After two snow days this week and bitter cold temps we went to the movie theater yesterday and saw Wonka! The magic was just what we all needed. We followed it up with Aladdin’s Lebanese food and our day was made.
Posts
A Top 100 Series post about the Jack Reacher series by Lee Child and Andrew Child.
Books Finished
Christmas Presents by Lisa Unger. 3.5 stars, thriller, 260 pages, 2023. I like Lisa Unger’s thrillers and this one was quick and satisfying. Madeline was a survivor of an attack, the same attack where she watched her best friend get murdered. Harley is a true crime podcaster and is looking into the 10 year old story. Not surprisingly, secrets are uncovered and danger abounds.
Simply Sinful by Carly Phillips. 2.5 stars. romance, 272 pages, 2000. I was looking for a quick satisfying romance, but this wasn’t it. Detecctive Kane McDermitt goes undercover to prove Kayla’s business is really a front for prostitution. He requests a date (through her business), sleeps with her on said date, and is then convinced she is innocent. Of course he was.
I’ve read 7 books so far this year.
Currently Reading
Nothing has changed from last week, except I’ll probably finish one of these today.
Movies
Wonka, 2022. Magic and chocolate fun for the whole family! I’m so glad that we saw it on the big screen.
Streaming
We finished up season 2 of Reacher on Amazon. We liked it even better than the first season.
Plans for the Weekend
I’ll share this because I’ll be puzzling some today and maybe it’s an idea that appeals to you. I belong to our local Buy Nothing group on Facebook. Neighbors offer each other things they no longer want or need. For the last few years I’ve offered up a puzzle exchange for the month of January, sort of a Little Free PUZZLE Library. When the weather was good I put them on our front porch shelves and as we’re snowed in I’ve moved them to a bin at the end of our driveway. I started with 7 puzzles that I’d done this year and was willing to part with and told people to come take, trade, or give. It’s been fun seeing the puzzles that have come in. The turnover is high, even a few weeks in.
Stacy's Books 
That is really cool!
It’s a fun thing for snowy winter days in Cleveland!
I love the idea of a puzzle exchange. I’ve put a couple of puzzles in my LFL. Sometimes someone will add one to my box.
I’m glad to hear how much you liked Wonka. I hope to see that one soon.
I’ve seen that there are actually Little Free Puzzle Libraries too and it’s so tempting because there isn’t one near here.
I’m glad you got to get out and I’m glad to hear you liked Wonka. My husband and I have been meaning to go see it. We didn’t realize it was a musical until my friend saw and reported on it. I’m more excited but my husband is a little lackluster about it now.
We also didn’t know until we got there. It made me love it more, my husband maybe not so much, lol.
I just looked up Buy Nothing Groups on FB and the first question asked in order for me to join is to say what street I live on and what the nearest cross street is. Does that sound legit to you? Were you asked that in order to be allowed to join?
That puzzle exchange is a great idea!
That sounds normal to me so I’d feel ok answering it. Many of the groups overlap so I think you could qualify to be in more than one group depending on each administrators strictness.
We saw Wonka a couple of weeks ago and liked it! We just started watching season 2 of Archer. I hope to watch more this week.
I’ll have to look up Archer.
My daughter and I have been wanting to see Wonka–my husband not so much. We may try to go this weekend to see it. My husband and I enjoyed the second season of Reacher too. Unfortunately, neither one of us could really get into the books, but we’ll take the show. I am looking forward to reading the James McBride book. I have a couple of his on my TBR shelf. I hope you have a great week, Stacy! Enjoy your puzzling!
Thanks Wendy! I think you and Mouse will love Wonka! I love that I can listen to Reacher in the car and not worry about keeping up if my attention drifts.
I enjoyed Michelle’s first book and this one sounds charming too. She might have mellowed, as the news always portrayed her as critical and disapproving of her husband and her scepticism of his running for the White House. Glad to hear about her positive views in this book.
Harvee at https://bookdilettante.blogspot.com/
She addresses the news stories about her a bit. I love that she was honest about her hesitancy of a presidential run. They had two young girls and her first concern was upending their lives. There was a section on her mother in this second one and how her moving to the White House with them really made her feel comfortable. Moms for the win 🙂