52 Lists Friday…

I’m trying to do more personal (non bookish) posts so this might be a new regular feature. I’m so undisciplined with blogging right now that following a few prompts or features might be what I need to get back on track. I am definitely not reading enough to have reviews on any type of regular basis right now. lol

And I want to try to keep think more positively about the move – which sometimes gets a little tough for me during the cold, rainy weather of winter.

I tried doing the 52 Lists Project last year but I was so far behind and some of the questions were too personal so I’m switching to the 52 Lists for Happiness prompts.

I’ll posts the prompt for next Friday at the end in case you want to join in.

LIST WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY RIGHT NOW

* Seeing my niece. We hadn’t seen her, or Kevin’s sister, in close to 10 years. They were in town for a dance competition and we met with them for dinner one night and then had my niece overnight and brought her to the airport. She’s soooo sweet and bookish and loves animals. We’re not big on company but it was a really nice visit.

* My new raincoat. I’ve had the hardest time finding a raincoat that was warm enough but not too bulky for our constantly changing temperatures and weather. And one that fits tiny me. I ended up finding one on clearance at the Columbia store at the airport. Score!

* My house. We’ve got almost everything in place now and it feels so great to have that settled feeling again.

* Good Doctors. It’s always nerve wracking finding new Drs. but I have had nothing but great experiences out here so far. It’s always shocking when I call and they fit me in immediately when I have a problem and with my actual Dr. – not the PA. And they listen to you! Spend time with you!
Florida is full of retirees so it’s usually months long waits to get in anywhere and they’re so far behind already, they rush you out.

*I think I’m back in a reading groove. Not anywhere near my old pace but I’m listening to a book and reading another – so that’s 2 more books than what I was reading before lol

The book follows each list with a take action section. For this list it’s – How often do you actually get to experience these things? Take one item from your list and see how you can turn it into a daily practice of happiness.

What makes you happy right now?

Next weeks list:

List the routines in your personal life and work - circle the ones that bring you joy, and cross out all the routines you dislike. What is it about the circled routines that bring you joy?

Tell me Something Tuesday

Tell Me Something Tuesday is hosted by Rainy Day Ramblings and discusses a wide range of topics from books to blogging.

Question: Do you read/listen to more than one book at a time, or do you give every book your undivided attention? (Courtesy of Roberta@ Offbeat YA)

Answer: I’m lucky and can read fast – I can finish a book in about 4-6 – so I almost always just read one book at a time. I like to be fully immersed in one world and not get the details confused, especially if I’m reviewing.


via GIPHY

But last year – I started reading for fun more & dabbled with graphic novels and audiobooks so at times I was juggling 3 books at a time. But they were so different from each other it wasn’t a problem for me. I concentrated on my review book with notes etc but the graphic novel would just take an hour or so and the audiobook was for when I was driving or couldn’t physically read a book.

In some ways, it really helped my reading burnout going with my mood like that. So far, this year, I’m back to focusing on one book at a time but that’s probably because they are arc’s.

How about you? Are you a monogamist reader or can you juggle several books at one time?

Monday Minis…

Well, I haven’t done one of these in a really long time. I’m maybe…hopefully…getting back into a reading groove. Sadly, nothing has been WOW for me yet but I think the following books were all solid reads.


Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn ~ Goodreads
Source: Library – audiobook

My thoughts: This is the *IT* book right now and I adored the premise. Meg does hand-lettered, custom planners for NYC’s elite and had secretly encoded messages in her wedding packages previously. One of those clients was Reid who caught the message that his upcoming marriage was a mistake.

A year passes and Meg is suffering from creators block as she tries to resist adding more messages in her lettering while Reid is a numbers guy stressed out over his job and a reluctant resident of the city – but together they find inspiration and more walking the streets of New York.

This is a lovely, slow burn story/romance. Meg & Reid are both so pragmatic and a little sad yet perfect for each other. I love how Meg sees the world in bold swoops of letters & Reid sees things in numbers and patterns.

However, they are both so…uptight isn’t quite the right word…but proper? Prim? I don’t know – they lacked personality for me other than always feeling hurt and on audio that came off as sad. And at 11+ hours… it started making me sad.

I so wanted Meg to embrace her coded messages in her hand-lettering. I thought that was so cool! Nothing to be ashamed of. There are also several big blow ups and twists by the end and I guess they were necessary for character growth but came out of left field for me.

It’s a case of me expecting the book to have more whimsy (about the lettering & NYC) based on reviews that I had read, rather than a women’s fiction vibe, but it had important messages about standing up for yourself, evolving friendships and asking for what you need from those you love. If you love slow burn romances with a focus on craft and detail – both personal and professional - this is the book for you.

Finding Mr. Better-Than-You by Shani Petroff ~ Goodreads
Source: ARC provided by the publisher – Swoon Reads

My thoughts: Cam is dumped her senior year of high school by her boyfriend of 3 years and hatches a plan to follow her rom com movies and catch herself a new guy to make her ex - Marc jealous.

Don’t roll your eyes – this is the rare YA non romance book. Despite the description, Finding Mr. better Than You turns out to mean learning not to shape your entire life around a boy/girl friend, learning to be a better friend and to forgive and let go. This is a lighter read but full of positivity and great messages for all teens.



Heidi’s Guide to Four Letter Words by Tara Sivec, Andi Arndt ~ Goodreads
Source: Library – audiobook

My thoughts: Heidi is an out of work kindergarten teacher who accidentally starts a podcast – Heidi’s Discount Erotica - while drunk and drops all the truth bombs about her crush on her next door neighbor and (non existent) sex life.

Shockingly, she develops a growing following. Her new job at an audiobook recording studio, where they record steamy romance novels, sets Heidi on a wacky fun filled path where she learns to say dirty words, talk (coherently) to her sexy neighbor and become more confident in her own skin.

Heidi’s parents are incredibly overbearing and that usually drives me up the wall but I think it was resolved really well.

This veers very close to far fetched ridiculousness a few times but I think that’s what they were going for and embraced it with a wink to rom com readers.

I’m really enjoying this trend of using romance novels to empower characters without making fun of the genre or it’s readers.

What have you all been reading and loving? Hit me up with your recommendations!

A few books I have coming up are Lucky Caller by Emma Mills, Girls With Razor Hearts by Suzanne Young & Undercover Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams.