The Book Connection...

Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge: What Were You Like as a Child?

2026-04-08T00:00:00.000-04:00

The Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge is hosted by Long and Short Reviews. They offer this blog hop as a weekly prompt to help you gain new friends and visitors. You don't have to participate every week, but if you decide to post and join the blog hop for a week, Long and Short Reviews requests that you share your link in their weekly post on their website (which will be the top post on the home page each Wednesday morning). The link list remains open for new links for 48 hours. Visit the other bloggers participating to see what they discuss that week. Comments are appreciated.

Happy Wednesday! Well, after a day that involved a dusting of snow followed by sunshine and warmth, then rain, big snowflakes, and finally cold wind, today should be sunny and warmer.

April 7, 2026

It looks like today's Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge allows me to talk about my favorite subject: me! Okay, that was a joke. As an empath, though, I do feel a lot of stuff and talk about a lot of stuff.

This will shock anyone who has only known me as an adult: I was a shy, anxious, and quiet kid. I'm still anxious and shy, especially in new settings or with people I don't know well, but quiet left a long time ago, and it is not likely to ever return.

Born the last of three girls, my middle sister is four years older, and our oldest sister is seven years older than I am. I'm the only sister to have lived her entire life in Massachusetts, and I am the only Gen Xer. Both my sisters are Baby Boomers.

With the difference in our ages, I got to spend a lot of time alone and had to learn to entertain myself. The good thing is that I developed a great imagination and a love of reading.

Mom and I

We had a huge family because my mother was one of eight or more, and my father was one of five. We had family that lived in Massachusetts, and relatives that lived in Quebec and Montreal, Canada. My mother and father were the youngest of their siblings, so all our aunts and uncles were much older than they were. Our cousins were teenagers or married when I was still in single digits. Not sure why, maybe because we lived in the same house as our Meme and Pepe, but we hosted the holidays at our house.

Oldest sister, one of our maternal uncles, middle sister, and I

All three of us danced. My oldest sister liked tap, the middle one acrobats and jazz, and I liked ballet. None of us liked the same things, and we weren't really alike in temperament. We were known as the oldest, the prettiest (middle sister), and the smart one (me).

Middle sister and I (the only year I took tap)

Because I was so small and bashful, I didn't make friends easily. I kept to myself, and teachers allowed me to help out because I could read at a third-grade level when I entered first grade. Being a teacher's pet did not ingratiate me with my classmates. I was teased pretty much from the day I entered school to the day I graduated high school. Time and life have leveled the playing field, but I will always feel like the kid who didn't fit in anywhere.

I lost my mother when I was 14, and my dad would eventually remarry. This would bring two brothers into my life. I looked after the oldest of the two boys since I still lived at home. The youngest was born after I moved out.

Many days, I still feel more like that doe-eyed little one in my mother's arms than a career woman who has built a successful business from the ground up. I am, however, grateful that I have been blessed to do what I do, and I feel those difficult, lonely days of my childhood prepared me to approach my real estate business with kindness and empathy for others.

We are driving to Maine today, but I will definitely visit your blogs to learn more about you.

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books About/Set In Places on My Bucket List & Tell Me Something Tuesday: Do you like spoilers? Do you read the last chapter first? Share your thoughts.

2026-04-07T00:05:00.001-04:00

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

Happy Tuesday! Hope you're having a great week. I'm preparing for a short R&R trip with my husband later this week, so I hope to wrap up work-related things today.

This week's Top Ten Tuesday asks us to share books about or set in places on our bucket lists. I can't say I have a real bucket list, but there are days I brain dump. All that list says is, "Travel more." I will see what I come up with for this one.

Top Ten Books About/Set in Places on

My Potential Bucket List

Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery is set on Prince Edward Island. My sister has been, and I would love to go.
The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough, which is set in the Australian Outback, would be an amazing place to visit. Not sure I could survive there.
The Paris Wife by Paula McLain is set in Paris, which I have often said I would like to visit.
The Auschwitz Escape by Joel C. Rosenberg is set in Germany during World War II. Germany would be a beautiful place to visit.
Killer Angels by Michael Shaara is about the Battle of Gettysburg during the Civil War. Visiting Civil War battlefields is an interest of mine.
Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder is set at the Wilder farm in Burke, NY. Though it is the closest Wilder site to where I live, I've never been there.
Elizabeth I by Margaret George is set in the late 1500s in England. My husband has been to London more than once. I've never even come close to England. I wish I had traveled there when Diana, Princess of Wales, lived there.
16 Lighthouse Road by Debbie Macomber because it is set in Washington state. I've only once been to the western part of North America, and I've never seen the far west coast.
Kindred Spirits by Marilyn Meredith is set in a fictional town located in the Southern Sierra Nevada mountains of California. I would love to see that part of California.
Next Year in Jerusalem by Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein needs to go on my list, too. I've wanted to travel to the heart of the Holy Land for years.

Thanks to Freepik for the image

Tell Me Something Tuesday (TMST) is hosted by Jen Twimom at That's What I'm Talking About. TMST is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. Participation is optional, and you can leave your comments in the weekly post when you participate. Check it out if you're interested in joining.

This week's Tell Me Something Tuesday asks if we like spoilers. I can't give you a consistent answer on that one. Many times, I will read the book all the way to the end without skipping ahead. Main reasons to skip ahead: I don't connect with the character(s), or the action is lagging.

Of the two, it's usually the first issue that makes me skip ahead. If I don't like the character(s) or I can't relate to what they're going through, why do I need to read through how they got to the end of the book?

Of all genres, mystery is the one where I will most often seek out spoilers, because if I think I know who did it before the end of the book, then I want to find out if I am right.

How about you?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday - Apr 6

2026-04-06T00:22:00.000-04:00

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are, and about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit, comment, and add to that ever-growing TBR pile! So welcome, everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and was then taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.

Happy Monday! Hope you had a lovely weekend. We celebrated Easter this Sunday with most of the family. The Lil' Princess couldn't fly home because of her school schedule. I spent two days cooking and baking, which I enjoyed. Here are a few photos from this weekend:

I bought flowers to brighten our table

Most of us

Theo was not happy with the chaos

In my reading world, I finished Agatha Christie, She Watched by Teresa Peschel. Great book! Look for my review on April 15.

