Well, it had to happen! 29cm of snow last weekend. The wet heavy stuff. Neighbours shovelled the front for us and we left the driveway to melt for a few days. That's a first for DH as he usually wants to get it shovelled immediately! There is so much on the front lawn, that faces north, it will probably be there until spring. Kelsey and her hubby both had covid last week. Kelsey has asthma and bronchial problems so she was in pretty rough shape and had a terrible cough. Her hubby was asymptomatic. The baby seems to have come through all this with flying colours. They wore a mask all the time around the baby. Not much else happening around here. Will be doing another books post soon as I have three of them in drafts.
Thursday, October 27, 2022
Monday, October 17, 2022
Wednesday, October 5, 2022
Books 27-36
The Favourite Daughter by Patti Callahan Henry
Ten years ago, Lena Donohue experienced a wedding-day betrayal so painful that she fled the small town of Watersend, South Carolina, and reinvented herself in New York City. Though now a freelance travel writer, the one place she rarely goes is home--until she learns of her dad's failing health.
Returning to Watersend means seeing the sister she has avoided for a decade and the brother who runs the family's Irish pub and has borne the burden of his sisters' rift. While Alzheimer's slowly steals their father's memories, the siblings rush to preserve his life in stories and in photographs. As his secret past brings Lena's own childhood into focus, it sends her on a journey to discover the true meaning of home.
Returning to Watersend means seeing the sister she has avoided for a decade and the brother who runs the family's Irish pub and has borne the burden of his sisters' rift. While Alzheimer's slowly steals their father's memories, the siblings rush to preserve his life in stories and in photographs. As his secret past brings Lena's own childhood into focus, it sends her on a journey to discover the true meaning of home.
Lena and her siblings – Hallie and Shane – band together to plan a birthday party and create a memory book for their father. The book is filled with old photos and stories written by Lena and Hallie. Some surprising family secrets are unearthed putting the book together and the family must grapple with the truth over that as well as the betrayal from ten years ago. Even though both sisters could be very annoying I did enjoy this book.
An Invitation to Murder by A.G.Barnett
Mary Blake had it all.
Actress, icon and darling of the nation, she was the queen of TV crime drama.
Then she turned fifty.
When replaced on the show by a younger woman, she thinks her days in the limelight are over when an invitation to a murder mystery party from an old friend throws her back into the public eye. This time as a murder suspect.
After playing a detective for years, Mary must now become one as she tries to prove her innocence with the help of her puppy-like brother and her surprisingly useful friend and assistant, Dot.
Actress, icon and darling of the nation, she was the queen of TV crime drama.
Then she turned fifty.
When replaced on the show by a younger woman, she thinks her days in the limelight are over when an invitation to a murder mystery party from an old friend throws her back into the public eye. This time as a murder suspect.
After playing a detective for years, Mary must now become one as she tries to prove her innocence with the help of her puppy-like brother and her surprisingly useful friend and assistant, Dot.
There were enough characters who had an excellent motive for committing the murder that I gave up trying to work out who was who and who it was.
Bizarre collection of people and unclear motives or too many motives so you were kept guessing to the end.
Ghost of a Chance by Cate Dean
Welcome to Holmestead, England ~ where an American ex-pat, an archaeologist, and murder turn this small, picture postcard village upside down.
Maggie Mulgrew runs The Ash Leaf, an antique shop in the quaint village of Holmestead, England ~ which has nothing to do with Sherlock, thank you very much.
She sells her goods to tourists, and locals who appreciate her eclectic taste.
Professor Pembroke Martin is hunting down an artifact that had been stolen by a former assistant ~ a hand-blown apothecary jar that is the center of an old ghost story. His search leads him to Holmestead, and a stubborn, fascinating American who has acquired the box that once contained the rare jar.
When the missing jar turns up, clutched in the hand of the very dead local historian, Martin becomes the prime suspect. He and that dead historian were bitter rivals.
