Uneasy Fortunes by Mandi Ellsworth

Pete has had a rough life.  He shows up at the Betteridge Ranch ready to work.  He is a hard worker but doesn’t say much. 

June has also had a rough life.  When Pete shows up she thinks of him as just another hired hand.  She is hard to get to know because her defenses are up and keeps to herself. 

Pete starts to quietly do things for June which seems to make her upset. 

This book has so much in it to captivate one’s attention.  There are so many parts to the story, so many twists in plot. 

I really enjoyed reading this book.  It was really fun.  There were parts that I found a tear escaping my eye without even realizing it at first.  This is one of those books I will probably read more than once. 

Hoarders, the by Jean Stringam

Amazing kids...just AMAZING!!!

This is a book about two boys, Cheyenne and Joaquin Walker.  Joaquin sounds like Walking when you say it and so his name is Walking Walker.  I thought that was a pretty fun name.  There's a lot about this book that I really, really liked.  These two boys are very worried that they will not have any food in the future.  So they start saving food in their backpacks and hiding the backpacks.  One week their mom will shop and the next week there will be no food in the house.  Their Aunt Amy helps them with advice and feeding them when she is around but that isn't nearly enough.  The book has twists and turns that I just loved.  It ends in a place that I did not foresee.  I love it when a book can surprise me like that.

One of my favorite things is about two characters in the book that were twins.  Their family called them all sorts of things like: Ketchup & Mustard, Salt & Pepper, Ham & Cheese, Stars & Stripes, Bread & Butter etc.  Each time they were referred to they had a different name.  I liked that and wondered what they would be called next.  That just made the story so fun.

I would highly recommend this quick, fun, well written book.  It is an amazing book!

The Kissing Tree by Prudence Bice

December 8th is the day this book will officially come out.  It is fun to have read it before it has come out.  This was a gift to me from a great friend who has more connections than I.  I had loved Prudence Bice's first book the Widower's wife.  This one was great too...if not even better. 

I love the story line.  It is just fun.   It starts with the young girl, Georgiana (Georgie) stealing a kiss from Ridge, one of her best friends.  Little did she know that she wouldn't see him for 5 years after the kiss.   Her family went to New York for what she thought was a visit and it ended up that her family stayed there.

This is a love story and I loved every minute of it.  It's another one of those books I just couldn't put down.  I love the characters and I love the way they interact with each other.  It was just so fun.   I can hardly wait for her next one.

The Widower's Wife by Prudence Bice

The Widower's Wife is a fun, light read.  I think it is well done.  I enjoyed just sitting and reading for fun.  I had a hard time pulling myself away from this book.

Jillian Grey is going to become a mail order bride to Dalton McCullough.  They have been corresponding through mail.  They have both arranged an agreement that she would take care of his children and become his wife but both have an understanding there would be no romance.  When Jillian & Dalton finally meet they both discover it may be hard to keep that promise.

You'd think this book would be just a simple story but, the author tells beautifully how they manage.  I was intrigued by this story and think you will be too.  I recommend it.