Blog Posts

Posted in #History

The Bad Guys Won!

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

A season filled with brawling, boozing, and bimbo chasing. It showcases championship baseball with Straw, Doc, Mookie, Nails, the Kid, and the rest wearing a New York uniform. They might be the best.

“Jeff Pearlman has captured the swagger of the ’86 Mets. You don’t have to be a Mets fan to enjoy this book—it’s a great read for all baseball enthusiasts.”—Philadelphia Daily News

Award-winning Sports Illustrated baseball writer Jeff Pearlman takes us back to an innocent time. The city worshipped a man named Mookie then. At that time, the Yankees were the second-best team in New York.

It was 1986. The New York Mets won 108 regular-season games. They won the World Series, capturing the hearts (and other assorted body parts) of fans everywhere. But their greatness on the field was nearly eclipsed by how bad they were off it. The team was led by the indomitable Keith Hernandez. The young dynamic duo of Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry joined him. Along with the gallant Scum Bunch, the Amazin’s left a wide trail of wreckage in their wake. They damaged hotel rooms and charter planes. There was also a bar in Houston, and most famously, Bill Buckner and the hated Boston Red Sox.

This book features an unforgettable cast of characters—including Doc, Straw, the Kid, Nails, Mex, and manager Davey Johnson. It presents an affectionate look at this exciting season. However, it is also critical. It celebrates the last of baseball’s arrogant and insane teams. These teams were rock-and-roll and partied all night. It explores what could have been, what should have been, and what never was.


Editorial Reviews

Review

“The Bad Guys Won is designed to delight any Mets fan—at least the less prudish ones. Pearlman…keeps a tight focus on the championship season.” — New York Times Book Review

“Pearlman has done his homework: he breaks down the wall that separates the ballplayer from the fan.” — Newsday

“As a reminder that most of us know absolutely nothing about the people we cheer for, except that they wear our hometown colors, this is a worthwhile read for any sports fan.” — Sports Illustrated

“Baseball aficionados, especially Mets fans, will enjoy this affectionate but critical look at this exciting season.” — Publishers Weekly

“Everything a diehard Mets fan…could want.” — Daily News

“A great read! Jeff Pearlman skillfully takes you deep into the silly and goofy and gross and slightly scary world that was the New York Mets clubhouse.” — Rocky Mountain News

“Jeff Pearlman has captured the swagger of the ’86 Mets. You don’t have to be a Mets fan to enjoy this book—it’s a great read for all baseball enthusiasts.” — Philadelphia Daily News

About the Author

Jeff Pearlman is the New York Times bestselling author of seven books. He is a former Sports Illustrated senior writer, a former ESPN.com columnist, and a former staff writer for Newsday and the Tennessean. He is a regular contributor to Bleacher Report and CNN.com.

Posted in #non-fiction

To Climb a Distant Mountain

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

One woman’s inspirational tale about expressing joy amid loss and suffering.


To Climb a Distant Mountain:

A Daughter’s Tribute to Her Diabetic Mother

by Laurisa White Reyes

Genre: Historical True Memoir



In 1974, at the age of twenty-six, Cynthia Ball White was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes. Today, it is estimated that 1.25 million Americans suffer from what is now referred to as Type I diabetes, compared to 38 million who have Type 2 (adult onset) diabetes. It is a merciless disease that often leads to blindness, neuropathy, amputations, and a host of other ailments, including a shortened life span.

Despite battling diabetes for forty-five years, Cyndi beat the odds. Not only did she outlive the average Type I diabetic, but until her last week of life in 2021, she had all her “parts intact”. Her daughter often called her a walking miracle. But more impressive was Cyndi’s positive outlook on life, even in the midst of tremendous loss and suffering.

The author hopes that in sharing Cyndi’s story, others may be inspired to face their own struggles with the same faith, courage, and joy as her mother did.

 

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I’m going to tell you about my mother. Yes, that is the story I will tell. No other story really matters. I know that now. Funny, how you can spend a lifetime conjuring up magical tales of dragons and enchanters and heroes who will never exist except in your own head and on sheets of paper, when the stories that matter most happen every day all around us. I’ve spent most of my life making up stories. It’s what I do. But now that Mom is gone, I have no stories left. At least none that I care about more than hers.

My first distinct memory of my mother (I was five or six) was in the hospital. I’d come to know that hospital well. It’s in Panorama City, half an hour from where I live now, half an hour from where I lived then, two different cities—two points on the circumference of a circle with the hospital at its center. It’s where all five of my children were born, where my youngest brother was born—and died. It’s where Mom would spend too much of her life. But not yet. That would come later.

