Private Arrangements

Title: Private Arrangements

Publisher: Harlequin

Pub Date: January 31st 2012

Author: Brenda Jackson

Received From: NetGalley

No man has ever tempted her like this…

Nikki Cartwright can’t believe Jonas Steele—the Jonas Steele—has chosen her for a high-profile marketing venture. It could make her career. But when she remembers the kiss they once shared, a kiss so intimate it sent their desire skyrocketing from simmering to blazing, Nikki knows she must guard her heart against the seductive Phoenix playboy as if her life depends on it.

Jonas has no problem making their professional relationship personal. With the beautiful and talented photographer within his reach, he can erase her from his system once and for all. From a whirlwind Las Vegas affair to jet-setting across four continents, this Steele discovers getting Nikki out of his system is easier said than done, and now he wants her to belong to him heart and soul—as the woman of his most passionate fantasies.…

Private Arrangements by Brenda Jackson was a fantastic read. I love a good romance and had heard of Brenda Jackson as an author but cannot recall reading one of her books before. I was pulled into the life of photographer Nikki and her collegeu Jonas immediately. Reading the explosive feelings between then had me at moment one. I knew there was great moments to come. I was also completely drawn to the project they were working on together. The idea of a airship trip that works like a cruise but via air was very intriguing to me. I love to cruise and travel and so I spent time really imagining the locations and places their trip took. By and large I really felt engaged and intrigued with this book, I consider it a must read!

Second Time Around

Title: Second Time Around

Publisher: Bantam

Pub Date: March 30th 2010

Author: Beth Kendrick

Received From: Purchased





Every summer, four college friends hold a mini-reunion. They laugh, reminisce, and commiserate about their soul-sucking jobs. Maybe they should have listened to everyone who warned them to study something “practical.”

Then an unexpected windfall arrives—one million dollars, to be exact—with the stipulation that they use it to jump-start their new careers. Almost overnight, a professor, a bartender, a copywriter, and an administrative assistant reinvent themselves as a novelist, an event planner, a pastry chef, and a bed-and-breakfast owner. But the changes in their professional roles create unexpected turbulence in their personal lives, and soon the secrets and scandals from their past start to resurface. 

For anyone who has ever wondered “What if?,” this engaging novel provides a sweet, funny look at friendship, romance, and second chances. 


This book really pulled at my heartstrings, I loved the story of the survival and growth of the lives of four woman, who were each given the opportunity to get what they want out of life when one of their friends leaves them each some money when she passes away. I would have liked to see a small bit more of the back story of Arden who lost her life and left her friends this amazing gift. . She was sprinkled throughout the story to show us the relationship between the characters and Arden, but how did she as a young woman obtain this amount of money while dealing with an illness? that piece just seemed a bit unbelievable to me. What I did feel and know throughout the book was the love these women shared with her and the friendships with one another that may have stagnated overtime but grew when they returned to their college home together! this was a truly wonderful tale of young women, friendship, growth and love!

Big Sisters are the Best

Title: Big Sisters are the Best

Publisher: Capstone

Pub Date:February 1st 2012

Author: Fran Manushkin

Received From: NetGalley

Becoming a big sister is an exciting time full of smiles, smells, hugs, and kisses. For ages 2-5.

Bringing a new baby into the home is a time of wonder and challenges. Author Fran Manushkin celebrates this special time with tales that emphasize that there is plenty of love for everyone, baby and all.

Also available by author Fran Manushkin: Big Brothers Are the Best.


(Reviewed by C)
I am a big sister and now my baby isn't so little but I remember when she was little. I used to help with her diapers, but she didn't drink bottles. This book will show other big sisters how to be good big sisters too. 

(Mom's Comments)
I enjoyed the premises of this book and the colors and illustrations were very good. Having introduced a baby to our house two years ago we read lots of big sister books. The one thing I found this book to be missing was the feeling that big sisters are just as loved as new babies. I really think that understanding is important. I also was not a huge fan of the babies drink bottles, as C pointed out our baby didn't take bottles. Not to turn this review into a pro-breastfeeding forum, but it may be best to emphasis that babies are fed differently, like snuggled in a chair while big sisters eat at a table! Overall I would say I'd give the book as a gift or recommend it to those about to have a big sister in their house, just knowing that parents can point out differences in families. 

