PRICE OF FAME

PRICE OF FAME                                   SYLVIA JUKES MORRIS
Price:  Jan. 23, 2015

Price of Fame: The Honorable Clare Boothe Luce“I hope I shall have ambition until the day I die,” Clare Boothe Luce told her biographer Sylvia Jukes Morris. Price of Fame, the concluding volume of the life of an exceptionally brilliant polymath, chronicles Luce’s progress from the early months of World War II, when, as an eye-catching Congresswoman and the only female member of the House Military Affairs Committee, she toured the Western Front, captivating generals and GIs. She even visited Buchenwald and other concentration camps within days of their liberation. After a shattering personal tragedy, she converted to Roman Catholicism, and became the first American woman to be appointed ambassador to a major foreign power. “La Luce,” as the Italians called her, was also a prolific journalist and magnetic public speaker, as well as a playwright, screenwriter, pioneer scuba diver, early experimenter in psychedelic drugs, and grande dame of the GOP in the Reagan era. Tempestuously married to Henry Luce, the powerful publisher of Time Inc., she endured his infidelities while pursuing her own, and remained a practiced vamp well into old age.
 
Price of Fame begins in January 1943 with Clare’s arrival on Capitol Hill as a newly elected Republican from Connecticut. The thirty-nine-year-old beauty attracted nationwide attention in a sensational maiden speech, attacking Vice President Henry Wallace’s civil aviation proposals as “globaloney.” Although she irked President Franklin D. Roosevelt by slanging his New Deal as “a dictatorial Bumbledom,” she impressed his wife Eleanor.
 
Revealing liberal propensities, she lobbied for relaxed immigration policies for Chinese, Indians, and displaced European Jews, as well as equal rights for women and blacks. Following Hiroshima, the legislator whom J. William Fulbright described as “the smartest colleague I ever served with” became a passionate advocate of nuclear arms control. But in 1946, she gave up her House seat, convinced that politics was “the refuge of second-class minds.”
 
After a few seasons of proselytizing on the Catholic lecture circuit, Clare emerged as a formidable television personality, campaigning so spectacularly for the victorious Republican presidential candidate, Dwight D. Eisenhower, that he rewarded her with the Rome embassy.
 
Ambassador Luce took an uncompromising attitude toward Italy’s Communist Party, the world’s second largest, and skillfully helped settle the fraught Trieste crisis between Italy and Yugoslavia. She was then stricken by a mysterious case of  poisoning that the CIA kept secret, suspecting a Communist plot to assassinate her. The full story, told here for the first time, reads like a detective novel.
 
Price of Fame goes on to record the crowded later years of the Honorable Clare Boothe Luce, during which she strengthened her friendships with Winston Churchill, Somerset Maugham, John F. Kennedy, Evelyn Waugh, Lyndon Johnson, Salvador Dalí, Richard Nixon, William F. Buckley, the composer Carlos Chávez, Ronald Reagan, and countless other celebrities who, after Henry Luce’s death, visited her lavish Honolulu retreat. In 1973, she was appointed by Nixon to the President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board, a position she continued to hold in the Ford and Reagan administrations.
 
Sylvia Jukes Morris is the only writer to have had complete access to Mrs. Luce’s prodigious collection of public and private papers. In addition, she had unique access to her subject, whose death at eighty-four ended a life that for variety of accomplishment qualifies Clare Boothe Luce for the title of “Woman of the Century.”

HUBBY'S REVIEW:
This is a very through look at the life of Clare Booth Luce. She was a person that I had never heard of when reading history books from the 40’s through the 60’s, bur her life was amazing nun the less. She wrote 4 Broadway comedies, 3 of those became hits and were made into movies. She wrote a screen play for 20th century Fox studio, and was the wife of the publisher of Time, Life, and Fortune, magazines. She also wrote articles for Life and Time, and when Pearl Harbor was attack she had a front page story on Life magazine on General Macarthur and her tour of Asia and how she thought Japan was going to try to take over the Pacific. In 1942 she was elected to the House of Representatives, and also won a second term in 1945. In 1944 she made a tour with other Representatives of the European front mainly the Italian front that she felt along with others had been forgotten after D-Day while men were still fighting. She along with the Tour also looked in on the hospitals and other areas. She was the only female from either house to make the trip, but for her she had already been to the Pacific theater once and in Africa both times reporting for Life Magazine, so this really was not out of her comfort zone. The author goes into detail about some of her speeches in the House and being Republican, not always agreeing with what came out of the White House she was critized for most her comments. Some of them seemed very hateful and would not be written by newspapers today or spoken by members from the House. But by her being female it was like open season, and what was really difficult for me was that some of the comments were coming from women who were in the House, or Congress, and really not listening to her speech but just going off what was said out of the newspapers. Especially when she was trying to still push forward equal rights for women. They made up over 80% of the job force but were not given the same benefits as men. She also pushed for the same rights as men when it came to the G.I. bill for there were many women serving the Nation as well. Though she would be put down her arguments towards those bills got the women added. While she was in office there is a chapter about the death of her only child a daughter who was killed in a car accident, very tragic. She makes another visit to the European Theater towards the end of the war and is actually one of the people to see first-hand of the brutality of the camps, she went to Buchenwald, and after her tour she would give a speech in the House about the cruelty that she saw. When she left office she went back to writing and then May of 1953 thru April of 1956 she would be the American Women to be Ambassador to Italy or any important post. After that she would only in name become Ambassador to Brazil. She would go on to support every Republican and give speeches when asked. In 1983 she was the first female to be awarded the Presidential Freedom Award by President Regan. She passed away in 1987 at the age of 84, with an estate over 31,625,454 dollars. Most given to charities and a large amount 50 million to academic program designed to encourage the entry of women into technological fields traditionally dominated by men. She also gave money to schools to set up programs for women studies, and much more. this book has a lot of information and the author has done a massive amount of research and though this is a long book it is worth the read. I got this book from net galley.

