Book Reviews: January 2017

Music is a huge passion of mine, but anyone who knows me will tell you that I am also passionate about reading. I have decided to start a new monthly series of book reviews. I will talk about all of the books I have read during the previous month.

My yearly goal is 100 books. I exceeded this goal last year, so this year I have decided to change things up a bit. I have decided to read at least one non-fiction book each month. I am notorious for being a huge fiction fan, but I don't tend to gravitate towards non-fiction titles. Broadening my horizons seemed like a great plan for 2017. 

So sit back, relax, and get ready to hear my opinions on all of the books I finished this January. Each of my reviews will include a brief summary, a rating on a 5 star scale, and my personal thoughts on the book. Here are my book reviews for the books I read in January 2017.

1. The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

I am in a book club through my local Barnes & Noble, and this book was actually the pick for December 2016. I, however, was a bit of a procrastinator and didn't finish it until the 2nd of January. This tends to be a trend for me :-/

The Snow Child Summary: In Alaska, 1920, Jack and Mabel decide on a change of scenery and lifestyle after a life of hardship. They seem to be drifting apart, until they make a snow-child together the night of a blizzard, only to find the next morning that the snow-child is gone. They do, however, begin to catch glimpses of a little girl, who calls herself Faina, who looks remarkably like the snow-child they created. The more they allow Faina into their lives, the more magical things seem to become. This novel has many elements of a Russian fairy tale, but it has some grit to it that gives it some depth. 

My Rating: 4 Stars

I enjoyed The Snow Child, but it took me a while to become really invested in it. Once the story got rolling, I became caught up in it. The character growth is quite beautiful, especially in the character of Mabel, who became one of my favorites. I will admit, the ending left a little to be desired for me, but I still feel that it was extremely well written and is definitely worth a read. 

2. Buffering: Unshared Tales of a Life Fully Loaded by Hannah Hart

Buffering Summary: Hannah Hart, best known for her hilarious YouTube series, My Drunk Kitchen, is well-known for her optimistic point-of-view and cheerful demeanor. This collection of essays taken from her journal entries over the years, shows the story of a girl who grew up facing all sorts of adversity. It explores the themes of poverty, mental illness, coming out of the closet, friendship, drive, love and loss. Through all of this, Hannah shows you how you too can live a life of 'reckless optimism'. 

My Rating: 5 Stars

Hannah has long been one of my favorite YouTube stars. I watch her videos to get a good laugh, but also to hear her views on living life to the fullest and looking for the good in everything and everyone. Seeing how much she had to overcome to get to this point only made me love and respect her all the more. If you are looking for an uplifting, inspiring young woman's story, this is the book for you. 

3. A Terrible Beauty by Tasha Alexander

A Terrible Beauty Summary: This is the 11th book in the Lady Emily mystery series. Set in Victorian England, Lady Emily and her husband, Colin, solve mysteries for the crown. Lady Emily is a collector of antiquities and an historian, with a special interest in ancient Greece. This installment of the series follows Lady Emily, her husband Colin, and assorted friends to her villa in Greece, where they get the surprise of their lives. An unexpected house guest shows up - Lady Emily's first husband, who died a decade earlier...

My Rating: 4 Stars

I have always been a huge fan of historical fiction. Mysteries were never my cup of tea (much to my mother and grandmother's confusion, as they adore them), but this series has been a long-time favorite of mine. You get the drama of a good mystery while also learning about history. Lady Emily is also an extremely strong and independent woman, which is unusual for a woman of this time period, and I absolutely adore her.

This installment of the series was good, but not my absolute favorite. I highly recommend starting this series from the beginning if you love historical fiction, strong female leads and a good mystery. 

