5 Ways I Princess & 5 Ways I Don't {the regal reads blog tour}

Hello and welcome, everyone, to this stop on the Regal Reads Blog Tour!  I'm so excited to be participating!

And this post is, of course, in honor of the release of Regal Hearts: Season One in paperback!


(^ me, trying and failing to make a cake for the book's birthday)

~ About the Book ~


Following the dramatic birth of her royal daughters, the Queen of Bella Adar is murdered by the merciless sword of an evil usurper. The helpless princesses are placed in the care of the URIA, an undercover organization who safely extracts and protects the girls from a tragic fate. Sixteen years later, Lena Bodner encounters a stranger who uncovers secrets from her past...

~ About the Author ~
Livy Jarmusch is a twenty-something author, singer, and songwriter. She enjoys crafting YA Christian fiction that is pure, lovely, inspirational, and of course, entertaining! When she's not writing, you can usually find her playing guitar, blogging, drinking peppermint tea, connecting with new friends, planning her next trip to Disney, or pinning images of Europe and Golden Retriever Puppies.
Connect with Livy via: her blog ~ Facebook ~ Instagram ~ Twitter ~ YouTube ~ Goodreads

Doesn't that sound awesome?  You can add the book to your Goodreads shelves here and purchase it here!

And now, let's get into the post!


5 Ways I Princess

1. I can twirl with the best of them

Twirling, I feel, is an essential part of being a princess.  If you can't twirl, what can you do?  And thanks to 17 years of dance experience, I will say I'm a pretty great twirler.  And it always makes me feel like a princess!

2. I love pretty dresses

I used to hate dresses when I was younger.  Now, I can barely believe that.  I adore dresses, if only for the simplicity of throwing one on with a necklace and immediately looking like I tried.  Also a recent obsession has been with sparkles and floral patterns.  I'm not really sure why.  But hey, it makes me think like a princess.

3. I sing and dance around the house... a lot

Not as much as my sister, but I have been known to boogie down to my jams as I'm traversing my abode!  I have a feeling if I was a princess a la Disney movie, there would be much singing and dancing, and I've got that down!

4. I dream big

*sings along with gif* "I WANT ADVENTURE IN THE GREAT WIDE SOMEWHEEEEERE". 
No, but really, I have the capability of dreaming as big as any princess.  Partially, I'm sure, because I know "With God all things are possible".

5. I believe in happy endings

Maybe not in the way Disney implies, but I do believe that the ultimate ending will be happy.  Through living in Jesus, I know that I have an eternal home waiting for me someday.  The ending of my life will be a happier ending than I can ever imagine.


And, of course, here are

5 Ways I Don't

1. I forget things

(Sometimes whilst in the middle of doing the thing I've just forgotten) A princess should never forget all the things she has to do!  Granted, she probably has a ton of people who can tell her what she has to do and probably doesn't have to... but I do.  Anyway...

2. I'm clumsy

I mean, I guess Mia was too and she was a princess.  But seriously, I wouldn't be able to walk in a ballgown, much less look good while doing it.  High heels are my nemesis.  I don't know how princesses do it, honestly.

3. My hair is always a mess

And I do mean always.  Even when it's somewhat manageable, it's still frizzy and all over the place.  *sigh*  I can relate to Rapunzel, that's all I'm saying.

4. I love sleep

Like... a lot.  At any given point of any given day, you can find me thinking "I wish I was taking a nap right now."  Because I usually am.  And with my thyroid issues, lately I have been much more capable of laying down and snoozing right away.  And something tells me that your average princess isn't able to sleep all that much.  Which would be disappointing, were I an actual princess.

5. I'm not a fan of nature

If Snow White is any sort of princess guide, I would fail as a princess.  I'm allergic to almost everything that's alive, and thus, my first instinct would not be "run into the woods".  I would probably die in the woods, actually. 


And that's all for this post!  I hope you enjoyed!

Be sure to check out Regal Hearts!  Congrats, Livy!! I'm so proud!

~ Abby

The Bibliophile Sweater Tag

Fall and winter are the perfect time for cozy clothes.  Even here in Florida where it never gets under 60 degrees Fahrenheit.  I still love the feel of being in a cozy sweater, snuggling up on my bed, and reading a good book. 

And thus, I love the feel of this tag.

