Brianna, My Brother, and the Blog

“The thing I dread the most is the weekends,” Brianna said. “Each of my roommates is seeing someone, so they’ll all go on dates, and I’ll be left all alone in the apartment with only my 8 x 10 of Robbie. Actually, it’s his high school graduation picture. I keep getting older but he stays the same.”
She paused as though she wasn’t sure she should say what she was thinking. “You want to know something weird? Last week I realized I was starting to think of him as my nephew.”
That seemed like an odd thing to say, but it also made me very happy. “If you get lonely on the weekends, give me a call. I’ll never be doing anything.”
She hesitated and then asked, “Are you serious?”
“Totally.”
Brianna needs a friend, someone to keep her from being lonely while she’s waiting for her missionary, Robbie, to come home. And who better for the job than Robbie’s brother, Austin? He can keep the other men at bay while giving Brianna guy-type help, like hauling her harp around on weekends to play at wedding receptions.
Austin needs a friend, too. And Brianna is the perfect choice since there's no romantic involvement — of course not, how could there be, she's waiting for his brother, after all. As a friendship develops between Austin and Brianna, Austin is free to learn what it means to be “true and faithful friends” with a girl. He begins posting his findings in blog entries that quickly gather a following of interested readers. But what will happen to his friendship with Brianna when she finds out who the real author of the blog is? Because the truth is, Austin isn't looking for just a friend anymore, but something more. Will he have the courage to tell Brianna the truth — before Robbie comes home?

Not my favorite. It is a short teenage story. I probably wouldn't read it again.

Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen)

This is my favorite of all Jane Austen's novels.

It's all about the life of the Bennet family which has five single young ladies in it. Their life is thrown up-side-down when a wealthy bachelor moves into the neighborhood and brings his friend along for a visit.

I love this story. I read it yearly. Some may have problems getting engrossed in the story because the old-world writing but once you get past that you're completely drawn into the character's lives. I especially love the witty dialogue that Elizabeth seems to always be surrounded by.

Dickens Inn : The Best of Times (Anita Stansfield)

“I want to be with you, but I have to make sure I’m in a position to give you what you deserve, and I’m not sure I’m the man to do that.” Chas put a hand over her mouth to hold back her emotion, glad that he couldn’t see the tears rolling down her face. . . . “I need time Chas, because if I’m going to commit my life to you, I don’t want it to ever go bad. I would rather have you love me in memory than come to hate me because I couldn’t give you what you deserve.”
A sprawling Montana setting; a charming bed-and-breakfast inn brimming with Dickensian decor; a beautiful and deeply spiritual innkeeper with secret sorrows from her past; a “Granny” who is as delightful as she is wise; and a handsome guest whose lifestyle and past are both troubled and troubling—these are the elements of a captivating novel of romance and intrigue.
With characters that are vital and vulnerable, and a plot that is wholly unpredictable, this story is a journey of choices and amazing opportunities.
Once again, Anita Stansfield proves her versatility as a storyteller extraordinaire in this novel that is an ingenious blend of romance, mystery, and Dickensian charm. The Best of Times will prove to be a favorite in the best Stansfield tradition.

This is the 1st Volume in the Dickens Inn Series. The beginning of this book was a cute Christmas Love Story. The last part of the book was an emotional roller coaster. I think this is a beginning of another great family story.

Saving Madeline (Rachel Ann Nunes)

As a public defender, Caitlin McLoughlin dreams of someday locking the bad guys in prison instead of defending them. But prosecuting jobs are scarce, and Caitlin’s future seems bleak. When her current client is about to walk away from a brutal crime, she risks her career to make sure he doesn’t hurt anyone else. Yet what if her choice means sacrificing her career and the means care for her mentally disabled sister? Then Caitlin meets Parker Hathaway, charged with kidnapping four-year-old Madeline. Just another criminal, another job, Caitlin thinks. But Parker tells a far different story. Can Caitlin believe him, as her heart urges? Is she willing to put everything on the line to defend her client—a man who claims to be protecting the child he loves? Or is her trust better placed in the handsome deputy district attorney with his undefeated record in court? Caitlin’s pursuit of the truth swiftly thrusts her into a maze of unanswered questions and unexpected heartache.Meanwhile, time is running out for Madeline. If Caitlin doesn't find the proof she is looking for soon, there may not be a future for any of them.

Heroes At Risk (Moira J. Moore)

Now that Shield Lee Mallorough and her incredibly handsome Source, Shintaro Karish, have done their fair share of grunt work in the Southern Islands, they have returned to the city of High Scape to resume their duties as a Pair. But upon their arrival, they discover that the city once besieged by immense disaster seems to have calmed down. Instead, the townspeople are obsessed with ritualistic magic -- one that anyone can study and learn.

Lee most certainly doesn't believe in magic -- or at least not this kind. But she can't deny that tomb robbing for ashes to use in spells is rather disturbing, especially when even the living are being murdered for their remains. Lee fears that Taro is in grave danger, for who could be thought to work better as a charm than her handsome and talented Source?

This was a good addition to this series. I was a little frustrated by Lee's unwillingness to accept the obvious in a certain situation. It also left quite a few loose ends and ended in a bit of a cliff hanger. Looking forward to the next book.

The Dead Girls' Dance (Rachel Caine)

Claire Danvers has her share of challenges -- like living among creatures of the night. On the upside, she has a great roommate (who tends to disappear at sunup) and a new boyfriend. Now a fraternity is throwing its annual Dead Girls' Dance and -- surprise! --Claire and her equally outcast friend have been invited. When they find out why, all hell breaks loose, because this time both the living and the dead are ready to tear up the night.

A little better than the first.

