Lowcountry Boughs of Holly

 

Tis the season for people to be picking up Christmas reads! I tend to not flock to seasonally based books (movies are another thing, which was a new obsession last year) only in that season.  If it sounds good, I'll pick it up in April, or July, most of the time right after the season/holiday, because I will not conform.  I don't like being told what to do, even when no one gives a poop.  Okay, okay, I'm a rebel who follows rules.  But only the rules I've determined are okay.

I started reading Lowcountry Boughs of Holly by Susan Boyer, two days before Christmas.  And then underestimated the amount of stuff I had to do, because I was certain I'd wrap it up by Christmas.  Alas, I finished it the day after Christmas!

It is the 10th book in the Liza Talbot series.  I haven't read all of them, but the ones I've picked up I've enjoyed! They are cozy mysteries set in South Carolina.  Liz is a private investigator with her husband Nate, and she gets a little help from her deceased childhood best friend.  These books are not meant to be serious!

In this Christmas time based book, Liz and Nate are investigating the death of a Santa Clause following the annual Santa Boat Parade.  They are led back to past characters (but I don't remember them and I'm not sure if I read the book they were in, however this didn't make the book hard to follow) and boy, were they entertaining! Rich people drama!

There is a wayward reindeer, delicious descriptions of Liz's Momma's food, and actions packed with the help of some mysterious powers to be! If you are looking for a light read or a series to get started on, the Liz Talbot series is for you!

Does your town have any holiday traditions? Do you enjoy reading books set in the South?

Description: It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but Private Investigator Liz Talbot is struggling to feel festive. She hasn’t seen her best friend, Colleen, in weeks and fears she may never see her again in this life. Meanwhile Nate, Liz’s husband and partner, is spending money like he prints it in the attic on a mysterious family Christmas celebration. Liz’s nerves are shot, and she hasn’t even decked a single hall. But there’s simply no time to fret.

On a morning beach run, Liz spots a wooden rowboat run aground with Santa inside. Did Old Saint Nick have too much eggnog at the boat parade? No indeedy—Santa’s been shot. And he’s none other than C.C. Bounetheau, patriarch of one of Charleston’s wealthiest families.

Liz and Nate already unwrapped quite a few family secrets while searching for the Bounetheau’s missing granddaughter last year—enough to make them swear to steer forever clear of the entire clan. But as Mr. Bounetheau’s body is found in Stella Maris, and Liz and Nate are the police chief’s on-call detectives, they’re on the case.

With no shortage of suspects, Liz and Nate dash to find a killer who may be working his or her way down a naughty list.

Spend Christmas in the Lowcountry with the Talbot family and their friends in Susan M. Boyer’s latest Southern charmer, Lowcountry Boughs of Holly. Tis the season for merry mayhem!

I received this book for free from the author.  All thoughts and opinions are my own!

Currently: December

 Reading:  Everything Beautiful in Its Time by Jenna Bush Hager

Loving:  having my family safe at home with me for at least one more day

Feeling: blah, not really into the holiday spirit this year.

Anticipating:  not even sure anymore.

Grateful: My people are healthy and safe.

Working: Christmas cards, finalizing Christmas gifts.. wondering how I am going to wrap.

Listening: Hallmark movies in the background for the most part.

Watching: Hallmark and other Christmas movies...

Wishing: for a vaccine that all can safely get sooner than later... 

What are you currently reading/watching/listening to?

Holiday Board Book Recommendations 2020 Edition

 Tis the season of what do I get her/him/he/she/they/everyone.  I thought I'd share a few of the board books that we have enjoyed this last year.

A is for Awesome is such a great shero alphabet book.  It mentions women who are famous from A-Z and my 9 year old loves reading it and using it as a point of looking up information on some of the women shared.

On the Night You were Born is such a sweet book about how everyone is so very excited on the night the child is born.  It was my oldests and she LOVES reading it to her sister.

Music Is....  this book is so delightful and fun to read with expression.  My 1 year old LOVES music and her body immediately starts to dance when you say the word music.  She loves this book.  And I love the illustrations.

Down By the Bay is another hold over from the oldest that the youngest requests far more often than her big sister did.  She loves music and this book REQUIRES you to sing it, of course. :)

Your Baby's first word will be Dada is a love here as well.   My 1 year old is obsessed with her DADA and this book is meant to be read with a lot of DADAs, yelled with expression.  

Alfie and Bet's ABC book is one of my favorite ABC books for kids because it has more unusual words for A-Z, and as the most often reader of the books, I appreciate talking about more unique objects than the typical ball, cow, cat, etc...

Little Blue Truck is just a sweet tale of helping each other out. A little wordy but just a good good story!

Goodnight Moon is an old classic and I probably like it more than either of my kids requests it, but I just love it!

Colorful World: Sea find what's different is nicely illustrated and is good for pointing out how things are different and about different colors.

Good Night Michigan is a fun book that talks about a boy and girl traveling around the state for the day and includes fun touristy things to see and do in the Mitten state.  Other states have their own versions and I've been known to send them out to friends as baby gifts

ABC what Can she Be? Is an awesome book we just got for the one year olds birthday.  I love that it talks about professions that you can be when you grow up and doesn't include a lot of the stereotypical professions that women are usually suggested to be.  LOVE.

Okay, so pretty much all of Vashti Harrison's books are needed in your child's library. LOVE LOVE LOVE.  And I also love listening to my oldest read these to her sister.

Tomie's Little Mother Goose is a cute condensed version of nursery rhymes for little ones.  It's my favorite out of the few we own.

What boards were wins in your household this year? What books are on your childs wish list? What books do your kids love to hear but you can't stand to read?? (Mine would be Corduroy shhhh)

November Reads!

November Reads! 5 of the 8 I read I gave 5 stars.  It was a really good reading month. 

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman was a page turner.  I love Backman’s humor in his writing.  If you haven’t read any of his books, I’d recommend starting with Beartown and then go from there.  I haven’t been disappointed yet, and I haven’t finished all of them.  He also has really good insight on human nature and I find myself nodding along to his wisdom sprinkled throughout.

Caste: Origins of our Discontent by Isabel WIlkerson is the history book you need.  She lays out how race in America is a caste system and compares it to the Indian caste system.  There are a lot of truth bombs in here and history, you probably did not learn in school.  It also spells it out for anyone that hasn’t realized that America treats black people worse than how the Nazi’s treated the Jews.  FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS.  The Nazi’s deemed some ways Americans legally treated black people AS TOO STRICT.  Also know that the murder of Jewish people WAS HORRENDOUS AND AWFUL AND SHOULD NEVER BE FORGOTTEN OR DIMINISHED.  People are terrible.

The Parker Inheritance is a middle grade novel that both the 9 year old and me devoured and loved.  It is so much fun to discuss books with your kid, let me tell you! Candice spends the summer at her grandma’s old house and finds out a family secret.  She and her new friend spend the summer solving this puzzle in secret, learning of the towns racist past and trying to salvage his grandma's tattered reputation.

The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise is also a page turner that YOU HAVE TO PICK UP.  Also middle grade, and the 9 year old also high recommends.  Coyote and Rodeo travel the United States on their 2003 school bus and decide destinations on whims and where the road takes you.  They meet an incredible cast of travelers as Coyote hurries Rodeo across the country on a time sensitive secret mission.

One by One by Ruth Ware is ALSO a page turner.  This was my first book by Ruth Ware and it will not be my last! A tech company takes a group trip to a posh chalet in the mountains.  All is not well and one by one, they die.  Who in the group is the murderer? How can they get help? Will time run out? Small clues throughout made it fun for me to guess who did it!

Snow Blind is a the first in a series of a new police officer in Iceland. I saw the prefer of the newest of the series and it sounded interesting so I picked this one up first. It was okay. I'm not sure I will continue on. I probably will just to see if the second book shakes off some of the first book ehs.

The Butterfly Garden by Chip St Clair is Chip's memoir about growing up on the run with his father who was a child murderer. He had an awful childhood full of abuse and terrible parents. He had no idea they moved so much because his dad was a killer. It took until he was an adult with a steady relationship with a very helpful woman that he is able to step back and figure things out. It was an interesting story, and a very quick read.

Wilder Girls is a young adult novel about an all girls school that is overtaken by "The Tox." and all the occupants of the school are put into quarartine. Maybe not the best time to read this one, but it was a quick read and talked about the different effects the Tox had on the girls on the island, the animals and the plant life.

What books did you read in November that you’d recommend?

Currently: October

Reading:  Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

Loving:  how much the 9 year old loves reading.  She's currently reading The Parker Inheritance.

Feeling: rage. tired. so flipping tired.

Anticipating:  more anxiety?

Grateful: I am able to stay home with my 'baby.'

Working: on text banking, hoping it helps.

Listening: podcasts. all out of date. but true crime and politics.

Watching: Schitts Creek, Murder She Wrote..

Wishing: for a new president. taking more senate seats. shutting up the idiots.

What are you reading?  What are you listening to?

TGIF!

This has been the weirdest summer ever, and yet it seems like it has flown by.  I can't believe it is August 7th.  My child is apparently going back to school on August 31st, which is super early but they changed it this year because of how late Labor Day falls on the calendar.  I have bought her a box of crayons.  That is it.  Normally we have a school list at the end of the year and we did not get one this year because of corona, and I literally have no idea what she will need so a box of crayons is it so far.  And new clothes because she's grown so much.  I think I need to get her a cheap pair of shoes for gym because normally she has the shoes from the year before but they ripped a part so she is already wearing her new school pair.  Ahhh 2020.

My favorite pictures from the week:

The high of my week was I got nothing.

The low of my week was I mean it all sucks right now.

Meal plan for the week was 

Monday -  Bbq Cheddar mini meat loaves, zucchini tomato mozzarella bake, bliueberries

Tuesday -  Chicken sandwiches

Wednesday -  Spaghetti, garlic bread, cherries, cottage cheese

Thursday -  Eggs, baked potato, cherries, sausage

Friday - Pecan crusted flounder, green beans, cucumbers/tomatoes, cherries

Workouts were

Saturday - Walked / ran

Sunday - Walked / ran

Tuesday - Walked in the afternoon and evening

Wednesday - Walked in the afternoon and evening

Thursday - Walked in the afternoon

The best money I spent was on not sure

What I’m listening to The Fall Line, Reply All

What I’m watching  catching up on Blindspot and Schitts Creek

What I’m reading: The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty

My plans for the weekend include we talked about grilling chicken. Real excitement.

What are you watching/reading/listening to?

What I Read in July

I read eight books in July which didn't seem possible in the beginning off the month when it took me forever to get through All The Light We Cannot See! That was a commitment.  But I am glad I finally got around to reading it because it has been on my radar and on my shelf for the past 3 years!

I really enjoyed The Bookish Life of Nina Hill! I kept texting parts to my cousin as the main character reminded me so much of our social awkward book loving selves.  If you need a light hearted books are grand book, you should pick it up!

The Hate U Give was our July book club pick and I devoured that in an afternoon/evening. I had put it off because everyone raved about it and I was afraid I wouldn't like it as much, but I highly recommend it as well.  I've already read Angie Thomas's second book and recommend that too!

The Stephanie Plum book was so so.  I am still sticking with the series because I don't like quitting but it just isn't as funny as books 1-12.

The Last Mrs. Parrish was so so.  I really liked the middle section but I did not like the first part and the third part wrapped things up.  So eh.  It was our August book club book that I read already. :) It is billed as a psychological thriller and is about a girl who wants to win Mr. Parrish for herself.  If you've read other books in that genre you can kind of guess things out.

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek was delightful as well.  It is about a girl who is part of the blue people of Kentucky, and the last one of her kind.  She lives up in the mountain with her dad and he is trying to marry her off before he dies because he promised her mother this on her death bed.  She is known to everyone as Bluet or Book Woman.  She rides around the mountains delivering books to the hill people to read as part of a program to reach the areas that don't have access to libraries.  This was just a really good book.  It's a little slow, but I wanted to know how it was going to go so I flew through it.

Love from A to Z is a young adult love story about two Muslim teens.  It's a very good book incorporating modern technology, teen activism, and dealing with racism.  It's a nice book that I think can appeal to adults as well.  The characters are very mature.

I'm currently reading The Husband's Secret by Liane Morarity as that is our October book club book but I was able to grab it from the library now!

What is your favorite book read in July? Any recommendations for me?

Lowcountry Boondoggle

Lowcountry Boondoggle by Susan Boyer is the 9th book of the Liz Talbot series.  I must confess that I have not read the entire series.  I think I’ve read about half of them.  So if you are nervous about picking up a random one in the series, fear not, you can jump right in!

Liz and her husband Nate are private investigators who usually end up solving the cases for her childhood friend Sonny Ravenel, who is a detective in Charleston, SC.   This time they are helping out Darius Baker a recently retired reality tv star, and finding out who killed the eccentric professor, Murray Hamilton.  Murray is the uncle of Tyler Duval, who is business partners with Darius’s son Brantley.  A little confused by the name dropping? I was too at the beginning! Bit of a slow start but it quickly picked up.

Murray is found dead in his house and after an autopsy, they learn he has been poisoned.  Liz and Nate try to find out who would kill Murray.  Is it is nephew wanting an early inheritance? An angry student? A jealous lover? Quite the host of characters are interviewed and assessed by Liz and Nate with the help of Liz’s dead best friend Colleen.  Colleen always hads a bit of comedy into each story.

The book is a very quick read and a delightful trip into the Lowcountry.  Be prepared to get hungry as the delicious food and drinks are described and wistful for old historic houses of Charleston.

If you like Gretchen Archer, Janet Evanovich or Charlaine Harris be sure to throw in a Susan Boyer book in your beach bag on your next trip!

Description: Private investigators Liz Talbot and Nate Andrews thought they’d put Darius Baker’s troubles to rest—then his recently discovered son ropes him into a hemp farm investment with his college buddies. When a beloved Charleston professor—and potential investor—is murdered, Liz and Nate discover Darius keeps the PIs on speed dial.

A shocking number of people had reasons to want the genteel, bowtie wearing, tea-drinking professor dead. Was it one of his many girlfriends or a disgruntled student? Or perhaps Murray was killed because his failure to invest meant the hemp farm trio’s dreams were going up in smoke?

Though Liz’s long-dead best friend, Colleen, warns her the stakes are far higher than Liz imagines, she is hellbent on finding the no-good killer among the bevy of suspects. But will the price of justice be more than Liz can bear?

What is your favorite seafood dish? Do you like drinking tea? Do you have any daily rituals?

I received this book for review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own!

TGIF!

I hate having to make impossible decisions.  Especially when I parent with a person who doesn't make decisions until they know all the facts.  Quite frankly, that's not an option in the middle of pandemic when the information is changing rapidly.  We literally have to over talk the situation, which I do excel in.  But he however does not.  So that's fun.  Also fun is trying to figure out how best to explain that I do not hate my child if/when I have to make the stupid decision to school her at home this year instead of in school where I know she wants to be.  But school isn't what she knows school to be currently and I WANT HER TO BE THERE TOO.  Like how it was BEFORE.  Not how it is now.  It is so not in the best health interest of staff or students to put them into this impossible situation right now.  If it wasn't safe in March, it sure isn't safe now when my county is actually climbing in numbers.  Also, this is something where we can't make decisions on a month ahead unless it is just prepare to be online and if we can be in person, great.  Because, quite frankly putting my child in a building right now UNMASKED WITH 23 OTHERS SOUNDS LIKE IT IS AGAINST EVERY HEALTH ADVISORY OUT THERE.  So this week has been fun. :)

My favorite pictures from the week:

The high of my week was long walks by myself.

The low of my week was trying to make the impossible school decision.

Meal plan for the week was 

Monday -  Chicken Sandwiches, green beans from the garden

Tuesday -  Mini BBQ cheddar meatloaf and Cheesy Zucchini Bake

Wednesday -  Cheesy Chicken Burrito Skillet, leftover zucchini bake

Thursday -  leftover cheesy chicken burrito skillet, cucumbers/dip, cherries, cottage cheese

Friday - Homemade patty melt with grilled zucchini

The best money I spent was on not sure

What I’m listening to Small Town Murder

What I’m watching  the last season of Criminal Minds

What I’m reading: The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman

My plans for the weekend include going to the beach in Cheboygan and spending the night in St. Ignace.

What are you watching/reading/listening to?

All the Light We Cannot See

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr has been on my TBR list for a long time.  It’s been on my shelf for about 3 years and every time I’d think about it I’d be like umm 500 plus pages??? And I try not to read reviews of hyped up books because then I tend to stay away for awhile.  But a friend who always shares WWII reqs with me, did tell me that it could have been about 100 pages or so shorter and still good and I can concur.  That being said, I did a buddy read with my friend Erin and we cranked this sucker out.  It helped having the Instagram accountability because I may have just let it sit for a bit when parts got ‘nature-y.’  I don’t believe it is any secret I am not a fan of reading beautiful descriptions of nature.  I just can’t.  Skim skim skim is my nature motto.

This book skips around in time period so if you do let it sit a bit it’s kind of hard to figure out the timing.  I did start to ignore some of the times except for when it was on the time period of the August bombing of Saint-Malo.  This isn’t too spoilerish since it’s mentioned within the first 30ish pages.

It goes between two narrators, Werner a young German orphan and Marie-Laure a young French girl.  Both of them are very smart, interested in science, and have traumatic incidents in their upbringing.  Werner lives in an orphanage with his sister Jutta, and even though he is brilliant looks to be heading into the mines at age 15.  The Nazi’s are on the rise at this time in Germany and using the connection of a local Nazi who he helped with a broken radio, Werner earns a spot in a school.  This school teaches him about race superiority, how to fight, and makes him question his morals.  One of the quotes from this part of the book stood out to me from a classmate he meets there, “Your problem, Werner,” says Frederick, “is that you still believe you own your life.”

Marie-Laure grows up with only her father and becomes blind at a very young age.  She accompanies her father to work at a museum daily and eventually learns how to read braille and solve puzzles her father puts towards her.  The Germans eventually bomb Paris and they must flee and end up at her great-uncles house in Saint Malo.  He survived WWI but lost his brother.  He does not go outside. 

The book constantly goes between the two at different points in the war.  I’d recommend it if you like beautifully written stories.  It is long.  However, this story sticks with you and I was left thinking of the characters many days after finishing the book.

Have you read All the Light We Cannot See? What are some large books that you’ve put off reading? What are some long books you’d recommend?

TGIF!!

My husband had to go back to the office this week, but did work from home on Wednesday so this first week back to summer kinda normal, was interesting.  I am so sad that we can't do most of what we'd do in a normal summer to break up the day and be exciting.  But we are making do.  I have the 9 year old signed up for summer enrichment through her school for the month of July so there is SOMETHING to do.  We are trying to do daily walks.  This week she had an eye appointment and I had a dentist appointment so those things broke up the days.

My favorite pictures from the week:

this was actually enjoyed on the 5th of July but I went for a red/white/blue theme for a snack/lunch

Our 'Blue America' drinks we made up for the 4th in the backyard

I made this bean dip for our 4th in the backyard

I made this pudding pie for our 4th in our backyard

The high of my week was the 9 month old said mama! And gave me snuggles.  It was adorable.  When I texted my husband he said .. "now let me go pull on the curtains.." which is so true.  Children give love and then go and do insanely infuriating things. :)

The low of my week was seeing ridiculous photos of how people spent 4th of July with a crap ton of people not social distancing and numbers going up and wondering how the heck school can resume.

Meal plan for the week was 

Monday -  Brisket Nachos

Tuesday -  Brisket Tacos

Wednesday -  beef stir fry, made with veggies from our garden!

Thursday -  Flatbread Pizza, one pepperoni/onion/ yellow peppers and one Pesto/Mozzarella,Tomato

Friday - a local restaurant take out

The best money I spent was on not sure

What I’m listening to Small Town Murder

What I’m watching  the last season of Criminal Minds

What I’m reading: All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr as a buddy read with my friend Erin

My plans for the weekend include finishing this book! Getting my hair cut for the first time since November and getting it colored for the first time since February!

What are you watching/reading/listening to?

Currently July

Reading:  All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr,  It's been hard to get captivated by it.

Loving:  that first hot cup of coffee in the morning.  OMG.  It makes you feel like you can do anything.  So magical.  Also, one of Adeline's first words is book.  She says boo boo boo and grabs books and will look at them.  She will even bring them to you.  She also loves music and 'sings' back.  

Also, more Adeline words are hi, Isla, mama, and the occasional moo.  She's becoming a little parrot.

And our library reopened for curbside after having to shut down due to flood damage!

Feeling: all the emotions.  It's been a year.  I can't process all of the things I'm feeling for all of the events that have taken place.  I worry about my oldest's mental health.  I can see she has anxiety.  I know not seeing her people makes her struggle.  It's hard because now that school is 'done' it's summer and we can't do a lot of the fun summer stuff we usually do.  And I know having a baby sister making even more of the stuff a no is hard.  Plus, our library flooded and it had been closed and one of our favorite things is going to the library multiple times a week.  At least we have curbside! And we have our own free little library at our house now.  It's hard because for 2 months we thought, 'okay, this summer will suck but we will be able to go out on the lake and visit the beach.'  Clearly, there are no lakes.  And a freaking pandemic.  And people not doing their due diligence when we have for months now and we STILL CAN'T DO THINGS BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE ASSHOLES.

Anticipating: in two weeks we are driving north for the day to visit a beach on Lake Huron that's 2 and a half hours away and pretty secluded.  

Grateful: my family is healthy and safe.  

Working: trying to sell baby stuff and clear out the house.  I would have loved to have a garage sale this year because I have so many items that need to go!

Listening: podcasts. Small Town Murder is my current go to listen.

Watching: We just got caught up on the last SWAT, so we should be catching up on Criminal Minds next.  Also still watching a ton of Hallmark movies!

Wishing: for a scientific breakthrough so we can get this virus under control.  Also, for idiots to stop idioting.  

What are you reading> What are you anticipating?