Trouble in Tinseltown & The Viscount's Christmas Temptation {Book Club Friday}

Hey y'all,

Remember me. Sorry about the hiatus again. I spent Thanksgiving with my parents and sisters in my hometown so I was able to get away from last Wednesday through Monday and I am now just finally feeling caught up on everything work related (we will not talk about the amount of laundry I still need to fold and put away). While home I was able to get a lot of reading done between catching up on the Pioneer Woman (I miss Food Network since I don't have cable), going to the movies, and doing a bit of online Black Friday shopping when our internet was actually working (#firstworldproblems).

So to easy back into the blogging world I thought I would share another Book Club Friday post. Today I am talking about two books to make up for my long absence.Up first, Trouble in Tinseltown, the first part of the Summer Flings series by Aimee Duffy. 

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Description:

Armed with a degree from Oxford that she doesn’t have a clue what to do with, Ciara Bree convinces her two best friends, Elle and Gem to spend their first summer of freedom backpacking across the globe. Now it’s time to shop, sunbathe, think about boys for a change, and party hard…
First stop: LA!
The girls hit Tinseltown for a few days of shopping, star spotting, and even a movie premiere!
But their plan to sneak into an exclusive celeb party in West Hollywood backfires. Elle’s gorgeous older cousin, Zack, is called to the rescue and despite knowing she should stay away, Ciara just can’t seem to resist him.
The ideal summer treat for those relaxing days soaking up the sun!

My opinion:

I really wish this book series was written as one whole book and not 7 small ebooks that are all about 40 pages long. I think one, 300page book, would be better but I know it is all a marketing strategy. I just hate that we are just getting to know the girls a bit and the story is over. It was a really short read and I want to know more but with other books out there I don't know how much I would reach for this fragmented story.

Then, I also received from Netgalley, The Viscount's Christmas Temptation by Erica Ridley starts the Dukes of War series.

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Description:
Certain individuals might consider Lady Amelia Pembroke a managing sort of female, but truly, most people would be lost without her help. Why, the latest on-dit is that rakish Viscount Sheffield is canceling the fête of the year because he hasn't time for silly soirees. He doesn't need time—he needs her!
When a flash of lightning destroys the venue for his family's annual Christmas ball, Lord Benedict Sheffield intends to enjoy a relaxing holiday for once. But after twelve days of beguiling Lady Amelia's guerrilla tactics, he's up to his cravat with tinsel . . . and tumbling head over heels in love.

My Opinion:
I liked the start of the novella, however, I thought the courtship was really fast and after starting to arrange a ball, two people are now madly in love. I have the first novel of this series, The Earl's Defiant Wallflower, and I'm excited to continue the story but as usual with most short stories I don't feel very connected to the characters so I don't tend to love their stories.

What have you been reading lately?

Thank you to Netgalley for providing these books for review. As always, all opinions are my own.

Captive {Book Club Friday}

Hey y'all,

So I recently was given an eARC from Netgalley for the next book in the Blackcoat Rebellion series by Aimee Carter. If you remember last year around this time I read Pawn and became obsessed and sad that I would have to wait another year to read the following book. Now it is time to review Captive for Book Club Friday!

Now to refresh your memory, Pawn began with meeting Kitty Doe after she had taken the test to determine her classification in the country. She received a III due to her reading disability while Benji, her best-friend/boyfriend received a VI the highest one can score. Kitty is offered the chance to become a VII but only by being Masked (surgically transformed) into Lila Hart, the prime minster's niece who was recently killed but as Lila she will be Daxton's pawn in order to stop the rebellion Lila was stirring, or will she?

Enter Captive:

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Description:

For the past two months, Kitty Doe's life has been a lie. Forced to impersonate the Prime Minister's niece, her frustration grows as her trust in her fake fiancé cracks, her real boyfriend is forbidden and the Blackcoats keep her in the dark more than ever.

But in the midst of discovering that her role in the Hart family may not be as coincidental as she thought, she's accused of treason and is forced to face her greatest fear: Elsewhere. A prison where no one can escape.

As one shocking revelation leads to the next, Kitty learns the hard way that she can trust no one, not even the people she thought were on her side. With her back against the wall, Kitty wants to believe she'll do whatever it takes to support the rebellion she believes in—but is she prepared to pay the ultimate price?