LET'S GO!: THE HISTORY OF THE 29TH INFANTRY DIVISION 1917-2001

LET'S GO!                               ALEXANDER F. BARNES, TIM WILLIAMS, CHRIS CALKINS
Posted:  Jan. 23, 2015

Let's Go!: The History of the 29th Infantry Division 1917-2001America's entry into World War I in 1917 was marked by the need to quickly build an Army and deploy it to France. Among the units deploying was the 29th Blue and Gray Division. Comprised of National Guardsmen from the Mid-Atlantic region, it quickly achieved a reputation as a top-notch outfit during the Meuse-Argonne campaign. This reputation was enhanced in World War II when the 29th was selected for the assault on German-occupied France in the D-Day landings of June 6, 1944. The courage and sacrifice shown by Guardsmen that day was later matched in bloody fighting at St Lo, Brest, and Julich. In the years that followed, the 29th would add to its lustrous reputation by becoming the Guard's first Light division and serving effectively as peacekeepers in the Balkans--at times only fifty miles from where World War I started. Using previously unpublished material and images from 1917 to 2001, here is their story.

HUBBY'S REVIEW:
This book about the 29 Infantry division is really a history of just the division and not really about the battles that they fought in. the author explains the blue and gray patch that they wear as representing units from New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia. As the division was composed of men from States that fought for both the North and South during the Civil War, the division is nicked named the “Blue and Gray “. They first were formed for WWI and left for France June 1918, it was not until September of 1918 that they were called up for action which was the Army’s Meuse- Argonne Offensive. They were in combat for 21 days and lost 30 percent of their division in that time. Shortly after the Armistice with Germany was signed and when they came back to the States they were deactivated. They were reorganized on February 3, 1941 and put on a ship and sent to England to be part of operation overlord. After months of training them along with the Army’s 1st Division and a Ranger Regiment, got the task to take Omaha Beach, which we all know was the most fortified of the five beaches that day. The author goes into the types of uniforms of the different wars and weapons and then brings up when the unit is called back into service for Kosovo, and for the Iraq war and Afghanistan. Other than not going into all of the battles that they were in that would be the thing that I would see stopping someone from enjoying this book more. Overall not a bad book. I got this book from net galley.

THE NAVY SEAL'S CHRISTMAS BRIDE (HUBBY'S REVIEW)

THE NAVY SEAL'S CHRISTMAS BRIDE       CORA SETON
Posted:  Jan. 23, 2015

The Navy SEAL's Christmas Bride (The Heroes of Chance Creek, #2.5)It’s Christmas time at Crescent Hall, but don’t expect peace, harmony and goodwill among men. When Mason Hall and his wife, Regan, invite their friends to stay for the holidays, sparks fly in an epic battle of the sexes, military style!

Navy SEAL Dan Hemmins goes head to head with soldier Sarah Metlin to prove once and for all that woman can’t possibly qualify for an elite branch of the military, but when Sarah proves she’s not just one of the most qualified warriors he’s ever met, she’s also one of the smartest and sexiest, too, he’ll do whatever it takes to get close to her, even if he has to challenge her to another contest…or three…or five!

