Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man) by Jesse Q. Sutanto ~ Book Review

Since solving the murder of the man that turned up dead in her teahouse, Vera Wong's life as been pretty good.  She is no longer a lonely 60 something year old.  Her teashop has been busy from the notoriety, she has found family who she dearly loves and they love her, her relationship with her son has deepened and he has a girlfriend!   Her life is busy but solving that murder has started something in her that she wants more of.   But then Vera is scammed over the phone and while at the police station, she comes across a distressed young girl.  Vera knows she was put in the right place at the right time.  Befriending the young girl named Millie, in her charming Chinese grandmother way, Vera is able to draw out of Millie that she is looking for a missing friend.  And again, when she is snooping where she shouldn't be, Vera discovers that the recent death, deemed a suicide, of a handsome, young social media influencer is actually the the friend that Millie is looking for.  But things don't add up as the influencer known as Xander Lin isn't actually who he said he was and police can't seem to figure out who he really is.  As Vera's sluething kicks into high gear,  once again she puts herself into precarious situations stumbling upon more than she, or anyone else, bargained for.

Book 2 in the Vera Wong series didn't disappoint.  It was a fun ride as Vera digs up way more than she should and in typical fashion bulldozes ahead in spite of the danger she is bringing upon herself.  I love the character of Vera.  She's bold and brash, yet her maternal side rises to the surface with the people who come across her path making for some hilarious moments. Her Chinese upbringing and culture causes her to view life with a very set pair of eyes clashing with the American lifestyle and along with her misuse of American verbiage always had me laughing out loud throughout the book.  As things are revealed there is a very serious topic that the author does shed light on.  It was inspired by a true story involving her mother being scammed and what they learned from the police as they filed the report.  Going into the police station filled with rage at what happened to her mom, she came out with a very different heart and a desire to research these scammers.   What she learned became the story of of Xander Lin and other characters of this book. 

I rated this a 10/10

A Woman Who Trusts God - Finding the Peace you Long For by Debbie Alsdorf ~ Book Review

Do you have insecurity, fear or anxiety? Do you, like me, tend to overthink and replay things over and over in your mind resulting in no peace?  Has life been hitting hard causing discouragement or lose of hope?  Do you want to grow in your trust of God in your day to day life.  Then Debbie Alsdorf invites you on this journey through the book of Philippians with her in doing just that.  This book came into my life when I really needed it.  I meant to read it last year when  my word for the year was Trust but never got around to it so made it a priority this year.  I really liked it.  It's set up so you can do it as a daily devotional or you can really take your time with it, which is what I did.  The author leads you on a journey of learning to trust God in the "meantime place", that place between "a problem recognized and a solution realized."  (pg. 18).  That place between the onset of the life challenge and the answered prayer where each believer finds themselves at some point in their everyday walk with the Lord.  Each chapter starts with a scripture, then  builds upon it with real life examples, more scripture and solid teaching encouraging the reader to spend time with the truths in God's word, even if they are challenging.  Each chapter ends with with the questions "I am learning..." and "God is requiring me to..." with space to write, encouraging the reader to reflect, make personal and give practical application to what they just read.  And then it ends with a prayer.  I found it encouraging and uplifting with practical ways to turn to God in all circumstances, rejoicing while handing my worries to God and living one day at a time in the peace that only comes from Him.  Great to do on your own or to do as a group study as it would foster good conversation.

Rated it a 10/10

Friday's Fave Five #852

Welcome to Friday's Fave Five.  It's been a busy week here at Living to Tell.  I apologize for not getting around to comment on last weeks posts as of yet but I've been taking online courses for a volunteer position and I needed to get that done.  But it's a new week and taking this pause is much needed.  Please join us as we intentionally look for blessings God gives in our ordinary days.

~ lunch with friends ~  Saturday we had lunch with friends we have not seen in awhile.  It was fun catching up with them and hearing all about their European cruise vacation.  They brought me a gift they knew my Hungarian heart, and tastes, would love: a cute pair of bags containing authentic Hungarian sweet and hot Paprika.  

~ library time ~ Sunday found me at the library returning the books that were due.  I love the library and it is a place to destress for me as I browse all the racks of books, both old and new.  Though I didn't let myself take any out this time, I've got way too many of my own at home to read right now, it was still fun to see what was new and add to my want to read list.

~ surprise visit ~ the other night, as Hubby and I were watching tv, we heard a very quiet tap and looked up to see a face pressed against our living room window.  It was our son, the paramedic,  stopping in for a quick hello after doing an ambulance transfer from his city to ours.  That kid always did get his jollies from giving his mother a fright.  Some things just never change no matter how old they get.  But I'm so thankful he takes that minute to stop by and see us, though I'm sure the neighbors wonder why an ambulance is at our house again.  

~ excellent service ~ last Friday, we celebrated our brother in law's birthday.  As is our tradition, the four of us went out for dinner at a restaurant of the birthday person's choice.  The meal was excellent as usual, but the server we had went above and beyond.  She was excellent and really made the night extra special.  

