Book Review "Brides for Brothers" and "The Marriage Risk"

I have surpassed my reading goal for this year!!!!
My goal was to read a book a month and I have read 14 books this year!!!

I am not one for romance books, give me a good horror book or a personal history book, but romance is not my thing.
With that being said, every year at Christmas time I read a sappy Holiday book.
This was not what I was expecting.
See the cute cottage, and the snow and the fact that it takes place in Alaska......it is not a Holiday book!!!
It took place in June for the one story and one of the summer months in the second!
As disappointing as was my pick for my Holiday book, the stories were sweet.

You know what they say "Don't judge a book by its cover" rings true to this book, lol.

I will go over my other goals that I succeded at or failed in tomorrows post.

Hope you all have a very creative day :)

Tracy :)

Book Review The Memory Keeper's Daughter

I am still going strong on my challenge to read a book a month.
I actually completed this book at the end of October.
I really enjoyed this book.
You know when you read a book and you love all of the characters.
I like it better when I don't.....which this book did.
I like when the characters are real and have their flaws...like we all do.

This is the second book I have read this year that has a child that has a special needs.
Both of the books take place in the past (this one over 50 years ago) and show how far we have come in how we see and how we value those with special needs.

I would recommend this book.

Tracy :)

Book Review "Gerald's Game"

Look at me go!!
Not only am I successful in my "one book a month" challenge I have for myself, but this is my second book I have read for the month of September (maybe the reason for lack of posts).

I heard this book was made into a movie.
Funny thing was I had this book on one of my bookshelves and thought I had read it.
Decided to double check, but when I read the jacket cover, realized I had not, lol.

I have to read the book before watching the movie.
I like to have the characters in my head on how I think they look, before seeing them on-screen.
I also enjoy reading the books first, because in the books you get to read what is going on in the character's head.

I really enjoyed this book, but then again, I am a Stephen King fan.
I love the way he gets into his characters heads and describes how they are feeling, the way their mind works and the things they see.
This book is about a husband and wife who go off to their summer home in the off season and things don't go as planned.

In true Stephen King fashion, he writes so well on how  the mind plays tricks on us....or do they?!

I have 3 bookshelves full of books I have read, or want to read.
I also have a note on my phone with book suggestions from friends that I plan on reading.
I write down the title of the book, who the author is and who suggested it.

I would love to hear what you are all reading so I can add it to my never ending reading list :)

Tracy :)

Book Review "Rainwater"

I have to say I loved this book.
It was a quick read, and I loved the characters in this book.
The story was so sweet, even though it was a dark hard time.

I think I need to look up some more writings from Sandra Brown...I don't think I have read any of her books before.

I like the friendship between the 2 main characters.

I have to say I am proud that I had completed this book so early in the month and I am 1/3 way through my new book!

What are you reading?
I would love to know :)

Tracy :)

Book Review "The DarkTower Gunslinger"

I have to take a break from sharing my shopping goodies to do a book review.
As it is the last day of the month, I need to share my book choice for the month of August.
I actually finished this book on the 18th of this month, but forgot to share it earlier.

I like to read the book before seeing the movie, since I heard that this book was made into a movie, I just had to give it a read.
I had this book series in my collection (as I love how Stephen King writes and collect his books in hard cover).
But I donated them many years ago as I figured I would never read them as I thought they were Western type of a book.
Which they are, in a sense...but a more futuristic type of book with a dark side to it....true Stephen King style.

Did I like the book...yeah it was an okay read.
But I don't feel the need to keep reading the rest of the series.
So not so much of a hit for me.

I am so far enjoying my read for September :)
What books have you been reading this summer?
I love to hear what is on everyone else's reading list.

I hope you all are having a very Creative Day :)

Tracy :)

Book Review "Fifty Shades Freed"

I am going strong with my resolution to read a book a month!!!
Even though this is the only resolution that I have actually been keeping up with, lol.

Here is my book for July.
I have to admit this didn't have me turning the pages.
I liked the first book. "Fifty Shades of Grey"...which I don't think I have a review on as I read it years ago.
I didn't care for the second book "Fifty Shades Darker" (except at the very end).
The reason I read this one is because the last few pages of the second book wanted me to know what was going to happen....plus it is a trilogy, so I just had to complete them.

