It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday - Jul 14

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are, and about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit, comment, and add to that ever-growing TBR pile! So welcome, everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and was then taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.

Happy Monday! Hope you had a great week. We arrived home from vacation on Saturday afternoon, which was my birthday. I bought myself a new Kindle Fire during Prime Days and am trading in my Paperwhite. I never really liked it. The family also treated me to the gifts below:

The candle reads, "Mom's Last Nerve oh look... it's on fire." The book is about a murder that took place in the Outer Banks. Not sure if those are related: me, my last nerve, and murder. LOL! The cat card in the back is hilarious. It's a cat setting a cake on fire. I guess my husband thinks I'm old (keeping in mind that he's two months older than me). 

On Sunday, I made it out to the garden to see what I had killed... I mean grown. I was pleasantly surprised.

Lettuce and broccoli. The broccoli was delicious. We had it for lunch. 

Snipped a bunch of herbs: basil, oregano, rosemary, parsley, and thyme. 

I've always had success with potatoes. Besides beans, these are the easiest for me to grow. I also snipped the garlic scapes. Will probably add them to a stir fry this week.

The basil and rosemary made it into our chicken last night. 

I've been on a bit of a spending spree lately. Nothing that I didn't need or won't use--work clothes, a tea nest and spoonula for the kitchen, shipping for a free candle that Yankee Candle gives for my birthday, and books. Most of the books didn't cost me money because I had Amazon credits. Of course, one could argue, how could someone with hundreds of books in her TBR pile need more books? 

In my reading world, I realized there was a book I listened to on Audible that I never shared. It's really a great book--one of the most helpful on time management, but one I want to listen to again before reviewing it. At some points, I was distracted or on the phone while driving. Dang multi-tasking. 

Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman

My review of 10 Nesting Swallows by Tammar Stein appears at The Children's and Teens' Book Connection. Read it here.

My review of The Three Faces of Nellie: The Real Story Behind Laura Ingalls Wilder's "Nellie Oleson" by Robynne Elizabeth Miller is posted at Laura's Little Houses. You can read it here. 

Hope to have reviews of Stop That Witch! and My Dad Thinks He's a Scream posted soon. 

I've been reading Behind the Scenes by Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley on my Kindle.

Started The Bible Simplified by Zach Windahl on NetGalley. 

I also started Like Driftwood on the Salish Sea by Richard Levine, which I will be reviewing in September.

Look for my First Chapter Reviews of these books coming July through September!

Whispers by J. Herman Kleiger

Gone to the Ground by Morgan Hatch

What Lies We Keep by Janet Roberts

Whatever It Takes by Alan Benham 

Need to read Old Flames, New Beginnings by Lea Schizas soon. 

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books they added to their shelves the previous week. This weekly meme is now hosted by Vicki at I'd Rather Be At The Beach. 

Here are the new books I added to my ever-growing TBR pile:

The Day I Met Big Foot and Made a New Friend by D. L. Miller 

Mr. Dickens and His Carol by Samantha Silva

Gettysburg: A Testing of Courage 

by Noah Andre Trudeau

The Lost Colony Murder on the Outer Banks: Seeking Justice for Brenda Joyce Holland

 by John Railey

Upcoming Events

• Whispers by J. Herman Kleiger - Jul 18 (First Chapter Review)
• Shooting Stars Above by Patricia Leavy, PhD - Jul 24 (Author Interview)
• Arabesque by M G da Mota - Jul 31 (Book Spotlight)
• Gone to the Ground by Morgan Hatch - Aug 7 (First Chapter Review)
• Like Driftwood on the Salish Sea by Richard Levine - Aug 12 (Author Interview)
• What Lies We Keep by Janet Roberts - Aug 20 (First Chapter Review)
• Whatever it Takes by Alan Brenham - Sep 2 (First Chapter Review)
• Like Driftwood on the Salish Sea by Richard Levine - Sep 15 (Review)

New Christmas... in the news talks about a new Hallmark movie in the works, Pittsburgh is in the process of finding its official tree, and QVC launching a star-studded 'Christmas in July' event this month. Check out more details here. Tomorrow, I will be posting "Three Things to Do in July to Prepare for Christmas."

