Snow Hunters by Paul Yoon

Yoon is a very descriptive author, yet simple.  You can smell the sea and feel the breeze and are totally aware of your surroundings.  Yohan, the main character of it all, is followed to Brazil after the war.  The novel chronicles his time before and after the war, the people he meets and the relationships he cultivates.

A Quilter's Holiday by Jennifer Chiaverini

This is part of a series that I have been wanting to read but have not gotten around to.  Now I really want to start from the beginning.  These women are part of a community of quilters that have retreats for others.  The day after Thanksgiving they always get together to start to work on their projects for the Christmas season.  Throughout this novel we learned more about all of the characters and how they have gotten to where there are today.  I got bogged down a few times, but was glad that I stuck it out.  There is more room to grow with these women and I look forward to seeing what will happen in the future.  Chiaverini has a great talent in characters and weaving them together to compliment each other and pull you in to where you are part of the story.

Starry Night by Debbie Macomber

Carrie was sick of her job as the social editor at the paper, she wanted to do hard news.  When she threatened to quit her boss gave her an assignment that would be impossible to do, but she took it anyway.  She had to get an interview with an author that would not give interviews, no one even knew where he was!!  She was tenacious and found him.  What unraveled was, of course, a love story with twists and turns.  To write the story or not write it.  Have him trust her or move ahead in her career.  Yes, there is a happy ending and it was a little sappy, but with just the right amount of Christmas spirit to make you smile and hope for the best.

A Dog Named Christmas by Greg Kincaid

It all started with a commercial on the radio from the local animal shelter.  They were hoping to get people to adopt a dog over the Christmas holiday with the ability to return it the day after Christmas.  This way they would not be stuck in there cages with limited human contact over Christmas.  Todd heard this and could not resist.  His father, George, could.  Todd was developmentally challenged and his father was not sure he really understood that the dog would go back.  George did not want a dog, he had too many bad memories attached to dogs.  Of course the dog that Todd picked out was wonderful, but something even more amazing happened.  Every one in town helped out with the animal shelter and no dog was left behind.  It was a very heart warming story.  Some of the back story got a little bogged down and did not seem to flow well with the rest of what was going on but was important to know to understand feelings and emotions of some of the characters.  I laughed and cried, it made me want to go get a dog!!

The World's Strongest Librarian by Josh Hanagarne

Subtitle: A Memoir of Tourette's, Faith, Strength and the Power of Family -- This book was an education for me in many ways.  I never knew how challenging Tourette Syndrome could be.  You hear of people with twitches and outbursts, but I never knew how physically painful it could be.  It all started out small for Josh, but as he got older the episodes became worse and worse.  He had a hard time finishing school or even keeping a job.  His faith, Mormon, helped a little when he was younger, but left him questioning as he got older.  The one thing he found that seemed to help him was strength training.  He could have more control over himself and his tics.  Josh is funny and has had a lot on his plate, but I feel he has dealt with his challenges and worked through things instead of letting Tourette's run his life.  This was a very well written memoir that made me laugh, cry and realize we have to live in the moment with what we are given and keep taking steps forward.

Eggsecutive Orders by Julie Hyzy

Ollie is always involved in another mystery in dealing with her kitchen.  This time someone died after eating a meal and the kitchen is being blamed.  Along with all of this her mom and gram are in town, it is Easter weekend, which is a very busy time for the White House and her boyfriend, Tom, has been put in charge of the case.  She really does try to stay out of it all, but just can't.  You learn more about her and her staff through out the book.  Hyzy does a great job in giving you just enough information to make you not want to stop reading.  I can't wait to get my hands on the next book!!

Engaging Father Christmas by Robin Jones Gunn

A lovely story about a woman who has found the family she had always longed for.  She was too late to meet her father, but was embraced by her relatives, mostly.  She not only was experiencing what it felt like to be surrounded by loved ones and the warmth that comes from that, but also in her place in finding God and his warmth and love that helped her get through some of the rough times during this transition.  Wonderful things happened in this story, I laughed and shed a few tears.  Great Christmas story.

Santa's Angels by Janet Kaderli

You have a mom who is trying to make ends meat working two jobs and raising a daughter by herself.  You have an athlete who has let it go to his head and is now paying for the troubles he has caused.  On top of that it is Christmas.  These three things come together in a very neat and simple story of stepping outside of yourself, being gracious and experiencing the true meaning of Christmas that we should experience all year long.

