tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51837849373421285522024-03-13T14:30:36.909-07:00waiting on sunday to drownMusings on my life, crafts, cooking, books (especially books!), bath products and more. I'm open to doing reviews, author interviews, guest posts.engelsighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08705147086016919387noreply@blogger.comBlogger845125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5183784937342128552.post-42001545015479372632023-02-09T20:59:00.002-08:002023-02-20T19:39:43.578-08:00Around the World Reading Challenge'<p><span style="font-family: arial;">For now, I'm not planning to retro any books...I've read books from different countries, but for now I want to start over. I may eventually go back and add some previous reads.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Afghanistan: </span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Albania: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Algeria: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Andorra: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Angola: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Antigua & Barbuda: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Argentina: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Armenia: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 125.4pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Australia: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Austria: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Azerbaijan: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Bahamas: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Bahrain: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Bangladesh: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Barbados: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Belarus: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Belgium: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Belize: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Benin: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Bhutan: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Bolivia: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Bosnia & Herzegovina: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Botswana: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Brazil: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Brunei: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Bulgaria: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Burkina Faso:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Burundi: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Cambodia: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Cameroon: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Canada: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Cape Verde: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Central African Republic: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Chad: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Chile: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">China: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Colombia: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Comoros: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Congo: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Costa Rica: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Cote d'Ivoire: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Croatia: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Cuba: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Cyprus: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Czech Republic: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Denmark: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Djibouti: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Dominica: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Dominican Republic: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">East Timor (Timor-Leste): <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Ecuador: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Egypt: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">El Salvador: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Equatorial Guinea: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Eritrea: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Estonia: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Ethiopia: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Fiji: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Finland: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">France: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Gabon: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Gambia: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Georgia: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Germany: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Ghana: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Greece: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Grenada: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Guatemala: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Guinea: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Guinea-Bissau: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Guyana: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Haiti: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Honduras: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hungary: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Iceland: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">India: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Indonesia: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Iran: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Iraq: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Ireland: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Israel:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Italy: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Jamaica: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Japan:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Jordan:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Kazakhstan: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Kenya: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Kiribati: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Korea (North): <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Korea (South): <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Kosovo: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Kuwait: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Kyrgyzstan: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Laos: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Latvia: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Lebanon: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Lesotho: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Liberia: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Libya: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Liechtenstein: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Lithuania:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Luxembourg: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Macedonia: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Madagascar: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Malawi: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Malaysia: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Maldives: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Mali: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Malta: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Marshall Islands: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Mauritania: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Mauritius: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Mexico: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Micronesia: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Moldova: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Monaco: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Mongolia: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Montenegro: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Morocco: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Mozambique: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Myanmar (Burma): <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Namibia: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Nauru: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Nepal: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Netherlands: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">New Zealand: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Nicaragua: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Niger: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Nigeria: <a href="https://amzn.to/3lT9EYJ">The Girl With the Louding Voice</a> by <o:p></o:p><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;">Abi Daré 2/20/2023</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Norway: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Oman: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Pakistan: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Palau: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Panama: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Papua New Guinea: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Paraguay: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Peru: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Philippines: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Poland: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Portugal: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Qatar: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Romania: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Russia: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Rwanda: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Saint Kitts & Nevis: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Saint Lucia: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">St. Vincent & Grenadines: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Samoa: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">San Marino: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Sao Tome & Principe: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Saudi Arabia: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Senegal: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Serbia:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Seychelles: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Sierra Leone: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Singapore: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Slovakia: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Slovenia: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Solomon Islands: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Somalia: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">South Africa: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">South Sudan: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Spain: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Sri Lanka: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Sudan: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Suriname: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Swaziland: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Sweden: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Switzerland: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Syria: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Taiwan: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Tajikistan: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Tanzania: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Thailand: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Togo: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Tonga: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Trinidad & Tobago: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Tunisia: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Turkey: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Turkmenistan: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Tuvalu: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Uganda: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Ukraine: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">United Arab Emirates: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">United Kingdom: </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">U.S.A.: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Uruguay: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Uzbekistan: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Vanuatu: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Vatican City: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Venezuela: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Vietnam: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Yemen: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Zambia: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Zimbabwe:<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>engelsighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08705147086016919387noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5183784937342128552.post-25300706638453637442022-12-16T07:48:00.001-08:002022-12-16T07:48:40.097-08:00My 2023 TBR Challenge books<p>This year I have decided to take part in the 10th Annual <a href="https://adambwriter.com/2022/11/21/sign-ups-the-tbr-pile-challenge-turns-ten-tbryear10/" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">The Roof Beam Reader TBR Challenge</a>. Click the link to sign up on his page. The books have to be over a year old. You post your books in advance and can read in any order. </p><p><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=17HIghswBrDbR0rYJ7kI7WE1FrT5O3UkV" width="300" height="300"><br></p><p><br></p><p>My Book Choices are:</p><p><b>Main list</b></p><p>1. Detectives Don’t Wear Seatbelts by CiCi McNair</p><p>2. Persuasion: The Art of Influencing People by James Borg</p><p>3. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R Covey</p><p>4. Women Who Run With The Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes</p><p>5. The Thorn Necklace by Francesca Lia Block</p><p>6. Rebel Girls by Elizabeth Keenan</p><p>7. Healing States by Alberto Villoldo</p><p>8. Simple Dreams by Linda Ronstadt</p><p>9. Toil & Trouble by Jessica Spotswood</p><p>10.Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova </p><p>11.Kentucky Traveler by Ricky Skaggs</p><p>12.You’re Welcome Universe by Whitney Gardner </p><p><br></p><p>Alternate List:</p><p>1. Spook by Mary Roach</p><p>2. Cold Days by Jim Butcher</p>engelsighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08705147086016919387noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5183784937342128552.post-55827286344750645742022-12-03T13:09:00.002-08:002022-12-03T13:09:23.474-08:00My Spotify 2022 Wrapped Playlist of Most played songs<p>Chakras -Qveen Herby</p><p>Savage Daughter - Sarah Hester Ross</p><p>Sade in the 90's - Qveen Herby</p><p>Maybe You're The Problem - Ava Max</p><p>Self Aware - Qveen Herby</p><p>Oh Girl - Paul Young</p><p>Godless - Banks</p><p>I'll Be Here Where the Heart Is - Kim Carnes</p><p>Send Me An Angel - Scropions</p><p>Vitamins - Qveen Herby</p><p>Rhiannon - Fleetwood Mac</p><p>If We Were Made of Water - Banks</p><p>Crystal - Stevie Nicks</p><p>Wifey- Qveen Herby</p><p>Hey Jealousy - The Gin Blossoms</p><p>Lovesong - The Cure</p><p>Here Comes the Night - Agnes</p><p>Mint - Qveen Herby</p><p>How Villains are Made - Madalen Duke</p><p>The Dolphin's Cry - Live</p><p>I Scare Myself - Beth Crowley</p><p>I am not a woman, I'm a God - Halsey</p><p>Naughty Girl - Qveen Herby</p><p>Gemini Feed - Banks</p><p>Midnight Sky - Miley Cyrus</p><p>I Am - Baby Tate</p><p>Bats in the Belfry - Qveen Herby</p><p>My Head & My Heart - Ava Max</p><p>The Devil - Banks</p><p>Talk to Me - Apocalyptica with Lzzy Hale</p><p>So Hot You're Hurting My Feelings- Caroline Polachek</p><p>Angels Like You -Miley Cyrus</p><p>Santa Monica - Everclear</p><p>If You Could Only See - Tonic</p><p>I Am the Fire - Halestorm</p><p>Freaking Me Out - Ava Max</p><p>Bad Girl - Daya</p><p>#1 Crush - Garbage</p><p>Joey - Concrete Blonds</p><p>Rooms on Fire - Stevie Nicks</p><p>Found Out About You - Gin Blossoms</p><p>Private Parts - Halestorm</p><p>I Alone - Live</p><p>I Want Love - Jessie J</p><p>Until I Fall Away - Gin Blossoms</p><p>Alone - Heart</p><p>Every Time You Go Away - Paul Young</p><p>Rich Girl Mood - Dounia</p><p>Heaven Beside You - Alice in Chains</p><p>Gypsy - Fleedwood Mac</p><p>Older - Sasha Alex Sloan</p><p>Bad Habits - Ed Sheeran</p><p>Death by Rock And Roll - The Pretty Reckless</p><p>Edge of Midnight - Miley Cyrus, Stevie Nicks</p><p>The Steeple - Halestorm</p><p>When You're Gone - The Cranberries</p><p>Love My Way - Psychedelic Furs</p><p>Broken Pieces - Apocalyptica, Lacey</p><p>Til I Hear It From You - Gin Blossoms</p><p>I Still Do - The Cranberries</p><p>I Found Someone - Cher</p><p>Praying - Kesha</p><p>Rest in Peace - Dorothy</p><p>Barely Breathing - Duncan Sheik</p><p>Hit Me Like a Man - The Pretty Recklaces</p><p>Take You to Hell - Ava Max</p><p>Precious Things - Tori Amos</p><p>Only Happy When It Rains - Garbage</p><p>Allison Road- Gin Blossoms</p><p>Every Time I Cry - Ava Max</p><p>The Ghost In You - Psychedelic Furs</p><p>Calling You - Blue October</p><p>Stupid Girl - Garbage</p><p>Little Lies - Fleetwood Mac</p><p>Here's To Us - Halestorm</p><p>Just Like Honey - Jesus and Mary Chain</p><p>Somebody I F*cked Once - Zolita</p><p>Anarchy - Lilith Czar</p><p>BDE - Qveen Herby</p><p>No One Like You - Scorpions</p><p>Salt - Ava Max</p><p>Cuts You Up - Peter Murphy</p><p>Abracadabra - Qveen Herby</p><p>As Long As It Matters - Gin Blossoms</p><p>Everywhere - Fleetwood Mac</p><p>You Ruin Me - The Veronicas</p><p>I Love You But I Love Me More - Marina, Beach Bunny</p><p>Lakini's Juice - Live</p><p>You - Candlebox</p><p>Invincible - Pat Benatar<br /></p><p>Always Remember Us This Way - Lady Gaga</p><p>Numb Little Bug - Em Beihold</p><p>Losing My Religion - REM</p><p>Kings & Queens - Ava Max</p><p>Linger - The Cranberries</p><p>The World I Know - Collective Soul</p><p>Man's World - Marina</p><p>Call Me When You're Sober - Evanescense</p><p>Prisoner - Miley Cyrus, Dua Lipa</p><p>Crucify - Tori Amos</p><p>Comedown - Bush</p>engelsighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08705147086016919387noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5183784937342128552.post-15591922030223341992022-12-01T13:10:00.000-08:002022-12-03T13:10:31.165-08:00Spotify 2022 Wrapped<p> "You explored 52 different genres....</p><p><br /></p><p>You're Top 5 Genres were</p><p> Pop</p><p> New Wave</p><p> Rock</p><p> Nu Metal</p><p> Alt Z</p><p><br /></p><p>Your Morning started with Empower Confident Bold</p><p>You Seized the Day with Chill Calm Relaxing</p><p>You embraced the night with Mellow Melancholy Gloomy</p><p><br /></p><p>In 2022, your total play time was 13,,348 minutes. That's more than 63% of other listeners in the United States.</p><p><br /></p><p>Your Top Song was Chakras by Qveen Herby. You played it 46 times with the most listens on January 14, 2022.</p><p><br /></p><p>You played 1,768 songs, but these played again and again and again</p><p><br /></p><p>Your top songs:</p><p> Chakras by Qveen Herby</p><p> Savage Daughter by Sarah Hester Ross</p><p> Sade in the 90s by Qveen Herby</p><p> Maybe You're the Problem by Ava Max</p><p> Self Aware by Qveen Herby</p><p><br /></p><p>You listened to 1,147 artists this year, but one ruled your world</p><p><br /></p><p>Your top artist this year was Qveen Herby</p><p>You spent 742 minutes together. You were in the top 0.5% of Qveen Herby listeners this year.</p><p>You couldn't stop listening to Chakras</p><p><br /></p><p>Your top artists</p><p> Qveen Herby</p><p> Ava Max</p><p> Banks</p><p> Gin Blossoms</p><p> Fleetwood Mac</p><p><br /></p><p>You are "The Deep Diver</p><p>When you love an artist, you dive deep into their catalogs, taking in all the sights and sounds you discover along the way. </p><p>FTVU </p><p>Familiarity Timelessness Variety Uniqueness</p>engelsighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08705147086016919387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5183784937342128552.post-61180372336646166072022-07-02T22:27:00.001-07:002022-07-02T22:27:19.207-07:00Book Review: Music From Another World<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07QGCRN72?caller=Goodreads&linkCode=li3&tag=waionsuntodro-20&linkId=1d8f7ac54c0864881a35382d4969aad4&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_il" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B07QGCRN72&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=waionsuntodro-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=waionsuntodro-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=B07QGCRN72" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>From The Publisher: </b></div><div style="text-align: left;">"<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4px; font-weight: bolder;">A master of award-winning queer historical fiction,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4px; font-weight: bolder;"> </span><em style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4px; font-weight: bolder;">New York Times</em><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4px; font-weight: bolder;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4px; font-weight: bolder;">bestselling author Robin Talley brings to life an emotionally captivating story about the lives of two teen girls living in an age when just being yourself was an incredible act of bravery.</span></div><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4px;">It’s summer 1977 and closeted lesbian Tammy Larson can’t be herself anywhere. Not at her strict Christian high school, not at her conservative Orange County church and certainly not at home, where her ultrareligious aunt relentlessly organizes antigay political campaigns. Tammy’s only outlet is writing secret letters in her diary to gay civil rights activist Harvey Milk…until she’s matched with a real-life pen pal who changes everything.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4px;">Sharon Hawkins bonds with Tammy over punk music and carefully shared secrets, and soon their letters become the one place she can be honest. The rest of her life in San Francisco is full of lies. The kind she tells for others—like helping her gay brother hide the truth from their mom—and the kind she tells herself. But as antigay fervor in America reaches a frightening new pitch, Sharon and Tammy must rely on their long-distance friendship to discover their deeply personal truths, what they’ll stand for…and who they’ll rise against."</span><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4px;"><b>My Review:</b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.4px;">Tammy and Sharon become pen pals as part of an assignment between their religious schools. The girls write and slowly start to reveal some of their secrets to each other. The girls also both write in their journals and the book is made up of diary entries and the letters the two girls exchange. Both are good Christian girls with secrets. When Sharon accidentally stumbles into gay rights march it changes something in her. It expands her horizons, and she starts to see the world differently.</span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.4px;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.4px;">I really feel for Tammy. Her aunt and uncle are fundamentalist Baptist leaders, and her aunt makes her life a living hell. Tammy has to maintain this good girl image, including pray-a-thons for anti-gay legislation to pass all while being a lesbian herself. I can only imagine how difficult being gay in the 70's would be. This was a time when girls were sent to mental institutions or to conversion camps as it was seen as something wrong and bad. Tammy must hide who she is. She lives in fear of her secret being discovered. I cannot imagine having to get up and lead a youth group in prayer against essentially who you are inside.</span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.4px;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.4px;">Sharon goes to Catholic school and the nuns (teachers) refuse to discuss the movement that is happening. We see Sharon as someone who is struggling with the things she has been taught were right and wrong her whole life. She's just come to terms with finding out her brother is gay and keeping his secret when the proposition passes. She gets swept up in a protest after an anti-gay law gets passed in Florida and this first step changes her life. It teaches her to question the status quo. She ends up helping with some grassroots activism at a feminist bookstore and discovering punk music. All this time she's still coming to terms with what she believes, what she feels, and what she will stand up for.</span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.4px;">I really felt there was a lot of growth between the two girls and Sharons brother, Peter as well. They all learn things about themselves and learn to stand up for themselves. The romances in the story don't feel like they are the main point of this book. The history and activism play a huge part and the romances are slow to build and not without their rough patches. I love that it focuses on the history and how tough things were for the LGBT community at that time and the struggles they went through to get us to where we are now. Things have a long ways to go, but we have come so far from 1977. I think that history is important. I also love that this book shows there are bits of magic and love and courage to be found even in the face of persecution.</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>This is a 4 star book for me. </div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4px;"><br /></span></div>engelsighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08705147086016919387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5183784937342128552.post-1991441599347428702022-06-26T10:54:00.002-07:002022-06-26T10:54:15.125-07:00Book Review: 10 Things I Can See From Here by Carrie Mac
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/10-Things-Can-See-Here-ebook/dp/B01HWKQ6NK?crid=3EV17VH2XPYU5&keywords=10+things+i+can+see+from+here&qid=1656265800&sprefix=10+things+i+can+see%2Caps%2C1120&sr=8-1&linkCode=li2&tag=waionsuntodro-20&linkId=fd76467e1aaccf1e1c5255567cf8f354&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_il" target="_blank"></a><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/10-Things-Can-See-Here-ebook/dp/B01HWKQ6NK?crid=3EV17VH2XPYU5&keywords=10+things+i+can+see+from+here&qid=1656265800&sprefix=10+things+i+can+see%2Caps%2C1120&sr=8-1&linkCode=li2&tag=waionsuntodro-20&linkId=fd76467e1aaccf1e1c5255567cf8f354&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_il" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/10-Things-Can-See-Here-ebook/dp/B01HWKQ6NK?crid=3EV17VH2XPYU5&keywords=10+things+i+can+see+from+here&qid=1656265800&sprefix=10+things+i+can+see%2Caps%2C1120&sr=8-1&linkCode=li2&tag=waionsuntodro-20&linkId=fd76467e1aaccf1e1c5255567cf8f354&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_il" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B01HWKQ6NK&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=waionsuntodro-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=waionsuntodro-20&language=en_US&l=li2&o=1&a=B01HWKQ6NK" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /></blockquote><p> </p><p><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;">From Amazon: "</span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">Perfect for fans of John Green's </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic;">Turtles All the Way Down </span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">and Nina LaCour's </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic;">We Are Okay,</span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"> this is the poignant and uplifting story of Maeve, who is dealing with anxiety while falling in love with a girl who is not afraid of anything.</span></p><p><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"> </span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span class="a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic;">Think positive.</span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span class="a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic;">Don’t worry; be happy.</span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span class="a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic;">Keep calm and carry on.</span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /> <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Maeve has heard it all before. She’s been struggling with severe anxiety for a long time, and as much as she wishes it was something she could just talk herself out of, it’s not. She constantly imagines the worst, composes obituaries in her head, and is always ready for things to fall apart. To add to her troubles, her mom—the only one who really gets what Maeve goes through—is leaving for six months, so Maeve will be sent to live with her dad in Vancouver.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /> <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Vancouver brings a slew of new worries, but Maeve finds brief moments of calm (as well as even more worries) with Salix, a local girl who doesn’t seem to worry about </span><span class="a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic;">anything.</span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"> Between her dad’s wavering sobriety, her very pregnant stepmom insisting on a home birth, and her bumbling courtship with Salix, this summer brings more catastrophes than even Maeve could have foreseen. Will she be able to navigate through all the chaos to be there for the people she loves?"</span></p><p> <b>My Review: </b>In 10 Things I Can See From Here, the main character, Maeve, suffers from horrible anxiety. In fact some of her anxiousness and quoting of death statistics made me pretty anxious. Her life is upturned when her mom decides to go out of the country with her new boyfriend to help in one of his charitable organizations. Maeve is sent to live with her father, his new wife and two younger brothers in Vancouver. Maeve has to learn to deal with her anxiety in a new place, when all she really wants to do is go home. Then she meets Salix, a beautiful, talented and seemingly fearless girl and falls in love.</p><p>Maeve struggles a lot with her anxiety and with her father. I like that she's really caring about her half brothers, despite the huge age difference. I also like that the author didn't follow the "wicked stepmother" trope. Maeve and Claire get along and you can tell Maeve really cares about her. Claire also does what she can to help Maeve with her issues and to try to push her in small ways to conquer her fears.</p><p>I liked Salix as a character as well. We learn a lot about Salix too, and who she is as a person - her hopes and dreams and fears. I think she is perfect for Maeve. She's funny too. I love how much both girls grow by the end of the story.</p><p>Rating: 3.5 stars</p>engelsighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08705147086016919387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5183784937342128552.post-83010376300605328372022-06-18T11:08:00.015-07:002022-06-26T12:17:52.506-07:00Book Review: Shooter by Caroline Pignat<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Shooter-Caroline-Pignat/dp/0143187589?crid=2HYC5L5SJGKNO&keywords=shooter+caroline+pignat&qid=1656267941&sprefix=shooter+pignat%2Caps%2C173&sr=8-1&asin=B013Q700MQ&revisionId=&format=2&depth=1&linkCode=li3&tag=waionsuntodro-20&linkId=bdb3d61b33c0cc7c5966d0f7aea48136&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_il" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0143187589&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=waionsuntodro-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=waionsuntodro-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=0143187589" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /></div>
<p> </p><p><b>From Amazon: </b>"<span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">The Breakfast Club</span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;"> meets </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">We Need to Talk About Kevin</span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">.</span></p><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">A lockdown catches five grade 12 students by surprise and throws them together in the only unlocked room on that empty third floor wing: the boys' washroom. They sit in silence, judging each other by what they see, by the stories they've heard over the years. Stuck here with </span><span class="a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic;">them</span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">--could anything be worse?<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />There's </span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;">Alice</span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">: an introverted writer, trapped in the role of big sister to her older autistic brother, </span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;">Noah</span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;">Isabelle</span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">: the popular, high-achieving, student council president, whose greatest performance is her everyday life.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;">Hogan</span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">: an ex-football player with a troubled past and a hopeless future.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;">Xander</span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">: that socially awkward guy hiding behind the camera, whose candid pictures of school life, especially those of Isabelle, have brought him more trouble than answers.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Told in five unique voices through prose, poetry, text messages, journals and homework assignments, this modern-day </span><span class="a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic;">Breakfast Club</span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"> takes a twist when Isabelle gets a text that changes everything: </span><span class="a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic;">NOT A DRILL!! Shooter in the school!</span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Suddenly, the bathroom doesn't seem so safe anymore. Especially when they learn that one of them knows more about the shooter than they realized..."</span><div><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"><b>My Review: </b></span><span style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">I really wanted to like this book a lot more than I did. It has the tagline "The Breakfast Club meets We Need to Talk About Kevin." I wrote my Capstone paper for my degree on school shootings. During my research, I read many books on school shootings, both fiction and nonfiction, including, We Need to Talk About Kevin. For me, this book missed the mark on both its comparison to The Breakfast Club and We Need to Talk About Kevin which was really disappointing to me. </span></span></div><div><span style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Shooter primarily takes place in the boy's bathroom of a high school that is in lockdown. The main characters include Hogan - the jock, Isabelle - the school princess, Alice- brain -Xander - the weird one and Noah who is autistic. I thought the sections told from Noah's point of view were interesting. They were told through his thoughts and through pictures. I cannot even begin to imagine what it would be like for someone with autism to be in a school lockdown situation where there is an active shooter and loud noises and tension rolling off the other students in waves. </span></span></div><div><span style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Now let's look at the caricatures of the jock, the princess, and the weird one. Hogan played football until there was an incident resulting in his brother's death. Now the other students are afraid of him and spreading rumors about him. (This is not a spoiler - we learn this basic info early on). Hogan's behavior feels authentic to how someone in his situation behave. He is probably my favorite character in the book. </span></span></div><div><span style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Alice is good student and loves writing. She's quiet and none as "the weird guys" sister. I find it really hard to believe that in the world we live in now that other students would refer to Noah as "the weird guy." I'm not saying that people with autism don't get picked on or made fun of - but the fact that none of the other kids know that he is autistic is weird to me. Anyway, I digress. Alice cares deeply about her brother and has taken all the responsibility for her brother onto her shoulders almost to the point of having a martyr mentality. </span></span></div><div><span style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Isabelle is so vapid and unlikable in my opinion. I feel like the authors depiction of her is the least real portrayal in the book. Isabelle supposedly is the queen bee of the school and has all this pressure to be popular both in school and from her parents. She supposedly had this life changing experience that made her see life differently, but that doesn't ring true to me. She's so shallow. She knows they are in lockdown because of an active shooter, and she spends the time in lockdown complaining about her life and her boyfriend. To me this just doesn't ring true. These seem like pretty shallow things to be talking about or thinking about when you could be shot and killed. This character just doesn't ring true to me. </span></span></div><div><span style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Xander is the mysterious weird kid. He likes taking pictures, is obsessed with X-Men and has weird conversational habits. The author never outright says it, but to me Xander feels like he also has a form of autism or possibly Asperger's. He sees the world differently than his fellow students and he doesn't pick up on social cues or societal norms. He reminds me very much of a friend of mine that has Asperger's. While Hogan is favorite characters, I think Xander is one of the most interesting because of how he sees the world. His Social Autopsies showed us an interesting glimpse of who he is as a character.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">The Shooter - whose identity I will not spoil, is the least fleshed out of all the characters. To compare him to Kevin, from We Need to Talk About Kevin, is a major reach. This character seems more like an afterthought. I feel like we don't really know him or his real motivations. For me, the reason I wrote my Capstone paper on school shootings is because I'm a bit obsessed with knowing the shooter(s). Why did they do it? What lead up to this? What is the motivation? Where did we fail as a society with this person to make them feel that killing classmates and teachers is the answer to life's problems. We don't really have that with the shooter in this book. We get small glimpses but not a lot of why. There is so much depth in We Need to Talk About Kevin. We really get deep into his psyche and it's a twisted and dark place. There really is no comparison between these two characters or even these two books.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">I gave this book 3 stars because I did enjoy reading it and it was a fast read, but it lacked the depth and the emotion that I was looking for. In the end, lives are changed - which you would expect from an active shooter situation. I just don't find this book very believable. </span></span></div>engelsighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08705147086016919387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5183784937342128552.post-88993271132550131232022-06-04T12:18:00.004-07:002022-06-04T12:18:42.203-07:00Review: In-Between Days by Teva Harrison<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Between-Days-Memoir-Living-Cancer-ebook/dp/B095MBC7L2?crid=CX9U3TYAFWR9&keywords=in+between+days&qid=1654369769&sprefix=in+between+days%2Caps%2C236&sr=8-4&linkCode=li2&tag=waionsuntodro-20&linkId=f6b32c968f5104bddd89b280e7cd8e51&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_il" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="304" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B095MBC7L2&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=waionsuntodro-20&language=en_US" width="207" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=waionsuntodro-20&language=en_US&l=li2&o=1&a=B095MBC7L2" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Summary from Amazon:</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Teva Harrison was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer at the age of 37. In this brilliant and inspiring graphic memoir, she documents through comic illustration and short personal essays what it means to live with the disease. She confronts with heartbreaking honesty the crises of identity that cancer brings: a lifelong vegetarian, Teva agrees to use experimental drugs that have been tested on animals. She struggles to reconcile her long-term goals with an uncertain future, balancing the innate sadness of cancer with everyday acts of hope and wonder. She also examines those quiet moments of helplessness and loving with her husband, her family, and her friends, while they all adjust to the new normal.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Ultimately, </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3mbNcqW">In-Between Days</a></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> is redemptive and uplifting, reminding each one of us of how beautiful life is, and what a gift.