Review: The Traitor's Wife: The Woman Behind Benedict Arnold and the Plan to Betray America

The Traitor's Wife: The Woman Behind Benedict Arnold and the Plan to Betray America by Allison Pataki
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love historical fiction about people I don't know much about....I can't compare to real history. I knew NOTHING of Peggy other than the fact she was married to Benedict before I picked this up. I haven't done any studying on her so I don't know how much of this was embellished. What I do know is I think Peggy was a little bit of a punk who may have not really loved her husband. Ok, I don't think she did. I think she saw him as a pawn she could use to get what she wanted. I think Andre was her true love.

She, Andre and Benedict tried hard to bring America to the British and get George Washington captured. I am sure they would have loved nothing more than seeing him hang. The events more right along once it is revealed there was treasonous activity in the Arnold household. I quite enjoyed how this part was written.

On the whole, I liked the book and will probably read again one day.

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Review: The Accidental Empress

The Accidental Empress by Allison Pataki
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I became fascinated with Empress Sisi when I first saw the Barbie in the 90's. I thought what a stunningly beautiful woman. I could find no materials to read about her until many years later. This book begins with Elizabeth's youth and goes through her some of her marriage to Franz Joseph. I am assuming that book #2 will cover her death, and I can't wait to get my hands on that one.

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Review: Salt to the Sea

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was not at all what I expected. It took a while to grab my attention, but once it did, I could not stop. This book will break your heart, but it will also give you some hope. Set in WWII and based on a true story of the William Gustloff. The thing is, you've probably never heard of the William Gustloff...I know I had not; but for a small time while reading this book I felt I was right there.

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Review: Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter

Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter by Kate Clifford Larson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have added another Kennedy book to my read list this year. I wasn't going to read this one because I figured it would sadden me, but she is so pretty I could not resist. I am glad that I did not. I was very sad indeed, but I learned a lot about the Kennedy child deemed not quite as good as the rest by dear old dad. Poor Rosemary. Poor all other people that went through was she did.

This book will break your heart if you have any feelings, but you will also read more of the Kennedy drive. And my heart was softened a bit towards JFK....a WONDERFUL read that I could not put down.

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Review: The Heir and the Spare

The Heir and the Spare by Emily Albright
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Once I got to focus on this book, I LOVED it! It was a mix of William and Kate and the Princess Diaries and Friends. I simply adored the tale of Evie and Edmund and really wanted a sequel because I loved it. It was a perfect poolside read for me today.

Light, fluffy, and a bit predictable, but you will like it.

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Review: The Hamilton Affair

The Hamilton Affair by Elizabeth Cobbs
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I love American History and Presidential History and I had very high hopes for this book because of that. I wish I could say it was superb because I wanted it to be. I felt that Alexander wasn't developed. If I didn't know what I knew about him would I have even liked this character? I don't think so. It would have read like any other quick read romance. I didn't know much about Eliza (and still don't) except what I know from the play which may be true or untrue (not sure). The colors of the cover and silhouetted figures remind me very much of the playbill so I am thinking maybe this was rushed to press to capitalize on the fact that we ALL want and NEED more Hamilton in our lives. I just wish this lived up to it. I did enjoy it more once I put on the soundtrack, so you might want to consider reading and listening at the same time.

My favorite parts of the book were the scenes of Jefferson (my fave) and Hamilton and Hamilton and Washington. I pretty much felt these were dead on with what I have studied of the men.

I also felt the duel scene was worthy. I actually think this is my favorite part.

I just wish I fell in love with Alexander here like I did with the play.

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Review: Five Presidents: My Extraordinary Journey with Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, and Ford

Five Presidents: My Extraordinary Journey with Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, and Ford by Clint Hill
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I wanted to read this book just because the Secret Service is kind of fascinating to me. I had no idea until I got into the book that I knew of this guy and what he did on a very important day in history. I also learned by reading this more of what LBJ and Ike were like. I have read a lot on each guy, but this was the more personal spin on their lives. While I know there was much left out this was a good read. I did like that he rarely spoke of his family, and you see he rarely saw that family because of his job...so it fit right with history.

PS, the cream of the crop was meeting Mr. Hill in Oct 2017 and hearing him tell the story and answer questions.

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Review: This Is Where It Ends

This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I am still very unsure of how I feel about this book. My emotions are very mixed. I am upset, I am shocked, and I am a little unnerved. I think you should read this one for yourself if want to know how good it is. Just expect brutal scenes. If you visualize when you read, this is just horrible in spots (the action).

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Review: The Dollhouse

The Dollhouse by Fiona Davis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love a book that sucks you and and won't release you. This book fit the bill perfectly. Picture this....it's 1952, you are in a hotel in NYC. It's a hotel unlike hotels we have these days, this one was for ladies only. Many of the girls were attending college or modeling during the day and having fun at night. It is in this setting where Darby from a small town finds herself. She is in NYC to go to a college she doesn't want to attend studying a profession she has no desire to do.

The people she meets will change her life.

Flash forward to 2016...because this story takes place in 1952 and 2016. Rose lives in the same hotel (now condos) that Darby lived back in the day and STILL lives there! Rose will reveal secrets of the past and solve mysteries of the present all the while dealing with an ill father, work drama and a crappy boyfriend.

Darby will change Rose's life.

This book is full of twists and turns. I thought I knew what was going to happen, but then BAM I was wrong and the story turned. What a great book to finish my 2016 reading challenge.

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Review: Crazy Rich Asians

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved this book!! Money is flying everywhere in this book. Most of the story takes place in Shanghai, where Nicholas takes his girlfriend Rachel to meet his family. She has NO idea how rich he is, because he lives on what he makes, not the family funds. Rachel also has no idea of the traditions or the snobbiness of Nick's family. Some of the antics of the crazy cousins are like an episode of the Carol Burnett show, I laughed then was shocked at the money that was just being thrown around. It was a fun ride though, and I look forward to the sequel.

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Raindrops on Roses, and Whiskers on Kittens

I am 100% a list maker.  I love those little books and surveys that ask about your favorite things, activities and days.  I think they are so much fun and trigger memories when you read them a few years later because as new things are introduced here on this earth, your favorites shift.  That is why I constantly make new lists.  Normally I do a page in my planner (I still call it "calendar") of all my favorites from this past year (song, album, tv show, book, etc...)

Today I was going to list the items I don't feel I could live without being on my person (as of RIGHT NOW). I am going to put links under each one so you can buy one too :) 

1. My favorite possession is my Kindle Voyage with 3G (until I upgrade to the waterproof Oasis).  I go everywhere with this thing.  He (I call him Thomas) has been to Alaska a few times, all over the Caribbean and the Atlantic, to Canada, ballgames, concerts, etc...  I love how I can get a book anywhere (but in the middle of the Yukon and the Atlantic ocean) and I always have a book in my bag.  Amazon has discontinued the Voyage so you can only purchase a refurb version (or you can buy mine that is in excellent condition).  They have released a new version of the Paperwhite that I will link to here.  I used to own the Paperwhite and while it is fabulous, it doesn't have as clear of a screen as the Voyage (it has to do with backlighting).  I do like the size of the Paperwhite, it is like a paperback book.  Tips for buying...Special offers are really not a big deal.  They appear as a wallpaper when you open your cover and never on the text of your book.  What is a big deal to me is having 3G.  I read many books and while I load Thomas's memory with plenty of reads I end up not liking a book or what to read a particular book.  With 3G I can download wherever I am (except the middle of the ocean).  Bonus: the new Paperwhite and the Oasis are waterproof and you can listen to audiobooks. I do not have either of those capabilities on my Voyage which is why I am wanting to upgrade.  Reading on a Kindle is way better than a phone, tablet or iPad.  It is an eInk, that looks more like printed word.

2. Burt's Bees is my second favorite possession, and I have one on my person, in my purse, on my nightstand, in the kitchen, you get the picture.   I like the flavors, but I will always be partial to the original formula.  Aside from their lip balm I also adore the face soap and complexion stick.  I have become a BB's addict.

3. Another thing that I use every single day of my life is Puffs Plus with Lotion. I have terrible allergies and this is my favorite way to manage. I try not to take meds every day, so these are always close by.  I keep a box in my office, one in each car, one in every room of the house and a travel pack in my backpack.  This is the first thing I pack when I go on a trip.  I buy these in bulk at Sam's club, and when we have a cold I run to town and get the one with Vicks.

