Wedding Planning Day

 

March 1st is recognized as National Wedding Planning Day!  Who knew, right?   My own wedding was planned in 6 weeks, which always seems to amaze people.  The trick?  I had a December wedding, and getting married in the off-season means discounts.  I also had a good friend say: "Hey, you remember the chair covers at my wedding?" When I admitted I had no recollection, she said: "Exactly, don't waste your money."  I also took a good look at my friends and said: "I'm so not into torturing my friends, just wear a black dress that you love and can afford." Because in the end, all that stuff people get tripped up over, doesn't matter, what mattered was that I was marrying someone who I love dearly, who is my best friend, and adores me at my worst, but will still call me out when I'm over the top; same as I do him.

A Practical Wedding: Creative Ideas for Planning a Beautiful, Affordable, and Meaningful Celebration by Keene, Meg

A Practical Wedding helps you create the wedding you want without going broke or crazy in the process. After all, what really matters on your wedding day, what you'll remember 'til you're old and gray, is not so much how it looked as how it felt.

Style Your Perfect Wedding.

This practical style guide presents various themes for weddings and all of the accompanying components, including table decorations, boutonnieres, flowers, favors, and much more, including a wedding guide with all the necessary details.

Barn Weddings by Lord, Maggie

In Barn Weddings, Maggie Lord offers ideas and advice on how to create a barn wedding, including information on different styles and decor as well as tips from the pros for making the day a special one to remember. Part indoor, part outdoor, but all beauty, history, and romance, barn weddings are as practical as they are rife with opportunities for charm and creativity.

Wedding Cakes You Can Make: Designing, Baking, and Decorating the Perfect Wedding Cake by Wilson, Dede

"If you want to make your own wedding cake, Dede Wilson is the perfect guide. She helps you bake with confidence every step of the way to a delicious personalized result."
--Donna Ferrari, BRIDE'S magazine

The Wedding A to Z: Everything You Need to Know-- and Stuff You Never Thought to Ask by El-Hakkaoui, Karima

"An irresistibly gifty A-to-Z book of expert answers to wedding planning questions, humorous observations, offbeat advice about wedding and marriage prep, and pure, quickfire fun for brides-to-be"-- Provided by publisher.

Bridal Bargains: Secrets to Throwing a Fantastic Wedding on a Realistic Budget by Fields, Denise

The national bestseller the wedding industry does NOT want you to read! Bridal Bargains teaches couples all the tricks to saving money on a wedding and how to avoid pitfalls and scams. With the average wedding costing in excess of $20,000, Bridal Bargains is the solution to tying the knot without breaking the bank

The DIY Bride, An Affair to Remember: 40 Fantastic Projects to Celebrate Your Unique Wedding Style by Cochran, Khris

Hip and crafty brides-to-be understand the value of doing it themselves. Not only is taking a hands-on approach to nuptials a great way to save money, but it allows brides-to-be everywhere to showcase their own personal style. Author Khris Cochran, the wedding world's craft guru, understands how an engaged gal today plans and designs her wedding. The creator of DIYBride.com and author of two highly successful DYI Bride books, she has packed this third volume with 40 brand-new fun and original projects. Organized by wedding theme, including Sand & Sea, Bright Lights, Big City, and A Touch of Country, The DIY Bride An Affair to Remember includes themed projects for save-the-dates, invitations, programs, favors, decorations, and more. A popular price comparison box shows how much these DIY projects can save; a budget section itemizes the costs, and a new box offers extra style variations. With 80 inspiring photos, this is the book brides will say "I do" to for a one-of-a-kind wedding.

Mardi Gras and Murder

This year Fat Tuesday falls on March 1st with the week of February 23 through March 1st set to be full of Mardi Gras Festivities, with some Covid restrictions, such as shorter parade routes, thrown in for good measure.  Everything You Need to Know About 2022 Mardi Gras in New Orleans By Sarah Buder and Lyndsey Matthews

My husband has wild stories from attending Mardi Gras in the past, and so do my parents. I do not.  I recall at some point thinking I'd like to go but this urge lessens the older I get. I'm perfectly willing to attend from afar via a book or perhaps some NCIS New Orleans.   

Mardi Gras Murder by Byron, Ellen

It's Mardi Gras season on the bayou, which means parades, pageantry, and gumbo galore. But when a flood upends life in the tiny town of Pelican, Louisiana--and deposits a body of a stranger behind the Crozat Plantation B&B--the celebration takes a decidedly dark turn. The citizens of Pelican are ready to Laissez les bon temps rouler--but there's beaucoup bad blood on hand this Mardi Gras.

Death Swatch: A Scrapbooking Mystery by Childs, Laura

Jekyl Hardy is hosting a Mardi Gras party in his French Quarter apartment, amid Zydeco rhythms and popping champagne corks. On a wild night like this, anything can happen. The guests--including scrapbook-store owner Carmela Bertrand--never imagine it will be murder. But as the evening progresses, Jekyl's neighbor, float designer Archie Baudier, is found on the balcony choked to death with a barbed wire garrote. Buried up to her neck in strange clues, Carmela is sure of only one thing: whoever killed Archie is now following her--straight into the madness of Mardi Gras.

Glitter Bomb by Childs, Laura

An exploding Mardi Gras float has got to be the strangest murder weapon scrappy sleuth Carmela Bertrand has ever encountered in this latest Scrapbooking Mystery from the New York Times bestselling author. It's Mardi Gras in New Orleans and scrapbook shop owner Carmela Bertrand is excited to be attending the Pluvius Parade along with her best friend Ava. Carmela's ex-husband Shamus rides by the duo on his float at the head of the parade, when suddenly the revelry turns to disaster. Shamus' float crashes and explodes, and although Shamus escapes unhurt, a member of his krewe is killed. Carmela and Ava plunge into an investigation of the krewe member's death, but as they dig deeper it starts to look less like an accident and more like a murder....and Shamus seems less like a victim, and more like a suspect.

Bullets and Beads by DeLeon, Jana

It's Mardi Gras time and Fortune is looking forward to seeing the spectacle firsthand. When a visitor to Sinful is murdered during the celebration there, Fortune, Ida Belle, and Gertie start looking into the woman, and the family in Sinful she came to visit. The investigation sends them to New Orleans, right at the height of the Mardi Gras celebration. But instead of relaxing a little and enjoying the festivities, Fortune can't shake the feeling that she's being watched. When she catches sight of her father in the Mardi Gras crowd, she knows why. Unfortunately, her father's presence in Louisiana has brought with it a host of terrorists, all with only one thing in mind-- locate and terminate Dwight Redding. Why has Dwight returned from the dead? And will knowing the answer make things worse or better?

Killer Takeout by Burdette, Lucy

• "Every year, Key West's weeklong Mardi Gras--style festival has tourists and locals alike lining up for costumed revelry and delicious eats. Key Zest magazine has assigned Hayley to write a piece on the fest's grab-and-go food, so she's planning on hitting up the mobile eateries while checking out the party preparations. Hayley's office mate, Danielle, recently elected Queen of Fantasy Fest, is also buzzing between festivities and fundraisers. But when a former royal rival gets taken out, Hayley needs to put down her party hat and her pen and figure out who served up a side of murder--before Danielle gets crowned a killer"--P. [4] of cover.

Fat Tuesday by Brown, Sandra

The superstar author of more than two dozen New York Times bestsellers spins an electrifying tale of raging passion and police corruption in New Orleans.It's Mardi Gras week in the French Quarter, a perfect time for narcotics cop Burke Basile to avenge the acquittal of his partner's murderer by kidnapping the defense attorney's sheltered wife. So begins Sandra Brown's riveting story of corruption in the Big Easy. As the crisis reaches a fevered pitch, the line between saint and sinner blurs. Who will find redemption as the clock ticks toward midnight on Fat Tuesday?

The Chef by Patterson, James

Police detective by day, celebrity food truck chef by night, now Caleb Rooney has a new title: Most Wanted. In the Carnival days leading up Mardi Gras, Detective Caleb Rooney comes under investigation for a murder he is accused of committing in the line of duty--as a Major Crimes detective for the New Orleans Police Department. Has his sideline at the Killer Chef food truck given him a taste for murder? While fighting the charges against him, Rooney makes a pair of unthinkable discoveries. His beloved city is under threat of attack. And these would-be terrorists may be local.

Black History Month - Health and Wellness

 

This year the theme for Black History Month focuses on Health and Wellness. To give the proper praise and acknowledgment to the roles played in regards to medical care and advancement and voice to the disparity and prejudice that occurs when seeking medical care.

