When I was trying to find the romance novel, "Smitten," that Janet Evanovich wrote before her Stephanie Plum novels, I came across "Smitten - Love Is On The Way," at my library and decided to check it out.
It is written by four female romance novelists who are also good friends having discovered one another in their early days of writing at workshops, etc. The authors are Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt, and Denise Hunter. They are also all Christians and this novel has a lot of "God" talk which may or may not turn readers off. I tend to pass over parts of books that don't interest me -- like the explicit sex some novelists feel has to be there to sell romance (and which I loved as a teenager!) or, in this case, a lot of the God talk.
There is a section at the end of the book that is a conversation among the four authors and their editor and it is clear how much they care for one another as "sisters" so it was with sadness I learned that Diann Hunt has since died. She mentions in the conversation what a support these women have been to her since she was diagnosed with lymphoma then later ovarian cancer. You can read more at girlswriteout.blogspot.com.
Each of the four authors wrote a different segment of the book which centers on four friends in the town of Smitten. The local mill is closing down and they come together with an idea to save the town by turning it into a destination resort for weddings, honeymoons, and lovers. Each has a particular interest that they will pursue to make the transformation of the town happen. One already owns a coffee shop and another teaches classes in domestic arts. One is going to open a spa using her background from when she worked in New York and the fourth, who is very athletic, is opening a store stocking outdoor activity equipment.
Each section of the book focuses on one of these women, her private life, and eventually the love that comes into her life.
It's a light hearted, easy read but definitely not what I typically choose. pazt
Wednesday, January 24, 2018
Saturday, January 20, 2018
"Smitten" by Janet Evanovich
I checked out an e-book copy of "Smitten" by Janet Evanovich with the help of a librarian this afternoon and have already finished reading it and checked out the next book in the series on my own - success!
"Smitten" is the second of the early romance novels featuring Elsie that Evanovich wrote before the Plum series.
The heroine of "Smitten," Lizbeth, is a mother of 2 grade school age boys who was separated from their father for 18 months and has been divorced 6 months. She is determined to make it on her own with no help from a wealthy father in another state. Her expertise is raising her sons but she's purchased an older home that needs a lot of tender loving care (or work!) and needs a job. In desperation she applies for a labor job at a construction site down the street from her house where some new homes are being built. Despite her lack of experience, one of the co-owners of the company, Matt, finds himself attracted to her and her streak of independence and gives her a job.
In the meantime she has hired her Aunt Elsie to come for the summer to watch her sons while she works. It's a summer filled with a man flashing himself outside her window nightly and a boss who is falling in love with her. She's falling in love, too, but wants to be sure she's not making another mistake. She is looking for stability for her sons and a better match than her first husband for herself.
As always, Elsie contributes to excitement wherever she is! It's another lighthearted, fun romance read by Janet Evanovich! pazt
"Smitten" is the second of the early romance novels featuring Elsie that Evanovich wrote before the Plum series.
The heroine of "Smitten," Lizbeth, is a mother of 2 grade school age boys who was separated from their father for 18 months and has been divorced 6 months. She is determined to make it on her own with no help from a wealthy father in another state. Her expertise is raising her sons but she's purchased an older home that needs a lot of tender loving care (or work!) and needs a job. In desperation she applies for a labor job at a construction site down the street from her house where some new homes are being built. Despite her lack of experience, one of the co-owners of the company, Matt, finds himself attracted to her and her streak of independence and gives her a job.
In the meantime she has hired her Aunt Elsie to come for the summer to watch her sons while she works. It's a summer filled with a man flashing himself outside her window nightly and a boss who is falling in love with her. She's falling in love, too, but wants to be sure she's not making another mistake. She is looking for stability for her sons and a better match than her first husband for herself.
As always, Elsie contributes to excitement wherever she is! It's another lighthearted, fun romance read by Janet Evanovich! pazt
Friday, January 19, 2018
"Back To The Bedroom"
I received a Janet Evanovich book for Christmas and it has been a while since I have read any of her novels and I'm behind on her Stephanie Plum series! I went to https://www.fantasticfiction.com and printed a list of all her books and I'm starting from the beginning of her writing and working my way forward to the most current.
