Royals. Love them. I seriously believe it's my 82% Brit roots, according to Ancestory DNA. I continue to love the comings and goings of all of them, and respect their ability to help bring good to things that may not have gotten attention. 

That said, I am obsessed with Wallis Simpson. I have read everything I can on the woman who was hated by Americans and Brits alike. She has been described as a "wanton woman", a "hussy", and a gold digger.  This book continues to dig into the real Wallis Simpson and reveals a different gal altogether. 

​The Real Wallis SImpson: A New History of the American Divorcee Who Became the Duchess of Windsor is a compelling book that outlines Wallis and her early history from a troubled family from Baltimore. Being a B'More girl myself, I have actually found the block where she lived, I am so interested in this fascinating story that changed the world.  She grew up in a family who was at one time wealthy and recognized the need to "marry well", by debutante balls and only cavorting with the wealthiest of Baltimore's families. 

So many conjectures about her sexuality, from being asexual, to being involved with women and multiple partners. We probably won't know that part ever, but it leans towards being quite the prude. 
Abused physically and emotionally during her first marriage, Wallis married Ernest Simpson and outwardly appeared to have a lovely marriage built on true friendship. Ernest was wealthy and got invited to events where eventually he and his wife were introduced to the then future King of England. 
It's said that the Prince was immature and emotionally stunted.  He began to obsess on Wallis and invited she and Ernest to his parties and weekend adventures. This book chronicles letters of Wallis and others to state that the King chased her. She wasn't interested in him, but over years, the relationship became obsessive, and Wallis couldn't find a way out. 
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I loved this book, as it showed a different side of Wallis, although other books have also given us this interpretation of the whole affair. What is new here, is the way that history was changed, for the better, as Edward was likely a Nazi sympathizer, likely because of being  outcasted from the royal family.
According to this author's research and writing, Wallis made her life  to serve the Duke of Windsor and to make him happy. Even an outcast, they had a happy life together, because of her. 
I give this book five stars for the amazing amount of research and it's ability to lead the story throughout her life. Wallis may have saved England from disaster from siding with Germany, by simply marrying Edward. Maybe we should all start to praise Wallis, rather than think of her as a gold digger that ruined the royal lineage. 

Go buy it!  So worth it. 

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.  #TheRealWallisSimpson #NetGalley

​The ‘My First Little People, Big Dreams’ series provides a great introduction to young children about people making a difference in our world. Always informative and inspirational, these biographies are totally relatable to young children and written for easy comprehension.

As a pediatric speech language pathologist, I am always looking for great board books with substance. Rosa Parks, an important figure in history, is another beautifully illustrated book for young children, teaching about respect, equal rights, kindness, and civil rights. I loved the book. This should be in every school library, as well as teacher’s classroom libraries.

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary copy of #RosaParks in exchange for an honest review.

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Back from a wonderful trip to a beautiful home near Cabo. It was a family trip and we had all the feels.  Set right on the ocean with an infinity pool, we had the best of times and tons of relaxation. 

Set approximately 2 hours east of the Cabo San Luis airport on a very long dirt road drive, we had laughs, ate, and drank our week away. I managed to read five ARCs during the week, which I will be reviewing here. 

Here's to Monday and Mexico! 

Just wow.  This is an amazing book. Should I just stop there? Because all other statements may simply pale. 

"Depression robs us of the ability to think of anything but the worst possible outcome.  Period. It is inevitable.  That is the logical end to every thought and action and sequence."  


Heather B. Armstrong is a brave person to have written this saga of how depressions kills your soul. Let me just tell you now how I feel about those who don't believe there is such a thing as depression. It's real. It's debilitating. It's soul robbing.  It's exhausting. It's scary.   Depression has been a part of my life, unfortunately, for years. There is a long, unrecognized lineage in my own family of anxiety and depression. My father called them all "high strung".  Yeah. That's the truth. 

The author gives us a brilliantly written autobiography of how bleak life is living with depression, and all you ever want is peace.  She talks about wanting to be dead, which is so relatable to those who also suffer.  No plan, because that would require thinking, so just the wishing is all that is possible.  I . Get.  It.  

Heather takes us on her journey through a research study to eliminate her depression by the use of "the Michael Jackson drug"  propofol.  We feel the heaviness of her depression in the beginning, and share her hopelessness. Told on the backdrop of a Mormon upbringing and single motherhood, we feel her struggle. Such a well written book,  the reader becomes a cheerleader for Heather in her recovery. We read her descriptions of her awakening to a world that allows her to once again live and love her life. 

This book is a must read. Period. If you know someone that has depression, this book may help explain how the illness itself impairs the patient to help themselves to help themselves. If you suffer, just go buy this book. You will cry many times in recognition of your own thoughts.  I applaud the author for her honesty to bare her soul. A total five star read.  I will be adding this to my book club read for October 2019.  

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.  And most of all thank you to the author #HeatherBArmstrong and all the medical personnel who commit their lives to helping those of us who have mental health disorders.  #TheValedictorianOfBeingDead
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"Help us find our way up and out and back to the truth that you would not be better off without us."

​Emma, a single mom and her teenage daughter, Penny live in Sag Harbor, in the Hamptons, as townies. Struggling to accommodate rich Manhattanites,  Emma is a hard working employee at The American Hotel.  Emma and her daughter, a bit of a misfit, learn one day that a dear friend, who is a famous artist,  drops dead and leaves his multimillion dollar estate to Penny. The key to understanding this "mystery" of why Penny was left the inheritance will be pieced together as other characters show up to fight for a piece of the action. Enter ex-partner, Bea, who makes Cruella Da Ville seem a bit warm and fuzzy.  Then the ex-husband and father of Penny comes to town to suddenly be a father to Penny.  

Great writing, I felt the book had some sluggish parts which I wished I would have skimmed over. The story is a great beach read, and will end in a great place for the reader, but it lacked overall depth. I wanted to know a bit more about Tom, the bartender, which may have lent a bit more meat to the story. I really wanted less of Bea and the story of Bea and Angus simply didn't work for me. 

Over all, it was a pleasant read, and I would recommend it as a great little beach/vacation book.  Four stars for a great little book.