Sunshine on Silver Lake by Annie Rains

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the book-

With summer just around the corner, Emma St. James is eagerly planning a 5K run at Sweetwater Springs National Park. But first she needs the help of one charming, rugged, and handsome park ranger. Her brief high school romance with Jack Hershey may have ended in heartbreak, but Emma can't deny that he still gives her butterflies. So when Jack responds to her request with an all-too-tempting plea to pretend to be his girlfriend for the summer, how can she say no?

Jack would do anything for his sister -- even pretend to give up his bachelor life to care for his nephew. Passing his days with his high school sweetheart guarantees one long, hot summer -- but only because every moment together leaves him wanting a real relationship. He can't imagine spending another season without Emma by his side. Can he convince her to give their love a second chance before the summer draws to a close?

My thoughts-

I aboslutely love all of the Sweetwater Springs novels. I don't think I will ever get enough of this little town and it's inhabitants. I always breeze through these books in a day or two! This book was focused on Emma St. James, the owner of the local coffee shop and her lifelong best friend Jack Hershey. Emma and Jack both have a lot going on and both have had feelings for each other for pretty much their entire lives but something that happened ages ago halted romance before it was able to begin. I loved watching this story unfold. I also liked the story of Jack's nephew coming to stay with him for the summer, and I am hoping that we get to know him and Jack's sister Amanda more in future books. If you love sweet small town romance I recommend this series to you. They can stand alone, but I have loved them all so I definitely recommend reading the entire series!

The Paris Library by Jane Skeslien Charles

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the book-

Paris, 1939: Young and ambitious Odile Souchet has it all: her handsome police officer beau and a dream job at the American Library in Paris. When the Nazis march into Paris, Odile stands to lose everything she holds dear, including her beloved library. Together with her fellow librarians, Odile joins the Resistance with the best weapons she has: books. But when the war finally ends, instead of freedom, Odile tastes the bitter sting of unspeakable betrayal.

Montana, 1983: Lily is a lonely teenager looking for adventure in small-town Montana. Her interest is piqued by her solitary, elderly neighbor. As Lily uncovers more about her neighbor’s mysterious past, she finds that they share a love of language, the same longings, and the same intense jealousy, never suspecting that a dark secret from the past connects them.

My thoughts-

I read a lot of historical fiction set during this war torn era. I like when there is a story in a different time period to help us better understand the character and to maybe add a little mystery. I loved the way this story was set up, introducing us to Lily and her lonely neighbor Odile in 1980's Montana. We see Odile as an adult and wonder what has brought her into this isolation and away from all of her family. The part of the story set in Paris in the late 1930's and early 1940's is heartbreaking as all WWII stories are, but I love that the theme of this story is Odile working at the American library and sharing these books even when she isn't supposed to. I also got quite a kick out of all of the fantastic books that were name dropped in this one. It would be a fun challenge to read all of the books mentioned in a year. At the end of the novel, the author talks about how some of these characters are based on real people, which makes the story even more compelling. I recmomend this book if you enjoy historical fiction, are a lover of classic books, or are a Francophile. 

Everyday Stress Relief by Ruth C. White

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the book-

Stress is a natural part of life, and there’s no way to eliminate it entirely—but we can control how our bodies respond to stressful situations. Everyday Stress Relief is the guide to understanding your own stress and finding personal strategies that work to calm your body and focus your mind.

Learn what causes stress and how your body reacts to stress triggers. Then, let research-backed exercises and thoughtful advice give you the tools to effectively manage and mitigate the effects that stress has on your everyday life.

My thoughts-

I think pretty much everyone is extra stressed these days, but even just in our daily lives there can be big stressors that can cause all kinds of mental exhaustion. I like that this book was set up by different kinds of stress that can occur and offers a suggestions for countering that stress with breathing techniques, physical exercise, mantras, ect. I feel like this book could be helpful for literally any person that exists so I recommend it to absolutely anyone. We, especially in the United States, tend to go, go, go, and not really pay enough attention to self care. Everyday Stress Relief is a great place to start to change that.

The Village Shop for Lonely Hearts by Alison Sherlock

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the book-

After losing her job in New York, Amber Green isn’t looking forward to visiting her godmother in the sleepy village of Cranbridge. With its empty lanes and rundown shops, it’s hardly a place to mend her lonely heart.

But when Amber discovers that Cranbridge Stores, owned by her godmother Cathy and son Josh, is under threat of financial ruin, she realises that her skills as a window dresser might just be able to help save the struggling shop.

When disaster strikes, Amber and Josh must unite to save both the shop and the village from flooding.

Can Cranbridge Stores become the heart of the village once more?

And as the village begins to come back to life, perhaps Amber will discover a reason to stay…

My thoughts-

I have definitely been traveing vicariously through books as all of my travel plans keep getting canceled because of the crazy time we are living in. The Village Shop for Lonely Hearts transported me to a quaint little village in England. I absloutely adored this story. It was a cute boy meets girl after long time apart and girl is now way hotter. There are some cute moments and laughs. This is just the bright spot I needed in my reading repetoire right now, and I cant wait to revisit the town of Cranbridge and Amber and Josh (hopefully) when the next one comes out! 

