Fascinating and engaging book reviews and encouragement you'll want to read.
Author:deanne01
I am an avid reader and reviewer. I am open for review requests please contact me at Cnnamongirl at aol dot com. I work with big name publishers and indie publishers alike. I am on launch and street teams and have MANY NetGalley and GoodReads reviews up. I love all animals and I am a vegetarian. Thank you for joining me here.
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a place to meet up and share what you have been and are about to be reading over the week. It’s a great post to organise yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment and er… add to your groaning TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. Hosted at The Book Date.
READ THIS PAST WEEK
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CURRENTLY READING
MAY READ NEXT
What have you been reading this past week and what’s up next on your reading list?
Happy week ahead to you. We are forecast for more rainy days ahead.
320 pages Bethany House publishers Sep 24,2024 publication date
ABOUT THE BOOK
Beyond the perilous landscape lies a love that defies extinction. . . .
In the bustling world of paleontology in 1916, Eliza Mills defies societal expectations to pursue her passion. Having published her early groundbreaking papers under a false name, she has finally earned her place at the Carnegie Museum and seizes the opportunity to work at Dinosaur National Monument with a renowned paleontologist. But things in Jensen, Utah, aren’t what they appear. When Eliza gets the chance to dig up bones at a ranch with a dark history, it sparks a chain of events that will rock the very fabric of her carefully constructed world.
Devin Schmitt, Eliza’s closest friend since childhood, harbors unspoken feelings for her but knows he will never be able to win her heart. Just as he vows to give her up for good, Eliza begs him to visit her in Utah for another grand adventure. He reluctantly agrees, and within a few days of his arrival, he and Eliza find themselves entangled in a web of danger where the stakes are much higher than they ever anticipated. Together, Devin and Eliza must hold on to God as their hope as they navigate a treacherous terrain of betrayal to unbury the truth and save Eliza from those who wish to see her fail.
I am sorry to see this series end, but I enjoyed it so much and learned a lot from it. Being from the Pittsburgh, PA area I am familiar with Carnegie libraries and museum and the many other things that he had a hand in developing.
Our main female character had an unusual interest for the time period, as a paleontologist in 1916, she is used to being discriminated against. With what many think of as an unusual interest for women. This way of thinking only makes her work harder to prove herself. As with today, people also are under the mistaken assumption if you’re a woman of science you cannot have a faith belief.
When she is sent on a dig at the Dinosaur National Monument in Jensen, Uta she is thrilled to have a chance to work with a paleontologist she admires and hopes to learn even more. As dark secrets come to light at the very ranch where the dig is taking place will all her hard work crumble to dust and blow away in the wind?
Feeling lonely she is thrilled to see her childhood best friend, Devin Schmitt has listened to her pleas and come for a visit. Together they are thrown into a dangerous living and working environment, someone doesn’t want them there or things to change.
Is this the time or place for Devin to act upon his feelings for Eliza Mills, though he wants to spend a lifetime of happiness with her. I enjoyed seeing the character development and learning of women of science and paleontology through this series.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Kimberley Woodhouse is the best-selling and award-winning author of more than two dozen books. She is a wife, mother, author, and musician with a quick wit and positive outlook despite difficult circumstances. A popular speaker, she’s shared at more than 2,000 venues across the country. Kimberley and her family’s story have garnered national media attention for many years including ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, The Montel Williams Show, Discovery Health channel’s Mystery ER, The Hour of Power, The Harvest Show, and over 1,000 other TV appearances and radio interviews. She lives and writes in the Poconos with her husband of thirty years. kimberleywoodhouse.com
Welcome to the town of Starr’s Fall, where Autumn can feel like it goes on forever, and two people have a chance to fall in love…
The leaves are falling, with a crispness to the air, along with the scents of coffee and pumpkin spice, past a half-empty street of shuttered storefronts and a bandstand that has seen better days…
Just like the whole town of Starr’s Fall, thinks Laurie Ellis – as she and her beloved dog Max head to collect the store keys. Maybe she has seen better days, too, but she’s certainly ready for a new start—and to leave her past behind. Still Laurie wonders whether she made a terrible mistake in coming to lovable but shabby Starr’s Fall. Will she even find customers for her pet store and bakery, never mind a community to welcome and accept her?
Not according to Joshua Reilly, the handsome but grumpy manager of the bookstore across the road, who claims he’s never heard of anything so ridiculous as a bakery for dogs.