HUBBY'S REVIEW:
Regan and Mason, invite their friends to their ranch for Christmas and before everyone is there Mason is talking to a former Seal, Dan about what he is planning on doing now that is out of the service. After Dan explains his idea to Mason, Mason tells Dan to keep an open mind because Regan’s friend who is coming out here might be someone who would fit in for a partner in his future. When Dan hears that Regan is bringing a girl he is already putting down the idea, and Mason is telling him do not judge until you meet her first. Sarah is an Army Sgt, getting ready to get out after 12 years when she thought she would be making a career out of the Army. She has heard all of the abuse from her father and her brothers that women do not belong in the military and even though she can out run and out shot some of them they still say women should be home. She is glad that her childhood friend has asked out her to their ranch and she is looking forward to some rest. She is also happy that her friend is pregnant and is wondering if she would ever find a guy to fall in love with and start a family. Reagan tells her about Dan on the drive out to the ranch and then when they arrive says the best looking man you see will be Mason, but after fallowing Reagan’s eyes to Mason, she cannot take her eyes off of Dan. When they first meet Dan starts in with the ribbing about being Army and it takes her a minute but then she comes back with a line about Seals. When it is lunch she starts messing with Dan by not looking at him, though he is good looking she knows that this will play with his head and it does. He starts wondering why she is not looking at him what is wrong with him. Finally after everything fails he brings up the obstacle course that is on the property and then it gets heated and before she knows it she has made a bet and after lunch they are running the course. Not knowing that she and two of her friends run a course like this back at her base just in case they ever let women try out Special Forces, he does win but barley. He is impressed, he wins the next competition also, but when they have a shooting contest she smokes him and now he really is starting to look at her as an equal. They still have their moments and like any guy he can be and will be a jerk, but he comes around when he knows she is right for him and together they make a great team. This is a fast, fun story and I can’t wait for the next book. A good book. I got this book from net galley.

FIERCE PATRIOT: THE TANGLED LIVES OF WILLIAM TECUMSEH SHERMAN

FIERCE PATRIOT                                 ROBERT L. O'CONNELL
Posted:  Jan. 23, 2015

Fierce Patriot: The Tangled Lives of William Tecumseh ShermanAmerica’s first “celebrity” general, William Tecumseh Sherman was a man of many faces. Some were exalted in the public eye, others known only to his intimates. In this bold, revisionist portrait, Robert L. O’Connell captures the man in full for the first time. From his early exploits in Florida, through his brilliant but tempestuous generalship during the Civil War, to his postwar career as a key player in the building of the transcontinental railroad, Sherman was, as O’Connell puts it, the “human embodiment of Manifest Destiny.” Here is Sherman the military strategist, a master of logistics with an uncanny grasp of terrain and brilliant sense of timing. Then there is “Uncle Billy,” Sherman’s public persona, a charismatic hero to his troops and quotable catnip to the newspaper writers of his day. Here, too, is the private Sherman, whose appetite for women, parties, and the high life of the New York theater complicated his already turbulent marriage. Warrior, family man, American icon, William Tecumseh Sherman has finally found a biographer worthy of his protean gifts. A masterful character study whose myriad insights are leavened with its author’s trademark wit, Fierce Patriot will stand as the essential book on Sherman for decades to come.

HUBBY'S REVIEW:
This book about General Sherman, goes into much more detail about every part of his life than any book about him that I have read before. The author also takes you back into his father’s life before he died and how he would be placed with the family that would be forever locked with. Some of the stories from West Point I had read before in some other books, but when this author takes you through his time fighting in the Seminole War, it was an in depth look at how it was fought and how also when he was traveling in the South how he had a memory of not only facts but also terrain. This would come into play later in another war. Then you have his marriage and then leaving the service for a time to try banking, which by all accounts he was good at just got into it at the wrong time. When he was offered a job to be Louisiana, to be head of a military school he thought that to be strange and he also notice on his way there that other places men were marching and drilling. This later would all make sense. When the war started he requested to be given back his rank, and was but was in charge of a volunteer unit and the lack of marching and drilling would be one of his completes after Bull Run. People not noticing that the South had been planning for several months, and what really got him was who in most cases they were using weapons and ammo that was property of the United States, not Confederate. The battles I will skip for they are all been talked about many times. What I had not paid attention to was when he started his march to the sea he did a few things. First he had his medical staff give everyone a physical and anyone how was sick or wounded but had not told anyone was sent back to Memphis. Once this was finished the men that were left felt that they were special and they were to him. Next everyone including officers would sleep on the ground no tents, and they would only carry so much food the rest would be got off the land or farms. Everyone was given ammo and he split he Army in three fingers so the when he was being followed they did not know which one. Then he went to Jackson Mississippi, he attacked the capitol of Mississippi, and when they were done they started their march. There would be no long drawn out battle with the South as the fighting would get going he would inflict damage save his men and move on. His men began to call him Uncle Billy, for he was always looking out for them. He burned part of Atlanta, for they made weapons, ammo and other war supplies, but the first fire was started by the South not wanting them to get anything. Now when you get to South Carolina yes they burned just about every town they came upon for he felt since they started the war they should feel the full force. When they got to North Carolina, they stopped except for the capital of every state he went through they destroyed that city as well. The picks up his life after war and his fighting out west and some of his fighting in D.C. this would cause him and Grant not to speak for many years. He did say later that he felt that “the black man should be able to vote since that is what we fought for “. He felt the politicians took away their rights wars after the war. It was said that he walked out of someone speaking and was seen sitting with a black gentlemen on a park bench smoking cigars, when asked he said “the conversation was better “. That I believe. He change the way wars were fought and now his ways are still being taught and used to this day. He had a tank named after him in WWII, and most of Fort Bragg sits on ground that he did his march to the sea on. This is a through look at a great soldier’s life until his last breath, not enough words can say how much I enjoyed this book. I got this book from net galley.

