Halloween Treat - Hearts Flush by MJ Schiller

M. J. Schiller, a bestselling author of the Rock Romance sub-genre, is one of my favorite authors. She blends emotion, great characters, and a compelling plot into a book you can't put down.

Now, she's written and published, HEARTS FLUSH, a book in a different genre—historical western romance—and it's awesome.

I'm excited to tell you about it so let's start with a blurb.

HEARTS FLUSH

For him, everything was riding on this hand.

The year is 1858. Banker Alistair Lynn hires four brothers to protect his family as they travel west.

Jessie Weston, the youngest of the four, is different. Thoughtful, Jessie tries to hide his reading from his brothers, who tease him incessantly for it. 

Piper Lynn, the youngest of the Lynn sisters, is also “different.” Forever with her head in a book, she often speaks with a frankness that others find off-putting. 

When their trip leads them through trials and tragedies, Jessie and Piper fall in love. But, as neither of them is experienced with the opposite sex, they often misunderstand each other. Will these difficulties tear them apart or will it be one of the dangers on their journey that ends their budding courtship in a more permanent way?

Amazon Only Link

EXCERPT FROM HERO'S POINT OF VIEW

JESSIE

If I’d known what I was going to be wagering for, I would have listened to my stupid brothers when they explained poker. Everything important to me was riding on this one game. 

Sweat broke on my brow. Could I remember their card playing advice? I had to, or she’d be leaving with another man, and, in a convoluted way, it would be my fault. 

I glanced up into Piper’s face. The color had gone out of her usually rosy cheeks, her lips quivered slightly, and hers were the eyes of a trapped animal. She was scared to death. And she should be. She lowered her head, looking ashamed and embarrassed. And she should be. 

McDiver ran his gaze over her lustily, and my skin crawled. My opponent rubbed a knuckle along the side of Piper’s finger on the table, and she recoiled. McDiver laughed at her, and my jaw tightened. I would not allow this pig of a man near Piper, even if it cost me my life. 

I studied my cards. A five of hearts, jack of spades, two of clubs, queen of hearts, and an ace of hearts. Could I have a worse hand? They didn’t even come close to matching.

“Well? What’s it gonna be? Ya want ta draw?”

Oh, yes. I can git different cards ta possibly make what I had better. But what to keep? The ace, because it was highest?

I so wished Dawson was around instead of being occupied with a woman. Or, if Amycus weren’t completely drunk, with his head on the bar, he may be able to advise me. 

I glanced up in hopes that Dawson was winding his way down the steps but was disappointed. I picked the four other cards surrounding the ace and was about to lay them on the table when I remembered. 

If I can git them all the same…what did they call it? What does it matter, all with the same symbol on them—that was a good hand. But will it be good enough? 

I kept my three heart cards and removed the other two.

Besides, I’ll have more chances ta match whatever cards the jackass is gonna give me.

I threw my two cards on the table, and he dealt me two more, face down.

He took two cards fer himself, checked them, and grinned. My gut clenched.

It all hinged on these two cards. 

If these cards aren’t the ones I’m lookin’ fer… I need more time ta think of a plan ta git her out of here, the little fool.

If I pull my gun, I’ll have a dozen trained on me before I even git ta my feet.

I could maybe throw the table over, grab Piper, and we could make a run fer it… But the idea of putting my back, and, more importantly, Piper’s, toward this mongrel, well, it didn’t sit comfortably to say the least.

“Well…?”

My heart was beating like a Lakota war drum. 

It was showdown time. 

APPLAUSE FOR THE AUTHOR

M.J. Schiller is a retired lunch lady/romance-romantic suspense writer. She enjoys writing novels whose characters include rock stars, desert princes, teachers, futuristic Knights, construction workers, cops, and a wide variety of others. In her mind everybody has a romance.

She is the mother of a twenty-eight-year-old and three twenty-six-year-olds. That's right, triplets! So having recently taught four children to drive, she likes to escape from life on occasion by pretending to be a rock star at karaoke. However…you won’t be seeing her name on any record labels soon. 

