jbarrett5 book reviews, etc

A Christmas Deliverance by Anne Perry
Starts out with Dr. Crowe and he's helping injured people in the river area of the city. Most do nto have a home nor meals so eh does what he can for them.
Scuff is his apprentice and is able to tend to people who walk in.
He recalls helping Ellie and took a liking to her. He's recently seen her and her fiancée but he's ill treating her and he starts investigating who the guy really is...
Crowe walks around trying to get information about the fire investigating and the police questioned the doctors actions.
Love the gift Mattie gives to the men.
Love all the clues Crowe collected and how de deciphers them all into what really happened....
Love hearing of the turmoil and how Crowe and many others are involved and on the trail to find the furs and other goods.
Before they knew what was upon them the shots ring out.....Can't believe she had to be the one to ask....
Never saw this happening at the end, wonderful. Dedication page and about the author and highlights her other works.
Received this review copy from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

Night Swim by Jessica Keener
This coming of age book took me a bit by surprise.
'It's about a young lady who has lost her mother to a tragic accident.
From that point on she is bullied and deals with it at school with help from her friends.
She tries to fit in being Jewish also. Her father sends her away for school during the week and she experiments with a boy and sex.
After they are reprimanded and sent back home they have no contact but she finds a new boy.
Like that the mother figure in the house is NOT the father's new girlfriend but a housemaid. She comes to the young girls aid and they talk to one another as she helps her get over problems.
Found at times the adult situations were a bit explicit.
Received this review copy from The Story Plant and this is my honest opinion.

he Star in the East: A Winter Tale of Ancient Mystery by John Adcox, Carol Bales
Story starts out with Beth and she's on a mission, leaving clues til her heart wears out...
Story also follows her spouse a Red Sox player and she has left him clues all about his family.
She has spent years with his Christmas gift. Love references about Walton's Mountain, I'm Your Man-title from Cohen song and mention of other Story Plant authors-so cool! So many gems and treasures in this read.
Gaspar leaves baseball and starts following the clues she's left him and he teams up with
from The Story Plant. He teams up with a Hungarian, Will who runs a rare bookstore and he accompanies him as the action kicks in to fast pace and so many are out to get them, and their books.
Ana also helps them and she informs them her grandfather is the problem to their endeavors and he feels the legacy is for him...
So much travel and adventure, so many gems they find in the places where they travel to. Author describes the action and places in so much detail, I feel as if I am seeing it for myself.
So much to decipher that is in code and where it leads them. Religion and interpretations of the Bible and travels of Marco Polo and others, and important part toy store has.
Tragic, haunting, intuitive, lethal circumstances.
Afterword is about how the story came about, the winter tales.
Acknowledgements, about the author and his wife the illustrator.
Received this review copy from The Story Plant and this is my honest opinion.
#TheStarintheEast #NetGalley

Once Upon A Christmas A Love at Langeley Park Romance by Jane Porter
This story starts out with a dedication page then the story.
Cara is heading to England for the Christmas holiday as her brother and wife with new babies can't make the trip.
She had a recent engagement breakup and is tired of the family doting on her about it.
Nothing goes right when she arrives, no place for her, mix-up so those in charge let her stay at the family home where they are giving holiday tours.
When the owner Alec shows up he's in a bad mood after driving and no one to keep things in order so he has to do it. They move Cara then to another cottage, just renovated but that ends after one night.
Her vacation is turning out to be nothing of the sort. I really haven't liked England romance books but this one has changed my mind because of the things that happen, the thoughts and the spark they create and especially the memories they create by visiting many places.
Love hearing of the games they play, how they are played and the decorations, walks, bar and places to eat and explore. There is so much there to marvel at for me.
They both know it has to end and she's only got a few days left before she heads back to the US. He will head back to London but she has opened his eyes about his relatives and he is so ever thankful for it.
We learn of her past with her fiancée and his past with his wife and then a woman a few years later that doesn’t pan out. Like relatives, they are so down to earth although they are elderly.
So many twists and turns and she leaves to go home. He is so lost without her and gets on a plane and tries to track her down....
Love how they talk about the important things in their lives that matter, compassion and devotion.
Another book in this series will come out at Christmas 2023.
Acknowledgements and other works by the author are highlighted at the end along with upcoming releases and about the author finish this book. X read for me, haven’t celebrated the past several years and this will be the year we put up the decorations again – thanks to the author for bringing back the spirit for me.

