The President's Daughter is the second collaboration by former President Bill Clinton and the master of thrillers, James Patterson. Their first book is The President is Missing, and the third is The First Gentleman. I reviewed The First Gentleman last month, and I'm just starting The President Is Missing.
The Plot: The President's Daughter
Matthew Keating was a one-term president and a former Navy Seal. As you can imagine, being the president of the United States, Matthew surely made some enemies along the way.
Matthew and his daughter, Melanie, are living a quiet life in New Hampshire, while his wife, Samantha, is off teaching in Boston.
His world is shattered when his daughter Melanie is kidnapped by a terrorist with a long-standing grudge against him.
Matthew was a one-term president and did not get along with his successor. Now he finds himself unsupported by the very government he served. Now, he is forced to return to his elite Navy Seal skills, taking matters into his own hands to bring Melanie home.
Patterson did an excellent job of navigating between political friction and the personal aspect of a father's worst nightmare.
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If you are a Tate's cookie fan than you can spot the infamous green bag
of Tate's from a distance at your favorite market (or white bag if gluten
free). My local market first started carrying Tate's, the original Chocolate
Chip flavor, known for its' crispy buttery flavor; the market now carries the
entire line of cookies including gluten free.
If you like your chocolate chip cookies on the crispy side then you will enjoy
Tates! I came across a copycat recipe for Tate's Chocolate Chip Cookies which
I have tried quite a few times and found very enjoyable. Not exactly the same
of course as the original Tate's but still yummy on its' own.
CopyCat Tate's Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
Ingredients
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 cup salted butter
3/4 cups sugar
3/4 cup dark brown sugar, firmly packed
1 tsp water
1 tsp vanilla
2 large eggs
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Serving size is a medium to large cookie. Line
cookie sheets with parchment paper.
Combine dry ingredients and set aside.
Cream softened butter and the two sugars in another bowl.
Then add vanilla and water to the sugar creamed mixture.
Add eggs, mix together.
Stir flour mixture into bowl.
Fold in chocolate chips.
Bake at 350 degrees for 12-16 minutes depending on your oven and how large
you make the cookies.
Medium-Large cookie size is 1.5 tablespoons of dough per cookie. Adjust up or
down to your preference and don't forget to adjust baking time.
History of Tate's
The idea and recipe behind Tate's is from Kathleen King from the
Hamptons. She has been creating desserts since 1980 and has two
cookbooks: Baking For Friends and the Tate’s Bake Shop Cookbook still
available on Amazon or used online book sites. As Tate's grew through the
years with the inevitable ups and lulls business' encounter, Tate's rise and
success of it's products was ultimately purchased in 2018 by Mondelez for a
reported 500 million dollars.
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I have always found love songs difficult to write.
Not because I don't believe in love — I absolutely do — but because it's so easy for a love song to slide into something overly sweet or just plain corny. A few too many dreamy lines, and suddenly it starts sounding like something that belongs inside a greeting card.
That's never really been my style.
Even when I was young, writing about couples' love wasn't what I naturally reached for. Most people enjoy writing poems or lyrics about romance, but I usually find myself writing about other parts of life, emotions, observations, and the things people quietly go through.
Lately, though, I've been pushing myself a little.
I decided to build a small collection of songs centered around relationships, weddings, and love stories. And when I sat down to write one, I realized the only way it would feel natural for me was to approach it as a story, not just a description of love.
That's how Marry Me – Fool began - It's become my husband's favorite so far of all that I've written:
A Moment on a Train Platform
I wrote these lyrics on March 3rd, 2026, as part of that little challenge I gave myself.
Since I've been married for over forty years, trying to step back into those early romantic feelings can feel a bit strange. Love deepens over time. It becomes steadier and quieter. It's beautiful, but it's different from those younger emotions when everything feels sudden and electric.
So instead of trying to recreate the feeling directly, I imagined a moment.
A crowded train station.
People are moving in every direction, all focused on their own lives. And amid all that movement, a man notices a woman standing on the platform.
Something about her catches his attention immediately. Maybe it's the way she carries herself. Maybe it's something he can't explain. But he knows he doesn't want to lose sight of her.
So he pushes through the crowd and boards the same train car she's getting on.
They don't speak during the ride. In fact, most of the story unfolds in silence — two strangers sharing the same space while he quietly hopes for a moment to connect.
That moment finally comes when the train reaches its stop.
He steps off, turns back toward her, and reaches out his hand, asking if she'd like help stepping down.
Those few words are the first time they have ever spoken to each other.
By the end of the song, five years have passed, and they're still together.