VISIT M.J. SCHILLER ONLINE

Website: https://mjschillerauthor.blogspot.com/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/m-j-schiller

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/MJ-Schiller-Romance-Author/286382241460365

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mjschiller/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mjschiller

Tumblr: http://mjschilz.tumblr.com/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/mjschiller

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6479377.M_J_Schiller

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/M-J-Schiller/e/B009JOQFQQ

BUY LINKS — HEARTS FLUSH 

Books2Read 

Amazon

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

If you're looking for a new release that's got heart and soul, pick up a copy of HEARTS FLUSH by my friend, M.J. Schiller.

You'll be glad you did.

Do you subscribe to Joan's newsletter, I LOVE READING? If not, why not? To receive exclusive content and news about book bargains and new releases, SIGN UP TODAY.

Breakout the Halloween Candy

Halloween is 2 days away. If your Hump Day is tough, give yourself a break by breaking out the Halloween candy.

Are you like me and buy the bagged candy that is your guilty pleasure?

How does your Trick or Treat preference stack up against the rest of the nation?

I did a little research and discovered these candy facts.

Number 1 in 2025 on the tastebuds of Americans is Reese's Peanut Butter Cups is loved for the combination of chocolate and peanut butter. It's certainly my #1 pick.

That's followed closely by M&M's—classic and peanut—Kit Kats, and Snickers—luscious chocolate, caramel, and peanuts. (I'll take all of them except the M&M's.)

As you may suspect, chocolate dominates the Trick or Treat scene but sour, fruity candies like Sour Patch Kids and Skittles are favorites with Gen Z and Millennials. Gummy candies are rising in popularity too.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

So to get over the hump that Wednesday can be, enjoy a few of those bite-sized candy bars and remember how much fun Halloween was when you were a kid. Why? Because money can't buy happiness, but it can buy chocolate—which is almost the same thing.

Do you subscribe to Joan's newsletter, I LOVE READING? If not, why not? To receive exclusive content and news about book bargains and new releases, SIGN UP TODAY.

Review - Deep Cover on Prime

Darling Hubby picked this movie to watch last weekend. I was paying scant attention to it since I was pecking away on my laptop keyboard until a scene caught my attention and made me guffaw.

I laughed out loud and said, "Run that back so I can hear that again."

Deep Cover, released worldwide on Amazon Prime Video on June 12, 2025, was completely unexpected. It began a bit slow, setting up the story that became crazier and crazier.

No one would get themselves into the situations the characters found themselves in—or would they?

This 2025 British action comedy delivered belly laughs and eyerolls. Starring Bryce Dallas Howard, Orlando Bloom, and Nick Mohammed as improv actors recruited by the police to pose as felons in undercover operations in the London criminal underworld, the movie isn't perfect, but it is surprising and worth waatching.

Paddy Considine, Ian McShane and Sean Bean have supporting roles in the film which was directed by Tom Kingsley and adaped from a script written by Colin Trevorrow, Derek Connolly, and adapted into a screenplay by Ben Ashenden and Alexander Owen.

Orlando Bloom was absolutely amazing in the film. He chewed up each scene and made yoou want more and more.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Do yourself a favor and watch Deep Cover if only to enjoy Mr. Bloom's performance.

Love to read? Sign up for my free Newsletter, I LOVE READING. Once a month, you'll receive exclusive content and news about giveaways, bargains, and new releases.

Monday Magic - Free App to Check URLs

It's been a while since I found some free apps worth sharing.

Today, I'd like to tell you about VirusTotal, an app  free for end-users for non-commercial use. It offers a public website to analyze files and check URLs to see if they are legitimate.

I don't know about you, but I'm besieged with emails, DMs, texts, etc. that all seem genuine and containing URLs. I never click anything unless I can check it out and be assured that it's not dangerous.

VirusTotal also offers a premium paid version with advanced features, such as a Premium API that is restricted to paid customers.

"With the free public website, you can use the VirusTotal website to scan files, URLs, and other observables for malicious content without a cost." 

The website is easy to use. Here are 2 links to access the website checker. The first is for a PC with up to date browsers. Simply click here: AccessVirusTotal.