I don't think anyone actually tagged me for this, but I really wanted to do it.  So. Yeah.

It was created by the lovely Mary over at Sunshine and Scribblings, and the minute I saw it, I knew that I would have to do it.  So here we are!

Let's get into this tag, shall we?


Fuzzy sweater {a book that is the epitome of comfort}

Let's be honest, y'all already know my answer for this one:


Awww yeahhh.  This book is such a comfort to me.  Every time I read it, it just makes me ridiculously happy.  And it's been that way for such a long time.  So yes.  "Winnie-the-Pooh".


Striped sweater {a book which you devoured every line of}



This book is so beautifully written, it's hard not to want to contemplate every word.  But at the same time, you devour it because you want to know what's going to happen.  It's beautiful.


Ugly Christmas sweater {a book with a weird cover}



I... am not a fan of this cover.  It actually looks better in this picture than it does in real life.  It's weird and grainy and yeah. I don't like it.  But the book itself sounds awesome, so... we'll see how it is.


Cashmere sweater {most expensive book you've bought}



I don't buy books full price... ever.  With the exception of when I buy one just to support the author, like this one.  So while it wasn't really all that expensive, it was expensive for me.  Yeah.


Hoodie {favorite classic book}



Is this book not perfect for this tag?  Look at all that snow!  (also, I would like to formally request that Tumnus [sweet, innocent Tumnus] be given a snuggly sweater.  Please and thank you.)


Cardigan {book that you bought on impulse}



This is a recent purchase for me, and I am so happy with it.  You can't see it in this picture, but the red lettering is SPARKLY! And I am obsessed.  I've never read "A Christmas Carol", and I was in a Christmas-y mood, so I thought "why not" and bought it.


Turtleneck sweater {book from your childhood}



I was absolutely obsessed with the "Dear America" books as a kid, and this was by far my favorite.  Not only did the main character share my name, it took place during the Revolutionary War, which was my favorite historical time period.  I really need to reread this book, come to think of it.  (also, I adore this new cover. So much.)


Homemade knitted sweater {book that is Indie-published}



Because I just finished this book not too long ago (and reviewed it) and it's currently on my mind non-stop, I thought I'd mention this one.  It was wonderful.


V-neck sweater {book that did not meet your expectations}



OKAY DON'T KILL ME LET ME EXPLAIN.  I absolutely adored The Goblet of Fire.  And then this one was just... angst. Angst everywhere.  Which I am never a fan of.  And Umbridge.  Who I absolutely hate.  So yeah... this one kind of disappointed me.


Argyle sweater {book with a unique format}



It took me a minute to figure out what to answer for this question.  And there was my Goodreads "read" shelf, practically screaming at me, "ABBY!  HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON!"  And sure enough.  I love the way these books are put together.  The illustrations have such a cute, nostalgic feel to them, and the font and the font sizes just add so much to the story.  I love them.  (and I chose this one because it was one of my favorites and most of it takes place in a library, so obviously, I had to include it.)


Polka dot sweater {a book with well-rounded characters}



I absolutely adore the characters in this book.  They get more developed in the sequel, but they're fairly deep in this first one.  I eagerly anticipate breaking open the third book just to get more of these characters.  Because they're so great.  Agh.

Well there you have it!  This was such a fun tag!

I'm going to tag Jennifer, Chloe, and Faith for this tag!  Have fun, ladies! :D (and obviously, don't feel like you have to do it if you don't want to)

And for YOU, reading this right now, let me know down below: what book is the epitome of comfort for you? 


Blessings on you and yours in this time of thankfulness,
~ Abby

The Coronation {book review}

So a few months ago, I got a message from Livy.

She asked if I wanted to read and review her newest book.

I, of course, said OH YEAH.

... and then proceeded to not read the book for several months because I have issues.

BUT I have read it now, and here we are and I am very excited to share all of my thoughts with you!

The Coronation


(random thoughts, how gorgeous is this cover??)

Author: Livy Jarmusch
Genre: Contemporary/Christian
Content: None
Main Character(s): The royal family of Tarsurella

Brief Overview: Prince Addison of Tarsurella is about to be crowned king.  And with that comes the pressures of doing his country and his family proud.  When things go terribly wrong, the whole family must rely on God's promises and each other to make it through.

