Between the lines- book review-The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

 When I moved to Louisiana this summer, I decided to treat myself to a book of the month club subscription. I love to read and had missed the library the past couple of months and Im not one who rereads books usually, unless its a self help or parenting book I really attach to. I loved how if there wasn't a book that month that you wanted to read, you could skip that month and not be charged. I have gotten two books so far and I have two more on the way. You can add on another past months book or extra book for only 9.99!

I am usually a historical fiction or modern fiction reader. I can't handle anything to scary or suspenseful and I am usually not interested in the fantasy genre but when I read the description of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, I was intrigued! The summary reminded me of the movie Age of Adeline, which I enjoyed. I am so glad I chose to pick a book from another genre!

This book was full of fantasy and mystery and sadness and morality. Addie made a deal with the "devil" and promised him her soul if she could have more time and not marry the person her parents wanted her to. Well she got about 300 hundred more years of life to live. What she thought would be full of adventure and fun was full of loneliness and lack of connection. Until the day, Addie meets someone who remembers her and things start to change a bit. 

I won't tell to much of the story but I will recommend this book. It will make you appreciate all your relationships and ability to connect with others so much more! I thought it was fitting for the time that we are in where its hard to connect like we used to in person but its worth putting in time to connect with your family and friends whatever way you can.

Between the lines-book review-Backroads to Belonging by Kristen Strong

 As a military spouse,  there are times where you have to put yourself out there to meet people. For introverts, it can be a challenge to make the first move with friendships. If you have had lost friendships in the past or situations where you have felt rejected or left out, it can be hard to dust yourself off and start with a clean slate at your new home.

About 5 years ago, a group of military spouses and I read the book Girl meets Change by Kristen Strong. We had all just moved to our new base and it was great way to connect with each other. I just recently found out that Kristen Strong had written a new book called Backroads to Belonging. I had just recently moved to a new state after 5 years of living in Missouri and was having a hard time adjusting to not knowing anyone again.

This book was a true gem. Kristen is a military spouse, whose husband retired from the military. She shared such wonderful godly insights from her own experiences as a military spouse and once they were back in civilian life. She shared wonderful examples on how we can reach out in our new environments as well as sharing that its ok if a friendship doesn't work out.

I would recommend this book to military spouses as well as any mom, wife, woman feeling isolated and not sure how to belong after moving or a change in schools, church, or community.

Between the lines-book review-Quiet:The Power of Introverts in a World that can't stop talking by Susan Cain

 I have been using the goodreads app since it started as a website! Its a great way to catalog what you are reading, would like to read, and what you have read. You can see what friends are reading as well as set reading goals for the year. This year my goal was to read 52 books this year. I reached that goal this July (thanks to the Pandemic) and I have currently read 71 books this year and counting.

Reading has always been a hobby of mine. While we lived in Missouri, I was a member of a book club for 3 years which was a place for a wonderful conversation as well as a place of learning and growth. We chose books that I wouldn't normally had read and usually ended up enjoying.

This past week I finished reading Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a world that can't stop talking by Susan Cain. I had been hearing it mentioned in several podcasts I had been listening to. Podcasts are another thing I have been loving for the past couple years! That's a topic for another day though.

As a self-proclaimed highly sensitive introvert, I related so much to the topics in this book. Being sensitive to noise and crowds and needing to recharge after social situations. The author made me feel more normal and that I really wasn't anti-social but enjoyed deeper conversations with a few people over a party and after either social situation, needed alone quiet time to recharge.

Over the past couple years, as I transitioned from wife to mother, I have changed and grown and become more in tune to my needs as a person and what environmental factors affect me physically and emotionally. In the past 10 years, my anxiety has increased 10 fold I think in large part to social media and the comparison trap that it creates.  Understanding how this can actually make me feel lonelier, I have had to take breaks from it and control my usage and I have seen profound positive results.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is an introvert or if you know or are in a relationship with an introvert. It will help you better understand yourself and your relationship with introverts in your life and release the judgmental thoughts you may have had about them with knowledge and research based information.

Mindless Monday...

This weekend I finished Mockingjay, the third book in the Hunger Games series! This book took me a little longer to get in to and the ending was not what I expected but I enjoyed reading the series! I am excited to watch the movie this weekend with some friends and the hubby!











