Shelf Control - Aug 12

Shelf Control is a weekly celebration of the unread books on our shelves sponsored by Lisa at Bookshelf Fantasies. Pick a book you own but haven’t read, write a post about it (suggestions: include what it’s about, why you want to read it, and when you got it), and link up!

Want to join in? Shelf Control posts go up every Wednesday. Here's how to jump on board:

• Write a blog post about a book that you own that you haven’t read yet.
• Add your link in the comments!
• Link back to Bookshelf Fantasies in your own post.
• Check out other posts, and…

This week I am featuring a Harlequin Book Club offering.

BLURB: THIS NEW DEPUTY DIDN'T EXPECT HIS FIRST CASE TO INVOLVE A WEDDING AND A FUNERAL

Deputy Sheriff Nick Rogers found out small-town life meant adjusting to two things—gossips and Laney Cavanaugh. And neither was much help in solving a bridal shower murder.

Some days it appeared like everyone in Whitehorse had a secret—including their new lawman. And falling for Laney wasn't a good way to maintain a low profile. Nick might have been new to Whitehorse, but he wasn't above getting his hands dirty. Even if everybody in Laney's family had it in for the victim, and they were fixing for a fight. Wedding bells were always trouble, and, unfortunately, trouble always had a way of hunting Nick down.

DATE BOUGHT: Unknown, but I am thinking around 2017

WHY I BOUGHT IT: They send you some books and you decide if you want to keep them. I like cowboy romances, romances involving lawmen, and anything western so I kept this one. I have a few more from the same author. Harlequins are great because they are easy reads, romantic and, in this case, filled with suspense. Honestly, I don't read a ton of romances, but I think I would have fun writing them. 

Have you read this book? Do you now or did you ever subscribe to a Harlequin Book Club?

Bargain Kindle Set: Quinn Family Ranch by Liz Isaacson

The complete cowboy collection at the ranch in Quinn Valley will sweep you away with heartwarming, uplifting stories of love, faith, and forgiveness - all with a sexy-and-sweet cowboy at the center of the story!

Contracted Cowboy: A fake ad brings a cowboy to Georgia's door just in time for all the Quinn family holiday parties, so she hires Logan to be her boyfriend. Nothing can go wrong with this plan...except she might lose her heart to her newly contracted cowboy.

Secret Sweetheart: She's a domestic goddess. He works on her father's ranch. They could have forever...if they could take their relationship out of the shadows.

Landscaping Love: He hired her to landscape the yard, but she's going to make him re-evaluate who he lets into his heart.

Birthday Boyfriend: This Quinn cowgirl doesn't need a lot for her birthday...just the cowboy she's been crushing on for months. Will Flynn ever see Jessie standing right in front of him?

Fall Fireside: Cami Quinn has had enough of being the shiny new date for the cowboys in Quinn Valley. She's on her fifth or sixth broken heart, and she needs the soothing, healing messages she's found at the fall fireside series in the past. Will Cami and Clay find a way to mend what's broken inside themselves in order to find a happily-ever-after?

File Size: 3605 KB
Print Length: 610 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: AEJ Creative Works (December 8, 2019)
Publication Date: December 8, 2019
Sold by: Amazon.com Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B082H72FCB

Purchase for only 99 cents on Amazon!*


* Prices subject to change without notice.

New Release: 25th Anniversary Edition of Left Behind by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins

One of my favorite Christian fiction series.

On a Boeing 747 headed to London, passengers instantaneously disappear from their seats, resulting in terror and chaos for those left behind—not only throughout the plane, but also worldwide as the apocalypse begins.

Included in this 25th anniversary edition is an essay by Jerry B. Jenkins, exploring cultural and spiritual changes over the last quarter century through the lens of this groundbreaking work of fiction.

Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.; Anniversary edition (August 4, 2020)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1496447565
ISBN-13: 978-1496447562

Purchase from:

Tyndale
Christianbook
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Books-A-Million

Top 5 Tuesday - Top 5… Books Where Something Went Right

This a new meme for me, but it's not a new meme at all. Originally created by Shanah at Bionic Book Worm, it is now hosted by Meeghan at Meeghan Reads. Top 5 Tuesday is a weekly meme that explores different topics. For a list of August topics you can click here. To participate, link your post back to Meeghan's blog or leave her a comment on her weekly post.

Top 5… Books Where Something Went Right

This might seem like an odd choice, but hear me out. In the St. Nick of Time is a romantic suspense novel. The final book in The Sullivan Boys series by K.M. Daughters, the main character in this one is the Sullivan's only sister, Kay. A widow with four older kids, she has opted to return to the Chicago Police Department despite the reservations of her entire family. Kay is a woman who knows she wants more out of life than what she's been dealt and, by going after it, she finds herself in love again. The reader gets to see Kay succeed despite several obstacles and her own uncertainty.

