Cooler weather

Last week and the weekend was hot and humid. his chic does not like summer. I am an Autumn person. Anyway today is a high of 71 which is perfect.
I have been reading and finished Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult. Very well written and thought provoking book.
I am now listening to Until Friday Night by Abbi Glines and I am enjoying that one so fat.

I babysat my grandsons Saturday and their mom is going to school and my son had tto work. But Sunday I stayed home and played Sims 4 all day. Yes I love the Sims games and I also have SimCity.

Last night I colored in ANimal Kingdom by Millie Marotta and actually finished the page. I will have to post a pic later this week.

Last night I got ready for bed and let the dog out first. I asked Justin if he had let Outsider in as he has to be in around 9pm. He had forgotten to bring him in so he is calling his name and says mom , there is an animal out here by the porch , kind of looks like a cat. So I already have an idea of what it is. Sure enough we go out and it is a Fisher. And there is my cat getting ready to pick a fight with it. My cat is 12 years old so no match at all plus Fishers like to eat cats and was eyeing mine. So Justin threw something at the fisher and brought our cat in who now has to stay in for a few days. We will let my dog out more since I have a big dog and they don't like big dogs.

So that's it for now. Today is book day so audiobook and if I finish it then to read the next book of the Abbi Glines series.

Have a great day!!!

Reading some good books

It is almost 8 pm and I am ready for bed. yesterday and Monday was hot and humid so when the boys woke up I brought them to my house since I have ac.

I guess I should tell you what has been going on since I used to blog. I worked for a forage lab from May 2007 until July 2016. 2015 and 2016 my health had pretty much shit the bed. Diabetes, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, thyroid disease, high blood pressure. So many doctor appointments and being sick a lot meant missing a lot of time at work. So they let me go. I really needed a new job anyways. They gave me 6 weeks notice so I could take time off for job interviews and such. Well my resume was sent to probably 100 places and had only 1 interview, which I did not get the job. May 29th of last year my 2nd grandson was born. Amber wanted to go back to work but they couldn't afford daycare with 2 kids. So I sat down with them and said that I would watch the boys for X amount of money. They live 6 minutes from my house. I don't drive in the snow so on those days Dylan would come pick me up and take me to his house, since it is much easier watching them at their house. In the summer I bring them to my house on hot and humid days since I have ac. It has worked out really well. My asthma is so much better being out of that lab since it was very dirty and stinky. I have not had to call in sick and can actually go there when I don't feel well. I just put TV on for them and rest. It has been a win win situation. I get at their house around 6:15am. The boys don't get up til 9 so I take my laptop and check Facebook and watch You Tube videos. Once in awhile I go back to sleep. I am done watching them at 4. Most times Dylan and Amber want me to eat dinner with them but I now only do that once a week. I need my down time too. Since Scott works nights and is sleeping during dinner time then it works for me.


Now onto the last couple of days. I have read some good books.
The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks was great. Now I need to watch the movie
Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll I gave a 4 star rating. Very good.
Yesterday I read : First Comes Love by Emily Giffin. I think I gave that 3 stars. Very dysfunctional family.

I am currently reading Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult. I am halfway though it or maybe more than that. I am enjoying it as I always like her books.

Monday night I did color in Daydreams by Hanna Karlzon and I need to finish that.

When I got done babysitting today then Dylan and I took the boys and got groceries. Blake, who is 1 was miserable through the store and all the way home. I know he was hungry and we gave him a bottle but he will not hold it up and so nothing comes out of it. The little bugger.

Well I guess i bored you enough today. I just wanted to fill you in on what has been going on here for the past 2 years.

Wanting to blog again

So for the past 2 years I have stopped reading blogs. The only thing I have been doing is watching Booktube, Flosstube and coloring You Tube videos. I have also been making videos. My life was overtaken by the internet yet again. So I have unsubbed from many You Tube channels and just kept a few of my favorites.
I am getting back into reading and trying to fit in cross stitching. The only thing I had been doing this year is color. So this blog is going to be like my diary again. I am hoping to post every day again and with pics , if I have anything to share.

This weekend is a reading weekend with a Facebook group Shadow Lounge Monthly Readathon
This read a thon is the 2nd weekend of every month. No challenges. Just a way to sit and read and share what you are reading.

