ALL FALL DOWN by Jennifer Weiner

This story took me a while to get through.  It is the story of Allison who is married with a 5 year old daughter, a home in the suburbs  She also is addicted to pills and it is slowly her undoing.  The story takes you along her path of trying to manage everyone including her parents and her needing more and more pills to get through the day.  She ends up in rehab.

AMAZON - All Fall Down

SANDY SAYS 2/3 STARS.

TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS by Debbie Macomber

Another winner by Debbie.

What would you do if you had an irritating neighbor?  Would you be able to continue trying to be nice and friendly after repeated rebukes?  That is what happens to Julia and her neighbor Cain.  Julia finally had enough when she caught him stealing her newspaper and after he returned it, he took another.  She was so mad that she told her best friend about it, who suggested she kill him with kindness.  Julia is up for a new job and the winner of a successful blog will get the job.  So, her friend suggests she blog about her experience.  Each day for twelve days.

Will it work?

AMAZON - Twelve Days of Christmas

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

THE LONGEST RIDE by Nicholas Sparks

An awesome story from Sparks.  It goes back and forth between two couples, usually I do not like books that go back and forth; but I enjoyed this story.  Ira is 91 and does not have long to live, he has cancer; he is widowed and they had no children so he is alone in the world.  He and his wife collected art and have collected a collection that is worth a substantial amount.  What no one understands is, it was never about the value of the art for them.  He heads up to a special place that they used to go, but ends up sliding on the icy and snowy roads and goes down an embankment.  He is concerned that no one will find him, when his beloved Ruth appears in the car with him.
Then you have Luke a world famous bull rider and Sophia a college senior.  They meet and fall in love.  But, Luke has secrets.  Also, his mother is about to lose the family ranch and he feels responsible because she mortgaged the ranch to pay for his medical bills.

AMAZON - The Longest Ride

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

POWER PLAY by Danielle Steel

An interesting read from Danielle.  Have you ever wondered what life is like at the top of the corporate ladder?  Here she takes you into that world.  Fiona a graduate of Harvard and is the CEO of National Advancement which is a multi billion dollar company in California. She is divorced with two college age children.  She is very dedicated to her work and family.  Then you have Marshall also the CEO of a major corporation, who from the outside appears to have a great family.  Married with three children.  However, looks can be deceiving and it turns out he has a mistress and children by her.  Will he be able to continue to keep everyone in the dark?

AMAZON - Power Play

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

THE CHRISTMAS NOTE by Donna VanLiere

I love Christmas and books about Christmas, if you do as well you will love this book.

Gretchen and her two children move to be closer to her mother.  Her husband has been wounded in war and is recovering overseas.  Gretchen's neighbor Melissa is a single woman who is not friendly.  Gretchen and her kids slowly draw her out and they become as friendly as the woman will allow. Her mother was not a good mother like Gretchen's mother is. She has a lonely childhood.  As they get to know each other things come out such as Gretchen is adopted.  While cleaning out her mothers apartment after her death the girls come across a note that indicated Melissa has two siblings. Which sends her on a quest to locate them.

AMAZON - The Christmas Note

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

PRODIGAL SON by Danielle Steel

A quick and interesting read.  You have twin boys, one is considered the good boy and the other a troublemaker.  However the good son is always blaming his brother for everything and getting him into trouble.  The troublemaker-Peter grows up and heads to college and becomes successful with stock trading.  He rarely looks back at his childhood or visits.  Michael goes on to become a DR eventually going back to practice in his hometown with his dad.  After the crash, Peter loses everything including his family and moves back near his hometown to the lake cabin that his parents left him.  He and Michael start to get along.  Then funny things start to happen and it looks like Michael is at the root of it.

AMAZON - Prodigal Son

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

A PERFECT LIFE by Danielle Steel

Another winner from Danielle.  She takes you into the life of a megastar news reporter and the dealings with her daughter who is blind and diabetic.  Her daughter Salima has lived away at school in Massachusetts since she was eight, they monitor her diabetes as well.  Now that she is nineteen, she has remained at the school with a monitor while attending the local community college.  She is happiest while in that safe environment.  Her mother lives in New York City and her father whom she rarely sees or hears from lives in California.  Then the unthinkable happens her monitor gets pneumonia and dies suddenly which leads to the school being closed under quarantine.  Salima and a new monitor will go back to live with her mom. 

