Theo of Golden by Allen Levi (First Book of 2026!)

What an absolutely beautiful book that will stay with me forever~ Sheila

When a mysterious older gentleman moves to Golden, Georgia, little is known about him other than that he goes by the name Theo.
When in a coffee shop one morning, where 92 framed sketches of various residents are on display, Theo comes up with the idea to purchase each of these portraits and gift them to their “rightful owners” – the person in the frame. And what a wide variety of people! An accountant, a custodian, a landlord, a bookstore owner, a street musician, a one armed mixolist, a young girl, and a homeless woman, just to name a few.
As Theo sets out on his mission, each sketched person is invited to meet. All Theo asks in return is that they sit with him and tell him about themselves… stories are told, long-lasting hurts are shared, treasured memories revealed, and in the process, lives are changed.

This is my planned first book of 2026. Only recently did this book draw my attention – and in an even shorter time, when a friend posted about this book on social media, the deal was sealed. Not only did I need to read this, but the timing, the beginning of a New Year, seemed to be perfect.

Having just finished this book yesterday afternoon, I am fresh from the words and all the feels. As I think about this today, I honestly don’t know if I can name another recent book that I have read that left me feeling this emotional, inspired, and with chills.

What a perfect book to start the year with. Beautifully and thoughtfully written. May we all take each day as a gift and a chance to quietly make a difference in a positive way. May we all long for Heaven the way that Theo does – and may we be the type of people that bring a little bit of Heaven to earth.

Absolutely read this book.

Rated: 5 out of 5
Read Author Before: No
Read Author Again: Maybe – this feels so good I kind of don’t want to touch it 🙂

Themes: Faith, Hope, Spiritualness, Selflessness, Kindness

Book Club Worthy – YES, and if I have anything to say about it – it absolutely will be. There is so, so much that would make for great discussion here.

First Book Of The Year 2026!!!!

Happy New Year! It’s snowing here in Central Minnesota. I’m at my kitchen table with my COFFEE looking out the glass sliding door to the deck.
This morning, I have spent time putting together this annual post. Thank you, friends, fellow book lovers, and Authors who sent me what book you are starting the New Year with. It’s so fun to see the variety – both new and old titles… hopefully some will get added to your TBR pile (mountain).
Be sure to watch for the authors – Thank you to PJ Tracy, Cary Griffith, William Kent Krueger, Jill Hannah Anderson, Allen Eskens, Randy Sue Meyers, Lorna Landvik, Kao Kalia Yang, Barbara Claypole White, Heather Gudenkauf, Joshilyn Jackson, Adriana Trigiana, Julie Schumacher, Laurie Frankel, Nadia Hashimi, Erin Soderberg Downing, and Jenna Blum. So fun to see you in the mix and what you are reading 😀
If I missed anyone, please let me know.. pictures come to me by text, email, Facebook, PMs…. I can easily miss someone, so please resend, and I will get you added.

And with no further babbling from me – here are this year’s wide variety of First Books (titles linked below for easy access.


The Jackal’s Mistress by Chris Bohjalian

Horse by Geraldine Brooks

Secrets You Can’t Keep by Debra Webb

A Mercy by Toni Morrison

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir 2 picked this!

The Secret Library by Hanna Reeves

The Bravest Battle by Dan Kurzman

The Water Keeper by Charles Martin

State of Retribution by Marie Force

Us Against You by Fredrik Backman

We Did OK, Kid by Anthony Hopkins

The First Witch Of Boston by Andrea Catalano

Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino

Cougar Claw by Cary Griffith

Mercy by Sara Cate

Framed In Death by JD Robb

Hamnet by Maggie O’ Farrell

The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

Tom’s Crossing by Mark Z Danielewski

The Miracle Among Us by Marci Siegel

The Deepest Cut by PJ Tracy

Nightshade by Michael Connelly

Daughters Of The Bamboo Grove by Barbara Demick

The Princess Bride by William Goldman

Theo of Golden by Allen Levi 2 picked this!

