My WAHM Plan : books

Showing posts with label books

Eight Simple Productivity Tips while working at home

in #AD, books, productivity, self care, tips, wahm tips, wahmtips, work at home, by Linda A Kinsman, Wednesday, August 19, 2020

Can you believe we are in the middle of August already? I took last week off from writing so I could focus on getting my daughter all set for her senior year of high school and to work on my other business, Avon. I’ve been a work at home Mom for many, many years, but I know many of you are working from home for the first time during back to school season. A position many never thought would happen. It can be a tricky transition from office to home office. First of all, you are no longer surrounded by coworkers, instead you’ve got family and pets, who can grab your attention quickly. Your mindset might be completely different at home than at work, so have grace with yourself during the transition! Despite its challenges, working from home can be a great opportunity to be productive and possibly even take your quality of work up a notch, with these eight simple productivity tips while working from home.

Eight Simple Productivity Tips while working at home

The Vacation by T.M. Logan Book Review

in #AD, #BookedUpAllNightReads #arc, books, fiction, reading, review, summer, thriller, Vacation, by Linda A Kinsman, Wednesday, July 08, 2020

Happy July friends! I hope you all had a wonderful 4^th! I took some much-needed time off and must say, the stay-cation was just what I needed! I’m all set to jump back into blogging and think it’s pure serendipity that my first post back is a book review called The Vacation. If you like psychological thrillers, then the latest book by T.M. Logan, The Vacation is for you.

The Vacation by T.M. Logan Book Review #BookedUpAllNightReads

Kitchen Garden Revival Book Review and Giveaway

in #AD, books, garden help, gardening, giveaway, how to, kitchen garden, raised beds, by Linda A Kinsman, Friday, June 05, 2020

I first learned about today’s book author, Nicole Johnsey Burke on my Instagram feed. Her account, GardenaryCo. is a lush, colorful garden paradise! If you love to garden, or want to start, you’ll want to follow that Instagram account for sure. Today’s post is about her newest book- Kitchen Garden Revival- A modern guide to creating a stylish, small scale, low maintenance edible garden. I am thrilled to hold this book in my hands! I have talked myself out of having another garden for one too many seasons, but not this summer. It’s not too late for me or you to have a small kitchen garden this year, so let’s get started.

Fresh from the Garden!

Kitchen Garden Revival Book shares garden crop

The Complete Book of Ferns Giveaway

in #AD, #giveaway, books, ferns, Garden, gardening, by Linda A Kinsman, Friday, January 31, 2020

It’s the last Friday of the first month of the year, so let’s celebrate with a giveaway! I’m ready for whimsical February to arrive and bring along some warmer temperatures. While we wait for garden season, I’ve been reading gardening books and sharing them here with you. Recently, I’ve been learning about Ferns from The Complete Book of Ferns by Mobee Weinstein. I’ve been wanting to add ferns to my outdoor gardens, so being asked if I’d like to review it and host a giveaway was a happy bit of luck.

Outdoor ferns stretch up to the sunlight

from The Complete Book of Ferns

The Pollinator Victory Garden Book Review and Giveaway

in #AD, books, flowers, Garden, garden help, gardening, how to, meadows, pollinators, shrubs, trees, by Linda A Kinsman, Friday, January 03, 2020

Happy New Year and happy Friday dear blog readers! I’m pretty stoked to be starting my tenth year of blogging this year! My blogoversary isn’t until September, but I’m counting this whole year as a victory! Which leads me to today’s post about a really cool book I received last month to share with you called The Pollinator Victory Garden Book by Kin Eierman. In the Pollinator Victory Garden Book, Kim will teach us how to win the war on pollinator decline with ecological gardening. Don’t worry if you have never gardened before, this book will take you by the hand walk you through the process and winter is the perfect time to plan for this year’s garden!

The Pollinator Victory Garden Book Review and Giveaway #ad

Last minute holiday gift ideas for kids that won’t feel last minute

in #AD, books, Colgate, FamilyLife, gift ideas, happy holidays, helpful list, holiday gift ideas, last minute shopping, merry christmas, by Linda A Kinsman, Monday, December 23, 2019

Happy Monday and happy almost Christmas! I know some of you are ready for the big day and aren’t sweating the crowds for last minute gifts, but if you are like me and found herself in need of last-minute gifts for kids, then this post is for you! Here are some last-minute holiday gift ideas for kids that won’t feel or worse, look last minute when found tucked under your tree, or handed out at a gift exchange.

