The Husband's Secret

You wouldn't think that a new mom would have tons of time to read, but when you're only sleeping 6 hours a night, and only in 2 or 3 hour increments, and when you're rocking a baby for a lot of your day slash night, and nursing too, you actually do have a little time to read. Read and to watch a lot of TV.

I just finished reading The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty. I read Big Little Lies by the same author just before this, and I really enjoyed it, so I thought I would try out another of her books, and I was not disappointed. It was very good.

Here's Amazon's review:

Imagine that your husband wrote you a letter, to be opened after his death. Imagine, too, that the letter contains his deepest, darkest secret—something with the potential to destroy not just the life you built together, but the lives of others as well. Imagine, then, that you stumble across that letter while your husband is still very much alive. . . .
Cecilia Fitzpatrick has achieved it all—she’s an incredibly successful businesswoman, a pillar of her small community, and a devoted wife and mother. Her life is as orderly and spotless as her home. But that letter is about to change everything, and not just for her: Rachel and Tess barely know Cecilia—or each other—but they too are about to feel the earth-shattering repercussions of her husband’s secret.

Acclaimed author Liane Moriarty has written a gripping, thought-provoking novel about how well it is really possible to know our spouses—and, ultimately, ourselves. 

I love it when books have different story lines and characters that end up all connecting and running together!

I've also finished watching Dexter, New Girl, The League, and have almost finished Gilmore Girls on Netflix. I'm greatly anticipating Friends being on Netflix, which I have heard is happening soon!

If you guys have any Netflix show recommendations, or book recommendations please send them my way! I see many more sleep deprived nights in my future, but this little bug makes it all worth it.

Big Little Lies

You know how I sometimes have the universe telling me to read certain books? Well when the universe tells me to read a book… I do it. And it's always great. 

Big Little Lies did not disappoint. You know at the beginning of the story that someone is going to die at a school trivia night. And as the books leads up to the trivia night, you're getting attached to the characters and hoping it's not going to be your favorite, and then there are twists and the stories intertwine, and it's just really good. Also it takes place in Australia which I enjoyed, and it has some pretty funny parts too. The author writes the characters' thoughts in a way that makes you able to relate to them, and also laugh at them. 

Amazon's Description:

A murder… . . . a tragic accident… . . . or just parents behaving badly? 
What’s indisputable is that someone is dead. 
But who did what?

Big Little Lies follows three women, each at a crossroads: 

Madeline is a force to be reckoned with. She’s funny and biting, passionate, she remembers everything and forgives no one. Her ex-husband and his yogi new wife have moved into her beloved beachside community, and their daughter is in the same kindergarten class as Madeline’s youngest (howis this possible?). And to top it all off, Madeline’s teenage daughter seems to be choosing Madeline’s ex-husband over her. (How. Is. This. Possible?).

Celeste is the kind of beautiful woman who makes the world stop and stare. While she may seem a bit flustered at times, who wouldn’t be, with those rambunctious twin boys? Now that the boys are starting school, Celeste and her husband look set to become the king and queen of the school parent body. But royalty often comes at a price, and Celeste is grappling with how much more she is willing to pay. 

New to town, single mom Jane is so young that another mother mistakes her for the nanny. Jane is sad beyond her years and harbors secret doubts about her son. But why? While Madeline and Celeste soon take Jane under their wing, none of them realizes how the arrival of Jane and her inscrutable little boy will affect them all.

Big Little Lies is a brilliant take on ex-husbands and second wives, mothers and daughters, schoolyard scandal, and the dangerous little lies we tell ourselves just to survive. 

I haven't read any of her other books, but after how much I liked this one I think I'm going to have to add them to my list! Have you guys read Big Little Lies? Or any of her other books? Let me know what you think!

Last Minute Summer Reads

I think it hit me last week that with summer coming to an end, and this pregnancy coming to an end, I might not have too much leisurely reading time available. So I got my but in gear and sped through three books this last week!

