Rainy Day Ramblings

The Sunday Post 342nd Edition

The Sunday Post is a weekly post hosted by The Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It is a chance to share all the news and highlights on your blog for the past and upcoming weeks. Head over to Kimberly's for details and to link up!

Another week in January is behind us. This hasn't been my favorite week, so I am really glad it's in the rearview mirror.

Here in Portland, Oregon, the weathermen kept forecasting snow. We have been getting forecasts of snow for ten days for this week. The week came and no snow, no snow... then the said the threat for snow had passed and we woke up on Friday morning with a light dusting of snow. Enough to delay school for two hours. Annoying. 

Anyway, we have a nice three day weekend to look forward to this weekend, so that is a bonus. I need to relax and get my head back in the game. 

I hope you all had a great week.

Here is what went down on the blog last week:

Monday: Review: A Cup of Fear by Ellie Alexander

Tuesday: Tell Me Something Tuesday: Tell Me About Your Hometown

Wednesday: Review:Christmas at Maplemont Manor by Julie Manthey

Thursday: Review: Review: Low Country Christmas (Safe Haven #3) by Lee Tobin McClain

Friday: Friday Forecast

Received for review:

Next up:

Monday: Review: Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell

Tuesday: Tell Me Something Tuesday: Do you read/listen to more than one book at a time, or do you give every book your undivided attention? (Courtesy of Roberta@ Offbeat YA)

Wednesday: Review:Tenth Girl by Sara Faring

Thursday: Review: Heidi's Guide to Four Letter Words by Tara Sivec and Andi Arndt

 

Friday: Friday Forecast 

That's it from Oregon. Be safe out there. 

Friday Forecast January 19th-25th

Happy Friday! We made it though the second full week of January. Hopefully your week went well and you are all feeling better now that you have your work legs back under you. If not, hang in there. We are getting through winter one day at a time. If you are lucky enough to have a long weekend because of the holiday on Monday, what better time to grab a book and get some reading in, especially if the weather is inclement where you are. Here is what will be hitting bookshelves in the upcoming week. See if anything catches your heart. 

Forecast January 291th-25th

 

Little of this, little of that, what do you think?

Have a wonderful weekend!

 

Review: Christmas at Maplemont Manor by Julie Manthey

 

 

 

 

 

Noelle’s predictable life is turned upside down by her ‘frost impressions’ of Maplemont’s newest resident two weeks before Christmas. A herd of reindeer, the scent of gingerbread, and a manor decked in mistletoe turn this heart-warming romance into a little Christmas magic.

Paperback, 335 pages
Published July 25th 2019 by Independently Published 
Source: Publisher

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Four stars: A cheerful, magical holiday romance that is packed full of warmth and Christmas cheer. 

 

For Noelle, Christmas is a busy time in her little bakery. She has loads of Christmas cookies and gingerbread to bake, and more than anything, she wants to submit her own award winning fudge recipe in the local fudge competition. Noelle keeps trying to tweak her fudge recipe, but she can’t get it quite right. It doesn’t help that she has loads of obligations, from volunteering at the hospital, to cooking and serving holiday dinners. At one dinner, Noelle finds herself cooking at the Maplemont Manor, the town’s mansion. When someone enters the back door of the kitchen, Noelle assumes it is the person hired to help her serve the feast. Little does she know that the man she is ordering around the kitchen is none other than Grant, the owner of the manor. Noelle and Grant can’t deny sparks of attraction in their brief meeting, but each of them says some harsh things, and they part ways knowing they likely won’t be friends, or will they?

What I Liked:

