A Curve in the Road by Julianne MacLean

Title: A Curve in the Road

Author: Julianne MacLean

Publisher: Lake Union 2018

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Pages: 266

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook; Women Authors;

Abbie MacIntyre is living the dream in the picturesque Nova Scotia town she calls home. She is a successful surgeon, is married to a handsome cardiologist, and has a model teenage son who is only months away from going off to college.

But then one fateful night, everything changes. When a drunk driver hits her car, Abbie is rushed to the hospital. She survives, but the accident forces unimaginable secrets out into the open and plagues Abbie with nightmares so vivid that she starts to question her grip on reality. Her perfect life begins to crack, and those cracks threaten to shatter her world completely.

The search for answers will test her strength in every way—as a wife, a career woman, and a mother—but it may also open the door for Abbie to move forward, beyond anger and heartbreak, to find out what she is truly made of. In learning to heal and trust again, she may just find new hope in the spaces left behind.

This isn’t a bad book, but I definitely think this book is just not for me. I wasn’t a fan of the first person narration that, at times, seemed to move back and forth throughout the timeline. Abbie and Zack were decent enough characters. I just didn’t get a great feel for Abbie beyond the trauma. I may have liked this book if it started before the accident to allow for the reader to get to know our main character. But most of all, I wasn’t a fan of all the coincidences and reveals. Too much. It made the entire storyline much too unrealistic for me.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #9

Reading: Naughty in Nice by Rhys Bowen — loving this cozy mystery series!

Watching: Still working through Games of Thrones S1.

Listening: I caught up on some other podcasts, so I started Aaron Mahnke’s Unobscured about the Salem Witch Trials.

Feeling: There are a few things up in the air right now. I’m a bit anxious. Will feel much better after this weekend passes.

Planning: We heading over to Indiana this weekend for Memorial Day and to pick up the twins. Looking forward to our activities!

Loving: The grocery stores around here carry rhubarb (so scarce in California) and I’ve been buying a ton. I’ve been making a ton of rhubarb dishes. So good!

Next up on the TBR pile:

Music Monday - The Head and the Heart "Missed Connection"

This song is in heavy rotation on Alt Nation and I’m so digging it!

Life Right Now #14

On my bedside table: The Merry Spinster by Mallory Ortberg; Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter

On my TV: Still working our way through Game of Thrones S1. We just finished the current season of Superstore. And I started the newest season of The Bachelorette this week.

Listening to: I finished catching up on a few podcasts, so I started a few new ones. I started listening to the back episodes of Binge Mode to go along with our Games of Thrones watching. And I finally started Unobscured about the Salem Witch Trials.

On the menu:

• Monday - Pot Roast

• Tuesday - Grilled Cheese

• Wednesday - Ranch Cheddar Chicken

• Thursday - Shrimp Scampi

• Friday - Buffalo Chicken Sliders

• Saturday - Travel Day (dinner out)

• Sunday - Dinner in Fort Wayne

On my to do list: I need to wrap up some travel details for this week, work on travel for June, get my calendars situated, check the safe for some specific papers, pack and travel, check on summer school, drop off library books before traveling, and probably other things.

Happening this week: It’s going to be a super busy week around here!

• Monday - Arthur school; Quentin Tinkergarten; Library visit

• Tuesday - Zoo day; Tobe dentist; Tobe book club

• Wednesday - Arthur school; Quentin Romp n Roll; Trader Joe’s stop

• Thursday - Tobe dentist; Tobe get-together

• Friday - Arthur’s last day of Preschool!

• Saturday - Travel Day; Stop at Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines

• Sunday - Travel Day to Fort Wayne

What I am creating: Mostly just travel plans

My simple pleasures: Rhubarb in everything! Cold brew coffee

What I’m planning: More summer activities plus our summer bucket list

Looking around the house: I need to do a big clean sweep before leaving. But more importantly, I need to finish fixing the twins’s bedroom.

Looking forward to: Getting to Fort Wayne and seeing the twins!

From the camera: Getting in daddy’s way

Prince Charming (Royals) by Rachel Hawkins

Title: Prince Charming (Royals #1)

Author: Rachel Hawkins

Publisher: 2018

Genre: YA

Pages: 297

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Women Authors; Monthly Motif - One Sitting Reads; Romance

Meet Daisy Winters. She's an offbeat sixteen-year-old Floridian with mermaid-red hair, a part time job at a bootleg Walmart, and a perfect older sister who's nearly engaged to the Crown Prince of Scotland. Daisy has no desire to live in the spotlight, but relentless tabloid attention forces her join Ellie at the relative seclusion of the castle across the pond. 

While the dashing young Miles has been appointed to teach Daisy the ropes of being regal, the prince's roguish younger brother kicks up scandal wherever he goes, and tries his best to take Daisy along for the ride. The crown--and the intriguing Miles--might be trying to make Daisy into a lady . . . but Daisy may just rewrite the royal rulebook to suit herself.  

This novel was originally published as Royals, which is the copy I borrowed from the library. I went into this book with extremely low expectations. It’s just that I don’t usually read contemporary romance and definitely not Young Adult contemporary romance. But apparently, I’ve been on a streak lately. This story ended up being a delight romp through the royals of Scotland from the perspective an average American. I loved Daisy from page 1 and kept rooting for her throughout the story. I would have liked to have seen a bit more between Daisy and and Ellie, but did enjoy her interactions with all of the Royal Wreckers. Light and fun. Just what I needed. And I put the second book, Her Royal Highness, on hold at the library.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo and Sara Kipin

Title: The Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic

Author: Leigh Bardugo

Publisher: Imprint 2017

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pages: 290

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library Love; Women Authors; Monthly Motif - One Sitting Reads

Love speaks in flowers. Truth requires thorns. 

Travel to a world of dark bargains struck by moonlight, of haunted towns and hungry woods, of talking beasts and gingerbread golems, where a young mermaid's voice can summon deadly storms and where a river might do a lovestruck boy's bidding but only for a terrible price.

Perfect for new readers and dedicated fans, the tales in The Language of Thorns will transport you to lands both familiar and strange—to a fully realized world of dangerous magic that millions have visited through the novels of the Grishaverse.

This collection of six stories includes three brand-new tales, each of them lavishly illustrated and culminating in stunning full-spread illustrations as rich in detail as the stories themselves.

I definitely enjoyed this collection of fairy tales. My favorite was the Hansel and Gretel retelling involving gingerbread golems. Really fell into the imagery in that story. The other five stories were just as good. Really loved this collection! Recommendation of any one who loves fairy tale retellings.

Next up on the TBR pile:

A Field of Videos

Crazy alligator movie! Totally here for it!

I enjoyed the book, hope the movie is good.

Definite Attack the Block vibes here.

Goodness this is going to be trippy…

Hmmm… maybe…

Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton

Title: Next Year in Havana

Author: Chanel Cleeton

Publisher: Berkley 2018

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 394

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Popsugar - About a Family; Women Authors; Historical Fiction

Havana, 1958. The daughter of a sugar baron, nineteen-year-old Elisa Perez is part of Cuba's high society, where she is largely sheltered from the country's growing political unrest--until she embarks on a clandestine affair with a passionate revolutionary...

Miami, 2017. Freelance writer Marisol Ferrera grew up hearing romantic stories of Cuba from her late grandmother Elisa, who was forced to flee with her family during the revolution. Elisa's last wish was for Marisol to scatter her ashes in the country of her birth. 

Arriving in Havana, Marisol comes face-to-face with the contrast of Cuba's tropical, timeless beauty and its perilous political climate. When more family history comes to light and Marisol finds herself attracted to a man with secrets of his own, she'll need the lessons of her grandmother's past to help her understand the true meaning of courage.

Super mixed feelings about this book. The good: I really loved the characters in this book. Elisa and Marisol are great main characters. I loved spending time with Elisa’s sisters and best friend. I loved learning more about these women’s lives. Cuba becomes another character in this novel. I loved visiting and revisiting specific places throughout time. So good! The bad: I felt like a lot of these book was a guise for a lecture on the history of Cuba, the revolution, and the ramifications 60 years later. I’m not usually bothered by a book that incorporates a bit of teaching into the storyline. But this book seemed to be more like 40% lecture. It really annoyed me that Marisol seemed to know nothing about Cuba and it’s people when her family is Cuban and supposedly told her so many stories. How is she a journalist and yet has seemed to do no research pre-trip? I just started skimming the sections that seemed more history lesson than story. Part of my annoyance may be because I know a fair amount about the Cuban revolution and the country’s status now. But still, I just couldn’t really lose myself in the story because of the lectures.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Escaping from Houdini by Kerri Maniscalco

Title: Escaping from Houdini (Stalking Jack the Ripper #3)

Author: Kerri Maniscalco

Publisher: Jimmy Patterson 2018

Genre: YA Horror

Pages: 448

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library Love; Finishing the Series; Alphabet Soup - M

Embarking on a week-long voyage across the Atlantic on the opulent RMS Etruria, Audrey Rose Wadsworth and her partner-in-crime-investigation, Thomas Cresswell, are delighted to discover a traveling troupe of circus performers, fortune tellers, and a certain charismatic young escape artist entertaining the first-class passengers nightly. 

