Cancelled Vows--Lauren Carr--Book Review

A little about the book (from the authors site)

Police Chief David O’Callaghan and Chelsea Adams’ wedding day is fast approaching. Unfortunately, at the last minute, David discovers that there is one small problem to be taken care of before he can walk down the aisle—divorce his first wife! 

Lauren Carr takes fans of the Mac Faraday mysteries to the Big Apple in this nail biting adventure. In Cancelled Vows, David, Mac, and Gnarly, too, rush to New York City to dissolve David’s marriage to an old girlfriend—and he’s got five days to get it done. When murder throws up a road block, it is up to David’s best man, Mac Faraday, and Gnarly, K9-in-waiting, to sort through the clues to get David to the church in time! 

And I thought . . .  
Another great installment for this series!  Cancelled Vows is #11
in the series.   I was only introduced to Gnarly and his friends a few weeks ago when I heard about book #12.   

                     I can only say "Where I have I been?"  

This book has you from the prologue.  I happened to have a habit of not reading the prologue unless I have to.  I'm usually bored by the back stories.  And ready to get into the meat of the book. 

                             Don't skip the prologue! 
 Ms Carr throws out a hook and reels you in and you can't put this book down!  

When David realizes he's already married he rushes off with Mac and Gnarly (whose in charge of the wedding rings) to NYC
to get David 'unmarried' before his wedding in a few days.   

The scenes do skip back and forth from New York and Mac, David and of course Gnarly.  To the scenes back home where Mac's wife Archie and soon to be bride Chelsea finish up last minute wedding details.    

Upon arriving in New York Mac and David are caught up not only in a murder (which leads to quite a few more) but a cold case and an investigation into 'on the take' policemen.  

The twists and turns in the story are swift and keep you on the edge of  your seat.   

  The reader might make use of the cast of characters in the beginning of the book.  There are a lot of characters.  Each one is important to the story(s).

The main characters in the book are welcoming and heart warming and make you want to meet them and be a part of the story.  Even with his confusion about the upcoming wedding David's character is real. The back story that is revealed back home helps the reader get insight into David and leaves you cheering for a happy ending for all.  

                           And there is one.
          And the story continues in Book 12.  

This is a fun read and deserves my 5 star rating. 
  It did take me awhile because I was reading on my computer.  (The series is on my Christmas wish list).

Cancelled Vows is a humorous, fun, mystery filled book.  There is a pretty long death count.  But as is Ms. Carr's style there are no graphic scenes.   The bedroom scenes are tasteful.  

To purchase or read additional reviews visit these retailers 
 Amazon and Barnes and Noble (bold type is direct link)

This reviews is posted at GoodReads and My Journey Back

I was not asked to read this book or write a review.
All opinions are completely my own. 

Beginners Raised Bed Gardening--Matt Riley-Book Review

                                 
I was excited to have the opportunity to read this book when it
was offered as a 'free book' at Amazon. 

It's 5 chapters, introduction and conclusion is complete in and easy to read in 388 pages. 

There is some good information.  

And a few photo's.  The lack of photo's was what really sealed it's fate with me.   There are a few.  Exactly three in the first chapter of different types of raised beds including tires, wooden and cinder block beds. 

The introduction of wooden beds made no suggestion to the type of wood or even how to build a bed.  There is one suggestion about reinforcing the wooden corners.  

Overall I was just  not too excited about this book and I'm glad that I received it free.   

It is available at Amazon for free to Kindle unlimited or  $2.99 for purchase. 



  

Kiss The Bride-Three Summer Love Stories-Book Review

                                                          
About the Book (provided by BookLook)

Meet the people who make it all happen—the planners, the photographers, the musicians who have helped orchestrate the perfect day for countless couples—as they find their own happy endings in the second Year of Weddings novella collection.

Picture Perfect Love: A June Wedding Story by Melissa McClone

When image becomes everything, it’s up to love to refocus the heart.

