always just commonly

I am in love. Yes, in love with Jen Turano's new series, "A Class of Their Own".  From my recent review of the first book, " After a Fashion " , you know how I'm 'laughing out loud' with it and looking forward to the second book of the series, " In Good Company ".  Well, after reading In Good Company , I can tell you Ms. Turano's talent continues to shine on and she does not disappoint.     Book two, In Good Company  follows Millie Longfellow, a self-determined nanny and Everett Mulberry, the recent guardian of three wards as they came together due to desperate measures by both.  Millie, needing a new position after yet another dismissal (why does it keep happening to her?) and Everett, desperate to beg for Millie's help after his wards scared off another  nanny.   Now, imagine this - a funny and mischievous in her own right nanny (Millie), with three very rambunctious children determined to match in wits and pranks with all...

" The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace "  is another book of the famous  The 5 Love Languages series by Gary Chapman .  With this book, Dr. Chapman co-authored with Dr. Paul White, a psychologist, author, speaker and consultant specialized in workplace relationships.  If you love The 5 Love Languages, you'll enjoy adding this to your collection. Similar to Dr. Chapman's other books in the series, The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace  targets a specific audience - those in a working environment.  Some will say if you read the original The 5 Love Languages , you already know what all the other books in the series are about - using the love languages to build and heal a relationship.  They are correct. However, with the specific targeted books from the series, Dr. Chapman and his co-authors (depending on the book and its target audience) provides readers with specific examples and personal experiences on how to demonstrate o...

It's coming, again!  The Annual National Book Festival in Washington DC.  This year, it will be the event's 15th year and to be held on September 5, 2015 at the Washington Convention Center.  Mark your calendars! Thank you for reading my posts. For full blog information and links to giveaways, head over to the blog: http://justcommonly.blogspot.com.

Last weekend, I went out with some friends to see Disney & Pixar's new animation, Inside Out.  I went it without much expectations, since I've only seen a commercial once, and did not even know it was already out.  Disney & Pixar didn't seem to invest in too much marketing for this movie.  I wonder why? Is it because it's Pixar, so no need to market as much?  And to top it off, in one of the opening trailers, Disney & Pixar's coming out with another one this year for Thanksgiving, titled The Good Dinosaur .  Two in one year! Can't believe it myself.   Copyright : Disney . PIXAR Back to Inside Out.  Inside Out  was another good Pixar animation. It has a lot of deeper meaning than a typical children's movie. I guess animation these days are not only for kids, but adults as well.  With the subject being feelings and thoughts, it seems hard to grasp for younger ones, but I think it's a good way to help kids understand differ...

Who wouldn't want a mother to love? Who wouldn't want to spend time with their mom and do all the crazy things one does with their mom, growing up?   "A Mother to Love" , the first of the Lilac Circle series by Gail Gaymer Martin is not just a romantic love story, it is a love story about family, about a child's need for love. Angie and Rick have been coworkers for years, and they've hit it off as friends since meeting.  They are comfortable with each other, and when Angie was in a pickle with her "exaggeration" of already dating someone, so her sister and mother can back off on their matchmaking; Rick came to the rescue.  When Rick's having custody issues with his ex-wife, Angie's there to support and fill in the role of a "mother" with Carly, his daughter through their time spent together.  This is a sweet novel that brings God's grace and mercy into the lives of these characters.  It's wisdom from His words (the B...

"After a Fashion"   by Jen Turano is the first of the series, "A Class of Their Own".  After Ms. Turano's first series, "Ladies of Distinction" (several of whom I've reviewed ), I was looking forward to diving into After a Fashion.   I won't go into details about her first series (which each book can be a standalone book).  With After a Fashion, we encounter Miss Harriet Peabody. What a name?! The name itself gives me a smile. Through comedic circumstances, Harriet and one of the wealthiest man in town, Mr. Oliver Addleshaw comes together to put on a show for the elite and tongue-wagging society of New York City. If you know Ms. Turano's works, you know she brings a sense of humor to her novels. The imagery of how vivid a scenario in her books just makes you laugh out loud.  That is the case with Harriet's and Oliver's very first encounter.  With a mentally unstable "lady", a shocked gentleman (Oliver) and a no...

