Friday Favorites~October 8, 2021

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Anyone else ready for Friday?!😜

I'm back after a two week blogging break and linking up with Andrea and Erika today to share my Friday Favorites! 

(This post contains affiliate links, which means FHtoZ earns a small commission off of anything you purchase through a link.)

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Books, sweaters (on sale), and Amazon make the happiest little blog post!

Enjoy your weekend!

xo,

Deanna

August Books

August turned out to be a great reading month! I read six books and gave five of them four stars! I am certain you will find your next book on this list.

 Win (Windsor Horne Lockwood III, #1)
by Harlan Coben

⭐⭐⭐

I love Harlan Coben books, but this one was just okay. Read this if you enjoy mystery and psychological suspense. Read anything else by him for a better reading experience. 

The Source: The Secrets of the Universe, the Science of the Brain
by Tara Swart

⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is a fantastic read on using the power of your mind to unlock your potential and create your optimal life. I love books like this and this is one of the best I've read! This would also be great to listen to on audiobook.

The Push

by Ashley Audrain

⭐⭐⭐⭐

So good! Read this book to be kept on the edge of your seat the entire time. You will question everyone's motives and change your predictions the more you read.

Our Italian Summer

by Jennifer Probst

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I loved this book! Read this if you want family dynamics, travel, and romance with a good dose of wine and pasta. 

The Last Thing He Told Me

by Laura Dave

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Another book to keep you on the edge of your seat. While some aspects are a bit unbelievable and the ending left me sad, I really enjoyed this book!

Rhythms of Renewal: Trading Stress and Anxiety for a Life of Peace and Purpose

by Rebekah Lyons

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Read this if you need practical advice on how to re-fill your cup on the daily. So many good ideas and the writing style is warm and inviting. 

Let me know what you're reading next!!

xo,

Deanna

Book Review~May & June 2021

 TEN BOOKS!! I have read so many gems this summer. I have kept reviews short, sweet, and to the point so you have more time to start reading one of these books. July is shaping up nicely too, so be sure to check back next month for all new recommendations.

No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality
by Michael J. Fox
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Michael J. Fox is the epitome of making the best of your situation no matter how dire. His latest book with make you laugh and inspire you to be present in your own life. Class act.

Family Reunion
by Nancy Thayer
⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book is everything I love in a summer novel; the beach, family dynamics, descriptive settings. Summer reading perfection.

Under the Southern Sky
by Kristy Woodson Harvey
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ditto to the book above. Kristy Woodson Harvey is the best at capturing the southern summer vibe. My summer would not be complete without reading one of her novels.

Good Apple: Tales of a Southern Evangelical in New York
by Elizabeth Passarella
⭐⭐⭐⭐

A memoir of an evangelical Christian living in New York City. I enjoyed this book and the perspective that city living brought to the author's life.

Where the Grass is Green and the Girls are Pretty
by Lauren Weisberger
⭐⭐⭐

I was so excited to read Lauren Weisberger's latest novel about the college admissions scandal. While I enjoyed the story, I enjoyed her other books more. My hype about the topic ultimately led me to lower this one a star. 

Malibu Rising 
by Taylor Jenkins Reid
⭐⭐⭐⭐

I have been a long-time fan of Taylor Jenkins Reid. This book is TJR perfection.

Your Second Life Begins When you Realize You Only Have One
by Raphaelle Giordano
⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is a translation of a French book told in somewhat of a fable style of writing. I loved the message and the story as a whole. 

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill
by Abbi Waxman
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Such a cute fiction read about an awkward character who works in a bookstore. Throw in an event that throws the main character's life into a whirlwind and you have an enjoyable fiction read. 

The Dilemma
by B.A. Paris
⭐⭐⭐

This book is suspenseful and twisty, but ultimately, gave me more anxiety than enjoyment. The main characters have secrets and do not communicate, and it ultimately left me frustrated and so relieved when I finished it!

Eliza Starts a Rumor
by Jane L. Rosen
⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book was another enjoyable fiction read with enough drama to keep you guessing just a bit. This was a good one to follow-up my angst-ridden choice above. :)

Happy reading!!

xo,

Deanna

Book Review February 2021

I read four books in February; one non-fiction and three fiction. 

It was another month of great reading!

 Body Love

by Kelly LeVeque

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I always enjoy reading a health-themed book at the beginning of each new year. I read this book as a member of Emily Ley's book club. It offered a lot of practical advice with the science of nutrition to back it up. Kelly's writing style is like having a conversation with a friend; encouraging, informative, and fun. I love learning about the power of healthy food to help our bodies work more efficiently. If you are looking for a book to help you kick start some healthy eating habits, you would enjoy this read.

