Rainy Days With Amanda

 My 2026 year has started off with an unexpected side quest to the little town of Boulder City, Nevada. Seems a little random, right? Well, I work for a nonprofit that is celebrating 50 years this year and with it comes events happening from chapters all over North America to celebrate this milestone. The event I’m planning is in February, the second event. The first event was held in none other than Boulder City, Nevada. My boss asked me on Tuesday if I would be able to go instead of himself that Friday. At first, I felt that it was a little rude to ask a mom of a very child to get up and travel in such a short notice, but after talking through it with my husband, I decided to take the trip and it wasn’t that bad. Just a short 30 minute drive from the Harry Reid International Airport and about a 40 minute drive from Vegas, Boulder City is a little, yet mighty town filled with good food, good wine, and a variety of places to enjoy the outdoors. Where I Ate Your Mom’s Italian Kitche...

   About the Author Susan P. Baker, a native of Galveston, Texas, is the author of 13 mystery/suspense novels, two nonfiction titles, and a collection of short pieces. A retired Texas judge, Susan presided over cases ranging from murder to divorce for 12 years in Galveston, later serving as a visiting judge across Texas for another 12 years. Before her judicial career, she practiced law for nine years and worked as a probation officer for two years. Her extensive experience in the justice system and Texas courts significantly influences her writing, bringing authenticity and depth to her fictional works.   About the Book  Aurora’s life seems close to perfect. She has a devoted husband, a recent move back to her hometown, and the chance to fix up the house she inherited. She has a close circle of new and old friends and finds fulfillment in her volunteer work at the local animal shelter, loving on the animals in her care. But one night, a strange sound aw...

I'm walking around the San Antonio Book Festival looking for a new book to read and lo and behold, the cover to this book caught my eye. It has and intriguing cover and an interesting title. I flip it around to the read the synopsis and immediately know it's a book that I would enjoy reading. Skip to six months later and I finally read it. Here is my little review on The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami.   A Little About the Author Laila Lalami is the author of six books, including The Moor’s Account , which won the American Book Award, the Arab-American Book Award, and the Hurston / Wright Legacy Award. It was on the longlist for the Booker Prize and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction. Her most recent novel, The Other Americans , was a national bestseller, won the Joyce Carol Oates Prize, and was a finalist for the National Book Award in Fiction. Her books have been translated into over twenty languages. Her essays have appeared in the Los Angeles Times , the...

                                                           Pillars of Creation A Quest for the Great Name in a Nietzschean World By Carlos Nicolás Flor Literary Fiction, Coming of Age Publisher: Atmosphere Press Publication Date: 22 July, 2025 Where is God amidst the mass graves, poverty, drug trafficking, and corrupt officials on the Texas-Mexico border? Yoltic Cortez, a college dropout and aspiring writer in his mid-twenties, grapples with this question while living in an impoverished colonia. His bedridden father warns him to prepare spiritually for the challenges ahead by returning to their religious traditions and confronting the "Devil in the desert." Encouraged by his mentor, the "Failed Poet," to pursue a literary career, Yoltic struggles to write his first book. His situation is further complicated when a young Mexican woman...

   Press Coffee @ The Enclave ☕  11103 West Ave Suite 302, San Antonio, TX 78213   I've been to Press Coffee off Broadway and I absolutely adore going out there, especially on a cloudy, rainy day. This was my first time at their enclave location. The parking was tight, but once you step into the cozy quarters of this cafe, you suddenly forget. you were fighting for a parking spot.  Press Coffee at The Enclave has done it's best to bring the charm of their first location into this new location and I feel that it has paid off. The space is open, with plenty of seating and charging spots. They also boast a pretty nice patio that will be perfect for when the temps are cooler. The coffee and the morning treats were both excellent and I loved the ambiance of the whole building. Sure, it's not a greenhouse like it's parent location, but it doesn't make it any less of a great place to crack open your laptop or a book and enjoy some nicely brewed coffee.  💻 https:/...

 I’m back with another Stephani Plum novel. If you’re new here, I’ve been a Janet Evanovich fan ever since she was, seemingly randomly, on my sophomore summer reading list and I picked up Visions of Sugar Plums at Half Price Bookstore. I’m 30 now and I still find enjoyment reading the whacky adventures of Stephanie Plum and Plum Spooky was no exception. About the Author Janet Evanovich  began her career writing short contemporary romance novels  under the pen name  Steffie Hall,   but gained fame authoring a series of contemporary mysteries featuring Stephani Plum , a former lingerie buyer from Trenton, New Jersey , who becomes a bounty  to make ends meet after losing her job.  About the Book Wulf Grimoire is an opportunist who can kill without remorse and disappear like smoke. He’s chosen Martin Munch, boy genius, as his new business partner, and he’s chosen the Barrens as his new playground.  Wulf  is looking for world domina...