Another Chance Ranch

A Secret Keeps by Marsha Wilson Chall - A Review

Book Description:

Before a weekend visit to his grandparents' farm, a little boy discovers that his grandpa has a secret waiting for him. "Grampa, what’s the secret," he asks, but all Grampa will say is, "Finders keepers."

Is the secret in the barn? With the chickens? Hiding in the corn? When the boy finally discovers the answer, he realizes that a secret is indeed for keeping.

My Review:

Cute, cute book!!

I really liked this book.  I read it aloud (to myself) to hear how it would read to our grandkids.  It would be great for a bedtime story.  In fact, the secret was kept so well that it had me curious to discover it.

It is beautifully illustrated, and that is something I like to look at and point out to the kids as we read along. 

I have to say that this book would be a great gift for girls and boys!

Check it out!!  It will be released April 1, 2012, but you can pre-order it now.

 

Love Lifted Me by Sara Evans & Rachel Hauck - My Review

Today you can find me over at ENLR where I reviewed the latest in the Songbird Series, Love Lifted Me. 

I hope you will go check it out. 

Love Lifted Me by Sara Evans & Rachel Hauck - My Review on ENLR

Words Spoken True by Ann H. Gabhart - A Review

Book Description:

As the daughter of Louisville's number one newspaper owner in 1855, Adriane Darcy is dedicated to the success of the Tribune.  Then brash young editor Blake Garrett takes over the competitor paper.  With his Yankee ways and controversial new reporting style, he launches a battle for readers.

The undeniable attraction between Adriane and Blake is hard to ignore.  But Blake is the enemy, and Adriane is engaged to the son of a powerful businessman who holds the keys to the Tribune's future.  Blake will stop at almost nothing to get the story - and the girl.  Can he do both before it's too late?

To see my review, please head over to ENLR.

Blame It on the Mistletoe by Joyce Magnin

 

Book Description:

Is There Really a Fountain of Youth in Paradise?

Welcome back to Bright 's Pond, where strange happenings are afoot at the Greenbrier Nursing Home. Strange even for Bright 's Pond. The residents suddenly act like kids again riding trikes, climbing trees, and of all things falling in love.

Some of the townsfolk blame it on the crooked new gazebo, or its builder, a quirky little man who quotes Don Quixote, collects water from the fountain at the Paradise trailer park, and disappears on a regular basis. While Chief of Police Mildred Blessing investigates the mystery, Griselda and her friends deal with a luau Thanksgiving, preparations for the Christmas pageant, and maybe even an upcoming wedding. Only, in Bright 's Pond, nothing ever really goes as planned . . .

My Review:

When I was contacted to review this book I had no idea that it was the third book in a series.  No idea at all.  Even though it is in a series, it is a book that can stand on its own.  Although, now I want to go back and read the first two.

As soon as I started reading about Bright's Pond I wanted to be there.  I could live there.  It sounds like such a quaint little town.  I could even envision the town and the townsfolk in my mind. 

Griselda, the main character, can't seem to figure out if she is in love with Zeb, her on again off again boyfriend, or Cliff, her flight instructor.  She has to figure it out!  Her sister was moved to the Greenbrier Nursing Home, and that is how she learned of all of the strange happenings there at Greenbrier. 

Agnes, Griselda's sister, was moved to the nursing home via a fork lift.  She is the one that told Griselda about the residents riding tricycles down the halls, climbing trees, and making out in the crooked new gazebo.  She is on a diet, but when her sister asks her to be her maid of honor they have to have her dress custom made.

Ruth, one of Griselda's best friends, is hosting their Thanksgiving dinner this year, and she has decided to have an unforgetable luau Thanksgiving.  She is also the one that pieced together three patterns to make Agnes's maid of honor dress.  She is also the one that drags Griselda to a psychic.

Mildred Blessing is investigating the odd behavior at Greenbrier, and Griselda tags along to help. 

Griselda isn't just falling in love with two men, and trying to solve a mystery.  She is also helping with the Christmas pageant.  The Christmas pageant that involves live animals.  There are so many different storylines that it never slows down.

Who will Griselda marry?

Is there really a Fountain of Youth? 

You will have to read it to see for yourself, but I am fairly certain that you will like it.  Now, pardon me while I go download the first two books of the series.

I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Abington Press and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

 

Gone to Ground by Brandilyn Collins - Review

Book Description:

Amaryllis, Mississippi is a scrappy little town of strong backbone and southern hospitality. A brick-paved Main Street, a park, and a legendary ghost in the local cemetery are all part of its heritage. Everybody knows everybody in Amaryllis, and gossip wafts on the breeze. Its people are friendly, its families tight. On the surface Amaryllis seems much like the flower for which it's named-bright and fragrant. But the Amaryllis flower is poison.

In the past three years five unsolved murders have occurred within the town. All the victims were women, and all were killed in similar fashion in their own homes. And just two nights ago-a sixth murder.

Clearly a killer lives among the good citizens of Amaryllis. And now three terrified women are sure they know who he is - someone they love. None is aware of the others' suspicions. And each must make the heartrending choice to bring the killer down. But each woman suspects a different man.