But privileged young women begin to go missing without explanation, and a series of brutal slayings shocks the entire ship. The strange and disturbing influence of the Moonlight Carnival pervades the decks as the murders grow more and more bizarre. It's up to Audrey Rose and Thomas to piece together the gruesome investigation before more passengers die before reaching their destination. But with clues to the next victim pointing to someone she loves, can Audrey Rose unravel the mystery before the killer's horrifying finale?

Still really enjoying this series. I loved the setting of a carnival on a cruise ship. Perfect to create a very creepy atmosphere. And I absolutely loved the inclusion of the tarot cards and various carnival acts. And I still love Audrey Rose and Thomas’s relationship. But I would have liked to see more of a focus on their relationship. The murders were just the right amount of gruesome and disturbing to be a follow up to the Ripper murders and the Dracula murders. But I must say that the ending of this book peeved me a little. I had hoped for a better conclusion. Oh well. I’ll still read the next book.

Stalking Jack the Ripper:

• #1 Stalking Jack the Ripper

• #2 Hunting Prince Dracula

• #3 Escaping from Houdini

• #4 Capturing the Devil

Next up on the TBR pile:

Music Monday - Hey Violet "Better By Myself"

Random YouTube find that I’m really digging

Life Right Now #13

On my bedside table: Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton; 99 Percent Mine by Sally Thorne

On my TV: Continuing this season of Superstore and Veep and moving slowly through Game of Thrones S1. We finished Norsemen S1 (hilarious but very dark).

Listening to: I went back and started listening to Binge Mode’s recaps of Game of Thrones episodes. Only four episodes in as that’s what we watched this week, but I really enjoy their commentary about the series.

On the menu:

• Monday - Maple Bourbon Pecan Chicken

• Tuesday - Pot Roast

• Wednesday - Leftovers

• Thursday - Ranch Cheddar Chicken

• Friday - Spicy Thai Noodles

• Saturday - Buffalo Chicken Sliders

• Sunday - Sausage, Potato, Spinach Soup

On my to do list: I’m certain lots of things, but my list has gotten ridiculous looking. Need to spend some time making a new one today to get my week in order.

Happening this week: We have three Romp n Roll classes scheduled this week. Plus MPS open enrollment and Tinkergarten. I’m not looking forward to it, but I do have a dentist appointment this week.

What I am creating: Nothing much at all. My creative drive has stalled out this past week. Hoping to get back into it soon…

My simple pleasures: Break and bake cookies; the sound of the rain as I fall asleep.

What I’m planning: Putting the last touches of our summer road trip. I’ve got all the activities listed and times and distances. Now I’m working on booking hotels and finding food places along the way. Getting excited!

Looking around the house: The dining room needs to be swept and Swiffered badly. Guess what I’m doing today…

Looking forward to: Our trip to Fort Wayne. We’re going to hit up the zoo and on the return, we’re going to stop in Chicago at Shedd Aquarium.

From the camera: Q enjoying some Play-doh time. Enjoy it while you can as I don’t allow it in the house!

The Light Over London by Julia Kelly

Title: The Light Over London

Author: Julia Kelly

Publisher: Gallery Books 2019

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 304

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Popsugar - Published in 2019; Alphabet Soup - K; Historical Fiction

It’s always been easier for Cara Hargraves to bury herself in the past than confront the present, which is why working with a gruff but brilliant antiques dealer is perfect. While clearing out an estate, she pries open an old tin that holds the relics of a lost relationship: among the treasures, a World War II-era diary and a photograph of a young woman in uniform. Eager to find the author of the hauntingly beautiful, unfinished diary, Cara digs into this soldier’s life, but soon realizes she may not have been ready for the stark reality of wartime London she finds within the pages.

In 1941, nineteen-year-old Louise Keene’s life had been decided for her—she’ll wait at home in her Cornish village until her wealthy suitor returns from war to ask for her hand. But when Louise unexpectedly meets Flight Lieutenant Paul Bolton, a dashing RAF pilot stationed at a local base, everything changes. And changes again when Paul’s unit is deployed without warning.

Desperate for a larger life, Louise joins the women’s branch of the British Army in the anti-aircraft gun unit as a Gunner Girl. As bombs fall on London, she and the other Gunner Girls relish in their duties to be exact in their calculations, and quick in their identification of enemy planes during air raids. The only thing that gets Louise through those dark, bullet-filled nights is knowing she and Paul will be together when the war is over. But when a bundle of her letters to him are returned unanswered, she learns that wartime romance can have a much darker side.

