Celebrating January Birthdays

My family has many birthdays this month, in addition to the ones I'm writing about I can recall cousins, my nephew's wife, my niece, and many friends. 

Most recently my son, Nicholas or Nick, celebrated his 15th birthday this past Sunday.  This past year he has grown and changed so very much.  He is now taller than me, had a deeper voice, has the need to shave occasionally and has matured by leaps and bounds!  While middle school was a virtual nightmare with silly detentions and calls from the dean about face painting and overzealous talking, high school has been relatively smooth and uneventful.  Nick has been making good grades, playing sports, making friends and behaving in a positive and acceptable manner....he's 15, not a saint...ha ha. 
So we celebrated with a few small gifts, and dinner out.  His choice was The Cheesecake Factory and it was as usual, yummy.  We took desert to go, but they brought him a mini sundae to sing and embarrass him....he loved it!!

Just last week I was in Texas visiting my family, and celebrating my dad's 88th birthday.  While he has changed so very much in the last few years, he is still my daddy!! Dementia and Parkinson's Disease have taken away much of who my dad was.  He is no longer active physically, he can barely read his much loved daily paper due to macular degeneration.  His memory of 50 years ago is much sharper than what he ate for lunch, but right now he does know each of us, and he still cares about how he looks, and how his hair is combed.  He loves having his family near him, and my two siblings and I along with my mom and a couple of his grandkids were together to celebrate his birthday with Italian food and a big ol' cake.  Isn't my daddy handsome and precious?!!

Earlier this month my sister Ouida celebrated a birthday too.  She is perhaps the kindest person I know, well maybe other than my husband.  Ouida is twelve years older than I and yet since I was in college we have been incredibly close.  She was my go to person when I had questions about college, guys and growing up.  When she was divorced at age 38, after 18 years of marriage I talked her through dating again, and we shared many crazy nights at a few Country bars in North Texas!  She remarried the fall before I married Kevin, and her husband Tom is wonderful.  She has 2 grown children, and 2 grandchildren, and her work in HR is so suited for her.  She is the most honest and empathetic person I've ever seen in that role. She loves to read, a passion we share!  This picture is from last year-- Ouida on the left, me on the right...being silly.

Book Review: Three Good Things

Written by: Wendy Francis

Published by: Simon & Schuster Paperbacks January 2013

Length: 256 Pages

Source: E Galley from Edelweiss via Publisher




Ellen McClarety is recently divorced and is throwing herself into her new bakery, The Singular Kringle, dedicated to producing the best Danish Kringle.  Ellen enjoys the daily routine of creating the dough, folding, building layers, choosing the fillings, and baking them to perfection.  Ellen brews the coffees and creates a daily sign board announcing Drips & Tips, announcing the available brews and a grammar tip.  While happy to be rid of her good for nothing husband, something lingers, a passion, a sad remembrance of things not had.  Her younger sister Lanie is a successful lawyer, married with a baby and burning the candle at both ends.  She is often unsure of her role as mother, wife and lawyer, and she is uncomfortable with all the hours her husband is working.  He is an architect.  Both Ellen and Lanie live in Madison, Wisconsin and enjoy the Midwestern values and lives they have chosen.  Having lost their mother when very young, both women cling to each other for support and wisdom.  One thing their mother taught them..each day look for three good things....knowing good and bad will surely come but there are always positives.

The relationship between these sisters is so beautiful.  I have a sister I'm very close to emotionally, but not geographically so I think I understand that relationship.  Certainly these two sisters would do just about anything for the other, and it shows.  Their unwavering support is very endearing.  Ellen's attachment or unrequited love so to speak for her ex husband had moments that drove me crazy.  He contacts her out of the blue, he's now living on an island, and he would like to see her.  She's surprised when he just shows up at her bakery one day, but she's filled with questions and doubts and she is very drawn to him physically.  She still has doubts.  When she begins seeing one of her regular customers she is learning to work her way through second time around relationships.  Henry is a widower, and he's still not really over his loss.  Ellen is patient...to a point.

