Contents of blog copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2023
I've been gone a while. I started reading fanfiction to escape and I got sucked in an abyss.

I have no idea if someone else is hosting similar challenges. I just grabbed some of what I have hosted before.

Here's to a happy year of great reading
Jan2023: Not much has changed. Writing a fanfiction now O_o as well as reading but I bought 7 new books in December and hope to get those read soon. Crossing fingers about adding challenges (late!)

Monday, October 31, 2016

Happy Monday - October Edition




Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week.

Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.  ;-)

Don't forget to link up your list




~ The newest review book in my house ~
A Dog like Sam by Edward van de Vende (website is in Dutch)
children's book, 2016, paperback

When a big white dog turns up unexpectedly in their front yard, Kix and Emilia immediately want to adopt him. They name the dog Sam, and even though their parents say they can't take him in, it isn't long before Sam becomes a part of the family. But when Sam's original owner comes looking for him, Kix realizes that deciding where Sam belongs is anything but simple.






~ The newest books in my house ~
The Christmas Angel Project by Melody Carlson
Holiday/Christian Romance, 2016, hardcover (yes, again, amazon's Matchbook)

Five women from different walks of life have become close friends through their book club--enjoying one another's company even more than they enjoy the books. So when the leader of the book club unexpectedly passes away on the cusp of the Christmas season, the four remaining friends are stunned. They relied on Abby for inspiration and motivation. She was the glue that held them together, and they're sure that without her the group can't continue.

When the group gathers "one last time" to open a bag Abby's husband gives them, they find Abby had made each of them an angel ornament for Christmas, crafted especially for each woman and accompanied by a sweet and personal note. Inspired by their beloved friend, together Cassidy, Louisa, Grace, and Belinda decide to commit themselves to becoming Christmas Angels to others in need. Each woman will use her life situation and talents to reach out and help others in her own unique way--little knowing that her own life and her relationships will be changed forever.

Rescue on the Oregon Trail by Kate Messner
Ranger in Time, 2015, paperback

Ranger has been trained as a search-and-rescue dog, but can’t officially pass the test because he’s always getting distracted by squirrels during exercises. One day, he finds a mysterious first aid kit in the garden and is transported to the year 1850, where he meets a young boy named Sam Abbott. Sam’s family is migrating west on the Oregon Trail, and soon after Ranger arrives he helps the boy save his little sister. Ranger thinks his job is done, but the Oregon Trail can be dangerous, and the Abbotts need Ranger’s help more than they realize!



Paws and Effect by Sofie Kelly
Magical Cats, 2016, mass market paperback

Magical cats Owen and Hercules and resourceful librarian Kathleen Paulson are back in the latest from the New York Times bestselling author of Faux Paw...

Kathleen is excited to meet three old pals of her beau, Detective Marcus Gordon, while they visit charming Mayville Heights on business. But the reunion is cut short when one of the friends is killed—and the evidence points toward Marcus as the murderer.

Though it seems she doesn’t know all of Marcus’s secrets, Kathleen is sure he’s no killer. With his suspect status sidelining him from investigating the case, it’s up to Kathleen and her feline partners-in-crime to find whoever is framing Marcus—and make sure the good detective hasn’t found his last clue.


Putting on the Witch by Joyce and Jim Lavene
Retired Witches Mysteries, 2016, mass market paperback

With their coven’s spell book still missing, Molly and Elsie—along with their ghostly friend Olivia, her daughter Dorothy, and her boyfriend Brian—are all on edge, especially now that Dorothy’s infamously wicked father is back in the picture. So when they receive an invitation to an exclusive Witches Ball, the ladies jump at the chance to dress up and have some fun.

The castle locale is spectacular and the party is hopping, but the festivities come to a swift end when a member of the Grand Council of Witches is murdered. With the whole place on lock down, the coven is determined to find the cunning killer, even with an angry council and a real Spanish Inquisitor breathing down their necks...


Twelve Days of Christmas by Debbie Macomber
romance, 2016, hardcover

Friendly and bubbly, Julia Padden likes nearly everyone, but her standoffish neighbor, Cain Maddox, presents a particular challenge. No matter how hard she’s tried to be nice, Cain rudely rebuffs her at every turn, preferring to keep to himself. But when Julia catches Cain stealing her newspaper from the lobby of their apartment building, that’s the last straw. She’s going to break through Cain’s Scrooge-like exterior the only way she knows how: by killing him with kindness.

