Reading, Writing & Pondering

    Shortbread in the Highlands by Robin Jones Gunn is the third book in the Suitcase Sisters series. I like this series focused on female friendships and travels. I especially enjoyed that this story was set in Scotland. In Shortbread in the Highlands , Cousins Nora and Allie agree to travel to Scotland on behalf of their grandmother when she requests that they go and retrieve her diary that is part of an unexpected Scottish library inheritance she received. Nora and Allie face a few roadblocks both in their travels in getting to Scotland and once they are in Scotland.  Nora and Allie are both adult women who have some struggles in their lives back home too. However, they both lead different lives and aren't sure the other can relate to their individual struggles. Through the story, though, they are drawn together to face their struggles--both together as they began to encourage each other and separately. It is also interesting to learn the grandmother's history in Scotl...

  After enjoying the first book in the Suitcase Sisters series, I eagerly awaited the second book, Gelato at the Villa by Robin Jones Gunn.  Gelato at the Villa takes readers on a trip to Italy with friends Grace and Claire. The ladies start out in Venice, and then travel to two other places in Northern Italy. I especially enjoyed traveling along and seeing the sights through their eyes. Gunn brings all of the locations to life through her rich descriptions of the countryside, the restaurants, the food, the gardens and the historical buildings. I did feel like I was there along with the main characters in the book. Grace and Claire also have some of their own struggles, like most people do in real life. Grace works in a job that isn't very satisfying for a demanding boss who isn't very nice to work for. She struggles to know what she should do in her situation--stay in the position or leave and do something else. She also struggles with some fears that she needs to let go of...

  I have been looking forward to Robin Jones Gunn new book, Tea with Elephants so I was excited to have an advanced copy. I got it in the mail and started reading right away! I read and treasured every bit of this book. Fern and Lily have been friends ever since they met in Costa Rica while doing volunteer work. Together, as young girls, they dreamed of traveling the world and the good that they could do. Then life happened. Lily got married young and had two children. Fern took an internship that led to a job in publishing and has been working ever since. Then several years later, Fern's father and mother-in-law gave Fern and Lily tickets to Africa to go on safari. This is the story of their trip--as well as the challenges in their lives that they left behind. I read Tea with Elephants quickly as I could not put it down. I enjoyed The Sister Chicks series. This series is along those lines as the start of the Suitcase Sisters novels begins. I enjoyed the camaraderie of Lily and Fe...

Cadie McCaffrey and Will Whittaker have been dating four years. They met at the office and things started out great. However, for a long time, Cadie has been waiting for Will to "pop the question." When he doesn't, she is convinced he doesn't really love her. Then things get compounded for the couple with more misunderstandings coupled with some regret. At that point, Cadie tells Will that  things aren't working out. Will doesn't understand and continues to try to win her back. Can he succeed? Wooing Cadie McCaffrey is Bethany Turner's second book that I have read. I laughed out loud at the first book and enjoyed it a lot. I wanted to love this one too, but I didn't like it as well. I was looking for something light to read that would make me laugh--with some tension and struggles of course. . .But I didn't laugh. Instead, I felt frustrated by Cadie's willingness to give up so quickly and her lack of communication. For me, it wasn't b...