jan jones

Forbidden love leads to hatred and revenge

Published by admin on Tue, 11/26/2019 - 8:37am

This week, I decided to read a little historical fiction and selected “The Throwback: The Girl Who Didn’t Belong” by David Canford.

The story is set in South Carolina well before the Civil War. Black Oaks Plantation has been owned by the Elwood family for several generations. The current owner, George Elwood, is determined to raise a son capable of maintaining it for future generations. He readily admits that he is terribly disappointed in his son, Thomas. The boy is bright enough, but has a crippled leg. Only a strong, healthy, aggressive son will do for George.

Amnesia leads to love and a drug cartel mystery

Published by admin on Wed, 11/20/2019 - 10:24am

The chances I would select two books in a row with the same title are pretty slim, but that’s just what I did. This week’s book was “Lost and Found” by Clair Poulson, and it is nothing like the previous “Lost and Found” I reviewed by Amy Shojai.

The story opens with a young woman on horseback desperately trying to elude a man on a four-wheeler. She knows that he’s stone cold killer who’s there to kill her for what she knows about his boss.

Small-town romance in Snowbound, Alaska

Published by admin on Wed, 11/13/2019 - 8:39am

Even after all the Halloween treats, I was ready for something sweet and highly unrealistic to read, so I picked up Debbie Macomber’s “The Snow Bride.”

Jenna Campbell is 31 and has a great job as executive assistant to the head of Fulton industries, Brad Fulton. She’s had a crush on him for years, but Brad acts as if she’s invisible.

Jenna’s five-times divorced mother, Chloe Lyman, is not a good role model when it comes to relationships. She often frustrates Jenna with her constant search for “Mr. Right.”

September Day dealing with blizzard, murder

Published by admin on Thu, 11/07/2019 - 10:40am

This week was busier that most, so I selected another e-book. This one was “Lost and Found” by Amy Shojai. The description says it is part of the “September Day” series, so that might explain the reason for the lack of background on the main character, September Day.

Get that sinking feeling in Lilian Jackson Braun novel

Published by admin on Tue, 09/03/2019 - 9:59am

I was surprised to see that I’d missed reading Lilian Jackson Braun’s “The Cat Who Saw Stars.”

It is summer in the far north, and journalist Jim Qwilleran moves from his home in Pickax to Mooseville and the lovely Klingenschoen cabin on the lake.

Cabin owner Polly Duncan is traveling in Canada, so he planned to spend the month reading, writing and relaxing, while Qwill’s cats, Koko and Yum-Yum, enjoy lounging on the screened porches. As Robert Burns said, things don’t always go as planned.

Books & Stuff

Published by admin on Fri, 08/23/2019 - 7:39am

I thought I would be reading a western when I selected “Return to Casa Grande” by Michael Carlon, but the only thing western about it was the California location. Although it may not been what I expected, it was entertaining.

No witches in ‘Crafting Disorder,’ but plenty of mystery

Published by admin on Thu, 08/15/2019 - 11:35pm

“Crafting Disorder” by Regina Welling and Erin Lynn sounds like a book filled with spell-casting witches, but there wasn’t even one to be found.

The quiet village of Ponderosa Pines got its start when wealthy idealists came there to form a commune. Over the years it has morphed in a very caring community of independent souls.

Emmalina Valentina Torrence (aka EV) is one of the most independent. She’s the daughter of a founding family and she loves Ponderosa Pines with a fierce and protective kind of love.

BOOKS & STUFF

Published by admin on Wed, 02/27/2019 - 4:29pm

I expect to see ads selling T-shirts saying, “I Survived the Deep Freeze of 2019” any day now. That super cold weather was hard on people, animals and machinery, but it did “force” me to stay in and do more reading.

A friend at church asked me if I’d read John Grisham’s “The Testament.” I’ve read other Grisham novels but not this one, so I gave it a try. Now I have to figure how to share it with you in a concise way.

BOOKS & STUFF

Published by admin on Mon, 02/18/2019 - 12:20pm

I’ll soon be back to reading e-books as we’ll be at Lincoln’s basketball tournaments. The first two are in Merrill, so I’ll have plenty of time to read while Tom drives. It is about the only way I can stay awake when I’m a passenger.
I have had many Amish friends, so when I skimmed the back of Karen Harper’s “Dark Harvest,” I knew I wanted to read the book.

Books & Stuff

Published by admin on Mon, 02/18/2019 - 12:04pm

As kids, we used to ice skate as soon as the ice formed on the Little Wolf River. After the recent warm spell and rain, we probably could skate in the ditches, farm fields and too many driveways. Ours is a mess! Looks like we’ll be doing “the penguin walk” until spring. Guess I’ll stay inside and read whenever I get a chance.