The Love List & Part-Time Princess {Thursday Night Writes}

Hey y'all,

It's Thursday, and my last day of work for the week, so before I go and spend the evening reading since I really don't have a bedtime I thought I would share some of my recent reads. I also went to the library yesterday so I'm fully stocked for the long weekend.
 

via

Description:

Falling in love is just not on Nora King’s To Do List…
Neither is accidentally super-gluing her shoe to her hand right before the biggest presentation of her life!
With all the hard work she’d put into securing the family business after her father’s death, Nora has no choice but to accept help from a knight in shining armor.
Disaster relief worker Ethan Love is still haunted by his last deployment, and desperate for distraction. He’s in town to ask Nora for a major favor, and swooping in to save her presentation is a sure way to get her on side.
As Ethan sticks around and helps Nora through her grief, her barriers tumble down…but will she dare to swap her To Do lists for a How to Fall in Love list?

Opinion:

 A cute short read, this book was a bit predictable but essentially, Nora is attempting to salvage her family's company after the loss of her father but she is so stressed she accidentally super glues her shoe right before the big presentation. Well, in walks her ex-brother-in-law to save the day. It was a good fun read but not one of my favorites or something I would recall when recommending books to a friend.

 

via

Description:

Lucy Trabbicio’s a down-on-her-luck, young, American, former biker-bar cocktail waitress desperate to find a job. Lady Elizabeth Billingsley hires Lucy to travel to Fredonia, the tiny jewel of a country in the Alps, for ten days ‘tops’ to impersonate her.
Say what? How the heck is that going to happen?
In the mother of all makeovers, Elizabeth’s people teach Lucy how to dress, walk, talk, eat, be coiffed and even get naked like a European Lady.
The goal?
To keep Crown Prince Cristoph Timmel interested in Elizabeth until she finishes her unexpected, pressing personal business in the States.
But fate intervenes… Lucy meets and is wildly attracted to sexy, bad-boy Nick on the oh-so-long flights to Fredonia. Unfortunately for Lucy—Nick and Elizabeth have a hot sexual history, which Nick wants to immediately resume.
Prince Cristoph proposes marriage. What's an imposter girl to do? Elizabeth insists that she’ll make it back home in time for the wedding. Lucy accepts Cristoph’s proposal and is on the fast track to becoming a Princess but continues to fall for the wrong Prince of Fredonia—Nick. When another tiny glitch arises—someone’s trying to kill her.
The only folks helping Lucy are her wild, party hard, take-no-prisoners Ladies-in-Waiting.
When the real Lady Elizabeth decides she’s not marrying Cristoph and never returning to Fredonia, Lucy’s faced with an uncomfortable decision—continue her deception, marry the prince she’s not in love with and live a dream life albeit without Nick, her dream guy? Or tell the truth and return to poverty and oblivion?

Opinion:

I thought this was such a quick read and since it is marked as the first in a series I am interested to know where the next book ventures. Essentially, Lucy due to circumstances loses her job and when looking through the paper finds a listing for a part-time assistant position. Well, it's not an assistant position as it is for Lucy to fill in for Lady Elizabeth Billingsley as she deals with family business. Lucy takes a crash course in how to be a lady and luckily has some pretty amazing ladies in waiting when she lands in the small country of Fredonia. This was a fun, quick read and I laughed on more than one occasion.

What are your currently reading?

How to Catch a Prince {Thursday Night Writes}

Hey y'all,

I love to read and give reviews so I am hoping to get back to writing small reviews every Thursday or so. Now to play catch up with books I have read so far this year.

I recently finished up the newest book in the Royal Wedding series by Rachel Hauck. I discovered the author when I received Once Upon a Prince from Netgalley and I have been obsessed with her novels since. I have read a few from her series writing with country star Sarah Evans and her Beaufort series. Rachel Hauck writes beautiful Christian fiction love stories. The novels always evoke deep emotions for me but they also tie in troubles with reliance on the Lord. I have read the first two books, Once Upon a Prince, Princess Ever After, as well as the novella, A March Bride, so I was so excited to get my hands on a copy of the newest book thanks to Netgalley.

 

How to Catch A Prince

Description:

Prince Stephen came to America to escape responsibility. But what he found complicates his life more than ever.
Corina Del Rey is happy with her life in Melbourne, Florida. She spends her days engrossed in her career as a journalist and has her sights set on climbing the corporate ladder if for no other reason, to distract herself from her dissolving family. But when she is confronted with the past she fought so hard to put behind her, she struggles to make sense of her future.
Prince Stephen of Brighton Kingdom has moved on since the tragic death of his buddies in Afghanistan. A star professional rugby player, he has no intention of looking over his shoulder at what could've been.
But when a notice arrives in the mail requiring his and his wife s appearance before the courts to dissolve their marriage, he must deal with the questions rumbling around in his heart. He thought his marriage had been annulled long ago, but his memories of Corina Del Rey remain close. Does he still love her? Can he even find her? Above all, can he tell her the truth about that fateful night in Afghanistan seven years ago? If he does, he might really lose her forever.

My Opinion:
I love a good fairy tale story and it was great to hear more about Prince Stephen and his story as a rugby player and soldier. To me, this story was better than the second novel when we find the long lost heir to the throne of Hessenberg. It was so heartbreaking a lot of the time since he obviously loved Corina but was staying away to protect her feelings and her relationships with her family. Yet again, another great story from Rachel Hauck. 

*I did receive an Advance Reader Copy from Netgalley to read for review but yet again, I always provide honest feedback and only feature things I believe in.

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. 

via

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.

 via
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:

via

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! 

via

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!

via

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.

 

via

 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.

via

 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 {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.

via

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 Review {Dead Beautiful}

Hey y'all,

Onto day two of a week of book reviews! I picked up this next book on Netgalley and was pleasantly surprised. 

The Book:

Synopsis:

On the morning of her sixteenth birthday, Renée Winters was still an ordinary girl. She spent her summers at the beach, had the perfect best friend, and had just started dating the cutest guy at school. No one she'd ever known had died. But all that changes when she finds her parents dead in the Redwood Forest, in what appears to be a strange double murder.

After the funeral Renée’s wealthy grandfather sends her to Gottfried Academy, a remote and mysterious boarding school in Maine, where she finds herself studying subjects like Philosophy, Latin, and the “Crude Sciences.”

It’s there that she meets Dante Berlin, a handsome and elusive boy to whom she feels inexplicably drawn. As they grow closer, unexplainable things begin to happen, but Renée can’t stop herself from falling in love. It’s only when she discovers a dark tragedy in Gottfried’s past that she begins to wonder if the Academy is everything it seems.

Little does she know, Dante is the one hiding a dangerous secret, one that has him fearing for her life.

Dead Beautiful is both a compelling romance and thought-provoking read, bringing shocking new meaning to life, death, love, and the nature of the soul.

My Opinion:

I thought this was another high school girl who goes off to boarding school but this book included a lot of mystery. Yes, there is the classic boy meets girl part, and the girl meets her roommate and they become best friends (I mean this is a teen novel we can't expect a lot of deviation) but the rest of the story is filled with lots of questions. The boarding school itself is not your typical high school teaching Math, English, History, etc but rather Latin, Horticulture and Philosophy. The reasons for the change in subjects is explained in the book so I do not want to give anything away. The book also ends with a big cliff hanger since there are at least two other books: Life Eternal and Love Reborn (which just came out this year).

Have you read this series?

Book Review {Vampire Academy}

Hey y'all,

My weekend was nice and relaxing but not worthy of a weekend update. I was brainstorming ideas for blog posts and remembered that it had been FOREVER since I had done any book reviews. If you did not know my goal this year is to read 114 books. I think I can make it and at this point I have read 15 books (a few are half done and will be joining the list soon). 

So this week I will go over a few of the last books I have read and I encourage lots of book suggestions/recommendations. I do want to preface that I tend to read a lot of teen novels or paranormal romance series but I will also be reviewing Erin James' new devotional later on in the week.

Today's novel:

Vampire Academy

Synopsis:

St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger. . . .

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.

Opinion:

Ok, so the movie trailer makes this book series look awful but I gave it a chance since one of my co-workers said it was actually good. I am indifferent. I didn't love the series or hate it. I don't think I will continue on since I was not hooked. It is mainly about Rose and Lissa and their relationship as friends as well as a guardian/vampire while dealing with boarding school/high school. I think if I was younger while reading this I might be more interested but it was not something I would say is a must read. I say if you enjoy books about vampires and high school aged individuals it is not a bad idea to check it out but it is more of an ok/like than a love.

Have you read this series? Thoughts?

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!

via

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.

via

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.

via

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?