Christmas in the Air (Flipping For You Book 6) by Josie Riviera
Praise for the authors works, Prologue Penelope on a plane. She has to keep your fears low
She's on a plane to Hilton Head and discussing the job with Jacob. SHe's done the job since a teen. They also discuss relationships.
Anxiety takes over when the plane jolts and he tries to get her mind of herself. He is divorced, likes his job, doesn't want to date. He gets her to talk about flying and her fears.
Her teen son is heading to FL to visit his father over the holidays. Penelope doesn't like the holidays, it's time spouse had cheated on her and she feels lonely.
She's feeling guilty for ignoring her son, Evan but working many hours at the toy company. She hopes Lincoln her brother will help out with him.
Love natural wooden toys her and her brothers company operate.
They are able to sit down and talk about the past and how things effected them. Love hearing of hard talks and the severity of the events.
Just when things are going well for them, then they are not. misunderstandings and more patience they might make it.
Love holiday themed book on the boat, that's different!
Other works by the author are highlighted at the end.
Recipe note from the author and other works by the author are listed at the end. Excerpt from 1800 cupid is attached also.

Finding Bryce Green Brotherhood SEAL team XII book 1 by Debra Parmley
Story starts out at Chicks Sports Bar where the SEAL's hang out when they ahve time off.
Love the banter amongst the guys and their nicknames...
Guys will attend an adult costume party. Diesel the head of the SEALS team has found a woman he appreciates and like that she asks for what she wants.
Pippa had come from a bad marriage after her father had passed away. The spouse went to jail and now he's getting out....
Problem is Pippa is now expecting but she has NO clue who the father is. Diesel's father confronts his son now that he's back in town after deployment
I wonder how in the world they will find one another when they don't even know about each other due to Halloween costume....
Love all the quick action and manuevers, strategies, so cool!
Great story, nice for Halloween as we are a few weeks away.
Acknowledgments and about the author ends this story. Can't wait for more.
Author's works are highlighted at the end along with upcoming books for 2023.
Excerpt from Sample Chapter: real movie hero, is included.

Saving the Belly Dancer by Debra Parmley
Book starts out with a dedication page and the start of Shimmy Mob belly dance sisters and where the money goes that others donate.
Story starts at the wedding party and we find Cutter and his stripper as a date. He spends time with the woman in charge of the flowers , Mrs Brown, and he is knowledgeable in the nursery field.
Other guys have been with the stripper also but he hadn't known. He needs to settle down with a much higher class woman. He has a date with his buddy and his wife to a night of belly dancers and they don't take their clothes off.
Story also follows Zarifah as her boyfriend had beat her up and others noticed all the bruises. She's teaches gymnastics to children and belly dancing.
Love the mone that is raised is given to a woman's shelter to help them get on their feet.
They do get together after the show and they start dating, casual at first.
There is now a gun shot and the people are being shot at....
So much action, romance and true love and such good causes in the book to read about.
Acknowledgments and about the author ends this story. Can't wait for more.
Author's works are highlighted at the end along with upcoming books for 2023.

The Christmas Spirit by Debbie Macomber
story starts out with a grandmother and she's got her two grandkids over for a few hours at night and she proceeds to tell them a story.
One is about a pastor and the other is a bartender. They each think the other has so much time on their hands and agree for a week to swap jobs.
the pastor has a sister Grace Ann who is a secretary and keeps him busy with things to do for the parish. Hank handles not only bartending but the books and scheduling.
They soon learn both jobs are not easy in any way. Granddaughter enjoys the hand holding and kissing but the grandson plugs his ears when the parts come with warning from the grandmother.
Love the charity things done to help the church with things they need. Christmas party of hookers and bikers, what a concept.
Things you can't imagine are happening in this book. Like how they also both find women in their lives and they wree right there all along.
Different perspectives and it's a wonder who shows up at the church service with the bartender in charge of the nights service. Love how the community helps when needed, no questions asked.
Cute Christmas story. Love ending how everybody is discussed and what they are doing today. About the author is included at the end along with titles of her other works.
Received this review copy from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
#TheChristmasSpirit #NetGalley

