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30 December 2021

Review: Dear Evan Hansen

Dear Evan Hansen Dear Evan Hansen by Val Emmich
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have been kind of obsessed about DEH for about a year now. I think the play and soundtrack are brilliant. Once I heard there was a book I just had to read it. I think I liked it even more. You don't have the music (being a musical nut, I thoroughly enjoy that part), but you have a GREAT story.

Without giving much away...Evan is kind of a mystery to his mom, friends, and the kids at school He has an absent father, a mom that has a job but goes to school and a therapist that makes him write letters to himself.
The death of a classmate changes Evan's whole world. He gets caught up in something he can't handle because he doesn't know how, and he has to face the facts of things that have happened in his own life.

It is a very quick read because the play itself is only about 2 hours.

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25 December 2021

How to keep a book journal

I should probably change the title of this, I was going to, but I thought, "no, this is how I got to my journal, so it is my story."  As in life, my story may not work for you and that is fine.  Whatever system (that is if you even want a system) you choose is what is best for you.  I just want to give you advice....you don't have to stick with the system you choose.  I started my book journal in 1996, and it has evolved drastically.  As a matter of a fact, I am about to have a new stamp made because I have decided to change it up one more time.  

In 1995, I bought a book at the US Post Office store in Little Rock, Arkansas.  I paid way too much for the book, especially since I didn't journal, but it was adorable and I wanted to do something with this adorable book.  I needed to do something special because I am telling you, it was not a cheap book. 



I used this book for a few years until I decided to keep more stats and then I added more information.  I found a book stat chart on the internet and made a similar one in Excel.  I realized quickly that you can do lots with Excel and I started a journal there, I still kept up my paper one, but this one had numbers. I don't even like numbers, but I loved this part.

My Excel sheet



After adding formulas to count my books for me and a few other columns of stats, I edited my paper journal chart once more and decided that I couldn't print off my Excel journal anymore. I wanted a journal similar to where I started, a journal in an already bound book.  This is when I developed my stamp.   I ordered it from rubberstamps.net (they have made a lot of custom stamps for me, they are quick and very good).  




Here is that first book, a very expensive (like $25) pet stamp journal book



The insides of the pet stamp journal
The pet stamp journal book took me to 2013 to fill because I wasn't keeping much information on my books at that time.


These are inserts I clipped to other journal books of the first chart that was created in Excel
2014-2021 stamp



This last one is the new stamp that I just created.  I was hoping for a simple layout that tracked the DNF books and was in the order of Goodreads as far as the information.   The empty box next to Borrowed is where I will write the library or person's name that loaned me the book, I did add a heading because it was too cluttered. I was going to put "source", but I had little room to write.  


I would love to see what you fellow readers do to track your books, please share.  




24 December 2021

Review: Me & Patsy Kickin' Up Dust: My Friendship with Patsy Cline

Me & Patsy Kickin' Up Dust: My Friendship with Patsy Cline Me & Patsy Kickin' Up Dust: My Friendship with Patsy Cline by Loretta Lynn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Review: Story of a Murder: A Bookish Cafe Mystery

Story of a Murder: A Bookish Cafe Mystery Story of a Murder: A Bookish Cafe Mystery by Harper Lin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Maggie's life in the bookstore is going just fine, she has a slight crush on her boss and seems to be fitting in better with his rejuvenation of the bookstore. Life is just great until her half-sister shows up. Angel is desperately trying to escape a cult and a man that is no good for her. Maggie is trying hard not to be impatient with and distant from Angel, but she just can't do either...that is until Angel's man turns up dead. Angel and Maggie will have to mend fences and work together to solve this murder.

I really don't think you have to read the other books in the series, but you will have more fun if you do read the other books in the Bookish Cafe series.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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Review: Story of a Murder: A Bookish Cafe Mystery

Story of a Murder: A Bookish Cafe Mystery Story of a Murder: A Bookish Cafe Mystery by Harper Lin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Review: The Discovery of the Titanic

The Discovery of the Titanic The Discovery of the Titanic by Robert D. Ballard
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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Review: Rent

Rent Rent by Jonathan Larson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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Review: The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed

The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed by Sara Gay Forden
My rating: 3 of 5 stars



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23 December 2021

First book pick of 2022

 A few months back, I was lucky enough to get my hands on this book a few months before it was published.  It wasn't my first Julia Kelly book, but it became my favorite Julia Kelly book. 

