Reading

January Reading Recap!

by Kristeena
written by Kristeena

The year is off to a great start in regards to my reading challenge. I crossed six books off my list and I really enjoyed every single one of them. It was definitely a strong month. I am having a hard time deciding which book was my favorite. It is between Without Merit, Ugly Love, and One of Us is Lying. It always seems I start January off with books that appeal to my interests. Lucky for me 90% of the books on my challenge list this year are books that I am excited to read. I think I will be able to keep up this momentum!

Here are my stats for January:

  • Read 6 books
  •  1,983 pages read
  • 2 Young Adult; 1 Fiction; 1 Chick Lit; 1 Nonfiction, Memoir; 1 Mystery/Thriller/Suspense
  • Challenge Themes Completed:
    A book with an item of clothing or accessory on the cover
    A book with “love” in the title
    Your favorite prompt from a past POPSUGAR reading challenge (The next book in a series you started)
    A book with a two-word title
    A book you meant to read in 2018
    A book told from multiple character POVs
  • Favorite book I read this month: Without Merit by Colleen Hoover

Below are the books I read this month, click on the book cover to be directed to my review 🙂

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Reading

Review: One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus

by Kristeena
written by Kristeena
Review: One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManusOne of Us is Lying by Karen McManus
Published by Delacorte Press on May 30th 2017
Genre: Young Adult
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 361
Challenge Theme: A book told from multiple character POVs


Buy on Barnes & Noble
Buy on Amazon

Synopsis:
Pay close attention and you might solve this.

On Monday afternoon, five students at Bayview High walk into detention.
Bronwyn, the brain, is Yale-bound and never breaks a rule.
Addy, the beauty, is the picture-perfect homecoming princess.
Nate, the criminal, is already on probation for dealing.
Cooper, the athlete, is the all-star baseball pitcher.
And Simon, the outcast, is the creator of Bayview High’s notorious gossip app.

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?
Everyone has secrets, right? What really matters is how far you would go to protect them.

Review:
This book has been described as The Breakfast Club meets Pretty Little Liars and that is definitely a good description. I really enjoyed this book. Like everyone else I could not stand Simon. The fact that someone is OK with torturing other people by revealing their secrets is disgusting especially when it comes to things such as outing someone. Unfortunately it is so relevant with our culture right now, especially in regards to social media. People take their own misery out on other people and it is atrocious. As far as the book goes I really enjoyed the writing, MOST of the characters (especially those in the murder club), and all the twists and turns.

***SPOILER ALERT***

Besides loving the twists & turns I also loved the relationship between Nate & Bronwyn and Cooper & Kris. I have to admit I did NOT see the twist coming until it was pretty much right in front of my face. After reading all the reviews I feel a little dumb I didn’t see it sooner, haha. Looking back it should have been so obvious. Clearly I wasn’t paying enough attention. I also ended up hating Jake, maybe even more than Simon. Poor baby, you were cheated on…not sure trying to frame your ex for murder is getting even. Grow a set psycho! This was definitely a good thriller with a good AHA moment towards the end. Recommended!

Favorite Quotes:
“I don’t know why it’s so hard for people to admit that sometimes they’re just assholes who screw up because they don’t expect to get caught.”

“I know what it’s like to tell yourself a lie so often that it becomes the truth.”

“Honestly, I don’t care what we do. I just want to stay wrapped around him for as long as possible, fighting sleep and forgetting about the rest of the world.”

“I wish he’d listen, because if anyone knows how badly you can screw up your life when you decide you’re not good enough, it’s me.”

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Photography

February Photo A Day Challenge 2019

by Kristeena
written by Kristeena

Welcome to February! This is the shortest month in the year so it’s good time to try the challenge!

In this post you will find the challenge list, some ideas for each day’s prompt and then the list with it’s corresponding hashtags so you can use those on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter if you would like. If you need a refresher on how to play/where to post your pictures click here. If you would like to see my pictures from January you can find them in my January Photo A Day album. Happy picture taking!!

