Review: Granny Undercover

Granny Undercover by Harper Lin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

For one thing, let me thank Harper for giving me an ARC to enjoy. My honest review is what you get. I have read every one of Harper's books. This series is my favorite....it's about a butt kicking ex CIA granny, Barbara Gold, only no knows she ex cia. Barbara is looking for ways to bond with her son and his family (esp her teenaged grandson), she's exploring new hobbies and local clubs in her new hometown. In this novella she discovers gardening. The hedge clippers that gardeners use will play a big part in the death of a local man, and the death will at first be ruled a suicide. Here is where it gets spicy, Barbara stumbles upon this death and her training leads her to realize it wasn't a suicide. From here Barbara gets into all kinds of trouble and will need some of that CIA training to save the day.

This is a quick read, a funny read (I chuckled out loud a couple of times) and very entertaining. I recommend any of Harper's books, but this series is by far my fave (followed by the Pink Cupcake).

Thank you Harper!!!

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Review: The Two-Family House

The Two-Family House by Lynda Cohen Loigman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Helen and Rose, the best of friends married to brothers that work together. Both families live in the same house too. Sounds simple but what you are about to read is full of ups and downs and a little drama. The overall story, I loved. So many twists, so many turns...I loved it. Parts of the story, I felt were too accelerated...things were missing to me. It is for that reason that I give the book 4 stars instead of 5. I will tell you that the ending is exceptional!

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Review: Here We Go Again: My Life in Television

Here We Go Again: My Life in Television by Betty White
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It took Betty 3 hours to read this book to me. I enjoyed it because I like her voice and love her tv work. Here she explains how she got started on the new thing called television. She talks about the wonderful Alan Ludden, Carol Burnett, Mary Tyler Moore, and the Golden Girls. A must for Betty fans!

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Review: Cremas, Christmas Cookies, and Crooks

Cremas, Christmas Cookies, and Crooks by Harper Lin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When a teacher at the local high school is murdered, there is only one person that comes to mind to solve the mystery. FRAN! (I am so glad she is back)

There are plenty of suspects, including a favorite teacher. Everyone who knows Mrs. Crowsdale, knows she is innocent....problem is she can't prove it and this is where Fran enters the drama.

I do believe this is may favorite book in the series. I say this every time, but I am very interested in the characters and Fran's coffee shop business. If you have not picked up a Harper Lin book....you should remedy that now. The books are quick reads perfect for a vacation or weekend read.

I received a copy of this book in advance in trade for my honest opinion of the book.

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Review: Another Woman's Husband

Another Woman's Husband by Gill Paul
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It all starts with the car crash that claimed the life of Princess Diana. This part takes me back to just how I felt when I learned Diana had died. Just when I am focused on Diana, we go back in time to the days of Wallis Simpson and her David (Edward VIII). The story is woven between these two women and pretty much how they both affected English history.

On another note, I am new to Gill Paul, but I realize that I am a big fan!!

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Review: The Affair: An enthralling story of love and passion and Hollywood glamour

The Affair: An enthralling story of love and passion and Hollywood glamour by Gill Paul
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I expected this book to be full of the tales of Liz and Dick as they fell in love on the set of Cleopatra. What I got was a book where that happened...PLUS, there was a Dateline twist! I loved that little surprise. Diana was hired to be the historian on the set of the epic film. She's married to an older man and disappointed he didn't want to go to Rome with her. She left her man at home and had all kind of adventures. These adventures changed her life forever.

I very much enjoyed this journey.

