May Wrap Up and June TBR

I have been out of college for about three weeks now and boy am I enjoying the stress free life. At first I started out with almost too much free time. I didn't know what to do with all the free time because I'm so used to be crazy busy. I am enjoying summer so much and even got some sun yesterday. I am taking one class online this summer, but it is pretty easy class so far anyways. I am not working this summer, but I have Kindercamp coming up next week. Kindercamp is a one week program for future Kindergarten students to adjust to school. We have two separate classes over a two week period. I have done Kindercamp for the past two years and I'm excited to come back for a third year. I think it is a great experience for my future career as an elementary teacher or special education. My dream is to teach Kindergarten or 1st grade. While some people don't like the newbies. I love starting from scratch and watching these kids grow and learn.

May was a pretty good reading month. At first I thought I was being pretty slow and there was no way I was going to make it through the giant TBR list I have for the summer.  I do think I was able to accomplish a lot this month and make a dent in operation TBR. I started the month off with Open Road Summer by Emery Lord. This was a perfect summer read. It was a beautiful written debut with music, friendship, and romance. Then I started to reread The Book Thief by Markus Zusak while at the same time reading Just Destiny by Theresa Rizzo and Phoenix Overture by Jodi Meadows. I loved The Book Thief, Phoenix Overture was good, and I disliked Just Destiny. Then I read a short novella Cinderella is Evil. I didn't enjoy it as much as Killing Snow White, but it was good. Then I read Sunlight and Shadow by Cameron Dokey which as you will see by my review it was magical and I was totally enchanted. I liked Sleeping Beauty by Jenni James, but I had some complaints and the same goes for Second Star by Alyssa B. Sheinmel. Although I liked the story and tackled the book quickly I was expecting more. Then as my last novella of the month I read The Queen's Army by Marissa Meyer, which I enjoyed. As you can see above mostly 5 star reads this month.

I'm currently reading Deception's Princess by Esther Friesner.

My TBR did not go well for May. I was only able to get 2/5 books on my TBR list done. It seems that all my library books came in at the same time and I usually read library books by new releases first because I usually can't renew. Since I want to limit my TBR to five books I didn't get to choose many new books this month. The books I hope to read this month are The Frog Princess by E.D. Baker, Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan, Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare, The One and Only by Emily Giffin, and The Rules for Disappearing by Ashley Elston. I want to read book that blows me away because I just don't feel like I have found one of those books in a while. 

Don't forget to sign up for the library books readathon starting in just 9 days now. I'm so excited to spread the library love. Sign Up Here

Also one of my new blogs I follow is a primary school librarian and is giving away If you Give a Dog a Donut.

74 Seaside Avenue by Debbie Macomber (Cedar Cove #7) Character Follow Along (Spoilers Included)

Terri Miller Polgar is the main focus of this novel. I really did not like her in the last novel and I still don't overly enjoy her characters. Her marriage is still good to be true in my mind there is no way it would last in real life. Bobby and Terri barely spent any time together before getting married. In this novel Terri is being threaten by *gasp* a Russian Chess player who wants to beat Bobby. He threatens Terri and puts Bobby into a depression that lasts most of the novel. Meanwhile Terri finds herself pregnant, hides the pregnancy from her overprotective husband, who is overjoyed and buys the baby everything money can buy. Bobby beats the Russian chess player and their problems are over. I just made that sound really cheesy and truly it was because there was no mystery. It was easily figured out and we all knew Bobby would never lose.

Rachel Pendergast has a big decision to make in this novel. Does she marry Nate and move to San Deigo or does she stay in Cedar Cove? Terri believes that Rachel really does love Bruce, but Rachel says that she is just there for Jolene. Bruce begins to realize his feelings also and begins to show Rachel his love. Rachel goes to a political rally with Nate and realizes she could live this lifestyle. When Rachel is kidnapped by the Russian Chess Player's Body Guards and thinks she is going to die it is Bruce she thinks about not Nate. She breaks up with Nate and confesses her love to Bruce. Bruce doesn't believe her at first, but eventually believes her and they get together.

Linnette Macafee was one of the other big characters of the novel. She decides that she can't watch Cal Washburn and Vicki be together so she is leaving Cedar Cove with no destination. She ends up in Buffalo Valley, North Dakota where she meets Pete Mason. Pete Mason rescues Linnette from a tornado and she tells him the whole story. Linnette is working as a waitress where Pete comes to eat. Linnette believes that Pete Mason is rude, but he is just patiently waiting for her heart to heal. Maybe a romance will blossom in the next novel.

Will Jefferson, Olivia's brother, moves to Cedar Cove into Linnette's apartment. He is going to take over the Harbor Street Gallery. The town originally thinks he is going to create problems in Grace Harding's marriage and although he tries nothing happens.

Troy Davis, a rather minor character, reappears in this novel. He is the towns local sheriff and has always had a role int he novels, but never very big. Troy's wife Sandy died of MS two months earlier. His daughter Megan is at Troy's house constantly to keep her father's grief at bay. Troy begins a relationship with high school sweetheart Faith, but Megan believes Troy is not ready to move on after Sandy's death. So Troy does not tell his daughter about Faith. Meanwhile Megan learns she is pregnant. She is overjoyed until two months in she miscarries the baby. Troy feels guilty and breaks up with Faith just as she has sold her house in Seattle to move back to Cedar Cove. I believe they will rekindle their relationship in the next book. Megan has a health scare after her miscarriage. The doctor thinks she has MS too. We will find out in the next novel. Troy is very scared for his daughter.

