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Friday, February 14, 2020

What Are You Reading on Valentine's Day?

by Patricia Bradley

Since it's Valentine's Day, I thought I'd tell you about a couple of romance stories I've read recently. One is Janet Ferguson's Star Rising. It's a sweet romance perfect with lots of conflict, especially since the hero is convinced the heroine is trying to scam his mother. But can you blame him? Star is a recovering alcoholic and druggie. Here's the back cover copy:

Star Youngblood has always been a fighter–a necessity after her mother married a monster of a man. Now, she’s finally on the path to the stable life she’s always wanted. Her employer, Priscilla Kelly, is a sweet woman ravaged by rheumatoid arthritis, and Star will do anything to help her. Even if that means going toe to toe with Mrs. Kelly’s neglectful son.

After being betrayed on the mission field and devastated by the tragic death of his father, Paul Kelly gave up on God. He lives life on his own terms, biding his time as a corporate pilot until he can save enough money to begin his own flight school closer to home. His mother is all he has left, and he wants to be near her. He just didn’t expect her health to decline so quickly. When he discovers his mother has taken in a stray—a woman he’s not at all sure can be trusted—his protective instincts kick into high gear. Paul’s handled a lot of turbulence, but he’s never gone up against a force like Star.

You can purchase Star Rising at Amazon for $4.99!

Another book I've read lately is Secrets, Lies and Crawfish Pies. Isn't that a great title for a book! This one's a cozy mystery and it has the promise of a romance that I think will take place over the course of several books. Here's the back cover copy:


While this story is set in East Texas, it could be set anywhere in the South, especially my home state of Mississippi. Dr. Romaine Wilder returns kicking and screaming to her hometown of Roble, Texas. She thinks this is a temporary move, but her Aunt Zanne has other ideas. And what Aunt Zanne wants, Aunt Zanne gets.

When a body is found in the family funeral home, Romaine feels she has to get involved in solving the crime when Zanne becomes a prime suspect. I like that Romaine’s occupation isn’t your usual one for a cozy. I’m looking forward to more stories from Abby L. Vandiver!

You can get this book on Amazon for $2.99

So that's it for Valentine's Day for me. I'm making my honey Chicken Alfredo with sun-dried tomatoes and bow-tie noodles from scratch. I've never made it before and if it turns out well, I'll post the recipe on my next blog post. If it doesn't...

 What will you do for Valentine's Day? Leave me a comment about the books or your plans and I'll enter you in a drawing for a $10 Amazon gift card!

79 comments:

  1. I'll probably finish reading FROM SKY TO SKY by Amanda G. Stevens today. Hubs & I are going to Logans for grilled chicken wings tonight. Happy Valentine's Day Patricia!
    rw620 AT aol DOT com

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    1. Love Amanda's books! Sounds like a nice day! I made Chicken Alfredo for Bryan. From scratch. Proves my love. lol

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  2. My "favorite" husband and I went out to a fabulous French restaurant last night and had a delicious meal! Regarding the books, I LOVE the title "Secrets, Lies, and Crawfish Pies"!

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    1. I love the book too, Susie-Q! And sounds like you had a very nice dinner!

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  3. I plan on spending the evening with my husband and having a lovely meal and some Godiva chocolate! traceyboehm1@aol.com

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    1. Godiva chocolate! Oh. Where do you live? :-) Sounds heavenly!

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  5. I’m getting ready to go help clean with the Pastors wife. They retired and are moving tomorrow so I’m helping her clean the parsonage. I’ll read some when I get home. I’m reading The Fifth Avenue Story Society by Rachel Hauck. Blessings! Happy Valentine’s Day.

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    1. I want to read Rachel's book. She's going to be the keynote speaker at our MidSouth Christian Conference in March!

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  6. I will probably have pizza or something with the little ones. My husband works night so it will just be us.
    nstotts@sbcglobal.net

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    1. Night shifts can be hard, Nicole! Tomorrow maybe? Thanks for stopping by.

