macjam47

HIDDEN by Catherine McKenzie

Published on March 15, 2014March 26, 2014 by macjam4711 Comments

Catherine McKenzie weaves a tale of secrets kept in her latest book HIDDEN. Jeff Manning is hit by a car while walking home from work and leaves two women devastated. One, his wife Claire, is left to struggle with this unimaginable loss while at the same time helping their son Seth find his way through his own suffering. The other, Jeff’s co-worker Julie, is faced with hiding her grief and at the same time burying her secret before anyone discovers it.

Written in the voices of main characters Jeff, Claire, and Tish, this book is brimming with emotion and excitement. Even though Jeff dies at the beginning of the book, his explanations interposed in this way, bring clarity to the story. HIDDEN is about the complexity of relationships – good, bad, and everything in between.

I am an ardent fan of Catherine McKenzie, and have read all of her fabulous books. HIDDEN is a masterpiece! It is carefully crafted with a story line and characters that left me mesmerized. HIDDEN is a book you will carry with you everywhere you go until you read the last words. I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a truly absorbing read. I give it five stars.

To find out more about Catherine McKenzie visit:

Website Twitter Facebook Goodreads

To buy her books:

Amazon Barnes and Noble

Like to party? Hop along the Hump Day Blog Hop on Julie Valerie’s Book Blog. Click here to return to the Hump Day Blog Hop.

The Field of Flowers Award

Published on March 6, 2014March 7, 2014 by macjam4724 Comments

My dear friend Stephanie at S.J. Thomas’s Book Blurbs has nominated me for a beautiful award… the Field of Flowers! Thank you so very much Stephanie for honoring me and for your continual support and encouragement. Your friendship means so much to me.

THE FIELD OF FLOWERS AWARD

This is a fairly new award meant to show appreciation or say thank you or just to brighten someone’s day. You can read about it here or share the love and pass on your own field of flowers.

About Stephanie

Stephanie writes thrillers (aka – spooky stories). Besides her writing, she loves gardening and cats, of which she has many. She is fearless – she jumped out of a perfectly operating plane, for gosh sakes! But most important of all, Stephanie is a loyal friend who always makes me smile with her kind and thoughtful words.

Rules :

Thank the blogger who nominated you
Place the award on your blog
Nominate 7 other bloggers and write a little something about why you would give these bloggers “A Field Of Flowers”
Let your nominees know that you nominated them

I would like to give a FIELD OF FLOWERS TO MY FRIENDS, Because…

I would like to give this award to all of my blogging friends because you are all so wonderful and have been so supportive of my blogging efforts. However, I am supposed to choose just seven (this is the really tough part) to nominate for this award.

1). Maxima. Maxima writes the most beautiful poetry. He is a true romantic. I get lost in his words and can feel the love he pours into them. In the spirit of the love he shares, Maxima pairs his poetry with pictures, most often of roses, the ultimate symbol of love.

2). Lisa Alber’s Words at Play. Lisa’s debut novel KILMOON is due out this month. Congratulations Lisa! What does she like to read? Crime mysteries! Lisa blogs about books and writing. I love reading Lisa’s blog and have learned so much from all of the wonderful writing tips she shares.

3). Julie Valerie’s Book Blog. You just have to love Julie! She is a true and loyal friend in every sense of the word. One of the things I love most about Julie is her sense of humor. When you check out her blog go to the page link Contemporary Women’s Fiction & Modern Lit Authors. This amazing lady has a list you can link to your phone for use at the library or bookstore to help you more easily find women’s lit and modern lit authors.

4). True Stories. I never know what the topic is going to be when I stop by this blog, but I know I am going to enjoy reading it and learn something in the process. All of the stories are true (oops, I guess the name of the blog is a dead giveaway). Jessica is a great friend and has been a true supporter of mine from my earliest blogging days. She has always wanted to write a book and her dream is nearing fruition. Her first book THE ROOMS ARE FILLED will be published in April 2014. Congratulations Jessica!

5). Colline’s Blog. Colline is a kindergarten teacher and is a shining light for her young students. Her blog is so uplifting and always interesting. Her topics cover a wide range. As Colline states on her biographical page, “My blog is an expression of who I am; a potpourri of my experiences, thoughts, and feelings”. Stop by Colline’s Blog and say hello to this warm and amazing person.