With his future on the line, Martin turns to Maggie for help, and they join forces to find the real killer.
Maggie Mulgrew runs The Ash Leaf, an antique shop in the quaint village of Holmestead, England ~ which has nothing to do with Sherlock, thank you very much.
She sells her goods to tourists, and locals who appreciate her eclectic taste.
Professor Pembroke Martin is hunting down an artifact that had been stolen by a former assistant ~ a hand-blown apothecary jar that is the center of an old ghost story. His search leads him to Holmestead, and a stubborn, fascinating American who has acquired the box that once contained the rare jar.
When the missing jar turns up, clutched in the hand of the very dead local historian, Martin becomes the prime suspect. He and that dead historian were bitter rivals.
With his future on the line, Martin turns to Maggie for help, and they join forces to find the real killer.
This story was pretty simplistic and unrealistic. It seemed like the ghost was thrown in at the end to justify the title of the story!
Location scout and Jane Austen aficionado, Kate Sharp, is thrilled when the company she works for lands the job of finding locations for a new film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, but then her boss, Kevin, fails to return from a scouting trip to England. Afraid that Kevin has slipped back into some destructive personal habits he struggles with, Kate travels to England to salvage Kevin’s and the company’s reputation before word gets out that he is missing.
Things go from bad to worse when Kate arrives in Nether Woodsmoor, a quaint village of golden stone cottages and rolling green hills, only to find no trace of Kevin except his abandoned luggage. Even the rumpled, easygoing local scout they consulted, Alex, doesn’t know where Kevin might be.
Increasingly worried about Kevin and with an antsy director waiting for updates about the preproduction details, Kate embarks on a search that includes a pub-crawl and cozy cottages as well as stately country manors. But Kevin remains missing, and she begins to suspect that the picturesque village and beautiful countryside may not be as idyllic as they seem.
Things go from bad to worse when Kate arrives in Nether Woodsmoor, a quaint village of golden stone cottages and rolling green hills, only to find no trace of Kevin except his abandoned luggage. Even the rumpled, easygoing local scout they consulted, Alex, doesn’t know where Kevin might be.
Increasingly worried about Kevin and with an antsy director waiting for updates about the preproduction details, Kate embarks on a search that includes a pub-crawl and cozy cottages as well as stately country manors. But Kevin remains missing, and she begins to suspect that the picturesque village and beautiful countryside may not be as idyllic as they seem.
Ash Mountain by Helen Fitzgerald
Fran hates Ash Mountain, and she thought she’d escaped. But her father is ill, and needs care. Her relationship is over, and she hates her dead-end job in the city, anyway.
She returns to her hometown to nurse her dying father, her distant teenage daughter in tow for the weekends. There, in the sleepy town of Ash Mountain, childhood memories prick at her fragile self-esteem, she falls in love for the first time, and her demanding dad tests her patience, all in the unbearable heat of an Australian summer.
As old friendships and rivalries are renewed, and new ones forged, Fran’s tumultuous home life is the least of her worries, when old crimes rear their heads and a devastating bushfire ravages the town and all of its inhabitants…
Simultaneously a warm, darkly funny portrait of small-town life – and a woman and a land in crisis – and a shocking and truly distressing account of a catastrophic event that changes things forever, Ash Mountain is a heart-breaking slice of domestic noir, and a disturbing disaster thriller that you will never forget…
She returns to her hometown to nurse her dying father, her distant teenage daughter in tow for the weekends. There, in the sleepy town of Ash Mountain, childhood memories prick at her fragile self-esteem, she falls in love for the first time, and her demanding dad tests her patience, all in the unbearable heat of an Australian summer.
As old friendships and rivalries are renewed, and new ones forged, Fran’s tumultuous home life is the least of her worries, when old crimes rear their heads and a devastating bushfire ravages the town and all of its inhabitants…
Simultaneously a warm, darkly funny portrait of small-town life – and a woman and a land in crisis – and a shocking and truly distressing account of a catastrophic event that changes things forever, Ash Mountain is a heart-breaking slice of domestic noir, and a disturbing disaster thriller that you will never forget…
The time travel in this story became confusing at times. Parts of this story are very emotional and intense.
