Not the Chocolate

Godiva By Nicole Galland
Published: July 2, 2013 by William Morrow Paperbacks
Before I started reading this I wanted to love it, but as I got into it I wasn't sure that would be the case. The first 100 pages felt extremely slow. There were so many different characters introduced, I started to feel a little lost. But thankfully once you become familiar with the cast and the reason for Godiva's famous ride is apparent, it read much quicker and I really enjoyed myself.

The only other book I remember reading that takes place in this time period (England in the 1000s), was The Keeper of the Crystal Spring by Naomi & Deborah Baltuck. My mom loved that one and passed it on to me. I loved it as well, and read it over and over throughout college. I was hoping these books would have a similar feel, and while they are very different books, the world itself felt similar. I think this is such an interesting period, especially in regards to women rights. The period is before a lot of reform in the church, and partly for that reason, females had far more rights at this point in history than they would 500 years afterwards.

Speaking of history, I do wish there was some type of historical note as to which elements of the story were based on truth. (Although since I read an ARC, it is possible the final published version does contain something.) But with that said, I know our records from this period are limited, so I have to imagine most of the events or details are based on speculation.

I do think this book is worth checking out, especially is your at all curious to the real Lady Godiva or this period in history. You do need some patience with it, since it doesn't really "get good" until the final two thirds of the books, but I think sticking it out is more than worth it.

Edited: The author did actually reach out to me to let me know there is a historical note in the book, and was kind enough to send me a copy. It's exactly what I was looking for, and am happy to see it isn't actually missing in the final version.

4.5/5

Disclosure: I was provided this book through TLC Book Tours. All opinions expressed are my own.

MMRR in June

I normally try to have my monthly recap post up the last day of every month, except here we are on the second day of July. But better late, then never, right? As normal, my monthly recap post is inspired by Lisa's.

Meals
As much as I'd love to say the best meal was my kale pasta that honor has to go to the boy's roasted duck. I mean it just looks gorgeous in the photo.
Granted, I am a fan of duck in general, but this was pretty amazing.

Moments
Overall it feels like this month was pretty calm. A good friend of ours had a baby, although technically that happened late on May 31, but practically June. And while I rarely talk about it on the blog, work was a little crazy as well. We went through training for a new product, we had people move on from the company, as well as move within it. And I received some good work news as well. So on that front at least, life was eventful.

Reviews
This month I reveiwed 5 books and 3 movies.
The Apple Orchard by Susan Wiggs
Gaijin Cowgirl by Jame DiBiasio
Bond Girl by Erin Duffy
Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris
A Land More Kind Than Home by Wiley Cash
After Earth
The Internship
This is the End
My favorite had to be A Land More Kind Than Home with Bond Girl as a close second.

Moments
I was going through my June archives trying to find the perfect post to share here, and wow, and I wrote a ton of fun posts in Junes past. Some of the posts I thought about sharing were our diy wedding invitations or my will you be my bridesmaid cards ot the NKOTBSB concert or one of the first times we watched our niece overnight or a post where I was trying to figure out if the boy and I should by a house even though we weren't actually engaged. But instead the gem I wanted to share was posted 4 years ago called The Dream of Blogging, where the boy gave this comic to me.
And in my opinion, it's just as amusing now as it was then. And yes, I still have it hanging up on a bulletin board.

What are your meals, moments, reviews, and remembering from this past June?

Project 365: Days 173 Through 180

I may not have made my normal Saturday Project 365 posts, but a few days late is better than nothing right? Off to the memories!
June 22, 2013 - 173/365: Former LSU quarterback Jarrett Lee at Champions for Children's Dodgeball Charity Event. I wasn't actually competing, just there to cheer on my friends who were. And gawk at the celebrity participants as well.
June 23, 2013 - 174/365: My distractions to enjoy while watching the boy's baseball game, where he actually wound up hitting a home run.
June 24, 2013 - 175/365: Caramel macchiato and blueberry muffin at Starbucks.
June 25, 2013 - 176/365: Whole Foods salad bar.
June 26, 2013 - 177/365: I believe a daylilly and jasmine in the backyard.
June 27, 2013 - 178/365: I was pretty sure I killed our peach tree. Except this sucker (the official name for it), decided to shoot up. After a little research, it may not actually bear fruit or be as strong as the tree that used to be here. But I guess I didn't actually kill the tree! So we'll see what happens.
June 28, 2013 - 179/365: Lasagna at Portico's for book club.
June 29, 2013 - 180/265: Chicken salad sandwich and pasta salad at La Madeline's for lunch.

Anyone want to guess whether my peach tree will bear fruit? Or probably the better question, if I'll actually be able to keep this alive?

I'm linking this post up with Random-osity & Kleinworth & Co. for Project 52!

Mailbox Monday (38)

One of my 101 in 1001 goals is to cut my to-read pile in half. In theory, this is a doable goal, especially considering how quickly to read through books. Although it makes it nearly impossible, when I have such big Mailbox Monday posts. I'm not quite complaining here, but I guess it isn't a bad problem to have. With that said I'm linking up with Book Obsessed, our host for July, to share my recent bookshelf additions.
From Paperback Swap
Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
I actually won the 3rd (or maybe 4th) book in this series almost two years ago. It's been sitting unread till I can read the books before it, but now at least, I'm finally on my way there.