4. When Stars Collide by Micalea Smeltzer

When Stars Collide Summary: Thea has always been in love with her brother's best friend, Xander. Xander has always been in love with Thea, but too afraid of losing his friendship with her brother to pursue it. When the two wake up in a hotel room in Vegas to discover that they got married the night before, it causes a bit of a stir. Thea immediately asks for a divorce, but Xander convinces her to wait until the end of the summer before she makes a decision so that he can try to convince her that they belong together. The two try to navigate their feelings for one another, all while dealing with plenty of family drama along the way. 

My Rating: 3 Stars

I will admit, I have a weakness for a good romance. This was such a sweet read, with a bit of a twist from the usual 'I'm in love with my brother's best friend' trope. Some emotional baggage and parental abuse gives this book a bit more depth than your typical romance novel. Although it didn't completely blow me away, it was a good read.

5. Talking As Fast As I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls, and Everything In Between by Lauren Graham 

Talking As Fast As I Can Summary: Lauren Graham, best known for her role as Lorelai Gilmore on Gilmore Girls, tells the story of her life in her quintessential Lauren Graham way. From hearing about her childhood on a house boat with her father, to working odd jobs in New York trying to become an actress, to making the big time with Gilmore Girls and then Parenthood, Graham tells the story of her life with humor and pizzazz. 

My Rating: 5 Stars

I have been a huge Gilmore Girls fan for years, and a Parenthood fan as well, so I was extremely excited when this book came out. I was not disappointed. I was so happy to see that Lauren Graham has just as amazing of a sense of humor as her beloved Gilmore Girls character. I learned many things about her that I was not expecting, and got to hear some tear-inducing behind-the-scenes scoop about the making of both Gilmore Girls and Gilmore Girls: A Year In the Life. If you are a Gilmore Girls, Parenthood, or just general Lauren Graham fan, you will love this fun and quirky bio!

6. The Bob's Burgers Burger Book: Real Recipes for Joke Burgers by Loren Bouchard and Cole Bowden

The Bob's Burgers Burger Book Summary: Based upon the animated show, Bob's Burgers, this cookbook is comprised of recipes from the fan-created and heavily followed blog, 'The Bob's Burger Experiment.' Each of the joke burgers is based off of a burger of the day from each episode of the show, but they are also completely edible and delicious. Funny commentary riddles each recipe, making this cookbook unique and a joy to read. 

My Rating: 3 Stars

My husband got me hooked on Bob's Burgers, so when I saw that they came out with a cookbook, I knew I had to buy it. While many of the burgers are definitely never going to be made in my kitchen (I'm a very picky eater), the cookbook itself is hilarious. For more adventurous eaters, you could make every recipe in this book and be satisfied. It is totally worth a look if you are a fan of the show, or of making out-of-the-ordinary burgers. 

7. The Bookshop On The Corner by Jenny Colgan

The Bookshop On The Corner Summary: Nina is a librarian in Birmingham, England who is about to have her world turned upside down. Due to budget cuts and a change in direction, Nina loses her job. She doesn't know what to do with her life, until she buys a van and moves to Scotland to open a mobile bookshop. She loves pairing the perfect book with each of her customers, but has much less luck trying to pair off herself. This novel is about finding yourself in real life, rather than in the pages of a book. 

My Rating: 5 Stars

I loved this book. It is a book about books and the people who love books, so it was basically a book about me. You can't help but love Nina, and it made me want to pick up all of the books she recommends to her customers. This is a light, easy read that has just the right amount of romance, and a really great, feel-good message. 

8. Hunted by Bex-chan

Hunted Summary: In this Harry Potter fan-fiction, Draco and Hermione, four years post-Hogwarts, have to work together to solve the mysterious deaths of several of their old classmates. Working through their differences is quite difficult, but then the tension in the office heats up for an entirely different reason...

My Rating: 5 Stars

I discovered the 'Dramione' fan-fiction movement on accident, but now I cannot get enough. Bex-chan is a really great writer, and fully imagines alternate storylines within the parameters of Rowling's original universe. While I actually like Bex-chan's other 'Dramione' fan-fiction, Isolation, better than this one, Hunted was still very well done. I was captivated from the very beginning, and was attempting to solve the mystery right along with Draco and Hermione. If you enjoy well done fan-fiction, this is a great one to try on for size. 

