Tag Archives: hobby

Apr19

Lil Red’s Book Club: Sunrise On The Reaping By Suzanne Collins Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Sunrise On The Reaping By Suzanne Collins 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 book that I simply couldn’t wait to sink my teeth into: Sunrise On The Reaping by Suzanne Collins. I am an avid fan of any and all things Hunger Games and it was nothing short of thrilling to reenter the world of Panem once again. And, of course, to time travel as this is a prequel and Sunrise On The Reaping takes us back to Haymitch’s Games for the Quarter Quell. Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning for graphic violence and disturbing content. Now, let’s get to it:

Haymitch Abernathy of District 12 lives with his kid brother Sid and beloved Ma. He is an assistant bootlegger that keeps his District flowing with the good stuff, loves his girlfriend named Lenore Dove fiercely, and has a big day in store. It is his sixteenth birthday but what should be an exciting occasion is always bleak as his birthday falls on the day of The Reaping. This is no ordinary Reaping, either. It is the fiftieth anniversary of the Hunger Games, AKA the Quarter Quell, and the stakes are high: The amount of children being Reaped has been doubled. Two boys and two girls from each District for a grand total of forty-eight tributes will fight to the death until one lone victor remains.

As I’m sure you guessed, Haymitch is chosen as a District 12 tribute along with Wyatt, Maysilee, and Louella and they are whisked off after the Reaping to prepare for their untimely demise. There are meetings with stylists, training with the rest of the tributes, interview prep, and a plot that could change the course of Panem forever. Through contact with some unlikely allies, Haymitch learns that a hatred of the Games isn’t limited to the Districts. There are people in the Capital who loath it too and the perfect world plan is for this to be the biggest, most shocking Hunger Games yet. Not because it’s a Quarter Quell, but because they want to break the system and burn the Games to the ground. And, who better to carry it through than Haymitch? Will he succeed in creating a brighter future for Panem? Or will this plot destroy his own future, instead? Read Sunrise On The Reaping to find out!

Holy WOW, people. Sunrise On The Reaping was absolutely phenomenal and it is, easily, one of my favorite books of the series. I am not surprised – not just because it was excellent but Haymitch has always been one of my favorite characters and it was really cool to learn his backstory. And, let me just say, it is harrowing, tear jerking, and will give you an answer as to why you will never find Haymitch in present day without a drink in his hand. Once you are done with this book, you can hardly blame him.

While Sunrise On The Reaping was emotionally intense, Suzanne Collins was able to pepper in joyous moments expertly. IE: The first introduction of treasured characters from the original trilogy, a pair of tributes sharing a picnic during the Games, or Haymitch tapping into the “rascal” persona his team curated for him. These instances and more were like salve on the wounds of all of the atrocities the tributes faced. However, I knew that the other shoe would drop and when it did it felt even crueler. This book was an emotional rollarcoaster from start to finish and was a perfect addition to the Hunger Games series.

I am going to award Sunrise On The Reaping with the coveted ten out of ten stars. I loved every single minute of reading it. So much so, that I plan on rereading the entire Hunger Games series complete with a movie marathon too. I can’t wait!

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

Apr7

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Crash By Freida McFadden Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Crash By Freida McFadden Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! My sister, mom, and I tend to read a lot of the same books and I love our little makeshift family book club. The most recent book my sister read was The Crash by Freida McFadden and she quite enjoyed it so I thought I would give it a try too. It was pretty good and I finished it in just two days. In a spoiler free setting, as always, we will be discussing my sister’s book club pick. The Crash also is a big fat trigger warning as it deals with infertility, sexual assault, violence, and highly disturbing content. Now, let’s get to it:

Tegan may be young, flat broke, and heavily pregnant but her luck is about to turn around big time. She might not remember the one night stand that resulted in her daughter’s conception but that’s okay too. The man who got her pregnant, Simon, is married, rich, and willing to pay a jaw dropping sum to keep Tegan quiet. Simon’s lawyer, Jackson, assists in all of the details of the contract and Tegan simply has to sign at the dotted line for more money than she can imagine when Simon and Jackson visit her tiny studio apartment. She’s ecstatic, until she smells Simon’s cologne and it helps her remember the night she had forgotten. It wasn’t consensual sex at all that got her pregnant.

