Inheriting Magic

 

Summary:

Jennifer Love Hewitt gives you a glimpse into how she makes the everyday a little more fun. Dinner doesn't just have to be a meal eaten at a table. The end of a school year doesn't just have to be an excuse to sleep in. From things her own mother did while she was growing up to things she's created for her own children, get ready to see how you can turn the ordinary and mundane into magical.

I wish we had this book during the pandemic. Inheriting Magic is chalk full of fun, creative ideas to make the ordinary daily life things and turn them into fun, creative moments. She shares how her family turned dinner into an international extravaganza! Why have a junk drawer when you can have a magic closet full of things you don't always let your munchkins have? You can have regular water- or you can have moon water! And baskets don't just have to be part of the Easter fun! Jennifer shows you how those same baskets can be used to embrace new seasons or moments in life. 

This book is so much fun and full of so much imagination! I'm bummed my kids are older because I would have implemented these ideas for them. We had an imaginative and fun household loaded with creativity, but this book had several ideas I would have loved adding to. 

If you're a parent- or know of a parent- who loves to take the mundane and add creativity to it, this book is for you!! Memories are waiting to be made and this book gives you so many to choose from. Run to your bookstore to buy it!!

Mr. Lemoncello's Fantabulous Finale

 

Mr. Lemoncello's Fantabulous Finale

By: Chris Grabenstein

Genre: Young Readers

Summary:

The famous Mr. Lemoncello has decided to make plans for handing over the reigns of his vast empire. And in true Lemoncello fashion, the only way to find the successor is through a contest. The winner will be the one who will take over for Lemoncello. Let the games (and silliness) begin!!

Since his was 13 years old, Mr. Luigi Lemoncello has made his fortune in the games business. However, it grew to libraries, factories, a soon-to-be amusement park- just to name a few. But the day has come when he's decided to pass the baton. So, he holds a contest. 13 kids can get a Titanium Ticket. Of those 13, one will be the winner of it all! However, the contest isn't without it's bumps along the way.

Fans of the series will get a chance to visit with the beloved characters they've come to know (Kyle). They'll also get an unpleasant visit from the series least likeable character (We're looking at you, Charles). Not to mention get to meet some new kids to add to the mix. 

Our 13 Titanium Ticket holders partake in scavenger hunts, brainstorming game ideas, challenges & math riddles. All the while, whittling the number down as they move through the contest. The stakes all change when they get the yet to be open to the public amusement park, Lemoncelloland. As each kiddo is given an individualized mission, they navigate the different lands and rides. All to be met with news that brings the contest to a screeching halt. Said news forces the remaining players to shift their focus.

Readers of this beloved and fun series will enjoy it's finale. It was entertaining to see each character reveal their true selves through the different games of the contest. Some players you were happy to see go, while others chose to live out their dreams in other areas. The teamwork you have come to love in the previous series installments is in this one, as well. Charles Chiltington is still up to his usual tricks- just as he's been throughout the series. But seeing the way they play out in this book was fun.

I loved meeting most of the new characters. There were some I wasn't sad to see not make it. As the characters navigate the challenges, you could really see who was a good fit and held the same spirit that Mr. Lemoncello himself had. 

The ending wasn't all that unexpected for me, but it was still great. I felt it was the right call and spoke of Lemoncello's vision for his company, but his loyal customers. I'm sad to see the series end. It's always been one of my favorites just for how fun and creative they are. However, I look forward to seeing what Chris Grabenstein comes up with next. 

Dinner For Vampires

 

Dinner For Vampires

By: Bethany Joy Lenz

Genre: Memoir

Summary:

Once bitten by the acting bug, Bethany Joy Lenz chased her dream from New York to California. What she didn't plan on was falling into a Christian cult. Not to mention being the last one to realize she had. Within these pages, she tells how it all unfolded. She peels back the layers she didn't always know existed to show you what her life looked like before, during and getting out of the controlling hands of people she once trusted. 

From a young age, Bethany discovered her love for the arts. Whether it be acting or singing, these creative endeavors were her passion and escape. At 18, she formed a band while in New York. At 19, she moved to LA to pursue her love of acting. The two locations turned out to be more different than she anticipated. Life in New York seemed effortless and like home. Whereas, life in LA was isolating and made her feel as if she didn't belong. Friends were plentiful in one, but scarce in the other. 

