My New Blog Home

Hi all!! 

I have moved! Please check me out for all my book reviews and whatnot over at 

https://crackercrumblife.com/

Thanks!! 

We Need a Holiday...

And I hate to be rude..

We are heading to the wilds of Michigan, and I can't wait! I was hoping to get a post in before we left, but that didn't happen. Not enough time in day some days. 

Also, this is my last true post here on QM. When I get back, I will be posting all my book content over on Cracker Crumbs. It just seems like a good time to make the move! 

I'll see you all when I get back! I have lots of posts planned, which is just crazy for me!

Book Review: Heaven Adjacent by Catherine Ryan Hyde

Title/Author: Heaven Adjacent by Catherine Ryan Hyde
Source: Little Bird Publicity in exchange for an honest review

Goodreads Summary:

Roseanna Chaldecott spent her life as a high-powered lawyer in Manhattan. But when her best friend and law partner dies suddenly, something snaps. Unsure of her future, Roseanna heads upstate on one tank of gas and with no plans to return.

In the foothills of the Adirondacks, Roseanna discovers the perfect hideout in a ramshackle farm. Its seventy-six acres are rich with possibilities and full of surprises, including a mother and daughter squatting on the property. Although company is the last thing Roseanna wants, she reluctantly lets them stay.

Roseanna and the young girl begin sculpting junk found around the farm into zoo animals, drawing more newcomers—including her estranged son, Lance. He pleads with Roseanna to return to the city, but she’s finally discovered where she belongs. It may not provide the solitude she originally sought, but her heart has found room for much more.

My Thoughts:

We all have dreams that we put away until later. That vacation, that car, that house in the country or on the beach or in Paris. Those things we talk about when we talk about someday. And in the meantime, we are going about our everyday business of working, working, working, and tucked in between what we have to do are the things we want to do. But what if someday never comes?

In Heaven Adjacent, Roseanna Chaldecott had a good life. A great life, by some standards. A fancy car, financial security, an apartment in a topnotch neighborhood. But she lacked things she didn't even know she lacked, like meaningful relationships with her own family. Or friends. It took a tragedy to show her that while she can buy anything she wanted, that she wasn't living her life to the fullest. Or even really at all. And then on a backroad in the middle of nowhere, she started to find the things she really needed most. Little by little, she lets some things go, while letting other things in.

I loved this book. I found it to be wonderfully inspiring, to lead me to examine my own life, to see where I could make changes. Some things don't have to wait for someday. Some things we can do, right the heck now. I really enjoyed this book, and its message to readers. A quick read, but one that packs a big message.

The Sunday Post/It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

Check out the The Caffeinated Book Review for the Sunday Post

It's Monday! What Are You Reading is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date

It was a good week! We took a slow down and it was lovely. Billy and I had a date day, which was awesome, and then today (Sunday) we took the boy to the country to pick peaches, which he loved! :)

After much deliberation and hemming and hawing, I have decided to move this blog's content to my other blog. I paid for that domain, which is why I am moving there instead of everything here, and for some reason it seems harder to keep up two blogs instead of one. :( I really hope that if you follow me now, that you will choose to follow me there. :) I have not done this before, so I am not going to make the big move and stop blogging here until the end of August. I will miss old Quixotic Magpie, but I hope that you will enjoy me just as well over at Still Life, with Cracker Crumbs. You will get the same book content, probably even more book content, but also some personal lifestyle posts as well. :) Here is the link to that blog if you want to check it out! 

Still Life, with Cracker Crumbs.

Read Last Week:

Dreams of Falling by Karen White - I waited months to read this book, and it didn't disappoint!! I loved this book. Karen White is probably at the tops of my lists of go-to authors right now. :)

I also started Picnic at Hanging Rock and also a book called The Obituary Society I got for free from Amazon. 

  

Reading this Week:

When We Found Home by Susan Mallery: Doesn't this cover just grab you? I love it. I am so drawn to the water, even on book covers. 

