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This book was unexpected and fabulous. A great listen on Audible too. I was searching for a book with twists and turns and an easy listen. You will not be disappointed and the twist at the end, you will not see coming!

From Amazon: A shocking discovery of human bones reopens an almost fifty-year-old cold case—and rips apart the lives of a group of friends—in a riveting novel by Loreth Anne White, the Amazon Charts and Washington Post bestselling author of The Maid’s Diary.

When human bones are found beneath an old chapel in the woods, evidence suggests the remains could be linked to the decades-old case of missing teen Annalise Jansen.

Homicide detective Jane Munro—pregnant and acutely attuned to the preciousness of life—hopes the grim discovery will finally bring closure to the girl’s family. But for a group of Annalise’s old friends, once dubbed the Shoreview Six by the media, it threatens to expose a terrible pledge made on an autumn night forty-seven years ago.

The friends are now highly respected, affluent members of their communities, and none of them ever expected the dark chapter in their past to resurface. But as Jane and forensic anthropologist Dr. Ella Quinn peel back the layers of secrets, the group begins to fracture. Will one cave? Will they turn on each other?

The investigation takes a sharp turn when Jane discovers a second body—that of the boy long blamed for Annalise’s disappearance. As the bones tell their story, the group learns just how far each will go to guard their own truth.As an added bonus this one in included in Kindle Unlimited if you are like me and cannot wait to get your hands on the next great read. You can check it out and see if it might be for you too. You can check out all of the great books right here. Try it for free for 30 days!!!

Historical French Fiction…now if you were to ask me 20 years ago, or even last year, frankly I would have said nope, not my jam. I am so glad I am not me twenty years ago and took a chance on something different than usual. This book was fabulous. The characters were so relatable. I stayed up way too late just to see what happened next. It hooked me, and I’m betting it will hook you too! 

Here is the description from Amazon: 

An enchanting novel about fate, second chances, and hope, lost and found, by the Amazon Charts bestselling author of The Last of the Moon Girls. 

Soline Roussel is well schooled in the business of happy endings. For generations, her family has kept an exclusive bridal salon in Paris, where magic is worked with needle and thread. It’s said that the bride who wears a Roussel gown is guaranteed a lifetime of joy. But devastating losses during World War II leave Soline’s world and heart in ruins and her faith in love shaken. She boxes up her memories, stowing them away, along with her broken dreams, determined to forget. 

Decades later, while coping with her own tragic loss, aspiring gallery owner Rory Grant leases Soline’s old property and discovers a box containing letters and a vintage wedding dress, never worn. When Rory returns the mementos, an unlikely friendship develops, and eerie parallels in Rory’s and Soline’s lives begin to surface. It’s clear that they were destined to meet—and that Rory may hold the key to righting a forty-year wrong and opening the door to shared healing and, perhaps, a little magic. 

Shop here to find it in your favorite form. Right now, it is 67% off, so even better, take a chance on something different. 

This book took me a bit to get into, to which I usually say, “There are so many books out there, I’ll just try another”.. Let me tell you, I am so glad I didn’t do that. This book was very different from my typical read but, there must have been a reason I picked this one up. I laughed, I cried and it made me think, this could happen to anyone. What a great read.

From Amazon: Who are you when you are forced to walk in someone else’s shoes?

Nisha Cantor lives the globetrotting life of the seriously wealthy until her husband announces a divorce and cuts her off. Nisha is determined to hang onto her glamorous life. But in the meantime, she must scramble to cope–she doesn’t even have the shoes she was, until a moment ago, standing in.

That’s because Sam Kemp – in the bleakest point of her life – has accidentally taken Nisha’s gym bag. But Sam hardly has time to worry about a lost gym bag–she’s struggling to keep herself and her family afloat. When she tries on Nisha’s six-inch high Christian Louboutin red crocodile shoes, the resulting jolt of confidence that makes her realize something must change—and that thing is herself.

Full of Jojo Moyes’ signature humor, brilliant storytelling, and warmth, Someone Else’s Shoes is a story about how just one little thing can suddenly change everything.