The introduction to "Back To The Bedroom" is written by Janet and she tells about the twelve short romance novels she wrote before writing the Plum novels. She describes these romance novels as "red-hot screwball comedies" and they were published between 1988 and 1992, They immediately went out of print until being re-released in paperback in 2005 or so. I decided to start with these especially after reading that they feature Elsie Hawkins who was the prototype for Grandma Mazur in her Plum series.
"Back To The Bedroom" is a love story between two unlikely people -- a female who is a serious musician and her next door neighbor who won the lottery and likes to spend his days playing with toys. Although they've been neighbors, they don't really meet until a camera from a helicopter falls through her roof and makes a hole in the attic and top floor of her home. This complicates her life because she has decided to take in a renter (Elsie Hawkins) to help with the expenses with the house she inherited from her divorce. It's also when all the adventures start and our musician finds her disciplined life turned upside down!
It's a fun read and I'm on to the next book, "Smitten," but first I have to find out from my library how to check out a book as a download on my Kindle! Janet"s "Smitten" is only available in that form at my local library. pazt
The introduction to "Back To The Bedroom" is written by Janet and she tells about the twelve short romance novels she wrote before writing the Plum novels. She describes these romance novels as "red-hot screwball comedies" and they were published between 1988 and 1992, They immediately went out of print until being re-released in paperback in 2005 or so. I decided to start with these especially after reading that they feature Elsie Hawkins who was the prototype for Grandma Mazur in her Plum series.
"Back To The Bedroom" is a love story between two unlikely people -- a female who is a serious musician and her next door neighbor who won the lottery and likes to spend his days playing with toys. Although they've been neighbors, they don't really meet until a camera from a helicopter falls through her roof and makes a hole in the attic and top floor of her home. This complicates her life because she has decided to take in a renter (Elsie Hawkins) to help with the expenses with the house she inherited from her divorce. It's also when all the adventures start and our musician finds her disciplined life turned upside down!
It's a fun read and I'm on to the next book, "Smitten," but first I have to find out from my library how to check out a book as a download on my Kindle! Janet"s "Smitten" is only available in that form at my local library. pazt
Thursday, January 18, 2018
"Two Mules For Sister Sara"
"Two Mules For Sister Sara" is a movie starring Clint Eastwood as a high plains drifter looking to find himself some money. On his way, though, he rescues a nun, Sister Sara, played by a young Shirley MacLaine. I'm sure I've seen this movie some time in the long ago past but watching it again, I have no recollection of the story line at all.
The drifter and the nun join forces with some Mexican revolutionaries who are resisting the French occupation of Mexico. The adventure begins with the drifter rescuing the nun but ends with a surprise for both of them.
This is a fun movie and I'm glad we decided to watch it again -- assuming I'd seen it before! pazt
The drifter and the nun join forces with some Mexican revolutionaries who are resisting the French occupation of Mexico. The adventure begins with the drifter rescuing the nun but ends with a surprise for both of them.
This is a fun movie and I'm glad we decided to watch it again -- assuming I'd seen it before! pazt
Monday, January 1, 2018
"Journey To Death"
"Journey To Death" is a Lucy Hall mystery by Leigh Russell who is the internationally best selling author of the DI Geraldine Steel and DS Ian Peterson crime series. This is the first of her mysteries I have read, however.
Lucy Hall arrives in the Seychelles with her parents for a much needed vacation after a break up with her long-time boyfriend. Her dad worked in the Seychelles before he met and married her mother and he is looking forward to returning to a country he loved but was forced to leave during a civil war.
What none of the family expects, however, is her mother's kidnapping as well as murders on the island that may be connected to her father's earlier life there. They all get a lot more excitement than they'd bargained for in a vacation meant to be restful. pazt
Lucy Hall arrives in the Seychelles with her parents for a much needed vacation after a break up with her long-time boyfriend. Her dad worked in the Seychelles before he met and married her mother and he is looking forward to returning to a country he loved but was forced to leave during a civil war.
What none of the family expects, however, is her mother's kidnapping as well as murders on the island that may be connected to her father's earlier life there. They all get a lot more excitement than they'd bargained for in a vacation meant to be restful. pazt
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