Book Haul

 

Read Banned Books

 

This Week I Am...

 This Week I Am….

Looking forward to…   Cooking some salmon before work Friday.  I already meal-prepped some ravioli.  I work all weekend and with this heat, it should be wild.  

Listening to... One of my favorite podcasts on Patreon "Caught in my Web with Jodene Weber" She's a former FBI agent who covers true crime. If you're following the Idaho murders she is a must listen. 

Reading…  I'm just starting Dreamland by Nicholas Sparks. 

Watching…  Catching up on Law & Order SVU, 911 and impatiently waiting for the next episodes of "The Summer I turned pretty" on Amazon Prime and "The Lincoln Lawyer" on Netflix 

Wearing…  Will be trying out the new blush pallet from Wet and Wild I just bought and the liner 90's nude from Rimmel in an attempt to create the perfect nude lip. 

Summer I Turned Pretty Book Haul

Am absolutely obsessed with the show on Amazon Prime.  It's nothing like I thought it would be.  I honestly expected something more like outer banks but am loving the emotion and drama.  I live in the Wilmington NC area where the show is filmed and constantly have to pause to check out the scenery.  I have been to every spot so far.  I need to go and take some pictures for a blog post about the area. Let me know what you think of the books and show. 

I am an avid podcast listener and my favorite is "Reality Life with Kate Casey".  She recently interviewed the author and said it was her best interview ever.  Well with that recommendation and being a history buff curious about reincarnation, I couldn't resist. 

We all have family issues and I am no different.  My cousin Cassandra highly recommended this one. 

 

Cookbook Haul

I've recently bought my first house and making it my own.  One thing I love to do is cook so of course I had to buy some new cookbooks from some of my favorite chefs to go with the dozens I already own. I love how they provide little pops of color to my kitchen.  

One of my favorite places for new recipes and cooking trends is TikTok.  Mississippi Kween (@mississippikween) is definitely a personal favorite content creator and works hard at providing great recipes that are creative, fancy, and flavorful while still being budget-friendly. 

 I also love how she includes her kids in the process. She also has excellent product suggestions that make life in the kitchen much easier.  I laugh every time she has to taste the cheese for poison.  That's something my family has done since I was a kid. lol 

 

@Yourbarefootneighbor is another favorite. He makes easy recipes look more complicated and sophisticated than they are.  I can't wait to try his casserole with no name. Let me know if you have any of these cookbooks and what have you made.  Also, let me know who your favorite food content creators are.  

 

What I Read In January

Three Sisters, Three Queens Trailer

I can't wait to read this new book by one of my favorite authors

Book Review: The List by Siobhan Vivian

I really enjoyed this book except for the ending. The ending seemed kinda rushed and left me hanging. All of the characters were well developed and relatable. The author provides a great glimpse into the lives of many teenage girls. I rated this book four out five stars and would recommend it. 

Book Review: I Almost Forgot About You by Terry McMillan

Dr. Georgia Young's wonderful life--great friends, family, and successful career--aren't enough to keep her from feeling stuck and restless. When she decides to make some major changes in her life, quitting her job as an optometrist, and moving house, she finds herself on a wild journey that may or may not include a second chance at love. Like Waiting to Exhale and How Stella Got Her Groove Back, I Almost Forgot About You will show legions of readers what can happen when you face your fears, take a chance, and open yourself up to life, love, and the possibility of a new direction.(Synopsis from Goodreads) As usual McMillan delivers with fully developed adult characters with everyday adult problems. This story isn't a fairy tale this is a woman like you and me facing the same issues that many woman her age face. I love that she is handling things by herself and not waiting for a man to solve all of her problems. Mcmillan throws a few curve balls at you in this book and keeps you guessing all the way until the end. I definitely didn't predict that ending. I highly recommend this book. **this book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

Book Review: The 100 by Kass Morgan

No one has set foot on Earth in centuries -- until now. Ever since a devastating nuclear war, humanity has lived on spaceships far above Earth's radioactive surface. Now, one hundred juvenile delinquents -- considered expendable by society -- are being sent on a dangerous mission: to recolonize the planet. It could be their second chance at life...or it could be a suicide mission. CLARKE was arrested for treason, though she's haunted by the memory of what she really did. WELLS, the chancellor's son, came to Earth for the girl he loves -- but will she ever forgive him? Reckless BELLAMY fought his way onto the transport pod to protect his sister, the other half of the only pair of siblings in the universe. And GLASS managed to escape back onto the ship, only to find that life there is just as dangerous as she feared it would be on Earth. Confronted with a savage land and haunted by secrets from their pasts, the hundred must fight to survive. They were never meant to be heroes, but they may be mankind's last hope.(Synopsis from Goodreads) This book received 5 out 5 stars from me. I wasn't sure if I would like this book but I was pleasantly surprised. I really liked the characters, even the bad guys. They all were very well developed and believable. Although the names of some seemed a little weird and threw me off a little bit. In the beginning the girls with the boy names kept confusing me. The plot was well developed and fast paced. Kass Morgan kept you turning the page but didn't give away the upcoming plot. I already purchased the next two books and can't wait to read them. Definitely added to my favorites list. Have you seen the tv show or read the book? Let me know.

Book Review: Paper Towns by John Green

Quentin Jacobsen has spent a lifetime loving the magnificently adventurous Margo Roth Spiegelman from afar. So when she cracks open a window and climbs into his life—dressed like a ninja and summoning him for an ingenious campaign of revenge—he follows. After their all-nighter ends, and a new day breaks, Q arrives at school to discover that Margo, always an enigma, has now become a mystery. But Q soon learns that there are clues—and they're for him. Urged down a disconnected path, the closer he gets, the less Q sees the girl he thought he knew. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

I know, I know  everybody loves this book and this author. To be honest i'm not the hugest fan.  There are two things about his writing that bother me. The first is that his stories are depressing.  I wanna cry after reading his books.  The second thing that bothers me is when he tries too hard by dropping in random huge words that nobody ever uses.  Obviously you can figure out the words meaning from context but c,mon just use normal language.

I was excited to read this book because I love a good road trip.  So i was looking forward to that part of the book.  Unfortunately the road trip was only a small part of the story.  Although the road trip provided my favorite part of the story and that is when Q buys a shirt for Radar.  I actually laughed out loud. I also really enjoyed the part about the night out with Margo.  I loved how inventive and thought out her plan was.   What I didn't enjoy was how drawn out the story was. I figured out very easily how they should find her but it took forever for Q and his friends to figure it out.  Also I really didn't like the ending.  I felt like it was a real letdown.  A friend of mine agreed that the ending was horrible. 

If you're a big fan of John  Green than I recommend that you read this book but otherwise I wouldn't recommend this at all.  I suggest you watch the movie instead. 

Book review: First Love by James Patterson

Axi Moore is a "good girl": She studies hard, stays out of the spotlight, and doesn't tell anyone how all she really wants is to run away from it all. The only person she can tell is her best friend, Robinson--who she also happens to be madly in love with. 

When Axi spontaneously invites Robinson to come with her on an impulsive cross-country road trip, she breaks the rules for the first time in her life. But the adventure quickly turns from carefree to out of control after the teens find themselves on the run from the police. And when Robinson suddenly collapses, Axi has to face the truth that this trip might be his last. (Goodreads synopsis) 

Definitely not your typical Patterson book but worth the read. James Patterson dives into the teen fiction arena and scores a win.  The story of Axi and Robinson is a story of romance that is both beautiful and heartbreaking.  Much like real life.  

I enjoyed and was very envious of Axi and Robinson's road trip.  I wish I ad the guts to just jump in the car and see the country.  All though I don't think i'd steal any cars.  

I gave this book four out of five stars. 

Book Review: 11 22 63 by Stephen King

Dallas, 11/22/63: Three shots ring out.
President John F. Kennedy is dead.

Life can turn on a dime—or stumble into the extraordinary, as it does for Jake Epping, a high school English teacher in a Maine town. While grading essays by his GED students, Jake reads a gruesome, enthralling piece penned by janitor Harry Dunning: fifty years ago, Harry somehow survived his father’s sledgehammer slaughter of his entire family. Jake is blown away . . . but an even more bizarre secret comes to light when Jake’s friend Al, owner of the local diner, enlists Jake to take over the mission that has become his obsession—to prevent the Kennedy assassination. How? By stepping through a portal in the diner’s storeroom, and into the era of Ike and Elvis, of big American cars, sock hops, and cigarette smoke. . . . Finding himself in warmhearted Jodie, Texas, Jake begins a new life. But all turns in the road lead to a troubled loner named Lee Harvey Oswald. The course of history is about to be rewritten . . . and become heart-stoppingly suspenseful. (Goodreads Synopsis)

I am an avid reader of books about JFK and I love time travel fiction.  So obviously this book was one I wanted to read desperately.  I must admit the size of the book scared me. As a result, it took me awhile to get around to reading it.  But I am so glad I finally read it.

 King gives you a great glimpse into the late 1950's and 1960's. I love his details about life during the era,especially his description of how the food tasted and how the towns people interacted with the main character and each other.  The part about the bathrooms in North Carolina was especially good but didn't seem to fit with any other part of the book. The story line about high school in the south during the early 1960's is so good it could have been a book all by his itself.  

I'm sure there are a few inaccuracies but I don't care it was a work of fiction and a great story. I love all of the historical information.  The Kennedy part of the story started slow but that was due to the fact that he had years to wait.  Boy did it pick up in the end though.

I must say I have mixed feelings on the end of the book.  The ending seemed a little dark, scary and extreme.  I will say this I do like that King didn't go with the obvious.  He easily could have played it safe and given us the obvious results of everything being wonderful and perfect.  But he didn't do that.  He made us think and really contemplate what might have been.

I loved this book.  This book is definitely going on my favorites list.  A five star read and highly recommended.

The Choice by Nicholas Sparks

Sparks reminds us that love can be surprising. I liked this book but that it was a little predictable. Such a sweet story. Sparks loves to break our hearts. 

Book Review: The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty

Do we ever really know somebody? Cecelia finds a letter addressed to her from her husband and dated years earlier.  The letter begins with "my dearest Cecelia, if you're reading this I have died." He than confesses to something Cecilia never thought possible. One man's secret can send ripples through the lives of so many people. I couldn't put this book down. The author has a great writing style and it is a very easy read.  The ending I didn't see coming.   I hope her other books are just as good.  

Book Review: Summer by Summer by Heather Burch

Summer is working as a nanny on the Garrison families summer vacation in Belize.  While she loves the little boy she is in charge of she can't stand his older brother.  The older brother Bray is home from college and everything summer hates.  Bray's mom on the other hand is bound and determined to make everyone get along so she suggests that Bray brings Summer along when he hangs out with friends.  While on one of these get togethers Bray and Summer are caught in a storm and stranded on a desert island.   At least they thought is was deserted.  They soon find out that they have company and not the kind they want.  While stranded they learn about themselves and each other.

This book will please both romance readers and adventure lovers.  I loved this book but I am a sucker for a deserted island story.

Book Review: The Last Juror by John Grisham

The second (after a Time to Kill) in Grisham's Ford County books and just as good as the first. I love this series and can't wait to read the rest. Grisham blends drama with history and manages to keep you on the edge of your seat from cover to cover. Set at the end of the civil rights era in Clanton Mississippi, two men and one family has a profound effect on the town.

Book Review: Timeless Love by Judith O'brien

One moment Sam is afraid her dad is going to kill her for scratching his BMW than the next moment she is standing in the bedroom of King Edward VI. History comes  alive  like Sam never imagined.  I love time travel romance books and I also love the Tudors.  So this book feels like it was written just for me.  I absolutely loved it.

Book Review: Alex Cross's Trial by James Patterson

James Patterson takes a different turn with his Alex Cross series. During some down time Alex decides to write a novel based on an old family story.  This is the that novel and it is great.  Ben is sent by the president to investigate lynchings in Mississippi in 1906.  Right away Ben gets involved way over his head and finds his life in danger. With the help of Alex Cross's cousin moody and her grandfather Abraham Ben takes on the KKK and racism in the deep south.  I really loved this book and I hope Patterson writes more like this.