Book Review: A Quilter's Holiday

Author: Jennifer Chiaverini
Title: A Quilter's Holiday
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publish Date: Nov 3, 2009
Buy: Amazon

Book Blurb: 

The Elm Creek Quilters are home for the holidays in this heartwarming Christmas story from New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Chiaverini.

For the Elm Creek Quilters, the day after Thanksgiving marks the start of the quilting season, a time to gather at Elm Creek Manor and spend the day stitching holiday gifts for loved ones. This year, in keeping with the season’s spirit of gratitude, Master Quilter Sylvia Bergstrom Compson Cooper is eager to revive a cherished family tradition. A recent remodeling of the manor’s kitchen unearthed a cornucopia that once served as the centerpiece of the Bergstrom family’s holiday table. Into it, each Bergstrom would place an object that symbolized something he or she was especially thankful for that year. On this quilter’s holiday, Sylvia has invited her friends to continue the tradition by sewing quilt blocks that represent their thankfulness and gratitude.

As each quilter explains the significance of her carefully chosen block, stories of love and longing for family and friends emerge—feelings that are also expressed in the gifts they work on throughout the day. An early winter storm blankets Elm Creek Manor in heavy snow as the quilters find new meanings in their best-loved traditions and new reasons to be thankful. A Quilter’s Holiday is a story of holiday spirit, in its truest, most generous sense.

Review:  This is book 15 in the Elm Creek Quilters series, and I really like how Jennifer changed things up from some of the previous books. This one takes the focus away from Sylvia and puts it on the ladies that come to the manor to quilt.

I loved everyone's stories. Gwen, Gretchen, Diane as well as the new cook, Anna, who we met in The Quilter's Kitchen get to shine.  All of these women have something to give and we learn that as we see what brought them to Elm Creek Manor. Oh and we also get more of Sarah and Matt, who are expecting twins now!

Chiaverini lets us see some marital issues, as well as people trying to hold on to traditions and making new ones through past actions. Each woman has a special story and you really will come to love them. I think I loved Gwen and Gretchen the most. Gwen made her mistakes but was able to overcome those and we hear how one woman really influenced her life. Then there's Gretchen who has a wonderful ability to give of herself.

Sylvia also gets some good news in regards to her cousin Elizabeth's family. That really brings a tear to your eye, because Jennifer Chiaverini really drives home how much Sylvia loved this cousin in most of the books.

This book was set on the days following Thanksgiving. Almost all of the Elm Creek books revolve around the year end holidays. I loved the discussions of food for the pot luck lunch that the ladies have for their special get together after the holiday.

This was such a sweet cozy read. I always look forward to reading about the quilting ladies.

Rating: 5 flowers

Book Review: Explosive Eighteen

Author: Janet Evanovich
Title: Explosive Eighteen
Publisher: Bantam
Publish Date: Nov 22, 2011
Buy: Amazon

Book Blurb: 

Bounty hunter Stephanie Plum’s life is set to blow sky high when international murder hits dangerously close to home, in this dynamite novel by Janet Evanovich.

Before Stephanie can even step foot off Flight 127 Hawaii to Newark, she’s knee deep in trouble. Her dream vacation turned into a nightmare, and she’s flying back to New Jersey solo. Worse still, her seatmate never returned to the plane after the L.A. layover. Now he’s dead—and a ragtag collection of thugs and psychos, not to mention the FBI, are all looking for a photograph he was supposed to be carrying.

Only one person has seen the missing photo: Stephanie Plum. Now she’s the target. An FBI sketch artist helps Stephanie re-create the person in the photo, but Stephanie’s descriptive skills are lacking. Until she can improve them, she’ll need to watch her back.

Over at the bail bonds agency things are going from bad to worse. Vinnie’s temporary HQ has gone up in smoke. Stephanie’s wheelman, Lula, falls for their largest skip yet. Lifetime arch nemesis Joyce Barnhardt moves into Stephanie’s apartment. And everyone wants to know what happened in Hawaii?

Morelli, Trenton’s hottest cop, isn’t talking about Hawaii. Ranger, the man of mystery, isn’t talking about Hawaii. And all Stephanie is willing to say about her Hawaiian vacation is . . . It’s complicated.

Review: Every so often I have to visit my old pal Stephanie Plum. I have to admit, 18 books have taken the sparkle off of Steph and the gang, but that doesn't mean I don't smile through the books.