I know there was some controversy on these books, which I didn't think was a big deal.
What got me in this book was that she was always worried about if Christian was upset with her.
Also that they kept referring to how much money he had, or designer names and such...that puts me off of a book.

I think I need a different type of book for August.
I am not into romance at all...maybe look for an apocalyptic type of book?

I have been so busy this summer and especially these last 2 weeks, so I have to appologise for not checking out your blogs and for not sharing much creatively with you all.
But summer is short here in Canada and I want to enjoy every second of it.

I hope you all had a very creative day.
If you know of some good books you would like to share with me, I would love to know what you are reading this summer.

Tracy :)

Book Review "Fifty Shades Darker"

Wow, I'm early with my book for June.
Now that it is cottage season, I seem to read more. For one thing, it is almost a 2 hour drive to our cottage, so I usually read for most of the drive.
So onto the book for this month.

I was running out the door when I realized I didn't have a book to read up at the cottage.
I had read the 1st book to this series, but never read the others, so grabbed it.
I had given this series to my sister, which she gave back to me as she couldn't continue as she thought it was a bit to much for her.
Not sure if it was all the hype I had heard about it, but I thought it was kind of tame, lol.

Here is the read up on the back of the book.
You really must read the first book to understand the second and third one.
Did I like this book?
Yes, it was okay...thought the main character could have been a bit stronger..but I guess that is why the 2 characters personalities worked.
I enjoyed the very last chapter....it really made me want to start on the 3rd book.

Onto My Day:
Today's plan was for my daughter Heather and I to help Ashley with her new flowerbed.
Ashley and Sawyer came by and brought with them some lilacs from Ashley's house.
She knows I love the smell of them and that they put a smile on my face :)
It touched my heart so much.
Its the little things that make me so happy.

Ashley thought we would need a few buckets of soil to fill her flower bed.
I knew we would need a lot more.
We brought 5 large buckets with us and did 3 trips....we need one more trip.

We went to one of our local nurseries and it was so fun to look at all the pretty flowers and decor.
It was so hot in there that I left Heather and Ashley to shop for their flowers while I took Sawyer to the cooler part of the store.
Isn't he so cute in those little shades?!!
They didn't stay on his face long, as he kept taking them off to chew on them, lol.

Ashley had a mishap with their SUV..as the engine had a bit of a fire on her way back home.
Luckily it was all okay and I had Sawyer with me in my jeep.
She called a tow truck and I went back to pick her up and their vehicle is going to get looked at tomorrow.
All in all it was a great day...besides the little engine fire ;)

I hope you all have a very creative day :)

Tracy :)

Book Review "Haunted"

I have to admit, I am pretty proud of myself for keeping up with my goal of reading a novel a month.
I think this may be the only goal that I have been consistent with.
I may grab a book at the last minute, but I still get it read before month end.
I actually finished this book last night.

My thoughts on this book...
It is a good story, I enjoyed the parts of the ghost making ita appearances and trying to figure out who the ghost was.
What I didn't care for was the romance part of the book.
I am not one to read about romance where the main characters dislike each other, then fall so hard for each other..then question if they are right for each other..blah blah blah, lol.
Give me some a hot and heavy love affair and maybe, lol.
I was also put off by the authors obsession with everyone's height?!?
But honestly, it was a good quick read.

Look at our baby, teehee.
Luna is enjoying herself in Sawyer's playpen.  

I am actually surprised that she didn't jump in there when we first got it.

Tomorrow I am hoping to get to my layouts and maybe make a page or two.
I hope you all have a very creative day :)

Tracy :)

Book Review "Thirteen Reasons Why"

Wow, tomorrow is April already!!!
I have been doing pretty good with my goals for this year.
One of them was to read (at least) 12 books a year, which is 1 book a month.
I started this month with a different book, but didn't enjoy the writing style so put it down.
In the past I would have forced myself to finish it, but I have come to the conclusion that I won't be able to read every book out there, so I won't waste my reading time on those books that don't keep my attention.

Now onto the book I chose, Thirteen Reasons Why.
I had read this book in the past, it was recommended to me by my daughter Heather, who by the way, has great taste in books.
Heather had told me that they made a show about this book, so I wanted to refresh myself on it before watching the show.
I enjoy reading a book before the movie or show comes out.

The book is about a girl who commits suicide and explains the events that brought her to this decision on tapes.
These tapes are then passed to the 13 people who have had a part in her life that impacted this decision.
We follow Clay around town as he listens to these tapes.

