tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80504004771146060162024-03-27T19:54:02.250-04:00Kara's News and MusingsMusings from author, Kara Leigh Miller.Kara Leigh Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01145104956483099121noreply@blogger.comBlogger378125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050400477114606016.post-87622635489769959632024-01-19T09:00:00.001-05:002024-01-19T09:00:00.141-05:00Kara's Book Cravings: Killer Content<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK58GYJNUlAfo7lROSF48empkh7zMu0eOyMgB9asXmYCPf8-ivJ_reySkQYZAG6D-_yDyailP-y2roUbejQW6YzJLq7Hd1XAi6JrZ2HTZVlo6EmtoTAns9eWgw22y8oGUn68C_JrbZeMYe8XOy3ZvE5dyQomFK4sYI53264IAQpmPpu6ww_oHJkWAML4tW/s1640/Kara's%20Book%20Cravings.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1640" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK58GYJNUlAfo7lROSF48empkh7zMu0eOyMgB9asXmYCPf8-ivJ_reySkQYZAG6D-_yDyailP-y2roUbejQW6YzJLq7Hd1XAi6JrZ2HTZVlo6EmtoTAns9eWgw22y8oGUn68C_JrbZeMYe8XOy3ZvE5dyQomFK4sYI53264IAQpmPpu6ww_oHJkWAML4tW/w400-h225/Kara's%20Book%20Cravings.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I am not a TikTok girl. I don't like making videos, and I don't understand the whole influencer thing -- yeah, yeah. I know. I'm showing my age. And that's what this book is mostly about: teen influencers living under one roof, competing for sponsors, views, followers, etc. So, I wasn't sure I was going to like this book when I bought it, but it was only $5.00, and I figured I'd give it a shot. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm glad I did. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBh_7pPoUIh3nqy3-NmLdDmXNfnQNdhFUHAoxgeorNkZnfy7x3FdGgztQhm6ktIK5L05izLSX2KFhH_1o-mnJ85jNMN0AqEKhgKlDqQ5NXGh6SvULGvUgWaCOVvywrctEBCihdqwZtG-KyPlQzsjQhHfzYF3ZtZZi3sb3hyphenhyphenc3Xp1g-jT7He4ccGrFzldlc/s4000/20240114_084636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBh_7pPoUIh3nqy3-NmLdDmXNfnQNdhFUHAoxgeorNkZnfy7x3FdGgztQhm6ktIK5L05izLSX2KFhH_1o-mnJ85jNMN0AqEKhgKlDqQ5NXGh6SvULGvUgWaCOVvywrctEBCihdqwZtG-KyPlQzsjQhHfzYF3ZtZZi3sb3hyphenhyphenc3Xp1g-jT7He4ccGrFzldlc/s320/20240114_084636.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>KILLER CONTENT</i> by Kiley Roache</b> is a YA thriller / murder mystery. As I said above, a group of TikTok influencers live together in a house and are doing sponsored ads and collaborations, etc. While I don't fully understand that life, I found myself oddly invested in it. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">But then one of the housemates ends up dead, and everyone inside the house becomes a suspect. Each person had clear motive to kill, and so it really was a crazy ride trying to figure out who did it. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And then the twist is revealed, and my jaw dropped! Now, I've seen this twist used before (I don't want to spoil anything, hence the vagueness), but never done as well as this was. What also shocked me was that the reveal of "whodunit" was done near the middle of the book, rather than closer to the end. I thought that would effect the overall pacing and my enjoyment of the book, but it really didn't. If anything, it kept me engaged even more because I needed to know what was going to happen next. I really do love books that make me feel that way :-)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">It's safe to say that I really liked this book. I don't know if this author has written anything else, but I plan to find out!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>What was the last book you read that really surprised you?</i></b></span></p>Kara Leigh Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01145104956483099121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050400477114606016.post-81157288971630341782024-01-17T09:00:00.002-05:002024-01-17T09:00:00.137-05:00Kara's Book Cravings: Little Monsters<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT5Cor56b07CIBAbgqSyRHPJAgeOi4laYraRDDD9HeKN0Y8rie5YvK2UP2Jefnvfrk3n4qdU76B3B3CKCN2leZbaEnjHA_6oI2QLrlPup1c37QXSM7LTdHX0CjBgCf0l2PZ_VgaYSuqJh3XI9ZtoyGlWsKa5VjY3iq1irYSE3cVmMufWijb4mKV3STzFyl/s1640/Kara's%20Book%20Cravings.