It's been awhile since I visited Trenton, NJ, but I'm glad I took the time to read Explosive Eighteen. It was fun and funny and oddly, I don't think Stephanie had any cars blown up. When did that stop? OK, nothing gets blown up, but one of their skips...who Lula ends up hooking up with, sure likes to steal them, from her!

Not to worry, she still has a hard time doing her job, but what fun would it be if she actually could catch most of her skips? She also still hasn't decided between Morelli and Ranger, and to tell you the truth, I don't think I could decide either. I like the extra tension in this one that is a result of her Hawaiian vacation that went terribly wrong and leaves her with a tan line where a wedding ring used to be.

La La La...no spoilers...but the reason for that tan line is a little less satisfying than I was hoping, especially as things are a bit chilly from one of her two guys.

Then there's the matter of this photo that's getting her chased by lots of thugs and the FBI as well as an issue with Joyce. And of course there's a funeral or two. This book is a little light on Grandma Mazur and the rest of Steph's family, which is a little disappointing, because they really bring on the laughs, but when Grandma appears she always steals the show, especially with her friend Annie who makes love potions. (Lula and the love potion = hilarity!)

There's lots going on in this book, maybe too much, but it was still a good time and it has put me in the mood for more Plum.

Rating: 4 flowers

Book Review: File M For Murder

Author: Miranda James
Title: File M For Murder
Publisher: Berkley
Publish Date: January 31, 2012
Buy: Amazon

Book Blurb: Athena College's new writer in residence is native son and playwright Connor Lawton, known for his sharp writing- and sharper tongue. After an unpleasant encounter, librarian Charlie Harris heads home to a nice surprise: his daughter Laura is subbing for another Athena professor this fall semester. It's great news until he hears who got her the job: her old flame, Connor Lawton...

Fearing competition for Connor's affections, one of his admirers tries to drive Laura out of town. And then, before Connor finishes the play he is writing, he is murdered- and Laura is the prime suspect. Knowing she's innocent, Charlie and his faithful sidekick, Diesel, follow Connor's cluttered trail of angry lovers, bitter enemies, and intriguing research to find the true killer before his daughter is forever cataloged under "M"- for murderer.

Review: File M For Murder is book 3 in the Cat In The Stacks mystery series. I have to admit, I fell in love with the kitty cat on the cover. I'm a sucker for cozy mysteries with cats or dogs in prominent roles. I loved Diesel from the start, but Charlie was harder for me to warm up to. I give props to Miranda for writing the cat as a real character with a great kitty personality.

Having a male character as the amateur sleuth in a cozy series is something different. I was intrigued by that, however, I found Charlie to be a bit bland and his two children Sean and Laura to be very unrealistic and a bit too good to be true.

What I did like about the book was the mystery. Miranda definitely kept you guessing and at the end she leaves you a little bit shocked too, by a secret that's revealed. There's also more than one mystery to solve as the story goes on, and that's what really kept me turning the pages, even though I didn't really like Charlie.

Now to qualify why I'm not too terribly keen on Charlie. He's an overprotective father, but his actions just don't come across well. He also feels a lot older than he actually is. A man in his 50s really shouldn't be such a fuddy duddy and that's really how Charlie feels to me. He should still have spunk or at least appear with it.

This is fairly early on in the series, so I will probably check out the newer books. Plus I really love Diesel. (That's the crazy cat lady in me!)

Rating: 3 flowers

Book Review: The New Year's Quilt

Author: Jennifer Chiaverini
Title: The New Year's Quilt
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Publish Date: Nov 13, 2007
Buy: Amazon

Book Blurb: 

As each holiday season approaches, some revel in welcoming the New Year ahead; others quietly mourn the passing of time gone by. "We can't hold on to the past," says Master Quilter Sylvia Compson, "but we can keep the best part of 'Auld Lang Syne' in our hearts and in our memories, and we can look forward to the future with hope and resolve." As Sylvia, a late-in-life newlywed, has discovered, love can enter our lives at any age. Yet before she can truly delight in her present happiness, she must face the sorrow hidden in her past -- her own role in the tragic circumstances that left her estranged from her sister, Claudia, until it was too late to make amends. Vowing not to repeat the mistake with her new daughter-in-law, Amy, who opposed Sylvia's marriage to her father, Andrew, Sylvia must convince Amy that family is more precious than pride. As Sylvia takes up a quilt for the season, begun and abandoned over six years, she recalls the New Year's Eve festivities of her youth at Elm Creek Manor as a member of the Bergstrom family. She titles the quilt "New Year's Reflections," after her belief that year-end reflections precede resolutions. The quilt blocks she chooses commemorate the wisdom that no one can ever be truly alone if she keeps the memory of those she loved and those who loved her alive in her heart. The New Year's Quilt is a novel to enjoy today and to treasure anew each holiday season.

