Lilacs for Laura - Dianne Miley

I am going to attempt another review. Please note and bare with me because I'm not very good at doing them; however, I felt this author and her book deserving of one.

Just for a warning, I may give out "spoilers". I try not too but they often just slip out of me in my enthusiasm over a story.

I've been in a very bad reading funk, having difficulties connecting and concentrating on books and authors I generally devoured. If one looked at my "normal" monthly reading, they'd witness a dramatic drop. What is my "normal" monthly read? 15-20 books (I'm lucky now to read three books a month).

Well, "LILACS FOR LAURA" snagged my complete attention, despite having to read the ebook on my desktop (sadly one of my boys ran a magnet over my ereader's screen, and the hubs can not fix it) and risk eye-sore from the brightness of the screen but I simply could not disengage myself from reading more of the plot, storyline, and characters.

I've been eyeing Dianne's books for a while now. The beautiful cover of this one catching my attention with the gorgeous display of light lavender lilacs. Lilacs hold a very fond meaning to me for they remind me of my grandmother who was always my staunchest support and my hero.

Then there was "ROSES FOR RACHEL". Is it lame to be attracted to books where the heroine shares your birthname, along with the same spelling?

Dianne succeeded beautifully in making the reader interact with her characters. You simply can not help loving her grandmother (she made me cherish and miss mine all over again!), or cheering her mother on when she put the nasty gossiper in her place (yeah I raised my fist with the "You tell 'er"). She even made me want to take a cast iron skillet to Jake's face.

Brett was a total keeper. It was nice to see a man who held such devotion to his mother (especially with her Italian temper, I have an Italian step-father in law so I'm well aware of their tempers) and such hard worker.

Some may say Laura came off at weak but not so to me. She was not as spunky as I like in heroines but she really didn't let too much walk over her. The situations she dealt with and shouldered in the story to perserve her family made the story all more compelling and yes believable. When an author gets you that involved with the story and characters, you know you have a keeper.

Then there is the character with my namesake. Yeah, she's the side character in this story (but gets her own story which I'll have to get sometime soon if the hubby is willing and the fiances let me).

For an inspirational romance, a genre I have not read before, I would highly suggest this story to others and will be gladly be suggesting this books to my fellow book lover friends and more!

New place

The other day I had a visitor of the four-legged kind. Heh, I must have made quite the impression. I had just finished making pizza snacks for my boys and the neighbor's kid (seems like he's right at home here oh joy), the hubs just came home from working on someone's computer and had the door right open to let in the breeze, when I looked outside to see this black and white fur on the porch.

I was on the couch folding laundry when I jumped up going "Shelby's loose." Yeah, loser that I am learned the named of our one neighbor's Siberan Husky. My nickname for her is gorgeous. Next thing I knew, she was in the house heading towards me.

The neighbor said she was friendly, that the worst she'd do was knock you on your ass and lick you. Well I wasn't sure what my fearless killer Warlock (toy dachund) would do. Yeah he was use to playing with a big black lab mix...

So I get up, meet Shelby half way, and took her collar to bring her back to her masters when her mistress was at the door. She's apologizing "I'm sooo sorry about this. She just shot out the door." We assured her that it was fine.

Hell, I don't mind a gorgeous creature like that visiting me. That's where she was heading. She's always welcomed, and she ignored Warlock's yipping.

The boys started their new school yesterday. I was surprised that they took them that day. Today was day two there. Newport only had two kids of milk: white and chocolate. Emerson had four: white, chocolate, pink, and skim. I was like Holy Shite!

I was more worried about Harlen making friends.. so when he said "I sit between two friends" I was happy. So I asked Austin... He was telling me about two people. Then I asked "So any cute girls." Austin thinks a bit and goes "Nooo."

So I go "Ahh, still loyal to Trinity eh?" Trinity being a lil blonde from Newport that he said is his girlfriend. He says so blase "So far." I laughed my ass off. So I turned to my oldest who sat beside me "So any cute girls?" It took him a minute to think before going "No."

Yes, I'm a terrible mother.