AMAZON - A Perfect Life

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

WINNERS by Danelle Steel

An awesome story about a girl training for the winter Olympics and has a freak accident.  The accident leaves her paralyzed.  Her father is widowed and quite wealthy and this is his only child so he is determined to get her the best care.  He finally has to realize that she will not walk again and find something to channel his energy's into.  She is at a rehab center in Denver not far from their home, learning how to live with her disability. 

AMAZON - Winners

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

BETRAYED-a Rosato and DiNunzio Novel by Lisa Scottoline

This story was not an easy flowing read for me.   It has to many things going on.  You have Judy who is the attorney, her aunt  who has cancer, her mother who Judy is always at odds with.  Then you have her aunts friend Iris who is here illegally and is found dead. Then all kinds of "accidents" start happening as Judy starts to investigate Iris's death.

AMAZON -  Betrayed

SANDY SAYS 2/3 STARS

THE SUMMER'S END-a Lowcountry Summer Novel by Mary Alice Monroe

Another great story featuring the granddaughters of Marietta, Harper, Dora and Carson.  She has requested the three girls come and spend the summer with her-like they used to-one last time.  She has decided to sell Sea Breeze, her home on the island off of Charleston.  It is a summer filled with ups and downs.  Filled with romance, and heartbreak.  A very fast read.

AMAZON - The Summer's End-a Lowcountry Summer Novel

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

A SIMPLE CHRISTMAS WISH by Melody Carlson

An interesting look into Amish culture.  Rachel is staying with her 7 year old niece, Holly; while her folks are on vacation.  It is Christmas time and they are taking advantage of everything the city has to offer.  Then Rachel's brother and sister in law are killed in a plane crash.  How are they going to go on?  Rachel of course will become Holly's guardian and quit her job to care for her.  Then unexpected news of another being named Holly's legal guardian, her aunt that no one knew about.  She is to deliver Holly to her aunt within a week, and it turns out they are Amish.

Will Holly adapt to the Amish way of life?  Can Rachel live without Holly, her only living relative?

AMAZON - A Simple Christmas Wish

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

THE LITTLE AMISH MATCHMAKER- A Christmas Romance by Linda Byler

An interesting and fast story taking you into the Amish culture.  Issac attends the local school for Amish kids.  He really likes his schoolteacher and sets out to set her and his brother up.  He has the best intentions even if it appears to not be going well.  It is also Christmas time and the kids are busy working on their Christmas Play. 

AMAZON - The Little Amish Matchmaker-a Christmas Romance

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

CHASING SUNSETS-A CEDAR KEY NOVEL by Eva Marie Everson

Growing up in Florida and knowing the places in the story was cool for me.  Cedar Key is a small coastal town, where Kimberly and her parents and three sisters have a summer cabin, which they also use on holidays.  That is they all used it until her mother died.  Now her father is remarried and Kimberly has not been there in a while.  She is also going through custody battles with her ex husband and her sons will spend most of the summer with him.  Being at a loss as to what to do her father asks her to go to Cedar Key to hire another care taker for the cabin.  Will she reunite with old friends and an old boy friend?

AMAZON - Chasing Sunsets-A Cedar Key Novel

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

LUCK OF THE DRAW-A BETTING ON ROMANCE NOVEL by Cheri Allan

What would you do if you were separated from your husband and he is killed in a car crash?  Randy and Kate were married for 10 years and have a 3 year old son Liam.  Kates parents are the type that are not involved that much with her and Liam, however her grandmother is.  After his death and school is out, Kate is offered the chance to go to her grandmothers hometown and stay in a friends cabin.  Sounds like a good idea to get away and do some thinking about life and their future.

AMAZON - Luck of the Draw-a Betting on Romance Novel

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

BACKWARD GLANCE by Robyn Carr

What do you do when you are widowed and raising twin four year old boys alone and your widowed mother says she has a heart condition?   You go home, leaving the big city and stress behind and go back to Durango.  Course she knows that John still lives there, but what he doesn't know is that he is the boy's father.  Her mother suspects but is not sure.  Leigh is extremely smart and finished college in her early 20's with multiple degrees. She married an older man equally as smart but someone looking more for an assistant than a wife.   Her mother hopes that she finds love and settles down and her friends are out to help her.

