Month: February 2026

ECONOGAL > 2026 > February

The First Time I Saw Him Book Review

Posted on by Econogal

Good Sequel

Laura Dave’s The First Time I Saw Him is the sequel to The Last Thing He Told Me. It is just as action packed and suspenseful. But, not quite as many twists and turns as the previous novel. This book literally picks up where the other one ends.

Hannah and Bailey

Mother and stepdaughter are settled in California. Both working with fulfilling careers. The book opens with Bailey bringing a new boyfriend to meet Hannah. Normal life. Or almost, Hannah thinks she has just spoken with Owen, Bailey’s dad.

Then the next morning everything changes. Bailey’s grandfather has died and their lives are once again in danger. Is Owen involved? Regardless they face a threat and are again on the run.

Flashbacks in The First Time I Saw Him

Laura Dave uses flashbacks to move the story forward. However, in this sequel they include multiple points of view. This allows the reader to gain more understanding of the men in the background. Owen, Nicholas and Frank all played pivotal roles in the past. And are important in keeping Hannah and Bailey safe as they flee the country.

Emotional Impact of The First Time I Saw Him

Multiple emotions are at play for both the characters and the reader. Keeping loved ones safe is an innate desire and that theme stays constant throughout The First Time I Saw Him. What boundaries will be tested to safeguard family?  Also, what role will forgiveness play among family and the closest of friends. These questions are central to the storyline.

Recommendation

The First Time I Saw Him is satisfying. However, the heartbreak is not as deep as in the previous novel. Those readers that love happy endings will be met part way. Unfortunately, there is always a cost of dealing with the mob. And forgiving and forgetting is also a challenge. This is a great book to give or own. Plus, your local library will certainly want a copy as well. Laura Dave has penned another winner.

 

The Bride Wore White Book Review

Posted on by Econogal

A Romance at Heart

A fairly recent release (2023), The Bride Wore White is a romance combined with a hefty dose of the paranormal. It has been a decade or more since I have read anything penned by Jayne Ann Krentz under the name of Amanda Quick. The novel is spooky violent at the beginning, so much so that I almost put it down. But I am glad I finished. The romance tempers the multitude of murders.

The Psychic Dream Consultant

Prudence Ryland better known as Madame Ariadne reads and interprets dreams. At the start of The Bride Wore White, a client unknowingly reveals to her that his mission that night is to kill her. Prudence channels all her power to thwart him. Naturally, she flees the city immediately.

But things get worse.

Even though she changes careers, the past finds her. So she turns to Luther Pell and Jack Wingate for protection. Sparks fly between Prudence and Jack.

Extrasensory Perception

Prudence comes from a long line of women with psychic abilities. The type of ability Jack doesn’t believe in. Yet Prudence thinks Jack may also possess paranormal abilities. Perhaps heightened by the chemical explosion that so badly scarred his face and his dreams. Both Prudence and Jack need all their powers to trap the murderers.

Greed and Murder in The Bride Wore White

Using Prudence as bait as well as logic and insight, Jack narrows the suspects down one-by-one. However, the author throws out twists and turns so that the reader is kept guessing. In the end multiple suspects are greedy enough to commit murder. Suspects become victims. Finally, there is one left standing.

Recommendation

Amanda Quick lovers most likely already own The Bride Wore White. Copies are still available online. Most libraries probably have copies of this spicy romance. I enjoyed the book and recommend to all romance lovers. The characters attraction works and the plethora of villains works well too.

I Know Why Old Men Plant Trees Book Review

Posted on by Econogal

Great Library Find

I Know Why Old Men Plant Trees by Bob Seay is a library find that is absolutely delightful. Pinpointing the genre is a bit difficult. The story reminds me of books I loved long ago. Seay’s story is a mix of Ray Bradbury and George Orwell with a healthy dose of Dave Barry. The book can be found on both Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Compliance in I Know Why Old Men Plant Trees

The book set in suburban Denver focuses on the Algorithm Compliance Department of Peregrine Perch, Colorado. Since Peregrine Perch has a mayor, the community is bigger than a subdivision with an HOA. But the rules and regulations remind one of such an entity. And of course, there are many departments of compliance in Peregrine Perch to keep the residents in line.

