finished reading

What a book!  It's going to challenge me to write spoiler-free thoughts.  I'll try. Grief, love, secrets, and second chances are the major themes. The female character, Honor's narration is like a conversation with a friend--she knows she's fussy and stuck-up and flawed.  That is what makes her such a compelling narrator.  All of the characters are revealed through flashback and present-day timelines, a technique that works well. Tom, the main male character, made some very questionable choices that kept me reading. Like, I just wanted to shake him or thwack him upside the head.  

From the publisher:

Honor seems to have everything. She adores her daughter Chloe and her husband Tom (even if he does work one hundred hours a week). But her longing for another baby threatens to eclipse all of it―until a shocking event changes their lives forever.

Years later Tom makes a decision that ripples through their families' lives in ways he could not have foreseen. As the consequences of that fateful choice unfold, two women's paths become irrevocably intertwined. But when old love clashes with new, who will be left standing? And what happens when your secrets come back to haunt you?

currently

I am...

Reading: Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman is the book I'm going to start tonight

Listening to: the wind whipping 

Thinking:  I've got to find my spinach artichoke dip recipe!

Feeling:  happy and looking forward to tomorrow (meeting with a former student for breakfast, celebrating late Christmas with a friend, and celebrating New Year's Eve with my bestie)

Celebrating: lots of celebrating tomorrow, not so much tonight

Grateful for:  excellent friendships

Enjoying:  staycation

Weather:  9° and light snow with a "real feel" of -7°

A quote I want to share:   

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This is a twist on a folktale, kind of magical realism meets fantasy, but not too far out there.  It's a character-driven story, and not much action takes place.  Full disclosure: not my favorite type of novel.  Having said that, there is something so tender about Mabel and Jack's relationship that evolves into deep understanding, partnership, and love.  When Faina enters their world, nothing is the same.

As a debut novel, I felt the isolation of homesteading in Alaska in the 1920s.  The setting is as much a character as Mabel and Jack.  

From the publisher:

Alaska, 1920: a brutal place to homestead, and especially tough for recent arrivals Jack and Mabel. Childless, they are drifting apart - he breaking under the weight of the work of the farm; she crumbling from loneliness and despair. In a moment of levity during the season's first snowfall, they build a child out of snow. The next morning the snow child is gone - but they glimpse a young, blonde-haired girl running through the trees.

This little girl, who calls herself Faina, seems to be a child of the woods. She hunts with a red fox at her side, skims lightly across the snow, and somehow survives alone in the Alaskan wilderness. As Jack and Mabel struggle to understand this child who could have stepped from the pages of a fairy tale, they come to love her as their own daughter. But in this beautiful, violent place, things are rarely as they appear, and what they eventually learn about Faina will transform all of them.

sunday stealing

Click the icon to play along

F.A.B Meme

F. Film: What movie or tv show are you watching?  I started watching The Book Group on Amazon Prime

A. Audio: What are you listening to? my Spotify "year in review" playlist

B. Book: What are you reading? Loretta Rothschild's Finding Grace

postsecret

PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a postcard. I like to post one that speaks to me each week.

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Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron, and Ibrahim are all focusing on their own situations when the case is presented.  Elizabeth is grieving her beloved husband's death (read the previous books in the series). Joyce's daughter is getting married, and we learn a lot about the dynamics of their relationship, with Johanna being a significant storyline.  Ron's family troubles are kind of imploding.  And Ibrahim's focused on counseling and rehabilitating a criminal.  

There are a lot of balls in the air with this story.  And I admit there were a few times that I lost the narrative thread and confused secondary characters.  Having said that, though, I enjoyed this outing of the Thursday Murder Club and love their dynamics.

From the publisher:

Who's got time to think about murder when there's a wedding to plan?

It’s been a quiet year for the Thursday Murder Club. Joyce is busy with table plans and first dances. Elizabeth is grieving. Ron is dealing with family troubles, and Ibrahim is still providing therapy to his favourite criminal.