For Review from Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours
The Tudor Conspiracy by C.W. Gortner
I think this summer may be my summer of Gortner, but I'm really excited about it!

For Review from TLC Book Tours
Etched in Sand by Regina Calcaterra
This one is a memoir of five sibling who survived an unspeakable childhood on Long Island (taken directly off the cover). I have a feeling this will be the type that makes you cry, but still happy to see that they've made it to the other side.

From Goodreads
My goodreads luck must be back since after last week's 6 wins, I've continued to win 5 more over the next week. Not sure how long this will keep up, but at the moment, I'm definitely enjoying it!
The Case of the Missing Servant by Tarquin Hall
This is a crime series, that (what I'm most excited for) takes place in India. This is the first in a series, and I think the 3rd or 4th recently came out.
Immortal Bird by Doron Weber
This is another memoir, about a family raising a son with a congenital heart defect.
Chasing Alaskaby C.B. Bernard
I think this is also a memoir type, but dealing with exploring Alaska's wilderness.

What did you find in your mailbox this week? And are you able to take books off your reading pile, or does it seem to be always growing like me?

You Can't Go Home Again

A Land More Kind Than Home by Wiley Cash
Published: April 17th 2012 by William Morrow Paperbacks
You know when you finish a book and you look back on it with a sense of awe, trying to better understand what you just finished? That was this type of book. The front cover compares it to To Kill a Mockingbird, but even without that that guidance I think I would have come up with the comparison myself. Similar to how you could say that book is about Scout and her relationship with her older brother and father, when it's really so much more than that, with this you could also say it's about Jess and his relationship with his older brother and father, except again it's so much more than that.

I believe the story takes place in the 1980s, but everything feels so timeless about it that it's hard to tell. If someone told me these events took place today, I'd believe it. Or maybe even more amazing, I'd also believe someone who said the book instead took place 100 years ago.

Going into this, I had no idea what to expect, but I think that's the way to do it. Especially since as I started off with, a basic summary isn't going to tell you what it's really about. I will tell you that I cried through the last few chapters, and know this is one I won't forget.

5/5

Today I'm linking up with Blonde Undercover Blonde for Book Club Friday!

Show Us Your... Link-Ups

This week I'm linking up with Kelly's Korner to share my favorite link-ups. I think this will be a lot of fun, and hopefully I can discover some new ones that are worth checking out, plus introduce others to some of my favorites.

Mailbox MondayThis one was first started by Marcia who now blogs at To Be Continued.... It's a way to share the books you've picked up whether for review, purchased, or gifted. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists, but I promise you will discover a ton of books you can't wait to read in the process. MM travels to a new host each month, and since this Monday starts July, we'll be linking up at Book Obsessed.

Project 52This link-up is also on Mondays and hosted by Random-osity and Klienworth & Co. It's where I share my Project 365 posts each week. There's some amazing photographers that participate that I don't quite feel worthy of, but I still have fun sharing my daily photos from the year.


Book Club FridayBook Club Friday is hosted by Heather of Blonde... Undercover Blonde every Friday. It's a place to share reviews of the books you've recently read. Again you'll discover some awesome sounding books through this link-up, the hard part is finding the time to read them all.

What are you favorite link-ups to participate in that you think I should check out? And if you're stopping by from Kelly's Korner be sure to say hi!

Freedom is the Ultimate Crime

The Registry by Shannon Stoker
Published: June 11, 2013 by William Morrow
If I had read this a few years ago I would have thought it was such a unique premise. Except now, with the number of dystopians that have gotten big, its themes are awfully familiar in so many others. In The Resistry, Mia is living in a world where at 18 all girls are listed on a database, called the registry, to be sold as a wife to the man whose willing to pay her price.

But even though the world may not have been that unique, I still loved the world building. Each chapter started with a line of two from The Registry Guide for Girls which helps shape girls into the wife they're meant to be, and I thought was an excellent window into the ways the society functions. (Again, not that unique since I've seen similar devices used in Delirium, but still very much appreciated.) Also what I thought was interesting was how the creation of society was handled. All throughout Mia is looking for an answer, but each time the question is asked no one is quite sure what happened and their interpretation of the events that led to its creation is a little different. While it may not be a concrete answer you'd like to have as a reader, the idea that no one really knows and everyone has their owns ideas is probably closer to what would actually happen 100 years afterwards.

While this is a dysptopian, it isn't published as YA. Instead it's being marketed as New Adult, which means it has what's becoming my biggest pet peeve in NA books; that of the innocent, naive girl who had no idea what's going on in the world around her. Thankfully Mia does grow throughout, and I think even she would look down on the girl she was at the start of this story with a little disgust.

The book had so much potential, but while there were aspects I really enjoyed, it didn't quite work. And I can't even really articulate why. The dialogue does feel a little forced and awkward. And there's a pretty big travesty towards the end, except none of the characters seemed to really show emotion on the right scale. There is a sequel, and while I don't see myself running out to buy it, I still think I'd read it, even if it's mainly out of curiosity to see what else happens to this world.

3.5/5

Disclosure: I was provided this book through TLC Book Tours. All opinions expressed are my own.