It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday - Mar 30

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. 

Here we are at the end of another month. Did March go by as quickly for you as it did for me? This month was a mix of business, networking, time in the kitchen, events as we get closer to the Lil' Princess' graduation, and the loss of one of our beloved cats. Our kitty quartet was reduced to a trio in 2024, and now it is a duet. Real estate has tremendously picked up, which means I will need to be even more careful with my boundaries. Here are some photos from last week:

We had to euthanize Boots on Wednesday. Not unexpected, but still hard. 

On Friday night, Paddy and I ate at Davio's on the Boston Seaport. The food and service are amazing!

Our Lil' Princess before she headed out to formal. 

We had Travis to make us smile this week. 

In my reading world, I overextended myself, which happens when I am sad. That means I will likely not read Old Flames, New Beginnings by Lea Schizas or Officer Erik and the Very Special Dad  by Erik Estrada and Steven Manchester until vacation time. 

My review of Before Dorothy by Hazel Gaynor appeared on Sunday. You can find it here. What a beautifully told story!

My review of Dream Facades: The Cruel Architecture of Reality TV by Jack Balderrama Morley was posted on Saturday. Such an interesting book. Check out my review here.

I am almost done with Agatha Christie, She Watched by Teresa Peschel. Look for my review in April. 

I have Murder, Local Style by Leslie Karst downloaded on NetGalley. I didn't read it last week, but I will pick it up again this week. 

In addition to finishing Beyond Dorothy on Audible, I started listening to the next two books.

The 4 Disciplines of Execution by Chris McChesney, Sean Covey, and Jim Huling. Not a fan so far. It's a lot of jargon. 

Since I turned off nonfiction, I started This is Not About Us by Allegra Goodman, which many people have raved about. I am not sure I appreciate the narrator for this audiobook, but I will see how it goes. 

Next, I will be reading the following for reviews:

Scrap: Salvaging a Family by Luann Castle

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. 

Continuing to display my lack of self-control, I grabbed three books this week.

The Rise of the Creative Class by Richard Florida was a cited resource in Dream Facades by Jack Balderrama Morley. 

Crabtree Tule River Patriarchs is the latest book by Marilyn Meredith. 

Reading Before Dorothy by Hazel Gaynor inspired me to read the OZ series by L. Frank Baum, so I downloaded this set for my Kindle. 

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 has a new "Journey through Christmases Past" post. We travel back to Christmas 1843, which was an important year for lovers of the written word. Check it out here. 

The Children's and Teens' Book Connection

Are you ready for Kidlit Haha Week? It starts on April 1. Check out my post here. 

Laura's Little Houses

I started drafting the next post in my brain. Now, all I need is some time to get it done. 

That's it for me this week. I will post this on Sunday because I have an early morning appointment followed by a training class. I'll check out your blogs in the afternoon. Enjoy!

Audible Book Review: Before Dorothy by Hazel Gaynor

 

Who was Auntie Em before Dorothy Gale blew into Kansas? How did she meet Uncle Henry? How did Dorothy wind up with the childless couple? Before Dorothy by Hazel Gaynor is a charmingly brilliant story of Emily Gale, Dorothy's beloved Auntie Em. 

In February 1932, Emily Gale journeys back to Chicago after a tragic accident takes the life of her sister Annie and her husband. Bouying her courage, she lays eyes upon Annie and John's only child, Dorothy, who is now her responsibility. Feeling totally unprepared for motherhood, and knowing the unforgiving prairie is no place for a child, she apprehensively brings Dorothy back to Kansas. Uncle Henry has always wanted children, so he welcomes Dorothy with open arms, but would he be so understanding if he knew the whole story? 

As the lack of rain and dust bowls that steal your breath increase, Emily and Henry watch as their dreams shrivel like scorched crops. And when Emily is forced to face her worst fear, she must decide if she will open her heart to Dorothy so that she can heal. 

Oh. My. Goodness! Before Dorothy is not what I expected at all, but it is the backstory that lovers of The Wizard of Oz will appreciate. Traveling back and forth between the present day and Emily's years growing up in Chicago with her sisters Annie and Nell, this is the story of the beloved Auntie Em we never doubted loved Dorothy with all her heart. With excerpts of Emily's thoughts from her journals titled "Wonderful--A Life on the Prairie," readers dive deeply into Emily's life in Kansas. A touching epilogue told from Dorothy's point of view makes this one of the most moving novels about fictional movie characters you will ever read. 

Gaynor has an extraordinary gift for painting vivid images in the minds of her readers, and as she is also a fan of The Wizard of Oz, you will find little hints and nods to that story woven throughout Before Dorothy. This is such a beautifully and masterfully told story that it has led me to order the entire series of books by L. Frank Baum. This is the backstory you never knew you needed until you read it. 

Highly recommended!

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Berkley
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 17, 2025
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0593440331
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0593440339

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

Book Review: Dream Facades: The Cruel Architecture of Reality TV by Jack Balderrama Morley

 

Fascinating and well-researched, Dream Facades: The Cruel Architecture of Reality TV by Jack Balderrama Morley dives deep into the world of reality TV and why people love it, the desire for homeownership, popular home styles, real estate's dark past of redlining and steering, and the adverse effects on people of color and the LGBTQ+ community. Focusing on seven reality TV shows, Selling Sunset, The Kardashians, The Real World, The Bachelor, Trading Spaces, The Real Housewives of Atlanta, and Fire Island, along with their associated architectural styles, the author reveals the appeal of these spaces and why people keep tuning in.

I'm not sure quite what I expected when I requested Morley's Dream Facades, but my curiosity was piqued by two things: wanting to know why people watch reality TV and how this media could influence future design. As someone in real estate, reading this book was a cross between professional inspiration and cultural analysis.

What I enjoyed most about Dream Facades was all the historical perspective on house styles, the discussions on important pieces of legislation shaped by our biases, and a look into the start of reality TV and its continued impact. Considering my love of history and how I like to analyze popular shows from my childhood, this is likely no surprise. I took copious notes and added numerous reference books to my already enormous to-be-read pile. I also appreciated getting to know more about a television genre that I know little about, but that my children mention. 

The only place I struggled was with the conclusion of the book. The passion Morley has for returning stolen land and the need to develop a process for accomplishing that task is clear, and it's not the role of this reviewer to defend or argue against it. While it ties into their larger discussion of how the multi-million dollar homes featured on reality TV are in areas where people of color were forcibly removed, and how coveting them goes against our professed desire to live "unbound by heteronormative patriarchy and outside of suburban fantasia," these statements are not as well-developed as the rest of the text, ending the book in a way that is more like, "we can do it if we try" instead of the thoughtfuly crafted and spectacularily articulated information throughout. If I were yearning for a strong call to action, I didn't find it. 

That aside, I would read this book again, alongside some of the resources cited, as Morley brings the reader through a riveting media study.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Astra House
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 3, 2026
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1662602928
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1662602924

I requested a copy of this book from NetGalley. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge: A Genre I Want to Read More of This Year

 

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. 

Seems like Wednesdays always creep up on me. I guess it doesn't mean much for me since I often work weekends. 

Today's Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge is all about genres we want to read more of this year. Now, in the past, I would set myself a goal of reading more in a genre I don't typically read: sci-fi, fantasy, dystopian, and steampunk. This year, I tossed that out the window. It didn't even make the bookish promises list. 

Why?

Because I want to read what I want to read, which boils down to mysteries and seasonal romances. That doesn't mean other genres won't catch my eye or that what I agree to review will be in those genres, but as part of seeking balance and setting boundaries, I'm being more intentional with everything, including reading. 

What is a genre you want to read more of this year? 

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books That Feel Like Spring & Tell Me Something Tuesday: What’s your go-to coffee/tea order?

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. 

Happy Tuesday! Hope your week is off to a good start. 

Today's Top Ten Tuesday topic is on our spring 2026 to-read lists, but I opted to go in a different direction and add variety to the blog. These books will be ones that feel like spring, either because of their covers or their contents. Enjoy!

Top Ten Books That Feel Like Spring

This flowery cover of The Anne of Green Gables Cookbook and its colors make me think of spring. 

Spring will always be a big wedding season for us, so Weddings at Promise Lodge appears on the list. At one point, our immediate family had three wedding anniversaries in May. We have one now and two in June. 

Spring is prom season, making Prom Dates & Softball Bats a perfect addition. 

Mothers of the Bible Speak to Mothers of Today makes a lovely gift for our spring holiday, Mother's Day. 

I wish I had a porch swing so that in spring, when the evenings are warmer, we could exchange Front Porch Tales. 

Good, Clean, Murder with a main character who is a cleaning woman screams spring cleaning. 

With Earth Day coming up in April, I am reminded of Karen Cioffi's The Adventures of Planetman series. 

Love and flowers bloom in spring, making Ten First Dates a great book for our spring list. 

As temperatures have warmed up here, the birds are coming back. I've seen more than one robin the last few weeks. Spring is a great time to think of Red Tail Feathers. 

We are fasting during the spring season of Lent, which made me think of 'Twas the Season of Lent.

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.

Tell Me Something Tuesday is asking us to spill the tea, or more aptly put, what our go-to coffee/tea order looks like. Here is where I will prove how boring I can be. Flavored tea isn't my thing... unless I have no choice or am feeling adventurous. I want Lipton black tea with milk, preferably decaf. I enjoy English or Irish Breakfast as well. The one tea I definitely won't drink: Earl Grey. I also never drink coffee. Bleck!

That's it for this week. See you around the blogosphere! 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday - Mar 23

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! We are closing in on the end of March. Spring has officially started, which of course means it is cold and we are expecting a bit of snow tonight. LOL! Spring in New England is such a silly thing. 

Hope you enjoyed your week. I had more going on than planned, but all of it was good stuff. Here are a few photos from my week:

I made vegan Irish soda bread

Lobster Risotto from JRego's in Ellington

Boots is almost 16

Ran into a lender friend at our local real estate conference

In my reading world, I posted my review of 100 Rules for Living to 100: An Optimist's Guide to a Happy Life by Dick Van Dyke. Check it out here.

I also posted my review of Women's Freedom: The Dawn of Possibilities by Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein. You can read that review here.

I am almost finished with Before Dorothy by Hazel Gaynor. It started off slow for me, but I am loving it now. 

My review of Dream Facades: The Cruel Architecture of Reality TV by Jack Balderrama Morley should be posted this week. 

I continued Agatha Christie, She Watched by Teresa Peschel. Look for my review in April. 

I need to continue Murder, Local Style by Leslie Karst for an April review. 

Next, I will be reading the following:

Scrap: Salvaging a Family by Luann Castle

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

Staged by Caitlin Rother, which is the sequel to Hooked

After that, I would love to get back to these two:

Old Flames, New Beginnings by Lea Schizas

Officer Erik and the Very Special Dad  by Erik Estrada and Steven Manchester

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. 

Since I have clearly proven I have no self-control where books are concerned, I've given up on pretending I am not going to request new books to review, and I am still going to buy them. :) 

How to Teach Adults by Dan Spalding is part of my real estate instructor's course. It arrived on Monday, and I have already started it.

A White Lie Christmas by Suzy Langevin was free thanks to a digital credit from Amazon. 

Upcoming Events

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

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

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

The Ledger by Steven Manchester - May (Review)

Staged by Cailtin Rother - June (Review)

Christmas Year Round

The Christmas Year Round blog has a new "Journey through Christmases Past" post. We travel back to Christmas 1986. You can read it here. As promised, this week's post is lighthearted and joyful.

The Children's and Teens' Book Connection

Nothing new. 

Laura's Little Houses

Nothing new.

I am still catching up from last week, but I will pop in and see you all later today.