Cue a group of people meeting at a house for a Bible Study. What started out innocently morphed into something everyone around her questioned. This group that studied the Bible together became a close knit group who supported one another. As time moved on, this tight group became to feel more like a family. The leaders taking on a more hands-on and controlling nature. While real family members of the group noticed a dark intention, the group themselves felt loved. However, that love grew more and more controlling, manipulative and sinister. As years rolled by, Bethany's feelings exchanged comfort for distrust. By the time the light finally shown on her situation, Bethany had a daughter. How was she going to get them out of this group's control? How was she going to protect her daughter from people Bethany now wanted nothing to do with?

There were numerus parts of this book that were hard for me to read. Seeing how subtle the leaders of this group gained control of it's members was disturbing. Seeing how manipulative they became of their members in order to continue their control was infuriating. What began as gentle emotional support grew into mind control. The leaders were able to so seamlessly gain autonomy over every aspect of the members. The leaders control their thoughts, decisions and jobs. All while the members never even thinking twice. Reading all of this was scary enough. Seeing it play out in Bethany's life was gut wrenching.

In Dinner For Vampires, Bethany tells you how they talked her out of making her Broadway dreams come true. How this group was instrumental in her job on One Tree Hill. She'll tell you how they would manipulate themselves back into front and center of her life whenever she began to drift away. How they preyed on her every vulnerability- even in the romance department. She would eventually marry the son of a leader and quickly realize the mistake it was. Bethany will tell you how huge that very mistake would go on to be. 

As you read her story, you will journey all over the emotional map. I felt anger at everyone for allowing this to happen. My heart broke when she would lose out on a dream they talked her out of. I was in shock when she discovered how much money they had taken from her. I was cheering her father on when he showed up locked and loaded with years of intel he had been doing into the main leader. By the time I read the last word, I was emotionally exhausted and I hadn't been the one to live it out. 

I applaud Bethany Joy Lenz for being willing to share her story. For being willing to share how she allowed people into her life who would eventually take it over. I would like to thank her for being so raw with this nightmare- I know there are other people out there walking a similar path. It wasn't an easy read so I know it wasn't easy to write. I'm glad she was able to claw her way out. I'm glad there were people ready and waiting to help her in any way they could- some were former members. 

I Want to Trust You, but I Don't

 

I Want to Trust You, but I Don't

By: Lysa Terkeurst

Genre: Christian Living

Summary:
You have been hurt or betrayed someone you never thought would do that. You've been devastated by the last person you expected to be. Now what? How do you process all the feelings you, and will, feel? How do you move forward? How do you repair the damage done to you in a healthy way? How do you trust again when your trust has been shattered? Lysa not only walks you through her own journey with these very questions, but she passes what she learned onto you. 

Most of us have been betrayed in our life. Some of us have been betrayed by the very person, or people, who continuously declared their unwavering loyalty. And, still, some of us have been betrayed by a loved one, forgiven them and given them a second chance only to be betrayed by them again. Whatever form betrayal took in our lives, it's often incredibly difficult to recover from. Betrayal is a special kind of weapon that leaves scars and wounds that run far deeper than we may realize. If any of this rings true to you, know that you aren't alone. 

Lysa has been betrayed by her husband, not once but twice. On top of that, she lost several close people in her life around the same time. So, I think it's fair to say, Lysa knows what she's talking about in regards to the subject. Within these pages, she walks you through her own journey of processing, healing and moving forward. She's honest- her flaws, bumps and bruises. She shares with you some of the wisdom she learned through her devasting journey. 

As I read this book, I related to a lot of things she wrote. I saw a lot of things I had to learn. She gets honest about relationships (any form of them) be founded in trust. She addresses those pesky read flags we all hope are flying by mistake, rather than the indicators they really are. Each chapter was full of nuggets that I needed to hear or be reminded of. 

The book covers numerous hard hitting aspects of betrayal. Read flags, why God allowed the betrayal to happen and how do you recover and move on if your betrayer gets away with it. Also, why do we stay or have a hard time leaving a relationship we know isn't healthy for us? I can't tell you how wide reaching the chapters are. I wasn't expecting them to be so targeted and full of validity.

I Want to Trust You, but I Don't is a great tool to pick up when you're ready to pick up the pieces and heal. It helps you make sense of things and feelings. It validates your feelings, but helps you process and express them in a healthy way. It was a great resource for me. I hope you find it the same for you.

Scandalous Women

 

Scandalous Women

By: Gill Paul

Genre: Historical Fiction

Summary:

1966, NYC: Jacqueline Susann’s Valley of the Dolls hits the bookstores and she is desperate for a bestseller. It’s steamy, it’s a page-turner, but will it make the big money she needs? In London, Jackie Collins’s racy The World Is Full of Married Men launches her career. But neither author is prepared for the price they will pay for being women who dare to write about sex.

Jacqueline and Jackie are lambasted by the literary establishment, deluged with hate mail, and even condemned by feminists. In public, both women shoulder the outcry with dignity; in private, they are crumbling—particularly since they have secrets they don’t want splashed across the front pages.

1965, NYC: College graduate Nancy White is excited to take up her dream job at a Manhattan publishing house, but she could never be prepared for the rampant sexism she will encounter. While working on Valley of the Dolls, she becomes friends with Jacqueline Susann, and, after reaching out to Jackie Collins about a US deal, she is responsible for the two authors meeting.

Will the two Jackies clash as they race to top the charts? Will Nancy achieve her ambition of becoming an editor, despite all the men determined to hold her back? Three women struggle to succeed in a man’s world, while desperately trying to protect those they love the most. ----bn.com

Scandalous Women takes you behind the scenes of the publishing world for women in the 1960s. What would be called sexual assault and sexual harassment today, was openly allowed and tolerated then. It was a male dominated world in that time, but three women were ready to take it on and turn it on it's ears. I was shocked to read what was allowed by male coworkers, but not surprised. As I read the story, I felt that women weren't really wanted and especially not if they were going to change how women were seen. 

Both Jacqueline and Jackie were groundbreakers of their time. No one had written books so honestly from the women's perspective. And definitely not in a sexual way. These two women broke barriers and gave women a voice they never knew they could have. Whether you agreed with their subject matter, or not, they were speaking up for women when no one else dared to. I loved it. 

Adding Nancy to the mix was a perfect addition. She arrives in New York City with the dream of being a publisher. Knowing she'd have to work her way to that role wasn't a problem. The problem was the male dominated field that wouldn't allow her to. Never mind that she knew her stuff. Never mind that she was able to find authors the people wanted to read. Never mind that she had all the qualifications her male counterparts had. They were allowed to cop all the feels they wanted while they trashed authors. She had to grin and bear it. Until she decides she no longer wants to. In time, Nancy's dream changes. Not only changes, but takes shape- and then takes off. 

I loved watching the friendship between Jackie and Jacqueline form. I was expecting a rivalry, but what I got was an endearing friendship that grew stronger as the time passed. They supported each other and understood each other like no one else could, because they knew what the other was going through. The way Jackie helped Jacqueline when she needed it was gripping to read. These two strangers became kindred spirits who where the shoulders the other needed to lean on. I was just saddened it couldn't last longer. I'd be lying if I said I didn't have a few tears fall as I finished the book.

I will say the first half of the book is better than the second half. If you're looking for a fast paced story, you won't find it here. It took almost halfway through the book for the two ladies to just briefly meet. It's a little over half way into the story before Jackie's book comes out. You're expecting a rivalry, but you get an amazing friendship form instead. It's not until more than halfway in that you start to see the tow authors interact. But, once you do, you enjoy what you're in for.  

The Summer of Yes

The Summer of Yes

By" Courtney Walsh

Genre: General Fiction

Summary:

Having been hit by a car not only leaves Kelsey with a 2 day stay in a hospital, but a driving need to reevaluate her life. She now has the time to look at her life and see how it's not what she wants it to be. Turns out, she's been saying "no" far more than she's been saying "yes". It doesn't take her long to decide that has to change. And what does any woman in her 20s need when turning her summer into one of saying, "yes"? Why an older- rather cranky- sidekick, of course. Georgina Tate has lived out more of her years than she has left, and secretly, with many regrets. So the least likely pair have a summer that changes their lives- but for good or bad?

The concept of this book was one that grabbed me from the start. It didn't sound like much of what I've read prior, so I couldn't wait to see how the story played out. For the most part, I enjoyed it. It was fun. heartwarming, challenging. It was fun to read how Kelsey dipped her toes into the world of "yes". 

The book's standout character, for me, was Georgina Tate. A highly successful business woman who did what few others did in her day, has much to be proud of. But even more to be regretful of. She's well aware that her success came at the price of decisions that broke more than one heart. So, as Georgina is now facing the biggest challenge of her life, she's got much to look back on and wish she had done differently. She also sees a lot of herself in the random stranger's hospital room she was placed in. In the little time they share together, a connection is made. Though Georgina is loathe to admit it. 

Kelsey approaches Georgina with an insane idea of taking the upcoming summer to say yes to things they once said no to. While these things are different for each of the women, both are highly impacted by the results. Where Georgina thought things were beyond repair for her, she's able to see that all isn't lost. If she can get out of her own way. 

I'll admit, while Georgina's storyline was far more impactful and emotional, she wasn't an easy character to like. She read to me very much like Queen Charlotte from Bridgerton. She was a grouchy, stubborn, almost egotistical character. But she's also the character with the most growth. The Georgina you start the book with is not the same one you finish the book with. 

The Summer of Yes was a fun read. It was a great combination of light, hearty and fun. It was fun and inspiring to see both characters face fears- big and small. I could easily see this being a beach or vacation read. The banter between Georgina and Kelsey was fun to watch unfold throughout the book. 

IF you're looking for a summer read, I encourage you to consider The Summer of Yes. I encourage you to this book at some point. Maybe you'll be inspired to have your own season of saying yes to what you normally say no to. 

 

Olive You to Death

 

Olive You to Death

By: Lynn Cahoon

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Summary:

Mysteries have washed ashore in South. Town grump, Josh, announces his engagement just before his newly betrothed disappears. One of Jill's old History Professors was working with Josh on locating treasure said to have been hidden near South Cove. However, said Professor is soon found murdered. Can the two events be connected? 

Welcome to book 16 in the Tourist Trap Mystery series. I always look forward to whatever adventures Lynn Cahoon takes us on and I thoroughly enjoyed this latest one. This book was so fun to read. So, if you're looking for a vacation read, let's see if this one fits for you.

If you've been a reader of the series for any length of time, you know there isn't a lot of love amongst residents for local Josh. He owns the antique store, but is mostly known as the "town curmudgeon", as Lynn named him. However, Olive You to Death may just be the book where you begin to see him differently. This time around, Josh has fallen in love with Melody who has rubbed off on him in a positive way. She's managed to smooth many of his rougher edges. So, when she goes missing, he's devastated and determined to find out where she is. The questions start being asked: was her disappearance was a willing one or forced? Is she coming back? Jill helps search for answers.

As Jill and Josh do some digging, she learns Josh was working with one of her previous professors. Josh found an old journal that eludes to a treasure hidden near town. Professor Wellborn knew much about the notorious owner of the treasure that had been hidden, so he and Josh join forces to locate the hidden treasure. But, is there really a treasure to be found? And does it have anything to do with why the Professor was found murdered? Jill can add those questions to her growing list.

While trying to keep Josh out of Jill's lawman fiancé's hair, trying to get information on her professor's death, and locating a missing bride-to-be, Jill has her own wedding to plan. At the start of the book, all is going well, but it doesn't stay that way for long. Apparently, a technicality puts a hitch in she and Greg's wedding site. Can it be fixed? Or will she be adding finding a new wedding sire to list of things to do?

I loved this installment!! I loved the treasure storyline and the way it brings the past together with the present. The search for it, the story behind the man involved was a blast to read about. Seeing the softer side of Josh was an unexpected joy. I was routing for him from the get go. 

If you're looking for a quick, fun, lighthearted read to take to the beach or on a vacation, I highly suggest you pick this one up. 

Only the Brave

 

Only the Brave

By: Danielle Steel

Genre: Historical Fiction, Fiction

Summary:

In 1937, Sophia Alexander is adjusting to her new normal life. Her Mother has passed away, her Father is a workaholic with his own general surgeon practice. Sophie's younger sister, Theresa is a socialite in the making. But everything changes when World War II erupts. Everything they once had is now being threatened and each has to make their own way. Sophia has no clue what the future holds for her- or her family.

Life as Sophia knew ended when her mother died. The family unit she grew up with was forever changed. Her beloved father, a general surgeon with his own practice, spent more and more time at his office. Her younger sister, Theresa, gets married. And Theresa attends nursing school. Among all that, World War II erupts. It doesn't take long before the War seeps fear into their lives.

Her father is approached by the Reich for his assistance in carrying out one of their diabolical agendas. When he declines, he prays that's the end of it. However, it wasn't. Later on, he's approached again. When he declines a second time, he's arrested and sent to camp. Everything he built is destroyed.

Theresa's husband is discovered to be a quarter Jewish, which is enough to force them to flee for their lives. She's very pregnant and his parents aren't as lucky. The very people his family had partied with are the ones who declare them enemies. Sophia calls on a friend to help her get Theresa and her husband to safety. Will they make it? 

Sophia not only decides she's going to become a nun, but she begins attending underground meetings and helping Jewish children to safety. She's never caught, but suspicion builds and she becomes guilty be association. Sophia goes from living in the safety of a convent to the terror of Ravensbruck. It takes her brains and guts to survive within it's walls. It takes her bravery to leave it. 

I've always loved Danielle Steel's historical fiction books the best. And while this one wasn't my favorite, it was still a good one. There were times when I felt people kept pressuring her to not go through with what she wanted. Overall, the story was a good one. It isn't a long book, so it's perfect for a short jaunt into another time. 

Nine Lives And Counting

 

Nine Lives And Counting

By: Duane "Dog" Chapman

Genre: Memoir

Summary:

Within Nine Lives and Counting, Duane “Dog” Chapman not only offers fresh perspective on well-known life events but also ventures into behind-the-scenes territory and backstories never shared publicly.

This book sheds new light on

• memories of the painful events that shaped the author’s childhood,
• the surprising hope he found in prison,
• triumphs and failures from his days as a single dad,
• lessons learned from his job as a vacuum-cleaner salesman,
• his story of learning to bounty hunt,
• and many other highs and lows from his life.

Most telling of all, Nine Lives and Counting follows Chapman’s faith in Jesus and the greater story he is focused on sharing with the world. ---bn.com

I was among the millions who watched Dog and his family track down the convicts who chose not to show up for their day in court. I remember the chase, the arrest, the cigarette and Dog riding in the backseat. And I was among the millions who had no idea there was a reason he did all the things he did. I thought it was nothing more than a bounty hunter apprehending his guy/girl. I only knew what I saw on the show- which was a fraction of the whole picture. There was far more that I didn't know compared to what I did. However, that's no longer the case.

Within the pages of Nine Lives And Counting, you're going to meet a boy named Duane. He lived a straight and narrow life. He was an active church member who many believed he was destined to be a preacher. And by the time he was in seventh grade, he escaped an abusive homelife in exchange for being a member of a biker gang. From there, life took Duane in directions he never could have expected.

A life a crime caught up with him and landed him behind bars. And within those bars, the groundwork for a caring bounty hunter was laid. Dog tells you about how he found himself there and how it changed his life forever. He's going to tell you about his interactions with his fellow inmates. He's also going to share with you how sharing his faith within those concrete walls changed more than just one man's protectory. 

You're going to learn about Dog's numerous marriages and his even more numerous children- the ones he knew of and the ones he learned of years later. He's going to share with you the good and the bad of his family life. The ways he succeeded in giving his children a better childhood than he had; and the ways he let his kids down. 

He's going to tell you of his career and personal accomplishments. He's also going to share with you the losses that devastated his world. Dog is open , honest and candid about it all. And he'll also share with you how God never left him and helped pick him up off the ground, repeatedly, to start over. 

I honestly didn't expect to love this book as much as I did. I didn't think I'd be captured by his story. I wasn't expecting him to be as humble and honest as he was. I definitely finished this book with a better understanding for this man who has been through far more than I ever thought of. Once you finish his book, you understand why he treated his bounties the way he did. He wasn't just in it for the money. He related to so many of his captures. He treated them as humans worthy of the opportunity to get their lives back on track, and not just as the criminals they were.

Thank you, Dog, for opening your story to us readers. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to get to know you better. Thank you for showing us how your faith was always important to you- even when you were lost to criminal activity, dependency or grief. You have left a lasting, touching impression on those you've met and those who have read your story. 

The Scandalous Life of Ruby Devereaux

 

The Scandalous Life of Ruby Devereaux

By: M.J. Robotham

Genre: Fiction

Summary:

Ruby Deveraux is a well acclaimed author. Not only is successful, but she still owes her publisher one more book. She finally agrees to give them the memoir they've been asking for, but only if it's done on her terms.  So, Ruby Devereaux tells her life story- through the men who had the biggest impression on her.

Ruby Devereaux may be 90, but she is still a force to be reckoned with. So, while it's easier to give her publisher the memoir they want, she's doing it her way. What follows is the 12 men who have shaped her life and left the biggest impressions on her. She shares her firsts: love, sexual experience, heartbreak and betrayal. Beginning in the late 1940s and going to 2020, you'll journey history through her life and heart. You'll see her fall in love, get her heart broken, navigate betrayal, get married and suffer gut wrenching losses- just to name a few. 

She'll tell stories of an actor, politician, artists, her Dad and others. She'll fall head over heels and, sometimes, just love the person for the moment. As she lays out her history, you'll run the gamete with her. You'll fall in love. You'll fall in lust. You'll feel her joy. You'll feel her pain. You'll see a woman embrace life in all it's emotions and experiences. Some will scar, some will enrich. And some will forever change you.

Ruby as a spy? Ruby as a wife? Ruby in love? Ruby learning the truth of someone she thought she knew. Ruby being the nurturer to a man who's own trauma threatens to take over. Ruby having the time of her life and getting arrested- at 52 years old. It's all in these pages and more. 

It was fun to see her life unfold. Ruby lived so many different lives, but all those lives were the pieces that made Ruby who she was. I grew attached to her and wanted to see her happy and succeed. No matter what love brought to her, or did to her, she was the feisty woman I rooted for every time. 

There's no way to escape the inevitable comparisons to  The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. They are similar in many ways, but don't dismiss Ruby. Don't underestimate Ruby. You will enjoy her story, her loves, her life, her guts, her grit. Curl up and get to know a woman who lived a long, incredible life.

 

Permission To Dream

 

Permission to Dream

By: Christine Caine

Genre: Christian Living, Christian Non-Fiction

Summary:

Have you ever had a dream or a goal you really wanted to achieve? have you ever felt you've messed up too much to achieve something you set out to do? Have procrastinated something to the point you feel it's too late now to accomplish? Well, God and Christine Caine have a few things to tell you: It's Never Too Late. May the pages ahead shed new life into the dream or goal you once wanted. May the words within this book help you see that you aren't alone and you can still set out to accomplish what you stopped thinking you can.

You know that saying: Life is what happens when you're busy making plans? I relate to it sooooo much. When I was younger, I had dreams I dreamt with such passion. However, life, insecurity, doubt, etc got in my way. If outside situations didn't waylay my goals, I had no problem letting my inner critic do the job. Years would pass by until I finally hit that point where I felt too much time had gone by. It's too late for me. I've probably wasted to gift God gave me. 

Well, this book was a great reminder that isn't the case. It's not too late. No matter what life throws at you, or what people have done to you, that goal/dream is still within your reach. Christine shares you the story of Favour whose own cousin sold her into prostitution and how, despite the nightmare she endured, she was able to heal enough to chase the dream she once had. You'll also read about Lori Ann's gut wrenching journey to have children. Repeated loss forced detours she hadn't planned, but they led her to her dream being achieved, though differently than she expected. 

This book is packed with encouragement to still be what God called you to be or achieve what God put on your heart to achieve- NO MATTER WHAT STUMBLING BLOCKS OR DETOURS YOU ENCOUNTER. Many of us need this reminder. The dreams we once had can still be achieved. It isn't too late. We haven't wasted too much time. I hope you find as much encouragement as I did.

The Berlin Letters

 

The Berlin Letters

By: Katherine Reay

Genre: Historical Fiction

Summary:

August 1961 changed the life of Monica Voekler and her family. She planned on joining her parents and sister for lunch, but she's stopped by a barricade. One that arrives overnight and separates more than just parts of a city. The Berlin Wall changes history and the lives of the Voekler family. Sacrifices are made with devastating consequences. Lies that were once believed reveal their truth. Eyes that were blinded to the reality of the the wall are cruelly opened. Navigate the Berlin Wall with the Voeklers- from all angles- as it goes up, while it's up and the day it's torn down. 

Katherine Reay has quickly become one of my favorite historical fiction writers for good reason. The Berlin Letters has sealed her place among my favorite writers. I LOVED this book. So very much. I was gripped to the story. There were several times I thought I knew what was going to happen only to be proven wrong. I was captivated. I was enthralled. I was rooting for each character. I didn't want to put the book down. This book has found it's way onto my favorite books of all time list.  

Monica Voekler is a wife and mother in 1961. On this particular day she plans on joining her parents for breakfast. However, she finds a wired barricade stopping her from entering West Berlin. It doesn't take her long to realize the barricade has nefarious intentions. Nor does it take her long to realize she has to decide not just her future, but that of her 3 year old daughter, Luisa. As Monica watches events unfold at the barricade and the actions of the guards in charge of it, she knows the life she knew is over. The woman who set out to meet her family doesn't return home the same.

Monica's husband, Haris, is a reporter for a local newspaper and a member of the Stasi party. He's heard rumblings of a barricade going up and is positive it's for good intentions and not meant to be permanent.  He's the last of his family to see things for what they really are and he stands to lose everything he has left. However, in learning the truth, Haris fights for the truth to be known. He finds help in the last place he would've expected it ands sets out to educate the world beyond the wall of what life is like for those living behind it. He has no idea the words and secrets he passes on become known by more than the eyes he wrote them for. 

Luisa Voekler has been brought up by her Grandparents after her parents die in a car accident. Her Opa has died, so it's now just her, her Aunt and her Oma. Her family doesn't know that Luisa is one of a team who cracks WW2 and Third Reich codes and ciphers. When Luisa helps her coworker decode a set of letters from berlin, she notices small details like dots over paragraphs and an infinity symbol. The same symbol she's found on one of her Opa's envelopes. Thus begins the journey of uncovering secrets she has no clue of and no idea how deep they went.

As Luisa discovers more letters with the symbol on them between her Opa and someone she long since thought she lost. Once she makes the connection of who her Opa exchanged letters with, she's on a race against time to rescue them from the hell they're in.

I cannot tell you how much I loved this book. I'm not even remotely doing it justice here. Katherine Reay wrote a story that had me gripped to the very end. My heart broke over Monica's story. My heart felt despair over the path Haris found himself on and the consequences it had. I was shocked as Luisa learned the truth of her beloved Grandfather. By the time I read the last line, I had traveled all over the emotional map. This book was AMAZING!! Not only did you learn about the characters and all they endured, but you learned so much history. I haven't heard of any other book involving the Berlin Wall and Katherine did it perfectly. 

If you love historical fiction, you will be a fan of this book. You get a real and in depth look at what life was like during the years the Berlin Wall was up. I cannot rave about this book enough. Katherine Reay, thank you for telling the story of so many. Thank you for bringing to light the events many people know nothing about. 

Untangle Your Emotions

 

Untangle Your Emotions

By: Jennie Allen

Genre: Christian Non-Fiction, Christian Living

Summary:

For many feeling your feelings is a hard thing to do. In this book, Jennie is going to show you how it's normal and healthy to feel your emotions- no matter what you've been led to believe. She'll share experiences from her own life that helped her realize feeling her feelings was an impactful breakthrough for her and many others. 

By Jennie's own admission, feeling her feelings wasn't something she always did. In fact, it wasn't until college that she even allowed herself to feel them over suppressing them. Add to that, the man she married was also of the camp that you didn't feel feelings, but buried them. As you read Untangle Your Emotions, Jennie shares how she, and many in her world, learned that it was healthy to feel the feelings they had. Not only was it healthy, but God blessed. She walks you through learning that God gave you your emotions with the intention to feel them- not deny them. 

Untangle Your Emotions is a great source for those who, like Jennie, were not encouraged to feel their feelings. I know many who were brought up their whole lives with the belief that you buried emotions rather than dealt with them. They learned to think their way through life over feeling their way. And while that may be useful in certain situations, it's not a healthy and ideal way to go through your life. Many feel it's sinful to feel emotions. Jennie is going to address that and where the sin line lies and when we've crossed it. 

Jennie gets candid about her own family and their journey with emotions. From her, and her husband's, conceal don't feel mentality growing up to her own children's' struggle with emotions. She's going to give you tips of how to address them so they don't cause unnecessary stress or damage down the line. 

While I wasn't her target audience in that I wasn't someone who needed to learn it was okay to feel my emotions, I walked away with a better understanding for those who did. I have many in my own family with the buried it mentality. This book started several great, thought provoking conversations. For many within the church, and out of it, this book could be a great tool to help you realize that you are allowed to- and should- feel all the feelings you have. God not only felt His (as Jennie will show you), but He gives you the boundaries to feel them in a healthy, beneficial way. 

The Beautiful People

 

The Beautiful People

By: Michelle Gable

Genre: Historical Fiction

Summary:

The Beautiful People transports you to Palm Beach Florida in 1961. You're going to hobnob with the famous people of the 1960s- the ones you read about in the newspapers. Be prepared to spend the next couple of years getting to know Peter and Lilly Pulitzer and a Vanderbilt. Get ready for the insanely lavish parties they throw and learn their secrets- whether you want to or not. And while you're jet setting around the world you just might discover a talent you never would've thought you could do. But be careful not to get too sucked into the madness where all that glitters isn't the gold it looked like from a distance. 

Margot, "GoGo" Hightower was expecting to get engaged to her well off boyfriend. It was going to be the end of the financial troubles her family has been enduring since her stepfather's federal indictment on securities fraud. However, she gets dumped instead leaving her with no plan- or money. Best friend, Dolly, comes to her rescue when she introduces Margot and the well know photographer, Slimbo "Slim" Aarons. Margot begins a new life as Slim's latest photography assistant. Now, she's jet setting around the world and claiming Palm Beach, Florida as her new homebase. Hobnobbing with the likes of Peter and Lilly Pulitzer expose her to the life she longs to be a part of. 

As Margot becomes friends with Peter and Lilly, she soon learns that not all love stories are as real as the story you make them out to be.. In time, she gets to know the key players of the Palm Beach society and their secrets. However, it doesn't come without her own entanglement with the very people she's been admiring. Once she starts seeing the not so shiny side of the wealthy, Margot realizes this isn't the world for her. But, now she's gotten herself entangled with the key players and doesn't know how she can get out. 

I enjoyed this book. It wasn't an action packed story, but rather very character focused. Michelle takes you along for the ride as Margot navigates the ins and outs of Palm Beach society. You see what Margot sees and learn as Margot does. As the story unfolds, you get to know Slim. He's known for going through assistants, but he connects with Margot. They form a bond that sneaks up on Margot. 

I especially loved all the real life information Michelle gives you about the characters you just read about. She directs you to where you can see the photographs that made Slimbo Aarons so famous. She tells you what happened to the people you got to know after you turned the last page. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the world of Palm Beach in the early 1960s- all the people, the extravagant parties they had and the daily life of the privileged. It was eye opening- and very far from what I've ever known. 

Pull up a chair. Grab a cozy blanket and get ready to travel back in time. Get to know people you may have only heard about. Enjoy your visit. I know I did.

Unstoppable

Unstoppable

By: Maggie Nichols

Genre: Young Adult Non-Fiction

Summary:

Maggie shares with you her career of being a highly acclaimed gymnast. She'll tell you the highs and struggles and how she overcame those struggles. She also is going to take you into her dark nightmare of dealing with assault from what should have been a trusted source for her- and hundreds of fellow gymnasts. Maggie tells you how the Special Olympics inspired her and influenced her personally and professionally. Read how she navigates it all and survives pivoting her career.  

Maggie was like many little girls- myself included- who was bitten by the gymnastics bug. Once she found it, she found her passion. However, it wasn't always a happy journey. She was plagued by injuries. She had setbacks that forced her to have to reevaluate her passion and how she was going to achieve the goals she set out to accomplish. Within the pages of Unstoppable, she shares with you what it was like and how she did it. Injuries are a blow to any athlete, but the recovery isn't always just a physical one. Athletes have to overcome the mental aspect of any physical injury that requires a break from their routine. 

Unstoppable isn't just the telling of her career. Within it's pages, you're going to read some disturbing things that not only happened to Maggie, but too many of her fellow gymnasts. I've always known how disturbing the much acclaimed Karoli camp is. I've known how the athletes are treated there and the methods used to get the athletes into the "best condition for competition". I've never agreed with it and was angry with every story I read about it. Maggie shares hers with you and it will upset you. The way they altered her diet for the "better" and pushed her to the breaking point isn't uncommon to anyone who's walked the property. I had a hard time reading about what was overlooked and allowed for the sake of medals. This book reminds the reader that this facility is focused on winning at the expense of athletes' long term health. 

The hardest parts to read within the book are those involving the sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of Larry Nassar. Long before he was charged and sentenced for anything, the abuse occurred. Maggie is just one of the hundreds who came forward to tell their story. Maggie tells you how that came to be and how the process was for having him put behind bars. It's not an easy read to see how many trusted adults turned a blind eye or even covered up what was happening to the very athletes they should have been protecting. It was a victory I celebrated when it finally was done and it was a victory I celebrated as Maggie takes you on that journey.

I loved reading how her transition was into college gymnastics. I loved reading how she was treated by teammates and coaches. I loved how they became a family. I loved how they were able to comin in and undo the unhealthy eating and training habits instilled, in party, by the Karoli team. By the time you finish the last page of Maggie's book you will have read how she pursued her dream and overcame the nightmares she encountered along the way. 

Unstoppable is a great book that any young adults could pull lessons from. She explains the technical aspects of gymnastics, so starting out gymnasts can have extra knowledge. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Maggie's story and I hope you do, as well.