Review: And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer

And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer by Fredrik Backman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a beautiful story between a grandfather and grandson and also a dad and son. The way this story was written was like poetry, it really touches you in more ways then one. It's hard to tell a child about Alzheimer's, especially when that person doesn't know how to tell them themselves.

Noah Noah as his grandfather calls him, and the grandfather have shared a love with each for so many reasons, both love mathematics, grandpa's jokes, both love grandma/wife, and the love between them. Grandpa wants to tell Noah Noah what is happening to him before he forgets who they both are, but there fear for grandpa, fear losing all his wonderful memories of the life with grandma and her dislike for coriander, forgetting his favorite number game, him forgetting his son, Ted, who didn't like math but loved words, and forgetting who Noah Noah is. It's also hard for Noah Noah to see grandpa forgetting things, and not understanding or knowing what's wrong with grandpa as he see's his beloved grandfather decline.

This story will make you smile, laugh, and cry, you can feel the emotions come out of the story, it will leave you breathless and speechless, it will help you see things from a child's eye, and the fear of the adult, this is a wonderful story everyone should read

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Review: Mardi Gras Murder

Mardi Gras Murder by Ellen Byron
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

You can’t go wrong reading about Mardi Gras, with it’s fun, colorful, entertaining, excitement, and that’s exactly what I found reading this book. The descriptions of the characters, the place, the atmosphere, made me feel like I was involved in the whole aspect of the book.

Maggie is the main character and the amateur sleuths. Gran’ is a judge in the Miss Pelican contest, but when she takes ill, she convinces Maggie to be her replacement. After a confrontation with another judge, Maggie latter discovers him in his car….dead. Of course, Maggie can’t help herself, she’s going to jump in and investigate his death. There’s also a another small mystery in the background, which helps break up the book so it’s not all about the dead judge, you get to know the character’s more and more in each book.

Maggie herself smart, edge, she takes risks but nothing that will put her in harms away. The characters can be a little quirky, but that’s what brings the life to these characters. The book itself is the fourth in a series, and I found it to be easily read as a standalone, without feeling lost and wondering who was who. The plot was interesting and kept me entertained and wanting to keep reading it. When I did stop I couldn’t wait to get back to it to see what was happening, I keep second guessing as to who dun it, but when I finally settled on the one, I was very surprised I got it right, as sometimes I don’t. The descriptions of the characters, the town, the history was very well written and not so over the top as some are. The humor of the book was well written and in all the right spots.

Overall, this book is well worth the read.


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Review: The Changeling Murders

The Changeling Murders by C.S. Quinn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First off I’d like to thank Netgalley, the author and of course the publisher, for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is the fourth book in The Thief Taker series by C.S. Quinn. Charlie Tuesday, the main character, continues in his adventures with his complex life. Set in Renaissance England, The author detail and description provides an atmosphere of what England was really like during the 17th century.
Rebellion has broken out against the king. When the great fire broke out and wasted most of the city, King Charles II has no money to rebuild, poverty is plentiful in the city, and paranoia is among everyone. The people are noticing how Charles II is spending money on his mistress, Lady Castlemain, this ensures the people Charles not only supports the theater, but also prostitution, after all, Lady Castlemain was a prostitute before becoming a Lady.

Maria, Tuesday’s former love is kidnapped on her way to a wedding. When a dead body is found it is dressed in Maria’s clothes. Lily, Charlie’s partner teams up with him to help find Maria. A note also states that if Charlie doesn’t find The Lord and Lady before the end of Lent, Maria will die. Now Charlie must against the clock to find the mysterious Lord and Lady whom he doesn’t know who or where they are. For all he knows they could be standing right in front of him.

I loved this book, and found that it could be a standalone if you didn’t want to start from book one, but why wouldn’t you? The author has really done a remarkable research on this time period. Fast paced, intriguing, adventurous, twist and turns, the chapters are short but leave you wanting to continue on reading. The characters are wonderful, enjoyable, some are more tolerable then others, but you need those also in a book to make the story plausible, and engaging.


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Review: The Voice Inside

The Voice Inside by Brian Freeman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

First off I’d like to thank Netgalley, the author and of course the publisher, for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Night Birds was the first book in this series, and if you haven’t read it, this would be a good book to start with from the author. If you don’t want to start a new series and just read a book, this one does make a good standalone one to read.

Frost Easton is back, after the death of his sister, by a serial killer, works in homicide for the San Francisco Police Department. The killer was caught and imprisoned, but now may go free, because a fellow police officer, and his closest friend planted false evidence to put Rudy Cutter behind bars.

Rudy has sworn revenge on those who has wrong him including a woman who wrote a book about him, and seems to know more about him than anyone else. Easton wants nothing than to keep him behind bars. All the while Frost is battling his own demons. He has a cat named Shack, and he’s pretty important to Frost, and he’s got on huge personality! He doesn’t talk, he doesn’t go and solve the murders for Frost, and he’s just your typical, every day, cat.

The book well keeps you turning the pages long into the night. I loved the plot and the characters, the action, the adventure, the suspense; the pace of the book was really good. I’m looking forward to a third book and hopefully many more from this series.


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Review: Hair of the Dog

Hair of the Dog by Carlene O'Neil
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

First off I’d like to thank Netgalley, the author and of course the publisher, for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
I do enjoy reading a good cozy in between some of the heavier reads or after a good psychological thriller, and this one hit the nail on the head for me! One thing I like about these books is there not hard to figure out…sometimes, other times I can change my mind several times, or I have been known to be completely wrong.

The book is set in a winery in California, Penny Lively is the main character and she is working to keep the family winery going. Drugs go missing from her cousin’s, Annie Moore veterinarian office, and Penny just has to get involved. Annie does have a business partner, Brian, and when he comes up dead, Annie is the top suspect, as the police finds more than enough reasons for motive on her part.

This story is fast paced, with wonderful descriptions, to where I see everything as though I’m standing right there. The characters are approachable including the ones you’re not supposed to like as well. The plot is good, it seemed as though the author really thought through this one with clues that lead you from one person to the next, making you think. This book, which is the third book in the series, was very enjoyable.


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Review: If I Forget You

If I Forget You by Thomas Christopher Greene
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First off I’d like to thank Netgalley, the author and of course the publisher, for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is a typical story boy from a working class family goes to college, meets a girl from a wealthy family, falls in love, then goes their separate ways. That is, until 20 years later they meet again only this time on a Manhattan street. When they meet again and start talking, they both have secrets to hide; both have been living their own lives and have changed, some for the better, some for the worse, but their love still burns for each other.