Lanie is the younger sister who wants it all and expect to get it!  I appreciated how she felt with a small child, busy career, husband equally involved in his work, and her feeling a bit resentful that he gets up less in the night, seems to get more sleep, and in he feels less guilt.  It's true, we mothers feel guilty over the smallest things that we may not be giving our children.  When Lanie suspects husband Rob of having an affair, she is jealous of every hour he works late with the beautiful young associate, Samantha.  Lanie imagines the most awful scenarios, and it is beginning to tear her apart when she then makes a pleasant discovery.  It begins with a laughable wardrobe malfunction Samantha has at a work event, and then Lanie spies a small indiscretion...wow didn't see that one coming, and so well written! 

The driving force in this book is love, and well kringle!  So much talk of dough and butter and fillings I wanted my own.  Luckily dear readers there is a recipe at the end!!  The love their mother game to Ellen and Lanie is always present, ever with them, guiding them and helping them along the way.  The love of sisters and family keeps them strong.  Each sister also wanting the love and understanding of another person in their life.

I really enjoyed this book, it was a nice departure from many of the books I'd been reading.  I gave this a 3.75 out of 5 stars.  Looking for something positive and yet not a cookie cutter feel good storyline?? This could fit your needs.  An enjoyable book, with characters that are very vulnerable and yet willing to work their way through relationships and life.

I've enjoyed getting to know Wendy Francis on twitter, she is a fun person, and I look for more good books from her. I've been trying to make a mental note daily of my Three Good Things, it's very enlightening.  Visit her author page from Simon & Shuster. 

Book Review: The One I Left Behind

Written by: Jennifer McMahon

Published by: William Morrow Books January 2013

Length: 422 pages

Source: Publisher,  NEIBA




From publisher:
The summer of 1985 changed Reggie's life. Thirteen, awkward, and without a father, she finds herself mixed up with her school's outcasts-Charlie, the local detective's son, and Tara, a goth kid who has a mental hold over Reggie and harbors a dark secret. That same summer a serial killer called Neptune begins kidnapping women. He leaves their severed hands on the police department steps and, five days later, displays their bodies around town. Just when Reggie needs her mother Vera-an ex-model with many "boyfriends" and a thirst for gin-the most, Vera's hand is found on the steps. But after five days, there's no body and Neptune disappears.

Now a successful architect who left her hometown behind after that horrific summer, Reggie doesn't trust anyone and lives with few attachments. But when she gets a call from a homeless shelter saying that her mother has been found alive, Reggie must confront the ghosts of her past and find Neptune before he kills again.

My Thoughts:
This book is told in two time frames, the summer of 1985 when the Neptune killer begins abducting and killing women, and 2010 when one of his victims long supposed dead is identified and returned to her family.  We are primarily focused on the life of one Reggie Dufrane, spending her summer with her two closest friends, goth loving Tara and Charlie, whom she secretly longs for.  Reggie lives with her mother Vera, and her Aunt Lorraine in a castle like home her grandfather built for his wife. Vera is a free spirit, Lorraine more settled and keeps a close eye on Reggie.   Reggie doesn't really seem to see the seedy, less attractive side of her mom, perhaps through the eyes of a child she wouldn't see Vera's questionable life style. 

The drama of 1985 is thrilling and frightening, but  nothing compared to the return of Reggie's mother, and the events that occur after their return to Brighton Falls.  McMahon has woven this tale together, chapter to chapter and left me grasping for answers and my heart racing with what could possibly happen next!! The details of this story were so very well written, the anticipation of what would happen next, the discovery of  the hands, the bodies, everyone wondering who might be next.  The inquisitiveness of the young teens was very believable, and yes more than daring.  Their actions will haunt them for years to come.  When Reggie fled her hometown for college, she left many things unanswered and she likely would have left it that way.  It was harsh and eye opening to return, almost too much for her to handle.  As she searches for Neptune, she realizes there were many dark and secretive people in Vera's past.  Could they help her find answers?

I've given this book a 4 out of 5 stars and this book has reminded me how much I love a good suspense novel. I highly recommend this book, really kept me hanging on and wanting more! I'm looking forward to reading the back list of books Jennifer McMahon has written. You can learn more on her website.

