April 2018: Recap + On My Shelves

April 2018: Recap + On My Shelves

• May 7, 2018

May is one of my very favorite months – and not just because it holds my son's birthday! I have lots of fun things coming up, in my life and on my blog, and the warmer weather is adding to all the positive vibes.

1. Celebrating Easter – I love Easter, but this year's was extra special because my son was old enough to do an egg hunt. He had so much putting them all in his basket, even though they were empty. Haha! Wait til he finds out about the candy next year... And the sweetest part? He wore an adorable hand-me-down outfit from my brother.

2. Cassie Visits Georgia – Cassie and I first met in person at BEA back in 2014, but we really only got to spend half of a day together! It wasn't long enough, and we'd been hoping for another chance to hang out ever since. Well, we finally made it happen  when Cassie came to visit! It was so much fun to show her my area.

3. Getting Crafty – I used to only wear stud earrings, but I fell in love with hoops recently. I didn't have a great place to store them but was obsessed with the look of these hanging jewelry organizers but didn't love the price or size. So, my husband made me my own that fit perfectly around the shelves he'd previously built for my nail polish.

4. Atlanta Botanical Gardens – Nick and I woke up one beautiful Friday and decided to take our son to the zoo... and arrived to discover that everyone else had the same idea. Rather than battle the crowds, we headed off to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. We'd never been before and had the best time. It was gorgeous, and we'll go back!

Read 21 Books | Favorites:

The Virgin's War by Laura Andersen

A Treacherous Curse by Deanna Raybourn

I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella

My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan

“My happiness has to come from within myself
or it is too fragile a thing to be of any use to me
and too much of a burden to benefit any of my loved ones.”
First Comes Marriage by Mary Balogh

“[Love] is a determination to care for the other person no matter what
and to allow oneself to be cared for in return. It is a commitment to make the other happy
and to be happy oneself. It is not possessive, but neither is it a victim.”
Then Comes Seduction by Mary Balogh

 “But there were certain moments in life that forever defined one as a person –
in one's own estimation, anyway. And one's own self esteem, when all was said and done,
was of far more importance than the fickle esteem of one's peers.”
At Last Comes Love by Mary Balogh

  “By being kind to her when he had absolutely no reason to be,
he had reminded her of her own worth. Of her power over her life.”
Seducing an Angel by Mary Balogh

“No one in this world, man or woman, always gets everything the way they want.
A wise person takes to circumstance with an open mind.”
The Virgin's Spy by Laura Andersen

“The only way to have a life without pain, my darling girl,
is to also have a life without love. And that is no life at all. ”
The Virgin's War by Laura Andersen

 “If I've learned one lesson from all that's happened to me,
it's that there is no such thing as the biggest mistake of your existence.
There's no such thing as ruining your life. Life's a pretty resilient thing, it turns out.”
The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella

 “Because there is no power on earth that could make me abandon our friendship.
There is no deed you could confess so dark that it would make me forsake you.”
A Treacherous Curse by Deanna Raybourn

“Lover? I don't know. I don't know if she loves me. I don't know if I love her.
All I can say is, she's the one I think about. All the time.
She's the voice I want to hear. She's the face I hope to see.”
I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella

 “The hardest thing is love, with no expiration date, no qualifiers, no safety net.
Love that demands acceptance of all things I cannot change. Love that doesn't follow a plan.”
My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan

I was one post short of my blogging goal for April, but that's not too shabby for me. I was mostly glad that I finally got around to writing some posts that had been on my "to do" list for months! I kicked off the month with my March 2018 Recap, as usual. I reviewed 9 of the 30 books that I read in March in my March 2018 Quick Lit post. But what about the other 21 books? Well, I ended up writing individual reviews for many of those.

I chatted about Illuminae, Gemina and Obsidio by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff, which was a series that I was sad to say goodbye to in March. I envision many more re-reads in my future! Then, I talked about re-reading Tahereh Mafi's Shatter Me series and then diving in to the new release, Restore Me. My last review in March was for the Survivor's Club series by Mary Balogh, which I recently binged and loved.

Finally, I shared two baby-related editions of my So Obsessed With feature: 26 things we've been loving with a toddler and 25 picture books we've been reading lately. I'd been meaning to write both of those for months. 

I'm really behind on Feedly right, but here are two posts I've read and loved:

1. Fug Nation Loves Royal Wedding Swag! by Jessica from Go Fug Yourself – Am I planning on a Harry & Meghan mug? Maaaaaybe. I love William and Kate more, but I adore the fact that this is like The Royal We come to life!

2. Incorporating Your Life into Your Book Blog by Lauren from Bookmark Lit – I don't write a ton of personal discussions, but I do chat about life + non-bookish interests on here. This was a great reminder to do it more often!

Favorite Album: CRAZYTALK by Mat Kearney
 The full album technically came out May 4, but about half of it was available in April.
I can't stop listening! I've been a big fan of Mat for years and love this new direction and sound.

The Greatest Showman (2017) starring Hugh Jackman, Michelle Williams, Zac Efron and Zendaya – I couldn't resist renting this because it was so hyped. I generally hate musicals, and unfortunately this one didn't win me over. I'm glad I tried it, but I wasn't a huge fan overall. It was just so cheesy! But Zac and Hugh were adorable.

Their Finest (2016) starring Gemma Arterton, Sam Claflin and Bill Nighy – I spotted this while randomly browsing at Redbox and couldn't resist Sam Claflin and Gemma Arterton! I'm surprised I hadn't heard of it before because it's definitely my kind of movie. I enjoyed it, even though I wish I could change one thing in the plot.



Brooklyn (2015) starring Saoirse Ronan, Emory Cohen and Domhnall Gleeson – I remember seeing the trailer for this movie a few years ago and then all the awards show buzz that followed. I'm not sure why I never watched it before now, but I loved it! Saoirse Ronan is fabulous in the lead, and I enjoyed the secondary characters.

Scandal, Season 7, starring Kerry Washington – Honestly, I couldn't wait for this show to be over. I probably should have stopped watching a season or two ago, but I just wanted to know how it ended. Well, now I do. I don't think it was worth the time I invested in it. Haha! There were so many plot holes, and I eventually hated everyone. 

Just Because: The Read-Aloud Family by Sarah Mackenzie, Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren and The Spring Bride and Marry in Scandal by Anne Gracie

Book Depository: White Night by Ellie Marney and The Proposal, The Arrangement and The Escape by Mary Balogh

Book Outlet #1 + Used Bookstore: Boomerang by Noelle August, Indiscreet, Unforgiven, Irresistible and Heartless by Mary Balogh, The Jane Austen Project by Kathleen Flynn, Dating You / Hating You by Christina Lauren,  To Sir Phillip, With Love, When He Was Wicked, It's In His Kiss, On the Way to the Wedding and  Because of Miss Bridgerton by Julia Quinn and Then Comes Seduction by Mary Balogh

Book Outlet #2: Jane Austen at Home by Lucy Worsley, The Christian Parenting Handbook by Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, Longing by Mary Balogh, Rebound and Bounce by Noelle August and The Virgin's Daughter and The Virgin's Spy by Lauren Andersen

For My Collections: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (Thanks, Mom!) and Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

Gifted: The Cruel Prince by Holly Black (Thanks, Alexa!)

For Review: The Cottages on Silver Beach by RaeAnne Thayne (Not Pictured)