Review: I have to admit, I'm addicted to this series. I absolutely love visiting with Sylvia and looking back on her life.

Sylvia has married again, late in life, and her new husband's family doesn't approve of the match. At first, I thought this story was going to revolve around Andrew's family, particularly the daughter that isn't all for the match, but it wasn't. That conflict really only happened in the last 30 pages.

What this story really chronicled were the years after the death of Sylvia's first husband, as well as parts of her life when she was a girl.

In this book, we learned a bit more about Sylvia's mother, who died when she was a young girl. I really love the scenes from Sylvia's past in these books. She is such a remarkable character, wonderful and full of flaws, just like everyone. She's stubborn but sweet, full of love and regrets.

As we get to know Sylvia, we also get to know her sister Claudia. With each book, I long for Jennifer to write a book from Claudia's point of view. I'd love to learn her side of the story.

Like all the other Elm Creek novels, this book is a bit fluffy, but it is good fluff, the kind of fluff that makes you feel good.

I highly recommend this series to anyone that likes family sagas and heartwarming stories.

Rating: 5 flowers

Book Review: Red Velvet Cupcake Murder

Author:  Joanne Fluke
Title: Red Velvet Cupcake Murder
Publisher: Kensington
Publish Date: Feb 26, 2013
Buy: Amazon

Book Blurb: 

This summer has been warmer than usual in Lake Eden, Minnesota, and Hannah Swensen is trying to beat the heat both in and out of her bakery kitchen. But she's about to find out the hard way that nothing cools off a hot summer day like cold-blooded murder. . .

It's a hot, muggy evening, and the last thing Hannah wants to do is squeeze into a pair of pantyhose for the Grand Opening of the refurbished Albion Hotel. But with Hannah's famous Red Velvet cupcakes being served in the hotel's new Red Velvet lounge, she can't bring herself to back out.

The party starts off with a bang with the unexpected arrival of Doctor Bev, a Lake Eden legend who left town in shame after she two-timed her fiancé one too many times. Bev's splashy appearance on the arm of a wealthy investor is the talk of the night. But the gossip comes to a screeching halt when a partygoer takes a mysterious dive off the hotel's rooftop garden.

The victim is the sheriff's secretary, Barbara Donnelly, and she is barely clinging to life. The question is, did she fall--or was she pushed? As the police investigate, the only one who isn't preoccupied with the case is Doctor Bev. She's too busy trying to stir things up with her old flame Norman, who's reunited with Hannah.

Just as Hannah's patience with Bev runs dangerously thin, her rival is found dead at the bottom of Miller's Pond. The only clue the police have is the Red Velvet cupcake Bev ate right before she died--and the tranquilizers someone seems to have baked into it. To everyone's shock, Hannah is now the unlikely target of a murder investigation--and she's feeling the heat in a way she never has before.

Review: Red Velvet Cupcake Murder is book 16 in the Hannah Swenson Mystery series. I have to admit, I read these books for the recipes and I'm never disappointed. I wish the same could be said for Hannah and Co.

After 16 books there's still a love triangle between Hannah, Norman and Mike. I think it is time for her to make a choice. I'm Team Norman, because I think Norman is just the nicer of the two guys..but that's just me.

I've never quite understood the chasteness of Hannah either. I could possibly accept this if this series fell in the Inspirational/Christian fiction genre, but it isn't. How can you be dating these guys and not have sex with them EVER?

I shake my head at that, but relationship weirdness aside, I've always found the books to be light, satisfying reads, and this one was no different. I also have to admit when your mom can decide on a husband faster than one of her daughters...well it is time to take a look at things.