A Child Called It. Don't ask me why I decided to read this… I guess I thought it was one of those books everyone knows about and everyone has read, so I decided I needed to too. It was horrifying. Absolutely cringe worthy, and my jaw was dropped open in shock for most of it.

Amazon's Description:  This book chronicles the unforgettable account of one of the most severe child abuse cases in California history. It is the story of Dave Pelzer, who was brutally beaten and starved by his emotionally unstable, alcoholic mother: a mother who played tortuous, unpredictable games--games that left him nearly dead. He had to learn how to play his mother's games in order to survive because she no longer considered him a son, but a slave; and no longer a boy, but an "it."

Dave's bed was an old army cot in the basement, and his clothes were torn and raunchy. When his mother allowed him the luxury of food, it was nothing more than spoiled scraps that even the dogs refused to eat. The outside world knew nothing of his living nightmare. He had nothing or no one to turn to, but his dreams kept him alive--dreams of someone taking care of him, loving him and calling him their son.

Where She Went. This is the sequel to If I Stay. And I loved it. More than the first. Sometimes I get mixed feelings about love stories because I want it to have a happy ending but I get annoyed when the story line is too predictable. But this was the perfect balance.

Amazon's Description: Picking up several years after the dramatic conclusion of If I Stay, Where She Went continues the story of Adam and Mia, from Adam's point of view. Ever since Mia's decision to stay - but not with him - Adam's career has been on a wonderful trajectory. His album, borne from the anguish and pain of their breakup, has made him a bona fide star. And Mia herself has become a top-rate cellist, playing in some of the finest venues in the world. When their respective paths put them both in New York City at the same time, the result is a single night in which the two reunite - with wholly satisfying results.

The Maze Runner. I didn't realize that this was a series until I finished it, so now I'm going to need to read the rest of them. But once again, the movie is coming out, so I needed to read it. I thought the writing was a little immature (I guess that's what I get for reading YA novels, right?) but it was definitely a page turner that kept me up way past my bedtime.

Amazon's Description: 

If you ain’t scared, you ain’t human.

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He’s surrounded by strangers—boys whose memories are also gone.

Nice to meet ya, shank. Welcome to the Glade.

Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It’s the only way out—and no one’s ever made it through alive.

Everything is going to change.

Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying.

Remember. Survive. Run.

And the trailer: 

What about you guys? What have you been reading lately? What should I add to my list before Baby M gets here?!

The One and Only

I love Emily Giffin. I've read all of her books. So when I found out about this new one I downloaded it to my kindle pretty quickly.

Amazon's review: Thirty-three-year-old Shea Rigsby has spent her entire life in Walker, Texas—a small college town that lives and dies by football, a passion she unabashedly shares. Raised alongside her best friend, Lucy, the daughter of Walker’s legendary head coach, Clive Carr, Shea was too devoted to her hometown team to leave. Instead she stayed in Walker for college, even taking a job in the university athletic department after graduation, where she has remained for more than a decade.
 
But when an unexpected tragedy strikes the tight-knit Walker community, Shea’s comfortable world is upended, and she begins to wonder if the life she’s chosen is really enough for her. As she finally gives up her safety net to set out on an unexpected path, Shea discovers unsettling truths about the people and things she has always trusted most—and is forced to confront her deepest desires, fears, and secrets.
 
Thoughtful, funny, and brilliantly observed, The One & Only is a luminous novel about finding your passion, following your heart, and, most of all, believing in something bigger than yourself . . . the one and only thing that truly makes life worth living.

Like a lot of these quick romantic reads, I thought I knew exactly where this book was going. And when I realized I was right, I didn't like the book. I thought it was a little weird and didn't feel quite natural to me. I can never give up on a book though, I pushed on. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised with how the book ended, and I even shed a few tears. But that could have just been the pregnancy hormones. ;)

This is my 12th book on my 30 Before 30 list! Good thing I'm reading books, because I'm not getting much else crossed off that list!

Mommywood

Remember those chain letters you could do when you're little where you send off your letter to some friends and they send it to their friends and then in like a month you'd get a sticker book back in the mail?