Glass Houses (Rachel Caine)

Morganville is a small college town in the heart of Texas that has its share of quirky characters -- and some evil ones too. When student Claire Danvers moves off campus into one of Morganville's oldest houses, she finds that her roommates don't show many signs of life. But they'll have Claire's back when the town's deepest secrets come crawling out, hungry for fresh blood.

If I had to give this one a rating between 1 & 10, I would say about a 6 or 7. It's good enough that you want to keep reading and find out what happens but it definitely has the simplicity of a young adult book.

Dead Until Dark (Charlaine Harris)

Sookie Stackhouse is a small-time cocktail waitress in small-town Louisiana. She's quiet, keeps to herself, and doesn't get out much. Not because she's not pretty. She is. It's just that, well, Sookie has this sort of "disability." She can read minds. And that doesn't make her too dateable. And then along comes Bill. He's tall, dark, handsome--and Sookie can't hear a word he's thinking. He's exactly the type of guy she's been waiting for all her life....

But Bill has a disability of his own: He's a vampire with a bad reputation. He hangs with a seriously creepy crowd, all suspected of --big surprise-- murder. And when one of Sookie's coworkers is killed, she fears she's next....

It took me a bit to truely get involved in this story. I guess I had to get used to the way this author writes...not bad but a little different. I did enjoy this story and look forward to reading the rest of the Southern Vampire Series.

Kiss Of Midnight (Lara Adrian)

He watches her from across the crowded dance club, a sensual black-haired stranger who stirs Gabrielle Maxwell's deepest fantasies. But nothing about this night -- or this man-- is what it seems. For when Gabrielle witnesses a murder outside the club, reality shifts into something dark and deadly. In that shattering instant she is thrust into a realm she never knew existed -- a realm where vampires stalk the shadows and a blood war is set to ignite.

Lucan Thorne despises the violence carried out by his lawless breathren. A vampire himself, Lucan is a Breed warrior, sworn to protect his kind -- and the unwitting humans existing alongside them -- from the mounting threat of the Rogues. Lucan cannot risk binding himself to a mortal woman, but when Gabrielle is targeted by his enemies, he has no choice but to bring her into the dark underworld he commands.

Here, in the arms of the Breed's formidable leader, Gabrielle will confront an extraordinary destiny of danger, seduction, and the darkest pleasures of all ...

This story wasnt bad. Sometimes the sex stuff got in the way of a good story but if you can see past that then you'll enjoy this one.

The Silence of Snow (Anita Stansfield)

“I love you,” Elizabeth whispered near his ear.
A rush of memories overcame him in an instant: He thought of how she’d been at his side through every step that had led to this moment. He thought of her care and concern through his pain and illness. He thought of her faith and strength, her wisdom and insight. In that moment he felt as if they’d come full circle. . . . This was the moment in the life of a human being when everything was perfect, it was all worth it, and the memory of it would carry him through whatever lay ahead.
But how could Jayson have anticipated the trials awaiting him and his family? Faced with illness and setbacks that could quite possibly sabotage his resurgent career, Jayson must somehow find the faith and courage to weather these unexpected ordeals. In this spellbinding and satisfying final chapter of the Jayson Wolfe series, acclaimed LDS author Anita Stansfield tells an unforgettable story of love, loss— and one man’s unbreakable spirit.
Join Jayson and Elizabeth and all those near and dear to them as they embark on a remarkable and courageous journey that leads them to an ultimate reliance on God’s amazing grace.

This is the final book in the Jayson Wolfe Series. I really loved this series and would recommend it to everyone. It teaches you that you can make it through any trial if you have faith.

Digging Up the Past (Kerry Blair, Christine Wolfe)

Even though she was once in love with Jayce McDermott, FBI agent Meredith McKay thought she would never see him again. Now their less-than-happy reunion is taking place in a small, Arizona jailhouse where the archaeologist stands accused of murder. Unfortunately, Meredith's list of suspects is as short as the time Jayce may have to live.
Hidden beneath the red clay desert lie the answers to the investigation-in an ancient Hopi ceremonial kiva. As Meredith and Jayce dig for clues, they also unearth the love they have for each other-but Meredith soon realizes she needs more than even Jayce's love to free her from the past. As the pair edges closer to the facts, one man is prepared to sacrifice Jayce to protect his profitable scheme. Can Meredith learn the truth in time to save the man she loves?

This book was okay... It had a good story, but it wasn't put together very well. I had a hard time trying to stay interested until the last couple of chapters and then it finally had enough activity and flow of words to keep it interesting.

Calamity Jayne Heads West (Kathleen Bacus)

Tress Jayne Turner, Grandville Iowa's own little "Calamity," is headed for the Grand Canyon State -- and a wedding! No, not her own. She hasn't said yes to the roguish Ranger Rick yet, but after the past year, some downtime in a sweat lodge is just what the shaman ordered.

Unfortunately, it's her goofy granny gettin' hitched.

Tressa's sunny little siesta is about to have more strings attached than a dream catcher. Her cousin's keeping secrets, Rick's sending signals -- more of the smokin' than smoke variety -- and it seems Tressa's not the only person with an attachment to "Kookamunga", the butt-ugly fertility figurine she picked up at a roadside stand as a wedding gift. The wacky wedding's about to become a southwestern scavenger hunt, an amazing race cum Da Vinci Code-intrigue, featuring a washed-up actress out to kick-start her career, a suspect spiritual advisor, locals with a cause, and a ten-year-old who's a chip off a certain ranger's blockhead. It'll be a vision quest to make Thelma and Louise's southwestern spree seem like amateur night at the OK Corral. May the best spirit guide win.