Merry Christmas gifts under the tree

The Leaf Supply Guide to creating your Indoor jungle book review & Giveaway

in #AD, books, decorating, gardening, giveaway, green thumb, home decor, houseplants, intentional living, interiors, plant hacks, by Linda A Kinsman, Friday, November 08, 2019

Middle Tennessee got down- right cold last night, bottoming out at 30. It will get down to 23 tonight, which means my outdoor gardening days are done for another season. I will miss my flowers and greenery until next growing season. I won’t fret too much since I have the perfect chilly night companion- ©The Leaf Supply Guide to creating your Indoor jungle book by Lauren Camilleri and Sophia Kaplan. If you love houseplants and consider them a necessary part of your home’s decor, then read on to discover all the beautiful rooms and design ideas shared in this book. Plus, because I ladore my readers, I’m hosting a giveaway too!

Indoor jungle book review & Giveaway

Good Better Best: by Resale Queen Sue McCarthy book review & giveaway

in books, clothing, fashion, resale, review, wahm tips, women in business, by Linda A Kinsman, Friday, November 02, 2018

Happy November and Happy Friday my friends! October was such a beautiful month in my region of Tennessee that I’m still doing gardening chores outside, but the nights are starting to have that wonderful crisp November feel to them. That’s perfect book reading weather for me and I’ve just finished a really good book I want to share with you today. Since its Friday- I’m also giving away a copy of Good Better Best – The Rags to Riches story of the Upscale Resale Queen Sue McCarthy.

Good Better Best: by Resale Queen Sue McCarthy book review & giveaway

The Hundred Story Home book review and giveaway

in #AD, books, community, family, giveaway, help, home, review, by Linda A Kinsman, Wednesday, July 18, 2018

How does one go about finding faith in ourselves or something bigger than ourselves? How do we step out in faith and believe in the whisper that some of us hear that says… do this instead of that? These questions and potentially finding the answers to my own nagging whisper had me happily agreeing to review a complimentary copy of The Hundred Story Home by Kathy Izard and to hosting a giveaway for 3 copies for you!

The Hundred Story Home book #review and #giveaway #ad

The Gig Is Up- Thrive in the Gig Economy Book Review

in #AD, books, economy, freelance, gig, jobs, review, self help., by Linda A Kinsman, Tuesday, February 27, 2018

I’ve been a part-time freelancer for several years now and I speak from that experience when I say; the ability to get good gigs in my industry (blogging and brand awareness) is getting harder and harder each day as more people enter the workforce and embrace the “gig economy”. Seeing more and more marketing pros talk about multiple streams of income and what “side hustle” you may be able to pick up to achieve financial security led me to agree to review The Gig Is Up: Thrive in the Gig Economy, Where Old Jobs Are Obsolete and Freelancing Is the Future by Olga Mizrahi.

The Gig is Up by Olga Mizrahi book review #ad

Noelle by Greg Kincaid Book Review

in AD, book review, books, Christmas, dogs, family, Greg Kincaid, Noelle, by Linda A Kinsman, Thursday, January 11, 2018

I normally wouldn’t start a book series with the last book, but I did just that last month when on a whim, I received an email from Blogging for Books about of Noelle by Greg Kincaid. I had never heard of the McCray family, the cornerstone of a series of novels by Mr. Kincaid, but when I saw the snowy scene and the adorable little dog on the cover of Noelle, I was drawn in.

Noelle by Greg Kincaid Book Review

The Underground Culinary Tour by Damien Mogavero book review

in books, cooking, culinary, data, foodie, Nashville, restaurants, tour, by Linda A Kinsman, Friday, March 31, 2017

We live south of the newest “IT” city, Nashville Tennessee. Our local news station has a series on the boom in growth Nashville is having and one of the most interesting area of growth to me is the plethora of new places to eat. From fine dining to food trucks; Nashville is making a name for itself as a foodie city.

