Spotlight of Into The Flow by Kathleen Branigan

PHOTO SOURCE:
TYPORAMA
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INTO THE FLOW

KATHLEEN BRANIGAN

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ALL INFORMATION IN THIS POST IS COURTESY OF KARI OLSON OF MINDBUCK MEDIA

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We all have that chaotic friend, and we love them for it. We love them even more for being self-aware enough to laugh at themselves.

That’s exactly what Kathleen Branigan delivers in her introspective memoir, Into the Flow

For fans of You Are a Badass and Eat, Pray, Love comes a hilarious and gripping memoir materialized by a sound reminder: real awakening and fulfillment isn’t found in chasing “more” but in coming home to ourselves.

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October 20, 2026

She Writes Press

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PRAISE FOR INTO THE FLOW:

"In this bold book, Branigan writes with the immediacy and intimacy of a best friend... An unflinchingly honest memoir..." —Kirkus

“Branigan refuses to turn herself into a memoir saint. She stays defensive, skeptical, hopeful, exhausted, and funny…By the final stretch, Into the Flow stops reading like a memoir about enlightenment. It becomes a survival story about staying present when life breaks apart.”—Los Angeles Book Review, 5 stars

"Into the Flow feels less like a manual for transformation than a candid record of one woman learning to stop outsourcing her own life…This is a good book for…anyone who has ever tried very hard to become whole before realizing they were never quite as broken as they feared.”—Literary Titan, 5 stars

“With a moving writing style, Into the Flow transforms tears of pain into joy and mindfulness. The author reaches her mystical revelation not through yoga or escaping in a remote retreat, but in her reality, in her own writing and reading, in the present, that “now” which speaks to our soul and teaches truths that not even religion can reveal.”—Readers Favorite, 5 stars 

“A gentle yet powerful guide to living with more creativity and ease, while transcending your mind’s shenanigans.”—Gay Hendricks, New York Times bestselling author of The Big Leap

“A wise, disarmingly funny invitation to stop pushing against life and begin listening to it—a powerful reminder that what we resist is often the doorway to the fulfillment we seek.”—Mary O’Malley, author of the spiritual classic What’s in the Way Is the Way

“Kathleen captures the Ayahuasca journey with courage and humor, offering a real glimpse into the transformation this medicine can facilitate.” —Maestro Hamilton Souther, Founder of the renowned Blue Morpho Ayahuasca Retreat Center

“Funny, honest, inspiring, and deeply relatable.” —Lindsey Salatka, author of Fish Heads and Duck Skin

“Loved it. It’s like Jen Sincero meets Eckhart Tolle. Kathleen’s voice is such a unique combination of humor and deep insights.”—Stella Papadopoulos, author of I’m Getting Divorced, Where Do I Start?

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ABOUT INTO THE FLOW:

For fans of Eat, Pray, Love and You Are a Badass, a bold and hilarious memoir of seeking and striving that reveals true awakening and fulfillment aren't found in chasing "more" but in coming home to ourselves. 

What would you let go of to be free, to live a life that feels truly yours? 

When deep personal loss and burnout crack open the life she thought she wanted, Kathleen Branigan launches a quest for truth that takes her places she never imagined: devouring self-help books, jumping out of airplanes, earning a master's degree in religious studies, and venturing into the Amazon for five nights of ayahuasca ceremonies. 

Into the Flow is a funny, soul-baring memoir for anyone seeking answers to life's Big Questions, healing from heartbreak, or craving deeper purpose in a world where the old maps have stopped working. Through insightful, entertaining encounters with metaphysical teachers, therapists, and shamans, plus a few wild adventures, Kathleen discovers that freedom isn't found in miracle cures or the next breakthrough. It's about learning to trust yourself again. 

If you're navigating fear, uncertainty, identity crisis, or simply want a real story about reinvention, Into the Flow delivers honest reflection, laughter, and a powerful reminder: clarity, fulfillment, and love emerge when you stop searching and choose to create a life that feels like your own. 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kathleen Branigan draws on over twenty years of coaching experience, a master’s degree in religious studies from Georgetown University, and a lifetime of exploration to empower high performers, creators, and seekers to align who they are with how they live.

A former full-time vagabonder, she’s traded her suitcase for hiking boots and now calls Asheville, NC, home.

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Author Website

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The Piano Teacher of Montparnasse by Heather Morris

Another family torn apart during the roundup.

Josie wasn't on the Gestapo's list and was saved.  Her mother told her to make her way to the piano teacher's house. They will keep you safe until she and her brother return.

Josie spent the war with the Levallois family.

They accepted Josie, changed her name to their name, and kept her safe through the years of hunger and the horror of occupied Paris.

Based on a true story and real people, you will feel the pain that was endured but the love that helped all of them get through it.

THE PIANO TEACHER OF is another marvelously researched, heartbreaking book by Ms. Morris.  5/5

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book.  All opinions are my own.

Book Blogger Hop - 10/23/2026

                                              

Question of the Week:

What’s the creepiest book you’ve read that isn’t officially horror, but gave you chills?

My Answer:

I never read creepy books, but I do read psychological thrillers.

Friendly. Fill-Ins

                                                         

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FRIENDLY FILL-INS:

 1. I have been______ for ______.

2. ____________ bores me. 

3. _________ is my main criticism of _________.

 

4. If I threw a Halloween party, it would include _________.

MY ANSWERS:

1.  I have hoping for a this month to go slower.  Time is just flying.

2.  Watching television bores me except for Jeopardy.

3.  Pasta sauce is my main criticism of restaurants.

4.  If I threw a Halloween party, it would include a giveaway of books.

 

The Diary at the Irish Adoption House by Michelle Vernal

I was adopted??  Why didn't my parents tell me?

When Micky's parents passed away he was summoned to their solicitor's office.  He didn't know why because everything had been taken care of.

He was devastated to find out he was adopted, and the diary his mother left told her story.

We hear Sheila's story in alternating timelines as we learn of what happened before she fell in love, what happened that put her in a home for unwed mothers when she was married but in an abusive relationship, and  to current day.

The timelines made it a bit confusing, but the storyline kept my interest.

You will enjoy Sheila's story told through her diary jottings. 

T​H​E DIARY AT THE IRISH ADOPTION HOUSE is a heartbreaking yet heartwarming read that reveals what really happened to women in Ireland, detailing how they had to work as servants to pay for their stay and ultimately give up their children.​ 4/5

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book.  All opinions are my own.

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Michelle Vernal is a New Zealand author who writes stories that will take you onto the page with her characters and make you feel part of their lives. She writes with humour and warmth, and her readers describe her books as unputdownable, feel good and funny. Her writing has been likened to Maeve Binchy but with a modern-day vernacular. In 2015 she was shortlisted for the Love Stories Award. In 2020 she won the Reader’s Favorite Gold Medal Award for Chick lit, and in 2021 was shortlisted for the Page Turner Book Awards.

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What readers are saying about Michelle Vernal:

‘I absolutely fell in love… Heart-wrenching… Had me reaching for tissues multiple times while reading late into the night.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Heartbreaking… I was moved to tears… Gripping… Held my attention and my heartfrom beginning to end.’ Robin Loves Reading, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Wow wow wow!!!! I read this in less than twenty-four hours. So gripping, it had me hooked and unable to put it down.’ diane.likes.to.read, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Omg I went through quite a few tissues… Totally shattered my heart while at the same time putting the pieces back together again… Amazing.’ leannebookstagram, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Heart-wrenching… Unputdownable… I couldn’t resist flipping through the pages, my eyes brimming with tears… Phenomenal.’ Page Turners, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Wow! I have to say that this page-turner is so outstanding that I read it in a single day! Putting it down was not an option.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A heartbreaking and very powerful book… I couldn’t put it down… Brilliant… This book was magic… Just so heartbreaking… Captivating.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘What an incredible read!… Raw and heartbreaking… Attention-grabbing, page-turner… Excellent… Kept me hooked… One to add to your list!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Heartbreaking… Beautiful story that will tug at your heart… You instantly feel drawn… Definitely a must-read.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Missing Molly by Natalie Barelli

Molly’s entire family was murdered except for her, but where is she?

That has been the question for the past 12 years, and only Molly herself knows the answer.

Why is she the only one who knows the answer? Because she is alive and is now, Rachel.

How did she hide and go undetected all this time, and why is she worried now that someone is going to find out she is alive?

She’s worried because the newspaper she works for is about to go under and they decided to start a podcast about where did Molly go and she knows the killer is looking for her because she can identify him.

Will everyone find out she is really Molly and cause the killer to easily find her?

Find out what happens in this tense read that will keep you turning the pages as always with a Natalie Barelli book. 5/5

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book.  All opinions are my own.

Spotlight of The Key To A Killer by Olivia Blacke

PHOTO SOURCE:
TYPORAMA
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THE KEY TO A KILLER

OLIVIA BLACKE

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ALL INFORMATION IN THIS POST IS COURTESY OF SARA LACOTTI | PUBLICITY | ST. MARTIN'S PRESS

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A woman and her ghost roommate investigate their most personal case yet in Olivia Blacke’s THE KEY TO A KILLER, the final book in the Anthony Award winning Ruby and Cordelia Mystery trilogy.

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October 20, 2026

Macmillan/Minotaur Books

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PRAISE FOR THE KEY TO A KILLER:

“For readers who like their mystery with a solid dose of the otherworldly.”—Kirkus Reviews

 

“With these likable characters and a quirky storyline, Death at the Door is a fun read that feels fresh, perfect for fans of supernatural mysteries with a cozy mystery mentality.”—Booklist

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ABOUT THE KEY TO A KILLER:

A woman and her ghost roommate investigate their most personal case yet in Olivia Blacke’s The Key to a Killer, the next book in the Anthony Award winning Ruby and Cordelia Mysteries.

When Ruby Young discovered that her Boston apartment was haunted, she did what any reasonable person would do: befriend the ghost. Their relationship overcame a shaky start—Cordelia Graves never wanted a roommate in life, she certainly didn’t want one in death. After working together to solve a few murders, the two are close friends, but there’s a lingering question neither of them have been able to answer: what led to Cordelia’s death?

Lately things have been adding up that suggest foul play. And when Cordelia’s memories of that day start to come back, the roommates can’t ignore it anymore: Cordelia was murdered. Ruby and Cordelia are going to have to piece together what Cordelia’s final days looked like—otherwise a killer could go free.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

OLIVIA BLACKE (she/her) had her first encounter with a ghost when she was only five years old, but her first involvement with an active crime scene wasn’t until much later, when she accidentally stepped into a chalk outline on a Manhattan sidewalk.

OLIVIA BLACKE (she/her) is the Anthony Award-winning author of the Ruby and Cordelia Mysteries, as well as the cozy Record Shop Mysteries and the Brooklyn Murder Mysteries.

Armed with a Criminology and Criminal Justice degree, she finally found a way to channel her love of the supernatural and passion for writing into the darkly humorous Ruby and Cordelia Mysteries. 

She is also the author of the Record Shop Mysteries and the Brooklyn Murder Mysteries.

She still wants to be a unicorn when she grows up.

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Author Website

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