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In Red Cedar, California, there is trouble. Teens at the high school are going against the rule to get what their heart desires. Priorities of parents and teens is definitely out of order. The big prize is Stanford University. The question is what should you or what should you not do when you want something so badly, and you don't meet requirements. Nerdy Birdy, Manny, Mark and two graduating students who are dating one another are some of the characters involved in this shameful situation that ends in murder. Liz Lucas, the owner of Red Cedar Spa, becomes deeply involved in the case. She is also the main sleuth in other books written by Dianne Harman. I thought a lot about peer pressure and  the need to succeed. I also thought about the pressure to pick the most outstanding university. This becomes more important than thinking about future grades that will lead to a person becoming outstanding in his field and community. I liked the cozy because there are so many issues to t

It is a friendly reunion with book characters from earlier books in The Beautiful Thread by Penelope Wilcock. Here again is William, Madeleine, Abbot John and Brother Conradus. At the moment, I am enjoying the friendship between Rose, Madeleine's mother, and Abbot John. All friendships are not so refreshing. They seem to understand one another so well. What he enjoys, she enjoys. Their laughter is a delight. Their friendship is felt by Brother Conradus. It makes him happy to watch his mother walk and talk with the Abbot. This one friendship is changing the whole monastery. All friendships are powerful, but not all friendships are good. This one is as sweet as the smells in the Physick Garden. herbgardendesigns.org/themes-for-herb-garden-design-medieval/

New Orleans, Grandmothers, children friends and relatives are a part of an unforgettable storm named Katrina. I never can read enough about this storm. I thank God for the people who lived through it and those people who helped one another. Judith Richards, the author of Theolonious Rising paints the setting well. I could feel my skin wet with water and my face wet with tears. Katrina of 2005 was a dramatic and brutal time for adults and children. Monk lives through the storm with his Grandma. While they wade through rising water and find themselves trapped behind doors, I felt the bond between a Grandmother and her grandchild. Brave Grandma does not allow the storm to deter her from remembering the past. She shares these memories with Monk. He listens closely as she talks about Grandpa. She tells how he built their home. Grandma even cracks a joke during her last moments about not being able to swim but big enough to "float." I gained a deeper appreciation for the st

It is about marriage. Penelope Wilcock's "The Breath of Peace" is mainly about Madeleine Hazell and William de Bulmer. For years and years William de Bulmer was an abbot. His wife, Madeleine, throughout the years has been a Healer. After meeting one another in Yorkshire during the 14th century, they marry one another. For me it was surprising to read about a monk from St. Alcuin marrying and having such a difficult time adjusting to love and marriage. However, this is one of Penelope Wilcock's fine points. She writes about Brothers in a monastery with realism. I always come away knowing that although the Brothers and the Abbot are close to God it is not easy to act Christlike. Human nature still gets in the way. It really did hurt to read about William de Bulmer's childhood. He dealt with quite a bit of abuse in his family. These painful memories have an influence on his marriage. I also felt pain for Madeleine Hazell. To me, she comes across as

bermudaonion.wordpress.com 1. existentialism A philosophy that emphasizes the uniqueness and isolation of the individual experience in a hostile or indifferent universe, regards human existence as unexplainable, and stresses freedom of choice and responsibility for the consequences of one's acts. thefreedictionary.com/existentialism He believed in existentialism. It was his way of life during the seventies. 

mailboxmonday.wordpress Thank you to Harper Collins for Resolved by Lina Abujamra and Wilde Lake by Laura Lippman from Baker Publishing House.

Laura Lippman in Wilde Lake brings us to Two Americas. One America has become historically famous. Most well known when it is sung by Billie Holiday. The song is titled "Strange Fruit." I heard my parents talk about it and other friends down through time. I tried to listen to it for the first time tonight. I couldn't do it. It's heartbreaking what Black men have suffered down through the ages here at home in America. I will listen to the rest of the song at a later time. Thank goodness Laura Lippman gave a look at the other America. Because I am not fully equipped tonight to write about That America I will focus on the other one where Davey sings " This lovely land is mine. This lovely land is mine. This lovely land is mine..." As the song reached its climax, a scrim depicting the Tree of Life fell and somehow it seemed as if the chorus had become a living, breathing Tree of Life.