6). 4writersandreaders. This is the blog of author Bette A. Stevens. This is a must stop by location. Bette blogs books and is an avid supporter of childhood literacy and the protection of monarch butterflies and their habitat. She is also an advocate for kids & families. Besides blogging books, you will also find posts about these things and all things nature as well.

7). Book Journey. Sheila describes herself as a “Bookaholic, Audio Book Fan, Bike Rider, Rollerblader, Adventure Seeker, Want To Be Runner, Coffee Lover, Fitness Fan, Movie Junkie.” I can’t attest to most of that, but I do know she is an awesome book blogger and she always has a photo of her drinking her coffee. I love her straightforward reviews and have followed her advice and picked up some of the books she recommends.

Congratulations to all of my nominees.

To my readers, please stop by these amazing blogs.

The Truth About You By Susan Lewis

Published on March 6, 2014March 7, 2014 by macjam472 Comments

Lainey Hollingsworth was living a life she loved, she was a mother, married to someone she was deeply in love with and trusted beyond all doubt, had a terrific job managing her husband’s writing career, and lived where she always wanted to be – in her childhood home. Her life was not without trials, however. Lainey had a stepson Max, who after all these years still blamed her for the breakup between his parents. Her adoring father, who was actually her stepfather and the only father she had ever known, was living with them and was severely afflicted with Alzheimer’s. Lainey’s teenage daughter Tierney was searching for her grownup self, and that was causing friction where there had never been friction before. Her husband Tom was absent more and more and doubts started creeping in. When she received a text message, “Ask your husband about Julie” Lainey’s life, as she knew it, suddenly started unraveling.

Add to all of this was a planned trip to Italy to try to learn more about her family. Her mother left Italy with Lainey when Lainey was very young and never returned. She refused even at her death to tell Lainey about her biological father and why she took Lainey to England without ever looking back.

I thought Lainey Hollingsworth was a complicated protagonist. At the beginning of the book she was a strong woman who, as the story unfolded, soon became filled with uncertainties and insecurities. She was angry and came to her own conclusions about her husband’s absences without giving him a chance to explain. Words spoken, and left unspoken, lead to misconceptions. In the end and after suffering so much hurt, was Lainey’s imagined “truth” reality?

This was storytelling at its finest. With memorable characters and intricate plot lines, the book kept calling me back. As I turned the last page, I was sad I’d come to the end of this amazing story. This was the first book by Susan Lewis that I have read, and it certainly won’t be the last. I look forward to delving into some of her other books. I recommend THE TRUTH ABOUT YOU to anyone who enjoys getting totally immersed in a story. It was fabulous.

You can find out more about Susan Lewis on her website at www.susanlewis.com

I received this book from Library Thing Early Reviewers in exchange for an honest review.

Working to Change the World

Published on February 28, 2014February 28, 2014 by macjam4721 Comments

Madhusmita over at dreamzandclouds has very kindly nominated me for the new blogging award: The Working to Change the World Award. I so appreciate Madhusmita for nominating me for this award and for bringing her sunshine into my life each and every day.

This award was created by The Idealistic Rebel to recognize those bloggers at WordPress who are working to make a difference in the world. Recipients of this Award work hard and sincerely to make the world a better place, using their compassion, love and understanding, promoting open minds, free communication of ideas and above all, peace.

I am very honored by this nomination for The Working to Change the World Award. As with every other award, there are a set of rules & here they are:
1. Post the award on your blog
2. Link back to the person you nominated you
3. List one thing — however small — that you think would make the world better if everyone did it.
4. Nominate bloggers whom you feel help to Change the World — there’s no minimum or maximum, just a list of those you feel deserve.

Rule 1: Done

Rule 2: Done

Rule 3: The one thing which I feel can make the world a better place to live in is something I have always put into practice every chance I have. SMILE! When you smile at someone it brightens their day even if only for a short time. They reciprocate and the warmth spreads. People tell me that I’m always smiling, and I respond with a smile. So, share your sunshine and SMILE.

