so common in literature these days to keep things uber mysterious. Everett was such a neat character, in my personal estimation, he made me want to keep on reading, especially to see where his relationship with Blair would go.
* Favorite Moment/Scene: When the non-human life form Blair and her friends had discovered started to emerge from its pod. I thought Everett's reaction upon seeing it was very interesting and memorable. (He kind of freaked out!) What the life form resembled was also pretty shocking.
* My Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars.
*I received this title as a complementary copy in exchange for my honest review.Cicada Overview

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The Icing on the Cake (True Vows) Review

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The Icing on the Cake (True Vows) Review"The Icing on the Cake" is the delightfully romantic new novel from Alison Kent. I adore Alison Kent's novels. They're fun, flirty, sincere and oh-so-romantic. When I read that Alison was actually writing the first reality-based romance novel, I was intrigued, but not necessarily in a good way. I don't really care for reality TV and knowing that the characters I was reading about are actual people? Not my first choice in a novel, but I had faith in Alison's writing so in I went... And there I stayed. Each chapter starts with one of the cupcake descriptions that Michelle and Todd actually use in their cupcakery. Delicious, tantalizing names and flavors met me with each turn in the story. Oh, how I wished I lived in Washington, D.C. rather than Central Ohio! But Todd's from Central Ohio and it was a treat seeing my hometown featured during several scenes. Details like that drew me in and kept me reading.
Honestly, it took me a lot longer to finish the book than I expected. I'm a voracious reader and while Alison's writing and the story progression kept me hooked, real life (I'm mom to three kids, six and under) got in the way. I realized that if it weren't for Alison's fantastic writing, I would still be working my way through the book instead of hiding under the covers with a flashlight at night so I don't wake anyone up. But flashlight in hand, I loved reading this sweet romance.
And the "eh" feeling about reading a story based on real people? Gone. Every romance has a Happily Ever After ending and it was a pleasure to read about how two regular people can find an extraordinary connection that's real. Like FOR REAL. Not all Happily Ever Afters start with flashes and bangs and loud choruses of angels announcing the Fall In Love moment. Many start - and stay - just as Michelle and Todd started their story... with friendship, taking a chance, and seeing where life leads.
The only thing that would make this book better would be to have one of Michelle and Todd's cupcakes included. :)The Icing on the Cake (True Vows) Overview

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Grace In Autumn (Heavenly Daze Series #2) Review

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Grace In Autumn (Heavenly Daze Series #2) ReviewWhen I started to read the first book in this series, The Island of Heavenly Daze, I was, honestly, a little worried it would be "too religious" for me. That wasn't the case and I thought it was a sweet book but nothing overwhelming. Only because I already had the second in the series, Grace in Autumn, I read it too. And now I'm totally hooked on the characters and the little quirky Maine island! I'm eager to find out more about what's happening in their lives and if anyone will figure out who the angels are. Don't be put off by the spiritual aspect of these books - they are sweet, funny and uplifting no matter what your beliefs are.Grace In Autumn (Heavenly Daze Series #2) Overview

