A Girl's Guide to Moving On (Debbie Macomber) Book Review

2016 Reading Challenge

18. A Girl's Guide to Moving On by Debbie Macomber
      Theme/Topic: book published in 2016

Synopsis:

When Nichole discovers that her husband, Jake, has been unfaithful, the illusion of her perfect life is indelibly shattered. While juggling her young son, a new job, and volunteer work, Nichole meets Rocco, who is the opposite of Jake in nearly every way. Though blunt-spoken and rough around the edges, Rocco proves to be a dedicated father and thoughtful friend. But just as their relationship begins to blossom, Jake wagers everything on winning Nichole back - including their son Owen’s happiness. Somehow, Nichole must find the courage to defy her fears and follow her heart, with far-reaching consequences for them all.
Leanne has quietly ignored her husband’s cheating for decades, but is jolted into action by the echo of Nichole’s all-too-familiar crisis. While volunteering as a teacher of English as a second language, Leanne meets Nikolai, a charming, talented baker from Ukraine. Resolved to avoid the heartache and complications of romantic entanglements, Leanne nonetheless finds it difficult to resist Nikolai’s effusive overtures - until an unexpected tragedy tests the very fabric of her commitments.

My Review:

As the story of Cassie, Nichole and Karen continues, it's time for Nichole to take the spotlight. When Nichole learns that her husband has been cheating on her, she gets support from an unlikely source: her mother-in-law Leanne. Unbeknownst to everyone, Leanne's own husband has been cheating on her for years. They both file for divorce and get apartments right across from each other. To help them deal with the pain, Leanne comes up with a plan. With Nichole's help, they create a list of rules to follow:

1. Don't allow yourself to wallow in your pain. Reach out. Volunteer. Do something you love or something to help others.

2. Cultivate new friendships.

3. Let go in order to receive.

4. Love yourself.

These rules seem simple, but they are hard to do, except for maybe the first one. The divorce process is different for both ladies. Leanne's is simple and over with fairly quick. Nichole's is more drawn out and more extreme.

Throughout the process of moving forward, both Nichole and Leanne befriend new men in their lives. For Nichole, that would be Rocco. They meet by accident, literally, but come to mean more than that. From the outside looking in, they're complete opposites. Rocco is a mechanic and owns a tow truck company and is a husky fellow. He reminded me of one of those security guards that you don't want to mess with. But the more you get to know him, the more oh realize that o. The inside, he has a caring and tended heart. I liked how Rocco handled Owen (Nichole's son with her ex), as well as the whole Jake situation. My favorite character just happened to be Kaylene (Rocco's daughter); she had a great supporting role when jt came to Rocco and Nichole.

For Leanne, Nikolai was tne new man in her life. Nikolai was from the Ukraine and a student in her ESL night class. He showed his appreciation and love for Leanne by gifting her with a loaf of bread after each class. While I couldn't understand that at first, I came to appreciate the symbolization of the gesture (apparently a loaf of bread symbolizes love in Ukraine). What I didn't like was the whole expecting Leanne to love him back without hesitation, even though they had a language barrier. Saying that, I kind of felt that Nikolai shouldn't have been jealous of Sean (Leanne's ex). I get why he didn't want her involved with him on any level, but it really wasn't his call. On the other hand, I understand why Leanne wanted to be there for Sean at a time when he needed it the most and had no one else to turn to. I felt that they shared a friendship with each other, even though the love they shared didn't exist anymore.

Once again, Debbie Macomber told a genuine and heartfelt story. She definitely doesn't disappoint. A Girl's Guide to Moving On is a follow up to Last One Home, however they can be read as stand alone novels as well. If you want to check out my review of Last One Home, click here.

