I've been following the blog A Beautiful Mess for awhile now. From back when it was small, just Elsie and Emma, to the huge thing it has become, with an entire team. I've enjoyed watching them grow and expand. And now, the girls have expanded into... books. While I wasn't super interested in their photography book, since my favorite part of their blog is the DIY's, I was really interested in this one.
I loved the inside look this gave us into their homes and personalities. While we do see a lot of that on the blog as well, I loved seeing all that pictures and inspiration. I've already gone through and thought about which projects I want to attempt myself.
This is the perfect inspiration book. It's more than just a book of how-to's. The girls have infused it with their personalities, and it's also just a lot of fun. I also love that all of the projects are in one place, for easy reference.
Whether you are decorating a new space, getting bored of an old one, or whatever reason you may just need some inspiration, this is the perfect book that will help and guide you, while still being fun to read. I would highly recommend it.
Elsie and Emma of A Beautiful Mess:
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I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. This does not affect my opinion in any way.
]]>I didn't want to review this, necessarily, because it's more like a devotional, and how do you review that? Therefore, I decided to spotlight it instead. This devotional has 52 entries, so you can read it once a week for a year, or daily for 52 days. Either way, this book will encourage and enlighten you.
Now, I did not read the whole thing cover to cover. I read one every day for a week, and then flipped through the rest, although I will continue to read one every day until I do get through all of them. But already, I have been so touched and encouraged by this devotional. Each short chapter is based on a Psalm, and although they may be short, they hold a lot of truth. Holley Gerth has a very unique writing that actually holds your interest. I'm not one for devotionals, but this one is very easy to read, as if you were chatting with an old friend.
We all need encouragement and to hear God's voice in our daily lives. This book really is what your heart needs for the hard days.
I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
]]>You guys know how much I loved Solving for Ex, so of course when I heard she was writing a companion about Sofia getting what was coming to her, I had to have it. And it did not disappoint.
This was interesting to begin with, because if you've read Solving for Ex, you already have an opinion of Sofia. And let's face it, it's not a pretty one. Which means its going to take a lot more for her to win you over, to prove that she's changed. I will say, I admire that Sofia knows what she is and doesn't try to hide it. She knows that she's manipulative, and she has perfected it down to an art form. She knows her father just throws money at her and her twin, Vincent, to "make up" for her mother dying, but she isn't above taking the money and making him pay for mentally checking out of their life. But when Sofia makes him pay a little too much, her dad takes notice and decide he's had enough. So, he cancels her year abroad in Paris and makes her go volunteer for her stepmother's company in third-world Guyana.
Sofia is very hard to like in the beginning, but she's supposed to be that way. She's used to being the queen everywhere she goes. She's used to her money and looks being able to get her everything she wants. But, now she no longer has her daddy's money, and for some reason, her usual flirtations aren't working on the only boy in this awful place, Callum. But Sofia knows how to play her cards right: play along enough for Callum to send good reports to her stepmother, and she can get out of this place early. But she never thought that she would fall for Callum and Guyana.
Seeing Sofia struggle in the beginning was, I admit, humorous. But I have to hand it to her, she did survive. Here she is, thrown into a place with no running water, no toilets, much less any of the luxuries she was used to. Heck, I don't know if I could do that well. But Sofia proved that she wasn't just a dumb cheerleader type persona (cue Taylor Swift...I got nothing in my brain...at least that's what people say....mmhmm). She decided that she was going to stick it out and prove to everyone that she wasn't just a "princess". And she did it.
And Callum.......I loved watching their relationship progress from not being able to stand each other to falling in love. It was definitely fun and entertaining to watch them banter back and forth, but also had its sweet moments. I loved that the relationship didn't progress too fast, but worked perfectly for the book, even adding to the plot instead of taking away from it like I so often see romances do sometimes in books.
I also really loved all the characters in this book, from the bus driver to the other housemates, to the little girls that Sofia falls in love with in the town. It's obvious that a lot of research went into writing this book, to write the town and the people and the problems they face so accurately.
But I think most of all, I loved seeing how much Sofia changed. From being the spoiled princess that she was, to actually seeing the townspeople and their troubles, to wanting to help them. It wasn't an unrealistic change that happened over night, but one that happened gradually, so that we could really see that she was genuine.
So yes. I looooved this book. I loved everything about it. And while I may never love it more than Solving for Ex, it was pretty darn close. Plus, I hear the finished version has pictures. I mean, you can't beat that.
I received an advanced copy from the author in exchange for my honest review
]]>Anything with cupcakes, I'm in. I was originally drawn in by the super-cute cover, but the premise and promise of cupcakes sealed the deal. This was the cutest, fluffy little chick-lit, perfect for making you smile and laugh.
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for my honest review. This does not affect my opinion in any way, except to think that Robin Constantine is just a seriously sweet person.
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I received an ebook copy from the author in exchange for my honest review. This does not affect my opinion in any way, except for that I need Midnight Thief even more now.
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I will say, the ending had me...well, like this.
So would I recommend this story? Absolutely. It is such a beautifully written, different retelling. In fact, I know that's what it claims, but it was so unique that it almost doesn't seem like it was a retelling. I loved it. Hopefully you do as well.
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I usually do not prefer audiobooks. I just don't really have the patience or the attention span to listen to them. But I have had barely any time to read lately. I have a 40+ minute drive to and from school every day, and decided to try it out. With nothing else to distract me in the car, and nothing else to do, I figured might as well get some "reading" done. It was much easier to pay attention in the car, and so I managed to make it through this audiobook.
Lakshmi is a young, Nepali girl. Her family is poor, living in a small village in the mountains. Her stepfather gambles away all their money, but for the most part, Lakshmi is happy with her mother and baby brother. But then, her father sells her to a city woman. Lakshmi thinks she will be used as a servant in a wealthy home, but soon finds out the worst thing imaginable: she has been sold into prostitution. Forced into a debt that will be nearly impossible to pay back, Lakshmi sees no way out.
This book was a deeply emotional book. It is very sad, heart-wrenching, and eye-opening. McCormick did a wonderful job of making us feel what Lakshmi was going through. This is such an ugly story to write, but it was written quite beautifully. It isn't super graphic, although I probably wouldn't recommend it for younger audiences. There were some more...uncomfortable situations, which is why it may only be appropriate for older audiences, but it was needed for the story it tells.It was very clear that McCormick did her research for this book.
The details were well thought out and written. She did a good job of location, setting the feeling for Lakshmi's Nepalese village, but also the transition from the villages into India and the big cities. But McCormick also did a good job of writing the girls, how each one of them feels about their plight. What brought them there, what keeps them there, what happens there.
I did not like the narrator for this one. Her fake accent was annoying, and not at all close. (And the accent she gave to the Americans...what? It was painful to listen to.) It didn't turn me off the book completely, but I felt I couldn't enjoy it fully because her voice grated on my ears. The book is also written in free verse poetry, although I didn't even realize that at first because it's hard to tell with the audio.
Sold was meant to be a powerful, haunting story of what really goes on behind the sex slave industry. It was meant to open eyes about poor girls who go off to be maids, and instead what ends up happening to them. It was built on the stories and interviews of many girls who actually went through this. Although a fictional story, it isn't fiction. This truly does go on in real life. I would definitely recommend it to anyone. (Although it is labeled for younger audiences, I would go a little bit older because of the content.)
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Part II of my Throne of Glass Novella Readathon (title not official). I do enjoy these novellas, as I like how they give insight to Celaena and her personality, but also the different experiences that made her who she was in Throne of Glass, as well as how she's changed.
After her unforgivable actions in The Assassin and the Pirate Lord, Arobynn beats her senseless and then sends her off to train with the Silent Assassins. He gives her one month to receive a letter of approval from the Master Assassin. The problem? Well...they don't talk. Celaena, full of arrogance and pride at being who she is, realizes that the Silent Assassins don't care, and her titles will get her nowhere.
Although Celaena expected to train with the Master, she soon learns that he will not see her until she proves herself. She becomes friends with her roommate, Ansel, and begins to understand how things are done here. Ansel is the first real friend, at least female one, that Celaena has ever had. Soon, Celaena begins to even enjoy her stay in the desert, and starts thinking about what would happen if she stayed instead of going back to Arobynn.
Celaena's humility becomes genuine instead of for show so that the Master will train her, and he begins to. She falls into the rhythm of things, enjoys her friendship with Ansel, and doesn't want to leave. But then, the fortress is attacked, and everyone is not who they seem.
I do think the description is misleading and wrong. The whole "Celaena must find a way to stop them, or she'll be lucky to leave the desert alive". That's not how it went down at all. Of course, I can't say how it did go down, because that would give everything away.
