Category: Books and Shows

Posted in Books and Shows

What I’ve Been Reading: June 2023

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello!

Before the month wraps up, I want to share the books I read in June.

I only read three books which is hard for me to believe. I thought for sure I’d read more once school was out, but June ended up being an extra busy month. I also found that when I had some downtime, I ended up watching TV a bit more than I usually do. Apparently when I have less structure, I read less…same goes with working out too. haha

One day I was scrolling Instagram, and saw these cute templates by @dariasbookstagram

It’s kind of killing me that I didn’t get four books read for the four spots! Oh well…maybe next month!

This month I read:

{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}

Even though I only read three books, I enjoyed them all…

The Soulmate:

Summary:

There’s a cottage on a cliff. Gabe and Pippa’s dream home in a sleepy coastal town. But their perfect house hides something sinister. The tall cliffs have become a popular spot for people to end their lives. Night after night Gabe comes to their rescue, literally talking them off the ledge. Until he doesn’t.

When Pippa discovers Gabe knew the victim, the questions spiral…Did the victim jump? Was she pushed?

And would Gabe, the love of Pippa’s life, her soulmate…lie? As the perfect facade of their marriage begins to crack, the deepest and darkest secrets begin to unravel.

Quick Thoughts:

I’ve read many of Hepworth’s books, and I always enjoy them. I liked this one too. This was my mystery/thriller book for the month, and Hepworth did a good job making me question if Gabe was lying or not. Of course, there were some twists and turns, and I thought it all wrapped up nicely.

Rating:

All the Days of Summer

Summary:

Heather Willette has a good life in Concord, Massachusetts–complete with a husband who runs his own business and a son to take up his mantle one day. But now that her marriage has fizzled out and Ross, her only child, is graduating from college and getting serious with his girlfriend, Heather wonders if that life is the one she really wants. Ready to seek out her own happiness and discover herself again, Heather decides to leave her husband and rent a cottage on Nantucket. And her plan is going perfectly–until Ross announces he’s moving to Nantucket to work at his girlfriend’s family’s construction business instead of going back home to work with his own father, like he’d promised. Worst of all for Heather, this means having to get along with her.

Kailee Essex is thrilled that Ross is willing to move to her hometown. She has big hopes for their happily ever after, especially now that her parents are finally showing interest in her career. She’s less thrilled, however, about his mother living nearby. Kailee has clashed with Heather since the day they met. But anything is possible in the summer sun and sea breezes of Nantucket–even reconciliation. And when change comes sooner than either Heather or Kailee expect, they must learn to overcome their differences to fight for the future they want.

Quick Thoughts:

This is the first book I’ve read on my “summer reading list,” and it was a good one to start with. I always enjoy Thayer’s books, and I love the Nantucket setting. Some parts were a little cheesy, and Kailee was a pretty unlikeable character. That being said, it’s an easy breezy summer reader.

Rating:

Double Decker Dreams

Summary:

American consultant Kat is staffed on a six-month project in London and has two very small, very reasonable ambitions before returning home: get promoted to partner and fall in love with a handsome English aristocrat. No problem, right?

But work is a grind, and the British men she meets are a far cry from her royal ideal. Then one morning, she sees a man on a double-decker bus and just knows that he’s her person. But when Kat finally musters the courage to board the bus and introduce herself, he turns out to be very different from the Prince Charming she expected.

Can Kat open herself up to a love that’s not like the movies, or is she too imprisoned by her rom-com expectations? And just as importantly, will she be able to see that success isn’t about landing a C-suite job, but rather living a life that’s aligned with her soul?

Quick Thoughts:

This book wasn’t on my radar, but someone shared it, and I thought it seemed right up my alley. I guess it was my “chick lit” book of the month, and I loved this cute love story. I also always love a book set in London, and this one had lots of cute England details and sayings. It was fun reading as Kat and “Prince Charming’s” relationship developed.

Rating:

Summer Reading Update:

  • Read: All the Days of Summer
  • Currently Reading: Meet Me at the Lake
  • Kindle: I have Endless Summer downloaded on my Kindle and hope to get to it soon.
  • On the wait list: Hotel Laguna, The Block Party, Summer Stage, The Summer of Songbirds, and The Five-star Weekend (*Some of these books aren’t even out yet…)

I looked back to last year, and I only read three books in June and then more in July…so we’ll see!

Have you read any great books so far this summer?

Posted in Books and Shows, Thursday Thoughts

Thursday Thoughts

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello!

Last month, when I shared the books I read, one of them was The Paris Library. While reading it, there was a quote that stuck out to me and got me thinking…

“We all have books that changed us forever…one that let us know that we’re not alone. What’s yours?”

Recently, WordPress also had a suggested writing prompt: Three books that have had an impact on you.

So, I’m combining those idea’s for today’s Thursday Thoughts post.

Honestly, there are many books that have impacted me or changed the way I think about things or view others.

