ShayKay's Review of Well Met by Jen DeLuca

GoodReads: Well Met by Jen DeLuca

Synopsis from the Book

Emily knew there would be strings attached when she relocated to the small town of Willow Creek, Maryland, to help her sister, but who could have anticipated getting roped into volunteering for the local Renaissance Faire? Or that the irritating and inscrutable schoolteacher in charge of the volunteers would be so annoying that she finds it impossible to stop thinking about him?

The Faire is Simon's family legacy, and he makes clear he doesn't have time for Emily's lighthearted approach to life, her oddball Shakespeare conspiracy theories, or her endless suggestions for new acts to shake things up. Yet on the Faire grounds, he becomes a different person, flirting freely with Emily when she's in her revealing wench's costume. But is this attraction real, or just part of the characters they're portraying?

This summer was only supposed to be a pit stop for Emily, but now she can't shake the fantasy of calling Willow Creek - and Simon - home.

Thoughts Before Reading

This was my August Book of the Month pick, and I had a hard time figuring out which book I wanted to read. I really thought about skipping the month but I hate doing that! I try to make BOTM the only book I get now because we are paying for a wedding so my book spending had to be knocked down a lot, and the fact that I kept to this as well as I have (there have been quite a few slips here and there) I'm very impressed so far. But I was going to the lake and it is still technically summer, and this book seems like a really good summer read. So I predict this is going to be around a 3-star book and I'm okay with that. I'm ready to lay in the sun and read this book! Hopefully, it's one of those surprises I'm better than I seemed books! 

(8/15)

After Thoughts

I'm so proud of myself for finishing this book so fast! I really enjoyed this book! Emily sometimes got a little annoying but it comes with the territory of being a summer romance book. The fact that the book took place at a Renaissance Faire was also really interesting! It isn't a subject that I read about that much. I initially picked up the book because I didn't want to skip a month with Book of the Month so I settled on this one, and I'm really glad that I did. Even though Simon and Emily really didn't get along, in the beginning, I don't think I would clarify this book as instalove, while reading the book you see Emily struggle with her feelings toward him. She doesn't just wake up one day and decide I'm going to love Simon and forget about how much I hated him the page before, and I really appreciated that. The book was really layered, you didn't have just the romance expect. Simon has a backstory, the reason why Emily was even in Willow Creek is another story, and then you through in the actual Faire's backstory. I found it really enjoyable. There is a romance scene in the book so I would advise you to read it if you don't like reading about intimate moments. I gave the book a 4 out of 5 stars! It was surprising that it was so good and I love when you pick up a book that you are skeptical about and it proves you wrong.

(8/18)

My Blog's Name in Books Tag

Since walking further and further into the book community world I've been discovering more things, I just learned about BookTube about a year ago. Since then my blog has started being more than just a place to rant, it's now where I talk about books I like. I'm in no means a fast reader and I'm definitely a mood reader, so content is pretty slow going. I've thought about creating an account within YouTube, one channel for Sims and another for books. But I hate hearing my voice and I definitely don't like being in front of the camera! I've even worked on designing new blogs that weren't on Blogger so maybe it would look a little better, but I have content on here and I do like the way Blogger works overall. So I been thinking what else can I do between book reads? How can I keep putting out content and it be book related? So this is my first every book tag! Let's see how this one goes.

I found the idea of this book tag from The Bibliophile Girl, here's the rules she has listed out for this tag:

1. Spell out you blog's name
2. Find a book from your TBR on Goodreads (or anywhere else that you keep your TBR list) that begins with each letter
• Note: While doing this tag you cannot add books to your TBR just to finish out the challenge. 
• Since I have two main TBR piles I work with I'll be going off my Goodreads and my Amazon lists. Most of the books will come from Goodreads and only use my Amazon one if there is nothing listed on Goodreads

ShayKay's

S - Summer of '69 by Elin Hilderbrand

H - Hollywood Wives by Jackie Collins

A - Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane

Y - Year One by Nora Roberts

K - Killing Floor by Lee Child

A - All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

Y - You Belong to Me by Mary Higgins Clark

S - Secrets in Death by JD Robb

       

Books

B - Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate

O - Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

O - One Fifth Avenue - Candace Bushnell

K - The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

S - Scythe by Neal Shusterman

    

I think I should make this my TBR for the next few months! Out of the 13 books there's only one I don't even know why it is on my TBR list but it saved me! It was the only K title on my entire TBR, which is insane! I though Y, S, and O were going to be my hardest ones to find titles for but they were surprisingly very easy. I also have 10 of the books already. The only one that would be hard for me to read would be Secrets in Death, I'm only on book 25 in the series so it would be hard to get through the entire TBR pile without reading those in order. I could read the next book in the series though. Let's see how long it takes me to read all of these books! 