A Virgin River Christmas by Robyn Carr

I love Virgin River.  I get so lost when I am there and love the stories, characters and growth.  Marcie lost her husband in the war and lost contact with his best friend from that time.  She went to find him.  Ian did not want to be found.  He went in on himself and made himself a hermit.  Well, she did find him and what an adventure it was.  She pushed him and he pushed back.  They made progress and she got him out a bit.  Once he experienced Virgin River it was kind of hard to go back.  Carr writes to you and makes you want to come back to Virgin River again and again to see what has changed, who is with whom and who she will introduce next.

Last Kiss by Luanne Rice

Another story on the beach.  A young girl, Nell, looses her love to what is thought as a random act of violence.  The mother, Sheridan, can not seem to come to grips with it all. Nell contacts an investigator to find the truth.  He, Gavin, ends up having a history with Hubbard's Point and Sheridan.  The depth of emotion and feelings for the characters was beautifully written.  Dealing with loss and moving on is not easy and Rice does not make it so.  Nell and Sheridan learn the truth and are able to have some closure and seem to be able to move forward.  Rice rarely disappoints, and did not here.  You fall in love with every aspect of the novel and don't want it to end.

A Street Cat Named Bob by James Bowen

Subtitle: And How He Saved My Life -- This guy in England was a recovering drug addict and was getting his life back in line.  He was a busker in a local park and that was how he was getting by.  One day he came home and found this cat on the doorstep.  He had grown up with cats and knew that this one needed some help.  His intention was to get him taken care of and then let him go.  He was having a hard enough time taking care of himself, he did not need anything else.  Well Bob, the cat, had other plans and stuck with him. Having this responsibility helped James look beyond himself and really work to get better and have a better life.  Simply written but a great story about how something that seems so small can make a huge difference in your life.

Final Exam by Pauline W. Chen

Subtitle: A Surgeon's Reflection on Mortality:  We all know that doctors go through a lot of training and spend many years learning and practicing.  What I find totally amazing is the lack of training in dealing with death.  Chen sheds light on how she was taught and how you keep death out of it.  You are to fix the patient, death is really not an option.  There are many layers when it comes to dealing with the end that play into how doctors deal with it.  If patients have hope the doctor does not want to dampen that and keeps them going.  The same goes with the family.  The one that disturbs me most is money driven, not only in the fact that the longer the patient is alive the longer they make money, but the malpractice of it all.  If there is one thing that is known in our life is that we are going to die.  Having dealt with death recently and knowing that it can be done in a loving and peaceful way, why would people want it any other way.  This was an enlightening book, that for me, really let me know that I need to be in charge and make sure that everyone knows what I want because the doctors are going to be looking at the bottom line, not always what is best for you.

Scat by Carl Hiaasen

I have always loved Hiaasen's kids books and this one did not disappoint me one bit.  He had a few different plot lines going on that all really dealt with things that kids would be going through in our current environment along with an environmental issue that can't be taken lightly.  The big story was that the biology class went on a field trip, a fire started, one of the teachers went in and did not show up again.  It is all the little things that make the story fun. The teacher, Mrs. Starch, was not loved by her students.  So as happy as they were to not have her teaching, they were concerned about where she was.  Nick was missing his father who was in Iraq.  Duane was just one of those bully students who did not care much about things, but made a change through out the story.  On top of all of that there was some illegal oil well digging and an issue with the endangered Florida Panther.  Hiaasen does a great job weaving all of these things together and you are rooting for the good guys and the panthers and you just don't want it to end.  Great book!!  I hope he writes some more for kids.

Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult

Picoult always takes on difficult subjects, or ones that are going to push the comfort zones of people.  A happily married couple is trying to have a baby.  After many failed tries the husband, Max, is done and wants a divorce.  Zoe is crushed.  As she comes out of her depression she starts hanging with Vanessa.  They end up together and decide they want a baby.  There are still frozen eggs from Zoe's earlier attempts at IVF and she wants them, but has to go through Max.  He has gotten involved in a church that is very conservative and the church takes over this case and really lays it on thick.  Many subjects that people do not like to discuss, but Picoult puts it right out there and has the ability to make you feel for all of the characters.  The ending was kind of what I expected, but I was not really disappointed.  There was a music CD that went along with the book, but I did not listen to it.  I did not want it to influence me in any way with the book.

Bookmarked for Death by Lorna Barrett

It took two tries for me to get into this book and then I finished it in two days!!  A murder in a bookstore that specializes in mysteries, go figure.  There are many fun characters and Tricia, the shop owner, just can't let things go.  She has to figure out who did this and was not going to wait for the police to get to the bottom of things.  She of course gets herself in a few pickles, but seems to come out smelling like a rose each time.  This is the second book in the series and they are hard to find.  I will definitely be watching for next next one!!