• Christmas At Maplemont Manor is a delightful holiday romance packed full of sugary goodness and a charming antagonistic romance. This is a wonderful pick me up read. 
• I loved the way Noelle and Grant meet. Their initial meeting starts out under false pretenses when Noelle mistakes Grant for the serving help. A frazzled Noelle who is trying to get a gourmet dinner prepped starts ordering a befuddled Grant around the kitchen, and for whatever reason, Grant goes along with it. Sparks fly, and then disaster strikes when both say some sharp words. This is how the fledgling romance is born. It starts out fiercely antagonistic. Both vowing to no have anything to do with the other, and yet... Grant feels it necessary to prove to Noelle he is not the person she presumes he is, while Noelle tries to deny her attraction. What follows is a cute and often times funny courtship. I liked this romance, it takes plenty of time to build, and when it finally gets to that moment, it is perfect. Nothing like a good holiday romance. 
• I thought Grant was the perfect lead. He comes from wealth, but there is so much more to him than meets the eye. He is not the snobby, uptight, dashing rich bachelor everyone thinks he is. Instead he is quiet and rather unassuming. He donates plenty of money to charities often times anonymously, and he does so much behind the scenes without asking for recognition. I loved seeing his depth and his kindness. Time and time again, he proves to be a stand up guy. 
• Noelle is a little harder to get to know. She has a tough exterior, and she has hardened her heart after a couple of heartbreaks. Even though she isn’t open to romance, she is hardworking, gentle and kind. She spends much of her spare time volunteering and doing good for the community while helping to raise her orphaned niece. 
• This book is what I want when reading a holiday book. It has a light, cozy feel and it is packed full of holiday warmth and cheer. There is gingerbread house making, cookie baking, kisses under the mistletoe, ice skating, holiday parties and more. It was bursting with all things holiday. 
• I liked that there was a lot of altruistic activity in this book, from helping at the hospital to raising money for the local cancer center. It is nice to read about others giving during the holiday season. 
• The book ends with a big, climatic scene and then a lovely holiday moment. Just right. 
• I was surprised and pleased to find this was an independently published novel. A gem if you are looking for a holiday treat. 

And The Not So Much:

• I struggled with Grant’s mother and her smothering actions. I didn’t like how kept thrusting a shallow, self centered woman at her son because she thought she was a good match. I really detested the way she looked down on Noelle because she didn’t come from money. Furthermore, her actions at the end were deplorable. The mother’s character felt prefabricated and little cartoon villainy for my taste. 
• I didn’t like that the romance would take a step forward and then two steps back because of Noelle’s insecurities. I hated that she retreated every time instead of talking things through. 
• I felt like there was a lot of back story missing. I honestly thought I was perhaps reading a second novel in a series as there seemed to be an entire story line surrounding Noelle’s older sister, her bakery and her daughter. I was surprised to find that this is the first and only book?? I felt like there was detail missing regarding Carol, it felt like important pieces were missing. 

Christmas At Maplemont Manor is a book that fits the holiday bill when it comes to holiday cheer. This book has a charming antagonistic romance that takes its time to build. Prepare for lots of Christmas activities and holiday treats. I loved the cozy, feel good vibe and the romance. If you want a delightful holiday read, this is one to pick. 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review. 

 

 

Review: Low Country Christmas (Safe Haven #3) by Lee Tobin McClain

 

 

Come home to Safe Haven, where the best Christmas surprises aren’t the ones under the tree. Holly Gibson has one wish this Christmas season: to find her young niece’s father. And she’s traveled hundreds of miles to the small town of Safe Haven to make that wish come true. But the mysterious Cash O’Dwyer is nothing like she expected. Strong and kind, he makes her heart beat faster. And suddenly that little secret she’s keeping about her sister stirs up all kinds of guilt…

Cash is stunned—and more than a little wary—to discover he’s a father. Having a family of his own was never part of his plan…until sweet baby Penny and her fiercely independent aunt Holly arrive in town. Now he’s trimming trees and stuffing stockings for three. But when the ghosts of Cash’s past threaten the future of his fragile new family, he’ll do whatever it takes to be the father Penny needs—and the man Holly deserves—for more than just the holidays. 
ebook, 384 pages
Published September 24th 2019 by HQN Books
Source: Publisher

 

 

 

 

Three stars: A good women’s fiction story, but a few holiday mentions doesn’t make it a Christmas book.

Holly isn’t sure what to expect from Cash O’Dwyer, but she needs his help. Holly is now the caretaker for her young niece after her sister unexpectedly died. The father is presumably Cash O’Dwyer, a wealth bachelor. Cash is polite upon first meeting and then taken aback when Holly tells him he is the father. Cash is certain this is just another young woman trying go trap him. He doesn’t have time to be a father. Yet, Penny is adorable and he soon finds himself drawn to the child. Will he have a change of heart?

What I Liked:

