Saturday, September 30, 2017

The Unlucky Bride (Bride, Texas #2)



The Unlucky Bride (Bride, Texas #2)
by Sylvia McDaniel


What a wonderful delightful way to blend in the Texas bride series to Cupid series in this second chance romance.  One night leads to a set of events that spin out of control with two people missing out on their true chance at love. Both going on to live their lives as they wanted when another set of events bring them together to deal with the issues they should have faced in the past.  There are so many unanswered questions along with a secret that Laney has been hiding for years.

The story starts off with Laney ready to walk down the aisle with a few doubts about marrying the man at the end of it. She stiffens up her chin and starts down making it to the end ready to say I do when the minister ask if there was anyone who objects. With those words her life is changed forever leaving her on the run taking her young son with her running to an island her best friend’s family owns. When she gets there she finds her one nightstands from years ago, who just happens to be her best friend’s brother there. He is there because some women broke his heart and needs some alone time to work through it. Neither is happy to see the other but a bad storm keeps them in each other’s company. Could this me Cupid making sure they face the past and bring to old loves together or is it just a freak of nature? Now they must deal with past issues and Laney must deal with what she hasn’t told him that will change both their lives.

This is a fun read that I laughed and chuckled my way through. There are some serious issues that really hit home making them come face to face with their past. Chase has the right name it seems Laney has been chasing him for most of her life until the one night things got out of control leaving him walking way with a promised phone call that never came. She on the other hand hasn’t had things very easy taking her college class on line raising her son and hoping he doesn’t turn out like all the other men in this world that are just a**hats. It is a fast moving read that I had no trouble reading at one setting. The characters are interesting along with the drama and the fallout from the years past to the here and now. Both find they are very much attracted still to the other and neither has forgotten that night. Both running from it for their own reasons that really seem silly to them by the time they work their issues out. Both have fault that lead to the fallout but neither can see past the old and new hurts. It was fun watching them dance around each other as they find the love of the past but still have a hard time getting over the outcome which puts each other at odds and fighting for something they both want. Laney son is a sweetie I fell in love with him from the start with his humor and child like ways it is hard not to take him inside your heart. I had to laugh at the characters as they work out their issues. Laney’s ex is something else and bring some fun to the read along with a few shocks. Her best friend is a delight that keeps the book moving. I loved the humor, the way the story unfolds and the romance. There wasn’t anything I didn’t like about this story. It held my attention and kept me invested in the story. Starting with a shock and leaving you smiling and your heart all warm and fuzzy.

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Summary
Flood waters and broken hearts…two jilted ex-lovers trapped in Bride, Texas

Laney Baxter’s ironic escape to Bride, Texas couldn’t be more fitting - considering she is a runaway bride! Unfortunately, her plans to hide out have her jumping from the frying pan into the fire when she discovers she is trapped with the one man who broke her heart years ago - Chase Hamilton! Now, she can only hope the rising waters recede just as fast before Chase uncovers the mystery of their past.

Chase returns to Bride, Texas to nurse a broken heart and re-evaluate his life. The family home along the river was supposed to offer him peace and quiet, not the last woman he ever expected to see again. When the river rises, trapping them together, Chase questions whether his heart was really broken or just his ego bruised.

Laney and Chase are forced to face some startling revelations - including the feelings they still have for each other. Can the two work through their tangled emotions before the river recedes, or will long hidden secrets tear them apart?

Sweet Christmas Kisses 4: A Bundle of 14 Wholesome Holiday Romances


Sweet Christmas Kisses 4: A Bundle of 14 Wholesome Holiday Romances
 
by Mona Risk, Josie Riviera, Beate Boeker, Christine Bush, Lyn Cote, Denise Devine, Raine English, Jean C. Gordon, Shanna Hatfield, Milou Koenings, Roxanne Rustand, Magdalena Scott, Kristin Wallace, Merilee Whren


So far I have only read Saving Mistletoe by Shanna Hatfield I try to read all of her books. She has been one of my favorite authors for some time giving the reader a fun story with meaning. But all of these authors have stories in this box-set that sound so wonderful I am really looking forward to reading them all. Some are new authors to me, others I have come to love their writing style. I can’t wait to sink my eyes into the rest of these stories.

Saving Mistletoe - Shanna Hatfield 
I really like the meaning behind this story. You know how it is when you think you want something but find it really isn’t what you want, leaving you wondering why you are busting yourself working way too hard to get it only to find it isn’t worth your time. Here you have a lawyer who wants to be a partner and is working 60 hours plus a week to reach that goal only to find she is doing things she really doesn’t want to for people who really don’t care.  It takes one bullheaded cop and one sweet child to show her that what she thinks she wants might not be what she really wants.

