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

Hey y'all,

I am pretty impressed with myself for posting so much this week midst Kids Week chaos. I am so excited for the conclusion tonight of Penny Wars and getting a bit of my free time back. Anywho, it's Friday meaning that it is time to review my recent reads. This week has killed a lot of book time but I already have books waiting in the wings for tonight/this weekend so let's hope I can get back to nightly reads.

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"Bronte Talbott follows all of the exploits of the British royals. After all, they're the world's most preeminent dysfunctional family. And who is she to judge? Bronte's own search for love isn't going all that well, especially after her smooth-talking Texan boyfriend abruptly leaves her in the dust.

Bronte keeps a lookout for a rebound to help mend her broken heart, and when she meets Max Heyworth, she's certain he's the perfect transition man. But when she discovers he's a duke, she has to decide if she wants to stay with him for the long haul and deal with the opportunities-- and challenges-- of becoming a royal."

I loved A Royal Pain and can't wait to grab the sequel. I was laughing and crying throughout this book as I went through the ups and downs with Max and Bronte. This was definitely a page turner as I was constantly wanting to go back into the world to find out if Max and Bronte would work everything out. Be prepared for Bronte's use of very colorful language that makes her a lovable, real character that won't drop everything at the drop of a hat for a guy. It has some traditional elements of a romance novel but the characters react to predictable events completely different than I would imagine. I really hope to see Bronte and Max in the next book.

"The success stories speak for themselves in this book from money maestro Dave Ramsey. Instead of promising the normal dose of quick fixes, Ramsey offers a bold, no-nonsense approach to money matters, providing not only the how-to but also a grounded and uplifting hope for getting out of debt and achieving total financial health.
Ramsey debunks the many myths of money (exposing the dangers of cash advance, rent-to-own, debt consolidation) and attacks the illusions and downright deceptions of the American dream, which encourages nothing but overspending and massive amounts of debt. "Don't even consider keeping up with the Joneses," Ramsey declares in his typically candid style. "They're broke!"
The Total Money Makeover isn't theory. It works every single time. It works because it is simple. It works because it gets to the heart of the money problems: you."

I really enjoyed this book and I am not a money person. The plan seems very do-able for getting out of debt (hello student loans) and I think for anyone coming out of college it is a smart idea to look at some of Dave Ramsey's books to help look at creating a budget and not getting into tremendous amounts of debt.Let's all get financially fit!

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"Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Illea.America still isn’t sure where her heart lies. When she’s with Maxon, she’s swept up in their new and breathless romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, and is overcome with memories of the life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over—and time is running out for America to decide.
Just when America is sure she’s made her choice, a devastating loss makes her question everything again. And while she’s struggling to imagine her future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy are growing stronger and their plans could destroy her chance at any kind of happy ending."

I read the selection last summer, you can read my thoughts about it here. This book did not disappoint as a sequel! It was a page turner and you will get upset with everyone but by the end of the book I was pretty much ok with the direction the series is going in. I was crying towards the end so if you are like me and get upset easily, grab the Kleenex. With a lot less girls in the Selection, you finally get to hear about some of the personalities of the other characters more. This book focused more on the turmoil of the country of Illea and the process of the Selection rather than a Maxon/America/Aspen drama-rama.


I'm currently reading Capital Wives since we all know my love of the television show Scandal and I just began Crossing.

What are you reading?