​​
Part 1 – The Route . . . with a New Manuscript -  This is like driving blind. I use my writing experience to get me on the road. I always start with an outline. It’s my road map. I drive from one point, to the next, until I reach the end of that outline, the end of the story. I’ll write a whole picture book manuscript before I send it out for a critique.

​

This baby idea is from my newest picture book. I started writing it this week –  research first. I found a website with great information. I copied the link, the pictures and some of the words from the website. Then I wrote the first couple pages. 
​
I won’t revise until I finish the baby story. It’s parked in my computer, for now. I have a picture and chapter book that I’m running back and forth between critiquing and revising. Whenever they give me a break, I’ll slip back to my new idea.​
​

When I finish writing, then I’ll start revising. How? By listening to the words on Narrator. It helps me focus. I listen to make sure the story’s making sense, that it flows along, and that the words fit together.
​
The first time through a manuscript . . . that’s when I hit the most bumps. Sometimes even a pothole or two. It gets smoother each time I listen. Then I take a break. Leaving, then returning helps me to listen better. I usually do 2 or 3 rounds of editing before I move onto the next phase . . . 

​​I read it aloud. It helps me find the last tangles and bumps in the words. I repeat my rounds of 3 until I like the way the words flow, until I find myself changing back and forth between the same 2 words. Then I’m done. I’m ready to send it off to be critiqued. 

​When I send a story out, I’m not looking for a grade. That’s for teachers and school! I’m looking for feedback. Pretend the star picture is a story. I’d critique it by writing what I like and what could be better. I’d look at the color and size of the shells. Is the red enough? Do I need other colors? Do the shells show up against the sand? Is there anything I should add or delete? 

That’s what I want from my critique partners! What’s good? That gives me hope. What could be better? That helps me move the story forward!
​
Tomorrow – Take a look at the picture book I’m revising. I’ll show you a few comments, and how they helped me. 

​
Part 3 – Financial Considerations – This is where the rubber meets the road. You know what your dog will cost. Now – to find the money! How? Here are some options for you.

​1. Grants – This is like free money, sort of. You don’t have to pay it back, like you do with a loan, but there’s a catch . . . You have to fill out an application, and you might get the money . . . you might not. If it’s basic information, that’s easy. But it could be a lot more work, with no promise of a payday. Just hope!

I wrote a couple grants to get money for science equipment for my second graders when I was still teaching. It was WORK! I researched my topic, the equipment I wanted, and the experiments the kids would do. It was a LOT of work! And I didn’t know until a month later if it would pay off. It did! Twice!
​
Click on the Bankrate.com link again to find their grant information. https://www.bankrate.com/personal-finance/how-to-afford-a-service-dog/
​

​
​2. Fundraising – Look for ways to raise money in your community and beyond. I saw an author put out a call to the kidlit community. She needed help buying a service dog. I donated money, and so did a lot of other people. She didn’t have to pay me, or anyone else back, and I felt good because I helped her.

There are places online like GoFundMe where you can find help. There are also groups in your community who might help. It never hurts to ask! People love to help good causes. I do!
​

​ 3. FSA Accounts – Huh? What’s that? I had to look it up. FSA stands for Flexible Spending Account. A lot of people have this as part of their regular insurance coverage. That means X dollars come out of your check every time you’re paid, and it goes into a special account. It’s still your money, but it can only be spent on medical care.

​The big advantage – you can’t be taxed on that money. If the government takes out 10% from your paycheck, you get to save that money in your account. If you have $100, you save $10. You’ll get a little interest, but the big advantage is that you get $100 in your account, not $90. Over a year, that’s an extra $120 for your medical care. That’s a great thing!
​

​4. Personal Loans – Yes, you can borrow money. As long as you meet the bank’s loan requirements, you’ll get the money you need. The catch – you’ll have to pay the bank back, with interest. If you borrow $100, and they charge you 10% interest on that loan, each month you’ll pay money on your loan, and on the interest.

​​At first you pay mostly interest. The longer you pay, the more you pay towards principal. That’s the money you originally borrowed. You’ll also pay the bank back more money than you borrowed. If you pay $20 a month, your loan would be paid off in 5 months, but you’d owe $50 in interest. Pay $50 a month, and you’d only owe $20 in interest. The lesson – pay back your loan as quickly as possible!
​

​5. Other Financial Considerations – Bankrate.com had 8 tips to consider, but I picked out three. #1. If you can’t get full assistance, buy your own dog, and find an independent trainer who’s certified. It’s a lot cheaper! #2. Some dog food and vets will give you a discount if you have a service dog. #3. If you need financial aid, try places like the Humane Society. They might be able to help.

