Tuesday, December 25, 2012

And Now for Something Completely Fun and Fluffy

Janet Evanovich is back with her latest novel Notorious Nineteen, and not a moment too soon! When all the news is bad, and you are completely holidayed-out, it's time to take a break from reality.

In her latest adventure, bounty hunter Stephanie Plum is on the hunt for Geoffrey Cubbin, a high bond skip. He has a really good reason to disappear, considering he embezzled 5 million dollars from the local retirement home.  So, when he is out on bail, has emergency appendectomy surgery and then vanishes from the hospital, it seems that all of his problems have conveniently been solved.  Or HAVE they????  It seems Geoffrey is not the first patient to disappear in the middle of the night from Trenton's Central Hospital, and Stepanie soon finds herself in the cross-hairs of some real meanies.  Now add in the steamy Ranger and hot Morelli, a supposedly telepathic Tiki statue and a psychotic ex-special forces munitions specialist, and Stephanie is up to her neck in peril.  And she'd like to keep her neck.

Janet Evanovich is my go-to gal for escapism, and boy do we all need to escape!  That doesn't mean she writes about puppies and teddy bears, quite the contrary, but the good guys are sure to come out on top at the end.

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, and enjoy a happy New Year!
Mary Kay

Friday, December 21, 2012

One of My Favorites


Joan Walsh Anglund
I loved her growing up!
I practiced drawing her sweet characters.
She makes me smile:)
Merry Christmas!

Monday, December 17, 2012

Heaven Is Here

Why do bad things happen to good people?  I am sure today we are all asking ourselves that question, as have countless people countless times before.  Bad things happen to good people everyday, making us realize just how fragile this life and these bodies really are.

Heaven Is Here is a memoir by Stephanie Nielson.  By her own admission she had a pretty perfect life, with a loving husband, four beautiful children, a large extended family and an unshakable faith in God.  She started her blog (nieniedialogues.com) in 2005 when she was living in New Jersey and missing her family in Utah.  It quickly drew a large and loyal following attracted to her positive outlook and eclectic sense of style. Then they moved back to Mesa, Arizona, close to her in-laws, and life couldn't have been better.  Until the small plane Nie and her husband were flying in crashed, and she was burned over 80% of her body.  

What followed was a journey of body and mind: three months in a drug-induced coma, innumerable surgeries and excruciating procedures followed by physical therapy to learn to walk, eat and even lift her arms on her own again.  But the hardest part was finding the courage to see her children, and to see herself for the beautiful person she still was.

Heaven is Here is a testament to the power of love and the strength of the human spirit, and a reminder that a person who isn't beautiful on the inside, won't ever be beautiful on the outside.  So hug your children, husband, boyfriend, girlfriend, dog, cat, etc. Remember how lucky we all are and count your blessings, for no matter how bad things seem, someone else has it worse.


So read Heaven is Here by Stephanie Nielson!  And check out nieniedialogues.com.  You will fall in love with her adorable family.  I'm off to hug mine!!
TBC

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

What I've Been Doing...

I have been shopping, making, mailing, light hanging, tree decorating, wrapping and planning.  I have also been reading these:


The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare.  If you have a daughter between the ages of 12 and 20, you have probably heard of this series.  If not, you will soon...


The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones comes out August 2013.  Get ready!!  Also, read the books.  They are a great story and a great escape.

My brain is full of jingle bells.
More later....TBC