 This book introduces us to Lily, a young woman that doesn't want to be in the last group of debutates, but her grandmother and mother demand it so she must.  We will follow Lily on the journey of parties, presentations, and dances, a typical debutante life until her world turns upside down by a family secret.  I love books like this, you know the ones, where you expect something and the story gives you something so different.  


This is an excellent read for the start of those 2022 reading challenges.






21 December 2021

Fellow book nerds END-OF-YEAR stats

 Hello to you fellow readers.  


I have created an end-of-year book stat sheet for you.  This features your top 10 books of the year and your final reading stats. 


 If you didn't keep up with your reading stats and want to in 2022, don't worry, I will be posting tips and tricks soon. I have been keeping a book journal since 1996 and I have changed it many times and finally, I have the perfect stats book for me.  More on that later....even if you aren't interested in stats, you might be interested in your top 10 books of 2021.  


Download a copy of the stat sheet here




19 December 2021

2022 Reading Challenge

 Every year I try to do a challenge of my own to get me out of a reading box, but also to just have some fun trying to fit a book into categories.  Over the last few years, I have made my own to distribute to friends.  My challenges have just one requirement, that you do what you want with it.  If you don't like a category, you mark it out and insert your own.  If you don't like how I worded something, you reword it.  If you wish to use one book for three categories, you do so.  It is your challenge, your reading life, I am just there, I hope, for inspiration.  

Don't forget to come back here each month in 2022 and get my MUST READ book of the month, book reviews, and maybe some free bookmarks you can print or download.  My summer reading challenge will come out around April and will be full of fun reads for your all summertime adventures.  


Thanks so much to you all that followed along with me in 2021. I hope you had a wonderful reading year and I am hoping you stick around for next year.  


2022 Reading Challenge--download the challenge here



28 November 2021

The last book pick of 2021

 This month's book was an easy pick for me. I read every single book that Gill Paul writes! She is creative, entertaining, and somehow picks topics that are so very interesting.  

This book is called The Collector's Daughter and it is about Evelyn Herbert.  Evelyn's father is an archeologist that is on a team desperately wants to find the tomb of Tutankhamun.  On one fateful day, Evelyn happens to be in attendance on the hunt when they find it!!  The tomb was erected to have curses put on anyone who disturbs the burial place.  The team abandons all superstitions, each member takes a token home before they tell the public they have found the tomb.  Fast forward through time and you can see how the "curse" affects each of the team members. The book takes place over the course of about 50 years, and they are 50 wild years.  



  

Review: The Many Daughters of Afong Moy

The Many Daughters of Afong Moy The Many Daughters of Afong Moy by Jamie Ford
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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23 October 2021

November Book Pick

 I had so much trouble picking the book for November.  Why?  Well, I try to pick a book that I read the month before and make it be one that I loved.  That is easy most months because I usually only read one great one a month, but this month was completely different.  During the month of October, I read 5 books that I wanted to share with people.  FIVE books that I think are worth your time.  I decided that I don't have to do the same thing that everyone else does, I can pick a TOP FIVE book pick and you can choose any of them and I think you will have a GRAND time.  


1.  Dave Grohl-The Storyteller

This book is all about rock n roll, but not sex and drugs.  This is a book to celebrate music.  A book that shows love, devotion, and a slight coffee addiction.  I loved every single part of this book and if I have to pick a favorite of all 5 this month, it is this one.  



2.  Taylor Jenkins Reid-Malibu Rising 

I love all of Taylor's books, and this one is even better than the last one (Daisy Jones and the Six).  This one features June and Mick and shows us their relationship and marriage.  We will then be transformed to the future where we meet June and Mick's kids and see how they cope with his stardom and mom and dad's choices.  I won't say anything else, except this one is hard to put down. 




3.  Jessica Anya Blau-Mary Jane

This is probably my second favorite of all 5 books.  This one shows us a teenage girl on the verge of womanhood.  She is a nanny for the summer to a doctor and his wife.  While working she experiences a whole world different than the life she has with her parents and feels she is living a double life.  Things keep getting stranger when she meets her television idol and her rock star husband.  





4.  Patti Callahan Henry-Once Upon a Wardrobe

I could feel the magic all around while reading this book.  Meg finds herself interviewing C.S. Lewis about how he created Narnia for her invalid brother, George.  George is a very creative child that draws pictures of the stories Meg tells him from the information she gathered from C.S. Lewis.  The tale is almost as magical as Narnia itself.  



5.  Laura Dave-The Last Thing He Told Me

I knew this book would be a type of thriller but had no idea how this book would twist and turn.  I am not sure what I can tell you that would not give it away. I will just say it is a book about a woman that marries a man.  This man has a child from a previous marriage and he is a widower.  I do believe that is all I can tell you, sorry about that, you just need to be surprised.  



On my monthly book shelf that I keep, I will record The Storyteller as the book of the month and the other 4 as bonus reads, but please don't let any of these pass you by.  



22 October 2021

Review: Espressos, Eggnogs, and Evil Exes

Espressos, Eggnogs, and Evil Exes Espressos, Eggnogs, and Evil Exes by Harper Lin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I think the Cape Bay Cafe series is so fun. I love a good coffee shop. This is a part of a series, but you could read it as a stand alone, but why would you want to?

Fran's best friend and co worker is stalked by her boyfriend's ex...then the ex ends up dead. Who do think is the suspect? Sammy the best friend. Jump right in for some fun, some craziness and a nice way to spend a weekend. Bonus....there is a "killer" eggnog recipe in the back of the book.

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15 October 2021

Review: Macchiatos, Macarons, and Malice

Macchiatos, Macarons, and Malice Macchiatos, Macarons, and Malice by Harper Lin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received a free ARC in exchange for my honest review and I am more than happy to give it to you. I thought this was a lot of fun. This time we will leave town and head to a resort a few hours away. We will meet characters that we want to slap across the face and some we want to give a hug to and of course there is a murder. Fran is going to give it her best to be romantic with Matt while trying to solve the murder.

You could read this as a stand-alone but why would you want to? Go back and read the other 8 books in this series, you will love them. As always this one is a quick relaxing read. Perfect for a few hours alone, or a chair on the beach...don't forget your glass of wine and macaron.

***Bonus*** macaron recipe in the back!!!!!

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Review: Once Upon a Wardrobe

Once Upon a Wardrobe Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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13 October 2021

Review: Who Was John F. Kennedy?

Who Was John F. Kennedy? Who Was John F. Kennedy? by Yona Zeldis McDonough
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Review: Wait For It

Wait For It Wait For It by Jenn McKinlay
My rating: 3 of 5 stars



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Review: Malibu Rising

Malibu Rising Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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Review: Lattes, Ladyfingers, and Lies

Lattes, Ladyfingers, and Lies Lattes, Ladyfingers, and Lies by Harper Lin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Review: Cul-de-sac

Cul-de-sac Cul-de-sac by Joy Fielding
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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Review: The Show Girl

The Show Girl The Show Girl by Nicola Harrison
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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26 September 2021

October book picks, yes PICKS

 I have chosen two books this month.  Two vastly different books.  


Early Morning Riser is a general woman's fiction book.  We meet Jane who is living the life of a school teacher and everything is going great until her mother has a car accident and it completely changes Jane's life.  Her life goes like most of us, she gets married, has children and it wouldn't be a good book without some drama.  I won't spill the secrets of the book, I will just tell you that this book is a great book for fall break.  


The second book won't be released until October 21, but it is worth checking out once it is released. Even though she was a child,  Maria worked for the resistance.  She gets caught and is thrown into Auschwitz. Anyone who has heard this name knows that it was one of the most dangerous places that a prisoner could enter. Maria's life is spared because a guard loves the game of chess and Maria is an excellent player.  This is not a light and fluffy book like the one above....this is heavy and heartbreaking in spots, but these stories need to be told as some of the supporting characters were real-life people.   


Enjoy.  



Review: The Wildest Sun