If you want more help with the prompts, and ideas of what to take photos below, read on:

1. Something blue
Find something blue and take a photo of it.

2. Street art
Can you find some street art today and share a photo of it.

3. Carrot
The humble carrot. Find one and share in a photo.

4. Peek-a-boo
Where are you hiding today? Or is something hiding from you? Take a photo and share with us.

5. Water
Take a photo of water today – a river, the rain, a drink – you decide.

6. Opposites
Black and white, up and down. There are lots of opposites all around us. Take a photo and share with us.

7. Card
Take a photo of a card – greeting card, box made of card – what card will you find today?

8. Fave smell
What smells good to you? Take a photo and share with us.

9. Pet
Take a photo of your pet (or a friend’s pet).

10. Umbrella
Hope you won’t actually need one today but find an umbrella and take a photo.

11. Friend
Take a photo of a friend – why not jump in the photo, too?

12. Work
Show us ‘work’ in a photo today.

13. Super Duper
What is ‘super duper’ to you? Take and share a photo.

14. Love
Can you show us what ‘love’ means to you? Share in a photo.

15. Ink
Find some ink and take a photo.

16. Balance
Show us balance in a photo today.

17. Kindness
What does kindness mean to you? Show us kindness in a photo.

18. Shadow
Can you find some interesting shadows today? Take a photo and show us.

19. Above your head
Look up, what is right above you? Take a photo and share with us.

20. A photo
Take a photo today of anything you’d like. Or share a favorite photo that you’ve taken.

21. Little details
Sometimes we overlook the little things as we go about our busy lives. Stop for a moment and focus on the little details and share in a photo.

22. Something you want
What would you really, really like – more sleep, a holiday, time with loved ones? Share in a photo.

23. Inspirational
What inspires you? Take a photo and show us.

24. Create
Take a photo of something that has been created or is being created.

25. Seeing the good
Good is all around us in so many forms. Show us the good that you see in your world.

26. Blue & green
Take a photo of something blue and green today.

27. Rad
Take a photo of something you find cool!

28. Sleep
Show us ‘sleep’ in a photo – where you sleep or maybe someone or something asleep.

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Reading

Review: This Will Only Hurt a Little by Busy Philipps

by Kristeena
written by Kristeena
Review: This Will Only Hurt a Little by Busy PhilippsThis Will Only Hurt a Little by Busy Philipps
Published by Touchstone on October 16th 2018
Genre: Nonfiction-Memoir
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 288
Challenge Theme: A book you meant to read in 2018


Buy on Barnes & Noble
Buy on Amazon

Synopsis:
Busy Philipps’s autobiographical book offers the same unfiltered and candid storytelling that her Instagram followers have come to know and love, from growing up in Scottsdale, Arizona and her painful and painfully funny teen years, to her life as a working actress, mother, and famous best friend.

Busy is the rare entertainer whose impressive arsenal of talents as an actress is equally matched by her storytelling ability, sense of humor, and sharp observations about life, love, and motherhood. Her conversational writing reminds us what we love about her on screens large and small. From film to television to Instagram, Busy delightfully showcases her wry humor and her willingness to bare it all.

“I’ve been waiting my whole life to write this book. I’m just so grateful someone asked. Otherwise, what was the point of any of it??”

Review:
Back in my youth I was pretty obsessed with celebrities & celebrity gossip. I would get People Magazine & US Weekly every single week. As I have gotten older I haven’t been as obsessed but I still follow celebrities on Instragram and keep up to date on the gossip. I know, I know but it entertains me. Because of this I love reading celebrity biographies. When it comes to a celebrity biography I like it to be part their childhood and what brought them to their career and part the world of celebrity. Philipp’s gives us both. Her childhood was definitely interesting and from how she describes herself back then she didn’t seem like someone I would have gotten along with BUT I can appreciate her honesty about her mistakes, especially mistakes with men. Overall I really enjoyed her memoir especially the fact that she did not hold anything back! She was brutally honest about her life, bad times and all, and she even used real names which made it much juicier. Most people change names of people, especially if talking about them in a negative way, but she definitely does not. I loved that! Overall this book entertained me very much!

Favorite Quotes:
“No one is going to tell you all the things you want to hear all the time. You have to know them yourself.”

“I’ve determined that just about everyone feels left out; it just comes down to how you handle it. I haven’t handled it the best, historically speaking. And truthfully, isn’t there something incredible about the fact that we all feel left out? Shouldn’t that somehow make us all feel a little less alone??”

“You can have all the money and success in the world, but when you’re a fucking asshole, you’re a fucking asshole and that’s all there is to it.”

