Guardians of Being by Eckhart Tolle (Art by Patrick McDonnell)

 About This Book

Summary
📌Stand-Alone: 
📌Release Date: October 9, 2009
📌Format: Hardcover
📌Setting: N/A
📌Page Count: 129
📌Genre(s): Nonfiction, Self Help, comic/art
📌Date(s) Read: 2/24/21
📌Rating:   Book:  5/5     

My Rambles:

I don't think I have a whole lot to say about this book except it wasn't what I expected when I put it on hold at my local library. It wasn't until I opened it up that I noticed it was like a little picture book & how animals live in the now. How animals can be happy because they aren't worried about anything like humans are. How helpful animals are to humans because of the unconditional love of the animals towards their human.  It really is a sweet little book that will be a favorite for me for a long time to come, maybe even "forever". Putting healing with animals? How much better can that be?!?

This will be a book I will do my best to buy and have on my shelf for a long time to come. If nothing else can be left for my sons as an "inheritance", it will be some of my favorite books and some of those that I will hope they will get some use out of in their lives. Others, just to say "my mom liked these a lot. May not be my thing but this is what she loved!" And hopefully, eventually, a love of reading. My sons aren't huge readers right now but maybe one day they will be. I wasn't big on reading at their ages either (late teens and early 20s) but by my early 30s, I became a consistent reader. And glad to be back into nonfiction again. 

Save the Date by Morgan Matson

 About This Book

Summary
📌Stand-Alone: 
📌Release Date: June 5, 2018
📌Format:  Hardcover
📌Setting: Greenwich, Connecticut
📌Page Count: 417
📌Genre(s): Romance, Contemporary, YA, Fiction
📌Date(s) Read: 2/13-2/14/21
📌Rating:   Book:  4.75/5   Audio:  4.5/5  Narrator(s): Emily Bauer


My Rambles:

Now, I must say, of the four books I have read by Morgan Matson so far, this one is my favorite. This gives me hopes of other books but not too much because I don't want to go into another book with my hopes too high. The first few books I read: Since You've Been Gone, Amy & Roger's Epic Detour, The Unexpected Everything, were good enough for me to finish but I lost interest pretty quickly in some parts. I even stopped  reading Unexpected Everything for a while because I had gotten bored. It wasn't a bad book but I think it just wasn't what I wanted at that time. I think I did the same with Amy & Roger's Epic Detour. I can say though, I think Amy & Roger's was my least favorite. I don't know what it is about it though, it wasn't horrible, I just couldn't connect with it. I think I finished the first three because I just wanted to know what happened. Many times, when I'd try authors in the past that I didn't like their books, I wouldn't try any more of them, maybe I need to rethink some authors (I know there will probably be some I still won't give another try to though).

This one though, even with a couple of frustrating parts, I loved this book. I was able to connect with everyone more. I could fall in love with more of the characters. Even the ones I really didn't like much I was able to enjoy a bit more. I went into this book knowing how I am about Matson's books. 

Why do I keep reading them if I am so iffy with them? I don't know. I am like that with Sarah Dessen as well but the difference is between Dessen and Matson...the first book I read and finished by Dessen, I loved, so, I keep trying. In hopes I find one more gem in her books that I can love again (there is one I doubt I will ever read though, I think it's called Dreamland, seems too sad/depressing). 

I am glad that I kept giving Matson a try though because if I hadn't, I wouldn't have found this one. 

Charlie's relationship with one of her brothers reminds me a lot of the relationship I have with my oldest brother in some ways. I have always felt closer to him, a bit more connected to him compared to my other two brothers. My other siblings period (there's a lot of us too, 8 total and it's a "complicated" story at that lol).

I seem to love books around family the most, whether it is the main characters family or a family they end up mixing into. I think it's because I don't have the best relationship with my family, my mom or biological father's side. Although I do get along with my biological father's side more, I think that's mostly because we don't talk as often. And maybe that's the best thing because I know that some things I wouldn't have the patience for. lol

So, I guess I found my favorite trope, when I kept thinking I didn't really have one. I'd like to find more "fill in/fake boyfriend" type of tropes too in order to see if that would be my thing too if done right. 

The Fill-In Boyfriend by Kasie West

 About This Book

Summary

📌Stand Alone: 
📌Release Date: May 5, 2015
📌Format: Paperback
📌Setting: California
📌Page Count: 243
📌Genre(s): Romance, YA, Contemporary
📌Date(s) Read: 2/6/21
📌Rating:   Book:  5/5   Audio:  5/5  Narrator(s): Shannon McManus

Reread (2nd time)-I never thought I'd be the one who reread books but here I am, doing a lot of rereading, especially lately. Mostly, because I need it! I need the comfort of old books & reminders on why I liked some others (or, well, a bit of both in some cases).

My Rambles:

Okay, so, I forgot to do my thoughts on this book. So, uh, here it is....

I enjoyed this book as much as I did the first time I read it in August 2017. I adored the characters, except that one that made you want to just shake them. This was the first book I ever read/listened to by Kasie West & it was during a time I was struggling emotionally. "Coincidentally" enough, when I chose to reread it (which I had been wanting to do for a while), I was struggling again emotionally & it got me through another rough patch. I have since read every book by her that she has out to date, except Snow In Love (that I plan on making an attempt to get to eventually, I hope) & plan on getting her new book that I just found out comes out on May 4, 2021 as I was typing this up. I had to double check to make sure I hadn't missed a book. And, I added the book that may be coming out next year to my want to read list on Goodreads. So, if it isn't evident already, she is definitely an auto buy author for me. There are some books I like more than others of course and this being my favorite but I just adore her writing and the characters she writes about.

Hereafter (Shadowlands #2) by Kate Brian

About This Book

Summary
📌Trilogy:  #2
📌Release Date:  October 1, 2013
📌Format: Hardcover    
📌Setting: Juniper Landing
📌Page Count: 307
📌Genre(s): Fantasy, Mystery, Young Adult, Romance 
📌Date(s) Read: 1/30-2/4/21
📌Rating:   Book:  4/5   Audio:  4/5  Narrator(s): Amy Rubinate

Well, this is my second time re-reading this trilogy. I wanted to see if I enjoyed it as much as I did the first time I read it. Although I don't remember details of the story, I do remember some things & who I think may be involved in the drama. And I forgot how much of a cliff hanger it left on! But, did I enjoy it as much as the first time? Probably not. I got a tiny bit bored but thankfully, this time, I had the audio book (but wasn't really into audio books when I read it the first time but now, I use audio books to keep me reading because I just don't have the patience to just sit and read. I like to multi task now).

The narrator was good. She had that "I'm trying to be sexy" whisper thing going. That is the best way I can think to explain it now. I'm not fond of that type of reading but it is easy to tune out most of the time. 

I do own all three books so I can go on to the final book when I feel like going into it and can get ahold of the audiobook for it. 

If you haven't read this trilogy, it is worth trying. It may not be amazing but it is an interesting concept. Maybe see if you can rent it from your library (e-book or physical-if you can get to the library in this time). The name of the first book is called Shadowlands.