Want to read the other five? Click on bankrate.com!
​

​ 6. The Bottom Line – Service dogs are expensive, BUT you’ll get a lot out of them. You’ll have a friend for life, and that life will be easier and better. Close your eyes and imagine trying to get around your house without help. No peeking! Then imagine having a dog to guide you. A dog would be priceless!

​

​Part 2 – The Steps to Finding Your Dog – Now that you’ve decided a Service Dog is in your future, there are a couple steps to take ahead of time before you pick your dog.

​

​​Step 1 – Find the Program that Matches You: One kind of program helps veterans who served our country. They train dogs to meet the needs of soldiers whose service left them scarred.

​
Another program is for people with autism. They have trouble with social, emotional, and communication skills. Dogs help them too.

There are still other programs for people with physical disabilities. Moving, seeing, or certain health problems are difficult. There are dogs for them too.

Children can have autism or physical disabilities too, and there are dogs who are trained just for them, not for grown-ups.Bankrate.com has links for each program.

​Theirs again: https://www.bankrate.com/personal-finance/how-to-afford-a-service-dog/
​

​Step 2 – Determine Your Eligibility: Did you know you have to qualify for a program? Your level of severity (difficulty) has to be high enough. Did you know some breeds fit some medical conditions better than others? People who train service dogs want to make sure they find the best match for you, and for their dog.
​
Knowing your program can help you decide if you’re a good fit. Your doctor can help you and answer questions along the way.

When you’re doing your search, make sure that the program fits ADI standards (Assistance Dogs International). You want to make sure you get a dog who has the skills you need, not a fake.    
​

​Step 3 – Gather Supplies: Not sure what to get? Ask the people who are training your dog. They should have a supply list. My breeder did. She wanted to make sure her dog went to a good home.

Don’t wait until your dog arrives! Doing a little bit at a time spreads the cost, and the joy. You’ll need things like toys and bowls and medication. Some things like dog food can wait until the very end.

Another question to think about – do you want a service dog certificate, and can they get you one? If you travel, a paper might offer proof, and make your trip easier.

​Tomorrow – financial options for you. 

Part 1 – The Price of the Dog
I love dogs! The first one is a border terrier like my dog Leia. The second is a doodle, the kind of dog I’d love to have. I’ve never thought of the price, beyond the fee you pay the breeder or the adoption fee, but there’s more. Much, much more.
​

Meet a real service dog! How do I know for sure? From its vest!

Service dogs don’t come cheap! The average price – from 20,000 - $60,000. Why so much? Because of all the training they need. A service dog needs to know what to do, whether it’s assisting someone who’s blind or someone who has seizures. The dog has to perform every single time. He has to do his job.
​
Imagine if you’re blind and your dog stops guiding you in the middle of a street. If you have seizures, a dog can warn you ahead of time so that you can get yourself into a safe position. Can you imagine how much better a dog could make your life? It’d be miraculous! But there are more costs involved, and you need to make sure you can take care of your dog and keep it safe and healthy!
​

​1. Dog Food – The cost per year – about $400, depending on the brand you buy. My Leia only got dry dog food, but we were an Iams family, because that’s what our breeder recommended. When she got older, and pickier, we probably paid more for her dogfood, but we never bought the canned or refrigerated stuff. That was too expensive!
​

​2. The Veterinarian – Average vet care per year is about $260. That’s for both regular and emergency cases. Our dog had yearly checkups, shots, and medicine. We did have one emergency – she dragged some chicken bones out of the trash and tried to eat them. Oh my! I have never seen anyone or anything in so much pain! We took her into a doggy emergency room. I didn’t know there was one! They gave her something to help her pass the chips. She was better than ever! She lived to be 15, which is a really old age for a dog.
​

​3. Health Insurance – If I had a dog worth $20,000, I would definitely get it health insurance. My granddog has it. My daughter says it’s a lot like human insurance.
I also wondered if it worked like cars do – if your dog died, would it help you buy another service dog?  I don’t know! I couldn’t google the answer.
​

​

​4. Heartworm protection – I did this for my dog. I don’t remember how often, but the link price was about $120 a year. Cheap compared to having your dog die because of worms. Yuck!  What an awful way to go!


