Romance Reads.. Update 2

 

I apologize for being late in getting this post up here. Last half of February had things being done to our house- and then, just life happening. Time flew by! But, I'm here now to give you to thoughts on the second half of my Romance Reads Month. So, here we go!

Always the Wedding Planner Never the Bride

By: Sandra D. Bricker

Christian Romance, Christian Fiction

This is book 2 in Bricker's An Emma Rae Creation series. In this book, Sherilyn Caine ahs found the man of her dreams. They found love, and an engagement, in a very short period of time. Both are now moving back to Atlanta. Not only are jobs awaiting them, but wedding plans, too. Sherilyn has been hired as the resident wedding planner for The Tanglewood Inn. While getting a job may no longer be on her list of things to do, finding a place to live, a wedding dress that doesn't mysteriously disappear (twice), setting a date, and meeting her mother in law are. Not to mention the reason behind a pesky rash that flares up at in opportune times. Is Sherilyn allergic to her fiancé? And what is in her past that is holding her back from fully embracing the future that is waiting for her?

I am pretty sure I read this book several years ago, but don't remember much of it. So, it was really like reading it for the first time. Again. I loved it. The characters you met from book one come back and join the mix. You smile, you chuckle, your heart breaks a little when you find out what's been haunting Sherilyn for years. It was another cozy installment to a delightful series. Another Hallmark movie book.

The Unhoneymooners

By: Christina Lauren

Romance

Olive is the maid of honor in her sister's wedding. Ethan is the Best Man. They don't get along. However, when everyone gets sick at the wedding from food poisoning but them, they find themselves posing as the newlyweds on the honeymoon. Plans of staying out of each other's way quickly go out the window when Olive's new boss is at the the same hotel. As is Ethan's ex- with her new fiancé. Over the 10 days they get to know each other and realize their original impressions may have been wrong. But is that all that's wrong in their world?

This book came out a year, or two ago and made q huge stir. Everywhere I looked, I found readers raving about it. They all made it out to seem so funny and fun and steamy. Well, it did have fun and funny moments. I wouldn't call it steamy, though. As I read the book, I felt there were a lot of things that were left out of the description everyone gave. They weren't deal breakers, but just made more sense once you knew. Example: Olive's twin sister is the bride- hence Olive being able to pose as the bride. 

I didn't love the book like most other readers did. I did enjoy it. It was a fun read, but I wasn't glued to the book. Nor did I fly through it in a day. I'm glad I read it. It was a fun premise and I was curious to see how it would unfold. It isn't one I would read again, though. 

As I said, the second half of February wasn't as productive as the first half- book wise. I did manage to read the vast majority of the list I made for this month. I'm not always good at sticking to a preset list of books, so I'm proud that I didn't do too bad this time around. There's always next year!! Happy Reading!

Romance Reads... Update!

 

February is officially halfway done. It's gone by so fast! For me, it's been a blur off books and the endless amounts of chocolate I've been consuming. (It's not my fault the Ghirardelli squares fly into my cart at the store!) I always set this month aside to read romance books, and this time I've been pulling from my own ginormous TBR list. While I don't have a lot of romance books on it, I've been doing what I can to tackle the ones I do have on it. 

I thought I'd give you my thoughts on the books I've read so far. As I figured I would, I deviated from my planned list a little. But, I also stuck to my list a little. Either way, books have been read that have been waiting to be read for awhile (in some cases a year or more). So, here we go.....

The Wedding Party centers around Maddie and Theo. They have a mutual friend, Alexa, in common and that's about it. They don't like each other, but one night changes all that. The fling they try to hide from everyone gets even more interesting when they're both part of Alexa's wedding party. 

Jasmine Guillory has quickly become my go-to romance author. Each book of hers I've read I've enjoyed. The steamy parts are steamy and the storyline moves at a good pace. The only drawback I had for this book was I had a hard time liking. She could be an awesome character, but a second later, be a mean  and insulting character. I didn't care for the latter. She and Theo were fun together, but she had moments when she was mean and threw low blows. 

All in all, I liked the book. I didn't like Maddie's mean moments, but I liked her. I loved Maddie and Theo as a couple. 