</span></span></p></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">My Review: </span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This book is part anecdotal memoir, part graphic novel. The author, Teva Harrison, shares through her words and her images what it's like to have Stage 4 cancer. Her writing is vulnerable and honest. She doesn't sugar coat things. She shares her fears and grief as well as her joy. I think it would be an excellent read for someone who is fighting the fight against cancer. I rated it 4 stars. I would have liked it better if it had been more graphic novel or more memoir. It was presented in a way that seemed like I was reading someone's journal with drawings and lists interspersed.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>engelsighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08705147086016919387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5183784937342128552.post-91035730393684932012022-05-14T23:37:00.000-07:002022-05-14T23:37:02.799-07:00Quarter 1 Reading Wrap Up<div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">January through March 2022</span></b></div><div><b></b><br /></div><div>I've decided to try to get back into my blogging, starting with my 2022 1st quarter wrap up. I got a really good start the first quarter. My goal for this year is 200+ and I want to read books that I already own as well as everything on my <a href="https://www.netgalley.com">Netgalley </a>book list.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">Quarterly Stats</span></b></div><div><b></b><b></b><span style="font-size: medium;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: medium;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div><div><b>Total Books Read:</b> 85</div><div><b>Audience:</b> 80 Adult 5 Young Adult</div><div><b>Total Pages:</b> 18,983</div><div><b>Publication Year:</b> 4 New Releases 81 Backlist</div><div><b>Format:</b> 2 Physical 35 Ebook 48 Audio</div><div><b>Netgalley Books: </b>Read<b>:</b> 6 Reviewed: 17</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">January </span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>I read almost the entire <a href="https://amzn.to/3Lg6t4r">Piper Ashwell, Psychic P.I.</a> series this month. I think I stumbled upon this one browsing on Amazon. I really enjoy the series. I'm completely caught up now and awaiting the next in the series. My favorite book this month was:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Tending-Brigids-Flame-Awaken-Goddess-ebook/dp/B016NABPWM?crid=10GL1HFGK7F7W&keywords=tending+brigids+flame&qid=1652595283&s=digital-text&sprefix=tending+brigid,digital-text,263&sr=1-1&linkCode=li2&tag=waionsuntodro-20&linkId=7eecaf8845dc58a0c3eaf130efe35640&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_il" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B016NABPWM&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=waionsuntodro-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=waionsuntodro-20&language=en_US&l=li2&o=1&a=B016NABPWM" style="border-image: none; border: medium; margin: 0px;" width="1" /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>February</b></span></div><div><br /></div><div>This month I read several books from my Netgalley list and also cleared up some audiobooks from my Audible list. My favorite book this month was:</div><div><br /></div><div> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Yours-Cruelly-Elvira-Memoirs-Mistress-ebook/dp/B08LD5R945?crid=32EFTZ6QR9VJC&keywords=yours+cruelly+elvira&qid=1652596497&s=digital-text&sprefix=yours+cruel,digital-text,1413&sr=1-1&linkCode=li2&tag=waionsuntodro-20&linkId=60ff6a0a9bf2a181e5569854595bbce2&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_il" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B08LD5R945&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=waionsuntodro-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=waionsuntodro-20&language=en_US&l=li2&o=1&a=B08LD5R945" style="border-image: none; border: medium; margin: 0px;" width="1" /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">March</span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /></div><div><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /></div><div> I read less books in March as I was traveling for work and vacation. I did go a little crazy and I bought five books at the airport. My favorite book this month was:</div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div>
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/People-Meet-Vacation-Emily-Henry-ebook/dp/B08FZNYQJC?crid=2W0PZITVSA4UI&keywords=the+people+we+meet+on+vacation&qid=1652596332&s=digital-text&sprefix=the+people+we,digital-text,202&sr=1-1&linkCode=li2&tag=waionsuntodro-20&linkId=1ca19e485b5d8874adb3dd7e97048d43&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_il" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B08FZNYQJC&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=waionsuntodro-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=waionsuntodro-20&language=en_US&l=li2&o=1&a=B08FZNYQJC" style="border-image: none; border: medium; margin: 0px;" width="1" /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;"></span></b><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div><br /></div>engelsighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08705147086016919387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5183784937342128552.post-64249662686799528342021-12-01T13:35:00.001-08:002022-12-03T13:37:45.067-08:002021 Spotify Wrap - My Most Listened to Songs of 2021 Playlist<p> Gemini Feed - Banks</p><p>You Should Be Sad - Halsey</p><p>Salt - Ava Max</p><p>Godless - Banks</p><p>Torn - Ava Max</p><p>Hallucinate - Dua Lipa</p><p>good r u - Olivia Rodrigo</p><p>You Ruin Me - The Veronicas</p><p>EveryTime I Cry- Ava Max</p><p>Fever - Dua Lipa, Angele</p><p>Haunting - Halsey</p><p>The Night We Met - Lord Huron</p><p>Who's Laughing Now - Ava Max<br /></p><p>Break My Heart - Dua Lipa</p><p>Without Me - Halsey</p><p>Somebody I Fucked Once - Zolita</p><p>So Am I - Ava Max</p><p>Don't Start Now - Dua Lipa</p><p>Midnight Sky - Miley Cyrus</p><p>Hate Me - Ellie Goulding, Juice WRLD</p><p>My Head & My Heart - Ava Max</p><p>Physical - Dua Lipa</p><p>Mother's Daughter - Miley Cyrus</p><p>Talking Body - Tove Lo</p><p>Kings & Queens - Ava Max</p><p>Ghost Town - Adam Lambert</p><p>Prisoner - Miley Cyrus, Dua Lipa</p><p>Just Dance - Lady Gaga</p><p>Freaking Me Out - Ava Max</p><p>Only Love Can Hurt Like This - Paloma Faith</p><p>Pillowtalk - Zayn</p><p>Monster - Meg Myers</p><p>Levitating - Dua Lipa</p><p>Woman Who Runs with the Wolves -Marya Starka</p><p>The Devil - Banks</p><p>Parade- Meg Myers</p><p>Montero - Lil Nas X</p><p>Prosperity Codex -Marya Stark</p><p>Graveyard - Halsey</p><p>Caught to the Winds - Trella</p><p>Annabel - Goldfrapp</p><p>Hideaway -Kieza</p><p>Hypnotic - Zella Day</p><p>The Morning After - Meg Myers</p><p>Fighter - Sneaker Pimps</p><p>Fading Like a Flower - Dancing DJs</p><p>S&M - Rihanna</p><p>Joey - Concrete Blonde</p><p>Save Your Tears - The Weeknd</p><p>A Bolt From the Blue - Meg Myers</p><p>Bone by Bone - Mayra Starks</p><p>Live to Survive - M0</p><p>In Your Eyes - the Weeknd</p><p>Desire - Meg Myers</p><p>In My Blood - the Veronicas</p><p>Levitating - Dua Lipa, DaBaby</p><p>Counting Crimes - Nessa Barrett</p><p>The Underground - Meg Myers, K. Flay</p><p>Elle Elle LA - Kate Ryan</p><p>High by the Beach - Lana Del Rey</p><p>Adore You - Miley Cyrus</p><p>Funeral - Meg Myers</p><p>Voice of My Womb - Marya Stark</p><p>Confident - Demi Lovato</p><p>Forever - CHVRCHES</p><p>Tear Me to Pieces - Meg Myers</p><p>no tears left to cry - Ariana Grande</p><p>all the good girls go to hell - Billie Eilish</p><p>Gods & Monsters - Lana Del Rey</p><p>Oblivion - Grimes<br /></p><p>Sweet by Psycho - Ava Max</p><p>Love Again - Dua Lipa</p><p>Bad At Love - Halsey</p><p>bitches broken hearts - Billie Eilish</p><p>Into Your Arms - Witt Lowry, Ava Max</p><p>Pretty Please - Dua Lipa</p><p>Like the Way I Do - Melissa Etheridge</p><p>Lights - Ellie Goulding</p><p>Kids (Ain't All Right) - Grace Mitchell</p><p>Feather - Meg Myers</p><p>ocean eyes - Billie Eilish</p><p>Your Woman - White Town</p><p>Lineage - Marya Stark, Sasha Rose</p><p>Make a Shadow - Meg Myers</p><p>Beggin for Thread - Banks</p><p>Under Your Spell - the Birthday Massacre</p><p>Six Feet Under - Billie Eilish</p><p>West Coast - Lana Del Rey</p><p>Poltergeist - Banks</p><p>Feel Good - Marya stark</p><p>Glory Box - Portishead</p><p>Sorry - Meg Myers</p><p>Everywhere - Fleetwood Mac</p><p>Alone, Pt II - Alan Walker, Ava Max</p><p>Hurricane - MS MR</p><p>Fuck With Myself - Banks</p><p>One Word - Kelly Osborne</p><p>Running With the Wolves - Aurora</p><p>Seether - Veruca Salt</p><p>Don't Leave Me Lonely - Mark Ronson</p>engelsighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08705147086016919387noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5183784937342128552.post-54609911233745875332020-12-01T13:35:00.002-08:002022-12-03T14:07:23.965-08:002020 Spotify Most listened to in 2020 Playlist<p> I Revenge - MXMS</p><p>Lead You Back - Space RockerZ</p><p>Help I'm Alive - Metric</p><p>Storm Song - Phildel</p><p>Bright - Echosmith</p><p>Howl - Florence and the Machine</p><p>Destiny - Markus Schults</p><p>Pretty When You Cry - Vast</p><p>Insomnia - IAMX</p><p>Walk through the Fire - Zayde Wolf</p><p>Hide & Seek - Amber Run</p><p>Venice Beach - Lana Del Rey</p><p>Return to Outremer - Irfan</p><p>The Mystic's Dream - Loreena McKennitt</p><p>And There Will Your Heart Be Also - Fields of the Nephilim</p><p>Keep The Fire - Ashley - Wallbridge</p><p>You Have Realised - Gal Abutbul</p><p>Original - Leftfield</p><p>a Pyre of Black Sunflowers - Of the Wind and the Moon</p><p>Choke - Hybrid</p><p>A Forest - Carpathian Forest</p><p>Utopia - Brendan Perry</p><p>Kaleidoscope - Amplifier</p><p>A Forest - Clan of Xymox</p><p>Teardrop - Massive Attack</p><p>Cain - Tiamat</p><p>Marlene Dietrich's Favorite Poem - Peter Murphy<br /></p><p>Haunted - Poe</p><p>Sometimes I Wish - Tritonal, Bethany</p><p>Here We Divide - Dead Letter Circus</p><p>Deep End - Ruelle</p><p>Siren Song - Bats for Lashes</p><p>Be a noBody - SOAK</p><p>Alone - JMSN</p><p>Running Up That Hill - Faith and the Muse</p><p>Breathe - of Verona</p><p>Raise the Dead - Rachel Rabin</p><p>Desire - Meg Myers</p><p>Kingdom - Devin Townsend Project</p><p>I Forget Where We WEre - Ben Howard</p><p>The Cage - Vera Sola</p><p>Nothing Compares 2 U - Sinead O'Connor</p><p>Wolf Like Me - Tv On the Radio</p><p>Sleeper - whenyoung</p><p>I Feel You - Depeche Mode</p><p>Dissolve - Switchblade Symphony</p><p>Electric Glow - Tritonal, Skyler Stonestreet</p><p>Love is Strong - C-Systems</p><p>Cities of Asylum - Rome</p><p>No Light, No Light - Florence and the Machine</p><p>The Wolf - Phildel</p><p>Keep Falling - Fink</p><p>Hide and Seek - Imogen Heap</p><p>Sirens - Fluerie</p><p>Make a Shadow - Meg Myers</p><p>Bizarre Love Triangle - New Order</p><p>Appointments - Julien Baker</p><p>Little Black Angel - Death in June</p><p>Dark in My Imagination - of Verona</p><p>Night Walks - Dirty South</p><p>Cosmic Love - Florence & the Machine</p><p>Bones - MS MR</p><p>Weapon for Saturday - LOLO</p><p>Human Behavior - Bjork</p><p>Hideaway - Kiesza</p><p>Dog Days Are Over - Florence & The Machine</p><p>Beggin for Thread - Banks</p><p>Army of Me - Klone</p><p>We Are the Wild Ones - Nina</p><p>Stretch Your Eyes - Agnes Obel</p><p>The Place I Left Behind - The Deep Dark Woods</p><p>When All Things End - Peter Aries, Karin My</p><p>Take Me to Church - Hozier</p><p>Annabel - Goldfrapp</p><p>Go It Alone - Dash Berlin</p><p>Sugar - Garbage</p><p>Black No 1 - Type O Negative</p><p>Sorry - Meg Myers</p><p>Blue Blood - Laurel</p><p>Wolves Without Teeth of Monsters and Men</p><p>The Reflex - Duran Duran</p><p>Night Sky - CHVRCHES</p><p>The Other Side - Madi Diaz</p><p>National Anthem - Lana Del Rey</p><p>Gutter Flitter - Switchblade Symphony</p><p>The Devil Within- Digital Daggers</p><p>Running - C-Systems</p><p>This World -Lena Fayre</p><p>Shiny Happy People - REM</p><p>A Million Stars - BT, Kirsty Hawkshaw</p><p>In the Dark - Cathedrals</p><p>Retrograde - James Blake</p><p>Everywhere - Cranes</p><p>Call This Love - Rafael Frost, Neev Kennedy</p><p>Happy Birthday - The Birthday Massacre</p><p>Tenenbaum - The Paper Kiss</p><p>Adelaid - Meg Myers</p><p>My Silver Lining - First Aid Kit</p><p>Summertime Sadness - Lana Del Rey, Cedric Gervais</p>engelsighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08705147086016919387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5183784937342128552.post-10654317864710511022020-09-04T21:06:00.002-07:002020-09-04T21:06:48.135-07:00Review: A Spell for Trouble by Esme Addison<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Spell-Trouble-Enchanted-Bay-Mystery-ebook/dp/B07WNDJS1Q/ref=as_li_ss_il?dchild=1&keywords=a+spell+for+trouble&qid=1599277207&sr=8-1&linkCode=li2&tag=waionsuntodro-20&linkId=bf7f214c9913a443176dac9771150141&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B07WNDJS1Q&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=waionsuntodro-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=waionsuntodro-20&language=en_US&l=li2&o=1&a=B07WNDJS1Q" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Book Summary </b>(from Publisher):</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">Alexandra Daniels hasn't set foot in the quiet seaside town of Bellamy Bay, North Carolina in over twenty years. Ever since her mother's tragic death, her father has mysteriously forbidden her from visiting her aunt and cousins. But on a whim, Alex accepts an invitation to visit her estranged relatives and to help them in their family business: an herbal apothecary known for its remarkably potent teas, salves, and folk remedies.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">Bellamy Bay doesn't look like trouble, but this is a town that harbors dark secrets. Alex discovers that her own family is at the center of salacious town gossip, and that they are rumored to be magical healers descended from mermaids. She brushes this off as nonsense until a local is poisoned and her aunt Lidia is arrested for the crime. Alex is certain Lidia is being framed, and she resolves to find out why.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">Alex's investigation unearths stories that some have gone to desperate lengths to conceal: forbidden affairs, family rivalries, and the truth about Alex's own ancestry. And when the case turns deadly, Alex learns that not only are these secrets worth hiding, but they may even be worth killing for.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;"><b>My Review:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">I received <a href="https://amzn.to/356Xu4d" target="_blank">A Spell For Trouble</a> by Esme Addison from <a href="https://www.netgalley.com/" target="_blank">NetGalley</a> in exchange for an honest review. I have been reading a lot of paranormal cozy mysteries lately, and jumped at the chance to read the first book in this brand new series. This cozy takes place in an herbal shop owned by the main character, Alexandra's aunt and cousins. After her mother's death, her father estranged her from this side of the family. In the beginning of the story, Alexandra's father has died, and she has quit her job. Her aunt sent her an invitation to visit, and it seemed like a good idea, and some time away would help her figure out her life. From there, she starts to work some shifts in the shop and witnesses a confrontation between her aunt and a customer. The customer later winds up dead, and Alexandra's aunt it the prime suspect. Alexandra decides to investigate and save her aunt.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">As far as cozy mysteries go, Alexandra's character is pretty on par with other cozy amateur detectives. She sometimes doesn't think things all the way through and makes poor choices from time to time or jumps to wrong conclusions. This is typical of the genre. I think as the serious goes on, she will make less of these errors. She does have passion and is willing to look at things differently and without the constraints that police officers face. If you add in the paranormal aspect, the police don't have a chance of solving it without her help.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">My favorite character is Alex's cousin Minka. There is something very spunky and refreshing about her character. I also enjoyed Pepper, the intrepid reporter. She is somewhat of a busy-body and like a dog with a bone when it comes to stories. I hope in the next book we learn more about the Wesley's and the history between them and Alex's family. I would like more about Dylan as well.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">The mystery was well done. I didn't guess who the killer was until almost the end. It kept me guessing in several places. I also enjoyed the fact that Alexandra's family is Polish. I love all the references to the different polish foods and legends. This is a take on cozies I haven't seen before. I do wish that the author had included some recipes for both the herbal concoctions as well as the polish foods Aunt Lidia makes. A lot of cozies include recipes and I would love to try making some of the things I read about in the book. I look forward to reading the next in the series when it comes out.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">4 Stars</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div>engelsighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08705147086016919387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5183784937342128552.post-36143388021397013142020-03-05T06:32:00.001-08:002020-03-05T06:32:29.201-08:00Read so far 2020 <style type="text/css" media="screen">
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engelsighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08705147086016919387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5183784937342128552.post-64859519749141999972019-12-03T14:23:00.004-08:002022-12-03T14:25:33.867-08:00My spotify 2019 most played songs playlist<p>This year I didn't have a paid account...and Steve used my spotify so the Ricky Van Shelton and *Nsync are his...and if I'm being honest - a lot of these songs were probably only played once - but I didn't use spotify very much so they make up the top songs. </p><p>Linger - The Cranberries</p><p>What Was I Thinkin - Dierks Bentley</p><p>The Sound of Silence - Disturbed</p><p>The Freshmen - The Verve Pipe</p><p>Death of a Rockstar - The Echocentrics</p><p>Marianne - Tori Amos</p><p>Hallelujah - Theory of a Deadman</p><p>Dancing Barefoot - Patti Smith</p><p>1979 - Smashing Pumpkings</p><p>Crucify - Tori Amos</p><p>Piano Concerto No 4 in G Major - Beethovan</p><p>Hall of Fame - The Script</p><p>Gotta Get Up - Harry Nilsson</p><p>In the Meantime - Spacehog</p><p>If - Kat Edmonson</p><p>Joey- Concrete Blonde</p><p>Lips of Angel - Hinder</p><p>Migas 2000 - The Liminanas</p><p>Don't Speak - No Doubt</p><p>Cop Killer - John Maus</p><p>You Oughta Know - Alanis Morissette</p><p>Witch's Rune - S.J. Tucker</p><p>Tequila - Dan & Shay</p><p>Bye Bye Bye - *NSYNC</p><p>All My Friends Say - Luke Bryan</p><p>Flowers of the Storm - Azam Ali and Loga Ramin Torkian</p><p>Redneck Woman - Gretchen Wilson</p><p>This - Darius Rucker</p><p>Losing My Religion - REM</p><p>All For You - Sister Hazel</p><p>Shallow Tears - Light Assylum</p><p>That I Would Be Cool - Alanis Morissette</p><p>Sunny Came Home - Shawn Colvin</p><p>The Way - Fastball</p><p>Father Lucifer - Tori Amos</p><p>What I Am - Edie Brickell & the New Bohemians</p><p>The Anthem - Good Charlotte</p><p>Rx (Medicate) - Theory of a Deadman</p><p>Flesh Without Blood - Grimes</p><p>Nothing Else Matters - Metallica</p><p>Cloud Riders - Tori Amos</p><p>Sleepwalk - Graveyard Club</p><p>Pendulum - FKA twigs</p><p>Strong Enough - Sheryl Crow</p><p>Break In - Halestorm</p><p>Werewolf Teeth - Graveyard Club</p><p>Spark - Tori Amos</p><p>Dreams Come True Girl - Cass McCombs, Karen Black</p><p>Over You - Daughtry</p><p>Nightcrawler - Graveyard Club</p><p>Climb - Tori Amos</p><p>Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover - Sophie B Hawkins</p><p>Miss World - Hole</p><p>Standing Still - Jewel</p><p>Hecate - Wendy Rule</p><p>Dirty - Christina Aguilera, Redman</p><p>I'm to Blame - Kip Moore</p><p>Time Marches On - Tracy Lawrence</p><p>I - The Hour</p><p>Zombie - Bad Wolves</p><p>Everything You Want - Vertical Horizon</p><p>Dreamland - Graveyard Club</p><p>Beautiful Crazy - Luke Combs</p><p>Yeah - Usher, Lil Jon, Ludacris</p><p>If I Die Young - The Band Perry</p><p>I Go To Sleep - Anika</p><p>The Power of Orange Knickers - Tori Amos</p><p>Loser - Beck</p><p>Woo - Rihanna</p><p>Mandara - Vas<br /></p><p>Smells Like Teen Spirit - Tori Amos</p><p>Paper Bag - Fiona Apple</p><p>Beautiful Girl - INXS</p><p>Nothing Compares 2 U - Sinead O'Connor</p><p>Promise - Tori Amos</p><p>Wonder - Natalie Merchant</p><p>Skate - Dama Nilz</p><p>Marry Me - Thomas Rhett</p><p>A Sorta Fairytale - Tori Amos</p><p>I'll Leave This World Loving You- Ricky Van Shelton</p><p>Kind & Generous- Natalie Merchant</p><p>Cherry Blossom - ALANI, Moors</p><p>Timber - Pitbull, Kesha</p><p>Get Lucky - Daft Punk, Pharrell Williams</p><p>Breakfast at Tiffany's - Deep Blue Something<br /></p><p>Fallin' - Alicia Keys </p><p>Roll to Me - Del Amitri</p><p>Standing Outside a Broken Phonebooth - Primitive Radio Gods</p><p>Wild Horses - The Sundays</p><p>It's Gonna Be Me - *NSYNC</p><p>Adia - Sarah McLachalan</p><p>Montserrat - Narsilion</p><p>Don't Put Of Til Tomorrow - Pony Sherrell</p><p>The Big Big Beat - Azealia Banks</p><p>Ironic - Alanis Morissette</p><p>These Are the Days - 10,000 Maniacs</p><p>William - Graveyard Club</p><p>..And the rain - John Maus</p><p>Shining Light - Annie Lennox</p>engelsighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08705147086016919387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5183784937342128552.post-74265494826549153262019-03-30T22:58:00.001-07:002020-07-11T14:19:37.283-07:002019 Vision Board and Goals for the Year<br />
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This is a few months late, but above is my vision board for 2019. It's a lot less cluttered than last year. I'm really focusing on health and wellness this year - and being all that I can be.<br />
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My bucketlist/goals for this year are, in no particular order:<br />
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1. Reiki III/Master Teacher Certifications<br />
2. Finish Introductory Herbalism at <a href="https://theherbalacademy.com/" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">The Herbal Academy</a> - DONE<br />
3. Trip to Florida to visit my family.<br />
4. Finish Florida Broker's School and pass the exam.<br />
5. Pay off my Visa card.<br />
6. Use my Groupon for the Float tank experience.<br />
7. Save for Yoga 200RYT for this fall or early 2020.<br />
8. Lose 50+ Pounds - 16 pounds down as of 3/30/19<br />
9. Read 150 books - with at least 100 of them I already own. - 67 books read as of 3/30/19<br />
10. Continue to minimalize.<br />
11. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Intermediate Herbalism at </span><a href="https://theherbalacademy.com/" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">The Herbal Academy</a><br />
12. Participate in a 5K fun run<br />
13. Get my NetGalley books and reviews caught up to a reasonable level.engelsighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08705147086016919387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5183784937342128552.post-28582802862742162082019-03-30T22:05:00.000-07:002019-03-30T22:05:12.239-07:00Review: Little Monsters by Kara Thomas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When I saw <a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/%3Ca%20target=%22_blank%22%20href=%22https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0553521497/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0553521497&linkCode=as2&tag=waionsuntodro-20&linkId=03b84cf9f69817417a614b6c7b360a6e">Little Monsters</a><img src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=waionsuntodro-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0553521497" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />">Little Monsters</a> by Kara Thomas on NetGalley, I jumped at the chance to read it. The book description drew me in and I had to know what happened. I am glad I was approved - this book took me on a thrilling ride from start to finish. It was so engaging I finished it in less than two days. I have this book to so many people, because after finishing it, I couldn't stop thinking about it and wanted to discuss it with someone!</div>
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The story is told from the main character, Kacey's point of view and alternates with entries from her friend, Bailey's journal. She has somewhat of a troubled past and moves to a new town - a small town - with her father, step-mom, and their other children. We meet Kacey as she is about to reluctantly sneak out with her friends Jade and Bailey. Her younger half sister, Lauren, follows them, as they sneak to the towns local haunted spot. While there, something so scary happens that Lauren, is very messed up over it. I'm not going to tell you what - because that would spoil the surprise. Then Bailey disappears. Kacey gets involved in trying to find Bailey and we discover that no one is as they appear. There are so many twists in this book - and so many of the characters are just awful people. It reminded me somewhat of Gillian Flynn's books. It's very sordid and twisted and shocking but it really draws you in. Reading Bailey's journal entries was chilling. </div>
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I have not read Kara Thomas's first standalone, Darkest Corner's - but I have since read her newest book The Cheerleaders, and it's equally twisted. She has become one of my favorite authors. Her writing is very creepy and her characters are very human and very flawed. </div>
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<b>Summary from Goodreads:</b></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #181818; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: "Merriweather","Georgia",serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Kacey is the new girl in Broken Falls. When she moved in with her father, she stepped into a brand-new life. A life with a stepbrother, a stepmother, and strangest of all, an adoring younger half sister.</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #181818; font-family: "Merriweather","Georgia",serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #181818; font-family: "Merriweather","Georgia",serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #181818; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: "Merriweather","Georgia",serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Kacey’s new life is eerily charming compared with the wild highs and lows of the old one she lived with her volatile mother. And everyone is so nice in Broken Falls—she’s even been welcomed into a tight new circle of friends. Bailey and Jade invite her to do everything with them.</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #181818; font-family: "Merriweather","Georgia",serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #181818; font-family: "Merriweather","Georgia",serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #181818; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: "Merriweather","Georgia",serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Which is why it’s so odd when they start acting distant. And when they don’t invite her to the biggest party of the year, it doesn’t exactly feel like an accident.</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #181818; font-family: "Merriweather","Georgia",serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #181818; font-family: "Merriweather","Georgia",serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #181818; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: "Merriweather","Georgia",serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">But Kacey will never be able to ask, because Bailey never makes it home from that party. Suddenly, Broken Falls doesn’t seem so welcoming after all—especially once everyone starts looking to the new girl for answers.</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #181818; font-family: "Merriweather","Georgia",serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #181818; font-family: "Merriweather","Georgia",serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #181818; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: "Merriweather","Georgia",serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Kacey is about to learn some very important lessons: Sometimes appearances can be deceiving. Sometimes when you’re the new girl, you shouldn’t trust anyone.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #181818; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: "Merriweather","Georgia",serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">***I was offered this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.</span></div>
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engelsighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08705147086016919387noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5183784937342128552.post-19979386094907813362019-03-30T21:34:00.001-07:002019-03-30T21:34:40.602-07:00Review : Little White Lies by Jennifer Lynn Barnes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EodwTxbDaag/XKA_GVa7UeI/AAAAAAAAJgQ/DcQko3ffpUoUezoecIPBR5vwJTK3k5aEgCLcBGAs/s1600/Little%2BWhite%2BLies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EodwTxbDaag/XKA_GVa7UeI/AAAAAAAAJgQ/DcQko3ffpUoUezoecIPBR5vwJTK3k5aEgCLcBGAs/s320/Little%2BWhite%2BLies.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/%3Ca%20target=%22_blank%22%20href=%22https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1368014135/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1368014135&linkCode=as2&tag=waionsuntodro-20&linkId=22b474144c136c5763cfb3b87ab35192">Little White Lies (Debutantes, Book One)</a><img src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=waionsuntodro-20&l=am2&o=1&a=1368014135" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />">Little White Lies</a> is the first book in Jennifer Lynn Barnes' new Debutantes series. The story is told from the main character, Sawyer Taft's, point of view. It opens with Sawyer and three other Debutantes in a jail cell, seeming to argue and stress out the rookie officer who is trying to figure out why they're in the jail cell and what's going on. The story flips back and forth between the girls in the jail cell and the moments leading up to it, starting with 10 months prior. </div>
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Sawyer has grown up on the wrong side of town, without a lot of money, and a mom who is all she has, but isn't very good at being a mother. Sawyer has never known her father, or her mom's family as she is estranged from them. One day while Sawyer's mother is off on a trip with her newest boyfriend, Sawyer's grandmother shows up, and makes Sawyer an offer she can't refuse. The next thing you know, Sawyer is thrust in the life of a Southern Debutante, meeting her relatives, and trying to figure out who her father is. And then there is the issue of the Senator's daughter - she is up to something and Sawyer and her new friends all end up involved in the intrigue.</div>
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Little White Lies is a young adult mystery novel, with a lot of humor thrown in. I really like books about formidable southern women and their strength and manners. Jennifer Lynn Barnes is the author of one of my other favorite series, The Fixer. She does an excellent job of character development and building a story line. There was definitely a twist that I didn't see coming. I'm really glad that this is going to be a series, because I love these characters. Boone, the Senator's nephew is one of my favorites. He makes me laugh, a lot, and I hope to see more of him in the next book.</div>
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I liked this book a lot, and I give it 5 Stars for good writing, a great mystery with plot twists I couldn't predict, Southern setting and strong women. I also love how different and somewhat goofy supporting character, Sadie Grace is. Jennifer Lynn Barnes does not disappoint with her new series.</div>
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<b>Summary of Book from Goodreads:</b></div>
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<span id="freeText7657041946855827025" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #181818; display: inline; font-family: "Merriweather","Georgia",serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i style="font-family: "Merriweather","Georgia",serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px;">"I'm not saying this is Sawyer's fault," the prim and proper one said delicately. "But."</i><br style="font-family: "Merriweather","Georgia",serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px;" /><br style="font-family: "Merriweather","Georgia",serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px;" />Eighteen-year-old auto mechanic Sawyer Taft did not expect her estranged grandmother to show up at her apartment door and offer her a six-figure contract to participate in debutante season. And she definitely never imagined she would accept. But when she realizes that immersing herself in her grandmother's "society" might mean discovering the answer to the biggest mystery of her life-her father's identity-she signs on the dotted line and braces herself for a year of makeovers, big dresses, bigger egos, and a whole lot of bless your heart. The one thing she doesn't expect to find is friendship, but as she's drawn into a group of debutantes with scandalous, dangerous secrets of their own, Sawyer quickly discovers that her family isn't the only mainstay of high society with skeletons in their closet. There are people in her grandmother's glittering world who are not what they appear, and no one wants Sawyer poking her nose into the past. As she navigates the twisted relationships between her new friends and their powerful parents, Sawyer's search for the truth about her own origins is just the beginning.<br style="font-family: "Merriweather","Georgia",serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px;" /><br style="font-family: "Merriweather","Georgia",serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px;" />Set in the world of debutante balls, grand estates and rolling green hills, Little White Lies combines a charming setting, a classic fish-out-of-water story, and the sort of layered mystery only author Jennifer Lynn Barnes can pull off.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #181818; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: "Merriweather","Georgia",serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #181818; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: "Merriweather","Georgia",serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">***I was given a free advanced copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.</span></div>
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engelsighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08705147086016919387noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5183784937342128552.post-37996925987854807272018-12-05T14:34:00.001-08:002022-12-03T14:35:37.339-08:00My Top Songs Played in 2018 Spotify List<p> The Killing Moon - Echo and the Bunnymen</p><p>GDFR - Flo Rida</p><p>Silence - Delirium, Sarah McLachlan</p><p>To Close - Next</p><p>This Is What It Feels Like - Banks</p><p>Siphon - Zola Jesus, Katie Gately</p><p>Empty Skies - MYSTRXRIVL, enjoii</p><p>Brujas - Princess Nokia</p><p>The Politics & The Life - Daniel Pemberton, Gareth Williams</p><p>A Trick of the Light - Villagers</p><p>A Forest - The Cure</p><p>Malachite - Lydia Ainsworth</p><p>Lost Without You - Freya Ridings</p><p>Dreams - Fleetwood Mac</p><p>Girl Anachronism - The Dresden Dolls</p><p>Bottom of the River - Delta Rae</p><p>This is Magic - Majical Clouds</p><p>Wind Spirit - Bill Miller</p><p>La Table Tourante - Wojciech Kilar</p><p>In a Northern Sky - Fossil Collective</p><p>Reins - Chelsea Wolfe</p><p>As the End Draws Near - Arcana</p><p>The Host of Seraphim - Dead Can Dance</p><p>Green Door - the Cramps</p><p>Safe and Sound - Taylor Swift, the Civil Wars</p><p>Cafe Del Mar - Energy 52</p><p>Supernatural - Phedre</p><p>This Magic Moment - Lou Reed</p><p>Personal Jesus - Depeche Mode</p><p>For You - Groove Armada</p><p>Carte Blanche - Veracocha</p><p>Poison - Bel Biv Devoe</p><p>Feels Like Home - Edwina Hayes</p><p>Still Not a Player - Big Pun, Joe</p><p>Mercy - Muse</p><p>A Night in Fairyland - Marsilion</p><p>Nightmusic - Grimes</p><p>Anytime - Briant McNight</p><p>Stolen Dance - Milky Chance</p><p>You've Got the Love - Florence & the Machine</p><p>Small Town Witch - Sneaker Pimps</p><br data-cke-eol="1" />engelsighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08705147086016919387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5183784937342128552.post-73835803062438297532018-01-21T14:15:00.000-08:002018-01-21T14:24:02.560-08:00Farewell my loyal friend...Luna you will be missedToday, I came home from an outing with friends to discover that my cat, Luna, had passed away. Luna has been in my life since I was 19 years old and she would have turned 19 this August. She has been there for me for almost half my life. <br />
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Luna and I have been through many things together and I am devastated by the loss of her, though I know she has had a long life. I love her very much and will miss her everyday. <br />
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In 1999, Luna came into my life when my first love, James, decided he wanted a kitten. We were smitten with her from the start. She was a skittish little thing but loved lap time and being near me. He decided to name her Luna after the cat on Sailor Moon. James and I didn't last for more than a year, but Luna stayed with me, and is one of the things I am most thankful to this relationship for.<br />
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Luna has been with me in 11 different addresses, 10 moves, including one across country from Florida to Arizona. She spent 3 days in the car and hotels with me and my husband as we made the journey from Florida to Arizona. She has been with me through four boyfriends, multiple dates and my marriage to my husband. She seen friends come and go. She was there during my wild times and my calm times. She's been with me through college and graduation and five different jobs in 4 different industries. She's been with me through illness and health. She has been a sister cat to cats Tate, then Holly and now Fiona and Ringo as well as a slew of zebra and Gouldian finches and two hamsters. <br />
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She has been a good kitty and friend to my step-daughters. Many things have changed for me over the last almost 19 years, but Luna has always been the one thing that has stayed consistent.<br />
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Luna's favorite toy has always been the laser pointer. She played with it up until almost the end. She loved cat nip. She is one of the cats that would eat it and not just roll around in it. She loved wet food. Seafood flavors were her favorites. When we lived back with my parents for a year, my stepdad used to spoil her with tuna fish. She got the nickname Tuna Tuna. Some of nicknames I called her include Stellaluna, and Stellie Bellie. Luna also loved to be held and picked up. Often times I would be silly and pick her up and dance while she cuddled to my shoulder. I also made up little songs I would sing to her.<br />
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I love taking baths and Luna would always be right there on the edge of the tub with me. In her younger years she would lick the drops off the side of the tub after a shower. In the last few years she would drink the water while I was still in it. At the time this would annoy me but today I took a bath and she wasn't there and it was weird and sad.<br />
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Luna loved being cozy. She loved sitting in the sun or curling up in a blanket. She has always slept in the bed with me. In recent years she has taken to sleeping on the pillow next to my face or else sleeping on top of my head and kneading my hair through the night. <br />
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She was especially loving and right there for me when I had my hysterectomy in December. <br />
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She loved the clean laundry. She loved being pet and brushed. She loved having the spot above her tail scratched. She loved laying on my books.</div>
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And hated the vet.<br />
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When I lived with my parents Luna used to love to nap outside on the screened in lanai area and also to sometimes chase lizards.<br />
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For a period of time I lived with my parents and also lived there, my mom had a home office with several employees. Luna was friends with everyone there. She would often come out and sleep on the desk while I worked or sometimes on the computer. For all of my other jobs she was waiting for me at the door when I got home. <br />
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Luna was a good kitty. She never scratched the furniture. She never ruined the mini blinds or shoes or anything else some cats can ruin. Until this last month she never went to the bathroom on the floor. She didn't bite or scratch people. I couldn't have asked for a better friend or companion. I will miss her dearly and I will never<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dfiin8wLh8w/WmUNVBdEloI/AAAAAAAAJd0/Vdor1H4vhzkS0p7ARNJ4OX5TsidGaHPpwCEwYBhgL/s1600/626343716_267d00443c_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dfiin8wLh8w/WmUNVBdEloI/AAAAAAAAJd0/Vdor1H4vhzkS0p7ARNJ4OX5TsidGaHPpwCEwYBhgL/s1600/626343716_267d00443c_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dfiin8wLh8w/WmUNVBdEloI/AAAAAAAAJd0/Vdor1H4vhzkS0p7ARNJ4OX5TsidGaHPpwCEwYBhgL/s320/626343716_267d00443c_o.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /> forget her.<br />
