Tuesday, August 25, 2026

Aug 25 The Ace of Nerve, Book 2: The White Mouse by Hannah Bryon

  
 
The Ace of Nerve, Book 2: The White Mouse by Hannah Bryon
Nancy has sent Aroha has been sent away with Jules and Nancy is thinking she acted too fast. She wanted the young couple to experience the things of France that she had once done herself.  She regrets that and also that she had whiskey dumped down the drain and she's still missing her medals. Aroha has promised to help her find them....
Love the super details of even the train  before it gets to France, so exact and I can picture myself from train to boat in the journey.
Love learning about their adventures in the city.
Love hearing more of Nancy's spouses and her goal during the war.
So very detailed. Aroha will get help from Jules to find Nancy's medals as he has contacts in that field. Tragedy hits Aroha and she must leave. wonder how that will have an impact on Nancy, hope she returns after a short stay. She has her own secrets and family obligations... The pull of what Aroha wants is fierce.
Love this set of books just on one person, so very detailed, so many phases of her life to share with us.
 

Aug 25 Murder at Rosecliff by Alyssa Maxwell

  


 
Murder at Rosecliff by Alyssa Maxwell
I like this series a lot as I live close by and have actually visited this Bellevue Avenue mansion. They host flower shows and photographs exhibits.
This one starts out when Emma and her spouse Derek have been invited to the ball. Tessie is hosting it at her cottage along the sea in Newport and everybody will be there. The paper has  Ethan handling the information he will need for the event for the paper. So descriptive, the gowns, atmosphere,  flowers, and the food.
Tessie is bombarded with a male visitor and nobody knows who he is and she claims she's not in harm's way. Shortly after the man leaves and another follows him but too late the man is found dead. One is on the wanted list but nobody knows where he is-Ethan... Others find out who he actually was and what he meant to Tessie. I never would've guessed who was involved in the murder. Love the story though how so many follow the clues and track the culprits down. Love the information I learned especially about flooring and how they didn't use nails back in early 1900's.  Love how this all plays out, had me at the edge of my seat.
Love the setting and new things I learned about the city.
Can't wait for the next in this series. Love catching up with my favorite characters also.
Received this review copy from Kensington Publishing via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
 #MurderatRosecliff #NetGalley
 

Wednesday, August 19, 2026

Book review: Echoes of Fortune: Shadows Over Cozumel by David R. Leng

   

 
Echoes of Fortune: Shadows Over Cozumel by David R. Leng
This story starts out with the team of specialists that are talking to a woman who has papers and documentations of a ship that went down decades ago. Some notes state it was to the east side of the island. Others have sturdied currents and tides and know where it really went down. Others are watching their diving expeditions and notice they don't bring anything up to the boat. The team think they are waiting til the treasure has been brought above then claim it as their own.
First book I've read form this series and am a bit lost as to who everybody is. Like being brought up to the present with glimpses of the past and those who lost their lives.   It all comes together as the dives and meetings with others that come up with more information that the team finds valuable. They dive to get a sense o what's down there, the 1800's ghost ship Del Rio and one of their own had died in finding it. They won't give up til they have the treasure in their hands. Their room at the hotel was searched but .... Jack is a sly one and Emma sees the other angles and Steve is always a few steps ahead of everyone. Together they make a great team. They know the signs of bad gas in their tanks but Jack is within reach and he starts having symptoms but he sticks with it. They all go up through a hidden hatch and the medical team....  So scary. This would make a super movie. They can't believe what they have in their hands and only half of one document... Jack knows who's to blame and they are able to move on, get back to the USA. It's not that simple...
Travel, mysteries, adventure, action and hidden treasure. What a story, something for everyone. First time reading this author and I can't wait to read more. SO very descrptie in the details of everything. I felt as if I was right there with them. 

Sunday, August 16, 2026

Book Review: In Pursuit of a Dream by Donna Wichelman

  



In Pursuit of a Dream by Donna Wichelman
In this story we find Sarah and she's left her homeland and is in USA and finds not many like Irish folk. She finds a job tending to two young children as the mother has passed away. Matthew the father isheading his family to the west to settle intoa new life and home.
The journey is hard and many disasters are talked about as they are experienced. There are some deaths but they make it to the end, well Matthew and othes fall into danger and the others are most concerned as they see no way out for them...
Cute short story. Wish we had book prior to this, one where Sarah is actually in Ireland and how she was raised. Would be a good movie.

 

Saturday, August 15, 2026

Book Review: The No diet military calisthenics for busy women over 40 reset your body at home in just 15

  
 
The No diet military calisthenics for busy women over 40 reset your body at home in just 15 minutes a day without equipment by kardyn training
Lots of introductory material to help you understand how it all works.  Protein intake and the amounts you need daily and hydrating with water are super important.  There are so many more tips along the way.  The hormones issues plays a big part in why regular exercise is not working for you to lose weight.  The exercises included here are low impact and there are precautions about certain parts of your body that might need to take things slower or easier.  Even if you miss a day you can make it up or forget it because the next days exercises will just fill in what you missed. Like the different rankings they give you and how much time to dedicate per day.
After 30 days you are graduating and then you start all over again from day 1 for another 30 days the same exact exercises you've already learned.
Love that it shows you in a  picture what and how to do them. It will show you a three step process with 3 different pictures so you know where to start and how to finish the movements. There are explanations on how not to do them also. NO hard jumping or grinding of your bones, no high impact movements.  This one is worth a try as there is no food limitations either. no counting calories or anything else.  There is a warning about the weight you will NOT notice a difference or quite some time but you are burning fat and actually creating bone density improvement  and strengthening your muscles.
Great resource book to keep handy.
 

Book Review: Raise Street-Smart Boys: 150+ Essential Life Lessons not Taught at School to Think for Himself, Trust Their Gut, Handle Any Situation, and Grow into a Self-Aware Teen - Illustrated Edition by Joseph Hedlund

  


Raise street smart boys  150+ essential life lessons not taught at school to think for himself by Joseph Hedlund
Like this educational and fun story.  Love learning about the lessons not taught at school.. These are everyday realistic missions and problems that need a solution.
Although written for a young boy can also be used for older boys and even adults.  
Love learning the simple missions and tasks to do that are also a challenge and a learning lesson at the same time.  Especially like the online safety tips and being aware of your surroundings and the challenges.  Stranger danger is always a good lesson even if others are all going along.... love the laundry tips   Like all the tasks, missions and challenges.  So much useful information.
Love planning for next day, even if it's school items in your backpack or just paying out the clothes you want to wear. Like laundry care boys can do and also keeping their rooms so neat and clean. My son always did that.
Great resource book for everybody.
 

Book Review: Raise Street-Smart Girls: 150+ Lessons Not Taught at School to Set Boundaries, Trust Their Gut, Stay Safe Online, and Grow into a Confident Young Woman by Joseph Hedlund

  

 
Raise Street-Smart Girls: 150+ Lessons Not Taught at School to Set Boundaries, Trust Their Gut, Stay Safe Online, and Grow into a Confident Young Woman by Joseph Hedlund 
Like that the lessons given are good for a younger girl but also for a teen girl.
I like that I can even use some of the social lessons myself and I'm an elder adult.
Lessons given are also telling you why you have to wait and breathe a second before responding, not go fly off the handle with a rude remark. The author even gives you exmaples of what to say and what not to say.
Love the challenges the author suggests for you to do. Further explanations are given and why they need you to just do them.  Most are to keep you safe and are good lessons no mater what your age is. Love sections on body shaming and how to determine if it's a pattern what others are doing or saying to you.  Love the digital safety missions.
Love money and time missions, you are learning to take care of yourself.
Great read, educational and love the life lessons.