After this memory resurfaces, Tegan refuses to take the hush money and decides to stay with her older brother for a few days. She picks up one last shift at the grocery store she works at before her trip, packs her meager belongings, and hits the road. There might be a heavy snowstorm coming but Tegan is confident she can beat it and arrive to her destination safely. After all, it’s barely snowing once she’s on the highway. As Tegan continues her journey, the light snowfall turns into a full fledged blizzard and her beat up car is struggling. At this point, she has no idea where she is, the snow and ice are devastating, and she ends up running into a tree.

The baby is okay from the crash but Tegan isn’t. Her ankle is completely shattered and she can’t get out of her car. She is convinced this is the end until a stranger in a pickup truck helps her. This man should be her savior but his huge build and looming presence scare her. She is in no position to wait for someone else, though, and agrees to his help. His name is Hank and he carries her into his truck and takes her back to his home in the woods that he shares with his wife Polly. The snow is piling high and there is no way she can get to the hospital until the next day.

Once Hank and Tegan arrive at his home, him and Polly decide the best place for their guest to stay is in the basement. Polly, a former nurse, took care of her sick mother and converted the space into a hospital room. Tegan doesn’t like this idea one bit but the living room couch she is laying on is uncomfortable and she reluctantly agrees to the hospital bed. The roads will be plowed tomorrow and she can go to the hospital so what’s one night? Or two? Or three? Tegan has something that Polly wants desperately and her stay will be extended until she gets it. What happens next? Read The Crash to find out!

As I ravenously read The Crash, I couldn’t help but to laugh because this book honestly felt like reading a reboot of Misery by Stephen King. Misery also just so happens to be one of my favorite Stephen King books. The similarities between both books was striking – the plots might have been slightly different but the circumstances were basically the exact same. I wouldn’t say it was a bad thing but it almost felt… lazy on Freida McFadden’s part. Countless scenarios in The Crash felt so “been there done that” or should I say “been there read that” because I most certainly have. I think Freida McFadden got the cliche of “steal from the best and make it your own” wrong because it was more like “steal from the best, change things ever so slightly, and make it your own” lol.

Despite The Crash being a LifeTime movie remake of Misery and the fact that I spot on predicted everything but one twist, there was still a lot I liked about it and this was primarily because of Tegan. I absolutely loved her as the leading lady and she was so easy to root for. Yes, The Crash was very predictable. However, that didn’t take the worry I felt for Tegan away but almost intensified it. I knew what was coming next and the only question was how she was going to get out of it. And, of course, Freida McFadden is an extremely gifted writer regardless of the deja vu plot. She kept The Crash at a one hundred mile per hour pace and it completely solidified the urgency of the situation and kept me turning the pages.

Overall, I am going to rate The Crash with a four out of ten stars. Was it worth the read if you have read Misery before? That’s up for you to decide, but I’m still glad that I gave it a shot!

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

Apr1

Fun & Games: Horrified – American Monsters Edition

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Fun & Games: Horrified – American Monsters Edition

Howdy!! One of mine and Johnny’s all time favorite board games is called Horrified. In this game, you save a village from classic horror movie monsters like Dracula, The Mummy, The Invisible Man, etc. While we love the first edition of the game, we would always lament over the fact that different boards weren’t available. So, you can imagine our delight when we found out that wasn’t the case at all. Actually, there are three additional boards of Horrified. There is World of Monsters, Greek Monsters, and our newest addition – American Monsters. We played our first round a few days ago, absolutely crushed, and a fun time was had by all. Check it out:

Like the other expansions of Horrified, the game play in American Monsters remains the same: Complete the tasks to defeat the monsters and bring safety to a peaceful town. The only difference is, of course, the monsters, heroes, villagers, and items. In the American Monsters expansion, the monsters are all cryptids that include Bigfoot, Mothman, the Jersey Devil, Chupacabra, Banshee of the Badlands, and the Ozark Howler. As per the game’s recommendation, we played against the Chupacabra and the Banshee of the Badlands. And, as per random selection, I played as the Cryptozoologist and Johnny played as the Mountain Man and can I please repeat that we totally dominated!