After some disappointing reads, I was so glad to pick up a winner. I was thankful that this story was focused on WWII, but did get too depressing. Most of the story was lighter focusing on Cara’s search for the author fo the diary and a new life. And on the other side, we get Louise’s story of finding love and joining the ATS. A nice story.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Odds and Ends

Here's my randomness for the week:

• Two days of swimming at the pool during rainy days. Perfect choice!

• An idea for a two day road trip to East Nebraska has turned into a five day road trip through Nebraska and South Dakota. Having so much fun planning this!

• NPR needs to fix their podcast issues. A bit annoying…

• I made a strawberry-rhubarb crumble and it was absolutely amazing! So good!

• I think I’m getting my reading groove back.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Grilled Cheese Adventures: March and April

Part of my 2019 goals is make a different Grilled Cheese recipe each week. I find grilled cheese to be so comforting, but just cheddar or Colby gets boring after awhile. So, I checked a few books out from the library and make a Pinterest Board with lots of options. Here’s what we ate:

Week 10: Salami and Pickle with Gruyere on Pumpernickel Bread

Loved the tartness of the pickles with the smooth Gruyere. Definitely a good choice putting it on Pumpernickel.

Week 11: Apricot White Cheddar Grilled Cheese

The original recipe had it on Cinnamon Raisin bread. I thought it would be too sweet, so I switched it out for Pumpernickel Bread. Much better! I really loved this one.

Week 12: Avocado, Bacon, and Cheddar on Sourdough

This was good; my avocado was perfectly ripe! But next time, I would switch out the cheddar for provolone or pepper jack…

Week 13: Blueberry and Blackberry Compote with Gruyere on Honey Wheat

I love the idea of this one, but the execution wasn’t exactly right. If I make this again, I’m going to tweak the berry compote and add some elements. There just wasn’t enough flavor for me.

Week 14: Sloppy Joe Grilled Cheese

Pretty decent sandwich, but nothing to write home about.

Week 15: Buffalo Chicken on Marbled Rye

I switched out the cheddar cheese in the recipe for a bit of mozzarella to compliment the blue cheese. Very yummy!

Week 16: Apple and Gouda on Sourdough

Very yummy! Definitely a keeper

Week 17: Greek Grilled Cheese

I loved the mix of olives, red peppers, dill, and feta. Next time, I might want to add some kind of green, maybe spinach.

Week 18: Sun-dried Tomato Pesto and Fontina

For the first time, I made my own pesto in the food processor. Very easy and tasty!

The Strange Journey of Alice Pendelbury by Marc Levy

Title: The Strange Journey of Alice Pendelbury

Author: Marc Levy Translated by: Chris Murray

Publisher: Amazon Crossing 2019

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 278

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook; Modern Mrs. Darcy - Translation; Alphabet Soup - L

Alice Pendelbury believes everything in her life is pretty much in order—from her good friends to her burgeoning career. But even Alice has to admit it’s been an odd week. Not only has her belligerent neighbor, Mr. Daldry, suddenly become a surprisingly agreeable confidant, but he’s encouraging her to take seriously the fortune-teller who told her that only by traveling to Turkey can Alice meet the most important person in her life.

What’s more, the peculiarly insistent Mr. Daldry has even agreed to finance Alice’s trip—one that against all reason seems to be predestined. It’s on this journey, crazy from the outset and strangely irresistible, that Alice will find out that nothing in her life is real, that her past is not true, and that the six people she’s about to encounter will shape her future in ways she could never have dreamed.

I was very intrigued by this book and wanted to love it so much. Unfortunately it really fell flat for me. The story started well with the introduction of Alice and Mr. Daldry. I loved her encounter with the fortune teller and her parties with friends. But once the journey begins and Alice and Ethan arrive in Turkey, I just got so bored. The story became very predictable and the big twists just felt very flat. I didn’t love the last 1/2 of the book at all.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #8

Reading: The Light Over London by Julia Kelly

Watching: J and I are going back to the beginning to watch Game of Thrones so we can watch the very last season.

Listening: Really really enjoying Mike Shinoda’s Post Traumatic. Really good gym music.

Making: The store had rhubarb! So that means that I had to make Strawberry-Rhubarb crumble for book club last night.

Feeling: A bit on edge this week waiting for some news…

Planning: On the way back from Indiana, we’re planning on doing a mini road trip. Still deciding on Chicago or Des Moines.

