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Friday, July 21, 2023

The Keurig K-Duo Plus Single Serve & Carafe Coffee Maker Reviewed

This past winter, when Treasures by Brenda featured the Keurig K-Duo Plus™ Single Serve & Carafe Coffee Maker on our Best Christmas Gifts List, I knew I wanted it. Actually, I needed it! I put it on my Christmas wish list as my #1 gift choice and it was definitely my favorite Christmas gift. Each morning, when I make my coffee, I am thrilled to have this awesome coffee maker and I am grateful to my parents for giving it to us.

My 20+ year old beloved Keurig Single Serve Coffee Maker had started leaking. Every morning, my first task was to clean the water up underneath my Keurig before I could have my first cup of coffee. The leak was slow enough that it didn't require immediate replacement and I did not want to spend the money to replace it until it was absolutely necessary. But, I knew replacing it was inevitable and probably not too far off regardless of my procrastination.

While I have loved my single serve Keurig coffee maker, I have missed being able to make a full carafe of coffee to serve with dessert when we have guests. Gathering around the single serve coffee maker and waiting your turn before you can enjoy dessert is not a pleasant experience. Most often, I would end up taking coffee "orders" and making a cup of coffee for each of our guests. This took a lot of time away from our company and I wanted to be in the dining room partaking in the conversation.

Seeing the Keurig K-Duo Plus™ Single Serve and/or Carafe Coffee Maker gave me a desire to retire my old, original Keurig coffee maker and that was not a feeling I had before I was introduced to this new style.

Benefits of The Keurig K-Duo Plus™ Single Serve & Carafe Coffee Maker

I have already mentioned the ability to make a carafe of coffee or a single serve cup of coffee, but there are additional benefits to the K-Duo Plus coffee maker.

Keurig® K-Duo Plus™
Single Serve & Carafe Coffee MakerCheck Price

Smaller Space Required on the Counter
Water Reservoir can be Placed on Back or Either Side
Water Reservoir has a handle which makes it very easy to hold, fill and carry
Strong Brew Option
Multiple Brew Sizes (6, 8, 10 or 12)
Carafe or Single Serve Option
Accommodates Travel Mugs (up to 8" tall)
Auto Shut-off 5 Minutes after Each Brew
Programmable Carafe Brew
Thermal Carafe Stays Warm Up to 2 Hours
Pause & Pour Carafe Option (if you want a cup of coffee quickly)
Clock
Measurements: 14.9" Height
Measurements with Water Reservoir on Back: Depth: 15.88" - Width: 7.68" (due to front drip tray)
Measurements with Water Reservoir on Side: Depth: 11.7" - Width: 8.2"

At first, I wasn't sure that I would like the auto shut-off after 5 minutes. Of course, auto shut-off is extremely important to us, but I am accustom to it shutting off after an hour. Turns out, I love the shut-off after 5 minutes! Because it heats up fast, there is no reason to leave it on for an hour. Plus, when we are leaving the house immediately, the coffee maker shuts-off before we have even left the driveway. I no longer have to worry that the coffee pot was left on.

Because the thermal carafe holds heat, a warming element is not necessary with this coffee maker. Therefore, your coffee doesn't start to burn on the bottom which ruins the flavor of coffee, plus makes clean-up harder.

My husband and I both agree that the Keurig K-Duo Plus™ Single Serve & Carafe Coffee Maker is the best coffee maker we have ever had. Plus, we love how great it looks in our kitchen!

Along with my new coffee maker, I needed a smaller k-cup drawer. The one shown below is the one we selected and fits perfectly. The mug holder you see in the background in my introduction photo can be purchased by clicking this link.

Keurig K-Duo Plus Single Serve & Carafe Coffee Maker
Water Reservoir Back or Either Side
Click to Check Price

Nifty Coffee Pod Drawer - 30 Pod Capacity
Click to Check Price

Thursday, July 20, 2023

Charcoal Chimney Starter Reviewed

Over the years I have been back and forth between charcoal and gas grills. Five years ago my daughter gave me a Char-Griller Smokin Champ combination offset smoker and grill. Ever since I've been all about the charcoal grilling and smoking.

If you're cooking with a charcoal grill or a smoker, then a chimney starter is a must-have. The chimney starter is the easiest and fastest method of lighting any kind of charcoal. Getting your charcoal started and ready to cook is really easy. To me, the chimney starter is the safest option. You could use charcoal lighter fluid but the chemicals found in lighter fluid could leave your food tasting like the fluid.

The chimney starter in the photo is my Weber Rapidfire Charcoal Chimney Starter. I have had this one for five years now.

Features of my Chimney Starter:

It measures 13-inches High

7.5-inches in diameter

Cone shaped grate on the bottom

Ergonomic handle with heat shield

Lightweight

Durable Construction

How to use a Charcoal Chimney Starter:

The first thing that I do is flip it over and wad up 3 sheets of newspaper placed in the bottom of the cone-shaped grate. You can buy charcoal starters specifically made to light a chimney, but I find the newspaper works just as well.

Turn the chimney over on the grill grates and light the newspaper. I use a small grill and set it up on a picnic table. When you light the newspaper you'll see a lot of white smoke as seen in the photo. Don't worry this stops once the charcoal gets going.

In this photo, you can see the red glow of the charcoal moving up to the top. Looking at the top the coals are starting to turn white on the corners. This chimney is ready to dump into my grill. The process will be about 15 minutes and you'll be ready to cook with hot charcoal.

A word of caution: For dumping the hot charcoal into your grill you should have a grill glove made for high heat. I use heavy leather gloves when I'm dumping the charcoal. The hot charcoal can be 500 degrees or more. The charcoal chimney is a fast and easy way to start your charcoal.

Rapidfire Chimney Starter BBQ Fireproof Gloves, Grill Cut-Resistant Gloves 1472°F Heat Resistant Gloves, Non-Slip Silicone Oven Gloves, Kitchen Safe Cooking Gloves for Oven Mitts,Barbecue,Cooking, Frying,13.5 Inch-Red

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Wednesday, July 19, 2023

The Best Travel Toiletry Bag for Women Is a Bargain!

I've purchased a lot of travel toiletry bags over the years to accommodate my makeup, makeup brushes, skin care, shampoo, hair styling products (such as heat protectant), deodorant, face and body sunscreen, toothbrush and toothpaste, etc. None of them worked well for me until I tried the NISHEL travel toiletry bag for women.

I'm delighted to share this excellent find. Here's my product review of this lightweight and large capacity toiletry organizer that folds down compactly when not in use.

NISHEL Travel Toiletry Bag Organizer - Spacious, Lightweight, Compact

I've purchased quite a few travel toiletry bags in my quest for one that met my needs. Unfortunately, they were either too large, too heavy, or not configurable to fit the variety of sizes and shapes of travel toiletries, makeup, brushes, etc., I like to take with me on trips.

Finally, I discovered this bag while watching a product review video (or maybe Instagram Live) from a well known beauty influencer whom I would gladly credit if I could remember which one.

It has quickly become one of my favorite travel accessories. Here's why I love it.

Well Thought-Out Design Holds a Lot of Toiletries, Keeps Them Organized and Easily Accessible

The NISHEL Travel Toiletry Bag for Women Large Capacity, Travel Essentials Organizer, Hanging Makeup Case for Accessories, Cosmetics, Toiletries is designed for optimal toiletry organization.

Two handles make this lightweight travel toiletry organizer bag easy to carry.

A large outer zipper compartment on the front provides easy access without opening the organizer.

The bag is slim and compact for storage when not in use and has a front zipper compartment.

The bag unzips fully to lie or hang flat.

When unzipped, it lies flat or hangs straight. The top and bottom flaps fold out for extra storage.

Once unzipped and with the flaps unfolded, there are four interior zippered sections with see-through, clear plastic fronts.

NISHEL travel toiletry organizer, fully opened

When unzipped with the flaps folded out, there are four generously sized, zippered compartments with clear plastic fronts to keep all your makeup, skincare, shampoo and other travel toiletries organized and easily accessible.

Keeps Limited Sink and Counter Space Clear

In many hotels and vacation rentals, bathroom counter space is at a premium. The NISHEL travel toiletry bag can hang on the shower rod, towel rack or door hook to keep from cluttering up the limited sink and counter space. And it's easy to see where all your toiletries are, even mini travel sizes, and access them easily throughout your stay.

A Place for Everything and Everything in Its Place

That was one of my grandmother’s favorite sayings and one that definitely applies to this hanging toiletries organizer.

Here is a close-up look at each of the four interior zippered compartment sections, along with a peek at what I put into each section when I did a trial run of this organizer in anticipation of our next vacation.

Top Flap Section

The top flap is a zippered compartment with a sturdy hanger hook. It folds out to let you hang the organizer in a closet or in the bathroom.

