Jenny always dreamed of getting married at Heart’s Landing. But when she finally visits the charming small town, she’s there to make wedding arrangements for someone else: her cousin, who also happens to be her boss and a famous movie star. To keep the event secret and avoid a media circus, Jenny pretends she’s the one getting married.
Nick is intrigued by this bride-to-be who starts visiting his bakery every afternoon for sweet treats and conversation. He has to keep reminding himself that she’s already spoken for.
As Jenny deals with her cousin’s ever-changing demands, she tries to hide her attraction to Nick. Planning this wedding couldn’t be more complicated…and what will happen once the truth comes to light?
My Review
A Simple Wedding was a lot of fun to read. I loved Jenny and Nick enough to overlook the not-so-tiny lie Jenny had to tell. Jenny was truly stuck between a rock and a hard place with it. Having sworn to keep her super-famous cousin’s wedding a secret, she was pretending she was planning her own. Jenny’s conflict and debate over telling the town’s people that she had come to love the secret, and keeping her promise was very real.
Jenny’s cousin, Kay, is a famous movie star. And she acted like a lot of the stereotypes that go along with that position. She constantly changed her mind and expected people to just “make it happen,” including her cousin. She seemed so detached from reality, and Jenny was too afraid to stand up to her.
Jenny’s saving grace was the baker from I Do Cakes, Nick. He encouraged her to stand up for what she wanted. Remember he thought it was her wedding. But he also stood by her and helped in so many big and small ways when she needed to make changes to the plan. Apparently, he can also make a mean chocolate cupcake, which is an instant win in my book.
I do think the town forgave Jenny and moved on really quickly. I don’t want the main character to suffer, but I do think showing consequences that last more than a few minutes is important.
Overall, this hits all the highs of a traditional Hallmark Romance. It sounds like this will be an ongoing series. And I really hope that happens. This town and the people in it quickly become your friends, and I need to visit them and see another Heart’s Landing wedding.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
I learned so much about the art of henna and the role it played in Indian culture – it was amazing.
Lakshmi’s drive to succeed and make a better life for herself and her family, despite her past, was inspiring.
About The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi:
Lakshmi Shastri has spent years carving out a life for herself as a henna artist after fleeing her abusive husband and backward rural village for the Rajasthan capital. Well-versed in apothecary and the miraculous properties of herbs, her services (the effects of which are far more than just aesthetic) are highly sought after by upper-caste women, and Lakshmi’s success brings her within inches from her, and her country’s, ultimate goal: total independence. That is, until the past she has so desperately tried to run from comes knocking at her door…
My Full Review of The Henna Artist
The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi is the story of Lakshmi Lakshmi ran away from her village life with an abusive husband to make it on her own. This is a difficult task in 1950s India. She makes her way up through society, making sure to always follow the rules and know her place. Pleasing her “ladies” with every visit, and making her henna designs seem like magical cures. All the time, saving money to build her own house.
But when Lakshmi’s sister, the one she didn’t know existed, shows up with the husband Lakshmi ran away from 13 years ago, things slowly begin to fall apart. As she tries to navigate the tricky social structures without missing a step, the worst happens, and she finds herself having to decide what family really means and how to best help them.
The well-written relationship between Lakshmi and her sister, as well as the errand boy, turns out to be far more important than you think at first. They were incredibly different people, and yet they were very similar as well. As with many families, their relationship isn’t all roses. But you could see how Lakshmi was trying so hard to do what was right. She wanted to give her sister every opportunity that she could possibly have.
Lakshmi earns extra money making herbal remedies. Some make sure women who don’t want to be mothers don’t have to be. Many people around her frowned on this practice. And they also shunned her other natural remedies in favor of modern techniques and medicines. This cultural difference between the city and the villages really played a role as Lakshmi’s character developed and she navigated the world around her.
The Henna Artist was beautifully written and immersed me in an unfamiliar culture. I loved every second of it. The story unfolds in a way that isn’t all excitement and suspense. It’s peppered with moments that stood out in my mind as I read through it. I highly recommend this book.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
Pick up your copy of The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi
Three reasons you should read Atomic Habits by James Clear
Atomic Habits is easy to listen to with a lot of good tips that are uncomplicated.
Great step by step approach to changing or quitting habits that builds on itself through the book.
Homework and worksheets are available to go along with it that were very helpful at times.
About Atomic Habitsby James Clear
No matter your goals, Atomic Habits offers a proven framework for improving–every day. James Clear, one of the world’s leading experts on habit formation, reveals practical strategies that will teach you exactly how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results.
If you’re having trouble changing your habits, the problem isn’t you. The problem is your system. Bad habits repeat themselves again and again not because you don’t want to change, but because you have the wrong system for change. You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems. Here, you’ll get a proven system that can take you to new heights.
Clear is known for his ability to distill complex topics into simple behaviors that can be easily applied to daily life and work. Here, he draws on the most proven ideas from biology, psychology, and neuroscience to create an easy-to-understand guide for making good habits inevitable and bad habits impossible. Along the way, readers will be inspired and entertained with true stories from Olympic gold medalists, award-winning artists, business leaders, life-saving physicians, and star comedians who have used the science of small habits to master their craft and vault to the top of their field.
Learn how to:
make time for new habits (even when life gets crazy);
overcome a lack of motivation and willpower;
design your environment to make success easier;
get back on track when you fall off course;
…and much more.
Atomic Habits will reshape the way you think about progress and success, and give you the tools and strategies you need to transform your habits–whether you are a team looking to win a championship, an organization hoping to redefine an industry, or simply an individual who wishes to quit smoking, lose weight, reduce stress, or achieve any other goal.
My Review
Atomic Habits does a great job of laying out the framework of changing, improving good habits, and getting rid of bad habits. James Clear walks you through the process of how habits form using realistic examples and psychological and sociological backup. Also, he throws in a bit of chemistry when he mentions how the chemicals in the brain respond to stimulus. But the book isn’t a bunch of high-level information that you can’t use. Clear lays out step-by-step directions to help create better habits in your life.
Pulling from his personal experience and the work of other habit specialists, James Clear brings their work together and pairs them with real-life exercises and homework to help you along the way. I did listen to the audiobook, and handouts are available through links he provides verbally throughout.
While I was able to take away some ideas on how to build good habits (habit-stacking is probably my favorite), there were a few times things got a little repetitive. I understand James Clear presented similar concepts in different ways with different approaches. Still, I wanted to hit fast-forward every now and then. A few of the examples were a little extreme – and were acknowledged as such.
I learned a lot from reading Atomic Habits. And it was a good read. There are a few tactics and practices that I plan on trying, and there are a few that I won’t. If you’re looking for some good ideas, I would give this book a try.
