Books – Page 86

Categories: Books

Book Review: Cancel the Wedding by Carolyn T. Dingman

Goodreads review: On the surface, Olivia has it all: a high-powered career, a loving family, and a handsome fiancé. She even seems to be coming to terms with her mother Jane’s premature death from cancer. But when Jane’s final wish is revealed, Olivia and her elder sister Georgia are mystified. Their mother rarely spoke of her rural Southern hometown, and never went back to visit—so why does she want them to return to Huntley, Georgia, to scatter her ashes?

Jane’s request offers Olivia a temporary escape from the reality she’s long been denying: she hates her “dream” job, and she’s not really sure she wants to marry her groom-to-be. With her 14-year-old niece, Logan, riding shotgun, she heads South on a summer road trip looking for answers about her mother.

As Olivia gets to know the town’s inhabitants, she begins to peel back the secrets of her mother’s early life—truths that force her to finally question her own future. But when Olivia is confronted with a tragedy and finds an opportunity to right a terrible wrong, will it give her the courage to accept her mother’s past—and say yes to her own desire to start over?

My review: My goodness, I loved this book. I wasn’t expecting to like it as much as I did, but it was one of those books I couldn’t put down the more I read it. I didn’t expect the interesting mystery aspect, the sweet love story, or that it would grip me as easily as it did.

The character development of this novel was outstanding. All of the characters were so likable! But they also had depth and failures and setbacks, which made them feel real. I was rooting for Olivia throughout the whole novel, hoping she would find closure for her mom’s death, figure out exactly why her mom wanted her ashes scattered in this small town, and discover that the life she has been living isn’t one that fulfills her.

My favorite part of this book was the love story that was nestled in perfectly between the bigger plotline. It was so sweet, and I really couldn’t get enough of it. Olivia and Elliot had such a fun rapport, such sizzling chemistry, and it made it hard to put down the book.

All in all, a fabulous novel and I’m excited to read more from this author!

My rating: 5 stars

I received this book for free from TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. All words and opinions, unless otherwise stated, are my own.

Categories: Books

July Reads

I had a wonderful reading month! In July, I read 9 books, bringing my total for the year up to 51 books and way, way ahead of schedule to read 75 books this year. I know I won’t be able to read 100 books, but maybe 90? That would be awesome! My favorite book I read this month was The Theory of Opposites and my least favorite was Executive Protection.

1. The Sweet Spot by Stephanie Evanovich – 2 stars

I reviewed this book on my blog for TLC Book Tours. I wasn’t a fan and my reasons why are apparent in the review.

2. Executive Protection by Jennifer Morey – 1 star

There were so many things about this book that I didn’t like that it’s hard to know where to start, but my Goodreads review lays it out very nicely. There was a lack of emotion in the writing, plot lines that were so unbelievable (and the plot line of a Harlequin novel is already pretty unbelievable) they made me laugh, and just… the writing wasn’t very good. It’s hard to be so critical of a novel when I sit here as someone who has not published a book, but I have to be honest, right? It had potential, but the writing was too weak.

3. The Book of Bright Ideas by Sandra Kring – 4.5 stars

We read this novel for book club and it was such a great read. I think we all gave it a high rating. I really love books that are set in the South and take place in the 50s or 60s. There is just something special about that time period for me. This book has a nine-year-old protagonist, which can sometimes be a detriment to a novel but it really worked for this one. It felt really authentic. This was the type of book that reminded me why I love to read so much. Stories like this make it all worth it.

4. Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White* – 3 stars

This was one of the books on my reading list. I think I may have read this when I was younger, but I wasn’t sure if I had. It was a super quick read, and I’ll admit that I skimmed a lot of it because the language was written at an elementary level. I’m sure if I was eight, I would have adored the book but reading it at 26? It was okay, but I could see why it is so beloved.

5. The Publicist by Christina George – 3 stars

I’d seen this book being reviewed by other bloggers – and they all gave rave reviews – so when I found out this book and the next book in the series were on sale for $1.99, I snatched them up. Honestly, I didn’t really love it. While it was interesting to get an insider’s view into the world of book publishing, I was really underwhelmed by the writing and the plot. There is an infidelity aspect and the author really tries to get the reader on her side to root for the romance, but I just couldn’t. I didn’t feel any passion, and the characters felt very underdeveloped. And, please, for the love of everything holy and good of romance novels, never, ever, ever, ever, ever refer to making love as a “sexual storm.” No. Never. Do not. Ever. Stop. STAAAAAHP.

6. The Theory of Opposites by Allison Winn Scotch – 5 stars

Oh, my heavens, did I love this book. I actually spent an entire Saturday morning and part of the afternoon snuggled in my bed, reading the second half of the novel because I loved it so much and couldn’t put it down for anything. It’s chick lit, but the main character never made me roll my eyes by being flighty and stupid. She had her issues (don’t we all?), but I really love the way the plot moved along. And I was super, super satisfied with the ending. A must-read, in my opinion!

7. Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner – 4 stars

WELP. I must say, I think I am becoming a Jennifer Weiner fan. The first few novels I read I didn’t love (Best Friends Forever being one I had to abandon), but I’ve read quite a few more since then and I’ve grown to love her writing style. Her books have the right amount of character development, smart dialogue, and a plot that makes me happy and sad. I’m a fan!

8. Shelf Life by Christina George – 2 stars

I wasn’t keen on reading the second novel in George’s series because I thought her first novel (above) was just okay. But I paid for my copy and I was going to read it! I was hoping for a better story, but this one was even more underwhelming than the first. It was suuuper boring and I thought about abandoning it multiple times (never a good sign!). I didn’t love the push-pull of the love triangle. I didn’t love the writing. I didn’t love the ending.

9. Cancel the Wedding by Carolyn T. Dingman – 5 stars

I’m writing a review for TLC Book Tours on this novel that will be up in the next couple of weeks. Stay tuned for my thoughts on this one!

How many books did you read in July? What time period and/or setting do you love to read about the most?

*Part of my Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge

Categories: Books

Book Review: The Sweet Spot by Stephanie Evanovich

From Goodreads: When pro baseball player Chase Walker first meets Amanda at her restaurant, it’s love at first sight. While Amanda can’t help noticing the superstar with the Greek-god-build, he doesn’t have a chance of getting to first—or any other—base with her. A successful entrepreneur who’s built her business from scratch, Amanda doesn’t need a Prince Charming to sweep her off her feet. And a curvy girl who likes to cook and eat isn’t interested in being around the catty, stick-thin herd of females chasing Chase and his teammates.

But Chase isn’t about to strike out. A man who isn’t interested in playing the field, he’s a monogamist who wants an independent woman like Amanda. His hopes rally when she discovers that squeaky-clean Chase has a few sexy and very secret pre-game rituals that turn the smart, headstrong businesswoman on—and into his number one fan.

Then a tabloid discovers the truth and turns their spanking good fun into a late- night punch-line. Is Amanda ready to let loose and swing for the fences? Or will the pressure of Chase’s stardom force them to call it quits?

My thoughts: Oy. This review is going to be a tough one.

I loved Evanovich’s debut novel Big Girl Panties. It was sweet and smart and funny. I knew what I was getting into this one since we’re introduced to Chase and Amanda in that book and their kinky sex life. (Chase is into spanking, which isn’t ruining anything. I just think I need to clue people in on this since it affects my thoughts on the book.) At first, I really enjoyed Amanda and Chase’s witty banter and the sexual tension they provoked. It was cute, it was sweet, it was everything I wanted from chick lit romance.

Then things took a turn to kinkytown and it lost all the sparkle it had in the beginning. Now, I’ve read my fair share of erotica and steamy romances so I don’t get turned off by that. But I slowly began to dislike the novel and the characters the more I read. Amanda turned from a self-sufficient, independent business owner into a simpering, co-dependent weak girl. And Chase turned into a guy I really liked into a whiny, self-entitled, smug jerk. It was just so hard to like them and it was so hard to root for them.

I wanted more story. The only plotline was about Chase wanting to find a woman who liked to be spanked, but whom he also had an emotional connection with, and Amanda trying to accept that she liked being spanked and to let herself fall in love with Chase. It was just… boring, after a while. It became too much about spanking, and not enough about the characters and their emotional development.

So, it wasn’t my favorite novel. The writing was good, but I found myself feeling a bit let down by the plot and characters.

My rating: 2 stars

I received this book for free from TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. All words and opinions, unless otherwise stated, are my own.

Categories: Books

June Reads

Happy Fourth of July to my American readers! I have an easy morning and afternoon planned, and then around 3pm, I’m heading over to my uncle’s house (he lives mere steps from the beach!) to celebrate the holiday with a barbecue and walking down to the beach to watch the fireworks. I’ve skipped the fireworks for a few years now (since I always had to work the next day), so I’m excited to see the show!

Today, I have an easy reading recap for you! I read 7 books in June, bringing my total books read in 2014 to 42. I’m currently 5 books ahead of my goal to read 75 books, which I’m happy about! At this rate, I should be able to read at least 80 books this year. Wahoo!

It was hard to pick my favorite book I read this month, but I think I enjoyed The Edge of Normal the most. My least favorite read was Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, which is one of the books on my reading challenge list for this year. I really wasn’t a fan and only finished because of the challenge.

Let’s dive into the reviews!

1. Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells – 2 stars*

This book was really hard for me to get into, and at the end of it, I found I didn’t really enjoy it. There were a ton of interesting themes at play (mother/daughter relationships, friendships, mental illness, etc.), but I never felt a connection to the story. I didn’t like Sidda all that much, and I really didn’t like Vivi. I felt like the language was super cheesy and very overdone (how many descriptions of a character’s clothing does one book need?). I went into this book knowing it was well-loved and expecting to enjoy it, but it just fell flat for me.

2. The Edge of Normal by Carla Norton – 4 stars

I loved this book. It reminded me of Gone Girl a bit because of the thriller aspect and not knowing what would happen next. But with likable characters! At times, it was hard to read because it involved many tough themes, such as captivity, rape, and abuse. But I zipped through this book, even staying up late one night to finish it because I couldn’t put it down! I definitely recommend this book!

3. Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen – 4 stars*

Oh, gosh, I really liked this book a whole lot more than I thought I would! I never saw the movie when it came out (I was only 12, after all), but I really want to see it after reading the book! It was a really quick read, as it’s only around 160 pages long and some of those pages involve medical transcripts from Kaysen’s time in the hospital. I wish there had been more chapters involving Kaysen’s time in the hospital and the other patients there because I found that so incredibly fascinating. It was not as dark and twisty as I thought it would be, but instead, shed a light on mental illness and psych wards.

4. In Search of a Love Story by Rachel Schurig – 4 stars

This was a really cute romance novel. I truly enjoyed it. It was entirely predictable and you could easily tell what was going to happen from the start, but I didn’t mind that. There were some things that happened that made me want to shake the character because she was being so ridiculous, but, all in all, a super cute novel.

5. Hot Pursuit by Suzanne Brockmann – 4 stars

This book (I think it’s the 16th in Brockmann’s Troubleshooter series) involved the continuing story of two of my all-time favorite book characters, Sam and Alyssa. Those who read this series probably feel the same way about these two. There is just something about them. And I got to read some scenes with my other two favorite book characters – Robin and Jules – so, safe to say, this was a book I wanted to keep reading forever and ever and ever amen. What can I say that I haven’t already said about Brockmann’s books? They’re top-notch, have the best writing, and there is always a crazy plot twist at the end. Another great novel from her!

6. He Found Me by Whitney Barbetti – 3 stars

I was really excited to read this book since it was written by a blog friend of mine! It was an enjoyable book, but it was a little slow-moving in parts. I also expected more twists and turns due to the description of the book (I thought there would be more of a mystery element). All in all, though, I thought the writing was fantastic and it was a really great debut novel. I can’t wait to read more from her!

7. Distant Shores by Kristin Hannah – 3 stars

This was an okay read. I think I had a really hard time connecting to the characters because they are in such a different stage of life than me (late forties, married for 20+ years, two kids who are in college). The wife realizes she’s spent more time focusing on her family and making sure they are happy than herself and what makes her happy. It wasn’t my favorite book from her, so I probably wouldn’t recommend this one.

*Part of my Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge

What was the best book you read in June?

Categories: Books

The Willpower Instinct

Way back in early May, when I wrote my reading recap for the books I read in April, I talked about a book called The Willpower Instinct, written by Kelly McGonigal. It was a thoroughly interesting read, and I took notes upon notes while working my way through the book. As someone who struggles with her weight, and pursuing other goals, I love reading about willpower, self-control, and how our brains react to different environments. It’s a book I could definitely see myself reading again and again because it was so insightful and also very well-written. McGonigal has a witty, easy writing style and I found myself chuckling during a few parts of the book.

Today, I wanted to rehash some of the lessons I learned while reading this book. It was hard to nail down just four lessons because this book was chock-full of insights that had my mind buzzing and things clicking as I related it to my own life. But, for the purposes of this blog, I’ll stick with four. If you’re intrigued enough, I highly suggest buying the book and reading it yourself. It’s worth the read!

Without further ado, though, here are four lessons I learned from The Willpower Instinct:

Lesson #1: We are primed to think about what we want to avoid.

It’s actually a scientific theory and it’s called ironic rebound. It’s the “psychological tendency to fall deeper in desire whenever a romance is forbidden.” So when you tell yourself you can’t have cookies, or use your credit card, or have fast food… well, guess what the number one thought you’ll be thinking of is?

