House Trained

Happy Babbling Day!  Are you a blatherskite?  If so (or if you know one), this is your day!  It is also Count Your Buttons Day. As I collect buttons, it would take me quite a while.  I have little tubs full of buttons!

I just finished reading House Trained by Jackie Bouchard.  Alexandra “Alex” Halstad is an interior designer married to Barry.  They live in Santa Barbara, California.  Barry has been saving for a car (he does not believe in debt), but Alex has been borrowing the money to keep her business afloat (without telling Barry).  She has also racked up a load of debt on her credit cards (without telling her husband).  Barry and Alex do not have children and they never wanted them.  They are very content with the just their dog, Marie.  Then Barry comes home one day after being away on a business trip to tell his wife important news.  It turns out that Barry has an eighteen year old daughter that he never knew about.  Her name is Marie (just like their dog).  Marie did not know that her father was alive.  Her mother, Jade told Marie that her father was deceased.  When Marie was looking for schools, she discovered that her father was very much alive (and nearby). 

Marie comes over for dinner to meet Alex and spend more time with Barry.  Marie shows up with a fifteen month old daughter named Ruthie.  Marie (the daughter, not the dog) wants to spend the summer before college with Barry.  She wants to get to know her father.  Without her mother’s support (and she is not giving it), Marie cannot afford to live by herself.  Marie asks if she can live with Barry and Alex.  Alex is less than thrilled.  She has a beautiful home and can just imagine what a child will do to it.  Barry, though, wants her to stay.  Alex reluctantly agrees (she has no idea what is in store for her this summer).  Things are about to change for Barry and Alex.  They are in for a life changing summer.

House Trained was a good book (if you can get past the first chapter).  I was not sure I would enjoy the story (the first couple of pages had me wondering), but I was drawn in.  I was curious to see how everything would turn out for Marie, Ruthie, Alex, and Barry.  House Trained was an interesting story and well-written.  I liked the characters and the storyline.  House Trained shows that you never know what life has in store for you and a person is never too old to change or adapt.  I give House Trained 4.25 out of 5 stars.  House Trained is available on Kindle Unlimited (which is a great program).  Check it out on Amazon.com.  

I received a complimentary copy of House Trained from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I am currently reading Playing with Fire by Tess Gerritsen. I am off to to the grocery shopping.  Take care, stay safe, and have a great afternoon!  Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

Murder at the Courthouse

Does anyone have special plans for Halloween?  Because of my dogs, I turn our house dark on Halloween.  I tried to give out candy to the children, but I experienced too many problems (like escaping dogs).  Tonight is the Stitchers Halloween special.  I enjoy the new ABC Family show.  It is the only decent thing on ABC Family during the Halloween season (they are changing their name to Freeform-which makes absolutely no sense).  Do you have any traditions in your family?

Murder at the Courthouse by A.H. Gabhart is the first book in the Hidden Springs Mysteries.  Miss Willadean Dearmon goes to the courthouse every morning.  This morning she walks up the steps and sees a man slumped against a pillar.  Miss Willadean immediately goes to the sheriff’s office to report a drunk man on the steps.  Deputy Sheriff Michael Keane investigates and discovers the man has been shot (and he is dead).  Michael will have his work cut out for him to find the culprit.  He will have to deal with nosy townspeople, a blowhard detective (who is thankfully sick in the hospital), and the editor of the Hidden Springs Gazette.  Who is the dead man and why was he is Hidden Springs?  Will Michael be able to find the culprit before anyone else gets hurt? 

Michael is also working to keep Anthony Blake on the straight and narrow.  Anthony is on probation and must attend school every single day.  Michael notices that Anthony was not in school on the day the man was discovered on the courthouse steps.  Michael is determined to help this young man.  Anthony lives with his aunt since the disappearance of his mother ten years ago.  No one has seen or heard from Anthony’s mother in all that time.  Does Anthony know anything about the murder (is that why he was seen near the courthouse)?