Bloombay Beginning by Lilly Beckett
Welcome to Bloombay, a small island off Seattle’s coast with stunning ocean views, picturesque vineyards, and a tight-knit community.
Sisters Emily, Donna, and Olivia Abernathy miss each other dearly. Residing in different cities, they only see each other a few times a year. But when Emily, the eldest sister, is forced to move to Bloombay, Donna and Olivia immediately visit her to make sure she’s okay. They find themselves at crossroads in their own lives too, and the island charms them in unexpected ways.
Emily Abernathy has dedicated the past twenty years to raising her children. When her husband leaves her for a younger woman, she’s forced to move out of their house. Living in LA is expensive, and at forty-five, she knows she’ll have a tough time on the job market, but she’s lucky to find a job at a small hotel on a small island she’d never heard of before: Bloombay. Once Emily moves to the island she finds out her new job isn’t as secure as she thought.
Olivia Abernathy’s friends all think her boyfriend, Noah, is definitely going to propose, but she isn’t so sure. As a surgeon in Seattle, he works longer hours than she does as a graphic designer, but Olivia wonders if there’s more to his recent late nights out and sudden cool behavior. When she confronts him with her worries, she gets an unexpected response that makes her want to rethink everything in her life. Spending time with her sisters is just what she needs. And the handsome architect who insists on joining her on her morning runs seems to have more than friendship on his mind.
Donna Abernathy is a successful doctor in San Francisco. She works tirelessly and takes great pride in what she does. Her laid-back relationship with a lawyer who thrives on a busy schedule is just what she needs. Except Donna has always wanted to be a mother, and as time passes, that wish only grows. But when things don’t work out as expected, she desperately wants a change of scenery and pays a visit to her eldest sister, Emily, in Bloombay.
Emily Abernathy has dedicated the past twenty years to raising her children. When her husband leaves her for a younger woman, she’s forced to move out of their house. Living in LA is expensive, and at forty-five, she knows she’ll have a tough time on the job market, but she’s lucky to find a job at a small hotel on a small island she’d never heard of before: Bloombay. Once Emily moves to the island she finds out her new job isn’t as secure as she thought.
Olivia Abernathy’s friends all think her boyfriend, Noah, is definitely going to propose, but she isn’t so sure. As a surgeon in Seattle, he works longer hours than she does as a graphic designer, but Olivia wonders if there’s more to his recent late nights out and sudden cool behavior. When she confronts him with her worries, she gets an unexpected response that makes her want to rethink everything in her life. Spending time with her sisters is just what she needs. And the handsome architect who insists on joining her on her morning runs seems to have more than friendship on his mind.
Donna Abernathy is a successful doctor in San Francisco. She works tirelessly and takes great pride in what she does. Her laid-back relationship with a lawyer who thrives on a busy schedule is just what she needs. Except Donna has always wanted to be a mother, and as time passes, that wish only grows. But when things don’t work out as expected, she desperately wants a change of scenery and pays a visit to her eldest sister, Emily, in Bloombay.
I did enjoy this book even though it was very predictable.
One Summer in Italy by Lilly Mirren
When the Summer sisters discover their grandmother's journals after her death, they unlock a mystery that shakes their family to the core. Who is Charlie Jackson? Is he their grandfather? And if so, what happened to him?
Reeda leaves the Waratah Inn and returns to Sydney, her husband, and her thriving interior design business, only to find her marriage in tatters. She's lost sight of what she wants in life and can't recognise the person she's become.
Instead of facing her problems, Reeda embarks on a journey to discover more about the grandfather she never knew, leaving her troubles behind her.