The list is probably longer than this, but ones that immediately came to mind were:

  • Long Way Home
  • Where the Crawdads Sing
  • A Woman is No Man
  • Little Fires Everywhere
  • American Dirt
  • A Quiet Life
  • The Things We Cannot Say
  • This Tender Land
  • The Rent Collector
  • The Four Winds
  • The Girls in the Stilt House
  • The Giver of Stars
  • We Were the Lucky Ones
  • A Hope More Powerful than the Sea
  • The Paris Library

Three books that had an impact on me…

  • Tuesday with Morrie– My dad gave me this book right as I entered college. I remember reading it in only a few days. Then, through the years, I’d occasionally read some parts (or all) of it again. I even used it during student teaching and my first few years of teaching. I’d read a chapter aloud, and students would write their thoughts. I guess, with this book, it was the first time I realized why someone would read a book or parts of a book over and over/when needed.
  • To Kill a Mockingbird – Believe it or not, I never read this book in high school. It’s such a classic 9th grade text, but I hadn’t read it until I was about to teach this unit during my first year teaching. From the first page, I loved it. I taught it for many years, and loved it so much that I wanted to use the name Harper if we had a girl…obviously, Travis didn’t feel the same way. We even named one of our dogs Scout. The students I’ve helped with English 1 the past few years have been reading the graphic novel version of the text, and it’s actually really good. This shorter version holds their attention better, the pictures are great, and the main points of the plot are still there. Anyway, I guess this text felt like a “rite of passage” as a teacher. It will always be the first book I remember teaching.

Scout (left) Shiloh (right)

  • The Dinner List – I read this book in 2018, and I remember sharing that I read it and loved it in my Instagram stories. Quite a few friends had asked what books I’d been reading, and I shared that one as one of my favorites in 2018. In 2019, when I started my blog, I was excited to start sharing more of what I’d been reading. In a way, I guess having a few people tell me I should share what I read helped push me to finally start my blog.

So, these three books were pivotal or meaningful to me in some way.

What about you? What is a book that’s impacted your life?

See you back here tomorrow…I’m excited to finally share the details of our trip to Julep Farm last week.

Posted in Books and Shows

Summer Reading 2023

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy June 1st!

Well, my first official day of summer was spent taking Hadley to the dentist at 9am and then shuttling the kids to the pool (Hadley) and basketball camp (Hayden) followed by graduation.

The kids are busy today too, but I think tomorrow I won’t have to set an alarm.

Anyway, it’s my most favorite time of the year…summer reading! There’s nothing better than reading a book while lounging by the pool or sitting in the shade on the patio.

I started making summer reading lists two years ago. I don’t want to be tied to a list, so I will read other things, but it’s nice to be intentional about what I want to read when I have more downtime to do it.

This was my list in 2021…

That summer, I didn’t end up reading either of the books by Jennifer Weiner.

I had eight books on my list last summer…

I never read The Boardwalk Bookshop or Out of the Clear Blue Sky. I did just place a hold for the The Boardwalk Bookshop, so maybe I will get it read this summer.

Here’s my 2023 list:

While last summer I had eight books on my list, but only read six, I decided to go with eight again since you just never know when some books will be available and some books aren’t out until later in the summer.

  • Endless Summer by Elin Hilderbrand (I can’t let a summer go by without reading one (or two) of her books.
  • Meet Me at the Lake. I loved Every Summer After by Fortune, so I’m hoping to love this one too.
  • All the Days of Summer. Nancy Thayer is another one of my summer reading authors.
  • Hotel Laguna. I’ve come to enjoy historical fiction, so I thought this one might be a good one. (Available June 20th)
  • Summer Stage. I’ve been wanting to read a book by Meg Mitchell Moore, so I thought I’d start with this one.
  • The Summer of Songbirds. I’ve read six books by KWH, so I can’t wait to read this one. (Available July 11th)
  • The Five-Star Weekend. Another Hilderbrand book. I hope to get to Nantucket one day. (Available June 13th)
  • The Block Party. Now I can’t remember whose blog I saw this one, but it caught my attention. I love a good mystery, so I’m going to give this one a try mid-summer. (Available July 18th)

Reading Challenge

I feel like I’ve made decent progress in my reading challenge. I’m not sure how much progress I will make this summer because some of the titles above I’ve already read books starting with the same letter.

That being said, since the end of June will be the halfway point, do you have any suggestions on books I should read…especially U and then V, X, Z anywhere in the title and color in the title. Thanks, in advance, for any suggestions.

What books are on your “to be read” list this summer?

Happy reading!

Posted in Books and Shows

What I’ve Been Reading: May 2023

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello!

Since it’s the end of the month, I’m sharing the books I read in May.

I had a really great month of reading which has me excited to have a bit more time to read this summer.

This month I read:

{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}

Finlay Donovan is Killing It:

Summary:

Finlay Donovan is killing it…except, she’s really not. A stressed-out single mom of two and struggling novelist, Finlay’s life is in chaos: The new book she promised her literary agent isn’t written; her ex-husband fired the nanny without telling her; and this morning she had to send her four-year-old to school with hair duct-taped to her head after an incident with scissors.

When Finlay is overheard discussing the plot of her new suspense novel with her agent over lunch, she’s mistaken for a contract killer and inadvertently accepts an offer to dispose of a problem husband in order to make ends meet. She soon discovers that crime in real life is a lot more difficult than its fictional counterpart, as she becomes tangled in a real-life murder investigation.