​
​

5. Flea and Tick protection – I did this for my Leia. $200 or whatever I paid was a small price to keep her safe. Fleas are insects that live on dogs. They bite and make them itch. Ticks bite dogs too, but they stay attached so they can live off the dog’s blood. Yuck!
​
Even worse, fleas and ticks can also leave pets to come live on you. They carry diseases that can make you or your pet sick. That’s another reason it’s important to protect your pet from these tiny insects!
​
​

6. Toys and Treats – Dogs need to have fun, just like you and me. $75 is a small price to pay to keep you and your service dog safe and happy.

The grand total, to take care of your service dog, is $1280 per year. No wonder my husband doesn’t want me to have a dog. That’s half the reason why. The other half - a pet’s like having a kid. You have to take care of it. You don’t just leave it home alone.


​

​Part 2 – The Steps to Finding Your Dog – Now that you’ve decided a Service Dog is in your future, there are a couple steps to take ahead of time before you pick your dog.

​

​Step 1 – Find the Program that Matches You: One kind of program helps veterans who served our country. They train dogs to meet the needs of soldiers whose service left them scarred.

Another program is for people with autism. They have trouble with social, emotional, and communication skills. Dogs help them too.

There are still other programs for people with physical disabilities. Moving, seeing, or certain health problems are difficult. There are dogs for them too.

Children can have autism or physical disabilities too, and there are dogs who are trained just for them, not for grown-ups.Bankrate.com has links for each program.

​Theirs again: https://www.bankrate.com/personal-finance/how-to-afford-a-service-dog/
​

​Step 2 – Determine Your Eligibility: Did you know you have to qualify for a program? Your level of severity (difficulty) has to be high enough. Did you know some breeds fit some medical conditions better than others? People who train service dogs want to make sure they find the best match for you, and for their dog.
​
Knowing your program can help you decide if you’re a good fit. Your doctor can help you and answer questions along the way.

When you’re doing your search, make sure that the program fits ADI standards (Assistance Dogs International). You want to make sure you get a dog who has the skills you need, not a fake.    
​​

Step 3 – Gather Supplies: Not sure what to get? Ask the people who are training your dog. They should have a supply list. My breeder did. She wanted to make sure her dog went to a good home.

Don’t wait until your dog arrives! Doing a little bit at a time spreads the cost, and the joy. You’ll need things like toys and bowls and medication. Some things like dog food can wait until the very end.

Another question to think about – do you want a service dog certificate, and can they get you one? If you travel, a paper might offer proof, and make your trip easier.
​

​Part 3 – Financial Considerations – This is where the rubber meets the road. You know what your dog will cost. Now – to find the money! How? Here are some options for you.

​I wrote a couple grants to get money for science equipment for my second graders when I was still teaching. It was WORK! I researched my topic, the equipment I wanted, and the experiments the kids would do. It was a LOT of work! And I didn’t know until a month later if it would pay off. It did! Twice!
​
Click on the Bankrate.com link again to find their grant information. https://www.bankrate.com/personal-finance/how-to-afford-a-service-dog/
​

​3. FSA Accounts – Huh? What’s that? I had to look it up. FSA stands for Flexible Spending Account. A lot of people have this as part of their regular insurance coverage. That means X dollars come out of your check every time you’re paid, and it goes into a special account. It’s still your money, but it can only be spent on medical care.

​The big advantage – you can’t be taxed on that money. If the government takes out 10% from your paycheck, you get to save that money in your account. If you have $100, you save $10. You’ll get a little interest, but the big advantage is that you get $100 in your account, not $90. Over a year, that’s an extra $120 for your medical care. That’s a great thing!
​

​​5. Other Financial Considerations – Bankrate.com had 8 tips to consider, but I picked out three. #1. If you can’t get full assistance, buy your own dog, and find an independent trainer who’s certified. It’s a lot cheaper! #2. Some dog food and vets will give you a discount if you have a service dog. #3. If you need financial aid, try places like the Humane Society. They might be able to help.

Want to read the other five? Click on bankrate.com!
​

​ 6. The Bottom Line – Service dogs are expensive, BUT you’ll get a lot out of them. You’ll have a friend for life, and that life will be easier and better. Close your eyes and imagine trying to get around your house without help. No peeking! Then imagine having a dog to guide you. A dog would be priceless!