Her search takes her to Italy, where a trail of clues leads her across the country with few answers to satisfy her burning curiosity about the past. And instead of helping her to forget, her pilgrimage reminds her of everything she loves and what she's left behind.
Under the Italian sky, Reeda discovers that the joy she was searching for was hidden inside her all along. And instead of running from her problems, she embraces the healing she needs to face them.
Reeda leaves the Waratah Inn and returns to Sydney, her husband, and her thriving interior design business, only to find her marriage in tatters. She's lost sight of what she wants in life and can't recognise the person she's become.
Instead of facing her problems, Reeda embarks on a journey to discover more about the grandfather she never knew, leaving her troubles behind her.
Her search takes her to Italy, where a trail of clues leads her across the country with few answers to satisfy her burning curiosity about the past. And instead of helping her to forget, her pilgrimage reminds her of everything she loves and what she's left behind.
Under the Italian sky, Reeda discovers that the joy she was searching for was hidden inside her all along. And instead of running from her problems, she embraces the healing she needs to face them.
This is the second book in a series. I didn't read the first one but I don't think I missed out on any thing. Lots of twists and turns that kept this book interesting.
In a Jam by Cindy Dorminy
Andie Carson has to do three things to inherit her grandmother’s lottery winnings—sober up, spend a month running her grandmother’s Georgia coffee shop, and enter homemade jam in the county fair. If she can’t meet those terms, the money goes to the church, and Andie gets nothing. She figures her tasks will be easy enough, and once she completes them, Andie plans to sell the shop, take the money, and run back to Boston.
After a rough breakup from his crazy ex-fiancée, Officer Gunnar Wills decides to take a hiatus from women. All he wants is to help make his small town thrive the way it did when he was a kid. But when wild and beautiful Andie shows up, Gunnar’s hesitant heart begins to flutter.
Gunnar knows that Andie plans to leave, but he’s hoping to change her mind, fearful that if her coffee shop closes, Main Street will fold to the big-box corporations and forever change the landscape of his quaint community. But convincing her to stay means getting close enough to risk his heart in the process. Even though Gunnar makes small-town life seem a little sweeter, Andie has to decide if she’s ready to turn her world upside down and give up big-city life. One thing’s for sure—it’s a very sticky situation.
After a rough breakup from his crazy ex-fiancée, Officer Gunnar Wills decides to take a hiatus from women. All he wants is to help make his small town thrive the way it did when he was a kid. But when wild and beautiful Andie shows up, Gunnar’s hesitant heart begins to flutter.
Gunnar knows that Andie plans to leave, but he’s hoping to change her mind, fearful that if her coffee shop closes, Main Street will fold to the big-box corporations and forever change the landscape of his quaint community. But convincing her to stay means getting close enough to risk his heart in the process. Even though Gunnar makes small-town life seem a little sweeter, Andie has to decide if she’s ready to turn her world upside down and give up big-city life. One thing’s for sure—it’s a very sticky situation.
This again was a very predictable read which I enjoyed.
Squall by Sean Costello
Bush pilot and family man Tom Stokes is about to face the worst day of his life. On a clear winter morning he sets out in his Cessna 180 to do some repairs on a remote hunt camp, leaving his five year old son and very pregnant wife snug in their beds.
On the return trip, a squall forces him into an emergency landing and he winds up—quite literally—in the lap of petty criminal Dale Knight. Dale, now a fugitive from the law—and worse, from a merciless drug lord who just happens to be his brother—draws Tom into a web of mayhem and treachery that puts not only his life at risk, but the lives of his wife, son…and unborn child.
On the return trip, a squall forces him into an emergency landing and he winds up—quite literally—in the lap of petty criminal Dale Knight. Dale, now a fugitive from the law—and worse, from a merciless drug lord who just happens to be his brother—draws Tom into a web of mayhem and treachery that puts not only his life at risk, but the lives of his wife, son…and unborn child.
Lots of twists and turns in this thriller involving an incident family and a drug deal that's gone very wrong.
