The Christmas Secret

LibraryThing book review...

The Christmas Secret

by Donna VanLiere

Christine Eisley is a single mother with two young children just trying to get by. She has a jerk of a ex-husband who doesn't pay child support, but feels the need to report her for child neglect. Christine loses her waitress job after being late one time too many. She finds a new job at Betty's Bakery and she also finds some wonderful new friends. She also meets a handsome stranger...

The Christmas Secret is a sweet story filled with likeable characters, some fun twists, and lots of heart. Sometimes, though, it is a bit too sweet and not so believable. Poor Christine, I mean she had so many bad things happen to her!!! It got to be a bit much. This is a fun, easy read, though, and great to enjoy at this time of the year.

After

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After
By Amy Efaw

Devon is a fifteen-year-old soccer star who makes good grades and has a bright future. That is, until she puts her newborn baby in trash bag and throws her away in a trash can outside her apartment. After tries to explain what led Devon to this tragic outcome. We follow along as Devon is arrested, goes to trial, and spends time locked up. We also learn about her mother, who had Devon when she was sixteen, and how Devon strives to be nothing like her.

I liked this book because it was very real. It lets us see into why a teenaged girl would do such a thing. Devon is hard to like at times, but it is understandable considering all that she has been through. The ending is good, just rather abrupt. I still wanted to learn more about what happens to Devon after her trial.

U is for Undertow

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U is for Undertow

by Sue Grafton

Michael Sutton comes to Kinsey Millhone for help about something he saw when he was six years old. He is haunted about what he thinks he saw and wants help finding out exactly what is was. Kinsey agrees to one day of investigation and it leads to much more than that. Michael believes he saw two men burying something...was it a little girl who had been recently kidnapped? Kinsey believes Michael and doesn't let go...

Ahhh, I savored each and every page of this book. I love Sue Grafton's Kinsey Milhone series! I was so excited to get this one in my hand and it didn't disappoint. Kinsey is probably one of my all-time favorite detectives, she is just so normal, so fun, and so believable. Already looking forward to V...

13 1/2

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13 1/2

by Nevada Barr

This book is about two brothers, one of whom kills their entire family and is known as "butcher boy". Marshall is incarcerated at age eleven and when he gets out his brother, Danny, has their family home waiting for him. Marshall becomes a architect, falls in love, and marries Polly. Polly also has her own secrets. Danny becomes a pharmacist who provides Marshall with drugs for his migraines. This is just the beginning...

I must say it....this is one of those books you wish you would have never read. I usually really like books by Nevada Barr, but this one is disappointing. The plot was pretty obvious fairly early in the book and it wasn't surprising or original. This book was really hard for me to finish and the characters are unbelievable and/or unlikeable. I actually liked the ending, however, but by that time I really didn't care!!!

Summer on Blossom Street

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Summer on Blossom Street
by Debbie Macomber

Summer on Blossom Street is the fifth book in the Blossom Street Series by Debbie Macomber. Lydia Goetz, who owns A Good Yarn, starts a knitting class called "Knit to Quit" for those who are trying to quit something. It could be smoking, a man, or stress. We meet several new characters and get caught up with some series regulars. Phoebe is trying to get over a cheating ex-fiance and Hutch is trying to lesson the business related stress in his life. We also see how Anne Marie is handling the appearance of her adopted daughter's birth father showing up in their lives. This book is about friends and family helping each other out during difficult times.

I always enjoy reading Debbie Macomber's books. She just has a lovely, comfortable style that just brings you right into the story. Her characters are real and I always love finding out what they are up to. Blossom Street is wonderful-it is like one big family that you want to know all about! Yes, this book will leave you with a smile in your heart.