Jen's Blog

As a frequent yoga class attendee and busy, working mom to three teenage boys the idea of this book spoke to me as soon as I saw the title.  I have been taking a yoga nidra class once a week (yoga sleep and guided meditation) and it's been making a world of difference in my mood and my days.  I just finished reading Breathe Mama Breathe and am so excited to add more mindfulness to my day when  I can't be in a yoga class!   I was a little worried about a book for busy moms, so many of them are focused on moms of just one age group, but this one is great for moms with any age kids!  There are so many places I can add a little calm in my day that I never had thought about before!   These quick breaks in the day are actually practical and I can see myself doing them on a regular basis!   I am especially looking forward to adding these mediation breaks to my day: Coffee Your Teen Driver STOP the Teen 'Tude Prepping to Launch Wonder W...

John Sandford is a personal favorite, but also one I recommend to a large number of library patrons. His stories are entertaining, fun to read and don't drag. Escape Clause is a great addition to the Virgil Flower's Series and will keep readers on their toes during the quick and entertaining read!  I love that Sandford is always coming up with new locations for his books, and the zoo was a great addition.  The storyline in this one kept me guessing and I love that.   The relationship between Frankie and Virgil in this one also kept the reader interested in what was to come!   If you haven't read Sandford yet start today.  The first one in this series is Dark of the Moon . 5/5 on Goodreads, thanks to NetGalley and Goodreads for the Advanced Reader's Copy!

I am always searching for new authors, and always super happy when I find one!  Diary of an Accidental Wallflower by Jennifer McQuiston is the first one in her Seduction Diaries series.  This book featured a fresh twist on an old idea, and that is always refreshing.  Miss Clare Westmore is searching for a titled husband suited to her station in life when she injures herself and meets Dr. Daniel Merial.  Although the spark between the pair flairs instantly there are many obstacles that the pair need to overcome, including the mystery behind Clare’s past.  Although we have all read the story of the poor governess who marries into money, this story is sort of the opposite and I feel, very well done.  Thankfully the characters figure out early in the story that they want to be together and they figure out a way to make it happen.  I will look forward to the second story in the series.     Rated 4/5 stars on Goodreads

  Janet Evanovich is known for her quirky and eccentric characters who find themselves is sticky situations.  This new series lives up to that reputation.  Curious Minds is the first in the Knight and Moon series by Evanovich (cowritten by Phoef Sutton) and it promises to take readers on new adventures and zany situations.   Riley Moon is a Harvard trained lawyer and business executive. She is funny and brave and can think on her feet. She never dreams that her ideal job will lead to danger.  Her first client turns out to be Emerson Knight who takes eccentric billionaire to a whole new level.  Emerson uncovers a plot that could ruin the US economy and he talks Riley into helping him. There adventure makes for a fun quick read.  It's a perfect beach read (which is where I read it!) that will keep you entertained.  I enjoyed the story very much and will look forward to the next book but I did find the plot a little hard to believe at times. ...

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader's copy. Sweet Tomorrows by Debbie Macomber is the last in the Rose Harbor series.  I was disappointed when I learned this because I have really enjoyed this series.  However, I was hopeful that this book would have a resolution that I had been missing at the end of the last few books.  I am happy to say that there was a resolution and it was a satisfying one. Jo Marie is back helping wounded people at her Rose Harbor Inn, and this time she needs to finish her own healing.  Her boarder Emily is a big part of this story too and she has some healing to do as well.  Both characters fight their own pasts and end up creating their happy endings.  The heroes in the story Nick and Mark also have pasts that they need to overcome on their way to happiness. The trouble I had with this story was it was written in a different style than the others in the series.  That threw me off right away, and although I got us...

First Star I See Tonight is a satisfying addition to the Chicago Stars series.  Cooper Graham has just retired as the quarterback when he meets private investigator Piper.  Their relationship starts off with a mutual dislike that quickly turns into one full of sparks. Watching Cooper and Piper navigate the waters is fascinating and entertaining.  In the end Cooper lays it all on the line in order to win his biggest game ever...a happily ever after. I highly recommend both the series and the book. Thanks to Edelweiss for the Advanced Reader's Copy! Also, thanks to LibraryReads for chosing my review for their August list!  Click here to see what else librarians recommend for August. Rated 5/5 on Goodreads...

