Staycation Day 2- France

Bonjour! We traveled to France for day 2 of our Coronavirus Spring Break. We enjoyed a French baguette with our Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup for dinner. We read some Fancy Nancy books since she loves all things French.

• Fancy Nancy: The Wonderful World of Fancy Nancy: 4 Books in 1 Box Set! by Jane O’Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser.
• Escargot by Dashka Slater and Sydney Hanson.
• Sealed with a Kiss by Beth Ferry and Olivier Tallec.

Books for adults:

• All The Ways We Said Goodbye:Ritz Paris by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White
• The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
• Goodbye, Paris: A Novel by Anstey Harris

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Staycation Day 1-Spa and Beach Day

Our Spring Break started today and since everything is cancelled from COVID-19, we are making the best of things here at home. Everything we are doing is simple and using what we have around the house. We started the day by having a spa day. The girls got their nails painted and they all enjoyed foot soaking. Then we had a picnic lunch outside on beach towels. The kids played with kinetic sand just like at the beach.  We read some beach themed books:

• Baby Loves Summer! by Karen Katz
• Where Is Baby’s Beach Ball? by Karen Katz
• Secrets of the Seashore (Shine-A-Light Book) by Carron Brown  and Alyssa Nassner

Other ideas: Snack on Goldfish, watch movies like Moana, Finding Nemo, and Finding Dory.

If you are looking for some adult books to read to feel like you are visiting the beach:

• Winter in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand (any books by her)
• The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
• The Shark Club: A Novel by Ann Kidd Taylor

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Truths I Never Told You

Truths I Never Told You by Kelly Rimmer releases on April 14, 2020. This book shares the hard topic of post-partum depression in a very real way that a lot of women could probably relate to. This story was told from the perspective of 3 different women in the same family during 2 different time periods. The story took some surprising turns and confirms that I really enjoy Kelly Rimmer as an author. Thanks to Netgalley and Graydon House for this review copy.

About the Author:

Kelly Rimmer is the NYT and USA Today best selling author of contemporary and historical fiction novels including The Secret Daughter, The Things We Cannot Say, and Truths I Never Told You (to be published in April 2020). She is also the author of the contemporary romance series, Start Up in the City. Kelly lives in rural Australia with her family. For further information about Kelly’s books, and to subscribe to her mailing list, visit http://www.kellyrimmer.com.

I have also enjoyed her other books:

I love reading on my Kindle Fire 10 tablet.

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Don’t Overthink It

Don’t Overthink It by Anne Bogel is a new non-fiction book for all of us overthinkers. I have been a big fan of Anne Bogel’s podcasts and blog for several years now and have enjoyed all of her books. This new book offers great practical advice from the author’s own life. Each chapter has a few questions so you can dive deeper into each chapter. I took away several ideas of how to change my thinking to reduce overthinking things in my own life.  I would recommend watching her Stay At Home Book Tour featuring this book and gives tips based on this book focused around the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to Baker Books for this review copy.

About the Author:
Anne Bogel is the author of Reading People and I’d Rather Be Reading and creator of the blog Modern Mrs. Darcy and the podcasts What Should I Read Next? and One Great Book. Bogel’s popular book lists and reading guides have established her as a tastemaker among readers, authors, and publishers. She lives in Louisville, Kentucky. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

I would also highly recommend her other books:

 

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The Girl In White Gloves

The Girl In White Gloves by Kerri Maher is a new historical fiction book about Grace Kelly. The book takes place in different time periods of Grace Kelly’s life such as when she is young and single and then later when she has 3 children and lives in Monaco as a princess. This book started out slowly, but I ended up really enjoying it. It was an interesting time period of early Hollywood and showed a side of her life that was not all fairy tales.

I also enjoyed her other book:

If you would like another book about Grace Kelly:

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Made To Move Mountains

“Because sometimes the best way out of darkness is by remembering and being thankful for all that you do have.” p110 Made To Move Mountains

Made to Move Mountains: How God Uses Our Dreams and Disasters to Accomplish the Impossible by Kristen Welch is a new Christian non-fiction book. Sadly, this is my least favorite of her books. I felt like this new one was a summary of her previous books and experiences that she has shared in the past. Kristen Welch is a talented author and she has an amazing ministry that helps women in Kenya. Thank you to Baker Books for this review copy.

About the Author
Kristen Welch was born and raised in Texas. Her parenting blog, We Are THAT Family (www.wearethatfamily.com), receives more than 40,000 unique visits every month with more than 200,000 page views, and she has an active following on social media. Kristen has a regular column in ParentLife magazine and is the author of Rhinestone Jesus, Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World, and Raising World Changers in a Changing World. She is the founder of Mercy House Global and facilitates Fair Trade Friday, a monthly subscription club that empowers impoverished women in 25 countries. Welch lives with her family in Texas.

I would also recommend her other books:

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March Reading

Every aspect of our lives is being affected right now by the Coronavirus pandemic. So it is no surprise that our reading lives will feel differently during this time too. I find myself scrolling through social media more than desiring to pick up a book. Our libraries are closed and we cannot go browse our local bookstores. I thankfully had way too many books already checked out before the library closed and now they sit waiting to be returned. I read a lot of books in March and started a lot more that I was just not interested in. These books pictured were ones that I read, but really did not enjoy. I do not know if it was just because I read them during this unusual time or they were just not for me. I am even more thankful for books right now and the escape they can offer or bring some normalcy to this time. I am thankful for online resources from the library and online shopping. I miss listening to audiobooks since I am no longer driving to and from school or I have little ears around that I cannot always listen at home.  How is your reading life changed since quarantine began?

 

 

The Wicked Redhead

The Wicked Redhead by Beatriz Williams is the second book in this series and both were great on audio. There is a dual timeline for two different women and I really like the character of Ella.  I believe there is supposed to be a third book and I definitely want one after the way the second one ended. Beatriz Williams is an author that delivers a solid historical fiction book every time.

I also listened to the first book on audio:

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If You Want To Make God Laugh

“But you couldn’t outrun your fears because that was the thing about fear: it was a shadow you could never shake, and it was fit and it was fast and it would always, always be there just a split second behind you.”- page 364

Hum If You Don’t Know the Words by Bianca Marais is a book that had been on my TBR for awhile and one of my resolutions this year to is read more backlist titles. This book had a slow start, but told such a beautiful and moving story. This historical fiction book is set in South Africa in the 1970’s and covers topics of race and discrimination.

If You Want To Make God Laugh by Biana Marais is set in South Africa in the 1990’s from the perspective of 3 different women. This book felt very different from the first book and I did enjoy both.

If you enjoyed these books, then I would highly recommend reading:

 

 

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In Five Years

In Five Years: A Novel by Rebecca Serle is the first book that has really caught my attention during this quarantine time.  This book delivered and once I started, I was immersed into the story and really enjoyed this book.  This book was not what I expected and I think that added to me enjoying this story even more. This book has friendship, romance, grief, and depth that was very well done. What have you been reading this week?

If you enjoyed this book then I would recommend reading:

 

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