And it all started with a glance across a crowded platform and a quiet train ride where almost nothing was said.
I think stories like that stay with us because they tap into something many of us have wondered about at some point — those moments when someone walks into view and, for reasons we can't fully explain, they capture our attention completely.
Writing Marry Me – Fool reminded me that sometimes love stories don't begin with big declarations.
Sometimes they begin with something much simpler.
A crowded station.
A quiet train ride.
And a hand reaching out at exactly the right time.
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Since 1990, Harlan Coben has written 18 standalone novels in the mystery and thriller categories, and two series. This is an overall review of his 12-book (to date) Myron Bolitar mystery series.
The leading character of this Myron Bolitar series of thrillers has a leading character by the same name. As the series begins, Myron is a 31-year-old formerly renowned basketball player who won two NCAA titles in four years at Duke University after breaking all records in high school. Just after being recruited by the Boston Celtics, he had a career-ending injury to his knee in a pre-season game. His basketball prowess is often referred to in the character’s back-story throughout the series.
Afterwards, Myron returned to college, obtained a law degree at Harvard, and eventually became a sports agent with his agency, MB SportsReps, representing sports stars.
The two main supporting characters include his best friend, Win (Windsor Horne Lockwood III), an eccentric, philandering billionaire who often gets involved in Myron’s cases. Win can probably best be described as an anti-hero, having some psychopathic tendencies. In many of the books, Myron and Win debate the ethical nature of various actions, but they usually accomplish what they set out to do.
Then there is his assistant at MB SportReps, Esperanza Diaz, who eventually becomes his partner (in the 7th Bolitar novel Darkest Fear) after Esperanza gets her law degree. She’s very close to both Myron and Win and very protective of both.
Bolitar is a good agent for his clients, taking care of their needs and wants while being careful to not exploit them like bigger agencies. He has office space in the Locke-Horne Investments & Securities building, which is owned by Win. Myron offers his client the choice of hiring Win for financial management.
Myron is from a Jewish background, grew up in New Jersey, and is very close to his parents. His mother is a former lawyer herself, and his dad is a factory owner. His favorite drink is chocolate Yoo-Hoo.
Summary
The series has quite a few ‘adventures’, since Myron keeps getting involved in solving problems for his clients. This most likely comes from the fact that both Myron and Win once did some undercover work for the FBI. Thus, they keep finding themselves playing ‘accidental detectives’ when needed for Myron’s clients.
The Myron Bolitar series began with Deal Breaker in 1995. It currently has 12 novels, through Think Twice published in 2024. There is a spin-off of a three book young adult series featuring Myron’s nephew, Mickey Bolitar (the Mickey Bolitar Trilogy), which debuted in 2011.
Windsor Horne Lockwood III received his own standalone novel “Win” in 2021.
Win and Myron are both fans of Batman, often calling their transport the "Batmobile." There is quite a bit of humor throughout the series, which keeps these ‘thrillers’ more on the light-hearted side of suspense stories.
I have enjoyed all of Harlan Coben’s books, but most especially his Myron Bolitar Series and have read the entire series more than once. I highly recommend them to fans of thrillers/suspense/mystery novels and of Harlan Coben.
For more Book Reviews of books by Harlan Coben, click here
*The “Myron Bolitar Series” review was written by Wednesday Elf
+Intro image compliments of Pixabay
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Hazelhurst is book 4 of the Families of Dorset Regency Romance
series. I am sad to say that I finished reading the series last
night. As with all good books, I wish there were more.
Each of the books in this series introduces us to a young woman of the
Regency era in British history. It was a time when society and family
pressure to 'marry correctly' dominated lives. As much as I am
intrigued by the books written about the time period, I am most often
reminded of how grateful I am that I was not born during that time
period. Still, I remain intrigued by it.
Like many readers, I was originally drawn into Regency romance fiction by
Jane Austen and the Bennet family in Pride and Prejudice, as well as
the Dashwood daughters of Sense and Sensibility. At a very
young age, these books introduced me to a real part of history, their homes,
the British peerage (the hierarchy of nobility), even their fashion, but
mostly to the dominance of lineage. Like so many things, the facade is
beautiful.
I have read and reviewed several books by
Martha Keyes. She does a wonderful job of creating unique situations for us to
read about and consider. Hazelhurst is an excellent example of
how Keyes involves her readers in the life of her fictional character and
makes us feel a range of emotions for our new friend.
Synopsis of "Hazelhurst" by Martha Keyes
Hazelhurst: A Sweet Regency Romance (Families of Dorset Book 4)Check PriceLady Anne Vincent Haywood is devastated by the loss of her husband.
