The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory

Synopsis: A groomsman and his last-minute guest are about to discover if a fake date can go the distance in a fun and flirty debut novel.

Agreeing to go to a wedding with a guy she gets stuck with in an elevator is something Alexa Monroe wouldn't normally do. But there's something about Drew Nichols that's too hard to resist.

On the eve of his ex's wedding festivities, Drew is minus a plus one. Until a power outage strands him with the perfect candidate for a fake girlfriend...

After Alexa and Drew have more fun than they ever thought possible, Drew has to fly back to Los Angeles and his job as a pediatric surgeon, and Alexa heads home to Berkeley, where she's the mayor's chief of staff. Too bad they can't stop thinking about the other...

They're just two high-powered professionals on a collision course toward the long distance dating disaster of the century--or closing the gap between what they think they need and what they truly want...

     I had high hopes for this book and I thought it would be a cute romantic comedy like you see in the movie theaters, and I admit I had thoughts about not finishing the story. It just felt like after the wedding they went to together that a lot of points were about sex. So if you like listening to exploits of their sexual adventures and going at it several times during a weekend then this book is for you. 

     I also had an issue with the language. I can handle a few here and there, but it quite a lot of the f-bombs throughout it. I knew this was a book I couldn't listen to around my kids.  

     I did like the underlying story of a more curvy woman and she liked that a guy who was white and attractive took notice of her and had some discussions there about the differences in their lives.  I also liked the youth program that Alexa came up with and worked on throughout the book. I just wish that the book had more of things like that and less sex.

The Book Jumper by Mechthild Gläser

Synopsis: Amy Lennox doesn't know quite what to expect when she and her mother pick up and leave Germany for Scotland, heading to her mother's childhood home of Lennox House on the island of Stormsay.

Amy's grandmother, Lady Mairead, insists that Amy must read while she resides at Lennox House—but not in the usual way. It turns out that Amy is a book jumper, able to leap into a story and interact with the world inside. As thrilling as Amy's new power is, it also brings danger: someone is stealing from the books she visits, and that person may be after her life. Teaming up with fellow book jumper Will, Amy vows to get to the bottom of the thefts—at whatever cost.

This book was a cute read and I was enthralled by it. Just when I saw the cover I knew I wanted to read it.  The characters in the book were well-written and I loved imagining the island they were on and how the story played out. I loved following the story of Amy Lennox and her life inside books and the friends she makes.  The story ending was good and unpredictable, which made it thrilling.  It is geared more towards teenagers, but me, as an adult, really enjoyed this read. 

A Dog's Journey by W. Bruce Cameron

Synopsis: Buddy is a good dog.

After searching for his purpose through several eventful lives, Buddy is sure that he has found and fulfilled it. Yet as he watches curious baby Clarity get into dangerous mischief, he is certain that this little girl is very much in need of a dog of her own.

When Buddy is reborn, he realizes that he has a new destiny. He's overjoyed when he is adopted by Clarity, now a vibrant but troubled teenager. When they are suddenly separated, Buddy despairs―who will take care of his girl?

A charming and heartwarming story of hope, love, and unending devotion, A Dog's Journey asks the question: Do we really take care of our pets, or do they take care of us? More than just another endearing dog tale, A Dog's Journey is the moving story of unwavering loyalty and a love that crosses all barriers.

After reading the first book in the series I knew I had to find out what happened and wanted to read this book. It wasn't readily available via audio book when I was ready for it so I had to put it on hold. But my little boy had enjoyed the first movie so much that when he found out there was a 2nd one he wanted to watch it, so that means I watched the movie first before reading the book.  I enjoyed both the movie and the book and it was well written. As always the books contain more details and parts that don't fit into the movie.

A Wind in the Door by Madeleine L'engle

Synopsis: "Just before Meg Murry's little brother, Charles Wallace, falls deathly ill, he sees dragons in the vegetable garden. The dragons turn out to be Proginoskes, a cherubim composed out wings and eyes, wind and flame. It is up to Meg and Proginoskes, along with Meg's friend Calvin, to save Charles Wallace's life. To do so, they must travel deep within Charles Wallace to attempt to defeat the Echthroi—those who hate—and restore brilliant harmony and joy to the rhythm of creation, the song of the universe."

I found out shortly after finishing A Wrinkle in Time I found out that there are more books in series.  I thought that the first book was interesting and I could see why so many people liked it. This book while it was easy to follow was also very odd and I thought it was a strange book. I think I'll have to read the next book and see if they all follow a pattern or if they are different.  Madeleine L'engle has quite the imagination and her characters and their names are out there.