A Good Yarn by Debbie Macomber

A very easy story to fall into on Blossom Street.  Macomber again brings together three characters that you would never imagine putting together and creates a beautiful story.  Each woman has their own problems -- divorce, loss of most of savings in bad housing investment, moving away from everything she has known.  Not only do the characters have problems, but so does Lydia, the yarn shop owner.  It all tied together and made a story in which you felt a part of.  The only problem that I had was there was a lot of repetition.  You know how in reality TV when they come back from a break and do a re-cap, I felt this was done a bit much here.  This was the second book in a series and I am looking forward to see what Macomber comes up with, I will just be taking a little break from her for now.

Dance of Death by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

What an amazing book!!  The way these two work together is great!  Pendergast is trying to outwit his brother and gets many people involved, working for and against him.  D'Agosta is helping him as much as he can and looses much, but never his faith in Pendergast.  The book just keeps you going and going.  I was surprised when it ended.  It did not leave me hanging like the last one, but I really want to know how this story will progress.  This is a series that you really need to read in order to feel the continuity and have feelings for everything that builds and builds with the characters.  A wonderful and exciting series.

The Salmon of Doubt by Douglas Adams

What a fun listen!  Sadly Adams died very young, but his friends and family put this together from his computer.  There are short stories, thoughts, interviews and some of the last book he was writing.  He was a very funny man, very much into science and technology.  He can be quite scatter brained at times, almost in an ADHD kind of way, and I laughed out loud many times!  After listening to this I want to go back and read "Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy"!!

As Husbands Go by Susan Isaacs

I finally finished listening to this.  I had started it earlier in the summer and finished it up on our drive to Ohio.  It was not bad.  A little whinny for me at times. The woman's husband does not come home and ends up being found murdered, in a very unlikely spot.  She did not believe what the police thought and did some of her own investigating and found the real murderer.  Not an overly taxing book, well written and enjoyable.  For me it was a great way to have the miles go by.

Amazing Gracie by Dan Dye and Mark Beckloff

Subtitle: A Dog's Tale -- What a wonderful story!!  Dan lost a dog he had had for many years and found an amazing dog by chance.  She was a wonderful Great Dane with some challenges!!  From her Dan and his friend, by trying to take care of Gracie, developed a business to feed dogs healthy food.  I loved this.  It was a very easy read, funny and sad.  You need to read this book, it is a wonderful feel good kind of book!!

Following Atticus by Tom Ryan

Subtitle: Forty-eight high peaks, one little dog, and an extraordinary friendship -- Wow!  That was the first word that came to mind when I finished this book.  Ryan took in this dog and started an adventure in that really had no plan, it just evolved over time.  He was not a hiker, he was a writer.  Where Atticus took him was a place that he had never imagined.  The people that he met, that helped him along the way and showed him how to appreciate life, was over flowing.  You have to read this book.  Atticus will melt your heart and Tom will light a fire in you to make you want to get out there and experience life.  A wonderful, wonderful book!

The Street of a Thousand Blossoms by Gail Tsukiyama

What a wonderful story following a few families in Tokyo, Japan before, during and after the bombing in WW II.  To watch the vibrancy and love of the area to the total devastation and then move on the the re-birth was amazing.  Families struggled, but were able to hold onto their dreams.  They dealt with the loss in different ways, but many came back out on top.  There was a true sense of finding yourself and being true to yourself, the glass is half full attitude.  Tsukiyama is an amazing author that paints a beautiful picture.  You really feel a part of the story and want to be there with these families through their struggles and triumphs.  I am fascinated with the Japanese culture in the 1800's and 1900's and Tsukiyama makes me want to learn more and more about that time.  Wonderful book.

The Inn at Rose Harbor by Debbie Macomber

This is the first book in a new series that is an extension from the Cedar Cove books.  It takes place in Cedar Cove, but we will be dealing with a whole new set of characters.  Jo Marie suffers a huge loss and ends up buying a bed and breakfast in Cedar Cove.  Her first two guests also seem to be struggling with things in their personal lives.  We get to know the characters and see them grow and change, deal with things in their past and then have hope for their futures.  Macomber's writing is smooth and you get to know the characters well, and want to know them even more.  I look forward to seeing what she will do with this series.

