I know there are plenty of women on Instagram who got divorced and took up running or weight lifting or started their own aromatherapy candle businesses. They look and feel better than ever, phoenixes risen from the ashes, embracing their “new chapter.” I am a dazed pigeon, looking for crumbs. But I am fine with that; being a phoenix looks exhausting.

Sophie Cousens is a gem of a writer! 🥰

My friend gifted me this book for Christmas. It was an interesting read. I loved the ancestral lore, Ellie‘s ability to commune with spirits, and her ghost dog, Kirby.

Interesting premise and I liked reading how ancient Romans lived, the public baths, the smell (omg, the smell - you could practically experience it coming off the pages with the descriptions), disease and war. Too bad the main character was so unlikeable. She had her own morals, like no drinking, no spanking children, etc., but then would give into them, almost like, “Oh well, when in Rome…” Ending felt flat and predictable too.

Happy Birthday @wanderinglynn Hope you have an amazing year ahead! #49bdaygiveaway

Although I read The Shadows Between Us years ago, I recall really enjoying it. I was able to pick back up in the world quickly without re-reading it. The wit and banter is strong in this story, and I love the theme of female empowerment. It doesn‘t hurt that the Fairyloot version is absolutely gorgeous too!

What a wonderful assortment of beautiful cards and thoughtful messages. Thank you to everyone who sent me a card during the #naturalitsywintercardswap and thank you to @TheBookHippie for organizing! It was such a joy to open each and every one! Happy New Year!!

Thank you so much, @Gissy for the festive holiday gifts. I can‘t wait to read the books, wearing my new comfy slipper socks and sipping hot cocoa of course! The notebooks will be great for work, and the mug is so cute! My son loves corgis! :-) I hope you have a very happy new year!! #nlhs #naughtylistholidayswap

Here‘s a before photo of my #NLHS with Eddie posing so nicely with the packages. He was very curious! #NaughtyListHolidaySwap

Is he not just the cutest? It‘s hard to get stuff done when I just want to cuddle with this ball of fluff. Eddie wishes you all the happiest of holidays!!

I‘m struggling to get through this book for my book club. It started so slow, and I don‘t like either main character. It‘s too bad, because the premise is so cute. To add to my disappointment, clearly this was rushed through edits… I have never seen a production note left in a book before! (Page 281 for those who want to check your copy.)

My #NaughtyListHolidaySwap package arrived today, and it‘s a hefty one! Looking forward to opening day!! #NLHS @WildAlaskaBibliophile

@staci.reads you absolutely captured my favorite things! I love it all! Such festive and delicious gifts that will keep my spirits high throughout the holiday season. Thank you so much! I hope you have the happiest of holidays and a wonderful new year! #sss #stuffedstockingswap

What beautifully wrapped packages! My apologies to @staci.reads that I didn‘t post when the box arrived. I tucked it in the corner away from my pets, excitedly awaiting opening day. I adore this wrapping paper… so festive and cute! #sss #stuffedstockingswap

Really, really late on my #naughtylistholidayswap aesthetic, but this is me. Mostly cold and paranormal… 😂 #nlhs @WildAlaskaBibliophile

I LOVE Christmas romances by Catherine Walsh. They are warm, funny, and the perfect blend of cozy, sweet and a little sexy. Megan and Christian have amazing chemistry, and the supporting characters could all have their own stories. I highly recommend to any and all romantics out there… read it!

Sent my #NaughtyListHolidaySwap out yesterday. I had fun picking items from the darker side of the holidays… hope my recipient enjoys it all! #NLHS

Package shipped today! Eddie oversaw the packaging 😂

#StuffedStockingSwap #SSS @Avanders

I enjoyed this… stayed up late reading it, which is one of my main tells that I‘m invested in a story. It does embrace tropes and well known story arcs, but still managed to surprise me at times. I‘ll be continuing with this series, and I‘m predicting it will get darker before the end. We haven‘t visited the Nightshade realm yet, after all.

This is a very cute story about finding family and finding yourself. I agree with other reviewers about how it wraps up quickly, and there are a few unclosed mysteries, like why did her great aunt leave Iris the house in the first place? But overall, I enjoyed this cozy romance.

This story has the ugly subject matter of war, but the writing is beautiful. I felt for Laura and Freddie with their stories alternating between chapters. The middle was a little slow for my taste, but the ending was satisfying. And, this OwlCrate edition is GORGEOUS!

The concept is unique, but the story got bogged down with too many details. Cyborg goblins are cool, but when each one is described extensively, the timing really grinds to a screeching halt.

I‘ll read book 2, because I am vested in seeing how Nix and Lark come through the full journey. I only hope it has faster pacing.

Bonus to the author for realistic portrayal of anxiety, PTSD and mental health.

This is the last installment of the aunties series. It was cute, full of the antics we‘ve come to love. I think book two was my favorite of the three, but they‘re all fun, easy reads.

This was a Dollar Tree book score. I have found some really great books there that I never would‘ve discovered on my own. This was a sweet slow build love story, but I think the real gem was Jo‘s relationship with her nieces and all of them dealing with the raw grief of losing her nephew and their brother respectively.

I liked this book, but I didn‘t love it. For one, as a 50 year old myself, I was a little offended at Hester being described as old and acting like an 80 year old instead of a 50 year old. Putting that aside, I did like Hester‘s friends, and I felt that Cordelia was strong for a 14 year old extremely sheltered girl.

…Doom appeared on Hester‘s doorstep, in the shape of a woman…

Moving on to my latest OwlCrate book. The redesigned dust jacket is lovely, and I really like the foiling on the hardcover. I hear good things about this book!

