tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3827432380529989382024-03-13T13:41:08.613-04:00Penny for my thoughtsRandom thoughts on books, quilts and life!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger505125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-382743238052998938.post-25077545562117619732024-03-11T13:29:00.002-04:002024-03-11T13:29:48.607-04:00A Traitor in Whitehall<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5BebOFw5EXt7DZwk3Ex9dSrCX4hMITPyBDGfthJ7cYKLYfn6BdOj4VtJDN-WbRL8g4LK9mJpO5O7966_lrAkQ6ieSINGT8F79eq6-6hfAHDePn8GzRR06yvzGZYsUNAhLCYC9vF033n-O8CIultjphBEgVxWYQ84lGkuX4wktoUqt18aH4h4690L8Xu3/s912/A%20Traitor.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5BebOFw5EXt7DZwk3Ex9dSrCX4hMITPyBDGfthJ7cYKLYfn6BdOj4VtJDN-WbRL8g4LK9mJpO5O7966_lrAkQ6ieSINGT8F79eq6-6hfAHDePn8GzRR06yvzGZYsUNAhLCYC9vF033n-O8CIultjphBEgVxWYQ84lGkuX4wktoUqt18aH4h4690L8Xu3/s320/A%20Traitor.jpeg" width="211" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><b>A Traitor In Whitehall</b> by Julia Kelly. New York: Minotaur Books, 2023. 294 pages. ****</p><p>Book 1 in the Evelyn Redfern series, Evelyn's colorful past known as the Parisian Orphan, (not of her making) does not prepare her for her current position, enlisted by her father's friend to be a typist in the war rooms of Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Ill-prepared for the politics of the typing pool she catches the eye of a special investigator who claims her as his assistant. Evelyn is soon drawn into murder and espionage.</p><p>Part cozy mystery and historical fiction, this first book in the series promises more fun and challenges to follow. </p><p>From the back cover</p><p>Julia Kelly is the international bestselling author of historical women's fiction about the extraordinary stories of the past. Her books have been translated into thirteen languages. She has also written historical romance. In addition to writing, she's been an Emmy Award-nominated producer, a journalist, a marketing professional, and (for one summer) a tea waitress. Julia called Los Angeles, Iowa, and New York City home before settling in London. </p><p>For more on Julia Kelly, click <a href="https://www.juliakellywrites.com">here</a></p><p>Follow me on IG at flamazing_books</p><p>#bookstagram #historicalfiction #WorldWarIIfiction </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-382743238052998938.post-68612150928832086812024-03-11T13:00:00.000-04:002024-03-11T13:00:20.055-04:00Don't Forget Me<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoCSqBsZFBTFPW_dnpg3L8p960VtbNr2Mrp0JSBf_Nl5pTrLGJ-n-xxLUoQgayA1tTR8lLKrFDwOYz4faTORqYPGAD030I-Uvb4zeK5FOU1b6pVfRoXDHOaOV75ybZEYdOIhn4O6eOifXnTpEIOqASC3oqD35JBucA0O9HvMa4GC2vURbMv7_AJgacUFxu/s1500/don't%20forget%20me..jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="971" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoCSqBsZFBTFPW_dnpg3L8p960VtbNr2Mrp0JSBf_Nl5pTrLGJ-n-xxLUoQgayA1tTR8lLKrFDwOYz4faTORqYPGAD030I-Uvb4zeK5FOU1b6pVfRoXDHOaOV75ybZEYdOIhn4O6eOifXnTpEIOqASC3oqD35JBucA0O9HvMa4GC2vURbMv7_AJgacUFxu/s320/don't%20forget%20me..jpeg" width="207" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><b>Don't Forget Me: A Thriller </b>by Rea Frey. Seattle: Thomas &Mercer, 2024. 266 pages. ****</p><p>"I found a body, in the lake." Ruby Knight's life gets more complicated when her neighbors claim that the dead body is her missing husband. All Ruby wanted was a fresh start with her husband and daughter until they both go missing. It doesn't help when the members of the neighborhood murder club decide to discover how and why the body appeared in their lake. Delving into Ruby's past as part of their investigation leaves Ruby vulnerable and unable to trust anyone she knows. </p><p>This psychological thriller will leave you guessing until the very end. A quick fun read! Perfect summer beach read and will challenge your deductive skills. </p><p><br /></p><p>Fans of BA Paris are going to love <b>Don't Forget Me</b>. </p><p>From Amazon</p><p>Rea Frey is the award-winning, #1 bestselling author of several nonfiction books and suspense, thriller, and contemporary fiction novels. Known as The Book Doula, Rea helps other writers birth their stories into the world.</p><div>Follow me on IG at flamazing_books</div><div><br /></div><div>#bookstagram #psychological thriller</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-382743238052998938.post-60104688917460801862024-03-11T12:53:00.000-04:002024-03-11T12:53:38.589-04:00The little liar<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRhFuXnKmVMVmgmdT0pFhnD2t9ecsobN3OqfGd1Sr4LmZ-q1hbJSeXH-XxzsDgd00Er85vFWKEFuC5y125JUXluu-VyX4yX7MPIuU6iyBet39LXmJWBeyAncxZoZP9sjf0Wt3Labo1-XYKwFhP5iGCcAQC2eHrF2uQrdmwqKcZMJSD1vgkdATjadU0DoB/s436/littleliar.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="296" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRhFuXnKmVMVmgmdT0pFhnD2t9ecsobN3OqfGd1Sr4LmZ-q1hbJSeXH-XxzsDgd00Er85vFWKEFuC5y125JUXluu-VyX4yX7MPIuU6iyBet39LXmJWBeyAncxZoZP9sjf0Wt3Labo1-XYKwFhP5iGCcAQC2eHrF2uQrdmwqKcZMJSD1vgkdATjadU0DoB/s320/littleliar.jpeg" width="217" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><b>the little liar</b> by Mitch Albom. New York: HarperCollins, 2023. 333. <b>*****</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard, serif;">Eleven-year-old Nico Krispis has never told a lie." When offered the opportunity to save his family from the Nazis when they invade his home in Salonica, Greece, Nico tells lies he believes to be truths. Deceived by the Nazis, Nico tells his family and friends that they will be transported by train to new jobs and safety. The lie becomes apparent when Nico's family and friends are herded into a boxcar headed for Auschwitz. Nico escapes and assumes many identities to survive and never tells the truth again. Sebastian, his older brother cannot forgive what Nico did to his family. His childhood friend, Fannie, does what she needs to survive while looking for her childhood friend, the fair-haired and blue-eyed Nico. Their lives intersect and connect in the most unpredictable ways. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard, serif;">In my estimation, this is Albom's best work. I was hooked from the very beginning and yet afraid for what was coming next. Albom can weave a story like no other. Narrated by Truth, Album shows us the power of deceit and how love and forgiveness provide hope. I have grown weary reading Holocaust historical fiction. However, this one is not to be missed. When traveling in Germany, I visited Dachau, one of the first concentration camps. I felt like I couldn't breathe, the emotions were so overwhelming. That's exactly how I felt reading this book. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p>I highly recommend <a href="https://pennyformythoughts-nona.blogspot.com/2021/05/the-happiest-man-on-earth.html">The Happiest Man Alive</a> as your next read.</p><p>From Amazon...</p><p>Mitch Albom is the author of numerous books of fiction and nonfiction, which have collectively sold more than forty million copies in forty-seven languages worldwide. He has written seven number-one New York Times bestsellers – including Tuesdays with Morrie, the bestselling memoir of all time, which topped the list for four straight years – award-winning TV films, stage plays, screenplays, a nationally syndicated newspaper column, and a musical. Through his work at the Detroit Free Press, he was inducted into both the National Sports Media Association and Michigan Sports halls of fame and is the recipient of the 2010 Red Smith Award for lifetime achievement. After bestselling memoir Finding Chika and “Human Touch,” the weekly serial written and published online in real-time to raise funds for pandemic relief, his latest work is a return to fiction with The Stranger in the Lifeboat (Harper, November 2021). He founded and oversees SAY Detroit, a consortium of nine different charitable operations in his hometown, including a nonprofit dessert shop and food product line to fund programs for Detroit’s most underserved citizens. He also operates an orphanage in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, which he visits monthly. He lives with his wife, Janine, in Michigan. Learn more at www.mitchalbom.com, www.saydetroit.org, and www.havefaithaiti.org.</p><p>Follow me on IG at flamazing_books</p><p>#bookstagram #thelittleliar #truth #historicalfiction #Holocaustfiction</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-382743238052998938.post-39675695001423466262024-02-20T13:34:00.000-05:002024-02-20T13:34:13.202-05:00The Little Ghost Who Was A Quilt<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2EJgdBHpAbV2uz4tdSEG2L8R4kX6kbDRMP2tNnJyONM-qGArOLyt0W-24-r_QxFYbfhyhgUZKHQ_DKZcvkOZdyBmyGN63WKQpOJ9oI8CUOMSacTyo3nxRNh6m4ZoDvNpsFnvZWPCvK95QHnEI5t1swWQj1mflHUSVCfdxdQq5r_mMSdsSrmM2Rys8cKw/s403/little%20ghost.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="403" data-original-width="304" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2EJgdBHpAbV2uz4tdSEG2L8R4kX6kbDRMP2tNnJyONM-qGArOLyt0W-24-r_QxFYbfhyhgUZKHQ_DKZcvkOZdyBmyGN63WKQpOJ9oI8CUOMSacTyo3nxRNh6m4ZoDvNpsFnvZWPCvK95QHnEI5t1swWQj1mflHUSVCfdxdQq5r_mMSdsSrmM2Rys8cKw/s320/little%20ghost.jpeg" width="241" /></a></div><p><b>The Little Ghost Who Was A Quilt</b> by Riel Nason. Tundra Books, 2020. 48 pages.</p><p>The first time I read this story and saw that people were creating the quilt. I knew I had to join in the fun!</p><p>Originally, I planned on using all scraps from my stash, however, we all know how that goes. I saw this charm pack at MSQC as a Daily Deal and the colors were perfect, mixing in a few that I already had.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzNpl6JmHfLkjpcMqDL3dMAJRd4q9LejttJIvRltueScovMm2Zqya04Q8nzHewAAEqnGddQ63T2pf-eoA2_zSK2I4xc9A36bxmGYRdqHGo1B0Ty10tj3byJDXeZO-G-BlS3pv6VKgnnfkVjTmHhpQlzhnSNEmGC2IzFGU_eSwz-KZwAVpqjathU4WhVS1q/s204/indigo%20stitches.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="204" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzNpl6JmHfLkjpcMqDL3dMAJRd4q9LejttJIvRltueScovMm2Zqya04Q8nzHewAAEqnGddQ63T2pf-eoA2_zSK2I4xc9A36bxmGYRdqHGo1B0Ty10tj3byJDXeZO-G-BlS3pv6VKgnnfkVjTmHhpQlzhnSNEmGC2IzFGU_eSwz-KZwAVpqjathU4WhVS1q/w293-h276/indigo%20stitches.jpeg" width="293" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">There are many versions of this quilt in Pinterest and online.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/kmnester/little-ghost/">Pinterest - the Little Ghost</a></p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://haileystitches.com/the-little-ghost-who-was-a-quilt-pattern/">Free Pattern and Video</a> </p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://tundrabooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/The-Little-Ghost-Who-Was-a-Quilt_acitivity-sheet.pdf">Pattern Making</a><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">I watched a free video to piece the eyes. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahXLY1vYzG3QwNq8XIR1LUigC3ZlaO8Z-1mpneLA-IfPRLiCNN4zuDl_-Ti6eOZfgMisGzz7AJ7OlyeqN_YSGK_tVz1VYPUz_UJBJ8iEBXNXFzkUgoUb56_58a8j-wCg9yxWjObJcwINutPsAV67eAtcZnE7aDQVRN6wdYuTkdibwK7LzgVZwMYL2DwWt/s4032/IMG_5100.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahXLY1vYzG3QwNq8XIR1LUigC3ZlaO8Z-1mpneLA-IfPRLiCNN4zuDl_-Ti6eOZfgMisGzz7AJ7OlyeqN_YSGK_tVz1VYPUz_UJBJ8iEBXNXFzkUgoUb56_58a8j-wCg9yxWjObJcwINutPsAV67eAtcZnE7aDQVRN6wdYuTkdibwK7LzgVZwMYL2DwWt/s320/IMG_5100.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">He didn't look very friendly to me. I enlisted my husband to draw ovals (ellipses, according to my engineer) and I liked these much better.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgblf5rTDWbi8p0VGuYxO7DERljEW0Sp1eFaE7VdsWlEpxhxDc8Qb03FxQg4OiD3R-cbB72ayTmKJtflEitnmi6kn3u9YambczIBeq2ZCQCJLFEolQMhyEPYaDP0KzgQTaX-Vqt0QG2aZyDzpbhl93GrsY_iTKBCh79fX6OTyupoTcmecXzn9kv8JerX5vF/s3506/final%20copy.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3506" data-original-width="2799" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgblf5rTDWbi8p0VGuYxO7DERljEW0Sp1eFaE7VdsWlEpxhxDc8Qb03FxQg4OiD3R-cbB72ayTmKJtflEitnmi6kn3u9YambczIBeq2ZCQCJLFEolQMhyEPYaDP0KzgQTaX-Vqt0QG2aZyDzpbhl93GrsY_iTKBCh79fX6OTyupoTcmecXzn9kv8JerX5vF/s320/final%20copy.JPG" width="255" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">I enlarged the pattern that I saw to 8x10 blocks (5 inches each). Straight line quilting, easy peasy!