Placement in Series: I'm not sure how many there will be, but a sequel is coming out next year (and I am so ready)!

What I Thought:

This book was so perfect for me.  The beginning gave off vibes of "The Princess Diaries" or a Hallmark movie, and then it took a complete turn about halfway through and became edge-of-your-seat awesome!
I adored the relationships between the siblings.  Honestly, that was probably my favorite part.  I mean, Addison and Millie?  Anyone?
I also loved that the romances weren't really central plot points, but they were still so shippable!  I can't pick a favorite ship, and that is a great thing. 
(More cohesive thoughts can be found here on my Goodreads review)

The Characters:
Addison - Would it be weird to say that I would marry Addison any day?  Because, dude.  I would marry Addison.  He's so good and sweet and he loves his family and I love his family and yes.  (but really seeing his development over the course of the story was wonderful and I love him)

Bridget - While I didn't relate a whole lot to Bridget, I appreciated her character arc.  And I did understand why she felt what she felt.  And she's a pretty great big sister.  So yeah.

Chasity - I almost want to say that Chasity is my favorite of the princesses?  But I'm not sure if I'm ready to make that commitment (lol).  I loved her not-quite-a-relationship with Hanson, and I can't wait to see where the next books take it.  But she's such a sweet spirit, and I'm excited to see more of her in the future.

Hope - See, Hope is why I'm hesitant to claim Chasity as my favorite.  Because she makes it a close tie.  I love her character and her scenes and her strength and I JUST LOVE ALL THESE CHARACTERS A LOT OKAY.

Also I have to quickly mention the boys in this book because each and every one of them stole my heart.  And I can't wait to see more of them. 

Favorite Quote:

relatable

Also, for the first time ever in a review, I'm including a Book Playlist for your listening enjoyment.  These were songs that reminded me of the story, and I listened to it as I read and it was wonderful.


Will I Keep Reading? Um. Yes. Please, I need more.

Overall Rating: 4.5 King-made burgers out of 5

I need the next book now, please and thank you.

(You can add The Coronation on Goodreads here and purchase it from Amazon here)

~ Abby

The Mercy in the Madness

My life has been absolutely insane recently.  I'm partially writing this as an excuse for where I've gone.  Sorry.

Last week, we had to put our dog down.  It was very dramatic, and could not have come at a worse time.  This past weekend, we went to Fort Myers and performed for our first paid dancing job.  And now, we've been in Georgia for 3 days, helping my Grandma move.

All this to reiterate - I've been living in complete madness.

Last night, I was asking God, "Why would you let all of this happen to us, right now?"  I've been going through health issues, my grandparents are deteriorating, I don't have a job and I don't know what I want to go to college for.  All of which people are asking me about constantly and I don't have answers.

I was focusing on everything that was wrong.

But then I heard Him whisper, "Abby, if you focus on what's wrong, you're going to drown in all the reasons you aren't okay.  So stop looking at that.  Look at me."

And then He gave me this title:

Here's the thing: It's so easy to ask why.  Why is this happening?  Why to me?  Why now? 

Why so much?

Maybe it's simply because, as Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick." {Mark 2:17}

Unless you admit you need help, it's impossible to get it.

The same goes for God.

So maybe that's why it all seems to happen at once.  Because I will tell you this: I have been closer to God in this storm than I was in the calm.  I can tell.  It just feels different.

My situation has come to the point where I have to say "I trust that He's got it" and keep going.  I can't sit and dwell, or I won't move.  There's no way I can handle everything by myself.

And it's only when I let go that I can be held.

No one can hold your hand if your hand is full.  You can't put new books on your bookshelf until you've removed some of the old ones.  It's scary to change, but you have to change to move forward.

You have to release your hold on the cliff's edge before God can catch you.

So this is the mercy in the madness: that even though I'm floundering and trying to do it myself, I can't.  And that realization forces my eyes away from the problem and onto the One who can fix it.


{Have you ever seen the mercy in the madness?  Where have you seen God in your life this week?}

~ Abby



Nightmare City {Spooky Reviews}

As we come to the end of this spookiest of months, here is one final review for you.

Read it... if you dare...

