What I'm Reading

Book Review: The Secret Book Society

Book Cover for The Secret Book Society by Madeline Martin.I enjoyed The Secret Book Society by Madeline Martin immensely. I believe the message in this book is a message that is never out of date. Why do I believe this? Because I have been the victim of a tyrannical husband. I have been the one that didn’t fit in. And I have also been the misunderstood daughter/family member.  I also know that if I had had a sisterhood that truly came together to support and help one another, I may not have chosen the life of an introvert. I will not share the specifics of the story, but let me break down for you the characters and why I liked the book.

The Characters

In 1895 London, women were considered property. Therefore, a woman like Lady Duxbury was the exception and not the rule. She had control of her own fortune, was accepted into the highest level of society, and had the intelligence and talent to maintain control over every aspect of her life.

Eleanor Clark had no control in her life. Her husband dictated everything from what she wore to how much time she was allowed to spend with their son. He decided what balls/parties they would attend. He decided when and where she was allowed to go. Verbal and physical abuse was her normal. And she had no way to change it.

Rose Wharton, an American heiress, who was sold off to a family with a title (yes, that was really a thing). Not really accepted by English society, she struggled to fit in and become the model wife of her aristocratic husband.

Lavinia Cavendish was a seriously misunderstood daughter. An young woman with an emotional nature, she struggled to control her passions. This made her shy with people and prone to bouts of depression.

Each woman needed help but didn’t know how to get it. Then they were invited to an afternoon tea hosted by Lady Duxbury. Thus, The Secret Book Society was born.

My Thoughts

I could identify with each character in a different way. The difference between me and them, I can fight back. I can change my life if I choose. I don’t have to stay in a marriage where I am made to feel less than worthy or told what to do every minute of every day. And I didn’t. Having been the victim of vicious gossip, I have chosen to not “fit in” rather than attempt to be something I’m really not. My family? They have no idea how to relate to me in any way. I’m nothing like the rest in any way. I’m even different in physical appearance. It took me years to have a conversation with family members in a way that allowed them to just accept me how I am rather than try to keep changing me.

Conclusion

I believe whole heartedly that women should come together in friendship understanding that we all bring something unique to the table. Ms. Martin totally makes that point in this book. Rather than ignore what 3 young women were going thru in their lives, Lady Duxbury reached out and offered support. She offered help and wisdom. In short, she offered, and showed them, true friendship.

Make no mistake, this book is not a “feel good” story. It is a story of the hardships we all face in different ways. This story reminds women how lucky we are to have choices, because we didn’t always have them. I, personally, took away the knowledge that if I had had a support group that accepted me for who I am that I would have a different outlook on society today.

I highly recommend this book for all women. And I also recommend that you take your time and think about what it means to be a friend. Are you trying to “one up” everyone in your circle? Are you participating in gossip about other in your circle? Or are you offering your own lessons learned from life? Are you too busy or offering help when they need it? I found The Secret Book Society to be entertaining while offering one pearl of wisdom for all of us.

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A “Hard Reset” For My Life

A “HARD RESET” for myself is my new life goal. But what does the phrase “hard reset” mean in regards to my life? It means changing my mindset regarding family, friendships, and achieving a fitness level that will allow me to take all the “Bucket List” trips I have planned in the next few years.

First Step: Family First

The first step for my “hard reset” is to make an effort to spend more time with my family and actually be present when I’m with them. I realized after my Mother’s Day visit with mom that I’m not always “living in the moment” while visiting. I’ve taken for granted my parents are there. The truth is, they won’t be around in a few years, so I need to make the most of the time I have with them. The same goes for my daughter and her family as well. I want to be around to enjoy my grandchildren, but I won’t be able to do that if I’m not in optimal health and have the right mindset.

I think the above really hit home with me after witnessing someone treating her mother and daughter as after thoughts during a “girls outing”. Without going into any detail, it broke my heart to see hurt in their eyes. That day caused me to think about how I treat my own mother and daughter. Although I would never have walked away and focused on only on my own needs and wants during a “girls outing”, I have been guilty of tuning out in other ways.  Therefore, I need to actively “be present” in the moment whenever I have the opportunity to be with my own family.

