2019 Challenges

Outdo Myself Challenge

Where Have I Read?

2019 First Book

2019 Catch Up Thoughts

Rosewood Bay Series -  Fearless, Breathe and Freed by Carly Phillips (audios)

#1Fearless - Great start to a new series, Angela Dawe narrates.  #2Breathe - Second chance story narrated by Angela Dawe. #3 Fearless - A body guard begins to fall in love with client. Angela Dawe narrates. 

My Ex-Best Friend's Wedding by Wendy Wax

A fun story centered around a wedding dress. Kendra and Lauren are close until Lauren learns the secret her mother has kept. Lauren and Brianna were best of friends until Lauren felt betrayed. Brianna has her own feelings of betrayal.  A great story of second chances.

The Lemon Sisters by Jill Shalvis #3

Two sisters have lost touch with each other, both at a crossroads with decisions to be made. Brooke agrees to help out Mindy for a few days. She ends up back in her home town, the last place she thought she would return. Brooke faces her past and Mindy contemplates her future. Will they figure it out while restoring their relationship? A great read!

The Summer of Sunshine and Margot by Susan Mallery

Margot and Sunshine are determined not to follow in their family's footsteps. They twins but are the opposite of each other, and root for each other's success. Their stories are delightful and full of great secondary characters.

Things You Save In A Fire by Katherine Center

Cassie has worked hard to get where she is as a fire fighter. She receives an award and is being looked at for promotion. The presenter of the award cause Cassie to make a decision that changes the course of her life. Estranged from her mother Cassie is asked to help her out for a year. Cassie has no choice but to go to Boston and help her mother out and take a job at a small fire department. Cassie has not idea how her life will change in the coming months. A great story of starting over, reconciliation and forgiveness.

Deadfall by Linda Fairstein (audio) #19

Alexandra, Mike and Mercer have all suffered since their last case.  There is no time to rest and recover as they need to figure out who killed their mentor and set up Alex. Brilliantly narrated by Barbara Rosenblat

Her Last Goodbye by  Melina Leigh #2

Morgan Dane knows there is more to a young mother's disappearance than what everyone else things.  She investigates with the help of PI Lance Kruger.

Honeysuckle Summer by Sherryl Woods #7

An enjoyable story of a small town and its characters that tackle some serious issues.

The Fifth Doctrine by Karen Robards #3 (audio

Julia Whelan narrates this fast paced, action packed showdown between Bianca and those who trained her.

Rogue Spy by Joanna Bourne #5

Enjoyable story with two great characters. I did not realize it was the 5th book in the series and felt I was missing the background of relationships between the characters. 

Tuesday Intro/Teaser

 

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros is a weekly meme hosted by Vicki of I'd Rather Be At The Beach every Tuesday. To participate share the opening paragraph or two of a book you've decided to read based on that paragraph. Please feel free to join in, First Chapter~First Paragraph~Tuesday Intros.

He needed killing. She'd researched, studied, planned the who, when, how and why for more than a year, and had chosen Nigel B. McEnroy to be the first. At forty-three, he had a wife of eleven years, two children - both girls ages nine and six. He had, over the course of eighteen years, built his own executive headhunting business with two partners. As CEO of Perfect Placement, he oversaw recruitment both on and off planet.


Vendetta In Death by J.D. Robb #49

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Ambrosia of The Purple Booker

She kept him alive as long as she could, and when it was done, when he hung limp and silent, she let out a long sigh. So. Justice is served.


Happy New Year!

November and December Wrap-Up

Titles Read:

November: 11
A Wedding in December by Sarah Morgan
An Alaskan Christmas by Jennifer Snow
Been There, Married That by Gigi Levangie
Coming Home For Christmas by RaeAnne Thayne
Shadow and Ice by Gena Showalter
Someone To Remember by Mary Balogh
Sunny Chandler Returns by Sandra Brown
Sunrise Point by Robyn Carr
The Other Side of Murder by Anna Lee Huber
The Scoundrel in Her Bed by Lorraine Heath (audio)
This Lie Will Kill You by Chelsea Pitcher

December: 6
All I Want For Christmas Is You by Miranda Liasson
Mister by E.L. James
Summer of ’69 by Elin Hilderbrand
The Christmas Keeper by Jenny McKinlay
The Princess Plan by Juila London
Wolf Rain by Nalini Singh

YTD: 123

Weekly Reading Wrap Up AND Year In Review 2019

All I Want For Christmas by Miranda Liasson #3

Things got a little carried away at a friend's wedding and Kaitlyn ends up pregnant.  Just when she decided that her long time crush on good friend Rafe is never going anywhere too.  Rafe suffered a horrible loss years ago and never want to place himself in that kind of position again.  Despite being afraid he is ready to step up and be a dad. After the big announcement to the family Rafe's grandma is so happy they are engaged.  They continue the charade for her benefit, but she is anything but senile.  Will their "pretend" engagement lead Rafe to discover that he can risk his heart again?  A fun Christmas read.

