Welcome to 2024

Well, it would appear that the tone from my 2022 Goals continued. I said I almost didn't do the list that year, and heck if I didn't just skip it for 2023. Working at least 40 hours/week and commuting to do it, then always rushing home to try and take care of the needs of my family has pretty much squeezed much thought of my own life right..on...out.

So here we are. I started on a book from a few years ago - The 52 Lists Project - which had me make a list of dreams and goals for the year in the first week. Blogging at least twice a month was on the list, since it would appear the only posts that made it up last year were books I reviewed that weren't specifically for Books I Think You Should Read. 

I was going to try and model this list after my previous goal lists (I used to list my goals, then in December take inventory and see what I had done or not done), but blech. After two years off, I'll just start fresh. 

1. Blog twice/month. I kinda already said that one. I've specified previously that I'd like to do a few old-fashioned posts with something about life that isn't just books. Maybe ;)
2. Since I sit in my office while I write this list, cleaning/reorganizing/redecorating my office always makes the list. Luckily a good chunk of the...stuff... in here is the old and current files of the Lake Orion Theater Boosters, as I am their current treasurer. This is my last year, so my term ends with the school year. After the spring musical, I'll wrap it up and get it ready to move out!
3. Keep Yelping! I've been Yelp Elite for 16 years now (just got my notification for 2024 last week). While I don't take advantage of as many of the free events and perks as I used to, I still enjoy what I can do. With that said, I want to post at least two reviews/month on Yelp, and hopefully attend a few Elite events.
4. Read! In 2023, my Goodreads goal was to read 65 books, and I finished 76! This year I am going for 75 books! Join me on Goodreads and follow along :)
5. I'd like to get my hair cut and highlighted this year.
6. Oh! I'd like to follow through with The 52 Lists Project I mentioned above. The second week sort of stumped me (characters I admire), but I'd like to get back to that one this evening and start the third week.
7. I will open and use my For the Love of Dragons Oracle Deck. I purchased on a whim at the local crystal store a couple months ago, and it is still sitting next to my computer. 
8. I did a great thing years ago, when I was still working a direct sales business, called five minutes before bed. It's an exact journaling format, essentially, where you list and reiterate your goal so your brain works on it overnight. I feel it really helped, and I should start it again. The woman who coached on it is Dana Wilde, who also wrote Train Your Brain. 
9. 2023 was the first year in a while that I've made and sent holiday cards. With all the awesome pictures we got on our Disney vacation in November 2023, I definitely want to send cards again for the holidays in 2024.
10. It's been on previous lists, but I still want to keep my nails painted. I did take a month or two off last year, for the first time since I stopped working in the school kitchens, but I'd like to keep it up again.
11. One of my very favorite books last year was When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill. I want to get a dragon tattoo. 
12. Drink more water. I had mostly quit caffeine before our Disney trip in November, but then I needed to keep up with my family so I was all in quickly! LOL Now I'm mostly done with it again. I do usually go to bed at a reasonable hour, so I should be able to make it through on my regular energy, I think. So I guess I mean that I'll drink more water in instead of caffeine.
13. Appreciate that my life is pretty wonderful with or without accomplishing these goals (okay, I did steal that one from the previous goals lists ;)  )

Dirty Laundry - Book Review

Dirty Laundry by Disha Bose
Publication: April 4, 2023
Page: 304 pages
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars ☆☆☆☆
Sweet Spark: Who could hate the queen bee most of all? Ciara has plenty of haters - those she's excluded, those whose husbands she's slept with, or maybe even someone closer to her.

Ciara is a social media influencer with plenty of followers, who are always at the ready to tell her how great she is. Her children always appear well-dressed, polite, and happy to do whatever their mother tells them to do.

Mishti is the mother of Ciara's daughter's best friend. For reasons unknow, Ciara has taken Mishti under her wing. While Mishti expected to be a loner after her arranged marriage and move from India to Ireland, Ciara has made Mishti her closest confidante. Playing along makes Mishti's life seem great, but is it worth it?