Loved this one, too! (Something must really be wrong with her for not hooking up with the yummy Ranger Rick yet)

Calamity Jayne Goes To College (Kathleen Bacus)

Ace cub reporter Tressa Jayne Turner is carrying a full load -- and we're not talking post-holiday pounds. Back in college for the fourth time (but who's counting!?), she's also looking to nab a raise from her stingy boss at the Gazette, Stan. So, what's to stop her from making the grade -- besides the old "dog ate the homework" story, that is?

- A wrinkled roommate rekindling an old flame

- Maid-of-honor madness run amok

- A botched betrothal that's more than just schoolyard gossip

- One man who likes her for herself and another who wants to save her from herself

- A campus criminal out to teach the student body a lesson--one crime at a time

It's a case of murder and mayhem by the books... and failure is so not an option.

Bacus delivers again! There were points in this book where I laughed so hard I tears in my eyes!

All the Stars in Heaven (Michel Paige Holmes)

Ever since the woman he once adored told Jay Kendrich he was a chivalrous hero, he has tried to live up to the praise. But when things don't work out with Jane, moving on and dating other girls proves to be a chore. That is until he meets fellow Harvard student Sarah Morgan. Although Sarah is a freshman studying music and Jay is in his third year of law school, he discovers they have much in common. He has also discovered that getting to know the shy pianist is painful. The last thing Jay expected from his friendly advances was to be assaulted by a brawny stranger. It is abundantly clear that someone wants him to stay away from Sarah. If only he could.As long as she can remember, Sarah has lived under a watchful eye. While her father insists it's for her own protection, Sarah feels imprisoned. As she begins to believe that those she has trusted most don't have her best interest at heart, she is driven further from her respected father and closer to Jay. But their love will come at a high price as the pair edges closer toward a truth that is darker than either of them could have imagined.

This book was nothing of what I expected after reading the first book to this sequel, but I did enjoy the story and there were enough turns of events to keep your attention. Some of the suspense was predictable, but a good read.

Above Suspicion (Betsy Brannon Green)

Mary Grace O'Malley never wanted to run a small hotel, but she inherited The Arms, an inn on the Florida coastline. So for a year she's been making the best of it and ignoring her dreams. While preparing for the arrival of the ladies from Haggerty for their annual vacation, John Wright walks into The Arms. He once broke her heart and is now an investigative reporter and has come to Bethany Beach to solve a 25 year old murder. She agrees to help him just to get rid of him, but by solving the case - she finds herself.

I really enjoyed this authors writing style. I love reading murder mysteries and she has a fun way to put a love story right in the middle of the investigations. I think I will read more from this author, hopefully all her books are like this one.

Ghouls Just Want To Have Fun (Kathleen Bacus)

It's autumn in the heartland, when football rules and homecoming royalty reigns -- and full moons don't just mean a passing high school varsity bus. But this year, Tress Jayne Turner isn't enjoying the frivolity of the season. Our intrepid 23-year-old reporter is trying to recover from ten days at the State Fair. After being stalked by a psycho dunk-tank clown, all she wants is a slower pace, some candy corn and toffee apples -- and a serious story she can sniff out on her own.

She's in luck! Eccentric and reclusive bestselling writer Elizabeth Courtney Howard is coming to little ol' Grandville. So, what's stopping Tressa from getting the dope -- besides blackmailing six-foot-two-inch high school homecoming queen candidate with all the charm of Frankenstein in taffeta, a rival reporter out to scoop the competition, and the sexy park ranger who's kept Tressa's knickers in a knot since the fourth grade? Only the fact that the skeletons to uncover are all in a closet in Haunted Holloway Hall -- a house only Norman Bates could love.

It looks like a mother of a story.

This is the third in the Tressa Jayne Turner Mystery series or "Calamity Jayne" series. I loved this one too! I was a little shocked when all the sudden the book ended and was wanting a little more story in the end but I guess that'll just make me read the next one. :o)

Counting Stars (Michele Paige Holmes)

Jane was hoping for a second date — maybe even a boyfriend. What she wasn't expecting was Paul Bryant's completely original and sincere pick-up line: 'Hi. I'm Paul. I have terminal cancer. My wife was killed in a car accident, and I'm looking for a woman to raise my children.'
It was never Jane's plan to fall in love with a dying man and his two infants. But her seemingly simple decision to date someone outside her faith leads to one complication after another, and the choices she makes soon have far higher stakes than she could have foreseen. In choosing to help Paul, is she choosing to be alone forever? And how can something that seems so unbelievably messed up feel so completely right?
Sometimes love is found in the least likely places and the greatest blessings are discovered while counting stars.

I completely enjoyed this love story. I couldn't put it down and ended up having a completely lazy saturday, so that I could read the book in one day. Make sure you have the tissues nearby.

The Hidden Branch (GG Vandagriff)

Paul Mardian is a shining example of the American dream. The grandson of an Armenian immigrant who fled to the United States during the genocide of 1915, Paul is a self- made industrial tycoon and one of the most eligible bachelors in the country. But the dream is shattered when Paul turns up dead and his valuable collection of ancient Armenian artificats goes missing. Hired to find the murdered man’s heirs, professional genealogist Alexandra Campbell and her sidekick, Briggie, are brought to the swanky beaches of Southern California and a community of Armenian relatives who all seem to be hiding a secret. When another family member is suddenly murdered, Alex discovers there is more at stake than an unclaimed fortune or missing antiques, but piecing together Paul’s complicated family tree may be more dangerous than she ever anticipated. Author G. G. Vandagriff combines mystery, suspense, and romance in this page- turning thriller!

