Why?

So here we are again with more notes of my recently read books and a very generous handful of assorted chocolates to inspire me.   Well that’s all good and such but I find my mind wondering as I sit here thinking about what I’m posting, when a three letter question pops into my head with the subtleness of a 10’ neon sign flashes on & off. Distracting me in the private viewing that it is.

Why?

Why do I continue to write these reviews? I never know what people think of the books that I read. Maybe I should just drop them from this blog and strictly concentrate on just quilt and other needle arts. But truthfully I don’t think it would add any more followers to my numbers.

I do love reading and when I write up my reviews, I can only hope that someone somewhere has picked up a book because they saw on my blog; so I keep doing them even if I don’t ever hear back on what they -the reader - thought of the book. But I have digressed.

To start this weeks list I decided to start out with a holiday book by author Joseph McCullough from Osprey Publishing with a publishing date that had it coming out on Oct. 21, 2014.

Description:

Every December 24th millions of children eagerly await a visit from a large, bearded man in a red suit. But where did Santa come from and how did he evolve into today's Jolly Old Saint Nick?

Well before the legendary poem 'Twas the Night Before Christmas' shaped the modern vision of Santa Claus riding a flying sleigh pulled by magical reindeer, his story actually began about seventeen hundred years ago in the Eastern Roman Empire. There, a young orphan named Nicholas became famous for using his inheritance to give gifts to the needy. In his most wildly-known story, he threw bags of gold over a wall into the house of a destitute merchant, so that the man would not be forced to sell his daughters into slavery. Eventually, this young and holy man became the Bishop of Myra and lived a life of faith and miracles, fighting injustice and protecting the weak. Even after his death, his miracles continued, and he is credited with saving sailors, healing the sick, and even raising the dead. In time, he became known as St. Nicholas the Wonder Worker.

In the numerous centuries since the passing of Saint Nicholas, his story has grown, developed, and been combined with numerous other legends. In the Netherlands, he became known as Sinterklaas, the old man who brought presents to children with the help of his assistant Zwarte Piet. In England, he became Father Christmas, the living embodiment of the holiday.

Fully illustrated with original color drawings, Santa Claus celebrates the story of his beginnings as a holy man in Ancient Rome, through his development in the Middle-Ages, to his current, likeness on advertisements, greeting cards, apparel and decorations - right down to real-life mall-based family photo op. It is a winding, magical tale filled with mystery and good will towards all men, sure to fill even the most jaded scrooges with a little bit of Christmas magic.

A portion of all of the profits from this book will be donated to help disadvantaged children throughout the world.

 

This book is considered to be children's non-fiction and is 44 pages long. The cover has a beautiful vintage-look, giving it a timeless approach that brings this bit of nostalgic feeling that would be a wonderful addition to any family’s collection. I actually enjoyed reading this one myself.  I found it to be informative without droning on  forever on a subject that most people could relate to.  It has a nice flow about it, very knowledgeable, and the pictures are beautiful to look at.  I would give this book and honest 4.5 out of 5 stars and would recommended to others, including to my 12 yr son. This one I received as an ARC from Net Gallery in exchange of my honest opinion. One must take my opinion with a grain of salt as it only my thoughts and has no bearing influence in the making of this book.

 

Next I picked this book from Net Gallery’s Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members’ Titles. The book: Premier: A Love Story by Tracy Ewens and published Oct. 27, 2014.

 

 

Description:
If only life were as simple as a good-looking guy and a great dress.
Samantha “Sam” Cathner gave up needing Peter years ago, but now her theater needs his play. She knows how fairytales end once the house lights are up, so she steadies herself to work with the brilliant playwright who once broke her heart.
Peter Everoad is back in Pasadena, the hometown he traded for the bright lights of New York as soon as he graduated. The Pasadena Playhouse, where his oldest friend and one time lover Sam works, is in financial trouble, they need him and his new play Looking In.
Sam is flustered to reencounter this new version of Peter—as always, witty and smart, and now handsome and successful. But he’s still the jerk who crushed her happily-ever-after. She’s not going to let him waltz in and unsettle her carefully ordered life. But she’s drawn to him and intrigued by the autobiographical undertones of Looking In—is the Pasadena debutante “Sally” supposed to be her?
Can Sam ever really trust Peter again, or will the demons that drove them apart the first time, tear them apart again?

 

I rather enjoyed this book it was a simple romance that showed us the different in young teenage love and that of grown up love in a venue that I haven’t come across before in my reading career before.  I am glad to see that the author didn’t show as this pretty romance that is all “happy ever after” but had a more “real life” vibe to it. We got to see the the main characters had issues to work through that took years to get to deal with them. Not in the 30 minutes of less sitcom approach that I seen in other books.  It was refreshing.  I would recommend this books to others without hesitation as I gave it a strong 4 out of 5 stars.

