Book Review: Wynn in Doubt

By: Emily Hemmer

**I was given a free ebook in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley**

This seems to be a recurring theme just now. Wynn's life has stalled. She had wanted to see the world, but somehow felt everyone needed her. She works at a local bar, she subs, and she is there for her family. But she isn't there for Wynn. Enter Oliver, hot music star and high school crush she never got over. And I'm not talking about she loved his work, he went to school with her. Turns out, he had all those same aspirations for her. He couldn't believe she was still in town and hadn't actually been anywhere or done anything.

Along with that she finds out her great-grandmother hadn't died when her grandmother was a baby. She had run off. But why? For some reason the drive to know what happened is tied to what will happen to Wynn.

I liked the story, but I felt the interactions were a little over the top. Ok, so the great-grandmother ran off. Wynn's mother and sisters were incredibly bitter about a woman they knew nothing about. I mean, the grandmother barely even spoke of the woman, so where the heck did all that anger come from? I also was annoyed at how bossy her family was, then when she expresses the desire to go but feels stuck, they are all "well Jesus, it's about time you grew up!" I mean, really? I get that they love her, but they sure aren't nice about it.

But suspension of disbelief, right? I did get into it, which means the writing is pretty good...the story is pretty good.

Book Review: Too Many Cooks

by: Dana Bate

A debut novel, how fun! I just liked the look of the story, and couldn't wait to give it a go.

I loved it. The main character is quirky and not quite sure what to do with herself. Kelly kind of fell into ghostwriting cookbooks, and has the perfect boyfriend...too perfect. When her mother dies and leaves her a letter about shaking up her life, and she gets a call from a movie star who wants her to ghostwrite a cookbook for her in London, she decides to go for it. How bad can it be, right?

The movie star is insane. And crazy she can handle. Her parents are pretty much out there, but this level of crazy would make anyone wonder what they had been thinking!

The lady has been a star too long and has no sense of reality anymore. She's in a loveless marriage, and Kelly develops a crush on the husband. That was not the romance I was expecting. I couldn't help cringing and hoping she wouldn't go there. But there is another possible match. So I am rooting for Henry, the young man she met through a mutual friend.

It's not surprise that Kelly really wonders what she is doing there. She absolutely loves cooking and she is great at it. Why is she writing cookbooks for other people?

What on earth will she do if she walks away from this.

Poor Kelly feels trapped.

Well written chick lit. Some romance, but this is about Kelly's journey.

Book Review: The Perfect Son

By: Barbara Claypole White

This book blew me away. It deals with serious family and neurological issues. Ella is at the center, with her husband on one side and her son on the other. Harry, the boy, suffers from Tourette syndrome and ADHD. He also has a healthy dose of anxiety. Felix, the husband, is not diagnosed with anything, but he is way too serious. He chooses to work and stay out of Ella's way with Harry.

This works, until Ella suffers a massive heart attack. Now Harry and Felix only have each other, because Felix is not one to ask for help. You can't help rooting for both of them, even though I truly detested Felix in the beginning. It just goes to show how quickly we judge people without knowing the whole story. They really come together over worrying about Ella, whom they both rely on.

You are left wondering, who is the perfect son? Harry and Felix find that they are striving for the same thing, to please their impossible-to-please father.

This book is incredibly well written and has smooth pacing. I received this for free from my Amazon Prime, but volunteered to review it through NetGalley.

Book Review: Who Do You Love

by: Jennifer Weiner

First of all, I'd like to thank my local library for getting this ebook for me!

The book starts out with Rachel in bed, heartbroken. Barely able to move. Then it starts out when she's a little girl. And it jumps to Andy as he grows up as well. They both have issues. Rachel has a heart defect, and Andy is half black and half white, feeling like he doesn't fit in anywhere. He lives alone with his mother, and has all the added responsibilities as such. I can relate to that, but the author really paints what he is going through so well.

The two meet when she is around 8 I think...in the hospital. She is there recovering from heart surgery, she finds him in the ER waiting room favoring a newly broken arm. They meet again as teenagers and start dating, long distance. But things just keep happening, and they can't get in sync.

It's so sad. You keep rooting for them.

I loved this book, and felt it was perfectly paced. I read it quickly though, it was just too good to put down.