I read the author’s book The Headmaster’s Wife and fully enjoyed it. I thought I would love this one as well. I liked it well enough, but it seemed like all the other books like it, I didn’t find anything special about it.


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Review: The Girl: Marilyn Monroe, The Seven Year Itch, and the Birth of an Unlikely Feminist

The Girl: Marilyn Monroe, The Seven Year Itch, and the Birth of an Unlikely Feminist by Michelle Morgan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

First off I’d like to thank Netgalley, the author and of course the publisher, for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

I thought my daughter who loves Marilyn would really enjoy this book, but I must admit, I really did enjoy reading this more! There are a lot of books out there about Marilyn Monroe, and most of them say the same thing about her. One thing I loved was you got to take a peek inside the feminist side of her.

One of the things she helped do was open the door to other women in Hollywood. Marilyn was more than the bleach blonde bombshell with a chest most men adored, and although some people think she was the “dumb blonde”, but she was much more than that. Marilyn was strong, independent, and was pretty smart, she was often underestimated. She wanted to break the mold of the dumb blonde in women, but in the era of the 50’s and 60’s times were so much different than they are now, and it was an uphill battle for her, but she did what she could and passed the torch onto the next generation, and the generation after that, and so on and so on.

This book also expanded on a few things in which was mentioned in other books, but was never followed through, as the other authors of those books didn’t want to say any more about it as it wasn’t what they were wanting to right the book on. I feel this book has been in the wings, waiting for the time to be written in the right time and era. I’m sure if Ms. Monroe was alive today, THIS would be the book she was most proud of that was written about her.

If you’re a Marilyn Monroe fan, and have or want to read books on her life, this is the mush have book for you to read.


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Review: Strange Things Done

Strange Things Done by Elle Wild
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

First off I’d like to thank Netgalley, the author and of course the publisher, for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

I wish we could give half stars because sometimes the half will determine wither or not I actually rate it towards the next number up or down, in this case it went down. This is a debut novel by Elle Wild. It was a good book but for me, it really didn’t hold my attention well. I do like to read while we watch T.V., and I usually read during commercials, and then continuing on when the show comes back on, there were times, the commercials held my attention more. I did struggle with the over the first half of the back, and then out of the blue, it grabbed me!

The main character Jo Silver is a journalist; she lives in Dawson City, the Yukon. I did find it hard to read about her, I felt she needed to be more developed, she need to have something more to her character, she rather felt like a character who should be popping in and out. However it was a nice twist for the author to make her the main character, instead of one that others saying, I connected with the character, I felt like she was an old friend in which I was visiting again. No this character wasn’t all of that. She is who she is.

The story takes place in Dawson City, Yukon, Canada, where Jo takes a job as the editor of the paper. She ends up here after she withheld information about a serial killer, which the Vancouver police had told her not to revile to the public. Out of guilt she moves to Dawson City, not realizing this town is cut off from the rest of the world in the winter. Soon after her arrival, the body of Marlo McAdam, local activist and politician, is found in the river. Jo can’t really get any information out of the police, but she does think it’s a murder and not suicides, as they think it is or want her to believe. Along the way Jo discovers some of the secrets the town has been hiding, and then Jo is made a suspect in the murder.

Even though I didn’t love the book, I didn’t hate it and I’d be will to read another of Elle Wilder’s book





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Review: The Dream

The Dream by Agatha Christie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A short story by the remarkable Agatha Christie.

A man contacts Hercule Poirot, telling him he's had this same dream of him dying by his own hands. Later the man is found dead exactly how he told Poirot it happened in his dream. Was it suicide? Was it murder? Was it all a dream? All the members of Benedict Farley becomes suspects.

I really enjoyed it, at times I thought I had it right, then next thing I knew I was changing my mind. This is such an easy read while your sitting waiting for her kids to get done at practice, or just need something short to read before falling asleep. After all it is a short story.

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Review: In Conclusion, Don't Worry About It

In Conclusion, Don't Worry About It by Lauren Graham
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I adore Lauren Graham, I like her humor, her acting, her wit, and I love her as an author. In this short book she gives some great advice as she delivers a speech to her old high school graduating class. She tells them about how she tried out for a school play, and didn’t get the lead, yes she was upset, but she went on and played the character, who she says didn’t even have a name, and that was ok.

She tells the class, not to worry, if they haven’t accomplished something great at this point, don’t worry about what all they have or have not done, it’s ok to be in the moment and they are good enough.

She tells them little things that happened to her along the way in her career, and what people told her, and she was ok with that. When she finally figured out, she didn’t have to worry about it. She gives a very lovely speech, and really encourages and gives permission, to don’t worry about it. I really wish I could tell you more, but then you wouldn’t read the story, and a lot of the things she tells the graduating class, we all need to hear every once in a while.


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Review: Devil and the Deep

Devil and the Deep by Julie Ann Walker
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

First off I’d like to thank Netgalley, the author and of course the publisher, for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Where to start! I have to admit this just wasn’t my cup of tea. It was so slow the first part of the book, that I wanted to quit reading it, but I kept going thinking it would get better. Some of it did, some of it didn’t. I think what I really didn’t care for was the main characters, Maddie and Bran. I really couldn’t connect with them; at times their dialog I felt was a joke, however Maddie did at times did have some hilarious dialogue, but it was few and far between.

There is another couple I liked well in the book, Alex and Mason, I did connect with those two better than I did Maddie and Bran. Alex is a riot, and she loves playing hard to get. All the while Mason is chasing after her. I really think Alex and Mason should get their own story, and I hope they do.

I’m sad this one wasn’t up my alley, but I’m willing to read this author again


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Review: Robicheaux

Robicheaux by James Lee Burke
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First off I’d like to thank Netgalley, the author and of course the publisher, for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

If you haven’t read any of James Lee Burke’s books, I would suggest you start with book one as this one is the 21st book in his series. His characters are well develop, complex, you love them, you love to hate them, and at times you’re not really sure if they are the bad guys or actually the good guys. The writing is face paced, flows nicely, almost poetic.