AMAZON - Backward Glance


SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

SIX MONTHS IN MONTANA by Pamela Kelley

Would you consider leaving your job in New York City and moving home to a small town in Montana?  And, you have to marry your childhood friend and stay married for six months?  That is what Molly has to consider after finding out about Christians grandfathers will.  If she doesn't do it, he will not inherit the money and that means lay offs of a lot of people including maybe her uncle.  She and Christian were good friends once even sharing custody of a dog.  But, will this work?  Can she do it?

AMAZON - Six Months in Montana

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

SAVANNAH BLUES by Mary Kay Andrews

Have you ever been to Savannah, or the south?  This book takes you into life in Savannah and the life of a "picker".   A picker is someone that goes to garage sales, estate sales, checks trash etc for treasures they can sell.  Weezie is a picker, divorced and living in the carriage house of her former home while her ex husband and his fiancé live in the main home.  Not an easy situation.  Next thing you know the fiancé is died and Weezie is looking at being charged with murder.  Never, trying to save a historic plantation from being demolished.

AMAZON - Savannah Blues

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

12th OF NEVER-the new Women's Muder Club Novel by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

Do ypu enjoy the Women's Club Murder series?  Then you will like this one.    Lindsay and Joes baby girl is born in the middle of a blackout.  Their daughter becomes I'll and Lindsay is called back to work while she is on leave.  There are of course murders going on.  Yuki is trying a case against one of the fiercest lawyers around. And, throw in a nutty professor who "sees" murders before they happen.  Just another typical few days in the lives of the women's murder club. 

AMAZON - 12th of Never-the new Women's Murder Club Novel

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

PRIVATE BERLIN by James Patterson and Mark Sullivan

A great murder mystery set in Berlin.  Private Berlin is a private investigation company.  One of its employees goes missing.  They begin a to search for him, and discover his body in an abandoned building along with others.   With trying to figure out what happened leads them to discover his childhood which no one knew about,   He was sent to one of the orphanages as a child arriving with a group of children all on the same day.  Now in a race against time they need to locate the others to save their lives.  Not easy to do as all of their names were changed.


AMAZON - Private Berlin

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

THE MATCHMAKER by Elin Hilderbrand

Dabney lives on Nantucket and is director of the Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce. She is married she has a grown daughter and is a matchmaker.  Out of the blue she hears from an old boyfriend, one that had stolen her heart.  What could he want?  Will secrets come out?  Then the unthinkable happens, Dabney is sick.

AMAZON - The Matchmaker

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

ALMOST PERFECT - A Fools Gold Romance by Susan Mallery

Another great story by Susan.  A fast read.

Liz is a single mother and an author.  She receives an email from someone claiming to be her niece and saying that she and her younger sister had been left alone.  Liz packs a few things and she and Tyler head to Fools Gold to see what is going on.  Fools Gold a place she never wanted to go back to, her mother was abusive, kids were mean to her and this is where Tyler's father is.   She quickly finds out what a mess things are, her brother is in prison, his wife took off and left the girls, her childhood home is in disrepair......  What to do?  Fix the house and move the girls back with her.  And, if she is lucky she will not see Ethan, Tyler's father

AMAZON - Almost Perfect-a Fools Gold Romance

SADY SAYS 3/3 STARS

WE NEVER ASKED FOR WINGS by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

A quick read that takes you into the lives of legal and illegal aliens.  Alex and his sister Luna live with their mom, and her parents in a small apartment in a rundown area.  Yesmina lives wth her mom Carmen in another poor apartment complex.  Alex and Yesmina like each other.  Lunas parents end up going back to live in Mexico, leaving Letty to raise the kids alone.  Alex's father comes back into the picture.

AMAZON - We Never Asked For Wings

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

THAT CERTAIN SUMMER by Irene Hannon

The story of two sisters.  One lives in the hometown and cares for their mother and the other lives in Chicago.  Then mom has a stroke and Karen can no longer do it by herself while being a single parent to her teenage daughter.  Since Val teaches school she is free for the summer except for a couple of modeling jobs; so Karen asks for help and Val agrees to come.  Throw in the fact their mother is hypercritical of them both and each thinks it is just against them.  And, a secret.  You get an interesting and quick read.