I love this story from the plot to the way it was written pulling the reader in giving you a smile and a few chuckles long the way. It is a fun clean read that will at times break your heart.  What a delightful way to remind us what the true meaning of Christmas is. It is about making others happy, putting your best foot forward, helping others who need it and filling the holiday with cheer why making dreams come true for one little girl and her father at the same time finding your one and only. It is a heartwarming read that really grabs you pulling you in and getting you ready for the holidays which are not that far away. A delightful story that I will read again. It really touched me putting my faith back into mankind.

The story is based around a cop and a lawyer who keeps running into each other you will smile at the run-ins. I loved the scenes where they butt heads but at the same time making the other think. The little girl with how she is found and what all is happening just breaks your heart. When Burke finds her it breaks his heart to have to send her away to SS. He decided to make her life better bring Ellen in to help him make a few of her wishes come true. As these two join together putting a smile on the little girls face they find they truly have feelings for each other. This is a story of finding out what you really want, helping a family that is down on their luck and making a special bound with a family in need. All wrapped around a budding romance that keeps you smiling.

I thought it was very well written, giving smiles, laughs and chuckles but at times heartbreaking. I loved the meaning, the way it was written and the heartwarming feelings it gave me. The characters were a delight. The build up on this clean sweet romance was wonderful. I could not help falling in love with these characters.

I hope you will pick up this wholesome sweet holiday romance bundle I am sure there is something forever one. You cannot bet the price at 99 cents it is well worth it.

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Summary
Sweet Christmas Kisses 4 by Mona Risk, Beate Boeker, Christine Bush, Lyn Cote
Usher in the holiday season with 14 heartwarming all-new, stand-alone stories from New York Times, USA Today, national bestselling, and award-winning authors. Sweet Christmas Kisses 4 takes you from the Pocono Mountains to sunny Florida, and as far away as Portugal.

Curl up with your favorite hot beverage and enjoy this sweet romance boxed set that's sure to put you in the mood for Christmas.

Mona Risk, In Time for Christmas
Dr. Sylvia Reynolds promised to be at her parents', in time for Christmas dinner, but her priorities change after she meets a motherless baby and her gorgeous uncle.

Beate Boeker, Unique Christmas
Chiara hopes to spend a solitary Christmas all by herself. But when a man jumps through her office window to save her from an accident, things spin away--beyond her wildest dreams.

Christine Bush, Christmas with the Cat Lady
Carly is happy living alone in her mountain house with her cats. Can the handsome author who rents a room over the Christmas holidays change her mind?

Lyn Cote, Loving Winter
At her cousin's wedding, Winter Woodard, owner of her family's garden center, isn't expecting to meet her match in local football coach, Clay Dixon, (she isn't IN to sports!) but he stands by her through a holiday season fraught with unexpected setbacks.

Denise Devine, Once Upon a Christmas
Small town girl returns home to find love and success, but can she outlast the mistakes of her past?

Raine English, Christmas in Walnut Creek
Will a Christmas blizzard reunite a couple and give them a second chance at love?

Jean C. Gordon, A Team Macachek Christmas
Sparks fly from a Christmastime reunion of motocross racer Jesse Brewster and his ex-girlfriend Lauren Cooper. But is it the wrong time for their love?

Shanna Hatfield, Saving Mistletoe
A stubborn cop, a hotshot attorney, and a little girl determined to see her father need a miracle to make this holiday season jolly and bright.

Milou Koenings, The Gift of Yesterday
When Bailey returns to Green Pines to open a pastry shop, Joe Hudson sees all his Christmas wishes coming true--if only he can convince her to risk her heart again.

Josie Riviera, A Portuguese Christmas
The holidays--like love--can sneak up on you. And sweep you away like a riptide.

Roxanne Rustand, A Christmas in Montana
Kristen Weatherby goes to Montana to get her late grandmother's house ready to sell, but finds much more than she bargained for: a house she can't let go, a charming mountain town, and a handsome veterinarian who just might steal her heart.

Magdalena Scott, A Cowboy for Christmas
Hannah Kincaid is in love with Jacob Hollingsworth, and will overcome her fear of horses and his bossy brother Michael to get a Christmas happily-ever-after with the cowboy of her dreams.

Kristin Wallace, Loving You at Christmas
Annaliese Matheson is convinced she'll never love again. This Christmas will become the opening act for her holiday happily ever after.

Merrillee Whren, Puppy Love and Mistletoe
Can a little girl and a fluffy black dog bring a reluctant couple together in a Christmas miracle?

Sunday, September 24, 2017

Dan McCall's Bride


I know I know I am doing a lot of audios right now but there is much around the house to get done, from butching to planting and everything in between.

