Today is a good day for conversation and a book review

Goodmorning.

I know that I've neglected my blog for well over a month, but I have a good excuse. First we had children and grandchildren for the Christmas holidays. (Oh, what fun we had.) After that I was the caregiver to my mom for 5 weeks, and oh what fun we had once we got the infection and swelling in her legs taken care of (We spent 5 evenings at the ER while she received intravenous antibiotics . . . 5 hours the first night then 2, then 1, then 2, then 3 hours the consecutive nights. After that she had to recuperate, and At 87 recuperating takes time.) So, to make a long story short, I spent very little time at the computer and my blog went untouched.

So . . . today is a good day to get back to the real world of e-mails, blogs, and painting. And . . . a drum roll please . . . the review of Tristi Pinkson's intriguing, humorous, mystery, "Secret Sisters," which will be coming out in March.

However . . . before I begin . . . I have to say one thing. I was a Relief Society President for 3 years and I never . . . ever . . . had the opportunity to become a sleuth or a spy, if you will. Now to the review. (Did that catch your interest?)

Ida May Babbitt is the Ward Relief Society President. Her counselors are Arlette Morgan and Tansy Smith. Her secretary is Hannah Eyre. Each woman carries with her a distinct personality which makes this presidency perform with total efficiency as the reader will find out as the story unfolds.

As the Relief Society President, Ida May feels the responsibility to relieve Bishop Sylvester from any undue stress as he is suffering, at the moment, from high blood pressure (most likely due to the fact that his wife is expecting triplets). So, in the course of her weekly presidency meeting, when she discovers that the Dunn family have no food in their fridge, cupboards, or any where else in the kitchen, and knowing that Bro. Dunn has been out of work for 4 months, she takes it upon herself to examine the situation. But during the visit with Mary Dunn, she is told that Bro Dunn would be bringing home groceries that night.

However, Ida May is suspiciuos that Mary may not be telling the truth, perhaps because of pride or even shame. She shares her concern with her nephew Ren, who is more like a son to her than a nephew.

Ren is a free spirit, who loves to invent mechanical gismos. and, at the age of 25, is still trying to decide what to be when he grows up. Yet, he is a young man with a head full of understanding for everything from politics to Quantum Physics, and he has just the answer.

"Undercover work," he suggests. "Just to make sure that the children have food to eat."

Spying! At first she is shocked. But, slowly she warms up to the idea, but only for the sake of the children. Ren provides the equipment and soon the whole presidency in involved in the risky undertaking, and what they discover they are hardly prepared for. Yet, they are now in too deep to step away.

And the reader is hooked, especially if the reader is or ever has been a Relief Society President, a part of a Relief Society Presidency, or has known a Relief Society President.

At this point I will refrain from telling telling you more but I will promise you that you will thoroughly enjoy "Secret Sisters."

Thank you for visiting my blog.