This is book 5 of this mystery series. I am trully enjoying the adventures that Alex and Briggie have been taking us on. Curious to see if the author adds any more adventures to this series.

The Subtle Knife (Philip Pullman)

The intrepid young Lyra has passed through a shimmering portal in the sky and finds herself in a beautiful, haunted otherworld -- cittagazze, where soul-eating Specters stalk the streets and wingbeats of distant angels sound against the sky. But she is not without allies: twelve-year-old Will Parry, fleeing for his life after taking another's, has also stumbled into this strange new realm.

On a perilous jouney from world to world, Lyra and Will uncover a deadly secret: an object of extraordinary and devastating power. With every step, they move closer to an even greater threat -- and the shattering truth of their own destiny.

This is book 2 of the His Dark Materials series. I found it quite dull and had to keep talking myself into reading it which is a very rare thing for me.

Gables of Legacy : Full Circle (Anita Stansfield)

For Emily Hamilton, losing her beloved husband Michael to death was one of the hardest things she had ever faced. But having to live without him—year after year—is proving to be even more difficult. Even though Emily’s family surrounds her with love and support, the loneliness and lack of close companionship brings about a desire to move on with her life. Compelled to pursue new social opportunities and break out of the deep rut she finds herself in, Emily meets a man who could turn everything in her carefully cultivated life upside down. Samuel Reid is a very different man from Michael Hamilton—a man who is desperately searching for answers that Emily can lovingly provide. While Samuel seems to be honest and sensitive, Emily’s family is wary of his intentions. Can Emily survive yet another crisis in her life, or will Samuel end up being one of the best things that ever happened to her—and to her children? Anita Stansfield, the #1 best-selling LDS romance author, delivers one of her finest novels to date, a tender conclusion to the stirring Gables of Legacy series, and a heartwarming story of eternal love that transcends the thin veil between life and death.

The Golden Compass (Philip Pullman)

Lyra Belacqua is content to run wild among the scholars in Jordan College, her daemon familiar always by her side. But the moment she hears hushed talk of Dust, an extraordinary particle, she's drawn to the heart of a terrible struggle - a struggle born of Gobblers and stolen children, witch clans and armored bears. And as she hurtles toward danger in the cold, far North, young Lyra never suspects the shocking truth: her destiny must be fulfilled not in this world, but far beyond.

This is the first book in the His Dark Materials series. It is an interesting story. I dont know if I can outright say that I like it but it has me interested enough to want to read the next one.

Gables of Legacy : The Miracle (Anita Stansfield)

Scott Ivie is finally learning what it means to be part of a family. In fact, he has merged so perfectly into the Hamilton family that he almost feels he was destined to be living and working with them in Australia. After all, it was Jess Hamilton who first introduced Scott to the gospel. But when Jess's younger sister Emma returns from her mission early because of a health problem, she is less than pleased to see the good-looking stranger sitting at the family dinner table.
Facing a life-threatening crisis, Emma has far more important things to worry about than a gold-digging American--even if she is attracted to him. Could there be more to Scott than Emma can possibly see right now?
Best-selling author Anita Stansfield once again delivers a compelling story of family unity, faith, and the miracles that can come through the power of the gospel.
See also The Guardian, Guiding Star, The Silver Linings, An Eternal Bond, and Full Circle. This is volume 5 in the Gables series.

The Hourglass Door (Lisa Mangum)

His past. Her future. Can love bring them together in time?
Abby’s senior year of high school is going according to plan: good friends, cute boyfriend, and college applications in the mail. But when Dante Alexander, foreign-exchange student from Italy, steps into her life, he turns it upside down. He’s mysterious, and interesting, and unlike anyone she’s ever met before. Abby can’t deny the growing attraction she feels for him. Nor can she deny the unusual things that seem to happen when Dante is around. Soon Abby finds herself drawn into a mystery whose roots reach into sixteenth-century Florence, and she uncovers a dangerous truth that threatens not only her future but the lives of those she loves.

I loved this book. The author is very descriptive and fast paced, her writing keeps the plot moving and exciting. This is the 1st in a trilogy, I am looking forward to the following books. Great book for being the first from this author.

Eyes Like Mine (Julie Wright)

A story of family that transcends time William has been missing for two days. And even though the rest of the wagon company has decided they must continue on to Zion, Constance Brown refuses to go any further until she finds her husband. All she can think about is the last time she saw him — he lovingly touched her face and then sang their baby girl to sleep. Will that memory be all Constance has to hold on to?
In a future time and place, Liz King is a teenager struggling with her identity in the modern world. The embarrassment she feels because of her parents’ divorce and her family’s new-found financial problems turns to bitterness.
Through an inexplicable twist of fate, Constance and Liz are brought face to face. Liz recognizes Constance’s name from her mother’s endless lectures on their family history, and she also recognizes her eyes — they are exactly like her own. Were these distant relatives brought together in order to help each other?
Will Constance be able to return to her own life and find William, and will Liz be able to keep from telling Constance how her story ends? In this irresistible novel filled with gripping adventure and heartfelt emotion, two young women from drastically different times and settings learn that the challenges life holds for them are not so different after all.

Another pioneer story with a twist of the pioneer women having to come to the future to help her posterity. I liked this story.

The Undaunted: The Miracle of the Hole-in-the-Rock Pioneers (Gerald N Lund)

The journey was impossible.But they had no other choice.
At the call of their prophet, they left well-established farms and businesses to strike out yet again into the untamed wilderness. A small band of men, women, and children formed the 1879 pioneer company.
Their mission: stand as a buffer between lawlessness and civilization.Their road: only what they created themselves, blasting out a perilous trail over slick rock and through desolate cliffs.Their hearts: UNDAUNTED

Listen to an interview with Gerald N. Lund from The Cricket and Seagull Fireside Chat Podcast.
To find out more about about this book visit Undaunted-thenovel.com

I really enjoyed this book. I would like to go visit some of the places that these pioneers crossed and be able to see some of the artifacts that were left behind on their travels. I definately recommend this book. It has facts from some of the pioneers journals to back up some of the events that the author has chosen to share.

