Christmas: The Aftermath

Merry Christmas! 

I hope you all got what you asked for and enjoyed your time with family and friends. 
I had a fantastic day and ate way too much food.  However, as the day wore on it became apparent that I was a sick monkey.  Yeah this sucks. 

I didn't put a cold on my wish list for Santa and yet...here I am all congested and snotty and miserable.  Oh and did I mention that I have to work tomorrow?  Yeah I am already over it.  I am ready for a day off to recover from this crap as well as  from Christmas itself. 

I will hopefully have a blog post with more substance for you tomorrow or it may wait until Tuesday.. I haven't decided yet. 

For now... Good night all!!!

Load of warm fuzzies for you!!!!

-Caedy

Christmas Eve at Casa Caedy

It is Christmas Eve and everyone is relaxing and just enjoying themselves. 

Bit is currently playing Wipe Out on the Wii and the puppies are playing and just being themselves.  Everyone is excited to open presents tomorrow.  I have already opened one from my roommate's mom and I am so in love with my new coloring book and cardigan.  No.  Seriously I am in love with it. 

I have been up since 430 am because I had to work this morning.  I got to wear my Grinch shirt and my antlers.  I chose the antlers over the Minnie Mouse hat because antlers.  You can see the pic below.  I also am in love with my little silver tree. 

Alright,  time for more Wipe Out. 

Merry Christmas!!!!

What the What?

This is pretty much me staring the end of 2016 in the face.   No, seriously.  I literally have no chill for anything else to go wrong this close to the end of the year.  None whatsoever.  Rest assured, I am fully intending on entering 2017 with positivity and good thoughts.  I have every intention of crossing several things off my bucket list next year, as well as ensuring that my year is filled with productivity, positivity, and appreciation of self. 

Too long have I found myself in situations where I have had to say no, however, instead of being willing to put my own well being ahead of others I agree to whatever it is.  Which ultimately leads to me eventually looking at said thing as an obligation and no longer an enjoyment.  I've done this with writing more times than I can count, and I know there are others who can handle excessive loads for writing, be it reviews, or stories, or other such things and I ultimately end up burning myself out and find no enjoyment in the things that I love.  This is something that will be changing in the coming year.  I need to learn to say no to things that put my own mental well-being at risk.  I do not want to get burnt out on the things that I love, and at the same time I want to push my creative boundaries.  

Several other things will be happening that I may or may not touch on in future blogs.  For now, just know that several of the things that are going to be happening are for the benefit of my own physical and mental well being, and I am looking forward to taking these steps and rejuvenating myself in the coming year.  It's just a matter of finding those who will uplift me and support me in the things that I am attempting to do for myself. 

Normally I would reserve blog posts like this for Sunday Reflections - yes, there will be a full revision of the blog schedule going up at the start of the year.  There will be some changes, removal of a few things, addition of a few things, all of it will be made known at the start of the year.  

Now, I think I'm going to go crank up some Metallica - Moth Into Flame and dye my hair a very, very pretty deep burgundy...or I'll wait because I just cut my hand attempting to get into my chocolate orange.  Yeah, apparently this is the story of my life today...so, either way I've got Metallica in my headphones.  

Lots of love..

Caedy

Productivity and I

This has pretty much been the mantra for my week thus far.  It's been hella busy with Christmas coming up this week, my meditation for the Solstice last night, with morning devotions at sunrise, coupled with the fact that my neuropathy has been kicked into high fucking gear for the last two days (go figure my two days off when I have to get just about EVERYTHING done I spend them in and out of my brace).  

I have still managed to actually get a few things crossed off my to-do list which makes my bujo happy.  I've even started working on some 2017 spreads.  I still have to refilm my initial youtube video because the quality of the first one was absolute shit because the lighting in my house sucks.  

I still have quite a few more things to get done to be completely caught up and ready for the new year - reviews, well those are a laughable thing and I will not be caught up in the 10 days we have left of 2016...so I'll ultimately get to those come January considering I intend on taking this weekend off from the blog and spending time with family - there will probably be a holiday haul video and post here on the blog and my youtube channel sometime on Sunday or Monday...depending on when I manage to get some time off to film it (or don't feel like death warmed over after work).  

In the mean time, I am attempting to catch up on my pen pal letters - I have 6 that I'm behind on and I can effectively focus on those despite the pain - because typing actually makes things worse so I'm probably going to end this blog post here. 

Have a good evening and I'll see you later this week! 

Blessed Solstice, 
Caedy

Sunday Reflections: One Pulse

Six months and six days ago forty-nine souls were taken from this world during a night of revelry, laughter, and dancing.  Six months and six days ago my world was torn apart as I learned the fate of friends who had been among those slain by someone whose heart had been filled with hatred.  

