The Selection Series Review

Listen, you can judge me if you want but I hopped right into this series happily. I'd seen a few people discussing it on social media and as an avid young adult novel admirer, I had to check them out. Ya know, I have to stay relevant. ;) Anyway, it took me about a week to read the series which means that it was good enough to keep me at the book store every other day. Despite my frustrations with the story and the characters, I wanted to know what happened. I needed to know.

The main character, America, finds herself in a competition for the princess crown of Illea and the hand of the prince. Prince Maxon was nothing like she imagined him to be when she begrudgingly signed up for the Selection and she finds herself wanting to know more about him and wanting to stay in the competition she is in with thirty five other girls. A love triangle, a war, and the drama of several teenage girls in competition for the heart of one prince makes the quote regarding this series so perfect:

"A cross between The Hunger Games (minus the bloodsport) and The Bachelor (minus the bloodsport)..." {Publishers Weekly}

That honestly sums it up so well. I enjoyed reading these even if I was trying not to roll my eyes at the elementary way the characters and plot developed. I reminded myself that I'm the one who chose to shop in the Young Adult Section and soldiered through to the end. I'm glad I did. I love a good series after finishing up another semester of school.

Up next on the list?
John Grisham- Sycamore Row

Have you read anything good lately?

Books At A Glance

I read Patterson's Honeymoon years ago and all I could remember about it was that I loved it. I got through the book in a day or so. When I saw Second Honeymoon on the rack at Wal-mart, it was an impulse buy. I haven't read anything from him in a long time. I'm a sucker for psychological thrillers, though and this one didn't disappoint. As Patterson so often does, the plot was thick with characters, murders, and strands of facts that you think might never be tied up. It switches back and forth between different action scenes that there were a few times I was a bit confused. It took awhile to get used to his style of writing after some of the other books I've read lately. I read the book fairly quickly so I must have enjoyed it, but you know sometimes these books are just more of the same, if you know what I mean. Good beach read, though.

Enchanted. That's the word that comes to mind when I think of this story. I really liked it. I picked it up after throwing in the towel because Baby A and book stores don't really mix. I couldn't read the back of the book (or any book) before he was picking up a book and eating it or crawling under tables of books. I probably wouldn't have chosen this under normal circumstances, but I'm glad I did. Perhaps it was fate. This story has magic, romance, and the lure of circus lore set in the late 1800's. It was lovely. There was a lot of switching back and forth between dates (years) and times which I didn't love, but overall I thought this book was great. It was the kind of story that makes me, as a writer, want to be better. The intricate plot line was tied together fairly seamlessly at the end and I was sad to be done with this book on some level.

***

Remember when I reviewed this book for my college pal? Well, the second book is well underway. Kennedy and Gaitan recently released a sneak peak. Their cover reveal and synopsis is live here, but I wanted to show you the cover, too! I'm excited:

Books I've Read Lately

Ever fascinated with prison culture, I was pretty sure I would enjoy this book. I've always been drawn to prison shows and personal accounts of life in prison, especially from women. It's fascinating to learn about a completely different culture that exists just inside our own outside of bars. That being said, everything about this book annoyed me. I did enjoy it because I find it so interesting, however the main character rubbed me the wrong way. It was the uppity attitude that seeped from her writing that made me feel as if she was happy to have gotten such a unique opportunity to write and study this culture, rather than learn from it. She described her experience as if it were a game. One of my IG friends said it best, "I was so busy being horrified and annoyed at her condescending, self-congratulatory and vapid detailing of her experience I couldn't enjoy any good in the book. She was handed life on a silver platter, received an extraordinarily light sentence due to her family's wealth and then treated her prison sentence as a fun social/cultural experience without a shred of remorse..."

I agree with that statement except that I did enjoy reading of the other womens' lives she encountered. I wasn't a fan of her, but the story was intriguing. 

I started Divergent last spring or summer, but got so caught up in raising babies that I never finished it. It wasn't because I didn't want to, I just put it down, my iPad went dead, and I spent the rest of the year occasionally visiting the story in my mind, wondering what happened. Then, when I received the subsequent books for Christmas, I picked up the trilogy again. I won't go into book by book detail, but I will say that I enjoyed these very much. All three of them (Allegiant has the reputation of being hated by many who read it, but I thought it was fitting and fairly well written.) I love the story. The romantic aspects of it are somewhat corny, but hey- I can dig corny. Anytime a series sucks me in, I'm happy about it. If you're into the whole end-of-the-world type books, I suggest these to you. If you want to read about another screwed up government apart from our own, I suggest these to you. ;)

I'm looking forward to the movie that comes out March 21st.

Up next on the agenda to read is James Patterson's Second Honeymoon.

Are you reading anything good?

Read This/Not That

Both of these books were written by the popular Harvey Karp, M.D. I read them pretty close together as I happen to have a baby and a toddler under my care right now :) The Happiest Baby on the Block came to me highly recommended by many people. I actually purchased the book when Cray K was about 7 months old, but I never read all of it because most of the material wasn't really applicable anymore. I picked it up again when I had Baby A and made it a point to read it. If you follow my blog at all, you know that Baby A has been "easy" thus far. Still, the suggestions written in this book are invaluable. The notion of the "missing fourth trimester" makes a lot of sense to me even if I don't agree with every aspect of it. If only I had read this when Cray K was a tiny babe. I think it would have helped tremendously. It addresses colic a lot, too. If you want to find out how your small baby operates, check out this book!

After breezing through the first book and finding it very helpful, I decided I really should check out how my toddler operates, too. I downloaded the ebook, The Happiest Toddler on the Block, and was pretty quickly disappointed. I felt like Karp was grasping at straws trying to write another successful book. He describes our little toddlers as mini cavemen and while perhaps that's accurate, it's also not very helpful in learning how to deal with them. I was unimpressed with his suggestions in parenting this age group. Karp said to mirror toddlers' feelings to some degree and all I could picture was me rolling around on the floor of a bookstore screaming at the top of my lungs, throwing a fit. It gave me a giggle. I just found the majority of this book pretty useless.

There you have it. My goal of reading 35 books this year is slowly becoming impossible. Here's #1 and #2, though. Happy Reading!

Linking Up Here:

a fiction and a non

Happy Sunday to ya! I hope you'll step out of your wonderful world of whatever Reader you use and take a peak at the new look. Fran hooked me up with a lovely new design and I think it's pretty cute. She's wonderful to work with!

Today I thought I'd mention some books I've read lately that I enjoyed. These won't count toward my goal of 35 books in 52 weeks because I finished them before the New Year. Still, they're noteworthy if you're looking for something to read right now.

This book was recommended to me by an ole college pal and I loved it! It was right up my alley with a splash of psychology, a dash of suspense, and a bit of a love story. Don't let the cover or title fool ya- I didn't get the "chick lit" vibe as I read this.

I really liked this one, too. It's full of info about how children learn and how we as a society have gravitated toward pushing our young ones to study, study, study! The authors write about how that's not necessary to development and give examples as to how you can teach your child by playing with him or her without all the fancy toys, music lessons or flash cards. Time spent with a child in conversation and play outweighs the time he or she has trying to pack in various cultural activities that are likely creating pressure to perform. It's food for thought, anyway...

Have you set any reading goals for this year?

The Telling

I polled my audience on Fb the other day and everyone answered in the affirmative that book reviews were the bomb diggity so I've got one for you today. If you don't like this, well then you should be on the fan page! Let me make it a little easier for you- Like Mrs. K and Captain J here. Anyway, let's get started...

The Telling: Tennessee Tinys Book 1

Author Gary E. Reavis Sr. tells the story of a down-home Christian family who has been entrusted to take care of a very unique community of people. This special responsibility has been passed down for generations and now it's Conor's turn to take over the family business of protecting the Tinys. The Tinys are a group of very small individuals who came over from Europe. When a threat is posed from an angry English businessman, something has to be done to protect the Tinys from being exposed to the rest of the world. How will young Conor handle his newly discovered responsibility? What will happen to the little community?

My Thoughts:

First let me say, I really liked the book. It's a short read. The story easily flows through a series of events that make the reader not want to put it down. It's fiction, of course, but could also be categorized under legends and mythology and/or folk tales. Over the past few years, I've begun to read more and more of this genre. I like The Telling because it transcends age- parents and children alike could enjoy this book together. It would be a great story to read as a family!

I noticed some errors that I first attributed to the author getting into the character of his writing, but then I began to wonder if they were typos. There were several in the beginning and some toward the end that were mildly distracting, however I do not think it took away from the story at all.

About the Author:

Gary E. Reavis Sr. is a retired techie turned writer. He's the big brother to two siblings who grew up relying on his creativity for entertainment. He now has a large family and enjoys regaling children with his stories.

