Splurging on Candy and Forgetting Books

When I turned 27, I asked for three things: a mandolin, Walmart gift cards, and Amazon gift cards.

I used the Walmart gift cards to buy myself a "grown up" closet with all wooden hangers. I also bought curtain rods that match our headboard...which sounds weird. Hopefully this picture makes more sense.

no, my bed is not usually made like this because the last one out makes the bed and that ain't me

For some reason, Ryan and I get a lot of comments from friends and family that we have a "grown up" apartment. It happened again when I said I wanted to buy wooden hangers, followed promptly by a, "but I don't even have a grown up closet!" These are my priorities...decorating my house.

That and books. Hence, the Amazon gift card requests. I go through romance books (don't judge me) like candy. On Friday night, I complained about being tired around 10pm, went to bed, and then stayed up until 2am finishing a book I had started that night. I finished another book this morning over breakfast. 

So how exactly am I forgetting books? Well, it's funny you ask. I happened upon a list of 18 things that aren't sold in America. Naturally, I had to see what I was missing out on. Number 17 on the list? Crispy M&Ms. My favorite candy, ever. 

Sadly, they stopped selling them in the US in 2005. When they brought back the blue bag of M&Ms and they were pretzel and not crispy, I may have cried. I may have cried a little. I went to Italy on a school trip in 2007 and found some. They were quickly devoured and I've been questing for them ever since. 

And then, this list, reminds me of how amazing these candies are and how I can't have them. Then I remember, I have Amazon money and maybe this Amazon money can buy me M&Ms. Well, I found them. I found these glorious candies. In a month, they'll be here. Direct from Germany. I. Cannot. Wait.

If I die in a month from sugar coma. Or someone poisoning my M&Ms. Just know, I died happy. Most likely with book in hand, mowing down crispy M&Ms. 

I hope they're as delicious as I remember. Update to come.

What's something you loved but came seem to find anymore?

Books in Review - Dangerous to Know and Love

I've been looking through all the books I own to see if there are any worth re-reading because I'm almost positive I'm going to get in trouble if I keep buying books at the rate I do. Luckily I remembered about this little gem I read last year. The book's called Dangerous to Know and Love by Jane Harvey-Berrick. 

The book starts with freshman Lisanne Maclaine, settling into college life, away from home for the first time. Daniel Colton, the brooding freshman on campus, throws "stay away" vibes left and right. Paired together for a class project Daniel and Lisanne study in the library one day when Lisanne guesses his biggest secret. Determined for it to stay that way, Daniel has to trust Lisanne to keep it.

Building a relationship despite wild pasts, wilder brothers, and protective parents, Daniel and Lisanne move through their first semester at college. Lisanne's decision to study and perform music plays a pivotal role Daniel's decision to change, who has reluctantly accepted his life. 

The repeated phrase, "I hear you," is beautifully sewn into the story. I like that the story builds and they fall into this new budding relationship but work to overcome obstacles. I love the book and I would recommend it, hands down. Definitely SPLURGE ON IT.

Books in Review: Everlasting Sin

Let me start by saying that I've read other J.S. Cooper books before, namely the Forever Love Series: The Last Boyfriend, The Other Side of Love, and Before Lucky. I should've known better with Everlasting Sin. 

I read the preview that's available on Amazon's website and was intrigued. But at $3.99 and 275 pages, I thought it'd be worth it. 

Hudson and Riley have known each other since they were nine and six, respectively. They've been in love with each other for just as long. But neither is willing to admit it to the other. A tragedy 11 years later leaves them devastated and Hudson broken after a night they spend together. After four years of radio silence, they meet at a gym where Hudson is training to compete in a fight worth $1,000,000. Hudson is at odds with their reunion, struggling to let Riley live her life without his demons while desperately wanting to be with her. 

Unfortunately, the story doesn't seem to flow. Don't get me wrong, the story line flows, I just feel that the writing isn't polished. I generally like the premises of Cooper's stories, I just wish they were longer or focused on one aspect to develop it more. If I were you, I'd SAVE IT. 

I mentioned to one of my coworkers that I read about five books a week and he was shocked. Now, granted they're romance novels, but they're still books. How do people just not find reading enjoyable? How can they not get caught up in the characters?

Books in Review: The Fixed Trilogy by Laurelin Paige

Earlier this week, I received an email from Amazon stating that I had money coming! You may have read about it in the news. I got a whopping $2.19. Now, I read a lot of books, so I'm going to chalk it up to I first got my kindle in December of 2011 and only bought 22 books between then and May of 2012. Some people, I read, though, received over $50, which is pretty impressive. I wish I was one of those people. Then I could buy more books.

I did buy a book (or trilogy) for $0.99 with my newly found giftcard balance. The Fixed Trilogy: Fixed on You, Found in You, Forever with You by Laurelin Paige. For that price and 853 pages I was sold. I didn't even look at the reviews. I lucked out on that, because it's a pretty awesome book series.

The book follows Alayna, a recent MBA grad looking to work her way up the ladder at a NYC club, and Hudson, an ultra hot, super rich, businessman (of course). Both have had less than stellar upbringings (Alayna's parents are dead, another of course, and Hudson was his mother's pawn against his unfaithful father). They're both working through their issues to become better people. But Alayna's working through her obsessive/stalking nature and Hudson is trying to stop playing games.

The book sets you up to be suspicious of every detail and every character. Is Hudson playing with Alayna? And just how does his sister and friend Celia fall into this? What about Sophia, his mother? Each book seems to focus on one part of the puzzle. But the seemingly solved issues are recurring in the next books as well, while you try and figure out what's up and what's down.

I like that the book gives Alayna some backbone unlike so many books that portray the female leads as spineless and ever conceding. But like most other books, sex is a central theme on how Alayna and Hudson stay connected. That always strikes me as odd, does sex really work all that well at solving things? Sure, you have physical chemistry but really? You bone and everything's better?

Anyway, the third book is the best. The last 15% of it wraps the story up nicely (I think). And I just want to say that I hate romance novels, because they write about such sweet things guys do and say. Can't that just happen in my life? Once? Hudson makes up for being a complete ass and Alayna gets her reluctant happily ever after.

The book previews Hudson which is the books from Hudson's point of view. Based on how well I think this trilogy was written, I'll be purchasing it. I feel like even though it's the same story with extra dialogue I still like it a whole lot. It's like rereading it but not. Does that make sense?

What are you reading right now? Anything good?

Books in Review

I want to start by saying I love to read. I've probably read hundreds if not thousands of books. I once heard someone say, "I'd rather read a book than do [XYZ]. And I've read like three books in my life." That made me incredibly sad. To me, books can transport you and make you feel emotions that you're not even experiencing. This pretty much sums up it up:

For the longest time when e-readers came out, I swore up and down that there was nothing like a book. I wouldn't want to switch. Now, it's all I use. For one, the books are cheaper. And two? Well, it's instant gratification when I log into Amazon and one-click order! Terrible for my bank account. Then it's in my Kindle account. What's not to love? Seriously. Don't get me wrong, I still have over a hundred books on my book shelves (I've given several hundred away for others to enjoy), but nothing makes me happier than a new book that I devour. Typically within a day or two. To cut down on the time between buying/ordering a book and actually getting to read it just makes me ecstatic.

So I'm going to share you my opinions on books every now and again. I hope it inspires you to pick up a book, even if it's not one I write about.