AMAZON - That Certain Summer

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

A SUMMER AFFAIR by Elin Hilderbrand

A story of two brothers and their families and they all live on Nantucket.  Claire is married to Jason and they have 4 children.  Claire is a glass blower and Jason is in construction.  While Carter and Siobhan have 2 children and are caterers. Everything is good until Claire is asked to co chair the summer gala for the local children's charity.  One of the reasons is that Claire's high school boyfriend is now a very famous rock star and they want him for the entertainment.  Then Claire and Lock also with the children's charity begin an affair.

This story was slow for me and I had to keep at it to finish it.

AMAZON - A Summer Affair

SANDY SAYS 2/3 STARS

THAT CHESAPEAKE SUMMER-CHESAPEAKE DIARIES by Mariah Stewart

What would you do if you were an author of self help books on honesty.  Then after both of your parents have died, you discover that you had been lied to all your life?  You are adopted.  Jamie sets out to discover what she can, she goes to the town she believes she is from and sets out to find out what she can.

A very quick and easy read.


AMAZON - That Chesapeake Summer-Chesapeake Diaries

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

THE CASTAWAYS by Elin Hilderbrand

A story about four couples and their lives on Nantucket.  They nicknamed themselves the castaways before they took a vacation together, which then they did several times. Amount the eight there were some that had dated others in the group before marriage and affairs going on after. Then two were killed in an accident and they must come together and care for their 7 year old twins. 

There was to much back and forth and trying to keep all the couples separate for me.

AMAZON - The Castaways

SANDY SAYS 2/3 STARS

MR. MIRACLE by Debbie Macomber

Another very fast and enjoyable Christmas story by Debbie!  This time it is Mr. Miracle sent to earth to help Addie.  Addie is moving home after being away for six years, it is the first Christmas without her dad.  Surprise on her, when she gets home her mom and her friend from next door had booked a cruise over Christmas. It's okay, and tells her mom to go and have fun.  Then the neighbors son is in a bad car accident and unless someone can look after him their mothers will have to cancel their cruise.  This son was Addie's crush as a child and he was not very nice to her.

AMAZON - Mr. Miracle

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

WINTER STREET by Elin Hildderbrand

Do you love Christmas?  I do!  A great holiday story by Elin.  A bed and breakfast Inn called Winter Street is located in Nantucket.  Run by Kelley and Mitzi Quinn. Kelley's son Kevin and daughter Ava as well as Kelley and Mitzi's son Bart all live there.  Bart just shipped our with the military, though.  Kelleys ex wife is one of the most famous television reporters there is and their oldest son Patrick is  a whiz financial trader.  Everything is about to come crashing down and just days before Christmas.  Starting with Mitzi running off with Santa.

AMAZON - Winter Street

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

THE FIRST PATIENT by Michael Palmer

Have you ever wondered what it was like to work closely with the president?  In this story Gabe is a Dr. living in a small town in Wyoming, where he has a ranch.  The president happens to be his roommate from the Naval Academy years ago.  The president "drops" in on Gabe and asks him to come to Washington to be his personal Dr. His Dr. has disappeared.  These two are from different backgrounds the president from wealth and Gabe not so much.   However they become friends, then while still at the academy tragedy strikes. 
Suspense is everywhere, who can Gabe trust, what is the president keeping from him and where is the other Dr.

AMAZON - The First Patient

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

ALL SUMMER LONG by Dorothea Benton Frank

Another quick and fun read by Dotty.

Here she takes you into the life of the super rich.  Olivia is an interior designer and one of her long time friends Bob is one of the super rich,  Even though at one time he tried to date her, they knew they were better off friends.  As his long time friend and personal interior designer she got the work each time he divorced and remarried.  His current wife also becomes friends with Olivia.  Olivia and her husband Nick are often asked to go on trips with the couple along with an assortment of other friends.  Getting to experience traveling by private jet, super sized yachts and even getting to go on a  submarine.
Throw in another ex wife, at least two others after Bob and well you get the picture.


AMAZON - All Summer Long

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

THE DROP by Michael Connelly

This book some getting into for me.  It was slow going and full of technical information. 
Bosch is an LAPD detective with the Open-Unsolved Case unit.  He has put in his DROP-deferred retirement option plan and is waiting to hear if he is approved for the full five years.  He and his partner get an unusual case where the dna is a match for someone in the system, however he would have only been eight years old at the time of the crime.  Then as they are getting started on the case, they are pulled off to handle the apparent suicide of a city councilman's son.

