chicago

To call Widows a heist film is reductive.  It revolves around a heist, but that doesn't do the film justice.

Veronica Rawlings, played by Viola Davis, has an adoring husband and seemingly loving marriage.  Her husband, Harry (Liam Neeson), is also a successful criminal, but when a job goes bad and he along with his entire crew are killed, a large number of puzzle pieces fall into the laps of those left behind.  Interconnected are the people Harry stole from and those he stole for.   Robert Duvall and Colin Farrell play the aging patriarch and future of the Chicago political dynasty Mulligan

Julie James is quickly becoming one of my favorite go-to romance authors. Why? She consistently creates smart characters who engage in witty dialog while falling in love. Love Irresistibly is the fourth book in the FBI/US Attorney series and, if you’re a fan of the series, you will enjoy catching up with some of the earlier couples. If you’ve never read a Julie James book, don’t worry. The books in the series don’t necessarily have to be read in order.

In Love Irresistibly we meet Cade Morgan and Brooke Parker, two professionals living and working in Chicago. Cade, an assistant U.S. Attorney

Edie and Richard Middlestein have been married for over 30 years, enjoying their family life in Chicago. But as their relationship stops growing and Richard decides to leave, all Edie can seem to do is grow.  She is obsessed with food and eating.  Will the family save her from herself?  Will Richard come back and continue loving every ounce of her?  One particular scene in The Middlesteins made me realize just how much this woman is eating:  Edie's daughter-in-law follows her from the house to McDonald's, then to Burger King, and on to the Chinese restaurant, watching Edie order, eat and throw

The fourteenth book in The Dresden Files, Cold Days is just as action-packed and emotionally charged as its predecessors.  Fresh from the events of Ghost Story, Harry’s mired in Mab’s daily assassination attempts, Maeve’s political and violent machinations, and the general hostility of the entire Winter Court towards a human that’s snubbed most of them in the past.  His first official order as the Winter Knight sends Harry back to Chicago, where his friends and allies think he’s dead (and are less than pleased to find out about the deception), and a very short deadline to prevent a city

The latest entry in the bestselling Dresden Files, Ghost Story picks up right after the shocking ending of Changes.  Everyone's favorite wizard is in new territory, without his staff, his rod, his magic, or even his body.  Yes, Harry Dresden is a ghost charged with solving his own murder.  As usual, there's something bigger going on, and Harry must fight to protect his loved ones, his city, and everybody else against the forces of darkness...which just might include him.

The usual crew is around—and it's simultaneously sad and uplifting to see how they've reacted to Harry's absence—as well as

Yada Yada Prayer Group by Neta Jackson
The first in a series of quirky chic lit titles for the gentle soul. The author brings together several women from around Chicago to a women’s retreat. There they begin what will be a lifetime friendship when they are forced together through a prayer group. The first book introduces you to all the characters but delves into only a couple of their lives. Subsequent titles dig deeper into each of the other women’s history. This is an easy read, with no violence or language. The author tackles diversity and culture issues in a fairly non-threatening