So, Strep Throat is Worse Than I Remembered…

I just finished up my 3^rd semester of nursing school, not getting too sick at all throughout a semester which threw me in with sick kids, many different hospitals, schools, etc. No, my body (gladly) waited until after finals to throw strep throat at me. How thoughtful, huh? Actually, all kidding aside, I am very glad I didn’t get it during the actual semester because it is horrible!

Okay, so most of us remember that we had strep throat as a kid, right? I had it once or twice. I didn’t really remember what it felt like though, and didn’t think much about it as an adult. I bet you are probably thinking the same.

At first, it mildly hurt to swallow. More of an annoyance really. Cough drops seemed to work. I didn’t cough much, but it sort of numbed it. I was getting tired a bit easy, but I figured that was just because it was the end of the semester.

Then, the next day, I woke up with a big white spot in the back of my throat. It really, really, hurt to swallow anything now. Hot stuff, cold stuff, room temperature, food, cough drops, etc. It all freaking hurt… and it hurt bad! I was also extremely exhausted, felt weak, had a fever, felt nauseous, my ear hurt, pretty much, I just felt terrible.

Strep throat is awful. If you have any of these signs of having it, get to a doctor to see if you need antibiotics, because you do not want this to linger any longer than it has to. As a future nurse, I’ll also be much more empathetic to people who have strep throat because I can actually remember just how much it hurts now. 

Have you had strep throat? Do you remember what it felt like? 

Get It Done by Sam Bennett

Get It Done by Sam Bennett is a book for procrastinators and anyone who wants to get things done. If you find that you are putting things off and not doing what you really want to do, or have to do, this is definitely a book you will want to read!

Book Description

“Creative people tend to see the world a little differently than everyone else. But that doesn’t mean they can’t zero in on their goals, get focused, get organized, and not only accomplish what they want to achieve but earn money doing it. In Get It Done, a beloved teacher and successful writer, actor, and comedian helps you get a handle on your own particular — even peculiar — creative process and harness your energies in positive, productive, and income-generating ways. Sam Bennett’s innovative exercises, inspiring true success stories, and bonus online components will shift your thinking and prompt the kind of insights that turn underperforming geniuses into accomplished artists.” – Get It Done

My Thoughts

Get It Done is a brilliant self-help book that really helps creative types focus in on getting the projects they want to do done. Many things can block you from accomplishing your goals, and with the exercises and insight from this book, you can get the motivation and insight into yourself to actually do it.

As someone who considers herself both creative and organized (most of the time), I am also sometimes a procrastinator, especially when it comes to the creative things I want to do. Sure, I can get my nursing school homework finished way before time, and study with enough time to make good grades, but when it comes to writing that book I started years ago, or a painting I’ve wanted to do, I just don’t do it. Instead, I do things like re-organized my closet, sort my bookcases, or some other random thing I don’t really need to be doing. If you can relate, this is definitely a book you need to read to help get you back to doing those creative things you actually want to start, or finish.

This is an excellent book that I highly recommend to anyone looking to do anything creative. If you think you don’t have the time to do it, then I recommend this book to you even more!

* Thank you to the publisher of Get It Done, New World Library, for providing me with a copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Moving Target by J.A. Jance

Moving Target by J.A. Jance is another excellent thriller in the series about Ali Reynolds, a police academy trained former reporter. Pick up with this book, or start at the beginning, and read the latest addition to the series. Either way, you’ll be in for a good read!

Book Description

“In this instant New York Times bestseller and high-stakes thriller Ali Reynolds spans continents to solve a cold case murder and to figure out who wants a young juvenile offender dead.

EVEN GHOSTS CAN’T HIDE FOREVER.

Lance Tucker, an incarcerated juvenile offender doing time for expertly hacking into the San Leandro School District’s computer system, is set on fire and severely burned one night while hanging Christmas decorations in a lockup rec room. The police say that he did it to himself, but B. Simpson, Ali Reynolds’s fiancé and the man who helped put Lance in jail, feels obligated to get to the bottom of what really happened. 

Lance is famous in the hacker world for developing GHOST, computer software that allows users to surf any part of the web completely undetected. And that kind of digital camouflage is seductive to criminal minds who will stop at nothing to get their hands on this revolutionary—and dangerous—technology. 

Meanwhile, in England, Ali investigates the decades-old murder of Leland Brooks’s father, which Leland himself was once suspected of committing. With Ali otherwise occupied and Lance receiving cryptic threats in the hospital, B. turns to Sister Anselm—a Taser-carrying nun and Ali’s close friend—for help protecting the boy. With unsolved crimes on both sides of the Atlantic, Ali, B., and Sister Anselm are united by their search for answers—though being thousands of miles away may not be far enough to keep Ali from being drawn into the deadly line of fire.” – Moving Target

My Thoughts

Moving Target focuses on two cases, so it is almost like getting two books in one. There is a cold case that involves Leland Brook’s family in England. There is also another case going on in Texas which involves a teen hacker that was set on fire. Somewhere around the middle of the book, these two cases which seemed to not be related at all, appear to be more connected than you may have ever thought.

