Review: The Royal Nanny

The Royal Nanny by Karen Harper
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Having read so many books on Wallis and David, I was shocked that I had never seen this book before about 4 weeks ago. When I saw it was about David (Edward VIII) and Bertie (George VI) I simply had to read it and I was not disappointed. From the moment Lala walked into the nursery I loved her!! She was wonderful with the children and did indeed love them as her own. I never really knew much about Prince John so I was glad to see him featured here.

This was just an excellent read.

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Review: Closing Credits

Closing Credits by Martin Turnbull
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I can't believe it's over

I tried to extend this as long as I could. I have enjoyed this ride so much. A great ending to a wonderful series, thank you, Martin.

This ending ties up the futures of our three friends in a nice red bow. There were things I did not expect and things I wanted. I am not going to tell you anything except pick up the first book and get started. Any fan of Old Hollywood will not be sorry.



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Review: The Reckoning

The Reckoning by John Grisham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am not really sure why folks are rating this one low. I loved it. I wish I could have stayed up all night to finish it, but no I had to go to work :). I have read every single book he has written and I have not liked all of them, I have loved a few and this one is added to the "love" pile.

I saw where some folks didn't like the war part. I enjoyed that journey (of course I love any WWII fiction book), I think we needed that to understand Banning and what type of character he had, I felt it made what he did even more shocking because it was so out of his character.

I did not foresee it ending as it did!!! That was like a Law&Order twist and filled me full of "what ifs".

There was only one thing I wanted that I didn't get, but I won't tell you because it might spoil the story for someone. I have loved the new direction the last two Grisham books have taken (the Rooster Bar and this one).

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My favorite books that were published in 2018

I try hard to read new releases every year....why?  Because a new great book is released all the time.  I can't stand not being able to partake of this newness.  The problem is there is no way I could read every fiction published in 2018, but here is a list of the ones that I did and enjoyed.  Some of these books made it to my favorite book of 2018 list (includes new and old releases).  I will start with what I think is the best new book written in 2018.  I do want you to know that this was a hard list to compile because so many of the books that I read and were published in 2018 were exceptional.  Please check out my GoodReads Reading Challenge and read a few of the books published in 2018.

1.  The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah-This book was featured on every list that I could add it to.  I loved every part of this book. It is hard to read if you have domestic violence issues because it is pretty harsh in how the violence happens.  I love how the great story is set in my favorite place, Alaska.  Alaska is its own character in the book.  She shines bright and shows you that she is pretty, but she is strong and if you aren't strong she will defeat you.  It took me two days to finish this great book because I could not put it down.

2.  Next Year in Havana by Chantel Cleeton-I adored this book almost as much as #1.  This book has two time periods, modern day and the 50's right before the revolution in Havana.  I visited Havana last year so I knew some of the places described, but I think that even if you had not been to Cuba the text is so descriptive that you would feel like you were in Havana with the characters.  The story also paralleled the story that our tour guide told us while we were there, I mean the story of the revolution.  It was a difficult time and violent...this book has some violence, but not too much.  I read this book in two days also.

3.  As Bright as Heaven by Susan Meissner- Another terrific book by Susan. I pretty much love every single thing that she has written.  This time she covers the Spanish flu that hit the US in the early 20th century.  I had a little bit of knowledge about this time but had no idea what people could have gone through.  This story took it a bit further by being set in a funeral home.  So many people died that the funeral home was the best setting to show how the flu touched everyone's lives.  I read this book in three days.

4.  My Dear Hamilton by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamole-I will read pretty much anything I can on the American Revolution.  Since Hamilton entered my life I will read anything associated with him.  Some Hamilton books are not well written or feature rehashed facts/situations; however, this one stood out on its own.  It took me 28 days to read this because I read this during my busiest time at work and had NO extra time.

5. Prisoner of the Castle-By Susan Ella MacNeal-Warning this one is a series, if you haven't read the first Maggie Hope books you don't need to read this one.  I advise you to get the first one and get started NOW!!!  It is a superb series about a woman that is a secret agent during WWII.  She has grand adventures, dangerous situations and a pretty violent life (ok, so I expect WWII books to be a little violent).  Excellent series.  I read this book in two days




6. The Tattooist of the Auschwitz by Heather Morris-I admit that I choose most of my books based on the cover. I can't help it, it is just what I do and this one did not disappoint.  I read this one in 4 days.  Parts of it was hard to read because of what happened to our hero.  The camps were simply horrible and they are described in detail here (remember I told you that I expect WWII books to be disturbing/violent).  This had horrible conditions, you can't even call them "living conditions".... What shocked me was that this book was based on a real-life couple.  You need to read the story at the end of the book on how the author met our hero and had his blessing in the creation of this book.  I did cry with this one and it took me four days to get through it, but it is so worth your time.






