Book Review: A Lot Like Forever

Happy weekend! Do you have any plans this weekend? We are mostly sticking around the house, trying to save money, but also trying to get organized before winter. Like squirrels. 

I'm getting my squirrel on, if you will. 

I also am getting through books like its nobody's business (which is good because I'm like 19 books behind in my Goodreads Challenge, so I'm not sure what my plan for that is), so let's talk about this one first.  

A Lot Like Forever - Jennifer Snow

Whitney Carlisle has everything under control—or at least that’s what she needs everyone in Blue Moon Bay to think. She has always faced the hard times in her life head-on and come out stronger for it. But this time, she isn’t so sure. Whitney knows she needs help, but how can she put that burden on Trent, her fiancé? How can she crush his dreams by telling him the plans they made for a future together have to change?

All Trent Connolly wants is to get married, have kids, and spend the rest of his life loving Whitney. Their relationship has had its share of ups and downs—like any other couple—and they’ve always managed to get through it unscathed. So when Whitney is clearly struggling with something, Trent is ready to help. His fiancée’s strong will is part of what draws him to her—but this time, it feels like it’s pushing him away.

Whatever Whitney is hiding from everyone has to be big. Possibly life-changing. She must believe that revealing her secret would do Trent more harm than good, even if it crushes her under the weight of it. The only thing he can do now is be there for her in whatever way she needs…until a secret of his own comes to light that threatens to steal their chance at forever.

First things first, this is my first book from Jennifer Snow, and how is that even possible?? I feel like I keep saying that lately. Even though this is book three in the Blue Moon Bay series, these are all stand alones, so you will be totally fine to start here (I did!). 

Easily my biggest pet peeve in a romance is summing a book up with it being a lack of communication, but that is completely what this one is. Unlike most stories, we already have our couple established, this story focuses around a secret that Whitney is keeping from her fiance, Trent. I liked the characters (seperately and together) but the entire conflict in the story is the lack of communication, and that kind of drove me nuts. Also spending a huge chunk of the book recapping or reminiscing about Whitney and Trent's relationship, and I wasn't really sure what the point of that was? I mean, the history of them was helpful but I don't think it needed to be that much of the book. I did like the friendships and how they supported Whitney when things were tough for her. I am also a fan of small town romances in general, so the feel of the book was comforting and nice to curl up on the couch with. I do think the first two books in this series would be a better fit for me, but the writing style of this one makes me want to read more by this author. 

Overall... I didn't love, love it, but I definitely didn't dislike it, so it's solidly in the middle for me. I do want to go back and read the first two because I think I might like those more. I am totally in the mood for more fall centered books, I'm getting into the groove of fall, even though I'm not about that life. 

Thank you to TLC Book Tours and Entangled Publishing for having me on this tour! 

Book Review: Bookish People

Are you doing anything this weekend? I'm just glad we have a long weekend. Olivia turns 17 in a few days, and I have some crafty things I want to do. I don't want to get crazy, but I might be listing some things in the ol' Etsy shop. I kind of miss doing that, I just have such a hard time managing time and it's hard. Life is hard, folks. 

Bookish People - Susan Coll

A perfect storm of comedic proportions erupts in a DC bookstore over the course of one soggy summer week—narrated by two very different women and punctuated by political turmoil, a celestial event, and a perpetually broken vacuum cleaner.

Independent bookstore owner Sophie Bernstein is burned out on books. Mourning the death of her husband, the loss of her favorite manager, her only child’s lack of aspiration, and the grim state of the world, she fantasizes about going into hiding in the secret back room of her store.

Meanwhile, renowned poet Raymond Chaucer has published a new collection, and rumors that he’s to blame for his wife’s suicide have led to national cancellations of his publicity tour. He intends to set the record straight—with an ultra-fine-point Sharpie—but only one shop still plans to host him: Sophie’s.

Fearful of potential repercussions from angry customers, Sophie asks Clemi—bookstore events coordinator, aspiring novelist, and daughter of a famed literary agent—to cancel Raymond’s appearance. But Clemi suspects Raymond might be her biological father, and she can’t say no to the chance of finding out for sure.

This big-hearted screwball comedy features an intergenerational cast of oblivious authors and over-qualified booksellers—as well as a Russian tortoise named Kurt Vonnegut Jr.—and captures the endearing quirks of some of the best kinds of people: the ones who love good books.

