The Inn At Rose Harbor

The Inn At Rose Harbor
By: Debbie Macomber
352 Pages
Reviewed By: Betsey Brooks

    I just finished reading "The Inn at Rose Harbor" by Debbie Macomber. It never fails to amaze me how Ms. Macomber intertwines characters from other Ceder Cove stories into the lives of new characters. It's like meeting old friends and making new ones.

    We meet Jo Marie, a young widow, as she sets out to make a new life for herself. She has come to Ceder Cove and purchased a bed and breakfast. Jo Marie has had no previous experience  running a bed and breakfast, but she knew this was where she was meant to be.  Her first visitor was Peggy Beldon. She and her husband own and operate a bed and breakfast further down the Cove. Peggy takes Jo Marie under her wing and gives her much needed advice in the day to day running of the Inn. This includes the name of a handyman that can build a sign featuring the new name of the Inn.  Mark Taylor turns out to be all, and more, than what Jo Marie expected.

     The first guest to arrive is Joshua Weaver. He has come back to the town he grew up in because his stepfather is dying.  Joshua and Richard never got along and the tension between them does not seem to have mellowed over the years. Michelle, a social worker and former childhood friend, has been helping to take care Richard. As Richard comes closer to the end of his life Michelle asks Joshua to come.  Joshua discovers he must face the past in order to find the future.

    Abby Kincaid is the second guest to arrive. She has come to celebrate her brother's wedding, but the excitement and joy of the occasion seems to be missing. Abby, like Joshua, grew up and left Ceder Cove after high school, not returning until now.  Memories of the fatal accident that took the life of her best friend, Angela, haunt Abby. Sure that everyone blames her for the tragedy, Abby fears meeting those friends she left behind ten years ago.  The unconditional love that Abby meets gives her the courage to face the demons that have haunted her all these years. Will she finally be able to move on?

    This story takes the reader into the lives of people carrying heavy burdens. Each one must find the courage to face truths about themselves as well as those they left behind. Debbie Macomber once again brings to life tragedy and shows the various ways her characters choose to handle it. You will walk along beside them as they go through this and into the future. So pull up a comfortable chair and put the world on hold. You will definitely want to visit Debbie Macomber's " The Inn at Rose Harbor" this summer.

Sharing Great Books

If I had a penny for every time I was called a bookworm, I would have enough to buy a lot of books. I remember being called that in junior high. When the "popular" kids were rushing to see the latest movie, I was engrossed in Anne of Green Gables. To me, there was nothing better than a good book.

As I have gotten older, and especially since starting a book blog, I've learned there is something just as good as finding a book that sucks you in: recommending it to someone and they love it every bit as much as you did.

This summer I had the chance to recommend several books I found to be absolutely wonderful to my cousin, Debbie. I told her about a few that I had me so engrossed they took my breath away. I was pretty sure she would enjoy them, but you never know. To my joy, she loved them all as much as I did!

She just finished reading a book I had the privilege to review, The Orchid House. This book is one that I couldn't put down. From beginning to end, I was so captivated. When Debbie bought it, I was a little nervous. What if she didn't like it? What if she regretted buying it? After all, there are so many genres of books because not everyone has the same taste. Knowing she had a set time to return it if she wanted to, I asked her to start the book right away. To my delight, she immediately had the same reaction I did. From page one, she was sucked in and immersed in the story. I was so relieved!

As she read the book, we were texting back and forth. It was amazing to read her reactions! It's like watching the world through a child's eyes. We had the same reactions at the same places! She was on the edge of her seat just like I was. She was blown away by the twists and turns in the plot, too! A book I adored had found another adoring fan!

Not only did she love The Orchid House, she's loved all the books I recommended to her! To me, that's a huge compliment. I'm still beaming from her saying I was her book guru. I love being able to review books and to share my thoughts with whomever wants to read my blog. I love, even more, when a book I've recommended is enjoyed. I don't think I'll be getting off of Book Cloud 9 any time soon. :) I wouldn't have it any other way.

Truth Be Told

Truth Be Told

By: Larry King

For 25 years, Larry King had an iconic show. He was given the opportunity to interview numerous people who have shaped our world. He was able to get to know these people in ways you and I will most likely never get to. Ever wonder what he thought of these people? Ever wonder what memories, guests, and moments stand out for him? Here's your chance to find out.

In Truth Be Told, Larry takes you for a walk down memory lane. You'll learn that every time Jerry Seinfeld was a guest on Larry King Live, he would steal Larry's clock and never give it back. You'll learn that one of his favorite songs is Janet Jackson's "Escapade" and that she gave him suspenders with the nipples cut out. You'll learn that Barbara Streisand was a diva who was always late for taped interviews, but was worth that wait.