Book Review: A Window Opens

by: Elisabeth Egan

I truly related to Alice Pearse, the main character in this book. The story is completely from her perspective, which I felt worked in this case. It was about a mother returning to the work force full-time, juggling all that entails. Her husband quit his job to start his own law practice...which added stress to Alice, she has to find time to be with her father, who is a cancer survivor. The job she gets is in direct competition with her best friend's bookstore, so that adds stress as well.

I liked the bookish perspective, and as a mother trying to return to work I get the stress that causes. The biggest issue is that the company she works for, keeps changing it's goals. First it was about offering First editions that people requested and having a great place to hang out and read. Then it was all about ebooks...and it kept shifting from there. Poor Alice was out of her depth.

I loved when she told her mother that she hated her job, her mother doesn't even miss a beat. She's known that for ages. lol

Alice's husband certainly starts the mess, but Alice makes it worse. Can she get back in control?

There were many times I felt the story moved too fast, but I really enjoyed the story. And I suffered from book hangover after, so clearly that format worked overall.

Book Review: The Red Sun: Legends of Orkney

by: Alane Adams

A book along the lines of Percy Jackson, but with Norse mythology. Sounds great, right?

I hated it. Now please temper that with the fact that my 9 year old says he loved it and won't let me give away the book. It was torture for me, and I couldn't wait to finish. I felt the main character was unlikable, as he seemed to go out of his way to make the worst possible decision. The other characters weren't developed much and you could take them or leave them. I didn't feel you got to know anyone very much. And some things that didn't make sense seemed to be put there just because other kids books do it. Like Sam's friend telling him that if he can't do it, no one can...or something along those lines. I literally stopped reading and stared at the book, "based on what???" The friend hadn't seen him do anything at that point. Neither fighting or magic, so where is that unwavering confidence coming from??? Just little things like that started wearing on me.

There's one scene that even CW agreed with me, the young lady is home alone waiting for her father to return. She hears a knock on the door and her first thought is that it must be her father. Seriously? That's your first thought? That would be my last thought because parents don't generally knock on their own door.

So as an adult, I was incredibly disappointed. CW did like it, but he even felt it was a stretch more than once. And what's worse, is I really wanted to love it. We were both excited to read this one.

It's around middle school aged, but I would recommend parents check it out themselves first. It's a bit dark fairly often, and Sam is not a perfectly charming character.

Hmmmm, maybe I should be recommending it. While I was annoyed, I was definitely feeling something strongly. lol

Alane Adams isn't a bad author. I think her writing was solid, and I would giver her another chance. But not Sam of Orkney...nope, I'm closing the book on this chapter. I think she needs to explore another genre and find her fit.

Book Review: Royal Entertainment

by: Marni Fechter

This was pure entertainment. It was a quick and light read. I read this in about a day, really fast for me. I liked it, the characters and the storyline. But all in all I found it lacking. The characters were really superficial. Even Melody didn't know her motivations. She was a social worker who loved the kids she worked with. But her boss was embezzling money. But even that didn't quite make sense. After she was fired, and quite frankly she was right to report him. But the board met, and took her information but couldn't get her rehired. If she's a social worker getting kids the education they need and really fighting for them when they don't have the resources to fight for themselves. She would have been a government employee, not some company. She couldn't have just been fired over the phone, and she could have been rehired. Then she applies at other places...what other places? It's the state government at the very least. Other offices are not other companies and she would have had to go through the state. Ok - that just bugged me.

Then she starts working for Charles Ribbon. Great man that he is, like a gay uncle she knew through a friend. He hires her to work for his party planning company. She doesn't seem to understand what she is doing, the lady training her refuses to giver her any information. Charles just yells at her for not knowing what she is doing but then throws expensive clothes at her. But he seems to love her, and thinks he can't do it without her. Why? She doesn't even grasp the business. But she is personable and can talk to anyone. Most importantly, it seems, she is pretty. She also has gigantic boobs...not sure why this is even part of the story. Is anyone naturally a double-G and skinny? Anyone? It's hard to imagine a down to earth social worker with the body of a porn star.

In spite of all of this, I still really enjoyed myself. It's like reading Sex in the City. You hate it, yet you can't stop...next thing you know it's way past your bedtime and you've just binged. It's trashy and oh so fun, even when it bugs you and doesn't make sense.

I'm going to keep my eye on this author. I think this is her first book, in which case it's an amazing first go. I think Marni Fechter has real potential. She needs to watch her storyline, develop her characters and she'll go very far.

