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The Art of HidingThe Art of Hiding by Amanda Prowse
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Poor girl becomes rich wife, becomes poor mom. Except for the rich part, that’s the story of my life! Almost sounds boring. But for some reason, I truly enjoyed this read. It is well-written. The characters felt real to me. Even though they were British and rich. The troubles were scary. I could relate. I’ve never owed that much money, though I don’t have a conversion table handy after midnight. But I have owed more than I had. It had forced changes in my behavior and where I was to live. As the main character learns in a very hard way.

A teenage boy for a son. Been there three times. I can relate. And this mother was far more patient and sweet about it all than I could be. Wish I could have been that sweet. But my kids would have, oops, did laugh at me when I approached their rebellions that way. And it wasn’t a good laugh. At least we were in her head as she thought through her responses.

This review isn’t doing the book justice. It was good, I loved it. I stayed awake a long time finishing it. It wasn’t fantasy or adventure or murder-mystery. It was a peek into someone else’s life and how she manages to get through and thrive. And I think this is the kind of book teens should read, especially girls. Though women (and men) will relate and learn throughout the story.

I wish I had less pain and more brain. This review sounds horrible. Believe me. It was worth the read. I loved it!

Netgalley gave me the ARC of this book. Thank you!

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One-Liner Wednesday


My favorite day of the week, month, year, is the day I get to see my family and friends!

 

That’s my one-liner for One-Liner Wednesday.

My Own Socks


My brother bought me yarn. Here is the process of my own pair of socks!

Finished this one Saturday. Thus no Stream of Consciousness.ย  Hands and brain were busy!

Oh, look it fits!

Here is number two in progress.

It’s sad that I had to break into skein number two. (Just a couple of rows). That means that there won’t be enough to make another pair of socks like these, but, I will attempt to make a pair without the cuff, sort of hideaway socks.

Oh, and here the pair I finished today:

Yay! Socks for me!!!

Stats: CinDWood small gauge, 56 peg loom. Red Heart Heart and Sole yarn. Two-by-two ribbing for an inch and a half then an inch of flat knit stitch then the German Short-Row heel. Then six and a half inches of flat knit, then German Short-Row toe. I am loving making socks!


The Second Coming: A Mythpunk Urban Fantasy Novel (The Ascension Series Book 8)The Second Coming: A Mythpunk Urban Fantasy Novel by SM Reine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OMG! I love Elise Kavanagh and James Faulkner! But this is the best book about them yet! Since they had entered the deity, I had supposed we wouldn’t get the same action-packed story that they used to give us. So wrong! I wish I hadn’t been so sleepy both nights (hot, miserable days can do that to you, and then even once you fall asleep you can’t stay there! Ugh!) I would have finished this one in one night! (Okay, need to put the exclamation point away!.)

Once again, Sara Reine puts the story in the Reno-Tahoe area and so I’m engrossed knowing about where she is describing and how it looks now (or at least the last time I visited last year) and how her goddesses/gods have changed it with each reincarnation of the world. This time into the future.

Though I loved seeing Elise become a human avatar, giving birth, nursing, and attempting motherhood, as I have gone through most of what was described, four times, some might not find that aspect of the book appealing. But stick with it, let it be your reason not to go through it, or learn Elise’s lessons ahead of time (better than Dr. Spock or even Dr. Sears), or see what a woman goes through. Even this goddess found that an arduous path and she’d been through all kinds of pain and suffering. Giving birth is not for sissies! Nursing can be challenging! Mastitis is real and can cause severe illness and hurts like hell! And try all that while being the target for assassination and kidnapping! <—sorry, I can’t help myself. Think of the exclamation point like Elise’s Infernal Sword of emotion!

I love that Ms. Reine included some flashbacks. I’ve read every one of Sara’s books and feel in touch with all the characters, even so, I have my favorites. Elise is one, as is Rylie, and Dana MacIntyre (hope I spelled that right). I thought I knew all Elise had been through, but I’ve forgotten a lot!

It is always hard when writing a review because some of the things I want to say would be spoilers. But there will be friends from the past. There, that did the trick!

Sadly, I have to find something else to read now. Let that be enough for you to know I highly recommend the entire collection of Sara Reine! If you can’t afford it, see if you can get your library to carry the books. Especially those in Reno! Starting with Six Moon Summer and enjoy the rest of her world beyond!

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Finished Friday


Yep, I finished another pair of socks. These are the same pattern as I posted last Friday. They are all the same yarn and color though the cell camera just doesn’t capture them the same. They are now in the donations bag.

There was enough of that yarn left over to make these cute booties on the KB fine-gauge baby bootie loom. Two-by-two cuff, German rows heel, drawstring toe.

Then I started missing making the dolls so I made another. I made him a little longer in the legs and arms than I usually do. I think I like that better. My biggest mistake was not stuffing the whole doll and then sewing closed. I tied the neck first but that makes the head too wrinkly. Note to self: don’t do that next time.

The basic instruction for these dolls are in this tutorial:

How was your week? Have a great weekend and Happy Labor Day!


Seeking SarahSeeking Sarah by ReShonda Tate Billingsley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Jerry Springer eat your heart out! Oh, the drama!

Okay, I didn’t mean to start with that. There were things about this book I liked. I love that we have a diverse character, though the cover picture doesn’t give that impression. On the other hand, the blurb grabbed me about a young woman that wants to find her mother who she previously thought had died.

What seems to be set up to be an exciting adventure learning why mom left, and possibly reconnecting, the main character, Brooke, is hooking/breaking up with a guy that shouldn’t even get a female. Even in the process of getting to know her mom, she takes every opportunity to jump to conclusions to be angry. I guess my way would have solved Brookes problems within minutes and there wouldn’t be a book but a short story.

I was lucky to get to read this book from Netgalley. I’d love to see what others think of this novel. It is different.

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Monday Movies/TV


Pixaby.com

As we are finishing the last couple episodes of The 100, I was trying to think of other shows I’ve watched and haven’t shared I’m sad to see the end of The 100 coming in the seventh season coming up on The CW. But I refuse to watch it with the wait between episodes and putting up with commercials. So I’ll wait until Netflix finally gets that last season.

I couldn’t remember what I had watched but I finally figured out that if I click on my profile picture on Netflix, then go to account and viewing activity, I found a list I could download and go through.

 

We watched Crazyhead. It was fun, different.

The show Typewriter was fun though a bit for a younger audience.

You all probably watched this long ago, but I finally got around to it and found it entertaining, Silence!

All of these were from my Netflix list. I’ll go through my other lists soon. Now I am wishing I would have kept a paper copy of my shows.

 

 

 


Emily, GoneEmily, Gone by Bette Lee Crosby
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Bette Lee Crosby writes good stories. This did not disappoint.

At least this mystery wasn’t about murder. I knew that could be done. Still, it is about a kidnapping. It was interesting to see the crime from all sides. The characters are well developed. They keep you reading to see what each person was going through, how would they solve their personal problems. The book showed how love could make their choices harder, or drive them mad in trying to live with it all. Still, it was a hard book to put down.

Though a spiritual path is evident, it isn’t overdone. The characters believe a certain way and it is part of their journey.

By the way, this was free through Kindle Unlimited. Though I like reading Ms. Crosby’s work it is usually more expensive than I can afford, so I am glad they made this one available this way.

As a genre, I think that this could be called a cozy mystery sans murder. I think women may find it better than men, though the men in this book are strong and level headed. But the stories are more about birth and baby loss, so it might be hard for those who have lived through this kind of circumstance.

Otherwise, try it, you might like it!

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Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is โ€œprepositionโ€ Start your post with any preposition. Bonus points if you end with one too. Enjoy! Thanks, Linda!

“For the last time!” He shouted. “I am not the enemy!”

But she didn’t believe it. He killed the man she loved. He had kept her from doing the things her heart tried to accomplish. He said he was doing it for her own good. That he loved her, trying to protect her. Love only works when it is using free-will. No one can force love. Protection isn’t always love. It is often a way to keep one in a cage.

Kept under the floor protected Octavia. Bellamy took care of his sister until he didn’t and that was when their mother was put to space to die for the sin of having more than one child.

On Earth, Octavia becomes a ninja for revenge. Still, Bellamy shouts, “Get inside!”

~~~~~~~~~

We are on season 4 of The 100. We are all loving this show! Yesterday I shared the season 1 trailer. Here is the Season 2 trailer.

 

 

Finished Friday


This week started with a pair of unmatched socks. I didn’t realize it until I took the picture. I kept rearranging until they ‘looked’ matched. But one cuff was two inches longer than the other.

So I tried to think how I could donate, with clear conscience, to my charity. I couldn’t. I thought maybe I should keep them for myself. Nah. So I went through all the yarn hoping to find more of the same color. So lucky to find more. Now the challenge was to make another perfectly unmatched pair.

I did it!

These are the same colors. The cell didn’t photograph these very well. Sorry.

Now I can donate happily! And I think I have enough leftover for one more pair!

These are on the KB Sock 2 loom. It is a larger gauge which makes it great for single strand worsted weight yarn.

The pattern is found in the package. I revised a bit to something like this:

Two-by-two brim (2″ and 4″ respectively) an inch of flat stitch, then heel, then 6 1/2″ e-wrap, then toe.

I love making socks!

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