 

This is another free ARC from Net Gallery as I said earlier and that reflects my honest opinion in exchange for reading it. 

 

This next book I wish it had spent more time with either spell check or a few more editors. I’m referring to First Bite - BBW Paranormal Romance Erotica - Voluptuous Mates Series by London Bleau of Bleau Wilderness Press 

 

 

Now there were so many grammar errors throughout this book that it made difficult to read. Things just didn’t gel properly from page to page, much less in the same paragraph. I will give the author some credit in making is main female character’s image more realistic in her build instead of going to what I call the a cookie cutter model that most writers will have their heroines in. And I will give credit for the gist of the storyline. But I wish London hadn’t tried to be like so many others authors out right now; by turning into a multi-book scenario.  It just didn’t work for me. It was like watching a movie for 15 minutes and then management decides to pull the plug so they could make more money by forcing you to come back every couple of weeks. I truly hope that things are smoothed out by the time the second book heads to the prints. And with that I am working very hard to give this book 2 out of 5 stars. Yes I received this ARC from Net Gallery in exchange of my honest opinion.  Even when it is this difficult to blunder through it. Please take my words with a grain of salt.  You might decide that you liked the book if you read it.

Time for some Keri Arthur with her Memory Zero: The Spook Squad 1 from Random House Publishing Group - Bantam Dell

Description:
MORTAL RECALL
For Sam Ryan, life began at age fourteen. She has no memory of her parents or her childhood. In a decade of service with the State Police, Sam has exhausted the resources of the force searching for clues to her identity. But all mention of her family seems to have been deliberately wiped off the record. Everything changes the night Sam’s missing partner resurfaces as a vampire . . . and forces her to kill him in self-defense. Now Sam is charged with murder. Suspended from the force, and with no one left to trust, Sam accepts some unexpected help from Gabriel Stern, a shapeshifter who conceals startling secrets.
While investigating the circumstances surrounding her partner’s strange behavior, Sam discovers that Gabriel’s been involved with a dangerous organization that’s planning a war on the human race. More immediate, someone is guarding the truth about Sam’s past—someone who’d rather see her dead than risk her knowing too much. To stay alive, Sam must unravel the threads of her past—and find out not only who she is but what she is.

Well friends let me tell you - if you don’t know already know it - Keri knocks it out of the park with this series!! I truly enjoy all of her books!! I haven’t found one that I didn’t and this won’t be on yuck list any time soon!!  So when net Gallery offered me the chance to review this one I was all it with the speed of a hungry cheetah.  We go down a fuzzy path as Sam can’t remember her past and Gabriel has her in knot’s as the story progresses.  But don’t look for me to reveal all the good stuff – run and get your own fabulous copy to learn how things get along. This gets a hardy 5 out stars and a big thank you to Net Gallery for allowing me to share my thoughts on this awesome book that I recommend to EVERYONE as I’m off to stalk the libraries for the next installment!!

Did you love shoes?  What about cupcakes? Are you asking yourself how the the two things come together? Well this story is the ticket!! Check out Love by Design by Evie Knight from ILwR  Published was Jul 24, 2014.

Description:
Rules are meant to be broken… only, he chooses which ones to break.
Renowned, self-taught baker Tristan James has everything going for him. Great friends. Women. Business success. His ultimate goal is to host his own TV show. All is perfect… until Mandy walks into his life. Tristan fears she’ll make him unearth the secrets he keeps.

She plays by the rules.
Amanda Roberts dreams of becoming a famous shoe designer, but her insecurities stand between her and her dream. She’s ready to give up when Tristan dares her to pursue her goal. Falling prey to his charms isn’t something she counts on, yet it’s unavoidable.
As their dreams finally become a reality, they must choose between love or the opportunity of a lifetime.

I liked this book for it’s drooling capacity. It had me drooling over cupcakes, stiletto heels and the leading hunk. There was just so many things that a girl likes that are all wrapped up in between these two covers. It has a b…itchy boss and jerk for a friend slash partner who thinks he can take all the credit for the awesome shoe designs by stabbing Amanda in back on many fronts and then there is the whole tragic accident that opens a lot of eyes, including Tristan’s.  Will we be served a sweet ending?  You will get so engrossed that find yourself slowly licking the frosting off your own cupcakes!!! LOL. Grab you copy with a couple things to subdue your sweet tooth.  I give this 4 out of 5 stars. Again I received a free ARC from Net Gallery in exchange for my honest opinion.

Well folks that is five books this week and I’ll put it to bed for now. But sure to know that I have more in the wings for another day. Hope to hear from you, so please leave me comment.

Until next time…

Tricia