Medicine by Rich, Mari

Provides information on African-American medical professionals that have added to the worlds knowledge in making saving lives.

 

Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson story by Carson, Ben

"Dr. Ben Carson is known around the world for breakthroughs in neurosurgery that have brought hope where no hope existed. In 'Gifted Hands', he tells of his inspiring odyssey from his childhood in inner-city Detroit to his position as director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions at age thirty-three. Taking you into the operating room where he has saved countless lives, Ben Carson is a role model for anyone who attempts the seemingly impossible" --Cover, p. 4.

 

Patricia's Vision : The Doctor Who Saved Sight by Lord, Michelle

"Born in 1940s Harlem, Patricia Bath dreamed of being a doctor--even though that wasn't a career option for most women. This biography follows Dr. Bath in her quest to become an ophthalmologist and restore sight to the blind. "Choosing miracles" when everyone else had given up hope, she invented a specialized laser for removing cataracts, becoming the first African American woman doctor to receive a medical patent"-- Provided by publisher.

The Strong Black Woman: How a Myth Endangers the Physical and Mental Health of Black Women by Golden, Marita

"Meet Black women who have learned through hard lessons the importance of self-care and how to break through the cultural and family resistance to seeking therapy and professional mental health care. The Strong Black Woman Syndrome. For generations, in response to systemic racism, Black women and African American culture created the persona of the Strong Black Woman, a woman who, motivated by service and sacrifice, handles, manages, and overcomes any problem, any obstacle. The syndrome calls on Black women to be the problem-solvers and chief caretakers for everyone in their lives―never buckling, never feeling vulnerable, and never bothering with their pain. Hidden mental health crisis of anxiety and depression. To be a Black woman in America is to know you cannot protect your children or guarantee their safety, your value is consistently questioned, and even being “twice as good” is often not good enough. Consequently, Black women disproportionately experience anxiety and depression. Studies now conclusively connect racism and mental health―and physical health. Take care of your emotional health. You deserve to be emotionally healthy for yourself and those you love. More and more young Black women are re-examining the Strong Black Woman syndrome and engaging in self-care practices that change their lives"--. Provided by publisher.

Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen: The Emotional Lives of Black Women by Burnett-Zeigler, Inger

 
A Northwestern University clinical psychologist challenges common cultural misconceptions to reveal the real-world systemic abuse, health traumas, and abandonment that disempower today's Black women and force them to hide behind masks of strength.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Skloot, Rebecca

Her name was Henrietta Lacks, but scientists know her as HeLa. She was a poor Southern tobacco farmer, yet her cells--taken without her knowledge--became one of the most important tools in medicine. The first "immortal" human cells grown in culture, they are still alive today, though she has been dead for more than sixty years. HeLa cells were vital for developing the polio vaccine; uncovered secrets of cancer and viruses; helped lead to in vitro fertilization, cloning, and gene mapping; and have been bought and sold by the billions. Yet Henrietta Lacks is buried in an unmarked grave. Her family did not learn of her "immortality" until more than twenty years after her death, when scientists began using her husband and children in research without informed consent. The story of the Lacks family is inextricably connected to the dark history of experimentation on African Americans, the birth of bioethics, and the legal battles over whether we control the stuff we are made of--From publisher description.

 

Killing The Black Body: Race, Reproduction, and the Meaning of Liberty by Roberts, Dorothy E.
 

"The image of the 'Welfare Queen' still dominates white America's perceptions of Black women. It is an image that also continues to shape our government's policies concerning Black women's reproductive decisions. Proposed legislation to alleviate poverty focuses on plans to deny benefits to children born to welfare mothers and to require insertion of birth-control implants as a condition of receiving aid. Meanwhile a booming fertility industry serves primarily infertile white couples. ... Roberts exposes America's systemic abuse of Black women's bodies, from slave masters' economic stake in bonded women's fertility to government programs that coerced thousands of poor black women into being sterilized as late as the 1970s. These abuses, Roberts argues, point not only to the degradation of Black motherhood but to the exclusion of Black women's reproductive needs from the feminist agenda."

 

Medical Apartheid: The Dark History of Medical Experimentation on Black Americans from Colonial Times to the Present by Washington, Harriet A.