This is book 1of 4 centering around the Tanglewood Inn. In this installment, you meet Jackson, who is the one behind the Inn's new renovation. Emma is hired as the Inn's resident baker for the weddings. He's the widower who is bringing his dead wife's dream to life. Emma's the highly talented baker who dared to take her talents where they would be appreciated and encouraged. Throw in Jackson's sisters and you have a recipe for a delightful read. Neither Jackson, nor Emma thought anything would grow from a working relationship, but it does. And watching how it does was sweet. 

This is a Christian fiction series, so it won't have the steamy scenes romance books are known for. But, I have to say, I didn't miss them. It was nice to watch a wholesome love grow. I felt the characters were real, the conversations they had were real and the flow of the story was real. These books weren't preachy as some Christian fiction books can be. This was much like watching a Hallmark movie. My favorite characters were the sisters. They were the best! They range from the Southern ball buster to nurturing. The whole cast was one I'd love to hang out with. I'm currently reading the second book in the series, so I'll let you know how it goes.

Olivia is focused on the law firm she and her bestie just started. She's moved from New York to LA with plans of focusing on her career on her terms. Max is the California Senator who, also, isn't looking for love. He's already learned that love and a political career aren't an easy mix. So, neither one has romance on their minds when they meet at a hotel bar. What started as a casual meeting, eventually grows into more. Before too long, they're feeling more than they expected to and have to navigate it amongst his political world. 

I have to say, I didn't enjoy Party of Two as much as other Jasmine's books. This plotline differed in that the steamy scenes I've come to expect from her didn't come into play as early on as they usually do. Don't get me wrong! When the steamy scenes happened, they were steamy! I just didn't expect it to happen as far into the storyline as they did. I wish there had been more of them. I loved Olivia and Max as a couple and enjoyed watching their relationship grow. It didn't start out as a physical thing, but they didn't expect it to blossom into love. While it wasn't my favorite of her books, it was still a good read. 

There we have the 3 books I've been curling up with while eating yummy chocolate. Even though none of them are books I'd put on my all-time favorite reads list, I did enjoy each one. They were cozy when I wanted them to be and steamy when I wanted them to be. I got to finally read books I've been meaning to read for awhile. Here's hoping the other half of February is just as good! Happy Reading!

Happy February!!!

 

Hello, everyone! We've survived January! It's a new month with a whole new batch of books waiting to be read. Since February is the Valentine's Day month, I usually read more romance centered books during the month. (Being a mood reader, and all, it was inevitable.) I'm not a big romance reader by nature, so it's always interesting to see what books will come my way. This year, I'm picking ones that have been on my TBR list for.... Well, let's not worry about how long they've been there. The good thing is that they're ready to be read. 

I thought I would share with you a few of the ones I have and we'll see which ones I get to! I do have review commitments I have to read this month, but I should be able to get to a couple of these. Let's see where Cupid's arrow will take us!

               

These two books have been on my shelf for a bit of time. They've suffered from the "I'm going to get to it soon" reading disorder. I've read a couple of Jasmine Guillory's previous books and enjoyed them. I'm hoping to enjoy these, as well. I'm planning on starting The Wedding Party tonight. Since I've been feeling under the weather all weekend, I could use a good escape story, so I'm hoping these 2 books deliver.

I have to say that I'm really anticipating this book. I've only heard great things about it and how funny it is, and I'm always in for a funny story. I've tried to read Christina Lauren's recent Christmas book, and couldn't get into it, so I'm hoping I don't have that problem with this book. 

This book's plot is definitely intriguing. A plus-size blogger is picked to go on a bachelor type show after criticizing it. Again, I've only heard good things about it. I have no idea if I'll be able to get to it this month, or not. Here's hoping that whenever I do read it, I love it as everyone else has.

Okay, so that's the little list I have for potential reads this month. It'll be interesting to see which ones I get to and if I like them as much as others have. Like I said, I'm not a big romance reader, so we'll see what happens. I'm ready to be swept off my feet and dropped in the middle of a love story. Especially if I can leave the cough and nose situation I have behind. Happy reading!!