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

♥Meg♥

Last One Home (Debbie Macomber) Book Review

2016 Reading Challenge

17. Last One Home by Debbie Macomber

Synopsis:

Growing up, Cassie Carter and her sisters, Karen and Nichole, were incredibly close -- until one fateful event drove them apart. After high school, Cassie ran away from home to marry the wrong man, throwing away a college scholarship and breaking her parents’ hearts. To make matters worse, Cassie had always been their father’s favorite -- a sentiment that weighed heavily on her sisters and made Cassie’s actions even harder to bear.
Now thirty-one, Cassie is back in Washington, living in Seattle with her daughter and hoping to leave her past behind. After ending a difficult marriage, Cassie is back on her own two feet, the pieces of her life slowly but surely coming together. Despite the strides Cassie’s made, she hasn’t been able to make peace with her sisters. Karen, the oldest, is a busy wife and mother, balancing her career with raising her two children. And Nichole, the youngest, is a stay-at-home mom whose husband indulges her every whim. Then one day, Cassie receives a letter from Karen, offering what Cassie thinks may be a chance to reconcile. And as Cassie opens herself up to new possibilities -- making amends with her sisters, finding love once more -- she realizes the power of compassion, and the promise of a fresh start.

My Review:

After reaching rock bottom and able to finally rid herself of her abusive ex-husband, Cassie wants to start a better life for her and her daughter Amiee. She also became estranged from her family when she ran away from home at eighteen for all the wrong reasons - to marry the boyfriend her parents didn't approve of just because she was pregnant. After her mom dies, she's given, what Cassie thinks, a chance to mend the relationship with her sisters. They, Karen and Nichole, don't know if they're willing to forgive Cassie and put the past behind them and give Cassie a much deserved second chance. They obviously don't know what Cassie has been through since that night and only know what she put her family through when she left and aren't sure if Cassie has changed. Although it takes some work, time and patience, all three of them begin to realize how much they need each other.

In the meantime, Cassie decides to start volunteer work with a Habitat for Humanity type of company in the community. It's not exactly what she expects at first, as she butts heads with the manager, Steve. Both are stubborn in their own ways, but when an unfortunate accident occurs, Steve starts showing his softer side. As his story starts to unfold, I can see why he was the way he was. You'll have to read this book to find out. Cassie also discovers that it's okay to ask for help and not to just rely on herself for everything. 

Debbie Macomber's books never fail to disappoint. She has a way of creating compelling characters. What I enjoyed about this particular book was that it showcased the importance of family. No family is perfect and we may not always get along with each other, but at the end of the day, they'll always be there for you. Just like Cassie and her sisters, my mom and her sister weren't on speaking terms for a few years. While I won't get into the circumstances, eventually they worked it out and became closer than they ever were, in my opinion. 

 Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

♥Meg♥

Waiting For Paint to Dry (Lia Mack) Book Review

2016 Reading Challenge

16. Waiting for Paint to Dry by Lia Mack

Synopsis:
For the past decade, Matty Bell has lived safe in a self-made monochromatic life of work-eat-sleep-survive. Living vicariously through her best friend Claire's perfect life wasn't the plan. However, Matty learned long ago it's easier to run and hide from life than to deal with the PTSD she’s suffered from since being raped at sixteen. Yet on the night of her thirtieth birthday, a freak accident shows Matty a truth: run from something long enough and it will consume you. She must find a way back to her life, a life full of passion in which she can follow her dreams and is not afraid to love. When Claire announces her family is moving, she asks Matty to come too. Having grown up Navy, Matty’s no stranger to picking up and starting over. However, moving half-way around the world to play nanny to Claire’s children doesn't sound like the new beginning Matty yearns for. Nor does she want to leave without first confronting her fears and coming full-healing-circle. She can’t let another decade slip by before she’s able to trust again.

My Review:
This is a story about Matty's journey and acceptance through something tragic. As a teenager, Matty was raped and like most rape victims, she kept quiet and tried to forget all about that night. At 30, Matty's life is still affected by it, especially when it comes to relationships and other aspects of her life. When Matty's friend invites her to move to Germany with her family, it causes Matty to examine her life. She decides to give therapy a try and with the help of the therapist, she comes full frontal with what happened that fateful night and how it has affected her life. It's through this that Matty gets the courage to reconnect with her family, who she distanced herself from because they didn't understand what she was had been through. Along the way, Matty ends up in a relationship and is forced to go places she never thought she could go again. It takes some time and patience, but it ends up being okay. 

