Category: book review

November 5, 2019

How To Travel With Kids (Without Losing Your Mind): Real World Tips and Practical Solutions for Traveling with Children

Do you feel that you have to suppress your sense of wanderlust now that you’re a parent? It is time to think again!

About How To Travel With Kids (Without Losing Your Mind)

In How to Travel With Kids (Without Losing Your Mind), passionate world travelers and parents Natasha Sandhir and AJ Ratani share their travel philosophy, Be F.L.E.X.I.B.L.E. which turns conventional thinking on its head and presents parents with real-world solutions to the most common kid-related travel concerns.

After spending several years climbing the corporate ladder, Natasha and AJ decided to pursue their dreams of traveling the world and embarked on the adventure of a lifetime with their almost two-year-old son. They have traveled to 44 countries, taken 79 flights, and visited 115 unique destinations as a family. Along the way, they have discovered innovative tips and tricks that make traveling with kids no only doable, but enjoyable!

In this book you will discover:

Why you shouldn’t wait until your children are older to travel.
8 potty secrets that will save your trip.
AJ and Natasha’s Exclusive Plane Seat Hacking Strategy, designed to give you extra space on a plane for FREE!
5 steps to handle travel tantrums LIKE A BOSS.
Their top 12 tips to making any flight fuss-free.
Guidelines for choosing kid-friendly accommodations.
The Mary Poppins Packing Method.
How to help your child sleep anywhere and instantly adjust to a new schedule.
9 things you wouldn’t believe that you could do with your kids while traveling.
How to travel stress-free and happy with 1, 2, or even 3 kids (special guest chapter!).
And so much more!

Complete with comprehensive packing lists, suggested travel destinations for every occasion, and anecdotes from AJ and Natasha’s travels, How to Travel With Kids (Without Losing Your Mind) will leave you feeling empowered, inspired and excited to indulge your love of travel and make memories with your loved ones that will last forever.

My Thoughts

One of the scariest things you can mentally prepare for as a parent? Travel. When you think of the unpredictability, the unknown, the change of routine and everything in between – it can be terrifying!

AJ and Natasha have done an amazing job in this book to break down those mental barriers that we as parents have when it comes to thoughts around travel. They make you realize that travel is possible and it is very important to raising well rounded children. They help you open up the doors to the possible and make you comfortable with the unknown. For me personally, loss of control has always been my worst fear – I like to feel that I am in control at all times and travel sometimes stops you from having this control. This book helped me re-frame this way of thinking to be equip me for travel with my kids (which is one of the most rewarding experiences you can do together as a family unit).

This book follows their own principle of Be F.L.E.X.I.B.L.E – one of the most important lessons and skills that we can learn as parents. Each letter is broken down into helpful, real world advice. I appreciated this the most as a parent – I did not feel like I was being lectured or made to feel bad. Instead, it was a conversation with a fantastic friend giving the best possible solutions to a non-perfect situation.

Kids can make any situations impossible to completely plan for (tantrums, illness, diaper disasters) but AJ and Natasha are there to help you. They share their own mistakes and the how and why their solutions work. I loved their solutions for flying on airplanes (which to be honest I wish I had seen before we travel to South Africa three years ago!). There are so many practical tips that you can implement when traveling.

This book covers all types of traveling – from air to train to bus to car to cruise. You can apply their tips to short and long travel itineraries, the possibilities really are endless. This is a well written, fun and personal book that parents of children all ages will love. It will help you reclaim that sense of adventure, stashing away your fear of travel.

You can purchase a copy of this book here and on Amazon.

Rating: 5/5

About the Authors

The world can be your oyster—even if you have kids! And we should know because we have firsthand knowledge of traveling it, all while keeping our toddler close at hand. We are so happy that you have taken the time to visit our blog—so let us take a moment to introduce ourselves to you.

We are AJ Ratani and Natasha Sandhir—and our son, Aarav. Beginning in the summer of 2017, we embarked upon a journey together—a big one that spanned 31 countries, comprised of 39 flights, 3 cruises, and almost a 100 destinations. But we are getting ahead of ourselves—let us tell you how this all got started!.

You can connect with them on their website.

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

November 1, 2019

Explore the Wonders of Crab Lake with the Beautiful Children’s Book Series

Marvel at nature’s miracles, spread joy wherever you can, experience earth’s infinite wonders. This is what led David Mulford to create the Crab Lake series. Explore the author’s world through Jeannie’s Crab Lake Christmas and Jeannie’s Crab Lake Winter Tales.

About Jeannie’s Crab Lake Christmas

All the animals in the forest are abuzz. Jeannie, the kindest and most beautiful lady they know, is coming to Crab Lake for Christmas! The animals love to watch Jeannie from a distance when she visits in the summer, but they have never had a chance to talk to her before now — for, as everyone knows, animals can only talk in the winter. This time, however, they can finally say a proper hello.

So come to Crab Lake for Christmas, and spend the evening with Jeannie and her forest friends: bear cub Pudgey and his family, kindly Mr. Woodchuck, distinguished Bellknap Beaver, and the deer, the wolves, the cardinals, and more! Beautiful illustrations by Christine Cathers Donohue bring them all to life in Jeannie’s Crab Lake Christmas, David Mulford’s charming tale of friendship, family and fun.

About Jeannie’s Crab Lake Winter Tales

In this second book, winter has come back to Crab Lake, Wisconsin. Reunite with Jeannie and her woodland friends as they catch up and share the joy of the season and the holidays. All your favourite characters are back to teach you that friendship and helping others is what truly leads to the greatest of life’s adventures.

Our Thoughts

These beautiful, sweet books featuring Jeannie and the wildlife of Crab Lake, will become a story that you can treasure up to and during the holiday season.

Jeannie is a special woman. She is kind, loving and thoughtful. Those around her can sense these strong values and kindness and love her very much for this. I am a firm believer that animals can sense good and bad people, and the animals in these stories love her so very much.

Both books take place at Crab Lake and I love how the author makes the location come to life (especially as someone who has never visited these areas). You feel like you are visiting Crab Lake and the surrounding area yourself. The author uses descriptive language that brings to life the lakes, hills and forest in this area, while the illustrations help to deliver that message. We become part of the festivities and excitement of the holidays (I can’t wait for the simple things like family gatherings, fireplaces, and hot buttered rum) that is so often described throughout the story.

The animals play a huge role in this story, as we learn that the animals can speak and be heard by humans but only in the winter! As someone who loves animals, I truly wish this would come true (I can only imagine what our dogs would tell us – ‘how dare you not let me sleep in your bed when you are not home’). We found ourselves giving certain characters their own accents (especially Mr. Woodchuck, Mr. Beaver and the bears) and it fit well into the story (I found myself naturally using a British accent at times when I was reading the story to my son).

The story in both books is on the longer side but would make for an excellent bedtime story with your child or after dinner reading in front of the Christmas tree. Jeannie’s Crab Lake Winter Tales is a bit longer but worth every minute. I loved the illustrations, they felt soft, warm and engaging. It fit the characters and tone of the story perfectly. The books are well written and remind you of all the important things in life – family, harmony, love and helping other captured in a manner that children of all ages will appreciate. It is both fun and serious, with such important messaging for young children today.

As a side note – I loved that David wrote these stories for his wife, Jeannie. It is so beautiful and touching, the love that he feels for her and the time they spent at Crab Lake is captured so well in these stories.

These books will make a great addition to your holiday reading list and you can purchase a copy of this book here.

About the Author

For David Mulford and his wife, Jeannie, Christmas would not be complete without their visits to the beautiful Wisconsin waters of Crab Lake. These magical journeys provide the inspiration for David’s whimsical tales. In addition to writing, David has a PhD from Oxford University, serves as a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institute at Stanford University, and has enjoyed a long and notable career in international finance and diplomacy. For the last twenty-seven years, David’s Christmas gift to Jeannie, no matter where they are in the world, has been a story of Christmas at Crab Lake. When not traveling, David and Jeannie reside in Paradise Valley, Arizona.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

October 30, 2019

Honeymoon Alone Book Review

In a story about finding independence and taking chances, Lucy learns that leaving everything up to fate can be dangerous – and jeopardize her chances at happily ever after.

About Honeymoon Alone

Just how reliable are psychics – specifically psychics hired by your sister for wedding entertainment? When irrepressibly romantic Lucy Gray is ditched at said wedding by her date in front of her whole family, the promises of a psychic seem better than her pity-riddled reality. The psychic’s advice seems insightful: stop ignoring fate’s signs – fate will lead you to love. But when “fate” leads Lucy to London, she finds herself tangled in a web of lies.

In a story about finding independence and taking chances, Lucy learns that leaving everything up to fate can be dangerous – and jeopardize her chances at happily ever after.

My Thoughts

Hilarious, heart warming and lovable – this is a book that I could not put down. From the incredible characters to the well written plot that leaves you laughing, heart sore and fingers crossed for more.

I fell in love with Lucy – she is a sweet, young woman who despite being a good person and a great daughter, she is stuck and just not quite sure how to push herself out of it. She is a romantic at heart but just can’t seem to find love. She craves adventure but is timid. Throw in some crazy relatives (you know the type – that you love with all your heart but drive you completely bonkers) and the perfect catalyst (your date making out with your cousin at your sisters wedding!) and we have the start of an amazing story that will be hard to put down.

After all she went through at her sister’s wedding, Lucy decides to take a trip to England after discovering her sister forgot to cancel her honeymoon plans (her sister, who is very Type A, planned two of everything just in case). This is completely out of character for her (and sends her family spiraling – how could dependable Lucy leave them on Christmas for London???) but you find yourself cheering for her. I literally laughed out loud about the passport stamps, as I was that same person when I traveled as an adult! I am timid and definitely not an adventure seeker, so when we took our first and only big trip, it was so exciting to see those stamps being placed in your passport.

While in London, Lucy slowly steps out of her comfort zone with the aid of an old acquaintance. Love comes and finds her in an odd encounter that leaves you questioning his full intentions (is he a good person, is he spying on her, does he have some serious family issues??) and wishing Lucy could see the potential for love right in front of her. I did not see the end coming but it was perfect and fit the story so well.

Honeymoon Alone is a beautiful, well written story of putting yourself out there and breaking out of your comfort zone in order to find your own happiness. It reminds us that we are in charge of our own happiness and sometimes we have to make it happen and not just be a spectator in our own life. You will laugh with Lucy, want to reach out and hug her and give her some good advice but in the end she teaches you the best lesson in second chances and believing in yourself. She is the best friend you need and her family is the added bonus. You will not be able to put this one down.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Nicole Macaulay received her Bachelors degree from Boston College and her Masters of Fine Arts from Emerson College. Her thesis, Honeymoon Alone, won the 2019 Popular Fiction Thesis Prize at Emerson College. Nicole worked in television, news media and the travel industry. She’s passionate about social change and iced coffee. She lives in Rhode Island with her husband, four children and an adorable tuxedo cat named Jack.

Book Trailer

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

October 29, 2019

The Curious Heart of Ailsa Rae

For fans of Josie Silver’s One Day in December, The Curious Heart of Ailsa Rae is a wholly original, charismatic, and uplifting novel that no reader will soon forget.

About The Curious Heart of Ailsa Rae

Ailsa Rae is learning how to live. She’s only a few months past the heart transplant that—just in time—saved her life. Now, finally, she can be a normal twenty-eight-year-old. She can climb a mountain. Dance. Wait in line all day for tickets to Wimbledon.

But first, she has to put one foot in front of the other. So far, things are as bloody complicated as ever. Her relationship with her mother is at a breaking point and she wants to find her father. Then there’s Lennox, whom Ailsa loved and lost. Will she ever find love again?

Her new heart is a bold heart. She just needs to learn to listen to it. From the hospital to her childhood home, on social media and IRL, Ailsa will embark on a journey about what it means to be, and feel, alive. How do we learn to be brave, to accept defeat, to dare to dream?

My Thoughts

This is a beautiful book around second chances and learning to live again.

Ailsa has lived with the threat of death hanging over her head for years. She could never participate in things that most young adults took for granted. She spent hours in the hospital – which while not the best moments, did give her the opportunity to learn how to love but also the pain of loss when she loses her first true love. During this journey, she started a blog to document her story but she also used it as a platform to ask questions and make decisions about her own personal life based on those answers.

When she is given a second chance at life with a heart transplant, it is an overwhelming moment for her and all that follows. She gets to do all those things she never did before but she is left wondering how and what should she do first. She is lost at times (perhaps afraid and guilty?) and turns to her blog and readers for advice – which seems to drive her family crazy and I don’t really blame them. You want Ailsa to know that she is the lead in her life and she can make decisions and that is alright if they are the wrong ones. You just want to reach out and give her a hug to let her know that it is okay to be afraid and unsure.

When she has the chance at love again, my heart is sore for her. She sounds so scared. Will she be able to let herself go and allow her to love and be loved? She is nervous about her scars which she should never be – she should be proud of the battle that she fought for those.

This was a beautiful story from start to finish. It was a bit slow at the beginning as we learned her history but is worth every moment. It is that excellent reminder that we all need to live in each moment, to never take anything for granted and have the confidence in ourselves to accept our faults but to push past them. That it is okay to make mistakes and to feel like failures as this is the beauty of life. A fantastic read that will make you laugh, cry and hope.

You can purchase a copy of this book here.

Rating: 4.5/5

About the Author

STEPHANIE BUTLAND lives with her family near the sea in the North East of England. She writes in a studio at the bottom of her garden, and when she’s not writing, she trains people to think more creatively. For fun, she reads, knits, sews, bakes, and spins. She is an occasional performance poet and the author of The Lost for Words Bookshop.

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

October 29, 2019

Once Upon a Cowboy Christmas Book Review

It’s the most wonderful time of the year at the Ford family ranch. Will one cowboy’s homecoming be the greatest gift of all?

About Once Upon a Cowboy Christmas

Cody Ford is a Wall Street honcho with humble Texas roots. This holiday season, he’d be content to just stay in New York and not face his family―and dodge their questions about when and with whom he plans to settle down and if he will do so back at home. But his father isn’t getting any younger, and Cody doesn’t want to miss any last chances to see him and the rest of the folks back on the ranch.

The last person Cody was expecting to see? His one-time girlfriend, Lexi Murphy, who’s been working as his dad’s new live-in nurse.

Lexi still holds a grudge against Cody. Back then, the college-bound heartthrob believed he was too good for a small-town girl like Lexi. But now Cody can’t help but see her in a whole new light. Could it be that this beautiful single mother with an unbeatable can-do spirit is the one he’s been waiting for all along? That depends on whether Cody can prove to Lexi that, this time, he means business―and if a sudden snowstorm can lend just the right amount of Christmas magic to help move things along.

My Thoughts

This novel starts off with a bang and keeps on going. What could possibly go wrong (or right?) when Cody returns home to find Lexi, the girl he left without a word, taking care of his elderly father?

Lexi is strong, self sufficient woman who has had some difficult blows in life. Not only did Cody leave her to go off to the big city without a word, she seems to suffer a bit from insecurity. She had a child with a man that left the two of them as soon as their child came around. She has been carrying for the two of them ever since. Despite everything that has happened (money problems, absent father for her child and her own Mother’s health issues), she is still facing each day with a positive attitude. This becomes a bit harder when Cody returns.

The two are forced to face their past and really look at what happened. They are forced to look at those pivotal moments in their lives that caused them to change and how it affected the lives of those around them. For Cody, this was the death of his Mother and how he never healed properly.

The pair go on a journey to attempt to forgive the past and to build bridges for the future. But both are quite stubborn and you are constantly left wondering, can they truly make it? Can they truly forgive and put away the past? Can they handle their grief in order to move forward?

This is a beautiful story of second chances where you keep rooting for our main characters. You want so badly to see them together but are left wondering if there is just too much history for them to make it. This is a great romance novel released just in time for the holiday season.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

Rating: 4/5

About the Author

As a child, Soraya Lane dreamed of becoming an author. Fast forward more than a few years, and Soraya is now living her dream! Soraya describes being an author as “the best career in the world”, and she hopes to be writing romance for many years to come.

Soraya loves spending her days thinking up characters for books, and her home is a constant source of inspiration. She lives with her own real life hero and two sons on a small farm in New Zealand, surrounded by animals and with an office overlooking a field where their horses graze.

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.