9. Just A Kiss In The Moonlight by Cindy Roland Anderson 

Just A Kiss In The Moonlight Summary: Taylin loves her work as a labor & delivery nurse in a small town in Georgia, but feels the need for more. She has a boyfriend she doesn't really love, and feels like she needs a change. Luke is new to the hospital, and he and Taylin try to deny the sparks flying between them without much success. Just when Taylin and Luke decide to give it a try, a surprise from Luke's past threatens to derail everything. 

My Rating: 4 Stars

This is a cute, clean romance with a hint of Christian ideology tossed in. The back and forth between Taylin and Luke is pretty traditional for a romance, but they seem to get in their own way a little too much for my liking. I really enjoyed the story, as well as the plot twist that comes about mid-way through the book. However, the misunderstanding between the two romantic leads seems a bit willful, which bothered me a bit. Overall, a cute story with a happy ending to satisfy your chick-lit needs. 

That's all of the books I read and finished in January! Anything catch your fancy? Do you have different opinions about any of these titles? What recommendations do you have for me? Let me know in the comments! 

Also, if you want to see more of the books I'm currently reading, have read in the past, or want to read in the future, follow me on Goodreads!

With love,

Whitney 

Tips for First Time Cruisers

Engagement season is about to hit us full force. And, what is one of the first things you do when you get engaged? Decide where you want to go on your honeymoon!! A really great option year round is to go on a cruise! 

This summer, I went on a Royal Caribbean cruise with my husband. We sailed on the Oasis of the Seas, and had an amazing time! I want to give you some tips on how to go about planning your trip, packing your bags, and what to do once you are on board. 

1. Research the ports ahead of time. Our ship stopped in the Bahamas, St. Thomas and St. Maarten. Check out what the attractions are at each stop. This way you can decide if you will splurge on an excursion or if you will set off and explore on your own. Both are great options! 

2. If at all possible, book a room with a balcony. It gives you  a little bit of extra space, as well as lots of natural light. We spent quite a bit of time out on our balcony and I cannot imagine having to do without it. 

Perfect view of the beautiful Caribbean!

3. When you book your trip, check to see if they have any special deals for honeymoons. Royal Caribbean is extremely accommodating and want to make your trip as special as possible.  

4. Make sure to book excursions, shows, and dinner times in advance. Royal Caribbean has a really great, inclusive website that makes this super easy. Trust me, the more you do before you board, the more relaxing your trip will be. Also check to see if there are any fun events on-board the ship that you need to sign up for in advance. We went to a fun 20's themed party one night that was only available if you booked it in advance. It ended up being one of our favorite nights on the ship. 

On the beach in the Bahamas! We decided to walk there on our own and make a day of it! 

My husband, Nathan, and I at the Prohibition Event. We got decked out in 20's garb and had a blast! 

5. Assure that your passport is updated at least 2 months ahead of time. An expired or damaged passport might prevent you from boarding the ship, or even from reentering the country upon your return.

6. Make a packing list! This will help you to ensure that you don't forget anything, but also will help you to not pack unnecessary things too. 

The FlowRider is a way to go surfing on board the ship! I wasn't brave enough to try it, but it looked like fun!

There is also a mini-golf course on board! 

7. Don't overpack! To keep from overpacking, use a color scheme so that your clothes can do double duty. Make sure you bring a formal or semi-formal dress for the formal nights in the main dining room. For men, they must have a suit jacket and dress slacks for the formal nights. Also keep in mind that flip-flops, swimsuits and shorts are never allowed in the main dining room. 

8. Don't underpack! In my attempt to not overpack, I didn't bring enough nice dresses for dinners or casual tops. I ended up having to re-wear a lot of things...things that really should not have been worn again! 

The lovely Central Park. Those are real plants growing on the ship! This is a great place for a stroll, and is also where most of the fancy restaurants are located. 

9. Pack extra plastic bags and a duffle bag for dirty clothes and wet swimsuits. This will help keep your clean clothes clean. 

10. Make sure to pack these essential extras: a power strip (as your cabin will likely have only one or two plugs), an alarm clock, a hi-lighter or pen to mark the activities you want to participate in on the daily itinerary delivered to your cabin. Also, if you are prone to motion sickness (guilty!), make sure to pack medicine for it! I used the chewable pill Bonine, and I only felt sick once the whole trip! 

11. Check your suitcases when you arrive at the port. Only bring a small duffle bag and your purse that can easily be carried on your shoulder onto the ship. You might have to wait around for a long while before you have access to your room after you board the ship, and you do not want to be lugging around your big roller suitcase when you could be exploring. 

This is the Solarium, an adults-only area that we spent a ton of our time in. 

12. In said duffle bag, you should pack these essentials in case you can't go to your cabin right away: a change of clothes, a swimsuit, sunscreen, camera, your passport and important meds and toiletries.   

13. Make sure to set up an automatic email reply, as well as change your cell phone's voicemail message, to inform people that you will not be available until you dock. 

After a day in St. Thomas, we headed back to the ship early to take advantage of it's emptiness! 

14. Travel to your departure city at least a day ahead of time so you won't risk missing the boat. The boat will not wait for you!

15. Use the on-board interactive menu to plan activities and meals for the week. You can access this from your cabin as well as from screens on each deck near the elevators. 

We also utilized every square inch of counter space and drawer space!  

16. Do not use your cell phone on board unless you turn it to airplane mode. You will rack up a ton of roaming fees. If you want, you can pay for on board wi-fi. We decided to unplug for the week and were very happy with our decision. 

17. Take the earliest opportunity to explore the ship upon arrival. This will help you to know where you are going (especially on the really big ships), and to discover fun areas you might not have known about otherwise. My husband and I found the ship's library just by walking around on decks we didn't normally frequent. 

The library on board the Oasis of the Seas

There is also a rather impressive casino on board if you are interested in hitting the slots

18. The food on board is always fantastic! Eat in the dining room to get a great multi-course meal each night. Also, room service is included! One morning, my husband and I ordered room service for breakfast and got to watch the sunrise over the ocean. It was magical. 

Room service was delicious, and included in the price of your ticket! 

The food in the dining room was amazing every. single. night. 

19. On shore excursion days, it can be really worth while to come back on board the ship early. This way you can have the ship to yourself and go to that big pool on the top deck without competing for chairs or a prime spot in the pool. 

20. I highly recommend getting a drink package. Even if you don't drink a lot of alcohol, a drink package gives you access to fancy coffee, soft drinks and fun, fruity cocktails that, honestly, don't have that much alcohol in them. 

There are multiple pools on board...go exploring and find the one you like best! 

There are so many great areas to just get away, read a book, take a nap in the sea breeze...

21. Bring extra cash with you for tips. A tip will be included for your room staff at the end of your trip and added to the bill. However, it is customary to give a little something extra to the people who make a big impression on you, such as the person who cleans your cabin and makes all of those cute towel animals. Or the waiter at your table in the dining room each night. 

22. Also, bring cash with you for shore days. You will definitely want to buy at least one souvenir to remember your trip by! My husband and I collect magnets from each place we travel. 

Straw Markets are in each port and are a great place to get souvenirs. 

The Boardwalk is a great area that boasts a carousel, rock-climbing wall, ice cream shop and aqua-theater. 

Make sure you take the time to see the incredible entertainment on board - amazing shows that are all included in the price of your ticket! 

Be sure to check the cruise compass each day for ship activities! It will also tell you if it is a casual or formal dinner evening. 

There are so many other tips and tricks, but these were the ones that helped me out the most. I hope that you have as much fun on your cruise vacation as I had! If you have any other great tips, please leave them in the comments! 

With love,

Whitney