Murder at the Courthouse is a Christian mystery series.  It is a slow paced novel that gets more interesting toward the end of the novel.  There are a lot of characters in the novel and it can be hard to keep them all straight (there are so many townspeople and all of them are nosy).  I give Murder at the Courthouse 3.25 out of 5 stars (it did get more interesting).  I also liked the mystery in the book.  It was very easy to solve, but I liked all the different parts.  I will be curious to read the next book in the Hidden Springs Mysteries. A.H. Gabhart is Ann Gabhart who writes the Shaker fiction novels. You can visit her on Amazon to see her other books and to follow her.

I received a complimentary copy of Murder at the Courthouse from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for stopping by and reading my review.  I really do appreciate you taking the time out of your day to visit my site. Have a nice, relaxing evening and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

Plain Return

Happy Brandied Fruit Day!  I honestly do not make these things up. It is a real day.  It celebrates sweet tasting fruit that has been soaked and marinated in brandy.  There are even some recipes online especially for cakes including brandied fruit.

Plain Return by Sarah Price is the fourth book in her Plain Fame series.  Amanda and Alejandro are together again and are preparing for the South American tour.  Amanda is getting new clothes (sexier clothes that make her uncomfortable), doing interviews, and learning to dance.  Amanda is now a part of Alejandro’s show (thanks to her surprise in the last book).  Amanda is feeling out of her element, but she wants to make her husband happy.  Alejandro is busy with rehearsals, interviews, and appearances.  Alejandro and Amanda are not getting a lot of alone time.  Amanda is also nervous because she has yet to get pregnant (and I think Alejandro is why she is not getting pregnant). 

They start the tour with Alejandro’s new manager, Geoffrey.  They are busy from the moment they get up until they stagger to bed.  There are also more interviews, rehearsals, and public appearances.  Amanda is quickly getting burnt out from the schedule.  Then one night at a stadium in Rio she notices an older man with a little girl.  Alejandro (as well as everyone else) does not tell her anything.  The next morning Amanda finds out that the little girl is Isadora, Alejandro’s illegitimate daughter (from a one night stand about 5 years ago).  The press go wild with this new story.  Alejandro does his best to ignore Isadora while Amanda spends all her time with the little girl.  It is impossible to raise a child while on tour.  Amanda decides to leave the tour and take Isadora home to Miami.  Isadora gets to meet her Mrs. Diaz (Alejandro’s mother) who is thrilled to finally meet the little girl.  After rattling around in the Miami apartment, Amanda decides to take Isadora to the farm in Letitz, Pennsylvania.  She believes it will be the best environment for Isadora who has had so much change in her life.  What will this do to her marriage?  And what about the press?  Can Alejandro stand being on tour without Amanda?

Plain Return was my least favorite book in the series.  I think thie Plain Fame series has been too drawn out.  I was hoping this was the final book, but it is not.  I am not liking Alejandro in this book.  He is becoming more selfish and less appealing (I also believe he is hiding a secret from Amanda about why she cannot get pregnant. There have been little hints dropped in the other books).  I give Plain Return 3 out of 5 stars. I really hope the author ends the Plain Fame series with the next book.  Plain Return is a part of Kindle Unlimited program(you can try the program with a thirty days free trial).  If you want to see what other books Sarah Price has written, check out her page on Amazon (you can follow her to get updates).

I received a complimentary copy of Plain Return from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I am currently reading Unspoken by C.C. Hunter.  If you like my reviews, please consider following my blog (the button is on the right hand side at the top).  Have a great afternoon and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

Promise to Keep

Happy Monday!  Today is Evaluate Your Life Day!  This is a day to reflect.  In my case, I think I will skip the evaluation and reflection (I do not want to depress myself) and read a good book instead!  I woke up to find crime scene tape on the edge of my property.  I am really hoping that the neighbor is just decorating for Halloween.  