The first comprehensive history of medical experimentation on African Americans. Starting with the earliest encounters between Africans and Western medical researchers and the racist pseudoscience that resulted, it details the way both slaves and freedmen were used in hospitals for experiments conducted without a hint of informed consent--a tradition that continues today within some black populations. It shows how the pseudoscience of eugenics and social Darwinism was used to justify experimental exploitation and shoddy medical treatment of blacks, and a view that they were biologically inferior, oversexed, and unfit for adult responsibilities. New details about the government's Tuskegee experiment are revealed, as are similar, less well-known medical atrocities conducted by the government, the armed forces, and private institutions. This book reveals the hidden underbelly of scientific research and makes possible, for the first time, an understanding of the roots of the African American health deficit.--From publisher description.

 

Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619-2019

"A "choral history" of African Americans covering 400 years of history in the voices of 80 writers, edited by the bestselling, National Book Award-winning historian Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blain. Last year marked the four hundredth anniversary of the first African presence in the Americas--and also launched the Four Hundred Souls project, spearheaded by Ibram X. Kendi, director of the Antiracism Institute of American University, and Keisha Blain, editor of The North Star. They've gathered together eighty black writers from all disciplines -- historians and artists, journalists and novelists--each of whom has contributed an entry about one five-year period to create a dynamic multivoiced single-volume history of black people in America"-- Provided by publisher.

Born Curious: 20 Girls Who Grew Up To Be Awesome Scientists by Freeman, Martha

"A collection of biographies of twenty groundbreaking women scientists who were curious kids and grew up to make incredible discoveries."-- Provided by publisher.

Wisconsin

 

On May 29, 1848, Wisconsin became the United States' 30th state, and in 2019, February 15th was declared National Wisconsin Day.  The Badger state, known for cheese, beer, and polka music, is also home or the hometown of many authors.   Some of which are:

Alex Bledsoe:

Gather her Round by Bledsoe, Alex

"Young Kera Rogers disappears while hiking in the woods by Needsville. When her half-eaten remains are discovered, the blame falls upon a herd of wild hogs, a serious threat in this rural community. In response, the county's best trackers, including game warden Jack Cates and ex-military Tufa Bronwyn Chess are assembled to hunt them down. Kara's boyfriend Duncan Gowen mourns her death, until he finds evidence she cheated on him with his best friend, Adam Procure. Seeking revenge, Duncan entices Adam to participate in their own boar hunt. Later, Bronwyn and Jack stumble across a devastated Duncan, who claims a giant boar impaled Adam and dragged him off. As this second death rocks the town, people begin to wonder who is really responsible. Determined hunters pursue the ravenous horde through the Appalachians as other Tufa seek their own answers. Between literal beasts in the woods and figurative wolves in sheep's clothing, what truths will arise come spring?"-- Amazon.

Jennifer Chiaverini:

The Women's March: A Novel of the 1913 Woman Suffrage Procession by Chiaverini, Jennifer

Twenty-five-year-old Alice Paul returns to her native New Jersey after several years on the front lines of the suffrage movement in Great Britain. Weakened from imprisonment and hunger strikes, she is nevertheless determined to invigorate the stagnant suffrage movement in her homeland. Nine states have already granted women voting rights, but only a constitutional amendment will secure the vote for all. To inspire support for the campaign, Alice organizes a magnificent procession down Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC, the day before the inauguration of President-elect Woodrow Wilson, a firm antisuffragist. Joining the march is thirty-nine-year-old New Yorker Maud Malone, librarian, and advocate for women's and workers' rights. The daughter of Irish immigrants, Maud has acquired a reputation--and a criminal record--for interrupting politicians' speeches with pointed questions they'd rather ignore. Civil rights activist and journalist Ida B. Wells-Barnett resolves that women of color must also be included in the march--and the proposed amendment. Born into slavery in Mississippi, Ida worries that white suffragists may exclude Black women if it serves their own interests. On March 3, 1913, the glorious march commences, but negligent police allow vast crowds of belligerent men to block the parade route--jeering, shouting threats, assaulting the marchers--endangering not only the success of the demonstration but the women's very lives."--. Amazon.com.

Kathleen Ernst:

Old World Murder: a Chloe Ellefson Mystery by Ernst, Kathleen

First in Series: Chloe Ellefson is making a fresh start in Wisconsin as collections curator at Old World Wisconsin, an outdoor ethnic museum showcasing 19th-century settlement life. On her first day, an elderly woman begs her to find a Norwegian ale bowl that had been earlier donated to the museum. However, before Chloe can find the heirloom to return it to her, the elderly woman dies in a suspicious car crash. She soon discovers that digging up the history and location of the bowl is dangerous: someone is desperately trying to cover up the bowl's existence, by any means necessary.