I am going to chalk this one up to bookstagram made me do it. I am SO GLAD I didn't purchase this one because I didn't like it. Not even a little bit. I've seen people mention how fun and funny it was, and maybe it was because I listened to the audiobook of this, but it wasn't funny. I honestly got to the half way point and couldn't tell you what it was even about. I mean, we've got a hod podge group of people working at this bookstore, we have the store owner kind of doomsday prepping for no real reason, a couple of employees who have adopted a turtle, it's just such a bizarre book with zero point to it. There wasn't any focus, the writing is just all over the place, I didn't care about any of the characters, so I never felt invested. The only reason this wasn't a DNF for me is because it was an audiobook I listened to in the background as I was doing other things. It also is pegged as a romance and it really wasn't that at all. It's more women's fiction... kind of? I don't know. This was kind of lame and if you're on the fence with this one, skip it. You can find tons of other options that are romance and feature the book world, because this is not that. 

Have a safe and fun Labor Day weekend! 

Book Review: Much Ado About Dukes

Has school started where you are? It started for my kids yesterday, and it went well for all of them, thankfully. I am trying to get myself into a new routine, which is harder than I thought it would be. Let's just say both today and yesterday involved naps that were longer than they should have been. Yikes. 

Much Ado About Dukes - Eva Devon

As far as William Easton―the Duke of Blackheath―is concerned, love can go to the devil. Why would a man need passion when he has wealth, a stately home, and work to occupy his mind? But no one warned the duke that a fiery and frustratingly strong-willed activist like Lady Beatrice Haven can also be a stunning, dark-haired siren who tempts a man’s mind, body, and soul.

Lady Beatrice is determined to never marry. Ever. She would much rather fight for the rights of women and provoke the darkly handsome Duke of Blackheath, even if he does claim to be forward-thinking. After all, dukes―even gorgeous ones―are the enemy. So why does she feel such enjoyment from their heated exchanges?

But everything changes when Beatrice finds herself suddenly without fortune, a husband, or even a home. Now her future depends on the very man who sets her blood boiling. Because in order to protect his esteemed rival, the Duke of Blackheath has asked for Beatrice’s hand, inviting his once-enemy into his home...and his bed.

I am kind of on a historical romance kick lately, and I'm not hating it. I have a bunch more spread out over the next couple of months, and it is a pretty good lineup. Let's talk about this one today though. 

If you are a fan of feminism and really head strong heroines, who are also incredibly vocal about it every step of the way... you will love Beatrice. For me though, it was a bit much, just on the edge of too much. If you are a fan of a man who is emotionally closed off, stunted almost, and mildly depressed/depressive, but at least honest about it, you're going to be a fan of William. Immediately this doesn't seem like a great pairing, it would be a "who wears the pants?" kind of thing, but oddly it kind of works at the end. Their communication is really terrible and it never really gets better, if this was a real life couple, we would all be telling them they need marriage counseling immediately because this could end real bad, real quick. 

I just had a hard time really liking Beatrice, she never seemed to really understand how she comes off to others and how that is maybe why people seem the way they do to her, does that make sense? My favorite parts of the book were things that Will does to help Beatrice and then I felt bad because it was like she never really thought about it beyond how a man should automatically want women's rights, and when they actively agree/support it, there should be no applause, they didn't do anything special. Which, I do get that but ugh, it just felt like too much real world came into the book and I always struggle with that. I read mostly to get away from all of that, take a break so to speak, so to then have it almost be the main piece of the book was frustrating. 

Overall, I liked the author's writing, I thought it was well organized and clear, I never had any moments where I rolled my eyes, if you know what I mean. I will definitely read more from Eva Devon because I like how she lays a story out and builds characters, she makes it easy to keep up with the story and I always appreciate that. 

Thank you to TLC Book Tours and Entangled Publishing for having me on this tour and sending me a copy for review. 

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Book Review: It Happened One Summer

You know I'm an outrageously enthusiastic, probably more than normal, fan of Tessa Bailey. I will buy and read anything with her name on it, I don't care what it even is. I know I'm going to enjoy it and this did not disappoint. 

It Happened One Summer

Tessa Bailey

Piper Bellinger is fashionable, influential, and her reputation as a wild child means the paparazzi are constantly on her heels. When too much champagne and an out-of-control rooftop party lands Piper in the slammer, her stepfather decides enough is enough. So he cuts her off, and sends Piper and her sister to learn some responsibility running their late father’s dive bar... in Washington.

