Review: One Day in December by Josie Silver

One Day in December by Josie Silver

Publication Date: October 16, 2018

My rating: ★★★★★

Oh my goodness, THIS BOOK! Pretty much from the first page I knew this was going to be a good story. There's something so whimsical about the concept of love at first sight, isn't there!?

I loved this story being told from the alternating perspectives of Laurie and Jack. Part of me thinks I would have liked to hear from Sarah's perspective as well, but then there would be no mystery. ;) 

This story is told over the course of 10 years and boy, a LOT can happen in 10 years! We get to walk through life with Jack and Laurie as they have successes and failures and tip toe around each other. This book is full ups and downs and missed opportunities, but I love that it's over the course of 10 years as we really get to KNOW the 3 main characters. There are some frustrating moments where you just want to yell at one of the characters and say "tell them what you're feeling!!!", but that just makes this book so much more realistic.

I was genuinely sad when this book ended and I already miss the characters. Highly recommend!

Review: Believe In You by The Cimorelli Sisters

Believe in You by The Cimorelli Sisters

Publication Date: October 15, 2019

My rating: ★★★

I should start off by saying that I am absolutely not the target audience for this book. This book is 100% for teenagers, but I've listened to Cimorelli in the past and am closest in age to the oldest sister, so I thought why not pick this one up!?

This book had a lot of great advice for young girls- if I ever have a daughter this would be a good book for them to read as they approach the teen years (woof). This book talks about everything from dating and friends to faith and family. I do wish this book would have been more about the Cimorelli girls' lives with individual stories, but a lot of the advice felt a little generic and repetitive. I really love how Cimorelli loves to build one another up and their positive outlooks on life, but I think I just wanted MORE from their book. Again, I am not their target audience and I think that plays a big role in how I viewed this book.

I highly recommend this book for young female readers!

Review: I Said Yes by Emily Maynard Johnson

I Said Yes by Emily Maynard Johnson

Publication Date: March 1, 2016

My rating: ★★★★★

I adore Emily and I adored this book! I figured I would enjoy this book considering Emily was and still is my favorite bachelorette! 🌹Emily's life pre-bacelor/ette days was so interesting that by the time she started talking about going on the show I had pretty much forgotten that's how she was famous! 😂 I love Emily's faith in the Lord and how much she talks about following His plan for us, not our own. This book has a lot of behind the scenes info from her time on The Bachelor with Brad, and her time as The Bachelorette. It made me want to go back and watch those seasons to look for some of the scenes she talked about. Emily is a very kind-hearted, faithful person and that definitely shows throughout this book as we get a glimpse into her life. I definitely recommend this book if you're a fan of Emily or even if you're just a part of Bachelor nation!

Review: Fake by Donna Cooner

Fake by Donna Cooner

Publication Date: 2019

My rating: ★★★

I'm not sure why, but I feel like doing bullet points for this review. Enjoy!

• This book stressed me out a bit. The idea of instant social media (as opposed to checking Facebook on my computer after the fact) in high school scares me! These kids have way too much access to negativity. Oof. Okay, rant over.
• I haven't been in high school for 10 years, but I still feel like it wasn't very believable. The main character is overweight, and the way her classmates treated her (telling people a wide load was coming, calling her names) seemed a little excessive. I know high school can be brutal but the kids in this story didn't sit right with me.
• Pretty predictable story and ending.
• I liked the overall message of "Be yourself". 
• Definitely not amazing literature by any means, but a nice little story.
  

I may have to just start doing bullet points for future reviews! Why is it that bullet points help me get my thoughts out better?

Review: My Best Everything by Sarah Tomp

My Best Everything by Sarah Tomp

Publication Date: March 3, 2015

My rating: ★★★

This book was okay. Just okay. I randomly picked it up while out and about one day, and when I picked it out to read it recently I wasn't feeling too interested in the story. It took me a little bit to get into the story and the characters- especially because it's told from Lulu to Mason the whole time. I'm not interested in the whole moonshine situation, which is one of the main themes in this book.