Lauren is living with her partner and raising her three children in the home where she spent the happiest moments of her youth with her grandmother. She thought adulthood would temper some of the bullying she experienced as a child, but somehow she still isn't the one people want for a friend.

The story of the mothers in this neighborhood was interesting and hit the stereotypes of women and mothers around the world. The book was amusing, and the ending brought a unique culmination to the story and the relationships. I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars and would recommend it to those who like dramas and gossipy stories about women and mothers.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my electronic copy of this book. Receiving the book for free did not influence my review. 

You Could Make This Place Beautiful - Book Review

You Could Make This Place Beautiful: A Memoir by Maggie Smith
Publication: April 11, 2023
Pages: 320 pages
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars ☆☆☆☆☆
Sweet Spark: Sure, I could make any place beautiful, but why is is always my responsibility? Maggie Smith takes an honest look at her marriage after it has ended.

I really, really enjoyed this book. While the author is already a very successful poet, this is the first thing I've read from her. As I read it at an event, someone stopped me to comment how much they enjoy her writing. I may just do the same if I saw someone else reading this now. Her descriptions of the emotions she chooses to share, and sometimes even why she chooses to share or not share something, resonated regularly. I've read books before that had one part I found so striking, but in this memoir, it happened again and again.

A book that seem to cover a lot of time surrounding a breakup and divorce could end up being one-sided and confrontational, but in this case, it was about the events, and the author's emotions. She didn't want you to necessarily agree or disagree - or pick winners or losers - but just to bear witness to what she was sharing.

Overall, I loved this book and rated it 5 out of 5 stars. I'd recommend it to women who enjoy family stories, and maybe even someone who isn't used to reading a lot. Each anecdote was really just a page or two, which made it an easy book to pick up and set down repeatedly.

An Elderly Lady is Up To No Good - Book Review

An Elderly Lady is Up To No Good by Helene Tursten 
Publication: January 1, 2013
Pages: 178 pages
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars ☆☆☆☆☆
Sweet Spark: I'm pretty sure enjoying this book as much as I did may put me on some watch list somewhere - but oh, well!

While I will always admit to loving a lil vigilante justice, 88-year-old Maud takes it to the next level. Who could possibly suspect a little old lady in a family apartment in Sweden of murder? Probably no one, but should they?

She merely eliminates a few people who may need killing, to make her life or even someone else's a bit better. And no one believes she could be so vicious, except a couple female detectives who also aren't taken seriously by their experienced male colleagues. Alrighty then - guess she can just get on with it!

This was seriously such a fun read, and I loved the presentation of the short little interludes of Maud just living her best life. I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to those who enjoy a bit of crime stories (that the original author is apparently known for), or unexpected stories with quirky characters.

Thanks so much to one of my book club besties for recommending - I may not have discovered this one on my own, but she knows me and knew I'd love this book. :)

The Key to My Heart - Book Review

The Key to My Heart by Lia Louis
Publication: December 6, 2022
Pages: 352 pages
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars ✰✰✰✰

Sweet Spark: Natalie was such an inspirational character. Despite unexpected widowhood while her friends were still getting married and having babies, she's determined to keep on keeping on.

Natalie isn’t really worried about her life since her husband Russ died. She just goes on existing. She has the folks she visits at the coffee shop, and she finds some solace in playing the piano at the train station. Everyone else seems to want her to have more, but it’s not their life, is it? 

Eventually the time comes where she finds herself somehow moving on. A practically required night out with her friends introduces her to Tom, who keeps turning up even though she had never noticed him before, and then a recommended music therapy group has her spending time with Joe, who she does recognize as being around before, but always as part of the background in her predictable life. 

This charming and unique story earned 4 out of 5 stars. As a young widow, Natalie wasn’t the usual young-ish woman searching for love at the bars with her friends. Her friends were having babies and living their full, developing adult lives, and she wasn’t sure where that left her. She didn’t want a new love; she wanted what she already had with her husband, but she now had to move on without him. Her reluctance to accept the life she truly had to deal with now was just part of her appeal. 

