Thursday, July 30, 2020

Books from the Backlog - July 30


Books from the Backlog is hosted by Carole's Random Life in Books. It is a fun way to feature some of those neglected books sitting on your bookshelf unread. If you are anything like me, you might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in your stacks.

To join in, visit the weekly link at Carole's blog to enter the link to your post. Then spend time visiting some of the other posts.

Happy Thursday. The week is almost over. Are we even paying attention anymore?

Jean Stone started our local writing group. That's how we met. She has since moved out of the area, but she returned in 2018 for a book reading of A Vineyard Christmas at our local Barnes and Noble when the publisher released it.

The fourth book in the Vineyard series is due out next year.


This week's neglected book






In the midst of a Christmas blizzard: A baby on the doorstep.

It's taken a long time and a little heartache, but Annie Sutton is finally following her dream of living on Martha's Vineyard. She fell in love with the island's singular beauty while using it as a setting for two of her novels. In her cozy rented cottage on Chappaquiddick, she's settling in for her first Vineyard winter--complete with a fierce nor'easter on the way, forecast to bring high winds and deep snow. But the blizzard also brings something unexpected to Annie's front porch: a basket, encircled by a ribbon, containing a baby girl. The note reads: "I named her Bella, after my grandmother. Please help her, because I can't."

Adopted as a child, Annie is grateful for wonderful parents who raised her as their own. Yet she also hopes to spare little Bella the feelings of abandonment that still haunt her. And so, rather than take the baby to the police, Annie decides to keep her and try to find the birth mother, giving her a chance to change her mind.

But it's not easy keeping a secret in a close-knit, island community, especially amid the bustle of Christmas. Before the holiday ends, there will be revelations, rekindled hope, and proof that families--the ones we are born into and the ones we claim for ourselves--are the gifts that truly matter . . .


What do you think of this novel? Would you read it? Have you read any Christmas stories yet this year?

Tuesday, July 28, 2020

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Reasons I Like Cozy Mysteries



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.

This week is a freebie, so bloggers get to choose their topics. I chose this one because cozy mysteries have been a part of my life as long as I can remember. Here are the:

Top Ten Reasons I Like Cozy Mysteries

  • They give a voice to often overlooked people




Though Scooby Doo started off as a television series, my favorite mystery-solving pooch wound up with dozens of books. He and the "meddling kids" he calls his friends solve mystery after mystery with seemingly supernatural causes. These are cozy mysteries with teenage and dog antics and tons of humor. I'm still a fan of the Scooby gang.


The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew Mysteries are also from my younger years. These two series also featured teenagers, like its animated counterpart, Scooby Doo. Like other cozy mysteries, the boys live in a small city/town near the water. 

Both these series allow teenagers to shine, as they solve mysteries that often stump the adults.



Then there are cozy mysteries that feature senior sleuths. I haven't read a ton of Miss Marple, but I did read The Case of the Bouncing Grandma


  • They are set in neat places

Duffy Brown's Cycle Path Mystery series is set on Mackinac Island, a cozy resort town where everyone rides around on bicycles. 


Wouldn't you like to live in Cabot Cove, Maine, home to author and crime-solver Jessica Fletcher in the Murder, She Wrote series? 

  • They have tons of interesting themes




From herbs to magic and everything in between, new cozy mystery themes crop up all the time.

  • They have animal characters




Though cats and dogs seem to be the most popular, you'll even find horses, birds, and other animals in cozy mysteries.

  • The female sleuths really kick butt



No matter their ages, female sleuths know how to hold their hold and catch the bad guy. 

  • They lend themselves to series - which means plenty of reading material
  • They force you to pay close attention to the clues so you can figure out the killer
  • Many of their characters have everyday careers: librarian, real estate agent, psychologist, etc.
  • They often include quirky characters
  • They can be light/funny or serious

Do you enjoy cozy mysteries? What is your favorite cozy mystery? Are there other reasons you can think of to like cozies? 

Monday, July 27, 2020

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - July 27



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.

We are at Monday again. We visited with my mother-in-law Saturday for her 88th birthday. It's the first one without my father-in-law, so I'm glad we got to spend time with her. I am preparing for a few more closings this month, but I am also doing as much as I can to stay safe. Massachusetts just instituted new travel orders starting August 1 that force you to self-quarantine for 14 days if you travel anywhere other than what they have outlined as a low-risk state. So glad our vacation happened in July.

