Ruth Anne Benziger's Blog, page 29
May 21, 2020
Book Review: The Enchanted Land by Jude Deveraux
For beautiful Morgan Wakefield, that land lay west of the bluegrass splendor of her Kentucky home…and within the powerful embrace of Seth Colter–the handsome rancher with whom she had struck a bargain that would change her life. Beneath the star-studded New Mexico skies Colter awakened in Morgan a womans passion, stoking the sensuous fires of a bold tempestuous romance. Though fate would make them enemies, theirs was a love that would endure, never to be forsaken.
My Thoughts
Very good love story, and I liked how they incorporated some culture from my native land of New Mexico. It was pretty subtle but nicely explained. The love story was nice however, I did feel that they separated way too many times by way of kidnapping. Once I could understand but twice was a bit much. All in all the story was captivating and enjoyable.
Book Review: Mick Harte Was Here by Barbara Park
How could someone like Mick die?
He was the kid who freaked out his mom by putting a ceramic eye in a defrosted chicken, the kid who did a wild dance in front of the whole school—and the kid who, if only he had worn his bicycle helmet, would still be alive today. But now Phoebe Harte’s twelve-year-old brother is gone, and Phoebe’s world has turned upside down.
With her trademark candor and compassion, beloved middle-grade writer Barbara Park tells how Phoebe copes with her painful loss in this story filled with sadness, humor—and hope. Chosen by “Publishers Weekly” as one of their Best Books of 1996. “A full-fledged and fully convincing drama.”—(Publishers Weekly)
My Thoughts
What a powerful message to send putting Mick’s name in the cement at the school. I found the story empowering. I think mostly because I have a boy and girl close in age. It made my heart wrench at the thought of the situation happening to them. Perceptions change and people make impacts in our lives. Mick was full of life and laughter and that’s how he was remembered. Quick easy read with an empowering message.
Book Review: Gumshoe Blues: The Peter Ord Yarns by Paul D. Brazill
“The adventures of this PI feel like they rolled out of a Tom Waits song — crime with the feel of a shaggy dog story” — K A Laity.
“An original homebrew with a kick. Well worth sampling.” — Mark Ramsden.
Following the breakdown of his marriage, in a booze-addled flash of inspiration, Peter Ord decides to become a private investigator. Dark farce and tragicomedy soon ensue. Peter must tackle many challenging cases, and when he comes under the radar of a local crime lord, he may have bitten off more than he can chew. With sidekicks, like boozy hack, Bryn Laden, failure is not an option – it’s compulsory.
My Thoughts:
Brazill was a new author I discovered to be well versed, have engaging characters, and a story line that enters a world you want to seep into. There was some fun and witty things in this book, he’s a skilled author. A PI, Peter Ord enters a world he didn’t quite expect and enlists the help of his sidekick to navigate it all. Great and fast read.
Book Review: The Odyssey of the Dragolitha: Essence Within by Caleb Wright
The Dragolitha’s adventure continues.
The Search for Ramathule and Xirow involves a new cast of characters both bad and good. More fights take place on the planet Zarthala, and even some in outer-space. If they can’t stop Ramathule from summoning Sulvaria, the universe itself will be destroyed.
My Thoughts
The Dragolithia and other residents of Wright’s world were full of adventure, travel, and magic. The pace was fast and the characters were introduced at a rapid pace. It reads like a cartoon series or anime. It reminds me of a series that you can enjoy with awesome graphics and texts like in a comic book. I found the characters interesting and the story intriguing.
Book Review: The Ha-Ha by Dave King
Rendered unable to speak, read, or write after a Vietnam War injury thirty years earlier, Howard Kapostash feels trapped by his disability until his high school sweetheart, recently forced into rehab, asks him to care for her nine-year-old son.