Photographer Jenna Harrison wants every bride and groom to look picture perfect on their special day. But her own heart is still broken, the unworn wedding dress hanging in her closet a reminder that relationships aren’t always as perfect as they look through her camera lens.

Attorney Ashton Vance is the one that got away, but he wrongly blamed Jenna for ruining his political aspirations. Even if Jenna can forgive him, dare he hope for a second chance at her love?

I Hope You Dance: A July Wedding Story by Robin Lee Hatcher

Can two left feet lead to one perfect romance?

Grant Nichols is a genius in the kitchen and a klutz on the dance floor. But his friend’s wedding is shaping up to be a shindig the likes of which Kings Meadow has never seen—including dancing. Lots of dancing.

Former rodeo queen Skye Foster is offering dance lessons for the wedding party. Grant and Skye are no match on paper. But when they step onto the dance floor, they create a melody all their own.

Love on a Deadline: An August Wedding Story by Kathryn Springer

MacKenzie “Mac” Davis returns to her hometown of Red Leaf, Wisconsin, and takes a job at the weekly newspaper writing about social events.

When Hollis Channing, Mac’s high school nemesis, returns to Red Leaf to marry her celebrity fiancé, the editor asks Mac to cover all the festivities for the newspaper. The last thing Mac wants to do is reconnect with the person who made her life miserable when she was a teenager . . . unless it’s spending time with Ethan Channing, the bride’s older brother—and Mac’s first crush.

And I thought . . . What a lovely collection of stories.  I really enjoyed each one.   Every story was sweet and touching and romantic.  I enjoyed this collection very much and was pleased to meet some new authors!   

This is a great collection of stories for your summer reading.   I recommend with 5 Stars!

I received a complimentary copy of Kiss The Bride from BookLook and Zondervan in exchange for my honest review. 
This review is posted at Amazon, CBC, Barnes and Noble and GoodReads (click the bold type for a direct link to purchase or read more reviews.)

Author/Book Spotlight--Michael Judkins-Interlude to Sentimental Me

Author/Book Spotlight

A collection of emotionally driven poetry that covers the story of pain, tribulations, happiness, self-esteem and self discovery through love and heartache. The Interlude will take readers on a journey of determination and imagery, which leads to the formation of

short stories and performance poetry.

​Buy Interlude to Sentimental Me 

(click on bold type for direct links)

 Amazon   Google play  ~  Smashwords  ~  Kobo  ~   Aois21market

Book Description for Sentimental Me! Volume 1:

Sentimental Me – displays his ability to wrest good from bad, to display the courage to dig deep within himself to help others. Through an inspired melding of his unique voice and inspiring photographic images of nature, Michael provides the reader with a unique perspective of the human condition, inspiring others to follow their own creative paths without boundaries.

Buy Sentimental Me: Amazon (click for direct link)

Author's Bio:

Michael Barry Judkins was born in the Bronx, New York, along with his four brothers and sisters. Michael’s childhood memories, although bittersweet, provided a rich foundation for him to draw upon later in life as an accomplished author.

Delightful memories of trips to the zoo or picking apples with his mother contrast greatly to daily reminders of what any hard-working family must battle in building a life in an urban setting. Domestic violence. Drugs. Gangs. All play their part in shaping a person – whether for good or bad is often an individual’s choice.

After spending years immersed in typical, reactive adolescent behaviors like skipping school, smoking and drinking, Michael began experimenting with other alternatives to developing new relationships and helping resolve social issues. As he took these first, proactive steps to be part of the solution, and not the problem, the germ of the idea for his first book – Sentimental Me – was born.

Graduating from high school a year early, and after a foray into the music business, Michael completed a BS degree in Human Services and MS in Mental Health Counseling. A daydreamer for as long as he can remember, Michael’s inability to forge a relationship with his beloved father before he passed when Michael was only two years old still haunts him today. His mother’s cherished memories of his father’s spirit and honored Armed Forces service, while providing some solace, also serve to make Michael wonder what might have been, if only…

​

Today, with several poetry collections and short stories in the works, Michael’s first release – Sentimental Me – displays his ability to wrest good from bad, to display the courage to dig deep within himself to help others. Through an inspired melding of his unique voice and inspiring photographic images of nature, Michael provides the reader with a unique perspective of the human condition, inspiring others to follow their own creative paths without boundaries.

