I'm very proud of this!!

It's been a LONG time since I've featured something that I've made. I crochet just about every day and usually have anywhere from 4-6 projects in the works at any given time. I am going to try to showcase more of my work here, as well as continue to post book reviews as well. If only I could master reading and crocheting at the same time!! I have tried audiobooks but I can't keep interest in them. 

64,000(+) stitches. This is by far the most complex thing I've ever made in my life. There is a pretty lengthy back story to this but I'll try to keep it brief.

4 years ago, my dad was very sick and I came home to IL. While dad was in the hospital/recovering, my mom and I were playing around on Facebook and saw this picture come up. My mom looked at me and told me that I needed to get this pattern and make this for my sister. Being the good daughter and sister I am (lol), I bought the pattern and ordered the yarn...from the UK. It was waiting on me when I made it back home to GA.

I intended on starting it right away but my Etsy store started picking up and I didn't have time to work on it. The box sat in my room for a good bit before I could start it. When I did, I was only able to do a few rows before I had to put it aside again. Mom would occasionally ask me about my progress and we'd discuss how I wasn't able to work on it due to other things going on. She was so excited to be able the see the finished product.

Fast forward to 2023, I got home in late January after being with my family for about 6 months. I picked up the afghan to work on and I didn't like how it looked so I tore it completely out and started again. I made it to around row 50 and had to go back home to IL for another month and a half so it sat there again.

In April after getting back home, I looked at the 50 rows I'd done previously and decided I didn't like how it looked. Ripped it all back out completely to start all over again. That was the last time I ripped it out completely but several rows were ripped out and redone, some of them being multiple times until I could get it right. You see, several of these rows have color changes EVERY SINGLE STITCH. This took a lot of patience but today, at 11:30 am CST, I finished this. I cried doing the last two rows. It's all been very emotional for me to make this as my mom wasn't able to see the finished project (and let's not talk about the Precious Moments afghan I promised her for her 25th anniversary that was in 1999 that is still a work in progress that she won't see either). I'm so thankful that my mom and grandma taught me how to crochet and passed this love on to me. I'm trying to get my kids and grandkids to love and appreciate it too.

Sweet Vengeance (Mission Belles Book 3) by Pamela Gibson

 

Sweet Vengeance by Pamela Gibson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Elena Santoro promises her mom that she will do everything she can to fulfill her dying wish...exact revenge on the person who killed her brother. Elena's siblings can't imagine that she agreed to carry out their mother's dying wish and they really hope that she'll change her mind. Elena is bound and determine to keep her mother's wish, however.

Sean Mitchell is looking for his sister, who has changed her name. She's a bit of a wild child and is nowhere to be found. At first, Sean thinks she's just run off again but more information leads him to believe that his sister has been abducted.

When Elena sees Sean again, she remembers that it was HIS name mentioned by her dying brother. Does she have the wherewithall to carry out the request she promised or will she cave to Sean's gorgeous looks?

This was a good read that included a historical background. The storyline kept my interest. While this is part of a series, I read it as a standalone. I'm curious to read the previous books in this series as well as any to follow.

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Porter and Midge (Porter and Midge Children’s Book Series) by Jennie Chen and Giselle Nevada

 

Porter and Midge: Paws for Safety: A Kid's Guide to Safe Dog Interactions by Giselle Nevada
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

CJ and Lora want everyone to know how to properly care for a dog. They use Porter and Midge to talk through rhyme about ways to approach dogs, how to walk with them, cues to watch for, and more. The illustrations are very colorful and lifelike.

This would be a great book for a youngster about to get their first dog. It would be a great refresher for someone who's cared for a dog for awhile too. This would be a great introduction to being a responsible pet owner or even for someone visiting with a pet for the first time.

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My Big Red Monster (Giants and Monsters) by Lois Wickstrom

 

My Big Red Monster by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I want a big red monster!!!

This is a fun read and kids will enjoy this story! They'll want a monster too! The illustrations seem to jump off the page, they are so well done. Very colorful to go along with a great story!

This might be my favorite Lois Wickstrom book!!

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Merry Christmas, Montana (The Millers of Marietta Book 3) by Elsa Winckler

 

Merry Christmas, Montana by Elsa Winckler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Riley is a single mom trying to get her career back on track after losing everything four years ago. Well, she lost everything except for her adorable son, Dylan. Mitch is part of the Miller clan and he's always such a sourpuss, or in Dylan's words, always yelling! When Riley and Mitch meet up at yet another Miller family wedding, Mitch saves Riley from having to dance with the crazy drunk party crasher. There is an electricity from the first touch and, while they both try to deny their feelings at first, they really can't. Riley is dead set on getting into another relationship but then Dylan starts asking questions.