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  7. Happy Valentines Day! A get together with friends will be a great way to spend this day.
    mauback55 at gmail dot com

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  8. I'm going to a Dr appt with my husband. We'll go out for a nice lunch after that. I'm currently reading Prey by Lisa Phillips. I love mystery/suspense!
    lhanberry1 at gmail dot com

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    1. I haven't read that one, Linda. I'll have to look it up. My TBR table gets fuller and fuller! lol

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  9. I like to just chill at home with my guy eating my favorite food and something good to drink. Happy Valentine's Day!

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    1. That sounds like the kind of evening we had, Msredk!

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  10. Have a yummy mean with my husband, do some 'Conversation Starters' and chat, and then cuddle on the couch and watch a movie together.
    Thank you for the chance to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card!!

    Happy Valentine's Day!

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    1. Oops! *meal...not mean :/

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    2. Don't you hate it when our fingers get faster than our minds, Allison. lol Sounds like a great evening!

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  11. I'm going to a Galentines Day party tonight. It's hosted a lady from my church. We're all expected to share one way God has shown His love.

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    1. I heard about Galentines Day and it sounds like fun, Rachel!

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  12. The kids wanted to watch a movie, so we're planning a special themed dinner and watching their pick. We're going to play Valentine Bingo while we eat, and I have a very simple scavenger hunt for them to find a small gift.

    My husband asked me to go to dinner with him tomorrow.

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    1. I much prefer to eat at home on Valentine's Day and go out the next day--not nearly as crowded, Amy. Sounds like a lovely evening.

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  13. watch movie
    bn100candg at hotmail dot com

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    1. I wish I could get in the mood to watch movies! Good to see you here!

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  14. Casserole is in the oven. We are getting ready for a short visit from our youngest son tomorrow. And I am reading! No surprise.
    I really like Janet’s books!

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    1. I love Janet's books. We brainstorm together sometimes. She is such a sweetheart, Paula.

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  15. Planning to have a special meal with my husband at home, and maybe catch up on some CF reading also. Would love to win a $10 Amazon gift card! Thanks for the opportunity to enter a giveaway! Lual Krautter krautter12ATbresnanDOTnet

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    1. Good to see you here, Lual! Sounds like a great evening!

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  16. I'll be home watching some movies & having a nice quiet dinner!

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  17. Spending the evening with my family 💕 The hubby and I had our Valentine's dinner yesterday 🍴

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  18. Tonight is a quiet night at home watching Pittsburgh Penguins hockey. Going out tomorrow for some shopping and lunch at our favorite restaurant.

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    1. I shopped this afternoon, TShan! Then came home and made Alfredo sauce from scratch! :-)

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  19. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity! Actually love is all about giving & I wanted to give my husband of almost 47 yrs something special! I could've asked him to stay with me on Valentine's Day and he would've. But my married son bought tickets for them to see the 1st college baseball game of the season and I encouraged him to go. He and my son both work long, hard hours and I knew this would be good for both of them to have some time together. My Valentine's gift to my hubby. I plan on reading a good book instead!

    dianalflowers(at)aol(dot)com

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    1. I am so excited baseball season has started, Diana! I think you gave your husband a great gift!

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  20. I am going to a Valentines party at church tonight. Meanwhile I am getting ready to start reading A Secret To Die For by Lisa Harris. Your two books sound really good especially Star Rising.

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    1. I've got to get Lisa's book, Stella! Love her stories!

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  21. I am reading Trained to Defend by Christy Barrett. This is my first year in 42 years without my valentine who passed away in May.

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    1. Carole, I'm so sorry for your loss. I can remember my first Valentine's Day alone after my husband passed away 23 years ago. I'm glad you have Christy's book to get lost in!

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  22. Last evening I went to a Valentine Steak Dinner at church. jarning67(at)hotmail(dot)com

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    1. Oh! That sounds very tasty, Joan. And good company, too.

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  23. These books both sound good. Janet's is on my TBR list and will check out the other. We are going to spend a quiet night at home.