AMAZON - The Drop

SANDY SAYS 2/3 STARS

A FRIEND OF THE FAMILY by Lauren Grodstein

A very jumbled story for me.  The storyline jumped all around in time, which made it hard to transition at times.

Two families, parents all went to college together.  Pete and Joe are both Doctors, Pete has one son and Joe has several children.  They vacation together and live close to each other.  Then Joes daughter kills her premature baby, no one knew she was pregnant.  This sets off a chain of events and  for Pete he cant get over her killing the baby.  She is gone for a long time then suddenly is back home and interested in Petes son who at 20 is 10 years her junior.

AMAZON - A Friend of the Family

SANDY SAYS 2/3 STARS

THE SOUND OF GLASS by Karen White

A fun and quick read by Karen.  Merritt moves to South Carolina to move into her deceased husbands home that she knew nothing about.  Her step mother and half brother show up on her doorstep hoping she will allow them to stay.  Merritt has built a wall around herself to protect herself and was just wanting to be left alone.  Little does she know her whole world is about to change.  As she discovers secrets about her husband and his family and even the secret her step mother is trying to hide.

I was lucky enough to attend a book signing meet and greet with Karen at the Vero Beach Book Center

AMAZON - The Sound of Glass

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

SHEM CREEK-a Lowcountry Tale by Dorothea Benton Frank

A fun and fast read by Dorothea.   What would you do if you had two teenage daughters, one getting out of control, and divorced living up north in the cold weather?  Pack them up and move home to Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.  Her sister is waiting to welcome her and her daughters back.  She has no job and has yet to tell the girls that the move is permanent.

I was able to attend a meet and greet and autograph session with Dorothea at the Vero Beach Book Center

AMAZON - Shem Creek-a Lowcountry Tale

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

ALL THE SINGLE LADIES by Dorothea Benton Frank

Very fast and good read.  As the title says it is about a group of single ladies who are friends.  Kathy is in hospice care and dying from cancer.  Her friends Suzanne and Carrie visit all the time and get to know some of the staff including one of the nurses Lisa.  After Kathy passes away the three become friends and begin to get to know each other.  Add in Suzanne's 99 year old grandmother and you have an awesome read.
I was able to meet Dorothea / Dottie at a book signing at the Vero Beach Book Center and had this book autographed by her.

AMAZON - All the Single Ladies

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

LOVE LETTERS-a Rose Harbor Novel by Debbie Macomber

Another quick and fun read of Debbie's.  She takes us back to the Inn at Rose Harbor with new guests arriving at the Inn. Jo Marie can not get Mark her handyman to spill his story and it becomes more important to her to find out.  One of her guests is a young woman arriving to meet a man in person for the first time.  The other couple appear to be having marital problems.  

AMAZON - Love Letters-a Rose Harbor Novel

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

CATCH OF THE DAY by Kristan Higgins

Another quick read by Kristan.  Set in a small Maine fishing town.  Maggie owns and runs the local diner.  She is still unmarried and wishes she could find someone like her twin Christy has.  Maggie is always putting her foot in her mouth and causing trouble.

AMAZON - Catch of the Day

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

THE 8TH CONFESSION-a Women's Murder Club by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

Lindsay Boxer is a San Francisco Police Detective and is investigating the death of two rich and powerful residents.  Along with trying to help solve the death of a homeless person for her friend.  The usual James Patterson stories quick read, with mystery and love involved.

AMAZON - The 8th Confession-A Women's Murder Club

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

THE RUNAWAY JURY by John Grisham

This is the story of a trail against the tobacco industry.  You have Nicholas on the jury and his friend Marlee who are calling the shots.  They are in effect trying to manipulate the outcome of the trail.  It gets very tedious with info and I had a very hard time staying with the book for more than a page or two at a time.

AMAZON - The Runaway Jury

SANDY SAYS 2/3 STARS

BLESSINGS by Belva Plain

What would you do if you were in love and about to be married, when out of the blue you are contacted by people representing a girl looking for her birth mother?  You are in the midst of a big trail.  You have not told your fiance about this child.
A very quick and enjoyable story.

