| Checked Out: March Book Review- The Romanovs, The Final Chapter |

My favorite childhood movie, without a doubt, was the animated tale of Anastasia, released in 1997 by 20th Century Fox. My sister and I watched the VHS on a monthly basis for years- we knew all of the songs, adored all of the characters (with the exception of Rasputin) and appreciated the whimsical storyline once […]

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| Checked Out: February Book Review- Empire Of Sin |

If you haven’t been able to tell by my previous blog post, New Orleans was a place that left me spellbound, captivated by the surrounding sights and intrigued to learn more about the history of such an eclectic, eccentric world. I picked up Gary Krist’s “Empire of Sin” at the “Librairie Bookshop” on Chartres Street; […]

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| Checked Out: January Book Review II- More Than You Know |

It’s a cold, snowy night in Virginia and I am compelled to cozy up with a blanket and jot down a few thoughts about the book I just finished, “More Than You Know,” by Beth Gutcheon. The story unfolds in Dundee, Maine; An old woman confides in the reader immediately by declaring an eery revelation: […]

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| Checked Out: January Book Review- A Gentleman In Moscow |

My goal was to read twelve books in 2018, a feat that I have not been able to accomplish for several years. Although I am disappointed that I didn’t quite cross the finish line, I am still proud of the strides that I made in not only reading, but reviewing and recommending ten books over […]

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| Checked Out: October Book Review- The Next Person You Meet In Heaven |

“Best. Day. Ever.” I sent those three words and a picture of Mitch Albom’s book, “The Next Person You Meet In Heaven” to my best friend, just two days after the novel arrived on bookshelves. We exchanged words of giddy elation, sent a few dozen exclamation points back and forth before I put my phone […]

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| Checked Out: September Book Review- Brida |

After I fell in love with “The Alchemist,” by Paulo Coelho at the beginning of the year, his name caught my eye while scanning library shelves on my last visit. I picked up “Brida” and the back cover sounded interesting enough to check the book out: It foreshadowed, according to the summary, “a tale of […]

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