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    3. Both books are very good. And a quiet night at home sounds great, Gloria!

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  24. Third time is the charm, I hope. My email is gda523(at)comcast(dot)net

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  25. These books sound great. I don't have anything special planned. Just a quiet evening at home.

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    1. Diana, I love quiet evenings at home...usually my default. lol.

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  26. Just a quiet even in. Sounds good to me.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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  28. I'm thinking about watching The Aeronauts on Amazon Prime.
    psalm103and138atgmaildotcom

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    1. That sounds interesting, Caryl! I really need to get into watching more TV!

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  29. I went thrift store shopping with my mom and sister in Shippensburg, PA. On our way to one store we saw a sign announcing a huge book sale. So on the return trip, we stopped in and found some great deals! That was the best Valentine's Day gift to me! :)
    eclittonatgmaildotcom

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    1. I love thrift store shopping, Elizabeth! And finding those books was a bonus!

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  30. My husband is traveling for work and I’m baking for our youth group as they are having a winter retreat this weekend. The book I’m currently reading is Still Life by Dani Pettrey. Happy valentines to everyone.
    janeen dot bair at gmail dot com

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    1. I have Still Life on my TBR table...must find more time somewhere to read more. lol Thanks for dropping by.

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  31. I will make a nice dinner for the family and avoid the restaurant fiasco. I picked up a small heart shaped cheesecake to share. We will probably eat out tomorrow. perrianne (DOT) askew (AT) me (DOT) co
    Perrianne Askew

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    1. The cheesecake sounds cute and delicious, Perrianne! Enjoy!

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  32. The books sound like good reads and the covers are nice. I would love to read them. Went to the gym spent the day with my husband and our pup , we had dinner at home , and this evening my husband had to go work so my pup and I are spending the evening together.

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    1. Your day sounds like it was fun, Alicia! Enjoy your pup!

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  33. I've never had Thai food so my husband and I are going to try this new Thai restaurant in town for our Valentines dinner. We keep it pretty low key because we pretty much treat everyday together like Valentines day....each day is a gift in itself :-)

    I'll also be starting a clean Regency romantic fiction book called "Saving Miss Everly" by Sally Britton. Since I'm a hopeless romantic, I like my books to contain it in some sort or form! I need to check out Janet's books, they sound really good :-)

    Thanks for your reviews on these books Patricia and the gift card giveaway chance. I love adding new stories to my want-to-read list.

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    1. I love Thai food, Trixi! And it's been so long since I read a Regency romance! I may have to try one again!

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  34. We're having a blast of winter in NJ so I stayed home last night and caught up on some tv shows I missed during the week. Thanks for the chance to win.

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    1. That was one reason I cooked dinner Valentine's Day. It was cold (for here) and I just wanted to stay in!

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  35. Thank you for featuring Star Rising!! Makes me so happy! My son cooked steaks for my husband and I last night :)
    Have a wonderful weekend!

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    1. Steaks! I started to grill steaks, but it was too cold. lol. Thanks for stopping by, Janet!

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  36. Reading From Sky to Sky by Amanda Stevens and spending the weekend at a swim meet with my middle schooler. Star Rising was such a great book!

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    1. I haven't read Amanda's book, but I really want to. I hope your middle schooler did well, Mindy!

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  37. I loved Star Rising! Stayed in for Valentine's Day...got more reading done!
    Thanks for your giveaway!

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    1. Any evening I can spend reading is a winner, Jackie! Thanks for stopping by.

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  38. I had jury duty so when I finished with that, I was trying to play catch up with my emails. It was a fun-filled Valentine's day for me.

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    1. Would you believe I've never been called for jury duty, Linda? Glad you had a good Valentine's Day!

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  39. My husband had been working a lot of hours lately, so didn't get home until almost 7pm. Needless to say we had take out for dinner!
    I've been hearing good things about Janet Ferguson's writing lately. Need to get my hands one one of her book. I should check my Kindle, I may have one on there already.

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  40. And the winner of a $10 Amazon gift card is Elizabeth Litton!

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