This book in the series also helps flesh out some of the side characters more, which I quite like because it allows readers to get to know more of the characters, and thus, enjoy reading the series that much more. I really liked reading more about Ali’s friend, the taser carrying nun, Sister Anselm.

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel by J.A. Jance and definitely recommend it to anyone who has read books in this series, or just enjoys a good thriller.

* Thank you to the publisher of Moving Target, Touchstone, for providing me with a copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

20 and Something by David H Kim

20 and Something by David H Kim is a book written “for emerging adults and anyone wondering about those millennials.” If you are looking for information on what this age group thinks about a variety of topics, check this book out.

Book Description

“Twentysomethings today are redefining what this decade means and what making a positive contribution to society looks like. One reality is today's economy - you may find yourself a recent college graduate with no job prospects. As such, many twentysomethings are shifting away from career, to calling, looking for ways to impact the world. Or maybe for you, a career or job is what you do in order to support the more meaningful work you love, like photography, music, brewing, or traveling.

Likely you have found a tribe of like-minded people who are taking the journey with you, asking yourselves big questions like what to do with life, what does it mean, why should I settle down with a spouse and house so soon? These questions have huge ramifications for all aspects of society. Twentysomethings need new ways of thinking about institutions and finding rootedness in a transient culture, while at the same time institutions need new ways of thinking about and incorporating twentysomethings. Join David H. Kim, the executive director of the Center for Faith and Work at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, as he walks through the uniqueness of this transformative decade.” – 20 and Something

My Thoughts

20 and Something is aimed to show that the millenials aren’t lazy, and how people in this generation can use this time of their life to figure it out and have the time of their life. However, it is mostly focused on statistics about what this age group thinks. As someone who is in the age group, nothing came as a shock to me. Nor does it make me feel like it helped me any from having read it, sadly.

Overall, it is good for statistics and what you want to do with that. However, statistics can be written to show what the researcher wants as well, so read into it how you will. It is a very short book that makes for a quick read. I wouldn’t read it again, and wouldn’t recommend others to read it unless you are into reading statistics.

* Thank you to the publisher of 20 and Something, Zondervan, for providing me with a copy of this book for review as part of Thomas Nelson’s Book Look Blogger program. All opinions expressed are my own.

Vintage by Susan Gloss

Vintage is the debut novel by Susan Gloss who uses her own experience to create a charmingly crafted novel about a vintage shop. If you enjoy all things vintage, and learning more about the stories of cherished items from the past, this is definitely a book that will captivate you for an enjoyable weekend read this summer.

Book Description

“At Hourglass Vintage in Madison, Wisconsin, every item in the boutique has a story to tell . . . and so do the women whose lives the store touches.

Yellow Samsonite suitcase with ivory, quilted lining, 1950s

A small-town girl with a flair for fashion, Violet Turner had always dreamed of owning a shop like Hourglass Vintage. But while she values the personal history behind each beautiful item she sells, Violet is running from her own past. Faced with the possibility of losing the store to an unscrupulous developer, she realizes that despite her usual self-reliance she cannot save it alone.

Taffeta tea-length wedding gown with scooped neckline and cap sleeves, 1952

Eighteen-year-old April Morgan is nearly five months along in an unplanned pregnancy when her hasty engagement is broken. When she returns the perfect vintage wedding dress to Violet's shop, she discovers a world of new possibilities, and an unexpected sisterhood with women who won't let her give up on her dreams.

Orange silk sari with gold paisley design, 1968

Betrayed by her husband, Amithi Singh begins selling off her vibrant Indian dresses, remnants of a life she's determined to leave behind her. After decades of housekeeping and parenting a daughter who rejects her traditional ways, she fears her best days are behind her . . . until she discovers an outlet for her creativity and skills with a needle and thread.

An engaging story that beautifully captures the essence of friendship and style, Vintage is a charming tale of possibility, of finding renewal, love, and hope when we least expect it.” – Vintage

My Thoughts

Vintage is a story that is able to really show how women can work together and form a powerful female friendship that inspires and empowers one another. Stories like this are fun, and something that I think women should read more of. Life is not about competition, we should empower one another and be there for one another. This author captures that spirit in this book, and it is something I definitely can recommend to others to read, too.

