The Only Survivors

 

The Only Survivors by Megan Miranda. New York, MarySue Rucci Books/Scribner, 2023. 352 pages. ****

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.

I received an ecopy for a review

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. 

From Amazon

Megan Miranda is the New York Times bestselling author of All the Missing Girls; The Perfect Stranger; The Last House Guest, a Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick; The Girl from Widow Hills; Such a Quiet Place; and The Last to Vanish. 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 MeganMiranda.com

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A World of Curiosities

 

A World of Curiosities  (Chief Inspector Gamache Novel, 18) by Louise Penny. New York: Minotaur Books, 2022. 390 pages. *****

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." 

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? 

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.

If you take only one thing away from any of my books, I'd like it to be this:

Goodness exists." 

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. 

For more information on Louise Penny and her books - https://www.louisepenny.com.

#bookstagram #psychologicalthriller #threepines #gamache

The Lipstick Bureau

 

The Lipstick Bureau A Novel Inspired by a Real-Life Female Spy by Michelle Gable. Graydon House: 2022. 464 pages.  Selected List of Sources ****

Niki Novotna, a Czech native, with multiple degrees and speaking many languages, is married to an American from a prominent family. Inspired by the true story of Barbara Lauwers, Gable has written a gripping novel about the OSS Moral Operations in Rome during WWII. Not your typical WWII novel, we have a behind the scenes view of a small propaganda operation that provides big results in affecting the morale of the German soldiers and citizens in Italy. Using prisoners of war to infiltrate and distribute flyers, handouts, etc. Niki who plays a pivotal role in designing operations with the nicknames of Sauerkraut, Cornflakes, and Monte Rosa, fears that she may have crossed the line in paying prostitutes to keep the select POWs happy and will be charged with violating the rules of the Geneva Convention. With her career in jeopardy, her marriage in name only, her parents and brother unaccounted for, Niki is facing some harsh realities as the war is ending. 

I read this book in one weekend and didn't want to put it down. Gable presents the realities of war alongside the personalities and desires of the main characters. Survival is the name of the game and it's not always predictable or pretty. Historical fiction fans will enjoy a glimpse into how propaganda works and the OSS. An excellent Book Club selection for the many moral and ethical discussion points. This is the first book I have read by Gable and it won't be the last. 

I received an ARC from the publisher for a review. 

From Amazon- "MICHELLE GABLE is the New York Times bestselling author of A Paris Apartment, I'll See You in Paris, The Book of Summer, and The Summer I Met Jack. She attended the College of William & Mary and spent twenty years working in finance before becoming a full-time writer. She grew up in San Diego and lives in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California. Find her on Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest, @mgablewriter."

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#historicalfiction #WWIIfiction #propagandafiction

One Word 2023 - Reflect

 Reflect

I made this wall-hanging for my "Word" last year and I haven’t quilted it yet. I wasn't entirely successful in remembering to "pause" last year. I decided to choose "Reflect" for this year's Word. I will be 72 and have lived 2 years past my Mother and Grandmother's ages. I want to make the most of my time, so reflect seems to be apropos for the coming year. I am clearing some of my obligations and commitments from 2022 in order to be open to new experiences and opportunities. However, I will Reflect before saying "yes' and decide if what I am about to do serves who and what I want to do.

Past Words:

2022- Pause

2021 - Grateful

2020 - Joy  

2019 - Opportunity

2018- Clarity

2017 - Balance  

2016 -  Promise

2015 - Abundance

2014 - Believe

2013 - Simplify 

Information about "One Word"

http://myoneword.org

https://oneword365.com/find-your-tribe/?searchword=pause

Follow me on Instagram at kathy_nester

#oneword2023  #reflect

2023 UFO Challenge

Brandywine Valley Quilters 2023 UFO Challenge

For the last few years, my Quilt Guild has had a UFO Challenge. I wasn't going to join again this year because I don't seem to get anything finished. On the other hand, if I can I get 2 or 3 finished, it's worth it. Some of my UFOs are on this list for the 4th year.  I am determined that they will be completed this year. Maybe my word of the year should be "finish."

UNFINISHED OBJECTS  

1. Maze wall hanging

2. Flamingo Birthday Quilt - quilt and bind

3. Mystery Quilt Challenge - piece monthly

4. 2022 Monthly Color Quilt

5.Snow-a-long Quilt - piece and quilt

6. Hen Quilt Party - piece and quilt

7. Gnome quilt - piece and quilt

8. 2021 Monthly Color Challenge - quilt and bind

9. Maze Table Runner - quilt

10. Clark diamond - quilt

11.Word of the year - quilt and bind

12. Temperature Quilt - finish piecing 

Check back for progress reports or follow me on Instagram @ kathy.nester

#BVQ2023UFOChallenge #unfinishedquilts 

2022 Monthly Color Challenge - December

December - Garlic - Cream

 

The 2022 Monthly Color Challenge is designed by Patterns by Jena and the block can be found here. Cream is not the best fabric with my chosen background, however, it is okay with the other blocks. 

Garlic

Proven Health Benefits

December block requires accurate cutting and a SCANT 1/4 inch seam in order to be 12.5 inches unfinished.

Guest Bloggers

Patternsby Jen 

Lovingy Lisa

SunflowerStitcheries

True Blue Quilts

I still have a few previous months to complete before the end of the year. 

Follow me on IG at kathy.nester

#2022monthlycolorchallenge #December 

You are my Sunshine

 

You are my Sunshine: A story of love, promises, and a really long bike ride by Sean Dietrich. MI: Zondervan Books. 2022. 224 pages.  Notes ****

Described as "A laugh-out-loud true story of love, a grand adventure, and a promise kept." The book lives up to the description and so much more. It was only a few years after their marriage that Sean and his math-minded wife Jamie are faced with a medical scare that threatens their future together. Jamie is determined to live a grand adventure and to test life to its limits by proposing a bike ride of the Great Allegheny Passage and the C&O Towpath Trail. Sean is not at all athletic or outdoorsy, but he will promise anything to make Jamie happy in the belief that the bike ride will never happen. Jamie does all the planning, purchasing of needed gear, bikes, tent, grass fed beef sticks, supplies, etc., and Sean finds himself on a trike (he's afraid of bikes) on a trail that includes poison ivy and SNAKES! 

This quick read is an adventure filled story of marriage, friendship, and perseverance. Dietrich has a humorous way of capturing everyday events and presenting them in their absurdity to the reader. I laughed out loud at the exchange between Jamie and Sean, "would you eat me? If we were starving!" The kindness of the people they meet along the journey inspires all of us to overcome the fears that holds many of us back from our great adventure. What is holding you back?

I received a copy of this book as a Little Free Library giveaway promotion. 

Sean Dietrich is a columnist, podcaster, stand-up storyteller, and novelist known for his commentary on life in the American South. His work has appeared in Southern Living, Good Grit, South magazine, and other publications, and he has authored fourteen books. Follow Sean's daily writing at seandietrich.com or at @seanofthesouth on Instagram.

Follow me on Instagram at flaming_books

#bookstagram #grandadventure #overcomingfearandanxiety @zondervanbooks #GreatAlleghenyPassage #C&OCanalTowpath