 The second link is for a PC running an old browser. Just click here:  Old Browser AccessVirusTotal.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Adopt the policy never to click anything no matter how genuine or innovent it may appear to be. Always check.

Do you subscribe to Joan's newsletter, I LOVE READING? If not, why not? To receive exclusive content and news about book bargains and new releases, SIGN UP TODAY.

What's the Biggest Killer Ever?

Through millennia, what is the biggest killer of all? 

Fear.

It kills hopes, dreams, optimism, futures, happiness, relationships, and everything good in life.

Fear afflicts people and entire countries.

The most reprehensible are those who are fear-mongers. Beware of letting a little anxiety turn into full-blown fear.

Everyone has something they fear. "When your dreams are bigger than the places you find yourself in, sometimes you need to seek out your own reminders that there is more. And there is always more waiting for you on the other side of fear." — Elaine Welteroth

Never allow little fears to grow and take over your life. Motivational speaker Les Brown said, "Too many of us are not living our dreams because we are living our fears."

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Choose to live your dreams, not your fears.

Do you subscribe to Joan's newsletter, I LOVE READING? If not, why not? To receive exclusive content and news about book bargains and new releases, SIGN UP TODAY.

Saturday Share - 12 Basic Herbs & Spices

I often post a recipe on Saturday, but today I thought I'd do something a bit different, but still related to cooking at home.

Certain basic ingredients including an inventory of herbs and spices should always be on hand if you cook at home. 

Every home cook usually has some kind of flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, cooking oil, pasta, and some canned goods like a tomato products, vegetables, fruit, and maybe some convenience items like cream soups.

The basics I want to cover today are flavoring ingredients like salt, black pepper, herbs, and spices—the items that add pizzazz to a dish. What herbs and spices you may ask since there are so many? Here's a starter list.

Image by Steve Buissinne,  Pixabay

12 BASIC HERBS & SPICES 

1. Allspice comes from a pea-sized fruit that grows in Jamaica, Mexico, Central and South America. It has a delicate flavor and is aromatic, resembling a blend of cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

It's used to season and flavor everything from meats to pickles to baked goods.

2. Basil is the dried leaves and stems of an herb originally grown in the Mediterranean region but is now grown just about everywhere. It's cultivated easily in containers or in the garden.

I made the mistake of planting it in my garden. In this climate with its long-growing season, the basil went wild. Pretty soon it was popping up everywhere. Now I make sure to clip the seed stalks as soon as a blossom appears.

Bay Leaf, PublicDomainPictures, Pixabay

3. Bay Leaves, the dried leaves of the Bay Laurel, an evergreen tree, also originally from the Mediterranean. 

You can actually order a bay laurel tree from the large nurseries and plant it in your yard. I haven't done that yet, but I want to get one. 

It has a "sweet" herbaceous note that goes well with a large variety of dishes—spaghetti sauces, soups, stews, sauces, etc.

4. Dill is a small dark seed from the dill plant, originally grown in India.You're most familiar with this as dill pickles, but it's used in many dishes like sauerkraut, potato salad, noodles, dressings and sauces.

5. Mace is the dried outer red covering of the nutmeg seed and has a delicate, bright, peppery taste with citrus notes. 

When whole, it's used in pickling, stewing fruit, flavoring fish and fish sauces. When ground, it's in baked goods. It gives doughnuts their  distinctive taste

Image, Nutmeg by Agnieszka, Pixabay

6. Nutmeg is sweeter than mace and has a "warm" nuttier taste. In the photo at right, you can see the red covering that is ground into Mace.

Nutmeg is used for baked goods and sweeter dishes as well as eggnog. It's less expensive compared to mace.

7. Marjaram is part of the mint family and was originally grown in France and Chile. It has a minty slightly sweet flavor and is used in everything from soups to roasted meats, especially lamb. I've always added it to Italian tomato sauces because it adds a freshness to the marinara.

8. Oregano is also part of the mint family, is a species of marjaram that is a more robust flavor. The dried leaves are used in many Italian dishes. It's easy to grow in containers are in the garden.

