WEEKLY UPDATES: MOVING BEYOND A GREAT MONTH…

Good morning! Today’s post will link up to The Sunday Salon and The Sunday Post for weekly updates.

Mailbox Monday is hosted at the home site: Mailbox Monday.

And let’s join Kathryn, our leader in It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?, at Book Date.

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Another great week has passed:  the final one in a series of great times with family members.  My eldest son flew off to Prague on Wednesday, although he was rerouted a couple of times along the way.  It seemed fitting that one of his last flights was via Las Vegas, where he got to spend more time with my No. 2 son before landing at LAX.

I did manage to read and review two books this week and write four blog posts.  My viewing was sporadic, mostly shows I had seen before.  I was pretty distracted by last minute outings to local restaurants, one of which was a neighborhood Irish pub called Groggs.

Now let’s take a closer look at my week:

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WWW READING…

BOOKISH FRIDAY:  “THE SILENT WOMAN”

MONTHLY WRAP-UP:  HELLO, OCTOBER!

COFFEE CHAT:  GOODBYE TO MY VISITORS…

Review:  Evil Woman, by Julie Mulhern

Review:  The Silent Woman, by Minka Kent

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INCOMING BOOKS:

The Silent Woman, by Minka Kent

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CURRENTLY READING:

Left on Tenth, by Delia Ephron

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That was my week. A culmination of great moments with family members, even though saying goodbye for now was bittersweet.  I like looking at this photo of my two oldest sons at a place in Las Vegas called The Tilted Kilt.

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REVIEW: THE SILENT WOMAN, BY MINKA KENT

Newlywed Jade Westmore has finally found her forever in husband Wells, a charming, successful, and recently divorced architect—only there’s one caveat. Behind the gates of their elysian estate, hidden from street view in the caretaker’s cottage … lives Wells’ first wife, Sylvie.

Three years ago, the original Mrs. Westmore suffered an unfortunate accident—and hasn’t uttered a sound since. Not a physician, psychologist, or world-renowned specialist has been able to elicit so much as a word from the silent woman … until now.

On an ordinary Tuesday while Wells was away—despite instructions to never disturb the fragile woman—Jade visited her isolated predecessor bearing a peace offering: a bouquet of white lilies. Only she wasn’t expecting Sylvie to have something for her as well: a slip of torn notebook paper with a single word scrawled in shaky black ink.

 

The Silent Woman takes the reader through the perspectives of the current wife, Jade, and Sylvie, the now silent woman. We learn more as we follow the journey of each of them.

Why would Sylvie tell Jade to “run” when she visits at the guest house? Is there a deep dark secret just waiting to change her life?

As Jade learns more about Wells’ mother Mary Claire and also gets to know others in Sylvie’s life, her interest in previous events takes her down an unexpected pathway. What she learns will change her life as well as Sylvie’s. A story that kept me rapidly turning pages and earned 4.5 stars.

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COFFEE CHAT: GOODBYE TO MY VISITORS…

What a great month this has been!  On September 7, my eldest son joined us here, and even though he visited others throughout the state, he spent most of his time in my little town.  We enjoyed dinners, outings, and time watching favorite movies on TV.  My son helped me set up my TV service to include my subscription shows by signing into them.  Who knew?  LOL

He flew home on Wednesday, but he had a few detours along the way as airlines did their thing by rerouting and cancelling.  Now he is back with his wife…and soaking his feet after standing in long lines along the way.

After he left my city, he flew to Las Vegas to spend time with my No. 2 son, and then fly to LAX the next day.  Here the two of them are, enjoying a drink at The Tilted Kilt, just off the Vegas strip.

And in Vegas, Craig poses before a sign:

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And here is the family photo at the monument at CSUF:

Now I have cleared my space and added a few changes. My son moved one of my chairs to the living room for comfort, and that works for me, too:

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What did your week look like? Enjoy October!

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WEEKLY UPDATES: ANOTHER GREAT WEEK…

Good morning! Today’s post will link up to The Sunday Salon and The Sunday Post for weekly updates.

Mailbox Monday is hosted at the home site: Mailbox Monday.

And let’s join Kathryn, our leader in It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?, at Book Date.

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Another great week, with family activities and outings.  I also finished reading and reviewing two books:  one was excellent, the second one, not so much.  Then I finished a third book today!  I wrote five blog posts. 

My eldest son stayed with me another two days on the Murphy bed, and we enjoyed some outings.  We had dinner at a nearby Irish pub with my granddaughter Fiona and her friend.  My son then spent time with one of his friends from back in the day.  Hopefully we will end the weekend with more time with other family members.

Now let’s take a closer look at my week:

 

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TUESDAY EXCERPTS: “LESSONS”

COFFEE CHAT:  A GREAT WEEKEND, ETC.