I got to participate in one of those for books! And I have only gotten two books back so far, but hey… 2 books is better than no books right?! One of the books I got was Mommywood by Tori Spelling.

Amazon's Review: 

Tori Spelling might have grown up with everything a girl could wish for, but these days she's just another suburban working mom...whose toddler regularly recognizes her in the pages of Us Weekly. Welcome to Mommywood, where the stars are two feet tall and your neighbors know who you are before you move in. 

Like most parents, Tori wants her children to have the one thing she didn't have as a kid -- a normal family. On their hit Oxygen reality show, Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood, the starlet and her husband Dean McDermott regularly wrestle dirty diapers, host the neighborhood block party, and tackle temper tantrums on the red carpet. But when the cameras aren't rolling, Tori's still having awkward run-ins with a former 90210 costar at a laser tag birthday party, scooping rogue poo out of the kiddie pool on a resort vacation, and racing to win back her pre-baby body before the media starts calling her fat. For all her suburban fantasies, Tori Spelling is no June Cleaver. 

With the same down-to-earth wit that made her entertaining memoir sTORI telling a #1 New York Times bestseller, Tori tells the hilarious and humbling stories of life as a mom in the limelight. From learning to be the kind of parent her own mother never was to revealing what it's like to raise a family while everyone is watching, Mommywood is an irresistible snapshot of celebrity parenthood that you won't get from the paparazzi.

Going into this, I wouldn't say I was really a fan of Tori Spelling. I didn't dislike her either, but definitely like her a little more after reading about this part of her life. There were definitely some hilarious parts to this book. Funny enough that I stopped and reread a section to Justin, or told my sister about it later, or laughed out loud while reading it. Other parts I thought were a little off. She definitely has some deep rooted mommy issues that are addressed quite a few times, and some parts I thought got just a little redundant. Like hello… didn't she say this exact same thing 3 chapters ago?

Overall, I liked the book but I don't think I would recommend buying it. If you have the opportunity to borrow it from someone, or rent it, do that.

If you do read it, or have any fun mommy book recommendations, please let me know!!

The Giver

I know most people read this when theyre in like 8th grade or something, but I somehow missed that. Anyway, when I saw a preview for it I knew I needed to read the book pronto. There's something about knowing a book is going to be made into a movie that just makes me HAVE to read it. That's also why The Maze Runner is on my list to read soon.

It's a pretty famous book. But in case you dont know what it's about, here's Amazon's review:

Jonas lives in a "perfect" world where war, disease, and suffering have all been eradicated. Everything is in order; everything is under control. The people have no worries or cares. The Community strives for "sameness," in which everyone and everything are the same and equal. To help the Community function as a cohesive unit, each member is assigned a position in society. When Jonas turns twelve, the Community selects him to be the new "Receiver of Memories." Only the "Giver" knows the truth and memories of the past, and now he must pass these memories on to Jonas.

I thyought it was good, and a super quick read. If youre into reading books before you see the movie, this will defiitely not take you very long to get through. It was also a lot deeper and a littlwe bit creepier than I expected it to be, knowing that it's a book most people read in their middle school years.

And here's the movie trailer, with quite a few A-list stars!

Room & Belly Laughs

First let me say I could not be more happy that today is Friday. It has been a long long week for me and I am ready for my weekend! Also, I gave up ice cream and frozen yogurt for Lent and there is nothing that sounds better to me than vanilla froyo with rainbow sprinkles. You know where I will be after church on Sunday.

Anyway, it has been a little while since I have posted about what I have been reading.

I read Room by Emma Donoghue at the recommendation of a fellow book lover. I was warned that it was intense and about a boy who's mother is impregnated by her kidnapper, and who has spent his whole life living in this one room. I was intrigued and sped through it. I think I read the whole thing in about 4 hours.

Once again I feel that the Amazon description gives away the whole story so I don't recommend reading it if you'd like to maintain a little mystery, but here it is:

To five-year-old Jack, Room is the entire world. It is where he was born and grew up; it's where he lives with his Ma as they learn and read and eat and sleep and play. At night, his Ma shuts him safely in the wardrobe, where he is meant to be asleep when Old Nick visits.

Room is home to Jack, but to Ma, it is the prison where Old Nick has held her captive for seven years. Through determination, ingenuity, and fierce motherly love, Ma has created a life for Jack. But she knows it's not enough...not for her or for him. She devises a bold escape plan, one that relies on her young son's bravery and a lot of luck. What she does not realize is just how unprepared she is for the plan to actually work.

Told entirely in the language of the energetic, pragmatic five-year-old Jack, ROOM is a celebration of resilience and the limitless bond between parent and child, a brilliantly executed novel about what it means to journey from one world to another.

Also at the recommendation of a friend, I just finished Belly Laughs by Jenny McCarthy. Another super quick read. You could probably read he whole thing in one sitting but I chose to space it out over the span of my pregnancy so far. I really enjoyed. I laughed, I cried, I grimaced, I nodded in agreement, and shuttered at what is to come. It was great. I definitely recommend if you're in the process of making  a human.

Revealing the naked truth about the tremendous joys, the excruciating pains, and the inevitable disfigurement that go along with pregnancy, Jenny McCarthy tells you what you can really expect when you're expecting! From morning sickness and hormonal rage, to hemorrhoids, granny panties, pregnant sex, and the torture and sweet relief that is delivery, Belly Laughs is must-read comic relief for anyone who is pregnant, has ever been pregnant, is trying to get pregnant, or, indeed, has ever been born!

I'm just now realizing that both of these books have to do with motherhood, not on purpose at all. But I guess it's my sub conscience or something!

Also if you're following along with my 30 Before 30 list, these two books make 8 and 9!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and Easter Sunday! See you next week!

High Five for 5 Things Friday

It's Friday. Can I get an amen?!

It's been a long week for me. A week filled with report cards, naughty children, a fridge that didn't get replenished with a grocery trip like it should have, not enough hours in the day, and for sure for sure for sure not enough hours to sleep at night.

With all of that being said… Here's 5 things you should know. (Or maybe just 5 things I feel like telling you all).

1. I just realized that I never reviewed Fire for you all! I mean my book reviews are not my most popular posts, so I'm sure no one is particularly saddened by this news. But I like keeping track of what I've read, and adding to my 30 Before 30 list. So here you go… wanted or not.

Amazon's Description: It is not a peaceful time in the Dells. In King City, the young King Nash is clinging to the throne, while rebel lords in the north and south build armies to unseat him. War is coming. And the mountains and forest are filled with spies and thieves. This is where Fire lives, a girl whose beauty is impossibly irresistible and who can control the minds of everyone around her. Exquisitely romantic, this companion to the highly praised Graceling has an entirely new cast of characters, save for one person who plays a pivotal role in both books. You don't need to have read Graceling to love Fire. But if you haven't, you'll be dying to read it next.

This is the last book of the Graceling realm for me to read. I read them out of order as this one was actually published second, but it didn't ruin anything. I think you could read them any which way and still enjoy them all. Well… read Graceling first. But if you are into young adult fantasy books… (how dorky does that make me sound?) you should definitely read them and tell me what you think!

2. I've received my second Birchbox! I like this one a lot better than my first. This one has a delicious smelling shampoo, lotion, a lip balm, a bb cream, and an awesome exfoliator. All things that I will use!

3. A little while ago I won a $25 gift card to danaleighapparel.com from an instagram giveaway! My second giveaway win! I used it to buy some super cute items!

If you haven't checked them out before you definitely should!

4. Big news! We MIGHT be moving. I don't want to jinx anything… but we got an offer, we approved it and now we are waiting on the banks! Our temporary plan is to pay off our debt and move in with my in-laws to save some major moolah. With that being said my weekend is going to consist of packing. Again, I don't want to jinx anything, but we know we are going to be moving eventually, even if this particular offer doesn't work out. So we might as well start packing up our guest room and office. Justin already got a storage unit too. Things are really progressing quickly. Here's to this (or Justin getting the storage unit) not jinxing it!

5. Cliff hanger. I'm not planning on posting a weekend recap, like I said… I'm planning on packing this weekend I doubt you guys want some of that. BUT I have a major post going up on Tuesday that I am super stoked about so please make sure to check in for that!!

Have a good weekend you all! See you Tuesday!

Bitterblue

I finished another book over the weekend. I feel like I am just a reading machine lately! That makes 6 on the 30 Before 30 list!

Bitterblue is a book written by Kristen Cashore. She has written Graceling, Fire, and Bitterblue (published in that order). They call them companion novels. They go together, include some of the same characters but can be read alone. Although Bitterblue was the third one written,  I read it second, after Graceling. But not to worry, I have already started Fire.

So far I think I like the order I chose, but the jury is still out. I'll let you know.

So full disclosure... these books are young adult fantasy. If that is your cup of tea, you need to read them. They are easy reads that are fast paced and addicting. Once I start them I seriously cannot put them down.

Here's Amazon's description of Graceling: Kristin Cashore’s bestselling, award-winning fantasy Graceling tells the story of the vulnerable-yet-strong Katsa, a smart, beautiful teenager who lives in a world where selected people are given a Grace, a special talent that can be anything from dancing to swimming. Katsa’s is killing. As the king’s niece, she is forced to use her extreme skills as his thug. Along the way, Katsa must learn to decipher the true nature of her Grace… and how to put it to good use. A thrilling, action-packed fantasy adventure (and steamy romance!) that will resonate deeply with adolescents trying to find their way in the world. 

And Amazon's description of Bitterblue (Which doesn't do it justice): When Queen Bitterblue took the throne of Monsea, she was a child, and her advisers ran the kngdom for her. Now she is beginning to question their decisions, especially how they handle the legacy of her father Leck, who who ruled through his Grace—a special talent for mind-altering—and his taste for darkness and violence. Bitterblue needs to know Monsea’s past to lead it into the future, so she begins exploring the city sreets at night, disguised and alone. As she does, she meets two thieves, who hold a key to the truth of Leck's reign. And one of them, with a Grace that he hasn't yet identified, holds a key to her heart.

I convinced Justin that he should make dinner last night when it was my night so that I could have that extra 45 minutes to read. I'm terrible I know.

Let me know what you think!

Dark Places

Dark Places was the last book of Gillian Flynn's that I hadn't read. I wouldn't say that I liked it as much as Gone Girl and Sharp Objects, but it was still good. And it's going to be turned into a movie later this year! Charlize Theron is going to play the main character Libby, and it's set to come out September 1st.

Amazon's Description:
Libby Day was seven when her mother and two sisters were murdered in “The Satan Sacrifice" of Kinnakee, Kansas.” She survived—and famously testified that her fifteen-year-old brother, Ben, was the killer. Twenty-five years later, the Kill Club—a secret secret society obsessed with notorious crimes—locates Libby and pumps her for details. They hope to discover proof that may free Ben. Libby hopes to turn a profit off her tragic history: She’ll reconnect with the players from that night and report her findings to the club—for a fee. As Libby’s search takes her from shabby Missouri strip clubs to abandoned Oklahoma tourist towns, the unimaginable truth emerges, and Libby finds herself right back where she started—on the run from a killer.

All of her books are a little dark and twisted so prepare for that. And they all have tons and tons of plot twists. I think the reason I didn't love this one, is that I found it just a little bit easy to tell where it was going. Not the whole time, but it definitely was not as shocking as the other two!

If you read it be sure to let me know what you guys think!

Also, now I don't know what to read next! If you have any good suggestions please let me know!

The Witches Books

My MIL and GMIL (Grandma In Law... is that a thing? It is now.) are obsessed with Nora Roberts. Also did you guys know that J.D. Robb, author of all of the In Death books, is Nora Roberts. Mind blown. But anyway... When they find a book that they particularly love, it gets turned over to me so that I can be in the loop with them.

Last year it was the Bride Quartet. Justin's aunt (AIL) gave me the whole set when I got engaged. And they were great.

This time it was The Three Sisters Island Trilogy. Or as we like to call them... The Witches Books.

Book One Description from Amazon: (This pretty much sums up the whole book, so if you're into some suspense and planning on actually reading the books, maybe skip over this part.)

Set on a remote, rocky island off the coast of Massachusetts, steeped in history, romance, and legend, Dance Upon the Air is an unforgettable tale of friendship, fate, and the mysterious ways of the heart… When Nell Channing arrives on charming Three Sisters Island, she believes that she’s finally found refuge from her abusive husband—and from the terrifying life she fled so desperately eight months ago… But even in this quiet, peaceful place, Nell never feels entirely at ease. Careful to conceal her true identity, she takes a job as a cook at the local bookstore café—and begins to explore her feelings for the island sheriff, Zack Todd. But there is a part of herself she can never reveal to him—for she must continue to guard her secrets if she wants to keep the past at bay. One careless word, one misplaced confidence, and the new life she’s created so carefully could shatter completely. Just as Nell starts to wonder if she’ll ever be able to break free of her fear, she realizes that the island suffers under a terrible curse—one that can only be broken by the descendants of the Three Sisters, the witches who settled the island back in 1692. And now, with the help of two other strong, gifted women—and with the nightmares of the past haunting her every step—she must find the power to save her home, her love…and herself…

I really liked the books. They are really quicks reads and you can't help but get caught up in the legend of the Island. If you're looking for a quick read that doesn't require much concentration, or flipping back to previous chapters to look things up, then I would definitely recommend them! 

I also added books 2,3, and 4 to my 30 before 30 list!

Sharp Objects

When I read Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn I knew I was going to have to read the rest of her novels. Sharp Objects was just as addicting as Gone Girl, but a little darker. Actually a lot darker. It had a lot of twists and turns and definitely kept you guessing.

Here is Amazon's review:
WICKED above her hipbone, GIRL across her heart 
Words are like a road map to reporter Camille Preaker’s troubled past. Fresh from a brief stay at a psych hospital, Camille’s first assignment from the second-rate daily paper where she works brings her reluctantly back to her hometown to cover the murders of two preteen girls.

NASTY on her kneecap, BABYDOLL on her leg
Since she left town eight years ago, Camille has hardly spoken to her neurotic, hypochondriac mother or to the half-sister she barely knows: a beautiful thirteen-year-old with an eerie grip on the town. Now, installed again in her family’s Victorian mansion, Camille is haunted by the childhood tragedy she has spent her whole life trying to cut from her memory.

HARMFUL on her wrist, WHORE on her ankle
As Camille works to uncover the truth about these violent crimes, she finds herself identifying with the young victims—a bit too strongly. Clues keep leading to dead ends, forcing Camille to unravel the psychological puzzle of her own past to get at the story. Dogged by her own demons, Camille will have to confront what happened to her years before if she wants to survive this homecoming.

With its taut, crafted writing, Sharp Objects is addictive, haunting, and unforgettable.

Although it was a little dark, it was addicting and I just sped right through it! If any of you read it you should let me know what you think!

And this is the first book I've read since my 30 Before 30 post! One down, ninety-nine to go!

Thief

Thief is the third book in the Love Me With Lies trilogy. I loved The Opportunist and Dirty Red, so I knew I was going to love Thief too. It is told mostly from the perspective of the male in the love triangle. After finishing the second book I still had so many questions and Thief did not disappoint. But it did not end exactly as I thought it would either, which is nice. It's no fun when a book is too predictable.

Amazon's description:
Caleb Drake never got over his first love. Not when he got married. Not when she got married. When life suddenly comes full circle Caleb must decide how how far he is willing to go to get the aloof and alluring Olivia Kaspen back. But for every action in life there is a consequence, and soon Caleb finds out that sometimes love comes at an unbearably high price.