Rule 4: My nominations for this award are:

To all the nominees –If you don’t do awards or have already received this one, kindly accept it as my appreciation for your wonderful blog. But then, if you want to, you can acknowledge the award & share that one thing which you feel can make the world better.

Congratulations to everyone, and keep smiling!

The Wedding Gift by Marlen Suyapa Bodden

Published on February 21, 2014February 22, 2014 by macjam476 Comments

THE WEDDING GIFT, a historical fiction, is a wonderfully crafted retelling of the dark side of our U.S. history – a time when people owned other human beings and often abused them worse than they mistreated animals. The story has been told before by many other authors, but never before THE WEDDING GIFT has anyone captured so vividly the despair the slaves, who had no control over their lives, must have felt. Ms. Bodden researched her topic well and told a compelling tale of Sarah Campbell, the slave daughter of a wealthy plantation owner in the Deep South before the Civil War. Sarah was willing to risk a beating or even death for freedom. Beatings were often so severe as to cause death.

This book was a real page-turner. I honestly could not put it down. THE WEDDING GIFT, the debut novel by Marlen Suyapa Bodden, is without a doubt one of the best books I have read. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

To learn more about THE WEDDING GIFT check our Marlen Suyapa Bodden’s website at http://marlenbodden.com/.

I received this book in a giveaway hosted by Julie Valerie’s Book Blog at www.julievalerie.com.

Board Books for the Youngest Readers

Published on February 13, 2014February 26, 2014 by macjam4720 Comments

When my children were young I bought board books for them, lots of board books. They are just perfect for little fingers that haven’t developed the dexterity to turn a paper page while at the same time introducing them to the wonderful world of books. Of course, no matter how many books a child has, there is always one or two that are favorites, and before long she is “reading” those books on her own.

I firmly believe that a child who is read to from infancy is more likely to be a better reader, have a life-long interest in reading, and will grow her vocabulary through the words she meets in her books. Story time is a time for bonding between the child and the reader.

I recently found the following board books while on a bookstore shopping spree.

You Are My I LOVE YOU by Maryann Cusimano Love is a delightful rhyming story about a parent’s love for his child.

“I am your calm face;

You are my giggle.

I am your wait;

You are my wiggle.”

The pictures are charming and illustrate the verse on each page.

GUESS WHO! by Laura Driscoll introduces various animals with a simple rhyme telling something about each animal. The opposite page has a mirror and the animal tells what kind of animal he is and says, “Just like you.”

“In Russia the snow

Piles up high and deep

While I am in my den,

Fast asleep”.

“I am a brown bear!

Just like you!”

YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE and RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY are both illustrated by Caroline Jayne Church. Both verses are the very ones I sang to my children when they were small. The books are well illustrated with colorful, eye-catching pictures that appeal to the youngest of readers.

If there is a little one in your life, check out these books and the many other children’s board books at your favorite bookstore.

The Cracking Chrispmouse Bloggywog Award

Published on February 6, 2014February 6, 2014 by macjam4724 Comments

I love the darling logo for this award! I am so grateful to my friend Stephanie Thomas over at S.J. Thomas Book Blurbs for nominating me for yet another award, The Cracking Chrispmouse Bloggywog Award. Thank you so much Stephanie. I am so very happy you thought of me for this recognition. Hugs to you.

So this award is designed to spread joy, peace, hope and love! So please share the love and check out Stephanie’s blog. You will love it, and you will love Stephanie. She is so bubbly and happy and writes wonderful posts.

The Rules of the Award:

1. Display the award logo on your blog.
2. Link back to the person who nominated you.
3. State 7 things about yourself
4. Nominate 15 (more or less) other bloggers for this award and link to them.
5. Notify those bloggers of the nomination and the award requirements.

7 Things About Me:

1. I love snow! This winter has been extraordinary with gorgeous snow-scapes just outside the window.
2. My favorite winter food is chili – any kind of chili – so long as it is hot and spicy.
3. Centipedes give me the creeps.
4. Though I’m not one to watch a lot of movies, I love going to ‘kids’ movies.
5. I want a puppy. Puggles are my favorite, but I’m not too particular because all dogs are awesome.
6. I cry when I hear our National Anthem.
7. I can’t resist cookie dough.