But Laurie remains stubbornly undeterred. She’s starting over, right here. Not least because she has another secret reason for being here… one she isn’t telling anybody, at least not yet, as it involves her own tragic past.
What she doesn’t yet know is that a clue to the mystery is hidden deep in Joshua’s bookstore. And he doesn’t yet realize that Laurie herself might be the key to mending his own battered heart… for Laurie and Joshua and the whole town, it’s going to be a fall to remember.
Starr’s Fall in Connecticut sounds like a charming small town especially in Autumn. I’ve visited Connecticut in the Autum several years ago and it is very beautiful that time of year with the crisp air and lovely scenic trees.
There is so many threads going on in the story and I enjoyed it very much. This is the start of a new series, and I greatly look forward to the next in the series as well. Laurie Ellis and her little dog, Max are off to Starr’s Fall to open a pet shop/bakery for dogs amongst the dusty shuttered store fronts on the main street.
Hoping to breathe some life into this small town with her new shop and have it as a cozy and comfortable meeting place for the town’s folks as well. Laurie has a motive for coming to town, she is looking to find answers to a few things.
An unexpected romance may be in the cards as well. I enjoyed meeting the matriarch of Starr’s Falls and though we didn’t spend much time with her I hold her amongst one of my favorite characters in this book. Time seems to have forgotten about her, which is a feeling Laurie is all too familiar with.
A grumpy- sunshine romance that I enjoyed seeing the character development of. I would have enjoyed seeing more of a development of the doggie bakery though. A warm and emotional read that I’m looking forward to reading more of.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
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Kate Hewitt is a million copy bestselling author of historical, contemporary and romantic fiction. An American ex-pat, she lives in a small market town in Wales with her husband and five young(ish) children, along with their two Golden Retrievers.
Thanks for the heads-up nudge, Heidi. Life can get pretty busy, but I do enjoy doing this one. So glad you’re enjoying it.
Happy Friday & welcome to the First Line Friday hosted at Reading is my Super Power ! It’s time to grab the book nearest to you and leave a comment with the first line. Today I’m delighted to feature the first line of Count the Night by Stars by Michelle Shocklee. Now this is the same author I featured last week with her book Appalachian Song which is a book I have read and loved. The one I am featuring today I have not read but hope to very soon, enjoy.
FIRST LINE(S)
May 29,1897
My darling,
No one could accuse Luca Moretti of being a coward. I thought you brash and arrogant that day I saw you in the lobby of the Maxwell House Hotel. You stood taller than all the other men in their tailored suits, not caring that the elbows of your coat were worn or that one of the brass buttons was missing. Instead, you kept your shoulders back and your gaze steady, even when the mean treated you as though they bettered you somehow. I’d never seen that kind of boldness before, and it intrigued me.
414 pages Tyndale Fiction March 22, 2022 publication date
ABOUT THE BOOK
Count your nights by stars, not shadows. Count your life with smiles, not tears. 1961. After a longtime resident at Nashville’s historic Maxwell House Hotel suffers a debilitating stroke, Audrey Whitfield is tasked with cleaning out the reclusive woman’s room. There, she discovers an elaborate scrapbook filled with memorabilia from the Tennessee Centennial Exposition. Love notes on the backs of unmailed postcards inside capture Audrey’s imagination with hints of a forbidden romance . . . and troubling revelations about the disappearance of young women at the exposition. Audrey enlists the help of a handsome hotel guest as she tracks down clues and information about the mysterious “Peaches” and her regrets over one fateful day, nearly sixty-five years earlier.
1897. Outspoken and forward-thinking Priscilla Nichols isn’t willing to settle for just any man. She’s still holding out hope for love when she meets Luca Moretti on the eve of the Tennessee Centennial Exposition. Charmed by the Italian immigrant’s boldness, Priscilla spends time exploring the wonderous sights of the expo with Luca—until a darkness overshadows the monthslong event. Haunted by a terrible truth, Priscilla and Luca are sent down separate paths as the night’s stars fade into dawn.
I hope you’re having a wonderful weekend. Thank you for stopping in today.
192 pages Kensington Cozies August 20, 2024 publication date
ABOUT THE BOOK
Melanie Travis and her pedigree poodles are back on the case in an adorably giftable, fall time-themed hardcover by award-winning author Laurien Berenson!
