A Few Things To Share

Lately I have been trying new things (I know, its shocking and not like me!) But there are a few things that have been worth sharing with others, so I am going to share them here.

The first few are succulent companies. Just learned that many people don't know you can order succulents online. Not only can you, but there are some great options.

After hearing about another subscription box for succulents with a discount code, I decided to give succulentsbox.com a try. I ordered MANY plants from them and I think I only lost one and that could have been care-giver error. The nice thing about this company is that they have options to customize what kind of box you get each month or you can just order what you want. I think these guys would get three and a half stars. Shipping would be the only thing I would "ding" them on and that's because I've received plants from other companies that were packed a little more effectively and came in better condition.

The other company I ordered from was my most recent order, Mountain Crest Gardens. I was able to get five "hen and chick" varieties for just over $20 shipped. I think I got a pretty good deal and when they arrived they were in perfect shape. They were packed beautifully with a lovely care book on succulents. I plan on ordering from this company again soon. Love their selection and their prices. Four and a half stars!

And the next thing I am going to "tell" you about is a couple books I've been reading lately.


While I didn't enjoy this as much as Backman's previous book, A Man Called Ove, I did enjoy this one very much. This one is from the viewpoint of a seven (almost eight) year old girl. You meet her and her grandmother and go through some time with the both of them. The dynamics of the family are fun. Elsa lives with her pregnant mother and step father in what seems like an apartment building. I find it funny, she calls her sibling-to-be "halfie" because it will be her half sibling. Anyway, Elsa and her family share the top floor with her grandmother.

She visits often with her father who is also remarried with step-children. The only two tenants on that floor. Throughout the book you get to meet all the tenants of the building and learn more about Elsa's wonderful eccentric grandmother.

Don't want to get into details and give it away. But this is a wonderful story and is quite emotional at times. Beckman has a way of bringing out the raw emotion in his books, very real.

This book is from the viewpoint of 16 year old Kait, self proclaimed "weird girl." Since her mother's death the year before Kait has a weird hobby of crashing funerals but aside from that seems like a typical teenager. 

When she crashes the wrong funeral, she is found out by the most popular (and cute) guy in school. What follows is her trying to solve a murder mystery while staying out of danger herself. I found this book to be quite enjoyable. 

The final chapters ended the book almost too quickly. I would have liked to see more reaction of the "aftermath" at school. Seemed like no one cared what happened to Kait when it would have been a pretty big deal if it happened in my high school! 

Anyway, the only other thing that bothered me was the way Kait described her food, constantly describing it with "yum-yum" and other such nonsense. I would rather that just be left out, but maybe that's just my personal preference. 

I did purchase book 2, so that tells you a bit about how I liked book 1.

31 Days of Free Writes: Brave

The word for today is Brave and for this one I have to share a review of a book I did in October of 2015. Although I was given an advanced copy of this book in return for my honest review, all opinions remain my own.

This book is a fictional young adult novel. It is from the viewpoint of Georgia, a high school senior who recently lost her mom, trying to figure out how to "be brave" as her mother told her to do. 

It goes back and forth between the story and memories. The memories are all in a more poetic format, broken short lines. I found it a refreshing break between the story of her senior year.

Set in Chicago, most of this story revolves around Georgia and best friend Liss and new found friend Evelyn. It also involves a bit with Georgia's father and classmates. I found the characters very relate-able and easy to understand. Being that Georgia had recently lost her mom, she became a character I was very attached to, able to relate to and understood what she was going through.

I think at it's core, this book is about making mistakes and learning from them and finding a way to live each day bravely.

As I mentioned above, having recently lost her mother, Georgia's story really got to me. There were parts of this book that were hard for me to read, it almost felt like the author was there when my mom died. This made the book really emotional to me.

There are a few parts of this book that I wanted to remember and also share, parts that really touched me. This is a part of Georgia's memory of her mom's final days.

And then, in the CCU that last time:
the glare of the cold white walls from the long fluorescent bulb that fell hard against her grey skin against the cold metal and plastic wires.
The mask on her face the steady, careful pulse of machines, monitors,
mechanical boxes that lived for her that sustained whatever was left.
Her body was broken.
She was like a butchered animal with her arms limp and her chest heaving with the push of the machine.
Her eyelids shifting, her feet trembling.
Automatic responses, they're called.
I wonder what was there, inside, the moments before her heart stopped.
I wonder if she could hear what I said how sorry I was just so deeply sorry.
This memory of Georgia's was so like my own that I actually had to stop reading for a while. The memories I have of that time with my mom were awful. Just thinking about another person going through that, made me feel a little less alone. Even though realistically I know that this is a fictional character. The author's insight was just so vivid. It was remarkable and a very life like story.

Life without mom is a little like that. At first, it was all pain and tears. Every day was hard. I'd wake up and the sun was there, still shining in the sky, but the world didn't make sense anymore. Then little by little... that pain faded even more. I cried only once a week instead of every day. And then I stopped crying. I moved forward.

Again, so much like my own experience that it gave me pause. Made me think of how much I have moved forward.

The book ends with this statement from Georgia:
I'm doing it all, mom. Even more than you could have ever imagined.
For me, and for you.

Again echos how I am feeling now. I want to live my life to it's fullest for me and for mom.

