Hope you all had a great week. I got to see one of my best friends on Friday so we had a great time catching up over dinner and coffee. The rest of the weekend just flew by between chores and errands. I tell you, my goal is to do a lot of stuff during this week so that I can actually have free time for the upcoming Labor Day weekend. I want to craft!

Last week I did make it out to my mystery book group and we enjoyed discussing Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo. I am so excited this is the first in a series because I really enjoyed it and can’t wait to read more. The author did a good job of creating likeable characters and most of all kept me guessing quite a bit.

This weekend, I started reading America is Not the Heart by Elaine Castillo and am finding it very interesting. It’s the story of a woman who comes to America looking for a fresh start after upheaval in the Philippines. I’m only 30 pages or so into the story but I definitely want to know more!

One book I did have to set aside is Eden by Andrea Kleine. It starts off with the story of two sisters separated and unfortunately I listening an audiobook with basically the same premise and I didn’t want to start getting confused by these stories so this one is on hold for later.

So that’s the latest. What’s been going on with you? I hope your week is off to a great start!

“It’s an age-old story: woman meets man, man woos woman, woman spends her best years believing their love is the everlasting kind.”

Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties
By Camille Pagán
Published: February 2018
Source: Advance review copy

With two grown children and almost 28 years of marriage, Maggie thinks her life is pretty settled but the rug is pulled out from under her when her husband tells her that he’s unhappy and is leaving her for another woman.

Maggie is understandably shocked and confused. She gave up her career, her identity to be wife and mother to her family and now she is adrift. As she’s coming to terms with the news, she realizes that the anniversary trip they had booked to Italy is all paid for so she decides she owes it to herself to go and live her life.

I know this may sound like the typical book where the main character goes to Italy or France and finds love and adventure and life is immediately better but while Maggie does meet some interesting people, this story is about her path to a new life even after the trip and it’s not always easy.

As Maggie is coming to terms with her new life a family emergency gives her another option. So what will Maggie do?

I really enjoyed this book because I felt like Maggie’s path seemed realistic. It wasn’t all grand adventures and fantastic times. Actually lots of indecision, lots of questioning her choices but most of all this book is a reminder that whether you are busy working or caring for a family or both, it’s important not to lose sight of yourself.