It’s autumn in Connecticut and there’s a chill in the air, the fall leaves are a riot of color, and pumpkin spice is the flavor of the season. Melanie Travis is perennially busy, of course—but when the owner of a local pet supply shop is found murdered, sleuthing tops her To Do list . . .
Between taking care of her family and assorted Standard Poodles, Melanie is also working as a special needs tutor for Howard Academy, a private school in Greenwich, where her younger son attends kindergarten. This year, the headmaster has come up with an idea for a school fundraiser. All students will participate in a town-wide treasure hunt, with grades competing against each other.
Tokens shaped like pumpkin spice muffins have been hidden in downtown stores. Students will scramble to collect as many as they can in exchange for prizes. At first all goes smoothly, and the uptick in foot traffic to the stores is a win-win. . . . . Until the pet supply shop owner lodges a complaint. When Melanie stops by to smooth things over, she instead finds the man dead, a knife in his back, and his loyal, ever-vigilant Chow Chow locked in the storeroom.
Over the headmaster’s objections, Melanie is once again drawn into an investigation. It doesn’t take her long to gather a list of suspects, from neighbors balking about the number of rescue Chows the man was fostering in his home, to the landlord who’d filed an eviction notice against him, to the bitter ex-wife who is happy he’s gone. With the fundraiser soon drawing to a close and celebrations imminent, Melanie will have to follow every clue—before the biggest prize is staying alive . . .
Vector portrait of Labrador retriever dog wearing autumn leaves crown. Hello fall illustration. Oak, maple, chestnut, rowen. Hand drawn pet portait.
MY THOUGHTS
Connecticut is the perfect place for Fall. They seem to go all out for it, especially this small town, festively dressed up with falling leaves and grinning pumpkins.
One of the shops participating in the fundraiser, the pet shop has the owner filing a complaint and when Melanie goes to talk to him things couldn’t get any worse than finding him deceased and his Chow, Cider locked up.
One character you don’t want to get on the wrong side of is, Aunt Peg. This woman is involved in dog shows but she’s no fluff ball.
Howard Academy, a private school in Greenwich which is holding the fund raiser is against Melanie, a special needs teacher at the school investigating er should I say doing some snooping in this case to find the suspect. This isn’t her first rodeo and she and her standard poodles are on the case once again. A fast-paced fall themed dog filled cozy mystery that was an enjoyable read.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
MEET THE AUTHOR
Laurien Berenson is the award-winning author of the long running Melanie Travis canine mystery series and the new Senior Sleuths series starring Peg Turnbull and Rose Donovan as a pair of seventyish sisters-in-law who are learning to put aside old grudges and myriad differences as they work together to solve mysteries. Fun Facts: Laurien has curtseyed to Princess Grace, eaten snake in Kowloon, and ridden a horse down a New York city street. A Connecticut native, she lives with her husband on a farm in Kentucky surrounded by dogs and horses.
325 pages Cinnamons Rolls and Pumpkin Spice series September 24, 2024 publication date
ABOUT THE BOOK
n a city known for its romantic clichés, can reality surpass the fantasy?
Paris in the fall. The Eiffel tower, the blanket of colorful leaves on the ground of the Jardin du Luxembourg, the picturesque cobbled streets of Montmartre. Sounds amazing, right? That’s exactly what I thought when my boss offered me to come here to critique restaurants.
Well, the reality is a completely different beast.
There is no accordion music playing in the street, the city smells like smoke, and I have yet to see a single guy wearing a beret! This was all a lie.
To top it all, I’m now a prisoner of this city because of a national strike keeping all planes on the ground and flooding hotels capacities. At least one cliché wasn’t false.
Enter Olivier Brun, chef of a Michelin star restaurant and as hot as a pizza oven who offers me a room and even cooks me breakfast. So, when he asks me to pretend to be his date for his matchmaking mom’s birthday, I return the favor.
As we get to know each other through pun-filled cooking lessons, farmer’s market outings and autumn festivals, I start to fall in loaf with Paris… and Olivier. Suddenly, the idea of relocating here isn’t as crazy.
But does Olivier feel the same? And if he does, will he be able to get past the fact that I lied about my job?
Paris, Pumpkins & Puns is a closed-door romcom with cozy autumn vibes, plenty of cooking puns and an irresistible Frenchman.
Fans of Fake Dating and Secret Identity, you’ll enjoy this standalone novel full of laughs and sizzling chemistry without the explicit scenes!
