Monday Moments - Believe

Believe

Belief isn’t only for the big, life changing moments. It’s for the quiet ones, the foggy Monday mornings when you’re trying to get yourself moving. It’s for the small decisions no one sees, the ones that shape your day long before anything dramatic happens.

Believing in yourself is a balance. Choosing to trust your own voice when doubt tries to speak louder. Remembering that you’ve already made it through harder days than this one. And giving yourself permission to grow, even when the steps feel small.

Take a small moment today and let “believe” be your anchor. Believe in your ability to handle what comes. Believe in your worth, even when you’re not at your strongest. Believe in the simple truth that you are becoming someone braver and more you. You don’t need perfect conditions to believe in yourself. You just need to begin.

Between The Pages - The 23rd Midnight

The 23rd Midnight

James Patterson

May 2023 

Detective Lindsay Boxer put serial killer Evan Burke in jail.

Reporter Cindy Thomas wrote a book that put him on the bestseller list. 

An obsessed maniac has turned Burke’s true-crime story into a playbook. And is embellishing it with gruesome touches all his own. Now Lindsay’s tracking an elusive suspect, and the entire Murder Club is facing destruction. 

Between The Pages 

23rd Midnight is a fast paced, compelling addition to the Women’s Murder Club series. The story grabs your attention from the first chapter and doesn’t let go. Patterson and Paetro deliver a tense, emotionally charged plot as Lindsay confronts a chilling copycat who’s using Evan Burke’s crimes as a blueprint for new horrors. Maxine Paetro’s contribution continues to elevate the series. 

The stakes rise sharply when reporter Cindy becomes the target of a dangerous stalker and ultimately goes missing, pulling the entire Murder Club into a desperate search. This installment stands out for the way it deepens the emotional connection among the characters, highlighting how personal the danger feels when one of their own is at risk. A gripping read that blends suspense, heart, and intense storytelling. 

Rating: 5 Stars

Monday Moments - The Power of a Smile

The Power of a Smile 

Some days feel heavier than others. Sometimes you wake up carrying more than you’d like, and the world feels a little dimmer around the edges. But even on those low days, there’s a small, quiet thing that can shift your mood. A smile. 

A smile is uplifting. It’s a tiny spark that can brighten your own spirit and ripple outward to someone else. When you smile at someone, they often smile back, and in that moment, you may have made their day just a little better. It’s a simple exchange, but it matters. 

Take a small moment today and smile. Think of something or someone that makes you happy—a memory, a person, a place, a dream—and let that feeling rise to your face. Share a smile with the world. You never know who needs it.

Monday Moments - Choosing Joy in the Aftermath of a Busy Weekend

Choosing Joy in the Aftermath of a Busy Weekend

Weekends have a way of sweeping us in a whirlwind of plans, errands, family time, and the kind of busy joy that leaves us both fulfilled and a little worn out. It’s easy, come Monday, to focus on how fast it all went by or to dwell on the things that didn’t get done.

But Monday isn’t meant to be a recap of what slipped through the cracks. It’s a fresh start. A clean page. And it deserves better than tired thoughts and quiet frustrations. Let Monday be a reminder that progress isn’t measured by perfection. It’s measured by joy, effort, and the simple fact that you showed up.

Take a small moment to celebrate what did happen over the weekend. The laughter. The small victories. The tasks you tackled. The moments you enjoyed without rushing. Those are worth carrying with you. Everything else can wait until next weekend.

Between The Pages - 22 Seconds

22 Seconds

James Patterson 

May 2022 

SFPD Sergeant Lindsay Boxer has guns on her mind and only twenty-two seconds until she loses her badge—or her life. 

There’s buzz of a last-ditch shipment of drugs and weapons crossing the Mexican border ahead of new restrictive gun laws. Before Lindsay can act, her top informant tips her to a case that hits disturbingly close to home. 

Former cops. Professional hits. All with the same warning scrawled on their bodies: You talk, you die. 

Now it’s Lindsay’s turn to choose. 

