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.

Dirty Thirty

 

Dirty Thirty

By: Janet Evanovich

Genre: Mystery, Cozy Mystery

Summary:

Stephanie Plum, Trenton’s hardest working, most underappreciated bounty hunter, is offered a freelance assignment that seems simple enough. Local jeweler Martin Rabner wants her to locate his former security guard, Andy Manley (a.k.a. Nutsy), who he is convinced stole a fortune in diamonds out of his safe. Stephanie is also looking for another troubled man, Duncan Dugan, a fugitive from justice arrested for robbing the same jewelry store on the same day.

With her boyfriend Morelli away in Miami on police business, Stephanie is taking care of Bob, Morelli’s giant orange dog who will devour anything, from Stephanie’s stray donuts to the upholstery in her car. Morelli’s absence also means the inscrutable, irresistible security expert Ranger is front and center in Stephanie’s life when things inevitably go sideways. And he seems determined to stay there.

To complicate matters, her best friend Lula is convinced she is being stalked by a mythological demon hell-bent on relieving her of her wardrobe. An overnight stakeout with Stephanie’s mother and Grandma Mazur reveals three generations of women with nerves of steel and driving skills worthy of NASCAR champions.

As the body count rises and witnesses start to disappear, it won’t be easy for Stephanie to keep herself clean when everyone else is playing dirty. It’s a good thing Stephanie isn’t afraid of getting a little dirty, too.

---bn.com

In the act of full transparency, I haven't picked this series back up in awhile. 10+ books awhile. I found the series to be too formulaic for me. It almost seemed like a big version of Fill in the Blank. After over 12 books, Stephanie was stuck in the same triangle with her two guys. Nothing really changed of any substance. So, I was very curious to be see what things were like in Trenton, these days, for Stephanie.

My impressions for most of the book were that nothing had changed for Stephanie. In many ways I found that comforting. It was fun to visit characters I loved and having caught up with in awhile. Lula and Grandma Mazur were still the go-to ones for funny lines. High jinks were still involved in Stephanie's captures. It was fun to chuckle and laugh at the hilarity of it all.

This installation, Stephanie is put on the case of Duncan Dugan who robbed a jewelry store. However, he has second thoughts as soon as he walks out the door and proceeds to drop the bag of diamonds on the ground before taking off. The book opens with him threatening to jump from the 4th floor of a building only to fall off it. He survives and leads Stephanie and Lula on a search mission for the missing jewels. Which then leads to other discoveries involving the store owner Martin Rabner.

Along the way to solving the case, Stephanie deals with a couple of fire bombs, checking out recently dug up dead bodies looking for a match and her Mom helping chase a suspect. Not to mention Lula being convinced she's being stalked by a demon Grendel. There's also a couple proposals waiting in the pages for you.

If you're in the market for a book that will have you giggling and laughing as you chase apprehensions, I recommend Dirty Thirty. There's nothing ground breaking in the story, but lots of fun. You see the long lasting triangle hint at a new shape in the future. This was a fun read.

The Ins and Outs of In and Out Burger

 

The Ins and Outs of In and Out Burger

By: Lynsi Snyder

Genre: Non-Fiction

Summary:

Read the story of how the legendary business was started and grew to the level it currently is. Hear how and why certain traditions came to be. Read stories from former employees. Learn the good and bad of the key players of this business. 

For most West Coast residents, In & Out is a staple- especially in California. You've just landed at the airport, where do you go to eat? Many choose In & Out. My husband always does. To many, nothing says home like eating a burger from their favorite fast food place- In & Out. So, to read how this little business became the legend it is was a story I couldn't pass up. 

I loved learning how In & Out originally started. I loved reading how the founders put quality ahead of everything. They were willing to get up every morning to hit the farmers market for the freshest produce to serve their customers. I loved hearing how many decisions made then were made. Not to mention how they're still in effect today.

And while hearing the founding of this company was enjoyable, hearing the personal struggles along the way brought a dose of reality to the book. Key players became more human when you learned how imperfect they were and the struggles they battled on a daily basis. Each CEO brought their own unique methods that made a successful business even more so, they each also had their own demons to face. Lynsi doesn't shy away from revealing the dark side of addiction, abuse and depression. Each CEO blessed the company, but those blessings came with a cost.

Fans of the beloved burger joint will love reading the successes and achievements. I learned that one of my local In & Outs holds a "first" distinction. They will love the history and pride that was a building block within each restaurant. They will love learning how the arrow and crossed palm trees came to be. They'll love learning how the secret menus items were created. They'll get to read how one little drive thru became a legendary business globally known. One that still holds to the founding traditions today that it opened with on that first day.   

A Beautiful Rival

 

A Beautiful Rival

By: Gill Paul

Genre: Historical Fiction

Summary:

Elizabeth Arden has been happily dominating the United States beauty scene. Life is good-- until rival Helena Rubenstein shows up to give her a run for her money. 

The plot of this book intrigued me. It sounded so fun and it was! I have heard of Elizabeth Arden, though I know next to nothing about her. I had not heard of Helena Rubenstein. If you haven't heard of these powerhouses, no need to fear. Put yourself in Gill Paul's hands and let the story introduce you.

Elizabeth doesn't take kindly to the arrival of Helena on her turf. Why couldn't she stay in Europe where she's enjoyed success. Why does she need to expand to the US?! Instantly, Elizabeth does whatever she can to undermine anything Helena sets out to do. It doesn't take long for a full on battle to be declared between these two. Each taking turns playing dirty. They take shots at each other in the press, they undermine each other's successes while trying to outdo the other. As the years go by, the levels they stoop to only increase. 

It was fascinating to read. Elizabeth was a hard character for me to respect and even like. She was incredibly controlling and domineering. She would throw outrageous tantrums when things didn't go the way she wanted them to. She wasn't very likeable for me, overall. However, a lot of that can be chalked up to her poor youth. Her early years definitely shaped her success and her desperation to hold on to it at any, and all, costs.

I really liked Helena. As I read the book, I felt she handled herself with far more dignity and respect. She was admirable in her business dealings. You watched her make level-headed decisions for her company that paid off. She wasn't one to yell or fly off the handle. However, she wasn't above getting her hands dirty when it came to Elizabeth. She just carried herself more reservedly that Elizabeth did.

As the years past, the gloves came off more. The race to own more salons intensified, as did what they would do to succeed over the other. Both dealt their opponent low blows. Both played dirty. Neither came off as innocent in their business dealings. 

I don't know how accurate Gill Paul's portrayals were of these ladies. I got the impression that she was able to put a lot of her own imagination and creativity into the story, which I loved. I felt bad when each hit the other a little too close to home. Their ultimate confrontation was from the creative genius of the author, but I felt it was true to the characters she had written. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to more Gill Paul books. 

The Air Raid Book Club

By: Annie Lyons

Genre: Historical Fiction

Summary:

London, 1938: The bookstore just doesn’t feel the same to Gertie Bingham ever since the death of her beloved husband Harry. Bingham Books was a dream they shared together, and without Harry, Gertie wonders if it’s time to take her faithful old lab, Hemingway, and retire to the seaside. But fate has other plans for Gertie.

In Germany, Hitler is on the rise, and Jewish families are making the heart-wrenching decision to send their children away from the growing turmoil. After a nudge from her dear friend Charles, Gertie decides to take in one of these refugees, a headstrong teenage girl named Hedy. Willful and fearless, Hedy reminds Gertie of herself at the same age, and shows her that she can’t give up just yet. With the terrible threat of war on the horizon, the world needs people like Gertie Bingham and her bookshop.

When the Blitz begins and bombs whistle overhead, Gertie and Hedy come up with the idea to start an air raid book club. Together with neighbors and bookstore customers, they hold lively discussions of everything from Winnie the Pooh to Wuthering Heights. After all, a good book can do wonders to bolster people’s spirits, even in the most trying times.

But even the best book can only provide a temporary escape, and as the tragic reality of the war hits home, the book club faces unimaginable losses. They will need all the strength of their stories and the bonds they’ve formed to see them through to brighter days.  ---bn.com

This is my first book from Annie Lyons, but it won't be my last. I didn't know what to expect when I opened the pages, but I'm so glad I did. For being under 400 pages, Annie packs so much into her story. She gives you the good and the bad, the highs and the lows of life during war. 

Gertie is still mourning the loss of her beloved husband, Harry, who she lost 2 years prior. Having met in her father's bookstore, they went on to open their own: Bringham Books. It becomes a local gem and they grow close to their neighbors and customers. Everywhere she looks within it's walls, Gertie feels the loss of him. Just as she's made the decision to sell the store and move elsewhere, World War 2 is declared and life changes. 

When London becomes a target area, Gertie forms a book club to distract from the dropping bombs. A book is assigned each month and discussions are had about it in the bomb shelters. When a neighbor of Gertie's moves next door with her little son, she makes a children's book club for him. Bit by bit, the community becomes more tight knit. 

Gertie's life is forever changed when her good friend, Charlie, asks if she would be interested in taking on a refugee from Germany. Being half Jewish, this child is being sent to London for her safety, with her family planning on joining her as soon as they can. Gertie has no idea what she's in for when she picks up Hedy Fischer, 15, from the train station. After a rough start, they begin to bond and grow close. In time, Hedy becomes the daughter Gertie never had. Gertie becomes Hedy's biggest fighter/supporter. During the course of the war, they fill the void left empty in the other's life. 

I loved watching the community form into a family. The romances that formed, the friendships that grew out of the most unlikely of people. Under the most devastating times, these people helped each other through the nightmare. They held each other when heartbreaking news found it's way to their doors. They celebrated the good moments. Cried tears of loss and joy together. Lives were forever changed as they navigated the war together. 

Annie Lyons wrote an amazingly touching story that hasn't left me once I finished the last page. She didn't gloss over the heartbreak that comes with war- she puts her characters through what really goes on during war. By the time you finish the book, you will have traveled the emotional map. You experience the good, the bad, the highs, the lows, the love and loss each of the characters did in the course of the book. It was well written and told beautifully.