Book Review: The Honey-Don’t List

The Honey-Don’t List by Christina Lauren
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the first book I’ve read by the best-selling writing duo Christina Lauren and it probably won’t be the last. This book was funny and engaging. I was rooting for Carey and James in the difficult situation in which they find themselves.

View all my reviews

Can We Turn To Greek Mythology For Calming?

2021, still in the grip of the pandemic, calls for a sense of calm and happiness. Maybe we can turn to Greek Mythology to help us.

In Greek mythology, Alkyone was the daughter of Aeolus, the wind god. When she learned that her husband had died at sea, she threw herself into the Mediterranean and was transformed into the beautiful bird called the kingfisher (so romantic!).

Aeolus calmed the sea for his daughter to hatch a brood of eggs on a floating nest.

We now use the phrase, halcyon days, to mean a time of calm and happiness.

 

In the turbulent days ahead as we change leaders, get vaccinated and remain socially distanced we will be seeking some halcyon days.

Ways to gain calm and happiness:

• Take a walk in nature – breathe in the fresh air, listen to the birds, laugh at squirrel antics…you’ll be surprised how happy you’ll feel.
• Begin feeding birds at home, whether you hang feeders in your backyard or get the ones that suction cup to your windows. Birds can be fascinating to watch. Yellow finches, hummingbirds and woodpeckers are among my favorites.

Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay

• Adopt a pet. There’s nothing like pet snuggles and animal antics to make you laugh and love.
• Read a romance novel with a Happily-Ever-After ending.
• Take a long, soaking bath. Add some bubbles or bath salts to soak those worries away. 
• Get the whole family in on the happiness by playing a board game. The benefits will include family bonding, healthy competition and laughs among others. My memories include playing Monopoly, Scrabble, Pictionary, Trivia…

What would you add to this list?

What gives you calm and happiness?

 

Have You Read This Romance Yet?

I’m currently reading A Gift for Guile (The Thief-takers) by Alissa Johnson…

(Book Blurb – Courtesy of Amazon.com – buy it)

Beautiful and conniving, maddening and brilliant, Esther is everything private detective Samuel Brass shouldn’t want. Esther knows she’s put herself in terrible danger, but nothing will stop her from making amends-not her family’s enemies, not old fears, and certainly not the domineering, interfering, and undeniably handsome former officer of the Scotland Yard. Yet whenever he’s near, Samuel makes her long for a life that can never be hers…and wish she were worthy of being saved.

I’m about halfway through this book and am thoroughly enjoying it. It has rich characters, humor and mystery which are things that grab me right away. To see my Top Ten Book Hooks, check out my previous post here. I would recommend this book to everyone.

Tell me, what are you reading? Have you read A Gift for Guile?

Top Ten Book Hooks That Work For Me

Welcome to another Top Ten Tuesday blog post.

(For info on TTT and to join in, check out That Artsy Reader Girl)

What makes me pick up a book to read?

1. Title – can’t resist a catchy title. For example: Chose The Wrong Guy, Gave Him the Wrong Finger by Beth Harbison. Love that title 🙂

2. Cover – I’m a very visual person so I like a colorful cover. One of the best ones I’ve seen is The Azalea Assault by Alyse Carlson (the paperback version). It’s truly a work of art.

3. Locale – I love to read about far away and exotic places so locales of dreamy islands or Asian countries will grab me (and anywhere in the Carolinas since I’m a newbie Southerner).

4. Romance – I especially love the enemies to lovers theme with funny banter between the couple while they resist the attraction.

5. Mystery – I don’t always enjoy books that are only romance. To me they need to include a mystery of some kind (who’s stalking the heroine, who’s stealing company secrets, who murdered the butcher, etc.)

6. Suspense – Who doesn’t love a little nail-biting suspense? Nothing stirs up those desires better than a little danger to the hero and heroine.

7. Characters – Of course this is a major element. If you don’t care about the characters you won’t be able to enjoy the story.

8. Length – This is a lesser element for me except if the book is longer than 350 pages you better have a pace that keeps me turning the pages.

9. Author – I’m always on the lookout for new authors but with the authors that I know I enjoy, I will definitely try anything they write.

10. Time period – I enjoy Historical but mainly just in the 1800’s or else the current time period.

So what kind of book hooks grab you?

TTT: Top 10 Romantic Songs

Time for a Top Ten Tuesday…

That Artsy Reader Girl has a list of topics for Top Ten Tuesday blog posts. Check it out to participate with other book lovers.

My Top Ten Romantic Songs: (in no particular order)

1. Time of My Life from the movie Dirty Dancing

2. Lady in Red by Chris de Burgh

3. Three Times a Lady by the Commodores

4. Hero by Enrique Iglesias

5. The Wonder of You by Elvis Presley

6. Kiss From a Rose by Seal

7. Killing Me Softly With His Song by Roberta Flack

8. I Just Called to Say I Love You by Stevie Wonder

9. Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton

10. I Knew I Loved You by Savage Garden

There’s tons more — what are a few of your favorites?

5 Valentine’s Day Gifts Even Better Than Flowers & Candy

Valentine’s Day, time to conform to the Valentine’s Day traditions and give chocolates and roses to your sweetheart.

