A Perfect Dish Series by Tawdra Kandle

"Best Served Cold" – Book 1
"Just Desserts" – Book 2
"I Choose You" – Book 3

I liked the first book because it took me back to college days a little. It was nice to reminisce and I felt like the characters learned something and matured. The main character was Julia, her roommate, Ava, is the main character in the second book.

The second book took 5 chapters to get going, because the first 5 chapters basically repeated events from the first book through the main character's (Ava's) point of view. This book was far steamier than the first book as well. Not a lot of learning in this book, but there is some redemption of a character that appeared in the first book as well.

The third book, picked up a little better in terms of less rehash... past events were explained, but not repeated like in book 2. We still don't get to hear much about Julia in this book. Ava and her man are the main characters again. I'm not sure why the author didn't work Julia's story in a little more since there was some drama and the "voice" of the book switched between Ava and her man, so why not add in Julia too? The author gave us a little bite into the next couple she tends to write about. I'm not sure if their story will be part of this series or not. I suppose we will find out!

Overall, I liked the series, I have just read a lot of books I've liked more.

"1225 Christmas Tree Lane" By Debbie Macomber

I was bored. I liked the actual story about the main character and her ex husband. However, there were all of these other characters that took the 10 puppies and their families plus side stories that had nothing to do with the main story. Well, towards the end, 2 of the puppy families integrated into the main story. I've not read books by this author before, and to be fair, I sort of started by reading the last book of her series. I'm guessing this book sort-of summarizes and gives follow up to the characters that are the main characters in the previous books. Since I seem to like seeing characters reappear later in a series, I might have enjoyed this book more if I had started from book 1; lesson learned.

While I would classify this as "Romance", it was in no way steamy... if that's what you're looking to read.

Copied the following list from Wikipedia:

Cedar Cove Series

1. 16 Lighthouse Road, MIRA Books 2001
2. 204 Rosewood Lane, MIRA Books 2002
3. 311 Pelican Court, MIRA Books 2003
4. 44 Cranberry Point, MIRA Books 2004
5. 50 Harbor Street, MIRA Books 2005
6. 6 Rainier Drive, MIRA Books 2006
7. 74 Seaside Avenue, MIRA Books 2007
8. 8 Sandpiper Way, MIRA Books 2008
9. 92 Pacific Boulevard (MIRA Books, September 2009)
10. 1022 Evergreen Place Fall 2010
11. 1105 Yakima Street MIRA Books 2011
12. 1225 Christmas Tree Lane MIRA Books 2011

• A Cedar Cove Christmas MIRA Books October 2008

• "Christmas in Cedar Cove" MIRA Books 2010 (Omnibus: 5-B Poppy Lane, 2006 and A Cedar Cove Christmas, 2008)

"The Lightning Prophecy" By Emily Cyr

This is the first book in a series by this author, whom is also currently writing a first book for a second series. Here is my Goodreads/Amazon review on this one.

Steamy and Suspenseful! *****I chose 5 stars because this is the author's first book, but yet, it is a well thought out story line, a book I couldn't put down, and a book that leaves me in high anticipation of the sequel! I recommend this book to both fantasy and romance readers who don't mind if the story gets a bit dirty.

Total disclosure: While I haven't met this author in person, I did "meet" her online before she wrote this book. I contacted her about a few things I found in this book that have been corrected. I will now be helping her with edits go forward. My review would have been the same even if I had no other connection with the author though.

To learn more about this author and her new books: www.facebook.com/EmilyCyrAuthor 

"The Blue-Ribbon Jalapeno Society Jubilee" By Carolyn Brown

A fun, easy read. It would be easy to spin off other stories on the characters in this book since each had a well developed story. I don't think the other books in this series are available for kindle from my library, so I will have to do an alternate plan to read them. This book was not as steamy as her other novels I have read; think chick-lit not romance. I enjoyed how the small town gossip traveled in the small town. If you like reading or watching social drama playing out while not being a part of it, you'll probably enjoy this book.

"The House on Mermaid Point" (Ten Beach Road Novella Book 3) By Wendy Wax

I didn't realize this book was part of a series by Wendy Wax. I just checked it out from the library and read it, but when I went to type this post, I discovered there are more! Great news for me because I've read several of her novels.

Wendy Wax seems to write such strong female characters and I'm thinking that is what I like about her books. This book was no exception. Before I found out this was a series, my only complaint was not knowing what happens with some of the characters' side stories. (1 starting a relationship, 1 debating marriage, etc...?) Now that I know there is more to come, I'll just hang tight and read the previous books. ;)

An excerpt:

"But making her own decisions and charting her own path? That might be frightening, but it was also exciting. With each new experience she felt stronger and a step closer to becoming the person she’d never even dreamed she might be."

