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Friday, April 18, 2025

My Friday Five...

1. The simple act of kindness. A quick hello with a smile. Holding the door. A slice of homemade pistachio cake from the neighbor. Hand-sewn stuffed rabbits for Easter that my mom made for surprise gifts. Listening instead of talking.

2. A small Nolty planner that has me reaching for it and smiling - it's where I jot down to-dos and I'm enjoying using it so much. 

3. Young Sheldon

4. New Books.



5.  CoraCreaCrafts writing desk box. I'm feeling inspired to art journal and that is making me happy.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Happy Easter! 

Thursday, April 17, 2025

Three Things: Tracker Edition

The last Tracker episode was not a favorite and here's why:

1. The episode just began without any backstory - like, who is this friend of Colter's that he's helping out? - and it ended abruptly. It didn't feel like a full episode. 

2. Why would Colter leave two young women that he was supposed to be helping with strangers - all three of whom emanated suspicious vibes. Also, why would Colter spend so much time searching for a phone or whatever it was he was looking for, knowing how awful those men were - the ones keeping that woman captive for 9 years and now the two young women - what the frack was that? He should have barged right in to save them. Instead we were subjected to watching violence being inflicted on women and it was horrible.

3. The only highlight was Bobby - he's back! Or at least I hope he is. 

I read a lot of negative comments about this episode. Apparently fans are not happy with the direction that Tracker is going. I'm just hoping to see Colter and siblings find out what actually happened to their father. I'd also like to see them confront their mother, who is obviously hiding information about all of it. 

Anyhow, those are my three things this week. Wishing you all a lovely rest of the week! Happy reading!

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

It Will Have Been So Beautiful by Amanda Shaw

(Thank you to Poetic Book Tours for providing me with the opportunity to review this book!)
 

about book:

With urgency and compassion, humor and wonder, Amanda Shaw’s It Will Have Been So Beautiful examines the many dimensions of what it means to call anything “home,” including the earth as we know it. In a manner reminiscent of Eugène Atget, who wrote “will disappear” on his photographs of turn-of-the-century Paris, Shaw captures the unique melancholy of living in a time of unknowable change.

As she explores the line between love and loss, Shaw implores us to find a more profound commitment to life in all its forms. At times playful and ironic, the poems celebrate language’s sonic capacities, probing art’s potential to move us from mourning to joy.

Advance Praise:

Alan Shapiro, acclaimed author of “Life Pig,” describes Shaw’s debut as “a beautiful and troubling book.” Shaw’s intelligence breathes life into every line, offering a rich, complex, and startlingly vivid exploration of the impact of the “enlightened” West juxtaposed with a poignant portrayal of the best and worst aspects of humanity.

Nathan McClain, author of “Previously Owned,” praises Shaw’s collection, noting that it is as interested in language itself as what language can create. With an “ear attuned to silences,” Shaw navigates the complexity of human interactions, addressing topics such as illness, home, love, and loss. The energetic collection uses a rich, musical dialect that resonates with the reader.

About the Poet:

From the time she learned to read her first word — “Boom!” — Amanda Shaw has been in love with literature and language. She earned a BA in English from Smith College and has advanced degrees in education and writing. Equally at ease in a high school classroom and a World Bank boardroom, she is an expert teacher who continues to share her belief in the power of words with students of all ages.

Amanda began her career at a public high school in Brooklyn, where she was committed to student-centered curriculum and staff development as part of NYC’s small schools movement. After nine years in the city, she moved on to teaching ESL internationally and domestically, first in Rome and now in Washington DC. Witnessing poetry’s unique impact on students’ intellectual and emotional development galvanized her own writing. In 2020, she received her MFA from the Warren Wilson Program for Writers.

In addition to actively participating in local and online writing communities, Amanda is the book review editor for Lily Poetry Review Books, where she supports emerging writers. Lily Poetry Review Books will publish her debut collection, It Will Have Been So Beautiful, in March 2024. The poems, written over 15 years, explore love and loss in personal and global contexts. For the past four years, Amanda has divided her time between New Hampshire, where she was born, and Washington, DC. Follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

my thoughts:

Poetry is thoughtful and precise. It can be endearing and heart wrenching. I love reading poems - they wake me up and shake me up. So, I was thrilled to get my hands on a copy of Amanda Shaw's debut collection of poems titled, It Will Have Been So Beautiful. Talk about the perfect treat to remedy a months-long reading drought. I picked up this book and could not stop reading. I fell in deep and loved every second spent with these poems about life, loss, identity, and home. It was all about the human experience and it was ace. I loved it!