The Christmas Keeper by Jenn McKinlay #2

Savannah lost her job because of a scheming co-worker.  She is determined to get it back and restore her reputation.  She is staying with her good friend Maisey helping her get her new bookstore up and running.  Mutual friend Joaquin is falling for her, but Savannah is resisting because her plans to return to New York.  He is persistent and she just can't continue to resist. When things begin to go her way will she decide to return to NY and get her revenge, or stay in town and give this relationship a chance?  Heartwarming Christmas read.

Up Next:
Vendetta In Death by J.D. Robb
All Fired Up by Lori Foster


Kathryn at Book Date hosts IMWAYR?, a place to  meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week.  It's a great opportunity to organize yourself, visit, comment, and add to that every growing TBR pile.

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received.








YEAR IN REVIEW:

This was the slowest reading year for me in a long, long time. It was also a year of physical issues that prevented reading as much as I would have liked. 2020 is a milestone year for me, I will celebrate 40 years of marriage and turn 60. Despite the physical limitations of last year, it was a year full of blessings. We welcomed grandson Max in May. Our two sons bought new homes in July and December. 

Total Read: 123

Fiction - 117
Non Fiction - 6
Audio - 23
Young Adult - 2
Men - 11
Women - 84
New to Me Authors - 22
Shortest book - 154 - Releasing Emotional Patterns with Essential Oils by Caroline Mein
Longest Book -  688 - After We Collided by Anna Todd
Oldest Book -  1987 Sunny Chandler's Return by Sandra Brown
Longest Audio -  55 hours The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon
Shortest Audio - 4 hours  Freed by Carley Phillips

Stand Alone Books - 37, the rest were series books

Where I Read:  30 of 50 States, Australia, Canada, Dominican Republic, England, France, North Korea, Scotland

Genres: 10 with the most in suspense/thriller, romance and contemporary

First Book of 2019                                                Last Book of 2019

I am not picking any favorites for the year.

First Book of 2020 - Vendetta In Death by J.D. Robb


Happy New Year!!

Tuesday Intro/Teaser

 

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros is a weekly meme hosted by Vicki of I'd Rather Be At The Beach every Tuesday. To participate share the opening paragraph or two of a book you've decided to read based on that paragraph. Please feel free to join in, First Chapter~First Paragraph~Tuesday Intros.

A lot of women want the world to see them a certain way. It's my job to create those transformations, one forty-five-minute session at a time. My clients seem different when I've finished helping them. They grow more confident, radiant. Happier, even. But I can only offer a temporary fix. People invariably revert to their former selves. True change requires more than the tools I wield.


An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Ambrosia of The Purple Booker

Remember the rules:  Be open and truthful, and avoid pivoting away from any embarrassment or pain these questions provoke. If this initial query, which is relatively mild, unsettles you, then you might be one of the women who wash out of the study.

Weekly Reading Wrap-Up (SP/IMWAYR?)

Summer of '69 by Elin Hilderbrand

It is the Summer of '69 and the Levin family is in for some changes. Blair is pregnant and her husband's job keeps him away a lot. Kirby, a college student has been getting arrested for protesting the war. Tiger the only son has just been sent to Vietnam. Jessie, the youngest at 13 is not happy that she will be the only going to spend the summer on Nantucket with her Nonny.  Their mother Kate is not handling all these changes well. Another great read from this author.

Wolf Rain by Nalini Singh #3

Alexei is grieving and his pack can't help him.  While out on a run he hears and feels deep grief.  As he investigates he discovers and empath that is being help against her will.  He frees her and bring her into his world.  Once free Memory is helped to discover her abilities that help the PsyNet.  Alexei and Memory are just what each other need to heal.  