Dave Robicheaux, the main character is in his books is mourning the loss of his wife, Molly. Like everyone else who has lost a loved one, Robicheaux goes thru the seven stages, some of the stages brings out his nightmares from Vietnam, alcoholism, and other host of problems for him. When the person responsible for the death of his wife, is killed, Dave thinks he may have been the one to do. While every ones tries to figure out whom exactly is responsible.


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Review: Snow

Snow by Mike Bond
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

First off I’d like to thank Netgalley, the author and of course the publisher, for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

When three friends go an annual hunting trip, they never planned for an adventure like they were about to go on. Zac, a former NFL player, has run up huge gambling debts in Vegas; Steve who was handling his investments on Wall Street has wiped out his savings. Thus putting a stain on their friendship, and might cost everything, including his family. Curt, is trying to do everything he can to save his family ranch from developers for an energy company from taking it out from underneath him. Each friend has their own problems, but little do they know their problems are going to get a lot tougher for them.

Zac comes across a small plane which has crashed. Inside they find kilo’s upon kilos of cocaine. Steve immediately see’s dollar signs and tells the others of his plan, in which to take the cocaine and sell it themselves. However, Curt isn’t with them when they find the plane and decide to keep this secret between them, after all what are friends for. Little do the guys realize the cocaine belongs to a drug cartel. Do they really think they can get away with it, that the head of the cartel doesn’t want the drugs let alone the money from the drugs.

The plot to me seemed like a few other books that I had read, it was fast paced and read along the lines of an packed action-packed book.


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Review: Whitehall - Episode 13: "Safe Harbor"

Whitehall - Episode 13: "Safe Harbor" by Liz Duffy Adams
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First off I’d like to thank Netgalley, the author and of course the publisher, for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

The thirteen installment into the Whitehall episode: Safe Harbor, again is not disappointing. However, with these episodes being short there isn’t a massive amount of details to give out. Think of this as you’re watching one of your hour long shows. One of the best things about reading this series, is you have time to read it while you’re waiting for one of your children to finish one of their practices, or waiting in the doctor’s office . There great when you finished a book but don’t have time or want to start another book as you don’t want to be up to late reading.

It was a nice way to end the series, I was a bit disappointed. I was hoping to have an “awe” moment at the end, or “that’s so sweet”. Instead it felt, that’s nice. This whole royal tale was full of history and intrigue. I didn’t feel like they wrapped everything up as I would have thought the authors would have, but still it was a quick read, an entertaining series, and just all around fun. I will admit I really enjoyed the episode of the books more than I thought I would have. It was nice to have something to read when I didn’t have time or wanted to take a novel with me.

As a nice fitting to the conclusion of the whole season, Queen Catherine arranges for an outing at the Theatre Royal, she gets a new dress, is excited to be making appearances, King Charles II joins her along with other members of court.

I would highly recommend you read this series in order starting at episode one. You will get a more appreciation for this series, and more importantly the price is right on point, if you just want to get them one at a time, and read between other books you’re reading. There is also a price for getting the whole series at once if you like to get it that way as well.
My overall rating for the whole series would be a 4.5.




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Review: Whitehall - Episode 12: "More Harmony in Her Bright Eye"

Whitehall - Episode 12: "More Harmony in Her Bright Eye" by Madeleine E. Robins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First off I’d like to thank Netgalley, the author and of course the publisher, for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

The twelve installment into the Whitehall episode: More Harmony in Her Bright Eye, again is not disappointing. However, with these episodes being short there isn’t a massive amount of details to give out. Think of this as you’re watching one of your hour long shows. One of the best things about reading this series, is you have time to read it while you’re waiting for one of your children to finish one of their practices, or waiting in the doctor’s office . There great when you finished a book but don’t have time or want to start another book as you don’t want to be up to late reading.

It seemed to me this one was slower than the other books in the series, I don’t know if it’s because they are going to wrap up everything in the next part or what. Still the story continues on, Queen Catherine has made a recovery, there’s to be a party thrown by the Queen herself, and King Charles is dealing with rumors going around his country side.

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Review: Whitehall - Episode 11: "A King and No King"

Whitehall - Episode 11: "A King and No King" by Sarah Smith
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

First off I’d like to thank Netgalley, the author and of course the publisher, for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
The eleven installment into the Whitehall episode: A King and No King, again is not disappointing. However, with these episodes being short there isn’t a massive amount of details to give out. Think of this as you’re watching one of your hour long shows. One of the best things about reading this series, is you have time to read it while you’re waiting for one of your children to finish one of their practices, or waiting in the doctor’s office . There great when you finished a book but don’t have time or want to start another book as you don’t want to be up to late reading.

Can anything go right for Queen Catherine? She’s been fighting for King Charles II, she’s been trying to adapt to the country she has come to rule beside her husband, she’s endured his mistress Barbara, and now Barbara has given birth to hers and King Charles’s child, and just to add that cherry on top, Catherine is very ill!

The suspense is building up nicely, even though if you remember your history, you will know how the story really ends. But just keep in mind, this is not just a history lesson, but it’s a story of hope, contentment, betrayal, love, respect, acceptance and forgiveness.



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Review: Whitehall - Episode 10: "Our Hope Alone"

Whitehall - Episode 10: "Our Hope Alone" by Liz Duffy Adams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

First off I’d like to thank Netgalley, the author and of course the publisher, for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
The tenth installment into the Whitehall episode: Our Hope Alone, again is not disappointing. However, with these episodes being short there isn’t a massive amount of details to give out. Think of this as you’re watching one of your hour long shows. One of the best things about reading this series, is you have time to read it while you’re waiting for one of your children to finish one of their practices, or waiting in the doctor’s office . There great when you finished a book but don’t have time or want to start another book as you don’t want to be up to late reading.

So a little intrigue, an adventure, secrets, everything you’ve been waiting for is now coming out. There seems to be something is going on under the King’s nose, when he captures a spy. The Queen’s maid, has a decision to make which may alter her future. But will these questions be answered by the end of the series, or will there be a huge cliffhanger, while we wait for the “second season”.


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Review: I'm Not Your Sweet Babboo!

I'm Not Your Sweet Babboo! by Charles M. Schulz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

First off I’d like to thank Netgalley, the author and of course the publisher, for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

I grew up loving the Peanuts Gang, I read their comic strips religiously, had their coloring books, and watched all the specials on T.V. When I became a parent I introduced them to my children, I mean how could you not love the gang. My favorite has always been Snoopy, always has and always will.

