Who could have guessed that in one short month from the February Recap, we’d be in the middle of a global pandemic and the fight for our collective lives? From the end of January to finally assessing the severity of exactly what we in this nation were facing changed the heralding of spring not with trumpets and flower buds but with bagpipes and the strains of Amazing Grace. It’s been a sad month and we are promised worse in April. The sheltering-in-place has reduced commerce to panic purchases and hospitals to erecting temporary tents housing medical equipment with patients in parking lots. It’s sad and beyond frightening.
March started Reading Ireland Month and although all St Patrick’s Day celebrations were canceled, I did manage seven Irish related posts, including Irish authors as well as plot locations in Ireland. Reviews for Rosepoint Pub in March totaled thirteen (as always the links are below the grid):
Dear Ringer by Annelise Ryan
Murder in an Irish Cottage by Carlene O’Connor (a Reading Ireland entry)
Sockeye by Michael F Tevlin (a Reading Ireland entry and CE review)
Irish Car Bomb by Steven Henry (a Reading Ireland entry)
One Good Dog by Susan Wilson (an audiobook)
When All is Said by Anne Griffin (a Reading Ireland entry)
A Week in Winter by Maeve Binchy (a Reading Ireland entry)
The Wolf in Winter by John Connolly (a Reading Ireland entry)
Past Deeds by Carolyn Arnold
Problem Child by Victoria Helen Stone
Uncharted Waters by Scott MacKenzie (a CE review)
Beyond the Moon by Catherine Taylor (a CE review)
The Body in the Apartment by Judi Lynn
I had a wide variety of digital offerings from author requests, NetGalley downloads, my local lending library, and two spotlights as well as an audiobook. And I’m proud to say this old dog learned how to download gifted Audible books which I’ll be reviewing in April. I won a Giveaway that James J Cudney of This is My Truth Now ran and he introduced me to the idea. (Thank you, Jay!) I posted a spotlight for him this month here.
Of course, the book club meetings for March were canceled. Also included in the Reading Ireland Month challenge was the recommendation of one of my favorite podcasters, especially for all things Celtic, the Celtfather himself, Marc Gunn. I hope you’ve had a chance to download and enjoy the amazing variety of artists included in his podcasts.
The CE continues to read and review as well, some as tandem reviews with my own, just as many independently. He has claimed quite a few favorable comments and Nina of The Cozy Pages dubbed him a vicarious blogger. Boy, I loved that, thanked Nina, and asked if I couldn’t use it. Having enthusiastically agreed, we’ll now be calling him CE, The Vicarious Blogger, rather than my associate reviewer. (He likes his new title as well.) Nina writes a delightfully sweet blog, her “homage to cozy mysteries” and if you haven’t discovered her page yet, here’s your chance!
My challenges get ever more challenging, one of which has fallen well behind. I’ve caught up my Reading Challenges page, however, if you’d like to see my progress. Three books behind in Goodreads, generally on target for the rest with the exception of the Murder Mystery Bingo Reading Challenge. NOT easy!
Thank you as always to those who joined me in March as well as my established followers. May you stay safe wherever you are!
©2020 V Williams 
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Rosepoint Publishing 
I agree the Murder Mystery Bingo Challenge is not easy. I looked at it and passed. Good luck on your challenges Virginia. Stay safe, enjoy your time isolated and I hope you find lots to keep you busy.
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No problem keeping busy, ever. Reading or writing most of the day except for household duties and some occasional knitting and playing Word. That challenge, I’m thinking maybe I’m too strict on how I interpret? Are you all in lockdown there too Carla?
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Yes, we are told to only go out for essentials like groceries or medications. Pretty much everything is closed. We are told not to congregate with anyone but the people we live with.
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I had to go for groceries today. (It’s been 2 wks) store opens 1 hr early for seniors. I wore a hoodie, glasses, mask and gloves. Everything into the washing machine when I got home. The shopping took 2 hrs. Crazy and I was exhausted. Can’t believe it but hopefully will last for another 2 wks
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I go shopping for the first time tomorrow since I got home from Florida. It will be interesting. I can go early as well because I am over 60 and am diabetic. I am stripping at the back door and throwing everything in the wash, then taking a shower. Hope that works.
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Mask and gloves too Carla. I also found that social distance didnt seem to enter the grocery store. Stay safe. Still seems those who don’t and they affect all of us.
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I went this morning. No mask but had gloves. Social Distancing was good, I was in, out and home in less than an hour. Changed, showered, cleaned packages and put stuff away. I am good for a week or more now.
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Yay!! Glad to hear it was fast and easy. Stay safe.
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