Reading about a pandemic....during a pandemic....

 I've put off reading this one for a bit now, it was just released in April of this year, but the idea of reading about a pandemic DURING a pandemic was a bit much. I've kept hearing so many good things about this one though....so I'm going ahead! 

The End of Men

"The End of Men" is part of my current library haul! This is a debut novel by Christina Sweeney-Baird and I love debut novels so much! Finding new authors is something I truly enjoy and this one sounds like a winner! 

Set in 2025 there is a virus that only men can contract and the race to warn and save the population. 

After having COVID, I'm prepared that this might be triggering but I'm also interested to see how this past year is showcased in the book. 

Have you read this one yet? What did you think? 

Wrapping up two books this week!

 Happy Tuesday! 

This past week has been a busy one! I'm preparing to return back to my main job on the 2nd so I've been trying to get everything in order - which means, my reading took a hit. 

I finished both books I had been reading last night/today! I loved them both and cannot recommend them enough! 

First up:

The President is Missing

This book scared the heck out of me! To say Former President Clinton and James Patterson can paint a picture of a cyberterrorism is an understatement. The multiple POV's help to paint a picture that is not only realistic but also gives us an insider view of what can happen in the Oval Office. For those who have never thought what might happen if we are forced into the "dark ages", prepare to be shook. 

Second book: 

Palm Spring Noir  

This is my first time reading the California series published by Akashic Books and I must now read them all! Each story was fantastic and it was the perfect companion read to "The President is Missing." I loved the fact that all stories were written by authors who truly KNEW the area; either they have lived there or grew up there. To write a perfect noir story, knowing your location is key because it will paint the picture for your readers. If you love noir, I cannot recommend this one enough! 

The President Is Missing....

 So, so, so excited about this one!!!! 

"The President Is Missing" is a co-authored book by Former President Bill Clinton and James Patterson. So we have all the insider info from the Oval PLUS Patterson's brilliant story-telling abilities!! I'm already 100 pages in and loving this one so much! 

You can tell the sections that Clinton has written and the sections that Patterson has done, which makes for a unique story. I can see Clinton in the fictitious President Duncan, Hillary in the fictitious Chief of Staff, Newt G in the fictitious Speaker of the House, and others. If you follow politics, you will not be disappointed in this one. 

Also, the Clinton/Patterson team has a new book coming out as well! As does Hillary Clinton who has teamed up with Louise Penny and I'm SO excited for that one in October!!!!! Links below! 

State of Terror

The President is Missing

The President's Daughter

Clap When You Land!

 I'm long overdue to read this one! Last year, I joined the book of the month club by Politics & Prose - which I loved to visit when in DC! Politics & Prose is among my top 5 local/independent bookstores!!! You can visit them using this link: 

Politics and Prose

"Clap When You Land" is also among the Goodreads 2020 best reads! I'm so excited to get started on this one! 

It's rare I read two books at once but when it's short stories I tend to go back and forth. Do you read multiple books at once? Or are you a one book at a time kinda reader? 

Let's talk about being flush....and no, I don't mean embarrassed!

 Just finished "The Menopause Manifesto" and.....

I called my mom and apologized for ANYTHING and EVERYTHING I might have done during that time in her life! Also, if any of my relatives, teachers, etc come across this - I'M SO SORRY! 

So I'm 41 and while this book does not entirely apply to me, I can see some signs already. As discussed in the previous post, I do not have children so heading into this stage of my life could happen sooner than for some. That is why I was so grateful to Kensington Publishers for gifting me this copy to promote! Now I've gone down the Dr. Jen explain path, and I feel some better and also I learned quite a bit! 

I love reading a medical/self-help book that does not talk down to you. I prefer using real-life examples and referring to information from this century, not just old-school jargon. Dr. Jen does this! She puts it on your level and lays all the cards out on the table. Nothing, and I mean nothing, is off limits - which is as it should be! I still find it amazing that in 2021 the word "menopause" can be taboo but yet, it is. Women's health has taken a backseat to so many things, men I'm looking at you, that is seems at times we are still living in the 60's (abortion rights anyone?!?!) and we need to get out of the past and start focusing on our future. Dr. Jen does this and she will make you laugh along with the way with stories and teach at the same time. 

I cannot recommend this book enough! 

This one is for the ladies.....

 Thanks to Kensington Publishing for gifting me a copy of "The Menopause Manifesto" by Dr. Jen Gunter! 

I know this pick will not be for everybody who might come across this blog BUT Dr. Jen does have another publication as well: 

The Vagina Bible: The Vulva and the Vagina—Separating the Myth from the Medicine

PLUS: 

TED Talk!

Dr. Jen's TED Talk was one of the 2020's TOP TEN, just under Bill Gates and Van Jones! Dr. Jen is on track to have 3M viewers!!! 

So ladies, we need to listen to what Dr. Jen has to tell us! I'm so excited to start reading this one because as some of you know, I do not have children of my own and therefore I'm more likely to start into menopause earlier than most who have had children. This gifted read came at the PERFECT time in my life and I hope this blog/book/podcast/Dr. Jen will come at the perfect time in yours as well! 

Time to visit Paradise WV....

 Alright everyone, next up on the places to travel (and TBR list), "Paradise, WV!" 

I'm so excited to start this one today, it was gifted to me by Turner Publishing/KeyLight Books and will be released on 7.20.2021 - so if you pick up a copy, send me a message on LikeWise I've already started a discussion there! 

For me, this book will hit close to home - literally. Growing up on the Kentucky/Ohio/West Virginia line (AKA "Tri-State Area") I see first hand how drugs and poverty have taken over around my hometown. This area used to be home to AK Steel, one of the top steel making plants in the US, and when they shut down - everyone felt the impact. You KNEW someone who had lost their job; they might not be related to you but they were related to someone you knew, their dad sat next to you in school, or the waitress at Bob Evan's who always has a smile on her - well, her husband lost his job. And the area I grew up in has never recovered. 

I moved away before the opioid epidemic started but I know from visiting family, the struggle is real for those left behind. It breaks my heart to see homes I visited as a child being knocked down for either liquor stores, gas stations, or fast food places. But that is what's going on, and it never should have gotten to this point. 

So when you pick up this new release by Rob Rufus, hopefully this will give a little background to West Virginia and the surrounding area(s)! For "Paradise, WV" though - not only do we have all of this going on, but we also have a serial killer on the loose as well! Check out my GoodReads and LikeWise accounts for updates on this one! 

Side note; I LOVE this cover - right now I'm thinking heaven vs. hell but I'm sure that opinion will change! 

Your Majesty....

 Finished "Majesty" over the weekend and I loved it! 

Personally, I wouldn't have had Jeff and Daphne together because let's face it - Jeff deserves better but he just doesn't know it yet. Also, Daphne having her "ah-ha moment" wasn't the true "ah-ha" I was hoping for.....jail anyone?!?! 

I'm so glad I read these though! I can see aspects from "Gossip Girl" and the House of Windsor...but I appreciate the twists and the feminist aspect of the book. I just wish their mum had come around to accepting everything, but it goes to show what tradition does to a person. Nothing good comes from being so stubborn you cannot welcome new ideas! 

Gossip Girl Meets House of Windsor....Part 2

 Starting "Majesty" this evening! This is the 2nd book in the American Royals series and according to a user on LikeWise - there is a twist!!! I do love a good twist! 

The first book, "American Royals" was a fun read! I have a before/after blog post about that one as well. When I finished, I equated it to "Gossip Girl" and the House of Windsor. I still think that's how the series will play out, but we shall see! 

Let's Go To San Francisco!

 Mob bosses. Vigilantes. Hoodlums. Serial Killers. Cult Leaders. 

San Francisco Bay Area. 

Welcome to "The Murders That Made Us" by Bob Calhoun! This is next up on the TBR list and part of my library haul, check out my Instagram for the complete haul! 

I'm so excited to read this one. I love everything about California, minus natural disasters, and add in true crime/murder mysteries - I'm all for it! Learning about the past is always interesting to me so I'm ready to learn all the things about the Bay Area! 

What's Your Number...

 Enneagram number that is...

Coming at you today with TWO posts for finished books because like I said in my first post, life has gotten in the way this past week so I'm behind on all the things! 

I checked out this read, "Enneagram Empowerment" by Laura Miltenberger, from my local library - I have been curious about my personality type and how I interact with others. What causes us to lose friendships? How are we our best selves around everyone else? Who do we mesh with the best? 

For me, I have always hated large office settings - I prefer smaller numbers. In a large office, which is no different from high school in my opinion, there is room for drama - and I do not do drama. Maybe in my 20's but now that I'm....well....older, no thank you! I do not have the mental or physical strength to deal with it. But thinking back to those large office settings, I can easily pick out who was who while reading this book and also - I learned why our personalities may have clashed the way that they did. It was really an eyeopening read and I encourage everyone to find out their "number"! 

You Love Me.....

 OK, so this one took WAY longer to finish than I wanted but sometimes life gets in the way. 

Update: My hosting gig for "LikeWise" launched on 7/1 and I currently have close to one hundred and fifteen THOUSAND members following my group!!!! To say I'm excited is an understatement! We are currently reading "Wild" for our first bookclub pick....I love that book so much, I re-read it every summer and every summer I'm ready to "do Wild" and hike the PCT - yeah, I would die. No doubt, but it's fun to have on a bucket list that will NEVER actually happen! 

So we've got "LikeWise" gig up and running - yay!! And I start back to work on 7/12 so YAY!! Like I said, life has kept me busy lately which is good to be busy. 

Now for "You love Me" update: 

OH JOE! Will he ever learn? Will he ever meet a woman who doesn't have seriously f*cked up friends?!?! Sheesh.....he did kinda sorta try hard this time, and met with the same kinda result. So what is Netflix to do with a season three now??!?! I didn't LOVE it - RIP Love - but I didn't HATE it either....the 3rd installment was not the first book, "You", worthy but it also was not as bad as the second in the series, "Hidden Bodies" - but I can tell, we will have a fourth in the series. Maybe one day Joe will get his girl and live happily ever after as the guy we all love to hate!