Defining You

• AUTHOR: Fiona Murden
• TOPIC: Self-development

When you are uncertain during a specific time of your life, a book like this screams “salvation”. I picked up this book in a quest to help myself find myself again. The book is very detailed, with heaps of exercises that build up from the bottom all the way to the top, in an attempt to help you redefine yourself, what you believe in, what are your strength and weaknesses, what you need to succeed in life, what your purpose is, and how to find the perfect spot in the world where you can truly be yourself and thrive. The book focuses both on day-to-day life and work/career. As we all know, we spend most of our adult waking moments working, hence I appreciated how the author always reconnected everything to your professional realization, because that is the one place where you can find your meaning, where you can learn and develop, where you can energize from, where you can find meaning and feel helpful, where you can make a difference and contribute to the world. At the end of the book, it also focuses on sleep, exercise, stress, as a reminder of the body-mind connection that so many people often forget.

Girl A

• AUTHOR: Abigail Dean
• TOPIC: Novel

Despite the hype surrounding this book, I think it’s simply not my style. I didn’t particularly enjoy the narrative nor the ending, and though the story was heartbreaking, it just left me with too many open-ended questions, one of them being: what is the purpose of this book, what is the story? I am sorry but I was just left a bit disappointed.
Girl A, Lex, is one of the surviving children of the so called “House of Horrors”. The story begins when news come of the death of her mother in jail, and the inheritance she left behind: some money, and that terrible house that marked her and her 6 siblings for life. Now a successful barrister, she decides to convert the house into a community project, but to do so, she needs the approval of all her brother and sisters. En route to obtain the same, Lex takes us through the horrible story of her childhood, of how a poor family that was somehow surviving along, was transformed into a nightmare. Pain, hunger, and abuse all caused by their father’s religious views, who lost his mind and literally imprisoned his whole family, away from the world. Her escape was the act of love that allowed all of her siblings to start again and have a new life…or is it really that way?

Shipped

• AUTHOR: Angie Hockman
• TOPIC: Novel

This book is the perfect pool side read. Cute, funny, uncomplicated, dreamy, but with a touch of life lesson attached to it: always speak up for yourself, follow your dreams, work hard, give credit where its due and surround yourself with people that believe in you and support you. 
Henley Evans is a marketing manager at a cruise line, and wants nothing more than to prove herself in her career. Dedicated fully to this dream, she divides her time between work and evening classes to get her MBA, leaving no time for anything else. When her dream promotion is announced and she is shortlisted, she is set on a mission to make the job hers. Only issue: the remote social media manager she despises, Graeme, is also up for the role. To decide the winner, their boss asks for a proposal on how to boost their business in the Galapagos…and to do so, they need to experience the cruise…together. Confined on the ship and with the taste of vacation in the air, Henley manages to let her hair down a bit and she ends up discovering that Graeme is not so bad, neither work wise or as a person. In fact, he is nearly perfection. And he seems to reciprocate her growing feelings. Scared to get caught and lose her chance to the promotion, she tries to pull back, unsuccessfully, and comes up with an amazing proposal that she is sure will get her what she wants. Once back in the office, she is appalled when the promotion is given to Graeme. Luckily, surrounded by her co-workers and with Graeme by her side, she will learn to stand up for herself and fight for what’s right, and she will achieve more than she would have ever imagine possible.

Sea of Lost Love

• AUTHOR: Santa Montefiore
• TOPIC: Novel

I have grown to love anything Santa Montefiore writes. This is only my second book but I already have three more waiting ready to go. At the beginning, I felt the book had way too much details in terms of descriptions, though the plot kept me glued to the pages. As I went on, there were a lot of WOW moments, and suddenly it almost felt rushed…so definitely a slow beginning, with a very powerful second half that will keep you wondering what’s next at each page you turn. Loved it and highly recommend it.

When Robert Montague, a loved husband, father, son, brother, business and community man suddenly disappears at sea without prior alarm, the family is devastated. When the body is never found, his daughter Celestria decides to get to the bottom of it. Back in London, leaving the rest of the family behind at the Cornwall estate to deal with the news that there is no money left, she embarks on a Sherlock Holmes journey to find out the truth. After some unbelievable discoveries, and with the help of her grandfather, she traces it all back to a small town in Puglia, where apparently her father was wiring money. Unable to untangle anything at first, a fortuitous meeting with a French women will shed lights on unexpected truths about her father, leaving her reality shattered. Thankfully, she will find a shoulder to cry on Hamish, the widowed son in law of her hosting family, with whom she falls in love.