Between The Pages 

22 Seconds by James Patterson delivers exactly what fans of the Women’s Murder Club series crave: a high stakes thriller that refuses to let go. The storyline is fast paced and engaging, showcasing Patterson’s trademark ability to hook a reader from page one and hold their attention through every twist. Joe’s expanded presence added welcome texture. The novel’s pace is relentless, its twists well timed, and its characters as engaging as ever. Another strong, entertaining entry in a long running series that continues to deliver. 

Rating: 5 Stars

Monday Moments - Monday Is a Fresh Page

Monday Is a Fresh Page

There’s something quietly powerful about a Monday morning. Not because it demands anything from us, but because it offers something. A beginning. A blank space. A fresh page waiting for the first mark.

We often treat Mondays like a hurdle, but what if we saw them as a canvas instead? Not a test of productivity, not a race to catch up, but a gentle invitation to start again. You don’t need to fill the whole page today. You don’t need to write a masterpiece. You just need one honest stroke. One choice. One moment. One small action that feels true to who you are becoming.

Maybe it’s taking a breath before you open your inbox. Maybe it’s choosing kindness in a conversation that could go either way. Maybe it’s giving yourself permission to move a little slower or dream a little bigger. Fresh pages don’t ask for perfection. They ask for presence.

Take a small moment as you step into this Monday to consider what you want your first mark to be. A word. A feeling. A tiny intention. Let it be simple. Let it be yours. And let it be enough to begin.

Between The Pages - Winter L.A.W.: League of Amazing Witches

Winter L.A.W.: League of Amazing Witches 

Ashlyn Chase 

June 2026 

Winter L.A.W. Part 1 

     Freya Suretti used to love Yule. Now it’s just a reminder that her grandmother and sister vanished without a trace nearly a year ago. Alone in a too-quiet New England cottage, she’s running out of hope… until a wounded, charming Brit appears, seeking magical healing—and finding far more than he expected. 

     Devon knows magic is real. He’s from Avalon. But even he isn’t prepared for Freya, or the pull between them. As snow falls and sparks fly, Freya’s search for answers takes a turn neither of them saw coming. Because her family isn’t just missing. They’re lost in time. 

Winter L.A.W. Part 2 

     Brianna Suretti is a CPA and a witch with a very inconvenient quirk: accidental time travel. When a looming magical crisis hits, she’s forced to partner with Chad—an ex-English professor the League is rapidly training to survive the supernatural deep end. 

     Chad’s new reality involves decoding magical chaos, dodging danger, and pretending he’s not completely captivated by Brianna. In this friends-to-lover's found family workplace romance, they must unravel cryptic emails from the future, stop interdimensional pirates, and keep their growing chemistry from wrecking the timeline. Because if they get it wrong, there won’t be a future left to fix. 

Between The Pages 

Winter L.A.W.: League of Amazing Witches launches a paranormal series filled with humor, heart, and high stakes magic. Split into two interconnected parts, the novel follows sisters Freya and Brianna Suretti as they navigate time bending mysteries and unexpected romance. The author blends action, witty dialogue, and imaginative magical talents into an engaging read. The cast of witches, each with their own unique abilities, adds charm and momentum to the story. A fun and charming start to the series. Readers will be eager to see where the League’s adventures lead next. 

Rating: 5 Stars

Monday Moments - The Magic in the Middle

The Magic in the Middle

If Mondays had a personality, they’d be that overly enthusiastic friend who shows up early with a to-do list, a smoothie, and big plans. But the real magic of Monday isn’t in the grand plans or the color-coded calendar.

It’s in the goofy little moments hiding between them.

The mid morning spark when your brain finally clocks in.

The discovery of a pen that actually works.

The laugh you didn’t expect.

The idea that pops up out of nowhere.

The tiny victory that reminds you you’re doing better than you think.

That’s where the fun hides. That’s where the week begins to sparkle.

Take a small moment to celebrate the middle—the messy, funny, ordinary bits. That’s where Monday stops being a menace and starts nudging your week in the right direction.

Monday Moments - The Monday Morning Challenge

The Monday Morning Challenge 

Welcome to that weekly obstacle course none of us signed up for but somehow keep competing in.

Challenge One: The Bed Extraction. Your blanket weighs a metric ton, your pillow begs you to reconsider, and your alarm is aggressively optimistic about your abilities. 

