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Monday, February 12, 2018

February Books, TV and Movies




Hello, dear friends.  Did you have a good weekend?  Ours was a rather soggy one.  Today promises to be sunny and in the 50's which means I need to throw on my sneaks and go out for a nice long walk. 

Whether I actually do it is a whole different story.












Amazon

I received an advance copy of The Family Next Door from the author, Sally Hepworth.  I've read all of her books, and they just keep getting better.  The Family Next Door revolves around a close-knit, middle-class neighborhood.  The reader is given a bird's-eye view into the lives of three couples that live on the same street.  Their seemingly placid life begins to get rocky when a fourth woman rents a home steps away from their homes.  Deep secrets, past indiscretions, a kidnapping, troubled marriages and plenty of intrigue weave this story into focus.   

Sally Hepworth is a talented writer who sculpts characters that are so vivid that it is difficult to leave them when the book ends.  The story flows with a gentle rhythm, shaken only by occasional twists and turns while lacing all the pieces together.

I highly recommend this one. 
It comes out on March 6th.

Attention:  Reece Witherspoon -
You need to buy the movie rights!
P.S.  If Meryl's not available, I'm free to play the Mother.




Amazon

The Woman in the Window tells the story of an agoraphobic alcoholic who also happens to be a therapist.  She spends most of her time spying on the neighbors while chugging bottles of vino.  One night, she witnesses a murder through the window of her neighbor's home.

Hitchcock, anyone?

I won't lie.  I had high hopes for this one.  I think that the book could have cut out about 50 pages.  It seemed to go on and on.  The main character's drinking binges, popping pills, and passing out really began to wear on my nerves.  By the end of the book, I lost all sympathy for the main character and just wanted this darn book to end.  I will say this though... there are a couple of big twists that I did not see coming.

To be honest, I am in the minority when it comes to not liking this book.  It has gotten rave reviews on Amazon.     






A woman CIA analyst finds out after being married to her loving husband for years that he is a Russian spy.  This was my Book Club's pick.  I just finished listening to this one and must say that this one is a nail-biter.  There is not a dull moment in this book.  I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a well-written, fast-paced thriller.






Amazon

Kristy Woodson Harvey, the infamous blogger at the helm of Design Chic, is releasing her next book, The Secret to Southern Charm on April 3rd.  She was kind enough to send me an advance copy.  

I started it a few days ago and I wanted to stay up all night to finish it.  This is the second book in The Peachtree Bluff series.  It centers around a widowed middle-aged woman and her three adult daughters.  I fell in love with this family as well as the quirky townies in Kristy's last book, Slightly South of Simple.  So naturally, I was delighted to become reunited with them. 

I am savoring this novel like an ice cream sundae and will do a full review of it when I finish it.  






Anatomy of a Scandal is next on my list to listen to on Audible.  A handsome, charismatic member of Britain's elite gets accused of a terrible crime. 

Sounds like my cup of tea.









New Releases

Disclosure:
I have not read the following books.  
If you buy one and don't like it, don't blame it on me, I'm just the messenger.





Five women go on a hike.  Four return.  
Need I say more?






After returning home from Vietnam and suffering from PTSD,  a man decides to move his family to Alaska.  Kristen Hannah can always be depended upon for a heartfelt storyline and well-developed characters which makes for a mesmerizing read.






This novel revolves around a mother and her daughters in Philadelphia in 1918.  The Spanish Flu sweeps over the city taking many lives.  The mother faces many challenges and decides to take in a child that was left orphaned.  Reviewers refer to it as a story of heartbreak and hope.





Kinsella looks into a seemingly happy marriage with her usual sharp wit and insight.  A perfect read for Spring Break.





This one looks like another light one for Spring Break.  Tabitha wakes up to find her husband gone.  She tells no one and decides to keep up appearances for months while going broke.  

Don't get any crazy ideas, Mister.






After Ava's adoptive mother dies, she finds a mysterious photograph in her mother's attic. 
I'll let you figure out the rest. 





After being orphaned at age 23, Laila meets her grandfather who is the wealthiest man in the country.
Why doesn't stuff like this happen to me?






Amazon

This novel centers around two best friends that come from opposite backgrounds.  They spend the summer together at one of the girl's summer cottage.  All goes well until one fateful night. 




Amazon

This book chronicles Lorena Hickock, America's most prominent reporter and Eleanor Roosevelt's deep friendship that lasted a lifetime.





This memoir is about a woman who leaves her survivalist family at age 17 and steps into a classroom for the first time in her life.  She then goes on to earn a Ph.D. from her Cambridge University.





Andrew Morton is at it again.  This time he delves into the life of Wallis Simpson.  I'm experiencing The Crown withdrawal, and I think that Wallis In Love may just do the trick to scratch that itch.




A must-read for a self-confessed Kennedyphile such as myself.  I have read very little about Jackie's family dynamic while growing up.  Sounds intriguing.








Slim pickings when it comes to this month's movie premieres.  




Trailer

An all-star cast in Jon Hamm's new movie. 







Trailer

If you're looking for something light, Game Night fills the bill.







Trailer

The Mister and I just finished the second season of A Place To Call Home.  I have heard from several readers that are enjoying this series as much as we are.  I wish it would never end.





Trailer

I'm not as crazy about Homeland as the Mister.
This season looks pretty good, though.  




Trailer

Mozart In The Jungle is a favorite of ours. 
It looks like this season is all about l-o-v-e. 
It's about t-i-m-e.  





Trailer

If you are a foodie like my man, this show looks like a fun one to watch.




Trailer

The Mister is going to love this one, too.


Until next time...







Linking up with:
Amaze Me Monday
You're the Star
Preppy Empty Nester
Preppy Empty Nester

I'm Katie. Thanks for stopping by my blog. I am an empty nester meandering through my middle-aged years while entangled in the never-ending process of renovating an antique home on the South Shore of Massachusetts. I love to write about books, movies, TV, celebrities, decorating, and weekend adventures. My favorite writing material is derived from my family: the Mister, my girls, #1 and #2, and my two untrainable, rambunctious pups, Chowdah and Chili.

16 comments:

  1. Oh girl, you get so many books read! I just need to walk away from my computer more. I'm saving a few of these suggestions and I'm just about to start Kristy's book. :)

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  2. We were so sad when we got to the end of Season 5 of A Place to Call Home but the good news is...Season 6 is coming!

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  3. Ok, you're gonna laugh but Mr. Nine looked at a book on my pile and said "Is that a Preppy recommendation?" (He calls you Preppy!) LOVED it, obviously you are good influencer. So we watched episode 1 of Homeland last night. It started to bore me after season 3 but it may have some promise this year, I got a tad lost in the middle of the episode but I'll stick with it, cause same here, Mr. loves it! Have super duper day! xo

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  4. As always I love the book recommendations. When I saw Andrew Morton had written a book about Wallis Simpson, I knew it was a must read!! I read the article in People magazine with a few spoilers that whetted my appetite for this book.

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  5. Thank you for making all of the recommendations. I always see something that I want to read with your choice of books.

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  6. Lots here sounds good -- and yes, Andrew Morton and Wallis Simpson? A match made in heaven! Got to read that one and the Jackie one, too!

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  7. I totally agree with you re: The Woman in the Window. So not into it and it is taking me forever to get through. I'm trying to stick with it. Good job to you on seeing it to the end!

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  8. I've been following the excerpts of the latest Wallis book on The Guardian, Sis, and it promises to be splendid. I'm also a huge Kennedy fan and am looking forward to the upcoming Kennedy's: An American Dynasty. Did you get your walk in? After a zillion weeks of rain and gloom and dreariness, it's finally sunny here as well. I'm in shock, frankly.

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  9. I always love seeing what you are reading. Our book club just read Lilac Girls, all loved it. The selection for this month is The Kept Woman by a local author.

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  10. So many great books! I love book suggestions from like minded readers. By the way, Kristy's book is fabulous! I read it all the day I received it in the mail.

    Have a great week!

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  11. EEK! I'm doing a little happy dance over here. Thank you SO much for the sweet words about The Secret to Southern Charm. I am so excited you are enjoying it! My TBR pile is already in danger of drowning us all, so thanks for adding to that... ��But for real thanks for the TV suggestions. I need something new to watch! You are amazing! Looks like a fabulous February round up!! xoxo Kristy

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  12. I'm about halfway through Anatomy of a Scandal now and enjoying it very much, worth reading, I say!

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  13. I loved the first season of Mozart in the Jungle, but I kind of fizzled out after that. Lots of great recommendations. I put the Hepworth book on the library reserve list...thanks for the heads up!

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  14. The Family Next Door looks like it’s my cup of tea. And I’m also sooo excited that Homeland is back on our screens soon... big fan although I’m not happy about Quinn dying :-( he was great... #SnappedUp

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  15. Wow! What a list. Surprisingly, I was drawn to your description of the book, "The Great Alone" which usually isn't my style of reading material at all. Could I be growing and developing as a reader? Hmmm. I'll have to check into it. It never hurts to stretch, right?

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  16. Ooh, I love to read and have ten books stacked up to get started on and one is Kristy’s. I can’t wait to start it this weekend!

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