Paprika, Rita-👩‍🍳 und 📷 mit ❤, Pixabay

9. Paprika is the ground powder from the mild, red pepper grown in Spain, Central Europe, and all over the U.S. Here, we use it for everything from sprinkling over deviled eggs and salad dressings to sauces and main dishes. 

I particularly like Smoked Paprika to use with dry rubs on meat, in chili, BBQ sauces, roasted vegetables, etc. 

10. Rosemary is a herb that resembles little pine needles and was originally grown in France, Portugal, and Spain. Now it's now grown everywhere. I have a huge pot of it on my patio.

In my climate, it's easy to grow in containers or the garden. Dried rosemary is a staple of Italian dishes, roasting meats and vegetables, stews, etc. A fresh sprig of it rossed over a flat iron steak and basted with the meat jus before serving imparts a delicate fresh flavor.

11. Sage was originally grown in Greece, Albania, and what was once called Yugoslavia (now divided into 6 independent countries).

Sage is easily grown in containers. I have a pot of it on my patio. This spiace is most frequently used at Thanksgiving it seems. It has an aroma reminiscent of camphor. It's used for poultry stuffing, sausages, meat loaf, stews, and other meat dishes.

Image by Steve Buissinne,  Pixabay

12. Thyme was grown in France and Spain but everywhere now. I find it's harder to grow in my climate. 

It's delicate looking and doesn't tolerate oour hot summers very well, but I've managed to grown in in a container in the shade. 

The leaves and stems of the plant are used and can be used just about anywhere sage is used, but it gives a more subtle seasoning. Fresh sprigs of thyme on a roast or steak enhance the taste of the meat.

That's my idea of a basic herb and spice pantry. If you don't have these, pick a couple from the list to buy the next time you shop for groceries.

Are there some herbs and spices you frequently use that aren't on this list? Share your favorites with us in a comment.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

It's the weekend. Cook or bake something delicious! Then relax by reading a good book.

Do you subscribe to Joan's newsletter, I LOVE READING? If not, why not? To receive exclusive content and news about book bargains and new releases, SIGN UP TODAY.

40 Hour Work Week - Seriously?

Okay, let's be honest. Do you know anyone who actually works a 40 Hour Week?

I'm not talking about juggling a job and raising a family and taking care of a home. 

Everyone I know who works—inside the home and outside the home—puts in way more than 40 hours a week, and that goes for women and men.

There may be jobs—probably the kind where you punch a time clock—where someone works a 5-day week, with each work day beginning at a specific time and leaving exactly 8 hours later, but that was never my experience even when I was a teen working for an hourly wage.

Most working people get there before their official day starts and leaves after their official day ends. A lot of people work during their lunch hour, and many take home work. that they do in the evenings and weekends.

Why am I even talking about this? Because on this day in 1940, the  40-hour workweek went into effect in the U.S.

It was actually part of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, but it took 2 years before it went into effect.

WHO HAS THE WORST WORK WEEK?

As someone who is self-employed, I think I can safely say that the self-employed work the most hours every week. Whether you're an author like me or someone who makes and sells something physical, you work far more hours than someone getting a paycheck from an employer.

If you're self-employed and home-based, your time is never your own. Your work may not even be at a specific time especially if you have children. You probably squeeze in some work time before preparing meals, after getting the kids off to school, and walking the dog.

Then you juggle your "work" with house work, laundry, meal preparation, errands, and all the other things that make you think you have the worst of both worlds—career and parenthood.

In fact, to the self-employed, having 40 hours to do nothing but work your business would be a blessing.

Those who work outside the home, i.e., getting a "real" paycheck, and then come home to the chaos of children, meal prep, and, hopefully, time to work your self-employed dream, may well question why you're trying to start a sideline career.

At night, when everyone else is in bed, the self-employed worker bee, like me, is in the office with a few hours of peace and quiet to devote an hour or two to creating something to get the self-employed paycheck.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Do you work only 40 hours a week? If so, I congratulate you. Leave a comment and tell us how you manage that. I'll take notes while I finish my coffee.

