January 2025 Book Review

 Happy Tuesday, friends! I started off January reading finishing four books, which I think is four more than I read last year. I was terrible at reading last year. This year, I have been going on walks in the mornings after I drop the kids off at school so I did listen to two of the four books.

Let's dive in starting with...

Book #1:

Pictures of You by Emma Grey

This is a story about Evie Hudson. She wakes up in a hospital room and believes she's a teenager that was at a party with her best friend. She quickly learns that she was in an accident with her husband who didn't survive. Evie doesn't remember her husband or know anything about her current life. She has suffered traumatic loss of memory and must connect the dots of her life. She "meets" and man named Drew that helps her but later finds out, they've always had a connection. This is a story full of second chances.

Book #2:

The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren

This is the second book I've ready by Christina Lauren. I thought it had a really cute plot and I will say the ending surprised me. There wasn't a lot of character development but there was a LOT of sexual content. It takes place on a private island in Indonesia which only made me want to be on an island! The couple needed to pretend to be married for two weeks but with a lot of family drama, that was a difficult task. Overall, it was cute and easy to read. Not my favorite of the month.

Book #3:

Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

I've read several books written by Taylor Jenkins Reid and I've enjoyed every single one. This one is no different.

This book is about a fictional, former world champion tennis player. She's been retired for a decade when she decides to go back out on the court. This book holds your attention, pulls at your heart, and has you cheering for players both on and off the court. I don't know much about tennis but I learned a lot because of all the details Taylor incorporated into the book. 

Book #4:

After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Another Taylor Jenkins Reid book! I think this book is more relatable to people than I thought. When Lauren and Ryan are about to give up on their marriage, they decide to give an unconventional play a try. They take a year apart and hope they fall in love with each other again. There is only one rule, no communication with each other. Everything else goes. (That makes me nauseous.) This story talks about when love fades, staying in love, and committing to love.

Reading Recap

 Viper Pilot is written by an F16 pilot. I was given this book by my Uncle, who flew with Dan. 

"151 combat missions
21 hard kills on surface -to -air missile sites
4 Distinguished Flying Crosses with Valor
1 Purple Heart

First into a war zone, flying behind enemy lines to purposely draw fire, the wild weasels are elite fighter squadrons with the most dangerous job in the Air Force

One of the greatest aviation memoirs ever written, Viper Pilot is an Air Force legend's thrilling eyewitness account of modern air warfare. For twenty years, Lieutenant Colonel Dan Hampton was a leading member of the Wild Weasels, logging 608 combat hours in the world's most iconic fighter jet: the F-16 "Fighting Falcon," or "Viper." He spearheaded the 2003 invasion of Iraq, leading the first flight of fighters over the border en route to strike Baghdad. Earlier, on 9/11, Hampton's father was inside the Pentagon when it was attacked; with his dad's fate unknown, Hampton was scrambled into American skies and given the unprecedented orders to shoot down any unidentified aircraft. Viper Pilot is an unforgettable look into the closed world of fighter pilots and modern air combat."

I really enjoyed reading from the perspective of the pilot. With my uncle being an F-16 pilot, I was able to talk to him about this book and he said it was very realistic. It held my attention but I don't know if I would have been as intrigued, if  it wasn't for my uncle. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the war, previous wars, or the military.

This was my first Georgia Clark book and I wasn't a huge fan. It Had to Be You was a very easy read about love but there were several story lines to follow and I wasn't sure how they all went together until the last couple of pages.

"For the past 20 years, Liv and Eliot Goldenhorn have run In Love in New York, Brooklyn’s beloved wedding-planning business. When Eliot dies unexpectedly, he even more unexpectedly leaves half of the business to his younger, blonder girlfriend, Savannah. Liv and Savannah are not a match made in heaven, to say the least. But what starts as a personal and professional nightmare transforms into something even savvy, cynical Liv Goldenhorn couldn’t begin to imagine.

