Addicted

I am the kind of reader who will read anything! I really will. I love fiction, historical fiction, romance, sci-fi, fantasy, etc. You name it, I'll read it. But lately? I am totally addicted to gritty high school/college romance novels (mostly college ones). It all started with Easy by Tammara Webber (I reviewed it in July's book edition). That book was awesome and I have not stopped thinking about it since! In fact, I really want to reread it.
Ok, so technically, I read Beautiful Disaster before Easy, but Easy was ten times better and what really got me going on this book trend. I just finished Crash by Nicole Williams, which is more on the high school spectrum, but ends at the beginning of college. Another great find! I'm onto the sequel, Clash, and am in so much love/hate with this book!
I have been all over Goodreads and Barnes&Noble.com searching for more books like these. I'm not technically allowed to purchase any books right now (it's a long story, but basically I am supposed to read all the ones I own first. Crazy, huh?), so I have been downloading a ton of free books and samples of ones that look promising. I don't know what's come over me, but this book trend has got me totally addicted!
Any good books like this you want to send my way? Go right ahead!
Yours,
Cait

Books: August Edition

You guys, I only read three books in August. Can you believe it?! I'm a little ashamed. I don't know what happened. I really wasn't too busy. I worked some extra hours at work, and started school on the 27th, but that's it! Oh well. Here's what I read in August.

First I read a book called My Blood Approves by Amanda Hocking. Here's a synopsis (from bn.com):

Teenager Alice Bonham's life feels crazy after she meets Jack. With his fondness for pink Chuck Taylors and New Wave, he's unlike anyone she knows.

Then she meets his brother, Peter. Even though he can't stand the sight of her, she's drawn to him.

Falling for two guys isn't even the worst of her problems. Jack and Peter are vampires, and Alice finds herself caught between love and her own blood.

Want my serious opinion? I just could not wait to finish this book. And it was torture. When I read the last paragraph, I literally looked up and said to Nikki (who I was working with at the time),"Thank goodness, it's over!". This book was a terrible Twilight rip off, there was no romance, and the main character was as spineless as you can imagine. I am definitely not investing more of my time into reading the sequels! Two out of five stars on this one.

Then I read The Dark Queen by Susan Carroll. Here's a summary:

From Brittany’s misty shores to the decadent splendor of Paris’s royal court, one woman must fulfill her destiny–while facing the treacherous designs of Catherine de Medici, the dark queen.

She is Ariane, the Lady of Faire Isle, one of the Cheney sisters, renowned for their mystical skills and for keeping the isle secure and prosperous. But this is a time when women of ability are deemed sorceresses, when Renaissance France is torn by ruthless political intrigues, and all are held in thrall to the sinister ambitions of Queen Catherine de Medici. Then a wounded stranger arrives on Faire Isle, bearing a secret the Dark Queen will do everything in her power to possess. The only person Ariane can turn to is the comte de Renard, a nobleman with fiery determination and a past as mysterious as his own unusual gifts.  

Just a note, this book is very loosely based on historical events, and the author says so before the book even starts. Knowing that, I really enjoyed this book. I liked the author's writing, which was descriptive, but easy and fast to read. The plot line kept my interest and I loved the perspective the author took on magic in the Renaissance. I enjoyed her unique characters, and did really like the main man, the Comte de Renard. I thought he was fiesty, funny, and your classic knight in shining armor. I am very excited to read on in this series. Four out of five stars for this one.

Lastly, I read Deerskin by Robin McKinley. This is a story based on a rather dark old fairy tale, and since I love Robin McKinley I decided to try it out. Here's a summary:

 

As Princess Lissar reaches womanhood, it is clear to all the kingdom that in her breathtaking beauty she is the mirror image of her mother, the queen--but this seeming blessing forces her to flee from her father's wrath. With her loyal dog, Lissar discovers a world of magic where she finds the key to her own survival. 

As I said, this story covers some dark subjects, but in a way that isn't harsh or abrasive. The main focus of the story was healing and Lissar discovering how to live her life again. As a dog lover, I especially loved the way McKinley wrote about Lissar and Ash's relationship (Ash is her dog). There was a bit of romance, which I loved, and I really enjoyed when Lissar finally takes a stand. McKinley can sometimes be a little long winded, but all in all, it was worth it. Four out of five stars for this one. 

