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Books to Read in February

I managed to actually complete my Books To Read in January list before the end of the month and then some! The winter months are great for curling up with a book and a cup of tea (or wine…or whatever floats your boat). That’s about all the winter months are good for as far as this warm weather lover is concerned. Some people are skiing and snowboarding and enjoying the fact that the cold hurts their face—my dog is the prime example of this. No, he doesn’t ski, but to get him to come inside during the winter months requires begging and lots of treats. He LOVES the frozen air. Meanwhile, I’m dreaming of sandy beaches and margaritas on the back porch as I compile my list of the books to read in February.

My challenge of books to read in February:

Historical fiction

A suspenseful thriller

A non-fiction book

A chick-lit/rom-com novel

A classic novel

The Air You Breathe by Frances de Pontes Peebles

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Two young girls in Brazil in the 1930s from very different worlds—one poor and orphaned, one rich and spoiled. Despite these obvious differences, they discover they have a shared passion for music. They become inseparable as children, and even more dependent on each other as they become adults, as the music that bonded them creates a rivalry. This is a saga of an intense friendship fueled by affection, envy, and pride–and each woman’s fear that she would be nothing without the other.

The first book on my books to be read in February list is The Air You Breathe. I won this book on Goodreads back over the summer (ahhh….summer) and it took awhile to receive the book, so I lost interest until now. Did you guys know you can enter to win books on Goodreads? I’ve won close to two dozen books; there are giveaways for physical books and Kindle books. I think their algorithms favor those who REVIEW books, so be sure to review the books you read on Goodreads. You can check out the giveaways here.

I’ve read quite a few historical fiction novels over the last few years, but most have been set in WWII era. This is the first I have added to my books to read list that precedes that time period. I can’t wait to dive in and become immersed in a totally different world.

I Know You Know by Gilly MacMillan

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Twenty years ago, two eleven-year-old boys were killed, their bodies dumped at a nearby dog racing track. The killer was brought to swift justice…or so everyone thought. Filmmaker Cody Swift has been haunted by that event for twenty years now…the two boys were his best friends. Doubts linger in his head about whether the right person was convicted. He begins to research the case, sharing his findings with the world via podcast, despite the fact that a lot of people don’t want the wounds of the case reopened. And then…a body is found in the same location. Are the two crimes connected?

I love suspenseful thrillers. They’re my all time favorite type of book—I have a long list of favorite must read suspense authors including S.J. Bolton, Lisa Unger, and Sophie Hannah. While Gilly Macmillan isn’t one of my absolute favorites, I’ve really enjoyed her book What She Knew. It was fast paced and enjoyable—I’m hoping this book will be the same. (The dog seems to be enjoying it at least…)

The Sociopath Next Door by Martha Stout, PhD

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We are accustomed to think of sociopaths as violent criminals, but in The Sociopath Next Door, Harvard psychologist Martha Stout reveals that a shocking 4 percent of ordinary people—one in twenty-five—has an often undetected mental disorder, the chief symptom of which is that that person possesses no conscience. He or she has no ability whatsoever to feel shame, guilt, or remorse. One in twenty-five everyday Americans, therefore, is secretly a sociopath. They could be your colleague, your neighbor, even family. And they can do literally anything at all and feel absolutely no guilt.

I know this is a strange choice of books…especially for me. My non-fiction novels are pretty limited to self-help/inspirational novels and biographies. The reason I chose this particular book to read is because a co-worker was telling me about listening to the Audible version. It sounded so intriguing, and also would make for great research for a book I am currently writing—about a sociopath that moves back to her childhood home and proceeds to wreck havoc on the life of the woman she bullied as a child. I’m going to be taking copious notes during this reading, I’m sure.

Thin Girls Don’t Eat Cake by Lindy Dale

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Olivia Merrifield gets dumped for being fat and spirals into a depressed state where her best friend is cake. She’s surrounded by friends that are getting married and having babies…things she’ll never be able to do if she can’t find a boyfriend who’s NOT married. She decides to reinvent herself and go on a diet to change her life. That’s when she meets Cole, a gorgeous entrepreneur. And he would be perfect for her, too, but he’s grieving the death of his daughter while trying to set up a business. He may not be able to get his own life on track, let alone help Olivia with hers. Oh, and if that wasn’t enough?He owns a cupcake shop.

Thank goodness I’m not a thin girl—I LOVE cake! After three heavy books I’m pretty sure I can use a little levity. Lindy Dale is the perfect rom-com chick lit author for that. Her books are lighthearted, while tackling deep subjects. Her novel Storm In a B Cup dealt with the serious subject of breast cancer, while making the reader laugh out loud throughout the whole book. In 2014, I met Lindy through a Facebook group for authors and I am pleased to know such a genuine person. I can’t wait to read this one.

I really wanted to add a Kindle book to my books to read in February challenge. Since I have a lot of trouble staying focused reading on my phone, I downloaded the Kindle app to my Chromebook. Keep your fingers crossed that it works for me. I feel like I am so limited in book selection by my Kindle resistance. There are so many great books available on Kindle. Hopefully, this year I’ll be able to read a lot more on the Kindle app on the Chromebook.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

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A beloved classic coming of age tale set at the turn of the 20th century in Brooklyn. This poignant and moving story of sensitive Francie Nolan during her adolescence is filled with compassion and cruelty, laughter and heartache, crowded with life and people and incident. The reader cannot help but be captivated by Francie’s tragic life, yet fierce determination.

Okay, this is kind of a cheat book. I read this back when I was about Francie’s age at the beginning of the novel. I found myself appalled at the life she lived, yet inspired by her resoluteness and refusal to give up. This is definitely a must read for teenage girls—even though its setting is over a hundred years ago, the themes and experiences highlighted in the book can be applied today. I have wanted to reread this novel for quite some time, but I found the library’s copy was really falling apart, so I treated myself to a new one.

And That Wraps Up My List of Books to Read in February

I’m looking forward to my Books to Read in February Challenge—I hope you are as well. What are YOU reading? Let me know what you’ve read and what you think! And I always need books to read in upcoming months! Visit my Facebook Page or my Goodreads account and leave comments with your suggestions! Stay WARM and COZY my friends!

 

The post Books to Read in February appeared first on Author Heather Balog.