Grace learns that her fourth Grandchild has arrived Kelly had her second baby Emma Grace. Olivia tells us that Justine is pregnant with her second child also. They are both going to have four grandchildren. Olivia has a health scare when her mammogram comes back funny. After a series of test it is discovered that Olivia has breast cancer. This makes the book very relatable. I have personally known many people who have had breast cancer. Most of the people I know have survived, but the person I know that is battling currently we know it is going to take her life and it has been terribly hard on us. The doctors are going to help her live as long as possible, but cancer is eventually going to take her life. Olivia is positive about her diagnosis. She is going to have surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. I believe Olivia will be a trooper through it all. This is a highly relatable part of these novels.

Jack does not handle the news well and starts going to more AA meets to keep himself from drinking. It brings back the painful past of when Jack's son Eric had leukemia. He doesn't want to lose Olivia. Olivia is strong for the both of them as always.

Maryellen and Justine didn't have a big part in this novel at all. I hope to see more of them in the next novel. Maryellen finds an agent for Jon so he finally can practice his photography.

Pastor Dave Flemming and his wife Emily are to be featured in the next novel. Emily finds earrings in Dave's office and believes he is cheating on her. That is what is to be found in the next novel 8 Sandpaper Way.

Book Review: 74 Seaside Avenue by Debbie Macomber (Cedar Cove # 7) (no spoilers)

Book: 74 Seaside Avenue
Author: Debbie Macomber
Publication: September 1st, 2007
Source: Local Library
Series: Cedar Cove #7
Read: April 21st-April 26th, 2014
Summary (From Goodreads):

74 Seaside Avenue

Cedar Cove, Washington

Dear Reader,

I'm living a life I couldn't even have" dreamed" of a few years ago. I'm married to Bobby Polgar now (you know, the famous chess champion who just happens to be the man I love!). And we've got this beautiful house with a view of Puget Sound.

 Lately something's been worrying Bobby, though. When I asked, he said he was 'protecting his queen' and I got the oddest feeling he wasn't talking about chess but about "me." He wouldn't say anything else.

 Do you remember Get Nailed, the beauty salon in Cedar Cove? I still work there. I'll tell you about my friend Rachel, who's got two men interested in her (count 'em, "two"). And I'll let you in on what I've heard about Linnette McAfee, who left town when her love life fell apart. ("That" kind of trouble I know all about.) Come in soon for a manicure and a chat, okay?

 Teri ( Miller) Polgar

.

My Thoughts

I admitted in my review of 6 Rainier Drive that I wasn't too happy to have Terri Polgar as the main character of the next book and I was mostly right. The mystery in this novel was definetly lacking. Unlike the arsonist in 6 Rainier Drive this mystery had no suspense and was easily solved. 

Some of the more minor characters had a more important role in this novel such as Rachel from Get Nailed. Linnette Macafee also had an interesting storyline. Olivia and Grace were in this book more for not so happy times. I was glad to see the characters have a part in the novel. 

There was nothing really accomplished in this novel besides Rachel situation. I did enjoy it, but it could have been so much better. 

There seems like there will be more interesting developments in the next novel 8 Sandpaper Way. I can't believe I'm nearing the end of the Cedar Cove series. This is my least favorite book in the series, but I still enjoyed it. Debbie Macomber makes me feel like I know all of these characters. I will read the next book soon. 

Check Out My Character Follow Along if you have already read this book. 

An Open Conversation on My Experience Rereading Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah (spoilers included)

I realized after finishing Firefly Lane that I could not do another nonspoiler review over this novel. I have too much I want to say that includes spoilers to do that. Although there will be parts where there are no spoilers in this post I would recommend reading the novel and coming back. 

As many of my long time blog followers know every since I read Firefly Lane last May 2013. I haven't been able to stop talking about the impact it has made on me. By the end of the year I knew I wanted to reread Firefly Lane sometime in 2014. 

I think one of the reasons I wanted to reread this novel was the connection I felt to TullyandKate. They became best friends on Firefly Lane in 1974 when they were young and carefree and would ride down summer hill with their arms out, sharing secrets. It was their friendship against the world. They had the dual dream of becoming TV journalists. Until one day Kate realized that was not her dream. It was Tully's. Kate followed her friend through most of their college years into their early 20s. Things changed when Kate married Johnny Ryan. The guy she loved, but could never get over the jealously that Tully had him first. 

After Kate's marriage and the birth of her baby girl Marah Rose. Tully and Kate's life took different paths. Kate was happy being a stay at home mom while Tully was still hungry for acceptence. Tully continued to climb in her career while Kate tried to find meaning in her life. As they grew older their friendship suffers its ups and downs, but when they needed each other they were there for each other. 

Kate is the character I relate to the most. She spent most of her adolescent alone with books as her only friend. Although I didn't spend high school alone with no friends it felt that way because I knew once we got out of high school most of the friendships would end and I was right. Kate was desperately alone until she met Tully. Kate revealed in having a best friend so much that she was afraid to have her own dreams. Tully dream of becoming a journalist became Kate's dream also until Kate discovered that she didn't want to climb the ladder of success, but wanted a much more simple life. Kate married Johnny Ryan and they had their daugther Marah. Kate loved motherhood and although Marah was a difficult baby Kate was determined to be the best mother possible. She want to constantly be by her daughter's side and watch her grow. They wanted more kids, but Marah was 8 before Kate fell pregnant with the twins William and Lucas. Kate traveled into the teenage years and boy it wasn't an easy time with Marah constantly trying to break her down. Kate was always searching for some sort of meaning in her life. Was she wrong to give up her career? 