The Ties That Bind (Kristen McKendry)

After losing both parents at a young age, Daniel McDonald grew up disconnected from his family history. Now, as he approaches the birth of his first child, he feels deeply unsettled about his severed familial bonds. Before Daniel can feel ready to be a father himself, he knows he must unravel the painful mystery of his past and make peace with what he finds.
This quest begins as Daniel discovers the story of his grandmother, a woman of great faith who wanted nothing more than to have her family sealed together eternally, but whose untimely death led to the scattering of her offspring. Daniel’s journey of understanding unfolds as he forms new connections with relatives he never knew he had and gains long-lost insight about the difficult circumstances that entangled his family tree. From a past riddled by abuse, abandonment, and alcoholism, Daniel comes to see himself and his future in a promising new light.
Inspired by actual people and events, this novel poignantly imparts unforgettable lessons about love and loss, choice and accountability, and the everlasting ties that bind generations.

This is another quick read. I loved it because it compared the life story of a guy living in this decade to his grandparents living in harder times. I love the family history story behind this book.

Agent in Old Lace (Tristi Pinkston)

Shannon Tanner has it all—a perfect family, a perfect job, and a perfect boyfriend. Or so she thinks. What Shannon doesn’t know is that her boyfriend, Mark, is stealing money from her father and making millions doing it. When Shannon learns Mark’s secret, he turns on her, and Shannon’s life abruptly goes from perfect to perilous.
In an effort to protect Shannon, the FBI assigns their only female agent to go undercover as her personal bodyguard. But when the agent breaks her leg the day before the assignment, they turn to the next best thing: their top agent, Rick Holden—in a dress.
Quote from Agent in Old Lace: Life seems safe again for Shannon with Rick by her side and Mark apparently gone for good. Then Shannon gets word that her best friend has been kidnapped, and it becomes clear that Mark isn’t going to stop any time soon. Shannon realizes the only way to save herself and her friend—and stop Mark once and for all—is by sending Rick, her only source of protection, away. Can Rick save Shannon before it’s too late?
Tristi Pinkston’s contemporary novel debut promises to entertain and uplift her fans and new readers alike

This was a quick read of just under 200 pages. The characters were humorous. I loved this story.

The Last Waltz (G G Vandagriff)

The heroine of The Last Waltz, Amalia Faulhaber, comes onstage as an innocent socialite with a strong personality in the nervous splendor of the last days of the Hapsburg Empire. It is the "Golden Age" of music, art, fashion, cuisine, and drama.
Amidst the sparkle and neuroses of Vienna, Amalia has been educated in the fine art of flirtation by her aristocratic grandmother and in matters of conscience by her socialist uncle. She shapes and is shaped by her relationships with the men in her life—a Prussian soldier, a Polish doctor, and an Austrian baron--always remaining faithful to her own growing ideals. The story of Austria's descent into fascism is counterbalanced by the developing love that she feels for her husband with whom she has a "marriage of convenience." As flawed characters are transformed, the theme of the piece emerges as the redemptive power of love.
The book is a virtual journey into the events before, during, and after World War I. An understanding of this period is critical for us to comprehend why democracy failed in Germany and Austria. This understanding lays the foundation for a true perspective of present domestic politics and international relations with the Western and Eastern European Countries.

This book is divided into multiple sections. I hard a really hard time staying focused in the first section, but it was necessary to build you up for the rest of the story and to give you an understanding of who each of the characters are. I enjoyed the book by the end.

Pathway Home (Michele Ashman Bell)

After just one year of a blissful marriage, Cami Gardner is alone, mourning the loss of her departed husband. She's struggling to continue down the pathway of life, searching for a reason to feel alive again.
But on a seemingly ordinary summer night, a group of mysterious strangers checks into the Sea Rose Bed and Breakfast that she tends with her grandfather. One is a handsome man with eyes that hold a glimpse of pain . . . something Cami recognizes from her own heart. The others speak of a lost treasure, the legend of Spanish gold buried somewhere along the nearby coastline.
For Cami, the future holds an adventure more exhiliarating and perilous than anything she's ever imagined. And, with tensions nearing their breaking points, she'll be forced to make a choice that may cost her her very life. She's also about to take the most perilous journey of all-- inviting someone else onto the pathway she's walked alone for so long . . . and her heart may never be the same.
Comments about Pathway Home from the author:
It was wonderful to come back to Seamist and the wonderful characters from the book, "Love Lights the Way". I fell in love with the Oregon coast as I did research for that first book and through the encouragement of readers, and my own longing to return to the coast, I wrote the long awaited sequel, "Pathway Home".
There's something mystical, magical and romantic about the setting in this book and the atmosphere just seemed to lend itself to a story of mystery, adventure and romance. I enjoy the characters of this book and was happy to let the grow and find closure to each of their lives. I think that the greatest story in this book is the strength each character gains as they learn to resolve issues and heartaches from their past and finally find faith to move forward, with hope.
This is a message I know we all need at some point in our lives, so hopefully this story can uplift and inspire readers, as well as captivate and entertain them.
One word of warning, fight the urge to skip to the back of the book and read the ending. I guarantee, you'll be happy with the ending, but you're in for some great surprises and a lot of mystery and fun. You may get a tug at her your heartstrings and even get teary eyed in a few spots, but it's all worth it.
Thanks to all the wonderful requests for more of Ashlyn and Cami. I appreciate reader input and you never know, one of your ideas or suggestions is bound to show up somewhere in one of my books, so stay in touch and don't hesitate to contact me with suggestions. Enjoy!