The Resistance Girl Series Books 1-4: eBook Box Set (A Resistance Girl Novel) Kindle Edition
by Hannah Byron
4 books in this bundle, from the same author.
...
Book 1 - In Picardy's Fields
In Picardy's Fields by Hannah Byron
Enjoyed this book about Agnes and Maddie and how each are able to do their career and also help the resistance.
Maddy even finds a man in a German uniform claiming to be American and others question him and find him reputable and allow him to get medical attention.
Monkey is quite comical and many help to bring the animal back to health.
Others also find another and listen to the exchange of the nurse on duty. Scary times when you can't tell who's your friend or foe and can't just them by what they wear.
She takes a liking to one of the guards on duty...
Story has a lot of action and perfectly described in detail I felt I was there.
She really puts herself in harms way all for the resistance but Agnes knows what to do...
Family secrets and who her father is I found shocking, never saw that coming!
Love that this is NOT a predictable typical story.
Received this review copy from the author via LinkedIn connection and this is my honest opinion.

Book 2: The Diamond Courier
The Diamond Courier by Hannah Byron
Book starts out table of contents, then quote from Runi. Story starts in 1939 and Lili is about to attend her engagement party to Iain, but then it's not that at all...
She ends up away from home in a finishing school, visits with her relatives in Paris and meets a boy.
She also makes friends with a few ladies at the school and they stay in touch with one another..
When the war strikes they are all sent home but Lili wants more adventure. She learns of her mothers scandalous adventures also and how her met her spouse.
She finds a way to advance her interests and is able to get a job in London at the paper. Love hearing how she also befriends a man in her father's mines and she plans to help them get exposure to the wrong ways they are mistreated.
Super love hearing of her in the mines, my wildest dream. With her mothers news she fears she has caused harm so heads to London to work. The committee has set up a place for her to stay and to be fed as long as she writes.
She picks up with her boyfriend again and he wants her to head to the diamond mine while she is covering the war. He also wants her to do illegal things and she agrees but I feel it's only to keep him in her bed, as she knows he has others in his bed...
So brave and adventurous she is as she heads to help others but some things just don't go as planned.
Love hearing of the farming practices, behind the scenes in the city about Communism and how she can help her friend Leo by getting the diamonds from a family friend.
Love listening to all the characters stories and what they are doing to help fight the war in their own way.
Like hearing about the mines and how she hopes to help those that must go down the shafts daily and are not getting their rightful pay or compensations.
Throughout the book I felt as if I was right there, the author does an excellent job of describing everything, the scenes, smells, sounds, etc.
Hated to see this one end as there are so many tragic events that go along with history of the war.
Never expected the story to end up at all as it did, brilliant!
Can be read as a stand alone and the saga goes on with others stories of the times.
Sneak peak of the next book in the series is attached, sign up for the authors newsletters for upcoming releases, author's note with resources, and about the author are included at the end.
Other works by the author are included at the end.
Received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.
...

Book 3: The Parisian Spy
The Parisian Spy by Hannah Byron
Note from the author and list of chapters starts this book.
Love this story. It starts out in Boston, a closeby city to me and 1938.
Radcliffe college. Oceanne (love this name) is studying near her friend Eliz and is worried she won't pass the final exam.
She wants to be a doctor and is so close to finishing. She meets up with her friend Martin and he tells her of the grade she received on her test....
she come up with a solution and it will go with her throughout her life. Love the parts where she meets others who are related to friends of her and her grandfather.
During the war she stays at her grandfathers in Paris and falls in love. When JJ is missing she decides to pick up where he left off in helping the French from the Germans.
She meets many along her route and over the years. She has to put her own life in harms way in order to find the information she wants
As a doctor a lot of doors open for her and she learns the truth about JJ. Love references to the French songs, some I learned when in Catholic school as a young girl.
Tragedy, pain, war, love, romance and patriotism all play a part in this book. Glad it was so indepth and not just a short story.
Love how the story wraps up at the very end.
Received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.