What I liked was the transformation that Matty had after suffering from years of post traumatic stress disorder. We don't always realize how much our life can be affected by traumatic or rough times from our past. The struggle is real. No matter what we may have gone through, it seems that we eventually reach a breaking point. A time when we have had enough of living in the past and attempt to move forward in any way possible. During Matty's journey, she rediscovers her passion of painting. 

Question and Answer:

Have you ever gone through a transformation in your life? Did you discover or rediscover a passion?

On this blog, I have been pretty open about my heart condition. After I was diagnosed, I did let it control me for several years and I had panic/anxiety attacks. I played the what if game too much and let the thought of having another event take over my life. I did end up reaching my breaking point and decided that I wasn't going to let it control me any more. Does it still bother me or get to me at times? Absolutely, but I don't let it become me. I decided to do the one thing that scared me: performing in front of people. I tried out for the local theatre company's musical and it turned out to be the best thing for me. Nothing can conquer anxiety more than performing in public, at least in my case. I ended up crying tears of joy and accomplishment during curtain call on opening night.it was the best feeling.

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

♥Meg♥

A Clash of Kings (George R R Martin) Book Review

2016 Reading Challenge

15. A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin
      Topic: book that's more than 600 pages

Synopsis:

Time is out of joint. The summer of peace and plenty, ten years long, is drawing to a close, and the harsh, chill winter approaches like an angry beast. Two great leaders - Lord Eddard Stark and Robert Baratheon - who held sway over an age of enforced peace are dead...victims of royal treachery. Now, from the ancient citadel of Dragonstone to the forbidding shores of Winterfell, chaos reigns, as pretenders to the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms prepare to stake their claims through tempest, turmoil, and war. As a prophecy of doom cuts across the sky—a comet the color of blood and flame - six factions struggle for control of a divided land. Eddard's son Robb has declared himself King in the North. In the south, Joffrey, the heir apparent, rules in name only, victim of the scheming courtiers who teem over King's Landing. Robert's two brothers each seek their own dominion, while a disfavored house turns once more to conquest. And a continent away, an exiled queen, the Mother of Dragons, risks everything to lead her precious brood across a hard hot desert to win back the crown that is rightfully hers.

My Review:

In case anyone doesn't know, this is the second book in The Game of Thrones series.

As the story continues, I can say that I enjoyed this one more than the first book. George does a great job of keeping the plotlines well executed. My only wish is that he would show some of the characters more mercy. I find it frustrating that the Lannisters seem to get away with anything, while the Starks always get the short end of the stick. Daenarys, in my opinion, has the best storyline, but it tends to get under rated because of everything else going on.

The one thing that bothered me was how Davos all of a sudden gets chapters when he's really not a main character. Or even talked about that much in the first book. I would rather hear from Joffrey and Robb, who are actually kings. It would be interesting to see what they are thinking and going through as kids who have to rule and battle. 

Since there is so much going on throughout, I find that it's difficult to right a great review because a proper review of this book could be long. So instead I compiled a short list of my favorite and least favorite characters.

Favorite Characters

1. Jon Snow

2. Stamina Marathon

3. Bran Stark

Least Favorite Characters 

1. Cersei Lannister

2. Joffrey Lannister

3. Sansa Stark

And finally there's one character who I have a love/hate relationship with: Arya. She's the one who didn't follow the rules, but at the same time, shows that females can do anything. Even if that's pretending that she's a guy.

~Meg~

Getting Back to Normal

Once again, I have to apologize that I haven't posted in just over a month. I have been dealing with a keyboard that doesn't always want to work the way it's supposed to - mainly some letters that don't work anymore.

Anyway, I figured out a way around that. I have a whole bunch of book reviews coming soon. As of right now, I'm not going to have a posting schedule. Each book review will be posted as soon as I'm able to. After I get caught up, I'll go back to posting on set days.