Falling by Jane Green is a beautiful story that reminds us all that sometimes families can take place in the most unexpected ways. Emma has moved the the East Coast from England, where she meets Dominic.  Much to her surprise she and Dominic hit it off despite their very different backgrounds.  She has never met anyone quite like Dominic and it turns out that having someone different in her life is exactly what she needed.  Dominic is also a single father and Emma finds herself falling in love with both father and son.  Sadly, tragedy strikes and Emma finds herself having to create a new happiness, fight for what she loves and form a new idea of family. It's a beautiful, well written book.  The unexpected ending threw me for a little bit of a loop (and drew a few tears out of me), but ultimate Green redeemed herself and I enjoyed the book very much! Thanks to Netgalley for the Advanced Readers Copy! Rated 4/5 pm Goodreads.

First I would just like to say I am a huge fan of almost everything Susan Mallery writes!  This book is no different.  Daughters of the Bride is a story of the relationship between three sisters and their mother, which can always be complex.  Each sister is as different as the next, and they are all battling their past while they try to sort out what will truly make them happy.  Courtney battles her long held securities about her looks and height, and finds that they are playing role in everything she does.  She refuses to share her successes with her family because of past failures.  When she meets Quinn she starts to realize that these failures could be damaging her relationship with her mother and sisters as well as others.  Sienna feels like the odd sister out most of the time and wonders why she can’t commit to a relationship, she accepts proposal number three when her boyfriend proposes to her in front of her whole family.  As sh...

Vinegar Girl is loosely based oh Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew .  I enjoyed the book. It was a quick, solid read overall but the writing fell a little flat for me.  I think that might be the author more than the story.  The story focuses on Dr. Battista and his two daughters Kate and Bunny. Dr. Battista is about to lose his research assistant to importation and hatches a plan for him to marry his daughter Kate.  Kate has been feeling stuck in her job teaching preschool and her line living at home and wonders if going along with the plan will move her life forward or keep her firmly in the same old life. Will she agree to the plan or will she discover how to move forward with her own plans. The whole book I kept wondering if the characters were going to become more alive or interesting. The ending also seemed very impractical. Anyone who loves Anne Tyler's books will enjoy this one...it just fell a little short for me.  Rated 3/5 starts on Goodrea...

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced readers copy! I loved this book, it had all of the elements I look for in a good read. It was funny, the characters seemed real, there was some drama and there was real sexual chemistry between the two main characters. When and Cade are both Haven Point police officers and they both love their town and will do anything to protect it. When Wyn does just that and puts hers life on the line Cade suddenly realizes the girl he has known his whole life is a whole lot more than a friend.  Sparks really do fly. Back that up with a whole cast of family members and friends, this book will make you want to move to a new town called Haven Point. This is the latest in the Haven Point series, I suggest you read them all!  

Perfection. Mary Kay Andrews never disappoints me!  I look forward to her new book every summer and love reading it from start to finish.  The Weekenders is full of elements that make up a great summer read, the beach, a quaint island and a family that is as dysfunctional as it is loving.  Riley Griggs finds herself in the middle of a summer that is like no other, and she must learn to find her own way.  Luckily she has her daughter, friends and family to help her sort out the mystery that her life has become.  It's a real testament to what is really important in life and how important your relationships can be in times of need. This is a wonderful book that will make you laugh and cry!  Highly recommended! Rated 5/5 stars on Goodreads.

First, thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC!  I enjoyed getting to know a new author. The Becker's are quite the family!  Meryl and Hugh Becker have been married for 30 years and now are about to see all three of their daughters get married, at the same time.  Amy, Meg and Jo are all engaged to wealthy men and all of the marriages demand a big society wedding.  Meryl decides that the solution is a triple wedding, with People magazine paying for exclusive photos.  However chaos runs rampant and starts to threaten all of the carefully thought out plans. This is an honest book about love, and although all of the extravagant wedding preparations are very over the top each of the sisters, as well as Meryl, learn what true love looks like in their own eyes.  Although the ending isn't a traditional happy ending, it's exactly the happy ending each of these wonderful characters need and want. I struggled a bit with the rating on this book, I almost went with the ...

Olivia Drake is a new author to me and I can't wait to read the first four books of the series! His Wicked Wish is the fifth book of the series, but could stand alone. I didn't feel lost at all even though I didn't read the first four. I loved this book! It has all the elements of a truly good romance novel including a wonderful happy ending. It has drama and intrigue and the characters are lovable and real. Nathan and Maddy are great together and when they overcome their obstacles and realize what they have together it's a very satisfying feeling. Highly recommended. Thanks to Edelweiss and the editors for making this book available to me. Rated 4/5 stars on Goodreads.  