Loving: We had a few small thunderstorms lately and I really missed storms while living in California.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Gingerbread by Helen Oyeyemi

Title: Gingerbread

Author: Helen Oyeyemi

Publisher: Riverhead Books 2019

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 272

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Modern Mrs. Darcy - New to Me Author; Alphabet Soup - O; Dancing with Fantasy and Scifi - Fairytale

Perdita Lee may appear to be your average British schoolgirl; Harriet Lee may seem just a working mother trying to penetrate the school social hierarchy; but there are signs that they might not be as normal as they think they are. For one thing, they share a gold-painted, seventh-floor walk-up apartment with some surprisingly verbal vegetation. And then there's the gingerbread they make. Londoners may find themselves able to take or leave it, but it's very popular in Druhástrana, the far-away (or, according to many sources, non-existent) land of Harriet Lee's early youth. The world's truest lover of the Lee family gingerbread, however, is Harriet's charismatic childhood friend Gretel Kercheval —a figure who seems to have had a hand in everything (good or bad) that has happened to Harriet since they met. 

Decades later, when teenaged Perdita sets out to find her mother's long-lost friend, it prompts a new telling of Harriet's story. As the book follows the Lees through encounters with jealousy, ambition, family grudges, work, wealth, and real estate, gingerbread seems to be the one thing that reliably holds a constant value. Endlessly surprising and satisfying, written with Helen Oyeyemi's inimitable style and imagination, it is a true feast for the reader.

I had such high hopes for this book. I’ve heard amazing things about the author and her writing style. And her writing style is gorgeous. Oyeyemi can surely turn a sentence. I found myself caught up in the lyrical nature of her writing. However, this book went nowhere for me. The beginning of the novel was interesting and I was fascinated by the retelling of Hansel and Gretel. But then, Harriet began telling her story to Perdita and the story started meandering. I just couldn’t keep following the story with any real focus. I’m hoping one of her other books will be a better choice for me.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Music Monday - LSD "No New Friends"

Love their sound and the videos are so much fun!

The Beauty Vol. 5

Title: The Beauty Vol. 5

Author: Jason Hurley, Jeremy Haun, Nick Filardi, Thomas Nachlik

Publisher: Image 2018

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 128

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel

Timo and Ezerae’s brutal quest for revenge collides with Detectives Foster and Vaughn’s newest case. Now they must form an uneasy alliance if they want to survive. Collects THE BEAUTY #22-26

This volume was a bit of a disappointment to me. It felt very disjointed in the storytelling. The drawings were great either. A bit of a disappointment…

Next up on the TBR pile:

Life Right Now #12

On my bedside table: Light Over London by Julia Kelly; Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton

On my TV: We finished S1 of The Umbrella Academy and I can’t wait for S2. So good! We’re currently keeping up with Superstore and Veep. And we started S2 of Bounty Hunters and Happy. Interesting week of TV in our house.

Listening to: While weeding the yard yesterday, I started listening to Over My Dead Body S1 podcast. It’s an interesting murder mystery, but so far, not quite as good as Dr. Death (both from Wondery).

On the menu:

• Monday - Chicken Pad Thai Nachoes

• Tuesday - Harvati and Gouda Grilled Cheese

• Wednesday - Leftovers

• Thursday - Ranch Cheddar Chicken

• Friday - Kielbasa Skillet

• Saturday - Lemon Butter Garlic Shrimp

• Sunday - ???

On my to do list: I need to do some research for summer activities and traveling activities. And I would like to start planning out our summer weeks (got the calendars ready to go, just need to fill in).

Happening this week: After the crazy that was last week, this upcoming week is looking nice and light. Arthur has school (the usual) and a birthday party, Quentin has Tinkergarten, I have book club, and both boys have Romp n Roll and a park date.

What I am creating: Still plugging away at my the Project Life album, Memory Planner album, and retiring product cards. I hope to start our traveler’s notebook summer bucket list this week. I have some ideas of how to lay it out.

My simple pleasures: Summer Strawberry Cake! (recipe from Smitten Kitchen)

What I’m planning: All the summer stuff!

Looking around the house: We spent time yesterday working on the yard. I weeded and tidied the borders while J mowed. Quentin and I planted his wildflower garden packet from Tinkergarten. There are some spots around the yard that I might plant some small flowers… Still thinking about placement.

Looking forward to: Can’t wait for book club on Monday night. Last month my night was cut short so I’m looking forward to having a relaxing evening this month.

From the camera: Arthur went to Kindergarten Round Up at his new school on Friday! So much fun!