Leaving on a Jet Plane

At the unpleasant time of 6:30 am I'll be on a plane heading to Dallas TX.  City of my birth, and where my parents and siblings reside.  Using airline miles and relegated to their limitations of flights available.  On a positive not I arrive by 8:30am and even with picking up the rental car and driving across town I'll have a full day to spend with my parents.  I may need a nap...but that's okay too. 

My mom is 85 and on Friday my dad will be 88.  They are two very precious people in my life.  They live separately now in a retirement community with various levels of care.  Mom is still in independent living, she has a small apartment.  Dad was moved last fall to assisted living/memory care.  He has a nice suite, den/bedroom/bath , the best thing is that they are only one building away from each other, connected by a tunnel so weather isn't an issue.  Mom walks over almost daily and spends time with dad.  They can still share some meals together. 

I'll be in TX for 5 days, flying home Monday evening.  I'll get to see my sister and brother too, and maybe their kids etc.  I'll devote most of my time to mom and dad. 

I'm reading two books, THE ONE I LEFT BEHIND by Jennifer McMahon, and THE HOUSE GIRL by Tara Conklin.  Both very good, but I must admit the creepiness of the first has totally grabbed me.  I'm also reading the final manuscript of my friend Judy Walters book CHILD OF MINE.  It will be released for Kindle and Nook in March, visit her website to learn more.  Naturally I think it's going to be a winner!  No doubt I have plenty to read, and I'm taking it with me!! 

See ya next week!!

Book Review: Cover of Snow

Written by: Jenny Milchman

Published by: Ballantine Books a division of Random House

Length: 326 pages

Source: Publisher




Nora  Hamilton wakes one morning, and her husband Brenden is missing from her side.  As she searches their home looking for him, she finds he has committed suicide.  A blur of days occurs, calling the police, where he was an officer, her family at her side, a funeral, and more family and friends at her home.  Brenden's mother is a bit icy, something Nora doesn't understand.  As Nora begins to accept that her husband is gone, she can't understand the why of it all.  He left no note, gave no indication that he was anything but happy in their marriage and in his work.  As Nora begins to ask questions and investigate she is met with a brick wall from his former partner and the chief of police.  No one wants to talk about Brenden, why he may have been unhappy.  As she begins to dig deeper into the idyllic town of Wedeskyull she doesn't like what she sees.  Things are rarely what they appear. 

The first thing that really sunk in about this book was the imagery created by Jenny Milchman.  I've never visited the Adirondack Mountains, but the details of the snow,cold and ice and geographic descriptions in COVER OF SNOW are so well done, I felt like I was there with Nora as she was out in the elements.  It made me shiver!  Combined with an adventure to find the truth, a thrilling, heart pounding ride....this book was very exciting.

It was easy to like and empathize with Nora, she's left alone, it's a brutal winter where she lives and no one wants to talk about much of anything involving her husband or the police department.  As a small town it was full of quirky characters and secrets. Putting all the pieces together wasn't easy or safe for Nora, but she was persistent.  Uncovering the secrets was the most interesting to me.  When we admit it, most families have secrets, but this one goes beyond just the family, reaching the entire town. I loved how creepy and spooky it was while Nora was sleuthing around for clues....so well written. 

While this book was a good adventure it was not without some problems.  There was a feeling that the police was omnipotent, and a bit far fetched.  Without spoilers I can't really say much more, but there are questions about video and sound recordings that aren't really answered the hows and whys.

I gave this book a 3.75 out of 5 stars, I did really like it, and I was completely grabbed after 50 pages and I didn't see the climactic resolution in the book.   This is a debut novel by Jenny Milchman, and I see good things for her future.  Looking forward to meeting her on her tour this April and for more good tales to come. Check out her tour dates and locations...it's quite extensive, and a big road trip for her and her family!

