Book Review: Gone

Gone is the second book in a series. I had not read the first, but it didn’t seem to make a difference.  From what I can tell, each book in the series seems to focus on a different set of characters that are all somewhat connected.

In this book, we meet Alec and Raegan at the hospital.  A girl has just been found in a park and they think that it may be their daughter, Emma, who was abducted three years earlier.  The couple split after the abduction but decide to work together to try and figure out who took Emma, if she is still alive and if other kids being abducted are related.  They have found patterns between the other abductions, but Emma doesn’t fit it.  Is her abduction related or is Alec right and his biological father is to blame?

There are a lot of twists and turns in this story and I couldn’t put it down once things really started taking off!  Definitely a great read if you’re into mystery and thrill!

I received a free e-copy of this book from NetGalley in order to write this review, I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

Three years ago, Alec McClane and Raegan Devereaux lived every parent’s worst nightmare: their one-year-old daughter, Emma, was abducted from a park when Alec turned his back for just a moment. Emma was never found, and presumed dead. The crushing trauma, plus Alec’s unbearable guilt, ended the couple’s marriage.

Now a four-year-old girl matching Emma’s profile is found wandering a local park. Alec and Raegan are heartbroken to discover she’s not their daughter but are newly motivated to find closure…and each secretly feels desperate to be in the other’s presence again.

Alec suspects his vengeful biological father is behind Emma’s disappearance. But as Raegan investigates other abductions in the area, she sees a pattern—and begins to wonder if Emma’s kidnapping is actually linked to something more sinister.

As Alec and Raegan race to uncover the truth, a long-burning spark rekindles into smoldering passion, and they realize they need each other now more than ever.​

Book Review: Red-Blooded American Male

Red-Blooded American Male is a book of photographs taken by Robert Trachtenberg.  The opening of the book notes that “American” may be a bit misleading and that it actually means all of North America (since it includes some Canadians) but also some Brits are included as well.  As the majority of this book are photos, I’m not sure really how to review it, but the beginning of the book has an interview with Robert and some of the photos have captions which explain how and why the photos and their poses came to be.  A very large (and heavy!) coffee table book filled with great photos.

I received a free copy of this book from Blogging For Books in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

A collection of 100 inspired and surprising portraits of celebrities and everymen alike from the award-winning photographer Robert Trachtenberg.

Paul Rudd checking out the merchandise; Jimmy Kimmel playing dress up; Jack Black getting a one-of-a-kind pedicure; Elon Musk unveiling his newest Tesla; Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David taking a coffee break.

From leading men to comedians, ballet dancers to quarterbacks, war veterans to Broadway veterans,Red-Blooded American Male features more than 100 imaginative, striking, and sexy portraits from award-winning photographer Robert Trachtenberg. Pithy captions about each shoot accompany the photographs, giving readers a peek behind the curtain of a famed portrait photographer’s creative process and his world-renowned photographs.

Uncovering a unique (and often self-deprecating) side to such talents as Jimmy Fallon, Seth Rogen, Channing Tatum, Waris Ahluwalia, Will Ferrell, and Kevin Hart, this collection goes beyond mere portraiture to challenge conventional notions of masculinity and traditional male imagery.​

Music Monday: The Search For Everything Wave Two

 

Still Feel Like Your Man
Emoji of a Wave
Helpless
Roll it on Home

February 24th John Mayer released the second wave of The Search For Everything – another 4 tracks. (The 3rd wave will be the full album drop in April)  Like the first wave, there is something familiar about these songs – yet new and different all at the same time.  I am absolutely obsessed with the track “Helpless” and I think left to my own devices I can listen to it on repeat all day long.  I am just thinking about how amazingly awesome it will be live and hoping he will play it next month when I go see him!!  In “Still Feel like Your Man” there was a sample that I had recognized “Ever since the day we met…” from a 1996/1997 Primitive Radio Gods song – but then realized that the PRG clip was a sample as well – from BB King – which makes a lot more sense that that would be what John was sampling.  It’s kind of crazy how many random 1996/1997 songs I have embedded in my brain from too much MTV as a kid.

I think that I love Wave 2 more than Wave 1 and if this trend continues then I guess that means that the rest of the album is going to be even better… Looking forward to it!! So excited that John is back.

Book Review: Dream Big

Dream Big is basically my motto in life. So of course I had to check out this children’s book of the same name.  There are a lot of animals and they are all making wishes of their wildest dreams.  The baboon thinks that these things can never come true, but one by one they start happening for the animals because they are wishing and believing that they can do anything.  This is a great message and the animals in the book are really cute 🙂

I received a free e-copy of this book in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

One by one, Caterpillar, Tadpole, and Flamingo gaze up at the night sky and wish upon a star for their wildest dreams. Baboon, who can’t help but overhear, insists these dreams could never come true. But when he sees Caterpillar turn into a winged butterfly, Tadpole into a dancing frog, and Flamingo into a beautiful pink bird, Baboon realizes that a transformative power exists between these stars and the animals once they truly believe in themselves and their dreams. When Baboon tries out this secret, CATCH-M, his Magical, Mystical, Wished-Upon Star, whooshes down from the heavens to wham! ignite the courage in his chest too, and what happens next is fantastic!

Inclusive of an Arts/Activities resource section, this richly illustrated book demonstrates that together we can all be inspired to identify and pursue our dreams, no matter how big or impossible they may seem. Dream Big is the perfect heart-warming gift of encouragement for anyone starting a new phase in their life or a great send-off for grads—preschool, high school, college, and beyond!

Book Review: I Don’t Belong To You

I don’t think I have ever felt more OLD reading a book.  Keke Palmer’s “I Don’t Belong To You” is an autobiography and also an inspirational and potentially “self help” book.  However, I couldn’t get past all the use of “lol” and hashtags throughout the text.  Maybe if I was about 10 years younger I would find it appropriate – but it was written more like she was writing you an email than an actual book – which maybe was the point, but again, I’m just realizing that at 32 I am old. Watch out, or  I may bust out a “kids these days”.

LOLs, emojis and hashtags aside, the book did have a lot of lessons that Keke learned throughout her career and learning to love herself and the secrets and struggles that she went through and would be perfect for a teen or twenty something to read as I think that a lot of kids, especially girls, go through some of these same things.  Of course, I grew up before social media was a “thing”, so I don’t relate to all of the struggles that Keke mentions, but anyone her age would totally get where she is coming from.

I received a free e-copy of this book from NetGalley in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

A sometimes serious, often hilarious, and always inspiring guide that encourages young women to live a life full of ownership, confidence, and freedom from singer and popular Scream Queens and Grease Live! actress Keke Palmer, delightfully illustrated in four color with Keke’s favorite inspirational quotes, journal entries, and memes.

As a successful singer, actress, and talk show host, Keke has always used her huge social media following as a platform for real talk about the issues that matter to her generation, but now she is speaking out candidly and for the first time about the secrets, struggles, and practices that have guided her to succeed. On the surface, it may appear that Keke has it made, but under the success, she has grappled with the same issues all young women wrestle with—identity, pressure, self-worth, love, sexuality, heartbreak, and family.

With this in mind, she created I Don’t Belong To You—an inspirational guide that encourages young women to change their mindset and live with more freedom, confidence, and love as they navigate the rough terrain of the twenty-first century. Full of revealing stories from Keke’s personal and professional life, this book tackles twelve topics—sexuality, race, anxiety, success, bullying, and body image to name a few—with refreshing honesty.

Within each chapter is a personal interview with one of the many people that have inspired and motivated her, including Serena Williams, Drake, Nicki Minaj, and Lee Daniels; quotes, texts, song lyrics, and funny memes that have inspired her; and practices that can help you stay on a path of always growing, never grown. With a voice of empathy, tough love, and determination, Keke speaks about the challenges and triumphs she has experienced on her journey to finding her own voice and creating a beautiful life. I Don’t Belong To You is the motivation you need to move past pain and fear to lead a life full of creativity, spirituality, passion, and unlimited success.

Virtual Race: 2017 New Year

Race Title: 2017 New Year
Distance:   31.1
Company:  Yes.Fit
Charity:   NA

What better way to kick off 2017 with my first race having a medal of 2017 New Years glasses?  You can actually wear them too, although they are super heavy so I don’t really recommend it for more than long enough to snap a photo 😉

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