"The Goldfinch" By Donna Tartt

Coming of age story that I wish I had written the review right after I read it, but it has almost been 2 months now. This story has so many layers (like an onion, but it doesn't stink). I really loved the author connecting actual art into a fictional story. There were sections of the book, mainly aspects of the main character that I didn't enjoy, but I thought the overall book was good. A few people that have read this book talk about how it goes on and on as if there is too much backstory. I agree that while you are reading this book, you can feel that way at times, but I also think the journey is part of the message in this book and it wouldn't be the same without it.

There are so many connections to birds and bird-like movements in this book. There is much discussion of death/decay, right from wrong, and the general idea of the meaning of life. This is not a light read, but it is intriguing and thought-provoking.

A few Excerpts:

"[the artist] He’s telling you that living things don’t last—it’s all temporary. Death in life. That’s why they’re called natures mortes. Maybe you don’t see it at first with all the beauty and bloom, the little speck of rot. But if you look closer—there it is."

"To understand the world at all, sometimes you could only focus on a tiny bit of it, look very hard at what was close to hand and make it stand in for the whole"

"All things fall and are built again." 

"The Rocky Mountain Heiress Collection" By Kathleen Y'Barbo

The full title of this book is: "The Rocky Mountain Heiress Collection: Three Inspirational Romances: The Confidential Life of Eugenia Cooper, Anna Finch and the Hired Gun, The Inconvenient Marriage of Charlotte Beck"

I enjoyed all 3 stories and liked how they were all connected. I think my favorite was the one on Eugenia Cooper. Nice to read a period piece from time to time.

An Excerpt:

"Sometimes what a person wishes for is neither what they really want nor what they need. Sometimes, it’s the wishing that’s the best part."

"The Broken Gun" By Louis L'amour

This book felt a little different from the majority of L'amour's books that I have read. It was set in modern day, but was still part of a story from the past. Part western, part action/adventure, and part mystery... this book has a little something for a lot of people. I really enjoyed it and it was a fast read.

A quote I enjoyed:

"Here and there some latecomer had dug into the piles looking for treasure, but there is no treasure to be found there except the treasure of wonder, and for that no man need dig…unless he digs within himself." – Louis L'amour in "The Broken Gun"

"The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green

Another book club read. I knew what I was getting into with this one when I agreed to read it at the book club meeting. I put off reading it, because I knew I was going to cry at some point while reading this book. That being said, it was a well-written story. The author pulled you in and kept you engaged with the characters. It was tough for me to read about these young people and what they are going through.

Excerpts:

“That’s the thing about pain,” Augustus said, and then glanced back at me. “It demands to be felt.” – John Green in "The Fault in Our Stars"

You have a choice in this world, I believe, about how to tell sad stories, and we made the funny choice [...] – John Green in "The Fault in Our Stars"

This quote...

“The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars / But in ourselves.” – William Shakespeare

...comes up in the book and enotes.com goes into more detail about the full quote (as this is a piece of the full quote), but this is what they say about it that makes it feel more relevant to me when discussing this book:

[...] fate is not what drives men to their decisions and actions, but rather the human condition. – enotes.com (http://www.enotes.com/shakespeare-quotes/fault-dear-brutus-our-stars)

"The Accidental Bestseller" by Wendy Wax

A very fun read! I had forgotten why Wendy Wax was on my list of authors to read again, but now I remember. She just has a way with telling the story that keeps you engaged and invested with the characters. The characters often have tough problems, but reading about them doesn't weigh you down. Her books are worth checking out.

A fun excerpt from the book:

Sometimes when you have to eat an elephant, the biggest problem is finding someone to take that very first bite.” A smile took over her voice, the first Lacy had ever heard from her. “Bon appétit!” – Wendy Wax in "The Accidental Bestseller"

"The Language of Flowers" By Vanessa Diffenbaugh

A very different read for me. I picked it for a book club read since it was recommended on a top books list. Everyone in the group that read it seemed to have a similar reaction. Many said it wasn't a book they would have picked up on their own, but they ended up liking it. I think it would be interesting to translate flowers that people give me, but I don't get flowers often and never from people that know the language of flowers. :) It would be fun to occasionally buy a bouquet because of its meaning.

I find it hard to know what quote to share from this book. I've chosen this one because it sort-of sums up the book in its own way:

"In that moment, we were the same, each of us destroyed by our limited understanding of reality." – Vanessa Diffenbaugh in "The Language of Flowers"

A few of the flower definition quotes...