MR. MIRACLE (HUBBY'S REVIEW)

MR. MIRACLE                                       DEBBIE MACOMBER
Posted:  Jan. 23, 2015

Mr. Miracle (Angelic Intervention, #10)Harry Mills is a guardian angel on a mission: help twenty-four-year-old Addie Folsom get her life back on track—and, if the right moment strikes, help her find love. Posing as a teacher at a local college in Tacoma, Washington, Harry is up to the task, but not even he can predict the surprises that lay in store.

After trying to make it on her own, Addie has returned home to Tacoma for the holidays, but this time she plans to stay for good, enrolling in the local community college to earn her degree. What she doesn’t plan to do is run into Erich Simmons.

Addie and her next-door neighbor, Erich, are like night and day. Growing up, he was popular and outgoing while she was rebellious and headstrong, and he never missed an opportunity to tease her. Now she intends to avoid him entirely, yet when they’re suddenly forced to spend Christmas together, Addie braces for trouble.

Perhaps it’s the spirit of the season or the magic of mistletoe, but Addie and Erich soon find they have more in common than they thought—and that two people who seem so wrong for each other may actually be just right. With a little prompting from a certain angelic teacher, the two are in for a holiday miracle they’ll never forget.

HUBBY'S REVIEW:

I did not care for this book at all. Every time you started to get into the two main characters, Addie and Erich, who had lived across from each other as children and now are adults and are put together so their mothers can go on a curse together that they had plan for some time. As they start to work out their past and maybe a future, in comes the two angels Harry the one trying to help Addie find her way and his mentor Celeste, who tries to guide Harry who for the first part of the book acts like a know it all and only seems to get into trouble. I just felt like the story was too much of Harry and not enough of Addie and Erich. There was no depth to the characters and why she felt so much hurt by Erich that she could not say okay to a relationship when you compare her writing of characters in other books with this one. And when she has opened to Erich about a situation the story jumps back to Harry the angel. So much so that when you get to the end of the book the epilogue is about Harry, Celeste is talking to him about Addie and Erich, WHAT ABOUT THEM, he says they had a break through really. Maybe it is me I read to many history and action books, but I missed the break through and I am not going back to re-read it. Any way Harry is staying and I won’t be reading the next Mr. Miracle book. I am giving Debbie Macomber, a little pass for her other books that I have read were good. I got this book from net galley. 

HIGH NOTE: A ROCK MEMOIR

HIGH NOTES                     RICHARD LOREN & STEPHEN ABNEY
Posted:  Jan. 23, 2015

High Notes: A Rock Memoir'High Notes: A Rock Memoir, Working with Rock Legends Jefferson Airplane Through The Doors to the Grateful Dead' gives readers a behind-the-scenes look at some of rock's biggest names. It is the story of rock-and-roll itself, and how the 60s and 70s shaped the music genre, all through the eyes of former music agent and manager Richard Loren.

HUBBY'S REVIEW:
This book for me was more of a look at the Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia. I was not too interested with his time with the Doors, even though I have their albums, yes I still listen to vinyl. Growing up in Southern California we got saturated with their music and I actually like some of their songs that never made it to the radio better than some of their hits. His time with Jefferson airplane was interesting and again I wish he could have gone into more detail if possible. Once you get to the Grateful Dead period the book takes off for a while and you get behind the scenes of the tours, recording sessions and then his memories of Jerry Garcia, now he was a character but also a talented musician. The whole band was I thought. I started listen to them in the early 70s just about the time when Richard Loren, started working for them and then later for Jerry. You get a little look into some of the back fighting that went on. You also see how they worked out marketing ideas such as t-shirts, books, photos, etc... When the in fighting started in the band Loren, who always had a separate office and keep separate accounts one for the band and one for Jerry’s, items. Members of the band still wanted to bring in a new person, he said fine and did not renew their contract but still had one with Jerry. I thought that to be strange that Jerry had one for the band and one just for himself. After a while when Jerry’s contract with Loren was ready to be renewed Loren decline to renew, saying he felt it was time to move on. Later on members of the band came to him to say they made a mistake by going with a different agency and that made him feel better. The sad part was when Jerry was sick he only got to see him once for a short time and after that even though Jerry wanted to see him he was not allowed in. there are parts of this book that might be a little slow for some people, but the main part of the book is when Richard Loren and Jerry Garcia were working together to keep the Grateful Dead, in peoples mind with no major hit. The “Dead Heads “bought their music and everyone could buy their t- shirts at least in California. Now you can watch their concerts on DVD’S. so overall not a bad book, if you are into this type of music and want to get a glimpse into what it was like. I got this book from net galley.