Demos Restaurant downtown Nashville

Habit Changers by M.J. Ryan book review

in 2017, books, goals, habit changer, mantras, review, by Linda A Kinsman, Monday, January 23, 2017

What would you like to change in your life? Be more focused at work? Communicate more effectively? Find work-life balance? Those three questions were in the introduction email review request I received from Blogging for books for Habit Changers- 81 game changing mantras to mindfully realize your goals by M.J. Ryan. My answer to all three questions was yes! Is your answer yes to one or more of those questions too? Then this book may be for you.

Habit Changers by M.J. Ryan book review

About Habit Changers- 81 game changing mantras to mindfully realize your goals by M.J. Ryan:

“Often, the biggest obstacle to change lies in our most deeply ingrained habits: those automatic thought processes that operate outside our consciousness, and yet have a profound impact on our behavior, shaping everything from how we respond to challenges to how we engage with others.

The good news is that we can literally rewire our mental habits for the better. In Habit Changers, executive coach M.J. Ryan shares the secret weapon that has helped her highest performing clients improve their focus, better manage under pressure, enhance their emotional intelligence, become more effective leaders, and more.”

Inspired by the Buddhist tradition of Lojong, or "slogan practice," habit changers are simple, one-line aphorisms that, when recited, reprogram your brain’s automatic responses. Here, Ryan explains how to use the 81 Habit Changers that have demonstrated the most profound and lasting results. They include:

You can’t say yes if you can’t say no
Don’t push buttons that don’t need to be
Handshake your fear
Stand where you’d rather not
Remember your highest intention
Outsource your worry
Reach for the better thought

My Thoughts:

Even though I’ve never used slogans, or mantras to improve my life or work goals, I was open to the idea of trying a new way of improving myself. As soon as I received this book, I flipped through the table of contents and landed on the chapter for happiness. I think I’m a pretty happy person, so I was intrigued at the idea of learning something new.

The two mantras under happiness are:

Reach for the better thought
Change it, leave it, or accept it

According to the How to Use Habit Changers chapter, I was off to a great start. The author, M.J. Ryan explains to begin you are to scan the table of contents which are grouped together by the issues they address. Pick one topic, (like I picked happiness) don’t pick ten, or even two! It’s the single-pointed focus that makes this work says M.J. Now- this is the tricky part, stay with the phrase that resonates the most with you, adapting it so it feels right for you and your situation. Turn it into a question if you need to. There is no right or wrong way here. Just stay focused on one key mantra before you move on to another.

Exploring:

As happy as I am- or thought I was, I’m still on the happiness chapter. Folks- this is deep stuff that is working! I’m allowing myself to analyze my work/life balance and ask myself tough questions like is what I’m doing today is truly making me happy? That’s me reaching for the better thought and fully exploring the change it, leave it, or accept portion of this chapter.

Final Takeaway:

I feel confident in saying that while this book isn’t to be read or used in the traditional read chapter one and move forward style we are accustomed to, I will read and utilize every page in this book this year because I want 2017 to be a good year in ALL aspects of my life.

Connect:

M.J. Ryan states that our capacity to change is our greatest gift as human beings. Habit Changers will help you take control of your destiny and more easily achieve the success and happiness you desire. That sounds like a fantastic plan to me!

I invite you to learn more about the author here and on Good Reads here . I’d love for you to follow me on Good Reads too here.

Please share in comments: What goal would this book help you achieve this year?

Disclosure: I received this book from Blogging for books for this review. No other form of compensation was given and all opinions stated are my own.

Nourishing Meals- 365 Whole foods recipes book review

in allergy-free recipes, books, dairy-free, gluten free, healthy eating, meal planning, nourishing meals, review, soy-free, whole foods, by Linda A Kinsman, Tuesday, November 15, 2016

My husband and I love to cook good, wholesome meals for our family of four, but lately, we’ve fallen into a bit of a mealtime rut. We both agree that adding more fall vegetables and good for you grains was a must- but even those small changes didn’t feel like quite enough to get us back on a healthy eating track. While working online one day, a cookbook title caught my eye- Nourishing Meals by Alissa Segersten and Tom Malterre (husband and wife) and I thought this would be a great way to add fresh ideas to our meal planning.

Read on to learn about Nourishing Meals 365 Whole foods, allergy free recipes for healing your family one meal at a time.

Nourishing Meals book cover

Clearly this book was written for those who are trying to eat better, I expected that from the title. What I didn’t expect was that all those inviting meals I’d seen on the cover were really gluten-free, dairy-free and soy free dishes. Nobody in my family has a dietary restriction, so you may be wondering why I would select this type of cookbook. It was the promise to help me ditch the processed foods one allergy-free meal at a time that grabbed me and honestly, I couldn’t be happier with what I’ve learned so far.

Nourishing Meals offers 365 whole foods, allergy-free recipes for healing your family one meal at a time. I’m educating myself, or rather, re-educating myself while reading this cookbook, starting off with the preface- 7 steps to sustainable dietary change. These are do-able steps that aren’t meant to be hurried through, or done all at once. The author’s idea is restorative nourishment, which can gently and gradually nurture our systems until unhealthy foods and habits naturally fade away.

My family and I are spending more time on step one, which is Add more vegetables. We know we eating vegetables is good for us. Our parents told us to eat our vegetables when we were kids and chances are if you are a parent- you are saying it to your kids now. Sometimes though, it can be challenging to get kids to eat their veggies. Never fear, this book is loaded with tips- from pregnancy through childhood- on how to deal with and prevent picking eating behaviors.

Chickpea curry recipe- Nourishing Meals

You are invited into recipe chapters during the 7 steps. For instance, in step 1, there is a Smoothie chapter that can aide in getting kids to eat their veggies. look at the tasty Chickpea vegetable curry recipe highlighted in the photo above. Doesn't that look like a delightful way to eat more vegetables?

Step 2 talks about making your own salad dressings while step three- (where I am this week) discusses the importance of replacing processed grain foods with whole foods. In this step, the recipes I’d like to try are Fluffy Cashew Pancakes and Chicken Breakfast sausages.

Another chapter I’ve found very helpful and timely is Packing a healthy lunchbox. Now that my daughters are teenagers, they pack their own lunches. Keeping a variety of good for them lunch foods on hand can be daunting, so I’m thankful for the fresh ideas in this chapter. With their easy to read lunch and snack lists, I can just turn to this chapter and make my shopping list, choosing what I know my kids will eat. Same goes for my husband’s lunchbox. He’s always pleasantly surprised when I add celery stalks or pepper slices to his lunch, and now I’m armed with even more healthy lunchbox ideas.

If one of your goals is to feed your family healthy, nourishing, tasty meals, I am happy to suggest this all-inclusive book. I’ve learned so much already in the short time I’ve had it. I’m educating myself on why living a gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free lifestyle is perfect for some and that it may not be perfect for me and mine- it is always good to know the WHY behind each choice. The next time I am hosting a dinner or sleep over and learn that one of our guests does have a food allergy, I will be better equipped to cook and serve them food that tastes good and is nourishing to them.

Another great part of this book is how hands on it helps you become. Check out this cool DIY recipe for homemade herbed sea salt on the Nourishing Meals Facebook page.

DIY homemade herbed sea salt Nourishing meals

Learn More:

I invite you to learn more about the authors by visiting their website and by following them on Facebook and Twitter.

I highly recommend this book and will keep this book as an eating healthier recourse and may even gift a copy or two this holiday season. You can purchase a copy today on Amazon.

Please share in comments- Do you or somebody in your family have a food allergy? How has that impacted the way you cook?

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Blogging for Books for this review. All opinions stated are my own.

Three easy ways to stay connected with your teens

in books, connect, listen, music, parenting, talk, teens, work at home mom, by Linda A Kinsman, Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Busy. Our teens are busy kids! Which usually means parents are busy with our teens activities too. For instance, both my daughters are in choir and both enjoy doing theater when their schedules allow it. Both girls are involved in clubs, fundraisers, attending school related events (football games, etc.), so free time during the week to just sit and chat is hard to come by. Today, I’m sharing three easy ways I’ve found I can still feel connected with my teens during the busy times.

Books and CD's help you connect with your teens

1. Read their books:

Young Adult, or YA books, are written with your 15+ teen in mind, but don’t let that stop you from reading them! Some of THE best books I’ve read this year came directly from my teen daughter. When you see your teen engrossed in a book, take notice. Better yet, ask if you can read it when they are done, and then talk with them about the plot and characters as you read.