WWW READING…

SOAP MOMENTS…

BOOKISH FRIDAY:  “BLOWBACK”

Review:  The Fall Girl, by Marcia Clark

Review:  Babysitter, by Joyce Carol Oates

Review:  Evil Woman, by Julie Mulhern

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INCOMING BOOKS:

Evil Woman. Country Club Murders #14, by Julie Mulhern

Blowback, by James Patterson

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That was my week.  Another enjoyable one with family time, outings, and even some reading and viewing. At Grogg’s Irish Pub nearby, I enjoyed another dinner with my son, my granddaughter, and her friend.  I had the fish and chips.

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REVIEW: THE FALL GIRL, BY MARCIA CLARK

When Charlie Blair left Chicago behind—and her old life as Lauren Claybourne—for a gig in the Santa Cruz DA’s office, things were supposed to be easier. Or at least nothing that a couple of Xanax and a tumbler of vodka couldn’t handle. The plan had been working, until the murder of a local bail bondsman Shelly Hansen.

Enter: hot-shot prosecutor Erika Lorman, she of the stellar record and unfailing touch with juries, a veritable legend in her own right. Fresh off the prosecution of celebrity chef Blake Steers, the newest resident of California’s penitentiary system and perhaps its most high profile, she’s thrust back into action alongside her new co-chair from the windy city and ready to do anything to put criminals behind bars.

But as the fevered search for answers intensifies and the hunt for a killer continues, secrets from the past threaten to undo not just the case—but Erika and Charlie, too. Expertly plotted and relentlessly paced, The Fall Girl will keep readers guessing until the very end.

 

In alternating narratives, The Fall Girl reveals the past and present of two attorneys whose lives have been a struggle at various points in time. Charlie Blair is trying to stay away from an ex-boyfriend and goes to the extreme by changing her identity and moving across the country.

Meanwhile, Erika is a hot-shot prosecutor, but has her own past and present issues to address.

I couldn’t stop turning the pages as the two women work side by side on a case that could turn out to upend both of their lives. A five star read.

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COFFEE CHAT: A GREAT WEEKEND, ETC.

Welcome to an early Coffee Chat this week.  My  last week with family has added to the pleasures I had been anticipating.  We loved returning to the monument at CSUF for photos, and spending time eating, drinking, etc.  Then my eldest son came over and spent two nights on the Murphy bed, and during the days and evenings we watched Netflix, HBO Max, and Amazon Prime on my TV, since my son showed me how to sign into the actual TV to watch.  Much nicer than doing everything on the laptop.  We also used Uber Eats for a couple of nights so we could stay curled up in front of the TV.

Above is the family portrait at the sculptured monument, missing my youngest son who had a family scheduling conflict and couldn’t join us!  The others tried to replicate the original photo from 1979.  

After a day with the others, Craig and I joined Fiona at Mimi’s for a lovely dinner.

• Here is a view of my living room after I opened the Murphy bed for Craig’s use.

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Now my eldest son is at my daughter’s for a couple of nights…and we’ll all get together throughout the week for dinner, etc.

What has your week been like?

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WEEKLY UPDATES: ANOTHER GREAT WEEK…

Good morning! Today’s post will link up to The Sunday Salon and The Sunday Post for weekly updates.

Mailbox Monday is hosted at the home site: Mailbox Monday.

And let’s join Kathryn, our leader in It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?, at Book Date.

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What a great week!  Last weekend, I spent time with family eating out and taking photos at the CSUF Monument.  Here are a couple views of the sculpture that we have used since 1979:

This week I read and reviewed two books and wrote three blog posts. I viewed a few episodes of The Patient and one more of The Good Fight.

On Monday, I had lunch with an old friend at The Point, a newly discovered restaurant.

Now let’s take a closer look at my week.

TUESDAY EXCERPTS:  “THE SHOP ON ROYAL STREET”

WWW READING…

BOOKISH FRIDAY:  “THE FALL GIRL”

Review:  The Shop on Royal Street, by Karen White

Review: Nothing More To Tell, by Karen M. McManus

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INCOMING BOOKS:

The Fall Girl, by Marcia Clark (Currently Reading)

Lessons, by Ian McEwan

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That was my week.  It has been another good one, with family and books.  Photographs at the Fresno State Sculpture reminded me of this delightful tradition.  This weekend, there will be more outings and time together.

Here is another photo captured at our Monument in 1984: 

 

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REVIEW: NOTHING MORE TO TELL, BY KAREN M. MCMANUS

Four years ago, Brynn left Saint Ambrose School following the shocking murder of her favorite teacher—a story that made headlines after the teacher’s body was found by three Saint Ambrose students in the woods behind their school. The case was never solved. Now that Brynn is moving home and starting her dream internship at a true-crime show, she’s determined to find out what really happened.

