"Red Hill" by Jamie McGuire

Series: Red Hill #1
Genre: Zombies/ Romance
Format: Audible
Publication: October 2013 by Simon & Schuster
Cover Rating: 5/5 Stars

From Goodreads: When the world ends, can love survive?

For Scarlet, raising her two daughters alone makes fighting for tomorrow an everyday battle. Nathan has a wife, but can’t remember what it’s like to be in love; only his young daughter Zoe makes coming home worthwhile. Miranda’s biggest concern is whether her new VW Bug is big enough to carry her sister and their boyfriends on a weekend escape from college finals.

When reports of a widespread, deadly “outbreak” begin to surface, these ordinary people face extraordinary circumstances and suddenly their fates are intertwined. Recognizing they can’t outrun the danger, Scarlet, Nathan, and Miranda desperately seek shelter at the same secluded ranch, Red Hill. Emotions run high while old and new relationships are tested in the face of a terrifying enemy—an enemy who no longer remembers what it’s like to be human.

Set against the backdrop of a brilliantly realized apocalyptic world, love somehow finds a way to survive. But what happens when the one you’d die for becomes the one who could destroy you?

My Thoughts: I wanted so much to love this book. When it first came out (five years ago) I was so excited to read it, but because my TBR shelf is never ending it kept getting pushed back and pushed back. Finally I ran across it on my Audible wish list and decided I wanted a GOOD Zombie book. Well, I'm sorry to say that this was not that for me. My first problem with Red Hill was the THREE POV we're given. It felt like a little much. I honestly feel like this book would have been 50% better with just one POV and 90% better if that POV was Miranda's and not Scarlet's. Which brings me to my second problem: Scarlet. I don't know the last time I hated a main character more. She was one of the most selfish, and at the same time boring, characters I have ever read about. And speaking of boring... this story dragged on and on. There were so many times when I almost stopped listening, but I was already four hours in and I kept thinking it would get better. I was wrong. The reset of my issues are big time spoilers so if you plan to read this book you need to stop reading my review now (just know that I rated it 1 Star and do not recommend it to anyone).

!!!!!SPOILERS!!!!!

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Okay, now normally I do not write reviews with spoilers in them, but I'm so pissed off at this book I needed to. Warning, this is more of a rant than a review. Seriously, this is your last warning. SPOILERS. The only TWO characters in the whole novel that kept me reading she killed off at the end. And they didn't even get an epic death. One second I'm listening to Miranda get turned away by Joey and the next second BAM he's dead. Oh, and we don't even get to see it. We just hear about it from douchebag Scarlet on one of her  stupid selfish "clear" missions. THEN Miranda dies trying to save Scarlet's kids or trying to help Bryce. It's a little unclear, but it is so stupid and not the ending Miranda deserved at all. By the time this book was over I was ready to throw it at a wall and set it on fire.


Bottom Line: I love Jamie McGuire, but this book missed the mark for me.

My Rating: 1/ 5 Stars

"The Wall of Winnipeg and Me" by Mariana Zapata

Genre: Contemporary/ Romance
Format: Paperback (Library Edition)
Publication: February 2016
Cover Rating: 2/5 Stars

From Goodreads: Vanessa Mazur knows she's doing the right thing. She shouldn't feel bad for quitting. Being an assistant/housekeeper/fairy godmother to the top defensive end in the National Football Organization was always supposed to be temporary. She has plans and none of them include washing extra-large underwear longer than necessary.

But when Aiden Graves shows up at her door wanting her to come back, she's beyond shocked.

For two years, the man known as The Wall of Winnipeg couldn't find it in him to tell her good morning or congratulate her on her birthday. Now? He's asking for the unthinkable.

What do you say to the man who is used to getting everything he wants? 

My Thoughts: First of all, huge thanks to my lovely friend Anna over at Annaberry Reads for recommending this one to me!

When I picked this up from the library my first thoughts were "Holy cow this book is huge for a contemporary romance!", I figured it would take me a while to read it (especially since I've become a slow reader thanks to my little), but I was wrong. I read it in four days. It was so good and well paced, I didn't even think about it being 673 pages long.

The thing you need to know about The Wall of Winnipeg and Me is that it is very character driven. There's not a lot of action going on, but we get to know the characters so well we feel like they're  our friends by the end of the book which is what I love. In that sense, it reminded me a little of Thoughtless but without all the angst.

I'm also going to gush for just a second on how freaking awesome Vanessa is. Rarely do we see a heroine like her in novels- one that we can actually relate to and who's not perfect. Not to mention, Vanessa takes NO crap from anyone which I loved. She is definitely a character I would want to hang with and watch Dragonball Z with 😂

I really believe the only reason I'm not rating this one five stars is because Aiden just wasn't my type and I didn't feel quit as connected to him as I should have. To me, Aiden took the strong SILENT type to a whole other level, and honestly he doesn't get a lot of dialogue in the book. At least, it didn't feel that way for me. Some of his exchanges with Vanessa and personal moments felt a little awkward and that threw me out of the novel, but it was never enough for me to think "Oh, I"m not enjoying this." I knew I wanted to continue reading to find out what happened between these guys and how Vanessa's life turned out.

Bottom Line: I would definitely recommend this one to anyone who loves a contemporary novel!

My Rating: 4/5 Stars

"This is Not a Test" by Courtney Summers

Genre: YA... something?
Format: Paperback
Publication: June 2012
Cover Rating: 5/5 Stars

From Goodreads: It's the end of the world. Six students have taken cover in Cortege High but shelter is little comfort when the dead outside won't stop pounding on the doors. One bite is all it takes to kill a person and bring them back as a monstrous version of their former self. To Sloane Price, that doesn't sound so bad. Six months ago, her world collapsed and since then, she's failed to find a reason to keep going. Now seems like the perfect time to give up. As Sloane eagerly waits for the barricades to fall, she's forced to witness the apocalypse through the eyes of five people who actually want to live. But as the days crawl by, the motivations for survival change in startling ways and soon the group's fate is determined less and less by what's happening outside and more and more by the unpredictable and violent bids for life—and death—inside. When everything is gone, what do you hold on to?

My Thoughts: This book has been sitting on my shelf for SIX years! I've been trying to clean up my TBR books lately, and I knew this was one I really needed to read.

Honestly, I'm not sure how I felt about it. This is Not a Test is well written, and it kept me turning the pages... but I was left with the impression that this is NOT a Zombie novel. To me, this was more of a novel about a girl dealing with mental illness and PTSD from living in an abusive home, with zombie's in the background. It had some really good Zombie moments, especially towards the end, but ultimately I couldn't list this one as a YA Horror novel. I'm sure when I picked this up I was looking for something more like The Forest of Hands and Teeth (which is an EPIC Zombie YA), but TINAT just doesn't fall in that category.

Besides the non-zombie feel, I had three other big issues with this one. The first was that Sloane was annoying for a Zombie Apocalypse world. The truth was, I just didn't see her surviving as long as she did. If you read it, the reasons would become obvious. The second was that I felt zero chemistry between her and the other characters, which made for a lot of boring and forced interactions. And my last issue was that nothing really seemed to happen until the last 30 pages or so. They're basically all just hanging out in the school, doing nothing.

So, why did I keep reading? Despite my issues, the author really does have a seamless writing style. Everything flowed together perfectly and it kept me reading, even though there wasn't too much going on. I also really thought she had a strong understanding of PTSD and mental illness. And even though this won't be listed as one of my favorite books, I did enjoy the ending. It saved the book from becoming a one star for me.


Bottom Line: Of course, all of this is just my opinion and just because I wasn't a fan of it doesn't mean you won't be. I feel like the author should have either went all in for the Zombie novel or either all in for the PTSD/ mental illness novel and left out the zombies. But together it just didn't really work for me.

My Rating: 2.5/ 5 Stars

"Starry Eyes" by Jenn Bennett

Genre: YA Contemporary
Format: Hardback
Publication: April 2018
Cover Rating: 5/5 Stars

From Goodreads: Ever since last year’s homecoming dance, best friends-turned-best enemies Zorie and Lennon have made an art of avoiding each other. It doesn’t hurt that their families are the modern day, Californian version of the Montagues and Capulets.

But when a group camping trip goes south, Zorie and Lennon find themselves stranded in the wilderness. Alone. Together.

What could go wrong?

With no one but each other for company, Zorie and Lennon have no choice but to hash out their issues via witty jabs and insults as they try to make their way to safety. But fighting each other while also fighting off the forces of nature makes getting out of the woods in one piece less and less likely.