• Low Country Christmas is a book I picked up wanting a nice, cheerful holiday read. While this book fails as a Christmas book, it presents a solid women’s fiction story with a touch of romance. 
• I wasn’t sure about Cash the first couple fo meetings. He is a wealthy bachelor who has his choice of women. I thought he was going to be selfish and uptight, but luckily he is more than meets the eye. As his tough exterior peels away, there is a damaged man underneath, one who survived terrible trauma as a child. Cash in reality is kind, caring and generous. Once he realizes the truth about Penny, he immediately steps up and does the right thing. 
• Holly was also hard to pin down upon first meeting. She too has plenty of issues and a troubled past. She is fierce, protective and often snippy. When she lets her guard down, she is kind and sweet. I had to admire her willingness to take care of her niece under tough circumstances. 
• This is the third in a series. I didn’t have trouble finding my footing, the author provides plenty of background/ catch up information that helped me figure out what occurred in the previous books. 
• The secondary cast of characters is strong and they play an important part in the book. I enjoyed getting to know Cash’s brothers, their stories are featured in the other two books. Both Sean and Liam already found their partners and have adorable families. I loved how the brothers were always there to lean on and support one another. Cash’s mother, Rita, is the character who my heart went out to the most. She is a recovering victim of domestic violence, suffering from amnesia. She has been through hell and back, yet she keeps going and offers love and kindness to those in need. I was happy that she found some peace and happiness. 
• The romance is slow and steady. It starts out rocky, but over time it moves to a hesitant trust and a friendship is born, and then it takes a few more steps onto the path of love, and then falters before finding strong footing again. I liked that it took it’s time and that both characters explored their issues and dealt with them before committing. This isn’t a scorching romance by any means, it is a slow burn. 
• After some dramatic upheaval, the book ends down the road with a happy event. I was delighted to see the way everything worked out for everyone and pleased with the results. 

And The Not So Much:

• My big gripe with this one is that it is another book that is not really a Christmas book, but it got a Christmas title slapped onto and a few holiday mentions and all of a sudden it’s a Christmas book. First, this is not a warm, cozy read. There are a lot of serious situations and some tough stuff such as domestic violence and abuse, drug abuse and overdose, health problems and kidnapping and ransom. So if you are wanting a a light, happy read, this isn’t it. This really isn’t a Christmas book at all. There are a few mentions of trimming trees and decorating but that’s it. It was a big disappointment as far as holiday reads. I wouldn’t even classify this as a holiday book so don’t let the misleading title fool you. I wanted light and fluffy and I didn’t get that. 
• There was a lot of negativity in this book. I especially didn’t like the situation with Cash’s real father. He is a nasty piece of work. Then his actions at the end were a little over the top and far fetched. I could have done with that whole plot. It really put a negative angle on the book. 
• I was disappointed in Rita when it came to Jimmy. Jimmy behaves poorly when Rita gets a dog. I thought she should have kicked him to the curb. The last thing she needed was another man trying to control her. Ugh!
• The romance was plenty but the big ugly stumbles were a bit much. 

Low Country Christmas is a book that masquerades as a Christmas book, but this isn’t a holiday, feel good book. This is more of a women’s fiction story. I was disappointed that this book lacked the feel, good holiday warmth I was wanting when I picked up this title. This book deals with a lot of serious stuff from domestic violence, drug addiction and more. If you want a happy book with lots of Christmas cheer, this one does not fit the bill. If you want an interesting story with a romance, try it. 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review. 

Tell Me Something Tuesday #218: My Hometown

 

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post here on Rainy Day Ramblings where I discuss a wide range of topics from books to blogging. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating.

Today's topic: Tell me about the city/town you live in.

 

This week's post is all about Portland, Oregon, the place I have called home since 2008.

Portland, Oregon is the most populous city in Oregon. There are approximatley 2.4 million people living in the metropolitan area, making it the second most populous city in the Pacific Northwest behind Seattle, and the 25th most populated city in the United States.

Portland, Oregon is named after Portland, Maine, earning it's name as a result of coin toss. Portland was established in the 1830s as it was the end of the Oregon Trail and the final destination for many settlers moving west. Portland sits at the junction of the Columbia and the Williamette rivers, which made it easy and convenient when it came to transporting goods such as timber. The timber industry was a driving force in the city's early economy.  

Unfortunately, Portland had a bad reputation at the turn of the 20th century. It was a hub for racketeering and organized crime. Many men supposedly disappeared in the city's famed Shanghai tunnels that run underground in the downtown area. Men got drunk and were hauled down these tunnels and forced to work on ships.  

During WWII, Portland turned it around as it's economy boomed during the war. In the 1960's Portland earned a reputation for being a place with progressive political values, which remains true today. 

These days, Portland is still known as a place for progressive values. This city is also known as an environmentally conscientious place to live, and many people think it is populated by a bunch of Birkenstock wearing, tree hugging hippies. While that isn't completely accurate, it does ring true. 

Portland is always looking for ways to stay green. It is known as one of the world's most environmentally conscious cities. Portland has a large mass transportation system in place as well as a vast bus network. It is also easy to walk, and very bicycle friendly. Many people choose to get to work by bicycle. Portland is always looking to pass laws to help the environment. Most recently, as of January 2020, plastic bags were banned in all stores. If you need a bag, you have to purchase paper bags for five cents each or bring your own reusable bags, and straws are only available by request. 

