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Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Reading, Watching, & Listening


Hello, dear friends.  I hope that this post finds you and your loved ones well.  

It's been pretty quiet around here since our Newlyweds headed back to NYC.  We had some fabulous weather on Mother's Day, and the Mister spent most of his time piddling outside working on projects.  I took an extra-long walk and caught up on some online shopping tedious blog research.  

Thanks for all your lovely comments and notes on my last post.  I'm just happy to hear that I am not the only one having those minor quarantine issues.




Today I am linking up with Show Me Your Books.  
Stop by and hear what other bloggers are reading. 






Sally Hepworth is one of my favorite authors, and she did not disappoint with The Mother-In-Law.  I treat her books with the same reverence that I do a hot fudge sundae.  I want to take my time, relish every word, and become totally absorbed in the story.  

The Mother-In-Law begins with the murder of a wealthy, philanthropic woman, Diana, who is the mother of a married son and married daughter.  From the moment her daughter-in-law, Lucy meets Diana, she tries to warm up to her.  Diana returns her affection with a cold shoulder. 

Through the pages, you learn the background of all the characters and their ever-evolving relationships with Diana.  The story kept me guessing up until the bitter end.  

Tuck this one in your beach bag.
You'll thank me later.    




Jamie Brenner is also one of my favorite authors, and I have had the pleasure of meeting her in person.  

Jamie's books remind me of the first warm, sunny day in Spring.  Summer Longing takes place in quirky, colorful Provincetown. Ruth Cooperman, a woman in her 50's steps off the ferry with high hopes of starting a new chapter in her life.  She rents a picturesque home from Elise and Fern, who owns the town's Tea Shop. After she is settled in her home away from home, Ruth opens her front door and finds an infant on her doorstep.  Elise is contacted, and she immediately falls in love with the sweet baby girl.  Several of the women in town pitch in to take care of the baby, including Ruth.

This book tackles many topics: infertility, unwanted pregnancy, mother/daughter dynamics, and of course, love.  
I highly recommend this delightful story.
Here's another one for your beach bag.





 In Little Secrets, the narrative is split between two female characters. As the book opens, Marin is a successful businesswoman who is happily married with one child. Kenzi is a young art student in her twenties. Her boyfriend just happens to be Marin's husband. One day, Marin is a candy store with her precious son. She looks away to pay the cashier. When she looks down on her son, he has vanished.

There are many surprising twists throughout this well-written story. The final plot twist is one that I never saw coming. The audio narration was beautifully done. I highly recommend this novel to the reader who treasures a razor-sharp thriller.




Amazon

Stories We Never Told was my Amazon First selection.  Love and obsession are the central themes of this addictive pageturner.  

Harlan and Jackie are both professors in the Psychology department in a large university. They had been lovers for five years.  After their breakup, Jackie married Miles, a talent scout for professional athletes.  Jackie and Miles are friendly with Harlan and socialize with him. Enter: Nasira, who is hired by Jackie.  Harlan starts an affair with the newbie, and it throws Jackie into a whirlwind of obsession.  As the pages are turned, the plot thickens.  Stories We Never Told is a fast read and definitely worth the time.  



Amazon


Nina is a grifter.  She was trained by the best - her mother.  Nina meets handsome Lachlan, another con artist,  through her mother. Nina and Lachlan become a con artist dream team. Their "mark" is Vanessa, a very popular beauty and fashion Instagrammer.  Vanessa also happens to be an heiress and lives in a mansion with a guest house on the property.  I'll give you three guesses who rents the cottage.  The three become quite friendly, and Vanessa radiates in the attention that Nina and Lachlan bestow upon her.  It is at this point that the story takes off with breakneck speed.

Fasten your seatbelt because there are twists and turns aplenty.  This book is a quick read and very entertaining.



Amazon

I am almost finished with this book and loving every minute of it. It is the story of a family that decides to leave their life in the suburbs and buys a boat to sail for a year.  By the way, it's the husband's idea.  Shocker! Did I mention that they have two children under five?  This book is well-written and provides a spine-tingling adventure with a side of mystery.  



