Jen's Blog

Although I liked certain parts of this book, there were other parts I didn't like at all.  I loved the setting and the setting description a lot.  I also liked the premise of the book.  It was a fairly quick read, but I did have trouble with the flow of the story.  The writing seemed jilted at times, and it didn't flow as smoothly as I would have liked. The main part of the book dealt with young Olivia and her relationship with her recently returned father.  He had been largely absent during her youth.  I found him to be very unlikable.  I also wasn't super fond of Olivia's finance, he just didn't seem all that supportive.  I really liked Olivia and her mother and step-father though.  So an average book for me. 3/5 stars on GoodReads.

Oh John Sandford, you got me again.  The first few pages made me think Lucas Davenport was somehow reverting to his old self. What happened to Weather?  Did quitting his job with the Minnesota Bureau send him off the rails?  I vowed to stop reading if he was reverting to his pre-Weather days (even though I knew that wouldn't be true).  Thankfully Lucas was just on a new job!  Davenport is a new U.S. Marshal, free of all the things he hated about his last job. Lucas takes on an old case to track down a killer who likes to steal a lot of money and kill people in the process.  No one has ever been able to track down the criminal called Poole, but Davenport is determined he is going to be the one.  There is a lot of action, excitement and shooting in this book.  I couldn't turn the pages fast enough.  The 400 pages went by super fast, and it left me wanting more. Well done! If you haven't read this series, start today.  I am not kidding....

Spring has sprung, and it's going to be a little harder to read for the next two months, until long summer days come back anyway!  I read two books in the last few weeks, both from Edelweiss, so thanks Edelweiss for the review copies!  Since I didn't give full reviews, I will just do a quick review for both and say I enjoyed them both. I enjoyed My One True Highlander by Suzanne Enoch quite a lot!  It was a fun, sexy story and as we all know I love any book set in Scotland, but it wasn't all that original.  I don't know why, but highlander's often kidnap their brides, although this time the kidnapping was indirect because it was done by Graeme's brothers.  Even though it wasn't super original, I thought the two characters were great together and had an instant chemistry.  I especially loved Marojorie's relationship with the youngest brother, who was so sweet you can't help but love him.  I am looking forward to another in the series!  4/5 star...

Little known fact about me...I was blessed Mormon when I was born.  My mother is Mormon, and originally from Utah.  I didn't know this until later in life when I was searching for a baptism certificate before I got married.  I didn't grow up going to temple and I didn't know a lot about the faith until I did some research, but technically I was Mormon. I love genealogy and have been working on our family trees, it turns out I come from a long line of Mormons, and some of my relatives knew with Joseph Smith and made the long journey from Illinois to Utah.  Also, there is quite a bit of polygamy in my family tree when it was allowed as part of the Mormon faith. It was interesting to me to read about polygamy from a more recent point of view, and to learn about the dark side of polygamy, and why it was ultimately outlawed.  I loved how Anna told her story and admire her for her bravery in having survived growing up with such a public polygamist father.  In...

The Good Daughter was a reading departure for me, but it proved to me that sometimes it’s a great idea to read something different than you normally do!  Alexandra Burt had me turning pages as fast as I could from the beginning.  I couldn’t wait to find out what was going on with Dahlia and her mother and to know the truth!  Dahlia remembers moving from one place to the next all her life, and finds that she continues to do so as an adult.  Why doesn’t she have a birth certificate?  Not it seems like her mother is having a breakdown as well and Dahlia doesn’t know why.  She does know that it’s probably related to her unorthodox upbringing.  Usually I don’t like stories that go back and forth in character and time, but this time it works.  I almost found that Dahlia’s mothers story was more intriguing and I couldn’t wait until the story switched back to her!  Recommended…4/5 on GoodReads Thanks to Net Galley for the Advanced R...

Who doesn't love Sophie Kinsella?  Well, I am sure some people are not a fan, but I know she is loved far and wide.  Sophie writes a fun, fast paced story that catches your interest right away and keeps you reading!  Her style of writing is so engaging I often find myself looking up at the clock and wondering how time has gone so fast! My (not so) Perfect Life wasn't any different.  It was light, fun, easy to read, entertaining and hilarious.  There was a little bit of romance as well...it hit all the right notes for me. Katie is the main character, she has always wanted to live in London and have a fabulous life and job.  The reality is that London is expensive and her job isn't that great, but she is optimistic and portrays her life the way she sees it ending up to everyone around her, and her Instagram followers. When Katie is fired from her dream job she is forced to move home and reevaluate her life a little.  She is not about to give up h...

Another day...another cowboy book. Carolyn Brown's new series Lucky Cowboys starts off with Talk Cowboy to Me .  This one was good enough I will be looking for book number two.  I don't see an entry for book number 2 on Goodreads yet, so I put Carolyn Brown on my author's to watch list. This book features two mismatched families who are clearly destined to become one big family.  There are not many surprises in romance novels so the reader know almost from the beginning what is going to happen.  (Honestly, that's one of the reasons I love the romance genre so much!)  The journey the characters take to get there is a somewhat unique one however. This one features Adele O'Donnell and her two lovely daughters.  They move onto the Double Deuce Ranch after Adele's divorce and after her ex-husband takes away the ranch she had been living on with her girls. Then there is Remington Luckadeau, who is well known for his lady friends and bachelor lifestyle. ...

