Tag Archives: hobby

Sep16

Fun & Games: AC/DC Monopoly Edition

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Fun & Games: AC/DC Monopoly Edition

Hi! As you saw in a recent post, Johnny and I checked out Sweets & Geeks this past week and had the best time shopping till we dropped. Sweets & Geeks features something for every possible fandom imaginable and had countless forms of collectables including board games, plushies, backpacks, Funkos, and everything in between. Johnny and I are especially partial to a good board game and he began his shopping in that department. In no time at all, he returned with two games in hand: A new expansion of Horrified as well as AC/DC Monopoly! 😀

Johnny is the biggest AC/DC fan ever and it brought me such joy to take him to their show in Cleveland a few years back. A themed Monopoly board of his favorite band was a no brainer to purchase and we had a blast breaking it out with our birthday BFF, Cliff, a few days later. I may have gotten my butt kicked seven ways till Sunday but I’ll get my revenge next time! Check it out:

Monopoly is one of those games that people either love or hate and I have never met anyone who fell right in the middle. Although I agree that it is a tedious game at times, Johnny and I love it and were so happy to add the AC/DC board to our collection. Granted, we only have one other Monopoly a la Legend Of Zelda but it is a collection of two, nonetheless! There is never anything special or new about the themed Monopoly boards and the game play forever remains the same. However, it’s just fun to play on a board centered around one of your favorite things! They also make a great gift – my sister loves her Britney Spears Monopoly board that I got her for Mother’s Day! (I eventually want to get that one too! Long live the queen!) ❤

When Johnny, Cliff, and I dived into our AC/DC Monopoly, we had the band blaring on vinyl and settled in for a heated competition. I am saddened to report that the competition was neither heated nor successful for me and I think I went bankrupt in forty minutes lol. What can I say, I was trying to make some money moves and all of them fell through. Such is the game, though, and regardless of winning or losing, the company couldn’t be beat. I can’t wait to play again soon and avenge my honor to the tune of High Voltage rock!!!!!

If there is an AC/DC super fan in your life, this Monopoly board is a must. Whether it’s a loved or hated game, it sure makes a great collectable!

Do you have any themed Monopoly boards? What is your favorite board game? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep15

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Anniversary By Alex Finlay Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Anniversary By Alex Finlay Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing a thriller by Alex Finlay called The Anniversary. Although I wouldn’t call this book great, it was pretty good and the twisty cat and mouse plot was intriguing. My main qualm wasn’t so much with the contents of the book itself, rather with the at times, disjointed writing style of Alex Finlay. We’ll get to that more after the synopsis, though! Before we begin our chat about The Anniversary, I will be placing a trigger warning for graphic violence, disturbing content, sexual and physical assault, and combat in war. You ready? Let’s go:

High schoolers Jules and Quinn have seemingly nothing in common. Jules is beautiful, popular, and the star of the school. Quinn, on the other hand, is solitary, introverted, and prefers the company of books to people. However, these polar opposites formed a bond by semi-flirting their way through study hall before returning back to their normal crowds or lack thereof. While their interests are far from the same, the night of May first 1992 will forge their paths together for years to come to solve the mystery of what happened that fateful night and all of the tragedies to follow.

On May first, Quinn was sent to a juvenile detention center for almost killing a kid in a fight. On May first, Jules was kidnapped by the May Day Killer but he let her live. Life was never the same since. While Quinn was incarcerated, his mother was murdered and his brother’s health began to fail. With nowhere else to go upon his release, Quinn joined the army. As Quinn serves his country, Jules is serving looks and has a blossoming career as a young model. Her life might look glamorous on the outside but on the inside, Jules is almost always in the haze of a drug or alcohol induced stupor to shield herself from the memories of her narrow escape.

The May Day Killer was never found after Jules’ abduction and he continues to strike every year like clockwork. Some girls are spared, some are never seen from again. The FBI is desperate to close this case and Jules and two other May Day survivors begin to assist by trying to remember every detail from their encounter with the serial killer. Meanwhile, Quinn is working a case of his own. Before her murder, his mom uncovered something hinky going on at the factory she worked at. The day she was going to spill was the day of her death. His mom’s findings are meaningless to Quinn and leave him with more questions than answers. Little does he know, his mom’s murder and the May Day Killer are more connected than anyone thought possible. Will Jules and Quinn crack the cases to their own trauma? Or will a serial killer continue to walk free? Read The Anniversary to find out!

