Did you know β¦ 90 countries celebrate Motherβs Day on the same day? This year, thatβs Sunday, May 10. Yet quite a few countries recognize mothers at different times of the year β¦ depending upon their historical, religious, or cultural traditions.
For example:
Β· March 8 (International Womenβs Day): Russia, Bulgaria, Belarus, Vietnam, and several Eastern European countries.
Β· March 21 (First Day of Spring): Most Arab countries, including Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Lebanon.
Β· Fourth Sunday of Lent (Mothering Sunday): United Kingdom, Ireland, and Nigeria (March 15, 2026).
Β· Last Sunday of May: France, Sweden.
Β· Third Sunday of October: Argentina.
Β· August 12: Thailand (Queen Sirikitβs birthday).
Source: History.com
Hereβs a thought to ponder:
Years ago, Iβd heard that, in the U.S. anyway, Motherβs Day is the busiest day for restaurants and for telephone calls. Makes sense. Who wants Mom to cook on her day? And if you canβt be with her, a phone call is the next best thing.
π All of this made me wonder β besides flowers and candy β what are the most popular Motherβs Day gifts? Iβll let you decide!
But what about books? π
Shouldnβt Mom have a book to accompany her while walking in her new sneakers with her headphones on?
Or relaxing in her slippers, while cuddling with a blanket reading a print or eBook?
Or drifting off to sleep listening to an audiobook after slipping on her sleep mask?
Good ideas, right? So here are two books I recommend you consider as a gift for your Mother or perhaps for yourself.
A Field Guide to Library Ghosts by Gabi Coatsworth
Do you believe in ghosts? You just might after reading this fun mystery, sprinkled with a bit of romance!
Remember to Eat and Other Stories by Meryl Ain
Family matters. No matter what your lineage, this collection of stories is sure to resonate on a personal level. SO β¦ REMEMBER to read this book!
Quirky Me
In the movie The Graduate, Benjamin Braddock (Dustin Hoffman) was advised to be mindful of one word. Do you remember? The word was plastics. How prescient was that given todayβs world?!
A favorite word of mine is socks. 𧦠Why? Because I love socks! I rarely go a day without them. They bring me comfort and joy, as I look forward to my habit of matching or coordinating my socks with whatever color Iβm wearing that day. They complete me.
These are my favorite socks. Not just for the array of colors, but for the cats. Because there must be cats!
What routines or habits light up your life?
Speaking of cats π
Cats play a role in each book in the Venus Bixby Mystery series. And if you and/or your Mom love cats, now would be the best time to start this series, which happens to be a great summer or beach read.
π Now, the first story, A Whale of a Murder: A Venus Bixby Mystery, is available in paperback at special pricing, or on Kindle for just 99Β’, or for FREE on Kindle Unlimited. π³
Inside this award-winning cozy mystery youβll find:
A cat-loving amateur sleuth, who owns an oldies music store and stumbles her way through life
A murder that shakes up a charming whaling town
Β·A playlist to enhance your reading pleasure, and cookie recipes for later!
π While youβre at it: Please donβt forget to Pre-order the next book in the series!
A Jewel of a Crime: A Venus Bixby Mystery releases on June 2. Our favorite characters return as Chatham Crossing prepares for its St. Paddyβs festivitiesβbut when an inconvenient corpse and a string of burglaries rock the town, Venus Bixby must jump in to solve the case before sheβs free to move on to her next dream adventure.
As usual, A Jewel of a Crime will be available in print, Kindle, and Kindle Unlimited, and is AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER right now!
NOW β¦ if you love to solve crimes β¦
Here are more than 80 mysteries to choose from! Have fun, and be sure to leave a review of the books you read β on Amazon, BookBub, and/or Goodreads. Doing so makes you a Super Fan!! Thank you on behalf of authors everywhere!
So thatβs it, for now! Happy Spring! Enjoy the month of May and all it portends for the summer! Be good to your Mom and yourself! May your days be filled with comfort, joy, and books galore!
Gratefully yours,
Valerie