I remember the elevator doors opening and Dad pushing Mom out in a wheelchair. She wore a yellow robe that a friend had bought her when she got sick. She had crocheted me a hat. It was yellow too, criss-crossed strands like a spider’s web, with a green band. She gave it to me there. I wore it often as a child. Somewhere, I have a picture of me wearing it. The hat is in my mother’s hope chest now, the one she passed on to me when I got married. Been in there for years. Decades. It’s still a treasure.

I remember her disappearing back inside the elevator, waving, the doors sliding shut, swallowing her. I still feel sick, tight and hollow inside, when I think of that memory.

In the weeks leading up to that hospital stay, which would be the first of dozens, she’d been sick. She’d lost weight and felt very ill. She thought she was dying of cancer, but she postponed seeing a doctor because she had recently enrolled in Kaiser Permanente medical insurance through Dad’s employer, and she thought they had to wait for their membership cards to come in the mail. By the time she walked into the ER, she was on death’s door.

Her doctor smelled her breath, which Mom thought was an odd thing to do. And then he called in other doctors to smell her breath. It smelled sweet, like decaying fruit. Mom was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, which they used to call Juvenile Diabetes. It meant that her pancreas had completely malfunctioned, and she would be insulin-dependent the rest of her life. She learned how to give herself insulin by injecting oranges. She was twenty-six years old.

Mom actually felt relieved because it wasn’t cancer. There was no way to know then what diabetes would do to her, how it would shape not only her life but the lives of her husband and children and grandchildren, how it would gradually destroy her body a little at a time until it finally robbed her of life itself.

 



Last Summer in Algonac

by Laurisa White Reyes

Genre: Fictionalized Family Biography



From the Spark Award-winning author of The Storytellers & Petals…

The summer of 1938 is idyllic for fourteen-year-old Dorothy Ann Reid. She’s spent every summer of her life visiting her grandparent’s home on the banks of the St. Clair River in Algonac, Michigan. But unbeknownst to her, this will be her last. As Dorothy and her family pass their time swimming, fishing, and boating, they are blissfully unaware that tragedy lurks just around the corner.

Last Summer in Algonac is a fictionalized account of the author’s grandmother and her family’s final summer before her father’s suicide, which altered their lives forever. Inspired by real people and events, Laurisa Reyes has woven threads of truth with imagination, creating a “what if” tale. No one living today knows the details leading to Bertram Reid’s death, but thanks to decades of letters, personal interviews, historical research, and a visit to Algonac, Reyes attempts to resolve unanswered questions, and provide solace and closure to the Reid family at last.

 

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That last summer in Algonac, there was little water play for Father, who was now fifty-seven. Alberta, who had married less than two years earlier and had recently given birth to her first child, had opted to stay in Cleveland. She and Charles had been my grandest playmates while I was growing up, but now they both had new adult lives and families of their own. Even Charles, who was eleven years my senior (Alberta fourteen years), would prove too occupied with his wife Alice and their baby to venture into any games with me. I supposed Father might have played that role with me when I was young, but I was thirteen now, practically a woman, and neither he nor I dared suggest something so childish as to jump into the river for a splash—except for that one last wonderful afternoon.

Looking back, I wish that I had done it every day—that I had taken his hand and walked with him along the bank under the trees, or sat in the grass and taken off our shoes, letting our feet dangle in the chilled, meandering water. I wish that I had had the courage to ask him more about that old rowboat, whether he had ever taken it all the way across the river to Ontario, Canada, where he and his family had come from originally. I would have liked to have been in that boat with him rowing, his muscles taut under his shirt, his sleeves rolled to the elbow.

We wouldn’t have talked much. Father was a man of few words. But I would have listened to the ripples of the St. Clair lapping against the boat, the gentle cut of the oars through the water, the calls of birds overhead. It would have been enough just to be with him, to see his face turned to the sun, the light glinting off his spectacles, and to have seen traces of a smile on his lips.

1939, the year Father died, was a big year for America. It was the year the World’s Fair opened in New York, and the first shots of World War II were fired in Poland.  The Wizard of Oz premiered at Groman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California, and Lou Gehrig gave his final speech in Yankee Stadium. Theodore Roosevelt had his head dedicated on Mt. Rushmore, and John Steinbeck published The Grapes of Wrath. All in all, it was a monumental year, one I would have liked to have shared with my father. He did live long enough for Amelia Earhart to be officially declared dead after she disappeared over the Atlantic nearly two years earlier, but otherwise, he missed the rest of it.

No child should have to mourn a parent. And if she does, at least things about it should be clear. Unanswered questions that plague one for the rest of one’s life shouldn’t be part of the picture.

Death is normally simple, isn’t it? Someone has a heart attack, or dies in a car accident, or passes away in their sleep from old age. Everyone expects to die sometime, and they wonder how it will happen and why. And when it does, as sad as it is for those left behind, the wonder is laid to rest.

Most of the time.

1939 was a blur. I’d prefer to forget it, quite frankly. But 1938 was worth remembering, especially that summer we spent in Algonac with Grandmother Reid and the family. As long as I could remember, we’d spent every summer on the banks of the St. Clair. As it turned out, it would be my final summer in Algonac. Our last summer together. Of course, I didn’t know it at the time, and I’m glad. If I could have seen seven months into the future, if I had known then how the world as I knew it would all come crashing down, it would have spoiled everything.





Laurisa White Reyes is the author of twenty-one books, including the SCBWI Spark Award-winning novel The Storytellers and the Spark Honor recipient Petals. She is also the Senior Editor at Skyrocket Press and an English instructor at College of the Canyons in Southern California. Her next release, a non-fiction book on the Old Testament, will be released in August 2026 with Cedar Fort Publishing.

 

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Posted in #allrecipes

Discover Comfort Foods from the Past

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

When searching for dinner inspiration, it’s easy to always look for what’s new and now. However, sometimes it’s worth looking to the past. Trending recipes have a time and place. However, nothing scratches the comfort food itch like the dishes you grew up with. Whether that was in the ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, or beyond.

It’s not uncommon for retro recipes to have some pretty out-there names. From Frog Eye Salad to Broken Glass Cake, these titles often sound strange. They even seem inedible. But don’t fear—their names typically nod to the recipe’s unconventional appearance. That’s certainly the case for Porcupine Meatballs, a beloved retro recipe we’d argue is long overdue for a comeback.

What Are Porcupine Meatballs?

Porcupine Meatballs contain no actual porcupine or any other exotic game — their name hails from their spiky appearance. Unlike other meatballs, this recipe adds rice instead of breadcrumbs or another binding agent. When the ground beef-rice mixture cooks, the grains of rice absorb liquid. They become plump and pronounced. The grains stick out of the meatballs like a porcupine’s quills.

Otherwise, they are a standard beef—yes, just beef—meatball recipe that gets cooked in a seasoned tomato sauce. Some porcupine meatball recipes call for simmering them in tomato soup. This is certainly a shortcut option available to you, too. For many, the version cooked in tomato soup tastes like home. However, our top-rated recipe for Porcupine Meatballs ditches the soup can for a homemade tomato sauce. It tastes even better, and many reviewers agree.

meatballs cooked in a tomato broth until rice is tender.
Qi Ai/Allrecipes

“Like others, my mom also used tomato soup. However, using tomato sauce instead really makes a difference,” writes home cook Amber G. “I can honestly say these are better than the ones mom used to make (sorry, mom)!”

Porcupine Meatballs were a staple during the Great Depression. They only required a few ingredients. This recipe was a great way to stretch a small amount of ground beef. These days, they’re still a budget-friendly recipe. They are also darn delicious and appealing to adults and kids alike. Their out-of-the-box look and familiar flavor make them a hit for everyone.

Allrecipes

Find more recipes like this on my companion blog, “Good Food, Good Meat, Good God, Let’s Eat!”

Posted in #non-fiction

Unraveling the 1937 Alice Parsons Kidnapping Mystery

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

A new look at the 1937 abduction of a wealthy wife and mother, based on previously classified FBI documents—includes photos.

In 1937, Alice McDonell Parsons was kidnapped from Long Meadow Farm in Stony Brook, New York. She was the heir to a vast fortune among Long Island’s wealthy elite. The crime shocked the nation and was front-page news for several months.

J. Edgar Hoover personally assigned his best FBI agents to the case. Within a short time, Parsons’s husband and their live-in housekeeper, Anna Kupryanova, became prime suspects. Botched ransom attempts, clashes between authorities, and romantic intrigue kept the investigation mired in drama. The crime remained unsolved. Now, in this book, former Suffolk County detective Steven C. Drielak reveals previously classified FBI documents—and pieces together the mystery of the Alice Parsons kidnapping.

About the Author

Matt Weisgerber is the narrator of over a dozen audiobooks, including YA, children’s, horror, western, sci-fi, and comedy titles. His voice has been described as friendly, smooth, unique, and conversational, and he has a knack for character voices. Matt is easy to work with, and loves creating engaging and believable performances.

Steven C. Drielak is an internationally recognized expert in the area of Hot Zone Forensic Attribution. He received his master’s degrees from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. He has more than thirty years of law enforcement experience. Steven established the Suffolk County Environmental Crime Unit in New York. He commanded that unit for sixteen years. Steven has directed within the EPA’s Office of Criminal Enforcement, Forensics and Training. His role spanned both the Homeland Security and Criminal Enforcement national programs. As the director of the EPA’s National Criminal Enforcement Response Team, he led the effort. He deployed environmental forensic evidence collection teams. These teams responded to BP Alaska’s Prudhoe Bay oil pipeline failures. They also addressed the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster. Steven has served as a senior forensic attribution instructor. He worked at the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia. There, he was a program developer. He served for seventeen years as a National Academy Instructor for the EPA’s criminal enforcement program. He has also provided environmental forensic attribution training for the FBI’s Hazardous Materials Response Unit. He has provided international training to numerous countries within the European Union. He has authored and coauthored six textbooks in the areas of environmental crimes, weapons of mass destruction and forensic attribution. He has also authored two historical fiction novels. He was an appointed member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police Environmental Crimes Committee. He served on the President’s Interagency Microbial Forensics Advisory Board.

Posted in #BookTours

Levi

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Will Diane finally find a man who can be there for her and her son, or will her brother chase Levi off before this relationship ever gets a chance?


Levi

Loving a Lancaster Book 3

by Stacy Eaton

Genre: Contemporary Small-Town Romance

Levi Lancaster is the youngest of the family, and while not as classy and outgoing as his older siblings, he works hard for his own HVAC company.

When a major snowstorm hits Lake Tahoe, Levi is enlisted to do a favor and finds himself quite taken with Diane Hampton. He’s heard of her through his sister, Luna, and Luna’s boyfriend, Trace, but he has never had the chance to meet them.

Diane loves her new life in Lake Tahoe, but she is not a fan of driving in the snow. When Levi comes to help her out, Diane may find herself finally ready to move on after the loss of her fiancée five years ago.

Life is about to change for these two, but will it be for the better?

Levi is the third book in the Loving a Lancaster Series, which consists of seven books. These books are steamy romances with adult language and steamy love scenes.

Loving a Lancaster Series:
Leo, Book 1
Luna, Book 2
Levi, Book 3
Lance, Book 4
Still to come: Lucas, Laney, and Lilly

The Loving a Lancaster Series Spins off of the Loving a Winston Series, which is five books: Cara, Evan, Candy, Carmen, and Coral. The Loving a Winston Series spins off of the Loving a Young Series: Wesley, Henley, Huntley, Riley, Kayley, and Bradley.

 

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Luna

Loving a Lancaster Book 2


While millionaire Luna Lancaster loves Lake Tahoe, she thrives in the outdoors near her home in Sedona, Arizona. When Luna’s good friend, Sadie, plans a visit and decides to bring a guest, Luna is excited to show them the sights of the beautiful Red Rocks around her home.

Unfortunately, Sadie can’t make it until later in the week, and Luna finds herself entertaining Trace Hampton alone for a few days. The chemistry between them sparks the moment they meet. The problem is that Luna thinks Trace and Sadie are a couple, and she does everything possible to hide her feelings and not act on them.

When Trace reveals that he is not involved with Sadie, Luna jumps at the chance to see what they could have, but when Sadie arrives, she tells Luna differently.

After running away from the heartbreak of his lies, Luna finally learns the truth, but only when Trace’s life is in danger. Can Luna reach him before it’s too late?

Luna is the second book in the Loving a Lancaster Series, which consists of seven books. These books are steamy romances with adult language and steamy love scenes.

 

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Leo

Loving a Lancaster Book 1


Leo Lancaster is coming home to Lake Tahoe. As a successful millionaire stockbroker and business owner, Leo has decided to open another office in Truckee and work out of that one instead of his Vegas office. Now, he must locate a house and get himself settled, and the last thing he expects to find on his return is love.

Heather McClain is a devoted mother of two teens, and a widow from Ohio. When her best friend encourages her to go on a girls trip to Lake Tahoe, she decides to take a break from the chaos at home and try to have fun. Only their antics are more than Heather bargained for.

Lucky for her, Leo is around to rescue her and the two of them quickly grow close, but is Heather ready to let go of her husband’s memory and move forward into a relationship, or more importantly, are her children prepared to accept a new man into their mother’s life when she surprises them with a trip to the lake?

Leo is the first book in the Loving a Lancaster Series, which will consist of seven books and is spin off of Coral, Loving a Winston, Book 5, in which Coral Winston meets the Lancaster family while on vacation in Lake Tahoe.

 

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Stacy Eaton is a USA Today Bestselling author and began her writing career in October of 2010. Stacy took early retirement from law enforcement after over fifteen years of service in 2016 due to a second serious concussion. Her last three years on the job were in investigations and crime scene investigation. She now writes full-time.

Stacy resides in southeastern Pennsylvania with her husband, who works in law enforcement. She has a daughter in college and a son who is currently serving in the United States Navy.

Stacy writes a variety of genres, but mostly romance. She enjoys writing real-life stories that people can relate to with real-life problems, emotions, and solutions.

Her favorites: Classic cars, photography, Disney, music, coffee, and her favorite sweatshirt that says, You are dangerously close to getting killed in my next novel.

 

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