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Review: The Paris Winter

The Paris Winter by Imogen Robertson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I will tell you that I almost stopped reading this book at about 7% in. All I was getting was a poor girl that wanted to paint and she had a wealthy Russian friend. I actually stopped reading and picked up another book. For some reason, I opened this on my Kindle one last time and started reading. There it was the TWIST. That changed everything. I was sucked right into the world of 1909 Paris. As I said, Maud was boring to me at first. Just a typical starving artist until Tanya introduced her to Mr. Morel and Sylvie. Sylvie we find out is addicted to opium and Mr. Morel is trying to hide that fact from everyone, stating she is his little sister and he would do anything to protect her. The lies Mr. Morel tell get bigger from here until he does something that completely shocked me!! I mean my jaw dropped. From this point on, I could not wait to see what was going to happen. I am going to give this a 4 star because from about 12% on, the book was superb.

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Review: The Lost Letter

The Lost Letter by Jillian Cantor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Set in two timelines (I love these kinds of books) and focused on a stamp. I didn't do any research on stamp making in WWII, but this seems like a genius idea to hid things from the German army in a drawing of a postage stamp. There is a love story with the stamp idea and you will be at the collapse of the Berlin wall.

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Review: The Address

The Address by Fiona Davis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was going to read this solely for the reason that Fiona wrote it (I adore her books), but then she set the book at the Dakota. What a fascinating building to set a story!! Then she threw in a murder mystery. This one was hard to put down.

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Review: The German Girl

The German Girl by Armando Lucas Correa
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My friend made me read this and I am so glad that she did! This book travels from 2014 with Anna to 1939 with Hannah and follows the lives of the Rosenthal's/Rosen's. The story traveled to Havana, which I loved. Having just gotten back from Havana and visited many of the places from the book....everything was so visible in my mind. The story was sad, so sad, but such an important tale to tell. I had never heard about the ship St. Louis and had no idea what happened to those people. It's another story from (pre) WWII that people should know. Thank you sir for telling this history along with adding some characters that we would want to know more about and enjoy spending time with (we would also be sad right alongside them).

A wonderful book.

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Review: The Prisoner in the Castle

The Prisoner in the Castle by Susan Elia MacNeal
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

WOW!!! WoW! WOW!!

Ok, I just finished this and I am a big ball of "I can't believe it". This book was outstanding. This series has gotten better and better with every book. Now, there is a lot of murder in each one, it is wartime and Maggie works for the government, lots of deaths.

In this one, the tables have turned and she knows too much government secrets so she is locked away in a castle off the coast of Scotland with many other agents.

You don't get much into the reading of the book before people start dying off. Who is doing the killing? Well, that will lead you through a maze of double crossers, and radio transmissions, a missing German U-boat and finally you will see how it was all done, and you will say, "wow, that ride was worth it".

Enjoy!

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Review: You Can't Spell America Without Me: The Really Tremendous Inside Story of My Fantastic First Year as President Donald J. Trump

You Can't Spell America Without Me: The Really Tremendous Inside Story of My Fantastic First Year as President Donald J. Trump by Alec Baldwin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Donald J Trump is the greatest person on the planet. I know because he told me so almost as soon as the book started.

I did the audio version and no one does Trump better than Baldwin. This book was a bit like a giant SNL skit. You won't learn much about the REAL Donald J Trump, but you will learn about one Donald J Trump. Confused yet?

It didn't seem very long that "Trump" narrated and then some dude (the co author) came in. I kind of lost interest there, but it came back when Trump re-entered the room.

All in all, this was fun. If you are looking for a book on the President, move on. If you are looking for a few laughs and possibly a way to build your self esteem, proceed on.

I can't imagine that reading this would give you the same feeling so I say do the audio.

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Review: The War Bride's Scrapbook

The War Bride's Scrapbook by Caroline Preston
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book so very much. Full of ephemera, letters, drawings, and advertisements. This book was over the top because of the story line that went along with all the fun stuff. The story line was FANTASTIC!!! It was written in a style like we were reading an actual woman's journal. A journal where she placed every single item that was ever important to her inside. Like a memory vault, a vault with secrets, lies, war, and adultery and visually appealing with the turn of each and every page.

