tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62372769502809038872017-09-05T19:10:42.314-07:00Something to Crow AboutKaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031994500460504779noreply@blogger.comBlogger208125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237276950280903887.post-7862143991275073672017-09-05T19:10:00.002-07:002017-09-05T19:10:42.339-07:00Top Ten Tuesday: (Not) Ten Books I Put DownWelcome to Top Ten Tuesday hosted by <a href="http://www.brokeandbookish.com/" target="_blank">The Broke and the Bookish</a>!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QhOBSa7W_xI/Wa9W8RVTBWI/AAAAAAAABuM/DLmH7jcyvGAeaRiH67tZbujkXxLUHoX2QCLcBGAs/s1600/toptentuesday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="178" data-original-width="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QhOBSa7W_xI/Wa9W8RVTBWI/AAAAAAAABuM/DLmH7jcyvGAeaRiH67tZbujkXxLUHoX2QCLcBGAs/s1600/toptentuesday.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />This week's theme focuses on books you've struggled with or have recently put down. I used to force myself to finish any book I started but this year I realized life is too short for that so one of my 2017 reading goals was to allow myself to put something down if I'm not loving it.<br /><br />So, here are the three books I've marked as did-not-finish on Goodreads this year.<br /><br />&nbsp;1. I typically like McHale but I just couldn't handle the sarcasm in this one.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1474086727l/29429952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1474086727l/29429952.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br />2. I'm still pretty new to graphic novels and comic books and sometimes I just can't get into it.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/starwars/images/d/d9/Star_Wars_Princess_Leia_1_cover.png/revision/latest?cb=20141216210235" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="527" height="320" src="https://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/starwars/images/d/d9/Star_Wars_Princess_Leia_1_cover.png/revision/latest?cb=20141216210235" width="210" /></a></div><br />3. Something about this just bugged me. I think it was possibly the writer's assumption that she could just waltz into the world of wine and learn all of the little secrets so easily. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/511tttldasL._SX330_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="332" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/511tttldasL._SX330_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="212" /></div><br /><br /><br /><i><a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1474086727l/29429952.jpg" target="_blank">Source 1</a>, <a href="https://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/starwars/images/d/d9/Star_Wars_Princess_Leia_1_cover.png/revision/latest?cb=20141216210235" target="_blank">Source 2</a>, <a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/511tttldasL._SX330_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" target="_blank">Source 3</a></i>Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031994500460504779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237276950280903887.post-75790136600647513362017-09-01T07:00:00.000-07:002017-09-01T07:00:02.337-07:00Book Review - Maybe I Do<b>From <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33525955-maybe-i-do" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>:</b> <span id="freeText9687198661488549503">She doesn’t believe in fairy tales. He is married to his job. Maybe whiskey is the secret ingredient that will bring them together–and give true love a shot.<br /><br />Wedding photographer Charlotte Linley loves her work –even though she hates weddings. Sure, she still holds a grudge after being left at the altar by her high-school sweetheart. But today Charlotte is just happy to have complete control over her career, which is flourishing. Especially since she joined forces with one of the three gorgeous owners of The Stag, a boutique distillery that has become Kansas City’s hottest wedding venue.<br /><br />Dean Troyer, bitter after the end of his own marriage, knows that Charlotte is the real deal–beautiful, talented, and successful. He may flirt with her every time she comes to The Stag, but Dean is determined to keep his professional distance…particularly now that she’s helping him with his own sister’s wedding. The only problem? The more time Dean spends with Charlotte, the deeper their connection grows. Is this a rom-com cliche’ or could it be that these two jaded souls in the wedding business have finally found their real-life happily ever after?</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2ueAAPKFc1c/WadcHR5DCuI/AAAAAAAABtk/WIA0SB6WF8oKX_bWRkXeoDiLpAePNaUSwCLcBGAs/s1600/McLaughlin_Maybe%2BI%2BDo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1060" data-original-width="648" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2ueAAPKFc1c/WadcHR5DCuI/AAAAAAAABtk/WIA0SB6WF8oKX_bWRkXeoDiLpAePNaUSwCLcBGAs/s320/McLaughlin_Maybe%2BI%2BDo.jpg" width="195" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span id="freeText9687198661488549503"><b>My Thoughts:</b> Welcome to the blog tour for Nicole McLaughlin's new book <i>Maybe I Do</i>!&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span id="freeText9687198661488549503">I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy of this and was so excited to read this. The concept of a wedding photographer and a brewery owner sounded fun and like classic McLaughlin. Add in the fact that McLaughlin *is*a wedding photographer and I knew this was going to be good. </span><span id="freeText9687198661488549503"><span id="freeText9687198661488549503">It did not disappoint!&nbsp;</span></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pwbobB7M3XE/WadcmfszrCI/AAAAAAAABts/G4_Qg90uudcQlumBNRCOB7tBVI_36v9YQCLcBGAs/s1600/MaybeIDo_TourBanner_v1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="337" data-original-width="900" height="148" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pwbobB7M3XE/WadcmfszrCI/AAAAAAAABts/G4_Qg90uudcQlumBNRCOB7tBVI_36v9YQCLcBGAs/s400/MaybeIDo_TourBanner_v1.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span id="freeText9687198661488549503">This was very reminiscent of McLaughlin's earlier <i>Hearts and Crafts</i> series and her new <a href="http://kacwblog.blogspot.com/2017/05/book-review-all-i-ask-by-nicole.html" target="_blank"><i>Man Enough</i></a> series: great, strong female lead, a fantastic male main character who had a great story and was more than just brain candy, fun side characters, and a great underlying story line in addition to the love story. I could not put this down, I had to know what happened with Charlotte and Dean and their friends and family. Everything about this was so good. I can't wait for the next book in the <i>Whiskey and Weddings</i> series; I have no doubt it will be great.</span><br /><br /><span id="freeText9687198661488549503">There's no maybe here, I do recommend you pick this up today! Want to read it right.this.minute? (The answer is yes, do you!) - get it on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Maybe-Do-Whiskey-Weddings-Novel/dp/1250139988" target="_blank">Kindle </a>or <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/maybe-i-do-nicole-mclaughlin/1125377341" target="_blank">Nook </a>today. <i>(I don't get anything if you use these links, I just find it handy when I'm reading blogs)</i></span><br /><span id="freeText9687198661488549503"></span><br /><span id="freeText9687198661488549503"></span><br /><span id="freeText9687198661488549503"></span><br /><span id="freeText9687198661488549503"></span><br /><br /><span id="freeText9687198661488549503">One more thing - I totally recommend following McLaughlin online. She often does giveaways for her books, she shares fun insights into her daily life, and she gives great tips on other books by authors similar to herself. Find her on her <a href="http://nicolemclaughlinbooks.com/" target="_blank">website</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/nicolembooks" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/nicolemauthor" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/nicolemauthor/" target="_blank">Instagram </a>(I love her Instagram feed the most). </span><span id="freeText9687198661488549503"><br /></span><span id="freeText9687198661488549503"><br /></span><br /><span id="freeText9687198661488549503"><span id="freeText17361579387394129329"><i><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextContainerreview1952911021"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview1952911021">Review copy provided by the publisher St. Martin's Press and Netgalley. Images provided by St. Martin's Press. All opinions are my own.</span></span></span></span></i></span></span>Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031994500460504779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237276950280903887.post-78811379181121714772017-08-29T05:00:00.000-07:002017-08-29T05:00:02.008-07:00Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Hidden Gem Books in YAWelcome to Top Ten Tuesday hosted by <a href="http://www.brokeandbookish.com/" target="_blank">The Broke and the Bookish</a>!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-21GDQvFwf7s/WaTDqGvzhNI/AAAAAAAABsY/AyjXT5ygrIwFnvldoIOciwLrTthVMpg6ACLcBGAs/s1600/toptentuesday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="178" data-original-width="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-21GDQvFwf7s/WaTDqGvzhNI/AAAAAAAABsY/AyjXT5ygrIwFnvldoIOciwLrTthVMpg6ACLcBGAs/s1600/toptentuesday.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />For this week's list I'm going with 10 young adult books that I feel haven't gotten the attention they deserve (yet!).<br /><br />1.&nbsp; <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1456568054l/21793182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1456568054l/21793182.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><br />2.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1434989166l/25663733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="318" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1434989166l/25663733.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><br />3. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1391631991l/17788889.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="311" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1391631991l/17788889.jpg" width="209" /></a></div>4. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1480112353l/17978160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1480112353l/17978160.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>5. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1362064564l/9627755.