I related to Kate so much because her dreams were so simplistic. I don't often tell people, but everybody who know me know I have dreamed of being a mother my whole life. Not saying I want to grow up any faster than I already am, but kids have always been apart of my future. I hope the guy I meet feels the same way. 

Towards the end of the novel Kate is diagnosed with stage 4 inflammatory breast cancer. The first time reading the novel I though Kate's illiness consumed the novel. This time I found it rather shocking that it came about when there weren't too many pages left in the book. Kate's cancer still felt like a lifetime. I had to watch a character I fell in love with die. It ripped my heart out just the way it did the first time. 

Then there is Tully. Tully Hart had an abnormal childhood. Her mother, Cloud, abandoned her and she lived with her grandma for most of her life. She grew up never feeling loved or accepted and that hurt Tully more then she would show. The Mularkeys became her family in her youth and later the Ryans in womanhood. Tully had a dream of becoming a TV journalist and she wasn't going to stop at any length to complete that goal. Even when Tully had everything she could ever dream of she still felt like something was missing. She didn't have a husband or kids. She just had a mother who abondoned her and her best friend Katie. 

The two words that best describe Tully are brave and selfish. Tully went to great lengths to become a broadcast journalist and that is what makes her brave beyond belief. The dreams Tully holds in her heart despite her abandonment is what makes Tully special.  I would love to have some of her spunk and courage for life. Tully is selfish because the only person she ever truly loves is herself. She does not tell a single person that she loves them until her best friend Kate is dying. Through the years Tully and Kate had their fair share of arguments. In a thirty year friendship it is to be expected, but Tully kept the words I'm sorry locked up inside of her again until Kate was dying. Tully never wanted to admit she was wrong and reconcile the friendship herself. Kate had to always be the one to apologize. What Cloud did to Tully was wrong and it messed Tully up in many ways, but the thing Tully could have done is picked up the phone and told her best friend she was wrong. This is one of the reasons Tully is such a hard character to understand. Even with the whole world as her stage Tully is still looking for acceptance from the one person that will never give it her mother Cloud. 

One thing that hit me hard this time around is the separations. I noticed this time around how much the separations affected their friendships. Even though they are able to reconile and forget their friendship was continually changing through their ups and downs. Kate was not jealous of Tully's success, but she did wish for more in her life. She also wishes that Tully was stop trying to be a parent to Marah. Tully on the other hand wasn't jealous of Kate's life, but she was starting to realize that the only thing she really had in her life that was important was her career. She didn't have people that were waiting for her to come home at the end of the day like Johnny did. 

The second time through I think I connected to Tully and Kate at even more personal level, which is why the ending was once again hard for me. I thought I wouldn't cry the 2nd time around because I had already been through this story. I knew the ending was sad. As I approached the last page when Katie's funeral was held I began to cry. I related to these characters. I fell in love with these characters. While I couldn't always explain Tully's action. I understood Katie's actions. With Katie, the center of the family gone, they are left to struggle through the world. 

I especially relate to Marah losing Kate. I had a friend who lost her mom suddenly in a car accident during our Junior year of high school. I saw how much that effected my friend and changed her. She lost the most important person in the world. Marah's grieve even while Kate was alive was very real. 

"I know you'll be thinking that I left you, but it's not true. All you have to do is remember Firefly Lane and you'll find me. There will always be a TullyandKate." (Firefly Lane 478). 

Kate's last words to Tully are what really made me tear up even after her death and through her cancer Kate continue to be the best friend she could be. She said that her family would find a way to move on, but she worried about Tully. She reassured her that she had not left her. Tully had watched everybody walk away from her whole life. Kate had always been there for Tully. She had always loved and cared for Tully. Kate never walked away from the friendship. Even after their estrangement Kate let Tully come back into her world. Tully was full of regrets for missing out on this time with Kate, but I think it was important that they were able to reconcile and spend the last months of Kate's life as friends. 

Memories are important in life. Every single one of us has happy and sad memories. The thing about when a person dies is that you forget the bad memories and just remember the good ones. Tully needed to remember Kate and help Kate's family through those hard times. There is a place or an item that always makes us remember the ones we have lost. I think of my grandpa every time I look at our sandbox in the backyard. My grandpa built that sandbox for us as kids and it always has been a fond memory. Rubric cubes also bring back the memory of my grandfather because he is the only person I knew that could solve them. I still can't. For TullyandKate all their memories were summed up in two words. Firefly Lane. The time where they would young and carefree. TullyandKate was just one word and they were known as the Firefly Lane girls. Although life must go on without Kate, her memories will always be very much alive. In the faces of her children, her grieving husband, her best friend Tully, and down on Firefly Lane. 

I have so enjoyed rereading Firefly Lane. I don't think this is my last time reading this novel, but I do know this is my last time reading it for a few years. I think Firefly Lane is going to be one of those great comfort reads. Whenever I'm going through a rough time I can pick up Firefly Lane and get lost in TullyandKate's world. I think coming back to this novel in motherhood I might see it in a different light. I didn't ever think I would find a book that I would want to reread over and over again, but Firefly Lane is that book. I enjoy getting lost in this novel and it was so worth the journey of rereading the novel. What a ride. I relate to a lot of this novel and I think anybody who reads it will relate to something. I'm going to continue to recommend this amazing novel. 

*ps I cried while writing this review also*

Book Review: Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent (no spoilers)

Book: Heaven is for Real
Author: Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent
Publication: November 2nd, 2010
Source: Audio Book from Local Library
Read: April 14-17,2014
Summary (From Goodreads):

"Do you remember the hospital, Colton?" Sonja said. "Yes, mommy, I remember," he said. "That's where the angels sang to me."