Not sure where to start? Popular picks are: The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins, the Divergent series by Veronica Roth, The Selection series by Kiera Cass- (start my daughter’s reviews here). The much anticipated Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Parts One and two by J.K. Rowling and our personal pick and hands-down favorite , The Fault In Our Stars by John Green.

teens and earbuds, this is what they do!

2. Listen to their music:

Most parents know this time all too well: You’re in the car with your teen, taking them to their after-school activity again. They make small talk with you for five minutes, and then in go the ear buds and you’ve been tuned out. The same thing can happen when you take them out to eat.

Keep the conversation and the fun going by inviting them to keep some of their Cd's in the car, then pop one in while you are driving them to their destination. Once you get to your destination, if you see those ear buds come out again, ask them who they are listening too.

The point is to engage and connect in their world often! Some of the best and funniest conversations I’ve had with my girls is talking about the lyrics to some of their favorite songs. Our top pick right now is “25” by Adele, followed closely by "Blurry face" by 21 Pilots.

3. Include them in your work:

I have the privilege of working from home. Both my businesses- blogging and Avon are businesses I work mainly from home, so my teens have gotten used to seeing me work on a daily basis. I’m inviting them in and keeping this part of my day open to connecting possibilities. They respect what I do and actually look for ways to help me.

Teens are plugged in to what’s in, what’s trendy and relevant to them which is invaluable to anyone in a marketing field. Which is why my oldest daughter didn’t mind helping me with a recent photo shoot at Toys “R” Us for a brand I was working with.

Asking your teen for their opinion on a related topic to your industry can be a great way to connect with them as well. My teens know it's not all fun and lip gloss in my businesses because they see me doing the back office work too. We bounce ideas off each other often and they have opened up my eyes to a newer, fresher way of seeing the world. Why not show your teens what you so all day as well? Bring home an assignment to work on after dinner and ask them to check it out.

There you have it! Three easy ways to stay connected with your teens. Try one or all three over the next week and you may see your teens in a whole new way, you may even score some cool parents points!

Please share in comments: How do you connect with your teen? Do you use one or more of my strategies?

The life we never expected by Andrew & Rachel Wilson book review and giveaway

in #lifeweneverexpected #FlyBy, autism, books, children, parents, review, by Linda A Kinsman, Thursday, July 07, 2016

My kids aren’t special needs kids, so it may surprise some readers that I would want to read this very personal journey of two kids diagnosed with regressive autism written by their mom and dad. I don’t have anything in common with these parents, save the fact that I am a parent of two children. I’ve never walked a mile in their shoes- and that is exactly why I felt moved to accept the offer to review this powerful book as part of the FlyBy bloggers group. Simply put, I wanted to learn about this very important topic and have always found books to be excellent teachers.

Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

One day there will be no autism, book review, giveaway

We tend to stay in our own little comfort zones as parents and as people. Sure, we try to say and think all the politically correct things to parents with kids who are differently-abled, but do we ever truly know what one hour of one day feels like to the parents or the kids living with special needs?

From The day of deep breaths that Rachel so eloquently shared in the first chapter to the way Andrew unpacked Psalm 130 in the chapter entitled What to do with suffering, all the way through the book to Marriage on Fire; I was drawn in to this book as a willing student.

I wanted to learn about their journey so that I would be prepared to be a better person when presented with people in my life walking this path. In a few short years, I may be blessed with grandchildren- and what if one of them is autistic? I now have a helpful guide book of sorts, thanks to the Wilsons.

The life we never expected by Andrew and Rachel Wilson book review

About The life we never expected by Andrew and Rachel Wilson:

“What do you do when hard or painful circumstances turn your world upside down, resulting in a life you never expected? Andrew and Rachel Wilson grappled with this question after both of their children were diagnosed with regressive autism. Refreshingly honest, this book explores the highs and lows of raising children with specials needs, reflecting on the broader question of how to cope with suffering of all kinds. Sharing personal stories from their lives and encouragement rooted in the truth of God’s Word, Andrew and Rachel highlight lessons they’ve learned related to fighting for joy and thriving in the midst of trials—ultimately pointing readers to Christ, the One who promises to make all things new.”

