Stranded by Dani Pettrey

When her friend vanishes from a cruise ship, reporter Darcy St. James isn’t satisfied with their explanation that she simply left her job of her own accord. Something isn’t lining up, and Darcy believes the only way to find the truth is to put herself in Abby’s position.

Within days, Darcy learns her friend wasn’t the only person to disappear mysteriously. Last summer, a woman vanished under almost identical circumstances.

Gage McKenna has taken a summer-long stint leading adventure excursions for the passengers of various cruise lines that dock for a few days of sightseeing. He’s surprised to find Darcy working aboard one of the ships, investigating a troubling report.

Something sinister is going on, and the deeper they dig, the more Gage fears they’ve only discovered the tip of the iceberg.

The first two books in this series, Submerged and Shattered were page turning delights. I was looking forward to Darcy and Gage's story in this third installment. The suspense and investigation of Darcy's missing friend overshadowed their romance and I was a bit disappointed. The action and adventure was non-stop and well written - it kept me glued to the pages to find out what happened to Abby.  I found myself more interested in Kayden and Jake and hope they get their own story.

Author: Dani Pettrey
Published: September 2013
Pages: 342
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense
Source: Bethany House/Librarything
Finished: 9/22/13



This complimentary review copy was received thankfully from Bethany House and Librarything's Early Reviewer program and in no way influenced my review of this book. These are my personal thoughts and reactions to the reading of the book.

Starting Now

For years Libby Morgan dreamed only of making partner in her competitive, high-pressure law firm. She sacrificed everything for her career—her friends, her marriage, her chance at creating a family. When her boss calls Libby into his office, she assumes it will finally be good news, but nothing can prepare her for the shocking reality: She’s been let go and must rebuild her entire life . . . starting now.

With no job prospects in sight, Libby reaches out to old friends and spends her afternoons at A Good Yarn, the local knitting store. There she forms a close bond with Lydia, the sweet-natured shop owner; Lydia’s spirited teenage daughter, Casey; and Casey’s best friend, Ava, a shy yet troubled girl who will shape Libby’s future in surprising and profound ways.

As A Good Yarn becomes a second home—and the women a new kind of family—Libby relishes the different person she’s become. She even finds time for romance with a charming and handsome doctor who seems to be her perfect match. But just as everything is coming together, Libby must make a choice that could forever change the life she holds so dear.

I love the Blossom Street series, and am always glad to return. We are sucked right into Libby's life and feel for her when she is let go from her law firm. She thinks it will be a piece of cake getting another job, and is surprised to find that is not the case. As she is waiting and looking, she stops into the Yarn Store on Blossom Street and her journey to a new life begins. It is not an easy journey as she meets beloved characters and a few new ones. A quick, easy, enjoyable read..

Author: Debbie Macomber
Published: April 2013
Pages: 352
Genre: Contemporary
Source: Random House/LibraryThing Early Reviewer
Finished: 4/1/13



This complimentary review copy was received thankfully from Random House and LibraryThing Early Reviewer and in no way influenced my review of this book. These are my personal thoughts and reactions to the reading of the book.

The Things I Do For You

Bailey Jordan has loved her husband, Brad, since they were ten years old. She’s followed him on every adventure–opening a sweater store in Seattle, a café in Colorado, a surf shop in Santa Monica. Each time, she’s picked up the pieces when things fell apart. But now, it’s her turn. Bailey has a successful real estate career in Manhattan, and she’s eager to start a family–until a car crash leaves Brad in a coma and changes their lives forever.

Awakening after his near-death experience, Brad has a new mission. He buys a lighthouse on the Hudson River, planning to turn it into a B&B. Grateful to have Brad alive, Bailey tries to make his dream her own. The lighthouse is beautiful, but the challenges–renovating, bringing in supplies by boat, navigating the locals and guests–are enormous. And then Bailey discovers a secret in Brad’s past that compels her to question her husband, her marriage, and how far she’ll go to keep them both. . .

Both Brad and Bailey drove me nuts for various reasons. Even though I wanted to smack them both, I was invested in the story and wanted to know what happens.  I was surprised at how emotional the book became and enjoyed the secondary characters.  The last 1/3 of the book really took off and I could not put it down until the end.

Author: Mary Carter
Published: July 2012
Pages: 365
Genre: Contemporary/Women's Fiction
Source: LibraryThings Early Reviewer/Kensington Publishing
Finished: 8/27/12

The Garden of Happy Endings

After tragedy shatters her small community in Seattle, the Reverend Elsa Montgomery has a crisis of faith. Returning to her hometown of Pueblo, Colorado, she seeks work in a local soup kitchen. Preparing nourishing meals for folks in need, she keeps her hands busy while her heart searches for understanding.

Meanwhile, her sister, Tamsin, as pretty and colorful as Elsa is unadorned and steadfast, finds her perfect life shattered when she learns that her financier husband is a criminal. Enduring shock and humiliation as her beautiful house and possessions are seized, the woman who had everything now has nothing but the clothes on her back.