This was a much more enjoyable book for me than the previous one in this series. It wasn't horrible and I was probably just having an "off-reading day". I loved how the story progressed but Dylan is my favorite character in this story!!! Will he get his Christmas wish?

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Sarge by Stuart Ledwith

 

Sarge by Stuart Ledwith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was an interesting little novella to read. We meet TJ, aka Sarge, as a young boy who's delivering packages to put food on his table. A kindhearted person takes him under his wing and sets him on a successful path for life. This story is about that path his life took, which is much better than things were looking. Sarge is able to lead a successful group of people in black ops missions dealing with all sorts of things, including UFOs.

I appreciate how this was a "short and sweet" story and didn't drag out a lot of details where they weren't necessary. This book was just enough and I'd recommend it!

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1897 A Mark Sutherland Adventure (Mark Sutherland Adventures) by Kimberly Mullins

 

1897 A Mark Sutherland Adventure by Kimberly Mullins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have been a fan of Kimberly Mullins since reading the "Notebook Mysteries" series so when I saw this one, I knew it would be another win.

I love the historical adventure that Mark has embarked on. What started out as a simple trip to Texas to investigate a mysterious object in the sky leads him to several other places, as well as interesting stories to write for the paper. Cameo appearances and/or mentions from characters in the Notebook Mysteries series also show up, making this even more memorable.

I'm excited to read more books about Mark and his adventures. I highly recommend this book!

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Gumshoe Goes To A Quinceanera (Gumshoe Mysteries Book 2) by Laura Hawks

 

Gumshoe Goes To A Quinceanera by Laura Hawks
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Be sure to read this series in order so you don't miss the important groundwork laid in the first book. There will likely be a bit of confusion reading this out of order.

Another fun young adult read. This time, Mia and her friends are getting ready for a Quinceanera for Tiffany. As they are doing this, there is a man who is murdered and dumped into the nearby water hole. Mia, along with Gumshoes, help the police to solve the "whodunit" of this mystery.

I enjoyed this book but felt that it lacked some of the pizazz that attracted me to the first book. I would have liked to have seen more development of Mia's newfound powers. I feel like it was glossed over in this one.

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Gumshoe and the Mysterious Mushrooms (Gumshoe Mysteries Book 1) by Laura Hawks

 

Gumshoe And The Mysterious Mushrooms by Laura Hawks
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was an enjoyable, and sometimes even funny, read. Mia has just turned 15 years old. She's a sous chef at her parents' restaurant. Once a week, she gets to plan the entire menu and this is the opening week. She come up with an extravagant menu, including a mushroom soup. Within a few hours, people are calling the restaurant to say they are sick. The calls get worse with more time passing.

A fun, entertaining, young adult read!!

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Slay It With a Diamond (Diamond District Mystery Book 3) by Rob Bates

 

Slay It With a Diamond by Rob Bates
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Max Rosen does not believe in curses so when he's offered a "cursed" diamond, he goes through with the transaction to acquire a rare black diamond. Max's daughter, Mimi, is an amateur sleuth who starts investigating the lore behind the diamond. She comes across several different versions of the story that she is able to filter out.

This was a good book that held my attention throughout. The characters are well-developed and the story is easy to follow. There is mystery and intrigue, along with a small bit of romance, although that's almost as complicated as the mystery.

This book is a part of a series but can be read as a standalone. There are mentions to previous cases involving Mimi but I don't feel that missing the backstory affected this one.

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The Podcast Chronicles by Kathryn Dodson

 

The Podcast Chronicles by Kathryn Dodson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I think may women can identify with Sue Cleary. She's a wife, mom, raising 4 boys (2 are away at college, 2 are still at home), and trying to find where she belongs in this world. She's trying to soak up all the precious minutes she has left with her two youngest boys before they leave the nest and that brings a new perspective to Sue's life. What point does her life serve once her boys are gone? She's been a successful CPA before she and the hubby decided to settle down and start a family.

A magazine article catches Sue eye and lights a fire in her belly when she learns about a developer wanting to turn the beautiful land of Durango, Colorado, into an amusement style park. So many things just don't set right with her about this but she's really not sure what to do about it. Her son mentions that she should start a podcast about her thoughts and, while she has no experience in that area, she decides to give it a try. Along the way, she forms friendships with 2 very strong willed women who stand with her in their plight to take down this developer and save the land that they care so much about.

