Book Spotlight: The Wild Unknown Journal

Author: Kim Krans

Publication Date: September 4, 2018 

Publisher: HarperOne

·     Written and Illustrated by Kim Krans

·     Illustrated, Hand-lettered Interactive Introduction

·     99 Full-color Illustrated prompts

Embark on an odyssey of reflection, self-discovery, and creative inspiration with The Wild Unknown Journal, a beautifully illustrated and hand-lettered guided journal from Kim Krans, the visionary artist and author behind the bestselling The Wild Unknown Tarot and The Wild Unknown Animal Spirit.

Welcome to The Wild Unknown Journal. The labyrinth of creativity awaits you ….

Your journey begins with a dynamic, interactive introduction that invites you into this contemplative space and explains how to use the journal and all the possibilities it offers. More than 125 exquisite pages of powerful prompts follow—combined with emotionally evocative watercolor imagery and elegant black-and-white line art—igniting an intimate and transformative experience for writers, artists, daydreamers, or anyone seeking creative magic.

Liberating and meditative, this stunning journal offers us a deeper connection to our present moment and inner most selves—freeing us to write, draw, color, collage, and create. Tap into the untamed power of the wild unknown as you discover how to unleash the imaginative, the intuitive, and the inspired within.

I just had to share this new, creative journal that hit the market earlier this month. I wanted to spotlight this on my channel because I think so many of us could benefit from having a journaling outlet like this one. This book is welcoming, encouraging, and a perfect place for both creative and non-artistic people to learn to deal and let go of the stresses of everyday life. The pages are open for each person’s individual interpretation, as shown below, and the pages are so unique and engaging – a person could spend hours unwinding and de-stressing on the pages. 

Please enjoy a few images of the various pages below:

I have started exploring and illustrating some of the pages in the journal that I was so kindly sent. I have experimented with watercolors, white gel pens, tom bow markers, and the list goes on and on. There is no limit to what you can accomplish on these pages. I am looking forward to spending more time in my journal and I hope, if any of this sounds interesting to you, you will consider picking up a copy for yourself!

***A free copy of this book was provided to me by the publishers at HarperOne in exchange for my honest review***

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Book Review: Three Little Lies

Author: Laura Marshall

Publication Date: September 4, 2018

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

When Sasha disappears, Ellen fears the worst. Then long-buried secrets resurface, Ellen realizes she may not know Sasha -- or what she's capable of -- at all.

2005: 17 year old Ellen falls under the spell of glamorous newcomer, Sasha. As Ellen is welcomed into Sasha's family, she doesn't see the darkness that lies beneath their musical, bohemian lifestyle. At a New Year's Eve party, events come to a dramatic head, resulting in a court case (in which Ellen is a key witness) that means family life at the Corner House will never be the same again.

2018: Now 30, Ellen and Sasha are still entwined in each other's lives and sharing a flat in London. When Sasha disappears, Ellen fears the worst. She has gone missing like this before and the police won't take it seriously, but long-buried events in their shared past mean that Ellen has good reason to be frightened - not only for Sasha, but also for herself. Finding out the truth about what really happened on New Year's Eve twelve years ago puts Ellen in terrible danger, and forces her to confront not only the past, but how well she really knows her best friend.

Since I loved Laura Marshall’s debut novel, Friend Request, I knew that her newest novel would be added immediately to my to be read list. The characters in this new novel were very similar to the ones in Friend Request. I like to be surprised, I like to follow multiple point of views, and I like when characters share a strong bond, several secrets, and then one of them goes missing. Not only does this book have alternating timelines, but the characters and their backstories are intriguing and not always subtle. Ellen and Sasha are different, yet they bonded over shared pasts, problems, and peril.

Laura Marshall’s writing is intense – this is the best word that I can think of to describe it. My favorite part of Marshall’s writing is her ability to write flashbacks that add to the story and do not confuse the reader. Her style is very identifiable – I would know her writing anywhere. To me, this is a good thing! Authors should all carry their own notable writing style that sets them apart from all others!

I never in a million years imagined I would be here, in this unknown landscape where none of my friends can, or would want to, follow me. I would swap places with any of them in a heartbeat.

My hands touch the bench tighter and tighter. One of the screws that holds the seat to my legs is coming loose and the sharp edge of it digs into my palm, but I welcome the pain, increasing the pressure until I feel the wetness of blood, because it dulls the voice in my head: the one that tells me that Karina is speaking the truth, and even worse, that this is all my fault.

Or is there someone else in the house?

She stepped forward to pour some wine into the empty mug in my hand, and as she did so, I caught the tail end of a secret little smile that wasn’t meant for me.

***A free copy of this book was provided to me by the publishers at Grand Central Publishing in exchange for my honest review***

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Book Review: #FashionVictim

Author: Amina Akhtar

Publication Date: September 11, 2018 

Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

A thrilling take on the fashion world, #FashionVictim is Dexter meets The Devil Wears Prada.

