THE CHRISTMAS WEDDING by James Patterson and Richard DiLallo

Another very quick read from James Patterson.  A cute holiday story about a widow and her 4 grown children.  Gaby is getting married-her husband passed away a few short years ago.  She wants all her children and their families to come home.  The last time they were all together was for their fathers funeral.   So, after being asked by not 1 not 2 but 3 men to marry them.  She leaves the identity of the groom for everyone to find out at the wedding-including the groom.

AMAZON - The Christmas Wedding

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

1225 CHRISTMAS TREE LANE a Cedar Cove Novel by Debbie Macomber

Another fast and enjoyable story.   A sweet holiday tale.

Come back to Cedar Cove, with it's small town friendliness and the group of people we have come to know; through Debbie's Cedar Cove Series.

Here we meet Beth Morehouse, a divorcee with 2 college age daughters.  She owns the Christmas tree farm.   She moved to Cedar Cove after her divorce, when she fell in love with the Christmas Tree farm that was for sale.   Her daughters are coming for Christmas and she and her ex husband are in for a " surprise".   Beth was told her ex Kent wanted to spend the holidays with her and the girls and Kent was told Beth wanted him to join them.  A little matchmaking and Christmas magic is afoot.
But, what happens when Kent shows up with Danielle?    And, in the true life of small towns; we also visit with the other town folk.

Do you want a break from the rush of the holidays?   This is it

AMAZON - 1225 Christmas Tree Lane a Cedar Cove Novel

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

THE CASUAL VACANCY by J. K. Rowling

This book took me a while.  First off it is 503 pages long.   Then the language differences.   The story is set in England, in a small town.

You meet some of the town folks.  The title comes from the term of the same name, which means in part; when councillor dies and leaves a vacant spot.
With that, one of the councillor's die.  We follow along the daily lives of several of the people that live in the same small town and adjoining town.  We follow along in their lives, and troubles.  You follow several families.
Once I got into the story, I liked it.  Beware of swearing and innuendos.

AMAZON - The Casual Vacancy

SANDY SAYS 2/3 STARS

HER MOTHER'S SHADOW by Diane Chamberlain

Another story about Kiss River and the people that live there.  Here you have the story of Lacey O'Neill.  She lives in the lighthouse keepers house along with her brother Clay and his wife Gina and their adopted daughter Rani.  Lacey is a stained glass artist, working along side her biological father Tom.  Lacey's childhood friend Jessica and her daughter are in an auto accident in Arizona, where Jessica lives.  When the unthinkable happens and Jessica dies, Lacey is named as Mackenzie's guardian.  How does a single woman, handle an 11 year old girl that is scared and angry at her world being turned upside down?   And, can Lacey find Mackenzie's birth father?
I have enjoyed every book of Diane's that I have read.

AMAZON - Her Mother's Shadow

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

BACK ON BLOSSOM STREET by Debbie Macomber

I don't think I have found a book by Debbie, that I do not like.

Here we follow the lives of Lydia and her sister Margaret as they work in Lydia's yarn shop.  And, in the car jacking of Margaret's daughter and things can get pretty rough.
Then you have Alix who works at the bakery and is planning her marriage to Jordan; a minister.  Alix does not feel worthy of Jordan because of her upbringing, which was not in or around a church but in closer line with the streets.  She ends up allowing Jordan's mother and her mentor pretty  much take over the wedding planning.  Which causes her to feel left out.
Bring in a tenant above the yarn shop a young widow who is grieving the loss of her husband and hiding from her previous boss.
They all decide to take a class at the yarn store.
You have Debbie's uncanny knack for weaving a story in and around multiple characters

AMAZON - Back on Blossom Street

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

KISS RIVER by Diane Chamberlain

A good read, but I kept losing interest.   This story goes back and forth from the 1942 to present day.  Gina travels to The Kiss River Lighthouse in the Outer Banks of North Carolina.   She is from Washington state.     She meets the brother and sister that live in the lighthouse keepers home.  Clay, the brother is recovering from the death of his wife.  His sister Lacey is the town helper, she is always helping others.  They invite her to stay. She is very interested in the lighthouse lens, although a hurricane several years ago took the part of the lighthouse down.   While there Gina is reading from a girls diary that she has brought with her.  The diary she has is written by the daughter of the lighthouse keepers.  And, Gina is trying to adopt a girl from India that has serious health problems.

