Mini Review Week: Day 4

When I decided to take an extended break from blogging, I stopped reviewing anything I read completely.   YIKES!

So, to play some catch up, I decided I will be posting “mini reviews” of all the books I have read in the past couple of months while I ease back into blogging!

In previous posts, I posted about Me Before You (Jojo Moyes), No One Is Coming to Save Us (Stephanie Powell Watts) and All We Ever Wanted (Emily Giffin).  You can check those reviews out HERE!  I also discussed The Innocent Wife (Amy Llyod), The Three (Sarah Lotz), and The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini).  You can check out those reviews HERE.

Here we go!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #imwayr

Happy Monday, folks!  Today, I am back in action with the “It’s Monday!  What Are You Reading?” post.  It’s been a hot minute since I have used this post to keep me on track but I am in some serious need for some book organization and to start my 2018 off right. Needless to say, I missed it!

In case you don’t know, It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly post to share what you recently finished reading, what you’re currently reading, and what you plan on reading this week.

It’s hosted by Kathryn at Bookdate.

Over the past week, I really didn’t get much reading done at all!  I was busy prepping to go back to work and organizing myself in other areas.  And, truth be told, I spent quite a bit of time binge-watching some television on Netflix.  Sometimes you just need to, ya know? Regardless, I did manage to get a few books finished

Keep reading to see what I read last week, what I am reading now and what I plan on reading this upcoming week.

Book Review: The Visitors (Catherine Burns)

When I first saw the synopsis for The Visitors, the debut novel by Catherine Burns, I was so excited. I am such a sucker for a “serial killer in disguise” type thriller. From books like You to Normal to Perfect Days, I am always intrigued to read stories about the twisted things that happen in regular neighbourhoods. This one seemed like a book that would fit into that category.

Now that I have finished the book, I am a little disappointed to report that this book ended up being completely different from what I was expecting.

The novel opens with the introduction of Marion, a timid spinster, who lives with her brother, John. Marion knows that John does things in the cellar. Things that she doesn’t want to necessarily spend time thinking about. However, when John has a heart attack and is hospitalized,   Marion is forced to go down into the cellar to face what she has been avoiding and, perhaps, to discover her own dark side. 

Book Review: The Walls (Hollie Overton) @hollieoverton

Last year, I read Baby Doll by Hollie Overton (you can check out my review for that one here) and was blown away by her writing style and intensity of her narrative. Needless to say, when I discovered her sophomore novel was releasing this month, I was thrilled. I’m pleased to report, Overton’s second work does not disappoint. The Walls was filled with a fast paced plot and easily digestible narrative style. I read this one over the course of a few hours, unable to put it down.

The novel opens with Kristy, a single mom working on death row, navigating her daily life behind the prison walls. As a liaison between the media and death row inmates, she is no stranger to the evils of the world. Working with rapists and murderers is not easy, but Kristy does her best to see the good in every situation. When she meets Lance Dobson, a man advocating for her son, she falls in love hard and fast.   Until, after they marry, everything changes. Lance is abusive and Kristy finds herself in constant terror. Battling her own personal struggles and her difficult caseload at work, Kristy finds herself confiding in one inmate; an inmate who has always maintained his innocence. Kristy knows Lance will kill her, but not if she kills him first. Does she have what it takes to commit the perfect crime? 

June 2017 Wrap Up: #wrapup #June

Well I blinked, June is over and summer is officially here! Anyone who works in education or an

Anyone who works in education or an education-related field waits for June with bated breath!   It always feels like there is not enough time and yet, time moves at a snail’s pace!  I work in an alternative school setting, so I work through the summer, but it is absolutely more relaxed and I am looking forward to the lighter weight load before I transition back into the public school system in September!

Needless to say, June was an absolutely crazy month for me personally, but, I must say, I had a seriously mediocre month for reading.

With life in the way and a full blown reading slump that plagued me for almost two weeks, I finished June with 25 titles read.

Keep reading to see what I read in June and, as always, be sure to click on the titles to bring you to the full reviews!

Discussion Series: How I Balance Books, Blogging and Life (Part 2): Dealing With Time

It is time for another instalment of my balancing books, blogging and life series.

Last week, I posted a typical daily routine (if you missed that one, you can check it out here!).   This week, I figured I would get more in depth and start answering some of the questions I have received surrounding making time and staying focused!

To start, I would like to be clear. People keep asking me to write this post and to share my secrets.   Truly, there really is no secret.   I do what works for me, so, that being said, some of the things I do will not work for everyone! So my top piece of advice, before I start my ramble, is to play around with your routine and adjust it to how it will benefit you the best!

I decided to take direct questions and answer them Q&A style for this portion of the series, so without further ado, let’s get into it!

BOMG Book Review: Her Surprise Engagement (Ashlee Mallory) @entangledpub @AshleeMallory

When I find myself in reading slump, I always find myself drawn to a good ol’ fashioned romance. Her Surprise Engagement by Ashlee Mallory was just what I needed to lighten my load.

Single mom, Daisy, still struggling with her divorce and financial troubles from her prior marriage wants nothing but a stress-free family vacation at her sister in law’s vacation home. This is thrown for a loop when widowed, soon-to-be Governor Jack arrives with his daughter in tow. Thinking he has booked the vacation home, there is nothing much to do but wait for the morning and deal with the mix-up. However, when the paparazzi arrives, having followed Jack, things take on a life of their own and before she knows it, Daisy finds herself in an arrangement she cannot refuse. She will pretend to be engaged to Jack and he’ll help her open the bakery she has been dreaming of.  What starts as a business agreement, soon becomes tricky, as the pair develop feelings for each other.

Discussion Series: How I Balance Books, Blogging and Life

Out of all the questions, I am asked on a regular basis, there is always one that is reoccurring.

I am constantly asked how I am able to get through so many books each week and each month.  I decided, maybe the best way to go about answering these questions will be to start a Discussion Series surrounding how I balance books, blogging and life!

So, I figured maybe the best way to start off would be to ask anyone if they have any questions for me to answer specifically regarding how I balance my reading schedule, blog and life.  Otherwise, I will just ramble on, and trust me, I can totally do that!

So, please, comment your questions and I will be sure to work them into several posts for the end of this week and the upcoming Fridays!

 

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #imwayr

 

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly post to share what you recently finished reading, what you’re currently reading, and what you plan on reading this week.

It’s hosted by Kathryn at Bookdate.

Keep reading to see what I read over the past week, what I am reading now and what I plan on reading this week!