I have been reading up a storm this week, and my thoughts are swirling around all things books and reading, so I thought I would make this a special book edition of Five on Friday.
{1} Books I Read This Week
I finished reading The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton early in the week. This was the second book that I’ve read by Kate Morton and the two are very much alike one another with lots of plot twists and a surprise ending. I do have to say that this was a slow read for me. It seems to take me longer to really get into Kate Morton’s books in the beginning and whenever there is a transition. I enjoyed it, but it wasn’t a favorite and I don’t necessarily feel compelled to read everything that this author has written.
On the other hand, The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom had me hooked from the very beginning! I completed this 385 page book in just two days because I was completely consumed by it!! The characters and plot were absolutely gripping. This book follows the lives of Lavinia, an orphaned girl from Ireland who becomes an indentured servant, and Belle, the master’s illegitimate slave daughter. This book does a brilliant job of exploring the themes of slavery, class, racism, human dignity, family secrets and familial bonds. I highly recommend it!!
{2} Book I’m Currently Reading
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford has been on my wish list for books for quite some time, so I’m excited to get started on it!! I remembered it after hearing it recommended on Anne Bogel’s podcast What Should I Read Next and knew it was time for me to finally delve into it. This historical fiction book sounds like it’s right up my alley!
{3} A Read-Aloud Challenge
My kids are super pumped about taking part in the Read-Aloud Revival’s 31 Day Read Aloud Challenge and I’m excited for them! The challenge is for them to read aloud for at least 15 minutes 25/31 days in May. They will be entered to win lots of great prizes over at the Read-Aloud Revival site if they complete the challenge. And I have promised them some fun surprises along the way from me as well!
{4} Book of the Month Club
I have two reading goals for this year. One of those goals is to read more books in book form. I do most of my reading on my Kindle and I LOVE it, but I am feeling the desire to hold an actual book in my hands and turn real pages.
I’ve been hearing a lot about Book of the Month Club and I’m really contemplating giving it a try.
It’s basically a subscription service where you get one hard back newly released book delivered to your door each month. You get to choose from five books of different genres and you can have additional books delivered for just $10. I think this would be an awesome way to try new books and get reading real, actual books at the same time!
{5} The 2016 Ultimate Homemaking Bundle
My second reading goal for this year is to read more non-fiction. I think The Ultimate Homemaking Bundle is going to be a great way to incorporate more non-fiction into my reading life.
It was created to give you a plethora of amazing, high-quality resources to take some of the stress, overwhelm and difficulty out of homemaking and mothering.
The Ultimate Homemaking Bundle includes 93 hand-picked eBooks, eCourses, and printables, on topics that matter to moms such as:
- organization, routines & creating a cozy home
- recipes, grocery shopping and meal planning
- budgeting and saving money
- motherhood (no matter what age your kids are)
- cultivating a strong marriage
- faith (for you & your kids)
- and even self-care (like exercise, weight loss, life planning and coloring books!)
- and much more…
You have a full year to download the eBooks and printables and take the online eCourses, and everything you’ve downloaded becomes part of your permanent library, so you can go back to it whenever you need it.
Plus, it comes with these FREE bonus offers from companies who know what homemakers need and want. Some are 100% free; other are yours for the cost of shipping only. You’ll get:
- FREE Mrs. Meyer’s Dish Soap, Mrs. Meyer’s Multi Surface Spray, Grove Collaborative Spray Bottle, Grove Collaborative Scrubber Sponges and FREE 60-day VIP trial with FREE shipping from Grove Collaborative ($30 value)
- FREE Online Class from Craftsy ($29.99-$69.99 value)
- FREE Kids Discovery Box from GreenKidCrafts.com ($19.95 value)
- $15 Gift Certificate to InkWELL Press ($15 value)
- $15 Credit to Hope Ink Shop PLUS Two FREE 8×10 Art Prints with Any Purchase ($71)
- FREE SPOT Treatment for Acne & Eczema OR a $15 Gift Certificate from Bloom Naturals ($15 value)
- FREE 90-Day Pro Membership to ListPlanIt.com ($30)
- FREE 1-Year MollyGreen.com Membership ($29 value)
- FREE Hand Massage Routine Videos from Melt Couples Massage ($24 value)
It’s available until Monday, May 2nd, 2016 at 11:59pm EST. The Ultimate Bundles team can offer so much, because they only have permission to sell it for such a short period of time.
The total value is an astonishing $1000+ (plus over $300 in bonuses), but you get it for just $29.97. That’s 97% off what it would cost to buy everything individually!
Learn more or get your bundle now!
If you think getting all those homemaking & mothering helps for less than $30 sounds like a steal, then make sure to go HERE to see exactly what it includes and grab yours before this deal ends!
**The links for The Ultimate Homemaking Bundle include affiliate links**
Happy Friday Friends!!!
Laura Cross says
I just read Kitchen House in 2 days too ! SO good!