Bebe Rachel's Whimsy and Reviews

Well, I am away in Miami with no laptop, so this will be more abbreviated than usual as I am composing this on my phone. Since, however, I am almost finished with the 2nd book in the series I wanted to get this one done. I really loved this book. At first I was thinking, this is total fluff, and I was not sure what to make of Piper - our leading lady… I mean is there a character I could identify with less?? Rich, privileged, party girl and influencer…. But as I went further, there is more to her than the surface and without any spoilers this is as much about “there is a real person beneath the superficial” story as it is about the romance and meet-cute. Now let me say as well this was extra extra spicy. As in, I was almost embarrassed to be reading it level of sexual encounters - I am looking at you, chapter 16 - and there are many of these encounters in this book. So know that going in. As I said, about halfway through it gets real about pretty people are real people too and there wer

  From a random one-night stand develops this tale of two people who may not have been equipped for commitment and love, literally stranded together on a remote film location. Once again, Olivia Dade has captivated me with characters that struggle in some of the very ways an average reader could easily identify with. I love a book with diversity for the sake of how it is reflective of real life rather than just for its own sake. I may not have the same life experience as these characters but I love how “seen” Ms. Dade’s books make me feel. The spice level is high - so note that in case it is not your taste. (I am referring to graphic sexual descriptions just to be clear.) I loved this book, could not put it down - literally had the audible in my ear buds and the paperback in my purse. I cannot wait to see where this writer takes me next. 

 “In a peaceful retirement village, four unlikely friends meet weekly…to discuss unsolved crimes.”  This was a delightfully different mystery about a band of senior citizens that take it upon themselves to solve a murder (or a few actually). Armed with a variety of skills born from their previous professions and extensive life experience, they forge an unlikely crime fighting team.  This mystery was not the usually Scandinavian noir that I have come to prefer, but I had heard so much about this book and was intrigued by the author’s choice to use retirees as lead characters, that I felt I had to pick this one up. I really enjoyed reading this book. The characters were quite comical - particularly a scene in which the Thursday Murder Club, as they call themselves, entrap a local police detective into becoming their reluctant champion by using his English politeness against him.  There are other, more sobering moments as well, when the Club members face life’s very real lessons in mortal

 Okay, so to say I am changing it up in the new year would be an understatement I suppose. First, a confession. I had started this book when it was given to me as a gift by my supervisor/friend, years ago. But I had a really hard time with it. Primarily because of this truism about me: I try not to over-indulge in reality. And there is an abundance of real talk in this book. I mean, the entire beginning is a devotion to establishing that not only are we all subject to leave this earth one way or another (as in, we are all going to die), but clarifying all the ways that getting old is hard work and a harrowing prospect in the best of circumstances. I faced the usual obstacles: I really admire my friend and so I want to want to read this. Not to mention, as a medical provider that works in the field of hospital based adult internal medicine, I felt a sense of obligation to read it as well. But if the admiration of others and a sense of obligation were enough, I would have been a much bet