Hopefully I can read more books for September, but with school starting I might not get through more than two a month. We will see! 

Yours,

Cait

Oh, Hey

So August is nearing a close, only about a week left. August is a weird month.. I always feel like it's just a transition month leading me from summer to fall. Which means school. Ha ha. I think I am excited that school starts on Monday. Honestly, not sure. This semester hopefully will be ten times better than last.

I am just going to go into it with the best attitude possible and prepare myself to work my butt off. I am going to try working better with my schedule, as I've already said that time management is my issue. I downloaded a neat scheduling app on my iPad, so I'm going to stick to that as much as I can to keep myself on top of things.

The good thing about this semester is I already think I will enjoy my classes. Most of them are in the internet technology category, which is my fave. I do have a digital audio essentials class that could be yucky, but until I actually get into it I will try not to judge. Otherwise, I am getting more excited as school gets closer!

Also, unrelated to school, my friend Nikki got a new job so I wont be working with her anymore. Sadness! We have been such good coworkers and friends that it will be very hard to see her go! Luckily, her finding a new job doesn't mean our friendship will end. I don't think it's possible for another coworker to be as awesome as Nikki!

Yours,
Cait

Wicked the Musical!!

Oh my heck, I cannot even keep up with my life! And honestly, I have not been all that busy. I obviously just have terrible time-management skills when it comes to my personal life. Fail.

Anyhow! Back in April (or March? No, I think it was April. I think.), Brad bought us tickets to see Wicked at The Capitol Theatre for our anniversary/my birthday. I was so thrilled and excited, because first of all, Wicked is one of my favorite musicals ever, and second, what a sweet husband I have!

This would be the third time I have seen Wicked, and each time has been extremely memorable and amazing. The first time, I saw it with some of my best high school friends at The Pantages Theater in California on our junior year choir trip. The second time, Brad and I were on our honeymoon in New York and got to see it on Broadway; seriously, amazing.

Somehow, my Uncle Jeremy got tickets for him and my Aunt Kris the very same night Brad did! So last Saturday afternoon, we headed up to Salt Lake to meet up with Jeremy and Kris for an awesome, Wicked night. We went out to dinner at a chic little place called Trio and it was delicious. I had their cheese ravioli with butternut squash sauce... oh my, it was divine.

Then we headed out to the theater (after dessert and coffee, of course). I have never been to the Capitol Theatre before, at least that I can remember (apparently, I had been there when I was really little), and it was so neat and classic inside. I love the old theater look, with the gold fixtures and plush carpets. I couldn't wait for the show to start!

Even seeing it for the third time, Wicked still took my breath away. The set was spot on and just so amazing and the costumes had that perfectly wacky Oz look. One of the most magical things is the music, of course. I practically have the entire thing memorized, but hearing it performed live is just wonderful.

And the story is beautiful. I love everything about it. If you haven't seen or heard about Wicked, it's about friendship, most of all, as well as standing up for what's right, finding beauty in the most unassuming places, and it is also a bit of a love story. The friendship between Glinda and Elphaba is just inspiring.

I loved every minute of it! I didn't take pictures myself, but here are some just to show what the musical is about. Hope you enjoy!
Yours,
Cait

Books: July Edition

Hey y'all, it's time for my July book reviews! I read a ton of books this month, so I will try to keep it short-er than usual. Ha ha. Note the word 'try'.

First I read Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles. This book is about a boy and a girl from two completely different neighborhoods who lead very different lives and yet are drawn to each other in spite of it all. I loved that it felt so real, the characters were vibrant and easy to relate with, and it wasn't one of those teenage romances where everything is perfect and fluffy. Five stars for this one, I loved it.

Then I read Leaving Paradise, also by Simone Elkeles. In this one, a teenage girl is still healing from being hit by a boy who left a party drunk. He has been in jail for a year, but has now been released and their lives are about to collide again. This book was heart-breaking and I couldn't put it down. Four stars, because I really enjoyed reading this book.

I read Highland Knight by Hannah Howell after that. I'm not going to lie, it took me what felt like ages to get into this book. The writing was a struggle for me. This is a romance set in France and Scotland, with a great cast of characters. Once I got into it, I could not put it down. I give this one five stars.

Then I read a Pubit book called His Eyes, by Renee Carter. I swear I read this forever ago on Fiction Press, so it was a little like deja vu. This one is about a girl who is hired to 'baby-sit' a boy her age who is blind after a horse jumping accident. The writing was decent, but the main characters drove me nuts with their terrible decisions and inability to stand up for themselves. Three stars for this one, it was only okay.

After that I read another Pubit book called Slammed by Colleen Hoover. In this book, a girl and her family move to a new state and she immediately starts to fall for their sweet, handsome neighbor. Unfortunately, they find out something that could keep them from being together forever. The only thing I didn't like about this book was there was too much death, too many parents who were dead. However, the rest of it really was wonderful so I give it four stars.

Next I read Easy by Tammara Webber. This is probably my favorite book I read all of July. First of all, what a beautiful cover! I instantly wanted to read it for that reason alone. Jacqueline, our main girl, follows her high school boyfriend to college, only to find herself dumped in their sophomore year because he wants to date other girls. Then one night at a frat party, one of her ex's frat brothers tries to rape her and she is rescued by stranger. This book is about college, falling for two boys at once, and standing up for yourself. I couldn't put it down, and there were so many twists and turns to keep me questioning the story. Five stars on this one, and I would highly recommend it.

Then I read The Nature of Jade by Deb Caletti. This book is about a high school girl who is trying to deal with her anxiety and does so by watching the Elephants at her local zoo. One day, a boy in a red jacket appears and she is instantly drawn to him. I loved that this book was about young love, but also about dealing with real issues like anxiety and family problems. It was a terrific read. Four stars for this one.

 After that, I tried another book by Hannah Howell called Highland Wolf. This was another Scottish romance about a Laird who is wrongfully accused of the murder of his wife and is forced from his home. Finally he returns, determined to reclaim his home and his daughter. This book was alright, but there were many similarities with Highland Knight and by the end I just wanted it to be over. Three stars for this one.

Well, that's all my books for July! Hope you enjoy and maybe try a few out!

Yours,
Cait

Swenson Family Reunion 2012

So we just got back from my family reunion, which is always such a fun trip. I can honestly say I didn't want to come home. This years reunion was at Palisade State Park and it was a blast. It was cloudy a lot and rained a few times, but we didn't really let that dampen our trip. Brad went fishing and golfing, I went canoeing, we walked around the lake and spent tons of time hanging out with the family. I feel like the luckiest girl because not only is my husband amazing, but my family is awesome, too. We shared a cabin with my mom and Glenn, which was so nice because I don't get to see them as often as I would like. We also got to spend lots of time with my Nana and Bampa (grandpa), Aunt Amy and Uncle Dave, Uncle Jer and Aunt Kris, and my whole huge extended family. It was so much fun and a great way to spend the weekend. Here are some pictures of the weekend. Brad fishing, Brad holding my little cousin Kendra, and the teenage cousins who decided to jump in the huge mud puddles fully clothed (yep, they got in loads of trouble from their parents ha ha).

Books: June Edition

I think June is one of the best months ever! And not just because it includes my birthday and anniversary, it just rocks. The books I read in June were awesome too! So here they are.

First I read Lola and The Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins. I just might fangirl over this book. Here's a quick summary:

Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn't believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit - more sparkly, more fun, more wild - the better. But even though Lola's style is outrageous, she's a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket - a gifted inventor - steps out from his twin sister's shadow and back into Lola's life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

Seriously though, this book was so sweet, down-to-earth, and funny. Lola was hilarious and unique and Cricket (such a weird name. Parents- please don't name your kid Cricket!) was sweet and just a really great guy. I love the transitions that both Lola and Cricket go through in this book. Also, Lola's gay dads were a great addition to this book; they had me laughing so hard. 

I loved this book. Five stars. So go read it! 

Then I had to read Anna and The French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. Probably I should have read this one first, since the main characters are minor characters in Lola's book, but I almost like it better that I read them in this order.  Here's a summary: 

Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris - until she meets Etienne St. Clair: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home.