This book was a quick read...one that is hard to put down.
So hard to put down that Wayne wanted to watch a movie with me.
So I watched a movie as well as read this book.
I even had a notebook with notes on the characters in the book and what their connection to Hannah was.

What I took from this book is what an impact we have on someone.
No matter how good or bad, no matter how long or short we are in their lives, we all have an impact on someone.
It also makes me so sad that this young girl felt this hopeless, to take her life.
Having daughter's, I thought of how I would feel if one of them took their own life. I would be devastated...I kept thinking this while reading it.
I think of all of those that feel there is not another option...there is always another option.

Tracy

Book Review....The Illegal

I completed my second book of the year!!
Another 427 pages read :)
I know that may not sound like a a big accomplishment to a lot of you, and it wouldn't have sounded like a big accomplishment to me years ago either.
I used to be an avid reader...I would stay up all night to finish a book, I would read while walking, or just sitting outside or when we would go for a drive. I used to read many books a month.
But in the last few years, my reading has really slowed down.
So for the last couple of years I have challenged myself to read 12 books a year...one a month.

This particular book was given to me by my friend Debbie as a Christmas gift.
Debbie is always giving me books to read :)
And now that I have mentioned to my friends my goal, they are giving me books left and right...but you won't hear me complaining ;)
This was a pretty good book.
I don't want to say to much as I don't want to ruin it for anyone else who would like to read it.
It is basically about a boy, Keita, who is a runner.
He lived a good life with his family in a nice but poor little town, until the government changed hands and all was not well.
I escaped to Freedom State, which the majority of the people who lived there were not happy with how many illegal immigrants were coming into "their" land.
It is a good book and from what I am reading about what is happening in the US at this time...one to read to give many a different perspective on this issue.
The author is Canadian and actually is from the same province as me.
I was chuckling about the use of Tim Horton's as a coffee shop in the novel as it takes place far from Canada.

Here is the write up from the back of the book.

The photos are pretty dark as I stayed up quite late reading and then took that photos.
Not good lighting at 2:00am

Tracy :)

The Midwife of Venice...A book Review.

Like last year one of my Goals was to read one book a month.
I only read 7...but that may have been 7 more than if I didn't have a goal :)
I am happy to share with you that I have completed my 1st book of the New Year!!!
321 pages to this book.

But to be fair, I started reading this book before Ashley had Sawyer, but because of the content of this novel, I had to put it down.
I was only a few chapters into this book, but I couldn't read any further at that time.
It is about a Jewish midwife from 1575, who attends a noble woman...which at the time was forbidden.
I enjoyed this book and read it all today, so an easy read.
A bit predictable, but still a good read!
The back of the book

I hope you have a creative day

Tracy :)

Fly Away…a book review.

I completed this book on Friday.

Did I like it?…it was okay.
I did like the beginning and middle of the story, it was pretty predictable as most of these types of books are, but it was an easy read and a good story.
What I didn't like about it was when the author went back into the mother, Cloud's, life.
I think she was trying to get us to sympathize with the mother about why she was such shitty mother.
It just made me mad and I was actually going to stop reading the book.
But because I was over half way through the book, and kept on.
I didn't sympathize with the mother, I didn't feel sorry for her.
Heartless maybe, but that is how I felt.

Also when one of the characters were recuperating, she had trouble talking and couldn't say more than 2 words….but then all of a sudden she could speak paragraphs….I think the author forgot that this character wasn't talking well in the page before.
It just seemed that the author wanted to just complete the book and tie up the ends.

Would I recommend this book, probably not.
Now to my next book…I have a stack of them to get through in the next few weeks :)

Hope you had a creative day and you were able to prop up your feet and enjoy a good book today :)

Tracy :)

The Love of a a Good Book

Blogger unavailable due to being absorbed in her book :)

I used to read a lot. 

But now only seem to read when we are at the cottage in the summer. 

One of my many goals this year is to read more. At least one book a month.

Not only do I love to read, I have been known to read more than one book at a time...much to the confusion of my SIL/friend Sharon. 

I enjoy all types of books and many different authors. 

I have a love of books and have a bit of a collection. Especially in hard cover. 

I could go on and on with my love of reading and my love books, but I have a book to get back to ;)

I hope you all had a Creative Monday. 

Tracy :)