The Weaver's Revenge: a Chloe Ellefson Mystery by Ernst, Kathleen

Latest in Series: "A killer weaves a deadly blend of betrayal and revenge that threatens Chloe's work … and her life. When offered a rare opportunity to help develop a fledgling historic site dedicated to Finnish American history and heritage, curator Chloe Ellefson journeys to the remote Northwoods of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. In addition to the consultant job, she’s on a personal quest to learn about the enduring tradition of rag rug weaving. Encountering a dead body upon arrival, however, immediately puts that goal in jeopardy. Although suspicion soon falls on her new colleagues, Chloe is determined to persevere … even if it means ignoring the advice of her new husband, police officer Roelke McKenna. Can she identify the killer and complete her mission, or will all her dreams unravel?"--Page [4] of cover.

John Galligan:

  

Bad Axe County: a novel by Galligan, John

"Fifteen years ago, Heidi White's parents were shot to death on their Bad Axe County farm. The police declared it a murder-suicide and closed the case. But that night, Heidi found the one clue she knew could lead to the truth--if only the investigators would listen. Now Heidi White is Heidi Kick, wife of local baseball legend Harley Kick and mother of three small children. She's also the interim sheriff in Bad Axe. Half the county wants Heidi elected but the other half will do anything to keep her out of law enforcement. And as a deadly ice storm makes it way to Bad Axe, tensions rise and long-buried secrets climb to the surface. As freezing rain washes out roads and rivers flood their banks, Heidi finds herself on the trail of a missing teenage girl. Clues lead her down twisted paths to backwoods stag parties, derelict dairy farms, and the local salvage yard--where the body of a different teenage girl has been carefully hidden for a decade. As the storm rages on, Heidi realizes that someone is planting clues for her to find, leading her to some unpleasant truths that point to the local baseball team and a legendary game her husband pitched years ago. With a murder to solve, a missing girl to save, and a monster to bring to justice, Heidi is on the cusp of shaking her community to its core--and finding out what really happened the night her parents died."--Provided by publisher.

Paula McLain:

When The Stars Go Dark: a novel by McLain, Paula

"From the New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Wife comes an atmospheric novel of intertwined fate and heart-wrenching suspense: A detective hiding away from the world. A series of disappearances that reach into her past. Can solving them help her heal? Anna Hart is a seasoned missing persons detective in San Francisco with far too much knowledge of the darkest side of human nature. When unspeakable tragedy strikes her personal life, Anna, desperate and numb, flees to the Northern California village of Mendocino. She spent summers there as a child with her beloved grandparents, and now she believes it might be the only place left for her to heal. Yet the day she arrives, she learns a local teenage girl has gone missing. Anna is in no condition to become involved with the search--until a childhood friend, now the village sheriff pleads for her help. Then, just days later, a twelve-year-old girl is abducted from her home. The crimes feel frighteningly reminiscent of the most crucial time in Anna's childhood, when a string of unsolved murders touched Mendocino. As past and present collide, Anna realizes that she has been led to this moment. The most difficult lessons of her life have given her insight into how victims come into contact with violent predators. As Anna becomes obsessed with these missing girls, she must learn that true courage means getting out of her own way and learning to let others in. Weaving together true crime, trauma theory, and a hint of the metaphysical, this tense, affecting story is about fate, unlikely redemption, and what it takes, when the worst happens, to reclaim our lives--and our faith in one another"--. Provided by publisher.

Jacquelyn Mitchard:

The Good Son by Mitchard, Jacquelyn

When her son is released from prison after serving time for the negligent homicide of his girlfriend, Thea is committed to helping him make amends until attempts on their lives are made, leading her to believe that those who are threatening them have something to hide.

Sarah Monette/ Katherine Addison:

The Witness for the Dead by Addison, Katherine

"Katherine Addison returns at last to the world of The Goblin Emperor with this stand-alone sequel. When the young half-goblin emperor Maia sought to learn who had killed his father and half-brothers, he turned to an obscure resident of his Court, a Prelate of Ulis and a Witness for the Dead. Thara Celehar found the truth, though it did him no good to discover it. Now Celehar lives in the city of Amalo, far from the Court though not exactly in exile. He has not escaped from politics, but his position gives him the ability to serve the common people of the city, which is his preference. He lives modestly, but his decency and fundamental honesty will not permit him to live quietly"--. Provided by publisher.

