Category: Families

RAINY DAYS AND BOOKS AND TEA EQUALS BLISS!

It was raining when I went to bed and it just now stopped. More is forecasted and we do really need some rain. And it’s Friday the 13th so it’s a mood setter.

This morning I’m sipping on this lovely new tea I found at Barnes and Noble when I was picking up my copy of The Testaments by Margaret Atwood. This Harney & Sons tea is so delicate and full of ginger and lemon flavor. Great for the tummy and the book, well, we’ve waited a long time for this one!

 

So I’m all set for the weekend. What will you be doing? Or reading?

Miss Charli Ava is coming over today to try on a dress and see her new bedroom. I’m so excited. I’ve been working hard on this room and it all came together last night. Charli and I are going to buy scrapbook supplies to make her a book of her life. As most of you know, we didn’t get her until she was two, so no baby pictures at all. But never fear, I found someone to send me those and I can’t wait for her to see them. This is on her second birthday. The day we met her.

One of the loves of my life! It’s going to be a fun day! I hope yours is as well. Enjoy your weekend and be kind today. It’s free.

xx P

THE LIES WE TELL BY DEBRA WEBB

The Lies We Tell (The Undertaker's Daughter #2)

THE UNDERTAKER’S DAUGHTER #2  Sometimes the truth will get you killed.

The first book in this series is a novella titled ” The Undertaker’s Daughter”, followed by ” The Secrets We Bury”. Both books are important to the third.

Dr. Rowan Dupont knows death. Living above her family funeral home she shared her home with it. She knew how to embalm a body before most of us had kissed a boy.

Her story begins as she is working with the Nashville police as a psychiatric consultant. She has a nose for killers and in return, they are very interested in her. But when she fails to recognize that someone very close to her is one, she runs home to Winchester, Tennessee. She is still haunted by dreams of her twin sister’s death, her mother’s suicide and the serial killer who followed her home.

Along with her life long pal Chief Billy, who I love, she is trying her best to stay out of the crosshairs of Julian Addington, a prolific serial killer who wants her more than anything. But why? When a body comes into the funeral home with a tattoo of her mother’s name on his back, Rowan knows this means something, she just isn’t sure what. Then the body disappears and the Feds are back to following her around.

This is the main story. Rowan’s fight to find the truth about her sister’s death and her mother’s suicide. Her mothers’ journals are cryptic and full of death. Was she obsessed with serial killers or was she one herself?  As the bodies continue to stack up, nothing makes any sense. And of course, it doesn’t because there is another story inside of the main one.

I would suggest you read the first two books first. Just so you know who all of the players are.  I absolutely love this series and Rowan and Billy need to quit dancing around each other and get together. IMHO.

Very Well Done!

NetGalley/Expected publication: September 17th, 2019 by MIRA

Met Her Match by Jude Deveraux

Met Her Match

In small towns, no one lets the facts get in the way of juicy gossip…

In the small town of Summer Hill, Virginia, Terri Rayburn has a reputation that hangs over her like a black cloud. 

Summer Hill is a town divided. The lake people and the town people. The lake property is mainly Terri’s fathers and she lives on the lake in her family home. She works hard at everything from repairing a boat motor to dragging tourists out of the water. She knows her place and it is the lake.

When she returns home to find a man in her house, she smells a rat. Are her father and uncle trying to fix her up with a man? A man who is engaged to the Mayor’s daughter?

Nate is a good man. He gets along with everyone and is very good at what he does. But now he’s out of that business and looking to settle down. But with who? As Terri and Nate settle into a friendship that sizzles, Nate is hearing some nasty rumors about Terri and her mother, who disappeared long ago. Nasty rumors have always circulated about what happened.

With the help of a lot of good people, Nate discovers the truth about Terri’s mother and it will change everything. But will he find out who he is and who he wants?

A great summer read with a strong female lead. The characters were great and I hope we hear more from them all!

NetGalley/ September 17th, 2019 by MIRA

 

 

WHAT ROSE FORGOT BY NEVADA BARR

What Rose Forgot

In the New York Times, bestselling author Nevada Barr’s gripping standalone, a grandmother in her sixties emerges from a mental fog to find she’s trapped in her worst nightmare 

Rose Dennis has always been quirky if that is what you call a woman who takes astral journeys and paints wild paintings that sell for big money. She married Harley later in life and when he died she was all of a sudden crazy.

But it takes Rose the entire book to figure out why. She wakes up from a drug-induced fog after suffering a severe case of the flu only to find out she is in some kind of mental institution. It’s really a Memory Care Unit for people with early-onset dementia or full Alzheimers. But why is she here? Now that the drugs keeping her compliant are out of her system and she has no intention of taking any more. Especially after hearing voices in the hall outside of her room saying she won’t last out the week.

Rose is a very self-sufficient woman. It doesn’t take long for her to sneak out and disappear into the woods. Unfortunately, she is found rather quickly and returned.