Delaware Chicken and Dumplings

There is not much I like about winter. It’s cold and my body (my joints, my skin, my internal organs…and the ends of my hair) really does not enjoy the cold. But, being a silver linings sort of girl, every single winter I tell myself I’m going to find something, anything, about the season to be grateful for. Of course, that includes the fact that I have heat in my home and heated seats in my car (and remote start…has there ever been a better invention???). And I like to read when I’m cozy under a blanket. And Christmas is, without a doubt, one of my favorite things about winter. But what I’ve never appreciated in the past, and I vowed to do this year, is comfort foods. Which is why it was so perfect that we chose Delaware this week, and I made Chicken and Dumplings.

Delaware is One of the Country’s Top Producers of Poultry

We have a beach house in Ocean City, Maryland, and in our travels to get to it from Jersey, we pass chicken farms in Delaware. A LOT of chicken farms. Delaware ranks #7 in the country for producing poultry—which is interesting because it is one of the smallest states. So it makes sense that one of their iconic foods would include chicken.

Delaware has a lot of foods associated with their state…some that we’ve tried, like Thrasher’s Fries, and some that I’m pretty sure I never want to try, like scrapple. For our Delaware meal, I really wanted a hearty meal…something of a comfort food. And chicken and dumplings were perfect for that. But…

The Fam is NOT a Fan of Chicken

I wasn’t sure how they would react to a chicken meal. There are VERY FEW chicken meals that everyone will eat and not complain about. Actually, there is only one…chicken wings. And even then, half of us prefer boneless over bone-in wings, so that’s a pain in itself. Nevertheless, I figured at least the chicken and the other ingredients in this recipe were relatively cheap. AND the recipe was a crock pot recipe, so I wouldn’t have wasted much time or effort if they didn’t like it.

Chicken and Dumplings in 5 Steps

First, you chop up the onions. (As you may recall, I’m not a big onion fan, but I persevered by telling myself that this would be the most difficult part of the recipe. I did NOT call Hubby to chop it for me. Be proud of me. Applause is welcome.) Layer the bottom of the crock pot with the onions and add the chicken breasts: [image error]
Mix the cream of celery, cream of chicken, pepper, and Barnegat Bay seasoning in a bowl: [image error] ***FYI, Barnegat Bay Seasoning is available from Savory Spice Shop online. However, any poultry rub will do.
Pour this mixture over the chicken and cover. Cook on HIGH for 4 hours.
Defrost frozen peas and carrots. After the chicken has cooked 4 hours, add the peas and carrots on top. (I think corn would also be a great addition!)
Roll out Grands biscuits and cut into 4 slices each. Layer these on top of the peas, carrot, and chicken, and cook for an additional hour to hour and a half: 

***Right before you serve this, break up the chicken—it may fall apart on its own, but shred it a little more so everyone can get chicken in their bowl.

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And There You Have It

It was a super simple meal that was PERFECT for a 30 degree night. We spooned it out into bowls and all sat down in front of the NFL playoff game that was on. Everyone enjoyed it. I personally thought it paired well with a white wine and that it was very filling (although Child #1 made himself a sandwich less than an hour later…). I definitely think we will add this one to our rotation of comfort meals for the winter. It was so super easy and tasty—you should absolutely give these chicken and dumplings a try.

Print Yum

Delaware Chicken and Dumplings

Ingredients

1 medium onion
1 1/2-2 lbs of boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 can cream of chicken (condensed)
1 can of cream of celery (condensed)
1 TBSP Barnegat Bay or other poultry seasoning
1/2 TBSP pepper
2 c. frozen peas and carrots
1 can of Grands Buttermilk biscuits
0.1https://thebadmommydiaries.com/delaware-chicken-and-dumplings/[image error]

 

The post Delaware Chicken and Dumplings appeared first on Author Heather Balog.

Missouri Cashew Chicken

With the craziness of the holidays, I not only forgot to post our Missouri meal of Cashew Chicken—eaten back in the end of October—I forgot we even had the meal. Not that it wasn’t good—it was actually a two thumbs up meal—it was just shoved in the back of my mind while things like apple and pumpkin season, year end book challenges, and Christmas stress basically took over my blog and my life.

Why Cashew Chicken for Missouri????

A little known fact…Springfield Missouri is the cashew chicken capital of the United States. In Springfield in 1963, a man named David Leong invented Springfield-style Cashew Chicken. He initially created the dish at the Grove Supper Club by combining traditional Cantonese cooking with some Ozark flavor. The result was what would be known as Springfield-style Cashew Chicken which was so popular he opened Leong’s Tea House. This version is not to be confused with regular cashew chicken which is not deep fried, but stir fried instead.

Needless to say, I breathed a sigh of relief when I realized we didn’t need to have any Ozark style squirrel potpie or roasted possum or fried catfish or anything like that for our Missouri meal. We could have cashew chicken—a meal no one in the house would refuse.

First, the Sauce

Since we made this meal nearly three months ago, I’m afraid I’m not sure whether the cooking process was easy or complicated. I do know that I didn’t burn anything and that the meal itself was well received. I have some pictures if that helps:

 

 

This is me…making the cashew chicken sauce which is the star of the meal.

You start off by boiling half the water and add the boullion. Then, you stir in cornstarch, oyster sauce, and sugar into the other half. I must have followed directions correctly because I do not recall any mishaps with missing water or anything, although I can see how that could reasonably happen…with me.

After that, add the mixture to the boiling water and stir constantly until it boils again. The sauce will be thicker.

Then, the Chicken

While the sauce is cooking, chop up the chicken into cubes. Flour them, coating well. Break up the eggs in a bowl and whisk. Stir in milk, salt, and pepper. Add chicken to egg mixture and coat well.

Heat oil in a pan and make sure the pan is hot enough before frying chicken.

Meanwhile, add more flour to a plate. Dredge the chicken pieces in this flour before frying them.

This part I remember—it took quite awhile to fry all the chicken and there was a smoke condition in the kitchen at one point because I used vegetable oil and you definitely want to use peanut oil because it has a higher smoking point. I really don’t know what that means, but the recipe I used mentioned something about a smoke point and I dismissed it. I did regret that when I had to clean the pan between each batch of chicken.

While the Chicken is Frying

Chop up the green onions and the cashews for the sauce. Also, now is a good time to make rice for your meal (as long as your chicken isn’t burning). When it is all done, assemble it on your plate—rice, chicken, sauce, cashews and green onions:

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I chose to leave the cashews whole, but you can chop them up if you’d prefer. While the fam weren’t fans of the cashews (which is why I  didn’t chop them—easier to pick off), the meal was really delicious and everyone had second helpings. At least, I think they did. Anyway, we’ll be adding this meal to our “do-it again” recipe file. You should try it out and let me know what you think!

