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.