My First Giveaway

Seeing as I don't yet have any great books to giveaway I am going to let you pick one of your own! To get this blog started off we are offering a $10.00 Amazon E-gift card, with your email address we'll get the gift card right to you! You can pick a Kindle book, order a hardback or paperback, or even buy yourself something else! Giveaway runs till 12:01 Am EST on 1/25/2012. This is my first giveaway so bear with me in case of kinks!

Thanks for playing and following along.

Heart of Texas Series

Title: Heart of Texas Series

Publisher: Mira

Pub Date: 2007-2008

Author: Debbie Macomber

Received From: Purchased


Heart of Texas Vol. 1 Lonesome Cowboy/Texas Two-Step

Heart of Texas Vol. 2: Caroline's Child\Dr. Texas

 

Heart Of Texas Vol. 3: Nell's Cowboy\Lone Star Baby

Have I said before that I love to read books that continue, to follow up with characters I've met and loved? If not this is your clue. I absolutely loved that about this set of books. In the first volume I was introduced to the main sets of characters Savannah and Laredo and Ellie and Glen. I loved hearing their stories, sharing in their struggles and watching their happily ever afters,  but I was also introduced to the characters I'd fall in love with throughout the series.  One of the things I love most in this set of books is the continuations. In the second and third books I still got to glimpse the lives of those four characters. As each story unfolded it contained arcs from the one before, the bad guy evolved and existed throughout and no story line was left untouched. It isn't often that I get to close a book feeling 100% like I am at peace with where the characters land and their lives are cut off from mine. I read these books as fast as I could wanting to be in their lives! Truly fantastic was the storytelling and growth and evolution of characters. If you like me love to follow your characters these are some great books for you to pick up!

A Grown-up Kind of Pretty

Title: A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Pub Date: 1/25/2012

Author: Joshilyn Jackson

Received From: Netgalley 






Every fifteen years, trouble comes after the Slocumb women. Now, as their youngest turns fifteen, a whole new kind of commotion is chasing all three generations.
A long-hidden grave has been discovered in the family's backyard, and headstrong young Mosey is desperate to know who used their yard as a make-shift cemetery, and why. The oldest Slocumb, forty-five year old Ginny, fights to protect Mosey from the truth, a fight that could cost Ginny the love of her life. Between them is Liza, silenced by a stroke, with the answers trapped inside her. To survive Liza's secrets and Mosey's insistent adventures, Ginny must learn to trust the love that braids the strands of their past--and stop at nothing to defend their future.

Typically a book that changes from one character telling the story and back is not my favorite, but I could not put this book down. The weaved lives of Ginny, her daughter Liza and her daughter Mosey are amazing. This story is told both from the current day happenings and piece of the past to illustrate the picture of how we got here. I love the relationship between these women and the mysteries that abound in the book. My first conclusion as to the answer of the big mystery was not even close to spot on and the other mysteries that unfolded were a great piece of the puzzle. I don't even like mystery books that well, but I could not stop myself from coming back to find out what was next! I really don't want to give this book away, but it is a true vision in love, relationships and family, when your family isn't picture perfect! 

Trying something new!

Follow my book blog Friday!!!

I've never ever linked my blog anywhere, so we'll see if this works! I've been book blogging since the beginning of the new year and I am hooked. I read all kinds of books and my 6 year old reads picture books and some chapter books! We are loving reading our days away and blogging about the books!

MANY READERS/BLOGGERS ARE ALSO BIG MUSIC FANS. TELL US ABOUT A FEW OF YOUR FAVORITE BANDS/SINGERS THAT WE SHOULD LISTEN TO IN 2012.

Ugh this is a bad question for me! I love to listen to the radio, and music BUT I pay no attention to who sings it, who the popular artists are etc. I just go for a sound I like. So for 2012.. turn on a station on the radio you don't normally listen too!