You'll also take a trip down more serious side streets of Larry's life. He tells you how his Dad's unexpected death of a heart attack shaped his life. Larry tells you the decision for his departure was over the tabloid content his show had. He broaches his marital trouble with his current wife. He also informs you about his health. While he's more informative on some subjects and less on others, it's still a glance into a life I had only barely known of.

He shares amazing stories about Sidney Poitier's birth, meeting the richest man in the world and how down to earth the man was. Overall, the book gives you a little insight into people you don't really know. You'll get to learn of the human side to famous personas.

It was a fun, breezy read. I enjoyed getting the inside scoop on his show. I've always been fascinated with people and it was fun to look behind what the world sees. Some things I glanced over if they weren't of any interest to me. Other subjects I was engrossed in. I loved how Larry was more interested in the person, not the persona.

Rating: Borrow From The Library

When Creativity Returns...

I have missed my writing days. I've missed researching for the story, missed forming the plot, the characters, and the setting. I've missed the creativity of it all. However, being a Mommy to 2 young children, I didn't think I'd return to those days any time soon. Guess I was wrong. And it all started with a dream...

A couple of weeks ago I woke up from a dream. Usually, I wouldn't think twice about a dream and just go on with my life. But this dream was different. It wouldn't let go. Before long, where the dream left off, my creative side picked up. That's how I knew there was something to this dream. Maybe I was supposed to turn it into something. So now I am.

Knowing that my time isn't completely free to pursue this project whenever I want, I have no clue what will become of this story. I have written down thorough notes and am keeping everything that has to do with this project. I'm hoping I'll be able to see this project through from start to finish.

While I don't have the whole story mapped out, I do have the important parts. I'll say this is: it's another historical fiction piece and this house plays a big role.

If you couldn't tell by the style of the house, my time period is early 1900s. The above house is the model for the house in my story, but it isn't the actual house. The house in the above picture is the Long-Waterman House located in San Diego, California. Isn't it gorgeous?! Here's a picture of it from my time period.

Right now I'm in heavy research mode. I'm gathering all the facts and historical dates I need. Forming the storyline, characters, and setting as I go. I'm loving every minute of it. I feel my creative self coming out the further I go. I'm so excited!





Jen Recommends: Series

A good series is a treasure meant to be shared. So, here I have made a list of some of my favorite series. There's pretty much a little bit of everything in these selections. I hope you find something you like and want to try.

Wine Lover's Mystery Series- Michele Scott

Murder Uncorked is the first book in a series that is set on a winery in Napa. Without meaning to, Derek Malveaux gets Nikki Sands fired from her restaurant job. However, after being impressed with her wine knowledge, he offers her the position of manager of his family's winery. Before she even decides whether she wants the job or not, a dead body is found on the grounds. Nikki becomes the amateur detective, in real life, that she once played on a short lived TV show.
#2-Murder By The Glass
#3- Silenced By Syrah
#4- A Vintage Murder
#5- Corked By Cabernet
#6- A Toast To Murder

Spoils of Time Trilogy- Peny Vincenzi

No Angel kicks of the best Family Saga I've ever read. Over the course of 3 books, you follow the Lytton Family from the ground up. You see how Cecilia met Oliver, their marriage, and their children. You also get a front row seat to all the highs and lows the family endures as they build a hugely successful publishing house. From war to affairs, to betrayal, to success. This series has everything. I should warn you that each book is long. However, there was never a wasted page and the story is constantly moving.
#2- Something Dangerous
#3- Into Temptation



The Luxe Series- Anna Godbersen

Luxe takes you to the early 1900s. Here you meet a group of young adults navigating their way through life. Some have a very clear idea of how they want their life to turn out, while others think they do. One of the characters makes a decision that rocks everything she knows to the core. Over the four books, you see them all deal with the twists and turns life takes them in. Anna does an amazing job of taking you out of present day life, and transporting you to time that seems long ago in many ways.
#2- Rumors
#3- Envy
#4- Splendor

Flapper series- Jillian Larkin

Vixen welcomes you to the Roaring 20s. Prohibition is in full swing, as are all the Speakeasies. Gloria Carmody wants to be a Flapper. However, her lifestyle requires a different approach. But, Gloria and her best friend, Lorraine, get into a Speakeasy and nothing stays the same after that. Gloria falls for the "wrong" guy and must choose him or her "perfect" life that's waiting for her. Singing, jazz music, gin, and gangsters take you on a journey you won't want to see end in this series.
#2- Ingenue
#3- Diva


There are numerous other series I could list here, and I'm sure they will appear on my blog in the near future. However, these 3 sounded perfect for now. I hope you give them a try and find all the magic in them that I did.

