Hey Y'all!
Let's get right into it:
(In no particular order.)
No links this time, most of these are older books I've thrifted, or free books on google.
1) Misty, V.C. Andrews
The many millions of V.C. Andrews fans, and particularly the younger readers among them, will thrill to the first in a new, four-book series on the struggles and secrets of children of divorce. Misty is the tale of a young girl facing the trials of her devious, divorced parents and the terrors of a deeply-held secret. When she meets three other girls in therapy, also children of divorce, she learns that she's not alone -- and
not alone in sharing secrets.
not alone in sharing secrets.
This one was ok. It's much different than the Landry Series, which is the only other V.C. Andrews I've read. The story seemed to start somewhere in the middle, and it got better, but still didn't seem to have the affect I think the book was going for. I do have book 2, so I will eventually read it.
This review by Ashley W on goodreads sums it up pretty well:
Re-reading before I read the rest of the series. I don't think the girls' stories really connect, but just in case.
I honestly can't pinpoint what I like about these shorter VC Andrews books. It doesn't really make sense that Misty was seeing a psychiatrist to begin with, so that's a little unrealistic. you don't see an MD because you're acting out after your parents divorce. Most of what she did was perfectly normal and reactionary given how her parents were acting. I would think the judge would order them all to the therapy. Also, the dialogue sounds strange coming from a teenager. This sounds like a 80s soap opera, but I can roll with it because, at least it's different than most YA today.
I really feel like I'm just here for the drama. lol I just love a good scandal and whatever else you say about Andrew's books, there is always scandal.
Some notes in the updates
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I thought that the concept of these four girls sharing their experiences in a group therapy setting was pretty unique. At first I thought that they would be too vulnerable, but Misty seemed okay throughout and didn't really hesitate. I didn't care for Star and thought it was interesting that the one black character was the rude, poor, uneducated one. That could have been different. I found Cat the most compelling and want to know more about her, mostly because she was the quietest.
I honestly can't pinpoint what I like about these shorter VC Andrews books. It doesn't really make sense that Misty was seeing a psychiatrist to begin with, so that's a little unrealistic. you don't see an MD because you're acting out after your parents divorce. Most of what she did was perfectly normal and reactionary given how her parents were acting. I would think the judge would order them all to the therapy. Also, the dialogue sounds strange coming from a teenager. This sounds like a 80s soap opera, but I can roll with it because, at least it's different than most YA today.
I really feel like I'm just here for the drama. lol I just love a good scandal and whatever else you say about Andrew's books, there is always scandal.
Some notes in the updates
-----------
I thought that the concept of these four girls sharing their experiences in a group therapy setting was pretty unique. At first I thought that they would be too vulnerable, but Misty seemed okay throughout and didn't really hesitate. I didn't care for Star and thought it was interesting that the one black character was the rude, poor, uneducated one. That could have been different. I found Cat the most compelling and want to know more about her, mostly because she was the quietest.
2- A Little Bit Country
3- Country Bride
Rorie Campbell has a pleasant, predictable life in San Francisco, where she's seeing a pleasant, predictable man. Then, one vacation, her car breaks down on an Oregon country road and horse rancher Clay Franklin comes to her rescue. Rorie soon discovers that a city girl can fall in love with a country man. But Clay has no right to return her feelings because he's engaged to another woman.
Kate Logan is devastated when Clay Franklin, her former fiance and the man she's always loved, marries Rorie Campbell instead. But at Clay's wedding and after a glass of champagne too many Kate proposes to her longtime friend, rancher Luke Rivers. Luke accepts her proposal and refuses to renege on his promise. What's more, he insists that Kate doesn't love Clay she loves him ."
Kate Logan is devastated when Clay Franklin, her former fiance and the man she's always loved, marries Rorie Campbell instead. But at Clay's wedding and after a glass of champagne too many Kate proposes to her longtime friend, rancher Luke Rivers. Luke accepts her proposal and refuses to renege on his promise. What's more, he insists that Kate doesn't love Clay she loves him ."
I really liked the first book. The characters were believable, the story well written. I really rooted for the couple, and loved the hero's little brother.
The second book.... Kate exists in book one, and is great. In book 2 I find her a bit juvenile, and a lot whiney. Also she barely finishes the ONE GLASS of champagne, so please... just no, she wouldn't be that drunk to not remember what the conversation was. However, Luke was way to forceful, and came off more like an a$$hole than loveable.
Jill on goodreads says it well:
Have you ever loathed a book so much that you struggled to finish it? That was me with the second of these two novellas.