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="316" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1362064564l/9627755.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>6. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1414589813l/13132816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1414589813l/13132816.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>7. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1414680105l/23009402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1414680105l/23009402.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>8. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1402661616l/18718848.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1402661616l/18718848.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>9. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1459353572l/20309175.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="293" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1459353572l/20309175.jpg" width="197" /></a></div>10. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1384018651l/18209411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="269" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1384018651l/18209411.jpg" width="215" /></a></div><br /><i>All images via Goodreads.&nbsp;</i><br /><br /><i>I'm lucky enough to consider Melissa Landers, Jessica Love, and Kelsey Macke as friends of mine thanks to the Internet bringing together strangers who share a love of reading. However, I legitimately think their books are amazing and more people need to read them and it's not at all because I'm a <strike>creepy pushy </strike>Internet friend of theirs. </i><br /><br />Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031994500460504779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237276950280903887.post-51549596594726555422017-08-22T07:00:00.000-07:002017-08-22T07:00:01.264-07:00Top Ten Tuesday: Back to School FreebieWelcome to Top Ten Tuesday hosted by <a href="http://www.brokeandbookish.com/" target="_blank">The Broke and the Bookish</a>!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tgTd69MR150/WZoXhknf1VI/AAAAAAAABr8/WwrELAemJ2EhVL3vVb73ORFrcHGLbjRMwCLcBGAs/s1600/toptentuesday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="178" data-original-width="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tgTd69MR150/WZoXhknf1VI/AAAAAAAABr8/WwrELAemJ2EhVL3vVb73ORFrcHGLbjRMwCLcBGAs/s1600/toptentuesday.jpg" /></a></div><br />This week's theme is a back to school inspired freebie week which means participants are free to pick their own theme for their list. In honor of back to school time I thought I'd go with some of my favorite books from the young reader, middle grade, and young adult sections of bookstores.<br /><br />Happy reading!<br /><br />1. Matilda - Roald Dahl. One of my all-time favorite books ever.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388793265l/39988.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="309" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388793265l/39988.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><br />2. Anna and the French Kiss - Stephanie Perkins. The whole 3 books series is amazing, really.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1358271931l/6936382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="463" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1358271931l/6936382.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><br />3. Alex, Approximately - Jenn Bennett. I read this over the summer and it instantly went on my list of favorites.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1491288960i/34787673._UY200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="131" height="320" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1491288960i/34787673._UY200_.jpg" width="209" /></a></div><br /><br />4. Open Road Summer - Emery Lord. My first Emery book and still my favorite.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1424120515i/24951674._UY200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="131" height="320" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1424120515i/24951674._UY200_.jpg" width="209" /></a></div><br />5. Kristy's Great Idea - Ann M. Martin. I have no doubt that the BSC books are why I'm such a big reader to this day.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1389241314l/233722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="318" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1389241314l/233722.jpg" width="218" /></a></div><br />6. Sideways Stories from Wayside School - Louis Sachar. I adored these as a kid.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1364450236i/563859._UY200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="137" height="320" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1364450236i/563859._UY200_.jpg" width="219" /></a></div><br />7. Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret - Judy Blume. I seriously lost count of how many times I read this growing up.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388356524l/37732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388356524l/37732.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br />8. Sloppy Firsts (Jessica Darling series) - Megan McCafferty. Love this series and McCafferty is so nice on social media.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1320531275l/138202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="297" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1320531275l/138202.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><br />9. The Truth About Forever - Sarah Dessen. Honestly it was hard to pick just one Dessen book for this list. Read them all, trust me.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1362767907l/51737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="307" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1362767907l/51737.jpg" width="206" /></a></div><br />10. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - J.K. Rowling. I mean, duh.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1474169299i/77523._UY200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="133" height="320" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1474169299i/77523._UY200_.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><i>All images via Goodreads.</i><br />Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031994500460504779noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237276950280903887.post-74188485667804567942017-06-27T07:00:00.000-07:002017-06-27T07:00:18.260-07:00Top Ten Tuesday: Best Books You've Read in 2017 So FarWelcome to Top Ten Tuesday hosted by <a href="http://www.brokeandbookish.com/" target="_blank">The Broke and the Bookish</a>!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ktRtjo6ASRc/WUU83SvN2mI/AAAAAAAABp8/9GfJ5Qudl6Q1LnDadUN3IJdwvypGvT3_gCLcBGAs/s1600/toptentuesday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="178" data-original-width="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ktRtjo6ASRc/WUU83SvN2mI/AAAAAAAABp8/9GfJ5Qudl6Q1LnDadUN3IJdwvypGvT3_gCLcBGAs/s1600/toptentuesday.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br />Hard to believe we're at the half-way point of 2017! This year is really flying.<br /><br />Here are the books that I'd say are the ten best I've read so far this year. It'll be interesting to see how this list changes by the end of the year.<br /><br />1. The Names They Gave Us - Emery Lord<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1474998295l/30038906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1474998295l/30038906.jpg" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="320" width="211" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">2. Who Thought This Was a Good Idea?: And Other Questions You Should Have Answers to When You Work in the White House - Alyssa Mastromonaco</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1480286429i/31176294._UY400_SS400_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1480286429i/31176294._UY400_SS400_.jpg" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="320" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">3. Alex, Approximately - Jenn Bennett</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1466543204l/30312700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1466543204l/30312700.jpg" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="320" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">4. Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis - J.D. Vance</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1463569814i/27161156._UY630_SR1200,630_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1463569814i/27161156._UY630_SR1200,630_.jpg" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="800" height="168" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">5. All the Light We Cannot See - Anthony Doerr</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1451445646l/18143977.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1451445646l/18143977.jpg" data-original-height="463" data-original-width="300" height="320" width="207" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">6. The Hating Game - Sally Thorne</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1467138679l/25883848.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1467138679l/25883848.jpg" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="320" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">7. The Princess Diarist - Carrie Fisher</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1482140026l/28585313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1482140026l/28585313.jpg" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="309" height="320" width="208" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">8. Talking as Fast as I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls, and Everything In Between</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1485893364i/33308607._UY200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1485893364i/33308607._UY200_.jpg" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">9. The Skeptics' Guide to the Mysteries of the Universe - Jessica Arden</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1483254021i/33653858._UY500_SS500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1483254021i/33653858._UY500_SS500_.jpg" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">10. <a href="http://kacwblog.blogspot.com/2017/05/book-review-all-i-ask-by-nicole.html" target="_blank">All I Ask</a> - Nicole McLaughlin</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1481645796l/33258668.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1481645796l/33258668.jpg" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="318" height="320" width="221" /></a></div><br /><br /><i>All images via Goodreads</i><br />Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031994500460504779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237276950280903887.post-44394080766708964872017-06-26T18:18:00.000-07:002017-06-26T18:20:15.902-07:00Book Review - Along Came Us by Nicole McLaughlinFrom <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35004573-along-came-us" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>: <span id="freeText2667145560093074641"><i>He’s Mr. Wrong, she’s Miss Independent. When the two come together, sparks fly! Don’t miss Along Came Us, a sexy and heartwarming romance from Nicole McLaughlin.</i><br /><br />National Guardsman Tyler Cavallo knows all too well what it feels like to be a volatile teenager. There was a time when it seemed like everyone—be it his father, a rival gang member, or his opponent in the MMA cage—was out to get him. These days he focuses that fight into his gym where he mentors at-risk youths. But one particular teen has Tyler more concerned than usual, and if he’s learned one thing in life, it’s to trust his instincts, and right now those instincts are telling him that this boy isn’t safe.<br /><br />Lia Hanson is a woman on a mission. With bills to pay, and a younger brother to raise, and two full time jobs, she’s working her ass off and doing the best she can. But in a few months she will finally graduate from college and be able to put most of that behind her for good. Or so she thinks, until a certain overbearing and stupidly good looking gym owner acts like he knows what’s best for her brother. A man is the last thing she wants, and this man is certainly not who she pictured as a stable role model. Lia thought she had a plan, but Tyler’s support, strength and passion have her realizing that sometimes the best things in life come when they’re least expected.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1481645796l/33258668.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1481645796l/33258668.jpg" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="318" height="320" width="221" /></a></div><br /><br /><span id="freeText2667145560093074641">My Thoughts: I received an advanced review copy of this book and was so excited to get my hands on this. This is the second book in McLaughlin's Man Enough series and I really liked the first one, All I Ask.</span><br /><br /><span id="freeText2667145560093074641">This story continues off of Reeve and Emily's story by focusing on one of Reeve's friends, Tyler, and the sister/caretaker of a student of Tyler's gym, Lia. Tyler and Lia are both great characters. They have flaws (stubbornness, self-doubt, moments of doing or saying the wrong thing) but they are both learning and growing and you can't help but root for them.&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span id="freeText2667145560093074641">McLaughlin has built such a great story with this series; the characters are all compelling, the settings come to life and make you really want to go there. I loved the references to the characters and storyline from All I Ask. It was a fun little game to catch all of these.</span><br /><br /><span id="freeText2667145560093074641">Overall I really recommend you pick this up when it comes out on 6/27/17, and definitely pick up All I Ask first if you haven't read that one yet.</span><br /><br /><span id="freeText2667145560093074641"><i>Review copy provided by Netgalley. All opinions are my own.</i></span><br /><br /><span id="freeText2667145560093074641"><i>Photo from Goodreads. </i></span><br /><span id="freeText2667145560093074641"><i>&nbsp;</i>&nbsp;</span> Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031994500460504779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237276950280903887.post-4072209613337628282017-06-17T07:59:00.001-07:002017-06-17T07:59:18.943-07:00Book Review - The Names They Gave Us by Emery Lord<b>From <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30038906-the-names-they-gave-us?ac=1&amp;from_search=true" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></b>: <span id="freeText14987349258429863881"><i>When it all falls apart, who can you believe in?</i><br /><br />Everything is going right for Lucy Hansson, until her mom’s cancer reappears. Just like that, Lucy breaks with all the constants in her life: her do-good boyfriend, her steady faith, even her longtime summer church camp job.<br /><br />Instead, Lucy lands at a camp for kids who have been through tough times. As a counselor, Lucy is in over her head and longs to be with her parents across the lake. But that’s before she gets to know her coworkers, who are as loving and unafraid as she so desperately wants to be.<br /><br />It’s not just new friends that Lucy discovers at camp—more than one old secret is revealed along the way. In fact, maybe there’s much more to her family and her faith than Lucy ever realized.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1474998295l/30038906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1474998295l/30038906.jpg" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="320" width="211" /></a></div><br /><span id="freeText14987349258429863881"><b>My Thoughts:</b> I read Lord's Open Road Summer a few years ago and she quickly moved onto my (very short) Authors I Will Always Pre-Order list. There is something about her writing that so perfectly captures the good and bad of life, people, places, <i>everything</i> that just really draws me in. I want to be Lord's friend and I want her to teach me how to be the kind of writer she is. And the thing is, the characters she creates are the kind of people you want to be friends with too.</span><br /><span id="freeText14987349258429863881"><br /></span><span id="freeText14987349258429863881">This book made me laugh and made me practically sob. Look up the term emotional roller coaster and the definition should just be the cover of this book. Lucy is such a perfect character - she has flaws and she has so much to learn but you can't help but root for her, even if she's having a moment where you just want to shake her a little to get her to see what's really going on. All of the outside characters are amazing, from her family to the people at camp. You'll immediately start rooting for them all, even if you haven't quite figured out their whole story yet.</span><br /><span id="freeText14987349258429863881"><br /></span><span id="freeText14987349258429863881">And that's another amazing thing about this book, just when you think you've got it all figured out there's suddenly a curve ball. And the best part is, the curve ball works. I never had a moment of thinking "what? That doesn't make sense." It was all perfect.</span><br /><span id="freeText14987349258429863881"><br /></span><span id="freeText14987349258429863881">I cannot recommend this book enough. I honestly want to buy a copy for everyone I know and bring them a mug of hot chocolate when they're done. That's how amazing this book is.</span><br /><span id="freeText14987349258429863881"><br /></span><span id="freeText14987349258429863881"><i>Photo from Goodreads</i></span>Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031994500460504779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237276950280903887.post-46993853670303277082017-05-30T17:23:00.000-07:002017-05-30T17:23:09.439-07:00Book Review - All I Ask by Nicole McLaughlin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1481645796l/33258668.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="318" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1481645796l/33258668.jpg" width="221" /></a></div><br /><br /><b>From Goodreads:</b> <span id="freeText17361579387394129329">Staff Sargent Reeve Miller lives by his own golden rules: Train hard, work hard, and f*ck hard. This way of thinking has served him well. He’s enjoyed a successful career in the military, started his own landscaping business while serving part time in the Guard, and left a string of very happy females in his wake… until he meets one feisty, smart woman in a bar looking for a one-night stand.<br /><br />Emily Phillips is tired of working her ass off and not enjoying her life. According to her accountant, Emily is a millionaire. But her friends say she is a workaholic heading for lonely spinsterhood. The night of her high school best friend’s bachelorette party seems like a good time to try something new, and when the blue-collar hottie at the bar gives her the look, she’s ready to take a walk on the wild side. He makes it clear that he can give her a night to keep her very satisfied, and since it’s only a night, why bother sharing her title of CEO? But as one night becomes two and three, both Reeve and Emily find it harder to keep their hearts safe.</span><br /><br /><span id="freeText17361579387394129329"><b>My Thoughts:</b> I received an advance copy of this from Netgalley and was so excited to read this because I've loved Nicole's previous books and this one did not disappoint!</span><br /><br /><span id="freeText17361579387394129329"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextContainerreview1952911021">I really enjoyed this book. Emily and Reeve are great characters who you really feel like you get to know. You'll root for both of them, want to give both of them hugs at some point, and possibly even want to smack them both in the head to knock some sense into them once or twice. <br /><br />McLaughlin creates a great story with a setting that will instantly seem familiar, characters that you'll become invested in, and a story you can't get enough of.&nbsp;</span></span></span><br /><span id="freeText17361579387394129329"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextContainerreview1952911021"></span></span></span><br /><br /><span id="freeText17361579387394129329"><i><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextContainerreview1952911021"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview1952911021">Review copy provided by Netgalley. All opinions are my own.&nbsp; </span></span></span></span></i></span>Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031994500460504779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237276950280903887.post-7177076482139733192016-01-23T15:45:00.001-08:002016-01-23T15:48:33.828-08:00Book Review - Year of YesYear of Yes: How to Dance it Out, Stand in the Sun and Be Your Own Person<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://d28hgpri8am2if.cloudfront.net/book_images/onix/cvr9781476777092/year-of-yes-9781476777092_hr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://d28hgpri8am2if.cloudfront.net/book_images/onix/cvr9781476777092/year-of-yes-9781476777092_hr.jpg" height="320" width="221" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>From Goodreads</b></span>: <span id="freeText16648025965663679520"><b>In this poignant, hilarious, and deeply intimate call to arms, Hollywood’s most powerful woman, the mega-talented creator of <i>Grey’s Anatomy</i> and <i>Scandal</i> and executive producer of <i>How to Get Away with Murder</i> reveals how saying YES changed her life—and how it can change yours too.