And as the two travel deeper into Northern California’s rugged backcountry, secrets and hidden feelings surface. But can Zorie and Lennon’s rekindled connection survive out in the real world? Or was it just a result of the fresh forest air and the magic of the twinkling stars? 

My Thoughts: I loved, loved, LOVED this book! I'm not even sure where to begin with my gushing! The characters, the story, the chemistry, and the setting! It was all perfect. I was quickly sucked into it and I did not stop reading until I turned the last page. Finding the perfect YA contemporary book can be a bit tricky for me. Some of them are just way too cheesy and too much of a guilty pleasure for me. However, Starry Eyes was exactly what I wanted: a good summer adventure with some really well written romance!

The relationship between Zorie and Lennon is so intense and realistic, I feel like I know them now. I was so sad to finish this one because I knew I would be saying goodbye to them. I wanted more! Not only of Zorie and Lennon, but also their parents. And okay, yeah I wanted more of Lennon too because I wanted to go cradle robbing for him 😂

And while the chemistry was FIRE, my other favorite aspect of this book was the setting. I so badly wanted to go camping and just be out in the wilderness when I was reading this book. It made me remember the simple joy of being unplugged and just enjoying nature.

Bottom Line: If you love contemporary novels at all, READ THIS. Even if you're not a huge YA fan, I still highly suggest this one! It's definitely going on my favorites shelf.

My Rating: 5/5 Stars

"Listen to Your Heart" by Kasie West

Genre: YA Contemporary
Format: Hardback/ Library
Publication: May 2018
Cover Rating: 2/5 Stars

From Goodreads: Talking to other people isn't Kate Bailey's favorite activity. She'd much rather be out on the lake, soaking up the solitude and sunshine. So when her best friend, Alana, convinces Kate to join their high school's podcast, Kate is not expecting to be chosen as the host. Now she'll have to answer calls and give advice on the air? Impossible.

But to Kate's surprise, she turns out to be pretty good at the hosting gig. Then the podcast gets in a call from an anonymous guy, asking for advice about his unnamed crush. Kate is pretty sure that the caller is gorgeous Diego Martinez, and even surer that the girl in question is Alana. Kate is excited for her friend ... until Kate herself starts to develop feelings for Diego. Suddenly, Kate finds that while doling out wisdom to others may be easy, asking for help is tougher than it looks, and following your own advice is even harder.

Kasie West's adorable story of secrets, love, and friendship is sure to win over hearts everywhere.

My Thoughts: This was my first Kasie West book, but it won't be my last! While I wasn't a fan of the cover (the heart shaped floats were a little too much for me), I really did enjoy the story! I read it in one weekend (which is fast for me these days as most of my time is spent chasing my toddler around) and I absolutely loved snarky Kate's character and how she handled the situation of falling for her best-friends guy. I won't spoil it for you and tell you what she did, but just know that Kate's character is so refreshing and loyal to not only her friends, but also herself. I also really enjoyed the other characters in the novel, like Frank (who has the BEST wit), Alana, and of course Diego *swoon*. Overall Listen to Your Heart is the perfect fun, light-hearted summer read that I was looking for.

Bottom Line: I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves a good YA contemporary novel. Also, side note: If you have younger teens this would be perfect for them as well as there is no adult language our explicit scenes in this novel.

My Rating: 4/5 Stars

"War Storm" by Victoria Aveyard

Series: Red Queen #4
Genre: YA Dystopia
Format: Hardback
Publication: May 2018
Cover Rating: 5/5 Stars

From Goodreads: Mare Barrow learned this all too well when Cal’s betrayal nearly destroyed her. Now determined to protect her heart—and secure freedom for Reds and newbloods like her—Mare resolves to overthrow the kingdom of Norta once and for all… starting with the crown on Maven’s head.

But no battle is won alone, and before the Reds may rise as one, Mare must side with the boy who broke her heart in order to defeat the boy who almost broke her. Cal’s powerful Silver allies, alongside Mare and the Scarlet Guard, prove a formidable force. But Maven is driven by an obsession so deep, he will stop at nothing to have Mare as his own again, even if it means demolishing everything—and everyone—in his path.
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War is coming, and all Mare has fought for hangs in the balance. Will victory be enough to topple the Silver kingdoms? Or will the little lightning girl be forever silenced?

In the epic conclusion to Victoria Aveyard’s stunning series, Mare must embrace her fate and summon all her power… for all will be tested, but not all will survive. 

My Thoughts: This is hard to say, so I'm just going to come right out and say it: For me, the final book in the Red Queen series was just... meh. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't good either. Red Queen was simply amazing. The world building, the plot, the characters and their chemistry... not to mention that WTF moment at the end of the book. It was all it was hyped up to be plus more. However as the series went on each book got less and less amazing for me. I stuck with it simply because I fell in love with these characters in the first book. So by the time War Storm came out, I was ready for it to be over. I just wanted to know what happened in the end to Mare, Cal, and Maven. I also didn't really feel like it should have been a 600 + page novel. It definitely had that dragged out feel. It was the end that really got to me though. I wasn't satisfied with it, and I wasn't happy about how things were left with Mare, Cal, and Maven. I'm not going to get into the spoilery parts, but I just wasn't happy about it.

Bottom Line: In the end I am glad I read I this series. I loved the characters so much and I can tell the author really took the time to plot her books. But I wouldn't have read another book in the series if this one wasn't the last. I definitely feel like the whole series could have been condensed into three books.

My Rating: 2/5 Stars

"The Prophecy" by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Series: Titan #4
Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance/ Mythology
Format: Kindle
Publication: March 2018
Cover Rating: 5/5 Stars

From Goodreads: History is on repeat… 

Seth never thought he’d have a future. But now he’s on the brink of having it all with Josie: A tomorrow. A family. A forever. And all that's standing between him and that forever is the Titans. If he helps Josie entomb them -- without killing them, a nearly impossible task for him -- everything he could ever want will be in reach. But he soon realizes that as a god, every little choice he makes can reshape the world for the better… or worse. And in meddling with the Titans, Seth may have just set into motion catastrophic consequences that will force the Olympians to enter the mortal realm and reshape the delicate balance of power that keeps the world from total collapse.

A price must be paid… 

Entombing the Titans is Josie’s top priority. After all, it was what she was born to do. But the plans her father put into play to help her are no longer an option, and the odds she and Seth face in forging their own path are grim. The escalating violence between halfs and pures only increases the danger closing in on them and their friends. Josie knows their chances of succeeding in their task are slim at best -- and if they fail, they might lose everything. But she also knows she's not fighting just for herself -- she's fighting for the man she loves, for their future, for the world. Together with the Army of Awesome, Josie and Seth will face the unthinkable. And to win this war, the ultimate sacrifice must be made.

For the end is here and the Prophecy will be fulfilled….

My Thoughts: I can't believe this is the end! Ugh, so many tears! SO MANY! This was the absolute perfect ending for not only the Titan series, but also for the Covenant series as well- unless of course, JLA wants to write more (pretty please?). Honestly, I didn't want it to end. I've loved these character so much, way back when I discovered them on Goodreads in 2011. This entire series is so unique that you get sucked in instantly and end up falling in love with all the characters in it. I just can't believe I'm never going to read another Covenant novel! Also, side note: This is definitely a book you want to have emotional support nearby for! And tissues. Lots and lots of tissues!

Okay, okay. So enough moping about it ending. The Prophecy was everything I wanted it to be. Josie is once again our kick butt heroine and Seth is Seth in all his amazing-ness. However, I feel like the characters have really grown up in this final installment and we see that on a new level. And while the Big Bad is still out there (and we do get some serious action scenes), this last book is more focused on wrapping everything up and the emotions behind what has been going on. The gang is on a ticking clock trying to find a way to entomb the Titans once more and nothing is going as planned. While I really loved the entire book, what I was super proud of was Josie. I'm not going to get into any spoilers, but Josie's character goes through so many changes and she has so many things thrown at her, and yet she comes out of it stronger and WISER. She makes the right decisions for her and I was so proud of her character for that. Of course, I think the same can be said about Seth. He's come a long way since his days in the Covenant series for sure.

The bottom line is, JLA is Boss/ Queen and the collection of both the Covenant and Titan novels is one of my favorites and I definitely recommend them to everyone!

My Rating: 5/5 Stars

"War Storm" Release Day!!!

Guess what?! It's release day for Victoria Aveyard's War Storm!!! 