Enjoy the other full-length books in the Cinnamon Rolls and Pumpkin Spice series, which can be read in any order:
Hating the Cinnamon Roll CEO by Camilla Evergreen Falling for Autumn (Again) by Jen Atkinson Paris, Pumpkins & Puns by Marion De Ré Fall With Me by Amanda P. Jones Cinnamon & Spice Conundrum by Leah Busboom Cinnamon Roll Set Up by Genny Carrick Coffee Break with the Billionaire by Holly Kerr The Friendly Fall by Kristine W. Joy
MY THOUGHTS
It’s almost Fall so what am I doing? Reading Fall themed books of course and this one hits the nail right on the head. Who doesn’t love a rom com with the cutest Fall cover?
An American food critic is sent to Paris to do food reviews for her work. Now a person dining alone in Paris maybe should set off bells but after taking over his dad’s restaurant head chef, Oliver doesn’t think anything about it he just wants to impress his customers. He can’t help thinking how pretty this American customer is but she’s less than impressed with this bland cooking.
When she can’t find a place to stay at a hotel he offers her a room at his house. She takes it on a friends only basis. But when his mother tries once again to matchmake for him he tells her he has a new girlfriend, let the fake dating begin.
What happens when your fake dating rules seem to become more of a bother as each day comes along. This foodie rom com is filled with delicious sounding food preparations on every page, the essence and elegance of Paris, and marvelous Fall vibes. What happens when you want to stop the fake dating and for it to become the real thing?
When Oliver realizes she has kept a huge secret from him will she have to leaf? Filled with fun puns and lots of French language which only added to the charm of the story. I’d love to read more by the author.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
MEET THE AUTHOR
Marion De Ré is an Amazon Bestelling author of closed-door romantic comedies with sass, swoonn and sizzle. She lives in the French countryside with her husband and adorable cat. You can expect all your beloved tropes in her writing as well as a good dose of humor and all the feels. When she’s not reading or writing, you can find her on a plane to a far-away destination or in a Champagne cellar, indulging in a tasting of her favorite drink.
Get a free story by susbcribing to Marion’s newsletter directly on her website!
My apology to Della Galton and Rachel’s Random Resources for my late review and posting.
ABOUT THE BOOK
A New Arrival at Duck Pond Cottage
A story of love, second chances and the wonderful start of a BRAND NEW series from Della Galton featuring Duck Pond Lane Animal Rescue.
It’s not just animals who need to be rescued…
Following the unexpected death of her mother, and the breakdown of her relationship, animal loving idealist Jade Foster, uses her inheritance to buy a smallholding in the beautiful Wiltshire countryside hoping to realise her dream of providing a sanctuary for unloved animals in need of a new home.
Jade employs the enigmatic Finn McTaggart to help out at Duck Pond Lane Rescue and forms a friendship with both Finn and her local Vet, Aiden Southerland. But Finn is running from his own demons and Aiden longs for a more romantic relationship with broken-hearted Jade.
Romance is not on the cards for Jade, but as both men fall for her natural beauty, the rivalry between them hots up. But can any of them heal enough to find lasting love?
What none of them realise is that a devastating secret from the past has the power to destroy the present and that love, however wonderful, isn’t always enough.
Previously published as Passing Shadows by Della Galton
A New Arrival at Duck Pond Cottage is the start of a brand-new series featuring Duck Pond Lane Animal Rescue. I’m not one who’s able to resist an animal rescuer story. This animal rescue story is adorable with animals of all sorts getting a second chance at their best life.
I enjoyed reading about the antics the animals got up to and the variety of animals rescued from domesticated animals to birds and farm animals. I connected with one of the main characters running the rescue center because we had a lot of similarities in caring for animals and she’s a vegetarian like I am.
Rescuer Jade has two men falling for her and they have such different personalities. She’s plenty busy though with her rescue center and not looking for love. But will this jealous rivalry end up on the right side of a romance? The beautiful Wiltshire countryside setting has me dreaming of a visit. A romantic and uplifting page turner for animal lovers and romantics alike.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
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MEET THE AUTHOR
Della Galton writes short stories, teaches writing groups and is Agony Aunt for Writers Forum Magazine. Her stories feature strong female friendship, quirky characters and very often the animals she loves. When she is not writing she enjoys walking her dogs around the beautiful Dorset countryside.
When Sadie Bingham’s life takes an unexpected turn, her children treat her to a well-earned break at Juniper Meadows, the gorgeous Cotswolds estate owned by the Travers family.