It has taken me six months and six days to get to this point, to any point that I can look at the list of victims - the names of strangers and the names of those that I know.  Six months and six days until I could bring myself to voice them without the risk of breaking down.  Six months and six days until I could bring myself to create this lasting memory of these forty-nine souls in something that is most precious to me - my Bullet Journal.  This spread was my catharsis.  This spread was an emotional roller coaster for me.  I needed to do this for my own mental stability when it comes to this tragedy.  

I had finally gotten a chance to visit Pulse when I was in Orlando this past September.  I have an abundance of pictures of the memorials that were put up.  I cried, I smiled, I loved the outpouring of love that has come from the community - the allies and the members of the LGBT community who frequented Pulse.  The outpouring was something that warmed my heart and made this tragedy just a little bit easier to bear - however, something of the magnitude that this was is not something that will simply "go away" or be "forgotten" over time.  I miss the atmosphere, the safe place that was Pulse even though I'd never gone as often as I'd liked to. 

To those families who are celebrating this holiday season without their loved ones, my heart breaks for you.  They will be missed.  They will be remembered.  These souls cannot and will not be forgotten.  

Adventures in Building

Evening lovelies!!!

This weekend has been filled with all manner of adventures!

Company visiting which is always fun! Especially when it is my bestie!!! My person visiting always makes me happy, and the best part is there was the exchanging of Christmas gifts. I have a new bento box, which I cannot use at work because I work with idiots who would throw my lunch away and to be honest I would have to kill someone for tossing my expensive bento boxes. I now have two good ones: my happy animals froggy, and my Rilakuma one that I just got for Christmas.

I also have two new bookcases, one for me and one for my roommate. I spent last night with my bestie putting them together and starting to move furniture around to ensure that everything fits in. I even spent another 4 hours this morning tackling everything that I didn't get done before I went to bed at 2am. I love how I have everything set up and I just need a few more things to actually have things as I want them.

I also have some of my favorite Happy Meal toys displayed one the bookcase and my desk. I also got this week's bullet journal spread done. I only have 2 more spreads left to do for this year and that makes me sad.

How was your weekend?

Random Thoughts with Caedy

Okay, so the image says a lot about what has been on my mind for a while now.  I absolutely am over and done with my job and am in the process of looking for a new one, but I am so discouraged. I know that it will take time and I know that a good job or a better job won't just fall into my lap.

However, we have a few new stores opening up within the next 6 months and I am hoping that I can start working there and leave my current job because I don't find any joy in being there and I dread going there and the potential anxiety attacks that could come during any shift. Not to mention that I am over and one with the petty drama and bullshit that I have to deal with. Not to mention essentially being barred from a position that I am strongest in because of a medical issue that keeps me from working with cleaning chemicals.

I am staying afloat but there are days that are more difficult than others and I am working on getting some of the help that I need.

I would apologize for the negativity but this is something that I needed to get out of my system.

Now I am going to go meditate and relax for bed.

Lots of love,
Caedy

This is My December...December 2016

So. 
I am a failure. 
Or at least a horrible procrastinator, which is most likely why I end up so behind on EVERYTHING.  I have - no lie - planned out a review schedule for pretty much ALL of the books I've read in 2016 FOUR TIMES so far this year, and have I managed to actually make any headway into my reviews? No..why would I actually stick to the plan? Oh yeah...because depression and anxiety are a pain in my arse and most of my work usually gets caught up on the good days because I'm absolutely 100% useless on the bad days when my attention span is pretty much non-existent.  

I know I've said this many, many times in the past, however I am actually going to put so much effort into working on getting things back to where they need to be for this blog.  I may also be changing quite a few things, and as well as the books give you a bit more insight into who I am.  There may be a name change to something other than Confessions of a Bibliophile, but I am not a hundred percent certain on that yet.  However, I am certain that there is a lot more that I want to share with you and to do that, there needs to be some changes.  

You may start seeing changes around here as early as Sunday of this week, but we'll see what happens and what manner of curve balls life will be throwing at me - because it has a tendency to kick me when I'm down.  

I do however have this coming week's book of the week planned out, I just have to get the post written up.  I have a couple week's worth of Top 10 Tuesday.  I also have some Wish List Wednesdays planned out.  What's on My Kindle? I've 2-3 of those planned out for this month.  I also have a few reviews that I am working on (a couple of them are author requested reviews) and those will hopefully be going up within the next week or so.  

I am also in the process of starting to train for my first ever 5k - I usually don't run.  However, I will be starting the Couch to 5k running system, to start getting myself 5k ready before a local 5k in February.  I'm so excited and I'm doing this more for me than anything else, because I know this will help me get in shape, and it gives me another reason to get off my butt and stop sitting all day every day in front of my computer.

I think that's all I have for you right now, so get ready for some awesome changes and loads more info about me coming at you.  