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1640" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT5Cor56b07CIBAbgqSyRHPJAgeOi4laYraRDDD9HeKN0Y8rie5YvK2UP2Jefnvfrk3n4qdU76B3B3CKCN2leZbaEnjHA_6oI2QLrlPup1c37QXSM7LTdHX0CjBgCf0l2PZ_VgaYSuqJh3XI9ZtoyGlWsKa5VjY3iq1irYSE3cVmMufWijb4mKV3STzFyl/w400-h225/Kara's%20Book%20Cravings.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Again, I found this book at 5 Below and was super intrigued. Of course, I've seen this author's books at almost every bookstore I've gone to, so I knew her name, but I've never read any of her stuff. Until now...</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS-hCf7MdIlDyssHZCU2kqdNKkVKqjdpjl87AEkbnhk0sa9CumrrUZQvSaVi-expFV1tfRsoEfEb3EGcdT6DSxxFz2yh3QjkRumNYAXBcGt7ARSjx9G-SZ6XsgACkgwgNXlGDXEr5R1PvN8ziBxdSEwwgN_-e4BlLsHnHMMo0un-JCGQsfpkIbRtjZqGRd/s4000/20240105_154438.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS-hCf7MdIlDyssHZCU2kqdNKkVKqjdpjl87AEkbnhk0sa9CumrrUZQvSaVi-expFV1tfRsoEfEb3EGcdT6DSxxFz2yh3QjkRumNYAXBcGt7ARSjx9G-SZ6XsgACkgwgNXlGDXEr5R1PvN8ziBxdSEwwgN_-e4BlLsHnHMMo0un-JCGQsfpkIbRtjZqGRd/s320/20240105_154438.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>LITTLE MONSTERS</i> by Kara Thomas</b> is a wild ride! This is another YA thriller / mystery that really hit all the right notes for me.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Told from various points of view, this book kept me guessing right to the very end. Dealing with blended families, step-families, friends, and the pressures of those relationships, this was both emotional and shocking. Sadly, though, the "friendships" in this book are all too realistic. When you think someone is your friend but they're really not... When nasty rumors start floating around that you can't disprove... When you think you know someone but really don't...</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The twist at the end of this book was fantastic! I didn't see it coming, which is always good, but when I look back on everything, it all makes sense. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I really liked the author's writing style, too, so I'll be reading more of her books. I have <b><i>THE CHEERLEADERS </i></b>on my shelf, and I'll be diving into that one soon, but I'll definitely be investing in her other books, too. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Have you read any Kara Thomas books? </span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">What's your favorite?</span></b></p>Kara Leigh Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01145104956483099121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050400477114606016.post-47046909014299295872024-01-15T09:00:00.002-05:002024-01-15T09:00:00.144-05:00Kara's Book Cravings: The Game<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtyCGdxqFZsIXUA6k5wMSIIhUHLCoAQaYIj8dScjS7dg2QDsgvf5D1wyVI-RYOg0pIoO7tOUogIbv_OMW1uj09mD7GOpFQKNlZ17vLoqZkkbiuagWEBbVw6sV-mNaWynxmZ4txiDXZY0wzCeYKufeVvTV-ql8mWAwHAnGMBBvYb-EYp3Wl2wWGK4FC7pSJ/s1640/Kara's%20Book%20Cravings.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1640" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtyCGdxqFZsIXUA6k5wMSIIhUHLCoAQaYIj8dScjS7dg2QDsgvf5D1wyVI-RYOg0pIoO7tOUogIbv_OMW1uj09mD7GOpFQKNlZ17vLoqZkkbiuagWEBbVw6sV-mNaWynxmZ4txiDXZY0wzCeYKufeVvTV-ql8mWAwHAnGMBBvYb-EYp3Wl2wWGK4FC7pSJ/w400-h225/Kara's%20Book%20Cravings.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This was yet another 5 Below find, and I read this is a matter of a day or two. Books like this are great to read in between longer series, and thankfully, I have a lot of books like this one.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjurHbxkZf0pQcgNBE6Mh528D6kN-TRWncURu7YVp-e_hR_n94vBzk6n3Wq1dVlswj_Z-R8-DZWDisUGIb1fAs0PNksIN0r54gPVdiAFsLUzrrvaWE_17_EHbZk1EPPZX4UdSEcMEZsZfOR1tXA-B_0LUVlI3zRC6D05aKq6YchVCEO5s64c4wTZEBCk44O/s4000/20240101_181500.