What happens when we tell ourselves we can’t have something, our brain starts working in overdrive. One part of our brain works hard to keep us from thinking about that forbidden thought. This part of our brain is in charge of self-control and wastes a ton of mental energy performing this task. And then, another part of our brain is “looking for any evidence that you are thinking, feeling, or doing whatever you don’t want to think, feel, or do.” Now, this part of the brain has processes that are more automatic and they waste very little mental energy.

So, you can probably see what happens. We start overusing one part of our brain to not think about the thing we want until it gets overtired, and then the other part takes over. The part that’s only searching for those forbidden thoughts. Oh, that naughty brain of ours! So we begin to think those forbidden thoughts, push them away, and they come back – and come back with even more authority. And, “because you are trying not to think about it, its reappearance seems even more meaningful. As a result, you’re more likely to believe it is true.”

So what can we do? Let go. Stop trying to control your thoughts and just let them come and let them go. Studies have shown that when we give ourselves permission to think about a forbidden thought, it actually reduces the likelihood we are to think about that thought. THE BRAIN IS CRAY. CRAY, I TELL YOU.

Lesson #2: Self-control is not punishment.

I know I can be someone who rewards myself when I work really hard toward a goal for a certain number of days. Isn’t that, technically, what a cheat day or cheat meal is? Rewarding ourselves for “being good!” This is actually a process called moral licensing, which is when we believe we should “reward ourselves for good behavior if we believe that who we really are is the self that wants to be bad.” In essence, every act of self-control we pursue is an act of punishment, while every act of self-indulgence is an act of reward. Isn’t that insane to think about, but really so true? I know it is in my life. I tell myself I deserve that cookie for being good all day long. Or that I deserve this cheat meal because I was good during the week and lost weight. Every time I stay within my calorie limit, resist sweets, or wake up early to exercise is an act of self-control which can sometimes feel more like a punishment than anything else.

McGonigal writes: “Moving beyond moral licensing requires knowing that who we are is the self that wants the best for us – and the self that wants to live in line with our core values. We will no longer act like someone who must be bribed, tricked, or forced to pursue our goals, and then rewarded for making any effort at all.”

Lesson #3: Stress shifts the brain into reward-seeking status.

This was something that I found super, super, super interesting. Feeling stressed is a normal part of anyone’s life. Whether it’s work stress, relationship stress, life stress, whatever stress, we feel it. We all have to find ways to cope with it. And, in fact, the brain is working against us when it comes to stress because it immediately shifts into reward-seeking status and you begin to feel that the only way to feel better, or less stressed, is by having that reward. Whether that’s chocolate or shopping or mindlessly looking at the Internet, we all do it.

There are many, many stress-relieving activities that are effective (such as exercising, reading, taking a walk outside, chatting with a friend, etc.), but many of us don’t immediately think of those. Why are they so effective? Well, “they boost mood-enhancing brain chemicals like serotonin and GABA, and feel-good hormone oxytocin. They also help shut down the brain’s stress response, reduce stress hormones in the body, and induce the healing relaxation response.” But we tend to underestimate how good they will make us feel because “when we’re stressed our body will mispredict what will make us happy, so we often talk ourselves out of doing the very thing that will make us feel better.”

The only way to strengthen this muscle is to use it often. So the next time you feel stressed and feel yourself craving a candy bar, go outside and take a walk. Or sit down with a book for 15 minutes. Or meditate. Listen to music. Talk to a friend. There are many different effective stress-relieving activities that actually work to lessen stress that don’t include eating everything in sight or draining our bank account.

Lessen #4: Be compassionate toward yourself.

Here’s the deal: we are all our own worst critics. We beat ourselves up for not meeting a goal. We are hard on ourselves, way harder than other people are on us. And I think we can sometimes feel like this is the right way to look at things. To be super critical of our faults and not living up to what we expected of ourselves. But, in actuality, it’s not.

“Self-criticism is consistently associated with less motivation and worse self-control…self-compassion is associated with more motivation and better self-control.”

Interesting, eh? When we take a self-compassionate point of view, researchers have found, we remove the guilt and criticism and we can more fully reflect on our failure in a new light, allowing us to take more responsibility for our actions.

McGonigal writes more about the downfalls of self-criticism: “[It] makes your setbacks feel like evidence that you are a hopeless loser who screws everything up, and thinking about your failure is a miserable exercise in self-hate. Your most urgent goal will be to soothe those feelings, not learn from the experience. It drives you straight to comfort coping, like eating your feelings.”

***

There were so many other lessons I learned while reading this book, but I think this post is long enough as it is. If you’re interested in this topic (the book does skew a little bit on the healthy living side, but it’s really helpful for anyone who wants to learn more about how our brains react to self-control and willpower, and how to strengthen those muscles), be sure to check out the book. As I said, it’s very well-written and I can see myself rereading it in the future.