Quarantine Reads

Happy Tuesday y’all. I know It’s a really weird time right now. I have spent my time being sad and anxious over everything happening in the world right now. I realize that the unknown is scary and some may look at this like it’s the end of the world. But guess what? You are in control of your thoughts. If you tell yourself everything is going to be okay – most likely everything is going to be okay. You and everyone else will overcome this.

A piece of advice I can give to the maybe three people that will read this post is – there is a such thing as negative bias. I have been learning about negative bias in leadership training that I have had the privilege to be a part of at my incredible job. Have you ever noticed when you’re around a group of people and there is one person who is completely negative and killing the vibe? That person has the power to bring everyone else down just by his or her thoughts and actions. You’ll notice that the vibe of the entire group/team will quickly decline. Well- that’s exactly what has happened on my Facebook timeline in the past two weeks. I have found that if I stay off of Facebook and keep my nose in a good book- life is good.

Quarantine can have positives if you look at it like a positive thing. Struggling with staying busy? Obviously I’m going to tell you to read a book. However, you could vacuum under your bed (when is the last time you did that? LOL), research (and try) cocktail recipes using the liquor you have in your cabinet, go through your clothes and get rid of the things you haven’t worn in a year, go for a walk, pull weeds, make a 1 year, 5 year, and even 10 year goal list, look up a 20-minute workout, learn how to meditate, youtube beginners yoga, and practice positive thinking. Because honestly- what is complaining going to do?

I just hope everyone can pull together and remain positive. We may not have anything to do, we may not have any toilet paper, and we definitely do not have money coming in but do you know what we do have? Everyone has kindness and guess what? It’s free.

Now that I’m done with my soapbox- wash ya hands and pick up (or order) one of these books!!!

The Turn of The Key by Ruth Ware

Rowan Caine is looking for a completely new opportunity when she stumbles across an ad for a live-in nanny position at an incredibly beautiful estate in the Scottish Highlands. Could it be too good to be true? Definitely. This book is written in Rowans point of view from prison as she has been accused of murdering one of the children in the Heatherbrae House. Rowan is not an innocent girl by any means but she definitely did not murder anyone.

This book is an edge-of-your-seat suspense. It got downright creepy at some points. I loved every minute of it and definitely recommend it if you are a thriller fan.

I found out about this book through Book of the Month Club.

The Wives by Tarryn Fisher

Oh boy- where do I start with this one. It started juicy and then it made me angry, and then it had me thinking I had the plot figured out, and then the author slapped me in the face. (Just kidding! I’m sure she’s a nice lady.) This book was full of so many plot twists!

Thursday is telling the story in this book. Thursday has a husband, Seth, who has two other wives. She knows about them but she doesn’t know their names or even where they live. She agreed to this crazy arrangement because she is head over heels for Seth until one day- she finds out about one of the wives. Things aren’t what they seem and her sweet, gentle husband isn’t who she thought he was. You have to follow this twisted story to uncover the truth.

I received this book through Book of the Month Club.

Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

I am a total sucker for books that take place in the UK. And this is a romantic comedy, adorable, and easy read that takes place in the UK. (So it’s awesome, okay?)

Chloe Brown is chronically ill with fibromyalgia but she is not going to let that her stop her from checking off items from her list:

• Enjoy a drunken night out. • Ride a motorcycle. • Go camping. • Have meaningless but thoroughly enjoyable sex. • Travel the world with nothing but hand luggage. • And... do something bad.

She meets a man named Red who is opposite from Chloe in every way yet he is the perfect man to help her cross off all her tasks on her list. She ends up learning more about Red then she intends and then finds herself wondering if the list even matters anymore… You’ll have to read it to find out what happens!

I found out about this book through Book of the Month Club.

My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing

Domestic thrillers are my jam so you best’ believe I tore through this book. The plot twists were crazy and had me asking so many questions when I was finished. I actually was a part of an Instagram book discussion after reading this one and sooo many people had questions after reading! This author is cunning and I am here for it.

This couple’s fifteen-year marriage is kept alive by planning and committing murders to young women. No one suspects a thing- they are members of an elite country club, they have two children, they’re friendly neighbors, and both have successful careers. What happens when it all comes crashing down?

(I hear this one is going to be a movie with Nicole Kidman)

Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center

When I tell you I couldn’t put this book down – I mean it. The main character of this story – Cassie Hanwell was so relatable. Cassie doesn’t “do” love. She eats, sleeps, and breathes her career as a firefighter and she’s damn good at it. On the very same evening she is to receive a prestigious award for her bravery- everything she has worked for comes crashing down. She is suddenly faced with a choice to give up everything she has worked for and move in with her estranged mother across the country. She has to start fresh at an entirely new fire department where she is the only female they have ever had. She feels she has no one on her side except for the rookie, the new guy they just hired. Will Cassie continue to refuse love or break down those walls she built for so many years?

This book was incredibly heartwarming and I can’t recommend it enough!

Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes

Evvie Drake is reeling from the death of her husband who was her high school sweetheart. She has been staying to herself and only venturing out for breakfast with her best friend Andy. What Andy doesn’t know is that Evvies’ late husband, Tim, was emotionally abusive and Evvie was planning to leave him on the night of his unexpected death. Andy suggests that Evvie rent out her apartment attached to her house to his friend Dean. Dean is a major league baseball player labeled as a “headcase” due to his sudden inability to pitch. Evvie and Dean make an arrangement- he won’t ask about her late husband and she won’t ask about baseball. These two form a bond and find it hard to stick to their own rules.

This book was so good! I found out about it through Jenna Hager’s Book Club.

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

Libby Jones has been waiting for twenty-five years to find out about the truth of her birth parents. She finally has her answer when she inherits an over three million dollar mansion owned by her birth parents on 16 Cheyne Walk in England. There are mysterious stories about a murder-suicide in the house where she was left as a ten-month-old baby. She embarks on a risky journey with a handsome journalist who has been following the story to find the truth about the house and the three entangled families that lived there until its bitter end.

This book was seriously bone chilling. I could not stop turning the pages. I found out about this book through Book of the Month Club.

If you are interested in Book of the Month Club please message me through this website, Facebook, Instagram, or visit their website for more information. It is the best for receiving books months before they are released to the public, reading from new authors, and also reading from genres that you might not usually go for! I have a referral code for a $5 book if you are interested in trying it out!

I encourage everyone during this time to shop local for books if you are able. If you are local to Hampton Roads:

I recommend ordering books through: Prince Books, Norfolk VA.

https://www.prince-books.com/

ReadBooksVB, Virginia Beach https://www.readvb.com/

If you are local to the Eastern Shore of Virginia please consider shopping from one of my favorite bookstores: The Book Bin Onley, VA

https://bookshop.org/shop/bookbinva