My Book Reviews

It’s Amy’s turn! She’s my book-twin (we love the same type of jaw-droppers, or devastating reads), so I’m always excited to see her recommendations.

This year, its a short and sweet list (she explains why – and she’s got a GREAT plan for this year!!) but I loved a few on this list like crazy, so I know the others  she names are absolute MUST-READS for me!!

But first… some AMY 2018 “Life” highlights (in her own words) 😉

About food: I am OBSSESSED with meatballs right now. Turkey meatballs, ground beef meatballs, ground chicken meatballs, Swedish, Korean BBQ, Italian, even flavored with Lipton onion soup mix *drool*! They freeze well so I can make a bunch in advance and then just thaw them out. But tonight, it’s a fresh batch, and I can’t wait! read more

For now I’ll call her “Ashley D” (as we have TWO active Ashley’s on the blog) and this is our very first “Ashley D’s favorites” list from her. I just LOVE how she formatted it!! I giggled as I scrolled through her categories, ’cause it’s exactly what we need when we’re in the mood for something in particular. 😉

Ashley has been with us since March 2017, is one of our big “audiobook” readers,

“…I listen to audiobooks while I’m working and it’s amazing. I’m just being told a story all day long. I usually listen to them at a higher speed so that I can get through a whole book in my workday, it does take some getting used to – and you have to make sure the narrator is someone who you can listen to all day – but it’s worth it. The audible app on my phone is one of the best and most used thing ever. …I deliver mail and listen while I’m walking… read more

Nancy’s list is one of my favorites this year, not only because it has so many NEW-TO-ME books on it (that sound right up my book-alley) but because it’s a sweet tribute to our loving and long time friend, Kandace, who passed away.

Nancy: The year of 2018 was a very good reading year. I know from how hard it was to limit the books I want to put on my list. Having said that, I can’t make this list with out paying a dedication to Kandace. Kandace “Lovesbooks” Milostan was a Golden Girl in our book world. read more

This is Jenn’s VERY FIRST “Best Of” list submission, but she’s been with us (on and off) since 2013! Over the course of the last few months, however, she’s been super-active with us – she’s just started hard-core reading again – and through our fun chats and her book recommendations, and incredible reactions over some of ’em, we’ve come to know her (and LOVE her!!) so well!

So I though we’d start this amazing list with some fun trivia about her left in the comments over the last year.

P.S. If you scroll down to the bottom of this post, Jenn also shared something so sweet and personal to her, with us!! Two more of her favorites things. 😀

Let’s learn about Jenn (via snippets of her own words) 😉 :

I feel like a rookie being here as it has been so long as I have been MIA for about a year and just got back into reading;
I LOVE BABIES <3 THE HUMAN AND THE FURRY KIND 

About her new baby nephew: “…He is EXTRA special as he is sadly the last one.  none of my siblings will have anymore! In total though I have 10. (7 nephews & 3 nieces) My oldest nephew turned 24 today! My oldest niece 26 so hopefully I can get some great neices/nephews soon. Just don’t tell my brothers/sisters that…Teehee”

Had to say goodbye to my mother in law and her husband last night  as they left for Tampa, FL this morning in RV and they will be gone for 5 months, So sad they are breaking our “Every Sunday Dinner” Thanksgiving and Christmas traditions. I am going to miss them so much!
Tarryn Fisher she is my “crack”

You all are cracking me up with your “Alexa” stories! I have a funny, my husband got “Hey Google” so we were getting ready for a Xmas party and I hear him yelling upstairs so I go up there and he is screaming at the thing to play Metallica and he doesn’t understand why it’s not working and very calmly I tell him “ hon it’s not “Alexa” it’s “hey google”

I drink too much coffee so I am trying to make a healthy choice in 2019 and drink more tea. I don’t add anything to my tea but coffee it’s sugar and half&half, so to rid myself of all that extra sugar trying to only do one or two cups of coffee in morning and that’s it but that is so hard for me! And I absolutely can not drink it black.

All this talk about warm things with ice cream is making me super hungry but I also thought I would share my favorite. I take about a tbs oh hell who am I kidding-it’s more like 2 tbs and put in microwave for about 10-15 seconds and poor it over French Vanilla Ice Cream.. DELICIOUS (peanut butter anything is my favorite)

I loved spiral ham in crock pot, I do mine with pineapple and maraschino cherries on top of it and mixed the juices and poor over the top of it. YUM! Unfortunately my hubs hates warm ham but I still make it this way and than when cooled make him ham sandwich on ciabatta roll!
this month is a big month; My birthday is the 16 and on this day marks the 10 year anniversary of when we found out my hubs had cancer and it also marks the 7 yr anniversary of him being cancer free!!!!!!! …And It was truly a blessing how we found out too… He had a snowmobile accident 1/16/2009 and it was from scans and x-rays for his injuries from that we found out he had kidney cancer if it had not been for that accident gah I don’t even want to know. So although he suffered from his injuries it truly was a blessing. I don’t really celebrate my bday and really haven’t since that day….. I celebrate him….the only downside from all of this is he only has one kidney now but he is ALIVE ♥️

I am currently finishing up “A Place Without you” Jewel E Ann-I do not think I have ever laughed so much with a book that also is ripping my heart out! I can’t wait to finish it as most all in the BR have and of course loved it!
I am a blueberry fanatic, food, scents, candles you name it and still looking for the blueberry wine Amy mentioned. I have to have this. STAT 

Tasha-your number 1 made me super hungry-now I want breakfast food for dinner.

Amy-My wine chicka-you got me hooked on the blueberry one now I need to try the rasberry-Yum
DG-my coffee never does it’s job as I am immune to it I think; I can drink a cup and go right to bed…

Michele-I agree 5 day work week….not a fan and makes me sad too. I loved being home with my dogs and bundling up and going for long walks. It was awesome but short lived. By the time I get home from work I only have a 1/2 hr before it is dark so they only get a short walk. I will not walk them in the dark.

R-Velveeta/Texas/Vegetable that cracks me up. I don’t mind it at all the only cheese ruined for me (and can you really call it cheese) was the jar Cheez Whiz; as a kid one of our meals that I had to eat was poor man dinner and it was made with that-I literally will gag just smelling it.
I watch videos all the time and try to mimic the dance with the song as I am not a girl who likes to exercise so this is my fun way of getting my workout on.

“A Star Is Born” definitely a fave of 2018 for me too I can’t wait to watch the academy awards and oscars as they are both nominated! Oh and Bradley Cooper is actually nominated for more Grammys than Taylor Swift which I find unbelievable since he is really not a singer you know? Oh but he is! God I could go on and on about that movie-just loved it!

Another fave new hobby for me in 2018 is I started making Xmas centerpieces using wine bottles my MOM, step mom and mother in law were my gunniea pigs and honestly they all thought I bought them ♥️ So now in 2019 I have lots more wine drinking just so I can keep making them

My new furniture I bought on black Friday is FINALLY in and being delivered tomorrow-I can’t wait because that means I get to take the day off tomorrow from work-YAY ME

And finally made appointment to get my hair done this week-I have not had it cut/colored at all since March *gasp*

One of my favorite things is getting my hair washed by someone else. I don’t know why but I get lost in it. love it! I just want to get all these lighter highlights out of it; my hair naturally gets lighter on its own; I don’t actually ever pay to get highlights….in the summer I don’t mind them but with it being winter I just want my dark brown hair 

I am getting all weepy over here. I am a rather emotional person, my husband says too emotional but when I feel, I feel-that being said I ditto everyone’s remarks and espcially JulieO’s post. You guys are truly my rock right now and so glad I have a place to call home…. to laugh, cry, and escape in the awesome books we find. love to all xoxo

And now, her “Best Books of 2018” List:

Maryse-I can not believe this is my first “Best of List” I have ever sent….and I LOVE lists! *big sigh* Before I get to that I would like to thank you for all you do here for us! I have met so many awesome friends through you and your blog. I love all of you and you truly are *my home*. XOXO!

I realize this is not a list about why I love Maryse so much (*giggles*) but I do also have to say I LOVE when you get so EXCITED over a book you read, I bring this up because let’s go back about 6 years ago to your review for *The Sea of Tranquility: A Novel” it was this review, this book that reignited my LOVE for reading. So thank you so much for that! You gave me that gift Maryse and I love you for it!

Now on to my list in no particular order. It was hard enough picking my favorites I would never be able to put them in order. 🙂 I did not read to many books these last two years so most of these were released previous to 2018. I know I have comments for most of these Maryse on your site “somewhere over the rainbow” but I’ll leave that magic up to you to find and use as you feel fit.

So what I thought I would do is just share one of my favorite quotes from each book with limited commentary.

Tristan & Danika Trilogy by R.K. Lilley <— I remember when I posted on your blog that I was reading this EVERYONE went crazy and I knew I was in for journey that was going to rock me to my core and boy did it ever!

Bad Things (Tristan & Danika Book 1) <— Broke Me. QUOTE FROM BOOK: “I’ll never forget that for as long as I live; the way you were my strength, when I was too weak to even stand.”

Jean: OMG I am done with Bad Things….Not sure how my heart or ovaries survived! Near the end wrecked me as I was so focused on the H/H that I did not see that coming and it broke my heart! I’m kinda scared to start “Rock Bottom”

Rock Bottom (Tristan & Danika Book 2) <— Shattered Me. QUOTE FROM BOOK: “Tragedy never took its full chunk out of you right way. It always took a while to hit you head on, and sink in and for something substantial, some hint of the real feeling, the real reaction, to come to the surface, and this loss was not done taking its toll on us.”

Jenn: Now to all who said I was a lucky girl reading Tristan and Danika’s story well let me tell you;I honestly have been crying from 70% on (“Rock Bottom”) and currently I am at 86% and I am a mess…I am too scared and well it’s too much. I don’t want to read if what is happening here (Dean) completes itself. *Jenn hugs manny*; thanks Amy for lending him to me.

Jenn: Well I did end up finishing Rock Bottom because I had to know but it was a struggle. it took me longer to finish the lat 30% than it did to get to 70% I am so heartbroken for so so many reasons-”Jenn hugs manny again this time does not let go* The only reason I am continuing on is because Amy stated I will be crying happy tears at the end….so moving on to “Lovely Trigger”

Jenn: …everyone keeps telling me how jealous they are because of what I am reading but I got to tell you “Rock Bottom” was rough for me to get through. I love books that put me through the wringer but there was a certain thing that happened twice that I could personally relate to and when that happens I feel like I became her in those moments, living it, breathing it all over again and yeah so I’m just broken. I don’t want to say much more than that as I know some others on here have not read it.

Lovely Trigger (Tristan & Danika Book 3) <— Healed Me. QUOTE FROM BOOK: “I am the guy who has been in love with you for over six fucking years. I am the guy that has thought about you every day. I miss you every day. What happened —what we lost together— breaks my heart, but it doesn’t change anything.”

No Tomorrow by Carian Cole <— QUOTE FROM BOOK: “Don’t give up baby, I took a walk, but I didn’t run away.”

Jenn: Good Morning All- I finished “No Tomorrow” I’m sad because I never wanted it to end. To say I’m emotionally exhausted is an understatement! It was utterly gut wrenching and so beautifully imperfect. It was not an easy journey reading this but so so worth it.

…I read this at the most perfect time in my life! I’m still coming down and digesting the emotional highs and lows.

Jenn: I was late just last week; I woke up a little earlier than normal so I figured what the hell I would read a little, at the time I was just starting No Tomorrow and before I knew it I was late so late that by the time I made it to work I was 45 minutes late. The last time that happened I was near the end of How To Kill A Rockstar and for those that have read that know when I got to that part I was a complete ********* mess and could not go to work so I called in sick.

Drive by Kate Stewart <— QUOTE FROM BOOK: “Love doesn’t die, even when you stop feeding it. There is no expiration date on the ache of missing someone you shared your heart, life, and body with.”

Wait for It by Mariana Zapata <— QUOTE FROM BOOK: “One of the worst things in the world was watching someone you love fall apart.”

Jenn: OMG I have only read one Mariana Zapata books…”Wait For It” which I loved so much and I guess I didn’t realize she has written so many…looks like I’ll be coloring up my TBR  

Cold Cole Heart by K.Webster <— QUOTE FROM BOOK: “You can’t kiss away the horror, honey. It’s stained on my motherfucking soul.” Tears well in her stormy eyes. “I was trying to kiss away mine.”

Jenn: Did a BR of Cold Cole Heart with Michele G, Nay, Judy, Ela, Lisa however I think Ela and Lisa abandoned us half way through…not sure if they finished but any way so freaking good! Definitely for you Maryse! …And oh yes Cold Cole Heart was awesome!

Trailer Park Heart by Rachel Higginson <— QUOTE FROM BOOK: “I’ve been yours. For as long as I can remember. It was true when we were kids. It was true the second I walked back into town and realized you were still here and still single. And it’s still true. It will always be true.”

Waiting for the Sun: Waiting for the Sun, Part One by Robin Hill <— QUOTE FROM BOOK: “Baby…..I met someone!” (NOTE: I know these words above seem insignificant unless you read the book and if you have not read it you absolutely should…these 4 words meant EVERYTHING!)

Jenn: I ended my year reading “Waiting For The Sun” Robin Hill and wow! I am in awe! Such a breath of fresh air this was for me! I literally am still walking around with a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes remembering certain moments and just these 4 words… you know get me right in the heart! *“Baby….I met someone!”* I absolutely loved it…..so beautiful! Definitely will be on my very first best list…

To Have It All by BN Toler <— QUOTE FROM BOOK: “Vroom Vroom….Liam” (NOTE: I know these words may not mean anything to most but holy hell just these three words and I was a sobbing mess.)

Jenn: HOLY HELL GUYS-if you have not read “to have it all” by BN Toler you need to. I actually started this last week but did not read beyond the first chapter. Picked it back up yesterday and just started from the beginning and completed it in less than 24 hours.

I went to bed thinking about it, woke up thinking about it and even though I was at work could not focus on that till I finished. I may have picked this book for it’s UGLY cover (and by the way the cover is PERFECT as once you read the story it makes so much sense) but there is nothing UGLY about this story. Definitely 5 stars for me!

All Your Perfects: A Novel by Colleen Hoover <— QUOTE FROM BOOK: “Until then, I will continue to love you more and more with every struggle we face than I loved you when all was perfect.”

Verity  by Colleen Hoover <— QUOTE FROM BOOK: “Some families are lucky enough to never experience a single tragedy. But then there are those families that seem to have tragedies waiting on the back burner. What can go wrong, goes wrong. And then gets worse.”

Jenn: OMG guys I started Verity Friday night and woke up Saturday morning and could not stop reading it till I finished. HOW IS THAT BOOK A COHO BOOK, I can’t even tell ya I literally still have no words and still can not pick up another book and because of this I went on a baking spree this weekend…….my husband thought I lost my mind and I guess I sort of did in that book!

… I must say didn’t see that end coming and I felt like I was punched in the gut, slapped upside the head…rolled over and kicked.  I loved every second of it and two days later still can’t pick up another book…well I can but it’s useless.

Bloodstained Beauty by Ella Fields <— QUOTE FROM BOOK:  “I’ll breathe for you as you thaw and hold you as you melt and wait for the moment you ignite and catch fire in my arms. Stop thinking the story is over when you reach the end!”

Jenn:  …right from the beginning I am hooked!!!!!!
Maryse-In regards to Bloodstained Beauty; other than the blurb you posted I read nothing about this book and just went in blind. That is the best way to experience this amazing book. It captivated me from beginning to end as I am done now. It overwhelmed me, consumed me and yes had me questioning my sanity. (love when that happens) It was freaking amazing! Lived and Loved every word of it!

Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas <— QUOTE FROM BOOK: “What am I going to do with this girl? Just when I think I have her figured out, she pulls at me a little more. Just when I think I can’t stand her, and I can leave, never looking back, I turn right around and want to make sure nothing hurts her.”

Jenn: …I am not going to bed tonight till I finish Punk 57.  I honestly would easily have read this without stopping if it wasn’t for my crazy life…I am that into it!

Beautiful Hearts Duet by Emma Scott

Jenn: …I just have to say I love being in her world and the characters she creates…

Bring Down the Stars (Beautiful Hearts Duet Book 1) <— QUOTE FROM BOOK: “Own this love, Wes. It’s not just hers. It’s yours too.”

Jenn:  I just finished “Bring Down The Stars” I am in awe of this book and can not say enough about it. I loved it so much definitely one of the best books I have ever read!

Long Live the Beautiful Hearts (Beautiful Hearts Duet Book 2) read more