Print Yum

Missouri Cashew Chicken

Ingredients

3 c. water (divided)
2 chicken boullion cubes
6 TBSP cornstarch
1/4 c. sugar
4 TBSP oyster or soy sauce
2 lbs of boneless, skinless chicken breasts
3 eggs
1/2 c. milk
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
2 c. flour
green onions
cashews
Peanut oil for frying
0.1https://thebadmommydiaries.com/missouri-cashew-chicken/[image error]

 

The post Missouri Cashew Chicken appeared first on Author Heather Balog.

New Hampshire Apple Cider Donuts

Print Yum

New Hampshire Apple Cider Donuts

Ingredients

2 c. apple cider
5 c. all purpose flour
1/4 c. butter, softened
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 c. brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp salt
2 eggs
peeled apple

Topping:
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 c. sugar
6 TBSP butter, melted
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My goodness, the holidays seem to take over everything, don’t they? I haven’t posted a USA meal in what, almost two months? We actually had these New Hampshire Apple Cider Donuts back in November and I am just getting around to posting them now!
We Visited New Hampshire This Summer

So our family went to New Hampshire this summer. The dog came with us on his very first vacation. We rented a beautiful cabin that made me really nervous because our dog, though loyal and sweet, is completely unpredictable. He hates being left alone and tends to be really naughty when we go out (rooting through the garbage, chewing shoes, lately…eating ornaments off the tree…). So we brought his crate which he hasn’t really used in a few years, but we were so nervous he was going to go crazy in this lovely house when we went out to dinner.

(Yes, I know, we had a nice kitchen to cook in. No, I don’t cook on vacation…I barely cook when we’re not on vacation.)

Turns out, the only thing he chewed when we went out to eat was his crate. Yup…ate a hole right through it. We found him patiently waiting for us when we returned from eating.

Anyway, besides the crate chewing incident, he was really well behaved (he was excellent on the 7 hour car ride—only puked once). We hiked, roasted marshmallows, and played games. We kayaked and swam in the lake. Erm, excuse me, pond. The dog did not swim because he’s a weenie, afraid of water. It was a very relaxing few days in the clean mountain air.

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We Didn’t Have New Hampshire Apple Cider Donuts When We Went There

The one thing we did not get to do when we went to New Hampshire was sample their famous apple cider donuts. We tried to. There was a place about a half hour away that sold them, but we just missed their business hours when we got there. We were leaving the next day so we didn’t get another chance.

That’s why I needed to make Apple Cider Donuts for our New Hampshire meal. of course, I picked a very complicated recipe that had multiple steps and would take hours to make. Life would have been a lot easier if we had just gotten to the apple cider donut store earlier when we were in New Hampshire.

A Lot of Steps…So Allow Yourself A Lot of Time

I found a recipe on Pinterest that used the air fryer. I stopped looking. I LOVE my air fryer and I will find any excuse to use it. I thought I was going to whip these apple cider donuts up on Thanksgiving morning for breakfast.

I was wrong. This was largely due to the fact that I usually just skim recipes when I pin them and make sure that I have all ingredients on hand. If I had read this through, well, maybe we would have just opted for the hour trip to Duck Donuts. Seriously…it would have been faster. Consider yourself forewarned.

Start Off With The Cider

Bring the apple cider to a boil. THEN turn down the heat and simmer for about 20 minutes until it reduces to 1/2 cup. THEN put it in the fridge to cool.

I simmered the apple cider for well over 40 minutes and it still did not reduce to 1/2 cup. I poured 1/2 cup into a bowl and stuck it in the fridge. Yeah, yeah, that’s not how you do it, but for heaven’s sake this was taking forever and people were starting to get antsy about breakfast. They were breaking out the cereal boxes to have a pre-breakfast appetizer.

While You’re Waiting…

Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. (Is it just me or does anyone else think that the baking soda should be in the can since soda comes in a can? Why is the baking powder in the can? This always confuses me…)

Cream butter and brown sugar until fluffy.

(Make sure the butter is really soft…this was yet another one of my mistakes. I forgot to take the butter out the night before so…well, it was a little difficult to cream.)

Once the Apple Cider is Ready…

Add the eggs one at a time. Then pour in the reduced cider.

Add dry ingredients and mix until well combined. Grate the apple into the dough and mix.  Drop the dough out on a lightly floured surface and knead by hand until it is not sticky anymore. Divide into two balls and wrap each with plastic wrap.

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You should be ready to make donuts, right?

Not Yet!

This dough needs to be refrigerated for a half an hour. Then you can roll out each ball until it is about an inch thick. Cut out 3 inch circles of dough—I used the rim of a glass. Then cut out a 1 inch circle in the middle—I used a medicine cup for this. You can use the scraps to make donut holes.

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Preheat the air fryer to 350 and spray the bottom of the air fryer basket with non-stick spray. We have the Cuisinart Air Fryer so I just line mine with foil.

Are We Ready to Make Apple Cider Donuts NOW???

Nope. Well, not quite, yet.

Turn off air fryer. Yes, you read this correctly. Place 4 of the dough circles in the air fryer basket and let them rest in the air fryer for 5 minutes. Apparently this is called “proofing”.

(By this time my family was moving on to lunch. I did the “proofing” with one batch and then I had had it.)

Air fry for 5 minutes at 350 degrees, turning halfway through. Combine cinnamon and sugar on a plate. Brush the sides of the donuts with melted butter. Toss in the cinnamon sugar mix.

I also made a glaze with confectioner’s sugar because that’s what Hubby wanted on his donuts:

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NOW You Can Eat

By this time, my family was gone. Thank goodness, too, because the donuts were pretty dense and nowhere near as light and fluffy as the air fryer apple cider donuts in the picture. Kind of like our Rhode Island Doughboys  Still, they tasted pretty good. Try them for yourself.

The post New Hampshire Apple Cider Donuts appeared first on Author Heather Balog.

Books To Read in January

Next week we’re kicking 2018 to the curb and welcoming 2019 with open arms. This weekend, most of us are hoping that next year will be better than the last, making resolutions (and giving them up by January 3rd), and planning New Year’s Eve appetizers. But for the book lovers like me, we are focused on our TBR pile for 2019. Or at least, books to read in January. We’ve read a lot of great books in 2018 and we are looking forward to 2019 being even better.

