The One by John Marrs

Hello everyone. Hope it's been a good day so far.

Do you have some great story about how you met your spouse? Was it super romantic, like something out of a movie?  I met my husband in college. We met in.....ready....ready...in cost accounting class.  Ooooo, sexy. Nothing will make you swoon like debits and credits. Nothing says love like "cost of goods sold". I tease, but am grateful that for whatever reason we were brought together and have been together for decades. What if something had changed?  What if we weren't both in that class, or were in a different school? Would there have been someone else?  Are we destined to have a soulmate or are you compatible with many people?

I recently read, The One by John Marrs. This thriller addresses the issue of a soulmate. A piece of dna has been discovered that can be matched to the person you were meant to be with. It discusses the trouble that match would cause if you were already married to someone else, someone you loved but they weren't The One. Or what if the one was the same sex, but you were heterosexual? What if your match is a horrible person or just lives on the other side of the planet?  This story follows several people and asks some of these questions and more. With each new and old couple we see how this match can ruin their past or possibly make a delightful future. It is well written, fast paced and will sending you thinking of things you've never considered. What would you do? 

For me, I'd kick hubby to the curb in a second. Just kidding, I guess. (Gotta keep him in line in case he reads this.)

Goodnight Beautiful by Aimee Molloy

Hello everyone. I hope you're having a nice holiday season.

Ever think things are one way but they're actually another?  I'm a fairly good cook and baker, as far as home cooks go.  I usually approach any recipe with confidence. If someone else has made it, certainly I can.  During the last two weeks all I cook or bake turns to to....um...what's a polite way to say it....garbage...but think profanity because that's what I really mean!  I expected a great outcome and was shocked by what I received.

I recently read Goodnight Beautiful by Aimee Molloy. This book is full of thinking you're getting one thing but you're actually receiving something totally different. In this thriller, Sam and Annie are newlyweds who have moved to his hometown, setting up his new practice as a psychotherapist. What Sam doesn't know is that the sessions in his home office can be heard upstairs through a vent. Now, as always, I don't want to tell you much and give any of the fun away.  However, I have to tell you that this book made me crazy, in a good way!  There were multiple twists so simple and obvious that sent me flipping back through the book. How could I have overlooked it? The book is written like a magic trick, directing your attention here, while you miss something over there. It was very enjoyable.  

After I read this, I was in the hunt for other readers that had finished this book.  Had they missed the same things I had? Yes.  Will you?

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

Hello everyone. I hope you're having a good day.

Do you do goofy stuff to brighten the day? When we were dating my husband used to talk with Mickey Mouse's voice.  My sisters and I text movie lines back and forth, I'll tell you my favorite but if you're easily offended or underage please don't read the next line. "He would have an enormous svanschtooker." "That goes without saying." "He's going to be very popular."  Know what movie it's from?  Just like with the triplets, I'll have to disown you if you don't.  It's from Young Frankenstein. My dad always liked "Stay close to the candles, the staircase can be treacherous."  Also from Young Frankenstein, funny because the candles are unlit.  

I don't want to talk about politics on my blog, but here in the USA it's a mess.  To you around the world, please remember that Americans are different than the government. Also, the virus is spreading like crazy here. A little while ago, the daily amount of people in my state diagnosed with Covid in one day was around 2,000...a horrific number. Today, it was almost 7,500. Absolutely terrifying.  My point in discussing goofy stuff and horrible stuff is that during this difficult time we need as much foolishness as we can get or the bad stuff is overwhelming.

I recently read Anxious People by Fredrik Backman. This is the author who has written several best selling books, including A Man Called Ove.  In this novel, a bank robber needs somewhere to go after making their escape. They run into an apartment building, to a unit that is for sale and at the time is having an open house. All the potential home buyers become the robber's hostages. Obviously the robber has issues and secrets but so do the buyers. The characters are very well developed and the reader comes to care for each of them. The story is interesting, sweet and at times will have you thinking twice about several issues. Most importantly this book is funny. Laugh out loud funny, read pages to others funny. Exactly what the world needs right now. You will not be disappointed with Anxious People, it just may help you find your smile.

Anxious People would make a great gift.

What Lies Between Us by John Marrs

Hello everyone. I hope you and your loved ones are all well.

Have you ever done anything to a family member that perhaps wasn't so nice?  When we were kids, I was fighting over a hula hoop with one of my sisters.  We were each pulling on the opposite side of it, probably rendering it more of a hula oval. Since my sister refused to let go, I did, on purpose. My sister went flying backwards and cut her chin on a metal cabinet (we were in the garage). In fact, she had to have several stitches.  Today, she is a married woman with two children and she still will not let me forget our struggle. In my defense, let me veer a bit off topic and tell you about what kind of a kid she was. When we were on a long car trip, we would define our space in the back seat by ridges stitched into the upholstery.  One time the windows were open, the same sister complained to my mother, that my hair blew into her "airspace". Yes, you read that correctly, apparently, my then eight year old sister thought she was NASA....I invaded her airspace.  Okay, now rethink the hula hoop ordeal, see I'm not the only bratty kid!  We all hurt the people we love. Hopefully it's by accident, but sometimes it is on purpose.

I recently read What Lies Between Us by John Marrs. If you haven't read anything by Mr. Marrs you are missing out. I've read and enjoyed three of his books. This is the story of a mother and daughter. Sounds like it might be sweet and uplifting. It isn't, instead it's dark, twisty and has that wonderful thriller tension. Maggie, the mother, doesn't spend her days vacuuming with pearls on while a pot roast cooks for dinner. Nope, Maggie spends her days locked in the attic, beyond locked she is chained.  Her daughter, Nina, is the person imposing the odd imprisonment. The book surrounds discovering why this odd duo behaves as they do and if it will ever change.  It is a quick, page turning and enjoyable read.  You'll never look at your family in the same way.

Christmas is coming, I wonder if Amazon has hula hoops.