Fashion editor Anya St. Clair is on the verge of greatness. Her wardrobe is to die for. Her social media is killer. And her career path is littered with the bodies of anyone who got in her way. She’s worked hard to get where she is, but she doesn’t have everything.

Not like Sarah Taft. Anya’s obsession sits one desk away. Beautiful, stylish, and rich, she was born to be a fashion world icon. From her beach-wave blonde hair to her on-trend nail art, she’s a walking editorial spread. And Anya wants to be her friend. Her best friend. Her only friend.

But when Sarah becomes her top competition for a promotion, Anya’s plan to win her friendship goes into overdrive. In order to beat Sarah…she’ll have to become her. Friendly competition may turn fatal, but as they say in fashion: One day you’re in, and the next day you’re dead.

This book promises to be part Devil Wears Prada and part American Psychos/Heathers, so you can bet that I was expecting this book to deliver – and it definitely did! The writing is entertaining and fast-paced, the unreliable narrator will keep readers on edge, and the glamour of life working on a fashion magazine will have readers dreaming of a life far beyond the stretches of their own. Anya, our main character, is such an enigma. Readers learn quickly that her life is no walk in the park. She is obsessed with her co-worker and readers are left to wonder why she behaves the way she does. Murder is happening everywhere, guys!! This book will take you no time at all to finish and will leave you wondering what Amina Akhtar will write next. 

Smiling makes people like you.

I wiped down the sink, resisting the urge to kick her before I left. Her blood was seeping out of her eye. I’ve always enjoyed the color of blood, but oddly, I can’t watch bloody shows on TV. Weird, right?

Tomorrow would be a new day. I didn’t ask what horror it would bring. But I knew something bad was going to happen. I said a prayer to the fashion gods and went to sleep.

I mean the tagline of this book is “Bitches gets stitches.” What more do you need me to say? Do I think this book is going to win a whole bunch of rewards? No. But am I glad that I spent one long afternoon reading and following along with this crazy, tumultuous, fashion idolized world? Heck yes! This is the perfect afternoon read and would be perfect for someone who is trying to get over a book hangover; I guarantee it will do the trick.

***A free copy of this book was provided to me by the publishers at Crooked Lane Books in exchange for my honest review***

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Book Review: WorkParty

Author: Jaclyn Johnson

Publication Date: August 21, 2018 

Publisher: Gallery Books

First, we leaned in. Now we stand up.

Jaclyn Johnson—the founder and CEO behind Create & Cultivate, the fastest growing online platform and conference for millennial women in business— offers a rallying cry for a new generation of women who are redefining the meaning of work on their own terms: WorkParty. Women who want it all and more, and guess what? They can have it.

Jaclyn suffered a massive blow in her early twenties. She was on an upward career climb and confidently moved across the country for a job—and then, was abruptly let go. Attempting to turn that closed door into an open window, she launched a company with a trusted business partner. Soon after, she discovered said business partner had made detrimental decisions to the company without her knowledge. Before she knew it, she was in the throes of a brutal business partner break up. She was only twenty-four.

Determined to bounce back, Jaclyn overhauled the mess that was her life and by the time she was in her early thirties, she had sold a company and launched the much-buzzed about Create & Cultivate platform—and advised and invested in multiple million-dollar projects at the same time. So, how did she do it?

In WorkParty, Jaclyn shows how she turned distrust into determination, frustration into fuel, and heartache into hard work—and how you can, too. 

With stories from leading female entrepreneurs including Christene Barberich (co-founder of Refinery29), Alli Webb, (creator of Drybar), Morgan Debaun (founder of Blavity), Jen Gotch of Ban.do, Rebecca Minkoff, and Kendra Scott, you will learn the tips and tricks from the best in the business while cultivating the passion and happiness you need to succeed. By embracing failure and reconciling your femininity with being a boss, you’ll join the movement that is WorkParty—and have fun along the way.

Jaclyn Johnson’s WorkPartywas such a thrill to read. For any women that want to learn how to balance their career with their social life, or how to deal with failure in the workplace, or even how to negotiate better pay – this will be a perfect read for you. This book is filled with tons of interesting illustrations that coordinate with Johnson’s commentary on women in the workplace. There are also tons of “pause” sections throughout the book, where Johnson takes a moment to pose thought-provoking discussion questions or share interesting, relevant facts and encouraging thoughts. Her writing is so simplistic, yet really causes you to pause and think about your position and career. A five out of five stars from me!

Hard work = the American Dream.

Look, truthfully, I love working hard. I had always identified as the girl who is crushing it career-wise, never the girl for whom it came easy – that’s for damn sure. In fact, I remember a male colleague once telling me, “You’re pretty, but not so pretty that other women will hate you.” I made a confused face, and he followed up with, “No, no, that’s a compliment and will get you far! You’re not a threat!” Ugh, great! But now what? I – the striver, the try-hard, the career-woman – was in a city where I knew no one, had left behind connections, friends, and a promising career path to come kill it on the West Coast and then got laid off? Self. Identity. Screwed.

The support from these women gave way to my biggest lightbulb idea and a business that would shape the next big chapter of my life. The idea that collaboration with women is stronger than competition with them is the nugget of gold that launched Create & Cultivate.

Work hard, stay in the game, and trust that you’re laying the foundation for your own future luck.

***A free copy of this book was provided to me by the publishers at Gallery Books in exchange for my honest review***

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Book Spotlight: Dream Design Live

Author: Paloma Contreras

Publication Date: September 4, 2018 

Publisher: Abrams

In Dream Design Live, decorator Paloma Contreras goes beyond interior design to show readers how to inhabit their homes in fulfilling and beautiful ways. Divided into three sections, this hardworking book proves that the most appealing interiors are also the most personal ones. Contreras takes readers through the design process and encourages them to seek inspiration from the approach that works best for them. From thinking creatively to improve both your home and your life, to showing you how to turn your dreams into realities, the author reveals how you can take the welcoming space you’ve just created and spend meaningful time there pursuing the activities you love. With stunning photography and accessible-yet-elegant tips, Dream Design Live fuses interior decorating advice with lifestyle recommendations and demonstrates how living a happy and satisfying life starts at home.

Paloma Contreras shares her love of foreign cultures and her inspiration of traveling as the starting point for her career in interior design. This beautiful book is broken into 3 different parts: Dream, Design, and Live. Contreras takes readers on the journey of design and causes readers to ask themselves about their signature style. The images are colorful, vibrant, and completely replicable. Almost all images are accompanied by tips and tricks that will make decorating as easy as flipping the pages of this illustrious book! I am so happy to be able to share this with you all on my blog. Check out some images from the book below.

It was my first trip to Europe. Italy enchanted me – the architecture, the language, the food, the history, the art, the people – and I felt excited and energized. I wanted to hang on to that feeling for as long as possible. It was time to design the life that I wanted to live – the life that felt true to who I am at my core.

During my time in the design industry, I’ve come to realize that la dolce vita starts at home because that’s where we are our truest selves. Our homes can help us live the lives we want and can be tools for living. They can provide an environment where we can retreat from the rest of the world and set the stage for the type of life we want to live. 

Every design project begins with inspiration. When starting a new project, my jumping off point can be anything from a beautiful fabric to the colors in a piece of art to the vibe of a favorite clothing store. Inspiration is literally everywhere; it surrounds us at every hour of every day, and it has the potential to be both amazing and completely overwhelming.

Check out the beautiful images in this book!

Contreras provides these style guides throughout the entire book.

She includes snippets from her actual designs!

The images are bright, cheery, and offer a look into a cozy, inspired life!

***A free copy of this book was provided to me by the publishers at Abrams in exchange for my honest review***

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Book Review: The Air You Breathe

Author: Frances De Pontes Peebles

Publication Date: August 21, 2018

Publisher: Riverhead Books

"Echoes of Elena Ferrante resound in this sumptuous saga."--O, The Oprah Magazine

"Enveloping...Peebles understands the shifting currents of female friendship, and she writes so vividly about samba that you close the book certain its heroine's voices must exist beyond the page." -People

The story of an intense female friendship fueled by affection, envy and pride--and each woman's fear that she would be nothing without the other.

Some friendships, like romance, have the feeling of fate.

Skinny, nine-year-old orphaned Dores is working in the kitchen of a sugar plantation in 1930s Brazil when in walks a girl who changes everything. Graça, the spoiled daughter of a wealthy sugar baron, is clever, well fed, pretty, and thrillingly ill behaved. Born to wildly different worlds, Dores and Graça quickly bond over shared mischief, and then, on a deeper level, over music. 

One has a voice like a songbird; the other feels melodies in her soul and composes lyrics to match. Music will become their shared passion, the source of their partnership and their rivalry, and for each, the only way out of the life to which each was born. But only one of the two is destined to be a star. Their intimate, volatile bond will determine each of their fortunes--and haunt their memories.

Traveling from Brazil's inland sugar plantations to the rowdy streets of Rio de Janeiro's famous Lapa neighborhood, from Los Angeles during the Golden Age of Hollywood back to the irresistible drumbeat of home, The Air You Breathe unfurls a moving portrait of a lifelong friendship--its unparalleled rewards and lasting losses--and considers what we owe to the relationships that shape our lives.

One of my favorite genres to read is historical fiction; I often say that I was meant for another time and place. This book took me to 1930’s Brazil on a sugar plantation where our main character, Dores, grew up. The Air You Breatheexplores the fractious relationship between Graça, a Brazilian samba singer, and her childhood friend Dores. The culture of Brazil and the bountiful theme of female friendship were my absolute favorite parts about the writing of this novel. These women suffer jealously, love, and loss together. This was such a refreshing take on what, just ten years ago, would have been just another “love story”. I am so glad that authors are moving from the cliché romance stories of days past and are focusing on the theme of female friendships in all their fierceness and glory. Don’t get me wrong, this is not about a perfect relationship. Like all friendships, these women have their downfalls, but reading and following them as they navigate life together is the most beautiful part of the journey that is this novel.

But life isn’t as orderly as a story or a song; it does not always begin and end at compelling points.

I survived my own birth, a true feat in 1920 if you were born to a dirt-poor mother living on a sugar plantation. The midwife who delivered me told everyone how surprised she was that such a hearty girl could’ve come from my mother’s tired womb. I was her fifth and final child. Most women who worked on the plantation had ten or twelve or even eighteen children, so my mother’s womb was fresher and younger than most. But she was not married and never had been. All of my long-lost brothers and myself – I was the only girl in our lot – had different fathers. This made my mother worse than a puta in my people’s minds, because at least a puta had the sense to charge for her services.

Beyond that kitchen and those cane fields was world of possibilities that I couldn’t fathom, but wanted to. I was awed by the avarice of that cane fire. It was beautiful in its constant need, in its unbridled hunger. I watched it burn, its heat pounding against my skin, and knew that we were alike, that fire and me. We wanted more than we’d been given, and we always would.

Some reviews might say this story is slow, and to some readers, there might be parts that seem slower than others. However, I am an avid lover of historical fiction. If you, too, like me, love a great historical fiction novel, then you are sure to love this gem. It is rich and fabulous in its unraveling; I will be sure to pick up more by Frances De Pontes Peebles.

***I was provided a free copy of this book by Riverhead Books in exchange for my honest review***

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Book Review: Tailspin

Author: Sandra Brown

Publication Date: August 7, 2018

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Don't miss the spine tingling suspense and tantalizing romance in this thriller about a daring pilot caught in a race against time from #1 New York Times bestselling author Sandra Brown.

Rye Mallett, a fearless "freight dog" pilot charged with flying cargo to far-flung locations, is often rough-spoken and all business, but soft on regulations when they get in the way of meeting a deadline. But he does have a rock-solid reputation: he will fly in the foulest weather, day or night, and deliver the goods safely to their destination. So when Rye is asked to fly into a completely fogbound northern Georgia town and deliver a mysterious black box to a Dr. Lambert, he doesn't ask questions.

As Rye's plane nears the isolated landing strip, more trouble than inclement weather awaits him. He is greeted first by a sabotage attempt on his plane that causes him to crash land, and then by Dr. Brynn O'Neal, who claims she was sent for the box in Dr. Lambert's stead. Despite Rye's "no-involvement" policy when it comes to other people's problems, he finds himself irresistibly drawn to the intrigue surrounding his cargo . . . and to the mysterious and alluring Brynn.

Soon Rye and Brynn are in a treacherous forty-eight-hour race to deliver the box before time runs out. With everyone from law enforcement officials to hired thugs hot on their heels, they must learn to trust each other so they can protect their valuable cargo from those who would kill for it.

I fell in love with Sandra Brown’s writing many years ago. She has the ability to write both excellent characters and a gripping plot line. I was thrilled to be able to read her newest book, Tailspin, and I must say that it did not disappoint. Brown drops readers right into the action by opening up with a storm and a pilot who likes a challenge. Our main characters, Rye and Brynn, both have interesting back stories and the twists that happen to both of them throughout the entire novel. 

This type of action-packed novel is not usually my “go-to” novel, but this thriller involving a dying girl, a crooked senator, thugs, ambitious wife and doctor, this novel runs the spectrum of human emotion, tenacity, and love was just what I needed. I completed the 400 plus pages in no time at all. I wish Sandra Brown were putting out novels as quickly as she used to, but in the mean time I will revel in her latest release, as you should too!

“Dr. Lambert? I expected a man.” “Well, surprise.” Then she kneed him in the balls.

Timmy giggled. “ ‘Wait and see’ means I might get to kill somebody after all.”

Brynn had survived her childhood, which in itself was a miracle. Even more miraculous was that she hadn’t been too badly scarred by it. While other people encountered stumbling blocks in the course of their lives, her impediments had been comparable to mountain ranges.

If you love witty characters and revel in character interactions, then this novel will be one you will adore. It was fast-paced, if a bit predictable, and left me wanting and wishing for more from Sandra Brown. You will not want to put this book down!

***A free copy of this book was provided to me by the publishers at Grand Central Publishing in exchange for my honest review***

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