Second Step: Getting Fit

After taking my mom on a trip to New England in the fall for her 80th birthday ( a “bucket list” item for her), I realized that I don’t want to have to depend on my daughter or grandchildren to escort me on a trip I’ve always wanted to take. I’ve also realized, after watching my  mother with her great-grandchildren, that mobility issues can rob me of some of the joy children bring us. It always breaks my heart to see the look on my mom’s face when she can’t hold a new great-grandbaby without sitting down because she doesn’t have the strength and mobility to walk with them.

In an attempt to avoid future heartaches, I’ve made my “Bucket List” and everything on it will require me to be in excellent physical condition. This means working out and eating healthier. And although I may curse Talent Nwosu (my personal trainer) while working out, I know will be grateful for him later. With his help I will be able to dog sledding and walking reindeer in Alaska, hiking the lava fields and rainforests in Hawaii, and riding a burro all day down into the Grand Canyon to spend the night at Shadow Ranch before riding the burro up the next day. However, working out isn’t enough. The saying “you are what you eat” is never more true than it is now. I have to get better about making good food choices if I am going to achieve the fitness level I am going to need to be at.

Third Step: Set Boundaries

There is a real and valid reason for the old adage “give them an inch and they’ll take a mile”.  As someone that chooses to be an introvert for that very reason, I was caught off guard when I forgot that this year. Friendships in real life can be awesome. They can also leave you feeling abused and unappreciated when one friend suffers from “Main Character Syndrome” (my daughter told me about this one). I had no idea this was a thing until after events that occurred in March and April. Now I do. And to be honest, I don’t care what “level” they have reached in their rewards program or how much money they have. I am just too old to care about what others may or may not have.

Unfortunately, I am not quite sure how I will accomplish setting the boundaries since they don’t “hear” anything I say. They never hear me say “I have plans to visit my grandchildren that week” or “I prefer this over that”. They don’t hear me because all that matters to them is what they want. As long as that person is the center of attention, screw what anyone else thinks, wants, or needs. So will they hear me when I tell them about the boundaries I’m setting? No. For now, my only alternative is to ignore the incessant text messages and their social media. Do I realize I’m exhibiting my own “Main Character Syndrome” symptoms? Absolutely. But it’s my blog so I should be the main character.

Hard Reset Day

Today is the day I start the journey of actively trying to “live in the moment” with family. It’s the first day of a fitness and nutrition reset. And it’s absolutely the day to set new boundaries with people who have stopped being a joy to be around. I’m going to consider this my Bilbo Baggins moment when I decide, “I’m going on an adventure”.  Because if I don’t, I may regret it later.

 

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Family Takes Priority Over Online Presence

Life has been busy the last few weeks and I haven’t been online as much to write a blog or anything else.Why? Because I have been focusing on family issues. So let’s catch you up with what I’ve been up to.

Family: Focus On Helping Daughter

First, my daughter has been having issues regarding my grandson. Please, let me be very clear before I start…my grandson loves his baby sister with all his heart and is a very good “big brother”. With that being said, he is no longer the only child after 6 years, AND he has been diagnosed with ADHD. Behavior issues have cropped up and school has become an unsafe environment for him. So…after weighing all the options and a considerable amount of research, my daughter is now homeschooling my grandson.

Family: Focus On Mom

Second, my mom is getting older and has mobility issues. So, I went home for a visit Mother’s Day weekend. I was able to spend time with her and observe her in regards to some concerns my younger sister had. After a couple of days paying close attention to my mom, I was able to  relieve those concerns since the issue related to me is a very easy fix. We, my younger sister and I, also took my mom out for a treat to “The Golden Girls Kitchen” pop up at Pullman Yards in Atlanta. Mom enjoyed her night out, especially since getting out of the house is a rare thing for anymore.

