Let's talk books



Hi there! Did you miss me? Probably not lol that's ok. I haven't been in a blogging, working out kind of mood lately. I think once I get into our house things will change. For the next ten days I am staying with my grandpa while my grandma goes out of town. It will be good for me because there will be no eating out and I will be bored out of my mind. Lots of workouts in my future for sure, oh and westerns....millions of those! Plus it will be a routine and I can eat healthy! Not only that but I get to spend some quality time with my grandpa....can't forget that. Anyway I have been finding time to read lately so I thought I would share a few of them and what I thought

I LOVE Janet Evanovich....usually.  This book is just Ok.  Her usual humor hasn't been in her last couple of books and it's so sad. 

If you have ever read any of her Lucy Kincaid books, this is another one in the collection.  It took me a little while to get into it but when I did it was hard to put down.

Everyone kept telling my Jennifer Weiner was this great author but this book wasn't great.  It was a cute story, kind of a Thelma and Louise type story.  I am not sure I would read any of her other books though.



I LOVED this book.  Everyone kept saying how great it was and it truly was.  The ending was a shocker but this book will definitely go on my favorites list!



One of these days I am going to add a books tab to my blog, I am kind of blog retarded though.  Maybe I need some hubby jack magic!

In these ten days I plan on reading a whole lot!  Working on Reconstructing Amelia right now...stay tuned.

Hope everyone is having a great Tuesday!!!



The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels and Tractor Wheels

What's that you say? A book review?  Holy moly!!  It doesn't happen often but when I find a book worth sharing it has to be done!

Terrible Picture I know!

A little background about my love for Ree Drummond.  When I was 6 months pregnant or so I came upon her first cook book.  I started looking through the recipes and reading some of her stories and knew I had to have it!  It was 24 dollars, if I hadn't been pregnant my cheap frugal self would have passed.  It was worth it!

I made a ton of stuff from it and started reading her blog.  She was hilarious! Then came her food network show....Kind of a bore.  I still watch it for the food, even if it would make me 300 pounds eating it all the time.  The problem is that personality and humor you get from her cook books and blog don't come across in the show.  Disappointing! 

I was cruising through Barnes and Noble the other day and came across this book.  It came out a couple years ago but I thought how the hell did I miss this??  I had read tiny bits of her love story with Marlboro Man but this is the whole thing!

I don't normally like straight romance novels but this one had me laughing, crying, mad, sad, and happy. (Man I'm great with those adjectives).  It wasn't like woman porn that we all know (rom com's, and harlequin romance novels) this was a REAL love story.

It goes from the time they met till they had their first daughter.  It is nice to know that they had their ups and downs like any other relationship.  It was honest and left me feeling like there could be some hope.

The crazy part is the beginning of their love story reminded me of my own, except the end of course.

 It gave me a new respect for the two of them and made me want to go eat some comfort food:)

Zoo-James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge

 When I think James Patterson novels Zoo is definitely not my definition.  I read it pretty fast but only because once I started it, I wanted to find out what happened at the end.

It was about a guy named Oz that suspects something is happening all over the world to animals to turn them against humans. Think 2012 but without the weather. Cats and Dogs are turning on their owners and killing them. I won't go into more detail because if you decide to read it I don't want to ruin it for you.

 I can't say I liked it and I can't say I hated it. It was just....there. Definitely not one of his/their better ones! I have read every other James Patterson books, working on the Alex Cross series right now (Yes I'm slow)and I could have done without this one!!

21 Days to a More Disciplined Life: Day 5,6,7,8 and 9

Hello!  Thankfully I am just now feeling better and getting to all the things that haven't been done in the last couple days!  The stomach flu is not fun and takes everything out of you I swear.  Good thing I have 5 days off to play catch up. 

I did Days 5, 6,7,8 and 9 today to try and catch up.

Day 5: 5 Steps to Developing discipline-  I will admit that I have discipline in certain areas of my life but only if they involve fun haha!  Since my big goal is to run a mile in 21 days I have to make sure I stick with it. 

My reasons why I want to stick with it:

*To show myself that I don't hate running!
*So my body will feel better
*To show myself that I CAN!
*To feel strong
*To have more energy

Likely Obstacles:
*Cold Weather
*Pain
*Busy life

How to develop new behaviors so that these obstacles won't get in my way:

*Run 3-4 times a week, even if it half a mile and inside
*If I am in pain I will stretch and do some jumping jacks and walking
*I can get very busy but I always have time for TV (one of my bad habits), take 15 minutes from something I am watching and run up and down the stairs or run in place in front of the TV.

Day 6: Be Realistic- I have been being realistic from the start, running a mile in 21 days is pretty realistic for me.  If I had said 2 that would be a far reach for me!

Day 7: Resist Negative Thought Patterns-Instead of saying I can't I will just get up and Do It!

Day 8: Put Your Goals on Paper- I admit it, I am a post it freak!  I like everything written down so this is perfect!

Day 9: Break Your Goals Into Bite Sized Pieces-I am going to write down on the calendar the days I will work out and where I want to be.  That doesn't mean I will meet those exactly but I am ok with that and know that it will at least be a step in the right direction!

I plan on running this afternoon when it is a little warmer!  I am also trying to get back on a flylady schedule to get my house clean and ready to put on the market in a couple months.  Does anyone have any advice??

The Homecoming of Samuel Lake

The Homecoming of Samuel Lake by Jenny Wingfield

Sorry I haven't been keeping up with the books part of this blog!  If I'm being honest I haven't been reading much.  I have about four books started and haven't been able to get into any of them.  I don't know what is up with books these days and music but they just aren't any great ones anymore.  Anyone that knows me, knows that I practically eat books (not literally that would be weird).  I have been known to read six books in one week, Janet Evanovich for example.  If you have never read her DO IT!  She is incredibly funny! I am mostly a murder mystery book kind of girl and if I shared those with you, you would be bored.  Anyone that reads those knows that they are all basically the same but yet I can't get enough of them.  I have been really trying to read other genres of books.

 I saw The Homecoming of Samuel Lake at the grocery store and got it from the library. It took me awhile to get through it but once I did it was great.  It has some wonderful lessons about family and how sometimes bad things happen for good reasons to bring people together.  I can't give you too much about this book because it will ruin the story but it was definitely a good time for me to read it.  I needed that lesson!!

Next on the list are Afraid To Die by Lisa Jackson and You Don't Want To Know by Lisa Jackson.

Fifty Shades Freed/ The Lost Years

Well I took a break from Fifty Shades Freed to read one of my favorite authors Mary Higgins Clark.
Fifty Shades Freed hasn't been as good as the first two. I think if you are going to write more than one book they should all be just as good. The sex is definitely interesting but by the third book it gets old.
The Lost Years- I always fly through her books but this one has taken a little longer....2 days instead of one lol its a very different plot than her normal books. It has some religion in it but since its the famous Mary Higgins I am giving it a chance!

Fifty Shades Darker

Well I finished the second one and have started the 3rd. Let's just say its not disappointing! The second one reels you in just as easily as the first!

Fifty Shades Of Grey

There has been some controversy about this book and its perfectly understandable. It is X Rated for sure. But it is also as good as they say it is. It had me enthralled for less than 24 hours. I am a fast reader normally but this one was extremely hard to put down. It isn't just a book about sex it is also a love story. It is HOT! This is definitely not a cheesy romance novel. Very Highly Recommended! I'm buying the 2nd one tomorrow!

Catching Fire

Well after weeks of trying to read it I have given up. It just isn't a good book. The writing isn't good and the story just didn't keep my attention. I don't understand all of the fuss over these books!

Off to better books (hopefully)