The main character in this book is Violet Turner. She owns Hourglass Vintage, which is a vintage shop in Madison, Wisconsin. All of the items in the shop have their own unique story waiting to be told and hopefully sold to customers. The two other main women in the story, Amithi and April are fixtures for showing this female friendship, and helpful when Violet may lose the shop to developers wanting to turn the building into condos.

Overall, I found this to be a great read, and think it is a worthy book to read for a weekend this summer.

* Thank you to the publisher of Vintage, William Morrow, for providing me with a copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

3rd Semester of Nursing School – Finished!

Sorry for not posting many updates or reviews lately. I have been extremely busy with my 3^rd semester of nursing school since January. I always try to post and do as much with this as I can during the school year, but sometimes (like this semester) was just really hard to do.

At my school, 3^rd semester includes: Maternity Nursing (aka “OB”), Pediatric Nursing, and Leadership. I had clinical days each week for OB and Peds. For peds we were sent out all over the place doing hospital days, kid checks, health fairs, etc. For OB, we were at the hospital and one day we went to the health department. For 90% of these clinical days I also had to wake up at around 4:30 AM (I am not a morning person). Each week we also are on campus for 2 days, and we have more tests than you can imagine.

I learned so much this semester and had a lot of opportunities to improve my nursing skills. It kept all of us busy and stressed out to say the least.

Final exams are finally over, and I earned my B in each course. Now, I have some time off to relax, study (take a ton of NCLEX type questions), and do what I want (including sleeping in) until 4^th semester starts. I have a class this summer, but it isn’t that big of a deal (I hope).

Oh, in case you were wondering, no this is not our 3^rd total semester in college. Nursing school is what comes after all of the pre-req courses (which is about 2 years of that). My university that means 5 semesters of “nursing school” and we say which semester we are in. My program is a BSN degree and it takes 2.5 years of just the nursing school portion. I had to clarify on this because some people (and articles) make people think nurses only go to school for 2 years and that is a huge laugh.

So, expect for me to post more frequently and share some great reviews with you soon!

The Sound of Broken Glass by Deborah Crombie

The Sound of Broken Glass by Deborah Crombie is a continuation of the writer’s series featuring London detectives Duncan Kincaid and Gemma Jones. Fans of the series and newcomers can both enjoy this well written mystery novel.

Book Description

“In the past . . .

On a blisteringly hot August afternoon in Crystal Palace, once home to the tragically destroyed Great Exhibition, a solitary thirteen-year-old boy meets his next-door neighbor, a recently widowed young teacher hoping to make a new start in the tight-knit South London community. Drawn together by loneliness, the unlikely pair forms a deep connection that ends in a shattering act of betrayal.

In the present . . .

On a cold January morning in London, Detective Inspector Gemma James is back on the job now that her husband, Detective Superintendent Duncan Kincaid, is at home to care for their three-year-old foster daughter. Assigned to lead a Murder Investigation Team in South London, she's assisted by her trusted colleague, newly promoted Detective Sergeant Melody Talbot. Their first case: a crime scene at a seedy hotel in Crystal Palace. The victim: a well-respected barrister, found naked, trussed, and apparently strangled. Is it an unsavory accident or murder? In either case, he was not alone, and Gemma's team must find his companion—a search that takes them into unexpected corners and forces them to contemplate unsettling truths about the weaknesses and passions that lead to murder. Ultimately, they will begin to question everything they think they know about their world and those they trust most.” – The Sound of Broken Glass

My Thoughts

The Sound of Broken Glass is another well written mystery by the author of this series. The plotline is multi-layered, and the characters are well developed, which equals a story that I can really get into.

I don’t want to unveil any twists or turns in the story, so no spoilers here! I will however tell you that, yes, some are predictable, but not all that you may think will happen will! It is a very good book that kept me interested right up to the end. I definitely recommend it, and I personally will be looking forward to reading more books by this author.

* Thank you to the publisher of The Sound of Broken Glass, William Morrow, for providing me with a copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Wedding Bees by Sarah Kate Lynch

The Wedding Bees by Sarah Kate Lynch is a witty romance that is a pure joy to read. Grab a cup of coffee or tea, and relax in a most comfortable spot to read this book anytime of the year.

Book Description

“Sugar Wallace did not believe in love at first sight, but her bees did. . . .

Every spring Sugar Wallace coaxes her sleepy honeybee queen—presently the sixth in a long line of Queen Elizabeths—out of the hive and lets her crawl around a treasured old map. Wherever the queen stops is their next destination, and this year it's New York City.

Sugar sets up her honeybees on the balcony of an East Village walk-up and then––as she's done everywhere since leaving South Carolina––she gets to know her neighbors. She is, after all, a former debutante who believes that manners make the world a better place even if they seem currently lacking in the big city.

