Happy Birthday Audrey

Everything We Give by: Kerry Lonsdale

From the author of Everything We Keep comes the final novel in the Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestselling Everything Series. Brimming with suspense, mystery, and romance, Everything We Give brings to a powerful close the gripping series of love, lies, and the secrets families keep.

Award-winning photographer Ian Collins made only one mistake in life, but it cost his mother her freedom and destroyed their family, leaving Ian to practically raise himself. For years he’s been estranged from his father, and his mother has lived off the grid. For just as long, he has searched for her.

Now, Ian seemingly has it all—national recognition for his photographs; his loving wife, Aimee; and their adoring daughter, Caty. Only two things elude him: a feature in National Geographic and finding his mother. When the prized magazine offers him his dream project on the same day that Aimee’s ex-fiancé, James, returns bearing a message for Ian but putting a strain on his marriage, Ian must make a choice: chase after a coveted assignment or reconnect with a mysterious woman who might hold the key to putting his past to rest. But the stakes are high, because Ian could lose the one thing he holds most dear: his family.

This is a series of three books and makes for the ideal summer book reads. Everyone of these books is taken from a different characters perspective. After reading the first one you will have so much anticipation for the next one. I thought they were very well written and it was a great escape to get lost in the characters and their storylines. You won't be disappointed with all the twists and turns that these books have to offer. And, the good news is that the final one just came out, so you won't have to wait to read them all.

Box of Butterflies by: Roma Downey

Roma Downey—best known as the beloved angel on the TV show Touched by an Angel—has created a beautiful book filled with encouragement and hope, assuring us of God’s comforting presence in our lives.

Ever since she was a little girl, Roma has seen butterflies as a reminder of God’s presence. They have appeared to her in moments when she needed encouragement and reminded her she is not alone. In this deeply personal book, Roma shares stories from her life, alongside quotes, poems, scripture, and artwork that she prays will uplift you as they have her. Each grace-filled chapter of this beautiful full-color book covers topics such as courage, strength, gratitude, love, and kindness.

Reminiscent of the message of her popular television series, Touched by an Angel, this book’s central theme is that there is a God, He loves you, and that even in your most difficult moments, He is by your side. That though you may feel alone, you are never truly alone. The subtle butterfly theme reminds us that the wonder of God’s love and kindness is sometimes reflected in the gentle whispers of his creation and that we all have the power to transform from simple caterpillars into exquisite butterflies.

Written in a way that encourages you to “dip in and out” of its flowing content, this inspiring book invites you to return to its pages again and again, as life brings new challenges or you find yourself in need of new inspiration.

This book is on the bestsellers list, and I can understand it completely. What a wonderful well written book full of inspiration and beautiful illustrations. I really enjoyed reading this book and taking time out of my day to reflect and be inspired by all the messages sprinkled throughout. I would highly suggest giving this book as a gift for anyone in your life. It will surely become a treasured addition to anyone's personal library. 

Happy Birthday Audrey Hepburn

Happy Birthday to the late Audrey Hepburn. She will always be remembered, for her grace and style and works in film. She contributed so much to charity, especially by being an UNICEF Ambassador.

Victoria & Abdul By: Shrabani Basu

History’s most unlikely friendship—this is the astonishing story of Queen Victoria and her dearest companion, the young Indian Munshi Abdul Karim.

In the twilight years of her reign, after the devastating deaths of hertwo great loves—Prince Albert and John Brown—Queen Victoria meets tall and handsome Abdul Karim, a humble servant from Agra waiting tables at her Golden Jubilee. The two form an unlikely bond and within a year Abdul becomes a powerful figure at court, the Queen’s teacher, her counsel on Urdu and Indian affairs, and a friend close to her heart. This marked the beginning of the most scandalous decade in Queen Victoria’s long reign. As the royal household roiled with resentment, Victoria and Abdul’s devotion grew in defiance. Drawn from secrets closely guarded for more than a century, Victoria & Abdul is an extraordinary and intimate history of the last years of the nineteenth-century English court and an unforgettable view onto the passions of an aging Queen.

This is a must read for anyone interested in Queen Victoria and her reign. She truly had an amazing life filled with so much responsibility placed on her when she was only eighteen years old. She was married to Albert who became the love of her life and had nine children together. Queen Victoria reigned for 63 years. She loved to write and she documented everything. There are so many wonderful books to explore about her. There are books just on her letters that she wrote to her love Albert. She was an excellent writer in her own right. Now the movie has just come out that ties into this book, I personally can't wait to see it.

Merry Christmas

I just love this image of Santa Claus reading, "The Birth of Jesus." Wishing you all, "A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year."

Christmas Window Display

I believe that even Audrey Hepburn would be dazzled by the holiday window at Tiffany & Company. It is amazing and so artistically done. There is not one detail that has been missed in this huge and wonderful display. All the hours of planning that were put into it, so that everyone could enjoy it during the hustle and bustle of the season. When I was a little girl my Mother & Father would pack us all into the car in our pajamas, robes, scarves, slippers, and mittens to look at all the window displays downtown. Everything was closed down except for the beautiful lite up displays in the windows that made up a magical city that unfolded in front of our very own eyes.