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?

 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

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

I took a week off of all blogging last week - I just had so much to do and no time. Summer is definitely in the wind, and we have been gravitating slowly more and more outdoors. It's nice - we sure waited long enough!

Lots of porch sitting and wine drinking happening here. 

 We did get a new car, so that was fun! Another Jeep, we traded in the Patriot for a Compass.  We also celebrated my dad's birthday today, which was nice, relaxed family time. 

Read Last Two Weeks:

The Cottages on Silver Beach by RaeAnne Thayne: Ooo I loved this one for the mystery! Now I can't wait for the next book!!!

The French Girl: I enjoyed this book but I didn't care for most of the characters. I think though, that this actually worked well with the mystery. 

The Year of Living Danishly: This was fascinating!!

Reading This Week:

I am starting this book, but I will probably read something else at the same time. :) 

Watching:

The Durrells, Back in Time for Tea (YouTube rocks), Supernatural, and Riverdale. We are pretty behind on Riverdale though.

How are you guys all doing?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

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

Last week, I was so darn busy my head was spinning! First, my cousin and his wife had their new baby - on May 4th, Star Wars day! A beautiful, healthy boy.

I am deep into working on gardening projects right now; I think that it took so long for spring to really arrive in Michigan that now we never want to be inside. It was just this past week that we finally had consistently nice weather, and we are having fun with it. Although, we did have a weird ten minute squall that did serious damage to our little city. Gigantic trees were knocked down onto houses, electric towers were blown in half - it was awful! Our city makes its own power, so we usually don't have to wait to long for power to be restored but this time we were out of power for twelve hours! I know that a lot of people have to wait days, so I won't complain, but it just shows the force of this ten minute storm. The forecast didn't portend such crazy weather, and when a giant patio umbrella struck our house I took Wyatt into an interior hallway away from windows. I didn't hear of any serious injuries at least, so that is good. Unfortunately there was a lot of property damage though.

Read Last Week:

Meet Me at the Cupcake Cafe: Loved it. I love this author, I am so glad I saw her over on The Book Date!

The Year of Living Danishly: I am almost done with this book! It is definitely interesting, and has given me so much to think about.

Reading This Week:

 

I think this is my last Colgan book for a bit! I have enjoyed my run of reading her immensely. I am not sure what direction I am going to go in next!

I am also finishing up Living Danishly.

Watching:

The Durrells, Victoria, iZombie, Supernatural, and The Let Down on and The Rain on Netflix, which are both pretty good!! 

How are things with you all?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

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

So, this week I didn't have a phone for like four days. It was really weird at first, but then I slowly but surely started to like it. The weather was a bit of a bummer most of the week, but right now is absolutely gorgeous, at 8pm. The forecast for the week ahead is going to be beautiful and I am so excited! Today we we went to a vintage bike sale and market; there were hundreds of old bikes - I kept expecting to spot the kids from Stranger Things lurking about somewhere, or some kids from an 80s buddy movie. I saw some pretty cool ones, and I loved the names of them the best. I saw a Grey Ghost, and all the Schwinn names were awesome, Stingray and Meteor and Panther and many more.

Read Last Week:

So I am going through the entire backlist of Jenny Colgan apparently. But I also read a completely different book too! See, not having a phone...

  

The Nature Fix by Florence Williams - I absolutely loved this book. It was a bit of a slower read, as it had some medical terminology and sciencey type stuff, but it was fascinating. Seriously, a great read.

The Cafe by the Sea by Jenny Colgan - I'll probably read her for a bit, until I get tired of her. This one was really good too - the setting was really unique and I loved the main character!

Reading This Week:

The Year of Living Danishly - That house even looks adorably happy!

Meet Me at the Cupcake Cafe 

Posted Last Week:

No new book reviews 

Phoneless and Free (on my other blog - also talks about the Nature Fix)

Watching:

Victoria, Supernatural, Riverdale, iZombie

How about you guys? What is going on in your corner of the world?