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Reading

Review: Without Merit by Colleen Hoover

by Kristeena
written by Kristeena
Review: Without Merit by Colleen HooverWithout Merit by Colleen Hoover
Published by Atria Books on October 3rd 2017
Genre: Fiction
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 384
Challenge Theme: A book with a two-word title


Buy on Barnes & Noble
Buy on Amazon

Synopsis:
Not every mistake deserves a consequence. Sometimes the only thing it deserves is forgiveness.

The Voss family is anything but normal. They live in a repurposed church, newly baptized Dollar Voss. The once cancer-stricken mother lives in the basement, the father is married to the mother’s former nurse, the little half-brother isn’t allowed to do or eat anything fun, and the eldest siblings are irritatingly perfect. Then, there’s Merit.

Merit Voss collects trophies she hasn’t earned and secrets her family forces her to keep. While browsing the local antiques shop for her next trophy, she finds Sagan. His wit and unapologetic idealism disarm and spark renewed life into her—until she discovers that he’s completely unavailable. Merit retreats deeper into herself, watching her family from the sidelines when she learns a secret that no trophy in the world can fix.

Fed up with the lies, Merit decides to shatter the happy family illusion that she’s never been a part of before leaving them behind for good. When her escape plan fails, Merit is forced to deal with the staggering consequences of telling the truth and losing the one boy she loves.

Review:
Of all of Hoover’s books this one has the lowest average rating on Goodreads and for the life of me I don’t know why. I really liked this book! First off I would not consider this a romance. Yes there is a love story in it but that is not the main focus. This novel is about a dysfunctional family and how keeping secrets can eat you from the inside out. To some people Merit may be a difficult person to root for but from the start I was so invested in her life. Even when she seemed to acting out and being a brat I was still wanting her to succeed. This book deals with some heavy topics like depression, suicide, closeted homosexuality, molestation, extramarital affairs, and more. And that is all in one family! Some of the negative reviews were about how Hoover didn’t seem educated enough to delve into a lot of those topics but in my opinion she did it well. By the end of the book you love characters that at the beginning seemed unredeemable. I loved how the earth shattering climax, where all the secrets come to life, propels the second half of the book. I have yet to be disappointed in a book written by Hoover. I can’t wait to read the next one on the list!

Favorite Quotes:
“Not every mistake deserves a consequence. Sometimes the only thing it deserves is forgiveness.”

“It annoys me when people try to convince other people that their anger or stress isn’t warranted if someone else in the world is worse off than them. It’s bullshit. Your emotions and reactions are valid, Merit. Don’t let anyone tell you any different. You’re the only one who feels them.”

“Tuqburni is used to describe the all-encompassing feeling of not being able to live without someone. Which is why the literal translation is, ‘You bury me.”

“We’re all a degree of fucked-up.”

“The same two things could happen to two people, but that doesn’t mean they would experience the exact same stress over it. We all have different levels of stress that we’re accustomed to. You probably felt the same amount of stress over your family situation as I sometimes do about mine, even though they’re completely on different levels. But that doesn’t make you weaker. It doesn’t make you an asshole. We’re just two different people with two different experiences.”

“A person can’t help their attraction to another person, but a person can help their actions toward another person.”

“He takes a step closer to me and it suddenly feels like I’ve swallowed his heart because I have all these extra beats in my chest.”

“No matter how hard you try, things don’t always turn out the way you wish they could.”

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Reading

Review: The Sacrifice of Sunshine Girl by Paige McKenzie

by Kristeena
written by Kristeena
Review: The Sacrifice of Sunshine Girl by Paige McKenzieThe Sacrifice of Sunshine Girl by Paige McKenzie
Series: The Haunting of Sunshine Girl, #3
Published by Hachette on April 4th 2017
Genre: Young Adult
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 322
Challenge Theme: Your favorite prompt from a past POPSUGAR reading challenge (The next book in a series you started)


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Synopsis:
Sunshine Griffith can communicate with ghosts. Even more amazing—to herself; her boyfriend, Nolan; and her adoptive mom, Kat—she’s recently learned she’s a luiseach, one of an ancient race of creatures who have lived among humans for centuries, protecting them from dark spirits and helping them move on to the afterlife.

Having survived an abyss full of demons, Sunshine Griffith must figure out who—or what—has been organizing the forces of darkness against her. Do they want to destroy her and the rest of the endangered luiseach? Do they want to take over the world? Nolan has figured out that Sunshine’s death would trigger a calamitous event, so not only does she have to stay alive for herself, but for the fate of civilization. It’s not just the demons who want Sunshine dead, though. Her biological mother, Helena, is back. And what is Helena’s history with the mysterious man in black?

Fortunately for Sunshine, she has a lot of people (and ghosts) to help her stop the darkness: Nolan, her father and mentor Aidan, her mom Kat, Victoria, Lucio, Anna, and Ashley—whose handsome new crush, Sebastian, seems hauntingly familiar. But time may be running out as an unexpected event unleashes a fierce war between the luiseach and the demon army. In the midst of the fiery battle, Sunshine will learn a shocking truth about herself and what sort of sacrifice is required to save the world.

Review:
This was the final (as far as I know) book in the Sunshine Girl series and I think McKenzie wrapped it up nicely. Did this book blow me away, no, but it was enjoyable to read. This book had a good story line, a nice twist, and showed Sunshine coming into her full power. I loved that all the characters we have been introduced to in the previous books are present in this book and we get to know more about all of them. I don’t know how I feel about part of the ending that involves what happens to Sunshine after she battles the demon (don’t want to give it away) but I can see where it was a nice ending point.

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Reading

Review: Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover

by Kristeena
written by Kristeena
Review: Ugly Love by Colleen HooverUgly Love by Colleen Hoover
Published by Atria Books on August 5th 2014
Genre: Chick Lit
Format: Paperback
Pages: 324
Challenge Theme: A book with “love” in the title


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Buy on Amazon

Synopsis:
When Tate Collins meets airline pilot Miles Archer, she knows it isn’t love at first sight. They wouldn’t even go so far as to consider themselves friends. The only thing Tate and Miles have in common is an undeniable mutual attraction. Once their desires are out in the open, they realize they have the perfect set-up. He doesn’t want love, she doesn’t have time for love, so that just leaves the sex. Their arrangement could be surprisingly seamless, as long as Tate can stick to the only two rules Miles has for her.

Never ask about the past. Don’t expect a future.

They think they can handle it, but realize almost immediately they can’t handle it at all.

Hearts get infiltrated. Promises get broken. Rules get shattered. Love gets ugly.

Review:
Another good one from Hoover. I have yet read one of her books that I didn’t like. However, if I HAD to choose, this one would be my least favorite so far. After a while I wanted to shake Tate and be like girl give it up, you can’t make a man love you. He has told you plenty of times he can’t give you any more that a “friends with benefits” relationship. Actually not even really friends because he won’t talk about any part of his life (which if you read the whole thing you finally understand why.) At 36 I can say that but the 18-23 year old me was Tate so maybe I don’t have room to talk, haha. I had somewhat of that situation, although we were really best friends and eventually I earned a good old fashioned try at a relationship, but at that point we had been in a certain relationship for so long that we couldn’t really find our way out of. His reasons were NOTHING like Miles though. I give Miles a pass after finding out why his walls have been built. I don’t want to give anything away so I can’t say much more than that. Like always I really enjoyed Hoover’s writing and I was on board with the ending 100%.

Favorite Quotes:
“Love isn’t always pretty. Sometimes you spend all your time hoping it’ll eventually be something different. Something better. Then, before you know it, you’re back to square one, and you lost your heart somewhere along the way.”

“God gives us the ugliness so we don’t take the beautiful things in life for granted.”

“When life gives you lemons, make sure you know whose eyes you need to squeeze them in.”

“Sometimes not speaking says more than all the words in the world.”

“I didn’t fall in love with you… I flew.”

“It’s the beautiful moments like this that make up for the ugly love.”

“But the second she opened her eyes and looked at me, I knew. She was either going to be the death of me . . . or she was going to be the one who finally brought me back to life.”

“Whoever coined the phrase, I love you to death obviously never experienced the kind of love Tate and I share. If that were the case, the phrase would be I love you to life. Because that’s exactly what Tate did. She loved me back to life.”

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Reading

Review: The Other Woman by Sandie Jones

by Kristeena
written by Kristeena
Review: The Other Woman by Sandie JonesThe Other Woman by Sandie Jones
Published by Minotaur Books on March 29th 2018
Genre: Mystery + Thriller + Suspense
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 304
Challenge Theme: A book with an item of clothing or accessory on the cover


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Synopsis:
Emily thinks Adam’s perfect; the man she thought she’d never meet. But lurking in the shadows is a rival; a woman who shares a deep bond with the man she loves.