"Summer's List" by Anita Higman has an interesting premise. Summer Snow is a caring and beautiful woman who gave up her young dreams to take care of her ailing parents, and when they passed, took over her Granny's bookshop when she was ill.  It's a noble and inspiring act, and when Granny Snow tells Summer that she's dying, she gave Summer a chance for adventure and find her true love.  Granny Snow gave Summer a list of tasks to do, first being to find and unite with her childhood best friend, Martin Langtree. I want to love this book - I really do.  I love the premise, it's so romantic in a way, dying Granny wants to help her only grand daughter find herself, her dreams and her true love.  In the process, Granny also showed, taught and encouraged Summer to trust the Lord and seek forgiveness when she was a child "bully".  However, Summer's List  was a brutal read. More than the first half of novel was stiff and awkward in terms ...

"The Book of Dares for Lost Friends"  by Jane Kelley is a children's book for ages 8-12 that centers around two best friends and their new adventures and struggles as they begin middle school.   " Would you dare . . . to undo a spell? To save your friend?"   That is the premise of this novel - a mix of magic and friendship.  Sounds promising, don't you think? With topics as friendship, trying to fit in, going through parents' divorce and rebellion, one would see the potential that spills out from a cute cover font, nice picture and catchy synopsis.  Unfortunately, it falls short on the very storyline throughout.  There's a sense of mysticism throughout the book, with the talking cat, Mau, the Captain and Taz...etc, all just conveys a mystery waiting to be explored and solved.   However, even by the end of the novel (and trust me, it was not an easy read, surprising, considering it's for a younger crowd), there are multiple unanswered ques...

" China Rich Girlfriend "  by Kevin Kwan is the sequel to his Crazy Rich Asians. Again, Mr. Kwan brings readers to the world of the rich and famous (in Asia), and see how they are so different than the American stereotypes of who Asians are. In China Rich Girlfriend , the story of Nick Young and Rachel Chu continues, along with a handful of familiar faces, as well as new ones.  I have not read the first, Crazy Rich Asians , but it has been on my list of "to reads".  Since I had the opportunity to review China Rich Girlfriend, I've decided "why not"? It will give me a chance to separate the two and see how Mr. Kwan incorporate the two, without disappointing us with a sequel that can't hold its own.  In that sense, Mr. Kwan did a great job.  Not only can this book stand on its own, his characters are interesting enough that I want  to go back and read the first book.  I don't have to, since as a book, China Rich Girlfriend works - the plot...

"My Sing-Along Bible" created by Stephen Elkins is a great Bible story book for your little ones.  This is an illustrated story book with 50 easy to read stories from the Bible, along with a CD of 50 songs corresponding to the stories.  It also has two bonus songs of "Books of the Bible: Old Testament and New Testament." With experience as a Sunday School teacher, a book like this is a great tool to teach young children about God and His Word, especially with a sing-along version.   This specific book is geared towards younger children, ages 3-7.  However, I feel this would be a great start even for babies and toddlers.  They are at that age where music can really be a great way to learn.  The book format is simple. Each story consists of "Let's Read", a Bible verse, and then a "Let's Sing" section.  The "Let's Read" section is the story section consisting of a paragraph to read along with your child.  The ...

" Five Brides" by Eva Marie Everson transports readers back to the 1950s Chicago where five ladies from different walks of life meet and together they are connected for a lifetime through one dress. Betty, Joan, Evelyn, Inga and Magda are five very distinct and different ladies we meet in Chicago, IL in the 1950s.  They are roommates in a small basement apartment, and with their different jobs and commitments, they hardly see each other.  One Saturday, they find themselves all free, and decides to go catch a movie. After the movie, as they window shopped, they were mesmerized with the Carson Pirie Scott & Co. wedding dress on display.  As they each take turns trying it on, they fell in love with it.  Each chipping in, they've decided to purchase this one dress for their  own wedding.  The funny thing is, none of them are even engaged to be married or even close.   How will this one dress change their lives or how will it tie them together? ...