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq6dR7iGCxkxXVMIaqQqRThqlQMIWme72IjTSyuJA5ivz2KHCKBYkidCLLmeUoUizmuVMQ3qbAHAo9dodXKaTOgA9-OHucseIvwWWdUHgvvE1-uFiayVskj5se9ZXEFhRjTJRV0DKMZ6hzsmOvfbpainPwOrS6XUSQCxzQa3lPYffacBOtXFZekIaEfkSc/s4032/final.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq6dR7iGCxkxXVMIaqQqRThqlQMIWme72IjTSyuJA5ivz2KHCKBYkidCLLmeUoUizmuVMQ3qbAHAo9dodXKaTOgA9-OHucseIvwWWdUHgvvE1-uFiayVskj5se9ZXEFhRjTJRV0DKMZ6hzsmOvfbpainPwOrS6XUSQCxzQa3lPYffacBOtXFZekIaEfkSc/s320/final.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;">I am pleased with the result and it is a very easy child's quilt to make. I ordered the book from Amazon, however, it is readily available at book stores and online quilt stores. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">Follow me on IG at flamazing_books</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">#bookstagram #thelittleghostwhowasaquilt #bookandquilt </p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-382743238052998938.post-64428528796971050922024-02-17T14:45:00.000-05:002024-02-17T14:45:07.525-05:00First Lie Wins<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisyC25ke7Qvcw_waE5aDAj25IidMWk7GVMtUANPoCqmG3cOqjwRFs1dMnn1EHvoS6L1CnJgx6NKnmadB2hQHSo5yDEODGIn3CnvGEMFN2XS3kbF6mR89C1ok6KxS_-JpEIHk9IuIxzAACoHy9nYy5FiuY96pvTmy_fpNF-23ELR2iuz9WKEheEj21REa8C/s2100/IMG_5174.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1576" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisyC25ke7Qvcw_waE5aDAj25IidMWk7GVMtUANPoCqmG3cOqjwRFs1dMnn1EHvoS6L1CnJgx6NKnmadB2hQHSo5yDEODGIn3CnvGEMFN2XS3kbF6mR89C1ok6KxS_-JpEIHk9IuIxzAACoHy9nYy5FiuY96pvTmy_fpNF-23ELR2iuz9WKEheEj21REa8C/s320/IMG_5174.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston. New York: Panel Dorman Books/Viking , 340 pages. ****</span></div><p><br /></p><p>"The identity comes first: Evie Porter. Once she’s given a name and location by her mysterious boss Mr. Smith, she learns everything there is to know about the town and the people in it. Then the mark: Ryan Sumner. The last piece of the puzzle is the job." There are two big problems in this latest job; Evie Porter doesn't exist and she has just met someone who is impersonating her real identity. "The first lie wins. The one that changes the game. The one that is deliberate." Who is lying and who is telling the truth? Evie is determined to find out. </p><p>This fast-paced novel has many twists and turns and will leave you guessing until the very end. Perfect escape reading for a snowy weekend. I read it in a day and thoroughly enjoyed it. </p><p>This is a Reese Witherspoon book club choice. </p><p>Ashley Elston worked for many years as a wedding photographer before turning her hand to writing. She lives in Louisiana with her husband and three sons. Elston has written six young adult novels; First Lie Wins is her adult debut. For more information, click <a href="https://ashleyelston.com">here</a></p><p>Follow me on IG at flamazing_books</p><p>#bookstagram #mystery #suspense </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-382743238052998938.post-45027403421002006972024-02-10T14:48:00.000-05:002024-02-10T14:48:25.375-05:00What the Wind Knows<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhHN-t0RQ5d1mBHH0DM2eBfxCH4SthngDe5g27JFED7e51x1tXmmOEMVu81vo24xzIJ-IwP-zTLbUt4AEtTrr2SbBLx5U7RKUOQ1jbu-OOv3PUOyJYyUU3EmvniVpTCu5gVq5NK6QAQAMOKuFeFJvjZo8m76P2XODNW1B9Mvh_oHcCEkaudBhauIyAUXp45" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1576" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhHN-t0RQ5d1mBHH0DM2eBfxCH4SthngDe5g27JFED7e51x1tXmmOEMVu81vo24xzIJ-IwP-zTLbUt4AEtTrr2SbBLx5U7RKUOQ1jbu-OOv3PUOyJYyUU3EmvniVpTCu5gVq5NK6QAQAMOKuFeFJvjZo8m76P2XODNW1B9Mvh_oHcCEkaudBhauIyAUXp45=w241-h321" width="241" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><b>What the Wind Knows</b> by Amy Harmon. Lake Union Publishing, 2019. 406 pages. <b>*****</b></p><p>Anne Gallagher, raised by her Irish Grandfather, longs to visit Ireland with him. He puts her off by saying it is not time yet. Anne wonders when will the right time be and longingly listens to his stories of his life there. Woven into his tales are words of wisdom to quell her continuing questions. "The wind you hear is the same wind that has always blown. But the wind and water know all the earth's secrets." Saddened by his death, Anne travels to his hometown to distribute his ashes in Lough Gill. That seemingly innocent act deposits her in another time and conflict. Harmon skillfully weaves in the Irish struggle for Independence by dropping Anne into the thick of it with her mentor, Dr. Thomas Smith, and his friend Michael Collins. Knowing the outcome and recognizing that she is mistaken for her great-grandmother, Anne is hurt, disoriented, shaken, and unsure of her place in this time. </p><p>A childhood friend recommended this book and I am so glad that she did. Told in the alternating voices of Anne and Thomas, it includes all the elements of a successful story - romance, family, friendship, time-travel, and history. I was held captive from the very beginning and kept reading anticipating the ending and at the same time, not wanting it to end. I am a fan of time travel and historical fiction. Harmon is skillful in her ability to bring the story full circle and provide the perfect ending. This one will be on my top ten for 2024 list. </p><p>From the book jacket:</p><p>Amy Harmon is a<i> New York Times<u>,</u></i> <i>Wall Street Journal</i> and <i>USA Today </i>bestselling author of thirteen novels. Her historical novels, inspirational romances, and young adult fantasy books are now being published internationally. For more information on Amy Harmon and future publications, click <a href="https://www.authoramyharmon.com">here</a>.</p><p>Follow me on IG at flamazing_books</p><p>#bookstagram #timetravel #historicalfiction #irelandfiction</p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-382743238052998938.post-73442629223355197272024-02-04T10:05:00.000-05:002024-02-04T10:05:34.084-05:00How the Light Gets in <p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDqXtCfWRach6gB8DY9sNtBkcumtjBcmh3WqZAwrNby2qJcGM9lKGlupDRk6GwUGTX_g0Jf5QKCwhAGb7OD8nJpQkbIAfTnG1mY-5IITOmJr_pZrKt99UBxOSUQ5h_sK4gVu8Vre-OfOsjc_50nNMGE28IC-_NL-7KLgI4uzL1fIIgcnf19tJz6i1QrMAd/s436/howthelight.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="289" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDqXtCfWRach6gB8DY9sNtBkcumtjBcmh3WqZAwrNby2qJcGM9lKGlupDRk6GwUGTX_g0Jf5QKCwhAGb7OD8nJpQkbIAfTnG1mY-5IITOmJr_pZrKt99UBxOSUQ5h_sK4gVu8Vre-OfOsjc_50nNMGE28IC-_NL-7KLgI4uzL1fIIgcnf19tJz6i1QrMAd/s320/howthelight.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>How the Light Gets In</b> by Joyce Maynard. New York: Harper Collins, 2024. 432 pages. <b>***** </b>Publication Date June 25, 2024. </p><p>Maynard's follow-up novel to <i>Count The Ways</i>. Amazon provides an excellent <a href="https://www.amazon.com/How-Light-Gets-Joyce-Maynard/dp/006239830X/ref=monarch_sidesheet">synopsis</a> of the story. This book spans 15 years of fifty-four-year-old Eleanor, her family, and their life experiences. Written against the backdrop of daily life and cultural events, the reader is drawn into a story that spans three generations. </p><p>This story spoke to me on many different levels. Maynard skillfully draws us into Eleanor's family and shows each member with flaws and all. Life may not be perfect or how you expected it to be, but it is beautiful. Eleanor's life has been difficult and certainly not the experience that she expected, Divorced, estranged from her daughter, and taking care of her son who has some limitations, since almost drowning, Eleanor takes care of everyone before herself. Finding love in an unexpected place and trying to keep that aspect of her life private brings a new set of challenges and excitement. </p><p>I highly recommend you read Count the Ways before this novel. Both books may be read as stand-alones, however, your experience will be richer reading them both. This is the best book I have read in a long time. Maynard's descriptive style held me captive throughout the book. I experienced every emotion through Eleanor; her love of family at the top of the list. Maynard provides insight into how society perceives those less than perfect and how greed can cause heartache in unexpected ways. An excellent choice for Book Clubs looking for a novel about current issues and how they affect a family. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><u>Reference</u></p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://theconversation.com/how-the-philosophy-behind-the-japanese-art-form-of-kintsugi-can-help-us-navigate-failure-193487" target="_blank">Kintsugi</a> - Japanese art form, which means joining cracks with gold</p><p style="text-align: left;"><u>Other books by Joyce Maynar</u>d:</p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><a href="https://pennyformythoughts-nona.blogspot.com/2021/10/count-ways.html">Count The Ways</a></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://pennyformythoughts-nona.blogspot.com/2023/06/the-bird-hotel.html"><b>The Bird Hotel</b></a></p><p style="text-align: left;"><u>From Amazon</u></p><p style="text-align: left;">Joyce Maynard is the author of twelve previous novels and five books of nonfiction, as well as the syndicated column, “Domestic Affairs.” Her bestselling memoir, At Home in the World, has been translated into sixteen languages. Her novels To Die For and Labor Day were both adapted for film. Maynard divides her time between homes in California, New Hampshire, and Lake Atitlan in Guatemala.</p><p>The mother of three grown children, Maynard runs workshops in memoir at her home in Lafayette California. In 2002 she founded The Lake Atitlan Writing Workshop in San Marcos La Laguna, Guatemala, where she hosts a weeklong workshop in personal storytelling every winter.</p><p>She is a fellow of The MacDowell Colony and Yaddo.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Follow Me on Instagram at flaming_books</p><p style="text-align: left;">#womensfiction #familyissues </p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-382743238052998938.post-74675169215912371392024-01-10T13:22:00.002-05:002024-01-10T13:34:48.071-05:00The World We Found<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">January 10, 2024</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidmepOp46La1bYqAUWfFcGBud9TC5uO-q_Yw37MF-uEDTO5ZhSE1WvRbjmUxB5RpCCIjhaYM3v3W-4FbWdBmMX50p2xrt_7wrhUet19L6ihIxZI8yTHZV9lWGYVh2Y-Pj0890ihLrHvRMQpX0M38YMlcIe70lp5NWY8YtxZ7bwsuHAXo6vp7z0UzChZfbZ/s4032/IMG_4989.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidmepOp46La1bYqAUWfFcGBud9TC5uO-q_Yw37MF-uEDTO5ZhSE1WvRbjmUxB5RpCCIjhaYM3v3W-4FbWdBmMX50p2xrt_7wrhUet19L6ihIxZI8yTHZV9lWGYVh2Y-Pj0890ihLrHvRMQpX0M38YMlcIe70lp5NWY8YtxZ7bwsuHAXo6vp7z0UzChZfbZ/s320/IMG_4989.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><b>The World We Found</b> by Thrity Umrigar. New York: Harper, 2012. 305 pages. <b>****</b><p></p><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Armaiti, Laleh, Kavita, and Nishta were inseparable as university students in the late 1970s in Bombay. As best friends, they fought for justice, the underdog, and those oppressed. As life happens, the friends have grown apart and are facing a new challenge. Armaiti is sick and wants to see her friends at least one more time and the women work together to overcome personal challenges to make that happen. </div><div><br /></div><div>I chose this book from a list suggested by the <a href="http://bookgirlsguide.com">Book Girl's Guide</a> for the month of January. The "In Case You Missed It Backlist Reading Challenge" this month is to read a book published in 2012 and I am so glad that I did. </div><div>I love this book! The characterization of the four women and the challenges each faces in life are clearly represented. Dreams unfulfilled, love unspoken, loyalties tested, all contribute to the angst of being together again. Well-written, suspenseful, and heart-wrenching. Some women are friends forever, no matter the distance and cultural norms. I kept reading to find out what happens next and rooting them on, and at the same time, I didn't want it to end. </div><div><br /></div><div>from the book cover...