A Matter Of Life And Death By Phillip Margolin

 

Joe Lattimore, homeless and trying desperately to provide for his young family, agrees to fight in a no-holds-barred illegal bout, only to have his opponent die. Lattimore now finds himself at the mercy of the fight's organizers who blackmail him into burglarizing a house. However, when he breaks in, he finds a murdered woman on the floor and the police have received an anonymous tip naming him the murderer.

Robin Lockwood, an increasingly prominent young attorney and former MMA fighter, agrees to take on his defense. But the case is seemingly airtight―the murdered woman's husband, Judge Anthony Carasco, has an alibi and Lattimore's fingerprints are discovered at the scene. But everything about the case is too easy, too pat, and Lockwood is convinced that her client has been framed. The only problem is that she has no way of proving it and since this is a death case, if she fails then another innocent will die. 

Pick up your copy here...

Amazon.com: A Matter of Life and Death: A Robin Lockwood Novel (Robin Lockwood, 4) (9781250258427): Margolin, Phillip: Books

I grew up in New York City and Levittown, New York. In 1965, I graduated from The American University in Washington, D.C. with a Bachelor’s Degree in Government. From 1965 to 1967, I was a Peace Corps volunteer in Liberia, West Africa. In 1970, I graduated from New York University School of Law. During my last two years in law school I went at night and worked my way through by teaching junior high school in the South Bronx in New York City. My first job after law school was a clerkship with Herbert M. Schwab, the Chief Judge of the Oregon Court of Appeals. From 1972 until 1996, I was in private practice specializing in criminal defense at the trial and appellate levels. As an appellate attorney I have appeared before the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, the Oregon Supreme Court and the Oregon Court of Appeals. As a trial attorney, I handled all sorts of criminal cases in state and federal court and I have represented approximately 30 people charged with homicide, including several who have faced the death penalty. I was the first Oregon attorney to use the Battered Women’s Syndrome to defend a battered woman accused of murdering her spouse.

My Thoughts...

I am such a fan of this series. I love Robin and if I was in trouble she would be the bada** to get me a out of trouble.

I love that the mystery in A Matter Of Life and Death was one that I did not see coming. I had no idea who did it.

You are going to love book four, I hope this is not the final book in the Robin Lockwood series because each book just gets better and better. 

This book can be read as a stand alone but you are going to love the whole series.

Margolin is a top 10 writer I did not see that ending coming.

The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Back In the Burbs By Avery Flynn And Tracy Wolff

Two powerhouse authors bring you a hilarious tale of one woman’s journey to find herself again.

Ever have one of those days where life just plain sucks? Welcome to my last three months―ever since I caught my can’t-be-soon-enough ex-husband cheating with his paralegal. I’m thirty-five years old, and I’ve lost my NYC apartment, my job, my money, and frankly, my dignity.

But the final heartache in the suck sandwich of my life? My great-aunt Maggie died. The only family member who’s ever gotten me.

Even after death, though, she’s helping me get back up. She’s willed me the keys to a house in the burbs, of all places, and dared me to grab life by the family jewels. Well, I’ve got the vise grips already in hand (my ex should take note) and I’m ready to fight for my life again.

Too bad that bravado only lasts as long as it takes to drive into Huckleberry Hills. And see the house.

There are forty-seven separate HOA violations, and I feel them all in my bones. Honestly, I’m surprised no one’s “accidentally” torched the house yet. I want to, and I’ve only been standing in front of it for five minutes. But then my hot, grumpy neighbor tells me to mow the lawn first and I’m just...done. Done with men too sexy for their own good and done with anyone telling me what to do.

First rule of surviving the burbs? There is nothing that YouTube and a glass of wine can’t conquer. 

Pick up your copy here...

Back in the Burbs (Back in the Burbs, 1): Flynn, Avery, Wolff, Tracy: 9781682815694: Amazon.com: Books

Avery Flynn is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling romance author. She has three slightly-wild children, loves a hockey-addicted husband and is desperately hoping someone invents the coffee IV drip.

She was a reader before she was a writer and hopes to always be both. She loves to write about smartass alpha heroes who are as good with a quip as they are with their *ahem* other God-given talents. Her heroines are feisty, fierce and fantastic. Brainy and brave, these ladies know how to stand on their own two feet and knock the bad guys off theirs.

