"Quick to the point, to the point no faking" book reviews

Feeling very white rabbitlike with my book reviews lately. They are piling up behind me, and as today is a snow day (no therapy for my little guy) and my husband is home sick, I am going to take a few and try to do some catching up! 

Bonus points if you can tell me what song my blog post title is from! Lol.

Crystal Kingdom by Amanda Hocking:

I love these books. They are like a self-indulgent box of chocolates with a big glass of red wine. Or whatever floats your boat. The covers are pretty, the heroines are tough, savvy, independent, and the love interests are actually interesting. I also love the fact that Hocking introduced trolls to the line up of supernatural beings in YA. Pretty trolls but trolls. This is the third book in the Kanin Chronicles and I was so excited to read it - I wasn't let down. Action and adventure, love, mysteries revealed - it was a fun read! This is my favorite series that Hocking has written - I feel she just gets better and better.

If You Only Knew by Kristan Higgins:

A slight departure from Higgins' usual fare, this book has a little more meat and substance to it than the usual romance. And I loved it. This book was more complex, and explored the relationship of sisters, mothers, fathers - and how we view them in comparison to how they may really be, as the humans that they are. As we all are. It deals with infidelity, divorce, the death of a spouse - and while this seems like a whole lot for one little book to handle, Higgins pulled it off masterfully. I loved Jenny and Rachel, and of course, Leo, the tortured musician downstairs. I loved this book, and I hope that Higgins writes more like this one! 

~ Thank you to my friend Mary, who picked this for book club! 

The Final Reveille by Amanda Flower:

I checked this out from the library after reading the second book in the series, The Final Tap, which I received from NetGalley. I really liked The Final Tap, and was just interested enough to see what I had missed in the first book. I am glad I did! I love living history museums, and this book really speaks to that history loving wannabe museum director inside me. The series is fun and escapist - although this first book was a bit slow and dragged on just a tad. I wanted to kind of rush through bits of it, or tell the characters to hurry up. Despite this, with a whole pile of books to choose from and some hopscotch reading, this was the book that held my interest, and this was the book that I finished. I think that speaks more than anything else I could say. I think the characters are interesting and I look forward to seeing them grow with the series. 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

  

It's Monday! What Are You Reading is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date 

I don't have too much to say today about our week last week - it was just one of those weeks, where thankfully not much happens and you just go about your business of living and being a family and doing all the things that need to be done. Saturday is worth mentioning however just for the weather! We had a sunny day in the mid-60s right smack in the middle of February- what the heck! It was awesome but so crazy.

We also saw Deadpool yesterday - I loved it!! It is pretty graphic but hilarious.

And Harper Lee...so sad.

“Real courage is when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.” 

― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

Read Last Week:

I didn't stick to my plan! A bunch of my library holds came in and I couldn't settle on a book until Thursday. I just kept hopscotching around, reading a little of this, a little of that. I finally ended up sticking with this one:

The Final Reveille by Amanda Flower: The first book in the Living History Mystery series. It wasn't too bad - I didn't like it as much as I liked the second book in the series, The Final Tap, but I did enjoy it. I am just all about the cozy mysteries and thrillers this winter!

Reading This Week:

I am not sure! It will be something from this lineup, I do know that. Or maybe just some from both! 

  

Hope Unfolding by Becky Thompson: From Blogging from Books.

Pretty Baby by Mary Kubica

The Long Read:

Still reading Oregon Trail and loving it! I actually want to try to finish it this week - make that final push to the end!

Posted Last Week:

What Wyatt's Reading- The February Edition #1

What about all of you? Read anything good, do anything fun?

What Wyatt's Reading- February Edition

Wyatt and I have just been reading through this cold month! There are so many holidays in February that we were not able to cover them all - a goal for next year! After Groundhog Day, we moved on to President's Day, Black History Month, and of course Valentine's Day - next year we will definitely be adding Chinese New Year and Mardi Gras, if it is in February again.

Speaking of Mardi Gras, Detroit has its own Fat Tuesday tradition - Paczki Day! This is traditionally a Polish celebration and we have a large population of people of Polish descent in our area of Michigan. Naturally, a holiday as delicious as Paczki Day is enjoyed by everyone - everyone is Polish on Paczki Day! A paczki is similar to a jelly donut, and come in many flavors: custard, lemon (my favorite), raspberry, chocolate, strawberry, and prune are top choices. Yes, prune. Lol. I bought Billy and I each a paczki, and also, one for Wyatt. He only got a little taste, but his tiny taste buds were blown.away.

 

Anyway back to the books!

This is what we have finished:

 Abe Lincoln's Dream by Lane Smith: I'm not sure what I thought of this book. It was kind of weird. I did learn that Ronald Reagan's dog would drive everyone crazy by barking at the Lincoln bedroom door all day...

The Ballad of Valentine by Alison Jackson: I loved this book, and so did Wyatt. You can sing it to the tune of Clementine, and I dare you not to. You just can't help yourself! It is designed to be sung and it is very well done. Wyatt loved it - he loves all things music.

John, Paul, George and Ben by Lane Smith: I liked this book much better than the Lincoln book. It was pretty cute, and would be a good way to introduce history to kids.

Llama Llama I love you by Anna Dewdney: Super adorable board book. Short and sweet and good for gnawing on as well. I am sure it comes in a less durable format as well for those children who have moved beyond eating their reading material.

Madam President by Lane Smith: LOVED this one! It mixes fact with fiction in a good way, through the imagination of a little girl who dreams of being President one day. 

Porcupining: A Prickly Love Story by Lisa Wheeler: Not technically a Valentines Day book, but this is an old favorite. This poor porcupine is just looking for love in all the wrong places - until he finally meets his prickly match! Lisa Wheeler is also a local author, and I love that too. 

A Boy and a Jaguar: I picked this one up because I loved the cover, but what was between the pages was a much more beautiful story. A little boy who stutters makes a promise that if he ever finds his voice, he will speak for those who can't speak for themselves - animals. This book is wonderful and I think it is a story for all ages to enjoy, honestly. It's a true story, as well. I teared up a little, just an FYI.

Still to Read:

We are working on these this week!

The Sunday Post/It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

  

Check out the The Caffeinated Book Review for the Sunday Post! 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date 

Happy Valentines Day! I hope you had a great day!

Here is a link to a post I put up on Valentines Day a few years ago - I love this as much now as I did then!

Last week, I wrote about Wyatt and our feeding issues with him. Thank you, for all your comments and stories and well wishes and prayers. All are so appreciated. I am feeling in a much more positive place than where I was last week- we have a plan, we are sticking to it, and I think we have just the beginnings of a bit more chub on his cheeks and wrists. Yay! 

It was ultra-cold this weekend where we live, and we decided to stay indoors, where Billy and I baked like crazy people. We are addicted to the British Bake Off show, and felt inspired. We made a cake from scratch from a 100 year old recipe, and bagels from scratch as well. As for how everything turned out, that is for another post. We are hoping to make one more thing before the weekend is up, but we are running out of time! We shall see.

Read Last Week:

I didn't make much headway in the Oregon Trail, but I did read a little bit. Still very good, just slow going - snail's pace even.  

Crystal Kingdom by Amanda Hocking: I finally finished this book - I love Amanda Hocking. I first read her Trylle series right before they were picked up by a publisher, when she was still self-publishing, and I was not surprised she was picked up. I think these stories are original, something different in this genre. So far, this is my favorite of her series. Maybe it's all the rabbits. I love bunnies.

Reading This Week:

 

My library did their blind date with a book promo this year again. I went for it, and am excited to read my blind date:

Lucky You by Carl Hiaasen: I have not read anything by this author, other than his book Hoot. I am looking forward to this!

Watching:

The Great British Bake Off, Bones (we are up to Season 7!), and Top Chef. 

So, that is what is going on in my world - what's going on in yours?

The Sunday Post/It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

  

Check out the The Caffeinated Book Review for the Sunday Post! 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date 

This week was a rough one. Even now, as I sit here, I feel slightly ill. My extended family had some health emergencies, nothing serious thank goodness, but they kept me on my toes! But it's my little guy causing me worry. He was born 7 weeks early, and tiny. He is still tiny. The doctors are not happy with his growth rate and weight gain, and told us that in five weeks they are going to reevaluate his weight, and if he hasn't gained any, they want to put in a gastric feeding tube. This destroys me. I of course want my child to be healthy and grow and get everything he needs, but I don't want to destroy his growing relationship with eating and food either. He loves eating actual food - he hates drinking. This is the whole problem with his weight gain. He likes to help feed himself, and he just doesn't have a huge appetite. He is not intaking enough calories per day though. We can't force him to eat, although that compulsion is hard to quelch with this feeding tube looming over me. I don't know what to do. I don't know enough about g-tubes to even know if it is as big of a deal as it is in my head. I do know it is another surgery, and my guy has already had two surgeries, both within the first 2 months of his life. If anyone has any experience with any of this, I would love to hear about it. 

With all of this going on, my reading time has been sparse or related to finding high calorie foods my son will eat. However, I have gotten some in - but just a tiny bit.

The Oregon Trail: A New American Journey by Rinker Buck: I am just a wee bit into this book but I am really enjoying it so far, honestly. I now want to own my own team of mules! They are pretty fascinating creatures, believe it or not. 

Crystal Kingdom by Amanda Hocking: I just started this as well - it is a nice reprieve from the trail. Lol. I love it, but then, I love this series.

Posted Last Week

Coloring Book Review: Whatever is Lovely

What Wyatt's Reading - Groundhog Day Edition

Coloring Book Review: Whatever is Lovely

Title: Whatever is Lovely - A coloring book for reflection and worship
Source: Blogging for Books

Since the trend of adult coloring books became popular, I have wanted one. I loved coloring when I was a little girl. My mom said I would happily sit and color for hours and hours when I was a kid, and I wondered if it would hold the same magic for me now.

One thing I am short on is time these days. Between taking care of W. and all the other myriad things that make up my day, by the end of the night I am burnt. Tired. Exhausted. I usually flop on the couch in my most comfortable jams and veg away to television. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy that too. But a few times this week I also colored while the television was on, and I found on those nights, I slept better. Easier. I usually fall out pretty quickly, but wake up a lot too. I figure I will do this forever now, wanting to check on the boy, but I did feel more at peace than I had for a while.

I loved the illustrations and quotations on every page of this book. The quotations themselves are from the bible, or from inspirational writers and bloggers, and even hymns. I am not super familiar with bible verses so I am learning as I flip through and color too. The reverse side of every coloring page is the bible verse or quotation in its entirety, along with the credited author or source.  I used the nifty Crayola twistable crayons that my husband put in my stocking this Christmas, and I liked those too!

My first colored page. I chose this one because this is something I try to remind myself every day. W. has some complications due to his prematurity, and I spend a lot of time worrying about the little guy. I need to really focus on today, and try not to worry about the future.

I am doing this one next, because I like rabbits and forests. Lol. The quote itself is from a favorite hymn of fisherman from northern England around 1880, and is based on Psam 32:7. 

Something we all need to remember, this is from blogger Emily P. Freeman, at EmilyPFreeman.com. She also has written a book entitled Simply Tuesday, which I have not read but may soon be reading.

Once you color a page, if you are so inspired you can link up to the instagram for this coloring book using the specific hashtag #whateverislovely (also good for Twitter, Facebook, etc). Another cool feature - this coloring book has a link to a playlist on Spotify. I am loving the social media incorporation, social media nerd that I am.

Overall, I love this coloring book! I didn't quite feel like I did when I was a kid, but I did feel like I could sit and color for hours if I could have. The illustrations and quotes were definitely peaceful and reminded me to be mindful, and to slow down - not everything is a race to the end of the day. I definitely recommend this coloring book to anyone who is wanting to give this new hobby a go, or to anyone who is already enjoying this popular new trend.

What Wyatt's Reading - Groundhog Day Edition

The other week Wyatt and I were reading a slew of snow books. Then that giant snow storm hit the East Coast and I decided enough snow! We were moving on - at least temporarily. 

Thinking spring, I scoured the library for as many groundhog day books as I could. Or before Wyatt decided he was done with the library. 

Most of the ones I picked up were super cute!

  

Groundhog's Day Off by Robb Pearlman: No one likes to be taken advantage of, and in this book, Groundhog is tired of feeling like people only are interested in his weather prediction, but not him. So he takes off, leaving a mess in his wake. I thought this one was pretty fun.

Go To Sleep, Groundhog by Judy Cox: This one was my favorite, and Wyatt seemed to really enjoy the illustrations! Groundhog can't sleep, and his insomnia allows him to experience the fall and winter holidays he usually misses. Adorable, with rich colors. A keeper!

Groundhog Stays Up Late by Margery Cuyler: In this one, Groundhog is a bit of a brat. This book is a bit like the ant and the grasshopper, and Groundhog is the grasshopper, playing when he should be getting ready for winter. Will he learn his lesson?

Groundhog's Dilemma by Kristen Remanar: This one is cute, but it made me think of politics! Lol. Maybe because it is an election year. Groundhog is full of false promises to get people to like him and give him things, like a spot on the baseball team and yummy desserts. He has to come clean in the end though - it can only be spring or winter, not both! 

Gregory's Shadow by Don Freeman: The author of Corduroy! Apparently this was his last book. It was cute - an oldie but goodie!

So what is your prediction? Will the groundhog see his shadow? Are we in for more winter or is spring around the corner?