My Thoughts
I found this book rather enjoyable. The emotions and observations from a man who most had written off after his injuries. The connections he was making in his mind did not quite extend to others. I found the characters were well written, I found the conversations were easily readable. This was overall a good book, I found this in my sister’s high school reading list. I’m glad I picked it up and decided to read.
Book Review: A Man for Amanda (The Calhoun’s #2) by Nora Roberts
On the rocky coast of Maine sits the Towers, a magnificent family mansion that is home to a legend of long-lost love, hidden emeralds – and four sisters determined to save their home against all odds. Amanda was known as the responsible Calhoun sister. But when irresistible architect Sloan O’Riley came to town, it was Amanda’s turn to be rescued – from falling head over heels in love.
My Thoughts
Amanda Kelly Calhoun is organized and practical in her own right. Searching for the emeralds of her family, she is preoccupied with her life. Wanting to achieve her goals she works hard. Falling into Sloan O’Reily was not in her plans. Flustered, angry and off balance, she learns what the taste of love can bring. Her stubbornness to accept her feelings, it’s a whirlwind of a dance between the two, before they finally give in to those feelings. Manipulated by a hotel guest, he breaks into The Towers to find the emeralds. After a night of terror, Sloan demands that Amanda stops fighting her aversions and marry him. For the first time, Amanda is not practical, she’s in love. Roberts takes us on a journey with her easy to relate tone, and emotional adventure.
Book Review: Courting Catherine (The Calhoun’s #1) by Nora Roberts
It’s the stuff that love – and legends – are made of.
Mechanic Catherine “C.C.” Calhoun and hotel magnate Trenton St. James mix like axle grease and mineral water – until they kiss.
Efficient Amanda Calhoun finds easygoing Sloan O’Riley insufferable – and irresistible. And they both must race to solve the generations old mystery surrounding a hidden emerald necklace.
My Thoughts
C.C. Calhoun and her sisters, along with her aunt, are stripped to the bone with their finances. The Towers is their family home, generations growing within the walls, near the sea. The views spectacular and history close to her heart, Catherine struggles with the reality of selling her home. Trenton, a hotel owner, visits The Towers to observe the property and decide if a purchase is in his business’ best interest. Thoughtful, he realizes Aunt Coco, has more in mind for his visit. The prospect of marriage with one of the Calhoun women. A ridiculous thought, he struggles to keep his feeling in check for Catherine. Attraction reels, but his disbelief in marriage and loyalty hold him back. His parents, gone through several divorces and marriages, shown him the inability for commitment. Catherine falls in love with him, but averts her attention, knowing that she deserved love and marriage. The slow realization that he was indeed in love with her, he changes his plans and allows his heart to fall deeply in love. The first in the series of Calhoun sister’s, Robert’s words reveal the heart of a complex love story. As always, Robert’s shows the ability to take you on the journey of a lover, despair, and glee, the adventure becomes joy.
Book Review: The Betrayal by Kathryn Shay
With THE BETRAYAL, Kathryn Shay adds a brand new full length novel of romantic suspense to her impressive list of forty-three books, with five million copies in print. Follow this tale of twists and turns as two people find their lives totally entangled, no matter how hard they struggle against their connection.
Darcy Weston flees to her grandparents’ abandoned farm after her stepfather rapes her. There, she meets Jordan Mackenzie, a local boy, and the friendship of a lifetime begins. Jordan helps sustain Darcy with food and water, and his company, for months, but eventually her whereabouts are discovered. In subsequent years, the two young people try to stay in touch from their disparate worlds, but eventually they drift apart.
Flash forward twelve years. Jordan is an accomplished teacher and Darcy, an internationally famous, reclusive artist. They meet again when Jordan publishes a book that reveals secrets about Darcy’s past. But they find themselves thrown together first over the scandal his book creates, then over a murder. Once again, they turn to each other for help and comfort as they deal with police investigations, a variety of suspects from each other’s worlds, and a passion between them which won’t be denied.
My Thoughts
After Darcy is assaulted by her stepfather at the age of fifteen, she fled New York City to the farmhouse she inherited by her grandparents. The old dilapidated place holds memories and supplies to sustain the young girl. Though, she is faced with trouble when she has to avoid a woman who is concerned for her safety. Upon doing a home check, Darcy avoids the women but comes face to face with twelve year old, Jordan.
Jordan begins helping her hide and keeping her secret over the next month. They form a bond and friendship. Darcy paints and Jordan writes to pass the time together. It’s their routine and it gives them outlets for their talents. When Darcy gets hurt, Jordan is forced to seek medical attention blowing their cover and putting Darcy at risk for returning back in her assaulter’s reach. Stella, Jordan’s mother takes her in until the authorities find her.
As expected, Darcy engages in risky behavior to deal with her trauma. Visits back and forth between the teens aren’t enough to sustain a friendship. So, Darcy pushes him away for good and Jordan is left to pick up the pieces of his broken adolescent heart.
Twelve years later, his mother Stella is battling liver cancer and Jordan is faced with releasing his book all about his time at the farmhouse with Darcy. Darcy, how goes by the pseudonym D.J. West is private. The book would blow her cover and release details of the rape that she never intended for anyone to know.
After the book is set to be published, Darcy seduces Jordan and snags a copy. Only to turn around and file a lawsuit to keep it from coming out. Jordan, still in love with her is crushed. They have a falling out and reunite not on decent terms several months later.
A spree of crimes begins to pop up in after the book’s publication. Darcy’s rapist is murdered and she is a suspect. Jordan’s mother and himself suffer attacks. A series of events are put into motion and they all think the book is to blame.
An unlikely character produces the biggest betrayal of all and all are left reeling from the events.
Book Review: Finding the Dream (Dream Trilogy #3) by Nora Roberts
In the final novel of Nora Roberts’s Dream Trilogy, Laura struggles to mend a broken heart and broken family—until someone from her past makes all of her dreams come true …
Laura Templeton found out the hard way that nothing in life is guaranteed. The daughter of a wealthy hotelier, she had always known comfort, privilege, and security. But by the age of thirty, her storybook marriage had been destroyed by her husband’s infidelity. Laura’s divorce left her both emotionally and financially devastated—but determined to rebuild her life without the Templeton fortune.
Laura had always defined herself as a wife, a daughter, or a mother. Now, she must finally discover Laura the woman …
My Thoughts
Laura is stuck in the routine of work, running her boutique with her best friends, and being a mother. There isn’t room for anything else. Michael Fury lost his home in a mudslide and rents the Templeton Stables for his horses. It becomes clear quickly that he has eyes for her and makes no secret of it. Pain and heartbreak from the past bond them but fear rips them apart. Her falling off a cliff like her ancestor Seraphina pushes Micheal to forget his stupidity of leaving her. Love is scary and thinking that you aren’t’ good enough for a partner is all too familiar.
I loved this book. It was a great way to end the trilogy. Finding the Dowry and ending with love. Have I said enough how much I love Nora Roberts?
Book Review: Daring to Dream (Dream Trilogy #1) by Nora Roberts
Margo, Kate and Laura were brought up like sisters amidst the peerless grandeur of Templeton House. But it was Margo whose dreams first took her far away . . .
Margo Sullivan had everything a young woman could ask for. But while growing up along the rocky cliffs of Monterey, she couldn’t help but dream of bigger things. The daughter of the Templeton’s stern Irish housekeeper, Margo had been treated like a member of the family. Deep down, she knew that money could not buy the thing she craved most — her mother’s acceptance.
Maybe things would be different if she could be sweet like Laura — or had Kate’s shrewd head for business. But all Margo knew how to do was be Margo, and that meant doing things her own way — no matter what the consequences . . .
My Thoughts
I enjoyed seeing Margo come full circle. It’s interesting how life throws you a curveball and you find your roots. Josh being the rock and familiarity in her life cements their love.
