The #VoicesofYA Tag!

Hey, look who isn't dead!

Me for the past two weeks: Abby, you really need to write a blog post today.
Also me:


{We spent two weeks traveling, and I didn't feel like writing posts any of those nights at any of those hotels and I'm going to stop making excuses now, but just know that I am sorry.}

So I have been tagged by Jonathan to do this tag and it looks super fun so HERE WE ARE FOR A TAG!


Question 1: What draws you to YA?
Mostly... I am a young adult.  So it makes sense.

Question 2: Describe your writing process.  Do you like outlines and structures, or seeing where your story takes you?
I'd love to be a plotter.  I really would.  Unfortunately, I have too many pantser tendencies.  Although I do love when my characters develop themselves into more than I expect.  They do that quite a bit.

Question 3: How long have you been writing?  Where are you in your journey?
I've been writing since I was ten years old, so eight years now.  Which is nuts.  But I'm still learning so much about the craft.  Honestly I feel like I know more about writing than I've actually experienced.  Which isn't great.  But I'm working on it. 

Question 4: What do you need to write?  Coffee?  Music?
MUSIC.  I have to have music.  Like, to write anything.  For example, right now, I have my Disney on Broadway playlist on shuffle.  For writing my stories, I like to have something like this, where it's kind of mindless.  I know the songs so well that I can listen to them without having to listen, if you know what I mean.  Which you probably don't.  But it's hard to explain, lol.

Question 5: If you could offer one piece of advice to another writer, (OTHER THAN "don't give up"), what would it be?
Oof, that's tough.  I think I would have to say... "Write what you love."  Find your favorite genre.  Write that.  Find something you enjoy researching.  Write about it.  Even if it isn't a fiction story, even if it's a short story, even if it's a poem, just write what you're interested in.  If you don't enjoy history, don't try to write a historical fiction.  Does that make sense?

Question 6: What book still has you reeling from its plot twist?
So many, to be honest.  But the one that's coming to mind is "A Time to Die".  Because oh my word, guys.  I'm still a little breathless from that ending.

Question 7: What books are you most anticipating for this year?
Oh dear. *glances at Goodreads* Umm... "The Noble Servant" by Melanie Dickerson (this one is already out, but I haven't read it yet... but I'm so looking forward to it) and "The Ship of the Dead" by Rick Riordan (I'm so ready for this one) are the two that I think I'm most excited for.

Question 8: In your opinion, which YA book/series has the most unique premise?
See, I was going to say the "Out of Time" trilogy for this... but everyone else has said that so now I have to think of something else.  I think I'm going to say the "Gallagher Girls" series by Ally Carter.  I've just started the first book, so I can't say much about it yet, but the premise is so unique.  I mean, it's about a school for spies.  How cool is that?

Question 9: What is your all-time favorite quote from YA?
OH GOODNESS NO DON'T MAKE ME CHOOSE.  But are we talking funny quotes?  Because if so, any of Rick Riordan's books are full of them.  But for serious, moving quotes, I really love this quote from Lois Lowry's "Gathering Blue" - "We're the ones who will fill in the blank places.  Maybe we can make it different."  What a life goal, right?

Question 10: What book do you most hope will have a movie adaptation?
Well I would say the "Books of Beginning" trilogy (some of my favorite books of all time), but as they are MG and this is a YA tag, I'll say "Heist Society" by Ally Carter.  Because I really want to see this story on a screen, big or small.  It plays out like a teenaged Leverage, so obviously I need to see it.  Please.

Tagging People:
I don't really know who to tag for this, so if you have a blog and want to do this tag, go ahead and feel free to say that I tagged you.  And then leave me a link to your post so that I can see your answers ;)

~ Abby

Five Reasons Why You Should Watch The Bletchley Circle

Because everything I post apparently has a story behind it, here's the story for this one:

This past week, my brother went to a friend's house to spend the night playing video games and not sleeping or whatever.  He ended up extending it to two nights, so it was just the three of us girls around here.  As we were here for two days with not too much to do, Mom decided that she wanted to browse Netflix and find some shows to watch in the future.  Now this may seem strange, but we've never sat down and just scrolled through the offerings on Netflix, we usually just find something we want and go with that.  But we ended up making a list of shows that we thought were possibilities (always with the thought of if it's bad or nasty in the first episode, we'll stop).  The first one we watched was kind of meh, it wasn't great and it wasn't really clean, and while we had stayed up until 1am watching it, we didn't feel like it had been worth that. 

