Weddings by Design Series by Janice Thompson

Its ok - your not seeing double - yes I did just do a review of a great book called Picture Perfect Wedding by Fiona Lowe who is an Australian Author (although the book is set in America)

This Picture Perfect is the 1st in a new series by Janice Thompson. I've just finish reading book 1 and 2 in this series which flows on lovely from her earlier series called "Weddings by Bella"
The second book 'The Icing on the Cake" came out on 15th August 2013.
I really loved the first series and was very happy to realise that this new series picked up where the old series finished. I can't wait for Book 3 to come out next year.

Picture Perfect (Weddings by Design #1) by Janice Thompson

The first in the "Weddings by Design" series by Janice Thompson picks up a few years down the track from her "Weddings by Bella" series and while you could just pick this book up on its own reading the three books in the "Weddings by Bella" series does round things out.

For me I loved that even though it is a new series it ties in with the first because I really wasn't finished with Bella and her boisterous Italian-Texan family so it was great to find out what had been happening since I last left them behind in "It had to be you".

In Picture Perfect Wedding Irish-American wedding photographer Hannah McDermott feels her life is always coming second. So when she gets a chance to impress Bella Neeley, Galveston Island's most sought-after wedding planner she decides she will be like her ancestors and fight to the end - even it if it means going up against her arch rival Drew Kincaid who also happens to be Irish, and a Photograph, and did she mention... very good looking. But while dealing with a celebrity Bridezilla and her nightmare of a publicist Hannah discovers that maybe she doesn't always have to come second, and that her life really isn't that bad, and just maybe Drew might not be her arch rival after all.

This is another sweet love story with a message from Christian Author Janice Thompson. Each chapter starts with an appropriate Irish Saying or Blessing, some will make you laugh out loud, all well chosen for the chapter.
This book made me laugh and swoon and generally feel great. I can't wait to read the next books in this series.

The Icing on the Cake (Weddings by Design #2) by Janice Thompson

Book 2 in Weddings by Design picks up the story of Scarlet Lindsey - Hannah's best friend and baker extraordinaire. Scarlet's wish has finally come true when her Aunt Willy helps her to open her own Bakery on Galveston Island but as in life things never go to plan. Scarlet has to juggle her ever helpful assistant and friend Kenny who is more in love with her than she is with him, her best friends wedding which she is not only Maid of Honour but also making the wedding cake plus the stress of the grand opening and trying to organise the church fundraiser and things are looking a bit wobbly for poor Scarlet. But with Janice Thompson's trademark Christian Faith and good friends & family Scarlet tries her best even if her 'sticky buns' get her into trouble more than once.

The Icing on the Cake flows on great from Picture Perfect Wedding and expands on the stories of the characters we have come to love including the Rossi's and it was great to see a different side of Bella's brother Armando and the hilarious antics of Aunt Willy and Aunt Rosa (Bella's Aunt) and their "top secret family recipe" (which by the way is in the back of the book!)

I was given a copy of this book to do a review and when I realised it was book 2 of this great series I had to get onto Amazon and download Book 1. Now I just have to wait til next year for book 3 :(

I Love Cat's

Those who know me will know that I LOVE Cats, and have done so since I was a very little girl. Most of my life growing up I've had a cat in my life and don't know what I would do without them. Earlier this year my family acquired two beautiful kittens from our local animal shelter and while they two 'girls" could not be more different (they aren't actually sisters - although we do call them that!) they never cease to brighten up our lives. My kitten Tilly (Mia 'belongs' to my dad) loves nothing better than to curl up on my chest and go to sleep - although now that she is getting to be quite big this sometimes causes breathing issues when she squashes her shelf up against my neck!) I can't imagine my life without them.


Tilly's favourite sleeping spot as a kitten

"Sisters"

Mia in a state of total relaxation getting a foot massage from Dad

I just finished reading the newest instalment of Bob the Street Cat who changed the life of James when he decided to 'adopt' James as his owner. I thought I would post the view from both books here - if you haven't read about Bob yet - you should! You don't have to read the first one to read the second book but it does help round things out.

A Street Cat Named Bob: How One Man and His Cat Found Hope on the Streets by James Bowen

An encouraging look at how Bob changed James life. A refreshing tale because he doesn't try and make excuses for how his life ended up.

James ended on drugs, homeless and a bit lost in life, but while busking on the streets of London and trying to sell the Big Issue he is "adopted" by a street cat he names Bob, and having someone else to be responsible helps James to make some positive changes in his life. Bob does his part in trying to repay James assistance in his life as well in this relationship.

This is a honest and upfront biography and James doesn't try to sugar coat his failings. This is not just a book for animal lovers

The World According to Bob: The further adventures of one man and his street-wise cat by James Bowen      

The World according to Bob is a great follow up book from "A Street Cat Called Bob" and lets you know how things have been going. Some parts overlap a bit as this book starts before James got the contract to write his first book but isn't repetitive.

I really liked the honesty of this book, James never tries to make himself appear better than he or his situation is - its always very honest and upfront. The antics of Bob a heart warming and remind me of my own cats - especially the part when James was sick and Bob was trying to give him a "cat scan".

For me I found this was a fast read (only too me 3 hours) but was enjoyable. If you want to know more about Bob and James they are also on Facebook.

Review of Wild Water by Jan Ruth

Wild Water

by Jan Ruth

This is the first of Jan's books I have read and I have to say I'm already looking forward to reading more.

The characters in Wild Water are so realistic you could imagine buying real estate off Jack, eating cakes and gossiping with Anna & Hill and wanting to smack some sense into Patsy. Jan's vivid descriptions of the locations help bring the story to life and reading Wild Water it's like the movie is playing in your head.

Wild Water is the story of over worked Real Estate Agent Jack Redman, who suddenly finds his idyllic life falling apart around him. Just when all seems to be lost bumping into his childhood sweetheart Anna things start to look up for Jack. But life is never that easy and this story will take you on the emotional rollercoaster of Jack's life.

Wild Water will have you holding your breath with anticipation of what will happen next, and sometimes wanting to give some characters a good "clip across the ear" - just like your own family.

I thoroughly enjoyed Wild Water and look forward to reading more of Jan Ruth's stories in the near future. While ultimately it is a love story - you wont be embarrassed to let your mum borrow it after you have finished.

I've already loaded by Kindle with Jan's other books
And her short stories

Love my Pasta

I Love Pasta: An Italian Love Story in 100 Recipes

by Academia Barilla

I can sum up this book in just one word.... YUMMMMMM!
Having grown up in a half Italian household Pasta has always been part of the menu. This collection brings together some mouth-watering recipes with the history of Barilla.
Cooking Pasta for family & friends is my favourite dish - especially spaghetti & meatballs but this book will give you so much more. It tells you what sauces go together with the mind-blowing number of pasta varieties.

From one family to another I'm sure this book will quickly become a family favourite.

Review of Picture Perfect Wedding by Fiona Lowe

Picture Perfect Wedding by Fiona Lowe



What happens when all you ever wanted to do is take over running the family farm, then when you finally get your wish, suddenly you can't remember what made you happy about farming? For Dairy Farmer Luke Anderson being able to run the farm his way without his fathers disapproval should of been the realisation of his lifelong dream but why does it feel like a nightmare?

City girl Erin Davis is a Wedding Photograph who wants nothing more than the financial security she never had as a child and to make her clients big day perfect and her one aim is to get that "Perfect Happiness" shot to make it all worthwhile. The last thing she wants is to be stuck in a small town, but when hardworking Erin drives down to Whitetail - home to Weddings that Wow to try and make her latest Bridezilla's dream of photos in a sunflower field happen her GPS isn't the only thing that gets lost. She's there to confront a stubborn farmer who won't return her brides phone calls - but what she wasn't expecting was Luke.

But the sparks flying between country boy Luke and city girl Erin aren't the only thing happening in Whitetail. In Book 2 of the Wedding Fever Trilogy we get to catch up with some of the lovely locals from Book 1 (Saved by the Bride) including the lovable Nicole - hairdresser and wedding planner extraordinaire who just wants to get on with her life - but the town doesn't want to let anyone forget her "hero" late husband. Will new fire chief Tony finally change things for Nicole and Max? Or will it be all smoke and no fire?

Another great heart warming, small town story from Award Winning Aussie Author Fiona Lowe with a perfect blend of family drama, romance and story. I can't wait for the final book in this trilogy to find out what happens next in the town of Whitetail.

2013 R*BY – Finalists Reviews for bookthingo.com.au

My first "Guest Review" posts were for the delightful Kat over at Bookthingo as part of her preview of the 2013 R*BY Finalists (for more about the awards check out their website Romance Australia ) I got to read two books -  Wattle Creak by Fiona McCallum which I was looking forward to after enjoying her earlier books, and Queen of the Road by Tricia Stringer who I hadn't heard of before but after reading this book have tracked down her earlier books!

 

Here are the two reviews - hope you enjoy them as much as I did!

Queen Of The Road
by Tricia Stringer

Tricia’s heart warming story of Angela “Angel” Ranger’s struggle as a single mother trying to keep her head above water grabbed my attention and held it through to 4.30am when I finished.

The characters in Queen of the Road are believable and very relatable as are the situations they are in, and  this book covers allot of them - Juggling Credit Card debt, Struggling single parent, Fake Friends, Annoying Ex’s, Interfering (step)Parents, Alcohol issues and small town struggles.

Angela is struggling with overwhelming debt when a fair-weathered “friend” asks her to be a fill-in bridesmaid. Throw in a manipulative step-mother’s sudden interest in her granddaughter, an ex who sudden arrival everyone knows about but her and a morning after the wedding she’d rather everyone would forget suddenly and her father’s offer to fill in on the Adelaide to Munirilla run driving “Big Red” seems to be a good idea. But with Claudia, her four year old daughter, to look after, a small country town who were expecting their new freight driver to be a huge MALE trucker with the ironic nickname of “Angel” and someone who seems to be out to sabotage her every move could this decision cause more pain the pleasure?

Throw into this mix is the delightful but mysterious “just call me Coop”. The hansom fill-in farm manager has always been a loner and somewhat of a drifter. He pretends to be stoic but underneath beats a heart of gold. He’s worried about his elderly boss Alice and is ready to move on as soon as she is better and back home but then life gets in the way when he walks into the trucking depot to collect a spare part only to meet the always friendly Claudia and the intriguing Angela. Suddenly loner Coop has all sorts of excuses to come into “town” and lets him mind wonder to the possibility of a family of his own.

While Angela & Claudia quickly falls into life on the road things are never going to be smooth sailing for this hard work single mum and everything seems to be conspiring against her to fail. But will her determination, quick thinking and budding relationship with Coop be enough to save her?

Tricia’s story has just the right mix of suspense, mystery, friendship, romance in a wonderful rural setting which will make Queen of the Road at home on your shelf along with Fiona Palmer, Rachel Treasure and Margareta Osborne. If you love Loretta Hill’s style of strong women in non-traditional job’s you’ll quickly fall in love with Queen of the Road.

Wattle Creek 

by Fiona McCallum

 

A book that tackles depression, suicide, and the complex issues faced by small farming communities, with dignity and compassion.

Having already loved reading Paycheque and Nowhere Else by the talented Australian Author Fiona McCallum, I was looking forward to devouring Wattle Creek and was not disappointed.

Wattle Creek starts off with a somewhat confronting scene of Damien attempting suicide, but then Fiona lets you into the lives of Damien and the farming community of Wattle Creek, who like most farming communities in Australia, are struggling with drought and the like. In comes city psychologist Jacqueline, who takes the opportunity of a 12-month posting to escape her own issues. She wants to try and make a difference in this town, but is just not sure how. With lots of lovely, well-meaning locals and bush telegraph that would put most 24-hour news stations to shame, Jacqueline quickly falls for this small town and its favourite son.

McCallum tackles some confronting issues in Wattle Creek—most predominantly, something that is unfortunately faced by many of our hardworking farmers and that is depression and suicide. Damien’s struggles are handled with the dignity and compassion they deserve, and the complex issues that small farming communities deal with are not handled lightly. While this may not sound like an uplifting read, ultimately it is, and McCallum’s handling of the topic is never preachy; the information is obviously well researched never tries to be a self-help book. The relationship between city girl Jacqueline and third-generation ‘accidental farmer’ Damien is realistic and honest and heart warming.

I’m looking forward to reading Saving Grace — Fiona’s next book and the first in her new series, The Button Jar (her first three books are stand alone).

 

Cozy Light, Cozy Night by Elisa Kleven

Cozy Light, Cozy Night

by Elisa Kleven

Elisa's richly illustrated book Cozy Light, Cozy Night takes you through the seasons with lots of family fun and multicultural activities. While it may be a bit much for younger readers to read on their own the illustrations are engaging and this would make a lovely story for parents to read aloud to their children.



This book would be a great addition to any children's collection and would also be valuable in a school library.