The pairing that the directions suggested was a way to dip your toes in the water in terms of difficulty. Despite the Chupacabra and the Banshee of the Badlands being the easiest way to start, I really think it was the characters we ended up with that helped the most. If you are new to the game, the Cryptozoologist and the Mountain Man worked incredibly well together against these monsters because of their special powers. Johnny’s character could move to any space and mine could move to any space with a monster in it. This gave us the ability to move here, there, and everywhere with ease which was so beneficial for the tasks we needed to do. Had we randomly drawn different heroes, the game probably wouldn’t have gone as smoothly and I highly recommend the monster and hero pairings we did if you are a brand new player. It will definitely help boost your confidence to learn the game in a lower key way and get an easy win under your belt.

Because Johnny and I are not new to Horrified, we plan on going BALLS TO THE WALL when we purchase the Greek Monsters expansion. We know the game like the back of our hands and the training wheels are coming off. We are going to break in the board with the most difficult pairing and see what happens. I can’t wait!

Have you played Horrified before? What is your favorite cryptid? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar15

What’s Cookin?!

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What’s Cookin?!

Hello!! One of my favorite things in the world is to cook dinner. I love being able to spend time doing my thing in the kitchen and creating something delicious for Johnny and myself after work. And, because I will never master the fine art of cooking for two, I always have plenty to share with my parents and beloved downstairs neighbor, Tony. Despite loving to cook and fixing a plate for my loved ones, I find that it is the first thing that falls by the wayside when I am having a mental health moment (Or week or month but who’s counting lol).

The lack of desire to cook and sheer exhaustion physically and mentally was definitely the case for me recently. However, I am pleased to report that your girl is back! I am feeling much better and it felt so good to be able to make some of mine and Johnny’s favorite dishes. I whipped up a big pot of Fettuccine Alfredo and chicken breast for him. I also made my world famous spruced up baked potatoes and jalapeno popper quesadillas! And, of course, Johnny ran a plate down to Tony and I fixed a plate for my parents too.

The combined act of not only preparing the food but sharing it is so satisfying to me and I take pride in being the neighbor and daughter that surprises someone with a home cooked meal. I expect nothing in return for this because it’s truly my pleasure. It’s always nice to be complimented, though, and this text exchange with my mom made my day:

I guess the moral of the story is a few things. First and foremost, if you are noticing that some of your favorite hobbies or passions are becoming difficult to do – it’s okay!! However, it’s going to be glorious when you get that desire back and this post is a testament to that. Don’t beat yourself up over taking a break because you’re just going to feel worse. Rather, get back in your flow little by little and when you are back – You’re back, baby!

Second, if you have something to share – share away! Whether it’s posting your artwork on social media, fixing an extra plate for a loved one, or mowing your neighbor’s lawn, doing good feels good. Your gifts, skills, passions, and hobbies are all valuable and I’m not talking money. These are all things that someone, somewhere is going to appreciate and that makes what you are doing even more special. For example, I love knowing that my neighbor or parents aren’t going to have to cook dinner for themselves when I share the bounty. This is not only an act of kindness for them but myself too so share liberally because it’s going to do your world a world of good. ❤

I am back to being genuinely excited about cooking and it’s an amazing place to be. I hope all of you are finding full passion in the things that make you happy too!