Patrick Rothfuss:

The Name of the Wind: The Kingkiller Chronicle: day one by Rothfuss, Patrick

"The tale of Kvothe, from his childhood in a troupe of traveling players, to years spent as a near-feral orphan in a crime-riddled city, to his daringly brazen yet successful bid to enter a difficult and dangerous school of magic. In these pages, you will come to know Kvothe as a notorious magician, an accomplished thief, a masterful musician, and an infamous assassin. But this book is so much more, for the story, it tells reveals the truth behind Kvothe's legend"--Publisher description.

Kelly McCullough:

Magic, Madness, and Mischief by McCullough, Kelly

Run, child of fire. I know you now, and you are marked.Kalvan Monroe is worried. Either he's losing it or he really did wake up with uncontrollable fire magic and accidentally summon a snarky talking fire hare. (Yes, that's right, a hare. Made of fire. That talks.) It's got to be a weird dream, right? But if it's not, then magic actually is real, and he's got even more problems to worry about. Because Kalvan isn't the only one with powers. The same fire magic that allows him to so easily talk his way into and out of trouble burned too brightly in his mother, damaging her mind and leaving her vulnerable to the cold, manipulative spells of the Winter King. Can Kalvan gain control of his power in time to save his mother, or will their fires be snuffed out forever? 

Lori Wick:

Every Storm by Wick, Lori

New from Lori Wick, this stand-alone story shows how unexpected changes can set the perfect course for love. 1945, WWII-When Lieutenant Donovan Riggs experiences trouble with his PT boat, the sailors of Every Storm make an unscheduled stop...and a surprising discovery. Lorraine Archer is an American teacher living and working in Australia. While on a flight with her sister, her daydreams are disrupted by the sounds of the plane going down. Lorri ends up alone on a deserted island in the Pacific. And just when she loses all hope of being found...Donovan and his crew arrive. Neither Donovan nor Lorri suspects that their encounter is the beginning of something very certain...a future not left to chance, but to faith.

Thalasinos, Andrea:

An Echo Through the Snow by Thalasinos, Andrea

Rescuing a neglected Siberian husky with whom she forges a deep bond, Rosalie finds herself immersed in rural Wisconsin's competitive dogsled racing circles, where she learns the sport's tragic ties to the losses of Siberia's husky-loving Chukchi culture.

Wisconsin Fun Facts:

https://www.nationaldaystoday.com/national-wisconsin-day/

Anti-Valentine's Day

 

I recently rediscovered a set of old diary entries,  and in February of 2000, I wrote out my acceptance that Valentine's Day was just not going to be a day for me.   There would be no flowers or chocolates from any admirers, no dates, no nothing.   Romance was just not something that would happen to me.   At 19, nearly 20, I was still especially skilled in the art of teenage melodrama and fully indulged in stereotyped premonitions of spinsterhood and cats.

These days my antipathy for Valentine's day is wholly down to having multiple children in elementary school, where everything related to the day has somehow become a bit of a chore and a battle against anything that might bring glitter into the house.

That being said, I am fully for anyone with an anti-valentine's day vibe.  I'm fairly certain my husband and I have only ever gone out once in 17 years.  We went to an overpriced movie theater with luxury seating, (I swear they offered me a pillow).  They had a Valentine's Day package, with included minimal drinks, tiny apps, forgettable food, and a viewing of the movie Valentine's Day.   It was fun but, way overpriced. We definitely prefer just to stay home, eat pizza, wear pajamas, and watch reruns.  

Here's to everyone that's over it.

How to be Single: a novel by Tuccillo, Liz

On a brisk October morning in New York, Julie Jenson, a single thirty-eight-year-old book publicist, is on her way to work when she gets a hysterical phone call from her friend Georgia. Reeling from her husband's announcement that he is leaving her for a samba teacher, Georgia convinces a reluctant Julie to organize a fun girls' night out with all their single friends to remind her why it is so much fun not to be tied down. But the night, which starts with steaks and martinis and ends with a trip to the hospital, becomes a wake-up call for Julie. Because none of her friends seems to be having much fun right now. Fed up with the dysfunction and disappointments of being single in Manhattan, Julie quits her job and sets off to find out how women around the world are dealing with this dreaded phenomenon. From Paris to Rio to Sydney, Bali, Beijing, Mumbai, and Reykjavik, Julie falls in love, gets her heart broken, sees the world, and learns more than she ever dreamed possible.

