• Blog,  Books,  Reviews

    December 2020 Book Reviews

    I read some great books this month.  I definitely did not meet my goal of reading 50 books in 2020 but I guess I will try again next year! The Grace Year by Kim Leggett I saw this book recommended on Instagram from another teacher that I follow.  I don’t typically read young adult dystopian fiction but I put it on hold at the library and when it became available I read it. I have to say that I am so glad that I did!  This was an awesome story that I really enjoyed. In the place where Tierney is from, it is believed that women have evil powers.  In…

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    The 10 Best Books I Read in 2019

    This year I set the lofty goal on Goodreads to read 50 books.  Well due to busyness and the fact that I didn’t make reading the priority that I should have, I did not reach this goal.  But I did read some fantastic books this year.  In no particular order: Beartown by Fredrik Backman Beartown is the story of a small town where hockey is at the center of everything.  The community is slowly failing and the town is focusing on their hockey team and it’s star player.  It tells the story of teenage love, struggles, teamwork, families supporting each other, and what happens when you let someone become too…

  • Blog,  Books,  Reviews,  Self Care

    December 2019 Book Reviews

    To be honest, I haven’t done a set of book reviews in a while since I haven’t been reading as much.  So these books were read over the course of a few months.  One of my goals for 2020 is to read more! Beartown by Fredrik Backman This story is about a town that centers around the sport of hockey.  Because of that, I didn’t think that I was going to be a huge fan of the story.  But, surprisingly, I loved it!  It told the story of a girl struggling with something she went through, a man struggling with who he is now that he’s not a hockey player,…

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    My July 2019 Book Reviews

    This month I finally got some great reading time and put a dent into my goal for the year.  Part of that is because I went on vacation this month and spent a good chunk of time, sitting on the beach on Martha’s Vineyard absorbing a novel. The First Conspiracy by Brad Meltzer I am a big fan of Brad Meltzer’s writing.  He has written some great historical fiction/political thrillers that have kept me enthralled from the first page to the last.  But, this book was not quite up to my expectations. I like reading about presidents and I did learn a lot about George Washington in this book.  But,…

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    My June 2019 Book Reviews

    The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine This was my book club book this month.  I personally really liked it but after reading the reviews on Goodreads, I can understand why this book could be triggering to some people.  Of the negative reviews, personally, none of those things did I think of or feel while reading the book, but after reading other people comment on them I saw where they were coming from and why they would hate this book. This story was about a girl pretended to be named Amber.  She develops a fake life as a sister of someone who passed away from Cystic Fibrosis in order to…

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    My May 2019 Book Reviews

    The school year is starting to wind down and I am looking forward to getting a lot of reading done this summer.  I have visions of myself sitting by the pool reading book after book.  But, we all know that is not going to happen quite as I plan.  A girl can dream, right?! The 14th Colony by Steve Berry I am a big fan of the Cotton Malone series that Steve Berry writes.  I love the way he writes historical fiction mixed with action and adventure.  This book was not one of my favorites but it also did not disappoint. The way that Steve Berry researches the historical events…

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    My April 2019 Book Reviews

    This month I had grand plans of reading so many books over April vacation from school.  Well, that didn’t happen and I am really going to have to pick up my pace if I want to meet my goal of 50 books in 2019!  I am trying to mix more non-fiction into my reading so this month I got through one of each, fiction and non-fiction. Burying the Honeysuckle Girls by Emily Carpenter This was my book club book this month and I was not a huge fan.  There were elements of this book that I found enjoyable but then there was a lot that I didn’t.  It is the…

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    March 2019 Book Reviews!

    Another slow month, I am definitely going to have to pick it up during April vacation!! But I have two good non-fiction books this month!  I have been reading a lot of non-fiction trying to absorb as much information as I can about self-care and motivation.  This month I didn’t read any fiction books, but I hope to read a few next month!! You are a Badass Every Day Prior to reading this book, I read You are a Badass, also by Jen Sincero.  Jen Sincero has an easy to read style of motivation.  This novel is designed to help you refocus your life, put aside distractions, and work towards…

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    February 2019 Book Reviews

    I read my typical three books a month this month and I need to pick it up!  If I want to meet my goal of 50 books this year, I am going to have to get moving.  A little fiction this month and a little non-fiction.  I am trying to make sure that I am reading a variety of books to keep things interesting. It All Comes Back to You by Beth Duke This was my book club book this month.  After a couple of bad months, I was really hoping for a good one and this one was pretty good.  This is the story of a young nurse who…

  • Blog,  Books,  Self Care

    My 5 Favorite Self-Care Books

    I am currently in a period in my life where I am really focusing on self-care.  I am trying to surround myself and my social media with positive role models, and books that are going to help me to be the best that I can.  Here is a list of my 5 favorite books for self-care and self-betterment. You are a Badass by Jen Sincero I can not say enough good things about this book.  I am actually eagerly awaiting her other novels to be available at the library, I have them all on hold!  This book is right up my alley with some sarcasm, a few cuss words, and a lot…