I am very much a fan of a good wild goose chase between a killer and the victims and The Anniversary really scratched that itch. The plot for The Anniversary was juicy to say the least and it kept me turning the pages. In fact, I finished it in three sittings. To a point, I enjoyed the story and the characters both major and minor. The biggest turn off of this book all came down to the way it was written. The Anniversary was marked through the passage of time with chunks of the book taking place one year or up to ten years later. This pieced together approach was somewhat confusing because so much could happen within that time frame! Once the next year took place, you basically had to remeet the characters with where they were at instead of where they have been which only left me wanting more. More information, more cohesion. More something to make this book feel like a completed work rather than a second or third draft.

Although I truly didn’t care for the way this book was set up, it doesn’t take away from the fact that it was still a slightly above average thriller. The grand reveals were shocking, it was fun to play detective along with the FBI, and it was almost like reading an episode of Law & Order: SVU. I will say that I felt like Jules’ character was a bit one dimensional but that was made up for in spades with Quinn. I don’t think it’s possible for him to not tug at your heart strings! The Anniversary had all of the fixings for a semi high Lil Red’s Book Club star rating. It really did fall short on the choppy writing, though, as it completely took away from a fully positive reader experience.

Overall, I am going to rate The Anniversary with a five out of ten stars. This was a perfectly average thriller that deserves a perfectly average rating. You’re not missing out on anything if you don’t read it, but you’re not going to hate it if you do give it a go!

What are you currently reading? What should I read next? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug28

Lil Red’s Book Club: Ambush By Colleen Coble Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Ambush By Colleen Coble Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing a sort of thriller, sort of romance, sort of religious (Yuck!) book by Colleen Coble called Ambush. Had I known that Coble was known for Christian literature, I would have vetoed it from the jump. However, I was too far into the book to abandon it and saw it through. Ambush was a below average read that appears to be the first part of a series. Will I read the next one when it comes out? The jury is still out but let’s discuss anyways! Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on Ambush for sexual violence, graphic crime scene descriptions, and general violence. Now, let’s get to it:

Paradise has had a tough go in life. After losing both of her parents she was bounced from foster home to foster home, each one being worse than the last. The only high point in those years was her relationship with Blake which came to a crashing halt when his attempt to help her failed. The two high school sweethearts never spoke again afterwards but Paradise’s past is about to catch up to her fifteen years later. Since her and Blake’s falling out, she went on to become a vet specializing in wild and exotic animals. Although she loves her job, an almost deadly attack by a big cat has left her broken and she takes the first opportunity she is offered to get her groove back. She will now be the vet at The Sanctuary.

The Sanctuary is exactly what it sounds like – a place for wild animals that were injured to roam, heal, and live the rest of their lives under expert care. It would be perfect minus the fact that Blake’s mother is the owner of The Sanctuary and he has returned in the wake of tragedy after the suspicious death of his father. Tensions are, indeed, high at The Sanctuary as the two former flames meet again but it is softened by Blake’s two younger brothers and his caring mom, Jenna. Paradise’s world at The Sanctuary revolves around caring for the animals and avoiding Blake at all costs. Soon, her avoidance of the man she has held a grudge against for so long will be the least important thing on her mind.

Since Paradise began her job, strange things have been happening at The Sanctuary and the surrounding properties. A body was found at a nearby ranch and angry activists have targeted The Sanctuary, committing break ins, arson, and shootings. The detective on the case feels no sympathy for Blake and his family and makes it clear that Blake and Jenna are his prime suspects in the murder at the ranch. With no help to be found for The Sanctuary from the police, the team decides to investigate themselves and that includes Paradise. As her and Blake work together to solve their own mysteries, they continue to grow closer and closer. If a flame is rekindling, it must wait until The Sanctuary’s problems are solved and Blake and his mom are in the clear. Will Paradise finally have the happy ending that she so needs and deserves? Read Ambush to find out!

In theory, Ambush offered a little bit of everything I like in a book. A juicy mystery, old love blossoming, and crooked cops. In practice, it was just very okay. My main qualm had nothing to do with the religious aspect of Ambush but had everything to do with the writing. Throughout the book, Colleen Coble made the decision to regurgitate the exact same phrases, words, and descriptions that had already been used several times over. It was verbatim and it drove me absolutely bonkers because lazy writing is the one thing I won’t stand for. There were countless times when it felt like I was rereading the same pages over again and it got to the point that it was laughable.

So the writing wasn’t great but what about the characters? Meh lol. Paradise as a leading lady was neither here nor there for me as she was extremely milquetoast. The personality factor was definitely lacking and she often read as bland and bored. Blake and his family, on the other hand, was too perfect and it was so unrealistic. I’m sure one would argue that god was on their side as they were ultra religious. What I mean by too perfect is that in the midst of all of this violence at The Sanctuary, no one got angry. Lives could have been lost and not one voice was ever raised. I don’t know about all of you, but I would be PISSED if I ended up being almost mauled by hyenas! Once again, I chalk this up to lazy writing to not even bother hinting at conflict within themselves and Ambush often read as a first draft as opposed to a published book.

Overall, I am going to rate Ambush with a two and a half out of ten stars. This is one that can certainly be skipped on but I’d be a liar if I said I don’t want to find out what happens in the next book!

What are you currently reading? What should I read next? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug5

Lil Red’s Book Club: It Could Have Been Her By Lisa Jewell Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: It Could Have Been Her By Lisa Jewell Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we will be discussing Lisa Jewell’s newest thriller called It Could Have Been Her. I am an avid fan of Lisa Jewell and thoroughly enjoyed the talk she did through the library systems last year. It was so cool to see one of my favorite authors on the computer screen answering questions from readers and talking about her writing process and upcoming projects. I was super excited to read her latest book and it did not disappoint. It Could Have Been Her was a wild ride! Before we begin our chat, I will be placing a big fat trigger warning for child abuse, domestic abuse, sexual violence, and highly disturbing content. You ready? Let’s get to it!

Twice divorced Jane is in her mid fifties and lives a solitary life in her family’s crumbling estate located in the middle of nowhere. She doesn’t have much in the way of human company but she loves her four dogs more than life itself. As her and her pups take their daily walk, they come across a small white dog that Jane has never seen before. She takes him to the vet and learns from his microchip that the dog’s name is Hugo and lives in London. How did this little dog get all the way to her property? Although she would like to keep Hugo, she makes the trip to return him to his owner and is shocked by where he lives. In a home that will forever be seared into her memory as what could have been her final resting place when she was twenty-nine years old.

The man who answers the door is named Stuart Tucker and he is dodgy but appreciative that his dog is back. Shortly after Jane drops Hugo off, she receives a call from the vet who heard something strange from Jane’s closest neighbor. Hugo was with a girl who was renting a spare room in her house. She has left all of her belongings and is nowhere to be found. This piques Jane’s interest as she fancies herself an amateur sleuth and wants to crack the case. What happened to the girl who rented the room under the name Rose White?

Stuart Tucker is a keeper of secrets. He lives with his partner, Jessamine as well as her daughter Daisy and mother named Annie. Jessamine spent her childhood in a house of horrors and her life revolves around when she can have her next drink. Stuart dotes on Daisy because no one else will and waits on Annie as if he were a butler. All the while, he takes the verbal and physical abuse of Jessamine as she is prone to fits of rage. He knows something terrible happened in this house but does his best to avoid thinking about it. If he does, he might just run away for good even if that means leaving Daisy all alone.

Tucker knows that Jane is poking around with her detective work and his family’s downfall might be coming sooner than he thinks. And Jane doesn’t think, she knows that she is getting close to finding answers. Rose is somehow connected to the house that lives in her nightmares. If Jane finds her, she can come to terms with her own trauma and move on with her life. But will Jane really want to learn the answers to the questions that have lived rent free in her mind for over two decades? Read It Could Have Been Her to find out!

Let me just get this part out of the way: There were some parts of It Could Have Been Her that were really difficult to read. In fact, this is one of the most disturbing thrillers I have read in recent memory and I do not say that lightly. Having said that, this book was really REALLY good and might just be Lisa Jewell’s darkest novel yet. The plot of this book twisted and turned at a rapid pace and the beauty of it was that every twist made perfect sense. This was a delight after reading My Husband’s Wife where every reveal was meant to shock as opposed to moving the story forward. Lisa Jewell weaved a tale of inter generational trauma that infected everyone it touched and it was up to the characters in the story to pick up the broken pieces the best way they knew how.

For all of the macabre in It Could Have Been Her, it was balanced out by our lovely heroine Jane. This woman was an absolute joy with her quick wit, her loves for dogs, and the blinding pride she feels for all of her stepchildren. She was truly the bright light that this book needed as Jewell guided us through the depths of human depravity. Throughout the book, I could see her confidence grow and her world expand and it was exciting to read about her whole new lease on life. Because for her to move forward, she needs to confront her past. This is no easy feat for anyone and it will be impossible for you to not root for her every step of the way if you read this book!

Overall, I am going to rate It Could Have Been Her with an eight out of ten stars. This was exactly what I needed after reading the massive dud of My Husband’s Wife and further solidifies Lisa Jewell as one of my go to authors. Just read at your own discretion!

Who is your favorite author? Have you read any good thrillers recently? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug4

Anime Club

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Anime Club

Hi! My brother, Andrew, is an avid fan of anime and turned me on to so many great shows like Demon Slayer, Black Clover, and The Promised Neverland to name a few. We are always gabbing about our current anime line up, what we plan on watching next, and the releases of new seasons of our favorites. And, now, we have a brand new group to share in our love for anime too! There are so many wonderful local libraries in my neck of the woods that offer amazing programs for adults, teens, and children. One of the newest additions being an anime club for adults that meets once a month. We have been going regularly for about four months now and we both look forward to it because it is a total blast!

At anime club we watch a few episodes of a show while enjoying a Japanese snack, have a discussion, and then do a craft themed around whatever show we were introduced to. For two hours, we are immersed in our world of imagination with like minded individuals and it’s such a treat. It’s also a thrill to check out new shows that we might not have watched before. For example, during our second meeting we watched the first three episodes of My Hero Academia and I was immediately hooked. Since then, I have been watching an episode every morning while I eat my breakfast and I just can’t get enough. It is SO good and I’m already halfway through season three. I look forward to my viewings every day. 😀

While some animes have been a hit with me at our meetings, some of them are a miss and that’s truly okay! Last week we dabbled in Jujutsu Kaisen which I have always been interested in but never bothered watching. During our screening, I learned that it was not my bag whatsoever and it was no harm no foul because I could move onto something different. Regardless of if I would continue the show on my own or not, it’s so exciting to watch something new. To experience different styles, stories, and characters and getting into the nitty gritty of what we liked and didn’t with our group allows for the best conversations. I am already chomping at the bit for our August get together!

Long live libraries!!! Thanks to Anime Club my brother and I have both made new friends, found new shows, and get to spend time with people who share our passion. It is just the best!

Do you attend any programs at your local library? What kind of events does your library offer? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug2

Lil Red’s Book Club: My Husband’s Wife By Alice Feeney Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: My Husband’s Wife By Alice Feeney Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing one of Alice Feeney’s newest books called My Husband’s Wife. When I began reading this book, I was most intrigued. Then, my tune changed drastically close to halfway through. I am telling you right here right now that My Husband’s Wife was the most far fetched garbage I have ever read lol and I encourage all of you to not waste your time on it. But, hey, that’s what these reviews are all about – for you to enjoy a book too or find something better! Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on My Husband’s Wife for suicide, child abuse, cancer, and graphic crime scene descriptions. Let’s do this thing:

Eden and her husband Harrison have just moved to the famous Spyglass house in Hope Falls with the hopes of a fresh start. Harrison will continue to travel back to London as his business is booming and Eden will spend her time painting. In fact, she even has an exhibition at a gallery this very night. To clear her mind before the big event, she goes for a run and returns to Spyglass to shower, don a pretty dress, and show the world her art. She inserts her key into the lock and it doesn’t turn. Did Harrison change the locks while she was out? After pounding on the door, a woman answers and she looks a lot like Eden and Harrison is treating this mystery woman like his own wife. But Eden is Eden so who in the world is she?

Olivia Bird AKA Birdy lives a life of solitude and prefers the company of her dog, Sunday, to almost all people. Birdy is also harboring a secret. Her body is riddled with tumors and she does not have long to live. Before she passes, there are loose ends to tie in Hope Falls as her grandma left Spyglass to her in her will. Bird visits the home once before putting it on the market and it is quickly purchased by Eden and Harrison. Her task is done but her life’s trajectory will soon call her back to Hope Falls, a place that she only vaguely remembers from her childhood.

Hope Falls is one of the safest places to live and the small town only has one police officer named Carter. A promotion to become head detective hangs over his head but it is snatched up by a more decorated person on the force. Their arrival couldn’t have come at a better time as a body has washed up on the shore and it looks a lot like Eden. The real or fake one is yet to be determined as the body is badly disfigured. Whoever this person is, there is a murder to solve and every new piece of information leaves the officers even more confused. Was the death of the unidentified person a case of suicide? Or was it part of a sinister plot to both bury and avenge the past? *Don’t* read My Husband’s Wife to find out!

My Husband’s Wife started out with a bang. The changed locks, an identity crisis, the the introduction of the elusive Olivia Bird. I was loving it as I worked my way through the first one hundred and twenty pages or so and then this book took a drastic turn and not in a good way. The relative simplicity of the plot that was being established began to turn so convoluted and each discovery in the investigation seemed more unlikely than the next. Now, don’t get me wrong. I completely understand that the thrillers I enjoy reading are far fetched but My Husband’s Wife was just too much. Each passing plot twist upped the ante in ridiculousness that it was almost humorous if it wasn’t all so dumb lol.

The sad thing about this book is that it did start out so strong and I had a fondness for Olivia Bird. She was truly the only saving grace in My Husband’s Wife with her cool attitude, dry wit, and sleeves of tattoos. I really did like reading about her but that wasn’t enough to salvage this utter train wreck. As you all know, I fancy myself an amateur detective and revel in figuring out grand reveals. It’s a game I play every time I read but My Husband’s Wife was so lackluster that I didn’t even care to try. And that’s really saying something!!

I am going to bestow zero out of ten stars upon My Husband’s Wife. If you are looking for a twisty thriller, check out Freida McFadden’s latest books because this one is SO not it!

What is your favorite thriller? What are your thoughts on My Husband’s Wife? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul29

Lil Red’s Book Club: Dear Debbie By Freida McFadden Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Dear Debbie By Freida McFadden Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing one of Freida McFadden’s newest books called Dear Debbie. Freida McFadden is a hit or miss author for me. Some of her books are great, others leave a lot to be desired and I feel like there is no middle ground. Her books are either good or bad lol. However, her most recent thrillers have hit hard – so much so that I finished Dear Debbie in one day! I just couldn’t put it down! Before we begin our discussion, I will be placing a trigger warning on Dear Debbie for sexual assault (one instance involving minors), graphic violence, and disturbing content. You ready? Let’s get to it:

Debbie gives great advice but she never necessarily takes her own. She is the voice of “Dear Debbie” in the local newspaper and does her best to point lonely or sad housewives in the right direction. Her own direction these days? Aimless. Her husband, Cooper, pulls disappearing acts during the evening and there is something going wrong with her teenage daughters that she is completely in the dark about. Debbie’s life wasn’t supposed to be this way. She was a promising student at MIT until an incident happened that made her academic dreams crash and burn. So she became a wife, a mother, and every day since the incident has left her feeling inadequate.

The only thing Debbie really has going for her is Dear Debbie and she enjoys her work. She takes pride in encouraging others to make a change but in one article, her advice goes too far in the eyes of the editor. A woman wrote to Debbie about the financial restraints her husband constricts her to and Debbie advised her to get a divorce. That did not fly for the family friendly publication and Debbie loses her job. Now, Debbie has nothing left to lose and decides to start righting the wrongs in her life.

Her targets are the people who do wrong for the sake of doing it. People who have made her daughters cry. Someone who is standing in the way of her husband’s promotion at his job. The snarky housewives who simply tolerate Debbie’s existence. But this is all child’s play because Debbie is working up to the number one person on her list. The person who derailed her life when her future could have been so vastly different. Debbie is going full on vigilante and there is nothing that can stop her now that her mission has begun. Who will suffer her wrath? Read Dear Debbie to find out!

It has been a while since I read a twisty thriller as I was working through a few palette cleanser books. Dear Debbie scratched that itch and then some! This book was a fast paced tale of revenge and what happens when a woman has had enough. For over twenty years, Debbie lived with her secret and shame and her getting fired from the newspaper was the straw that broke the camel’s back. It was absolutely delicious to read about this “super mom” getting more unhinged with each passing page and I genuinely had no idea what she was going to do or say next. It is rare that I finish a book in one day but this one was just that good.

One of my complaints with Frieda McFadden’s work has been her twists. In her earlier books, they seem to be placed so haphazardly with the point of shocking rather than making complete sense. It always left me feeling disappointed because better options were out there and weren’t being used. Her most recent books are so much more concise with grand reveals that actually feel plausible and tie the story line in a bow rather than leave the reader scratching their heads over the frayed edges. The twists in Dear Debbie were shocking, for sure, but they also kept the story moving along and kept me turning the pages until there were none left.

Overall, I am going to rate Dear Debbie with an eight out of ten stars. Freida McFadden has definitely moved up on my radar and I cannot wait to read what she writes next!

What are you currently reading? What is your favorite Frieda McFadden book? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul26

Dominating Duolingo

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Dominating Duolingo

Hi! Whenever I am asked the question of what super power I would like to have, my answer remains the same: To be fluent in every language in the world. Learning languages is one of my favorite hobbies and I think that would just be the coolest to be able to communicate with anyone in their native tongue. Accommodating people is so important to me and I can’t think of a better way to do so. That’s why I love learning on Duolingo so much! In fact, I just reached a three thousand day streak which translates to over eight years of daily language learning. Great success!

My primary focus on Duolingo has always been French and then I began adding other languages to my arsenal. I have been working hard on my Italian to be able to have casual conversations during my upcoming vacation. I even began learning Japanese about a half a year ago should my brother and I ever go on our dream vaca to Japan together! Over the years, I have started learning languages and dropped them. This isn’t for a lack of wanting to learn them but because I refuse to pay for Duolingo Plus and don’t have the amount of health to work on anything beyond four languages. This, I know for a fact because I just added Spanish back into the mix again.

When I started using Duo almost a decade ago, I got pretty far in the Spanish course and made it to level four. Then, other languages piqued my interest and took its place. However, I still know a lot of key words and basic phrases and recently got to put that knowledge to use. A few weeks or so ago at the gas station there was a man speaking Spanish to the employee who couldn’t understand him. I did and was able to help with his purchases and it felt SO good. Just having that beginner knowledge allowed me to assist someone else and that was my super power coming to fruition. So, I started relearning Spanish again in the hope of more interactions just like that.

Every morning I start my day by practicing French, Italian, Spanish, and Japanese and it brings me so much joy. I love learning new things and being able to take the time to improve my passion one lesson at a time. I might never be fluent in every language in the entire world and that’s okay. Because simply knowing a handful of words or phrases can open up entire worlds too and my gas station experience proved that. I am Duolingo’s number one fan and I encourage all of you to start learning a new language for free too. You will surprise yourself and have a lot of fun!

Huge shout out to Duolingo. I may never pay for your Plus membership but I still love you all the same lol!

Which languages do you speak? What are you learning on Duolingo? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul24

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Insomniacs By Allison Winn Scotch Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Insomniacs By Allison Winn Scotch Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we will be discussing a fun mystery by Allison Winn Scotch called The Insomniacs. Although this book lacked the dishy, often violent twists of my usual mystery thrillers, it more than made up for it in charm, humor, and a cast of characters that are impossible not to love. The Insomniacs is a quick read and I truly think that anyone will find something that they enjoy in it. I sure did! Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on The Insomniacs for abuse in a cult setting. You ready? Let’s go!

Julian, Zeke, Sybil, and Betty couldn’t be more different from each other. Julian is a retired man in his sixties, Zeke is a professional baseball player, Sybil is a middle aged empty nester, and Betty is a young twenty something just trying to find her way. However, they all have one thing in common – they are each full blown insomniacs. To pass the time at night, Julian, Zeke, and Sybil joined an insomniacs message board to chat with other people who run on no sleep. They formed a connection, learned they were close to each other in New York City, and decided to turn their communications online into a real life meeting.

As per Julian’s suggestion, the trio meets at a diner late at night where Betty is working the night shift as a waitress. They invite her into their group and the trio turns into a quartet that very night. As The Insomniacs continue to gather, they all agree that their lack of sleep is caused by problems in their lives that seem unsolvable. So they put their heads together and try to improve their issues with new approaches. Although they are pretty lousy at problem solving, the group enjoys each other’s company and text constantly, have holiday get togethers, and plenty of random pop bys.

The Insomniacs have, indeed, found their people but that is all about to come crumbling down. Gentle curmudgeon, Julian, has been killed in a hit and run and Betty is nowhere to be found. The quartet has dropped to two in a matter of hours and it is up to Zeke and Sybil to uncover what happened to Julian and find Betty. True crime enthusiast, Sybil takes the reigns on their investigation only to find that her and Zeke had no clue who their friends were in the first place. Betty hasn’t been seen for weeks and they believe that their time to bring her home safely is running out. Will Sybil and Zeke crack the case? And just who were Betty and Julian? Read The Insomniacs to find out!

I absolutely love an unlikely friendship book so, of course, I delighted in The Insomniacs. There is something that’s so exciting to me about perfect strangers coming together, getting to know each other, and then being thrown into a crazy adventure. And it doesn’t get much crazier than two people trying to solve a murder and a missing person case! The Insomniacs was a fluff read and I fully admit that. It was, honestly, so far fetched that it almost bordered on being silly. But did I keep turning the pages? Yes, yes, and YES and I finished it in three sittings because it was just fun.

Allison Winn Scotch crafted this book with striking imagery, hilarious one liners, and just enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. Where her writing shined the most was in her creation of the sleepless characters because they seemed so accessible. I could find similarities between myself or people I know in Zeke, Julian, Sybil, and Betty and each of them felt like friends rather than made up people in a story. I shared in their laughs, frustration, sorrows, and success and it hit hard despite all of the fluff. I am confident that anyone who reads The Insomniacs will see themselves in this rag tag friend group too!

Overall, I am going to rate The Insomniacs with an eight out of ten stars. This is not a book that I would normally pick out for myself but I am sure glad that I read it!

What are you currently reading? What should I read next? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul19

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Burning Side By Sarah Damoff Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Burning Side By Sarah Damoff Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing a novel by Sarah Damoff called The Burning Side. It has been a while since my last book club review as I have been addicted to playing Pokopia! However, when I managed to peel myself away I was able to finish The Burning Side in three sittings. This sentimental read was quite short at three hundred and twenty pages but it definitely packed a punch right in the feels. Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on The Burning Side for Alzheimer’s, a house fire, and loss of a child. You ready? Let’s get to it:

Despite their two beautiful children, April and Leo’s marriage has been on the rocks for a long time. After having both children, April suffered from postpartum depression and Leo began to pull away. He spent less time at home, countless hours at work, and left April to her own devices. In her loneliness, April made a bad decision and that was the straw that broke the marriage’s back. As April prepares dinner, Leo tells her he wants a divorce. In her shock, April forgets to turn the oven off and hours later their home burns to the ground.

Homeless and on the verge of divorce, April, Leo, and their kids move in with April’s parents, Deb and Billy. It will be a full house as her two siblings, Josie and Cameron will be there too. Although the situation is grim, everyone loves spending time at Deb and Billy’s and their marriage looks picture perfect from the outside. But, like April and Leo’s marriage, Billy is deteriorating too. He has recently been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s and the disease is progressing rapidly. In April’s childhood home, everyone begins adjusting to their new normal of a marriage falling apart, an increasingly confused father, and what moving forward looks like in the wakes of tragedy.

As the days pass, April and Leo speak minimally and focus their attention on salvaging anything from the remains of their home. What April wants to salvage the most is their marriage but Leo is just not there yet and the divorce will proceed. At the home front, Billy has been getting lost and and confusing his grandchildren for his own kids. As their worlds continue to crash down, a chance encounter and a difficult decision could be what is needed to get everyone back on a steady course. What will become of Deb and Billy? And will April and Leo be able to heal the rift that has broken their marriage apart? Read The Burning Side to find out!

The Burning Side was a lot different than the dishy thrillers I normally read but I liked it a lot and it was a nice change of pace. This book focused on themes of family, sacrifice, and coming together during hardships all wrapped into a riveting story line that kept me invested until the very end. And that ending? Wow! Although some of the subject matter in The Burning Side was heartbreaking to read, it was uplifting to see April, her soon to be ex husband, and entire family trying to handle things in the best way they know how. And, ultimately, growing through changing approaches and perspectives.

While The Burning Side primarily focused on Leo and April’s points of view, it also shifted from time to time to Deb. It was SO sad to experience her agony of watching Billy fade and the way she handled it was inspiring. In her sorrow, she was still able to turn this massive blow into something beautiful by creating new memories and gently brushing off Billy’s bouts of confusion. It was such a testament to true love and was able to open the eyes of everyone in the family about what’s really important. Because, at the end of the day, if you have each other – you have it all.

I am going to rate The Burning Side with an eight out of ten stars. This was a palette cleanser read that was most enjoyable and refreshing. I’d be a liar if I said I wasn’t ready for another dishy thriller, though!

What are you currently reading? What should I read next? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah