People Pleaser by Jinger Duggar Vuolo

 Are you a people pleaser? Can you even begin to measure how the approval of others has shaped your heart and mind? Your faith and relationships? Your habits and identity? In People Pleaser, New York Times bestselling author Jinger Vuolo shares her personal journey of constantly seeking approval from others and how she found her true identity.

From childhood to early adulthood, Jinger Duggar Vuolo followed the expectations of others, never taking the time to discover who she truly was. It wasn't until she asked herself the question, "Who am I?" that she realized she was a people pleaser. This realization led her on a journey of self-discovery and ultimately, to rely on God for her approval and sense of self-worth.

Through her faith and reliance on God, Jinger began to break free from the need for approval and discover true freedom. This book is a guide for anyone struggling with people-pleasing tendencies and seeking to find their true identity and purpose in life. Learn how to:

• discover the beauty of community and how we were made to enjoy others,
• identify sin and how it can hinder your ability to be in community with one another,
• diagnose yourself with ruthless honesty but without judgement, and
• understand who you are in God's eyes.

Jinger hopes this book will inspire others to embark on a similar journey towards freedom.

Pick up your copy here...

People Pleaser: Breaking Free from the Burden of Imaginary Expectations: Vuolo, Jinger, Carr, Julie Lyles: 9781400341719: Amazon.com: Books

Jinger Duggar Vuolo grew up on TV. From the age of nine until twenty-seven, she appeared on her family's hit TLC reality shows, 19 Kids and Counting and Counting On. She is an author whose books include New York Times bestseller Becoming Free Indeed, her personal memoir The Hope We Hold and a children's book, You Can Shine So Bright. She now lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Jeremy, and their two daughters, Felicity Nicole and Evangeline Jo. In her free time, Jinger enjoys traveling, hiking, and anything to do with good food. 

My thoughts...

I love a great self-help book. And I have always enjoyed watching the Duggars grow up. Jinger has become quite the young lady, and I have read all her books and her sisters' books. This one hit home as I am a people pleaser I never say no or say what I want to say when someone asks me to do something or give something. I like the biblical advice and some of her story. I only wish she had shared a little bit more on the personal side but overall, it was worth the read and I'm glad that I read it.

Only Say Good Things by Crystal Hefner

 

From a former Playboy Playmate, an unflinching look at the objectification and misogyny of the Playboy mansion, a woman’s stolen young adulthood, and her journey to self-acceptance–plus a rare look inside Hugh Hefner’s final days.

Crystal Harris’ life changed forever when she was just twenty-one and attended a party at the notorious Playboy mansion. Picked out of the crowd by Hugh Hefner, Crystal Harris became one of his infamous “girlfriends,” attending glamorous Hollywood parties and traveling the world. But being Hef’s number one girlfriend came at the cost of Crystal’s identity outside her role in the Playboy universe, and she grew increasingly restless to understand who she truly was away from what she saw as Playboy’s toxic culture. Hef controlled his girlfriends with strict rules regarding everything from their hair and makeup to their curfews, forcing them to compete with one another as part of a highly hierarchal system. 

Only Say Good Things provides a fascinating look behind the scenes at a powerful cultural icon and brand, and an empowering perspective on hard-won lessons about who we allow to determine our value.

Pick up your copy here...

Only Say Good Things: Surviving Playboy and Finding Myself: Hefner, Crystal: 9781538765678: Amazon.com: Books

Crystal Hefner is a world-renowned model, advocate, and entrepreneur. A former Playboy Playmate, she now works to bring awareness to issues she is passionate about, speaking out on social media to her 10 million followers about body image, objectification, and beauty standards in the media.

A look inside and the emotional, honest, words had to be hard for Hefner to tell. I loved that she was so open.