The Princess Plan by Julia London #1

Eliza is on the shelf due to an unfortunate event when she was younger. She is happy to assist her father, a judge. Her sister Holly publishes a gossip paper. Prince Sebastian is in town to finalize a trade deal with England and find a wife.  When one of his staff is murdered he reluctantly enlists the help of Eliza as her sister seems to have more information than the police. As they spend time together their attraction grows, but because of her position things can't progress.  Will Sebastian follow his heart or duty?  A good beginning to a new series.

Up Next:
The Christmas Keeper by Jenn McKinlay #2
All Fired Up by Lori Foster #3
All I Want For Christmas Is You by Miranda Liasson

Decorations are finally up! A little more shopping to get done and then will begin wrapping. 

Linking to these memes:

Kathryn at Book Date hosts IMWAYR?, a place to  meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week.  It's a great opportunity to organize yourself, visit, comment, and add to that every growing TBR pile.

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received.

Tuesday Into/Tuesday

 

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros is a weekly meme hosted by Vicki of I'd Rather Be At The Beach every Tuesday. To participate share the opening paragraph or two of a book you've decided to read based on that paragraph. Please feel free to join in, First Chapter~First Paragraph~Tuesday Intros.

Prologue
When the Selective Service notice comes for Tiger, Kate's first instinct is to throw it away. Surely this is every American mother's first instinct? Pretend it got lost in the mail, buy Tiger a few more weeks of freedom before the U.S. Army sends another letter - by which time, this god-awful war in Vietnam might be over.


Summer of '69 by Elin Hilderbrand

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Ambrosia of The Purple Booker


The other mothers didn't do the terrible thing that she did. She deserves to be punished; she has enjoyed every happy day of the past sixteen years like it was something she borrowed, and not, finally, the time for payback has arrived.

Weekly Reading Wrap Up (SP/IMWAYR?)

Not getting much reading done lately.  I've got books marks in quite a few Christmas stories. There are 16 days until Christmas.  The Christmas tree and decorations are not up yet.  My plan is to get to it in the next couple of days.  The shopping is just about done, yay!  

Hope to get to these books in the next few weeks:

Looking forward to Shelia's First Book of 2020




Linking to these memes:

Kathryn at Book Date hosts IMWAYR?, a place to  meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week.  It's a great opportunity to organize yourself, visit, comment, and add to that every growing TBR pile.

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received.

Holiday Reads

CHRISTMAS FROM THE HEART by Sheila Roberts

USA TODAY bestselling author Sheila Roberts takes readers to the charming, snowbound town of Pine River in this irresistible holiday romance.
Sometimes you need to look beyond the big picture to see what really matters
Olivia Berg’s charity, Christmas from the Heart, has helped generations of families in need in Pine River, Washington, but this year might be the end of the road. Hightower Enterprises, one of their biggest donors since way back when Olivia’s grandmother ran the charity, has been taken over by Ebenezer Scrooge the Second, aka CFO Guy Hightower, and he’s declared there will be no more money coming to Christmas from the Heart.

Guy is simply being practical. Hightower Enterprises needs to tighten its belt, and when you don’t have money to spare, you don’t have money to share. You’d think even the pushy Olivia Berg could understand that.

With charitable donations dwindling, Olivia’s Christmas budget depends on Hightower’s contribution. She’s focused her whole life on helping this small town, even putting her love life on hold to support her mission.

When Guy’s Maserati breaks down at the edge of the Cascade foothills, he’s relieved to be rescued by a pretty young woman who drives him to the nearby town of Pine River. Until he realizes his rescuer is none other than Olivia Berg. What’s a Scrooge to do? Plug his nose and eat fruitcake and hope she doesn’t learn his true identity before he can get out of town. What could go wrong?

Olivia runs a long time non-profit that helps those in need at Christmas time. When she finds out that a regular donor is not contributing, she endeavors to find out why.  Guy denies the request because his company is experiencing some difficulties. On his way to visit with his mom his car breaks down in a small town.  He has to spend a day there waiting for a part and the only place he is offered to stay is at, you guessed it, Olivia's house.  When he realizes who has come to his aid he doesn't tell her is real name.   They begin to hit it off. Guy knows she will toss him aside when his identity is revealed.  Will she forgive him in the spirit of Christmas or make a big mistake and settle.  A heart warming holiday story.