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Pie Review

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Pie ReviewPolly Portman owned a pie shop called --- what else? --- "Pie" in the very small town of Ipswitch, Pennsylvania. Alice spent many happy hours with her Aunt Polly at the shop, keeping her company, being an extra pair of hands, and learning a lot about the art and science of pie making in the process. What was most unusual about the shop was that Polly never charged for her pies. She just could not bring herself to accept money for doing what she loved to do --- bake delicious pies and give them away to anyone who wanted one. Fresh fruit, cartons of eggs, bags of flour, and other pie ingredients mysteriously appeared each morning on Polly's doorstep, and those gifts were turned into wonderful pies with crusts that were amazingly delicious.
A reporter for the local newspaper wrote an article about Polly and her pies. When the Associated Press printed the story, Polly and her pies became famous overnight, and folks came from all over the country for the delectable treats. All the local pie bakers wanted to know the recipe for Polly's pie crust, which had won her many, many awards, called Blueberries, but that recipe was the one and only thing that Polly refused to share.
When Polly quietly died in her sleep, the residents of Ipswitch were saddened to lose such a good friend. No one was sadder than Alice, who dearly loved her aunt. In her will, Polly actually left her secret pie crust recipe to her very huge and very unfriendly white cat, Lardo. And she left Lardo to Alice.
Confusion reigned, and it turned the little town upside down. Someone broke into the pie shop and vandalized it while searching for the recipe. The recipe simply had to be somewhere. How could a cat own a pie crust recipe? People even wondered if it was written on Lardo's huge belly. Alice's father was highly allergic to cats, and Alice's mother was threatening to take Lardo to the pound. Then Lardo disappeared, and Alice feared he had been catnapped. The little tourist industry that had grown up around Polly's famous pies was losing business since Polly was gone and the shop was shuttered. Now just about every woman in town was baking pies, hoping to finally have a chance to win the coveted Blueberry medal that Polly had easily won 13 years in a row.
This mystery moves along fairly quickly, and the book is filled with interesting characters like the bodybuilding spinster principal of Alice's school, the publicity-driven mayor, and Charlie, Alice's inquisitive friend who wants to help her solve the mystery. In addition to being an entertaining story, each chapter begins with the recipe of a delicious pie, from buttermilk to raspberry peanut butter and many others. Some lucky readers who are pie lovers may be able to convince a mother, grandmother, or kindly aunt to bake a pie using one of Polly's recipes. But be advised that the pie crust recipe is not included.
Reviewed by Carole TurnerPie Overview

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Dress Rehearsal Review

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Dress Rehearsal ReviewLauren is the Vera Wang of wedding cake design. She owns a hip boutique and has an uncanny knack for determining a couples' potential for staying together based on the cake that they choose. Her best friend after all chose the wrong cake and ultimately the wrong groom. When her other close friend makes a near disastrous decision, it is up to Lauren to rescue her from making the same mistake.
Enter ex-boyfriend Neil. He and his fiance show up at her boutique and he chooses the cake that Lauren has already determined will be her cake. Did she make a mistake eight years ago when she sent Neil packing? Despite being in the early throes of a new relationship with marriage-shy divorce lawyer Charlie (who she has so much in common with, including clients), Lauren entertains the idea of pursuing a relationship with Neil before he ties the knot. At the same time, she is trying to launch a wedding cake book, set her friend Paige up with a more appropriate guy, deal with a temperamental head cook, and determine if happily ever after means marriage.
Witty and insightful, I thoroughly enjoyed the book, except for that ambiguous ending. It just seemed to be missing something!Dress Rehearsal Overview

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Resisting Mr. Tall, Dark & Texan (Harlequin Special Edition) Review

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Resisting Mr. Tall, Dark & Texan (Harlequin Special Edition) ReviewWhat a wonderful story this is!! That magic town of Thunder Creek MT is having a growth spurt and it seems to be lots of Texans.. Several are from Traub Oil!
Ethan is going to try shale oil. He wants to be the first in some years in this family to be an old fashioned oil tycoon. He has an assistant, Lizzie Landry, who takes care of both his business and his personal lives well too. She wants to stay in Midland TX and open a bakery--it's been her dream to create the bakery her parents had. She had a wonderful life with her parents in the bakery. Her parents, mother was a french woman and great baker, are gone and she hopes to create that special feeling again. She plans to stay in Midland while Ethan goes to Montana to have his dream too.
Lizzie has worked for Ethan for 5 years now and made his life the best. She even takes care of his lovers who stay overnight with him. She's been telling Ethan of her plans for some time now but he talks her into going to Thunder Creek with him but she gives him a time limit then she's returning to Midland.
When Lizzie & Ethan arrive in Thunder Creek she's got a nice home leased for them with all the particles taken care of--Ethan doesn't have a thing to worry about but business! They've also got a wedding to go to! Ethan's brother is marrying a local woman and settling in Thunder Creek. The local bakery is going to bake the wedding cake but it seems the owner has left town with the money for a cake and only 1 week before the wedding. Lizzie comes to the rescue by baking the cake. She's always been part of the Traub family get-together's and here in Montana she's also getting close to many of the locals.
Lizzie has always loved Ethan but never thought of herself as his girlfriend material. This move has made both aware of each other in that special way. This is the story of how they find their happy ever after. I sure enjoyed finding out!Resisting Mr. Tall, Dark & Texan (Harlequin Special Edition) Overview