The details of the ending were somewhat unexpected in a pleasant way. This is a great and heartwarming book with likable characters who each had their own flaws. The story could be enthusiastically enjoyed by those who enjoy family dramas, starting over, and interesting ideas of where love may be found.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my electronic copy of this book. Receiving it for free did not influence my review.

The Keeper of Hidden Books - Book Review

The Keeper of Hidden Books by Madeline Martin
Publication: August 1, 2023
Pages: 416 pages
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars ☆☆☆☆
Sweet Spark: Librarians truly save the world over and over.

I have to admit, I broke my personal ban on WWII books to read this one. And I might not regret it. Of course it was the books that drew me in, and they always do.

In Warsaw, Poland, the Germans surely can never take such an amazing and powerful city, until they do. As the Germans start dictating what books are allowed to be available for lending, the librarians and library employees bravely start hiding the banned books and declaring them lost before the Germans 'relocate' them, which of course actually means burning them. Even before the occupation, Zofia and her friends have been purposely reading books banned by Hitler, and they try to keep their secret book club going without being noticed by the enemy troops, who are now running their library.

I loved the friendship between the original book club members, and those they add when their common interest is keeping the library materials so they can thrive again once the Germans are gone. Of course Zofia and her best friend Janina will always be best friends, but Zofia knows that she has no concept of the injustices Janina experiences as being relocated and then forced to stay in the Jewish ghetto with her parents. 

This book earned 4 out of 5 stars from me. I loved the different efforts by the close friend group and library employees to keep offering the escape that is reading for the citizens of Poland and even in the Jewish ghetto. The story wasn't just about Zofia and her work with the library, but the secret library branch that stayed open only to those who knew its secret, and Janina trying to share books in the ghetto. I'd recommend this book to not only those who enjoy WWII stories (who must be a lot of people, as it's a very popular genre), but also to those who appreciate the power of books.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my electronic copy of this book. Receiving the book for free did not influence my review. 

It's Not a Cult - Book Review

It's Not a Cult by Lauren Denhof
Publication: August 22, 2023
Pages: 336 pages
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Sweet Spark: Glinda was such an engaging and quirky character, and her family kind of put 'fun' into dysfunctional!

Glinda knows she's selling herself short at her job as a wench at the local renaissance festival. But she's not one to blame anyone else for her problems, so she just keeps on keeping on. Within a short time, her life suffered several devastating blows, and she dropped out of college to just try and exist on a path that would help her exist without getting hurt any more. Living with her mom and younger sister, West, was less than ideal, but the price was right.

No one wants to believe her when she tells them that her mom is being seduced by cult-leader Arlon, or that they're about to lose their family home to the Starlight Pioneers that he leads. She personally knows it's a cult, but she also has some more guilt that it's gone as far as it has.

Finally, her co-worker Troy seems to trust her (and maybe more?) and is willing to get to the bottom of it with her, and even by dragging her older, estranged sister back into the loop. After trying to do nothing for so long, Glinda suddenly has to do something, and get others to help her, quickly!

This amusing read earned 4 out of 5 stars. With the varied characters, it felt like any reader to enjoy at least one. The family drama with a cult was hopefully unique for most, but the underlying relationships and traumas could ring true.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my advance electronic copy of this book. Receiving the book for free did not influence my review. 

The Shadow Cabinet - Book Review

The Shadow Cabinet (Her Majesty's Royal Coven #2) by Juno Dawson
Publication: June 20, 2023
Pages: 528 pages
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars ☆☆☆☆☆
Sweet Spark: The characters' development in this series is full of surprises!

After the great cliffhanger ending of the first book in the Her Majesty's Royal Coven (HRMC) trilogy (called Her Majesty's Royal Coven), I was super excited to see how it would all develop in book number two! And I was never disappointed.

Without spoiling the ending of the first book (since I would recommend the trilogy be read in order, of course), the main character opening up the second book is an unexpected addition to the character list. She's on her way to becoming the new high priestess, although she's hoping she'll never have such drab responsibilities. She's trying to solver her own quest of how she came to be where she is, and she's luckily got the help of Leonie, albeit not intentionally.

