Summer lovin July

Well its July and it's summer! Upon writing this blog post, summer lovin popped in my mind and I thought it would be a great cheeky title to kick off this post.

I often think about a certain summer season that sticks out from the rest. Each summer that comes around it make me smile thinking about it. I take that back ,I often think of two that come to mind, one has a teenager and the summer where I fell in love with hot air balloons. The one that I remember has a teenager is the year I received a rose petal glass pendant. Which I don't wear often but I love it and the memory that comes with it . And the hot air balloons summer when I went up in the sky untethered and I was hooked on the experience within seconds. I never wanted to leave the ride, there's something about seeing a sunrise while you are in the sky. Who else has the best summer memory that you remember each year?

I hope this weekend of independence, that you all have a safe ,relaxing one. That there's lots laughs in the air, a little BBQ with all the fixings. Speaking of BBQ all I am thinking about the last few days is about Tri-tip, and ribs from Saltys. It's a must Barbecue place to go if you are craving barbecue. And of course I hope the weather is perfect to enjoy the summer days, summer nights with fireworks and love ones all around a campfire watching the stars. By that being said, Happy Birthday America and let's have better days ahead!

Picking up where I left on from the last month's blog post. You were wondering where I could went at 4 am and be home by noon. Let me tell you where I for twenty minutes in a different state. Woke up at 4 am and on the road by 4:30 am on May 7th 2022. And of course there was a Starbucks stop right before getting on the hwy. And before I get any further into the details of this mini trip, I was just the tag along to help drive halfway through to the destination. I learned two things that morning , one Starbucks opens at 4:30 am and two they sometimes forget to put actual coffee in your coffee cup. I know what are you thinking , "How is that possible?; And did you realize before leaving the drive through? ". Well firstly, I didn't realize because I was busy eating the bacon gouda sandwich first. Then after having a few slips of my Carmel macchiato, I realized something was wrong. And I asked to take a slip my Dad's PERFECT drink ,(his words, not mine) , upon taking a slip there was actual coffee in the cup! And upon further analysis on my coffee situation and it turned out to just be hot milk! Hot milk or warm milk just puts me to sleep in other words it's my version of alcohol, lights out. I am not one to just fall asleep once I am wake. Minus the fact that I was robbed of actual coffee, I got to see the most beautiful sunrise in a long time and it's hard to put into words the actual beauty of all. Other than it was like seeing a cotton candy sunset but in reverse. I only wish there was time to stop on the side of the road and fully enjoy the show.

Now I am sure you are wondering where we were heading to that early in the day. We were heading to las Vegas to place a single bet and for the record , I was just there to help drive and the possibility of a gyro sandwich being involved. By 8 am that morning, we were in the M Resort parking lot. The casino was nearly empty inside for the time being ,one us heading to the sports book and one us headed for Baby cakes bakery. Now it's the time to take a guess which way I went.. one .. two .. three. I went straight to the bakery and placed order for the same coffee. Let me make it clear, I was in heavenly. I couldn't thank the lady behind the counter in enough. Take my word for it , I have been to Vegas each year that I have been alive and baby cakes is one of the best places to have coffee! That was twenty mins in Vegas for coffee, bet made and bathroom break to turn around and hit the road all over again. Then somehow we ended up at Mad Greek and I couldn't be happier to have a Gyro, there's something to their meat and their Tzatziki Sause. I still can't pinpoint what all the flavors are in that sandwich! All I have to say is I wish they were closer to me, I would have one as often as I could ! There was quite a few sand storms on the way back home but we made it back before the Kentucky Derby. I had a quite Hangry pack of shepherds when I walked through the door but they ended up loving again after they were fed.

After that trip, a few weeks later, I got to see Top Gun 2 Maverick. I can quote the first movie like many others. I promised not to see the movie without my Dad because when I watched top gun for the first time it was with him. So obviously I had to see the second one with me. We ended up going to a early showing and sat in D-box seats. I mean it was an important movie to see in my lifetime and to experience D-Box while watching it was a whole another level ! I highly recommend the next adventure packed movie you want to see in theaters that you do sit in one. The overall movie in my opinion was worth the wait from the script to the casting. And don't tell anyone it kind made me want to get a pilots license that much more, It might sound crazy but I always wanted to learn how to fly in the skies! But this from a girl who has never flew on a airplane and if you are screaming "How?" ; it just hasn't happened that's why. But I have this little feeling that will all change sooner than later. If you missed seeing Top Gun Maverick in theaters, definitely put it on your watchlist when it hits on any streaming platforms! After watching the second movie by the time I got home, the first one was on tv and I had to watch it. Maverick watched first part of the movie up close and personal. Mason left the building to hide away from the loud sound and Mr. Max was lights out in the corner by the A/C vent. That's pretty much what happens when theirs a loud action packed move plays in my living room at least.

I know that I didn't post this blog post in July, life happens and things get pushed in different directions. I promise things will be all caught up and regular content will be back. But by the time you see this post it will be August and I will be working on that month's blog post. I do open the kick of your summer has been great and the hotter days have been enjoyable. And I hope maybe you found a little summer lovin or you will find a summer lovin. And summer lovin can mean so many things. For me I found summer lovin this year has been just full of happiness and being in the present moment. And you haven't seen my latest blog post and previous book reviews they will be linked down below. As always let me know what you think and follow me on the socials for more !

Love always,

Misread

A Round Of Many Book Reviews

Well here we are the long awaited Book reviews from Last Season that I ran out of time to share.

Let me first say this group of books are quite assortment of stories they don't all go together reading them in order that I read them in. But that's how I read them. Each novel have their own special touch to them in my eyes. I tried to read with a theme of the each season, starting with Magic lessons by Alice Hoffman for fall season then followed by The Book of Candlelight by Ellery Adams. Then I started with 365 days series by Blanka Lipinska which was a little saucy of the novels. And ended with A Virgin River Christmas by Robyn Carr for the winter season. With that being said let's get into the long waited book recommendations.

Magic lessons by Alice Hoffman

Magic Lessons by Alice Hoffman is the prequel to Practical Magic. Which if you loved the book and the movie version of Practical magic you are going to love Magic lessons to be completely honest, I say it's even better then Practical Magic in my opinion. It's one novel that you want to read every Halloween season by a warm fire. It felt rich in the sense, that you are back in the 1600s along side Hannah, Maria and Faith Owens. I thought each character bought into the storyline made a impact individually right where Practical Magic history began. Beginning with Hannah's story for Maria, Maria's path to her own discovery of lessons and ending with Faith's own twisted path. I liked how the novel was broken up into six sections; Transformations, Talisman, Divination, The Charm and The Remedy, Fate. The last two sections were by far my favorite sections of the novel because it seemed the story was unfolding still and yet coming full circle at the same time. "Gogo" was my favorite human character in the novel he truly loved Maria , in every way a woman should be loved from the very second they met. Maria saved him first and he saved her in return, time and time again ; they were fated match even Maria held back her love from him. Faith was a strong child to begin with and grew into a strong woman, that lost her way for a bit but she found her way through her own magic lessons. I can't forget to mention Cadin; Maria's familiar ,in my opinion he was closer to human than a crow and always shared his thoughts, his feelings in his own ways. Love is never a bad thing , love is fated and love conquers any force of the world. That's what I took from the beautiful novel. Also, who would've thought Maria and Ruth would be the best friends in the end. Yes, I gave a way a little hint. My favorite quotes from novel are

