June Book Review

It's Book Review Day!!

I was able to read a bunch in June - thanks to audiobooks and thanks to summer break. I had a good mix of rom-coms and thrillers. Some new authors and some favorites!

First up, another memoir. I have really grown to love the genre!

Live Wire ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - You never know what kind of book you're going to get with a memoir or autobiography.  Some are serious, some are funny, and some are just story telling. Kelly Ripa's book was just a bunch of stories told with her witty banter, and I love her even more after reading her book.  She makes fun of herself on all the levels, and is kind of open and honest about her life. I think this one book you have to listen to in order to get her humor.  Actually, I think all memoirs or autobiographies should be listened to because it's the author reading them, and you really get a sense for their humor or inflection that you don't get when you READ the book.  I was giggling a few times. 

The Perfect Son ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ -  (free on Kindle Unlimited) This is the same author as The Housemaid series. And she does not disappoint again. I really like this authors style of writing, and the twists that comeat the end! I did NOT see this one coming. It was a good book from the start, but halfway through, I couldn't put it down.  

My Summer Darlings ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 - so this one is a little spicy. I didn't read the synopsis (per my usual going into a book blindly), so I didn't know what to expect. Ha! This is a story about three ladies who are all being seduced by the same man that moved into the neighborhood. There's a big plot twist at the end though, that I didn't see coming! 

Too Late ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 - (free on Kindle Unlimited) I'm a HUGE CoHo fan.  I will read any of her books and I get sucked into them, even Verity (which is WAY out of her norm). Guys, I think maybe she's changing her style. While I still get sucked in and can't put it down, this was another darker (and spicier) book of hers. I really liked it though. I loved Sloan and Carter. I didn't like Asa, but that was her point to make us not like him.  This book is dramatic,  intense, thrilling. And the Epilogue started when I was 69% through the book. And then there's an epilogue to the epilogue 😳

The Match ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (free on Kindle Unlimited) - oh. My. Goodness. This book was so good.  I'm a Sarah Adams fan anyway, but this book I couldn't put down. I even got teary eyed a few times. This book was about a girl who had epilepsy and not only had a service dog, but became a trainer/owner of a business that matched service dogs to those in need (hence the title). One of her clients is a single dad whose daughter also has epilepsy.  It was such a good book.

Beach Read ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Emily Henry is one of my favorite authors.  I'd you're in the mood for a might hearted rom-com, feel good book, then she's you're go-to girl. This was about a girl, whose works fell apartand was having writers block, so she ends up going to her dad's house in a quaint little town.  Turns out, Emily Henry was having writers block, so she decided to write about it ha!

Vacation Wars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - (free on Kindle Unlimited) This one was really cute. It made me want to go to Greece though. So maybe that's one for the con column haha! It was about a girl going to Greece with her sister and friends before her sister's wedding. They've been together since childhood and they have this contract that comes into play during their trip. It's not just a happy, sappy book, there are a lot of real life feelings in there too.

I'll Never Tell ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5- (free on Kindle Unlimited) It took me a bit to understand what the point was. It was about a family who owned a camp (like sleep away camp up in Canada). The parents died and left the camp to their kids...kind of. There's a little stipulation in the whole deal. One that is the main point to the book. There were a lot of characters (most of them siblings), but once I figured out what was going on, I wanted to keep reading to get to the end to see who did it! I will say that I didn't see that coming. BUT I also didn't like how it ended. 

So that's what I have for this month. Happy Reading!

Make sure to check out my other Book Review Posts HERE

You can take a look at some of my favorite books on my Amazon List HERE

Summer Trip to NC/TN - Day 1

Well, wet made it- after a 10 hour drive with multiple delays due to accidents,  we made it to our place in Waynesville.

Make sure to keep a map on your car... not only for when your GPS doesn't work, but it's great entertainment for the kids. Lol

Our place we are renting has an amazing back porch where I'll be spending a lot of time.

Morning sunrise on the porch. 

I mean, it's June, and it's chilly enough to need a blanket.  I love it!

Our first day, our was training in the morning, so we went downtown to go shopping

We stopped off at Frog Level Brewery for lunch. The ambiance was so good. Right on the water, and the food was good too! I really liked their frogger lager. 

Entertained ourselves with some nature Tic-tac-toe. 

They were caning their beers while we were there  that was cool to watch. 

After lunch, we headed for a hike since the rain had stopped. The hike we opted for was steep, rocky, and IN the clouds. 

The first part was paved... but it was still pretty steep. 

I'm sure if it wasn't a cloudy day, the view at the top would have been great.  But we were literally IN the clouds, so that's so we saw lol

What goes up, must come down.  This was murderous on rons joints. 

Back home and relaxing on the back porch. At ended our day playing games and watching the views. 

Friday Favorites {6.16.23}

Happy Friday, friends!!  Today's post is a quick look at my favorites for the week....

First off... my most favorite thing, is that we got to spend four years with this amazing dog. His life was cut short, unexpectedly, and our week took a huge hit this past week. But we have a lot of amazing memories with him. Caroline (the youngest) asked if dogs go to heaven so she could see him again one day. Sweet girl, I sure hope so. 

You can read and see more about him HERE.

My favorite outfits for the week...

My favorite workout outfit this week is one that makes me so happy and cheery! I have mostly been wearing shorts because...you know. Summer. 

tank // bra // shorts

My outfit for the day - I actually wore the tank and bra to workout in and then I just changed into the summer shorts - they are the best shorts for all day wear! I've worn them hiking, tubing, shopping, to soccer fields, basically EVERYWHERE. 

shorts//tank//bra

I promise you, once you try them, you won't ever go back. 

My favorite Amazon purchase is these shorts! I got them in blue and neon yellow, and then I had to go back and get them in bright pink. I wore them this week and they just made me so happy!

They're on my list of Summer Favorites - because I'll basically be wearing them all summer.

And always, but especially this week, I'm thankful for this man.

He has had quite the last few weeks...

from having to build the closet  because of this...

to fixing our pool

and making the girls an outside movie theater

Screen // Projector // Speakers

and not to mention, he's the one that took Diesel in...

He has shouldered a lot the last few weeks...he's due for a vacation.

Speaking of... we're getting ready to go on our summer trip.

So here are some of my favorites for traveling!

Travel Favorites

Travel Tips

Packing for Road Trips

Have a great weekend! 

Saying goodbye

On this Thursday, I'm going to be thankful that we got to spend four years with this guy. 

Saying goodbye is the worst

Last week we went in for a check up with his allergies, and left 2 days later with them telling us that his liver was in failure (possible liver cancer and stomach) and he only had a few days left.

I bought the cats a bed, but since they slept in his bed, he let them have that and he took theirs. lol

One of my most favorite pictures of him and Brooklynn. This was shortly after we got him and we took him to the local brewery. He loved it so much.

He was quite the bed hog - or protector. We're not sure which. But either way, he spent every night in the girls' beds. 

One of our trips we took him on had metal grated stairs. He did not like those, so Ron picked him up and carried him down. Big ole baby. 

Car rides were his most favorite. He loved being in the car.

We only got 4 years with him, but he was the best dog.

He loved giving kisses, loved his walks, loved taking over the girls' beds. He hated baths and not being right on your lap. He loved everyone he met. His favorite place was in my closet and under the dinner table when we all sat down to eat (he didn't want to be left out of family dinner... also waiting for little droppings )

Our animal shelter dog loved us big