Book Review: Love Letters to the Dead

by: Ava Dellaira

I found this one on sale at Amazon, and it really ignited my curiosity. It's about a teenage girl writing letters to dead people, such as Kurt Cobain, Janis Joplin, Amelia Earhart and Judy Garland. It started as an assignment for English class, but as it was so personal she couldn't bring herself to turn it in.

Laurel has a lot to deal with. She is in a brand new school, as a freshman. Her parents are divorced, and her mother just ditched for California. Laurel's sister died recently, and she is still reeling from grief.

I loved the letter format, and how it kept the story moving forward. Laurel talked about her past, he grief, her sister, and her current events. Because what happened in her past, has a lot to do with her present.

It's wonderful that she found some great friends who had her back, even though she held back. They knew about her sister, which is what Laurel wanted to avoid. But she misunderstood. Yes they pitied her, but they also gave her the space she needed with it. They left it for Laurel to talk about when she was ready.

There's a lot of sad in this, and probably there should be a trigger warning. She deals with some things that to this day young women have to deal with.

But it is truly well-written and I enjoyed it very much, especially the poetry and trivia about the people she was writing to.

Book Review: The Red-Hot Chili Cook-Off

by: Carolyn Brown

This starts out with Carlene finding absolute proof of her husband having an affair. What's worse? She sold the other woman those panties she found and she knows who it is. The woman had the gall to brag about her "sugar daddy" and her getting away for the weekend. She even came in later to brag about the success. Carlene understandably blows her top.

My favorite part of this whole book is that Carlene doesn't even consider taking that turd back. She runs Bless my Bloomers with her 2 cousins. And the three women are daughters of 3 close sisters. All 6 women and their seamstress decided to enter the Chili Cook-Off just to serve just desserts.

It's full of laughs, ups and downs, even some romance. And most of all, women standing strong. With the arguments and what not, nothing stands between family.

Nothing too deep, but it was a lot of fun. Beach read, anyone?

Book Review: Second Helpings at the Serve You Right Café

by: Tilia Klebenov Jacobs

I loved this so much. The general theme seems to be about redemption and second chances. Eden runs the Serve You Right Café with her assistant Emit First. Eden has given Emet a second chance. Emet served time in prison, and Eden took a chance on him. Emet was lucky...how many people never get that chance. It really made me respect Eden, and Emet was a wonderful young man, totally deserving of that risk.

When Emet meets Mercedes, he gets pulled into her messed up family life and his own freedom is put at risk. Her brother is a pathetic drug addicted narcissist. He thinks that he deserves to sit on his butt and live off his sister and mother, because he is special. He clearly will stop at nothing to get his way, and he isn't good at thinking through consequences.

Will Emet get caught in the wrong place at the wrong time? Will Emet forgive Mercy for this trouble? Will her brother finally grow up?

It was an exciting novel. And the overall message was great. Has anyone ever given you a second chance? Did you pay it forward?

Book Review: Kissing in America

by: Margo Rabb

This book touched a lot of emotional places. Eva is experiencing grief for the loss of her father. He died in a plane crash, so it was a terrible shock to her and her mother. Since then, both women are just going through the motions, until Eva meets Will. But then he moves to California to live with his father.

This is where it goes off track. Eva is too young to drive, too young to leave home really. She gets her friend to sign up for a scholarship contest so she can get out there to see Will. It's just childish the things this girl does.

But it's realistic, I think. Who makes the best choices when experiencing deep grief? Add to that a neglectful parent who is suffering from her own grief. Eva was just a girl trying to feel better.

I had a hard time putting it down, even when it was bitterly painful. I'd call this a coming of age novel more than romance.

Book Review: The Yellow Rose Beauty Shop

by: Carolyn Brown

Sometimes a book grabs on and won't let go. This is #3 in a series, which I did not know before. I have to go read the others. I enjoyed all the sassy characters and their little Texas town. The Yellow Rose Beauty Shops is owned by Stella. Her mother wants grandchildren and puts her name on the church prayer list to ask God to find Stella a husband.

Heather, the person in charge of the prayer group puts it on the sign in front of the church for all the world to see. Oh lordy, Stella is spittin' mad!

She ends up in a big fight with her mom, Nancy. She also ends up in a bit of a feud with Heather. Heather thinks she is going to start a Marriage Ministry, helping young women find husbands. Not if Stella and Agnes have anything to say about it. Agnes is a feisty old woman, who has been in a lifelong battle with Heather's aunt. No way is this going to disappear quietly.