Favorite Rainy Day Children's Books

 

I live for a rainy day. I get so excited when I find out one is one the horizon. I can't wait to curl up on my couch, next to a window, with a blanket and a big mug of hot chocolate. Reading while listening to rain fall has always been one of my favorite things to do. Whether I'm in my house, a bookstore or even my car- if it's raining, I'm gonna be ready to read. My neck of the woods doesn't get that much rain, so it's a big thing in my house when rain is predicted. 

For some reason, a rainy day brings out the child in me. It's almost like the rain wants to take a walk down memory lane with books that sparked my imagination. So, I thought I'd share some of my favorite rainy day reads with children's books. Grab a blanket, a warm drink and let's go!

The Anne of Green Gables series

By: L.M. Montgomery

I met Anne Shirley in junior high. Anne of Green Gables was the literature book my class was reading. She really is the character that made me fall in love with reading. I couldn't get enough of her "scrapes" and her phrases. She made no apologies for being who she is- odd to everyone else, though she may have been. She had a heart of gold, but pride and stubbornness that would get her in trouble. I mean, who doesn't remember her smashing her school slate over Gilbert Blythe's head? Or the time she accidently died her hair green? Or the time she got her bosom friend (best friend) drunk? But she was also the girl who did what no one thought a scrappy orphan could. 

I lost interest as her character got older since she was no longer my age and relatable to me. But I never lost my love for Anne. One of my reading goals is to finish the series I never got to finish. Other books came along, but Anne's always been the first character to leave an imprint on my reader's heart.

The Mary Poppins series

By: P.L. Travers

I discovered the movie was based off books well into adulthood and immediately set out to read the books that birthed one of my favorite characters. It was interesting to see how the books and the legendary movie differed, but I came to love the magical nanny still. Each chapter was another fun adventure that only an imagination could plan. I've read the first book several times and look forward to to rereading the whole series again, soon. There's nothing like having a tea party on the ceiling or spending time with a dancing cow. Mary Poppins just has a way of turning an ordinary day into one you'll never forget and wish wouldn't end.

Pippi Longstocking

By: Astrid Lindgren

Here's, yet another, book I didn't know came before the movies I loved watching. As a child, one of the television stations would often play one of the Pippi Longstocking movies during the weekend. My little excited self would plop down, right in front of the tv set, ready & waiting for the adventures Pippi would take me on. She was the little girl who lived all alone in a big house, Villa Viillekulka (I had to look up how to spell it.) with her pet horse, Old Man, and her pet monkey, Mr. Neilson. She did the most fun things like wash her floors on skates she made of brushes, turned her bed into a flying bed and outsmarted the local criminals. She was a blast- despite the horrible dubbing from it's original language to English. She always took her best friends, siblings Tommy and Anika, along with her. They even sailed the ocean to rescue her father held prisoner on a remote island. There was just nothing Pippi couldn't do and not make fun!!

I am the proud owner of the movies I grew up loving and the books in the series. They've all been cherished. My daughters will even watch the movies with me- and they always sound perfect on a rainy day.

Well, there are my favorite children's books to read on rainy days. Anyone one of them make for a cozy day with the rain falling outside- even when it's a sunny day, really. These characters will guarantee you fun, laughter and adventure. Happy Reading!!

Favorite Autobiographies of 2020

 

I think most of us can agree that 2020 didn't go the way we thought it would. With extra time at my disposal, I concentrated on reading. I mean, what else was I going to do with all this forced down time? I have to say, 2020 gave me the chance to get to know some famous people. Numerous celebrities released books about their lives and I finally had the time to dive into their lives! So, I thought I would share with you my favorite autobiographies that I read this year. Let's meet the people I got to know last year.

Tiffany Jenkins is the genius behind Juggling the Jenkins Facebook skits. What she wasn't known for was the drug addiction that controlled her life and, ultimately, landed her in prison. When I found out she released her book, I was aware of her videos- and even seen several of them. I wasn't a devoted follower who watched everything she posted. But, I was looking to support her sharing her story from hitting rock bottom and picking herself back up. 

This book is one of the several no holds bar life stories I read this year. She shares with you everything about her journey, She takes you through her how her addiction started and how she got caught. She tells you all about her prison term- including landing in solitary confinement. She really shows you what life with her addiction was like. She's open. She's honest. She's not proud of her decisions, but she learned from them. And she tells you how she learned it all.

I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. I was floored by how open and honest she was. Mostly, I was inspired by how she got her life back in order. 

I didn't grow up listening to Elton John music. I knew of him from the late 1980s, which was long after he had mellowed out. While I didn't know a lot about his life, I was eager to read what he had to say. I was pleasantly surprised. He was open and honest about all he had done- from the temper tantrums to the people he hurt. As he takes you back to his starter days, he would own up to bad behavior. He made no excuses for how he behaved and would tell you he wished he behaved better. But you also got to see how he shaped his career on his terms- which was something few artists can say from that time period. He was openly gay, which wasn't something most people were. He was true to himself and stood his ground. Which was ground breaking for the music industry. 

This book allows you to meet a humble, honest and more mature Elton. A man who has lived and learned, loved and lost. He lays bare all of his history for you to read. I respect him all the more for it. through his words, he became more human to me than famous entity. 

I've been a follower of Kristina's Instagram for a couple years. Her videos are inspirational and humanizing at the same time. She has such a gift for reminding you to take the pressure off yourself and know that you are awesome- all while making you laugh. So when she said she was writing a book I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. The wait felt like forever, but the book was worth it. 

She takes you to her early days, living in Croatia. She tells you about the war that broke out and the bullets that made their way into her own bedroom. She tells you about her first marriage and then leaving it. Within these pages you learn how she picked herself up from the ground and, step by step, built a better life for herself. When she gives you encouragement, it's from a person who's been there in the trenches of emotional hell. She'll tell you how she felt worthless and like a failure. Her story is so real and will remind you that you aren't the only one who has lost everything and had to rebuild. Her videos are amazing, but they don't tell the whole story of what she's overcome to be the inspiration she is now. Her book does. 

This was another book I anxiously waited for once I knew it was coming. I was a fan of Jessica's when she first came out. I was a fan when she met and married Nick Lachey. I was a fan of their show. I remember their divorce and all the attention it got. While the world knew a lot about her life, thanks to magazines, there was so much more the world didn't know. What we didn't know, Jessica tells you herself.

Open Book isn't just the title of her book, it's a heads up. She literally opens up about everything. She uses journals she kept to relive and talk about things that went on in her life. She shares everything. The highs and the lows. The loves and the losses. The goods and the bads. I started this book with an idea of who she was, but finished it seeing her in different light. I had so much respect for her. She was respectful about telling this, but honest. The relationship stuff with John Mayer was especially eye opening. I didn't know much about their relationship, but I did now. 

You will close the book with a new respect for her. You will see a strength in her you may not have seen before, There's a reason why this book has been praised as much as it has. It's phenomonal.

I was a fan of General Hospital. I remember Sonny Corinthos and his storylines. But I didn't know a lot about his portrayer, Maurice Benard. All I knew prior to this book was that he had been diagnosed with bipolar. Instinctually, I knew he had an incredible story to share with his readers and I wanted to be a part of it. Mental illness is hard enough to manage and live with without the pressures of the entertainment industry to factor in. So, how did he do it?

Maurice takes you front and center to his life. prior to his diagnosis and every break down leading to it. He bares it all- the good, the bad, the ugly and the absolutely terrifying. He doesn't sugar coat his relapses or the breakdowns. He doesn't leave the gritty parts out. You're as close to being there, without actually being there. And you are amazed at what he's gone through and come through. I wanted to applaud him after I finished his book. I wanted to thank him for writing this honest book. Not only does he share his incredible story with you, he makes you know you aren't alone. I know several people who share his same diagnosis, so I'm familiar with it. It's never an easy life for the person, or their loved ones. But he took more of the shame away from it. He shows how it's possible to live and  thrive despite mental illness. He even got his character disgnosed with bipolar. 

You see the phrase "it takes a village" come to life in his story. You see all the people who become his support system- family, friends, bosses & costars. While mental illness is often a dark cloud floating around, Maurice shows you all the blessings that can come from it. That while there are lows, the highs are full of love and happiness.

This may be a short book, but dang! It packs a hell of a punch. Demi hits the ground running from page one. She tells you about her childhood and the wrongs she encountered from such a young age that would follow her later. She may not take you step by step, but what she does tell you is chalk full. She walks you through her marriages, Hollywood success, addiction and motherhood. All is told in no holds barred form. 

I may not be a big fan of Demi Moore, but I was curious to know more about her. I had no idea how much more I would know her by the time I finished her book. You feel like you're having lunch with her and she's telling you everything you're reading. Her addictions. Her faults. Her struggles. her relationship with her family. Her achievements. And how she finally found herself amongst it all.

As you can tell, 2020 was the jackpot in life stories. I don't remember the last time I read, and loved, this many autobiographies in one year. Truthfully, I don't usually read this many autobiographies in a year. But each one was amazing, gripping, inspiring and touching. It was a gift to read these life stories and learn about what the authors overcame and endured. My heart goes out to them for what they lived and applaud them for being brave enough to share their stories with honesty and humility. I'm always cautious about someone telling their life story because so many have breezed through it without really telling you. This batch of books was the furthest thing from that. I hope you consider reading some of these, if you haven't already.

Get to Know Me... Book Version!

 ***** For reasons I can't figure out, 2 sections of this post have a highlighted background. No matter what I did, I couldn't Make it disappear, so I apologize for that. *****

I thought it would be fun to answer some reading & reading habit themed questions. So, I've compiled a list of questions that I've found, or thought of, to take you behind the pages of my reading self. Here we go...

1. What is my preferred reading method?

I'm a physical books and ebooks kind of reader. Review books I'm sent all come in ebook form, but nothing can replace the actual book.

2. Do I finish a chapter, or can I stop mid-chapter?

My preference is to finish a chapter if I have to stop reading. However, I've been known to stop mid page when I had to. 

3. Do I use a book marker, piece of paper, or dogear pages?

I'm a HUGE bookmarker person!! I have a collection of them that I rotate through. In a pinch, I'll use a receipt, but never do I dogear a page. As I've gotten older, I just can't do it!

4. Do I eat or drink anything while I read?

Yes!! I usually have a cup of hot chocolate and some sort of snack with me as I curl up somewhere to read.

5. Do I like to have anything in the background while I read?

I used to want it as quiet as I could get it while I read. I still do, if I'm reading a classic. This year, though, I've discovered the joy of instrumental music channels on YouTube. So, I often will put one of them on while I read now.

6. Do I read one, or more, book at a time?

I'm a one book at a time kind of girl. When I was younger, I would read 2 if they were different genres, but not anymore.

7. What is my favorite place/places, to read?

For the most part, it's at my house. I'll curl up on a couch or in my bed. I love to read in the car, too. I like reading outdoors, but I get distracted by the surroundings.

8. What are some interesting reading habits I have?

I figured these will be individual posts in the future, but I'll give you a sneak peak. Every physical book I buy has to be the "feel good" one and in perfect condition. I love the smell of books, so I do take a whiff of each one I read. My family will tell you that I get twitchy and grouchy if I don't have a book to read. I'm sure there's more, but let's not overwhelm you so soon. 

9. Do I like to break in a book or keep it in pristine condition?

I can't break the spine of a book. It's a physical thing I can't bring myself to do. Like, it's an issue I have. I like to keep my books in brand new, perfect condition. It makes for interesting book handling, but what can I say? 

10. Do I prefer libraries or bookstores?

Both!! I've been known to check out a book I own at the library. Books I think I'll reread down the road I buy. But I love using both. 

11. Am I mood reader or do I plan ahead what I'm going to read?

I'm a big mood & seasonal reader. During October & December, I plan out a list of books for Halloween & Christmas I read each year, but not the order I read them in. 

