Where living an amazing life never gets old
“Bloodroot” is the kind of book that transports you to a world you couldn’t even begin to imagine and introduces you to strong, solid characters who long remain with you. It’s a story of poverty and riches, magic and harsh reality, pure joy and deep sorrow. I had so much I wanted to ask author Amy Greene about her own…
In her latest novel, The Irresistible Henry House, Lisa Grunwald tells the life story of Henry House, a young orphan who was a “practice baby.” In the early part of the 20th century, colleges and universities across the US used real children to teach mothering skills to young women in home economics classes. These orphans…
How often have you been on vacation in a really cool place and thought, “If only I could find a way to live here?” My sweet new husband and I did that all the time. We lived in L.A. and liked to travel to peaceful places like Sedona or Big Sur where time seemed to…
Historical fiction, with a healthy dose of romance, “The Queen’s Lover” by Vanora Bennett is a story of 15th-century France and England, set during the Hundred Years War. It follows the life of Catherine de Valois, who became Queen of England and then Queen Mother of Henry VI. Although most readers will already be familiar…
We became fans of Julie Buxbaum after reading her first novel, “The Opposite of Love,” and reinforced our status with “After You.” Both of her books deal with grief in one form or another but they’re so funny and warm, they become uplifting stories of beginnings rather than endings. I recently caught up with Julie to find out…
I love products that actually deliver on their promise, so I’m happy to tell you that the 5 Minutes to Gorgeous kit from Urban Cowgirl not only lives up to its name but may even give you some extra time to admire yourself in the mirror. Tucked into a pretty-in-pink paisley bag – which is…
Clean out those half-empty soaps, shampoos, conditioners and lotions you’ve dragged home from every hotel and donate them to Clean the World. This ingenious non-profit organization collects, sorts and sanitizes discarded toiletries, then delivers them to homeless shelters and impoverished countries where five million people – mostly children – die every year from hygiene-related diseases…
Even if you’re staying home this summer, Midge Raymond’s Forgetting English will make you feel like you’ve been on an amazing journey around the world while, miraculously, keeping you grounded on familiar emotional terrain. These universal stories are so beautifully written, you’ll want to read them slowly and savor every word. Here’s my conversation with Midge,…