I really liked the first mystery that dealt with Barbara's accident. I almost thought that there wouldn't be a death in this book, though truthfully if anybody needed killing in a book, Doctor Bev was the one I thought was the one you wanted to bump off the most.

As for the whodunit, I was pretty surprised at who off-ed Bev, so for me, this book worked. Now to make some of the cookies!

Rating: 4 flowers

Book Review: Chocolate Muse

Author: Zelda Benjamin
Title: Chocolate Muse
Publisher: Avalon Books
Publish Date: Aug 5, 2011
Buy: Amazon

Book Blurb: 

Pastry chef Maddie Higgins is horrified when her prize-winning torta di chocolate gets a bad review. Choking critics is never a good thing, and she loses her job before the scathing article hits the morning paper. Forced to take a job in a friend's bakery and teach a children's evening class to make ends meet, she vows vengeance on the man responsible for her damaged reputation. But when she realizes that the father of two of her students is her nemesis, the charming food writer Brad Angelo, her anger deflates faster than an overcooked soufflé.

Brad, a single father struggling to balance parenting and his syndicated food column, is completely clueless about the trouble he's caused Maddie. He finds her evasive attitude and chocolate talent to be intriguing parts of her allure, but isn't sure he's ready to create a life that might be messier than melted chocolate when their secrets are slowly revealed.

Review: This was really a sweet romance, and the pun is definitely intended here. Maddie's career is ruined by one bad review of her torta di chocolate by Brad Angelo, and yet somehow Brad has made his way into Maddie's life, not knowing she's the soap powder tort chef.

The relationship that grows between Maddie and Brad is as sweet as chocolate. Have I mentioned that? Really, it is.

I found it hard to believe that Brad didn't  remember the name of the chef whose dessert sent him to the ER, but if he did, this story wouldn't have been as wonderful as it was.

I loved Brad's family, Nona and his twins, they really cemented the story together and their interactions with Maddie, especially when she was teaching her cooking class. The part where Sophia and Maddie make a giant chocolate chip cookie will give you warm fuzzy feelings.

This is a super quick read. I read it in a few hours. The romance is cleaner than a Harlequin Romance, so no sex here, just lots of talk about chocolate! One could polish off a bag of Dove chocolates while reading this book...or maybe two bags!

You'll definitely have some cravings by the time you turn the last page!

This was great fun!

Rating:  5 flowers

Book Review: The Christmas Quilt

Author: Jennifer Chiaverini
Title: The Christmas Quilt
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Publish Date: Nov 8, 2005
Buy: Amazon

Book Blurb: 

When Christmas Eve comes to Elm Creek Manor, the tenor of the holiday is far from certain. Sylvia Bergstrom Compson, the Master Quilter, has her own reasons for preferring a quiet, even subdued, Christmas. Her young friend Sarah McClure, however, takes the opposite view and decides to deck the halls brightly. As she explores the trunks packed with Bergstrom family decorations that haven't been touched in more than fifty years, Sarah discovers a curious Christmas quilt. Begun in seasonal fabrics and patterns, the quilt remains unfinished.

Sylvia reveals that the handiwork spans several generations and a quartet of Bergstrom quilters -- her great aunt, her mother, her sister, and herself. As she examines the array of quilt blocks each family member contributed but never completed, memories of Christmases past emerge.

At Elm Creek Manor, Christmas began as a celebration of simple virtues -- joy and hope buoyed by the spirit of giving. As each successive generation of Bergstroms lived through its unique trials -- the antebellum era, the Great Depression, World War II -- tradition offered sustenance even during the most difficult times. For Sylvia, who is coping with the modern problem of family dispersed, estranged, or even forgotten, reconciliation with her personal history may prove as elusive as piecing the Christmas Quilt.

Elm Creek Manor is full of secrets, from a Christmas tree with unusual properties to the sublime Bergstrom strudel recipe. Sylvia's tales at first seem to inform her family legacy but ultimately illuminate far more, from the importance of women's art to its place in commemorating our shared experience, at Christmastime and in every season.

Review: I've read a few of Jennifer Chiaverini's books, but I don't think I've loved one as much as I have this one.

The story is told in the present and in flashbacks and by the time the last page is turned there will be a tear or two in your eyes. (In my case, I was crying like a baby.)

I love emotional family stories, and this was absolutely perfect. It blends tradition, with trials, love and forgiveness, as well as dealing with regrets.