Part 2 – Cheers!
Have you seen the new Applebee’s ads that use old TV theme songs? 
​Last night I wrote about ‘Welcome Back.’ 
Tonight, “Cheers – Where Everybody knows your name.”
​

​The picture to the left shows the cast for seasons 1 -3: At the top – Shelley Long and Ted Danson. Rhea Perlman, and Nicholas Colasanto are in the middle. George Wendt and John Ratzenberger finish out the bottom row.
​

The one on the right is the cast starting in season 6. Starting at the top, from left to right, are Rhea Perlman, Woody Harrelson, Kelsey Grammer, and Bebe Neuwirth. The bottom row includes George Wendt, Kirstie Alley, Ted Danson, and John Ratzenberger.
​
The show started in 1982 when I was a brand-new teacher, and it ended in 1993. By then I had been teaching for 11 years. I was also married and had 3 kids – 6, 4, and 1. Life was busy, but the theme song stuck with me, all these years later. It reminds me of my life as a young adult. Cheers!

The Cheers theme song ‘Where Everybody Knows Your Name’ only reached #83 on Billboard’s top 100, not #1, like Welcome Back. But, ‘Name’ still has a great back story, and here it is . . . 
​

​In the spring of 1982, the producers of Cheers, Glen and Les Charles, heard a song they loved, but it was already legally tied to a musical. The brothers asked the songwriting team to try writing another, just for Cheers. They tried two different songs . . . but Gary Poytnoy and Judy Hart Angelo failed, but they didn’t give up. Their 4th try succeeded, and the rest is history!
​

Would you like to hear the Cheers theme song? Click on this link for Applebee’s:  2021 Applebee’s Commercial Songs – TV Advert Music

​Find the image to the left. Click the one that says ‘Cheers’ and you’ll hear the original theme song. Now, let’s do lunch at Applebee’s!
 
​

Photo Sources:
- Restaurant image - By Michael Rivera - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0,https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=40559229
​
- Cheers logo - By Source, Fair use,
https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3372212
​

- Original cast - By Paramount Pictures - Original publication: Published to print sources in 1983 Immediate source: http://www.ebay.com/itm/CHEERS-ORIGINAL-TV-PHOTO-CAST-PORTRAIT-1983-/110717709523pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19c74a2cd3, Fair use,
https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=40960975
​
- 2nd cast picture - By NBC / Paramount Television - Original publication: Non-primary media in circa 1991Immediate http://screencrave.com/2011-05-16/tvs-best-series-finales-comedy/, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=36031890

​Information Source:
- Cheers - Wikipedia
- Where Everybody Knows Your Name - Wikipedia
- 2021 Applebee’s Commercial Songs – TV Advert Music

​                      Part 1 -  Welcome Back
Have you seen the new Applebee’s ads? They’re using two old TV theme songs to invite people back to their restaurants. I almost wrote about one of them last fall, but the ad stopped, and I forgot about it.
​
​Now it’s back! And I’m glad! I get to hear the song again, and it makes me want to go back to Applebee’s!
​

This is a shot of the cast of Welcome Back, Kotter from a DVD cover. The show ran on TV from 1975 to 1979. That was my last 2 years of high school and my first 2 years of college. I loved it, and so did my friends and family!  

The show was about a teacher who returned home to his old high school, the one he’d left behind for better things. He came back to take on the kids who were expected to fail. The show struck a chord across the country.
​
Meet the characters from the top – Juan Epstein, Mr. Woodman (the principal), and Arnold Horshack. In the middle are Julie and Gabe Kotter (the teacher and his wife). Vinnie Barbarino and Freddie ‘Boom Boom’ Washington are at the bottom. Epstein, Horshack, Barbarino, and Boom Boom were the students, and they were as interesting as their names.
​

Meet John Sebastian! In the 60’s he was the lead singer of the Lovin’ Spoonful. My favorite song – “Do You Believe in Magic.” The Kotter producers wanted a theme song like that, so he hired John.

I have loved “Welcome Back” since I heard it in 1975, but I didn’t know the story behind it. John tried using the main character’s name in the lyrics, but nothing rhymed with Kotter.

When you hit a wall, try something new. That’s what John did! He turned to the theme – leaving to find your dreams, returning home, and trying to do something good.
​

It worked! The producers even changed the show’s name to Welcome Back. They added Kotter to the end.