A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron

Synopsis: This is the remarkable story of one endearing dog's search for his purpose over the course of several lives. More than just another charming dog story, this touches on the universal quest for an answer to life's most basic question: Why are we here?

Surprised to find himself reborn as a rambunctious golden haired puppy after a tragically short life as a stray mutt, Bailey's search for his new life's meaning leads him into the loving arms of 8 year old Ethan. During their countless adventures Bailey joyously discovers how to be a good dog.

But this life as a beloved family pet is not the end of Bailey's journey. Reborn as a puppy yet again, Bailey wonders, will he ever find his purpose?

Heartwarming, insightful, and often laugh out loud funny, this book is not only the emotional and hilarious story of a dog's many lives, but also a dog's eye commentary on human relationships and the unbreakable bonds between man and man's best friend. This story teaches us that love never dies, that our true friends are always with us, and that every creature on earth is born with a purpose."


I have never been a dog person, but reading the back of the book made me intrigued when I purchased this book years ago. This was a cute story and I could see this dog and his life he was leading. It was fun to hear the story about humans and his experiences through a dog's eyes. I knew as I was finishing the book that I wanted to see the movie and see how it compared. I watched this film with  my 5 year old son and he was really into the book too and understood the movie. We giggled and loved some of the scenes. It was a great bonding moment. My son has been asking for a dog, but due to our limited backyard and the fact that I'm not a dog fan we haven't gotten one. But this was a good experience and a good read and I would highly recommend it. 

The Little Book of Hygge: The Danish Way to Live Well by Meik Wiking

Synopsis: Denmark is often said to be the happiest country in the world. That's down to one thing: hygge.

'Hygge has been translated as everything from the art of creating intimacy to cosiness of the soul to taking pleasure from the presence of soothing things. My personal favourite is cocoa by candlelight...'

You know hygge when you feel it. It is when you are cuddled up on a sofa with a loved one, or sharing comfort food with your closest friends. It is those crisp blue mornings when the light through your window is just right.

Who better than Meik Wiking to be your guide to all things hygge? Meik is CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen and has spent years studying the magic of Danish life. In this beautiful, inspiring book he will help you be more hygge: from picking the right lighting and planning a dinner party through to creating an emergency hygge kit and even how to dress.

Meik Wiking is the CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen. He is committed to finding out what makes people happy and has concluded that hygge is the magic ingredient that makes Danes the happiest nation in the world.

My Grandpa Andersen (my Mom's side) was an immigrant from Denmark when he was 19. Over the years as I grew up we often visited and spent time with him and Granny. We would play games, talk and have lots of fun. As I was reading this book I kept realizing how many activities that we did that went along with the Danish way and was really hygge.  I have also visited Denmark and I was able to recognize some of the places they were talking about.  This book was a fast read as I was able to get through the audio book in a little over 3 hours.  It was a good read and I would recommend it. 

The Collapse of Parenting by Leonard Sax, MD, PhD

  

Synopsis: In this New York Times bestseller, one of America's premier child psychologists offers a must-read account of the dismal state of parenting today, and a vision for how we can better prepare our children for the challenges of the adult world

In The Collapse of Parenting, internationally acclaimed author Leonard Sax argues that rising levels of obesity, depression, and anxiety among young people can be traced to parents abdicating their authority. The result is children who have no standard of right and wrong, who lack discipline, and who look to their peers and the Internet for direction. Sax shows how parents must reassert their authority - by limiting time with screens, by encouraging better habits at the dinner table, and by teaching humility and perspective - to renew their relationships with their children. Drawing on nearly thirty years of experience as a family physician and psychologist, along with hundreds of interviews with children, parents, and teachers, Sax offers a blueprint parents can use to help their children thrive in an increasingly complicated world. 

This book was recommend to me by my sister-in-law. She said she was going to use it in her book club and she thought I would like it and wanted to know my opinion.  While there were some pretty interesting statistics in there I found the book rather repetitive, especially in the chapter about medications. I felt like if i kept hearing all these drug names for meds the doctors were prescribing the kids I would go crazy. I almost wanted just to skip over that chapter and read the next one, but I kept going. This book made me realize the importance to spend time with my kids and not take it for granted. They are growing up each day and I might miss an important moment if I spend too much time on myself or on my electronics.