I never felt like I connected with any of the characters at all. The relationships of Bucky and Roni and even Lulu and Mason didn't really do much for me. I DID like the setting of this story- summertime in rural Virginia and teens being teens (except for the moonshine part, ha!). Other than that though, it wasn't my favorite read. 

Review: Forever, Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Forever, Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Publication Date: July 9, 2013

My rating: ★★★ (if I did half points, this would be 3.5)

I liked this book but didn't LOVE it. In this story we meet Elsie Porter and her new husband Ben Ross (we're talking they've been married for 9 days). Ben runs out to grab cereal for Elsie and is hit by a truck and killed on impact. This alone sets the tone for the book and just made me sad from the get go. Soon after Ben is killed, Elsie meets her new mother-in-law who never knew Elsie existed. This story is told in alternating points in time, showing the love story of Ben and Elsie leading up to their elopement, and the healing process for Elsie and her mother-in-law Susan after Ben has passed.

While the whole premise of this story is sad, it is a nice story that dives into the healing and grieving process. Anyone who has lost someone close in their lives knows that the healing process is hard, uncomfortable, and awkward. But it can also be freeing once enough time has finally passed. I enjoyed the alternating storylines so we could really get a feel for Ben and Elsie's fun relationship, though it made the storyline from after Ben's passing to be even sadder.

All in all I liked this book. There were a couple of things that didn't sit right with me that I can't really give away without spoilers, but altogether it was a great story! 

Review: The Hypnotist's Love Story by Liane Moriarty

The Hypnotist's Love Story by Liane Moriarty

Publication Date: October 1, 2011

My rating: ★★★

Sigh. This was not my favorite Liane Moriarty book. The concept was super interesting but it just fell flat for me. We find out who Patrick's stalker is super quick and I think I would have preferred to be guessing for a while! I found Patrick and Ellen to be pretty boring...the only thing they seem to really have in common is their stalker. 😜 My friend mentioned she thought this book could have been way shorter (shout out Sarah! 🤗) and I have to agree. So while I like the concept of the book, it just wasn't a very exciting read for me. 

Review: The Printed Letter Bookshop by Katherine Reay

The Printed Letter Bookshop by Katherine Reay

Publication Date: May 14, 2019

My rating: ★★★★

This is a sweet story of unlikely friendships and finding yourself in an unexpected place, like a bookshop! I had seen some other people say this book started a bit slow for them and I would have to agree. It did take me forever to read this book due to lots going on (see previous post), but I do feel like it still took me a bit to get into.

Having said all that, I'm glad I kept on reading this one! In this story we learn about Claire, Janet, and Madeline when Madeline is gifted a bookshop from her late aunt Maddie- the bookshop Claire and Janet work at. Things start out a little cold and uneasy as Madeline just plans to sell the store. But as time goes on and connections are made, we watch 3 pretty lost women find themselves through the bookshop and the community they find.

This is definitely a sweet read and I highly recommend! 💗

Review: Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover

Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover

Publication Date: March 18, 2014

My rating: ★★★★ 

Can I just say, Colleen Hoover just gets me. This book drew me in immediately and I finished it super quick! The beginning of the book took me back to college SO fast. Sydney sitting out on her balcony every time the mysterious guitar-playing guy across the courtyard comes out...that's just the dream, right?! 

In this book we get to ride the rollercoaster that is Ridge and Sydney. Feelings are flying all over the place in this story and at times it's a little hard to keep up! This story surprised me within the first few chapters, so I feel like I can't say TOO much without giving things away. Guess you'll just need to read it. ;) 

The main thing I struggled connecting with in this book is when Ridge and Sydney wrote songs together. The songwriting process is fascinating, but when Ridge and Sydney did it I just didn't really feel interested in it or connected to it (and I know I was SUPPOSED to feel connected to it, does that make sense?). I think I just found some of those moments to be a bit on the cheesy side. 

Altogether though, I really enjoyed this book! I enjoyed all the characters we met and am SO happy there are some follow-up stories with those people!

Review: If Only I Could Tell You by Hannah Beckerman

If Only I Could Tell You by Hannah Beckerman

Publication Date: February 26, 2019

My rating: ★★★★

Synopsis: Audrey's family has fallen apart. Her two grown-up daughters, Jess and Lily, are estranged, and her two teenage granddaughters have never been allowed to meet. A secret that echoes back thirty years has splintered the family in two, but is also the one thing keeping them connected. 

Whew. This one was a doozy. This story reaches in and tugs deep at your heart. This is not a boring estranged family story (is there such a thing!?), but it's a story of secrets, lies, and assumptions. I won't lie, this book flips around quite a bit, especially in the beginning. Almost to the point of confusing me. Not only are we seeing the stories of Audrey, Jess, and Lily, we are also flipping back in time to a couple different moments in these women's lives. The flip-back moments are VERY important to the story and help us see the big picture, but it did feel a little all over the place for a while.

I really enjoyed this (heartbreaking) story. I loved seeing each woman separately as it can make you understand that person a little bit...but then during the next chapter you get frustrated at the women you previously understood. Did that make sense? No? Okay, moving on. ;) One thing this book made me think of was, "secrets secrets are no fun. Share them with everyone"...did anyone else hear or say that at a sleepover if two girls were whispering to each other? Ha, it brings back such memories! Anyway, this story reminded me of that phrase because it is a great example of how a simple assumption and lack of communication can completely ruin relationships. 

This is a great story surrounding the relationships between sisters and mothers and daughters. It's not my cutesy love story type book that I really love to read, but this is definitely a great read (even if it was a doozy for me!)  

Review: A Love Letter Life by Jeremy and Audrey Roloff

A Love Letter Life by Jeremy and Audrey Roloff

Publication Date: April 2, 2019

My rating: ★★★★★

“One thing we wholeheartedly agreed on was that love wouldn’t just happen to us. We had to pursue it.”

I adore Jeremy and Audrey and I adored this book! These two write so wonderfully and descriptive that it made me crave all the fall things and want to pack my bags and move on up to Oregon. Of course that wasn't the point of this book, but it was a bonus!

Having seen bits and pieces of Jeremy and Audrey's love story over the years on Little People Big World, it was nice to read their full story in this book, with alternating perspectives. One thing I LOVED about this book is learning how creative these two have been and still are in writing their story. They believe in adventure and their intentionality in their marriage is inspiring! Jeremy and Audrey are both sentimental in the best way and that shows in the traditions they keep (letter writing 💌, visiting their trestle, handmade gifts, etc.) Here is my absolute favorite quote from this book (besides the one above) ⬇️

“It was refreshing to be with someone who complemented my nonconformity rather than someone who poked fun at my silly aspirations.”

YASS. There's so much goodness in that quote. I love that Jeremy and Audrey keep God at the center of their marriage and lives, and with that means they aren't going to conform to everything the world and society tells them they should do (or think or act or dress). I love this line because it displays how great it is to find someone who you can be 100% yourself around and you don't feel judged or looked down upon. THIS is what marriage should be, folks!

This book is for everyone no matter your relationship status. I loved all the ideas I got from this book for my own marriage and I will most definitely have my husband read this ASAP!  I could keep going about what I loved about this book, but I should probably stop at some point. If I haven't made it clear enough, get this book!! 💗

Review: Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay

Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay

Publication Date: November 12, 2013

My rating: ★★★★

I loved this book! 💖 For some reason, the letter writing format of this book made me nostalgic. I read a lot of letter/chat books (the TTYL series, anyone?) when I was younger so that in itself made me v happy.

I was impressed with all the Jane Austen references...though I admittedly didn't fully understand them all. I'm a huge reader but I don't read classics that much. It was nice to hear Sam's perspective in her letters throughout the book and see her connect with people who finally understand her (of course going through some duds first!) 

There were some subtle mentions of God and faith in this book, which I loved! I liked that Sam touched on her faith here and there, and we got to see her grow in that aspect. I have to say the ending felt a bit random, for lack of a better word. It seemed a little abrupt BUT I'm glad it ended the way it did. 4 stars for this one! 

Review: The Simple Wild by K.A. Tucker

The Simple Wild by K.A. Tucker

Publication Date: August 7, 2018

My rating: ★★★★★

Can I just throw it out there that there needs to be a follow up to this? I NEED a continuation of the story that is Jonah and Calla. 

Y'all I LOVED this book! I love that it took place in Alaska. The rustic, Alaskan setting is one I know so little about, just like Calla, so it was nice to read a story set in a different (for me at least) place. Calla's character was really fun and her obsession with social media was unfortunately very in tune with society today. I loved the overall theme in this story that there are more important things in life than the internet/social media. I think this is such an important thing for us to remember, so I appreciate this book touching on that!

The characters Calla comes to know as a second family in Alaska are so intriguing. Calla's dad Wren with his quiet confidence, Jonah with his sarcasm and constant banter with Calla, and all the other neighbors and co-workers who treat each other like family more than friends. I WAS a little worried this book would just follow the typical city girl meets small town boy story, but this story is anything but typical!

I could go on but I will save you from reading more so you can go pick up the book! :)

Book Review: In Between by Jenny B. Jones

In Between by Jenny B. Jones

Publication Date: April 15, 2007

My rating: ★★★★

This book was super sweet! It is definitely a middle grade (or early-ish high school) book, which I've found I love to read!

I typically don't love the teen angst theme in books (or movies for that matter). I feel like a lot of stories can take the "I hate my parents" theme way too far, and it's unrealistic and annoying. However, Katie Parker, our protagonist in this story, is... justifiably angsty. Does that even make sense!? Probably not. 

Katie has been living in a home for girls, and we meet her as she is being driven to go live with her new foster parents. We get to see this story play out from Katie's perspective, and she's so funny! If you were ever a teenage girl, you can relate to a lot of her feelings towards her surroundings. I was surprised at how funny I found Katie to be.

I really enjoyed the faith aspect of this story. Katie's foster parents turn out to be, naturally, a pastor and his wife! Her foster parents were very understanding of Katie's past and her reluctance to their faith. They let Katie come into her faith on her own, which I think a lot of people would appreciate.

The story fell flat for me towards the end a little bit. Not sure if I just got tired of the story itself or if I just got distracted by other books I started reading (I really gotta stop reading multiple books at a time but we know I never will!). This story still gets 4 stars from me. Check it out!

Book Review: The Art of Southern Charm by Patricia Altschul

The Art of Southern Charm by Patricia Altschul
Publication Date: April 18, 2017

My rating: ★★★★

*Happy sigh*

I picked this book up because I am a HUGE fan of the show Southern Charm on Bravo, and if you know the show then you know the lovely Patricia Altschul. (PS if you don't know the show, check it out! It's one of my favorite reality shows of all time.)

Patricia is such an elegant woman and the way she lives her life reflects that. There is so much great advice packed in this book; whether you're curious about how to dress, how to host a party, even some great books to read, and a ton more. Patricia definitely lives her life in a more traditional, elegant way that the world seems to have forgotten. I think there is a lot to be said about acting like a lady. I also loved hearing about Patricia's early life and the way things were when she had her son Whitney (who we all know and love/hate on Southern Charm).

There are a couple things about this book that I found unrealistic, which is the reason for 4 stars and not 5. For example, Patricia has a butler and assistants to do a lot of her organizing and admin tasks. Not a lot of people have this luxury and there were moments while reading this book where I felt a bit of a disconnect between things she says that should be done in life/around the house and the fact that she is not actually doing them herself. I can't fault Patricia for this though- I think a lot of people would have a butler and assistants if they had the opportunity! I still just love Patricia's attitude towards life in general.

I definitely recommend this book if you're curious about the way Patricia lives or want to hear about the traditional and elegant way of life. :)

Book Review: Why I Hate Green Beans by Lincee Ray

Why I Hate Green Beans and Other Confessions about Relationships, Reality TV, and How We See Ourselves by Lincee Ray

Publication Date: February 6, 2018

My rating: ★★★★★

Oh my goodness this book. THIS BOOK. This was such a fun and quick read for me. In short, I loved it!

Lincee's writing style is so relaxed- you really feel like you are just sitting around the BBQ while she tells you all her crazy stories. Lincee shares a ton of stories from her life in this book, and I like that she tells them in humorous ways (even the tougher ones). It's no secret that life gets tough, but Lincee looking at those tough times through a positive and funny lens is very encouraging to read. It's so easy to focus on the negative and it's nice to hear from someone who does just the opposite of that.

I won't lie, it's a little hard to do long reviews of non-fiction books (at least in my opinion). So instead of continuing to write random stuff, I'm just going to  tell you to go pick this book up! If you're looking for a funny, encouraging read that has some faith sprinkled in, check this book out. :)

Book Review: The One and Only by Emily Giffin

This review makes me depressed, but I can't lie to myself (or to anyone reading this) about how I felt about this book. Such is life.

Also, this review has spoilers!!!

The One and Only by Emily Giffin

Publication Date: May 20, 2014

My rating: ★★

Oh dear. I love Emily Giffin's books, but this one made me SO uncomfortable. I read this book in 3 days, not because I thoroughly enjoyed it, but because I was really (REALLY) hoping it would turn around and not go down the path it did. I couldn't relate to Shea too much because I don't love football nearly as much as she does. I like to watch college football games here and there, and that's good enough for me.

I started to get a little creeped out when there were notions of Shea being attracted to Coach, but I honestly thought that was as far as that story would go. Once Shea started ditching plans with her actual  boyfriend, Ryan, to spend time with Coach I started to figure out what was going on (ugh). Not only is Coach 20+ years older than Shea, but he's her best friend's DAD. I just can't. Oh, can't forget that Shea's dad was gone during Shea's childhood, so Coach basically raised Shea too. Stop the madness!

The ending was just terrible. There was some hope where Shea and Coach break things off in order to please Lucy, Shea's best friend and Coach's daughter (even though they made it sound like Lucy was such a terrible person for feeling this way. What!? Again, I just can't). But in the very end, Lucy suddenly decides that Shea and her dad belong together and that "she was wrong". I HATE this so much. Lucy was not wrong whatsoever for feeling creeped out by her dad and best friend "falling in love". Also, I can't believe at all that any girl in her right mind would just be cool with her best friend and dad being together. No. Just no.

I've read several Emily Giffin books and most of them I've enjoyed (some I've even loved!), but this is definitely the worst one in my opinion. I would definitely recommend some other books by Giffin, but this one just went to a weird place.

Book Review: Playing for Pizza by John Grisham

Playing for Pizza by John Grisham

Publication Date: September 4, 2007

My rating: ★★★

My mom LOVES John Grisham. Like, really loves him. My dad can never surprise her with a new book out by him because she already knows about it and most likely went out and bought the book on release day. I could say I’m somewhat like that with Nicholas Sparks and Emily Giffin, but not quite.

Anyway, I borrowed this book from my mom hoping to enjoy John Grisham as much as she does. I’ve read a couple other books by him in the past and I’ll be honest I was a little so-so with those ones. Unfortunately I feel that same way with this book. To be fair, I never expected I would fall in love with a story about football. I live in the Midwest where football is pretty popular, but it’s just not my favorite game to watch. I love football season with the weather, tailgating, etc. And the atmosphere of college football games is definitely something to experience. But a story about a football team in Italy? Really didn’t do much for me.

Of course the writing is good, it is John Grisham after all.  I feel like as the reader we get to know the main character, Rick, pretty well. However I didn’t find myself interested in any (literally ANY) of the other characters we were introduced to. Most of them didn’t seem to have strong enough personalities for me as the reader to connect to. This could also be my lack of interest in the subject of the book, so take my opinion on this with a grain of salt.

This book wasn’t bad by any means, just not my kind of story. I don’t mind a sports book here and there, but maybe I’ll stick to sports movies for a while. 

My Favorite Books of 2019 So Far (+ Mini Reviews!)

So far in 2019 I've read 11 books. To some that's a ton, to others that's ridiculously low. I'm proud of it considering I have a full-time job and am a wife and mom. I'll take 11!

I love using pen and paper when I can, but I have to say I LOVE Goodreads so stinkin' much. I love having a website/app to keep track of what I've read and what books I want to read. Currently my to-read list is at 159 but often times when I get a break from work I jump around in Goodreads and grow that list. ;)

Most of the books I've read in 2019 so far have been great, but some stick out more than others. Here are my favorite books I've read so far.

P.S. I Still Love You and Always And Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han

Published May 26, 2015 and May 2, 2017, respectively

I read the first book in this series at the end of 2018 and finished it up at the beginning of 2019. I LOVED this series so much and didn't want it to end! There's something so nostalgic about the main character, Lara Jean, and the way she lives her life. The love story between Lara Jean and Peter is truly adorable, yet a little frustrating and stretching at times. I had wanted to read this series for a while, but I will fully admit I didn't read it until after I had seen To All the Boys I've Loved Before on Netflix. I guess I can thank Netflix for giving me a reminder to read what ended up being one of my favorite series ever!

The Women of Duck Commander: Surprising Insights from the Women Behind the Beards About What Makes This Family Work

Published April 1, 2014

Well that's quite a title, isn't it? Long title or not, I will always love books by the Robertson Family. I kinda fell off watching Duck Dynasty towards the end of it but plan to binge-watch it sometime. The Robertsons are such a nice, Godly family and I always love hearing ways they make their lives work in this crazy world we live in. I think too often the "examples" of families we see on TV are not examples at all. It's always nice when Christian families are brought into the limelight and can be actual good examples of what a Christian family and marriage looks like. The Robertsons have been through a lot, especially Miss Kay and Phil, and I think hearing about their story of love and redemption is not one to miss. 

Beyond the Castle: A Guide To Discovering Your Happily Ever After by Jody Jean Dreyer

Published September 5, 2017

Ah, Disney. It's just a magical word. I mentioned this on my Instagram, but long story short, Disney is in my blood. My parents met while working at Disneyland, so I consider my older brothers and myself to be Disney babies, of course. This book is written by Jody Jean Dreyer who held over 20 jobs with Disney (yes, 20+!!) She gives so many insights into the values of Disney and how the parks run. I loved hearing about different departments of Disney as a company, and little secrets that make the Disney parks run smoothly each day. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves Disney (specifically the Disney parks) and are curious about the magic of Disney!

First Blog Post...Here we goooooo!

Song - Fear by Ben Rector

(I used to put a song at the beginning of every journal entry and I LOVE going back and seeing what I was listening to at that time. So the tradition continues!)

Whoa. How did I get here? Writing stuff to SHARE on the Internet? With strangers!? Or (possibly even worse) people I know personally!? Woof.

I'm starting this blog to document my life in a creative way. I journaled my way through childhood and off/on during high school and college, and I'm ready to try something new! I just want to make this first post a small introduction and what to expect on this blog...at least what I THINK I'm going to blog about ;) It could change!

As you may or may not be able to tell already, I'm Hannah! I live a simple life with my husband and son in Kansas. I have worked a full-time corporate job for 5.5 years (at this time of writing) and I must say this might be the one thing that has pointed me towards blogging. I love having a job that helps contribute to and support my family, but the creative side of my brain isn't getting as much use as I would like. So here I am!

I plan to document the happenings of my life and family and do plenty of book reviews. But I also want to dabble in product empties/reviews, fashion-related things potentially and even a Kansas bucket list!

Basically, I'm just excited to start my adventures in blogging and see where this takes me. Thanks for coming along for the ride!