Victoria Schwab is a unique writer for me; I love about half of her books and strongly dislike the other half. I can’t think of another author I feel that way about. Anyway, I think that’s why I had Vicious for so long before reading it. Which is too bad because it is a great book! Two college students, Victor and Eli, discover that there is a pattern for those who have developed supernatural abilities: they had a near death…
Anyone who has known me for any length of time knows that Whole 30 is not something I would normally do. I love food and I want to eat what I what, when I want it. Regardless, Whole 30 has been something that has been on my mind for a few years to do as a reset and a way to take a step back from the way I’ve been eating for so many years. I know my body hasn’t…
Bonjour Mercredi! The month of July saw me focusing almost entirely on Whole 30. We’ll be done with the food reintroductions tomorrow and I’m not sure what I’ll do with myself. I have a recap post coming soon so check for that if it’s something you’re interested in hearing about. BookAntoine Laurain’s newest US release, Smoking Kills, is out! I haven’t read it YET but it’s first up after I read a few advanced copies that have been piling up….
Goodbye, Paris is… dare I say it? A perfectly written book*. The story dips between past and present like the natural tides of a book should. During moments of profound loss the author uses beautiful and raw words to slide a knife into the reader and turn, just so. She takes us from utter happiness to complete loss, and there and back again, as the book goes on. It felt like everything that happened to Grace was happening to me…
Late one night, midway through Whole 30, I was hungry and poking around the kitchen. I didn’t have a ton of food in the house but I was able to hodge-podge together a tuna salad that my husband has since requested I make again. Then ate the whole batch in one sitting for dinner. Mix together one can of tuna, 2 chopped hard boiled eggs, 1/4 cup kraut (I used the Emerald City Flavor), 3 slices chopped bacon, about two…
Ageless Beauty the French Way is not just another French lifestyle book. While I thoroughly enjoy most of those books out there, this one gives me what I actually want: How to care for myself the way the French do in an accessible way to me. After introducing all of these wonderful skin, hair, and body care tips, von Mueffling shares with you places she recommends (mostly in NYC) and in most cases gives suggestions on how to care for…
A Tale of Two Murders is a historical fiction mystery that follows a fictional Charles Dickens as a journalist in his early twenties. After being present when a young girl falls ill and ultimately dies, he starts investigating and discovers that another girl died the same way exactly one year before. He is determined to solve these murders and he has the help of his crush, Miss Hogarth, his brother, and a several others he meets along the way. As…
I am currently 9 days into Whole30 so I won’t be celebrating this 14 Juillet like I usually do- at a restaurant with other Francophiles, French food, and wine. Even though I’m mostly staying home for the day, I thought I’d share what I’ll be up to and a few other ideas for those of you who don’t want to or can’t go to a Bastille Day fest. Most of these are free and can be done in the comfort…
This book is about a really dumb girl who makes terrible choices that cause really bad things to happen. It’s a shame because aside from the main character, this is a fantastic story. Well, mostly. The world and other characters are interesting but Heloise… Heloise! There is nothing good about you. The choices she makes are so bad that if this were not a book there isn’t a chance that she would have lived to age 16. All throughout the…
I read The Paris Wife earlier this year for a book club and really enjoyed it, so when I found out the same author was writing another book about another one of Hemingway’s four wives I knew I had to read it. In addition to learning about Martha Gelhorn’s life and her relationship with Ernest Hemingway in Love and Ruin, I love that the reader also learns so much about history and the way of life at that time. Marty…