Guys, I can not wait to read this book! It's so lovely. I mean, just look at it! And it's HUGE! 672 pages to wrap up everything! I don't know if I can handle it ending! I mean, I can, but what if it's upsetting?! I will definitely be needing some emotional support, I'm sure.  If you didn't preorder it make sure you get out today to buy it! 

"The Dark Calling" (The Arcana Chronicles #5) by Kresley Cole

Series: The Arcana Chronicles #5
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance/ Dystopia
Format: Audible
Narrated: Emma Galvin
Publication: March 2018 (Audible Version)
Cover Rating: 4/5 Stars
Narration Rating: 5/5 Stars

From Goodreads: In a world teetering on the edge . . .
When Evie receives life-changing—and possibly game-changing—news, she has trouble believing it. Why doesn’t she feel any different? Is it possible someone she trusts might be lying?

With enemies at every turn . . .
Tensions seethe inside the castle of lost time as Evie starts to doubt her own sanity. Answers can be found outside their stronghold, but will Death help her find them—or prevent her from learning the truth about her future and Jack’s possible survival?

Darkness beckons. 
A mysterious, sinister power begins to affect the Arcana in its path. Forced out into the wasteland alone, Evie must depend on unexpected allies. But as a battle with Richter looms, can her new alliance defeat the Dark Calling before hell reigns on earth?

My Thoughts: First of all if you haven't read this series stop reading this review right now and go read it (or listen to it, because Emma Galvin is QUEEN and slays narrating this). Seriously, this is one of my all time favorite series ever. Kresley Cole does an amazing job with the world building, the character development, the ROMANCE, and the non-stop action.

Like the previous books, I couldn't stop listening to The Dark Calling. While I wouldn't label this book as a "filler" book, it is definitely leading everything to the end and starting to wrap up the story. However, my mind was still blown away at the plot twists and I was on the edge of my seat throughout the entire thing. We have different POV again, from Aric, Jack and of course Evie, which really helped expand the story and give the characters some more growth. Also, let me just say I have no idea what #team I'm on. Team Jack? Team Aric? Can I be Team Both? Is that possible?! And... I had some serious tears. Like, really. I was cleaning my kitchen listening to this when I screamed out "NOOOO!!!!!" in anguish and scared the crap out of my toddler (don't worry, she's fine). It did break my heart though (no spoilers).  Anyway, I've been waiting on this book FOREVER and it did not disappoint me. I'm just super sad I finished it so quickly and now have to wait for the next one.

As far as the narration goes for the audible version: As I've mentioned above, Emma Galvin slayed it. She has a way of just sucking you right into the story and you completely tune out everything else around you. I'm VERY picky with my audio books. I can't just listen to any narrator and usually have a hard time finding one I love, but Emma Galvin is on POINT, ya'll. She has the best accent for Jack and Aric both. I honestly forget I'm only listening to one person. Definitely can't wait to check out more of her work!

My Rating: 5/5 Stars

In My Mailbox #1

This has been a fantastic week for books for me!

So, because it's Mother's Day on Sunday I decided to splurge a little and ordered Sarah J. Maas new book A Court of Frost and Starlight. Actually, I didn't splurge at all because I used my credit card reward points... you know, the one I'm not supposed to be using because I want to pay off my debt 😂 But isn't this cover GORGEOUS (like all SJM's books really).

Queen Jennifer L. Armentrout's new novel, Moonlight Sins, is on sale for Kindle for a $1.99! One word: YUM. 

Picked The Hunger up at the library the other day! After seeing Stephen King's tweet on how disturbing it was, I knew I had to read it.

I have NetGalley to think for this beach thriller read! 

Another NetGalley find that looks super intense! Also, COVER LUST!

So when I opened my e-mail and discovered that I had been approved to read another Riley Sager novel, I completely lost it. Really, I squealed in delight. If you don't know about my love for his last novel, Final Girls, you can check out my review. I am so thrilled and grateful to get to read his new novel in advance! (No original picture of this one because the e-book I have didn't have a cover like most ARC copies).

That's it for this week! Did anyone else get any good reads? If so, post in comments or link up to your own blog post!

"Final Girls" by Riley Sager

Genre: Thriller
Format: Kindle
Publication: July 2017
Cover Rating: 5/5 Stars

From Goodreads: Ten years ago, college student Quincy Carpenter went on vacation with five friends and came back alone, the only survivor of a horror movie–scale massacre. In an instant, she became a member of a club no one wants to belong to—a group of similar survivors known in the press as the Final Girls. Lisa, who lost nine sorority sisters to a college dropout's knife; Sam, who went up against the Sack Man during her shift at the Nightlight Inn; and now Quincy, who ran bleeding through the woods to escape Pine Cottage and the man she refers to only as Him. The three girls are all attempting to put their nightmares behind them, and, with that, one another. Despite the media's attempts, they never meet.

Now, Quincy is doing well—maybe even great, thanks to her Xanax prescription. She has a caring almost-fiancé, Jeff; a popular baking blog; a beautiful apartment; and a therapeutic presence in Coop, the police officer who saved her life all those years ago. Her memory won’t even allow her to recall the events of that night; the past is in the past. 

That is, until Lisa, the first Final Girl, is found dead in her bathtub, wrists slit, and Sam, the second, appears on Quincy's doorstep. Blowing through Quincy's life like a whirlwind, Sam seems intent on making Quincy relive the past, with increasingly dire consequences, all of which makes Quincy question why Sam is really seeking her out. And when new details about Lisa's death come to light, Quincy's life becomes a race against time as she tries to unravel Sam's truths from her lies, evade the police and hungry reporters, and, most crucially, remember what really happened at Pine Cottage, before what was started ten years ago is finished.

My Thoughts: My mind is BLOWN. Every time I thought I knew what was going down in this book I was proven wrong and slammed by another plot twist. Lately I've been devouring thriller novels like crazy. So I feel like I've gotten pretty good at detecting what's going on and who the killer is early on, but Final Girls threw me on a roller coaster ride. This is one of those books that will stay with me long after I've finished it. I'll still be thinking about Quinn, Sam, and the rest of the characters for months to come.

Right now, I'm just too stunned to even know what to say and how to articulate my praise for this book. I mean, I had HIGH expectations for this one. I'm one of those weirdo's who loves slasher films/ novels so when I came across this my first reaction was "Oh yes!" It's right up my alley. But there have been many times where I've thought that before only to be disappointed. Well, obviously that was not the case with Final Girls. If you love a good thriller, or enjoyed the best (in my humble opinion) of the 90's horror genre like Scream you will LOVE this book!

Bottom Line: I'm recommending this one to everyone.

My Rating: 5/5 Stars

"A Mother's Reckoning" by Sue Klebold

Genre: Memoir
Format: E-Book
Publication: February 2016
Cover Rating: 5/5 Stars

From Goodreads: On April 20, 1999, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold walked into Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. Over the course of minutes, they would kill twelve students and a teacher and wound twenty-four others before taking their own lives.

For the last sixteen years, Sue Klebold, Dylan’s mother, has lived with the indescribable grief and shame of that day. How could her child, the promising young man she had loved and raised, be responsible for such horror? And how, as his mother, had she not known something was wrong? Were there subtle signs she had missed? What, if anything, could she have done differently?

These are questions that Klebold has grappled with every day since the Columbine tragedy. In A Mother’s Reckoning, she chronicles with unflinching honesty her journey as a mother trying to come to terms with the incomprehensible. In the hope that the insights and understanding she has gained may help other families recognize when a child is in distress, she tells her story in full, drawing upon her personal journals, the videos and writings that Dylan left behind, and on countless interviews with mental health experts.

Filled with hard-won wisdom and compassion, A Mother’s Reckoning is a powerful and haunting book that sheds light on one of the most pressing issues of our time. And with fresh wounds from the recent Newtown and Charleston shootings, never has the need for understanding been more urgent.

All author profits from the book will be donated to research and to charitable organizations focusing on mental health issues.

My Thoughts: This is a tough review to write. There's so much I want to say and touch on, but I'm not sure how to put it in a way that someone could understand my feelings without reading the book themselves.

I've always been interested in the Columbine Shooting. It was the first major news event that I can remember seeing, and the first one that actually mattered to me since I was just starting middle school. The news coverage on it was extensive causing the boys who did it to become legends in a way. Off and on I've ran across articles on the shooting throughout the years, but it wasn't until I read Dave Cullen's novel Columbine (original review found here), that I really had some inkling of what happened. What's more, it made me question everything I thought I knew about the murderers and how the media portrayed them- they were goths, they were loners, they were bullied, etc. When the truth is so much more complex than that. After reading Dave's novel and the journal entries the boys wrote, I quickly came to the realization that Dylan Kelbold was not who the media portrayed him to be and that he had a mental illness. That may have been obvious to everyone else, and to a degree I knew that before I read Dave's book... but I don't think I realized that when you stripped away all the other possible "reasons" the boys did what they did you're left with the fact that Dylan was mentally sick.

This is where Sue's book picks up. I feel like this book was her way of saying "Here's what kind of parent I was. I was just like you. I did everything I was supposed to do and I still missed the signs." And I believe her. Sue's book isn't just about her relationship with Dylan, his life or the shooting. It goes deeper than that. It's an in depth look into life after someone you love commits suicide. Of course, in Sue's case it's much worse than that since Dylan's was a murder/suicide.

I was left with so much respect for Sue Klebold after reading this. The way she wrote this book, as a mother who loved her son but also as an apology to all of his victims... it was simply heartbreaking to be put in her shoes. But as I said before, this isn't just about Dylan. This book serves as a reminder to parents everywhere that this can happen to you. The Klebolds were a normal family. The signs of Dylan's depression (when they were there) were subtle and nothing you wouldn't chalk up to being a teenager. It was truly eye opening and it definitely changed some of my views on how I will be parenting my own daughter when she gets to be older.

The bottom line is, I would recommend this book to every parent. I would also recommend that you read Columbine first as it goes into much more detail as to what happened and gives a broader understanding of the event.

My Rating: 5/5 Stars

"Bossypants" by Tina Fey

Genre: Nonfiction/ Autobiography
Format: Kindle
Publication: April 2011
Cover Rating: 2/5 Stars

From Goodreads: Before Liz Lemon, before "Weekend Update," before "Sarah Palin," Tina Fey was just a young girl with a dream: a recurring stress dream that she was being chased through a local airport by her middle-school gym teacher. She also had a dream that one day she would be a comedian on TV.

She has seen both these dreams come true.

At last, Tina Fey's story can be told. From her youthful days as a vicious nerd to her tour of duty on Saturday Night Live; from her passionately halfhearted pursuit of physical beauty to her life as a mother eating things off the floor; from her one-sided college romance to her nearly fatal honeymoon—from the beginning of this paragraph to this final sentence.

Tina Fey reveals all, and proves what we've all suspected: you're no one until someone calls you bossy.

My Thoughts: Let me start off by saying I'm not some huge Tina Fey fan. I liked her on SNL and of course Mean Girls is a national treasure, but other than that I haven't really followed anything that she's done. I've never watched 30 Rock or really any other movie that she's been in. But I was in the mood to read some nonfiction and after reading "A Note From the Author" at the beginning of this book and really laughing out loud I decided to give it a shot.

I'm not really sure what I was expecting from Bossypants. Humor obviously, but I also expected something with more substance than what I got. The book IS funny. I laughed out loud so many times while reading it that my husband had to come in and ask me what I was giggling about. But the parts in between the funny bits? It wasn't really anything interesting or that I cared to know about. Maybe if I was some superfan of hers I would have enjoyed it more, but to me it was just kind of... meh. If Tina fey made one of those bathroom joke books, I'd read it because I do think she is funny. Or maybe if she even wrote a fiction novel (since she was the screen writer for Mean Girls). But in all honesty, this was just boring.

My Rating: 2/5 Stars

Hello 2018!

So for the past few years I have done a New Year's post. It's nice to look back on the previous year to see what I've accomplished and the goals I want to make for the new year.

Resolutions Completed in 2017:

1. Read 35 Books. 

I actually kicked butt in this one and ended up reading 58 books! Just a few of my favorites:

 

2. I came off my blood pressure medicine!

Okay, this one was really hard and a little tricky. In fact, I JUST came off of it last week. Turns out my blood pressure issue was more of an anxiety issue. So once I got the proper care and started taking an anti-anxiety medicine, I no longer needed the blood pressure medicine. The moral here is always take care of your mental health!

3. I went on vacation!

 Zack and I never really took any vacations alone. We always went with my family. Well, I'm happy to say this year that we went on our very first family vacation to Gatlinburg! It was really amazing- secluded up in a cabin with a hot tub overlooking beautiful mountain scenery. I loved it!

4. I learned to let go of the Mom Guilt (mostly).

Leaving River with anyone caused me a serious plague of Mom Guilt. I couldn't enjoy my time out alone at all. I believe a good chunk of this was my anxiety pre-medicated self, but it also just comes with being a mom. Over the past year I learned to let River embrace spending time with other family members, and to seriously cherish that rare alone time I got. 

5. Find a new hobby that I love.

I have always wanted to learn how to crochet, and this year I planted my butt in front of my laptop and watched a hundred videos on how to crochet! I'm far from an expert, but I know enough to make some pretty rad blankets, scarfs, and hats!

6. Took a vacation alone with my mom and daughter.

This wasn't a resolution I had made, but it was something I never would have thought I could have done before. This probably isn't a big deal to most people, but this was a huge deal for me. My mother and I haven't spent any extended amount of time like this together in over ten years. I'm not going to get into why, but it was a really great, healing trip for me. I rented a cabin in a small town in my state and we were completely surrounded by woods and a hot tub to relax in. It was a really memorable trip for us and I hope we can experience it again this year. Also, I'm not a huge fan of driving, so the fact that I drove the entire trip having no idea where I was going was a huge deal for me.

2018 Reading Challenge:

Besides my Goodreads Challenge, I came across this wonderful reading challenge from Modern Mrs. Darcy

1. My Goodreads Goal is to read 75 Books, but honestly I've learned quality > quantity so I'm not really going to sweat it if I don't make that.

2. Read a Classic

3. Read a Recommendation by Someone With Great Taste

4. Read a Book in Translation

5. Read a Book Nominated for a 2018 Award

6. Read a Poetry, Play, or Essay Collection.

7. Read A Book You Can Read in a Day.

8. Read A Book That’s More Than 500 pages.

9. Read A Book By A Favorite Author.

10. Read A Banned Book.

11. Read a Memoir or Biography

12. Read a Book by an Author of Different Race, Religion, or Ethnicity.

2018 Resolutions:

1. Lose 50 Pounds.

2. Be Kinder.

3. Make Date Night a Priority.

4. Pay Off All Credit Cards.

5. Potty Train River.

6. Cook One Exotic Meal at Least Once A Month.

7. Come Off Anxiety Medication (as long as it's safe!)

8. Cross Off Something On My Bucket List

"Starlight Nights" by Stacey Kade

Series: 738 Days #2
Genre: New Adult
Publication: January 9, 2018
Format: Kindle
Cover Rating: 5/5 Stars

From Goodreads: At twenty-three, Calista Beckett is trying to overcome her early fame and fortune. The former savior of the world on Starlight is now a freshman at college--miles away from L.A. and her former existence. She sees it as her start to a new life, a normal life, one where she won't make the same mistakes she made before--a brush with heroin addiction and losing her freedom to her controlling mother, thanks to a court order.

Eric Stone played her older brother, Byron, on Starlight. But she's been in love with him pretty much since they kissed--her first kiss--while auditioning. When Eric shows up on campus out of the blue asking her to return to California for a role, Calista's struck immediately by two things: first, in spite of everything that's happened, she still feels something dangerous for him, and second, she's absolutely determined not to let him ruin her life again.

Only Eric's not giving up so easily.

My Thoughts: Let me just say, I love Stacey Kade! She's such an awesome author and if you're not reading her books or following her on social media you are missing out big time.

So basically, I have been waiting very impatiently on this novel for over a year! Stalking facebook posts, twitter, netgalley, etc. I fell head over heels for the first book, 738 Days (review found here), and from there I was seriously jonesing for more. So you can imagine how THRILLED I was when I opened my e-mail and found out I had received one of the ARC's! I may or may not have squealed and jumped up and down in delight.

I'm just going to be honest with you guys, I went into this book with really high hopes, and I was NOT disappointed! I was always curious about what went on with Calista and Eric and how they were turning out. What I really loved about this book is how flawed these characters are (especially Eric), and yet you can't help falling for them and rooting for them. You get angry at them and then you find yourself rooting for them.  Just like in the first novel, you get quickly sucked into this story and you are left turning the pages late into the night to find out what is going to happen between these people who really need each other. For me, friends to lovers is kind of hit or miss genre. It doesn't always feel real, but Stacey nailed it. The chemistry between Calista & Eric was electric and I loved their story!

Bottom Line: If Stacey Kade writes it, I'm reading it and recommending it!

My Rating: 5/5 Stars