Stitching a Life by Mary Helen Fein

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the book-

It’s 1900, and sixteen-year-old Helen comes alone in steerage across the Atlantic from a small village in Lithuania, fleeing terrible anti-Semitism and persecution. She arrives at Ellis Island, and finds a place to live in the colorful Lower East Side of New York. She quickly finds a job in the thriving garment industry and, like millions of others who are coming to America during this time, devotes herself to bringing the rest of her family to join her in the New World, refusing to rest until her family is safe in New York. A few at a time, Helen’s family members arrive. Each goes to work with the same fervor she has and contributes everything to bringing over their remaining beloved family members in a chain of migration. Helen meanwhile, makes friends and—once the whole family is safe in New York—falls in love with a man who introduces her to a different New York—a New York of wonder, beauty, and possibility.

My thoughts-

Stitching a Life is fiction but is based on the author's grandmother's immigration story. The fact that it is rooted in truth and some of these things are things that her grandmother may have gone through makes the story resonate with me more. I spend a lot of time researching my family tree and one of my favorite things to discover in both my tree and my friends when I help them research their roots is the family member that came to the United States.  I imagine their stories, and I imagine Helen's in great detail with this beautiful young adult novel. I can imagine the fear of having to leave her family behind, of having to travel all alone to meet her father in the United States, the anxiety about being in a new country. This was a great story that I urge anyone who enjoys historical fiction or learning about the past to read.

The 30-Minute Gluten-Free Cookbook by Jan Withington

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the book-

Whether you have a gluten intolerance or you’ve recently decided to cut gluten from your daily diet, making the switch to gluten-free has never been faster, easier, or more delectable. The 30-Minute Gluten-Free Cookbook is the perfect way to start eating smarter and healthier with tons of recipes you can make at home in just minutes.

From Mexican Chili Corn Pie to Teriyaki Chicken Burgers, this complete gluten-free cookbook takes the guesswork out of being a glutenless gourmet. Discover everything you need to whip up delicious dishes you’ll enjoy. With this all-in-one gluten-free cookbook, you’ll feel great with good food that tastes great too.

My thoughts-

My family all tend to do better on a gluten free diet. I know for me in particular that when I eat foods that contain gluten it causes digestion issues and acid reflux a lot of the time so I definitely try to limit the gluten at our house. I tend to follow a more ketogenic/low carb lifestyle but some gluten free recipes can definitely plug in to those ways of eating and lots of gf recipes for my kids to give a try. We are a pretty busy family between scouts, soccer, and other multiple after school activities between my 3 kids (when we are not on lockdown for a global pandemic, that is) so time saving recipes are my jam for regular weeknights.  There are tons of great recipes in this book for all different times of day, and I like that they lean on the healthier side of things because even eating gluten free you can eat in a not so healthy way. Even though the recipes are healthy they sound like they would be delicious, especially the pistachio cranberry energy bites (which would be a big hit around my house with adults and children alike), sheet pan chicken fajitas, pepperjack stuffed chicken, and pressure cooker beef stew. I am also excited to try a few of the desserts, particularly the lemon curd with mixed berries, which sounds like a perfect end to a summer day. 

The Essential Middle Eastern Cookbook

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the book-

Fresh herbs and spices, creamy yogurt, savory skewered meats, and flaky baklava—Middle Eastern cuisine is famous for its vibrant flavors. Now, you can recreate iconic dishes in your own kitchen with The Essential Middle Eastern Cookbook. Packed with 100 classic recipes made simple, this complete Middle East cookbook gives you a true taste of one of the world’s most influential culinary regions.

Try your hand at delectable dishes like Tabbouleh, Lebanese Chicken Fatteh, Spiced Beef Tagine, and homemade Pita Bread with Hummus. All of the ingredients in this Middle East cookbook are easily found in your neighborhood grocery store, yet they stay true to the authentic flavors and textures of each traditional meal. Let’s eat!

My thoughts-

I am married into a Middle Eastern family so I also married into the delicious food of their culture. My husband's family comes from Iran, but we also know that there are plenty of great dishes to be discovered from all of the other surrounding countries, and we often try new cuisines together (whether they be Middle Eastern or from some other far off place). We love discovering the many delectable dishes that are available if you just have a sense of adventure and the patience to look for them. The Essential Middle Eastern Cookbook combines flavors from all over the Middle East, allowing us the opportunity to try new things from many different places, as well as having some of our favorite Persian recipes (Shirazi salad, Gorheh Sabzi, and Kashke Bademjan). There are plenty of Turkish, Lebanese, and recipes from all kinds of other places we can not wait to try. If you have never had food from the Middle East and are intimidated by the different flavors, I urge you to be adventurous and give it a try!