Here is what my reading world looks like right now.

My review on The Beautiful Snow by Cindy Wilson appeared here.




Finished this one. The review appears here on August 10, but I posted my review on Goodreads already if you can't wait. 



I am reading these two right now.





These two will be reviewed in August.




Then I am promising myself to read this book.



What have you read recently? Are there any books I should add to my wish list?

Friday, July 24, 2020

Hearts Across Time Series by LoRee Peery


When event planner Amanda Totten falls through a barn trapdoor and finds herself in the arms of an 1890's cowboy, she scrambles to find a way back to the future. She has a life and obligations—her fledgling business and her mother's financial needs. But the less stressful lifestyle, and her deepening love for Gavin Medley, is calling to her heart and she is torn between past and future.

Has God given her a chance at love?

Gavin Medley has been working for years to regain his family homestead. As ranch foreman, he has nothing but a dream of a place and family of his own. But his love for Amanda is making him think that having his own ranch isn't as important as having someone to love for the rest of his life.

When Amanda returns to the future, Gavin is shattered. He tries to go forward in time, but fails. Believing it's God's will, Gavin resigns himself to living without the love of his life.

But love transcends time, and Amanda and Gavin need each other. Can Amanda return to her cowboy?

Purchase from PelicanBookGroup.com with a 50% OFF Release Day Special

Available at other online retailers (prices may vary)





Nolan Riley can't believe his eyes when woman in historical dress lands on top of his lighting van while they're filming a Western. She claims she's from 1891. He knows he shouldn't believe her. He's stayed away from women after a disastrous relationship, but something about the lost look in Phoebe's eyes makes him feel protective, despite his distrust of women and Phoebe's unbelievable claim. Against his better judgment, he takes Phoebe home and gets her a job on the movie set.

As they explore their relationship, they discover that old wrongs need to be righted before they can move on. Phoebe's fledgling faith demands she go back to 1891 Nebraska to ask forgiveness from her family and obligations she left behind. Nolan has to deal with his inability to trust a woman. Separated by time, both are uncertain of their lives, but they throw themselves upon God's mercy.

But love transcends time. Is their love is strong enough to secure a future together?

Pre-Order Book Two Today!

Thursday, July 23, 2020

Books from the Backlog - July 23


Books from the Backlog is hosted by Carole's Random Life in Books. It is a fun way to feature some of those neglected books sitting on your bookshelf unread. If you are anything like me, you might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in your stacks.

To join in, visit the weekly link at Carole's blog to enter the link to your post. Then spend time visiting some of the other posts.

Well, it's been a while since I participated in this meme. What a great way to feature books that have been in your TBR pile for longer than the time between your cat's rabies shots.

This book I bought off a local author and teacher at a conference we attended. I planned to review it, but there never seems to be enough time to pick up a book in a genre I'm not totally invested in. Fantasy and Sci-fi tend to be on the lower end of my list. Gasp! I know. I will go hide from the virtual tomatoes.

This week's neglected book



Eighteen years after the infants Kai and Mahri DuBois were separated and taken from La Foret de Chenes for their own protection, they are called to return. Appointed as Paladins, they receive their first charges from the Elders. The twins must overcome the devastating act of treachery that tore their family apart, restore the integrity of the treasure they guard, and beat back the encroaching evil of La Famille DeMauvaise.

Does this book interest you?

Wednesday, July 22, 2020

Shelf Control - July 22



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 Kindle freebie from my TBR pile.





BLURB: 

Lilly Gray Corbett has just graduated from medical school and decided to accept an internship in the coal camp of Skip Rock, Kentucky. Her beau, Paul, is doing his residency in Boston and can't understand why Lilly would choose to work in a backwater town. But having grown up in the mountains, Lilly is drawn to the stubborn, superstitious people she encounters in Skip Rock--a town where people live hard and die harder and where women know their place. Lilly soon learns she has a lot to overcome, but after saving the life of a young miner, she begins to earn the residents' trust.As Lilly becomes torn between joining Paul in Boston and her love for the people of Skip Rock, she crosses paths with a handsome miner--one who seems oddly familiar. Her attraction for him grows, even as she wrestles with her feelings and wonders what he's hiding.