There are several major plot lines. Besides the selection and ceremony for a high priestess, there is also continued clean up and loose ends to resolve from the war which predates even the first book. Theo, the teenager who started living with Niamh in the first book is also still trying to solve the mysteries of what she can't remember of her own past. 

I loved the second book at least as much as the first, and can't wait to read the third next year. The Shadow Cabinet got 5 out of 5 stars from me. I'd recommend this to my fellow witchy-fiction lovers, and also appreciated the representation of the witches, from the BIPOC coven that exists along side HMRC, to the diversity of the witches in HMRC or belonging to no formal coven.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my electronic copy of this book. Receiving the book for free did not influence my review. 

The Circus Train - Book Review

The Circus Train by Amita Parikh
Publication Date: January 12, 2022
Pages: 352 pages
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars ☆☆☆☆
Sweet Spark: Lena, Theo, and Alexandre were definitely soulmates - if not for the events in the story, surely something else would have led them to each other.

The difference in the characters from the beginning of the book to the end was amazing. Life on the circus train was practically its own character. While Lena and Alexandre enter the story as children, their story lines also left them exceptionally vulnerable. Lena barely escaped with her life from Polio as a baby. She spent her childhood on the circus train in a wheelchair and being coddled by Theo, her tutor, and the train's doctor. Alexandre was found as a stowaway on the circus train with just his Jewish passport to identify him. Their relationship truly evolved to save and bring out the best in them both.

Theo was a talented performer, but his true motivation was protecting Lena and presenting the best life possible for her. His plan for this included Lena nearly always being under his direct supervision, so he could limit any risks to her health and safety. 

Theo's dedication to protecting Lena and Alexandre is what causes them to be torn apart. Their lives end up on a vastly different path than any of them initially imagined, and the changes are scary and difficult for all of them. In part, it is again their lasting love and loyalty to each other that lends them the courage to continue through horrifying circumstances and strive to reunite.

Since finishing this book and thinking a little more about it, my rating increased a bit. There's an amazing plot twist presented at the end, and it has me re-thinking a lot of earlier pivotal points in the story. I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars and would recommend it to those who enjoy historical fiction, circus stories, and WWII time stories that don't focus exclusively on the war. 

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my electronic copy of this book. Receiving the book for free did not influence my review. 

The Keeper of Enchanted Rooms - Book Review

The  Keeper of Enchanted Rooms (Whimbrel House #1) by Charlie N. Holmberg
Publication date: November 1, 2022
Pages: 347 pages
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars ☆☆☆☆
Sweet Spark: This historical fantasy brought the best of several genres into one book.

Hulda Larkin is just here to do a job. She has dealt with plenty of homes with enchanted rooms before, and whether or not Merritt Fernsby believes in the magic certainly won't influence its existence. 

The plot untangled in a delightful manner, with unexpected twists and turns regarding the house's magic, and the surprising histories of Ms. Larken and Mr. Fernsby. 

I especially liked that this 19th century story talked about magic as commonplace - while you may not have any magic yourself, everyone had learned about in school, and probably knew of some families who were still passing it down through their genetics. Magic was even measurable based on your lineage, so you knew not only if you probably had magic, but also what types!

I obviously found the book completely charming. The late 1800s characters and their backgrounds were interesting (both for good and for evil) and the history of the communities and organizations that dealt with magic and other issues of the time really lent something to the story as well. I gave the book 4 out of 5 stars and look forward to more books about Hulda Larkin and the others who are blended into her story.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my free electronic copy of the book. Receiving the book for free never influences my review. 

This Isn't Going to End Well - Book Review

This Isn't Going to End Well: The True Story of a Man I Thought I Knew by Daniel Wallace
Publication Date: April 11, 2023
Pages: 272 pages
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars ☆☆☆☆
Sweet Spark: Learning about William Nealy's life made me want to live more like him.