To track her progress, Julia starts a blog called The Twelve Days of Christmas. Her first attempts to humanize Cain are far from successful. Julia brings him homemade Christmas treats and the disagreeable grinch won’t even accept them. Meanwhile, Julie’s blog becomes an online sensation, as an astonishing number of people start following her adventures. Julia continues to find ways to express kindness and, little by little, chips away at Cain’s gruff façade to reveal the caring man underneath. Unbelievably, Julia feels herself falling for Cain—and she suspects that he may be falling for her as well. But as the popularity of her blog continues to grow, Julia must decide if telling Cain the truth about having chronicled their relationship to the rest of the world is worth risking their chance at love.


Christmas in Eternity Spring by Emily March
Eternity Springs, 2016, mass market paperback

After a devastating betrayal, Claire Branham packs up the pieces of her life, along with a twenty-million-dollar secret, and moves to Eternity Springs. She opens a specialty shop―Forever Christmas―and, with the help of a surprise romance with the town’s sexy new handyman, Claire’s heart begins to heal. Until her past comes knocking…

Jax Lancaster never questioned the need to abandon his career as a Navy submariner in order to care for his young son in the wake of his ex-wife’s death. Desperate to help with this loss, Jax straps on a tool belt to give Nicholas the one thing he wants: A life in Eternity Springs. What Jax never expected to find a second chance at love with a fascinating woman for whom Christmas has become a business. But when the truth about Claire threatens their newfound happiness, can Jax prove to her that in Eternity Springs, the spirit of Christmas is real. . .and will last a lifetime?


Dragons at Crumbling Castle by Terry Prachett
short story collection, 2016, paperback
Illustrated by Mark Beech

This never-before-published collection of fourteen funny and inventive tales by acclaimed author Sir Terry Pratchett features a memorable cast of inept wizards, sensible heroes, and unusually adventuresome tortoises.

Including more than one hundred black-and-white illustrations, the appealingly designed book celebrates Pratchett’s inimitable wordplay and irreverent approach to the conventions of storytelling.

These accessible and mischievous tales are an ideal introduction for young readers to this beloved author. Established fans of Pratchett’s work will savor the playful presentation of the themes and ideas that inform his best-selling novels.


The Cat Who Came Back for Christmas by Julia Romp
Memoir, 2012, paperback

How a Cat Brought a Family the Gift of Love

Julia’s nine-year-old son George was autistic. Quiet and withdrawn, he appeared lost in his own world. Then one day a small black-and-white stray cat appeared in her garden and George’s face lit up.

George bonded with Ben and began to open up to his mother as well. For three happy years, the trio was inseparable and George made remarkable progress. But then disaster struck—Ben went missing and George regressed.

The weeks turned into months, and Christmas was fast approaching, but on December 21, Julia got a call from a family more than fifty miles away, which finally offered a ray of hope . . .


The Christmas Code by Ed J. Pinegar
holiday, 2014, paperback

Mr. G has made plenty of mistakes. Now, in the twilight of his life, he's a man with a mission: to assuage his uneasy conscience by filling the world with goodness, love, and charity through small acts of kindness. And what better time to spread his Christian message of hope than during the Christmas season?

It s just a few days before Christmas, and Mr. G has created a series of coded messages, words of encouragement he hopes those around him will decipher and live by. Little does he realize that these messages, along with his small acts of service, will set off a chain reaction of positive effects in the lives of five strangers. The resulting events come full circle for Mr. G, culminating in the poignant resolution of the most painful regret of his past.


Looking for Mr. Good Witch by Joyce and Jim Lavene
Retired Witches Mysteries, 2015, mass market paperback

A sea witch has been leaving bodies in her wake up and down the Carolina coast, baffling authorities who are finding drowning victims with no water in their lungs. The fin-icky female will continue to kill young male witches until she finds her perfect man—the one who survives her mating ritual—so she can live for another hundred years. And now coven hopeful Brian Fuller is about to be ensnared in her net.

Retired witches Molly and Elsie, along with the ghost of Olivia and her daughter Dorothy, need all the help they can get to stop the sea witch. Aided by a selkie and a crème puff–craving mermaid, they’re determined to keep Brian out of her murky clutches. But are they all about to get in over their heads?


A Peach of a Murder by Livia J. Washburn
A Fresh-Baked Mystery, 2006, mass market paperback

All year round, retired schoolteacher Phyllis Newsom is as sweet as peach pie-except during the Peach Festival, whose blue ribbon has slipped through Phyllis's fingers more than once...