What is your favorite hobby? How do you share it with others? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar11

Fun & Games: Horrified – World Of Monsters Edition

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Fun & Games: Horrified – World Of Monsters Edition

Hello! Johnny and I love playing board games together and one of our favorites is, hands down, Horrified. In this co-op game, your mission is to work as a team and save a village from classic horror movie monsters like Dracula, Frankenstein and his Bride, The Mummy, The Wolf Man, The Invisible Man, and The Creature from the Black Lagoon. Each monster has its own unique way of being defeated with tasks you must complete and all the while, you have to protect yourself, teammates, and villagers on the board. It is so much fun!!

We have gotten great use out of Horrified and Johnny and I always hoped they would make a new board with new monsters. You could imagine our surprise when we found out there was three! In addition to the original, there is a board for American Monsters, Greek Monsters, and World of Monsters. This past weekend, we made a Target Run to see if they had any of these new boards available. They had World of Monsters and we played it as soon as we got home. We had an absolute blast!

The premise of World of Monsters is the exact same as the original Horrified but with brand new heroes, monsters, villagers, items, action cards, and objectives. In World of Monsters, you can go toe to toe with the Sphinx, Yeti, Jiangshi, and Cthulhu. As per the game’s recommendation, we battled the Sphinx and Yeti first to get a feel for the board. Johnny played as the Buccaneer and I chose the Parapsychologist. Both of these heroes worked really well together and we were able to utilize their strengths for optimal results because we reigned victorious. Granted, our Life Counter was getting down to the wire but we still won so who cares lol.

Despite the fact that the way you play the other Horrified games doesn’t change, World of Monsters still felt so fresh and new. It was exciting to see everything the new board had to offer and it looked amazing too! If you are as big of fans of the first game as Johnny and I am, then this is a must buy. We plan on getting the other two boards as well and I have a feeling we are going to be playing a lot. I am SO not mad about this and would love to pencil in a game if we are both up for it after work instead of retiring to the couch. These new boards are what we have been waiting for and, as great as the original is, it’s going to make returning to it after playing something different even better!

Horrified is an easy to learn, fast, total blast of a game and I cannot recommend World of Monsters enough. And I cannot wait to play more!!

What is your favorite board game? Have you played Horrified before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb17

Lil Red’s Book Club: Preacher Book One By Garth Ennis & Steve Dillon Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Preacher Book One By Garth Ennis & Steve Dillon Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! For my Christmas gift this year, I treated myself to the entire collection of one of my favorite graphic novel series called Preacher by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon. After a stint of reading The Housemaid series, I finally was able to crack open Book One of Preacher and devoured it. I didn’t think it was possible, but it was even better than I remembered! Before we discuss Book One in a spoiler free setting, as always, I will be placing a big fat trigger warning on this graphic novel. It features graphic language, graphic violence, and highly disturbing content. It is not a read for the faint of heart! Now, let’s get to it:

God quit. He has left heaven and is nowhere to be found. In his absence, a creation called Genesis has broken free. Genesis is the child of an angel and demon, harnessing power and knowledge greater than god almighty. What Genesis needs is a human host and it is found in Reverend Jesse Custer. What heaven needs is to get Genesis back and the angels call upon the Saint of Killers to take care of whomever Genesis embedded himself in. During Jesse’s service at a small church in Texas, Genesis enters his body and creates an inferno that kills the entire congregation.

While all of that is going on, we meet Tulip who just so happens to be Jesse’s ex-girlfriend. She is in BIG trouble and needs to make a quick getaway. She hops in the car of a stranger named Cassidy and they hit the road. As they travel to anywhere but here, they see the aftermath of the explosion at Jesse’s church. As Tulip investigates the scene, she reunites with her long ago love. Just in time for the police to show up. Jesse, Tulip, and the elusive Cassidy are fully surrounded by heavy artillery. Then, as Genesis, Jesse speaks. He tells the cops to drop their guns and, amazingly, they do so. After the promise of certain death is eliminated, they get in Cassidy’s car and leave.

In a small diner, the newly formed crew evaluates how they ended up in this situation and what to do about it next. Not only do they have the cops to worry about, but the Saint of Killers is on their tail too and his bullets do not miss. Of course, Tulip would love to know why Jesse left her high and dry years ago but that is a conversation for another time. Right now, all Jesse wants to do is find god. But where does one look for god? Cassidy knows someone who might be able to assist in the search so their next destination is the Big Apple.