The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
In the idyllic small town of Pagford, a councillor dies and leaves a 'casual vacancy'-an empty seat on the parish council.
In the election for his successor that follows, it is clear that behind the pretty surface this is a town at war. Rich at war with poor, wives at war with husbands, teachers at war with pupils...Pagford is not what it first seems.
I have to say I was quite disappointed in this book. I have read every book that J.K.Rowling has written. Loved all the Harry Potter books and also the Robert Galbraith. Cormoran Strike series.I was actually quite bored during parts of this book because the story dragged on so much.
Wednesday, September 7, 2022
Finally some pictures
Walker Erin
5 days old
The next 3 pictures were taken by a professional photographer. They thought it would take about an hour. Four hours later, nursing him twice and many pictures taken, they were done!
11 days old
3 weeks old
4 weeks old
5 weeks old
6 weeks old
7 weeks old
❤❤❤❤💙❤❤❤❤💙❤❤❤❤💙❤❤❤❤
Sunday, July 31, 2022
Books 18-26
The Frederickson Wine Novels by Barbara Ellen Brink
-Entangled
One lost summer is time best left forgotten...When Minneapolis attorney, Billie Fredrickson, inherits her uncle's small California winery, she has no intention of actually moving to the west coast and starting a new life. Her only thought is to get it off her hands as quickly as possible. But her return to the winery after an absence of twenty years opens up more than the reading of her uncle's will. Childhood memories, long-buried, begin to surface, prompting questions that no one is able or willing to answer. A late night prowler, a break-in at the winery, and an unearthed box of shocking photographs is someone's way of pulling the welcome mat out from under Billie's feet, but it only makes her dig her heels in deeper. Secrets lie buried beneath Fredrickson Winery's innocent façade and Billie intends to get to the root. But disturbing the past lays bare the skeletons of others, including her mother's. Can she live with the consequences of full disclosure or will she run home where everyone is Minnesota nice?
I found the first third of this book very slow, boring and it dragged badly. Then it picked up and I did start to enjoy it. Quite a few twists and turns making the story much more interesting than how it first started.
Once Upon a Time by Demelza Carlton
-Enchant: Beauty and the Beast Retold
A beastly prince. An enchanting beauty. Only love can break the spell.
Once upon a time…
The wicked King Thorn forced the enchantress Zuleika to cast a terrible curse. She fled his court to travel the world, helping those who need her magic most. Until a search for her merchant father's lost ships leads her to an enchanted island, where Prince Vardan, the island's ruler, is afflicted by the most powerful curse Zuleika has ever encountered. She's not sure she can reverse the spell, but she's determined to try. After all, a prince who fights pirates can't be all bad…no matter how beastly his appearance.
Together, can the enchanting beauty and the beastly prince break the spell?
Once Upon a Time by Demelza Carlton
-Enchant: Beauty and the Beast Retold
A beastly prince. An enchanting beauty. Only love can break the spell.
Once upon a time…
The wicked King Thorn forced the enchantress Zuleika to cast a terrible curse. She fled his court to travel the world, helping those who need her magic most. Until a search for her merchant father's lost ships leads her to an enchanted island, where Prince Vardan, the island's ruler, is afflicted by the most powerful curse Zuleika has ever encountered. She's not sure she can reverse the spell, but she's determined to try. After all, a prince who fights pirates can't be all bad…no matter how beastly his appearance.
Together, can the enchanting beauty and the beastly prince break the spell?
Although we all probably know the story of Beauty and the Beast this is definitely a different interpretation of it. It involves magic and an enchantress which makes things quite interesting.
-Dance: Cinderella Retold
A dutiful daughter. A prince forced to find a bride. If the shoe fits...
Once upon a time...
When the Emperor's army comes recruiting, Mai signs up, seeing it as the perfect escape from her stepmother and a lifetime of drudgery. Armed with her mother's armour and a pair of magic shoes, Mai marches off to war...only to find herself sharing a tent with the General's arrogant nephew, Prince Yi.
The best swordsman in the Empire, Prince Yi wants to make war, not love, but the Emperor insists this will be Yi's last campaign before he must marry. Prince Yi has never met his match...until now.
Can one woman win the war and the prince's heart?
I really enjoyed it being set in China and the heroine being a swordswoman. It was interesting how the hero wants a real woman instead of the women who altered themselves to fit society. As it is set in China the slipper and foot binding are key elements.
In Sight of the Mountain by Jamie McGillen
In the devastating aftermath of the 1889 Great Seattle Fire, nineteen-year-old Anna Gallagher faces considerable pressure to marry well and soon.
She has two serious suitors: a well-meaning but condescending doctor, and an evasive fisherman who challenges her mind. But Anna has no intention of giving up her freedom to keep house; she has a dream to reach the summit of Mount Rainier.
Despite her family’s disapproval and her own self-doubt, she secretly trains, raises money for supplies, and buys a train ticket to the base of the mountain. If she succeeds in reaching its icy peak, she could pioneer the way for women mountaineers; but it’s a tall task and there’s much at risk—including the heart of a man who just might love her as an equal.
On the journey, Anna will face glaciers, avalanches, and frozen temperatures, all without knowing if she even has a family or a future to return to.
This was an easy read. Lots of the story was very unrealistic and lots of 'rose coloured glasses' moments, but it was enjoyable even though it was very predictable.
The Alice Network by Kate Quinn
1947. In the chaotic aftermath of World War II, American college girl Charlie St. Clair is pregnant, unmarried, and on the verge of being thrown out of her very proper family. She's also nursing a desperate hope that her beloved cousin Rose, who disappeared in Nazi-occupied France during the war, might still be alive. So when Charlie's parents banish her to Europe to have her "little problem" taken care of, Charlie breaks free and heads to London, determined to find out what happened to the cousin she loves like a sister.
1915. A year into the Great War, Eve Gardiner burns to join the fight against the Germans and unexpectedly gets her chance when she's recruited to work as a spy. Sent into enemy-occupied France, she's trained by the mesmerizing Lili, code name Alice, the "queen of spies", who manages a vast network of secret agents right under the enemy's nose.
Thirty years later, haunted by the betrayal that ultimately tore apart the Alice Network, Eve spends her days drunk and secluded in her crumbling London house. Until a young American barges in uttering a name Eve hasn't heard in decades, and launches them both on a mission to find the truth...no matter where it leads.
She has two serious suitors: a well-meaning but condescending doctor, and an evasive fisherman who challenges her mind. But Anna has no intention of giving up her freedom to keep house; she has a dream to reach the summit of Mount Rainier.
Despite her family’s disapproval and her own self-doubt, she secretly trains, raises money for supplies, and buys a train ticket to the base of the mountain. If she succeeds in reaching its icy peak, she could pioneer the way for women mountaineers; but it’s a tall task and there’s much at risk—including the heart of a man who just might love her as an equal.
On the journey, Anna will face glaciers, avalanches, and frozen temperatures, all without knowing if she even has a family or a future to return to.
This was an easy read. Lots of the story was very unrealistic and lots of 'rose coloured glasses' moments, but it was enjoyable even though it was very predictable.
The Alice Network by Kate Quinn
1947. In the chaotic aftermath of World War II, American college girl Charlie St. Clair is pregnant, unmarried, and on the verge of being thrown out of her very proper family. She's also nursing a desperate hope that her beloved cousin Rose, who disappeared in Nazi-occupied France during the war, might still be alive. So when Charlie's parents banish her to Europe to have her "little problem" taken care of, Charlie breaks free and heads to London, determined to find out what happened to the cousin she loves like a sister.
1915. A year into the Great War, Eve Gardiner burns to join the fight against the Germans and unexpectedly gets her chance when she's recruited to work as a spy. Sent into enemy-occupied France, she's trained by the mesmerizing Lili, code name Alice, the "queen of spies", who manages a vast network of secret agents right under the enemy's nose.