In this case, loss means exactly that. Her husband has
disappeared! She has no idea if he is dead or alive. All she
knows is that he has been missing for 3 weeks. Her brother has hired a
Bow Street Runner to help them find the missing husband, Anthony. What
he finds is unbelievable. The name Anthony Haywood is an alias.
His real name is Nicholas Hackett and he married his wife, Louisa, two years
ago. Therefore, Anne is not really married.
She returns to her parents home and is once again, living under her
father's rule. Lord Purbeck is determined to see the stain removed
from his daughter, his name, and his family. She will marry
Tobias Cosgrove. The Cosgrove family is wealthy, but has no
title. Lady Anne can bring a title to the marriage, but no
money. As far as her father is concerned, it is the perfect solution
for all.
Tobias Cosgrove's father and mother have informed him of his father's
agreement with Lord Purbeck. Tobias is not ready to marry and give up his
carefree lifestyle, but he has known Lady Anne all of his life through his
sisters. She seems a reasonable sort. He decides that perhaps
the two of them can come to an agreement of their own. It is with that
in mind, that he calls on Lady Anne.
Lady Anne is relieved by Tobias suggestion. She has already been
duped by the romantic idea of a marriage for love. Theirs will be a
marriage of convenience. Both families will get what they want and
Anne and Tobias can live separate lives under the same roof without romantic
entanglements.
Sounds perfect, right? Marriage is never quite that simple,
especially when the Ton is watching!
_________
Books by Martha Keyes Previously Reviewed on ReviewThisReviews.com
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I have been working on improving my diet over time, and have become more plant based as a result.
My latest endeavor, or wakeup call came from watching YouTube videos by Dr. Michael Greger. Greger not only has recommendations on the better choice of what to eat, he knows the science that backs it up.
I was so impressed with his knowledge, that I bought his latest book, The How Not to Age Cookbook.
It was in this cookbook that I saw a recipe for Roasted Asparagus with Tahini Lemon Sauce. Below is my photo of my results.
In the Introduction part of the book, I learned that berries appear to reduce mortality risk as much as green leafy veggies. Did you know that? I have heard a lot about getting your greens, but I hadn't heard about the praise of berries. Berries may benefit the eyes in a variety of ways and can also suppress inflammation in the gut. Pulling out information from three studies on eating berries, overall, those with a higher berry consumption tended to live significantly longer than those with a low berry intake.
I'm not even half way through the Introduction part, and there are a lot of terms that I am not familiar with; I won't even try to explain those. But for those that want the scientific background on the best foods to eat, and then have recipes that incorporate those findings, this book is for you. Or if you just want to eat more plant based, this cookbook is a great option.
I do like carrot cake, but am not a fan of cream cheese frosting, and I don't care for most things that are overly sweet. So I was also pleasantly surprised when I tried the Baked Carrot Cake Oatmeal. There is no frosting, a plus right from the start. However, it didn't have any raisins. I reduced the shredded carrots by around 1/4th of what was called for and replaced that with two small boxes of organic raisins. That added just a bit of sweetness to the recipe, and made it a hit with me. This recipe called for date syrup. (Dr. Greger has a recipe in the front of the book if you want to make your own.) The date syrup that I had on hand seemed to thick to me, so I reduced that by half and replaced the other half with water. That may have watered the recipe down more than it should have been, but the cake did come out very moist, so I added some extra baking time to it. That worked pretty good.
There are more recipes that I'm looking forward to trying. Most of the ingredients, from what I looked at so far, are every day ingredients. Two things that I noticed that weren't part of my normal ingredient selection, were white miso paste and tahini. Besides that, you might want to have ground flaxseeds, chia seeds, nutritional yeast, and soymilk on hand for your repertoire of plant based ingredients.
Another great thing that I like about this cookbook, is that it has a chart of Dr. Greger's Daily Dozen. It is a list of the various types of food one should eat in a day for maximum health. This has really helped me to see where I might have been lacking and what I should make more of an effort to incorporate into my day. I don't always get all 12 categories checked in one day, but I can see where I'm short and what I can add in the next day or so. If you are interested in checking out Dr. Greger's chart, you can check out the sample pages for the book, on Amazon. Greger also has a free app for those that are interested in keeping track on their cell phone.
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When I saw the title of this book, I had to ask myself if I knew what
a " green baize" door was. Well after a look into the word, I knew
that I had no idea that such a thing existed! Do you know what a Green
Baize door is?
Well, I love historical novels and this one fits into that category
perfectly. Now for your own sake and a bit of education a " Green
Baize" door is a simple door frame that was tacked with cloth, most often
green in color. It was a door that separated the "Master's quarters"
from the servants or staff quarters in the most stately homes.