Barefoot by Elin Hilderbrand

This was an okay story.  It really didn't grab me.  Three women, with three very different problems, go to spend the summer at the beach.  Cancer, a surprise pregnancy and being fired from a job.  Very complex ideas, but there was not a lot that really drew me to the characters.  Everything seemed very individual and disjointed between the characters and there was not an overwhelming feeling of togetherness.  To top it off, the ending was really not all that great.  A very long book that just did not do much for me.

The Shop on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber

Debbie Macomber always tells a good story that I can get lost in.  This is the first in a new series taking place in Seattle.  We were introduced to four women from four different backgrounds.  Lydia opened up a yarn shop and is a cancer survivor.  Jaqueline is a well to do woman upset with her husband and her sons choice for a wife.  Carol desparately wants a baby.  Alix is a troubled woman just trying to figure things out.  Lydia offers a knitting class that brings all of these women together, women who would have never chosen to be friends.  I always feel a part of the story and the lives and miss them when I am finished.  I am looking forward to reading more of the series.

Knit One, Kill Two by Maggie Sefton

I have wanted to read this for a while and finally found it at the library.  It is the first in a series of knitting murder mysteries.  Kelly's aunt is murdered and she goes back to Colorado to take care of the estate.  She met a lot of her aunts friends and was taken into their little group of knitters and such.  Things did not sit well with the whole situation of her aunt's murder, especially when another person is murdered, and she started to investigate.  In the end Kelly had decided to stay in Colorado, take up knitting and enjoy her new life there.  I cannot wait to  see what continues to happen in the rest of the series.

The Inn at Eagle Point by Sherryl Woods

This is a new author for me.  I had picked up one of her books at a book sale, of course, and found out that it was in the middle of the series.  I cannot start in the middle and lucked out finding this as an eBook from the library!  A nice easy read about a family along the Chesapeake Bay.  They have their problems and all work thing out differently.  Abby has a wonderful job in New York City, but her sister, Jess, calls her home.  She purchased an inn and she was going to loose it to the bank if she did not get some help.  An old flame of Abby's is at the bank and adds a little kink to it all.  Woods has very good character development and tells a good story.  I am looking forward to seeing how other members of the family and the town grow and interact with each other.  A great book to just loose yourself in for a while.

Can You Keep a Secret by Sophie Kinsella

I think I may have read this before, but it was enjoyable to read and a great way to get lost for a while.  Emma is not always truthful about things and tells white lies to make people happy.  On a flight she got quite nervous and ended up spilling her guts.  Unbeknown-st to her it was the owner of the company she works for.  Many crazy and silly things happen along the way, she gets twisted up in some stories and really learns a lot about herself and others.  It all turns out nice in the end and it was a fun ride.  I have always enjoyed Kinsella's books and this was not disappointment.

Brimstone by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

I did not like how this ended!!  The story line was very interesting, dealing with the devil, or so we thought.  There were many twists and turns and travel.  We learned more about some of the core characters and a personal relationship blossoms.  Preston and Child do a great job telling a story and keeping you going.  There were many layers to this book and they were placed very well.  I had to keep reading to see what was going to happen and I continued to be surprised.  But, as I said, I did not like the ending at all.  I hope the next book will settle me down a little bit!!

Blessed are the Cheesemakers by Sarah-Kate Lynch

At the beginning of this book I was a little confused and was not sure how all of the little story lines were going to connect.  Well, connect they did and what a wonderful story.  There are people on different sides of the earth that all end up together at a small cheese making factory.  It had been in the business of making cheese and milking cows for generations.  Through out the book you learn more of the history and intricacies of the families and the people working the farm.  It is a fun loving bunch that will make you laugh and cry.  The folks all meld together and you feel like you know them in the end.  You just keep on rooting for all those involved.  Very fun and I was sad to see it end.

One Book in the Grave by Kate Carlisle

This is part of a series and I have started near the end.  I did not feel like I was missing out on much by doing this, but much has happened over the series.  Brooklyn is a book binder and repairs old books.  She is a very colorful character with a colorful upbringing.  She goes to a bookseller to see where a book had come from and discovers that he is dead.  This leads to  hiding out, finding people she did not think were around and at times just all out chaos.  It was very fun and Carlisle did a great job tying everything together, the ending was not what I expected.  I also liked the fact that I did not feel like I jumped into the middle of a story and was missing a bunch of background.  The other books in the series should be great and I hope to find some soon.

Murder Unmentionable by Meg London

This is a very fun murder mystery that takes place in Paris, Tennessee in a vintage lingerie shop.  Emma came back to help out her aunt after living in New York City.  She needed a change of scenery.  Unfortunately some people followed her and did not fare so well.  Emma wants to figure out what happened and gets herself in some interesting situations.  The characters were very colorful and intriguing and I am interested to see how London will further develop this series.  It was just a very fun read that made me laugh and forget things for a while, just what a book is supposed to do.