It was a fun read, very light. Lots of comparisons to Steele Magnolias, but definitely not as heavy. Agnes is often compared to Ouiser, though. And we can all pretty much agree, who wouldn't want to be that tough in her old age? I know I would.

I read this in just over a day. So while I would say it is very light and a perfect travel book, it also demanded my full attention just because it was so colorful.

Book Review: It's You

by: Jane Porter

It's You was given to me by BookSparks in exchange for an honest review.

I'm a fan of Jane Porter's women's fiction. I didn't even realized that one character was from another story. I found that tidbit in a review. This takes place in Napa, along with Jane's Brennan Sister's novels. I loved those stories, it's just been awhile since I read them.

Craig is the bachelor vineyard owner along with his brother Chad. Craig is there with his Great Aunt Edie. Ali and Edie are the main characters of this novel. Ali lives in Arizona, but makes the trip to visit her father after he has a fall. Ali is recovering from the loss of her fiancé and mother, within 6 months of each other. Edie is a crotchety old lady in the retirement community her father lives in.

It is healing for Ali to be in Napa. It gives her something to focus on, and let's her open up to new relationships. Friendships with new people, figuring out her relationship with her father, deciding what she wants. She was on such a straight path with her Andrew. Now that he is gone, she feels adrift, and so very angry.

I felt this was such a realistic look at love and loss. How to recover and move on, reminding us there is no real rule. You just have to keep moving forward, and keep moving forward. Push when you feel like giving up. But this just makes her more angry at Andrew. He gave up, how could he? Ali has to figure out how to forgive him and move on.

Edie gives us a startling look at the reality of war from within Germany. She was there as WWII was beginning. She was American, but gave up her citizenship to marry a German officer. People hear that and immediately judge Edie, never realizing there is so much more to this story. Franz was the love of her life, and a true German citizen.

He was fighting for Germany, his Germany. It is hard, especially as Americans, to understand that not all Germans during WWII were Nazis. Maybe not enough, but there were citizens fighting against what Hitler was doing. People who were rightfully horrified by what was happening in their country. But no one bothered to try and understand this about Edie.

Book Review: A Spool of Blue Thread

by: Anne Tyler

Again, I must say thank you CRDL, my favorite library.

I've never read Anne Tyler. But this book kept popping up. Amazon recommended it, Facebook friends kept it in my newsfreed. I think I must have liked her FB page as well. I don't know. But the point is, I liked the title and the cover. Don't judge a book by it's cover? Yeah, right!

So, when I saw this available digitally through my library, I snatched it up. Amazon, I love digital books. And authors, I know you give so much for your art. But economic circumstances being what they are, I can't afford $10 for a digital book that I may not even like. So, yes, I love my library.

Anyway, my point is I didn't really know much about the book just that it kept popping up. So I grabbed it.

It was amazing! It's about a family, mostly from the mom's perspective. She is thinking, remembering her family and her life. She has four children, and her boy Denny causes nothing but worry. He is forever pulling away from the family, and causing friction within it. He is just aimless, though, and not very responsible. Even when he becomes a father and gets married, he still keeps drifting.

When Abby starts losing moments, her son Stem (really Douglas) moves in with his wife and 3 boys. Abby doesn't appreciate the help. She thinks she is just fine. It does concern her, but not enough to do something about it. She just thinks she has moments when she forgets what she was doing, no big deal. Even though she gets locked out of the house during a storm in her pajamas.

The story jumps around between current events and Abby's memories. Then something big happens and the book makes a huge jump to Abby's past. When she was dating Red's friend. She has known Red since she was a child, having attended school with his sister. But something changes and she falls for him. We get to see it, and it is pretty sweet.

Then we jump again. To Red's father. How he ends up with Red's mother. And that is a look into the family history that no one else ever knew about. His father was quite closed about where he came from and completely out of touch with his family. Red and his sister didn't even know about any of them. So, what brings his father to Baltimore? How does he get the family house that everyone knows he fell in love with.

And then we move back to modern times. This last jump bothered me. It was messy and not much was resolved. But maybe that was on purpose. Life is messy and it never, ever gets resolved like it can in a book.

Over all I enjoyed this story. I truly enjoyed the pacing and Anne's writing style. It passed fast. I swear I was at 27% and next thing I knew it was finished. I didn't even realize it. So yes, if you enjoy Women's Fiction or Modern Literature. It's a story about a family in a world where no family is perfect.