The kids who found Mr. Larkin are her way in, and her ex–best friend, Tripp Talbot, was one of them. Without his account of events, the other two kids might have gone down for Mr. Larkin’s murder—but instead, thanks to Tripp, they’re now at the top of the Saint Ambrose social pyramid. Tripp’s friends have never forgotten what Tripp did for them that day, and neither has he. Just like he hasn’t forgotten that everything he told the police was a lie.

Digging into the past is bound to shake up the present, and when Brynn begins to investigate what happened in the woods that day, she uncovers secrets that might change everything—about Saint Ambrose, about Mr. Larkin, and about her ex-best friend, Tripp Talbot.

Four years ago someone got away with murder. More terrifying is that they might be closer than anyone thinks.

 

When Brynn moves back to St. Ambrose School, four years after Mr. Larkin’s murder, she is just as eager to find out who killed him as she was before. And now she has an opportunity to be an intern at a true-crime show, which could help her find answers.

However, she keeps her involvement a secret, and as she starts peeling back the layers of what happened that day, she learns that there is so much more to the story. And those who were there are not revealing the answers. Brynn’s old friend Tripp, who has not been a friend for a while, begins to warm up to her again. But he is still not sharing much about that day.

Just when she begins discovering more layers, and as Tripp opens up more, their searching leads them to unexpected places. When there seems to be Nothing More to Tell, answers begin to surface. An intriguing tale that earned 4.5 stars.

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WEEKLY UPDATES: A WEEK OF ANTICIPATION…

Good morning! Today’s post will link up to The Sunday Salon and The Sunday Post for weekly updates.

Mailbox Monday is hosted at the home site: Mailbox Monday.

And let’s join Kathryn, our leader in It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?, at Book Date.

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This week has been one of anticipation.  My eldest son returned to the states from Prague on Wednesday, and drove up last night from LA with my No. 2 son.  They’ll spend the weekend here, then head up to Sacramento to see their father for a few days.  They’ll come back and forth for the rest of the month until Craig flies back home on the 28th. 

I only read and reviewed one book, but it was a good one.  I had hoped to finish my current read, but I was too distracted by plans and even viewing.  I wrote three blog posts; I finished watching Parenthood and saw a few shows, plus the movie Elvis.  I enjoyed the first episode of The Good Fight’s Sixth (and final) season.

Now let’s take a closer look at the week.

 

TUESDAY EXCERPTS:  “NOTHING MORE TO TELL”

WWW READING…

COFFEE CHAT:  A WEEKEND OF FAMILY…

Review:  Daisy Darker, by Alice Feeney

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INCOMING BOOKS:  One new book

Nothing More to Tell, by Karen M. McManus

 

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CURRENTLY READING:

The Shop on Royal Street, by Karen White

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That was my week.  Not much reading, but some enjoyment of viewing.  And lots of anticipation for the family get-togethers this  weekend and in the weeks ahead.  Here is a photo of the first family tradition at the CSUF Sculpture in November 1979:

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COFFEE CHAT: A WEEKEND OF FAMILY…

Welcome to another Coffee Chat.  Today begins a weekend with family, some from out of town.  My eldest son arrived in LA from Prague on Wednesday, and he and my No. 2 son are headed this way…soon, I hope.  Below, the two sons after Craig’s arrival on the plane.

• This morning I have been doing a little cleaning and laundry, in preparation for guests.  I’m not sure who will actually stay here on my Murphy bed (below).  There has been some talk that the two older ones (above) might stay in a hotel.  Boo!

• Meanwhile, I have read and reviewed one book this week:  Daisy Darker, by Alice Feeney.
• Since it is Friday already, I probably won’t finish the one I’m currently reading:  The Shop on Royal Street, by Karen White.
• In other news, the death of Queen Elizabeth, who reigned for 70 years, took me back to how I saw her coronation on TV when I was a child!  Only two kids in my class had television sets back in 1953, so it was a great event.  Of course I am a big fan of The Crown, too, and can’t wait until a new season arrives.
• Yesterday I enjoyed seeing the first episode of The Good Fight’s Season Six, which will be the final one.  Sad.
• Last night I watched the movie Elvis on HBO Max.  Loved it!  Tom Hanks portrayed Colonel Tom Parker, and was impressive in the role.
• On Netflix, I viewed and enjoyed Devil in Ohio, which held me captive.  The ending made me hope there will be a second season!
• Since I have been glued to my Internet shows and movies, my reading has been slow again.  But I did love the book I finished.

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What has your week looked like?  What are you planning for the weekend?

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