</div><div>Thrity Umigar, a journalist for nearly twenty years, is the winner of the Nieman Fellowship to Harvard and the 2009 Cleveland Arts Prize, and a 2006 finalist for the PEN/Beyond Margins Award. She is a professor of English at Case Western Reserve University and lives in Cleveland, Ohio. </div><div><br /></div><div>Follow me on Instagram at flamazing_books</div><div><br /></div><div>#bookstagram #flourish #friendsfiction #friendsfiction</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-382743238052998938.post-19516993043554235382023-12-31T09:37:00.000-05:002023-12-31T09:37:23.931-05:00One Word 2024 - Flourish <p> </p><h1 style="text-align: center;"><div><b><span style="color: #0070c0; font-size: 72pt;">Flourish</span></b></div></h1><p></p><p><span face="Trebuchet MS, Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #565656;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(86, 86, 86); font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">My motto this year borrowed from Created from the Hart is "The best way to get things done is to simply begin." I haven't been very productive in my sewing, reading, or reviewing. 2023 has not been my friend. A series of small setbacks and losses balanced the past year with many wonderful, good people, and experiences. I am very grateful for all of my blessings, and I know that it is up to me to make 2024 outstanding. I want my One Word to reflect and support my focus. </span></span></p><p></p><p><span face=""Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(86, 86, 86); color: #565656; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">Choosing my word</span><span face="Trebuchet MS, Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #565656;"><span style="font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"> is easy some years and challenging others. I kept thinking of and seeing the word "choose" until someone suggested "Flourish". It took me a while, I wasn't completely sold, </span><span style="font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">however, flourish started appearing in the last two weeks. </span></span></p><p><span face="Trebuchet MS, Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #565656;"><span style="font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">I looked up the definition of flourish and this is what I found:</span></span></p><p><span face="Trebuchet MS, Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #565656;"><span style="font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">From the <i>Cambridge Dictionary </i>- </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(86, 86, 86); font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">to grow or develop successfully:</span></span></p><p><span face=""Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(86, 86, 86); color: #565656; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">What is flourishing in Positive </span><span face="Trebuchet MS, Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #565656;"><span style="font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">Psychology? <a href="https://positivepsychology.com/flourishing/">https://positivepsychology.com/flourishing/</a></span></span></p><p><span face="Trebuchet MS, Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #565656; font-size: medium;"><b>My goals this year are:</b></span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="color: #565656;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(86, 86, 86);">To complete tasks - books, quilts, projects started</span></span></li><li><span style="color: #565656;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(86, 86, 86);">To embrace new techniques, experiences, people</span></span></li><li><span style="color: #565656;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(86, 86, 86);">To think before speaking; stand up for myself!</span></span></li></ul><p></p><p><span face="Trebuchet MS, Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #565656;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(86, 86, 86); font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"></span></span></p><p><span face=""Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(86, 86, 86); color: #565656; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"><u>Past Words:</u></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(86, 86, 86); color: #565656; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">2023- Reflect</p><p style="caret-color: rgb(86, 86, 86); color: #565656; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">2022- Pause</p><p style="caret-color: rgb(86, 86, 86); color: #565656; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">2021 - Grateful</p><p style="caret-color: rgb(86, 86, 86); color: #565656; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">2020 - Joy </p><p style="caret-color: rgb(86, 86, 86); color: #565656; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">2019 - Opportunity</p><p style="caret-color: rgb(86, 86, 86); color: #565656; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">2018- Clarity</p><p style="caret-color: rgb(86, 86, 86); color: #565656; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">2017 - Balance </p><p style="caret-color: rgb(86, 86, 86); color: #565656; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">2016 - Promise</p><p style="caret-color: rgb(86, 86, 86); color: #565656; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">2015 - Abundance</p><p style="caret-color: rgb(86, 86, 86); color: #565656; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">2014 - Believe</p><p style="caret-color: rgb(86, 86, 86); color: #565656; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">2013 - Simplify </p><p style="caret-color: rgb(86, 86, 86); color: #565656; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"><b>Information about "One Word"</b></p><div><a href="http://myoneword.org">http://myoneword.org</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://oneword365.com/find-your-tribe/?searchword=pause">https://oneword365.com/find-your-tribe/?searchword=pause</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Follow me on Instagram at kathy_nester</div><div><br /></div><div>#oneword2024 #flourish</div><div><br /></div><div>If you have chosen your "one word" for the year, comment and tell us what it is. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-382743238052998938.post-49445277130395593602023-11-27T20:21:00.001-05:002023-11-27T20:21:53.730-05:00We All Want Impossible Things<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0RN2WwFWO-4hD5HfjJgxN5gsP_8hSH-22P2OwPaYYTR77WTiaQAl_IzPoS3Wk4yMOQnFlk5hWKAhAzEsDYEtZH3EOjd5D-RIqWLygrTaWppx_7S-F3QM6ekstVW25i9Za_8V-7Se8nS7wLs3LezjHFN4RanX6Fkr3kygpTV6AtlHvRAr8znHaMwAVn-f/s2100/IMG_4635.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1576" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0RN2WwFWO-4hD5HfjJgxN5gsP_8hSH-22P2OwPaYYTR77WTiaQAl_IzPoS3Wk4yMOQnFlk5hWKAhAzEsDYEtZH3EOjd5D-RIqWLygrTaWppx_7S-F3QM6ekstVW25i9Za_8V-7Se8nS7wLs3LezjHFN4RanX6Fkr3kygpTV6AtlHvRAr8znHaMwAVn-f/s320/IMG_4635.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><p><b>We All Want Impossible Things: A Novel </b>by Catherine Newman. New York: 2022, 209 pages. <b>****</b></p><p>Edi and Ash have been friends for over forty-two years through everything that life has thrown at them. This is their biggest hurdle; Edi is dying of ovarian cancer and is in hospice care near where Ash lives. Edi has chosen to die near Ash rather than close to her husband and seven-year-old son. She doesn't want to take Dash out of school and away from his friends, not knowing what this next stage will bring. Ash and Edi have always been there for each other --weddings, childbirth, heartbreak, concerts, and the sharing of their secrets. Ash cannot envision life without Edi, "Edi's memory is like the back up hard drive for mine, and have that same crashing, crushing feeling you have when the beach ball on your computer starts spinning. “Ash’s response to Edi's dying is to search for meaning in her own life and to have sex with anyone willing to help her feel alive. The touching story of their friendship is told with humor, sorrow, and compassion. </p><p>The reviews are mixed for Newman's first adult novel. A friend died a year ago, so I felt a connection with Edi and Ash. There is always some humor in sorrow and those moments seem insignificant yet are so poignant in a person's story. While some may question the validity of Edi moving closer to Ash, it makes sense when hospice beds are in short supply and Edi doesn't want her son to experience her death. "Sicilian lemon polenta pound cake is Edi's holy grail." Ash makes it her mission to find a recipe for that same cake to be included in a recipe book for Dash. </p><p>I was captivated by this story of love and friendship. At the age I am now, my life seems to be one of friend's illnesses and funerals. Saying goodbye is never easy, however, Newman shows us that it can be beautiful. </p><p><span face="Amazon Ember, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); font-family: inherit;">From Amazon</span></span></p><p><span face="Amazon Ember, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); font-family: inherit;">Catherine Newman is the author of the kids' how-to books How to Be a Person and What Can I Say?, the memoirs Catastrophic Happiness and Waiting for Birdy, the middle-grade novel One Mixed-Up Night, and the grown-up novels We All Want Impossible Things (Harper 2022) and Sandwich (Harper 2024). She edits the non-profit kids' cooking magazine ChopChop and is a regular contributor to the New York Times, O, The Oprah Magazine, Cup of Jo, and many other publications. She lives in Amherst, Massachusetts, with her family.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Follow me on Instagram at Flamazing_books.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">#bookstagram #friendship #death </span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-382743238052998938.post-23276008392152341932023-09-18T09:51:00.001-04:002023-09-18T09:51:56.368-04:00After Annie<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkA3war4jNUnJzjOE6noXlNIBZQf6Zk8JbQMHPpLfqOwcY4W4WU5P7CES1WroBpuCMGO1SR2VuF8mgIkA3CmZ_bPzSQfCRJq1DoAUoNbdmBHHE1ECgl-0qxgXAxZ9bZ8GBQjC1HayuqOFFDAK66yf7eW_ejpc7UAnK4vobAyhOyowLwrAd1O0BT0jZWZnn/s1500/afterannie.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="987" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkA3war4jNUnJzjOE6noXlNIBZQf6Zk8JbQMHPpLfqOwcY4W4WU5P7CES1WroBpuCMGO1SR2VuF8mgIkA3CmZ_bPzSQfCRJq1DoAUoNbdmBHHE1ECgl-0qxgXAxZ9bZ8GBQjC1HayuqOFFDAK66yf7eW_ejpc7UAnK4vobAyhOyowLwrAd1O0BT0jZWZnn/s320/afterannie.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><b>After Annie: A Novel </b> by Anna Quindlen. New York:Random House, 2024. 304 pages. Publication Date March 12, 2024. <b>*****</b></p><p>Annie Brown dies suddenly from a brain aneurysm, leaving her husband, her four young children and her closest friend left to struggle without her. Bill Brown finds himself overwhelmed with advice from his mother, support from an old girlfriend and the needs of the children. Bill didn't realize how much Annie did in their lives and how much her planning made each day run smoothly. Annie’s best friend Annemarie is lost without Annie’s support to keep her from her addiction. It falls to Annie's daughter, Ali, to take on her mother's duties and to seek help for her and her brothers while struggling to understand what is happening to her best friend. </p><p>I received a copy from Netgalley to review. </p><p>Anna Quindlen has written a poignant story about love, grief, acceptance, and family. Annie as a person is developed through the eyes of those who loved and knew her. Far from perfect, her message and beliefs are strong and filled with love. At times I wanted to know Annie and at others to be Annie. There are so many discussion points that I highly recommend this book for a Book Club book. Quindlen reminds us of the unpredictability of our lives and the importance of female friendships. </p><p>From Amazon:</p><p>Anna Quindlen is the author of the bestselling novels Blessings and Rise and Shine, amongst others, and of the non-fiction titles Living Out Loud, Thinking Out Loud and A Short Guide to a Happy Life. Her New York Times column 'Public and Private' won a Pulitzer Prize in 1992. She is currently a columnist for Newsweek and lives with her husband and children in New York.