Piper hasn’t even been in Westport for five minutes when she meets big, bearded sea captain Brendan, who thinks she won’t last a week outside of Beverly Hills. So what if Piper can’t do math, and the idea of sleeping in a shabby apartment with bunk beds gives her hives. How bad could it really be? She’s determined to show her stepfather—and the hot, grumpy local—that she’s more than a pretty face.

Except it’s a small town and everywhere she turns, she bumps into Brendan. The fun-loving socialite and the gruff fisherman are polar opposites, but there’s an undeniable attraction simmering between them. Piper doesn’t want any distractions, especially feelings for a man who sails off into the sunset for weeks at a time. Yet as she reconnects with her past and begins to feel at home in Westport, Piper starts to wonder if the cold, glamorous life she knew is what she truly wants. LA is calling her name, but Brendan—and this town full of memories—may have already caught her heart. 

Right out the gate, this was advertised as  "Schitt's Creek inspired.." and I am all in. I absolutely love that show and watch it over and over again, it's so underappreciated. Anyways. We have Piper, a spoiled rich kid who gets into trouble and as her punishment she's banished to a tiny fishing town on the coast of Washington. Because her sister is ride or die, she also agrees to go with her and she is a damn good sister. 

Piper quickly meets Brendan, who is clearly not welcoming, and her accomodations are.... they are straight up awful. No amount of Clorox is going to make this place alright, I don't care what anyone says. Piper and Hannah soon learn about their father who died tragically on a fishing trip when they were very young, and they start meeting the colorful characters of Westport, Washington and already, I am in love with all of it. 

Of course this is Piper and Brendan's story and I love, love, LOVE how their story is rolled out. Both of them have similar humor/sarcasm but in very different ways that compliment each other, which is what each other need. Piper has zero long term relationship experience and Brendan was married but his wife actually died a few years prior, so they are different in that area too, which leads to a little difficulty as the story goes on. Piper and Hannah decide to revamp and revive the bar their father was so proud of, so they are trying to do this all on their own with a very limited budget, Piper is trying to connect with the community and finds that she's quickly finding her niche, and of course, things are getting hot and heavy with Brendan. Tessa Bailey is known for writing great steamy scenes and she doesn't disappoint here. 

(Side note: I actually listened to the audiobook version of this and loved it! I will say, it's a different vibe having someone read these scenes to you versus reading them yourself. *ahem*)

Overall, I really loved this one. I didn't want it to end at all and I am ridiculously excited the next book is Hannah's book, I can't wait to start it. I loved the characters so much, I loved the plot, I loved how the little town is set up so you feel like you're walking through it with Piper and totally get the feel for it. I loved Brendan so much, he's a solidly great guy, and I was so excited that him and Piper are the focus in this one. 

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Book Review: The Highlander's Tudor Lass

I don't want to get cocky, but I was kind of a reading rockstar this weekend, more so than I've been in awhile. I've just got to keep up my pace, no biggie, right??

The Highlander's Tudor Lass 

Heather McCollum

Callum Macquarie would give anything to go back to the Highlands and Wolf Isle. Instead, he’s stuck circling an undefended English castle in too-tight breeches, longing for his bed and his plaid. But he has an oath to keep: to bring home the bonny Anna Montgomerie and her sister before that devil of a blaggard pirate Jundeau finds them first. Only the lass he’s come to rescue has no interest in going back to Scotland with him. Or ever.

To hell with Callum and his oath. Anna won’t step one foot in Scotland—no matter the danger. Not after what she’s left behind, and not while there’s a chance she can remain in England. But she has a plan. And the only hitch involves a braw, fiercely protective highlander who refuses to leave…and whose touch burns hotter than fire.

Now Anna and Callum are caught between the threat coming for Anna. Staying means danger. Leaving means death. And a blazing attraction that could spoil everyone’s plans.

I honestly could not tell you what the last book I read that was set in the Tudor period, so this was fun in that regard all on its own. This is part of the Brothers of Wolf Isle series, it's number 3, and while it is technically a stand alone, I feel like it almost would have been helpful to have read books one and two. The book is Anna and Callum's story, but it keeps mentioning that Anna won't go back to Scotland and while we do find out why, having no back story really made it hard for me to really understand what her dang problem was. So if you're on the fence, I'd recommend books one and two, which I am now going to read because I really enjoyed this one. 

With that, this book begins with Anna and her sister Dora, who have left Scotland and are now hanging out in England, in a castle, basically hanging out and helping Princess Elizabeth. One day though, Callum comes along, from Scotland, on a mission to bring both Anna and Dora back to Wolf Isle at the command of their older sister Lark. Anna doesn't know that pirate Jundeau is on his own mission to capture her, which puts her in imminent danger. She very much doesn't want to go back (she is basically wanted for the murder of her father, which I was so confused about, but it is elaborated on later in the book) and out of nowhere, a man of stature named Griggs proposes to her. Anna of course is just excited because she would no longer be on the bottom rung of economic status. It then becomes a waiting game on whether she will accept the proposal or go with Callum, while waiting for the pirate and his crew. 

With that, the story starts having some comedy and fun, and I was absolutely here for it. I totally LOVED Callum, and though Anna was driving me nuts at points because WHY, why, WHY FOR THE LOVE OF WHY would she even consider Griggs? Can we just all acknowledge he needs to be pushed off a cliff? Even the first appearance of him, I wanted to push him off a cliff. Sue me. 

Anyways..... 

I love how Callum give zero craps on what others think of him, he's just confident in his abilities and qualities, and he is absolutely the best match for Anna there ever could be. Of course, we know pirates are coming, and they do, and holy hell- Callum does the damn thing. It was so great, quite possibly the best action sequence I've read in a romance in a long time. It does have one real steamy scene and a couple of almost/we're getting there moments, and I was so thrilled. 

I absolutely loved this one, I can't wait to read more of this series! I also love the author's writing style, the story was fun and I didn't want to put this down at all, needless to say...... my family ate cereal for dinner and I never went to bed. 100% worth it. 

Thank you to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for sending me an ARC for review, this was an unexpected delight, and it makes me want to read a whole lot more historical romances, that's for sure!

I am going to include the links of the three books that have been released so far, I know you'll love them- I highly recommend getting all three at the same time. 

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Book Review: In Our Blood

I don't think I have to tell you that I specifically picked this book out because any book about someone's personal mental health journey automatically interests me. As soon as I saw this and learned a little more about her story, I knew I had to read this. 

In Our Blood - Caitlin Billings

When Caitlin Billings became a therapist, she did so with an intention to heal from her past. She wasn’t planning on a mental health relapse or an involuntary psychiatric hold. She was a mother now. A mental health professional. She thought the issues she’d faced in her past were dealt with, tucked away forever.

She was wrong.

Over the years, Billings contends with bipolar disorder while raising two children and fighting to regain her footing as a clinician. She feels she’s finally gotten a handle on her mental health when, on the cusp of adolescence, her elder child begins to struggle with disordered eating and depressive symptoms. Convinced that she is to blame for her child’s struggles, Billings pivots her attention to this new crisis, determined to keep it together for her family—but after it comes out that sexual abuse has taken place in their home, she questions her ability to protect her children and experiences a relapse. Amidst all this turmoil, her elder child also comes out as transgender, forcing yet another kind of reckoning. Billings must find a way to accept the many changes and unexpected challenges that have reared up in their lives—and, ultimately, to accept herself.

Trigger warnings: domestic violence, self harm, suicidal thoughts, eating disorders, addiction, sexual assualt, incest, assault with a deadly weapon... I think I got them all. 

I started this one in the middle of the night (are you seeing a trend here?) and I really only intended to read a couple of chapters and pick it up in the morning. Fast forward three hours and I put the finished book down and I think I said, "wow" totally outloud for nobody to hear. Well, Twinky (my dog) did but he didn't especially care. Since finishing this book, I have recommended it to no less than 20 people because it just hits differently. I think those of us who are parents and trying to juggle being a mom, being a wife, keeping a career, and struggling with our own health issues, we put ourselves last. We don't deal with the traumas we've gone through, no matter how bad, because someone else needs us. Nobody has time for mom to break down. Moms are supposed to keep it together. 

I remember when I had Lucy, I came home an absolute wreck. I think everyone expected I would struggle, but when it was clear I was really struggling, everyone was quietly worried in their own way, but nobody actually knew what to do. I was going to therapy biweekly, I was seeing a psychiatrist for mental health medications, I was seeing what felt like a doctor in every practice to manage my complicated health situation, but still, nobody really knew what to do with me. I didn't fit the mould of anything, and amniotic fluid embolisms are rare enough that there is no blueprint on what to do with us. I remember those first three years being the worst, and more than once I thought about checking in somewhere, anywhere, because I wasn't doing well by any standards. I never did, and I truly regret that now. I'm nowhere near in those years, but I definitely do come in and out of really awful depression and I think almost daily about what's the point of being here? Sure, I've got my kids and husband, friends and family, but once you look beyond that... what's the damn point? 

So while I definitely can't relate with Caitlin in much of her personal story, I definitely know what that really dark and scary feels like. To be so close to the edge you scare the hell out of yourself, nevermind everyone else around you. 

A quick rundown of the book is Caitlin is a licensed clinical social worker, who leaves college with the goal of helping someone, somewhere. She goes into this thinking that while she's helping others, she could also help herself heal from the trauma she had endured, which includes an eating disorder, being held at gun-point, learning her child is transgender but also has depression, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts, all while she learns she actually has a bipolar disorder. I mean, what a whiner, am I right? Of course dealing with your own struggles brings shame, and I don't care how much we try to normalize mental health, people definitely give you the look once they realize what you're trying to manage. 

I just really loved this book. It's well organized, it's written as if your best friend is writing you a letter explaining where they've been, and at times you also feel the weight of the world on her shoulders. You're rooting for her and her family, and you just to fix it all for them. As someone who has a child who has struggled with many of these same issues, I absolutely knew what she meant when she described the helplessness you feel as a parent because you can only do so much. Trying to help them, and yourself at the same time is a monumental task. 

Overall, I absolutely loved this book. Caitlin Billings did an amazing job pulling all of it together, bringing us into with her, while also showing us that it's OK to get help. Actually, it's imperative to get help because nobody else can do it except us. The world around us does go on even when we're gone and taking the time we need to work on ourselves is the best thing we can do not just for ourselves, but our family and friends, too. She really hides nothing, she pulls the rug all the way back, so to speak and it's beautifully brave. 

A huge thank you to Caitlin Billings and PR by the Book for having me on this tour and sending me a copy. You can learn more about Caitlin on her website, but also on Instagram and Twitter. As always, I will always tell you to pick the book up as well. If you, or someone you know, is struggling with mental health, this would be a great read for them. 

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Book Review: Ugly Love

Hey, hey! I'm starting to get the hang of the audiobook thing,  so I've been trying to listen to one between podcasts, so it's not the worst thing. 

Ugly Love - Colleen Hoover

When Tate Collins meets airline pilot Miles Archer, she knows it isn’t love at first sight. They wouldn’t even go so far as to consider themselves friends. The only thing Tate and Miles have in common is an undeniable mutual attraction. Once their desires are out in the open, they realize they have the perfect set-up. He doesn’t want love, she doesn’t have time for love, so that just leaves the sex. Their arrangement could be surprisingly seamless, as long as Tate can stick to the only two rules Miles has for her.

Never ask about the past.

Don’t expect a future.

They think they can handle it, but realize almost immediately they can’t handle it at all.

Hearts get infiltrated.

Promises get broken.

Rules get shattered.

Love gets ugly.

I have to first say, the voices on this? Were kind of awful. No, I shouldn't say that, the voice of young Miles was the absolute worst. The way he would say "Rachel" made me want to dig my own eyeballs out to shove them into my ears. And that is my least dramatic opinion on that. 

Moving onto the story though, it wasn't bad. I absolutely called what was going to happen long before it did, and that's because Colleen Hoover is predictable in that way- what is the worst thing that could happen to a person in the set up she's given us? Because that's what is going to happen, it never fails. I will say, I did like Miles, even though his reaction to the traumatic event seems a bit insane, I really liked him. I also really liked Tate, but I liked the chemistry between Tate and Miles so much more. Tate referred to herself as "liquid" and I'll be honest, that seems really strange, and just.... creepy. Literally the only highlight of the book for me was the Thanksgiving trip to Tate's parent's home, only because her dad reminded me of mine, so I got a good chuckle out of that. 

I will say though, the scenes with Miles and Rachel are pretty good, but then it gets to be uncomfortable when you realize these are teenagers and almost/kind of step-siblings, so its just really... I don't know. It literally almost ruined the entire book for me. 

Overall, this was just.... meh. Let's just say this was a borrowed audiobook from my library instead of a purchased book. Colleen Hoover is a toss up on how I'll like the book anyways, but this was SO heavily suggested, I thought for sure I'd really like this one. Alas, I was disappointed. I will say though, if you're a fan of Colleen Hoover, you will really love this one because it follows her recipe for a novel, but if you're looking for something different, this wouldn't be it. 

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