This book had a full range of emotions. We could feel the admiration that the author had for Nealy as a child and teen, the frustration and sadness that Nealy's life ended the way it did, and the wonder of the stories he learned from others while researching and writing the book. No one is entirely good or bad, but the author told the story in a way that made Nealy sound very interesting. 

It was easy to picture an amazingly confident and independent man from the author's descriptions, but there was obviously so much more beneath the surface, that no one knew until it was too late. Nealy didn't sound like someone who would warm up to most people easily, but once he was your friend, he was a friend for life. His dedication to his wife was also so touching, while adding another element of wondering why it all ended too soon. 

The story was wonderfully engaging, even knowing there would be no happy ending from the start. Although it was presented more of a biography of William Nealy's life, it read almost like an endearing memoir, since the author was telling about when Nealy's life had overlapped with his. This book earned 4 out of 5 stars from this reader, and could be recommended to those who like a story of a life well-lived. While it feels it was clear all along how it 'didn't end well,' readers who don't like stories involving suicide will steer clear of this one.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance e-copy of this book. Receiving the book for free did not influence my review. 

Johanna Porter is Not Sorry - Book Review

Johanna Porter is Not Sorry by Sara Read
Publication date: March 7, 2023
Pages: 320 pages
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars ☆☆☆☆
Sweet Spark: Johanna Porter has been trying hard not to be too much anymore. But that time may be over.

I love Johanna Porter. She's been stuck in the mom lane for a long time, but an invite to an art installation reminds her of who she used to be, and why she changed so much.

Luckily, all the forces that tried to take her down only suppressed her creativity for a couple decades. She's still in there, if she's willing to finally take a chance and try again.

I found the characters to be realistically flawed and still very likable. It felt like they all recognized what may be their less-than-positive qualities, and the main characters were working on developing their weaknesses into possible strengths.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read and I gave it 4 out of 5 stars. I'd recommend it for those who enjoy family dramas and strong female characters. 

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my electronic copy of this fun book. Receiving the electronic copy of the book for free did not influence my review.

Sophie Go's Lonely Hearts Club - Book Review

Sophie Go's Lonely Hearts Club by Roselle Lim
Publication date: August 16, 2022
Pages: 336 pages
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars ☆☆☆☆
Sweet Spark: The power of friendship is so amazing!

I found myself engaged with Sophie Go from the beginning. She was a plucky new matchmaker who truly wanted to help those around her make their intended love connections. Against the wishes of her overbearing mother and father, she attended matchmaking school in Shanghai and was set to replace the matchmaker who used to service their area of Toronto.

She gets a fancy apartment and embarks on single life, while knowing that being a 'good daughter' means she'll always be home for dinner when she's called. And despite following her own dream instead of continuing in the banking job her parents think is safe for her, she still wants to prove she's a good daughter.

What she doesn't expect is how close she quickly feels to her client group. She needs to prove her worth as a matchmaker in order to earn her accreditation, and once the Old Ducks social group in her building gets to know her, they can't help but love her. She makes lifelong friends in her first few months (heck, I haven't done that in 10 years in my new house!).

While I was engaged with Sophie's life from the beginning, about three-quarters through the book is when I couldn't  put it down til I found out how it all ended. I don't want to spoil it for you, but this book stayed on my mind after earning its 4 star rating. It's a book about multi-generational friends, romance, and a dash of Chinese family culture, with a side helping of family drama and coming-of-age independence. 

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my electronic copy of this book. Receiving the book for free did not influence my review.

Swim Team - Book Review

Swim Team by Johnnie Christmas
Publication date: May 17, 2022
Pages: 256 page
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars ☆☆☆☆
Sweet Spark: Some enlightening history for Bree, along with useful life lessons.

This was another read for my son's fifth-grade Battle of the Books, and I'm so glad it was! 

It's a graphic novel that tells the story of Bree, who moves with her father to a school where swimming is suddenly a BIG DEAL. What new kid doesn't want to fit in? She's afraid to tell the people who have been nice to her so far at her new school that she can't swim.

