London, 1940. Winston Churchill has just been sworn in, war rages across the Channel, and the threat of a Blitz looms larger by the day. But none of this deters Maggie Hope. She graduated at the top of her college class and possesses all the skills of the finest minds in British intelligence, but her gender qualifies her only to be the newest typist at No. 10 Downing Street. Her indefatigable spirit and remarkable gifts for codebreaking, though, rival those of even the highest men in government, and Maggie finds that working for the prime minister affords her a level of clearance she could never have imagined—and opportunities she will not let pass. In troubled, deadly times, with air-raid sirens sending multitudes underground, access to the War Rooms also exposes Maggie to the machinations of a menacing faction determined to do whatever it takes to change the course of history.

Ensnared in a web of spies, murder, and intrigue, Maggie must work quickly to balance her duty to King and Country with her chances for survival. And when she unravels a mystery that points toward her own family’s hidden secrets, she’ll discover that her quick wits are all that stand between an assassin’s murderous plan and Churchill himself.

In this daring debut, Susan Elia MacNeal blends meticulous research on the era, psychological insight into Winston Churchill, and the creation of a riveting main character, Maggie Hope, into a spectacularly crafted novel.


I loved this book and this author. I have always liked historical fiction and mysteries and this combines both. I know that many of you who have read here for any length of time know how very much I love books set during WWII  and this one is no exception. I think my fascination with this time period started way back in middle school when I read the  Diary of Anne Frank.
The book is the first in a series and tells of wartime Britain and Bletchley Park and the history behind the code breaking that went on there and a lot of this task fell to brilliant females.It also features some tidbits on Mr . Churchill who has always held a fascination for me as a historical figure.

I plan to mainly uses this forum from here on out to do book reviews and occasionally tidbits of life.
I do hope you will pick this one up and read it.
Here's hoping you all have a wonderful Mother's Day Weekend.

For my upcoming reads check the sidebar.

The Night Circus

You may tell a tale that takes up residence in someone's soul, becomes their blood and self and purpose. That tale will move them and drive them and who knows that they might do because of it, because of your words. That is your role, your gift.”Alexander


The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazement's. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway: a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them both, this is a game in which only one can be left standing. Despite the high stakes, Celia and Marco soon tumble headfirst into love, setting off a domino effect of dangerous consequences, and leaving the lives of everyone, from the performers to the patrons, hanging in the balance.

I loved this book ! It has some of the magic of the Twilight series but in a much more grown up  literate way. It is sort of like Alice in Wonderland for adults.The story also combines some of Shakespeare's themes and the love story between Celia and Marco is reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet.This book also combines elements of good and evil and the balance between the two.I dislike the characters of Prospero,Isobel and the Contortionist the least.


Why I loved it! The  plot was fast paced and kept you guessing .The main characters were interesting and you became invested in their lives and the Circus was a living thing itself. I would love to go to a circus like this myself.The two chambers which I loved the most were The Wishing Tree and The Cloud Chamber.My favorite characters were not Celia or Marco but Poppet and Widget and Herr Thiesen. I would love to see his clocks in real life.

I didn't know if I would like this book when I picked it up but it has become quiet possibly my favorite book of the year. I kept thinking while reading it that I can hardly wait till the movie comes out.It will be a cinematic feat.

I encourage everyone to read it. It is a magical book that will transport you to another time and place.

On another note I encourage everyone who hasn't already to go vote tomorrow. I don't plan on placing my political views here but I feel whatever your views please exercise your privilege tomorrow and Vote for the candidate of your choice.

 It is a gift to be able to voice our beliefs.When an American says that he loves his country, he means not only that he loves the New England hills, the prairies glistening in the sun, the wide and rising plains, the great mountains, and the sea. He means that he loves an inner air, an inner light in which freedom lives and in which a man can draw the breath of self-respect. ~Adlai Stevenson

Back and Hopefully Better!

I stopped blogging here in January  because I felt I didn't have anything to say and also because I was going through a rough patch in life as we all do. I felt that  i needed to step back and regroup and reorder my priorities . I think that is something we all need to do at times.
I have missed this place a lot and the connection I have found with the individuals I have met through blogging.

In this period of regrouping I have decided that this blog will be primarily a book review blog with occasional posts on the other things I love in life travel, food, crafts and diy.

Why books you ask? My love for them has been a constant in my life. I started by reading the encyclopedia as a 5 year old and then each week when we went to the laundromat on Saturday I got to go to library where in the one room library in the city hall of the tiny town I grew up in I found my  love of books. This love of books has carried me through the hard times of my life. I fell in love with Laura Ingalls Wilder, Misty of Chincoteague, and Nancy Drew as a child which led to a lifelong love of mysteries and fiction  and at 12 years of age I found Agatha Christie which was my first foray into adult literature. This love of books has been my magic carpet to travel the world from my hillbilly beginnings. I have been lucky to have visited many of the places in the US that I have read about.

This leads me to Hemingway's Girl. I truly loved this book. It is historical fiction that gives you a glimpse into the life of Papa Hemingway and the life of Key West after WWI. I was immersed in this era while reading this book and could almost smell the salt air and feel the warm breezes.Mrs. Robuck has a way with the written word of evoking time and place so well that I eagerly await her next book. This book was as good as Moloka'i and Honolulu to me and   that is high praise coming from me as they were two of my favorite books.

Lastly I want to say how much my heart hurts for those of the East Coast my thoughts and prayers are with all of you dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

The Color Run 2012

Doesn't this look fun? I so want to do this. I am going to try to do it with my sister and nephew. You get  powdered pigment thrown on you for each kilometer you run up to 5k. There will be one of these in 18 cities starting in San Diego and finishing in Fla. Ours here in Nashville is on Oct 11.

Check out the you tube video and come join me!

I have enjoyed all of Lisa See's books but I think I like this one and Shanghai Girls best.
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I really enjoyed this one as it takes place during the Chinese Revolution in the 1950's.I find that my favorite character in both books has been Pearl. I admire Pearl's character for her strength and her love of her child. I think with Joy's character she sees herself come full circle.
I feel Lisa See does really well in depicting a sense of place and time in history and helps us to see parts of the Chinese culture in ways we might not otherwise.I also think that she can take a time in history and place us there and help us to see what those who lived through it were like. I found that after reading this book that I have a keener understanding of how China became such an international industrial state.

I think this is a very good read for anyone who enjoys and good historical fiction book.

This review from Good Reads: In her beloved New York Times bestsellers Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Peony in Love, and, most recently, Shanghai Girls, Lisa See has brilliantly illuminated the potent bonds of mother love, romantic love, and love of country. Now, in her most powerful novel yet, she returns to these timeless themes, continuing the story of sisters Pearl and May from Shanghai Girls, and Pearl’s strong-willed nineteen-year-old daughter, Joy. Reeling from newly uncovered family secrets, and anger at her mother and aunt for keeping them from her, Joy runs away to Shanghai in early 1957 to find her birth father—the artist Z.G. Li, with whom both May and Pearl were once in love. Dazzled by him, and blinded by idealism and defiance, Joy throws herself into the New Society of Red China, heedless of the dangers in the communist regime. Devastated by Joy’s flight and terrified for her safety, Pearl is determined to save her daughter, no matter the personal cost. From the crowded city to remote villages, Pearl confronts old demons and almost insurmountable challenges as she follows Joy, hoping for reconciliation. Yet even as Joy’s and Pearl’s separate journeys converge, one of the most tragic episodes in China’s history threatens their very lives. Acclaimed for her richly drawn characters and vivid storytelling, Lisa See once again renders a family challenged by tragedy and time, yet ultimately united by the resilience of love

I am up early waiting for the phone to ring as I am on call today at work. It is my least favorite part of work as you can't plan anything on this day other than sitting by the phone waiting to have to go to work.

Oregon especially Western Oregon is on my mind because they are having very bad flooding the worst since the mid 90's and as most of you after having lived there 5 years this place holds a special place in my heart.

Today I am:

Tasting : Diet Coke which is my way to start the day. I have never really like coffee.
Listening: to the quiet of the house with everyone asleep.
Touching: a fleece blanket that keeps me warm on the couch
Watching:Coast Guard Alaska  on dvr. I find of late I love all the shows filmed in Alaska.
Reading: Dreams of Joy by Lisa See
Outside: it is cold with stars brightly shining. I love winter nights
Inspired by: Karen Russell (please go read her most recent post and follow her link to Momastery)
Smelling : my fake scentsy wax warmer from Wal-Mart that smells like Vanilla.
Wishing: for snow on a weekend that hubby and I don't have to work.
Thankful: that hubby got a job working for the state with benefits.
Anticipating :Springtime.
Dreaming of: going to the beach this summer in either Flordia or North Carolina.

Thoughts on a Sunday

Thoughts for Sunday . I think this is as good as any sermon on what is important in life!

Click on picture to make it pop out larger.