4. The Note 8 phone is also on my person.  Not because I have to be on it 24/7, but because it has many features that make my life a tad easier.  

a)  I have to count my steps for insurance (my Gear S2 won't sync for steps *dumb*) so the phone has to be in my pocket so I get the points.

b)  I also take lots of photos.  Before phones had cameras, I had to carry my Nikon in my purse at all times. I am thrilled that I no longer have to do this as I have cracked a few phone screens in my purse.

c) Adobe Draw is the reason I got the Note 8 in the first place. I can sketch wherever I am and then upload to my Cricut and cut out my design.  I can sketch the scenery where I am so I have a memory.  With the color options that I have, I can ever do a sunset.  Currently, I am mainly using it to design t-shirts and logos.  

5. I am a nail biter. I have tried so hard to stop for 46 years, but I always start right back up.  I have gotten better because I have other objects to keep me busy in "down time" (like the Kindle and phone), so now I mainly pick at the cuticles and rough spots.  If there is a rough spot on the nail I will pick and chew at it until it gets torn off. I have discovered that a Revlon metal nail file will smooth out the rough spot and stop me from chewy or picking. I always have one close at hand for this reason alone.  

                                         

There are my top five things that are always within reach....that is Five things for right now!!

Review: Gmorning, Gnight!: Little Pep Talks for Me & You

Gmorning, Gnight!: Little Pep Talks for Me & You by Lin-Manuel Miranda
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lin's tweets are a wonderful safe zone for me. I read his greetings every day as I get up and face the day. Seems like some days he writes his morning motivation just for me. I rarely read the Gnights because I hit the hay before Lin tweets so it was nice to his closing words that connect with some of the beginning words I have experienced.

Bring a notebook along as you read, you will want to jot down a few or take a few photos with your phone. Trust me you will apply some of these to your life.

Gmorning! Gnight!

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Review: Mildred Pierce

Mildred Pierce by James M. Cain
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I re-read this book once again as it had been a while since I read the book. I had forgotten how hard it is to put down. How much I would like to smack Mildred for giving in to Veda and how much I would like to punch Veda for being such an arrogant punk head. I really like the Mildred character overall because she knew at the beginning of the book that her world was crashing down on her head, and she was the only one that could change it (and she could make her daughter happy in the process, which probably fueled her more than need). Mildred set out to make a success and did it. Her downfall was Veda. Pleasing Veda, catering to Veda, loving Veda at the expense for everything else. While very similar to the movie (you need to see it if you haven't), it has vast differences too so don't expect them to be identical (when is the book like the film?)



old review: I was revisiting some favorites this week. I love the book more than the film, but I LOVE the film. see how I feel about the book? a bit different than the film...tell me which you prefer? this is my favorite Crawford role but in both film and written word, Mildred is a strong woman and very hard working. a great Character either way.

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Review: Lilac Girls

Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was one of those books that at first I was hesitant to read. Then I started and had trouble putting down, especially once the story got to the concentration camp. The ending was wonderful in so many ways as well. I am often scared to put too much in a review because I am one of those folks that will pick up a book because of what it looks like....I rarely ever read the synopsis. I hate to give away too much just in case you are like I am and just like to jump inside the covers of the book.

What I will tell you is that this book follows three women. One is a young lady, one a doctor, and a socialite. All three women will be connected by a redirection camp/concentration camp. No matter what they call it, it was horrible and one person will strive to make it better for those held at the camp.

I thought it was well written and I admit I cried a little.

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My Favorite TV shows (as of right now)

I make favorite lists all the time.  As new things are introduced some things will drop off the list and the new added and then there are the constant items that never leave the favorite list (like Burt's Bees chapstick.  

This is a list of my favorite TV shows.  There are a couple of shows that have been on this list since I started forming my own opinions and some I discovered a few years ago.  I generally won't add a show to my list until it comes in syndication, but there are a few exceptions.

   Let's just get going......