7.  Room on the Rue Amelie by Kristin Harmel-WOW just WOW!!!  Ok, so I never expected this book to happen as it did.  A woman has a goodish marriage but it has secrets....then the secrets are revealed.  She, in turn, takes up with a child that would be killed if she didn't help her and they do their part for the resistance to save the world from the Germans.  I loved this book and devoured it.  I did not put it down once I started it.  I read it in one day.  A day well spent in my opinion.  I read this one in four days.





8.  The Subway Girls by Susan Orman Schnall-This reminds me a tad of one of my favorite movies On the Town starring Gene Kelly, Vera-Ellen, Ann Miller, and Frank Sinatra. There is a contest for finding a subway girl poster model.  Becoming a subway girl could change a girls life in the '40s.  While we are dealing with that time period, we also flash to the future where an ad exec is trying to do a campaign on the Subway Girls.  I found this dual timeline fun and I loved how the story ends. Finished this book in two days.




9. The Paris Seamstress by Natasha Lester- I just barely got this one in before 2018 ended....and it was a great way to go out.  I don't want to spoil the plot, but let's just say that a woman raised in France learns all kinds of things about life, the war and her own history once the Germans invade the country.  I love how the tale weaves through two countries and a few characters. I was slow to catch the twist, but when I did....oh my!!!  I didn't want this to end and it took me six days to stretch it out.





10. Tony's Wife by Adrianna Trigiani-I could not put this down.  Read it in about 5 hours.  It started out with me feeling sorry for a character and then completely changed.  I mean completely.  I had no idea it was going where it did.  I loved that surprise!!!







There were so many other good books that were published in 2018 that I read so I will tell you a few more titles, you can check my opinion out on my GoodReads page.

Hope Never Dies by Andrew Shaffer
The Glass Ocean (I wanted it in the top ten) by Beatriz Williams, Karen White, and Lauren Willig
The Restless Wave by John McCain
The Kennedy Debutante by Kerri Maher
The Wedding Date and The Proposal by Jasime Guillory
The Masterpiece by Fiona Davis
My Girls by Todd Fisher
The President is Missing by Bill Clinton and James Patterson
The Reckoning by John Grisham (I just finished this today and I loved it, maybe my new Grisham favorite)

Review: My Girls: A Lifetime with Carrie and Debbie

My Girls: A Lifetime with Carrie and Debbie by Todd Fisher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book!!! There things in here about not enabling family members with bipolar, about drug use, about growing up the child of a world-famous actress, about crappy relationships, Princess Leia, and giving up on a life-long dream. I loved every second of this journey. Never once did Todd portray himself as perfect. Never once did he try to tell us how great he is and how sucky we commoners are (as most celeb bios do)....no, he told us where he made mistakes. He told us what he did wrong and how he found a way out with the love of his two girls intact and strong. You could feel the hurt as he described the last days of Carrie and Debbie and he also talks about the bond that the two of them had. He never sounded like he felt left out either. He sounds like he is grounded, but realizes he isn't perfect and never will be. I appreciate his openness about the bipolar Carrie. She was open about it, but it was hers to own. He was open about how to deal with it and even though he didn't try (or I think he didn't) he helped me see some things.

A brilliant tribute to your mom and sister, Mr. Fisher. May God bless you and your family.

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Martin's Hollywood Journey

The Golden Age of Hollywood invokes images of sophisticated movie stars living a life of decadence and excess.  My mind pictures movie stars emerging from the latest automobiles and decked in furs and diamonds just to go to Schwab's.  This is a time of outrageous living created by this new job market.
 I am fascinated by old Hollywood and many times I have typed in "golden age of Hollywood" in my library's book search box in order to find an interesting read.  It was during one of these searches that I came across an author's name...Martin Turnbull.  I had never heard of him and my library didn't have a book written by him but Amazon told me that he had a book called the "Garden on Sunset".  Martin actually offered the digital book for free, so you know I got it.

The story is about three up and comers, Marcus Adler-a potential screenwriter, Kathryn Massey-who dreams of being a newspaper reporter and Gwendolyn Brick-a woman that longs to be a movie actress. It follows their Hollywood dreams and adventures.  Along the journey, the reader gets to meet HUGE stars.  Some in their decline, some in their heyday and a few in places where they didn't want to be caught.  Clark Gable, Rudy Valentino, Marilyn Monroe, Lauren Bacall,  F Scott Fitzgerald, and HG Wells (there are so many more).