...
Book 4 The Norwegian Assassin

The Norwegian Assassin by Hannah Byron
This book starts with a table of contents where chapters are listed along with epilogue and excerpt of next book in the series, authors note, glossary of terms, about the author and other works by the author are highlighted.
A quote by Rumi is listed and note about historical things that were changed for sake of storytelling. Book starts in Austria Feb 1938 at the engagement party.
What I like about this book is how personable it is. It's about war but author makes it feel far from the front but there are scenes where the fighting in intense.
We learn so much more about Esther and her family as they are forced to flee for their lives. She is sent to a charm school in the mountains to learn how to become the mistress of her own house once she's married.
Love influence her grandmother has on her and her place in society and what that means to the whole family.
Things do not go according to plan as their country is at war and the family leaves and she meets up with them later. She gets to grow up and become a lady as she forms bonds with other females who are there at the school for various reasons.
The war gets in the way of everything and it tears at her as the family flee to take care of a farm in the country, hiding out from the enemy. Somebody turns them in and the family is removed, put on trains heading to concentration camps. Esther was not with them and when she returns she vows to seek vengeance.
She meets with someone who has connections and she heads into war doing what she can. Love that she dresses like a guy to get through her training and fighting right alongside the men. Some have come to her aid, and they look out for one another.
Took my time reading this book because I did not want it to end, so fascinating and heartbreaking.
So much travel over the years, Es's journey as she matures, surprises with who she finds at the end and how they are able to bond again.
Losses are so devastating they do bring tears to my eyes, nobody should have to go through what she and many others went through.
Glad there were no indepth parts of the camps, that would've spoiled the story for me but you know what happened all along.
Super enjoyed this story along with the history. Detailed descriptions of food, table settings, scenes outside, clothing, places they skied and traveled to, how they kept safe and swapped out clothes, etc to fit in, no matter what the circumstances were, anything to keep safe.
Received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.

Christmas Town Bake-Off: A 7-Book Connected Holiday Romance Collection by Melinda Curtis, Anna J. Stewart, Cari Lynn Webb, Beth Carpenter, Cheryl Harper, LeAnne Bristow, Tanya Agler
that I love about this book is each of the authors got their own section but the story flows smoothly and seamless.
bout Christmas Town, Maine and the holiday bakeoff is about to begin. Story starts out with those who help organize and run the event, judging, etc. Also love stories of those who had left and are back in time for the events.
Some hated to leave, some feared coming back. Lot of unspoken wishes and misconstrued things said or heard.
Love the gazebo in the town square and how magic happens there. Love all the trades and the careers they all choose and what they do and how are described. So many behind the scenes.
Love baking and recipes at the back, can't wait to try a few.
Life gets in the way in some circumstances and it's just SO real. Love especially the ideas of helping the autistic man and how to keep him calm. Can't wait to try the vest on my grandson.
Love all the different sections of the bakeoff and how baking goes, judging and gala to wrap it all up.
Have read holiday anthologies before but never a connected one, way to go!
Wish there were recipe listings or links to recipes online. Book ends with authors other works.

  My Top 40 at 40: Making the First Half Count by Kari Loya
Such a unique story. Author real life experiences and his dreams come true.
Love hearing of the places visited, things author was able to do and why he wanted to go/do them.
My favorite story would be the bulls in Spain. It comes just at my birthday and lasts for a week. Love the blog that follow them, the traditions and ceremonies during the week long festivities. I felt because of the detailed descriptions I was right there with the author as he retells the story, such inside information about the events.
Also his favorite times with family and sights and countries they visited over the years. Love silly things like speedo story and the passion in just being outside in the parks.
Great entertaining book, one to give as a gift, it's so interesting for all to read.