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjurHbxkZf0pQcgNBE6Mh528D6kN-TRWncURu7YVp-e_hR_n94vBzk6n3Wq1dVlswj_Z-R8-DZWDisUGIb1fAs0PNksIN0r54gPVdiAFsLUzrrvaWE_17_EHbZk1EPPZX4UdSEcMEZsZfOR1tXA-B_0LUVlI3zRC6D05aKq6YchVCEO5s64c4wTZEBCk44O/s320/20240101_181500.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>THE GAME</i> by Linsey Miller </b>is a teen thriller. </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>This book was very reminiscent</span><span> of </span><b><i>PANIC</i> by Lauren Oliver, </b><span>which I absolutely loved. The show on Amazon Prime was pretty great, too. Naturally, I was eager to dive into <i><b>THE GAME. </b></i></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Every year, seniors play a game in which they have to "assassinate</span><span>" their fellow classmates with a water gun. It's supposed to be very hush-hush, and there are some very strict rules that, if broken, will result in being disqualified. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Our heroine has been waiting and planning for her turn to play this game for years, and she is prepared! But then someone starts actually killing the players, and she's being framed. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The author did a great job making me guess who the killer really was, and the motives behind the killings was well thought out, too. And sadly, it's something that I'm sure a lot of teens feel. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Overall, this was a good read and a nice break from the romantasy I've been reading. </span></p><p><br /></p>Kara Leigh Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01145104956483099121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050400477114606016.post-71114914696548642222024-01-12T09:00:00.002-05:002024-01-12T09:00:00.154-05:00Kara's Book Cravings: Prom House<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Mv6Qvv-gjlLLMV3Dm2yXtxqtDjqSlH2Y2UvNYcgjhyphenhyphenhZKG-7yeeDKAFQaaVy079Yy6FIvHJYuTQxiePee9TPLHNS1xV0K02GO5onRCiklhbhUnqC7OirocRro8bhnj3XsA43eC3pH7VqqhUN1DoVY08cUbl9K1WeNN9Uy8KDqXTMsfUksr438TDDte7-/s1640/Kara's%20Book%20Cravings.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1640" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Mv6Qvv-gjlLLMV3Dm2yXtxqtDjqSlH2Y2UvNYcgjhyphenhyphenhZKG-7yeeDKAFQaaVy079Yy6FIvHJYuTQxiePee9TPLHNS1xV0K02GO5onRCiklhbhUnqC7OirocRro8bhnj3XsA43eC3pH7VqqhUN1DoVY08cUbl9K1WeNN9Uy8KDqXTMsfUksr438TDDte7-/w400-h225/Kara's%20Book%20Cravings.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">My girls love to shop at 5 Below, and so I'm often dragged along for the ride (and the money). LOL. It's always fun to look around, and naturally, I always stop at the their book table. Imagine my surprise when I found a selection of YA thrillers! I just had to grab them--I think I got 3 in total--and this was the first one...</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMpIYN5-JwFgBCX0Ol4y_Fs3IRXhqz-RW_KONYQv6W2Pi0FTWtYdCpuJSVt8QGr3OXSPK93WT32HjxgkKSySE_z8zmLV94FwNBmSK1S9-uhF8ZHqQteVaz8wfqb6crPJ7ZpbTA-j3Xh-lhQejqJbNSBaSurd-TJ5NzmMSZVHfUWDPVUCh911pHfiV5DI8o/s4000/20231231_182524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMpIYN5-JwFgBCX0Ol4y_Fs3IRXhqz-RW_KONYQv6W2Pi0FTWtYdCpuJSVt8QGr3OXSPK93WT32HjxgkKSySE_z8zmLV94FwNBmSK1S9-uhF8ZHqQteVaz8wfqb6crPJ7ZpbTA-j3Xh-lhQejqJbNSBaSurd-TJ5NzmMSZVHfUWDPVUCh911pHfiV5DI8o/s320/20231231_182524.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">PROM HOUSE by Chelsea Mueller is a classic teen slasher. A group of friends rent a beach house for a weekend after-prom party. One by one, the friends end up dead. And to make matters worse, a hurricane hits, and so everyone is trapped inside the house. They soon realize that one of them is a killer, and they begin to turn on each other. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This book reminded quite a bit of SCREAM, the movie, which is one of my all time favorites. The plot, while simple, kept me on the edge of my seat. I didn't figure out who the killer was until almost the very end. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Overall, this was a quick read, and I could easily picture this as a movie in my head. The only thing I didn't like was the last couple of pages felt like the author was giving me a lesson and it felt a little "preachy." But it didn't affect my enjoyment of the book as a whole. I highly recommend this for anyone who likes slasher flicks / books. </span></p>Kara Leigh Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01145104956483099121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050400477114606016.post-7856911867838019242024-01-10T09:00:00.001-05:002024-01-10T09:00:00.165-05:00Kara's Book Cravings: Playing With Fire<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9UGNtbdW65FAxvSyLGKnwWza_V8kyi25o3keApIMznvDqmqX4EVWPABiyfhiNUUOzkYu-zEbLmZDyCDeY1wHPQAFvC4XT5uCdrxNtOJZGxtEUtU7LztX9GA6Mu7rN1qD2bf3TTuO2hxrVOjM2bh6qIx02E8WI80UbYfHxKt10XQm0k7yh3cwJt5EBR-rT/s1640/Kara's%20Book%20Cravings.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1640" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9UGNtbdW65FAxvSyLGKnwWza_V8kyi25o3keApIMznvDqmqX4EVWPABiyfhiNUUOzkYu-zEbLmZDyCDeY1wHPQAFvC4XT5uCdrxNtOJZGxtEUtU7LztX9GA6Mu7rN1qD2bf3TTuO2hxrVOjM2bh6qIx02E8WI80UbYfHxKt10XQm0k7yh3cwJt5EBR-rT/w400-h225/Kara's%20Book%20Cravings.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This was another thrift store find that I snagged at the same time I'd bought <i>The Girl in the White Van </i>by the same author. I think I'm quickly becoming a fan of this author's work...</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzOxz3Vn5V4BHh7wb0GFLrFRSUbzhK-8kY-oJrC-miYzdWfADoSKcdqcXD2aKqlFiVHRRldueYRoK507M24O_x6M5KITLxvMQfAind0ATSW7_GZkPE7RTCmGucdepQBaaNt-FNy-I8inH2ZmtCy08FmdUw3mD0Pfi4xbuL6P8xqqU_PGdV1RUjru-qp-ZB/s4000/20231229_142829.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzOxz3Vn5V4BHh7wb0GFLrFRSUbzhK-8kY-oJrC-miYzdWfADoSKcdqcXD2aKqlFiVHRRldueYRoK507M24O_x6M5KITLxvMQfAind0ATSW7_GZkPE7RTCmGucdepQBaaNt-FNy-I8inH2ZmtCy08FmdUw3mD0Pfi4xbuL6P8xqqU_PGdV1RUjru-qp-ZB/s320/20231229_142829.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>PLAYING WITH FIRE </i>by April Henry<i> </i></b>is another young adult thriller and just as faced paced as the author's other book I read. This one really checked all my boxes -- "stranded" setting in that they are trapped on a hiking trail while trying to outrun a wildfire, survival elements, a romance, and a random group of people thrown together and forced to work as a team if they want to live. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">There's quite a bit of danger and mystery in this book, which I loved. I do have to caution you, though, that the backstory of our main character is intense. She survived a house fire as a child, but her baby brother did not. The circumstances surrounding that are much darker than the blurb leads you to believe. So, if child death is a dealbreaker for you, then you might want to skip this one because the author does not shy away from this trauma. I will say that it's handled well, but as a mom, this was hard to read about. Thankfully, the flashback chapters are minimal. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Overall, this was another quick read that's a good addition to my YA thriller collection. </span></p>Kara Leigh Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01145104956483099121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050400477114606016.post-13402487602299333912024-01-08T09:30:00.001-05:002024-01-08T09:30:00.139-05:00Kara's Book Cravings: The Girl in the White Van<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbQfQAjbXPUF_sHgNHbIon0QVFkAbY8zkhvYqT85fbAuCnop_NXGolRBhkUKkA0sTtkvHqvHY1F8hvucKAW35UL-JmIARtk0pyVycX36JPdluP84MVolMEJmCSbfVv0eSisGAe9tp1jR4Ey7ajSexCAK4bZjjDSpuvh5K_i-4Ht02vjFO-5agiBF0zUEUz/s1640/Kara's%20Book%20Cravings.