Promise to Keep by Elizabeth Byler Younts is the third book in The Promise of Sunrise series.  Esther Detweiler’s grandmother just passed away.  She has been Esther’s rock her entire life.  Esther is left with a farm to run and a little girl to raise.  Esther has been taking care of Daisy Garrison for the last four years.  Daisy’s mother passed away (she was Amish before she left to marry) and her father, Joe is off fighting the war (Joe is Englisch).  Daisy’s mother made Joe and Esther promise that Esther would take care of Daisy.  They have heard very little from Joe the last four years and have seen even less money.  On the day of the funeral, Esther father shows up.  Esther thought he was dead (that is what she was told).  Where has he been for the last thirty years?  Will Esther be able to forgive her father for his absence and lies?

Then Joe arrives back in town.  He is suffering from PTSD, but he is looking forward to seeing his daughter. Daisy is not looking forward to seeing him.  Daisy is deaf and Esther taught her a form of ASL (using a book and some made up signs).  Most people believe Daisy is dumb and should be institutionalized (very ignorant people).   Joe will have to get to know Daisy slowly so she can learn to trust him and get to know him.  Esther, Joe, and Daisy will be spending a lot of time together.  Love can bloom in the unlikeliest of places, but will the love be given a chance to grow.  Esther and Joe are going to have to make choices.  Will they make the right ones?

Promise to Keep was a long, slow novel (and a little depressing).  Promise to Keep has some good writing, but I did not find the book enjoyable to read (and I love Amish/Christian Fiction).  The characters (except Daisy) nor the town appealed to me.  I think you have to like the main characters (or at least some of them) to enjoy reading a book.  Promise to Keep did not engage me.  It is a book that I could easily have put down and not continue reading.  I give Promise to Keep 3 out of 5 stars.  This novel was just not for me.  Promise to Keep is the third book in the series, but it can easily be enjoyed without having read the previous book in the series.  The other two novels in The Promise of Sunrise series are:  Promise to Return and Promise to Cherish.  You can follow Elizabeth Byler Younts on Amazon.

I received a complimentary copy of Promise to Keep from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I am currently reading The Amish Heart of Ice Mountain by Kelly Long. What are you reading?  I am always looking for new books to read! Have a wonderful Monday and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

Guaranteed to Bleed

Today is No Beard Day!  Rejoice all of you who do not have a beard (isn't it silly). I am enjoying watching the past seasons of Downton Abbey.  They show them every Sunday afternoon on PBS (leading up to the last season of Downton Abbey).  I like to watch it while I work around the house.

I just finished reading Guaranteed to Bleed by Julie Mulhern.  It is the second book The Country Club Murders series and is set in 1974.  Ellison Russell is a widow and an artist with a daughter to raise.  Ellison lives in Kansas City, Missouri and her daughter, Grace goes to Suncrest Country Day School.  Ellison is at the school watching her daughter cheer.  She drops her lipstick and it falls under the stands.  Ellison goes under the stands to retrieve it (she got it in Paris).  Someone runs into her while she is under the bleachers and then she trips over something.  That something turns out to be Bobby Lowell.  Bobby, a friend of her daughter since they were little kids, is hurt on the ground.  He dies in Ellison’s arms asking her to tell her that he loved her.  Who is her?

Detective Anarchy Jones is assigned the case (Ellison and Anarchy know each other).  When Ellison arrives back home, she is greeted by a drunk babysitter (for a sixteen year old) and a gaggle of girls (her daughter needed the comfort of friends).  Donna is a new girl to the group.  Her mother, India and her new husband, Jonathan Hess, just moved to town (India used to live in Kansas City).  Grace and her friends have decided to include Donna in their group.  Ellison cannot help but look into Bobby’s murder (since she did find the body).  Who would want to kill a teenage boy?  While solving the crime and trying to find Bobby’s her, Ellison will have to deal with her mother (very intimidating) and her matchmaking.  She wants to make sure that Ellison makes the right match this time (the first husband was not a gem).