Family: Focus On Grandson

Last, I spent a couple of days at my daughter’s house after Mother’s Day before heading back home with my grandson. This allowed me to give my daughter a break from the stress of dealing with his behavior issues. Did my grandson have some meltdowns/behavior issues while at my house? Yes. However, his issues were minor. Also, those minor issues were the direct result of misunderstandings. The visit confirmed my suspicions that my grandson has some ideas he isn’t as important to the adults around him.

In conclusion, I spent that last few weeks on family matters. I don’t, as a rule, blog and/or get online to scroll social media during time with family. Family time is more important to me due to living 600 miles away. It’s not like I can just hop in a car and be at the home of a family member in 20 minutes for a visit. No, I have to plan and make arrangements with Hunny Bun concerning our dog, Athena. As a result, I would rather spend my time with them making memories (good, bad, and ugly). I’m sure you all understand my logic.

Now, I’m back and have no plans for the next couple of months other than reading, predawn/sunrise walks with Athena, and getting in shape. I look forward to sharing the upcoming adventures of that with you all.

What I'm Reading

My 50 State Road Trip Challenge

Exploring the United States via books is an excellent way to leave home without leaving the comforts of home. The 50 State Road Trip Reading Challenge that I have mentioned in a previous post has been one of my favorite yearly challenges. Not only have I discovered authors I haven’t read before, I have explored the US from East to West and North to South. I have even traveled to Alaska and Hawaii, as well as some of the U.S. Territories.

The Goal

The goal is simple: to read a book set in a specific state and to travel all 50 states and Washington, DC thru books. For example: I chose the entire McMurtrie and Drake Legal Thrillers because the entire series is set in Alabama. However, if a book has several settings, you can check off each state the book has a scene in.  Example: Identity by Nora Roberts has scenes set in several states and I chose to check those states off. That particular rule has helped me more than once when I was having difficulty accessing a book for states like Delaware, North/South Dakota, Nebraska, etc.

This is my completed 50 State Road Trip Challenge list for 2026:

Alabama McMurtrie and Drake Legal Thrillers Bailey, Robert
Alaska Northern Lights Roberts, Nora
Arizona A Different Dawn Maldonado, Isabella
Arkansas The Witness Roberts, Nora
California Implied Consent Powell, Keenan
Colorado Not Our Daughter Zunker, Chad
Connecticut Peg and Rose Solve a Murder Berenson, Laurien
Delaware The Innocent Coben, Harlan
Florida The Whistler Grisham, John
Georgia High Noon Roberts, Nora
Hawaii Aloha Alibi Webb, Jasmine
Idaho Chasing Fire Roberts, Nora
Illinois Digging In Nyhan, Loretta
Indiana Cold Cold Heart Hoag, Tami
Iowa This Is How I Lied Gudenkauf, Heather
Kansas The Winter Widow Weir, Charlene
Kentucky The Queen’s Gambit Tevis, Walter
Louisiana Identity Roberts, Nora
Maine Homeport Roberts, Nora
Maryland Identity Roberts, Nora
Massachusetts Three Sisters Island Trilogy Roberts, Nora
Michigan Sniffed Out Benning, Patti
Minnesota Cold Cold Heart Hoag, Tami
Mississippi Cemetery Road Iles, Greg
Missouri Identity Roberts, Nora
Montana Chasing Fire Roberts, Nora
Nebraska Identity Roberts, Nora
Nevada Identity Roberts, Nora
New Hampshire Catch of the Day Bennett, Virginia K.
New Jersey Year One Roberts, Nora
New Mexico The Law Is a Lady Roberts, Nora
New York The Second Son Gervais, Simon/Steck, Ryan
North Carolina Under Currents Roberts, Nora
North Dakota Paradise Valley Box, C. J.
Ohio Year One Roberts, Nora
Oklahoma Killers of the Flower Moon Grann, David
Oregon Her First Mistake Elliot, Kendra
Pennsylvania The Key Trilogy Roberts, Nora
Rhode Island Every Precious and Fragile Thing Davis, Barbara
South Carolina Identity Roberts, Nora
South Dakota Black Hills Roberts, Nora
Tennessee Between Black and White Bailey, Robert
Texas Not Our Daughter Zunker, Chad
Utah The Secret Witness Methos, Victor
Vermont Identity Roberts, Nora
Virginia The Widow Grisham, John
Washington River’s End Roberts, Nora
West Virginia No Filter Gilbert, Heather Day
Wisconsin Buzz Off Reed, Hannah
Wyoming Angels Fall Roberts, Nora
Washington, DC The Night Agent Quirk, Matthew

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Feeling Better Journey

Getting Strong: My Fitness Journey Begins

Getting strong has never been a top priority for me. As I discussed in an earlier post, I am not one for lifting weights and building muscles. With that being said, I now realize that I probably should get stronger. Especially if I want to truly enjoy several “bucket list trips” I am planning.

The Choice of Gym for Getting Strong

I spent two weeks researching every local gym/fitness center that also have facilities close to my family in Georgia. A gym with an indoor pool so I could swim laps or take aquatic exercise classes was preferable. Other wants included a sauna or steam room, access to personal trainers, a wide variety of class options, and opening early since I prefer morning workouts. After considerable research, I chose to join OneLife Fitness.

I made the call and went in to tour the facility with Nadia and discuss membership options. After touring the facility I sat down with Nadia to sign the dotted line and set up my evaluation. That’s when I met Talent, the fitness director and a personal trainer. Talent’s job is to evaluate the client, discuss their fitness needs and goals, then match them with the right personal trainer.

Evaluating What I Need for Getting Strong

Now I will admit to being out of shape and having little to no strength. So during the exercises Talent had me do during my evaluation, I let him know my muscles were calling him very ugly names. It was a laugh thru the pain or cry situation. I chose laughter. Afterwards, we sat down together and discussed my goals and nutrition. I’m sure the look on my face when he told me I needed to consume a minimum of 90 grams of protein and approximately 1400 calories a day would have made most people cringe. Talent didn’t bat an eye at the look I gave him. It was that moment when I knew I would prefer Talent to be my personal trainer and that I had made the right choice.

The Work Involved in Getting Strong

My first real work out was two days ago. Talent walked me thru several exercises for building strength. One particular exercise had me wondering why I didn’t know we had muscles in our armpits. Did you know? I thought he was kidding when he said, “now, as you bring the bar down to your thighs I want you to really squeeze those armpit muscles”. My reaction was, “We have muscles in our armpits?” Trust me when I tell you I had to actively THINK about those muscles.

By the end of the workout, my leg muscles felt wobbly. And even though I had worked my shoulders, arms, and armpit muscles, they felt ok. Two days later all the muscles I work are calling Talent some extremely ugly names. Especially my armpit muscles!

I know I made the right choice for me when it comes to my choice in gyms. Do I have a long way to go when it comes to getting strong? Absolutely! But there is plenty of time to achieve the goals Talent and I set for myself. And I know all the work and temporary pain will be worth it when I take my first “bucket list trip” in January 2027.

What I'm Doing

Planning Family Adventures and Creating Memories

 

It’s been a while since I’ve posted, and I know that is not cool. However, life happened. So this post is all about what I’ve been up to since I last shared anything with you. From winter school break trips to matron of honor duties to bucket list trips, I’ve been busy. Planning everything out in advance via my google calendar for easy access has made keeping it all straight easy.

Winter School Break

I took my daughter and grandkids to Wilderness at the Smokies in February. We chose the resort because it is only a 3 hour drive from my daughter’s home and was a great way to “get away” for 3 days for some fun. My grandson and I played black light putt putt golf together, played in the indoor waterpark, and challenged each other in the arcade. While my granddaughter is still too young to appreciate the magic of such a place, I still enjoyed spending time with her and watching my daughter play with her in the wave pool.

I’m the Matron of Honor

After getting home from spending time with my favorite people, I had to get serious about helping my friend with her wedding. To be more specific, as the Matron of Honor, I needed to plan a bachelorette event. The problem was/is, my friend travels a great deal and nailing down a weekend she had free was almost impossible. After she finally gave me some dates, I set up a weekend at Hotel Roanoke in Roanoke, VA. The weekend included massages, spa treatments, good food, and a champagne toast in my room. The hotel and spa staff were absolutely amazing and some of the most courteous and friendly people I’ve ever met.

Bucket List Planning

After those two trips, it was time to get serious about planning a “bucket list” trip and creating a plan to get in shape for that particular trip. To that end, I booked a trip to see the Aurora Borealis via Alaska Rail. The website has several options for tours, but I want to see the Northern Lights at their best, so I will going in January 2027. More to come about that in future posts. I also joined a gym and have had two session with a personal trainer. I will be sharing my the journey of getting stronger in future posts as well.

As of today, thing are pretty much back to normal. And after the wedding, which is next week, I will readjust my schedule to include a more consistent work out routine and blog posting while still traveling to see some shows on Broadway, visit family, and take a couple of getaway trip with my Hunny Bun.

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Reading Challenges Helped Expand My Reading Book Selection

Reading challenges have helped me expand my reading habits over the last few years. Being a Kindle owner, I found the Kindle Reading Challenges by accident while scrolling down the home page looking for books to read. It started with simply wanting to get credit for reading each day. Then I started wanting all the “virtual bookmarks” associated with their challenges. All of a sudden, I was participating in the yearly challenges in the group I joined on Goodreads, as well as the Goodreads yearly challenge.

A – Z Book Title Challenge

This yearly challenge opened me up to authors and genres I would never have tried before because I had to actively seek book titles beginning with each letter of the alphabet. That’s more difficult than you might think for certain letters. As a result, I found myself giving thrillers, dystopian and fantasy titles a chance.

A- Z Author Challenge

Another yearly challenge that I had to actively think about. Of all the challenges I participate in each year, this one that truly opens me up to new options. I now have a list of authors that I truly enjoy and authors I won’t ever read again and that’s ok.

50 State Road Trip Challenge

So this particular challenge is rewarding and irritating for me at the same time. And this may be the last year I participate in it. Have I complete this challenge before? Yes, I have completed this challenge for the last 5 years. However, if it weren’t for the fact I can use the same book for more than one state, I doubt I would have been able to complete the challenge. My favorite part of this challenge is the 2026 Reading Map I created in Google Maps to keep track of all the place I visit in books.

I’ve covered the three main yearly reading challenges I participate in every year. Do you participate in reading challenges? If so, what challenges do you participate in each year? Have they helped you expand your reading preferences? Let me know. And come back for a more in depth post on each individual challenge I am participating in this year and how I keep track of all my reading.

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The Crimson Moth Duology: A Review

As a rule I do not like “retellings” or “reimaginings” of the classics. I don’t need an updated version of classic literature. However, every once in a while I will give a “retelling/reimagining” a chance. The Crimson Moth Duology by Kristen Ciccarelli was one of those “reimaginings” that I took a chance on and I’m glad I did. I enjoyed the story very much.

The Scarlet Pimpernel For A New Generation

There is absolutely no mistaking that Heartless Hunter and Rebel Witch are an updated version of The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy for those of us that have read those stories. With that being said, I did like how Ms. Ciccarelli swapped the genders of the two main characters. Instead of Sir Percy Blakeney, we get Rune Winters. Citizen Chauvelin is replaced by Gideon Sharpe.

Rune is a beautiful young woman with a secret. In public she is a socialite with nothing more on her mind than the latest fashions and gossip. In private, she is “The Crimson Moth”, a witch helping other witches escape being purged. Gideon Sharpe is the most successful witch hunter of the Republic. But one witch continues to evade capture, “The Crimson Moth”. So it is one adventure after another as each tries to get the upper hand in a dangerous game.

 

 

 

 

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Every Precious and Fragile Thing: A Review

Barbara Davis has wowed me again with another story of love, loss, and second chances in Every Precious and Fragile Thing. It’s a story of relationships broken by secrets and tragedies. This is a story that made me look at my own relationships with my mother and my daughter in a different way.

This book has a lot going on regarding relationships and how they are broken or healed. I totally connected with the characters in different ways. Mallory’s pain and resentment come from her mother not being present enough. Her mother always seems to put her job before Mallory. Her mother’s job also forced them to move quite a bit while also inviting rumor and speculation. Being the new kid in school is always tough, but dealing with that and gossip is bound to cause a child to resent the parent. Having buried that resentment and hurt deep so she could “move on” is starting to surface in unexpected ways. If Mallory doesn’t go home and deal with her past, she’s headed for a meltdown.

Helen walks on eggshells around her daughter, Mallory, in an attempt save what little relationship they have left. However, the time has come to share with her daughter a secret she has been keeping for decades. Will their fragile mother/daughter relationship dissolve completely when Mallory finally learns the truth about her mother? Helen is afraid to find out, but knows she must find the courage to tell.

Estelle spent her life presenting an image to the world. But now she is dying. Does she have enough time to help her son thru his despair after an accident derails his brilliant career as a concert pianist? She’s angry. But with a little help from Helen, Estelle begins to see the mistakes of her life in a new way. Maybe she will have enough time to mend some relationships, not just with her son, but with Helen and Mallory who were victims of her vicious tongue in the past.

I enjoyed this book on several levels and couldn’t put it down. Each character has my sympathy in a different way. They also irritated me in different ways. But in the end, the truth was revealed and relationships were changed. As a mother and daughter, the victim of vicious gossip, and the child of a mother determined to see her child’s talent developed to its fullest potential, I identify with each and every character. And I believe most would be able to connect with at least one of the characters.

Would I read this book again? Yes. Would I recommend this book to others? Absolutely! It’s a wonderfully emotional exploration of the fragile bonds between mothers and their children.

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Goals: Reflecting on Yearly Achievements

 

 

 

 

 

At the end of each year I set goals for the upcoming year as I reflect on the one coming to a close. The questions I ask myself are: Did I meet the goals I set for myself this year? Did I exceed the goals I set? Do I need to adjust my goals up or down for the upcoming year? I think these three questions are all I need to ask myself as I reflect and look forward. So how did 2025 go for me?

Reading Goal

I originally set my reading goal to 300 books for the year and set up a detailed spreadsheet for tracking. Not only did I meet that goal, I got there on May 25. At that point I adjusted the goal to 600 books. Where did I end up? I read/listened to 767 books. However, some of those books were omnibus volumes and if I were to add the total number of books in each of those volumes, the number goes up to 839 books. That’s a lot of reading and I enjoyed every minute. With that being said, I don’t plan on reading that much in 2026. I have other goals and plans for 2026 that will, out of necessity, mean less reading. So, I have set my reading goal for 2026 for 500 and can always adjust later if needed.

Fitness Goal(s)

I totally bombed on my fitness goal(s) for 2025. I stopped paying attention to what I was eating and I didn’t exercise near as much as I wanted to. My goal for 2026 is, simply put, to do better. With that in mind, I have set reminders to log my food on the two apps I have on my phone and I have signed up for virtual challenges. The fitness challenges designed to get people moving. You don’t have to be a runner/jogger, you just have to move. The first challenges are the One Day At A Time and Invincible 2026 challenges via Run Motivators. The second challenge is the Walk The Year challenge via Run the Edge.

For 2025, Reading and Fitness were all I set goals for. As the year progressed, I realized I  had some things I would like to do. As a result, I started this blog and have signed up for some online courses for skills I would like to improve. In 2026, I will spend more time improving skills and writing. I am not setting a specific “number” to reach, my goal is simply to get better at specific things and write more.

So far, 2026 has not started out to good. But as of today, I can honestly say I have started the journey to meeting the goals I have set for myself. Those goals will more than likely change as the year progresses, but for now I have a starting point and a end goal in sight. Do you reflect on the previous year when setting goals for a new year? How do you set your goals? And do you adjust the goals as the year progresses? Let me know!