The first one was okay; a nice little romance. But the second was TERRIBLE. The two main characters were so bad. Luke was way too forceful, typically mansplaining to Kate what she needed. And Kate was portrayed as a stubborn ninny who could not get out of her own way and needed to be told what to do. Ugh. Save yourself the trouble and skip this one.
The first one was okay; a nice little romance. But the second was TERRIBLE. The two main characters were so bad. Luke was way too forceful, typically mansplaining to Kate what she needed. And Kate was portrayed as a stubborn ninny who could not get out of her own way and needed to be told what to do. Ugh. Save yourself the trouble and skip this one.
4- There's Something About Christmas
5- Here Comes Trouble
This is a time for families, for togetherness, for memories. On Christmas Eve, Maryanne and Nolan Adams tell their kids the story they most want to hear --- how Mom and Dad met and fell in love. It all started when they were reporters on rival Seattle papers ... and next thing you know, Here Comes Trouble!
Christmas is also a time for ... fruitcake. Rookie reporter Emma Collins hates fruitcake; for that matter, she hates Christmas, too. When three Washington State women are finalists in a national fruitcake contest, the story is assigned to her. That's bad enough. It gets worse when she has to fly in a small plane (scary!) with a smart-aleck pilot named Oliver Hamilton (sexy!) and his scruffy dog (cute!). In the end she meets three wise women, falls in love and learns There's Something About Christmas.
Christmas is also a time for ... fruitcake. Rookie reporter Emma Collins hates fruitcake; for that matter, she hates Christmas, too. When three Washington State women are finalists in a national fruitcake contest, the story is assigned to her. That's bad enough. It gets worse when she has to fly in a small plane (scary!) with a smart-aleck pilot named Oliver Hamilton (sexy!) and his scruffy dog (cute!). In the end she meets three wise women, falls in love and learns There's Something About Christmas.
This one, err 2. Here Comes Trouble- kinda boring. It starts off with the kids asking about how the parents met. We get into the story and it never breaks from the storytelling. Not even at the end when the story over is a reaction given. What was the point of the beginning then? Not my favorite. Instead it's Christmas morning the parents make an announcement, say no puppy, and the grandparents come in... with a puppy. Why would you get a gift like that without consulting the parents first? I'm also over the we HATED each other so much we fell in love trope.
There's Something About Christmas- I liked this one. Emma is a up & coming reporter trying to get a real story, and Oliver is the man piloting her from place to place. Both are likable characters, and believable. I didn't see Oliver as overly pushy, at least not compared to Luke from Country Bride... My only nitpick is why is he named Oliver and then his dog Oscar, a bit to similar at first to keep straight.
Anne Holly on goodreads has some great points:
Not the best collection of shorties I've ever read, but it was fair reading for fans of the genre, and made an okay Sunday diversion.
1. There's Something About Christmas (2005)
You know what I find romantic? A fellow who can respect "no". This one missed the mark, there. The way Oliver aggressively hounds her for no real reason was off-putting; it is not romantic when someone decides, after seeing a lady for five minutes, that she must fall to his superior charms, and becomes a nooky-seeking missile that won't quit. Ew. A few juvenile romantic gestures does not compensate for a lack of respect and maturity.
However, if you are looking for some fruitcake recipes, you can find some in here.
*
2. Here Comes Trouble (1991)
A bit dated, I think; the whole "deb" (debutante) hatred seemed like more of a thing in the 80s? Not sure, but the set up here felt like something not of this era. (Also, perhaps in 1991, people really did think a woman was in real trouble simply because she'd broken two nails at her job? Nah, likely not even then.) The story also has nothing to do with Christmas, especially if you skip/skim the wrap-around set up of "tell us a story of how you met!" (which I did). While I usually love a good grouch, I felt Nolan was a bit overdrawn, and went a bit overboard with the hot/cold running rudeness. I liked him, despite myself, but would have liked him more not in a romance, perhaps. As it was, his refusal to thaw up to the final moments made the heroine look kind of silly and masochistic, which are not my favourite traits.
I think it was trying to be a screwball, but it ended up making me very uncomfortable, and I felt a lot of embarrassment for the heroine, who seemed too shallow to feel it for herself.
1. There's Something About Christmas (2005)
You know what I find romantic? A fellow who can respect "no". This one missed the mark, there. The way Oliver aggressively hounds her for no real reason was off-putting; it is not romantic when someone decides, after seeing a lady for five minutes, that she must fall to his superior charms, and becomes a nooky-seeking missile that won't quit. Ew. A few juvenile romantic gestures does not compensate for a lack of respect and maturity.