"The Most Magnificent Thing"  by Ashley Spires is an illustrated children's book about a little girl and her best friend (who happens to be a dog) creating the most magnificent thing together through found objects. This clearly will be a favorite amongst little girls with an engineering mind.  I love that Ms. Spires tackle this with a female subject and the little girl's creativity not with pretty things, but with technical skills.  Little girls are not only about dresses and dolls.  Vision, resourcefulness and perseverance are perfectly fine skills, for little girls even at a young age. Besides the subject and theme of this book, the illustrations are also wonderful.  You can truly see all the feelings the little girl has from joy to frustration to a little grit in her determination.  Love the sidewalk scenes throughout, which reminds me of Brooklyn, NY.   The storyline is also a pleasant surprise, with the outcome of the little girl's a...

“It is not just a ruby, as you say. It is large as a quail’s egg, still untouched and unpolished. And it is rumored to either bless or curse whoever possesses it.” This is what the start of the description of " The Curiosity Keeper"  by Sarah E. Ladd reads on the back cover.  Isn't it intriguing? A famous and expensive stone that has a curse or blessing attached to its name.  Does the Hope Diamond come to mind for the most legendary jewel?  Well, back to The Curiosity Keeper .  Camille Iverness, our main female character runs her father's shabby curiosity shop since her mother's abandonment many years ago.  Jonathan Gilchrist is the heir of Kettering Hall since the death of his brother.  However, he is an apothecary by profession and lives in the village caring for others.  How will the cursed or blessed ruby tie them together?  I must say, I am quite disappointed with this novel.  I find it disjointed in many levels, from t...

" The Bus Ride " written and illustrated by Marianne Dubuc is a beautiful children's book with subtle, yet detailed illustrations of a little girl's  bus journey from home to her Grandma's. As an illustrator and writer, Ms. Dubuc gave us pages of stories for an imaginative child.  There's the main story of the bus ride, but during the ride, the different characters ignites the  imagination to go wild.  It's a great book for a child, about family, sharing, impossibilities and differences.  The beautiful illustrations reminds me of my childhood years using colored pencils to draw.  It's a children's book for children and for the adults to just enjoy the ride with the little ones in their life. Also, this book reminds me of the subway artwork in NYC by Sophie Blackall .  Her "Missed Connections" was a hit for me, and the art print was what NY is all about -differences, but the same journey. NOTE:  I received a complimentary E-bo...

Papa Gave Me a Stick  by Janice Levy  (and illustrated by Simone Shin) is a children illustrated book about kindness and the rewards of it.  It combines the use of ones desires and culture to give readers the meaning and rewards of kindness. Overall, I think this is a cute book, but I do have mix feelings about it.  First off, I like the illustrations by Simone Shin.  To my nephew and niece, the illustrations did show what I was reading.  However, as illustrations, there was not much imagination or creativity, but just realism to the story.  I guess that's what this book is. It's realistic approach, not imaginary.  The spanish language throughout was a nice touch and it did coincide with the background of the story, since it's in Mexico. The story is what gave me mix feelings.  I see where the kindness comes from. I see how it's the lack of money to buy the guitar that starts off   Papa Gave Me a Stick  and then with the sti...

What to Eat When You're Pregnant by Dr. Nicole M. Avena is what it says to be. It is a book for all mothers (and fathers) -to be. In short, the title of What to Eat when You're Pregnant says it all: "A week-by-week guide to support your health and your baby's development."  Dr. Avena gave readers a book that breaks down the nutrients necessary for the health of the mothers-to-be and the baby.  From the first trimester to after the pregnancy and battling some baby weight, this book will advise you the right thing to eat in addition to information on what that thing is, and the nutrients it consists of for you and the baby through-out and after your pregnancy.  Each week, a summary of "what's happening" to your body and to the baby, then followed-by a "food of the week", including one or two simple recipes; this book is a wealth of knowledge, from hormones, to vitamins, to food and recipes, to what's going on in you and to your ba...

Delia Parr is one of those historical novel authors that gives you a little more than just romance.  Her novels encompass normal daily routine, with  a sense of the unexpected.   The Midwife's Tale   is another wonderful novel by Ms. Parr surrounding, yes, a midwife. Martha Cade is a forty-something, mother of two grown children and is a midwife in the town of Trinity, PA.  She's extremely good at what she does and we go about the novel following her to all the deliveries she encounters.  We follow her in the town of Trinity and to her various "adventures" and the blessings she sees through her deliveries.  I think that's one thing I truly enjoy about Ms. Parr's books.  She pulls you into her stories. She lets you see what it is like living in the times and in the environment her novels are set in.  I was so enthralled with how the birthing process back in the day, and what faith these townspeople have, I didn't even care if the romanc...

Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty is a new historical fantasy children's fiction novel set in the famous Biltmore Estate , home of the Vanderbilts in Asheville, NC.  Just the setting will get a history and fiction buff like myself interested. Even though I'm no longer a child, I'm still a fan of children and teen books.  The amount of creativity in this genre of books always puts a smile on my face and boggles my mind. How do they come up with this???     Serafina and the Black Cloak  does just that.  I wasn't sure what to make of this when I read the description.  As I start reading it, I was pulled into the mystery of Serafina and who (or rather what) she is.  She kept saying she's not like other little girls or "normal".  And then the circumstances of how she came to Biltmore. Well, all that was a mystery in itself.   Then, the true mystery of the novel came to light.  Little children are missing througho...

Our history, is just minutes away.  This is my second time at The Gettysburg National Military Park and The Gettysburg Museum since its renovation a few years back.  Both times I've visited, it felt like I was transported back to that era, that time when we, as Americans were divided.  I guess, the sad part is, for some, we're still divided - in different, and maybe also same ways.  I'm not here to go through all that.  National Park Service did a great job with the renovation of the new Visitor Center, which housed The Gettysburg Museum and the Cyclorama.  The film, 'A New Birth of Freedom', narrated by Morgan Freeman was superb, and worth every effort to check out, along with the fully restored Cyclorama of the Battle at Gettysburg by French Painter, Paul Philippoteaux.  If you have time, get tickets for a bus tour to Eisenhower's Residence and Farm, which is within the Gettysburg Battlefields, but private vehicles are not allowed the...

Getting pregnant. What comes to mind? Are you trying or are you already pregnant?  Do you have lots of questions? Are you getting a headache just thinking about it?  Well, for those who are trying to conceive and for those who are expecting and passed the initial "jumping for joy" phase, it's time to get it together with The Bump's Book of Lists for Pregnancy and Baby  by Carley Roney and the editors at TheBump.com. This book is what it says it is, a book of lists during and after pregnancy.  Surprisingly, it even have a chapter on conception - lists of questions to ask yourself and the doctors, things to do prior to conception and so on for those planning to conceive and start a family.  This book compiles a handy list for before the pregnancy through to when the baby is 4 months old.  This is a simple paperback, small in size (5-1/2" x 8-1/4") and easy to fit in your purse, with 192 pages of great information. This is a simple and informative wo...

Ms. Karen Witemeyer has done it again! She has written another wonderful historical fiction full of adventure, great characters, love, compassion, and a novel that shows us how God works in our lives.  What is this book? This book is A Worthy Pursuit . From her first novel, A Tailor-Made Bride  to her recent novella, Love on the Mend (review here ), Ms. Witemeyer has linked our hearts to her characters, especially the heroine of each novel.   A Worthy Pursuit  is no different.  Charlotte (Miss Lottie) Atherton is a women of strength, patience and character.  A worthy personality to be a beloved teacher (and headmaster) of a "special school" for the gifted.  Her love and dedication for her students leads to our story, where she takes two orphans and one boarding student on an adventure of hiding for their protection.  Not knowing who she is, a tracker by the name of Stone Hammond was hired to retrieve her.  And of course, that's when fi...