Tag: love

Review: Blessings Abound: Awaken to the Gifts at Hand by Katherine Scherer and Eileen Bodoh

~ likelystory18 ~ Leave a comment

Synopsis:

Blessings truly abound.

With this book, Katherine Scherer and Eileen Bodoh serve as our guides to revealing them, glorifying them, and super-charging them. Drawing upon inner experiences and wisdom, from ancient and contemporary sources, including Native American lore and the Christian Bible, and from a diverse selection of many who have gone before such as Wordsworth, Thoreau, Whitman, Tagore, and others, the authors guide readers as they embark on a journey to discover and appreciate their own inner and outer blessings. With a connection to spirit and their personal divinity, Katherine and Eileen empower readers with the truth, magic, peace, and gratitude inherent in the words.

Discover blessings in human and divine love, in unassumed places, in the natural world, in music, and in our everyday lives. The power and awe of blessings comes forth in waves as the book allows us to realize the unlimited nature of all that we encounter, even aspects of our lives we may think of as painful or trite.

Favorite Lines:

“All the flowers of all the tomorrows are in the seeds of today.”

“Wear gratitude like a cloak and it will feed every corner of your life.”

“Good friends give us a sense of belonging and acceptance.”

“Happiness is a condition of mind not a result of circumstances.”

“People and things do not have the power to make us happy. Happiness is an inside job and each of us is responsible for our own happiness.”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the authors in exchange for my honest opinion.

From the very first pages of Blessings Abound, readers are invited into a gentle yet profound exploration of gratitude. Scherer and Bodoh structure the book around three clear categories—“Blessings Received,” “Blessings Taken for Granted,” and “Blessings Found in Disguise”—allowing each section to build upon the last as they guide us from noticing simple gifts to embracing life’s hidden lessons. The authors’ shared voice feels warm and companionable, as if sitting across from an old friend over tea, sharing stories meant to uplift and embolden.

The strength of Blessings Abound  lies in its blend of personal reflection and timeless wisdom. Throughout the chapters, the authors interweave spiritual insights, classical quotations, and relatable anecdotes—from the beat of our own hearts to the hush of dawn’s first light. This variety of entry points ensures that every reader, regardless of background or belief, can find a passage that resonates deeply. The writing style is unpretentious but never shallow; each short meditation invites pause and genuine self‑examination.

Equally compelling is the authors’ insistence that even adversity holds blessings in disguise. Rather than offering trite affirmation, they acknowledge life’s hardships—addiction, loss, fear—and then gently reframe them as portals to growth and empathy. This honest approach lends Blessings Abound  an authenticity too often missing from the self‑help genre. 

Visually, the book’s layout—complete with inspirational sidebars, poetic quotes, and an accessible table of contents—makes it easy to dip in for just a few minutes at breakfast or to linger over an entire section in the evening. Whether you’re seeking a daily boost of hope or a deeper map for personal reflection, the book’s modular format means you can follow its ordering or blaze your own trail through individual chapters.

Summary:

Overall, Blessings Abound  is a thoughtfully crafted invitation to rediscover gratitude in every facet of life. Divided into three thematic sections, it moves readers from recognizing everyday gifts to uncovering the silver linings in hardship. Grounded in both spiritual tradition and down‑to‑earth anecdotes, Scherer and Bodoh offer an honest, uplifting companion for anyone wishing to cultivate a more grateful, resilient heart. Whether read cover to cover or explored in short bursts, this book reminds us that blessings truly do abound—if only we awaken to receive them. Happy reading!

Check out Blessings Abound: Awaken to the Gifts at Hand here!

 

Review: Watercolors and Tears by José Orlando Castañeda 

~ likelystory18 ~ 2 Comments

Synopsis:

Manuel, a young Ecuadorian, sells medicinal herbs in the market and paints watercolors in his spare time. In search of a better life, he emigrates to Port Chester (New York). Elvira, his wife, intends to join him by sea, but she is shipwrecked. Her plans change after her rescue, and she ends up in Madrid, where she is employed as a nanny. Antonio, the father of the children in her care, discovers her secretly reading a novel from his antique books collection. He slyly labels a passage with a strip of paper, intending for her to read it. Intrigued, Elvira responds by indicating her own phrases in the book. That’s the beginning of an innocent exchange of literary quotes through which love quietly slips in. While Manuel takes refuge in his paintings and herbal remedies on the other side of the world, Elvira finds herself falling for Antonio. When her hopes are dashed through a casual blunder, she seeks to regain her marital home and travels to Port Chester to be with her husband. Confronted by an unexpected tragedy, she discovers the watercolors that Manuel has painted in his solitude. His brushstrokes cut deep into her heart.

Favorite Lines:

“When Manuel and Elvira’s gazes finally met, their silence broke. In simple words, they exchanged life impressions; and in a slip of their souls, they felt a strong attraction.”

“The watercolor paintings were a testimony to his life and dreams. She concluded that while she sought a spiritual connection in the teachings of books, he used his art to perceive life from different angles. In that sense, she found him closer to God.”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

This story follows Ecuadorian couple Manuel and Elvira as they pursue better lives for themselves. Manuel is a medicinal herbs merchant who paints watercolors in his free time. In the face of financial hardships, he finds himself making the impossible decision to emigrate to New York to try and support his wife and children who he must leave behind in the meantime. When Elvira tries to join Manuel in New York, she is in a shipwreck that ends up leading her to Madrid where she finds work as a nanny. Throughout the story, we see life through the eyes of both characters in very different parts of the world as they struggle not only the new worlds that they find themselves in but also with the distance between them.

This is Castañeda’s debut novel and I was blown away with his ability to showcase such deeply personal emotions and handle them with beauty and grace as well as his ability to tackle very complex and challenging themes. This story evolves around topics of emigration that are very real for many in the world including the guilt that is felt when leaving loved ones behind, the language barriers and isolation that many feel when leaving their home countries, and much more. I felt that Castañeda did a beautiful job writing all of this in a thought-provoking and, quite frankly,  captivating manner.

I also really enjoyed his capability to weave such colorful descriptions. I felt like I was in the market with Manuel while he sold his herbs or watching him paint his watercolors on the canvases. Castañeda’s vivid descriptions and rich imagery transported me into the world on the page which only made the emotions in this story that much stronger and the pages turn that much faster.

Summary:

Overall, this was a very beautiful and elegant story about the complexities of life that tackled very real topics surrounding the realities of emigration in the pursuit of a better life for you and your family. Full of rich descriptions, love, loss, sacrifice, tenacity, and family, this book could be for anyone who is interested in the deeply honest portrayal of what it means to be human in this world. Happy reading!

Check out Watercolors and Tears here!

Review: Focused on Love by Melody Carson

~ likelystory18 ~ 2 Comments

Synopsis:

Rodeo nights and a city girl who’s all trouble. I must protect this damsel at all costs.

I’m Shane, a lonely cowboy and billionaire bronc rider with a memory I can’t shake.
Then enters Zoey, a sexy city fashion photographer, stirring up dust in my private world.
Sparks fly as we’re instantly drawn to each other.

But, then Zoey unknowingly captures a kidnapping on film
and our attraction takes a very dangerous turn.
I must protect her from the shadows as we unravel an unspeakable
crime that threatens everything.

I’m not only wrestling with broncs,
but I’m protecting the only woman who’s ever stolen my heart.
Together, we’ll face the evil in this small-town mystery that threatens to tear us apart.

This rodeo holds more than bronc riding –
it may just be the place where two hearts find their way home.

But, first, we must outsmart the danger and find our love amidst the chaos.

Favorite Lines:

“Think again, asshat, ’cause that’s not going to happen.”

“You know you’re getting old when sleeping hurts.”

“I didn’t just fall in love with you that day. I fell in love with your spirit, your resilience…your heart. You’re the strongest woman I know, Zoey. And I admire and respect you more than anyone else in this world.”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

This story follows Zoey and Shane. Zoey is a photographer who is sent to Montana to take pictures at a rodeo but finds herself out of a job when her boss gets a bit too flirty for her tastes. When she confronts him about it, he fires her on the spot. Meanwhile, Shane is a rancher and bronco rider at the rodeo who is addicted to the thrill and wants to ride until he is physically no longer able. Shane has no interest in a city girl from LA being at the rodeo but when a girl goes missing, the unlikely pair team up to help solve the case.

This is a contemporary enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy that features cowboys; what is not to love? Like many of Carson’s other books, this is a short and sweet romance that features strong female characters and the men that fall for them. Carson’s writing style flows well and creates an easy to follow story that is easy to get addicted to. If you’re like me, you’ll find yourself turning page after page until you’re staring at the end of the book all in one sitting.

Summary:

Overall, if you like contemporary romances featuring cowboys, small town love, action, suspense, intrigue, and of course romance, then this book could be for you. Happy reading!

Check out Focused on Love here!

 

Review: Journey of Awakening and Higher Consciousness by Jane Kim Yu

~ likelystory18 ~ Leave a comment

Synopsis:

“True spirituality is a true coming alive, for it’s not what you do; it’s who you are. Which means living the life of your dreams on your terms and, most of all, in your heart as the you that you are. Love unleashed.”

Discover the journey of awakening in a new light never seen before. Read about our universal journey of discovery, of awakening to the greatest truth of the land, the truth that reverberates in our very hands, the hands of heart, the very heart of our being, that – you are love.

Through a profoundly rare experience that left the author’s mind silent for nearly half a year, it awakened her own desire to find her fire. The very fire that lit the night sky. The very fire that lives in all our hearts nigh. The very fire, to come alive.

Jane’s debut book Journey of Awakening and Higher Consciousness, is an offering of love that crystalizes her 3 eloquent writing, creative expression, and the exploration of our divine humanity. These combine into an unforgettable experience that will awaken your inner fire and bring passion and purpose back into your life.

Favorite Lines:

“Love is the one thing humanity has been obsessed over. More than wars, catastrophes, and calamities. Beyond all this this singular journey has captivated humanity since the dawn of time.”

“For there is nothing that love does not touch. And yes, you are a part of this great love.”

“True spirituality is a true coming alive, for it’s not what you do; it’s who you are. Which means living the life of your dreams on your terms and, most of all, in your heart as the you that you are. Love unleashed.”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

I want to start this review off by saying that for those that usually follow along, you probably noticed that isn’t my typical read or the type of book that is reviewed on this blog. However, when something sounds interesting, I am not going to turn it down; which is what happened in the case of this book. While not my typical genre preference, I am on bit of a discovery journey myself and thought this sounded really interesting. And it was.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when going into this book but I thought it was a very beautiful book full of care and love. A lot of what is written about resonated with me and probably resonates with a lot of people revolving around what it means to live and be alive. Even though I am not a particularly religious person, this transcends religion and is more about spirituality and faith which don’t have to be tied to religion itself.

Summary:

Overall, this was a book full of love and had a lot of beautiful messaging throughout. It made my day a bit brighter reading it and I would urge anyone that thinks it sounds remotely interesting to give it a chance. 

Check Out Journey of Awakening and Higher Consciousness Here

Review: The Noise by Allison A.

~ likelystory18 ~ 1 Comment

Synopsis:

Angela Blau has a degenerative bone disease, but she was never warned her mind could deteriorate as well. There’s no other explanation for the footsteps coming from the second floor—footsteps her husband, Jack, never hears. And then there are the ghosts who attack her at night, and the townspeople who dig through the dirt like rabid animals and peer through her windows.

Maybe the ghosts and the townspeople are in her head—it wouldn’t be the first time she’s let her mind wander—but the noise has to be real, and she’d go up there and prove it if the stairs weren’t so rotted that she’d fall right through, Jack says.

Things get worse when Arlo, a lonely old man who lives “somewhere down the street,” reveals a violent crime that occurred on the second floor. Against Jack’s warnings, Arlo indulges Angela’s growing obsession and pushes her to discover the true source of the noise, who exactly the townspeople are, and whether a traumatic incident that occurred four months ago, an incident Angela refuses to talk about, is to blame for all of it.

Favorite Lines:

“Death is supposed to affect us, change us, make us see things differently. Don’t let anyone make you believe you need to ignore that.”

“But I used to tell them the same thing I tell myself: you don’t move on, you carry on, towards the reward of true love that will last an eternity. Everything else is just noise”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

I will admit I was a bit hesitant about this book because it seemed like it would be really spooky and I wasn’t sure I was ready for that. As someone who has anxiety, which comes with paranoia, and also someone who hasn’t made up their mind about if they believe in ghosts and the supernatural, this book felt like it was going to feed my fears. 

Putting my fears aside, I devoured this book in one sitting. While this book was definitely spooky, the creepy ghosts were just a part of the equation and I found myself much more distracted by the suspense and mystery of what was happening to Angela. I was turning page after page trying to get answers to the burning questions that I had. The author did a great job keeping me at the edge of my seat and there was an awesome plot twist towards the end. Without giving any spoilers away, by the end of the book, I had tears streaming down my face; the author did an amazing job at evoking strong emotional reactions.

Summary:

Overall, I loved this book. It was very well written and I would recommend it to anyone that is looking for a book that has elements of the paranormal, a psychological thriller, suspense, mystery, and romance. Happy reading!

The Noise