I am also considering tossing up some Youtube videos and if that happens trust me, you all will be alerted to this new development! 

Lots of love,
Caedy

BotW: Tell The Wolves I'm Home

Welcome to another Sunday lovelies! That means Book of the Week time!  Currently, this book is top of my TBR pile for November.  Yup, I'm still gonna try and read and actually get productive things done while I'm doing NaNo...can I do it? My track record says no, however, this year, I'm armed with my bullet journal and somewhat better time management skills.  So, let's see if I can keep my reading, reviewing, and blogging going while I'm working on that 50,000 words!  Expect a blog post about my nanoing coming up tomorrow! 

Anyway, enough about me blathering.  Time to get on to revealing the cover, pretty little thing that it is, for this week's book of the week...there will definitely be a review forth coming once I've gotten this pretty little thing read

Tell the Wolves I'm Home

Carol Rifka Brunt

Review: Fire and Gold

Title: Fire and Gold
Author: Mara Amberly
Format: e-book
Pages: 189
Date(s) read: Oct 10-12, 2016
Rating: 4.5

Summary:

Sisters by birth, heroes by choice! In the city of Kalle, Cassia and Alexa are priestesses of the Sisters of Destiny, an order of female sorcerers. While absent from the temple, their home is attacked and the sisters return to find it ablaze; many of their fellow priestesses slain. Barely escaping alive, the sisters face an uncertain future, unsure of who they can trust.

Review:

I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.

When I was approached with this particular novel, I wasn't entirely certain what to think.  I'm a sucker for a good fantasy novel, however, I'm not entirely sure I was willing to commit to another series (because we all know I'll end up reading the entire series once it's out....because you know, that's the only logical thing to do).  I was honestly, pleasantly surprised by this story.

Mara  Amberly's writing is fantastic, and very reminiscent of some of my favorite fantasy writers. I love the world she has crafted in this fantasy novel, the characters are believable, relatable, and definitely among my favorites.  Without giving too much away, the plot is actually well developed and I hope that Amberly is able to keep the drive from this story going in the subsequent stories in this series.

There is a passage from this story that stands out to me, I'm not entirely sure why it does, however it has become one of my favorite small passages in the story.  To me it is a point that Cassia  realizes that not only does she want justice, no, vengence, but she also wants to protect others from the hatred, the hurt, the damage that could further be done by the Nemorans who had already done unspeakable things to her sisters, the priestesses.  I've included that particular quote below.

Cassia wondered about hatred and that fire of anger that smouldered inside of her, wanting to see the Nemorans slaughtered for what they did to her sisters. She didn’t just want justice, she wanted vengeance. Yet, she felt that went beyond hatred into hurt and the desire to protect others from their violence.

Ultimately, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a new author and has a love for Andre Norton or Marian Zimmer Bradley.  This story will keep you on your toes, and leave you begging for more by the time the last word is read.

Review: A Silent Prayer

Title: A Silent Prayer
Author: Samreen Ahsan
Format: Kindle (e-book)
Pages: 339
Date(s) Read: Oct 18-20, 2016
Rating: 3.5


Summary: In this spiritual romance we meet Adam Gibson, a young and powerful millionaire in Toronto.  Atheist, denies there is a God.  Then he meets Rania, a devout woman who believes strongly in god.  She has a brutal past.  He has his own demons.

Review:

I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.

In all honesty, I wasn't entirely sure what to expect when I opened this book.  I got the gist of things from the blurb, however, none of the blurb prepared me for this whirlwind of a story involving Adam Gibson and Rania Ahmed.  They are polar opposites when it comes to their faith - she believes in God, he is an atheist.  Friendship forms at first, and they realize that they can benefit each other, they can help each other with their own issues.

Rania's Muslim beliefs are so strong, and the fact that she was able to convince Adam to actually give thought to the possibility that there is a God to believe in.

There are several genres that I tend to not delve into too deeply, and religious focused love stories are at the very top of that list.  However, I did greatly enjoy the storytelling in this particular novel.  The characters actually had a depth that made them relatable on more than one level.  We all know that one person with a past they do not wish to talk about, yet are devoted to whatever deity that they follow and that one person who on the opposite side does not believe in a higher power.

I usually am not one to judge a book by it's cover, I usually grab a book based on the blurb.  The blurb is what had caught my attention, and the fact that they were from two different worlds and ultimately learn to coexist and ultimately fall in love and overcome the hurtles that they face from her past, as well as his demons.

If you are a fan of religious based love stories that are not solely embedded in the Christian faith, this is most definitely a story for you.  I encourage you to give this book a chance.

