December Monthly Recap

Books Read

The Christmas Candle – 4/5

Comeback Girl (Parts 1-6) – 4-5/5

These books are part of a daily serial, where each part consists of one month and each chapter is a day in that month. The first part started off a little slow, but starting with part two I was hooked. This was a clever mystery involving a writer, and I honestly didn't see the bad guy coming, so props to Stephanie Bond for the twist. These are pretty short and you can honestly finish one part in one sitting, which honestly makes you feel a little productive when you get through six parts in a few days.

Ready to Fumble – 5/5

I really loved this mystery. The story was great, the characters were interesting, and I couldn't put it down. This book was the first full length novel in a long time that I've been able to read in a single day. I love it when a novel is able to pull me in and keep me guessing.

Movies Watched

Ralph Breaks the Internet

This was a cute movie. I don't think its quite on the same level as the first movie, but it was still enjoyable to watch. I especially loved the parts with the Disney Princesses, and it was fun trying to find all of the different website references when Ralph and Vanellope first enter the Internet.

Book of the Month

So after some debate, I've decided to take a couple of months off from doing a book of the month (really just January and February), so the next Book of the Month post will take place in March. I'll still be reading and giving my thoughts in my monthly recap posts.

November Monthly Recap

Books Read

Severed Veil – 5/5

Breaking Into Butterflies – 4.5/5

I'm not typically a bit poetry person, but I really enjoyed this poetry collection. These poems were clearly very personal for the author, Miranda Kulig. I have to give major props to anyone who can essentially bare their soul for the world to see. Once the second section of the collection started, I found several of the poems to be personally relatable – it was like I could see several of my own thoughts and feelings reflected right back at me.

The Girl Who Could See – 5/5

This was a great story. I was hooked from the first chapter, and I enjoyed it from start to finish. I loved the characters, and Fern and Tristan were a delight. I was a little bit worried about how the story was going to end, but it didn't disappoint and it was what I was hoping would happen.  

Movies Watched

The Grinch

I have to say that this movie was another one that was better than I was expecting it to be. It's not my favorite by any means, but it wasn't bad (except for the version of “You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch”, that was bad in my opinion).  

December's Book of the Month

The Christmas Candle

Imagine a Victorian England village in the Cotswolds where very little out of the ordinary ever happens … except at Christmas time.

This year, Edward Haddington, a lowly candle maker, is visited by a mysterious angel. That angel silently imparts a precious gift—a gift that’s bungled and subsequently lost. The candle maker and his wife, Bea, struggle to find the gift.

And when they do, they have to make a difficult choice. Who among their community is most in need of a Christmas miracle?

Since it's December, I think it's only fitting to pick a Christmas book for the book of the month. This book sounds like it'll be a good one, and I'm looking forward to reading it!

October Monthly Recap

Books Read

Darkest Fear – 5/5

I didn't do a lot of reading in October. I was busier than I thought I would be, so I wasn't able to get through Darkest Fear as fast as I originally thought I would.

Movies Watched

The House with a Clock in Its Walls

Based off of the trailers, I thought this movie looked like it would be interesting. And I guess it sort of was, but I personally didn't care for it. There were some funny moments here and there, but ultimately this isn't a movie I'd watch again.

Venom

Based off the trailers for this movie, I didn't think I'd enjoy this movie. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was much better than I thought it would be. It had its week spots, but it was fun to watch. It's not a movie that I'd want to watch over and over, but I wouldn't mind seeing a sequel if they get around to making it.

Travels

I enjoyed a day trip with my family to Boone, North Carolina in October. We enjoyed a stop at a living history museum, which was very informative and may have given me a few ideas for stories to write in the future. We also walked through the Daniel Boone Native Gardens. It was nice, but it was kind of a cold, windy day, and I imagine that the gardens look a lot prettier in the spring and summer when everything is in bloom. We ended the day with some shopping and a stop at Krispy Kreme, which is always a nice treat.

November's Book of the Month

Severed Veil

A dream-traveling boy haunted by a broken girl. A cursed warrior, weary of bloodshed. A princess who battles dragons in an enchanted slumber. A treacherous graveyard in the stars. From Bethany A. Jennings—author of Threadbare and Dragon Lyric—come twelve mesmerizing short works of poetry and prose that boldly pierce the shadows. Severed Veil contains a selection of fantasy, sci-fi, and poetry, including “Dreamskip,” the winner of an honorable mention from the Writers of the Future Contest in 2018. Illustrated with ethereal pencil sketches by artist Julia Busko, these tales dance on the delicate rift between life and death, waking and dreams.

I enjoyed reading Threadbare and Dragon Lyric by Bethany Jennings, so I'm excited to start reading her new short story collection. All of the stories inside sound like they'll be interesting, so I'm curious to see which one will be my favorite.

September Monthly Recap

Books Read

Hell in a Handbasket – 4/5

Mere Christianity – 5/5

I started reading this book in April, and I finally finished it this month. I really enjoyed this book and wished it hadn't taken me so long to finish it. I have a hard time sometimes really getting into non-fiction books. I can enjoy them, but then if I set it down, I don't always feel a rush to finish it right away. Regardless, this was a really good book and I personally found it interesting how some of the points CS Lewis made are still relevant today.

Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World – 5/5

On the flip-side, if I actually sit down and read some of a non-fiction book every day, I can finish it within a month. I really enjoyed this book, and Max Lucado offers some good advice for anxious Christians.

Not a lot happened in September. I was busy with work, so outside of reading and playing the new Spider-Man PS4 game, the only other thing accomplished was some writing.

October's Book of the Month

Darkest Fear

A surprise visit from an ex-girlfriend is unsettling enough. But Emily Downing’s news brings Myron to his knees. Her son Jeremy is dying and needs a bone marrow transplant from a donor who has vanished without a trace. Then comes the real shocker: Jeremy is Myron’s son, conceived the night before Emily’s wedding to another man. Myron is determined to help him. But finding the missing donor means cracking open a dark mystery that involves a broken family, a brutal kidnapping spree, and the FBI. And as doubts emerge about Jeremy’s true paternity, a child vanishes, igniting a chain reaction of heartbreaking truth and chilling revelation.

I feel like October needs to have a spooky book, and the most fitting genre for that would be horror. I don't read horror though, so we're going with a mystery thriller instead. I love Harlan Coben's books, especially the Myron Bolitar series. I've read a good chunk of the series, but there are still a few that I haven't had a chance to read yet and this is one of them.

August Monthly Recap

Another month, another monthly recap. Someday I'll actually get these blog posts out on time.

Books Read

As Old as Time – 4.5/5

I didn't do a lot of reading in August. I'm hoping that will change with September and I'll get at least two books read.

Movies Watched

Christopher Robin

This movie was so good and adorable. I mean it's Winnie-the-Pooh, adorable was pretty much guaranteed. It was nice seeing a grown-up Christopher Robin revisiting his childhood and his friends from the Hundred Acre Woods. There were also some moments that provided some good laughs.

September's Book of the Month

Hell in a Handbasket

They say the road to hell is paved in good intentions, and Rose Gardner can’t shake the notion she’s headed there in a handbasket. She feels responsible for the death of a woman she tried—and failed—to save with her visions, and though she intends to do the “right” thing and tell James Malcolm she can’t possibly accept his offer of a relationship, she hasn’t yet mustered the strength. Worst of all, her sister is terminally ill, and there isn’t a thing she can do to save her.

When a new case falls into Rose’s lap, she eagerly shifts her attention to someone else’s problems—except it’s Henryetta, and every person, and problem, is somehow connected. The case will bring her back into contact with James, whom she still hasn’t answered, and force her to confront her past in other unexpected ways.

I'm taking a step back from YA fiction this month and moving on to a mystery instead. I'm also hoping to actually have my review up this month to have it really be a book of the month, instead of it happening the beginning of October like the past two books of the month. Fingers crossed.

July Monthly Recap

Well, it's August, so it's time for a new monthly recap. I technically should have had this up last week, but better late than never.

