Hold On, But Don't Hold Still

 N: Being sick has it's ups and downs. One up is that I get to catch up on reading! I am a pure fictional reader, which is why I have been stretching to the challenge of reading more non-fiction or helpful books. This was the first one I was able to read all the way through and I love it! Kristina really knows how to draw you into her life and feel validated for having normal feelings! She speaks to moms everywhere that are struggling with the life that is called of us. I was hooked instantly and felt like I had someone who understood that life as a mom is about moving forward and not getting stuck in the tasks of everyday life. If you are a mom, dad, sister, brother, aunt, etc. This book is for you!

The Best-Laid Plans

Back: Newton Hughes has long dreamed of pursuing a career in law, an acceptable choice for a gentleman of status and wealth. His parents, however, disapprove of his ambition, urging him instead to take his rightful place as a gentleman of leisure—with a suitable wife of their choosing, of course. 

Ellie Napper would like nothing more than for her parents to abandon their incessant efforts to marry her off to the greatest possible advantage. Her lack of matrimonial enthusiasm drives her family mad, but she refuses to feign frivolity in order to make herself more palatable to potential suitors. 

When Ellie and Newton are introduced through their mutual acquaintance, Charlie Jonquil, they commiserate over their shared plight. In desperation, they hatch a plan: Ellie and Newton will feign an interest in each other—enough to convince their parents not to push them toward unwanted matches but not enough to cause whispers or expectations. Their plot quickly spirals out of control, but the greatest complication is the one they didn’t see coming: their plan never included falling in love.

N: Sarah M. Eden has done it again! I can not get enough of her books and this one is no exception. As a segway into the final Jonquil Brothers book coming out in October, it introduces characters in a phenomenal way. I have waited so long for Charlie's story; Charming Artemis to come out, that reading this book was a nice treat. It's a beautiful love story between two young adults who just want the freedom of choosing their own lives. As they grow closer together through the story, I could feel my anticipation and worry for them. Yes, I want them to fall in love but wouldn't that be giving their parents exactly what they wanted? Such a great read and I would highly recommend all of Sarah's books!

More Than a Wife

 

Back: She’s getting back in the game, one blog post at a time. Samantha Higgins never thought driving her husband’s car would forever change her life. But one conversation later, heard through his Bluetooth, and Samantha is changing her last name. While trying to figure out who Samantha Decker is, she writes what she thinks is one final post on her blog, announcing her divorce. When the post goes viral, she finds herself with a new title, The Sidelined Wife, and an unbelievable following. To make matters more interesting, her younger brother’s best friend, Reed Cassidy, who was a thorn in Samantha’s adolescent side, moves back to town as the new head football coach for her son’s high school team. Unbeknownst to Samantha, Reed has harbored a crush for his old babysitter all these years. But, Samantha isn’t keen on dating anyone, much less a younger man that used to booby trap her bedroom with firecrackers. While Samantha is doing her best to learn and even make up some of the rules of single life and being a semi-celebrity, Reed comes in and changes the game. Now Samantha must decide if she should get back on the field or if she prefers the sidelines.

N: I stayed up until three in the morning reading this book! I finally finished it and am ready to move on to book two! The book style is definitely mature. There are references to intimacy and lots of flirting but all in a very clean, married way! I can definitely say that being a married woman and reading this book, I have been able to relate somewhat and laugh along with the humor. I just hope I am able to handle the dating phase of my children a little easier than Samantha does!

Back in Business, Book Dragons!

Wow, the time has gone by and books have been read! Passwords, however, have also been lost and so have recovery emails. Every once in a while one of us would talk about wanting to start the blog again but unfortunately, we couldn't even remember the email to try and log into so it never happened. Well, I am glad to say, with determination and lots of failed attempts, we got in!! I, for one, am so excited to start sharing clean and entertaining books with you again!!

Where do you spend your Tuesdays?

A big apology for all our followers. Life has been pretty busy for the four of us. Family, work, graduation, and senior year. The list isn't an excuse rather extended hope for understanding. Despite what has kept us away for so long, I have read the most amazing book. (Well since it has been a long time since the last post, I have read many great books since then.) The star book today is...

Back:

Tuesdays at Castle Glower are Princess Celia's favorite days. That's because on Tuesdays the castle adds a new room, a turret, or sometimes even an entire wing to itself. No one ever knows what the castle will do next, and no one - other than Celia, that is - takes time to map out the new additions. But when King and Queen Glower are ambushed and reportedly killed, it's up to Celia with her secret knowledge of the Castle's many twists and turns, to protect their home and save their kingdom.

C: This book was very refreshing. Most books in the market have romance in them. I am as hopeless as they get with romances; however it is nice to see another type of love in Jessica Day George’s book. Family love. Tuesdays with the Castle is a story about a family trying to save their beloved Castle. They bear each other’s burdens when news of their parents reaches them. The older two respect Celia’s connection with the Castle and look to her though she is the youngest. My favorite is the idea of the Castle itself. In my opinion it is a must read for all book lovers. Merry blogging and happy reading to all!

The adventure at the castle continues with Wednesdays in the Tower and Thursdays with the Crown. Visit the amazing architecture herself at: www.jessicadaygeorge.com.

Opinion and Evidence: Books trumps movies

Sorry about the neglect. However, in that time I have read good books. Two of my favorites are Alcatraz versus the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson and Love's Enduring Promise by Janette Oke.

My opinion: Books are better than movies.
Evidence: My family and I sat on the couch closely listening to the 4 books of Alcatraz versus the Evil Librarians just like one would be while watching a movie. However, we weren't actively destroying our brain cells. We could, or at least I could see the story unfold just as well as if it was on a screen.
Not to discredit the Hallmark movies of Janette Oke's books but I highly recommend reading the books. It is really different than the movie. Things are changed and left out but I do give credit to the director to take and make what he did from the books to the movies. However, my opinion remains that books are better than movies. That doesn't mean I don't enjoy a good movie.

What's your opinion?

Where to begin

The first book in a series called Infinity Ring is A Mutiny in Time by James Dashner.

{Continuing from this one, books in the Infinity Ring series:

 Book 2-Divide and Conquer, Carrie Ryan; Book 3-The Trap Door, Lisa McMann; Book 4-Curse of the Ancients, Matt De La Pena; Book 5-Cave of Wonders, Matthew J. Kirby; Book 6-Behind Enemy Lines, Jennifer A. Nielsen; Book 7-The Iron Empire, James Dashner (Available January 28, 2014).}

Back:

History is Broken

When best friends Dak Smyth and Sera Froste stumble upon the key to time travel – a handheld device known as the Infinity Ring – they’re swept up in a centuries-old war for the fate of humankind. Recruited by a secret society named the Hystorians, the kids learn that history has gone disastrously off course. Now it’s up to Dak, Sera, and young Hystorian Riq to travel back in time to fix the Great Breaks.

C: I loved the twist on history. James Dashner did a wonderful job staying true to history while at the exact same time messing everything up. I appreciated the originality to the typical time travel. A parent (or parents) lost in time and it is up the kids to  bring them back; however Dak, Sera, and Riq’s first and most important purpose is one that has affects beyond themselves. I am not one for books about time travel because either they are cheesy or they include unneeded additions like swear words. But this clean, original story has me anxious to read on and have history as I know it ;)!