Quick Thoughts:

This book was on my “to read” list for a while. It was a quick and fun read that included humor, motherhood, and suspense. I hope to read the other books in the series too.

Rating:

Love and Other Words:

Summary:

Macy Sorensen is settling into an ambitious if emotionally tepid routine: work hard as a new pediatrics resident, plan her wedding to an older, financially secure man, keep her head down and heart tucked away.

But when she runs into Elliot Petropoulos—the first and only love of her life—the careful bubble she’s constructed begins to dissolve. Once upon a time, Elliot was Macy’s entire world—growing from her gangly bookish friend into the man who coaxed her heart open again after the loss of her mother…only to break it on the very night he declared his love for her.

Told in alternating timelines between Then and Now, teenage Elliot and Macy grow from friends to much more—spending weekends and lazy summers together in a house outside of San Francisco devouring books, sharing favorite words, and talking through their growing pains and triumphs. As adults, they have become strangers to one another until their chance reunion. Although their memories are obscured by the agony of what happened that night so many years ago, Elliot will come to understand the truth behind Macy’s decade-long silence, and will have to overcome the past and himself to revive her faith in the possibility of an all-consuming love.

Quick Thoughts:

I really liked this book. It reminded me a bit of Every Summer After by Carley Fortune. I loved that the plot moved back and forth between the past the present. Elliot and Macy’s relationship was interesting to follow through the years. I did feel like the ending seemed a bit unrealistic. This book had some suggestive/R rated scenes…just FYI.

Rating:

The Paris Library:

Summary:

Paris, 1939: Young and ambitious Odile Souchet has it all: her handsome police officer beau and a dream job at the American Library in Paris. When the Nazis march into Paris, Odile stands to lose everything she holds dear, including her beloved library. Together with her fellow librarians, Odile joins the Resistance with the best weapons she has: books. But when the war finally ends, instead of freedom, Odile tastes the bitter sting of unspeakable betrayal.

Montana, 1983: Lily is a lonely teenager looking for adventure in small-town Montana. Her interest is piqued by her solitary, elderly neighbor. As Lily uncovers more about her neighbor’s mysterious past, she finds that they share a love of language, the same longings, and the same intense jealousy, never suspecting that a dark secret from the past connects them.

Quick Thoughts:

I LOVED this book. I enjoy books that share different point of views. This book is based on the true story of librarians at the American Library in Paris during WW2. There were literary quotes/references sprinkled in as well as Dewey decimal references too. (I know–I’m such an English teacher nerd!) I was so intrigued by Odile’s story. Odile and Lily both had so much heartache to overcome and I enjoyed reading as their relationship blossomed and how they ended up being there for each other.

This book had it all– history, love, family and friend relationships. You should definitely read the author’s note at the end. I’m sure this will be a top read for me in 2023.

Favorite quotes:

You know I love a book if I share a few favorite quotes.

  • “People are awkward, they don’t always know what to do or say. Don’t hold it against them. You never know what’s in their hearts.”
  • “We all have books that changed us forever…one that let us know that we’re not alone. What’s yours?”
  • “Libraries are lungs…books are fresh air breathed in to keep the heart beating, to keep the brain imagining, to keep hope alive.”

Favorite quote from author’s note:

  • “Language is a gate that we can open and close on people. The words we use shape perception, as do the books we read, the stories we tell one another, and the stories we tell ourselves.”

Rating:

Daisy Jones & The Six:

Summary:

Daisy Jones & the Six follows “a rock band in the 1970s from their rise in the LA music scene to becoming one of the most famous bands in the world and explores the reason behind their split at the height of their success.

Quick Thoughts:

This book had also been on my “to read” list for a while. Even though I’ve loved the five books I’ve read by Taylor Reid Jenkins in the past, I think since I’m not really a music/band person, I wasn’t sure if I’d like this book. Well, once I saw that it was a series on Amazon Prime, I figured I should read it before watching.

I loved the interview style and how it was organized album by album. Of course, this book at musical references, love, and drama. I could really visualize what these characters looked like, and it was a quick read that I enjoyed.

Yesterday, I came home from school and decided to start the series. I’m one episode in, and I like it so far too.

Rating:

Tomorrow, I will share the books I hope to read this summer. I’m excited for days reading by the pool.

Posted in Books and Shows, Gift Ideas

Bookstore Love

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Wednesday!

Speaking of “happy,” besides a library, a bookstore is one of my “happy places.” We are so lucky to have an awesome bookstore in town…Joseph Beth. Besides Lexington, there is a location in Cincinnati as well.

At Joseph Beth, you can get coffee, sit in a cozy chair and read, and enjoy the food at Bronte Bistro. Of course, they have books, but you can also find various things like clothes, purses, seasonal items (like Derby decorations), bath/body items, candles, sweets, and more.

My mom’s birthday is coming up. Since she was visiting, we had a birthday dinner and dessert over the weekend. We decided to get her a gift card to Joseph Beth for her birthday, and she could use it before she left town.

Whenever I go, I love to walk around and see what they have on display.