Watching:

the Tour de France - this year has been nuts! Big names have fallen, been injured, or been dropped due to not meeting the time requirements! This year they made some new rules, making the time requirements per stage shorter, and also dropping a team member from each team. It has made for a crazy race!

A Series of Unfortunate Events - wow, this is amazing! I love Neal Patrick Harris as Count Olaf, and it is a visual feast. Plus I love all the direct to the audience commentary, and the humor. Perfectly well done.

Red Oaks (Amazon Prime) - Another new addiction. A coming of age type story set in the 80s. Love it.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date

Whew!! I am pretty sure we had our busiest week ever last week!! I am ready for a slowdown this week, for sure. My poor husband worked over 60 hours last week, I had more work at the office than normal (I even did some of it at home!), and of course normal family life stuff. Lol. And of course I had a million things planned on little man's calendar as well, doctors appointments, therapy- it all worked out so that all three of us were super busy! And in the mix we had a funeral and a graduation party. Wyatt and I did some cool stuff together though - we went to a Dinosaur play group and lesson, we went to the art fair, and today we all went to the Belle Isle Kite Festival. We are all exhausted, and in between work, we had fun. 

Read Last Week:

I also managed to read during someone's naptime.

I loved both of these books. All the Little Lights kept me guessing! I absolutely loved the secrets in this book. So good.

Reading this Week:

Oh my gosh I am so excited for both of these books!! Dreams of Falling I have been waiting for like forever; Picnic at Hanging Rock, I learned of it from Jennifer at Book Den, and wanted to read it. Then I watched the Amazon mini-series, and now I want to read it more than ever! 

Watching:

Series of Unfortunate Events, the Tour de France 

How about you all? How is your world?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date

The weather got so much nicer midweek!! We have had some quality pool time and outside time, it has been lovely. This week I have lots of fun things planned for our family - Wyatt and I are going to a Jurassic Wonders event for toddlers Monday morning, then the two of us are hitting our hometown art fair Wednesday morning. Then Thursday, Billy and I are having date night at the art fair - we are looking forward to a night out together! We have the myriad not fun stuff to do too, but ugh, let's not even think about that stuff. Lol. 

** I had to stop midpost because my friend posted that a Snowy Owl is hanging out at our police station. I had to go see, because it's July! Snowy's don't come down this far until midwinter usually. We found the owl on top of the station, and yep, it is definitely a snowy! I am worried about it - I did let a park ranger friend know about it, in case it needs help. It's in the wrong place and we are having such hot days. It was the first one I ever saw! 

Read Last Week:

  

Return to Tradd Street - I love Karen White's work. She is definitely a go-to for me

Anne of Green Gables - So, this was my first time reading Anne. And I think I am just too old maybe to appreciate this book, or I have missed my opportunity for it, because I just didn't really like it. :( Although, I do want to visit PEI now. I was more intrigued by the setting. 

Reading This Week:

I've got a few things going on..

  

I am reading Upstream as part of an online nature book club I am a part of. I just picked up, and I am looking forward to reading it. :) 

Watching:

Series of Unfortunate Events, Churchill's Recruits (this was excellent!), and since it is July, the Tour de France! We are such big fans of the tour! 

How about you all? What is going on in your world?

The Sunday Post/It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

Check out the The Caffeinated Book Review for the Sunday Post

It's Monday! What Are You Reading is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date

Thanks to everyone for the well wishes for my aunt last week. She has come through a lot in the past two weeks and she still has her struggles but she is hanging tough.

Read Last Week:

  

I am still reading Anne of Green Gables, but I finished Season of Wonder and Flight Patterns. I loved them both! I really needed a Christmas romance, there is nothing happier I don't think. And Flight Patterns was really well done; I could not stop reading it. So good!

Reading This Week:

This book sounds interesting - I am intrigued by the blurb calling the bed and breakfast "mysterious". Looking forward to reading it this week! I am also going to keep reading Anne. :) 

Watching:

Glow, Series of Unfortunate Events, 13 Reasons Why. We have been holed up a little bit this weekend, due to the horrific heatwave! We did go swimming yesterday but for the most part, we have been hanging out inside, crafting, reading, watching tv, listening to music. It is much harder to hunker down these days, with a three year old who just wants to outside all the time! It is just too hot right now, especially for my guy who has a hard time regulating to high temperatures. 