~ Taber corn ~ In Southern Alberta, August means it's Taber corn season.  And it hasn't disappointed!  It is the best corn around and we've been enjoying it often as we know the season will soon end.  Nothing like fresh corn picked that day, served hot with a good dose of butter and salt.  I know.  Not the healthiest veg, but when you're from around here you just kind of forget about that in corn season.   

What are your favorite blessings from the last week?

Friday's Fave Five #851

Happy Friday, everyone!  Welcome to Friday's Fave Five.  Hope you all had a lovely week.  But whether it was fantastic or had some struggles I am so glad you have joined us at Friday's Fave Five where we make it a practice to pause and look for the blessings God has gifted us with over the last week.  If we can make it a habit not matter what kind of a week we have, it will be easier to default to a grateful attitude and life.  In hard times, the intentionality of taking note of what is a good blessing will help get us through and in good times the reminder to be grateful for the good things in the week keeps us centered.  Please join in with us, we're always excited to see someone new join our community.

~ slower paced days ~ this week has been a bit slower paced both with work and with home.  I've really been grateful for that. At work with the kids we've had fun with lots of water play, time at the playground, and doing some fun crafts.  Home has a bit more leisurely paced too without too many obligations.  I'll take it.

~ vanilla slice ~  One of my favorite desserts.  I haven't had one in years but this last week I broke down and asked hubby to get me one when he was near a bakery that I knew made good ones.  Enjoyed every single bite.  And now it will probably be a few years before I have another.  They're nostalgic for me as it was a treat we'd get when I was young whenever we ordered KFC (then known as Kentucky Fried Chicken).  Back in the day eating out or ordering in wasn't a regular occurence in our family or any families I knew, it was a special thing.  The local Kentucky Fried was owned by a family who also owned a bakery that made the best sweets both housed in the same place and both me and my sis would get to pick one dessert.  For me it was always a vanilla slice.  I thought I'd won the dessert lottery whenever I got one.

Updated to add:  I'm being asked what a vanilla slice is.  It is two layers of puff pastry with a thick layer of vanilla custard and whipped cream.  The best bakeries also put a line of raspberry preserve in the center.  The top has an thin icing made of icing sugar, milk and vanilla.  Some bakeries might just dust the top with icing sugar but I've never seen that in these parts it's always pink icing here.  

~ lunch treat ~ Hubby was doing an order pick up at a business that has the best lunch cafeteria for their employees and he came home with some lunch for us.  Though it said chicken tacos on the top it was really more of a Thai flavor combo.  Little mini naan breads with thai type noodles, lettuce, tomatoes, and loads of shredded chicken with a peanut sauce to drizzle on top.  It was different and very good. 

~ tea with a friend ~ Monday I had tea and reconnected with a friend.  It was so nice catching up on what's been going on in our lives over the last couple of months.  It's so easy to lose touch with those people we don't see on a regular basis and I'm blessed that both of us make that effort so that it doesn't happen.  

~ haircut and foils ~ I don't know about anyone else with shorter hair but I find that my hair is great for about 4 weeks and then all of a sudden overnight my hair gets a mind of it's own but it's still about 2 weeks from the next cut.  Well it was time for not only a cut but to get the color foils redone.    One day after I retire the coloring will quit but for now I'm blessed to have a stylist who really knows what she's doing and what I like.  

That rounds out my week.  How about you?  What blessings did you have in your week?

 

A Great Country by Shipi Somaya Gowda ~ Book Review

Priya and Ashok Shah were young newlyweds when they moved to America to follow their dreams.  Ashok has worked hard to provide for his family while Priya raised their young family.  Now they have the opportunity to reach a new plateau on the life they've been working so hard for when they move to the upper class gated community of Pacific Hills, California.  Their three children have mixed feelings about the move.  Deepa, their oldest daughter is angry and resentful about the move and having to leave her friends, school and community and she's not afraid to let her parents know it.  Maya, the middle child, is thrilled about the new school and joining the elite field hockey team.  Her skills have already given her an in with some of the girls who attend the school and she's looking forward to the new lifestyle this move provides.  Ajay, the youngest and a son, is mostly a loner who loves to work on robotics.  All his time is being taken up in the school's robotics lab working on a drone whom he calls Drummond.  But when 12 year old Ajay gets arrested, Priya and Ashok are confused as to how a 12 year old boy can be racially profiled, especially when they have worked so hard to be American.   The nightmare that they find themselves in also brings to the light some risky things the girls are involved in.  Ajay's arrest draws the family together to protect him, but causes a division in their new neighborhood.  Now everything Ashok and Priya have worked so hard to attain is on the line forcing them to look deep inside as to what success really is and who they are as Americans and how refusing to acknowledge some signs about Ajay may have led them to this point.  

I have read all this Canadian author's books and have loved them all including this one.  I couldn't put it down.  There are so many things she explores within what happens to the Shah family.  The hopes and dreams of the immigrant experience, trying to fit into the American dream while still holding onto one's heritage, stereotyping, police brutality, prejudice, neurodivergence, loyalty, and family.  And she weaves it together with good character development and well written plot.  It's thought provoking and I wished I had a book club to read it with as it would instigate great conversation around very timely topics.  