This was very well written and focuses on the powers of strong women and friendship. I found this book to be very inspiring and empowering. There are several issues that are overcome through the bonds formed in this trio of women.

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Killer Smile by Allan Evans

 

Killer Smile by Allan Evans
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I'm loving this series about Cade and his determination to solve the murders that are popping up in his area. This time, a group of serial killers have descended on Cade's location and have challenged him. Cade, not one to back down from a challenge, puts together a task force and finds himself dealing with not one, but three, serial killers.

Another very well written story that I wasn't able to put down until I finished! I enjoy the moments of levity scattered throughout this story, as parts of it were pretty intense. I look forward to more from this author!

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Killer Blonde by Allan Evans

 

Killer Blonde by Allan Evans
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I could not put this book down!! This is my first exposure to this author and he quickly has found a spot on my "favorite authors" list. The writing is very well done and the story is engaging from the first word. There are moments of levity scattered throughout but mostly, a hold onto your seat kinda thriller that is bound to keep the reader guessing until the end!

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Wondogfilled (Boys Unboxed) by Dr. Kimberlie Harris

 

Wondogfilled: Look, a Dog! The story for children who love dogs between the ages of 0-8. A perfect addition to home and classroom libraries. by Dr. Kimberlie Harris
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Kingston and his mom are out on a walk. During the walk, Kingston loves to see all the dogs out walking with their owners. Kingston is a huge fan of dogs! His mom points out other animals and tells him what they are (cat, squirrel, etc) but he's convinced they are all dogs as they have similar parts.

This book is a bit humorous in terms of what Kingston sees when he sees different animals. An elephant, bear, and even a fox have Kingston saying "dog". Younger kids will appreciate the "baby talk" from Kingston on the pages of the book as well. The illustrations are very well done. They are very vibrant and engaging.

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Zibs for Sale (I am an Alien) by Lois Wickstrom

 

Zibs for Sale by Lois J Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Shirl and Eee-aah are on another adventure. This time, Eee-aah wants to introduce Shirl to her favorite snack, Zibs. When they locate some, Shirl tries one without paying for it. Baa-Kerr is not pleased and choses to keep Shirl working since she stole from him.

It's no secret that Lois Wickstrom is one of my favorite authors!! Her stories are great by themselves but add in that there is always some sort of Science/STEM component and that makes them even better! The illustrations are also extremely well done in her books.

I highly recommend this book, along with all her others, for any home library, daycare, school, grandparent's house, etc!

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Murder at the Wedding (Modern Midwife Mysteries Book 1) by Christine Knapp

 

Murder at the Wedding by Christine Knapp
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Maeve O’Reilly Kensington is a midwife struggling with infertility who's married to William. William has disappointed his family by opening a catering business instead of having a well-esteemed career like the rest of the family. They are desperately wanting to start a family but so far, it's just not in the cards for them.

The wedding of the year is coming up soon and Will is hired to cater it. Everything must go as planned so that he doesn't have to take out another loan and prove his family just how much of a failure he is. The bride's father is the head of the Obstetrics unit where Maeve (rhymes with "brave) is employed. During the toast, Dr. Whitaker appears to be having a medical emergency and subsequently dies. Now everything that Will had planned to perfection is under a ton of scrutiny and his business may tank.

Maeve and her sister Meg begin to put together a variety of theories as to "whodunit", against their brother Patrick's better wishes. He desires for his sisters to let him do his job as a police officer and that they keep their day jobs as a midwife and realtor respectively. Not about to let a good situation pass by, Maeve and Meg do get involved and help to bring down the murderer.

First of all, I appreciate that this author has medical experience and that the terms and procedures described are done so accurately. That being said, a disclaimer should be issued for this book as it does have triggering issues for those who've experienced infertility or the loss of a child(ren). There are a few scenes that did not pertain to the overall solving the murder that could have been left out, however, they also give a "real-life" view into the role of a midwife. I did find the story engaging and appreciated the nice little twist at the end, although the murderer was pretty high on my list the whole time.

I look forward to more books in this series.

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The Earl, Her Reluctant Guardian by Wareeze Woodson

 

The Earl, Her Reluctant Guardian by Wareeze Woodson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoy historical romance novels and this one did not disappoint. Add in a paranormal feature with a ghost and I thought it might lose me but I ended up enjoying that too! The writing is very well done and keeps the reader engaged to the point that I didn't want the story to end.