10. Game Shows--Game shows are so fun, very unpredictable and feature prizes!! The original Match Game and Jeopardy are my two fave game shows of all time, but I will watch a Who wants to be a Millionaire, TPIR (the price is right), 25,000 Pyramid, and Family Feud (Richard Dawson was the best).  I have a dream to be on a television game show, but I have made it to the stage of a Carnival cruise ship (and won).  

9. The Middle-this show is so much like real life.  Like the life I grew up in...kind of the life I have now.  :) It is very similar to Roseanne, but the family loves God and I like that. 

8. Parenthood and This is Us-I have always loved these family type shows. Parenthood was about a tight family that did almost everything together, brought to life an autistic character to television and had a great playlist. This is Us is a tad like Parenthood, but it has a mystery about it too.  The writing on This is Us is fantastic.  Everything you see is a clue, so don't look away. 

The only thing that I didn't like about these shows is that the characters don't seem to believe in God

7. Homicide Life on the Steet-The first time I saw this show Vincent D'Onferio was the victim, John.  He was a jerk and he had been pushed in front of a subway and was going to die.  Falsone was trying to find his girlfriend while Pembelton was trying to comfort John and solve the crime with Baylis.  By the end of the show you see the Vincent character becoming likable and the squad struggling with the fact they were talking to a dead man, they couldn't find his lady and why would someone push a human in front of a subway? I think this episode is one of the best hours of television that I have ever watched.

  The writing on this show was outstanding.  It was perfectly cast and this show introduced us to Muchkin, Detective John Munch.

6. Law and Order: Criminal Intent-A typical Law & Order with a twist.  You get into the minds of the "bad guys" as well as the law enforcement, medical examiners and the DAs.  Goren and Nichols are like Columbo always asking "one more thing".  Jeff Goldblum and Vincent were brilliant actors in this show. 

5. Seinfeld-how can you not love this show?  It is perfect, it is a bunch of nothing all together with characters that are just superficial....but it is hilarious (and super quotable)!! I bet you have some Seinfeldism in your vocabulary.

4. Dateline-I started watching this with Stone Phillips and Jane Pauley.  Then it was a news magazine of varying topics (my husband once appeared on this version).  It was a good format but would not have been on my list if they had not transformed it into what it is now.  Keith Morrision and Josh Mankiewicz are simply wonderful. Don't forget the host, Lester Holt. 

3. Mama's Family-I love this show so much. I have been trying to get it on DVD for years so I could see all the deleted scenes and the Alistar Quince openings (if you have only seen in syndication you have never seen these scenes and you have missed out). I finally got it this year (2018) and I have watched the whole series about 4 times since I brought it home.  

2. Dallas-I remember the day I fell in love with this show. I am not sure if it was first run or a repeat, but I was at my grandmother's and everyone was fighting with JR and then someone shot him!!! I was totally hooked, for life.  JR is my favorite TV show character of all time.  

1.  Law & Order (the mothership)- This has been a favorite for a very long time. I have seen every episode and I watch it almost every day of my life.  My favorite ADA is McCoy (duh).  Detective is Briscoe, followed by Green, Curtis and then Lups. 

Review: Mrs. Sinclair's Suitcase

Mrs. Sinclair's Suitcase by Louise Walters
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I admit that I often check out books based on the covers and this book fell directly into that category. The lady on the cover looked mysterious and I was intrigued. I discovered while reading this book that Dorothy (Dorothea/Dot) was indeed a mysterious woman. She had secrets that changed her life and the lives of the one she loved. The book takes place in 1940 where Dot is entering her middle age and she is a married woman with no children. She is caring for 2 young women who are very hard working single girls and look to her as a big sister/mom type. Dorothy is very unhappy because of the circumstances of life, but not only does she find happiness on one level, she finds it on another and sacrifices to keep it. I LOVED that part of the story. I didn't see it happening at first, but when it did I thought how creative the writer was to make the story travel in the way it did.

