Book Reviews + A GIVEAWAY!

Sandy Clements
Nov 21
3 min read

💌 Happy November — And Hello, Giveaway Season!

If you’re new to my newsletter, WELCOME! You’ve joined a wonderful community of over a thousand readers who love talking about books, travel, creativity, and the courage it takes to become the best version of ourselves.

And because the holidays are almost here…🎉 We’re kicking the month off with a giveaway! So, pour yourself a cup of coffee (or tea!) and let’s jump in.

🎁 Holiday Giveaway — Let’s Go!

You can enter to win a signed copy of Kaleidoscope of Secrets, an adorable holiday book bag (lined with festive fabric!), and a fun bookmark — all wrapped up and ready to keep or gift. (Value $40)

How to Enter: Send me an Email: sandy@sandyclements.com and answer one simple question: What percentage of the books you 'read' are on audio? Winner will be selected on November 26, 2025.

🎄 Give the Gift of Kaleidoscope of Secrets Want to share Kaleidoscope of Secrets with a friend for the holidays?I’ll ship a signed copy + holiday book bag straight to you—beautifully packaged and perfect for gifting. $40 total (includes book, bag, and shipping in the U.S.) Email me for details: sandy@sandyclements.com. (Shipping may vary outside the continental U.S.) 📚 What Makes a Great Read? — November Book Reviews Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. Wow. Most readers LOVE this book, and I understand why—it’s smart, imaginative, and high-stakes. But… you need to enjoy science and math to be a true fan of this book. Here’s the gist: A middle school science teacher wakes up millions of miles from Earth with two dead crewmates. As memories return, he realizes he’s humanity’s last hope. I started reading it on Kindle, then switched to audio, which I highly recommend. This book has a great ending. My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Housemaid’s Secret by Freida McFadden. Freida has such a great way of keeping us tightly inside the main character’s mind. I enjoyed it—though I still liked The Housemaid (book one) a little better. My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I have two more books on my TBR for November, so stay tuned!

✈️ More Running, More Traveling, More Memories

I kicked off this month with ANOTHER 5K! Not sure how I ever started this trend, but I found myself running the streets of Kansas City with my daughter and granddaughter for the Girls on the Run annual event. We had lots of fun creating memories together.

This past week I traveled to Las Vegas with my daughter while she was speaking at a conference. One highlight? Dinner at The Bedford by Martha Stewart. I’m a big Martha fan, so of course I had high hopes—and the restaurant did NOT disappoint. We had a Thanksgiving-style feast, and the breadbasket alone was unforgettable.

Next up: A road trip to The Mall of America! Fun fact: I lived in Minneapolis for over ten years, back when the Mall was brand new. This year, I’m heading back with three teenage grandkids for a couple of days of adventure and shopping. Wish me luck. 😉

🙌🏻 Stop Competing Against the World

In the writing world, it’s easy to feel like you’re constantly competing.Every single day, around 6,000 new books are published. Millions every year. Each one hoping to be read, noticed, recognized. How do you compete with that??? The answer is: you don’t.

Over the past three years, I’ve listened to many successful authors share their stories and here’s one of the biggest takeaways: I am not competing with other writers. I’m competing with the version of myself from yesterday.

This shift in perspective changed everything for me. I am not the same person today that I was a year ago. This year, I’m stronger, braver, and more focused. Not perfect. But growing.

Perhaps it’s time to stop competing with your neighbors, your classmates, your family, or people you don’t even know on social media, and play your own game. Ask yourself, how can I improve today?

Start small and aim for 1% better. Take a few extra steps. A few fewer bites of dessert. Five minutes spent checking on a friend. One page written. One drawer cleaned.

Little steps add up. Big change grows quietly, steadily, with consistency—not perfection.)