Women of Promiscuous Nature by Donna Everhart

Heartbreak Hollow by Frank Weber

The God Of The Woods by Liz Moore

The Nine Moons of Han Yu and Luli by Karina Yan Glaser

This is Happiness by Niall Williams

A Gambling Man by David Baldacci

Gone Before Goodbye by Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben

The Onion Came First by Elinor Wilder

This American Woman by Zarna Garg

The Austen Affair by Madeline Bell

The Home For Unwanted Girls by Joanna Goodman

Like Mother, Like Mother by Susan Rieger

Heart The Lover by Lily King

What The River Knows by Isabel Ibanez

Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld

Good Intentions by Marisa Walz

We Were Never Friends by Kaira Rouda

Mirage City by Lev AC Rosen

Funny Story by Emily Henry

Wisdom Corner by David Heska and Wanbli Weiden

The Book of Kin by Jennifer Eli Bowen

The Secret Book Society by Madeline Martin

Murder at Holly House by Denzil Meyrick

Culpability by Bruce Holsinger

Death of The Author by Nnedi Okorafor

Ghosts of Fourth Street by Laurie Hertzel

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Let Them by Mel Robbins

The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

Next of Kin by Gabrielle Hamilton

You Are Here by Karin Lin-Greenberg

My Friends by Fredrik Backman

The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson

The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali

That’s A Great Question, I’d Love To Tell You by Elyse Myers

The Book Of Daniel by EL Doctorow

The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai

The Housemaid by Frieda McFadden

Something To Look Forward To by Fannie Flagg

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

Flashlight by Susan Choi

The Flight Attendant by Chris Bohjalian

Brigands and Breadknives by Travis Baldree

Life: A Love Story by Elizabeth Berg

The Moonshiner’s Daughter by Donna Everhart

The Book of Alchemy by Suleika Jaouad

Note about my pick: Theo of Golden by Allen Levi. As usual, I was back and forth on my choice… for a while there I felt certain I was going to go with a re-read (#comfort read) and then I recently was reunited with a book that I thought was a standalone and found out there are more and that this would be a great time to dig back in ( more about this later), there was also one I am intrigued by that a friend is also reading and I could not decide if it was for me now- or better to read once we travel to Florida when I can be all in when I have nothing but time over that three days of travel… – and then finally, Theo Of Golden caught my attention. This book was already in my peripheral vision as a “I need to read this,” and a recent post by a friend sharing her experience with this book sealed the deal.

If you missed this year’s participation deadline, feel free to send it today. I almost always have a few trickling in on New Years and I am happy to update to include your First Read.

Happy Happy New Year to you all! May 2026 bring JOY and Peace.

Love,
Sheila



It’s Monday, What Are You Reading and other Randomness

Hey all – Happy Monday! It was a nice weekend with friends and family… my class reunion, campfire, and yes – a little reading too. The It’s Monday What Are You Reading is hosted by Book Date.

Last Tuesday, our Book Club, the Bookies, met on a gorgeous evening by the lake to discuss Hail Mary by Andy Weir. It was a great discussion, and we had some great themed food!
Every October, we read a classic, and this year’s pick is The House of Seven Gables by Nathanial Hawthorne. Fun fact: In October of 2022, my friends, Cindy, Sara, Heidi, and I took a trip to Boston and, among other things, toured the House of Seven Gables in  Salem, Massachusetts. At the gift shop on the property, I picked up my copy of the book. (More on this when I read and write my review.)


I flew through Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt ( review will be up this week) and then, looking for my next audio to listen to while taking the dogs for a walk, I tried Charlie Sheen’s Memoir, The Book Of Sheen, and that lasted all of five minutes. What I was hoping for was to hear a telling of the movies he was in, having fond memories of first seeing Platoon, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off ( small but funny role), Major League, Wall Street, Hot Shots, and of course, Two and A Half Men…
And, to be fair, maybe the book would have gotten there; however, the first five minutes that I would describe as crude were enough for me to decide that this probably wasn’t what I wanted to listen to.

If you do read/listen to this one, I’d love to hear what you thought 🙂
SO… That said, I moved on to What Lies In The Woods by Kate Alice Marshall, and so far am enjoying this.

In other random things… yesterday afternoon I cleaned up the last of my summer squash from my deck garden… I found a recipe for Roasted Zucchini with Feta and Dill Soup (cha-ching!!!) SO SO Good!

Here’s the gist of it:
Slice up 4 medium-sized summer squash (I had one giant one as well as 3 smaller, so I think I was over this amount, but I made a bigger pot)
Rough chop one yellow onion
4-8 peeled Garlic Cloves (I went 8, I LOVE Garlic! #notavampire)
I put all of this in a large bowl and tossed it with salt and pepper, olive oil, and then put it on a large cookie sheet to roast in the oven for 25 to 30 minutes at 400 degrees.

When this was done, I added this in portions to my blender with Vegetable Broth – blending until smooth and then adding it to a large stove pot until I made it through all of it. The recipe called for 4 cups of Vegetable Broth, I used 6 because I believe I had more Squash than it called for 🙂

Once all this is in the pot, heat to a low simmer. Once simmering, add in one cup of Crumbled Feta, 1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice, and 1/2 cup of Plain Greek Yogurt or Whole Cream (I went with the cream because that is what I had at home).

Stir gently and let it continue to cook for 5 minutes at that same simmer, then add 2 tablespoons of fresh Dill or 1 tablespoon of dried Dill.
You can leave it like that, but I added in some cut-up rotisserie chicken for some added protein.

It was soooooo good! This made a big batch and we have plenty left over, in fact – thinking about it now, that may be lunch today! I will definitely make it again.

So that’s it! Tonight I am going to the Downton Abbey movie with friends… the week will be another full one – between work and wedding tastings I want to pack up the last of my garden for the year, maybe mow the lawn one more time before the mower is put away for the season, and listen to audio while doing so 🙂

Have a great week!

~Sheila

Girls Trip by Jason Letts

Is there such a thing as too many twists… too many turns? Yes. ~Sheila

Alice, Taylor and Emily are fairly new co-workers. On a whim, they decide to plan a girls trip over Labor Day Weekend. This is a chance to blow off some steam and get to know each other better.
Staying at a quaint little cabin in a small town in Texas, at first things appear to be shaping up nicely.
But – appearances can be false.

With a strange host with his cabin attached to their rental, a sense right from the start that they are being watched, a strange encounter at the local bar, and the constant changes to the cabin entry pad, – the girls can not tell if they are being messed with by the host or if they are in real danger.


Honestly – the book had my attention at the title Girls Trip. Who doesn’t love a good girls trip? I was all to soon disenchanted with the unlovable protagonists. As there was no real bonding moment in the book where as a reader you get to know the characters, they were hard to get a read on and IMO never really fully character developed for me to care one way or another about any of them. The continuous twists and turns that often led nowhere or were left to chase another direction – I found the book confusing and for the most part lost interest early on – but wanted to finish to see what really happened.

In the end – it was still not a fit for me. I love a good phycological thriller but this was a goose chase of a read with I am certain, good intentions that missed the mark.

Any one read this? Thoughts?

None Of This Is true by Lisa Jewell

An adventure of twists and turns and rights and lefts… never knowing what is going to happen next – but in a good way. A very good way. ~ Sheila

Popular Podcaster, Alix Summers meets Josie Fair while out celebrating her birthday. Turns out, it is Josie’s birthday too. A few days later, the two women find each other again and Alix in intrigued by this mysterious woman who showed up with a matching birthday. Josie, who has been listening to Alix’s podcasts feels she would be a great subject to be interviewed as she has an interesting life story. Intrigues, Alix agrees – calling the podcast, “Birthday Twins” and sharing with her fans the story of how she and Josie met.

As the two women dig into the podcasts, Alix finds that not only is Josie’s retelling of her life story interesting – it is down right shocking. Married to a much older man when Josie was only 16, Alix finds herself thinking of words like – pedophile, groomer, and rapist – and truly begins to worry about Josie.

As the two women create some sort of friendship, the unthinkable happens to Josie and the only place she feels she can turn is to Alix… and Alix, dealing with her own troubles in her marriage, feels that she has no choice…. not knowing – this would be the beginning of the end and her podcast was about to be introduced to a new and darker theme. Darker than anyone seen coming.

My gosh it has been a long time since I have read Lisa Jewell and after reading (well listening to) this, I wonder what has taken me so long to return to this incredible author. The story line held me, and while at first the breaks in the narration by the podcast felt odd… the style of reading grew on me and actually ended with me thinking if was pretty brilliant to put the audio version together this way.

I actually really enjoyed this dark read and feel those who enjoy a good twisted story would find this one interesting. I use the word dark in my description as topics of child rape/neglect, as well as abuse are themed throughout the book.

Heaven and Earth by Nora Roberts

“The Second Book in the Trilogy, while not my favorite of the three, you definitely need this story to get from the beginning – to the end… ~Sheila

Ripley loves to keep her life simple. She has her morning run, coffee stop, and job as a Deputy of Three Sisters Island. With a glass of wine at night (or two…) life was all bundled up neatly and that was the way you like it.

