Book Review: Preservation by Rachael Wade

Preservation by Rachael Wade
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Ryan is a failed writer, college professor, and a man with a broken heart. Kate is his talented writing student with a painful past of her own. The immediate chemistry between them leads to passion as well as fear for both of them. As they struggle to put their demons to rest their relationship endures significant highs and lows.

I found the two main characters to be interesting, but they could have been SO much more. This brief novel did not do justice to the scars they were purported to have. Given that these scars were the reason their relationship was so volatile, they should have been explored more deeply.
The minor characters in this book provide humor and a sense of continuity, particularly Kate's two male best friends.

The plot was a little choppy for me, and the Seattle setting was of little import to the story. Overall, just an OK book. However, it was a quick read and a free download for my Kindle, so I can't consider it a waste of time or money.

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Book Review: The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks

The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

No, I haven't seen the movie yet. Yes, I probably will. The characters in this book are actually well developed and their story is engaging. Sparks tells the tale of Logan (a marine who served in Iraq), Elizabeth (a single mom), her son Ben, her Nana, and her ex-husband Keith. I can't forget to mention my favorite character, Zeus, four-legged companion to Logan.

In many ways it is a typical love story, yet the pain Logan goes through as a result of his service to the USA gives it such a current and poignant flavor. I appreciated the fact that this heroic character was written with flaws as well.

Keith, the ex and county deputy, was equally well-written. He is meant to be a total creep, and I totally felt that throughout the book. Ick!

What I loved most was that as the climax of the story unfolds, Sparks keeps you guessing until the very last page. You know something terrible is coming, but to whom? Surely not Elizabeth's 10 year old son? Elizabeth herself? One of the two men in her life? The ending is suspenseful and gratifying!

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Book Review: Lonetree Ranchers (Colt) by Kathie Denosky

Nelson's Brand: Nelson's Brand\Lonetree Ranchers: Colt by Diana Palmer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The second story in this book, Colt, (written by Kathie Denosky) was by far my favorite. I'm a sucker for daddies and their little girls- every time.

Kaylee's brother and best friend of Colt died tragically in a rodeo accident. Seeking to outrun their grief, the two find comfort for a night in each other's arms. Shaken by the passion he feels, Colt bolts from Kaylee's life. He unknowingly leaves her pregnant and broken-hearted.

Two years later, their paths cross again. Colt knows immediately that he is the father of Kaylee's little girl. In an attempt to form a relationship with his daughter, he moves both of them to his ranch.

It's not hard to imagine what happens next... trust and respect build between the two as they bond over their child. Trust leads to forgiveness over past hurts, and forgiveness leads to (ahem) certain activities in bathtubs and in front of the fireplace.

Yeah, it gets pretty steamy.

The story is short and fluffy, heartwarming and passionate at the same time.

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Project 365: Week 15

Finally back on the bandwagon- I've been in a funk and haven't felt like doing much of anything lately, including reading and taking photos! But now that I've made it through a whole week of P365, I hope to get a little more creative this week!

Sunday- Easter egg hunt at my grandma's. The kids had a great time, and the woods behind her house are lovely this time of year.

Monday- Passed by some repair work on the City Hall tower in Lebanon. NOT something I would like to do!

Tuesday- Cleared off the old coffee table so we could put up the new one. Just waiting on our sofa, and the living room redo is done!

wednesday- Morgan has found a new favorite reading spot- the new storage cubes under the picture window.

Thursday- Heading in to a doctor appointment. I love the style of this building- very Frank Lloyd Wright.

Friday- Nice day for some yard work...always something to be done!

Saturday- 9th birthday party for our friend Jackson. It was held at the Skate Castle in Loveland. Cool place!



Book Review: Nelson's Brand by Diana Palmer

Nelson's Brand by Diana Palmer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

As far as romance novels go, this one is pretty good, and steamy! Both halves of our couple (Gene and Allison) have tragedy and heartache in their past. Gene received a troubling surprise about his parentage, and Allison survived life-threatening violence in South America. Their mutual attraction provided comfort and healing for both.

The Wyoming landscape and history add a nice dimension to an otherwise predictable story. Gene is a womanizing rancher, and Allison is a virginal missionary- the contrast makes them an unlikely pair, and also characterizes most books of this sort.

My biggest disappointment with Nelson's Brand is that Allison's back story is not very developed. She experienced true pain and loss, which could have really fed her character if delved into more deeply.

In my opinion, worth the time if you enjoy love stories with lots of sex!

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Virtual Scrap Night Begins!

"Take the Leap" into scrapbooking with an all-weekend virtual crop! I had fun hosting the first challenge over at SplitCoast Stampers. The challenge was to take a sketch and add one more element to your layout. I  used this sketch:

And added one more vertical stripe on the left hand side:

This page documents a little of the hospital hubs stayed in following his work accident in 2010. Miami Valley Hospital, or "the Valley", took great care of him!

Book Review: The Rocky Road to Romance by Janet Evanovich

The Rocky Road to Romance by Janet Evanovich
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Evanovich is probably best known for her Stephanie Plum detective series. It's obvious this is one of her earlier works. Her characters are cute and charming, but the romance is ridiculously swift and the plot is a little jumpy.

Daisy is a sweet, overworked girl who falls into a job as a traffic reporter. Her boss, Steve, is gruff and handsome and protective. Even though they've worked together at the radio station for over a year, the minute Daisy gets the job, they fall in love. Riiiiiiiiiiight.

Add in a heat-packing granny, an overfed dog named Bob, and Daisy's habit of ticking off criminals, and you've got a book that is as much comedy as romance.

I think what bothered me the most was the dialogue. With lines like, "...marriage is for a lifetime. It's irrevocable. It's like getting your ears pierced" and "you son of a dog!", it's easy to write off all the characters as idiots, even though one is a graduate student and one is the manager of a radio station.

Certainly a light, cute read...but the romance is a little unbeleiveable, even for the romance genre.

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