Project Type: Review

Review: The Magnolia Story

The Magnolia Story

By Chip & Joanna Gaines with Mark Dagostino

magnolia“It was such a blessing to find myself thriving in the middle of the pain. Unless you find a way to do that, there’s always going to be this fake illusion that once you get there–wherever “there” is for you–you’ll be happy. But that’s just not life. If you can’t find happiness in the ugliness, you’re not going to find it in beauty, either.”

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Are you ready to see your Fixer Upper??

Yes. Yes, I am.

I normally have a really hard time reading non-fiction, so I tend to avoid biographies. BUT, I love Fixer Upper. I love Chip & Joanna. I found myself so engrossed in this book. Both Chip and Joanna contribute to the narrative of this book. If you’ve watched the show, then it’s easy to hear their voices and interactions as you read, making it really quick to read.

I adored hearing how normal they are and the events that lead up to their hit show. Often times, I would put down the book and retell some of their tales to my husband as we were laying in bed at night. I cried a few times, several of those times were just because I was happy for them, for their successes, for their realizations. Several times, Joanna just made me feel so empowered. There were so many great little life reminders weaved throughout. I just can’t say enough about how much I loved reading this book. It’s definitely one of my favorite reads, ever.

Review: The Bird and the Sword

by Amy Harmon

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Swallow, Daughter, pull them in, those words that sit upon your lips. Lock them deep inside your soul, hide them ‘til they’ve time to grow. Close your mouth upon the power, curse not, cure not, ‘til the hour. You won’t speak and you won’t tell, you won’t call on heav’n or hell. You will learn and you will thrive. Silence, Daughter. Stay alive.

 

 

This was so beautiful and unexpected. I’ve had other romance books from this author on my To-Read list for awhile now and hadn’t felt really compelled to read them yet. Then this book came along. I’ve been on a YA Fantasy kick, so when I saw a romance author had written a Standalone Epic Fantasy, I was curious.

It was absolutely delightful. I couldn’t put it down and read it in one sitting.

This book starts out like a classic Old School Fairy Tale. I felt like I was with Princess Aurora in her tucked away cabin with her three fairy godmothers (no, this book is not a retelling of that story, but it felt so whimsical and charming, and gave me a that same feeling I get from that story!)
“I brushed my fingertips against the rough bark and felt an answering greeting, though it was more a feeling than a word. The world was sleeping. The forest was sleeping too, though not as deeply. There was a world coming awake here, and I leaned against the tree that felt like a friend and let the peace wash over me.”
The romance is still there and it still has a bit of New Adult feel to it, but the world building and descriptiveness that is so necessary for fantasy was spot on.

“Suddenly yearning had a flavor. It tasted like a king, a beautiful, frightening, infuriating man who flew into my life and began to free my words. He pulled at my hair again, tugging me back from his lips as if he needed to impart something of great importance.”

I’m not going to go into any further details about this book. I feel like this is a book that you need to go into without any clues or ideas and really just immerse yourself in the story as it moves along. It’s much more enjoyable that way, I promise you!

Review: Paper Princess

THE RoYALs Book 1

BY Erin Watt

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“The apple is dangling in front of me, juicy red and delicious, but, like the fairy tale, Reed Royal is the villain disguised as a pretty prince. Taking a bite out of him would be a huge mistake.”

 

 

I started this book late one morning, thinking it had some sort of fantasy element to it.  After a few pages in, I realized I was wrong, but I was hooked and had to find out where the story was going.  2:00 am the next morning, I finished the book and wanted more!

This story is about a Ella Harper, an orphaned teenager, living her life to survive and make it through high school, when she’s plucked from her life to live with the rich best friend of the father she never knew, and his five sons.

“I know I can’t replace your parents, but I’m here for you in any way that you would need them. You may have lost your family, but you’re not alone anymore, Ella. You’re a Royal now.”

Ella tries to stay true to herself while struggling to feel welcomed by her new “brothers” and fit into at the exclusive prep school she’s been thrown into.

“If I’m going to be here for two years, then I need to make a good impression. And now at the forefront of my mind is another thought— why the hell do I care? I don’t need these people to like me, I just need to graduate from high school. But I do care. I hate myself for it, but I can’t fight this desperate need to try. Try to fit in. Try to make this school experience different than all the previous ones.”

Of her 5 new “brothers”, one of them, Reed, is a special kind of jerk to her!  And it becomes this whole plot point of why?!  What’s his deal??  I wanted to punch him in the face a few times.  And while I typically am not a fan of guys, who treat women like garbage, and women who keep going back for more, I found myself waiting, with baited breath, with every turn of the page, for these two to get their sh!t together and figure it out!

It really was addictively entertaining!  I can’t wait for book two!