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1640" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbQfQAjbXPUF_sHgNHbIon0QVFkAbY8zkhvYqT85fbAuCnop_NXGolRBhkUKkA0sTtkvHqvHY1F8hvucKAW35UL-JmIARtk0pyVycX36JPdluP84MVolMEJmCSbfVv0eSisGAe9tp1jR4Ey7ajSexCAK4bZjjDSpuvh5K_i-4Ht02vjFO-5agiBF0zUEUz/w400-h225/Kara's%20Book%20Cravings.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In one of my many trips to a my local Goodwill and used bookstore, I stumbled on THE GIRL IN THE WHITE VAN by April Henry. This is a young adult thriller, which we all know is one of my favorite genres!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUgHHuaLT04MWJAXUUS1CMrJylHEVRU0Sp4uLkI-xRFgnvwhi1lLfC2ypDaSApyoLDEU3_vyo3glhekucq17GFZAirJQQUzys98zL34hSURS5fhFfmjD-sL2kt4E89GYp93XAnKBdc7E7nzI4zkm90nUtX2KdH4D6resuSAK2LNDrpQwt6aS8e515GHLRH/s4000/20231228_083200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUgHHuaLT04MWJAXUUS1CMrJylHEVRU0Sp4uLkI-xRFgnvwhi1lLfC2ypDaSApyoLDEU3_vyo3glhekucq17GFZAirJQQUzys98zL34hSURS5fhFfmjD-sL2kt4E89GYp93XAnKBdc7E7nzI4zkm90nUtX2KdH4D6resuSAK2LNDrpQwt6aS8e515GHLRH/s320/20231228_083200.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">The cover is okay, but the blurb is what really grabbed my attention. Basically, this is a story about a teenage girl who is kidnapped while walking home from Tae Kwon Do class. She's kept prisoner in a ratty old RV, along with another teen girl who'd disappeared almost a year prior. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This was on the shorter side, less than 150 pages, and I was able to read it in one evening. The pacing was tight, and the tension was incredible!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The concept of this book is every woman's nightmare, and definitely every mom's fear. My heart was racing at points, and I had a surge of adrenaline at the end, which is always a sign of a good thriller. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">What I really liked about this book, though, was that the author didn't fall back on the girls being raped or sexually assaulted in anyway. They were simply being held captive by a deranged man with some very messed up ideas about gender roles. I also really enjoyed seeing the two girls take control, fight back, and save themselves. Yes, they have help eventually, but for the most part, they don't just sit around and wait. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I also snagged another book by this author, and I'm excited to dive into that one next. </span></p><p><br /></p>Kara Leigh Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01145104956483099121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050400477114606016.post-84941142529575245592024-01-03T09:00:00.001-05:002024-01-03T09:00:00.138-05:00Kara's Book Cravings: ACOTAR Series<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCvXBINrr9IzbQQnZTafLlUq8mNUhkVf1rZT-NHu1ma2PuHIZgdDQfnQ1RprTI8Hm0NL4617GbAb85z4DOm_Ec_ReptXAsgW_03tkPu7CrI74s39lVMnvRWCOohmBFFM0YCt560qpyhqUcpguMzIJM2REW6yb-Tn7v2cUm5RS-fDkgaXLhYeWgCAGyzrPw/s1640/Kara's%20Book%20Cravings.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1640" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCvXBINrr9IzbQQnZTafLlUq8mNUhkVf1rZT-NHu1ma2PuHIZgdDQfnQ1RprTI8Hm0NL4617GbAb85z4DOm_Ec_ReptXAsgW_03tkPu7CrI74s39lVMnvRWCOohmBFFM0YCt560qpyhqUcpguMzIJM2REW6yb-Tn7v2cUm5RS-fDkgaXLhYeWgCAGyzrPw/w400-h225/Kara's%20Book%20Cravings.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So, I have finished all five books in the A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES Series by Sarah J. Maas. If you want to catch up on my thoughts about book 1 and book 2, you can do so <a href="http://karaleighmiller.blogspot.com/2023/12/karas-book-craving-court-of-thorns-and.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> and <a href="http://karaleighmiller.blogspot.com/2023/12/karas-book-cravings-court-of-mist-and.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>. All set? Okay, then let's move on to books 3-5, and boy do I have some thoughts...