Early Reader Review: The Secret Joy of Hygge by Alexandra Amarotico

Source: From Callisto Publishing Group and Althea Press in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

The Secret Joy of Hygge: A Practical Guide to Cultivating Happiness in the Everyday by Alexandra Amarotico

Publisher: Althea Press
Publication Date:  February 12, 2019

 

Format: Paperback

Rating:








Synopsis: 

Spread hygge happiness throughout your life. 

The Secret Joy of Hygge (HOO-gah) shows you how to make small changes to bring more warmth and joy to your everyday life. Sipping a cozy cup of tea. Nesting at your desk surrounded by your favorite plants and pictures. Gathering loved ones around your table. All are the hygge way. 

With simple, actionable techniques, you’ll learn how to embody hygge inside―and how to live it at home, at work, and with family and friends. If your life is a little frantic and you’re looking to slow down, de-stress, and increase your overall happiness, this book is for you. 

The Secret Joy of Hygge includes: 

Hygge 101―defines hygge, explains the history behind the concept, and describes its role in creating happiness 

Hygge for all―shows you how to apply this Danish idea to your life no matter where in the world you live 

Beyond hygge―examines related topics like meditation, feng shui, and minimalism 

Explore hygge and discover the simple joys of unplugging and reconnecting with yourself and your world. Let these step-by-step strategies be your guide.

Review: 
I have seen a few stories online about hygge (pronounced hoo-gah) and they called to me mostly because most of the things I was reading were about curling up with a good book with lots of blankets and pillows and a pet and just enjoying your surroundings... and after reading this book... I can say that that is in fact part of it, but there is more to learn here too.

Hygge is about finding joy in the simple things, about sharing time with others, and about being comfortable. All things that I am trying to get better with this year. I want to take more me time and stop to smell the roses and relax - because let's face it, even reading for me is kind of like a job... the blog and review books do keep me busy. But I also need to look at it in other ways - I love reading and I love the blog and sharing great books with the internet and I get lots of books in order to do that, I need to savor that time. 

This book is a great stepping stone into the culture of Hygge. You first learn about the word itself and all the variations of it and how they can be used. Then you learn about how to apply it to different things - self, Home, Friends, and Work. All of these chapters has wonderful pointers that I will use to improve my the amount of hygge. 

I also found though, that like those first articles I was reading I already do use a lot of the techniques the author outlines. I love pillows, blankets, comfort and reading. I love the ambiance a good candle gives off on a cold winter night, and I love having plants on my desk at work - all suggestions she makes. 

Overall I think this is a fun book to learn about having this joy in your life and if you are looking for more joy in your like it gives you a way to adapt things you are doing so that you can stop and smell the roses whenever you want. 

Recent Reads: You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost) by Felicia Day

You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost) by Felicia Day

Publisher:  Simon & Schuster Audio
Publication Date:  August 11, 2015
Listening length:  6 hours and 49 minutes

 

Format:  Audible Audiobooks
Source: Own/Bought (when it was on sale😀, I looooooove book sales)

Rating:






Goodreads Synopsis: 

In the tradition of #Girlboss and Mindy Kaling’s Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?—a funny, quirky, and inspiring memoir from online entertainment mogul, actress, and “queen of the geeks,” Felicia Day, about her unusual upbringing, her rise to Internet-stardom, and embracing her individuality to find success in Hollywood. 

The Internet isn’t all cat videos…almost. 

There’s also Felicia Day—violinist, filmmaker, Internet entrepreneur, compulsive gamer, hoagie specialist, and former lonely homeschooled girl who overcame her isolated childhood to become the ruler of a new world…or at least the world of Internet-geek fame and Goodreads book clubs. 

Growing up in the south where she was homeschooled for hippie reasons, Felicia moved to Hollywood to pursue her dream of becoming an actress and was immediately typecast as a crazy cat-lady secretary. But Felicia’s misadventures in Hollywood led her to produce her own web series, own her own production company, and become an instant Internet star.

Felcia’s short-ish life and her rags-to-riches rise to Internet fame launched her career as one of the most influential creators in new media. Now, Felicia’s strange life is filled with thoughts on creativity, video games, and a dash of mild feminist activism—just like her memoir. 