Love Her or Lose Her

• AUTHOR: Tessa Bailey
• TOPIC: Romantic Novel

Well…this book was much racier than I expected. There was a LOT of action going on throughout the whole story, and though I didn’t mind it, it kind of puts me off from giving it a five star. Don’t get me wrong, I am not prude or anything, it’s just that I felt it took over 50% of the story, which was a topic very close to home: have the courage to chase your dreams and make sure your voice is heard, even if that means giving up on what you love the most. Communication, partnership, support, understanding…are as important in a relationship as sex and love. 
Rosie and Dominic have been married since forever: best friends, fierce lovers, soul mates. But not anymore. Since Dominic came back from the military, the communication is zero unless it’s in bed on their weekly Tuesday night encounter. Everything else seems lost. One evening, when at work a man shows interest in Rosie, she gathers the courage to say “enough” and leaves, threatening divorce. But Dominic will not have it: he will fight back for his wife. He gives in and accepts to go to a non-conventional therapist with her to try and save their marriage, and as hard as it is to keep their sexual frustration at bay, they both learn more about each other, about themselves, about what makes the other happy or what the other needs. Though Dominic’s insecurities almost threaten to ruin everything again, you will be in for a true happy ending, and a great lesson about love and marriage.

The Memory Collector

• AUTHOR: Kim Neville
• TOPIC: Novel

I was enchanted by the cover and the small synopsis at the back, and that is why I decided to give this book a try.I liked the story but for some reason it didn’t leave a mark in me. Maybe I was let down by the end. As the book unfolds with one secret after the other, I was probably waiting for a more impressive ending that never came, and left me surprised and slightly let down. 
Ev has inherited a gift that is hard to comprehend and to explain: she feels the energy in the objects around her. She can feel emotions left behind by the previous owner, so much so that if not careful, they affect her. Though she sells these items for a living, she is always very careful on how she trades with them, aware of the effect that it can have on others. This care and protectiveness are affecting her life, but a childhood trauma is so engrained inside of her that nothing will change her mind. Until she meets Harriet, an older woman who shares the same gift, but not as developed as Ev. This new discovery, of not being the only one in the world, prompts Harriet to create a museum of all the things she has collected throughout her life: a place people will be able to visit and take advantage of the positive emotions those items will release. While the two woman get to know and help each other, exploring and developing their gift,  the sudden reappearance of Ev’s younger sister will threaten not only the success of this museum, but also their own lives.

The Ex Talk

• AUTHOR: Rachel Lynn Solomon
• TOPIC: Novel

I really enjoyed this book. I think the plot was extremely clever, powdered with few racy bits which are always welcome! But also touching subjects like misogyny, how to stand up for yourself, the fear of change and the pain of loss. This book was talked about in past few months, and I do understand the hype now. Definitely a great beach/pool read @rlynn_solomon
Shay has been working at the same radio station since 10 years, loving every moment of it. Things get a bit tricky when Dom joins the team, fresh out of grad school, thinking he knows it all. When the radio station is going through some rough times, during a brainstorming session Shay comes up with an idea: create a radio show about exes. With the backup of the whole team, The Ex Talk is born…but there is a catch: Dom and Shay will co-host this and pretend to have been together and broken up. This is the first experience for both of them in front of the microphone, but the success is instant and overwhelming. But no one ever expected for them to fall in love. Agreeing to come clean to the world during a national podcast conference, they get tangled into management politics and cut out: the radio station decided to come clean on social media about their fake break up minutes before they go on stage. With the audience against them, Shay tried her best to damage control, but when Dom doesn’t stand up for them and support her, she feels that she didn’t just lost her job, but also the love of her life.

The Rose Code

• AUTHOR: Kate Quinn
• TOPIC: Novel

I wasn’t sure I would love this book when I decided to give it a go, but obviously, I was wrong…my instincts never fail me! 600 pages in 2 days is quiet a record for me, and this is testament to how good the story was. Now I am in trouble, because yet again I found a new writer that I love and it means that I will have no rest until I read every single book she has ever published.
Thank you @katequinn5975 for this tale of friendship, women, war, love, passion and resilience.

It’s the beginning on WW2, and 3 very different woman find their paths crossing: Osla, the beautiful girl that has everything and tries so hard to show everyone that she also has a brain ( while dating Prince Philip at the same time ); Mab, escaping poverty and the ghost of past mistakes; and Beth, the village spinster living in her mother’s fear while possessing a very singular gift. An unlikely friendship grows between the 3 girls, while they proudly put their individual knowledge and skills to use to ensure they participate in their country’s war. What they do? They break German military codes, each finding their place in the world. In between code braking, friendships growing and heartaches, more than one exceptional secret will be revealed, until something happens that tears them apart, putting them against each other, with Beth ending up in an asylum. It’s 1947, just before the royal wedding of Prince Philip to Elizabeth, that Beth reaches out via a code to her lost girlfriends…and yet though hesitant at first, they are too curious to discover the real reason behind Beth’s request. Friends once more, with Beth free, they will work closely to uncover the traitor who betrayed Beth and their country. Back to coding, and surrounded by so many friends coming together to help, they will break the last most important code that will reveal the truth and save not only their country, but also their individual futures.

The Success Code

• AUTHOR: Amanda Dewinter
• TOPIC: Self-improvement

The more I read about similar topics, the more it’s clear that there is no escaping from doing certain things, changing certain habits, rewiring your thinking and just putting a lot of work and conscious planning…if you want to get anything done in life.
Some might say “well, you didn’t need to read a book to find that one out”…but you would be surprised how helpful it actually is.
What I loved the most about this book it’s the emphasis put onto learning. And how it reminds you that there are endless possibilities and opportunities out there, if only you are ready to open your eyes.
I recommend this book to those who need a push of confidence, who need a boost to keep trying or start anew, you needs to be reminded that we are capable to do whatever we put our mind to.

Our Story

• AUTHOR: Miranda Dickinson
• TOPIC: Novel

Read in one day as I just couldn’t wait to discover how it ended, and now made me fall in love with this author, meaning I will now pursue my quest of reading everything she has written. It happens every.single.time🤪

Otty is about to embark on her dream journey: being on the writing team for upcoming tv shows. But just the night before, she is unexpectedly evicted from her flat. Not all is lost when on her first day on the new job, she finds out that favorite writer Joe, is looking for a flat mate. And so she moves in. Their friendship grows, and when paired as writing duo, their chemistry increases daily. One evening, drunk on a recent writing success, they hook up and individually realize their feeling for each other…but neither of them is ready to confess it out loud, making things awkward. When a new executive, Fraser, joins the team and starts showing interest in Otty, Joe’s jealousy in uncontrollable…especially when Otty, disappointed about Joe’s behavior, ends up in Fraser’s arms. It will take a lot of heartbreaks and misunderstanding to realize that that one off was not a mistake, but even more to express their feelings out loud. And while their writing success continues to grow, it won’t be until the last pages that we will find out how their story ends.

Pretty Things

• AUTHOR: Janelle Brown
• TOPIC: Novel

This was probably one of the hardest books to find and buy. Took me close to a year than get my hands on, but I knew I had to read it and I was right. Really enjoyed this novel by @janellebrownie
A story of broken dreams and families, of the world of social media, how we do anything in life to be loved and understood, and how unfortunately often we really can’t trust anyone in our lives.

Nina is putting her BA in arts to good use, but not in the traditional sense: she is a con artist, just like her mom used to be. About to get caught, and with news of her mom’s illness getting worse, she decides to embark on a last big act with her boyfriend. They study the victim’s every move on IG, they recreate new identities for themselves, and show up at this mansion of Lake Tahoe, where Vanessa, an heiress and social media influencer, lives alone trying to put her life together after losing her family in various tragedies. But Nina has been in this mansion before as a teenager, and that’s why she chose Vanessa: an easy victim but also an opportunity for revenge. When Vanessa realizes who Nina is, she also starts her own revenge scheme against Nina, convinced that she was the culprit of her family’s tragedies. What they didn’t expect, is to end up being connected together against one shared revenge, transforming them from enemies into allies, discovering in the end that all they can trust is each other.

The Hating Game

• AUTHOR: Sally Thorne
• TOPIC: Novel

I absolutely loved this book! Fun, charming, clever, subtly racy hot at times, and just a pleasure to read.
Loved, loved, loved and absolutely recommend!

Lucy is the nice girl in the office, assistant to the co-CEO of a publishing company. Her life is work and sleep, and most of her energy is spent on hating her co-worker, Joshua, assistant to the other co-CEO. Things get really intense when a new role comes up for COO, where both Lucy and Josh are the preferred contenders. The game is on. Until unexpectedly one day, in an elevator ride, he kisses her like she has never been kissed before, and with her anxiety raising to new levels, she is lost between hating him, wanting him, with the upcoming promotion making things just that more difficult. As time passes it’s clear that it’s not just one episode, but the new upcoming job is just too important for her. What will she choose? Career? Or the potential love of her life?