Shaw's creativity thrummed throughout the pages. There was humor and candor within the vivid images and her clever observations were peppered with insight. What a wonderful book of poems! I highly recommend any and all fans of poetry to grab a copy ASAP - you won't want to miss out on Shaw's poetic prowess!


Thank you to Poetic Book Tours for providing me with the opportunity to review this book!

Monday, April 14, 2025

Death At Inishmore Castle: A Mercy McCarthy Mystery Book 3 by Lucy Connelly

(Thank you Bookouture for providing me with a copy of this book!)
 

about book:

A grand castle, a glass of Irish whiskey, a good book by the fire… and a rather mysterious murder?

Historic Inishmore Castle is opening its doors for the first time, hosting a charming weekend of whiskey tasting and soda bread baking. Sisters Mercy and Lizzie McCarthy are badly in need of a break, but their relaxing trip takes a decidedly unrestful turn when Mercy finds fellow guest Father Brennen slumped over the desk in the library… Did he have one glass too many or did someone want him dead? 

Even more curiously, Mercy swiftly learns that the priest was no priest at all. So why was he searching through dusty old journals? Can the legend of Inishmore’s lost treasure possibly be true?

Mercy’s suspicions of foul play are confirmed when another of their party is found drowned in the lake at the edge of the manor’s estate. It can’t be a coincidence! Someone in this idyllic Irish castle is up to no good and Mercy is determined to find out who’s behind it, accompanied by her reluctant fellow sleuth and beloved dog Mr. Poe.

With a host of frightened guests and worried staff, and a storm closing in, Mercy soon has more suspects than bedrooms in the castle. Could it be the unconvincing nun, the busybody birdwatcher, or are the owners hiding something sinister? When Mercy realises there are secret passages in the walls, she thinks she might have cracked the case… but will she track the killer down, or will Inishmore be her resting place forever more? 

A completely delightful Irish cozy mystery, full of warmth and wit. Fans of Agatha Christie, Carlene O’Connor and Faith Martin will love Mercy McCarthy! 

my thoughts:

Love, love, love! I am a huge fan of cozy mysteries and Lucy Connelly's A Mercy McCarthy Mystery series is one of my favorites. So, you can imagine my joy when I received the third book - Death At Inishmore Castle. Hurrah! Another fantastic story to get wrapped up in - murder, mystery, Ireland, and the McCarthy sisters - what more could I want? 

This time round, Mercy and Lizzie, along with a few of their neighbors from Shamrock Cove head to nearby Inishmore Castle for a whiskey tasting weekend. The two sisters are in need of a break and have plans to relax, relax, relax. Except, that their idea of a fun getaway takes a turn when a dead body is found in the library. Yep, murder has arrived at Inishmore Castle and it looks like Mercy is on the case. Especially as another body is found in the lake. Yikes! An old castle, stormy weather, and bodies piling up - talk about a weekend gone wrong. And that's all I'll share about this captivating mystery - it's one you won't want to miss out on. Make sure to grab a copy ASAP! 

I'm happy to recommend Connelly's wonderful series - A Mercy McCarthy Mystery. The stories are so much fun to read. The characters are a treat to get to know. Ireland is the perfect setting to fall in love with. And, the whodunits are such great mysteries to solve. All in all, this series is top notch and not to be missed!

Thank you to Bookouture for my copy of this book!



Monday Musings...

I bought a book on a whim a few week ago and when it arrived I set it aside. Yesterday I picked it up and started flipping through it and now I am feeling so inspired. It's a diary from 2012. The diarist took a sabbatical for the year and moved to England. He set three rules for himself: no phones or internet, he would only use public transportation or walk everywhere, and he would take polaroids every day. His diary has been made into a book and I am loving flipping through it. I'm feeling motivated to journal even more now. I just love the simplicity of his diary - snippets of daily life with photographs. Pen to paper is really all we need. Makes me realize that all the extras (stickers, washi tape, paper ephemera, stamps) that I think I need for my journal entries are completely unnecessary.  I think I'll stick to just writing in my journal and adding a photo now and again. Oh, and I might include the occasional ticket stub or coffee shop sticker if I want to document a moment in time. I think keeping it simple feels more me than the stationery rabbit I fell down. I'm grateful this diary reminded me of that. 

I've also gotten stuck in a new book:

And now, I'm off to start my Monday. Wishing you all a great day! Happy reading!