Penny's Passion: Five on Friday - August 20, 2021

Friday, August 20, 2021

Five on Friday - August 20, 2021

Happy Friday!  Today is especially happy for me because tomorrow I'm on vacation.  A friend and I are headed to the beach and I can't wait to hear the waves crashing into the shore!  We know we'll have to be careful because of the uptick in COVID, but Eric and I did this trip last year and felt very safe.  Before we load up and head out, I want to share my five for this week ~

Are you a Danielle Steel fan?  If so, you will be happy to know her latest novel hit the stands this week.  The book Complications is set in an exclusive hotel in Paris.  Yes, that in and of itself intrigues me!  Here's the summary from Amazon ~
Known for its luxurious accommodations and bespoke service, the Hotel Louis XVI has been the most lauded boutique hotel in all of Paris for decades, attracting an international clientele of the rich and famous. Now, after four years of renovations and the death of its legendary and beloved manager, it is set to reopen its doors at last. An esteemed group of loyal returning guests is set to descend upon the hotel, joined by a number of new faces who have managed to secure coveted bookings in the wake of last-minute cancellations.

Awaiting them all is the Louis XVI’s new manager, Olivier Bateau, an anxious man whose lack of experience leaves him unprepared. He and his level-headed assistant manager, Yvonne Philippe, both strive to continue the hotel’s tradition of excellence. But they quickly realize that anything can happen at any moment, and on one cool September evening, everything does.

A successful art consultant arrives at the hotel for the first time since her brutal divorce, and is surprised to find new love—if she is willing to risk her heart again. A new guest contemplates ending his life, and saves a life instead. A couple finds their once-in-a-lifetime trip interrupted by a tragic medical emergency, leaving the idyllic future they’ve long waited for hanging in the balance. And one of the hotel’s most high-profile guests, a French politician and assumed presidential candidate, holds a mysterious meeting in his suite that will threaten his life and legacy. Rocked by the events of this one fateful night, guests and staff alike brace themselves for the aftershock, as it quickly becomes apparent that more dramas and misfortunes are still in store.

Danielle Steel tells an unforgettable story about a famed hotel, where a few complications quickly escalate into a matter of life and death, changing the lives of everyone who passes through its doors.

2.  CODA
Last Friday night, Eric and I stayed home and had a movie night.  We chose CODA on Apple TV as our selection.  It was a winner!  Have you seen it?  If not, put it on your list.  CODA stands for a child of deaf adults.  Here's the summary ~
Seventeen-year-old Ruby (Emilia Jones) is the sole hearing member of a deaf family -- a CODA, child of deaf adults. Her life revolves around acting as an interpreter for her parents (Marlee Matlin, Troy Kotsur) and working on the family's struggling fishing boat every day before school with her father and older brother (Daniel Durant). But when Ruby joins her high school's choir club, she discovers a gift for singing and soon finds herself drawn to her duet partner Miles (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo). Encouraged by her enthusiastic, tough-love choirmaster (Eugenio Derbez) to apply to a prestigious music school, Ruby finds herself torn between the obligations she feels to her family and the pursuit of her own dreams.

3.  Salted Caramel Brownie Oreo
The Oreo factories released their latest concoction this week.  The Salted Caramel Brownie Oreo hit the shelves this week and they will only be around for a limited time.  Everything about this cookie sounds good to me!  It's definitely on my shopping list. 


4.  Beach Hat
This adorable hat arrived on my porch this week and I can't wait to wear it on the beach!  It's actually so cute I could wear it off the beach.  It was only $10.99, so my expectation was low.  I was so pleasantly surprised!  The quality is much better than I expected and it fits great.  It's going to be the perfect accessory to keep the sun off my face.


5.  Often wonder...


Have a great weekend friends!  My goal today is to finish up work and be packed and in bed by 10:00 pm.  We have a long day of driving tomorrow and I'd like to start the trip feeling rested.  Wish me luck on this because I'm typically up until the wee hours of the morning making sure I've packed half the house and am ready for anything and everything that could possibly come our way while away from home.  See you next week from the beach!


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