How about all of you? How is it going?

The Sunday Post/It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

Check out the The Caffeinated Book Review for the Sunday Post

It's Monday! What Are You Reading is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date

Last week was a rough one for our family. My aunt, who is very special to me, recently completed a year of surgeries and chemo for pancreatic cancer. She came through strong and well. And then, last week, we had a setback. They found that an infection that may have started in her chemo port spread to her aortic valve. And then found that it was also in her spine. The heart valve was shooting off infection and plaque to all parts of her body for weeks, causing symptoms no one could find the cause of until finally, it affected her heart and also her brain. It has been a scary 6 weeks, and while this news was terrifying, and my poor aunt has been though so very much, at least now we know the cause and can treat it. Which they have started to, addressing the infection in the spine first and now, tomorrow, Monday morning, she will get a valve replacement. She is such a tough woman. 

I did do some reading. The perfect distraction right?

  

I loved both of these!!! The Cruel Prince though, I couldn't stop reading and was so mad when it was over because I wanted more of this story and world. I can't believe I have to wait so long for the next installment! Lol.

Reading This Week:

 

I am definitely starting this book this week. I want to read some children's classics this summer, and I am starting with this one - which I never read! I will probably also pick up a Jenny Colgan or Karen White at the library, and I have some review books I am reading from here and there as well. 

So I guess my reading week looks a bit scattered!

Watching:

The Ranch, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, and we just started Safe. We are all over Netflix right now I guess. Lol. 

What about you all? What is happening in your world?

Book Review: The Cottages on Silver Beach by RaeAnne Thayne

Title/Author: The Cottages on Silver Beach by RaeAnne Thayne
Source: Little Bird Publicity, in return for an honest review
Publication date: June 19th, 2018

Goodreads Summary:

Megan Hamilton never really liked Elliot Bailey. He turned his back on her family when they needed him the most and it almost tore them all apart. So she’s shocked when Elliot arrives at her family’s inn, needing a place to stay and asking questions that dredge up the past. Megan will rent him a cottage, but that’s where it ends—no matter how gorgeous Elliot has become. 

Coming back home to Haven Point was the last thing bestselling writer Elliot Bailey thought he’d ever do. But the book he’s writing now is his most personal one yet and it’s drawn him back to the woman he can’t get out of his mind. Seeing Megan again is harder than he expected and it brings up feelings he’d thought were long buried. Could this be his chance to win over his first love?


My thoughts:

For me a RaeAnne Thayne book is like the perfect little pick-me-up, and this one was no different. As a Michigander, I am partial to a little cabin on the lake setting. I can hear the birds, feel the breezes, imagine dipping my feet into the water. It is one of my favorite things ever, a cabin on the lake. So I was really excited to read a book by a favorite author, in one of my favorite settings. 

I really loved this book. Megan is such a cool character, running the family business but still finding time for her art, burning the candle at both ends as both a businesswoman and photographer. She is also a woman who is fiercely loyal and devoted to her brother and his children, an admirable quality. Protective, unwilling to let her faith in her brother slip for a second, believing in him always, even when his best childhood friend turns his back on him. She self-sacrifices for the love of her family, but is happy, and engulfed by the goodness of the people in her community. 

Then Elliot arrives, staying right next door to her, renting one of her cottages. Her heart wants to give him the boot, but her professionalism allows him to stay. But despite her best efforts to ignore him, it doesn't seem to be possible. There is a lot of history and a lot of misgivings between them however, as well as the situation with her brother, one that is not going to just go away. 

This book was one of those books you don't want to put down. And it ended on a cliffhanger!!! I absolutely can not wait for the next in this series!

A great summer read, one that I plan on reading again this summer when we go on vacation at the lake!