"Misanthropy means hatred or mistrust of humankind." – Vanessa Diffenbaugh in "The Language of Flowers"

"a daffodil—new beginnings" – Vanessa Diffenbaugh in "The Language of Flowers"

"The Big Over Easy" By Jasper Fforde

I read this with my book club. We were looking for something light to read. While I found the references to nursery rhymes and other stories/subtitle suggestions to be clever, I found the writing style to be sort of distracting. I finally got use to it 1/3-1/2 of the way through the book and fell into a reading rhythm from there. The newspaper clippings at the beginning of each chapter were sometimes relevant, sometimes funny, and other times annoying since they didn't add to the story. Overall, I was happy with the main story and I'd read a sequel probably. I'd say that everyone in the book club had fun with the book whether they liked it or not.

A very secondary character in the book was the 1 year old son of Inspector Jack Spratt (a main character). The boy, Stevie, really had nothing to do with the main story, but since I currently have a 1 year old, I found these lines in the book to be amusing and true-to-life:

“Da-woo!” screamed Stevie, waving a spoon as he scattered food around the room, much to the pleasure of the cat, with whom, it was generally agreed, Stevie had an “understanding.”

“Da-woo!!” yelled Stevie, jumping up and down. In the absence of anything more productive to do, he grasped large handfuls of scrambled egg and squeezed until it oozed between his fingers like yellow toothpaste.

Stevie then stared at Prometheus with all the seriousness that one-year-olds can muster, which is quite a lot. “Da-woo,” he said at length.

Stevie screamed “Da-woo!” enthusiastically and hurled his spoon on the floor because he could.

"The Quick and The Dead" By Louis L'amour

Not much to say about this book. L'amour is a master at writing westerns and I don't think I've yet to read a book by him and not like it. It's an easy, fun, quick read.

I really like this quote that is in the L'amour books (about L'amour):

“I think of myself in the oral tradition— as a troubadour, a village tale-teller, the man in the shadows of the campfire. That’s the way I’d like to be remembered as a storyteller. A good storyteller.” – Louis L'amour

Here are a few good quotes from the book:

"You never learn anything when you’re talkin’, boy, only when you’re listenin’.” – Louis L'amour in "The Quick and The Dead"

"I’ve learned something, he told himself. I’ve learned that it is better to move than just to sit. One has to act." – Louis L'amour in "The Quick and The Dead"

“No, ma’am, but you have to fight for most of the things worth havin’…or somebody does.” – Louis L'amour in "The Quick and The Dead"

"Lottery" By Patricia Wood

I'm not really sure how to begin describing this book. I really enjoyed reading it – well, listening to it –since my library only had it for Kindle in an audio version. I read it as part of a book club. Here is the summary of the book from the author's website:

"Perry’s IQ is only 76, but he’s not stupid. His grandmother taught him everything he needs to know to survive: She taught him to write things down so he won’t forget them. She taught him to play the lottery every week. And, most important, she taught him whom to trust. When Gram dies, Perry is left orphaned and bereft at the age of thirty-one. Then his weekly Washington State Lottery ticket wins him 12 million dollars, and he finds he has more family than he knows what to do with. Peopled with characters both wicked and heroic who leap off the pages, Lottery is a deeply satisfying, gorgeously rendered novel about trust, loyalty, and what distinguishes us as capable."

The author keeps you amused throughout the book. It isn't all laughter, but sometimes it's the ups and downs that make the book so good. The main character is more intelligent than many people with higher IQs. Another quote from the book that I liked:

"Neither a lofty degree of intelligence nor imagination nor both together go to the making of genius. Love, love, love, that is the soul of genius." – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

"Major Pettigrew's Last Stand" By Helen Simonson

A good book, but definitely a big change from the books I read before it. I went from steamy romances in a Texas bar to a proper courting in England. I really appreciated reading this book on my Kindle since I can click on unfamiliar words and get a definition instantly. It's a pretty easy read overall. This would be a good book for a book club with plenty of subjects to discuss.

A quote I enjoyed from the book...

“I don’t believe the greatest views in the world are great because they are vast or exotic,” she said. “I think their power comes from the knowledge that they do not change. You look at them and you know they have been the same for a thousand years.”

Romance Marathon

I got a Kindle for Christmas! I love paper books and I never thought I'd go for electronic, but I have to admit it has made my reading habit easier. I no longer have to go to the library to pick up books or remember to return them... well, unless I pick a book that isn't available digitally.

At any rate, the first digital books that were recommended to me by the library website were holiday romances. Thus began a long list of romance books... a genre I haven't read in a long time.

First I read "Mischief & Mistletoe" By Tanya Anne Crosby. It was a decent book, but it wasn't so good that I wanted to read another of hers right away. It was fairly short, well written and entertaining.

