Comfort and Joy by Kristin Hannah

Once I started reading this I realized I had read it before, but I kept on going. A woman has gone through some tough changes in the past year. When her sister stops by with some more news she just has to get away. She hops on a plane that ends up crashing. As you go through the story she starts to open up and see that things can get better and starts to let go of the past. There is an interesting twist at the end that makes you think about the book in a whole other way. It is a Christmas story that goes into the new year but with things to think about that will make you remember to take it one step at a time.

Christmas on Jane Street : A true story by Billy Romp and Wanda Urbanska

A nice Christmas story. This family from Vermont goes to New York City every year to sell Christmas trees. They go to the same spot and have developed great friendships over the years. This year starts out the same but then his daughter asks for something he was not prepared for. She is starting to grow up and want different things and this causes some friction for him. He has in his mind how his daughter is going to be and that is changing. This whole story is about change and growth and acceptance. It gives you that nice, warm feeling at the end and made me think about always moving forward and enjoying the little things even if they are not what I expected.

The goldfish went on vacation by Patty Dunn

Subtitle: A memoir of loss (and learning to tell the truth about it) --- This was a very short and quick read. A woman finds out her husband is going to die from brain cancer and they have a three year old son. As she looses her husband to this cancer she is also trying to help her son deal with the changes and loss of his dad. There are funny moments and sad moments. Moments of heartbreaking truth. We are all going to die and this book gave us a look at how some people deal with this loss.

Sugar and Spice by ...

Fern Michaels, Beverly Barton, Joanne Fluke, Shirley Jump --- This was supposed to be my Christmas book this year and it was very disappointing. It was four short stories that I hoped would put me in the Christmas spirit. Did not happen. It was four romance stories where they all just fell into bed with each other, which was no surprise. So, if you like the fast romance thing this would be for you. If not, just leave it on the shelf.

Virgin River by Robyn Carr

A woman wants to get away from all of the memories and stress and heads to a small community to help out a small town doctor. At first she thinks she made a hasty decision, but as time goes on things grow on her and is was probably the best decision she could of made. --- I really enjoyed this one. It was a very easy, quick read. Carr knows how to tell a story and really draw you in. I laughed, cried and shook my head. The characters unfolded at just the right pace and made you want to come back for more. What I did not realize is that this book is the first in a series. Now I can't wait to get my hands on the next one!!

Sailing Back in Time by Maria Coffey and Dag Goering

Subtitle: A Nostalgic Voyage on Canada's West Coast --- A very enjoyable book. I really did not want to put it down and it makes me want to head out to the west coast of Canada to go sailing. The history was great, not dull and boring, but gave me a really good picture of how things were and how things are today. The couple they traveled with, the Farrell's, had lived and worked in this area for most of their lives. To see how much things had changed and how simply they have lived was very enlightening and makes me wonder how we manage all that we do today. All of the boats this couple has been on Mr. Farrell built, if that tells you anything. If you like to sail or be on the water or just like to read about other people's travels this is a must read. Another book this couple wrote is "A Boat in our Baggage" and is also a wonderful read. I read it several years ago and I have to say that their writing is easy to read and they make you really feel like a part of the adventure.

Keep Australia on your Left by Eric Stiller

Sub-title: An Attempt to Circumnavigate Australia by Kayak --- Well, it was an attempt and a long one at that. It took me forever to get through this book. It is pretty bad when you keep checking to see when the chapter ends or how many more pages in the book there are to go. As much as I love travel narratives this just did not do it for me. Stiller was quite a whiner and complainer and very wordy. This is a trip I would never even attempt and for them to try I have to applaud them, yet I have never understood why people put themselves through this extreme type of event. It is a very brutal place to go out in a kayak and bob around. The weather is extreme and not always knowing where the night would end gets to be a bit much. There was tension between the two and if Stiller would have gotten off of his high horse things may have gone a bit smoother. Needless to say, I am glad I read the book, but am very glad it is over.

Bimbos of the Death Sun by Sharyn McCrumb

I just could not pass up the title or the price (.58 at a thrift store). It was worth the 58 cents and I would be willing to read more of her books. Sharyn McCrumb is an award winning author and can tell a good story. The book takes place around a fantasy and science fiction convention. This is something I know nothing about, but if these things are anything like the descriptions here I would love to be a people watcher at one. There are many interesting characters and of course there is a murder which is solved in a very fantasy way. Watching everything unfold made me laugh and shake my head and was very enjoyable.

State of the Onion by Julie Hyzy

This was a book I picked up in a lot off of eBay. It was a very fun and light mystery. Ollie, the assistant chef, gets herself involved with a disturbance on White House grounds and is trying to figure out what all is happening. There are a couple of sub-stories along with the main plot that Hyzy works in very well. I am looking forward to picking up the next couple of books in Hyzy's White House Chef series.