I have Murder, Local Style by Leslie Karst downloaded on NetGalley. I didn't read it last week, but I am reading it this week so I can stay on top of reviews.

The 4 Disciplines of Execution by Chris McChesney, Sean Covey, and Jim Huling was a DNF for me. I couldn't make it through the beginning.

I continued with This is Not About Us by Allegra Goodman, which many people have raved about. The narrator is growing on me.

I started Scrap: Salvaging a Family by Luann Castle.

These are next:

The Ledger by Steven Manchester, which is a companion to his novel, The Menu

Staged by Caitlin Rother, which is the sequel to Hooked

Photo credit: Freepik

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books they added to their shelves the previous week. This weekly meme is now hosted by Vicki at I'd Rather Be At The Beach.

I received a copy of this book from the author. She is an agent in my local market.

Upcoming Events

Agatha Christie, She Watched by Teresa Peschel - Apr 15 (Review)

Murder, Local Style by Leslie Karst - Apr 20 (Review)

A Change in Plans: A Sgt. Windflower Mystery by Mike Martin - May 13 (Guest Post)

Scrap: Salvaging a Family by Luanne Castle - May 21 (Review)

The Ledger by Steven Manchester - May (Review)

Fighter Pilot's Daughter by Mary Lawlor - June 10 (Guest Post)

Staged by Cailtin Rother - June (Review)

Christmas Year Round

The Christmas Year Round blog has a new "Journey through Christmases Past" post. We are taking a peek at 1940s kitchens. You can read that post here.

The Children's and Teens' Book Connection

I shared Kai Strand's new book, The Moon-Marked Maiden, at my children's book blog. You can read that post here.

As Kidlit Haha Week kicked off, we had to declare which team we are on. You can check out my answer here.

Laura's Little Houses

I am choosing and discussing my favorite episode from each season of Little House on the Prairie, starting with Seasons 1 - 3. Check out that post here.

That is all she wrote. I will be out this morning, but I will drop in to see you later today. Enjoy!

Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge: Favorite Book Blogs and/or Book Bloggers

2026-04-01T00:00:00.038-04:00

Happy hump day! The week is flying by. Maybe I can work from home tomorrow, but this will be a day of going to and from places.

When I glanced upon this week's Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge prompt, all I could think was: Why not ask us to pick our favorite child? Those of us who have had or have been around children know how well that would turn out. So, I simply can't do it. I love you all for a multitude of reasons. I love connecting with my blogging friends because:

They have interesting things to say.
They often have a different perspective than I do.
They make me laugh and smile.
They share of themselves and their lives, which is a blessing I don't take for granted.
They make me feel less introverted.
They help me feel like I matter.
They inspire me to continue blogging.
Seeing their comments reminds me there is something special about carrying on a conversation with someone you might never meet in person, but who you feel you still know.

Thanks to all of you, especially those who engage with this blog--and me--regularly. It means the world to me!

Realizing this post is also a way to increase readership for bloggers, here are some I frequent regularly:

Still Life, With Cracker Crumbs

Caboodle of Cozies

Inside of a Dog

Long and Short Reviews

George L Thomas

Reading Freely

Lydia Schoch

That Artsy Reader Girl

Read! Bake! Create!

Read All the Things!

Reading is My Superpower

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Buzzwords & Phrases That Make Me Want to Read (or Avoid) a Book & Tell Me Something Tuesday: What's your favorite color?

2026-03-31T00:00:00.000-04:00

Here we are at the end of March. I hope it has been kind to you.

When I looked up this week's Top Ten Tuesday prompt, I came up blank. I mean, so empty of any ideas that even tumbleweeds didn't blow through my brain. Maybe because the start of this week was such a Monday that it should go down in the history of Mondays as a day never to repeat. But today is a new day, and I refuse to carry any of Monday into it. So.... this week I will focus mostly on what makes me want to read a book, and then toss in a few things that make me want to avoid it.

Top Ten Buzzwords & Phrases That Make Me

Want to Read (or Avoid) a Book

Want to Read...

Small town romance

Second chances

Dual timeline

Family secrets or secrets buried for decades

Inspired by true events

Coming-of-age story

Library, bookstore, or bakery

Avoid

Dark fantasy

Enemies to lovers

Brutal exploration of

Thanks to Freepik for the image

Well, this week's Tell Me Something Tuesday will be a fun one. I have had the same favorite color since childhood. This color is easily noticed; it is the color of my favorite fruit; it is a classic holiday color; and I look smashing in it. Prince even wrote a song about a car of the same color and brand that I used to want. This girl loves RED!

Photo credit: Hobby Car Corvettes

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday - Mar 30

2026-03-29T22:49:00.001-04:00

Here we are at the end of another month. Did March go by as quickly for you as it did for me? This month was a mix of business, networking, time in the kitchen, events as we get closer to the Lil' Princess' graduation, and the loss of one of our beloved cats. Our kitty quartet was reduced to a trio in 2024, and now it is a duet. Real estate has tremendously picked up, which means I will need to be even more careful with my boundaries. Here are some photos from last week:

We had to euthanize Boots on Wednesday. Not unexpected, but still hard.

On Friday night, Paddy and I ate at Davio's on the Boston Seaport. The food and service are amazing!

Our Lil' Princess before she headed out to formal.

We had Travis to make us smile this week.

In my reading world, I overextended myself, which happens when I am sad. That means I will likely not read Old Flames, New Beginnings by Lea Schizas or Officer Erik and the Very Special Dad by Erik Estrada and Steven Manchester until vacation time.

My review of Before Dorothy by Hazel Gaynor appeared on Sunday. You can find it here. What a beautifully told story!

My review of Dream Facades: The Cruel Architecture of Reality TV by Jack Balderrama Morley was posted on Saturday. Such an interesting book. Check out my review here.

I am almost done with Agatha Christie, She Watched by Teresa Peschel. Look for my review in April.

I have Murder, Local Style by Leslie Karst downloaded on NetGalley. I didn't read it last week, but I will pick it up again this week.