However, if you are looking for some fruitcake recipes, you can find some in here.
*
2. Here Comes Trouble (1991)
A bit dated, I think; the whole "deb" (debutante) hatred seemed like more of a thing in the 80s? Not sure, but the set up here felt like something not of this era. (Also, perhaps in 1991, people really did think a woman was in real trouble simply because she'd broken two nails at her job? Nah, likely not even then.) The story also has nothing to do with Christmas, especially if you skip/skim the wrap-around set up of "tell us a story of how you met!" (which I did). While I usually love a good grouch, I felt Nolan was a bit overdrawn, and went a bit overboard with the hot/cold running rudeness. I liked him, despite myself, but would have liked him more not in a romance, perhaps. As it was, his refusal to thaw up to the final moments made the heroine look kind of silly and masochistic, which are not my favourite traits.
I think it was trying to be a screwball, but it ended up making me very uncomfortable, and I felt a lot of embarrassment for the heroine, who seemed too shallow to feel it for herself.
The last person private investigator Mika Chalmers expects to walk in her office is ex-boyfriend and NHL player, Eric Foresburg. He looks just like he did three years ago, tall, blond, and every inch a Viking.
This isn't a social call.
Eric has gotten himself into some hot water. A woman is going to publicly accuse Eric of rape and he needs Mika to prove his innocence. With pressure from her father - who happens to be the head coach of Eric's NHL team - and smarmy defense attorney, Ryan King, Mika has her work cut out for her. When feelings for Eric - feelings she buried a long time ago - start to resurface, her job of finding the truth no matter what gets increasingly difficult to do.
Despite the fact that Mika has connections with the police department - including the arrogant Detective Alex Beech - the answers aren't black and white. Evidence reveals that Eric and the victim were together, but it turns into a heated he-said, she-said. It doesn't help that Eric has been keeping things from Mika, things he should have disclosed before she agreed to take his case.
With the help of Beech, Mika must determine whether or not Eric is innocent before the court of public opinion finds him guilty and his entire life is ruined.
This isn't a social call.
Eric has gotten himself into some hot water. A woman is going to publicly accuse Eric of rape and he needs Mika to prove his innocence. With pressure from her father - who happens to be the head coach of Eric's NHL team - and smarmy defense attorney, Ryan King, Mika has her work cut out for her. When feelings for Eric - feelings she buried a long time ago - start to resurface, her job of finding the truth no matter what gets increasingly difficult to do.
Despite the fact that Mika has connections with the police department - including the arrogant Detective Alex Beech - the answers aren't black and white. Evidence reveals that Eric and the victim were together, but it turns into a heated he-said, she-said. It doesn't help that Eric has been keeping things from Mika, things he should have disclosed before she agreed to take his case.
With the help of Beech, Mika must determine whether or not Eric is innocent before the court of public opinion finds him guilty and his entire life is ruined.
Loved Mika, the female P.I. who was truly independent and good at her job. I thought it was pretty obvious who was to blame once all the characters were introduced, but the story still held my interest and I wanted to finish the book. This is book one in a series, but I'm happy enough with where it left off that I'm not rushing to buy any more of the books.
Here's a review from Sandra on goodreads:
Good start to a new mystery series about PI Mika Chalmers who is hired by her ex- a pro hockey player - when he is accused of rape. Based on the cover I was expecting more of a cosy crime/humor vibe but the story was had more depth than I was expecting. Not overly deep, just more serious and I got very involved in Mika's dealing with her unresolved feelings about Eric (her ex) who dumped her out of the blue when she thought they were 'forever', conflicted feelings about the accusation and more conflicted feelings about not quite friend that she works with often police detective Alex Beech. Mika is likeable and relatable. She is good at her job but realistically so, not in an annoying or unbelievable way with super special skills. Both Alex & Eric clearly have an interest and while it looks like she might be giving a certain person a chance at the end I am hoping the other one is end game.
Welcome to Whispering Pines, a quaint resort on the serene shores in Minnesota lake country, and a heartwarming saga that beautifully weaves together the complexities of modern family life with the unexpected gifts of midlife reinvention.
Two weeks ahead of Christmas, a jarring layoff from a twenty-year career sends single mother Renee Clements back to life’s crossroads. She’s been here before. Reluctant but resilient, she prepares to dive into the job hunt. Or is it finally time to focus on her own dreams instead of building someone else’s? While the idea is tempting, she’s still responsible for raising two teenagers.