AMAZON - Blessings

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

STARLIGHT-HIDDEN STAR/CAPTIVE STAR ( STARS OF MITHRA ) by Nora Roberts

Two interconnecting stories.  The first is about Bailey, she shows up at a private investigators with no memory, a case with lots of money, a gun and a rare large blue diamond.  Together they need to figure out who she is and where she got those things.
The second is about MJ a friend of Bailey's, who has a matching diamond that Bailey sent to her by post.  She comes home to a skip tracer who doesn't believe that he has the wrong person-he has the right person but wrong story- and then another couple trying to get her.  They get away and try to piece together what has happened.


AMAZON - Starlight-Hidden Star/Captive Star ( Stars of Mithra )

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

THE RACKETEER by John Grisham

A story of a man indicted and sentenced to prison when he was an unknowing accomplice to a crime.  He loses his law license, his wife and family.  He loses everything.  After serving 5 years he says he has information on a murder of a federal judge and cuts a deal.  There are some twists to this book.

I found I couldn't stay with the story for long.

AMAZON - The Racketeer

SANDY SAYS 2/3 STARS

SUZANNE'S DIARY FOR NICHOLAS by James Patterson

A different type story from James, a mystery kinda of and a love story.  Katie works for a publishing house in New York and buys the book of poems from Matt.  When he comes to New York they end up falling in love and for a long time everything is perfect.  Then all of a sudden one day Matt ends things and leaves.  Then Katie comes home one day to a package from Matt.  Inside is a diary.  A diary written by Matt's wife.

What will she discover when she reads the diary?

AMAZON - Suzanne's Diary For Nicholas

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

BEACH ROAD by James Patterson and Peter De Jonge

A murder mystery set in the Hamptons.  3 men are killed and a young promising basketball player is named the accused.  Dante has never been in trouble is a good student and lives with his grandmother since his father was murdered and his mom is back in prison.  Tom a local one time pro basketball player is living back home and is now a lawyer.  He decides to represent Dante at the asking of his grandmother.  Throw in an ex girlfriend who is a brilliant lawyer,  drugs,  jet set crowd and you have an interesting story.  With a twist I never saw coming.

The story is told chapter by chapter from each person's point of view, this got confusing and two chapters begin almost identically.


AMAZON - Beach Road

SANDY SAYS 2/3 STARS

CROSS by James Patterson

Alex Cross is at it again, this time trying to solve the murder of his wife ten years ago.  He and their children Damon and Janelle and his son Ali live with his grandmother in Washington.  She helps with the kids while Alex works.  At the same time there is a serial rapist and murderer on the lose.
Can he finally solve her murder and move on?

AMAZON - Cross

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

PERFECT TIMING-A Harrigan Family Novel by Catherine Anderson

Quincy's sister in law was dying. Out of the bloom a girl shows up in his stables.  What she has to tell him is unbelievable.  She claims to have come from 500 years ago to stop the curse of the first wife dying in his family.  She said one of his ancestors left one of her ancestors at the altar.  So, she put a curse on the family that every first wife of a male would die.  Turns out the part about the deaths is true.  So, does he fall for this crazy talk?  Can his dying sister in law verify the girls story, after all she is clairvoyant

Very fast and fun read.

AMAZON - Perfect Timing-a Harrigan Family Novel

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

THE LAKE HOUSE by James Patterson

Can you imagine if you were part bird and part human?  These six children are just that and have been kept captive and locked up their whole life.  Their parents were told they had died at birth, not knowing they were part bird.  One day the oldest Max escaped and Frannie a vet found her.  Then along with Kit an FBI agent they rescued the children and took care of them.  All the children imprinted Frannie and Kit as their parents.  Then the court sent them to live with their real parents.  Max knew to much about the programs and experimentation so the bad people came after her to kll her.   All the kids got away and flew to Frannie.  Will she be able to save them?

AMAZON - The Lake House

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

HOTEL VENDOME by Danielle Steel

Can you imagine growing up and having the run of a hotel?  That is what happened Heloise.  Her parents divorced after her mom ran away with a rock star, leaving Heloise with her father.  He adored her as did the whole staff.  It was just the two of them and they adored each other.  Heloise dreamed of running the hotel with her father and went to the same college for hoteliers that her father attended in Switzerland.

