Insanity, table for 4: Read in January

31 Kisses by Chautona Havig

When one plus one equals thirty-one… It happens every day. Guy meets grandpa–and girl. Guy knocks grandpa off ladder Guy kisses girl to make it “all better.” Every day. For a month. Just your normal, average, all-American romance… Meet Chessie and Carson. She goes “all out” for Christmas (and every other holiday including Columbus Day, Cinco de Mayo, and Flag Day); he doesn’t own a single thing that could be considered decorative–unless you count the stickers he stuck to his dresser back when he was three. Neither of them have ever had a serious relationship; both are opposed to frivolous expressions of affection. How on earth did they get tangled up in a “kiss-a-day-during-December” pact?
A New Year's Surprise by Lisa Crane (Short Story)

Alex is hiding out during a New Year's Eve party; she's hiding from her well-meaning friends, who are always playing matchmaker. But after a dismal engagement, Alex isn't sure she wants to be matched up with anyone.

Michael's friends are always fixing him up as well, and after several unfortunate dates, not only is he a little gun-shy, he's also earned a reputation as a 'love 'em and leave 'em' kind of guy. But if the truth were told, Michael would happily settle down...if only his friends would match him up with the right woman!
Angry by Laura L Smith

Emma is angry. She’s angry at her siblings, who she always has to baby sit; her parents, who are divorcing and ruining her life in the process; and herself for not measuring up to anyone’s standards.

With her simmering feelings ready to spill over at any time, Emma's self-worth plummets. Her faith in God is tested in the face of overwhelming hurt that threatens to send her over the edge. Can she turn back in time?
Best Ever Fruit Cobbler and Crisp Recipes by Lori Burke

Fruit cobblers and crisps are a wonderful dessert to serve during the cold winter months. Served warm with ice cream or flavored whipped cream they are sure to chase away the winter blahs. Homemade cobblers and crisps go back to Colonial America and were originally served for breakfast or as a main course. It wasn't until the late 1800s that cobblers, crisps and related dishes were considered desserts.
She had me hooked when she mentioned cobbler for breakfast!
Broken Resolutions by Cheryl Shireman

Six long-time friends gather for their annual New Year’s Eve party. They are meeting at Craig and Hannah’s spectacular home in the country. Hannah is a best-selling romance novelist. Craig is her adoring husband. All seems perfect. Except nothing is. No one knows that Craig left Hannah several months ago and is living across town with another woman. Tonight, Craig and Hannah will play the part one more time. Because tomorrow will be soon enough for broken dreams and reality. Tonight, they just have to get through the party. But they didn’t plan on the snowstorm. A snowstorm that will keep them all snowed in together for the next three days. Which is plenty of time for secrets to be discovered, for illusions to be shattered, and for resolutions to be broken. So, dab a little perfume behind your ear, put your party dress on, and slip into your favorite heels. You’re invited to the party!
By Hook or By Crook and 30 More Best Crime and Mystery Stories of the Year by Ed Gorman

The annual collection edited by Ed Gorman and Martin H. Greenberg by contributors including: Dennis Lehane, Laura Lippman, Mary Higgins Clark, and others!
Crimson Ice by Joanne Weck

A lovely young actress disappears on her way to the theater. Her sister Frankie, a single mother, fears she has been harmed by her wealthy but controlling and sometimes abusive husband. Or one of his dangerous friends. Or even more dangerous enemies. Frankie seeks the aid of a cynical undercover cop turned detective to confront some very evil people and discover the truth in a world of secrets and lies set against the cold winter background of the Pocono Mountains.
It has been awhile since I stayed up late reading, but I couldn't put this down. Extremely suspenseful, kept me riveted.
Down Home by Gail Roughton

Everybody knows everybody else’s business in Turkey Creek. The town knows Maggie Kincaid hasn’t spoken to her father in twenty-five years. It knows Billy Brayton was killed in basic training after Big John Kincaid railroaded him out of town and into the army. Nobody was surprised. For sure, Big John wasn’t going to let his daughter keep time with the local bad boy. Not for long. But the town’s missing a few pieces of the puzzle. Billy Brayton’s not dead. He’s back. He’s home. And it’s payback time.
This is book was so captivating that I may actually buy this author's other ebooks.
Finding Infinity by Susan Kiernan-Lewis