DAISIES IN THE CANYON (HUBBY'S REVIEW)

DAISIES IN THE CANYON                   CAROLYN BROWN
Posted:  Jan. 23, 2015

Daisies in the CanyonShe’s here to claim her birthright…
Ex-army sergeant Abby Malloy feels no loss after the father she never knew passes away. Still, part of Ezra Malloy’s ranch belongs to her, and if the stubborn blonde has to live there for a year with two half-sisters who are strangers to her, so be it. Nothing could stand in the way of her inheritance…except a local sheriff wrapped in snug blue jeans and a sexy grin.
He’s here to claim her heart…
Cooper Wilson, the local sheriff and rancher next door, is having his world turned upside down. Abby is all straight talk and sweet, lush curves—the kind of woman who gets under his skin in just the right way. Whereas Cooper has roots in Palo Duro Canyon, Abby’s got wings. But he knows she belongs here. If she can stop running from her past, he’ll happily lead her to a brighter future, one hot cowboy kiss at a time.
HUBBY'S REVIEW:
This story starts with three daughters sitting at the funeral of their father Ezra. All three never meet him or each other, but are there for one thing to own the ranch. The last one standing after a year will be the owner and the other two will be given a check with a lot of zeros behind a number and if they all fail the ranch goes to Rusty who is the foreman. Abby, is the oldest just getting out of the army, then Shiloh and then Bonnie. All three would be born in November and once Ezra, saw that they were girls he sent them along with their mothers on their way. This is a story that is fast paced and fun. How they all learn to become sisters and work as a team, not so much with Rusty. Cooper, Who owns the ranch next to theirs and is also the sheriff strikes up a romance with one of the lucky women but he has his hands full, for are all strong willed and powerful women. They learn the business and put in a goods days’ work. The author makes the characters real and brings in some from another story, so there is some familiar with the story of their stories. Overall this is a great story and how the three sisters become a family towards the end of the book has a good feel to it. A good read. I really enjoyed it. I got this book from net galley. 

SAY YOU WILL #5

SAY YOU WILL #5                                  M. MALONE
Posted:  Jan. 23, 2015

Say You Will (The Alexanders, #5)SAY YOU WILL is the fifth book in M. Malone's USA TODAY bestselling contemporary romance series: The Alexanders.

Mara Simmons knows two things for sure: her instincts are always right and Trent Townsend is The One. So when she starts to suspect his frequent business trips have nothing to do with business, she knows what she has to do. Trust her instincts.

Trent Townsend is living a lie and his worlds are on the verge of colliding. He's done so much to separate his small town life from his past that one day he realizes he can't tell what's real anymore. 

When Mara asks family friend Eli Alexander to investigate, she sets in motion a chain of events bigger than she can imagine. Soon she'll have to make a choice. Stand by her man or… watch it all fall apart

WARNING: This book contains brazen lies, meddling sisters, encounters with the 1 percent and really hot domineering billionaire bachelors. Just saying...
THE ALEXANDERS SERIES
- Book 0.5 - Teasing Trent - the prequel
- Book 1 - One More Day ~ Jackson & Ridley
- Book 2 - The Things I Do for You ~ Nick & Raina
- Book 3 - He's the Man ~ Matt & Penny
- Book 3.5 - Christmas with The Alexanders
- Book 4 - All I Need is You ~ Elliott & Kaylee
- Book 5 - Say You Will ~ Trent & Mara
- Book 6 - Just One Thing ~ Bennett & Katie (Fall 2014)

HUBBY'S REVIEW:

This is book five in the series and it is mostly dealing with Trent and Mara. Trent has a secret that Mara finds out about along with her brother who both had known and thought that they had known Trent for a long time. That is now all thrown out and Mara along with her brother and his friends don’t want anything to do with Trent. Trent is trying to come up with ways to get back with her but is not telling her the complete truth which is making it more difficult. Plus Trent’s brother who everyone is covering for had a child and the child’s mother has known the family for a long time and she is using the child and the history of Trent to sabotage any chance of him and Mara getting back together. It takes Trent awhile to figure all of this out and he still does not get why his secret is such a big deal. When Mara and her brother explain to him that for all the years through college and after everything that he has told them is a lie he slowly starts to understand. For someone who is so smart he is really not getting a lot. The book goes on and I don’t want to spoil it, but I will say that I liked all of the books before this one more than this one. The writing was good but it just took me awhile to get through it. I got this book from net galley.

A CURVY COLDWATER CHRISTMAS #5

A CURVY COLDWATER CHRISTMAS #5      JENN ROSETON
Posted:  Jan. 23, 2015

A Curvy Coldwater Christmas by Jenn RosetonWhen Kate is asked by her friend, Sarah McCord, to appear as Mrs. Claus in the Coldwater Springs Christmas parade, she doesn’t know what to think! After all, she’s only twenty-nine. And although she has a very curvy figure, she’s not matronly and gray-haired - yet. 

But when she finds out that the hunky guy she’s admired for the last few months, Flynn Winters, will play opposite her as Santa, she’s glad she agreed to take part. Especially when the script calls for them to kiss ….

