I was hoping that I would have read 5-6 books this month but real life interfered in my reading time.

Breakfast With The FBI by Erina Bridget Ring
Overall Thoughts: I enjoyed this book especially since it was based on a real life experience of the author.

The Better Liar by Tanen Jones
Overall Thoughts: A psychological thriller that will have you guessing throughout.

No Stone Unturned by Andrea Kane
Overall Thoughts: A story that will have you turning the pages as quickly as you can. My review will be posted on March 20th during her VBT.

Behind Every Lie by Christina McDonald
Overall Thoughts: Another thrilling read by this author.

When a woman conceals her sister’s death to claim their joint inheritance, her deception exposes a web of dangerous secrets in this addictive new thriller for fans of Megan Abbott, Gillian Flynn, and Paula Hawkins.

“Like most of the dead, I want to be remembered.”

Robin Voigt is dead. If Leslie had arrived at her sister’s cramped Las Vegas apartment just hours earlier, this would have been their first reunion in a decade. In the years since Robin ran away from home as a teenager, Leslie has stayed in New Mexico, taking care of their dying father even as she began building a family of her own. But when their father passed away, Leslie received a rude awakening: She and Robin would receive the inheritance he left them together—or not at all. Now her half of the money may be beyond her grasp. And unbeknownst to anyone, even her husband, Leslie needs it desperately.

When she meets a charismatic young woman who bears an uncanny resemblance to Robin—and has every reason to leave her past behind—the two make a reckless bargain: Mary will impersonate Robin for a week in exchange for Robin’s half of the cash. But neither realizes how high the stakes will become when Mary takes a dead woman’s name. Even as Mary begins to suspect Leslie is hiding something, and Leslie realizes the stranger living in her house, babysitting her newborn son, and charming her husband has secrets of her own, Robin’s wild, troubled legacy threatens to eclipse them both.

An electric, twisted portrait of sisterhood and the ties that bind, The Better Liar is a stunning debut with a heart-stopping, twist-after-twist finale that will beg the question: How far would you go to get what’s yours?

Advance praise for The Better Liar

“I thought I’d just skim a page or two before putting The Better Liar on my ‘to-read’ shelf, but I couldn’t help becoming so drawn in that I had to keep going. Tanen Jones has written a compulsively page-turning story. She cleverly drip-feeds nuggets of information, each more surprising than the last, until the final shocking revelation.”—Claire Fuller, author of Bitter Orange and Swimming Lessons

Where do I begin?

Let’s first start with that this is a debut novel and I am hoping that there will be many more books by this author!!

Next, the title!! If you are like me and try to figure out the mystery, the reader has to start there. I knew I had to pay very close attention to the clues and the possible red herrings. Are you asking how I did? I’ll let you know!

Now the story!!! As the synopsis states, Leslie Voight Flores hasn’t seen her sister, Robin, in 10 years, when Robin ran away. However, she must try to track her down since their father’s will states that they will both receive $50,000. upon his death but that they have to receive it together. But is she too late? Now, what does she do? She needs that money!!!!

The narrative alternates between 3 characters (being vague as to not wanting to give away even a tidbit of this riveting story). For me, that meant the type of read that was “just one more chapter” to see which character will be “speaking” next and what that certain character might say.

This was definitely a page-turner, one that was very difficult to put down. Thrilling throughout and totally engrossing. However, I didn’t figure it out!!! Matter of fact, this debut novel left me with a “book hangover” going over the storyline in my mind as to what clues did I miss.

Ms. Jones is now on my radar!!! Kudos to her for such a dynamic introduction to her writing abilities!

Purchase Links: Amazon 🔗 | Barnes & Noble 🔗 | Goodreads 🔗

And it has started…….

Sign-ups for the 2020 Challenges!!!!

Since I started blogging in 2009, I loved participating in many of the different challenges offered. I can honestly say, even though I didn’t complete many of them, it was just fun seeing what my reading year entailed.

Last year, I will admit, I was just a bit too ambitious and overzealous and signed up for too many. This year, I am promising myself I will only sign on for those that I have been doing for years.

This year, I even did poorly with my GR reading challenge. We have been so busy with tours for Partners In Crime Tours and Providence Book Promotions, that it definitely cut into my reading time.

Now let’s hope that I keep my promise and contain myself to signing up for too many, AGAIN!!!! I will be posting my progress here.

Also, we are always looking for tour hosts, I invite you to check out the great titles we are touring. We are starting off 2020 with some phenomenal titles so if you would like to join the team, the invitation stands! Just click on the Hosts tab and it will bring you to the sign up post.

This year, one of the Challenges I signed up for is Blog All About It, hosted by The Herd Presents. The guideline is basically a blogging prompt challenge. Each month there’s a different prompt that you can interpret as you’d like then create a blog post around it. The 2019 list of prompts can be seen here on my Challenge Page. I will be posting for this Challenge on the 2nd Saturday of each month.

Once again I am a week late, however, because of it, I was able to get a picture that I will share for this month’s prompt.

Last weekend we were in PA for our youngest granddaughter’s Baptism. Our oldest son drove my husband and me for our road trip. It’s approximately a 6 hour drive from RI so I did read most of the way which was a plus for me. The weather was beautiful and as we traveled across the Tappanzzee Bridge, I was able to get this shot of the new bridge span and sky.

I am an earlier riser waking between 5 am to 5:30 am and love to have my coffee on the deck, playing a few games of Candy Crush and checking Facebook. Hopefully, now that the summer is almost over, I hope I get to continue my morning routine until the cold weather sets in. I took this picture of the sky one morning and thought the colors in the sky were beautiful.

Please don’t mind our fence, the painters are supposed to be here before the end of the month to paint the house and stain the fence. Unfortunately, we will be closing the pool early this year, putting on the winter cover, because of the work that will be done.

My favorite skyline is the sun setting in Aruba. Wed haven’t been in a couple of years so we will hopefully be making plans to revisit. It’s our favorite vacation destination.

At what time of the day is your favorite at looking up at the sky?

This year, one of the Challenges I signed up for is Blog All About It, hosted by The Herd Presents. The guideline is basically a blogging prompt challenge. Each month there’s a different prompt that you can interpret as you’d like then create a blog post around it. The 2019 list of prompts can be seen here on my Challenge Page. I will be posting for this Challenge on the 2nd Saturday of each month.

Don’t know where the time goes, but once again, I’m a week late but due to the long holiday weekend, I hadn’t written a post in time. However, the reason for this is due to this month’s prompt.

My favorite time of year is the Summer, even though the humidity can be brutal here in RI. I would much rather be able to be outside sitting on the deck or sitting by or in the pool reading. I just wish that the season was longer especially since this year we really didn’t have a spring but mainly rainy days.

The 4th of July weekend weather was absolutely gorgeous and I took full advantage of it. Where was I? On my pool float reading. Matter of fact, I read 2 books during this time.

This is where I spend most of my time in the summer

Don’t mind the fence, we hired a painter for the house and restaining the fence. We are in his queue for some time this month.

Since today is another beautiful pool day, I am cutting this post short and heading out, grabbing a book and my float. If you are looking for me, you know where I’ll be!!!!!

Hope you are enjoying the Summer sunshine and longer days!!!

This year, one of the Challenges I signed up for is Blog All About It, hosted by The Herd Presents. The guideline is basically a blogging prompt challenge. Each month there’s a different prompt that you can interpret as you’d like then create a blog post around it. The 2019 list of prompts can be seen here on my Challenge Page. I will be posting for this Challenge on the 2nd Saturday of each month.

I usually schedule my posts for the 2nd Saturday of the month but having bronchitis has delayed me by a week.

I will admit, this month’s prompt was difficult for me since I am a self-proclaimed wuss!! I really had to dig deep to decide how risk is/was part of my life.

Jumping out of a plane? Hell NO!!! I’m terrified of heights, so bad that I have trouble getting beyond the 4th step on a ladder. Roller coasters? Nope!! Same reason!

I realized that maybe the greatest risk(s), I have taken in my life, has to do with my health, specifically my back surgeries. Most people would probably say each of the 8 times would be risks, but looking back, I feel that 2 of them were highly risky and 1 of them I took a huge leap of faith.

After my 2nd operation, and 2 pregnancies, I was in trouble again. My youngest was 6 months old and my oldest was 2 years old. The pain once again excruciating so I went back to Boston for an evaluation. After X-rays, myelogram, etc, I received a phone call 3 or 4 days before Christmas from my surgeon. The news wasn’t good. My fusion had let go and he wanted me admitted asap. There was NO WAY I was going to be in the hospital during Christmas and I told him so. His words haunt me to this day, “you are taking a huge risk, paralysis could be possible”. I told him that I would be careful and that he could admit me right after the holidays.

As I think back, I’m not sure what the heck I was thinking that I took the chance of being severely compromised. Prayers and faith protected me and I had the surgery the first week in January and it was successful.

In 2009/2010, I was in trouble again. Another surgical procedure and this one was a 2-day consecutive surgery that had to be performed. However, this one left me worse after the surgery than before. A had a severe reaction to a medication that was prescribed and once home, I fell twice. Because of the falls, the fusion and my spine healed in a 45-degree angle. Mechanically I couldn’t stand straight, had to walk with a cane, couldn’t walk 50 feet without difficulty, had more pain after than before and had a poor quality of life. And as each year went by, the pain got worse and the pain meds kept getting increased with little to no relief.

In 2014, I had had enough. I had to take another chance so back to Boston., where again I was blessed and protected. The surgeon I saw was one of only 5 on the East Coast that performed the surgery I needed and it would be another 2-day consecutive procedure. However, I was told up front that 3 things could happen. The surgeon would go in and if it was too bad,
he would just close me right back up, or that he would do the procedure but couldn’t guarantee I would be better and the third was that it would be successful. I decided to take the chance.

While in recovery on the first day, the surgeon came in and said that another day would be added to the procedure. What could I say? So I told him to go for it. What I didn’t know until one of my post-op visits, the surgeon told me that what was done in surgery hadn’t been done before. He put me into a medically induced coma for day 2 and 3 because all of the previous hardware was removed and he couldn’t take the chance of me moving around since nothing was holding my spine in place.

Two days after the surgery, the doctor came to visit me and said it was time to see the outcome. So he made me stand. As I stood and went past the 45-degree angle and kept going until I was standing straight. The tears fell, not only mine but his too.

To this day, I can stand straight, don’t need a cane, can hold and lift my granddaughters clean my house, which I had to have someone in the past because I couldn’t, go shopping, etc., etc. I do sometimes have pain but nothing like before. Because of all the surgeries, I do have severe arthritis so if I overdo or the weather changes, there is pain but now it can be controlled.

This is what I look like on the inside. I do have 2 rods on each side f my spine, which is hard to see in the films.

I took a huge risk. But I can honestly say, because of my faith and the faith in the doctor, I was lucky!!!! This time success!! And I’m not naive, I’m sure other discs will deteriorate with age but I’ll cross that bridge then. Right now I’m enjoying my life!!

This year, one of the Challenges I signed up for is Blog All About It, hosted by The Herd Presents. The guideline is basically a blogging prompt challenge. Each month there’s a different prompt that you can interpret as you’d like then create a blog post around it. The 2019 list of prompts can be seen here on my Challenge Page. I will be posting for this Challenge on the 2nd Saturday of each month.

It’s been a very rainy and dreary Spring here in RI and flowers are a bit late in blooming. I have been waiting patiently to get outside, clean up my flower beds and plant. So no actual pictures of my gardens.

I have perennials planted along a wall on one side of our backyard and in May add some annuals. In a corner of our backyard, I have a statue of the Blessed Virgin with an angel on each side, which I also plant annuals. In another corner, we have a hydrangea bush, with perennials and again, will add annuals for more color. My favorite blooms in this area are the Star Gazer Lilys. The fragrance is beautiful but the actual flowers do not last long.

I also have 4 large pots located in each corner of where our pool is that I plant annuals, usually Impatiens.

Wednesday of this week, the sun finally made an appearance, so I took advantage of the day and planted these seeds and fingers crossed, they will be blooming in a few weeks.

What I am really hoping that will bloom, which I had never seen before, was a seed paper that includes multiple wildflower blends in the shape of a butterfly. Recently, my son’s girlfriend’s Mom passed away and after the funeral, guests were given these packets in her memory.

I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this year I have a backyard full of color and beautiful blooms.

This year, one of the Challenges I signed up for is Blog All About It, hosted by The Herd Presents. The guideline is basically a blogging prompt challenge. Each month there’s a different prompt that you can interpret as you’d like then create a blog post around it. The 2019 list of prompts can be seen here on my Challenge Page. I will be posting for this Challenge on the 2nd Saturday of each month.

One of my favorite words!

I admit I have a sweet tooth. No that’s not true, I have several!!

My go-to favorite sweet, which also is my comfort food, is ice cream!! Preferably a sundae from Friendly’s with forbidden chocolate and chocolate chip ice cream with hot fudge, peanut butter, and marshmallow toppings and let’s not forget the sprinkles, whipped cream, and the cherry!

And talking about chocolate, I’m not very good around Halloween. Having bags of candy ready to be given out, some of the bags do not contain the entire number of pieces that is stated on the bag.

And if I am completely honest, I will never pass on dessert, be it cakes or pies.

But the greatest sweetness in my life today, are my 2 granddaughters, Lucy who will be 3 in October and Nora, who is 2 ½ months old. With the internet being both a positive and negative with some people stealing images, I won’t be posting their pictures. But know, their sweetness fills my heart!!