Find out more about Avery on her website (averyflynn.com), follow her on Twitter (@AveryFlynn) and Pinterest (pinterest.com/AveryFlynnBooks), and like her on her Facebook page (facebook.com/AveryFlynnAuthor).

Join her street team, The Flynnbots, and receive special sneak peeks, prizes and early access to her latest releases!

Also, if you figure out how to send Oreos through the Internet, she'll be your best friend for life.

Contact her at avery@averyflynn.com. She'd love to hear from you! 

My Thoughts...

The best rom-com of 2021. No I take that back the best rom-com I have ever read. I loved everything about this book. Mallory and Nick are the highlight of this book. Hot guy who listens, with a big heart need I say more. This is the only book you need to be  reading this spring. I was blown away the last few rom-coms I have read were duds I was not happy at all but I LOVED everything about Back In The Burbs.

Grab your copy of this 5 star two times right away. I HIGHLY recommend this one.

The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Night Fall By Nancy Mehl

 

Now that Alexandra "Alex" Donovan is finally free of her troubled upbringing, she's able to live out her childhood dream of working for the FBI. But soon after she becomes a member of the FBI's elite Behavioral Analysis Unit, authorities in Kansas and Missouri contact them about bodies found on freight trains traveling across the country--all killed in the same way.

Alex never expected to be forced to confront her past in this new job, but she immediately recognizes the graffiti messages the killer is leaving on the train cars. When the BAU sends her to gather information about the messages from her aunt in Wichita, Kansas, Alex is haunted by the struggles she thought she'd left behind forever.

In a race against time to solve the case while battling her own weaknesses, Alex must face how far she'll go--and what she's willing to risk--to put a stop to the Train Killer. 

Pick up your copy here...

Night Fall (The Quantico Files): Mehl, Nancy: 9780764237638: Amazon.com: Books

Nancy Mehl lives in Missouri, with her husband Norman, and her very active puggle, Watson. She's authored thirty books and is currently at work on a new FBI suspense series for Bethany House Publishing.

All of Nancy's novels have an added touch - something for your spirit as well as your soul. "I welcome the opportunity to share my faith through my writing," Nancy says. "It's a part of me and of everything I think or do. God is number one in my life. I wouldn't be writing at all if I didn't believe that this is what He's called me to do. I hope everyone who reads my books will walk away with the most important message I can give them: God is good, and He loves you more than you can imagine. He has a good plan especially for your life, and there is nothing you can't overcome with His help."

You can find out more about Nancy by visiting her Web site at: www.nancymehl.com. She also is active on the Suspense Sisters: www.suspensesisters.blogspot.com and on FaceBook!

My Thoughts...

There are very few authors that when I get a book I know I am in for a treat. Nancy Mehl is one of those few. I really enjoyed Night Fall. It was a thriller that kept me captive until the end. I rarely start a book and be unable to put it down but I read this in one sitting.  The plot was infallible and entertaining. I have a short attention span and if a book slows down I loose interest. Night Fall held my attention. The characters were great and introduced very well. I love how Nancy can create a hero that is tough and still have vulnerabilities. Night fall has faith, excitement and action. It is an all around 5 star read.

The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Every llama Needs a Scarf By Tunisia Williams

 

Llamas in scarves and bears in berets. This picture book introduces young readers to various animals and the whimsy of rhyme.

"Every llama needs a scarf for cold and wintry days."

"Every bear needs a beret to wear in zoo parades."

Pick up your copy here...

Amazon.com: Every Llama Needs a Scarf (9781734126174): Williams, Tunisia: Books

I am a full-time middle school counselor whose passion is writing. Prior to becoming a school counselor, I worked in higher education in public relations and marketing. It was my privilege to write stories about the university’s students, faculty, and staff.

I consider myself to be an introvert with extrovert tendencies. The introvert in me likes to relax at home after a long day of being around people. The extrovert in me likes being around people for short bursts of time.

I am a lover of nature and animals, so visiting zoos, aquariums, wildlife safari parks, and going boating on local lakes and rivers with my husband, Robert, makes my heart smile.

Did I mention I love animals, more specifically dogs. We have three beautiful doghters: Coco, Hope, and Grace.

Thoughts...

This is a children's book not sure I would give it to a young one, maybe just read it to them. It is thin paper easy to rip and tear apart.

Cute little story, kids love rhymes and  they will get that with this one.

The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.  