When Colton Burpo made it through an emergency appendectomy, his family was overjoyed at his miraculous survival. What they weren't expecting, though, was the story that emerged in the months that followed--a story as beautiful as it was extraordinary, detailing their little boy's trip to heaven and back.

 Colton, not yet four years old, told his parents he left his body during the surgery-and authenticated that claim by describing exactly what his parents were doing in another part of the hospital while he was being operated on. He talked of visiting heaven and relayed stories told to him by people he met there whom he had never met in life, sharing events that happened even before he was born. He also astonished his parents with descriptions and obscure details about heaven that matched the Bible exactly, though he had not yet learned to read.

 With disarming innocence and the plainspoken boldness of a child, Colton tells of meeting long-departed family members. He describes Jesus, the angels, how "really, really big" God is, and how much God loves us. Retold by his father, but using Colton's uniquely simple words, "Heaven Is for Real" offers a glimpse of the world that awaits us, where as Colton says, "Nobody is old and nobody wears glasses."

 "Heaven Is for Real" will forever change the way you think of eternity, offering the chance to see, and believe, like a child

.

My Thoughts

I can understand why people did not enjoy this book. This is one of those books that you have to have faith in God and believe to enjoy. I haven't always had a strong faith in God, but I do know I believe in God. Ever since I have came to college my faith has been renewed. I tell people all the time about my religion and why I believe. That has helped me to understand my faith.

I listened to the audiobook of Heaven if for Real. I expressed a desire to read this book to one of my friends and she told me the narrator of the audiobook was amazing. I really have to agree. The interview at the beginning of the audiobook was a bit boring, but after that I really got into the book. The narrator's voice was able to change tones with the characters and I found his voice to be really amazing for this book.

The first thing that really struck me about this book was in the interview. Colton's said ", I like this book because it is true. That is what really happened." Throughout the book I often thought of that one quote that all of this did happen. I did not believe everything in this book some parts could have been exaggerated to make the book better, but I do believe a lot of what Colton said in this book was true.

The first moments of this book were agonizing going through Colton's surgery. Although I knew he would survive. I still felt every emotion his parents Todd and Sonja felt in that moment. I felt their pain and their sense of relief when the ordeal was over. That is what first got me into the book. After that I just wanted to continue listening. I kept finding excuses to go places just so I could listen to Colton's story.

Another thing that struck me throughout this novel was the idea of child-like faith. Children have a unique faith in the fact that they do not question God's existence, but just believe. They do not feel the need to show off their faith in order to be a "Good Christian." They are not boastful or proud or feel the need to pray for the sake of praying. This idea of child-like faith in this novel is the way God would like our faith to remain, but adults don't have the luxuries children do. Children don't go through trials as adults do and that is what changes our faith.

I have always had a picture of Heaven in my mind. The pearly, golden gates and walking into God's arms. Colton made Heaven a happier place for me to. I have always believed in eternity, but Colton made eternity that much more real. I still don't know if you can actually go to Heaven and come back. I believe God gave Colton some sort of experience so he could share his faith with the people back here on Earth. Doubting Thomas is talked about towards the end of the novel. Thomas was a man that didn't believe anything unless he saw it. That is why do many people don't believe in God is because we are not able to see or hear him. We just have to believe. Through Colton's journey he is able to tell people I have seen the light and it is beautiful. I hope this book has touched some nonbelievers in the way it has touched me.

Colton's father Todd Burpo is a pastor and I think that is what also made this novel powerful because whenever Colton offered a new piece of information about Heaven, Todd would hear Bible verses running through his head and put the Bible verses in the book. Colton never contradicted anything said in the bible actually he had almost the same description as many parts of the Bible. That is what made me believe so much more. I do have to admit I do not believe in everything in the Bible, but I do believe in most of it. So Colton's child-like faith matching up with the Bible strengthen my faith in Heaven.

I have been told for years to read Heaven is for Real. I always put off reading it because I did not believe you could go to Heaven without dying and I still don't, but I do believe that God worked some miracle on Colton so that he could share his faith with the world. It is very brave of Todd and Sonja Burpo to share his story with the world. As stated at the end of the book this story has been a blessing, but it came with days of suffering agony. It was not always a happy story. God worked a wonderful miracle and it was all written into this novel so thousands of people could be touched by this story. I'm proud to finally be one of those people. Heaven is for Real changed the way I think about my faith and Heaven.

I do think the movie will changes pieces of this story and exaggerate pieces of the book in order to make the film more interesting, but if the film helps people to discover faith then it has done its job. I think the book is wonderful and I hope to see the movie soon. I think the images of Heaven the movie creates will make the images I imagined while listening to this book all that much more powerful.


*This is my thoughts and views on religion related to this novel. My faith is my faith and I do not want to pressure anybody to believe in things they do not believe. This book may not be for everybody, but I highly recommend it. All negative comments about religion related to this novel can and will be deleted. We live in a free country and are all allowed to have our opinions, but I do not need to hear criticize about my choice of publish this review showing my real views on religion.*

Book Review: Four Friends by Robyn Carr (no spoilers)

Book: Four Friends
Author: Robyn Carr
Publication: March 25th, 2014
Source: From the Publisher for Review
Read: April 6-14, 2014
Summary (from Goodreads):

Gerri can't decide what's more devastating: learning her rock-solid marriage has big cracks, or the anger she feels as she tries to repair the damage. Always the anchor for friends and her three angst-ridden teenagers, it's time to look carefully at herself. The journey for Gerri and her family is more than revealing—it's transforming.

 Andy doesn't have a great track record with men, and she's come to believe that for her a lasting love is out of reach. When she finds herself attracted to her down-to-earth, ordinary contractor—a man without any of the qualities that usually appeal to her—she questions everything she thought she wanted in life.

 Sonja's lifelong pursuit of balance is shattered when her husband declares he's through with her New Age nonsense and walks out. There's no herbal tonic or cleansing ritual that can restore her serenity—or her sanity.

 Miraculously, it's BJ, the reserved newcomer to Mill Valley, who steps into their circle and changes everything. The woman with dark secrets opens up to her neighbors, and together they get each other back on track, stronger as individuals and unfaltering as friends.

My Thoughts:

* I received this book free from the publisher for review. I did not receive any compensation for this review. All thoughts and feelings about this novel are my own.*

I have never read a Robyn Carr book before so when I was contacted by the publisher for this book. I read the summary and said yes. As I begun reading this book I compared this authors writing to Debbie Macomber. There were key differences that I didn't like about this novel. 

Going into this book I was expecting the book to be more about friendships than relationships. It ended up being more about the four failed marriages than the relationships the women shared. Gerri had the most shocking story. She is the last person that you would think her marriage would fall apart, but when their marriage crumbled they had to find a way to pick up the pieces. Then there is recklessly Andy with two failed marriage under her belt, the new man that comes into her life is different in a good way. The third fried in Sonja who lifelong passion is to relax through herbs and tonics she control everything in her life and her husband until her husband leaves and Sonja's world is shattered. The fourth friend is BJ, the mysterious, shy neighbor with a sensitive side that truly sees people. 

I think my biggest problem with this novel is that I found the characters hard to relate to. I have never been in a serious relationship much less gotten married and gotten divorced. I think this novel may fit better with an older audience. I have read books before with much older women and been fine with not relating to them. In this book I was always looking for a way to relate to the characters and their decisions and I just couldn't. I also think the wide range of characters in this books made the characters lack depth. Robyn Carr only had a little bit of time to spend on each character so al the stories were able to be in the book and intertwine. I also felt that the male characters had very little time in the spotlight. Gerri's husband Phil was the only one I felt I really knew by the end of the novel. I can't say I particularly liked Phil or understood his decisions which made the ending all that much harder for me to enjoy. I felt the rest of the male characters were pretty washed out. By the end of the novel George was just a nice guy and Bob was hopelessly in love. 

I read the ending late at night and I was really tired so I don't know if that changed my opinion of the ending, but I found it way too predictable for this novel. There was a sense of wrapping up towards the end of the novel. Every character was given an ending and I liked that. I didn't want to be left hanging with any of the characters. 

I decided to give the book 3 stars because I neither loved it nor hated it. I was just somewhere in between the whole time. I could see why people would love this book I just wasn't one of them. I would say I liked the book, but I'm not jumping up and down about the book. I thought it was a good story I just wish there was more depth with the characters. This is my first Robyn Carr book and I would be willing to read more of her books in the future because I'm sure she has a book that I will really enjoy. 

The theme in this book that did win me over that was even in times of crisis friends will always be there to dry your tears and help you carry on. Gerri, Andy, Sonja, and BJ faced many tribulations and triumphs in this novel at the end of the day they were still friends. That is my take away from this novel. 

Thanks

2014 Book of the Year Bracket Challenge Sign Up

Erratic Project Junkie

The Book of the Year Bracket Challenge is a blogging challenge open to all reading bloggers and operated by Elle at Erratic Project Junkie.  Participants set a goal for the number of books they wish to read in a year and then enter those books into an NCAA style bracket of any size and in any order they choose. During January 2015, all participating bloggers will begin working through their brackets, eliminating books and picking champions with the ultimate goal of naming their favorite book (book of the year) for 2014. For all BOTY Bracket Challenge information, scheduling, and updates, visit Erratic Project Junkie.

January 3rd : Reveal starting brackets.

January 6th : Initial eliminations. All rounds of eliminations needed to get the number of contestants reduced to 32. 

January 8th : Elimination to find the Sweet Sixteen.

January 10th : Reducing challengers to eight books - the Elite Eight.

January 13th : Quarterfinals. Determine your Final Four.

January 15th : Semi-Finals. Only two may enter the final arena.

January 17th : Finals...the Champion will be determined. Announce your Book of the Year! 

I'm so excited to join this challenge. It is every book I have read this year put up against each other to see which book wins. I have already started on my bracket and who knows who the winner. This is a fun project and I hope more people will join. I'm going to be doing the 64 bracket. If I don't read 64 books then I will just leave out some of the brackets. I read around 66 books last year. 

Bout of Books 10.0 Wrap Up

Another Bout of Books comes to an end. This was a fun ride. I read 583 pages in 16 hours 20 minutes in 7 days. My goal was to read 15 hours so I completed that goal. I wanted to finish reading Just Destiny by Theresa Rizzo for review, finish rereading The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, and finish Phoenix Overture by Jodi Meadows. I did manage to finish Phoenix Overture by Jodi Meadows, but had about 30 pages left in The Book Thief and Just Destiny when the readathon finished. I finished both books on May 19th. All the books featured in this post have now been finished. 

Books Started: 

Books Finished:

I took this Bout of Books as my chance to finish some of the novellas on my kindle app on my mac. Cinderella is Evil by Jamie Campell was an amazon freebie. I borrowed Four: The Transfer by Veronica Roth from my digital library, and I purchased Phoenix Overture by Jodi Meadows. I finished 3 novellas during this readathon and they were all great. I will have some quick reviews of these up soon. 