It Had to Be You cleverly unites Liv, Savannah, and couples as diverse and unique as New York City itself, in a joyous Love Actually-style braided narrative. The result is a smart, modern love story that truly speaks to our times. Second chances, secret romance, and steamy soul mates are front and center in this sexy, tender, and utterly charming rom-com that is “so much fun” (Casey McQuiston, New York Times best-selling author)."

This story was about several different relationships; from ending, beginning, connecting, etc. I still had questions once I was finished reading and I didn't love that the author included so many personalities into the book. I thought there was a lot going on in the book with not a big purpose.

This was my second Lisa Jewell book. The first book I read of hers was The Family Upstairs. I loved this book so much more than The Family Upstairs. Then She Was Gone was a thriller and held my attention the entire time.

"Fifteen-year-old Ellie Mack was the perfect daughter. She was beloved by her parents, friends, and teachers. She and her boyfriend made a teenage golden couple. She was days away from an idyllic summer vacation, with her whole life ahead of her. And then she was gone. 

Now her mother, Laurel Mack, is trying to put her life back together. It's been 10 years since her daughter disappeared, seven years since her marriage ended, and only months since the last clue in Ellie's case was unearthed. So when she meets an unexpectedly charming man in a cafe, she is surprised at how quickly their flirtation develops into something deeper. Before she knows it, she's meeting Floyd's daughters - and his youngest, Poppy, takes her breath away. Looking at her is like looking at Ellie. And now the unanswered questions she has tried so hard to put to rest haunt her anew...as well as some new ones about Floyd and Poppy...."

This book was so realistic to me. I kept thinking that this could happen to children who just "disappear" and I couldn't put it down. I thought I'd have parts of the book totally figured out just to have it twist and something else happened. I thought it was well written and the characters were well developed. I could picture each of the characters in my mind as I was reading. I would highly recommend this book to everyone, it was so good!

I love Emily Giffin books and this one was wonderful. The Lies that Bind was set around 9/11. Life most of Emily's books, this one was a very quick and easy read. Most of the book was predictable, however, I was still invested in knowing the end.

"In this irresistible novel from the author of All We Ever Wanted and Something Borrowed, a young woman falls hard for an impossibly perfect man before he disappears without a trace.... 

It’s 2 AM on a Saturday night in the spring of 2001, and 28-year-old Cecily Gardner sits alone in a dive bar in New York’s East Village, questioning her life. Feeling lonesome and homesick for the Midwest, she wonders if she’ll ever make it as a reporter in the big city - and whether she made a terrible mistake in breaking up with her longtime boyfriend, Matthew. 

As Cecily reaches for the phone to call him, she hears a guy on the barstool next to her say, “Don’t do it - you’ll regret it.” Something tells her to listen, and over the next several hours - and shots of tequila - the two forge an unlikely connection. That should be it, they both decide the next morning, as Cecily reminds herself of the perils of a rebound relationship. Moreover, their timing couldn’t be worse - Grant is preparing to quit his job and move overseas. Yet despite all their obstacles, they can’t seem to say goodbye, and for the first time in her carefully constructed life, Cecily follows her heart instead of her head. 

Then Grant disappears in the chaos of 9/11. Fearing the worst, Cecily spots his face on a missing-person poster, and realizes she is not the only one searching for him. Her investigative reporting instincts kick into action as she vows to discover the truth. But the questions pile up fast: How well did she really know Grant? Did he ever really love her? And is it possible to love a man who wasn’t who he seemed to be?"

I know this wasn't based on real characters but I have read where people who worked in the towers made the same decisions that Grant made on the morning of 9/11. The ending wasn't what I expected. If you're looking for an easy, love story, I would recommend this one.

The Giver of Stars was given to me last year at Christmas time and I never got around to reading it.

"Alice Wright marries handsome American Bennett Van Cleve hoping to escape her stifling life in England. But small-town Kentucky quickly proves equally claustrophobic, especially living alongside her overbearing father-in-law. So, when a call goes out for a team of women to deliver books as part of Eleanor Roosevelt’s new traveling library, Alice signs on enthusiastically. 

The leader, and soon Alice's greatest ally, is Margery, a smart-talking, self-sufficient woman who's never asked a man's permission for anything. They will be joined by three other singular women who become known as the Packhorse Librarians of Kentucky.