This only makes her more determined to get out and find out who put her here. So she’s faking taking her meds and stockpiling them. After a daring escape, she ends up back at her house. Just as she is doubting her own sanity, a man breaks into her house trying to kill her.  Okay, so not crazy. But how is she going to prove that? And what about all of the other people left behind. Are they just drugged too?

Along with her 13-year-old granddaughter, Mel and her reclusive, cat-obsessed sister, Marion, who by the way is NOT a hacker (right) and Mel’s friend Royal they are determined to find out the truth. Is someone killing people for profit? And could Mel and Rose be next? Who is willing to kill to get their hands on Rose’s millions?

I thought this was a really good read. The characters were interesting and fun. I’ve seen some reviews talking about Rose and an elderly woman climbing a roof. First, 68 is not elderly. 88 may be elderly but the lady I box with is 68 and she can get on her roof and install new shingles!

Well Done!

NetGalley/September 17th, 2019 by Minotaur Books

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHRISTMAS FROM THE HEART by SHEILA ROBERTS

Christmas from the Heart

Christmas from the Heart has helped so many people in the small town of Pine River, Washington, and Olivia Berg is carrying on the tradition of her mother and her grandmother and great-grandmother. Running a non-profit is difficult at the best of times, but Christmas seems to be the time they all are asking for donations.

This year they are falling short. Times are tough everywhere and this year their major donor must say no.

Guy Hightower is at his wits end with his two older brothers lack of planning and control of their company. Being the youngest makes it hard to get your voice heard over your older brothers. Cuts must be made if this company is to succeed. They’ve all gotten used to living the high life and driving expensive cars. And this year their donations went to more high profile charities. It’s just business.

But Olivia has no intention of taking no for an answer as she hounds the man and his poor secretary. What’s a girl to do?

Much like a Hallmark Movie, the poor guy winds up in Pine River, stranded by his Masarati in the snow and guess who is driving by and offers him a ride? Yep. He uses a fake name once he realizes who she is and then they proceed to bring joy and happiness to the town. Until she finds out who he is.

I have to say this was very predictable and Olivia was rather a bully about asking for money from everyone! She was rather unlikeable as a character. Basically, it’s the old Cinderella story. Poor woman, a Rich man who saves the day and just like that! Happy Christmas.

This is the reason I don’t watch those movies.

September 24th, 2019 by Mira Books NetGalley Reads

 

 

Lisa Ungers The Stranger Inside

The Stranger Inside

“Justice is not for this plane. Punishment, yes. Consequences, yes.”

Three 12-year-olds go into the woods. Only one comes out. And she will never be the same.

Rain, Tess, and Hank were best friends. Cutting through the woods was what they did. Until the day they weren’t alone and lives would be forever changed.

The points of view were alternated. And I thought they all had valid viewpoints. Remember Dexter? We watched as Rain lived her seemingly normal life. Having put her past trauma in a box with no key. But when another man is killed after being acquitted of his wife’s’ murder, alarm bells go off. Is there someone out there delivering a bit of karmic justice?

Finding the truth will put her in more danger, which she knows, but she can’ t stop. She has to know. And when the memories come back will she be able to handle it?

This was the best kind of thriller. You know just enough to think you have it and then Wham, you know nothing! And it made me think for a long time. What is justice? What is Karma? Do some people simply not deserve to live?

Well Done Ms. Unger, as usual!

NetGalley/ September 17th, 2019 by Park Row

 

 

 

 

 

JUDGE Thee NOT by EDITH MAXWELL

Judge Thee Not (Quaker Midwife Mystery #5)

A QUAKER MIDWIFE MYSTERY #5

Quaker midwife Rose Carroll must fight bias and blind assumptions to clear the name of a friend when a murderer strikes in nineteenth-century Massachusetts . . . 

This is not the first Edith Maxwell book I have read, however, it is the first one in this series. I love a good historical fiction mystery and yet I wasn’t sure if the Quaker part would be a good fit for me. I should never have doubted Ms. Maxwell. 

Rose Carroll is a Quaker midwife living in the small town of Amesbury. It may be small but prejudices and judgy attitudes are alive and well. Especially with Mayme Settle. She is not nice and disapproves of everyone. Including Rose’s friend Bertie and her partner.

When Mayme is found dead, a sketchy witness points the finger at Bertie. With her friend the main suspect in a murder, Rose gets down to business and opens a pandora’s box of long-held grudges, money troubles, and some hanky panky. For this one, Rose is going to have to pull out all the stops to get her friend out of trouble!

For me, one chapter into the book I felt such a calm. Rose’s character is just a calm, good person and I felt so much respect for her. I also learned a lot about the attitudes of men and some women towards the female gender. I am extremely glad I didn’t give birth back then!

Now I shall go read the other 4 books!

NetGalley/September 10th, 2019 by Beyond the Page