Dan McCall's Bride: Mail Order Misdelivery, Book 1

Written by: Barbara Goss
Narrated by: R. William James
Length: 4 hrs and 24 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:09-01-17
Publisher: Barbara A. Goss

When you are women traveling on a train by yourself to meet the man you agreed to marry through a mail order bride ad and your train is taken over, they kidnap you just long enough to get away, throw you down, you hit your head, and everything goes black. You wake up not knowing where you are or who you are what do you do? You latch on to the man that saves you and becomes your hero but what do you do when the man doesn’t want to be latched on to? You hold on for dear life since he is the only person you know. This is the easy part but what do you do when your attend comes for you? I can tell you this there are a lot of twists and turns in this story that hold your attention. Just when you think it has all gone south there is another turn in the road.

The narrator does a wonderful job he really delivers the emotion of his characters giving a wonderful entertaining audio. His female and male voices are wonderful, you always know who is talking and just what they are feeling. He has a smooth strong voice that gives just enough pauses between each character to build the story to its height. No background noises, no volume changes just a smooth clean and clear audio. I thought his performance was wonderful. If any breaks were taken I could not tell.  I could really hear the pain, confusion and sorrow in Leila voice along with the uneasiness and confusion in Dan’s voice. The outlaws where great he really bought them to life as he gives them anger, confusion and defeat to their voices.  This is the first time I have listen to any of his work I was very impressed.

The story I am torn I can understand why Leila felt the way she did but I am unsure in that time period if a women would go the lengths she did. If she had some more experience I would go along with it but to be honest who am I to say what a person would do when they has amnesia. I really wanted to feel sorry for her but with her action I just could not.  Dan is who I felt the sorriest for as he tries to do what is right but she isn’t having any of that.  He really is a man of honor and practice what he preaches.  As he comes to understand he does has feeling for her he still can’t work through marrying her and leaving her behind with his dangerous job. There are so many things in their way and what about the man is to marry.

What the author gives you is a very entertaining story filled with action from the train robbery, cattle rustlers in one exciting read that pulls you in and takes you back in time to when the west was a very wild place to live. She brings religion into it with spiritual meaning in a clean story about a man who put god first but is tempted by a women who he really would love to have.

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Summary
Can love conquer a confirmed bachelor?
On Leila's way to meet her intended as his mail order bride, Dan McCall, a federal agent, finds her lying on the side of the road unconscious. He rescues her and she attaches her heart to him immediately. Dan is not the marrying kind...or is he? Joe, her intended, is not happy to lose yet another mail order bride, and takes drastic measures to insure their marriage. Leila faces a dilemma - risk the man's life who saved hers, or marry a man she despises.

Saturday, September 23, 2017

Occupational Hazards: The Blue-Collar Omnibus by Geoff Sturtevant

Occupational Hazards: The Blue-Collar Omnibus
by Geoff Sturtevant


Jar Baby -John McLain (Narrator)
I laughed myself silly from baby in the jar to the, redneck hillbilly and his ways just too dang funny. “I’ll be dipped in S*** “ has become my favorite new saying. I thought I would die laughing at how he talked about his wife, the TV and new laptop. His wife is something else as they bring you laugh after laugh I bet you won’t be able to stop listening. The ending is to die for just too funny. The narrator did an outstanding job, loved his character voices he really had the characters down to a T. I plan to listen to this one again.

The Relativist - Jonathan Sleep (Narrator)
I didn’t care for this one it is about Chinese people and how they cook, what their secrets are. The narrator never did sound Chinese which really took away from the story. The narrator wasn’t bad his character voice just didn’t fit this story.

Anything For My Bubela - Steven Jay Cohen (Narrator)
A man owes a lot of money and mother is beside herself. Just how could her dear son do this to her? Funny, cute as the author spins a delightful tale of mother, son and the wrong people to owe money to. I laughed so much through this. Dear sweet mama is something else and so very surprising.The narration was wonderful I loved his character voices they really fit the character and pull you in. I had no trouble picturing each scene as it unfolded. The narrator really puts a lot of emotion into this audio. I just loved it and plan to listen to this one again.

The Organization - Paul J. McSorley (Narrator)
This is about an old folks home and what happens to them as a delivery man looks on in horror. It’s full of surprises you won’t see coming. A great twist that is shocking but at times funny once you get over the horror of it. The narration was great, wonderful male and female voices that fit each character. The emotion for each character was outstanding.

Anchors Away – Geoff Sturtevant (Author, Narrator)
This is not listened on the title page but it is a short story about a sailor, his voyage and letting his so call anchor fly. That is about all I can say about it without giving it away. The author is also the narrator in this story. He does a wonderful job of narration from his character voices to his sound effects they are outstanding. I do wish it has been a little longer about the time you get into the story it is over. A fun listen that holds your attention.

The Technicians - Ramon de Ocampo (Narrator)
There is a lesson in this DO NOT put off tomorrow what you can and should have done today you never know when it might be too late. These men get very high pay for doing their job but if you mess up as one did you might be done. The story is based around two techs that do their job with pride, as you will come to see the jobs they do aren’t something most of us would like to do or enjoy doing. I saw the ending coming just as it unfolds and my heart went out to one of these men. The narration was great, the characters voices were great. I loved the accent, and the emotions given to each character. I could hear the emotion in their voice when a job goes bad or even went good.

Night Fright - Ramon de Ocampo (Narrator)
I sure didn’t see that coming. When fantasy meets reality you just have to go with the flow and do what comes natural. New neighbor moves in all the ladies want to meet up with him that is all but one which is the kid next door that lets his mind go wild. With the man’s night light the kid is looking at it closely maybe a little too close. It really does become a frightful night. The narration is good, the character voices are good and the author and narrator really pulls you in.

My Best customer - Paul J. McSorley (Narrator)
I will never look at delivery man the same again, well I never looked at them this way. Ok there are some very cute ones out there. Some are true hunks but I would never think about taking it to this level. This is so wrong in so many ways. The lesson between these pages is be careful, be very careful what you say you just might think you are saying something wonderful when in fact you just might have said something you will spend the rest of your life wishing you had not. I really liked this story but it is a little out there. I doubt (I would say I am sure but you just never know about people) this would ever happen. The narration is great, there were times I thought maybe some yelling should have been done but the narrator really does pull you in. He does give emotion and for the most part it is really good. I thought he did a good job. Cute and at times very funny.

Return to The Dirt - Paul J. McSorley (Narrator)
This story is about the making of bologna but it has a weird name I can’t remember. I knew there was a reason I didn’t like the stuff and I will never eat it again lol. Here you have three people who come together at a new job. They never really had a job or really want one. They are both unique in their own way. One day after taking part in what they enjoy doing, something happens that will change the life of all three of them. There is a part that I just looked on in shock as I picture the scene before my eyes. Let me tell you it isn’t one I will forget for a long time to come. Most likely I will remember this story each time I past the bologna at the store or any time anyone talks about this food. The narration was great the narrator really pulls you from so many points. His character voices are outstanding and fit the characters.

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I loved all the narrators in this box-set with the exception of The Relativist. The voice does not go with the characters and the music is way too loud at the beginning of each chapter. It is so loud you can barely hear what the narrator is saying. As for the rest of the box-set the music goes very well and blends well throughout the stories. There are not any background noises in any of the stories, if any breaks were taken I could not tell. I thought the performance for all of them but the one was outstanding, the character voices were great and I totally loved their narration. I would love to listen to more of the five narrators that I like. It was a pleasure listening to them. I loved the accents, as well as the female and male voices. I had no trouble knowing who was talking or what they were feeling. This was a very clean and clear audio that I really enjoyed.

The author is something else I have to say my favorite in this set is Jar Baby and Anything For My Bubela. Each story is unique, interesting and really pulls the reader in. I found the stories to be delightful, fun and shocking along with thrilling. I laughed, chuckled and felt sorry for a few. I sure hope my job never turns out like these did. I have never read anything by this author and look forward to listening to more of his audio and read more of his books.

Buy Links
Audible
https://www.audible.com/pd/Fiction/Occupational-Hazards-The-Blue-Collar-Omnibus-Audiobook/B074KMNF8W/ref=a_search_c4_1_1_srTtl?qid=1506212103&sr=1-1

Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Occupational-Hazards-Blue-Collar-Geoff-Sturtevant-ebook/dp/B073ZVZ1TY/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1506197246&sr=1-4&dpID=51QmrHc%252BCuL&preST=_SY445_QL70_&dpSrc=detail

Summary
Occupational Hazards is an omnibus of acclaimed novelettes from the "Return to the Dirt" and "Just Speculating" collections, and new, exclusive stories only available in this book.

The stories exemplify the unsavory side of our everyday existence. Existentialism, absurdism, and outlandish humor merge with ordinary, workaday life for a unique and hilarious perspective of the human experience.

Occupational Hazards is an unflinching ride through the absurdity of it all. Not recommended for the faint of heart or easily offended. But if meaty stories are what you’re after…

I hope you’re hungry.


“In time-honoured fashion, these taut tales of work and death employ humour to highlight the worst aspects of human behaviour. They're sharp, savage slices of smartly observed social satire, with humour so bleak it raises blisters.”
murdermayhemandmore.com (on Return to the Dirt)

“True to the Sturtevant style, each tale offers a penetrating view into humanity, opening the doors that people usually keep shuttered tight from prying eyes, and doing so with razor-sharp dialogue and a healthy dose of (sometimes) dark humor.”
Amazon reviewer