The stuff that got us through the week! Mid-September edition...
Welcome to the weekend!
You made it! And so did we. Actually, I was on a research trip this week. Both my suspense novels (coming in May 2024 and 2025 are set in Portland, Maine, so I had to visit! I had a great week, so long as we’re not counting the state of my email inbox.
And our friend Jenn pointed out that a lot of people have a holiday on Monday, which definitely got her through the week! ❤️
Scroll for more goodness!
Books
Yup, books always get the top billing, because books will always see us through! I’ve got two gems for you this week:
Portrait of a Scotsman by Evie Dunmore. Broody hero alert! What a delight this book was. These two are like oil and water, and they have to fight for their HEA. It’s super fun watching them butt heads. This is a standalone—no prior experience necessary. At: Amazon | Apple | Kobo
4000 Weeks: Time Management for Mortals is not your average time management book. It’s more philosophical than that. I love the way this man thinks. Amazon | Apple | Kobo
Note: I’m listening to the audio via Hoopla and the author does a fabulous job with the narration.
TV
Have you seen Welcome to Wrexham? It’s a documentary series about a struggling soccer team in Wales—Wrexham A.F.C.— after it's acquired by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. These two are hilarious as they grant us an inside look at the foibles and triumphs of reviving a low-tier team with celebrity star power. It's a blend of sports, business, and quirky character-driven storytelling. (It’s also the kind of show that I can watch with the whole fam because there’s something for everyone.) For fans of Ted Lasso, sports, and generally nice people who are also frequently hot. ;)
S2E1 just dropped, but it’s not too late to watch Season 1. (Hulu)
Snacks
We’re going old school this week with Barbara’s Jalapeño Cheese Puffs. Use them responsibly.
Warning:
These should probably be classified as a controlled substance.
Travel
Have you ever been to Portland Maine? I LOVE IT SO MUCH. Such a cute little city, with a real working port. It’s very walkable, and with great restaurants and atmosphere.
I mean… how many little cities have a Kombuchery?
Sarina’s Portland favorites include:
The Honey Paw for the fabulous Asian fusion (and the veggies…the fried bread…the ice cream)
Bread and Friends for breakfast (don’t miss the fried potatoes)
The Black Cow for burgers & beer
Terlingua for BBQ and margaritas
The Press Hotel for a splurge