Falling Stars by Fern Michaels
Story follows Emily and she’s been helping out at the family ski resort, finished with college and loves her job of ski instructor.
Her parents announce they are retiring and turning it all over to her. She had other plans but the parents don't retire right away, she needs to learn the ropes.
She has another assignment-instructing an actor to go down a really dangerous slope for his movie. She knows who he is, has all his movies and they get to talking to one another.
They find out a lot of information about each other. Zach is just a regular guy and she learns that when her and her best friend Kylie attend Thanksgiving dinner at his location with his brother and father.
They have such loving moments, memories you will remember a lifetime. Love all the food mentioned in this book and how yummy it all sounds, there are recipes at the end and I’ve got ingredients out for cookies.
Love hearing about the jobs her and others do in this book, fascinating to understand them better.
Like hearing about all the different lives of those in the family, the secrets, Handful of characters and easy to keep track of who is who.
Cute story. Love ending how the whole family comes together.
I received this review book from The Kensington Books via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
#FallingStars #NetGalley

The Highland Raven: A Gripping Scottish Family Saga from World War 2 (A Resistance Girl Novel Book 5) by Hannah Byron
When I first saw the cover I love the raven on the front cover, treasure!
the hat she's wearing shows a beak if you look hard enough and mountain in the background are raven's wing span.
Book starts out when Sable was at home with her mother who was going to have a dinner party and she just wanted her father who was raveling for business.
She camps out in the library and her friend Freddie shows up the next morning with a breakfast tray and he has some ideas to share with her.
Story also goes back in time to when she was with her father in the city, shows up back home later with a man and her father then sends her off to school as she's like her mother, giving her body away to anybody.
In a previous book we do meet Sable so we know a bit about her and her life. Love the time she spends at the school with other girls. The bonds and friends she make with common interests.
entertaining how the author weaves a story between her life and that of the war. Fun to learn historic events that also take place while she deals with her own tragic upheavals til she gets a call from Freddie and she heads into the action with help from others.
Love that she is so hands on. She learns of other ways to help and jumps right in and also meets the captain, which we know there is a connection but not exactly what yet...
Love how she handles her properties and lends them to aid the war for her country.
Author writes as if you are there with Sable, enlightening, scary and magic at times.
She has a duty to her country and leaves to help. Love the travel and events that led up to her training. So much sorrow and pain from her past comes to light, finally as we learn the details of her heartache.
Sad times as she's single again and concentrates on war efforts.
Full circle and then some magic happens on many counts as the story ends. Love the author's notes and recap of how everyone went on with their lives, when they died, etc.
So many surprises in this book!
Sneak peek at next book in the series is included at the end along with a note from the author.
Can be read as a stand alone book.

The Wallflowers Christmas Wish by Cheryl Bolen
In this story we find twin to Melvin, Elvin and all his friends are now married and he feels left out so announces he will be getting married although he has no one in mind.
With Melvin’s help he attends the dance and meets many but nobody really catches his eye although all want him to dance with them, he's the best catch of the season.
He had danced with a painter, a step daughter of the Furnace family and sees how her face lights up when he pays her a compliment.
Love finding out new words to me and their meanings. Great story line as we follow Elvin as he proposes Diana to do his portrait for his sisters Christmas gift.
He had seen her in the park painting and he worked out the details of her acquiring the paints she'd need and payment for her time. Love how he keeps it to his servant to pay her without step mother getting her hands on the money.
While he was being painted they get to know one another a lot better. She can tell from his stance the kind of man he is and he is astonished how perceptive she is.
Love what she can do with her hands and that others really appreciate it. She thinks, down the road, her painting may allow her to leave the family house and be on her own and paint others portraits.
He's not gotten her to tell him what she wishes for a Christmas gift. Love discussion about books and how she offers to read to him and why this is such a touching gift to him.
I can see a bit of interfering with the step sisters and step mother and hope they will cease…. It gets worse though.
You wonder if they will have a cordial friendship at all.
Love how his family helps to get them to meet
Like a Cinderella story but with twists that go along even better than the original. Never saw ending as it was, love this book especially as a holiday read.
Book ends with other works by the author and description of each of the series.

The Heebie-Jeebie Girl by Susan Petrone
Starts out with a rundown of the town of Youngstown, Ohio and the happenings and we have traveled through.
Joe 1972 is a mechanic and he lives with his sisters. Love the name of the car, we often named ours.
His niece, Hope tells him lottery numbers and she wins.
Story also follows Joe and life living with his sister and husband and his niece.
Story also follows Bobby and his life and his windfall with his friend Salvatore.
Story also follows Hope, Joe's niece and why she blames herself for her ailing grandmother, the lottery wins, etc.
Two confrontations as you hear both sides of the story of the events. Never saw this happening.
Received this review copy from The Story Plant and this is my honest opinion.