Amazon

Twenty years after Mallory's family was torn apart by a scandal, she is drawn back to her childhood Rhode Island home.
I just started listening to this one.



Amazon
DNF

The author's not kidding when she put the word dark in the title.
I listened to this one.  I gave up on it when I thought I was nearing the end, but then realized I had twelve miserable hours left.



Amazon
DNF

At the halfway point, I still was not engaged with the story, so I threw in the towel.







Amazon

I can only hope that the story is as intriguing as the cover.  
I downloaded this one.


Amazon

This thriller is getting great reviews.  
This is next on my reading list.




Amazon

Magazine-worthy wedding on the coast of Ireland is interrupted by a murder.  
I hope I get an invite.



Amazon

I enjoy Liv Constantine's writing.
That fact and the stunning cover are enough reasons to crack this thriller open.




Amazon

Leo loses his best friends but gains their young daughter.  The setting is a small island off the coast of Massachusetts.  This one sounds like another heart-warming beach read which is just what I need during this trying time.  I have read Lisa's other two wonderful novels and have had the pleasure of meeting her in person.   



Amazon

Two estranged sisters and one adopted brother gather at their diseased parents' Wellfleet home to decide whether to sell it or keep it.
I smell family drama.



Amazon

I have read all of Giffin's books and enjoyed every one.   Twenty-eight-year-old Cecily meets the man of her dreams in a dive bar.  The two have undeniable chemistry, and they spend the night together.   9/11 happens, and Mr. Wonderful disappears.



Amazon

This book was chosen for Jenna's bookclub.  Astrid experiences a moment of clarity when she realizes that she wasn't the perfect mother that she thought she was.  Her three adult children seem to be suffering as a result.




Amazon

Six years after an argument ruined their friendship, the bride asks her ex-bf to be her maid of honor at the high society wedding of the Summer.  
I hope I'm on the guest list.




Amazon

I need a crash course in this to make it through the quarantine.






Trailer

We are still watching and enjoying Outlander.
Here is a cute article with some Outlander trivia.




Trailer

They're back and as intriguing as ever.




Trailer

We watched the first episode of the new season, and we're hooked again.





Trailer

No doubt that these two ladies have great chemistry.



Trailer

I loved the first season and can't wait to start Season 2.



Trailer

We've seen Jerry Seinfeld's live show twice.
We're looking forward to seeing this one.



Trailer

I didn't read the book, but I will watch the show.


Trailer

The same thing - didn't read but will watch.


Trailer

This was one of my favorite books. 
The series is phenomenal.

Be well.

Until next time...






Linking up with:
Inspire Me Tuesday
You're the Star
Tuesdays With A Twist
Lou Lou Girls
Happy Now


Preppy Empty Nester
Preppy Empty Nester

Thanks for stopping by my blog. Feel free to contact me through comments and email. I love to hear from my readers!

26 comments:

  1. You got to get up pretty early to be among the first to comment...thanks for the suggestions. Several of your watching picks, we are watching/have watched as well and I concur with your findings. If you haven't checked out Apple TV yet, I highly recommend two: The Morning Show (which I feel like I currently host while teaching online, minus the newsroom drama..always knew I had a little Jane Pauley in me) also on Apple ...Trying..adorable couple trying to adopt a child. As far as the reading picks...I will need to check them out come summer...reading student work online has me a little burnt out...the words just blur. Not your blog though..start to finish, each post is cherished.

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  2. Where did you take your opening photo of the beach and suitcase? Cool pic! Thanks for all of the recommendations!!

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  3. For some reason I have had trouble focusing and there fore not a lot of reading happening. I can stitch but reading is not going as well. I did start a book I purchased for myself, Jane Austen at Home by Lucy Worsley. I love Lucy! I have watched several of her programs on Public TV and she makes history come to life. I read the first chapter last night and it was so good. I am going to savor this one. Also I am reading a Rumer Godden book someone suggested and I found it on Thrift books. An Episode of Sparrows. We are just now seeing the new season of the Crown and I really like this queen, much to my surprise. Thanks for all the suggestions.

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  4. Pretty Things sounds really good! I'm also curious about Big Summer. I have read The Guest List and I definitely recommend! I loved the first season of Dead to Me, but I need to start watching the new season.