God's Purpose

Sometimes life throws you a curve ball and the Wilsons share what it means to live a life they never expected. They share their sorrows, pain and triumphs in unique and Godly ways. Reading this book taught me a few things about myself as a parent and as a Christian. I think it may reach you in a spiritual and healing way, whether your child has special needs or not.

I love my kids most

I invite you to learn more about this book the authors and their sweet kids Zeke and Anna by checking out the book on Amazon.

My final thoughts:

Whether you are parenting a child with special needs, or know somebody who is- I think this book is very well written, powerfully honest and open and helpful, not only in guiding us through the day to day aspects of life, but how to live more honestly and openly in your walk with Christ as well.

Win it:

Thanks to today’s sponsor, #FlybyPromotions, one lucky reader will receive a paperback copy of The Life we never expected. #lifeweneverexpected

The life we never expected book review and giveaway

Terms:

No purchase is necessary to enter using the Rafflecopter from below. My WAHM Plan is not responsible for prize fulfillment. Winners will be notified by email used on entry form and have 24 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. This giveaway is not associated with nor endorsed by Facebook, Twitter, or any other social channel.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Please share in comments:

If you win this book will you keep it for yourself or gift to to a loved one?

The Heir by Kiera Cass Book Review

in #BookReview, #YA, #YAFiction, book review, books, Kiera Cass, The Elite, The Heir, The One, The Selection, YA books, by Tera Kinsman, Saturday, September 26, 2015

By Tera Kinsman

Hey, everybody! It’s time for another YA book review! So far, I’ve reviewed the first three books in The Selection series by Kiera Cass. (If you want to read these reviews, click here for The Selection, here for The Elite, and here for The One.)

The Heir by Kiera Cass

Image courtesy of HarperCollins

Book Summary from Publisher:

“Princess Eadlyn has grown up hearing endless stories about how her mother and father met. Twenty years ago, America Singer entered the Selection and won the heart of Prince Maxon – and they lived happily ever after. Eadlyn has always found their fairy-tale story romantic, but she has no interest in trying to repeat it. If it were up to her, she’d put off marriage for as long as possible.

But a princess’s life is never entirely her own, and Eadlyn can’t escape her very own Selection – no matter how fervently she protests.

Eadlyn doesn’t expect her story to end in romance. But as the competition begins, one entry may just capture Eadlyn’s heart, showing her all the possibilities that lie in front of her … and proving that finding her own happily ever after isn’t as impossible as she’s always thought.”

My Summary and Thoughts:

Eadlyn Schreave is not an average eighteen-year old girl. As the daughter of King Maxon and Queen America, she has been trained her whole life to become the next ruler of Illéa. This means, among her many other duties, she is expected to marry and produce an heir. And she isn’t happy about it.

Twenty years ago, her father’s first act as king was to dissolve the caste system that had been the backbone of Illéa’s society from the beginning. At first, people rejoiced in the new era of equality. Without the old, unfair labels, people were free to be whoever they wanted to be. But now, people are rioting, and the country’s leaders don’t know why. They’d phased the castes out gradually to give people time to adjust, and it had seemed that the country had done so happily. But, prejudice can still be found, and old caste labels still limit people.

Eadlyn’s parents finally come up with a solution – one that they see as ingenious and she sees as insane – for Eadlyn to have her own Selection. They see it as an opportunity to give the people something to celebrate and give them time to think of a way to defuse the tensions, as well as a way to do something wonderful for Eadlyn, to give her the chance to fall in love. Eadlyn sees it as little better than marrying her off for an alliance (something her parents promised they would never do) and rather pointless in the end. She’s not the type of girl to fall in love, and her parents can’t force people to be fair and let prejudices fade.

So, she negotiates. She agrees to go through with the Selection on one condition: If she hasn’t found a suitable prince in three months, she doesn’t have to get married. This leaves her a perfect loophole, or so she thinks. She’ll just scare her suitors off, intimidate them into leaving, and then get on with her life. But some of the suitors begin to find their way past the walls she’s put up and into her heart. Will she fall in love after all?

I’m so glad that Kiera Cass chose to continue the Selection series, because I love this series more with every book. This time, we get to see the Selection not from the viewpoint of the Selected, but from the Selector herself. Eadlyn is a strong and sassy girl, and quite often a hilarious narrator. She can be frustrating at times, but you care for her anyway. And the romance is this book is perfect and exasperating all at once. In the first three books, I knew exactly who I wanted to end up together. But The Heir leaves no clues as to who Eadlyn will choose, and I can’t decide any more than she can. There are so many new characters to love, and the suitors are part of that. And the stakes are just as high for Eadlyn as they were for America. Eadlyn’s world is changing more everyday. Some changes are good, and she may gain the love of her life. Some changes are terrifying, and she may lose the people she’s always loved.

Happily Ever After, a collection of all four Selection novellas and bonus materials, is coming out in October of this year, so hopefully, we’ll have a review of that soon!

Comments! If you were the prince or princess of Illéa, would you want a Selection to be hosted, or would you want to try to fall in love on your own? Let me know in the comments!

I’d love to connect with you guys. Join me on Instagram, Tumblr, Goodreads, and Pinterest!

The One By Kiera Cass Book Review

in #BookReview, #YA, #YAFiction, books, Kiera Cass, review, The Elite, The One, The Selection, YA books, by Tera Kinsman, Friday, August 14, 2015

By Tera Kinsman

Hi, guys! Today, I’m reviewing The One by Kiera Cass, the sequel to The Selection and The Elite. If you’d like to read the other reviews for the books in The Selection Series, click here for The Selection and here for The Elite.

The One by Kiera Cass

Courtesy of Harper Collins

Book Summary From Publisher:

35 girls entered the Selection. Only 1 can win.

The time has come for one winner to be crowned. When she was chosen to compete in the Selection, America never dreamed she would find herself anywhere close to the crown – or Prince Maxon’s heart. But as the end of the competition approaches, and the threats outside the palace walls grow more vicious, America realizes just how much she stands to lose – and how hard she’ll have to fight for the future she wants.

My Summary and Thoughts:

America Singer is one of the five girls left in the Selection. The Selection is nearing its end. And to America, it should have been over ages ago. She is in love with Prince Maxon, and he has made it clear that he loved her from the beginning.

But not everyone is ready for America and Maxon to choose each other. Maxon’s father, King Clarkson, detests America. Manipulative and cruel, he does all he can to force America out of the competition. Nor are her fellow Elite ready to concede defeat. And there’s still Aspen. America has recognized that she no longer loves him, but she hasn’t found the words to tell him. While she doesn’t want to marry him, like they had planned back in Carolina, she can’t imagine a life without him in it, and she’s terrified of losing him.

America and Maxon both make unlikely alliances, and find friends in people they never would have thought they could trust. But will it be enough to protect them from the threat of the rebels and those who refuse to see them together? Can America hold on to the beautiful future she sees ahead of her? Or will she lose it all?

YOU GUYS, THIS BOOK. My mom, sister, and I all read it like our lives depended on it. Which, as our fellow fangirls or boys understand, it kinda did.

The One had the perfect balance of happiness and sadness. There were scenes with Maxon and America that were so cute, I could die.

But it had its fair share of heartbreaking scenes as well. America, as well as Maxon, Aspen, and her family lose and gain so much. Everyone in Illéa is touched by the war. (I can’t say much more, because of spoilers, of course.)

The ending was perfect, and I just want to hug Kiera Cass for making me so happy. But I want to know more! I wish the epilogue had been fifty pages longer, because the stories of these characters are clearly not done. That’s why I’m so, so, so, so excited to read The Heir, the fourth book in the series. A collection of all the novellas that are also part of the Selection series is going to be released in October 2016. (If you want, though, you can read them all separately now.) And, sometime in the winter of 2016, we get the fifth book! So, there will definitely be more Selection fangirling in our future. Will we ever really stop?

Comments! There’s actually one more reason to freak out that I didn’t mention - there’s going to be a movie adaptation of The Selection! So, do you have any ideas for who should be cast in the upcoming movie? Let me know in the comments below!

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Dark Rising by Monica McGurk Book Review and Giveaway #sponsored

in #DarkHopeBook, books, Dark Rising, Monica McGurk, YA, YA books, by Tera Kinsman, Thursday, August 06, 2015

By Tera Kinsman

Hi, everybody! It’s YA book review time again. This week, I’m reviewing Dark Rising, the second book in Monica McGurk’s Archangel Prophecies series. (To read my review of the first book, Dark Hope, on the blog, click here.) As a thank-you, I received compensation, and two free copies of the book (one to keep and one to give away), but all opinions are my own. Shoutout to Monica McGurk for giving me the opportunity to read and share her work!

The Archangel Prophecies series by Monica McGurk

Book summary from publisher:

Can one person upend a prophecy as old as time?

Hope Carmichael is on the run. The only question is, from whom? The mark on her neck has branded her as part of an ancient prophecy, the Bearer of the Key. But the Fallen Angels have misunderstood and think Hope is their long-awaited way to regain Heaven by force. Now Hope is chasing down the artifact that could open Heaven’s Gates, while seeking to destroy it before the Fallen catch up with her. Will the Triad crime ring track Hope and exact their punishment before she gets the chance? Is the ragtag band of angels surrounding her now there to protect her, or imprison her? And will Michael, the Archangel sworn to defend Heaven at all costs, be forced to deny his love for Hope and take her life, instead, so the artifact won’t fall into enemy hands?

The epic narrative introduced in Dark Hope continues in Dark Rising as Hope crisscrosses some of the most ancient sites in Europe and plumbs the depths of history in search of the truth about the Key, herself, and love. Exploring themes of identity, fate, jealousy, trust, and forgiveness, Dark Rising’s mythological scope and moral urgency deepen as we come to understand the choices and consequences faced by a young woman determined to follow her heart and chart her own destiny.

My Summary and Thoughts:

Sometimes, the second book in a trilogy is sort of…boring? Certain Second Books That Will Remain Nameless have fallen desperately short of the first and sometimes even the third books in their series, leaving me flipping through pages, skimming the words and waiting for an exciting part.

But Dark Rising didn’t do that. Instead, it built on the plot in Dark Hope, and added more tension and interesting plot twists that I genuinely didn’t see coming. The stakes were dramatically raised for Michael and Hope, as they stumble through Europe, searching for the Key, often with only the slightest clues to help them. Their circumstances grow darker, but they grow closer. As they learn new, unexpected, and tragic truths about the Prophecy and themselves, Hope decides perhaps she was wrong to distance herself from Michael. But she realizes too late that she may have taken her faith from the one person she could trust, and put it in those she never could.

Mona and Don, her parents, also grow more desperate. New leads about Hope’s disappearance are not appearing often. Though Mona and Don are driven together by their shared love and grief, they are just as often pushed apart by their differing opinions on Hope’s disappearance. Mona still holds on to the logical explanation that Hope was taken by the human traffickers that lurk in high numbers in Atlanta, while Don insists that Hope is part of a higher plan, set apart to fulfill an amazing destiny given to her by God.

By the end of the book, Hope feels even more alone than she did at the end of Dark Hope. Both her and Mona have experienced terrible loss and sadness. Their world, and the outside world around them, has dissolved into sadness and chaos. But neither have lost hope that the happiness – and perhaps the people – they have lost will return to them.

The book ends on kind of a sad note and cliffhanger, but the sneak peek of the third book, Dark Before Dawn (coming out in 2016), gave me hope (I feel like that’s a pun every time I write it…) for Michael, Hope, and her family.

As with Dark Hope, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of these books will be donated to organizations that help fight human trafficking, especially sexual trafficking of minors.

Giveaway time! Because free stuff is the best stuff. Below, you can enter to win a copy of Dark Rising.

Dark Rising by Monica McGurk

Terms: No purchase is necessary to enter using the Rafflecopter form below. Open to U.S. residents sixteen (16) years old or older. My WAHM Plan is responsible for prize fulfillment. The prize will be one (1) paperback copy of Dark Rising by Monica McGurk. Winners will be notified by email used on entry form and have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen. This giveaway is not associated with nor endorsed by Facebook, Twitter, or any other social channel.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Comments! In the Archangel Prophecies books, Hope Carmichael is in love with an Archangel. So, what non-human would you be willing to date? Alien, angel, vampire, werewolf? Maybe those trolls, amirite, ladies? Or are you a humans-only sort of person? Let me know in the comments below!

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