The Nightingale

by Kristin Hannah

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Oh my goodness. This book has been on my "to read" list for quite some time. I'm not sure why I didn't get around to reading it until now, but it did not disappoint. I always say that historical fiction is not my first choice of genres, but if well-written, they turn out to be some of my very favorite books. This book will likely make it onto my Best Books of 2021 List! The story takes place during World War 2 during the German occupation of Paris. The story follows two sisters who are very different in their personalities and approaches to dealing with the chaos unfolding around them. The characters in the book will stay with you long after you turn the last page. This is the same author who wrote Firefly Lane, which has been turned into a Netflix series that I blogged about on Friday!

Wild at Heart

by K.A. Tucker

⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is the second book in a trilogy that I started in August. You can find the first book here. Set in Alaska, these books follow the main character, Calla, who reconnects with her father after many years. There is family drama, romance, and humor. After finishing The Nightingale, I needed something light and fun and remembered that I had this waiting on my Kindle. I enjoyed these books so much that I couldn't wait to read...

Forever Wild

by K.A. Tucker

⭐⭐⭐⭐

...the final book in the series. This one is technically a novella and a quick read. It ties up the story nicely without being too formulaic. I was especially fond of Calla's neighbor, Roy. Her relationship with this curmudgeonly old man was endearing. A trilogy set in Alaska is the perfect way to round out my winter reading before I start...

... my list of beach reads for this year! I will read them early and let you know what books belong in your beach/pool bag this summer...even if we are only headed out to the Slip-n-Slide in our backyards. :)

Happy reading, friends! I truly appreciate you stopping by!

xo,

Deanna

Book Review January 2021

January is the perfect month to curl up with a good book and I read a whopping 7 books this month that you are going to love! The 8th book in this post is one I have not actually read, but it's my favorite book of all time. :) My 2021 reading game started out so strong, friends. I hope you choose a few to read and enjoy them as much as I did.

A special shout-out to COVID-19 which I contracted just after Christmas. I will blog about my experience with that in the near future, but it did help up my reading number for January. Always a bright side, right?! Ugh!

Dear Edward
by Ann Napolitano

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Edward is a young boy who is the sole survivor of a plane crash that kills his family. This is a beautiful coming-of-age novel that I loved so much. You may never fly again, but you will fall in love with sweet Edward.

American Dirt
by Jeanine Cummins

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I. Loved. This. Book. In this novel, a Mexican mother escapes the cartel with her eight-year-old son after they murder their entire family. She and her son must make their way to El Norte (the U.S.) through the same means that migrants do. This story way heartbreaking and led to me researching into this reality. Given that the son was about Mason's age and the mother was desperate to save his life, I connected to it on a very real level. Read this book.

Layla
by Colleen Hoover

⭐⭐⭐

Oh boy. My sister bought me this book for my birthday because we LOVE Colleen Hoover. But...I texted my sister when I finished it...

This cracks me up. And yes, I did mail it to her. 😂 All I can tell you is the story includes the paranormal and I still don't know if I loved or hated it. So conflicted!

Everything Beautiful in Its Time: Seasons of Love and Loss
by Jenna Bush Hager

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Page 220. I read it three times and teared up. I love Jenna Bush Hager and the way she crafts a story and shares her heart. No matter your politics, this collection of stories about love, family, and connection will encourage you. No family is perfect, but luckily, they don't have to be to leave a legacy of love. This book is a treasure.

Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
by James Clear

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

You know I'm a fan of any book about habits, routines, or self-improvement. This one is the best of the best. Do yourself a favor and listen to this on Audible or whatever audiobook format you use. There is something so powerful about learning about how to create positive habits into your life in an audio format. Small changes that lead to extraordinary results. 

The Talented Miss Farwell
by Emily Gray Tedrowe

⭐⭐⭐

After reading the teaser for this book, I really wanted to love it. I ended up liking it. The premise is a small town Illinois government worker who pads the books to support her growing art collecting habit. The duality of this character is so interesting, but the story is unfortunately a bit predictable. I give this one a solid 3.5 stars. 

Nothing Like I Imagined
by Mindy Kaling

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Mindy Kaling is one of those authors whose voice I can hear while I'm reading her work. She wrote a collection of six essays on Amazon that are FREE if you have Amazon Prime. She is laugh-out-loud funny. Each essay takes about 20 minutes to read and will have you giggling every second. 

The Star Wars Book

by Cole Horton, Pablo Hidalgo and Dan Zehr

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

My husband wrote a book!! It's my favorite book of all time. Hey, if your husband wrote a book, you'd feel the same, right? You might even read it. You are a better person than me. :)

Happy reading, friends!

xo,

Deanna