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Bread Alone: A Novel Review

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Bread Alone: A Novel Review
I'm glad this little book found me, as I was hungry to read something of quality.
Wynter Morrison is a woman adrift. She's been cut loose from her secure mooring by a wayward husband (a jerk of the first water) and she's unsure what comes next. Forced from her home in an upscale LA neighborhood, Wynter finds herself on a plane to Seattle to visit her childhood friend, CM.
On her trip, Wynter discovers a small neighborhood bakery complete with an odd cast of characters. When the bottom drops out from her LA world, she relocates to Seattle and starts to work at the bakery. The routine of bread making in the middle of the night soothes her and gives her direction.
It's been a long time since I've read such a well crafted first novel. I loved the characters...flaws and all...and I loved Hendricks' detailed description of the process of bread making...
This is an author to watch...
Enjoy!Bread Alone: A Novel Overview

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Rose Hill (Rose Hill Mystery Series) Review

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Rose Hill (Rose Hill Mystery Series) ReviewIt all begins in the small town of Rose Hill. This is your average small town, where everybody knows everybody else, as well as everybody else's business. When the town's rich bully is murdered, however, everyone's dirty little secrets are revealed. In a town where everyone is not what they seem, Rose Hill's chief of police Scott Gordon must wade through all the gossip to get to the truth and solve the murder.
Huge praise for Pamela Grandstaff! This book reminded me so much of Jan Karon's Mitford series. We have this small town, where all the characters are so realistic and the town is so alive, that you feel like you actually live there and know these people. The major difference between Rose Hill and Mitford is that here we have a murder mystery to solve. It's so much fun getting to meet everybody and then getting to read all about the skeletons in their closets! The women are mouthy and the men are well-trained. Bravo!
In the background we have a budding romance between Maggie, the town bookstore owner, and Scott, the chief of police. Too bad Scott's a mama's boy and Maggie has commitment issues. In the midst of this great mystery and all the wonderful small-town closeness, we get to feel this wonderfully tense energy coming from these two characters.
Every once in awhile I read a book that I just have to share with everyone I know. This is that book! I love the descriptions, the town, the characters, the intrigue, the romance, and the tension! The only problem I have is that I don't want to way until 2009 for Morning Glory Circle , the second book in the Rose Hill mystery series, to come out. Pamela is currently working on the third book, Iris Avenue.
Go to the Rose Hill mystery website for valuable information about self-publishing.
Armchair Interviews says: What a good deal-being compared to Jan Karon's Mitford series.Rose Hill (Rose Hill Mystery Series) OverviewNestled at the foot of Pine Mountain, Rose Hill has one traffic light, one patrol car, and one cold-blooded killer. When rich and rotten Theo Eldridge is found bludgeoned to death in the local veterinary clinic, Rose Hill police chief Scott Gordon is forced to work with ambitious county investigator Sarah Albright. Unfortunately Sarah seems more interested in seducing Scott than in solving the crime. Scott's crazy about Maggie Fitzpatrick, but she's still grieving over the mysterious disappearance of the love of her life. Although determined to resist the powerful chemistry between them, Maggie finds herself deeply involved with Scott's investigation, and battling emotions she can no longer deny. It's a bitterly cold January in Rose Hill. As Scott and Maggie untangle the sticky web of Theo's shady business dealings, they uncover dark secrets that may connect Theo's murder to another committed twenty years before.

