More than 20 finds in this week’s posting, and oodles of both Francophile and Anglophiles treasures. 🙂 A new television series from the one and only Shonda Rhimes, a novel inspired by actual events that took place in Paris in 1895, Monty Don returns and that means spring and gardening can commence at full throttle, Cate Blanchett stars in a new espionage film, a new British series that looks to be a hoot, clothing for spring and summer that will keep you cool, stylish and timeless, and still there is just so much more!

Books

—Everybody Says It’s Everything: A Novel by Xhenet Aliu 

A new novel from critically acclaimed author Xhenet Aliu, Everybody Says It’s Everything will hold your attention until the very end and leave you discovering something you never may have imagined. The storyline centers around adopted twins Drita and Petrit (aka Pete), who have no connection to their Albanian heritage. Raised in Connecticut, they were raised very much in the American way, but upon stepping into adulthood, they become separated.

“Fast-forward to their twenties. Drita has given up on her dreams for the future, abandoning her graduate studies to move back home and take care of their mother. She hasn’t heard from Pete in three years when his girlfriend and their son unexpectedly show up without him and in need of help. Realizing that Pete’s child may offer the siblings a second chance at being family, Drita becomes determined to find her brother. But what she ends up discovering—about their connection to their Albanian roots, the war in Kosovo, and the story of their adoption—will surprise everyone, and become what brings them together, or tears them apart for good.”

Look for this book to be released on Tuesday March 18th.

—Make Money Easy: Create Financial Freedom and Live a Richer Life by Lewis Howes

Also being released on Tuesday is Make Money Easy. Lewis Howes “leverages insight gleaned from the many financial experts on the School of Greatness show, the latest research around the psychology of money, and his own journey to success, to offer the practical advice and mindset reframing to make the peace and fulfillment you desire a day-to-day reality”. Why all the focus on our mindset?

“Your relationship with money begins with having the right mindset. Until you learn how to shift your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors around money, you’ll keep doing what you’ve always done. And get the same results.” Lewis shares the “7 Money Habits for financial peace and freedom; how to identifying your money style; and how to connect your money mindset with your meaningful mission.”

—The Next Conversation: Argue Less, Talk More by Jefferson Fisher

Available on March 18th, “trial lawyer and a leading-voice on real-world communication, Jefferson Fisher shares in his new book The Next Conversation, how to handle well a heated conversation, how to deal with a difficult personality, or stand your ground with confidence with his down-to-earth teachings to navigate life’s toughest situations”. Fisher has distilled his three-part communication system (Say it with control, Say it with confidence, Say it to connect) that can easily be applied to any situation, underscoring “how to overcome conflict with connection; why you should never ‘win’ an argument; how to assert yourself and communicate with intention; how to set boundaries and frame conversations; and why saying less is often more.”

—Martha Stewart’s Gardening Handbook

Spring is nearly here, and the garden is calling! Being released as well on March 18th is Martha Stewart’s new book, her gardening handbook. “From designing your garden to selecting the right varieties for your region, this manual has every detail covered. Whether you’re a green thumb or a gardening novice, this gorgeous book, filled with practical tips, stunning images (many from Martha’s personal gardens), and detailed explanations, will arm you with the knowledge to help your garden thrive. As Martha likes to say, gardening is a never-ending opportunity for growth.”

—Slowing: Wonder, Beauty, and Creativity through Slow Living by Rachel Schwartzmann 

Released this past September and inspired by her podcast Slow Stories comes Rachel Schwartzmann’s book Slowing. Sharing 52 stories—one for every week of the year—readers will be inspired to cultivate awareness, calm, and joy. 

British Finds

—The Fisherman’s Gift: A Novel by Julia R. Kelly

Set in Scotland, The Fisherman’s Gift looks to be a gift to readers who love an engaging and endearing story. Set in “1900 and Skerry, a small Scottish fishing village, an unyielding winter descends. During a storm, a young boy washes up on the shore. He bears an uncanny resemblance to teacher Dorothy’s son, lost to the sea at the same age many years before, his body never found . . . The village is soon snowed in, and Dorothy agrees to look after the child until they can uncover the mystery of his origins. But over time, the lines between reality and desperate hope start to blur as the boy reminds Dorothy more and more of her own lost child.”

“The boy’s arrival also finally forces Dorothy to face the truth about her brief but passionate love affair with Joseph, the fisherman who found the boy on the shore and who has been the subject of whispers connecting him to the drowning of Dorothy’s son years earlier.”

You can buy from Amazon here, or Shakespeare & Co. (their available cover is below/to the right) here.

Released on the 6th of March in the UK; will be released on March 18th in the US

—Gardeners’ World, Britbox/BBC Two

Ohhhh! When Gardeners’ World’s new season kicks off each March that signals Spring’s arrival to me, and while we may be officially a week early, the weekly ritual will begin upon returning from France to potter in the garden on Saturday followed by settling into the reading snug and watching the latest episode, hosted by Monty Don and his pup companion Ned along with all of the other wonderful co-hosts. Premiering tonight at 8pm British time on BBC Two and then available a few hours later on BritBox for us in the states, it’s time to don our gardening hats and wellies and start to putz about outdoors! Wahoo!

—Ludwig, BritBox

Now this looks like a riotous good time of a new series on BritBox. Ludwig stars David Mitchell and Anna Maxwell Martin “where reclusive puzzle setter John ‘Ludwig’ Taylor must do the unthinkable when his identical twin, Detective James Taylor, goes missing. Swapping crosswords for crime scenes, Ludwig assumes his brother’s identity—and as he bumbles through the clues, he discovers a surprising knack for cracking cases”. Enjoy six episodes, and look for the series to begin by sharing two of them on Thursday March 20th.

—Rogues and Scholars: A History of the London Art World: 1945-2000 by James Stourton

Continually being highly praised by critics, James’s Stourton’s Rogues and Scholars “tells the story of the London art market from the immediate postwar period to the turn of the millennium. While Sotheby’s is the lynchpin of this story, Stourton populates his narrative with a glorious rogue’s gallery of eccentric scholars, clever amateurs, brilliant emigrés, and stylish grandees with a flair for the deal.” Released back in February, if you enjoy art, a good, perplexing caper and the curiosity of it being a true story, then this is a book to pick up!

Released in February 2025

Cookbooks

—Shred Happens: So Easy, So Good — Favorites with a Low-Carb Twist by Arash Hashemi

Admittedly, not the typical cookbook I might share, but if you look closely at what Arash Hashemi’s cookbook is all about, eating deliciously, yet eating well, then, I guess it is! Sharing 100+ low-carb, high-protein recipes―all flavored with Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flair, each were developed by Hashemi to help him lose weight, 100 pounds in fact. “With a philosophy geared toward approachable meals that anyone can make in 30 minutes or less . . .  in his debut cookbook, [discover] his formula for success: mouthwatering meals built on protein, veggies, and satisfying lower-carb alternatives, dressed up with amazing flavors and sauces”.

Released on March 18th

Film

—Black Bag

Critics are ho-hum about this new film, but with the assembled cast, I am definitely going to be watching Black Bag. Cate Blanchett stars as intelligence agent Kathryn Woodhouse who is suspected of betraying the nation. Michael Fassbender (The Agency) stars as her husband – also a legendary agent, who now faces the ultimate test of whether to be loyal to his marriage, or his country. Cue the drama and endless tension! Have a look at the trailer below, and look for it beginning today in theaters and soon to be streaming on Peacock.

Francophile Find

—Mismatch, season 2, MHzChoice

I thoroughly enjoyed this French drama series Mismatch when it came available a couple of years ago on MHzChoice, and thankfully there is a second season. The two leads, seen in the photo still below, play half-sisters, one a cop, the other a judge/attorney, and their personalities (and personal lives) couldn’t be further from each other. But, if you’ve watched Season 1 already, you know they have a tight bond. Look for two new episodes each week, four currently are available.

—The Paris Express: A Novel by Emma Donoghue 

Immediately upon learning of this novel, I purchased it and cannot wait to begin reading it when I get home as it will be released on March 18th. The plot is centered around the historical event that occurred at Gare Montparnasse, the very station I took my train from Paris to Brittany. And upon researching my own trip, I learned about this unique and shocking train crash that brought an arriving train into and through the station itself back in 1895. Inspired by this real-life event, Emma Donoghue takes her novel’s inspiration for The Paris Express.

“Set on a train packed with a fascinating cast of characters who hail from as close as Brittany and as far as Russia, Ireland, Algeria, Pennsylvania, and Cambodia, the plot of The Paris Express begins. Members of parliament hurry back to Paris to vote; a medical student suspects a girl may be dying; a secretary tries to convince her boss of the potential of moving pictures; two of the train’s crew build a life away from their wives; a young anarchist makes a terrifying plan, and much more.”

—The Saint Laurent Muse: A Novel by C.W. Gortner

Released on March 18th, The Saint Laurent Muse is set on the Paris runways of the 70s and follows the life of character, fashion’s “It Girl” Loulou de la Falaise and her life partying and designing with Yves Saint Laurent, Karl Lagerfeld, and Halston. 

“It’s the 1970s, and from hippie London to Warhol’s Factory in New York, reluctant aristocrat Loulou de la Falaise is desperately seeking adventure. Having escaped an early, unhappy marriage, she arrives on a whim in Paris” and let the drama and inspiration begin!

Gardening

—The Beautiful Pursuit, Floret Flowers

The gardening content is plentiful at the moment with spring’s imminent arrival, and earlier this year, Erin Benzakein, founder of Floret’s Flowers, released the three-part documentary video series titled The Beautiful Pursuit. “Created by Floret to share an honest and authentic look at flower farming from the point of view of those who do it. It includes more than thirty conversations with farmers around the world and explores both the challenges and triumphs of what is more than a career, but a calling.”

“The series delves into experiences rarely talked about publicly: the physical demands of flower farming on the body, the heartbreak of losing entire crops and infrastructure to weather, the financial juggling act of running a farm, as well as the strain farming places on relationships and family. But it also celebrates what makes this path extraordinary: the joy of bringing beauty into the world, our deep connection to nature, and the privilege of being part of life’s most significant moments through flowers.”

Have a look at the trailer below and watch all three videos (each about 40-50 minutes in length) on Floret Flower’s website for free.

Shopping

—Alex Mill Field Cap in Hemp (more colors available)

The stocking caps are coming off! Yes! And the baseball caps are being pulled on. So why not keep a few neutral options on hand? I know I could have used this one while in Paris during my first few days earlier this month as the sun was beaming beautifully!

—Frank & Eileen Southern Ireland, utility Dress, blue stripe (solid colors available)

I can just see this comfortable dress being worn at the farmer’s market, while strolling along a beachfront, window shopping or while dining al fresco!

Made of 100% Italian performance linen, I love this fabric used by Frank & Eileen, and have two of their shorts that I wear all summer long (no thin, flimsy fabric here!), this dress will protect you from the sun (be sure to slather on the sunscreen for your gams), while also keeping you cool.

—J.Crew’s Berkley Straw handbag

I shared a larger tote similar in material last week in the This & That, and this small handbag looks ideal for everyday spring and summer outfits.

—Joseph Seibel’s white sneakers, Caren 01 (more colors available)

I have to share that the sneaker I chose to wear while in Paris has been one of the best purchases I have made in a long time, and I will be sharing which one it is as the Petit Plaisir in episode #400 of the podcast this coming Wednesday, but until then, Joseph Seibel’s sneakers come highly recommended for their function and comfort as well as streamlined look.

—Lucien Jacket, Rails

This. Jacket. The perfect short trench length (in my humble opinion ;)) And classic in its style and design which means it won’t be a trend to have to ditch next year and find a ne one. Love this Lucien jacket, and have it saved to purchase later should a sale pop up.

—Marine Layer, Nova Midi Shirt Dress, cream/navy stripe

Yep, the stripes are navy, not black. I am here for that! This cotton dress is asking for a statement belt, yet in a solid color, and if the length of the dress is too long (as for me, I think I would bring it up just to midi-length), a simple trip to the tailor will make this a bespoke dress for the summer. 🙂

Television

—Murdoch Mysteries, season 18, AcornTV

A leisurely, dependable mystery series that I enjoy watching each year. The latest season of Canadian series Murdoch’s Mysteries returned in February and will have oodles of new episodes, a new one dropping each Monday. Hélène Joy is not in this season, but will be back for future seasons based on how they peacefully, temporarily said goodbye to her character and her character’s child with Detective Murdoch, Suzanna at the end of season 17. I actually have quite enjoyed the episodes so far in this new season whereas in last as some in the previous season became a bit farfetched. Set in late 19th century/early 20th century, it is not too serious, but still quite smart, and still going strong, definitely a formula that works!

—The Residence, Netflix

Uzo Aduba stars in Shonda Rhimes’ new series The Residence. “A brilliant, eccentric detective (Aruba) must solve a murder in the White House residence — where the staff and guests at a state dinner are all suspects”. Have a look at the trailer below and get ready for the series to premiere on Thursday March 20th and include eight episodes.

To say I am smitten with Brittany (Bretagne) is completely accurate and then some. 🙂 I am staying in one of the four departments of this NW region of France, Côtes d’Armor, and have meandered into northern Finistère for a few of my morning walks along the Pink Granite Coast (Côte de Granit Rose) as well. You can see a handful of photos from my first three days in Brittany in the first Travel Diary post here, along with my first three days in Paris which is full (another understatement) of photos of all that I did and saw and enjoyed. Rest assured, my second Travel Diary post will include an abundance more about my time in Brittany as I am still here (look for it to go up on the blog on Tuesday March 25th).

But I am not done with Paris yet! I still have much more time to wander and explore in the City of Light, and that will begin soon, so if you aren’t checking Instagram, be sure to take a peek as I am sharing “Un Moment en France” video each day on my account Reels (@thesimplyluxuriouslife) and each of my other three IG accounts (garden, cooking and podcast) also have France peeks as well (sometimes more than what I share on my main account – you can find them all on my primary account here) :).

Seen here (above) is a photo captured while wandering about in the centre ville of Lannion after I went to the town’s marché and picked up fresh produce, seafood, some Comté as well as peppercorns, and this town, along with so many other small villages that dot the northern coast, remind me both of England because of all of the green rolling, farm hills scattered with deciduous trees, as well as a bit of the Oregon coast due to its more rugged, yet utterly breathtaking beautiful geography. In other words, the ideal marriage in my mind for everyday life. Yep, that also means, there has been rain, off and on, sometimes a bit of hail, and then a gorgeous rainbow appears as it did yesterday while I was driving to the market, and I had to remember to proceed forward toward the roundabout. So, absolutely a happy place Brittany is for me. 🙂 Such an amazingly special region, and I cannot wait to introduce you to more of what I have learned, found and savored.

Soon I will be meeting up with TSLL TOP Tier Members in Paris for a special dinner! That is something I have been most eager and anticipating for five months now, and for them to meet each other as well. Be sure to watch April’s A Cuppa Moments to see how it went, and then a detailed post will be shared in August during TSLL’s 10th Annual French Week.

I hope your week has been going just as you wanted it to go (and perhaps a bit better!), and you are eagerly looking ahead to a weekend that will nourish you in whichever way you most long for. Thank you for stopping by today, and until next Wednesday March 19th when a new episode of the podcast will be shared, bonne journée !

~Here’s How to Navigate the Louvre Like a Pro [Travel + Leisure]

~The countryside here in north Brittany is stunning, and like most Francophiles, when we visit the region that sings for our temperament, it is hard not to imagine buying a piece of that dream to return to each time we visit. Here are 17 key questions to ask before buying your ‘dream home’ in rural France. [The Local, subscription may be required]

~But, truly, it can be a dream realized. So long as you learn the language (you can do it! Be sure to tune in on Wednesday March 19th to episode #400 of The Simple Sophisticate podcast as I will share part neuf of the What I’ve Learned in French Class, So Far . . . ) – Why France is ideal for Americans moving to Europe long-term [Frenchly]

~I cannot WAIT to begin pottering in my garden when I return home to Bend, and no doubt a visit to the local nurseries will be happening soon. With that in mind, if you are looking for dependable, low-maintenance perennials, here are 8 to explore adding to your garden. [Real Simple]

~50 invaluable plants for the garden as chosen by a royal garden designer [Gardens Illustrated]

~This recipe recently shared by David Lebovitz for a Lemon Blueberry Cake looks absolutely amazing.

~Fashion Week in Paris just wrapped up (and I must say, it was a delightful surprise to see some uniquely stylish people here and there), and here are 11 trends worth paying attention to for Fall 2025 according to Who What Wear UK.

~Basic French Words, Phrases, and Sayings to Know if visiting Paris and beyond! [Travel & Leisure]

~15 cookbooks that changed everything [Vittles magazine, subscription may be required]

~28 Cafés in Paris that come highly recommended [CN Traveler]

~We haven’t forgotten about Britain! If you love train travel, a bit (or a lot) of luxury and Britain, then be sure to explore a new sleeper train now opened for bookings with trips beginning in July. [Afar]

~How Restaurants and Home Cooking Permanently Changed After the pandemic. [Eater]

~Gwyneth Paltrow takes viewers inside her closet to share her favorite knitwear [goop]

~Often the French language gets teased for not pronouncing all of the letters in its words, but . . . consider, shall we, all of the letters that aren’t pronounced in English words. Comedian Michael McIntyre points them out in hilarious detail. Enjoy!

~Explore last week’s This & That: March 7, 2025

Book, after book, and in a variety of different genres and even languages! I have found two French books – one a novel, the other a true story – and they both will delight in different ways. A film to inspire, another to inform, but perhaps they each do both. 🙂 Clothing finds for stylish (and cozy) sleeping, and discover how to bring classic British interior design into any size of home. Also, David Suchet is back and this time taking viewers on a train trip retracing the tour of the woman who gave him the role of a lifetime. All of this, plus a peek into my time in France so far. 

~Please note: TSLL is supported by you, readers who take the time to stop by (merci!), peruse and sometimes welcome into your life mentioned and recommended finds. Affiliate links are present in today’s post and may earn commissions for TSLL when you purchase. View TSLL’s full Privacy Policy here.