my housebound rainy week

i absolutely loved this rainy week because...

it held for me a lot of reading pleasure.
i liked this book so much...as a matter of fact it could very well be MY story.
i say that because i related entirely with the romance, conflict, nausea, devoted man.
i probably laughed out loud six or seven times (always a good sign).
the pages are lovely.
this was a light, fun, wholesome, engaging rainy day read.

on the other hand...this book was too contrived.
the writing was fine, but a whiny protagonist made me want to give her a swift kick in the britches.
the only thing i liked about this book was the fact that each chapter heading had a verse from an "unfortune cookie" for example--

• an apple a day keeps the doctor away. you should invest in an apple orchard.
• compel yourself to do something you wouldn't normally do, because what you normally do doesn't seem to be working.
• happiness rightly eludes you.
• accept something that you cannot change. the way you look for instance.
• don't get caught up with a hopeless romantic. the romance will end, and then it's just hopeless.

this was our book group choice...a dumb book.

i also watched this series.

interesting to view a period piece and see how the helpers made an estate work.

the hopes and dreams of people from that era, the societal expectations, and selfish/wicked motives and their trickle down effect. 

i was entertained...and who doesn't love Maggie Smith?

...