Thanks to Little Bird Publicity for the chance to read and review this book!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date

It has been a great week, full of family and fun and friends. Last Friday we went out for my friend's bachelorette dinner, and had a blast! It was really the first time I had done something like that since Wyatt was born, and I was actually kind of anxious! Lol. We had a great time though. We ended the night at The Whitney, which is a grand old mansion from the late 1800s in Detroit. We had fancy dessert in the dessert parlor and drinks, including tableside Spanish Coffee. And now that I have one of these nights down again, I will have to make sure there are others in the future!

Read Last Week:

  

I was hoping that my hold of Legendary would have come in, but it didn't. None of my holds did! So I picked up a book I hadn't read yet by one of my faves, Jenny Colgan. And I loved it. Of course. 

When I finished, I started this Karen White book. A long, long time ago I read the first in this series. Now, I am reading the fifth, without having read the ones in between. Lol. It hasn't really slowed me down though. Although, this main character is hard to warm up to!

Reading This Week:

 

I did get word that this came in and is waiting for me! Yay! So this week for sure. I loved Caraval so I am very excited.

Watching:

Godless! It is so good. We are almost done with it, as it is only 7 episodes or so. It is really so well done!

How about you all? What is going on with you?

Book Review: High Tide Club by Mary Kay Andrews

Title/Author: The High Tide Club by Mary Kay Andrews
Source: St. Martin's Press, in exchange for an honest review

Goodreads Summary:

When ninety-nine-year-old heiress Josephine Bettendorf Warrick summons Brooke Trappnell to Talisa Island, her 20,000 acre remote barrier island home, Brooke is puzzled. Everybody in the South has heard about the eccentric millionaire mistress of Talisa, but Brooke has never met her. Josephine’s cryptic note says she wants to discuss an important legal matter with Brooke, who is an attorney, but Brooke knows that Mrs. Warrick has long been a client of a prestigious Atlanta law firm.

Over a few meetings, the ailing Josephine spins a tale of old friendships, secrets, betrayal and a long-unsolved murder. She tells Brooke she is hiring her for two reasons: to protect her island and legacy from those who would despoil her land, and secondly, to help her make amends with the heirs of the long dead women who were her closest friends, the girls of The High Tide Club—so named because of their youthful skinny dipping escapades—Millie, Ruth and Varina. When Josephine dies with her secrets intact, Brooke is charged with contacting Josephine’s friends’ descendants and bringing them together on Talisa for a reunion of women who’ve actually never met.

The High Tide Club is Mary Kay Andrews at her Queen of the Beach Reads best, a compelling and witty tale of romance thwarted, friendships renewed, justice delivered, and true love found. 


My thoughts:

For some, summer kicks off with the first barbecue, the first 90 degree day, breaking out the flip-flops and shorts and sunblock. For me, the unofficial start of summer is reading a Mary Kay Andrews book. It is how I change seasons, by my reading choices. I switch from heavier, intense books or cozy mysteries or scary thrillers to books that are set by the sea, sand, and have some romance in there too. This one was a bit different. Despite the beachy cover, it is not a beach book, with sand and flip-flops and fruity drinks.  However, Mary Kay Andrews always writes an entertaining tale, and this one was just plain riveting.

Is there anything more carefree and joyous than skinny dipping by the light of a full moon? And nowadays, not even scandalous, unlike when friends Josephine, Ruth, Millie, and Varinia first traded in their swimsuits for their birthday suits in the 40s. Who knew then where there lives would take them - what young person does? 

By the time attorney Brooke Trapnell meets Josephine Warrick, Josephine is 99 years old, eccentric, and loaded. And living on her family island, in a home that is crumbling around her. To add to it, she is battling cancer while trying to hang on to the family land. That is where Brooke comes in. Josephine wants Brooke to help her keep her island and also to create a legacy for her old friends, The High Tide Club, or at least their descendants. 

This seemingly simple task soon unravels a lifetime of secrets and mysteries, that seem to slowly spill out of Shellhaven, Jospehine's tumbledown mansion. One secret leads to another and another, until finally, all secrets are brought to light. There is mystery and intrigue and glamour - unfortunately, there is also classicism and racism, which I guess would be historically accurate for some people for that time and location, although ugly (the deep south in the 1940s). This book kept me on my toes, and kept me guessing, and I did not want to stop reading until I found out all the answers! 