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The Baker's Daughter: A Novel Review

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The Baker's Daughter: A Novel ReviewElsie Schmidt is 16 years old and the youngest daughter of a baker in Garmisch Germany. The year is 1944 and the Third Reich and Hitler rule Germany. While war is everywhere Elsie and her family are kept safe by an older well connected soldier who has feelings for Elsie. Her older sister,Hazel, was engaged to another soldier and has a son from that relationship. She now lives and has children in the Lebensborn program, imagine a sanctioned place for sex to create a perfect Aryan nation, she has also had twins.
One Christmas Eve changes everything for Elsie. She went to the first adult party and dance of her life, and while she should have been enjoying her new dress and date, the evening was marred by the actions of a brutal Nazi officer. Elsie returned home very shaken up that night, an engagement ring on her finger, and she discovered a shocking surprise behind her home..........
In El Paso TX Reba Adams is a journalist searching a unique twist on a Christmas feature she's writing. The year is 2007. Her search for traditions around the world lead her to Elsie's German Bakery. Reba feels her own life is upside down. She's engaged to Riki, a border patrol officer, she's running from her own family past, and she's certain El Paso is not where she wants to settle. Reba finds much more than her story when she meets Elsie and her daughter Jane.
This book is really the story of Elsie and Reba, two young women, separated by 63 years, but facing similar life altering choices in their lives. I fell in love with Elsie immediately, her heart so pure, so honest and always thinking of her family and how each move she makes will impact them. She grows up so quickly, because of the war, because of her situation, and her childhood is over. She adores her parents, and she keeps their traditions and the art of baking close to her.
Loving Reba was only a little harder. Her young life wasn't easy, and she didn't have that strong family support system to lift her up. I think I wanted her to question her life with Riki less, but of course Sarah McCoy knows how to weave this story, and I should never have doubted her.
Trying to give a synopsis of this book is not easy, and yet I want to put it into my own words. Simply put this book is beautiful and heart breaking. The back and forth in the story is done so very well. I was excited to read each story, anxious to see how they would progress, and eventually intertwine. The historical research is accurate and so strikingly frightening. I must say this second novel far exceeded my expectations, I won't soon forget these characters and their story.
I've given this book 4.5 out of 5 stars, and if you love history, love stories, or a story of love over hate, this book will stir in your heart for a long time.The Baker's Daughter: A Novel Overview

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A New Dream Review

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A New Dream ReviewA New Dream by Elaine Cantrell is a good read. It is a clean read but does make references to sex.
What do you do when your dreams are suddenly gone? Local football hero and NFL kicker Matt McCallum finds himself in this quandary. Matt wakes up in the hospital with a mangled left leg and a amputated right. His fiancée has left him and his career as a kicker is over. As they say, when one door closes another opens. This story is about Matt's journey to redefine himself with a little help from a local good girl named Violet Emerson. If only it were that easy - as Matt begins to excel in his new life his ex fiancée returns claiming they have a child together. Matt and Violet now have to see if they can make it through these obstacles placed before them. Can they forgive each other and heal their relationship?
My main complaint with this story is that Stacey (the ex) doesn't end up having any negative consequences from all bad choices. She is just evil. For me personally she should have had to face some major consequences for her deceit and shallowness. For this reason I could not give this story 5 stars.A New Dream OverviewAfter an auto accident destroys his pro-football career, Matt McCallum struggles to find a new dream for his life, but nothing engages him the way football did. After a stint in rehab, he takes a job managing a grocery store where he meets Violet Emerson.Violet works in the bakery department, but her dreams carry her far beyond the doors of Chef's Pantry. As soon as she can save the money, she plans to open a catering business. And she thinks the new manager's broad shoulders and blue eyes are simply divine.Thrown together at work, Matt and Violet find a common dream for their lives, but a loose end from Matt's past returns to jeopardize their future. Will love be enough to save their new dream before it turns into a nightmare?

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