The festive season is in full swing, and Sadie throws herself into the packed Twelve Days of Christmas programme, relishing the opportunity to make new friends and new memories.
Single father Dylan Travers hasn’t been to his childhood home of Juniper Meadows for decades. Estranged from his cantankerous father Monty, he has made a happy life for himself in the States. But now with teenage children keen to know more about their roots, Dylan has brought them back to the Cotswolds to meet his family.
As Sadie and Dylan both navigate a Christmas very different from the ones they had expected it’s soon clear that, geography apart, they have a great deal in common. And as Dylan confronts his past and Sadie contemplates her future, perhaps the miracle of this Christmas will be the happily-ever-after they both deserve.
Let Sarah Bennett whisk you away to a snowy Cotswolds for the perfect winter romance. A Sarah Bennett book is guaranteed to brighten any day, perfect for all fans of Cathy Bramley, Katie Fforde and Phillipa Ashley.
MY THOUGHTS
Sarah Bennett is another automatic read author for me. This is the fourth book in the Juniper Meadows series, and I’ve enjoyed my visit there every time.
Sadie was comfortable in life; her children and grandchildren keep her happy and she visits her mother as often as she can though her mother doesn’t have the best attitude. She more than anyone else is shocked when she finds her no good husband cheating on her and knows it’s time for him to go.
As a way to get her mind off of matters and relax, her children treat her to a twelve day stay at Juniper Meadows over Christmas holiday. Packed with winter activities even a murder mystery dinner she knows it’s going to be a blast and a way to make new friends and new memories as she greatly looks forward to it.
Dylan Travers, a single father with two teens has had enough. He hasn’t been back to his childhood home, Juniper Meadows in years but for the sake of his children he knows it’s time for a reunion. His children need to meet his side of the family as it’s not fair on them and he’s going to try to reconcile with his father.
As Dylan and Sadie meet, they realize they have much in common and as they get to talking about their similarities, they realize they enjoy each other’s company immensely. As the fun continues each day it brings them closer to returning to reality and Sadie leaving this little love nest. Can they make a long-distance romance work, or will it eventually crash and burn like so many long-distance romances do after a while?
What a delightful book, I enjoyed reading about the celebration of the holiday and the snow activities that I could picture being done. Christas is the time for miracles, maybe they’ll find a few at this time of year. What a delightful and heartwarming continuation of the Juniper Meadows series. I hope it will continue.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Sarah Bennett is the bestselling author of several romantic fiction trilogies including those set in Butterfly Cove and Lavender Bay. Born and raised in a military family she is happily married to her own Officer and when not reading or writing enjoys sailing the high seas.
Congratulations Author Claire Huston on the release of the second book in the Haileybrook Village series, Bella’s Countryside Christmas. Unfortunately, I was unable to get in on the blog tour. The spots filled up just like that.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Fleeing her heartache and horrendous job, Bella stumbles upon a December wedding in the beautiful village of Haileybrook and the spirit of the season moves her to act as a fake date to handsome stranger Jack.
Jack and Bella hit it off, but Bella has to leave in a hurry and their magical evening soon becomes nothing more than a blissful memory.
A year later, Bella is returning to Haileybrook, seeking a fresh start and a quieter life. With a new job close to her cosy cottage home, a peaceful Christmas is surely only days away.
But it’s not long before family surprises, small-town feuds and romantic drama disrupt Bella’s plans, and she has to wonder if being alone is what she really wants for Christmas …
Bella’s Countryside Christmas is available in ebook and paperback. The ebook is on Amazon for 99p for UK readers and if you have Kindle Unlimited it’s free to download. The paperback is available at Amazon or, if you’re in the UK, you can order it from your preferred online or high street book store. You can also send the author a message if you’d like to buy a signed copy. Grab a copy here 2.99 US
FIRST BOOK IN THE SERIES
ABOUT THE BOOK
Haileybrook, a beautiful village in the peaceful Cotswolds countryside, is most people’s idea of heaven on earth.
Born and raised in this small slice of paradise, Elle Bea can’t wait to leave.
It should be easy, but every time she packs her bags for exotic adventures, old loves and loyalties pull her back.
Will Elle be forced to forget her dreams of far-flung places and epic romance, or can she grab one last chance to have it all?
An uplifting, romantic story about friends, family and the relationships that make a place a home. Perfect for fans of Jill Mansell, Katie Fforde and Phillipa Ashley.
Vegan Book Blogger 