Plus, she has a knack for helping people. There's Ruby with her scrapbook of wedding announcements; single mom Lola; reclusive chef Nate; and George, a courtly ex-doorman. They may not know what to make of her bees and her politeness, but they can't deny the magic in her honey.

And then there's Theo, a delightfully kind Scotsman who crosses Sugar's path as soon as she gets into town and is quickly besotted. But love is not on the menu for Sugar. She likes the strong independent woman she's become since leaving the South and there's nothing a charmer like Theo can do to change her mind . . . only her bees can do that.

The Wedding Bees is a novel about finding sweetness where you least expect it and learning to love your way home.” – The Wedding Bees

My Thoughts

The Wedding Bees is above all else, an enjoyable book to read. It is the type of book that is excellent to read to just forget about the nonsense of your everyday worries. Sometimes all you need is a good book, and this is one of those that is just a fun read.

The author does a marvelous job of creating the characters, the setting, and the vibe of the story. The bees are of course a character unto themselves, which only a very talented writer could capture. When you pick up this book, you will be transported into the story, and get lost, if only for a bit inside of it, living right along with the characters.

This book is charming and uplifting, and I definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys getting lost in a good book.

* Thank you to the publisher of The Wedding Bees, William Morrow, for providing me with a copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Bride Says No by Cathy Maxwell

The Bride Says No by Cathy Maxwell is the first book in “The Brides of Wishmore” series. For those who love romance, historical romance, and enjoyable books, this is definitely one you want to read!

Book Description

“New York Times bestselling author Cathy Maxwell returns with a delicious new series, The Brides of Wishmore

What happens when a bride says no?

He is the bastard son of a duke, arrogant, handsome, a little bit dangerous, and, of course, one of the most sought-after bachelors in London. He is also about to be publically jilted by some chit of a girl! Blake Stephens' pride isn't about to let him be humiliated, so he charges after his bride to the wilds of Scotland, determined to bring her to the altar.

What happens when the heart says yes?

He is promised to one woman, but discovers his soul stirred by . . . the chit's sister! Lady Aileen Davidson's reputation was ruined ages ago, which is why she's buried herself in the country, but her fiery spirit and bold beauty threaten to bring Blake to his knees, making him wonder if he has proposed to the wrong lass.

And now he must make a choice: marry for honor . . . or marry for love?” – The Bride Says No

My Thoughts

The Bride Says No is a well written historical romance that kept me interested in the story and characters from the beginning to the end, even if many of the plotlines were rather predictable.

Not all of the characters are very likeable, in fact a few you will probably hate. For instance, the fathers. Another one is Tara, who is a spoiled brat that takes up too much of the book, at least in my opinion.

I did quite like the characters of Aileen and Blake though, and I enjoyed reading it. Overall, I think that this is a very good read that fans of historical romance will definitely enjoy as well.

* Thank you to the publisher of The Bride Says No, Avon Books, for providing me with a copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Marriage Meetings for Lasting Love by Marcia Naomi Berger

Marriage Meetings for Lasting Love by Marcia Naomi Berger is a book to help married couples at any stage of marriage. It encourages people to have a short meeting once a week to discuss things on a positive note about one another, and how this small step helps much more than one may think.

Book Description

“Couples can make love last, says psychotherapist and clinical social worker Marcia Naomi Berger. They just need to learn how. Her prescription is deceptively simple: have an interruption-free thirty-minute (or even shorter) meeting each week and follow an agenda that includes the kind of appreciation and planning for fun that foster intimacy and pave the way for collaborative conflict resolution. With this book, you’ll learn how to effectively communicate and connect with your spouse each week, and for a lifetime, with step-by-step guidelines that walk you through the four parts of a marriage meeting: expressing appreciation, coordinating chores, planning for good times, and resolving problems. Inspiring real-life stories demonstrate how transformative these brief meetings can be. The communication tips and techniques Berger has gleaned from helping hundreds of couples will guide you toward a deeper, more lasting love.” – Marriage Meetings for Lasting Love

My Thoughts

Marriage Meetings for Lasting Love is a really good book that can be applied to people in any relationship, not just marriage. I get that it is definitely for marriages, but being that I am not married, I can see how it could work in different aspects as well.

I really like how the author uses this meeting to encourage the positives. Sometimes people like to focus on the negative things that their partner is doing, but this is really not very helpful. She also encourages communication skills that again, can be used well beyond a marriage. Very instrumental techniques to learn for everyone!

I think that this is a great book that would benefit so many couples. I highly recommend it.

* Thank you to the publisher of Marriage Meetings for Lasting Love, New World Library, for providing me with a copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.