As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near - misses end with the French kiss Anna - and readers - have long awaited?

I really love the way Stephanie Perkins writes. She's short and sweet, but doesn't leave out the little things. Anna was one of my favorite characters; she's strong-willed, honest, and just your average teenage girl. Then she meets Etienne, who is wonderful and nice and flirty.... and has a girlfriend. My film professor said last semester that the more conflict in a story, the more people get into it and feel connected to it. Well, there was plenty of conflict and emotion in this book! I could not put it down. 

And not to mention it's set in France. I've never been very interested in France, but this book was so bright and vivid that it made me want to go there. Five stars for this book, too, because I just really adored it. 

I also started a new series this month, the Sweep series but Cate Tiernan. I read the first eight books in the series. Here's a summary: 

Morgan Rowlands never thought she was anything other than a typical sixteen-year-old girl. But when she meets Cal, a captivatingly handsome coven leader, she makes a discover that turns her whole world upside down: she is a witch, descended from an ancient and powerful line. And so is Cal. Their connection is immediate and unbreakable; Cal teases out Morgan's power, her love, her magick. But Morgan discovers too soon that her powers are strong, almost too powerful to control. And she begins to suspect that Cal may be keeping secrets from her . . . secrets that could destroy them both.

These books are pretty intense, and obviously there are a lot of them. I'm only halfway through the series. But they definitely drew me in and kept my interest! I don't want to ruin the books for anyone, but I love that the author keeps you guessing, not just about the storyline, but with the characters as well. Morgan grows from an insecure girl to a strong-willed young woman, and I can only imagine what is still yet to come in this series. 

Just a warning, these books aren't a light and fluffy paranormal romance. They are very deep, kind of dark, and quite detailed about the practice of Wicca. I find them very interesting, but if that is not your cup of tea then these books probably aren't what you are looking for. But the compelling storyline, realistic characters, and mystery are also a good reason to read these. I give them four and a half stars overall. 

I also read Beautiful Disaster by Jamie Mcguire. It was different from what I'd been reading. Here's a quick summary: 

The new Abby Abernathy is a good girl. She doesn’t drink or swear, and she has the appropriate percentage of cardigans in her wardrobe. Abby believes she has enough distance between her and the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college with her best friend America, her path to a new beginning is quickly challenged by Eastern University’s Walking One-Night Stand.

Travis Maddox, lean, cut, and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby needs—and wants—to avoid. He spends his nights winning money in a floating fight ring, and his days as the charming college co-ed. Intrigued by Abby’s resistance to his charms, Travis tricks her into his daily life with a simple bet. If he loses, he must remain abstinent for a month. If Abby loses, she must live in Travis’ apartment for the same amount of time. Either way, Travis has no idea that he has met his match. 

That pretty much says it all. I'm not going to say I didn't like it, because I really did. But what I didn't like was the completely dysfunctional relationship between Abby and Travis, almost borderline abusive on both ends. I understand that being in a relationship is not a piece of cake, but their relationship was pretty messed up. I didn't like how they kept breaking up and then suddenly Abby would "see the light" and voila! They were back together. Three stars for this one guys. It's kinda messed up. 

The last book I read in June was Dark Lover by J.R. Ward. Here's what this one's about: 

In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there's a deadly turf war going on between vampires and their slayers. There exists a secret band of brothers like no other-six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Yet none of them relishes killing more than Wrath, the leader of The Black Dagger Brotherhood.

The only purebred vampire left on earth, Wrath has a score to settle with the slayers who murdered his parents centuries ago. But, when one of his most trusted fighters is killed-leaving his half-breed daughter unaware of his existence or her fate-Wrath must usher her into the world of the undead-a world of sensuality beyond her wildest dreams. 

Obviously, this book has quite a bit of sex in it, so if you don't like that, don't pick this one up. If you're okay with it, then I thought this book was pretty good. The relationship between Beth and Wrath was a little high-speed, but I was able to not get too caught up with that because I liked the story and the depth of the world the author created. The vampires and the details of their lives, past and enemies was a great part of the story. The characters were wonderful. Four stars for this one. 

Sorry for such a long post, I can go on and on about books! Hope you like my reviews and maybe check out a few of these books! 

Yours,

 Cait