Happy Memorial Day & Mailbox Monday May 30

Happy Memorial Day! I want to take a moment to thank our troops and their families, past and present, for all their sacrifices. Being a retired Navy wife, I know all too well the sacrifices they make and how important they are to our freedom. If you know a veteran or a current Armed Forces member give them a hug and thank them. May God bless each and every one of them.

It's Monday again! I can't believe how quickly the weeks go by. Time for another Mailbox Monday post. Mailbox Monday is the creation of Marcia from A Girl and Her Books. The meme is on tour and this month's host is Mari of MariReads. Thank you for hosting Mari! Just be warned Mailbox Monday can lead to toppling stacks of books and large wish lists.

I hope everyone is having a lovely Memorial Day Weekend. The weather was cold and rainy here (what a shock!) but today it is very warm and sunny! Finally! You better believe we will be soaking up some of that sun today! The dogs went out and rolled in the grass in the sun. I almost wanted to join them but thought it just might frighten the neighbors! I think there will be some planting today. After that, some sweet tea, some barbequing and some reading in the backyard is the plan of the day.

I didn't receive any review books this week which is okay by me. I did receive three books from the Barnes and Noble bargain books that were recommended to me by some of my book loving friends.

Remember Me by Sophie Kinsella

Lexi wakes up in a hospital bed after a car accident, thinking it's 2004 and she's a twenty-five-year old with crooked teeth and a disastrous love life. But, to her disbelief, she learns it's actually 2007 - she's twenty-eight, her teeth are straight, she's the boss of her department - and she's married! To a good-looking millionaire! How on earth did she land the dream life??! She can't believe her luck - especially when she sees her stunning new home. She's sure she'll have a fantastic marriage once she gets to know her husband again. He's drawn up a 'manual of our marriage,' which should help. But as she learns more about her new self, chinks start to appear in the perfect life. All her old colleagues hate her. A rival is after her job. Then a dishevelled, sexy guy turns up...and lands a new bombshell. What happened to her? Will she ever remember? And what will happen if she does?

Honolulu by Alan Brennert

As a young Korean woman at the onset of 20th century, Regret knows that there is only one possible avenue to the education she seeks. She must become a mail-order bride. She travels to Hawaii to meet the man she has agreed to marry, but it becomes apparent all too quickly that he is not the genteel, prosperous young man she imagined he would be. Instead, she finds herself yoked to an impoverished plantation worker addicted to alcohol and gambling. Her painful situation forces her to fend for herself and form beneficial alliances with other "picture brides." This powerful historical novel draws you into the plight of a woman swimming in the uncertainty of a new culture.

Summer Shift by Lynn Kiele Bonasia

Forty-four-year-old Cape Cod clam bar owner Mary Hopkins is stuck in the cycle of her seasonal business; overwhelmed by the relentless influx of new names and fresh young faces, she feels as if life is passing her by.

In the first days of the summer season, a young waitress’s tragic accident stirs up unresolved pain from Mary’s past, leaving her longing for connection. At the same time, Mary’s life is further upended as she begins to suspect her beloved great-aunt, the one person in the world who loves her unconditionally, is descending into Alzheimer’s disease. Then, in walks Dan, a lost love—perhaps the greatest of her life— returning to the Cape after disappearing years before without an explanation. As Mary faces these challenges and losses, it’s her rekindled romance with Dan and her burgeoning unlikely friendships with a warm, eccentric collection of local characters that keep her afloat.

Set against the backdrop of Cape Cod sand, sun, and seafood, Summer Shift is the story of a woman’s struggle to find the peace, love, and human connection that have eluded her for decades.

Have you read any of these? If so, what were your thoughts on them. I will be checking out mailboxes later tonight. The sun is calling my name. I've got to take advantage of it while I can. It's Wisconsin! It could be cold again tomorrow! Have a lovely day!