Visit Jenny's website, and look for her on fb and twitter @jennymilchman

Book Review: The Fault In Our Stars

Written by: John Green

Published by: Dutton books, an imprint of Penguin Group January 2012

Length: 313 pages

Source: Purchased




Hazel is a 16 year old teen living with Stage 4 cancer.  She's living because of a miracle drug that has somehow slowed down the progress of cancer,shrunken her tumors and yet her whole life is also on hold.  She's no longer in school, she has no social life, and then her mom decides Hazel is depressed.  Forced to attend a support group for young cancer patients, Hazel is unimpressed and bored until one night when she meets devastatingly handsome Augustus Waters, a friend of Isaac, the only person she has befriended in group.  As Hazel and Augustus become friends she shares her other love with him.  She is in love with a book and it's author, AN IMPERIAL AFFLICTION by Peter Van Houten.  Seeking to learn more about each other, and to meet the elusive Van Houten becomes their mission, their last wish so to speak.  Their journey begins.

I honestly felt I was called to this book from the many teens and others that continually purchased this book in the store in which I work.  I've never been much of a follower of the Young Adult genre and had never heard of John Green, I've now decided I was just not cool enough.  So many people are drawn to his books because they love the videos he and his brother Hank have on YouTube.  I was clueless. 

John Green wrote Hazel, Augustus, Isaac and all the teen characters as if he was in fact that age and could reach into their minds and know the dialogue and their thoughts.  Hazel was so well done, from the way she struggled to make friends, because she has been so cloistered with just her parents for the past three years, to the way she wanted to have a relationship, a love, with Augustus.  The single minded pursuit of the author Van Houten and answers to their questions about the book were perfect, so exactly what a teen would do in a fan crazed devotion. 

I was in love with this book from the beginning, maybe a reader's heart just clutches at young cancer patients, but it was more.  Hazel is intelligent and she wants to stop living her life so safely, so predictably.  She decides she wants love, and she wonders what she will leave when she leaves this world.  Augustus was beyond beautiful as a teen boy, a friend, a person who really cared for Hazel, in every way.  Green gave him beautiful words and a passion so great for love and life.  I rated this book a 5 out of 5 stars, and I never want to forget the way it has made me feel.  Get the book, borrow it, buy it, whatever, you won't regret it.

John Green is all over the internet, he loves it.  Twitter @realjohngreen 

Sunday Catching Up

I don't know what has happened but I've been doing so well with reading and audio books.  I'm finding wonderful things to read and I've had time to read at a nice pace for me.  This has made me so happy.  I just need to do a better job of taking notes or writing reviews sooner than later.  Too many small details become forgotten and it's not far to the books that I've really enjoyed.

My problem this week has been sleep, or lack of.  It started last Saturday night as I wanted to keep reading The Art Forger and I stayed up until almost 5am!!  Every night I was either hoping to fall asleep and unable to, or spending my days falling asleep all the time.  Thursday I finally stayed awake all day, and had a wonderful 7.5 hours of sleep.  Sadly Friday night I was awake tossing and turning until 4am again.

Saturday we spent a full day in Flagler county where our son Nick was participating in a multi school wrestling tournament.  So proud of Nick, 27 wrestlers in his weight class and he came in 6th place!!  It just makes for a very LONG day.

Today I'm working just a few hours at the B&N bookstore.  Other tasks include grocery shopping, reading, and prepping for the week.

Life is good............have a wonderful day and week.  

Mini Audiobook Reviews

I'm cursing myself for reading and not writing reviews...I don't want to do a disservice to any of the books I read or listen to.  These two audio books I listened to in December, beyond that they have nothing in common....but here we go!!

Written by: Alice LaPlante

Published by: Brilliance Audio July 2011

Length: 9 hours and 46 minutes

Narrator: Jean Reed Bahle

Source: Purchased from Audible


Dr. Jennifer White is a former orthopedic surgeon.  She's been forced to retire and is now in the early stages of Alzheimer's Disease.  Her husband has died and her daughter and son are taking steps to keep her in her home.  They have hired a caregiver, Madelena, it appears that while Jennifer often forgets things from one moment to the next that all is well.  When her dearest friend Amanda turns up dead, with her fingers expertly removed there are many questions, most by the police.  Jennifer has no memory of hurting Amanda, most days she must be reminded that she is dead.