Here’s a peek at a few of the favorite things I saw:

  • Banned book puzzle
  • The Bookstore Lover’s Birthday Book -This seems to be a “diary” of sorts where you can write each day, but also make note of what you’ve read.
  • Wristlet purse – super cute!!
  • Bogg bags -perfect for the pool
  • Book bag
  • Tea mug (and various teas): I actually got my mom this mug to put the gift card in. She likes tea, and I thought this mug was cute because it has a little holder on the side for the tea bag.
  • CUTE! colander and shaker
  • Recipe box and cards
  • Sweets!
  • Volcano candle -so good!
  • Journals
  • Herb garden markers: I thought these were super cute!

My mom ended up picking up some books on Ireland because she’s going there with friends later this year.

While she probably would have liked any of the above, I did want her to choose something she would really want and use.

Do you love a bookstore as much as I do?

Posted in Books and Shows

What I’ve Been Reading: April 2023

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello!

I had a busy month of reading…and actually finished four books! I read quite the mix, and they range from three stars to five! Today I’m sharing about them…

This month I read:

{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}

The Husbands:

Summary:

Nora Spangler is a successful attorney but when it comes to domestic life, she packs the lunches, schedules the doctor appointments, knows where the extra paper towel rolls are, and designs and orders the holiday cards. Her husband works hard, too… but why does it seem like she is always working so much harder?

When the Spanglers go house hunting in Dynasty Ranch, an exclusive suburban neighborhood, Nora meets a group of high-powered women–a tech CEO, a neurosurgeon, an award-winning therapist, a bestselling author–with enviably supportive husbands. When she agrees to help with a resident’s wrongful death case, she is pulled into the lives of the women there. She finds the air is different in Dynasty Ranch. The women aren’t hanging on by a thread.

But as the case unravels, Nora uncovers a plot that may explain the secret to having-it-all. One that’s worth killing for. Calling to mind a Stepford Wives gender-swap, The Husbands imagines a world where the burden of the “second shift” is equally shared–and what it may take to get there.

Quick Thoughts:

This wasn’t necessarily “my type” of book to read…which is probably why I thought it was just ok. I guess it’s a “thriller/mystery,” and I thought the plot was interesting, but the “Stepford Wives” angle and some of those details made me lose interest. Also, I felt like some parts were predictable.

Rating:

A Quiet Life:

Summary:

Set in a close-knit suburb in the grip of winter, A Quiet Life follows three people grappling with loss and finding a tender wisdom in their grief.

Chuck Ayers used to look forward to nothing so much as his annual trip to Hilton Head with his wife, Cat—that yearly taste of relaxation they’d become accustomed to after a lifetime of working and raising two children. Now, just months after Cat’s death, Chuck finds that he can’t let go of her belongings—her favorite towel, the sketchbooks in her desk drawer—as he struggles to pack for a trip he can’t imagine taking without her.

Ella Burke delivers morning newspapers and works at a bridal shop to fill her days while she anxiously awaits news—any piece of information—about her missing daughter. Ella adjusts to life in a new apartment and answers every call on her phone, hoping her daughter will reach out.

After the sudden death of her father, Kirsten Bonato set aside her veterinary school aspirations, finding comfort in the steady routine of working at an animal shelter. But as time passes, old dreams and new romantic interests begin to surface—and Kirsten finds herself at another crossroads.

Quick Thoughts:

This was a beautiful and simple read. The powerful stories of Chuck, Ella, and Kirsten had me rooting for each one of them. As their stories intertwined, I really wanted to keep reading. Each character was brave in their own way, and I loved following along on their journeys. I think this could be in my top 5 this year.

Rating:

Night:

Summary:

Born in the town of Sighet, Transylvania, Elie Wiesel was a teenager when he and his family were taken from their home in 1944 to Auschwitz concentration camp, and then to Buchenwald. Night is the terrifying record of Elie Wiesel’s memories of the death of his family, the death of his own innocence, and his despair as a deeply observant Jew confronting the absolute evil of man. This new translation by his wife and most frequent translator, Marion Wiesel, corrects important details and presents the most accurate rendering in English of Elie Wiesel’s testimony to what happened in the camps and of his unforgettable message that this horror must simply never be allowed to happen again.

Quick Thoughts:

I’d read most of this book in March of 2020 while helping some students, but then school transitioned to virtual, and I never finished it.

I was helping a group of students read this book for their English 1 class last week. They came to see me every day, we read a chapter, discussed and completed the questions. This memoir really is a powerful read. The kids had so many questions, and I had to continue to remind them that Wiesel was sharing his experience in the concentration camps.

Obviously, this isn’t a light read, but is it a pretty “classic” high school text, but I’d never taught it (or read it). I feel like students are always invested in this book and have lots of questions. I’m glad that I got to read and discuss it with my two reading groups.

Rating:

The Secret Bridesmaid:

Summary:

Sophie Breeze is a brilliant bridesmaid. So brilliant, in fact, that she’s made it her full-time job.

As a professional bridesmaid, Sophie is hired by London brides to be their right-hand woman, posing as a friend but working behind the scenes to help plan the perfect wedding and ensure their big day goes off without a hitch. When she’s hired by Lady Victoria Swann––a former model and “It Girl” of 1970’s London; now the Marchioness of Meade––for the society wedding of the year, it should be a chance for Sophie to prove just how talented she is.