Do you subscribe to Joan's newsletter, I LOVE READING? If not, why not? To receive exclusive content and news about book bargains and new releases, SIGN UP TODAY.

LINES FROM MOVIES - CHEFS DO THAT

From "Rosebud" to "You're gonna need a bigger boat," movies have given us some memorable lines. 

Welcome to LINES FROM MOVIES, my way to share those oh, so quotable words with other movie fans.

Today's quotation is: "Chefs do that."

Who said it and in which movie were those words uttered?

Let's jump in the Time Machine and zoom back to 1996 when a woman tried to be accepted as an action star.  

About 20 years before, in 1997 to be precise, Pam Grier portrayed strong, indomitable women squaring off against crminals, but her films were labeled blaxploitation.

Jackie Brown, Amazon, 4K/BluRay

Pam Grier is absolutely fabulous. If you haven't seen any of her moviews, I recommend  Foxy Brown, 1974, and Jackie Brown, 1997.

In 1975, Wonder Woman starring Linda Carter hit the TV screens, and that made a lot of girls want to be the Amazonian warrior, but her audience drew as many men as little girls for obvious reasons.

Skip ahead to 1979, when Sigourney Weaver breathed life into Ellen Ripley in Ridley Scott's  first Alien movie. The role made Weaver a superstar in her depiction of a stalwart, formidable, and smart woman who beat the monster. 

Another few years saw Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor in The Terminator (1984). In 1991, she reprised her role, remaking her body in the process to prove she's a warrior and a certified action hero.

FEMALE WARRIOR ACCEPTED

Did Hamilton in Terminator 2: Judgment Day pave the way for Geena Davis to sell herself as an action hero to the powers that be? Possibly. I'm not privy to the financial deals that go into getting a movie made with specific people in the starring roles.

Having said that, I do believe that's how she captured the role of an amnesiac government assassin in THE LONG KISS GOODNIGHT, a 1996 film based on the novel of the same name by Randall Boyll.

Even with a remarkable cast, the movie was a financial disappointment. I can only speculate that the reason for this was because action movies were  pitched to a male audience. 

At that point in time, those movies, as they were conceived, did not appeal to a male audience.

In later years, movie makers cracked the formula for making a female action movie appeal to men. The formula? Not just a formidable woman like Ripley or Linda Hamilton, but a gorgeous woman oozing sex appeal. That's what gets men in the movie seats.

The Long Kiss Goodnight didn't have that.

What did it have? Direction by Renny Harlin, screenplay by Shane Black, and a cast including Geena Davis, Samuel L. Jackson, Tom Amandes, Yvonne Zima, Brian Cox, Patrick Malahide, Craig Bierko, and David Morse.

It also had twists and turns, surprises you didn't see coming, and some very quotable lines.

The story is about an amnesiac schoolteacher (Geena Davis) who sets out to recover her identity with the help of a private detective (Jackson) when they discover a sinister conspiracy and assassins eager to kill the schoolteacher for reasons she can't fathom.

"Chefs do that."

In a scene in the kitchen, Davis is chopping vegetables. 

Suddenly, it's as if she's discovered a skill she didn't know she had. 

Her boyfriend tosses her a variety of veggies, and she chops all with a flourish. 

Exhilirated, she proclaims that she must be a chef. 

Then balancing the point of the knife on her finger, she throws a bell pepper at the door, flings the knife after it, and stabs the pepper against the door.

Stunned silence follows. She shrugs and says, "Chefs do that."

That one scene made me a lifelong fan of that movie. I don't know how many times I've said that when chopping vegetables. LOL.

That scene, the great dialogue, and the high-octane action sequences are why this film a cult classic.

Unfortunately, I couldn't find any streaming service that offered the movie free. 

You can rent it from  most streaming services or buy the The Long Kiss Goodnight on BluRay at Amazon.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Sometimes, movies must wait for a receptive audience which is why cult classics are a thing.

Joan participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising designed to help websites earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. If you click an Amazon link in her post, she may receive a small commision at no extra cost to you.