</b><br /><br />She’s the creator and producer of some of the most groundbreaking and audacious shows on television today: <i>Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, How to Get Away with Murder</i>. Her iconic characters—Meredith Grey, Cristina Yang, Olivia Pope, Annalise Keating—live boldly and speak their minds. So who would suspect that Shonda Rhimes, the mega talent who owns Thursday night television (#TGIT), is an introvert? That she hired a publicist so she could <i>avoid</i> public appearances? That she hugged walls at splashy parties and suffered panic attacks before media interviews so severe she remembered nothing afterward?<br /><br />Before her Year of Yes, Shonda Rhimes was an expert at declining invitations others would leap to accept. With three children at home and three hit television shows on TV, it was easy to say that she was simply too busy. But in truth, she was also afraid. Afraid of cocktail party faux pas like chucking a chicken bone across a room; petrified of live television appearances where Shonda Rhimes could trip and fall and bleed out right there in front of a live studio audience; terrified of the difficult conversations that came so easily to her characters on-screen. In the <i>before</i>, Shonda’s introvert life revolved around burying herself in work, snuggling her children, and comforting herself with food.<br /><br />And then, on Thanksgiving 2013, Shonda’s sister muttered something that was both a wake up and a call to arms: <i>You never say yes to anything.</i><br /><br />The comment sat like a grenade, until it detonated. Then Shonda, the youngest of six children from a supremely competitive family, knew she had to embrace the challenge: for one year, she would say YES to everything that scared her.<br /><br />This poignant, intimate, and hilarious memoir explores Shonda’s life <i>before</i> her Year of Yes—from her nerdy, book-loving childhood creating imaginary friends to her devotion to creating television characters who reflected the world she saw around her (like Cristina Yang, whose ultimate goal wasn’t marriage, and Cyrus Beene, who is a Republican <i>and </i>gay). And it chronicles her life <i>after </i>her Year of Yes had begun—when Shonda forced herself out of the house and onto the stage, appearing on <i>Jimmy Kimmel Live</i>, and giving the Dartmouth Commencement speech; when she learned to say yes to her health, yes to play and she stepped out of the shadows and into the sun; when she learned to explore, empower, applaud, and love her truest self. Yes.<br /><br />This wildly candid and compulsively readable book reveals how the mega talented Shonda Rhimes, an unexpected introvert, achieved badassery worthy of a Shondaland character. And how you can, too.</span><br /><br /><span id="freeText16648025965663679520"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>My Review</b></span>: So first let me just get this out of the way: I am not a frequent resident of Shondaland and I'm not a frequent watcher of TGIThursday. I've seen Greys and did watch the first season or two but otherwise I don't really watch it. I also never watched Private Practice and I've never seen Scandal or How To Get Away with Murder. I may flip past Greys if I know something is going to happen (Oh, McDreamy....) but that's about it. So basically my Shonda watching stopped with Denny's heart (it's not a spoiler if it was like 8 years ago, right?).</span><br /><br /><span id="freeText16648025965663679520">So, why did I not only want to read this but want to so much I asked for it for Christmas? Because I think Shonda is impressive and I loved the concept.&nbsp; I've spent the last few years trying to amp up my game, which is why last year's word was Conquer and this year's word is Do. I'm trying to take on life, carpe the heck out of the diem, not let life pass me by. So basically this book spoke to me, just by the description.</span><br /><span id="freeText16648025965663679520"><br /></span><span id="freeText16648025965663679520">And it did not let me down.&nbsp;</span><br /><span id="freeText16648025965663679520"><br /></span><span id="freeText16648025965663679520">I saw so much of myself in Shonda it was kind of weird. I had no idea she was a nerdy kid who preferred reading to going out and doing. That was me as a kid. I had no idea she was so introverted as an adult and that she used her characters to express herself. That's me too. I love what she did on her year of yes. I hope that's what I'm doing now.</span><br /><span id="freeText16648025965663679520"><br /></span><span id="freeText16648025965663679520">While I may not be saying yes to award shows, commencement addresses, or photo shoots the things I'm saying yes to (or should be saying yes to) are just as important to me and my life as those things are to Shonda.&nbsp;</span><br /><span id="freeText16648025965663679520"><br /></span><span id="freeText16648025965663679520">If someone like Shonda, who has so much attention on her and so much to lose by shaking up her life, can do this - say yes to the things in life that come her way - then so can I. This books reminds me of this.</span><br /><span id="freeText16648025965663679520"><br /></span><span id="freeText16648025965663679520">I completely recommend this book, even if your word for the year isn't Do and your goal isn't to shake up your life. I think everyone can find something in this book that speaks to them, that makes them get up and go do something, or even that just makes them nod their head or laugh out loud (which I did a few times). This book definitely goes on the shelf with the other books that inspire me and that I reach for as inspiration again and again. </span>Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031994500460504779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237276950280903887.post-83473355010265761202016-01-02T15:17:00.001-08:002016-01-02T15:17:34.043-08:00Welcome to 2016A few years ago my friend <a href="https://jenniewriteswords.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Jennie </a>introduced me to the idea of picking a word for the upcoming year - something to focus on and think about&nbsp; as you travel through the next 12 months. I adore this concept and have done it the past few years.<br /><br />In 2015 my word was <span style="color: purple;">Conquer </span>and I feel like I did a pretty good job with that. I <span style="color: purple;">conquered </span>some financial goals, I <span style="color: purple;">conquered </span>some things I wanted to do around our house, I <span style="color: purple;">conquered </span>a few small health related goals, and I really <span style="color: purple;">conquered </span>some things with work. So having that word to focus on really worked for me.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/a9/5b/54/a95b543bb7106a30bc1492ae8923ba95.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/a9/5b/54/a95b543bb7106a30bc1492ae8923ba95.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><a href="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/a9/5b/54/a95b543bb7106a30bc1492ae8923ba95.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Source</i></span></a><br />It actually didn't take me too long to come up with my word for 2016 - <span style="color: #990000;">Do</span>. I'm very much a creature of habit, an introvert, and someone who doesn't like to step out of my routine. Ok and I can be a bit lazy at times too. So my goal for 2016 is to always keep the idea of <span style="color: #990000;">Do </span>in mind.<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: #990000;">Do </span>good.<br /><span style="color: #990000;">Do </span>well.<br /><span style="color: #990000;">Do </span>something fun.<br /><span style="color: #990000;">Do </span>something new.<br /><span style="color: #990000;">Do </span>something that scares you.<br /><span style="color: #990000;">Do </span>go on an adventure.<br /><span style="color: #990000;">Do </span>something with the ones who are important.<br /><span style="color: #990000;">Do </span>something that is important to you.<br /><span style="color: #990000;">Do </span>or <span style="color: #990000;">do </span>not, there is no try.<br /><span style="color: #990000;">Do </span>epic shit.<br /><span style="color: #990000;">Do </span>what needs to be done.<br /><span style="color: #990000;">Do </span>what you want to <span style="color: #990000;">Do</span>. <br />Just <span style="color: #990000;">Do </span>something!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://inspirationboost.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/27-Do-or-do-not-Master-Yoda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://inspirationboost.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/27-Do-or-do-not-Master-Yoda.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><a href="http://inspirationboost.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/27-Do-or-do-not-Master-Yoda.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Source</i></span></a><br /><br />So welcome to 2016, my year of the <span style="color: #990000;">Do</span>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://myventure.in/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Do-what-you-love-love-what-you-do-saying-quotes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://myventure.in/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Do-what-you-love-love-what-you-do-saying-quotes.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div><a href="http://myventure.in/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Do-what-you-love-love-what-you-do-saying-quotes.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Source</i></span></a><br /><br />Does anyone else pick a word to describe their upcoming year? If so, what did you pick?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lifetasteswell.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Famous-Dream-Quotes2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.lifetasteswell.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Famous-Dream-Quotes2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><a href="http://www.lifetasteswell.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Famous-Dream-Quotes2.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Source</i></span></a><br />Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031994500460504779noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237276950280903887.post-43174787625615670872015-11-24T06:00:00.000-08:002015-11-24T06:00:05.451-08:00Top Ten Tuesday - Top Ten Books I'm Thankful For<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-myJB1WG9uCU/Vj01SeBrpSI/AAAAAAAABgI/gnOzGfrca7M/s1600/toptentuesday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-myJB1WG9uCU/Vj01SeBrpSI/AAAAAAAABgI/gnOzGfrca7M/s1600/toptentuesday.jpg" /></a></div>In no particular order:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.trippingoverbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Pride-and-Prejudice_BN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.trippingoverbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Pride-and-Prejudice_BN.jpg" height="320" width="197" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.dianagabaldon.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Outlander-blue-cover-198x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.dianagabaldon.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Outlander-blue-cover-198x300.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/bf/Harry_Potter_and_the_Sorcerer's_Stone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/bf/Harry_Potter_and_the_Sorcerer's_Stone.jpg" width="224" />&nbsp; </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.2310115!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_400/article-blume-0730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.2310115!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_400/article-blume-0730.jpg" height="320" width="220" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/516lySWFhaL._SX342_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/516lySWFhaL._SX342_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" height="320" width="220" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/02/Harry_Potter_and_the_Deathly_Hallows_(US_cover).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/02/Harry_Potter_and_the_Deathly_Hallows_(US_cover).jpg" width="224" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://feministclassics.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/jw_smith_pix_bookcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://feministclassics.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/jw_smith_pix_bookcover.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://bookshelvesofdoom.blogs.com/.a/6a00d8345169e469e2017d424771ff970c-pi" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://bookshelvesofdoom.blogs.com/.a/6a00d8345169e469e2017d424771ff970c-pi" height="320" width="210" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a9/The_Fault_in_Our_Stars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a9/The_Fault_in_Our_Stars.jpg" width="218" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51p0A-BUqDL._UY250_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51p0A-BUqDL._UY250_.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br />Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031994500460504779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237276950280903887.post-11472690567631455692015-11-10T06:00:00.000-08:002015-11-10T06:00:00.970-08:00Top Ten Tuesday - Ten Book To Movie Adaptations I Still Need To Watch <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-myJB1WG9uCU/Vj01SeBrpSI/AAAAAAAABgE/QsiI6F6Q7BU/s1600/toptentuesday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-myJB1WG9uCU/Vj01SeBrpSI/AAAAAAAABgE/QsiI6F6Q7BU/s400/toptentuesday.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />1. Divergent<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f4/Divergent_%28book%29_by_Veronica_Roth_US_Hardcover_2011.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f4/Divergent_%28book%29_by_Veronica_Roth_US_Hardcover_2011.jpg" border="0" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f4/Divergent_(book)_by_Veronica_Roth_US_Hardcover_2011.jpg" /></a></div><br />2. Insurgent<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9c/Insurgent_(book).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9c/Insurgent_(book).jpeg" /></a></div><br />3. Wild<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://booksandreviews.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/wild-by-cheryl-strayed-a-trail-of-tears_articleimage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://booksandreviews.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/wild-by-cheryl-strayed-a-trail-of-tears_articleimage.jpg" width="219" /></a></div><br />4. A Walk in the Woods<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51FH8CFR32L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51FH8CFR32L.jpg" height="320" width="194" /></a></div><br />5. Papertowns<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51hgkNew%2BXL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51hgkNew%2BXL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" height="320" width="214" /></a></div><br />6. Frankenstein (hello, Daniel Radcliffe)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sojournartsandculture.com/wp-content/uploads/51NwoBX9DtL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://sojournartsandculture.com/wp-content/uploads/51NwoBX9DtL.jpg" height="320" width="200" /></a></div><br />7. Horns (again, Daniel)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.michaeljohngrist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/horns3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.michaeljohngrist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/horns3.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div><br />8. If I Stay<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347462970l/4374400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347462970l/4374400.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div><br />9. The Spectacular Now<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1441898584l/3798703.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1441898584l/3798703.jpg" height="320" width="210" /></a></div><br />10. The Help<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/ef/Thehelpbookcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/ef/Thehelpbookcover.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br />Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031994500460504779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237276950280903887.post-14277029267651415892015-11-06T15:03:00.002-08:002015-11-06T15:03:32.951-08:00Book Review: Dumplin'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1424189465l/18304322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1424189465l/18304322.jpg" height="320" width="211" /></a></div><br /><br /><b>From Goodreads</b>: <span id="freeText5982125737066931844">Self-proclaimed fat girl Willowdean Dickson (dubbed “Dumplin’” by her former beauty queen mom) has always been at home in her own skin. Her thoughts on having the ultimate bikini body? Put a bikini on your body. With her all-American beauty best friend, Ellen, by her side, things have always worked…until Will takes a job at Harpy’s, the local fast-food joint. There she meets Private School Bo, a hot former jock. Will isn’t surprised to find herself attracted to Bo. But she is surprised when he seems to like her back.<br /><br />Instead of finding new heights of self-assurance in her relationship with Bo, Will starts to doubt herself. So she sets out to take back her confidence by doing the most horrifying thing she can imagine: entering the Miss Clover City beauty pageant—along with several other unlikely candidates—to show the world that she deserves to be up there as much as any twiggy girl does. Along the way, she’ll shock the hell out of Clover City—and maybe herself most of all.<br /><br />With starry Texas nights, red candy suckers, Dolly Parton songs, and a wildly unforgettable heroine—<em>Dumplin’</em> is guaranteed to steal your heart.</span><br /><br /><span id="freeText5982125737066931844"><b>My thoughts:</b> So I had somehow not been aware of this book until about a month before it came out when my Twitter feed exploded with people posting about it. I resisted the hype for maybe a week before finally going to Goodreads to see what this was all about. I then immediately put in a library hold for this book.</span><span id="freeText5982125737066931844"> I <i><b>had </b></i>to read it.</span><br /><br /><span id="freeText5982125737066931844">As someone who was very similar to Willowdean in high school I felt a good connection to her. I honestly wish this book had been around when I was a young adult. I think 15 year old me really should have been able to read this. Willowdean is such a kick ass character. She's lively, she's feisty, she's smart, she's brave, she's insecure, she's figuring it all out still. She's amazing.&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span id="freeText5982125737066931844">I loved this book and it made me go look up more than one Dolly Parton song on Youtube, which I call a good thing.&nbsp;</span><span id="freeText5982125737066931844"> </span><br /><span id="freeText5982125737066931844"><br /></span><span id="freeText5982125737066931844"><br /></span><span id="freeText5982125737066931844"><a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1424189465l/18304322.jpg" target="_blank"><i>Image source</i></a></span>Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031994500460504779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237276950280903887.post-33213187670652723002015-05-12T06:00:00.000-07:002015-05-12T06:00:01.715-07:00Top Ten Tuesday - Ten Authors I Really Want To MeetTop Ten Tuesday is a fantastic blog series hosted by <a href="http://www.brokeandbookish.com/p/top-ten-tuesday-other-features.html" target="_blank">The Broke and The Bookish</a>. This seemed like a fun topic to jump back in on the TTT bandwagon.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lm4kT-GFjDs/VQWdYLJSeAI/AAAAAAAACtw/WR9oIaVGRds/s1600/toptentuesday2.jpg" /></div><br /><br />1. Diana Gabaldon. Aka, Herself. I'm a huge fan of the Outlander series and love her writing. I think I'd probably be rendered mute if I met her though.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://sarahsaysreadbooks.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/diana_gabaldon_2009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://sarahsaysreadbooks.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/diana_gabaldon_2009.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><br />2. Sarah Dessen. There are so many things I love about Dessen. She writes amazing books with amazing characters and plots, she is fantastic at creating places that you can just perfectly visualize, she drops in things from her previous books, like a band or a character at a coffee shop, so perfectly it doesn't feel forced, and she is so incredibly friendly, modest, and supportive of other people on social media. And she seems like the kind of person where you just know she's being genuine and not putting on an act.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://myhero.com/images/guest/g229821/hero66874/g229821_u80692_s.d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://myhero.com/images/guest/g229821/hero66874/g229821_u80692_s.d.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div><br /><br />3. John Green. My introduction to Green was when my friend Andea forced me to read TFIOS. I still owe her for that. Green creates some amazing characters, seriously Hazel Grace is fantastic. Plus I love how much he loves my favorite city.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ew.com/sites/default/files/i/2013/08/02/John-Green.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.ew.com/sites/default/files/i/2013/08/02/John-Green.jpg" height="123" width="200" /></a></div><br /><br />4. Jen Lancaster. I don't just want to meet Lancaster, I want her to take me under her wing and be one of her besties. I love her sense of humor, her sarcastic wit (we have that in common), and the way she tells a story. Plus I love that she's an animal rescuer as well, that's definitely the key to my heart.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/130517132320-jen-lancaster-story-top.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/130517132320-jen-lancaster-story-top.jpg" height="112" width="200" /></a></div><br /><br />5. Emery Lord. Lord is another author that I have some friends to thank for introducing me to. She's also another one that is so incredible friendly, down to Earth, and supportive on social media. Plus when the Start of Me and You came out she sent people who preordered some swag and mine came with the nicest note based on the email I'd sent her. Anyone who takes the time to really read your email and personalize their response in the midst of a book coming out is extra amazing.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1351103384p5/6553850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1351103384p5/6553850.jpg" height="200" width="132" /></a></div><br /><br />6. JK Rowling. Does this one really need an explanation? Her mind created Harry Potter, enough said.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/476638112869662720/GVUNU5Zd.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/476638112869662720/GVUNU5Zd.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><br />7. Stephanie Perkins. Yet another author who seems so down to Earth, so supportive of others, and just genuinely nice. Plus she created Anna, Lola, and Isla and I'd really love to thank her for this is person.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://speakerdata.s3.amazonaws.com/photo/image/846994/stephanie-perkins-credit-de.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://speakerdata.s3.amazonaws.com/photo/image/846994/stephanie-perkins-credit-de.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />8, 9, 10. I'm cheating a little here. Melissa Landers, Jessica Love, and Kelsey Macke are friends of mine, who at this point I only know through the wonderful thing that is the internet. Even though I've never had the chance to sit across a table from them I genuinely consider them my friends. However, I also consider them amazing authors and I'd love the chance to sit down with them and discuss the characters and places they've created.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1333392569p5/5804715.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1333392569p5/5804715.jpg" height="200" width="189" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1374557519p5/7181862.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1374557519p5/7181862.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a><a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/543233572123852800/CZTQjcUy.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/543233572123852800/CZTQjcUy.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031994500460504779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237276950280903887.post-8181648724490833092015-05-10T12:03:00.000-07:002015-05-10T12:05:56.333-07:00Book Review: The Royal We<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41lyByjfIjL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41lyByjfIjL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: #666666;"><b>From Goodreads</b>:&nbsp;<strong style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><em>"I might be Cinderella today, but I dread who they'll think I am tomorrow. I guess it depends on what I do next."</em>&nbsp;</strong></span><br /><span style="background-color: #666666;"><span id="freeText14793761077777506868" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><br />American Rebecca Porter was never one for fairy tales. Her twin sister, Lacey, has always been the romantic who fantasized about glamour and royalty, fame and fortune. Yet it's Bex who seeks adventure at Oxford and finds herself living down the hall from Prince Nicholas, Great Britain's future king. And when Bex can't resist falling for Nick, the person behind the prince, it propels her into a world she did not expect to inhabit, under a spotlight she is not prepared to face.<br /><br />Dating Nick immerses Bex in ritzy society, dazzling ski trips, and dinners at Kensington Palace with him and his charming, troublesome brother, Freddie. But the relationship also comes with unimaginable baggage: hysterical tabloids, Nick's sparkling and far more suitable ex-girlfriends, and a royal family whose private life is much thornier and more tragic than anyone on the outside knows. The pressures are almost too much to bear, as Bex struggles to reconcile the man she loves with the monarch he's fated to become.<br /><br />Which is how she gets into trouble.<br /><br />Now, on the eve of the wedding of the century, Bex is faced with whether everything she's sacrificed for love-her career, her home, her family, maybe even herself-will have been for nothing.<br /><br />Spanning nearly a decade,&nbsp;<em>The Royal We</em>&nbsp;is a richly imagined, emotionally compelling novel that examines, with warmth and wit, what truly happens after your prince has come.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">&nbsp;</span></span><br /><div><span style="background-color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #666666; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><b>My Thoughts</b>: So first things first, I'm a royalty/royal-history nerd. Always have been, way before Kate&nbsp;sashayed&nbsp;down&nbsp;that infamous runway. I've read numerous books and tons of articles about various royals and periods of royal history, I even took a British history class in college because my royal love leads easily into a love for England and all things British. I woke up crazy early to watch Diana's funeral and praised the world for DVR as I recorded Will and Kate's wedding. All this to say that it's not surprising that I read this book, though I wasn't entirely sure how it would go when I started it.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #666666; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #666666; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">I needn't have worried; this book is fantastic. It is obviously inspired by Will and Kate but there are enough differences and areas where this story branches off that it easily kept me entertained. Actually, that's an understatement. I adored this book. I could not put it down, and when I did manage to set it down (darn work) I was thinking about Bex and Nick and all the other characters. The authors paint such vivid settings and have such detailed, interesting characters that everything just comes to life. I finished this a week ago and honestly these characters are still in my head. That's a great sign. I seriously recommend this.&nbsp;</span></span></div>Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031994500460504779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237276950280903887.post-74370161607996892642015-04-13T17:55:00.000-07:002015-05-10T12:09:50.920-07:00Book Review - Faking It by Leah Marie Brown <span style="background-color: #666666;"><b><i>From <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24980083-faking-it" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>:&nbsp;</i></b><strong style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Haven't you ever told a little lie in the name of love?</strong></span><br /><span style="background-color: #666666;"><span id="freeText13695017169422813207" style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><br />Vivia Grant couldn’t be happier. She has her dream job and is about to marry her dream man. Does it really matter that she’s led him to believe she’s a virgin? After all, being in love makes every experience feel like the first time anyway! But an unexpected encounter with an ex-lover is about to expose her embarrassing lie…<br /><br />When Vivia’s fiancé discovers the truth, he ends their engagement—via text—and uses his connections to get her fired. Unemployed and heartbroken, Vivia begins planning her new future—as a homeless spinster. But her best friend has a better idea. They’ll skip the Ben &amp; Jerry’s binge and go on Vivia’s honeymoon instead. Two weeks cycling through Provence and Tuscany, with Luc de Caumont, a sexy French bike guide. Too bad Vivia’s not a big fan of biking. And she’s abysmal at languages. Will she fib her way through the adventure, or finally learn to love herself—and Luc—flaws and all?</span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">&nbsp;</span></span><br /><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51FjPET4AML._AA278_PIkin4,BottomRight,-46,22_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51FjPET4AML._AA278_PIkin4,BottomRight,-46,22_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">My Thoughts: </i>This was a very cute book. Vivia had to grow on me a bit, but once she did I really liked her. However I liked her bff, Fanny, from the get go. I think everyone needs a Fanny in their life.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Honestly, there were a few parts of this story that were very far-fetched but overall it works very well and has good flow. It's a very fun, lovely read and I think it would be perfect for a beach or pool side read this summer. Also, I adore this cover.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in return for a review however all opinions are my own.&nbsp;</i></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><br /></span></div>Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031994500460504779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237276950280903887.post-86576607217624736032015-04-13T17:35:00.001-07:002015-04-13T17:35:56.161-07:00Hello AgainWell hello, again. Long time no see. I've decided that life has slowed down enough around here and I've finally got the inclination to blog again, so I'm resurrecting the ole blog. My plan is for this to be all things bookish, so let's get reading, shall we?Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031994500460504779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237276950280903887.post-9816518450956203312013-08-11T11:28:00.001-07:002013-08-11T11:28:58.248-07:00A to Z Book Survey<h5><strong></strong>&nbsp;</h5> <h5><img alt="http://www.perpetualpageturner.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/AtoZsurvey.jpg" src="http://www.perpetualpageturner.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/AtoZsurvey.jpg" width="461" height="465"></h5> <h5><strong>Jamie from The Perpetual Page Turner created this A to Z book survey and I just had to do it. I love these things! </strong></h5> <h5><strong>A</strong>uthor you’ve read the most books from:</h5> <p>Diana Gabaldon/JK Rowling - tie <h5><strong>B</strong>est Sequel Ever:</h5> <p>Second Helpings – Megan McCafferty <h5><strong>C</strong>urrently Reading:</h5> <p>Dragonfly in Amber – Diana Gabaldon <h5><strong>D</strong>rink of Choice While Reading:</h5> <p>tea <h5><strong>E-</strong>reader or Physical Book?</h5> <p>both – I love both but physical books will always be my favorite <h5><strong>F</strong>ictional Character You Probably Would Have Actually Dated In High School:</h5> <p>Wes – The Truth About Forever – Sarah Dessen <h5><strong>G</strong>lad You Gave This Book A Chance:</h5> <p>Warm Bodies – Isaac Marion <h5><strong>H</strong>idden Gem Book:</h5> <p>Sammy’s Hill – Kristen Gore <h5><strong>I</strong>mportant Moment in your Reading Life:</h5> <p>Reading Harry Potter for the first time <h5><strong>J</strong>ust Finished:</h5> <p>Outlander – Diana Gabaldon <h5><strong>K</strong>inds of Books You Won’t Read:</h5> <p>I’ll read anything <h5><strong>L</strong>ongest Book You’ve Read:</h5> <p>The Fiery Cross – Diana Gabaldon (1443 pages) <h5><strong>M</strong>ajor book hangover because of:</h5> <p>The Fault in Our Stars – John Green (all the feels!) <h5><strong>N</strong>umber of Bookcases You Own:</h5> <p>2 big, 2 small <h5><strong>O</strong>ne Book You Have Read Multiple Times:</h5> <p>Eat Pray Love <h5><strong>P</strong>referred Place To Read:</h5> <p>The couch <h5><strong>Q</strong>uote that inspires you/gives you all the feels from a book you’ve read:</h5> <p>“If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.” <br>― <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1077326.J_K_Rowling">J.K. Rowling</a>, <i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/3046572">Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire</a> </i> <h5><strong>R</strong>eading Regret:</h5> <p>Not starting Harry Potter when book 1 came out <h5><strong>S</strong>eries You Started And Need To Finish(all books are out in series):</h5> <p>I can’t think of any…. <h5><strong>T</strong>hree of your All-Time Favorite Books:</h5> <p>Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Pride and Prejudice, Outlander <h5><strong>U</strong>napologetic Fangirl For:</h5> <p>Isaac Marion/Warm Bodies/R <h5><strong>V</strong>ery Excited For This Release More Than All The Others:</h5> <p>The sequel to Warm Bodies and Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins <h5><strong>W</strong>orst Bookish Habit:</h5> <p>Reading too many books at once <h5><strong>X</strong> Marks The Spot: Start at the top left of your shelf and pick the 27th book:</h5> <p>IT Stephen King <h5><strong>Y</strong>our latest book purchase:</h5> <p>An Abundance of Katherines – John Green <h5><strong>Z</strong>ZZ-snatcher book (last book that kept you up WAY late):</h5> <p>The New Hunger – Isaac Marion Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031994500460504779noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237276950280903887.post-48797343348967340242013-05-21T04:00:00.000-07:002013-05-21T04:00:01.989-07:00TTT–Top Ten Favorite Book Covers of Books I’ve Read<p>I’m participating in the Top Ten Tuesday posts at <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/">The Broke and the Bookish</a>. Books are good. Lists are good. So this should be good (I hope)!</p> <p>Today’s theme: Favorite book covers of books I’ve read. I tend to like a simple cover the best but color definitely draws me in. I know a lot of people don’t like the cover of The Fault in Our Stars but I love it, it just works.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12332573-jeneration-x"><img alt="Jeneration X: One Reluctant Adult's Attempt to Unarrest Her Arrested Development; Or, Why It's Never Too Late for Her Dumb Ass to Learn Why Froot Loops Are Not for Dinner" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347898510l/12332573.jpg" width="167" height="252"></a>&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9475392-warm-bodies"><img alt="Warm Bodies (Warm Bodies #1)" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347708706l/9475392.jpg" width="169" height="257"></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11870085-the-fault-in-our-stars"><img alt="The Fault in Our Stars" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1360206420l/11870085.jpg" width="165" height="255"></a>&nbsp; <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6104759-an-echo-in-the-bone"><img alt="An Echo in the Bone (Outlander, #7)" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320516419l/6104759.jpg" width="167" height="257"></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15151574-a-shot-of-sultry"><img alt="A Shot of Sultry (Sultry Springs, #2)" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1343855881l/15151574.jpg" width="166" height="275"></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9464733-beauty-queens"><img alt="Beauty Queens" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1289410187l/9464733.jpg" width="181" height="277"></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39988.Matilda"><img alt="Matilda" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1266457161l/39988.jpg" width="184" height="280"></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28.Notes_from_a_Small_Island"><img alt="Notes from a Small Island" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1313220025l/28.jpg" width="183" height="276"></a></p> <p>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12519893-the-homemade-pantry"><img alt="The Homemade Pantry: 101 Foods You Can Stop Buying and Start Making" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1333576869l/12519893.jpg" width="194" height="262"></a>&nbsp; <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/428263.Eclipse"><img alt="Eclipse (Twilight, #3)" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1361038355l/428263.jpg" width="171" height="257"></a></p> Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031994500460504779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237276950280903887.post-50970240533720568512013-05-14T04:00:00.000-07:002013-05-14T04:00:03.822-07:00TTT Books Dealing with Tough Subjects<p>I’m participating in the Top Ten Tuesday posts at <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/">The Broke and the Bookish</a>. Books are good. Lists are good. So this should be good (I hope)!</p> <p>This week’s topic is a little difficult for me as I tend to shy away from books that bring up touchy subjects. I realize that’s probably a bad thing but reading is my escape from the touchy subjects of real life so I do tend toward happier subjects. That said, I’ll do my best!</p> <p><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11870085-the-fault-in-our-stars"><img alt="The Fault in Our Stars" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1360206420l/11870085.jpg" width="198" height="306"></a>&nbsp;<em>You knew this was going to be here, right?&nbsp; </em></p> <p><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60748.A_Child_Called_It_"><img alt="A Child Called &quot;It&quot;" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348036507l/60748.jpg" width="203" height="314"></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19501.Eat_Pray_Love"><img alt="Eat, Pray, Love" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1294023455l/19501.jpg" width="209" height="321"></a>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4667024-the-help"><img alt="The Help" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1346100365l/4667024.jpg" width="218" height="332"></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58345.The_Awakening"><img alt="The Awakening" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1170507247l/58345.jpg" width="218" height="343"></a></p> Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031994500460504779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237276950280903887.post-37652141164646420732013-05-07T04:00:00.000-07:002013-05-07T04:00:11.610-07:00TTT - Top Ten Books When You Need Something Light & Fun<p>&nbsp;</p> <p>I decided I’m going to start participating in the Top Ten Tuesday posts at <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/">The Broke and the Bookish</a>. Books are good. Lists are good. So this should be good (I hope)!</p> <p>This week’s theme – Top ten books when you need something light and fun</p> <p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2202049.Such_a_Pretty_Fat"><img alt="Such a Pretty Fat: One Narcissist's Quest To Discover if Her Life Makes Her Ass Look Big, Or Why Pie is Not The Answer" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1348071660l/2202049.jpg" width="185" height="285"></a>&nbsp; <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/232336.Couplehood"><img alt="Couplehood" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1320397715l/232336.jpg" width="172" height="285"></a></p> <p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12400537-sultry-with-a-twist"><img alt="Sultry with a Twist (Sultry Springs, #1)" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1344549196l/12400537.jpg" width="175" height="289"></a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39988.Matilda"><img alt="Matilda" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1266457161l/39988.jpg" width="193" height="295"></a></p> <p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22205.This_Lullaby"><img alt="This Lullaby" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1361392868l/22205.jpg" width="190" height="289"></a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/138202.Sloppy_Firsts"><img alt="Sloppy Firsts (Jessica Darling, #1)" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1320531275l/138202.jpg" width="191" height="290"></a></p> <p><img alt="Anna and the French Kiss (Anna and the French Kiss, #1)" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1358271931l/6936382.jpg" width="197" height="304">&nbsp; <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7090290-my-fair-lazy"><img alt="My Fair Lazy: One Reality Television Addict's Attempt to Discover If Not Being A Dumb Ass Is the New Black, or, a Culture-Up Manifesto" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1349080673l/7090290.jpg" width="197" height="302"></a></p> <p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15151574-a-shot-of-sultry"><img alt="A Shot of Sultry (Sultry Springs, #2)" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1343855881l/15151574.jpg" width="198" height="328"></a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26023.Bright_Lights_Big_Ass"><img alt="Bright Lights, Big Ass" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1364181695l/26023.jpg" width="215" height="324"></a></p> Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031994500460504779noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237276950280903887.post-39669047093880796682013-04-30T04:00:00.000-07:002013-04-30T16:26:11.889-07:00TTT - topics that make me pick up a bookI decided I’m going to start participating in the Top Ten Tuesday posts at <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/">The Broke and the Bookish</a>. Books are good. Lists are good. So this should be good (I hope)!<br /><br />Today’s theme – Top ten words/topics that instantly make me buy/pick up a book (with an example)<br />1. London. <br /><img alt="The Name of the Star (Shades of London, #1)" height="180" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327880449l/9802372.jpg" width="120" /><br />2. Cooking/Eating.<br /><img alt="Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly" height="182" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348988611l/33313.jpg" width="121" /><br />3. Strong/empowered/interesting women.<br /><img alt="Front Row at the White House : My Life and Times" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348791077l/70426.jpg" width="129" /><br />4. Travel.<br /><img alt="Notes from a Small Island" height="196" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1313220025l/28.jpg" width="130" /><br />5. History.<br /><img alt="His Excellency: George Washington" height="220" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320456440l/6462.jpg" width="142" /><br />6. Eco friendly.<br /><img alt="Sara Snow's Fresh Living: The Essential Room-by-Room Guide to a Greener, Healthier Family and Home" height="192" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320496013l/6062738.jpg" width="145" /><br />7. Gardening.<br /><img alt="The $64 Tomato: How One Man Nearly Lost His Sanity, Spent a Fortune, and Endured an Existential Crisis in the Quest for the Perfect Garden" height="235" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348368691l/86654.jpg" width="154" /><br />8. Memoir.<br /><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27126.Bitter_is_the_New_Black"><img alt="Bitter is the New Black" height="237" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1309283571l/27126.jpg" width="158" /></a><br />9. Politics.<br /><img alt="The Girls in the Van: A Reporter's Diary of the Campaign Trail" height="245" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1312047787l/493950.jpg" width="163" /><br />10. Supernatural characters (witches/wizards, vampires, zombies.)<br /><img alt="Dead Until Dark (Sookie Stackhouse, #1)" height="244" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1311115565l/301082.jpg" width="151" />Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031994500460504779noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237276950280903887.post-50777378910289169612013-04-24T18:30:00.001-07:002013-04-24T18:30:55.005-07:00TTT–books I thought I’d like more/less than I did<p>I decided I’m going to start participating in the Top Ten Tuesday posts at <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Broke and the Bookish</a>. Books are good. Lists are good. So this should be good (I hope)!</p> <p>Today’s theme – Top ten books I thought I’d like more/less than I did.</p> <p>Books I thought I’d like more than I did:</p> <p><a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;frm=1&amp;source=images&amp;cd=&amp;cad=rja&amp;docid=18ImRKO41GCHXM&amp;tbnid=tLrIqQYgPT1GDM:&amp;ved=0CAUQjRw&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.maureenjohnsonbooks.com%2Fbooks%2F13-little-blue-envelopes%2F&amp;ei=84R4UfSAIsOR2wW764GwCw&amp;bvm=bv.45645796,d.b2I&amp;psig=AFQjCNE1XGV9-FjiGp7OagkOJKxSAgupcg&amp;ust=1366939241747627"><img src="http://www.maureenjohnsonbooks.com/pageimages/book-13littleblueenvelopes220.jpg" width="159" height="261"></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6072179-cleaving"><img alt="Cleaving: A Story of Marriage, Meat, and Obsession" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1344264677l/6072179.jpg" width="171" height="265"></a>&nbsp;<img alt="Breaking Dawn (Twilight, #4)" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1361039438l/1162543.jpg" width="164" height="247">&nbsp;<img alt="Definitely Dead (Sookie Stackhouse, #6)" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1311363493l/140079.jpg" width="165" height="261"></p> <p><img alt="Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347594446l/6728738.jpg" width="169" height="254"></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Books I thought I’d like less than I did:</p> <p><img alt="The Fault in Our Stars" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1360206420l/11870085.jpg" width="144" height="223">&nbsp;<img alt="Warm Bodies (Warm Bodies, #1)" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1323400027l/7619057.jpg" width="145" height="223">&nbsp;<img alt="His Excellency: George Washington" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320456440l/6462.jpg" width="153" height="237">&nbsp;<img alt="Dead Until Dark (Sookie Stackhouse, #1)" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1311115565l/301082.jpg" width="149" height="241"></p> <p><img alt="Salem's Lot" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327891565l/11590.jpg" width="133" height="215"></p> Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031994500460504779noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237276950280903887.post-19148847601373580632013-01-06T17:04:00.001-08:002013-01-06T17:04:05.423-08:002013 Immigrant Stories Challenge<p>I’m signing up for the <a href="http://booksnyc.blogspot.com/2013/01/announcing-immigrant-stories-challenge.html" target="_blank">2013 Immigrant Stories Challenge</a> hosted by Colleen at <a href="http://booksnyc.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Books in the City</a>.&nbsp; This is the third year for the challenge and the third year I’ve signed up. I did really well in 2011 but did horribly last year. So hopefully this year will be much better!</p> <p>Anyone else signing up for this challenge? Any recommendations?</p> <p><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AKam8Ul7tF0/UOoEVJifysI/AAAAAAAAEOg/LzZwt0xFCQk/s1600/immigrant+stories+button+2013_suitcases.jpg"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AKam8Ul7tF0/UOoEVJifysI/AAAAAAAAEOg/LzZwt0xFCQk/s320/immigrant+stories+button+2013_suitcases.jpg" width="294" height="320"></a></p> Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031994500460504779noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237276950280903887.post-66637612296339925662012-12-30T17:08:00.001-08:002012-12-30T17:08:50.465-08:00Favorite Books of 2012<p>2012 was not the best reading year for me. I didn’t even make it halfway to my goal – actually I barely hit a quarter of my goal. But, if history is any indication, 2013 should be much better. The last 4 years have been a trend – good year, bad year, good year, bad year – so next year <em>should</em> be a good year. </p> <p>But, while I didn’t read a lot I did read some very good books. So here, in no particular order, are my favorites of the books I read over the last 12 months. They didn’t all come out in 2012 (I’m so bad about reading new books) but I did read them this year – so they’re going on the list.</p> <p><img src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1344549196l/12400537.jpg" width="155" height="256">&nbsp; <img src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1343855881l/15151574.jpg" width="156" height="257"></p> <p><em>Sultry With a Twist and A Shot of Sultry </em>by Macy Beckett – I loved <em>Sultry with a Twist</em> when I read it and was lucky enough to win an ARC of <em>A Shot of Sultry</em> (which comes out 3/1/13). I’ve never really read anything from the romance genre but these are just so good! I totally got sucked into the stories in both books and fell in love with the characters. Macy has a third book coming out in this series and I cannot wait!!</p> <p><img src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320449173l/12868761.jpg" width="182" height="276"></p> <p><em>Let’s Pretend This Never Happened </em>by Jenny Lawson – I adored this book. It was by far one of the funniest books I have ever read. And had some of the most touching sections too. This book seemed to take the blog and book world by storm when it came out and I think that happened for good reason. This will definitely be one of those books I read over and over.</p> <p><img src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347898510l/12332573.jpg" width="176" height="266"></p> <p><em>Jeneration X </em>by Jen Lancaster – I love Jen Lancaster. I will pre-order every book she writes from now on (I pre-ordered this one). I totally think Jen and I could be bff – she says the things I think and I love her for it. This book was fantastic. As someone who has sort of grown up kicking and screaming the last few years I could totally relate to the premise of this book.</p> <p><img src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320545874l/8683812.jpg" width="159" height="237"></p> <p><em>The Paris Wife</em> by Paula McLain – This may be one of the most recommended books I’ve ever read. So many people said to read this and I’m glad I listened! I loved the story, the setting, and the time period. I didn’t know much about Hemingway going in to this but I really want to learn more since finishing this.</p> <p><img src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320558120l/8689913.jpg" width="161" height="245"></p> <p><em>Madame Tussaud </em>by Michelle Moran – This book was recommended by some of my book club friends and as soon as I heard what it was about I knew I’d love it. I adore everything about Marie Antoinette and that time period so I knew this would be a hit. And it was! I found this fascinating and could barely put it down. I definitely recommend this!</p> <p><img src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1307825121l/9476337.jpg" width="163" height="253"></p> <p><em>Bossypants </em>by Tina Fey – I really like Tina Fey – she’s funny, smart, and not afraid to play with the boys – and she kicks ass doing it. This book was funny and so enjoyable to read. I’m really glad I picked this one up.</p> Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13031994500460504779noreply@blogger.com0
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