My TBR Pile is Actually Taller Than Me

But that doesn’t stop me from adding to it (via a tiny step stool). I have ADHD only when it comes to my books to be read list. I completely ignore the fact that I have more than enough books to read—I see a new one and gasp. Too bad I can’t get a job where all I have to do is work on my TBR pile all day. (It would be a job, I swear…)

So This Year…

I decided that I would NOT add any more books to my list of books to read…until I read at least 5 books that are on the list already. Every month I will tackle the list before I allow more books to be added. Each month I’ll challenge myself a little with the list. I tend to read the same kinds of books over and over again until I’m not sure which one I’ve read since all the stories start to blend. This year is going to be different. (By the way, I nearly broke this rule today in the grocery store of all places. Did you know they sold books in the grocery store?!?!? No wonder it takes me forever to get anything done.)

Books to Be Read in January

January is the best month to curl up with a good book, in my opinion, at least. It’s freezing outside, you’re still trying to recover from your post holiday food coma, and it gets dark way too early. In January, I’m going to read a popular women’s fiction novel, a psychological thriller, a YA novel, historical fiction, and a biography.

My top picks for books to read in January are as follows:

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion (Women’s Fiction)

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The Rosie Project is about Don, a professor of genetics who is socially awkward. He starts a quest, “Don’s Wife Project”, to find himself a mate for life after an acquaintance tells him that he’d make a good husband. His list is very specific, and leads him to Rosie. Rosie is a woman on her own quest to find her biological father, a quest Don, being a genetics expert and all, might be able to help her with. Will romance bloom?

This book was on my Christmas list, oh, three years ago? My son actually bought it for me and sadly, I have yet to read it. I don’t know what’s holding me back, but it’s the first on my list of books to be read in January.

This novel sounds so fun and quirky. It reminds me of other books I have enjoyed with socially inept protagonists like Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine and The Seven Rules of Elvira Carr. I’m looking forward to this one.

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane (Psychological Thriller)

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In 1954 U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels and his partner arrive on Shutter Island, home of Ashecliffe Hospital for the Criminally Insane, to investigate the disappearance of a patient, a multiple murderer, running loose somewhere on the island. As Daniels investigates, he discovers that nothing on this island is what it seems…even himself. 

Hubby and I were taking a walk near our condo a few months ago and I saw this book in the “Little Library” in the park. Have you guys seen these Little Libraries? They are seriously the most adorable things I’ve ever seen—little house shaped cabinets where you can borrow a book or leave a book for others to read.

So anyway, I took this book a few months ago and I still haven’t gotten around to reading it. I loved the movie (okay, so I loved Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo) so I’m not sure why I’ve been dragging my feet about reading this book. Maybe because Leo and Mark won’t be in it…

Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon (YA)

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A teenage girl who is allergic to pretty much everything and can’t leave her house, falls in love with the boy next door. That can’t end well.

My daughter got this book for Christmas a year or two ago (Christmases are starting to run into each other at this point in time). When she told me the premise of the novel, I wanted to read it as soon as she finished it. There were two factors that prevented me from reading it until now.

First off, my daughter reads 12 books at a time and takes forever to finish one. I think it was a good year after she got the book that she finished it. Secondly, many other books cropped up on my TBR list by then. Plus I read a similar book this summer, Because You’ll Never Meet Me. I wasn’t the biggest fan. Hopefully this book will be much better. It should be. After all, they made it into a movie.

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah (Historical Fiction)

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The Nightingale takes place in France, 1939. One woman’s husband leaves for war and she is forced to house the enemy in her home. Her every move is watched, causing her to fear for her life and the life of her child. At the same time, her younger sister falls in love with a man who betrays her. This betrayal causes her to make the reckless decision to join the Resistance, putting her life in danger as well.

I picked up this novel at the book fair at my school…back in April. I’m ashamed to say I have not even looked at it since. In fact, I was surprised to see it sitting on my book shelf the other day—I had completely forgotten I had it.

I’ve read quite a few wonderful historical fiction books about this time period over the last couple of years, Lilac Girls, The Alice Network, and Secrets of a Charmed Life to name a few. I also have another novel of this time period on my books to be read list, The Air You Breathe, but that will have to wait until I finish the other books on my list of books to be read in January.

The Good Neighbor (the Life and Work of Fred Rogers) by Maxwell King (Non-fiction)

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Mister Rogers was a daily visitor in the living rooms of almost every child of the 70s and 80s. This novel explores Fred Rogers’ early years and how he came to be the beloved television icon that we grew up with. It’s incredibly inspiring reading this novel. Fred Rogers truly was the loving and dedicated man that we saw on the TV screen—the man who actually took children seriously. He was born into a wealthy family, but one of the few wealthy families of the time that were not pretentious. They often used that wealth to help those in need. The volunteer and humanitarian efforts of Fred’s mother Nancy ultimately shaped him into the man he became, the Mister Rogers whose neighborhood we all loved to visit.

I have a confession to make. I’m halfway through this book already. I picked it up at the library the week before Christmas and it’s due back the day after New Year’s. And yes, I’m a stickler for library rules. Hubby laughs at me because I don’t want to pay the 10 cents a day fine for late books. I just don’t want the librarians to think I’m an irresponsible reader.

By the way, some of my posts include affiliate links, which means, if you should click on them and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission at no cost to you. Be assured, I only recommend items I personally use and love.

And I LOVE this book light I got for Christmas. It may be my favorite present ever. I can use it to read by the dimly lit tree or in the summer, I can read outside well after dark.

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It’s a must have for every book lover! Pick one up for yourself today!

I hope you all enjoy some of my books to read this month. Hopefully I’ll be able to resist wandering around the library when I return the Mister Rogers book…at least until February.

The post Books To Read in January appeared first on Author Heather Balog.

Books To Read in January 2019

Next week we’re kicking 2018 to the curb and welcoming 2019 with open arms. This weekend, most of us are hoping that next year will be better than the last, making resolutions (and giving them up by January 3rd), and planning New Year’s Eve appetizers. But for the book lovers like me, we are focused on our TBR pile for 2019. Or at least, books to read in January. We’ve read a lot of great books in 2018 and we are looking forward to 2019 being even better.

My TBR Pile is Actually Taller Than Me

But that doesn’t stop me from adding to it (via a tiny step stool). I have ADHD only when it comes to my books to be read list. I completely ignore the fact that I have more than enough books to read—I see a new one and gasp. Too bad I can’t get a job where all I have to do is work on my TBR pile all day. (It would be a job, I swear…)

So This Year…

I decided that I would NOT add any more books to my list of books to read…until I read at least 5 books that are on the list already. Every month I will tackle the list before I allow more books to be added. Each month I’ll challenge myself a little with the list. I tend to read the same kinds of books over and over again until I’m not sure which one I’ve read since all the stories start to blend. This year is going to be different. (By the way, I nearly broke this rule today in the grocery store of all places. Did you know they sold books in the grocery store?!?!? No wonder it takes me forever to get anything done.)