The Therapist

• AUTHOR: B.A. Paris
• TOPIC: Thriller

This kind of novels are not usually my “go-to” but I do enjoy some suspense reading once in a while, and this had just the right amount to keep me glued to the pages, trying to solve the mystery, second guessing the end ( and failing at it, of course ).
I actually ended up enjoying it much more than I thought I would, and finished the book in less than two days, leaving me wondering if maybe I should attempt to read more books like these, beginning with more by the same author.

Alice and Leo decide to cement their so-far long-distance relationship, by moving in together. They buy a villa in a beautiful gated community, and Alice gets immediately to work trying to make friends with all the neighbors and fill her loneliness, as she works from home while Leo travels for work. She struggles at first, feeling as everyone is trying to avoid her, only to than realize that it’s her house they are actually trying to stay away from: because a murder was committed there and she didn’t know. While her relationship with Leo takes a hit due to this uncovered lie, Alice gets more and more involved into the story, taking it as a personal challenge to solve the mystery of this death. Maybe because it’s close to her personal experience of loss. A mysterious yet charming private detector becomes the only person she can seem to trust, as more lies surface from Leo’s past life, and all the neighbors seem to be hiding something. Just when Alice is about to give up solving the mystery and go back to her previous life, single again…and unexpected turn of event will give you that jaw-dropping moment that is so important and essential in stories like this.

The Love Proof

• AUTHOR: Madeleine Henry
• TOPIC: Romantic Novel

I really enjoyed the read, the story, the belief in soul mates and in the rarity of finding that one person that is meant for you. I also loved the underlining lesson: work and success is nothing, if you don’t have people and love around you.

Sophie is a prodigy student, in physics, intended to solve the mystery of time. When she meets Jake at their first week of Yale, it’s love at first sight for both, as if they knew each other forever. They immediately become inseparable, but while Jake thrives following his dreams, Sophie starts to shy away from hers, finding everything she needs in Jake. Not even tutoring classes with Peter can make her think otherwise. While Jake becomes a star, Sophie fades away…so much so that Jake decides to break things off, thinking it’s the only way for Sophie to find herself again. Years pass by, Jake is at the top of fame, and only a sudden realization brings Sophie back in the game, managing to finish her PhD and concludes a research that will make her forever famous. Well into their 60’s, a twist of fate with being Jake’s son into Sophie’s life…and the opportunity to find and love each other again, finally seems within grasp for Sophie and Jake.

Why Mummy Drinks

• AUTHOR: Gills Sims
• TOPIC: Novel

 Just to prove how much I adored this book, I bought the next ones already 🤪 Even if you are not a mom, you need to buy this book because you will laugh for 338 pages non stop to the point of rapture. In this book, the author wittingly explores family dramas, but more in particular, what it’s like to be a mom. It also touches on the myth that we always think other people’s lives and families are better than our own. Wrong! If you are kind enough to ask and listen, you will find out that everyone is fighting their own battle and continuously checking if grass is greener on the other said.
I cannot express in words how much I laughed and loved this book.
It is a must read, mark my words!

Designing Your Life

• AUTHOR: Bill Burnett & Dave Evans
• TOPIC: Self-Development

When I saw the title of this cover, I knew I had to read it.
I love why this book was born: two professors from an Ivy League college wanted to help students reply to the most common question: “what shall I do with my life?”. So they created a course, that you can take at the early days of your studies…because no one wants to waste years of university only to find out you were pursuing the wrong career.
The book is full of question, exercises and advice. And you can buy the workbook as well, that helps you really dive in deeply into it.
There are a lot of parts of this book that I particularly loved, especially when myths were torn apart and reframed into what they actually are in reality.
The underlining lesson, to quote the book, is: “Life design is ultimately a way of life that will transform how you look at your life and how you live your life. The end result of a well-designed life is a life well-lived”.
Yes, your life is your own, unique, and made-by-you-for-you. And most importantly, there is no right or wrong way of living this life, and there is not only one version of it…there are as many different paths available to you as there are possibilities.
So “be curious, try stuff, reframe problems, know it’s a process and ask for help”, and you will be on the right path to build a life where who you are, what you are doing and what you believe in…will align.

Defining You

• AUTHOR: Fiona Murden
• TOPIC: Self-development

When you are uncertain during a specific time of your life, a book like this screams “salvation”. I picked up this book in a quest to help myself find myself again. The book is very detailed, with heaps of exercises that build up from the bottom all the way to the top, in an attempt to help you redefine yourself, what you believe in, what are your strength and weaknesses, what you need to succeed in life, what your purpose is, and how to find the perfect spot in the world where you can truly be yourself and thrive. The book focuses both on day-to-day life and work/career. As we all know, we spend most of our adult waking moments working, hence I appreciated how the author always reconnected everything to your professional realization, because that is the one place where you can find your meaning, where you can learn and develop, where you can energize from, where you can find meaning and feel helpful, where you can make a difference and contribute to the world. At the end of the book, it also focuses on sleep, exercise, stress, as a reminder of the body-mind connection that so many people often forget.