Book Review: True Colors by Kristin Hannah (no spoilers)

Book: True Colors
Author: Kristin Hannah
Publication: February 3rd, 2009
Source: College Library
Read: April 1st-April 6th, 2014
Summary (From Goodreads):

True Colors is New York Times bestselling author Kristin Hannah’s most provocative, compelling, and heart-wrenching story yet. With the luminous writing and unforgettable characters that are her trademarks, she tells the story of three sisters whose once-solid world is broken apart by jealousy, betrayal, and the kind of passion that rarely comes along.

 The Grey sisters have always been close. After their mother’s death, the girls banded together, becoming best friends. Their stern, disapproving father cares less about his children than about his reputation. To Henry Grey, appearances are everything, and years later, he still demands that his daughters reflect his standing in the community.

 Winona, the oldest, needs her father’s approval most of all. An overweight bookworm who never felt at home on the sprawling horse ranch that has been in her family for three generations, she knows that she doesn’t have the qualities her father values. But as the best lawyer in town, she’s determined to someday find a way to prove her worth to him.

 Aurora, the middle sister, is the family peacemaker. She brokers every dispute and tries to keep them all happy, even as she hides her own secret pain.

 Vivi Ann is the undisputed star of the family. A stunningly beautiful dreamer with a heart as big as the ocean in front of her house, she is adored by all who know her. Everything comes easily for Vivi Ann, until a stranger comes to town. . . .

 In a matter of moments, everything will change. The Grey sisters will be pitted against one another in ways that none could have imagined. Loyalties will be tested and secrets revealed, and a terrible, shocking crime will shatter both their family and their beloved town.

 With breathtaking pace and penetrating emotional insight, True Colors is an unforgettable novel about sisters, rivalry, forgiveness, redemption--and ultimately, what it means to be a family

My Thoughts:
I fell in love with every heart stopping page of True Colors. This book was fast paced, riveting, and shocking all at the same time. When I first started this book I thought it was mostly going to be about Winona. The oldest sister with the job as a lawyer who seeks her fathers approval. It ended up being more about Vivi Ann, the free spirited soul of the family.

The word that came to my mind as I finished this novel was Pride. Henry Grey is all about appearances and holding up the Grey family name. The three sisters throughout the novel would often say I'm a Grey. Their last name and their heritage on their ranch Water's Edge was something to be proud of, but as the ranch is going downhill financially the family will start to face many big decisions.

Winona Grey is indisputable the smartest of the three sisters and she has been like a mother to Aurora and Vivi Ann ever since her mother died when she was 15. Winona had her fair share of hardships. She always wanted her father's approval for him to be proud of her. It hurt Winona that Vivi Ann was always the star of the family because she had horse blood in her veins. Vivi Ann knew how to ride horses while Winona lacked in that department.

Then there is Aurora who didn't hold a very big part of the novel, but really was the peace keeper of the family while she suffered her own marital problems.

Then there is beautiful Vivi Ann. The girl who can get anything she wants with a snap of her fingers. She makes decisions first and things later. Vivi Ann loves the ranch. She will not see it go bankrupt. She comes up with a plan that makes her super busy and finally gives her father time to relax. Vivi Ann's relationship with Luke Connelly is what starts the turmoil out among the sisters. Winona has been in love with Luke since forever, but has never told him. Luke obviously has feelings for Vivi Ann. Luke felt like a pretty washed out character. He was too perfect to relate to. He was always doing the right thing for Vivi Ann while Vivi Ann just continued on with her life not really stopping to think about Luke or her relationship with him. Some people would call Vivi Ann a dumb and in a few ways she was, but I would call her headstrong. Vivi Ann knew what she wanted out of life, but she wasn't willing to slow down to think about. She ran her life full speed ahead which often led to actions that had consequences.

I think Vivi Ann and Winona were the characters that changed the most during the novel. I think in some respects they ended up trading places with their attitude on life.

Dallas Raintree is an important character to talk about in this novel, but hard to talk about without spoilers so I will be careful. The ranch is a big operation and Vivi Ann just can't seem to hire the right hand so her sister Winona hires native american, Dallas Raintree after she desperately tries to find somebody that will just stay for a year. Vivi Ann knows that she is with Luke that she should not interact with Dallas, but Vivi Ann would be lying if she said she didn't glance sideways at him every so often. That is where the scandal of Dallas Raintree begins. I didn't really like Dallas as a character at first. He seemed to always want to act tough and he always had something to hide, but as the book progressed you could see that he had a heart although his decisions were not always easily justified. He had the right motives in mind for making the decision he did.

The problem with the American Justice System is there is always so many doubts. In Dallas case I could never really tell if he was lying or really telling the truth. Even in the ending of the book I still question Dallas's verdict. That was hard. There were so many mixed emotions with this book that it was hard to tell what you were supposed to feel. At some point in the novel I disliked each of these characters, but I came out to like most of them.

The key theme Kristin Hannah was trying to get at with True Colors is the bond between sisters. True Colors described how jealously could break a family apart. It takes courage to forgive and bring the family back together. Ultimately as the summary says what it means to be a family. The main thing I took away from True Colors is that although families may fight if they want to stay together they will do whatever it takes to keep that family bond intact. I think that is a truly noble theme of this novel. The Grey sisters may have had their ups and downs, but Winona, Aurora, and Vivi Ann are at their heart sisters and they have to stick together no matter what. Another theme that I picked up on was finding who you are and where you belong. I think this mostly fits with Winona. She was constantly down on herself for never having a stable relationship, but as the novel concludes Winona discovers that she is strong women and she can be happy with her life no matter the outcome. I think it also fits to Vivi Ann and how her life changes at the end of the novel.

If you haven't got the idea already I really enjoyed True Colors. I probably didn't even scratch the surface of things I could say about this breathtakingly beautiful novel. This book kept me up late at night and I wanted to read it all day. I have not had a book that made me feel that way in a long time. I thank Kristin Hannah for writing amazing novels because I have not found one yet that hasn't made me want to keep reading. I highly recommend True Colors. I think it is a fantastic novel with many important life lessons.

True Colors was my February Random Read and this one was by far a winner. I couldn't put it down and didn't want to stop reading it. I loved every moment. 

Book Review: How to Love by Katie Cotugno (no spoilers)

Book: How to Love
Author: Katie Cotugno
Publication: October 1st, 2013
Source: Purchased
Read: March 23rd-April 1st, 2014
Summary (From Goodreads):

Before: Reena Montero has loved Sawyer LeGrande for as long as she can remember: as natural as breathing, as endless as time. But he's never seemed to notice that Reena even exists until one day, impossibly, he does. Reena and Sawyer fall in messy, complicated love. But then Sawyer disappears from their humid Florida town without a word, leaving a devastated-and pregnant-Reena behind.

After: Almost three years have passed, and there's a new love in Reena's life: her daughter, Hannah. Reena's gotten used to being without Sawyer, and she's finally getting the hang of this strange, unexpected life. But just as swiftly and suddenly as he disappeared, Sawyer turns up again. Reena doesn't want anything to do with him, though she'd be lying if she said Sawyer's being back wasn't stirring something in her. After everything that's happened, can Reena really let herself love Sawyer LeGrande again?

.

My Thoughts
How to Love is a book my sister and I decide to purchase on a whim based on the beautful cover. After I we bought the novel I started to see nothing, but positive reviews. After reading the novel I have to say I agree. This book was full of emotions.

The Summary is the perfect description to start out this beautiful novel. The book is split into Before and After chapters. The Before sections describes Reena's life as 16 year old hopelessly in love with Sawyer LeGrande. She had loved him all her life "as natural as breathing, as endless as time." Reena just wants Sawyer to notice her and one day he does. The After chapters are Reena's life three years later. Abandoned by Sawyer she is forced to raise her daughter Hannah alone. To Reena's surprise Sawyer comes back. Sawyer and Reena's relationship takes on a new shape.

As I said earlier How to Love is full of emotions. Reena is desperate, foolish, and happy in the Before chapters. The After chapters explore every raw emotion Reena felt after Sawyer comes back to their sunny town. She feels angry at him for leaving, but Reena would be lying if she said she still didn't feel something for Sawyer.

Reena's character was really easy to fall in love with. In the Before chapters she was a dreamer with a bright future ahead of her. She couldn't wait to get out of her small town. Her relationship with Sawyer at 16 changed everything for her future life. If Reena could go back in the past I don't think she would have changed a thing about it. She loved Sawyer despite all his flaws. In the After chapters Reena is more set in reality and figuring out her new future. She is a waitress at the same place she worked at 16 with her boyfriend, Aaron by her side and her best friend Shelby. Shelby also happens to be Aaron's sister. I found Shelby to be a very headstrong, funny character. She knew how to give great advice and how to put Reena in her place when needed. I wasn't attached to Aaron as a character. I found him to be very washed out and boring. He was a good guy, but nothing as exciting as Sawyer. Reena has an added responsibility in the After chapters, her 2 year old daughter Hannah. I found that Hannah's development was described very well and while the baby was a big part of the story she was not overdone. I do not think Sawyer leaving would have been as big of deal if not for Hannah. Reena's character was independent. I always love that in a woman character. Reena did not go around sad about what could have or should have been she was just trying to take it all in stride.

Then there was Sawyer. I can't say I was in love with Sawyer at first because I wasn't. I couldn't stand some of his behavior especially at 16. He seemed to have no idea what he was doing and where his life was heading. His relationship with Reena's friend at 16, Allie is an instrumental part of the novel. I could tell from the brief descriptions of their relationship that although it was fun and carefree it wasn't healthy in the least. Some of the details found out later in the book further explain Allie and Sawyer's relationship. Although Sawyer had his rich boy, party attitude, he also had a really sweet, caring side. Sawyer grew up in a very strict family where you do everything right or else. It was no wonder he rebelled in his teenage years. Sawyer and Reena's relationship was a roller coaster. They took everything way too fast. Reena had loved Sawyer all her life and Sawyer didn't know how to maintain a relationship so it all seemed very natural to progress fast. That was before. Almost 3 years later Sawyer returns to the town and he has many secrets to uncover. The first one is that he has a 2 year old daughter named Hannah. Despite the time that has passed Sawyer treats life the same including Reena. Sawyer wants to continue his relationship with Reena despite running away from her in the first place. Reena might be 20 now, but she still has a weak spot in her heart for Sawyer LeGrande. Eventually I did fall in love with Sawyer's character every flaw included.

Soledad (Reena's Stepmother) and her father had a role to play in this story too. In the times where Reena needed support her Stepmother stepped in while her father at most points focused on what Reena had done wrong instead of what she had did right. Religious values played into this book a little bit. Reena's brother Cade and his wife Stephanie did not play a very big role in this book, but they had their moments where they were important characters. I think Cade's main purpose as a character was to point out the mistakes Reena made while Cade did not make the same mistakes.

I started out this novel liking the Before chapters the best because this is when I got to see Sawyer and Reena's relationship form, but as the book moved on I started to enjoy the After chapters more for the same reason. The writing in this novel was so beautiful. It was one of those books that I put off finishing because I didn't want to let go of these characters. I got extremely attached to Sawyer and Reena. I eventually had to know how their love story ended and finished the novel. The ending was so beautiful although it maybe could have been further developed. As any review of this book states. I highly recommend this novel.

Thanks

Bout of Books Goals and Progress

So excited to be an expert for this readathon meaning I will be visiting as many blogs as possible. I won't be on twitter because I don't have a twitter account.

Goals:

These are the three books I'm reading right now I would like to finished Just Destiny by Theresa Rizzo for review, finish rereading The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, and finish Phoenix Overure by Jodi Meadows. I would like to read around 15 hours this week since I don't have school.

Progress
Day 1

pg 210 to pg 244 2:55 to 3:28
pg 244 to pg 251 5:21 to 5:43
pg 251 to pg 255 6:37 to 7:09
pg 255 to pg 274 8:29 to 8:42

pg 121 to pg 128 3:52 to 4:27
pg 128 to pg 136 7:41 to 7:56
pg 135 to pg 151 9:02 to 9:26

Pages Read: 94
Time Read: 2 hours 54 minutes

Day 2 May 13th
I don't know if there is such a thing as too much free time, but now that I don't have school to worry about I'm not sure what to do with myself. I spent this day at my neighbors house with her daycare kids. I'm very much struggling with Just Destiny. It has hit a slow point and doesn't seem to be coming out of it. I'm going to try to read some of Just Destiny today. I was hoping to finish it around the same time as I finish The Book Thief.

57% to 71% didn't track time

pg 274 to pg 276 8:16 to 8:20 while I was waiting for my brother to get back from a track meet
pg 276 to pg 293 8:58 to 9:30
pg 293 to pg 311 9:57 to 10:21.

Pages Read: 37
Time Read: 1 hour
Total Pages Read: 131
Total Time Read: 3 hours 54 minutes
Books Read: 0

Day 3 May 14th

pg 151 to pg 163 8:01 to 8:27

pg 311 to pg 328 8:48 to 9:10
pg 328 to pg 342 9:29 to 9:50

Pages Read: 43
Time Read: 1 hour 9 minutes
Total Pages Read: 174
Total Time Read: 5 hours 3 minutes
Books Read: 0

Day 4 May 15th

pg 163 to pg 174 11:52 to 12:07
pg 174 to pg 184 12:21 to 12:36
pg 184 to pg 194 3:24 to 3:46
pg 194 to pg 200 4:33 to 4:42
pg 200 to pg 206 4:49 to 5:01
pg 206 to pg 214 5:11 to 5:23

pg 342 to pg 344 1:38 to 1:40
pg 344 to pg 359 2:55 to 3:11
pg 359 to pg 375 10:30 to 10:51

pg 0 to pg 29 7:11 to 8:19

Pages Read: 113
Time Read: 3 hours 12 minutes
Total Pages Read: 287
Total Time Read: 8 hours 15 minutes
Books Read: 1

Day 5 May 16th

pg 375 to pg 380 10:34 to 10:40 am
pg 380 to pg 407 9:15 to 9:48

pg 214 to pg 231 10:05 to 10:37

Pages Read: 49
Time Read: 1 hour 11 minutes
Total Pages Read: 336
Total Time Read: 9 hours 26 minutes
Books Read: 1

Day 5 May 17th

70% to 83% 7:42 to 8:03 finished

pg 231 to pg 255 11:38 to 12:14
pg 255 to 278 1:07 to 1:35
pg 278 to pg 294 9:33 to 9:58

pg 0 to pg 30 5:47 to 6:34

pg 407 to pg 431 8:06 to 8:55
g 431 to pg 438 10:21 to 10:31

Pages Read: 124
Time Read: 3 hours 36 minutes
Total Pages Read: 460
Total Time Read: 13 hours 2 minutes
Books Read: 3

Day 7 May 18th

pg 294 to pg 310 7:46 to 8:18
pg 310 to 316 3:26 to 3:39
pg 3126 to 322 9:44 to 9:59
pg 322 to pg 339 10:36 to 11:01

pg 438 to 4:52 8:43 to 8:57 am
pg 452 to pg 469 12:15 to 12:44
pg 469 to pg 516 1:58 to 3:08

Pages Read: 123
Time Read: 3 hours 18 minutes
Total Pages Read: 583
Total Time Read: 16 hours 20 minutes
Books Read: 3

Spring Into Horror 2014 Wrap Up

Hosted by Seasons of Reading

I read a total of 445 pages in 9 hours 36 minutes in 7 days. That is an average of 63 pages per day and 1 hour 22 minutes per day. 

I did not manage to get any spooky reads done. I did start The Book Thief by Markus Zusak which is a bit of a strange read. 

Books Finished: 

Swan Sister edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling was okay and I really enjoyed Open Road Summer by Emery Lord

Books Started

I started to reread The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak. I'm enjoying it so far. 

Thanks to Michelle for hosting. Sorry my wrap up is so late. 

Summer Reads 2014 Sign Up and Operation TBR

Hosted by My Heart Hearts Books The goal is to read as many YA books as possible from May 1st to August 31st. This is a fun laid back challenge. I'm excited to join. 

Here's the books I'm reading currently The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and Just Destiny by Theresa Rizzo

I also wanted to announce Operation TBR. My personal challenge to lower down my goodreads TBR list. I made a list of 35 books I would like to complete this summer. Blue is dystopia, purple is adult, green is young adult, and yellow is middle grade. My goal is to pick books randomly throughout the summer and read as many books listed on the slips as possible. My Goodreads TBR currently has 307 books on it. I'm going to try to not add any more books to the list and work on getting the number down. I will update sporadically throughout the summer.