Tag: #motherhood

Friday Free-For-All

Published on by Jan Sikes37 Comments

Happy Friday, y’all!

I started out writing today’s post about the mass shooting at the Allen, Texas, outlet mall last weekend, only to delete what I’d written. The mall is literally 5 miles down the road from where I live. What a horrific event. So many innocent lives were lost, and for what?

I don’t understand the heavy darkness that takes over a person’s mind, body, and soul causing such senseless slaughter. Nor, do I want to start any negative controversy. So here is my prayer.

For our beautiful planet, let’s keep positive, loving thoughts flowing as we visualize a peaceful world.

Image by NoName_13 from Pixabay

And since Sunday is Mother’s Day, here’s a small tribute to my mother, who left us in 2004. She worked hard all her life and had little to show for it, but her smile could light up a room, and she could make a peach cobbler that would melt in your mouth.

Her name was Marian. Almost everyone who knew her called her Granny, and she never let anyone leave her house hungry. I wrote this song for her shortly after she passed away.

Have a great weekend!

#BookReview – Brother of Interest @KarinaBartow #Netgalley #Mystery

Published on by Jan Sikes19 Comments

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are solely my own.

PURCHASE LINK

What I like most about this book is the strained relationship between Minka Avery and her brother, Robin, and how it grows and evolves through the story. Minka was a detective and a good one. But when she and her husband, Wes, decided to start a family, she trades in her badge for strollers and diapers. While she loves being a mother, the lure of solving a mystery that involves her estranged brother is too much to deny.
Robin is arrested for an alleged attack on his boss who had recently fired him, and Minka has her doubts about her brother’s guilt or innocence. But as the clues unfold and everything points to someone else, she is determined to work on the case from the sidelines, often bringing her baby, Caela, along with her.
All of the characters in this story are likable, even the nosy neighbor they call “Scoop.” Minka’s relationship with her brother-in-law is endearing. Not only was he her partner when she worked for the police department but is her best friend as well as her husband’s brother. And it’s interesting to watch Minka’s reaction to Cael’s new love interest.
The author did a good job of revealing one clue after another much like peeling back the layers of an onion. My only critique would be about a large amount of backstory included. To be honest, I skimmed over most of it as it didn’t seem to affect the outcome of the story. If you like a good mystery with deep personal relationships, you will enjoy this book.

I gave it Four Stars.