</p><p>Follow me on IG at flamazing_books</p><p>#bookstagram #familyfiction </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-382743238052998938.post-83180374474186903372023-09-18T09:24:00.000-04:002023-09-18T09:24:04.323-04:00Exiles<p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8JmzGrPgNs_Y4IBj9KGXaDj--XvaWa_sa7LTuaeDLHCN5PbFosP3ERKT1TiVT5bhb9qbAjlamyv9vULcL4il3tRCiBPDcgCIeoss2KraiAWXhP7WmqsfzHssGR_3_Orw6wf5vo4NqGMUVxhUXKRoOzH8PZy766pDF60oEZLH728Funa_sYVgVwXW0L_8m/s436/exiles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="287" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8JmzGrPgNs_Y4IBj9KGXaDj--XvaWa_sa7LTuaeDLHCN5PbFosP3ERKT1TiVT5bhb9qbAjlamyv9vULcL4il3tRCiBPDcgCIeoss2KraiAWXhP7WmqsfzHssGR_3_Orw6wf5vo4NqGMUVxhUXKRoOzH8PZy766pDF60oEZLH728Funa_sYVgVwXW0L_8m/s320/exiles.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><p><b>Exiles</b> by Jane Harper.(book 3 of 3: Aaron Falk) New York: Flatiron Books, 2022. 354 pages. <b>****</b></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Federal Investigator Aaron Falk is honored to be asked to be the Godfather for the Baptism of his old friend's baby. Staying with friends in a Southern Australian vineyard proves not to be the relaxing vacation that he expects it to be. </span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: inherit;">This weekend marks the one-year anniversary of Kim Gillespie's disappearance. At a busy town festival, Kim safely tucks her sleeping baby into her stroller, then vanishes into the crowd.</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: inherit;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17);"> Kim's teenage daughter, Zara, hands out flyers with the hope that someone will remember her mother and recall when they last saw her. Aaron gets drawn into the mystery and decides to investigate Kim and her friend's actions on that fateful night. Who abandons her baby instead of asking a friend to watch her? Did they even </span></span><span style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17);">know</span></span><span style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Kim, was she suffering from </span>postpartum<span style="font-family: inherit;"> depression?</span></span></span></p><p>The third book in the series, can be read as a stand-alone. I found the beginning of the book confusing, however, once I settled in, I couldn't wait to find Kim. Several scenarios presented themselves and Harper creates an evil web meant to deceive. If you enjoy psychological thrillers, add <i style="font-weight: bold;">Exiles</i> to your TBR list. </p><p>From Amazon,</p><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: Amazon Ember, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); font-size: 14px;">Jane Harper is the New York Times bestselling author of The Dry, Force of Nature, and The Lost Man. Jane previously worked as a print journalist in Australia and the UK and lives in Melbourne with her husband, daughter, and son. --This text refers to the hardcover edition.</span></span><br /><p>Follow me on Instagram at flamazing_books.</p><p>#bookstagram #missingpersonmystery</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-382743238052998938.post-30230249866928292732023-09-16T12:14:00.003-04:002023-09-16T12:20:26.165-04:00The Guest<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSvKUKmXMD-oN1YMIMYnoYRzt2N6wXvaqGpe60-7wu9p99S955XJtkGbRqOZRXfetDwCeCGRQIpyXkWaAvkPM_g19OCIm3WZeEaxWp3UssdE3BYKS8i2KbKNVwOqzNoyyu7qsZL6iYxlzzUn17Ot8-djRIvCFSnZYNUSrRzztpu3VCSID9-gaiFv1gDFpG/s522/theguest.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="522" data-original-width="343" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSvKUKmXMD-oN1YMIMYnoYRzt2N6wXvaqGpe60-7wu9p99S955XJtkGbRqOZRXfetDwCeCGRQIpyXkWaAvkPM_g19OCIm3WZeEaxWp3UssdE3BYKS8i2KbKNVwOqzNoyyu7qsZL6iYxlzzUn17Ot8-djRIvCFSnZYNUSrRzztpu3VCSID9-gaiFv1gDFpG/s320/theguest.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><p><b>The Guest </b>by B.A. Paris. New York: St. Martin's Press, 2024. 305 pages. <b>****</b></p><p>Iris and Gabriel are shocked to discover their friend Laure has left her husband Pierre and is in their house. They were on vacation and Laure walked out on Pierre and walked into their lives. With no departure date in sight Laure inveigles herself into their lives by rearranging the kitchen, wearing Iris' clothes, and critiquing Iris design decisions. Her reasons for leaving sound outlandish and Pierre won't answer the phone to defend or explain himself. Gabriel is going through his own crisis of conscience when he lies about a dying man's last words. Taking a leave of absence as a GP only gives him more time to brood about his situation and Pierre. </p><p>I won a paperback copy from Goodreads to review.</p><p>Paris never disappoints. She is a master at building a story and developing her characters and wham! when you least expect it - there it is! You get hints along the way that not everything is at it seems and all the characters are likable until they're not. No one can be trusted, and they are all lying, which one is the murderer? Is there more than one? </p><p>From Amazon:</p><p><span face="Amazon Ember, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); font-size: 14px;">B.A. PARIS is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of <b>Behind Closed Doors</b>, The <b>Breakdown, Bring Me Back</b>, <b>The Dilemma</b>, and<b> The Therapist.</b> Having lived in France for many years, she and her husband now live in the UK. She has worked both in finance and as a teacher, and she has five daughters.</span></span></p><p>Follow me on IG at flamazing_books</p><p>#psychologicalthriller #theGuest #Goodreads #bookstagram</p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-382743238052998938.post-71039819014133995492023-08-19T11:36:00.001-04:002023-08-19T11:36:38.516-04:00The One<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHBcAs_2-AB3Fh_qJXrzjkQ5IVfIU5V1tBJcCgA8tFpeD6jZSEPmX7Bi4rFt1NAWRVU-YOSivzcIGtnowKhxkZ6KmVnm59IJKVdZwmlBWfwvu1ym6exvHeQMm1Trm4_EsS5bdLThE4nEJD7rphrHNkPLrRJGaJ0AZuKi0cxMzpKBXlKP_OmwKPe8IqhRlm/s2560/theone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1695" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHBcAs_2-AB3Fh_qJXrzjkQ5IVfIU5V1tBJcCgA8tFpeD6jZSEPmX7Bi4rFt1NAWRVU-YOSivzcIGtnowKhxkZ6KmVnm59IJKVdZwmlBWfwvu1ym6exvHeQMm1Trm4_EsS5bdLThE4nEJD7rphrHNkPLrRJGaJ0AZuKi0cxMzpKBXlKP_OmwKPe8IqhRlm/s320/theone.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><p>The One by John Marrs. Ontario: Hanover Square Press, 2017. 412 pages. <b>***</b></p><p><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span face="-webkit-standard, serif">What if you could submit your DNA and be matched with "the One." Your one true love, your perfect partner-- the one you are genetically made for? Match DNA suggests that it is possible but does not guarantee a "happily ever after" Millions of people have submitted their DNA with the hope of discovering their "one" and five different people have been notified that they have a match. Do you believe in love at first sight? Some of the matches do and feel the electric charge the minute that they see their perfect mate. Others aren't too sure and what happens if the person is married with kids or of the same sex? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span face="-webkit-standard, serif">Somewhat of a status symbol, people brag about how happy they are or lie about even getting tested. Match DNA causes all other dating sites to be irrelevant, why leave it to chance? The five people who are matched relate how they are impacted, and their lives are changed by their results. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span face="-webkit-standard, serif">My niece was engrossed in this book at the beach, so I borrowed it from the library as soon as I got home. I was hooked from the beginning on the premise of "what if?" The match could be someone older, younger, of the same sex, is this even possible? The matches begin to get complicated when a serial killer is thrown into the mix and not everyone is who they are as presented. The story started strong and I was sucked in, however, at some point, I started losing interest and it seemed too rushed towards the end. Still a good beach and a conversation with friends read.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><o:p> </o:p>From Amazon:</p><p>John Marrs is the author of <i>The Good Samaritan</i>, <i>When You Disappeared,</i> and<i> Welcome to Wherever You Are</i>. A freelance journalist based in London, England, he has spent the past 20 years interviewing celebrities from the world of television, film and music for national newspapers and magazines. He has written for publications including the Guardian’s Guide and Guardian Online, Total Film, Huffington Post, Empire, Q, GT, the Independent, S Magazine and Company.</p><p>Follow me on IG at flamazing_books</p><p>#bookstagram </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-382743238052998938.post-33758092843290207912023-06-19T11:06:00.002-04:002023-06-19T11:06:45.450-04:00The Bird Hotel<p> </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizMI8GrQ5rh8sR-_g5b7P2mpppOZYwNnncTDoWvM0vqH1y0B4oGQCukosJsk4iVgn6owIS8nXgLBmeDGPl6-xzOp7ILurCHBWI6lN-YtQQsgPOLwz3e-Av0jaG_0FRT6eDA8Alszt5hE_vwTS2pO7YmtD0HKQxXZoCBLYKLToorL0Es-ob-LZeLUlKjw/s3789/IMG_2856.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2698" data-original-width="3789" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizMI8GrQ5rh8sR-_g5b7P2mpppOZYwNnncTDoWvM0vqH1y0B4oGQCukosJsk4iVgn6owIS8nXgLBmeDGPl6-xzOp7ILurCHBWI6lN-YtQQsgPOLwz3e-Av0jaG_0FRT6eDA8Alszt5hE_vwTS2pO7YmtD0HKQxXZoCBLYKLToorL0Es-ob-LZeLUlKjw/s320/IMG_2856.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p><b>The Bird Hotel, A Novel </b>by Joyce Maynard. New York: Arcade Publishing, 2023. 404 pages. *****</p><p>We can't let anyone find out who we are," Granny said. "You can't be Joan anymore." No one must know who her mother is and how she died. After a childhood filled with loss, loneliness, and grief, Joan grows up as Irene. Keeping her promise, Irene doesn't even tell her beloved husband who she really is. Irene seeks a place where she can be herself, develop as an artist and find peace. Arriving at LaLonda, Irene finds her paradise and acceptance. </p><p>There are many stories of love, acceptance, and survival within this one book. Maynard's gift is telling other's story within a story staying true to Irene. The lushness of the island is vividly portrayed while overshadowed by natural threatening elements. I was carried along by the colorful descriptions and the kindness of man forgetting the darker side in every situation. Maynard reminds the reader that not everything is as it seems. This journey of self-awareness and survival while maintaining integrity and choosing forgiveness will provide many discussion points for a Book Club. I recommend The Bird Hotel as a thought-provoking read and have added it to my <a href="http://pennyformythoughts-nona.blogspot.com/2023/06/suggested-summer-reading-list-2023.html">suggested summer recommended reading list. </a></p><p>From her website - "Joyce Maynard is the author of eighteen books, including the New York Times bestselling novel, <i>Labor Day</i> and To Die For (both adapted for film), <i>Under the Influence </i>and the memoirs, <i>At Home in the World</i> and <i>The Best of Us.</i> Her latest novel, <i>Count the Ways</i> —the story of a marriage and a divorce, and the children who survived it— was published by William Morrow in July, 2021, and <i>The Bird Hotel</i> (Arcade Publishing) was published May 2, 2023." She is currently at work on a sequel to <i>Count the Ways</i>, tentatively scheduled for publication in 2024.</p><p>Follow Joyce Maynard at <a href="https://www.joycemaynard.com">https://www.joycemaynard.com</a>.</p><p><a href="https://pennyformythoughts-nona.blogspot.com/2021/10/count-ways.html">Count The Ways review.</a></p><p>Follow me on IG at flamazing_books</p><p>#thebirdhotel </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-382743238052998938.post-66358993981812552212023-06-19T11:04:00.000-04:002023-06-19T11:04:04.678-04:00Suggested Summer Reading List 2023<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Suggested Summer Reading List 2023</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYe7gGd7Y1qO-5goZOuJXbTqGQnzFTejf6wYMF-Fko_iM4W7TncdrD5JbUMkmyDUEazMjB2-sTSh1TfgtmkJr0jv1eqxcmIRlToQpNtqsZqhqfER4FW_orCc5JvFDas6JNuOD84014bAR-37UJ-x2GOWvYPw1HAweocQLHKOWuzY4aX6aMseMkvN2dDw/s840/summerreading.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="840" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYe7gGd7Y1qO-5goZOuJXbTqGQnzFTejf6wYMF-Fko_iM4W7TncdrD5JbUMkmyDUEazMjB2-sTSh1TfgtmkJr0jv1eqxcmIRlToQpNtqsZqhqfER4FW_orCc5JvFDas6JNuOD84014bAR-37UJ-x2GOWvYPw1HAweocQLHKOWuzY4aX6aMseMkvN2dDw/s320/summerreading.