"Fall in love wherever you can " Page 387 Magic lessons

"Everything you do will comeback in threefold." Magic Lessons

The Book of Candlelight by Ellery Adams

The Book of Candlelight by Ellery Adams was chosen to finish up my theme of bookstore novels from my previous theme. And to be honest I might have collected a few more books about bookstores. This novel particularly apart of a five book series called Secret, Book & Scone Society. It's written in a way where you can pick up any part of the series and jump in ,which I love in it's self. This novel is definitely a cozy mystery novel that instantly falling in love with the characters and feel like you are right in Miracle springs. And by the end of the novel you would want to be part of the Secret, Book & Scone Society club. I particularly love Nora she's has the gift of Bibliotherapy which if you love book as much as I do. You know that books have power to heal people within , when they think no one in the world can understand what they are going through exactly. Book can be that silent understanding friend, we all need sometimes. I would say these characters seem like a unlikely group of friends but you can genuine relate to the ladies of Secret, Book & Scone Society club. And Miracle Springs is a place of a small town full of powerful people with stories and reading this novel was scratching just the surface of the little place. Chapter Seven :" The Greatest Secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places " Roald Dahl Another point I would like to share; each chapter had it's own quote about the inkling to what could happen in the chapter. The mystery part of the novel was about how Danny was killed the Clay pot maker that marked all his works with a little Red Bird. Let me say this, who would of thought the symbol of a Red Bird would caused such chaos between finding the killer and finding out unknown history to Danny about the full meaning behind that little Red Bird... One of my favorite things about the storyline is the story within the novel about Rose ,Chea and original meaning of the Little Red Bird. Chapter Seventeen: " Memory is the diary that we all , carry within us" Oscar Wilde I would of loved to meet Rose in another life, if that was possible.

365 Days series

365 Days series was the little dark and twisted saucy novels between novels. Let me be honest once I watched the first move I wanted to know more about the storyline in depth. And let me tell you the novel didn't disappoint at all once I had it in my hands . And once I had it in my hands I finished it between two days. It's the far edger version of fifty shades of grey in my opinion. More intriguing, steamer. Don Massimo is the type of untouchable and yet he knows exactly what he wants. But when it comes to Laura he comes undone professionally and personally , she drives him crazy. Laura is the women in his vision and whom made him want to live. Laura Biel is the prefect character to his opposite and his equal. She has a fighter sprit even though she thinks, she just a ordinally woman from Poland. I love how Laura was brought into the storyline to meet Massimo but maybe not exactly being kidnapped should of happened. But I think Massimo just wanted her in is hands quicker than she could slip away back to Poland. I think another character that I love and I can't forget to mention is Domenico, He's the perfect supporting character to a "T" specifically in pages 277 and 290. He brings a little comedy to all levels of the novel and turned to being Laura's best friend in Massimo world. I can't forget to mention Olga, we have that one bestfriend that you would anything for and you have most wildest memories with. From this book alone I loved the moment where Massimo left presents for Laura and showed her that he could gentle if she shows him how to. I am trying not to give away too much from the first novel.

This Day ( 365 days) Book two by Laura Lipinska.

This Day by Laura Lipinska took it up an notch in the steamy level and this one was more of a page turner then the last one was. Lipinska has the gift of absolute cliffhangers in both novels, leaves you wondering how, why. After finishing the second novel within a few day, I literally said ,"There has to be more", flipping through imaginary pages missing. I did gave you full warning in advance. Intoxicating is a perfect world to describe the novel at the beginning to end. I loved how the book picked up right where is the first cliffhanger was, without missing a beat you will feel like you right there in the same room. In the second novel you will find more in-depth information about each character. For Example Domenico is more of a firecracker then he was in the first one. Which I love seeing both sides of Domenico's full personally. Let me tell you there will be another family member besides Domenico and Massimo that you don't want miss out on. Ask yourself how would an Italian/Polish Christmas work out ? Let me tell you now, not how you think. The biggest twist of the novel is who turns out to be the mastermind behind kidnaping Laura and to be from the most unexpected person from from the first novel would also come full circle between the two novels. I would keep my lips sealed on who it is, you just have to read to find out for yourself! Side note another lovable new character is Nacho in the most wrong way; it's hard explain but you will love him. And you will ask yourself at the end , How many times can one women being so heavily guarded to be kidnapped multiple times?

P.s I don't agree with the reviews of people's perspective of Laura; I think they misread how the author wrote her to be emotionally in the second novel.