Not going to lie, Celaena's arrogance definitely grates on my nerves. I was happy, however, when she finally realized that the Assassins didn't care who she was, and in their fortress, she wasn't all that. She becomes more humble, and realizes just how selfish and spoiled she was.
This novella also showcases the vulnerability Celaena has, that she never shows. She has never had a real female friend before, and so that was something strange and new to her. The book also shows that although she may be an assassin, she also has a soft spot for people. But don't let her hear you say that ;)
Although, I really just want to know what happened to Sam. Poor Sam.
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Soo...um...trying to figure out how I didn't know there were Throne of Glass novellas....whaaattt??? I loved Throne of Glass when I read it. I'm about to reread it so I can read Crown of Midnight and so I might as well just read the entire series, start to finish. (Not saying that I'm going to read every single novella, because there are quite a few. But as many as I can, so that's what you'll be seeing on SSS for the next few weeks. Hashtag sorrynotsorry)
Calaena and Sam have been sent to the Pirate Lord to collect on a debt. Unbeknownst to them, they are actually there to collect a shipment of slaves. Upon finding this out, Celaena is enraged. Deciding to risk her master Arobynn's wrath, she concocts a way to free the slaves, dragging Sam into it with her.
Although short, this novella was still nice, allowing us into Celaena's personality and thoughts. She may be an assassin, hardened and jaded, but she still has a heart. She may be a killer for a living, but she has boundaries, lines she will not cross. And enslaving hundreds of people that had no choice, were possibly in the wrong place at the wrong time, definitely crosses that line.
Besides Celaena's hidden self, we also have get a peek into how the assassins work. We learn how she had no choice to work for Arobynn. We learn how although they seem to have a good life (well, except for the assassin part, I guess), everything is not as it seems. We see how she interacts with others, especially the other assassins. And her arrogance is something that is still the same Throne of Glass ;)
Also, Sam's pretty cute ;) I'd call him sweet, but I'm not sure you can use that word with an assassin :P
All in all, this was a quick, fun read that showed us more of Celaena and the assassings. I would definitely recommend it for lovers of the Throne of Glass series, as it shows us a little more about Celaena, the assassins, but also some of the happenings of the country that later become important in Throne of Glass.
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Wow. Guys, this story. I was not expecting this. It was captivating, and sucked me in from the very beginning. It was such an emotional ride, and I loved every minute of it. I love how Jodi Lynn Anderson took our view of Neverland, of Peter Pan and Tiger Lily and Wendy and Tinkerbell, and completely changed it. Made us doubt everything we ever knew.
(Little side note here...I have never seen Peter Pan. Not the Disney version, not a movie version even though we own the one with Jeremy Sumpter, not a play version, nor the real story version. Now, I do feel that I have at least seen the beginning of the Disney version, perhaps multiple times, but I never get very far in my recollections. Definitely never get to Tiger Lily. In fact, I had no idea she existed until maybe about a year ago, when I discovered DisneyBound and had no idea who she was. So I went into this story completely ignorant and unbiased.)
First off, I love that the story was narrated by Tinkerbell. Obviously, since she doesn't talk in the movies, we don't get much from her point of view. So I think that it's awesome that she gets to get a word in, but also since she's a fairy and can flit away and eavesdrop on things, we get a wider scope of view on what is happening. She is often portrayed as the petty little fairy, and here we see that she is so much more than that.
I also loved the characters and their portrayals. They were so different from how they are usually portrayed (unless I'm missing something because I've never actually watched it).
Tiger Lily: She was strong, independent, and didn't need anyone or anything. But she also had a soft heart, with the way she cared for her father. And as much as she didn't admit it, she also had a certain vulnerability. One that we see when everything starts to go wrong. Peter Pan: I think Peter was actually still like the Peter we know, albeit maybe a little older. He falls for Tiger Lily because she is just as strong, independent, and invincible as he is. But soon he begins to realize that isn't enough. Peter has taken care of the boys for as long as he can remember, and we see a vulnerability also in him in the way that he's scared. He just wants to be the macho manly caretaker, and wants someone who can simply affirm that. The Lost Boys: The Lost Boys were so cute. They added a fun and cute dimension to a book that would have otherwise been too serious. Pine Sap: Can I just say, I loved Pine Sap. Seriously, he was so sweet. Even when it was obvious to everyone but her that he loved Tiger Lily, and she went off to be with Peter, he just stuck by her. Even after her lying to him, and hurting him, he was still there for her even when Peter wasn't. Even if it wasn't ideal, I love the way this book ended for him. Wendy: Anyone who loves Wendy will not like this representation of her. I can't really say that it's her fault, but still. Since the book is about Tiger Lily and Peter Pan, she wasn't in it until the end. Obviously, she plays her part in the story line, but other than that there isn't much to say about her. Except that Tiger Lily/Peter Pan shippers will hate her ;) Reginald Smee: This character representation surprised me most, so I had to include him separately. Smee isn't your cowardly, wavering first mate in this book. Slightly creepy. Although Hook has instructed him only to kill Peter Pan and to not touch Tiger Lily, his strange fascination with her makes him obsessed with wanting to kill her too."Reginald didn't kill because he had no heart. He killed to make himself cry, and he only killed people he admired." -page 58 Hook: Hook is your typical Hook. Cowardly, drunk, miffed at Peter and bent on killing him and his lost boys. The origin is actually that Hook and Smee used to kidnap young boys to kill them, and Peter actually rescued quite a number of them. Hook would go around asking Neverlanders if they had seen his "lost boys" and the name stuck. Also, the story of how he got a hook for a hand is quite mundane and embarrassing :)
Tiger Lily was found abandoned as an infant by the Shaman of the Sky Eaters, and adopted by him. Much to the chagrin of the other villagers, he lets her run pretty free and wild. She saves an Englander that washed up on shore after the villagers elected to just let him die, and that is the last straw. They arrange her marriage to an oaf, and she starts slipping away to spend more and more time in the woods. It is here that she meets the fabled Peter Pan and the Lost Boys, and starts spending time with them. Drawn to Peter, who is very much like her, the two begin to fall in love. Things getting worse in the village, with her marriage looming and an Englander who has turned the villagers to his ways and against the Shaman, and Tiger Lily is left trying to find a way to be with Peter.
But also on the island, as Tinkerbell can tell us, are the pirates. Hook and Smee and the rest. Hook is plotting Peter's death, and Smee has an agenda of his own with Tiger Lily. But with the two lovebirds only focused on each other, will they not notice before it's too late? And then, Wendy Darling arrives in Neverland.
This story was very captivating and emotional. When everything was taken away from Tiger Lily, she lost herself. But she also finds herself again, and I'm glad. The majority of this book isn't too emotional. You don't even realize you have become invested with the characters until--wham, everything comes at the end.
Yes, this book is sad. The ending is probably not "ideal" (especially for Tiger Lily/Peter Pan shippers) but it actually is perfect for the story. But it's not a depressing book. It's filled with hope, love, sadness, a bit of grief, laughs, and a new view on life. I loved it, and I would absolutely recommend it to anyone.
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I really enjoyed these stories. I thought they were a fun, interesting little perspective on how Day and June lived before the events in Legend
There are two short anecdotes here, one about Day and one about June, from when they were 12 years old.
Day
For Day, we get the story of his first kiss. He's been out on the streets by himself for about two years now, just trying to survive. He was trying to steal food from a crate, when he gets caught by the 16-year-old daughter of the owner of the crates. She offers to let him come work in exchange for some food--and a kiss. The story was short and sweet, and and gave us some insight into Day's life on the streets. It shows us how much Day would do for his friends (although we already knew that from Legend). It also shows us Day's vulnerability, and how much he longs for friends, a family, stability. It was just an all-around cute story. (Although, am I the only one weirded about by the fact that a 16-year-old kissed a 12-year-old??)
June
For June, we get the story of her first day at Drake University. June is the first person ever to be admitted to Drake at the age of twelve. Being a prodigy, the Republic has their eye on her. June has skipped many grades before, and has never really made any friends. All she wants is some friends, but she really doesn't know how to go about making any, since she and her fellow classmates are so different. This results in a sort of showing off that June does, but if anything, it does the opposite of what she wants. On her first day of school, she is provoked by a sophomore, which results in her first discipline. This story gives us insight into her character, and foreshadows what is to come in the Legend series. Maybe not exactly the way Metias meant it, but we do know that she does in the Legend series.
I also like the way that the author weaves their stories together before they even know it. Day sees announcements of June's induction into Drake as the Republic's prodigy. June is late for her first day because of the accident Day causes. Even in Legend, there were some of these instances that their paths crossed without them realizing it. All in all, this was a nice little introduction to the two characters before their story in Legend. It was short, sweet, and very enjoyable to read.
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