The hardest books I've read...

Usually, whenever I read a book I choose one that is uplifting. My whole thing is to escape from stress or sadness. So, I tend to enjoy and favor books that won't have me crying. I love a good book, one that takes you out of your world and immerses you in the story's world. I'm not blind to the fact that those worlds aren't always going to be happy. However, the books I read don't dwell on sadness or bad things.

Having said that, there have been  a couple of books I've read that I knew would be hard to read. Books I knew going in would have me emotional and I'd never forget what they contained. I thought I would share 2 of them with you. These are the 2 that have had the biggest impact on me and left me the most affected.

I will never forget Ryan White. For as long as I live, he will always been a person I wish I got to know. He will always be a person who I learned many things from. His story was equal parts heartbreaking, inspiring, and humbling.

Ryan White was a boy when he was given a blood transfusion. Unfortunately, within the blood transfusion was AIDS. At the time the world met Ryan we were just learning more about this dreaded killer. I would love to tell you he was embraced by everyone who met him, but that isn't true. Fear of others catching AIDS got him home schooled and ostracised. He was treated in a way no human being should ever be treated. When he tells his story, he holds very little back. He is open and honest about it all. More than once I had to put the book down because I was so angry at how the community he lived in treated him.

I was never able to understand why people would punish someone the way he was. He did nothing to make his fate happen. He was an innocent victim who paid the highest price. Ryan White died before the book was published. I cried when I learned of his death. I cried when his death was written about in the book. I have to be honest in saying, I was so emotional I was never able to finish the book. I forever will hope that those who treated him badly learned a big lesson in humanity and humiliation. They will always know how they treated someone who didn't deserve what happened.

I am currently reading this book now, but I can tell you it has been a hard book for me to read. When this book came out I knew this book was going to be a tough one for me. I was in no rush to read it because I knew I would have a hard time with it.

I have always felt the way African-Americans where treated was repulsive. Slavery was a disgusting topic to me- and don't even get me started on how they were treated. While The Help doesn't take place during the times of slavery, it wasn't a much better environment for anyone who wasn't white.

The level of hypocrisy I read about in this book is really hard to handle. The maids were not fit to share a bathroom with because whites may catch the diseases the maids had, but they were the ones bring up and taking care of the white babies. HELLO!!!!

The ways non-whites were treated, and referred to... I heave no worlds to describe how much this upsets me. I realize that was the way it was back then, but it doesn't make it any more OK in my book.


Both of these books are great books that I'm glad I read. However, they have both carried heavy themes that I will never be able to forget. Once you read these books, you can't unknow what you learn within their pages. In many ways, that's good. However, in others it's heartbreaking. I can't undo history. I can't go back in time and make some one's life easier. All I can do is learn from these books and carry them with me in the future. Also, I can teach my children what not to do.

Diva

Diva

By: Jillian Larkin

306 Pages

The 3rd book in Jillian Larkin's wonderful Flappers series doesn't disappoint. Nor does it lack in drama. The action moves from Chicago to New York as the group tries to put the past behind them and forge new lives for themselves. However, they all learn that leaving the past in the past is far easier said than done.

Jerome is in New York working as a piano player at the coolies club in New York, The Chaise Lounge. Well he was until protesters cause such a fuss. In one night, Jerome becomes unemployed and abandoned on a country road when Gloria's Father dumps him there.

Gloria sits in prison awaiting her trial. However, the FBI have a deal for her: find out where Forrest Hamilton is getting his money from and get her freedom. She befriends the man, who quickly knows what's she's up to. But this job is anything than what she expected. She becomes friends with Forrest and does learn where he gets the money from- in a shocking twist of events.

Clara is still in New York and is still brokenhearted from her break-up with Marcus. Still writing her now famous column, Gloria is rapidly growing tired of the constant partying. Especially when it fails to distract her Marcus's new engagement. Can she let her ex marry a con artist, or can she save him the heartache? Can these two lovebirds find their way back to each other, or is the damage beyond repair?

Lorraine is still the outcast of the group. But, when she discovers that Marcus's fiance is a fraud she enlists Clara's help to expose her. The two forge an unlikely friendship with a mission at hand.

Book #3 was a page turner I didn't want to put down. Jillian Larkin does a superb job of taking you back in time to the world of Speakeasies, Flappers, & the roaring 20s. You grow more attached to your familiar characters while meeting new ones you won't soon forget. The ending is nothing short of dramatic and delicious.