Book Review: New Uses for Old Boyfriends

by: Beth Kendrick

I can't believe I didn't track down a review copy of this one (got this from my library - thank you CRDL!!!). It's the 2nd Black Dog Bay novel, the first being The Cure for the Common Breakup. I did review that one and I did enjoy it. These aren't real heavy, but you do end up caring about the characters. You need to read The Cure for the Common Breakup in order to know the side characters.

In this novel we have Lila who starts out selling her wedding rings. Apparently her life has turned to crap in a big way. She lost her husband, her job and all her money. Without any other options, she moves back home to take time to figure things out. Plus her mother has been asking for help since her father died. Turns out her mother doesn't have any money either.

She kind of falls into starting a vintage clothing business with her mother, she's good at selling and her mother really knows fashion. She tries to start things up with her ex-boyfriend from high school, but find they are better friends. But what about this ex-military guy who is secretly great at sewing? Is there something there worth pursuing?

This right here is a perfect beach read. Not at all difficult and quite entertaining. Black Dog Bay would make an interesting TV show. Has anyone pitched this to Lifetime or Hallmark?

Book Review: The Art of Baking Blind

by: Sarah Vaughan

This story starts with baker, or all around fine cook and author, Kathleen Eaden. We are randomly treated with chapters from her point of view. It's not the happy story that everyone seems to imagine. Thinking she had been wildly successful until leaving the limelight to take care of her daughter and husband full-time.

Modern day, there is a competition to find the new Mrs. Eaden. There are 4 women and one man in this contest. We really only see this from the 4 women's perspective. There is a smattering of the man, but mainly that he is interested in Claire.

Claire is a single mother, working in a grocery store to make ends meet. Oddly enough, it's an Eaden store.

Vicki is a stay at home mom to 3 yr old Alfie, trying to have another baby and trying to figure out how to feel fulfilled in this role. But her husband is fairly supportive and she has her mother to lean on as well. Her biggest problem, and I'm guilty of this too, is not asking her husband to do more childcare. Assuming since he works outside the home, everything else is her job. Some days that is overwhelming.

Jenny is a plus-size woman embarking on middle age. Her husband has decided to completely change his lifestyle with no regard to his wife. To be honest (and clean) he's a jerk. Her daughters think that Jenny is the one pulling away until they witness their father go off on Jenny. She bakes to comfort herself, now that it no longer comforts her family.

Karen is the opposite of Jenny. She is starving herself, never eating what she bakes. She has 2 teenage children who are pulling away from her and a husband who never was that close. She had a very rough time as a teenager, and that she isn't more of a mess actually surprises me.

This story, stories...these women...are all fantastic characters. You really have no idea who to root for. That was the hardest part. Getting to the end of the competition. I didn't want to know the winner, because that would mean one of these other women lost.

But they become good friends and lean on each other when the need is there. It's a beautiful thing.

This is a book from England, so watch out for all the unfamiliar words and phrases.

Book Review: If You're not the One

by: Jemma Forte

I've had this one on my TBR list for awhile. Amazon and my library keep placing it in front of me by way of recommendation. Booksparks obliged by asking me to review it this summer.

My last book dealt with the outcomes of one choice. First one way and then the other. I was pleasantly surprised to see this one had a similar idea. The main character, Jennifer is looking over where she is in her life. Her husband is pulling away and lord knows her reaction isn't helping. She feels trapped and that induces a certain amount of panic. I can understand that. It is scary to attach yourself to someone and trust that they will keep your best interests at heart. Instead he slowly loses respect for her. Jennifer is mostly a stay at home mom, recently working part time while the girls are in school. She finally has a little time to breath and look over her marriage. She really doesn't like what she sees, but is it too late to turn things around?

For some reason, not made clear until much later, she runs out of her house and is hit by a car. While in a coma, her brain takes her to her 3 most important relationships that could easily have ended in marriage. What would have happened? She goes through door #1, #2 and #3. While jumping around those possibilities, we are caught up on what has been going on between her and Max. She had a hot Australian, Aiden. In college she was with a wicked smart but not very demonstrative man named Tim. And immediately before Max, she was seeing Steve.

I expected a lighter story, but this deals with real mistakes and consequences in this woman's life. And we get a clue that Jennifer is truly battling depression. It never comes out with that, but the always present line of dissatisfaction that Jennifer feels is a not-so-subtle hint.

While it does jump around in time and stories, I felt it was pretty easy to follow. No harder than The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. Yes it goes forward and backward, changing complete storylines. But the story also has an easy flow, it really isn't hard to follow. It is unique and quite exciting to read. I really enjoyed my time with this book and recommend to anyone who enjoys women's fiction.

I am adding Jemma Forte to my favorite author list to see what she comes out with next. Oh happy day! She has other books out already.

Book Review: Maybe in Another Life

by: Taylor Jenkins Reid

This is a neat little book about Hannah, who feels she has fully messed up her life and moves home to Los Angeles. She is staying with her best friend and they go out her second night back. She meets up with her old high school boyfriend. There are two choices presented, stay out with Ethan or go home with Gabby. The rest of the book jumps back and forth on two distinct timelines. One, she goes home with Gabby and Ethan hooks up with one of Gabby's friends. Hannah is hit by a car and must work on recovery. In the other one she goes home with Ethan and they begin an intense love affair until she finds out she is pregnant by the married man she had been dating previously. Will Ethan stay or run? Either way, Hannah is having the baby.

It was interesting the things that stayed the same and the things that changed. Because each chapter jumps back and forth, you really have to pay attention. If there's one thing people might dislike about this book, it's that. Personally, I loved it. It has a predictable flow, and it's easy enough to keep track of.

This book surprised me. I thought I had an idea on what was going to happen, but nope...I was wrong. I was pleasantly surprised on both storylines, and appreciated what Hannah went through in both. Gabby had her own issues, and that was an interesting thing to watch as well. Hannah's one choice leads to other choices, and has effects on everyone around her. Her story changes everyone's story, too.

Book Review: Beautiful Girl

by: Fleur Philips

Melanie is 17 years old, but has already lived a full career in the modeling/acting world of Los Angeles. Her mother has been dragging her to auditions and jobs since she was 4 years old. Her mother had her own aspirations, until she became a single mother. She passed, or forced, those dreams onto her daughter. Melanie doesn't have the guts to stand up to her mother, but she hates it. She hates the fake friends, the teenage life she has given up.

One day, driving home from visiting her only friend (who isn't much of a friend, btw), she gets in an accident. Her face is ruined. Melanie isn't sure how she feels about it. Her mother acts like she can't be seen, which just makes her feel worse. Plastic surgery is scheduled, and in the meantime they hide away in Montana.

And this is really where Melanie's life changes. She meets a boy and falls in love. Things come to a head with her mother. Melanie will never go back to the way things were before.

This book was very fast paced and hard to put down. The romance was so sweet, innocent. The stories within the story.

I was at a wedding reception when I finished this, and I had a bit of a book hangover. lol

Product Review: Aegend™ Adult/Youth Swim Goggles with Case(Blue)

***Aegend sent me these swim goggles in exchange for an honest review.***

I wasn't expecting to be too impressed. I've tried so many swim goggles. I guess I'm cynical because of my kids. I can never get them a set that last...or even work. Seriously, they break almost immediately or they don't keep the water out or both!

The marketing person I worked with said these were for adults. But this is what they look like and the Amazon description says adult and youth. Anyway, they fit my 9 year old son and worked fine. They came in the coolest case I've ever seen. You twist the end and it opens up. I seriously want something like that for my glasses, please and thank you.

The color is a very rich blue. It appealed to me, I'm into blue. The straps are easy to adjust. There's a thing to press on either edge of the goggles to adjust the strap size. And instead of having to maneuver them over your head, there's a snap in the back! Now you might think that's not a big deal, but when you are sharing them with your 9 year old, who keeps changing his mind...the easy adjustment and the snap were a godsend!

We were all set to go swimming at the next town's pool, but storms were rolling through. We ended up at the Comfort Inn in Mt. Pleasant. They were so nice about letting us swim there. $5 per person is hard to beat! It's by our house, so no driving to the next town. It is indoors, so no worry about storms. And on a Monday afternoon, there were no people there either.

I loved the goggles myself. They kept the water out of my eyes, which made swimming easier. I'd forgotten how nice that is. Luckily CW kept going back to the kid goggles they had there. But those were such a pain. I told CW I'd buy him his own pair, and offered one to Ivan. He's not sold, but I think he wants one of those face mask ones. The price is far lower than I was expecting, so yeah, CW's getting his own set!

Now let me tell you about Ivan. He has never been one for going underwater. He's been practicing. He was scared but he let me toss him in the water - which I do to CW all the time. He loved it! And he was so proud of himself. Then he got out and jumped in, another first! Then he tried jumping in 4 feet, then 5 feet. He was amazing!!!