Liddy James has put off her dream of owning her own French cupcake shop for 25 years, ever since she came home form Paris after college. Now, a widow and an empty-nester, she knows if she's ever going to do it, she better make it happen soon. Unfortunately, there are a few roadblocks in her path to finally achieving her dream. One is a sexy but mysterious DEA Agent dealing with the rampant local meth problem who obviously wants her--but preferably not living in the same town. Another is a cantankerous elderly mother who refuses to play fair, and finally, there are the townspeople of Infinity, Georgia who want nothing to do with her, her fancy cupcakes OR her big-city ways. In fact, someone in particular is determined to help her go back where she came from...the hard way.
Gone by Adam Light (Short Story)
Greg is having a bad morning. He overslept and now he is going to be late for work. He can't even seem to get himself dressed, and is shoe is conveniently missing. Throughout the day, other things begin disappearing and Greg's day looks like it is about to get much worse.
This book was just weird and a total waste of time. Glad it wasn't long! It would have gone in my Did Not Finish file.
Guinness World Records 2013 Bonus Chapter

Guinness World Records 2013 The Bonus Chapter features all new exclusive pages that you will not find in our annual book. Featuring additional content in the form of photographs and record-breaking facts, The Bonus Chapter also provides a behind-the-scenes look at Guinness World Records. The Bonus Chapter is available exclusively as a richly designed eBook and includes our Top 10 Claimants, a 'Day in the Life of an Adjudicator' as well as a special section on the Olympics and a quiz to test your superlative knowledge. A perfect accompaniment to Guinness World Records 2013, The Bonus Chapter is for all those fans who want to learn even more about the ultimate authority on record-breaking.
Here Comes The Bride by Rita Herron

A twin switch. A fake fiancé. An impromptu wedding.
Can it lead to true love and a real marriage?
How to Find Free Christian Books Online by Shelley Hitz
Iced Romance by Whitney Boyd

Kennedy Carter has the perfect life. It includes an engagement to an NHL celebrity all-star, a Vera Wang wedding dress, and more money than she could ever spend. But when Kennedy learns that her fiance Todd is cheating on her, she decides to leave the glamour and glitz behind.

She escapes to Orlando, Florida with a plan to rebuild her life while staying hidden from a country obsessed with celebrity scandals. The real world however, is tougher than she expected. Suddenly Kennedy has to deal with cockroaches, creepy alarm salesmen, and waiting tables... along with David, a gorgeous new love interest.

But what happens when the past refuses to stay hidden? When the truth of her background catches up to her, Kennedy must finally decide who she is, what she wants and where she really belongs.
Microdermabrasion Basics: What You Should Know Before You Scrape Your Face by Katherine Kelly James

Microdermabrasion is the new buzz in the world of beauty and anti-aging.

In this book, Katherine Kelly James will answer the questions that many have, first and foremost - What is Microdermabrasion? - Is it Safe? - Is it non-invasive? - Why has it become so popular?

She will reveal what type of skin this treatment is most effective on and what are some at home treatment options, including which kits are available on today's market. She will guide you through how it works and what the difference is in machines and what the pros and cons.

She also will guide you through what you should look at when considering professional treatment. Should you trust a spa or beautician or should you seek this service only from a doctor?

If you're looking for the straight scoop and inside story on Microdermabrasion, this book will answer your questions and will point you in the right direction and help you make an informed choice on whether it is the right option for you.
Natalie's Revenge by Susan Fleet (A Frank Renzi mystery)

TWO MURDERS TWENTY YEARS APART.

1988: Ten-year-old Natalie is devastated when police find her call girl mother murdered in a New Orleans hotel. Like the dragon tattoo girl, Natalie wants revenge. Her relentless hunt for the killer takes her from dancing in New York City strip clubs to working as a call girl in Paris. And back to the Big Easy, with a gun.