</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiakv_XCbVtsfUd5BFKJsXH_CpKEFN2BDUmHh-gUV_YwOuSqKJ-V0C5BM8vzgTi_0TBkOoUbdo1HL6I8cGZi3Aa2TSgiu6RWisOqWZIjKAMCR3vhHo1fg4zn2Ou_8uDaGy9ODCFvZpD-Cj5W2xgdbMWDnGBXAC3hlSbmXbolp2UOFchsWiJKjEfaeiNlFmd/s4000/20231228_083216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiakv_XCbVtsfUd5BFKJsXH_CpKEFN2BDUmHh-gUV_YwOuSqKJ-V0C5BM8vzgTi_0TBkOoUbdo1HL6I8cGZi3Aa2TSgiu6RWisOqWZIjKAMCR3vhHo1fg4zn2Ou_8uDaGy9ODCFvZpD-Cj5W2xgdbMWDnGBXAC3hlSbmXbolp2UOFchsWiJKjEfaeiNlFmd/s320/20231228_083216.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">In book 3--A COURT OF WINGS AND RUIN--we get a lot more fantasy aspects with the Fae courts and politics and the eventual big war. While the pacing was good and I was fully engaged, something about this book fell flat for me. In the first two, we're just learning about Rhys and Feyre and becoming invested in their love-hate relationship. In this book, they are fully mated and together. From a story telling perspective, I get the need for that, but as a reader, I really missed the tension between them that had been so strong in the first two books. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The 4th book--A COURT OF FROST AND STARLIGHT--is a really short companion book that takes place after the war and shows Rhys and Feyre settling into their lives. This also focuses a bit more on Feyre's sisters, Elain and Nesta, which leads into the fifth book. While this was a quick read, it wasn't my favorite. It lacked any real conflict and romantic tension. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A COURT OF SILVER FLAMES, the fifth and (so far) final book in this series is a beast. It's by far the longest, and it took me a while to get through it. Not because it was bad, but because we shift from Feyre and Rhys's story into Nesta and Cassian's story. The shift took a big of adjustment, but once I got into it, I thoroughly enjoyed the story. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Nesta gets a lot of hate from a lot of people, and with good reason, but she has the best character arc, in my opinion. The amount of change she goes through, both internally and externally, is astounding. I came to really like her by the end of this book, and I was rooting for her. She knows she hasn't been a good sister, or person overall, but she works hard on herself and by the end, this book had me in tears. I'd venture to say this final book was probably my favorite of the entire series. And the romance between her and Cassian --- wooooo! Make sure you have a fan handy. Or access to a cold shower. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>Kara Leigh Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01145104956483099121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050400477114606016.post-76765123963415444742024-01-02T09:00:00.001-05:002024-01-02T09:00:00.144-05:00Tell Me Something Tuesday: 01.02.2024 (Reading and Blogging Goals)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNqEhGWR9Zh_t9w5w9iUFksrhgbS-1BNxsQtwSvRmNguxGm1p3S3oBYXXp4pQghUjrQrMoUZIOdE5-k_hItEGTI4OJR8fPy7z5tXJoUF1nHckDC0nkOOxdoM3xgSGVyJcQU966mQqZDqCOdfhRvbHe2qJ07oAOlmpPsqUY6Ar7j3d_V9e9lq8BZk6NAd6J/s400/Tell%20Me%20Something%20Tuesday%2020-21%20Image.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNqEhGWR9Zh_t9w5w9iUFksrhgbS-1BNxsQtwSvRmNguxGm1p3S3oBYXXp4pQghUjrQrMoUZIOdE5-k_hItEGTI4OJR8fPy7z5tXJoUF1nHckDC0nkOOxdoM3xgSGVyJcQU966mQqZDqCOdfhRvbHe2qJ07oAOlmpPsqUY6Ar7j3d_V9e9lq8BZk6NAd6J/w400-h400/Tell%20Me%20Something%20Tuesday%2020-21%20Image.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: medium;">Hello and welcome to Tell Me Something Tuesday (TMST)!</span></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="background-color: white;"><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Tell Me Something Tuesday</i></b> is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating.</span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;">If you are interested in participating in TMST or receiving periodic emails that list the upcoming TMST topics and questions, please fill out this <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScadVJrItvPivHVGi7Qz3iT02yNCRZ2v-I8Olznq1Jf2iHvgg/viewform" target="_blank">GOOGLE FORM.