Challenge Two: The Coffee Quest. You fumble through cupboards like a raccoon in a recycling bin, praying caffeine arrives before your brain starts sending error messages. 

Challenge Three: The Inbox Ambush. Overnight, your inbox has become a digital booby trap of urgent emails, mystery tasks, and at least one reply all that needs to be studied by scientists. 

Challenge Four: The Social Interaction Sprint. Someone chirps “good morning!” and you attempt a smile that looks medically concerning. 

Challenge Five: The Motivation Maze. Has your motivation fled? Is it hiding under a blanket in another dimension? You chase your motivation with coffee in hand, a smile on your face, and hope your motivation arrives before lunch. 

Take a small moment because despite the chaos and the emotional negotiations with the five challenges, you’re upright. You’re participating in society at a level that is, frankly, impressive for a Monday.

Between The Pages - Dragonslayer's Valkyrie: The Legend of Sigurd and Brynhildr

Dragonslayer's Valkyrie: The Legend of Sigurd and Brynhildr 

Jennifer Ivy Walker

June 2026 

Last of the Völsung line of kings descended from Odin, Sigurd is one of the elite Sjórúlfar—the fearsome Sea Wolves of southern Norway. Endowed with the divine blood of the wolf, he seeks glory at the Sólhjarta Summer Solstice tournament to avenge his father’s death. 

Brynhildr, daughter of the Raven King, is the Sun Falcon shieldmaiden and gifted seeress who has glimpsed her fate as a Valkyrie in a seiðr vision. When her father decrees she must wed the tournament’s champion, she summons Freyja for guidance—only to learn her future is bound to Sigurd. 

As the Norns tighten the intricate threads of fate, Brynhildr must guide Sigurd toward his destiny as a dragonslayer—by defying the web of wyrd and incurring the wrath of Odin. 

Between The Pages 

In Dragonslayer's Valkyrie: The Legend of Sigurd and Brynhildr, the author proves once again that she is a master of visual storytelling. Her worldbuilding is lush and cinematic. Every scene feels textured and alive. The Norse setting is especially engaging, even when stumbling over pronouncing the names. The characters are compelling and pull you straight into their fates. 

Sigurd and Brynhildr are both fascinating figures, and their intertwined destinies give the story emotional weight. However, one pivotal moment involving Sigurd lost some of its impact when told through the eyes of a secondary character rather than allowing readers to experience it directly with him. In addition, Brynhildr is introduced as a fierce, formidable warrior, and because her character is rooted in that strength, she should have retained more of her trained resilience and fighting spirit; losing it softened the impact of her arc. Even so, the novel delivers plenty of action, conflict, and drama, making it an enjoyable and immersive read. The author’s evocative prose and mythic atmosphere shine throughout, earning this story a strong 4.5 stars. 

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Monday Moments - The Quiet Magic of Summer

The Quiet Magic of Summer

There’s something about summer that makes even the smallest moments feel a little brighter. Maybe it’s the way the early light slips through the curtains before the alarm has a chance to intrude, or how the air carries that soft, sun-warmed scent of possibility.

Summer has a way of reminding us that joy doesn’t always arrive with fanfare. Sometimes it’s tucked into the ordinary - like the first sip of coffee in the morning, the hum of a neighborhood waking up, or the promise of longer days that invite us to linger, wander, and breathe a little deeper.

Take a small moment to celebrate those simple, sunlit pauses. The ones that lift us without asking for anything in return. Whether it’s a walk by the water, a moment on the patio before the day begins, or the quiet thrill of planning something spontaneous, summer gives us permission to slow down and savor.

Here’s to a Monday filled with warmth, light, and the gentle reminder that even the smallest summer moments can carry us forward.

Monday Moments - The Beauty of Beginning Again

The Beauty of Beginning Again

There’s something quietly powerful about a Monday. Not because it demands productivity or insists we hit the ground running, but because it offers a soft invitation to begin again.

Every week hands us a fresh page, a chance to shift our perspective, to loosen our grip on whatever felt heavy last week, and to step forward with a little more gentleness. Mondays aren’t about proving anything. We often forget the reset doesn’t just happen around us. It happens within us.

We carry a kind of inner beauty that doesn’t fade with missteps or messy days. It’s the beauty of resilience, of hope that quietly rebuilds itself, and of a heart that stays open even when life feels complicated. Beginning again isn’t about becoming someone new. It’s about returning to the strength and wisdom that were already there.

Take a small moment and let Monday be a reminder. You’re allowed to start fresh. You’re allowed to shift your perspective. You’re allowed to rediscover the beauty you hold within.

Monday Moments - Creating Balance That Lasts

Creating Balance That Lasts 

Balance isn’t about squeezing everything into a single day; it’s about choosing what truly deserves your energy as a new week begins. Mondays have a way of setting the tone, and when you start from a grounded place, the rest of the week tends to follow. 

Pause and realign. Breathe. Prioritize. Let go of what drains you and hold onto what lifts you. Balance isn’t a destination you arrive at once; it’s a practice built from small, intentional choices. Some days it looks like slowing down; other days it looks like stepping forward with purpose. 

Take a small moment as you move into this week. Permit yourself to create space for what matters most. A balanced Monday isn’t just a moment; it’s the beginning of a steadier, more centered you.

Monday Moments - Inspiration in the Small Things

Inspirations in the Small Things

Some days don’t begin with fireworks. They start quietly. The sunshine through the window, the warmth of a mug in your hands, or the familiar beat of a favorite song. These are the moments we often rush past, but they’re also the ones with the power to shift the tone of an entire day.

Inspiration doesn’t always arrive as a grand idea or a bold revelation. More often, it hides in the small things. The unexpected kindness of a stranger, the color of the sky just before the sun fully rises, or the way a breeze carries the scent of flowers. When we pause long enough to notice them, these tiny details become reminders that joy doesn’t need to be chased.

Take a small moment to let your inspiration come from what’s already around you. Look for the detail you would normally miss. Let it brighten your morning, soften your afternoon, or spark a thought that carries you forward. Sometimes the smallest moment is the one that changes everything.

Between The Pages - Must Have Been Love

Must Have Been Love 

Leigh Riker 

November 2025 

The biggest mistake of his life—or the best thing ever?

Eight years ago, after losing the only woman he ever loved, Declan Sinclair had to leave their preemie daughter behind when he went to war. Now, combat-weary, he’s back on the Montana ranch where he grew up but doesn’t quite fit in—and instead of being a real father to his child at last, Declan may lose her forever. 

His family wants to adopt her, and how can he argue? They raised her while Declan was in the Marines, and with little to offer her except his love, maybe she’d be better off without him. So would his now-and-then friend, the attractive cowgirl who tempts him to set aside his past and love again. 

Working with the Sinclair bulls is Abby Morrow’s dream job, but the rest of her life is a never-ending nightmare. Haunted by the deaths of her parents, Abby has vowed never to marry or have kids of her own. Her safe place is on the ranch, and she has filled the void in her heart with love for Declan’s little girl. But is that fair to her? Or, for that matter, him? 

She and Declan are both damaged, a totally wrong match. But what if their love for his daughter—and each other—could be more than enough? And together they’re exactly right? 

Between The Pages

Book four in Leigh Riker’s Sinclair Cowboys series delivered the same heartfelt charm and emotional depth that made the earlier installments so engaging. Declan and Abby’s slow burn romance unfolded against a backdrop of family tension, personal healing, and the rugged beauty of Montana ranch life. Their connection was steady and believable, shaped by shared wounds and a mutual devotion to Declan’s young daughter, whose scenes added warmth and irresistible sweetness to the story. The author excelled at portraying complex family dynamics, and those interactions remained the highlight, grounding the book in authenticity and heart. Must Have Been Love is a tender, uplifting tale of two damaged souls learning where they belong and discovering love in all its imperfect forms. 

Rating: 5 Stars

Monday Moments - Resetting Expectations

Resetting Expectations: Letting Go of Perfection, Embracing Progress 

Mondays have a way of whispering “start fresh”. But too often, we load that fresh start with impossible expectations. We aim for flawless routines, flawless work, flawless outcomes. And when life inevitably interrupts, we treat it like failure instead of what it really is - being human. 