In this story
The Green Baize Door
is thrown wide open when the elderly housekeeper is found murdered!
It's the first day of the new century (1900's). And for this family
living in the Chestnut Hills of New England, life has just taken a wild turn
and no one knows who could have done this.
Oh there are the regular list of suspects, but both Marie Chevalier (the
elderly woman's granddaughter) and James Lett (the owner's son) have very
different ideas in who could be capable and for what end!
The
Green Baize Door
is an interesting historical tale that will take you through the early times
when millionaires were made and family history was being written. The
north was home to many that had been slaves in the south. Making money
was still hard for the migrants from the south, but even harder sometimes
due to no fault of their own.
Marie's love for her grandmother would not allow her to stop looking and
wondering what had happened. Was someone in her family able to do
something like this or was it someone of "means" that took some kind of
exception to her grandmother?
Marie is determined to find out!
James Lett on the other hand, doesn't like that a dark cloud of suspicion
has fallen on his family and their good name. So he is also on the
hunt for whoever could have done this nasty deed. Unfortunately, there
is still a lot of discrimination happening and the police are not in any
hurry to find the killer of an elderly black woman
servant.
I think that anyone who enjoys historical novels will find this book eye
opening in so many ways. It was an enjoyable read for me and I think
Eleanor Birney did a masterful job with
The Green Baize Door and at bringing out the many ways that our history has had an impact
on people's lives for generations.. It is worth reading and I bet
you'll learn something new as well.
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The Rivers Shawl crochet pattern is a beautiful and versatile pattern with interesting texture and pretty drape. Whether you crochet for yourself or as gifts for others, this is an excellent pattern to choose.
My Rivers Shawl with Mandala Gradient yarn colorways
While focused on making items for my first donation to a local care home, I have tried to focus on shawls, lap blankets, and other items that the residents would find functional and enjoyable. I am thrilled about this pattern and highly recommend it.
Rivers Shawl Crochet Pattern by Rich Textures Crochet
As soon as I saw the photo of this pretty shawl pattern, I hoped that it wouldn't be too difficult for me to complete. Wonderful news! I've completed several projects with this pattern using different yarns. I am very happy with each of the projects and plan to continue with this pattern.
Pattern information:
listed at the skill level - Easy
finished size is 18 x 64 inches
worked in rows - a 6 row repeat
written pattern uses American English crochet terms
pattern is worked in rows
stitches used: chain, double chain, half double crochet, single crochet, slip stitch and triple stitch
available in a video tutorial and written pattern (see links below)
I consider this size as a wrap shape, due to the long rectangular shape, rather than a triangular shape which is what I consider a shawl. Due to the original rectangular shape, this wrap is easily reduced in size to lap blanket size and would easily be increased in size to a sofa throw size.
My Personal Thoughts About the Rivers Shawl Pattern
While I've crocheted for decades, I crochet slowly so it takes a very long time to finish projects. Since I'm attempting to make over 20 blankets for gift, I was very happy that this pattern works up quickly. I also have trouble with multi-row repeats or patterns that require counting and keeping track of rows. I almost did not try this pattern since it is a 6 row repeat. How fun when I realized, after completing about 18 rows, that there are 2 rows of single crochet followed by a 3rd (and 6th) row of the single, half double, double, and triple crochet pattern. That 3rd and 6th row is the same stitch combination. However, it begins on a different stitch, making it seem like a different pattern. That is what causes the "waves" to alternate; row 3 starting with a single chain and row 6 starting with the triple. After these rows have repeated into the blanket it is fairly easy to make sure you are on the right track by checking to see if your current stitch pattern row lines up with pattern two rows below.
Yarns I've Chosen Thus Far.
Puzzle Premiere. To begin, I chose Puzzle Premiere yarn because it is size 5 weight and works up quickly. It is also a self-striping (although, I wouldn't call it stripes exactly). Which means few tails to work in from yarn color changes. Because the yarn is slightly thicker than the pattern creator used, I used a smaller crochet hook to make up for the size difference.
Puzzle Premiere
Mandala Gradient. Then I used Mandala Gradient cakes for the next project. It is a size 4, worsted weight yarn. That is the size the pattern creator used for her Rivers Shawl. Mandala Gradient yarn created a beautiful color pattern and a soft piece.
Other Yarns. This pattern has enough texture that it would look pretty with both smaller weight yarns and with solid color yarns. I think this pattern would make wonderful baby blankets in DK or Sport weight yarns. Yes. A baby blanket is next on my list for this pattern.
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