Wendell Jones- Protagonist

We meet Wendell Jones on an executive bonding retreat for the various compliance officers of Peregrine Perch. He is out of his natural element and quite concerned about the first day task, rock climbing in California. He completes the task and immediately quits. Both the retreat and his job.

Back in Colorado, he begins walking dogs for a living. And starts a rebellion against his old boss. Key to Wendell’s transformation from compliance officer to renegade leader for common sense laws are friends, Michael Porter, Mr. Tuttle, owner of an area landscape company, Erica, and the many residents of Peregrine Perch.

Wendell becomes a hero to all as he sabotages park landscape rules and regulations.

Algorithms, AI and Bureaucrats

The overarching theme in I Know Why Old Men Plant Trees is the dark side of algorithms and artificial intelligence. Common sense goes out the window when a society tries to keep everything within a narrow window of parameters. Exceptions and anomalies are part of life, but it is easier for bureaucrats to maintain conformity. Otherwise, those in charge must engage in critical thinking to ensure fairness and justice. Algorithms and AI are restricted by their inputs. At least for now, computers cannot think for themselves.

Recommendation for I Know Why Old Men Plant Trees

I absolutely love this book. Well-written and edited, Mr. Seay’s work rivals many of the books I review from established publishers. So, for my followers in the field of publishing, always bombarding me to read free copies, take some time to buy a copy of I know Why Old Men Plant Trees. You might just find your next best-selling author…unless you are just an algorithm or AI bot.

January 2026 Wrap-Up

Posted on by Econogal

Better Late than Never

Even though a day late, I think the January 2026 Wrap-Up is important to release. The month dragged at times. Some days lasted forever. Any one with a psych background could probably explain. Much anticipated activities and the counterpart, dreaded activities create the semblance of time altering. That is the case for January 2026.

Quilting Through the Winter Cold

Small 9 x 11 doll quilt in rainbow ordered strips of various patterns.
Front of doll quilt

The temperatures really fluctuated during the day this month, from below freezing to almost seventy degrees Fahrenheit. But once the sun goes down the temperatures plummet below freezing. Small towns on the High Plains lack the concrete infrastructure to hold onto the heat. Perfect weather for working on quilts.

This month brought both piecing and hand quilting. Best of all, it gave me a chance to help my oldest grandchild sew her first doll quilt. She is tall enough to reach the foot peddle on the sewing machine. It did take some practice to regulate the speed.

Quilt backing made from fabric with a checkerboard type of print.
Doll Quilt Backing

The strip quilt was 9 x 11, perfect for a Barbie doll. She picked out a favorite scrap and then several additional scrap strips to blend with it. I helped her with the rotary cutting. She also made a pre-printed Barbie tablecloth to give to her younger sister who loves to have tea parties and picnics with her dolls.

January 2026 In the Library

In addition to the reviewed books, two other reviews will drop in the next week to ten days. The delightful Bob Seay book, I Know Why Old Men Plant Trees and the super scary at the start Amanda Quick Romance, The Bride Wore White.

Additionally, I calmed my nerves with the re-reading of Dolores Johnson’s cozy murder mystery Pressed to Kill from the Mandy Dyer Series set in Denver, Colorado. I also treated myself to a favorite Catherine Coulter medieval action/romance The Valcourt Heiress.

Update on my Heart

My diagnosis is too many Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVCs) and the number and symptoms are such that corrections with changes in lifestyle and medication fall short. So, I will have a PVC Ablation at the start of the week. One of my aunts has had the procedure along with others I know. It is amazing what types of medical interventions we have.

So, January 2026 passed slowly. But now I am on the eve of a heart procedure that should bring relief and prevent the muscle from deteriorating. Because the heart is the most important muscle one has, I want to keep mine as strong as possible.