Books I Think Would Be Awesome Movies/TV

Disclaimer: This is just a few books that I've thought would be really interesting to see come to life. I tried to make it where no spoilers were made so there isn't much in-depth explanation as to what makes each book worth making into movies. If there is anything that I think is a spoiler I will make sure there is a notice before reading forward. I also suck at making comparisons of real-life people so please don't get too upset if I make a guess on who I think would be good actresses/actors of some of the characters in these books.

Movie Adaptations

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyers - I really love this world! I think it would be a really good movie adaptation. I would love to see it all come to life. I enjoyed it so much! I feel like with all of the remakes that are being made the live-action versions of Disney movies would make this the perfect time for the Lunar Chronicles to come out as a movie. It would be okay to see this as a TV show, but I think it would do better as a movie because of the way books are made. You aren't hit with all of the characters at one time and I feel as though it would be better to be hit with the new characters with each movie. I would just love to see this world come to life!

• Cinder - Janel Parrish would definitely be one of my top picks for the role of Cinder. Cinder lives in China and she blends in so, therefore, she has to have some Asian characteristics but she is also a cyborg I think Parrish would be really interesting for this role and not someone you would expect to be in a movie like this. Plus I've loved her ever since Pretty Little Liars Jamie Chung would be another actress I would like to see too. She was perfect in X-Men and Once Upon a Time. But I don't think I could pick the perfect actress for Cinder without seeing them with some cyborg parts since Cinder has a cyborg's leg.
• Kaito - There are three actors that are alive that I think would be a good Prince Kai. I think Ross Butler would be good but I don't know how I feel about him playing Prince Kai, and Thirteen Reasons Why was rough to get through and every time I see Butler now it just brings that whole show back. Alex Landi! I would love to see Landi in this role and I've loved him since I saw him on Grey's Anatomy, so I'm a bit biased by this. So this one I think is my favorite one yet! Jordan Rodrigues! I loved him in the Fosters and I think it would be interesting to see how he would do as Prince Kai. The one that isn't alive anymore that I think would've been absolutely perfect for this would've been Cameron Boyce! I loved him and I think he would've done perfect in this role.  
• Winter - You know who I would love to see in this role, Letitia Wright! She played the younger sister in Black Panther and I loved her! I think she would be the perfect Winter! Another actress I really like that I think would be really good Winter would be Amandla Stenberg, she played Rue in the Hunger Games and Starr Carter on The Hate U Give. The more I think about it I think Stenberg would be a better fit but I love Wright in the Marvel Universe!
• Scarlet - Can you guess who I would love to see in this role? Emma Stone! I know she wouldn't be perfect but I love her and I would love her as Scarlet!
• Cress - I'm not sure who I would like to see in this role. 

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid - Let me tell you this book is something you just have to read! I absolutely loved it when I read it last summer and I have to thank Book of the Month for this find! The whole reason I wanted BOTM was to find books outside of my normal reads and I'm so glad I picked this one! It really helped me get out of my comfort zone. I think this book would do better as a movie because it is only one book and it would be very easy to keep all the details in it. I don't want to give too many details about the book itself but it is one of the top picks for a movie adaptation.

The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkan - Anyone that has talked to me about books in the past year would definitely have been recommended this book! I would love to see this as a movie but I'm conflicted with it. I've seen good thrillers be movies before but I feel like this one would be a very tricky one to do right and still have the book come through. It would definitely be doable and the way the book goes it wouldn't make a good TV show.

The Twisted Tales by Multiple Authors - Just like with the Lunar Chronicles I think these books would be interesting and since there is so much hype in the live-action remakes I think these books would be really interesting to see as movies. These books take the fairytales that we know and twist the stories. You are either following the villain's side of the story or the main character make different choices than what they did in the movies and these books show the different consequences. My favorite one is definitely the Beauty and the Beast one, and I definitely read this book at the right time! I think these books would help balance out all of these remakes because they are completely different and new compared to the content we are getting right now. I don't want this to sound like I'm bashing these live-action remakes we are getting because I LOVE THEM! I'm the biggest Disney freak but I think it would be nice to have something new coming out too. 

TV Adaptations

The House of Night Series by P.C. Cast & Kristen Cast- I loved this series when I was a teenager! I don't believe I ever finished this series but I would love to jump back into this series and finish it out! But from what I can remember from this series I feel like it would be better as a TV show. It started off really strong and there are so many books in this series that I think in order to see everything from the books I need it to be TV series.

The In Death Series by J.D. Robb/Nora Roberts - This is my all-time favorite series! I'm nowhere near being completely caught up in this series but it is one that I can't stop binge reading whenever I get the opportunity. This series means so much to me it is actually in my wedding cake topper for my wedding! This is a series has to be a TV show because there are almost 50 books in the series! I want as many of the details as possible in this series and I would love it! I think the hardest part would be getting the futuristic side of things but the way CGI is going I think it could be done so well right now. I can't pick anyone specific who I would want to play each character, but I think Emily Deschanel would be perfect for Eve Dallas, and that could be just because I'm obsessed with Bones right now.

• Eve Dallas - I still think Emily Deschanel would be the perfect Eve Dallas! 
• Roarke - You know who would be a hilarious pick for Roarke?! Patrick Dempsey! I mean I think he has the right look and the right attitude for it but I don't think I would pick Dempsey for Roarke. I would definitely pick Ian Somerhalder! You have to admit he would be the perfect Roarke!
• Detective Delia Peabody - I could see Lucy Hale as Peabody but I don't know how she would do as Peabody. I kind of want to see Rachel Bilson as Peabody, I loved her in Hart of Dixie and I loved Take Two even more!

The Maximum Ride Series by Robert Patterson - This is another series that would be too long for a movie and I think a TV show would be perfect! I think the series meant so much to me growing up and I would love to see it as a TV show. I think it would be perfect for Freeform. It is definitely one of those funky shows. I also think this another one of those shows that I think had to wait for technology to catch up with it, and it definitely has. So please give me this show! 

ShayKay's Review of Under Currents by Nora Roberts

Goodreads: Under Currents by Nora Roberts

Synopsis (Book Cover)

Within the walls of a tasteful perfectly kept house in North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains, young Zane Bigelow feels like a prisoner of war. Strangers - and even Zane's own aunt across the lake - see his parents as a successful surgeon and his stylish wife, making appearances at their children's ballet recitals and baseball games. Zane and his sister know the truth: There is something terribly wrong.

As his father's violent, controlling rage - and his mother's complicity - become more and more oppressive, Zane counts the years, months, and days until he can escape. He looks out for little Britt, warning her to Be Smart. Be Careful. In fear for his very life, he plays along with the insidious lie that everything is fine, while scribbling his real thoughts in a secret journal he must carefully hide away.

When one brutal, shattering night finally reveals cracks in the facade, Zane beings to understand that some people are willing to face the truth, even when it hurts. As he grows into manhood and builds a new kind of family, he will find that while the darkness of his past may always shadow him, it will also show him what is necessary for good to triumph - and give him strength to draw on when he once again must stand up and defend himself and the ones he loves.

ShayKay's Review

I'm so obsessed with Roberts! I love her work and it all started with the In Death series. Every time I venture outside of the series I'm not disappointed and this one isn't any different. Since I got this book on my birthday I could not put it down! The story is gripping from the very beginning. From reading the synopsis you go in knowing to be suspicious of the family, but just how dark is this family? 

****Spoilers Below****

The first part of this book was hard to get through because how can any parent treat their child the way that Graham does? Or even allow it to happen like Eliza? Even though Roberts books pretty much follows the same rules it is still captivating, such as a tragic event happens that changes the main character's life and then later down the road the main character has to confront the event.

It's been a little while since I finished this book, but I loved it! It does follow the typical Roberts's style but I can't help it I love what I love. I think she does great at telling a story and this one took on a tough topic that really happens a lot today, domestic violence. But she took some twists and turns that added to the story. My only complaint with this book really doesn't make much sense, I got really confused with the different point of views. In Shelter in Place you experience both of the main characters from the beginning of their trauma to the end game. But in this book you see how Zane went through terrible experiences with his family. But after this first part of the book we are introduced to the second point of view, Darby. I know in Shelter in Place both the characters share the same event but in two totally different ways and in Under Currents even though both characters experience domestic abuse they experience it in different ways. I know Darby walks us through some of the things that happened but I wish we could've seen that like we did with Zane. I still loved Darby and her story, I just wish she had an actual back story instead of just being told about it. Still loved this book and it was in the top 10 of my favorite Roberts books but is it the new number 1 favorite? No Naked in Death still holds that spot, and probably always will since it opened up the Roberts world for me.

Reading Slump

I think as I've gotten older my reading style has changed. When I was in high school all I remember doing is reading, and now I still read don't get me wrong I still love it. But I'm more of a binge reader now. I don't binge read a whole series I just mean that when I'm in the mood to read I sit down and I don't stop reading until I've finished the book. When I get into this kind of mood the book has me pulled into the story and I cannot walk away from it. I feel like the older I get the harder it gets for me to find these kinds of books. Then once I read a few books back to back I just fall out of reading for a while, usually called a book hangover. But this hangover lasts a few days to even a week or two before I find a new story that I can dive back into. So it's like my reading hangover turns into a reading slump. 

What do I do when I'm in these reading slumps?

There are a lot of other things I enjoy doing! My daily life includes work and hanging out with my puppies and family. I have a very hectic household so usually I'm reading to my dogs because it is something I love to do and seems to make them calm down. So when I'm not reading, especially right now, I've been working on different projects such as wedding stuff. I'm getting married next summer and we have been making a ton of stuff, I don't think our DIY stuff is actually cheaper than just buying stuff but I'm having fun building stuff. My wedding's turned super geeky, it's definitely a  Disney wedding. I'm currently trying to find some organization in our wedding room. Yes there is currently a whole room that has nothing but wedding stuff in it, and it is actually getting ready to be moved to a bigger room. I promise I'm not the bridezilla it sounds my mom has gone full wedding mode! It's been a fun bonding experience. 

I'm still working on my floor to ceiling bookshelf that I started building back in May. It is pretty much finished, there is even some books that are actually on it right now. I only have to finish the two longest shelves at the top. I'm hoping to buy the wood for it probably my next check, I've been saying that for a month now. But I swear I did buy the rest of the stuff I needed to finish it off a couple days ago, I'm just missing the actual shelves! I haven't abandoned all hope yet. 

There is the job front. I work a full-time job, and I actually start night classes next week to get my Masters in Public Administration.Which is finally something I hope will finally make me feel like I'm moving forward and not just standing still anymore. Plus I have this awesome idea in my head for a book (yet again) but I actually sat down and tried to put it on paper. The worst part is I get stuck on the details or I get stuck on the main event of the story and have a hard time connected the beginning of the story to the middle, and then to the end of the idea in my head! We'll see if I get anything I feel like is good enough to put out in the world.

Other things I enjoy doing is binge watching TV shows, currently working my way through Bones...again. I've always loved reading books while listening to TV shows so I don't get why I haven't picked up one book and just read that one thing yet. I enjoy putting puzzles together, another dorky side note I thought about putting together some of the Disney ones to hang up at my wedding. I really want the 40,000+ Disney puzzle and I keep thinking of different walls to hang it on, I've even figured out the border I wanted to build around it! But I can't bring myself to spend that much money on the puzzle. Maybe one day we will get there but today is definitely not that day.

But right now my main concern is taking care of Ranger! So we had an accident on Tuesday, while I was at work Ranger was playing outside and burnt his paws really bad. It's been really rough seeing him like this. When I took him to the Vet they made me feel like it was my fault but when I kept telling them what happened they just acted like I was making up a story. But let me tell you I had his hurt paws wrapped up with antibiotic cream on them then with socks on each foot. We only went to the vet for pain medicine because I know it is hurting him and antibiotics because we do not want infection! I mean I was doing everything right. I can't help he got hurt while I was work, and I feel awful about it even though I had nothing to do with it! Ranger hates being outside so I'm shocked he was even outside playing. It's been really rough.

Sorry for the rambling. I haven't posted in a really long time and I just wanted something new going up. Hopefully something starts going and we can get more work going up in the near future.

ShayKay's Review of Beyond the Point by Claire Gibson

Goodreads: Beyond the Point by Claire Gibson

Synopsis (from the book)

Duty, honor, country. Every cadet who passes through West Point's stone gates vows to live by these words. On the eve of 9/11, as Dani. Hannah, and Avery face the years ahead, they realize they'll only survive if they do it together.

With athletic talent and a brilliant mind, Dani navigates West Point's predominantly male environment with wit and confidence, breaking racial stereotypes and embracing new friends.

Hannah lets faith and family honor guide her. When she meets her soul make at West Point, the future looks perfect, just as planned.