Joining hearts for Christmas By Rebecca Lange

 

“I give you until the end of this month to find love and accept a proposal. If you can’t find what you are looking for, I will announce your engagement to Lord Kenworthy.”“You can’t be serious, Father! A month? How am I supposed to find love in a month? It is December already.”Lady Charlotte Woodridge always had a mind of her own. Being the daughter of a duke comes with obligations and expectations, something she disapproves of wholeheartedly. She strongly detests how society works and that she is supposed to treat people differently because of their rank and standing. When a man over twenty years her senior asks for her hand in marriage and her father agrees to it, she fights back with all the stubbornness she can summon. She wants to marry for love, not because she is told to marry. When her father agrees to a compromise, it leaves her upset. Lady Charlotte has one month to find her true love and receive and accept a proposal. Was that even possible?

Pick up your copy here...

Joining Hearts For Christmas: Lange, Rebecca: 9798555500052: Amazon.com: Books

Please check out my blog: https://rebeccalange2021.blogspot.com to see all my book reviews and find out more about me and other authors!!!


Rebecca is a mom of two boys (13 and 15 years old), has been married to her husband for over 16 years, and is currently living in Germany. She was actually born and raised in Germany but moved to the US after she met her husband in Scotland at a wedding. (That in itself is a super cool and crazy story.)

She is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and absolutely loves her Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ.

She is fluent in German and English and has challenged herself by writing her books not in her native tongue but in English instead.

Rebecca enjoys reading clean happy-ending stories, loves to watch chick flicks (especially her Christmas Hallmark movie collection), and is a big-time Harry Potter Fan. (She is not kidding on that one. Her house has plenty of decorations of said franchise.)

Her love for writing started early. Even as a child she enjoyed writing stories. Escaping reality as a teenager took place whenever she had a good book in her fingers, her own stories, or watched romantic movies. She has a vivid imagination and so it is easy for her to disappear into a different world. She avoids certain genres because of her imagination, but she is still grateful that she can picture things so vividly. She is definitely a hopeless romantic but likes it when the books she writes or reads (or movies she watches) have a bit of everything.

She writes Young Adult Fiction/ Christian Fantasy and Historical Fiction, but her readers will also find drama, heartbreak, romance, humor, suspense, lots of sarcasm, and sass (a must for her since she is fluent in both), inspirational thoughts and faith in her books.

It is important for her to address difficult topics people don't like to talk about, because in her words: "Only when we speak about these issues can we make a change."
Bullying, Racism, Sexual Harassment, Abuse, Drug, and Alcohol addictions are just some of the topics she tackles straight forward and without sugarcoating. She doesn't believe in avoiding issues because they are uncomfortable. Her beliefs, views, and opinions on those issues are presented in her books the way she feels about it. Her characters are her voice. She calls it as she sees it.

A Tapestry of Light By Kimberly Duffy

 

Calcutta, 1886.

Ottilie Russell is adrift between two cultures, British and Indian, belonging to both and neither. In order to support her little brother, Thaddeus, and her grandmother, she relies upon her skills in beetle-wing embroidery that have been passed down to her through generations of Indian women.

When a stranger appears with the news that Thaddeus is now Baron Sunderson and must travel to England to take his place as a nobleman, Ottilie is shattered by the secrets that come to light. Despite her growing friendship with Everett Scott, friend to Ottilie's English grandmother and aunt, she refuses to give up her brother. Then tragedy strikes, and she is forced to make a decision that will take Thaddeus far from death and herself far from home.

But betrayal and loss lurk in England, too, and soon Ottilie must fight to ensure Thaddeus doesn't forget who he is, as well as find a way to stitch a place for herself in this foreign land.

Pick up a copy here...

Tapestry of Light: Duffy: 9780764235641: Amazon.com: Books

Kimberly Duffy is a Long Island native currently living in Southwest Ohio. When she's not homeschooling her four kids, she writes historical fiction that takes readers back in time and across oceans. Her books feature ahead-of-their-time heroines, evocative settings, and real-life faith. Kimberly loves trips that require a passport, recipe books, and practicing kissing scenes with her husband of 20 years. He doesn't mind.

You can find Kimberly at:

www.kimberlyduffy.com

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKimberlyDuffy/

https://www.instagram.com/kimberlyduffyauthor/

My Thoughts...

I got to go to India and Britain in one book , What?

This was such a treat and the struggle with belonging and identity we a strong part of this book.

 I will say I needed more of Everette he was by far my favorite.