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Review: The Subway Girls

The Subway Girls by Susie Orman Schnall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was simply a lovely book. Subway cards fascinated me since I first saw the film "On the Town".
This book was kind of like that film in that the publicity didn't quite tell all the story of Miss Ivy Lynn no more than it told the whole story of this beauty from the cards. I really liked that. I also liked the modern storyline and how the two wove together was perfection (btw, I love BEN). I don't want to give out too much on the characters because I really think you don't need much so before so you won't get the story. Just know that this book is all about the past where the MTA chose Subway Girls to promote the subway. It was a beauty contest of sorts. You also need to know that these ladies were often not viewed as professionals or maybe of any count, just a thing of beauty. Our story tells the tale of Charlotte who longs terribly for a career but is blocked because she is a woman (there is no other reason). In the future, we see successful Olivia. She has a "grand" career, in a world of backstabbing and deceit. Charlotte and Olivia will join forces through time and get past a beauty contest. Yeah, I think I did it without giving too much away. Just read this, I do think you will love it.

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Review: Double Shots, Donuts, and Dead Dudes

Double Shots, Donuts, and Dead Dudes by Harper Lin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Matt and Fran are so adorable!! While the Pink Cupcake series (if you haven't read it, you should), is my favorite of all.....this one is still superb. Fall break is coming up for many of you so download the series and sit on the beach and read. They are quick, enjoyable reads, books you can read while watching the kids frolic on the playground.

This one went in a slightly different direction, which I love about Harper; there may be a death in every book but she keeps it fresh with the hows and whys. I can't tell you too much or I will give away the plot, but I will tell you that I was hungry from the first restaurant burrito to the donut recipe at the end of the book.

I received an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.



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Review: I Was Anastasia

I Was Anastasia by Ariel Lawhon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I will admit that I was a tad confused on the timeline. It floated all over the place and took me a couple of sentences to get where I needed to be, but the story was GREAT. This took Anastasia to places I have never seen her go. I enjoyed that. The story was fabulous. We learned what Anna Anderson might have been like as well as what Anastasia could have been....even maybe how she died.

This is my second Ariel book and I don't think it will be my last.

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I have no time to read

I have no time to read, ugg, I used to say this and I hated it.  There has to be a way to better manage my time. I started doing many things in my life to "get things done" and while I am always busy, I feel I maximize the time to the best of my ability (for now at least--it is ever changing).

Before I tell you how I cram time in for reading you need to know that I have a strict schedule I follow for household chores and unless there is emergency cleaning to do, it helps carve out more reading time.  I have covered my weekly cleaning schedule here if you are interested.

I do the same thing every single day because I am one of those people that do better with a routine.  My daily schedule allows more reading time because my goal is 100 pages a day and I achieve it almost every day.

Mornings: I get up and brush my teeth and drink water and do at least 2 miles.  After I am done with that I settle down with my breakfast, coffee, and a book. I often have Law & Order or Dateline on in the background. I read for almost an hour then spend 20 minutes getting ready for work.  This is DEDICATED reading time and whether I go to work or not that day, I eat breakfast and read...7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Evenings: I read every night before I fall asleep.  There have been evenings when I only get about 10 pages completed and others where I stay up way too late, but I read.


I mainly read on my Kindle Voyage so it goes wherever I go. I can sneak in reading at the spur of the moment, such as:
1. While stuck in traffic on the interstate
2. While soaking in a bath or hot tub
3. While cooking dinner
4. While walking my miles indoors
5. While waiting on hold on the phone
6. When I eat lunch alone at work
7. When I eat supper/dinner alone at home
8. Anytime I am waiting on something or someone
9. I can also read while ironing, drying my hair, waiting for the concert or ballgame to start,  watching tv, folding laundry and brushing my teeth.


Tips to help you maximize reading time:
1. Start with a goal you want to achieve, say reading for 10 minutes a day or 20 pages a day.  Maybe choose a short book to give you a great sense of satisfaction that you completed the book in a week!

2. If you don't like the book don't be afraid to say, "you are not worth my time" and put it away.  My rule is if the book doesn't grab me in about 50 pages, I am done.

3. Maybe keep a list of the books you finish.  I find I get a great sense of satisfaction to see that list grow, and if you like to complete goals then this may work to give you more time to read.

4.  Along the goal lines, maybe join a reading challenge. I do lists to explore other genres of books because I am mainly going to read historical fiction, history or biographies if I don't do a list challenge.  PopSugar is my favorite of all time and I do it every year.

You can find me on Goodreads at www.goodreads.com/michellechampion