Think Twice by Lisa Scottoline

You get grabbed right in the beginning and it does not stop until the end.  There are identical twins and the 'bad' twin takes over.  The 'good' twin figures it out but has a hard time convincing everyone else.  There are many twists and turns and adventures that made this an amazing book to get through.  Scottoline knows how to develop the characters and make you feel for them or even want to take sides.  She is good at showing what people can be capable of and how far reaching their web can be.  Great author.

Grounds for Murder by Sandra Balzo

This is the second book in a coffee shop mystery series and I can't wait to get to the first one and see how it all started.  There is a coffee convention with a barista competition.  Someone gets murdered.  All of the characters are well developed and colorful and I did  not feel like I missed out on anything by not reading the first one. 

Save Me by Lisa Scottoline

Wow!  She pulls you right in in the beginning and it does not stop until the end.  Rose, a mother who worked as a volunteer in the lunch room at the school where her daughter attended, was there when there was an explosion.  Decisions were made and people misinterpretted things which sent this story on a wild ride.  Rose wanted to prove her innocence and in the end found out much more about the town and it's people than she ever would have really wanted to know.  Scottoline brought about how harsh people could be and how you really need to stand up for what you believe.  People need to go with their gut and follow it through.  If you are a fan of Jodi Picoult you will love this book.

Hail to the Chef by Julie Hyzy

Ollie got into the middle of it all again.  She is the Executive Chef for the White House in this very fun culinary mystery.   They are  gearing up for the holiday season and things just start to go wrong.  Some people die, there is a bomb scare, the first lady is being threatened.  It can be intense at times and it just keeps on going.  Ollie aggravates the Secret Service, among others, but ends up being right about many things.  A very fun book and series with great characters and seamless writing.

Familiar Mirage by Caroline Burns

This was given to me by my neighbor and I was not too sure about it.  It is a Harlequin Intrigue novel and I did not know what to expect.  It was a very enjoyable, easy read.  It takes place in Egypt centered around an archaeological dig.  A huge discovery is made, but someone does not want the team to succeed.  Computers are destroyed and people poisoned.   Beth, the dig leader, is trying to stay on top of things.  The kicker is that it is a cat who is figuring out all of the mystery and deception.   I had fun reading it and will not knock one of these off again.  Very fun.   

To Have and To Kill by Mary Jane Clark

A very fun, light story about Piper who has had to move back home because her acting career has kind of tanked.  Her mother owns a bakery and Piper helps out when she can.  A friend of hers is getting married  and in the mix of things people start dying.  Piper slowly starts to realize that things are connected, but does not realize until it is almost too late, who the murdered is.  Clark did a great job stringing you on until the end and I really did not see it coming.  Very enjoyable.

The Wishing Jar by Penelope Stokes

An interesting story following three generations of women.  They have lived in the family house forever and there are many stories to tell.  There is the young, struggling with the pressures of growing up who is also dealing with a difficult loss.  The middle age who is trying to find her way with a teenager, loss and an aging mother.  The elderly who feels like she has seen it all and is lost in the shuffle.  The one thing that holds them together is the wishing jar.  Much is learned through trial and error and trust. A wonderful story with a very fitting ending.

Messenger of Truth by Jacqueline Winspear

This one was a little harder to get through.  It did not seem to flow as well as the others in the series.  There were a few different story lines that all worked well together and Maisie Dobbs is a very interesting character.  I enjoyed learning more about that time period and how it affected people.  The ending was a good twist that I truly was not expecting.  I do look forward to continuing the series as I find it all intriguing between what Maisie Dobbs does and the time period.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

What an amazing collection of letters from so many people covering such an interesting time.  It is basically friends and people who become friends over a short period of time.  This society was discovered which lead to much correspondence, both positive and negative.  These letters lead to traveling, new friends, stories of the war and what it left behind.  I laughed and cried and just thought the whole thing was wonderful and wondered why we don't write letters anymore!!

The Chocolate Bear Burglary by JoAnna Carl

The second book in a mystery series taking place in the small town of Warner Pier.  It took a while to get to the action, but how Carl led up to it was very well written.  What started as a burglary of an antique chocolate mold turned into murder.  A lot was left to think about until the very end.  She did a great job of  making you think other people committed the crime.  You learned more about the town and its residents and I look forward to learning more and seeing what else she can come up with.

East of the Mountains by David Guterson

I really like the way Guterson told this story through flash backs.  A man is dying of cancer and has decided to end his life instead of suffering and putting his family through it all.  He plans everything and then goes hunting, something he has done his whole life.  A series of events changes things for him along the way.  We learn a lot about who he is as a person now and how he was when he was younger and growing up.  It was very well told and very touching and heartfelt.  Truly a very good novel.

Cold Comfort by Don Bredes

This book takes place in northern Vermont in a quiet little town.  They are never as they seem.  A couple is murdered and many secrets are unleashed.  There were many layers to the townsfolk, companies and goings on in the area.  Bredes had good character development and the story line was good, but it was not a driving force.  I felt the book was okay, but not really memorable.  Truthfully it just felt like another crime mystery in the world of them all, not much set this apart.

The Hollow by Agatha Christie

I thought that I would give her a try.  She is known as a great mystery writer and I love mysteries.  This was okay and I won't write her off just yet.  There is a gathering at the Hollow and a murder occurs.  The characters are quite interesting, from the eccentric to artsy to way out there.  The character development was good and how everyone was woven together was quite seamless.  There was a good twist that I did not see coming and it amazed me how well it slipped by.  I am looking forward to reading some more of her books over time and see what else she can trick me with.

When in Doubt, add Butter by Beth Harbison

This was just one of those fun books.  I listened to it while I walked and I am sure some people thought I was crazy since I laughed out loud so much.  Gemma is a personal cook for several families and does catering.  All of these families have very different personalities and can be quite funny.  For the most part Gemma is happy with her life and how things are going.  She of course runs into some problems.  She handles them like a trooper, but it can be quite funny and painful.  Of course, in the end all works out well and you feel pretty good about it all.  It was just a fun book.

Saving CeeCee Honeycut by Beth Hoffman

We all want to have the easy, wonderful childhood that we read about in stories, and most of do not experience that.  We all have little bumps in the road, but have family and friends that get us through it all.  For CeeCee she was not as lucky in the beginning.  She had to take care of her mother who was mentally unstable and did things that embarrassed CeeCee which in turn lead to ridicule and isolation.  There were two things that got her through these times -- her books and her next door neighbor.  Then, one day, it all changed.  Her mother died and CeeCee went to live with a relative she did not know.  By moving in with her aunt she found a life full of fun, love and caring.  She grew into herself and found that things could be good.  I laughed out loud and cried.  Hoffman did a wonderful job detailing the joy along with the pain and gave us some very memorable characters.

Time is a River by Mary Alice Monroe

Fly fishing.  Not something that I have ever really thought about doing.  I don't really even enjoy regular fishing.  Here it was used as a form of therapy.  At first, for Mia, who was recovering from breast cancer.  It then turned into dealing with a failing marriage and learning who she really was again.  The other part of the book was about a girl, Kate, who grew up in the cabin in which Mia was staying for the summer.  It was Kate's rich, stormy history and love of nature and the outdoors that helped Mia find strength in body and self.  Mia also helped the town heal and learn the truth about a much loved member of their community, Kate.  When I told Terry I finished the book he asked me what I got out of it.  I would have to say that there is a strength within us that is stronger than what we know and we have to believe in it and trust it.  I was sad to have this book end because Monroe took me into this town and these people and I did not want to leave, it felt like a place I could call home.

eating heaven by Jennie Shortridge

The subject matter in this book was hard to deal with at times.  It was not murders or illicit happenings.  It was real life and things that I think many of us may have touched on in our lives.  You have Ellie who is a successful food writer, but has struggled with binging, lack of family support, her body image and just a poor self esteem.  Then you toss in her Uncle Benny who is diagnosed with cancer and she tries to take care of him.  Then she meets a wonderful guy with complications.  Shortridge does a beautiful job telling the story and really making us feel it too.  The layers were rich with description and depth and at times so brutally honest it made you want to close the book and just walk away.  Some of the issues hit close to home and I am sure that is why it hit me so strongly, but I am so glad I read it and look forward to reading more of her books.  She has a great style and made you really  look at and think about things that could/would/do face you.  Don't pass this one up.

Pardonable Lies by Jacqueline Winspear

Maisie Dobbs is an amazing character with such depth and feeling you want her to help you figure things out. She works on three cases in this story, two of which are dealing with lost people in the war.  It digs up many of her demons that she thought she had put to rest after the war.  She travels to France and ends up with more questions than answers and finds out that someone very dear  to her had been holding things back.  In the end she is able to solve her cases and give answers in a way that harm no one.  She also was able to put to rest some of her demons and move on with her life in a more positive way.  Another  wonderful novel in this series that just gets better and better with each page.

