Book Review: Epic Journeys- 245 Life Changing Adventures

YOU GUYS. If you have a traveler on your Christmas list, or maybe someone who wants to travel bust isn't sure how to start, GET THEM THIS BOOK.

Epic Journeys: 245 Life Changing Adventures

From rafting the Zambezi River's 23 stomach-flipping rapids to hiking the Inca trail and sailing from island to island in Greece, the travel experts at National Geographic reveal the world's best adventures in this stunning--and practical--treasury.

From navigating the class-five rapids of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon to sandboarding the slopes of a volcano in Nicaragua to dogsledding in the Arctic, this beautiful and comprehensive book offers trips of a lifetime for explorers and adrenaline junkies alike. Filled with more than 300 vivid photographs, this inspirational guide reveals over 225 of the planet's best destinations for hikers, skiers, divers, rafters, and more. You'll also find everything you need to know for the ultimate epic journey: what to see, when to go, and what to do. Combining adventure with cultural experiences--for example, a safari through Madagascar or visiting the ruins of Buddhist temples after sea kayaking the warm waters of Vietnam--this one-of-a-kind collection, complemented by top ten lists and adventurer essays covering everything from the best hiking trails to the top wildlife parks, will lead you to new heights of exploration.

I really have no idea where to start with this book. First of all, I cannot tell you how many hours I have spent pouring through this book because I lost count over a week. I'm not kidding. I have gone through every page, spent even more time looking things up on the internet, and telling Matt we should do this. Of course, I got the "OK, sure thing" look from him but still.

You know when you're in nature, or maybe you're on a vacation doing a touristy thing, and you find yourself surrounded by something so cool that you never thought you'd see but here you are- looking at it. And all of a sudden you get emotional and maybe even cry? Alright, so that might just be me, but sometimes when I see something so geologically cool I get teary eyed because of how cool it is, how long it took to be created, and the sheer process of it being created is just so much.

That's how I felt when I read this book. Literally from page one when it features part of Zion National Park (which is on my bucket list!) and the hiker is looking up at The Narrows. I knew from that page this book was going to inspire me to go places.

The book is broken down into regions (South/Central America, Africa, Europe, Asia, Oceania, North America, The Polar Regions), but my favorites were easily Oceania and North America. Mostly because those seemed the most do-able for me given some of my health issues. But those pages are heavily tabbed off with some post it notes with some ideas, because I want my kids to see some of these things. For instance, I've been to the Grand Canyon and have done some of the things it lists in the "To-Do" section, but I haven't been to Havasu Falls and frankly, I didn't even know that was part of the Grand Canyon. Also, one page 331 it lists the Top 10 Adventures for Exploring National Parks. One of them is "slough slogging" (walk through wetlands) in the Everglades and honest to God, I might have to skip that. Alligators scare me and I'd probably pee my pants if I saw one outside of a zoo.

This book also gives you sample itineraries for different trips so you could literally have your vacation planned out for you. So many websites listed for resources, guidance on when you should go on these trips, and specific local resources to contact to get the trip of a life time. If you want to go on amazing trips but are overwhelmed with details and how to arrange it, this book is going to be your #1 resource. I highly, highly suggest giving this one a try. Also, the photos are undoubtedly amazing so if for no other reason, get it for the photos.

If you are a travel agent, you better have this on your table for clients to page through!

An incredibly huge thank you to National Geographic for sending me this amazing book as well as TLC Book Tours for having me on this tour! All opinions are my own and this post contains affiliate links. 

Book Review: Zapata

I hope your weekend is going well! Ours has been fairly busy already. Today we did a breakfast with Santa and then a "Elf Training" thing at the mall which was just a bunch of crafts. I'll have pictures to show you next week but the kids had a good time. I only made it to one store in the mall (Barnes & Noble, of course) but I didn't even buy for myself, so that was good. I feel like so much money was spent this week alone so I feel torn between "buy more" and "hold the hell up- we have another month before Christmas". Anyways. Maybe you're at home trolling the internet for no reason and that's why you're here, so you may as well read about a good book, am I right?

Zapata - Harper McDavid

When engineer Avery McAndrews is offered the Zapata project, she readily accepts. Despite the fact the Texas border town has a dubious reputation, she’s used to pushing past all kinds of stereotypes. The assignment is a career maker.