AMAZON - Hotel Vendome

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

LEGACY by Danielle Steel

Are you interested in your family tree?  Native Americans?  I am, so this was a great book for me.  Brigitte is 38 has a good job working for a university, she is working on her phd and has a steady boyfriend.  Life is good, or so she thought.  In the matter of a few days everything comes crashing down, her boyfriend gets his own archaeological dig in another country and she is laid off.  Her mother talks her into working on the family tree for her and ir leads her across the country and to France.
A very fast read.

AMAZON - Legacy

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

THE INN AT EAGLE POINT-a Chesapeake Shores Novel by Sherryl Woods

Another fast and enjoyable book about the O'Brien siblings.  This is the story of Abby the eldest, she is in the financial world or wall street, divorced and the mother of twin girls.  Her youngest sister Jess-who Abby helped to raise when their mother left them, calls Abby home to help her.  Jess has ADD and is in over her head with the purchase of the Inn and she is about to lose the inn.  Little does Abby know that her old boyfriend Trace is back in town.  What will happen?  Can they save the Inn?

AMAZON - Inn at Eagle Point-a Chesapeake Shores Novel

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

DRIFTWOOD COTTAGE-a Chesapeake Shores Novel by Sherryl Woods

A story of another O'Brien sibling, Connor.  He has a good life he is on a oath to make partner at his law firm and he and his girlfriend Heather have a son Mick.  Just one slight problem, Heather wants happily ever after.....marriage and as Connors specialty is divorce he. Does not feel the need for marriage.  Heather gives up and moves with little Mick to Connors hometown of Chesapeake Shores and receives a lot of help from Connors family.  She even opens a quilting store.

Will she get her happily ever after?


AMAZON -  Driftwood Cottage-a Chesapeake Shires Novel

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

KEEP QUIET by Lisa Scottoline

Would you cover and protect your only son at any costs?  That is the dilemma that Jake is put into.  He and his son Ryan do not have a close relationship and when he goes to pick Ryan up from the movies, hoping for some father son time their lives change.  Its after hours for a restricted driver but when Ryan asks to drive home on a road with little traffic Jake agrees.  Then tragedy strikes, Ryan hits someone.  Follow the story of the cover ups and what happens.

AMAZON - Keep Quiet

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

STARRY NIGHT by Debbie Macomber

What's better than a holiday story?  When you add romance and Thanksgiving and Christmas and we can't forget Alaska.  I love the holidays and Alaska is a state I would love to visit, so this was a great story for me as well as it being a fast read.  Finn has written a best seller and no one can find him or get an interview, which is his choice.  Carrie works the society page for a newspaper and is given the challenge of locating him and getting an interview to be given better assignments.  Can she find someone no one else has been able to locate?

AMAZON - Starry Night

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

HARBOR LIGHTS a Chesapeake Shores Novel by Sherryl Woods

What to do when you have an infant son and your wife is killed while serving in the military?  You go home to your family.  Kevin and his son Davy move back into his childhood home with his father and grandmother.  His sisters and their families live in town as well.  He is still grieving and maybe feeling a little guilty over the loss of his wife.  When his family has had enough of his moping about he is told to go to town and each day to take a step forward.  While in town he meets the new bookstore owner Shanna.  Neither are looking for a relationship.  What will happen/

AMAZON - Harbor Lights a Chesapeake Shores Novel

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

THE ISLAND by Elin Hilderbrand

What to do when you daughter suddenly breaks off her engagement, quits her job and moves back home to her mom?  In this care her mom owns a beach house on a private island off of Nantucket.  She and her daughter planned to go there for two weeks before the wedding. Now that the wedding is off Chess her mom Birdie her aunt India and her sister Tate decide to leave the world behind and spend a month there.  Mind you there is no electricity no one on or off except by boat and little to do except relax.  Can Chess heal?  Can they get along?

AMAZON - The Island

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

BAREFOOT by Elin Hilderbrand

Do you love the beach, love stories set at the beach?  Then this is a good read.   Vicki and her sister Brenda and Vicki's two sons Blaine and Porter along with Vicki's friend Melanie decide to spend the summer on Nantucket.  Vicki and Brenda have inherited their aunts cottage there and have fond memories of summers there.  It's not to be carefree though, Vicki has cancer and will begin chemo then, Brenda was fired from her job as a college professor and is facing criminal charges and Melanie's husband is cheating on her and she just found out she is pregnant.

