Angels at Christmas Book Review

I had this book on my shelf for a long time and it finally came to the top of the pile.  I got this as a Christmas gift a few years ago and I hadn't read it (but I think that I read it from the library before).  Angels at Christmas: An Anthology (Mira Romance) by Debbie Macomber was the next in my pile so I got to have a little more Christmas reading.

Every Christmas, three lovable angels visit Earth. Once a year, Shirley, Goodness and Mercy are allowed to intervene (or, more accurately, interfere!) in human affairs. Despite their frequent misadventures and the chaos they often cause, things always seem to turn out right….

This Christmas, join Those Christmas Angels as they respond to Anne Fletcher's prayer request. She wants her son, Roy, to meet a special woman—and the angels contrive to throw Julie Wilcott in his path (literally!).  Watch as the heaven-sent messengers reunite a divorced couple, bring peace of mind to an elderly man and grant a little boy's fondest wish. Because there's always joy Where Angels Go.  Shirley, Goodness and Mercy offer you laughter and Christmas cheer in these two heartwarming stories!

I thought this was a cute winter read to see the funny angels Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy do when sent down to earth.  There are different missions for each angel and they all help each other provide support so that they can complete all the missions.  The first is for Roy to meet a special women so they find Julie who has enough spunk to keep him interested.  There is also a boy who's greatest wish is to have a dog but his family can't afford it.  The angels help find him a dog but you have to pick up the book to find out how he gets to keep this dog who is sent to the pound.  There is a heart wrenching story of an elderly couple where the wife is having issues with memory but the husband is dealing with health issues.  All of these missions where the angels have been sent need to be resolved by Christmas so the angels have to work hard.  Pick up the book to find out all the trouble these angels get into with their missions.

Rescuing the Royal Runaway Bride Book Review

I was still reading through my pile of books and this was the next book in the pile.  Rescuing the Royal Runaway Bride (The Royals of Vallemont) by Ally Blake was part of a series that I had never read.  It actually turned out that it was the first book in the series.

Royal bride on the run… Into the arms of an enigmatic rescuer…

On the way to the Vallemont royal wedding, Will Darcy’s overblown sense of chivalry leads him to rescue a damsel in a muddy wedding dress! And, yes, it’s the princess-to-be! While the media furor dies down, they’re holed up in one hotel room where irrepressible Sadie makes buttoned-up Will reconsider his life. For once work isn’t his priority—resisting the tantalizing royal runaway is!

This was a super cute  book about a women running away from her wedding in a small island town.  Will Darcy was the one who happens to almost run into her fleeing in her wedding dress on the road.  He didn't know who she was but quickly figured out that she must be the bride to be of his friend.  He makes sure to protect her and let his friend know that she is safe.  It is funny where things go from there.  This was an interesting story which I could totally see becoming a movie.  You have to pick up the book to find out what happens to this runaway bride and see if she gets her happily ever after!!

Touching Stars Book Review

I was reading this series and took a little break while waiting to get the next book from the library.  Touching Stars (A Shenandoah Album Novel) by Emilie Richards was the fourth book in the series.  This one is 564 pages so it is a lot to hold when trying to fall asleep at night and reading but totally worth it because this book follows Gayle Fortman who is raising three boys and trying to run a successful business.  She has been mentioned in other books but you now get to learn lots more of this wonderful women.

When is a family no longer a family?

Gayle Fortman has built a good life for herself and her three sons as an innkeeper in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. She has even maintained a cordial relationship with her ex, charismatic broadcast journalist Eric Fortman, covering with the boys for his absences and broken promises. Luckily Travis Allen, her closest neighbor, has been a loving surrogate father to the boys and her own best friend.

Then, on the eve of oldest son Jared's graduation, Eric returns, having nearly lost his life in Afghanistan. Worse, he has lost his way and his courage, and needs a place to recover. Gayle realizes this might be the last chance for her sons to establish a real bond with their father, and offers him a summer at the inn and a chance to put things right. Gayle and Eric are all too aware that their onetime love and attraction are still there. But can the pieces of their broken lives be mended, or are they better laid to rest?

I was excited to get into this new book.  Gayle was living the life that was left after her divorce and thinking that she was making the most of it.  She was living in the small town and running her inn to make it success.  She volunteers to work at the church and helps anyone who needs it.  Gayle was seen in the previous books but you barely get to know her until this book.  She is raising three boys who are getting older and having issues with not having a male role model because their father isn't there very often.  He is injured and comes to live at the inn while recovering and takes that time to get to know his kids.  It is interesting to see how that brings up things that Gayle has left behind in her divorce and trying to have the best life for her family.  There is a lot going on at the inn that summer but you have to pick up the book to find out what happens.  There is no shortage of drama with all the characters.  I think that there were quiet a few that took me by surprise.  I hope that you enjoy this series as much as I have!

Menu Plan Monday 1/28

Chicken fries, Chicken Nuggets and homemade french fries
Salsa Sloppy Joes with mac and cheese
Spaghetti
Chicken and Rice
Leftovers
??

Last week was a little crazy and I didn't even get the menu plan up.  We had Pizza Hut on Monday for lunch but it was a little late so we just had a little snack for dinner because we were still full.  Tuesday was Lemon Parmesan Spaghetti with zucchini. Wednesday was Lime chicken Tacos with white rice.  Thursday was leftovers and noodles because we were so late.  Friday is Ground beef tacos.  Saturday was rice for my son and Cheese Penne and Edamame for my husband and me.  Sunday was my son's birthday party so we had pizza for lunch for the crowd.  I made a Mexican Lasagna and threw it in the oven so that I didn't have to cook after the party.  It was the first time that I made that recipe and it was really tasty.

I have been working on the February meal plan to get everything in the freezer on the plan and make sure that I spread everything out.  I am still working on a few days and weekends but I am getting close.  I can't believe that the last week of January!!

Tempted by the Billionaire Next Door Book Review

I have a pile of books on my shelf that I picked up at the local libraries that I was set to read because I was out of all my library books.  Tempted by the Billionaire Next Door (Harlequin Romance) by Therese Beharrie was the next book in my pile.  It was a great story that I enjoyed.

He’s the one man who’s off-limits… But could he be her Mr. Right?

When Jessica Steyn learns her delicious new neighbor is actually her best friend’s brother, billionaire bad boy Dylan Nel, she’s torn. After all, she’s just become his sister’s surrogate! Acting on their attraction would complicate things, but they’re soon growing closer. Overcoming Dylan’s troubled family history—and Jessica’s pregnancy—seems impossible, but could the answer to their heartaches be just next door?

Jessica was staying at her friends house while her house was under construction.  She was between houses and living in the house while her friends were out of the country.  She was also pregnant and acting as a surrogate for that same friends baby. Jessica spent some time watching the neighbor cut wood on a daily basis because he has started to have a schedule.  Jess sees things happen outside the window and is drawn to her mysterious neighbor, Dylan.  It is interesting to see what happens between Jess and Dylan after they finally meet.  You have to pick up the book to find out what happens in this quick read.  I promise that will find it as interesting as I did.

Escape from Cabriz Book Review

I read a few books that had two books together and this was the second book in the with the Outlaw's Christmas.  Escape from Cabriz by Linda Lael Miller was a great bonus story.  It was a more modern story but still different because it was set in another country.

All's fair in love and war in this reader favorite from #1 New York Times
bestselling author Linda Lael Miller!  On the eve of her wedding to the Crown Prince of Cabriz, Kristin Meyers is having more than pre-wedding jitters—her childhood friend Jascha has become a cold, distant stranger. And when his palace comes under attack from angry rebels, Kristin is caught in the crossfire.

Then Zach Harmon arrives and everything changes. The ex-secret service agent
and Kristin had been lovers—until circumstances tore them apart. Now Zach might be able to
get her out of Cabriz alive, but who will save her heart from being broken by Zach one
more time?

I thought that this book was really good and I instantly was pulling for the characters.  Zach is an ex-CIA agent who goes into a foreign country to rescue someone that he isn't sure wants to be rescued.  Kristin is in another other country thinking that she is planning for her wedding but she is starting to get pre-wedding jitters when things in the country start going badly.  It was a super stressful story that has you on the edge of your seat to find out what is going to happen.  I promise that you will be interested as soon as you pick it up.  I think that this plot could easily be turned into a movie because it was that vivid of a picture of what was happening to Zach and Kristin.  I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did!!

An Outlaw's Christmas Book Review

I haven't read anything else by this author or in this series but I found this book somewhere and it ended up on my shelf.  An Outlaw's Christmas (The McKettricks) by Linda Lael Miller was an obvious choice because I love Christmas books.  It was actually two books in one and it was an interesting read.

Celebrate the holidays with this remarkable McKettrick tale by beloved #1 New York Times bestselling author  Linda Lael Miller.  With his wild heart, Sawyer McKettrick isn't ready to settle down on the Triple M family ranch in Arizona. So he heads to Blue River, Texas, to seek a job as marshal. But in a blinding snowstorm, he's injured—and collapses into the arms of a prim and proper lady in calico.

The shirtless, bandaged stranger recuperating in teacher Piper St. James's room behind the schoolhouse says he's a McKettrick, but he looks like an outlaw to her. As they wait out the storm, the handsome loner has Piper remembering long-ago dreams of marriage and motherhood. But for how long is Sawyer willing to call Blue River home? As the gray skies clear, Piper's one holiday wish just might bring two lonely hearts together forever.

I am not really great with the historical books but this was a super cute story that I was immediately interested in.  I could tell that this was part of a series that I hadn't read but it was still easy to jump into the book even though I didn't know the small town of the chracters.  It was great to see Piper St. James who is the local school teacher.  This was back when the teachers lived in the school.  She went outside after the snow storm because she heard noises.  She found an injured man and she was worried that he was trouble but didn't want to leave him to die.  She put him on a quilt and dragged him to the stairs of the school house.  She was working to keep him alive but you have to pick up the book to find out who this stranger is and what happens after he is brought into the school house to recover.  I know that you will love the story too!!