This is a sexy contemporary romance novelette of approximately 6,800 words. Although it’s part of the Coldwater Springs series, it can be read as a stand-alone.

Sarah and Chase, Libby and Jake, Cassie and Luke, and Emma and Cade's romances are in the boxed set, Curves and Cowboys (BBW Romance - Coldwater Springs 1-4) available on Amazon.
 

MY REVIEW:
This was a very very cute story.  Well, written for a short one that you wouldn't mind going back to visit these characters.  The story was sweetly perfect for the holidays but even now with Valentine's coming up.  It reminds you about that love is in the simple things.  I got this free on Amazon.  I give this 5 stars.

SPECIAL DELIVERY: A VALENTINE'S SHORT STORY

SPECIAL DELIVERY                           GINNY BAIRD
Posted:  Jan. 23, 2015

Special Delivery by Ginny BairdSPECIAL DELIVERY (A Valentine's Short Story) 
Sometimes gifts of the heart are the best gifts of all...

All Amanda Holiday wants is for her husband to come home for Valentine's Day. She's expecting their first baby, but her husband Luke - a US Navy fighter pilot - is half the world away. So Amanda determines to get through her childbirth alone with the help of a trusted good friend. When a raging snowstorm hits, complications ensue. Will Amanda's strength see her through? And can Luke stay out of harm's way? It may all depend on the power of love to achieve a happy ending.

SPECIAL DELIVERY (A Valentine's Short Story)

Amanda recalled the first time Luke winked at her, causing her knees to go weak. They'd been stopping in the same coffee shop during one of his shore leaves and had happened to run into each other an uncanny number of times. One of those times, she'd just cut her fairly long hair into a new style that was layered and fell just past her shoulders. Luke reached for his tall, nonfat latte and grinned. He had an asymmetrical smile that tilted up higher at one corner, causing Amanda's heart to do a heady flip-flop.

"New do?" he asked her.

She nodded numbly, unable to find her tongue. When one spent one's mornings talking to small children, responding to open interest from a red-hot stranger didn't come naturally. She mumbled something barely intelligible like, "Uh, um...yeah."

He returned a thoughtful look before shooting her a wink. "I like it."

Then he was off and out the door, leaving Amanda's pulse fluttering. It took the person behind her in line nudging her for her to realize the barista was staring at her from the other side of the counter, waiting on her order.

Amanda was flustered beyond embarrassment. "Sorry," she told the coffee server. "I just lost track of..."

"No worries, doll," the older woman said with a knowing look. "Luke Holiday has that effect on everyone."

"Everyone?" Amanda asked lamely. She couldn't help but feel disappointed. As inane as it seemed, she'd somehow hoped the increasing attention Luke had paid her during their early morning run-ins was meant for her.

"Not everyone," the girl behind her insisted. "He's never noticed anybody's hair before."

Later, Luke assured her it was true. He found her blonde tresses mesmerizing. And the way they played about her pretty face? Enticingly awesome. He'd also noticed her eyes. He'd never seen any so blue. And her hands--so fine and delicate. He could tell she was a compassionate person by the careful way she'd cradled her coffee cup. Amanda accused him of laying it on thick, but he'd simply chuckled in response swearing to goodness it was true. And precisely why he'd gone back to the coffee shop at the same time the next morning in hopes of asking her out. He suggested meeting for coffee to start. It only seemed natural. They already had a regular place...
MY REVIEW:
     When your heart meets the one it's meant for and theirs agrees you will both know you are in it for the right reasons. The overwhelming knowledge of that you are with your best friend, lover, and lifelong mate will hit you at the same time. That's what happened for Luke Holiday when he was going in for his daily coffee. He kept see this sweet outgoing blonde almost every morning. Then one day he noticed she had gotten her long blonde locks cut and styled. He had to say something. He told it looked nice and winked.
For Amanda a pre-school teacher who works with small children all day the ability to speak to adults in full on sentences escapes her.
     So, when the tall sexy as sin Navy Pilot asked her about her new cut and said he like as well as winked at her she froze for a minute. It was all she could do to say, "Uh huh! Thanks!" Once he got her to agree to the first date 5 months later he was asking her to marry him.
She was all happy. Two years in, they both at the same time thought it was the right time to start a family. See how that is going for them as he is serving his country at the same time.
     I loved this very short sweet love story for Valentine's Day. I know you will too. I got it free when I chose it on Amazon. I give it 5 stars. 

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HEARTS OVER BELLHAM: TWO BELLHAM ROMANCE SHORTS STORIES FOR VALENTINE'S DAY

HEARTS OVER BELLHAM                   DANITA CAHILL
Posted:  Jan. 23, 2015

Hearts Over Bellham by Danita CahillHEARTS OVER BELLHAM is a collection of two Bellham Romance SHORT STORIES. Both are sweet, "clean" romances, and are prequels to the first full-length novel in the series - LOVE AT FIRST CLICK. 

HEARTS OVER BELLHAM - 
Hillary Johnson secretly admired handsome fellow firefighter, Tim Jacobs, for years. 

When the fire chief asks for volunteers to hang Valentine’s decorations over Main Street, Hillary’s hand shoots up immediately after Tim’s. 

Why pass up a golden opportunity to spend time with the guy she’s crushing on, just because she’s afraid of heights? 

Hillary battles her fear to prove to Tim, and to herself, that she can conquer it. 

After observing Hillary’s courage, Tim notices her – really notices her – for the first time. 

VALENTINE'S MAGIC 
After a dozen years of marriage, financial woes, and the possibility of losing their alpaca ranch, the honeymoon is over for Carol and Christopher Ridge. 

But the couple reconnects on Valentine’s Day, rediscovering their love for one another under the magical glow of the lighted hearts strung over Bellham’s Main Street. 

Could this be the launch of a new honeymoon phase for Carol and Christopher?

MY REVIEW:
HEARTS OVER BELLHAM:
     Very cute super short, short. This is of two people who worked together now for 3 years. Hillary Johnson fell in love with Tim Jacobs before he started working with her as a volunteer firefighter. But Tim never noticed her at all.
Until the day they were asking for volunteers to up the Valentine decorations over Main Street in downtown Bellham, Oregon.

     Tim’s hand was the first hand to go up and before Hillary could think better of it hers had gone up too. Being that she is scared of heights that was just crazy.
But after they were finished it was her courage that sold it for Tim. This was just very sweet and cozy for Valentine’s Day.

VALENTINE’S MAGIC:
     This was a short about a couple reconnecting on Valentine’s Day after 12 years of marriage. They have had one really rough year with their business and lack of communication. The wife not thinking they were going to be able to make it work. That they may lose the ranch they live on along with their marriage.
     I have to say I didn’t care for this story very much to me it was dry and not cozy at all it made me sad even with its outcome. Over all for this book I give it 4 stars really 3
½.
I got this free on Amazon.
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RESCUE ME: A VALENTINE'S DAY SHORT STORY

RESCUE ME: A VALENTINE'S DAY SHORT          SERENA BELL
Posted:  Jan. 23, 2015

Rescue Me by Serena BellGetting stood up on Valentine’s Day has taken Molly Mack places she never would have dared to go…

After Molly Mack’s deadbeat boyfriend dumps her on the most romantic day of the year, Molly finds herself pushed to the edge—and in a tight spot. The only rescuer for miles around is her grumpy, laconic—and piping hot—neighbor, Dave Jenkins. Before long, Molly and Dave have struck enough sparks to bring the fire department running. Now the question is, Does Molly still want to be rescued? Or is she exactly where she wants to be?

MY REVIEW:
     Here you have two neighbors who saw each other daily but never really spoke.  Molly Mack and Dave Jenkins.  Molly outgoing and always smiling yet every time she met or saw Dave he never said "Hi!" or would even acknowledge her.  So, she could never introduce herself to him.  Yet, on Valentine's Day on of the most important days for a dating couple but especially Molly since she had taken a lot of time primping.  It was for her at least until about 45 minutes before Peyton was to pick her up. 
     Peyton calls and says that he has met someone new and that he just doesn't feel right taking anyone out but her and that he is very sorry for the late call that he felt bad for that.  But hoped she would understand and hangs up.  Molly was so mad that she threw her Jimmy Choo at the wall or so she thought.  But no just her luck it went out the window and got caught up on the tree.  So, she went out on the ledge and was reaching for it in fact over reaching for it and well not could not get it.  It was to far out.  When she finally looked at where she was as to her window, the ledge, and the street she froze in place.  Then, got the idea to sit and planned on scooting on her bottom to her window but the ledge was lined with tar paper and she was wearing a dress with no panties.  Can you say "road burn?"
     When all of a sudden she hears, "You know you shouldn't sit there?"  Was he joking is that what that was?  She couldn't see his face so she didn't know.  She said, "Thanks!"  Then their banter began and he starts to come up with solutions.  Dave her beautifully quiet man upstairs had a dry witty sense of humor.  Most of all her was being helpful.
     I really, really enjoyed this sweet Valentine's Day short.  I know you will enjoy it too.  That it was free when I got it made it even better.  Thanks Amazon!!!  I give this: 5 stars.