Of course, it’s not ideal that the bride, Lady Victoria’s daughter, Cordelia, is an absolute diva and determined to make Sophie’s life a nightmare. It’s also a bit inconvenient that Sophie finds herself drawn to Cordelia’s posh older brother, who is absolutely off limits. But when a rival society wedding is announced for the very same day, things start to get…well, complicated.

Can Sophie pull off the biggest challenge of her career––execute a high-profile gala for four hundred and fifty guests in record time, win over a reluctant bride, and catch the eye of handsome Lord Swann––all while keeping her true identity a secret, and her dignity intact?

Quick Thoughts:

This was a “lighter” read for me this month. It was predictable but cute. I liked the secret bridesmaid aspect of the plot…it’s fun twist on the topic of weddings. This book has friendship, romance, and even a bit of drama. The email exchanges from clients for the wedding plans are funny too. It was a quick and easy read.

Rating:

It’s crazy to think that next month, I will share a few books I hope to read this summer! Do you have any suggestions?

What have you read lately?

Posted in Books and Shows

What I’ve Been Reading: March 2023

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello!

I always enjoy reading about what people others have been reading, and I like ending the month sharing what I’ve read as well.

Well, this month I felt like I read a bit more even though I still kept up with my three books a month average. The month started off strong because I had only my Kindle to entertain me for five straight days with now power. I thought I’d get some more reading in this past week but with not feeling well, I really didn’t feel like it. Anyway, it was still a good month of reading.

This month I read:

{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}

Spare:

Summary:

It was one of the most searing images of the twentieth century: two young boys, two princes, walking behind their mother’s coffin as the world watched in sorrow—and horror. As Princess Diana was laid to rest, billions wondered what Prince William and Prince Harry must be thinking and feeling—and how their lives would play out from that point on.

For Harry, this is that story at last.

Before losing his mother, twelve-year-old Prince Harry was known as the carefree one, the happy-go-lucky Spare to the more serious Heir. Grief changed everything. He struggled at school, struggled with anger, with loneliness—and, because he blamed the press for his mother’s death, he struggled to accept life in the spotlight.

At twenty-one, he joined the British Army. The discipline gave him structure, and two combat tours made him a hero at home. But he soon felt more lost than ever, suffering from post-traumatic stress and prone to crippling panic attacks. Above all, he couldn’t find true love.

Then he met Meghan. The world was swept away by the couple’s cinematic romance and rejoiced in their fairy-tale wedding. But from the beginning, Harry and Meghan were preyed upon by the press, subjected to waves of abuse, racism, and lies. Watching his wife suffer, their safety and mental health at risk, Harry saw no other way to prevent the tragedy of history repeating itself but to flee his mother country. Over the centuries, leaving the Royal Family was an act few had dared. The last to try, in fact, had been his mother. . . .

For the first time, Prince Harry tells his own story, chronicling his journey with raw, unflinching honesty. A landmark publication, Spare is full of insight, revelation, self-examination, and hard-won wisdom about the eternal power of love over grief.

Quick Thoughts:

You know I love the British royal family. I was excited to read this book. I didn’t necessarily want to buy it, so I’m glad the library copy became available without waiting too long.

With the Royals, I’ve always been the most interested in William, Harry, and Kate. When Harry found Meghan, I thought that quartet would be perfect together.

Overall, I thought this book was interesting. I enjoyed hearing Harry’s point of view. Honestly, this book just kind of made me sad. I was disappointed to learn that Harry and William aren’t (were never?) as close as I assumed they were. Also, the fact that the family is so businesslike and formal all them time was disheartening. Harry seems to really still be struggling with so much that happened in his life. With Meghan, it seems he’s found his “safe place,” where he can do the introspective work and make his own family and future.

While I see his point that the media will spin things however they want and that others have “had their say” so it’s his turn, there did seem to be some family dirty laundry aired.

Overall, I’m glad that I read it. I will still keep up with the ins and outs of Kensington Palace, but I do hope the family can unite again.

Rating:

Wrong Place Wrong Time:

Summary:

Can you stop a murder after it’s already happened?

Late October. After midnight. You’re waiting up for your seventeen-year-old son. He’s late. As you watch from the window, he emerges, and you realize he isn’t alone: he’s walking toward a man, and he’s armed.

You can’t believe it when you see him do it: your funny, happy teenage son, he kills a stranger, right there on the street outside your house. You don’t know who. You don’t know why. You only know your son is now in custody. His future shattered.

That night you fall asleep in despair. All is lost. Until you wake… and it is yesterday.

And then you wake again… and it is the day before yesterday.

Every morning you wake up a day earlier, another day before the murder. With another chance to stop it. Somewhere in the past lies an answer. The trigger for this crime—and you don’t have a choice but to find it…

Quick Thoughts:

I picked up this book because I thought I’d read other books by McAllister, but I actually don’t think that I have? Anyway, this book was really interesting.