Rather than get any answers, Jesse, Cassidy, and Tulip find themselves in the grasp of a twisted serial killer. Jesse and Tulip closely escape and Cassidy ends up in a morgue. Until he wakes up, bums a cigarette from an employee, and decides to hit the road solo. After Cassidy makes his leave, the former lovers, Jesse and Tulip, are all alone. They quickly pick up where they left off after an abrupt end to their relationship, but Tulip still has no idea why it even happened in the first place. She is about to find out.

Jesse’s past is dark and he was raised by a wicked grandmother and her two backwoods cronies. He learned to love the lord through unspeakable abuse and made a vow to never, ever come back after he escaped. Some vows are meant to be broken, however, and said cronies catch up to Jesse and Tulip. They are returned to the place where it all began, Angelville. Jesse’s family knows about Genesis and they know they want that power desperately. They will do anything to keep Jesse and Genesis for themselves and murder is not off the table. Will Jesse and Tulip make it out alive? And where the hell is god, anyways? Read Preacher to find out!

In case you couldn’t tell, Preacher is a WILD ride. Honestly, the above synopsis isn’t even the half of it. Book One has always been my favorite and it sets the stage for the entire collected work so beautifully. Yes, the story is beyond far fetched. Yes, none of this could ever happen in real life. However, if you allow yourself to enter into the world created by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon, it really does feel real. The trio of Jesse, Tulip, and Cassidy are all so likeable in their own right and it’s impossible not to root for them instantly. Because of this, the danger that they are in feels that much more immanent. The twists are shocking and there is a tangible sense of urgency in every panel. Once I started reading, I just couldn’t stop because the last thing you want it for anything bad to happen to our heroes. And, when it does, it feels like a punch in the gut.

Not only does Book One establish the clear divide of “good versus evil” but it also introduces us to a variety of subplots. We get to see the Detectives hunt for Jesse, Tulip, and Cassidy. We meet a young, disfigured teen who vows to avenge his father’s death. We are shown settings and people that might not mean anything now, but they certainly will later. The promise of tying these loose ends is intoxicating. There is no rule book for a story line like this and that means it can go where ever the author and artists wants it to. Rest assured, you will never know what happens next in Preacher!

Overall, I am going to rate Book One of Preacher with a ten out of ten stars. From start to finish, this is a masterclass in story telling, artistry, and creating the blind faith in every reader that somehow, things are going to work out. No matter what!

Have you read Preacher before or watched the show? What did you think about it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb12

Super Great Deal!

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Super Great Deal!

Hello! When I go on outings with my clients, we tend to visit a lot of discount shops. It is a great way to work on budgeting money and it’s just fun too! One place that we usually end up at is Ollie’s and, honestly, I’ve never been too impressed with it. Until recently that is! I can’t say that their overall selection in the store is great but their book department has been knocking it out of the park during my past two visits. Last last time, I found three volumes of one of my favorite graphic novel series called Preacher and last week I scored this amazing box set for a song:

I am an avid fan of graphic novels and have been reading them a lot as of late. Sometimes, I just don’t have the mental capacity to read a full on book, but I still would like to read something. Graphic novels are the perfect compromise because I get to read AND enjoy incredible artwork. I didn’t have any intention of making a purchase from Ollie’s last week because I am currently working through the Preacher omnibus. Then, I ate my words when I saw their graphic novel selection featuring the collected works of Joe Hill.

I have never read any of Mr. Hill’s work before, but I am familiar with him and was intrigued by the horror vibes. I began to weigh my options between buying the few individual books from the set they had available or just going balls to the wall and buying the box set. From a brief look online, a majority of the offerings in the set sounded pretty good. The price at Ollie’s compared to Amazon was even better, though! The original price of this box set is one hundred smackers in comparison to the twenty-five dollar price tag at the store. You simply can’t beat that so into the cart it went. Did I need it? No. Would I have regretted not buying it? Absolutely! I still have a ways to go in Preacher but I know for sure what I’ll be reading next. 😀

Sometimes discount stores hit and this was a prime example. My graphic novel collection has expanded a ton this year and Ollie’s helped make that happen. Now, I always have something to read even when I don’t feel like “reading”!