Avery’s work is disrupted when a battle for control of the oil production facility puts her in the crossfire between warring drug cartels. All hope for a promotion is forgotten. Kidnapped and imprisoned in a Mexican brothel, Avery discovers that her captor, Javier Ramos, son of a cartel boss, is more than just a power-hungry drug lord. He’s crazy.

As lead attorney for the Ramos Cartel, Alejandro DeLeon’s unofficial responsibilities include managing Javier. Cartel operations are threatened by Javier’s kidnapping of Avery, presenting a nearly impossible situation for Alejandro. But it is Javier’s cruelty toward Avery, that leads Alejandro to risk everything to save her.

With Mexico’s underworld at their heels, Avery and Alejandro run. Danger escalates in every new town as Javier offers a reward for her capture. Though for Avery, the greatest struggle is not the perilous escape, but trusting Alejandro, a man of many secrets…

So right off the bat, this is going to be a solid 4 stars for me. A little bumpy in spots, but overall I thought this was interesting enough to keep me engaged, had enough suspense to keep me wondering what was going on, but also a pretty decent romance that made me feel this firmly fit into the romantic suspense genre. Though it did feel a little thriller to me as well so there's that, too.

I've read a few other books with the centered around a drug cartel and I feel like you aren't doing your job if you don't feel like you're making the reader feel like they are in it. It needs to feel gritty, you need to feel like you're always in some element of danger, and Harper McDavid did a really good job of that with this one. When Avery gets kidnapped the book really picks up and thank god because that first chunk of the book felt slow for me. I get having to lay out information and set the scene basically, but that was a little clunky. After she's kidnapped though, things do take off and I feel like the story picked up substantially.

Disclaimer: this book does have some violence in it and description of violence so if you are sensitive to that... just know that going in.

One thing I really liked, a trope I haven't read much of, is the supposed bad guy becoming a good guy. Alejandro is the lawyer for the cartel that kidnaps Avery but once he finds out what exactly they are doing to her, he can't do nothing... so he does something. That something is probably my favorite part of the book and some of the revelations sets a good pace for book two, which I'm excited for. It's pretty bad to say this felt like it was realistic but let's be honest, this stuff probably does happen, and the author does a really good job at giving us a real heroine, not someone who does ridiculously stupid things to save her ass or in the name of love. That's the WORST, and this book does not have that, so for that reason alone it's worth reading to know it can be done.

Overall? A very good read. I would be all in for reading book two because there are some characters I'd like to know what happens long term. We got an epilogue in this one but still.... a little more wouldn't hurt. I think you're going to like this one.

   

A big thanks to Harper McDavid for sending me a copy of her book and TLC Book Tours for having me on this tour. All thoughts are my own and this post contains affiliate links. 

Book Review: My Billionaire Fake Fiance

I have my Christmas tree up. I've purchased gifts. I bought Christmas candy (and have eaten a lot of it already). I've got my card list done. It's safe to say I'm in the Christmas mood, so let's read some holiday books.

My Billionaire Fake Fiance - Linda West

He needs a fiance to seal the deal. 

She needs a Christmas miracle to save her home. 

A perfect deal is struck. 

Except they can't stand each other. And so our story begins...

But the fickle snow flurries of fate might have something in store for the odd couple they never counted on. After all - Christmas miracles really do come true. 

You know I love a good enemies to lovers story because that is a trope that, when done well, makes the book a fun read all the way through. While this was a cute read and had some fun moments, I think it doesn't get past 3 stars for me and I almost feel like I'm limping there. I will say, this was a pretty good book to snuggle up with under my freshly decorated Christmas tree so if you're looking for a quick, light-heated Christmas read, this might be a good pick for you.

I feel like I might be in the minority because it seems many people really loved this book so take my review for what it is, an opinion. Overall it felt a little hokey and over the top. Early on there is a dialogue scene with Devlin (our male lead) and his "Latina Goddess" Sofia and there is a line, "Stupid New Jork surgeons...I chould move back to Spain...". Now- I know the author is trying to give us the impression of a heavy, perhaps overdone accent, but come on. Let the reader infer that on their own and don't make me question if this is an attempt at an accent or terrible editing. I also didn't love Allie (our female lead) because she seemed.... out of touch,, immature, rude, spoiled, etc. I just really didn't like her. She wasn't very nice to her dad, and I understand grief over losing her mom but the dynamic there did feel good to me.

I had issues throughout the book that I think someone who doesn't read romance almost exclusively and a wide variety of them, would overlook and enjoy this book more. I'm all over the place and I read a huge spectrum of authors and romance types, and this one didn't hit the spot for me. I'm also someone who can't stand Hallmark movies of any kind, especially Christmas ones, so that tells you something about me, right? I think if you are a Hallmark fan, you're going to really enjoy this one because this is for that audience.

   

Thank you to Pump Up Your Book tours for having me on this tour and to author Linda West for providing a copy for me to review. All thoughts are my own, of course. This post contains affiliate links. 

Book Review: National Geographic - History at a Glance

Raise your hand if history class in high school was incredibly boring and dry.

All of you should have your hand up because it was. It was awful. Now if we had something like this to reference, it could have been a lot easier for students like me. If you a history buff, struggle in history, teach history, or just like history in general- this is your book.

National Geographic History at a Glance

Sweeping but succinct, this comprehensive reference presents all of world history in a browsable format featuring more than three dozen maps, along with hundreds of photographs and illustrations. From the dawn of humankind to today's global complexities, this book provides a compelling reminder that history is unfolding all around us.

The epic story of humanity on all seven continents is explored through a unique design that combines concise essays with expansive time lines that invite deeper reading on milestone moments, explained within the broader context of the era. The final chapter highlights such recent events as SpaceX's heavy rocket launch, the restoration of U.S./Cuba relations, and the historical trends that were the precursors to the state of our world today.

Informative and richly illustrated, this authoritative take on world history will be a compelling reference you'll turn to again and again. 

Do I need to tell you this book is incredibly beautiful? Probably not but I'm going to anyways- the photographs and images throughout this book are incredible and it's hard to believe any of this is real. Throughout the book there are visuals that hammer the facts home and really makes it feel like you were there and saw or experienced this first hand.

The book begins with The First Societies: Prehistory-500 B.C.E and the thought that we even have information of this time blows my mind. From Egyptians to Mayans, to maps showing us (approximately) what was happening when and where. Did you know the first Olympic Games are recorded at Olympia in 776? I did not, but that is amazing.

On page 107 there is an image with the caption of "Millions of Muslims climax their pilgrimage to Mecca by bowing in prayer at the Great Mosque before the cube-shaped Kaaba, their holiest shrine." and the image is breathtaking. It's taken from above with a city in the backdrop and though it's night the lights around illuminate the area so that it looks like daytime. That is how the Faith and Power section begins and it's a really interesting section to say the least.

The best thing about this book is that isn't just America and our history, its the entire world, much of which we know so little about. The last section covers 2000-to current day titled Globalization and Disruption and also covers the recent Women's March but also features climate change with a heartbreaking photo of a polar bear standing on a small remnant of snow. The timelines throughout the book are succinct and well organized, the images cement the information given to us, and you will not close this book at anytime without learning so much.

I'm a firm believer in everything happens in a cycle. It all repeats, but we can't do better if we don't know better and there is no better way to do that than study history. If you have a history buff on your holiday shopping list, or just someone who likes to learn about anything and everything, this is a great gift!

Thank you to TLC Book Tours for having me on this tour and National Geographic for sending me this incredible book. This post contains affiliate links. 

Book Review: Nothing to Fear

Romantic suspense is a genre I absolutely love but I forget about it every time. Then one will come along my desk, blow me away, make me think I need to be reading more from this genre and Juno Rushdan is doing that for me.

Nothing to Fear - Juno Rushdan

Fearsome Gray Box operative Gideon Stone is devoted to his work and his team. He's never given reason to doubt his loyalty...until he's tasked with investigating Willow Harper, a beguiling cryptologist suspected of selling deadly bio-agents on the black market.

He knows she's innocent. He knows she's being framed. And he knows that without him, Willow will be dead before sunrise.

Thrust into the crossfire of an insidious international conspiracy, Gideon will do anything to keep Willow safe...even if that means waging war against his own. With time running out, an unlikely bond pushes limits―and forges loyalties. Every move they make counts. And the real traitor is always watching...

Full disclosure: I have both Nothing to Fear and the one before it Every Last Breath but my review schedule is so packed I haven't gotten to Every Last Breath yet. It's absolutely going to happen because I really enjoyed this one. All that to tell you that it's going to be OK if you didn't read book one.

Immediately this book takes off- Willow is being set up for murder and Gideon is going to help her get out of this. A couple things I really liked about this book- Willow isn't your typical heroine. It's not really explicitly said but she seems like she has a high functioning form of Aspergers, perhaps? She's incredibly intelligent and good with facts and concrete things but interpersonal relationships and dealing with people and emotions? Not her thing. Not even a little bit. Even better is Gideon senses that and is totally OK with it. He feels like, for a variety of reasons, he isn't worthy of being loved/wouldn't be good for someone and I wonder if that makes him feel like Willow would be fairly non-threatening to that? I don't know, but it's safe to assume a romance between the two unlikely allies unfolds. And I love it. You know who they kind of reminded me of? That show Bones (which I absolutely LOVED) because Bones was smart and kind of awkward, and Seeley was smart in a different way but he was really the muscle. So if you really liked that show you might find some similarities. The oomph between them though is really, really good and you aren't going to be disappointed- a home run in the romance department.

I also really liked the fact that this story does not stop until the last page. It's one thing after another and I never felt like we had an awkward "lets fill some pages with nonsense" lulls, it was all pertinent to the story. The entire time I was trying to piece things together to figure it out, but there are a lot of action scenes that leave you reeling. I absolutely loved this and if you are looking for a suspense/thriller with some romance thrown in- you have found your next book. I'm giving you the purchase links for book one and two, even though each of them features a different duo of characters.

   

but also, consider book one, Every Last Breath

   

Thank you to TLC Book Tours for letting me be on this tour and Juno Rushdan for sending me signed copies! This post contains affiliate links. 

Book Review: For All The Evers

I haven't blogged it yet (I will soon) but this came in my Bookworm Box that I just got. The physical book that we got was by this author, who I wasn't familiar with, and this was the bonus ebook we got. I've been tossing my ebook codes out because reading on a screen is really hard for me and it takes me a really long time, and I don't know what it is about the text but it's wavy and I can't always understand what I just read... if that makes sense? Anyways. This month I thought I would try it and I don't have a device to read on so I was stuck using my phone. Which.. that wasn't fun at all and I had a solid week of migraines but by god, I got through it!

For All The Evers - Debra Anastasia

Fallen Billow should be in college like most of her friends, but instead she’s raising her brother and working as a housekeeper at a vintage local hotel. It’s back-breaking work, but not nearly as challenging as fending off unwanted advances from the hotel’s owner.

Thomas McHugh is fighting for our country, across the globe and decades before Fallen Billow was even born. So there’s no way they’re soul mates. There’s no way he can be desperate to see her, hold her, kiss her. Except there is.

Is it a dream when he inks his name on her skin? Is it a delusion when she puts her hands on his face and says she loves him? Nothing has ever felt more real.

Fate has etched paths for Thomas and Fallen that even time cannot touch. A Purple Heart proclaims Thomas’ valor and bravery. And his death. But Fallen dares to dream of the impossible. She wants Thomas to stay. Just stay.

A tribute to all who have served our country, this novel honors the impossible beauty of love and the endless power of hope. Come open your heart and celebrate the many facets of bravery with Fallen and Thomas.

I feel.... like I didn't get quite the "oh my god, this is AMAZING!" story that a lot of other people on Goodreads got, and that's OK. I got a 3 star book. I liked it, it was definitely interesting and... different, but I don't know that I would re-read it again, so in that respect I'm glad this was an ebook versus a physical one. It isn't one I'd keep for my shelf, I guess is what I'm saying.

We mostly focus on Fallen, who has basically become guardian of her younger brother who is still in high school, so finds herself taking a job at this nearby hotel because they are in financial dire straights. There mom is an alcoholic who comes and goes and is completely unreliable, so Fallen knows that while she might not like the job, she really has no other options at the moment. The job itself isn't awful, she's cleaning rooms and is assigned to the fifth floor. Her mentor at work, Desta, an older woman clearly in ill health, warns her to never ever take a nap in room 514. Just hurry up, clean, and go. The room is never booked so it's basically dusting only, but what a weird thing, right?