But when Elizabeth meets a wedding guest who’s in trouble, kidnap and death are hot on their heels once more. A villain wants access to an uncrackable code, and will stop at nothing to get it. Plunged back into action once more, can the gang solve the puzzle and a murder in time?

saturday 9

Bye Bye Bye

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) In this song, a man predicts his lover will start an argument. Is there anyone in your life who can be quarrelsome? occasionally my teacher bestie can be

2) He says he's had it, he's checking out and signing off. Can you think of a time you were glad you walked away from something? oh, yes, I can think of several

3) This week's song was performed by the band NSYNC. The group was formed in Orlando, FL, which is world famous as home to Walt Disney World. Today there are 12 Disney theme parks located around the globe. Have you ever visited one of these Magic Kingdoms? no, I haven't

4) They made a celebrity appearance on The Simpsons. What's your all-time favorite cartoon show? this is tough--I am a fan of the Jetsons and Peanuts are my favorite cartoon specials

5) In 2000, the year "Bye Bye Bye" was popular, Brad Pitt was named People's Sexiest Man Alive. Are you crushing on anyone right now? just George

Let's look back on 2025 ...

6) What's the farthest from home you traveled in 2025? 1,092 miles one way to my Virginia sister's house

7) What was the biggest purchase that you made in 2025? a new car

8) What was your favorite book of 2025? I can't pick just one!  By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult, The Self-Care Prescription by Robyn Gobin, All The Colors of the Dark by Chris Whittaker, The Savage, Noble Death of Babs Dionne by Ron Currie, My Friends by Fredrik Backman, Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid, So Far Gone by Jess Walter, The Poppy Fields by Nikki Erlick, and The Black Wolf by Louise Penny

9) What are you looking forward to most in 2026? vacations (or more likely, staycations)

three on thursday

 

Thing 1:  it was a lovely, lovely day.  I am so very lucky I got to spend it with my parents.  As they get older, I sense their slowing down and need to prepare for when they will be gone.

Thing 2: the sentiment of the card I got Dad meant so much to me.  I was deflated that my sister got him the same card.

Thing 3: I am loving this Christmas vibe--the tree is twinkling, the music is playing softly, and it's lightly snowing.  (This is the only time that snow is tolerated)

finished reading

This is the second book in the series and what I enjoyed is that it is a long-married couple who are juggling the demands of careers and family and lost their intimacy.  As a romance, it's about enduring relationships, which is a different take.  Part of the issue is that with career success and increased income, the children have become spoiled rotten.  

From the publisher:

My kids are a**holes.

Yeah, I said it. I said the thing no father is supposed to say about their children, and I’ll say it again because I miss my wife.

Serena’s checked out and now resides in ‘yes dear’ robot mode, complete with a new eye twitch. Reason being, the impish elves we spawned are currently sucking the life out of her—daily. Thanks to Gracie and Peyton, my patience is hanging by the last orange bulb on a very thin green wire. Thank God we’re headed to Triple Falls. A week of Ruby’s eggnog and a little change of scenery could be just what the woman I love needs to find her way back to herself—and to me. But the closer we get to packing up, the shorter my fuse becomes . . . and the more I’m starting to get ideas of taking drastic measures.

And by drastic, I mean our little goblins won’t be the only ones making Rudolph’s naughty list. I’ve had enough. I’m not giving in this time. No amount of alligator tears or fake apologies are going to cut it.

Ironically, the more I man up and take charge, the more Serena and I are starting to reminisce about the good old days, which is quickly adding up to some heated nights.

Come hell or high water, this Christmas, our kids are going to learn to appreciate the parents they’ve got because I’m getting my girl back . . . even if the two little hellions we created have to pay to bring her back to me—little f*ckers.

The Sleight Before Christmas is book #2 in The Holiday Hijinx series. While it can be read as a stand-alone, it is highly recommended that you read The Plight Before Christmas first.

*Fair Warning- Both books in Holiday Hijinx are packed with adult shenanigans, laugh-out-loud outrageous content, colorful language, adults behaving badly, as well as hefty doses of spice.

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Whitney, the female main character, is experiencing the worst time of her life.  With one calamity after another, she arrives at her family's Christmas celebration only to find her college ex-boyfriend crashing the gathering.  So, this second-chance romance isn't insta-love, and watching the relationship rebuild was quite a storyline.  Although this is a romance, there are some serious issues addressed sensitively: childhood illness, grief, and mental health issues.  