I give Guaranteed to Bleed 3 out of 5 stars (it was okay).  Ellison had just come back from traveling in Europe and there are constant references to new clothes, shoes, and make-up that she purchased and did not like (then why did she buy them).  The mystery was extremely easy to solve and the characters were very superficial (they lacked depth).  I also did not like Ellison’s friends.  When Ellison would ask for assistance from a friend or even her mother, they would only do it in exchange for a favor in return (like politicians in Washington, D.C.).  How is that friendship?  I found Guaranteed to Bleed just to be a little bit too silly and over-the-top (for my liking).  The book is nicely written, but Guaranteed to Bleed was just not for me.  The first book in the series is The Deep End.

I received a complimentary copy of Guaranteed to Bleed from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I am currently reading Another Way Home by Deborah Raney.  I hope all of you have a lovely afternoon.  Do something for yourself and enjoy it! Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader

Beautiful Star of Bethlehem

It is Wear Something Gaudy Day!  In high school I used to wear the gaudiest earrings that I made myself.  At Christmas I had this 3 inch gold-tone Christmas trees!  I also had an outfit that was composed of seven different shades of red!  I still love red, but I wear just one shade at a time.  I also prefer stud earrings.  How we change over time!

Beautiful Star of Bethlehem by Lori Copeland is a short, Christian Christmas story.  Arlene and Jack Santana are heading out to visit their first grandchild, Ella Parker Santana.  Arlene is so happy and excited.  The plane is packed with gifts for the new grandbaby (they own Santana Toys).  Jack has a new plane and is eager to try it out (he is a pilot and was in the Air Force).  It is December and very cold out.  As they are flying ice starts forming on the plane.  The ice protection system has failed on the plane.  The plane crashes.  Arlene suffers brain damage, broken ribs, and some paralysis.  Arlene has a type of amnesia.  She remembers some things from her past like her children and husband but she forgets most things day to day.  Arlene is sent by her children to live at Sunset Gardens in Buckhead, Georgia to live near her son Steven and his wife, Julee.   

Arlene drifts through the years at the home.  She makes a few friends, but she is mostly unhappy.  Arlene misses her husband, Jack and their home.  Her children visit as often as they can, but Arlene does not remember their visits (or them).  Will Arlene ever recover full brain function (her memories)?  Can something be done to make Arlene happy so she can enjoy life again?    I normally love all books by Lori Copeland, but I found Beautiful Star of Bethlehem to be very dispiriting.  It is such a somber book.  The writing is good (as always), but I just found the story lacking.  I give Beautiful Star of Bethlehem 3 out of 5 stars.

I received a complimentary copy of Beautiful Star of Bethlehem from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for stopping by and reading my review.  I hope you have a great evening and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

The Bones Will Speak

Welcome back!  I am late getting started today.  I actually had a good nights sleep (first one in quite a while).  It is Sweetest Day! Do something nice for your sweetie (if he/she loves books, give them a gift card to their favorite bookseller).  In my case, I will give Doozy (my two year old St. Bernard/English Pointer mix) an extra bone.  

The Bones Will Speak by Carrie Stuart Parks is the second Gwen Marcey Novel.  Gwen Marcey lives with her daughter, Aynslee in Copper Creek, Montana.  Gwen is a forensic artist.  She also does paintings as well.  Due to budget cuts (within city and county governments), Gwen is only getting jobs on an as-needed basis.  Gwen is walking her dog, Winston.  Winston brings her a skull full of bugs (and Gwen cannot stand bugs).  Gwen immediately calls Sheriff Dave Moore.  He asks Gwen to recreate the face from the skull.  Gwen is hoping that Winston will lead her to the rest of the body.  Instead he leads her to an injured woman in a nearby abandoned farmhouse.   Gwen is shocked when she sees the poor girl because she could be a twin for her daughter, Aynslee. 

Mattie Banks is the young victim who could be Anyslee’s twin.  She is still alive, but she is unable to provide much information (still scared of killer).  Then another victim is found and she also looks like Aynslee.  Who is killing these young girls and why?  Gwen sets out to find the killer and protect her daughter.  I found The Bones Will Speak an intriguing mystery novel (I have only given you a brief synopsis).  It is the first book I have read by Carrie Stuart Parks (and I will definitely read more of her novels).  The mystery was medium level (despite the author’s attempt at making it more complicated).  I was able to solve the mystery early in the book (it just seemed obvious to me).  I found Gwen to be an interesting and strong character (I liked her quirky personality).  I wish the book had dived a little more into the forensic artist aspect (maybe in the next novel).  Please be aware that there is violence in the book (this is not like a cozy mystery), but there is no foul language.  I give The Bones Will Speak 4 out of 5 stars.  The Bones Will Speak can be enjoyed without having read the first book in the series (though I think you will want to read it).  The first book in the series is A Cry From The Dust (which has gotten very good reviews).

I received a complimentary copy of The Bones Will Speak from BookLook Bloggers (HarperCollins Christian) in exchange for an honest review.

I hope all of you have a nice, relaxing and fun Saturday!  I am currently reading Murder at the Courthouse by A.H. Gabhart. So many books and so little time to read them!  Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

The Fruitcake Murders

It is Dictionary Day!  Look up a word today!  One thing I enjoy about my Kindle is the built in dictionary.  Is everyone ready for the weekend?  The week just went by so quickly.

The Fruitcake Murders by Ace Collins is set in 1926 and 1946.  In the opening Jan Lewandowski is a candy maker who is heading to his factory to get a present he had hidden there for his daughter.  On the way he sees a man leaving Geno Lombardi’s grocery with paper sacks full of items.  Jan notices that his fruitcakes are not in the window as Geno promised.  Jan goes into the store to speak with Geno and finds him with a knife in his back.  Jan, in a bad move, takes the knife out of his back and holds it.  He then checks the cash register getting blood on the money.  Then in walks a cop who accuses Jan of murder.

It is near Christmas in 1946.  Lt. Lane Walker is an ex-marine turned homicide cop.  He is at the house of Ethan Elrod, the district attorney who was found dead at his desk with a knife in his back.  The knife did not kill him.  He was actually killed with a blow to head from a tin of fruitcake (I guess that is one use for it).  Ethan Elrod was a notorious good guy.  Who wanted him dead?  Tiffany Clayton is a reporter with The Chicago Star.  Tiffany and Lane have a history (they kept making dates and Lane kept not showing up for them).  Tiffany was to interview Ethan that evening for a story.  Now Tiffany has a bigger story.  Two more people are killed in the same manner.  Will Lane and Tiffany be able to solve the case?  Who wants them dead and where did they get the old fruitcake (I bet you can guess whose fruitcake it is). 

The Fruitcake Murders is a book that is trying too hard to a book from the 40’s.  There is a lot of 40’s lingo thrown in like dame and doll (it was just overkill).  I found The Fruitcake Murders to be a slow paced book.  Besides what I mentioned above there is also a Santa scam and a mob boss.  I give The Fruitcake Murders 2.75 out of 5 stars.  I think the story had potential, but the execution was lacking.  I think with a little more editing, the book could have been better (that is just one person’s humble opinion).  The mystery was easy to solve (as well as figuring out what happened to Jan’s children).  One thing that I found odd was instead of staying “Lane said” it would read “the cop”.  It was just strange, and it was sprinkled generously throughout the book.  This novel just felt forced.

I received a complimentary copy of The Fruitcake Murders from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I am currently reading Ghost for Sale by Sandra Cox (cute novel). I hope everyone has a lovely evening and a great weekend.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

Dangerously Dark

I received some wonderful news today.  I was picked to be a member of Kate Carlise's review crew called Kate's Raters!  When I saw she had an opening, I applied.  I was really hoping I would get picked, but I did not want to get my hopes up.  I just love her cozy mysteries.  You can find out more information about Kate Carlise and her books on her website. 

Dangerously Dark by Colette London is the second book in A Chocolate Whisperer Mystery series.  Hayden Mundy Moore is a freelance chocolate expert.  She helps companies improve their products.  Thanks to an inheritance, Hayden can pick only jobs that appeal to her.  Hayden is heading to Portland, Oregon for an engagement party weekend for an old, college friend, Carissa.  Hayden arrives in Portland and goes to Cartorama where Carissa has a cart called Churn PDX.  Every food cart specializes in chocolate.  Carissa opens her food cart and they find the dead body of her fiancé, Declan Murphy. 