In this collection of the peanuts there are colored comic strips, which just bring back so many memories for me. There were two characters not in the book, Pig Pen and Franklin. I know they weren’t in every comic strip, but they were however in all the television special.

The kids all still look the same in the strip, but they do seem to of grown-up some. Peppermint Patty is still very much an abrasive character, and when I say abrasive I do say it with love. Linus still carries his blanket, I can’t blame him, and I still love all my blankets.

Peppermint Patty does seem to have the spotlight in most of the book, and I’m ok with it, I really wouldn’t mind more books to come and put a different character in the fore front.
I adore the fact this has came out for a new generation to love.


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Review: Whitehall - Episode 9: "The Marriage of True Minds"

Whitehall - Episode 9: "The Marriage of True Minds" by Barbara Samuel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The ninth installment into the Whitehall episode: The Marriage of True Minds, again is not disappointing. However, with these episodes being short there isn’t a massive amount of details to give out. Think of this as you’re watching one of your hour long shows. One of the best things about reading this series, is you have time to read it while you’re waiting for one of your children to finish one of their practices, or waiting in the doctor’s office . There great when you finished a book but don’t have time or want to start another book as you don’t want to be up to late reading.
We are coming close to the end of this series. One thing I’ve noticed throughout the series is the writing. It can’t really be easy to have two or more authors writing and not know where each wants to take the story to. However, you can’t tell by the writing unless you’re staring at the author’s name the whole time.

This time around, Queen Catherine is having some health issues, which she doesn’t need this as she’s still trying to get pregnant, and of course Barbara, the King’s mistress is still trying to take him away from Queen Catherine.

This time there was actually a shocker in this episode, I’m not going to tell you what it is at this time, as I real do encourage you to read this series, and I don’t want to spoil the surprise. I’m still Team Catherine all the way!


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Review: Whitehall - Episode 8: "Ambitions Which Climb Upwards"

Whitehall - Episode 8: "Ambitions Which Climb Upwards" by Madeleine E. Robins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

First off I’d like to thank Netgalley, the author and of course the publisher, for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

The eigth installment into the Whitehall episode: Ambitions Which Climb Upwards, again is not disappointing. However, with these episodes being short there isn’t a massive amount of details to give out. Think of this as you’re watching one of your hour long shows. One of the best things about reading this series, is you have time to read it while you’re waiting for one of your children to finish one of their practices, or waiting in the doctor’s office . There great when you finished a book but don’t have time or want to start another book as you don’t want to be up to late reading. Rich in history, the 17th century to be exact.

As the story continues, Queen Catherine now has to deal with King Charles II’s mistress Barbara is pregnant and Queen Catherine, is yet again disappointed that she herself is not. It is bad enough Queen Catherine has to fight for her husband, and now it appears she’ll have to fight for crown as well. With scheming being done by people who are doing the same to make their own positions more powerful. or to be put in a power positions. And we can’t forget Monmouth, the little snake that he is.

You really feel sorry for Queen Catherine, and you can’t help but cheer her on, or give her words of encouragement. Barbara is one person I don’t like. When is King Charles II going to actually wake up and see Barbara for who she truly is, when will he see how hard his queen is trying to adapt to his country’s way, and help her fight to stay his queen.


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Review: Whitehall - Episode 7: "Imperfect Enjoyment"

Whitehall - Episode 7: "Imperfect Enjoyment" by Barbara Samuel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First off I’d like to thank Netgalley, the author and of course the publisher, for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

The seventh installment into the Whitehall episode: Imperfect Enjoyment, again is not disappointing. However, with these episodes being short there isn’t a massive amount of details to give out. Think of this as you’re watching one of your hour long shows. One of the best things about reading this series, is you have time to read it while you’re waiting for one of your children to finish one of their practices, or waiting in the doctor’s office . There great when you finished a book but don’t have time or want to start another book as you don’t want to be up to late reading.

A delegate from Russia shows up at court bearing gifts, and of course Barbara, King Charles II’s mistress, loves all the excitement and intrigue from the foreign visitors. Queen Catherine is still trying to fit into the King’s life, while also fighting for him from Barbara.

There wasn’t a lot going on this time, as it’s building up towards the end of the series, the pace seemed to slow down some. But it won’t stop me from continuing on with the series.


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Review: The Beekeeper's Promise

The Beekeeper's Promise by Fiona Valpy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First off I’d like to thank Netgalley, the author and of course the publisher, for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is the first book of Fiona Valpy in which I have read, and I’m so very grateful I was allowed to read it. One of the top 10 books of 2018 thus far. I enjoyed the way the author would do the past and then the present without getting the reader lost or couldn’t remember which character they were read. I felt she connected the characters and made them like they were telling me their story face to face, to introduce me into their lives. I found myself being drawn into their lives as well. The writing was smooth, to where it kept me intrigue as to not what to put it down. You could feel the emotions of the characters from abuse to love, suspense, history, as this is set in WWII, and then you could feel the healing process in which they needed.

In 1938, one of the main character’s Eilane is a beekeeper at Château Bellevue, in rural France. She meets, falls in love, and marries Mathieu Dubosq. When the German’s occupy France, their lives takes a turn for the worse, something neither one of them thought would ever happen. Eilane makes a decision to join the resistance, along with fellow French men and women, family, friends. Here Eilane learns how strong she actually is during these dark times for her country. She knows the danger, and what could happen to her if she gets caught.

Abi is a broken woman, she believes she isn’t good enough to have someone lover her. When she is offered a job at the Chateau Bellevue, which is now known as the Estate of Count Comte, she takes the job in hopes of healing herself, both mental and physically. Abi learns some of the history of the old Chateau Bellevue, and one part of history in which she finds intriguing is Eilane’s.





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Review: Death Over Easy

Death Over Easy by Maddie Day
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

First off I’d like to thank Netgalley, the author and of course the publisher, for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

This reminds me of a little restaurant with a gift shop inside from my hometown. The cozy feel of the restaurant, where a lot of the locals frequent in the mornings to gather over coffee, and breakfast before heading off to work, or the fields, or where ever their day was taking them. When people have out of town guest, they bring them for a meal, where they sit and talk and catch up, they introduce them to town. Maddie Day has done just that in the fifth instalment of her Country Store series.

Robbie Jordan is the owner of Pan N Pancakes, with a little country store gift shop included, in her small Indiana town. Robbie has also renovated her second floor with a small B&B, and just in time, as Beanblossom the neighboring town is having its annual Bluegrass festival. Not only are a few of her guest, some of the musicians playing at the festival, but her father, Roberto and her step-mother Maria have come for a visit from Italy.

