Cover Reveal: Becoming Madam Secretary by Stephanie Dray

I have been a big fan of Stephanie Dray for a while now! She always writes such compelling historical novels that blend fact and fiction so well. I am so excited to be part of this cover revel for her latest novel, Becoming Madam Secretary which conicals the story of Frances Perkins. While I love history, I know hardly anything about Frances Perkins so this book appeals to the history nerd in me! It’s releasing in March 2024 so make sure you pre order your copy today and check out all the details below!

New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Dray returns with a captivating and richly dramatic novel about American heroine Frances Perkins, who pulled the nation out of the Great Depression.

Raised on tales of her revolutionary ancestors, Frances Perkins arrives in New York City at the turn of the century, armed with her trusty parasol and an unyielding determination to make a difference.

When she’s not working with children in the crowded tenements in Hell’s Kitchen, Frances throws herself into the social scene in Greenwich Village, befriending an eclectic group of politicians, artists, and activists, including the millionaire socialite Mary Harriman Rumsey, the flirtatious budding author Sinclair Lewis, and the brilliant but troubled reformer Paul Wilson, with whom she falls deeply in love.

But when Frances meets a young lawyer named Franklin Delano Roosevelt at a tea dance, sparks fly in all the wrong directions. She thinks he’s a rich, arrogant dilettante who gets by on a handsome face and a famous name. He thinks she’s a priggish bluestocking and insufferable do-gooder. Neither knows it yet, but over the next twenty years, they will form a historic partnership that will carry them both to the White House.

Frances is destined to rise in a political world dominated by men, facing down the Great Depression as FDR’s most trusted lieutenant—even as she struggles to balance the demands of a public career with marriage and motherhood. And when vicious political attacks mount and personal tragedies threaten to derail her ambitions, she must decide what she’s willing to do—and what she’s willing to sacrifice—to save a nation.

Review: Twisted Love Story by Samantha Downing

Lat week I shared a special feature for Samantha Downing’s latest suspense novel, Twisted Love Story. So far I have loved Downing’s books and I had no reason to think that Twisted Love Story would be any different. Downing writes such great suspense novels that I couldn’t wait to check this one out and even though my summer reading schedule was really full, I knew I couldn’t pass on this one!

One of the things that appealed to me about this book (besides the fact that Downing was the author) is that the story sounded a little more modern and different. In My Lovely Wife, it was an interesting study in marriage and housewives but this book sounded like it would focus more on the early relationship parts of romance in a way that her other stories might differ. I think this would appeal to a different demographic of reader to some degree and might make it feel a little more ‘modern’ in the process.

I know for me, I am married and the way that I relate to marriages in books (even if they are twisted and insane) is different than someone who is not married so I think this book has the potential to appeal to readers of a different demographic. However, I think the huddled masses of readers will find al to to enjoy in this one—regardless of their season of life!

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Special Feature: A Twisted Love Story by Samantha Downing

When Samantha Downing made her debut, I knew then that she was going to be an outstanding thriller writer! I loved the book, My Lovely Wife! It was such a psychological read that I read it once when it came out and another time for my book club! I sometimes like re-reading books when they are especially good or when it’s part of a series that has a new book coming out and it’s been a while in between books—–so obviously I don’t do that often so that should be a testament to how much I enjoyed her debut novel!

Then I read her second release—I wasn’t sure if I was going to love it or not. Sometimes the second book can be a little wanting especially if the first debut novel shines bright. I was so thankful that Downing delivered on another well written mystery with her second book—which ended up being another five star review for me! Now this book is coming out and my review calendar if FULL for the month! I choose to do a feature for this one but if it’s anything like Downing’s other books—-I will be staying up late reading it in a matter of weeks once my calendar slows a bit!

If you love a solid thriller, no doubt you have heard of Downing, but if you haven’t read her books yet you absolutely need to! This latest novel promises (as the title implies!) a ‘twisted love story’! Downing DOES twisted love stories so well! I am super excited to share a bit about this book with you all today and make sure to stay tuned for a review in the next few weeks!

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4 Coffee Table Fashion Books That Deserve a Spot in Your Living Room

Coffee table books are essential in your living room. Aside from turning it into a stylish space by matching your color scheme and making the area look cozy, these books express your personality and interests. Thus, you should carefully consider what books you have on your coffee table.

