Wow okay, I'm really behind on posting the review for this book (sorry Christina, I love you!!). But hey, I'm getting around to it now rather than later, so that counts for something...right...?
Anyway, as the title says, I will be reviewing The Stand-In Boyfriend by Christina Benjamin, Book Five in The Boyfriend Series *swoon*. Lord, I love all these books so much, I wish I could have all the book boyfriends that Christina has created. Every time I read another one of her books, I fall more and more in love with her writing, especially since I've been able to see her growth as a writer from Truth (Book One in the Geneva Project Series).
June 24, 2018
Summer Shenanigans | Week Four
You guys, I'm half asleep while typing this post. This past week has been ridiculously crazy busy, but it's been one of the most amazing weeks ever. I'm sleep-deprived but the lack of sleep was so worth it.
For reading, I started and finished a short book called 5 Mistakes That You Can't Afford to Make in College in preparation for my entry into the full-time college life in the fall. I really enjoyed it, and after reading the book, I was actually inspired to create a budget for myself starting in July.
At work, I had my first save of the season, but you'll never believe what it was (yes, a what, not a who). I had to jump in and save a small, red, plastic ball. Why? Two words: lifeguard evaluations. I have actually done some of the other lifeguards' evaluations, and it's really fun.
I had my dance recital Friday night (possibly my last one for awhile, or forever). I did a ballet routine to "Warrior" by Demi Lovato and a lyrical routine to "Unsteady" by X Ambassadors. During my lyrical routine, I actually fell, but everyone thought it was just part of the routine, so I guess I pulled it off alright.
Yesterday (aka Saturday) I hosted my graduation party. The turnout was amazing and I am so blessed to have received many thoughtful, generous gifts from my close friends and family. There was good food, good people, and some good laughs. It went for a little over ten hours and I did not go to bed until past midnight last night, so waking up for church and to say goodbye to my grandparents before they left to go back to Michigan was very hard to say the least. Thankfully the coffee kicked in pretty quickly.
I feel bad that I haven't gotten to typing up a review for The Stand-In Boyfriend, and I'm sure this week at work will be crazy, but hopefully I can for sure get it posted by the end of next week.
I'm about to fall asleep, so I think that's a sign for me to go to sleep.
I love you all so much, and I hope you have a great week!
Catheryn
For reading, I started and finished a short book called 5 Mistakes That You Can't Afford to Make in College in preparation for my entry into the full-time college life in the fall. I really enjoyed it, and after reading the book, I was actually inspired to create a budget for myself starting in July.
At work, I had my first save of the season, but you'll never believe what it was (yes, a what, not a who). I had to jump in and save a small, red, plastic ball. Why? Two words: lifeguard evaluations. I have actually done some of the other lifeguards' evaluations, and it's really fun.
I had my dance recital Friday night (possibly my last one for awhile, or forever). I did a ballet routine to "Warrior" by Demi Lovato and a lyrical routine to "Unsteady" by X Ambassadors. During my lyrical routine, I actually fell, but everyone thought it was just part of the routine, so I guess I pulled it off alright.
Yesterday (aka Saturday) I hosted my graduation party. The turnout was amazing and I am so blessed to have received many thoughtful, generous gifts from my close friends and family. There was good food, good people, and some good laughs. It went for a little over ten hours and I did not go to bed until past midnight last night, so waking up for church and to say goodbye to my grandparents before they left to go back to Michigan was very hard to say the least. Thankfully the coffee kicked in pretty quickly.
I feel bad that I haven't gotten to typing up a review for The Stand-In Boyfriend, and I'm sure this week at work will be crazy, but hopefully I can for sure get it posted by the end of next week.
I'm about to fall asleep, so I think that's a sign for me to go to sleep.
I love you all so much, and I hope you have a great week!
Catheryn
June 17, 2018
Summer Shenanigans | Week Three
It feels so weird posting this much, but I hope you guys are enjoying these casual updates and snippets into my life.
Looking back on this week, I don't really feel like that much has happened. I went to work, taught two kids from my first week of swim lessons more advanced techniques for their second week of swim lessons, went to dance class, worked out a couple times (I'm in love with the aerobics room at my job), had an in-service where my blood sugar dropped during our skills tests, kept working on the July schedule for the pool, went out for ice cream with a guy, went swimming and made lasagna with aforementioned boy, mutually decided with the boy to just be friends, celebrated my mom's boyfriend's birthday, my mom's birthday, and Father's Day all in the span of three days, and went to a service at one of the college campus churches.