John only wrote one verse for the series, but the song became such a hit that he came up with a second verse and a harmonica solo. It sold over a million copies and hit #1 on Billboard’s Top 100.

Now 44 years later, his song is still earning him money. A songwriter gets paid whenever a business uses it in their commercials. Welcome Back, John!
​
If you’d like to hear it, click on my search link and pick the version you want:
                              welcome back kotter theme song - Bing
Want to see John today? Click on this link to his website:
                            John Sebastian (johnbsebastian.com)
​

Photo Sources:
- Restaurant image - By Michael Rivera - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=40559229
​
- Cast from Welcome Back, Kotter – Source: Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2221632
​
- John Sebastian - By Reprise Records - Discogs, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=64534344

 
Information Source:
- Welcome Back, Kotter - Wikipedia
- Welcome Back (John Sebastian song) - Wikipedia
​

Amazon’s Descriptions:
Branwell D’Angelo . . . Six years ago, I fell in love with Lucy—my brother’s girlfriend. Stupid of me, I know, but sometimes the heart doesn’t listen to reason.

Six years, I’ve lived on the sidelines. Seeing him love her, be with her, bask in her sunshine . . . I watched her break his heart and then cleaned up the shattered pieces of him she left behind.
​
She’s the one woman I can’t have but still the only one my soul wants. Now she’s back in our lives and needs the unique help only us D’Angelos can give. My brother’s not emotionally strong enough to face her. So he’s sending me instead . . .

When tragedy strikes Lucy Snow on a visit to Italy, she can’t bring herself to call any of the D’Angelo brothers for help. There are consequences for falling in love with your ex-boyfriend’s brother. But Lucy desperately needs Branwell’s paranormal skills and his gift of Sight. And if seeing him will negate at least three years of therapy? Well, it’s a price she is willing to pay.

Thrown together in a desperate bid to save an innocent life, Branwell and Lucy struggle against their shared past, only to realize that something even more dangerous is reaching through the weight of time to stalk their every move . . .

Part 1 – A Refrigerator Update:  I’ve always loved magnets and refrigerators. I wrote about it back on February 10, 2020. That’s when we welcomed our grandgirl, GG, to the refrigerator.

                                         Here’s the link if you want to travel back to that 2020 post . . .
                                    http://www.rindabeach.com/blog/gg-welcome-to-the-refrigerator

The whole refrigerator is on the left. GG, her mom, and dad are on the top left corner. Look to the right, and you’ll see a close up of their magnets, but things have changed a little, since 2020.
​
​

Part 2 – Who’s New on the Refrigerator?
If you compare the two refrigerators, the names have moved! Once or twice a year, someone decides there’s a better way to set them up.

Look at the new refrigerator on the left. Here’s what changed . . . GG disappeared. Don’t worry! It was on the side of the fridge. Someone moved my parents’ names in. It works!

I bought a set of them with different animals when she left Wapak, and I only gave 2 away. You have to be special to get one of Rochelle’s cards! 

I wrote 2 posts about her. Their dates and links are below:
7/31/17   Rinda Beach - Blog - Rinda Beach                               1/18/19        Rinda Beach - Blog - Rinda Beach
​

​The next four pictures were posted on June 5th. There’s one thing that tempts me to shop.
​Can you find it?

​It’s in the first picture, beside the white highchair, which doesn’t tempt me at all! It’s the window frame with at least 6 panes, with red tulips growing out of each one.

This is the header to Rochelle’s second Facebook page, her pet painting business.
Here’s the link: Rovals Pets In Paint | Facebook
​

​These are some of Rochelle’s pets in paints. I picked the first one to show how realistic her pets can be. The ostrich’s here because I love its color. The ones below show her artistic range. I wish I could have her do my Leia, but I know my husband would say NO! Probably because Leia and I did a photo shoot before she died.
​

​Can you match a word with its picture? I picked unusual words that I didn’t know. I wanted to learn something new. I hope you do too! The only one I can pronounce – Fipple! Good Luck!

Your Words:                     Cachinnate                     Schadenfreude                     Synecdoche                    Fipple

​Any idea which word matches which picture?
 Cachinnate?   Schadenfreude?   Synecdoche?   Fipple?
 No idea? Here are their definitions . . .

Synecdoche – a figure of speech in which a part is used for the whole or the whole for a part, the special for the general or the general for the special, as in Texas won by six runs (meaning “Texas's baseball team”).