A Virgin River Christmas by Robyn Carr

My last book review from last year is A Virgin River Christmas by Robyn Carr that I read for Christmas. Every time I get my hands on A Virgin River novel by Carr, I instantly felt like I am home. It just has a home feel to it like you can relate to every single aspect of the series as if you lived in the same town you grew up in. This one was a special one to fall in love with, I couldn't put down the book and when I did, spent hours thinking about Marcie Sullivan and Ian Buchanan. Their story takes you through their emotions throughout the novel. Two broken souls with a special person ( Bobby Sullivan ) that binds them and their path together in the beginning, in the middle and to the ending of the beginning of them. A love between them was undeniable and they both knew it from the start. Through all the darkness they held between them brought their own light through each other too. Marcie is the type of character we all need in our lives and quite a firecracker of a strong woman. Meaning she knew he was the key factor to her healing, she tracked him, a Marine that didn't want to be found. Ian thought being "Dead" to the world would solve his problems and quiet his mind. And yet he was still himself in small doses without realizing it , He needed Marcie to pulled him back into the light and showed him that Bobby was proud of him to the very end. I think if she didn't get pass out in his outhouse in a middle of a snows storm, they wouldn't have the time they need to heal their missing piece of themselves. I would say the two most important tangible items the flipped the whole novel would be the baseball cards and her unread letters. I would also like to mention when they both got tipsy reading the letters together was a moment I wished I wrote. The was a bit of a tad cliffhanger in my opinion for Carr at the end which has been a first from the author that I have seen. If you never read a novel by Robyn Carr , I highly Recommend if you do. It doesn't matter which one you start with... I promise you will fall in love instantly.

I know this was long over over Due for me to post these book reviews. I hope my own little book reviews would intrigue you to pick one or two them to read this year. And each one of them are quite different in their own way and special. Please let me know which one or all them you picked up to read. Also I am reading another book currently The Stolen Lady by Laura Morelli which is a Historical Fiction based in the World War Two timeline. And that one would be the first book review of 2022. Again I hope you enjoyed these book reviews and more to come! If you haven't read my latest blog post of 2022 , it's linked below.

Love Misread.

The Book of Lost Names Book review

MORE Than a Five STAR Rating !!!!!!

This September month's Book Review is about The book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel. Yes it's another Historical fiction world world two novel. Let me just say I just finished this book and I still feel like I am part of the novel, living the story as my it's my own life in the sense ;maybe a past life. When I say towards the end of the novel it was part of me, I had dreams of living it. I don't know why I did but this novel stuck to me in the best ways, I will try to explain why. Bottom line before I get into it , you need to buy this novel ,end of story!

My very first thought starting the novel Kristin had me within the first few lines and I couldn't even put it down and when I had to my thoughts were about it. I was hooked completely and if you read my last book review, this one blew it out the water instantly. A little heads up there are two timelines through out the novel from May 2005 to back in June 1942 but as reader you barley even notice the changes between the two. Which is bonus in my opinion being such a well written novel. It feel like being right beside Eva Traube as a young graduate student through Eva Traube Abrams in her golden years.

This story is about Eva Traube in her golden years sees her book , The book of Lost Names on the front cover of the New York Times. The book that she risked everything for in her former life sixty- five years ago. And a secret to an answer that haunts her for all these years lies with the pages. Going back in time to rescue not only the book but who she was and when her story began forced out of Paris when her father was arrested. Also becoming a skilled document forger along the way to save the lost children.

"The book I last laid eyes on more than six decades ago.

The book I believed had vanished forever."-The Book of Lost Names

I wish If there was a real book of last names in every "War" in the past, in the present. So those have been lost, have been taken can be remembered. Given back to those who lost them the most. I can highly relate to that and I why I created Misread to never be forgotten. In the world we live now, there are stories that no one knew about war, I am hopeful that maybe someone was creative to do something like for the world to find eventually.

Before the last chapter or towards the ending, I had my own thoughts how she would write the end. And it tossed my thoughts towards the opposite direction because I didn't think she would of went there, its hard to explain. In the last three pages of the novel, I literally shouted, holy( fill in the blank here.) out loud. I had just no words, mind blown on how it finished. I don't even want to give away a word about it , I would spill everything in seconds. I only wish in the reality, could have a love, a story as Remy and Eva have. Kristin Harmel needs to a part two ( An extension) of their story. I need to know more about them as individuals and about their days apart to the days.

And if you were wondering , why this review is a bit short. I meant it to be like I said before I am trying very hard not to spoil one bit of the book because it's such a worthy read. So purchase a copy and see why I kept my book lover mouth shut as much as I could. I need someone that already read the novel so I can spill my thoughts fully .

Best wishes,

Misread.

P.s More is coming , Get Ready ! Prior Blog posts are linked down below.