The police declare Declan’s death an accident.  Hayden does not believe it is an accident and decides to poke around a little.  She is still running on a high from solving the mystery at her last assignment.  Carissa (who does not seem very upset over her fiancé’s death) also asks Hayden to take over Declan’s Chocolate After Dark tour.  It is already been scheduled and publicized (I think Carissa has an ulterior motive).  Hayden agrees to run the tour since it will give her more time to poke around.  Her friend and security expert, Danny Jamieson shows up to help out (and try and convince Hayden to leave Portland).  Will Hayden find out that Declan was killed?  Who would want to kill him and why?

I found Dangerously Dark to be a silly novel with a very simple mystery (I'm sorry).  I was really hoping the second book in the series would be significantly better than the first (it is actually worse).  Hayden does not really solve the mystery.  They seem to solve themselves and Hayden just happens to be there at the time.  Hayden is more focused on guys (especially Travis, her finance manager) than the mystery.  I have no idea why she is friends with Carissa who was more concerned over making connections than the death of her fiancé.  I give Dangerously Dark 2.75 out of 5 stars (I really wanted to like this book).  I do not think I will be reading any more books in this series (and you know I just love cozy mysteries).  I just cannot take the foolishness. The first book in the series is Criminal Confections.  Dangerously Dark can be read without having read the first book in the series. Please remember that this is just one person's opinion. 

I received a complimentary copy of Dangerously Dark from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I am currently reading House Trained by Jackie Bouchard.  I hope everyone has a lovely and relaxing evening.  Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader

Dodging Destiny

It is White Cane Safety Day!  It is a day to recognize the achievement of individuals who are visually impaired and blind. Applaud their independence and achievements!  Thanks to white canes, dogs, and some wonderful technological advancements!

I just finished reading Derinda Babcock’s Dodging Destiny.  It is a Christian novel about learning to listen to God and the first book in the Destiny trilogy.  Lexie Logan has broken off her engagement to Lance.  Lance has decided (after much prayer) that he is being called to be a missionary in Guatemala.  He wants to run an orphanage.  Lexie has dreams of her own.  She wishes to get into the Master of Arts Program and play the violin with the Topeka Symphony Orchestra.

She goes to the University of Kansas to sign up for her master’s program.  While she is waiting for her appointment, she falls asleep in the library (you have an hour to spare before an important appointment so you hole up in the library for a snooze fest).  She wakes up in 1857.  She wakes up in the back of a covered wagon with her bag (packed with all types of helpful items).  Lexie was found by the Bell family who graciously take her in.  Lexie learns what it is like to live in 1857 (without running water, cars, electricity, or good hygiene).  Will she learn to listen to God?

Dodging Destiny is an interesting novel, but it is very preachy (a lot of prayer—and I have nothing against prayer and many Bible verses).  I liked the time travel element (which is unusual for a Christian book).  One thing that I found extremely annoying was Lexie’s obsession with table manners (if I had to read one more description of people eating I was going to be sick).  I like the message that is being conveyed in the novel, but I found the story to be a little simple.  The ending was also very abrupt and seemed incomplete (I wanted an epilogue).  I also felt we were not given much information on some of the characters like Lexie's fiance, Lance (we were never told his last name).  I give Dodging Destiny 3.5 out of 5 stars.  Dodging Destiny is available on Kindle Unlimited.  The next book in the series is In Search of Destiny (maybe we will get more answers in this book). 

I received a complimentary copy of Dodging Destiny from The Book Club Inc. and the author in exchange for an honest review.

I hope everyone has a great afternoon.  The month is passing by so swiftly.  I am currently reading Moonlands by Steven Savile.  I have been trying to read this book since April (this is my fourth try).  I have had trouble getting into it.  I am determined to finish it this time and get it off my list.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader