Maya's Vacation

Maya's Vacation

byRebecca Gomez Farrell

"Twenty-year-old Maya knew as she watched Dean walk away from her front door distraught at her silence and her father's threats, that she would never love anyone with the intensity that she loved him. He was her painter, her artist, her soulmate and being apart from him hurt too much. She tucked those feelings away, determined to enjoy the safe and secure life her parents approved of: business school and a marriage to Chuck, a successful real estate agent.

Thirty years later, Chuck has cheated on and divorced her. But when he comes back, begging for reconciliation, Maya takes a vacation to think it over. Her love of art, food, and wine combine at this retreat in the woods, and she prepares for a week of making new friends, tasting exquisite wines, and learning to paint again. What she hasn't prepared for is the familiar voice she hears the first morning at camp...a voice that makes her skin tingle and brings back memories of who she was before Chuck. Has Maya buried her passion too deep to find love with Dean again?"

 

	Maya's Vacation was a very short read. While I was reading I wished that I could go on a vacation like this one, they painted and ate the whole time.:) *3* Stars

Change of Heart

Change of Heart

byFran Shaff

1850s Nebraska: Marietta Randolf travels from Chicago to Nebraska to collect her orphaned nephew Zack. When a snow storm delays her return trip, she finds herself stranded in an unappealing land with a very appealing rancher, Jase Kent.

 

I loved it!! I wish the story was longer. I want to read more books by this author. I give it 5 stars!

 

 

Called Home: Two Hearts Answer

Called Home: Two Hearts Answer

by Gloria Schumann

"Emma Benson's view of life was crafted by the death of her brother as a child, abandonment by her father and later, the man she trusted she would marry, until David Schlosser-back in town after years in New York writing best-selling novels-threatens her neatly tended life. Romance blooms. Emma and David eventually persevere in the face of tragedy, refusing to leave their dreams behind."

 

 

	It was a good story. It didn't take me long to finish. There was times in the book were I didn't like the main character that much, but I got use to her. I liked that it was a mystery. I loved that it was clean!!   I give it 4 stars.

 

 

 

 

A Very Merry Chase    

 by Teresa Thomas Bohannon   

      "Set in early 19th century Regency England, and harking back in style to the heyday of Georgette Heyer and Barbara Cartland, A Very Merry Chase is a comedy of manners and errors that boasts empire fashions, dashing characters, verbal sparring matches and witty repartee mingled with just a hint of mystery, danger and intrigue."

I don't know what it is but I love stories with highwaymen in it. I was so excited when I saw this book. It was a good and clean story, but I really did not care for the main charector. She reminded me a little of Scarlett from Gone With the Wind and I don't like her either. I give this book *3 1/2 * stars.

 

The Boyfriend Bylaws

The Boyfriend Bylaws
by Susan Hatler
 

The Boyfriend Bylaws is a contemporary romance novella: Melanie Porter has been dumped—again. When others accuse her of "being in love with being in love," she agrees to let her best friend, Patti, step in and direct her dating life with The Boyfriend Bylaws. EXCERPT Rule #1: No giving out your phone number until approved to do so. Rule #2: Must obtain permission to accept any date invitation. Rule #3: No bringing up marriage, kids or the future. Rule #4: No going to first base without authorization. Amended Rule #4: No going to first base, or any other base, without authorization. Rule #5: No scribbling your first name with some guy's last name. Ever. Rule #6: New rules may be added as Patti Hartley deems necessary. Memorize it, live by it, and happy dating!   It was a cute short story, I really liked the bonus story. :) *4* Stars

Called Home: Two Hearts Answer

Hello,
It has been awhile. I have not had to much time to come on here, I have been learning Russian. :)
 
Last night I finished reading  Called Home: Two Hearts Answer by Gloria Schumann.
 

 
Emma Benson's view of life was crafted by the death of her brother as a child, abandonment by her father and later, the man she trusted she would marry, until David Schlosser-back in town after years in New York writing best-selling novels-threatens her neatly tended life. Romance blooms. Emma and David eventually persevere in the face of tragedy, refusing to leave their dreams behind.
 
It was a good story. It didn't take me long to finish. There was times in the book were I didn't like the main character that much, but I got use to her. I liked that it was a mystery. I loved that it was clean!!   *4* Stars

What I have been doing

It has been awhile since I have been her last. I have read a lot of books last month. Normally during the week I read about 4-5 books.
I am still trying to organizes reviews for books that I have already read.

Right now in one of the book clubs that I am in there is a Pick - It - For - Me Challenge
It's a group recommend a book thing - works just like a Secret Santa or Xmas Exchange, except that the gift is replaced by a book recommendation. The givee-giver pairings are assigned by a super - secret method with some randomness thrown in (this will be revealed after signups are closed). So you recommend some books for whomever you get and somebody will recommend books for you. After you're done your Pick - It - For - Me book, a short post with some feedback - a mini review of sorts - would be appreciated.

These are the categories and what I recommended-

Friends : pick a book that has been recommended to you by a friend (GR or real life) either here on a previous PIFM or through any other challenge, preferably a book that you have read and enjoyed
         Uglies trilogy by Scott Westerfeld (it has been awhile, one of my friends had recommended it to me)

Romance : (we are the Romance Readers Reading Challenge group), so this selections should be one of your favorite romance books whether it is contemporary, historical, paranormal, ect.
            The Highwayman of Tanglewood by Marcia Lynn Mcclure (This author is one of my fave.)

Intense : make this selection not just based on the overall enjoyment of the book, but find one that caught your attention and made it so difficult to put down from the beginning or even just the end, it should be one of those 'all consuming' type books
                      The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks

Emotions : any book that has evoked a strong emotional response to you, any type of emotion, this could be the 'get the tissue box' tearjerker, the 'laugh out loud' hilarious, or a 'scare your pants off' spooky
                   Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins (loved it)
 
New : New, New, New - new author, new title or new genre, something that your potential friend hasn't tried yet but that you have really enjoyed and would like to share
     A bride in the bargain by Deanne Gist

Don't forget : this choice should come straight off their TBR, choose a book that has been hanging around for a while but that you feel should be bumped up - if they don't keep a tbr the choice can be another highly recommended book that would fit into any of the other categories
             Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier (Classic, another one of my favorite:))

Support : Buddy read - make a recommendation for a book that you will read with your potential new friend, something that you would like the extra push to help you make the decision to read or something that you are planning on reading this month and think that the other will like as well based on what you have heard about it. A great way to find a book that both of you want to read is to use the compare button.
           The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley, Frenchman's Creek by Daphne Du Maurier and Her wolf by Rebecca Royce