I absolutely loved Sylvia. My heart ached for her many times through the course of her life. Her sister, Claudia, I wanted to pop in the nose. She was a snot nosed brat, who seemed to grow up into a snot nosed adult.

The sibling rivalry between the two is priceless and heartbreaking. As events in the present bring back memories from Sylvia's past, it is easy to see why she might not be as into Christmas as her friend Sarah. Though as the story unfolds, it is easy to see why she wants Sarah to reconcile with her mother.

Sylvia truly had a life that was full of sadness, though their were good times as well. It is just a shame that she had to reconcile with memories rather than people.

A beautifully written holiday story that anyone can appreciate.

Rating: 5 flowers

Book Review: Promise Me

Author: Richard Paul Evans
Title: Promise Me
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publish Date: Oct 5, 2010
Buy: Amazon
Book Blurb: 
Beth Cardall has a secret. For eighteen years, she has had no choice but to keep it to herself, but on Christmas Eve 2008, all that is about to change.

For Beth, 1989 was a year marked by tragedy. Her life was falling apart: her six-year-old daughter, Charlotte, was suffering from an unidentifiable illness; her marriage transformed from a seemingly happy and loving relationship to one full of betrayal and pain; her job at the dry cleaners was increasingly at risk; and she had lost any ability to trust, to hope, or to believe in herself. Then, on Christmas Day, as she rushed through a blizzard to the nearest 7-Eleven, Beth encountered Matthew, a strikingly handsome, mysterious stranger, who would single-handedly change the course of her life.

Who is this man, and how does he seem to know so much about her? He pursues her relentlessly, and only after she’s fallen deeply in love with him does she learn his incredible secret, changing the world as she knows it, as well as her own destiny.

Review: The holidays wouldn't be the same if there wasn't a heartwarming book by Richard Paul Evans to read.

I love his earlier holiday novels. This one is more than that though. Its a bit strange and yet sweet.

Now don't get me wrong, I loved the story and stayed up until wee hours of the morning to finish it, but when we learned who Mr. Matthew was...erm Matthew...I have to admit I started to wonder what kind of crack the author had been smoking to come up with this plot twist.

However, I'll give Mr. Evans props. In this story Beth Cardell goes through a really crappy year. Her husband's cheated on her, then gets sick and dies of cancer and all the while her daughter, Charlotte is getting sick from an unusual illness that is leaving the doctors baffled.

Yeah, that's a crappy year.

Then she meets Matthew, who is just a little bit different. He knows things he shouldn't know. That's when all the weird stuff happens. Then it gets all wibbly wobbly timey whimey in a way that left shaking my head.

There's a strange connection between Matthew and Charlotte that just blew my mind in a not so good way. When the story moved along in a normal manner it was fabulous, but when the Time and Space Continuum got messed with...well it went all Doctor Who, in a less than entertaining way.

Still, I couldn't stop reading, because Richard Paul Evans is my holiday crack. I enjoyed the book, even though it was a bit far fetched and  not as good as some of his previous novels.

Rating: 4 flowers

2014 Love Library Books Reading Challenge

Love Library Books
Reading Challenge
2014

hosted by me, here at Book Dragon's Lair

Sign- up below

Our love of reading can be expensive! Not only are we purchasing books but some of us also need space to keep them. I had so much fun with this challenge last year. Let's do it again!

There are a number of levels, for those who don't have a library card yet to those that live there. Enjoy!

Requirements:

choose a level - you may move up as needed, just not down.

check books out of the library

books may overlap with other challenges

any format allowed (print, ebook, audio)

reviews are not necessary but a list of books read is. (post with review linky is coming)

a blog is not necessary, just comment that you want to join in.

Levels:

board book - 3
picture book - 6
early reader - 9
chapter book - 12
middle grades - 18
Young adult - 24
adult - 36
just insert IV - 50

I'm trying this one again this year. I'm going to go for middle grades

Richard Paul Evans - Promise Me
Jennifer Chiaverini - The Christmas Quilt
Zelda Benjamin - Chocolate Muse
Joanne Fluke - Red Velvet Cupcake Murder
Jennifer Chiaverini - The New Year's Quilt
Miranda James - File M For Murder
Janet Evanovich - Explosive Eighteen
Jennifer Chiaverini - A Quilter's Holiday