What happens to them - and to the men they love - becomes an unforgettable drama of loyalty, justice, humanity, and passion. These heroic women refuse to be cowed by men or by convention. And though they face all kinds of dangers in a landscape that is at times breathtakingly beautiful, at others brutal, they’re committed to their job: Bringing books to people who have never had any, arming them with facts that will change their lives.

Based on a true story rooted in America’s past, The Giver of Stars is unparalleled in its scope and epic in its storytelling. Funny, heartbreaking, enthralling, it is destined to become a modern classic - a richly rewarding novel of women’s friendship, of true love, and of what happens when we reach beyond our grasp for the great beyond."

I can't imagine living in a time where we couldn't pick up a book and read. It was amazing to read about what these women did to deliver books to others. I believe it was much more than delivering books. There was a huge plot twist that I didn't expect and couldn't see a way out Margery. The author did an amazing job writing this book and developing characters. I highly recommend this book!

I'd love to know what you've been reading and loving lately!

October Bookclub

Three years ago in June, I joined a bookclub. I knew a very small number of other ladies that joined but there were several that I’d never met. We planned on having three meetings. June, July, and August. Read through the summer and have some adult interaction.

Over three years later and we’re still meeting monthly. I’ve grown to enjoy all the ladies that come and look forward to it every month.

I hosted October bookclub at my house and it was so much fun! Kacie and I co-hosted. Today, I’m sharing the details.

Normally, we meet at someone’s home and bring a dish to share. I knew I wanted to do something fun and with schedules filling up with sports and school, I didn’t want people to worry about what they were going to bring.

Kacie and I met, planned, and shopped for all things to make a charcuterie board….

And a fun cocktail!

Champagne and apple cider in a champagne flute with caramel and cinnamon and sugar around the rim.

This drink was so easy and such a hit with everyone!

Originally, we talked about filling the island and placing a skeleton in the middle. We quickly realized that would be waaaayyyyyy too much food since about ten ladies come.

I found this fun runner at a local shop, Saddle and Sage. We put it down the center of my island and arranged the food from savory to sweet…

It was such a hit with all the ladies!

I made all the ladies pumpkin bread in the shapes of skulls for them to take home and enjoy later.

It was such a great night! I’m already thinking about what we can do for our December meeting since it’s at my house again!

We met, ate, drank, and discussed Then She Was Gone. 

Happy Wednesday, friends!

Reading Recap

 I had a long list of books that I was hoping to read over the summer and I failed. Terribly. I read two. Two, books. I'm so disappointed in myself. I'm really hoping that as I get into my groove with school starting up, I can read more. I truly enjoy it and still have that long list of books.

Once, a long time ago, I walked down a night-darkened road called Firefly Lane, all alone, on the worst night of my life, and I found a kindred spirit. That was our beginning. More than thirty years ago. TullyandKate. You and me against the world. Best friends forever. But stories end, don’t they? You lose the people you love and you have to find a way to go on. . . .

If you read Fire Fly Lane, I loved this book. It continues the story about Tully and Kate into their adult lives. It paints the picture of how two friends, who are living very different lives go through ups and downs of friendship and life, together. I cried and was hoping for a different ending although I knew all along what the ending was going to be. It tells the heartbreak of Tully's relationship with her mother and tragedy brings them back together. Although, it was sad, it was wonderful to watch all the relationships develop throughout the book and over the lives of the characters.

 A female apothecary secretly dispenses poisons to liberate women from the men who have wronged them—setting three lives across centuries on a dangerous collision course. Rule #1: The poison must never be used to harm another woman.

Rule #2: The names of the murderer and her victim must be recorded in the apothecary’s register.

This was a book club book and I was so skeptical about reading it but once I got past the first couple chapters, I couldn't put it down. The woman takes over the apothecary from her mother and after being betrayed by a man, she begins to use the medicine to get revenge. All goes well until a twelve year old girl comes for potion and then a relationship forms. Then, in the present day, a woman spends her anniversary in London and stumbles upon an apothecary jar and sets out on a mission to find the history behind it. Two worlds come together.