Everyone's a little shook up when the corpse of a no-good local turns up underneath a car in a local garage. But even as Phyllis engages in some amateur sleuthing, she won't let it distract her from out-baking her rivals and winning the upcoming Peach Festival contest.

She and all the other contestants guard their secret, original recipes with their lives-and talk a whole lot of trash. With her unusual Spicy Peach Cobbler, Phyllis hopes to knock 'em dead. But that's just an expression-never in her wildest dreams did she think her cobbler would actually kill a judge. Now, she's suspected of murder-and she's got to bake this case wide open.

Too Hot to Handle by Elizabeth Lowell
romance, 2016, ebook (reissue of 1997 mmp)

When a career-threatening injury forces Tory Wells off the diving platform, she relocates to Arizona for a promised job while she recovers. Ethan Reever takes one look at the "girl" who turns up at his ranch and sends her packing. She's too slender, too city—and far too attractive to work on his ranch. But Tory isn't the type to give up on her dreams, and for the first time in her life those dreams include love.




The Oak Inside the Acorn by Max Lucado
children's book, 2011, paperback

It was hard for Little Acorn to believe he would ever be a big, strong oak tree.

Soon Little Acorn grew into Little Oak. But now what was he to do? He couldn't grow oranges like the orange tree or flowers like the rose bush. He just grew and grew until he became Big Oak, and his branches were big and strong-but still he didn't know what he was to do. Then one day Big Oak found that his strong branches were just right for a very special purpose. The Oak Inside the Acorn is the story of the miracle inside each of us. For within every child is the special person God created, just waiting to grow.


Valentine Kittens anthology
Regency romance, 2005, mass market paperback


Belling the Kitten by Jo Ann Ferguson
Jason Farraday is looking forward to the peace of a country inn after the dangers of the Pennsular War. But what he finds instead is spirited Amaris Woodward, a litter of lively kittens ... and - as Valentine's Day approaches - the realization that romance is much more alluring than solitude.

A Tangle of Kittens by Valerie King
When a liesurely stroll through the hills of Bath results in a surprising-and quite mistaken- kiss from a stranger. Anne Cassington's world is tumbled upside down. Now, a fortnight before Valentine's Day, finding homes for her sisters' kittens promises to be much less exciting-until the quest leads Anne straight back to Lord Marecham, and his far too tempting charms...

The Birthday Kitten by Cynthia Bailey Pratt
Johnna and Ransey Dillon's polite marriage of mutual respect suits them both until Ramsey brings home a mischievous stray kitten for his wife's birthday. The irrepressible cat sets in motion a string of events that nearly leads to catastrophe-until the pair discovers that a sweet and true love for each other may be an unexpected Valentine's gift...


Casper the Commuting Cat by Susan Finden
memoirs, 2010, hardcover

The True Story of the Cat who Rode the Bus and Stole our Hearts

Casper became a national celebrity when newspapers ran the story of the amazing cat that regularly took the No. 3 bus on 11-mile journeys around his home town, Plymouth, in Devon. While his devoted owner, Susan Finden, had wondered where her elusive pet was disappearing to each day, Casper was brightening the lives of countless commuters as they went about their business. Bus drivers, too, were getting well-acquainted with Casper, and notices went up in their depot alerting staff that a very special passenger might board their vehicle. In fact, he became a mascot for the bus company, and pictures of him and Susan adorned No. 3 buses. When Casper was sadly killed by a car in early 2010 messages of sympathy flooded in from places as far a field as Australia and Argentina. It quickly became clear that Casper and his remarkable story had touched the lives of so many people around the world. Movingly told by the owner who loved him dearly, Casper the Commuting Catis the touching story of a very special black-and-white cat who rode the bus and stole our hearts.


The Runaway Sleigh Ride by Astrid Lindgren
children's book, 9184, hardcover

On a snowy day in a small Swedish village, mischievous Elizabeth gets into trouble when she hides on the back of a farmer's sleigh and is taken for a very long ride.






Cleo: The Cat Who Mended a Family by Helen Brown
memoirs, 2009, hardcover

"We're just going to look." Helen Brown had no intention of adopting a pet when she brought her sons, Sam and Rob, to visit a friend's new kittens. But the runt of the litter was irresistible, with her overlarge ears and dainty chin.

