Author: michardillo
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Happy heavenly birthday to my mom
Taking a moment today to give a prayer of thanksgiving for my lovely mother, Margaret Harvey Blanchard (bottom of photo) on her birthday. She would be 91 today. I have missed her so much, especially since my dad is also gone. Today is also the Feast Day of St. Margaret of Scotland, which was so…
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Book Review: Elinor’s Glad-To-Be-Together Family by Susan Layne with illustrations by Diana Ting Delosh
In this melting pot of a country that we call the United States, many of us live far away from family, with some of us having family in a different country as well. Susan Layne, a 4th generation Texan living far away from her children and grandchildren, captured perfectly the feeling when families are finally…
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This is Heaven; How May I Help You?
TikTok is an ocean of possibilities. I have an account but I don’t ever open it. I do, however, frequently watch TikToks that are cross-posted on Instagram or Facebook, and that is how I stumbled upon 26-year old Taryn Delanie Smith, a former beauty queen who is as of this writing sitting pretty with 1.3…
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Book Review: The Guncle by Steven Rowley
I did not expect to love this book. I had heard good things about it, but I didn’t think this would bowl me over and make me laugh out loud and cry at different moments, especially on a crowded airplane. I had previously read Rowley’s The Editor and enjoyed it (you had me at Kennedy).…
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Book(s) Review: The Abbott Agency Series by Veronica Heley
If you know me at all, you know that mystery is my favorite genre, and to be honest, cozy mysteries at that. I don’t mind murder, but I prefer it to be off the page, and if there is any sort of abuse or torture (mental or physical), count me OUT. After I read The…
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Book Review: Drowning by T. J. Newman
I had heard so much hype about this book I was hesitant to even request it from NetGalley as I tend to not like the “big” books that everyone else is screaming about. Boy, was I wrong. This book! I devoured it in 24 hours because I simply couldn’t stop reading. I’m not squeamish about…
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Book Review: Mrs. Porter Calling by A. J. Pearce
One of my favorite books of 2019 was Dear Mrs. Bird by A. J. Pearce, which I read just before the lockdown and the horrible pandemic thing ensued. I love that book so much that my family finally did an intervention and asked me to STOP talking about Emmy and her friends. Since then, I’ve…
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Book Review: Enola Holmes and the Mark of the Mongoose by Nancy Springer
What a delightful caper! Nancy Springer did it again, but perhaps this time she has upped her game. I enjoyed this newest of the Enola Holmes series the most of all. Take note, “gentle reader,” as Nancy calls us, you will need a dictionary to get the most enjoyment out of this book, just like…
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Book Review: Left on Tenth by Delia Ephron
First let me say that this book is not for everyone. If you have had cancer or experienced cancer through a relative or close friend, this book may not be for you. If you are recently widowed, this book may not be for you. If you are squeamish about medical treatments or diagnostic tests, this…
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Book Review: Of Manners and Murder: A Dear Hermoine Mystery #1, by Anastasia Hastings
Perusing the NetGalley offerings, this book screamed, “Read me!” Set in Victorian England in 1885? A headstrong female protagonist solving a mystery? Yes, please. As I started reading the first in this new mystery series, I was immediately struck by how Violet reminded me of Eliza Scarlet from the compelling PBS Masterpiece series Miss Scarlet…
Michelle Blanchard Ardillo 