I LOVED this book! Her fiction books are some of my favorites and this one is now up there as well. She and her family renovate an old house in Port TI LOVED this book! Her fiction books are some of my favorites and this one is now up there as well. She and her family renovate an old house in Port Townsend and she weaves in marriage and motherhood and her writing life as they go. I don't think I'll ever look at a house the same way again. ❤️...more
I loved this! It was exactly what I needed right now. With adventure, sexy romance, and unexpected twists and turns, it's honestly too much fun. I loved this! It was exactly what I needed right now. With adventure, sexy romance, and unexpected twists and turns, it's honestly too much fun. ...more
I REALLY liked this book. I have now read 3 books by Christina Lauren and truly admire how one book can be more flirty, funny and playful while one liI REALLY liked this book. I have now read 3 books by Christina Lauren and truly admire how one book can be more flirty, funny and playful while one like this is just pure, consistent depth of emotion. I honestly couldn't put it down. Such a great read. ❤️ ...more
I love Abbi Waxman's writing and her characters. This was a realistic look at Lilian's life as a single mom after her husband dies in a car accident. I love Abbi Waxman's writing and her characters. This was a realistic look at Lilian's life as a single mom after her husband dies in a car accident. With her sister to help her and some new friends at a gardening class, she learns how to grieve, live, and move forward. I loved it. I will read everything she writes....more
I LOVED this book. The two communities Leena and Eileen live in are full of great characters and the two women are wonderful characters themselves! ItI LOVED this book. The two communities Leena and Eileen live in are full of great characters and the two women are wonderful characters themselves! It's a creative story idea that shows the ways life can teach us when we are willing to change scenery for a bit....more
I am a huge fan of Emily P. Freeman and this did not disappoint. Filled with wisdom and insight with that tender touch of grace that happens in all shI am a huge fan of Emily P. Freeman and this did not disappoint. Filled with wisdom and insight with that tender touch of grace that happens in all she writes (and in her podcasts), I honestly highlighted about 95% of this book. And I bought a copy for my kids and numerous friends. It's not just a great read but a valuable one. Read this. You're welcome. ...more
This is a super fun read with all kinds of intrigue and twists and turns. I couldn't put it down! This is a super fun read with all kinds of intrigue and twists and turns. I couldn't put it down! ...more
This is a fantastic read! So much great information and I love how the author did her research rather than just saying what it means to be a bad listeThis is a fantastic read! So much great information and I love how the author did her research rather than just saying what it means to be a bad listener. Based on research she gives tips and advice for becoming a better listener....more
I may have loved this book even more than the first one, The School of Essential Ingredients. Written in a similar fashion as the first book, each chaI may have loved this book even more than the first one, The School of Essential Ingredients. Written in a similar fashion as the first book, each chapter glimpses into the life of each character, but unlike book one, The Lost Art of Mixing is not set around a cooking class but rather Lillian's life and restaurant and the people within her world. Each person's story is so wonderful and written in prose that pulls you in and makes you want to stay forever. I loved it. I will miss these characters and think of them often. The sign of a truly great read, in my opinion. ...more
This book is beautiful. The food is a character in the story, the character that pulls each person in Lillian's cooking class together. Every chapter This book is beautiful. The food is a character in the story, the character that pulls each person in Lillian's cooking class together. Every chapter is like peeking into the window of each person's life-why they are attending the class, their background, their sorrow or joy. And Lillian is not unlike a fairy godmother who, through teaching them to cook, helps them find what they're looking for. I savored every word of this book and bought the next one immediately. I will start reading it today....more
I am a fast reader but I took my time with this one. I wanted to soak it in and not miss a word.
I don't say lightly that this book is a life changer.I am a fast reader but I took my time with this one. I wanted to soak it in and not miss a word.
I don't say lightly that this book is a life changer. For years, I felt so much guilt for any relax time during my day. Daydreaming, prayer, anything. Our world doesn't view stillness or calm as productive. And I wanted to be productive. Who doesn't, right?
But the Bible doesn't say to run ourselves into the ground trying to be productive. Simply Tuesday's are about restoration, balance, embracing what is, and learning to be instead of always doing.
To say I loved this book is an understatement. I highlighted about 85% of it. And I will be re-reading it in the future. It is not just a great book, but a tool for life. ...more
This book is appropriately titled because it's like watching a train wreck - you simply can't look away. Mesmerized from the beginning, I could not puThis book is appropriately titled because it's like watching a train wreck - you simply can't look away. Mesmerized from the beginning, I could not put the book down until I was finished. I HAD to know the end.
One review I read called it "Hitchcockian" and I could not agree more. It reminded me of the movie Rear Window. Told from three different women's points of view, The Girl On The Train is a suspense thriller at it's finest.
I am a character driven reader and writer and the characters in this book are written brilliantly. Rachel is a literal train wreck herself but the author wrote her in such a way that I felt sorry enough for her to want to know her story. And I really wanted things to work out for her. The other characters were so full of mystery and intrigue I felt unease about each one, never truly knowing them or what they would do next.
And I loved how the book ended. The author didn't leave the reader with frustrating unknowns but wraps it up in a way where I was satisfied but can't stop thinking about the story. Brilliant. Excellent read. ...more
I loved this book. Great characters are key to a great book for me. And I couldn't get enough of Jake and Jodi. Jake was the perfect romance book heroI loved this book. Great characters are key to a great book for me. And I couldn't get enough of Jake and Jodi. Jake was the perfect romance book hero. Loving, caring, and willing to fight for the woman he loves. He was a refreshing change as well from the heroes who need reforming or turning from their wayward ways by the heroine. In Rules Of The Game, Jake is a good guy. A really good guy. Perfect? No. Broken? Yes. But wanting to heal. And willing to be vulnerable to win Jodi's heart. Jodi at times frustrated me with her unwillingness to budge and move forward with Jake, but with her background and personality it made sense. Lori Wilde did a great job of developing Jodi's character. I could relate to her need for control and yet wanting to let go at the same time, just unsure of how, and afraid of the outcome. Jake and Jodi are a true love story. I look forward to more books in the series. ...more
I loved everything about this book. Great characters are key to a great romance, in my opinion, and I could not have loved Colin and Hannah more. BothI loved everything about this book. Great characters are key to a great romance, in my opinion, and I could not have loved Colin and Hannah more. Both are scarred from loss but where Hannah is always optimistic and believes in love, Colin fears his heart can't handle any more pain so love isn't worth the risk. I appreciated the emotional connection they made before moving forward in their relationship. And instead of things being purely physical between them, they needed one another to heal. Tanya Michaels is hands down a new favorite author for me. And this book goes on my list of top romances....more
I LOVED this book. Loved. I'm a character driven reader and writer and these were fantastic characters.
Kate was the perfect romance heroine. VulnerabI LOVED this book. Loved. I'm a character driven reader and writer and these were fantastic characters.
Kate was the perfect romance heroine. Vulnerable in her feelings for David, but a strong woman who knows she needs to fight for what is hers. I liked her maturity. She always admitted when something sucked but thought things through and took the high road, putting her daughter's best interests first.
And David. Loved everything about David. I normally don't like stories where the hero's past is simply written off as "boys will be boys" and Jeannie Moon doesn't let him off the hook that easy - loved it. He owned up to his past choices and worked hard to change and be the man Kate deserves.
I thought Moon did a great job of tying all the family stories together. I wanted to be upset with Laura for how she treated her mother, but Moon did a good job of showing a young teen in a nasty family situation who eventually sees the truth and owns up to her mistakes.
All of Moon's characters and dialogue were realistic which is what I like most about her writing. I found myself thinking about these people and their situation as if I actually knew them. A sign of a great book, for me, is how it makes me feel and at what level. I got completely wrapped up in the emotion of Kate's life. I was even late to an appointment this morning because I was reading and lost track of time!
This was my first book by Moon and I'm sold-I'm a fan. ...more