When Cleo was delivered weeks later, she had no way of knowing that her new family had just been hit by a tragedy. Helen was sure she couldn't keep her--until she saw something she thought had vanished from the earth forever: her son's smile. The reckless, rambunctious kitten stayed.

Through happiness and heartbreak, changes and new beginnings, Cleo turned out to be the unlikely glue that affectionately held Helen's family together. Rich in wisdom, wit, heart, and healing, here is the story of a cat with an extraordinary gift for knowing just where she was needed most.


Three Christmas Wishes by Sheila Roberts
Holiday romance, 2016, mass market paperback

Three friends, three wishes—one Christmas!

When three friends visit a shopping-mall Santa on a lark, the jolly old elf is full of mysterious predictions about the thing they're all wishing for: the perfect man. Or at least men who are perfect for them.

Riley Erickson's fiancé turned out to be a dud, dumping her for her bridesmaid three weeks before the wedding. But Santa says that she's soon going to meet her ideal man in a memorable way.

And he predicts that a new man is about to come into Jo's life. What on earth does that mean? She's pregnant and already has her hands full with the perfectly stubborn husband she's got.

Noel has given up completely on ever finding her perfect match. But apparently Noel is going to get a good man to go with that house she's trying desperately to buy.

These friends are about to discover that Christmas wishes can come true, because in spite of romantic setbacks and derailed dreams, this truly is the most wonderful time of the year!

My Zombie Valentine, anthology
paranormal romance, 2010, mass market paperback

Tired of boyfriends who drain you dry? Sick of guys who stay out all night howling at the moon? You can do better. Some men want you not only for your body, but your brains. Especially your brains.

It's true! There are men out there who care-early-rising, down-to-earth, indefatigable men who'll follow you for miles. They'll take the time to surprise you, over and over. One sniff of the perfume, and you'll have to use a shotgun to fight them off. And then, once you get together, all they want is to share a nice meal. And another. And another.

Romeo and Juliet, eat your hearts out.

authors include: Katie MacAlister, Angie Fox, Marianne Mancusi, Lisa Cach


Paw Tracks at Owl Cottage by Denis O'Connor
memoir, 2010, paperback

When Denis O'Conner and his wife Catherine return to Owl Cottage, only to find it in a dilapidated state, they decide to restore his former home. But the memory of Denis's beloved cat, Toby Jug, still lingers on. On impulse, he buys a Maine Coon kitten, Pablo, who proves to be such a wonderful companion that he decides to buy three more and name them Carlos, Luis and Max. Set against the wilds of the Northumbrian coast, Denis tenderly and humorously charts the ups and downs of life with his mischievous new cats. Forays into this beautiful countryside - in order to train his cats to bond more closely with him - are never without incident. However, when Pablo disappears, Denis in once again reminded ob Toby Jug and the strength of a bond between man and cat.


Whiskey and Roses by Bradley Wright
Xander King, 2016, ebook

If someone murdered your family, how far would you go for revenge?

The world knows Xander King as a handsome, charismatic, and successful young businessman who was able to rise above a violent tragedy in his past. The CIA knows Xander as the US military's most legendary soldier, turned vigilante assassin, that sharpens his skills in the shadows until he can exact revenge on the monster that stole his family. They have watched his double life go on long enough, and now the government wants their weapon back.

Xander has different plans.

After a passionate night with Hollywood sweetheart, Natalie Rockwell, is violently interrupted by a surprise attack at Xander's home, those plans are set in motion. Xander's experts say it's suicide, but with the CIA closing in he must sidestep them and take the fight directly to his rival. With unlimited resources and unimaginable skills, Xander's enemy will need an army to survive his wrath. Turns out, that's precisely what he has. This is no longer just about revenge, this is war.


The Unwilling Executive by Miranda P. Charles
Captured by Love Book, 2015, ebook

He doesn't care about the wealth and opportunity his father offers.

Racing car mechanic Lucas Renner never expected his biological father to start acknowledging him as a son and only heir. He bet the old man has ulterior motives that has nothing to do with wanting to develop a relationship with him. He refuses to make contact with the man who has rejected him all his life... until his father's message is hand-delivered by a blushing beauty who stirs him in the right places.

She cares about keeping her job.

Jade Tully thanks her lucky stars for her new role as the personal assistant to a wealthy CEO. Heaven knows she needs it. But she doesn't anticipate getting entangled in the personal conflict between her eccentric boss and his extremely hunky son--a man who rattles her poise and melts her heart. She wants to help bring father and son together. But if she continues to do her boss' bidding, would she lose Lucas' trust and her chance to capture his heart?