Girl A

• AUTHOR: Abigail Dean
• TOPIC: Novel

Despite the hype surrounding this book, I think it’s simply not my style. I didn’t particularly enjoy the narrative nor the ending, and though the story was heartbreaking, it just left me with too many open-ended questions, one of them being: what is the purpose of this book, what is the story? I am sorry but I was just left a bit disappointed.
Girl A, Lex, is one of the surviving children of the so called “House of Horrors”. The story begins when news come of the death of her mother in jail, and the inheritance she left behind: some money, and that terrible house that marked her and her 6 siblings for life. Now a successful barrister, she decides to convert the house into a community project, but to do so, she needs the approval of all her brother and sisters. En route to obtain the same, Lex takes us through the horrible story of her childhood, of how a poor family that was somehow surviving along, was transformed into a nightmare. Pain, hunger, and abuse all caused by their father’s religious views, who lost his mind and literally imprisoned his whole family, away from the world. Her escape was the act of love that allowed all of her siblings to start again and have a new life…or is it really that way?

Shipped

• AUTHOR: Angie Hockman
• TOPIC: Novel

This book is the perfect pool side read. Cute, funny, uncomplicated, dreamy, but with a touch of life lesson attached to it: always speak up for yourself, follow your dreams, work hard, give credit where its due and surround yourself with people that believe in you and support you. 
Henley Evans is a marketing manager at a cruise line, and wants nothing more than to prove herself in her career. Dedicated fully to this dream, she divides her time between work and evening classes to get her MBA, leaving no time for anything else. When her dream promotion is announced and she is shortlisted, she is set on a mission to make the job hers. Only issue: the remote social media manager she despises, Graeme, is also up for the role. To decide the winner, their boss asks for a proposal on how to boost their business in the Galapagos…and to do so, they need to experience the cruise…together. Confined on the ship and with the taste of vacation in the air, Henley manages to let her hair down a bit and she ends up discovering that Graeme is not so bad, neither work wise or as a person. In fact, he is nearly perfection. And he seems to reciprocate her growing feelings. Scared to get caught and lose her chance to the promotion, she tries to pull back, unsuccessfully, and comes up with an amazing proposal that she is sure will get her what she wants. Once back in the office, she is appalled when the promotion is given to Graeme. Luckily, surrounded by her co-workers and with Graeme by her side, she will learn to stand up for herself and fight for what’s right, and she will achieve more than she would have ever imagine possible.

Sea of Lost Love

• AUTHOR: Santa Montefiore
• TOPIC: Novel

I have grown to love anything Santa Montefiore writes. This is only my second book but I already have three more waiting ready to go. At the beginning, I felt the book had way too much details in terms of descriptions, though the plot kept me glued to the pages. As I went on, there were a lot of WOW moments, and suddenly it almost felt rushed…so definitely a slow beginning, with a very powerful second half that will keep you wondering what’s next at each page you turn. Loved it and highly recommend it.

When Robert Montague, a loved husband, father, son, brother, business and community man suddenly disappears at sea without prior alarm, the family is devastated. When the body is never found, his daughter Celestria decides to get to the bottom of it. Back in London, leaving the rest of the family behind at the Cornwall estate to deal with the news that there is no money left, she embarks on a Sherlock Holmes journey to find out the truth. After some unbelievable discoveries, and with the help of her grandfather, she traces it all back to a small town in Puglia, where apparently her father was wiring money. Unable to untangle anything at first, a fortuitous meeting with a French women will shed lights on unexpected truths about her father, leaving her reality shattered. Thankfully, she will find a shoulder to cry on Hamish, the widowed son in law of her hosting family, with whom she falls in love.

Love Her or Lose Her

• AUTHOR: Tessa Bailey
• TOPIC: Romantic Novel

Well…this book was much racier than I expected. There was a LOT of action going on throughout the whole story, and though I didn’t mind it, it kind of puts me off from giving it a five star. Don’t get me wrong, I am not prude or anything, it’s just that I felt it took over 50% of the story, which was a topic very close to home: have the courage to chase your dreams and make sure your voice is heard, even if that means giving up on what you love the most. Communication, partnership, support, understanding…are as important in a relationship as sex and love. 
Rosie and Dominic have been married since forever: best friends, fierce lovers, soul mates. But not anymore. Since Dominic came back from the military, the communication is zero unless it’s in bed on their weekly Tuesday night encounter. Everything else seems lost. One evening, when at work a man shows interest in Rosie, she gathers the courage to say “enough” and leaves, threatening divorce. But Dominic will not have it: he will fight back for his wife. He gives in and accepts to go to a non-conventional therapist with her to try and save their marriage, and as hard as it is to keep their sexual frustration at bay, they both learn more about each other, about themselves, about what makes the other happy or what the other needs. Though Dominic’s insecurities almost threaten to ruin everything again, you will be in for a true happy ending, and a great lesson about love and marriage.