My Opinion:

The first chunk of the book happens all within 24 hours and it was a little hard to transition from the palace to Elsewhere. I felt that this book was not filled with as many plot twists which I loved in Pawn but I felt it developed more of the country and justified the Rebellion of the Blackcoats more. I was so surprised at the way Knox reacted to a lot of things in this book and I have a feeling that he is secretly harboring feelings for Kitty which I wrestle with because I like that this dystopian book doesn't have a love triangle, and loving Knox. I loved that we saw a bit more of Grayson as well as learning more about Kitty and the man masked as Daxton! I won't reveal more for spoiler purposes but if you loved Pawn, I think you will enjoy Captive. I thought it was a decent sequel but the first book is still my favorite in the series. This one is only worth 4 out of 5 stars. I can't wait for Queen to come out next fall!

 

 Now, if you want to go pick up Captive, the book will be out on TUESDAY! If you want to go ahead and pre-order the book I know Barnes & Noble and Amazon give you those options.

What are you currently reading?

Book Club Friday {Where'd You Go Bernadette}

Hey y'all,

My book club at work recently completed Where'd You Go, Bernadette as our September book. While I had had this on my GoodReads radar for over a year I had never sought the book out to read. Now I have finished the book and thought I would share some of my thoughts since I know a large number of you have read it! Please comment with your thoughts on the book as well! 

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Description:

Bernadette Fox is notorious. To her Microsoft-guru husband, she's a fearlessly opinionated partner; to fellow private-school mothers in Seattle, she's a disgrace; to design mavens, she's a revolutionary architect, and to 15-year-old Bee, she is a best friend and, simply, Mom.
Then Bernadette disappears. It began when Bee aced her report card and claimed her promised reward: a family trip to Antarctica. But Bernadette's intensifying allergy to Seattle—and people in general—has made her so agoraphobic that a virtual assistant in India now runs her most basic errands. A trip to the end of the earth is problematic.
To find her mother, Bee compiles email messages, official documents, secret correspondence—creating a compulsively readable and touching novel about misplaced genius and a mother and daughter's role in an absurd world.

Review:

It took a while to get used to the format of the book since it changes perspectives often from an email to Bee's point of view to a letter, etc. But once you get into the book and later find out about the reason for the formatting it makes more sense. I thought that Bernadette herself was very funny as a character however, the handling of mental illnesses and drug abuse were pretty appalling. I also think the book ends abruptly and I would have loved to have had another chapter to finish it. It was a good quick read!

   

And, if any of you grew up with Pizza Hut's Book It program, it's back! As a BookIt Alum you can sign up and gain a free personal pizza! No reading required this time! 

What is on your to-read list? 

I am about to re-read The Best of Me in prep for watching the movie with my Mom in a few weeks.

Book Club Friday {Duchess of Love Series}

Hey y'all,

 This past week I ended up catching up on the Duchess of Love series by reading Loving Lord Ash and Surprising Lord Jack. I read the first book in the series, Bedding Lord Ned, back in December and then the prequel, The Duchess of Love, in January but I had never gotten around to reading the second and third books in the series. I am glad that I finally came back to the series since both of these books were great!

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Description:

Frances Hadley has managed her family’s estate for years. So why can’t she request her own dowry? She’ll have to go to London herself and knock some sense into the men interfering in her life. With the nonsense she’s dealt with lately, though, there’s no way she’s going as a woman. A pair of breeches and a quick chop of her red curls, and she’ll have much less to worry about…
Jack Valentine, third son of the famous Duchess of Love, is through being pursued by pushy young ladies. One particularly determined miss has run him out of his own house party. Luckily the inn has one bed left—Jack just has to share with a rather entertaining red-headed youth. Perhaps the two of them should ride to London together. It will make a pleasant escape from his mother’s matchmaking melodrama!

My Opinion:

 Of all three books I think this was the hardest to get into. It might have been the way the book opens with Frances dressed as a man that the masquerade made it hard to connect with her for a bit. I did think there were a lot of valid feelings about being a charity case and Jack's need to protect all women in dire circumstances that clouded each other's feelings and ability to truly declare love. It is a great book and I liked that Jack was able to find someone without the matchmaking of his mother.

 

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 Description:

Kit, the Marquis of Ashton, is in a sticky wicket. He married young and for love—how naïve. He discovered his mistake the very day of his wedding, but he is saddled now with a wife he's reluctant to trust. And however much evidence he gathers against faithless Jess, he can't seem to prove her guilt to the final judge—his foolish heart.
Jessica knows she's bobbled her marriage, however innocently. A fairytale wedding makes no difference if she hasn't got the marquis charmed to show for it. Well, she's had enough of accidental encounters with naked gentlemen and near misses explaining things to her husband. It's time to buck up and go win her man back—even if she has to fight very dirty indeed.

My Opinion:

 This is probably my favorite book of the series and not just because one of the main characters shares my name. I was very frustrated with both characters throughout the book since I honestly wanted to toss them in a room together so they could shout out their feelings and move on but it goes to show you how much communication and trust play into relationships. I am so glad this relationship was rectified although it took eight years for all the truths and feelings to be settled.

What are y'all reading? 

My book club is reading Where'd You Go Bernadette so that is coming up shortly!

Book Club Friday: if i stay

Hey y'all,

Today's book review is timely since the movie adaptation for if i stay comes out TODAY! I grabbed this book on my nook this past week and it is such a fast read. I think it took me a total of two days to read this book and this is one of the busiest weeks of the year at work for me.

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 Description:

 On a day that started like any other, Mia had everything: a loving family, a gorgeous, admiring boyfriend, and a bright future full of music and full of choices. In an instant, almost all of that is taken from her. Caught between life and death, between a happy past and an unknowable future, Mia spends one critical day contemplating the only decision she has left. It is the most important decision she'll ever make.
Simultaneously tragic and hopeful, this is a romantic, riveting, and ultimately uplifting story about memory, music, living, dying, loving

Review:

So I had never heard of this book until I first saw the movie trailer and started to get misty eyed. The entire book takes place in a close to 24 hour time period with flashbacks to Mia's past. Told in her perspective the book begins with a day off of school due to a snow storm that left barely any snow on the roads. The family decides to make a day of it and heads to their family friend's house. On the way, the family is hurled into a car accident and Mia is in an out of body experience. She soon learns that she has the power to make the decision to stay and live or go on. I was surprised I did not cry as much in this book but there were a lot of emotional moments. I felt awful for Mia and it was interesting to see her relationship with Adam over the past. The majority of the book is seen through her observations of people at the hospital and then her past with her parents and relationships with Adam and Kim(her best friend). I thought it was a quick read and while not my favorite book ever it was a nice piece of YA fiction.

There is a sequel to the book called Where She Went that I might pick up soon since the ending of the book was pretty interesting. I will also update y'all on my thoughts about the movie since I am going with my roomie tomorrow.

Have you read if i stay? What are you currently reading?

Book Club Friday: The One

Hey y'all,

During my mini blogging break I was able to work on my to-read list so do not fret there will be a lot of Book Club Friday posts in the near future. If you have been around this little blog awhile then you know that I have loved the Selection series and you can read my reviews on The Selection (here) and The Elite (here). Now it is time to discuss the final book in the trilogy, The One.

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 Description:

For the four girls who remain at the palace, the friendships they’ve formed, rivalries they’ve struggled with and dangers they’ve faced have bound them to each other for the rest of their lives.

Now, the time has come for one winner to be chosen.

America never dreamed she would find herself anywhere close to the crown – or to Prince Maxon’s heart. But as the competition approaches its end and the threats outside the palace walls grow more vicious, America realizes just how much she stands to lose – and how hard she’ll have to fight for the future she wants.

Thoughts:

ALL THE FEELS! This book has you running through a gambit of emotions. I was glad that we were able to go deeper into some of the other girl's lives since we have been given a bias through America's perspective. It was interesting to continue to learn more about the plots and the rebels. I wish that half the book I wasn't angry at everyone but I think if a book works you up there is a reason. I still think that the series could continue one for another book or two to discuss the reasons the nation got this way and the various programs put in place to change the world but I thought it was a good book and a page turner even if I wanted to throw Maxon and America into a room and make them talk to one another.

*REVISION: Thanks to Hannah for letting me know that Kiera Cass has announced not just the prequel but another novella and two more selection novels!*



Have you read the selection series? Thoughts?

Book Club Friday {Accidental Series}

Hey y'all,

So I realized I never reviewed the Accidental Series I have been reading. So if you have been following along you know that my main book genres are young adult, 19th century British novels (think Jane Austen), paranormal romance stories and then historical romances. I hadn't read a good historical romance in a while but I am back on the bandwagon this week with Michelle Willingham's Accidental Series. I read the series a bit out of order but I am all ok now. So let's get started with my review:

The Accidental Seduction

Emily Barrow once dreamed that she could marry Stephen Chesterfield, the Earl of Whitmore, and be saved from her dreary life. Then Stephen's father sent him away, leaving Emily broken-hearted...

Now Stephen has returned to find Emily destitute and alone. He has vowed to help her without compromising her honor...but Emily has other ideas. She doesn't want his charity, but she does long to know what it would be like to take him as a lover, even if marriage is out of the question. Confined to close quarters with their passion burning as brightly as ever, will Stephen be able to resist the temptation and rescue her, or give in to his desire and completely ruin her?

My Opinion

So this book is the prequel of the series but I actually read it last. Whoops. I liked having the glimpse of the character's pasts and how they got together because the Accidental Countess alludes to the past of Emily and Stephen but the story line leaves their past murky. It was a really short story but I enjoyed it and it made me love Emily as a character better. 

The Accidental Countess

When Stephen Chesterfield, the Earl of Whitmore, awakes to find a beautiful woman berating him, he knows he is in trouble! He cannot recall the past three months of his life, never mind having a wife! What's more, someone is trying to silence him before his memory returns....Emily Chesterfield is trapped in a marriage of convenience with a man who doesn't remember her. Stephen clearly thinks she is the most unsuitable countess, but she is falling for her enigmatic husband.... Can they find trust and love before it is too late?

My Opinion

Back in January I found The Accidental Countess at the beginning of the year through the North Carolina Digital Library and thought, why not. It is a really interesting tale with some mystery involved trying to figure out Stephen and Emily's love story as well as what happened to Stephen and Emily's brother. It was a great story which led me to the next book...

The Accidental Princess

FROM DUTIFUL DEBUTANTE
Lieutenant Michael Thorpe is a forbidden temptation for Lady Hannah Chesterfield. Etiquette demands Hannah ignore the shivers of desire his wicked gaze provokes, but he's the only man to recognize her restless spirit, and her unawakened body is clamoring for his touch ...
TO PASSIONATE PRINCESS!
Thrown together by scandal, a defiant Hannah joins Michael on an adventure to uncover the secret of his birth --- is this common soldier really a prince? If so, will the ordinary man who has taught Hannah the meaning of pleasure now make her his royal bride?

My Opinion

While some of this story was predictable, I mean we are talking romance novels, I really liked this tale of Lady Hannah, Stephen's sister. While there was a random country no one had ever heard of and some murder attempts it ended up having a really sweet romance story. Let's all be happy that we no longer live in times that spending a few hours with a guy alone during a migraine meant that you were ruined and no husband for you.

Up next is The Accidental Prince which just came out last month!

What are you reading this week?

Book Club Friday {Allegiant}

Hi y'all,

This whole, students on Spring Break, thing has made my week all out of whack. I need my schedule and while the silence is nice it is also unproductive for me. Anyway, I have finally finished the last book in the Divergent series, Allegiant, and I thought I would review it for Book Club Friday. Don't worry I am also planning to link-up for 5 on Friday since I haven't blogged much this week.

Just to warn you there are Spoilers ahead so if you have not read Divergent or Insurgent leave now or enter at your own risk.

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Description:

The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered—fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she’s known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories. 

But Tris’s new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature—and of herself—while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love. 

My Opinion:

I was hopeful for this book after loving Divergent and Insurgent but this book was like pulling teeth to get started. I bought this book for my nook the day it came to print, so excited to see where the story led but I am now just finishing. The story moves away from the city with it's factions and I think the change in scenery slowed down the story. The split perspectives made Tris sound like she was whiny a lot and not how her character was originally created. I also saw Tobias/Four doubt himself and perform actions I thought were out of character. I thought the choice for the story to not be a happy ending was fine however, the dramatic change from the factions to a corrupt government experiment and stopping the government was hard. I felt that this ending reminded me a lot of the final Hunger Games, Mockingjay, and I disliked both. I thought the death of Tris was okay in that it was part of her character and I felt bad for Tobias to live on but life is like that and we lose loved ones all the time and learn to live without them. I would say that you should read Divergent and Insurgent since they were fantastic but this book does not help the series. I don't think I have found anyone that loved this book either so it was hard to motivate myself to even finish the book. It was kind of a let down after the other two books being so strong.

Have you read the Divergent series? What were your thoughts?

I am excited about the movie coming out next Friday! 

Will you go see the film?

Book Club Friday {January 10}

Hey y'all,

I figured it was high time that I re-cap some of the books I was able to finish during my mini-blog break.

I was very fortunate to receive the first six books from "A Year of Weddings" novella series from Zondervan publishing via Netgalley. The series is written by various Christian romance authors and each novella will be published the month before it's titled, as in the December bride was published in November and so on. You can currently read the December and January novellas with the February bride coming out in a few weeks. Here are the descriptions and my thoughts.

A December Bride

What started as a whim turned into an accidental - and very public - engagement. Can Layla and Seth keep up the facade in Chapel Springs this holiday season - for the sake of her career . . . and his heart?

Under normal circumstances, Seth Murphy, the best friend of Layla O'Reilly's ex-fiance would be the last person she'd marry. But the news of their upcoming (and phony) nuptials convinces a big client that Layla may be high-society enough to work for his agency, a coup that would put her fledgling home-staging business on the map. Seth has secretly loved Layla for years, even when she was dating his best friend. Maybe she'll never forgive him for the way he hurt her back then, but he has to try. And Layla is willing to keep up their engagement farce until she's landed her client. For Layla, it's the chance to save her career. But for Seth, it's his last chance to win her heart.

I loved this start to the series. The romance was very believable and it was a great story to read over the holidays. I would highly recommend this book, I was crying, laughing and freaking out my family, which is usual when I am reading a great story.

A January Bride

Who can work in a house that's overrun by contractors and carpenters? Not Madeleine Houser, a successful novelist who gladly accepts the help of her octogenarian friend, Ginny, to arrange for a temporary office in the charming bed and breakfast owned by Ginny's friend, Arthur. Maddie’s never met the innkeeper––but a friendship grows between them as Maddie and Arthur leave messages for each other each day. To Maddie’s alternate delight and chagrin, she seems to be falling for the inn’s owner––a man who's likely many years her senior––and who she’s never even met.

I also really enjoyed this story. I thought the letters that incorporated this story where so sweet and I loved them multiple perspectives. It is a cute story of mistaken identity and finding friendship before love.

A February Bride

In A February Bride by Betsy St. Amant, history repeats itself when this bride runs out of the church on her wedding day---in the same dress that had been passed down for generations and worn by her mom, grandma and great-grandmother who also ran out of their weddings. The heroine struggles to break destructive cycles of the past. Can this bride shuck expectation and discover who SHE is as a bride and in the Bride of Christ? And if she finally walks down the aisle, what dress will she be wearing? Readers will enjoy this novel of redemption centered on a winter wedding.

I wasn't originally sold on this one. I mean the girl thinks that her wedding dress is cursed and will not marry the man of her dreams because of it. It was a quick read but not my favorite in the series.

A March Bride

Susanna has found her true prince, and their happily ever after is just around the corner. But when Nate asks her to give up something precious to her, Susanna can’t help but wonder if it’s a sign that their love is not meant to be.

Susanna Truitt (Once Upon A Prince) is three weeks from royalty. She’ll soon marry King Nathaniel II of Brighton Kingdom. But when the government insists she renounce her American citizenship before the wedding, coupled with the lack of involvement by family and friends, her heart begins to doubt whether this marriage is God’s plan for her.

Nathaniel would do anything for his bride-to-be. But he knows his position requires that she give up a lot to be with him. Her life will never be her own — right down to her very identity. When she travels home to St. Simon’s Island, Georgia, right before the wedding, Nathaniel fears she won’t return. Gathering his courage, he devises a plan to win his bride all over again, and together they seek out a kingdom to treasure above all.

Y'all probably now know that I am in love with the story of Once Upon a Prince(a Christian romance that is similar to the Prince & Me). This is a follow up of my favorite couple and it was great to see them again with all their flaws, insecurities and love as they plan for their royal wedding. 

An April Bride

War changes everything . . . even their love.

Bride-to-be Stella Carson can’t wait to marry her longtime sweetheart Marshall Henderson. But Marshall has been away serving his country and after suffering a head wound and being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress syndrome, he has distanced himself from Stella by asking her not to visit him in a Washington, D.C. hospital.

Marshall returns to Louisiana just four weeks before the wedding, but as the big day draws near, Stella wonders if the man she’s loved for most of her life still wants to marry her.

This story started out with heartbreak but it was very sweet and focused on the fact that love can continue on through various hardships and disabilities. I loved the strength of the two main characters and the sense of renewal between re-discovering a person after a brain injury.

A May Bride

She’s prepared for her wedding all her life … but she forgot a few things.

Ellie Martin, a country girl in Atlanta, often de-stresses from city life by tending the flower beds of a church near her apartment. She has dreamed of a traditional wedding all her life, a wedding like the one her younger sister is planning back in their hometown. Their single mom will pay for Alexa’s wedding, but Ellie started her own wedding fund years ago. She only needs to find a groom.

She bumps into a man who’s a guest at a wedding on the church grounds. She’s noticed him around the neighborhood, but today he introduces himself as Gray Whitby. They embark on a whirlwind romance, but her mother doesn’t trust freewheeling men like him. Standing up to Mom leads Ellie to stick up for Alexa too. When Ellie risks her own plans for her sister’s sake, Gray feels betrayed. Will he always play second fiddle?

Will Ellie and Gray reconcile their differences so her dream wedding can come true, or will the romance they’ve begun come crashing down?

Ok, I am going to go on a mini-tantrum. I really hated this book. Unfortunately, the romance which you expect from this collection of stories was not there and it was mainly the story of a woman and her mother and their fights over everything. The entire relationship from meeting, dating, engagement are all in this story but I was not rooting for the guy to get the girl. It felt very whirlwind and controlling between the two of them but since I had read all the other stories (and not one of them is more than 200 pages) I continued to read it to hope it would get better but it really doesn't. I think you could pass on this month.

Are you excited for A Year of Weddings? Any great reads from the start of 2014 you have discovered?

5 on Friday {January 3} & Top 5 Books of 2013

Hey y'all,

I can't believe that it is FRIDAY! I am still trying to get my barrings with the long holidays but having a two day work week is pretty great, although, with today's freezing temperatures it was a struggle to get out from under the covers with reports of a windchill temperature of 14. However, here are a few things for this week:

one. House of Cards. I am now obsessed with the show. I started it on Wednesday as I was cleaning and organizing my room and I can't wait for the new season on February 14!

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two. my vacuum. Yep, I did ask for a vacuum for Christmas and I received the Hoover T-Series WindTunnel Bagless Upright from my parents. I really needed a decent vacuum and never wanted to splurge for it on my own but I have since arriving back at my apartment vacuumed the living and dining room and the bedroom is up for tonight.

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three. If you haven't heard, there is an article going around called 23 things to do instead of getting engaged before you're 23. I did not care for the list but this response was amazing and since I am turning 24 at the end of the month I love this list of 24 things to do instead of getting married by 24 which I copied below (really everyone should accomplish this list whether married or not, so all Postgrads I challenge you to make some of these your goals/resolutions for the year 2014):

Sponsor a Child for a year

Read at least 3 NY Times articles every week

Take your parents out for a fancy (non-fast food) meal

Work hard at a job – any job

Travel to a new country

Travel to a new state

Read a classical fiction novel

Teach someone a new skill you have already mastered

Learn a new skill

Learn a new language

Pay off debt

Read the Bible in a year

Be selfless

Join a sports league, art club, orchestra, whatever you’re interested in.

Write a letter to a friend

Learn how to properly set a table

Stop taking bathroom selfies

Vote – local, state, or national election

Embark on a goal that will take at least 10 years to accomplish

Hand write a thank-you note

Buy a nice dress or tux/suit for weddings and funerals

Re-read a favorite book

Spend a day in the mountains alone

and last, but not least…

Make a friend and share a jar of Nutella with them – one sitting or otherwise

four. olypmic mascots. So if you haven't heard the Olympics begin next month and today at lunch a co-worker and I were looking over the Olympic site and stumbled upon all the olympic mascots of the past and the Sochi Olympic Mascots each have their own videos that are quiet ridiculous but gave us all some laughs.

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five. Book Club Friday! Here are my top 5 reads from 2013:

Pawn

Once Upon a Prince

Born of Shadows & Born of Silence

 

The Total Money Makeover

MacRieve

 
What were your favorite books of 2013?

5 on Friday

Hey y'all,

Can you believe that I have been posting all week? I can't! YAY for finally making time for this little blog. So let's get started with five on Friday.

one. Thankfulness. I think you all should look at Ryann's post about 30 Days of Thanks. This will either be it's own blog post or attached to one and helps to prompt me to write something everyday. Today I am thankful for my faith. I know that if you have been reading this blog for a while or you know me in real life you know I am a Christian. I am so thankful to my family for raising me in the faith and encouraging me to continue to grow in my walk with God. I have been very blessed through my years and I know they have all come from our great God!

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two. Long Weekends. This weekend will be a long weekend for me due to doctor/dentist appointments so I guess I will enjoy that extra day even though it is booked solid.



three. hair cuts. I am going back to brunette tomorrow. For the last (almost) three years I have been highlighting my hair every 5ish months or so. I am ready to get back to a natural color on me, even though I was born blonde and let the mousy brown back (I think it will be like a chocolate brown when all is said and done).

At my 19th birthday celebrations. YAY for brown hair!

four. Book Club Friday. I have not linked up in a while since I have not been reading a ton which is a major problem but I did just finish Geek Girls Don't Date Dukes. I was given this book via Netgalley and if you are a fan of the Victorian era and have seen Lost in Austen run out and grab this book. It is actually the second book in a series and now I have to track down The Geek Girl and the Scandalous Earl. The book is described as
 "Leah Ramsey has always loved historical romance novels and dressing in period costumes. So when she has a chance to time travel and experience the history for herself, she jumps at it—figuring it can't be too hard to catch the eye of a duke. After all, it happens all the time in her novels. 
Avery Russell, valet and prize pugilist, reluctantly helps Leah gain a position in the Duke of Granville's household . . . as a maid. 
Domestic servitude wasn't exactly what she had in mind, but she's determined to win her happily ever after. Even if the hero isn't exactly who she's expecting." 

So I highly recommend the book as a quick, cute read if you enjoy Victorian romance stories! I give it 3.5 stars!

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five. Football. I have to shout out GO HEELS for my team takes on my sister's team Saturday! While DUKE is Carolina's rival, State always thinks they are rivals with us so we are a house divided and hopefully my team can pull out the win like last year.

What are you up to this weekend?

Book Club Friday {August 30}

Hey y'all,

I have to start this post off with the trailer of the upcoming adaptation of Divergent. I am obsessed with the series and can't wait for the next book to come out this October but in the mean time I am going to drool over Four. There is even a Buzzfeed Article called "12 Things In The Divergent Footage That Will Make You Freak Out." You can read my Book Club Friday on Divergent and Insurgent here.




Now that I am done fangirling over a book let's get to what I read this week.

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Ella and Micha have survived tragedy and heartbreak. When they're together, anything seems possible. But now they are thousands of miles apart, and managing their long distance relationship will put their love to the test.
Ella is back at school, trying hard not worry so much about her future. But with her father in and out of rehab, she's having a hard time making it through the days. All she wants is Micha by her side, but she refuses to let her problems get in the way of his dreams.
Micha spends his days touring the country with his band, but deep down he knows something is missing. Being away from Ella is harder than he thought it would be. He wants her closer to him-needs her with him. But he won't ask her to leave college, just to be with him.
The few moments they do spend together are intense and passionate, but it only makes it more difficult when they have to part. They know they want to be together, but is wanting something enough to get them to their forever?

A sequel the Secret of Ella and Micha I loved hearing more of their story. These are not your typical romance novels but stories of broken, dark people and the power and connection of love.

Love or life.
Henry or their child.
The end of her family or the end of the world.
Kate must choose.
During nine months of captivity, Kate Winters has survived a jealous goddess, a vengeful Titan and a pregnancy she never asked for. Now the Queen of the Gods wants her unborn child, and Kate can't stop her--until Cronus offers a deal.
In exchange for her loyalty and devotion, the King of the Titans will spare humanity and let Kate keep her child. Yet even if Kate agrees, he'll destroy Henry, her mother and the rest of the council. And if she refuses, Cronus will tear the world apart until every last god and mortal is dead.
With the fate of everyone she loves resting on her shoulders, Kate must do the impossible: find a way to defeat the most powerful being in existence, even if it costs her everything.
Even if it costs her eternity.

This was not my favorite of the Goddess Test series. It felt like it dragged on for a long time and unfortunately I was not as hooked as I had been with the others.

I am hoping to read these books over the long weekend. I have no big plans besides cleaning and a possible Disney movie day with some sorority sisters.

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What are you reading this weekend?