I recommend this Garden of Allah series for anyone that loves the Hollywood set and forgotten movie stars.  The series is now complete so start the first one, read straight through and say "wow, that was fantastic".

I want you to check out his website where as of today you can get the first two books in the series for free.  You might as well buy all of the others because you will be hooked.

My 31 Favorite Gifts for the Christmas Season (that are very affordable)

It is that time of year that we buy gifts for those that we love and whether we are watching every dime or could spend hundreds on a gift, we would rather buy a good gift than junk. Here is a list of my favorite NON-junk gifts, there may be one to fit every person on your list.

1.  A lunch box Crockpot.  I bought this for myself a few years back and love it so much I started buying it to give away. It has been one of the greatest gifts.  Fully customizable to the giftee.  They can put a can of soup in the kettle, leftovers and even a small tv dinner.   It won't cook the meal so you have to make sure it is something that is fully cooked, but what you get it a nice hot lunch.  I pack my lunch at home carry it to work in the pot and then plug in about 1 hour before I am ready to eat. I do recommend you get the pot with 2 inserts. That way there is almost always a clean pot for lunch the next day.

2.  Kindle e-reader.  I am talking about a dedicated e-reader here NOT a Kindle Fire.  The Paperwhite is at a great price point, and it waterproof and you can listen to audiobooks (you must have Bluetooth earphones).  For a reader with weakening eyesight or someone who reads so much they need more light, upgrade to the Oasis.  It has the same waterproof and audiobook capability, but it has more lights and more storage.  This is the one I use, only I added the 3g capability because I can finish a book a day and like to be able to download a new read wherever I am.  Here is a link I found on You-Tube that shows the differences.  The best part about a dedicated reader is there is NO distractions. You read and that is all. You can also make the font as big as you need it to be.

3.  Mrs. Prindable's Apples from QVC. We started buying these for just our family many years ago and soon discovered they are an even better gift.  They are kind of expensive so we aren't buying any this year, but I do think they are worth a lot.  If you buy a large box and ship the box to you, you can split the box up for many folks like a teacher, bus driver, scout leader, etc...they are simply delicious and there are many flavors to choose from (in my opinion the ones with the chocolate candies on the outside are the best ones).

4.  Purple Toad Wine.  It is made where I live in Paducah, KY and it one of the best things here in Paducah.  There are many, many varieties, but you can't go wrong with a good Paducah Blue or an Anglea's Black Cherry.  I gravitate towards the sweeter side, but they have dry and semi-sweet if that is your preference.  

5. The Peanut Shop of Williamsburg.  I wanted to go to this store when we took a trip to Virginia a few years back.  We found it right there near the campus of William & Mary.  There were samples all over the store of these delicious peanuts.  There were flavors like Crab, Bacon & Cheddar, Dill Pickle and lots of hot ones...so many.  I chose the Crab Town, a sweet and savory variety pack and Bacon & Cheddar.  They were so yummy.  They often run specials on their website too. 

6.  Cricut Explore or Maker.  With these machines, a crafter can do just about anything they would like to do.  I myself have made t-shirts, decals, computer covers, cards, and stencils.   If you can afford the Maker, go for that one because it can also cut out fabric!!! 

7.  Monin Cherry Syrup- I have tried all of the cherry syrups and this is the best tasting one by far.  I put it in tea all the time.  SOOO yummy.  They have lots of other flavors, but this gal is partial to the Cherry.  This would be a great addition to your home bar or just to liven up that sweet tea!!  This is the same brand that McAlister's uses. :)

8.  Starbucks Via Refreshers.  I discovered this little to go-pack when my daughter was a barista at the local Starbucks.  I prefer the Lime but they don't make it anymore, so this is the next best.  I don't like the in-store version nearly as much as I like this one (yes, that is weird).

9.  Dr. Bonners Peppermint Soap from Meijer. I have been buying this soap for a long time, but I have not found it as affordable as I have at Meijer.  The smell of peppermint wakes you up in the bath and it makes your skin feel smooth and soft.  The almond and eucalyptus are also nice scents. 

10. Nature's Truth essential oil.  I use this oil all the time.  It is more affordable than some brands so I can diffuse or make peppermint bug spray on a budget.  I know this one will cause controversy with the essential oil people but I am not in the right tax bracket for $30 bottle of oils.  These run about 2 for $10 at Wal-greens and Meijer all the time.  I would never ingest any oil and I feel perfectly safe diffusing these or adding the tea tree to shampoo to prevent lice or lavender to coconut oil for my hands.  