This book is a must read. Even if you haven't suffered a loss like me, I feel it gives you an insight into what grief really feels like. Georgia is forced to basically do it on your own. By reading this book, I feel like it gives you a little more of an idea of how someone might be feeling. There is so much more going on in people's lives, you need to stop and pay attention, give them grace. We all make mistakes, we also all need to learn how to move on and learn from them.

31 Days of Free Writes: Read

I love to read. It is one of my favorite past-times. Since I have been able to read, I have carried a book with me, just in case I had free time to read a few pages. Lately, I have been listening to more books then reading because I can listen at work while I do my job, but I have still be reading. Here are a few of the books I have finished lately that I loved (all links will take you to the goodreads book profile.)

A Man Called Ove - this is such an amazing story. Not something I would have normally picked up, but I am so glad I did. It is a story about a grumpy old man and basically his life story. Seeing the world through his eyes was just moving to me. This is one I am going to add to my personal collection. Seriously loved it.

Renegades is a book that is set to come out next month. It is a new one by the author of the Cinder series and it lives up to the hype. I loved it just as much as Cinder. Beautifully written and keeps you guessing. Something that is new and not like everything else that is saturating the market. New kind of superhero book. Look for it in stores November 7.

Our Dark Duet is the second book in the Monsters of Verity This was just such an amazing second act for this pair of novels. Seriously just amazing. While I didn't love how it concluded, it was a fitting end and wonderful finale. I loved this one so much that I am planning to buy it as well. The first one came in one of my upper case boxes, so the second one will be going right next to it in my bookshelf.

WW: Book Review!

Linking up with Mama Kat again this week for writers workshop. If you want to learn more about it, click the link at the bottom of this post. The prompt I chose this week is: Book review!

I thought this would be a great opportunity to talk about my book box again. For July I got the book This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab.

Let me just say, this cover is amazing. I love that they have the picture within the violin. Stunning. Font goes perfectly with the image.

My overall rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Just wow!

Took me awhile to get into it, but once I did, I couldn't put it down. This book takes the dystopian genre to a new level.

August was such an amazing character. The fact that he is a monster who didn't want to be one, a new twist. Fighting against what you are.

Then there is Kate. At first, I couldn't stand her. She seemed a spoiled, awful girl. But as you read, the layers come off and you see the person under the rough bad-girl facade. Schwab does an amazing job of going back and forth between the two points of view (August and Kate). I didn't get confused like I sometimes do with books that have alternating viewpoints.

Book one completed, cannot wait for Our Dark Duet, the second book in this saga. This book left me really wanting to know what is going to happen to both August and Kate.

Not only that, but I have more of Schwab's books on my endless TBR pile!

View all my reviews

Not only did I get this amazing book (an autographed copy no less!) but I also got:

These amazing book nerd pencils! 

a pack of pretty post its. The typewriter is the cover of the packet. 

And the inside, the actual post its. Love them! 

In total I pay $29 for this box and I feel like it is the perfect "fandom" box for me. It gives me a new book to read each month, something out of my comfort zone a bit. Also gives me my bookish nerd stuff. Something to show what a book nerd I am, even when I'm not reading! Great deal for a book lover. 

This post inspired by:

Nine Things

Linking up with Mama Kat again this week for writers workshop. If you want to learn more about it, click the link at the bottom of this post. The prompt I chose this week is: List 9 things you’d rather be doing today.

1. I would rather be reading one of my books. I'm nearly finished with This Savage Song and it is getting REALLY GOOD!

2. I would rather be at home with the kiddos, maybe taking advantage of the last couple weeks of summer.

3. I would rather be at home, visiting with my sister, brother and daddy, enjoying the pool at my parents house!

4. I would rather be floating the river. Never done it before but it looks so relaxing.

5. I would rather be bike riding with my family. The girls all have their bikes now, it's just finding one for Stephen and I.

6. I would rather be on the sitting on the beach with my feet in the sand. I love the beach. Preferably a warm one, with a drink in my hand.

7. I would rather be at Jam Con. It's the annual convention for Jamberry consultants. Someday I will be able to go, for this year I will just be watching from here. Lame.

8. I would rather be sleeping. I love sleep.

9. I would rather be swimming. My neighbors showed us a great spot and the girls just love it. I cannot wait to go again.

This post inspired by:

My Review of UpperCase

First, my disclaimer. I am not being compensated in any way for the review of this box. I recently subscribed and thought it needed some attention. This is a WONDERFUL gift for a YA book lover and I wanted to share it with my friends and family.  

I just received box number two from Uppercase and finished the first book they sent me (My Lady Jane) just in time for a review. If you LOVE the idea of a book box, this is an excellent choice. I pay $29 and get a signed book and swag each month. The book is one that has been released in the month the book is delivered or the month prior. This helps ensure you don't get a book you have already purchased.

Each month so far, I have gotten my stuff in this cool bag. Easy to reuse and pretty sturdy. I wasn't expecting it the first time, so I did accidentally cut strings, but nothing that isn't fixable.

I received a SIGNED copy

of this book

in my first every Uppercase Box and I was NOT disappointed! 

Below is a quick review of the book. I already posted this on my goodreads, so you can skip this paragraph if you want to. Or you can re-read this review

Looking at the cover and reading the description, it wasn't a book I would have picked up from the store, but since I paid for it, and it is part of the experience, I read it. Took me awhile to get into it, but once I got hooked, there was no letting go. The second half of the book took me less then a day to read (and that was a work day so it was between phone calls!) I loved the idea of taking a historical event and using it as a seed and making the story you wish would have happened. Hand, Ashton and Meadows created such a wonderful story, makes me wish that is really what happened. They were also able to weave in a bit of magic. In this case, the Edian people change into animals. I loved that it was just that one piece of magic that happened. It was just a small part of the bigger story.