Yesterday, the hubby and I saw John Carter. It was a pretty long movie and I got into after a while but it wasn't my favorite movie.

Over the weekend I started planning/looking up vacation spots for the hubby and I's tropical beach vacation! Its been a long 6 years since my last beach vacation and our honeymoon almost two years ago was in DC for a couple days but we decided that we would do the tropical honeymoon beach vacation after pilot training is completed! Now that hubby is a pilot but in training until July, we can't take any leave but I can plan! We are looking at a Riu resort in Punta Cana Dominican Republic for a week in September! Let me know if you have been to Punta Cana and what you would recommend or if there is another tropical beach vacation you would recommend?!

Happy Monday! Hope everyone's week is starting off well:)

Between the Lines-I've got your number

I just finished reading I've got your number by Sophie Kinsella.

I have read every one of her books and enjoyed them, especially the Shopaholic books! This books was quite long over 400 pages and it took a while to get into but I really enjoyed it. I love that all her books take place in England and how the main character, Poppy, in this case either is forgetful, nosy, compulsive shopper or some other idiosyncrasy that the supporting characters grow to love and admire. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for some light chick lit reading and enjoys a little pre wedding drama!

Between the Lines-Catching Fire!

After reading the Hunger Games, I couldn't wait to continue on with the series! Last night after 3 days of reading, I finished Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins!

The second book was not what I expected to happen at all! I thought Gale would be more present and things would slow down a bit but it was non stop changes, action, and suspense. I don't want to give too much away because I think everyone should read this series!  It was very hard to put this book down! I am excited to read the last of the series and then see the movie in a couple weeks! I would absolutely recommend reading this book along with the Hunger Games!

Between the Lines-Alice Bliss

Yesterday I finished reading Alice Bliss by Laura Harrington.

This was a quick read and probably could be characterized as young adult. Alice, the daughter of Matt Bliss, is dealing with her father being deployed in the Army Reserves to Iraq and trying to be the good older sister to Ellie while battling her mom Angie. This book was heart wrenching but also sweet and endearing. I know someday I will have to deal with my husband probably getting deployed and this book gave an inside look on how a wife and daughter deal with their husband and father being away. The book takes place in Rochester NY which is quite close, a couple hrs away, from my hometown so I also enjoyed this aspect of the book as well. Not sure if I would recommend it, quite sad ending but if you are interested I wouldn't steer you away!

Between the Lines-Little Bee

Last night I finished reading Little Bee by Chris Cleave.

This was the book our book club chose to read this month. I had little to no information on the book ahead of time but really got into it. There were some heartbreaking moments in the book but overall I really enjoyed reading this story! Hopefully I can make it to our book club this month to discuss it and see what my other fellow readers thought about it!

Between the Lines-Saving Cee Cee Honeycut

Last night I finished reading Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman.

I loved this book and read it in two days! It was a mix between two of my favorite books, The Secret Life of Bees and The Help! I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who liked these two stories and is looking for a quick read to devour!!

Our book club is reading Little Bee by Chris Cleave. Has anyone read it? I am excited to start!

Between the Lines-The Penny Pinchers Club

After finishing the Hunger Games, I began one of my two books I had out from the library to finish by this week. I read the Penny Pinchers Club by Sarah Strohmeyer in about a day!

 I wasn't that interested in watching the Super Bowl so during the game I read hehehe I thought this book was a quick read, chick lit (which I love) and relatable in this economy where we are all trying to save an extra buck! I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a light beach read.

Between the Lines-The Hunger Games

It only took me about 4 days to finish Book 1 of The Hunger Games Series!

It was so well written and at the end of each chapter, when I should have been heading to bed, I kept reading because I wanted to see what would happen next! I am excited to discuss this book at my book club on Wednesday! I would definitely recommend this book, especially before you watch the movie in March! Definitely a twist at the end which always makes for an interesting book! I don't want to give anything away because I had no idea what the outcome would be going into it, all I will say is I thought The Hunger Games itself was a mix between a beauty pageant and survivor! Go check out this book and start reading!

May the odds be ever in your favor!

Between the Lines-kindle book review

Last night I finished reading American Wife by Curtis Sittenfield.

