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.
My life is a mess. My marriage is falling apart, and I’d hoped the arrival of our baby girl would bring us closer together. Yet, as she grows, I see less of a resemblance to my husband, stirring unsettling questions.
I was hoping a visit from my friend, Victoria would bring some stability. With her seemingly perfect life in Spain, she embodies hope for a brighter future.
But our reunion has taken an unexpected turn. And when a shock diagnosis shakes our family further, Victoria doesn’t know it yet, but she might just hold the key to saving our family.
But if I want her to help, a big secret has to come out. Revealing the truth risks everything – my marriage, our friendship, our families. Can we weather this storm, or will it shatter us beyond repair?
An emotional and powerful novel of motherhood, friendship and what family means to us all. Perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult and Susan Lewis.
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MEET THE AUTHOR
Born in Scotland, Emma-Claire travelled the world as the child of military parents. After almost 20 years in Spain, she returned to the UK with her husband, two daughters, and rescue dog, Pip. Emma-Claire worked as a journalist for English language magazines and newspapers in Spain and in 2015 launched The Glass House Online Magazine. When not writing emotional fiction, you can find her dreaming up new book ideas or wrapped in a blanket with a book in her hand. This is Emma’s second novel. You can find her at @ECWilsonWriter on Twitter.
How would you describe yourself to someone who can’t see you?
I’m 5’7 with green eyes, long brunette hair , double pierced ears and a tattoo on my left arm, average weight, long legs, and I enjoy wearing dresses and carrying fashionable purses but is also comfortable wearing Converse and jeans.
288 pages Ballantine Books October 15, 2024 publish date
ABOUT THE BOOK
Hailey Morgan’s life has always revolved around music. She once had big dreams of becoming a professional songwriter, but the reality of life has led her to working as an assistant high school band teacher in Portland. As the holidays approach, Hailey dreads the annual tradition of spending Christmas with her family and dodging her mother’s meddling questions about her love life.
When Hailey’s close friend offers her the use of her family’s empty cabin for a rejuvenating solo holiday retreat, Hailey finally decides to do something to make herself happy. However, her arrival in the small town of Podunk, Oregon, is anything but peaceful when she discovers the cabin has been invaded by several wild animals. Luckily, Jay, the son of the town’s main store proprietor—and an incredibly handsome and charming former musician to boot—is more than willing to help.
Soon Hailey and Jay are nearly inseparable, chopping down and decorating a Christmas tree, sipping hot cocoa in front of a cozy fire, and best of all, playing music together. Jay’s positive feedback and encouragement inspire Hailey to believe she might succeed as a songwriter after all. But even in her snow-dusted oasis, family holiday drama still finds Hailey, interrupting and threatening her newfound peace and confidence. Meanwhile revelations from Jay present complications of their own. Suddenly her Christmas paradise has become a winter storm and Hailey must weather through the challenges to stand up for herself and embrace the holiday spirit.
MY THOUGHTS
Reading Debbie Macomber’s latest Christmas book every year is a long-standing tradition I have. I’ve loved every single one of them. They brighten my day and I always look forward to them.
A woman in love with music doesn’t have her dreams work out the way she had hoped. Settling is what a lot of us do when our dreams don’t come true. She settles on becoming a high school band teacher. Several years ago, a relationship didn’t work out because he wasn’t interested in her dreams and encouraging her, so she walked away from this relationship.
When a close friend suggests she spends Christmas at her family’s cabin she’s delighted. Breaking from tradition she won’t be spending Christmas with her family, but she needs this alone time to regroup. Upon arriving she’s struck by the beauty of the area and can’t wait to relax. Not so quick though there’s a few wild animals in her remote cabin and Podunk, Oregon, isn’t all she thought it would be.
When Jay, the son of the town’s store owner helps her out she is taken by his good looks, and it doesn’t hurt that he’s a musician. As they spend more time together, she comes to realize just how encouraging he can be about her music and talking with him feels as though they’ve known each other for a long time.
The book explores the mother daughter relationship. A meddling mother needing to know everything about her love life and ready to try to push an old boyfriend on her that the mother really likes. A daughter who knows she needs time away from her family this Christmas so she can grow emotionally and figure out what’s best for herself.
An emotional book showing the strength of family relationships and a few surprising twists in the bumpy road we call life. Guaranteed to make you smile and give you a happy feeling as you read.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
THE AUTHOR
Debbie Macomber is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of today’s most popular writers with more than 200 million copies of her books in print worldwide. In her novels, Macomber brings to life compelling relationships that embrace family and enduring friendships, uplifting her readers with stories of connection and hope. Macomber’s novels have spent over 1,000 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Fifteen of these novels hit the number one spot.
In 2023, Macomber’s all-new hardcover publication includes Must Love Flowers (July). In addition to fiction, Macomber has also published three bestselling cookbooks, three adult coloring books, numerous inspirational and nonfiction works, and two acclaimed children’s books.
Celebrated as “the official storyteller of Christmas”, Macomber’s annual Christmas books are beloved and six have been crafted into original Hallmark Channel movies. Macomber is also the author of the bestselling Cedar Cove Series which the Hallmark Channel chose as the basis for its first dramatic scripted television series. Debuting in 2013, Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove was a ratings favorite for three seasons.
She serves on the Guideposts National Advisory Cabinet, is a YFC National Ambassador, and is World Vision’s international spokesperson for their Knit for Kids charity initiative. A devoted grandmother, Debbie and Wayne live in Port Orchard, Washington, the town which inspired the Cedar Cove series.
Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
This weeks theme is Books I Wish Had More/Less [Insert Your Concept Here] In Them (for example: more/less romance, more/less world building, less info dumping, more/fewer pages, more character development, fewer characters, fewer descriptions, more suspense, etc.)
I can’t think of enough books to fill this topic, I generally like what I read.
My topic this week will be:
Summer Books I still haven’t gotten to.
These covers all say Summer to me. Would you read any of these? Which have you already read?
Sure, nothing earth shattering or exciting happened today. I didn’t even go out anywhere.
My eyes have been bothering me the past few days because of allergies.
Besides that a bunch of regular chores: laundry, dishes, trimming branches outside and other yard work, walking, spending time with my family, reading, giving cuddles to the cats, resting.
Not anything unusual but I wanted to get a bunch of stuff done today since it’s supposed to rain the next two days.
I am energetic, a go getter. I hate having things hanging over my head , if there is something that needs to be done, I have to do it and get it out of the way or I can’t relax. I’m an encourager and I would say shy and introverted but I’ve worked hard to overcome that. I’m not a good conversation starter or good with small talk. If I find a subject I’m interested in I’ll talk a lot about it though. I’ve been a lifelong reader and bring a book everywhere with me. I automatically get up early even if I go to bed late, it’s that built in alarm clock. I’ve been a vegetarian for five years. I started out as a vegan but I like real cheese too much. I enjoy eating healthy foods and exercising. I’m taller than the average American woman at 5’7 . I have green eyes. I believe kindness is the way to go. Your kindness towards someone may have been the only kindness or smile they’ve received that day so try to keep it compassionate. I am thankful you’ve found my blog and are here with me. ♥️💐
320 pages Bethany House publishers November 5,2024 publication date
ABOUT THE BOOK
In the midst of darkness, only faith and love can illuminate their path forward.
Laura Evans, a spirited young woman with a deep-rooted faith in God, returns home from college to her father–unaware of his dark secrets. Determined to live by her faith while respecting her father’s contrasting views, Laura’s world shifts when she crosses paths with a devoted preacher.
Wilson Porter is driven by a calling to work with the Shoshone people but faces constant delays from government officials. Then tragedy strikes, shaking his faith and causing him to question everything he once believed. As Will and Laura’s tentative friendship grows into something more, they are ensnared in a web of dark secrets and injustices. Together, they’re confronted with a daunting question: Will their shattered lives leave them with an uncertain path forward–or can love withstand it all?
MY THOUGHTS
I have really enjoyed this series taking place in Cheyenne this is the third and final book in the series. I’ve enjoyed learning about the railroaders and daily life in such an unsettled area. I’ve also enjoyed meeting the characters, for the most part.
Laura Evans is a young woman home from boarding school with memories of a father who was soft and gentle with her, a kind and understanding man. She was sent away after her mother’s death; her father was grieving and couldn’t offer her comfort because of deep grief. The father she returns to after all these years is a changed man, bitter towards God for letting his wife die he isn’t the man Laura remembers, nor does he have time for her.
The father is involved in some things Laura isn’t aware of, ways to make a quick buck and he hopes his connections will help him get into politics. He’s pretty good at hiding his involvement and his hired workers are there to help him with his shenanigans.
Wilson Porter has felt like he’s had a calling to assimilate with the Shoshone people, but the government keeps delaying him going to help. When a tragedy happens in his own family, he becomes disillusioned and starts to question his beliefs he’s had since childhood.
Laura and Wilson spend a lot of time together, friendship grows into more, but as dark secrets become revealed it affects them each in different ways. They must work together in perfect harmony, putting the past behind them if there’s any chance of a bright future together.
Note: I gave this book 3 stars because I don’t condone animal cruelty or even talk of it. The father suggests one of his worker’s kill his daughter’s kitten because he didn’t want it around. This did nothing to enhance the book and could have been left out. Side Note: The kitten did not die, it was rescued. I am glad to read this because as much as I enjoy this author’s books I wouldn’t have read anymore of her books if it had.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
THE AUTHOR
Tracie Peterson is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than one hundred books. Tracie also teaches writing workshops at a variety of conferences on subjects such as inspirational romance and historical research. She and her family live in Montana.
I watched a very interesting documentary today by National Geographic about them excavating dinosaur bones in Argentina. Fascinating piece and the simulation of the dinosaurs running around, wow. Those things are huge. Its tail was taking out trees as he whipped it around.
I’m not interested in having any dinosaurs brought back because I’m not interested in being their lunch and they’d just destroy everything anyways.
I think it would be fascinating to bring back some of the humongous prehistoric fish though. Unfortunately, I feel as though they’d be fished to extinction again.
370587 01: The Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton known as Sue stands on display at Union Station June 7, 2000 in Washington D.C. Sue, the 67 million-year-old dinosaur, is scheduled to be put on display in many cities around the world. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Newsmakers)
So far my plans aren’t all that exciting, my son and I really made progress on weeding the patio. Both of the bathrooms are being deep cleaned and I’m still working on going through stuff in my room and the walk in closet. Cleaning the clutter and donating is a good thing though .
Working on these things early because we are going to 89 today. Haven’t gotten my walk in yet, hopefully soon.
I still need to write a book review and I have 2 books I need to read for blog tours on Aug 1. Now to find time to fit all this in.
Hope you’re enjoying your weekend. Thanks for stopping in.
If you won two free plane tickets, where would you go?
My husband and I both have Irish ancestors so I’d love to visit Galway where mine are from but I’m not sure which part his are from. I’d love to go there as well.
Vegan Book Blogger 