I really enjoyed this book, it was one of those I couldn't put down until it was finished. The murder mystery even gave me chills a couple of times when you felt like you were in Cami's shoes. I am going to have to find out what other book has Ashlyn and Cami's story in it and definately read it.

Eyes of a Stranger (Carol Warburton)

The year is 1907, and Matthew Cameron has questions no one in his small Mormon settlement can answer. But answers come fast and furious when a man who looks eerily like Matthew saves him from a deadly attack. Rafael, the rescuer, may be charming, but he is also a ruthless exploiter. When Matthew refuses to cross a moral line, Rafael begins to destroy all that Matthew holds dear. Angry and alone-armed only with his unfailing belief in God-Matthew struggles to start a new life. Faced with a disturbing past, along with bitter racism in his new community, Matthew is surprised to find his sole defender is a beautiful, spirited young woman. Against the wishes of everyone around them, Matthew and Sabra begin to fall in love. When Sabra's life is jeopardized, Matthew must make some final choices: between love and hate, between right and wrong, and between life and death. Carol Warburton, master of LDS historical fiction, delivers a sweeping novel of suspense, adventure, and romance that is sure to keep readers breathlessly turning the pages of this unforgettable story.

This was a very good love story.

Forget Me Not (Michele Ashman Bell)

Dalton McNamara is returning to the country where he was held in brutal captivity, to the place where his leg was crudely amputated, to the land where his friends died. Dalton is on his way to Vietnam. But this time it will be different. This time his new wife Paige and his daughter Skyler are with him. Together, they are on a mission of healing and hope—a trip that will quickly become the adventure of a lifetime.
The McNamaras are in search of Skyler’s Vietnamese mother’s family, a journey that will wind them through a remote countryside where people still struggle to survive—even if it means working outside the law. Soon the Daltons discover that becoming too friendly with some people can be dangerous, even Lethal, especially if you are American.

I have really enjoyed this family's story and adventure. I am hoping there is a book 3 in this series to continue on with their adventures.

Key Trilogy Series (Nora Roberts)

Key Of Light

Fate brings three women together for a chance to unlock their deepest desires. Mallory has the soul of an artist and an eye for beauty. She must find the Key of Light -- on the first of three dangerous quests that could fulfill her destiny...or forever destroy her life.

Key Of Knowledge

Following hot on the heels of the first installment in Roberts's Key trilogy, this second book (following Key of Light) continues the story of three contemporary female friends chosen to free the souls of ancient demigoddesses called the Daughters of Glass. This time, the heroine is Dana Steele, a librarian who is sure that the key she's seeking lies in a book. As she begins her search, Dana renovates Indulgence, the gallery-cum-salon-cum-bookstore she is opening with her friends Malory Price and Zoe McCourt. She also spends sometimes passionate, sometimes vexing time with Jordan Hawke, the thriller writer who broke her heart years earlier when he abandoned her and their small Pennsylvania town of Pleasant Valley to seek fame in New York. Dana slowly realizes that the love they once felt for each other has not died-and that Jordan's writing is inextricably entwined with her supernatural quest. In the end, Jordan must join with Dana to fight the spells of the sorcerer Kane and fulfill the terms of her quest.

Key of Valor

Zoe is about to discover her true courageous spirit. She must find the key of valor--on the last of three dangerous quests that will force her to confront her darkest fears ... or suffer immeasurable loss.

A little let down by this series. I enjoyed the first one and was expecting more of the following two. The characters were okay but I had a hard time bonding with them.

Touch The Dark (Karen Chance)

Like any sensible girl, Cassie tries to avoid vampires. But when the bloodsucking Mafioso she escaped three years ago finds Cassie again with revenge in mind, she's forced to turn to the vampire Senate for protection.

The undead senators won't help her for nothing, and Cassie finds herself working with one of their most powerful members, a dangerously seductive master vampire- and the price he demands may be more than Cassie is willing to pay.

I really liked the story basis in this one. The author didn draw out some scenes and gave a little bit too much information (you start to feel bored) in some areas.

Sensual scene.

Dancing Shoes and Honky-Tonk Blues (LuAnn McLane)

Despite her two left feet, waitress Abilene Harper joins a reality TV dance competition and cha-chas and rumbas her way into the heart of the TV audience-and into the arms of her sexy dance instructor.
I was a little disappointed in this book. I really enjoyed Redneck Cinderella so maybe I set myself up for the disappointment. This one was too involved in the physical attraction and didnt have quite as much humor.
Some sex scenes, obviously.

Sentinels: Jaguar Night (Doranna Durgin)

At dusk he prowled the Southwest, a huge, sleek black jaguar with startling blue eyes and a man's thoughts. A shape-shifting Sentinel, Dolan Treviño projected an intensely animalistic aura that hid the scars of his past. Yet as fierce as his pride was, this immensely powerful guardian needed the intuition and spirit of an innocent horse trainer to find redemption.The moment he set foot on her ranch, Meghan Lawrence rejected the shape-shifter's protection--but she couldn't turn her back on her family legacy. Her mother had died protecting a magical manuscript that the Sentinels' dark counterparts would now do anything to recover. With an unbreakable will and all-consuming passion, only Dolan possessed the strength to save Meghan. But was she strong enough to tame the beast within?

I liked the story but was disappointed with where it left off. It was definitely a book meant to build up to the next in the series.