The Memory Collector

• AUTHOR: Kim Neville
• TOPIC: Novel

I was enchanted by the cover and the small synopsis at the back, and that is why I decided to give this book a try.I liked the story but for some reason it didn’t leave a mark in me. Maybe I was let down by the end. As the book unfolds with one secret after the other, I was probably waiting for a more impressive ending that never came, and left me surprised and slightly let down. 
Ev has inherited a gift that is hard to comprehend and to explain: she feels the energy in the objects around her. She can feel emotions left behind by the previous owner, so much so that if not careful, they affect her. Though she sells these items for a living, she is always very careful on how she trades with them, aware of the effect that it can have on others. This care and protectiveness are affecting her life, but a childhood trauma is so engrained inside of her that nothing will change her mind. Until she meets Harriet, an older woman who shares the same gift, but not as developed as Ev. This new discovery, of not being the only one in the world, prompts Harriet to create a museum of all the things she has collected throughout her life: a place people will be able to visit and take advantage of the positive emotions those items will release. While the two woman get to know and help each other, exploring and developing their gift,  the sudden reappearance of Ev’s younger sister will threaten not only the success of this museum, but also their own lives.

The Ex Talk

• AUTHOR: Rachel Lynn Solomon
• TOPIC: Novel

I really enjoyed this book. I think the plot was extremely clever, powdered with few racy bits which are always welcome! But also touching subjects like misogyny, how to stand up for yourself, the fear of change and the pain of loss. This book was talked about in past few months, and I do understand the hype now. Definitely a great beach/pool read @rlynn_solomon
Shay has been working at the same radio station since 10 years, loving every moment of it. Things get a bit tricky when Dom joins the team, fresh out of grad school, thinking he knows it all. When the radio station is going through some rough times, during a brainstorming session Shay comes up with an idea: create a radio show about exes. With the backup of the whole team, The Ex Talk is born…but there is a catch: Dom and Shay will co-host this and pretend to have been together and broken up. This is the first experience for both of them in front of the microphone, but the success is instant and overwhelming. But no one ever expected for them to fall in love. Agreeing to come clean to the world during a national podcast conference, they get tangled into management politics and cut out: the radio station decided to come clean on social media about their fake break up minutes before they go on stage. With the audience against them, Shay tried her best to damage control, but when Dom doesn’t stand up for them and support her, she feels that she didn’t just lost her job, but also the love of her life.

The Rose Code

• AUTHOR: Kate Quinn
• TOPIC: Novel

I wasn’t sure I would love this book when I decided to give it a go, but obviously, I was wrong…my instincts never fail me! 600 pages in 2 days is quiet a record for me, and this is testament to how good the story was. Now I am in trouble, because yet again I found a new writer that I love and it means that I will have no rest until I read every single book she has ever published.
Thank you @katequinn5975 for this tale of friendship, women, war, love, passion and resilience.

It’s the beginning on WW2, and 3 very different woman find their paths crossing: Osla, the beautiful girl that has everything and tries so hard to show everyone that she also has a brain ( while dating Prince Philip at the same time ); Mab, escaping poverty and the ghost of past mistakes; and Beth, the village spinster living in her mother’s fear while possessing a very singular gift. An unlikely friendship grows between the 3 girls, while they proudly put their individual knowledge and skills to use to ensure they participate in their country’s war. What they do? They break German military codes, each finding their place in the world. In between code braking, friendships growing and heartaches, more than one exceptional secret will be revealed, until something happens that tears them apart, putting them against each other, with Beth ending up in an asylum. It’s 1947, just before the royal wedding of Prince Philip to Elizabeth, that Beth reaches out via a code to her lost girlfriends…and yet though hesitant at first, they are too curious to discover the real reason behind Beth’s request. Friends once more, with Beth free, they will work closely to uncover the traitor who betrayed Beth and their country. Back to coding, and surrounded by so many friends coming together to help, they will break the last most important code that will reveal the truth and save not only their country, but also their individual futures.

The Success Code

• AUTHOR: Amanda Dewinter
• TOPIC: Self-improvement

The more I read about similar topics, the more it’s clear that there is no escaping from doing certain things, changing certain habits, rewiring your thinking and just putting a lot of work and conscious planning…if you want to get anything done in life.
Some might say “well, you didn’t need to read a book to find that one out”…but you would be surprised how helpful it actually is.
What I loved the most about this book it’s the emphasis put onto learning. And how it reminds you that there are endless possibilities and opportunities out there, if only you are ready to open your eyes.
I recommend this book to those who need a push of confidence, who need a boost to keep trying or start anew, you needs to be reminded that we are capable to do whatever we put our mind to.

Our Story

• AUTHOR: Miranda Dickinson
• TOPIC: Novel

Read in one day as I just couldn’t wait to discover how it ended, and now made me fall in love with this author, meaning I will now pursue my quest of reading everything she has written. It happens every.single.time🤪

Otty is about to embark on her dream journey: being on the writing team for upcoming tv shows. But just the night before, she is unexpectedly evicted from her flat. Not all is lost when on her first day on the new job, she finds out that favorite writer Joe, is looking for a flat mate. And so she moves in. Their friendship grows, and when paired as writing duo, their chemistry increases daily. One evening, drunk on a recent writing success, they hook up and individually realize their feeling for each other…but neither of them is ready to confess it out loud, making things awkward. When a new executive, Fraser, joins the team and starts showing interest in Otty, Joe’s jealousy in uncontrollable…especially when Otty, disappointed about Joe’s behavior, ends up in Fraser’s arms. It will take a lot of heartbreaks and misunderstanding to realize that that one off was not a mistake, but even more to express their feelings out loud. And while their writing success continues to grow, it won’t be until the last pages that we will find out how their story ends.

Pretty Things

• AUTHOR: Janelle Brown
• TOPIC: Novel

This was probably one of the hardest books to find and buy. Took me close to a year than get my hands on, but I knew I had to read it and I was right. Really enjoyed this novel by @janellebrownie
A story of broken dreams and families, of the world of social media, how we do anything in life to be loved and understood, and how unfortunately often we really can’t trust anyone in our lives.

Nina is putting her BA in arts to good use, but not in the traditional sense: she is a con artist, just like her mom used to be. About to get caught, and with news of her mom’s illness getting worse, she decides to embark on a last big act with her boyfriend. They study the victim’s every move on IG, they recreate new identities for themselves, and show up at this mansion of Lake Tahoe, where Vanessa, an heiress and social media influencer, lives alone trying to put her life together after losing her family in various tragedies. But Nina has been in this mansion before as a teenager, and that’s why she chose Vanessa: an easy victim but also an opportunity for revenge. When Vanessa realizes who Nina is, she also starts her own revenge scheme against Nina, convinced that she was the culprit of her family’s tragedies. What they didn’t expect, is to end up being connected together against one shared revenge, transforming them from enemies into allies, discovering in the end that all they can trust is each other.

The Hating Game

• AUTHOR: Sally Thorne
• TOPIC: Novel

I absolutely loved this book! Fun, charming, clever, subtly racy hot at times, and just a pleasure to read.
Loved, loved, loved and absolutely recommend!

Lucy is the nice girl in the office, assistant to the co-CEO of a publishing company. Her life is work and sleep, and most of her energy is spent on hating her co-worker, Joshua, assistant to the other co-CEO. Things get really intense when a new role comes up for COO, where both Lucy and Josh are the preferred contenders. The game is on. Until unexpectedly one day, in an elevator ride, he kisses her like she has never been kissed before, and with her anxiety raising to new levels, she is lost between hating him, wanting him, with the upcoming promotion making things just that more difficult. As time passes it’s clear that it’s not just one episode, but the new upcoming job is just too important for her. What will she choose? Career? Or the potential love of her life?

The Therapist

• AUTHOR: B.A. Paris
• TOPIC: Thriller

This kind of novels are not usually my “go-to” but I do enjoy some suspense reading once in a while, and this had just the right amount to keep me glued to the pages, trying to solve the mystery, second guessing the end ( and failing at it, of course ).
I actually ended up enjoying it much more than I thought I would, and finished the book in less than two days, leaving me wondering if maybe I should attempt to read more books like these, beginning with more by the same author.

