It Happens All the Time - Book Review

It Happens All the Time by Amy Hatvany tells the story of two best friends, Amber and Tyler, and a night that changes their lives. It alternates back and forth between the two so we get two completely different views of what happens. I think this is important because it shows how tough and uncomfortable a topic it is when one side doesn't feel like they did anything wrong.

I had mixed feelings about the book. A few times I did get a bit lost when it was jumping back and forth in time. Even though Amber was the victim I had a really hard time liking her character in general. It didn't have anything to do with the actual crime that happened but just other parts of the book and things she was dealing with. Tyler also had a lot of issues and I think his character showed how hard it is to believe that such a nice guy could hurt his best friend. The book had a lot going on but it does have a very important message.

Consent is a very important subject that needs to be talked about. So many do not understand when they cross the line. I think the title of the book is perfect because unfortunately it does happen all the time.

This book was included in my #wintervention box from BookSparks as part of their Winter Reading Challenge.



* I received this book for free from Booksparks for review as part of their Winter Reading Challenge. No other compensation was received. Opinions are my own.

Dinner: Changing the Game - Book Review

Dinner by Melissa Clark has over 200 new recipes. It's full of one dish dinners for the beginner or experienced cook. Most recipes are filling enough to be all you need while others might need a nice salad or some bread to go along.

This cookbook has beautiful pictures. I'd say there is about one photo for every third recipe. The book is organized by main ingredient and includes chicken, meat, fish and seafood, eggs, pasta and noodles, tofu, vegetable dinners, grains, pizza, soups, and salads, There really is something for everyone. She has included such a wide range of recipes. A few dishes that quickly caught my eye - Harissa Chicken with Leeks, Potatoes, and Yogurt, Shrimp Pad Thai with Sugar Snap Peas and Basil, and Roasted Sausage and Cauliflower with Cumin and Turkish Pepper.

The book is very well constructed with a beautiful cover and good quality pages. The instructions are clear and easy to follow. I am also happy that the pictures included are just of the food. So many cookbook authors these days include so many unnecessary photos of themselves or random things.  I do prefer when there is a picture of each recipe but this one does still have plenty enough to satisfy me.

* I received this book from Blogging For Books for this review. Opinions are my own.

Drop In: Lead with Deeper Presence and Courage - Book Review

Drop In: Lead with Deeper Presence and Courage by Sara Harvey Yao was exactly the book I needed to read over the last couple weeks. This book is not a quick read. In fact, I think you will get more out of it if you read it slowly and let it soak in. I have several spots marked that I want to go back and revisit because they really spoke to me.

The book is really for anyone who wants to feel more present in their lives. The author reminds us how so many of us are on autopilot and we need to slow down and be more aware of what is going on. I learned so much from this book. I liked that she shared stories of her clients so we can relate and understand better. She gives suggestions like meditation and doing a body scan which will help us connect more with our bodies and everything around us. It's even in the simple things like noticing the texture of your food, noticing the smell and temperature when you are outside, or knowing when it's OK to say no.  I also liked that the author reminds us that everyone will feel things differently when working through the process.

This book was included in my #Wintervention box from BookSparks as part of their Winter Reading Challenge.



* I received this book for free from Booksparks for review as part of their Winter Reading Challenge. No other compensation was received. Opinions are my own.