Fashion books are one of the most popular options, as their content provides entertainment and insight into the industry. If you’re a fan of fashion-centric novels like The Chanel Sisters, or you simply want to curate the perfect coffee table fashion book selection for your living room, here are a few options to choose from:

The Oakley Book (2014)

Most coffee table fashion books are filled with runway photos and behind-the-scenes images of garment creation. While this isn’t a negative thing, it’s refreshing to see something different occasionally.

The Oakley Book from the famous sunglasses brand of the same name will pique your interest, especially if you’re active or athletic. You’ll enjoy flipping through the book that showcases Oakley’s eyewear, particularly its sunglasses. They have hundreds of models, some of which are the most iconic, including the Frogskins and the Eye Jacket. You’ll see the brand’s vision and the steps they took to develop their sunglasses—like using the latest technologies. Indeed, this book deserves a spot in every active person’s space.

The World Atlas of Street Fashion (2017)

Fashion from all over the world is a sight to behold. People hailing from different countries have their own unique styles, which are reflected in their daily wear.

If you’re interested in street fashion, The World Atlas of Street Fashion by Caroline Cox looks into ordinary people’s fashion sense. It features photographs of people’s modes of dressing from all continents, showcasing how their beliefs, affiliations, and values shape their choice of clothing. The book examines street style’s diversity, displaying photographs of some of the most fashionable cities in the world, including Tokyo and Seoul. This book is perfect if you appreciate people who make the city sidewalks their runway.

ICONS (2021)

Nike has dominated the shoe industry for decades. The brand rose to prominence when it partnered with former professional basketball player Michael Jordan, revolutionizing sneakers for years to come. It all started with the creation and release of the Air Jordan 1 in 1985: the most influential sneaker of all time, revolutionizing athlete endorsements and leading the brand to fame.

The book ICONS features the best designs by the late Nike creative director Virgil Abloh. Mainly, it features the design process of The Ten—a collection celebrating ten of the brand’s most iconic shoes, including the Air Jordan, Air Max 90, and Air Force 1. It contains Abloh’s deep insights regarding sneaker design, documentation of the prototypes, and the factors that influenced the project. ICONS is a must for sneakerheads who like to appreciate the evolution of sneaker design.

Wonderland (2021)

Professional portrait and celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz has captured thousands of images, including Vogue and Vanity Fair magazine covers. However, what makes her fashion photography stand out is how she makes unique choices. For a 1999 Vogue cover, for example, she cast high fashion model Kate Moss and rapper Sean Combs. It’s a bizarre combination, but she made it work.

Wonderland is a collection of Leibovitz’s most outstanding work in fashion, capturing couture apparel in different settings and eccentric concepts. This coffee table book is a need for those who are into high-fashion images that will keep you entertained for hours.

Coffee table books are a display of your personality. Make sure they reflect who you are before making them part of your living space.

Special Feature: The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies (Ill-Mannered Ladies #1) by Alison Goodman

If ever there was a cover to lust after—-this is it. I absolutely love the colors and design of this cover! Whoever designed the cover did an amazing job at catching the eye of every single Jane Austen fan in the literary realm! But besides a beautiful cover, what else does this book have to offer? Well I will tell you—-it promises strong feminists and mystery! I love a good historical mystery but even more so when it has a Regency era theme to it!

The first thing that stood out to me about this book was that it had a mature main character. Lady Augusts is 42 and a spinster, so many of the historical mysteries on the market have a heroine that is ‘young’ or ‘in their twenties’. As a 42 year old reader myself, I love seeing a heroine that I already have something in common with. Sometimes it can be hard to read about a young sleuth with little to no life experience. I think this book hold a lot of promise and I cannot wait to read it later this year.

Early readers of this book are praising the story and eager for more installments. While the colorful and cheery cover suggest a more frivolous story, many readers are saying it is far from that. I love that this story promises a realistic view of the time period and the way women were treated while still maintaining a sense of fun and adventure. I think this book is going to provide readers with a lot to digest about the time period but also enjoy by the way of characters that are unique, strong, and different. I cannot wait for the adventure of this one! Keep reading to get all the details!

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