Personal Message

  I try to keep my blog to not so personal things, but I have gotten far behind on book reviews as of lately.
  Life has a way of shaking things up a bit.
 A year ago at a regular doctor's visit, it was discovered through blood work that my kidneys were failing. 
 They reached the point where dialysis has become necessary, I have now been on Peritoneal Dialysis for a little over a month and learning to live this new path that fate has sent my way.
 End-stage renal disease is not for the faint of heart. Dialysis is not a picnic. Although well-meaning people seem to think it's a breeze that you just go on dialysis and get a new kidney through transplant just like that. 
  What it really means is every night, being attached to a machine that filters the toxins from the body, the way the kidneys used to do. It means having frequent visits to the lab for blood work and infusions of many things. 
  It's been difficult getting into a new routine with all these changes.
Things are starting to seem a little more routine. Hopefully, I can catch up going forward.

Book Review:The Winemaker's Wife by Kristen Harmel

                                       Publish date : August 13th  and can be purchased on Amazon or Barnes and Noble Books.

 My review:

It took a few days after completing this book to consider reviewing this . It’s not a book that I could say that I loved, but it was interesting, sometimes heartbreaking. I found it difficult liking the characters, they are full of flaws that make them hard to like. 
 I found the switching back and forth between time and characters a bit distracting.
However the story is worth a read.
Thank you To the author , Simon and Schuster and NetGallery for the ARC.

       

Book Review: The Lost Letters Of William Woolf

                         
              Available on Amazon and at Barnes and Nobles . January 4th.

    This book was interesting the description is inviting and the story, once you get into a few chapters, draws you in. I found a love-hate relationship with the couple. I really disliked the character of Clare and her attitude towards William's laid-back way of approaching life in his way. He comes across as solely devoted to her, while she changed and became something he did not recognize or understand. I think I felt the same about them as I would standing on the outside of a couple that I knew personally and couldn't help but take sides as to who was the injured party in the relationship. For that reason, the story had a feeling of being real life to me. It is a rare occasion for me to find a couple in a novel that seems "real life like." In the end, the story is a satisfying read.

Book Review: Miss Bingley Requests by Judy McCrosky

This title will be available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble November 13th, 2018

For a fan of Jane Austen, this is a likeable tale revisiting some of her most famous characters and seeing them from a different point of view. From that view, I enjoyed seeing these characters come to life again in a new story. 
However, I found the story dragged on a bit and the main character really became quite annoyingly obsessive. I was compelled to continue reading until the conclusion and found the ending satisfying 
  The author kept the story true to the time and entertaining throughout most of the storyline. I think that I liked it mostly just to have a little more time with the characters,

Book Review: Past Due For Murder by Victoria Gilbert

⭐⭐⭐⭐

https://www.amazon.com/Past-Due-Murder-Library-Mystery/dp/1683318749

This book will be available February 12, 2019, but you can read the previous books in this series. It is an enjoyable series.

I have to say that the cover of this book is very cute and inviting. It reminded me of the library I visited frequently growing up. That being said, I have read a previous book in this series and I was very glad to receive another. 
I am finding that I am becoming invested in reading more about the wonderful characters that the author had previously introduced and enjoying the new ones that are in this title. I enjoy that there are significant characters of different age groups. The main characters of Amy and Richard and Amy's friends are younger and her Aunt, Mother and Father and some other recurring characters are a little older. It makes for a nice diversity and a different view of events from the different age groups. 
Although there are previous books in this series, this book can be read as a standalone book for there are references in the story to previous adventures which I believe after reading one the reader would wish to read the others.
Of course, there is a murder, a bit of mystery in solving that and some slightly paranormal folklore that keeps the tale entertaining and fast-paced.
The language is clean and people of any age can enjoy this cosy mystery. 

Hurricane Florence and Get Ready to Nano

    September has started out with a blasting by Hurricane Florence, she's done her best to give North Carolina a beating and it will be a lot of recovery time for many in the state. We had a lot of water here but nothing like the folks on the coast. My companion's daughter lives in Wilmington and had to evacuate so it has touched us in that sense.. 
   Though I am not an American football fan in anyway shape or form I think it's really great that the Carolina Panthers are teamed up to help in the recovery efforts with a fundraising tee-shirt. Go get one of these cool shirts and help some folks out in the process.

https://www.panthers.com/news/support-hurricane-recovery-efforts-with-careolinas

  
   As a big-time reader, I also have the dreams of writing. Last year I took some writing courses and dived into Nanowrimo. 
Life got in the way and didn't complete it.
   So now it is September and the planning and preparations are happening for Nanowrimo this year. 
  Characters are telling me their story in my head. I have several notebooks with loads of notes and ideas and something of an outline coming together.

Book Review : In Cold Chocolate by Dorothy St. James

https://www.amazon.com/Cold-Chocolate-Southern-Shop-Mystery-ebook/dp/B078M3N9TC

Book releases on September 21, 2018

⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book starts out with something sweet (lots of chocolate)  and cute (an adorable dog). From there the author takes you into the lives of some entertaining characters and a light, fast-paced mystery.
The location is described in such a quaint almost lovingly way that it makes you want to visit there. It certainly makes you want to stop by the Chocolate Box for some of the treats that are described as well.
 I really enjoyed reading about the baby turtles. This is a great cozy to sit by the fire with a cup of hot chocolate and enjoy the ride.