I am making a minor change in my posts. In all my book review posts, I will now be putting the author's name in parentheses after the title in the title of each post.

I'm planning to post one or two book reviews tomorrow.

~Meg~

Accidentally Amish Book Review

2016 Reading Challenge

14. Accidentally Amish by Olivia Newport

Synopsis:

Escape the helter-skelter of the modern culture and join software creator Annie Friesen, hiding at the home of an Amishman. With her high-tech career in jeopardy, Annie runs from fast-paced Colorado Springs—and straight into the hospitality of San Luis Valley’s Amish community. There she meets cabinetmaker Rufus Beiler, and the more time she spends with him, the more attracted she becomes. When Annie finds she shares a common ancestor with Rufus, she feels both cultures colliding within her. But is her love for Rufus strong enough for her to give up the only life she’s ever known?

My Review:

     It's not everyday that someone shows away (aka runs away from her problems, so to say) in a pickup truck and ends up in an Amish community. That's exactly what Annie did when she had enough of a certain situation. Deciding to hanglow for awhile, Annie stays in an inn just on the outskirts. In the meantime, Annie and Rufus, despite the their stubbornness to admit it, start to fall for each other. When an accident happens, Rufus' family takes in Annie to help her recovery. Rufus has to deal with problems of his own as someone tries to sabotage his work. After Annie heals, they depart, knowing that their different lifestyles won't work out well together. That is until something tragic occurs, bringing them back together. Both of their situations end up well and Annie decides to make a radical change by (thinking about) converting to Amish. 

     I thought that the storyline and plots were well-developed. I've always admired the Amish lifestyle, in particular how they all come together (without question) to rebuild after tragedy strikes and their power of forgiveness. In this story, it was interesting to see the difference between the Amish ways and English ways. Both Annie and Rufus had somewhat similar situations, but handled it differently. Getting revenge isn't always the best solution as Annie comes to find out.

As Annie gets to know about Rufus and his family, she ends up discovering more about her family, like finding out she has some Amish blood. Genealogy plays an important part in who we are. Did you ever find out something interesting about your family history?

♥Meg♥

Holding On Book Review

2016 Reading Challenge

13. Holding On by Rachael Brownell

Synopsis:
For five years Becca has been struggling to hide her feelings for her best friend, Brad. Now she finally has a chance to move on. She’s in a new city, she’s attending a new school, and she’s met the first guy besides Brad who’s held her attention in a long time. Not only is Ethan attractive, he’s an amazing tennis player, and he might just be Becca’s match on and off the courts.
Brad has loved Becca for as long as he can remember. Now that Becca’s family has moved two thousand miles away, Brad may finally be ready to lay his heart on the line and do whatever it takes to hold on to Becca.
But is Brad too late? Or will Ethan’s secret drive Becca back into Brad’s arms? Torn between her love for Brad and the promise of something new and exciting with Ethan, Becca has an almost impossible choice to make, the choice between letting go or holding on.

My Review:
     Holding on to the past and knowing when to move on. That's what this book is all about. When Becca's family moves, she has to choose whether to hold on to her past or move on from what she once knew. In this case, it's mostly about teenage love. Becca spend most of her life being best friends and having feelings for Brad (and watch from the sidelines when he gets a girlfriend). When she starts getting settled in to another city 2,000 miles away, Becca encounters a couple guys and begins to fall for Ethan. For Brad, it takes Becca leaving to realize how much he wants to be with no one but her.
     This was a decent story and pretty accurate in regards to teenage relationships. I liked how Becca handled the move maturely, unlike most teens would have. Becca, Ethan and Brad had good character development. It did seem to take some time for the plot to move on, but it still was engaging. I admired Ethan's character near the end with the whole situation about Brad and Becca's need to be with him at a hard time.
     Holding on to the past can make it hard to enjoy the present. Letting go and moving forward isn't easy either. Rachael did a good job of portraying that.

♥Meg♥

Note: I'm sorry I haven't posted in awhile, but there were some problems (and still are) problems with the computer keyboard.