Read more about the first book in the series here. The book is available on the book website, Amazon, or Barnes and Noble, among other places I'm sure. There's also the option of purchasing the ebook or having your actual copy signed if it's purchased through his website. My mom sent me my copy and she had it signed!

Overall- Yay or Nay?

Yay, yay, yay! I look forward to reading the next book in the adventures of the Tinys.

Linked up with:

SocialPunk

When I was initially approached to review this book, I thought- I probably won't like it. But, the writer, who I've received dozens of emails from is a good writer. I could tell by the way she made me want to keep reading the lengthy emails. I was impressed by her, but still I was unsure of her newly released book, SocialPunk. I was wrong to so quickly judge. This book is the first of a trilogy and I can't wait for the others to be released!

Monica Leonelle's first in the SocialPunk trilogy is described on her blog:

Ima would give anything to escape The Dome and learn what’s beyond its barriers, but the Chicago government has kept all its citizens on lockdown ever since the Scorched Years left most of the world a desert wasteland. When a mysterious group of hooded figures enters the city unexpectedly, Ima uncovers a plot to destroy The Dome and is given the choice between escaping to a new, dangerous city or staying behind and fighting a battle she can never win.

It sounds too futuristic for my tastes, but I couldn't put the book down. I downloaded it to my kindle and it was read by the time my flight arrived in Tennessee a few weekends ago. I loved it! The book is fairly short and it keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. The twists and turns the story took were often unexpected and the ending of book one was one that I didn't see coming! I enjoy when an author surprises me like that, don't you?

Another awesome perk of reading the book is that she's hosting a huge giveaway! The prizes are awesome and include a new iPad 3, a Kindle Fire, and autographed copies of the book. The giveaway ends on April 30 so if you don't have time, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO READ THE BOOK TO ENTER! There are other ways to participate, too. See the Rafflecopter below.

Sleeper's Run

Everyone likes the book they can't put down, right? Either it's frustrating yet compelling or interesting and exciting and you just can't seem to get anything else done because you keep returning to it. This was one of those books for me. I'll admit, I read the first chapter or two and put it down for awhile, but when I picked it back up, it was a quick read for me.



There were scenarios I could relate to such as the military references, but there was also a story line that wasn't so relateable and kept me on my toes. It was exciting- full of action. It was fun to read.

The main character, Eric begins working for the CIA after a strange sequence of events occurs and eventually leads him to Venezuela. There, he meets a woman he believes to be working with and finds himself wanting to get to know her more. Later, Eric is asked to do something that will have him running from the local government there and in the United States, too.

The author researched and carefully developed the characters, cultures, and settings involved in the novel very well. Sometimes it felt like overkill, though. Eric was a larger than life kind of person, but things like that have never bothered me in works of fiction.

I liked the book.

(I was given a free copy of this book and compensated to write this review. All opinions are my own and may differ from yours.)

Read This/Not That

I like looking at those books that tell you what to eat versus what to avoid eating because of the calories and such. It's not that I follow it necessarily, but it's interesting anyway.

Many of you send me messages about the books I read so I thought I'd give you my take on recent devotionals I have read just in case you were in the market for a new one:

READ THIS!



Road Trip: Five Adventures You're Meant to Live by Jen Hatmaker is a refreshingly witty and fun journey through God's word. It uses modern day scenarios to relate what God might be trying to tell us through scripture in an easy going yet focused way. It's a book you want to read, not one you are only reading because you feel as if you should read it. The chapters (or day by day studies) are short (Can I get an amen?), leaving time for you to reflect on what was written, pray, write, or go catch the latest episode of American Idol ;) This is perfect if you're a part of a women's small group or you're looking to start one!

And now for the...

NOT THAT!



I didn't enjoy He Said, She Said as much. I thought it would be different from what it really is. I was hoping for a couples devotional when I felt like I got a lot of honest personal stories that were prompted from single verses from the Bible, which is fine, but not what I was looking for. It offers some worthwhile food for thought, but overall I didn't feel God speaking to me through this book. It just wasn't my cup of tea, that's all.

(Note: I was not compensated for the review; all opinions are my own.)

How To Get Anything You Want

The title of the book is just attractive, isn't it?

How To Get Anything You Want Just Like That!



I don't know anyone who doesn't want to know that little gem of info. We're all searching for something, right? Needless to say, I thought I would really like this book. My background is in the helping professions and I assumed that I would find Janet Poole's book useful and relatable. If I'm being honest, there are several excellent points in it. There were multiple times when I was scribbling in my notebook thinking, "Oh, that's good!" or "Yes. That is absolutely important to remember." The flip side of the coin, though is one that is not so relatable for me. For instance, the very first sentence starts off, "Did you know that you are entitled to have anything you want?" Perhaps this set the tone for the rest of the book for me since I completely disagree with everything about that sentence.

There were other things about this way of thinking that irked me, too. The author describes that each of us are gods (p. 7), a belief that is fundamentally against what I, as a Christian, believe. Poole discusses past lives and freely dishes out lots of feel good advice and tools toward getting what one wants out of the present life.

What did I like about the book? It's food for thought. No matter what you believe, it's important to know why you believe that. It's important to step outside of your box and expand your mind. One of my favorite quotes says:

"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." - Aristotle

With that being said, the book also contains several key concepts that I wholeheartedly believe to be true. There's an emphasis on making changes in thinking in order to create change in life. This is absolutely something that I've found to be true in my life and in the lives of people I've worked with in a counseling setting. There's also an emphasis on loving and valuing the self which is important for self growth, in my opinion.

In addition to these pearls of wisdom, there are also summaries and exercises to accompany each chapter.

Want a copy? The first person to comment on this post will get their very own! And maybe the second person, too ;) Facebook comments will not count- it must be a blog comment.

(Note: I was provided this book as well as compensated for this review. All opinions are my own and may differ from yours.)

Dark Mind

I love a good psychological thriller or suspense book. They've long-time been a favorite of mine. I think this genre may have been why I fell in love with reading in the first place. I especially love when something happens at the end of the chapter and I just HAVE to read on to see what happens in the next one. Jennifer Chase's book Dark Mind does just that.



It combines paradise with mayhem as the main character, Emily, finds herself pursuing a serial killer in the beautiful Hawaiian islands. This combination makes Dark Mind even creepier because when you're relaxing on the beach in the land of Aloha, the last thing on your mind is the possibility of someone so disturbing interrupting your siesta in the sun. Am I right?

As I was reading, I found myself wanting to know more about Emily's past. I didn't know this book was the third in a series because it easily stands alone. Still, I may go back and read the other two as well.

In this book, Emily is joined by Richard and Jordan to track down the man who is terrorizing the island. Amid the search, there's also an intricate love triangle among them. Emily seems to draw the attention of the men she comes in contact with perhaps because of her tenacious, strong, fighter spirit. It's obvious in this novel that Emily has been through the ringer in her life and she definitely hasn't had an easy go of it.

The local police seem to be operating off of island time, in no hurry to solve the murders that are plaguing their community. It will be up to Emily, Richard, and Jordan to find the killer before it's too late.

This book is nonstop action. I really, really enjoyed it!

You can find this book on Amazon among other places and it's available on eReaders, too :)

(Note: I was compensated for this review as well as given the book to read free of charge. I was not paid to write a positive review. All opinions are my own and may differ from yours.)

The Sitting Swing

This may very well be the best memoir I've read to date.



Irene Watson's story begins to unfold as she tells her dark and sometimes uncomfortable recollection of her homelife. There were so many points that hit home for me in this book that I'm just not sure where to start.

I suppose I'll start with the one that was truest for me-

"There's not a person in this world who can keep his own, personal ambitions and still give his will over to God. Not one person. If God has ambitions for you, that's fine. But let them be God's ambitions."

You all must know by now that I struggle with this. I look back on leaving graduate school and a budding career to move to Alaska to support my husband the soldier and I wouldn't change a thing. Yet, sometimes I wonder if I should be working instead of staying home because of these goals I made for myself years ago. I find comfort in reading the reminder that I should put my trust in my higher power and follow His instruction in my life.

I digress, though. I was going to give a book review, wasn't I? :)

The Sitting Swing tells the powerful story of a child turned adult who endured a rough upbringing. Her early influences in life shaped her into a person she didn't seem to want to be, one that landed her in what she thought to be a controlling marriage. As a child, Irene grew up in a small town, the second (but only surviving) child to her parents. Her mother kept a close, judgemental eye on her from the very beginning which began to seep into everything Irene knew and understood about life.

The book discusses her difficult childhood, going into details of the abuse she suffered and the guilt she carried with her over the years. Then, Irene seeks treatment and the book takes a different path. The reader is put into the shoes of an older Irene who is dealing with the process of therapy and hoping for a way out of the crisis her life has become.

The best aspect of the book is the emphasis of something that I've studied most of my adult life- the ability to change despite poor circumstance, age, or adversity.

I know my counselor friends will enjoy reading this book and I suspect the rest of you will as well.

The Sitting Swing is available on Amazon and at Barnes and Noble. Both have to option of an ebook download as well. Check it out!

(Note: I received a free copy from the author and was compensated for this review. Despite this, all opinions given are my own.)

A Review: Lies of Mercy-Lies of Grace

One of my resolutions (every year) is to read more. I love to read, but when given the opportunity, I usually sit down at the computer instead. I don't know why. Anyway, I've read three almost four books already this year! Some I've been enjoying on my new Kindle Fire and some I've been reading the old fashioned way ;)

Regardless how these stories are presented to me, I'm enjoying each one for different reasons.

I finished Lies of Mercy-Lies of Grace recently and wanted to provide you with a short review in case you wanted to check it out. Carol Jo Pettit, the author, grew up in South Florida during the Pre-Castro days of the 1950's. The book tells the tales of a Pennsylvania Dutch girl growing up in Miami. I thought the book was delightfully funny. Her words are crafted in a way that just makes you smile. The stories she tells from the point of view of young Mercy Grace Malone have a childlike innocence to them that makes even the smallest events seem humorous. The characters are quite quirky, too. That alone always makes me want to read more so that I can try to get a ballpark idea of who that person is. Mercy describes herself by saying, "I'm half Irish and half Pennsylvania Dutch, which, of course, is really just German." The two unlikely paths her parents forged created an interesting home life for Mercy and her two siblings. The book gives glimpses of what Florida was like back in the day through the eyes of a child. I laughed as Mercy struggled to win a spelling bee because of the accents of her parents. I pondered on the story behind her mysterious Uncle John. I related to the weird neighbor, Bob, as he confused every day people with celebrities.

The book is cute, funny, and well-written.

As a new mom, I appreciated the short chapters that read like short stories so I could pick up and leave off every few minutes since Baby K keeps me so busy! The short stories are perfectly blended into a story that I fell in love with! Here's the information printed on the back of the book so that you can see if it is something you'd like to check out:

"Follow Mercy Grace Malone as she attempts to reconcile her conservative home life with the tropical paradise of South Florida in the 1950's. And meet Mercy's memorable friends and relatives who help teach her that "most of the time, only the truth matters, but sometimes it's more important to spare someone from hurt, or to offer hope and support." In other words-sometimes we need to tell "Lies of Mercy and Lies of Grace."

You can reach the author and order a copy by clicking here. She'll sign it for ya, too! The book can also be found on Amazon and at Barnes and Noble.



A portion of her proceeds go to cleaning and maintaining Gulf Coast Beaches!

I would definitely recommend this book to a friend (that's you)!

(Note: I received this book free of charge in exchange for a review. The above content is my own opinion and I was in no way pressured to present a good review.)

The Lincoln Lawyer

I read this a million years ago over a month ago, but as usual I'm late in giving you a review. I had heard good things about this book and it didn't disappoint.

The Lincoln Lawyer, by Michael Connelly, tells the story of Mickey Haller, a hardcore, big shot criminal defense attorney. He rarely worries himself over small potatoes like innocence or guilt, but rather defends anyone who can pay him the big bucks. One day, he learns that a young man from Beverly Hills has asked for him specifically in a case where he was accused of attacking a woman after an encounter at a local bar. Haller knows this means a big pay out for him and gladly accepts the case. The lawyer can't believe his luck as he finds more and more information, making the case seemingly the easiest one to date. Then someone close to him is murdered and it turns his world upside down. How will it affect the case? How will it affect his practice of law?

You'll just have to read and find out! I'd give this book 3 out of 5 stars- very entertaining and I'd recommend it to a friend (that's you.).

If you'd rather not read and feast your eyes on some Matthew McConaughey, the movie was decent, too. Of course, the book is better, but it's worth popping this movie in for a date night in. That's what we did.

Happy reading (or viewing)!

The next review coming up: From Baghdad With Love

The Local News & Baby Wise

I haven't been reading as much lately aside from a text book that is mostly review for me. When I do pick up a book to read, I often drift off to sleep within a few minutes. I've been so tired and I might as well sleep when I can, right? Still, I have a few to report back to you on:



I checked this book out at the local library after much deliberation. The Local News by Miriam Gershow tells the tale of Lydia, a young high school student who is dealing with the disappearance of her older brother, Danny. Unlike her brother, Lydia isn't popular. She skated through adolescence with the help of one close friend and their bonding over all things intellectual and awkward. When Danny disappears, Lydia is thrown into the spotlight with Danny's friends embracing her under their wings. With this new attention comes struggles of wanting her brother back, but also remembering their rocky relationship status. She becomes an afterthought to her parents who become obsessed with locating Danny. This book really dives into the complexities of family life. Lydia, the narrator, is intelligent and witty. In fact, there were times when I was focused on what a weird character she was...and that's really saying something! I didn't like this book as much as I had hoped. I really found it difficult to finish because some of the parts were so slow. Overall the characters were interesting, but the plot needed a little more of a kick to get it jump started.

I also read this:



It was recommended to me by several mothers. The book focuses on getting the baby on a healthy sleep schedule no matter if your breast feeding or bottle feeding (examples are given for both options). It discusses the importance of sleep for the infant and encourages an eat, play, sleep routine from the start. The book provides examples of healthy feeding times for the breast feeding mother and many resources for parents of the fussy baby. I really liked it! I think this book will continue to be a resource to me for many months to come. Let's just hope it works its magic on sweet Baby K!

I'm currently reading: The Lincoln Lawyer

What about you? Any good books you've read lately that I should know about?

books-a-trillion

I have been a reading machine lately. This is partly due because I had a class that required us to read a book a week, but I have also managed to sneak in a few I wanted to read, too. This can only mean one thing around here-

It's time for a book review!

I read these:



Oh, and this, too-



But I only recommend the following that I will give reviews for:

I'll start with fiction because I just love fiction.

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness was really, very good. Her website gives this description:

When historian Diana Bishop opens a bewitched alchemical manuscript in Oxford’s Bodleian Library it represents an unwelcome intrusion of magic into her carefully ordinary life. Though descended from a long line of witches, she is determined to remain untouched by her family’s legacy. She banishes the manuscript to the stacks, but Diana finds it impossible to hold the world of magic at bay any longer.

For witches are not the only otherworldly creatures living alongside humans. There are also creative, destructive daemons and long-lived vampires who become interested in the witch’s discovery. They believe that the manuscript contains important clues about the past and the future, and want to know how Diana Bishop has been able to get her hands on the elusive volume.

Chief among the creatures who gather around Diana is vampire Matthew Clairmont, a geneticist with a passion for Darwin. Together, Diana and Matthew embark on a journey to understand the manuscript’s secrets. But the relationship that develops between the ages-old vampire and the spellbound witch threatens to unravel the fragile peace that has long existed between creatures and humans—and will certainly transform Diana’s world as well.

This book is to be a part of a series. I was very happy to read that after I finished this book because there was so much left up in the air. The book is excellent! It appeals to the magic, vampire nonsensical side of me, but it is very intelligently written. Try it out!

Sail by James Patterson is a page turner. I think all of his are, though. If you want a quick read that you don't want to put down, then pick this book up. Here's an exert from his website:

Only an hour out of port, the Dunne family's summer getaway to paradise is already turning into the trip from hell. Carrie, the eldest, has thrown herself off the side of the boat in a bid for attention. Sixteen-year-old Mark is getting high belowdecks. And Ernie, their ten-year-old brother, is nearly catatonic. It's shaping up to be the worst vacation ever.

Katherine Dunne had hoped this trip would bring back the togetherness they'd lost when her husband died four years earlier. Maybe if her new husband, a high-powered Manhattan attorney, had been able to postpone his trial and join them it would all have been okay....

Suddenly, a disaster hits–and it's perfect. Faced with real danger, the Dunnes rediscover the meaning of family and pull together in a way they haven't in a long time. But this catastrophe is just a tiny taste of the danger that lurks ahead: someone wants to make sure that the Dunne family never makes it out of paradise alive.

And now on to the non-fiction...

To my counseling buddies, you should check out Competent Christian Counseling and Effective Biblical Counseling.

I would also recommend Boundaries in Marriage for anyone who finds themselves with an ole ball and chain ;)

I also thought The Anxiety Cure would be useful for someone suffereing from panic attacks and severe anxiety. This book attempts to describe the physiological etiology of such issues while also addressing the spirituality issue that many secular theorists and psychologists ignore.

The rest were not so good. Ha! I'll try to do these more often so as not to bombard you with a bunch of titles.

What are you reading these days?

One Mississippi

Pregnant With Laughter is on hiatus today. I figure you're all babied out for now due to my last post.

Instead, I promised you a book review so it's high time I come through with that.

I was perusing the local library in search of parenting books or dog training saviors, but I found myself gravitating toward the fiction section once those were in hand. I really like a good story and I didn't feel as if either of the books in my hand were going to satisfy that.

The online card catalog was nearby, but I didn't feel like using it. I enjoy entertaining the idea that books find me instead of me finding them so I just walked with my index finger sliding across the shelves, picking up dust- no doubt. When my feet stopped, my left hand rested on a Mark Childress book called One Mississippi.



Childress is a writer of Southern fiction stories.

This book follows a time period in Daniel Musgrove's life that is full of turmoil, mischief, and opportunities to learn many life lessons. Forced to move to Mississippi just before his junior year in HS, Daniel is less than thrilled with his new surroundings. He begins to give this new state a chance when he meets a new friend, Tim Cousins. The two become best friends, bonding over their various similarities. One of these is their disdain for the star football player who often bullies both of them. They soon find themselves mixed up in a crime involving the linebacker and the first black prom queen in the history of their school. Daniel's world slips out of his control as the lie engulfs him.

I liked this book because of the seemingly never-ending chain of events. There was always something exciting going on. The excitement was often dark, however, as this book was set in a time of racial conflict. There is no social faux pas that goes undiscussed in this book. Each character has skeletons in their closets that are itching to get out. I would recommend this book, especially to those who are looking for a good crime scene story.

Happy Reading!

Try It Out Tuesday

I haven't posted one of my try outs in quite some time, but after I tasted the yummy dinner I prepared last night. I knew today would be the day! Because let me tell you...

You've got to try this easy yet flavorful recipe!

I also finished the book I've been reading today so you'll want to try that out, too.

Grilled Chicken with Spinach and Melted Mozzarella



Recipe print off options found here.  The best part? It's low in calories and high in protein! If you click on the link, you'll be redirected to Gina from SkinnyTaste.com. If you're on weight watchers, it's your lucky day because she provides the point information for many of her recipes.

I would never tell Captain J that what he consumed last night was good for him. He might not like it as much anymore! Of course, I added the pasta and bread, but the noodles were whole wheat! He really enjoyed it. I did, too especially because I just had some more for lunch today. It makes for tasty leftovers!

I've been cooking a lot more lately. In an effort to save time and money, I've begun to plan out our meals for each week and only make a trip to the grocery store one time. I despise the grocery store, but I will say that it is much more fun now that I'm printing coupons. I go to coupons.com and use their printable options. When I don't find what I'm looking for there, I browse around google looking for specific product coupons. Target has a lot of great options, too for cleaning supplies and basic grocery necessities. It's rewarding to see how much I have saved at the end of the receipt when I check out. Not only am I feeling better about saving a few dollars here and there, but I'm also impressing the Captain. I usually step outside my comfort zone of tasty country cookin' to try to make a wide variety of meals he might enjoy. I think he's really embracing this new side of me.

Enough about food, let's talk literature...

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt



This book by Beth Hoffman sat on my shelf for awhile, just waiting to be plucked from the masses of unreads in my lineup. It stole my heart! I've always been a sucker for southern literature. Here are a few quotes from others describing this novel:

"Anyone in need of a Southern-girl-power fix will find {this book} engaging." - People

"Charming, disarming, sweet as the scent of magnolias on a Southern summer night." - Mary Kay Andrews

and my favorite-

"A peach of a novel." - Ladies Home Journal

I like the latter most because that's exactly how I would describe it.

The main character and book namesake, Cecilia Honeycutt, had a troubled life. Growing up in the North with an eccentric mother who clung to her days of growing up in Georgia and the life she had built herself there as Vidalia Onion Queen left its toll on young CeeCee. When tragedy strikes her household, she has no where to turn and is forced to leave the only life she's ever known to live with an aunt she has barely met.

CeeCee's character is one of a very strong and sweet girl who is attempting to navigate through the mess of feelings she has for her mom and dad. Disappointment and embarrassment are not uncommon for her, but what evolves from her story is much different. Perseverance, love, and a little Southern hospitality help to change CeeCee's world, yet again.

All the characters in the book are each interesting in their own way. Hoffman's words leave you wanting to know more about each one. This is definitely a chick read, but it's a good one all the same. Let me know if you try it out!

Love,

splendid sun

Instead of frantically searching craigslist for a job so the hubby and I don't have to hit the poor house (due to the pay freeze), I'm chillaxin in a comfy chair in a breezy, beautiful place and perusing failblog and failbook. They make me giggle.

Jenn and I have had a great time here doing absolutely nothing. The weather has been beautiful since that one rainy day and we've taken advantage of it, relaxing in the sun. In an effort to save money (due to the pay freeze), we prepared all of our food here (except for that tee tiny trip to the bagel place).




I'm anxious to find my way back to Georgia to the arms of my husband. Today, he told me: "I've completely forgotten how to function without you." Apparently, he's been living off of ramen noodles and Pizza Hut delivery. Bless his bones! I'll be home soon, babe ;)

While away, I worked really hard to finish the book I was reading. Do you see the sarcasm here? I actually wasn't working hard at all. I was reading on the beach, day after day, to bring you this book review:

Khaled Hosseini crafted the words in a new favorite read of mine, A Thousand Splendid Suns. I had heard so many good things about this book and finally found it at a repeat store in Columbus for a little over a dollar. I found a jewel with that purchase! I will say that the book might get you fired up! It might make you sick to think of the injustice in the world. It might make you see a tiny glimpse of the heartache that many Afghanistan women have endured over the last 40 years.

The novel takes you into the lives of two women, Mariam and Laila. Both grew up in separate towns in Afghanistan, but later find their lives intersecting in a most unwelcome way. After understanding that they only had one another, they began to bond over crushed dreams, day to day heartaches, and past wounds. Their story is one of oppression, but also one of compassion.

I don't want to give too much away. You should read this book, though. I won't promise that it won't infuriate you or make you wonder if there's hope at all for them, but it's one that you don't want to miss. It kind of puts this whole pay freeze into perspective. Sure, it's annoying. But we're so much better off than so many people in this world!

³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well

We're headed "home" tomorrow. Wish us safe travels and we'll chat again soon!

Love,

some books to add to your shelf

In an effort to not think about the fact that my husband won't be home until late tonight, I thought I'd write a post.  I suppose I could tell you about how ridiculous I looked earlier when I put on an old baby doll style dress, forgetting that my big pregnant belly was large and in charge. I could tell you about my busy, eventful day of grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, folding laundry, and scrubbing toilets, but that's boring, huh? Perhaps you'd rather hear how I'm currently watching a Miley Cirus movie? Oh, yes...my life is very exciting today!

Instead, I'll fill you in on some books I've read lately:

Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton is another one of those darn vampire stories. Luckily, those are some of my favorite kind of stories! Anita Blake, works for the police as a zombie raiser. The supernatural world collided with her world long ago. Her history with the supernatural ties into a brand new twisted plot that she finds herself smack dab in the middle of after what seemed like a fairly innocent night of celebrating with a friend. If you like the vampire novels, you should feed your addiction with this. If not, I wouldn't recommend it to you. The book was enjoyable, but not in a rock my socks off kind of way.

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is really interesting, especially if you're able to visit Savannah and see the streets and homes the book discusses. Written by John Berendt, this nonfiction work is centered around the murder of Danny Hansford. Jim Williams, a prominent antique dealer is accused and tried for his murder, all while claiming his shots were fired in self defense. I really liked this book and there's a movie, too! I haven't gotten a chance to watch it yet, though.

I'm always drawn to those stories of people who claim to experience Heaven. What awesome stories of faith! This is precisely why I had to get Heaven Is For Real by Todd Burpo and Lynn Vincent. Todd tells the incredible story that his son Colton rehashed to him over several years. A health problem lands Colton in emergency surgery. He claims to have gone to Heaven briefly during the procedure. Amazingly, Colton could tell his family exactly what each of them were doing while he was under the knife. His incredible knowledge of biblical characters and happenings are inexplicable for his four year old self which leads me to believe that this miracle really happened. Loved this quick read.

Now, I'm reading America By Heart by Sarah Palin.

That's enough for now. Don't forget...tomorrow I have a special review post so be sure to come back then and check it out!