Hope's Enduring Echo by Kim Vogel Sawyer

 

Since an accident left her father unable to work, Jennie Ward has taken on the demanding task of inspecting the isolated seven-mile wooden pipeline that supplies water to Cañon City, Colorado. Despite her responsibilities, Jennie harbors dreams of going back to school and longs for something even simpler: a friend. One day, in a moment of impulsive and seemingly hopeless prayer, she asks God for companionship.

Her prayer is answered almost immediately with the arrival of Leo Day, a paleontology student searching for ancient bones buried along the ridges of the wild Arkansas River. Despite her long workdays, Jennie agrees to guide Leo in his quest.

As Jennie navigates her burgeoning friendship with Leo and her unwavering loyalty to her father, she finds herself torn. Leo, who longs for his own father’s approval, could change all Jennie knows. It’s undeniable that God has intertwined their paths, but to what end? With so much at stake, what does He truly intend for the preacher’s son and the linewalker’s daughter to uncover?

Pick up your copy here...

Hope's Enduring Echo: A Novel: Vogel Sawyer, Kim: 9780593600832: Amazon.com: Books

Award-winning, bestselling author Kim Vogel Sawyer is a wife, mother, gramma, chocolate-lover, cat-petter, and--most importantly--a daughter of the King! With more than 1.5 million books in print in seven different languages, Kim enjoys a full-time writing and speaking ministry. Her "gentle stories of hope" are loved by readers and reviewers alike. Kim and her retired military husband, Don, reside on the plains of Kansas, the setting for many of her novels.

Thoughts...

 Sawyer never disappoints. This story has really deep spiritual insights. Well, you get that from all of Sawyer's books. The characters were so well rounded. I recommend this one.

Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

Still See You Everywhere by Lisa Gardner

 A young girl kidnapped in Hawaii twelve years ago.  A female serial killer awaiting execution in Texas in just three weeks’ time.  And a recovering alcoholic with more regrets than belongings determined to find justice.  Three women on one terrifying trajectory, where the sins of the past and the secrets in the present all have the power to kill.

 
Missing persons expert and nomadic loner Frankie Elkin travels the country searching for the lost ones the rest of the world has forgotten.  Her specialty, cold cases that generally end sadly. But this one could be different.

Kaylee Pierson, “The Beautiful Butcher,” confessed from the start to enticing 18 men home before slitting their throats.  As the clock winds down to her death, Pierson has finally received a lead on her baby sister, abducted years ago.  Kaylee’s dying wish:  to know Leilani is safe and sound.
 Frankie is eager to possibly rescue a teenage girl, even if it involves flying to a remote atoll in the Pacific, where a charming tycoon is constructing an eco-resort—and possibly holding Leilani against her will.

But what price paradise?  Because now Frankie is trapped on an island with a dozen strangers and numerous deadly deceptions.  As the danger mounts, Frankie faces her toughest challenge with no chance of rescue, no hope of escape, and a massive storm rolling in…

Pick your copy up here...

Amazon.com: Still See You Everywhere (A Frankie Elkin Novel): 9781538765081: Gardner, Lisa: Books

A self-described research junkie, #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Gardner has parlayed her interest in police procedure, criminal minds and twisted plots into a streak of internationally recognized novels. Her 2010 novel, THE NEIGHBOR, won Best Thriller from the International Thriller Writers. Most recently, she was honored with the Silver Bullet Award for her work with at-risk kids and rescue animals.

Lisa's latest series features Frankie Elkin, an everyday average woman who specializes in finding missing people. When the locals have given up, when the media has never bothered to care, Frankie takes on the challenge from finding a disappeared Haitian teen in Mattapan (BEFORE SHE DISAPPEARED), to a vanished hiker in the wilds of Wyoming (ONE STEP TOO FAR), to a possibly kidnapped younger sister of a serial killer on a remote island in the Pacific (STILL SEE YOU EVERYWHERE).

Her other series include the FBI Profilers, Detective D.D. Warren and PI Tessa Leoni. When not writing, Lisa loves to hike, travel the world, and yes, read, read, read!

Thoughts...

Thrillers are so much fun. This one was full of twists and had me turning pages so fast. it was so satisfying. Add this one to you pile to read.

Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

The Rise and Fall of Miss Fannie's Biscuits by Wanda Brunstetter and Martha Bolton

 Why Are Baking Contestants Disappearing?

Mysteries have a way of following Fannie Miller, so when she makes it into the finals of the Tuscarawas County Baking Contest and contestants start disappearing, she calls on her old friend Foster Bates, a retired cop and part-time private investigator. Could it be that other finalists—like the couple on verge of divorce who need the prize money. . .or the three Beiler sisters, always in a huddle whispering—are somehow responsible for these disappearances, thinning out the competition? One thing is certain—Foster and Fannie will stay on the case until the end, and everyone involved will learn something important about baking contests, mystery solving, and life.

New York Times Bestselling Author Wanda E. Brunstetter and Emmy-Nominated Author Martha Bolton have teamed up to deliver a delightful whodunit from Ohio's Amish country.

Pick up your copy here...                                                                                                                                     The Rise and Fall of Miss Fannie's Biscuits: A Cozy Amish Mystery: Brunstetter, Wanda E, Bolton, Martha: 9798891510111: Amazon.com: Books

Martha Bolton is the author of over eighty books of inspiration and humor and was Bob Hope's first female staff writer. Martha has received nominations for an Emmy, a WGA Writing Award, and a Dove Award. Along with composer Wally Nason, she has written ten musicals for Blue Gate Musicals, including Josiah for President, the Musical, The Confession Musical, based on Beverly Lewis' popular Amish trilogy, and Half-Stitched, the Musical, based on Wanda Brunstetter's book of the same title, and others.

Thoughts...

Food and mystery and Amish this one has a little bit about everything. I love when a book revolves around food. This was a fast read, and I enjoyed the story.  Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.                  

Fat Loss Habits by Ben Carpenter

 

Good habits are powerful. Repeated actions bring about change one step at a time, and help us ensure that these changes become part of our lives. But when it comes to fat loss, too often the focus is on bad habits. We've all heard that snacking between meals, stress eating and mid-week takeaways won't help us lose weight— but that doesn't make it easier to stop doing these things. On top of this, we're constantly bombarded with articles and videos telling us why certain foods are bad, or toxic, or poison. This makes the search for basic nutrition advice almost impossible, and it's not surprising that so many people feel confused about what to eat.

Ben Carpenter is a fitness coach, research nerd, and trusted source of no bullshit fat loss information who has spent his entire adult life working in the fitness industry, researching the real science and studies behind fat loss, and answering questions with simplified, unbiased answers.

Ben's point is this: The best weight loss diet doesn't exist.

From keto to intermittent fasting, no diet is superior. They all work in the short term, but are rarely sustainable for the long term, nor is it a good idea to be on a weight loss diet forever. The better solution is to maintain stronger, positive motivators that make us want to stay healthy; the easiest way to do this is through simple, effective habits.

To help readers achieve true health, Ben offers a three-step plan:

• understanding the science
• unveiling the fat loss options available
• choosing what habits work for you

Let's say goodbye to specific diet plans and products, and hello to implementing sustainable fat loss habits, based on our own personal preferences.

Pick up your copy here...

Fat Loss Habits: The No Bullsh*t Guide to Losing Weight: Carpenter, Ben: 9781538768655: Amazon.com: Books

Ben Carpenter has been a personal trainer since 2006 and has worked with a diverse range of clients ranging from young athletes training to be fitness models to elderly people who are just trying their best to live a bit longer. Over time, he shifted his focus towards specialising on the most common goal that his clients strived for, losing body fat.

He realised that if he truly wanted to help as many people as possible, he needed to step away from one-to-one clients only and turn towards social media to reach a larger audience. He has been posting social media content since 2009, answering as many of your questions as possible, completely free of charge, and his videos are now seen by millions of people every single week.

His goal is simple: help you as his metaphorical client. Whether that’s navigating the minefield of misinformation that the weight loss industry is rife with – like quick fix fad diets that are being endorsed by whichever celebrity is being paid the most – or providing you with simplified summaries of the latest research papers.

He is a self-confessed ‘research nerd’. He isn’t a scientist working behind the scenes to publish research papers. He is a personal trainer that has devoted his entire adult life helping his clients and social media followers get the best results possible. It isn’t just about being up to date on the latest scientific research, but actually helping you put this information into practice.

In Everything Fat Loss, Ben is your own personal trainer. He isn’t giving you a cookie-cutter one-size-fits-all plan, he is helping you make the best decisions for your own personal circumstances. From identifying your motivation to lose body fat in the first place – and if this is even the right path for you – to the challenges you may face as an individual in your fat loss journey, to what diet might suit you best and tips to help you achieve long-term success. Ben gives you all the information you need to formulate a plan of action personalised to you.

Ben was born in the UK but now lives in California with his wife. You can find him on various social media platforms (@bdccarpenter), and at www.bdccarpenter.com.

Thoughts...

If you have good habits already this one might not be for you but if you are needing help with better habits this is your book.
Lots of good ideas and ways to make smart habit changes.
Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

If I Go Missing by Leslie Wolfe

 If you’re reading this, I’ve gone missing.

I close the binder I’ve been writing in, and walk into the living room. As I stare out of the window at your house next door, I think about all the things I stand to lose if someone comes for me. My handsome, loving husband, who has no idea what I’ve done. My family, who have supported me no matter what. This beautiful home near the ocean, where I thought I would be safe.

Everyone says that I’m paranoid, but I just think I’m prepared. My secrets have placed me in terrible danger.

So if the worst happens, this binder contains everything you’ll need to find me, hidden in a place only you could guess. You’ve always known me best of everyone, ever since we were girls. You’ll be able to put the pieces together and uncover the truth.

Only you can find me. But you’ll need to do it fast.

Because if you don’t, all your lies will come to light too…

Pick up your copy here...

Amazon.com: If I Go Missing: A totally gripping and addictive psychological thriller with a jaw-dropping twist: 9781835251409: Wolfe, Leslie: Books

Meet Leslie Wolfe, bestselling author and mastermind behind gripping thrillers that have won the hearts of over a million readers worldwide. She brings a fresh and invigorating touch to the thriller genre, crafting compelling narratives around unforgettable, powerhouse women. Her books are not only an adrenaline-packed ride, but they're also sprinkled with psychological insights, offering readers an immersive, authentic experience that goes beyond conventional suspense.

You might know her from the Detective Kay Sharp series or have been hooked by Tess Winnett's relentless pursuit of justice. Maybe you've followed the dynamic duo Baxter & Holt through the gritty streets of Las Vegas or plunged into political intrigue with Alex Hoffmann.

Recently, Leslie published The Girl You Killed, a psychological thriller that's pure, unputdownable suspense. This standalone novel will have fans of The Undoing, The Silent Patient, and Little Fires Everywhere on the edge of their seats.

Whether you're into the mind games of Criminal Minds, love crime thrillers like James Patterson's, or enjoy the heart-pounding tension in Kendra Elliot and Robert Dugoni's mysteries, Leslie's got a thriller series for you. Fans of action-packed writers like Tom Clancy or Lee Child will find plenty to love in her Alex Hoffmann series.

Wolfe’s latest psychological thriller, The Surgeon, will have you racing through the pages gasping for breath until the final jaw-dropping twist, delighting fans of Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train.

Discover all of Leslie's works on Amazon.com/LeslieWolfe. Want a sneak peek at what's next? Become an insider for early access to previews of her new novels, each a thrilling ride you won't want to miss.

My Thoughts...                                                                                                   I could not put this book down. It was a hit. It kept me turning pages until the very end. I was left shaking my head.                                               Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.