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Hey loves. If you missed it be sure to check out part 1. I have been doing a lot of reading and listening lately. Instead of having so many reviews in one post I am splitting them up this month.
Total physical/kindle books: 6
Total audible: 4
Total for the month part 2: 10
Total books for 2022: 49
Goal: 100 books 20 audiobooks
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Title: Leading in Tough Times
Author: John C Maxwell
Genre: leadership, personal development
How I Read It: ebook
My Rating: 4 out of 5
Amazon Description: Challenging times will come, but great leaders know how to lead their teams and emerge even stronger—prepare yourself now using this helpful guide to personal and professional success.
Great leaderships will face challenges. Markets will collapse; pandemics will come; people will always provide new and interesting ways to makes things difficult. But leaders must achieve results and build a team that produces, even when you are faced with difficult circumstances.
This all-new book from John Maxwell, created using content from several of his previous bestselling titles, is the ultimate guide to helping your team survive and even thrive when the unexpected happens. Maxwell helps leaders identify their team's main challenges, take stock of their liabilities, understand what they can control, and use challenges as opportunities to rethink the way they do things. He ultimately gives leaders the tools to grow their teams in the midst of difficult times.
Through humor, in-depth insight, and examples, internationally recognized leadership expert John C. Maxwell reassures leaders that they can still lead well and help people develop the skills they need to become great leaders, even when times are tough.
My Review: A great quick read to help potential leaders and getting you set up to be successful in mindset.
Title: Live Wire
Author: Kelly Ripa
Genre: biography
How I Read It: audiobook
My Rating: 3 out of 5
Amazon Description: In Live Wire, her first book, Kelly shows what really makes her tick. As a professional, as a wife, as a daughter and as a mother, she brings a hard-earned wisdom and an eye for the absurdity of life to every minute of every day. It is her relatability in all of these roles that has earned her fans worldwide and millions of followers on social media. Whether recounting how she and Mark really met, the level of chauvinism she experienced on set, how Jersey Pride follows her wherever she goes, and many, many moments of utter mortification (whence she proves that you cannot, in fact, die of embarrassment) Kelly always tells it like it is. Ms. Ripa takes no prisoners.
Surprising, at times savage, a little shameless and always with humor… Live Wire shows Kelly as she really is offscreen—a very wise woman who has something to say.
My Review: I enjoyed the stories, learning more about her and the audiobook is narrated by Kelly.
Title: Living Fully
Author: Mallory Ervin
Genre: memoir
How I Read It: audiobook
My Rating: 4 out of 5
Amazon Description: Mallory Ervin is known for exuding energy, joy, and laughter. But despite her public accomplishments, Mallory is no stranger to battling unhealthy attachments to performance and success. Now, in her unforgettable debut book, Mallory invites readers to see how her surprising journey—from achievement and accolades to devastating, never-before-shared lows—guided her and led her to a deeply fulfilling life.
In Living Fully, Mallory shares her personal story of overcoming the unhealthy and damaging patterns in her life and shows readers how to trade this for something completely new and more rewarding. What she discovered was there had always been a different life available to her, one that she had not yet seen. Now she encourages readers to resist a “just fine” existence and to step into a life they never dared to imagine before. Through inspiring stories and practical advice Mallory offers the motivation to:
• stop returning to a “just getting by” mentality
• shift perspective so blessings don’t become burdens
• remember that life’s curveballs don’t have to knock you off your feet
• identify your passions and get back to your truest self
• slow down and enjoy the extraordinary in the everyday moments
• quiet the voice of fear
• get clear on the life you want
“I wrote this to be your wake-up call, the thing that turns the lights on in your life and propels you to make real change, once and for all,” Mallory says. “I want you to wake up and stay awake.”
For anyone hungry for a richer life, or tired of coasting through life in a “cruise control” mindset, Living Fully is the ultimate invitation to embrace abundance and joy—and not look back!
My Review: I didn't know much about Mallory before listening to her share her story. There are so many inspiring tidbits within her story and how she has grown and overcome struggles. I plan to physically read the book with my highlighter to see all the tidbits again.
Title: The Virgin Next Door
Author: Lauren Blakely
Genre: romance
How I Read It: kindle unlimited
My Rating: 4 out of 5
Amazon Description: Raise your hand if you’ve ever done this. Written a racy message and sent it to—oops—the wrong person.
Yeah, me too. Except, I sent my latest Tales of a Naughty Virgin column detailing my fantasies about my hot, charming, thoroughly bangable next-door-neighbor to…MY ENTIRE COMPANY.
Did I mention I’m a children’s book editor?
Well, I was.