A bonus of getting this from Uppercase is that they give you additional reading experience. They give you a bookmark (the one on the left) and as you reach certain points in the book, you can go online to their website, enter the code and learn more about that part or watch videos from the authors. Just added to the already wonderful story. The other bookmark, the one with the cover of the book on it, was one of the bonus items in this month's box. I also got:

An awesome Deathly Hallows magnet (designed by Juniper and Ivy Designs)

A custom book bag designed by Art of Risa Rodil. 

Each box also comes with a personalized letter. I have actually attached the two I have gotten so far to the books. Just because it's fun to have that extra touch.

If you haven't heard of Uppercase (which is possible since they are still small!) you should check it out at uppercasebox.com.

WW: Book Review!

Linking up with Mama Kat again this week for writers workshop. If you want to learn more about it, click the link at the bottom of this post. The prompt I chose this week is: Book review!

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Overall, I LOVED this book. The story was full of adventure and fantasy. There were full color illustrations scattered through the book as well as some smaller sketch type ones. I loved having the pictures to go along with the story. Things are a bit different then I would have imagined in my head. The picture below is just one of MANY images in this book. Stunningly detailed, colorful and beautiful.



There were a chunk of the text that jumped out at me. I actually took a picture of the text, just so I could re-read it.

"Every achievement, every festival, and every birthday he spent without her was painful. Her absence had grown slowly, and he'd become disinterested in everything. He'd even started believing that he'd died with her and wished he had sometimes. Tory had been angry with his father for getting over her before he did and they fought once, just one time about it. 

Tory remembered the fight well. After he'd yelled his accusations, his father responded with severe calm: I don't miss her any less than you. I don't grieve her loss any less than you. I just remember HER instead of the moment she left. It'd been hard to hear. Tory realized that he'd allowed her death to become more important than her life, and it bothered him that he'd let that happen. He wished he's thanked his father for those words, but he hadn't yet, and now he was worried he'd never get the chance."

The connection I felt with this character's loss was incredible. Even now I am left wondering how Safronoff captured that feeling so vividly.

I give this book a solid five stars. It was a wonderful intro Cerulean. Cannot wait to read the next instillation.

You can learn more about this book and  Aaron Safronoff, the author, visit the website here.

This post inspired by:

WW: Book Review!

Linking up with Mama Kat again this week for writers workshop. If you want to learn more about it, click the link at the bottom of this post. The prompt I chose this week is: Book review! Pretty sure I have shared here, but I have a goal of reading 100 books this year. Here are the last three I read and what I thought of them. If you are interested, there is a link at the very bottom to my goodreads profile where you can see how I am doing on my reading and read more of my reviews.

The Magic of Cape Disappointment: A Novel by Julie Manthey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I freaking loved this book. It kept me engaged and I genuinely was rooting for the characters. The fact that it incorporated a lot of native american culture was very interesting. There were a couple things I never knew about. Being based in the Pacific Northwest helped me relate to this book a lot! I loved hearing names of places I have actually been to. Totally worth picking up this book. It's one that my mom would have called a "popcorn romance." It's easy to follow, easy to understand and light-hearted.

Remember to Forget by Ashley Royer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This book is about a boy, so overwhelmed by grief, that he no longer talks. At first I thought he was just being a spoiled child. How could he have been so in love with another person at such a young age. But the more I got to reading, the more I saw how much his life had been impacted. This story isn't so much about his loss, but about the road he took through his grief. I feel like I'm still on that road so many of the things he was thinking really rang true for me as well. I think that's why I loved the book so much.

Waterfall by Amber Garr
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I was beyond disappointed with this book. It started off so strong then you jump months and miss out what happens to have the main characters. Then it gets good again only to end so abruptly I was left wondering what happened.

View all my reviews

This post inspired by:

What I'm Reading Wednesday

Reflection: The Stranger in the Mirror by Rachel R. Smith
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this e-book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.This book started out wonderfully. I love the descriptions of the places and the people. I love the characters and genuinely cared about what would happen to them. About mid-way through is where it fell apart for me. The story took a quite sudden slowing. It was so frustrating. Not going to say much because I don't want to give away spoilers. I will say that it didn't have much of an ending. You are left with a cliff hanger and oh man do I hate cliffhangers. Overall I enjoyed the book, but not enough to re-read it. I will likely be picking up the next book in this saga, just to see what happens.


Tempest by Julie Cross
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I freaking loved this book.

First of all, loved the concept. A time jumper is something new to me. Secondly, I love that this features a main character who is male. Refreshing for this genre. One thing I really didn't love was the ending. While it wasn't the ending I would have chosen, it was a good one for this story. I loved this book so much that I immediately reserved the rest in the trilogy. I totally recommend this to lovers of the YA dystopian novels.