While at the festival, Roberto and Maria notice a girl, Pia, who looks like another girl, whom Maria knows from her town in Italy. While they discuss her they realize she is the twin who left Italy and hasn’t been back since.

While at the festival Pia is sitting-in Robbie’s boyfriend, Abe’s band. Right before they are to go on, everyone sees Abe and Pia arguing. The band plays their set and nothing is seen or heard any more of the argument between the two. That is until the next morning Pia’s body is found…dead.
As the investigation unfolds, there seem to be a lot of suspects as to who had motive to kill her. Robbie, who has “helped” solve a couple of murders, swears she doesn’t have time to get involved with the case, suddenly is pulled in when her boyfriend, friends, guests, are among the suspects.
I like the characters as well as the plot, the story moves at a good pace, and it’s easy to follow along without reading the other four books in the series. The murder is pretty easy to figure out, but the story of the characters keep you intrigued as well as the motive as to what happened to Pia.



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Review: Counting Chimneys: A novel of love, heartbreak and romance in 1960s Brighton

Counting Chimneys: A novel of love, heartbreak and romance in 1960s Brighton by Sandy Taylor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

First off I’d like to thank Netgalley, the author and of course the publisher, for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review. Second of all I’d like to apologize to everyone for not getting the reviews posted soon as I had some major health issues. I am fine now thanks to my wonderful doctors. I would like to say that it has been wonderful to be able to sit and catch up on my reading.
This is book two in the Brighton Girls Trilogy. I honestly didn’t know this was a trilogy nor the second book in it the series. However, I didn’t have any trouble with being lost, feeling like I needed to read the other one first. This is a very good example of an author writing a series, but makes the books read like a stand-alone.
As I was reading the characters seemed very real and relatable. It was fun to visit the ‘60’s era, a time where you had a rotary phone, no computers, video games, cell phones. A time where children played outside, families actually sat down to supper together and had conversations.
Dottie returns to Brighton after living in London. She soon runs into her friend, ex-boyfriend, the one she thought was her soulmate, the one who broke her heart, Ralph. He ended up marrying on of Dottie’s friends, and then she died leaving him to raise their child on his own. But is she really over Ralph, as it appears he has moved on and Dottie is still single.
This is a book that fills you with so many emotions, relating to the characters and feeling as if they were your friends, you find yourself cheering for them, laughing with them and at them, your crying for them. I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read the first book in the series as I wait for the third and final book.


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Review: Garden of Stars

Garden of Stars by Rose Alexander
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I think one of the things that drew me to the book was how pretty the cover was. It gave me this relaxes feel. Although I don’t recall reading a book by Rose Alexander didn’t shy me away from it. I did give this book a four star review as I enjoyed it very much.

There are several journeys in this book, a marriage from the past and the other in the present. The stories are woven together. The two ladies in the book are aunt and niece, both harboring inner secrets of the men they actual love, and the men they marry. Sarah has never gotten over someone she met in Portugal many years ago. As time moves on Sarah does marry, but when her life becomes restless, she’s asked if she will go and write a story on Cork. She goes back to Portugal, not sure if she’s going there to relive her youth, or is she seeking out the love she left behind there.
Her Aunt Ines has a diary which is given to Sarah, as she reads the diary, of Ines’s youth, and life in Portugal, in the diary, there are family secrets, and some of them will shed some light on Sarah.

The author has done a great job of describing Portugal to where one feels like they are there or have been there. The story is well written, filled with strong emotions, and the characters are well woven and developed to where the reader can relate to them. The reader is kept engaged in the stories, which I found easy to follow. There was a section I felt that slowed down the book, but I kept with it and before long I was back on track with the story. For being a debut book, I can see the author will have success for many years to come.



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Review: Y is for Yesterday

Y is for Yesterday by Sue Grafton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

For the past 25 years or so, Kinsey Millhouse has been visiting many of us as she works her way through the alphabet. It is sad news to hear this will be Kinsey's last adventure to take us all on, as the author Sue Grafton has passed away with her two year battle with cancer. Ms. Grafton stated upon her death, she didn't want a ghost writer to finish the last book, which she had named many years ago, Z is for Zero. I can understand her decision not to have someone else finish the series up. As many of us have read on going series from author's who have passed away, and a ghost writer continues on with their legacy, many times they miss the connection in which an author and the characters both main and supporting, have developed. This was Ms. Grafton's character from start to finish, as sad as most of us are, we can understand how this is Kinsey's last appearance. However she is not far from gone. There's always a new generation that can be introduced to Kinsey, and the series is still out there for all to read.

The story starts out Kinsey gets a new client, her son was just released from prison, and suddenly a tape from his past is sent to him telling him to come up with 25,000 or a copy will be sent to the DA. Kinsey learns Fritz, was involved in the murder of a classmate back in 1979, he served ten years, and it appears someone wants him to return.

As Kinsey starts the investigation she learns it all starts with private school where one girl steals a test so that two of her friends will be able to pass it, then another girl is blamed for the anonymous letter the principle receives. When the school rich kid, whose very self-centered, manipulating, spoiled, and all around bully, gets mad at Sloane, who apparently has something Austin wants, doesn't fear him like the other kids do, decides that he he's going to scare her into getting what he wants goes all terrible wrong. He has Fritz use his father's gun and he shoots Sloane.

From this point on in the book it bounces from 1979 then back to 1989, as each former classmate tells their version of what happened and what's on the tape. The characters' live seem to be stuck in the past and still mourning Sloan's death and it's affected their day to day lives.

Also there is a on going story picking up where X ended and Ned Lowe is still on the loose and Kinsey is dealing with that and still looking over her shoulder. In the mean time, a couple of the homeless friends of Kinsey have taken up residency in Henry's backyard. The other character's who are friends and family of Kinsey are back to stir up the mix as well.

The one thing I didn't enjoy about this book was the telling over and over and over what was on the tape. It seemed like this was the filler in between how to get to who the extortionist was and what really happened the night Sloan was killed. The story starts off slow and it seems to stay at that pace. In my rating, I really only wanted to give it a three stars but then I thought about how Ms. Grafton was dealing with her cancer, and her love for Kinsey, and wanting to try and finish the series, and for her determination, I did bump it up to four stars and I realize everything she was dealing with in her everyday life. Since the series is now over, I am sad Kinsey won't be having any more stories to tell. Over the years, it was nice to see how well Kinsey and the other character's that were introduced have develop to where you think of them more as real people and not just characters.


