Blame It on the Mistletoe by Nicole Michaels

by Carol3 Comments
This is just a feel good, Christmas romance. Brooke and Alex have both had some not so great times in their pasts, but they're pa perfect couple. They knew each other when they were younger, grew up in the same town, but they've both grown some, overcome some challenges. And they don't dwell on their pasts. Granted they fall in love quickly, but I was okay with it. It was sweet. And they were so good together. I never doubted that there would be a happy ending, which I consider a good thing. I like a bit of predictability. There were sparks between the two almost immediately, but of course some miscommunications crept in. It all works out really nicely though. It was actually pretty much exactly what I'm looking for in a seasonal romance. It was light, enjoyable, and they did Christmassy things together. I just love holiday books like this one. They're a part of the season as much as the...
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Merr-E Holiday Treat

by Carol2 Comments
Plan Ahead for SLACK FRIDAY: NOVEMBER 28, 2014 Avoid crazed shopping crowds! Keep calm and carry on at home with this great Merr-E Holiday Treat from Pocket Star eBooks!   EXCERPT: Ali Reynolds leaned her head back against the pillow in the soaking tub and closed her eyes. With the help of the pummeling water jets, she let the rush of the past few days recede into the background. She and B. had made it. They were finally in Las Vegas. The rest of the wedding party was there, too. Back in November, when she and B. Simpson had first settled on a Christmas Eve wedding at the Four Seasons, it seemed entirely doable—a piece of cake. After all, how hard could it be? Because Ali and B. had chosen to be married in a hotel, much of the planning was done by simply cruising through the wedding planning pages on the Four Seasons website. Arranging the time, date, flowers, type of ceremony—including their preferred...
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Foul Play by Janet Evanovich

by Carol6 Comments
"A chicken was murdered yesterday. The investigator thinks there was some fowl play involved." I wish I was good at puns, this review could be full of them. But, alas, no such luck. Here's the basic story:  Amy lost her job to a rooster and is then accused of killing it. Jake rescues her from joblessness and falls in love with her at first sight. Oh, and she's a gorgeous, funny, caring, twenty-six year old virgin, just waiting to be deflowered. This was not a good book, but any stretch. It's goofy, absurd - and fun. We've got instant love, silly situations, and an adventure that includes falling into a dumpster, but it's entertaining and amusing.  The characters are bigger than life, but C. J. Critt does a good job as narrator. She gives the folks, even the secondary characters, great voices, full of personality, and kept me smiling. Yes, some of the conversations and phrasing are bordering on ridiculous, but she lets us enjoy...
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Readers’ Workouts – 11/18/2014

by Carol4 Comments
I went to the gym on Thursday. I did the stair climber for a while and then some arm and ab machines. I didn't work too hard because I had to go to a meeting immediately afterward and didn't want to stink too much. My birthday was this past weekend and I admit I ate a lot and didn't exercise much. But I got a couple of great fitnessy presents. The shoes I already had, but the gym bag and towel are from David and Amber. I love the colors. They also got me a new pair of headphones, but they're not in the picture because I was wearing them. My in-laws got me the gift card, which I think I'm going to put toward a new running jacket. The zipper on mine is broken. Readers' Workouts is hosted by Joy's Book Blog. Thanks, Joy, for keeping me accountable. 133.5 - Aug 12, 132.5 - Aug 19, 134 - Aug 26, 132.5 - Sept 9, 131-...
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The Monogram Murders by Sophie Hannah

by Carol8 Comments
I have been a Poirot fan for as long as I can remember, so of course I had to pick up The Monogram Murders. I have to admit I was disappointed. As a mystery, it was okay, if you can overlook the horrible  Scotland Yard detective Poirot has paired himself with, Catchpool. He's incompetent and spends way too much time dwelling on events in his childhood, on his weaknesses. The mystery, the way the murders are committed and how the bodies are laid out is interesting enough. There's even a nice little bit that confuses the time of death and the clues fit together well. The mystery itself could have been good, but it relied on the Poirot hook and in that it failed. Maybe give me an original character, or even a better sidekick and I would have felt differently. Poirot is just not Poirot. He's too Poirot, if that makes sense. It's like he's overly conscious of his own mannerisms and...
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