2015 -A Year in Review

Hi Everyone!

Happy Almost New Year. It is hard to believe that we are at the point where we get to practice writing 2016 instead of 2015. It has been an exciting year here on the blog and I am happy to share with you some of the highlights:

• This post will mark 111 posts on this site! Considering it hasn't even been a full year, I am happy about that! 
• I am also hopeful by midnight tonight I will be able to say that I have read 120 books in 2015! That is a significant climb from prior years reading! 
• The longest book I read this year was 608 pages and the shortest was 32 pages. I will have read 37,551 by midnight tonight!
• I read 8 books that I gave 5 stars to this year!
• Essentialism
• Hachiko
• My Life in France
• Still Alice
• Ready Player One
• Me Before You
• Almost Somewhere
• Veronica Mars 

As you can see it has been an exciting year for me here on the blog. I appreciate you coming along with me and am looking forward to all that 2016 brings!


Happy Reading!

Recap #0by16 and #EOTY2015read

Hey Everyone!

I wanted to stop by with a quick with another reading recap. This time it is to highlight the books that I have been reading for the #EOTY2015read (End of the Year 2015) readathon in conjunction with trying to finish by #0by16 list. 

Here are the highlights:

I Know How She Does It
In this ‘self help’ guide Laura shares strategies for helping the readers make priorities in their life. By doing so you are given the chance to do the things that you really want to and are able to accomplish what you set out to do. In the book there are a number of practical tips and tricks to make this an easier challenge. I enjoyed this book and for those who are too busy, it is worth the time to pick it up and read what she has to say. While I was awarded this book on Good Reads, all opinions are my own.

The Coaching Solution
In this book, you learn an approach for coaching to help improve the culture of your organization. I enjoyed reading this book and thinking about the people around me and how I could help to benefit them. The book has some practical advice (almost manual workbookish) to help you think through what you can do to improve the culture around you. I enjoyed the book and I think that others who enjoy thinking about the future of their companies would too. While I was awarded this book on Good Reads, all opinions are my own.

Fake Fruit Factory
In this quirky read, the down of Dyson Ohio is at risk of a satellite crashing down there. The mayor comes up with a plan to attract attention to his small town. I don’t want to give away too much in this review. However, if you enjoy a light funny read about small towns, you will enjoy this one. The plot is light hearted and keeps you reading all the way to the end. While I was awarded this book on Good Reads, all opinions are my own.

A Very Dangerous Woman
In this biography of Moura Budberg, you get a much better understanding of the world around her. She was not only a Baroness, but a spy and an adventurer. In this book, you experience a number of documents that show a greater understanding of who she was and what it is that she stood for. In the end it would be romance that would be her demise, but I think that she thought it was all worth it. A good book for people who enjoy history and are curious. While I was awarded this book on Good Reads, all opinions are my own.

Have you read any of these books? Did you enjoy them?

Happy Reading!

Top Ten Tuesday: Seven Anticipated Books for First Half of 2016

 Hi Everyone!

Just stopping by with another link up to Top Ten Tuesday. This week’s theme is the top ten anticipated releases you have for the first half of 2016. While I easily have way more than ten, I am limiting myself currently to only seven. My reason for that is I have a very large stack of books that I currently own that I need to start making my way through!

Here are the seven making my list…

1)      The Love That Split the World

2)      Lumberjanes, Vol. 3

3)      The Island House: A Novel

4)      Here's to Us

5)      First Comes Love

6)      Lady Renegades (Rebel Belle, #3)

7)      Summer Days & Summer Nights: TwelveLove Stories

I am excited for all of these and cannot wait for them to get here!

What books are on your list of anticipated reads?

Happy Reading!

Bout of Books

Hi Everyone!

Stopping by with a quick update for a readathon that I will be participating in during the new year! 

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 4th and runs through Sunday, January 10th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 15 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog.
 – From the Bout of Books team

I have a few reviews that I have been provided electronically, so I am hoping to use it to catch up! It will also give me a chance to get started on my 2016 challenges.

Here is my reading list: 
1) Sticking it Out
2) The Blue Line
3) Why We Write
4) Lady Bird and Lyndon Johnson
5) Ghostly Tales of Selected Virginia State Parks

Are you participating? What do you plan to read?

Happy Reading! 

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Day 1 – Monday
Pages Read Today: 368
Total Pages Read: 368
Books Finished Today: 1
Total Books Finished: 1
Notes/Thoughts: I was reading The Blue Line. It is a part fantasy/part historical fiction. I enjoyed how the story started in one place and came full circle at the end.
Challenge: #insixwords

Day 2 – Tuesday
Pages Read Today: 256
Total Pages Read: 624
Books Finished Today: 1
Total Books Finished: 2
Notes/Thoughts: Today I was reading Why We Write about ourselves. It is an interesting book about Memoir writing.
Challenge: Would You Rather


Day 3 – Wednesday
Pages Read Today: 264
Total Pages Read:888
Books Finished Today: 1
Total Books Finished:3
Notes/Thoughts: Today I was reading Stick it Out. This book is a percussionist's memoir about her quest to reach orchestra level performance.
Challenge: The Rainbow Challenge


Day 4 – Thursday
Pages Read Today:152
Total Pages Read:1,040
Books Finished Today: 1
Total Books Finished:4
Notes/Thoughts: Today I was reading Ghostly Tales about VA State Parks.
Challenge: Villain Mashup


Day 5 – Friday
Pages Read Today: 0
Total Pages Read:1,040
Books Finished Today:0
Total Books Finished: 4
Notes/Thoughts: I didn't get a chance to do any reading. I have been fighting a cold.
Challenge: https://instagram.com/p/BAR3879LwOt/


Day 6 – Saturday
Pages Read Today: 0
Total Pages Read:1,040
Books Finished Today:0
Total Books Finished: 4
Notes/Thoughts: Still sick :(
Challenge: https://instagram.com/p/BAR3879LwOt/ (reusing this one cause it has my comfy chair)


Day 7 – Sunday
Pages Read Today: 0
Total Pages Read:1,040
Books Finished Today:0
Total Books Finished: 4
Notes/Thoughts: Still sick :(
Challenge: Free Day!

Wrap Up Thoughts: This was my first challenge with Bout of Books and I feel like it was very positive! The challenges, chats, and people were alot of fun to participate in and get to know. I struggled a bit at the end because of my cold, but I still read over 1,000 pages, so I am very happy. The next one is in May!

Reading Recap

Hey Everyone!

I wanted to stop by with a quick with another reading recap. I think I will probably have this post and one more recapping my books before I get back to the regular single reviews book by book. This time I am participating in the #EOTY2015 (End of the Year 2015) readathon in conjunction with trying to finish by #0by16 list.

Here are the highlights:

The Headmasters Darlings
This a cute, funny story about Norman Laney and his quest to find out about why he was demanded to give his resignation to the school. He sets on a journey with the help of some of students, who he has big dreams for. The characters are enjoyable, and the plot is one that quickly takes you through the pages scene by scene. I was awarded this book from Good Reads, but opinions are strictly my own.

Ocean Country
A beautiful book, both outside (cover) and inside. In this book, we get to journey with Liz as she travels many oceans in hopes to understand the environment. If there is a book that gets my travel bug going, this was it! Liz is dealing with a number of challenges she has had in her own life, including an accident that left her paralyzed.  I enjoyed the book because of the various interactions she has with other ‘ocean people’ in all sorts of locations.  I was awarded this book from Good Reads, but opinions are strictly my own.

See Me
The latest Nicholas Sparks book is another gripping romance that leaves you wanting to know what will happen to Colin and Maria. I don’t want to give away too many spoilers, but there are some items that Maria has to cope with before they can move ahead. I enjoyed the characters and the story, I appreciated the efforts that all take to show what it means to love another person. A good book for those who enjoy romance.

Things I Can’t Explain
A book about a grown up Clarissa from the 90’s tv show, Clarissa Explains It All. I couldn’t help but hear Melissa Joan Hart’s voice as Clarissa as I read it. The story is cute with a few challenges that Clarissa has to overcome in her personal life, her family life, and her somewhat of a love life. We get to see glimpses of characters from the TV Show and find out a little more about who they have become. I like the recreation elements and I enjoyed this quick read.

What did you guys read over the weekend?

Happy Reading!