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