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62357986-the-bird-hotel?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=ASHFXwyU35&rank=1">The Bird Hotel</a> by Joyce Maynard</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49354511-the-dictionary-of-lost-words?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=rdxVq9LAdM&rank=1">The Dictionary of Lost Words</a> by Pip Williams</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/62854804">Esme Cahill Fails Spectacularly</a> by Marie Bostwick</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61381527-just-a-regular-boy?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_13">Just a Regular Boy</a> by Catherine Ryan Hyde</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58065033-lessons-in-chemistry?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_20">Lessons in Chemistry </a>by Bonnie Gramus</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://pennyformythoughts-nona.blogspot.com/2022/09/mad-honey.html">Mad Honey</a> by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58733693-remarkably-bright-creatures?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=m62tPkHreu&rank=1">Remarkably Bright Creatures</a> by Shelby Van Pelt</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43931.The_Woods?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=mjyHtAiYe8&rank=8">The Woods</a> by Harlan Cobe</span><span style="font-size: medium;">n</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-382743238052998938.post-15763519428435089922023-05-03T13:29:00.000-04:002023-05-03T13:29:14.785-04:00Quilt Retreat 2023<p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"> Quilt Retreat 2023</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Brandywine Valley Quilt Guild </b>held their Retreat at the <a href="https://edenresort.com">Eden Resort </a>in Lancaster from April 27th-April 30th, 2023. Eden resort is a perfect place - excellent food, comfortable rooms, nice employees. An outstanding retreat!</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Packed and ready to go, everything but the kitchen sink!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOHcfjHOSW7tl1VoQxqj2y9_xcCYQUh0iySQKRojnH-v_UO9RI41rxLuH8q6uihofOs3peBAWxIurMiyZln9yDeWBSgeOq8yVyuV5_31X9ioaBlW5BoYOu3iOUw0bf-KXc4J6liVJQDSvuAGLKvRhaN7NTc3ce6sp9SIaFaMWaaAhjTx-3TaSuCohlvQ/s2048/packedcar.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOHcfjHOSW7tl1VoQxqj2y9_xcCYQUh0iySQKRojnH-v_UO9RI41rxLuH8q6uihofOs3peBAWxIurMiyZln9yDeWBSgeOq8yVyuV5_31X9ioaBlW5BoYOu3iOUw0bf-KXc4J6liVJQDSvuAGLKvRhaN7NTc3ce6sp9SIaFaMWaaAhjTx-3TaSuCohlvQ/s320/packedcar.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Lobby</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">'<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRAnW9uBxBSCDvMfnA6wwyvZKRJUbHHzUJvLvG5UKhz15Rda0_YdqW2m2o4wwqX6rECut21qdmxipYDa4-kc1f7NpKbUQ_F-jvzHhOBvQNJ38WTxVTf6zb2HAU0uQFc7w4ex5DB8IOEriQpgNCJmlo5P-BtVZOXdHQdt3UuXZuJc1O6WWXuzG3uvnbQg/s2048/lobby.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRAnW9uBxBSCDvMfnA6wwyvZKRJUbHHzUJvLvG5UKhz15Rda0_YdqW2m2o4wwqX6rECut21qdmxipYDa4-kc1f7NpKbUQ_F-jvzHhOBvQNJ38WTxVTf6zb2HAU0uQFc7w4ex5DB8IOEriQpgNCJmlo5P-BtVZOXdHQdt3UuXZuJc1O6WWXuzG3uvnbQg/s320/lobby.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My sisters and I shared a 3 queen bed Suite. It was spacious and comfy!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mary's room<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLJYNS7RcwoyaKD5j_xqAcZZCyVmmZ7GsJD_lysYd5StzmQNnCoU9ctWToABPbDJia8JePkO7-GN18vsIIbO3CxXVeV4ZkooP9YTR7QQKUDCZwOnDUSnvWgR9RH0d-UCW7M06gvrKmL0BQnXJ2_vKjYwfl8cWPot1_naJ_KJ6MyO_u-P3rgAwvxz6c7Q"><br /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLJYNS7RcwoyaKD5j_xqAcZZCyVmmZ7GsJD_lysYd5StzmQNnCoU9ctWToABPbDJia8JePkO7-GN18vsIIbO3CxXVeV4ZkooP9YTR7QQKUDCZwOnDUSnvWgR9RH0d-UCW7M06gvrKmL0BQnXJ2_vKjYwfl8cWPot1_naJ_KJ6MyO_u-P3rgAwvxz6c7Q"></a><div style="text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLJYNS7RcwoyaKD5j_xqAcZZCyVmmZ7GsJD_lysYd5StzmQNnCoU9ctWToABPbDJia8JePkO7-GN18vsIIbO3CxXVeV4ZkooP9YTR7QQKUDCZwOnDUSnvWgR9RH0d-UCW7M06gvrKmL0BQnXJ2_vKjYwfl8cWPot1_naJ_KJ6MyO_u-P3rgAwvxz6c7Q"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgztqDCU3FP-PbFo9dzhty92WN-AuLzNU9hGpiv7gkf-k5WRvMdWXops7cGxXv9RHRzJ9Nvbap4ife0PB8Fv6XeBpjHLPC0RcpkNlkjDAmgi7rbxPOnP7XVs2IE1HK9B8IXZJRKV-3AuhEiNuwQf8gler4dx-eztZ8Xa92TPuFvbk1ef6fw_ovpn4bY1A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgztqDCU3FP-PbFo9dzhty92WN-AuLzNU9hGpiv7gkf-k5WRvMdWXops7cGxXv9RHRzJ9Nvbap4ife0PB8Fv6XeBpjHLPC0RcpkNlkjDAmgi7rbxPOnP7XVs2IE1HK9B8IXZJRKV-3AuhEiNuwQf8gler4dx-eztZ8Xa92TPuFvbk1ef6fw_ovpn4bY1A" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">Galley </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgztqDCU3FP-PbFo9dzhty92WN-AuLzNU9hGpiv7gkf-k5WRvMdWXops7cGxXv9RHRzJ9Nvbap4ife0PB8Fv6XeBpjHLPC0RcpkNlkjDAmgi7rbxPOnP7XVs2IE1HK9B8IXZJRKV-3AuhEiNuwQf8gler4dx-eztZ8Xa92TPuFvbk1ef6fw_ovpn4bY1A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsYp2V6q1PmdCYLlBahlVajN9QiEgyp2-iEVcpJxj-oMX2o663bfQpY97V5VMRoWwZ1xKYtYz6oPAZ8yLgVjrxRFHk4gGMSJtlcQrJ0q_PcXyaWgGk9QkS3HkDTxss6ogRNmB7tPqNNZLwLWQS1cD2PZh2dyF53LyCRp1wOmnG9-AdQaoSzmb4pplt2A" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sharon and I shared this room.</span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgztqDCU3FP-PbFo9dzhty92WN-AuLzNU9hGpiv7gkf-k5WRvMdWXops7cGxXv9RHRzJ9Nvbap4ife0PB8Fv6XeBpjHLPC0RcpkNlkjDAmgi7rbxPOnP7XVs2IE1HK9B8IXZJRKV-3AuhEiNuwQf8gler4dx-eztZ8Xa92TPuFvbk1ef6fw_ovpn4bY1A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZYSCAQsmrr4VyNCRP-Ws5uSlZ18WrzBVrf4wUOIOcrx9LhPxjBrqM-FWRUzk2mkLZE084_Onl63PbhXh-xpw8Y7MxtpxXTPvaJ2jFF2dh10AdnujKy9v7X-XbC2XvWyILorvApo1PMXlt_E5twEY0HaOvkfmTuBNJDGBL_EfzqcJkQRcK2wDco7DX9A" width="320" /></a></span></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our Sewing Room easily accommodated all of the quilters (@54)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO4p-zza8NRd7D3WnxApHumOgFSe0OipRky3QMwQE5GqcHKq69f7Nqkb0Vu4s-E1y0wDPhaDyq0Q2r6U7YkV72JWTdGeZrMUN1gKDcs0zad0lnzYt334Xj2DWHqZ8g-2fBK2mIOw532EyuDGoK4aE8_1QH5Mw45TkhEWNmBkBCbrEDCjkKbFLcNaiQXQ/s2048/settingup.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO4p-zza8NRd7D3WnxApHumOgFSe0OipRky3QMwQE5GqcHKq69f7Nqkb0Vu4s-E1y0wDPhaDyq0Q2r6U7YkV72JWTdGeZrMUN1gKDcs0zad0lnzYt334Xj2DWHqZ8g-2fBK2mIOw532EyuDGoK4aE8_1QH5Mw45TkhEWNmBkBCbrEDCjkKbFLcNaiQXQ/s320/settingup.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our friends and the Guild add some swag to our sewing space. Thank you everyone!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWxqxU5ig8eODYY0nLa_NP0l56Poa2jXrfiKK-ZPHhRJuuCJWbs8RUoMiE-WQeU8eDpMzAoN_HISLh9vaYkjZedqruzba729nBOQ_TlbyduVjtmqz8y3MJfgxCiH8Sjip3R2JFlrgnXX0VwPwuhUsQngCcbd4fpd85znaddGXQ9gJIy-arFYm9WGlV0A/s2048/retreatswag.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWxqxU5ig8eODYY0nLa_NP0l56Poa2jXrfiKK-ZPHhRJuuCJWbs8RUoMiE-WQeU8eDpMzAoN_HISLh9vaYkjZedqruzba729nBOQ_TlbyduVjtmqz8y3MJfgxCiH8Sjip3R2JFlrgnXX0VwPwuhUsQngCcbd4fpd85znaddGXQ9gJIy-arFYm9WGlV0A/s320/retreatswag.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">My sister Sharon made us new shirts this year -- we look like Peeps!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhopsYUE3DBZrcjsbQTYSTXBSEUxFhQHmS1vsdoVJAxKhorsAznnh0PkEtCFM5Bzn8pnfrvjgVxwN4z4gOMczvI1E81FlrDNIN1DWRMTEP1IohsaYrbNYz0h5hrvfsckAv4UlntpddqixhBkt2UbRX1KBsLn_5oZRsFRzseoDX2UAwqFTSFMGChaO3yhw/s320/peeps.jpg" width="320" /></div></div></span><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBpvEJZY6oLc9TKKGmygoiBui-b2W4PGzzUNpj7FgLHruZLAUgONWDASEL6zdTuxPtk-6GL9MXmZKvUyu53H3QZGJu54f3SM5xMcCPRyIksiYrFcgtdNruDe5Ju8Y2RdNPFpcXuQ1-ZrGL7TaYvzOGi2cmEDl5me_fcZN_eRyGiJq_50IjNfatMaAogw/s2048/shirt%20madebysharon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBpvEJZY6oLc9TKKGmygoiBui-b2W4PGzzUNpj7FgLHruZLAUgONWDASEL6zdTuxPtk-6GL9MXmZKvUyu53H3QZGJu54f3SM5xMcCPRyIksiYrFcgtdNruDe5Ju8Y2RdNPFpcXuQ1-ZrGL7TaYvzOGi2cmEDl5me_fcZN_eRyGiJq_50IjNfatMaAogw/s320/shirt%20madebysharon.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYrEZbYuXjCZ7p4Zzo8xsHFHJi5Dq7ifRzEwNnIH7VioMXl6TerHOk3QDUXmzxQ7LsZFqhlwdbkotFyJp6vauDj7XJDvkIOwl2XUGSVnK866jnsEylbxq0Nn5BoTCN27iAwyBA6W7HppccjjZZYzmsc5I50XCa8RxLUAMGCxtQM5SCOQ9o4klUmhdYbQ/s2048/sharonandshirt.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYrEZbYuXjCZ7p4Zzo8xsHFHJi5Dq7ifRzEwNnIH7VioMXl6TerHOk3QDUXmzxQ7LsZFqhlwdbkotFyJp6vauDj7XJDvkIOwl2XUGSVnK866jnsEylbxq0Nn5BoTCN27iAwyBA6W7HppccjjZZYzmsc5I50XCa8RxLUAMGCxtQM5SCOQ9o4klUmhdYbQ/s320/sharonandshirt.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwqbvXBaQW9SG9m5f07sg-khQxRltNTzA9TJThisSCh-Y5dlMOdqgmIbMGW-Ff7-WwLepvSQItHncuWK68HXb2AEJJDs6fj9B2hFCfWg-oRBuNlsFFRmF478UWJJl7TcvUrEQ3OeJfNusqLll5UchWksuupEyznwII3lfBQlrCXkvZ5CiAy96sPuj--Q/s2048/lineup.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwqbvXBaQW9SG9m5f07sg-khQxRltNTzA9TJThisSCh-Y5dlMOdqgmIbMGW-Ff7-WwLepvSQItHncuWK68HXb2AEJJDs6fj9B2hFCfWg-oRBuNlsFFRmF478UWJJl7TcvUrEQ3OeJfNusqLll5UchWksuupEyznwII3lfBQlrCXkvZ5CiAy96sPuj--Q/s320/lineup.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Our Sewing Room - we each had our own table and could spread out.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgijR7MiSgjbF1LsLoAlLXMUAjiPuOfm_-4bC9AUS-z0TditvFt6n9kHVWR-ZgIh6iNXrtUjegfPYiGb3zpsZv3JWuvHkD2hjG-YAQicnmtDF9E7iANNSgh1h9Gi9SwvDadT4SEWMSbYAl7iVdHL8RafNxYnxwUooxhanKQgfi9eLg37e7e8u4iCpQVGw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgijR7MiSgjbF1LsLoAlLXMUAjiPuOfm_-4bC9AUS-z0TditvFt6n9kHVWR-ZgIh6iNXrtUjegfPYiGb3zpsZv3JWuvHkD2hjG-YAQicnmtDF9E7iANNSgh1h9Gi9SwvDadT4SEWMSbYAl7iVdHL8RafNxYnxwUooxhanKQgfi9eLg37e7e8u4iCpQVGw" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9lQIXwNQVzHLjnx_c_xIGYcjjl2pS32VV9v8CY9wZFlOQruC5L8wfNpLmK4qk-_Rz_7bdFmXiizChLW-QDe-pG6aUq7EgGpLLBs_yvlL4zyW0N-i3AIQFuRPUnXJ-GAODblE-oeu_bGFUd6IRJS1cOwG1ZzQDXyE8vTpYMiV1rJ09HXP_nsBzlG5BzQ/s2048/sharon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9lQIXwNQVzHLjnx_c_xIGYcjjl2pS32VV9v8CY9wZFlOQruC5L8wfNpLmK4qk-_Rz_7bdFmXiizChLW-QDe-pG6aUq7EgGpLLBs_yvlL4zyW0N-i3AIQFuRPUnXJ-GAODblE-oeu_bGFUd6IRJS1cOwG1ZzQDXyE8vTpYMiV1rJ09HXP_nsBzlG5BzQ/s320/sharon.jpg" width="240" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlWm3cikMgmx_vIoPWEaLpwO3Y-bBIRDzklHg1OA9CdxZjrbZd-FsKVxQv7Eg2CK0Cl3Md-A6v3JUj4rxymGMbXzIXpdddagA7_rQd5kbpt00y91b77BZtyKmgOM8OcIBlevOUFCzcGECOaWSYU0vte2dF6BUl3C6iZoo1iQ6_mmv062Qhg4te9mEEJg/s2048/Marysewing.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlWm3cikMgmx_vIoPWEaLpwO3Y-bBIRDzklHg1OA9CdxZjrbZd-FsKVxQv7Eg2CK0Cl3Md-A6v3JUj4rxymGMbXzIXpdddagA7_rQd5kbpt00y91b77BZtyKmgOM8OcIBlevOUFCzcGECOaWSYU0vte2dF6BUl3C6iZoo1iQ6_mmv062Qhg4te9mEEJg/s320/Marysewing.jpg" width="240" /></a></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQHZov__2bRtymqpWH0g7lwRQhM4mEeLViZbcM8-3tKwFCBa6Qpa2-1BYNAZJNQ55QecdDneK0aftW1ZLD8mDerZbj0maJ3EY1FzVaTHSXEkEbwTaiE5fP8KGF29Gl8LcDtE7Mkzxutp5ptCuCkd3O-AZY9jIMAqfYbdwCCQm7AwEpUdfRvlSlY4Mbw/s2048/ballroom.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQHZov__2bRtymqpWH0g7lwRQhM4mEeLViZbcM8-3tKwFCBa6Qpa2-1BYNAZJNQ55QecdDneK0aftW1ZLD8mDerZbj0maJ3EY1FzVaTHSXEkEbwTaiE5fP8KGF29Gl8LcDtE7Mkzxutp5ptCuCkd3O-AZY9jIMAqfYbdwCCQm7AwEpUdfRvlSlY4Mbw/s320/ballroom.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There were cutting and ironing stations.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5CppU5yjKGK_eCV7oahmBa4Q0CxPLPBWhCNDLJob8ieQP38txgLLs4uvx2mu73IWETW88ejcqP5ORbNInRupj_MoCBbEkfKqVTorwrP3JXhwbAqZkogunxQdeiXqw7Qc9FkJqQ54un2otio8R53ysS7MsGlLaqp5HWZwAYbqtvWtPyMCPmHR1wkPBCQ/s2048/sharonironing.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5CppU5yjKGK_eCV7oahmBa4Q0CxPLPBWhCNDLJob8ieQP38txgLLs4uvx2mu73IWETW88ejcqP5ORbNInRupj_MoCBbEkfKqVTorwrP3JXhwbAqZkogunxQdeiXqw7Qc9FkJqQ54un2otio8R53ysS7MsGlLaqp5HWZwAYbqtvWtPyMCPmHR1wkPBCQ/s320/sharonironing.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sharon's quilt </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy0LX53Zf0q6Ts55G8F7ng0E4myn1jvTuOap0BJOqy7y2VI0Mph-UWI514PISrnpNjt_5Qd0MqhIxuNK2HcQDCjHjNUb6cOpQORxII2bgWZIQZaYfEObNvGGF0ReZWKZXepKWx0yLRcaG_5-Kyd2aeS3nwvMlMMohmXRhCQc4CRYkvItw6ArDKtSVUvg/s2048/sharon'squilt.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy0LX53Zf0q6Ts55G8F7ng0E4myn1jvTuOap0BJOqy7y2VI0Mph-UWI514PISrnpNjt_5Qd0MqhIxuNK2HcQDCjHjNUb6cOpQORxII2bgWZIQZaYfEObNvGGF0ReZWKZXepKWx0yLRcaG_5-Kyd2aeS3nwvMlMMohmXRhCQc4CRYkvItw6ArDKtSVUvg/s320/sharon'squilt.