Books to Be Read in January

January is the best month to curl up with a good book, in my opinion, at least. It’s freezing outside, you’re still trying to recover from your post holiday food coma, and it gets dark way too early. In January, I’m going to read a popular women’s fiction novel, a psychological thriller, a YA novel, historical fiction, and non-fiction.

My top picks for books to read in January 2019 are as follows:

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion (Women’s Fiction)

[image error]

The Rosie Project is about Don, a professor of genetics who is socially awkward. He starts a quest, “Don’s Wife Project”, to find himself a mate for life after an acquaintance tells him that he’d make a good husband. His list is very specific, and leads him to Rosie. Rosie is a woman on her own quest to find her biological father, a quest Don, being a genetics expert and all, might be able to help her with. Will romance bloom?

This book was on my Christmas list, oh, three years ago? My son actually bought it for me and sadly, I have yet to read it. I don’t know what’s holding me back, but it’s the first on my list of books to be read in January.

This novel sounds so fun and quirky. It reminds me of other books I have enjoyed with socially inept protagonists like Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine and The Seven Rules of Elvira Carr. I’m looking forward to this one.

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane (Psychological Thriller)

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In 1954 U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels and his partner arrive on Shutter Island, home of Ashecliffe Hospital for the Criminally Insane, to investigate the disappearance of a patient, a multiple murderer, running loose somewhere on the island. As Daniels investigates, he discovers that nothing on this island is what it seems…even himself. 

Hubby and I were taking a walk near our condo a few months ago and I saw this book in the “Little Library” in the park. Have you guys seen these Little Libraries? They are seriously the most adorable things I’ve ever seen—little house shaped cabinets where you can borrow a book or leave a book for others to read.

So anyway, I took this book a few months ago and I still haven’t gotten around to reading it. I loved the movie (okay, so I loved Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo) so I’m not sure why I’ve been dragging my feet about reading this book. Maybe because Leo and Mark won’t be in it…

Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon (YA)

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A teenage girl who is allergic to pretty much everything and can’t leave her house, falls in love with the boy next door. That can’t end well.

My daughter got this book for Christmas a year or two ago (Christmases are starting to run into each other at this point in time). When she told me the premise of the novel, I wanted to read it as soon as she finished it. There were two factors that prevented me from reading it until now.

First off, my daughter reads 12 books at a time and takes forever to finish one. I think it was a good year after she got the book that she finished it. Secondly, many other books cropped up on my TBR list by then. Plus I read a similar book this summer, Because You’ll Never Meet Me. I wasn’t the biggest fan. Hopefully this book will be much better. It should be. After all, they made it into a movie.

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah (Historical Fiction)

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The Nightingale takes place in France, 1939. One woman’s husband leaves for war and she is forced to house the enemy in her home. Her every move is watched, causing her to fear for her life and the life of her child. At the same time, her younger sister falls in love with a man who betrays her. This betrayal causes her to make the reckless decision to join the Resistance, putting her life in danger as well.

I picked up this novel at the book fair at my school…back in April. I’m ashamed to say I have not even looked at it since. In fact, I was surprised to see it sitting on my book shelf the other day—I had completely forgotten I had it.

I’ve read quite a few wonderful historical fiction books about this time period over the last couple of years, Lilac Girls, The Alice Network, and Secrets of a Charmed Life to name a few. I also have another novel of this time period on my books to be read list, The Air You Breathe, but that will have to wait until I finish the other books on my list of books to be read in January.

The Good Neighbor (the Life and Work of Fred Rogers) by Maxwell King (Non-fiction)

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Mister Rogers was a daily visitor in the living rooms of almost every child of the 70s and 80s. This novel explores Fred Rogers’ early years and how he came to be the beloved television icon that we grew up with. It’s incredibly inspiring reading this novel. Fred Rogers truly was the loving and dedicated man that we saw on the TV screen—the man who actually took children seriously. He was born into a wealthy family, but one of the few wealthy families of the time that were not pretentious. They often used that wealth to help those in need. The volunteer and humanitarian efforts of Fred’s mother Nancy ultimately shaped him into the man he became, the Mister Rogers whose neighborhood we all loved to visit.

I have a confession to make. I’m halfway through this book already. I picked it up at the library the week before Christmas and it’s due back the day after New Year’s. And yes, I’m a stickler for library rules. Hubby laughs at me because I don’t want to pay the 10 cents a day fine for late books. I just don’t want the librarians to think I’m an irresponsible reader.

By the way, some of my posts include affiliate links, which means, if you should click on them and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission at no cost to you. Be assured, I only recommend items I personally use and love.

And I LOVE this book light I got for Christmas. It may be my favorite present ever. I can use it to read by the dimly lit tree or in the summer, I can read outside well after dark.

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It’s a must have for every book lover! Pick one up for yourself today!

I hope you all enjoy some of my books to read this month. Hopefully I’ll be able to resist wandering around the library when I return the Mister Rogers book…at least until February.

The post Books To Read in January 2019 appeared first on Author Heather Balog.

The Day After Christmas Poem

‘Twas the day after Christmas and all through the house,

The only creature that was stirring was my computer mouse.

The children were all busy with their brand new toys,

Not fighting or behaving like bad girls and boys.

The little one built Legos all by herself,

While the big one played video games like a good little elf.

I thought to myself, “This is too good to be true,”

“Maybe they’re both coming down with the flu?”

No objects were broken or needed return,

No clothes so hideous that I wanted to burn.

It would be the very first year I didn’t schlep to the store,

To return a gift or two….or a hundred and four.

Thrilled with the prospect of staying home all day,

I put on my sweats and on the couch I prepared to lay.

As I dozed off to sleep I felt a terrifying jolt,

And sat up from the couch with a heck of a bolt.

I cracked open my eyes and who should be there,

But my lovely dear children who were starting to stare.

“Hello Mommy dearest,” they cooed in unison,

And I immediately knew the pain I was going to be in.

Their words were benign but I feared their tone,

“What do you want?” I asked with a groan.

They waved their gift cards that were fanned in their hand,

And then they each grabbed an arm to help me to stand.

“Let’s go to the mall!” the kids cried with glee.

“You don’t have to spend any money! It all will be free!”

“Like hell!” I shouted, in the air went my fist.

If I had to leave the house, I was gonna be pissed.

They begged and they pleaded,

And cried till they got overheated.

As they wailed, I shook my head with disgust,

Why should my lounging today be a bust?

“No!” I shouted with a frown on my face.

“Why must spending gift cards always be like a race?”

“Two months from now you will surely whine and cry,

When you want something that you have no money to buy.”

“But we want these shoes, book or a game!”

It doesn’t matter what it is, it’s always the same.

They get those gift cards in their greedy little hands,

And out the window goes Mommy’s relaxing plans.

With annoyance I grumbled as I tugged on my boots,

And glowered at the children who were now in cahoots.

“Let’s go you little brats,” I growled with disdain,

Going to the mall today would be a major pain.

Five million people either on line to return,

Or those like my darlings, with gift card money to burn.

Off to the mall we shall go and bid goodbye to my couch,

My kids may drag me there, but they can’t make me not be a grouch.

Kindle or Amazon cards burning a hole in your pocket this weekend??? You don’t have to even leave the house to pick up your copy of “The Quiet Boy”…only 99 cents for Kindle until New Year’s Day!

The post The Day After Christmas Poem appeared first on Author Heather Balog.

The 6 Best Books of 2018

The year is rapidly coming to a close. It’s hard to believe that in a little over two weeks we will be ushering in 2019. I always loved New Year’s Eve as a time to reflect on the past year—put aside mistakes and regrets and vow to be a better person the next year. But I also love to look back on what’s happened during the year like notable events and books that I’ve read. This year, I’d love to share what I thought were the 6 Best Books of 2018. And my goodness, what a year for books. It was definitely difficult to narrow it down to only 6 best books of 2018.

*In compiling the list of the 6 Best Books of 2018, I did not include any of the books I wrote about in The 5 Best Books of Summer 2018. If you’d like to check them out, click here.

**I’ve read so many good books in 2018. If you’d like to read my reviews, check out my Goodreads profile.

***This post contains Affiliate links, meaning, if you should click on those links and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission at no cost to you.

Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly

It’s really difficult to believe that this is Martha Hall Kelly’s first novel. Her gift of storytelling is that of a seasoned author with dozens of books under their belt. Lilac Girls is loosely based on real life events of Ravensbrück, a concentration camp for women and the life of Caroline Ferriday, an little known New York socialite during WWII.

A coworker told me about this novel and I have to admit that I was horrified by the content she was describing. As if the known atrocities of the Nazis during WWII were not enough, this book details an experiment performed on healthy Polish women imprisoned during this time. The novel takes the reader through the lives of three women over the course of twenty years: Caroline in New York, Kasia, a prisoner at Ravensbrück, and Herta, a doctor at Ravensbrück.

It’s amazing to see how all of their lives are impacted by the same event. The author does an incredible job giving each woman their own voice based on her research. Even though “Kasia” is not a real person and only based on a former prisoner, the author makes her come alive on the pages. I highly recommend this emotional and thought-provoking read.

The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin

If you knew the date of your death, how would you live your life?

Four young children visit a psychic in 1969—she tells them the day each one of them will die.

What follows is an account of how each of them lives as a result of that knowledge. One at a time, you see their futures playing out. Are these “death dates” self-fulfilling prophesies or is the psychic really…psychic? Or is it all just a hoax?

This book really shook me to my core, resonating with me in a way that a book rarely does anymore. I, too, had a fortune teller give me a “death day”. Not the year, just the date. I don’t know if that is a blessing or a curse to be honest. I guess if it was far in the future, I would be less anxious—the date wouldn’t come every year, me on edge, wondering if this is the year the prediction comes true. And if it was sooner, well, maybe I would convince myself that life is worth living a little more freely, simply because I wouldn’t have much time.

This novel really brought out the fears and the anxiety that one goes through when contemplating the future, with or without exclusive knowledge. It was astonishing to see how each of the children’s futures were somehow shaped from that one interaction, how their ingrained personalities caused their destinies. I would highly recommend it—I read it in less than 24 hours.

Every Note Played by Lisa Genova

Richard was an accomplished concert pianist, his life and body revolving around his lengthy career. That was before he was diagnosed with ALS. He is slowly losing his ability to not only play the piano, but to care for himself.

His ex-wife Karina becomes his reluctant caregiver, the pain and hurt that she thought she had buried long ago, bubbling to the surface as she watches the man she once loved deteriorate.

This novel hit me in all the feels. It was breathtakingly emotional and raw at times. What would I do and how would I feel if I could not do what makes me…me? How would I feel if someone I was estranged from needed to help me with basic activities of daily living? How would I spend those last few months if I knew that was the end.

A beautiful novel that makes you really examine your life and encourages you to not take a moment for granted.

One of Us Is Lying by Karen McManus

Five kids are sent to detention on crisp autumn day…and only four leave the room alive. The kids are stereotyped straight from “The Breakfast Club”, the jock, the brain, the prom queen princess, the thug, and the outcast. The question becomes, “which one killed Simon”?

Even though I had a pretty good idea of where this book was heading about halfway through, the story still held me captive, the players in this drama were well fleshed out and relateable. I found myself hoping that whoever killed Simon was not one of the four, that it was someone else because as I got to know them, I liked them in spite of myself.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Meet Eleanor Oliphant: She struggles with appropriate social skills and tends to say exactly what she’s thinking. Nothing is missing in her carefully timetabled life of avoiding social interactions, where weekends are punctuated by frozen pizza, vodka, and phone chats with Mummy.

But everything changes when Eleanor meets Raymond, the bumbling and deeply unhygienic IT guy from her office. When she and Raymond together save Sammy, an elderly gentleman who has fallen on the sidewalk, the three become the kinds of friends who rescue one another from the lives of isolation they have each been living. And it is Raymond’s big heart that will ultimately help Eleanor find the way to repair her own profoundly damaged one.

As the book starts off, you don’t really like Eleanor. She’s kind of fussy and annoying and you want to scream at her, “Why can’t you just act normal?”. She starts her journey to hook up with “the singer” and now you’re really shaking your head. But then she has conversations with “mummy” and bits of her real self start to creep out around her very strange and stoic exterior. By the end of the book you are sobbing for Eleanor and all the pain she has endured in her life and you don’t want the book to end.

Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll

When she was in high school Ani FaNelli went through a tragedy that left her desperate to hide herself away from the world. Years later, her life is what one would call perfect. Except, for the secret of that day that is threatening to eat her alive.