Review: Death's Servant

Title: Death's Servant
Author: C.J. Ellisson
Format: Kindle (E-book)
Pages: 119
Date(s) read: Oct 15-18, 2016
Rating: 3.5

Summary:  Jonathan Winchester has clashed with his alpha one too many times.  After antoher argument he leaves the Manitoba pack, the only home he'd known since the werewolf attack that had changed his life.  He returns to Virginia.  Eventually Jon finds work and meets Raine, who appears to be a lone werewolf, too.  Things are not as they appear and Jon ends up in a danger bigger than he can handle.

Review:

I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.

This is a prequel novel in the VV Inn series by Ellisson.  IT is also the first book I've read in this series.  While it was good, however, it wasn't entirely my cup of tea.  I am always open for a good supernatural read.  Supes have always been one of my favorite things.  I love the different take on the mythos of each of the more common supernaturals that appear in stories (vampires, werewolves, zombies, et cetera) - though to be honest, the only mythos I didn't entierly find plausable was the one where vampries sparkle in the sunlight - just don't get it.

Anyway, tangent aside, I did love the background story created on how Jonathan met Raine, Vivian and Rafe.  Eventually I might pick up the other books in the series.  However, with the perpetual growth of my TBR pile, I'm not certain when they will eventually make their way into my hands to read.

As this is a prequal to the V V Inn series, I did feel like some things were missing.  Things weren't fully developed.  It doesn't help someone actually get to know the characters if they aren't already familiar with the cast from the main novels in the series.  It honestly is better suited to readers who are already familiar with the novel's cast of characters and have questions about Jonathan's backstory before he came to the V V Inn.

Needless to say, the fact that this story didn't have much meat to it, was not a turn off to Ellisson's writing.  No, in fact I quite liked the writing and I do ultimately look forward to having a chance to read more of her writing.

Book of the Week: Stardust

Hello Lovelies!! Welcome to another Sunday! You know what that means...book of the week time! This week's book is one of my favorites.  I've always loved the worlds that Neil Gaiman crafted and his expertise when it comes to storytelling.  I couldn't even begin to fathom a top ten list of Neil Gaiman favorites, however, this one would probably be somewhere near the top.  Maybe one of these days I'll humor you and come up with a top ten Neil Gaiman list.  

For now, however, you'll have to settle with this week's book of the week.  If you've not read this fantasy story, I highly recommend it.  It was the book that introduced me to Neil Gaiman so many years ago. 

Stardust

Neil Gaiman

This story is by far one of my favorites. A love story involving young Tristran Thorn attempting to win the cold heart of Victoria.  She gives him a daunting task - to retrieve the fallen star that they watch fall in the night sky.  However, Tristran quickly learns that outside the walls of their quaint little village, the Faerie, and everything else are nothing like what they seem. 

I instantly fell in love with the storytelling, the whimsy and the life that Gaiman breathes into each and every character that he creates.  This is a story that I constantly go back to every so often to remember why it was that I fell in love with this masterful writer.

BotW: The Fireman by Joe Hill

Welcome to another glorious Sunday!  Fall is slowly easing its way into Florida...and it can gladly take any remaining traces of Hurricane Matthew and shove them out into the middle of the ocean where it can no longer do any damage.  Nope, not a little bitter at all...-shifty eyes- 

Anyway! 

On to this week's book of the week, which is actually my current read...and one that I will not be reading around bedtime because well...I don't read Stephen King before bed and subsequently I do not read his son's writings before bed either.  

The newest release by Joe Hill is a work of pure devilish deliciousness.  I am loving each and every dark, twisted moment of it!  Definitely a good book to read for Halloween! 

The Fireman

Joe Hill

BotW: Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow

This week's book of the week is actually my current read and I love it.  It is however, too big for me to tote about to and from work while I'm walking back and forth to work.  I love it though. It is the book that started a revolution, about a man worthy of the title Founding Father...

Alexander Hamilton

Ron Chernow

Top 10 Tuesday: 2016 Reads

Welcome to another Tuesday!  Choosing a topic for this list is almost as hard as putting together the list itself.  No, seriously...do you know how hard it is picking your top ten of ANYTHING?  I mean really, it's agonizing, anxiety inducing, maddening!  However, to share these books with you I've done it!  I've braved the monster once again to provide you with some of my favorite books so far this year!  They may not have been published this year, but they are the favorite books that I've read this year so far! 

Enough of my rambling and excessive use of the exclamation point in this post...#sorrynotsorry 

Top 10 2016 Reads

10. The Bourbon Kings - J.R. Ward

9. Trigger Warnings - Neil Gaiman

8. The Night Circus - Erin Morganstern

7. Six of Crows - Leigh Bardugo

6. All the Birds in the Sky - Charlie Jane Anders

5. The Magicians - Lev Grossman

4. Armada - Ernest Cline

3. The Widower's Aura - A.J. Renee

2. Hamilton: The Revolution - Lin-Manuel Miranda

1. Dorothy Must Die - Danielle Paige

It's only October, and I know my list will probably change.  However, this is by far my top ten favorite reads this far in 2016...it was hard to narrow down 118 books to just 10. 

