To Read, or Not To Read

What qualities should a prince possess?
When I was little, my favorite prince was Prince Phillip from Sleeping Beauty. I knew, even at the time, that this was sort of an unusual choice. Most of my friends liked Prince Eric from The Little Mermaid, which made a lot more sense, as we’d all seen Little Mermaid on the big screen when it came out in 89. Plus, Eric had a dog, and was rocking that very handsome light eyes-dark hair combo. But for me, it was all Prince Phillip. And when thinking about what qualities a prince should possess, if I go with my first favorite prince, a prince should: Be a great singer/dancer (gotta know how to waltz!)Have a hilarious horseRock a jaunty red hat with a feather in itHave nearly immobile hairBe willing to defy royal convention/parental expectation and marry for love

Most of these qualities have not stood the test of time. For example, I am having a very hard time picturing Prince William in a red hat with a feather on it. But when I started to think of …

I've been following Gretchen Rubin on Facebook for over a year now. She's written a book called The Happiness Project which in itself has become a movement. In a podcast a few weeks ago, she adopted "18 for 2018" for the new year after being inspired by a listener. I thought this was a great idea and decided to post my 18 things that would make me happier in 2018.


Put new batteries in all the flashlightsLearn more about codingMake more time for being crafty (sewing, knitting, etc.)Do yoga everydayBe more organizedTake more photosStart a family game night with in-lawsRead more books that I already ownLearn to cook new recipesSay yes to things that scare meSpend more time in natureFinish reading Moby DickLimit time on social mediaConnect with friends moreSend out Christmas cardsLearn to say no without feeling guiltyDrink less coffeeLearn a new language


So that's it. What's on your list?

Buy from Amazon ABOUT KATE QUINN Kate Quinn is a native of Southern California. She attended Boston University, where she earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in classical voice. A lifelong history buff, she has written four novels in the Empress of Rome Saga and two books set in the Italian Renaissance detailing the early years of the infamous Borgia clan. All have been translated into multiple languages. She and her husband now live in Maryland with two black dogs named Caesar and Calpurnia.
ABOUT THE ALICE NETWORK In an enthralling new historical novel from national bestselling author Kate Quinn, two women—a female spy recruited to the real-life Alice Network in France during World War I and an unconventional American socialite searching for her cousin in 1947—are brought together in a mesmerizing story of courage and redemption. 1947. In the chaotic aftermath of World War II, American college girl Charlie St. Clair is pregnant, unmarried, and on the verge of being thrown out of her v…

Whether you're out and about, waiting in line, or wrapping gifts, you can tune into Beaks and Geeks to listen to numerous debut novelists share insights into the stories they have written and engaging tidbits about their lives, inside, and outside of writing.  
Below are links to five episodes from the past year, which feature women debut authors. 

Francesca Hornak, author of Seven Days of Us Listen to Francesca Hornak discuss her witty and charming novel about a deadly disease, complicated family, and a forced Christmastime quarantine. Tune into an entertaining conversation about creaky family estates, awkward moments, gruesome diseases and more.  

Brit Bennett, author of The Mothers On Beaks and Geeks, Brit Bennett celebrates the paperback release of her 2016 debut novel about motherhood, friendship, and life choices. She talks about the power of gossip, politics of her novel, feedback from readers, and more.

I love Little Women and I'm excited to watch the first trailer for the new PBS series. What do you think? 




Watch the first trailer for Little Women, the two-part TV adaptation coming to MASTERPIECE on PBS on Mother’s Day (May 13), and continuing on May 20, 2018!

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition | 416 pages | 9780143131854 Available @ Amazon
The beloved coming-of-age tale of a spunky heroine named Anne "with an E," now for the first time in Penguin Classics and packaged in a Deluxe edition. 
L. M. Montgomery's novel Anne of Green Gables recounts the adventures of Anne Shirley, an 11-year-old orphan mistakenly sent to a pair of siblings who intended to adopt a boy to help work on their farm in Prince Edward Island. Yet Anne's quirky personality and good-natured spirit causes the siblings to grow to love her anyway, and soon the entire town falls for the precocious little girl with bright red hair. 
Cherished by both children and adults, Anne of Green Gables is a celebration of fierce individualism, and the families we create, rather than the ones we are born into. This Deluxe edition is enhanced with a foreword by bestselling author J. Courtney Sullivan, and an introduction and suggestions f…

About the Book: 
Kaine Prescott is no stranger to death. When her husband died two years ago, her pleas for further investigation into his suspicious death fell on deaf ears. In desperate need of a fresh start, Kaine purchases an old house sight unseen in her grandfather's Wisconsin hometown. But one look at the eerie, abandoned house immediately leaves her questioning her rash decision. And when the house's dark history comes back with a vengeance, Kaine is forced to face the terrifying realization she has nowhere left to hide. 
A century earlier, the house on Foster Hill holds nothing but painful memories for Ivy Thorpe. When an unidentified woman is found dead on the property, Ivy is compelled to discover her identity. Ivy's search leads her into dangerous waters and, even as she works together with a man from her past, can she unravel the mystery before any other lives--
including her own--are lost?



Interview

1.Describe this book in three words.Haunting, Relevant, Hopef…

Just in time for the holidays, New York Times bestselling author and artist Mary Engelbreit has expanded her collection of coloring books with this assortment of black-and-white Christmas postcards, ornaments, and gift tags—perfect for adding your own pop of color!

With the Color ME Christmas Book of Postcards, Mary Engelbreit fans can deck the halls, the tree, and their gifts with 10 postcards, 15 cut-out gift tags, and 10 cut-out ornaments. Each item is printed in black and white—the perfect canvas to get creative! This festive book from the New York Times bestselling queen of Christmas makes it easy to put an original and heartfelt touch on the holiday season.








Laura Ingalls Wilder Christmas Stories

Join the original pioneer girl in this Little House chapter book, adapted for younger readers from Laura Ingalls Wilder’s beloved classics.

Illustrated with beautiful new black-and-white artwork, this repackaged edition includes bonus material such as games, activities, and more!

For Lau…