I gave it a 10/10

Friday's Fave Five #850

Hello and Happy Friday!  This week has zipped right on by.  In Canada Monday was a holiday (for some) so it made a short week for me.  Thankful for that as I was off last week and it has been something trying to get myself back to a work schedule routine.  But at any rate Fridays are the day we take a pause to look for our blessings and take the time to be thankful for them.  Please join us.  My blessings were all about the few days away that we had for vacation last week.  It truly was a blessed time and I'm so grateful for it and the memories it provided.

~ family time ~ on Friday we drove up to the big city and spent some time with family.  The kids did their annual camping trip together for a few days and then we all met at my son's home and spent some time together.  We had a dinner out, went to the farmers market,  our son cooked us an incredible rib dinner on the smoker, we played a fun card game.  It was nice to have us all together again even if just for a few days.  Now that the kids are all adults and have careers/jobs and one lives in another province it's hard to get us all together at the same time.  I'm very grateful for the time we had and the safe travels for those of us that were on the highways.  

~ Lion King ~  another reason we were in the big city last weekend was to see The Lion King Musical.  Bucket list item for me.  Oh my goodness.   From the epic opening scene to the last curtain call, what an experience.  The scenery, the live orchestra, the costumes, the songs, the lighting, the colors, the incredible details that went into it all to draw in the audience. Incredible.  So worth it.  My son and younger daughter joined us.  It made for a special full circle moment as for my son's 3rd birthday we took him to see Lion King at the theatre for his first ever movie.  And here we were 30 years later seeing it live together.  And I'm so thankful that we scored an absolute steal of a deal on the tickets.   

~ great hotel room ~ though we usually stay at my son's when we go to the big city, because my oldest was there too with 2 others and a dog, we opted to stay in a hotel this time around to lessen the chaos at the house.  We ended up in a really lovely, huge room at the hotel we booked at that we thoroughly enjoyed.  

 

-pedicure ~  My youngest is an esthetician and with her permission I booked in with her while on our weekend there.  I haven't had a professional pedicure since she moved away to the big city, about 4 years now.  It was nice to see where she works and she made it really special for me.

~ sausage & cheese ~  the Farmer's Market in the big city is a must stop for us when we go.  So Saturday found us there and one stall was sampling their many different European sausages and cheeses.  I finally found a great tasting Hungarian salami I've been looking for for years.  And I tried a new cheese that's definitely going on the list for when we go back, Beemster Graskaas.    It's a Gouda made from the first milking from the cows in the spring after they get let out to graze the new green grasses.  They only produce 1000 wheels a year for export so it wasn't cheap but a small chunk had to come home with me because it is sooo good.  It was fun to stroll the aisles and ooo and awww over all the good food and items for sale with my oldest daughter who came along with us.

My blessings were all about family and rest and relaxing for me.  How about you?  What were your blessings this last week that you are thankful for?

 

When the World Fell Silent by Donna Jones Alward ~ Book Review

It is 1917, and World War I is raging in Europe.  In Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, the war has been touching the lives of the citizens.   On the eastern side of Canada, Halifax was pivotal in the war, having a uniquely shaped harbour that didn't freeze in winter and allowed ships to gather in the basin and form convoys to cross the Atlantic affording protection in numbers against the German U-Boats.  Nora Cromwell works at a hospital that ministers to soldiers who have come home from the war on hospital transport ships, soldiers that are not yet well enough to be discharged.  Nora has always wanted a life different from her sister's.  She has never wanted to be a wife and mother and had instead chosen to pursue nursing as a career.  She joined the Canadian Army Medical Corps and a bluebird nurse and spends her days ministering to wounded soldiers, sometimes tending to their emotional burdens as well.  Her free time is spent with a young soldier named Alley going on picnics and dancing at the local Red Cross.  It's an enjoyable way to step away from the stress of taking the wounded soldiers troubles to heart and Nora's focus on her career keeps her feelings from becoming too entangled.  But a reckless decision might change her life forever. 

Charlotte Campbell is forced to live with her in-laws when her husband is killed overseas.  They treat her as a servant and not as family but it is the only thing that is keeping her and her precious baby girl, Aileen, from being homeless so Charlotte does her best while still dreaming of a better life.  But the upcoming collision of two ships, one carrying munitions, will force Charlotte to make decisions she never imagined she would make.  

Growing up in Canada, I didn't recall studying anything at all about the Halifax explosion though apparently it was such a pivotal part of Canadian history.  Somehow I vaguely knew there had been a horrible explosion that leveled a good part of the city but knew none of the details.  When I saw this book I knew I had to read it to learn more.   I really enjoyed this book.  The unspeakable tragedy and loss are the backdrop as these two women's lives will intersect in a way that is unimaginable.  Not only did the author convey the horrible physical tragedy of the event, almost 2000 people died, but there were also horrible losses of limbs and vision as people were drawn to go and observe the fire after the boats collided. But I also loved how the author explored the mental hardships that those that face this kind of loss might endure.  The decisions made by both women who endured great loss made me ask myself what would I have done.  Great story of tragedy, loss but also of love and family.  

I rated it a 9.5/10