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Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Book Review: Sugar Pine Trail: A Small-Town Christmas Romance (Haven Point) by RaeAnne Thayne

This has fun characters and a fun romance.
Sugar Pine Trail: A Small-Town Christmas Romance (Haven Point)
by RaeAnne Thayne
File Size: 3039 KB
Print Length: 352 pages
Publisher: HQN Books (October 1, 2017)
ASIN: B071CJZ1H6
Genre: Clean, Romance, Small Town
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0


An unlikely attraction brings comfort, joy and unforgettable romance this holiday season!
Librarian Julia Winston is ready to ditch the quiet existence she's been living. She's made a list of new things to experience, but falling for Jamie Caine, her sexy military pilot neighbor, isn't one of them. Julia's looking to conquer life, not become the heartbreaker's latest conquest. But when two young brothers wind up in Julia's care for the holidays, she'll take any help she can get—even Jamie's.
Happy to step in, Jamie reveals a side of himself that's much harder to resist. Not only is he fantastic with kids, he provides the strength Julia needs to tackle her list. She knows their temporary family can't last beyond the holidays, but the closer she gets to Jamie, the more she wonders if things could be this merry and bright forever…


Review:
Julia appears to be a quiet and seemingly unexceptional young woman (by her own assessment). She is a caring and conscientious librarian and a good friend. She has agreed to help a friend by allowing her brother, Jamie, to rent an upstairs apartment in the big family home she has inherited.

Jamie is a sexy pilot who turns the heads of most women in town. Jamie tends to foster carefree relationships. He has a past experience that caused him to believe he doesn’t deserve to have a true relationship with any ‘good’ woman. Julia tries to be immune especially since she doesn’t want to be heartbroken as his next conquest.

Julia finds two young boys in the children’s section of the library. She sees them there several days and makes friends by sharing her lunch with them. One day she insists on taking them home in the cold weather and learns that they are living alone. Julia ends up fostering the two boys and is glad when Jamie steps in to help.

The boys, Julia and Jamie become close during the Thanksgiving and days leading up to Christmas. Jamie begins to see the beauty under Julia’s quiet exterior. When he accidently finds her ‘bucket list’ he decides to help her fulfill some of those dreams. Julia sees a caring, family side of Jamie and wonders if maybe there could be ‘kisses under the mistletoe’ like she put on her list.

Ms. Thayne has the ability to create real characters and carry them through warm, and sometimes obstacle ridden, scenarios. I enjoyed the push and pull between Julia and Jamie which was set off nicely with the addition of handling two young, frightened but adventurous boys. Both characters have a certain fragility to get beyond if they want to find a happy Christmas together.

I enjoy Ms. Thayne’s writing which makes for warm and easy reading. I recommend this to readers who enjoy sweet to sensual, small town romance.

I received this through NetGalley and it qualifies for my 2017 NetGalley Challenge.

Tuesday, December 26, 2017

Book Review: Gift From The Stars by James Gunn

This is interesting, hard science fiction with the requisite element of irony.
Gift From The Stars
by James Gunn
File Size: 903 KB
Print Length: 154 pages
Publisher: Reputation Books (December 30, 2013)
ASIN: B00FM2RFM2
Genre: Hard Science Fiction
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0


The age-old question about alien existence and human contact is explored in a new way in this collection of six novellas, previously anthologized in ANOLOG magazine. When disillusioned aerospace engineer Adrian Mast buys a book at a remainder sale, the last things he expects to find in its appendix are alien spacecraft designs. With the help of the bookstore owner, Adrian tracks down the author—only to find him in a mental institution anguishing over the intentions of the aliens who sent the designs to him. By bluffing a bureaucrat intent on thwarting their progress, the two friends continue their quest for the stars and go ahead with the spacecraft designs. Having successfully launched their ship 15 years later, the questions that remain are: What were the intentions of the aliens? and Is mankind ready to face what's out there?


Review:
This is an interesting look at man’s quest to reach and explore the stars. It did not strike me as six novellas but as a continuing work.

Adrian Mast is a disillusioned aerospace engineer who left his ‘going nowhere’ job and opened his own consulting business. He comes upon a strange book at a local bookstore he likes to browse. The title is “Gift From the Stars” and in the appendix are what Adrian believes to be viable spacecraft designs. He questions the bookstore owner, Frances, about the author and publisher and her research reveals more mystery.

Adrian and Frances set off to find the author whom they locate in a mental institute. Peter is brilliant but paranoid as a result of his view of the alien ‘gift. Adrian and Frances trick a government bureaucrat into pursing the ‘alien’ plans for a remarkable energy source. The result ushers in a worldwide era of peace with free energy. From there, Adrian and Frances, joined by a young woman who was sent as a spy but becomes caught up in their quest, continue the goal of building the spaceship. They pull together a small team who build the ship and head into space. Although they hope to find the aliens they think invited them through the gift, they are a little surprised when they discover that Peter has programmed the computer to take the ship on the alien path. Along the way they are caught in a wormhole time warp which they have to escape. When they arrive to the apparent destination, there are many other ships, but no welcoming committee. Again they must explore to uncover the puzzles of the mysterious planet.

The story is engaging although a bit strange. It has a certain believability and kept my interest. The ending might be considered a bit of a letdown but it seemed an appropriate ‘landing’ for the author’s apparent purpose. The author manages to present differing views of man’s fear and boldness when faced with the possibilities of exploring space. Through the adventure there are different reactions, reluctance and dreams. I felt the ending left me, the reader, contemplating my feelings about the opportunities and experience of space exploration. I would recommend this to readers who enjoy hard science fiction with an appropriate amount of irony and humor.

I received this through NetGalley and it qualifies for my 2017 NetGalley and Alphabet Soup Challenges.

Monday, December 25, 2017

Sunday Post December 24, 2017/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday December 25, 2017

I am linking with Sunday Post at Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading now at The Book Date.
Thank you to Sheila for the years that she handled this meme.
Thank you to Kathryn for taking up the baton.
What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

We had another crazed week at work with me getting home after 9pm several nights. I stayed up late Friday night to pack so we could travel to visit our son and daughter-in-law for the holidays. We did the drive in 14 hours on Saturday and I didn't even listen to books too much as I helped drive and napped a little in between. I have been spending time helping to watch/entertain the 16 month old twins and our five year old granddaughter. No time for computer until they are put in bed for the night. :-)
We really like seeing the soft snow on Sunday but we are not used to the cold, 20-35, weather.
I still need to get reviews, ending challenge posts and challenges for 2018 up this week.
I hope everyone had a beautiful Christmas!!

I enjoyed some but not really all of my listening and reading last week. I finished one Audible, one CD audio, one print and one ebook. I posted two reviews and minimal of the usual memes.

I visited only 21 blogs early in the week.
No Shout Out this week as I was focused on getting through the week and the visits.
Thank you to all the nice people who visit me.

These were last week's posts:
  • PTBR-LBC- Book Review and Giveaway: The Vision and Beyond by David Wilkerson; Prophesy, Religion & Spirituality; my rating 4.25. Ending 12/29/2017.
  • ATBR- Audible Book Review: Letters form Atlantis by Robert Silverberg; Fantasy, Sci Fi, Time Travel; my rating 4.0.

Finished Reading:
1. Audible/MP3 (TBR)


Saving Grace
By: Lee Smith
Narrated by: Christina Moore
This was not a very happy listen for the holidays.
Certainly not a favorite for me.

Click on book title for full description.



2. Audio/CD
About a Dog cover art


About a Dog
By: Jenn McKinlay
Narrated by: Allyson Ryan
Series: Bluff Point Romances, Book 1
Length: 9 hrs and 33 mins
I had some issues with this story too.
I received this CD audiobook from the publisher through Audiobook Jukebox.
Click on book title for full description.



3. Print/Ladies Book Club



The Christmas Code Booklet
by O. S. Hawkin
I enjoyed this Advent reading preparing for Christmas.
Click on book title for full description.




4. eBook/Kindle (NG)


Coiled
by H. L. Burke
This is a 'fairytale' story with sorrow and joy.
I really liked it.
Received from NetGalley.
Click on book title for full description.




Currently Reading:
1. Print (Publisher)


Into the Guns (America Rising)
by William C. Dietz

I am finding the action in this interesting.
I received this from the publisher to read before book three which I got at NetGalley.
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Legion of the Damned® Novels and The Mutant Files comes the first novel in a post-apocalyptic military science fiction series about America rising from the ashes of a global catastrophe...
On May Day, 2018, sixty meteors entered Earth’s atmosphere and exploded around the globe with a force greater than a nuclear blast. Earthquakes and tsunamis followed. Then China attacked Europe, Asia, and the United States in the belief the disaster was an act of war.
Washington D.C. was a casualty of the meteor onslaught that decimated the nation’s leadership and left the surviving elements of the armed forces to try and restore order as American society fell apart.
As refugees across America band together and engage in open warfare with the military over scarce resources, a select group of individuals representing the surviving corporate structure makes a power play to rebuild the country in a free market image as The New Confederacy...