OFFICE PARTY MAN

OFFICE PARTY MAN                           MANDI MOANE
Posted: Jan. 23, 2015

Office Party Man by Mandi MoaneBBW Sammy Has an Office Romance with the Billionaire Owner 
Twenty-four year old Samantha is working for a greeting card company. She is not happy with her job, but she stays because of the owner – Toddy Smithy – who is very hands-on in running the business. When Britney, the rail thin woman from Human Resources, gets jealous, how far will she go to ruin Sammy's blossoming relationship with Todd? The stakes are high, but Sammy is willing to risk it all to have the man of her dreams in her arms. Will she make it to the office Christmas party? Can she make the right decision? This is a short, romantic and sensual story. 
Click Look Inside for More Details and an Excerpt

MY REVIEW:
     Office life is such a hard way to live when your single and so many personalities at Purple Care Cards where Sammy works as an artist for greeting cards for the last three years.  She came to the company that Todd Smithy, the owner of the companies, mother ran, before she passed from cancer.  Sammy has had a major crush on him since she came to work there.  Being a plus size gal she knew she never had a chance in hell with him.  Especially with the H.R. gal after him and out to get her.
     Her only saving grace was her partner at work befriended her when the H.R. gal heard that Todd asked her out to lunch to be nice for locking his office when she thought he had gone but he had not.  The gal in H.R. declined the lunch on behalf of Sammy upsetting her.  Jerry on that told her he was there for her.  And that he had her H.R. tell Todd that she could not make the lunch date.  She was getting mad at Jerry at first but then she realized that Jerry was just being nice.  Then he asked her to dinner as friends they had fun.
     Then one day the H.R. gal was going to far flirting with Todd knowing Sammy like him.  So, Sammy went to confront her.  Instead, H.R. gal fired her.  Jerry is there to hold her hand but Todd saves the day by firing H.R. gal for going too far.  See where things go in this very short read.  It is cute and not what you would expect when you first start reading.  I give this 5 stars.  I got this free on Amazon.

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TALKIN' SPORTS WITH PAT 7:30-8:00PM TONIGHT LIVE CHAT

Talkin’ Sports
With Pat



The man who invented Instant Replay passed away.  His name was Tony Verna.  It was during an Army-Navy Game in 1963, which had Roger Staubach quarterback for Navy & Heisman Trophy winner.
He said in an interview some years later that it took 30 attempts with the machinery that they back then before they got what he wanted & that he had only 10 seconds before the next play.  By the following season the NFL was using Instant Replay officials and all stated by Tony Verna, “Son of Italian Immigrants Invented Instant Replay.”




LOVE ME SWEET

LOVE ME SWEET                                    TRACY BROGAN
Posted:  Jan. 23, 2015

Delaney Masterson isn’t looking for fame.

Yes, she has famous parents and a reality TV show, but she’s not the wild-child celebrity the paparazzi have painted her to be. Until…The Scandal. When an old boyfriend releases a private video, Delaney’s name becomes every comedian’s favorite punch line. To escape the media, she sneaks away to Bell Harbor, Michigan—during the worst winter in fifty years.

Adventure show cameraman Grant Connelly has stayed away from Bell Harbor—mostly by choice—but when a family obligation converges with a spontaneous career decision, it’s time to return home.

When bad weather, missing money, honky-tonk musicians, and Elvis impersonators throw Grant and Delaney together on an unexpected road trip, emotions get all shook up. They know only fools fall in love, but they can’t help falling. Still, Delaney has a secret that could tear them apart forever.

Can they weather the storm? Or will this romantic ride end at the Heartbreak Hotel?

MY  REVIEW:
     Talk about a funny romantic comedy.  This is it!  This is a fun loving, emotional, adventurous, a so much more.  The characters in this story are believable to the point of wanting them as your friends.  Like I want the “Paradise Brother’s” as mine.
     This author had a wonderful way with words that just made you laugh out loud.  This is a story of two people Delaney Masterson 27, and Grant Connelly 31, who are in a time of their lives where change is happening.  One chooses to run away from all her problems and the other was running back to face his.  When wires get crossed and they become entwined in each other’s lives.
     Delaney ends up in Bell Harbor, Michigan renting a house from Donna Beckett for 6 months.  In cash plus deposit all up front so she could have her privacy.  You see Delaney doesn’t want the media or anyone to know her true identity because she and her family have a reality T.V. show.  Her ex-boyfriend without her knowledge or consent recorded and sold a sex video to the tabloids.  Out of embarrassment she ran to get away from the media.  Landing in Bell Harbor.
    Four days after moving in she comes home from the grocery store to find a man’s coat and boots and she assumes its Mr. Beckett fixing the shower head like his wife said he would be coming to do.  So, she calls her sister the only one that knows where she’s at.  They talk for a while when she realizes the waters still on.  She hangs up goes up stirs and is surprised to find a naked man.
     The naked man she finds says it’s his house and that his mom had no right to rent it out.  Meanwhile, he’s hiding his goods behind the romance novel she was reading.  That man says he’s Grant Connelly Donna’s son.  When Delaney says she doesn’t believe him so when he says find call the police when can straighten this out.  She yells, “NO!”  He’s not sure why but he thinks she’s cute but is so tire from his long trip back into the country from being out in the jungle.  He’s willing to wait.  Plus with the snow…
     This is where I’ll leave you because I just thing you need to read it. I know you will love it.  I give this 5 stars.  Provided by Net Galley.  Follow us at: www.1rad-readerreviews.com

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