See you next Tuesday lovelies! 

September in Review

September was a quiet month for me.  Mainly because I was dealing with quite a few things that were rearing their ugly heads and sending my depression in a downward spiral.  So, that's always fun. 

Anyway...enough of that...here are the books that I've read in the month of September...

1. The Rest of Us Just Live Here - Patrick Ness

2. Hamilton: The Revolution - Lin-Manuel Miranda

3. Children of the Flames - Lucette Matalon Lagnado

4. Always Never Sometimes - Adi Alsaid

5. The School of Good and Evil - Soman Chainani

6. The Poisonwood Bible - Barbara Kingsolver

7. Curtsies & Conspiracies - Gail Carriger

Here is hoping that October doesn't suck as much as September did. 

BotW: The Ocean at the End of the Lane

It's Sunday! Welcome to another edition of Book of the Week! First one for September!  Holy cow! We only have 4 months left in 2016...and what a year it has been.   This book is absolutely one of my favorites that I've read this week, and I will probably end up re-reading it over and over again.  

The Ocean at the End of the Lane

Neil Gaiman

This is one of my favorite books and honestly I'm usually so comforted by Neil Gaiman's works...even Sandman.  I love his storytelling and the stories that he's crafted in each of his books.  They are something that I always go back to time and time again.  I've even got a re-read of American Gods in the works for either this month or next! 

What's your favorite Neil Gaiman book?

August In Review

Holy crap.  Where has this year gone? No, seriously...someone tell me where this year has gone?!! It so cannot be the first of September! So, August was a bit of an up and down month.  Nothing really happened after the 24th, and for that I blame a rather annoying bought of depression.  However, things are slowly working toward the upward swing of things and I am hoping to be able to devote quite a bit more to catching up with my reviews...because I'm behind...a lot. 

Here are the highlights of this month:

Widower's Aura Release Day Blitz!

Book of the Week: Me Before You

Book of the Week: Widower's Aura

Top 10 Tuesday: Classics

Wish List Wednesday: BuJo

Interview with A.J. Renee

A.J. Renee's Top 10

Review: Widower's Aura

Review: Once Upon a [Stolen] Time

Books Read: 

1. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

2. Recurve by Shannon Mayer

 3. The Angel's Share by J. R. Ward

4. The Magician's King by Lev Grossman

5. The Name of God is Mercy by Pope Francis

6. The Widower's Aura by A.J. Renee

7. The Book of Speculation by Erika Swyler

8. Armada by Ernest Cline

9. The World of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin

10. In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware

11. The Last Star by Rick Yancy

12. The Morning Star by Pierce Brown

13. Notorious RBG by Irin Carmon

A.J. Renee's Top 10

Okay, so I know it's Wednesday...however, I have a VERY special Top 10 List for you today! Currently going on is the Widower's Aura blog tour, in honor of A.J. Renee's debut novel, released August 18!  Welcome to my little stop on the tour.  You've read the Author interview, and now here are A.J Renee's Top 10 Books of All Time...yeah, I'm evil like that...I made her pick only 10 :D 

A.J. Renee's Top 10

Books of All Time

Their Eyes Were Watching God - Zora Neale Hurston

Harry Potter Series - J.K. Rowling

The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown

Shadow Dance - Julie Garwood

Slow Burn - Julie Garwood

The Lion's Lady - Julie Garwood

The Secret - Julie Garwood

The Warrior - Margaret Mallory

Motorcycle Man - Kristen Ashley

Rising Storm - Kathleen Brooks

Thank you to A.J. Renee for allowing me to pick her brain on what her top 10 books of all time are!  No, seriously, I know her pain when it comes to books like this!  Because it always brings to mind one of my favorite Neil Gaiman quotes...

Review: Widower's Aura

Title: Widower's Aura
Author: A.J. Renee
Format: Kindle (A.R.C)
Pages: 260
Date(s) Read: August 17-19, 2016
Rating: 4

Summary:

Sofia Brazier escapes a career gone south as a juvenile probationary officer in New Orleans.  She moves from the large city to the small town of St. Fleur where she opens a photography business in an attempt to cleanse herself of the dark souls she'd tried to help.  All is going well, untill Noah enters the local pub.  Noah's wife died, and ultimately it is an act brought on by Noah's own daughter that brings their fates crashing together.

Review:

I was gifted an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.  I would like to thank A.J. Renee, Love Between the Sheets Blog Tour, and the publisher for offering me this opportunity to participate in the blog tour as well as offer a review.

All the emotion.

All of it.

This book is so very well written and it takes a trope that is quite difficult to get right and gets it so very, very write.  A.J. Renee's debut novel is filled with a little bit of mystery to add to the romance that is building between Noah and Sofia.  Everything flows so naturally through out the story, and even those scenes that are of an explicit sexual nature are so very well written.

The small paranormal aspect to the book is one that absolutely sealed my adoration to this story a bit more.  I love that Sofia can see auras, and the fact that she can't see Noah's was enough to give her pause and ultimately pique a bit of her interest because....well that's something that's never actually happened before!

After I started the book (sometime after dinner and before bedtime on the 17th) I knew it was one that I'd have to put down before I went to bed or I'd ultimately end up finishing it in one setting and getting absolutely no sleep on a night where I had one of my longest shifts that week.  My better judgement finally won out and I ended up puttin the book down and picking it back up after work and various other household errands.  Only reason it took me about 2 days to read it is because I chose to defy the pull of this fantastic novel and delve into the real world when I really, really wanted to stay with Noah, Sofia and Lexi until the very last word was read.

This is definitely one that I will recommend to anyone that loves a fantastically written story, in-depth and relate-able characters and a little small town magic.

Widower's Aura: Interview with A.J. Renee

I always love getting a chance to pick an author's brain!  No, seriously, it's so very much fun.  Apparently, I have a knack for picking questions that really, really make them think!  I loved interviewing A.J. Renee, and her answers are fantastic.  Thank you for allowing me to participate in the blog tour for Widower's Aura!




1. What was your inspiration to start writing a novel?
I’d love to say I had this A-HA moment but I didn’t. One of my best friends died way too young. I couldn’t get over the fact that she never got her own real-life love story. Writing Widower’s Aura was my own grief therapy and giving her the love story she never got. Sofia, while fictional, was inspired in many ways by my friend.

2. Do you listen to any music or anything while you write?
I do! I created a playlist on YouTube that includes John Legend, Gavin DeGraw, Christina Aguilera and A Great Big World, Christina Perri, Sam Smith, Paramore, Ed Sheeran, Jennifer Lawrence, Anna Kendrick, and a few more. I need music I’m familiar with so I don’t spend more time listening to the lyrics than writing. I also listen to my 6, 4, and 2 year olds playing around.

3. What are some of your go to writing snacks, drinks, etc?
Tea! I love this Lipton Green Tea that’s Jasmin, Orange, and Passionfruit. I’m not big into snacks because I’d eat the whole pantry if I did but I do grab about two squares of Dove’s Dark Chocolate. My friend laughs at me because she says I’m weird for only eating 1-2. I guess most people would eat a handful? Oh well, I guess that makes me weird, nothing new there.

4. What is your favorite part about becoming a published author?
Seeing something I started two years ago grow from grief into a wonderful love story that I can honor my friend’s memory with.

5. How do you keep your tasks organized? Between family tasks and writing tasks?
I’m still trying to figure out this balance. My family has to come first but there are some days that I’m reminded I’m struggling to juggle it all. There really aren’t enough hours in the day.

6. Do you have a favorite character in your books? Least favorite character?
My favorite character is always the one I’m working on. They become living and breathing people to me, even if it’s only in my crazy head. Least favorite character, wow that one’s hard. I feel like I should say Slick but I can’t and I can if that makes any sense. I want to protect him after everything he went through as a child but as a mom I want to smack him upside the head and tell him to take responsibility over his actions. The fact that he blames others for the things that were clearly in his own hands makes me CRAZY.

7. What authors do you draw inspiration from?
My love of small town stories comes from Marie Force and Kathleen Brooks. My love of the suspense mixed in with the love story comes from Julie Garwood. R.L. Mathewson’s humorous characters inspire me to create characters who can be quirky or silly.

8. If you could meet one author for 24 hours, how would you spend it?
Oh goodness. Just one? This is a really hard question. I have so many authors I love. Kathleen Brooks. So I can drink some of her special tea from Keeneston. We could talk about her lovely batch of friends who exist in my life as real beings. It would also be pretty awesome to brainstorm what characters should fall in love next.

9. If your books were ever made into a movie, who would you want as the cast?
Another hard one, HA! For the record it took me about 2 hours to figure out this list.

Sofia: Olivia Munn
Noah: Josh Duhamel
Lexi: India Eisley
Jaxson: Nick Robinson
Lindsey: Emilia Clarke
Marc: Jay Hernandez
Jaime Lynn: Nikki Reed
Jesse: Boris Kodjoe
Sheriff Randy: Robert Forster
Annabelle: Megan Fox
Slick: Logan Lerman

10. What color best describes your mood throughout the day?
Something bright like red or orange. My life is pure chaos with little kids and trying to balance all the hats I wear.

