Category: books
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Book Review: Gabby Torres is the Best Winner Ever by Angela Dominguez
Have you ever noticed how you see or read something about an obscure hobby and then, immediately after that, this same thing keeps popping up everywhere you look? This happens to me all the time. A few years ago my husband took a sudden interest in the birds that frequented our backyard. First it was…
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First Quarter 2025 Reading Tally
I looked forward to several things as I approached retirement in January of 2024: more travel, get serious about writing my novel, reach out and reconnect with family and friends who live far from me, exercise more, and finally, but certainly not least, READ MORE. I believe I have indeed accomplished all of them, but…
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Book Review: How to Have a Happy Birthday: Create Meaning, Fulfillment, and Joy on Your Special Day by Tamar Hurwitz-Fleming
Should be easy, right? It’s your birthday. There’s a cake. With candles. People sing. You make a wish and blow out the candles. Presto. You are having a happy birthday. But, it really isn’t that simple at all. In her new book, which she proclaims herself that it was a long time coming, Tamar Hurwitz-Fleming…
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Book Review: Teacher Jitters by Julie Danneberg, illustrated by Judy Love
As a teacher for nearly 20 years, I can truly identify with the premise behind this soon to be published picture book titled Teacher Jitters (Charlesbridge, 2025) by Julie Danneberg, illustrated by Judy Love. Although this is part of The Jitter Series, it is my first read from this author and illustrator. I recall my…
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Book Review: Let’s Make Dumplings by Hugh Amano and Sarah Becan
What a charming cookbook! I took my time and savored each and every recipe in Let’s Make Dumplings (Ten Speed Press, 2021) by Hugh Amano and Sarah Becan. The subtitle of this book is “A Comic Book Cookbook,” but there is nothing comical about the step by step instructions and authentic recipes in this book.…
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Book Review: The Wedding People by Alison Espach
Yes, I am late to the party. Yes, the rest of the world of book reviewers read this book and reviewed it already. Tons of people have read this book for their book clubs. Somehow, I got behind on this one. Last night, well after midnight, I finished The Wedding People by Alison Espach (Henry…
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Book Review: Life Skills by Katie Fforde
Of the 46 or so novels written by British author Katie Fforde, Life Skills is my 6th. Life Skills was published in 1999 and has been reprinted several times since, so I chose this light, breezy rom-com from Fforde’s back list. Quite a few of her novels have been adapted for German TV, but I…
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Book Review: The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont
In a familiar refrain—if you have been reading my book reviews—once again, I am not sure how I feel about this book. Did I hate it? No. Did I love it? No. Yet, somehow, I’ve given it FIVE STARS. I’ll get to the why a bit later. The Christie Affair (St. Martin’s Press, 2022) by…
Michelle Blanchard Ardillo 