Vanessa is used to being on her own. She's been independent for a long time and doesn't need all the extra hoopla that life can throw. Her life has forever changed though, once she leaves The Academy for Young Ladies. Nothing is how she dreamed it would be.

Lots of suspense and twists and turns in this one to make it an exciting read!

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Liar, Liar (The McIntire County Series Book 4) by Winter Austin

 

Liar, Liar by Winter Austin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I can't get enough of this series and this writer's stories!! They grab you from the first sentence and hang onto you until the last word. Each story is full of adventure, mystery, romance, suspense, and lots of shenanigans.

This story focuses on Sheriff Shane Hamilton. He's had a pretty rough year and that election was something else. Coming up on a very trying anniversary, Shane is looking forward to having some private time to think back over the memories of the past 19 years. When his phone starts ringing off the hook and messages are blowing up the line, he soon learns that a body was found and his idea of a private weekend is now blown to pieces.

FBI Agent Liza Bartholomew wasn't planning to return to Eider, Iowa anytime soon. She'd rather not ever step foot back there after the last adventure she had. However, her latest suspect is leading her to Eider and some familiar faces she hasn't seen in awhile. Trying to keep a very low profile, Liza gets word of a murder when she stops at a local convenience store. Her cover may be blown and her suspect now might get word of her arrival. Everything is blowing up in her face and her plans are shot.

When the sheriff and the FBI Agent end up realizing their cases are connecting and they find themselves spending more time together, feelings start to erupt that neither one wanted initially. The romance build is fun to read about these two!

I highly recommend reading these books in order as the back story is important to really understanding the characters in this series. I'm sure it could be read as a stand alone but there will be some important features lost. I've really enjoyed this series and can't wait for more from this author!

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Faking the Fall (Buckeye Falls Book 4) by Libby Kay

 

Faking the Fall: A Buckeye Falls Novel by Libby Kay
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm sad to see this series come to an end! I have thoroughly enjoyed each book in this series and I would highly recommend them for someone looking for a bit of a romcom!

Alice finally got her story! Her family isn't quite sure what to think of her. Alice is a bit of a reed in the wind. She has multiple degrees but isn't really putting forth an effort to use them effectively, at least in her daddy's eyes. All her other siblings are successful members of the community and are public servants of some sort. Alice is working in the library. She's happy but ready to get from under her parents' thumb.

James has recently relocated to Buckeye Falls after a failed marriage and a lull in his work. He needs some motivation to create art again. Then he spies Alice and the paint is flying to the canvas.

A super fun read about the Snyder family. This could be read as a stand alone but you'll miss out on the backgrounds of other characters. I would recommend reading them all because they are that good!

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Sins of the Father (The McIntire County Series Book 3) by Winter Austin

 

Sins of the Father by Winter Austin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Winter Austin knocks another one out of the park with the next story in The McIntire Series!! I do highly recommend reading these in order as the characters build on each other and the back stories will help this story make more sense.

Jolie is a new deputy on the force. She's got some pretty big shoes to fill as her father was the sheriff previous to the one currently in office. Jolie is still trying to recover from the events with her brother and his subsequent arrest and imprisonment.

Xavier is bartending at the local bar and grill. He's doing his best to keep his cover under the bar. When he shows up at the wrong place at the wrong time, he's the only suspect to a murder. Did he do it? He's not really sure himself.

This is a rapid pageturner!! There is a lot of action, family drama, missing people, bodies showing up in the strangest of places, and some romance. Overall, a highly enjoyable book and series!!

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ALTERATIONS TRILOGY: Alterations, Game Changer, Primal Will by Jane Suen

 

Alterations Trilogy: Alterations, Game Changer, Primal Will by Jane Suen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This trilogy is easy to read in one or two setting. Each book in this series is around 100 pages or so.

This book is interesting, creepy, and downright scary at times with the options available to people these days. While this is a work of science fiction, it could easily become a reality, if it hasn't already.

Three women, all with differing sorts of body image issues, submit to Dr. Kite and his experimental microchips. Each chip is designed to "fix" the image issue that the person is facing. In Alterations, the focus is on the change that takes place within each of these three. Game Changer is about a life changing experience for each of them and Primal Will is their resolve to get away from the chip itself.

These stories are situations that are very real to many people and the resulting experiment proves that science is a good answer but not always the right one!!

This author is very quickly becoming a favorite of mine. I've read a few of her books now and she doesn't disappoint!! She writes excellent books with a psychokiller thriller slant!

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