*Facepalm*
At least the column goes viral, but I’m still the gal who gets fired for her not-safe-for-work thoughts about the so-called “Mister Sexy Pants.”
Now I need a job stat, so I jump on the first opportunity. And I come face to face with my new boss.
Mister Sexy Pants himself.
Item number one on my to-do list? Make sure my boss never finds out his alter ego…since all of New York knows I want Mister Sexy Pants to punch my virgin club card.
Number two? Don't fall for the man as I get to know my hot boss, who's kind, caring, sexy as sin.
My Review: A laugh out loud read. A meet cute romance.
Title: The Girl I Was
Author: Jeneva Rose
Genre: chick lit
How I Read It: audiobook
My Rating: 2 out of 5
Amazon Description: Alexis Spencer is never too far away from another inspirational quote to rationalize her failures and ignore all her problems. Her boyfriend breaks it off, she’s lost her job, her closest friends are a distant memory, and her college debt is still as high as the day she left. In typical fashion, she blames the world for her problems, including her 18-year-old self who should have just tried harder and put their life on a better track. After feeling sorry for herself, Alexis goes on a bender to forget her problems and ends up blacking out. Only this time, she doesn’t wake up at home, she isn’t even in the right city, in fact, she isn’t even in the right year.
Alexis is back in her college town in the year 2002 and thinks she’s been given a second chance to do things over—that is until she comes face to face with her 18-year-old unruly self, who goes by the name of Lexi because it’s “sexier”. Getting acclimated to life in the early 2000s is the easy part. Dealing with Lexi is where things prove difficult. First, Alexis must convince her that she is in fact from the future. Then, she has to persuade Lexi to let her live in her dorm room. Finally, they must learn to get along and come to terms with the fact that alone, they will never make things right, but together, they could change their life for the better.
My Review: I struggled to get into this book. The unrealistic time travel through me off. After listening and looking back the plot does make you think and reflect on my own life.
Title: Half Baked Harvest Every Day
Author: Tieghan Gerard
Genre: cookbook
How I Read It: borrowed from library
My Rating: 4 out of 5
Amazon Description: Balanced. Bold. Beautiful.
The millions of fans of the Half Baked Harvest blog and bestselling books have fallen in love with Tieghan Gerard’s recipes for their wholesome decadence, unfussy approach, and smart twists on comforting favorites. Written and photographed in the stunning mountains of Colorado, inspired by her big, unique family, and focused on what you’ll want to eat day-in-day-out, Half Baked Harvest Every Day delivers more than 120 all-new recipes that will feed your body and soul.
For Tieghan, feel-good food isn’t about restrictive eating. It’s about enjoying real food with lots of flavor, and the satisfaction of sharing it with those you love. Finding balance is about giving your body and your cravings what they need . . . whether that’s a light, vegetable-packed dish or a big ole plate of something comforting.
In this collection, there are plenty of plant-forward favorites, like Chipotle Cheddar Corn Chowder and Spinach and Pesto–Stuffed Butternut Squash. Tieghan also shares flavor-packed family go-tos, like Pizza Pasta with Pepperoni Bread Crumbs, Crispy Carnitas Taquitos, and Spicy Pretzel Chicken Fingers with Hot Honey. And to keep a smile on everyone’s face, you’ll find luscious desserts, like Chocolate Olive Oil Cake and a Lemon Tart with Vanilla Sugar, made with a focus on wholesome, minimally processed ingredients.
Whether it’s breakfast, lunch, snack time, dinner, or dessert . . . this book has tried-and-true recipes that will make you feel good about sharing them at your table.
My Review: so many amazing recipes I can't wait to try
Title: Half Baked Harvest
Author: Tieghan Gerard
Genre: cookbook
How I Read It: borrowed from library
My Rating: 4 out of 5
Amazon Description: 125 of your new favorite recipes, featuring maximum flavor, minimum fuss, and the farm to table style that turned Half Baked Harvest from a beloved blog into the megahit cookbook series
“Recipes veer from Braised Pork Tamale Burrito Bowls to Crispy Buffalo Quinoa Bites with no logic other than flat-out good taste.”—Epicurious
Tieghan Gerard grew up in the Colorado mountains as one of seven children. When her dad took too long to make dinner every night, she started doing the cooking—at age fifteen. Ever-determined to reign in the chaos of her big family, Tieghan found her place in the kitchen. She had a knack for creating unique dishes, which led her to launch her blog, Half Baked Harvest. Since then, millions of people have fallen in love with her fresh take on comfort food, stunning photography, and charming life in the mountains.
While it might be a trek to get to Tieghan’s barn-turned-test kitchen, her creativity shines here: dress up that cheese board with a real honey comb; decorate a standard salad with spicy, crispy sweet potato fries; serve stir fry over forbidden black rice; give French Onion Soup an Irish kick with Guinness and soda bread; bake a secret ingredient into your apple pie (hint: it’s molasses). From Korean Beef, Sweet Potato, and Quinoa Bibimbap to Healthier Slow-Cooker Butter Chicken to Addictive Salted Caramel–Stuffed Chocolate Cookies, a striking photograph accompanies every recipe, making Half Baked Harvest Cookbook a feast your eyes, too.
My Review: Great recipes with a lot of variety
Title: Half Baked Harvest Super Simple
Author: Tieghan Gerard
Genre: cookbook
How I Read It: borrowed from library
My Rating: 5 out of 5
Amazon Description: NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • There’s something for everyone in these 125 easy, show-stopping recipes: fewer ingredients, foolproof meal-prepping, effortless entertaining, and everything in between, including vegan and vegetarian options!
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST COOKBOOKS OF THE YEAR BY BUZZFEED AND FOOD NETWORK
“Those indulgent, comfort food-esque dishes [Tieghan is] known for aren’t going anywhere. . . . You’ll be hard-pressed to decide which one to make first.”—Food & Wine
We all want to make and serve our loved ones beautiful food—but we shouldn’t have to work so hard to do it. With Half Baked Harvest Super Simple, Tieghan Gerard has solved that problem.
On her blog and in her debut cookbook, Tieghan is beloved for her freshly sourced, comfort-food-forward recipes that taste even better than they look. Half Baked Harvest Super Simple takes what fans loved most about Half Baked Harvest Cookbook and distills it into quicker, more manageable dishes, including options for one-pot meals, night-before meal prep, and even some Instant Pot® or slow cooker recipes. Using the most important cooking basics, you’ll whip up everyday dishes like Cardamom Apple Fritters, Spinach and Artichoke Mac and Cheese, and Lobster Tacos to share with your family, or plan stress-free dinner parties with options like Slow Roasted Moroccan Salmon and Fresh Corn and Zucchini Summer Lasagna.
Especially for home cooks who are pressed for time or just starting out, Half Baked Harvest Super Simple is your go-to for hassle-free meals that never sacrifice taste.
My Review: Out of all the Half Baked Harvest cookbooks this is my favorite.
Title: Honeymoon for One
Author: Portia Macintosh
Genre: romance
How I Read It: audiobook
My Rating: 5 out of 5
Amazon Description: When disaster strikes, paradise calls...
As a published novelist, Lila Rose has been writing about fictional weddings all her life. But disaster strikes on her own big day when she hears her philandering fiancé, Daniel whispering sweet nothings to someone else.
With her dream day shattered, all Lila wants to do is run and hide, so she decides to fly solo on her own honeymoon.
When Daniel arrives in the resort with his new squeeze, Lila strikes up a ‘showmance’ with hot new movie star, Freddie Bianchi. Freddie is perfect for the part and Lila soon relaxes into her leading lady role.
But as truth starts to merge with fiction, could real love be in the air?
A sizzling holiday romance, perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella, Lindsey Kelk and Sophie Ranald’s Sorry Not Sorry.
My Review: A fun cute listen/read. Such relatable characters and situations that could happen. Who doesn't dream of a hook up with a movie star on a private island.
Title: We Will Reigh
Author: Rachel Leigh
Genre: dark romance
How I Read It: kindle unlimited
My Rating: 5 out of 5
Amazon Description: An all-new dark college, why-choose romance series from USA Today bestselling author, Rachel Leigh.
Enrolling at BCU was supposed to be my chance at freedom.
An escape from my parents who insist I follow in their footsteps as a Guardian of the Society.
Keep the members safe—that’s what I’m supposed to do.
But how can I safeguard the students when I can’t even protect myself?
Someone has been watching me.
His eyes burn into my soul like a branding iron. At night, he haunts my dreams and transforms them into nightmares.
And sometimes when I wake, he’s there.
Standing at the foot of my bed in awe of my existence.
He isn’t the one I fear most, though.
There are others who have their eyes on me, too.
Only their obsession runs deeper than Ridge’s and I fear if I fall under their thumbs, I won’t make it out of here alive.
There once was a sicko who lurked in the mist.
He preyed on my soul baring a closed iron fist.
His stare made me itch while his eyes locked me under his spell.
But taking his hand may be my only escape from this hell.
My Review: Dark romance at its finest. A toxic lover story of forbidden love. The book does end as a cliff hanger.
Currently Reading
What are you reading this month?
Honeymoon for One sounds so great!
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