Books Read

A Whole NewWorld: A Twisted Tale – 4/5 stars

Once Upon a Dream: A Twisted Tale – 3.5/5 stars

This book was enjoyable just like A Whole New World, but I didn't care for it quite as much. To be fair, Sleeping Beauty isn't really one of my favorite Disney movies and Aurora isn't a favorite Disney Princess of mine. I do have to say that I did really enjoy her characterization in this book though. She really had a chance to grow and come into her own, something she didn't get to do in the movie. Phillip got a little bit of character growth as well, but he still felt kind of flat. I do have to say, that I think the author of these books enjoys killing characters.

Movies Watched

Ant-Man and the Wasp

Marvel movies are my favorite movies, and this one is no exception. I really enjoyed the first Ant-Man movie and this one was just as good as the first in my opinion. It was a great adventure with some good laughs along the way. That mid-credit scene though… Marvel, you're killing me here.

Travels

I enjoyed a nice week at the beach with one of my best friends in July. It's always nice relaxing by the ocean, especially when you get to see dolphins swimming by. I also had fun shopping and playing mini-golf. Got to say that I'm not the best at mini-golf, though I was able to get one hole-in-one.

August's Book of the Month

As Old As Time: A Twisted Tale

What if Belle's mother cursed the Beast? When Belle touches the Beast's enchanted rose, memories flood through Belle's mind-memories of a mother she thought she would never see again. And, stranger still, she sees that her beautiful mother is none other than the enchantress who cursed the castle and all its inhabitants. Shocked and confused, Belle and the Beast will have to unravel a dark mystery about their families that is 21 years in the making.

I had meant to get this book read and finished in July, but it didn't happen, so I've decided to just go ahead and do it for my monthly book review. This was the Twisted Tale book that I thought sounded the most interesting. Beauty and the Beast has been one of my favorite Disney movies for a long time, so I'm curious how this will actually measure up in the end.

June Monthly Recap

July is here and summer is in full swing, which means it's time to take a look back on June.

Books Read

The UnbeatableSquirrel Girl: Squirrel Meets World – 4/5 stars

I didn't do a lot of reading in June, something I'm hope to change in July. I have a lot of books on my TBR list, and I'm hoping to start making a dent in it.

Movies Watched

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

This movie was better than I thought it'd be. I enjoyed the first Jurassic World movie, but things I had heard about this one had made me a bit iffy on it. While it did have it's problems, it was still an enjoyable movie. Also, Blue is the best dinosaur and I wish she'd had more scenes in the movie.

The Incredibles 2

The Incredibles was one of my favorite Pixar movies growing up, and I have been so excited for it's sequel. And I have to say, it was worth the wait. It was so nice to see these characters again and to see the improvements in animation. Also, Jack-Jack was great, but I kind of pity his family. With all of the powers he has, he's going to be a handful as he grows up.

Travels

I had a nice time spending a few days in Pigeon Forge, TN in June. I had the opportunity to ride through Cades Cove, which is something I hadn't done in a long time. It's always nice seeing all of the scenery in that area. I also got to spend a day at Dollywood, which is always fun.

July's Book of the Month

A Whole New World: A Twisted Tale

What if Aladdin had never found the lamp?

When Jafar steals the Genie's lamp, he uses his first two wishes to become sultan and the most powerful sorcerer in the world. Agrabah lives in fear, waiting for his third and final wish. To stop the power-mad ruler, Aladdin and the deposed princess Jasmine must unite the people of Agrabah in rebellion. But soon their fight for freedom threatens to tear the kingdom apart in a costly civil war.

What happens next? A Street Rat becomes a leader. A princess becomes a revolutionary. And readers will never look at the story of Aladdin in the same way again.

I stumbled across these Disney Twisted Tales books while looking in a bookstore in June and decided to buy the first three books in the series. I love just about everything Disney and I have to admit that the premise of these books sounds interesting. I plan on reading all three during July (while relaxing at the beach), but I decided that for my monthly book review I would stick with the first book in the series. The ratings on these books seem pretty mixed, so I'm curious to see whether or not I'll enjoy them.