Another wonderful thing about Portland is it's rich and diverse food network. Portland boosts a plethora of top notch restaurants, so much so that many well known chefs have migrated here from the food Mecca cities like New York City and Los Angeles and San Francisco. There are food carts to five star restaurants, with flavors from everywhere. We have Voodoo Donut, with its famed maple bacon donuts, and Salt and Straw Ice Cream with its unique flavors. Both are big tourist destination. 

Portland also is known for it's lovely summers with dry pleasant temps in summer it is hard to beat. During the summer, there are farmer's markets throughout the city on any given day where you can snatch up all kinds of locally food, hand made items and whatever else you might want. 

If you are in town, you have to stop and have a pint at one of Portland's many microbreweries or attend one of Portland's many beer festivals. Portland has many award winning breweries here in town. If you are a beer enthusiast, you must visit Portland. 

Portland is a book loving city. There are plenty of local libraries and book stores. If you are in town, Powell's Bookstore is a must visit. It is the world's largest independent bookstores. I could live there!

 

There is plenty to do in Portland, from hiking, cycling, dining, and more. 

If you have never visited the Pacific Northwest, put it on your list. It is a lovely place!

Now tell me about where you live!

Next week's TMST:

Do you read/listen to more than one book at a time, or do you give every book your undivided attention? 

 

 

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post here on Rainy Day Ramblings where I discuss a wide range of topics from books to blogging. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating.

Today's topic: Tell me about the city/town you live in.

 

This week's post is all about Portland, Oregon, the place I have called home since 2008.

Portland, Oregon is the most populous city in Oregon. There are approximatley 2.4 million people living in the metropolitan area, making it the second most populous city in the Pacific Northwest behind Seattle, and the 25th most populated city in the United States.

Portland, Oregon is named after Portland, Maine, earning it's name as a result of coin toss. Portland was established in the 1830s as it was the end of the Oregon Trail and the final destination for many settlers moving west. Portland sits at the junction of the Columbia and the Williamette rivers, which made it easy and convenient when it came to transporting goods such as timber. The timber industry was a driving force in the city's early economy.  

Unfortunately, Portland had a bad reputation at the turn of the 20th century. It was a hub for racketeering and organized crime. Many men supposedly disappeared in the city's famed Shanghai tunnels that run underground in the downtown area. Men got drunk and were hauled down these tunnels and forced to work on ships.  

During WWII, Portland turned it around as it's economy boomed during the war. In the 1960's Portland earned a reputation for being a place with progressive political values, which remains true today. 

These days, Portland is still known as a place for progressive values. This city is also known as an environmentally conscientious place to live, and many people think it is populated by a bunch of Birkenstock wearing, tree hugging hippies. While that isn't completely accurate, it does ring true. 

Portland is always looking for ways to stay green. It is known as one of the world's most environmentally conscious cities. Portland has a large mass transportation system in place as well as a vast bus network. It is also easy to walk, and very bicycle friendly. Many people choose to get to work by bicycle. Portland is always looking to pass laws to help the environment. Most recently, as of January 2020, plastic bags were banned in all stores. If you need a bag, you have to purchase paper bags for five cents each or bring your own reusable bags, and straws are only available by request. 

Another wonderful thing about Portland is it's rich and diverse food network. Portland boosts a plethora of top notch restaurants, so much so that many well known chefs have migrated here from the food Mecca cities like New York City and Los Angeles and San Francisco. There are food carts to five star restaurants, with flavors from everywhere. We have Voodoo Donut, with its famed maple bacon donuts, and Salt and Straw Ice Cream with its unique flavors. Both are big tourist destination. 

Portland also is known for it's lovely summers with dry pleasant temps in summer it is hard to beat. During the summer, there are farmer's markets throughout the city on any given day where you can snatch up all kinds of locally food, hand made items and whatever else you might want. 

If you are in town, you have to stop and have a pint at one of Portland's many microbreweries or attend one of Portland's many beer festivals. Portland has many award winning breweries here in town. If you are a beer enthusiast, you must visit Portland. 

Portland is a book loving city. There are plenty of local libraries and book stores. If you are in town, Powell's Bookstore is a must visit. It is the world's largest independent bookstores. I could live there!

 

There is plenty to do in Portland, from hiking, cycling, dining, and more. 

If you have never visited the Pacific Northwest, put it on your list. It is a lovely place!

Now tell me about where you live!

Next week's TMST:

Do you read/listen to more than one book at a time, or do you give every book your undivided attention?