Some sex.

Seducing The Viscount (Deborah Raleigh)

Illegitimacy is no obstacle for Ian Breckford. Darkly handsome and thoroughly charming, he has bedded his way through London's most exclusive society. Yet this pleasurable existence has lately seemed a trifle dull-a fact soon remedied by a visit to his father's estate, where his aunt has acquired a delightful new companion. Mercy Simpson may be shy, but she is also sharp-witted and stubborn, especially when persuading Ian to relieve her of her innocence.
Ian's arrival presents the opportunity for Mercy to experience uninhibited sensual adventure before she returns to her spinster life. Ian's extraordinary skill is everything she dreamed a lover might offer-and everything she can never hope to keep … unless her brazen seduction can ignite a true, lasting passion.

Not sure how I feel about this book. I enjoyed the characters. The basis for the story wasnt bad but it just didnt grab me like I prefer my books to.

Very sensual scenes!

City of Ashes (Cassandra Clare)

Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who's becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go — especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil — and also her father.
To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings — and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace.How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?
In this breathtaking sequel to City of Bones, Cassandra Clare lures her readers back into the dark grip of New York City's Downworld, where love is never safe and power becomes the deadliest temptation.

Enjoying this series!

Timeless Moments (Michele Ashman Bell)

Paige St. Claire is a survivor. After battling breast cancer and suffering through a painful divorce, she is working on rebuilding a simple, uncomplicated life. Quite by accident, she stumbles across a link to her past that will forever change her future—the M.I.A./P.O.W. bracelet she wore as a teenager. Paige wonders if the soldier ever made it home.
Dalton McNamara did return from Vietnam after spending time as a prisoner of war in Hanoi. He now lives in Newport Beach—near Paige's best friend, Louisa. When Paige goes to California to help her friend through surgery, she visits the returned soldier.
After an awkward beginning, Paige soon realizes that Dalton is an amazing man. And even though this widower and single father has many female admirers in the local LDS community, Dalton recognizes that there has been no one he has connected with—until Paige.
As their friendship grows into love, can they overcome their emotional and physical scars of the past and face whatever the future may hold? From best-selling author Michele Ashman Bell, Timeless Moments is an unforgettable story, glimmering with hope and healing.

This was a good LDS love story. It is a relaxing read and just enough drama to keep your attention.

Gables of Legacy : The Silver Linings & An Eternal Bond (Anita Stansfield)

After a lifetime of emotional trials and heartache, for Tamra Banks this day brings a unique and almost impossible joy. It’s the long-awaited moment of her marriage to the love of her life, Jess Hamilton.
But in this time of unparalleled happiness, Tamra and Jess will be plagued by challenges unlike any they’ve yet faced—challenges that will test the very limits of their faith, while deepening their gratitude for the divine and fragile blessing of family.
Jess and Tamra are about to learn powerful lessons of life and love in The Silver Linings, the third and intensely compelling installment of the popular Gables of Legacy series. It’s a remarkable story about personal revelation, the power of the Comforter, and a profound discovery about the meaning of eternal bridges.

Jess Hamilton believes he could never fill the shoes of his late father. Now responsible for a century-old family business and a boys’ home, Jess knows he is expected to uphold a great patriarchal legacy. As Jess struggles to find a footing in a world full of new obligations, he finds himself drawn into an ugly court battle where a child’s future—or perhaps even his life—is at stake.
For Jess’s wife Tamra, her own inadequacies surface when her abusive mother comes to be cared for in the Hamilton family home. Even though Tamra has forgiven her mother, the situation brings an ugly past much too close to the present—which only adds to Tamra’s rising feelings of discouragement as she searches for help with her own physical challenges.
Volume four in best-selling author Anita Stanfield’s Gables of Legacy series, An Eternal Bond journeys into the changing lives of the Hamilton family and explores how adversity can bless and unite families in eternal bonds of love.

Gables of Legacy : A Guiding Star (Anita Stansfield)

Armed with the love of a good man, Jess Hamilton, Tamra Banks has made the difficult decision to reconcile with her estranged mother. Over the years, Tamra has had to fight through the ugly memories of her abusive childhood, the complete absence of her father, and her mother’s angry reaction to Tamra’s conversion to the Church. When the encounter with her mother goes badly, memories and doubts threaten to suffocate Tamra with long-buried emotions. In a swirling tide of confusion and distrust, the confidence Tamra feels about her relationship with Jess quickly dwindles in the face of her growing doubts. With my background and upbringing, am I worthy of Jess’s love, after all? Volume II in Anita Stansfield’s stunning series, Gables of Legacy, explores the powerful grasp of a horrible childhood, the guiding light of the gospel, and the healing that comes when you learn to forgive others-and yourself.

Gables of Legacy : The Guardian (Anita Stansfield)

Over the past few years, Tamra Banks, a confused, new convert from a troubled family has blossomed into a faithful Church member. Friends, family history, a mission in the Philippines, and the sacrifice of all she knows bring about this change. But stability in life does not mean stability in love. And now, Tamra is faced with her greatest challenge.
Tamra moves into the home of Michael and Emily Hamilton, a couple from Australia she met during her mission. The Hamilton's son, Jess--burdened by the guilt of being involved in an accident that killed his brother and sister-in-law--believes that life is no longer worth living. And though Tamra at first finds Jess brooding and harsh, she cannot deny her attraction to him, because she sees who he once was, and who he could become. Living in his ancestral home, sharing the stories of his family's history, Tamra begins to connect with Jess, and a cautious love develops between the two. Jess's depression runs deep, however, and the day is fast approaching when he may choose isolation over marriage, and a permanent end to his pain.
Join best-selling author Anita Stansfield in her thrilling new series, Gables of Legacy. Volume One, The Guardian, is an exhilarating story of triumph over despair, of ancestral connection, and of the decisions that could mean the difference between eternal love or bitter tragedy.

This is one of the many books in the Byrnehouse-Davies & Hamilton Saga. I have read 4 of 14 in this family story. You can either read them in order or separately. I really enjoy this families story. I know Brittany has also read some of their stories also.

Life is Hard, Food is Easy (Linda Spangle)

Does a conversation with your mother drive you to consume a gallon of ice cream? Have you ever eaten a whole bag of chips and wondered “How did that happen?” In Life Is Hard, Food Is Easy, Linda Spangle, R.N., M.A., explains why emotional eating dooms all your dieting efforts. Over the past 15 years, Linda Spangle has helped thousands of clients learn to cope with their emotions, thereby allowing them to lose weight successfully and keep it off — permanently.
In Life Is Hard, Food Is Easy, Spangle shares her fool-proof method for beating emotional eating — the method that accounts for her clients’ 90% success rate! Spangle reveals how you can cope with your feelings of frustration, boredom, or loneliness, and offers her proven step-by-step program to stop your emotions from interfering with your eating habits. These 5 simple steps teach you how to identify the emotional void the food is attempting to fulfill and empower you to break your self-destructive behavior.
According to Spangle, your weight-loss success rate increases dramatically only when your emotional coping skills become stronger and incorporated into your daily life. So before you devour another bag of M&M’s, learn Spangle’s 5 mental exercises and free yourself from the emotional cravings that sabotage your weight-loss efforts.

If you suffer from emotional eating or eating because you are bored, this book has a lot of helpful exercises to teach you how to get around these troubling situations. I learned a few good things to think about from this book.

Redneck Cinderella (LuAnn McLane)

Raised by her widowed father, Jolie Russell could keep up with any man—that is, until wealthy and sexy land developer Cody Dean struts into her life.Cody buys the Russell farm with an impossible-to-refuse multimillion-dollar offer, then relocates Jolie and her dad to the Copper Creek Estates. But the country club atmosphere isn’t ready for Jolie’s kind of country. As her two worlds collide, Jolie wonders how she can ever hope to capture Cody’s heart without giving up her grits.

This novel was funny and sexy at the same time. A good read.

(some sensual scenes)

City of Bones (Cassandra Clare)

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder -- much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing -- not even a smear of blood -- to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?
This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know. . . .
I enjoyed this story. I was a little disappointed in the ending but I'm looking for to the next book in the series.

The Padded Girdle (Lester T Nielsen)

Most people would consider two terminal illnesses in one home enough trauma for any family to deal with. Add in the death of a baby, the bite from a brown recluse spider, three major heart surgeries, a daughter losing sight and hearing on one side of her head, a son being run over, having his head crushed by a drunk driver, losing three homes to medical expenses... well, that would just be cruel and unusual. But it's only the beginning. Find out how one family copes with their latest diagnosis... yet another terminal illness for Linda and Jeremy. A disease so rare, that only 300 people in the entire world have been diagnosed with it in the past forty-five years! Yet all this cannot keep the smiles from returning to their faces, and their spirits from soaring heavenward. This is a must read for anyone who loves hearing about the greatness of the human spirit! Includes CD.

This book makes you realize someone out there is always fighting a bigger battle than you are, Live life one day at a time and to always look for the positive. I don't know if this is a book I would pick up at the library just ro read, because it is a documentary of this womens life, but I was given this book for free and decided why not. It was an okay read.

Anchors Aweigh (Kathleen Bacus)

Ahoy Mateys! With her grandma wedded and bedded (eeow!) Tressa Jayne Turner is looking forward to the weeklong cruise that follows. Good food. Warm beaches. Romantic sunsets. A swashbuckling ranger-type, Rick Townsend, who shivers her timbers. Nothing can take the wind out of Tressa's sails this time.

Nothing except this Love Boat's the Titanic. For one thing, it's a lo-cal "biggest loser" cruise. For another, Tressa's bad-boy faux fiance and his marriage-minded aunt are stowaways, and Tressa's barely got her sea legs before a dastardly murder plot bobs to the surface. It's a foul wind that's blowin' -- and not from the exercise-obsessed passengers. Add one whale of a Bermuda love triangle, and Tressa knows just how Captain Jack Sparrow feels when the rum is gone.

I love this Calamity Jayne series! I've never laughed so much until I found this author. I've never been embarrassed so much for a character! Sometimes you just want to say "Keep your mouth shut Tressa" and yell " Why would you do that?"

Why would she avoid yummy Rick Townsend so long? Obviously the woman is missing a few screws upstairs!

As High As The Heavens (Kathleen Morgan)

Heather Gordon has enjoyed the privileges of sixteenth-century Scottish nobility her entire life. Despite this comfort and ease, she yearns for a more fulfilling existence. Her prayers are soon answered - though not quite the way she expected.

Duncan Mackenzie has never known a life beyond the rugged Highland countryside. When a daring rescue is planned to free Mary, Queen of Scots, Duncan finds he is the key to unlocking the fortress where she is imprisoned. But first he must shed his rough Highland ways and learn to behave as a fine gentleman - something only a member of the nobility can teach him.

Heather and Duncan find themselves drawn together against their better judgment to complete this daring rescue. But in the close quarters of Duncan's remote Highland cottage, there is more stirring than political rebellion. Deceit, betrayal, and unexpected love draw you into this gripping story.

It wasnt too bad. I had no problem putting it down though, so the story didnt catch me and hold me like I prefer a book to.