You can pick it up here in your favorite form. Are you an old-fashioned page turner and like the feel of a book in your hand? Do you read on the go or like to travel with your books? This is my favorite Kindle. I love it because I can read it on the beach or by the pool and the sun doesn’t glare off the screen. If you need to work or clean or get things done while also getting a good book in then you can pick up these great headphones. I listen with the Audible app but the Libby app provides books through your library at zero cost to you.

This Sunday Book Review is going to look a little different. I am going to list a few of my all-time favorite authors. Consider these a place to start if you are in a reading slump or maybe you have never been a reader and was to know where to start to become a book lover like I am. Here are some suggestions in various genres. Choose something that interests you and go from there. Happy reading.  

Mystery/Detective 

James Patterson: This author has so many books that I cannot pick a favorite. Reading his books got me through the years with young kids. You know what I’m talking about, you sit down thinking you have a few minutes and immediately someone inevitably needs something. These books are easy readers and do not require you to do a ton of thinking, but can transport you and make fall in love with the characters. You can find them all here. 

Frieda McFadden: I started out with her Housemaid series (love,love,love) and then realized just how many books she actually has. Check them out right here! 

Fantasy 

JK Rowling: I couldn’t talk about fantasy without giving props to this woman. She is the goddess of the brilliant Harry Potter series. Once you’ve given them a read, plan a trip to Universal Orlando and feel like you have been transported right into the books. Thank you to my boys for introducing me way back when they were first released! 

If you have already consumed this series, my honorable mention goes both to Sarah J Maas A Court of Roses and Thorns Series. Click here.  

And Rebbeca Yarros Fourth Wing series found here 

These two series combine both the fantasy genre and romance (with a bit of smut thrown in) 

Historical Fiction 

This genre has quickly become my new favorite. I will give all of the credit to Kristin Hannah. Shop here. I first read The Nightengale. She writes so well that I had to double check if it was fiction. Her books center on a strong woman character during some of the most trying times in American History. I cannot recommend her enough. 

If you are more into Nonfiction. I am going to give you a couple books that are both auto biographies and when you purchase the audible version they read it to you themselves. It’s a WIN-WIN 

Green Lights by Matthew Mcconaughey SHOP here 

Spare by Prince Harry is an interesting dive into a world we know nothing about, even if you aren’t a royal watcher (like my mama)! 

Narcissism. It’s a word that we have all heard and I’ll bet we each have our own definition of what we thought it was. I am hear to tell you, I had no clue what that word truly meant and how my life has been affected by it. In this book right here Dr. Ramani blew my world wide open and explained so many situations that I could not explain to myself. You’re not crazy after all… Read that again. You..Are..Not..Crazy. If you have found yourself in similar situations, Please give this book a read or a listen. You can also find and follow her podcast here! I am going to be doing a deep dive into this topic and I can’t wait to share all that I find.

Here is the Amazon description:

It’s not always easy to tell when you’re dealing with a narcissistic person. One day they draw you in with their charm and charisma, the next they gaslight you, wreck your self-esteem, and leave you wondering, What should I have done differently? As Dr. Ramani explains in It’s Not You, the answer is: absolutely nothing.

Just as a tiger can’t change its stripes, a narcissist will not stop manipulating and invalidating you, no matter how much you try to appease them. The first step toward healing from their toxic influence—and to protect yourself from future harm—is to accept that you are not to blame for their behavior.

Drawing on more than two decades of studying the landscape of narcissism and working with survivors, Dr. Ramani explores how narcissists hijack our well-being and offers a healing path forward. Unpacking the oft-misunderstood personality, she reveals the telltale behavioral patterns that indicate you may be dealing with a narcissist. Along the way, you’ll learn how to become gaslight resistant, chip away at the trauma bonds that keep you stuck in the cycle, grieve the loss of these painful relationships, create and maintain realistic boundaries, discern unhelpful behaviors from narcissistic behaviors, and recover your sense of self after constant invalidation.

Thriving after, or even during, a narcissistic relationship can be challenging, but It’s Not You shows you it is possible. Dr. Ramani invites you to stop blaming yourself and trying to change the narcissistic person, and to start giving yourself permission to let go of their hold on you and finally embrace your true self.