But is it? Are you a conformist or do you like to shake things up a bit? Maybe your sweetheart is the one who loves being unique and unconventional? Either way, here are 5 ideas of “nontraditional” Valentine’s Day gifts:

1. Spa Treatment – If your sweetie loves to be pampered, what better way than with a massage, facial or whatever at your local spa. Most spas will be offering specials and sales around this time. Win-win!
2. Dinner In – If you don’t like waiting an hour for a table at a restaurant, why not take advantage of the modern approach of curbside pickup? You still get the three course meal but in a more intimate setting to spike up the romance 🙂  
3. Donation to Charity – Show your love by giving to someone else in your sweetheart’s name. Pick something they are passionate about (oceans, parks, children, medical research, etc.) and give. This is also a win-win!
4. Entertainment – Is your sweetheart into sports events, concerts or cultural events? Tickets for one of these events could put a big smile on your sweetheart’s face and points on your love-meter.  
5. Volunteer – This one doesn’t cost you anything but your time. Show your love for your fellow-man or animal by volunteering a few hours at a soup kitchen, at your local shelter to play with the animals or to collect for a food drive. Another win-win situation.  

So tell me – are you a conformist? What non-traditional gifts have you received or given?

I’d love to hear about it!

Here’s wishing everyone a very loving Valentine’s Day.

 

In Case You Missed It … 2018

2018 is almost done and 2019 is approaching fast.

So, while we are still here in 2018 let’s recap. “In case you missed” any of these…

Feng Shui

Want a Lucky 2018?

 

Romance

What’s More Romantic Than a Wedding?

8 Romance Sub-genres To Find Your Next Love

6 Romantic Getaways Right Here In The Good Old USA

6 Nontraditional Places To Have A Romantic Wedding

 

Inspiration

What Can Spring Teach Us About Life?

Heroes of Hurricane Florence

 

Cats

Photo Challenge: What Makes Me Smile

 

Friday Fun

4 Funny Jokes To Start Your Weekend

 

Blogiversary

It’s Blogiversary Time! 5 Years!

 

I thank all my followers and visitors for your support and friendship through 2018.

I hope meet and connect with even more of you in 2019!

Beauty After Breast Cancer

A powerful post about beauty after breast cancer. Do breasts alone determine our beauty? Are women less feminine without them? What are your thoughts?

Beauty is more than a skinny body, fancy clothes, and makeup. Going through cancer can put your body through harsh treatments and sometimes multiple surgeries. Some lose their hair, some have only the spot where the cancer is removed, and some have both breasts removed. Radiation and chemotherapy are harsh treatments. Going through these treatments and surgeries can make you feel ugly and less like a woman.

When I was given the choice to have a mastectomy, I thought I had to have reconstruction to keep my beauty. I thought I’d be less of a woman without breasts. After the surgery it took me a while to look at my chest or look at myself shirtless in a mirror. I was afraid to see the scars where my breasts used to be. I was afraid I would look ugly and disfigured. When I finally looked at my chest, I cried.

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7 Ideas To Keep Christmas Merry For Couples

Christmas is my favorite holiday, but with all the shopping, activities, parties and baking it can get stressful. That can lead to headaches, arguments with spouses and screaming, “I can’t wait til this is all over!” Don’t let this happen to you. With a little advance planning and patience you can have a really enjoyable and fun holiday which includes special time for spouses.

7 Ideas To Keep Christmas Merry For Couples:

1. A Sexy Stocking filled with adult goodies and coupons promising fun when cashed in by your spouse. The Dating Divas have a kit with instructions and ideas to help.  
2. A Midnight Toast for you and your spouse just as Christmas Day begins before all the celebrating starts. Even a few minutes of telling each other how special they are and toasting your love can make the holiday season extra special. 
3. Decorate your bedroom with Christmas Lights to create a romantic mood.
4. Relax with a few Romantic Movies and snuggle together. Here are two sites to give you ideas: 15 Most Romantic Movies and 13 Best Hallmark-Style Romantic Christmas Movies On Netflix.
5. Give each other Matching Christmas Pajamas.
6. Celebrate the 12 Days Of Christmas by giving each other 12 small, loving gifts. 
7. Last but not least — hang Mistletoe in the house so you can kiss every time you pass it. You could always hang some in your bedroom too for more intense kissing 🙂 

 

Check out a few of my past Christmas posts:

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things

10 Of My Favorite Christmas Movies

 

Be sure to check out The Dating Divas website for lots of great dating and relationship ideas!

Is There An Autumn Romance In Your Future?

Autumn is one of the most romantic times of year:

• Snuggling up under a flannel blanket gazing at the stars
• Walking hand-in-hand through nature’s fall display of leaves
• Cuddling up next to a crackling fireplace

But an Autumn Romance is a romantic relationship that occurs later in life.

 

Because you are never too old for romance.

 

Because we never out-grow romance.

 

Looking for an Autumn Romance?

• If you’re into online dating there are sites specifically for older adults, such as Our Time, Elite Singles and Just Senior Singles.
• Take up a new hobby and you just might meet someone with similar interests.
• Attend over-50 type events in your community.
• Concerts of groups who were popular in your day and activities centered around the music of your day (ex. Music of the 60’s, 70’s, etc.) will be full of like-aged people.
• Take a bus tour, often offered through churches or community centers, and connect with others who enjoy travel or cultural.

Has anyone experienced an Autumn Romance? I’d love to hear how it began and how it’s going!

Leave me a comment – you may help someone else looking for love and companionship.