Shelia Roberts

AN ALASKAN CHRISTMAS BY Jennifer Snow

In Alaska, it’s always a white Christmas—but the sparks flying between two reunited friends could turn it red-hot…

If there’s one gift Erika Sheraton does not want for Christmas, it’s a vacation. Ordered to take time off, the workaholic surgeon reluctantly trades in her scrubs for a ski suit and heads to Wild River, Alaska. Her friend Cassie owns a tour company that offers adventures to fit every visitor. But nothing compares to the adrenaline rush Erika feels on being reunited with Cassie’s brother, Reed Reynolds.

Gone is the buttoned-up girl Reed remembers. His sister’s best friend has blossomed into a strong, skilled, confident woman. She’s exactly what his search-and-rescue team needs—and everything he didn’t know he craved. The gulf between his life in Wild River and her big-city career is wide. But it’s no match for a desire powerful enough to melt two stubborn hearts…

Dr. Erika is on a forced vacation.  She has been so wrapped up in her career that the only place she has to go is back to her hometown.  She reconnects with her teenage friend Cassie.  Their reunion is a bit forced, but she begins to relax. Cassie's older brother Reed is still in town and still handsome as ever. Reed is on the local SAR team and is intrigued by this grown up Erika.  He can tell she is a wound a bit tight and sets out to loosen her up. Their time together morphs into something more and when the time for her to go back arrives decisions have to be made.
A great start to a new series.

Jennifer Snow






A WEDDING IN DECEMBER by Sarah Morgan

In the snowy perfection of Aspen, the White family gathers for youngest daughter Rosie’s whirlwind Christmas wedding. First to arrive are the bride’s parents, Maggie and Nick. Their daughter’s marriage is a milestone they are determined to celebrate wholeheartedly, but they are hiding a huge secret of their own: they are on the brink of divorce. After living apart for the last six months, the last thing they need is to be trapped together in an irresistibly romantic winter wonderland.

Rosie’s older sister, Katie, is also dreading the wedding. Worried that impulsive, sweet-hearted Rosie is making a mistake, Katie is determined to save her sister from herself! If only the irritatingly good-looking best man, Jordan, would stop interfering with her plans…

Bride-to-be Rosie loves her fiancé but is having serious second thoughts. Except everyone has arrived—how can she tell them she’s not sure? As the big day gets closer, and emotions run even higher, this is one White family Christmas none of them will ever forget!

Rosie is getting married a Christmas after a whirlwind courtship with personal trainer Dan. She is in the states for graduate school. Her sister Kate, an ER doctor in London, is sure this is another one of Rosie's impulsive decisions and she is needed to put a stop to it. Maggie, Rosies' mother is harboring her own secret but is determined to pretend all is well for her daughter's wedding. Full of hilarity, fun and plenty of misunderstandings that get worked out in the end. A wonderful seasonal read!

Sarah Morgan

COMING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS BY RaeAnne Thayne

Elizabeth Hamilton has been lost. Trapped in a tangle of postpartum depression and grief after the death of her beloved parents, she couldn’t quite see the way back to her husband and their two beautiful kids…until a car accident stole away her memories and changed her life. And when she finally remembered the sound of little Cassie’s laugh, the baby powder smell of Bridger and the feel of her husband’s hand in hers, Elizabeth worried that they’d moved on without her. That she’d missed too much. That perhaps she wasn’t the right mother for her kids or wife for Luke, no matter how much she loved them.

But now, seven years later, Luke finds her in a nearby town and brings Elizabeth back home to the family she loves, just in time for Christmas. And being reunited with Luke and her children is better than anything Elizabeth could have imagined. As they all trim the tree and bake cookies, making new holiday memories, Elizabeth and Luke are drawn ever closer. Can the hurt of the past seven years be healed over the course of one Christmas season and bring the Hamiltons the gift of a new beginning?

Luke's wife has been missing for seven years.  The new DA has decided to charge him with her death.  Luke has know for awhile where his wife has been, and now has to bring her back to clear his name.  He doesn't know what happened to Elizabeth or why she has been living under a different name, and he doesn't care.  He wants his named cleared and divorce finalized.  Elizabeth agrees to return to help hoping she can begin to repair her relationship with her kids.  What happened to Elizabeth was awful, but it was a bit over the top, and hard to understand once she got help why she didn't reach out.  Luke's anger was understandable, but he did make an effort to understand once he learned what happened.  Just okay for me.

RaeAnne Thayne












Thanks to HQN Books for these review copies