My Nominees Are:

If you don’t do awards or have already received this one, please just take it as a symbol of my appreciation of your totally awesome blogs. For all of your hard work and diligence, you are most deserving of this recognition.

Congratulations to everyone!

Return to Tradd Street by Karen White

Published on February 5, 2014 by macjam4711 Comments

Charleston, South Carolina is one of my favorite cities. I can’t even count the number of times I’ve been there. It is no wonder I fell in love with RETURN TO TRADD STREET. The descriptions of Charleston are so vivid, I instantly recognized places I have been. I’ve stayed at the Charleston Place Hotel, and it’s every bit as elegant as Karen White portrays it. The Palmetto Café where the main character Melanie (Mellie) Middleton and her best friend meet for lunch is not to be outdone. I don’t think there is a museum I haven’t visited, and Tradd and Legare, East Bay Street, South Battery, and Broad are streets I have walked.

Mellie has inherited a beautiful stately old Charleston home, as well as a housekeeper, and a dog named General Lee from Nevin Vanderhorst after only meeting him once. She is a realtor that specializes in old homes, and she met him to discuss putting his house on the market. She is pregnant and has told the father Jack Trenholm she won’t marry him. Jack has a teenaged daughter, a talented musician, who has the typical teenage clashes with her dad. Nola and Mellie have bonded, and Mellie often finds herself in the role of “mother”.

The story was fantastic. I could hardly put it down. There are several conflicts in the story that Mellie needs to solve. Mysteriously, she hears a baby crying while in her house. Is she in love with Jack? Will she get to retain ownership of the house? Does she even want the house? How will she and Jack work out the details of parenthood after the baby is born? There is a lot of action to keep you turning the pages.

The characters were fascinating. Do Mellie and her mother have psychic powers? Can anyone be as handsome as Jack? The Gilberts come into the story, and in the beginning I disliked them, but as Mellie learned more about them and came to like them herself, so did I. Sophie, Mellie’s best friend, has a very colorful way of dressing, not at all stylish, but is what everyone wants in a friend. I could describe these characters and more in greater detail, but I don’t want to spoil the book for other readers.

This is the first book by Karen White that I’ve read, and it definitely won’t be the last. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good romance with a bit of a mystery as well.

Heading Out To Wonderful by Robert Goolrick

Published on January 30, 2014January 30, 2014 by macjam476 Comments

HEADING OUT TO WONDERFUL by Robert Goolrick pulled me in from the very beginning. I was swept up immediately by the main character Charlie Beale. Charlie Beale is a simple person while at the same time he has a very complex personality. He arrived in the town of Brownsburg, Virginia and was hired to work in the local butcher shop where he eventually met Sylvan Glass, wife of Boaty Glass, the town’s richest citizen. Charlie befriended his boss’ young son Sam and swore him to secrecy when he and Sylvan had an affair. Charlie’s life was filled with wonderful, but at the end it turned dark. Why didn’t Charlie stay away? Could Charlie have prevented the tragedy caused by this relationship?

I’ve read so many positive reviews about this book, and I was afraid that it wouldn’t live up to its reputation. However, I loved the story from the start. It seemed there was always a lure that made me turn the page and see what would happen next. I highly recommend HEADING OUT TO WONDERFUL.

Our Granddaughter Is Four Months Old Today!

Published on January 17, 2014January 17, 2014 by macjam4724 Comments

I thought I’d post a few photos of our granddaughter since it has been four months since she entered this world and joined our happy family. This is our cute little Halloween pumpkin (1 ½ months old). Our little sweetie, loves to sneak her thumb in her mouth when she sleeps. Isn’t this about the cutest bundle of love you’ve ever seen? She is such a happy baby. On her two month birthday, our little angel got to meet her amazing Boston cousins. Oh, does this picture warm Grammie’s heart! (She hasn’t had a chance to meet her Atlanta cousin yet). Aren’t grandchildren the greatest gift our children can give us!

Our little snowman… Christmas was lots of fun this year. This little Christmas doll loved her toys. Today our little grandbaby is 4 months old. Happy Birthday precious! Did I forget to mention? Just like her Grammie, our little bundle of joy loves to read books. And what does our reader have to say about this book? “It’s very colorful!”

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