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Breakfast and lunch was served in a private room for us each day. The selection of food and desserts was amazing and delicious!</span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjIGZH8PorFJzOGV4ZXu6JSAdp8nPYKvHexs7IZDgmsy0caASOF16KZY_gSHZCWdicwEfUyzDFhkvDrlJ4SbbQjSTAkuLB1Y0hra-hUiIRVBlsKVvrSAXBNkVf4VY0e1aa5jz5TqjG-S5sTSE58YiNI2kyrQPo1vb1nt5TtQiLqTVLuT_pDB9Fo87ED2g" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjIGZH8PorFJzOGV4ZXu6JSAdp8nPYKvHexs7IZDgmsy0caASOF16KZY_gSHZCWdicwEfUyzDFhkvDrlJ4SbbQjSTAkuLB1Y0hra-hUiIRVBlsKVvrSAXBNkVf4VY0e1aa5jz5TqjG-S5sTSE58YiNI2kyrQPo1vb1nt5TtQiLqTVLuT_pDB9Fo87ED2g" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjIbikOaMV9RRGRL3SJa67EWGR23FaF0ATj8RjNaopJysWVG7is45Md5Cqle2fY0YbE-tuoY6tVL-eOaCWxlDSmD9OtWXnQQnLqz7sH0nkVY_6kP4WVimiF9nDnjyRrzVo7WwadzvFMFpkXg0NuVOfza8e4SiGzMWPM9-sPQ30XLMXOpRlZSTGGCv7Qow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjIbikOaMV9RRGRL3SJa67EWGR23FaF0ATj8RjNaopJysWVG7is45Md5Cqle2fY0YbE-tuoY6tVL-eOaCWxlDSmD9OtWXnQQnLqz7sH0nkVY_6kP4WVimiF9nDnjyRrzVo7WwadzvFMFpkXg0NuVOfza8e4SiGzMWPM9-sPQ30XLMXOpRlZSTGGCv7Qow" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Every day there were scrumptious desserts!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWxlYiYENG0IKM2jrb-cL52EVc1yPY1RQTbFMvPuA9FeQooqjYLJgXQ-PE45YVMjG7AhYaaZrxfA0Dw2FvrjJM0ZdvRQZUT7qj9YoueuIrwyG3cOgzwrulFrUumqly8CeidpPNbTQCcgR_rVOFfeshwgJRi0F2C0t5iZux_Hf13LvAZeRYoPr85mmUEQ/s2048/desserts.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWxlYiYENG0IKM2jrb-cL52EVc1yPY1RQTbFMvPuA9FeQooqjYLJgXQ-PE45YVMjG7AhYaaZrxfA0Dw2FvrjJM0ZdvRQZUT7qj9YoueuIrwyG3cOgzwrulFrUumqly8CeidpPNbTQCcgR_rVOFfeshwgJRi0F2C0t5iZux_Hf13LvAZeRYoPr85mmUEQ/s320/desserts.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Door Prizes are always welcomed, especially when everyone wins one!</div>Thank you Door Prize Committee!<br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-8oZZ-dEDB4ERqH5Rnw__3XD_0F03U4ar8XSIJSLSjrEudghNFY07qo1yiS7uUfdhcbdb51CMHrVF4-zGeWu2nnyfmY3oBouZbtlT5GSx4CI_3C-X4RPyAPDV9hAZ6POdN9VqODv3XZd9BsTz46JE-uwurXMnZoLi7iAoM6uRP1K9iS56Cc674ZqzLQ/s2048/doorprizes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-8oZZ-dEDB4ERqH5Rnw__3XD_0F03U4ar8XSIJSLSjrEudghNFY07qo1yiS7uUfdhcbdb51CMHrVF4-zGeWu2nnyfmY3oBouZbtlT5GSx4CI_3C-X4RPyAPDV9hAZ6POdN9VqODv3XZd9BsTz46JE-uwurXMnZoLi7iAoM6uRP1K9iS56Cc674ZqzLQ/s320/doorprizes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl4b8p9IKoiHeFegd8037SxgNqHP7-zwl5MQ3v7hqBsPdhZtX7fbDkMZO271yzStotR8-AAVuHclDeNLm3o57rGSX7hbD1uE7muTFS3Yqqp4yP8iArDrjCeCB3JYBT2fz953DAcYjeoMq8aGG2w7KR3PQfasUGe6tzySaV20Bcl1QRcKCBhMc-RchPfQ/s2048/sponsors.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl4b8p9IKoiHeFegd8037SxgNqHP7-zwl5MQ3v7hqBsPdhZtX7fbDkMZO271yzStotR8-AAVuHclDeNLm3o57rGSX7hbD1uE7muTFS3Yqqp4yP8iArDrjCeCB3JYBT2fz953DAcYjeoMq8aGG2w7KR3PQfasUGe6tzySaV20Bcl1QRcKCBhMc-RchPfQ/s320/sponsors.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: right;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: right;">Deb won a sewing basket</span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxoFFTvCxIS5cAExHJkTGfmVWHkp7kqZP-ovALQY13BwRsht9cTt-JgVgnHbS9idBrogLr9rkiNSTnffpVtI-w10j_6SVg-Td9bF852Bd8oZHUR2OJ0RIpxDCqPX8Xsy7cHiOZBEP2UeVFzB5OZbpVn5xyyofsOUQa8jByrgVAu1ym_JmmheHa6VKykw/s2048/deb'sdoorprize.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxoFFTvCxIS5cAExHJkTGfmVWHkp7kqZP-ovALQY13BwRsht9cTt-JgVgnHbS9idBrogLr9rkiNSTnffpVtI-w10j_6SVg-Td9bF852Bd8oZHUR2OJ0RIpxDCqPX8Xsy7cHiOZBEP2UeVFzB5OZbpVn5xyyofsOUQa8jByrgVAu1ym_JmmheHa6VKykw/s320/deb'sdoorprize.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">Cheryl is a winner!</span><br /><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeMcDAT2I1Eu3J4x7501pp-Vt1ba8igIilsikTMtogOUse3fQO8Vgj4gLxTH8H3zH0qiJfvof7bU84tdjsgis6ht85TOzD2Rrc5EQCLw7U3BEeJOq-8sVVGTBYZso7OzStshE-yM4HgqzI1Z8ciHX2kvjzhVoJVNQ3Epka5BeOsbhLyLbTT-vQtAajTA/s2048/chery'sdoorprize.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeMcDAT2I1Eu3J4x7501pp-Vt1ba8igIilsikTMtogOUse3fQO8Vgj4gLxTH8H3zH0qiJfvof7bU84tdjsgis6ht85TOzD2Rrc5EQCLw7U3BEeJOq-8sVVGTBYZso7OzStshE-yM4HgqzI1Z8ciHX2kvjzhVoJVNQ3Epka5BeOsbhLyLbTT-vQtAajTA/s320/chery'sdoorprize.jpg" width="240" />K</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyLUI0nfh-9a73uHtB3iRMHmGux-Zf1xR8BqqlrB3j5mqDKxgGcD4lAoaAr8XTmtNW7fy-GtTtQ7O1GJeMoZ4AR-AAKJkA7D5Sc9ym26O7ibV5ZStJVxGrhou9V0vj2PhpWWuJ761Kvi8UwIdQaDxZIGk3v0j0BIVoY6zExoOBEFJOPQJK1DXJDqWLHQ/s2048/Kathy'sdoorprize.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1788" data-original-width="2048" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyLUI0nfh-9a73uHtB3iRMHmGux-Zf1xR8BqqlrB3j5mqDKxgGcD4lAoaAr8XTmtNW7fy-GtTtQ7O1GJeMoZ4AR-AAKJkA7D5Sc9ym26O7ibV5ZStJVxGrhou9V0vj2PhpWWuJ761Kvi8UwIdQaDxZIGk3v0j0BIVoY6zExoOBEFJOPQJK1DXJDqWLHQ/s320/Kathy'sdoorprize.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><u><br /></u></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKuiDD3782126Z4RDjBYpM-Xo4TF8mRMgly6N2_r7q-JlQCmuxe4W651iUdpPhnIuTzytEyBJtGIgmvkle9RXh0SeLdIMRCrZPzFfWB1qWbolMWm8hXIOIS1iKNQVnx2sk2NpiyDBPZ-ikQ_Qed2wvg4ooLlSH9rW_QRCUZC8liDNdK3ysM4NhLwaHMw/s1106/mary'sdoorprize.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1106" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKuiDD3782126Z4RDjBYpM-Xo4TF8mRMgly6N2_r7q-JlQCmuxe4W651iUdpPhnIuTzytEyBJtGIgmvkle9RXh0SeLdIMRCrZPzFfWB1qWbolMWm8hXIOIS1iKNQVnx2sk2NpiyDBPZ-ikQ_Qed2wvg4ooLlSH9rW_QRCUZC8liDNdK3ysM4NhLwaHMw/s320/mary'sdoorprize.jpg" width="312" /></a></div></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;">Retreat isn't complete unless we go fabric shopping! </span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thank you Old Country Store, Intercourse, PA for our discount coupons.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2ZZe0Fxjc_qvWqbo-pmFWbEQ7TnM7hW6TO_oT3ruSjW0RQiRicYPZUEHDhogXMTqs19AwsaNZyAVuwY01i3-IWiat9l-OLysWHl_Yvr2ZatCXXyCOymPeu1H9G3soZRCW7TsZBTJvTkgHGjB-VbsRnt9kOUlODv9OJnEuswG8gboupQEF7CVp5MtXw/s2048/344763633_174770975151633_6925708663568921417_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2ZZe0Fxjc_qvWqbo-pmFWbEQ7TnM7hW6TO_oT3ruSjW0RQiRicYPZUEHDhogXMTqs19AwsaNZyAVuwY01i3-IWiat9l-OLysWHl_Yvr2ZatCXXyCOymPeu1H9G3soZRCW7TsZBTJvTkgHGjB-VbsRnt9kOUlODv9OJnEuswG8gboupQEF7CVp5MtXw/s320/344763633_174770975151633_6925708663568921417_n.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYyJTNcd3IIrhl_-Tzy4e1RYd8GihaBiV3eJKDjZkKEln0sgUMnzUV9IFwncfN8dIZSFgaK5LN0GfBpeakYJW-nwmPXvBP6puGd5araKSUTUKo0FP2L9y78nLXE9a4sjqtFIKbYZrRW0PLPF3NNQ7TYskQgQfZdTu0pXVl7KTkzlgv_RM-iDXVMwIYRw/s2048/shopping.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYyJTNcd3IIrhl_-Tzy4e1RYd8GihaBiV3eJKDjZkKEln0sgUMnzUV9IFwncfN8dIZSFgaK5LN0GfBpeakYJW-nwmPXvBP6puGd5araKSUTUKo0FP2L9y78nLXE9a4sjqtFIKbYZrRW0PLPF3NNQ7TYskQgQfZdTu0pXVl7KTkzlgv_RM-iDXVMwIYRw/s320/shopping.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><u><br /></u></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I spent the days working on two quilts - The Avenue and a heart log cabin. The same Tilda and neutral fabric is in both quilts to maximize using my fabric. Sewing curves is always a challenge!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIv9q6JEOfH0MqQQBohs6wzVvdVPPCPtZgq_ClY-qX-Rvx5tpXWKG0E0lk9Shx8OA0qiJrcNI91BQjQML99LuiFROqgAcmyu-VWntwcXi12jyC9TZfrBbUMOMDFNePN1y5FaBWeQt_u6-SqumBhVlOr3vainVqVMREzlT-cIyMWf8Nb_v1aH1Biz4jog/s2048/sewingcurves.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIv9q6JEOfH0MqQQBohs6wzVvdVPPCPtZgq_ClY-qX-Rvx5tpXWKG0E0lk9Shx8OA0qiJrcNI91BQjQML99LuiFROqgAcmyu-VWntwcXi12jyC9TZfrBbUMOMDFNePN1y5FaBWeQt_u6-SqumBhVlOr3vainVqVMREzlT-cIyMWf8Nb_v1aH1Biz4jog/s320/sewingcurves.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNO3Fb_d0_rGpAT7EdQtIidiyaPBxx-3pGOMjjUQzWE7LgjR2217_MRLW27fcErebSUdvv65PvRNmHJw7rZo_u872xfeP8SwRnOjCzbu8LMW7XfY_l8pXTc9b8sj5Chsu8tgDSU_BW9K2gnMHdneyF8vZXpmyQ0GqpFQZeg6npMxJ8wz2PkLVFgc0dzg/s2048/oneofmyfavoriteblocks.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNO3Fb_d0_rGpAT7EdQtIidiyaPBxx-3pGOMjjUQzWE7LgjR2217_MRLW27fcErebSUdvv65PvRNmHJw7rZo_u872xfeP8SwRnOjCzbu8LMW7XfY_l8pXTc9b8sj5Chsu8tgDSU_BW9K2gnMHdneyF8vZXpmyQ0GqpFQZeg6npMxJ8wz2PkLVFgc0dzg/s320/oneofmyfavoriteblocks.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9JzyPFwUfePrbmOVTztswyS3mxPDlFHhhDrFmL3VNt_dPLp6RHSR4ZXepWpsk-C8ZXBcFaZNclKnuXK9W2BYQ-Pa5gqtPcABATZMr0WMCDUQ4NeUrXoBYwjqjlZ3zIxklWGZbUZd-KPMATccFMtJrWjbHT-btqef-pA-wRip4ElUkxEp32tapputUgg/s2048/TheAvenue.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9JzyPFwUfePrbmOVTztswyS3mxPDlFHhhDrFmL3VNt_dPLp6RHSR4ZXepWpsk-C8ZXBcFaZNclKnuXK9W2BYQ-Pa5gqtPcABATZMr0WMCDUQ4NeUrXoBYwjqjlZ3zIxklWGZbUZd-KPMATccFMtJrWjbHT-btqef-pA-wRip4ElUkxEp32tapputUgg/s320/TheAvenue.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A long way to go! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The last day of Retreat, fun was had by all and so wonderful to spend time with my sisters.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9C_D0jUQbi81IkW4Tw2cnjqHhG3D1_rxkstq4BOTlyFfo_5W30CoSALGiLcun6zZ2hlTOIDMEVccnDOaQmuoDql8KrASBdhlB_iHBgsYK0w2HKqmlk_-PIA5kqu-bxWJqgXX1iZNHiBLHAJjsjQmfkO8apDYDrUlMzRA9wasne7NBcDVJtjtdQH9xeQ/s2048/sistersonlastday.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1714" data-original-width="2048" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9C_D0jUQbi81IkW4Tw2cnjqHhG3D1_rxkstq4BOTlyFfo_5W30CoSALGiLcun6zZ2hlTOIDMEVccnDOaQmuoDql8KrASBdhlB_iHBgsYK0w2HKqmlk_-PIA5kqu-bxWJqgXX1iZNHiBLHAJjsjQmfkO8apDYDrUlMzRA9wasne7NBcDVJtjtdQH9xeQ/s320/sistersonlastday.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><a href="https://pennyformythoughts-nona.blogspot.com/2018/04/quilt-retreat-2018.html"><span style="font-size: large;">Past Retreats</span></a><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">#ilovemysisters #quiltretreat #brandywinevalleyquilters </div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-382743238052998938.post-14202743954688834052023-04-20T11:29:00.000-04:002023-04-20T11:29:05.947-04:00Seven Girls Gone<p> </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdbODZDN8HvHN2BM8fLVhXdvZsPTBOlQlJO1kZfdeaLPe4yoBdwTbsP9YXIf67EKzWs3FPoTHJWBHFFDu1M9r4M9UN6LH4cFUJKh6ENBIR4Xg2lerYGgzOrA0ekvahp_OMPXhulWGkDdbmDVc2ddW9L9NECJVmLdpoK9tERaZeTvH8YefXVw6gp-qCOw/s436/sevengirls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="288" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdbODZDN8HvHN2BM8fLVhXdvZsPTBOlQlJO1kZfdeaLPe4yoBdwTbsP9YXIf67EKzWs3FPoTHJWBHFFDu1M9r4M9UN6LH4cFUJKh6ENBIR4Xg2lerYGgzOrA0ekvahp_OMPXhulWGkDdbmDVc2ddW9L9NECJVmLdpoK9tERaZeTvH8YefXVw6gp-qCOw/s320/sevengirls.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><br /><p><b>Seven Girls Gone ( (A Quinn & Costa Thriller Book 4) </b>by Allison Brennan. Ontario:Mira, 2023. 433 pages <b>***</b></p><p>St. Augustine, Louisiana, where the main activity in town is a bar with benefits is no stranger to fights and violence. Police detective Beau Hebert is the only one who cares when women are missing and show up dead. Amidst rumors of corruption in the police department, Beau calls in a favor from his friend on the FBI’s Mobile Response Team. LAPD detective Kara Quinn also arrives and works undercover to make friends with some of the local women and to hang out in the town's bars. When she is stopped by a local police office for coasting through a stop sign and is searched more thoroughly than is comfortable or allowed by law, she is determined take that officer down. When Team leader Matt Costa investigates the in-custody death of a witness, the case takes a new direction and begins to unravel. Beau realizes that he will need to solve the case quickly and cleanly or he will no longer be welcome or safe in his hometown. </p><p>I received an ecopy for a review.</p><p>Even though I did not read the first three books in the series, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. The relationships among the main characters are complex and add to the suspense in the story. I suspect there is still a small- town mentality in existence where there are limited education and few job opportunities and where money is at the root of violence. </p><p>From Amazon...</p><p>Allison Brennan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling and award winning author of three dozen thrillers and numerous short stories. She was nominated for Best Paperback Original Thriller by International Thriller Writers, had multiple nominations and two Daphne du Maurier Awards, and is a five-time RITA finalist for Best Romantic Suspense. Allison believes life is too short to be bored, so she had five kids and spends all her non-writing time as a sports spectator, chauffeur, and short-order cook for her munchkins. She has a dog, two cats, and three chickens. Allison and her family live in northern California.