Moxie : a novel by Mathieu, Jennifer

MOXIE GIRLS FIGHT BACK!

Vivian Carter is fed up. Fed up with an administration at her high school that thinks the football team can do no wrong. Fed up with sexist dress codes, hallway harassment, and gross comments from guys during class. But most of all, Viv Carter is fed up with always following the rules.

Viv's mom was a tough-as-nails, punk rock Riot Grrrl in the '90s, and now Viv takes a page from her mother's past and creates a feminist zine that she distributes anonymously to her classmates. She's just blowing off steam, but other girls respond. As Viv forges friendships with other young women across the divides of cliques and popularity rankings, she realizes that what she has started is nothing short of a girl revolution.

Moxie is a book about high school life that will make you wanna riot!

(Also on Netflix and one of my favorites!)

The Divorce Party by Dave, Laura

A novel about loyalty, loss, and the endurance of love On their 35th anniversary, Gwyn Huntington and her husband Thomas have invited friends and family to their Montauk home. Instead of celebrating their decades-long love, they are toasting their divorce. This also marks the weekend that their son brings home his fiancée, Maggie Mackenzie, for the first time. Maggie thought she was joining a perfect family, but she is about to reckon with some uncomfortable truths about the man she wants to marry. A multi-generational story about what it means to share a life with someone, The Divorce Party brings us two immensely appealing women: Gwyn who is stumbling upon the end of her marriage, and Maggie, her future-daughter-in-law, who is trying to navigate the beginning of hers. With emotional candor and surprising humor, these two women find themselves trying to answer the same questions: Can you ever really know someone? When should you fight for the person you. -Amazon

The Carrie Diaries by Bushnell, Candace

The Carrie Diaries is the coming-of-age story of one of the most iconic characters of our generation.

Before Sex and the City, Carrie Bradshaw was a small-town girl who knew she wanted more. She's ready for real life to start, but first,38525000108292

 she must navigate her senior year of high school. Up until now, Carrie and her friends have been inseparable. Then Sebastian Kydd comes into the picture, and a friend's betrayal makes her question everything.

With an unforgettable cast of characters, The Carrie Diaries is the story of how a regular girl learns to think for herself and evolves into a sharp, insightful writer. Readers will learn about her family background, how she found her writing voice, and the indelible impression her early friendships and relationships left on her. Through adventures both audacious and poignant, we'll see what brings Carrie to her beloved New York City, where her new life begins.

Getting to Happy by McMillan, Terry

A sequel to "Waiting to Exhale" picks up fifteen years later to find Savannah contemplating divorce, Bernadine succumbing to painkiller addiction after a second husband's swindle, Robin falling into shopaholism, and Gloria confronting profound change after a fateful event.

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks: a novel by Lockhart, E.

Sophomore Frankie starts dating senior Matthew Livingston, but when he refuses to talk about the all-male secret society that he and his friends belong to, Frankie infiltrates the society in order to enliven their mediocre pranks.

A critically acclaimed memoir by Lori Gottlieb. In the book, she details her experience as a psychotherapist, who after a bad breakup finds herself in therapy. With her wit and humor, she creates an engaging story that showcases the importance of therapy when dealing with a life-shattering change. - https://www.popsugar.com/love/post-breakup-reads-47806948?stream_view=1#photo-47806949

Happily Ever After & Everything in Between by Tung, Debbie

The comics in Happily Ever After & Everything In Between may be inspired by Debbie Tung's marriage to her extrovert husband, but any couple can relate to increasingly relaxed anniversaries, slowly seeing more of each other's weird sides, or the punishment for taking care of your sick loved one (catching whatever they had). Happily Ever After humorously captures what everyday love looks like both the sweet moments and the mundane-making it a fitting gift for weddings, anniversaries, and Valentine's Day.

Burger Wuss by Anderson, M. T.

