Book Pick: My Maril: Marilyn Monroe, Ronald Reagan, Hollywood, and Me

The movie star, the singer, the sex symbol, the so-called “dumb blonde” – all things that Marilyn Monroe is known as, and yet her story goes far beyond that. How did she build her career in Hollywood? Who was she close to – her family, her friends, her lovers – and who was really there for her? Was a successful young woman’s life cut short by suicide, or is there more to the story? Most importantly, who really was Marilyn Monroe? My Maril: Marilyn Monroe, Ronald Reagan, Hollywood, and Me reveals the intimate details of the star’s life and the environment of Hollywood and the United States at the peak of Marilyn Monroe’s career.

View the book trailer here: https://bit.ly/MyMaril_BookTrailer


Terry Karger, granddaughter of Metro Pictures co-founder Maxwell Karger and the daughter of Fred Karger (Marilyn’s lover and vocal coach), recounts her experience with Hollywood and a young Marilyn Monroe. Coauthored by New York Times best-selling author Jay Margolis, My Maril begins with a young Terry Karger meeting Marilyn, affectionately nicknamed “Maril” by the Karger family, for the first time as her father’s new girlfriend. Marilyn becomes Terry’s babysitter, and she serves as a friend and sister-esque figure in the young girl’s life. Terry’s version of Marilyn is personal – she is kind, affectionate, smart, and mischievous, strikingly different to the way she was portrayed by the media. This book is a comprehensive account of Marilyn’s entire life, as well as a behind-the-scenes glance into other prominent public figures, such as Ronald Reagan, that Terry Karger knew personally.

Kindle Pick of the Week: Musings: Short Stories to Inspire and Delight

In this collection of stories are examples of characters drawing on wisdom to embark on new beginnings. Some characters encounter situations that offer new perspective. Others draw on knowing themselves to recognize the wisdom of taking a new direction.
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Blowup - Hoping to discourage him from getting a similar job, a father tells his teenage son about a disturbing experience he had delivering pizzas forty years ago.
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The Bump & Grind - A young writer looking for her next chapter in life finds inspiration at her local coffee shop.
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Coyote and Dove - A heartwarming tale of love and selflessness. Coyote’s unwavering devotion to Dove leads him to make sacrifices that remind us that every day is a new beginning and that small acts of kindness can have a profound impact on those around us.
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Entering the Heart of Darkness - A chance meeting at a party in NYC turns into a life-changing journey to the heart of Africa. A deadly green mamba and laughing hippos are just the beginning.
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Gus and Martha - Baby boomer loyalty and determination overcome all barriers and love will not be bound, not even by death.
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Kindred Spirits - A ghost visits three friends in assisted living and gives them a new lease on life. Pawsitively purrfect!
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Late to the Party - A downhearted homebody gets invited to a barbeque. Stepping out of his comfort zone proves transformative.
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Life Without Time - Dax Shadowalker, the first Native American to be hired as a police officer in Park City, Utah, looks back on some of his own experiences as a youth which gave him insight into a better understanding of himself and the world around him.
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Name Your Days - Grief can make you do strange things. Yet, one can find comfort in strangers. Death is a powerful shared experience in so many ways.
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Ready or Not - Susie Watkins records musical echoes in the lava caves of Craters of the Moon National Park. She expected to encounter strangers, but some are stranger than others.
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The Reunion - Friends for life takes on a deeper meaning when four women get together to celebrate their sixtieth birthdays. Every decade marked a special milestone but this year brings them to the start of new beginnings.
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Why the Roadrunner Runs - Frustration mounts as Chelsey attempts to share the Native American tale she wrote with her granny, who finds unplanned parenting this fourteen-year-old overwhelming.

Link:

https://www.amazon.com/Musings-Short-Stories-Inspire-Delight-ebook/dp/B0BZWY2FPR/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1RSJ3LD8XWQKE&keywords=musings%20by%20elaine%20leet&qid=1680184225&sprefix=musings%20by%20elaine%20leet%2Caps%2C80&sr=8-1&fbclid=IwAR3gC2avALb_kZmfpjdgJ4slklgF8XInKP6rr5Xz_QDaVQUrbrBCeYyXu5g

Cut Flowers, Foliage and Fruits of the Southeast: Four Seasons of Floral Design

Native plants are the natural centerpieces of the Southeastern landscape, so why shouldn’t they be the centerpiece of the Southern table? From the mountains of Southern Appalachia, into the Piedmont Plateau and all the way down to the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains, native plants provide an abundance of cut flowers, foliage, fruit, and berries that add regional character to any vase or wreath throughout the year. Cut Flowers, Foliage, & Fruits of the Southeast introduces readers to the beautiful bounty of the region along with growth information, seasonality, how to forage and harvest responsibly, and flower care, illustrated with vibrant photography. Included is a descriptive field guide of native trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, and vines that are essential for floral design. Bring the landscape indoors with guides to create wreaths and vase arrangements. Tutorials and primers will teach the expert and novice alike to arrange gorgeous floral designs by season.

Link:

https://www.amazon.com/Cut-Flowers-Foliage-Fruits-Southeast-ebook/dp/B0BBBSQ5VX/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Book Pick of the Week: The Pocket Book of Powerful Posts

In this one-of-a-kind book, Pastor Jameliah Gooden, host of the popular Car Chronicles Movement on social media, offers thought-provoking prompts to bring fun and insightful discussions to your social media posts. And with over 500,000 followers on Facebook, Pastor Jameliah knows how to get the conversation started. Offering seventy-two original and inspiring topics, The Pocketbook is your pint-sized companion for creating a social media buzz and connecting to your friends, family, and followers.

Link:

https://www.amazon.com/Pocket-Book-Small-Powerful-Posts/dp/1960146076

Kindle Pick of the Week: The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of North America

National bestseller and fan favorite! This humorous look at 50 common North American dumb birds is a perfect book for the birder and anti-birder alike.
 

For those who have a disdain for birds, or for bird lovers with a sense of humor, this snarky illustrated handbook is equal parts profane, funny, and—let's face it—true. Featuring common North American birds such as the White-Breasted Butt Nugget and the Goddamned Canada Goose (or White-Breasted Nuthatch and Canada Goose for the layperson), Matt Kracht identifies all the idiots in your backyard and details exactly why they suck with humorous yet angry ink drawings. With The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of North America, you won't need to wonder what all that racket is anymore!

ENTERTAINING AND EDUCATIONAL: This uproarious guide to all things wings includes migratory maps, tips for birding, musings on the avian population, and lessons on the ethics of birdwatching. Plus, each entry is accompanied by facts about a bird's (annoying) call, its (dumb) migratory pattern, its (downright tacky) markings, and more.

POPULAR AUTHOR: Matt Kracht is an amateur birder, writer, and illustrator who enjoys creating books that celebrate the humor inherent in life's absurdities. Based in Seattle, he enjoys gazing out the window at the beautiful waters of Puget Sound and making fun of birds. Other hilarious titles from Matt include The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of the Whole StupidWorld and OMFG, BEES!

https://www.amazon.com/Field-Guide-Birds-North-America/dp/1452174032/ref=lp_290081_1_2