I really enjoyed this book that is loosely based on former First Lady Laura Bush's wife. I loved how the book started at a young age for "Alice", the main character's name, and then worked her way through school, all the family drama, becoming a librarian and meeting "Charlie". The last chapter talks about her life in the White House. I really enjoyed this story and would definitely recommend this!

Between the lines-The Best of Me

I just finished reading The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks.

 It was a a small town love story that is told over twenty years and all the family drama and ups and down that they overcame. I would recommend this book to those who have enjoyed Nicholas Sparks books in the past and enjoy a love story with twists and turns at each corner!

Between the lines-kindle book review

It took me a month to read The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield.

 This book was picked for the book club I am in and we haven't discussed it yet. It was a long book for me and took me a while to get into the story and figure out who the storyteller was in the story. There is a little mystery involved in this book as well as the bond between twins. I would recommend this book to those looking for a novel to get lost in. Pay close attention to the story being told because th ending caught me by surprise!

Between the Lines-Kindle Book Review

Last night I finished the book Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Johnathan Safran Foer. Last week I found out that this was a book, I saw the movie trailer and was interested in seeing the movie but then when I found out it was a book, I had to read it before I saw the movie!

This book was told through the eyes of a child dealing with the death of his father, who died in the twin towers on 9/11. He is kind of a quirky little kid and goes on an adventure trying to figure out the lock to a key he found in his dad's closet. The story of his grandparents, his father's parents, are also a large part in the book but Im not sure if it will be in the movie! The movie comes out December 25, Christmas day, and Im looking forward to seeing it!

Here is the trailer.

Between the Lines-Kindle Book Review

Last night I stayed up super late to finish Harvesting the Heart by Jodi Picoult.

 I have read a couple of her books now, My sister's keeper and nineteen minutes, and this book was a similar set up having both main characters perspectives shown and moving between the past and present frequently. This book told the story of Paige who got married quite young to a med student and their marriage and then finally motherhood brought her to the breaking point. I won't share too much but I would recommend reading this book!

Between the lines- Book Review

I also finished a fabulous book today! I read Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen!

I have read a couple books by this author and have really enjoyed the little hint of magic in all of them. This book I really enjoyed and finished in a couple days! I love the story of Josey and her father's influence on a ski town in North Carolina and all the characters that come into her life after 27 years of being alone with just her food and her awful mother! I would definitly recommend this book!

Between the Lines-Kindle Book Review

I recently read Joy for Beginners by Erica Bauermeister.

 I really enjoyed this book and how the author gave each character an introduction. This book was about a group of women who met to celebrate their one friend's successful recovery from cancer. Their cancer survivor friend challenged each of them to do something they were afraid because her daughter and her were going to go white water rafting to celebrate. I would recommend this book because I enjoyed how every woman had a background story that connected their life with their challenge from Kate. I look forward to reading more books by this author. You may have heard of the School of Essential Ingredients which I have heard rave reviews about!

Between the Lines-Book Review

Its been a while...well for me the book worm since a book review post and that's because I joined a book club. This was our first book and only two others attended and read but I enjoyed it! We meet next week to talk about the ending of the book but I read a little early and finished 19 minutes by Jodi Picoult.

This book was a little out of my comfort zone actually. I have read one other Jodi Picoult book, My sister's keeper, which was quite sad. And when I would look at other Picoult books, they seemed sad, scary or depressing. When I heard we were reading this for the book club, I decided to go for it and I really enjoyed it. It's about a school shooting and there is a time line to follow from the day it happened to 10 years before and up to a year after. It gave me many different perspectives of this situation, from a parent, judge, classmate, shooter and victim. I would recommend this book especially for a book club because some interesting discussion or debates may come about.

Between the Lines-Kindle Book Review

I just finished reading I don't know how she does it by Allison Pearson.

A couple months ago this book was made into a movie that stars Sarah Jessica Parker as the amazing super mom full time business woman. I have not watched the movie yet but I am excited to see how it is portrayed on screen. The book takes place in London and I think the movie takes place in NY. I enjoyed this book and it was interesting to read about the struggles full time business women who have children balance both. I can't really relate yet to it but I was interested to read on in this book to see how Kate handles all the pressure! Once I watch the movie I will let you know what I think and what is better. I am usually a sucker for the book over the movie but we will see!