But when the going gets tough, the tough get growing. A community garden in the poorest, roughest part of town becomes a lifeline. Creating a place of hope and sustenance opens Elsa and Tamsin to the renewing power of rich earth, sunshine, and the warm cleansing rain of tears. While Elsa finds her heart blooming in the care of a rugged landscaper, Tamsin discovers the joy of losing herself in the act of giving—and both women discover that with time and care, happy endings flourish.

I picked up this book because of the author, having no idea what it was about, but knowing it would have a dog or two.  Another delightful read! The subject matter was a bit more heavy than her other books, but it was well handled and never preachy.  I thoroughly enjoyed every character and definitely felt that this book was/is very personal to the author.

Author: Barbara O'Neal
Published:
Pages: 398
Genre: Women's Fiction
Source: Random House/LibraryThing
Finished: 8/17/12

Wife 22

Maybe it was my droopy eyelids.
Maybe it was because I was about to turn the same age my mother was when I lost her.
Maybe it was because after almost twenty years of marriage my husband and I seemed to be running out of things to say to each other.

But when the anonymous online study called “Marriage in the 21st Century” showed up in my inbox, I had no idea how profoundly it would change my life. It wasn’t long before I was assigned both a pseudonym (Wife 22) and a caseworker (Researcher 101). And, just like that, I found myself answering questions.

7. Sometimes I tell him he’s snoring when he’s not snoring so he’ll sleep in the guest room and I can have the bed all to myself.

61. Chet Baker on the tape player. He was cutting peppers for the salad. I looked at those hands and thought, I am going to have this man’s children.

67. To not want what you don’t have. What you can’t have. What you shouldn’t have.

32. That if we weren’t careful, it was possible to forget one another.

Before the study, my life was an endless blur of school lunches and doctor’s appointments, family dinners, budgets, and trying to discern the fastest-moving line at the grocery store.

I was Alice Buckle: spouse of William and mother to Zoe and Peter, drama teacher and Facebook chatter, downloader of memories and Googler of solutions. But these days, I’m also Wife 22. And somehow, my anonymous correspondence with Researcher 101 has taken an unexpectedly personal turn. Soon, I’ll have to make a decision—one that will affect my family, my marriage, my whole life. But at the moment, I’m too busy answering questions.

As it turns out, confession can be a very powerful aphrodisiac.

It takes a bit to get used to the way the story is told using various forms of social media, Google searches, emails and Alice's answers to the survey questions.  Once I got the flow of the book I was hooked.  Even though Alice is a few years younger than I am, and at times I did not like her,  I could relate to her life.  This is laugh out-loud funny at times. I saw the ending coming and thought Alice's way back was not as complete as I would have wanted. An entertaining debut novel.

Author: Melanie Gideon
Published: May 2012
Pages: 400
Genre: Women's Fiction
Source:  LibraryThing Early Reviewer/Random House
Finished: 5-4-12
3 Bears



This complimentary review copy was received thankfully from LibraryThing Early Reviewer Program and Random House Publishing Group and in no way influenced my review of this book. These are my personal thoughts and reactions to the reading of the book.

A Lasting Impression

Claire Laurent’s greatest aspiration is to paint something that will bring her acclaim. Yet her father insists she work as a copyist. A forger. When she’s forced to flee from New Orleans to Nashville only a year after the War Between the States has ended, her path collides with attorney Sutton Monroe. She considers him a godsend for not turning her in to the authorities. But after he later refuses to come to her aid, Claire fears she’s sorely misjudged the man. Finding herself among the elite of Nashville's society, Claire believes her dream to create a lasting impression in the world of art is within reach––but only if her fraudulent past remains hidden.

The Federal Army has destroyed Sutton’s home and confiscated his land, and threatens to destroy his family’s honor. His determination to reclaim what belongs to him and to right a grievous wrong reveals a truth that may cost him more than he ever imagined––as well as the woman he loves.

I really enjoyed this first book of a new series. It was full of great characters looking for a new start for a variety of reasons.  The setting is so richly described that I felt I was right there with the characters, and the historical detail was wonderful.  Claire and Sutton have great chemistry and there are many sweet moments between them as their relationship progresses.  I look forward to the second books of the series.

Author: Tamara Alexander
Published: November 2011
Pages: 432
Genre: Historical Fiction
Source: LibraryThing Early Reviewers and Bethany House
Finished: 11/11/11



This complimentary review copy was received thankfully from Bethany House Publishers and LibraryThing Early Reviewers and in no way influenced my review of this book. These are my personal thoughts and reactions to the reading of the book.

Save Me

Rose McKenna volunteers as a lunch mom in her daughter Melly’s school in order to keep an eye on Amanda, a mean girl who’s been bullying her daughter. Her fears come true when the bullying begins, sending Melly to the bathroom in tears. Just as Rose is about to follow after her daughter, a massive explosion goes off in the kitchen, sending the room into chaos. Rose finds herself faced with the horrifying decision of whether or not to run to the bathroom to rescue her daughter or usher Amanda to safety. She believes she has accomplished both, only to discover that Amanda, for an unknown reason, ran back into the school once out of Rose's sight. In an instance, Rose goes from hero to villain as the small community blames Amanda’s injuries on her. In the days that follow, Rose's life starts to fall to pieces, Amanda’s mother decides to sue, her marriage is put to the test, and worse, when her daughter returns to school, the bullying only intensifies. Rose must take matters into her own hands and get down to the truth of what really happened that fateful day in order to save herself, her marriage and her family.

Lisa's latest book is a page turning, suspenseful read, but it does raise ethical, moral and thoughtful questions. How far would you go to protect a loved one? Do we step in to protect our children when they need us, or does that make things worse? How doe we convey to our children (and some adults) that bullying is serious business and it consequences are heartbreaking. Because we know the story from Rose's POV, we find ourselves immediately sympathetic to her. As I was reading, I wondered how we would react if we were told the story from another mom's POV. Would we be as sympathetic to her? A great read that does get a bit over the top, but still well worth the time.

Author:  Lisa Scottoline
Published: April 2011
Pages: 373
Genre: Suspense/Thriller
Source: LibraryThing's Early Reviewer/ St. Martin's Press
Finished: 5-22-11



This complimentary review copy was received thankfully from St. Martin's Press and Librarything's Early Reviewer and in no way influenced my review of this book.  These are my personal thoughts and reactions to the reading of the book.”

Friendship Bread

An anonymous gift sends a woman on a journey she never could have anticipated.


One afternoon, Julia Evarts and her five-year-old daughter, Gracie, arrive home to find an unexpected gift on the front porch: a homemade loaf of Amish Friendship Bread and a simple note: I hope you enjoy it. Also included are a bag of starter, instructions on how to make the bread herself, and a request to share it with others.

Still reeling from a personal tragedy that left her estranged from the sister who was once her best friend, Julia remains at a loss as to how to move on with her life. She’d just as soon toss the anonymous gift, but to make Gracie happy, she agrees to bake the bread.

When Julia meets two newcomers to the small town of Avalon, Illinois, she sparks a connection by offering them her extra bread starter. Widow Madeline Davis is laboring to keep her tea salon afloat while Hannah Wang de Brisay, a famed concert cellist, is at a crossroads, her career and marriage having come to an abrupt end. In the warm kitchen of Madeline’s tea salon, the three women forge a friendship that will change their lives forever.

In no time, everyone in Avalon is baking Amish Friendship Bread. But even as the town unites for a benevolent cause and Julia becomes ever closer to her new friends, she realizes the profound necessity of confronting the painful past she shares with her sister.

It has been 15 years since I've enjoyed Friendship Bread (cake is what we called it). It was a bittersweet treat. When you first receive a starter batch you had 10 days of assignments on how to take care of it and then finally got to bake it and taste it's goodness. Then you had to give your divided batter away. Soon you dreaded the offer of more dough!  My kids had a great time checking on their batter and reading to find out what they had to do to it that day.

This book brought those memories to the surface with delight.  It is easy to relate to and root for these characters. A heartwarming, emotional story of friendship, loss, grief, reconciliation and forgiveness.  Nestled between the lives of our characters are little vignettes of others touched by receiving friendship bread and a starter package.

The book includes recipes and tips. I am so tempted to ask if anyone has a starter batch!

Author: Darien Gee
Published: April 5, 2011
Pages: 363 (ARC)
Genre: Fiction
Source: LibraryThing's Early Reviewer
Finished: 3-19-11
4 Bears



This complimentary review copy was received thankfully from Random House Publishing Group thorough Library Thing's Early Reviewer program and in no way influenced my review of this book.  These are my personal thoughts and reactions to the reading of the book.”

Night Road

For eighteen years, Jude Farraday has put her children's needs above her own, and it shows-her twins, Mia and Zach-are bright and happy teenagers. When Lexi Baill moves into their small, close knit community, no one is more welcoming than Jude. Lexi, a former foster child with a dark past, quickly becomes Mia's best friend. Then Zach falls in love with Lexi and the three become inseparable.

Jude does everything to keep her kids on track for college and out of harm's way. It has always been easy-- until senior year of high school. Suddenly she is at a loss. Nothing feels safe anymore; every time her kids leave the house, she worries about them.

On a hot summer's night her worst fears come true. One decision will change the course of their lives. In the blink of an eye, the Farraday family will be torn apart and Lexi will lose everything. In the years that follow, each must face the consequences of that single night and find a way to forget...or the courage to forgive.

Kristin Hannah does family relationship fiction very well. As a mother whose youngest graduated high school last June, I related to this book immediately as it address every mother's struggle between being a guiding force but letting go - trying to prevent their worst fears from happening. Some may find what happens a bit melodramatic and the ending wrapping up too neatly, but I was riveted and could not put it down. If you are a fan of Kristin's books, you will like this one.

Author: Kristin Hannah
Published: March 2011
Pages: 385 (ARC)
Genre: Fiction/Women's Fiction
Source: Librarything Early Reviewers (Thank you for this review copy)
3 Bears