Do you subscribe to Joan's newsletter, I LOVE READING? If not, why not? To receive exclusive content and news about book bargains and new releases, SIGN UP TODAY.

Hump Day Attitude Adjustment

 Having difficulty making it to the weekend?

Here are 5 tips to give you a quick, painless attitude adjustment and make you feel better.

1. Get a donut. Seriously, 1 single glazed donut and a cup of hot coffee or tea will do wonders for your attitude.

2. It's Autumn Leaves month so walk outside for at least 10 minutes and enjoy the crunch of leaves beneath your feet.

3. Visit a perfume counter and sniff something new and wonderful to the senses. If you can't make it to a perfume counter, dab an extra bit of your current scent on your wrist and sniff it throughout the day.

4. Give a compliment to at least 5 people you see today. Saying something positive to others gives an endorphin release to them and to you.

5. When you get home, announce to whoever may be there that you are taking a 10 minute mental health break. Put on some calming music and lie on the couch for 10 minutes to shed the stress of the day. When you arise, you'll be ready to happily interact with your family and/or friends.

 TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Five simple things. Try them. You'll be surprised by how much better you'll feel. Happy Hump Day.

Do you subscribe to Joan's newsletter, I LOVE READING? If not, why not? To receive exclusive content and news about book bargains and new releases, SIGN UP TODAY.

Review - Maggie Moore(s) on Prime

If you're looking for a good whodunnit, you'll find it in Maggie Moore(s), a 2023 murder mystery drama starring Jon Hamm and Tina Fey, now streaming on Prime Video.

The film, directed by John Slattery, follows a police chief (Hamm) who becomes involved in a case where two women named Maggie Moore are murdered.

Are the 2 murders connected? If so, how. That is the trail of breadcrumbs you'll follow in the chief's engaging investigation with all of its twists and turns.

Directed by John Slattery and written by Paul Bernbaum, the film is set in a small town with quirky characters and lots of lies and secrets, the film had a theatrical debut in June 2023.

I was surprised to learn that the story was loosely based on the real life murders of Mary Lou Morris and Mary McGinnis Morris in October 2000 in Houston, Texas.

I live in the Houston area and don't remember those events at all. Since the movie is so off-the-wall, I wonder if anything in it, other than the 2 deaths, happened in real life.

In any event, I found the movie entertaining. Despite some weirdly funny scenes, it's not really a comedy. The mystery was interesting enough to keep watching. All in all, I don't regret the time spent watching the film.

Watch it on Prime Video if you're a subscriber, or rent Maggie Moore(s) from Amazon or one of the other streaming services.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Jon Hamm always delivers a solid performance. I find he is quite good at blending into the characters he portrays, and he made this film watchable.

Joan participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising designed to help websites earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. If you click an Amazon link in her post, she may receive a small commision at no extra cost to you.

Have some reading fun this week!

Snag one of Joan's popular RomCom books for only 99¢

Do you subscribe to Joan's newsletter, I LOVE READING? If not, why not?

To receive exclusive content and news about book bargains and new releases,

SIGN UP TODAY.

MONDAY MAGIC - 6 Window Key Shortcuts

Here are some ways to enhance your computer  skills that might save you time. These work on Windows 10 and, I think, on Windows 11, but check one on 11 to make sure.

KEYBOARD TRICKS

1. If you need 2 apps open at the same time on your desktop, do this: open 1st app by pressing the Windows key + left arrow. Open 2nd app by pressing Windows key + right arrow. Now, you should have 2 windows sharing your screen. 

2. Show all apps currently running on your computer by pressing Ctrl + Alt + Tab will show you all the apps currently running on your PC.

3. If you need to leave your computer for a bit, and you don’t want anyone messing with what you're working on, lock your user profile by pressing Windows key + L. You would then unlock it by entering your user password.

4. Open the File Manager by pressing the Windows key + E. 

5. To use the magnifier wherever your pointer is, press the Windows key and + (plus) to increase magnification or Windows Key and - (minus) to decrease magnification.d out wherever you point your cursor.

6. To take a screenshot and immediately save it in the Image folder on your hard drive, press Windows key + Print Screen. 

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Using keystrokes speeds up your work on a computer and saves some repetitive stress caused by using a mouse.

Love to read? Sign up for my free Newsletter, I LOVE READING. Once a month, you'll receive exclusive content and news about giveaways, bargains, and new releases.

BEST LAID PLANS FOR SOIL AND SUN

Background Image by Jill Wellington, Pixabay

As you can see, I'm still not back in the office full-time.

We have various home improvement projects going on which require my time and attention.

With the mornings finally cooler, I've dived into the landscaping projects we've had on the drawing board since the spring.

When we moved into this house 4 years ago, I drew up a landscape plan. Every year has been so busy and has had so many unexpected interruptions that the plans have never reached reality. This year I'd planned to change that.

My determination grew as each month brought new challenges—selling our country home and moving all contents into storage, transporting the furniture a few pieces at a time to a consignment shop, and so many other events that cropped up.

Through it all, I vowed to get my landscaping plans accomplished. 

In order to make that happen, it means all the other things I do must wait their turn.

By next week, I hope to be back blogging, working on another new book, posting to social media,  sending out my monthly newsletter, and so much more.

THIS WEEK'S GARDENING TRIUMPH

I thought I'd make myself accountable by relating my gardening accomplishments here. So far, I've removed the paving stones from a small garden patio in the back corner. That space will be the new home for a transplanted fig tree with the paving stone laid behind the garage as a platform for the generator.

I've transplanted Purple Shower Hibiscus from a giant pot into 3 patio pots and Darling Hubby planted 2 loquat trees to anchor the landscaping in the garden that spans the back yard.

Tomorrow, we transplant azaleas and plant some new ones.

Why change landscaping as if one is moving furniture around in a house? I guess it's like Emilia Fox  said, "When I go into the garden, I forget everything. It’s uncomplicated in my world of gardening. It’s trial and error, really. If something doesn’t work, it comes out, and you start all over again."

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

In a complicated and confusing world, uncomplicated is awesome.

Do you subscribe to Joan's newsletter, I LOVE READING? If not, why not? To receive exclusive content and news about book bargains and new releases, SIGN UP TODAY.

Review - OZ on HBO Max

I may be the last person in the world to watch the prison drama series, OZ, which premiered on July 12, 1997, and ran for 6 seasons until the finale on February 23, 2003.

Created, co-executive produced, and principally written by Tom Fontana, the 1-hour drama series was set at Oswald State  Correctional Facility, a fictional men's prison, it was an original offering by HBO.

Frankly, the series sounded too grim and depressing for me in my younger days. Now older and more used to the realities of life, I found myself interested in this award-winning series.

The marketing poster for the series was a play on the beloved Wizard of Oz movie in which Dorothy chants, "There's no place like home." For the TV series, that line was changed to: "It's no place like home."

Throughout the series 6-season run, the stories are all about the prisoners struggle to fulfill their own needs—physical and emotional—and to simply survive incarceration and all of its associated dangers. Danger is all around with gangs of every ethnic persuasion and inmates usually so damaged mentally and emotionally that they give no thought to heinous actions.

Oz, Complete Collection, Amazon

Prisoners and correction officers battle to survive when every day may be a threat to their existence. As depicted by the show and by many documentaries, prison is as awful and scary as can be imagined.

 Inmate Augustus Hill narrates each episode and provides context and analysis to the events. Often this narration is told with a wry sense of humor.

The actors who can list Oz on their resumes are numerous. Here they are with their character names.