In addition to finishing Beyond Dorothy on Audible, I started listening to the next two books.

The 4 Disciplines of Execution by Chris McChesney, Sean Covey, and Jim Huling. Not a fan so far. It's a lot of jargon.

Since I turned off nonfiction, I started This is Not About Us by Allegra Goodman, which many people have raved about. I am not sure I appreciate the narrator for this audiobook, but I will see how it goes.

Next, I will be reading the following for reviews:

Scrap: Salvaging a Family by Luann Castle

The Ledger by Steven Manchester, which is a companion to his novel, The Menu

Staged by Caitlin Rother, which is the sequel to Hooked

Photo credit: Freepik

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books they added to their shelves the previous week. This weekly meme is now hosted by Vicki at I'd Rather Be At The Beach.

Continuing to display my lack of self-control, I grabbed three books this week.

The Rise of the Creative Class by Richard Florida was a cited resource in Dream Facades by Jack Balderrama Morley.

Crabtree Tule River Patriarchs is the latest book by Marilyn Meredith.

Reading Before Dorothy by Hazel Gaynor inspired me to read the OZ series by L. Frank Baum, so I downloaded this set for my Kindle.

Upcoming Events

Agatha Christie, She Watched by Teresa Peschel - Apr 15 (Review)

Murder, Local Style by Leslie Karst - Apr 20 (Review)

A Change in Plans: A Sgt. Windflower Mystery by Mike Martin - May 13 (Guest Post)

Scrap: Salvaging a Family by Luanne Castle - May 21 (Review)

The Ledger by Steven Manchester - May (Review)

Fighter Pilot's Daughter by Mary Lawlor - June 10 (Guest Post)

Staged by Cailtin Rother - June (Review)

Christmas Year Round

The Christmas Year Round blog has a new "Journey through Christmases Past" post. We travel back to Christmas 1843, which was an important year for lovers of the written word. Check it out here.

The Children's and Teens' Book Connection

Are you ready for Kidlit Haha Week? It starts on April 1. Check out my post here.

Laura's Little Houses

I started drafting the next post in my brain. Now, all I need is some time to get it done.

That's it for me this week. I will post this on Sunday because I have an early morning appointment followed by a training class. I'll check out your blogs in the afternoon. Enjoy!

Audible Book Review: Before Dorothy by Hazel Gaynor

2026-03-29T15:00:00.002-04:00

Who was Auntie Em before Dorothy Gale blew into Kansas? How did she meet Uncle Henry? How did Dorothy wind up with the childless couple? Before Dorothy by Hazel Gaynor is a charmingly brilliant story of Emily Gale, Dorothy's beloved Auntie Em.

In February 1932, Emily Gale journeys back to Chicago after a tragic accident takes the life of her sister Annie and her husband. Bouying her courage, she lays eyes upon Annie and John's only child, Dorothy, who is now her responsibility. Feeling totally unprepared for motherhood, and knowing the unforgiving prairie is no place for a child, she apprehensively brings Dorothy back to Kansas. Uncle Henry has always wanted children, so he welcomes Dorothy with open arms, but would he be so understanding if he knew the whole story?

As the lack of rain and dust bowls that steal your breath increase, Emily and Henry watch as their dreams shrivel like scorched crops. And when Emily is forced to face her worst fear, she must decide if she will open her heart to Dorothy so that she can heal.

Oh. My. Goodness! Before Dorothy is not what I expected at all, but it is the backstory that lovers of The Wizard of Oz will appreciate. Traveling back and forth between the present day and Emily's years growing up in Chicago with her sisters Annie and Nell, this is the story of the beloved Auntie Em we never doubted loved Dorothy with all her heart. With excerpts of Emily's thoughts from her journals titled "Wonderful--A Life on the Prairie," readers dive deeply into Emily's life in Kansas. A touching epilogue told from Dorothy's point of view makes this one of the most moving novels about fictional movie characters you will ever read.

Gaynor has an extraordinary gift for painting vivid images in the minds of her readers, and as she is also a fan of The Wizard of Oz, you will find little hints and nods to that story woven throughout Before Dorothy. This is such a beautifully and masterfully told story that it has led me to order the entire series of books by L. Frank Baum. This is the backstory you never knew you needed until you read it.

Highly recommended!

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Berkley
Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 17, 2025
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0593440331
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0593440339

I purchased this book with an Audible credit. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Book Review: Dream Facades: The Cruel Architecture of Reality TV by Jack Balderrama Morley

2026-03-28T21:19:00.000-04:00

Fascinating and well-researched, Dream Facades: The Cruel Architecture of Reality TV by Jack Balderrama Morley dives deep into the world of reality TV and why people love it, the desire for homeownership, popular home styles, real estate's dark past of redlining and steering, and the adverse effects on people of color and the LGBTQ+ community. Focusing on seven reality TV shows, Selling Sunset, The Kardashians, The Real World, The Bachelor, Trading Spaces, The Real Housewives of Atlanta, and Fire Island, along with their associated architectural styles, the author reveals the appeal of these spaces and why people keep tuning in.

I'm not sure quite what I expected when I requested Morley's Dream Facades, but my curiosity was piqued by two things: wanting to know why people watch reality TV and how this media could influence future design. As someone in real estate, reading this book was a cross between professional inspiration and cultural analysis.

What I enjoyed most about Dream Facades was all the historical perspective on house styles, the discussions on important pieces of legislation shaped by our biases, and a look into the start of reality TV and its continued impact. Considering my love of history and how I like to analyze popular shows from my childhood, this is likely no surprise. I took copious notes and added numerous reference books to my already enormous to-be-read pile. I also appreciated getting to know more about a television genre that I know little about, but that my children mention.

The only place I struggled was with the conclusion of the book. The passion Morley has for returning stolen land and the need to develop a process for accomplishing that task is clear, and it's not the role of this reviewer to defend or argue against it. While it ties into their larger discussion of how the multi-million dollar homes featured on reality TV are in areas where people of color were forcibly removed, and how coveting them goes against our professed desire to live "unbound by heteronormative patriarchy and outside of suburban fantasia," these statements are not as well-developed as the rest of the text, ending the book in a way that is more like, "we can do it if we try" instead of the thoughtfuly crafted and spectacularily articulated information throughout. If I were yearning for a strong call to action, I didn't find it.

That aside, I would read this book again, alongside some of the resources cited, as Morley brings the reader through a riveting media study.

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Astra House
Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 3, 2026
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1662602928
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1662602924

I requested a copy of this book from NetGalley. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge: A Genre I Want to Read More of This Year

2026-03-25T00:00:00.001-04:00

Seems like Wednesdays always creep up on me. I guess it doesn't mean much for me since I often work weekends.

Today's Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge is all about genres we want to read more of this year. Now, in the past, I would set myself a goal of reading more in a genre I don't typically read: sci-fi, fantasy, dystopian, and steampunk. This year, I tossed that out the window. It didn't even make the bookish promises list.

Why?

Because I want to read what I want to read, which boils down to mysteries and seasonal romances. That doesn't mean other genres won't catch my eye or that what I agree to review will be in those genres, but as part of seeking balance and setting boundaries, I'm being more intentional with everything, including reading.

What is a genre you want to read more of this year?

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books That Feel Like Spring & Tell Me Something Tuesday: What’s your go-to coffee/tea order?

2026-03-24T00:00:00.000-04:00

Happy Tuesday! Hope your week is off to a good start.

Today's Top Ten Tuesday topic is on our spring 2026 to-read lists, but I opted to go in a different direction and add variety to the blog. These books will be ones that feel like spring, either because of their covers or their contents. Enjoy!

Top Ten Books That Feel Like Spring

This flowery cover of The Anne of Green Gables Cookbook and its colors make me think of spring.

Spring will always be a big wedding season for us, so Weddings at Promise Lodge appears on the list. At one point, our immediate family had three wedding anniversaries in May. We have one now and two in June.

Spring is prom season, making Prom Dates & Softball Bats a perfect addition.

Mothers of the Bible Speak to Mothers of Today makes a lovely gift for our spring holiday, Mother's Day.

I wish I had a porch swing so that in spring, when the evenings are warmer, we could exchange Front Porch Tales.

Good, Clean, Murder with a main character who is a cleaning woman screams spring cleaning.

With Earth Day coming up in April, I am reminded of Karen Cioffi's The Adventures of Planetman series.

Love and flowers bloom in spring, making Ten First Dates a great book for our spring list.

As temperatures have warmed up here, the birds are coming back. I've seen more than one robin the last few weeks. Spring is a great time to think of Red Tail Feathers.

We are fasting during the spring season of Lent, which made me think of 'Twas the Season of Lent.

Thanks to Freepik for the image

Tell Me Something Tuesday is asking us to spill the tea, or more aptly put, what our go-to coffee/tea order looks like. Here is where I will prove how boring I can be. Flavored tea isn't my thing... unless I have no choice or am feeling adventurous. I want Lipton black tea with milk, preferably decaf. I enjoy English or Irish Breakfast as well. The one tea I definitely won't drink: Earl Grey. I also never drink coffee. Bleck!

That's it for this week. See you around the blogosphere!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday - Mar 23

2026-03-22T23:26:00.001-04:00

Welcome back to Monday! We are closing in on the end of March. Spring has officially started, which of course means it is cold and we are expecting a bit of snow tonight. LOL! Spring in New England is such a silly thing.

Hope you enjoyed your week. I had more going on than planned, but all of it was good stuff. Here are a few photos from my week:

I made vegan Irish soda bread

Lobster Risotto from JRego's in Ellington

Boots is almost 16

Ran into a lender friend at our local real estate conference

In my reading world, I posted my review of 100 Rules for Living to 100: An Optimist's Guide to a Happy Life by Dick Van Dyke. Check it out here.

I also posted my review of Women's Freedom: The Dawn of Possibilities by Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein. You can read that review here.

I am almost finished with Before Dorothy by Hazel Gaynor. It started off slow for me, but I am loving it now.

My review of Dream Facades: The Cruel Architecture of Reality TV by Jack Balderrama Morley should be posted this week.

I continued Agatha Christie, She Watched by Teresa Peschel. Look for my review in April.

I need to continue Murder, Local Style by Leslie Karst for an April review.

Next, I will be reading the following:

Scrap: Salvaging a Family by Luann Castle

The Ledger by Steven Manchester, which is a companion to his novel, The Menu

Staged by Caitlin Rother, which is the sequel to Hooked

After that, I would love to get back to these two:

Old Flames, New Beginnings by Lea Schizas

Officer Erik and the Very Special Dad by Erik Estrada and Steven Manchester

Photo credit: Freepik

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books they added to their shelves the previous week. This weekly meme is now hosted by Vicki at I'd Rather Be At The Beach.

Since I have clearly proven I have no self-control where books are concerned, I've given up on pretending I am not going to request new books to review, and I am still going to buy them. :)

How to Teach Adults by Dan Spalding is part of my real estate instructor's course. It arrived on Monday, and I have already started it.

A White Lie Christmas by Suzy Langevin was free thanks to a digital credit from Amazon.

Upcoming Events

Agatha Christie, She Watched by Teresa Peschel - Apr 15 (Review)

Murder, Local Style by Leslie Karst - Apr 20 (Review)

Scrap: Salvaging a Family by Luanne Castle - May 21 (Review)

The Ledger by Steven Manchester - May (Review)

Staged by Cailtin Rother - June (Review)

Christmas Year Round

The Christmas Year Round blog has a new "Journey through Christmases Past" post. We travel back to Christmas 1986. You can read it here. As promised, this week's post is lighthearted and joyful.

The Children's and Teens' Book Connection

Nothing new.

Laura's Little Houses

Nothing new.

I am still catching up from last week, but I will pop in and see you all later today.

Book Review: Women's Freedom: The Dawn of Possibilities by Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein

2026-03-22T22:15:00.001-04:00

Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein continues her novels that tackle women's issues with Women's Freedom: The Dawn of Possibilities.