This book really wowed me. I don’t know if it was the author’s style (part chick lit/part psychological thriller) or the fact that this book dealt with a topic so fresh in the news, one that weighs so heavy on my mind these days. The fact that it was so all encompassing—the before, the during, the aftermath of tragedy—made it so powerful.

TifAni was like everyone I knew in high school and middle school. Just wanted to be liked and accepted. Arthur was so full of hurt and rage, just like so many teens. The other characters, the popular ones were real too. Everyone is insecure. The way it manifests itself is different. Does it always explode into tragedy like it did in this novel? Thankfully not, but it needs to be addressed by the adults that can prevent it. No one’s feelings are invalid. Teenagers have a lot going on in their lives, a lot that needs to be taken seriously. We’re failing them if we don’t listen to them and be there for them.

The post The 6 Best Books of 2018 appeared first on Author Heather Balog.

The 12 Days of Wine-mas

Christmas is in 10 days people!!!! In 10 days we will be gathered with our families and loved ones, celebrating the day that we’ve been looking forward to for weeks now.

Well, at least some of us have. The rest of us are wishing for a time machine so we can go back to the beginning of November (when we were laughing at all those people who were bragging they were done with their shopping) and kick ourselves in the butt. Christmas is fast approaching and by the time the day arrives, most of us are going to need some serious Mommy juice aka, wine. But who has time to pick out wine right while we’re going crazy preparing for Christmas? No one, that’s why I’ve taken the liberty of trying 12 wines for you to enjoy for Christmas. I call it, The 12 Days of Wine-mas. You’re welcome.

The 12 Days of Wine-mas

The 12 Days of Wine-mas is not for the feint of heart. This is for wine drinkers who are tired of ordering white zin at restaurants and having waiters roll their eyes at them. Follow my 12 Days of Wine-mas only if you like to try new wines and don’t think that going out of your comfort zone is drinking Merlot with ice cubes in it.

Be forewarned—I am not good at describing wines. I tend to shy away from dry wines and go for sweeter wines, so most of these wines are on the sweet side. But they are all, with the exception of the last wine, under $15. It can’t hurt to give them a try, right?

Day 1—Sweet Bitch Chardonnay

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I’ll start off slow. Sweet Bitch Chardonnay is perfect for those who like the sweetness of blush wines, but don’t like the dryness of most chardonnays. Sweet Bitch Chardonnay has a tropical taste to it…pears and pineapple…but not too sweet. It also has an awesome label that I love. If you like this one, try the Pinot Grigio, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon or Shiraz. They also make a Moscato rose and a Moscato bubbly.

(When I first discovered this wine, there was only one place I could buy it—this shady little liquor store on the corner that was always dark and creepy. Now Sweet Bitch wines are more readily available, thank goodness.)

Day 2—Chestnut Run Asian Pear Wine

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This is one of Hubby’s favorites. We’ve gone to several wine festivals over the years and we always stop at the Chestnut Run booth. They do a wine flight (from their driest wine to their sweetest) and the Asian Spice Pear is always a lovely finish. We usually get a few of these bottles when we go to a festival.

(My sister LOVES plum wine. I am not the hugest fan…I think it’s too sweet. This pear wine is NOT too sweet.)

Day 3—Sweet Jane

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Coda Rossa is a New Jersey winery that makes quite a few delicious wines. My hubby’s favorites are Blue Moon and Blackbird, while I prefer the sweet white wine, Sweet Jane. It’s actually not too sweet and reminds me a little of Sweet Bitch Chardonnay, in fact. Coda Rossa wines are available throughout New Jersey  if you’d like to give them a try.

(How many times can you write sweet in a sentence without getting a toothache???)

Day 4—Chaddsford Winery Niagara

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We love to go to Peddler’s Village in PA at least once or twice a year with the kids. We make a day of it and always stop at the same stores—the Italian cheese store, the Christmas store, the candy store, and of course, the Chaddsford Winery store. They have tastings there and we discovered we like quite a few of the wines, but mostly, the Niagara. This a great summer wine to sip on the back porch after dinner. It’s crisp with Concord grape undertones.

(The children do not partake in the wine tasting, in case you were wondering.)

Day 5—Santa’s Little Helper

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This is a gift I’d love to find under my tree anytime. I love to give Santa’s Little Helper as a gift during the holidays. It’s the perfect blend of spicy, sweet, and tart…it’s like Christmas in your mouth. Valenzano Winery is an amazing winery in Shamong, New Jersey and we’ve had the pleasure of actually visiting the winery on a couple of occasions. Their wines are all phenomenal, but Santa’s Little Helper has always been my favorite.

(FYI, their Red, White, and Blue Sangria is the SAME wine…just different label and available in the months when Santa’s Little Helper is not.)

Day 6—Hazlitt Vineyards Red Cat

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I discovered this wine on a recent trip to Ocean City, Maryland, believe it or not. Red Cat is from the Finger Lakes region of New York, but I ironically have not found it it in our New Jersey wine store, unfortunately. It reminds me a lot of Santa’s Little Helper. If you are in the Finger Lakes area (or OCMD), pick this one up.

(I love my crab wine glass. It’s one of my favorite things in our condo in OC.)

Day 7—Jam Jar Shiraz

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My friend Marty the Moose loves jam jar Shiraz. I discovered this wine at Seasons 52, of all places. I immediately went out to buy this wine after tasting it at dinner one night. Then I was thrilled to discover that our local Joe Canal’s carried it. It’s sweet with a berry flavor, but retains the acidic undertones of Shiraz at the same time. They also make a jam jar white wine which is great with seafood dishes.

Day 8—Menage Trois Red

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This is probably the driest of the wines on this list. The wine blend makes for a very interesting flavor, though and it pairs well with a nice steak. In fact one year for my birthday I asked for Hubby to make me a filet mignon and share a bottle of Menage a Trios.

(This is the only menage a trios he will be getting in this lifetime…)

Day 9—Four Sisters Winery Beaver Creek Red

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The label isn’t as exciting as many of the others, but don’t judge a book by its cover. Beaver Creek Red by the Four Sisters Winery is another New Jersey Wine we discovered at our wine festivals. It’s delightful and reminds me of the Sweet Bitch Merlot that I love so much. The Holiday Seasoned wine is another favorite…and the good news is…they’re both available at Joe Canal’s in New Jersey.

Day 10—Old Vine Zinfandel 7 Deadly Zins

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Even our scout Elf Sprocket loves the 7 Deadly Zins…when he’s feeling a little naughty, that is.