Hilarious and inspirational, You’re Never Weird On the Internet (Almost) is proof that everyone should embrace what makes them different and be brave enough to share it with the world, because anything is possible now—even for a digital misfit.

Review: 
I really love Felicia Day. I have watched and loved The Guild, I follow her on all the social medias, and I really enjoyed Geek and Sundry when she first started it along with her show The Flog. I find her nerdy anxiety refreshing and relatable. She is one of my heroes - she is a hard worker, likes what she likes without embarrassment and adorable while doing it all. (I sound like a stalker - I am not, I promise). I just really love people that can be themselves and appreciate the nerdy things that they enjoy. I love to read (I think my readers know this by now) and I used to hide my reader-nerdiness, once I fully embraced it I really was able to be myself.

Anywho! The Audiobook was wonderful. Felicia Day herself reads it to you and interjects with times to stop and look at the PDF that as also included to look at pictures of her craziness. She talks fast and tells her story with so much enthusiasm and it feels right to listen to her telling it. 

She goes through various parts of her life step by step, from her wacky family and homeschooling, to wanting to act and getting herself through those phases. She is honest and not every step was wonderful for her so it is down to earth.
(Random note: a few times she comments on her future children, and I love that because she is a mom now and I am wondering is she looks back on this book and takes note of the things she said).

If you are nerdy, more specifically internet and World of Warcraft nerdy, this will strike a cord with you. If you are female, I think even more so, but I am not saying that men won't enjoy it as well - being inside the female brain is a scary and fun place. 

It took me a long time to pick this one up and finally take the time to read/listen to it, but I am SO glad that I did.

Early Reader Review: You're My Little Sweet Pea by Kit Chase

Source: From Booklook Bloggers and Zonderkidz in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

You're My Little Sweet Pea by Kit Chase 
Publisher: Zonderkidz
Publication Date:  January 22, 2019

 

Format: Board book

Rating:






Goodreads Synopsis: 

You’re My Little Sweet Pea is a heartwarming board book about the deep bond between a parent, grandparent, or any loved one and their little one. The sweet rhymes and adorable illustrations by Kit Chase help show all the wonderful moments shared with a child, reminding children how special they are and how much they are loved. 

Little Sweet Pea, I love you. 
From button nose to baby coo.

Squishy cheeks and sparkly eyes, 
Pure delight and perfect size.

Tender feet and tiny toes, 
Where they’ll take you, no one knows.  

If you love books from authors like Nancy Tillman (On the Night You Were Born) and Sam McBratney (Guess How Much I Love You), then You’re My Little Sweet Pea is the perfect book for you.
A wonderful gift for a new baby, baptism, birthday, or any occasion to show your child or grandchild they will always be your little sweet pea.

 Review: 
You're My Little Sweet Pea is an adorable board book from Zonderkidz which illustrates the bond between parent and little one. It has a rhyming scheme throughout the text and is illustrated beautifully with parent animals and their little babies. There are foxes and bears, and rabbits, it is all very very cute.

The story has heartwarming message of sharing love with your child. I think parents and children will like this one. As the synopsis notes, it would also be a great gift book... which is what I intend to do with my copy. 

Overall, this was a very quick, easy, and fun read for both me and the husband while we were also making dinner :)

Early Reader Review: Quinn's Promise Rock by Christie Thomas

Source: From Netgalley and Harvest House Publishers in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

Quinn's Promise Rock by Christie Thomas
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers
Publication Date:  February 5, 2019

 

Format: Ebook

Rating:








Goodreads Synopsis: 

Help Your Child Grab Hold of God's Promises
Quinn, the thoughtful little owl, has a lot of worries and questions for her father.
"What if I get lost?"
"What if you dive and I don't notice?"
"What if you get too far ahead of me and I can't find you?"
Written for children experiencing moments of separation anxiety or other common fears, Quinn's Promise Rock reminds kids that God will always be there for them, whatever happens or wherever they go. Share this comforting truth with your child today.

Review: 
Quinn's Promise Rock is a book for youth readers about questioning when might happen if they get lost and being comforted. The book has two owls a father and little girl who are out hunting for dinner when Quinn asks what might happen, her father directs her to look for a mountain and tree to find her way home and then the book turns more religious and is about God always being with you. 

To symbolize this, Quinn gets a rock to reminder her that while she can't always see it, it is always there. This was a cute book, but the use of the rock is weird to me. If she wants to see the rock she can, I know that those that are religious might say the same about God but it is a bit far fetched for me. 

The illustrations throughout were very pretty and the details were nice. There is even an information page about owls at the end which I found the most amusing of the whole book. So while the religious aspect kind of fell a bit short for my liking, the images and information page gained it a few stars.

As always, this might not be for me, but you and your family may love it. It is all in the eye of the beholder. If you are into religious children's books, this might just be for you.

Building the Book Pile #290

Welcome to Building the Book Pile!  A Weekly meme inspired by Stacking the Shelves

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

Happy Monday readers! Sorry this is a late edition, but I had school work and house work to get done yesterday and didn't have the time to sit down and go this. I am about to get a jumpstart on my classwork for this week, but wanted to make sure a re-cap of last week was up and that I shared ALL the reviews that will be up this week - because there are a bunch.

Last week was a good one and the weekend, while very busy was very productive and I am in a great mood. I hope that everyone else ended January on a high note too.

If you enjoy the blog and want to share some love and caffeine, you can buy me a coffee via Ko-fi

Share about your week with me in the comments below!

 

  Giveaways  on Cover2CoverBlog! 

Coming up on the Blog

Early Reader Review: Quinn's Promise Rock by Christie Thomas (Youth)
Early Reader Review: You're My Little Sweet Pea by Kit Chase (Youth)
Recent Reads: You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost) by Felicia Day (Non-Fiction)
Early Reader Review: The Secret Joy of Hygge: A Practical Guide to Cultivating Happiness in the Everyday by Alexandra Amarotico (Non-Fiction)
Early Reader Review: Thomas Wildus and the Book of Sorrows by J.M. Bergen (YA)

Books Received this Week 

     

Audible Freebies for February

Killer by Nature by Jan Smith (Adult)
Folsom Untold: The Strange True Story of Johnny Cash's Greatest Album by Danny Robins (Adult, Non-Fiction)

 
Books for Review:

Truman the Dog: My Furry Foster Family (Youth) from Netgalley and Capstone for review.

Glint: The Cloud Raiders by Samuel Sattin and Ian McGinty  from Netgalley and Diamond Book Distributors for review.



Have you missed anything lately?

Week of  January 27- February 2

Early Reader Review: The Monster Friend by Asaf Rozanes (Youth) -3 Stars
Book Blitz w/ Giveaway: Remote by Lisa Acerbo (YA)
January Re-Cap
February TBR Pile

Comment and leave me a link to your Round-up/ STS/ Weekly...anything, post and I will happily stop by and say hello!

Happy Reading!

February 2019 - TBR Pile

THE BOOKS
I actually made a pretty good dent in my TBR from January, so there is only one overlap from last month :) Going light on the TBR this month though so that I can read other things too....

         
 

  

What do you want to read this month?
Have you read any of these yet? 
If so, let me know what you thought! 

Monthly Re-Cap: January 2019

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

How was your January?

This month went by so extremely quick. Granted, I was super busy all month with work, school, blogging, and snow/water removal but still it was such a short month. I did get a lot done though. I read a pretty good number of books and have really been enjoying audiobooks with my gifted audible subscription. 

I am in the middle of a few books still, I am hoping to finish another one from my TBR tonight and I am listening to one audiobook by myself and another one with the hubs (Harry Potter #2- YAY). 

I just wish there was more time in the day for all the things I have to do...

~~Books I Read in January ~~
             
         

How did I do on my January TBR? 
I finished 2 / 4 books. I am a good section into the 3rd one, and am hoping to finish it tonight though.

~~Links to Some Reviews~~
You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero (Adult, Non-Fiction) - 4 stars
The Daughters of Salem by Thomas Gilbert (GN) - 3 stars
The Shield of Nike by A.P. Mobley (YA, Novella) - 4 stars
The Art of Hand Lettering for Beginners (Non-Fiction) - 5 stars
The Spies That Bind by Ally Carter (YA, Novella) - 4 stars
The Monster Friend by Asaf Rozanes (Youth) - 3 stars

 
~~Coming Soon~~ 
Muddy: The Raccoon Who Stole Dishes by Griffin Ondaatje (Youth) 
Quinn's Promise Rock by Christie Thomas (Youth)
Julius Zebra:Entangled with the Egyptians by Gary Northfield (MG)
The Secret Joy of Hygge by Alexandra Amarotico  (Non-Fiction)

~No Review~
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by JK Rowling - reread 😀

Blog Blitz w/ Excerpt and Giveaway! Remote by Lisa Acerbo

Remote by Lisa Acerbo 

Publication date: December 24th 2018

Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult

About the Book: 

When technology fulfills every dream, reality is a nightmare.

Below the streets of New State, the Grounders fight to remain free of the technological control of the world above. When dusk falls, Wren risks her life by entering the capital city as a raider to secure resources for the rebellion. Each step further inside puts her life in jeopardy from New State’s deadliest weapons – Phantoms. More machine than human, tortured until devoid of emotion and caring, Phantoms have only one objective. Kill. And they do it with exacting precision.

Wren is good at her job as a raider and committed to the cause until she meets Codex, a New State citizen who doesn’t quite fit her preconceived expectations. After a couple of awkward encounters, he shows her the meaning of hooking up—a computer simulation that allows people to live out their fantasies—without the complication of emotional entanglements or physical reality. But what Wren feels for Codex is very real. And it’s punishable by death.

As she and Codex grow closer, Wren convinces him to leave New State for the underground. But unrest between New State and the Grounders escalates, and Phantoms move in to destroy her world. Nothing goes as Wren planned. Families are arrested, loyalties are strained, and Wren’s forced to choose between her people and her feelings. The wrong choice could mean the end of her people, and reality could slip away—forever…

Goodreads / Amazon

“Clear here. Ready to get this night rolling,” Wren said into the headset, maneuvering down the hidden steps.

“You’re the only person I know who happily goes into New State,” a static voice replied.

“For the cause,” someone whispered into the headsets for all to hear.

“For the cause,” came a reply from the raiders.

She chuckled to herself as sure steps brought her off the mountain and onto the barren landscape. Wren took a moment to enjoy the moonlit March and think about her job as a raider. She rarely saw the sun, so even the glimpse of the night orb hiding behind a sheen of clouds brought her intense joy. But it also worked to her advantage. Raiding New State took skill and effort. Darkness added to her stealth. Few luxuries found their way to the underground caves where she lived. Even some basic provisions like food and medicines had to be commandeered. “If you want it, you’ll have to find a way to get it,” her father had told her from a young age.

She approached the small group of raiders, all of whom had exited the mountain range separately for safety and listened to the whispered arguments about the best picking in New State. Wren didn’t join the debate. 

She thought back to the conversation she had before leaving for this mission. One of the Grounder leaders, whom just happened to be her father, cornered her on the way out. 

“Wren, I got a complaint from your commander. You need to follow the rules as written for the raiders. It’s the only reason your mother and I let you join the group.” 

“I need to explore New State and go where others don’t. How else are we going to understand and defeat them?”

“We have other ways,” her father said.

“Excuse me, Head of State Rafe,” She watched his expression sour as she used his official title with his first name. She loved annoying him. “My searches lead to the best discoveries.” 

“I won’t care what you find if you end up dead. Promise.”

Wren had let the silence grow. “Fine.”  She had no plans to keep her promise.

About the Author:

Lisa Acerbo is a high school teacher and adjunct faculty at the University of Phoenix. She lives in Connecticut with her husband, daughters, two dogs, and horse. When not writing, she mountain bikes, hikes, and tries to pursue some type of further education. 

Find the Author

Facebook / Instagram / Website / Twitter / Goodreads

GIVEAWAY

Blitz-wide giveaway (INTL)

• 5 eBook copies of Remote
• 5 eBook copies of Twelve Months of Awkward Moments
• $10 Amazon gift card

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Early Reader Review: The Monster Friend by Asaf Rozanes

Source: From the Author in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

The Monster Friend by Asaf Rozanes
Series: Mindful Mia
Publisher: Yazamia Ltd.
Publication Date:  February 1, 2019

 

Format:  Ebook


Rating:






Goodreads Synopsis: 

MONSTERS ARE REAL! 

It's time to stop denying their existence and start getting to know them and why they came to pay you a visit.
In this amusing and heroic bedtime tale Mia decides to confront her worst fears - what happens next is truly inspiring and provides both children and parents with REAL practical life tools for facing and conquering their fears! 

A must have book for children and parents to teach kids about:  

Identifying and facing fears with courage
Building and relying on their self-esteem
Conquering their fears and achieving inner growth

Fun, cute and entertaining with beautiful illustrations, a hidden game, coloring pages and an activity sheet with discussion points - ALL IN ONE BOOK!

Review: 
The Mindful Mia book series is a group of books for kids about how to address issues. Previously in the series the author has discussed diversity, acceptance, self-image, and self-esteem, and this book adds to the series very well. The Monster Friend focuses on friendships and facing fears with a common bedtime issues - monsters. Mia has seen a monster in her room and just wants it to go away. her dad is able to help her face her fears and even befriend the monster. 

This is a cute book, the pictures are bright and the message, while a common theme, is a good one to keep addressing. I think parents could use this book as a teaching tool and I think that children will enjoy the overall story. 

These books also include coloring pages and a search game throughout the book so it adds more fun for later.  

If you are a parent looking to address the monster under the bed problem, this book is a very good option for you and your little one.

Building the Book Pile #289

Welcome to Building the Book Pile!  A Weekly meme inspired by Stacking the Shelves

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

Happy Sunday everyone! I hope that everyone had a wonderful week. Here in Vermont it snowed, rained way too much on a warm day, then iced over everything.... that meant that I have a cold and there was a good amount of water in my basement for a bit.  However! I am starting to feel better and the basement is fairly dry again. 

On the books and blog front, I have been listening to some audiobooks and reading some things, so there is content on the blog lol YAY! I was able to get my school work done early this week so it left more time for recreational reading. I am also officially through the first hectic time at my new job and it feels great to be a part of a new team and getting things done, but also now that we have a bit more room to breathe. 

ALL THE POSITIVITY! 

(I am trying to be better about the positive thinking in 2019.)

Yesterday I also got some friend time, my bestie and I went to Concord and went to Olive Garden and Target :) for some that is a normal outing, for us that is an hour away and you make a day trip of it.... yea I know! The struggle is real.

I hope that everyone has a wonderful last week of January!!!

If you enjoy the blog and want to share some love and caffeine, you can buy me a coffee via Ko-fi

Share about your week with me in the comments below!

 

  Giveaways  on Cover2CoverBlog! 

None right now. More coming soon...

Coming up on the Blog

Early Reader Review: The Monster Friend by Asaf Rozanes (Youth)
Book Blitz w/ Giveaway: Remote by Lisa Acerbo (YA)
January Re-Cap
February TBR Pile

Books Received this Week 

    
   

There was a sale on Audible... so yea...I got some more audiobooks!  

You're Never Weird on the Internet (almost) by Felicia Day (Non-Fiction)

Scythe by Neal Shusterman (YA)

Books for Review:

The Monster Friend by Asaf Rozanes (Youth) from the author for review

The Library of Ever by Zeno Alexander (MG) from Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for review.



Have you missed anything lately?

Week of  January 21- January 26

Recent Reads: The Art of Hand Lettering for Beginners by Joanna Munoz (Non-fiction) -5 stars

Recent Reads: The Spies that Bind by Ally Carter (Novella, YA) -4 stars

Comment and leave me a link to your Round-up/ STS/ Weekly...anything, post and I will happily stop by and say hello!

Happy Reading!