Little Thoughts About Books and Stuff

kindly,   lighthearted,   melodramatic It's been a number of years since I've commuted daily on the train. However, after today's NJ Transit crash in Hoboken commuting has been on my mind. When I sat down to write on yesterday's prompt I just kept thinking about all the train trips I've taken. A smile from a kindly old man, insisting I take his seat. A lighthearted laugh between long time friends reminding me to text mine back. A melodramatic conversation between the two college girls brings a smile to my face. It may have been a long day and I may be on a crowded train. But I wouldn't have it any other way.

I've been in a kind of reading slump lately. I'll get a few books out from the library, read a few chapters and then give up on the book. I think a lot of them sounded interesting but just didn't grab my attention. So last night I'm browsing my library's ebook collection when I see this pop up as new books. Bundled Up by Annabeth Albert All three of The Portland Heat Novellas together for the first time! Served Hot In Portland, Oregon, the only thing hotter than the coffee shops, restaurants, and bakeries are the hard-working men who serve it up—hot, fresh, and ready to go—with no reservations… Robby is a self-employed barista with a busy coffee cart, a warm smile, and a major crush on one of his customers. David is a handsome finance director who works nearby, eats lunch by himself, and expects nothing but “the usual”—small vanilla latte—from the cute guy in the cart. But when David shows up for his first Portland Pride festival, Robby works up the nerve to ...

Leave Me by Gayle Forman My rating: 4 of 5 stars From the outside Maribeth would seem to have it all. She lives in NYC with her husband and two kids and has a job working with her best friend in their chosen field. Inside her life, Maribeth is busy, so busy she mistakes her heart attack as just bad Chinese food.  Maribeth has a hard time recuperating at home after her surgery because everyone still needs everything from her. They don't know how to function with out Maribeth guiding them. Knowing that she needs to focus on her recovering Maribeth hastily packs a bag, leaves a note for her husband and then runs away. Maribeth needs to heal from more than just her heart attack. She needs to heal her soul. She needs to uncover part of his past and reevaluate her current life if she's going to be happy in the future. I was torn about even picking up this book. I love Gayle Forman and was excited to read her first adult novel, but I dislike the 'run away from your life ...