Nightmare City



Genre: YA thriller... mystery... thing?  I guess?
Author: Andrew Klavan
Content: Mentions of self-harm, a soldier dying, and gunshot wounds.
Main Character: Tom Harding

Brief Overview:
Tom is a reporter for his school's newspaper.  Recently he published a story that was somewhat controversial and was met with backlash from the community.  One morning, he wakes up to find his house empty and a strange fog roiling outside.  What happens next will change his life forever.

What I Thought:

I stayed up until 1 in the morning to finish this book.  Because I thought, at 11 or so, "oh, I'll just pick this up for a bit and then read more tomorrow".  Like a complete reading newbie.  I should know better.  I couldn't put it down.
The plot of this book was very well done.  The writing left a little to be desired, but HOLY COW THAT PLOT. 
It granted me the pleasure of my favorite reading experience: figuring out what's going to happen seconds before it does.  But I didn't see the ending coming.  Not at all.
And that's all I'm going to say because I don't want to spoil this book and I feel like it would be easy to spoil.


The Characters:

I'm really only going to talk about Tom because he's pretty much the only one we really get to know in this book.  I came to like Tom throughout the story.  I actually disliked him at the beginning, but I think that's just because he's so different from me.  But he really handled the whole situation really well, I have to say.  So I have to admire that.


Favorite Quote:
He thought he saw the whole painting recovered in its frame: Christ crucified, the rivulets of blood streaming down from under his crown of thorns. 
"But you died," Tom said to him. "You died and went to heaven."
"No," the eyes answered. "I lived. That's the whole point. I lived. And now you have to live, Tom."


Overall Rating: 4.5 metal baseball bats out of 5


Happy Halloween, everyone! Also known as the day before the best holiday of the year, Half-price Candy Day!
~ Abby

Favorite Quotes ~ October

Hello friends!  This is something that I've been wanting to try for a little while now, and I figured now was as good a time as any, as I found some really beautiful quotes this month!

Basically, I've been wanting to share some of my favorite quotes from the books I've been reading, movies I've been watching, songs I've been listening to, or just quotes that I found this month.  For October, it'll just be books, but I'll probably have more in the coming months.  Enjoy!

 

~ Abby

The Nightmare Before Christmas {Spooky Reviews}

Welcome again, mortals, to another spooky review.

Today's review is of a film that is considered a Halloween staple, but Abby has only seen this current October.  And without further introduction, let's begin.

The Nightmare Before Christmas



Hey, y'all, your local Disney nerd has finally seen this film!  And... I'm not sure that I liked it all that much.  But I'm here to get my thoughts down, so here we go.

Brief Overview:
Jack is King of the Pumpkin Patch, but after yet another successful Halloween, he is feeling unsatisfied in his life.  When he accidentally stumbles into Christmas Town, he becomes determined to take over that holiday to give himself more fulfillment.

What I Thought:

I enjoyed watching this film.  I watched it with my little brother, which meant I had a good time.  I did know some of the songs already, so that led to some fun sing-along moments.  And I will say, it was sufficiently spooky.  Oogie Boogie, y'all.  *shivers*
But my main problem with this film was that it left me with more questions than answers.  How did the rivalry between Jack and Oogie Boogie start?  How did Lock, Shock, and Barrel start working for him?  How did the doctor create Sally?  Where is this forest with the trees that lead to different holidays?  Do the citizens of the towns never age?  If so, are the children in them always children?  Was Jack a child once?  JUST. SO MANY QUESTIONS.

The Characters

Jack Skellington -

Jack is, to be quite honest, an idiot.  I mean... he's trying his best... but he's really an idiot.  Just BE HAPPY WITH WHAT YOU HAVE, PLEASE.  PLEASE. But really, he's a pretty good protagonist. And I mean, you have to admire his stick-to-it-ivness.

Sally -

Sally is my fave.  She's just.  So good? And so pure?  And she just wants to help and be included and she's so sweet I love her so much.  Also her song is really pretty.


Favorite Quote:
"Jack, please, I'm only an elected official here, I can't make decisions by myself!


Overall Rating: 3.5 citizens of Halloweentown out of 5

I did enjoy this, and I'm glad that I can say I've seen it.  But it wasn't my favorite movie ever.  And I doubt it ever will be.  But hey, at least now I'll understand all the references.  Yay.

Have you seen this movie?  What did you think?  Let me know down below!

~ Abby