The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley - Courtney Walsh

 

Isadora Bentley has been burned before, when a man kept their relationship a secret, and then stole all the credit for her research. Now, she works alone.  When she runs across an article claiming that if she follows a set of steps, she can find happiness, she sets out to disprove the author.  But what if it actually works?

I have never read another book like this one; one where the author is smart, yet blunt and considered prickly by her co-workers, but she finds people who allow her to be who she is, while helping her see herself the way they see her, thus allowing her to become more of whom she's meant to be.

The cast of friends gathered to Isadora during her happiness experiment are fantastic characters.  My favorite, perhaps, is the 10-year-old Delilah, in whom Isadora finds a kindred spirit, and sees what she could have had if there had been supportive people in her life at a young age.

I also love that once Isadora starts to look beyond herself, she sees the other women in her profession who have also been overlooked, or taken advantage of, and she becomes a source of encouragement for them.

I give this book 5 stars. Isadora will resonate with any woman who's worked in a male-dominated field, or who finds themselves at odds with societal norms.

You can find The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley HERE.
You can find the author on Facebook HERE.

I received a digital copy of this book, via NetGalley, from the publisher, in exchange for my honest review.

With Every Memory - Janine Rosche

 

After a devastating car accident that resulted in the loss of her son and months in a rehabilitation facility, Lori Mendenhall returns to a home that she doesn't remember, and a family and life that doesn't match up with the last memories she has - from 8 years ago.  As she tries to fit what she knows with what is happening now, who will she choose to become from this day forward? 

This book covers a lot of tough topics within its pages; sensitive readers should be aware of the subject matter (but I don't want to spoil anything - I'm sure there are warnings in other descriptions).  However, it comes with the good reminder that personal memories aren't one hundred percent reliable, and that there are two sides to every story.  Even with the worst of situations, with grace can come second chances.

3 stars to this book; it was good, and I'm sure it will resonate with some readers.

You can find With Every Memory HERE.

You can find the author HERE. 

I received a digital copy of this book, via NetGalley, from the publisher, in exchange for my honest review.