But then we started this one.

And it was all better.

The Bletchley Circle ran for two seasons from 2012 to 2014, and followed the story of four women in post-WWII England who are trying to live normal lives after working for the government during the war. 

So here's why you should watch The Bletchley Circle:


1. It's short.

The first season is only three episodes, and the second season is only four.  This makes it super binge-worthy.  Each episode is about an hour, so you're only dedicating seven hours of your life to these ladies as opposed to the 50+ I've dedicated to Once Upon a Time (for example).

2. It's historically accurate.

The costumes.  THE COSTUMES, GUYS.  I'm jealous of every single outfit in this show I want them all.  Not only that, but the women's roles in society is accurate, the way they have to acclimate back into society is accurate, and as a history nerd I adored every second of it.

3. It's British.

Dumb reason, I know, but hear me out.  I don't know about you, but I love British television shows.  Now, I still haven't watched Doctor Who or Sherlock, but I love hearing the accents and the lingo.  And I caught myself thinking in a British accent for several days afterward, no joke.  Also, this show is just so British.  What do they do when something goes wrong?  They make tea.  Susan's kids call her "mummy" and it's adorable.

4. GIRL POWER.

Much like "Agent Carter" (another one of my faves), this show features kick-butt women who lead their own lives and don't need no man (except for Susan, who is married to the sweetest guy. I'd marry him.).  We've got a single woman out on her own and living her own life (Millie), a librarian (Jean), a younger woman with an abusive husband and a photographic memory (Lucy), and then of course Susan whose husband is wonderful as I've said, I love him.   But the whole series centers around them going out and solving murders on their own.

5. It's fantastic.

There are heavy themes in this show.  I mean themes like abuse, human trafficking, and, obviously, murder.  But it does it in a way that never ever makes anything seem okay.  Even the others find out that Millie has been smuggling things on the side (which, of course, gets her into trouble), the others make sure that she knows she's in the wrong.  There are consequences for the actions in this show, which is something that is very rare in media these days. 
But on the lighter side, the friendships between the women are wonderful.  There are funny moments.  There's sweetness between Susan and her family, and a cute relationship beginning between Lucy and a Scotland Yard agent in the second season. 

DISCLAIMER:
If you have issues with blood, murder, or things like that, this isn't the show for you. 
But if you're into murder mysteries and awesome women, enjoy, my friends.

~ Abby

May Wrap-up and June TBR

Would someone be so kind as to tell me where May went?  Because it seems like just yesterday it was stretched out before me like the promising month it was.  And now it's gone.  Poof.

May was quite a busy month for me.  I'm not sure I can even remember everything that happened - but most prominently, we conquered recital for another year, and competed in our first Irish dance feis! AND I won first in fast treble jig (which is hard shoe) against like... nine other dancers.  Which is nuts.

Anyway...


What I Read:
(guys I finished 7 books this month.  WHAT EVEN.)

A Time to Die ~ Nadine Brandes

Overview: Parvin Blackwater lives in a society where Numbers are everything.  But when it's discovered that she's been sharing Numbers with her brother, she must face the Wall and the unknown world beyond it.
My Rating: 5 out of 5 (IT WAS AMAZINGGGG)

The Icecutter's Daughter ~ Tracie Peterson

Overview: Merrill Krause is the only woman in the house, fulfilling the promise she made to her dying mother by caring for her father and six older brothers.  But when Rurik Jorgenson rolls into town, the commitment she made to the single life may prove hard to keep.
Rating: 5 out of 5 (a cute, clean, fluffy romance full of twists I didn't expect)

Before the Awakening ~ Greg Rucka

Overview: These are the stories of FN-2187, a stormtrooper, Rey, a scavenger, and Poe, a pilot, in the days before the Resistance changed their lives.
Rating: 4 out of 5 (I enjoyed it a lot, but the writing style wasn't my favorite)

The Blue Fairy Book ~ Andrew Lang

Overview: A book of fairytales, collected by Andrew Lang, featuring tales like "Jack the Giant-Killer", "Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp", and "The Black Bull of Norroway".
Rating: 5 out of 5 (I love fairytales... have I mentioned that enough lately?)