The plot of this book moved backwards in time which took a while to wrap my brain around. To me, it was a page turner because I wanted to get to the end to see what the “trigger” for the crime was. This book was suspenseful, and I definitely enjoyed it.

Rating:

Majesty:

Summary:

Is America ready for its first queen?

Power is intoxicating. Like first love, it can leave you breathless. Princess Beatrice was born with it. Princess Samantha was born with less. Some, like Nina Gonzalez, are pulled into it. And a few will claw their way in. Ahem, we’re looking at you Daphne Deighton.

As America adjusts to the idea of a queen on the throne, Beatrice grapples with everything she lost when she gained the ultimate crown. Samantha is busy living up to her “party princess” persona…and maybe adding a party prince by her side. Nina is trying to avoid the palace–and Prince Jefferson–at all costs. And a dangerous secret threatens to undo all of Daphne’s carefully laid “marry Prince Jefferson” plans.

A new reign has begun….

Quick Thoughts:

I really enjoyed the first book in this series (American Royals), but I’d forgotten to continue on with the series. This book was a “suggestion” on the library app, so I figured I’d pick up reading where I left off with book one.

This series is young adult-ish and easy to read. I love reading the modern day American spin on royalty. This book focuses on Beatrice becoming Queen and her impending marriage. There are quite a few characters and sometimes this reads as a “soap opera” with who likes whom, but still a good read.

I think I’m going to go ahead and read book 3 (Rivals) while Majesty is fresh in my mind.

Rating:

Also…

This month I gave up on The Family Remains. I read about 40% of it and wanted to keep going because I liked The Family Upstairs. But, I finally just threw in the towel. I rarely give up on a book, but I just figured if I wasn’t looking forward to reading it, why keep reading? Then, I moved on to Majesty.

While I didn’t have any five star books this month, these three were all different and good choices for me.

What have you been reading?

Posted in Books and Shows

What I’ve Been reading: February 2023

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello! I can’t believe it’s the last day of February! Since the month is wrapping up, that means I shared my favorite memes yesterday and then today I’m sharing the books I read this month.

This month I continued with my monthly average of reading three books:

{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}

Carrie Soto is Back:

Summary:

Carrie Soto is fierce, and her determination to win at any cost has not made her popular. But by the time she retires from tennis, she is the best player the world has ever seen. She has shattered every record and claimed twenty Grand Slam titles. And if you ask Carrie, she is entitled to every one. She sacrificed nearly everything to become the best, with her father, Javier, as her coach. A former champion himself, Javier has trained her since the age of two.

But six years after her retirement, Carrie finds herself sitting in the stands of the 1994 US Open, watching her record be taken from her by a brutal, stunning player named Nicki Chan.

At thirty-seven years old, Carrie makes the monumental decision to come out of retirement and be coached by her father for one last year in an attempt to reclaim her record. Even if the sports media says that they never liked “the Battle-Axe” anyway. Even if her body doesn’t move as fast as it did. And even if it means swallowing her pride to train with a man she once almost opened her heart to: Bowe Huntley. Like her, he has something to prove before he gives up the game forever.

In spite of it all, Carrie Soto is back, for one epic final season. In this riveting and unforgettable novel, Taylor Jenkins Reid tells her most vulnerable, emotional story yet.

Quick Thoughts:

I’ve enjoyed every Taylor Jenkins Reid book that I’ve read, and I enjoyed this one too. I was talking to a friend a couple of months ago about books, and I asked if she’d read this book yet. She said, “I now play tennis because of this book!” haha

After about the first 100 pages, I thought to myself, “Wow, this is quite a bit about tennis.” {duh} So while I was enjoying it, I wanted more from the characters and the plot. Well, I ended up getting that! Once the plot picked up and it wasn’t just all about tennis, I started to enjoy it more and more. I loved Carrie’s relationship with her father as well as Bowe Huntley. I liked the pace of the book with her working towards her goal, match by match. Anyway, overall, I thought it was a really good book….and my streak of loving books by TRJ continues.

Rating:

*First part of the book 4 stars, and second half 5 stars (4.5 stars overall)

The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post:

Summary:

Mrs. Post, the President and First Lady are here to see you. . . .

So begins another average evening for Marjorie Merriweather Post. Presidents have come and gone, but she has hosted them all. Growing up in the modest farmlands of Battle Creek, Michigan, Marjorie was inspired by a few simple rules: always think for yourself, never take success for granted, and work hard—even when deemed American royalty, even while covered in imperial diamonds. Marjorie had an insatiable drive to live and love and to give more than she got. From crawling through Moscow warehouses to rescue the Tsar’s treasures to outrunning the Nazis in London, from serving the homeless of the Great Depression to entertaining Roosevelts, Kennedys, and Hollywood’s biggest stars, Marjorie Merriweather Post lived an epic life few could imagine.

Marjorie’s journey began gluing cereal boxes in her father’s barn as a young girl. No one could have predicted that C. W. Post’s Cereal Company would grow into the General Foods empire and reshape the American way of life, with Marjorie as its heiress and leading lady. Not content to stay in her prescribed roles of high-society wife, mother, and hostess, Marjorie dared to demand more, making history in the process. Before turning thirty she amassed millions, becoming the wealthiest woman in the United States. But it was her life-force, advocacy, passion, and adventurous spirit that led to her stunning legacy.