The Children's and Teens' Book Connection has my review of Ten Nesting Swallows (link above). 

Laura's Little Houses has a review of The Three Faces of Nellie, which I provided a link for above. 

That's it for this week. Wow! That was a lot. Looking forward to checking out your blogs today. 

Book Spotlight: The Girls of Good Fortune by Kristina McMorris

 

Looking for a gripping, emotional historical novel? Check out The Girls of Good Fortune by Kristina McMorris. 

Set in Portland, Oregon, in the year 1888.

"Amid the subterranean labyrinth of the notorious Shanghai Tunnels, where a woman awakens in an underground cell, drugged and disguised. Celia soon realizes she's a "shanghaied" victim on the verge of being shipped off as forced labor, leaving behind those she loves most. Although well accustomed to adapting for survival—being half-Chinese, passing as white during an era fraught with anti-Chinese sentiment—she fears that far more than her own fate lay at stake.

As she pieces together the twisting path that led to her abduction, from serving as a maid for the family of a dubious mayor to becoming entwined in the case of a goldminers' massacre, revelations emerge of a child left in peril. Desperate, Celia must find a way to escape and return to a place where unearthed secrets can prove even more deadly than the dark recesses of Chinatown.

A captivating tale of resilience and hope, The Girls of Good Fortune explores the complexity of family and identity, the importance of stories that echo through generations, and the power of strength found beneath the surface."

"In 1888, Celia Hart wakes up imprisoned in a dank room with only one thought: She must find a way to escape. In an alternate storyline set three years prior, Celia’s past unfolds...As the past catches up to the present timeline, Celia faces significant obstacles as she seeks safety, self-sufficiency and maybe even justice." ― The Washington Post

"Celia's strength of character shines, as she seems to bring out the best in people she has no good reason to trust. McMorris' latest brings fresh focus to real atrocities committed in the burgeoning American West." ― Booklist (Starred Review)

"McMorris deftly weaves a tale about identity, love, and resilience. This poignant story of courage and defiance will please fans of Kristin Hannah and Lisa Wingate." ―Library Journal

"In this page-turning, propulsive read, McMorris shines a light on a forgotten corner of America… A gripping tale of family, identity, and redemption that I simply couldn’t put down. One of McMorris’s best yet." ― Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Stolen Queen

"In this page-turning tale of a young, half-Chinese woman's quest for survival in the late nineteenth-century, anti-Chinese American West, Kristina McMorris delivers a story of resilience and power." ― Marie Benedict, New York Times bestselling author of The Personal Librarian

"McMorris is a master in the art of storytelling, weaving a heart-pounding adventure of freedom and survival. With vivid characters and a history long buried now unearthed, The Girls of Good Fortune brings legend to life. A must-read you don’t want to miss." ― Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author of The Story She Left Behind

"A captivating blend of intrigue and heart, celebrating the resilience of a woman determined to reclaim her life. Richly layered, this novel reminds us that even in the darkest places, light and love find a way to endure." ― Jean Kwok, New York Times bestselling author of Searching for Sylvie Lee

Recommended for readers who enjoy hidden or untold histories, strong female leads, American history, and immigrant stories. Purchase here.  

Interview with Anne Shaw Heinrich, Author of Violet is Blue

Since she fell in love with writing in high school, Anne Shaw Heinrich has been a journalist, columnist, blogger, and nonprofit communications professional.   She’s interviewed and written features on Beverly Sills, Judy Collins, Gene Siskel, and Debbie Reynolds. Anne’s writing has been featured in The New York Times bestseller The Right Words at the Right Time, Volume 2: Your Turn (Atria 2006) and Chicken Soup for the Soul's The Cancer Book: 101 Stories of Courage, Support and Love (2009).  Anne's work has also appeared in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis American, Midwest Family Magazine, Writer’s Digest, Education Week and Ms. Magazine. She and her husband are parents to three grown children. Anne is passionate about her family, mental health advocacy and the power of storytelling.  

Follow Anne Heinrich on social media:

Instagram: @anne_shaw_heinrich | Threads: anne_shaw_heinrich

BlueSky: anneshawheinrich.bsky.social 

Website: anneshawheinrich.com

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Cuba, Missouri. It’s a small town just over an hour’s drive from St. Louis. 

When did you begin writing?

I started writing in high school. I give a great deal of credit for this to two former teachers. Both women really turned me onto a more thoughtful approach to reading, and it was while in their classrooms that I discovered I could be the one writing stories. It really was a turning point for me, and I’ve been writing in one way or another ever since. I dedicated my first novel, God Bless the Child, to these two teachers and established a scholarship in their honor. 

Do you write during the day, at night, or whenever you can sneak a few moments?

I still work full-time as a communications professional at a university, so all my fiction writing takes place wherever I can fit it in. I do have to be intentional about my time. I get a good amount of writing done in the evenings and on the weekends. Fortunately, this never feels like a chore because writing is my jam. 

What is this book about?

Violet is Blue is the second novel in a three-book series published by Speaking Volumes, The Women of Paradise County. It follows the first book, God Bless the Child. Violet is Blue can be a stand-alone book, but the story is even richer for those who read the first book. The through line for all three books in the series is the small-town setting of Poulson and a swath of time in that place shared by characters whose lives are connected in ways big and small. Some have everything they want in the world and some do not. They aren’t perfect, but the characters seem to understand the unspoken rules in a small town. Some wounds get tended and others are left to fester as these complex characters navigate their way toward redemption and acceptance. I’m told that the characters are quirky, and I consider this a compliment!

 

What inspired you to write it?

I started writing the first book in the series 19 years ago. I was a mother with three young children, and when I had any kind of free time, I’d pull out a yellow legal pad and pencil and start scratching things out. I started this after I’d been encouraged by two editors of The New York Times bestseller The Right Words at the Right Time, Volume 2: Your Turn (Atria 2006). My essay about learning that my grandmother was a lingerie model was selected to be in the collection. During that process, one of them said, “Why aren’t you writing more? You need to be writing more.” I took the advice and got busy, working with David Tabatsky as I wrote the first draft of God Bless the Child. I’d started pitching to agents, but life kept getting in my way, so I tabled it. About two years ago, I found myself still sneaking away to write for fun when I could. I’d reached back out to David to see if he’d take a look at my new pieces. He read them and urged me to pull God Bless the Child out of my drawer. After some back and forth, we agreed I might have the makings of a series. Before too long, I had an agent, a publisher, and a contract for a three-book series. Book One was released in 2024. Violet is Blue is set to release June 17, 2025, and I’m knee-deep in getting Book Three, House of Teeth, finished. 

If you knew then, what you know now, is there anything you would have done differently?

Just be patient. Don’t give up. Keep writing and connecting with people when the timing feels right. The universe will let you know when it’s your time to move forward. This is also what I would tell aspiring writers.

What is up next for you?

The last book in the series, House of Teeth, will be released in June 2026. I think it brings the characters from books one and two back into focus, and hopefully, some satisfying closure for readers. The narrative will demonstrate how time marches on, even in small towns like Poulson, but show the ripple effects that all our actions and inactions can have on generations to come. I’m having a really good time writing it, and just like the other two books, showing how closely goodness, badness, and indifference tug at us in unexpected ways.

Purchase links: 

Bookshop.org

https://bookshop.org/p/books/violet-is-blue/90f2cca8bc7cce37?ean=9798890223159&next=t 

Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CZBSVLM4?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_sirpi 

Barnes and Noble

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Anne%20Shaw%20Heinrich

Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge: Fictional Worlds I'd Love to Visit

 

The Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge is hosted by Long and Short Reviews. They offer this blog hop as a weekly prompt to help you gain new friends and visitors. You don't have to participate every week, but if you decide to post and join the blog hop for a week, Long and Short Reviews asks that you share your link on their weekly post on their website (it will be the top post on the home page each Wednesday morning). The link list remains open for new links for 48 hours. Visit the other bloggers participating to see what they discuss that week. Comments are appreciated. 

Happy Wednesday! Hope you're having a great week. Today, we are discussing fictional worlds we would love to visit. In a vague sense, I could say books that take place in small towns, especially if they are by the water. Here are some examples:

Though I don't have any desire to live on the West Coast, Cedar Cove is a beautiful town in Puget Sound where Debbie Macomber's characters live and work. Especially since the television show, I would love to visit it or the real town that inspired it, Port Orchard, Washington. 

Brambling Falls, the setting for Selling Christmas by Angelina Goode, is a small fictional town with historical homes. The book is set during Christmas, which makes it even better. Would love to visit this one and spend the holidays there. 

Promise Lodge is an Amish community founded by three sisters. It is my favorite out of all Charlotte Hubbard's fictional Amish communities. Would love to eat there, shop there, and spend some time with these characters.

HollyHaven is a magical town that is home to the Claus family. For a Christmas lover like me, it would be an exciting place to visit.

What are some fictional worlds you would love to visit?

Book Spotlight & Giveaway: My Bully, My Aunt, and her Final Gift by Harold Phifer

 

Aunt Kathy made his childhood miserable—now her funeral might just set him free.

In this wickedly funny and deeply honest memoir, Harold Phifer revisits the chaos of growing up under the thumb of a domineering aunt who ruled with twisted wisdom and unpredictable wrath. As he plans her awkward memorial, Hal finds healing in the most unexpected place: her absence. My Bully, My Aunt, and Her Final Gift is a heartfelt journey through trauma, truth, and the strange gifts we inherit from those who hurt us most.

Read an excerpt

Very few parishioners had vehicles, so she was an easy choice. However, accepting a ride from Aunt Kathy came at a heavy price. Passengers had to endure constant verbal assaults while present in her car. Even Jerry got involved in those character assassinations. 

On one occasion, with both Jerry and me crammed in the back seat of Aunt Kathy’s Crown Victoria, along with a big basket of food, which we were forbidden to touch, Aunt Kathy set out to pick up Deacon Hunter. 

As soon as the old man settled in, Jerry wasted no time repeating what he had gathered from Aunt Kathy prior to the lift. “You need to get your own car!” 

Of course, Aunt Kathy tried to laugh it off and then replied, “Kids say the darndest things. I don’t know where my baby boy got that.”

Purchase here!

Harold Phifer was born in the rebellious South of Columbus, Mississippi. As a kid, he worked the streets, hustled the neighbors, and bused tables at bars he didn’t belong in. After graduating from Caldwell High School, he went on to earn degrees from Mississippi State and Jackson State Universities. He became an Air Traffic Controller in Memphis, Tennessee, but after 23 years, he sought purpose elsewhere—working as an international contractor alongside soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. After narrowly escaping the Taliban takeover in 2021, he took refuge at Guantanamo Bay and resumed his writing while continuing his work as a controller. In 2024, he returned to the Middle East, where he continues to write about life, love, and the human spirit. 

Visit Harold online at:

https://x.com/hephifer 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/harold-phifer-093b4091

https://www.facebook.com/HaroldPhifer2024

https://www.instagram.com/haroldphifer2024

https://riseandread.com

Harold Phifer will be awarding a 

$15 Starbucks gift card to

 a randomly drawn winner.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I’d Like to Re-read

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.    

Welcome back to Tuesday! Today, we're discussing books we'd like to re-read. Before life became so crazy, I used to re-read some books every year. Not sure when that will happen again, but if it did, here are the books I would indulge in.

I waited so long to read the Harry Potter series. Now, I would love the time to read it all over again. 

The Greatest Miracle in the World was the first book by Og Mandino that I read. This is the one on my list that I could have the opportunity to re-read because his books are short. 

Iced Chiffon by Duffy Brown introduced me to her writing. This is such a great series that I am ready to read it again. 

I used to read the Anne of Green Gables series by Lucy Maud Montgomery every year. Would love to read all eight books again. 

I loved Sarah Miller's Caroline, which tells the story of Caroline Quiner Ingalls. It is so well-told, I would love to read it again. 

Shades of Gray by Jessica James is one of my favorite Civil War novels. I'm overdue to read it again.

The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough is another book I used to read once a year. I am long overdue to re-read it.

The Left Behind series is one of my all-time favorites. It's the last series I recall waiting eagerly for the next book to come out. I haven't read it in decades, but I would like to see if I still love it as much as I did back then. 

I read the American Bicentennial series by John Jakes in high school. Wonder if I would love it just as much now. 

Mrs. Tom Thumb was the first book I read by Melanie Benjamin. Would love to read it again. 

Have you read any on my list?