Smek for President! ~ Adam Rex

Overview: Tip and J.Lo are back and headed to New Smekworld.  What could go wrong?  Everything.
Rating: 5 out of 5 (I loved it so muuuuuch please everyone read these books)

Beauty Sleep ~ Cameron Dokey

Overview: When Princess Aurore discovers that her curse will affect not only her but her entire kingdom, she ventures into The Forest, trying to undo the evil cast upon her.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 (it was good, and very original, but the ending took a twist that left me more... confused than anything else)

Nowhere to Be Found ~ Kristin Eckhart (writing as Emily Thomas)

Overview: A young widow inherits her great-aunt's manor house, and while converting it into a library, stumbles upon a mystery that she never knew existed.
Rating: 4 out of 5 (it was really cute)


What I Watched:

Once Upon a Time:

(how i'm entering every room ever from now on)
THE MUSICAL WAS SO MAGICAL. AND THAT SEASON FINALE, GUYS. AHHHH.

The Bletchley Circle:

So we technically watched this on the first day of June but GUYS. I think I'm going to do a post pretty soon talking about this show because OH MY WORD IT WAS AMAZING. And too short. Way too short.


What I Listened To:

So many musicals, wow.  I had some Psych nostalgia this month with the announcement of THE MOVIE WHICH IS COMING IN DECEMBER, I finally listened to the Mary Poppins Broadway soundtrack (it's really great, btw), Feet Do Yo' Stuff was the song for our tap routine this year at recital, and GUYS GO LISTEN TO DEAR EVAN HANSEN except skip the track "Sincerely, Me", there's some language in that one but the rest of it is beautiful and heart-wrenching and ugh this musical.


What I Posted:
I reviewed A Time To Die
I had a ton of fun doing The Playlist Tag
I also reviewed Nowhere To be Found


What I Plan to Read:
(this is a tentative list, as we're doing a lot of travelling this month because I'M GOING TO THE OYAN SUMMER WORKSHOP GUYS I'M SO EXCITED and thus we have to drive to Kansas. And we all know what road trips mean - reading time!)

The Screwtape Letters ~ C.S. Lewis (I'm already mostly done with this one and I'm really enjoying it so far [hopefully I'll get a review up before I leave?])

The Dark Prophecy ~ Rick Riordan (I finally got my hands on it yay! I can't wait to devour this one, it's hilarious so far)

Masterminds: Payback ~ Gordon Korman (I've been waiting to read this I'm so pumped)

Heist Society ~ Ally Carter (the description of this kind of sounds like Leverage and that of course excites me)

The Quarryman's Bride ~ Tracie Peterson (this is the sequel to The Icecutter's Daughter so I'm excited)


I'm not sorry to see May go, honestly, it was a lot.  Now to packing, I guess...

Favorites of the month?  Most anticipated for June? Let me know down below!

~ Abby

Nowhere to Be Found {book review}

Okay storytime:

I've worked in our church library for... a long time now.  I've lost track of the years, but it's been something like four?  Five?  I really don't know.  But my sister and I have been taking over more recently, as the main librarian has been having some health issues, and we're young and spry and all that good stuff.  So when books get donated, I'm the designated "checker-of-the-books", meaning that I take them home, read them, and decide if they're clean enough to put into the system.  A good chunk of this series was donated, so I nabbed this first one to read. 

It's definitely going in.


Nowhere to Be Found


(this cover is so cute, right?)

Genre: Christian Contemporary
Author: Kristin Eckhardt (writing as Emily Thomas)
Content: None
Main Character: Anne Gibson

Brief Overview: After losing her husband three years ago, Anne inherits a beautiful Victorian mansion in the small town of Blue Hill, Pennsylvania.  In following her great-aunt's wishes to convert the house into a public library, Anne stumbles upon a mystery that won't leave her be until she's solved it.

Placement in Series: 1 of 24 (according to Goodreads... but idk)

What I Thought:

I described this book in my Goodreads review as feeling like a Hallmark movie but without as much romance.  That's exactly what it felt like.  Fluffy, feel-good, with life lessons along the way and a clean, murder-free mystery that really kept me guessing until the end.  What more could you ask for?

The Characters:
Anne - SO. RELATABLE.  She's a book nerd, gets super excited about the prospect of a mystery, and loves her kids with all her heart.  I love her a lot and you probably will too.

Alex - We don't really see all that much of Alex in this book, but I'm guessing he probably plays a more prominent role in stories to come.  But I like him well enough.  His relationship with Ryan is really sweet.