And yet Marjorie’s story, though full of beauty and grandeur, set in the palatial homes she built such as Mar-a-Lago, was equally marked by challenge and tumult. A wife four times over, Marjorie sought her happily-ever-after with the blue-blooded party boy who could not outrun his demons, the charismatic financier whose charm turned to betrayal, the international diplomat with a dark side, and the bon vivant whose shocking secrets would shake Marjorie and all of society. Marjorie did everything on a grand scale, especially when it came to love.

Bestselling and acclaimed author Allison Pataki has crafted an intimate portrait of a larger-than-life woman, a powerful story of one woman falling in love with her own voice and embracing her own power while shaping history in the process.

Quick Thoughts:

In the past couple of years, I’ve really enjoyed historical fiction more and more. Who am I even?! This book caught my attention on the first page. I so enjoyed reading about Marjorie’s life and her loves. Reading about her business decisions and her wealth were both so interesting. To me, this book felt like a mix of Becoming Mrs. Lewis and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.

After I finished the book, I texted my mom and Gma and told them they’d like this book. When I shared the book title, my Gma’s response was “Oh…Dina Merrill’s mother…” and my mom knew Marjorie Post owned Mar-a-Lago. Anyway, my point is that Marjorie Post definitely lived a life that spanned many decades and is a point of reference for many. I just recognized her name from Post cereal!

Rating:

I think this will be one of the top books I read this year, and I highly recommend it.

Bridge to Terabithia:

Summary:

Jess Aarons has been practicing all summer so he can be the fastest runner in the fifth grade. And he almost is, until the new girl in school, Leslie Burke, outpaces him. The two become fast friends and spend most days in the woods behind Leslie’s house, where they invent an enchanted land called Terabithia. One morning, Leslie goes to Terabithia without Jess and a tragedy occurs. It will take the love of his family and the strength that Leslie has given him for Jess to be able to deal with his grief.

Quick Thoughts:

So, one of my students asked if I had ever read this book, and I hadn’t. He told me that he doesn’t like to read, but his 4th grade teachers gave him this book to read, and he’d read it many times in the years since she suggested it.

When a reluctant reader suggests a book to me, I’m going to read it. He even told me the book had won awards (“like the one with the gold sticker on the book!”) This book was sweet and charming with a touch of sad. I’m glad I took the time to read it. He also suggested that I watch the movie! Now, I will need to do that.

The author’s note was touching, and I liked that in the 40th anniversary edition includes Katherine Paterson’s Newbery Medal acceptance speech.

Rating:

Reading Challenge:

I’m making my way through this reading challenge…

So far— I’ve covered:

  • B –Bridge to Terabithia
  • C – Carris Soto is Back
  • I- The It Girl
  • L- Live Wire (Kelly Ripa)
  • M – The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post
  • R – Remarkably Bright Creatures

I’m currently reading Spare which I think I will use for the “one word title” box instead of “S.”

How is your reading going so far this year?

Posted in Books and Shows

What I’ve Been Reading: January 2023

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello!

Well, I decided to use this A to Z Reading Challenge to guide my reading this year. So far, I’m just reading what I want and marking the letter. Eventually, as it fills up, I guess I will have to be a bit more specific with what I read.

This month I read three books which tends to be my average most months.

{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}

Live Wire: Long-Winded Short Stories

Summary:

An instant New York Times bestseller from Kelly Ripa–a sharp, funny, and honest collection of real-life stories showing the many dimensions and crackling wit of the beloved daytime talk show host.

In Live Wire, her first book, Kelly shows what really makes her tick. As a professional, as a wife, as a daughter and as a mother, she brings a hard-earned wisdom and an eye for the absurdity of life to every minute of every day. It is her relatability in all of these roles that has earned her fans worldwide and millions of followers on social media. Whether recounting how she and Mark really met, the level of chauvinism she experienced on set, how Jersey Pride follows her wherever she goes, and many, many moments of utter mortification (whence she proves that you cannot, in fact, die of embarrassment) Kelly always tells it like it is. Ms. Ripa takes no prisoners.

Surprising, at times savage, a little shameless and always with humor… Live Wire shows Kelly as she really is offscreen–a very wise woman who has something to say.

Quick Thoughts:

It took me a couple of chapters to get into this book…and I had to remind myself that this wasn’t a memoir of Kelly’s entire life, but really what the subtitle says: long-winded short stories. For example, there was no mention of the Michael Strahan years, which I was curious about.

I have fond memories of watching Regis and Kelly. I actually remember in college watching the day that she was a guest host and the psychic said she was pregnant. Of course, I was disappointed that Kelly and Regis weren’t as close as they seemed on tv. That being said, that might have been more of Regis (and his ego’s) doing…than Kelly.

Even sharing that she and Mark don’t have a perfect marriage which I kind of thought they did was interesting to me.

I think my favorite chapters were the ones where she sent her kids off to college. While I have a few years until that happens, it’s something that I think most moms can connect with…just giving your kids “wings to fly.”