Look at this cover is this not great.

You need to grab a copy of this 4 star historical greatness.

The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.  

Wingfeather Tales By Andrew Peterson

 

In hardcover at last, featuring new illustrations and the first-ever Wingfeather comic, now in print for the first time! Return to the world of the Wingfeather Saga with Andrew Peterson and his all-star author friends.

Immerse yourself in a land of bomnubbles and quarreling cousins, sea dragons and book publishers, thieves and Fangs and secret maps. Here within these pages lie seven stories of the distant past, lost adventures, forgotten songs, and heartbreaking histories. The Shining Isle is restored, but Aerwiar is vast—and these authors have tales yet to tell:

  •  Explore the inner walls of Yorsha Doon, just West of the Woes of Shreve, on the edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, from the eyes of young Safiki in “The Prince of Yorsha Doon” from the creator of Aewiar, Andrew Peterson.
  •  Jennifer Trafton's warm and whimsical writing brings to life a publishing nightmare populated by the many beasts of Skree in “The Wooing of Sophelia Stupe.”
  •  Learn the origins of Ollister Pebmrick's mysterious entry in the Creaturepedia about his encounter with a raggant in “Willow Worlds” by N. D. Wilson.
  •  Travel with young Podo Helmer on an epic hunt for sea dragons in “From the Deeps of the Dragon King” from A. S. Peterson.
  •  Jonathan Rogers presents “The Ballard of Lanric and Rube,” sung by Armulyn the Bard, tale-spinner of the imaginary Shining Isle of Anniera, in On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness.
  •  Discover what life was like for Maraly and Gammon in post-war Skree in “Shadowblade and the Florid Sword"—the first-ever Wingfeather comic—by Andrew Peterson.
  •  Douglas McKelvey's epic, heartbreakingly hopeful novella "The Places Beyond the Maps” recounts a father's journey to redemption.

You'll also find delightful illustrations by Justin Gerard, Hein Zaayman, Cory Godbey, John Hendrix, Nicholas Kole, Aedan Peterson, Joe Sutphin, Jay Myers, and Doug TenNapel.

Enter a rich, imaginative world that becomes more real, more mysterious, more dangerous, and more beautiful with each story's telling.

Pick up your copy here...

Wingfeather Tales: Seven Thrilling Stories from the World of Aerwiar (The Wingfeather Saga): Rogers, Jonathan, Wilson, N. D., Trafton, Jennifer, McKelvey, Douglas Kaine, Peterson, Andrew: 9780525653622: Amazon.com: Books

Hey, folks. If you're just discovering me or any of my work, it can be a little confusing because there are several facets to it. Here's the rundown:

* I write songs. I also record them to these cool things called CDs and put on concerts around the country. (And beyond! To my great delight, I get to play in Europe every year or so.)

* I write books. I've written a four-book fantasy series for young readers called the Wingfeather Saga. I also drew some of the pictures (but not the awesome ones). (WingfeatherSaga.com) I've also written a memoir about the creative life called Adorning the Dark.

* I'm the founder of the Rabbit Room, a community of songwriters, authors, and artists interested in storytelling, faith, and fellowship. We have a yearly conference called Hutchmoot, which is as strange and wonderful as it sounds. (RabbitRoom.com)

* I've been married for twenty-six years to Jamie, and we have three sweet (grown) children: Aedan (22), Asher (21), and Skye (18). Jamie and I live in a magical place we call the Warren, just south of Nashville.

The common thread in all this is my love for Christ and his Kingdom, my belief in the power of story and art, and my need for family and community. If I had to boil it all down, I'd say this: I want to use my gifts to tell the truth, and to tell it as beautifully as I can.

That ought to get you started. For a more in-depth look at what I do, visit Andrew-Peterson.com. Thanks!

My Thoughts...

 This book is full of novellas very well written novellas. I enjoyed it so much and the icing on the cake is the illustrations. The comic chapter was so much fun.

You have to grab a copy of this 4 star book full of novellas for your little one. It would be great in their Easter basket.

The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own. 