This was the first time I have read a book by Laura Trentham...and it won't be the last! The hero in this story Cade is everything you want in a hero, sexy, handsome, lovable and a little bad. He has moved away from his dark past in Cottonbloom and made a good life for himself. He swore he would never return. However, when he finds himself back in Cottonwood he wonders if he can live without his roots.  Monroe loves Cottonbloom and not even Cade will take her away from her beloved town. She is feisty, caring and devoted to those she loves. The fireworks between the two are strong and the reader can feel them! This was a great coming home story with a very satisfying ending. I can't wait to read the next one! Thanks to Edelweiss for the advanced readers copy and for introducing me to a new author! Rated 4/5 stars on Goodreads

I had trouble with this one, it was hard to stay involved with the story.  Frank does a wonderful job with the settings in the book, the way she describes the ocean and the scenery and the background locations of the book are wonderful, and make you wish that you were there. The overall premise of the book was good too and the main characters on the book, Olivia and Nick are wonderful together. I loved the message of the story, the importance of love, but overall the story fell a little flat.  This book should have been right up my alley and it fell a little flat.  I think for me the biggest problem was the dialogue between the characters.  For me it just didn't flow nicely, it seemed forced or choppy maybe.  It got in the way of me enjoying what was otherwise a very good story.   Thanks to Edelweiss and the editors for the Advanced Readers Copy.  Rated 3/5 stars on Goodreads.  

Sarah Morgan is a new author to me even though she has written many books!  I have quickly come to love her stories and found Sleepless in Manhattan to be no exception.  Paige is living the life she has dreamed about with two of her best friends and her brother in Manhattan.  When she loses her job she needs to learn how to take risks in order to fulfill her dream of having her own business.  When it comes to her brother’s best friend, the very sexy Jake, she learns she has to take another risk.  Jake distrusts love and he never spends more than a night or two with a woman.  However there has always been something about Paige that he cannot forget and he has always protected her.  Unfortunately despite the sparks that fly between the two of them he is adamant about protecting her from himself most of all.  Jake needs to learn to take a risk when it comes to love if he wants to keep Paige in his life.  This is a very steamy and sat...

I have been looking forward to this book since I discovered Amy Reichert's first book, The Coincidence of Coconut Pie.  If you haven't read that one yet I would suggest doing so right away.  On a personal note it's a lot of fun to read books set in my home state of Wisconsin.    I loved this book just as much...although the tone of it was much different than the first.  The writing was smooth and the story flowed along nicely. I found myself wiping a tear away a few times.  Chris and MJ have been married for 20 years and their marriage has gone a little stale, raising a family takes a lot of energy.  MJ finds herself in a spot where she has to make the biggest gamble of all...go all in or lose everything she has worked so hard for.  The fact that MJ decides to fight for her marriage is refreshing and sets this book apart from so many similar stories  it's well done and I highly recommend it!   Rated 5/5 stars on GoodReads.  ...

Britt-Marie Was Here is a quirky novel about an ordinary woman who likes her life to have order. The author produces a great setting, a town called Borg, which is in the middle of nowhere and needs some excitement. In the town of Borg are some delightful characters that shake up Britt-Marie’s orderly life. In the end Britt-Marie ends up learning more about herself and her life, and deciding what it is that will be best for herself.  I found it to be dry at times, but it would defiantly appeal to anyone who has a dry sense of humor.  This is certainly a book worth reading.   I gave it 3/5 on Goodreads...

Catching up with the Fool’s Gold family is one of my favorite things to do and I look forward to each new book. I was excited to be able to read an advanced copy from the publisher! Best of My Love features Shelby and Aidan, and I knew after the first few pages it would become one of my favorite Fool’s Gold stories. Shelby and Aidan both decide that they need to make some big changes in their lives and overcome their fear of commitment. The best way to do that? Become friends instead of dating, no kissing, no sex, no relationship. However their chemistry is undeniable and they discover that love and friendship are not exclusive of one another other. Aidan is a great character; he is funny and very likable. He fits right in on Shelby’s girl dates and becomes one of the group quickly. His best moments may be when he is picking out a new dog for himself. Shelby is adorable and knows what she wants, she gamely tries her best on Aidan’s guy dates and they quickly become insepara...