</p><p>Follow me on IG at falmazing_books</p><p>#msystery #psycholgicalfiction </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-382743238052998938.post-52544262989014783792023-03-20T00:00:00.002-04:002023-03-20T00:00:00.244-04:00Earth's the Right Place for Love <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpQLyxHtJl9Bdcl2lDKLsEO9OSJinjrclE2cw3OY2kFraoJmPx65n_uR7jjRl4Xqh-Vr4Gdg9FAydq63Glv4_yYj4NZ7Z9XcTSokyqSpbyVT7hkWK4CIrTM_cJlLq7rfHWv42BHgFp7hIKKJsdY97VwtVbn5Sl_tB-d17n-6xfVyCp5g9Omfyu6Tfvvg/s499/Earth's.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="331" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpQLyxHtJl9Bdcl2lDKLsEO9OSJinjrclE2cw3OY2kFraoJmPx65n_uR7jjRl4Xqh-Vr4Gdg9FAydq63Glv4_yYj4NZ7Z9XcTSokyqSpbyVT7hkWK4CIrTM_cJlLq7rfHWv42BHgFp7hIKKJsdY97VwtVbn5Sl_tB-d17n-6xfVyCp5g9Omfyu6Tfvvg/s320/Earth's.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><b>Earth's the Right Place for Love: a Novel </b>by Elizabeth Berg. New York: Random House, 2023. 288 pages. Publication Date March 21, 2023.<b> ****</b></p><p>Growing up in Mason, Missouri, Arthur Moses has spent his life in a town that he loves, living his dream. When he is sixteen and sharing a bedroom with his older, worldly, brother Frank, Arthur seeks advice on attracting the attention of the prettiest girl in school, Nola McCollum. Nola has a crush on Arthur’s older brother, Frank, who is busy pursuing his own love interest and avoiding the boys’ father, a war veteran with a drinking problem who loses his job. Nola gives Arthur her phone number to give to Frank, however, Frank is busy pursuing his own love interest and coaches Arthur in the way of love. When a sudden tragedy strikes the family, Arthur tries to make sense of it all and finds comfort in nature. Trying to get Nola to see him as something besides a friend proves to be his biggest challenge.</p><p>I received an copy for a review.</p><p>Berg can make me laugh, cry, despair, and be hopeful, all at the same time. I know so many people like Arthur, kind, gentle, loving, trying to fit in without losing himself. He's comfortable with his choices and knows what he wants in life while trying to understand his parent's relationship. Berg drew me in, and I savored every morsel of this story. Arthur earns money by helping his elderly neighbors who share their stories with him. I can relate to where his neighbors are in their life, wanting someone who will see them and listen. Berg does a beautiful job in the portrayal of the characters and their acceptance of Arthur. Fans of Arthur Truluv will love this book and so will Book Clubs.</p><p>Follow me on IG and flamazing_books.</p><p><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: inherit;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17);">From Amazon - Elizabeth Berg is the author of many bestselling novels, including The Story of Arthur Truluv, Night of Miracles, The Confession Club, Open House (an Oprah’s Book Club selection), Talk Before Sleep, and The Year of Pleasures, as well as the short story collection The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted. Durable Goods and Joy School were selected as ALA Best Books of the Year. She adapted The Pull of the Moon into a play that enjoyed sold-out performances in Chicago and Indianapolis. Berg’s work has been published in thirty-one countries, and three of her novels have been turned into television movies. She is the founder of Writing Matters, a quality reading series dedicated to serving author, audience, and community. She teaches one-day writing workshops and is a popular speaker at venues around the country. Some of her most popular Facebook postings have been collected in Make Someone Happy, Still Happy, and Happy to Be Here. She lives outside of Chicago.</span></span></p><p>#kindness #lovefiction </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-382743238052998938.post-75651589991935980982023-02-22T15:21:00.002-05:002023-02-22T15:21:35.585-05:00Going Rogue: Rise and Shine Twenty-Nine<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVacT0ZGyYlIITyOMLhMJoEWt8L3o0QqO-h3I8hVkz6pX4c1faDRPLDvDyv3sIPuMQFF4rDoRBlW6kLraZdmxId_RJSUQHYxELqJjp3Ns5-YMaJPm0yI9Btsh3Y9mixK0z5zV5F1MYd-y59a7zy7PIkGrO1iJFsdf-O7A0Q3fQCbVk7hH41BvsyU-_w/s2100/B9778C5E-3C75-4BDC-BAB4-1BC51957C5A2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1576" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVacT0ZGyYlIITyOMLhMJoEWt8L3o0QqO-h3I8hVkz6pX4c1faDRPLDvDyv3sIPuMQFF4rDoRBlW6kLraZdmxId_RJSUQHYxELqJjp3Ns5-YMaJPm0yI9Btsh3Y9mixK0z5zV5F1MYd-y59a7zy7PIkGrO1iJFsdf-O7A0Q3fQCbVk7hH41BvsyU-_w/s320/B9778C5E-3C75-4BDC-BAB4-1BC51957C5A2.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><b>Going Rogue: Rise and Shine Twenty-Nine (Stephanie Plum Book 29) by </b>Janet Evanovich<b> </b>NewYork: Atria Books, 2022. 324 pages. ****</p><p style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In this latest Stephanie Plum novel, Connie and Vinnie are kidnapped, and held for the return of a coin. Grandma attempts to help Stephanie locate them and to keep Bella, Morelli's Grandmother at bay. Bella has a warrant out for her failure to appear in court and threatens anyone with the "eye" who attempts to bring her in. Throw in a car and office explosion, Ranger, Morelli, and Lancelot try to protect Stephanie each in their own way to humorous results. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I view a Janet Evanovich book as a palate cleanser. The situations that Lula and Stephanie get themselves into makes me laugh out loud. I know that when I start one of her books, I will read it in two days and thoroughly enjoy it. I will be in a good mood afterwards and won't tire of the doughnut eating and stops for fried chicken. Even though this is her 29th novel in this series and somewhat formulaic, it is tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches, a comfort food kind of book. You know what you are getting and it's something that you need right now. If you are a Stephanie Plum fan, you will not be disappointed. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17);">From Amazon - Janet Evanovich is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Stephanie Plum series, the co-authored Fox and O’Hare series, the Knight and Moon series, and the Lizzy and Diesel series as well as twelve romance novels, the Alexandra Barnaby novels, Troublemaker graphic novel, and How I Write: Secrets of a Bestselling Author.Janet Evanovich is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Stephanie Plum series, the co-authored Fox and O’Hare series, the Knight and Moon series, and the Lizzy and Diesel series as well as twelve romance novels, the Alexandra Barnaby novels, Troublemaker graphic novel, and How I Write: Secrets of a Bestselling Author.</span></span></p><p><span face="Amazon Ember, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); font-size: 14px;">Follow me on IG at flamazing_books.</span></span></p><p>#bookstagram #stephaniePlum #mystery</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-382743238052998938.post-11947498455943522842023-02-16T15:50:00.000-05:002023-02-16T15:50:55.938-05:00As Bright As Heaven<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-lhcbasFjKk3cOddhIA0n1fO3uxlFInHmvaBDp2prqb1yZQiX6DESlRYuPLtsLpECve1kdBoL-Idk3RxXYalt_pRZwIX3R5iD-5lDTGuxOVumIGEnj4-P5_haVTiEZypUEQeigIHJKmxRvqRvnrReBf2Uq6-WV1sISXxEJHpJVSQn2bZKj0Dsen5-Jw/s2100/0D101D3F-B44B-4B4B-A857-9F496C330766.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1576" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-lhcbasFjKk3cOddhIA0n1fO3uxlFInHmvaBDp2prqb1yZQiX6DESlRYuPLtsLpECve1kdBoL-Idk3RxXYalt_pRZwIX3R5iD-5lDTGuxOVumIGEnj4-P5_haVTiEZypUEQeigIHJKmxRvqRvnrReBf2Uq6-WV1sISXxEJHpJVSQn2bZKj0Dsen5-Jw/s320/0D101D3F-B44B-4B4B-A857-9F496C330766.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><b>As Bright As Heaven</b> by Susan Meisssner. New York: Berkley, 2018. 387 pages.<b> ***</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p>It's 1918 and the Bright family moves from Quakertown to Philadelphia in search of a better life for their three girls. Uncle Fred, an undertaker, invites them to live with him and he will teach the trade to his nephew and pay for the girls' schooling. Reeling from the death of their infant son, the plan provides hope for all of them until the 1918 Spanish Flu invades the city. Many of the young men have left to fight in the Great War and no family is left untouched by the flu. Bodies pile up at the mortuary and given the unsanitary conditions, masks are ineffective against this pandemic. How anyone survived is a miracle and the Bright family is no exception in their loss. </p><p>This story may be too soon for some readers after Covid. Having experienced life during a pandemic, I have been curious as to how my family survived in Philadelphia in 1918. Blue collar workers of modest means, I have seen pictures from that time and marveled that here we are. Meissner touches on the parade which caused a resurgence of cases and deaths. While a sad tale, love and hope prevail. Each of the girls adapts to their new environment and disappointments, while finding love and a purpose in helping others. The first half of the book was stronger than the second half, a strong start and weak finish. </p><div><br /></div><p>From her website-</p><p>Susan Meissner is a USA Today bestselling author of historical fiction with more than three-quarters of a million books in readers' hands and translations in eighteen languages. She is an author, speaker and writing workshop leader with a background in community journalism. Her novels include The Nature of Fragile Things, which earned a starred review in Publishers Weekly; The Last Year of the War, named to Real Simple magazine’s list of best books for 2019; As Bright as Heaven, which earned a starred review in Library Journal; Secrets of Charmed Life, a Goodreads finalist for Best Historical Fiction 2015; and A Fall of Marigolds, named to Booklist’s Top Ten Women’s Fiction titles for 2014.</p><p>She attended Point Loma Nazarene University in California and makes her home with her husband and yellow Lab in the Pacific Northwest.</p><p>Visit Susan at her website: <a href="https://susanmeissnerauthor.com/">https://susanmeissnerauthor.com/</a> and on Instagram at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/susanmeissnerauthor">https://www.instagram.com/susanmeissnerauthor</a>/ on Twitter at @SusanMeissner or on Facebook at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/susan.meissner">www.facebook.com/susan.meissner</a></p><div class="a-cardui-body" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px 20px; position: relative;"><div class="a-reactive-container a-reactive-container-transition" style="box-sizing: border-box; height: 170px; min-height: 0px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; transition: height 0.4s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1) 0s;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="a-cardui-content" data-a-max-height="80" style="box-sizing: border-box; max-height: none; outline: 0px;" tabindex="0"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">Follow me on IG at flamazing_books</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">#historicalfiction #bookstagram #spanishflupandemicof1918 </p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></p></div></div><div class="a-reactive-container-gradient" style="background-image: linear-gradient(rgba(255, 255, 255, 0), rgb(255, 255, 255)); bottom: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: 0px; left: 0px; position: absolute; right: 0px; transition: height 0.4s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.6, 1) 0s;"></div></div></div><div class="a-cardui-footer" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 10px 20px 0px;"><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-382743238052998938.post-29933574392468197632023-02-11T14:23:00.002-05:002023-02-11T14:23:49.970-05:00Where Are the Children Now? <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik4YoGYrACPLePlnYfj0G5FGXRYu3FHr9X7dB-41dQKVBd71sDdeS5JhIEoYssvRoWnEXt3IKCXCv6ldNTzPb2nBKtdrjTEVIzqvE4Sja_yESclCwaFCBBHju656ciH_Iqprga6v3PD0QTQ6gCJ_Jm91hzmYWRix8Q4lSVzkVXiHKNyodpaxOLuntI8Q/s4032/C187308A-A42E-4DD0-B91F-01801F4DCD07.