DATE BOUGHT: 7/23/2013 (a little while ago)

WHY I BOUGHT IT: This book reminded me of one of my favorite shows, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. 

There are three books in this series now. Have you read them? 

Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Book Review: The Beautiful Snow by Cindy Wilson

If you're a fan of Laura Ingalls Wilder, the Little House books, or pioneer history, you'll want to grab a copy of The Beautiful Snow by Cindy Wilson.

If you've read the Little House books, you will recall The Long Winter, where Wilder describes the winter of 1880 - 81 and her family's struggle to survive when blizzards from October through April cut off the railroad town of De Smet, SD from essential supplies.

Wilson's thoroughly researched account of that hard winter, weaves history through Wilder's fictionalized tale, focusing on the weather, the railroads, and the pioneering spirit that kept the settlers holding on until the trains finally arrived in May.

Wow! What a book. It's not a book I could read in one or even two sittings. Wilson does a fabulous job of providing so much information that you need time to digest it.

The introductions and background set the stage for a month by month journey through that hard winter of 1880-81. Each month starts off with a calendar that shows weather reports compiled by various newspaper articles. The Beautiful Snow brings you through that period of American history as settlers were wooed into moving west and following the railroad, all to be stranded on the unforgiving prairie once the blizzards started. Historical figures, maps, photos, and informative sidebars add to the reading experience, truly immersing you in the time period. The epilogue and various appendices provide additional information that rounds out this account perfectly.

Though I definitely believe this is a book for Wilder fans, history lovers and those interested in the history of the American railroads will enjoy The Beautiful Snow. I will treasure this book as part of my ever-growing Laura Ingalls Wilder collection.

Highly recommended!


Paperback: 376 pages
Publisher: Beaver's Pond Press (February 7, 2020)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1643439057
ISBN-13: 978-1643439051

I purchased a copy of this book in January 2020. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

New Release: Christmas in Bayberry by Jennifer Faye


She’s trying to save the family candle company.
He’s trying not to fall for Bayberry—and her—again.


Kate Taylor knows what she wants in life: to one day run her family’s candle business, which is at the heart of the close-knit community of Bayberry, Vermont. But the company isn’t doing well.

Wesley Adams is on the fast track to be an assistant vice president at his financial firm in Manhattan. Before the promotion is announced, he’s sent to this small town from his past to do an analysis of the candle company.

He doesn’t expect to bump into his childhood crush, Kate, and when he does, sparks fly. As he spends time in Bayberry, he falls for the town’s Christmas traditions—and for her. But he has a responsibility to submit an honest report. Will it extinguish Kate’s dreams…along with any chance they have for a future together?

This heart-warming romance contains a free Hallmark original recipe for Cast Iron Beef Stew.

Paperback: 333 pages
Publisher: Hallmark Publishing (July 7, 2020)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1947892819
ISBN-13: 978-1947892811

Purchase here!

Monday, July 20, 2020

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - July 20



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.

Welcome back to Monday. I spent the weekend with my mother-in-law; first time I've seen her since my father-in-law's funeral. It was so nice to be together again. Especially with me working and going away, I don't want to bring any cooties to her.

I am trying to stay on top of my reading since I have a few reviews coming up.

This week I read these two.



Review appears here


Review appears here


I started reading this one because I couldn't wait any longer to crack it open. 




I also have to review these ones.










Then this one has to be next. 


Do you have books you need to review this week? What's one book you've read recently that you would recommend?

Saturday, July 18, 2020

Bargain E-Book: YOUTUBE Channel Success Secrets For Beginners 2020

In case you want to become a learn more about creating a YOUTUBE channel, there is a book for that.


DON'T STRUGGLE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO START A YOUTUBE CHANNEL, INCREASE VIEWS, SUBSCRIBERS AND MAKE PASSIVE INCOME FROM WHAT YOU LOVE DOING. THIS BOOK IS PREPARED TO GET YOU STARTED WITH ALL THE NECESSARY INFORMATION THAT WILL HELP YOU AVOID PITFALLS MOST UNINFORMED BEGINNERS TO YOUTUBE ENCOUNTER


YouTube has grown into the most prominent online video sharing platform. And with every passing day, users are creating niche on the platform – from consumers to Youtubers who have turned the platform into a money-making business. What other thing is better than uploading your videos online, and then sit at home only to start making money. It is no brainer that YouTube has created jobs for a large number of people who have carved a space for themselves in the YouTube space. YouTube is more than a platform for making money while uploading videos. A lot of people take to the platform to learn and teach others what they know.

This book arose from the writer’s thirst to guide people - especially beginners – to identify their niche on YouTube, giving them everything they need from start to the end. If you are a beginner willing to learn core concepts of YouTube, this book is for you. Beginners and professionals will benefit immensely from this book, as the writer explained the new way of marketing their brands on YouTube, and further grow their business. Tips about forming a YouTube video idea for beginners as well as professionals are well mapped out in this book.

Anthony took his time analyzing everything about the YouTube search optimization technique and how to use it to grow the YouTube channel.

Do you need a book telling you exactly how to grow your YouTube channel, and giving you why and how each trick works? Then this is the book for you. You only have to take a little time to read and digest the essential tips and tricks in this book.

Some other crucial information you will get when you purchase this book include:

- The Ultimate Equipment Checklist On Becoming a Successful YouTuber
- Secrets to Making Good Content on YouTube
- Secrets to YouTube Algorithm most YouTubers Ignore
- YouTube Tools to Help You Get Viewers
- Steps to Making Your Video
- Tips to make YouTube Videos go Viral Most YouTubers are not using
- Setting up a YouTube channel for success: Things to take note of
- YouTube Video Ideas and Crucial Things You Need to Know
- and lots more



File Size: 4880 KB
Print Length: 67 pages
Publication Date: May 27, 2020
Sold by: Amazon.com Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B0899JN1V9
Purchase here!

Friday, July 17, 2020

New Release: The Menu by Steven Manchester


#1 Bestselling author, Steven Manchester, is excited to announce the release of his long-anticipated, soul-awakening novel, The Menu.

Blessed with a high emotional IQ, Phinn Reed enters the world with the promise of finding his soul mate. With heaven’s memories erased, his romantic quest teaches him that the heart often sees clearer than the eyes—and that not everyone has ordered the same items from The Menu. Evidence that love stories come in many different forms, The Menu is a spiritual journey involving more than just a man and a woman; it is a modern-day tale that reaches far beyond the boundaries of reason.

Early Reviews:
“If you liked The Shack, then The Menu is a must read.” – John Lansing, Bestselling Author

“Congratulations on The Menu. Continue to use your gifts to glorify God!”  – Matthew West, Christian Singer/Songwriter

“Steven Manchester writes like Nicholas Sparks on steroids.” – Jon Land, USA Today Bestselling Author

The Norman Rockwell of Literature, Steven Manchester has bared his soul in the intense story, The Menu.”  – Shannon Gonzalez, Book Blogger, Literarily Illumined


Excerpt

“It’s important that I know compassion,” Phinn said.

“It’s yours, but not before experiencing pain and suffering,” God answered.

Glancing up at his Father, Phinn gave it some thought. “Sure, I’ll accept pain and suffering for compassion.”

God nodded.

“I also wish to have commitment and wisdom and…”

“Good choices, Phinn, but not before conquering trials and tribulations,” God said.

Phinn looked up from the menu again. “And courage?” he asked.

“After overcoming fear.”

“Honor?”

“Once you have faced shame.”

“Success?” Phinn asked.

“Much failure,” God answered.

Phinn stared at his master before closing the menu and handing it back. “I can’t have any of the good without the bad, can I?”

“Sure, it’s called love; and no matter what you do, I’ll always love you,” God promised. “Pretty clever design, don’t you think?”


Amazon Link


Steven Manchester is the author of the #1 bestsellers Twelve Months, The Rockin' Chair, Pressed Pennies and Gooseberry Island; the national bestsellers, Ashes, The Changing Season and Three Shoeboxes; the multi-award winning novel, Goodnight Brian; and the beloved holiday podcast drama, The Thursday Night Club. His work has appeared on NBC's Today Show, CBS's The Early Show, CNN's American Morning and BET's Nightly News. Three of Steven's short stories were selected "101 Best" for Chicken Soup for the Soul series. He is a multi-produced playwright, as well as the winner of the 2017 Los Angeles Book Festival and the 2018 New York Book Festival. When not spending time with his beautiful wife, Paula, or their children, this Massachusetts author is promoting his works or writing.


Social Media Links:





Wednesday, July 15, 2020

Shelf Control - July 14



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 Kindle freebie from my TBR pile.





BLURB: 

As fitness professionals, we want to help you reach your goals, but most importantly, we want to teach you how to keep them for a lifetime. We are not looking for temporary success here. We want fitness to be embedded as a permanent priority no matter what is going on in the world around you. You are so capable of harnessing the power of self-sufficiency and reaping the overflow of rewards.

In the fitness industry today, we are fighting a wicked battle between these two ideas; a quick fix to hit a goal (like giving a man a basket of fish) and long-term success based on knowledge and behavior change, consistently (like teaching a man to fish for himself). We know which man will go hungry. Everyday there are more and more predators popping up who are making millions of dollars, preying upon a person’s deep desire to look and feel better. They are selling weight loss products and performance enhancing products that will, ultimately, only lead to temporary success. Likely, none at all. Promises of fast results with little or no effort can cloud the judgment of even the smartest and most cautious of consumers.

In April of 2014, the Make Fitness a Priority community was established in Overland Park, Kansas with this very goal in mind. We want you to get off the roller coaster ride of temporary success and crashing failure, and we want you to do it among friends with the same goals. There is no prerequisite in your physical abilities, everyone is welcomed. We know all our lives are incredibly unique. Your plan should match your uniqueness. From there, consistency is born and your quality of life skyrockets.

These 30 tips and tricks were created from our Saturday morning Priority Fit Camp, one of our community gatherings. In 2019, we implemented a Trainer Tip to be briefly discussed between circuits, in an effort to make a bigger impact on our community. You may be thinking, “how can one 2-3 minute tip make a big impact?” In the following pages, you will see very clearly that small changes, consistently, is what fuels this long-term success we want so badly for you. If you are a beginner, the amount of information available to you is overwhelming. Doing too much, too fast, will lead to burn out and failure to change.

Take your time to wander slowly through these pages, as it fits in your life. Read one tip per week or per day, as it suits you. Take the time to focus, meditate upon and implement them because, as we said before, small consistent changes will build your path to feeling your best. Find your strength, you were built to not only succeed, but never settle. You were built to Elevate.

DATE BOUGHT: 7/9/2020

WHY I BOUGHT IT: I don't fit into my jeans as easily as I used to. LOL! Honestly, I need to exercise more, if for no other reason than I don't want to be hunched over because of my osteoporosis. I did good on vacation, but now that we are back and my work schedule is hectic, I've only walked one day and used my resistance bands once. Not quite enough. 

Have you read this book? Do you exercise regularly? If not, what obstacles prevent you from making it a priority? No judgment here. I hate exercising. :) 

Tuesday, July 14, 2020

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books That Make Me Smile



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 fun topic for this week's Top Ten Tuesday. It was suggested by Julia at Pages for Thought.

Top Ten Books That Make Me Smile



This book made me smile because the main character is as bold as we wish we all could be.


Danger, humor, and romance make a great combination.


Attractive single women, hot single men, and lots of fun in this one. I haven't read them in a while, but they were all great. 


When I read this in 2014, it had been a long time since I read a romantic comedy. I thoroughly enjoyed it.


The characters in Chattahoochee, Florida made this a fabulous read. You will want to read more about Hattie Davis, Aunt Piddie, and the gang because they are so much fun. This book introduced me to southern fiction. I am grateful for that.


This is my favorite out of all the Little House on the Prairie cast memoirs so far. Alison is as funny in person--I met her in 2014. She has a great sense of humor and can put a smile on your face because she is so likable. 


One of the zaniest books I've ever read. A dragon detective and a mage at a Mensa convention. Need I say more?


The title says it all. The struggle is real. 


I loved everything about this middle grade novel. The main character is an overweight genius who invents the craziest contraptions. When Owen's cookies keep disappearing, he creates a new thief catching device. This book captures the challenges of being different in school--something I have a lot of experience with.


Clare is turning 13, which is way too old to hold onto her imaginary friend, Elsa. Clare is funny, sarcastic, and filled with a ton of emotions. I related to her at that age very well. 

What are some books that made you smile?