Part of My World

Part of My World

By: Jodi Benson

Summary:

Jodi invites gives you a glimpse into her life before, during and after the movie that made her famous. She shares the good times, the stressful times, the times her heart was completely broken and the faith that gave her the strength to navigate it all. 

Who hasn't seen the Disney smash hit, The Little Mermaid? Like most of the world, this is the movie that not only gave us songs to sing, but also introduced us to the talented woman behind the voice, Jodi Benson. But, that's all we knew her as- the voice of a mermaid millions of little kids were fascinated with. So, in reading her story, I got to learn more of who she is. 

Leading up to her famous role, she had navigated her parents divorce and her school years. And while, they helped shape the woman she became, I was more gripped with her story once Disney stepped in. It was fascinating to learn she struggled with her mega hit "Part of Your World". It was interesting to see how they were finally able to get the Broadway style out of her voice so Ariel could come through. I loved reading about the people she was blessed with who guided her every step of the way.

Mostly, in the second half of the book, I felt glued. It's here when she opens up about how her faith was tested through several devastating losses and uprooting lows. This life she had built no longer looked the way she expected it to and she had no choice but to walk through the dark times. 

While this book isn't an in depth look into her life, you definitely get to know the woman behind the iconic voice. You will smile, laugh and tear up as you turn the pages. You'll learn that working with Disney can be the golden touch in your life, but it doesn't save you from heartache and struggles. Marriages still have the ability to fall apart, loved ones still pass on, celebratory times can still quickly turn into mourning times. And that's when, and why, you have God. Relying on His strength helps you put on foot in front of the other when you want to do anything but that. 

I enjoyed reading her Jodi's story. I thank her for sharing the highs and lows with us. She has blessed us all with not just Ariel's story- and hers.

 

Hello, Molly!

Hello, Molly!

Molly Shannon

Genre: Memoirs/Entertainment

Summary:

Like many, I was first introduced to Molly Shannon through Saturday Night Live. While she would alter act in movies I watched, I never knew much about her. I couldn't tell you anything about her. Through the pages of her memoir, I got to know about her life and how it shaped her. She shares the tragic, the funny, the daring and the achievements.  

I remember laughing at the characters Molly played on Saturday Night Live. Who didn't when Mary Katherine Gallagher came on?! Or Sally O'Malley! I knew when they were on, I was in for a good skit. All I knew was they were funny. That was really all I cared to know. That not knowing was my loss- a realization I've recently come to discover. 

Within the pages of her book, Molly shares with you her childhood and how the events she lived through effected how she lived her life. She opens up about her complex relationship with her Dad and the journey it was to get to the happy ending. She'll tell you about the gutsy (and possibly illegal) methods she used to get her name out there. She's going to tell you how her own determination, and belief in herself, motivated her to get people to attend her own 1 woman show- and how that led her to the role most of us met her in, Saturday Night Live.

This book is going to let you see not only the creation of her famous characters, but the metamorphosis they took from creation to what we saw. You're going to learn how Molly got her name out there and was successful when the odds were stacked against her. She's going to be vulnerable and candid as she retells how she grew up and became famous. 

This book will make you smile and chuckle. It will have you rooting for little Molly and you will cheer with every achievement grown up Molly has. Curl up and enjoy getting to know one of the women that shaped a tv show, but comedy, too.  

 

With Love From London

 

With Love From London

By: Sarah Jio

Genre: Fiction/ Women's Fiction

Summary:

On the heels of finding out her husband wants a divorce, Valentina learns her Mother has died and left her daughter her estate. The same mother who left when Valentina was 12. Armed with a broken heart and more questions than answers, Valentina arrives in London only to discover what she never knew and find what she never knew she needed.

I feel like a broken record, but Sarah Jio has done it again! She has crafted a story that devours you as you take in every word. She has designed a world you want to be a part of- and feel you are as you're reading her words. I didn't want to the book to end. In fact, I prolonged finishing this book because I didn't want to leave Primrose Hill or all the characters. 

Valentina has memories of her mother that center around books and love. However, she also remembers coming home when she was 12 to find her mother gone. No goodbye, no contact to be had again, and no clue as to why. Still, she goes on to make a life for herself in marrying Nick. But, the happy ending she thought she had was not to be. Her dearly beloved informs her that he's leaving her for the younger woman he'd been cheating on her with. And if that isn't enough, a phone call informs her that the mother she hasn't seen since she was 12 has died and left her everything she had: a building in Primrose Hill, London with a bookstore on the bottom floor and apartments on the two upper floors. Sounds like the perfect time to move to London. However, upon arriving, it doesn't take long to learn Valentina must pay a hefty inheritance tax- with money she doesn't have. It also doesn't take long for her to learn that the business isn't doing well and it'll take a miracle to save it. 

