The Secret Sister by Brenda Novak

Sweet and refreshing. I really enjoyed reading this book. Every family has drama. Every family has secrets. But what happens when the possibility of secrets can destroy a family?  Nah, what if it were the complete opposite?

Maisy's marriage ended in divorce. Now with no where left to go she ends up back in her parents home only to bump into the person she never thought she would Rafe. 

Romance and family secrets with a twist of happily ever after.

Half Blood by Jennifer Armentrout

Great first novel. On to the second. 

What will happen with Alex and Aiden?  Obviously, there is some type of attraction there. But what is up with Seth!  Really!?!?

I really enjoyed this book. 

Alex is a very outgoing and difficult girl.  She is a childhood friend of Aiden but they really can't be together. (Her being a 1/2 blood and Aiden being a full blood). Her mother has turned into a deamon and is after her. She is protected in the covenant and is learning how to defend herself so she can become a sentinel. Her uncle now pretending to be a nice guy has brought Seth to protect her?  It is there an ulterior motive? 

Her uncle Mark is a bit aloof and her stepfather Luvicious sounds like a real jerk.  What is he hiding?

It turns out she will indeed become an Apollion when she reaches her 18th year.

How will that change her fate?  

On to the next book....

Managers vs Leaders

Anyone can be a manager. The word manager is exactly that, a word. 

A leader is someone who empowers and brings the best out of others. They are not jealous, but rather in encouraging. They are inspiring, not lowering. 

It brings them satisfaction to see others reach their max potential. 

Never let anyone take sparkle.

Always strive to be the best you can be. 

Remember, only you can limit yourself. 

The sky's the limit! 

When God throws you Lemons...

You make Lemonade. 

It's all about the way in which one approaches a problem. 

You can drown in your misery or step up and do something about it. 

It's all in the approach. 

No matter what life throws at you. 

Hang in there and make...lemonade. 😊

Keep the Faith!

If at all, never lose the faith. Faith can move mountains. Nothing is impossible, all in due time. 

Change a problem into a situation. Don't drown in a glass of water. Step back and analyze,  look at all your options. Everything has a solution...

Never stop trying to achieve greatness!

What really makes you happy? Money, power or contentment.

Everyone is different. Most will tell you, Money!  Power!  

But what about contentment? Being pleased with what you have. What does that mean...

We have a bad habit of looking at the person next to us and hoping we had something they have, sometimes even being upset of their successes. 

Everyone has their own problems and everyone has her own issues.  Being content doesn't necessarily mean that you're going to stop and settle, not being who you're really meant to be.   it just means being happy and satisfied with the what you currently have. Enjoy and savor every moment and never stop trying to reach and be who you are supposed to be. 

Doll Bones by Holly Black

I found this book not only odd but disturbing as a children's book. I feel that the content was a bit much (morbid) for younger children. I would have understood if it would have been geared more for teens. Had the intended audience been teens, I feel I would have rated it better. For example, had the kids gone their separate ways to later be reunited by similar dreams....a different twist. 

The story is about 3 childhood friends, Poppy, Zach, and Alisha. It tells us about their real life situations, their faithfulness to each other  and their imaginative play. As time passes these imaginative games are kinda placed to the side.  Until.....

The Queen.  Poppy's mom got the Queen at a sale. And has kept this doll  in a glass ever since. The Queen has a secret. 

How were these kids ever going to imagine that this doll would lead them on an adventure?  What is the real story behind this doll?  Why do they keep having dreams with Eliza?  Who is Eliza?

I feel that what happens to Eliza, the child behind the doll, is a bit much for a younger audience. 

I liked the story from the point when they get to the library and they're trying to follow the map to the cemetery and find the Willow tree. 

I don't think I'd recommend it to a younger audience though....

Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee

I really enjoyed this book. 

Being a controversial book and aware that different views expressed have been of both of  like and dislike, I wanted to read it out of pure curiosity.  What was all the Hoopla about?

I checked out an Audio copy from my local library and  listened to it in a couple of days. Honestly, I had to go back through some sections and make sure I didn't miss a thing. :). 

I couldn't put it down. Reese Witherspoon is the reader and she is wonderful. I kept thinking of her role in Sweet Home Alabama. :)

I loved Jean Louise. I loved how she had her opinion, how she didn't care what others thought about her and knew what she wanted. I loved the relationship she had with her uncle, how he was able to explain and answer questions that she felt were truly important. 

I didn't like Henry. He seemed to just roll with the punches and please people. 

I wasn't too happy with the role that Atticus played either. What was up with that?  This was something really difficult for Jean Louise (Scout) to comprehend. The way she idolized her father; he was a just and fair man. She was greatly disappointed when she realized what she always thought about her father was not really so. 

Overall, I enjoyed the book. I love reading books where I can learn and take something back. This book gave me a better understanding of how life was  for a girl in Maycomb, Alabama.

Fear vs Success

Don't let the fear of failing, deter you from achieving success. 

The darker and bumpier the road, the greater the outcome and success.

Faith moves mountains. 🙂

Smiles

Smiles are contagious. They can turn any situation around. Don't ever let anyone take it away. 😊😀