Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge: Stores or Other Physical Places I Wish Still Existed

 

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! Hope you are having a great week. Today's Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge is taking us on a trip down memory lane. We are talking about stores or other physical places we wish still existed. 

Considering that so many stores of my childhood are just distant memories these days, that could be a long list (problem with being over half a century old).

When I was a kid, we had a local mall in our city called Fairfield Mall. Its anchor stores were Two Guys (closed 1982) and Caldor (closed 1999). After Two Guys closed, Bradlees moved in. They closed all their stores by 2001. Fairfield Mall closed soon afterwards. I have so many memories there:

• Taking the Pepsi Challenge in the food court. Still a Pepsi girl.
• Sitting at the Koffee Kup counter having tea and a donut with my uncle, who always ordered a coffee and a cruller. 
• Playing video games and pinball at the Just Fan arcade. 
• Getting soft serve at the in-mall restaurant.
• Going each week to choose the Top 40 singles I didn't own from Caldor.

More stores from my childhood that are no longer around: Woolworths (closed 1997), where I ate a lot of fries at the lunch counter; Waldenbooks (closed 2011), where I shopped for new titles; Child World (closed 1992), where we loved to browse with my mother, and PaySaver (late 90s), which was a local discount retailer. 

One place that no longer exists from my childhood is the field of wildflowers next to my childhood home. The housing authority built a 62+ independent living facility in 1976 as part of an urban renewal project. We lived in that house until 1980, when my parents sold it because my mother had cancer and could no longer help my father manage it. We moved into a single-family home in another area of the city, but I had relatives who lived in the housing authority's building, so I often got to visit our old apartment building. 

What are some stores and physical places you wish were still around? Hope you enjoy your trip down memory lane as much as I did. 

Book Review & Giveaway: The Old Cranberry Ladies Garden Club: The Widow Murderess by Bill Cusano

For the second book in Bill Cusano's The Old Cranberry Ladies Garden Club series, readers travel back to the 1800s, to see how Elicra, Deborah, and their family are faring a year after Chester Cranberry's horrific murder. 

The Widow Murderess, titled for the name given to Elicra Cranberry by a town of people, most of whom consider her guilty of murdering her philandering husband, takes a step back in time by focusing on the fallout of Chester Cranberry's murder. The local store owner cuts off her credit; her family is targeted in other ways; and those who feel she should not have inherited Cranberry Farm are determined to punish all of them in an effort to get them to leave. However, they have underestimated Elicra and Deborah's resolve and don't understand the secrets of her shed and the goings on there. 

Historical mysteries are some of my favorites. The first book, The Ghost and the Key, traveled from past to present. The Widow Murderess, however, stays planted in the past to give the reader some backstory, introduce new characters, and get a fuller picture of the recurring characters we already know. It is good to see two strong women supporting each other and their family as they endure being ostracised by their community while continuing to make a difference in the lives of others. Like the first book, it is told in the present tense and is filled with a plethora of details. Thankfully, the story is strong, but I glossed over the extra details while reading. Some trimming back would serve to strengthen a solid story. 

Looking forward to reading the third book in the series.

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0G2216827
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ 4610 Publishing
• Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 25, 2025
• Edition ‏ : ‎ 1st
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• File size ‏ : ‎ 5.5 MB
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 343 pages

I purchased a digital copy of this book for my Kindle. 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

 

 

When Crows Circle… It’s Time to Enter to Win

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

The Old Cranberry Ladies Garden Club by Bill Cusano | Surprise Gift Box w/ Gift Card

Can't see the giveaway? Click Here!

Get More Great Reads at Partners In Crime Tours

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Book Titles That Include the Word "Hope"

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. 

It is Tuesday again, which means it is time for Top Ten Tuesday. This week's prompt is sharing book titles that include a specific word we choose. Today, I chose "hope" because it appears in the titles of many of the genres I enjoy and is a positive word in a tumultuous world. Here are my...

Top Ten Book Titles That Include the Word "Hope"

1. Hope for Each Day by Billy Graham
2. The Prodigal Son's Holiday Hope by Jill Kemerer
3. Sermonsnacks: Help, Hope, and Encouragement for Today by Don Collette
4. No Hope for Gomez by Graham Parke
5. Because of Bethlehem: Love if Born, Hope is Here by Max Lucado
6. Hope: Indigo Ballet Series by Grier Cooper
7. Almost Everything: Notes on Hope by Anne Lamott
8. A Place Called Hope by Philip Gulley
9. A Tapestry of Hope by Tracie Peterson and Judith Miller
10. His Truth is Marching On: John Lewis and the Power of Hope by Jon Meacham

Photo credit to articular on Magnific (formerly FreePik)

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.

Tell Me Something Tuesday is on hiatus until September. Check back for more prompts then.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? & Mailbox Monday - July 6 (Happy 19th Blogoversary to TBC!)

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 from the Outer Banks! We have started our second week of vacation. Sadly, we said goodbye to the Lil' Princess early Sunday so that she could start her new job today. It is different without her here, but we are so thrilled for this new adventure she has embarked on. I will share photos from our trip once we are back.

Happy Independence Day to all who celebrated this weekend. July 4 also marked the 19th anniversary for me here at The Book Connection! I thank each and every one of you for your loyal readership, your comments, and your online friendship. 

As I had planned, I am doing my best to catch up with my reading. I also might have bought a couple of new books. Shocking, I know! 

I reviewed Digital Detox for Remote Workers: Reclaim Your Focus, Productivity, and Work-Life Balance in the Digital Age by Dr. Guenter H. Schamel. You can find that review here.

I reviewed Hi Honey, I'm Homo!: Sitcoms, Specials, and the Queering of American Culture by Matt Baume. You can read that review here. 

I have about an hour left with Meditations for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman. Loving so much about it.

I  have not picked up The Ladies Hall by Vanessa Miller while here, because other books need to be read first. 

I am almost done with The Ledger by Steven Manchester, a companion to his novel The Menu. 

I didn't pick up The Eyes of River yet either. 

I read some of Love on the Shelf by Sheila Roberts since our arrival. 

Staged by Caitlin Rother, which is the sequel to Hooked. I haven't cracked it open so far, but it is on my list. 

The Ghost and the Key is the first book in Bill Cusano's The Old Cranberry Ladies Garden Club series. I reviewed this book on July 1. You can read the review and enter the giveaway here.

I finished the second book of The Old Cranberry Ladies Garden Club, The Widow Murderess. My review will appear on July 8. 

Book three is The Sparrow and the Crow. I will post a First Chapter Review of this one on July 10, the last day of the tour and giveaway. Then I will post a full review later. 

Massawa by Pam Weber is a book I have not yet started, but it is with me if I get to it. 

Joyce McCullough sent me a copy of Max and Her Stacks and Look for the Pink Ribbons to review. 

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. 

I always buy books on vacation. These were two used ones I grabbed from Downtown Books in Manteo. 

Upcoming Events

The Ledger by Steven Manchester - TBD (Review)

Staged by Caitlin Rother - TBD (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 (First Chapter Review)

Massawa by Pam Weber - July (Review)

Love on the Shelf by Sheila Roberts - TBD (Review)

Christmas Year Round

Sunday's Journey through Christmases Past spent Christmas with the Ingalls family, discussing some of my favorite Christmas chapters from the Little House books. You can find that post here. 

The Children's and Teens' Book Connection

I reviewed Look for the Pink Ribbons by Joyce McCullough at The Children's and Teens' Book Connection. You will find that review here.

Laura's Little Houses

Here are the latest posts at Laura's Little Houses:

• Little House on the Prairie Netflix Premiere Coming July 9 with a link to the trailer. See here.
• Favorite Little House on the Prairie Movie, which I talk about here.
• This weekend's post is about the role of adoption on the show. You can read about Adoption on Little House on the Prairie here. I learned something new about adoption law while performing research for this post. Hope you find it interesting. 

Not sure what is planned for today, so I will check in with you as I am able. Looking forward to connecting with you now that I am caught up on old posts. 

Audible Book Review: Digital Detox for Remote Workers by Dr. Guenter H. Schamel

 

Looking to break away from the remote working world? Are you burnt out by Slack and Zoom and that constantly on feeling? Then Digital Detox for Remote Workers: Reclaim Your Focus, Productivity, and Work-Life Balance in the Digital Age by Dr. Guenter H. Schamel. 

Schamel's helpful resource is a good first step in making a change. For those of us who work remotely, it's so easy to spend more time than the standard workday at your computer. It can be so hard to put down the phone and step away, feeling like you aren't fulfilling your clients' needs or that the one time you break away and attempt balance, you must sacrifice productivity. Meanwhile, your productivity and focus suffer from trying to juggle it all unsuccessfully. 

Digital Detox for Remote Workers is about setting healthy boundaries, avoiding burnout, and resetting your mental energy. Though narrated by Virtual Voice, I did not find it distracting. I feel this is one of those books that is best used in printed format because of how the strategies are outlined and put into practice, but I found it useful in getting me started. Definitely worth the listening time.

Part of series	Thriving in Remote Work
Listening Length	6 hours and 19 minutes
Author	Guenter H. Schamel
Narrator	Virtual Voice
Whispersync for Voice	Ready
Audible.com Release Date	November 21, 2025
Publisher	Independently Published
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B0FXDPYCRX

I purchased a copy of this book with an Audible credit. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Audible Book Review: Hi Honey, I'm Homo!: Sitcoms, Special, and the Queering of American Culture by Matt Baume

 

If you enjoy well-researched, engaging pop culture books as much as I do, Hi Honey, I'm Homo!: Sitcoms, Specials, and The Queering of American Culture, authored and narrated by Matt Baume, should be on your list. 

From Bewitched to Modern Family and everything in between, Baume guides readers on an engaging journey through television history and its evolving portrayals of the LGBTQ+ community, including how these characters have helped shape broader social understanding.

As a Gen Xer, I now realize how often television in my youth portrayed people who didn’t fit the perceived “norm” in ways that were unkind or limiting. Either that, or I was simply too young to recognize how groundbreaking and controversial sitcoms like Soap were when they first aired. I barely remembered characters like Beverly LaSalle on All in the Family or Officer Zatelli’s coming‑out moment on Barney Miller. I’d like to think that’s because I didn’t view them as anything other than part of the larger cast of characters simply existing within the story. Moments from The Golden Girls and Ellen were likely the first times I consciously recognized that a show was making a deliberate point about inclusion and representation.

Hi Honey, I'm Homo! is thought-provoking, and the research and commentary are placed alongside what was going on in the country at the time. Truly a great read!

Listening Length	6 hours and 41 minutes
Author	Matt Baume
Narrator	Matt Baume
Whispersync for Voice	Ready
Audible.com Release Date	May 23, 2023
Publisher	Dreamscape Media
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B0BZ1GGJ4J

I purchased a copy of this book with an Audible credit. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Book Review & Giveaway: The Old Cranberry Ladies Garden Club: The Ghost and The Key by Bill Cusano

Bill Cusano introduces readers to The Old Cranberry Ladies Garden Club with his debut novel, The Ghost and the Key. 

Our story opens in 1832, with Elcria Cranberry and Deborah Townsend, two women who clearly had motive to murder Elcria's husband, Chester H. Cranberry. But who truly committed the heinous act remains a mystery 192 years later. 

In the current day, Cranberry family matriarch Mildred dreams of the day her granddaughter Maggie inherits Cranberry Farm, but when Maggie gets engaged to Sam Castleby, son of a developer, Mildred worries what that might mean for her family's beloved farm. And when a descendant of Chester's illegitimate child uncovers evidence about his murder, Mildred will need all the support she can muster to fend off a challenge to claim the title of Cranberry Farm. Can the ghost of Elcria help her solve a family mystery and reveal the secret history of the Ladies Garden Club of Old Cranberry?

For fans of cozy mysteries with unique and engaging characters, The Ghost and the Key will certainly fit the bill. From Mildred to Aunt Sylvie to Jacqueline Hudson and more, this book is filled with fun and eccentric characters. Having two characters with M names and two with E names was a bit confusing at times, but the author does include a "Cast of Characters" page to help you keep it all straight. 

The Ghost and the Key is told in present tense, which I find challenging as a reader and a writer. It's not my first choice,  but Cusano makes it work. Though I felt there were extraneous details an editor could tighten up, this was an enjoyable mystery from beginning to end. 

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0F7CVTVFJ
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ 4610 Publishing
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 15, 2025
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 342 pages
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8992542608
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.01 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.76 x 9 inches

I received a copy of this book 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

  

When Crows Circle… It’s Time to Enter to Win

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

The Old Cranberry Ladies Garden Club by Bill Cusano | Surprise Gift Box w/ Gift Card

Can't see the giveaway? Click Here!

Get More Great Reads at Partners In Crime Tours