One Thing to Check Off Your Christmas To-Do List

I know, I know. It is still HOT in South Carolina, but Labor Day is over and my family is ready to start checking off our holiday boxes.

My kids have already started asking Alexa how many days until Halloween...Thanksgiving...Christmas. And, while I know we still have 106 days until Christmas, I am ready for the fun to begin!

Now, now, I won't be putting out my decorations until the set time (the day after Thanksgiving), but I am already planning ahead. For instance, most of my kiddos' Christmas has already been purchased thanks (unfortunately) to the closing of Toys R Us.

Plus, as any mom with kids in school knows, the holiday schedule is insane! So, I have already started my holiday planning.

First up on the list, A Charlie Brown Christmas Live On Stage is coming to Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium on December 15, 2018. As huge fans of Snoopy, live entertainment, and the Charlie Brown Christmas story, this is a can't miss event for my family. (You know we are crazy for a stage show!)

For all the other parents that want to get a jump on their holiday plans, the company bringing A Charlie Brown Christmas Live to the Upstate has provided me (and all of you!) with the opportunity for access to presale tickets to get theirs before they go on sale to the general public.

Starting on Tuesday, September 11th at 10am, you can use the special code below and get access to the best seats in the house.

Presale Code: CHARLIE

You can get tickets here.

What are you waiting for, friends? Go make yourself proud and add this one super fun family-friendly event to your calendar. Congrats! You have already checked one thing off your holiday today list for 2018.

Book Review: The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

Every now and then, I try to read a book that stretches me. A book that is out of my comfort zone. A book I would not usually pick up.

Sometimes these new-to-me genres get a round of applause and other times they get tossed aside. The novel, The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, was a definite stretch for me, but I am glad I read it. Even if I still do not understand it...

Here is the book blurb:

"Evelyn Hardcastle will be murdered at 11:00 p.m. 
There are eight days, and eight witnesses for you to inhabit. 
We will only let you escape once you tell us the name of the killer. 
Understood? Then let's begin...

Evelyn Hardcastle will die. Every day until Aiden Bishop can identify her killer and break the cycle. But every time the day begins again, Aiden wakes up in the body of a different guest. And some of his hosts are more helpful than others..."

I put the blurb here because I am afraid I cannot put the plot into words adequately. The plot is very unique. Essentially, the novel weaves back and forth in time over the course of eight days with the main character waking in the body of various hosts.

Add in that this all takes place at a crumbling estate where the estate owners are celebrating the return of their daughter, Evelyn, on the anniversary of the murder of their son. Then, add in rivals who are also trying to solve the murder while being hosted in other party guests' bodies - and you have a whole lot going on.

For me, I found the plot and the idea very enjoyable. The characters were well developed and well nuanced. That was probably my favorite part of the novel.

However, I am not a true mystery reader. Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie are often difficult for me. Not because they aren't enjoyable but because I am not used to reading mysteries and paying attention to every single detail. In a book like Evelyn Hardcastle, I almost felt like I needed to keep my own detective's notepad. And, for some people, that sounds like a dream! For me, it was just a little hard to keep up with.

With that being said, I am glad I read it and believe there will be many (many) who will love the novel. Those who are fans of mysteries and time travel will especially enjoy it.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this copy to read and review! This book will be released September 18th, 2018.