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Toby Keith: Remembering The Legend

Toby Keith: Remembering The Legend

Toby Keith: Remembering The Legend

Granger Smith Announces New Book, Pays Tribute To Toby Keith

Author Lauren Hoffman
NASHVILLE, TN - JUNE 07: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Granger Smith performs during the 2018 CMA Music festival at the on June 7, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images)

Granger Smith made an emotional announcement today (2/6) along with a tribute to Toby Keith. The former country singer, author, and co-founder of Yee Yee apparel will release his new book, Up Towards The Light, on April 2.

RELATED: The Real Reason Granger Smith Left Country Music

Smith’s Up Towards The Light follows the 2023 release of Like A River and according to grangersmith.com, is a “message of hope and strength that is passed through generations” and “shares the value of pain, grief, and reaching out of the darkness toward the light.”

While Smith had it planned to announce his new book for quite a while, it just so happened to be on the same day we lost a country music legend. Keith, known for his hits “Should’ve Been A Cowboy,” “Beer For My Horses,” and “Red Solo Cup,”  passed away peacefully surrounded by his family after his fight with stomach cancer.

Smith shared the video below with the following statement on Facebook:

“Heavy morning with the announcement of losing a pillar in the country music community. I wasn’t expecting that news the same day I announce this news. But the Lord is sovereign and death is a reality we cannot avoid. In fact, it’s not helpful to avoid the conversation about death altogether but instead it’s good to process through death—and what comes afterwards. That’s what my new book is about called ‘Up Toward the Light’. It comes out April 2nd (pre-order now) and I hope it’s an encouragement to you and your children! I’m so grateful for the joy TK’s music brought so many of us for so many years. I hope it was not bad taste for me to announce a new book on this day.”

In April of 2023, Smith announced that he was leaving country music. After 24 years of touring, he decided to pursue ministry, however, made it clear to his fans and followers that “this is not retirement.”

 

14 Romance Books That Are Perfect To Read Around Valentine's Day

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Love is in the air! Or well, it’s almost here. And I don’t know about you, but if you’re a reader like me this time of year has me reaching for a romance book more frequently. As a seasoned Romance reader, I have tons of recommendations for you. Featuring every trope under the sun too! From childhood best friends, to enemies to lovers, to fake dating, trust me I’ve got lots of recommendations. But to stick with our romance theme, I’ve put together a list of 14 romance books that are perfect to get you in the Valentine’s Day mood.

  • 1) Book Lovers by Emily Henry

    I decided to start this on a little bit of a “meta” note. If you haven’t read an Emily Henry romance book yet, do yourself a favor and buy one immediately. Emily Henry is a brilliant writer and this book is by far my favorite. For all of you who love Nora Ephron’s movies, more specifically “You’ve Got Mail”, this book is about a rival literary agent and editor who end up in the same small town for the summer. The book is full of wit, heartfelt relationships, and purely perfect romance. It will definitely convert you to being an Emily Henry lover. 

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  • 2) Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood

    I am nothing if not a sucker for a good enemies-to-lovers book. Love on the Brain is one of my favorite romances of all time. The story is about a Neuroscientist who just got her dream role working on a new space helmet at NASA. The problem is her co-partner in the collaboration is her old rival from graduate school. The story makes me wish I had a brain for science and has me swooning throughout the pages. Plus, it features an incredible conversation about women in STEM! 

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  • 3) Get A Life Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

    I absolutely love the Brown Sisters trilogy by Talia Hibbert. This book has a special place in my heart for so many reasons. It’s brilliant, fun, and has a lot of great British references that just fill me with joy. Chloe Brown is a chronically ill computer geek who makes a huge move to essentially “get a life.” That means, enjoying a drunken night out, riding on a motorcycle. Cool things like that. And her downstairs neighbor Red might just be the thing she needs to check off a few of her boxes. Seriously, the book is so underrated. I loved it with my whole heart and soul. 

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  • 4) The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory

    I love a good fake dating book! And one that’s set at a wedding? Perfect! Think “The Proposal”, except instead of the two pretending to be engaged it’s a groomsman and his last-minute date pretending to be in a relationship to convince ex he has moved on. Jasmine Guillory is one of my favorite romance writers. Her books are all swoon-fully delightful and leave me desperately wanting more. 

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  • 5) The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

    Anyone a huge fan of “Pretty Woman”? Well, this book is going to feel very similar, but a little in reverse. Our “pretty woman” is the “billionaire” in this case. Stella is brilliant when it comes to data and algorithms. And not so much with love. So, when she hires Michael to help her learn about the ways adult relationships should go things get a little messy as all relationships do. I love this book because it showcases what life on the spectrum can look like for folks wanting to date. If anyone watches Love on the Spectrum on Netflix, you’re going to be feeling right at home when you read this book. 

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  • 6) Well Met by Jen DeLuca

    Calling all my nerds and Renaissance Faire lovers! Well Met is a book that has stuck with me for almost three years now. This fun book is another enemies to lovers book but set a summer Renaissance Festival in a small town. Emily doesn’t plan on being a chaperon so that her niece can participate in her local town’s Renaissance Festival, and she certainly didn’t plan on being at odds with the Faire’s operations lead. But something about Simon seems to bring out Emily’s combative side, that is until they’re both in character and suddenly their characters are flirting. Every time I read this book, I’m transported to my local Ren Faire and I absolutely love it! 

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  • 7) Dating Dr. Dil by Nisha Sharma

    Not only is this book inspired by Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew”, but it’s also inspired by the 1999 classic film 10 Things I Hate About You. What do you get when you mix a love-phobic TV doctor, a headstrong Desi woman who is deemed to be a “spinster” by her family, and meddling Desi aunties? A lot of chaos and fun! This book had so many relatable moments. From the dreaded issues of being on dating apps to the meddling families, it had me laughing and getting frustrated at so many points. Caution: this book has wonderful descriptions of Indian food and it will have you craving some samosas. 

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  • 8) A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas

    You might have already heard about this book, but if not let me give you a brief rundown. This book is Romantasy. Meaning it’s a fantasy book with a heavy focus on romance. It’s a Beauty and the Beast retelling and has been increasingly more popular every year. If you love a little bit of fantasy in your books and you want to read a romance this is the one I’d recommend completely! 

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  • 9) The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams

    This might be one of my favorite series of all time. This series is about a group of men who decide to start a secret romance book club to help them learn how to be better partners through reading romance books. I mean come on! What a killer concept. This first book titled the Bromance Book Club features an MLB player who is told his wife is ready to divorce after only three years of marriage, and desperate to save his relationship begrudgingly joins the book club. I am serious when I say this series is so wonderful. It’s funny and sweet, and it has you wishing your partner would join a romance book club with his buddies! 

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  • 10) The Belle of Belgrave Square by Mimi Matthews

    This is the second book in the Belles of London series by Mimi Matthews, but it’s my favorite so I had to pick it. Luckily, this series is a series of interconnected standalone books, meaning they don’t have to be read in order. If you are a Bridgerton fan you are going to love this book.

    Set in Regency-era London, this is a marriage of convenience romance that absolutely had me devouring the book within 48 hours! It features a wallflower and a mysterious war hero who is looking for a wife with a large dowry to fix his crumbling estate. It also has some very lovely gothic vibes as it is partial set in Yorkshire. You’ll definitely be feeling like you’re in Wuthering Heights, except you can expect a Happily Ever After for this couple! 

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  • 11) Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade

    As a plus-size woman, I love when an author perfectly captures the issues plus-sized women face in society and especially in dating. Spoiler Alert is every girl’s dream where somehow your favorite actor notices you, invites you on a date and suddenly you’re dating?! As crazy as it sounds, this book is full of fun fan-fiction moments, romance, and maybe a TV show that is eerily similar to Game of Thrones. It’s the perfect romance for a plus-size woman who just wants a little representation of their body type! 

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  • 12) To Have and To Hoax by Martha Waters

    Another Regency-era romance that is perfect for Bridgerton fans. Violet thought that her marriage was one of those rare love matches. But after 5 years of marriage, she and her husband barely speak unless necessary. After a life-threatening scare, Violet rushes to her husband’s side only to find out he is fine and that he insists she shouldn’t have even been contacted. Thus begins Violet’s plan, to remind her husband of just how terrifying it is to learn the person you love could be hurt. This book is full of pranks, angst, and romance. I thoroughly love historical romance books and this is absolutely one of the best! 

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  • 13) It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey

    Inspired by one of my favorite romantic comedies of all time, Frank Capra’s “It Happened One Night”, this cozy, Pacific Northwest set book is one that I have reread at least five times since I first got it. A Hollywood It girl, picture Alexis Rose from “Schitt’s Creek”, is forced to “grow up” after being sent away to her mother’s hometown by her stepfather. There she meets a grumpy sea captain who makes it very clear that this is his town and she has no business being there. The story is full of shenanigans and sweetness, dreamy coastal vibes, and a Happily Ever After that made me swoon! 

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  • 14) The Worst Best Man by Mia Sosa

    Her wedding day is supposed to be the happiest of Lina’s life. She’s a wedding planner after all. But after her fiancé leaves her at the altar, and she finds out his brother was the one to encourage it, she’s furious. A year later after she lands a huge career opportunity as a wedding coordinator at a top-tier hotel in DC, she finds out the job isn’t hers yet. And to prove herself she’ll have to work with her ex’s brother to nail their presentation and secure her the position. This book is fun and heartfelt. If you love movies like “The Wedding Planner” and “My Best Friend’s Wedding”, this book is the one for you. 

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Please note that items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time we published this list. Have an idea for a fun theme for a gift idea list you’d like us to create?  Drop us a line at [email protected]. 

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