11.  David Venable or Joanna Gaines Cookbooks. 

Who doesn't need a good cookbook?  Here are two wonderful ones.  I have made many of the recipes in Joanna's book and David has made many of his on QVC (yes, I watch it every week to get a new recipe).  David's book was released last week and I have not had a chance to make much from there.  I do know it is full of shortcuts and has less than 10 ingredients.  I think you would LOVE either (or both) of them. JoJo cookbook features her famous biscuits and an incredible ranch dressing.

12.  How about a free gift?  Who doesn't love free?  If your little one does not have a library card, now would be a good time to make an event and give the gift of the public library.  If you don't have a good library in your community you can join one online (see my previous post on library cards). This free gift goes well with the Kindle gift #2.  I know for sure these are the two things I use the most of all my possessions.

13.  OttLite.  For the reader/crafter on your list. I have this one (it is one of the cheaper models) and it is outstanding.  The light is easy on your eyes.  The batteries last a long time (there is a slot for a cord but I don't have that).  You can often find a good deal on this model at Hobby Lobby or Michael's, but it is not too expensive on Amazon or the OttLite itself.  It makes a HUGE difference when working/reading.

14.  Rtic tumbler.  I know everyone has a Yeti or wants a Yeti, but they are kind of expensive.  Why not get a cup that functions the same way at a fraction of the cost and much cuter?  To me, that is a no-brainer.  Introducing the Rtic tumbler.  Cute and sassy and cheap!!!!













15.  Carnival Cruise Line gift card.  For the person in your life that loves to cruise (someone like me).  You can use these gift cards towards the cruise price, excursions, or that tab that you rack up while on board.  This is great especially if you know the person is going on a cruise or wants to and there is no way you could give them the cruise, may you can give them a piece of the cruise.  These can be purchased at Lowe's, Michael's and Kroger and I am sure other places too.


16. Book lovers.  I am about a 99.9% digital book reader, as a matter of a fact I am not buying paper books any more only digital titles.  If the person on your list is a book reader you may not know if they are digital or paper reader so maybe buy something bookish, but not books for them.  The first thing that comes to mind is an Amazon gift card.  With this, they can buy digital or paper books, or even a book bag.  I also love the site Uncommon Goods.  There are things featured that are off the wall unique but useful.  Like a book scarf,  a book flask, or a reading journal.

17.  Seems like everyone has a Kitchen Aid stand mixer.  I think they are divine and a tremendous help in the kitchen, but is everyone using that mixer at it's fullest potential?  For example,  I don't like store-bought shredded cheese, it is full of additives that no one needs in their body so I grate our cheese.  It is so simple when you have a Kitchen Aid, you just need an attachment.    The attachments fit any Kitchen Aid so don't worry if you don't know your recipients model.  My go-to time saver is this grater, I have found it on Amazon in this example but you can use your 30% off at Kohl's, or purchase from a kitchen store.  While you are looking you can see a ton of attachments that Kitchen Aid makes to help us have more time for other things....like an ice cream maker or pasta roller.


18.  Waterproof Bluetooth speaker from Amazon.  I got this for my husband and son a few years ago and I really think that they use it every single day.  I hear sports radio, ballgames and music coming from the bathroom.  I know they can take a call with it, but I bet they have never used that feature.  It is cute and I will tell you that I have sprayed cleaner on it and it still looks and works great.  Great price too.










19. Burt's Bees products.  I have tried many of these wonderful products and have liked each one.  Of course, I am never without a Burt's lip balm, but then if you come into my home you will find the face soap (which is incredible), tinted balms, hand salve, cuticle cream, and complexion sticks. They have products from makeup to soaps, shaving lotions to toothpaste.  I have not tried them all, but I am working on it.

20.  Bath & Body Works Aromatherapy line.  I have been shopping at this store since I was traveling with Cracker Barrel in the '90s.  I remember driving about 45 minutes away from the store where I worked in Newport News, Virginia to Virginia Beach to stock up on SeaSpray lotion because they announced they were discontinuing the fragrance (I still miss that smell). They have introduced a new line that thrills me almost as much.  I adore the scents of the Aromatherapy line. Recently they introduced my favorite scent in a Patchouli, but they have also added a Bergamot, Peppermint and Ylang Ylang.







21.  Michael's gift card.  Your giftee may not be a crafter so you may shy away from this one, but have you been to Michael's store lately?  Yes, they have craft supplies, but there is so much more.  Floral arrangements, wedding supplies, all kinds of kits, frames, quick gifts, home decor, gift cards and yes, craft supplies. My favorite part?  You can always find a coupon or a sale.  ALWAYS!!!


22.  Enstrom Toffee. I have had this exactly once, about 15 years ago and I have never gotten over it.  NEVER! The taste is smooth and almondy. You can sink your teeth into it...not break your teeth.  It is truly a gourmet experience because of the texture and high quality ingredients.

23.  Board games.  We have always been a family that likes board games, now we haven't played them as much as we used to because of Fortnight, but I am sure we will get back someday.  We have enjoyed Uno, Life, Connect Four and Trouble the best.  Have you ever tried to play Trouble while dad is sleeping down the hall?  It is not as easy thing to do because of the Pop-o-Matic but it can be done.  

24.  Tablet/phone stand for kitchen cooking.  How many of us use our smartphones or tablets to look up a recipe while cooking dinner?  I had so much trouble with how to see the phone while cooking. I could have bought something but I made it because I found a challenge.  This gift idea is some type of holder for the phone/tablet be it purchased from Amazon, Michael's or if you make one.  When I looked up this idea I saw many, many choices and the floral one pictured is the one that I designed and made myself.  

25.  A fitness tracker of some sort.  I have seen it work, when that line turns red or the watch starts vibrating, you get up and move.  I think these things were a brilliant invention.  There are so many different types to get you going.  I have tried many different ones, Fitbit, Garmin, Samsung, generic...and FitBit is my favorite.  I think the website is easier to use and it uploads easily to my insurance for points.  You may think differently though.  For instance, maybe your giftee would not like to charge their watch every day or maybe they want something slim, maybe they would not like a watch and would prefer a clip on?  There are many choices, but don't let that stop you from getting your loved one off the couch.

26.  Dr. Teal's bath bombs.  I LOVE Acti-bath tablets.  I used them all the time and then they stopped making them.  I have looked for many years for a replacement for those glorious little bath time relaxation tablets and this is the closest that I have found (and not cost a fortune).  I have found these as cheap as $5 at Big Lots.  Yeah, FIVE DOLLARS.  Some stores charge that much for ONE bath bomb.  The smell is very nice, my drawback is that they don't last very long, but at that price maybe I can use 2 :) 

27.  Food Saver.  We like to buy steaks in bulk and as I told you,  I like to grate my own cheese.  We decided to spring for the Food Saver to not only save money but to make food last longer. I don't use this every day.  I only use it about once a week, but I do think that I have paid for the system based on being able to buy in bulk and not having any wasted food.  I grate a 2-pound block of cheddar every 2 weeks. Then I put the extra cheese in food saver bags, seal them up and it is like having freshly grated cheese on demand.  We buy our steaks in bulk and package them in packages of 2.  Then whenever someone wants a steak just take a package from the freezer and you have 2 vacuumed packed steaks ready to go.  

28.  Capitol Flag Request.  Many years back I discovered a program called the Flag Request Program. That is where you can have a flag flown over the Capitol of the United States in honor of a birthday, an anniversary, the death of a loved one or a President.  It is rather easy to get it done.  You need to go to the website of your State Senator. My Senator is Mitch McConnell so here is a view from his site and how I order all of my flags. If you order a pre-flown flag you will not get a certificate in honor of someone, I do believe you get a certificate that it was flown over the US Capital, but I can't confirm that because I always ask for it in honor of someone.  Choose a size and a date you want it flown and then list in whose honor it is being flown.  Now my Senator sends me a certificate from his office as well so I have been getting two certificates. I have not framed them. I have left them in the box and put the boxes in a fireproof tote.  I do have the flags displayed.  My two prized ones are the flags flown over the Capital when Ronald Wilson Reagan and John Sidney McCain were lying in state in the rotunda.  The cost is approximately $25, but if you can go to DC to pick up the flag you save about $8. 

29.  Republic of Tea.  For the tea drinker on your list.  They have a good herbal, health teas, fun tea and a tea that tastes like sangeria...yeah pretty much everything.  They also list all the ingredients so if you have allergies you can see if the tea will kill you before you buy it.  #strawberries

30.  Olly. I am one of those folks that falling asleep is so easy, but if I get up to pee or hear a noise in the house, I wake up and then can't go back to sleep.  So when I want to stay asleep all night (about 2 nights a week) I take ONE of these.  They taste good and seem to make me stay asleep.  

31.  Sunbeam throw HEATED!! For the person on your list that is always cold, now they can have their very own warmer.  I think these are brilliant, almost as brilliant as heated seats!   

Now you know the 31 things that I think would make good gifts and not junk.  Way cheaper than Oprah's list.  My list is for the middle class.  Enjoy!!!