Anthony has never been able to stand up for himself -- that is, not until he finds his girlfriend, Diana, in someone else's arms. Then Anthony vows revenge and devises The Plan. It begins with getting a job at O'Dermott's, the fast-food restaurant where Turner (a.k.a. the guy who stole his girlfriend) happens to be a star employee. It involves one anarchist, one condiment troll, and one '85 Oldsmobile named Margot. But when these ingredients are finally assembled, will The Plan satisfy Anthony's hunger for revenge? And more importantly, will he ever prove he's not a wuss?

Sweet Revenge: Passive-Aggressive Desserts for Your Exes & Enemies by Kim, Heather

50+ killer cakes, cookies, and candies for your exes and enemies. Dumped by your beefcake boyfriend? BFF steal your one-and-only? Lab partner a more-than-periodic no-show? Don't take these battles online. (Seriously, don't do that, okay?). Get out your heaviest rolling pins, sharpest cleavers, and most blistering torches, and kill your enemies and exes . . . with kindness. That's right - bake that loser ex a pan of Go Fudge Yourself. Gift your former friend a You're the Devil Cake. And give that annoying admirer a Donut Call Me Again. Let them taste your over-them happiness and see what comes next . . . Pastry chef and tattoo artist Heather Kim serves up sinfully delicious recipes and bittersweet advice.

Ladies' Night by Andrews, Mary Kay

Cut off from her palatial home and checking account after an act of post-divorce rage forces her to move in with her widowed mother and attend court-mandated group therapy, rising media star Grace Stanton bonds with three fellow patients who she helps plot respective pursuits of justice and closure.

DVD'S

The Break-up [videorecording]

Brooke calls it quits with her boyfriend Gary. Neither one is willing to move out of the condo the share. Taking the advice of their respective friends and confidants, including a few complete strangers, they engage in mental warfare designed to force the other to flee the premises. But they might just realize they might be fighting to keep their relationship alive.

Broken flowers

Confirmed bachelor Don has just been dumped by his latest lover, Sherry. Don begins to resign himself to being alone and left to his own devices. However, he becomes compelled to reflect on his past when he receives a mysterious pink letter by mail. It is from an anonymous former lover and informs him that he has a 19-year-old son who may be looking for his father. Don is urged to investigate the contents of the letter by his closest friend and neighbor, Winston. Hesitant to travel at all, Don nonetheless embarks on a cross-country trip in search of clues from four former loves. Unannounced, he visits each of these women and finds that they hold new surprises for Don as he confronts his past.

Under the Tuscan Sun

While on vacation, a just-divorced writer buys a villa in Tuscany on a whim, hoping it will be the start of a change for the better in her life. Along the way, she finds that sometimes what seems like a mistake is really a blessing.

Waiting to Exhale

A surprise Hollywood hit, this film is based on the novel of the same name by Terry McMillan and centers on four well-to-do African-American women and their relationships with men and one another. All of them are "holding their breath" until the day they can feel comfortable in a committed relationship with a man. Robin (Lela Rochon) is the long-time mistress of Russell (Leon), who keeps reneging on his promise to leave his wife for her. She dumps him to find a man she can have to herself, but her dates with a reliable but unattractive business partner (Wendell Pierce) and a drug addict (Mykelti Williamson) send her back to Russell. Savannah (Whitney Houston) is a successful television producer who also believes that her married lover Kenneth (Dennis Haysbert) will leave his wife. Bernadine (Angela Bassett) is a wealthy woman who abandoned her own career to raise a family. Her husband is now leaving her to marry a white woman. Gloria (Loretta Devine) is a beauty salon owner and single mother raising a teenage son. After years alone, she falls in love with a new neighbor, Marvin (Gregory Hines). The women share their stories over lunches and conversations at Gloria's salon. ~ Michael Betzold, Rovi

And let's not forget:

The St. Valentine's Day Massacre: The Untold Story of the Gangland Bloodbath That Brought Down Al Capone by Helmer, William J.

Examines the St. Valentine's Day Massacre when killers dressed as cops gunned down seven men. While the massacre was commonly thought to be ordered by Al Capone, it was actually the work of group from St. Louis known as the "American Boys." The book examines how law enforcement officials worked not to solve the crime to avoid retaliation by corrupt politicians.

Deadly Valentines: The Story of Capone's Henchman "Machine Gun" Jack McGurn and Louise Rolfe, His Blonde Alibi by Gusfield, Jeffrey

Reveals the lives of the iconic American gangster and his blonde alibi for the Valentines Day Massacre.