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I've always been a bit grumpy about Elizabeth Gilbert's memoir Eat, Pray, Love because she sold the idea and used an advance to fund the experiences the book is based on instead of having amazing experiences and then writing a memoir about it. So I was happy to find a truly authentic travel memoir. Tracy Smith began traveling for many reasons, discovered many things along the route about herself and then wrote a memoir every woman will identify with in some way. More about Th

Now I have to add Mansfield Park to my TBR list! I've seen a movie of this Jane Austen book and may have read it years ago but now it's on my re-read list since Mansfield Park and This Motherless Land run along parallel paths. More about This Motherless Land From the acclaimed author of  Wahala , a stunning reimagining of Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park: Split between England and Nigeria, two extraordinary cousins are set on vastly different paths as they come to terms with thei

This week - April 19 to April 25 - is National Library Week and this year's theme is "Find Your Joy". What a marvelous theme because I feel happy every time I walk through the doors of my local library. Maybe because of the new books I'll be checking out but often because of the welcoming smiles of my local librarians or an interesting event happening at my library. If you're in the mood to celebrate National Library Week, I'm sure your local library would love a visit from y

I interviewed author Sheila Sharpe last week and got a peek behind the scenes of Artist, Lover, Forger, Thief . You can check it out HERE . More about Artist, Lover, Forger, Thief Artist, Lover, Forger, Thief  is a riveting, wildly entertaining, complex, and adrenaline-fueled art crime novel that is as intriguing as it is satisfying. Nick McCoy wants out of the art forgery business but not until he exacts revenge on the man who murdered his family years ago. Kate O'Dade, Mc

Author Teresa Peschel's bio mentions that she lives in the Sweetest Place On Earth. I know where that is! Do you? Tell us where the Sweetest Place on Earth is in the comments section. More about Agatha Christie, She Watched: One Woman's Plot to Watch 201 Christie Adaptations Without Murdering the Director, Screenwriter, Cast, or Her Husband Care to match wits with Hercule Poirot? Share tea and gossip with Miss Marple? Chase spies with Tommy and Tuppence? "Agatha Christie, She

Today is a chance to meet author Sheila Sharpe and next week, a giveaway and a review of the first book in her Kate O'Dade Art Crime series: Artist, Lover, Forger, Thief . If you just can't wait until next week's review here's a special treat for you - an excerpt from Artist, Lover, Forger, Thief to tide you over. Check it out HERE . Jodi: Your website feels like the story of two women. One is the experienced therapist who writes non-fiction for those interested in overcom

Ever wish someone would watch every Agatha Christie adaptation and report back? Teresa Peschel did exactly that! Agatha Christie, She Watched  is on  Kindle sale for 99¢ from April 6–12 . One woman’s project to watch and write about  201 Christie adaptations , with insights, opinions, and plenty of love for classic mystery. Get the deal here: https://pictbooks.tours/OQ2lsUeE It's a Happy Birthday deal since the book was released on April 7, 2023. Come back next week on April

Some writers amaze me. Writers like LS Delorme, who should be taking a sabbatical on a tropical beach somewhere. Instead, she's taking time out of her jam-packed schedule of promoting her Limerent series to release Sabbatical , a book of short stories. It was just released in April 3 so grab it now and tell all your friends about the great short story collection you discovered No time for a novel? Ease into the Limerent world with some short stories. More About Sabbatical For

Are you a nature lover? And a book lover? Then I have a fun book club for you that will cover both bases with a new book every other month - plenty of time to do your reading. It's the Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation virtual book club. Don't be shy if you aren't from PA! Sorry, I'm a little late to the game and missed the first selection but you can still join in for April's selection of Half-Earth: Our Planet's Fight for Life by Edward O. Wilson. Learn more about thi

Last week I had a guest post with author Elizabeth Crowens and today she's back with her latest mystery as well as my thoughts on the book. This book revolves around the filming of Casablanca with guest starring roles for a few other classic 40s movies. You can read last week's guest post about the work authors do AFTER writing and enter the giveaway HERE . More About Round Up the Usual Suspects Against the backdrop of WWII, no one expected to find a murdered stagehand on

Since I have a young friend who LOVES dragons I knew I had to check out Dibs the Dragon. I'm more familiar with the dragons of Cressida Cowell's series How to Train Your Dragon so I was pleasantly surprised by a more cuddly version of dragons in Dibs the Dragon . You can also read my post inspired by the book posted last week HERE . More about Dibs the Dragon and the Marshmallow Rescue How does a bubble-blowing dragon make his very first friend? In the magical land of Lickit

I'm so excited today to welcome author Elizabeth Crowens with a peek at the work an author does AFTER their book has been published. Elizabeth just released the third book in her Golden Age of Hollywood Mystery series: Round Up the Unusual Suspects. You can check out my review next week but for now, here's Elizabeth (don't miss a book giveaway and a special offer from Elizabeth at the end of her guest post). Emotional Survival as an Author Every year, I attend a handful of wr

I'm visiting at The Muffin  to write about doctors, balloons and luxuries. Plus a fun writing challenge. Check out my guest post  HERE .

Happy First Day of Spring! To celebrate, let's learn more about Teresa H. Sabankaya, a lover of flowers and author of several books about flowers including the recently released Modern Floriography. You can read my review HERE . About Teresa H. Sabankaya Teresa is one of the most innovative floral designers in the San Francisco and Monterey Bay Area and has exhibited her floral art at various museums and flower shows including the Bouquets to Art exhibition at the De Young M

I'm miffed at my local postal worker. She still hasn't delivered my copy of Dibs the Dragon and the Marshmallow Rescue and I'm so eager to read it! My review will have to wait until next week but for today I thought I'd answer one of the writing prompts provided by author Ellie Moss. What makes a story a “repeat read” in your house? It's funny how some books just capture your children's attention and make them an endless read. Of course, as parents we sometimes get frustrat

Earlier this week I reviewed Zigzag Girl . Who could say no to that intriguing title? Check out my review HERE and get to know the author, Ruth Knafo Setton today. Jodi: Have you found any uniting themes or traits in all of your books? Ruth: Three things unite everything I write: passion, wonder, and mystery. I'm drawn to the dance of desire between two people, especially when it's forbidden or dangerous—I don't like to play it safe. My characters search for magic in the re

I couldn't resist the title Zigzag Girl. Learn more about the book today and more about what exactly "zigzag girl" means in the interview of author Ruth Knafo Setton in the interview on Thursday. Plus a giveaway! Now, back to the review. More About Zigzag Girl Zigzag Girl, by Ruth Knafo Setton, is a twisty contemporary mystery with a touch of magic, set in Atlantic City and the eerie New Jersey Pine Barrens. Lucy Moon, a brilliant young magician with a mysterious past, work

When the temperature is in the single digits and you're required to head out into the arctic tundra to shovel snow, it is lovely to be able to head back inside to hot chocolate and a book about flowers. Which was exactly the circumstances under which I read Modern Floriography . We're on the countdown to the release of this book, as well as the blooms poking their eager heads through the soil. So while we wait, more about Modern Floriography. More about Modern Floriography A

I reviewed Kim McCollum's second novel Harriet Hates Lemonade last week. Check it out HERE. But Kim is back this week for a fun interview so we can all learn more about the woman behind the words. You can also check out her WOW blog tour with plenty of book excerpts, guest posts, interviews, reviews and more HERE . Jodi: Harriet Hates Lemonade and your debut novel What Happens in Montana are similar because they both portray female friendships but in so many ways they ar

Harriet Hates Lemonade takes on the difficult subject of abusive relationships. I must confess that, in the beginning, I was reluctant to review the book because I've read some novels on this subject and they drifted into horror for me and made me question if I could finish them. But I want to let you know that any physical violence is "off-stage" or buffered by being the memory of a person while the book focuses on other aspects of abusive relationships. Stop by next week fo