Another great book by Andrews! 

The Sunday Post/It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

Check out the The Caffeinated Book Review for the Sunday Post

It's Monday! What Are You Reading is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date

Today was an absolutely gorgeous day out! We spent a majority of it outside, then realized we had to do some adult grown up things like work and clean and had to stop playing. Lol. It was a great day!

Wyatt also has his end of the year preschool concert today (Monday). I am so excited to see him with the rest of his class! I am pretty sure I am going to see him playing some sort of loud instrument, he loves music so much.

Read Last Week:

  

The High Tide Club - I love MKA! It took me a minute or two to get into this book; then I couldn't stop reading it!! Review this week. 

Red Queen - I picked this up from the library and devoured it. I really enjoyed this one as well!

Reading This Week:

  

Legendary by Stephanie Garber (if it comes in! I am first in line though on the library holds list so I am assuming I will get it)

Beautiful Exiles - I started this and I am really enjoying taking my time with it. There is a lot to take in, the Spanish War, writing, Hemingway himself. I always wish I was in the Keys or drinking while reading it though. LOL.

Watching:

Godless - so good so far! Jeff Daniels is almost unrecognizable from his previous roles. I love him, and he is a fellow Michigander!

Schitt's Creek for comic relief ( I love the Levys), and iZombie, which was really good this season. I am so bummed it was such a short season! I think we are going to start Jessica Jones season 2 this week, and I am going to watch The Chalet (my husband is not interested so its all me!)

I've also been enjoying listening to Podcasts on Stitcher. Anyone listen to any good podcasts? I am always looking for new ones.

The Sunday Post/It's Monday! What Are You Reading: Memorial Day Edition

Check out the The Caffeinated Book Review for the Sunday Post

It's Monday! What Are You Reading is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date

Hey all! Enjoy your Memorial Day festivities, but do take a moment to remember why this is weekend is special.

Billy my husband had a four day weekend this weekend, which has been great! He almost never has time off, so we have been making the most of it. We went to the zoo on Friday, then to A&W for root beer in a frosty mug. Later we went for a ride and then sat outside for a bit, enjoying the beautiful evening. Yesterday, Billy actually worked most of the day, cleaning up the yard and readying it for some new garden features we want to add, and then afterwards we visited a Metropark and got ice cream. Today we have a retirement party and then tomorrow a grill out with my brother and his family. 

I also plan on getting some of my book reviews done. I am woefully behind. So that is my plan, to work on them while Wyatt is at school this week. 

Question - have any of you ordered books from Amazon.uk?  There a few books that I want that are not available in America, only in England. I would love to know if I can order them! I am assuming I can?

Read Last Week:

  

Whistlin' Dixie in a Nor'Easter - So, I have no idea why I why I finished this book. I really didn't like it. Lol. I think I just kept reading on to see if the book got better, but it didn't. :(  

Beautiful Exiles - I am still working on this one but I am enjoying it. 

Reading This Week:

Getting cracking on my review books! I am slacking - I am not sure what my deal is. I have started these, I just need to finish them.

 

Watching:

Riverdale- holy crap!!!! The end was crazy! Well worth getting through some of the weird episodes for. Still a very dark story line but I am getting used to it and am beginning to like it for it.

We are also watching The Rain (one more episode left for us!), and Chuck and Danny's Road Trip - we loved this so much. Lol. Surprisingly so. We binged the whole series. It is about two Canadian chefs who go on a road trip in an RV, staying at Provinical Parks, to different Canandian provinces, gathering up the best local ingredients and then at the end of the episode having a big feast incorporating them all, with the people who grew, caught, or raised the food. It was like a beautiful travel infomercial for Canada. Lol. Billy and I felt inspired to really cook the way we used to more as a result. However, we haven't yet. Lol.

How about you all? What's going on in your world?