Top flap compartment of NISHEL travel toiletry bag

I packed two eyeshadow palettes in the top flap zippered compartment. You can see the attached hanger hook that lets you hang this travel toiletry bag in a closet or on a door hook.

Top Center Section

The top center section is a very generously sized, zippered compartment with a clear plastic front and elastic-top nylon mesh pockets.

Upper middle compartment of NISHEL travel toiletry bag

I put a bunch of makeup brushes, eye pencils, mascara, lip glosses and a blush compact into the upper center zippered compartment with the elastic-top divided mesh bag. As you can see, I could have easily fit quite a bit more into this section!

Lower Center Section

The lower center section is another generously sized, zippered compartment with a clear plastic front. This one has two rows of wide, elastic strips across the center, stitched down in staggered sections, to securely hold products in a wide variety of shapes and sizes.

Lower middle section of NISHEL travel toiletry bag

I put two bottles of facial mineral sunscreen, a large can of mineral sunscreen spray, an eye treatment and concealer with SPF, toothpaste, floss and deodorant into this section with elastic loops and still had room to spare.

Bottom Flap Section

The bottom flap is another zippered compartment similar to the top flap, but without the hanger hook.

Bottom flap compartment of NISHEL travel toiletry bag

In the bottom flap zippered compartment, I put travel size shampoo, conditioner, styling products, and my Dnsly electric toothbrush in its hard travel case.

Note that this doesn't even include the exterior front pocket, which can fit additional toiletry or other travel items!

This travel toiletry bag has a large capacity that holds everything I want to bring with me and keeps it accessible and organized during my trip. Despite its large capacity, it's also extraordinarily lightweight, which I love!

Either of the two main center compartments can be used to hold makeup brushes securely, if desired.

A Choice of Colors

This travel toiletry organizer comes in the following colors (I've provided descriptions because some of the color names are a bit misleading): Pink (dusty rose-beige), Aegean Blue (soft navy), Lake Blue (dusty dark teal), Purple (dusty medium lilac), Rosewood-Pink (dusty chestnut brown) and Black.

I purchased the Pink, which looks more like a beige to me.

NISHEL Travel Toiletry Bag Pink

NISHEL Travel Toiletry Bag Aegean Blue

NISHEL Travel Toiletry Bag Lake Blue

NISHEL Travel Toiletry Bag Purple

NISHEL Travel Toiletry Bag Rosewood Pink

NISHEL Travel Toiletry Bag Black

An Affordable Travel Gift

The list price of the NISHEL travel toiletry bag is $29.99. However, at the time of this product review's publication, the Amazon price was only $23.99.

The Matching Travel Accessories Also Are Great, Affordable Gifts

I love that this brand also makes coordinating travel accessories (not all of them are available in all the colors).

The NISHEL Travel Jewelry Organizer for Necklaces, Earrings, Rings, Bracelets, Watch is 9.5" long × 5.5" wide ×1.5" deep. Its slim profile belies its generous capacity, thanks to its four buckled straps to hold necklaces or bracelets, five zippered pouches, earrings panel that can hold 14 pairs of earrings, and a long buckled band to hold multiple rings securely.

It has a list price of $23.99; the Amazon price at the time of this product review’s publication was $16.99.

The NISHEL Double Layer Travel Makeup Bag Women, Large Cosmetic Case, Organizer for Travel-Size Accessories Bottles, Brushes, Conditioner, and Skin Care Products is a large train case style makeup travel bag that a deep bottom section that holds a lot of makeup and skin care products, as well as a large, separate zippered compartment on top that can accommodate a very large number of makeup brushes.

It would be great for a makeup artist to carry to client appointments or for anyone who has a large makeup collection.

It has a list price of $29.99; the Amazon price at the time of publication was $22.99.

I think the NISHEL travel toiletry bag, travel jewelry organizer and cosmetics train case would all make wonderful, affordable gifts for women, especially those who love makeup, skin care, hair care or jewelry.

The Best Travel Toiletry Bag for Women Is a Bargain! by Margaret Schindel

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Tuesday, July 18, 2023

A Review of Siamese Cats as Pets

Siamese cats have been around for hundreds of years. It is believed they were first seen during the Ayutthaya Kingdom, which was between 1351 and 1767. At that time the country was known as Siam. In 1939 the leadership of Siam was changed from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy, and along with this formation, the name of the country was changed from Siam to Thailand, which is what it is known as today.

Legend tells the story of Siamese cats being collected as treasures of war by the king of Burma, who brought them home to live in his palace, believing them to bring luck and power to those that kept them. At that time, royals were the only ones allowed to keep these cats and they had the run of the palace and grounds.

This is all conjecture, of course, the exact origin of Siamese cats is not known for sure, only that they have been kept by humans for a very long time!

Or do the Siamese keep us? That is a question for another time....

The first Siamese cat arrived in America in 1879 as a gift to President Rutherford B. Hayes from from the American consul in Bangkok. The female cat, named Siam, was the first Siamese to live in the White House, but not the last as the daughters of both Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter had these beautiful cats as pets and they roamed the White House as their ancestors did the King's palace.

Why Many People Think Siamese Cats are Mean

Many people think Siamese cats are mean and they would never want one as a pet. Much of this misconception comes from the 1955 cartoon movie Lady and the Tramp, that almost every youngster watches multiple times during childhood. The portrayal of Siamese cats in this movie makes them look not only mean and destructive but also cruel to other animals.

See the movie clip below from Lady and the Tramp.

I am sure it was not a deliberate act on the part of the screenwriters, they probably had no idea at the time that this movie would make many kids (that later grew up into adults) think that Siamese cats were mean and would not make good pets. Even today, in 2023, when I have repairmen or painters come in my house most of them always say "Your Siamese cats are so friendly, I always thought they were mean!"

Siamese Cats Are Not Mean!

I grew up loving Siamese cats. I never had one as a kid, but I loved the look of them! So beautiful and regal. I knew they were the cat for me! I got my first Siamese in the mid 90's and I have had 5 others since. I have three of them now! Affectionately called "Meezers" I have adored all my Siamese cats. They are lovable pets, just ask anyone that has one. They are pretty much like any other cat, the only major difference being they are very chatty. They like to talk to you and will hold a conversation with you, if you give them the chance. The bad thing is, only they understand the entire conversation, since they understand human language and we have no clue how to speak cat!

Don't ever doubt they understand what we say!

Siamese Cats as Pets

I have had both male and female Siamese and found them to be equally loving. Some are more cuddly lap cats and others want to be around you all the time, but not touching you. Some are more a one person cat and others are attention hounds to everyone that will pet them. Each has their own personality, just like all cats. One great thing about Siamese cats is that they are long lived, and if cared for properly easily live 15 to 20 years!

One Thing I Have Noticed From Experience

The cats we got as small kittens have turned out to be more loving, calm and trusting of us than the ones we have adopted as adults. I would bet that this is probably true of most cats, but it seems especially true of Siamese. Two of the Siamese that we have now were adopted as adults. It took a very long time for them to warm up to us, and I am still not sure that they trust us completely. Not knowing their history before coming to us, it is impossible to know what happened in their past to make them how they are, but we still love them unconditionally.

Here are the cuties we adopted from a rescue:

Tater Tot - adopted 2020 at 1 year old

Jazzy - adopted 2022 at 5 years old

Here is the cutie that raised from a kitten:

Bitty - now 13 years old

And last but never least is my two boys that have already passed.

Tiny - passed at 18 years old and Benjamin - passed at 16 years old

Tater is a flame point Siamese, with probably an orange tabby mixed somewhere in his ancestry, which is most likely responsible for the stripes in his tail. Jazzy is a seal point Siamese/ Ragdoll mix, which accounts for her long, beautiful fur. Bitty and Tiny are full blooded Siamese from a breeder, and Benjamin we got from a friend who found him as a kitten in an alley in the city. I have no proof of lineage on him, but the vet said he looked full blooded as well.

It doesn't seem to matter if they are full blooded Siamese or not, if they have Siamese in them, they are characters that love to talk. If you don't like cats that meow a lot, these cats are not for you. However, if you want a fun companion to keep you company, Siamese are perfect!

If you want to know more about Siamese cats, this is the book for you! It has all the information you need to decide if you would like a Siamese companion.

The Complete Guide to Siamese Cats

I could be prejudiced, but I believe you could not make a finer choice for a pet than a Siamese cat. They are sweet and loving and lots of fun. If you don't believe me, ask any Siamese, they will be happy to tell you! Meow!

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Monday, July 17, 2023

Reviewing the Osprey Daylite Plus Backpack

The Osprey brand of backpacks has been a brand I have relied on for over a decade. My first Osprey pack was a large pack with a frame. It was large enough that I could carry nearly everything but the kitchen sink on my outings. As I have aged and my outings are shorter and less frequent, I thought it was time to downsize my pack. I purchased the Osprey Daylite Plus Pack and I couldn't be more pleased.

Why I Chose the Daylite Plus Day Pack

I have recently begun to make time to resume day hikes and quickly discovered that my original Osprey pack was far too large for my current needs. Osprey has a huge selection of packs but I eventually narrowed it down to two: the Daylite and the Daylite Plus. Both bags are perfect for daily use (school, college, work, carry-on size for travel) as well as camping and hiking. I chose the Daylite Plus for the slightly larger pack.

The Daylite Plus has two compartment in the main portion of the bag. I prefer having a divider in the bag as it can keep things separated. For example, if I choose to carry a water resevoir it will stay put in it's own section. If I choose to carry a laptop, it will stay in place in that pocket and away from the items in the other section of the bag.

The Daylite Plus bag also has two side pockets that are the pefect size for carrying water bottles. And two zippered front pockets that can keep smaller items separate in addition to the "pocket" that I use for stuffing my jacket or small beach towel into.

This bag can cinch up with the straps to make it streamlined when I'm not carrying much. Those same straps loosen to allow much roomier space. Not only do I think this bag will be great for my hikes but will also be great to wear to festivals and farmer's markets.

The material is different than my original bag so I will have to update this later to report whether or not this new material holds up as well to the abuse I doled out as the material on my first bag did.

The Osprey Brand

I've never been a hardcore hiker. But I used my orginal pack in a variety of circumstances. I carried it for miles, one way, to reach a favorite fishing hole. I carried it on trails through marshes to get to a sandy beach. My original backpack was on my back while bushwhacking through thorny greenbriar patches in forests. That original pack is sunbleached, pocked with campfire ember holes. And still smells a bit of fishing bait. But it is still very usable. It has held up while I've become semi-retired from those longer adventures. When I thought about purchasing a new pack, I knew I'd look at the Osprey brand first.

I have discovered that they offer "remnant" bags. Those are bags that are made from some of their remnants that result from the manufacturing of their bags. I have also discovered that they are now using recycled materials but are still able to produce bags that are "durable and can take years of everyday wear and tear."

Osprey currently offers a line of Daylite packs:

Daylite Cinch
Daylite Kids
Daylite
Daylite Plus
Daylite Tote
Daylite Waist
Daylite Duffel
Daylite Sling

On their website, you can find the entire Daylite line in the Lifestyle Day Packs category.

Finally, I do want to mention that if you like to save a few dollars it is helpful to comparison shop on both Amazon and the Osprey website. If you click each color offered, as I did, you may find a pack at a substantial savings. Personally, there's no way I'm paying full price for a backpack so I was pleased to find different colors of the same bag on deep discount.

Related Links:

The official Osprey Website Osprey.com

The Osprey Store on Amazon

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Sunday, July 16, 2023

The Power of Journaling - The Pathway to a Positive Mindset

In a world filled with constant distractions and stressors, journaling is a timeless practice that nurtures our mental well-being and fosters a positive mindset.

Recognizing the stresses that face us daily, I've designed and created five different styles of prompt journals over the past several years. My research began with the fundamentals of journaling, why it matters, and how it helps to create a positive mindset.

In this article, I delve into why journaling is essential to maintaining a positive mindset and offer five practical tips to ensure a successful and fulfilling journaling practice.

Why Journaling Helps With Attaining Positive Mindset:

By putting pen to paper, we unlock a portal to self-discovery, introspection, and emotional release.

Journaling provides a safe self-care haven to express our thoughts, emotions, and experiences, allowing us to gain clarity, reduce anxiety, and cultivate gratitude.

Emotional Catharsis: Journaling provides a healthy outlet for processing and releasing emotions, reducing the burden of unresolved feelings and promoting a sense of relief.

Self-Reflection: Regularly writing in a journal allows us to gain insight into our thoughts and behavior patterns, leading to greater self-awareness and personal growth.

Gratitude Cultivation: By jotting down things we are grateful for, we shift our focus from negativity to positivity, fostering an attitude of appreciation and contentment.

Stress Reduction: Journaling can lower stress levels as it helps us organize our thoughts and encourages problem-solving and coping strategies.

Positive Affirmations: Writing positive affirmations and declarations can boost self-confidence and reinforce a positive self-image.

Tips for Successful Journaling:

Set a Regular Schedule: Establish a consistent journaling routine, whether it's daily, weekly, or whenever you feel the need to express yourself. Consistency will make journaling a habit.

Create a Sacred Space: Designate a special corner or use a beautiful journal to make your writing experience more enjoyable and encourage you to return to it regularly.

Embrace Freewriting: Don't worry about grammar or structure; just let your thoughts flow freely onto the page. This technique helps you bypass your inner critic and fosters authentic expression.

Focus on the Positive: While it's important to acknowledge challenges, try to shift your focus toward positive experiences, gratitude, and achievements in your journal entries.

Use Prompts and Themes: When you need inspiration, use journaling prompts or themes to kickstart your writing. Explore topics like personal growth, aspirations, or daily wins.

Journaling is an invaluable companion on the journey to a positive mindset, providing us with a space to process emotions, gain insight, and cultivate gratitude. Putting our innermost thoughts onto paper carries the power to heal, uplift, and transform our perspectives on life.

Journaling Can Be A Challenging Commitment to Make

It can be tough to write in a journal every single day, but it's important to keep up with it, even if we miss a few days.

That's why I've compiled these easy-to-use prompt journals featured below and available on Amazon.

These journals are designed with specific topics in mind and offer handy prompts that help you keep track of your emotions and thoughts about whatever's going on in your life.

And here's a neat feature in several of these journals - you can score your mood. It's a nifty way to see how you're feeling over time and better understand your overall disposition.

You can check out the journals below; they're available on Amazon:

Gratitude Prompt Journal My Happy Tracker: A Helpful Guide to Track What Makes You Happy and Help You Visualize Triggers and Trends Why I Feel Good Today: A Fun Colorful Monthly Workbook to Instantly Track Good Feelings - For Teens and Adults I Need Help Thinking Positive: A Negative Thoughts Workbook For Adults - 31 Days with Four Easy Prompt Questions Repeated Daily to Track Those ... What Common Threads May Be Triggering Them Why I Feel Bad Today: A Casual Full Color Workbook For Teens and Adults Self Awareness Workbook - Comprehensive Introspection: 196 Detailed and Thought Provoking Questions to Ask Yourself

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Saturday, July 15, 2023

Shattered by James Patterson - Book Review

A Michael Bennett Thriller

Author James Patterson has written over 200 books, some of which have been co-authored by several different people. His genre is varied, including stand-alone thrillers, non-fiction, and romance novels. In addition, he is known for several series, such as the Alex Cross series and the Women's Murder Club series.

This book, Shattered, is one of the latest in one of my favorite series by Patterson – The Michael Bennett Series.

Michael Bennett

The main character in the Michael Bennett series, is a New York City police detective who is the father of ten adopted multicultural children. His wife died young and a young Irish girl named Mary Catherine became the family nanny. Michael also gets help with his large family from his grandfather, Seamus, who raised him. Seamus, after raising his own family and becoming widowed, decides late in life to follow a calling and becomes a Catholic Priest. Mary Catherine, Seamus, and all the children play a big part in each Michael Bennett story. Thus, with each book in the series, you have a thriller that is a murder mystery coupled with equal parts of Michael's family life.

Plot of Shattered

As Shattered begins, Michael, who earlier in the series fell in love with Mary Catherine, is on his honeymoon in Ireland. As their trip nears its end, Michael finds a missed phone call from Emily Parker, an FBI colleague he had worked with on past cases.

Emily, an FBI abduction specialist, had worked many cases with Michael and they had become good friends. When Michael cannot reach Emily, he discovers that she failed to show at FBI headquarters in Washington, DC.

After returning to New York and settling in with the family, Michael admits to his new bride that he feels he must look into Emily's disappearance, even though DC is far outside his jurisdiction. As he delves into this most personal of investigations, he discovers that Emily has been keeping secrets. She had forged powerful connections in the political world and consequently made enemies who have motives to silence her – and her protectors. That just may include Michael.

Summary

Shattered is Book #14 of 15 in the Michael Bennett Series. As always the case with a James Patterson book, the plot is a good one and the interspersing of family life keeps this thriller more warmhearted and fun to read.

Shattered is co-authored by James O. Born. Patterson has often said that collaborating with others brings new and interesting ideas to his stories. He admits that he is simply more proficient at dreaming up plots than crafting sentence after sentence.

*Book Review of Shattered written by Wednesday Elf

Shattered by James Patterson, a Michael Bennett Thriller, is available on Amazon.

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