BED OF ROSES

TITLE:  BED OF ROSES
AUTHOR:  Nora Roberts
GENRE:  Contemporary Romance
PAGES:  368
FORMAT:  Kindle
RATING: 4.5/5











I am falling in love with this series. I think it's because of the 4 girls who have been friends since childhood. There's just something about it that is desirable. At least to me. This book follows Emma who has fallen for Jack a long time family friend. She wants to take it to the next level, but is unsure if Jack will be on board for that. This was my favorite so far, but it was only the second one. I look forward to reading the other 2. I would definitely recommend this series to any romantic out there. They are very sweet stories. I would give it 4.5, but I can't.

THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN

TITLE: THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN
AUTHOR:  Garth Stein
GENRE:  Fiction
PAGES: 336
FORMAT:  Kindle
RATING:  4.5/5
*****Book Club Read*****










This book was very sweet.  I loved the fact that it was from the view point of a dog.  I would give it 4.5 stars if I could.  It was weird reading about formula 1 tracks and drivers that I knew of.  I have never read a book that mentions them before.  It was a very sad book for me, but I am very glad that I read it.

VISION IN WHITE

TITLE:  VISION IN WHITE
AUTHOR:  Nora Roberts
GENRE:  Contemporary Romance
PAGES:  352
FORMAT:  Kindle
RATING:  4/5












This book was everything that I remembered of Nora Roberts. I haven't read any of her books in a long time and I had forgotten how much I enjoy reading her. This book centered on Mac the photographer for the wedding company Vows. She meets up with Carter, a man she knew back in high school. They start up a relationship, but Mac is scared to take it to the next level. She finally sees what she needed all along was to let it takes it's course. 

This was a very enjoyable read. I will definitely be reading the others in the series.

STARGIRL

TITLE:  STARGIRL
AUTHOR:  Jerry Spinelli
GENRE:  Young Adult
PAGES:  188
FORMAT:  Kindle
RATING:  3/5












This book was typical of a young adult book. Stargirl was a very strange girl. I think she was a bit out there. I can definitely see why she would not fit in in High School. It was a light fluffy read. Dont' want to read the other books. I read this for a challenge on one of my goodread's groups.

1022 EVERGREEN PLACE

TITLE:  1022 EVERGREEN PLACE
AUTHOR:  Debbie Macomber
GENRE:  Contemporary Romance
PAGES:  368
FORMAT:  Kindle
RATING:  4/5









I absolutely love this series.  I really loved learning about the letters.  I absolutely felt bad for Rachel and how she had to deal with Jolene.  That girl is very spoiled and I just wanted to hit her upside the head.  I really look forward to reading each and every one of these books in this series.  Would definitely recommend this series.

LITTLE BEE

TITLE:  LITTLE BEE
AUTHOR:  Chris Cleave
GENRE:  Fiction
PAGES:  288
FORMAT:  Kindle
RATING:  3/5
*****Book Club Read*****










I read this book for book club. I did not like the book. I was going to give it 2 stars, but I did want to see how it ended so I'll give it 3. It is about a Nigerian refugee named Little Bee. She goes into a detention center and is let out after 2 years. She has a driver's license from a man that she met on a beach in Nigeria. She calls him when she is let go and says she is coming to visit. When she arrives there, she is welcomed in by Sarah, the man's wife. From there, Sarah tries to help Little Bee become free. I did not like Sarah. She had been having an affair on her husband and thought it justified. I just had no feelings for her at all. I did not like her. 

This book drug on a little and seemed a little hard to read for me. I would not recommend this book at all.

ROOM

TITLE:  ROOM
AUTHOR:  Emma Donoghue
GENRE:  Fiction
PAGES:  321
FORMAT:  Kindle
RATING:  5/5












This book was wonderful.  It was well written and made you feel as though a 5 year old were telling you the story.  It was such a sad thing to know that all this child knew was what his surroundings were for the first 5 years of his life.  We take for granted everything in our life from birth to death.  He had to learn new things that we take for granted.  He kept wanting to go back to what he knew and what felt like home to him even if it was a nightmare for his mom.  Such a heart wrenching story.  Recommend.  I would definitely read other books by this author.

ANGEL'S PEAK

TITLE:  ANGEL'S PEAK
AUTHOR:  Robyn Carr
GENRE:  Contemporary Romance
PAGES:  373
FORMAT: Kindle
RATING: 4/5












This book was a great addition to this series. We find Sean Riordan finding out his lost love Franci has kept a secret from him. A big secret. A life changing secret. We follow his journey in dealing with this secret and in learning just how much he wants to be with Franci.

We also follow his mother Maureen in her quest for love. She hasn't dated since her husband died 12 years prior and she is venturing out into the dating world.

We look in on the various couples that live in Virgin River. I absolutely love this series. Would recommend this.

STILL MISSING

TITLE:  STILL MISSING
AUTHOR:  Chevy Stevens
GENRE:  Fiction, Thriller
PAGES:  340--Hardcover
FORMAT:  Kindle
RATING:  4 1/2
*****Book Club Read*****











All I have to say is Wow.  This book was very disturbing to read.  It is about a 32 year old real estate agent who is abducted.  This book is from a new author and was really well written.  It is in first person from the view point of Annie, the real estate agent.  She goes through so much with her captor, but that doesn't even compare to what she finds out at the end of the book.  A must read.  I would give it 4.5 stars, but I can't.

SWEET TROUBLE

TITLE:  SWEET TROUBLE
AUTHOR:  Susan Mallery
GENRE:  Contemporary Romance
PAGES:  379
FORMAT:  Paperback
RATING: 4/5











This was my favorite book of the trilogy.  Jesse and Matt have a history together...and a child.  Matt is very hurt by Jesse's betrayal.  He wants to get back at her.  I was very angry at Matt through out this whole book.  He was acting like such a big baby and I just wanted to smack him upside the head.  This series was very enjoyable.

SWEET SPOT

TITLE:  SWEET SPOT
AUTHOR:  Susan Mallery
GENRE:  Contemporary Romance
PAGES:  463
FORMAT:  Paperback
RATING:  4/5











This is the second book in this series.  In it we follow Nicole who is twins with Claire.  She meets Hawk, the local high school football coach.  She wants everyone to think that she is one tough cookie, but actually she just wants a family and to be loved.  She helps by taking in the star quarterback who was kicked out of his foster home and from then on, everything in her life changes.

I really like this series.  It is a good one to start out on.

SWEET TALK

TITLE:  SWEET TALK
AUTHOR:  Susan Mallery
GENRE:  Contemporary Romance
PAGES:  378
FORMAT:  Paperback
RATING:  4/5











I have wanted to read a book by Susan Mallery for awhile now. I thought this series would be a good starting point. This book is the first in the series and features Claire who is a concert pianist. She travels the world and is very famous. She has never really dated and is already 27. Her family owns a bakery and her sister Nicole has surgery and needs help to run it. Unbeknownst to Claire, Nicole did not ask for the help. And starts the journey of patching up family matters. Along the way, she meets Wyatt and his daughter Amy. A wonderfully written book with a happy ending. I look forward to starting the next book in the series.

THE HELP

TITLE:  THE HELP
AUTHOR:  Kathryn Stockett
GENRE:  Fiction
PAGES:  451
FORMAT:  Paperback
RATING:  5/5
*****Book Club Read*****









This was such a wonderful book.  It is from 3 different viewpoints in the 1960s Civil Rights Movement.  It is written exactly like the characters would talk.  I was very embarrassed by the way that blacks were treated then.  It is very disgraceful.  I am glad that this book was written.  It opens up people's eyes to what an atrocity their actions really were.  I would recommend this book.  5 stars.

TITLE: THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY
AUTHOR:  Douglas Adams
GENRE: Fantasy
PAGES: 215
FORMAT:  Hardback
RATING:  4/5












This book was not a normal read for me.  I don't normally read books of this genre.  I had watched the movie with Dustin and quite liked it, so I thought that I would give the book a try.  It was a little out there for me, but I still liked it.  I don't think that I will be reading any of the other books in the series.  I had to keep reminding myself that the book was written in 1979 and not in this time.  It was very well written considering when it was written--all the computer and technical references.  All in all, it was an enjoyable and fast read.

FORBIDDEN FALLS

TITLE: FORBIDDEN FALLS
AUTHOR:  Robyn Carr
GENRE: Contemporary Romance
PAGES: 384
FORMAT:  Kindle
RATING:  4/5












This is the 8th book in the Virgin River series.  We follow Noah who is the new Presbyterian minister that purchased the old church in Virgin River.  He needs to get it renovated and up to date so that he can start services in the small city.  He hires Ellie to be his assistant.  Ellie was a former dancer who is trying to get a respectable job so that she can get her kids back from her ex husband.  He was awarded custody and he wasn't even their father.  Noah falls for her and begins a romance with her.


Through out this book, we stick to Noah and Ellie.  Normally, there are other people who intertwine, but this one was a bit different.  It was like the whole book was about just the two of them.  A lot happened, but I would have rather it been like the other books and spent some time on other people.


I really liked this book and would recommend this series.  They are a great read.

WHILE MY SISTER SLEEPS

TITLE: WHILE MY SISTER SLEEPS
AUTHOR:  Barbara Delinsky
GENRE: Fiction
PAGES:  384
FORMAT:  Paperback
RATING:  4/5












This was the second book that I have read by Barbara Delinsky.  I like her writing style.  It is easy to be drawn into the story.

This is a story about the Snow family.   There is Kathryn (mom), Charlie (dad), Robin (oldest), Chris, and Molly.  Robin is a marathon runner and star of the family.  She collapses on a run and is found by a man running behind her.  He starts CPR and gets her heart going again.  Robin has had a heart attack.  She is 32 years old.  While she is unconscious in the hospital, her family learns to deal with losing Robin.  They find out things about her that no one ever knew.  It is hard to come to terms with finding out someone you thought you knew was entirely different that what you thought.

Everyone comes to terms with Robin's issue in different ways, but soon everyone sees what needs to be done in order to make sure that Robin's wishes are granted.  The family learn a lot about each other along the way and Robin has left the most precious gift that she could have:  understanding in a family.

I liked this book a lot.  I gave it 4 stars.

PARADISE VALLEY

TITLE: PARADISE VALLEY
AUTHOR:  Robyn Carr
GENRE: Fiction/Romance
PAGES:  410
FORMAT:  Paperback
RATING:  4/5












This is the seventh book of this series.  Dan Brady comes back to Virgin River after serving time in jail for growing pot.  He wants to rebuild his life and has chosen Virgin River to do it.  People in the city are very cautious of this because of his past with growing pot.  He slowly wedges himself into everyone's daily life and people see that he is not as bad as they thought.

Rick has been injured in Iraq and has come home to Virgin River to recuperate.  He is very angry about his injury and tries to push everyone he loves away.  He does not want to be with Liz anymore and she gives him his space, while at the same time makes it hard for him to see her.

We also see into Abby and Cameron's relationship.  They move in together and start getting to know each other before their twins come into the picture.  Their mother's want them to get married and can see how much the couple are in love with each other.  We see the birth of the twins and the start of a wonderful family.

Walt and Muriel each work towards a commitment.  Walt finds it hard because Muriel is working on a movie and has been away from him for awhile.  He finally gets over his pride and goes to visit with her on set.  They find that they do not want to live without the other and make promises not to leave the other alone.

I absolutely love looking into these people's lives.  I know that this series will have to come to an end soon enough, but I love all the snippets of people from past novels.  It is wonderful how they are all intertwined together.  I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys contemporary romance.

TEMPTATION RIDGE

TITLE: TEMPTATION RIDGE
AUTHOR:  Robyn Carr
GENRE: Fiction/Romance
PAGES:  416
FORMAT:  Paperback
RATING:  4/5












This is book number 6 in this wonderful series.  We follow Luke who was in the Army for 20 years and has decided to retire and move to Virgin River.  There he meets Shelby, the daughter of a General.  Luke has misgivings about hooking up with Shelby because he is so much older and more experienced than her.  She talks him into it and they start a romance.


Shelby falls in love with Luke and tries everything in her power to make him want to be with her.  We also continue to follow Walt and Muriel's relationship.  Muriel decides to do one more movie at the end of her career and moves back to Hollywood for 6 months to film a movie.  Walt is left wondering if she will come back.


We also meet a new couple:  Abby and Cameron.  They had a one night stand which turned into a pregnancy.  Abby is unsure of what to do because she is hiding out from her ex husband who is rich and famous.  Will they make it as a couple?


I really love this series.  The author really knows how to bring you into the character's lives.  She doesn't make it feel phony or made up.  It feels real.  That is what makes such a great story.

RATING:  4/5

FIREFLY LANE

TITLE: FIREFLY LANE
AUTHOR:  Kristan Hannah
GENRE: Fiction
PAGES:  528
FORMAT:  Kindle
RATING:  4/5
*****Book Club Read*****











This book was very well written.  It was a story that started out with two young girls trying to find their way in the world.  Each one had been left out in their own way.  They decided to become best friends and they stay best friends for 30 years.  There were many ups and downs in their relationship.

You had Katie who had the intact family and you had Tully who did not really have a family.  Tully came to live with Katie and they stayed as close as sisters for the rest of their lives.  Tully was always looking for the next big thing.  Katie was always looking for a husband and children.  She wanted the family life.  Tully wanted fame and fortune.  This book was set in the 1970s-2000s so they had to overcome a lot of obstacles that the normal female would not have to overcome.

Tully makes it in the news world, but feels that some things are missing.  Katie is content to marry and be a stay at home mom.  Each one has a hard job in their own way.  In the end, they find out that they were always the best of friends and that they would do anything for each other.

I don't want to give anything away, but the ending had me crying like a little baby.  I just couldn't handle the situations based on my life experiences.  It was tough.

I would definitely recommend this book to others to read.  This was my first book by her and I will definitely be reading more.

RATING: 4/5