It Happened in Silence By Karla M. Jay

 

Set in a world where women of the KKK betray their neighbors, horrors of unscrupulous foundling homes come to light, and buried mysteries are not all that hidden. It's 1921 in Georgia. Mute since birth, fifteen-year-old Willow Stewart has one task to complete—to leave her Appalachian homestead and find a traveling preacher and her brother, Briar. When a peddler kidnaps her, she escapes only to face an unjust arrest and penal servitude. The laws are not on her side. Or her brother’s. Briar is serving time on a chain gang with four months left. When an immigrant boy asks him for help, Briar must decide if he should jeopardize his freedom to help the penniless boy. Soon Willow and Briar become ensnared in a world of cruel secrets, savage truths, deceitful practices, and desperate predicaments. This is a powerful tale of family, a celebration of decency, and the heartbreak of society’s injustices then that rings true today. This novel delves into the gut and sinew of fairness, probing often inexplicable questions, as old and persistent as the forest itself. 

Pick up your copy here...

It Happened in Silence: Jay, Karla M.: 9780578792514: Amazon.com: Books

Karla M. Jay is the award-winning author of When We Were Brave. When she's not writing, she's reading, gardening, playing with her dog, or traveling to new places to try to find a story that has never been told.

My Thoughts...

Three great characters and the descriptions are fantastic. I can see it so vividly just from the writing and the details. I was very surprised how fast I read this I had to know what was happening next and before I knew it I was done with the book.

4 stars and I hope that you grab a copy.

The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Wiving By Caitlin Myer

 

At thirty-six years old, Caitlin Myer is ready to start a family with her husband. She has left behind the restrictive confines of her Mormon upbringing and early sexual trauma and believes she is now living her happily ever after . . . when her body betrays her. In a single week, she suffers the twin losses of a hysterectomy and the death of her mother, and she is jolted into a terrible awakening that forces her to reckon with her past—and future.
 
This is the story of one woman’s lifelong combat with a culture—her “escape” from religion at age twenty, only to find herself similarly entrapped in the gender conventions of the secular culture at large, conventions that teach girls and women to shape themselves to please men, to become good wives and mothers. The biblical characters Yael and Judith, wives who became assassins, become her totems as she evolves from wifely submission to warrior independence.
 

An electric debut that loudly redefines our notions of womanhood, Wiving grapples with the intersections of religion and sex, trauma and love, sickness and mental illness, and a woman’s harrowing enlightenment. Building on the literary tradition of difficult women who struggle to be heard, Wiving introduces an urgent, striking voice to the scene of contemporary women’s writing at a time when we must explode old myths and build new stories in their place.

Pick up your copy here...

Wiving: A Memoir of Loving Then Leaving the Patriarchy: Myer, Caitlin: 9781950691470: Amazon.com: Books

In 2011, Myer attended the Disquiet International Literary Program in Lisbon on a scholarship. While there, she hosted a Portuguese Artists Colony reading in the historic Grémio Literário, 150-year-old literary club that did not admit women until the Carnation Revolution in 1974. In the same year, she participated in the Squaw Valley Writers Workshop with a George Pascoe Miller Scholarship. In the spring of 2012, Myer completed a residency at MacDowell Colony, where she was recipient of a fellowship from the Rona Jaffe Foundation. Her memoir/essays “Positive I Don't Have a Uterus” and “Unforgettable: Becoming an Amnesiac’s Memory” were published in The Butter and Electric Literature, respectively. Her short story “Everything a Woman Should Have” appeared in Cultural Weekly, the poem “Bus Story” in No Tokens, and the story “God Time” in Joyland. Other short stories, poems, and essays have been published in literary magazines, online journals and anthologies.

​

She has appeared in storytelling series such as Porchlight and The Moth, and was featured on NPR's The Moth Radio Hour with her real-life story, “Near Mrs.” She has also been featured in podcasts, including Nocturne. These performances have won her fans around the world, from India to Portugal to New Orleans.

​

For seven years, Myer has lived out of a suitcase, but she now has a lease on a 400-year-old apartment in the north of Portugal. At least once a week, she climbs the hill to what was once a 12th century Augustinian monastery, and writes.

​

My Thoughts...

I love a good memoir, its always neat reading about other peoples lives and what others are going through and how they are handling it.

So this was a treat and a good getaway from fiction for a few hours.

My heart aches for this women being homeless for 7 years had to be hard. I am so happy that her life took a turn for the better and she is doing well and writing now.

I gave this book 4 stars.

   The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.  

