That's What She Said/Read

The companion to That's What She Read where I expound on more than insights, reviews and general commentary. Now That's What She Read has two impressive packages!

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Refreshingly new fantasy

Michelle's review of Forged by Blood (Tainted Blood Duology, #1)

4/5: Forged by Blood by Ehigbor Okosun is unlike anything I have read before. Ms. Okosun creates a refreshing and entertaining story through

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That's What She Read | Michelle | Substack

Bibliophile first and foremost. Sharing my thoughts on what I read. Feminist, progressive, foodie, bujo lover, cross-stitcher, empty nester, resister. Just trying to make the world a better place for ALL. Click to read That's What She Read, by Michelle, a Substack publication. Launched 19 hours ago.

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Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club

J. Ryan Stradal writes books that are homages to the Midwestern lifestyle, and there is nothing quite as Midwestern as supper clubs. As such, I hoped his latest book, Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club, would be as charming as his previous books. To some extent, it is all I wanted in a book about supper clubs. Unfortunately, I remain less enamored of the ending and one of the characters to have wholly enjoyed it.

First and foremost, I struggled with my feelings towards Mariel's mother, Florence. Actually, I detested her. Perhaps it is because she reminded me in some ways of my mother, the cause of much childhood trauma and the reason I still attend regular therapy sessions. It might be what Florence does to her stepfather and her utter lack of remorse about it. Either way, something about this semi-main character rubbed me the wrong way, and I was displeased with her story arc.

Actually, I was not impressed with most of the main characters, which severely limited my ability to enjoy the story. I found that some were too weak, and others were too single-minded. Betty and Julia were the only ones I sympathized with and enjoyed.

Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club does justice to the Midwestern darlings that are supper clubs. Mr. Stradal excels at highlighting the charms of the Midwest, and here is no different. He does an excellent job of explaining these unique eateries and shows why they remain so popular today.

Unfortunately, the kitsch and charm of the supper clubs could not overcome the rather disappointing and depressing ending or the lackluster characters. I enjoyed Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club, but I would steer readers to one of his other books before recommending this one.

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It is time.

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Not your traditional Beauty and the Beast retelling

Mountains Made of Glass is the first book in Scarlett St. Clair’s newest series, Fairy Tale Retelling. As the series title lets you know, it is all about fairy tales but with Ms. St. Clair’s spin on them. In this first book, she tackles Beauty and the Beast. Ms. St. Clair does not just retell the tale as old as time. In Mountains Made of Glass, she also plays around with the story of…

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Nerdy goodness

The Bone Wars by Erin S. Evan is for anyone who ever sat and poured over books about dinosaurs, who dug into sand or dirt hoping to find a fossil, who thought archaeology was the coolest subject. It is a love story to those people in the form of a suspenseful adventure. Plus, there might be dragons. The unfortunate thing is that I think The Bone Wars will not appeal to anyone who has no interest…

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How dare you, Alexandra Bracken!

Silver in the Bone by Alexandra Bracken snuck up on me. It is one of those novels I didn’t know I was enjoying until something big happened. When it did, I was SO upset, and I knew Ms. Bracken got me. I love when that happens, don’t you? I didn’t think I was enjoying Silver in the Bone because it lags in the middle. There is a big rush to get to a specific place, which is exciting and…

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Simply divine

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross is getting a lot of prepublicity press, and for good reasons. It is one of those books that charms you from the first sentence and has you completely hooked by the end of the first chapter. Ms. Ross creates the most adorable characters and establishes a world that could take place in Europe in the 1920s if it weren’t for the existence of gods and monsters. The whole…

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Honestly, this is the craziest Midwest spring I can remember. #midwestspring #nowonderweareallcrazy #getyouracttogethermothernature #overit https://www.instagram.com/p/CqS4D6ir2KR/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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@paddy_the_polack gets the Husband of the Year Award for not only negotiating the best deal in the country, but also for picking up my new car in Texas and driving it home for me. That is love, people! #emptynestcar #emptynestercar #funwithconvertibles #needwarmweather #stickshift #stickshiftladies #newcar #besthusbandever https://www.instagram.com/p/CqRHi5AL0oc/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Sunday Reflections - 26 March 2023

Reading:  The Blood Gift by N. E. Davenport Listening:  The Midnight Library by Matt Haig Watching:  Jim has been gone this week, so I had to wait to watch some of our shows. I did finish Daisy Jones and the Six and Shadow and Bone. The first I loved, but the latter was not as its first season. I am not a fan of them putting four books into one season, and the acting by one main character is…

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Surprise! #ithinkweareonfourthwinter #springsnow #springhassprung #springinthemidwest #mothernaturehadthelastlaugh https://www.instagram.com/p/CqN4eBNrt4-/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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My hot and exciting Friday night - setting up my work planner for April. Jealous? #planneraddict #plannerfun #aprildesign #funwithstickers #plannercommunity #planner #plannerstickers #plannergirl #plannerspread #aprilspread https://www.instagram.com/p/CqMiRcYrA4r/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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I might have been crying watching the end of Daisy Jones and Six and this one crawled into my lap to comfort me. Happy #internationalpuppyday everyone! #kidsistercora #corathepittiemix #cora #pittie #pittiesofinstagram #pittierescue #pittienation #pittielove #pitbull #pitbullsofinstagram #pitbullrescue #pitbulllove #pitbullnation #dogsofinstagram #supermutt #supermuttdogsofinstagram #rescuenotbuy #adoptnotshop #rescuedog #rescuedogs#rescuedogsofinstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/CqJ64XXrHCN/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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The sun is shining. The dogs are playing. It is over 50 degrees. #springhassprung #vitamind #getoutside #freshair #emptynest #emptynesters #thatemptynest #thatemptynesterlife #howiplantospendmyafternoon https://www.instagram.com/p/CqECadUPmnG/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Blessed Ostera, witches! Or happy spring equinox to the rest of you! #ostera #altar #spring #springequinox #blessedostera #osteraaltar #firstdayofspring https://www.instagram.com/p/CqB92gHrM4k/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Gothic fiction at its finest

The Last Heir to Blackwood Library by Hester Fox is one of the best modern-day examples of Gothic fiction. The heroine’s name, Ivy Radcliffe, reeks of a Gothic story as it exudes innocence and privilege. Then it takes place on the Yorkshire moors because of course it does. All that aside, Ms. Fox’s story is fantastic. She cleverly uses certain aspects of her story to keep you guessing.…

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