​​​Cachinnate - to laugh loudly or immoderately.

​Fipple - a plug stopping the upper end of a pipe, as a recorder or a whistle, and having a narrow slit through which the player blows

​​Schadenfreude – satisfaction or pleasure felt at someone else's misfortune

And the answers are . . .

How did you do? My guess is that cachinnate and schadenfreude were tricky. They’re kind of alike, but misfortune in the definition helped me find the right picture. I hoped it helped you too!
​

Synecdoche [ si-nek-duh-kee ]
 
how do you pronounce synecdoche - Bing

​Schadenfreude [ shahd-n-froi-duh ]     
 
how do you pronounce schadenfreude - Bing
​

​                                             Part 3 – Where in the World Did These Words Come From?
 
Each word came from a different spot on the globe. Find each one. Then guess which word originated there.

1. Icelandic from Iceland – Pink country. It’s farthest to the Northwest, at the top of the map.                       

 

1. German from Germany – Green country in Northern Europe.

 

1. Latin from Italy (Rome) – Orange country that’s south of Germany. It’s shaped like a boot. Really!

 

1. Greek from Greece – Pink country east of Italy.

 
Your Words –                 Cachinnate                Schadenfreude                Synecdoche               Fipple 

       Latin from Italy           Greek from Greece         German from Germany        Icelandic from Iceland

​Schadenfreude (schoolofwordplay.com)
 
Fipple (schoolofwordplay.com)
 
Synecdoche (schoolofwordplay.com)
 
Cachinnate (schoolofwordplay.com)
 

 Started 5/25                                                                    Finished 6/4
Look at the book below. It's by Nichole Van. It's my favorite series, AND, my favorite book. The voice, and the writing, they’re so sharp!
​
Read the first 3 lines of Amazon’s description. They’ll help you decide if you want to read this romcom. PLUS it blends reincarnation, fantasy, and gypsies into the mix. I couldn’t ask for anything more, except for time to finish reading this book. Then the next 3 books in the series!              

PS – The chapters go back and forth with Dante and Claire taking turns telling their story.       ​

                                Amazon’s Descriptions:
An ancient curse, fractured at the birth of three brothers. Two strangers helplessly drawn to each other. A love story two hundred years in the making.

Claire Raythorn arrives in Florence, Italy, shattered, alone, and anxious to rebuild her life—preferably one without men. But she soon finds herself hunted and haunted— literally—when a mysterious stalker dressed like Mr. Darcy from BBC central casting appears in her photos. And only her photos. Who is this man? And what does his ghostly presence mean?

Dante D’Angelo simply wants to safeguard his brothers, despite the family curse that hounds his vision. But then Claire Raythorn walks into his life, untouched somehow by his curse. Soon, everything Dante thought he knew about himself starts to unravel, dragging Claire down with him. 

Set against the lush backdrop of Florence, Italy—both past and present—Claire and Dante fight for a future together. But, first, they must uncover their shared past . . .

Started 5/16                                                              Finished 5/24
Tonight I have two books (below) to share from one of my favorite authors, Nicole Van. Her writing is sharp and funny, like Julia Quinn, but she keeps the bedroom doors closed in her novels.

This is my third Nicole Van series – The Brotherhood of the Black Tartan. I’ve read Books 1, 2, and 3 now, and I realized that Book 1 in each series has her sharpest, funniest writing. Maybe that’s because she’s starting off fresh with a new set of characters, a new plot. That’s true for movies too – the first one is always the best!

Nicole writes novels that are based on history. I always read her author’s notes at the end of the book. That’s where she tells you the real historical facts and where she’s twisted them to fit her plot. In Book 3 she used 1816’s year without a summer. Mt. Tambora erupted in April 1815. The ash in the atmosphere resulted in less sunshine, food shortages, and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. That’s just one of the historical strands she wove into this book.
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PS – I already preordered Book 5, the end of the series. I usually don’t, but I HAVE to know how this story ends.

Started 5/20                                                                  Finished 5/24
Amazon’s Descriptions:
Lady Charlotte Whitaker is devoted to her family, particularly her sister’s son, Freddie. Her late father, the Marquess of Lockheade, died without a male heir. But on his deathbed, her father requested that Freddie inherit the title. Consequently, Lottie’s family has petitioned the Crown to recreate the title with Freddie as the new heir. Lottie wants nothing more than to honor her late father’s wishes. But she unwittingly reveals a wrinkle to this plan.