I'm not sure who else to talk about, but overall it's a very loveable cast of characters that give me a very "Murder, She Wrote" feel as far as the small town friendships go.

Favorite Quote:
She might not be able to unpack all the books before the rooms were painted, but she could always take them out of the box just long enough to look at them.
(see what I mean?  so relatable.)

Will I Keep Reading?
Oh yes.

Overall Rating: 4.5 cookies out of 5 (there are so many cookies in this book, seriously, it made me hungry)


If you're a book nerd or a mystery lover, you'll probably enjoy this book.  And that's about all there is to it.

~ Abby

The Playlist Book Tag

So there's this tag that's been going around YouTube, and when I needed an idea for a blog post, it seemed to hit like lightning.  Musical lightning. 

Basically, this is a simple tag where you put your iTunes, Spotify, Google Music, or whatever mode of music you most listen to, on shuffle, and pick a book to go with the songs that come up.  As every Youtuber I've watched has done a different number of books, I'm going to settle with a nice even ten.  Ten is a cool number.

(and yes, this would probably be a lot more fun if I had video capabilities.  Unfortunately, I do not, so you just get to read these words instead of hearing me say them.  Yay.)

I've hit that shuffle button and I have no idea what's coming so LET'S DO THIS THING!

(also, quick disclaimer - I have a ton of movie soundtracks in my iTunes, so to make it more fun, I'm skipping any instrumental pieces that come up, but obviously, if you want to use the instrumental pieces, you go ahead and live your dream.)

1:
The Song: I Want the Good Times Back {The Little Mermaid on Broadway}

The Book: Isle of the Lost {Melissa de la Cruz}

The Connection: Not going to lie, this one took me a minute.  I knew it had to be a story with a great villain, and what better villain-y book to use than one about Disney villains?  The book follows the children of Maleficent, Jafar, Cruella de Vil, and the Evil Queen... unfortunately, not Ursula... although I think that's in book 3.  Not to mention, this song basically spells out Maleficent's reason for getting the kids to find her staff. 


2:
The Song: Gaston {Beauty and the Beast}
(dunno why I've gotten two villain songs in a row??)
The Book: The Beast Within {Serena Valentino}

The Connection: This is a retelling of the story of the Beast.  In a really interesting and original twist, the author took the chance to make Gaston the Prince's best friend.  So obviously I had to pick this one.


3:
The Song: Walk on the Water (the remix) {Britt Nicole}

The Book: Beyond Tuesday Morning {Karen Kingsbury}

The Connection: This is a sequel, following the story of a woman whose life was forever altered by the events of 9/11.  This one centers on Jamie's new-found faith and her trying to begin a firmer relationship with God.  So this song really clicked with this book for me.  (I do recommend this series [though I haven't read the third one yet], but be forewarned - these are two of very few books that have made me full-on sob while reading).


4:
The Song: I'll Lead You Home {Michael W. Smith}

The Book: The Fire Chronicle {John Stephens}

The Connection: 'Nother sequel, sorry.  This trilogy is one of my all-time favorites, and this song just really fit this book.  The whole thing is about a certain character trying to get home and getting help along the way.  Perfect fit, in my opinion.


5:
The Song: Oklahoma {Oklahoma! Original Broadway Cast}

The Book: The Icecutter's Daughter {Tracie Peterson}

The Connection: Pretend they sing "Miiiiiinesooootaaaa" and it fits.  I genuinely couldn't think of any books I'd read that were set in Oklahoma.  Which is what I would have picked, could I think of one.  But the state pride in the song transfers to the book really well, as well as the happy ending that the song gives to the musical's love story.  Also, the song will be stuck in your head for days afterward, much like how I thought about this book for days afterward.
(yeah, okay, I'm reaching here but I needed to match one, okay?)


6:
The Song: Without You {For King & Country}

The Book: The Roar {Emma Clayton}

The Connection: While the song itself centers around a married couple (in which one partner has a life-threatening disease) (the story of this song is just heart-breaking if you haven't heard it), the book follows a pair of twins who have been separated, and don't want to live apart.  Plus the somewhat dystopian sound fits perfectly with the feel of the book.  Yes.  Good match.