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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  5. Sea Wife sounds fascinating! Is the mystery scary at all? I’m looking for comfort reads right now.

    Here are my April reads, if interested: https://elle-alice.blogspot.com/2020/05/april-book-reviews.html

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  6. Pretty Things is on my radar and I'm interested in Jennifer Weiner's latest too. Thanks for the reviews!

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  7. I'm so excited to read Big Summer.

    I did read I Know This Much is True and cannot wait to watch the adaptation. Defending Jacob is so well done. I love that book to movie/TV adaptations are getting better and better.

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  8. Little Secrets, The Stories We Never Sold and Pretty Things all caught my eye. Definitely adding them to my TBR. And I'm a huge Killing Eve fan too!

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  9. Love all of your reading suggestions. Haven’t read any so gives me a lot of Amazon browsing considerations. I have thoroughly enjoyed Jean Grainger’s Tour series of books since the quarantine started. There are a total of five books in this series and I’ve just finished number five and I miss all of the characters. I highly suggest this series if you like a book with a little bit of everything (romance, travel guide, mystery, intrigue) and wonderful character development! We’re also rewatching all 11 seasons of Cheers on Netflix! Talk about characters!!

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  10. I just read your last post. Since I live alone I just say all those things to myself. I am especially fond of saying. I know I just got something out of the refrigerator five minutes ago. You don;'t need to remind me. I love Killing Eve. So excited. xo Laura

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  11. You always have some of the best book lists!! At least three of these are on my "must read soon" list. Pinned.

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  12. I binged Dead To Me and the Seinfeld special over the weekend- loved both, but Seinfeld had me in tears! So happy to see he hasn't lost his touch :) I recently finished Normal People and just started watching last night, and just added Defending Jacob because again, I like to read the book before watching the show. Great picks, thanks for sharing!

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  13. i had to laugh at your review of my dark vanessa - i've heard either really good things or really bad things lol. not sure if i'll give that one a go

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  14. The Mother in Law is one of my all time faves. I also did not finish The Red Lotus, and thanks for the tip on the Dark Vanessa. I listen to my audiobooks at 1.5 speed, and if it's over 13-14 hours, it's a no for me. Thanks for all the great reading suggestions. My holds list is now overflowing! I watched After Life last week and just loved it. I put Defending Jacob on my reading list, and Normal People looks good for viewing. Have a terrific Tuesday.

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  15. A Good Marriage sounds like a good book. I really liked the first season of Dead to Me, but I was watching it by myself, and now my family is always around! LOL I read My Kind of People and really enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing!

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  16. Thanks for the list katie! Saved and Pinned for reference. Good to know billions is back and Killing Eve. xo laura

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  17. I always enjoy your book suggestions and plan on downloading a few in the near future. I am a big Wally Lamb fan and read I Know This Much is True and am really looking forward to the show. The subject matter was close to home as I had a mentally ill sister and could identify with the characters. I also read Normal People and just watched the series. I thought it was good, but my husband didn't. Be prepared for a lot of young people sex. We just started Billions and are hooked.

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  18. Hey Katie, Watch Seinfeld right away, we all need hysterical laughing these days and he really delivers. Take care! Susan

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  19. Great suggestions Katie! I'm bookmarking this for when I have reading time! ;) Happy Tuesday!

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  20. Thank you for reminding me to watch Defending Jacob!
    Enjoy the nice weather.

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  21. Pretty Things is on my list as are many of the ones on your radar! I'm interested in watching I Know This Much is True as well, although I never read the book!

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  22. Staying home these days I've been doing a lot of each, plus a lot of puzzles and games on my iPad. And of course there's blogging. - Margy

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  23. You always have the best recommendations! I am adding a bunch to my list. Also, the fact that you are a Seinfeld fan makes me like you even more!
    Stay well friend!
    Shelley

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  24. You've been rocking the book counter! I guess that's what quarantine does to a person -- me, too. And some good videos on the horizon. Normal People interests me but I don't have Hulu. Yet!

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  25. I love a book list and I can't wait to start watching the new series of Killing Eve and Dead to Me, I enjoyed this post

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