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Review: Granny Strikes Back

Granny Strikes Back by Harper Lin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Barbara Gold is just perfect! She is a former CIA agent that is trying hard to live a nice calm life in retirement. She has met a man she is a bit attracted to and goes on a date with him. From there things get kind of adventuresome for the duo. Once it got to this point, I could not stop until I was finished. I won't spoil it for you, but I will tell you it will be fun, unexpected and a tad outrageous. Wonderful fun!

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Review: Elizabeth the Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch

Elizabeth the Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch by Sally Bedell Smith
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I very much enjoyed this journey through the Queen's life. The insights into her early life were fun to visit because in my lifetime I have only known the Queen to be older. I also liked looking into the time during Diana's death and how the royal family had to reshape after that. In between these times, I saw a glimpse of a very strong woman that tries hard to uphold her duties and is willing to change with the times. I very much enjoyed this read. After I read the text version I did that audio and I enjoyed the narrator's voice.

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Review: Desserts and Death

Desserts and Death by Harper Lin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love all of Harper's books. This is one of my favorite series that she writes. You can read any of the books as a standalone, but you will have lots of fun if you start from book 1 and read all the way to this one (#6). Amelia owns the cutest and very popular cupcake food truck....her ex is a louse that tries to take their kids away (she has primary custody but he and his new wife want them). She has a budding romance with a policeman and she tends to get into a lot of trouble. This one starts when LuAnn hires her to bake 100 plus cupcakes for a funeral. It is just as crazy as you think it could get! A fun "read at the beach" or on a plane book. I personally like these books whenever I just want to escape for a few hours.

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Review: Espressos, Eggnogs, and Evil Exes

Espressos, Eggnogs, and Evil Exes by Harper Lin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I think the Cape Bay Cafe series is so fun. I love a good coffee shop. This is a part of a series, but you could read it as a stand alone, but why would you want to?

Fran's best friend and co worker is stalked by her boyfriend's ex...then the ex ends up dead. Who do think is the suspect? Sammy the best friend. Jump right in for some fun, some craziness and a nice way to spend a weekend. Bonus....there is a "killer" eggnog recipe in the back of the book.

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Review: This Is Me: Loving the Person You Are Today

This Is Me: Loving the Person You Are Today by Chrissy Metz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

While it is written in the typical celebrity book style, it is also a sweet book. I did the audiobook so you can hear Chrissy's honest voice about the life events that shaped who she is. You hear the gratitude in her voice...which makes it different than the typical celebrity book. There was heart here. I also felt her belief in God which makes my heart happy :)

She talks about her mistakes, her successes and her dreams and tries to help you fulfill YOUR dreams by giving you life lessons based on what she has been though in this life.

I gave it 5 stars because she is AWESOME!!!!!!!!

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Review: Failing Up: How to Take Risks, Aim Higher, and Never Stop Learning

Failing Up: How to Take Risks, Aim Higher, and Never Stop Learning by Leslie Odom Jr.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is written as Leslie talks and I adored that about the book. It was like sitting down and having a conversation with him. In this conversation he talks to us about mentors. That was the main thing that I took away from the text. Finding that mentor, listening to them and allowing them to help guide you into being the best YOU! The second thing I took away was being active in the quest for that better you. Being your own advocate...being active in searching your path, forging that path and using God to guide you. I loved how he was tight with his family, how his wife is his shining star and how he doesn't quit. The thing I didn't like was that he rarely touched on the role that made me adore him, SMASH. That is where I discovered him and started following him, but he made up for that a bit by talking about his role in RENT (oh how I would have loved to see him in that show) and of course how Aaron Burr changed him. Great book LOJ.

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Review: The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland

The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland by Jim DeFede
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am a tad obsessed with the play Come From Away since it was at the Ford's Theater the same time we were there in 2016. I have been trying to find something that would tell of what really happened over these days in Sept 2001. This book was short but provided some details as to what a small town did to make thousands of scared travelers feel safe and cared for. It is kind of emotional because you sort of have all those feelings you had on September 11, 2o01 and then you feel the terror of "the plane people".

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