It's Monday! What Are You Reading? & Mailbox Monday - Apr 20

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. 

Oh, my goodness. It is Monday again! I am still catching up with last week's comments, so please know I will visit you soon. 

As I look ahead to this week, it is a bag of mixed emotions. My father-in-law passed away six years ago today, on Easter Monday. We lost him in the early days of COVID in a way that made national headlines. 

With the opening of the new Veterans Home in Holyoke expected this fall, it is my hope that the memory of those horrible days can finally be laid to rest. 

Yet we have joy as we plan to visit the Lil' Princess in North Carolina. She will be graduating from college in less than three weeks. We are so proud of her! She has already secured a job and will be moving back to the Northeast. For this, we are thrilled. 

As far as books and reading go, I attended the grand opening for The Wicked Press in South Windsor this weekend. Run by the spouse of one of my home inspectors, this store combines coffee, tea, and books. They already have some great events lined up. 

I finished Murder, Local Style by Leslie Karst. Look for my review this week. 

I continued with This is Not About Us by Allegra Goodman. I have around three hours left. 

I continued with Scrap: Salvaging a Family by Luann Castle. This is for a June review. 

These are next:

The Ledger by Steven Manchester, which is a companion to his novel, The Menu

Staged by Caitlin Rother, which is the sequel to Hooked

The Ladies Hall by Vanessa Miller is a NetGalley download

Co-Created: The Cultural Strategy That Redefined Pacsun by Brieane Olson is also a NetGalley download.

Photo credit: Freepik

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. 

Thanks to my visit to The Wicked Press, I picked up these two books:

The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill

The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate

Upcoming Events

Murder, Local Style by Leslie Karst - Apr 20 (Review)

A Change in Plans: A Sgt. Windflower Mystery by Mike Martin - May 13 (Guest Post)

Scrap: Salvaging a Family by Luanne Castle - May 21 (Review)

The Ledger by Steven Manchester - May (Review)

Fighter Pilot's Daughter by Mary Lawlor - June 10 (Guest Post)

Staged by Cailtin Rother - June (Review)

The Old Cranberry Ladies Garden Club: The Ghost and the Key by Bill Cusano - July 1 (Review)

The Old Cranberry Ladies Garden Club: The Widow Murderess by Bill Cusano - July 8 (Review)

The Old Cranberry Ladies Garden Club: The Sparrow and the Crow by Bill Cusano - July 10 (Review)

Christmas Year Round

The Christmas Year Round blog's latest "Journey through Christmases Past" post takes a glimpse at Christmas traditions, including my family's traditions. You can find it here.

The Children's and Teens' Book Connection

Nothing new.

Laura's Little Houses

Nothing new, but I will post my favorites from Seasons 7 - 9 soon. 

Looking for your thoughts: have these Monday posts gotten too long? Your feedback will not offend me. Thanks!

Book Review & Giveaway: Agatha Christie, She Watched by Teresa Peschel

 

If you are a lover of Agatha Christie's work, then you need to run out and buy Agatha Christie, She Watched by Teresa Peschel. 

Peschel opens this engaging and informative movie guide by explaining how it came to fruition. She already enjoyed Christie's novels, but it wasn't until her husband Bill annotated some of her early novels that the obsession began. Years later, they had an amazing project that is now in the hands of readers everywhere. 

This well-thought-out guide is filled with black-and-white photos, fun rating icons, general information about each film adaptation, and the author's insight into the actors, how a particular adaptation might compare to others, and more! 

I feel I was similar to Teresa before she edited Bill's annotations of Christie's books: I knew about the author, and I'd read some of her stuff. Then something happens, and you find yourself diving in to read/watch everything out there. From the moment I opened Agatha Christie, She Watched, I was immersed in Peschel's insights into the films adapted from her books. Miss Marple, Hercule Poirot, and even Tommy and Tuppence all get their time in the spotlight. One section is dedicated solely to And Then There Were None, which I was reacquainted with when my daughter's dance team performed to the novel's plot. 

Any person who wants to know more about movies featuring Christie's characters and based on her work will be eager to dive right into Agatha Christie, She Watched. There is even an international version using the same format that explores films from around the world, using Christie's writing as source material. 

Pick up your copy of both books here.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Peschel Press
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 7, 2023
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 438 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1950347397
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1950347391
• 
  

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Peschel Press
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 29, 2025
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 364 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1950347427
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1950347421

I received a copy of both books from the author through Partners in Crime Tours. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Tour Participants:

Click through the other tour stops for can’t-miss reviews, insider interviews, exclusive guest posts, and more chances to win!

Click here to view the Tour Schedule 

 

A Mysterious Little Giveaway

This giveaway is hosted by Partners in Crime Tours for Teresa Peschel. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.

AGATHA CHRISTIE, SHE WATCHED by Teresa Peschel |

Can't see the giveaway? Click Here!

Get More Great Reads at Partners In Crime Tours

Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge: My Unusual Hobbies/Interests

 

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 requests that you share your link in their weekly post on their website (which 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! How is your week going? Mine is crazy, but it is all good real estate stuff, and getting ready to head to North Carolina next week to see our girl. 

I am really stumped by this week's prompt. Yes, I am an odd bird, but I don't think I have any unusual hobbies or interests. I am just too boring for that. 

Here are some things I would do if money were no consideration:

• Buy historical homes and restore them, then rent them out as Airbnbs or sell them. 
• Help an acquaintance create a toy museum in town.
• Open an independent bookstore in town. We used to have one, but it went out of business years ago. 
• Would like something else to go with that bookstore. I was thinking of vinyls or maybe even a fro-yo shop. We already have enough coffee shops in town.
• I want to start a small indie publishing house.

I am sure there are other things I would do if the budget were limitless. How about you? 

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Book Titles That Describe Me/My Life & Tell Me Something Tuesday: What do you still love doing that you loved as a kid?

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. 

Golly gee! It is Tuesday again. I am out doing Tuesday morning things today, but I can't wait to see what you all come up with for this week's topic: Top Ten Book Titles That Describe Me/My Life. I'm not sure I want to give anyone this much insight into my life. It might frighten you. LOL! Just realize, you have been warned. 

Top Ten Book Titles That 

Describe Me/My Life

I Feel Bad About My Neck And Other Thoughts On Being A Woman by Nora Ephron: As I sit here, hunched over my keyboard, praying for someone to put together the standing desk I bought in November, I realize getting old is not for sissies. 

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling: If you have lived your life feeling like you fit in absolutely nowhere, you begin to wonder if people are somewhere else having fun without you.

Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson: If it is embarrassing, it has probably happened to me. Awkward, scrawny, and unathletic, I tell you, I have tons of stories. Aging has not improved this situation much. 

Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes: In my bravest moments, I feel like I am on the cusp of this. Training myself to set boundaries is a work in progress that I feel is setting me up to embrace a year of yes. I was not, however, brave enough to finish reading the book. SMH

The Printed Letter Bookshop by Katherine Reay: I would not mind inheriting a bookshop, and envisioning a new path for yourself can bring unexpected surprises. 

Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris is a book I would likely never read. I do, however, connect to the whole working in retail during Christmas frustration. One day, after listening for hours to the same music coming from the animated Santa doll near my department, and nursing a headache, I turned it off. A customer reported me to my supervisor. Really? And don't even get me started on the day that I grabbed a shoplifter in a headlock and dragged her back to the office in my dress and heels after she punched my manager in the face. 

Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh might be too close to my world than I would like to admit. I stumbled upon Brosh's website and wished I had half her humor and talent. That said, her sense of humor also reminds me of Aj at Read All The Things!. If I ever meet Allie or Aj in person, I hope we will be great friends. 

Confessions of a Domestic Failure by Ashley Keller shines a light on things like my inability to feel talented in any crafty sort of way, and how I constantly feel guilty for not being talented or even being able to do anything special with my daughters' hair when they were little. I was the kid who, when we made a craft for charity, the nuns didn't like it enough and "fixed" it. I will never have an influencer house, because I can't decorate to save my life. Cooking and baking, that I can do. Forget the rest of it. 

Present Over Perfect by Shauna Niequist is the book I needed two decades ago. It is, however, something I am working on now. These days, despite being a domestic failure in therapy, I do find myself saying more often, "It's not perfect, but it is done."

My Father's List by Laura Carney is about one woman doing an amazing thing and how it transformed her life. Laura and I have connected online. I admire her so much. Grief is a deeply personal experience, one I am all too familiar with. Some of my most vivid memories of my childhood are surrounding grief. Listening to Laura's story reminds me that there is a way to move forward after loss. 

Thanks to Freepik for the image

Tell Me Something Tuesday (TMST) is hosted by Jen Twimom at That's What I'm Talking About. TMST is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. Participation is optional, and you can leave your comments in the weekly post when you participate. Check it out if you're interested in joining.

Welcome back to Tell Me Something Tuesday. Considering we just talked about our lives, it seems fitting that we chat about things we love doing now that we used to love doing as kids. I don't believe there are many of these things for me:

• Counted cross-stitch, which I learned from my mémère
• Cooking/baking--self-taught with some help from a summer Bible school cooking class and home economics in high school
• Writing for enjoyment since I was a teenager

What are some things you have enjoyed doing since childhood? 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? & Mailbox Monday - Apr 13

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. 

Welcome back to Monday! Christos Anesti (Χριστὸς ἀνέστη) to all my Greek Orthodox friends. We visited my brother-in-law and his family this weekend to celebrate. It is so nice when the Gregorian calendar and the Julian calendar find us celebrating two Easters in one year. 

I would like to say that I didn't work while we were in Maine, but it would be a fib. We still had fun, found our daughter an apartment, ate some great food, and came home happy. 

Kennebunk

Breakfast at The Inn at English Meadows

Came home to the boys, while Theo stayed with a sitter

This week, look for my review of Agatha Christie, She Watched by Teresa Peschel. 

I have been reading Murder, Local Style by Leslie Karst, which I downloaded on NetGalley for this month's review. 

I continued with This is Not About Us by Allegra Goodman. So far, there are moments I like this book and times when I wonder if I will keep reading. 

I continued with Scrap: Salvaging a Family by Luann Castle.

These are next:

The Ledger by Steven Manchester, which is a companion to his novel, The Menu

Staged by Caitlin Rother, which is the sequel to Hooked

Photo credit: Freepik

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. 

This week, Jamie Jo Wright's latest book arrived from Amazon. You can buy The Bookshop of 99 Doors here, and I might get some affiliate income. 

My sisters and I attended a local book fair this weekend. In addition to Wright's book, you will see I grabbed two others from local authors:

• Chasing Roses by Jean M. Grant
• Katharine's Remarkable Trip by Gail Ward Olmsted

I also bought this handy book sleeve to take with us on vacation. 

Last, but not least, NetGalley approved me for The Ladies Hall by Vanesa Miller. 

Upcoming Events

Agatha Christie, She Watched by Teresa Peschel - Apr 15 (Review)

Murder, Local Style by Leslie Karst - Apr 20 (Review)

A Change in Plans: A Sgt. Windflower Mystery by Mike Martin - May 13 (Guest Post)

Scrap: Salvaging a Family by Luanne Castle - May 21 (Review)

The Ledger by Steven Manchester - May (Review)

Fighter Pilot's Daughter by Mary Lawlor - June 10 (Guest Post)

Staged by Cailtin Rother - June (Review)

Christmas Year Round

The Christmas Year Round blog's latest "Journey through Christmases Past" post travels back to 1871. You can read that post here.

The Children's and Teens' Book Connection

I provided my 2026 Writing Goals First Quarter Update here.

Laura's Little Houses

I am choosing and discussing my favorite episode from each season of Little House on the Prairie. You can find my favorites from Seasons 4 - 6 here.

Now that I have written you a novel, I will stop here and wish you a wonderful day. See you around the blogosphere!