Turns out what happens is you have incredibly vivid, life like dreams. Not just your run of the mill dreams, but dreams of your one true love, a soul mate.

Weird, right?

Well that's what happens to Fallen and she meets Thomas. She learns that of course, Thomas died in 1945 during the war, and she spends a large chunk of the book figuring out a way to still be with him beyond room 514. Nothing is ever easy and he creepy boss, Lad, is the complete stereotype of red flag as he's taking provocative pictures of Fallen for blackmail and for whatever reason, decides that THEY are true loves and he "manipulates the room" to try to convince her of that. It's all really weird and I know I'm explaining this and it sounds like I've lost it, but trust me, this is what it is.

Everything goes to hell and there's a weird ending. And an epilogue we so desperately needed because I felt like the author builds us up over a ton of pages and then bam- done. It was weird. I also have SO MANY unanswered questions. I want to know what happens to Fallen/Thomas in the future, Lad, Nora, etc. I felt like the author gave us so many strings of plot and did her best but couldn't really tie them all together at the end. It's like a braid with a bunch of string not really making it to the end. You get hints so you could probably make your own conclusion, but I feel like that's the author's job- give me the conclusion.

Overall, it was alright. It makes me feel more optimistic about the book I got in my Bookworm Box, but not enough to bump it ahead of my other books. Which is kind of the nice thing about a book subscription box, I end up reading a bunch of authors I'm not sure I would have otherwise, and this is a good example of that.

   

This post contains affiliate links. 

Book Review: The Contract

Are you a woman working in a mostly male-dominated work environment? You'll relate to, and likely enjoy, this book.

The Contract - Sheila Grinell

Joanna and Ev have been partners for ten years―in business and in love―when one of the only women in government in the Middle East invites their firm to design a children’s museum in Riyadh. Jo sees a chance to solidify her name in the design world, and help Saudi girls along the way, in the venture. Her husband, however, has no desire to work in a vigorously policed society; he prefers to remain in his workshop, fashioning gadgets for museum displays. Jo’s sister and young protégé share his doubts, but Ev accedes to Jo’s wishes. The process of bidding on the job soon throws their home office into chaos and challenges their long-held assumptions about the value of their work―and marriage. If they get the job, will their partnership survive the strain?

Can I just start by saying I really love this cover? You shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but I do and I'm not even ashamed. I love this cover.

I originally agreed to review this book because I don't really know much about Saudi Arabian culture let alone how it would be as a woman working with men there when that's almost unheard of. The challenge Jo would face obviously are huge, but I didn't really think really think about how that culture would bleed into her relationship with Ev almost. Jo and Ev are partners in every sense but this new job for Jo throws a wrench into everything despite best intentions.

Let's talk some negatives for me first. I thought the book was a little slow and sometimes I had a hard time sticking with it, though I'm glad I did. At times I felt Jo was kind of..... I felt like she wasn't always cognizant of everyone else around her. She is very focused on her goal and she didn't always consider the impact it would have on others.

With that, I really liked how this book covered working in a new cultural environment. There are moments where it gets a little awkward or a little intense, and sometimes confusing if you aren't familiar with the culture (things that would be considered disrespectful here are not that way there and vice versa) , but I think the author did a good job at highlighting that without it overwhelming the story. I liked the tension and subtle lessons about marriage throughout the book, specifically about how important communication is, how important compromise is, and how you have to work at it. How a good marriage is consistent, steady, never ending work. Also, there's this theme of having realistic goals and expectations not just for each other but for yourself as well. Personally it was a good reminder for me in my marriage. I went into this book thinking this was a work related/professional development kind of novel and it was... kind of... but I felt like it was more about personal and relationship development in a way. So all of that to say the character development is really good.

Overall, I really liked this. I would give it a solid 4 stars. I was a little worried because it was slow in some spots but when you get to the meat of the story, it's really very good and I think so many can relate to it. It would make for an excellent book club pick and also includes some reader discussion questions at the end to get your meeting started.

   

A big thank you to She Writes Press for sending me a copy of this and McKinney PR for inviting me on this tour. This post contains affiliate links.