I did my review over at Everybody Needs A Little Romance today.  Go check it out!  Let me know if you would be interested in a book like this!

 

 

 

 

The Baker's Wife by Erin Healy - Must Read

The other day I wrote a review for this book over at ENLR and I thought I would share it here as well.  It was a great book!!

Here's part of that review.

Great book! 

I was instantly hooked! 

It is insanely suspenseful!

The Baker’s Wife, Audrey, formerly known as the pastor’s wife, has an accident on the way to the bakery.  It was early in the morning, and dense fog surrounded them as she turned into the intersection and hit something.  As soon as she got out of the car she slips in blood, and then finds that she hit a motor scooter, but not just any motor scooter.  It belongs to Julie, the wife of Sergeant Jack Mansfield, a detective and the member of the church that got Audrey’s husband removed from the pulpit.  They can’t find the rider anywhere, but there’s a lot of blood and Julie Mansfield is missing.

To read the rest of my review of The Baker's Wife by Erin Healy you must go to ENLR.

Let me know if you read this one, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Caring for a Loved One with Cancer by June Hunt

Book Description:

Virtually all of us have a family member or friend who has been diagnosed with cancer. But do we really know how to help? Reflecting on her own journey with cancer, June Hunt offers “practical, yet overlooked ideas” to help caregivers walk through the journey with those they love. Caring for a Loved One with Cancer begins with the first doctor’s visit and moves through nearly fifty short, single-topic chapters with practical application. These include offering to communicate progress and needs, keeping a record of remembrances, making a chart for medication, fixing food that helps with healing, and others. 

Additional chapters cover tips for helping children through confusion, dealing with issues related to cancer treatment, discovering important “don’ts,” and what cancer cannot do. Specifically written for those caring for loved ones battling cancer, this book can also be used by those coming alongside anyone suffering from a debilitating illness.

My Review:

As a cancer patient I really wanted to read this book.  I wanted to see what other people consider helpful to a cancer patient.  June Hunt is a cancer survivor that is sharing different ways that people made a difference in her own battle with cancer.

It seems like Ms. Hunt was a single person while dealing with this horrible disease, therefore it seems like her book is written for ways to help a single person get through this battle.

I found that, as a married woman, I never needed some of the assistance given to her by her friends.  My husband cooked and cleaned, as well as went with me to every treatment and doctor’s appointment.  So, I really didn’t need people staying the night with me, buying my groceries, etc.

I did have many people either bring food, or ask to bring food.  I was thankful that my husband would have something to eat without having to fix it himself, but I rarely ate any of it.  My taste buds were completely wonky most of the time I was going through chemo, so I ate the only things that tasted okay to me. 

Ms. Hunt does talk about when a parent has cancer how we shouldn’t forget the children, and I did like a lot of her ideas in that section. 

There are a lot of good tips in this book, but I feel it is aimed more toward people caring for a single loved one with cancer.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

The Host by Stephenie Meyer - My Review

I'm not sure if you know, or if you remember, but I review books in my spare time. 

The most recent review I've done is of The Host by Stephenie Meyer.  The same Stephenie Meyer that wrote the Twilight series.  This just happened to be her first adult novel, and it is good.

I put off reading it for a while, but I am so glad I finally broke down and read it. 

If you don't know anything about this title, it is sort of a sci-fi novel for people who don't really like sci-fi.  I don't get into sci-fi reads too much, but I loved this one.  So, don't let the whole sci-fi thing keep you from reading it.

If you'd like to read my review, click here.

If you have suggestions for books I should read, please leave a comment and I will check them out.

A New Pan!

Okay, I completely forgot I took this photo and I took the photo so I could remember to post a review on it. Can you say brain burp?  Excuse me.

Years ago I bought a large 12" non-stick pan, and I loved it! Loved. It!  But here recently I noticed that the non-stick coating had started to chip.  I don't really know why, because "I" never used anything but safe utensils with it.  I can't speak for everyone in the house though (there are two of us).  I did put it in the dishwasher, but it did say it was dishwasher safe.  But who really cares why it chipped?  It lasted for years, and it was an inexpensive Martha Stewart pan from Kmart. 

Pans have come a long way since I bought that pan.  Just look at this one.  I love the oval pan. 

But I would love it more if I had a larger stove-top.  I was under the impression that the pan would heat evenly, but I don't get that.  I have not tried putting it in the oven yet, but will do that eventually.

Although it doesn't heat evenly for me, and it could just be me, I still love it! 

It isn't too heavy, and it is easy to clean.

Now, let's talk about where I got it.  I went to CSN Stores to buy it.  I have bought several things from them, and every time I am very happy with my choices, purchase, and customer service. 

You know, the only time you really hear about someone's experience with a company is when they have a bad experience.  Let's change that!  Let's spread the news when we have a good experience too.

I just did!  Tell me about your latest good experience.

Room - The Book Review

Oh my heck! 

Have you read Room by Emma Donoghue? 

I think you should, but first you should read my review. :)

 

 

 

Room by Emma Donoghue
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Great read!

My review is over at the ENLR book review blog. Hope you will check it out!

View all my reviews