Best Books and Movies and TV of 2023

Music

Kelsea Ballerini - I’m obsessed with the above song and her Rolling Up the Welcome Mat EP.

Old Dominion - the new album is great, but their whole discography makes me happy.

Taylor Swift’s Midnights isn’t my favorite album from her but some of the songs on it are my favorites, if that makes sense. Love Anti-Hero, High Infidelity and Mastermind because I feel like a lot of my heroines could relate to the lyrics.

Books

These are the books that I kept thinking about all year long, as a human, a reader and an author. Click a title to get the Amazon link.

Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers - Jesse Q. Sutanto [cozy mystery with an unforgettable sleuth with great descriptions of food and friends]

The Blonde Identity - Ally Carter [fast paced rom-com-spy-adventure]

Finlay Donovan is Killing It - Elle Cosimano [first in a series about a harried single mom and people thinking she’s a killer for hire]

The Second Ending - Michelle Hoffman [quirky story about ambition and mistakes and second chances]

A Little Ray of Sunshine - Kristan Higgins [a tear jerker about motherhood, family and community]

The Fourth Wing - Rebecca Yarros [international fantasy bestseller. I call it Top Gun with Dragons]

A Traitor in Whitehall - Julia Kelly [debut historical mystery set in Churchill’s war rooms]

A Girl Called Samson - Amy Harmon [historical fiction loosely based on a woman who dressed as a man to fight in the American Revolutionary War]

The Last Daughter of York - Nicola Cornick [English cozy paranormal time slip murder mystery]

PodcastS

Say More with Dr? Sheila - an improvised podcast featuring a faux therapist played by Amy Poehler

Strike Force Five - a limited series hosted by five late night show hosts during the writers’ strike (Stephen Colbert, John Oliver, Seth Meyer, Jimmy Kimmel and the other Jimmy.)

I listen to Conan Needs a Friend off and on, but this episode featuring Steve Martin and Martin Short is comedy GOLD. I think I wiped away tears of joy.

Wilder - I’ve recommended this to everyone this year. It’s about the true story behind Little House on the Prairie and the Ingalls family and a reexamination of their stories in the 21st century.

Television/ MovieS

Daisy Jones & the Six - I’m such a huge fan of the book (here) and I loved that the movie captured the spirit and was also its own thing.

Shrinking - on Apple TV. I’ve watched this series twice now and laughed and cried and felt more human. The cast is perfection. Each actor holds their space and feels vital. I may even rewatch again.

Barbie - she changed the world this year. And Ken was fine.

#Kenough

Taylor Swift Eras (tour and movie) - I have so many deep thoughts about her and Beyonce’s tours but for now, let’s just include Taylor in all of my lists.

Succession - The last season was awe inspiring. Still amazing writing and acting that makes you simultaneously hate and feel sorry for each one of these awful characters. That last scene of Shiv and Tom in the car is my Roman Empire.

Oh Cousin Greg.

Flaming Hot - I have recommended this to everyone. Great, fun movie about the invention of Flaming Hot Cheetos - watch it during the holidays with your extended family.

And… one more suggestion… you could pre-order your favorite book of 2024 now… The Mystery in Moonshine is coming out in February… read more about it here!

My Favorite Things of 2020

My 2020 Favorite Things

All year long I’ve been trying to look at the bright sides of things. I’ve done a lot of “counting blessings.” My kids have heard it at least a hundred times now. Some days I’m giving thanks for the internet, even. Or for clean water, fresh air, sunlight.

2020 has definitely made me appreciate the essentials in life; health, food, safety, loved ones. I hope I never forget the lessons I’ve learned.

But let’s be real. I also acknowledge the privilege of all this. Of having the safety and security that leads me to be able to count my blessings.

As of the date of this post, only one member of my family has been stricken with SARS-COV-2.  In no way do I ever want to minimize this year to something trivial or petty when there have been such hardships for so many.

But I also can’t deny that some things have made my life better this year. So, know that I make this list from the very best place of my heart. These are some of the things that brought me joy, peace or sanity this year  and maybe you’ll find something that brightens your day too…

Music

Folklore – Taylor Swift. This probably won’t even end up being my “favorite” Taylor Swift album but it has rocked my world. The fact that she created such a beautiful, haunting album in the middle of a pandemic. The audacity of her creativity was like an arrow to my heart and deeply inspiring to this author.

Gaslighter - The Chicks – I’ve always been a fan of The Chicks, and their unapologetic return to music in a new divided political era was also inspiring on so many levels. I think MARCH MARCH will be a time capsule of 2020 and TEXAS MAN… well. It immediately went onto a writing playlist for me.

Chris Tomlin & Friends - On a different note (and going back to the counting my blessings thing), this album was what I put on when I needed to reset and remember how to do that. In some of the most stressful times this year, the song Tin Roof brought me back to a place of peace. (And Thank You Lord is another great track for Thanksgiving.)

 Books

I’m going to do a longer post on my reading in 2020, which wasn’t normal in any way. But just as a quick note, these are the books that I kept thinking about all year long, as a human, a reader and an author.

Atomic Habits – James Clear

Her Last Flight – Beatriz Williams

The Splendid and the Vile – Erik Larson

A Most Extraordinary Pursuit – Juliana Gray

Manhunting – Jen Crusie

Who Rescued Who - Victoria Schade

Where the Lost Wander – Amy Harmon

Your Body is Not an Apology – Sonya Renee Taylor

Podcast

Because it’s 2020, my podcast listening changed A LOT but this one I gobbled down and still haven’t stopped thinking about it: Winds of Change. It’s about the CIA, the Cold War, and rock and roll.

Television/ Movie

I was pretty strict with myself about shows I would watch this year. But again, these are the ones that inspired me, got my creative juices running or just made me HAPPY.

Schitts Creek - a story about love and loving others, despite their flaws. At least, that’s my take.

Ted Lasso - a positive story about living a joyful life that’s not naive or shallow. So much to love here I blogged about it separately here.

Sweet Magnolias - a cozy series about family, friends and a perfect small town was a tonic for my soul in 2020.

#Relatable

Songland - a show about creativity and the creative process. LOVE.

My imaginary best friend Shane.

Enola Holmes - I love a good intrepid heroine and historical mystery. Add Henry Cavill in period clothes? Damn right I’ll be thinking about it.

Succession - amazing writing that makes you simultaneously hate and feel sorry for each one of these awful characters.

Oh Cousin Greg.

The Great - great performances and writing and a historical political satire. Something unique and smart that didn’t get enough love.

Knives Out - honestly a perfect film.

Miss Americana - a Taylor Swift documentary. Y’all know I’m inspired by her process.

Personal Items

The things I couldn’t have lived without.

Peppermint oil – became part of my soothing nighttime ritual. Just worked for me.

Silicone straws + Yeti cup + True Lemon – to help me drink ALLLL the water

This Boots Mascara – it’s a tubing mascara so it really holds up to crying jags/ late night doomscrolling and all the makeup I need while wearing a mask

Airpods / good headphones. For walks, zoom calls and drowning out all the people in my home.

Breville coffee maker – this was a Christmas present last year and it seemed over the top but little did we know that my husband and I wouldn’t go to a coffee shop for 8 months and would enjoy this hardy machine multiple times a day. Plus, there was something so soothing about the ritual of making an Americano ourselves everyday.

And that is my list of things that helped me get through this trying year.

I hope we’ve all survived 2020 the best way we can and that 2021 will bring us joy, peace and security.

 Some links on this page may be affiliate links, which means I could receive a few coins for posting them. As always, thank you for your support and encouragement!

You Need to Watch Ted Lasso

We Need to Talk About Ted Lasso

This is the number one thing I’ve been telling people to watch lately. (And I’m NOT alone)

It’s a story about an American football coach who moves to London to coach an English Premier League football (soccer) team.

It’s a comedy, but it’s got the heart of Schitts Creek, the community of Parks & Rec and the quick wit of The Good Place.

It’s got incredibly supportive female friendships.

It’s about sports, but without the toxic masculinity. 

It’s about the culture clash between the UK and the US but without any false superiority.

It’s about relationships, platonic, romantic, community.

It’s about joy.

It’s about finding a new way to look at life.

It’s my favorite thing right now.

Watch it.

It’s on Apple TV. and you (all of us) deserve something this good in 2020.

Here’s a podcast about it because Brene Brown agrees with me (OF COURSE SHE DOES).

And when you’re done watching it, come find me on Instagram and let’s talk about how much you love it.

All These Things That I Love - Royally Royal Movies - September 2018

A monthly roundup of things that give me life...

Last month I shared some of my favorite romance-adventure movies, so of course, then I was asked, what are some of my favorite royally themed movies?

And I have to admit, I sort of paused. Because I don’t really think of a “princess” movie as being a separate genre. It’s either something I like and want to watch again, or it’s… not.

But I drew up a list anyway, and I definitely started seeing some similarities in the movies I picked. One, they all have royals in them (obviously.) Two, they all have humor and/ or romance. There are good movies and television shows about court intrigue and rising to power, etc., and I like watching those but generally, I need humor and that extra something else to re-watch.

Ready for my recommendations? 

Elizabeth at 90 - this is a documentary, also available on Netflix, prepared and narrated by Prince Charles on the occasion of his mother, Her Majesty’s ninetieth birthday. With never before-seen interviews and home movies, I just adored this peek into the lives of a woman who truly has defined the last century. And I’ll admit it, I cried. I don’t even know what that was about.

The Princess Bride - a true classic. Quotes from this appear in many a writer’s wheelhouse and the mix of adventure, romance and humor will never get old. Or mostly dead.

The Princess Diaries - another classic fantasy. The cast is perfection - who doesn’t love Julie Andrews and Anne Hathaway?- and it will always cheer you up on a gloomy day in Genovia.

The Crown - a gorgeous dramatization of Queen Elizabeth’s reign (I mean, that photo alone makes me want to write all the things ^^), I highly recommend watching this and the documentary above. I’ve rewatched the series and I love the actors so much. I’m not quite sure how I’ll feel about Tobias Menzies taking over as Prince Phillip. He was so devastatingly good as Black Jack Randall. I’m sure for the first episode of series 3 I’ll be terrified for the safety of HM. Here’s the most recent news about the third season of The Crown.

The Young Victoria - another gorgeous (I’m using that word a lot, aren’t I? But seriously, I just get lost in all the costume and sets of these period movies) film about, yes, Young Queen Victoria. The depiction of the courtship and early marriage of Victoria and Prince Albert is swoony.

And finally…

The Woman He Loved.

It’s a 1988 film about the love affair that ended a king’s reign - between Wallis Simpson and King Edward VIII. I don’t even know why this movie still is so firmly implanted in my brain. This was a television movie, and I’m not sure if I would have seen it on TV, or on a VCR (very old technology for those youngsters out there.) But something about this movie stuck with me - maybe it was the glorious angst of a king giving up his throne or the glamour of the 30’s and 40’s costumes, the beauty of Jane Seymour or the very intense furrowed brow of Anthony Andrews… who knows. It definitely made an impression on me as a pre-teen and then I was VERY invested in the same characters in The Crown.

Anyway, the movie is available in its entirety on You Tube here:

So those are my top recommendations for royally-themed movies! I’m putting my silly little self-made movie poster here again for The Royal Runaway. It comes out next month (!!!) and I can’t wait for everyone to read it and let me know who they see playing the roles of Princess Theodora of Drieden and Nick Fraser-Campbell.

No celebrity endorsement implied. Just inspired to play around with a movie poster of my own.

I'd love to hear what royally wonderful movies you love and what I need to add to my rainy day movie queues!

Reserve your copy of THE ROYAL RUNAWAY at:
Amazon || BN.Com || Simon & Schuster ||  Apple Books  ||Amazon UK || Kobo

All These Things That I Love - Drinks Edition - August 2018 & a COVER REVEAL

A monthly roundup of things that give me life...

I've got a very special drinks edition for you today!  A guest drinks edition brought to you by my British-American friend Julia Kelly to celebrate my new UK cover! 

First, let's look at my beautiful cover, then you can fix a very British drink to celebrate it! 

Isn't it fun?  I love seeing my book re-interpreted in different ways! So if you are in the United Kingdom, Australia, any part of the English speaking world that IS NOT North America, this is the cover you'll see for THE ROYAL RUNAWAY, my novel that is releasing 9 October 2018! (see how I used the right date format?)
 

Learn more about the book here and here!

And now please welcome my friend, author Julia Kelly. I asked her to tell us about a quintessential British summer cocktail. 

Author Julia Kelly and family. Probably role-playing scenes from THE ROYAL RUNAWAY.

Since moving to London, I’ve realized that there are a few reliable clues that summer is coming. People start wearing light jackets rather than heavy ones. Tennis players start thinking about dusting off their tennis whites. And the Pimms begins to flow.

If you aren’t familiar with Pimms, it’s an herbal-ish drink made from Pimm’s No. 1 Cup, lemonade, fruit, cucumber, and mint. Think British sangria, minus the wine.

In the UK, you can buy Pimm’s in cans, but that takes all of the romance out of the drink. Instead, break out your best water pitcher and mix up a batch. Just be careful. Depending on who’s mixing the drink and whether they add anything “special” to it (i.e. gin), it can be more potent than you think.

Julia’s Perfect Pimm’s

250ml Pimm’s No. 1 Cup

500ml British-style lemonade*

Orange, sliced

Strawberries, sliced

Cucumber, sliced

1 bunch mint leaves

Ice cubes

Slice your fruit and cucumber. (The beauty of Pimm’s is that you can customize how much fruit you really want). Place the fruit, mint, and ice into a large pitcher. Pour in your Pimm’s and lemonade over and stir. Pour out your Pimm’s and be sure to eat the liquor-soaked fruit when you reach the end of the jug. Enjoy with friends or (safely) by yourself. We won’t judge.

*British lemonade is not like American lemonade! It’s a slightly fizzy drink that’s more lightly sweet than sharp. In a pinch try flavoring sparkling water with a couple squeezes of fresh lemon.

Reserve your copy of THE ROYAL RUNAWAY at:
Amazon || BN.Com || Simon & Schuster ||  Apple Books  ||Amazon UK || Kobo

And Pre-Order Julia Kelly's next historical fiction novel, THE LIGHT OVER LONDON at:
Amazon || BN.Com || Simon & Schuster ||  Apple Books  ||Amazon UK || Kobo