Miss Spelled by Morgana Best
The Kitchen Witch, 2015, ebook

Amelia Spelled has had a bad week. Her boyfriend dumps her when she inadvertently gives him food poisoning. Her workplace, a telecommunications center, fires all their staff as they are outsourcing offshore, and she is evicted due to smoke damage resulting from her failed attempts at baking. Amelia thinks her luck has changed when she inherits her estranged aunt’s store, two mysterious cats, and beautiful Victorian house.

Yet has Amelia jumped out of the frying pan into the fire? To Amelia's dismay, the store is a cake store, and she discovers that her aunt was a witch. To add to the mix, the house has secrets of its own. When a man is murdered in the cake store, will Amelia be able to cook up a way to solve the crime? Or will her spells prove as bad as her baking?


Wicked Ways - a collection
Begging for Bad Boys, 2016, ebook

This Halloween, stay in and warm up with some devilish stories featuring all the baddest boys and the scorching-hot ladies that rule their souls. . . the scariest night of the year is about to get 12 degrees hotter.








Melting Ice by Stephanie Laurens
historical, 2016-reissue, ebook

1822. After years of adventuring in exotic India, wealthy rakehell Lord Dyan St. Laurent Dare has been forced to return to England and assume the title of the 4th Duke of Darke, along with the attendant responsibilities, chief of which is to marry and produce an heir.

Seeking to escape familial pressure, Dyan drops in on old friends whose house parties are a scandalous secret among society's elite, but, along with his hosts, Dyan is astonished when his childhood sweetheart, Lady Fiona Winton-Ryder, nicknamed Lady Arctic, unexpectedly arrives. Fiona had scornfully dismissed him fifteen years before, and Dyan had left not just her but England, yet their long-ago, simmering attraction has only intensified...now it sizzles.

Fiona has come to save a friend from a compromising situation, but the shock of encountering masterful, arrogant, senses-stealing Dyan after so many years takes her breath away and leaves her emotionally teetering. Nevertheless, coolly assured and every bit the earl's daughter, she remains determined to rescue her friend, but will she be able to ignore her lifetime fascination and evade Dyan?


Of Ice and Snow by Amber Argyle
Fairy Queens, 2015, ebook

Otec thought destiny forgot him.

The middle child of the clanchief, Otec is the overlooked son in an overflowing house. He dreams of escape and adventure, so when a mysterious stranger offers both, he doesn’t need persuading. But when his faraway village comes under attack, Otec will do anything to save the people he loves. Cut off from his nation, he must trust a foreign woman with a dubious past as they race to save his clan. But nothing is what it seems, and Otec may have to trust his enemy if he is to become the leader he was never meant to be.

Destiny is not always kind.

~*~*~*~*~




What are you Reading?


A weekly Monday meme hosted by Shelia at Book Journey. Post what you read last week and what you're planning to read this week then link to Shelia's post. Then visit others and be prepared to add to your TBR pile!




Finished:
Second Chance by Aiden Bates
It Takes Two to Tango by M.A. Church
Second Chance Bite by Flynn Eire/Joyee Flynn
Spencer's Secret by Flynn Eire/Joyee Flynn
Dying Assassin by Flynn Eire/Joyee Flynn
The Final Addition by Flynn Eire/Joyee Flynn
Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress by Christine Baldacchino
Squeak and a Roar by Joyee Flynn
Tristan by Joyee Flynn
Whiskers, Mane, and a Biter by Joyee Flynn
Dragon Groomer by Amber Kell
Fire and Ash by Gabrielle Evans
Ace-High Royal Flush by Tinnean
Here Kitty, Kitty by Joyee Flynn
My Little Kitty by Joyee Flynn
Our Sexy Tiger by Joyee Flynn
My Angel Cheetah by Joyee Flynn
Kitty in the Middle by Joyee Flynn
Cheetah in Charge by Joyee Flynn
My Feisty Kitten by Joyee Flynn
My Spotted Dream by Joyee Flynn
Snowed In by Aiden Bates
Say it Again by Jasmine Black
Southern Spirits by Angie Fox

Happy Reading!


copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2016

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Disclaimer

In accordance to the FTC guidelines, I must state that I make no monetary gains from my reviews or endorsements here on Book Dragon's Lair. All books I review are either borrowed, purchased by me, given as a gift, won in some kind of contest, or received in exchange for an honest review.