Posted on by Jacquie Biggar

Family, Friends, and #BookReviews- Curves for Days @lljzmc, The Curse of Tenth Grave @Darynda


My cat says it all, lol.

September is lining up to be the month for visiting friends and family. It started with the ten-year anniversary of my critique group. We went to a quaint diner for lunch, and I had my first mimosa- so good!

We had a wonderful visit and pledged another ten years together 🙂

The following week, I was privileged to have lunch with our own Diana Peach and her handsome husband. They were enjoying a well-deserved vacation and assure me Canada is a favorite destination of theirs.

Diana Peach and her husband 2023

This weekend will be Mom’s birthday. We plan to take a drive up island and meet hubby after work for dinner at The Doghouse in Duncan. They have a dessert counter to die for! The cinnamon buns are dinner plate size- yum, lol

One of my cousins and her husband will be here, which means a lot to Mom as she lost her only brother a few years ago.

And then, the following week my youngest brother and his wife will be here! We haven’t seen Michael in five years, so there will be lots of tears and hugs, I’m sure.

It’s a good month ❤

Okay, on to the book reviews.

The first is a contemporary romance recommended by Suzanne Brockmann and reflective of my life (minus the money, lol).

As always, click the covers to learn more.

The posts on this site may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission should you make a purchase using a link.

Curves for Days by Laura Moher

How is Rose Barnes supposed to build the home (and life) of her dreams when her big, burly contractor keeps scowling at her?

Rose’s less than rosy life changes the day she does a good deed by holding an old man’s hand when he falls outside the cafe she serves at. He gifts her a lottery ticket that turns out to be a mega-million winner, allowing Rose to escape the drudgery of her world.

She tours the countryside and ends up stuck in a snowbank in the picturesque town of Galway. A big, burly grouch of a man helps her to get free, and so starts a slow-building friends-to-lovers relationship with plenty of fun moments that make this story a pleasure to read.

Rose has always been an overweight girl and was bullied in school. Her single mother worked long hours and didn’t have time for her introvert daughter, leaving Rose with nowhere to turn when she is raped by a boy. When her mother gets sick, Rose quits school and goes to work full-time at the cafe. Then the money comes, and with it a new set of problems. People she doesn’t know suddenly acts like best friends, news people follow her every move, and even kids from school who wanted nothing to do with her line up for a piece of the pot.

Is it any wonder Rose doesn’t want to ruin her chances of a fresh start by telling the truth in Galway?

This is a sweet, second chance romance story you will love- I promise!

About the Author

Laura Moher is a former associate professor of sociology at the University of South Carolina Upstate in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Her head is full of stories of flawed people who come together to make each other―and their world―a better place. She has deep roots in the South, having grown up in the Louisville, Kentucky area before moving to the western Carolinas where she taught for eleven years. She has also lived in Colorado and Illinois and is now happily settled near her son in Minnesota.

The Curse of Tenth Grave by Darynda Jones

If one door closes and another one opens,
your house is probably haunted.
—Bumper Sticker

As a Part-time PI and fulltime grim reaper, Charley Davidson has asked a lot of questions throughout her life: Why can I see dead people? Who is the hot supernatural entity following me? How do I get gum out of my sister’s hair before she wakes up? But, “How do I trap not one malevolent god, but three?” was never among them. Until now. And since those gods are on earth to kill her daughter, she has little choice but to track them down, trap them, and cast them from this dimension.

There’s just one problem. One of the three stole her heart a very long time ago. Can the Razer, a god of absolute death and destruction, change his omniscient spots, or will his allegiances lie with his brothers?

Okay, I admit it. I am OBSESSED with this author’s books!

She has the unique talent of making readers snort with laughter in the direst of circumstances, creating characters who are eccentric, charismatic, and addictive- as in I can’t stop reading her books, lol.

Several threads run through each story which adds to the chaotic nature of Charley’s life as a Grim Reaper/ all-powerful god. Good thing she has the support of her BFF, Cookie, her Uncle Ubie, the police detective, a thirteen-year-old deceased boy, Angel, who is a perpetual flirt, and then there is Reyes- sigh. Lucifer’s son gives us all the feels in this installment of the Charley Davidson series. He can’t feel Charley’s emotions the way he used to, but senses she doesn’t trust him fully since learning he is a god of true evil and is hurt by her hesitation.

Even with all that, the niggling in the back of my mind nudged its way forward. That part of me that worried about how much control the Razer had over him. Over my husband. Would he be a threat to our daughter? Would the god of destruction someday take over?

The Curse of Tenth Grave- Darynda Jones

What am I going to do when this series ends???

