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.