You can grab your copy with the link below

https://amzn.to/3DdwXpd

This book has taught me that I do not need to make all kinds of big changes in order to get the outcomes that I am looking for. If you are anything like me, I see a big outcome that I want but I rarely bring it back to the small changes that I could stack and end up getting there. I tend to get frustrated if I do not see results quickly and just basically throw in the towel.

Description from Amazon:The #1 New York Times bestseller. Over 20 million copies sold!
Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results

No matter your goals, Atomic Habits offers a proven framework for improving–every day. James Clear, one of the world’s leading experts on habit formation, reveals practical strategies that will teach you exactly how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results.

If you’re having trouble changing your habits, the problem isn’t you. The problem is your system. Bad habits repeat themselves again and again not because you don’t want to change, but because you have the wrong system for change. You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems. Here, you’ll get a proven system that can take you to new heights.

Clear is known for his ability to distill complex topics into simple behaviors that can be easily applied to daily life and work. Here, he draws on the most proven ideas from biology, psychology, and neuroscience to create an easy-to-understand guide for making good habits inevitable and bad habits impossible. Along the way, readers will be inspired and entertained with true stories from Olympic gold medalists, award-winning artists, business leaders, life-saving physicians, and star comedians who have used the science of small habits to master their craft and vault to the top of their field.

Learn how to:
make time for new habits (even when life gets crazy);

overcome a lack of motivation and willpower;

design your environment to make success easier;

get back on track when you fall off course;

…and much more.

Atomic Habits will reshape the way you think about progress and success, and give you the tools and strategies you need to transform your habits–whether you are a team looking to win a championship, an organization hoping to redefine an industry, or simply an individual who wishes to quit smoking, lose weight, reduce stress, or achieve any other goal.

You can get your copy whether you would rather listen to it through the audible app or you enjoy an actual book that you hold in your hands.Grab it right here

This book was recommended to me by a friend and I couldn’t be happier that I picked it up. With everything going on in our world, there probably isn’t a better time than now to take the time to read this excellent book. Here is the description from Amazon. 

Jeanine Cummins’s American Dirt, the #1 New York Times bestseller and Oprah Book Club pick that has sold over three million copies 
 
Lydia lives in Acapulco. She has a son, Luca, the love of her life, and a wonderful husband who is a journalist. And while cracks are beginning to show in Acapulco because of the cartels, Lydia’s life is, by and large, fairly comfortable. But after her husband’s tell-all profile of the newest drug lord is published, none of their lives will ever be the same. 
 
Forced to flee, Lydia and Luca find themselves joining the countless people trying to reach the United States. Lydia soon sees that everyone is running from something. But what exactly are they running to? 

American Dirt gives us a different perspective on the border battle, the incredible love between a mother and a son in an unbreakable bond. If you are looking for a different read it is both touching and heartbreaking to follow them on this journey.  

Follow this link to find this book on Amazon. If you are a member of the Kindle Unlimited family it is included in your membership.

If you have seen this title and wondered what it could be about? Here’s the low down! Take a chance, you will not be disappointed! It is even better on Audible. Whoever does Martellus is incredible.

Here are the title details from Amazon:

You can grab a copy right here! It is available for .99 with your audible membership. It will be the best purchase under a dollar this week.

A Read With Jenna Today Show Book Club Pick!

“Remarkably Bright Creatures is a beautiful examination of how loneliness can be transformed, cracked open, with the slightest touch from another living thing.” — Kevin Wilson, author of Nothing to See Here

For fans of A Man Called Ove, a charming, witty and compulsively readable exploration of friendship, reckoning, and hope that traces a widow’s unlikely connection with a giant Pacific octopus

After Tova Sullivan’s husband died, she began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors and tidying up. Keeping busy has always helped her cope, which she’s been doing since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in Puget Sound over thirty years ago.

Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine but wouldn’t dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors—until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova.

Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova’s son disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it’s too late. 

Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel is a gentle reminder that sometimes taking a hard look at the past can help uncover a future that once felt impossible.