Darynda Jones

NYTimes and USA Today Bestselling Author Darynda Jones has won numerous awards for her work, including a prestigious RITA, a Golden Heart, and a Daphne du Maurier, and her books have been translated into 17 languages. As a born storyteller, Darynda grew up spinning tales of dashing damsels and heroes in distress for any unfortunate soul who happened by, certain they went away the better for it. She penned the international bestselling Charley Davidson series and is currently working on several beloved projects, most notably the Sunshine Vicram Mystery Series with St. Martin’s Press and the Betwixt and Between Series of paranormal women’s fiction. She lives in the Land of Enchantment, also known as New Mexico, with her husband and two beautiful sons, the Mighty, Mighty Jones Boys.

He’s driving now- yikes! lol

45 Replies to “Family, Friends, and #BookReviews- Curves for Days @lljzmc, The Curse of Tenth Grave @Darynda”

  8. Hi, Jacquie! I know that “he’s driving – yikes!” feeling well. LOL 😱

    I think that’s so neat you met Diana. What I wouldn’t give to meet all of you. 🤍🌺

    The books you reviewed sound really good. I’m certain I would enjoy them.

    Have a terrific day!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. It would be awesome to get all of the blogging family together some day! Yes, I don’t know which is worse; the fact that he’s driving, or that I’m old enough that he’s driving, lol

      Like

  10. We had a wonderful trip north, Jacquie, and meeting you and your mom was a highlight. I laughed at the photo (all that white hair!). What a busy September you have! Enjoy all the family gatherings, and give your mom and Happy Birthday hug from me. Thanks for the reviews (my kindle is now working again), and for the picture of your grandson. Wow, they grow up fast, don’t they? Hugs, my friend.

    Liked by 2 people

  11. Sounds like a great month for you and family. Thrilled you and Diana met up too 🙂 loved the reviews, all sound like great reads. Great driving pic my grandson isn’t far behind, this coming January!

    Liked by 1 person

      1. I know, It feels like yesteday. I’m with you that they don’t do the crazy stuff I know I did… lol They don’t do driver ed in school anymore, at least here. So you have to do a local school and lessons. Not sure my nerves could take being that kind of teacher 🙂 How about yours?

        Liked by 1 person

  12. Wow! What an eventful time you’ve had, Jacquie! As someone who meets weekly with a critique group, I love that you have supported each other for ten years. Of all the things I’ve done in my young writing career, finding supportive and knowledgeable writing partners has been the most helpful.

    How great to meet Diana and her husband in person! She’s absolutely one of my favorite bloggers/writers. I sincerely appreciate all the help and advice she’s given me.

    I hope you have a great visit with your brother and his family. If you’re like me, the older I get, the less I take these kinds of things for granted.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’d be lost without my critiquing friends, Pete. They write in a variety of genres, which helps when we need to bounce ideas off each other 🙂
      Diana is one of my favorite bloggers, as well. She treats everyone like a treasured friend.
      The brother who is heading our way is twelve years younger. Mike and Mom lived with us after my dad passed away in 1995, so he’s almost like a son to me. It’s going to be wonderful to see him again.
      How are you doing now? I hope everything is well {{hugs}}

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Thanks for asking. Much better! Anytime I want to know I’m ticking away at a normal rate, I simply reach down and feel my pulse. I’m walking each day. It’s remarkable how much fitness we lose in a short time.

        Liked by 1 person

  14. It sounds like you are having an amazing month of celebrations, Jacquie! And how cool that you got to meet Diana and her husband.
    Thanks for sharing your reviews, and congrats to all the authors. I’m wishing you much more happy reading!

    Liked by 1 person

  15. It sounds like you are going to have an amazing month, Jacquie. So much family time is wonderful. I definitely want to read Curves for Days, it sounds like a lot of fun.

    Liked by 1 person

  18. Happy September, Jacquie! It’s only a little over halfway through. Happy birthday to your mom. It’s wonderful that you met with Diana and her husband. I’ll let you know when we’ll be in Vancouver. My niece and her husband have lived there for over a year now. Is your grandson 16 now? Driving? Wow, he’s grown and is doing well! He’ll be a big man when he returns.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. How is your niece enjoying the big city? Yes, he’s sixteen! Time tends to run away if you don’t pay attention, lol.
      It was wonderful to meet Diana and her husband in person. They’re the nicest couple imaginable.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. They said the same nice things about you and your husband, Jacquie! I’ve been here for nine months. Diana and I haven’t gotten together yet. We have to make plans.

        My niece is doing fine in Vancouver. She worked in a bank, but got a new job in less than a year being there. Her husband goes to school to get a local degree.

        Liked by 1 person

  19. Love the critique group anniversary pics (and those umbrella decorations…lights?). A great milestone for you all as well as the scary milestone of your grandson driving. Yikes!

    So happy you got to meet up with Diana. 🥰 That must have been a treat. Have a lovely week!

    Liked by 1 person

  20. Great fun here Jacquie… Love your time with your blogging buddies and love you got to hang with Diana! How fun is that. Lots of fun with your Mom and HB to her and family. Another great reviw of awesome books👏

    Liked by 1 person

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