Eventually, the older woman in her apartment complex (who watches her while her father works anyway) realizes the problem and offers to teach Bree. And teach her she does! They also teach readers along the way WHY the black community was forced to forget their history of swimming due to racism and segregation. But Ms. Etta is there to help Bree and her friends be an awesome team and get their swimming dynasty back.

I enjoyed this book with its subtle historical lesson. It felt delivered in a perfect tone to just explain an element of Bree's story, without feeling like a dry textbook lesson. I'm thrilled that this was part of my community's Battle of the Books list. I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Vampire Weekend - Book Review

Vampire Weekend by Mike Chen
Publication date: January 31, 2023
Pages: 384 pages
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars ☆☆☆☆
Sweet Spark: I really enjoyed this candid contemporary vampire experience.

Louise is used to being alone. As a vampire, she isn't allowed to share her story, which necessitates keeping people at a distance. For a while she made some great memories with her Aunt (whose house she then inherited), and then spent some good time with a new best friend who finally learned her secret. But when her best friend dies prematurely and she isn't sure if it's because he knew her secret, she decides not to let anyone else get that close again.

She works her midnights job, and laments the fact that real vampires don't have nearly as many fantastic powers as the legends promise. As a blood shortage sweeps the area (yes, the blood-drinking thing is real), she struggles with what may be a necessary evil - staying connected with the rest of the vampire community.

And because one major change isn't enough to deal with after a few quiet decades, a few distant family members end up on her doorstep. Of course, since Louise has stopped aging, they don't really recognize her, but she has to decide whether her solitude or her actual family is a greater priority.

Overall, I enjoyed the presentation of a new kind of vampire lore. Louise, her dog Lola, the local vampire community leader Eric, and Louise's distant nephew Ian must slowly learn where they stand with each other, and what that might mean for each of them. I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars as a fun, quirky fantasy-ish story in a contemporary and realistic setting.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my electronic copy of this book. Receiving the book for free did not influence my review.

From the Desk of Zoe Washington - Book Review

From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks
Publication date: January 14, 2020
Pages: 291 pages
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars ☆☆☆☆
Sweet Spark: Zoe is a charming and precocious 12-year-old, with her share of kid problems and adult problems.

On her twelfth birthday, Zoe receives an interesting letter in the mail. It's from her biological dad, who has been in prison her whole life. Her mom never even wants to talk about him, so Zoe is pretty sure she's on her own if she decides to try and write back to him.

Around the same time, she notices that her favorite kids' cooking show is casting for another season! She wants to be famous, like her idol from the last season, and recognized as a great baker. Being on the show her idol was on could be the first step, if she can get her mom to agree.

And she's struggling with it all alone, as she overheard a conversation between her best friend and some of his new friends, which helped her to decide that she never wants anything to do with him again.

Zoe is, in some ways, just a typical kid. But she's got a few atypical challenges to deal with, like her dad's situation. This book does a great job with what is certainly an awkward situation in real life. They also do a thoughtful job of talking about the Innocence Project, initially from a skeptical point of view. The compassion and different perspectives of the characters in the book could be a great discussion point for kids around the same age with their families or educators.

Overall, I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars and would recommend it not only as a touch of mystery, but a great story with social justice conversation points and some explorations of harmful stereotypes.

This is another book I read for our local district's fifth grade battle of the books. Two winners out of the two books I've read so far!

The Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary - Book Review

The Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary by Laura Shovan
Publication: April 2, 2016
Pages: 272 pages
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars ☆☆☆☆
Sweet Spark: What will happen to Emerson Elementary, and can 18 fifth graders change it?

I have to admit, this poetry-collection style is not what I usually pick to read, but this was part of our school district's fifth-grade battle of the books, and I really want to read all 10 books.

While it started out a little choppy for me, soon I was trying to trace consistency between the poems written by each of the 18 students, and matching up their poems with the illustrations of each of them on the cover. Yeah, I was hooked.

