The Trouble with Tulip (A Smart Chick Mystery Book 1) book #9

Josephine Tulip is definitely a smart chick, a twenty-first century female MacGyver who writes a helpful hints column and solves mysteries in her spare time. Her best friend, Danny, is a talented photographer who longs to succeed in his career...perhaps a cover photo on National Geographic?  When Jo's next-door neighbor is accused of murder, Jo realizes the police have the wrong suspect. As she and Danny analyze clues, follow up on leads, and fall in and out of trouble, she recovers from a broken heart and he discovers that he has feelings for her. Will Danny have the courage to reveal them, or will he continue to hide them behind a façade of friendship?  (picture and description from amazon)

It was ok, nothing to write home about.  I have the next one in the series, but I also have another new book I'm itching to get into.  Wonder which one with win?

Happy Reading!

O:)
Melissa

The Accidental Bride, book #8

After reading this book and this book, I knew there was no way I was going to pass up this book!  Especially since this book is the one I had from the get go to read!

Just like the other two books in the series, I truly loved this one also.  Sigh ... sad to see them end ...

When a wedding reenactment turns real, Shay finds she's an accidental bride. Shay Brandenberger is raising her daughter in Moose Creek, Montana, on her childhood ranch, nestled against the Yellowstone River. Despite the hard work, she can't seem to keep her head above water-and now the bank is threatening to foreclose. She prays for a miracle, but the answer she receives is anything but expected. Having agreed to play the bride in the Founders' Day wedding reenactment, Shay is mortified to be greeted at the end of the aisle by none other than Travis McCoy, her high-school sweetheart-the man who left her high and dry for fame and fortune on the Texas rodeo circuit. Then the unthinkable happens. Thanks to a well-meaning busybody and an absentminded preacher, the make-believe vows result in a legal marriage. But before Shay can say annulment, Travis comes up with a crazy proposal. If she refuses his offer, she may lose her home. If she accepts, she may lose her heart. Shay isn't sure if the recent events are God's will or just a preacher's blunder. Will trusting her heart to the man who once shattered it be the worst mistake of her life? Or could their marriage be the best accident that ever happened?  
Picture and description at amazon)

Now I'm off to the next Book Club Book!

O:)
Melissa

A Cowboy's Touch, book #7

After reading this book for Book Club, and then this one, I decided it was time to go back to Moose Creek and start the series over proper like.  As is par for the course, Denise Hunter did not disappoint.  While the Robert Whitlow book was a good deep swim into thick, deep writing style, these fun reads by Denise are more like Hallmark Movies.  While you know what the ending is going to look like, it's fun to see how it will play out.

Abigail is just in Moose Creek, Montana for the summer to temporarily care for her great aunt. But a tender-hearted cowboy beckons her to stay.  Abigail Jones intends to spend just one summer in middle-of-nowhere Montana with her Aunt Lucy. Time away from her job is just what Abigail needs to reassess her life. The slow pace has her breathing deeply for the first time in years. And the majestic scenery encourages her to get reacquainted with herself . . . and God.  What she didn't count on was the handsome widowed cowboy who owns the ranch where her aunt lives. When the rancher loses his daughter's nanny, Abigail decides to lend a hand for the summer.  Wade Ryan can't help being attracted to Abigail. But he's given up everything to protect his daughter, and he's not about to risk it all on a pretty face.  Under Abigail's care, Wade's home and daughter thrive. And with Wade's touch, Abigail's heart feels at home at last. But Abigail knows this elusive rancher is hiding something. Will her own secrets separate her from the cowboy who finally captured her heart?  (description and picture from Amazon)

I enjoyed this one so much I am already reading the middle one of this series!

Happy Reading!

O:)
Melissa

A Time to Stand, book #6

This is the second option for Book Club this month.  While I did not necessarily enjoy the story line, I do love Robert Whitlow's in depth writing style and how he shows you the "lawyer side" without making it too complicated.

In a small Georgia town where racial tensions run high and lives are at stake, can one lawyer stand up for justice against the tide of prejudice on every side?  Adisa Johnson, a young African-American attorney, is living her dream of practicing law with a prestigious firm in downtown Atlanta. Then a split-second mistake changes the course of her career. Left with no other options, Adisa returns to her hometown where a few days earlier a white police officer shot an unarmed black teen who is now lying comatose in the hospital. Adisa is itching to jump into the fight as a special prosecutor, but feels pulled to do what she considers unthinkable—defend the officer. As the court case unfolds, everyone in the small community must confront their own prejudices. Caught in the middle, Adisa also tries to chart her way along a path complicated by her budding relationship with a charismatic young preacher who leads the local movement demanding the police officer answer for his crime. This highly relevant and gripping novel challenges us to ask what it means to forgive while seeking justice and to pursue reconciliation while loving others as ourselves. (picture and description from amazon)

Wonder where my next reading adventure will take me!