Next, I read a slew of Carolyn Brown's books (in order of how I read them, but not in order of the story line): "Honky Tonk Christmas", "Darn Good Cowboy Christmas", "Billion Dollar Cowboy",  and "My Give-A-Damn's Busted". You'll notice they started with a Christmas theme, but then just stuck to a Cowboy theme. Rather than tell you about each of them, I can say I enjoyed each one enough to read another of her books right away. There is a bit of repetition in the books which isn't needed... I'm talking about a character repeats the same information about themselves over and over in each book. Like, in "Honky Tonk Christmas", the main character has nightmares and they seem to be the same and they become repetitive. There was a different repetitive thing/character for each book. Otherwise, the author does a great job at making the characters and scenarios different. I will say though, that a lot of the characters seem to have large amounts of money which doesn't seem too realistic. I guess we read books to escape reality though.

If you're thinking of reading one of Carolyn Brown's steamy novels, I'd say to do it in a different order than I did. All of the books I've read thus far were part of a different series. I think it'd be best to read these in order, though you don't have to. Here are the 4 series I've dabbled in (highlighted in gray the books I have read) and the books are listed in order... I think... I pulled the list from the author's website. (I have to say that I'm impressed with the sheer number of series and books by this author – this isn't the entire list by any means!)

Honky Tonk Series
"I Love This Bar"
"Hell, Yeah"
"My Give-A-Damn's Busted"
"Honky Tonk Christmas"

Spikes & Spurs Series
"Love Drunk Cowboy"
"Red's Hot Cowboy"
"Darn Good Cowboy Christmas"
"One Hot Cowboy Wedding"
"Mistletoe Cowboy"
"Just a Cowboy"
"Cowboy Seeks Bride"

Cowboys & Brides Series
"The Billion Dollar Cowboy"
"The Cowboy's Christmas Baby"
"The Cowboy's Mail Order Bride"
"How to Marry a Cowboy"

UPDATES: I finished the "Honky Tonk" series and I have to say that "Hell, Yeah" really broke out of the slight formula I was starting to feel after reading so many of these books back to back. "I Love This Bar" was good too. I'll read more of this author's books someday, but for now, I'm moving on. :)

UPDATES AGAIN: I thought I'd read an easy, relaxing read after getting through some more thought-provoking novels. I found myself back in Texas. "Red's Hot Cowboy" was a fun read. I won't say unpredictable, but I enjoyed it. I'm going to try another Carolyn Brown next, but it isn't part of any of the series above. 

UPDATES AGAIN: Decided I needed to try to finish another series I guess. "One Hot Cowboy Wedding" was pretty steaming and also broke from the formula. I really liked having the characters from the other books interacting with each other in this book. It'd be even better if I read these in order I bet. ;) Just finished "Love Drunk Cowboy" and "Mistletoe Cowboy" and enjoyed both. 2 more to read in this series!

"The Cowboy's Mail Order Bride"... I think this was my favorite book by this author thus far. The older lady's in the book have their own agenda that makes for humor and I actually cried at one point. A+

"Inferno" By Dan Brown

This book was amazing. It was a page turner starting on page 1! I'm wondering why I haven't read all of Dan Brown's books... this was my second or third.

"A Memory of Light" (The final book of the "Wheel of Time" Series) By Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson

Somehow I forgot to mention that I finished this book. Really enjoyed it. As always, it is hard to read the final book in a series... sort-of like saying goodbye to an old friend. I thought the last book was well done. There is only one thing about the ending that I didn't like, but I can't share it or I'll ruin the end for you (should you decide to make the commitment to read all of these books.) Most people probably wouldn't have the same problem with the piece at the end as I do I suppose. At that, I'll leave you in suspense!

"The Dominant Blonde" By Alisa Kwitney

This book is a very light read. It is fun and steamy and I flew through it. A definite recommend if you want something not too serious... a beach read even.

"Performance Anxiety" By Betsy Burke

I mentioned in my last post that I have been reading $1 books I bought awhile ago. This is one of those books. I started reading this book almost 1.5 years ago now. It is not entirely the book's fault that it took me so long to finish reading it, but in the beginning it was a little. I had a hard time getting into this book and then I had a baby and I had no time to pick it up to finish it until recently.

The first half of the book was okay. It didn't really make me want to stay up late at night to finish reading it, but it wasn't so bad that I felt I needed to quit reading. The second half of the book was much better. I actually read it in about a week (in my limited reading time). The end of the book felt abrupt and there seemed to be too many supporting characters, but the extra characters were necessary to explain how she pulls off the project at the end.

Basically, it's an okay read, but I'm probably not going to start writing to my friends saying, "you've got to read this one!"