As the story and time move on Jennifer's disease also progresses and her dementia and behavior becomes more erratic and sad.  The police realize she will most likely not be able to stand trial, she can't be held responsible for her behavior, mentally impaired.  Her son Mark and daughter Fiona are not in agreement as to her next level of care.  Mark has money problems and most decisions are left to Fiona.  Deeper and deeper we travel with Jennifer, it's sad as she wants so much to still be a surgeon, a woman in control of her own destiny and yet..........she has snipits of her past, and can she really have murdered Amanda?

This book was a well written account of a person's spiral into dementia.  The question of the murder was an interesting twist to anyone's path to no memory.  The eventual answer is much more demented and sad than what meets the eye.  I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars.  There were some slow moments, some history of Jennifer's life that didn't seem to have much impact on any outcome.  I liked the narrator, but I wasn't familiar with her work.

Written by: Maria Semple

Published by: Hachette Audio August 2012

Length: 9 hours and 39 minutes

Narrator: Kathleen Wilhoite

Source: Purchased from Audible



Bernadette is mother to Bee, wife to Elgin.  She is also a once honored and revered architect now living in Seattle Washington.  Elgin is in charge of a major division at Microsoft.  Bernadette take care of Bee, their now 15 year old daughter.  Bee was born with a heart defect and underwent numerous surgeries.  She is much beloved if not a bit precocious.  As Bee has completed her term with perfect grades she informs her parents she wants them to all travel to Antarctica during her winter break.  Yes..where the penguins live!  So begin plans and anxiety and a look back at the lives of Bernadette and Elgin and how they got to this place and time.  Just as the departure date nears...Bernadette disappears.

I had read so many great reviews about this book I felt I had to read or listen to it.  Available Audible credits are so enticing.  This was a fun and interesting book.  Bernadette is obviously having problems, she can't seem to do a thing for herself except torture the other mom's in the private school Bee attends.  She hires an online assistant to do all the trip planning, even helping her locate the best sea sick preventative.  The reader learns of her success in architecture, and her downfall too.

The audio production was very well done, loved the way Ms. Wilhoite used her voice to give character to each individual.  I gave this book a 4 out of 5 stars, I really liked it.  I listened to it just before the holidays and it was a perfect get away from the craziness in my life! 

Book Review: Me Before You

Written By:  Jojo Moyes

Published By:  Pamela Dorman Books  December 31, 2012 US

Length: 369 pages

Source: Publisher E Galley via Edelweiss




Louisa Clark lives a small life, in a small town in England.  She lives at home with her mom and dad, in a tiny bedroom because her sister and nephew need the bigger room.  When she loses her job in a local cafe she must search for something else, she helps mom and dad with the household expenses.  Her mother stays home to care for her grandfather.  Lou has a long term boyfriend, Patrick, they have a steady comfortable relationship.  He is a fitness trainer, and obsessed with marathon training.

Louisa's job searching leads her to a position as a caregiver to a quadriplegic man.   Will Traynor was  living a large life in London, an important job, many friends and travels and a fiance.  Will is hit by a motorcycle and is now wheelchair bound.  He is unhappy and dissatisfied with his new limited life.  He's now living in an adapted annex next to his parents home.  Will has a medical caregiver, but his mother hires Louisa to spend the days will him, help him with meals and maybe more.  She's told the position is temporary, only six months. 

An unlikely pairing of two very different people.  Louisa is met very chilly by Will when she begins.  She shows up on time, does her job quietly and with care.  She dresses in wild colors and combinations, her unique style.  Will is tailored and reserved.  Slowly they begin to talk, he notices her interest in his books and her tells her to borrow whatever she's like.  Will began to share his love of movies with Lou too.  As Louisa becomes aware of Wills plan to commit assisted suicide, she becomes angry and wants to leave, but she decides instead to make it her job to show him all that life can hold, even in his limited physical state.  Louisa makes a schedule and a plan.....and the two of them become closer.  The question becomes whose plans will succeed and how does love like this come to be?