Michael now resides in Allentown, P.A., and welcomes all readers to feel free to contact him at judkins_michal@yahoo.com to discuss your reaction to his work, or learn more about upcoming releases.

Connect with the author:  Good Reads ~  Facebook
 Enter for a chance  to win a print copy of Interlude to Sentimental Me or a $15 Amazon gift card (Open to USA only) Ends July 16

a Rafflecopter giveaway This spotlight was provided by 

Father's House--Book Review

 Father's House--Book Review

                                                          

A little about the book . . . 
"My Father's House is at once a sweet romance and a page-turning thriller." --Ann Tatlock, award-winning novelist. Growing up, life is idyllic for Lily Rose Cates due to one constant – her father’s love. But in her sixteenth summer, all that changes without warning. There begins Lily’s struggle to find herself and the life she’s lost. . . . Marriage promises fulfillment, but her happily-ever-after barely survives the honeymoon. Her husband’s sophisticated façade hides a brooding man with even darker secrets. When all illusions shatter, Lily must make hard choices – abandon her husband or risk losing much more than her marriage. She flees their home in Detroit and sets out on a fearful journey to a house in Georgia that her husband knows nothing about. This is one woman’s compelling tale of love and survival as she finds her way back home to who she’s meant to be . . . in her father’s house. "...had it not been for Annie Ruth, I would have ended up right there rocking on the front porch beside Mama. Annie Ruth took care of me. She and Mr. John drove up in his dusty pickup truck every morning at six o'clock. She got out and came in, bringing her life and soul into the house...We were her cherished charges, and I was like her own." --My Father's House

STORY BEHIND MY FATHER’S HOUSE

Tell us a bit about the story behind your latest novel. Where did you find inspiration?

I wanted to write a story about a young woman who in spite of devastating hardships, disappointments, personal loss and mistakes, ultimately finds happiness after reconnecting with family and faith. I wanted the reader to take the journey with her, go with her through some of the hardships, but I didn’t want the painful things to be the focus of her triumphant story. Lily Rose has an indomitable spirit and warm heart that is endearing to readers. Her father believed that she would be alright; the reader wants to know she will be too. With my roots firmly planted in Georgia, the setting had to play a critical part in the story. So, I modeled my fictional town after so many small Southern towns and I set in some of my love of nature and gardening. Being a Southerner, I had definite ideas about elements I needed for this story to come alive. Besides fascinating characters and a distinctive setting, there had to be a little crazy, eccentric, and some downright meanness, mixed with suspense, romance, and lots of southern charm.

What was the hardest part about writing your novel: Getting started? Keeping it going? Finding the perfect ending?

The perfect ending was easy, and I never ran out of things to write. But there was a part of the story that was hard to write – the marriage relationship. I didn’t want their disappointing marriage to overwhelm the story.

What trait do you love most about your main character?

My main character is warm-hearted with an indomitable spirit. I love that about her.

When readers get to the last page, what do you hope they take away from the story?

In spite of devastating hardships, disappointments, and mistakes, God has a good future in mind for each of us. I want my readers to feel the joy and hope expressed by Lily Rose.

What I thought . . . 
After first few chapters I really got into the story.  I was for me a little confusing at first going from present to the past.  And a little slow going reading through the backstory of college years and romance leading to the main story line.    

The main story line of the book is about Lily Rose and her attempts to turn her life around after going through and emotionally and abusive marriage.   Miss Chandler did an excellent job of bringing a hard subject to life without being graphic or overly violent.    However this is a story for a mature reader.  Although it is not graphic the topic is for adults.  

It truly is a book of facing ones circumstances and struggling through to survive and thrive. 

There is a little romance too.  And a happy ending.  

I enjoyed reading My Father's House and gladly give it my 5 star rating.  