Emily chose Adam, but she didn’t choose his mother Pammie. There’s nothing a mother wouldn’t do for her son, and now Emily is about to find out just how far Pammie will go to get what she wants: Emily gone forever.

The Other Woman is an addictive, fast-paced psychological thriller about the destructive relationship between Emily, her boyfriend Adam, and his manipulative mother Pammie.

Review:
My first thought when reading this book was “this is in no way, shape, or form a thriller” and up until maybe 50 pages towards the end I kept thinking that. The twist in the end I 100% did not see coming so I guess that was thrilleresque but I still would never qualify this book as a thriller. That already made me not love the book. When it says thriller I want a thriller! I also could not stand Emily and how she stuck by Adam, not only because of his mother, but also because he was a giant asshole. Come on girl want better for yourself! The only part of the book I enjoyed was the twist. Usually I see them coming and this one I definitely did not. If you want a quick, easy read with a good twist then read this book. Just know you aren’t getting a true thriller & the characters will piss you off a lot of the time.

Favorite Quotes:
“There’s something about your mother’s voice that nobody else can replicate.”

“Sometimes things happen and you have no way of understanding them. You try to find a reason to justify it, but there isn’t always an answer. It’s just life.”

“It was just a beautiful meeting of two people who were utterly in tune with each other.”

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Reading

December Reading Recap!

by Kristeena
written by Kristeena

Well I only read 3 books this month. I decided to stop for the year after I read the third book to focus on the holidays and prepping for next year’s reading challenge, which I am very excited for. I already have 5 books checked out from the library in preparation. My official book count for this year is 55 and, while I wish it were a bit higher, I will take it. Here is to reading in 2019!

Here are my stats for December:

  • Read 3 books
  • 943 pages read
  • 1 Fiction; 1 Mystery/Thriller/Suspense; 1 Nonfiction
  • Challenge Themes Completed:
    A book that is also a stage play or musical
    Nordic Noir
    A book set at sea
  • Favorite book I read this month: The Son by Jo Nesbo

Below are the books I read this month, click on the book cover to be directed to my review 🙂

 

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Reading

Review: The Perfect Storm: A True Story of Men Against the Sea by Sebastian Junger

by Kristeena
written by Kristeena
Review: The Perfect Storm: A True Story of Men Against the Sea by Sebastian JungerThe Perfect Storm: A True Story of Men Against the Sea by Sebastian Junger
Published by W. W. Norton Company on May 17th 1997
Genre: Nonfiction
Format: Paperback
Pages: 248
Challenge Theme: A book set at sea


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Synopsis:
October 1991. It was “the perfect storm”–a tempest that may happen only once in a century–a nor’easter created by so rare a combination of factors that it could not possibly have been worse. Creating waves ten stories high and winds of 120 miles an hour, the storm whipped the sea to inconceivable levels few people on Earth have ever witnessed. Few, except the six-man crew of the Andrea Gail, a commercial fishing boat tragically headed towards its hellish center.

Review:
I have to be honest, I did not finish this book and yes I did count it towards my challenge because I only had about 60 pages left. The start of the book was interesting to me but towards the end I started to lose interest big time. I just think I am not the type of person who wants to read the account of something like this from someone who wasn’t there. Now I know Junger had to have done a TON of research in order to write this book so I don’t want to take anything away from him. I just prefer first hand accounts. I don’t like speculation of how things may have happened. I will say I want to watch the movie, I think that would interest me more. Since I didn’t finish it is hard to give a rating so I will just rate the parts I got through and rate it right down the middle at 2.5 since the first half kept my interest somewhat.

Favorite Quotes:
“How do men act on a sinking ship? Do they hold each other? Do they pass around the whisky? Do they cry?”

“There are houses in Gloucester where grooves have been worn into the floorboards by women pacing past an upstairs window, looking out to sea.”

“If the men on the Andrea Gail had simply died, and their bodies were lying in state somewhere, their loved ones could make their goodbyes and get on with their lives. But they didn’t die, they disappeared off the face of the earth and, strictly speaking, it’s just a matter of faith that these men will never return. Such faith takes work, it takes effort. The people of Gloucester must willfully extract these men from their lives and banish them to another world.”

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