It is an exciting time for Madison and Ginger as they enter college in the fall of 1960. Both have dreams and ambitions during a time when society limited their rights and didn't consider them equal to their male counterparts. Still, it's a time for new adventures: meeting mysterious men and women, dorm life, jobs, and romance. For Boomers, this will likely be a trip down memory lane.

In some ways, Ginger and Madison seem like any college-aged woman on the street. In others, you realize how precarious their situation was as love blossomed in an environment before contraception. How the lack of technology left them unaware of who the men in their lives were because there were no cell phones, apps, or Google. How unprepared they were to face some of the people and situations they encountered.

Women's Freedom: The Dawn of Possibilities is filled with engaging characters whose stories you will want to know. Check it out if you enjoy stories for women filled with romance and a hint of mystery.

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0G255V8D7
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Russell M. Holstein, Ph.D. LLC
Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 12, 2025
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 346 pages
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8218862565

I received a copy of this book from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Audible Book Review: 100 Rules for Living to 100 by Dick Van Dyke

2026-03-22T14:40:00.000-04:00

If you have spent your life admiring the work of Dick Van Dyke, then you will want to grab a copy of his latest book, 100 Rules for Living to 100: An Optimist's Guide to A Happy Life. With a career spanning decades, this centenarian has tons of stories and sage advice to offer us all.

This audiobook opens with a message from the actor, but the rest is narrated by his good friend and television personality Tom Bergeron (America's Funniest Home Videos, Dancing with the Stars). Van Dyke sees his optimism as being a key to his longevity in life and his profession, with each themed section sharing a rule about living to 100. He dives deeply into his personal life and shares stories from the many acting roles he has been blessed to play.

As someone who grew up watching reruns of the Dick Van Dyke Show, singing songs from Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and appreciating Van Dyke's more dramatic role in Diagnosis Murder, I loved getting to know more about Van Dyke's life, family, his fellow actors, and acting roles I never knew about.

If you are looking for a book that embraces a nostalgic journey through life and Hollywood, with an abundance of kind-hearted humor and optimism along the way, you will find no greater choice than Dick Van Dyke's 100 Rules for Living to 100.

Listening Length	7 hours and 27 minutes
Author	Dick Van Dyke
Narrator	Tom Bergeron, Dick Van Dyke
Whispersync for Voice	Ready
Audible.com Release Date	November 18, 2025
Publisher	Grand Central Publishing
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B0F6YWZC24

I bought a copy of this book with an Audible credit. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge: Audiobooks I've Enjoyed

2026-03-18T00:00:00.001-04:00

Welcome back to Wednesday! What a week it has been: back-to-back meetings, two accepted offers in three days, and showings. I will be catching up on visiting your blogs today.

This week's Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge asks us to share audiobooks we have enjoyed. I tend to listen to business books, self-help, and professional development books on Audible. Chirp has books I listen to for fun.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is one of my favorite Christmas stories. Hugh Grant's voice makes it all the better.

Many years ago, when a group of Dean Butler fans suggested he write a memoir, we had no idea he would actually write one. Prairie Man: My Little House Life & Beyond by Dean Butler is a wonderful read for any fan of the show.

I had never read The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett until it turned into our first Modern Prairie book club read. What a wonderful story!

Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life by Arnold Schwarzenegger is filled with helpful advice. Such a great book!

Rob Dial, author of Level Up, allows his energy and charisma to shine through as he narrates his book.

Have you listened to any of these books? What are some of your favorite audiobooks?

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Green Book Covers and Tell Me Something Tuesday: Do you prefer single narrator, duet/dual narration, full cast, or "graphic audio" audiobooks?

2026-03-17T00:00:00.001-04:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day! We are celebrating by sharing our Top Ten Green Book Covers. This one should be fun!

Top Ten Green Book Covers

Anne of Greenville by Mariko Tamaki

The Messiest Monster on Mill Street by Sarah Sparks

Love's Unending Legacy by Janette Oke

The Disappearance of Billy Moore by Aaron Paul Lazar

Hex the Halls by Mindy Kalsky et al.

The Mistletoe Inn by Richard Paul Evans

The Pirate Bride by Kathleen Y'Barbo

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

Currant Creek Valley by RaeAnne Thayne

Jo & Laurie by Margaret Stohl & Melissa de la Cruz

Thanks to Freepik for the image

Tell Me Something Tuesday asks what kind of audiobook narrator we enjoy: single, duet/dual, full cast, or "graphic audio."

I would have to say a single narrator, because if there are too many different voices or music and sound effects to go along with what is being spoken, I find it distracting. A single narrator has to be more creative and make the listener believe they are each character as they are reading.

Looking forward to viewing your blogs later today.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday - Mar 16

2026-03-16T00:00:00.000-04:00

Happy Monday! Hope you had a nice weekend. We are expecting a wet and windy day, but at least we aren't in Wisconsin. Some areas had 20 inches of snow by midday on Sunday. I hope everyone there remains safe.

My real estate schedule is filling up, and this weekend I worked most of Sunday. I had a speaking engagement on Thursday, which went well, and had a few appointments and showings. This coming week shows more red dots on my calendar, indicating things to do.

Here are a few photos from last week:

Dwight and Travis enjoyed the two sunny and warm days we had

Bought myself some overalls

Vegetarian stir-fry during our Lenten fast

I finished listening to 100 Rules for Living to 100: An Optimist's Guide to a Happy Life by Dick Van Dyke. Look for my review soon.

I listened to Hazel Gaynor's Before Dorothy last week, and it is getting interesting.

I finished Dream Facades: The Cruel Architecture of Reality TV by Jack Balderrama Morley. Look for my review coming soon.

I started Agatha Christie, She Watched by Teresa Peschel, for an April review.

I also started Murder, Local Style by Leslie Karst, which is for an April review.

Photo credit: Freepik

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books they added to their shelves the previous week. This weekly meme is now hosted by Vicki at I'd Rather Be At The Beach.

I received a digital copy of The Ledger by Steven Manchester for review, which is a follow-up to The Menu, which I mentioned here.