I don't know that I can write about this book and not begin to cry, this book is most of all a love story.  I didn't see it at first.  I saw many things, how sad Louisa was in her life, how I wanted her to spread her wings and fly.  I didn't understand them all until much later.  I saw a cranky and disgruntled man, bitter of everything he sees that he has lost.

This book is so beautiful, Moyes writes of Louisa changing and accepting, who is able to let go of a tragic mistake in her teens. Louisa learns how to use the internet to educate herself, she reaches out to online groups of quadriplegics and asks questions.  She wants her plans for getting Will out in the world to be successful.  There are mistakes and laughs and tears, but both she and Will are the better for the attempts.  The moral and ethical questions in this book are so well discussed and respected, heartbreaking choices for individuals and their families.

Jojo Moyes wrote this book in such a way that the two lives came together in just the right time, not without bumps, but in a way that melds perfectly.  The love that grew was the way we all dream of love;   give and take and each knowing how to open the other up to be their best.   I am so happy that I was on twitter one night as Eleanor Brown began to share and rave about this book.  I was determined to find a way to read it as soon as possible.  This is a book I'm now telling everyone about, and if I could I'd buy a copy for everyone...it's that good.  This is a 5+ star book..read it, keep the tissues handy and share it!

Jojo Moyes is on facebook and twitter, @jojomoyes. 

Book Review: The Art Forger

Written by:  B. A. Shapiro

Published by: Algonquin Books  October 2012

Pages: 368 Pages

Source: Publisher




Claire Roth is an artist, a painter who had been long shunned and called a fake and a forger.  A choice Claire made three years ago left her reputation torn apart.  She now works on her own art, in the hope that she can overcome the past, and in order to support herself she works for an art reproduction company painting legitimate copies of art.

In 1990 a robbery occurred in Boston at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.  Several works of fine art were stolen, including a Rembrandt, a ................and some Degas drawings, and a famous painting, After the Bath.  No leads have lead to their recovery.  Because of a strict will left by Isabella Gardner nothing can be removed or added to the art that was set by her after her death.  The frames hang empty in the museum.

Claire is approached by gallery owner Aiden Markel, he asks her to forge an important piece of art, in exchange for $50,000 and a showing in his gallery.  Claire is tempted and then after she agrees she is shocked to see the stolen Degas in her studio, one of the pieces stolen from the Gardner Museum.  This makes her nervous and excited, as she is a student of his work, his style and as she prepares to recreate his art she discovers something else.  Is this piece that has been given to her as an original also a forgery?  Why don't his sketches of models add up to the women she sees in this painting?  This is just the beginning of a long and twisted journey for Claire and Aiden.  What she discovers is so very exciting!

I am not a student of the fine arts, I don't have much experience with paintings or art style other than the very basic knowledge many of us have from simply being slightly educated in high school and college.  I was drawn into this book in such a deep way it was surprising.  I loved the discussion and details of how to recreate a painting from over 100 years ago, how the paint and pigments blend and work together.  The details in each step that Claire took to remove the art work from an older work of art to use the canvas for her forged Degas were amazing.  I had no idea one could successfully remove paint and re-use a canvas. 

I enjoyed how Shapiro took a real event in recent history, the theft from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and created a fictional twist on this.  I imagine the research was both tedious and exciting.  I knew nothing of the intriguing Mrs Gardner, imagine living in her time, traveling in her circles and collecting all the art and building a museum/home.  I love how Shapiro took this story from current day, to the late 1800's giving the reader insight and a taste of all that went behind the art and passion of the artist and the art lover. Claire was an easy character to like and cheer for.  I related to her fears as things began to become anxious in her life.  I tend to be the kind of person who worries and concocts every negative scenario as to what can go wrong.

I admit I may not have chosen this book for myself, perhaps intimidated by my lack of art knowledge.  Thank you to She Reads for choosing this book for January, because I feel like a new door has been opened to me in terms of books and art. I stayed up til the wee hours reading this book, needing to find out the answers, the resolution of all the questions in Claire's life.  It was SO worth it!  I've given this book a 5 out of 5 stars, and I absolutely look for more brilliant books from B. A. Shapiro.