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A Short Prayer to Say Goodbye from <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/prayers-for-deceased-pet-cat-2562579">ThoughtCo</a><br />
<i>You have crossed over now,<br />into the spirit realm.<br />May you walk with Bast,<br />and I will see you again some day.</i>engelsighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08705147086016919387noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5183784937342128552.post-64470829579231385722018-01-04T17:21:00.002-08:002018-01-04T17:29:46.693-08:002018 Goals and VisionToday I want to talk about my goals for 2018. I don't say resolutions - because it has been my experience that resolutions are made to be broken. I have made goals for 2018 - goals that have been broken down into smaller chunks and put into my planner. I also made a vision board for 2018. It's my first time every making a vision board, and a little on the ambitious side.<br />
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In 2018 I want to pay off and close at least one credit card. I have a 5 year plan to be debt free, and I have been using the <a href="https://www.jeanchatzky.com/tools/credit-card-avalanche-calculator/">Avalanche Method</a> to pay things off. I plan to do this buy making an extra payment on one of my cards with the extra money I have from the cards I closed out in 2016 and 2017. I also plan to put my work expense reimbursements towards paying off my cards. I also had surgery in December so there will be some medical bills to pay off as well in the first quarter of this year.<br />
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In 2018 I want to be healthy. To me this means eating clean and gluten free. I am someone who has a legitimate health issue with gluten, but I do good for a while and then slip up and it all goes down hill from there. I ended up bloated and feeling ill but I keep eating it because my body has become addicted to the taste of it again. So in 2018 I want to make this a permanent way of life. Being healthy also means getting plenty of exercise, sunlight, taking my vitamin D (prescription strength), and meditating. I also really want to get back into yoga not only for my health, but I would someday like to get certified to teach. I would like to do <a href="https://toughmudder.com/events/find-an-event?msclkid=bf5ab107ffe211130e7feb492bd7b710&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Bing%20-%20TM-US_Brand-Trademark%20(ex)&utm_term=tough%20mudder&utm_content=Trademark">Tough Mudder</a> in 2019 - so as soon as I am healed from my surgery my husband and I both need to work on strength training and running.<br />
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In 2018 I would like to travel and have more experiences than material things. To me, this means utilizing the library instead of buying books. It means that I really have to curb my impulse buying - because impulse buying and to an extent retail therapy have been weaknesses of mine. I have made vast strides in eliminating retail therapy from my life but the impulse buying has been a slightly harder habit to kick. This also means drinking coffee at home and packing a lunch rather than eating out or getting coffee at Circle K or worse - Starbucks. <br />
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I would like to do a lot of mini in-state experiences that don't have to cost a lot. Some ideas are touring the <a href="http://www.japanesefriendshipgarden.org/">Japanese Friendship Gardens</a>, Montezuma's Well, hiking in Sedona, look for crystals at Quartzsite, visit the <a href="https://www.desertusa.com/arizona-desert/airplane-graveyards.html">airplane graveyard</a> in Tucson (a la <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092718/">Can't Buy Me Love</a>) and checking out the <a href="https://lowell.edu/">Lowell Observatory</a> in Flagstaff. For out of state trips I'm planning to get back to Florida to take my broker's course. I'd also like to spend some time around the holidays either with my cousin in Columbus or my brother in Atlanta. My husband may get to travel somewhere for work this year - and of course I love to tag along and check out new places. In 2017 it was Memphis and we had a great time.<br />
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In 2018 I want to focus on creativity. I haven't made much time for it over the last couple years. I started this year by making a vision board. I also have some collage and art journal pages that I'm planning on making. I have the materials to make slime with the kids and to make bath bombs, flowered bath salts, candles, lip balm, solid lotion and salves. I'd love to make a dream catcher and a terrarium, some wind chimes, a crystal crown, flavored butter and infuse my own vodka. I have some photo books and some scrapbooks that are way overdue. And as soon as we get our oven fixed I want to try out some new recipes. I bought my husband a multi-tool that does wood burning and leather work and soldering. I plan to see what I can do with that as well.<br />
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In 2018 I want to read 175 books. I read 166 in 2017. I want to read at least 1 non-fiction book a month. I want to do reviews at least on all the NetGalley and Edelweiss books I have. I want to read several books to improve my business and also books to increase my spirituality. I'm participating in several challenges on Goodreads and I want to follow them to completion.<br />
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In 2018 for personal development and growth I plan to plant a garden. I want to take a cooking class. I want to take some herbal classes at the apothecary. In the fall I want to get Reiki certified. I also want to be better at doing the Questions to Empower Your Day and Evening Power Questions from my <a href="https://manifestationplanner.com/optin">Law of Attraction Planner</a>. I want to continue to have time with my Tribe and I also want to make time for family fun and date nights with my husband.<br />
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What are your goals for 2018?engelsighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08705147086016919387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5183784937342128552.post-64775756269349215032018-01-03T17:08:00.003-08:002018-01-03T17:08:42.096-08:00Book Review: Optimists Die First by Susin Nielsen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0553496905/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0553496905&linkCode=as2&tag=waionsuntodro-20&linkId=32cfefbf0f0b24a2fd9869bcdbd07b1c" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=0553496905&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=waionsuntodro-20" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I received a copy of <a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20target=%22_blank%22%20href=%22https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0553496905/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0553496905&linkCode=as2&tag=waionsuntodro-20&linkId=e916f42882f6b9bb976e38d7538b3218">Optimists Die First</a><img src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=waionsuntodro-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0553496905" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />">Optimists Die First</a> by Susin Nielsen from <a href="https://www.netgalley.com/">Netgalley</a> in exchange for an honest review.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Book Description </b>(From Goodreads): </span></div>
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<span id="freeText15684586061684078661"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Life ahead: Proceed with caution.</i><br /><br />Sixteen-year-old Petula De Wilde is anything but wild. A family tragedy has made her shut herself off from the world. Once a crafting fiend with a happy life, Petula now sees danger in everything, from airplanes to ground beef.<br /><br />The worst part of her week is her comically lame mandatory art therapy class. She has nothing in common with this small band of teenage misfits, except that they all carry their own burden of guilt.<br /><br />When Jacob joins their ranks, he seems so normal and confident. Petula wants nothing to do with him, or his prosthetic arm. But when they’re forced to collaborate on a unique school project, she slowly opens up, and he inspires her to face her fears.<br /><br />Until a hidden truth threatens to derail everything.</span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My review: </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Optimists Die First </i>is
a sweet contemporary young adult book that focuses on mental illness.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The main character, Petula de Wilde (what a
name!) is obsessed with the dangers that could be lurking around every
corner.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>She fills her time with collecting
newspaper articles about freak accidents and memorizing statistics.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This is Petula’s way of dealing with the
death of her younger sibling.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Her mom
copes with the loss of her youngest child by collecting cats – literally becoming
the crazy cat lady.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Petula’s parents
fight and she does everything she can – including clean up after all the cats –
in hopes of preventing a fight or her parents having to do anything around the
house.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Petula has to take part in an art therapy class which she
hates and thinks is lame until Jacob joins the class.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Petula starts to make friends and starts to
face her fears and actually have fun, until she learns something about Jacob
that feels like a betrayal and sends her on a tailspin, back into her morbid
behavior.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Does she reconcile with Jacob,
her new friends and former best friend?<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Does she let go of the morbid behavior?<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>I won’t spoil the surprise for you – read the book – it’s quite lovely.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I really liked Petula and her weirdness – both before and
after Jacob joins the group.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Her
obsession with death is understandable and her quirkiness is relatable.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I also liked learning about the motley band
of kids in her art therapy class and her idealistic and somewhat silly art
teacher – who wanted to work with younger students.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I love the range of emotions and the depth to
the characters plus the growth each character shares along the way.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This story was very sweet and a great read.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I gave it 4 stars.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I recommend it to adults and teens who like
quirky characters and who have an interest in mental illness.</span></div>
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<u></u><u></u><u></u><b></b><b></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=waionsuntodro-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0553496905" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>engelsighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08705147086016919387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5183784937342128552.post-5214383501402305322018-01-03T16:28:00.001-08:002018-01-03T17:11:26.131-08:00Book Review: One of Us is Lying by Karen M McManus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1524714682/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1524714682&linkCode=as2&tag=waionsuntodro-20&linkId=d8d7315f804879d215c012cdac82c0bf" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=1524714682&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=waionsuntodro-20" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I received a copy of <a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20target=%22_blank%22%20href=%22https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1524714682/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1524714682&linkCode=as2&tag=waionsuntodro-20&linkId=d0bce1b6086b283f4d68ede4a87533fe">One of Us Is Lying</a><img src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=waionsuntodro-20&l=am2&o=1&a=1524714682" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />">One of Us is Lying</a> by Karen M McManus from <a href="https://www.netgalley.com/">Netgalley</a> in exchange for an honest review.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Book Description (from Goodreads): </b><span id="freeText7257240028926145677"><i>The Breakfast Club</i> meets <i>Pretty Little Liars</i>, <i>One of Us Is Lying</i> is the story of what happens when five strangers walk into detention and only four walk out alive. Everyone is a suspect, and everyone has something to hide.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />Pay close attention and you might solve this.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On Monday afternoon, five students at Bayview High walk into detention.<br /> Bronwyn, <b>the brain, </b> is Yale-bound and never breaks a rule. <br /> Addy, <b> the beauty, </b> is the picture-perfect homecoming princess. <br /> Nate, <b>the criminal</b>, is already on probation for dealing.<br /> Cooper, <b>the athlete</b>, is the all-star baseball pitcher.<br /> And<b> </b>Simon, <b> the outcast</b>, is the creator of Bayview High's notorious gossip app. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />Only, Simon never makes it out of that classroom. Before the end of detention, Simon's dead. And according to investigators, his death wasn't an accident. On Monday, he died. But on Tuesday, he'd planned to post juicy reveals about all four of his high-profile classmates, which makes all four of them suspects in his murder. Or are they the perfect patsies for a killer who's still on the loose? <br />Everyone has secrets, right? What really matters is how far you would go to protect them." </span><a data-text-id="7257240028926145677" href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32571395-one-of-us-is-lying?from_search=true#"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>My Review: </b>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;">One of Us Is Lying </span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;">is a young adult mystery told through
alternating viewpoints.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Each chapter is
from the point of view of one of the students that was in detention with Simon
when he is killed.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Each person feels
they shouldn’t be in detention – all having been caught with phones in class –
phones that aren’t theirs.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It is all
very mysterious and then Simon dies.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I
won’t spoil the surprise on how he dies – but each person in that room comes
under scrutiny as a suspect in Simon’s death.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As the story
unfolds we learn more about the characters that were in the room as well as their
secrets and possible motivations for wanting Simon dead.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>You see, Simon published a blog about the
secrets and scandals of his classmates and everyone – no matter how innocent
they are have secrets to hide.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I really
enjoyed reading this story and learning about the characters.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It was interesting to see how they became
unified by this single event.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It was
interesting to see how their stories unfolded and how someone continued with
the blog posts after Simon was gone, throwing suspicion on different
characters.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It was interesting learning
their secrets and just how far each could be pushed.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The ending
was not something that I could ever have guessed, which I found very refreshing.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I hate it when you already know who committed
the crime and why before you’re even half way through the book.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I rated this
book 5 Stars because it entertained and it kept me guessing.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I highly recommend it to anyone that loves a
good mystery.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span></div>
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engelsighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08705147086016919387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5183784937342128552.post-60980717489640182702018-01-03T16:08:00.001-08:002018-01-03T16:47:09.739-08:00Recollection of my first nightmare....(writing assignment 750+ words)I remember my first nightmare. I was about five years old. I know this, because my grandfather was still alive and he didn't yet have cancer. I was always afraid of the attic at my grandparents house. If I was still able to go back to the house, I probably would still fear it today. There was a darkness - an energy so dark and thick you could feel it - that emanated from the attic. As a child, I never wanted to follow asleep up there by myself.<br />
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I believe that this darkness contributed to my nightmare, for the things I dreamed about were not something that would come to a five year old's mind - at least not on it's own. I wasn't exposed to scary movies or dark and ugly things at this age, so the only place it could come from is the darkness that lived in the attic.<br />
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I don't remember all of the details of the dream just the overall theme and the darkness of it and how I woke up screaming and threw up rainbow popsicles (I had eaten several). In the dream, some bad men had taken my family - all of them - my parents and brothers, my grandparents and aunts and uncles and cousins and they were feeding them into a machine that ground them up and made them into sausages, all while I was forced to watch - restrained and helpless and terrified.<br />
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Later, when I was older and my grandfather had passed away from colon cancer, my uncle took over that house. We often spent whole summers there in Ohio while my stepdad sold sweet corn from his mom's house, and us kids would make some extra money selling home grown produce in front of the farm. After my grandfather had passed away there were numerous experiences where people claimed to have seen him or spoken to him - some not knowing he had passed. The summer I was fourteen, my whole family, and my best friend at the time, Heather stayed at the farm house. <br />
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One day, while we were selling produce, sitting on the porch playing games and waiting for customers to come, my youngest brother, Brian, yelled out "there's grandpa." I jumped up and the two of us ran into the house and proceeded to follow "my grandpa" up the stairs. It - whatever was impersonating my grandfather - went into the attic. I did not pursue it further. I knew because it went into the attic that it was not my grandfather. No, the things that we pursed was pretending to be my grandfather - or took on it's form for some nefarious reason. I know this because it went into the attic - a place that I knew in my very being was dark and evil.<br />
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My cousin, Val, had a crazy experience in that house as well. She and her family had to live there on the farm with my uncle while their house was being built. She was usually afraid there, though, as I found out recently, she was more afraid of the basement, and she informed me that someone died down there before we were born. Anyway, she was home by herself after school and she was on the phone with her friend, Joy. She said that she had this intense feeling of being watched and it was not a positive feeling at all. She said it became so intense that she went and locked herself in the bathroom. While she was in there, my uncles cat started to scream and something rattled the door knob. Joy heard all of this through the phone. My cousin, now terrified, went out the bathroom window and remained outside until her parents came home.<br />
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When I was about fifteen I had another terrible nightmare and it was about the farm - specifically the basement. In my dream, I was outside and was looking for my family. I couldn't find them, and I went inside the house. I still couldn't find them and was calling out for them. After searching the house I started to descend the stairs to the basement. I had to stop suddenly when the stairs disappeared. The basement was gone and instead there was a cavern with a river of flesh running through it. I was terrified and horrified. I looked further and melted faces were stuck along the walls of the cavern including those of my family. I again woke up screaming.engelsighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08705147086016919387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5183784937342128552.post-11748225440103754892017-02-16T21:20:00.002-08:002017-02-16T21:20:51.657-08:00On My Wishlist - Fragrant JewelsHave you all heard about <a href="https://www.fragrantjewels.com/">Fragrant Jewels</a>? Fragrant Jewels sells candles, bath bombs and other products that contain a gorgeous ring inside. Each ring also comes a code to win a ring up to $10,000 in value.<br />
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I received one of the gold bar bath bombs as a gift and it had the most amazing smell. The smell was long lasting and lingering, which I thought was great. The ring inside was a beautiful Swarovski crystal 3 stone ring.<br />
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I really want to order more! They just added two new sets to their site. Check them out:<br />
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This set is called <a href="https://www.fragrantjewels.com/products/pineapple-dreaming-candle-bath-bomb-gift-set">Pineapple Dreaming</a> and is $39.95. </div>
<strong>Fragrance Notes</strong><br />
Top: Juicy Pineapple, green galbanium, melon, fruity orange and peach, with sweet anise<br />
Middle: Lily of the valley, rose, and hint of ginger spice<br />
Bottom: Sweet vanilla, musk, and coconut<br />
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This one is called <a href="https://www.fragrantjewels.com/products/wish-you-were-here-candle-bath-bomb-gift-set">Wish You Were Here</a> and is $39.95.</div>
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<strong>Fragrance Notes</strong><br />
Top: Rain Accord, Lemon, Pink Cyclamen, Fresh Cut Stems<br />
Middle: Apple Peel, Water Hyacinth, Desert Rose, Star Jasmine<br />
Bottom: Palm Fronds, White Musk</div>
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Earlier this month they added this set <a href="https://www.fragrantjewels.com/products/pink-champagne-candle-bath-bomb-gift-set-inner-circle">Pink Champagne</a> which currently can only be bought if you belong to their Inner Circle (you get a set like this every month, at a discounted price). It is $32.95 through the Inner Circle. </div>
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<strong>Fragrance Notes</strong><br />
<strong>Top: </strong>Rose Petals, Sparkling Effervescence, Ripe Raspberry<br />
<strong>Middle: </strong>Brandy Orange, Cinnamon <br />
<strong>Bottom: </strong>Jasmine, White Flowers, Blooming Honeysuckle, White Star Jasmine, Spice<br />
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These last two are sets that I have been watching for a while. The <a href="https://www.fragrantjewels.com/products/de-stress-gift-set">De-Stress</a> set sounds so lovely. It is $39.95.<br />
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<strong>Fragrance Notes</strong><br />
<strong>Top: </strong>Cool Peppermint, fresh Eucalyptus, citrus notes of Orange and Lemon<br />
<strong>Middle: </strong>Fresh Air, with Rose, Violet, Lily of the Valley, and Jasmine<br />
<strong>Bottom: </strong>Amber, Cedarwood, Sandalwood, and Oakmoss<br />
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This last set, Starry Night is another Inner Circle exclusive set at the moment. They sold out of all the individual sales due to it's popularity. They have videos of the bath bombs swirling in the water, and it looks so pretty.</div>
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Fragrant Jewels also sells candles and bath bombs individually. Candles are usually around $25 and bath bombs are just under $15 each. It's a pretty good deal, when you consider some bath bombs are $7 to $8 but these come with rings. Also Fragrant Jewels regularly has specials and discounts on Facebook and via email. For example, they have a spin the wheel type deal going on right now. You can get a free extra ring and code to win the bigger prize, $10 off the De-Stress set, or 15% off your entire order. <br />
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Have you tried Fragrant Jewels before? What did you think? Which one did you try? Which one is your favorite?engelsighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08705147086016919387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5183784937342128552.post-40043398013042809702017-02-16T19:08:00.000-08:002017-02-16T19:08:00.624-08:00Book Review: Labyrinth by A. Corrigan<div style="text-align: center;">
Some of you probably know what a huge Labyrinth fan I am. I watched it several times a week when I was growing up. Now that I am an adult, I still watch it regularly - just not quite so often. I even have a Labyrinth tribute tattoo. </div>
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When I saw this book, <i>Labyrinth </i>by A. Corrigan, essentially Labyrinth told in sonnets, I knew I had to read it. A. Corrigan broke the film into fifty-five sonnets. I think this was cleverly done. I really enjoyed reading my favorite movie broken into poetry. I highly recommend it for fans of Labyrinth.</div>
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Labyrinth</div>
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A. Corrigan</div>
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62 pages</div>
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<b>Description from Amazon</b>: Labyrinth: One classic film, fifty-five sonnets retells the cult classic film in the form of Shakespearean sonnets. It was inspired by A Corrigan’s love of the film and the fact that she wished the novelisation had been more poetic, and physically resembled the book in the film more closely. She started writing the book late last year, intending it to be a celebration of the film’s thirtieth anniversary, but it has now also become a tribute to its star, David Bowie. Many of the poems were composed at Bowie shrines; titles of various Bowie songs also found their way into the text. Labyrinth: One classic film, fifty-five sonnets is written in the form of Shakespearean sonnets, to reflect the fact that several of the lines Sarah quotes from her book in the film resemble iambic pentameter, but the language is intended to be more accessible. The book is aimed at Labyrinth aficionados, as well as fans of David Bowie and people who like sonnets and/or traditional rhyming poetry. A Corrigan takes inspiration from the works of Tolkien, Tanith Lee, and Neil Gaiman, and was specifically influenced by Christina Rossetti’s ‘Goblin Market’ and Lewis Carroll’s ‘The Hunting of the Snark’.</div>
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