7:
The Song: Wouldn't It Be Loverly? {My Fair Lady Original London Cast}

The Book: A Little Princess {Francis Hodgson Burnett}

The Connection: This song, obviously, gives me London vibes.  And not just any London vibes, poor London, turn-of-the-century vibes.  And what is my favorite story of poor Londoners at the turn of the century?  A Little Princess, of course.  This was a simple match, really.  (plus, Julie Andrews sings this version, which automatically makes it ten times more awesome)


8:
The Song: Wherever You Are {Pooh's Grand Adventure: The Search for Christopher Robin}

The Book: Navigating Early {Clare Vanderpool}

The Connection: If Navigating Early was a musical, can't you hear Early singing this song, and Jack watching him gently like Rabbit does in the clip?  Because I certainly can.  And it's pretty feels-inducing. 


9:
The Song: Ceasefire {For King & Country}

The Book: Into the Gauntlet {Margaret Peterson Haddix}

The Connection: This is the last book, technically, in the original 39 Clues series.  The whole idea of this book is perfectly spelled out in the song.  Not to spoil anything, but most of the kids who have been told that they hate each other for most of the series realize that they don't need to fight each other, they need to fight together. 


10:
The Song: You're Welcome {Moana Original Motion Picture Soundtrack}

The Book: The Hidden Oracle {Rick Riordan}

The Connection: This connection is hilarious to me.  Apollo and Maui are so alike at the beginning of both of their stories, it was an obvious choice.  I mean, just imagine, "Yes, it's really me, Apollo, breathe it in."


And there you have it!

That was super fun, and surprisingly challenging.  (Like honestly, what do you do with the title song from "Oklahoma!"??) 

I'M GOING TO TAG PEOPLE BECAUSE TAGS ARE FUN SO HERE WE GO

Jonathan
Faith
Abigayle
Jazzy
Andrea
Rebekah
Chloe
And, as always, YOU! If you're a blogger and you want to do this tag, consider yourself TAGGED.

Have fun with it, guys!

~ Abby

A Time to Die {book review}

It's not rare that I enjoy books that my friends recommend.  Especially friends in the blogging/OYAN community.

What is rare is when I find the books they recommend on the clearance shelf, in pristine condition, with their sequel beside them.

It's even rarer for said book to destroy my heart and really make me think.

Such was the case with Nadine Brandes' debut.

A Time to Die



Genre: Dystopian
Author: Nadine Brandes
Content: Some violence, loss of limbs, and death.
Main Character: Parvin Blackwater

Brief Overview: Parvin Blackwater lives in a society where Numbers are everything.  Your Clock determines whether or not you get healthcare, food, or even a job.  But Parvin has a secret.  She's been sharing a Clock with her twin brother Reid, neither of them sure who it belongs to.  When this fraud is exposed, Parvin is labelled a Radical and sentenced to go over the Wall, a death penalty.  But God has a plan for Parvin's remaining Numbers, even if she doesn't see it at first.

Placement in Series: 1 of 3 (I think)

What I Thought:
OH. MY. WORD.

I didn't know what to expect going into this.  But several friends had been raving about it, so I picked it up.  I'm so glad I did.
What I found, in the best way I can describe it, was a story of life and death, and the impact death has on life.
It was beautiful, everyone should read it.

The Characters:
Parvin - I related to Parvin so much.  I'm coming to a point in my life, as I'm sure many before me have, where I'm wondering if I've wasted my Numbers.  But I can say, this is one of those books that gives me completely unrealistic expectations of my chances at surviving in the woods.  Honestly.

Reid - Be still my beating heart.  I came out of this book with so many more fictional crushes than I had going in.  Reid is one of them.  That's all.

Willow - Oh, man, this kid is awesome.  Seriously, I will put her with the other "I aspire to be like her" characters in my life.  She rarely complains, she has skills to pay the bills (literally, in some cases), and she can be a leader when she's needed.  Also, how cute are she and Elm?  The. Cutest.  My poor shipper heart.

Jude - Yep, 'nother crush.  Honestly, Parvin's treatment of him annoyed me at times. Like, girl, he's already SAVED YOUR LIFE FIVE TIMES, CHILL. *cough* Anyway, I love this guy.  He's so complex and swoon-worthy and okay, I'll stop now. 

Favorite Quote:
How does a biographer begin a book?  God started with In the beginning.  Fairy tales being with Once upon a time.  Neither sounds right.  I'm not God, and I'll never be a fairy.

Will I Keep Reading? YES.