I'm currently reading Viper Pilot and I'm hoping to read a couple more books this month! Happy Thursday and happy reading, friends!

Winter Reading Line-Up

Happy Wednesday! I hope you're having a good week. It's much better than last week for our house!

I'm sharing what books I've read over the winter. Most of them were great...there were a few that I couldn't wait to be done with! Have you read anything lately that I need to add to my list? 

The first book on the list is The Perfect Marriage. This book was one of my favorites. It’s about a lawyer, Sarah and her husband, Adam. Sarah works extremely long hours and Adam is a struggling writer. He spends a lot of his time at the couple’s lake house. He gets into an affair and his mistress is found stabbed to death in the lake house. Sarah takes on her husband’s case to defend him. It’s shocking and I was addicted to finishing.

The Guernsey Literary Potato Peel Pie Society was a very slow book. To be honest, I stopped reading it and watched the Netflix movie. It was that difficult for me to read. It takes place during WWII. A writer was corresponding with a male from the island of Guernsey. The name of the society came from a group of friends, when they were caught by Germans for breaking the curfew. The writer, took interest in this group of friends and set out to visit Guernsey for herself. Her life will be changed.

The Secret Life of Addie LaRue was another book that I didn’t enjoy. I ended up listening to this book on Audible. Addie makes a deal with the devil to avoid a life in a marriage. She wants freedom. She is granted freedom but in exchange, no one remembers her. We go through her life along side of her. The devil appears throughout but Addie doesn’t want to give into him. She finally meets someone who remembers her. They build a relationship and one of them must make another deal with the devil...

The Friend Zone is a very predictable Hallmark movie that is rated R. It was a quick read and I began to like the characters right away. If you’re looking for an easy read...this is a cute one! There is a second book that I haven’t got my hands on yet, but plan to very soon!

The next book was extremely sad. I cried. I felt worried and it opened my eyes to see a new perspective of school shootings. That’s Not What Happened tells the story of a school shooting in the eyes of the survivors. The students who witnessed someone dying. The students who lost someone close to them. It was based on a true story. There was a student at Columbine High School that was reported to be killed after professing her faith. It was a sad book. One I wouldn’t necessarily recommend.

Those were all books that I read for book club. The next four were books that I chose myself.

After reading 28 Summers, I couldn’t wait to read more books by Elon Hilderbrand. I bought Winter in Paradise, What Happens in Paradise, and Troubles in Paradise.  I really enjoyed them. I felt happy when I finished them and I was happy for each of the characters. I will say that I wasn't invested in the characters that the books were centered around. They died in a helicopter crash. I was more invested in knowing what happened to all the remaining characters. I will say, I thought the books wrapped up in about two paragraphs. I didn't love that. I also was confused about why the titles have winter in them...there is nothing winter about these books. Overall, I enjoyed them and thought they were a great, quick, light read.

Greenlight was amazing to listen to. Matthew McConaughey narrates his own story and it was great to listen to. I almost picked it up while I was at Costco but someone at book club suggested that I listen to it. I'm so glad I did. It goes into detail about Matthew's life and how he became the person he is today. It shares stories from his childhood into adulthood. He talks about his marriage and how he landed acting opportunities. The way he tells his story was so fun to me. I highly recommend this book.

Summer Reads

This book is a book that I will never forget. The author spent time with the tattooist who was at Auschwitz and then he wrote his story. This is a dark and the saddest book I've ever read. I can't imagine the millions of people who suffered in the concentration camps during the Holocaust. I loved this book although it is emotionally draining. But, I think everyone should read it.

I loved this book. LOVED it! I received this book at our book club book exchange and the lady that brought it couldn't stop talking about how good it was. It lived up to all my expectations. I will say that I'm not okay with a "same time every year" in real life, but in the book it was great. This book is about a man and a women who have a great weekend on Nantucket and then for the follow 28 summers, they meet at the same time each year to be together. They meet no matter what is happening in their personal lives. At the beginning of each year it tells about what is happening that year, in real life. The book ends in 2020, and oh my goodness....spot on! 

I loved everything about this book and I highly recommend it.

I have always been intrigued with Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. I would read things in this book and then Google things to see if it was true or what happened afterwards. This book was very well written and a lot of research went into this book prior to the author writing it. This book did a wonderful job of showing us Jackie O's life. I recommend this book. 

I will say that I'm sad I only finished three books over summer. I had time because of COVID we've been at home but I'm hoping to pick back up reading over the next few months! Have you read any great books lately?

Book Review

Happy Monday, friends! I'm not sure that anyone is keeping track of the days anymore. They all seem to be the same. Our weekend didn't look much different than any other day, except that Travis was home and we didn't have schoolwork to complete. I decided to share the very few books I've read since the beginning of the year. I'm embarrassed to say that I haven't read more.

  

I'm a huge fan of Lauren Graham. She wrote this memoir about her time on Gilmore Girls, Parenthood and then Gilmore Girls again. I loved these shows so it's no surprise that I loved this book. This book is all about Gilmore Girls so if you haven't watched the show, I don't know that you would enjoy this book. This book makes me want to stop what I'm doing and binge watch both Gilmore Girls and Parenthood! Such a fun read.

I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did. I decided to listen to it and I'm glad I did. It was interesting listening to her tell the story, I liked listening to her emotions as she read the book. She shared all the details about her famous relationships. Her life from the time she was a little girl, until present. I thought it was real and raw. She shared things that I had no idea about. I watched Newlyweds when I was in high school and had a preconception about what kind of person I thought she was....I was wrong. I thought she did a great job about inviting us all into her life to learn about her and her failures without making everyone else look bad. I grew up liking her, but after listening to this book, I really like her! I thought it was a great book!

This was the most recent book-club selection. I found this to be a quick read that I was constantly questioning how it was going to all tie together. This is about a women that is married but is having dreams about another man. The man is also having dreams about the women. They meet and things begin to get weird. The ending is nothing like I expected. I was hooked, only because I was confused how it tied together, not because I loved the story line. Overall, I thought it was an okay book.

Okay, I have a line up of books waiting on my nightstand. I need to get busy reading. 

It's not like I don't have time! :)  Have you read any great books lately?

Book Review

I had so much fun reading in 2019. I always had so much going on that I could never enjoy opening a book and reading it. Once I finished my bachelor's degree, I found the time to read. Joining a book club also helped me read more because I felt like I couldn't let others down.

This novel is fiction but the way it's written will make you believe that it's a memoir or a biography. It's about a band in the 70's. This novel shares how the members of the band interacted with one another, how they treated one another. This book is written in interview style, which is different than any other book I've read. It did take me a little while to get the hang of how this book was written, however, once I did, I liked it! I got invested to the characters. I wish there was more of a plot. I thought this was an okay book. I will say, the last chapter surprised me and I enjoyed the ending.

I didn't expect to like this book but I LOVED it! This is a mystery. There is a twist in this book and I had no idea how it was going to end. I was hooked from the beginning and loved it through to the end. I was sitting on the edge of my seat the entire time I read this book. So good!

I had extremely high expectations of this book. I was told by several people to read it and saw it all over Instagram. With that being said, it was a disappointment. I think my expectations were too high. I thought this book was boring. Yes, I was convicted, but I wasn't drawn to this book at all. I ended up downloading it on Audible to finish it. I think the cover says it all...

I read Educated while on our cruise. It only took me two days to finish this book. I was hooked as soon as I started reading it. Part of the reason I was instantly hooked was, the book took place mostly in Idaho. There were many parts that I had to read twice. I couldn't believe what I had just read. The stories that she shares are almost unbelievable. I had a hard time reading some parts of this book because the stories were graphic and horrific. The abuse that she shares is almost unbelievable. 

I had to keep reminding myself that this was a memoir and not fiction. I loved reading how she overcame all of the things she went through. I highly recommend this book.

The Women in the Castle was a hard book for me to read. I read it in November when I had a lot of other things on my mind. I was reading it for book club and never finished it in time for when we all met. However, after hearing what everyone thought, I did finish it. I liked the book. I enjoyed reading about the war from a women's perspective. I thought it was interesting how the women went about their lives once the war was over. It made me wonder if people truly didn't know what was going on, or if they just followed because they didn't want to have a consequence. It was a difficult time in history but I enjoy reading about World War II. I did like this book, it isn't one I would recommend unless you enjoy reading about the war also.

This was such a fun Christmas read. I read it within a few hours and new the ending after the first chapter. It was light and full of love. Although it was predictable, I enjoyed reading it through the end. It did make me want to travel to a Christmas tree farm in December and stay in a bed and breakfast. This book does remind me of a Hallmark Christmas movie so if those aren't your thing, you'll want to skip this one. This is about a mom that owns a Christmas tree farm and her daughter helps run it. There is drama and romance, and a very small twist. 

I'm hoping to read a lot more books in 2020! Do you have any recommendations?

Summer Book Review

It's my Summer Book Review!

Today, I'm sharing all the books I read over the summer and what I thought of each one! I can't believe how much I read over the summer. I'm not normally a reader but I think that has changed, thanks to book club!

Over the summer, I read six books and LOVED all but one. A couple of these books I read in a matter of two or three days. They were quick reads. All of these books would be great to snuggle up with a blanket and enjoy as the cooler weather approaches.

I kicked off the summer with...

This book was so encouraging and uplifting! Everybody, Always is a faith-based book written by Goff. Goff shares is personal stories about loving people and being loved by others. He's an attorney and professor, which surprised me that he wasn't a pastor. He loves his wife, neighbors, strangers, everyone! He shares how he deals with difficult people. He gives so much encouragement about how to love people and show them grace. This book is so inspiring, practical, realistic, and a book you'll pass on when you're done with it!

This book was cute! This was a great summer read and I finished it in a matter of two days. It's a light read that would be perfect for the beach or a flight! Due to some unfortunate circumstances, that were REALLY far fetched, the sister of the bride and the brother of the groom go on the honeymoon of their siblings. The only problem was that they hated each other and had to pretend to be their siblings. This book was incredibly predictable, but I appreciated how funny and cute it was.

Where the Crawdads Sing was my favorite book of the summer! This book is captivating and I've recommended it to everyone I know! I've shared this book with several people, too! I was drawn in quickly and couldn't put the book down for the two days that it took me to read it. I stayed up several nights until after 1 am so I could find out what happened. I was blown away by the whole book. Without giving too much away, the book is about a young girl that is young and eventually is living alone in the marshes. There is a body that is found and it explains how it unfolds. This book is told in two time periods and Owens does a great job connecting the two. It's fantastic and everyone should read it! I know it's one of the books that I will read again someday!

This was the one book that I didn't like. It tells the story about four siblings going to a gypsy and finding out when they are going to die. Then, it tells the story of each sibling. I thought it was dark and it seemed like I was reading four separate novels. It did all come together at the end, but it took me awhile to make it that far. Overall, I wasn't a fan.

I'm a huge fan of rom-coms so it's no surprise that I love rom-lit. Waiting for Tom Hanks was so cute. It referenced some of my favorite rom-coms such as You've Got Mail, Sleepless in Seattle, and When Harry Met Sally. If you're looking for a lighthearted and very predictable read, then you'll love this tale of a woman who is waiting for her Tom Hanks! It's sure to leave you feeling happy!

This book is about several generations of women living on Long Island. The women are all connected and their lives intersect in various ways. It goes back and forth between two characters, it also goes from first person to third person, and it goes from present tense and past tense. I'll admit that in the beginning, it was tricky to follow. However, I really like it. I'm adding more Beatriz Williams novels to my list of must reads because I thought it was a great book.

Okay, that's my SUMMER BOOK REVIEW!

I'm already working on a fall book review. I ordered three books from Amazon this week and I'm busy reading! I'm thankful for book club to help me enjoy reading, even books that I normally wouldn't pick up!