Happy Reading

O:)
Melissa

The Trouble with Cowboys, book #5

Well this month's Book Club choice was up to me.  The genre was supposed to be Western, but sometimes we get off course with the schedule.  A few of the ladies and I decided we wanted to read this one so we did.  And I was not disappointed.  Light, cute, quick .. not really pioneers out west, but cowboys so that is pretty close.

Only one pair of boots—and the cowboy wearing them—can get Annie out of the mess she’s in.  Annie Wilkerson is Moose Creek’s premiere horse trainer and equine columnist for Montana Living. Money is tight as she tries to put her kid-sister through college and provide for her young nephew. When Annie’s column is cancelled, she’s given first shot at a new lovelorn column—and she can’t afford to turn it down. Only problem is . . . Annie’s never been in love.  Always resourceful, she reluctantly strikes a deal with the town’s smooth-talking ladies’ man Dylan Taylor: She’ll work with his ailing horse, Braveheart, if he’ll help her answer the reader letters.  Working closely with Dylan is harder than Annie imagined, and she quickly realizes she may have misjudged him. But her unwavering conviction that cowboys are nothing but trouble has kept her heart safe for years. And she can’t risk getting hurt now.  The more Annie tries to control things, the more they fall apart. Her feelings are spinning out of control, and her sister’s antics are making life increasingly more difficult. Annie knows she needs to turn the reins over to God, but surrender has never come easily.  When Dylan reveals his feelings for her, Annie doesn’t know what to trust—her head or her heart. The trouble with this cowboy is that he might just be exactly what she needs. (picture and description from amazon)

Now I am going to go back and read the book some other ladies wanted ~ and see if I get done in time!

Happy Reading!

O:)
Melissa

The Good of Giving Up, book #4

Folks, this book just blew my mind WIDE OPEN to what all Lent is ~ what it means ~ what it can do ~ and why I should do it. A few quotes from the book:

The desert is where God called his people to make them holy. We might assume that the wilderness is a place of exile and isolation, and it certainly can be that. But in the story of redemption, the wilderness has always been a sacred rendezvous spot for God and His beloved sons and daughter.

We do not go into the wilderness to find Good. We enter the wilderness because God has found us.

We need more than a Good Friday service two days in advance to get into the state of mind and heart to celebrate Jesus' victory over death and hell.

Lent is not our ultimate destination. The wilderness fast is temporary ... The bright light of the resurrection is ahead.

Hebrews 12

12 Therefore, *since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses*, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. ~~ A cloud of witnesses invites us to feast on Jesus through fasting, prayer and generosity [the trifecta of Lent]. Along with Jesus they are cheering for us to sit at the table. To do so may mean that we lay aside some comfortable hindrances, that we say goodbye to a few attachments. "Good riddance, I want a seat next to Jesus at the table!" That is what I'm called to do. And so are you.

We need Lent because repentance is not just a prayer. It is a posture. We need time and space to become repentant people, to experience the depths of Jesus' forgiveness.

Practicing Lent is like taking a long bath in the wonderful grace of Jesus.

And so we trekked out to the wilderness of Lent, unsatisfied on purpose, clinging to the promise of something better than the world could ever offer. So we put one weary foot in front of the other, fueled by the hope of Easter. And one glad morning we find that the journey is over. Lent has come to an end. ... When we come hungry to Easter, Jesus is ready to satisfy us with a heavenly meal. ... We are nourished by Jesus as Scripture is read, as the gospel is preached, as songs are played, and as communion is served.

Romans 8:18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

Even if you don't read it for this season, it’s an incredible book and you will WANT to read it!!

(picture from amazon)

Happy Reading!

O:)

Melissa

The Goodbye Bride, book #3

This book had so much potential.  The story was ok, but there is so many things that just didn't make sense.  Loved the story, disappointed in the delivery.

She only remembers loving him. But he can’t forget the way she left. Lucy Lovett can’t remember the last seven months of her life.  She doesn’t remember leaving her fiancé Zac Callahan weeks before their wedding or moving to Portland, Maine. And she sure doesn’t remember getting engaged to another man. All she remembers is loving Zac more than life itself.  Zac was just beginning to get his life back on track after Lucy left him with no explanation. And now she’s back—vulnerable, homeless, and still in love with him. Has he been given a second chance with the only woman who stirs his passion and haunts his dreams?  Lucy knows she must unlock those missing months and discover why she threw everything away. And Zac knows that if he follows his heart he’ll win back the love of his life—but if Lucy’s memory returns, his would-be bride might say goodbye forever.(picture and description at amazon)

I've actually started on a nonfiction book .... hope I can stick with it!

And, I've started a Bible Reading Plan, but this time I'm not listing those as books read.  

Happy Reading!
O:)
Melissa