I received a complimentary copy from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review. 

This review is posted on Amazon, CBC, Barnes and Noble and Good Reads.

Candidate For Murder Author/Book Spotlight

​

Book Description:

It’s election time in Spencer, Maryland, and the race for mayor is not a pretty one. In recent years, the small resort town has become divided between the local year-round residents who have enjoyed their rural way of life and the city dwellers moving into their mansions, taking over the town council, and proceeding to turn Deep Creek Lake into a closed gate community—complete with a host of regulations for everything from speed limits to clothes lines.

When the political parties force-feed two unsavory mayoral nominees on the town residents, Police Chief David O’Callaghan decides to make a statement—by nominating Gnarly, Mac Faraday’s German shepherd, to run as mayor of Spencer!

What starts out as a joke turns into a disaster when overnight Gnarly becomes the front runner—at which point his political enemies take a page straight out of Politics 101. What do you do when you’re behind in a race? Dig up dirt on the front runner, of course.

Seemingly, someone is not content to rest with simply embarrassing the front runner by publicizing his dishonorable discharge from the United States Army, but to throw in a murder for good measure. With murder on the ballot, Mac Faraday and the gang—including old friends from past cases—dive in to clear Gnarly’s name, catch a killer, and save Spencer!

Author's Bio:

Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, and Thorny Rose Mysteries. The twelfth installment in the Mac Faraday Mystery series, Candidate for Murder will be released June 2016.

Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions. She lives with her husband, son, and four dogs (including the real Gnarly) on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.

Connect with Lauren: Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook

Prizes: ​

Win a Fire Tablet, 7" Display, Wi-Fi, 16 GB (Open internationally) Winner will be person to use #Vote4Gnarly most often - Ends Aug 5, 2016

Click here to enter the giveaway

Owlegories Children's DVD Review

                                    
                                                             
                           A children's video.  3 complete episodes. 
                                          A real crowd pleaser!

About the video (from the publisher)
You can tell a lot about an artist by what he creates. That is the theme behind Owlegories, the animated series. Owlegories teaches kids about God through the amazing things found in nature and revealed in God’s word.   

The banner verse for Owlegories is Psalm 19:1-4:  "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”
I received Volume 3 from Fish Flix.  This Volume included 
3 separate stories/episodes.  

The Fire (from the publisher) episode 1. . .The Professor sends the owls to an ancient refinery to learn about pure gold and discover three ways God is like fire. Recap presented by Ben Stuart, the Executive Director of Breakaway Ministries. The KEY VERSE is Hebrews 12:28-29!

What I thought--I  enjoyed this episode.  I thought it was interesting and cool that they brought science into the story.    Not only is the message about how God is like fire there is an underlying message of forgiveness.  

The Duck (from the publisher) episode 2 . . . The class travels to the swampland to meet Professor Owlester’s old college roommate, Duck Dynasty’s Si Robertson. They learn the importance of working together and discover three great gifts given to us all by God. Recap presented by Silas “Uncle Si” Robertson from Duck Dynasty. The KEY VERSE is 1 Peter 4:10

What I thought-- The Duck was my favorite episode of the three.  Mainly because Silas Robertson
was the voice of 'The Duck'.    

The Seasons--(from the publisher) episode 3--Our young explorers go on a high-tech adventure through a souped-up seasonal simulator where they learn three things followers of Christ can learn from the seasons. Recap presented by celebrity photographer and entrepreneur Jeremy Cowart. The KEY VERSE is Ecclesiastes 3:1

This video collection is an excellent source for parents.  The storyline and the message in each episode is a great tool for sharing God's message with our little ones and is appropriate for a wide variety of age levels. 

Our family enjoyed the episodes we received and give it 
a 'Thumbs Up' and a 'High 5 Stars'

My thanks to FishFlix for providing me with a complimentary copy.

This review is posted at Amazon, Family Christian Stores, and CBC 

A complimentary review copy and a giveaway copy of Owlegories Vol. 3 was provided by FishFlix in exchange for my honest review.