A Turn in the Road by Debbie Macomber

A road trip across the country.  Something we would all love to do.  Three women head out and really have an adventure.  Three generations all with their own little issues and you would think it would not work.  They all learn from each other, gain a better respect for each other and grow into better people.  Macomber knows how to tell a story and you always feel apart of it and are rooting for one person or the other.  This is part of a series, I did not know this before I started, and it is near the end.  I am hoping to start from the beginning so I can see how some of these characters got to where they were in this book.

Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin

Subtitle:  One Man's Mission to Promote Peace... One School at a Time -- I kept running into this book at thrift stores but was reluctant to purchase.  I found it at the library on audio and thought it would be good to listen to on my walks.  After Mortenson attempted K2 and ended up in the wrong town he had a vision to build schools.  This town that he wandered into had no school, yet the children were trying to learn in an outdoor space and using the ground to do figuring.  Through much trial and tribulation he was successful and built many schools and more and helped many people .  He felt, along with many elders in these towns and villages, that if you could show the children a different path and that there was more than war and violence that things could be better.  Learning about the areas he was in and seeing what he went through truly enlightened me to some of the plight in Pakistan and such.  I still do have a problem when people focus so much on other countries and causes when there is so much that can be done here in the United States.  Mortenson is a very driven person and I am glad that I took the time to listen to this book and see things a different way.

The Chocolate Cat Caper by Joanna Carl

I wanted a fun mystery novel and I got it.  This takes place in a small town in Michigan and involves chocolate and a murder.  The characters are easy to like and the story line was easy to follow.  Carl melded the folks in the story well enough, you knew enough but not too much.  She really kept you going on the who-done-it though.  A few times I thought I had it figured out but then questioned myself.  It was really fun to read and is the first in a series, so I am looking forward  to following these folks for a while.

Circle of Grace by Penelope J. Stokes

I am not sure if I have read this before, and if I did it was just as pleasurable the second time around.  Four women went through college together and promised to stay in touch with a circle journal.  Over the years it went round and round, but Grace was not telling the truth about her life.  A huge shock came to her and she was forced to face some things and wanted them to all get together.  Life never turns out how you expect and it depends on how you face it as to how well you do.  In the end your friends are really important and will be there for you if you open yourself up to them.  It really was a wonderful, touching novel.

The Art of Standing Still by Penny Culliford

This book reminded me of some of the funny shows from the BBC that you watch on public television.  It takes place in England and involves a vicar and a newspaper reporter.  The vicar, Ruth, wants to put on some mystery plays that are over 600 years old that she has transcribed into modern language so people can understand it.  Jemma, the reporter, is struggling with her job and is forced to try out for the play.  The whole town gets involved and the more Jemma sees the more things seem to go wrong.  There is much discovery of self and of disappointment.  It was an easy book to put down, but overall was enjoyable and really picked up in the end.

Whispering Rock by Robyn Carr

I love her books.  This is the third book in the Virgin River series.  A lot is going on, but Carr makes everything flow smoothly.  There are babies being born, young girls being taken advantage of, a rape, death and new love.  Everyone grows and becomes closer together, people also realize how much stronger they really are.  Carr weaves all of the stories together and you feel much a part of everyone's lives and the town. You laugh and cry and know that all will be well in the end.  Gotta love a little good romantic fiction!!

Sleeping Arrangements by Madeline Wickham

I had high hopes for this book.  Wickham's pen name is Sophie Kinsella.  I love the 'Shopaholic' books.  This book fell a little flat for me.  It was about two families who were taking a vacation at a villa that a friend was letting them use.  Unfortunately they were booked at the same time.  Some very unpleasant and uncomfortable things happen and it is not a good trip for either family.  Near the end you get to experience some climax to the story and the point.  It was a book that was too easy to set down.  I will try another one, as she has many, and can only hope that they are better.

Flower Net by Lisa See

This novel was very different from the others I have read by her.  It was still historical fiction taking place in China but See went the darker route in this novel.  It dealt with murder and gangs and revenge.  We got to see more of the darker history of this country.  Another level that was added with the murders was a working relationship with the United States in trying to solve them.  See's story line and character development did not disappoint and the depth and complexities within the layers of this book were amazing.  There are two more books to follow this one and I am interested to see where she will be taking it.

