A Five ⭐ Book Review + Winners Announced 🎁

Sandy Clements
23 hours ago
2 min read

⭐ A FIVE-STAR REVIEW Welcome to February! I hope you’ve felt a little extra love this month as we all anticipate the arrival of spring.

To stay warm, I’ve been reading, writing, and sending signed copies of Kaleidoscope of Secrets to three lucky winners from last month’s giveaway.

Here’s what’s on tap today:

• 📚 New Books & Reviews

• 🎁 Giveaway Winners Announced

• ✨ Inspiration to Get You Moving

📚 What I’m Reading (and Listening To)

It’s been a solid reading month. Here’s what I’ve enjoyed so far:

Broken Country — Claire Leslie Hall

This story has it all: young love, a bit of steamy romance, commitment, heartbreak, secrets, and longing. I was pulled in from the start and stayed invested all the way through. If you enjoy emotional, relationship-driven fiction, this one is worth a look.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Five Stars

One Second After — William R. Forstchen

Recommended by one of you (thank you—keep them coming!). This gripping doomsday novel imagines what life might become after a devastating attack. It’s intense, thought-provoking, and makes you wonder how you’d respond in a world turned upside down.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Four Stars

The German Wife — Kelly Rimmer

I’m still reading this one, and I’m hooked. The story moves between two women—one in Germany during WWII and one in Texas during the Dust Bowl—each carrying secrets and incomplete truths about the other. It took a few chapters to settle in, but now I’m fully invested and eager to see how their stories converge.

Expected: 4–5 Stars (stay tuned!)

Killing Floor — Lee Child

A strong introduction to the Jack Reacher series. It’s gritty and occasionally gruesome, so skip if that’s not your thing—but it’s a compelling mystery with plenty of momentum.

⭐⭐⭐½ Three and a Half Stars

Possibilities for my March TBR:

• A Tree Grows in Brooklyn — Betty Smith

• Hold Strong — Robert Dugoni

• The Deep Blue Good-By — John D. MacDonald

• Tunnel Vision — Sara Paretsky

• The Only One Left — Riley Sager

📬 What do you recommend? I love hearing from you!

✨ A Little Inspiration In case you’re feeling discouraged, I want to share words from Jelly Roll at the 2023 CMA Awards:

Here are five small ways to shift your perspective and lift your outlook:

1. Get moving (because movement is medicine)

Yes, I say this often—but it works. Even a 10-minute brisk walk can reset your mood and energy.

2. Choose your input wisely

Step away from negativity. Turn off the news for a while. Turn on music. Read. Take a class. Play. Talk. Look for the good—you’ll start to see more of it.

3. Surround yourself with forward-moving people

Invite someone to lunch. Collaborate. Dream together.

“Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future.” — Ray Lewis

4. Practice gratitude

Notice what’s already present in your life. Gratitude shifts perspective quickly.

5. Give something of yourself

A smile. Your time. A listening ear. Encouragement. Small gifts of presence often matter most.

❤ Giveaway Winners