AMAZON - Kiss River


SANDY SAYS 2/3 STARS

THE GIRL WHO CHASED THE MOON by Sarah Addison Allen

This is the first novel I have read of Sarah's, I really enjoyed it.  It was a quick read and I finished the book in a day.
Emily is 17 and goes to meet her grandfather for the first time.  He lives in a little North Carolina town.  Her mother was killed in an auto accident.  For a short while Emily lived with her mothers friend.  Her mother never talked about her childhood, so Emily had no idea what she would find.  Her grandfather is a quiet, gentle giant of a man.  He stands over 8 feet tall.
Emily soon meets her next door neighbors and begins to find out about her mother.  Which was not the mother she knew, the teenager she learns about is very different.  She also meets Win, the teenage son of a prominent family.   And, then there are strange happenings.

AMAZON - The Girl Who Chased The Moon

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

THE SKY IS FALLING By Sidney Sheldon

This is a good book even for the second time.  I had read this before and forgotten, so I picked it up to read.  Once I started reading, it was familier but I could not remember how it ended, so I finished it.  The tv show by the same name, is not the same story.

What happens when one of the most popular and famous families in America die one by one?   Dana Evans is a television news reporter.   She covered the war in Sarajevo, where she met an orphan that lost his arm in a bomb blast.  She becomes his foster mother and brings him back to the states.  She is dating the sports newscaster and they plan to wed.   Everything is going great.  Dana is going to do a tv show about old crimes when something about the Winthrops death nag at her.  Add, her finances ex wife becomes sick and needs him, then there are trips following leads; and you have a story that will keep you interested.

AMAZON - The Sky Is Falling

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

TICK TOCK by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge

If you like James Patterson, you will like this book.   One thing I like are the short chapters, they offer a great stopping point.
NYPD detective Mike Bennett is on vacation with his family of 10 adopted children, their nanny and his grandfather.  They are at the family home at the beach about an hour out of NYC.   His wife had passed away, before that they started adopting abused and orphaned children of any race.   While at the beach the kids have run ins with a local family.   Then bombings and murders start happening in NYC, so Mike heads not the city to work during the days.   Add the start of a relationship with the nanny and a friend from the FBI that comes in to help with the case and we will see what happens.

AMAZON  - Tick Tock

SANDY SAYS 3/3 stars

SUGAR COOKIE MURDER by Joanne Fluke

Ready for  a mystery that includes recipes?  Then this is the book for you.
A quick and predictable book.   It is Christmas time in Minnesota and in a little town called Lake Eden, they are about to host their annual Christmas Buffet.   Hannah is writing a cookbook and will be using some of the recipes shared from the residents.  
Hannah also owns a bakery.  During the buffet they have a blizzard come down upon them as well as a murder.  Mike works for the sheriffs office and Hannah's date, so she decides to help solve the murder.
The story is not that long as about 1/2 of the book is recipes

AMAZON - Sugar Cookie Murder

SANDY SAYS 2/3 STARS

NORTHERN MAGIC-ALASKA by Janet Dailey an Americana story

Another quick and easy read.  This is set in Alaska, and as I am reading this; I find myself wanting to see Alaska for myself.  Maybe one day.
Shannon flys to Alaska to meet up with her fiance, who went ahead to find them a place to live and a job.  He sends her a one way ticket and she is on her way.  Her parents plan to follow the next weekend for the wedding.  But, when she arrives Rick is not there.  Nor is he at his apartment and she is unable to find him.   She goes to a charter air company that Rick had written her about.  Only to find that he does not work for them.  So, starts the story of finding her fiance.  Will she find him?