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Review: Magnolia Table: A Collection of Recipes for Gathering

Magnolia Table: A Collection of Recipes for Gathering by Joanna Gaines
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If you ever watch HGTV's show Fixer Upper, then your acquainted with Joanna Gaines, the designer who brings her clients dream home to life. In their last season of the show, one of the projects was a restaurant which had been a staple with history in the Gaines's town of Waco, Texas. Chip and Joanna bought the restaurant and as usual Joanna put her spin on it and updated the restaurant which now they own.

In this book, Magnolia Table is also the name of their restaurant, Joanna shares some of her families recipes and some she put on the menu as well. The recipes in this book are easy for a home cook to make, as Joanna isn't a chef by trade. The beautiful pictures of the food will make your mouth water, and get even the most inexperience cook to make these. The instructions are easily laid out, for one to understand. Their are recipes for almost every family or individual to fix and will satisfy your hunger.

I also like the little backstory to the recipes and the feel like she was actually telling me about the recipe or the meaning of the recipe, or even the memory that went along with it. Even though she isn't a renounced chef, Joanna has put together a wonderful cookbook, for which you can pass down from generation to generation.

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Review: Shot in the Dark

Shot in the Dark by Cleo Coyle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Claire Cosi and her posses are back for another fun filled adventure at the Village Blend Coffeehouse. This time around Claire's coffeehouse has been voted the best hook-up place in all of NY, thanks to this new dating app, Cinder, which her ex-husband and coffee finder Matteo is using. But when one Cinder-ella has a bad dating experience with a Cinder-fella, and the jilted lady confronts the man in the coffee shop with with a gun (which is only filled with blanks) Claire's business takes the hit when the video goes viral.

But like all good Coffeehouse books, there's always someone in trouble and Claire is always there to solve the murder, this time it ends up as a Cinder-fella. Of course that's not all that's happening in this book. Joy, Claire and Matteo's daughter is thinking that the NYPD Detective Franco, that she's been seeing is cheating on her and asks her mother to help her find out. Tucker, her assistance manger, is so upset because of the business being slow, is blaming himself for becoming friends with Gun-Girl and quits the coffeehouse, Mike, Claire's fiancee has to go to London to work with them on this new drug, Stix, whom all the kids are using now. And of course Madame and her love life with all the men from the Silver-Fox app, which she's been using. So there's plenty of catching up to do with gang.

With each book we characters have been well developed in which they feel like friends than just characters. With well developed background theme and great writing, the author has made this series into of the most popular cozy mysteries out there. Cleo Coyle is the pen name for writer Alice Alfonsi and her husband Marc Cerasini. Together they bring together the character's, story line, and very well developed themes.

This fast-pace, entertaining, fun, suspenseful, humorous, engaging story with twist and turns that will have you second guessing yourself as to who the murder really is.


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Review: Unbreak My Heart

Unbreak My Heart by Toni Braxton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Toni Braxton hasn't had an easy life. From her up bringing and attending church almost every day, to two bankruptcy, a son who has autism, and her Lupus disease. In her memoir, Toni opens up about all of this and how she has overcome and rebuilt her life.

The oldest child, Toni help tended to her younger siblings, and at a very young age, her parents decided they would all be attending church, as her parents bounced from one church to another, Toni didn't fit into their religion of wearing dresses everyday, speaking in tongues, she long to dance to her own beat of the drum. Even though she didn't fit in with her parents beliefs, she didn't realize they were installing values, morals, and teaching her to stand on her own to feet, making her a strong woman who she is today.

She talks about how the record company only wanted her and not her sisters, how her parents disapproved of this, how her sisters in later life expected her to help them have a career in the limelight. She explains how she came about to having to file bankruptcy and how her record label and tour wouldn't help her when she went on tour with Kenny G. How the banks sent in inspectors and took her five Grammy's because they were classified as assets. She lost the rights to many of her songs, but was able to keep the rights to one of her most popular songs, "Unbreak My Heart".

She talks about how she didn't let all of that bring her down, in fact it made her want to work harder, little did she know at the time her health would play a huge part in her life from here on out. While performing on Broadway, Braxton passes out and she is transported to the hospital, there they find out she has a heart problem, however this wasn't the only problem she had. Upon further testing the results came back, Toni Braxton has Lupus. In true Toni Braxton fashion, she learned everything she could about her disease in which will be a part of her life for as long as she remains on earth. She talks about working with the Lupus Chapter and how she enjoys working with other women who have this disease.

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Review: Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In Asian culture, boys are superior, and girls are worthless, they are only good to marry off. As in the case of this book. Set in the 19th century, women don't have a voice, they don't have choices, and their culture is so much of a hard endurance. The woman go through a ritual of foot binding. This custom of applying tight binding to the feet of young girls to modify the shape of their feet. Foot binding displayed the status of women from wealthy families, who did not need their feet to work, and was a symbol of beauty in Chinese culture. Foot binding limited the mobility of women, resulting in them walking in a swaying unsteady gait.

This was how Lily, a young girl who was matched to a good, high standing family, and Snow Flower, Lily's laotong, a companion, a sister in a secret sisterhood. Their friendship blossoms into a beautiful friendship that last through the age of time. Although after Lily gets married, she finds out the truth about Snow Flower, her family was once a very powerful family, and then they lost it all, the match maker is actual Snow Flower's aunt, and because she was Lily's laotong, she was married off to a butcher, which is classified as the lowest standard in the Chinese culture. Lily's new mother-in-law tells Lily she must not talk or see Snow Flower ever again, but Lily finds a way to stay in touch with Snow Flower. The two have been through so much together, Lily will never stop talking or seeing Snow Flower.

This book brought back memories of my childhood friends, and the tight closeness, sister like we all shared as we were growing up, moving on, being their for one and other in the good times and bad. I found their is a Lily and Snow flower in all of us.

One thing I am so grateful for is, I'm happy I was born in my country and in this time period. I'm able to think at my own free will, I'm in individual, and I can make my own choices. Lily and Snow Flower could do none of it. I was getting a little angry every time they kept saying that girls/daughters/women/wives where worthless, I did have to take a step back and remember this was the way of the culture in that time in their country.