I've been thinking about changing the name of my blog to encompass the broader width of topics I want to cover both on here and on my YouTube channel (once I get it up and running again), but it's scary and daunting. I would have to create a whole new email for my blog, try and forward all my emails from my old email address to my new one, change my Instagram page, create all new hashtags, create new logos, etc etc. It's overwhelming to even think about it, but I don't want my blog to JUST be about books and book reviews. I want to show off my planner/bullet journal, post body positive things, share recipes and trips and life events with you guys, collaborate with other bloggers/YouTubers, like my amazing friend Jasmine of Stay Classy by Jazzy (GO FOLLOW HER!!) and Jaclyn from A World Full of Book Quotes (GO FOLLOW HER TOO!). Anyway, I have not officially decided anything, but keep your eyes out on my Instagram page for polls and updates about a possible name change (@thebooklioness).
This coming week is about to be CRAZY. My dance recital is Friday evening with the dress rehearsal on Thursday afternoon. My graduation party is Saturday afternoon/evening. Between now and then I have to clean my house, get a haircut, get my eyebrows waxed/trimmed, get a facial, get my finger and toenails painted, plan how to do my hair/makeup for my party, help make food for the party, get enough chairs and tables for the party, get party decorations/supplies, and host my grandparents ALL while lifeguarding this week and (hopefully) finishing up the first draft of this blasted July schedule.
I will hopefully get a review posted over The Stand-In Boyfriend soon, but it may not be this week.
I love you all. I've gotta head to bed.
Have a great week! --Catheryn
Looking back on this week, I don't really feel like that much has happened. I went to work, taught two kids from my first week of swim lessons more advanced techniques for their second week of swim lessons, went to dance class, worked out a couple times (I'm in love with the aerobics room at my job), had an in-service where my blood sugar dropped during our skills tests, kept working on the July schedule for the pool, went out for ice cream with a guy, went swimming and made lasagna with aforementioned boy, mutually decided with the boy to just be friends, celebrated my mom's boyfriend's birthday, my mom's birthday, and Father's Day all in the span of three days, and went to a service at one of the college campus churches.
I've been thinking about changing the name of my blog to encompass the broader width of topics I want to cover both on here and on my YouTube channel (once I get it up and running again), but it's scary and daunting. I would have to create a whole new email for my blog, try and forward all my emails from my old email address to my new one, change my Instagram page, create all new hashtags, create new logos, etc etc. It's overwhelming to even think about it, but I don't want my blog to JUST be about books and book reviews. I want to show off my planner/bullet journal, post body positive things, share recipes and trips and life events with you guys, collaborate with other bloggers/YouTubers, like my amazing friend Jasmine of Stay Classy by Jazzy (GO FOLLOW HER!!) and Jaclyn from A World Full of Book Quotes (GO FOLLOW HER TOO!). Anyway, I have not officially decided anything, but keep your eyes out on my Instagram page for polls and updates about a possible name change (@thebooklioness).
This coming week is about to be CRAZY. My dance recital is Friday evening with the dress rehearsal on Thursday afternoon. My graduation party is Saturday afternoon/evening. Between now and then I have to clean my house, get a haircut, get my eyebrows waxed/trimmed, get a facial, get my finger and toenails painted, plan how to do my hair/makeup for my party, help make food for the party, get enough chairs and tables for the party, get party decorations/supplies, and host my grandparents ALL while lifeguarding this week and (hopefully) finishing up the first draft of this blasted July schedule.
I will hopefully get a review posted over The Stand-In Boyfriend soon, but it may not be this week.
I love you all. I've gotta head to bed.
Have a great week! --Catheryn
June 15, 2018
Turquoise Mountain | Spoiler-Free Review
I did it! I finally finished Turquoise Mountain by Diane Reed! (Side note: the length of time it took me to finish this book had nothing to do with the book itself, just my crazy school schedule and workload as I finished up high school.)
Let’s dive in, shall we?
Turquoise Mountain is Book One in the Iron Feather Brothers Series. It focuses on the eldest brother, Dillon Iron Feather, and Tessa Grove, a jewelry-maker.
Synopsis:
Synopsis:
(From Amazon.com)
Dillon Iron Feather is dangerous and he knows it. Hardened by his championship fighting career, he returns to his remote Colorado ranch to heal, only to discover that city girl Tessa Grove is determined to stake her claim to the old mine she inherited on a corner of his land. Stubborn to the bone, Tessa soon digs up precious gems from deep within the earth to use in her custom-made jewelry business. But those stones turn out to be sacred, and sparks fly as they begin to guide her to the secret chambers of Dillon's heart.
Rating:
5 out of 5 stars!
Recommended For:
For mature readers, due to a fairly graphic sexual scene. For lovers of Western TV shows/movies. For those with an interest with Native American culture.
Review:
I want to start of by once again reiterating the fact that it took me a long time to finish this book ONLY because of my school work. It had nothing to do with the content and/or quality of this book. From the moment I started reading Turquoise Mountain, I was immediately immersed into Dillon and Tessa's worlds. As a Cherokee American, I very much enjoyed the rich inclusion of the Apache language (Jicarilla), as well as the Apache culture and customs. This book has a beautiful blend of action, suspense, romance, and adventure, as well as vivid imagery that transports you straight into the Colorado mountains. I have to say that I was skeptical of the relationship development between Dillon and Tessa at first because I was fearful that it would seem rushed or insincere to readers. I, however, was pleasantly surprised. Though the relationship might seem to move quite quickly to some readers, like me, it did not feel awkward or forced. It is a perfect example of what meeting the one destined for you is like, suddenly realizing that you've finally found your home. Dillon and Tessa, as well as several other characters in this story, are so three-dimensional, with emotional complexity and tremendously written backstories that impact the characters in their day-to-day lives. It definitely helped contribute to the depth of this story. Overall, this book was a great read, and I can't wait to read the next one (Skystone Canyon)!
About the Author:
(From DianeJReed.com)
"I was raised out West in a big rollicking family, riding horses by the time I could walk. My earliest memories are of creating stories with my twin sister DJ. As “wombmates”, we developed our own language before we knew English, and by age three, we invented a curious pastime we called “The Rocking.” Each afternoon, we climbed onto a stiff, green couch and rocked in unison until we conjured a trance-like state, entering our stories as though slipping through a portal (honest!). All remnants of our drab living room disappeared, and we found ourselves roaming in a realm of winged horses and adventure. No one ever told us this wasn’t possible, and we often rocked so hard (even in the family station wagon) that our hair tangled into hopeless knots. Yet our mother, who possessed a whimsical streak of her own, never dreamed of telling us to stop, and our older sister Suzi urged us on by contributing plot ideas of her own. To this day, whenever I ask my sisters about details from The Rocking, they can recite the same scenes and dialogue that I recall from our ongoing saga that lasted for years.
And the truth is, little has changed…
Today, I continue to embark on these “spirit journeys”, only I enter through the portal of a computer rather than swaying on a dusty, old couch. And I’ve remained so passionate about the power of stories that I earned a Ph.D. in American Literature and Creative Writing. But you can bet I still consult with Suzi and DJ for their insights into my latest novels because they’re veteran storytellers who always make my imagination soar. From the playful pastime of sisters came a magical passport to new horizons—and it’s my hope that you’ll enjoy my novels and the gateways they open to life, love, and the miracle of second chances."
"I was raised out West in a big rollicking family, riding horses by the time I could walk. My earliest memories are of creating stories with my twin sister DJ. As “wombmates”, we developed our own language before we knew English, and by age three, we invented a curious pastime we called “The Rocking.” Each afternoon, we climbed onto a stiff, green couch and rocked in unison until we conjured a trance-like state, entering our stories as though slipping through a portal (honest!). All remnants of our drab living room disappeared, and we found ourselves roaming in a realm of winged horses and adventure. No one ever told us this wasn’t possible, and we often rocked so hard (even in the family station wagon) that our hair tangled into hopeless knots. Yet our mother, who possessed a whimsical streak of her own, never dreamed of telling us to stop, and our older sister Suzi urged us on by contributing plot ideas of her own. To this day, whenever I ask my sisters about details from The Rocking, they can recite the same scenes and dialogue that I recall from our ongoing saga that lasted for years.