Thirty years later, haunted by the betrayal that ultimately tore apart the Alice Network, Eve spends her days drunk and secluded in her crumbling London house. Until a young American barges in uttering a name Eve hasn't heard in decades, and launches them both on a mission to find the truth...no matter where it leads.
I really liked the story in 1915 but the story in 1947 was just OK for me.
Telling two parallel tales, one of several female spies in Lille during WWI, the other of a pregnant college student looking for her cousin who went missing after the end of WWII. Eve Gardiner, one of the spies, is the link between the two stories.
I really enjoyed learning about The Alice Network and the history involving female spies.
A Villa in Sicily by Fiona Grace
Audrey is likeable if somewhat naïve so she manages to get herself in a few tight spots. The home needs lots of repairs but she's game to try to fix it up and she finds that it has some surprises!. Shortly after she arrives she has an argument with a contractor working on another house who winds up dead and she becomes the prime suspect. It is up to her to try and clear her name and find the murderer. This was a pretty easy read.
The Oysterville Sewing Circle by Susan Wiggs
At the break of dawn, Caroline Shelby rolls into Oysterville, Washington, a tiny hamlet at the edge of the raging Pacific.
Ten years ago, Caroline launched a career in the glamorous world of fashion. But her success implodes on a wave of scandal, forcing her to flee to the only safe place she knows.
And in the back seat of Caroline's car are two children who were orphaned in a single chilling moment-five year old Addie and six year old Flick. She's now their legal guardian-a role she's not sure she's ready for.
The Oysterville she left behind has changed. Her siblings have their own complicated lives and her aging parents are hoping to retire. And there's Will Jensen, a decorated Navy SEAL who's returned home after being wounded overseas. Will and Caroline were forever friends as children, with the promise of something more....until he fell in love with Sierra, Caroline's best friend and the most beautiful girl in town.
Caroline returns to the sewing shop where she first discovered her passion and learns that there are women living with the deepest of secrets. Thus begins the Oysterville Sewing Circle-where women can join forces to support each other through the troubles they keep hidden.
Yet just as Caroline and the children begin to heal from their loss, an unexpected challenge tests her courage and her heart. This time, though, Caroline is going to stand and fight for everything-and everyone-she loves.
This is a story of a typical love triangle-with a couple of children thrown in the mix. The bigger issue is the creation of the Oysterville Sewing Circle where women dealing with domestic abuse can come and feel like they are safe and among friends. This was another good read.
The Bend in Redwood Road by Danielle Stewart
Most days it's manageable. No more than a quiet wondering around the edges of her mind.
What has become of the baby she left behind?
Smiling through the pain and suffering in silence, Leslie Laudon marches forward. Embracing the life skillfully designed by her husband Paul. Living right could be penance for an impossible choice made with an uneasy heart. Dutiful and anchoring, Leslie poured herself into her other children. Nurturing them through infancy, protecting them as toddlers, guiding them as teens. As her youngest child heads off to college with her suitcases and coordinating dorm room accessories, so goes Leslie’s identity. The chaotic life of a busy working mother threatens to become dangerously quiet. Quiet enough to hear the voices she’s tried to silence for decades.
Gwen Fox was adopted by two perfect people. Noel and Millie have always treated her the same as their two biological sons. Her parents love is strong and unwavering, yet a soul-deep ache still lingers. Plagued by an unnamed, hard to explain, longing Gwen could never shake.
Riddled with doubt and dragged down by the undertow of unanswered questions, Leslie and Gwen both find their lives suddenly upended. One seeks the truth about the day she was born. The other seeks herself, the woman she was before motherhood. Before she made a choice to leave a piece of her heart lying asleep in the hospital nursery.