What is your favorite discount store? Have you scored any good deals recently? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb10

Completed Lego Malfoy Manor Set

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Completed Lego Malfoy Manor Set

Hello! My brother treated Johnny and me to a Target gift card for Christmas and we both knew what we would like to spend it on: A new Lego set! During our Target Run, we decided on the Malfoy Manor from the Harry Potter collection. I had no idea that this set even existed and we were really excited by it because it spoke to our spooky vibes. In fact, this is probably one of my favorite Harry Potter sets yet. We completed this build in two parts and here is the end result:

^^^ Why does the Dobby Minifig look so terrifying but this one looks so cute?!

Johnny and I have countless Harry Potter Lego sets and they are great. As we expanded on our Hogwarts Castle, however, all of the sets kind of blurred together. Yes, they formed a cohesive whole. BUT each set was so similar to the last. The color palette was the same, the building process was the same, and themes were repeated. That is exactly why the Malfoy Manor was one of my favorite and most memorable builds. It was so completely different than the Harry Potter sets we were used to and it was invigorating to try something that felt brand new.

The Malfoy Manor set was not only exciting to complete but a ton of fun and we were enamored as it began to come together. The dark colors, gothic style build, and snakes at every turn enhanced the creepy aesthetic of this set beautifully. I am especially partial to the gargoyles, moving stairs, and the NPU of the monster hands. They look so cool!! Our Malfoy Manor really does look old and haunted and it reminded us of an old and wildly expensive Lego haunted house set that we both want desperately. Although we may never get our hands on the throwback set we covet, this was definitely a suitable replacement! I highly, highly recommend it if you are looking to add to your Harry Potter Lego world.

I’m not sure which Lego set Johnny and I are going to purchase next. Whatever it is, I can’t wait because building Lego together is one of our favorite things to do! ❤

What is your favorite Lego set? Which old Lego set would you love to have? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb5

Tabletop Gaming: A Guide For Beginners

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Tabletop Gaming: A Guide For Beginners

Tabletop gaming is a lot of fun. It’s something we’ve done since time immemorial and it’s something we’ll continue to do for years to come. After all, all you need is an idea of something to play and a place to play it – you don’t even necessarily need anyone to play with you either! One player TTRPGs are super common nowadays, and just having some time to dedicate to the session is the one requirement. But when you’re new to playing tabletop games, the whole tabletop scene can be a bit daunting. If that’s the predicament you find yourself in, here are some things to keep in mind about getting started:

Try Out Various Genres:

The variety you can find in the tabletop genre is genuinely astounding. It’s not just Dungeons and Dragons or Warhammer – there are hundreds of genres you can dig into and try out. If you find a typically popular tabletop game isn’t for you, you don’t have to keep playing it just because loads of other people do. You’ll be more than able to find something else to try that is likely to be a lot more fun, and suit your tastes better.

Buy a Dice Set:

When you have your own dice, you’re set. It doesn’t matter where you are, who you’re with, or what game you’re playing. You’ve brought an essential bit of kit along with you, and if there’s not enough to go round, you can pull your D20 Dice bag out of your pocket and be the hero. Aside from that, dice sets can get pretty creative. Many of them are made to look extra special and fancy, and you could even learn to make your own from home. Buying dice in colors and designs you love will only stoke the fires of your tabletop passion.

Don’t Be Afraid to Play with Strangers:

Heading down to a board game bar or cafe for a gaming night might sound quite intimidating, but it’s genuinely a lot of fun, even when you’re a beginner. Game nights like these bring the local gaming community together, and if you never give it a go, you’re unlikely to find other tabletop lovers outside of your select friend group. They’re strangers for now, for sure, but they won’t be for long! If you truly don’t enjoy the session you can leave whenever you want, and you don’t have to come back, but giving it a try is usually worth the time and energy. Plus, you can head online to find gaming forums and strike up conversations there too.