I like how Lily, as she's the narrator of the book, speaks with love and fondness of her friend and you could actually feel the love these women shared with each other. How no matter how high Lily's status was she never lost sight Snow Flower was and would always be her "sister", her friend. She didn't let anyone stand in her way or come between them. They shared so much laughter, love, sorrow, between each other, they were each other's biggest cheerleader, and had the biggest shoulder to cry on.

Although this story was a bit sad, there was something about it which made me feel happy for both of the characters, which made this such a beautiful story that needed to be told. I learned so much about the culture of this country and the time period. At first the story seemed to be moving at a slow pace, but then I realized it was the way the narrator was telling it because in that time, they didn't move fast, and it was as if I was sitting right there in front of Lily as she told me her story.

This is a beautifully written book.

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Review: The Vegetarian

The Vegetarian by Han Kang
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This novella was a very pleasant surprise for me. I didn't think I would really like it, and as it turned out I loved it! It kept me intrigue and I felt as if I had to keep reading it just to find out what happens.

My heart went out to Yeong-hye, a young married,completely ordinary wife ( other than she doesn't like to wear a bra.) and home-maker who, one day, suddenly decides to stop eating meat after a dream. She can't explain to her husband what the dream was about it, but because of this dream it haunted her and soon she finds herself distanced from her family and from society, who can't understand why she has chosen to do this. This begins her down-ward spiral.

The story is told in three parts, by three different family members. The first part is told by Yeong - hye's husband, Cheong. The second part is told by her brother-in-law, an artist, and the third part is told by Yeong-hye's sister In-hye, and is the only family member that still stands by her after her decline. However, since this book is about Yeong-hye turning into a vegetarian, the reader never even see her perspective of. There is some dialog of her talking and a some about her feelings, but not much.

One thing I must say about this book, it does not talk a lot of the vegetarian ways of eating, or of the diet itself, this is just a story of one woman who chooses to not eat meat. It basically deals with desire, shame, and empathy reflected by the characters' faltering attempts to understand the people around them. This is a darker book, so if your thinking this is going to be all unicorns and chocolates, you'll be very disappointed. It is a wonderful book, that brings out many different emotions. You might not connect to easily to the main character, since the reader doesn't hear from her much, but you do feel something for her. In a way I can understand how making a decision, and other people around you, especially your family, who are suppose to love and support you in whatever you decide to do, criticize you, don't attempt to hear you out, and past judgement, because they don't believe in you enough. These are some of the things that everybody did Yeong-hye. She was basically fighting a battle within a battle all on her own.





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Review: My Sergei: A Love Story

My Sergei: A Love Story by Ekaterina Gordeeva
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ekaterina Gordeeva and Sergei Grinkov were two times Olympians who won gold and four times World champions. When the two skated, they moved as one, the moves were breathtaking, excellence. beautiful and romantic, technically, but also emotionally, they were so incredible as a team. They really set the bar high in pairs figure skating, for all who came after them. What made Ekarterina and Sergei most unique was their chemistry with each other as they became one of the most romantic and beloved pairs teams of all time.

Their love story isn't just about them being one of the greatest pair skaters in the world, but also as a team, a man and a woman, husband and wife, father and mother, and then tragically, a skater without a partner, a single mother, a widow, alone.

It was one of the greatest tragedies in the sport of ice skating, when in November 1995, while training in Lake Placid, for the 'Stars on Ice' tour, and with his partner (wife) Ekaterina "Katia", as family, friends, call her, along with people in the skating world calls her, Sergei Grinkov collapsed at the Olympic Center. He died of a heart attack.

Katia, found herself lost after Seregi's death, and writes not only how she felt in those dark, lonely days after he passed, all the questions she had about how she would go on, how will she be able to raise her daughter and answer the questions she will have about her dad, the dad who she'd never know, who wouldn't be there for her first day of school, who wouldn't walk her down the isle when she got married.

She tells their story in this book, not only about herself but also Seregi's from the time he was born, to how he became a skater, to their marriage, becoming a father for the first time. As she tells their story, you can feel the love they had for each other, their happy times when they were off the ice as well as on the ice. She shares into their lives. She talks about the other skaters who were around them, many who were there when Seregi passed, those who helped them both with their english, who became their friends, and later her friends who stood by her, were there for her not only at the rink, hospital or funeral, but after all of it was said and done. They stood by her when she made the choice to return to her home, Russia. She felt she needed to be around family, and Sergei, as that is where they buried him, in his home country.

She talks about life after losing her husband, how she thought how difficult it was and how it might be for the rest of her life, as she says in the book, she just didn't lose her skating partner, she didn't lose just her husband, but she also lost a part of herself, her heart. She writes about how life went on around her, how she, herself, had to make a life for her and her baby girl Daria, how hard it was at times to look at her daughter who reminded her so much of her father, and feel her heartbreaking again, and again, and again. But Daria, was always their for Katia, through the good times and the bad, and she helped her to realize it was up to her to survive, to move on, to continue to live.

The whole time you can feel the same emotions she was feeling, she did a wonderful job of showing you her world, her love for Seregi, and how she herself had to move on. She needed to tell not only her story, but his as well. Her love for him, and someday for her daughter to be able to read this book, and get to know who her father was, and to truly love him the way Katia, loves him. After all, he was her Seregi.



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Review: Cat Playing Cupid

Cat Playing Cupid by Shirley Rousseau Murphy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Joe Grey is back at it again, helping the Molena Point PD solve a murder. Only this time it's a little different, there wasn't much of a mystery here, yes two dead bodies are found, both of them about ten years old, a cold case. Lindsay Wolf, was engaged to the victim that was found in Oregon, and the other was found in Molena Point.

When Willow one of the talking feral talking cats, brings a wounded Sage to Charlie, one of the only humans that Willow trusts, she takes him to the local vet. It turns out that the old vet, has always known about the talking cats, and informs Charlie she needs to bring him some "special" cats, meaning Joe Grey, Dulcie, and Kit. Here is where we learn about how these cats are so special. However, Clyde, Joe's human is finally getting married to Ryan Flannery, his long time girlfriend, and Joe is please, he likes Ryan but isn't crazy about her dog coming along and invading his house, but he does like Ryan, who has figured out on her own about the cats.

If you haven't read any of the previous books I would suggest you do first, this book might be a little confusing for someone to just jump in and not know the who's who in the book. In all the books, the story is well written, all at a pretty face pace, the character's are well developed, but that also stems from the other books that have helped them along the way to grow and build relationships.