The first time I realized that there was actually Zinfandel wine was when I was in my mid thirties and found the 7 Deadly Zins. White zinfandel is the white version of regular zinfandel wine. Don’t roll your eyes at me if you already knew this before you were 35. This wine is not sweet, but it’s not as dry as many other red wines which makes it a favorite for me.

Day 11—Apothic Inferno

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It’s the aging in whiskey barrels that makes this wine amazing. It warms your whole body as it makes its way down. I do love all the Apothic wines (including their coffee infused wines—2 of my vices in one bottle—who could ask for more???) but the Apothic Inferno is just breathtaking. It’s a limited release wine, so whenever I see it in the stores, I stock up.

Day 12—21 (Blueberry Port)

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This is one of my absolute favorite wines. I’m actually drinking it right now while I write this blog post. Now it’s weird that I love this wine so much. First off, I don’t usually drink port wine. They tend to be too thick and cough syrup-y tasting. Plus, I’m not a huge blueberry fan, either.

Yet this wine is the perfect combo—it’s not too heavy and the blueberry taste is only a hint. This wine, has a little spice to it, and like Apothic Inferno, it will warm your insides as it goes down…delightfully. This wine is best after dessert…when you just want a little something to round out your day. It’s also 21% alcohol, so a glass or two goes a long way.

I hope you enjoyed my 12 Days of Wine-mas and perhaps found a new wine to try for the holidays. I wish you a Very Merry Everything!

The post The 12 Days of Wine-mas appeared first on Author Heather Balog.

Book Sale Extravaganza!

So I finally got the BookBub promo I’ve been waiting for (see An Open Letter to BookBub from an Indie Author) and to celebrate, I put 4 of my books on sale.

The first is Note to Self: Change the Locks. It’s available for FREE on Kindle until Saturday December 15th.

What happens when your ex-husband shows up on your doorstep looking for a place to live, just when you’re about to get remarried? 28 year old, out of work editor/ writer Elizabeth is about to find out. Her annoying British ex-husband, Simon has been “displaced” after forgetting to pay his rent and has nowhere to go. As much as she seethes at the sight of him, Elizabeth can’t turn her back on the man who was once the love of her life. After all, they were happily married for two years before “the incident” ripped them apart. There’s just one teensy problem. Elizabeth’s fiance, Austin, has no idea that she was previously married. Nor is he aware that Simon is bunking with his future bride. Elizabeth must keep the two away from each other until she is ready to come clean about her marriage and divorce. This proves exhausting in close quarters while planning a wedding. As Elizabeth and Austin prepare for their upcoming nuptials, it gets more and more difficult to hide the truth from Austin. Especially, when Elizabeth is starting to have doubts about what the truth really is.

The entire Amy Maxwell series is also on sale, starting with The 8 Mistakes of Amy Maxwell, also for FREE until Saturday December 15th.

Amy Maxwell’s got four kids, a useless husband and crusted applesauce on her yoga pants that haven’t seen the inside of a gym in over a decade. She’s convinced her teenage daughter is up to no good, her ten year old can’t stop chattering in her ear and her oldest son has befriended a teenaged boy twice his age who is a little weird. And don’t even get her started on having a toddler when you’re in your late thirties. She just can’t keep up. Forget tired; she’s exhausted and feeling unfulfilled, dissatisfied and like a disappointment to everyone; her kids, her parents and most of all, herself.

To relieve her stress, Amy finds herself fantasizing about everything from the pool boy next door to finding out that her daughter was switched at birth. She can’t help her thoughts, but she figures, if they’re in her head, they can’t hurt anyone else, right? When Jason, a very sexy forty something year old single father moves in across the street, Amy finds her fantasy world has gone into overdrive. When Amy and her 13 year old daughter stumble upon the body of their neighbor, shot to death in her living room, Amy finds herself thrown together with Jason in the most unpredictable way. Amy finds herself bumbling around Jason, trying desperately to stop her fantasies and her underlying attraction towards him as this who done it mystery slowly unfolds. And Amy soon realizes, nobody is who she thinks they are…even Amy herself.

If you enjoyed The 8 Mistakes of Amy Maxwell, the 2nd and 3rd books of the series are just $0.99 until Tuesday December 18th.

Amy Maxwell still hasn’t caught up on laundry, her daughter Allie is still acting like a rebellious teen (and schooling her younger sister in that art), the two boys are still causing her to rip her hair out by the roots with their antics, and her husband Roger is STILL sitting in his arm chair uselessly engrossed in a reality show marathon. To add to her already mounting stress, Amy has decided to go back to school to get a degree! Yeah, yeah…she’s GLUTTON for punishment.

And so Amy’s new quest for a career in law enforcement, coupled with the Seven Deadly sins, puts Amy in a position she’s never been before…the back of a trunk, bound and gagged. That’s right…Wrath, Greed, Lust, Sloth, Envy, Pride, and Gluttony are the reason she’s in her current predicament. And what’s more, they’re not all her sins, but the sins of everyone else around her including her oh so perfect sister, Beth.

Find out how the Seven Deadly Sins lead Amy into a tangled web of mistakes and missteps (and the trunk of a Chevy) in this hilarious sequel to The 8 Mistakes of Amy Maxwell.

Amy Maxwell just knew something would go wrong if the whole family went on vacation—she had a sixth sense about it. A week of fun in the sun at an all-inclusive resort on the beach should be a much deserved relaxing time for the whole family, right? Not for Amy. As any mother can attest to, prepping for vacation is akin to Chinese Water Torture. There’s a dead fish in her toddler’s suitcase, her teen doesn’t want to go somewhere without Internet access, and her preteen has completely outgrown her bathing suit. She’s wishing for a vacation from her vacation before the wheels of the plane even touch down on the runway.

Amy finds herself dreaming of a solo vacation after things don’t get much better when they arrive at their destination. The hotel room doesn’t look like the one in the brochure, the kids are more interested in the WiFi password than the gorgeous sandy beaches, and there are some shady characters staying in the hotel. What’s more, Roger is acting suspicious. Amy finds out that he’s been meeting up with a perky young blonde who just happens to be a former student. On top of that, she discovers her old pal, DEA agent Jason, just happens to be at the same hotel, sending her overactive imagination into overdrive. Something doesn’t add up for Amy. Unable to stop herself from snooping, our favorite scatterbrained, busybody mom of four finds herself stumbling upon another mystery. And this one proves to be a little too close to home…even in the Caribbean.

The post Book Sale Extravaganza! appeared first on Author Heather Balog.