Alice and Leo decide to cement their so-far long-distance relationship, by moving in together. They buy a villa in a beautiful gated community, and Alice gets immediately to work trying to make friends with all the neighbors and fill her loneliness, as she works from home while Leo travels for work. She struggles at first, feeling as everyone is trying to avoid her, only to than realize that it’s her house they are actually trying to stay away from: because a murder was committed there and she didn’t know. While her relationship with Leo takes a hit due to this uncovered lie, Alice gets more and more involved into the story, taking it as a personal challenge to solve the mystery of this death. Maybe because it’s close to her personal experience of loss. A mysterious yet charming private detector becomes the only person she can seem to trust, as more lies surface from Leo’s past life, and all the neighbors seem to be hiding something. Just when Alice is about to give up solving the mystery and go back to her previous life, single again…and unexpected turn of event will give you that jaw-dropping moment that is so important and essential in stories like this.

The Love Proof

• AUTHOR: Madeleine Henry
• TOPIC: Romantic Novel

I really enjoyed the read, the story, the belief in soul mates and in the rarity of finding that one person that is meant for you. I also loved the underlining lesson: work and success is nothing, if you don’t have people and love around you.

Sophie is a prodigy student, in physics, intended to solve the mystery of time. When she meets Jake at their first week of Yale, it’s love at first sight for both, as if they knew each other forever. They immediately become inseparable, but while Jake thrives following his dreams, Sophie starts to shy away from hers, finding everything she needs in Jake. Not even tutoring classes with Peter can make her think otherwise. While Jake becomes a star, Sophie fades away…so much so that Jake decides to break things off, thinking it’s the only way for Sophie to find herself again. Years pass by, Jake is at the top of fame, and only a sudden realization brings Sophie back in the game, managing to finish her PhD and concludes a research that will make her forever famous. Well into their 60’s, a twist of fate with being Jake’s son into Sophie’s life…and the opportunity to find and love each other again, finally seems within grasp for Sophie and Jake.

Why Mummy Drinks

• AUTHOR: Gills Sims
• TOPIC: Novel

 Just to prove how much I adored this book, I bought the next ones already 🤪 Even if you are not a mom, you need to buy this book because you will laugh for 338 pages non stop to the point of rapture. In this book, the author wittingly explores family dramas, but more in particular, what it’s like to be a mom. It also touches on the myth that we always think other people’s lives and families are better than our own. Wrong! If you are kind enough to ask and listen, you will find out that everyone is fighting their own battle and continuously checking if grass is greener on the other said.
I cannot express in words how much I laughed and loved this book.
It is a must read, mark my words!

Designing Your Life

• AUTHOR: Bill Burnett & Dave Evans
• TOPIC: Self-Development

When I saw the title of this cover, I knew I had to read it.
I love why this book was born: two professors from an Ivy League college wanted to help students reply to the most common question: “what shall I do with my life?”. So they created a course, that you can take at the early days of your studies…because no one wants to waste years of university only to find out you were pursuing the wrong career.
The book is full of question, exercises and advice. And you can buy the workbook as well, that helps you really dive in deeply into it.
There are a lot of parts of this book that I particularly loved, especially when myths were torn apart and reframed into what they actually are in reality.
The underlining lesson, to quote the book, is: “Life design is ultimately a way of life that will transform how you look at your life and how you live your life. The end result of a well-designed life is a life well-lived”.
Yes, your life is your own, unique, and made-by-you-for-you. And most importantly, there is no right or wrong way of living this life, and there is not only one version of it…there are as many different paths available to you as there are possibilities.
So “be curious, try stuff, reframe problems, know it’s a process and ask for help”, and you will be on the right path to build a life where who you are, what you are doing and what you believe in…will align.

The Lost Apothecary

• AUTHOR: Sarah Penner
• TOPIC: Novel

I have been waiting for this book…it was one of those new releases that I was attracted to from the beginning.
Must have been the cover 🙂 as it always is.
@sarah_penner_author thank you for this book. I really enjoyed it.

Caroline is in London, on her 10th wedding anniversary trip, alone…because before departure, she found out her husband James has been unfaithful. On her first day, unable to embark on the countless activities she had planned, she joins a group of people that explore the muddy shores of the Thames, looking for treasures. When she finds a vial with a bear etched on it, she can’t resist her impulse to investigate, rehashing memories of the life she should have lived as a researcher and historian. Her search unveils for us the story of Nella and Eliza and take us back to the end of the 1700’s, while in modern day she continues her search: not only for the story of the vial, but also for a solution to her life and broken marriage.

Nella, daughter of an apothecary, transformed her trade into a secret and dangerous one, after a personal loss and deceit: she sells poison to women who seek revenge. Each poison is personalized, should not be used against other woman, and will be recorded in her register. But when one day, a young Eliza enters her life to collect a poison for her mistress, neither women will know how much their lives will change or how dangerous they are about to become.
The final twist of the plot will give you a proper open-mouthed wow moment, and will make you love the book all the more for it.