And the truth is, little has changed…
Today, I continue to embark on these “spirit journeys”, only I enter through the portal of a computer rather than swaying on a dusty, old couch. And I’ve remained so passionate about the power of stories that I earned a Ph.D. in American Literature and Creative Writing. But you can bet I still consult with Suzi and DJ for their insights into my latest novels because they’re veteran storytellers who always make my imagination soar. From the playful pastime of sisters came a magical passport to new horizons—and it’s my hope that you’ll enjoy my novels and the gateways they open to life, love, and the miracle of second chances."
June 11, 2018
Summer Shenanigans | Week Two
If you guys have not already seen my Instagram post explaining why this week's blog post is late, it is because I tried a mobile app for my blog. I typed the entire blog post on the app so I could post it when I got home using my laptop, but lo and behold, the app didn't save any of the post. Soooo I'm starting from scratch, on my not-very-reliable laptop, dreading having to remember everything I included in the draft.
First up, bookish updates. I finished The Stand-In Boyfriend, book number five in Christina Benjamin's Boyfriend Series. I've started on the review over Turquoise Mountain and am hoping to have that finished and posted within the next few days. The review for The Stand-In Boyfriend will be typed up and posted sometime after that, hopefully within a few days. I have not officially decided what I am going to read next, but I am leaning towards getting through all the Boyfriend Series books that are currently in my to-be-read-and-reviewed pile (The Maybe Boyfriend and The Accidental Boyfriend). I know I will also be receiving an ARC copy of the newest Boyfriend Series book in the mail soon, called The Summer Boyfriend, and I'm thinking about saving that one for my trip to Florida in late July. Between those books, I have a trilogy by Dana Fraedrich that I also need to read and review, a book I need to read for college, and a book about how to survive college that I was *supposed* to review, but the company that sent it to me it no longer in business. Sooo, yeah.
Second, bullet journal updates. If you haven't seen my newest weekly spread, or any of my other bullet journal spreads, go check them out on my Instagram (@thebooklioness)! This month's theme is lavender! My inspiration came from Amanda Lee of @amandarachdoodles on Instagram (her YouTube videos are also amazing)!
Third, romance updates. None to report here!
Fourth, work updates. This past week was really fun. I started teaching competitive swim lessons to a group of about 5 kids, and I really enjoyed it. They were all such sweet, hard-working kids, and they were all so determined and willing to put in the work it took to improve. I treated them to a fun day on the last day, including popsicles and fancy laminated certificates (except for one kid whose certificate actually said his mom's name)! I teach swim lessons again this week with two kids, both of which I had this past week as well. I'm very excited!
Other than work, I haven't really done much. I come home and make sure to read for at least 30 minutes each night to get back on track with my reading habits, as well as to catch up on my ever-growing TBR pile. I have, however, started utilizing the amazing gym and fitness rooms at the recreation center I lifeguard at, and I feel so much more confident and relaxed after I workout. Today I went upstairs and played around in the aerobics room, and I fell in love. It was complete with a barre and Bosu balls and kicking/punching bags and a beautiful hardwood floor. It actually made me really emotional because my last dance recital is on June 22nd. I've been dancing for just about 13 years, but as I go into college, I don't think I'll have time to keep dancing with my studio. It breaks my heart because for so long, dance has been my outlet, it has been my way to cope with my anxiety and depression. It was my motivation to recover from my eating disorder. I'm just not ready to let go of it yet.
On a much happier note, I am happy I managed to get this all typed up and posted only one day later than planned. I hope you all can forgive me!
Until next Sunday!
Cat (:
June 3, 2018
Summertime Shenanigans | Week One
Hey guys...
It's been a hot minute since I posted on here.
I promise it was for good reasons, but just so you get to know me a little more, I'll detail everything I've done the past few months.
*cue flashback montage and mystical music*
It all started when I turned 18...
It's been a hot minute since I posted on here.
I promise it was for good reasons, but just so you get to know me a little more, I'll detail everything I've done the past few months.
*cue flashback montage and mystical music*
It all started when I turned 18...
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