Holding on Tighter is another book I read in February and just now am reviewing! Any fan of Erotic Romance knows the name Shayla Black.  This is the 12th book in her Wicked Lovers series, and it's a good solid addition. The main characters include Jolie Quinn, who is a woman in charge.  She has big goals and knows what she needs to do to get them accomplished.  Heath Powell is recovering from personal tragedy and wants to stay clear of any attachment.  However Jolie and her company become a target and she suddenly needs to rely on someone else to help protect the things she loves. The sparks between the two characters are evident, but they both are fighting not only their desires but also their true feelings. Watching them sort that out is a lot of sexy fun!  One of the best parts was catching up with past characters of the other books, seeing the big extended family these people have created was truly special. Thanks NetGalley for the advanced readers ...

Thanks to NetGalley for the Advanced Readers Copy of this one.  I read it in January but am a little behind on my blogging. I love a good cowboy story, but this one was just OK.   Wild Horse Springs is the fifth in the Ransom Canyon series...but it certainly isn't my favorite of the bunch. This story features sheriff Dan Brigman and Brandi Malone.  Brandi is a singer who is running from a loss...she travels from town to town preforming on the stage and trying to forget her past.  When danger strikes Brandi ends up running to Dan instead of running away like she usually does. The story also features Lauren Brigman, Dan's daughter, who has come home after her job in Dallas doesn't pan out.  Lauren has to decide if home is where her heart is or if she is going to travel back out into the world and try and forge a new life.  There are some really solid parts to this story, but it did fall a little flat for me.  It look me a long time to get into it...

Thanks NetGalley for the Advanced Reading Copy of this one!  I read it back in January, but am a little behind on my blogging. Spring has been busy this year! This book made me feel all the feels!  It features two sisters Ainsley and Kate, and although it's a romance it could also be called women's fiction because it heavily features the relationship between the two sisters who have never been close.  However, some pretty big life events bring the two sisters together, closer than ever. Kate, who found her husband later in life, tragically loses him at the beginning of the book.  Readers follow her story of getting over the loss of her whirlwind romance and marriage, and then navigate a surprise that she never saw coming.  Watching Kate rebuild her life was addicting, and I had trouble putting the book down. Ainsley's romance is completely the opposite of whirlwind.  She has been waiting for 11 years for her boyfriend to propose.  Instead of pr...

Thanks to NetGalley for the Advanced Readers Copy of this one! Anyone who has checked out my blog so far will notice I have featured Scottish themed romance novels often, and I admit I have a weak spot for them.  I just can't help it, men in kilts, what can I say?  After reading the first book in the series, Wild Wicked Scot , I couldn't wait to read the second book. I wasn't disappointed when I picked up Sinful Scottish Laird.   Although it took me a little longer to fall into this story, when I did I couldn't put it down. Julia London writes a wonderful story that makes any reader (me included) feel like part of the story.  This story features Lady Chatwick, Daisy, and her young son.  They set out to journey to Scotland to escape the many suitors who are after her Daisy's inheritance.  Daisy has to marry within three years of her husband's death or all is lost, and all of England know it. While waiting for the man she thought she would like to marr...

Thanks to NetGalley and the editors for the advanced readers copy of this book! This is a great book for working people who want to eat healthy at work and don't want to spend a lot of money.  The pictures were great and I am excited to try more of the recipes.  So far I have done a breakfast smoothie and one of the salads.  I am excited to try the morning cookies, some of the dips and the soups! Some positives about the book include the great pictures, the variety of recipes and the key that lets you know if it's going to be a fast recipe, one that could be made ahead or freeze well.  The ingredients are fresh, real and good for you.  I love that there are several that will be perfect for garden season when I am over run with zucchini and green beans. I was disappointed that the nutritional information wasn't included with the recipe.  I am diabetic and that makes it so much easier for me to know right away if the recipe will work or not.  Som...

Thanks NetGalley for the Advanced Readers copy! I wasn't too sure about this one the entire time I was reading it, and honestly I am still a little on the fence.  However, I will say it was fresh and new and unlike many other books.  This is how people communicate now...email and text so that was real. After the first few sections I got used to the dialog between the twins and I got more into their story.  In the end I was connecting to the characters and getting to know them, so maybe it just took me awhile to get into the story.  It's been about a week since I finished the story and when I think about it now I feel happy.  The story line was somewhat predictable but again a lot of fun. Overall, give it a try.  It was pretty good and the characters were a lot of fun.  3/5 stars on GoodReads.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this new book, Lists to Love by: for Busy Wives by Mark and Susan Merrill.  I enjoyed the book, but it wasn't quite what I expected.  It was filled with great reminders on marriage, and had some really good points in it.  It was a great reminder on how to love, how to honor your husband, how to live in a faith based marriage and how to remember why you married him in the first place.  It's well written and easy to read, and I liked the personal antidotes in the book. The downside was it wasn't really new.  I have read many similar books in the past, and the same advice seems to be in all of them. So it was good, but not groundbreaking.  3/5 stars on Goodreads.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reading copy of this one.   Wild Wicked Scot by Julia London was a great read, and one that I gobbled down in just one day!  There are some books that you just can't put down or read fast enough and this is one of them!  I am beyond excited that this is the first in a new series and I can't wait for book two! Book one features Margot Armstrong, a young and inexperienced English lady and Arran McKenzie, Scottish Clan leader.  The two had an arranged marriage and couldn't be more different in personality. Despite the natural passion that ran between them Margot runs away and returns to England. Three years later she is sent back to Scotland by her father to spy on her husband.  Although, deep down she is convinced that the Arran she was married too couldn't be a traitor she has to find out for sure. In her quest for the truth Margo finds out a lot about Arran, including some things she didn't see as a new bride.  She ...

I liked this one, but it wasn't my favorite.  I gave it a 3/5 stars on Goodreads.  Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced readers copy. The Trouble with Duke s is the first in a series, and like I mentioned I did like it.  I love series so I will defiantly read the second one.  This book features lovely Megan Windham and the gruff Hamish MacHugh, a brand new Duke. Megan has found herself in a courtship with a vile man and she doesn't know how to get out of it.  Instead of confiding in one of the many protective Windham men she turns to Hamish.  Despite his desire to distance himself from Megan he finds himself drawn to her sunny personality and a love match is born.  Together they find a way out of trouble and end up together. All of my favorite components of a good romance story are present in the book, and I did like the characters.  It's hard for me to put my finger on why I didn't like this book as much as some others, but I think it has a...

I didn't realize when I read this one that it was a re-issue.  It was first published as  The Red-Hot Chili Cook-Off .  It's also the second book in the series and I hadn't read the first when I found this one.  I enjoyed it enough I will go back and re-read the first two in the series. The only thing I would say about the book that I didn't like, was on occasion it got very wordy.  Overall it was a delightful and fun story. Carlene Lovell is recovering from her husband's shocking affair, with a women she sold some of her expensive lingerie too!  Waiting in the wings is sexy sheriff Jack Landry. This story offers a lot more than just romance though, its really about friendship.  Carlene and her friends and family decide to enter the chili cook-off to get back at Carlene's soon to be ex, and the rest of the men in town.  It's a story about survival and friendship, and these friends have a whole lot of fun!  I love stories like this that in...

I have been enjoying this Carsons of Mustang Creek series.  They are light, fun and entertaining reads - and really who doesn't love a cowboy story? Book two Always a Cowboy features Drake Carson, in charge of the family ranch. He is devoted to the animals and the land.  He is all cowboy, all the time.  His biggest challenge of late is managing the wild horses on his land, the stallion is running off with some of his other horses. Luce Hale is a graduate student intent on studying and saving the wild horse population.  Sparks fly between Luce and Drake right away and the attraction is instant.  They work together to come up with a plan that works for everyone and fall in love in the process. It's a solid story and a lot of fun.  If you are a fan of sexy cowboys and western romances this one is for you! Start with book one - Once a Rancher . 3/5 stars on Goodreads.

I had to give this one a few starts before I was able to finish it.  I didn't love this one...and I was disappointed because Mary Balogh is one of my favorite authors.  To me the writing and the voice of the characters was stiff and formal.  I didn't feel like the characters were speaking, I felt like a narrator was speaking.  All of the characters had the same "voice" and I found myself not investing in the characters. The story line wasn't all that original, which doesn't usually matter to me if the characters have a personality.  I just wasn't feeling it for this one.  The main character Anna was orphaned at birth but it turns out she is actually a lady.  She has to adjust to her new life, with the help of the Duke of Netherby and they fall in love in the process.  There is a lot of potential here and I will give the second in the series a read. Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced readers copy.  3/5 stars on Goodreads.

Duke of Pleasure is the newest addition to the Maiden Lane Series...and it didn't disappoint.  The new Ghost of St. Giles happens to be the favorite street urchin Alf.  Alf is a woman who dresses as a boy to hide her identity in a dangerous part of London.  While protecting the streets one evening she comes across the Duke of Kyle, who realizes right away that the ghost is a woman.  The Duke has been attacked and calls upon the services of Alf to find out who his enemy is. Alf stays in the Duke's house, and starts to become part of the family.  Hugh's two young sons are still recovering from the loss of their mother and Hugh's absence from the house.  They take to Alf right away, and it turns out that Hugh does as well.  There is a happily ever after in this story, as there always is. Hugh and Alf's story seems a little far-fetched (usually the heroine isn't so different from the hero) but it feels right almost from the first page.  It's a st...