Blodeuedd's Monday: Over the Woodward Wall by A. Deborah Baker

Narrated by: Heath Miller

Series: The Up-and-Under, Book 1

Length: 5 hrs and 31 mins

Release date: 10-06-20

Fantasy/ Mg?

It was short so I gave it another go, but it was rather dull.

The story is mentioned in her book Middlegame, another one I dnfed. Her style either works really well for me, or not at all.

This was two kids lost in Wonderland, and blah blah. More books coming. But it could be a fun MG adventure for some

Good narration, but not a story to hold me

Avery is an exceptional child. Everything he does is precise, from the way he washes his face in the morning to the way he completes his homework - without complaint, without fuss, without prompt.

Zib is also an exceptional child, because all children are, in their own way. But where everything Avery does and is can be measured, nothing Zib does can possibly be predicted, except for the fact that she can always be relied upon to be unpredictable.

They live on the same street. They live in different worlds.

On an unplanned detour from home to school one morning, Avery and Zib find themselves climbing over a stone wall into the Up and Under - an impossible land filled with mystery, adventure and the strangest creatures.

And they must find themselves and each other if they are to also find their way out and back to their own lives.

Book Review: Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis

Author: Rachel Hollis

Title: Girl Wash Your Face

Genre: Self-help, Nonfiction, & Memoir 

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 240 

Published: February 6, 2018

Where I Got It: My shelf (Book Depository)

Summary: 

Founder of the lifestyle website TheChicSite.com and CEO of her own media company, Chic Media, Rachel Hollis has created an online fan base of hundreds of thousands of fans by sharing tips for living a better life while fearlessly revealing the messiness of her own. Now comes her highly anticipated first book featuring her signature combination of honesty, humor, and direct, no-nonsense advice.

Each chapter of Girl, Wash Your Face begins with a specific lie Hollis once believed that left her feeling overwhelmed, unworthy, or ready to give up. As a working mother, a former foster parent, and a woman who has dealt with insecurities about her body and relationships, she speaks with the insight and kindness of a BFF, helping women unpack the limiting mind-sets that destroy their self-confidence and keep them from moving forward.

From her temporary obsession with marrying Matt Damon to a daydream involving hypnotic iguanas to her son's request that she buy a necklace to "be like the other moms," Hollis holds nothing back. With unflinching faith and tenacity, Hollis spurs other women to live with passion and hustle and to awaken their slumbering goals.

Review:

Recently, I joined a new little book club that is trying to get off the ground. The current theme is self-help books. We each pick a book and pass it around. So, in theory, later this month I should be borrowing a book from someone else while they borrow this. I am excited! Curious to see how this book club goes! I picked this one because I have heard non-stop good things....even my BFF has this on her shelf....so I figured it was time to check it out. 

This is written by Rachel Hollis who has a lifestyle website, is a CEO, and has written books in the past. This book goes over life, love, body-issues, motherhood, and so much more. 

Sooooooooooooo I avoided GR reviews because there is a def a split with half loving this...and half hating this book. I wanted to read this and not have their voices/words in my head to make me biased. I suggest you do the same. 

There were some really impactful sections and quotes that really hit my soul. There were some moments where I had to stop and really think about it. She talks about mental health issues, working on boundaries, setting realistic goals, never giving up, working hard, negative self-talk, therapy, trauma, and even body issues. 

There is a religious tone here and there, but, for me, it was honestly easy to ignore. Some of the quotes and life lessons were super relevant to drive a certain point home. It never felt preachy or that she was saying Christianity is the only way. Which I highly appreciate! 

Now...there was one part that really bugged me about her view on losing weight and whatnot. She made it so simple...too simple....just eat less and eat healthy. Boom. You'll drop weight and you will be healthy. You shouldn't eat anything bad because you need to take care of yourself. Sure...she is not 100% wrong and I can agree on some of her viewpoints! Eat good and take care of yourself. You owe it to yourself to treat yourself right. However, losing weight or gaining weight is not that black-and-white.

Now, I will applaud how she really promotes therapy. That is just so important.. Even if you had a perfect childhood and never had anything bad happen to you ever, I'm sure there is SOMETHING to talk about and work through. Therapy is a fantastic tool for deep issues or just day-to-day issues. I am so glad she kept saying it. 

But yes, this was a quick and easy read. I was able to finish this in just a couple of sittings. I did go back and re-read a few parts since I wanted to take notes for the book club coming up at the end of the month. She is funny and I enjoyed her writing style. This is def a good book if you want something not crazy involved for a self-help.

There are some good quotes! Like, "...the gift of life is that we get another chance tomorrow." Or "This is your life. You are meant to be the hero of your own story." OR, my personal fave, "SOMEONE ELSE'S OPINION OF ME IS NONE OF MY BUSINESS!" Some good gems FOR SURE.

In the end, I enjoyed this. It was good. It had some good things you can put in your back-pocket. Some good tips to navigate this wild thing called life. I had one big hiccup, but everyone is allowed their own opinion. I'll give this 3 stars. 

Happy International Women's Day!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Blodeuedd's Monday: Text and Confused by Whitney Dinneen & Melanie Summers

 

By: Whitney Dineen, Melanie Summers

Narrated by: Avery Reid, Alexander Cendese

Series: An Accidentally in Love Story, Book 6

Length: 6 hrs and 20 mins

Release date: 03-14-23

Contemporary romance /to review

This was a cute one. Toni wants a change in her dating life, so she disses the cute working man (too handsome, too everything), and instead opts for the boring white collar guy. But life is never that easy and she gets the wrong number. She wants to take it slow so they start to text each other, and both are falling in love. Awww what could be better!? Well, she was texting the wrong guy.

Toni was a bit prejudiced against Connor. Not his fault he is handsome, and seemingly like the other guys that did not want to settle down. She got to know him through texts and should have realised he is perfect.

Sumner was an ahole who ghosted her and she still gave him a chance. Also listening to one POV and believing that POV...wait, is this Pride and Prejudice? Yes, dang Sumner is Wickham!

But everyone gets their stories straight and live happily ever after. A cute romance with some twists. Connor was the best

Good narration by this pair. It worked well and they got the voices done in a manner that fitted them. It flowed well and was easy listening to. They worked well together.

I'm Toni Capella and I'm a bad-man-o-holic. (Hi, Toni!). But it's a new year and for the first time in my twenty-nine years I'm determined to attract Mr. Right. So when super-hot contractor Cooper Flint walks into my office, I immediately put him on my "no way" list. Besides, my eye is on another new coworker, Sumner Livingston. Handsome, well-heeled, and professional, Sumner is nothing like my usual type, which I assume makes him perfect for me.

I insist Sumner and I keep our budding relationship separate from work. I even suggest we do our initial courting via text while we get to know each other better. Things are going beautifully and just when I'm starting to think he's "the one," I find out there's been a horrible mix-up. My boss accidentally gave me Cooper's number, not Sumner's, and I'm falling for Mr. Wrong, again.

Unfortunately, after I break it off with Cooper, I discover that Sumner isn't the good guy he portrays himself to be. When Cooper rescues me from a compromising situation, I belatedly realize I might be been missing out on the man of my dreams. Have I lost my chance at true happiness or is there some way I can convince Cooper I'm the woman he needs?