Then I think I am making a monthly stitching goal of one whole weekend. I haven't stitched since March. Most of that is also due to the fact that I am not enjoying what I am stitching. I have over 1/2 done on Rocky Mountain Christmas. The thing I hate is the back stitching. She has different colors and shapes for back stitching and I do back stitch as I go along but am really hating it. So I think it will take a back burner again and I am going to pull out something that I enjoy.

I am almost a year behind on watching General Hospital, even though I know what has been going on currently, just not everything.

There are tons of movies on my DVR as well.

Coloring has taken over my life and I love it but I want to fit in my other hobbies.

Right now it is hard to leave out my cross stitch stuff because of a cat that will take off with things or knock it all over. I have a room to stitch in but it became my catch all room and I don't ever sit in there during the summer because it is to hot in there.

My 27 year old son has his name in for an apartment and just waiting to hear from them. Even though we love him, he needs to move out, I have plans for his room as it is a lot bigger than my sitting room now. Way more room with 2 walls to have shelves for my cross stitch supplies and coloring supplies. It will need a new floor and ceiling as well. I have all these ideas in my head of what I want to do and my hubby agrees with me.

Today I am reading The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks and so far so good but then again I always like his books.

So if any of you still follow me what have you been up to?

Dewey's 24-Hour Readathon

I have joined this again. It is April 29th. 8am- Sunday April 30, 7:55 am EST

I have snacks & drinks at the ready

My first book that I want to finish asap this morning: This is the last book of the Women of the Otherworld series
13 by Kelley Armstrong

Review: Christmas Under a Starlit Sky (A Town Called Christmas #2) by Holly Martin

Christmas Romance
Published October 19th 2016 by Bookouture
My Rating: 5 Stars

My review:

 Neve found out she was pregnant but didn't think she was good enough for her gorgeous movie star boyfriend so she lied and told him it wasn't his because she didn't want to tie him down. Meanwhile the Inn is getting ready for Christmas and this author has written this town so wonderfully that you want to be there. Never really loves Oakley and does want to spend the rest of her life with him but she also doesn't want to leave her family and move to California but she also doesn't want a long term relationship. There is also another relationship happening between Adam and Ivy. Both have been hurt in the past. I received this from Net Galley for a review.

Review: Christmas Under a Cranberry Sky (A Town Called Christmas #1) by Holly Martin

Christmas Romance
Published September 22nd 2016 by Bookouture
My rating: 5 stars

My Review:

 This story takes place on Juniper Island. Piper travels for a company doing reviews on hotels/resorts. She gets sent to Stardust Lake Hotel. When she finds out Gabe owns it all her emotions come back. They were childhood friends and teenage lovers and he had broken her heart. Her mom died when she was a little girl and her dad didn't want her and told her no one did she she had a pretty crappy upbringing and trust issues. But Gabe and her see their mistakes from the past and miscommunication. How the author described places and this hotel I wanted to be there so bad. This town sounded perfect for Christmastime and I could just picture everything. The love story was great and all of Gabe's family and staff. I can't wait to read the next book. I received this from Net Galley for a review.

Review: The 24 Days of Christmas by Linda Lael Miller

Christmas Romance
Published November 8th 2016 by Lyrical Shine
My rating: 3 1/2 stars

My review:


This was a short quick read of only 50 pages. Frank and his daughter are using an old advent calendar that had brought him and Addie together when they were kids. She is now back in town, after a divorce and a much publicized backlisting as a reporter. A few days later she ends up with her ex's son. Feelings kindle again between Addie and Frank as they celebrate Christmas activities.

Review: A Very Jaguar Christmas (Heart of the Jaguar #5) by Terry Spear

Paranormal Romance
Published October 4th 2016 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
My rating: 4 stars

My Review:

 This is set at Christmastime but not very Christmassy like you would think. A little boy is lost and come to find out he is werewolf. He was dropped off at a day care center for Jaguar shifters. Neither shifters knew about the other one. The story is of a Jaguar couple who are looking for the little wolf cub/boy's family. I liked the main couple and their finding out about their true feelings for each other and trying to start a relationship while traveling and helping out the boy cub. I like paranormal so this was right up my alley. I received this from NetGalley for a review.

Review: Winter Wonderland by Elizabeth Mansfield

Regency Romance
Published October 4th 2016 by Open Road Media Romance

(first published November 1st 1993) 

My rating: 3 stars

 

My review:

 

 This is an old Regency Romance and read just like it. A nobleman had been spurned 11 years ago. When they meet again, he remembers her but she has no knowledge of who he is. She has changed a lot. Now a widow and lost her home she becomes a governess to the nobleman's family. They meet up on their way to her new job and his family and are robbed in their coach.
After a few days and their bickering she is told who he is. He just got betrothed to someone so he could forget her. Typical Regency book. I received this from NetGalley for a review.

Review: A Christmas Kiss by Elizabeth Mansfield

Christmas Romance
Published October 4th 2016 by Open Road Media Romance

(first published 1970) 

My rating: 3 stars

 

My review:

 

 Evelyn is a a governess and let go from her services because a besotted son had left her in a compromising position and the mother believed the governess had her eyes on him. The son's friends felt bad for her and took her with them on a holiday and then to get employed after the holidays. Well there was confusion on family members parts and a lot of she likes him and he likes her and a widowed sister not wanting to marry and move out of her widowed brother's house and a jealous woman who wants one man and she doesn't like being shunned. A lot of craziness but cute story that had me laughing. I received this from NetGalley for a review.

Review: Mistletoe Cottage (Harmony Harbor #1) by Debbie Mason

Christmas Romance
Published October 25th 2016 by Forever
My rating: 4 stars

My review:

 Very cute story and actually had me laughing out loud a few times. Sophia grew up in Harmony Harbor but she fleed several years ago and pregnant, with her mom. A fire destroyed her home so she came back home to be with family.Firefighter Liam has been in love with Sophia since she was a teenager and he wants a second chance with her and needs to prove to her that he is the one. After Sophia gets back she is hired as the manager to the manor. Things change to the good after that. I want to read the rest of this series and I received this from NetGalley for a review.

Review: Claude’s Christmas Adventure by Sophie Pembroke

A dog adventure
Published October 20th 2016
My rating: 4 stars

My Review:

 This was such a fun read. Claude is a french bulldog and accidently gets left behind, when his family goes away for Christmas. So the book starts with him going through a neighbor's cat door. He friends 2 neighbors and they are on the quest to find out whose dog it is. The chapter take turns telling the story from Claude's point, the neighbor's point and the owner's point. The family does everything in their power to get back home. Meanwhile neighbors all come together to celebrate Christmas. I received this from NetGalley for a review.

Review: The Mistletoe Promise (Mistletoe Collection) by Richard Paul Evans

Christmas Romance

Audiobook

Published November 18th 2014 by Simon & Schuster Audio
My rating: 5 stars

My review:

 I listened to this on audio, through my library. Elise is dreading the holidays. 3 years ago she found out her husband was cheating on her with her best friend. That resulted in a bitter divorce.
Then one November day, a stranger, Nicholas approaches her in the mall food court. Instead of being alone for holidays he propositions her for 8 weeks they pretend to be a couple and he draws up a contract with 4 simple rules. She agrees and they start spending a lot of time together but parts of her past come back to haunt her. But she finds out she isn't the only one with a haunting past. I loved how these 2 came together and a relationship formed. When I started listening to this it was how the movie started that was on Hallmark, last month. But that is where the similarities end.

Review: Holiday in Your Heart (Caribou Crossing #7) by Susan Fox

Christmas Romance
Published September 27th 2016 by Zebra
Rated: 4 stars

My review:
 Maribeth is 39 and waiting for Mr. Right. Her biological clock is ticking so she is thinking about getting a sperm donor so she can have a child. Then she meets Mo. Mo has a troubled past and came to town to apologize to his ex wife and his son who he abandoned as a child. He has made a lot of mistakes and has regretted them all. He wants everyone to know how much he has changed. Mo meets up with Maribeth and sparks flu instantly but Mo doesn't feel he deserves her and is adamant about not having anymore kids. After a lot of time together and having an extended family that he gets to know, can he change his mind. It was good to see how someone changed their life and made it for the better. I enjoyed this story and received this from NetGalley.

Review: We Need A Little Christmas (Evergreen Lane Novels) by Sierra Donovan (

Christmas Romance
Published September 27th 2016 by Zebra
Rated: 4 stars

My review:
 This was a fun and quick Christmas romance. Liv's Grandmother has passed away so she came home to help her mom and sister to say goodbye and clean out the house. She ends up meeting up with Scotty who is the handyman of the town. As he helps them with everything she starts having feelings for him. But her home and business are back in Texas and she needs to get back to a business that she isn't sure will be there anymore. I received this from netGalley for a review.

Review: Christmas at Lilac Cottage (White Cliff Bay #1) by Holly Martin

Christmas Romance
Published September 25th 2015 by Bookouture
Rated: 5 stars

My review:
 This was a fun read and loved the story. This is set in White Cliff Bay and at Christmas time, which sounds beautiful there. Penny loves her home which is a cute cottage and twinkling fairy lights. She decides to rent out the annex of her house to a father and his teen daughter. He starts out as a grumpy person but warms up to Penny. She is an ice carver and befriends his daughter and teaches her how to ice carve. Penny and Henry end up with a strong connection and want to see where it will go. Loved the ice carving they did and the competitions. The love story was great also and shows how important communication is. I received this from NetGalley for a review.

Review: Welcome Home for Christmas (Hero's Welcome, #4) by Annie Rains

Christmas Romance short novel
 Published November 8th 2016 by Loveswept
Rating: 4 stars

My Review

 This was a quick and fun read. It's a short novel set in Seaside, North Carolina, where a military base is and the male main character is at.Allison has been single for quite a while. She seems to always date losers. Her mom is a psychiatrist, who always finds fault with all the men Allison dates. If she doesn't date then her family gives her a hard time and if she is dating then the guy is all wrong. She can't win. At a charity ball she buys a man to be her pretend boyfriend and is name is Troy and a military man. So they ave pretend dates to get to know each other and the sexual tension builds up and feelings start coming into play. This was a great story and I received it from NetGalley for a review.

Review: One Christmas in Paris by Mandy Baggott

Rated 3 stars
Published October 7th 2016 by Bookouture
Christmas Romance

My thoughts:
 This was a fun and quick read. Ava and Deb are best friends from London. They got Paris to help Ava forget about her cheating boyfriend and Deb thinks that her stepdad is cheating on her mom. They meet up with 2 frenchmen and become friends and spend the week with them. Deb and Ava do some sleuthing to find out if the stepdad is cheating. Ava's mom is a control freak and thinks she knows what her daughter should be doing with her life. Ava ends up falling for Juliene and helps him deal with missing his sister and helping him with his photography. I really enjoyed the characters. The only thing I hated in this book and the reason that I only gave this 3 stars is the character using the word Totes in about every other sentence. I thought maybe it was an expression that hey use in London but why didn't Ava ever say it, not even once. So I felt it was overused and 3/4 of the way through the book I cringed every time it was used. I received this from NetGalley for a review.

Twelve Days of Christmas by Debbie Macomber review

Christmas Romance
Published October 4th 2016 by Ballantine Books
Rating: 5 stars

My review:
 This was a cute and fun read. Debbie Macomber wrote another great Christmas book. Julia has a neighbor who is like Ebenezer. She writes a blog and decides to do a 12 Days of Christmas challenge to kill him with kindness. He lives across the hall from her in their apartment. Every morning they leave at the same time for work and she always smiles and says hi but he is not friendly. So she goes out of her way and even buys him coffee, bakes him cookies, all of which he declines. After a while though he starts smiling and being nice. They start having feelings for each other til he finds out about the blog. Being hurt in the past he feels used again and can't seem to forgive her.
I received this from NetGalley for a review.

Do You Believe in Santa? by Sierra Donovan review

Christmas Romance
Published September 29th 2015 by Zebra
Rating: 5 stars

My Review:
 This was a quick and fun read. The ending was perfect!! Mandy Reese is a woman who believes in Santa because she saw him when she was 8 years old. She now works in a Christmas store in her home town of Tall Pines in southern California, in the mountains. Jake arrives in town to convince the town to build a Regal Hotel. He meets Mandy when he stops at the store. They start seeing each other. He eventually finds out she has seen Santa but he doesn't believe her. They fall in love but he is still skeptical. He isn't sure if they can make it work with his job and she doesn't know if she can be with someone who doesn't believe in her. I loved all the characters in the book but the ending is what made it a 5 star rating for me.

I received this from NetGalley for a review.