The Joe Grey series isn't as far fetched as some of the other series out there about talking cats, but is a fun series to read, to escape what's going on in your life, or the news around the world, this series is such a fun, entertaining, relaxing read. You'll find yourself smiling, laughing, especially at some of the things Joe does and then him and Clyde getting into their little arguments, or even if you just want to escape along the San Francisco area, with all the beautiful descriptions along the way of the scenery.


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Review: Cress

Cress by Marissa Meyer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After reading the two books before this one, I have to say, this one was my favorite so far. I will say right now, that if you haven't read Cinder and Scarlet, you might want to read them first, as this book does have some continuation in it from the other two books.

Cinder, Scarlet, Wolf, Thorne, Kai, and Queen Levana are all back to help keep this book in the sequel. Cress is so much more of a faster pace, action filled, adventurous book, kept me glued till the end. I love that Marissa Meyer is able to do such a wonderful job in developing characters throughout the series.

All of the character's are in this book, but I did like the way the relationship of Cress and Thorne was developing. I know several people have stated in their reviews, they felt this was a boning part of the book, but when you think about it, the author had to do something for them to get to know each other, and for us to learn more about Cress, other than she was in a satellite station by herself for the past seven years, there really wasn't any way to get to know her and what she is actually capable of doing or thinking for that matter. She sat in the station by herself with literally no human contact, friends, her social skills aren't the best, but she still has a very sweet nature personality, yes sometimes her child like ways got on my nerves, but if you understood how she had to live you can overlook it.

Each of the other character's have grown also in this book, and Cress can learn a lot from them, and it warmed my heart as to how she finally had friends, people she could hang out with, asks questions, and she had some good ideas to help with the plans the others had as far as trying to stop the marriage of Levana and Kai.

By far I think Cress has been my favorite character. She funny, witty, child like, caring, and she warmed my heart and made me laugh. I realize I didn't say to much about this book, because it was like the other two books I reviewed, so there wasn't really anything new to report. There is one more book in this series, so we'll see how this is all wrapped up.




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Review: Arsenic and Old Books

Arsenic and Old Books by Miranda James
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the 6th book in this series. The character have become much more developed with each book. It's a light -hearted book. It's easy to figure out who the killer is, but it's more about getting to know the characters, and what's going on in their lives. It's like catching up with old friends.

The story takes place in Athena, Mississippi, librarian Charlie Harris is a widow, his two children are grown up and have moved on to careers of their own. His companion is a Maine Coon cat named Diesel, who loves chicken, fried, baked, stewed...any way chicken is made he loves it.

Mayor Lucinda Beckwith Long donates four volumes of her husband's ancestor diaries to the archive at Athena College. Before Charlie can get them catalog, the diaries are stole, and a history professor at the college, who is interested in the diaries in hopes that she will make tenure, is killed by a hit and run. When Charlie returns to work a mysterious fifth volume of the diaries suddenly appears on his desk.

The other fourth volumes find there way back to Charlie, but find there are ten pages ripped out of the diaries. Who is hiding a family secret, why is one diary not like the others as to how the ancestor is being portrayed in the other volumes, is this one diary a forgery? And who would kill the professor, was it an accident or a way to silences her? The answers are all in the book, that is entertaining.




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Review: Britt-Marie Was Here

Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the second book I've read by this author, and like the first book I read, it didn't disappoint in the least!

Britt-Marie can seem a little, hostile, nosy, sometimes what comes out of her mouth is taken the wrong way then what it's intended to be. The humor she portrays will have you literally laughing out loud, at times your heart goes out to her, other times you sit there and have the same look on your faces at the character's in the book are giving her. But underneath all this, there is a person who is just wants to be needed, to be wanted, to be noticed, to be loved.

Britt-Marie is early in her sixty's when she's finally had enough of her husband, basically treating her like a child, he hides the truth about the economy too her, he always puts gas in her car, doesn't want her to work, criticizes her by saying things like "Britt-Marie can't play with you, she has no imagination." and he cheats on her.

Finally Britt-Marie has had enough of his cheating ways, she seeks out employment and is offered a job in Borg, a broken down town who hasn't recovered from the industrial plant closing, houses are on the market, a pizzeria, pub, post office and a rec center, where Britt-Marie gains employment as the caretaker.

When she pulls into the town, her car breaks down and the local police officer, Sevn soon takes an interest in Britt-Marie. He finds her a place to stay at Banks' house. Bank is a woman who is blind, has a dog, and is also the auto mechanic. Britt-Marie is also introduced to some of the children who like to play soccer, but they aren't on any teams, until one day Britt-Marie is asked to be their coach so they could play in the Cup. Britt-Marie doesn't know anything about soccer let alone coaching children. She gets some help from Sami, the older brother of Vega and Omar, two of the children on the team, and from Bank's herself, who in her glory days was a well know soccer player herself.

Britt-Marie, for the first time in her life is finally feeling wanted, needed, noticed and most of all, loved. You see the changes from a broken down town, and a broken down Britt-Marie, to a town that starts to change, and so does Britt-Marie, she starts to stand on her own two feet, well with the help of the children and the other towns folk who accept her and actually like and care for her. No one knows for certain if it was Britt-Marie who helped the town or was is the town helped Britt-Marie.

This was a very heartwarming story, and at times mad me cry. The characters were very well developed and the story moved along at a nice pace. I laughed, I cried, I shook my head at some of the things Britt-Marie said or did, I cheered her on, and watched her change. Some of her quirkiness stayed with her, which is what made her Britt-Marie. This book also showed that no matter how old you are, you can still follow your dreams.

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Review: Remembering Diana: A Life in Photographs

Remembering Diana: A Life in Photographs by National Geographic Society
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was such a wonderful book to commemorate 20 years since Diana has passed away. The pictures were beautiful, some of them I had never seen published before. It showed pictures of her in her younger days, leading up to the Royal wedding, her life as Princess Di, being a mother, traveling for her charities, as well as her royal duties, and the pictures of her funeral.

There are descriptions of the photos along with a short facts about her. This would be a good book to have around for younger generations that weren't able to see or hear about the Princess while she was alive or to know about her untimely death. Diana wasn't just a Princess in the Royal family, she wanted to be a Princess of peoples hearts, and that's what she became a Princess to the heart of people. She not only did good in this world, but she made the Royal family popular.

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