Frustrated, Renee pushes pause. She’ll wait until after the holidays to make any life-altering decisions. A serendipitous trip to Fiji and a chance encounter with a handsome stranger offers a glimmer of romance, but now isn’t the time to add yet another complication to her already messy world.
Could the final bequest by her dear Aunt Celia provide the answers? The opportunity to reopen Whispering Pines, a charming and historic lake resort, beckons her to a path less traveled. It’s not just a potential business venture; it’s a legacy passed down to her, a gift wrapped in memories and possibilities.
Torn between a longing to recreate the idyllic childhood summers she spent at her aunt’s resort and facing the challenges of her current reality, Renee will have to choose. Perhaps, along the way, she’ll discover more than she ever expected.
Whispering Pines, book one in Kimberly Diede’s Gift of Whispering Pines series, explores the depths of motherhood, the courage required to navigate and embrace change, and the unbreakable ties of family.
Two weeks ahead of Christmas, a jarring layoff from a twenty-year career sends single mother Renee Clements back to life’s crossroads. She’s been here before. Reluctant but resilient, she prepares to dive into the job hunt. Or is it finally time to focus on her own dreams instead of building someone else’s? While the idea is tempting, she’s still responsible for raising two teenagers.
Frustrated, Renee pushes pause. She’ll wait until after the holidays to make any life-altering decisions. A serendipitous trip to Fiji and a chance encounter with a handsome stranger offers a glimmer of romance, but now isn’t the time to add yet another complication to her already messy world.
Could the final bequest by her dear Aunt Celia provide the answers? The opportunity to reopen Whispering Pines, a charming and historic lake resort, beckons her to a path less traveled. It’s not just a potential business venture; it’s a legacy passed down to her, a gift wrapped in memories and possibilities.
Torn between a longing to recreate the idyllic childhood summers she spent at her aunt’s resort and facing the challenges of her current reality, Renee will have to choose. Perhaps, along the way, she’ll discover more than she ever expected.
Whispering Pines, book one in Kimberly Diede’s Gift of Whispering Pines series, explores the depths of motherhood, the courage required to navigate and embrace change, and the unbreakable ties of family.
I still don't know how I feel about this book. Parts of it were good, and other parts really weren't. Not looking to continue the series I know that much. Renee is likable enough, but the whole thing is so unreal. They're the luckiest family ever. All a bit dumb, like how did no one catch on as to who the stalker was.
I think Joan's review on goodreads sums up how I felt:
I was rather disappointed in this book after seeing all the 5-star reviews. The plot was pretty good, but I felt like parts of the book dragged on WAY too long. There was an element of mystery in the book, but none of the characters could see the solution, which I thought was very obvious. I guess I was also turned off somewhat by the message of the book which seems to be that anyone who tries can succeed in life and business if you read enough motivational books - oh, and if you have a rich relative who dies and leaves you a big inheritance and you have a family that will work along with you to build a business and make it work. I don't think I enjoyed this book enough to take the time to read the next one in the series.
Y'all, my husband wrote a book! This was just the first draft, so it's very early, but we'll definitely let you know when it's closer to release.
I can tell you it's about a van life couple surviving in an apocalyptic world. Chaos, creatures and continuing on down the road...
The book also now has an actual cover. We'll share that later too.
Home for a family wedding, Chase Baron has a plan to avoid his grandfather’s matchmaking—hire an actress to be his date. No strings and no commitments is just the ticket for no complications. When CJ Lawson’s ditzy sister takes a last minute acting role out of town, CJ has to take over her sister’s local job —cozying up to a wealthy and sinfully handsome billionaire. What could possibly go wrong?
Becky Claxon's review on goodreads:
Chase was the oldest of the Barron billionaire brothers. The brothers’ grandfather ruled their clan and wanted them all to get married and give him and his wife great grandchildren. I loved how Chase thought he could outsmart his grandfather when his cousin was getting married and needed a date for the weeklong wedding activities, and hired an actress to be his date. It was funny when his ‘date’ showed up and it was the woman’s sister who came as a favor to her sister. The whole family was so much fun to watch and how they all interacted. CJ who was Chase’s date was not a girly girl but for me was so much better. You will love watching the two get to know one another. There was also a scary time that had me on the edge of my seat. I encourage you to read the book.
What have you been reading? Share in the comments below!
Have a great day,
Craftin' Wife
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