The Little Bookshop on the Seine (The Little Paris Collection #1) by Rebecca Raisin ~ Book Review

Book Description: 

Le Vie En Rose

Bookshop owner Sarah Smith has been offered the opportunity to exchange bookshops with her new Parisian friend for 6 months! And saying yes is a no-brainer – after all, what kind of a romantic would turn down a trip to Paris? Even if it does mean leaving the irresistible Ridge Warner behind, Sarah’s sure she’s in for the holiday of a lifetime – complete with all the books she can read!

Picturing days wandering around Shakespeare & Co, munching on croissants, sipping café au laits and people-watching on the Champs-Elysees Sarah boards the plane. But will her dream of a Parisian Happily-Ever-After come true? Or will Sarah realise that the dream isn’t quite as rosy in reality…

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Author's Goodreads.

Review: 


I was really excited to read this book. What more can a bookworm ask for - a bookshop in Paris and a romance? but this one fell short for me. The plot was exciting and fun but obviously non realistic which is totally fine when all I wanted was a Paris fairy-tale romance. A bookshop switch between two owners - one in Paris and one in America. Sarah a small town girl with a quiet bookshop thrown into a chaotic busy bookshop in Paris. I found the romance between Sarah and Ridge to be lacking and aggravating, Sarah waiting and pining for a guy too busy chasing his news stories.  Bring in a mysterious writer and I thought it was going to move in another direction. I do really think this series has promise and I would likely read the other books. It could have been a lot shorter as I felt it did drag on a bit and then the end seemed to be told not shown and rushed to finish up. 

Overall? I give this a 3 stars out of 5. I am interested in seeing what the other characters are like in the other novels. 

~*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and thoughts are my own. *~

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The Athlete's Guide to CBD by Scott Douglas ~ Book Review

Book Description: 

"Whether you're a professional who's looking for a way to manage the rigors of a long season, a weekend warrior trying to best his neighborhood peers, or simply a health-conscious individual looking to find the right balance in your life, understanding the function and benefits of CBD can be eye-opening." --Tiki Barber

The wellness world is buzzing about CBD, the natural pain reliever that reduces inflammation, speeds up recovery, helps with anxiety, and improves sleep. These qualities make CBD a "holy grail" product for athletes and active people, but there's still a lot of confusion around the product. With oils, capsules, powders, and balms on the market, what method should you use for the results you want to see? Where should you buy it, and what should you look for when purchasing it?

In this comprehensive guide, veteran sports author Scott Douglas breaks down the many ways athletes can benefit from using CBD products, and answers all the questions that the "CBD-curious" might have. With input from leading industry analysts and testimonials from athletes of all levels, The Athlete's Guide to CBD gives you everything you need to know to determine if and how CBD can work for you.

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About the Author: 

Scott Douglas is a contributing writer for Runner's World and the author or coauthor of several books, including Running Is My Therapy, The Athlete's Guide to CBD, Advanced Marathoning, and the New York Times bestsellers 26 Marathons and Meb for Mortals. Douglas lives in South Portland, Maine.

Author's Website.

Review: 

I find when I mention CBD to people they automatically think they will get high. Scott Douglas has written a great book with all the information one would need to decide if CBD would be helpful for them in their training. Douglas breaks down the difference of CBD and THC, how the CBD/THC is extracted, the different dosages, methods of administering (tincture, pill, topical etc) and which is more helpful for an athlete. Resources, studies and interviews from other athletes help a lot. I learned a lot that I didn't know about CBD, especially how our bodies (especially the endocannabinoid systems work) work & can use it CBD. 

A great resource for anyone wanting to learn more about CBD especially athletes. I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars.

~*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and thoughts are my own. *~

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Good Girls Lie by J.T Ellison ~ Book Review

Book Description: 

Goode girls don’t lie…

Perched atop a hill in the tiny town of Marchburg, Virginia, The Goode School is a prestigious prep school known as a Silent Ivy. The boarding school of choice for daughters of the rich and influential, it accepts only the best and the brightest. Its elite status, long-held traditions and honor code are ideal for preparing exceptional young women for brilliant futures at Ivy League universities and beyond. But a stranger has come to Goode, and this ivy has turned poisonous.

In a world where appearances are everything, as long as students pretend to follow the rules, no one questions the cruelties of the secret societies or the dubious behavior of the privileged young women who expect to get away with murder. But when a popular student is found dead, the truth cannot be ignored. Rumors suggest she was struggling with a secret that drove her to suicide.

But look closely…because there are truths and there are lies, and then there is everything that really happened.

J.T. Ellison’s pulse-pounding new novel examines the tenuous bonds of friendship, the power of lies and the desperate lengths people will go to to protect their secrets.

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About the Author: 

J.T. Ellison began her career as a presidential appointee in the White House, where a nuclear physicist taught her how to obsess over travel itineraries and make a seriously good pot of Earl Grey, spawning both her love of loose leaf and a desire for control of her own destiny. Jaded by the political climate in D.C., she made her way back to her first love, creative writing. More than 20 novels later, she is an award-winning New York Times and USA Today bestselling author with thrillers published in 27 countries and 15 languages. She is also the EMMY-award winning cohost of A WORD ON WORDS, a literary interview TV show. She lives in Nashville with her husband and two small gray minions, known as cats in some cultures. She thinks they’re furry aliens.

Author's Website.

Review: 

Good Girls Lie was crazy amazing. I was hooked and enjoyed every minute of this story. So much so I was sad to get to the end and not follow the characters anymore. I am still thinking about them a few days after finishing it. Suspense, teenage/college girl drama. What is happening at the all-girls school? I was actually worried at the end, would it end how I think it will?!? Definitely a psychological thriller. The author did a great job with the character building and had me hanging on to every word. This story flowed perfectly.

I give this book a 5 out of 5 and can't wait to read more from J.T Ellison.    

~*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and thoughts are my own. *~

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Herbalism at Home: 125 Recipes for Everyday by Kristine Brown ~ Book Review

Book Description: 

Natural remedies made easy—an at-home guide to herbalism

A growing number of people have turned to herbalism as an affordable, natural alternative to conventional medicine—and with a rich landscape of resources, those new to herbalism may wonder where to start. Herbalism at Home gives you the down-to-earth guidance and simple recipes you need to introduce plant-based remedies into your daily life.

Start your path with an overview of the types of herbalism remedies, like teas, tinctures, salves, creams, and poultices. Discover in-depth profiles on 40 healing plants, including their medicinal properties, health benefits, and appropriate dosage—as well as 125 recipes for common physical ailments, mental health, personal care, childhood conditions, and even aging.

Herbalism at Home includes:

Herbal pantry—Take a look at the evolution of herbalism, the tools and ingredients you’ll need, and tips on growing your own herbs.

Plan ahead—Get to know techniques, like infusion, diffusion, and syrup—each with easy-to-follow instructions and illustrations.

Everyday healing—Ease everyday ailments with step-by-step recipes for Cuts and Scrapes Salve, Laryngitis Relief Honey, Memory Support Tonic, and more.

Take healing into your own hands with Herbalism at Home, the all-in-one recipe and reference guide.

Purchase a copy on Amazon. 

About the Author: 

Kristine Brown, RH(AHG) is a practicing traditional community herbalist and mother four children and two step children, two of which she homeschooled for 11 years. She studied with Rosemary Gladstar of Sage Mountain and has spent countless hours of research and study through her own pursuit with herbalists such as jim mcdonald, Leslie Alexander, Leslie Williams, Isla Burgess, Gail Faith Edwards, and Kat Maier. She has taught classes locally since 2004, has presented at many herbal conferences around the country, has run numerous herbal kids’ camps both locally and nationally, and assists Leslie Alexander, Ph.D., RH(AHG) with the American Herbalist Guild Symposium’s Herbal Activity Hub. Kristine is president of her local AHG chapter and is very active in her local herbal community. She is the writer and illustrator of the online children’s publication Herbal Roots zine which has been in publication since 2009. Teaching others about herbs is her focus with a passion of sharing her knowledge with children as they are our future!

Review: 

This is a great resource book for anyone interested in learning basic herbs for health. It has definitely earned a spot on my health and wellness bookshelf. 

A quick breakdown of this book - first 3 chapters are on Herbalism and it's benefits, a full chapter on what one needs to get their starter pantry including a resource of common herbs to help with everyday aliments, each herb has safety considerations - uses - properties - preparations - dosages and tips. Chapter 3 is on how to prepare the herbs - teas, tincture, tonics, elixirs, slaves, creams, lotions etc. 
This is only part one of Herbalism at home.

Part two is 125 recipes for all kinds of aliments, personal care and everything in between. At the end of the book you will find a full glossary, books and websites for more information, where to purchase herbs to make the recipes in the book.  

This book is great for novice and advanced herbalist. I can't wait to try all kind of recipes especially the sun screen, bug spray and ones for allergies and pain relief. I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars, the pages are just beautifully colored along with art drawings of each herb in the herb section. 

~*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and thoughts are my own. *~

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