On Strike for Christmas is such a fun story. A bunch of local wives feel their husbands don't appreciate the amount of effort they put into making sure their families have a special Christmas. So, these women go on strike. Then the media gets a hold of the story and they find support from all over the place. In the end, families are changed; the efforts of these and other wives is acknowledged; and everyone has a wonderful holiday.

In the first book of this series, The Madhatter's Guide to Chocolate, Jake Witherspoon is the victim of a vicious hate crime that cripples him. It was so nice to see him again in Up the Devil's Belly, where the Witherspoon Mansion is turned into an upscale day spa and Jake finds success. 

Melanie and Jack have been through a lot. Let's just say that Return to Tradd Street made it all worth it. 

This book starts out so sad, but The Santa Letters is such a heartwarming tale of the season that you will want to read it over and again.

After the sudden death of her husband William, Emma Jensen struggles to find hope in her life. Even knowing she must go on for her children is not enough to bring her out of the depths of despair. Then the first Santa letter arrives. The lives of the Jensens are forever changed by these messages from the man in the red suit who helps them find that missing hope they so desperately crave. 

So, what did you think of my list? What are some books you've read where something went right?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - Aug 10

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.

Well, August sure came in like a lion. Tropical Storm Isaias visited us Tuesday. Some residents just got power back this weekend. We still have downed trees around town, but clean up is ongoing. Other than no power and no internet, the only bad thing that happened is our arbor fell into the garden and pulled up my grape vine and squashed the tomato plants. I blogged about feeling like Charles Ingalls when he lost his wheat crop. You can read that here.

I am trying to stay caught up on reading since I have three more book reviews for August.


I finished this book yesterday. Look for my review on August 21.

These two are being reviewed the last week of August.

These three reviews are coming in September.

I would like to read these to review at my children's book blog.

After that, I am hoping to take a break from review books and focus on these.

By that time, I should really be ready for some seasonal reading material--which I never seem to get to. 

What are you reading right now? What is a book you have been wanting to read for a while, but never seem to get to it?

Short Story Review: A Whiskered Perspective by M. G. Spear

Life through the eyes of a loyal black cat is what the reader will find in this short story titled "A Whiskered Perspective" by M. G. Spear.

This furry warrior has come close to using up his nine lives when he is rescued by a woman who he calls Miller.

Glad to leave his warrior ways behind, Miller and Pumpkin create a special and loving bond. When Miller starts dating a man named Rob, Pumpkin is glad to see her happy. Then Rob changes, and Pumpkin is determined to stick by Miller's side no matter what.

This is a much darker story than I expected. If you read the description for the Kindle version, you'll have an idea of what I mean.

Told entirely from Pumpkin's perspective, this short story is about the special bond between a woman and her cat; but it is also about how one woman's desire to be loved by another person goes terribly wrong. It is a story of how someone can hide their true colors until it's too late.

A story of this length doesn't leave a lot of room for character development, so Miller's friends' dislike for Rob didn't make sense. It isn't until the reader witnesses Rob's behavior that it all comes together. If the length of the story had been closer to novella or novel length, that problem may have solved itself. The author switches between past and present tense regularly, which interrupts the flow of the story. It also ends on a cliffhanger, so the reader must wait for the sequel to learn how things turn out for Miller and Pumpkin. I admit cliffhanger endings like that never sit well with me.

What I like about "A Whiskered Perspective" is Pumpkin's personality and his loyalty toward the woman who rescued him. The author, through Pumpkin's eyes, explored how a woman like Miller could be attracted to a person like Rob. She created a plausible explanation in a short period of time.

If you enjoy reading about human and pet relationships or dark stories, you might consider "A Whiskered Perspective."

File Size: 1259 KB
Print Length: 37 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publication Date: June 4, 2020
Sold by: Amazon.com Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B089QTSVY6

I received a digital copy of this book from the author through Pump Up Your Book. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books with the Color Red in the Titles

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

What a great topic for this week. Jana's actual topic is Top Ten Books with Colors in the Titles, but since I love the color red so much I am sticking with that one to make it more challenging.

Great movie, but couldn't get through this book because Clancy is so technical. 

I saw this movie, too, but didn't read the book. 

This is in my TBR pile.

I have not read a single book in this series. Shocking!

I really want to read this book.

Also want to read this book.

Sounds fascinating. 

I have only read Winnie the Pooh. I should explore Milne's other work.

Did you find any of your books on my list? Did you stick with one color or did you use a variety? What books on my list did you read? Which ones could you recommend?