2008: New Orleans Police Detective Frank Renzi investigates the murder of a VIP businessman in a French Quarter hotel. Is it revenge for the 1988 murder? When the killings continue, Renzi pursues the elusive Natalie. Is she the killer? Or just another call girl? Don't miss the exciting showdown between Natalie and Frank Renzi.
Never Say Spy by Diane Henders (#1 Never Say Spy series)
Despite her penchant for weapons and ripe language, Aydan Kelly’s resumé reads ‘bookkeeper’, not ‘badass’. She’s leaving the city to fulfill her dream of rural tranquillity when she gets carjacked by a man who shouldn’t exist. When RCMP officer John Kane kills her would-be abductor, Aydan thinks her troubles are over. But Kane’s investigation implicates her in an international espionage plot, and criminal charges become the least of her worries when she’s targeted by the very spies Kane suspects her of aiding. Pity her enemies. Because nobody’s tougher than a middle-aged woman who wants her dream back.
Why I absolutely LOVED this book...captivating, unpredictiable, suspenseful, realistic story, lovable characters.
Pearls of Deception by Carolyn Arnold (Short Story)
When Christina finds out her husband of twelve years is cheating on her, she takes justice into her own hands. The question is: will she get away with it?
Perfect by Autumn Jordon

Dylan Kincaid totally screwed up Thanksgiving and now he's faced with Christmas. Thrown into the frightening role of both mother and father while his brother and sister-in-law are off serving their country, all Dylan wants is to make Christmas perfect for his two nieces. But time is running out.

Down on her luck Charleston, S.C. restaurateur, Darcy Witherspoon is licking a wounded ego when she arrives in Black Moose, VT and meets the handsome Maple tree farmer. Wanting a happy holiday herself, she teams up with Dylan to make a perfect Christmas.

Neither is interested in a holiday affair, but the magic of Christmas has something more everlasting in store for the couple. An absolutely perfect love!
Snitch by Kat Kirst

Andy has a good life. He’s a starter on the freshman basketball team, is known for the fantastic pranks he and his best friend pull and might even be in a serious relationship with a beautiful girl. But when everyone’s phone begins to ring with rumors, and everyone’s pages begin to load with hate, Andy is caught in the middle of it, because he knows the truth. And once some things are done, they can never be changed. When do you stand up for what is right? When is enough, enough? When do you tell?
Swimming Upstream by Ruth Mancini

Lizzie has begun to achieve all the things she thought she had ever wanted... but realises instead that she is far from happy. Then she steps out into the path of an oncoming car, and her life begins to unravel, setting off a life-changing chain of events. Lizzie leaves her boyfriend and her home and moves to London to pursue her career. There, she attempts to overcome the legacy of her past and find her true direction in life. Little does she realise that her life is about to take another shocking twist... and that the consequences will be enormous. Swimming Upstream is a life-affirming and often humorous story about a young woman's pursuit of happiness. Set in the early 1990s in Cambridge and London, it is also a story of friendship, love and divided loyalties - and the moral choices that Lizzie ultimately faces, when the chips are down.
There Goes The Groom by Rita Herron (2nd of 2)

A jilted bride is arrested at her wedding when her fiancé dumps her and goes on the lamb!
Winter's Destiny by Nancy Allen

Alone, with a fall gale howling around the rafters, Amy turns to see a woman’s rain-streaked face staring at her through the dark window. The face is...identical to her own! Then, a pale hand slides down the glass leading streaks of crimson... Amy's life crumbles. Her husband leaves, her only child is taken, and something sinister surrounds her and those she loves. She is catapulted into a world she knows nothing about - a place where a killer rules, where answers are buried, where her life is in constant peril, and where her son, Jamie, is hidden. To find her child, she must find her look-alike, and that dislodges a killer who hunts her relentlessly. Sheriff Dallas Wayburne’s investigation parallels Amy’s, and their combined efforts draw them together when time is critical and when their relationship adds yet another dimension to Amy’s stressful life.
Winter Warmers by Carole Matthews

Three short stories from the wonderfully warm Carole Matthews.

All I Want for Christmas is You
Christmas is around the corner but Maria just can't get into the spirit - will she ever find Mr Right? But when a secret admirer starts leaving her poems and notes, it looks as though her luck is about to change . . .

Cold Turkey
Tara is in love with a man she can't have. She expected to spend Christmas with him but when the big day arrives, she finds herself alone. Sad and upset, Tara just wants to ignore the festive season - and then a chance encounter changes everything.

About Gardening
I love my husband Sam but our relationship isn't what it used to be. Can I find a way to bring us back together?

Friday, February 1

Read in January

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