Upcoming Events

Women's Freedom: The Dawn of Possibilities by Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein - Mar (Review)

Agatha Christie, She Watched by Teresa Peschel - Apr 15 (Review)

Murder, Local Style by Leslie Karst - Apr 20 (Review)

Scrap: Salvaging a Family by Luanne Castle - May 21 (Review)

The Ledger by Steven Manchester - May (Review)

Staged by Cailtin Rother - June (Review)

Christmas Year Round

Christmas Year Round's blog has two new posts since last week:

"Journey Through Christmases Past - Christmas 1918" here, and "Journey Through Christmases Past - Christmas 2001" here. Next week's post will be lighter.

The Children's and Teens' Book Connection

Nothing new.

Laura's Little Houses

Nothing new.

I have appointments this morning, so I look forward to visiting you in the afternoon. Enjoy your day!

Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge: Books About My Favorite Topic

2026-03-11T00:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome back to Wednesday! The middle of the workweek for some, and just another day for others. We are expecting a spot of rain today, but the temperatures are still nice. I will take any day I don't have to wear winter gloves.

This week's Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge asks me to share books about my favorite topic. Narrowing down one favorite topic is tough, but I will go with writing. Here are a few great books about writing:

Bird by Bird byAnne Lamott
On Writing by Stephen King
Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg
The Elements of Style by Strunk & White
Plot & Structure by James Scott Bell
The Well-fed Writer by Peter Bowerman

Have you read any of these? What are some books about your favorite topic?

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Book Titles with Ordinal Numbers and Tell Me Something Tuesday: If you could have any celebrity be your best friend, who would you pick?

2026-03-10T00:00:00.001-04:00

Happy Tuesday! In honor of our springlike temperatures, I gave the blog an update. I'm done with winter, even though snow is likely in the forecast for next week.

This week's Top Ten Tuesday is about titles with ordinal numbers. Ashamed to admit I had to look up what that meant, but math has never been my strength. Here is my list of...

Top Ten Book Titles

with Ordinal Numbers

The First Fall by Erin Flanagan
The Third Girl by Agatha Christie
The First Actress by C.W. Gortner
The Fourth Grade Fuss by Johanna Hurwitz
The Seventh Most Important Thing by Shelley Pearsall
The Second Chance Supper Club by Nicole Meier
The Fifth Avenue Story Society by Rachel Hauck
The Seventh Survivor by Rachel Amphlett
The Second Chance Year by Melissa Wiesner
The Sixth Lamentation by William Brodrick

Thanks to Freepik for the image

Tell Me Something Tuesday asks an intriguing question today: "If you could have any celebrity be your best friend, who would you pick?"

There are so many who would make wonderful choices:

Sandra Bullock for her honesty,
Kelly Clarkson because she is so sweet and kind,
Dolly Parton because she offers sage advice,
Donnie Wahlberg because he acts all tough but has a soft side.

If I chose a celebrity I've met, I would go with Alison Arngrim. Yes, it's nasty Nellie Oleson from Little House on the Prairie. She is amazing in person; so sweet and funny and unbelievably smart. I try to connect with her at any reunion I attend, but sometimes I run out of time. Dean Butler's line is always incredibly long, and he is first on my list. She is coming to Massachusetts this year, and I won't be here. I'm so bummed. But I will keep my eye out for more appearances in my area.

Who is a celebrity you would like as a best friend or one you have met in person?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? & Mailbox Monday - Mar 9

2026-03-09T00:00:00.001-04:00

Here we are again on Monday. Hope you had a nice weekend. As I am typing, it's late Sunday, and my eyes are blurry from reading and notetaking all afternoon, but it was a productive week. Here are a few photos:

Made vegetable broth

The Lil' Princess was home for a quick trip

We visited the new Hobby Lobby, and I picked up a cross-stitch kit

It was nice to have the Lil' Princess home for a few days. She flew in late Thursday and headed back to school Sunday afternoon. I worked Friday morning, but I kept the rest of the weekend for her, and we went shopping for a graduation dress. We each bought an embroidery kit and worked on them Saturday night.

In my blogging and reading world, I posted reviews of:

The Curious Life of Cecilia Payne: Discovering the Stuff of Stars by Laura Alary. You can read it here.

The Lost Hummingbird by Janice Blanchett. The review can be found here.

I also posted a First Chapter Review of ZigZag Girl by Ruth Knafo Setton. You can read that review and enter the giveaway here.

I listened to this one in the car this week. I have less than two hours to go with my listening of 100 Rules for Living to 100: An Optimist's Guide to a Happy Life by Dick Van Dyke.

I didn't read Hazel Gaynor's Before Dorothy last week since I am still reading Van Dyke's book.

I finished Dream Facades: The Cruel Architecture of Reality TV by Jack Balderrama Morley. Great book. Most of it was interesting, but it had a weak ending.

Next up is Agatha Christie, She Watched by Teresa Peschel, for an April review. I am so excited to dive into this one.

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books they added to their shelves the previous week. This weekly meme is now hosted by Vicki at I'd Rather Be At The Beach.

I did not order anything new this week, but I downloaded a NetGalley copy of Murder, Local Style by Leslie Karst for my April review.

Upcoming Events

Women's Freedom: The Dawn of Possibilities by Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein - Mar (Review)

Agatha Christie, She Watched by Teresa Peschel - Apr 15 (Review)

Murder, Local Style by Leslie Karst - Apr 20 (Review)

Scrap: Salvaging a Family by Luanne Castle - May 21 (Review)

Christmas Year Round

Christmas Year Round's blog has not gotten a new post yet, because I was busy reading. It should be posted today.

The Children's and Teens' Book Connection

My reviews of the two books I read were posted above.

Laura's Little Houses

I finally finished my profile of Albert Quinn Ingalls. You can read it here.

Netflix announced it ordered a second season of Little House on the Prairie ahead of the series' July 9 premiere. I shared that here. Are you planning to watch it?

That's it for me this week. I have appointments this morning, so it might be the afternoon before I visit your blog. Enjoy your day!

First Chapter Review & Giveaway: Zigzag Girl by Ruth Knafo Setton

2026-03-07T17:35:00.000-05:00

Today, I am reviewing the first chapter of the mystery/thriller Zigzag Girl by Ruth Knafo Setton, currently on tour with Partners in Crime Tours.

