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