• Harold Perrineau = Augustus Hill
• Christopher Meloni = Chris Keller
• Lee Tergesen = Tobias Beecher
• Dean Winters = Ryan O'Reily
• Eamonn Walker = Kareem Saïd
• Rita Moreno = Sister Peter Marie Reimondo
• J. K. Simmons = Vernon Schillinger
• Terry Kinney = Tim McManus
• Kirk Acevedo = Miguel Alvarez
• Luna Lauren Velez = Gloria Nathan
• Ernie Hudson = Leo Glynn
• Edie Falco = Diane Whittlesey
• Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje = Simon Adebisi
• George Morfogen = Bob Rebadow
• Kathryn Erbe = Shirley Bellinger
• 
  Otto Sanchez = Carmen Guerra
• Craig Grant = Arnold "Poet" Jackson
• BD Wong = Father Ray Mukada
• Tom Mardirosian = Agamemnon Busmalis
• J. D. Williams = Kenny Wangler
• Scott William Winters = Cyril O'Reily
• Luke Perry = Jeremiah Cloutier
• Lance Reddick = Granville Adams
• Chuck Zito = Chucky Pancamo
• Dena Atlantic = Sandra Purpuro
• Blake Robbins = Dave Brass
• Robert Clohessy = Officer Sean Murphy
• Evan Seinfeld = Jaz Hoyt
• Luis Guzmán = Raoul "El Cid" Hernandez
• Jon Seda = Dino Ortolani
• Michael Wright = Omar White
• Tony Musante = Nino Schibetta
• R.E. Rodgers = James Robson
• Kristin Rohde = Officer Claire Howell
• Betty Buckley = Suzanne Fitzgerald
• 
  Mark Margolis = Antonio Nappa
• Anthony Chisholm = Burr Redding
• Edward Herrmann = Harrison Beecher
• Philip Casnoff = Nikolai Stanislofsk
• Antoni Corone = Frank Urbano    
  
• Steven Wishnoff = Tony Masters
• Charles S. Dutton = Alvah Case
• David Zayas = Enrique Morales
• Brian Bloom = Ronald Barlog
• Leon Robinson = Jefferson Keane
• Charles Busch = Nat Ginzburg
• Sean Whitesell = Donald Groves.

 SHOULD YOU WATCH OZ?

If you like well-scripted, well-acted drama, absolutely watch this. Be forewarned that it's graphic, violent, realistic language, and often emotionally heart-breaking. 

Long after watching an episode, you'll find yourself thinking about the stories depicted by stellar acting. 

You'll find yourself seeing the prisoners as deeply flawed human beings who, through nurture and/or nature, did not possess the ability to be "normal" members of society. 

I'm not a shrink, but I think somewhere between conception and childhood or teenhood, something goes wrong with a human being. Whatever that is, without intercession, it sets someone on a path of destruction—of self and of anyone who comes in contact with them. That's not to excuse criminal behavior, but it does make it somewhat understandable.

I guess those of us who think of ourselves as normal are always looking for a reason as to why a person engages in criminal behavior.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Oz is rivetting and sad and heartbreaking. It's drama at its best.

Joan participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising designed to help websites earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. If you click an Amazon link in her post, she may receive a small commision at no extra cost to you.

Do you subscribe to Joan's newsletter, I LOVE READING? If not, why not? To receive exclusive content and news about book bargains and new releases, SIGN UP TODAY.

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving

Image by Linda Roisum from Pixabay

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian friends.

To my American friends, here's a little bit about Thanksgiving as celebrated by those north of the border.

Thanksgiving in Canada is a national civic holiday, not a religious one. It was first celebrated in 1578, when English explorer Martin Frobisher held a ceremony to give thanks for his safe arrival in what is now Nunavut.

At various times over the next few centuries,  Thanksgiving was observed at various times over the following centuries to celebrate momentous occasions such as the birth of a royal child or military victories.

Gradually, the celebration began to focus more on the harvest for the agrarain country. In 1762, the first community Thanksgiving celebrated the harvest in Halifax. 

In 1879, Thanksgiving was declared a national holiday with the date originally set as November 6th. As the years passed, the date varied though and after the end of World War I, it was merged with Armistice Day.

Finally, in 1957, the Canadian Parliament officially set the second Monday of October as Thanksgiving Day, making it a holiday separate from Remembrance Day in November. It's still not a federal holiday in some provinces, and in Quebec, it's called Action de grâce.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

I didn't know much about Thanksgiving in Canada so I'm glad I did a little research on it. I hope you found it interesting too.