Holly's Blog

Confessions of a Trauma Junkie

Honest and engrossing. I enjoyed this first responder perspective. Sherry Jones Mayo has been an EMT, Emergency Room Nurse and a Critical Incident counselor. She brings the reader into the ER and into the ambulance. So much of our medical experience is from television shows like ER and House, and Grey's Anatomy. But, unless you're a medical professional, you have no way of understanding the experience and pressure Emergency Service Personnel face on a… Continue

Added by Holly on July 16, 2009 at 12:00pm — No Comments

The Shopkeeper

A fun western. I haven't read a lot of westerns, but this one was enjoyable. New York shopkeeper Steve Dancy sells his shop and travels west, looking for adventure. His travels take him to the silver mines of Nevada. A gentleman who prefers books and cards with friends, Steve inadvertently finds himself a gunslinger embroiled in a feud with a silver baron. Add a beautiful woman, hired killers and some early Nevada history and you have The… Continue

Added by Holly on July 15, 2009 at 12:00pm — No Comments

Ransome's Honor

About the book: When young Julia Witherington doesn’t receive the proposal for marriage she expects from William Ransome, she determines to never forgive him. They go their separate ways—she returns to her family’s Caribbean plantation, and he returns to the Royal Navy.

Now, twelve years later, Julia is about to receive a substantial inheritance, including her beloved plantation. When unscrupulous relatives try to gain the inheritance by… Continue

Added by Holly on July 10, 2009 at 6:00pm — No Comments

Secret Recipes for the Modern Wife: All the Dishes You'll Need to Make from the Day You Say 'I Do' Until Death (or Divorce) Do You Part

When the opportunity to review this little gem came, I wasn't sure what to expect. Was it really a recipe book? Was it a bash on marriage? I'm pleased to say it was, for the most part, a delight.

The subtitle says, "All the Dishes You'll Need to Make from the Day You Say 'I Do' Until Death (or Divorce) Do You Part". With recipes like, "Sweethearts Engagement Buffet" and "Way Too Much on Your Plate", Nava has a fun take on marriage. There… Continue

Added by Holly on July 4, 2009 at 6:00pm — No Comments

Everything I Needed to Know about Women I Learned by Reading Twilight: A Vampire's Guide to Eternal Love

Apparently this is a real book. (Snicker!) No, I haven't read it. (Giggle! Cough! Snicker!)

I might...just to see what could possibly be said about Twilight that could possibly help men understand women. (Giggle! Snort! Snicker!) Because we all want insular, broody men who stalk us and can't live without us. Because Edward's relationship with Bella was so "healthy". (Cackle! Laugh! Giggle!) Sure, I might read it...after I stop laughing, of… Continue

Added by Holly on July 3, 2009 at 2:00pm — No Comments

Surviving High Society: Lots of Love Trumps Lots of Money

About the book: To the outside world, Elizabeth Marvin Mulholland had it all. Adopted into a wealthy New England family, the young Elizabeth was afforded the luxury many people only realize in their dreams. She joined her family on lavish European vacations, lived in a finely decorated home, grew up in a world heavily infiltrated by power and money, and hob-knobbed with celebrities. As a close friend of Katherine Hepburn's niece, she gained an… Continue

Added by Holly on July 2, 2009 at 2:00pm — No Comments

Critical Care

Christian ER/Grey's Anatomy, without the s*x and with McSnarly instead of McDreamy.

Claire Avery leaves ER nursing after her brother dies in the trauma room, on her watch. Wanting to make a fresh start she finds a position in a small hospital, focusing on nursing education and stress counseling, rather than ER nursing. As she works to find her place among the staff, she finds herself clashing with Logan Caldwell, the ER doctor. Logan doesn't like… Continue

Added by Holly on July 1, 2009 at 2:00pm — No Comments

Might As Well Laugh About It Now

Entertaining, but disappointing. I thoroughly enjoyed Marie's first book, Behind the Smile. This one was a bit of a let down. More a series of vignettes than an autobiography or memoir, Marie shares life experiences and the wisdom she gained from her own experiences as well as the example of others. Her main point is that life is better when you have a sense of humor and can laugh about it. I can't disagree.

What I found disappointing is that… Continue

Added by Holly on June 30, 2009 at 2:00pm — No Comments

In Praise of Stay-at-Home Moms

Having been a work-outside-the-home mom longer than I've been a stay-at-home mom, I can relate to both sides of this "issue".

While she claims to "come to praise at-home moms, not to bury full-time working moms", Dr. Laura's position is clear: stay at home moms are better. And, throughout the book, she does just that, praise stay-at-home moms. I did feel that she was hard on working moms and has the assumption that every woman who works has made… Continue

Added by Holly on June 29, 2009 at 2:00pm — No Comments

Prairie Tale

Melissa Gilbert weaves an interesting and enthralling tale of life in Hollywood. She is open about the fact that she was adopted at birth, and how that information affected her perceptions of herself. She name drops at every turn, which is understandable, as she grew up in a show business family and her friends and acquaintances from an early age were actors. If you've thought of Melissa as a sweet, innocent actress, she shatters that perception.… Continue

Added by Holly on June 28, 2009 at 2:00pm — No Comments

Talking to the Dead

A terrific, thought-provoking book.

Kate Davis can't move forward after her husband's sudden death. She refuses to go upstairs to their bedroom. She finds even the most mundane, normal activities difficult, and soon finds herself sleeping in the living room, forgetting to shower and unable to sleep. The fact that Kevin keeps talking to her, doesn't help. As Kate tries to figure out why she hears Kevin's voice, she finds herself running from an… Continue

Added by Holly on June 28, 2009 at 2:00pm — No Comments

The Bollywood Piano

About the book:

Parents, who can’t afford a piano tutor for any reason such as time, distance, finance etc., now have an option to musically educate their children and help them become successful.

In today’s sluggish economy when many parents are laid-off or fear loss of job, a better investment is to purchase The Bollywood Piano (ISBN 978-1934938355, 2009, 96 pages, Mill City Press, $14.95 www.bollywoodpiano.com) by Rajan Shah and… Continue

Added by Holly on June 26, 2009 at 2:00pm — No Comments

The King's Legacy

A little book that packs a powerful punch.

In a land far away, a good and well-loved king had led his people through times of uncertainty and turmoil into a golden age of prosperity and peace. As his reign was now ending, the king desired to leave some kind of legacy for his people and future generations. He considers a monument or some kind of coin. But, wishing for more, he turns to his trusted advisers and one suggests that the king discover… Continue

Added by Holly on June 23, 2009 at 2:00pm — No Comments

Veiled Freedom

Amazing. Absolutely amazing. The book opens in Kabul, Afghanistan in 2001. Steve Wilson, a young, idealistic soldier, and the American forces have liberated Afghanistan, or so they thought. Eight years later, when Steve returns to Afghanistan as security chief to the Ministry of Interior, he's no longer idealistic and is angered at the greed and corruption he sees everywhere.

Amy Mallory, a young relief worker, arrives in Kabul ready to change… Continue

Added by Holly on June 19, 2009 at 2:00pm — No Comments

Lizzie's Rake

About the book:

Can a rake reform his ways and truly love? Lizzie's head tells her one thing, her heart another.

Infamous rake and Corinthian, Maxim Beaufort, Earl of St. Ive, finding himself in possession of a property in Yorkshire, is unprepared for the changes it will bring into his life.

Irresistibly drawn to Elizabeth Granger, the former owner’s daughter, he attempts to help the family, finding himself filling the… Continue

Added by Holly on June 15, 2009 at 2:00pm — No Comments

Pickup Games

5 years after he was wrongfully accused of murdering his girlfriend, former basketball star Mick Webber thinks he has finally achieved the dream of hosting his own sports show. His excitement is short-lived when he is, instead, asked to co-host a Utah-based college basketball show with a woman as his co-anchor. Cara Jones is beautiful, smart and knowledgeable about college sports. Cara has her own heartache and coming to Salt Lake is her chance to… Continue

Added by Holly on June 11, 2009 at 2:00pm — No Comments

A Passion Denied

The third book of The Daughters of Boston series. This one continues the O'Connor family saga with Elizabeth's story. I loved it.

Elizabeth, younger sister to Faith and Charity was always the quiet bookworm. When her brother-in-law Collin goes into the printing business with his best friend, Elizabeth falls hard for John Brady. Elizabeth is the younger sister Brady never had, and they become good friends as Brady mentors Lizzie spiritually. But,… Continue

Added by Holly on June 10, 2009 at 2:00pm — No Comments

Nothing But Trouble

Ten years after leaving it in disgrace, PJ Sugar returns to her hometown to look after her nephew while her sister is on her honeymoon. PJ always had a knack for finding trouble and soon after arriving home, she finds herself knee deep in it again. Her former boyfriend is now a cop and when her best friend's husband is accused of murder, PJ decides that she's going to solve the mystery herself.

The first of the PJ Sugar series, it took me awhile… Continue

Added by Holly on June 9, 2009 at 2:00pm — No Comments

Agent in Old Lace

About the book:

Shannon Tanner has it all a perfect family, a perfect job, and a perfect boyfriend. Or so she thinks. What Shannon doesn't know is that her boyfriend, Mark, is stealing money from her father and making millions doing it. When Shannon learns Mark's secret, he turns on her, and Shannon's life abruptly goes from perfect to perilous.

In an effort to protect Shannon, the FBI assigns their only female agent to go… Continue

Added by Holly on June 3, 2009 at 2:00pm — No Comments

Before the Season Ends

A prequel to The House in Grosvenor Square.

Young Ariana Forsythe is sent to her wealthy aunt's home in London when she forms an undesirable attachment at home. Ariana is a young woman of strong faith in God and one who isn't afraid of stating her mind and opinion. As Ariana makes a triumphant entry into London society, she meets handsome Phillip Mornay, the current, most wealthy and admired man in London. Phillip is notorious for not marrying,… Continue

Added by Holly on June 2, 2009 at 2:00pm — No Comments

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