By the end, I felt like I knew each of the kids, and the class as a whole, a bit better. I'd give the book 4 out of 5 stars, and I'm excited to hear from the author at our battle's victory celebration in March. 

The Bandit Queens - Book Review

The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff
Publication: January 3, 2023
Pages: 342 pages
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars ☆☆☆☆
Sweet Spark: A reputation, true or not, can be a blessing or a curse....or both.

So fun, but in a setting I don't usually read - I enjoyed it!

Geeta has been assumed a widow for a while, so her name is 'mixed with dirt.' She has removed her nose ring, and the children all run from her, describing her as a monster known as a churel. Instead of being offended by the ostracism, Geeta decided she likes herself, and her solitary time. She makes her jewelry and minds her own business, except for the womens' loan group she belongs too. 

Unfortunately, the women begin to rely on her for more and more - making up their missing payments that their drunk husbands spend, to start with. Soon, some group members figure if she already killed her own husband, maybe she can kill theirs too?

A series of humorous misunderstandings and attempts at fulfilling any obligations and continuing an independent life ensue. And the more that Geeta interacts with the group members outside of their regular scheduled meetings, the more she realizes maybe her loneliness has been her own as much as being shunned by those in her community. It turns out many of her assumptions about the community and it's members in recent years may have been very wrong. 

I really liked the relationships and their evolutions in this story. Geeta and her lifelong friend got to know each other all over again, and Geeta became a part of her community once again. I gave this story 4 out of 5 stars and would recommend it to those who enjoy stories about communities different from their own (unless the reader is in a small village in India...), and stories with independent female characters.

Thank  you to the publisher and Netgalley for my electronic copy of this book. Receiving the book for free did not influence my review. 

Room and Board - Book Review

Room and Board by Miriam Parker
Publication: August 16, 2022
Pages: 304 pages
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars ☆☆☆
Sweet Spark: Sometimes a second chance is just the thing someone needs.

Gillian Brodie didn't have the easiest childhood - it was just her and her mom, until she attended a fancy boarding school on scholarship for high school. Then it was just her. 

While it wasn't without struggles, she made it through and ended up as a very successful publicist in New York. But when she did an excellent job planning a defensive strategy to fight metoo accusations against a client, only to find they were wrong, she closed her successful business instead of continuing on with a sullied reputation.

Enter that old boarding school for high school. They reach out to let her know they're looking for a dorm mom to oversee her old home-away-from-home. The job can get her off of everyone's radar, and includes room and board. 

The story was a fun little escape to a different life. Gillian quickly discovers that the job may not be as easy as she expected, but also ends up letting her feel good at her job again. I gave it 3 out of 5 stars and would read more cute books from this author.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my electronic copy of this book. Receiving the book for free did not influence my review.

Sunday Post/Sunday Salon - 2023 New Year Edition

Happy New Year!

I feel like I should have something to say, so I'm chiming in with Caffeinated Reviewer's Sunday Post and Readerbuzz's Sunday Salon (and hoping this will help me remember that it is, indeed, Sunday). 

This Week in Books

Finished:

Upgrade by Blake Crouch

Code Girls by Liza Mundy

Luminary: A Magical Guide to Self-Care by Kate Scelsa

Moonrise Over New Jessup by Jamila Minnicks

Starting:

Positively Izzy by Terri Libenson

Room and Board by Miriam Parker

Eagerly Awaiting:

in the middle of things by courtney hanes

Outside of Books

• Wrapping up some extra responsibilities at work while the manager has been on vacation (totally doable, but just a lil extra stress)
• Wondering at not having more guilt over skipping my yearly accomplishments and goals posts - just out of effs to give, I guess
• Working on straightening up my home office, since we've been back to the office since May. Considering maybe an extra bed so it's sort of a guest room?

Three Good Things

1. Having a job I enjoy, so I don't have to dread the end of long weekends.
2. Everyone - including me - being happy with their holiday gifts.
3. Enough. We all have enough.

Hope the holidays have been good for you and yours as well :)

Happy New Year!