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik4YoGYrACPLePlnYfj0G5FGXRYu3FHr9X7dB-41dQKVBd71sDdeS5JhIEoYssvRoWnEXt3IKCXCv6ldNTzPb2nBKtdrjTEVIzqvE4Sja_yESclCwaFCBBHju656ciH_Iqprga6v3PD0QTQ6gCJ_Jm91hzmYWRix8Q4lSVzkVXiHKNyodpaxOLuntI8Q/s320/C187308A-A42E-4DD0-B91F-01801F4DCD07.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>Where Are the Children Now? </b>by Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2023. 275 pages <b>****</b></p><p>In this sequel to one of Clark's best-selling novels, Where are the Children? Melissa is preparing for her marriage to Charlie and her role as stepmother to his daughter, Riley. Her brother, Mike is concerned that Melissa has not worked through what happened to them as children and feels that she is in denial and rushing into marriage. Charlie's first wife accidentally died while on vacation in Norway and Riley while happy about the wedding misses her mother and wishes her mother could attend. When Riley wanders off, Melissa is forced to confront what happened to her as a child while trying to convince the police that Riley has been abducted. </p><p>Won a copy through Goodreads. </p><p>It's been a long time since I read a book by Mary Higgins Clark, she passed away in 2020. However, I won this book through Goodreads, so why not? It is an excellent quick read. Even though it is a sequel, it works well as a standalone. Enough background is provided that the reader can understand what is going on. Like all psychological thrillers there are many twists and turns, I did have an idea where the story line was going, however, it did not take away from the enjoyment of the book. </p><p>From Amazon...</p><p>The #1 New York Times bestselling author Mary Higgins Clark wrote forty suspense novels, four collections of short stories, a historical novel, a memoir, and two children’s books. With bestselling author Alafair Burke she wrote the Under Suspicion series including The Cinderella Murder, All Dressed in White, The Sleeping Beauty Killer, Every Breath You Take, You Don’t Own Me, and Piece of My Heart. With her daughter Carol Higgins Clark, she coauthored five suspense novels. More than one hundred million copies of her books are in print in the United States alone. Her books are international bestsellers.</p><p>Alafair Burke is the New York Times bestselling author of fourteen novels, including The Better Sister, The Wife, The Ex, and Find Me, in addition to the Under Suspicion series, coauthored with Mary Higgins Clark. A former prosecutor, she now teaches criminal law and lives in New York City.</p><div>Follow me on IG at flamazing_books</div><div><br /></div><div> #bookstagram #psychologicalthriller #mystery</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-382743238052998938.post-57917049916335784822023-02-06T13:14:00.000-05:002023-02-06T13:14:05.167-05:00Hide<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQ_AywCsLd04K8kJpGmC1aXHOTFdEF-FXLY7wsmBcz9V9k1cT-6Jd_Q6nuPRy9cU21vatQNYP6Sjsvw8hPwRYxpEjs_U7ySyVG2naIzUrnkt7wWf5XAeqLnxuYAQF2YvuruSzCtAaAbqwWy090URuyCjS9LY0r9iiySjv5fYf3qoBv8yQPmm8tH0ckNw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQ_AywCsLd04K8kJpGmC1aXHOTFdEF-FXLY7wsmBcz9V9k1cT-6Jd_Q6nuPRy9cU21vatQNYP6Sjsvw8hPwRYxpEjs_U7ySyVG2naIzUrnkt7wWf5XAeqLnxuYAQF2YvuruSzCtAaAbqwWy090URuyCjS9LY0r9iiySjv5fYf3qoBv8yQPmm8tH0ckNw" width="160" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"> <b>Hide (Detective Harriet Foster Book 1 of 2 ) </b>by Tracy Clark. Seattle, Thomas and Mercer, 2023. 377 pages ***</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Detective Harriet Foster with 17 years experience as a Chicago cop returns to work after her partner commts suicide and her son is a victim of street violence. Partnered with the most obnoxious detective in the department, she is determined to rise above his crude behavior. When a red-haired woman is discovered brutally murdered in downtown Chicago, her partner thinks he has solved the case without investigating the inconsistencies at the crime scene. When another woman is discovered dead in the same manner as the first, Harriet is determined to hunt for the murderer and suspects that there is a serial killer on the loose.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Quick read with many twists and turns, somewhat predictable. Enjoyable escapism. I will definitely read the 2nd book, Foster is a likable character and has potential for further development. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">From Amazon</div><div style="text-align: left;">Tracy Clark, a native Chicagoan, is the author of the Cass Raines Chicago Mystery series, featuring ex-cop turned PaI Cassandra Raines. Her debut, BROKEN PLACES, made Library Journal’s list of the Best Crime Fiction of 2018 and CrimeReads named Cass Raines Best New PI of 2018. The novel was nominated for a Lefty Award for Best Debut Novel, an Anthony Award for Best Debut Novel and a Shamus Award for Best First PI Novel. Her second Raines novel, BORROWED TIME, was a finalist for the 2020 Lefty Award for Best Mystery Novel and won the 2020 G.P. Putnam’s Sons Sue Grafton Memorial Award. Book three in the Raines series, WHAT YOU DON’T SEE, was also short-listed for the 2021 Left Award for Best Mystery novel. Book four, RUNNER, releases June 29, 2021. Tracy, a proud member of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America, is a lifelong South-Sider and roots for every Chicago team with equal enthusiasm. She is currently busy writing her next book.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Follow me on IG at flamazing_books</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">#bookstagram #mystery #detectivenovel #crime #thriller #amazonprimefirstreads</div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-382743238052998938.post-3496096371512537312023-01-25T11:50:00.003-05:002023-01-25T12:32:07.465-05:00The Only Survivors<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhp5bufVn1hfxYKtTcXFgby-A3nXKWVnORjzhb1JR51avXOBGXNFz1KVC-cvs0NWhdm-9bkSXwnmnUsc7fLTWFEkehN0-LeUApkoCf6bo_JJN8FrCuRbWUY0uIy9aIgC9M893SdPRsurIGW0I_b0jgarcTlRX0jXK1njSJqU3WZeueJOsUScfzYNH0hRA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="331" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhp5bufVn1hfxYKtTcXFgby-A3nXKWVnORjzhb1JR51avXOBGXNFz1KVC-cvs0NWhdm-9bkSXwnmnUsc7fLTWFEkehN0-LeUApkoCf6bo_JJN8FrCuRbWUY0uIy9aIgC9M893SdPRsurIGW0I_b0jgarcTlRX0jXK1njSJqU3WZeueJOsUScfzYNH0hRA" width="158" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>The Only Survivors </b>by Megan Miranda. New York, MarySue Rucci Books/Scribner, 2023. 352 pages. <b>****</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Ten years ago, two vans filled with high school seniors set out on a school service trip and crash into a Tennessee ravine, only 9 survive. The nine teens make a pact to meet once a year to commemorate that horrible night and to support and protect each other. A few have moved from their hometown and continued their lives, however, they meet once a year in a house on the Outer Banks, a refuge, to reconnect and revisit the tragedy. Cassidy Bent has decided on this tenth anniversary to distance herself from the others, she deleted the email reminders, changed her cell phone number, and is finally happy with her new boyfriend. On the morning of the reunion, she sees an email with an obituary attached and realizes that she must be with the others to mourn her friend and fellow classmate from the trip. Throwing caution to the wind and lying about a business trip, Cassidy arrives to a house filled with suspicion and distrust. Finding a locked cell phone on the beach takes Cassidy on a journey back in time to that fateful night and causes her to question her oldest friends and what exactly happened that night.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I received an ecopy for a review</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Megan Miranda has done it again. This psychological thriller with its many twists and turns will have you guessing from beginning to end. What really caused the accident and what secret have they vowed to protect? The towns people have not allowed anyone to forget the lives lost by dedicating the new library to them and hanging brass plaques with their names. Survivors' guilt has made them suspicious of each other and their role in who to save. Hard to put down, once started, you will continue breathless until the very end. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">From Amazon</div><div style="text-align: left;">Megan Miranda is the New York Times bestselling author of <i>All the Missing Girls</i>; <b><i>The Perfect Stranger</i></b>; <i>The Last House Guest</i>, a Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick; <i>The Girl from Widow Hill</i>s; <i>Such a Quiet Place</i>; and <i>The Last to Vanish</i>. She has also written several books for young adults. She grew up in New Jersey, graduated from MIT, and lives in North Carolina with her husband and two children. Follow @MeganLMiranda on Twitter and Instagram, @AuthorMeganMiranda on Facebook, and visit <a href="http://MeganMiranda.com">MeganMiranda.com</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Follow me on IG at flamazing_books</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">#bookstagram #psychological thriller #netgalley</div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-382743238052998938.post-31224516303468979822023-01-06T12:47:00.000-05:002023-01-06T12:47:00.229-05:00A World of Curiosities<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaF47j5RTUas9DI5M3ES6Frg7DPrYPxHvd3ecajEvOTdPxL_BLF9-fuB-iZGsO5_wICX0kerlVAHgoFBpPxfJMobYd3xQwJqxsax-6SEvR9jGRmJO1L2PV0nyy-EHx5WN2vQHyRESzaCA_PQ7G55a7nPYvGN7jfNeOQMf5V5s9Pe9ztdY4l3CslF_QnQ/s500/curiosities.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="329" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaF47j5RTUas9DI5M3ES6Frg7DPrYPxHvd3ecajEvOTdPxL_BLF9-fuB-iZGsO5_wICX0kerlVAHgoFBpPxfJMobYd3xQwJqxsax-6SEvR9jGRmJO1L2PV0nyy-EHx5WN2vQHyRESzaCA_PQ7G55a7nPYvGN7jfNeOQMf5V5s9Pe9ztdY4l3CslF_QnQ/s320/curiosities.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><b>A World of Curiosities </b> (Chief Inspector Gamache Novel, 18)<b> </b>by Louise Penny. New York: Minotaur Books, 2022. 390 pages.<b> *****</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p>In this latest Gamache novel, Three Pines is preparing for the end of winter and new beginnings. A previous case haunts Gamache and Beauvoir and has left them unsettled and unsure of themselves. The case involved a young girl convicted of the murder of her mother, however, Gamache isn't convinced that she did it, rather than her younger brother. Both young children were prostituted by their drug addicted mother. The sister has been released from prison and is graduating and her brother has come to Three Pines to join in the celebration. John Heywood's proverb comes to mind, "It's an ill wind that blows nobody any good." Throw in a room that has not been opened in one hundred and sixty years and when unlocked opens a "world of curiosities." </p><p>There are many layers to this book, and I was mesmerized from the very beginning. The good versus evil is well-played leaving the reader wondering is Gamache losing his edge? </p><p>Sometimes when there is a long series of books, the author loses their edge, not Louise Penny. In my opinion, this is her best book yet! I am hooked! I've decided I may need to start with book 1 and reread the series before the next book comes out. In her own words "My books are about terror. That brooding terror curled deep down inside us. But more than that, more than murder, more than all the rancid emotions and actions, my books are about goodness. And kindness. About choices. About friendship and belonging. And love. Enduring love.</p><p>If you take only one thing away from any of my books, I'd like it to be this:</p><p>Goodness exists." </p><p>There is a series on Amazon Prime, The Three Pines, based on her characters and books. The series has received mixed reviews. I have enjoyed the shows; however, I watch them as a standalone and do not expect them to follow a particular book or storyline. </p><p>For more information on Louise Penny and her books - <a href="https://www.louisepenny.com.">https://www.louisepenny.com.</a></p><p>#bookstagram #psychologicalthriller #threepines #gamache</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0