This book took me a bit to finish, seemed in parts to have way to much information

Amazon - Barefoot


SANDY SAYS  2/3 STARS

H2O Resturant Ft Lauderdale Beach, Fl

H2O is a very nice restaurant, overlooking Ft Lauderdale Beach.  It is medium priced, the food was very good.  Everything tasted made from scratch and just picked, which a lot of it is.  The waiter was awesome very friendly and happy.  Would definetly go here again.



SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

Lulu's Bait Shack Ft. Lauderdale Beachplace Mall

Lulu's Bait Shack  overlooks Ft Lauderdale beach.  The food was fine and not to expensive and they have good customer service.



SANDY SAYS 3/3

Hollywood. Beach and Landshark Bar and Grill Restaurant

Landshark Bar and Grill  has a pretty location over looking Hollywood Beach and is located at Margaritaville.  The food was good and not to expensive.  However the waitress was terrible, took our order and disappeared;  and the guy who was walking a round asking how things were and to let him know of problems-then no where to be found.  Our food took forever to get to us and we both ordered cuban sandwiches which should not be to difficult to make.  People that got there after we did got their food before us.  Then not wanting to wait for credit card bill I gave waitress cash for the bill, after she had to be tracked down; and she wanted to know how much I wanted back to which I replied all of it.  It took her forever to do this and comes back with my change, dollars but not the actual change claiming she didn't have change to break a one.  At which point we walked out.

Other customers were having similar problems.  My advice is to avoid this place

SANSY SAYS 1/3. 

Ft Lauderdale, Fl Lobster Bar Sea Grill

Lobster Bar Sea Grill is amazing! The menu items have 10 or less ingredients.  The seafood is 48 hours from ocean to table. It is an a la mode menu, however the portions are probably big enough to share. Everything we tried was fantastic.  I had the ceaser salad, and crab and Steve had the warm spinach salad and steak.  Cooked to perfection.  We celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary there and were treated like royalty.  It is expensive and we valet parked $5 and a tip.
Definitely worth a try

Ft Lauderdale, Florida, Marriott Vacation Club Beachplace Towers and Water Taxi

We went to Ft Lauderdale 1/3/2016 we stayed at the Marriott Vacation Club Beachplace Towers, right across from the beach. For convenience it was great, right across from the beach, walking distance to the water taxi and right down at street level was a mall with shops and restaurants.  However parking is in a garage and spots can be tight with a cost of $14 a day.  They have 4 elevators and it can be slow along with service staff using them.  The stairs to the street level, I would advise you to avoid as they are dirty and at the bottom dark.  The room was fine. Staff was friendly.
I think it was overpriced.

                                                         
                                                              From our hotel

                                   view from our balcony overlooking the intracoastal and water taxi stop

The Water Taxi was a good deal.  You can ride all day, getting off as much or little as you want for $26 for adults and $21 for seniors.  It goes from Ft Lauderdale down to Hallandale Beach.
We enjoyed this.



 

The Florida White House

BEACH HOUSE MEMORIES by Mary Alice Monroe

This is the sequel to Beach House, it is Lovie's story.  Set in Charleston and Isle of Palms, Lovie is a child of the 40's.  By 1974 she is married with 2 children and was fulfilling her role as society thought a Southern Lady should act and be.  Her best friend Flo was getting right into the 1970's way of things.  They spend their summers at their beach houses, where Lovie is the resident Turtle Lady.  This summer there is to be a study of the turtle nests and Lovie and Flo join right in.  It takes a look at life in the south in that era.

AMAZON - Beach House Memories

I couldn't stay with this story for very long, but did finish it.

SANDY SAYS 2/3 STARS

ROSE HARBOR IN BLOOM-Cedar Cove Series by Debbie Macomber

The sequel to the Inn At Rose Harbor.  We meet back up with the gang in Cedar Cove.  Jo Marie has been working on her Inn and hoping to have her rose garden done before the open house for the chamber and town.  She also has a full house that weekend, family for a 50th wedding celebration and a woman with cancer although she keeps that quiet.  Through in her difficult to work with handyman and hearing that her husband's crash site has been found is it possible he is still alive?

This is an autographed copy that my son and daughter in law gave me for Christmas

AMAZON - Rose Harbor in Bloom

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS