Tuesday, April 10, 2018

Show Us Your Books

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5310515When You Reach Me
**** / 4 stars

Quick Summary:  A young girl discovers notes that correctly tell her her future & now she's wondering who is leaving them & starts questioning if time travel can actually happen.

I saw this on someone's Show Us Your Books post & then saw it available on my library page for my Kindle - I snagged it up. & so glad I did. It's such a cute & fun read, but has a mystery that had me held in until I could get to the end & see how it wrapped up.

A good book on friendships, & families & wondering how time & space works & if time travel is possible.

I think the best part of this for me is Miranda, the young girl who is the center of the book, she's obsessed with A Wrinkle in Time - & a lot of the book centers around that book & that whole idea of time travel - tesser away ;) .... so as someone who just read Wrinkle, it made this book even more fun for me.  I also kind of appreciated it was set in the 70's! #groovy

This is a super fast read & is written actually for ages 9-15, which I am shocked by that because it was really good & as a 46 year old, I loved it myself - but makes me think it would be a fun read for a parent to read with their pre-teen.

"Common sense is just a name for the way we're used to thinking"




31450633The Breakdown
**** / 4 stars

Quick Summary: Cass passes a car in the middle of a storm & find out later that the woman inside was murdered. She struggles with wondering what happened - all the while, struggling with memory issues that are confusing her to the reality around her & convincing her the murdered is now after her.

I loved Behind Closed Doors & was anxious to read this book by the same author.
& I ended up loving this book more than the first.

I dont know if its because I knew the style of writing, but I was all about trying to find clues or pick up on things reading it - still didnt help completely. The end did take a little twist I wasn't expecting.

I was totally wrapped up in this book feeling like I too was loosing my mind. & was so anxious to see how this was going to turn out.

To me, this was well written & clever in the details & how it was laid out.  I really am happy about this one & ready to pick up more books by this author now.

{First Line}
"The thunder starts as we're saying goodbye, leaving each other for the summer holidays ahead"


35290429In Bloom: Trading Restless Insecurity for Abiding Confidence
***** / 5 stars


Quick Summary:  A insightful but humorous look at our struggles with insecurities that points the reference back to what God's word says to us about it.

I just love Kayla Aimee. I think she's like a little version of Angie Smith - she's just funny in her story telling, but real, & always has a good point of view on directing the struggles in life back to God.

This book is just a really easy read with different chapters on different topics - like fear, friendship, comparison... all of it with Kayla's dose of every day life humor & deep thoughtful points that will have you laughing one second & then a big "OHHHH" the next.

I read her first book & enjoyed it but this one, I thoroughly enjoyed & would recommend to all my girlfriends.



"One of the worst feelings in the world is to not be seen. No one wants to go through life unnoticed.  We all just want someone to tell us we matter."





732795Running - Getting Started
**** / 4 stars

Yes, I've run 8 half marathons & I'm reading a book about starting to run.
I just havent ran in awhile & I've never read any books by Jeff Galloway - who if you are a runner, you know he's a big deal with his style & method of running. He believes in doing intervals - changing out running with walking - for a good pace, & a healthier & safe race. He's pretty much sponsored by Disney races & is a big deal in a lot of the big races around the country.  So I wanted to read about his method from a beginner's view point.  Especially since I hadn't run in about 6 months.

I did get a lot of good info, some great reminders & I'm excited to implement his style when I start lacing back up.

The book is a fast read, nice to breeze through with helpful tips all through it.  A very simple book to go through.

I got this one from the library & glad to check it out.  I do know his web site has a lot of similar information but I've found this one is truly for the first time beginner runner.  & would be a good book to have reference to look back on.




25852870Eligibile
**** / 4 stars

Quick Summary:  The story of 5 sisters, mainly focusing on the two eldest of the sisters who have to take charge once their father has a heart attack & a mother who just wants to marry off each of her daughters to a wealthy man to take care of the family, while finding love with unexpected suitors of their own in unexpected circumstances.

I just loved this book - makes me want to read the other books in The Austen Project now.

I'm not a person who has read all the Jane Austen books but I've seen a few of the movies & more of the adaptions of the stories... so I had a lot of visuals in my head reading this - but loved the Bennet sisters in this & loved they tied in a show similar to The Bachelor to play along with it as well. 


Always love a Darcy character (though this one, I visualized the Darcy from Pride & Prejudice Zombies - which is surprisingly good actually) & I always cant help but picturing the guy from Bridget Jones too every time I hear the name. Movies will do that to ya!

I was actually sad to see this one end & will miss each of the sisters & Mr. & Mrs. Bennet & their own personalities.


A light & fun read with romance & family dynamics. Just a really delightful read to me.
 




"He seemed simultaneously like a stranger and someone she knew extremely well; there was either an enormous amount to say or nothing at all.” 


Tell me what book you're reading right now....

Life According to Steph

24 comments:

  1. The Break Down sounds interesting, I think I would like that one. Adding it to the list!

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  2. I'm glad you shared your thoughts on Break Down. I loved the author's first book, too, and this one is already on my TBR list!

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  3. Sounds like a lot of good books! I hadn't heard of When You Reach Me before but that sounds like a really interesting read.

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  4. Yep, of all of these. The Break Down sounds like my jam!

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  5. I saw someone else also recommended The Break Down. I'll have to put that on my list. Sierra~Beautifully Candid

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  6. I couldn't get through P&P but Eligible has been on my radar for a while. I think I might pick it up soon or at least switch it over to the short list! Glad your other books were pleasers, too!

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  7. When You Reach Me sounds really good. Adding it to my TBR. The cover of In Bloom is gorgeous. Although I consider myself to be religious, I typically avoid "religious" books because I don't enjoy but this one sounds less preachy and is on a subject matter that affects me. Adding it to my TBR!

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  8. I liked a lot of these too! When you Reach Me was so good. And I LOVED Eligible.

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  9. I love how you put a book quote with each review. I have always loved the cover of When You Reach Me, so now I'm putting it on my TBR!

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  10. I feel like I've seen When You Reach Me before but saw it was geared for middle grades so unconsidered it. It does sound cute though, so I'm adding it to my TBR!

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  11. I want to read the breakdown. Sounds good. I loved behind closed doors.

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  12. What a coincidence that the first book on your post just showed up on my Goodreads feed before I opened your blog!! Meant to be. Will order it right now. I struggled through Wrinkle in Time, wanting to read it before seeing the movie. Then the movie received such poor reviews, I haven't bothered to go see it. Maybe this title will redeem Wrinkle for me and inspire me to see the movie.

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  13. i really liked When You Reach Me! it was super cute. i am so glad you enjoyed Eligible! i love everything P&P as you know and didn't expect to like P&P&Zombies but I really did, including the guy lol. i haven't read any of the others in the austen project, i've not heard the best things unfortunately.

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  14. I'm reading "Out to Canaan" book 4 in the Mitford Series and I'm listening to "The Silver Chair" by C.S. Lewis. I just put the first book on your list on hold at my library for the audio version.

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  15. 8 half marathons is an amazing accomplishment!! I had never heard of heard of Galloways book, only of his training plans.

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  16. I actually feel the opposite about the BA Paris books! I liked the first one more than this one. I do have her third one from NetGalley so clearly I do like her books in general.

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  17. Eligible was so so cute! And I read The Break Down this month too and had most of it figured out well before the end. I have BA's next one sitting on my ipad ready to read and I hope I get to it next!

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  18. I liked Behind Closed Doors - wasn't one of my favorite reads, but I want to read Paris' other books. When You Reach Me sounds good. I was a big fan of A Wrinkle In Time when I was a kid. I've really been wanting to see the movie!

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  19. I have liked each BA Paris book more than the last, which is good!

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  20. I read an ARC of The Breakdown in one day last year. I loved it.

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  21. I've not heard of any of those books or of the authors. I am always happy to see some good reviews of new-to-me material!! Thanks!

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  22. This was a good book month for you! Eligible sounds like one I'd love. Going to see if the library has it!

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  23. I've heard mixed things about Eligible, but I should give it a try because I love Jane Austen :)

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  24. HAHAH Darcy from P&P&Z has the funniest voice! LOL. I need to read Eligible now... :P I haven't heard of the first one on your list, but I am intrigued! :) XO - Alexandra

    Simply Alexandra: My Favorite Things

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