If you like Kelly or the show, I’d say this is an interesting read. I used Christmas money to buy it, and my suggestion would be to borrow it from a friend or from the library.

Rating:

⭐️ ⭐️⭐️1/2

The It Girl

Summary:

April Coutts-Cliveden was the first person Hannah Jones met at Oxford.

Vivacious, bright, occasionally vicious, and the ultimate It girl, she quickly pulled Hannah into her dazzling orbit. Together, they developed a group of devoted and inseparable friends—Will, Hugh, Ryan, and Emily—during their first term. By the end of the second, April was dead.

Now, a decade later, Hannah and Will are expecting their first child, and the man convicted of killing April, former Oxford porter John Neville, has died in prison. Relieved to have finally put the past behind her, Hannah’s world is rocked when a young journalist comes knocking and presents new evidence that Neville may have been innocent. As Hannah reconnects with old friends and delves deeper into the mystery of April’s death, she realizes that the friends she thought she knew all have something to hide… including a murder.

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of One by One returns with an unputdownable mystery following a woman on the search for answers a decade after her friend’s murder.

Quick Thoughts:

I started reading this book on my Kindle in November. I had read about 30% of the book when it had to be returned. So, once it became available in January, of course I wanted to finish it.

I’ve read a few books by Ruth Ware, and this one was just as good as the others. I enjoyed the characters, the flashbacks, and the pieces of the puzzle. With about 100 pages left, I thought I knew how it was going to end, but I was wrong…which actually makes it a better book.

Rating:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2

Remarkably Bright Creatures

Summary:

After Tova Sullivan’s husband died, she began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors and tidying up. Keeping busy has always helped her cope, which she’s been doing since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in Puget Sound over thirty years ago.

Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine but wouldn’t dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors–until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova.

Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova’s son disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it’s too late.

Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel is a gentle reminder that sometimes taking a hard look at the past can help uncover a future that once felt impossible.

Quick Thoughts:

I could not have loved this book more. I instantly loved both Tova and Marcellus. This book will tug at your heart-strings and lift you up. It’s hard to imagine loving a book about an octopus, but he had such a sweet connection to Tova and their stories were woven together so beautifully. There were other characters and subplots as well.

I bet this will be one of my favorite books of 2023.

Rating:

My first ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️book of 2023.

How many books do you hope to read in 2023? My goal is 40.

I hope your week is off to a great start.

Posted in Books and Shows, Currently

Currently…Watching

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello! Well, all good things must come to an end…like this three day weekend. It’s back to school we go.

In December, I try to watch as many Christmas movies as possible. Now that it’s January, and I have a bit more time, I’m trying to get caught up on some of my favorite shows. So, here’s what I’m Currently watching…

On Hulu:

I love Abbott Elementary and am usually pretty caught up on it. Travis chuckles at it if I have it on when he’s around. Last week, a few of the actors were on a special edition of Wheel of Fortune (another fave!) which was extra fun to watch.

Abbott Elementary hits close to home with this public school educator! haha

I love The Rookie. Sometimes, Hayden watches it with me too. I’m a big Nathan Fillion fan…loved Castle when he was on it. Anyway, it’s another good one, but I’m usually a couple of episodes behind.

As a family, we still love The Goldbergs. This season is different with Murray off the show (and the death of Pops), but I love Beverly Goldberg and the rest of the cast. It’s a good one!

This is the second season of NCIS Hawai’i, and I really enjoy this show. Like with The Rookie, I get behind on the hour long shows, and try to get caught up in January and February. Also like The Rookie, I really like this entire cast!

And…I’m always have one (or more!) of the Real Housewives franchises to binge when I have time. I’m behind on Salt Lake City (and they aren’t really my fave anyway), but stay pretty up to date on Potomac.

On Netflix:

We don’t binge much, but Travis and I binged all of the Harry and Meghan docuseries. It was interesting…but I’m still “team Will and Kate.” At this point, I’m wondering if there’s an interview Harry won’t do. That being said, you know I’ll buy his book. haha

Have you seen this meme? I sent it to my *younger* brother. lol

If you want something quick and light-hearted, I always enjoy the season of Dream Home Makeover. There isn’t a single design of Shea’s that I haven’t loved.

I’m still chipping away at The Crown. The new cast has taken some getting used to, but I’m loving this season with Diana.

I’ve watched a few episodes of Wednesday, and really love it. Hadley and friends have seen all the episodes.

I also really like Buying Beverly Hills with Mauricio and Farrah from Real Housewives Beverly Hills franchise. Honestly, I just like looking at the houses more than anything.

Ready to Watch:

Dead to Me is back for the final season, and I definitely want to watch it.

I heard Kaleidoscope is good, so I’ve saved it and Break Point, a docuseries about professional tennis players, to my Netflix list.

As you can see, I have quite a few shows that I’ve started but haven’t finished yet. If I know I have a bit more time to watch over a few months (like right now and in the summer), I make a list and go from there. For example, I don’t think I will start the above three titles until I finish ones I’ve started like The Crown and Wednesday. Sometimes, I end up jumping around with what I watch, and I’d like to finish some series before starting others.

That being said, what should I add to my list ? haha!