Wolves of War By Adam Conlon

 

The collapse of peace is inevitable. The kingdom of Tourm has enjoyed peace for fifty years, but the head that wears the crown grows feeble. Unrest rules inside the kingdom and border skirmishes have become common. The nation of Kendala to the south marches on Tourm. The frantic masses whisper... war. Read an authentic tale of Orrick pan Pallaton by Adam TS Conlon.This is a brutal story of duty and triumph in a fantastic adventure. Orrick is a new knight and untested; he must find grit to face deadly challenges on and off the battlefield. Political schemes and dangers in the dark threaten him, while others would like him dead. The kingdom of Tourm is in turmoil, and Orrick must discover the meaning of valor to survive. Delight in a fresh full-length book series with four new books coming this year. This first eye-opening novel "The Threat" will give you a world you won't want to leave. The second book "Siege and Storm" releases this March. In July, the third book of the series "Feast for Flies" excites. Then read the spectacular finale "Crown and Conflagration" this December! 

Pick up your copy here...

Wolves of War: The Threat: Conlon, Adam: 9781951405090: Amazon.com: Books

Adam T. S. Conlon is a new author. He has long been fascinated with medieval and feudal cultures. He works in pharmacy and practices swordsmanship. “Wolves of War, Act I: The Threat” is his first book.

My Thoughts...

This was outside my comfort zone. But I will say that the premise is a good one. 

The writing was good but I have to be honest this book needs to be edited and then it will be a real gem.

I will hope that the next book coming out in December will be edited in full.

   The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.  

A Girl Like You By Cari Scribner

 

When fiftysomething Jessica Gabriel finds herself heartbroken and single after failed marriage number two, her adult kids convince her to explore the tumultuous world of online dating. With a new haircut, a gym membership, and a dating profile as a forty-nine-year-old, Jessica trudges through a pool of not-so-eligible bachelors - from a pothead who tells her weed makes sex better, to a much younger man who called her the name of another lover, to a dominant male with a penchant for clothespins.

Jessica's new life comes with a new job, where she's often left to do all of the work while her boss eats donuts and gossips with his three cronies. When her advice helps save her co-worker's marriage, her hope in love is renewed.

Jessica's journey is full of tears, laughter, and an astonishing amount of sex. With the love and support of her family and friends, she discovers that being alone doesn't have to be lonely. 

Pick up your copy here...                                                                                                                                    A Girl Like You: Scribner, Cari: 9781953639004: Amazon.com: Books 

I have 3 incredible kids over age 21 and two close-to-the-floor dogs named Miloh and Lucy.

Here are some things I like: Kindness, snow, zombies, mindfulness, writing about my very ill father, having a knack for remembering names, a good sturdy umbrella, dog kisses, open hearts, flying anywhere, outdoor music, purple, and I am forever grateful to the Law of Attraction. “Want it, and believe you can have it.” Through this, all things are possible.

Here are a few things I don't like very much: Mean-spiritedness, closed minds, that my dogs won’t outlive me, bragging, black licorice, sarcasm, the unrelenting passage of time.

On my To-Do list: Get Halloween declared a national holiday, daily Random Acts of Kindness, relinquish my affinity for ruminating, have more long lunches with my mom, live in leggings, learn to knit, learn to speak Spanish, learn to let go, never let go.

I was a newspaper reporter for more than 20 years in Upstate NY. I had the great privilege of writing about:

* Ice sculptors, cheese makers, a kid who made granola for squirrels, library book sales, tarot card reading, what makes people donate their bodies to science, why more girls need to study math and science, the 6 most common nightmares, haunted B&B’s, what kids think the 4th of July is celebrating, pumpkin growers, sidewalk chalkers, jump ropers, sky divers, coffee servers, protesters, you name it.

* I rode in an ice cream truck and the driver gave me free samples, watched a man drink a glass of muddy, algae-infested river water to prove it was safe, cried with a mom who lost her son to MS, climbed into a pigeon poop covered clock tower on top of a former paper bag factory, sang happy birthday to Martin Luther King with a class of first-graders, watched kids’ faces turn purple in a blueberry pie-eating contest, and so much more. I loved, and still love, writing news stories and features, and have a profound respect for reporters.

Please stop by my website to check out my published short/flash fiction:
www.scribnerfiction.com

My Thoughts...                                                                                                  Romance at its best this was such a fun read. Full of humor and a fun quirkiness. I could just see myself being friends with the author if she's anything like what she writes about.

This is a book that us "older" girls can relate to and one that is a much needed getaway.

I enjoyed escaping reality for a couple of hours in this one.   I gave this book 4 stars.   T he Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.