The author describes this book as a warm hug, and I would agree. It‘s sweet like jam and low stakes. There is more cuteness than conflict, but I wanted to slide through the pages and visit this charming island and all of its lovely inhabitants. A great book if you want something cozy and light.

I love the original cover, but the OwlCrate edition has great features too!

My letters are going out today! I had so much fun making all these cards. I hope you enjoy them!! #litsolacefallcardswap

This story was short and sweet. A very easy, enjoyable read. If you like Hallmark movies, this reads like a Hallmark movie on the page.

I loved this series! It was charming and romantic. The visual descriptions were so good - I truly felt like I was in Wisteria. I‘m not sure which couple was my favorite - I think they both are because they‘re so well matched! I‘m a little sad to see this world end, but I did love the ending. See what I did there? 😉

I love the dynamic between the villain and his assistant. The cast of supporting characters are fun, too. It‘s silly, but highly entertaining.

I‘m looking forward to the next book, which will hopefully tie up some of the loose ends from this one.

Thank you @jessinikkip for the amazing #LitsyLoveSummerSwap package. I‘ve wanted to read the first two books in the Glimmer Falls series for a while, and the other books sound great too. I think Eddie is trying to steal my cups! 🤣 I love the journal and pens too.

Thank you @Bookgoil and @Deblovestoread for organizing such a fun swap event! #LLSS

Favorite line is on page 3: I ignored him the way you do when you‘re trying to stay married. 🤣

This is a lovely book. I really enjoyed all the characters and Nora‘s family dynamic. She‘s a great mom.

Thank you @Deblovestoread for part II of the summer swap gifts. I love the Harry Potter book sleeve… it‘s so nice and big for large books! I‘m excited to read the book too. I love it all!! @Bookgoil #LitsyLoveSummerSwap #LLSS

Thank you @Deblovestoread for the sweet #LitsyLoveSummerSwap items! The Mickey Mouse Halloween sign is so cute! I‘ve wanted to read “One Dark Window” for a while now, and Anna of Green Gables is a classic! I appreciate you! 🥰😘 #LLSS @Bookgoil

Just finished this and I have all the feels. It‘s a beautiful story that reminds you that life is full of ups and downs, and it‘s important to keep a grateful outlook. Or at least that‘s what I took away from it. It made me think about how thankful I am for my husband and children and how even if I could go back and do it over, I‘d choose this life again.

I had to mail early because we leave for vacation tomorrow! Looking forward to seeing everyone‘s packages!

@Bookgoil @Deblovestoread #LitsyLovedSummerSwap #LitsyLoveSummerSwap #LLSS

I received this in the mail from Thriftbooks, but didn‘t order it. Did someone send me a gift?!

Eddie decided he likes this book enough to sit in it… in the basket, under the table. 😂

I did like this book, although there were some things that bothered me. Kate was not very nice a lot of the time, so the only reason I can think of that Ben pursued her was she was beautiful. He was also huge, as the author described over and over that his physique was big and muscular. I get tired of that trope… how many men are truly ripped with 8-pack abs?

The political basis of the story was interesting and timely in an election year.

Anyone else a big Mercy Thompson fan? I‘m excited to read this latest installment, although the ones that feature vampires are my favorite. I may have a slight crush on Stefen with his Mystery Machine van.

This book was so good. I loved Anna as a strong main character and Quan as her counterpart. They both are dealing with several personal issues, but it‘s beautiful how they come together to support each other. I also loved Helen Hoang‘s other stories and the autism rep in each!

I liked Misery a lot… she was a strong female lead, and like Lowe states, she‘s resilient. She truly experienced neglect and abuse at the hands of her father, but she still managed to see the good in others and trust. I liked that there was that substance to this story, so it was more than just the spice, vampyres or Weres. I hope Ali will write more books in this world.

This book focused on Jess‘ journey after her mother died, but it was really so much more. It explores life in all its pain and glory. It shows how resilient the human spirit can be, and it definitely draws on your emotions. Have some tissue handy… I sure needed it.

This was my first book by Debbie Johnson, but now I want to read more of her stories.

This was a sweet romance and a quick read. If you like hockey, as well as grumpy-sunshine and fake dating tropes, you‘ll enjoy this book!

These are the books I read on vacation. They‘re great picks because I loved them all. Just for Summer was my favorite, but not by much because they‘re all great!

I liked it… I did‘t love it. I found myself skipping over paragraphs that weren‘t necessary. Still, solid characters and world building and a great debut. I think because I read her Belladonna series first, it just didn‘t live up to those books which I love.

If you love Jude and Cardan like I do, then run don‘t walk to the Enemies & Lovers Kickstarter campaign: http://kck.st/4dp5o9J

Holly Black has created a strategy card game featuring her characters, and the concept art is gorgeous! They are foiled, and there are gold or green metallic edge options. The project funded in 30 minutes, but many options are still available!

I am no way paid or endorsed to say this… just a big fan!

“Are you flirting with me? It‘s a bit hard to tell, considering how terrifying you are.”

🤣🤣🤣

I‘m a few days late, but I was an 80‘s child, so I can‘t pass up this one. It‘s hard because I love so many songs from that time.

1. Time After Time Cyndi Lauper
2. Uptown Girl Billy Joel
3. Live and Die OMD

Of course, give me a few hours to think about it and I‘ll come up with three different ones! Thanks for the tag, @Eggs

#ThreeListThursday #TLT

This book was atmospheric and reminded me a bit of a southern gothic. I liked Opal as a flawed, yet scrappy main character who only wanted the best for her brother and was a survivor. I also love sentient house stories, and this did not disappoint. The OwlCrate version is gorgeous!