2. Audible/MP3 (TBR)


Cast in Shadow
Chronicles of Elantra, Book 1
By: Michelle Sagara
Narrated by: Khristine Hvam
Length: 14 hrs and 25 mins
I am finding this entertaining
although not compelling.
I picked this from my Audible TBR Shelf.
Publisher's Summary
Seven years ago, Kaylin fled the crime-riddled streets of Nightshade, knowing that something was after her. Children were being murdered— and all had the same odd markings that mysteriously appeared on her own skin….
Since then, she's learned to read, she's learned to fight and she's become one of the vaunted Hawks who patrol and police the City of Elantra. Alongside the winged Aerians and the immortal Barrani, she's made a place for herself, far from the mean streets of her birth.
But children are once again dying, and a dark and familiar pattern is emerging. Kaylin is ordered back into Nightshade with a partner she knows she can't trust, a Dragon lord for a companion and a device to contain her powers—powers that no other human has. Her task is simple—find the killer, stop the murders… and survive the attentions of those who claim to be her allies!
Spellbound? Listen to more Chronicles of Elantra.
©2011 Michelle Sagara (P)2011 Audible, Inc.



3. eBook/Kindle (NG)
I will start another NetGalley I am sure before next weekend/next year but I haven't decided what yet.

I am reading stories with the grandkids so I will have some of those to list before the year is over.

December 25, 2017 - I am a day ahead and enjoying the last week of reading in the One Year Bible. I have been reading along with my husband and others from our church. I hope to take more time this year, staying on the day and listening to the companion commentary online.


I completed 4 books and posted only 2 reviews. I still have 10 reviews to finish for the end of this year.  Maybe I'll have some time this week to double up reviews. 
I am three-four weeks (sigh) behind linking my reviews at Goodreads, Amazon and Audible.
My NetGalley shelf is at 21. I still have one committed author title in queue and many through InstaFreebie.


We're working on two more fiction books soon to add to eTreasure's NetGalley page.


Welcome to Mailbox Monday.

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week and explore great book blogs. This Meme started with Marcia at A Girl and Her Books (fka The Printed Page) and after a tour of hosts has returned to its permanent home at Mailbox Monday. Thanks to the ladies sharing hosting duties: Leslie of Under My Apple Tree, Serena of Savvy Verse & Wit and (yours truly). Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.
I bought one Audible daily deal and one $.99 Kindle title this week.
As usual, I picked up more free kindle titles as usual. (Note these are in my Amazon library, NOT on my Kindle until I download and transfer them.)
Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles
NONE

Won
NONE

Purchased
I bought one Kindle ebook for $.99
Voice in the Wilderness (Against All Enemies Book 1)
by H. L. Wegley


The Autobiography of Santa Claus cover art
I bought one Audible Daily Deal on 12/24 for $2.95:
The Autobiography of Santa Claus
By: Jeff Guinn
Narrated by: John H. Mayer
Length: 9 hrs and 5 mins



Free
Since I was away from computer several days, I only added 32 free Kindle titles to my library this week. Titles found linked through Bookbub, Bookfun, Ereader News Today, Free Par-tay, Ignite Your Book, Inspired Reads, Pixel of Ink or Kindle ebooks.

Blessed Merry Christmas 12/25/2017

Merry Christmas!
I hope everyone enjoys the true meaning of Christmas today - LOVE!

This is Christmas.


He is the Gift



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Sunday, December 24, 2017

Sunday Words of Encouragement - Merry Christmas Eve December 24, 2017

I have been off computer since end of work on Friday (at about 9pm).
We traveled 14 hours Saturday so that we wouldn't have to travel through snow today/Sunday.
We spent the day with our son's family watching the gentle snow fall and then the wind blow.
Our dogs were a bit startled by their first experience walking out into the snow!

I am sharing two videos I choose for Christmas Eve. I hope you will stop by sometime on Christmas for my Christmas video.
Blessings!
Do You Have Room?


A Strange Way to Save the World

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