Wonder by R.J. Palacio
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book has been on my radar awhile. It's the story of a boy with "a terrible facial abnormality." You get the medical term later in the book, but it doesn't mean anything to most people. I have been following the blog of a woman whose daughter has had some facial surgeries. This made the book feel a lot more real to me. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The struggles that August deals with are very real. Even kids who aren't severely deformed get teased, I can't even imagine having a child who looked like that or being one! This story was a look at his first year of school. He had never been before because his mom home-schooled him. In this book, the school goes above and beyond to make him more comfortable and feel welcome. But kids, being as they are, aren't that friendly toward him. Seeing the struggles he goes through and the joy he still has is wonderful. It was real to life, you could see the struggles that he was having and also how it hurt him for people to treat him differently. I loved that this book ends the way it does. Not going to give it away, but it gave me closure and left me feeling like there could more stories about August in his future. I one hundred percent loved this book. Whole heartedly recommend to everyone who has ever been a kid or has a kid.


This Star Won't Go Out: The Life and Words of Esther Grace Earl by Esther Earl
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is a story about a girl with thyroid cancer, but it is so much more than that. I love the style of this book. It is a compilation of Esther's journal posts, drawings, pictures and letters as well as updates posted by her parents. This book showed her life, what she loved, what she was passionate about. I love that it included lots of pictures. Esther lived a short but full life. Going in to the book I knew it would be sad, but I had to read about this girl who impacted so many lives in her short 16 years.

View all my reviews on Goodreads

WW: Book Review

Linking up with Mama Kat again this week for writers workshop. If you want to learn more about it, click the link at the bottom of this post. The prompt I chose this week is: Book review! I have been reading quite a few books lately. Trying to hit my 100 books this year goal. So far I am right on track.

     

This last week, I also finished the first two books in the Series of Unfortunate Events. Even though these books are not a happy fairy tale, they are still a great read for younger kids. I especially enjoyed the parts about how the children work together to solve problems. The characters were very relate-able and easy to see as real children. The situations they land in are not so wonderful. Makes me sad for them. I hope at some point they do have their happy ending. It certainly didn't come in books one or two. Books one and two were great enough to keep me wanting to read more.

This post inspired by:

WW: Last Thing Copied

Linking up with Mama Kat again this week for writers workshop. If you want to learn more about it, click the link at the bottom of this post. The prompt I chose this week is: Open a blank blog post and “right click paste” in the body of the post…what was pasted? Explain it.

Fourth World

I think this must be fate because I was totally trying to past the weekly button to this post. Instead, I got the above book title. I copied it from NetGalley to find the book on goodreads.

I was given a copy of the book by NetGalley in return for an honest review. This in no way influences my opinion. I finished this book today. I actually read the last three quarters this morning. Honestly. I could not put it down. Here is the synopsis from goodreads:

IAMOS, S.C.D. 8378
Nadin's planet is dying. As its atmosphere drains away, her people are forced to live huddled in domed cities for protection. With only enough resources to support the population for one more year, time is running out. Nadin thinks she's found a way to save Iamos, but it will mean defying the planet's rulers, the geroi—and betraying the geroi could cost her everything. 

When a strange boy from another world appears out of nowhere outside the citidome's glass walls, Nadin knows for sure that her plan will work. But to build the device that can save her people, Nadin must first find the legendary city of Elytherios. And to do that, she'll need the help of the mysterious alien boy named Isaak. 

MARS, 2073 C.E.
All Isaak wanted was to get through his senior year at the Academy in one piece. Everything would have been fine if he hadn't found that ancient coin among his missing father's possessions. The coin seems to have a strange connection not only to Isaak's family, but to Mars' ancient past. 

But how is that possible, on a planet that was supposed to be dead until just forty years ago? 

Now Isaak's got agents of the Earth's government on his tail and a deranged factory worker stalking his every move. Everyone is desperate to get their hands on something called the Key. And the only way to escape is to unlock an even bigger secret, one that could change his life—and the fate of Mars—forever.

This book is another dystopian novel, which seems to be one of my favorites by my latest reading list. That is where the similarity to my latest reads ends. Not going to go in to much detail about the plot, don't want to give anything away. I will tell you that I enjoyed reading about these characters. You can see how Isaak grows throughout the book. He sees that there is something bigger then just him and his problems. It was enjoyable to see the story from the two viewpoints of Isaak and Nadin. They are two very different characters and give you important parts of the plot from their own views. One thing I hated about this book is that it doesn't give you any closure. It is most definitely part of a series. I dislike that it didn't end the book with some form of closure but it left you completely hanging. As a reader, you have to wait until this fall to see what happens.

So there you have it, a post inspired by the last thing I right click copied and pasted.

This post inspired by:

What to Read Wednesday

I am kind of going back and forth between this and Wordless Wednesday. I figured since I haven't done many book reviews lately. Here are three of the most recent books I have finished.

The Heir (The Selection book 4)
By: Kiera Cass

First of all, this cover I freaking LOVE it! As the other books in this series are, the dress just makes me want to know more. 

When I started this book, I kind of wanted to kick Eadlyn, the main character. She acts like such a spoiled brat. I get that she is under a lot of stress trying to learn the details of running the country, but she didn't do it with nearly the grace that her mom and dad did.

Overall I think this was a great addition to the Selection series. It is interesting that after Maxon's selection he still asks it of his daughter, but the story reveals that there is a reason behind it and an understandable one.

This book did end with a bit of a cliff-hanger. Had I known that, I would have waited until closer to May when the final book is due out. It's worth waiting for!

Happily Ever After Companion to The Selection Series

By: Kiera Cass

This book is simply wonderful. I really enjoyed getting to see the Selection story from different points of view. Another thing this book has that I really enjoyed were some illustrations as well as a map. Being able to see these characters and the places they came from was something you don't get in many "grown up" books. 

