Lucky In Love by Kasie West

About This Book:
Goodreads Summary
✥Series/Trilogy/Stand-Alone,etc: Stand Alone
✥Release Date: 7/25/17
✥Page Count: 337
✥Format: Hardcover
✥Setting: Santa Ana, CA
✥Genre(s): Fiction, YA, Romance
✥Date(s)Read:4/18-4/27  
✥Rating: Book: 3.75/5  Audio: 3/5 Narrator: Laurence Bouvard

My Thoughts:

Audio:
She was not the best narrator ever (In my personal opinion), but she definitely wasn't the worst I've heard either. I stopped reading books because of a narrator because to my ear, they just weren't doing it for me (and I knew I wouldn't finish it on my own!

Book:

There were some aspects of this book that annoyed me:
1. Friends who were beyond pushy and jealous.
2. Pushy associates and trying to get her to do things with her money that she wasn't comfortable with (nothing illegal just "simple" stuff)
3. She was very much a people pleaser but, I actually get that because I tend to still be a bit of a people pleaser at 43 years old but it finally got to the point I'm tired of doing what folks think is best for me when I know it isn't. Yes, sometimes, things have to get done that you might not want to do but sometimes you know it may be best..then, there are times, you just know it isn't right at all!

Beyond those things, I did love Maddie for her discipline in focusing on what she wanted done and doing it. A focus and discipline I still struggle with now in life. So, here I am being motivated, again, by someone so much younger than me! lol....But I always believe something can be learned from everything and everyone (what to do and what not to do). 

Seth, he is the cool, calm, laid back person I like that let's little bother him it seems. If it does, he rarely shows it. He just knows how to relax and go with the flow in many cases (I'm one who isn't a go with the flow of people or society but going with the flow of your personal life and not letting things stress you, just handling it and going on, is something to strive for in my opinion).

So, both have me rethinking areas of life. And books like that, will always get a good score in my 'book'. So, why a 3.75/5 stars? Well, because it was a little harder to keep myself interested in the book when it came to certain characters.

The Last Battle (Chronicles of Narnia #7) by C.S. Lewis

About This Book:
Goodreads Summary
✥Series/Trilogy/Stand-Alone,etc: Series #7
✥Release Date: September 4, 1956
✥Page Count: 229
✥Format: Paperback
✥Setting: Narnia
✥Genre(s): Fiction, Classics, Fantasy, YA, Children's
✥Date(s)Read:  4/14-4/15
✥Rating: Book: 5/5 Audio: 5/5  Narrator: Patrick Stewart

My Thoughts:

Audio:
I found that Patrick Stewart did a great job at narrating this book. He wasn't a favorite but I still enjoyed him enough to give him a 5/5.

Book:
Of course, I did enjoy the book. It was kind of sad to see the series end but it was a really good ending, not perfect, but still really good and well wrapped up.

I was glad to read about "old" characters from previous books. I was also glad to see things work out for some other characters I liked from this book. I don't quite remember what happened to one or two characters that I wasn't fond of but I do remember them being mentioned but my mind won't let me remember the exacts of what happened. 😆

I've had all 7 books for at least a couple of years now but it just took me a while to want to read The Last Battle. Not quite sure why I didn't feel like reading it but I finally picked it up last week and said I would try to get through it and I'm glad I finally did. It was well worth it! 

Pivot Point (Pivot Point #1) by Kasie West

About This Book:
Goodreads Summary
✥Series/Trilogy/Stand-Alone, etc: Series/Duology (Pivot Point #1)
✥Release Date: February 12, 2013
✥Page Count: 343
✥Format: Hardcover
✥Setting: Dallas, Texas
✥Genre(s): Fiction, YA, Fantasy, Paranormal, Sci-Fi, Romance
✥Date(s) Read:  3/26-4/12
✥Rating:       Book: 4.5/5

My Thoughts:

I wasn't quit sure what I'd think about this book, even though I love Kasie West. That's mostly because this is a fantasy and all of the other books I read first were her romances. I can actually say that I adored this book! Especially Trevor! I wasn't even sure if I'd finish it but, evidently, I did and I am looking forward to the second book in this duology! As soon as I can buy it, I will. I really enjoyed Addie (Addison) as well. She had pretty good intuition about people, even without her ability. Now, yes, she is human and made her mistakes but she was a smart young lady. But I guess with parents like hers you learn how to figure people and life out pretty quickly. 

This was a fun book and I'm glad I picked it up because I hadn't planned on doing so. I had planned on skipping these books altogether. Just going by this one alone, it was very much with picking up and I hope to like the next one as well. Kasie West, still giving me reason to love her writing and keeping her as one of my favorite authors. 

Welcome to the World Baby Girl by Fannie Flagg

About This Book:
Goodreads Summary
✥Series/Trilogy/Stand-Alone, etc: Series (Elmwood Springs #1)
✥Release Date: September 22, 1998
✥Page Count: 496
✥Format: Hardcover
✥Setting: Elmwood Springs & New York
✥Genre(s): Fiction, Women's Fiction/Chick Lit, Humor, American/Southern
✥Date(s) Read:  4/4-4/11
✥Rating:       Books:  3.5/5   Audio:  5/5      Narrator(s):  Fannie Flagg (listened on scribd)

My Thoughts:

*Big Book Challenge (BBC)
*Popsugar Reading Challenge: A book set in the decade you were born

Book:
It took some time to get into it and I had to set it to the side for a couple of months or so but once I picked it back up (along with audio..which is how it got read mostly....listening actually). 

I was glad to know the history of one of the characters talked about in the book and it wasn't left open ended. Loved the characters as always (read some of the books out of order because I didn't know it was a companion of novels). It is set in a small busy body little town where everyone knows everyone else and all of their business.

 Although I am one who doesn't really like people in my business, it's still a town I'd love to be in because everyone does know everyone and look out for each other! With me being a single woman and with two sons, it would be perfect! I think there'd be at least one who'd keep my anxiety up but she still seems sweet enough and would just limit my time around her! Lol

It jumped back and forth between a few different years but mostly set in the 1970's. And easy to keep up with.

Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson

About This Book:
Goodreads Summary
✥Series/Trilogy/Stand-Alone, etc: Stand Alone
✥Release Date:March 5, 2015
✥Page Count: 480
✥Format: Paperback
✥Setting: Stanwich, CT
✥Genre(s): YA,  Fiction, Romance, Contemporary
✥Date(s) Read: 3/29-4/3
✥Rating:       Book:  4/5     Audio:  4/5         Narrator(s): Suzy Jackson (listened on scribd)

My Thoughts:

Challenges: (I'll try to remember to add challenges with books if they have any category on the PSRC or BBC)
*Big Book Challenge
*Popsugar Reading Challenge: A Book With Song Lyrics (Kelly Clarkson; song kept running through my head when I read the title)

Audio:

I liked Suzy, she made it easier to get through a book that I may not have otherwise finished. It was a bit longer than I would have liked but I guess some things may have needed to be said. 

Book:
I liked it well enough. Chapters were a bit long. According to the audio, many were 58 minutes to over an hour long. Books with long chapters like that, tend to lose my interest for some strange reason. This is my first Morgan Matson book and although I did give it a 4/5, it isn't a favorite. I liked the characters a lot. Some things could be a bit irritating throughout the book (can't really pinpoint any at this point) but it was still a fun read/listen. 

If I had tried to read it when all the hype was going on, it may have gotten a lower rating from me because I would have, of course, been following the hype and it would have been a let down for me and that would have been too bad because it was a good book. I guess it's a good thing I can't always buy books when they first come out (bills, adult life and having sons and all..lol) because I may have gotten quite a few books and not liked them because I was on the hype train. Plus, with series, many times, the 2nd, 3rd+ are out and I can just go forward with them or, the author has other stand alones out that I can just go to if I like their writing enough. 

I've gotten off topic.....

Emily: I loved her! There are some things on that list I personally would not have done but it was good to see her be pulled out of her shell and meet new people. Things may not have always worked the way she wanted them too but some how, she made it through it all. 

Frank: He was a sweetheart! He would've been someone I wish I had as a friend even in adulthood! Especially in my adulthood because I'd appreciate him more! 

Dawn: I liked her a lot and some things that went on between her and Emily, I understood but I would like to see how things work out for her life.

Sloane: Was a bit much for me, even though she wasn't around, the flash backs gave an idea of who she was. It's good that she tried to pull Emily out and get her to try new things (like with the list) but sometimes, her actions made me cringe. I guess being young, you do things that are cringe worthy, heck we do it as adults. I didn't totally dislike her, it's just like I said, sometimes, she was just a bit much for me. 

(as always, I get the covers from Goodreads unless otherwise stated)