BLURB: Zigzag Girl, by Ruth Knafo Setton, is a twisty contemporary mystery with a touch of magic, set in Atlantic City and the eerie New Jersey Pine Barrens. Lucy Moon, a brilliant young magician with a mysterious past, works in the town’s theatre, staging performances of enchantment and conjure. But one night, during the ‘Sawing a Woman in Half’ trick, Lucy discovers her friend’s body in the box, dead. As Lucy digs deeper, she uncovers a trail of murders and suspects. With the help of a fierce group of female magicians and mystics, she must expose the truth before she becomes the final act.

COVER: What a great cover! Love the colors and images. The font is neat, with that slice through the letters meant to symbolize the sawing trick, and the orange tag line stands out nicely against the green.

FIRST CHAPTER: After an intense prologue, the story opens twenty-four years later in Atlantic City. On opening night, Lucy and Stormie are anxiously awaiting the arrival of their other co-star, Van, who should have been there two hours earlier. But Lucy knows Van wouldn't miss this night for the world. What has happened to her?

KEEP READING: With tight writing, unique characters, and its cliffhanger ending, the opening chapter of ZigZag Girl is definitely one that makes me want to continue. The prologue has me a bit disturbed about how dark this story is going to get. Still, Lucy is a strong narrator and intriguing. I plan to keep going.

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Black Spring Crime
Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 3, 2026
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 300 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1917788037
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1917788038

I received a digital copy of this book to review from Partners in Crime Tours. This First Chapter Review includes my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Tour Participants:

Click through the other tour stops for can’t-miss reviews, insider interviews, exclusive guest posts, and more chances to win!

Click here to view the Tour Schedule

Real Magic Awaits: A Giveaway That's Not an Illusion 🎩

This giveaway is hosted by Partners in Crime Tours for Ruth Knafo Setton. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.

Can't see the giveaway? Click Here!

Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge: Fictional Things I'm Glad Are NOT Real

2026-03-04T00:00:00.002-05:00

We have fallen upon Wednesday again. Are you having a great week? We've been talking about fictional things we wish were real. But for this week's Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge, we are flipping the coin to talk about fictional things we are glad are not real. Wow! Just thinking about this topic makes me shiver. Here are a few:

Zombies

A writer for The Harvard Gazette conducted an interview about zombies with Dr. Steven Schlozman, a former assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. This interview captures how frightening these creatures are and why. Schlozman says, "...the really terrifying thing about zombies isn’t that they will bite you and turn you into a zombie; it’s the idea that humans can get robbed of themselves, and that’s really scary. The idea of a person not being themselves, but still recognizable as a person, is a terrifying notion." That sure sums it up for me.

The Blob

I still remember being scared out of my mind by scenes in this movie. The Blob, as stated on Wikipedia, is a carnivorous amoeboidal alien that crashes to Earth inside a meteorite, landing in Pennsylvania. It engulfs living beings, growing larger and getting more aggressive the more people it envelops. Yuck!

The Hunger Games

Let's just get this out of the way right now. I would be one of the first tributes to die. Though I have a strong survival instinct, I am not athletic, would likely not come close if I had to shoot someone, and my highly sensitive skin just couldn't cope under any of the odd conditions in the Games.

What are some fictional things you are glad are not real?

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Amateur Sleuth Occupations & Tell Me Something Tuesday: Which made-up thing do you badly wish was real?

2026-03-03T00:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Tuesday, y'all! So great to see you again. This week's Top Ten Tuesday is a genre freebie, so we pick a genre and come up with a topic. It's been a while since I've read a cozy mystery, despite this genre being one of my favorites. Let's take a peek at my list of...

Top Ten Amateur Sleuth Occupations

Real estate agent: You knew this one would make the list. Though there are more mystery series than Karen White's Tradd Street, this was the first time I had read a mystery with an amateur sleuth who sells real estate.
Event planner: The main character of Avery Daniels's Resort to Murder Mysteries series is an event planner. What I love is that this creates a way to have new characters and situations all the time, even when the series is mostly set at the resort where Julieanne works.
Consignment shop owner: The minute I heard about Duffy Brown's Consignment Shop Mystery series, I knew I would love it. Reagan Summerside gets a rundown Victorian and her designer clothes in a divorce, but nothing else, so she opens a consignment shop. Then her ex-husband's new girlfriend is found dead, which means Reagan is trying to keep the lights on, running a business, and solving crimes.
Writer: Who would ever have thought that a middle-aged mystery writer would be able to solve crimes in her small coastal New England town? But doesn't it make sense that someone like Jessica Fletcher, who had to perform research for her novels and make up heinous ways for someone to be murdered, could know a thing or two about crime solving?
Clergy: In the Amish Bishop Mystery series by Vannetta Chapman, Bishop Henry Lapp not only tends to the spiritual needs of his congregation; he also uses a God-given talent to solve crimes.
Vampire: In the Accidental Vampire PI Mystery series by Avery Daniels, Misty is a secretary for a private investigator who goes on the worst date of her life and is changed into a vampire. She winds up using her new skills to follow up on a missing person's case.
Urban planner: In Marty Damon's Cate MacLeod Mystery series, Cate moves back to her hometown of Calvin after losing her job as an urban planner. She works part-time at her mother's shop, but gets drawn into the investigation when a local real estate agent is murdered.
Lifestyle Blogger/Influencer: You know someone had to write a mystery novel with an influencer in it. Little did we know in the early days of blogging how influential we would become. I haven't read Instagoner by Sydney Leigh, but it sounds amazing that the main character can use her skills to help solve a crime.
Librarian and Ghost Tour Guide: How have I not discovered the Haunted Tour Guide Mystery series until now? The main character is a librarian by day and a ghost tour guide by night in her Kentucky hometown. Two jobs and solving crimes, too. Impressive!
Beekeeper: The Josiah Reynolds Mystery series by Abigail Keam, which I will never catch up on, features a middle-aged beekeeper trying to keep the lights on by selling honey at the farmer's market.

Thanks to Freepik for the image

Well, it seems we have a pickle. Last week's Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge asked me to share fictional things I wish were real, which is similar to this week's Tell Me Something Tuesday. Now, I will really need to dive deep into my brain to figure out something to talk about. Hmmm...

I will go with something silly: Inspector Gadget's hat. It has...

Extra hands (we moms always need those),
A propeller (who needs drones, just fly above everyone to get a good view),
Binoculars (always handy for birdwatching or spying),
An umbrella (never get caught without one again),
A mallet (you can tenderize meat and have a non-lethal weapon with you at all times),
A magnifying glass (never worry about losing your reading glasses again),
Sub-zero refrigerant (you will never need air conditioning, even in the worst heat),
A spring (to avoid hurting your head if you fall),
A jackhammer (in case you feel like tearing up your driveway one day),
Radar (be able to see in even the most challenging dust and snow storms),
A gas mask (protection is only seconds away),
A bouquet of flowers (because you never know when you might need to impress someone).

Hope you had a good chuckle. Enjoy your day!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? & Mailbox Monday - Mar 2

2026-03-02T00:00:00.001-05:00

Welcome to March, everyone! Can you believe it? There are only 18 days until the official start of spring in our hemisphere. We are expecting rainy, but warmer temperatures this coming week. Maybe we will even get to see the grass one day soon. I'm sure the Lil' Princess will be disappointed with the warmer weather once she arrives on Friday for a quick visit. She prefers the snow.

Hope you enjoyed the past seven days. Last week, I appreciated a slightly slower pace than the beginning of the year, and even got to enjoy almost two days off. I attended a paint and sip event with one of my real estate friends, read, made great food, began the process of organizing thirteen pages of story ideas, and even submitted a manuscript to a literary agent. The exciting news is that our brokerage was named the Chicopee Chamber Business of the Year! We attended the awards gala on Friday. Then on Saturday, the husband and I attended the closing ceremonies of a local charity danceathon, which donated money to three local non-profits, including Rick's Place in Wilbraham.

Here are a few photos from the week:

Travis is looking at who knows what

Paddy and I at the awards gala

Western Mass Charity Danceathon

Theo is adorable when he's playing coy

Thanks to the lighter load this past week, I was able to get reviews written.

My review of Creepy Kid by Caleb Roehrig was posted. You can read it here. Such a great book!

My review of Chapters and Second Chances by Evelyn Grace Berry was posted on Saturday. You can read it here if you missed it. Love this one, too!

I also posted my review of I Heard the Bells on Saturday. You can read that review here. The authors did an amazing job of combining their various genres into one heartwarming collection.

I listened to this one in the car this week. I have about two hours to go with my listening of 100 Rules for Living to 100: An Optimist's Guide to a Happy Life by Dick Van Dyke.

I didn't read Before Dorothy by Hazel Gaynor last week. I will likely start it up again once I am done with Van Dyke's book.

I continued with Dream Facades: The Cruel Architecture of Reality TV by Jack Balderrama Morley.

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books they added to their shelves the previous week. This weekly meme is now hosted by Vicki at I'd Rather Be At The Beach.

As you will see below, I am not honoring my promise not to buy new books. I have to ask, does it still count if they don't cost me money? LOL!

I grabbed Love and Christmas Cookies by A. M. Heath as a freebie for my Kindle.

Then I used an Audible credit to snag Taming Lady Temperance by Karen Witemeyer, the first in her Secret Society of Spinsters series.

Upcoming Events

Agatha Christie, She Watched by Teresa Peschel - Apr 15 (Review)

Murder, Local Style by Leslie Karst - Apr 20 (Review)

Christmas Year Round

Christmas Year Round's latest "Journey through Christmases Past" takes a trip into the food and confections from my childhood holidays. You can read that here.

The Children's and Teens' Book Connection

Only my review of Creepy Kid for this week, but I should be posting another review soon, and I hope to post here more regularly.

Laura's Little Houses

Nothing new at Laura's Little Houses, but if I can complete my Albert Quinn Ingalls profile this week, that will be something to read.

That's it for me today. I'm looking forward to visiting you and seeing what has been going on in your lives since we last connected. Wishing you a fabulous day!

Book Review: I Heard the Bells by Darlene L. Turner et al.

2026-02-28T15:04:00.001-05:00

I Heard the Bells by Darlene L. Turner et al. is a seasonal romance collection you'll enjoy no matter what you're looking for. With its theme of peace, love, and joy, within this anthology's pages, you'll find distinct voices and diverse genres, woven together by a meaningful holiday, faith, and the use of the title within the stories. Oh, and there are red trucks, too. Whether you enjoy murder mysteries, suspense, second chances, or dual timelines, you will want to spend time with these characters.

These authors have set these stories in Canada, and they paint pictures for us that are just as stunning as the cover art. Yukon for a wedding mystery, Ontario for a second chance at love, skiing in the Rockies, and a tiny town in Nova Scotia for a Christmas play.

Sweet, faith-based romances set during the Christmas season is what I Heard the Bells is all about. The stories and settings will captivate you, and you will be just as delighted as these characters with the happy endings.

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Fab Four Press
Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 28, 2025
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 415 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1069326941
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1069326942

I received a digital copy of this novella anthology from the authors. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Book Review: Chapters and Second Chances by Evelyn Grace Berry

2026-02-28T13:20:00.003-05:00

Sweet romance abounds in this short story collection by Evelyn Grace Berry. Chapters and Second Chances is filled with touching, heartfelt romantic stories that make you sigh, chuckle, and feel so good about life and love. Moments of chance meetings, second chances, and faith blend to create beautifully-told stories with happy endings.

Everything about this short story collection is delightful. The whimsical cover, the creative font for title and chapter headings, the artwork signifying scene or story breaks, the charming settings, and the flawed yet likable characters make for a collection that draws you in from the first story to the last, leaving you feeling happy for the characters and their newfound love. Told in bite-sized chunks, these stories are perfect for those moments when you need a quick pick-me-up, but can also be read one after the other.

Chapters and Second Chances by Evelyn Grace Berry will have you celebrating how wonderful and uplifting love can be!

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0FZS93MQR
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Three Strands Publishing, LLC
Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 4, 2025
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 302 pages
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8993751016

I won a paperback copy of this book from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.