The hardest one to read was The Queen. This is a prequel novella meaning it comes before The Selection. Knowing the kind of man King Clarkson ends up being is almost heartbreaking. Cass wrote a note at the beginning of the novella about it, and I think that helped me understand a bit but it was still rough. 

The Prince gave you Maxon's point of view for the first part of the Selection. It was interesting to read about the things he was stressing about. The first meeting between America and him was pretty funny.

The Guard is Aspen's story. It's all about how he goes from being a part of America's love triangle to becoming the man he becomes. This was probably my least favorite of the novellas, but still gave more of the story and was enjoyable overall. 

The Favorite is Marlee's point of view. She is the favorite in the selection before she makes a choice and has to suffer the repercussions. I honestly loved reading about her story. The love that she and the guard share is just beautiful. It's easy to see why Maxon wanted to help them out and why they remain a part of Maxon and America's lives. 

You get three scenes from Celeste's point of view. I found them interesting and they definitely gave more depth to her character. However, they didn't help me like her any more. 

There is also a bonus chapter from Lucy's point of view. I like seeing how "the help" sees things, gives you more of a real view of people. This just added to my love of America. 

This book concluded with After The One, basically a "where are they now." Just a glimpse of the final four and where they are now. I found it interesting to see where the other princess hopefuls ended up. 

Happily ever after is a really good companion to The Section series. I felt like it really added to the love I already have for this series. I love that authors are starting to give us more of the other characters stories. 

Four

by: Veronica Roth 

If you didn't notice already, I love the Divergent series. I devoured this book in just two sittings. 

It starts out with Tobias in Abnegation, you see the way his father treats him and why he made the jump to Dauntless. I don't imagine my reaction would have been much different. 

You get to follow him through his initiation and see how he gets the name four. You see how he is quickly promoted within the Dauntless faction. 

Slowly you see what he sees in the leadership and why he makes the choices he does. 

I loved reading his reaction to Tris being the first one to make the jump. It was also a great addition to the divergent series to see his point of view. 

What to Read Wednesday

I figured it was time to change things up a bit, Wednesdays will now feature a book or two or more that I think you should pick up. For this first edition, I am going kids books. Here are four books I think you should read to your kiddos this week.

Just a note, I received electronic copies of these books in exchange for an honest review. As always, all opinions are my own.

by Heather Hartt-Sussman
Illustrated by Geneviève Côté

This is another wonderful children's book with a great moral to teach them. Noni is a girl like any other, she wants to do the right thing, but it's hard. She fears what standing up for Hector will do to her. She worries that if she stands up for Hector that she won't have friends anymore or that they will turn on her. It's a worry I think a lot of kids have. Finally, at the end of the story, Noni has enough and speaks up to the bullies. As expected, they aren't quiet about it and tease Hector some more about having to be saved by a girl. But Noni and Hector just walk away. They have friends in each other. As a mom to three girls, I know that the "mean girls" aren't far off (if they aren't already around, I haven't heard about it!) I feel like this book would be a great conversation starter. The more you talk about it and the more your children know, the easier it might be for them to stand up. I think this is a wonderful addition to our bookshelf and plan to buy it. Bullying is a serious issue and I think Noni Speaks Up takes a wonderful stand on it.

by Vikki VanSickle
Illustrated by Cale Atkinson

As a lover of the mythical, I had to read this one and was not disappointed. This story has a lyrical rhyme to it but isn't too much. In this story, Sam gets a hamster. She thinks another more mysterious pet might be a better choice, so she imagines what it would be like to have a mythical creature as a pet. Many mythical creatures make an appearance and Sam talks about how each one might not make the best pet. In the end, does she decide her hamster is a good enough pet? I will let you find out. What I will tell you is that you are going to love this story and its beautiful illustrations

by Kwame Alexander,
Illustrated by Daniel Miyares

I really enjoyed this book It makes it cool to be a reader. The frog friends have plans to go surfing, but frog one is stuck in a great book. While traveling to the beach, frog one shares the story with frog two. They get to the beach and frog one finishes the story (reading to himself) he won't share the end with frog two, so he has to read it himself. The story ends with frog two enjoying the book while frog one surfs. I loved that this book made a love of reading a good thing. Both the story and the illustrations are wonderful. I loved it. .

by A L Wegwerth

Illustrated by Luke Flowers

This book was so fun even as an e-book, can't imagine how much more fun the hardback would be to have. In this Mother Goose re-telling, the narrator is trying to tell the story of Little Bo Peep but he keeps getting interrupted. On each new page there is something else going on to view in the fun pictures. There is also a find a picture "game" you can play on each page, trying to find all the nursery rhyme characters. I look forward to buying this as a hard-cover book so my kids can enjoy it like I did.

Author Q&A - Teddy Tries A Veggie

I was lucky enough to have a chance to ask Jennifer Glockner, author of Teddy Tries A Veggie a few questions. I know I'm not the only mom who has a hard time getting the kiddos to eat right.

Jennifer is a registered dietitian nutritionist with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from UCLA and an extensive science background. She continues her education enthusiastically and completed a Certificate of Training in Childhood and Adolescent Weight Management Program in 2014. She is a good role model and practices what she teaches. She can often be found cooking a hearty batch of soup, walking her dog Charlie, or spending time with family—including the adorable niece who inspired her to create her Smartee Plateseries!

Glockner is passionate about empowering kids to become smart eaters who use food as a lifelong tool to prevent disease and promote wellness. With every bite and every word, she proves eating healthy can be fun—and delicious!

Why should parents encourage children to repeatedly try new foods?
Studies show that it can take up to 12 tries for a child to like a new food. So, don't get discouraged. Rather encourage kids to try, try, try again! Try different ways to prepare fruits and veggies. By involving kids in the planning and preparing of the fruits and veggies, they may be more excited to try them. Kids prefer cut-up fruits and veggies to whole ones. Try cutting fruits and veggies into fun shapes. Since kids usually like fruits more than veggies, try serving them together.

How important are parents modeling good nutrition and habits in health eating for our kids?Parents are very influential in establishing healthy eating habits. Role modeling is, therefore, crucial. Kids learn habits from observing parents and mimicking them. Parents have the opportunity to role model at the grocery store and at mealtimes.

What are some delicious ways to add some more color to lunchtime?

• Cut fruits and veggies into fun shapes. Studies have shown that kids are more likely to eat cut-up fruits and veggies than whole ones. Kids tend to like fruits over veggies so try combining fruits and veggies into kebabs, salads, or even as toppings. 
• Add fruits and veggies with lean proteins to whole wheat tortillas or pita bread. Present them as wraps, pinwheels, or quesadillas. 
• Stuff produce with a lean protein. Bell peppers and tomatoes work well. Try adding egg salad, salmon salad, chicken salad, beans, quinoa salad with fruits/veggies, or cheese. Add your own twist. 
• Instead of using bread, use fruit such as apple or pear slices as the "bread" and spread nut or seed butters in between the fruit slices. Or replace bread with lettuce cups or lettuce wraps and fill with a protein. 
• Kids love pasta. Try making pasta from veggies such as zucchini. 

What foods do you seldom eat/ try to stay away from? Why? 

• Raw Spinach - There have been several recalls of washed raw spinach contaminated with E.coli and Salmonella, which may lead to food-borne illnesses. Unfortunately, additional washing at home doesn't remove the pathogens. Consequently, I recently stopped eating raw spinach. However, I love spinach and eat it cooked. Cooking spinach may be more important for the elderly, immuno-compromised people, pregnant women, and kids. 
• Processed Meats and Processed Cheese - Processed meats such as luncheon meats and hot dogs are high in sodium, fat, and additives such as nitrites/nitrates. Repeated consumption of salty foods may lead to hypertension and fatty foods may lead to heart disease. Nitrites and Nitrates may be carcinogenic. Similar to processed meats, processed cheese is high in sodium and artificial flavors and preservatives. 
• Highly Processed Soy Products - Highly Processed Soy Products may be high in sodium and may contain GMO ingredients. During the processing, toxic chemicals may be used to extract ingredients. Less processed soy products such as tofu and tempeh are better choices.

Learn more about Glockner and the world of Smartee Plate at www.smarteeplate.com and connect on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

1000 Gifts: 3 gifts unexpected

• we got an unexpected gift from a friend that allowed us to take care of a problem that really needed it.  
• we got an unexpected gift from my sister for the girls. We have a TAG learning pen now to read the books with the girls. It makes it easier for mommy to supervise them reading and not just telling them what the words are. 
• it was a gift to have so much help and support when going through a recent issue. More then one person has stepped up with help. It's been amazing. 

Lost Princess (Kingdom of Cymmera #2)

I was given an advanced copy in return for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

By: Dani-Lyn Alexander
Release Date: October 13, 2015
Publisher: Kensington Books, Lyrical Press
Format: e-book
Source: publisher via NetGalley
Overall rating ☆☆☆☆

Ryleigh Donnovan’s life changed forever the day she met Jackson Maynard, a Death Dealer, and followed him home to the kingdom of Cymmera. Now she is trying to care for her sister while saving a realm she knows nothing about… 

Jackson has reluctantly accepted the throne of Cymmera, in place of his father. But his world is in turmoil, the kingdom under constant threat of attack. Worse still, Jackson suspects there is a traitor among his court. A powerful prophet has suggested a way to protect the realm, but that solution may drive Jackson and Ryleigh apart forever… 

When a magic relic goes missing, Ryleigh has no choice but to journey in search of it. When Jackson discovers Ryleigh is missing, he must make a choice that will either claim their destiny, or bring an end to the only home he’s ever known. - Goodreads

First, an overall review. I totally enjoyed this book. It was easy to become attached to the characters. I genuinely cared about Ryleigh and Jackson and what was going to happen with them. Through most of the book, you were guessing about who the traitor might be. Don't worry, no spoilers from this reviewer but it is revealed in this book. What I didn't know is that this is book two in a series. However, this was still a really great stand alone novel. I didn't feel like I had no idea who the characters were. It probably would have given me more background if I had read book one first, but I didn't feel behind by any means!

The characters in this book were great. I felt like I could cozy up in the castle and hang out with them. They were very relate-able and easy to understand. You could see why they were making the decisions they were. Not sure if I might be the only one, but sometimes I like to imagine what choices I would make if I were there. Most of the time, the things that Ryleigh choose would have been my choice as well.

Not sure there was much I didn't like about this book. I would totally be open to reading books one and three (when it's released). I love the mix of magic and the realism of the relationships between the characters.

This one gets four of five stars.

1000 Gifts: 3 gifts shelved

• it is a gift to have new books to add to my ever growing electronic book shelf. 
• it is a gift to still have paper books to add to my overflowing bookshelf. Someday I will have a library. 
• it is a gift for my girls to have so many books they can't all be shelved. I really want them to share the love of reading that I have. 

Blessed, Blessed, Blessed

I was given an advanced copy of this book in return for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Untold Story of Our Family's Fight to Love Hard,
Stay Strong, and Keep the Faith When Life Can't Be Fixed

By: Missy Robertson
Release Date: Octob
er 6, 2015
Publisher: Tyndale Momentum
Format: e-book
Source: publisher via Edelweiss
Overall rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

Missy Robertson knew that marrying duck-hunting family man Jase Robertson would be an adventure . . . and she was up to the challenge. Their life together was good (even after Jase grew the beard). They had two children, worked hard to help build the thriving Duck Commander business, and loved and served God. 

But after a difficult and risky pregnancy, their daughter, Mia, was born with a cleft palate―a serious condition requiring multiple cranial and facial surgeries. As their baby struggled to breathe, and Missy and Jase faced a life that suddenly looked very different than the one they’d planned, they found themselves staring down one of life’s biggest questions: Where is God in all this pain? 

This is the Robertsons’ story. It’s for anyone scared and overwhelmed by a problem they can’t fix; anyone lost and searching for a way through. You’ll meet the young girl Mia who captured A&E’s Duck Dynasty viewers’ hearts, and learn how Missy and Jase have raised her and their sons to be faithful, confident, and secure in who they are. You’ll be inspired by how the Robertson family stuck by each other through the hardest times. And you’ll discover that God’s blessings are bigger than you ever dreamed―and there when you need them the most. Goodreads

I was so excited when I saw this available on Edelweiss to request. I was even more excited when I got the email saying I was approved and to download the book! Duck Dynasty is a favorite of mine and I have always wondered the story of Miss Mia.

This book is written by her mother, Missy and is a really amazing glimpse of her life. A majority of this book is spent telling Mia's story and how Missy dealt with having a child with special needs. It was especially nice to see how her faith played into the situation. I can certainly relate to Missy and her wanting to be able to just fix things. I cannot even begin to imagine having a problem that just needs to be managed and not solved.

Though the book isn't as articulately written as some, I didn't feel like this was a bad thing. It was really easy to read and follow. Actually made me feel like I was there with the family, part of Mia's support team. She is such an amazing little girl and Missy and Jace are such wonderful Godly parents. They lead a great example for people who watch the show. This book just emphasized what a wonderful family the Robertson's are.

Overall this book gets five stars. I really wasn't sure at first it would get five, just because it wasn't like other bios I have read, but in finishing it, definitely worth a five star rating. If you want to read about how a regular God fearing family deals with a struggle like a child with a serious medical condition, this is a great one to pick up. Available on October 6!

1000 Gifts: a gift unexpected, uneven, unpopular

• it was unexpected to get the penny yesterday but reminded me that mom is still watching over me. 
• it is a gift to have the uneven groud to walk on. We have to be more aware and that makes it easier to enjoy the world around us. 
• it was a gift for me to have been "unpopular" in school because it made me branch out to do other things I might not have tried if I had been in the "in" crowd. 

Teddy Tries a Veggie

I was given an copy of this book in return for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

By: Jennifer Glockner
Illustrated by: Stephanie Concepcion
Publisher: Smith Publicity
Format: e-book
Source: publisher via netgalley
Overall Rating ☆☆☆☆

Teddy Tries a Veggie, follows Theodora (Teddy) Rose, an “almost-six-years-old” girl who loves to garden but hates eating the vegetables she grows. Broccoli? Yuck. Asparagus? Double yuck! Brussel sprouts? No way! Teddy absolutely, no two ways about it, dislikes eating vegetables! But when she stumbles upon a band of fruits and veggies rocking out in her garden, she’s in for a delicious adventure.

This first e-book in the series conveys the importance of eating a variety of fruits AND vegetables as part of healthy eating and familiarizes kids with terminology such as vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber.

Written by a registered dietitian nutritionist, this innovative e-book offers interactive features to make the experience of reading a Smartee Plate book loads of nourishing fun for little ones!

I really enjoyed this book. It had a great concept and was turned into a cute story. Teddy is a lot like most kids. She does like her fruits but not the veggies. In this book, she learns why it is important to eat the veggies too, so they can work better together. This book takes the hard concept and makes it so easy for the kids to get. I feel like this book can even help adults want to allow all the veggies to work together in their body. The pictures are beautiful and the story is fun. Overall, I give this one four of five stars.


1000 Gifts: 3 gifts funny

• it is a gift to have funny christian authors and stand up people. You don't have to be vulgar to be funny. 
• it is a gift to have children who are finally getting the concept of jokes and what makes them funny. Some are still a miss, but overall they get it. 
• it is a gift to have a dog who is funny. He plays with his toys and makes us all laugh. 

Teagan of Tomorrow

By: Jaime Lee Mann
Release Date: October 6, 2015
Publisher: Blue Moon Publishers
Format: e-book
Source: publisher via netgalley
Overall rating: ☆☆☆☆

Recommended for mid level readers (approximately grades 4-6)

I was given a copy of this book in return for my honest review. All opinions are my own

The powerful sorcerer Asgall has been banished from the magic realm of Coraira, but not before throwing twins Asher and Ariana Caine into the future. In a place and time without magic, the two are on their own, unable to use their powers to get back home.  

Meanwhile, a new darkness has entered Coraira, threatening all of the world’s magic and all of those who practice it. Only the combined power of Asher, Ariana, and a mysterious girl named Teagan can protect the realms. 

Will the twins find Teagan in time?  Could this new darkness strangle all of the world’s light?What if the twins never get back to the people and place they love? -- goodreads

I think this was my favorite of the series so far. Only thing that bothered me is that, again it left a complete cliff hanger. I felt like I was left with more questions then answers. Now I have to wait until the next book comes out to get some. Besides that, this was another wonderful installment to add to the legend of Rhyme series. Felt like the author is getting a lot more creative in her descriptions, not that they weren't good before, they are just amazing now! This book brings in Teagan, a new character and she is very easy to relate to and like because she is from "our time." I think she will be a favorite for my girls. Overall I give this one four stars again. I am loving the series. Hopefully when they are all done, they can be offered in some kind of collection, maybe in a big book. 

1000 Gifts: a gift rattling, receding, reclaiming

• it is a gift to hear the rattling of a baby's toy during church. Not so much to be distracting, but I know that child is in the best possible place. 
• it is a gift seeing the smoke receding from the air because I know it means the fires are getting under control
• it is a gift to be able to reclaim old things and make them like new. You see all these design shows where they re-purpose things and it is a wonderful thing. 

Steven the Upset Stomach

I was given an advanced copy of this book in return for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

By: Justin Noble
Illustrated by: Ann Bonin
Publisher: Pakiki Waltnell Publishing
Format: e-book
Source: publisher via netgalley
Overall rating ☆☆☆☆

When Raymond Brain finds the Body Village surrounded by cake, soda, candy, and chips he can't help but start bringing it all in. He knows how much these foods please the village’s sense of taste. What Raymond doesn't realize is that these delicious foods are very hard for Steven Stomach to break down. Steven tries as hard as he can but when he finds that it is more than he can handle he gets very upset. Steven The Upset Stomach shows children that while soda, candy, cake, and chips do please the taste buds, when you have too much you end up upsetting your stomach. Goodreads 

I really think this is a most excellent book for kiddos. My girls certainly aren't the only ones who want all the junk. This book shows them what it does to your stomach. It had colorful pictures that showed mostly accurate shapes of a few of the organs in your body (stomach, brain and liver). It also did a pretty good job of explaining how too much of the good stuff can upset your stomach. I found this an interesting and effective book to help kids learn. While it isn't super educational it is simplified and makes it easy for the kiddos to understand. I would give this four of five stars. 

1000 Gifts: 3 gifts in conversation

• it is a gift to hear bits of conversation from my girls when they are getting along and showing the love for each other. 
• it is a gift to have my girls at an age they can almost hold a descent conversation with people on the phones or via skype. 
• it is a gift to have the conversation of grown ups at work. I say it over and over, as much as I love my children, my job is what helps me be a better mom. I can't imagine how I would handle all kids all the time. 

Avalonia Chronicles Book 1: The Last of the Firedrakes

I was given a free copy of this book in return for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

By: Farah Oomerbhoy
Publisher: Wise Ink Creative Publishing
Format: e-book
Source: publisher via netgalley
Overall rating ☆☆☆☆☆

16-year-old Aurora Darlington is an orphan. Mistreated by her adopted family and bullied at school, she dreams of running away and being free. But when she is kidnapped and dragged through a portal into a magical world, suddenly her old life doesn’t seem so bad.

Avalonia is a dangerous land ruled by powerful mages and a cruel, selfish queen who will do anything to control all seven kingdoms—including killing anyone who stands in her way. Thrust headlong into this new, magical world, Aurora’s arrival sets plans in motion that threaten to destroy all she holds dear.

With the help of a young fae, a magical pegasus, and a handsome mage, Aurora journeys across Avalonia to learn the truth about her past and unleash the power within herself. Kingdoms collide as a complicated web of political intrigue and ancient magic lead Aurora to unravel a shocking secret that will change her life forever. Goodreads

I freaking loved this book. While it did leave me with a cliff hanger, it was a fitting stop to book one. Sadly, book two isn't even out yet, so I have to wait for more. There will be three books in the Avalonia chronicles and I cannot wait! This book does such a great job of capturing the attitude and personality of a 17-year-old girl. Put said girl into a fantasy world, it just makes it even more amazing. You are learning about this amazing world right along with Aurora. I was captivated by how she started to embrace who she just found out who she was. As the end of the book came closer, I found myself not waiting to finish because I didn't want the story to end. I was actually quite glad to hear I still have two instillation to read, even if they are yet to be published.

The only thing I didn't love about this book is the attitude of Aurora sometimes, but I do understand that it was part of her being a 17 year old girl. It didn't change the love I had for her and this book.

I wholeheartedly give this one five stars. Add it to your "to read" pile today!

1000 Gifts: fixed, folded, freckled

• it is a gift to have fixed doggie. No worry about him making little Odin's all over the neighborhood. 
• it is a gift to have a basket of fresh folded laundry put away by my girls. 
• it is a gift to see my sister's beautiful, freckled face every day on my way home from work. Her picture pops up when I call her on my way home every day, also a gift.