I have also heard that the trilogy is going to be turned into movies. Hopefully the Caleb Drake in the movies is as good looking as the man on the cover. Just saying.

The Fault In Our Stars & Dirty Red

Much like when I read Gone Girl, I felt like the universe was telling me to read The Fault In Our Stars. It was all over the place. Finally, when I was buying Dirty Red on my kindle, I saw that The Fault In Our Stars is on sale for only 3.99. I snatched it up real quick, and starting reading it on my way home from Reno on the plane. Unfortunately I had to keep taking breaks because I was crying like a small child and the old woman sitting next to me was getting dangerously close to asking me if I was alright and offering me a tissue.

I finally finished it sitting on the couch while Justin was doing dishes (yea, I'm lucky, I know). He glances over at my sniffling face and rushes over to ask me if I'm ok, with real concern on his face. I told him I was just reading a sad book and told him what it was about. He seemed so confused of why I would want to read about something so sad, but I assured him that it really is an amazing book.

Amazon's Description:
Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.

Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is award-winning-author John Green’s most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love. 

I actually love this description. I think it is perfect. And I highly recommend this book. It's so good.

Dirty Red is the second book in the Love Me With Lies series, and at 2.99 it is a steal. The Opportunist, that I wrote about last week, was the first.

Dirty Red starts off where The Opportunist left off. And while they have the same characters in them, Dirty Red is from the perspective of a different character. I have heard of other books doing this (the rumored Twilight book told from Edward's perspective... Did that ever come out?) but I had never read one before. I really liked it. It was interesting to read about things that involved both of the characters from two different view points. And the two viewpoints being that of enemies vying for the same male, made it even more interesting!

Amazon's Description:
Leah Smith finally has everything she has ever wanted. Except she doesn't. Her marriage feels more like a loan than a lifelong commitment, and the image she has worked so hard to build is fraying before her eyes. With a new role and a past full of secrets, Leah must decide how far she is willing to go to keep what she has stolen.

I finished this book so quickly but when it was finished I still had so many questions! I am hoping that the final book; Thief, told from the perspective of the man in this love triangle, will be able to answer all of my questions! I am starting it tonight!

Have any of you read either of these books?
Did you like them?
Do you have any other book recommendations for me?

The Opportunist

My friend Karissa recommended The Opportunist by Taryn Fisher to me a million years ago and I finally got around to reading it on the flight down to Reno. And it was great. I can't believe I waited that long to read it. And I was planning on just getting started and then maybe taking a little nap for part of my flight. But no. I started reading it and just couldn't stop. When we landed in Reno my kindle told me I was 98% finished, so I just sat there as everyone got off the plane and finished the book.

Here is Amazon's description of the book:
Olivia Kaspen is a sharp tongued manipulator used to always getting what she wants. With just one exception-Caleb Drake, the one she foolishly let slip away. After a chance encounter brings Caleb back into her life, Olivia finds herself wanting a second chance with her first love, and asking herself how far she is willing to go to get him back.  Her only problem is a red head named Leah, Caleb's new love. Olivia must fight for what was once hers, and in the process discover that sometimes love falls short of redemption.

I don't really think this is the best description. It makes it seem a little shallow and silly. It doesn't do it justice.

My description:
After royally screwing it up the first time Olivia Kaspen dated Caleb Drake, she gets a second chance when she runs into him again and he doesn't remember her. Caleb was in an accident and was suffering from short term amnesia. Olivia has to decide if she should tell Caleb the truth about their shared past, or relive their relationship while trying to change their ending.

You all should read it and then let me know who's description is better.

Happy reading you all!

Gone Girl and High Five for Friday

Remember when I told you guys how the universe was telling me to read Gone Girl? Well it is a good thing I listened because it was Good! (With a capital G!) I finished it in two days!

Amazon's Description: Marriage can be a real killer. 

   One of the most critically acclaimed suspense writers of our time, New York Times bestseller Gillian Flynn takes that statement to its darkest place in this unputdownable masterpiece about a marriage gone terribly, terribly wrong. The Chicago Tribune proclaimed that her work “draws you in and keeps you reading with the force of a pure but nasty addiction.” Gone Girl’s toxic mix of sharp-edged wit and deliciously chilling prose creates a nerve-fraying thriller that confounds you at every turn. 
   On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer? 
   As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With his twin sister, Margo, at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn’t do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet?
   With her razor-sharp writing and trademark psychological insight, Gillian Flynn delivers a fast-paced, devilishly dark, and ingeniously plotted thriller that confirms her status as one of the hottest writers around.

This book has twist after twist after twist. Just when I thought I had figured it out, something else crazy happened. It is really well written, with small details from the beginning of the story pulling into the final outcome, which I always love. I definitely recommend it! Read it and let me know what you think!

I'm also linking up with Lauren Elizabeth for High Five for Friday! Here's 5 highlights from my week:
1. I went on a little shopping trip to Target. I had a gift card I hadn't used yet and I got some fun things I have had my eye on.
2. I got to go into my classroom and work a little. Work actually isn't the right word. Stare-around-at-everything-I-need-to-do-and-push-some-things-around-so-looks-like-I-did-something would be more appropriate. But it was still nice to get in there.
3. My little sister starts sorority recruitment this week! I'm so excited for her!
4. Gone Girl. Obvi.
5. I get to see my mom and baby sister tomorrow!!

Happy Friday you guys! Have a wonderful weekend!

5 Things

Ok you all! My life has been so crazy busy. So I'm here to catch you up on some great things that have been going on.

1. I got to move my grandma's piano into my home. The 700 lb beauty was at my dad's house which he is currently trying to vacate. My brother and I got it loaded up (with the help of 4 men) and drove it 8 hours each way and delivered it to my house. Along with a whole lot of other stuff. I'm so excited to have such an important piece of family history in my home!

Here we are all loaded up! The piano is in the back of the truck!

The piano at our house!

2. When I got back from Ashton Justin, Veronica and I headed up to Wallace to go on a zip lining trip with one of Veronica's friends and a fellow Kappa sister; Scout, who is a tour guide there. It was so fun and such a thrill. We also got to go on a tour of a mine while we were there. I thought the best part was these fat little chipmunk like creatures that were hanging out all over the place! We want to go again as soon as possible!

Loved these little guys! 

Our precious little tour guide!

Also, apparently Wallace is the center of the universe...
I don't really get this which makes Justin laugh... But I guess it's still picture worthy! :) 

3. Two other Kappa sisters of mine have started up their own blogs! I am so excited to keep up with them! You can check out Laura here, and Natalie here!

4. I finished Dan Brown's Inferno a while ago and have not had the chance to blog about it. It is great. If you have read his other books you probably don't need much convincing. I love reading his books, I feel like you get little history lessons while reading. I like to keep my computer close by while reading so that I can look up all the pieces of art that they are referencing while reading.

Amazon's summary: In the heart of Italy, Harvard professor of symbology Robert Langdon is drawn into a harrowing world centered on one of history’s most enduring and mysterious literary masterpieces . . . Dante’s Inferno.
Against this backdrop, Langdon battles a chilling adversary and grapples with an ingenious riddle that pulls him into a landscape of classic art, secret passageways, and futuristic science. Drawing from Dante’s dark epic poem, Langdon races to find answers and decide whom to trust . . . before the world is irrevocably altered.
Go read it. It's wonderful. So many twists and turns. And makes you think about the book even when you're not reading it.

I have also finished Divergent and Insurgent both by Veronica Roth. They were both quick reads and super good! Review's coming soon!

5.  My good friend Meredith and I, whose blog you can read here, have decided to start a little online blogger book club. It's still new so we're working out the kinks but we decided to read Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children as our first book... so look forward to new posts about book club! =)

Ok... phew! That was a lot! I promise I will try to blog on a more regular basis so that my posts aren't so long! Happy happy Friday you guys! Have a wonderful weekend!