Rainy Days With Amanda

 So, I've been reading this fan fic and it takes place in the Victorian era. I am not the biggest fan of reading materials from this era but I ended up loving it and now I read other fics that are set int he Victorian era. Anyway, one day the author of the main Victorian-era fic that I read posted in her comments that she was inspired by the book Persuasion , thus I put it on my Goodreads list to read and here we are. Here's my book talk blog on Persuasion by Jane Austen.    About the Author  Jane Austen was an English novelist known primarily for her six novels, which implicitly interpret, critique, and comment upon the British landed gentry at the end of the 18th century. Austen's plots often explore the dependence of women on marriage for the pursuit of favorable social standing and economic security. Her works are an implicit critique of the novels of sensibility of the second half of the 18th century and are part of the transition to 19th-century literary realis

 I went to my local Half Price books recently and picked up another Mrs. Pollifax book! I started reading this series when I picked it up on a whim at my local second hand bookstore and have been a Pollifax lover ever since. You can read my previous book from this series here . Anyway, onto the book talk for Mrs. Pollifax Pursued! About the Author Dorothy Gilman started writing when she was 9 and knew early on she was to be a writer. At 11, she competed against 10 to 16-year-olds in a story contest and won first place. She attended Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and briefly the University of Pennsylvania. She planned to write and illustrate children's books. She married Edgar A. Butters Jr, in 1945, this ended in divorce in 1965. Dorothy worked as an art teacher & telephone operator before becoming an author. She wrote children’s stories for more than ten years until she stated her adult mystery series on Mrs. Pollifax, which brought her to acclaimed fame. Many of

    THE GHOST OF WHISPERING WILLOW Second Edition by AMANDA M. THRASHER Children’s Horror / Fantasy / Magic / Chapter Book Publisher: Progressive Rising Phoenix Press Page Count: 246 Publication Date: January 9, 2024 SYNOPSIS Stewart sees a ghostly figure out of the corner of his eye. He and his friend, Andy, begin a ghost investigation that leads to an adventure of a lifetime.  Coming face-to-face with a ghost, the boys make a decision to join forces with a group of girls, who have encountered a ghost of their own. The kids soon find that the ghosts that they've encountered are in imminent danger and need their help. Can the kids devise a plan to help the ghost in time? Will they be able to reunite a ghost with his lost family? Complete with a ghost village and a feud, this story takes on a life of its own. BOOK TRAILER CLICK TO PURCHASE ABOUT THE AUTHOR Award-winning author Amanda M. Thrasher was bo

 Hey Ya'll! My husband and I recently came back from a trip from the great northern land of Toronto Canada. I feel that Canada isn't really one of those places you would think of to travel to, especially for those of us living on the complete opposite parts of the states. We chose Canada because we were trying for a baby and when things weren't happening right away, I figured we could book a trip, but some place not too far. Then, Canada came to mind when I remembered that one of my husband's bucket list items was to experience Niagara Falls. I figured if I did become pregnant, it would be a place that where I could speak the same language to a doctor if something was wrong, I could drink the tap water, and I wouldn't have to be on a plane for super long or have jet lag. Fortunately, I did become pregnant and we were able to travel to Toronto Canada at my 14 week mark. Here's how it went!  The Stay People always tell me Airbnb's are just as much as hotels, b

 Last year, my favorite read of 2023 was Middlesex , a book from Jeffery Eugenides about the effect of a mutated gene on three generations of a Greek family, causing momentous changes in the protagonist's life. It's a really insightful and interesting read that I gobbled up pretty quickly. If you're interested in learning about that, you can find that book talk here ! Anyway, I knew that I would have to read Jeffrey's other works at some point and this past month was the month. Here's my full book talk on Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides. About the Author Jeffrey Ken Eugenides is an American novelist and short story writer who has written numerous short stories, essays, and a few novels including The Virgin Suicides , Middlesex , and The Marriage Plot . In 2018, Eugenides joined New York University's Creative Writing Program as a tenured full professor and the Lewis and Loretta Glucksman Professor in American Letters. Eugenides has been inducted into The Amer

    JUST A HAT By SHANAH KHUBIAR Young Adult / Coming of Age / Jewish Fiction / Small-Town Texas / 1970s Publisher: Blackstone Publishing Page Count: 254 Publication Date: July 18, 2023 Scroll down for giveaway! Action-packed, humorous, and bittersweet, this 1970s-era coming-of-age novel is more relevant than ever--exploring how a second-generation immigrant kid in a new hometown must navigate bullying, unexpected friendships, and the struggle of keeping both feet firmly planted in two very different cultures. It's 1979, and thirteen-year-old Joseph Nissan can't help but notice that small-town Texas has something in common with Revolution-era Iran: an absence of fellow Jews. And in such a small town it seems obvious that a brown kid like him was bound to make friends with Latinos--which is a plus, since his new buds, the Ybarra twins, have his back. But when the Iran hostage crisis, two neighborhood bullies, and the local reverend's beautiful daughter put him in all sorts

    MAGICAL ELEMENTS OF THE PERIODIC TABLE PRESENTED ALPHABETICALLY BY THE ELEMENTAL DRAGONS Magical Elements of the Periodic Table, Book 2 By Sybrina Durant Children’s Picture Book / STEM / Chemistry Publisher: Sybrina Publishing Page Count: 44 Publication Date: March 9, 2024 Scroll down for a giveaway! In this unique alphabet book, members of the Elemental Dragon Clan present 26 Magical Elements of the Periodic Table in alphabetical order. Each member of the clan has an element tipped tail. They also have magical powers based on the properties of their metals. There are no more perfect groups than unicorns and dragons to familiarize yourself with elements from the Periodic Table. Their theme is: "No Metal -- No Magic. . .and No Technology." In this book, Antz starts out the book by introducing the very necessary metal, Antimony on his element page. Zora rounds out the alphabet by presenting scientific facts and other fun information about the metal, Zirconium, on her eleme

    FROWNS AND GOWNS The Mischief Series, Book 5 By AMANDA M. THRASHER Children’s Chapter Book / Fantasy / Fairies Publisher: Progressive Rising Phoenix Press Page Count: 236 Publication Date: September 12, 2023 Embark on a Magical Adventure with Lilly, Boris, and Jack! Get ready to join Lilly, Boris, and Jack on an unforgettable journey filled with excitement, laughter, and a touch of mayhem. Brace yourself for a whirlwind of mishaps as these three fairies plan a magnificent magical ball, only to encounter an unforeseen disaster! Experience the magic of friendship with Lilly, the quick-witted and resourceful fairy, Boris, the mischievous fairy with a heart of gold, and Jack, the troublemaker with a curious, adventurous spirit on their latest adventure. Throughout, Lilly, Boris, and Jack teach the true meaning of friendship and teamwork. Together with their friends, they'll overcome challenges, learn valuable lessons, and create memories that will last a lifetime. Don't miss o

  THE DESK FROM HOBOKEN A Genealogy Mystery, #1 by ML Condike Mystery / Women Sleuths / Forensic Genealogy Publisher: Harbor Lane Books, LLC Date of Publication: March 5, 2024 Number of Pages: 446 pages  Scroll down for Giveaway! After a personal loss, forensic genealogist RaeJean Hunter accepts what she believes is a straightforward case to ease back into the game: a student at Connecticut College has found human remains on the school campus. The College hires RaeJean to confirm their tentative identification that it’s a woman named Mary Rogers, whose cause of death has never been determined. Unfortunately, it becomes downright dangerous. Someone thwarts her investigation of the same case that inspired Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Mystery of Marie Rog ê t.” Still, she meets relatives, some helpful and others not, amid escalating threats. Using her skills, including DNA analysis, historical records research, genealogy mapping, and guidance from a mystical antique desk, she follows every