12. What was the first book character I connected with, or started my love of reading?

Anne Shirley from the Anne of Green Gables series. I discovered her in junior high and immediately loved her. I related to her always getting herself into trouble- intentionally or not. I was a kid who did that, too. I loved reading about her "scrapes" I mean, who doesn't love when she broke her school slate over Gilbert's head? Or the time she accidentally got her bestie drunk? 

13. What genres do I read?

Fiction, historical fiction, cozy mysteries, middle grade, young adult, teen. thriller/suspense, autobiographies/biographies/memoirs/self-help, Christian non-fiction, Christian fiction & the classics. 

I tend to read a little bit of everything- with a few exceptions: I'm not a SCIFI fan. Nor am I a fantasy fan. I've read a fantasy here and there, but it's not a genre I read a lot of. My reading tastes have changed over the years, so who knows?

14. My preferred time to read...

I can pretty much read any time of the day- whenever I can, really. I do love reading at the end of the day. There's just something I like about pulling back the bed covers and curling up in bed with a book. Also, rainy days are my absolute favorite times to read. I love to curl up by a window as I read. Watching and hearing the rain falling outside while I read a good book is my all time favorite time to read.

15. Am I a fast reader?

Sadly, I don't think I am. I wish I read faster than I do. I think the biggest issue is that I'm a distracted reader. Being a mom of 2 girls and 3 dogs, there's tons of things that pull my attention from what I'm reading. I tend to take breaks in between chapters. 

16. Do I have any go to reading accessories?

I do! A cozy blanket, a cup of hot chocolate, a comfy place to curl up on and my 3 dogs. Nine times out of ten, I'll have most- if not all- of these whenever I read at home. I'll try to take some pictures and post them for you. Oh! if I'm reading a classic, I'll have a dictionary in some form handy.

17. Do I like big books or shorter books? Long or short chapters?

I'm not gonna lie, big books can be intimidating. Ideally, I like books that are around 350 pages. I've had too many times where bigger books took forever to get the plot moving, or started off good only to slow the pace a lot as the pages turned. 

I love smaller chapters. Being a distracted reader, I feel accomplished with every chapter I finish. I'll read either one, but it's a treat when the chapters are small.

18. Do I prefer hardcover or paperback books?

I'll read either one. As I've gotten older, I have a harder time with the small print in the mass market paperbacks, so I've moved away from them a bit. However, but I do love a trade paperback. 

19. Am I a new or used book buyer?

As long as the book is in good condition, I'll do either one!

20. Where is my favorite place to buy books?

Once upon a time there was only one answer to this question: a bookstore. But, now the options are almost limitless. Just about every store you go into has books- even if it's a small selection. So, now I buy them wherever I find one that catches me. I've bought them in Walmart or Target, school book fairs, airports, grocery stores, Sam's Clubs & Costco's. If I find one I'm drawn to, I don't care where it is, I'll buy it if I can.

Welcome!!

 

Hi there! Welcome to Yesterday's Reads. This blog is dedicated to all the books we love now and have loved in the past. The big focus will be on older release books. I love to get the new releases that catch my eye and sound like a great story. However, I'm horrible at keeping them from being added to my TBR pile. And my TBR pile is out of control. I'm talking hundreds of books are on it. With every new year, I tell myself I'm going to focus on working the unread books number down, but it rarely happens. I feel like for every couple of books I read, several more are quick to take their places. 

So, since I'm not that great at reading the current books when they come out, I tend to get to them when the hype has died down. In many cases, the books get thrown to the wayside by all the new books coming out. Here, we give them another chance to be front and center. Not to mention the books I've read and loved that came out years (sometimes decades or more) ago. Just because a book isn't new anymore doesn't mean it's lost it's magic. 

I hope you'll enjoy what you see here. I look forward to sharing countless awesome books and authors with you. Together, we're taking a walk down the book memory lane. Classics from generations ago will find their way here. Books I read and loved growing up will be reintroduced here. Books that I'm devouring now will also make their way here. 

I leave you with one of my favorite quotes. It's one I live by. I'm a card carrying member of the book loving bookaholic society- and proud of it! Bookstores & libraries are my happy places! They carry magic within their walls.