The Christmas Wedding - James Patterson and Richard DiLallo

Book Title: The Christmas Wedding
Author:  James Patterson and Richard DiLallo
Genre:  Christmas Stories, Domestic Fiction
Main Character:  Gaby Summerhill
Story Setting:  New York?  

Story Summary:  
Gaby Summerhill is a 54 year old teacher, a mother of 4 adult children (Emily, Claire, Lizzie, and Seth). She's a widow to Peter, who passed away some years ago. She's also a vlogger and loves to update her family with her life since everyone is so far away.  She has quite a few platonic friendships with single men: Tom, Jacob, and Marty.  They have all proposed to her.  She comes up with this wacky idea that she is getting married on Christmas Day, and vlogs it to her children, forcing them to have to come spend the holidays and Christmas with her.  There's a twist at the end, with her wedding day.  I won't explain.  It needs to be read.  

Review:  I read quite a few reviews on Goodreads.  They referred to Gaby as self-centered, manipulative, and a hypocrite.  I think she was over-zealous, a bit eccentric, fun-loving, kind, and caring.  She's easy to like.  The authors could have fooled me with their writing style.  I would have guessed a female wrote this book, as there was a lot of feminine qualities about it.  I think they did an excellent job in tapping into their feminine side and getting the story to attract female readers.  I recommend this book if you want an easy read.  I finished it rather fast.  

Some of the other reviewers who were James Patterson fans didn't like this style of writing.  They like his criminal suspense books.  This was the first book I read by him, and I thought it was great, making me want to check out his other books that his fans prefer.

Christmas Clearance

Isaac Mizrahi pajamas

Of all places, my husband and I went to Grocery Outlet to purchase some milk, eggs, and bread.  On the way in, passed some of the foods I won't eat, there was a Christmas Clearance rack.  There were slippers, gingerbread cookie house kits, and pajamas.  The creamy beige really caught my eyes over the grey or black pajamas. 

I was bummed the beige pajama package was opened, and the set was separated.  As I sifted through, I found the second piece.  They are Isaac Mizrahi pajamas.  The tag said they originally were $28, but there's no way that Grocery Outlet would have sold them for that much, even without clearance.  The clearance price was $10.  What a steal!

I grabbed the top and bottoms and paid for them with our groceries.  Now that I am wearing them, they are so very soft, light, and they look nice.  I can probably even get away with wearing them outdoors.

Starting Another Book

The Christmas Wedding

Before I end my day, I wanted to "jot down" that I went scrounging around my apartment for another book to read.  I know there are books around that I haven't read, which made me realize there are books I need to get rid of, too.  

I've always been a book reader, and for the last two or so years, I have put them down more than picking them up.  I will start one, and then lose interest, as my cell phone distracts me with notifications.  I will end up scrolling social media, reading my emails, playing a game, etc.  

I've made it a goal to read at LEAST 6 books this year.  My goal before was 12 books a year.  But, I have been juggling work, taking care of my mom, and trying to keep up with my own self-care.  I found a Christmas book in our utility closet.  So, I decided that would be the next book I read.  

It is titled "The Christmas Wedding," by James Patterson and Richard DiLallo.  I don't recall where I bought it, but before I started actively blogging again, I purchased a Christmas book because I wanted to start reading Christmas stories around Christmas, every year.  Last year, I thought I could watch Christmas movies, but I have a hard time sitting still long enough to watch anything.  My mind always wanders back to my cell phone (such a bad habit).