Dr. Alexander Whitaker is dedicated to his work as a physician in Edinburgh, Scotland. He dislikes surprises—disruptions to his daily schedule, interferences with his ability to care for his patients, and events that might alter his future. He particularly abhors things that threaten to do all three. So when a solicitor calls with news that Alex might be heir to an English marquisate, Alex wants nothing to do with the claim. But the law is the law, and a man cannot revoke his lineage, can he?

Alex does not want to be the new marquess. Lottie is determined to honor her late father’s wishes.  Their goals should be simple enough to accomplish, right?

But when two kindred souls crash into one another, the resulting conflagration may have consequences neither can anticipate. And Lottie and Alex soon face a difficult truth—sometimes, life makes us choose between two loves, and in order to have one, we must forsake the other.

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​ Started 5/16                                                                   Finished 5/19
Amazon’s Descriptions:
Ewan Campbell fought to free himself from his past. Quite literally. A former prizefighter, he now earns his living as an artist. But Ewan still fights more figurative opponents—dark memories that threaten to overwhelm him. Worse, when he is hired to assist a famous painter, Ewan finds himself falling for the man’s highborn niece, Lady Kildrum. Such feelings are pointless. Countesses do not fall in love with impoverished Highlanders, no matter what fairy tales say.

Violet Kerr, Lady Kildrum, struggles to make decisions. She is a countess in her own right, for heaven’s sake. Decision-making skills should flow through her blood. After all, her life’s path is clear—marry a nobleman, provide for her sisters, and see to the welfare of her tenants.

Though Violet has made one decision— She must curb her attraction to Ewan Campbell, her uncle’s new art assistant. The lowly Highlander, no matter how alluring, is not a proper suitor for a countess. She definitely should not fantasize about the man. Or, if she does, she should not allow such fantasies to lead to very real kissing. Because kissing could bring on the most difficult decision of all— What happens if Violet chooses to fall in love with the one man she can never have?
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Started 5/2/21                                                      Finished 5/15/21
I bought all three titles as paperbacks back in 2000. If I love a book, I’ll read it repeatedly, and that’s what I did with the Bridgertons.  I ran across them on Netflix. The books are WAY better than the series so I bought it, again, for my Kindle.

Warning -  I’m usually a PG13 reader, but this isn’t it. When I get to bedroom  pages, I read the last sentence on each page until the scene’s over.

I came back to this collection after all these years because of the writing. Julia Quinn is incredible! My favorite character is Lady Whistledown, but I love the voice of each and every character. They’re so succinct and well done. But most of all, her writing makes me laugh, which is the sign of an incredible writer. I’m flying through this series . . . I’m on the 2nd book – The Viscount Who Loved Me. Julia’s books are Romcom at its best!

​​Amazon’s Description: The Duke and I
When Daphne Bridgerton and Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings, agree to a fake courtship, they think they’ve found the perfect solution to their problems. Romantically associated with one of London’s most desirable catches, Daphne’s prospects among the ton will soar. For avowed bachelor Simon, an attachment to Daphne will deter would-be brides and their ambitious mamas. Their plan works like a charm—at first. But amid the glittering, gossipy, cut-throat world of London’s elite, there is only one certainty: love ignores every rule. . . 
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The Viscount Who Loved Me
London's most elusive bachelor, Anthony Bridgerton is determined to wed. But one obstacle stands in his way—his intended's older sister, Kate Sheffield, who is driving Anthony mad with her determination to stop the betrothal. Kate is quite sure that reformed rakes do not make the best husbands, and Anthony Bridgerton is the most wicked rogue of them all. She’s determined to protect her sister—even as she fears she may not be able to resist the reprehensible and oh so desirable rake herself . . .
 
An Offer from a Gentleman
Sophie Beckett never dreamed she'd be able to sneak into Lady Bridgerton's famed masquerade ball—or that she would be spinning in the arms of her "Prince Charming"—the debonair and devastatingly handsome Benedict Bridgerton. But when the clock strikes midnight, Sophie’s enchanting evening ends. Since that night Benedict has been able to think of nothing but the bewitching young woman, and he’s sworn to find and wed his mystery miss. Yet will another unexpectedly steal his heart—and his chance for a fairy tale love?