Amongst all this news, Valentina begins meeting the people who became her mother's world. Starting with a tenant in the 2nd floor apartment, Liza. This spunky woman is about Valentina's age and helps introduce her to the area. Valentina meets Millie, her mother's best friend and business partner. The bookstore, itself, is another entity that captures Valentina's heart. She quickly decides she wants to fight for the store.

As you are meeting the new world Valentina finds herself in, you follow Eloise's (Valentina's mother) story. You meet the men who shape her life and the paths she takes with them. You see her meet Valentina's father and the life they build. You also see how it falls apart and, ultimately, how Eloise and Valentina end up on opposite sides of the world. Your heart breaks as the story unfolds. You cheer Eloise on as she rebuilds her life and how prevalent Valentina always was. 

It took me no time at all to be glued to all the dynamics within this book! The mother/daughter relationship that forcibly changed. The daughter rebuilding her life after it fell apart. Both women learning to move forward when you don't think you can. Sarah Jio has written another favorite in With Love From London. It was well worth waiting for. This book will find a cherished spot on my bookshelves the day it comes out.  

The Liz Taylor Ring

 

The Liz Taylor Ring

By: Brenda Janowitz

Genre: Historical Fiction/Fiction

Summary:

Lizzie Morgan idolizes all things Liz Taylor. She's determined to have a love like Liz & Richard Burton's- including the famous ring. At 16, she meets Richie, her Richard Burton. They go on to have an epic love story- complete with highs and lows and consequences. Throwing the big ring in only takes things to a whole new level. That level leaves surprises for their three children to unravel.

If you are in need of a story that will completely take you away- look no further. If you want a book that is going to captivate you from the very start- look no further. If you want a plot that is multifaceted- look no further. I give you The Liz Taylor Ring. Once you begin this book, you will have a front row seat to an epic love story- not just between 2 people, but also with a ring.

Lizzie Morgan and Ritchie Schneider meet when she's 16. It was love at first sight for Lizzie. However, she doesn't really show up on his radar for another 9 years. She's now 25and he's no longer dating her sister. They feel fireworks for each other and cause a few fireworks to go off amongst her family. However, their romance isn't one of smooth sailing. This marriage will include 3 children, a gambling addiction that costs them everything and a ring that will be the fascination to each of their 3 kids for different reasons.

As you watch Liz & Ritchie's great love unfold, you also meet their three children. Addy, the oldest, who feels she's the reason the business is so successful. Nathan, their gay son, who's convinced his husband is having an affair. Courtney, the surprise baby, who's never felt accepted and who's life is in shambles. Each was sure the ring was long gone. However, they thought wrong. 

All of a sudden, the three have to come together to figure out what to do with the unexpected. This, in turn, forces life to be dealt with. Not just within their individual lives, but with each other. All three have a stake in this ring, but a lot of healing has to be done. 

When you start this book, do yourself a favor and get comfy. Get ready with a cozy blanket, a favorite snack and a hot drink of your choice. And get ready to get lost in a story that keeps getting better with every turn of a page. You will feel like you're part of these stories unfolding. Brenda Janowitz has written, yet another, book you won't want to put down. She's delivered you a story that will pull you in and will probably leave you with a book hangover. I loved it! I'm already anticipating her next book! Enjoy!!

I'll Start Again Monday

 

I'll Start Again Monday

By: Lysa Terkeurst

Genre: Christian Living/ Non-Fiction

Summary:

Within these pages, Lysa opens up about her weight struggles and overall healthy living journey. She shares revelations she had, lessons learned. She tells you how her walk with God played an integral part of her journey. How did she overcome temptations and weak points? In this book. she shares it all with you.

This book came to me at just the right time. As someone who has struggled with their weight and healthy eating for several years, I related to just about everything she wrote. There were so many times I read a sentence and thought: That's me!! I truly appreciated how vulnerable she was in telling her story. This whole book was extremely relatable. I devoured it. I related to it. I can't wait to buy it when it comes out. I really felt like I had a partner in this struggle with me.

As a new year begins, new goals will be set. Struggles will be encountered. Decisions will be made. The brick wall made up of bad habits will be faced. Will I cave like I have in the past? Will I do half-hearted efforts and get half-hearted results? One thing I know is that I have never really battled this battle with God as my support system. This new year will bring a new approach. My focus needs to shift and be reexamined. Thanks to Lysa, I have new views to contemplate. New roads to travel as I try to get to the same destination. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I found it incredibly helpful and insightful. Lysa took an all too familiar issue and brought new light to it. And while this book centers on weight and health, I feel it's lessons can be applied to anything. As long as you are focusing on God- you aren't alone and you aren't helpless.

My Reading Year

 

Well, 2021 is over and 2022 has begun. Last year was hard- for many people it was a continuation of 2020. I know that within my own life, the year was a mixed bag of everything. But through all the ups and downs, I found reading the constant comfort it's always been. I read some amazing books. I discovered stories- both true and not- that will stay with me forever. I reached my reading goal and even surpassed it. While it came at a cost, I can't completely regret it. 

2021 reading goal: 50        

2021 books read: 90

The Pros: This is the most I've read in a year! I'm blown away that I read 90 books. I'm not the fastest reader, so I don't get through books as quickly as some people do. (Maybe someday) I don't skim the pages or words. I read every word, every sentence, every paragraph. This year, I kept track of how many books I read per month. I always hear of how many books people read each month, and I was curious how many I did. I read more than I thought! I averaged around 7 a month. During Nonfiction November, I read 11! I was blown away. I participated in numerous themed reading months and loved it. Middle Grade March was fun. Nonfiction November was a blast. I definitely see myself doing these again in this new year. 

The Cons: I put a lot of pressure on myself to read this year. If I wasn't reading, I felt guilty. 90 books is NOT the usual amount I read in a year, so I can tell I put reading as a big priority in the year. I'm definitely not going to push myself that much this year. On top of keeping track of how many books I read in a year, I broke it down by month. That's where the pressure came in, I've discovered. I constantly felt I needed to at least match or beat the previous month's number. Instead of reading when I wanted and however much I wanted, I felt like I had to be doing it all the time. And that's not what reading has always been for me. So, in 2022, I'm going back to just keeping a list of how many books I've read in the year. I don't number the list, so I won't know the total until the end of the year. 

All that being said, I do have some goals for my reading in 2022. Who knows if I'll meet these goals, but we'll see what the year holds for books. 

1. Read more off my TBR List.

        ** I'm horrible at this. I always intend to do this, but I seem to acquire new books that I do of reading the ones I already own. My To Be Read list is insanely long and highly out of control. I always start the year with the intention of focusing on it, but I rarely do. 

2. I want to do themed reading months.

        ** I loved tackling a month with a specific genre in mind. Middle Grade March was a chance to tackle the middle grade books I have that I haven't read yet. Last year, I found several great books that were the first in a series. This year, I'll catch up on those series and, maybe, discover new books to love. February I usually read romance books, so that's a chance to read the ones I've got on my shelf. The same with Nonfiction November! 

3. I'd like to read 50-60 books.

        **With the exception of last year, my average has been around 50 books a year, While to focus isn't so much a number as loving what I'm reading, I would like to see how many I can accomplish. 

4. I want to participate in more Readathons!

        ** There are a few book tubers I watch on You Tube who have done them and I loved the ones I joined in on. Usually, I alter the length a bit. Most readathons last for about a week and I'll stretch them out to a month. That way I can really dive into the theme since I don't read as fast and don't have as much time available to read. They are so much fun, though! 

I wonder what 2022 holds for me. I wonder what books await me. I wonder if I'll discover a new series to read, or a new favorite author, The joy of this time is the year is undefined. The possibilities are endless. The year ahead is a blank slate that I look forward to filling up. 

The London House

 

The London House

By: Katherine Reay

Genre: Historical Fiction

Summary:

Caroline Payne's old college friend, Mat Hammond calls her to get a comment for a story he's writing- about her family. Mainly her Great Aunt Caro. She was always told her Great Aunt died as a child of polio, but Mat's research says otherwise. Was she a spy? Did she run away with a German lover? And why is her father so against her looking into her family's history to get answers. What if Mar's right? What if he's wrong? What if they're both wrong? 

World War II stories have long been a historical fiction staple. I mean, there's so many stories to be told! However, this one stood out to me because it was different than most of what I've read involving this war. I loved the idea of uncovering family secrets and histories. And let me tell you, Katherine Reay told an incredible story. I was gripped from the start. She's a gifted storyteller who unraveled a plot I didn't want to end.

After Mat drops the bombshell of Aunt Caro's past, it doesn't take long for the plot to thicken. Nor does it take Caroline long to get to London where she begins going through letters and journals from her Grandmother and her Grandmother's twin sister. Through their words, you get glimpses of their bond and life growing up. You see their worlds take a dramatic 180 degree turn when grave illness comes into their lives- and the way it changes them. 

I loved reading the letters and journals. I loved seeing everything unfold. Just when I thought I knew how the story was going to go, I'd be wrong. Reay kept me guessing and eager to see what would happen next. 

There were numerous layers to the story: what Aunt Caro's true story was, the family dynamic between Caroline's immediate family, the tense friendship between old college friends. As the stories unfolded, the tension began to, as well. You watched the characters grow and change as the truth is uncovered. 

If you're looking for a book to curl into, look no further than The London House. I was under the weather for several days, so I curled up with a cozy blanket and warm hot chocolate as I got lost in the latest story Katherine Reay had to tell us. It was so good. I was glad to see how it ended, but sad to leave the characters. This book will be on by bookshelf soon and had become one of my favorite historical fiction books. I hope you keep it in mind during your next library or bookstore trip. You won't be disappointed!