The Birthing House by Ami McKay

A wonderful novel that takes place in Nova Scotia.  It starts pre-World War I and ends after World War II. It deals with the conflict that starts to arise between the midwives and science.  In the little town of Scots Bay there has been a midwife that has taken care of them for years and years and who is in the process of turning all of her knowledge to a young woman in the town.  All of a sudden a doctor comes to the next town and sets up a maternity center and totes that he knows what is best for women and can give them much better care.  Some women choose to go to him, but many stay with the midwife or come back to her.  All of the little potions and stories that go along with being a midwife at that time are fascinating.  All of the superstitions, too.  This historical fiction novel did a great job in putting you in that time period, giving you depth in the characters and a story line that made it very hard for me to put down the book.

As Luck Would Have It by Joshua Piven

Subtitle: Incredible stories, from Lottery Wins to Lightening Strikes -- An interesting compilation of stories about things that have happened to people that for some may have been bad luck, but for them was good luck.  The question that was asked throughout the book was... what is good luck?  It truly varies for everyone, thought one thing did remain pretty constant with everyone.  Your frame of mind and how you choose  to tackle things will really affect the outcome.  It was a quick read and it does make you think about how to look at things, how you want your life to be and to accept what comes your way.

Through the Grinder by Cleo Coyle

I read the first book in this series a few years ago.  It has taken me a while to find the next one and it was just as good.  People are dying who were customers of her coffee shop.  At first it was thought to be suicide, but then manifested into murders.  Clare, the owner of the shop, thinks she has figured it out.  But, in the end there is quite a twist that I did not even expect.  Some of the things that I really liked about this book was that there was not a lot of review from the last one and you really did not feel like you were missing anything if you had not read the first one.  It will probably take me a while to find the next one, as the library does not carry her books!!!  I will be looking because they are a very fun read!

chomp by Carl Hiaasen

He comes up with some of the greatest ideas.  This is a young adult book that anyone would enjoy and takes  place in the Everglades.  Involved in this twisted tale are some animal wranglers, a wanna-be reality TV guy, a dad who has no right to be one and two kids who keep their heads on straight and come through this adventure smiling and all the stronger for it.  Nature needs to be respected and a hold on reality is needed.  Both of these things are what get these kids, and us, through life and Hiaasen has nailed another great book for kids!!

It's All Relative by Wade Rouse

Subtitle: Two families, Three dogs, 34 Holidays, and 50 Boxes of Wine....A Memoir -- Interesting to say the least.  I do like how he broke the book up into months so you could experience the progression of holidays. He would relate some from his youth and some from adulthood.  Some recollections were hilarious and others gave you some depth and you could see how it changed Rouse.  He and his partner are a very funny couple and I would love to be a fly on the wall at one of their gatherings.  The book was well written, but I am not sure if I would seek him out again.  A book that was good to pass the time. (NOOK)

Wesley the Owl by Stacey O'Brien

Subtitle: The Remarkable Love Story of an Owl and His Girl -- I loved this book!!  O'Brien, who is a biologist, started caring for Wesley when he was just a few days old.  It made her life very interesting and fuller for knowing, learning and taking care of him.  Wesley is a Barn Owl and has an amazing personality.  I loved learning more about owls and have a far greater appreciation for them and how they live.  This is a book you just should not pass up.

204 Rosewood Lane by Debbie Macomber

Another good book.  Cedar Cove is a neat little town with much going on.  In this, the second book in the series, there is death, divorce and babies.  With all of that comes complications, deception and deeper understanding of others and themselves.  Macomber writes in a way that makes you feel apart of the town.  I     was disappointed in the ending and really need to get my hands on the next one to see how Macomber resolves some of these issues!(NOOK)

Dreams of Joy by Lisa See

Another wonderful story by See.  This continued the story from Shanghai Girls and it was great!!  Joy had been very upset and went to China to find her father.  From there she traveled with him, ended up on a commune and did get married.  Pearl went to find her and had to be very patient, bend to the new rules of the time and ended up living in her old family home.  Much happened over the few years they were there, some of it quite shocking.  Knowing that this is historical fiction, it really stopped me in my tracks with some of the events that occurred.  See does a great job making the history come alive and really make you think about things that happened during that time period. (NOOK)

16 Lighthouse Road by Debbie Macomber

In Cedar Cove you cannot help but fall in love with this town and the people.  Some of the happenings include a couple who wants a divorce that is denied, a couple that had been married for years and her husband disappears, a new relationship blooms with secrets and others learn about themselves and find out what they really want and are capable of.  Macomber does a wonderful job weaving a tale and pulling you into these people's lives.  I cannot wait to continue with this series. (NOOK)