#Book Review – The Last Grand Duchess; B. Turnbull

Let me say right from the start that this book is amazing. Its main feature is the obvious amount of research Turnbull put into it, something I’m grateful for. It allowed me to learn more about the House of Romanov and the early ‘900–from an unique standpoint.

#Book Mini Review #ARC – Inside Your Japanese Garden; J. Cali and S. Yasumoro

Another book caught in the bottleneck—there are 5-6 of them, I think—and I’m sorry because Inside Your Japanese Garden deserves the highest praises. No one rated it on GoodReads yet, I mean, which. A crime, let me tell you.

#Book Review – Uniquely Japan; A. Denson

What a cool little concept book! Uniquely Japan is the travel guide you wouldn’t expect, full of drawings and personal pictures.

#Book Review #ARC – Let’s Get Lost; F. Beales

What a gift Let’s Get Lost has been. It sat on my Edelweiss shelf, almost unassuming, as if it didn’t want to take up too much space (humanizing books, now? Why, yes), and it caught my eye because of the promise in the title. Let’s Get Lost, it said—neither in the neighborhood nor after making a wrong turn, but truly lost. 

#Book Review – The Girl Behind the Wall; M. Robotham

Berlin, summer 1961. A wall goes up during the night, splitting the city in half and separating East Berlin from West Berlin. The citizens who were used to crossing a nominal border are now trapped in their respective sections, unable to leave. It happens to Jutta and Karin Voigt, too: the two sisters, twins, are both western Berliners, but Karin ends up in an eastern hospital right before Operation Rose begins. 

#Book Review – The Impossible Road Trip; E. Dregni

Eric Dregni has put together an excellent little book. Armed with an interest in oddities and a camera to snap away at roadside attractions, Dregni states he began researching when he was young. The Impossible Road Trip is the result of years of hard work and dedication, sprinkled with hilarity. It’s Americana incarnated.

Sisters of the Great War – Suzanne Feldman

Sisters of the Great War is the story of Ruth and Elise Duncan, two sisters who enlist in the army during WWI. They have their reasons to do so, whether it’s pursuing a dream or escaping from their father’s oppressive household; what awaits them in Ypres, though, has nothing to do with ideals, morals, or the need to do the right thing.

At Home in the Wine Country: Architecture Design in the California Vineyards – H. S. Hebert, C. R. Ewald

At Home in the Wine Country is a stylish, well-curated book featuring Californian homes. They’re all high-end, with enough space to showcase and highlight various pieces of furniture.

Love & Saffron: A Novel of Friendship, Food, and Love – Kim Fay

Love & Saffron, a novel written by Kim Fay, explores the lives of Joan and Imogen. These two women start corresponding in the early sixties, and their relationship soon develops into a true friendship. They confide in each other via letter, sharing secrets, personal failures and achievements. It sounds simple enough, and yet it isn't.

America’s Outback: An Odyssey Through the Great Southwest – John Annerino

Annerino is so talented I wonder where to start. America’s Outback, his latest book, showcases his skills with a camera, bringing pictures to life.