Toss in that a geeky – yet hot – guy is staying on the island looking for the magical history and secrets that the island holds… Ripley is putting her off her lunch. 

Yet fight as she may, some facts are just that and they cannot be changed. While Ripley is strongly against all the magical hoopty-do (my word) and her so-called part in – she will never turn her back on family – or a friend… and in there, lies the rub.

Out of the three books in this trilogy, Heaven and Earth is my least favorite. While Nel, book one, comes in to the story all destroyed from life and looking for a quiet existence, and I enjoy reading of her rebound and strength as she finds who she really is and where she is meant to be; Mia (book three) is all strong and assure of who she is and what she wants (honestly one of my all time favorite non fictions characters), Ripley falls somewhere in the middle. For me, I think it is the EXTRA romance in this particular book – I have never been a romance reader. Its also a bit more technical when Mac enters the series, looking to discover the magic of the island with his gadgets and reading and spreadsheets. 

While I may grumble….. you still very much need this book as it links the sisters in ways that they need to for what is to come. As the three sisters learn how their posers work – and more importantly how they work together.

For a January re-read, this series is a comfort reading. The characters are like old friends and if Three Sisters did exist – with that book store and upstairs cafe with a magical twist…in another life I may have very well called such a place…. home.

The Knife Of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness ( a re-read)

The Knife Of Never Letting Go, the Chaos Walking series, holds a special place in my heart.  Never have I raved so much about an author’s brilliant writing style since JK Rowling.  Ness makes the book literally come alive and the font very well may be a character in itself.    ~Sheila

My brief synopsis:  Protagonist Todd Hewitt, lives in a world where a virus has killed off all of the women and caused men’s thoughts to be heard out loud in a way that has become known as Noise.  Todd is the youngest of Prentisstown at almost 13 years of age.
When Todd takes a walk away from the town one day he discovers a void in the noise.  When he searches more closely he finds something that he never thought he would see again…

a girl.

Suddenly Todd’s world has changed in a blink of an eye.  How can he keep his thoughts quiet enough so no one knows of his discovery?  And why are the people who raised him – the only people he trusts suddenly sending him hurriedly on his way once they know of his discovery?  Todd’s world has just been upended.

I wish my writing could do this book justice.  There is so much rave-worthy content yet when I try to write it down… I feel a little…well, “duh.”  I read this book (originally read in 2011) and now again I read it with my friend Mena over a series of weeks where we would talk every Sunday on the phone and discuss what we have read.  Even though it was a second reading for me – it was exciting and often new all over again.  There was so much I had forgotten.  With the movie hopefully out by the end of this year or the first part of 2020… I am renewed in my love of this book.  If you enjoy a good dystopian read, I recommend this book.  (So does Mena) 😀

The Circle By Dave Eggers

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Mae Holland can not believe her luck!  When she is hired on to be employed by The Circle, the largest Internet company she jumps in with both feet.  After all, what is not to love?  Great pay, live entertainment in the evenings, dorm rooms to stay in if you need to work late, groceries, stores, free medical, a gym on site… and a chance to work with some of the most brilliant minds in the world!

Everything is connected from your email to your banking to your social media.  Transparency is key…  and really why would we not want to be transparent?

Yet when Mae finds herself in the office with Supervisors asking her why she always clocks out right at 5 and doesn’t stick around to take part in the after hours activities and why she is not more transparent on her social feeds as to what she does in her down time…  Mae has to decide to show her new employers just how transparent she can be…or choose to look for work elsewhere….

What happens when the lines between right and wrong get fuzzy?

I have been wanting to read this book for a while.  The synopsis of a futuristic company taking over (much like Google or Amazon…) peeked my interest.  I do love a good futuristic novel.  What I found interesting is that I could see where The Circle life style could become appealing…  If you did not have a family of your own… single, young, energetic a place where work provides you with on site entertainment, a group of like minded peers, a dorm room with clothes in your size, food, etc…. I could see where that could be appealing.

I for the most part liked Mae, (at least the early on Mae) until the job changed her to the point of losing right from wrong… I understood her ambition…

Over all I liked the book.  I am looking forward to the movie coming out later this month as I want to see how it compares and honestly…. you put Tom Hanks with Emma Watson…  how can I not watch?

Essentialism – The Disciplined Pursuit Of Less by Greg McKeown

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Do you ever feel stretched too thin, flitting from one project to the next, feeling over extended and really enjoying nothing because you are already thinking of your next “to do”?

Do you ever feel overworked and underutilized?

Do your days tend to get hijacked by someone else’s agenda?

Do you say yes to fill a need or because you feel you should only to stress and regret it later?

 

Greg McKeown shares in this enlightening book that you can say no to things – you can do less, feel better about it, and produce a better outcome.  It is about regaining control of our own choices where to spend our time and energies instead of giving others permission to do it for us.

Essentialism isn’t one more thing – it’s a different way of doing everything.

 

 

 

First up – I loathe self-help books.  I think, probably more accurately I loathe the category “self-help”.  It implies (IMO) that we are unable to help ourselves… it makes me personally feel weak-minded.  And not to say that there is anything wrong with these books – I just do not like how they are categorized.

This is NOT a self-help book.

This book is a way of tweaking how you do life, and more specifically what you say yes to, and evaluating why you say yes.

Family obligation

you feel if you don’t do it, who will?

There is a need and no one else is offering

It’s not a big commitment

 

I do all of his… ALL THE TIME.  I have turned into a yes person, and it is not all bad – by saying yes to things I have really experienced some awesome things.  I do have to admit though I have also taken on too much, been bitter about my commitments, missed out on things I wanted to do because I said yes to something else…. you get the picture.

I wanted to listen to this audio because I find the whole concept interesting.  Our world we live in is full of choices and commitments and opportunities… oh my!  I can not even imagine how many choices I make in a day.

What Greg is saying in his book, that saying no does not have to be a bad thing.  If saying yes to something at work is going to overextend you, make you stay late, put pressure on your other projects – then politely decline.  While it may cause irritation in the beginning from those who are used to you saying yes, in the long wrong it will gain your respect.

(for the record I am that person who will say yes, stay late to get it done, be upset with myself because now I have made myself late to whatever was next….  vicious circle!)

I enjoyed listening to this audio.  Greg McKeown narrates this himself (great accent!) I did pick up some things from it that I can apply and hope to. I like to learn, and by listening to this audio I did pick up on some tips I can apply to my own life and know that you should say yes…

to the right things 🙂

 

Publisher:  Crown Business

Release date: April 15, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Do you sometimes feel overworked and underutilized?
  • Do you feel motion sickness instead of momentum?
  • Does your day sometimes get hijacked by someone else’s agenda?
  • Have you ever said “yes” simply to please and then resented it?

If you answered yes to any of these, the way out is the Way of the Essentialist.

The Way of the Essentialist involves doing less, but better, so you can make the highest possible contribution.

The Way of the Essentialist isn’t about getting more done in less time. It’s not about getting less done. It’s about getting only the right things done. It’s about challenging the core assumption of ‘we can have it all’ and ‘I have to do everything’ and replacing it with the pursuit of ‘the right thing, in the right way, at the right time’. It’s about regaining control of our own choices about where to spend our time and energies instead of giving others implicit permission to choose for us.

In Essentialism, Greg McKeown draws on experience and insight from working with the leaders of the most innovative companies in the world to show how to achieve the disciplined pursuit of less.

– See more at: http://gregmckeown.com/essentialism-the-disciplined-pursuit-of-less/#sthash.QpirtZky.dpuf

  • Have you ever found yourself stretched too thin?
  • Do you sometimes feel overworked and underutilized?
  • Do you feel motion sickness instead of momentum?
  • Does your day sometimes get hijacked by someone else’s agenda?
  • Have you ever said “yes” simply to please and then resented it?

If you answered yes to any of these, the way out is the Way of the Essentialist.

The Way of the Essentialist involves doing less, but better, so you can make the highest possible contribution.

The Way of the Essentialist isn’t about getting more done in less time. It’s not about getting less done. It’s about getting only the right things done. It’s about challenging the core assumption of ‘we can have it all’ and ‘I have to do everything’ and replacing it with the pursuit of ‘the right thing, in the right way, at the right time’. It’s about regaining control of our own choices about where to spend our time and energies instead of giving others implicit permission to choose for us.

In Essentialism, Greg McKeown draws on experience and insight from working with the leaders of the most innovative companies in the world to show how to achieve the disciplined pursuit of less.

– See more at: http://gregmckeown.com/essentialism-the-disciplined-pursuit-of-less/#sthash.QpirtZky.dpuf