Overall Rating: 5 EMOTIGRAPHS OUT OF 5.  CAN I GIVE IT 10?? (wait, it's my blog, of course I can) 10 OUT OF 5


Go out right now and pick up a copy of this book.  You won't regret it.


(and in case I don't get another chance to tell you, HAPPY STAR WARS DAY)


~ Abby

April Wrap-up and May TBR

Well, we've reached the end of another month.  April was pretty good for me, although it marked one year without Dad.  But we spent a whole lot of time as a family, which was wonderful.  The Easter musical program went off with only a few hitches, and overall it went really well.  As of April the 30th, I have officially graduated from AWANA with my Citation Award and the possibility of college scholarships awaiting me.  (Guys, Mom counted, and apparently since age 4, I've memorized and recited over 700 scripture verses.  That is nuts.)

 But let's take a look at what I did as pertaining to this blog.

What I Read:

Ring of Fire ~ P.D. Baccalario

Overview: Four children, after finding out that they were all born on February 29, come across a mysterious briefcase with an odd assortment of items inside.  In trying to unravel this mystery, they stumble upon an ancient prophecy that could lead them to saving the world.
Rating: 3 out of 5 (it was good, but not great)

Lost in a Book ~ Jennifer Donnelly

(random, but, how gorgeous is this cover???)
Overview: Belle is becoming comfortable with her new life in the Beast's castle, but she still misses her home and her father.  While cleaning the library she's just been gifted, she stumbles upon a book called "Nevermore" that allows her to live out her dreams.  But she doesn't know that the sisters Love and Death have a bet... and Death plans to win.
Rating: 5 out of 5 (it was beautiful and wonderful and so fluffy and full of feels I loved it)

The Beast Within ~ Serena Valentino

Overview: The Beast remembers his days as a selfish Prince, who thought he had the perfect life before he met Circe and her sisters.
Rating: 4 out of 5 (pretty good, not my favorite retelling, but I really loved the twists put on it)

The Reluctant Godfather ~ Allison Tebo

Overview: Burndee is a grumpy fairy godfather who doesn't like humans at all.  But when one of his godchildren has a marriage ultimatum put down by his father, Burndee gets an idea.  Why not set his godchildren up with each other?
Rating: 5 out of 5 (highly recommended for fans of fairytale retellings, reluctant love, and cake)


What I Watched:

The Good Witch:

This show is so comforting.  It's got the cozy feel of Gilmore Girls, but being on Hallmark, it's clean and feel-good and my little shipper heart literally can't handle the cuteness. 

Once Upon a Time:


(this line just made me laugh really hard) THE MUSICAL EPISODE IS COMING AND I CANNOT WAIT like seriously musical episodes are my favorite everything I adore them.

Liv and Maddie:

So yes, the show stole my heart.  I'm not quite done with season 4 (which is officially the last season, which is sad), but I'm glad this show came into my life, even for a short while.


What I Listened To:


So I discovered some of my favorite artists new[ish] stuff, including the new Pentatonix album (which includes "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy", one of my inexplicable favorites, Jamie Grace's new single (which is indeed a very happy song), and the newest Casting Crowns album that I never actually listened to despite being excited about it for awhile now (it's great, btw).


What I Posted:
We're up one from last month with five whole posts this month.
We started with me finally deciding to tell you the truth of the matter.
Then I answered the questions of the Liebster Award 2.0.
I shared how my family is in a place of miracles.
IT WAS EASTER!
And finally, I laid out 11 sequels that I need to read.


What I Plan to Read:
Like last month, May is promising to be busy, what with several recitals, working at a friend's sister's wedding, and getting ready for the OYAN Summer Workshop in June (I'M SO EXCITED, YOU GUYS).  So I'm trying to keep my reading list short, but there are a few books I would like to finish this month.

A Time to Die ~ Nadine Brandes (I really want to finish this one and just for good measure I'm putting)

A Time to Speak ~ Nadine Brandes (on my list because I will probably pick this one up as soon as I finish the first one.)

The Icecutter's Daughter ~ Tracie Peterson (I just started this one and it feels like it will be a quick read)

Beauty Sleep ~ Cameron Dokey (I would love to grab another copy of this from the library and finish it because I really was enjoying it, I just ran out of time to finish it)


So there we go! The month of April comes to a close, and I welcome May with open arms and more than a bit of fear when I look at the family schedule in the kitchen.

What was your favorite thing you read/watched/listened to/did this month?  Let me know in the comments below!

~ Abby