Resetting expectations isn’t lowering the bar. It’s choosing a more honest one. The small, steady, and imperfect kind of progress is what moves us forward. A five minute walk still strengthens you. One paragraph written still builds your story. A single boundary set still protects your peace. Perfection demands all or nothing. Progress celebrates the something you managed today. 

Take a small moment to release the pressure to get everything right and focus instead on getting one thing done. Then another. And another. Because a life built on progress is far more sustainable and far more joyful than a life spent chasing perfection.

Between The Pages - 21st Birthday

21St Birthday

James Patterson 

May 2021 

When young wife and mother Tara Burke goes missing with her baby girl, all eyes are on her husband, Lucas. He paints her not as a missing person but a wayward wife—until a gruesome piece of evidence turns the investigation criminal. 

While Chronicle reporter Cindy Thomas pursues the story and M.E. Claire Washburn harbors theories that run counter to the SFPD’s, ADA Yuki Castellano sizes Lucas up as a textbook domestic offender ... who suddenly puts forward an unexpected suspect.

If what Lucas tells law enforcement has even a grain of truth, there isn't a woman in the state of California who's safe from the reach of an unspeakable threat.

Between The Pages 

This latest addition to the Women’s Murder Club series marked a strong return to what originally made this series so compelling. 21st Birthday breaks the pattern of recent, more predictable installments that felt somewhat repetitive. The story delivered a compelling mystery, a tighter plot, and meaningful character development. The investigation offered enough twists to stay engaged without feeling forced, making it an enjoyable and satisfying read from start to finish. 

Rating: 5 Stars

Between The Pages - Sworn to Collide

Sworn to Collide 

Maria Imbalzano 

June 2026 

After devoting eleven years of marriage to Ben, her high school sweetheart, and stepping off the corporate ladder to raise their three children, Denise is ready to seize the reins of the career she always dreamed of. But as soon as she commits to step back into the professional world, Ben drops a bombshell that disrupts everything. 

Suddenly, this once rock-solid couple finds themselves in a battle over ambition, identity, and whose turn it is to shine. As personal choices draw them further and further apart, they must confront their widening rift—a threat to the love they thought was unshakeable. 

Can they rediscover the passion they once shared, or will their divergent paths pull them apart for good?

Between The Pages 

Sworn to Collide may be the fourth book in Maria Imbalzano’s Sworn Sisters Series, but it stands confidently on its own. Even without reading the earlier installments, I never felt lost or missing context. The story is driven by its characters, and it’s easy to find yourself rooting for Denise and Ben as their once steady marriage is tested. Denise’s evolution into a strong, independent woman is especially compelling, and the flashbacks to the couple’s early relationship add meaningful depth to their journey. With solid writing, a well structured plot, and an emotionally engaging storyline, this is a satisfying and heartfelt read. 

Rating: 5 Stars

Monday Moments - Gratitude in the Everyday

Gratitude in the Everyday

So much of life happens in the in between moments. The quiet pauses, the familiar routines, the things we barely notice because they feel so ordinary. Yet these are often the places where gratitude hides, waiting for us to slow down long enough to see it. 

Maybe it’s the warmth of your first cup of coffee, the way sunlight lands on your kitchen counter, or the unexpected kindness of someone holding the door. These moments rarely announce themselves, but they shape the texture of our days. 

Take a small moment and practice noticing. Appreciate the small things that don’t demand attention but deserve it. Gratitude doesn’t always come from grand gestures; sometimes it’s found in the soft, steady rhythm of everyday life.

Monday Moments - Choosing Calm Over Chaos

Choosing Calm Over Chaos 

There’s a moment when we realize we’re running on fumes. The to do list is louder than our own thoughts. That’s usually the subtle awareness that we’re overwhelmed.

Choosing calm over chaos isn’t about escaping responsibility or pretending life is peaceful when it isn’t. It’s about recognizing that we don’t have to meet every demand at full speed. We’re allowed to pause and breathe.

Calm begins with the permission we give ourselves to slow down without guilt. When we choose calm, we choose clarity and respond instead of reacting. In that shift, even the busiest day becomes more manageable. 

Take a small moment and notice where chaos is creeping in and where you’re pushing past your own limits. Then choose calm, not because everything is perfect, but because you deserve to move through life with steadiness, not strain.