If you want to try tabletop gaming, get started with these tips. Try as many games as you can, get involved with any local gaming communities, and make sure you’ve got the right kit on your side too!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Feb4

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Housemaid Is Watching By Freida McFadden Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Housemaid Is Watching By Freida McFadden Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! Today, in a spoiler free setting, we are going to discuss the third book in The Housemaid series by Freida McFadden called The Housemaid Is Watching. I have heard mixed reviews about the third installation of the series so I was expecting a lackluster read. I was so wrong because this ended up being my favorite one in the trilogy after devouring The Housemaid and The Housemaid’s Secret! Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on The Housemaid Is Watching for violence and disturbing content. Now, let’s get to it:

We reunite with Millie over a decade later and she has officially made it. She has two children with Enzo named Ada and Nico and they are happily married and moving to their dream home in a quaint col-de-sac. Can they afford it? Barely. Are the kids thrilled about moving in the middle of the school year? Hard no. But all Millie has ever wanted is a quiet, normal life and she finally has it. As the family gets settled into their new digs, Millie can’t help but think how incredibly lucky she is – minus the minor sense of dread after meeting her new neighbors, of course.

In the col-de-sac, there are two homes next to Millie’s. One belongs to a woman named Janice and her son, Spencer. Janice is the neighborhood busy body who is stern and rarely has a kind word for anyone. She spends her days at home and you can almost always catch her looking out of her window. We also have Suzette and Jonathan Lowell. They are youngish, very wealthy, and might be a good fit together. Millie can’t tell, though, because Suzette cannot take her eyes and hands off of Enzo.

The days go by in suburbia and Millie notices a lot of changes. 1) She is constantly hearing scratching sounds in the middle of the night. 2) Enzo seems to be spending a lot of time with Suzette. And 3) Her son, Nico, is showing some alarming shifts in his normal, happy go lucky demeanor. After breaking the Lowell’s window with a baseball, Millie hoped that Nico would learn some responsibility by doing chores at their home to pay for the damage. Nico doesn’t improve but only worsens by getting into fistfights and withdrawing from his family.

Millie has so much on her mind between her son’s deteriorating mental health and her growing confidence that Enzo is cheating on her. He is working in Suzette’s yard almost every day, she saw him talking to her outside at ten at night, Enzo returned home in the early morning hours smelling like her perfume, and Suzette all but undresses him with her eyes every chance she can get. Millie has had enough. She marches across the lawn to confront Suzette and enters the home when she doesn’t get an answer. She doesn’t see Suzette, but a body on the ground and lots of blood. Not again. Who has met their demise? And whodoneit in the most shocking reveal of the series? Read The Housemaid Is Watching to find out!

I understand why The Housemaid Is Watching might have been a miss for some fans of the series. It is very different than the setting and general plot that we have grown used to. However, that is why I liked it so much! In fact, after completing the second book, I found myself hoping that the third one would throw a curveball and it delivered. While I loved plucky young Millie in her vigilante glory days, it was a welcome change of pace to see where she ended up well after the fact. I suppose I would have liked to know a bit more about the in between from then and now, but it was still a fully cohesive read.

What I liked the best about The Housemaid Is Watching was the grand reveal. I did get some parts of it right but not all of it and I literally couldn’t believe my eyes! I wouldn’t say it shocked me as much as the reveal in The Housemaid’s Secret because I had no idea what was going on in that one. That doesn’t mean it wasn’t still really good, though. And, finally, another great part about this book is the reintroduction of a few characters that you will totally not see coming, tying the series together in a perfect little bow.

Overall, I am going to rate The Housemaid Is Watching with a ten out of ten stars. It was my favorite of the series so it deserves the highest recommendation!

What did you think about The Housemaid series? What do you think about the movie casting? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah