Month: January 2021

Reading French History.

Book Review for “The Paris Library” by Janet Skeslien Charles. Summary: “Paris, 1939: Young and ambitious Odile Souchet has it all: her handsome police officer beau and a dream job at the American Library in Paris. When the Nazis march into Paris, Odile stands to lose everything she holds dear, including her beloved library. Together … Continue reading Reading French History. →

TCL’s Book Blogger Hop #5 and #LetsDiscuss2021 #2!

Topic for the week of January 22-28: Do you own more than one eBook reader? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer). The Book Blogger Hop was originally created by Jennifer @ Crazy-For-Books in March 2010 and ended on December 31, 2012. With Jennifer's permission, I (Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer) relaunched the hop on … Continue reading TCL’s Book Blogger Hop #5 and #LetsDiscuss2021 #2! →

#TopTenTuesday – Top Ten New Authors to TCL in 2020.

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. The rules are simple: Each Tuesday, Jana assigns … Continue reading #TopTenTuesday – Top Ten New Authors to TCL in 2020. →

#SomethingDifferent 6 – Another Poem by The Chocolate Lady!

Once upon a time, I wrote poetry! Somewhere deep inside my #LetsDiscuss2020 #DiscussionSunday post about my regimen vs. impulse posting, I posed the question if anyone thought it might be fun for me to post some of my poetry here on my blog. Well, a couple of people showed interest, and I appreciate that. As … Continue reading #SomethingDifferent 6 – Another Poem by The Chocolate Lady! →

“… the Next Best Thing”?

Book Review for “The Charmed Wife” by Olga Grushin. Summary: “Cinderella married the man of her dreams--the perfect ending she deserved after diligently following all the fairy-tale rules. Yet now, two children and thirteen and a half years later, things have gone badly wrong and her life is far from perfect. One night, fed up, … Continue reading “… the Next Best Thing”? →

Trifecta of Troubles.

Book Review for “Trio: A Novel” by William Boyd. Summary: “It is summer in 1968, the year of the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy. While the world is reeling our trio is involved in making a rackety Swingin' Sixties British movie in sunny Brighton. All are leading secret lives. As the film … Continue reading Trifecta of Troubles. →

Salty Slices – #ShortStorySunday

Book Review for “Olive Kitteridge” by Elizabeth Strout. Summary: “Olive Kitteridge might be described by some as a battle axe or as brilliantly pushy, by others as the kindest person they had ever met. Olive herself has always been certain that she is 100% correct about everything - although, lately, her certitude has been shaken. … Continue reading Salty Slices – #ShortStorySunday →

Let’s Talk Bookish #4 – Bookish Memes: Worthwhile or Worthless? #LetsDiscuss2021 #1.

This article was inspired by the Let's Talk Bookish topic hosted by Rukky @ Eternity Books and Dani @ Literary Lion and this week January 15-211, suggested by ME: Bookish Memes: Are they worthwhile or are they worthless? Examples of questions you can answer: "How many bookish memes do you participate in? Do you enjoy … Continue reading Let’s Talk Bookish #4 – Bookish Memes: Worthwhile or Worthless? #LetsDiscuss2021 #1. →

Frozen 133 Years Ago.

Book Review for “The Children's Blizzard” by Melanie Benjamin. Summary: “The morning of January 12, 1888, was unusually mild, following a punishing cold spell. It was warm enough for the homesteaders of the Dakota territory to venture out again, and for their children to return to school without their heavy coats--leaving them unprepared when disaster … Continue reading Frozen 133 Years Ago. →

A Scottish James Garner?

Book Review for “The House by the Loch” by Kirsty Wark. Summary: “Walter MacMillan is bewitched by the clever, glamorous Jean Thompson and can't believe his luck when she agrees to marry him. Neither can she, for Walter represents a strong and steady and loving man who can perhaps quiet the demons inside her. Yet … Continue reading A Scottish James Garner? →