Wild child Avery doesn't mind breaking few rules (and hearts) along the way. But she can't outpace her self-doubt, and the harder she tries, the further it leads her down a treacherous path

After graduation, the world - of business, of love, and of war - awaits. Dani, Hannah, and Avery beyond the gates of West Point. But as they're pulled in different directions, will their hard-forged bond prevail or shatter?

Thoughts Before Reading

I received this in one of my Book of the Month subscriptions a few months ago and I was so excited to get it. Even though I was so excited to get this book I kept pushing it off and never picked it up. I'll admit I was a little bit intimidated, this book is a CHUNKER! Plus I didn't want to pick this book up and be disappointed with it. It sounds like it is going to be a 5-star book for me and it's been awhile since I've read one of those. I've read the first three chapters already, so I'm doing this a bit different than usual. I can already tell it is going to be different POV between the three girls and I can't wait to see how each of the stories go. I also feel like my heart is going to get ripped out, because of how that prequel went. I definitely got some Nicholas Spark vibes and let me tell you his books are a hit and a miss for me, but the ones I love leave me ugly crying. So let's get this going!

Thoughts After Reading

This book was very intense! I think I always say this is one of the longest books that I just couldn't put down. I have to say I love having Book of the Month, it really helps me get out of the books I'm comfortable reading. I did have a hard time getting connected to Avery's parts of the book but as the story went on I still became attached to the story. This is also one of the few books that really had me crying the whole time, even though it is a very slow build. If you like hard hitting historical books I feel like this would be a really good book for you.

ShayKay's Review of A Woman is No Man By Etaf Rum

Goodreads: A Woman is No Man by Etaf Rum

Synopsis from the Book

Palestine, 1990. Seventeen-year-old Isra prefers reading books to entertaining the suitors her father has chosen for her. Her desires are irrelevant, however - over the course of a week, the naive and dreamy girl finds herself betrothed, then married, and soon living in Brooklyn. There Isra struggles to adapt to the expectations of her oppressive mother-in-law, Fareeda, and her strange new husband, Adam: a pressure that intensifies as she begins to have children - four daughters instead of the sons Isra is expected to bear.

Brooklyn, 2008. At her grandmother's insistence, eighteen-year-old Deya must meet with potential husbands and prepare herself for marriage, though her only desire is to go to college. Her grandmother is firm on the matter, however: the only way to secure a worthy future for Deya is through marriage to the right man. But fate has a will of its own, and soon Deya will find herself on an unexpected path that leads her to shocking truths that will force her to question everything she thought she knew about her family, the past, and her own future.

Thoughts Before Reading

I love books that are about different cultures! So when I saw this book on Book of the Month's options for February I had to jump on it! I can't wait to see how Isra's life goes, the culture shock of going to America, and just how her life turns out! We already know that Isra only has four daughters instead of the sons that are so important within her culture, which means there has to be a ton of tension through this family unit. But why is the grandmother picking out suitable suitors for Deya? What happens to Isra and Adam? Does Deya get to go to college? What does she find out about her family that is so unexpected? I can't wait to dive into this book and learn all about these characters and their story.

(2-20-19)

* Sidenote: I think this is one of the few Book of the Month books that I actually got to pick up within the actual month of getting it. I love this subscription and I can't tell you how happy I am to finally get it back. This is something that I'm saying, no one is telling me to say it for advertisement purposes. I'm just a customer of BOTM and I'm just raving about how much I appreciate their services.

After Thoughts

Well I know I didn't check in when I got to the middle of the book. I know I have been slacking lately but in all honesty it was mainly because of work. I suck at reading at the moment, and it really has nothing with not being able to get into the book. I LOVED this book. However, this book was so intense that I did need another book to read when I had to step away for a little while. This book follows two main perspectives: Deya, the daughter, and Isra, the mother, as you read you also get to see Fareeda's perspective. Even though this book was amazing to read it is something that you need warning on because there is rape scenes and domestic violence throughout this book. I love reading about other cultures and the way this book evolves it was so amazing! Deya and Isra are so much alike and you can really see their similarities throughout this book. I love how this book ended it because there was many twists and turns throughout this book and it was all really tied up by the time the book ends. I really don't want to go into too much details about this book because I don't want to spoil how this book went. I loved learning about the same situation throughout these different perspectives but again I can't go into too much detail because the book deserves to be read. It was definitely a 5 out of 5 stars for me.