BotW: Widower's Aura

Okay, so it's Wednesday.  I'm a little late.  Blame the cold that decided to move in this past weekend and is still here! Yeah, loads of fun that.  However, I'm still getting book of the week up (while this week is still going so that's a plus right?!). 

This book is a new favorite of mine, recently released on August 18th, and written by a dear friend of mine...whose blog tour I'm also participating in...so today's posts will ALL be Widower's Aura themed...including a review and a Top 10 by A.J. Renee! There will also be a review by your's truly! 

Anyway, let's get this party started! 

Living in a world full of colors, Sofia Brazier escapes a career gone south as a juvenile probationary officer in New Orleans. After moving to the small town of St. Fleur, Sofia opens a photography business in hopes of ridding her life of all the dark auras surrounding the damaged souls she once tried helping. Her comfortable new life is upended when widower, and ex-security-forces-turned-handyman hunk, Noah Tyler enters the local pub.

Noah attempts to avoid the voluptuous beauty who has captivated his every thought. That is, until his daughter vandalizes Sofia’s building and effectively seals their fate. After cutting his daughter a break, Sofia begins tearing down the walls he built after his wife’s death.

Just when life finally seems worth living for Noah, Sofia finds herself the victim of a string of crimes. Can he protect Sofia when he failed to protect his own wife?

RELEASE DAY!!! Widower's Aura IS HERE!!!

Title: Widower's Aura

Author: A.J Renee

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: August 18, 2016

Synopsis

Living in a world full of colors, Sofia Brazier escapes a career gone south as a juvenile probationary officer in New Orleans. After moving to the small town of St. Fleur, Sofia opens a photography business in hopes of ridding her life of all the dark auras surrounding the damaged souls she once tried helping. Her comfortable new life is upended when widower, and ex-security-forces-turned-handyman hunk, Noah Tyler enters the local pub.

Noah attempts to avoid the voluptuous beauty who has captivated his every thought. That is, until his daughter vandalizes Sofia’s building and effectively seals their fate. After cutting his daughter a break, Sofia begins tearing down the walls he built after his wife’s death.

Just when life finally seems worth living for Noah, Sofia finds herself the victim of a string of crimes. Can he protect Sofia when he failed to protect his own wife?

Order your copy today!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IBooks | KOBO | Smashwords

Excerpt

Noah felt the hair on the back of his neck rise before he even saw her. Her skin shimmered with sweat. A bright blue tank top hugged her breasts, short black athletic shorts clung to her curves, and bright blue sneakers covered her feet. The woman’s legs went on forever. He indulged in a brief fantasy of running his hands up those tan legs, hips, and up to her ample breasts. As his pants got tighter with a growing erection, he forced himself to turn and grab a drink of water.

For his sanity, Noah wanted to ignore her presence. Too bad he needed to speak to her. He couldn’t ignore what she was doing for Lexi. “Excuse me, Sofia?”

“Hello, Noah.” She smiled and continued to the bottom step of the house’s porch.

Noah walked toward her. “Can I talk to you?”

Her eyes locked on his with discomfort, “Yes?”

When they were a few feet apart, her smell hit him hard. Her sweat had yet to mask the sweet smell of peaches. She wasn’t covered in the strong perfume smell so many women seemed to bathe in. He noticed she wore no makeup either. The woman was truly stunning. He placed his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels.

“I wanted to thank you for what you’re doing for Lexi. You had every right to press charges, but I’m very grateful you didn’t. She’s a good kid…” He looked up at the second floor of his house, almost expecting to see Lexi standing at her window. “She’s just had a rough time, and I can’t snap her out it. I hope this close call does it.” He found himself wanting to tell Sofia more, but there was no point. Lexi would do her time with Sofia, and he would walk away with as little contact as possible.

Her head tilted to the side, Sofia’s knowing eyes pierced him. “Sounds like you both have been having a rough time.”

Her comment took him off guard. “Yes. No. Yes.” Noah struggled to breathe at the thought of how rough these last two years had been. When he looked at Sofia, he expected a confused look or even pity but not compassion. Yet her eyes sparkled when she gave him a small smile. Why did he always feel as if she was looking through him or reading his mind?

About The Author

AJ Renee loves to travel and see family and friends whenever she gets a chance. She has a love of music, movies, and anything that can make her laugh. AJ believes in reading books with humor and mystery that end in a happily ever after to help ease our minds and hearts of life’s daily struggles. She currently resides in Nevada and spends her time with her air force husband, three young daughters, dog, and cat.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Giveaway

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WLW: Bullet Journal

Two months ago, I ultimately started bullet journaling.  The end of June I started, and my first full month was July and by the first week of July I was one hundred percent addicted to the freedom it offered me.  I've been struggling with productivity, and organizing my thoughts.  I absolutely love everything about bullet journals.  Everything.  

I can be as creative as I need to, and ensure that I have organization for the projects I'm working on things of that nature.  Especially now that I am working on getting my crew trainer title back at work.  So, here are a few items on my wishlist for my bullet journal. 

The notebook I want: 

I've been going back and forth between this one and the Moleskine, however, this one is ultimately the one that I want, because of some of the features that it offers that put it a step or two above the Moleskine.  This one has numbered pages, index, as well as stickers for archival processes.  Thus, this is the one that I will hopefully be buying this month.  For now, I am using pocket sized sketchbooks. 

The pens: 

These pens are some of the most common used for bullet journals.  They don't bleed through and the come in a variety of colors and are good for fine line detail.  The current pens I use are good, but I want these to add detail and more color to my bullet journal and it will allow me to actually color code various tasks in such a way that it will stand out a bit more.  

Washi Tape..:

No, seriously...washi tape.  Do you have any idea how addicting this stuff is?!  GIVE IT TO ME!  All the colors.  ALL THE THINGS! 

It's good for quite a few different things in a bullet journal, and I need quite a bit more :D 

Do you bullet journal? 

Top 10 Tuesday: Classics

We've all read them.  Lots of them.  We were required to read many of them through our course work in high school and even in college.  You'll find several in this list..some of which I slogged through in high school, but now that I'm older I have a new found appreciation for.  So, with that in mind...ON WITH THE LIST! 

Top 10 Classics

10. Little Women - Louisa May Alcott

9. Little Men - Louisa May Alcott

8. Les Miserables - Victor Hugo

7. Paradise Lost - John Milton

6. A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens

5. Great Expectations - Charles Dickens

4. Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens

3. Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll

2. To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee

1. The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald

There are several more that I enjoy, but this is my top ten list at least for now.  However, Gatsby usually ends up on top no matter what. 

What are your favorite classics? 

BotW: Me Before You

It's Sunday!! You know what that means!! Another Book of the Week!!!

This week's featured book will SERIOUSLY hit you in ALL the Feels!!!

I needed to read this book before going to see the movie (or finding it on RedBox or on Netflix or somewhere...because that's just how I roll).  If the movie is as good as the book, then I know my feelings will be in a useless pile upon the floor once I'm done seeing this movie.  I finished this book and simply could not even...just...no.  All the feels.  All the things.

I do not recommend reading this book without tissues or something to catch and wipe all that rain water that will suddenly be on your face throughout this book.  Just sayin...

Me Before You

JoJo Moyes

Review: Once Upon a [Stolen] Time

Title: Once Upon a [Stolen] Time
Author: Samreen Ahsan
Format: Kindle (e-book)
Pages: 
Date(s) Read: July 15, 2016
Rating: 3

Summary: 

600 years separate Myra Farrow and Edward Hue.  She living in the modern world and obsessed with Medieval castles, princes, kings, and everything involving them.  Edward, living in darkness and ruled by his tyrannical father, who hopes to craft him into a model of himself.   Can Myra save Edward or will she destroy him?

Review: 

I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. 

I do have to admit I do like Myra quite a bit, considering she does not suffer from Snowflake or Mary Sue syndrome.  She is interesting and I do quite like her.  She's grounded and there is an emotional connection with her.  Steven however, I'm not entirely thrilled with considering that he isn't completely honest with Myra about his intentions for her.  Though, he doesn't lie about using her as the main character for his video game based on Hue Castle. 

Hue Castle is somewhere that intrigues me greatly, and in all honesty I want to walk its barren darkness and submerge myself in its history.  There are secrets that thrive within those walls, disappearances (mainly of its last inhabitants as well as others), and the fact that there is absolutely no life within the abandoned walls of this castle.  The cameras cannot capture anything within the boundaries, and there is also a mirror within the castle's chapel.  The mirror was some how preserved from the fire that destroyed everything else - however the reflection within the mirror does not match the reality that it should. 

The reality within the mirror brings several questions to the fore, and begin Myra's search for the truth.  Just a few of the questions that Myra must answer in her search are: 
1. Why is everything within the castle's borders dead? 
2. Who is the man in the mirror?
3. Why is she the only one that can see and feel him?
4. How does he seem to know her?
5. Why can she not forget him?

He should have died six hundred years ago, and yet Myra and Edward share the same eyes. 

The story falls into a few tropes, however, the story was well crafted and one that I did enjoy.  However, this installment doesn't necessarily strike me initially as one based around romance, instead a mystery that needs to be solved and then other things can happen once that's done. 

The prose was delightful, and I could easily picture myself within the world crafted and living the mysterious moments with them.  Their emotions weren't superficial, and the characters actually had quite a bit of depth to them.  

I am looking forward to the next installment in this story, the continuation of the interactions between Myra, Edward and Steven.