In this complex journey for answers, blame is abundant. Guilt is thick enough to choke on. Marriages are brought to the brink of disaster. As the ripples of the past vibrate through their lives, Gwen and Leslie realize there is no turning back. What they have put into motion cannot be stopped. The road toward the truth will be littered with casualties.
What has become of the baby she left behind?
Smiling through the pain and suffering in silence, Leslie Laudon marches forward. Embracing the life skillfully designed by her husband Paul. Living right could be penance for an impossible choice made with an uneasy heart. Dutiful and anchoring, Leslie poured herself into her other children. Nurturing them through infancy, protecting them as toddlers, guiding them as teens. As her youngest child heads off to college with her suitcases and coordinating dorm room accessories, so goes Leslie’s identity. The chaotic life of a busy working mother threatens to become dangerously quiet. Quiet enough to hear the voices she’s tried to silence for decades.
Gwen Fox was adopted by two perfect people. Noel and Millie have always treated her the same as their two biological sons. Her parents love is strong and unwavering, yet a soul-deep ache still lingers. Plagued by an unnamed, hard to explain, longing Gwen could never shake.
Riddled with doubt and dragged down by the undertow of unanswered questions, Leslie and Gwen both find their lives suddenly upended. One seeks the truth about the day she was born. The other seeks herself, the woman she was before motherhood. Before she made a choice to leave a piece of her heart lying asleep in the hospital nursery.
In this complex journey for answers, blame is abundant. Guilt is thick enough to choke on. Marriages are brought to the brink of disaster. As the ripples of the past vibrate through their lives, Gwen and Leslie realize there is no turning back. What they have put into motion cannot be stopped. The road toward the truth will be littered with casualties.
I quite enjoyed this book. Its not a subject that I had read about in a novel before. I found it to be quite a page turner and would recommend it.
House on the Harbor by Elizabeth Bromke
Meanwhile, her sister, Amelia, a struggling off-Broadway actress, enlists her hapless construction boyfriend to help with a local project, but he's more interested in summer tourists.
Second-youngest, Megan, is preoccupied with her divorce... but not too preoccupied to make a dating profile, much to her sisters' mortification.
Baby of the family, Clara, is single and refuses to date. She puts her teaching job above all else. Until a crushing revelation calls to question everything she knew to be true... including her reputation.
Even though its pretty easy to guess what the secret is I found it interesting seeing how it all unravelled.
I like the alternating perspectives in the chapter so we get to know each of the sisters, and more about their mother. I don't want to give anything away, but they end up having a bigger issue to deal with than who's going to get which property. I liked the way the situation was handled and that the sisters were closer at the end of the book. Each of them had come to decisions about their lives, some more painful than others.
The details of the will gives them an opportunity to change the direction they are all going and also brings them together to form a deeper bond as sisters.
When the lawyer reads the Will, there had been a change made and they hear something totally unexpected that will put their own issues on the back burner while they try to deal with their new reality! A family secret not dealt with now focuses their attention amid lots of drama along the way.
Saturday, July 16, 2022
He's Here!!!!
He finally came into the world this morning! Seven days overdue. After 30 hours of hard labour they decided to do a C-section as no progress was being made.
Walker Erin, 8lbs 11ozs. 221/2" long. He's so bright eyed for being less than an hour old in the picture!
We are now Great Grandparents, yikes!!! Kelsey calls us Grandma and Grandpa but she always called my mum and dad Nana and Granddad so that what we'll be called by Walker (when the time comes)lol.
Because of all the restrictions we won't be able to see him until they go home. Amazingly that will be in two days. They sure don't keep them very long these days! When I worked in maternity, back in the 70's, regular births stayed for 5 days and C-sections stayed for 7 days!! The moms loved it. Not any more. Probably a good thing, nobody wants to be in a hospital these days. At least she's in a private room.
I'm sure there will be lots of pictures to come.😊
Sunday, June 26, 2022
38 weeks!
38 weeks, can't wait for our Great Grandson to arrive! Can't come soon enough for Kelsey!!!
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