From the publisher:

Clark Griswold was onto something, at least with his annual holiday meltdown. And since the last three weeks of my life have been riddled with humbug—another breakup, a broken toe, an office promotion I deserved and didn’t get—I’m not at all in the mood to celebrate nor have the happ, happ, happiest Christmas EVER.

When Mom insisted that we all gather at my Grandparent’s ancient cabin for an old school family Christmas, I fully intended to get into the holiday spirit with the help of the three wise men, Johnnie Walker, Jack Daniels, and Jim Beam. But those boys did absolutely nothing to offset the shock or temper the sting of seeing my EX on our doorstep the first day of our holiday soiree.

Apparently, Santa missed the memo, and this elf is pissed.

Stuck for a week with the man who obliterated my heart nearly two decades ago, I did the only thing I could do and put on my game face, thankful for the home advantage.

I knew better than to drink that last cup of eggnog.

I knew better than to get tongue tangled beneath the mistletoe with the only man to ever break my heart.

I knew better than to sleep with Satan’s wingman on the eve of the Lord’s birthday.

I could blame the nog. I could blame the deceitful light blue eyes, thick, angelic hair, and panty evaporating smirk…but mostly, I blame Eli because he always knew exactly which of my buttons to push.

I foolishly thought a family Christmas filled with nostalgia was going to turn my inner Scrooge around, but this year’s festivities went up in flames. Leave it to the ghost of my Christmas past to be the one to light the match.

Fa la la la la, la FML.

finished reading

This insta-love story had a fun premise: being trapped in an elevator with your nemesis and realizing they're not so bad after all.  I enjoyed the twin elements of the main female character and how family expectations shape relationships.  And the main male character was swoon-worthy.

From the publisher:

When a secret billionaire and his obnoxious(ly pretty) upstairs neighbor get stuck together on an elevator, their sparks could light a Christmas tree.

Juliet

I go through crushes faster than a little kid goes through presents on Christmas morning.

But when I crash into my annoying(ly hot) nemesis and we get stuck on the elevator during a blackout, the last thing I expect is to develop feelings for him. Nate Cruz is opinionated, a stickler for justice, talks with his hands, and is the space heater keeping me safe while we’re stuck on this freezing metal box.

He’s also the first person to ever push past my defense mechanisms and see me as more than “the girl who messes up everything” that my family sees. And when the blackout ends and we’re back in the real world, he’s the first person to ever stand up to my family…for me.

Now that I’ve fallen for Nate, I’m determined not to mess up things with him, and I know exactly how: we’ll fake date to get through the holidays.

Because a fake relationship can’t leave me brokenhearted on Christmas.

Right?

Nate

Juliet Shippe is the loudest, most obnoxious(ly pretty) upstairs neighbor in the world.

But after six hours on an elevator with her, I’m fighting feelings deeper than I’m willing to admit. And after the power is restored and she manages to drag me to my apartment and give me my insulin shot, I’m all in.

When Jules suggests I come to her identical twin’s wedding as her “fake date,” I agree, but only if she comes to my ultra ambitious parents' holiday party as my real one.

Because I know the truth she’s too scared to admit: she isn’t faking. And I’ll do everything I can to help her realize it.

All I want for Christmas is Jules.

Single All the Way is a sweet closed door romantic comedy in the vein of your favorite festive Hallmark movie, but with more swooning and a lot more banter. Happily ever after guaranteed!

finished reading

I liked the behind-the-scenes life of a young mayor.  The main male character was flat for me; I wanted more of his story.  But the small-town feel of this romance was like a cozy Hallmark film.  I was rooting for the happily ever after.

From the publisher:

Stella Jackson loves being the youngest mayor of Hickory Falls, Michigan, a charming town she's turned into a Christmas destination. But when her ambitious plans to host a holiday movie shoot spiral into chaos, Stella finds herself juggling frustrated citizens, delayed production schedules... and a growing attraction to the movie’s leading man.

Daniel Banks is the Ever After Channel’s go-to Christmas hero, but he’s tired of playing in someone else’s story. When a messy production and a fiery small-town mayor force him to confront his own dreams, Daniel starts to wonder if Hickory Falls (and Stella) could be his real happily ever after.

With the clock ticking to wrap the movie by Christmas, Stella and Daniel must navigate studio politics, small-town drama, and their own fears to craft a story worth believing in. But will their love survive the ultimate rewrite?