WHAT I READ – APRIL 2018

April was a busy book month for me! I was finally able to get back into the swing of reading again, after a few months of barely finding time! So sad!! Reading is an escape and part of my self-care routine, so when I can’t find time to read, I can start getting bummed out. But I changed my tune for April and found/made time to read again.

ONE. The Optimist’s Guide to Letting Go by Amy E. Reichert
**I received a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy of this book from the publisher for review. All opinions are 100% my own.**
Goodreads.com Synopsis:
1. Get through to your daughter. 2. Buy more cheese. 3. Don’t forget to call your mother.

Grilled G’s Gourmet Food Truck is where chef, owner, obsessive list-maker, and recent widow Gina Zoberski finds the order and comfort she needs to struggle through each day, especially when confronted with her critical mother Lorraine and sullen daughter May.

Image-conscious Lorraine always knows best and expects her family to live up to her high expectations, no matter what. May just wants to be left alone to mourn her father in her own way. Gina always aims to please, but finds that her relentlessly sunny disposition annoys both her mother and her daughter, no matter how hard she tries.

But when Lorraine suffers a sudden stroke, Gina stumbles upon a family secret Lorraine’s kept hidden for forty years. In the face of her mother’s failing health and her daughter’s rebellion, this optimist might find that piecing together the truth is the push she needs to let go…

My Review: 5 out of 5 stars
Such a beautiful story told by one of my favorites. I had literal tears at the end. This story touched really close to home for me having lost both my mom and brother by the time I was 30. The grieving process is such an interesting occurrence. It’s not the same for everyone. And can hit you when you least expect it to.

Other books from Amy E. Reichert that I have absolutely loved: The Coincidence of Coconut Cake and The Simplicity of Cider

TWO. The High Tide Club by Mary Kay Andrews
**I received a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy of this book from the publisher for review. All opinions are 100% my own.**
Goodreads.com Synopsis:
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Weekenders comes a delightful new novel about new love, old secrets, and the kind of friendship that transcends generations.

When ninety-nine-year-old heiress Josephine Bettendorf Warrick summons Brooke Trappnell to Talisa Island, her 20,000 acre remote barrier island home, Brooke is puzzled. Everybody in the South has heard about the eccentric millionaire mistress of Talisa, but Brooke has never met her. Josephine’s cryptic note says she wants to discuss an important legal matter with Brooke, who is an attorney, but Brooke knows that Mrs. Warrick has long been a client of a prestigious Atlanta law firm.

Over a few meetings, the ailing Josephine spins a tale of old friendships, secrets, betrayal and a long-unsolved murder. She tells Brooke she is hiring her for two reasons: to protect her island and legacy from those who would despoil her land, and secondly, to help her make amends with the heirs of the long dead women who were her closest friends, the girls of The High Tide Club—so named because of their youthful skinny dipping escapades—Millie, Ruth and Varina. When Josephine dies with her secrets intact, Brooke is charged with contacting Josephine’s friends’ descendants and bringing them together on Talisa for a reunion of women who’ve actually never met.

The High Tide Club is Mary Kay Andrews at her Queen of the Beach Reads best, a compelling and witty tale of romance thwarted, friendships renewed, justice delivered, and true love found.

My Review: 5 out of 5 stars
Ohhh this was a good story. Full of drama, mystery, murder and a beautiful story woven through. Classic Mary Kay Andrews! I kept feeling like I had read this already before in my dreams or something as it was coming to life for me. That’s how Mary Kay sucks you in. You truly get to know her characters and they feel like friends you’d have in real life.

Other books from Mary Kay Andrews that I have absolutely loved: The Fixer Upper and The Weekenders

THREE. Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult
**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review. All opinions are 100% my own.**
Goodreads.com Synopsis:
Ruth Jefferson is a labor and delivery nurse at a Connecticut hospital with more than twenty years’ experience. During her shift, Ruth begins a routine checkup on a newborn, only to be told a few minutes later that she’s been reassigned to another patient. The parents are white supremacists and don’t want Ruth, who is African American, to touch their child. The hospital complies with their request, but the next day, the baby goes into cardiac distress while Ruth is alone in the nursery. Does she obey orders or does she intervene?

Ruth hesitates before performing CPR and, as a result, is charged with a serious crime. Kennedy McQuarrie, a white public defender, takes her case but gives unexpected advice: Kennedy insists that mentioning race in the courtroom is not a winning strategy. Conflicted by Kennedy’s counsel, Ruth tries to keep life as normal as possible for her family—especially her teenage son—as the case becomes a media sensation. As the trial moves forward, Ruth and Kennedy must gain each other’s trust, and come to see that what they’ve been taught their whole lives about others—and themselves—might be wrong.

With incredible empathy, intelligence, and candor, Jodi Picoult tackles race, privilege, prejudice, justice, and compassion—and doesn’t offer easy answers. Small Great Things is a remarkable achievement from a writer at the top of her game.

My Review: 5 out of 5 stars
It’s hard to put into words my actual thoughts on this story. It was beautiful and it had so much depth to it regarding a subject that so many people aren’t willing to talk about.

Other books from Jodi Picoult that I have absolutely loved: The Storyteller and My Sister’s Keeper

FOUR. Cold Feet, Hot Summer by Emma St. Clair
**I received a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy of this book from the author for review. All opinions are 100% my own.**
Goodreads.com Synopsis:
What happens when you pair a case of cold feet with an old flame?
Natalie is just weeks away from her summer wedding to her longtime love, but the stress of planning the perfect day has her feeling more anxiety than anticipation. When a freak accident brings old flame Jeremy right back into the middle of her life, Natalie is forced to confront her true feelings.

Does she have cold feet or is she about to marry the wrong man?

Snag a copy and find out if Natalie walks down the aisle or walks away from everything she planned in life!

My Review: 5 out of 5 stars
I thoroughly enjoyed Cold Feet, Hot Summer. It was a well written story with characters that had depth to them. I could feel their struggles and their victories and just wanted to be the sideline cheerleader and cheer – do not give up! ha! Looking forward to more books from Emma St. Clair! She’s got a knack for story telling!!

FIVE. How to Style Your Brand by Fiona Humberstone
Goodreads.com Synopsis:
The right brand identity has the power to attract, engage and compel people to do business with you. But for many entrepreneurs, creating an effective brand can be a challenge.

Whether you’re a start-up on a lemonade budget, or a seasoned entrepreneur planning on working with a professional, an understanding of the process is essential.

In this comprehensive workbook, Fiona Humberstone will walk you through the process of styling your brand. From finding your focus, creating an inspirational vision and unlocking the power of colour psychology; Fiona will help you understand the design details that will make your business irresistible. How to Style Your Brand will ensure you get your branding right, first time.

In How to Style Your Brand, Fiona shares with you the secrets behind using colour to create an emotive connection; how to use pattern and illustrations to add character and personality and how to carefully select typefaces that add a distinctive and intentional edge to your designs. We’ll examine how to pull all of these elements together to create a remarkable and cohesive design that you can be proud of. I’ll encourage you to think big about your business so that you develop the focus and vision to brief a designer with confidence, or feel able to create your own identity. Once you understand the principles behind styling a brand, there is no reason why you can t create something extraordinary for your business.

Drawing on her experience from developing hundreds of brand identities for companies worldwide, Fiona’s tried and tested framework will give you the clarity, confidence and creative know-how to create a brand identity that wins you work.

Packed with more than 60 inspirational examples of some of the best brand identities for small businesses worldwide, How to Style Your Brand is more than a business book.

My Review: 5 out of 5 stars
This is such a great book for Boss Girl’s interested in the art of styling their brand — from fonts to colour and so much more — and how to use it all to attract your ideal customer (or what I call your “blue person”).

SIX. Brand Brilliance by Fiona Humberstone
Amazon.com Synopsis:
As a modern entrepreneur you need an incisive vision; for both what your brand stands for and where it s headed. You need to communicate in a way that always enchants your audience and you need to retain that focus in an increasingly noisy world.

In Brand Brilliance, bestselling author and branding expert Fiona Humberstone will take you on a comprehensive journey. She will help you to define your dream clients, refine your message and up your marketing game. This book will bring substance and clarity to your brand, bring into focus the things that really matter and enable you to communicate with flair and intention. All in her trademark inspirational, practical and easy-to-implement style.

Expect to feel empowered, inspired and energised! Branding your business well is more important today than it s ever been. And it’s about more than visuals. It’s about having a strong message, a clear vision and owning your style. It’s about knowing your worth, celebrating your magic and creating a destination brand.

It’s about making your business the only logical choice for your ideal clients. Cutting through the noise, captivating your clients and retaining this focus can feel overwhelming. Because as a modern entrepreneur as well as the actual, you know, running of your business, you have a few other vital roles to fulfil. You need to be Creative Director, Art Director, Stylist, Photographer, Designer, Head of Product Development and Social Media Manager all rolled in to one. And that s just the marketing… Packed with insider know-how, tried and tested processes and inspirational examples from more than 50 businesses, Brand Brilliance will help you enchant your audience and streamline everything you do. It will reignite your vision, focus your energy and take your brand to a whole new level.

My Review: 5 out of 5 stars
Another great read for Boss Girl’s interested in truly making their brand stand out!

SHOP MY APRIL READS + MY OTHER BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS BY SOME OF THESE AUTHORS!