AMAZON - Northern Magic-Alaska

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

AT HOME IN DRY CREEK by Janet Tronstad

A fast and easy read.  Even though you could figure out the story way in advance, I still enjoyed this book.
Barbara is looking to get herself and her two children away from her husband who is a criminal.  She tracks down a relative and moves to a small town in Montana.  Her husband beats her up and the local sheriff stayed with her at the hospital.  One reason was that the FBI want to know is she knows anything about the bank robbery her husband took part in.  They still have 1 suspect and need to locate the money.  Can Barbara and her children make a home here, or will they ever be accepted as one of the towns own?

AMAZON - At Home In Dry Creek

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

EDDIE'S BASTARD by William Kowalski

This is the story of an abandoned baby boy.  He was left on the doorstep of his grandfathers home.  His father had died.   His grandfather kept him away from the town people and to himself.
I started this book twice and was not able to get into the story or to finish the book.

AMAZAON - Eddie's Bastard

SANDY SAYS 1/3 STARS

DANCE WITH ME by Luanne Rice

I throughly enjoyed this book.   It is a quick read and even though I figured out the ending I liked it.
Margaret is getting older and having health problems, she lives at home with her youngest daughter Sylvie; in Rhode Island.   Margaret had been a teacher and a principal raising 2 daughters alone after her husband abandoned them.  Sylvie was a school librarian and her oldest daughter Jane was a baker with a well known shop in New York City.  Jane comes home to their small town to help Sylvie decide what to do with their mother and for another reason.  She gave her baby up for adoption at birth, can she reconnect with her?

AMAZON - Dance With Me

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

SPECIAL ASSIGNEMENT: BABY A MEN IN UNIFORM BOOK by Debra Webb

Court Brody returns to the small town in Montana. He is on special assignment for the FBI. He is to infiltrate a group that may be planning attacks. He meets up with Sabrina Korbett. Court's family lived on the ranch that Sabrina's family owned. She was a little younger than Court. They were together 2 times the last time when Court returned to bury his mother. What Court does not know is Sabrina has a toddler son named Ryan-Court's son. She will go to just about any means to prevent Court from finding out. She can't bear to lose Court again. Then there is Charlie, Sabrina's teenage brother that she is raising. After her father died her mother re married and moved out of state and left Sabrina to raise Charlie. Only Charlie has gotten involved in the group Court is investigating.

 I got book with this book and did not finish it.

 AMAZON - Special Assignment: Baby A Men In Uniform Book

 SANDY SAYS 1/3 STARS

A RANDALL RETURNS A MEN IN UNIFORM BOOK by Judy Christemnerry

Another fast and easy read!   We travel to Rawhide, Wyoming; just before Christmas.  Mike Davis leaves the Chicago, Illinois police department to take over for his uncle the sheriff of Rawhide.  His uncle has suffered a heart attack and decides to retire and move.  Caroline Randall is a Dr working in Chicago and returns home to Rawhide to be a partner in a family practice clinic and emergency center.  She also needs to heal some hurts.  Her whole family lives and ranches there.  What will happen......?

AMAZON - A Randall Returns

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

TROUBLE IN PARADISE. By Robin Lee Hatcher

A faith based love story. Shayla Vincent lives in Portland, and comes from a big family-6 brothers and sisters. She has always dreamed of being a writer. When her great aunt dies and leaves her the house, and she is out of work she takes that as a sign to move to Idaho. Her next door neighbor is a cattle rancher Ian O'Connell. He is widowed. They make a deal to trade work, Shayla for giving the ranch house a good cleaning and Ian to help get Shayla's house ready for winter. When Ian's brother in law gets a chance to take a temporary job overseas, Ian takes care of his twin nieces. One thing leads to another and you have a quick read.

 AMAZON - Trouble In Paradise

 SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

THE CHOICE by Nicholas Sparks

Can you go wrong with a Nicholas Sparks book?  I don't think so.
Here is the story of Gabby Holland and Travis Parker.   Gabby has finished school as a physician assistant and Travis is a veterinarian.  Travis grew up in Beaufort, North Carolina.  Gabby moved there for her job.  They live next door to each other on the water.  Travis still hangs out with his childhood friends, although now the gatherings include their wives and children.  One thing leads to another.  They get married and have a family when a terrible accident happens.  Will she survive, will their marriage?

AMAZON - The Choice

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

THE LAST SONG by Nicholas Sparks

Another fantastic book from Nicholas! Here you have a story of divorced parents, a rebellious teenage daughter and her brother. Veronica better known as "Ronnie" lives in New York City with her mom, and her brother Jonah. Dad-Steve was once a teacher at Jilliard and a former concert pianist. Ronnie played at Carnegie Hall when she was 13, but has quit playing. She is also starting to get into trouble. Dad has moved to a little beach town in North Carolina. The kids are sent to spend the summer with him. Partly because dad is dying. Can he get through to the kids.

 AMAZON - The Last Song

 SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

FLIRTING WITH PETE by Barbara Delinsky

This book bogged me down, it was slow reading.  But, I got almost through it.
You have a couple stories that mix together to form this story.
Casey Ellis was raised by her mother, she was the product of a 1 night affair.  Her father is a famous Psychologist, author and teacher.  The other story is in the form of a manuscript that Casey finds after she inherits her fathers town home.  Along with the townhome-for which there is no mortgage and the up keep has been taken care of, she is to keep on the gardener and housekeeper.   There are plenty of twists and turns.

AMAZON - Flirting With Pete

SANDY SAYS 1/3 STARS

THE WEDDING by Nicholas Sparks

Did you love The Notebook?  This is a sequel if you will, following the daughter's life.  Jane and Wilson are going along with their everyday lives.   They have been married for 30 years and have 3 children. Anna the oldest is about to get married.  Joseph is the middle child, he lives and works in New York City and the youngest is Leslie-who is in college.
Wilson forgets their wedding anniversary and is in trouble.  Jane goes to stay with Joseph for a while.  Can Wilson rekindle his marriage?  He goes to Jane's father Noah for advise.
This is another great story from Sparks

AMAZON - The Wedding

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

BABY, IT'S COLD OUTSIDE by Jennifer Greene, Merline Lovelace and Cindi Myers

This is 3 stories, all in locations that is cold.
First you have Blame It On A Blizzard.   Emilie and anesthesiologist was on duty during a surgery when a child dies.   It is Christmas time and she decides to go to the family cabin located in a remote area of Alaska.  She is hoping for quiet time alone.  Except that a neighbor needs a place to stay after an emergency at his place.  

Second is Deep Freeze.  Here you have 2 sisters that take a cruise in Antarctica, and end up ship wrecked.  Stranded in a U.S. Research Station what will become of them.  Mia one of the sisters ex boyfriend shot risque photos of her without her knowledge and uploaded them to his website.  Is it possible to get away from that kind of notoriety?

Third is  Melting Point. Stacy goes to Iceland for photo shoots.   Her handsome male model is an olympic skier and the brother of the owner of the company that creates the sweaters she is promoting.  But, Stacey has had enough of ski bums-her father was one.

These are quick stories, the third story I got bored.

AMAZON - Baby, It's Cold Outside

SANDY SAYS 2/3 STARS

NIGHTS IN RODANTHE by Nicholas Sparks

Another fast read from Nicholas.   A love story between 2 strangers that meet and fall in love over the course of a weekend.  In which a nor eastern hits the bed and breakfast they are at.
She is there to look after the B & B while the owner - her friend attends a wedding.  He is there at the request of the husband of one of his patients that passed away.  A chance meeting.
Definitely worth a read

AMAZON - Nights in Rodanthe

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

CROWN JEWEL by Fern Michaels

A great book.  The best book I have read in a long time.  There are so many twists, I never knew what was coming.  You have the story of 2 brothers, 1 is a major Hollywood star, and his brother is his business manager.  Ricky, the star; is an alcoholic and uses drugs.  Philly-Phillip his brother forces Ricky into rehab.  They never seem to reconnect as brothers and then there is an accident and Philly is gone.  Come along for a roller coaster of a story.
This was so good, I read it in 1 day.

AMAZON - Crown Jewel

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

PRETTY WOMAN by Fern Michaels

A good book, truly enjoyed the story.  Rosie is part owner in a successful business along with her best friend Vickie.  They take weeds and make arrangements out of them.  Vickie is pretty, and thin; Rosie is a little heavy and does not think she is pretty.   When Rosie falls for Kent everyone tells her she is making a mistake, but she does not listen.  She wants so much to be loved and married she is willing to ignore everyone and destroy her friendship with Vickie.  The story starts up at her 3rd year anniversary and what happens next.

AMAZON - Pretty Woman

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

20 YEARS YOUNGER by Bob Greene

Bob goes in depth on exercise, nutrition, skin care and sleep.  He has included meal plans.  He shows some differences with some of the diet plans.   He has included step by step in some areas.
I must say I have not finished this book yet, but looking forward to seeing what I can take away from the book and incorporate into my life.

AMAZON - 20 Years Younger

SANDY SAYS 2/3 STARS

FRESH FOOD FAST WEEKNIGHT MEALS from Cooking Light

Are you looking for fast meals?  Meals that have 5 ingredients?  What about 15 minute meals?
Well, this is the book for you.  It is packed with 280 recipes as well as helpful tips.  What about ham and butternut squash soup, or greek chicken salad pitas.
These recipes look awesome and I am looking forward to trying out some new recipes

AMAZON - Fresh Food Fast Weeknight Meals

SANDY SAYS - 3/3 STARS

PROMISE ME FOREVER by Debbie Macomber

Another quick and easy read by Debbie.  What would you do if you were in an auto accident, waiting for a long time to be discovered and then being paralyzed.  Sloan became angry and withdrew from everything and everyone.  Joy is a trained therapist who is hired by his parents to help him.  Sloan lives in a beautiful beachside home, where Joy will be staying during her work with him.   Little does Sloan know his life is about to change.  

AMAZON - Promise Me Forever

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

A PLACE CALLED HOME by Jo Goodman

After Gabe and Kathy die in an accident, Mitch-Kathy's friend and Thea-Gabe's friend, are left custody of their 3 children. There is 11 year old Emilie, and the twins 5 year old Case and Grant. They go to live with Mitch their mothers friend, their fathers friend Thea is no where to be found. Mitch and Thea have guardianship of the children. Thea finally comes back to town and they meet with their lawyers. Unbeknowest to Mitch, Thea was in a rehab center for prescription drugs. Thea was taken from her abusive family and placed in a foster home and then adopted, she has been on drugs for 1 reason or another most of her life. Mitch and Thea are both in relationships but watch and see what unfolds as they find their way dealing with the 3 children.
It was kinda slow getting into, but once I did; I like it.

AMAZON - A Place Called Home

SANDY SAYS - 2/3 Stars

THE BEST OF ME by Nicholas Sparks

A story of young love.  Dawson is from the wrong side of the tracks, his family being a bunch of thugs and criminals and moonshiners and drug dealers.  They were not stupid men.  Dawson's mother does not stick around and leaves Dawson there, knowing that they would never allow him to go with her.  Dawson is different he does enough not to attract attention to himself and does well in school; even though at times failing on purpose.  He meets Amanda a girl from a good family with money.  And, of course they fall in love.  Add in the location of a small town in NC.  Years later they receive word that a friend who became like a father to each of them, has passed away.  What will happen when they see each other again, will love win out?
I enjoyed this book

AMAZON - The Best of Me

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

GOING HOME by Wanda E. Brunstetter

Here is a story about a girl that grew up in the Amish world. She left home at an early age, to be an entertainer. She could yodel. She gets married and has a little girl. Her husband is n alcoholic and one day dies in an accident. Faith has no one to care for her daughter after the death of her daughter. So, she decides to go home and pretend to re enter the Amish culture, hoping that her family will care for her daughters.
This book was kinda bland and I did not finish the book

AMAZON - Going Home

SANDY SAYS - 1/3 Stars