</a> Participation is optional and never required.</span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jDXx5UGG8bjJ0Hfly5hm-rIBmN03XPpgRqKXcSonwiYUKr28sm_RUYrnkTvQw-FAB99KnWgLlkps_OEKk7wf4IfTuTknOg8xShvd0UTGKWYsQcfos5L43qWe6MszFyblPXFbqyTRJ8g5wwcDLZru0-E5rHjBoN1epykg5lNTigit0AyBzGDyLO8cctmg/s1920/Have%20you%20ever.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jDXx5UGG8bjJ0Hfly5hm-rIBmN03XPpgRqKXcSonwiYUKr28sm_RUYrnkTvQw-FAB99KnWgLlkps_OEKk7wf4IfTuTknOg8xShvd0UTGKWYsQcfos5L43qWe6MszFyblPXFbqyTRJ8g5wwcDLZru0-E5rHjBoN1epykg5lNTigit0AyBzGDyLO8cctmg/w400-h225/Have%20you%20ever.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">I read just shy of 50 books in 2023, which I know isn't a lot compared to some people, but it's a lot for me when I take into account how much reading I do for my day job. This year, I'd like to read at least 50 books, but ideally, I'll hit 75 or 100. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">On the blogging front, I'd like to post 2-3 Book Cravings posts per week (my personal thoughts on books I've read), along with keeping up on this feature: Tell Me Something Tuesday. I'd also like to open up my blog for any fellow author who'd like to be featured, and share whatever thoughts I might have throughout the year. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>What are your reading and/or blogging goals this year? </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Share in the comments!</b></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div></div>Kara Leigh Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01145104956483099121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050400477114606016.post-9719832561353713512024-01-01T09:00:00.001-05:002024-01-01T09:00:00.137-05:00GOALS: 2024<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL9JwSyDnk60-WGNX33EkTJsLp3ptTOKJDehHAWThT7jolj0Ec4JcyTSRTZmsWfMgt3MJpiq1Eo4pBY1VgtlqYwWZsvT8x_z4m2pLoGsjaG_jPTee9o-G4zsVkpDFmY4HU-EP6DjW8iDFUF7tha047ZpH8DmDCg79Y0a8F_t7peAYUIVPW9QXcGWK6Vxs5/s1640/Copy%20of%20MG%20Monday%20Jungle%20Hunt%205%20(1).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1640" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL9JwSyDnk60-WGNX33EkTJsLp3ptTOKJDehHAWThT7jolj0Ec4JcyTSRTZmsWfMgt3MJpiq1Eo4pBY1VgtlqYwWZsvT8x_z4m2pLoGsjaG_jPTee9o-G4zsVkpDFmY4HU-EP6DjW8iDFUF7tha047ZpH8DmDCg79Y0a8F_t7peAYUIVPW9QXcGWK6Vxs5/w400-h225/Copy%20of%20MG%20Monday%20Jungle%20Hunt%205%20(1).png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Usually, I love writing this post each year. I like to have a semi-plan in place about what I want to accomplish in any given year. At the start of 2024, though, I'm a little hesitant to put anything in writing. Why? Because life seems to have other plans for me lately that don't always involve writing and publishing. And when I don't reach a certain goal I set for myself, I feel like I've failed. So this year, I've decided to be a bit more vague and go easier on myself. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So, here's what I'm going to focus on in 2024...</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><b>1. Maintain My Health</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm finally on a good dosage of my Fibro meds, and I've added in some new supplements that's really helping with my fatigue, so I'm going to keep doing what I'm doing. I'm also going to get back into a routine of working out. Once the weather clears up, I'd like to start taking Crowley on walks again, too. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">2. Gain More Financial Freedom</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm still working for Anaiah Press, and I plan to keep doing so. However, I've applied for a new work-from-home job that's within the publishing industry, and I'm really optimistic that I'll get a position. This will take a lot of stress off our household finances, but it will also give me a bit more freedom in terms of funds to keep publishing and marketing my books. Ideally, within the next 3 to 5 years, I want to be making enough income from my books alone that I don't *have* to work anywhere else unless I want to. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">3. Keep Blogging</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I've made some good progress with my blog this past year, and I want to keep up the momentum. Between a weekly group post I've joined (Tell Me Something Tuesday), my book thoughts, and anything else that pops into my head, I shouldn't have any issues keeping up with this. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">4. Read</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I read more in 2023 than I have in years, and I've really enjoyed branching out into new genres. My total last year was 43 books. This year, I'm aiming for 50! I've even started a reading journal so I can keep better track. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">5. Write</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">As of right now, I don't have any set in stone plans of what I want to write. I have a couple co-authored projects I'm working on, and I'll keep moving forward with those. Beyond that, though, I'm going to try my hand at a New Adult romantasy for my new agent to send out on submission this year. I'm also going to rework some older projects to re-release, and hopefully that will snap me out of whatever writing funk I've been in. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">6. Take a Vacation</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Yes, I'm going on a cruise in February, and that's a wonderful vacation, but I'm going on that for a specific reason. I can't share what that is just yet, but I promise to tell you all about it when I return home. Beyond that, though, I want to take another Mother-Daughter Vacation this summer. Our goal is to visit Covington, Georgia and take The Vampire Diaries tour, along with visiting the Atlanta Zoo and Aquarium. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>What are your goals and plans for 2024? Share in the comments!</i></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>Kara Leigh Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01145104956483099121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050400477114606016.post-42479718457683784612023-12-31T09:30:00.002-05:002023-12-31T10:15:09.140-05:00Looking Back on 2023...<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkcWwsEGsqIUVBDRW2ONKdDE5ONwb0SfhItxQMtIHuSzqNsq9jX1jBryv2oZ8xCTF4jcW6R8d8DBOHI58DprdMI0JGXVrBsEg5xLWCeulDACC0oEhP9eGSf65Y5ntEOBHm1HAjyeAjOTJyBKPpBSZH0qYX_ZVStBn6nJUewzWEPIp1mviN3rbsjT6sedu7/s1640/Copy%20of%20MG%20Monday%20Jungle%20Hunt%205.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1640" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkcWwsEGsqIUVBDRW2ONKdDE5ONwb0SfhItxQMtIHuSzqNsq9jX1jBryv2oZ8xCTF4jcW6R8d8DBOHI58DprdMI0JGXVrBsEg5xLWCeulDACC0oEhP9eGSf65Y5ntEOBHm1HAjyeAjOTJyBKPpBSZH0qYX_ZVStBn6nJUewzWEPIp1mviN3rbsjT6sedu7/w400-h225/Copy%20of%20MG%20Monday%20Jungle%20Hunt%205.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I can't believe it's been another whole year. At times, 2023 felt like it would never end, and at other times, the months were just flying by. This has been a year full of ups and downs for me personally, and professionally... well, it wasn't my best. But before I get into all that, here is a rundown of my original 2023 goals: </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><b style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"><u>1. Stay Healthy: </u></b><span style="font-size: large;">I struggled quite a bit this year with fatigue, and as a result, I haven't slept well (oddly enough), which means I then end up in pain. As a result, I've had my Fibro meds increased twice this year, but I think I'm finally at a place where I'm good. The pain and fatigue aren't affecting my daily life as much as before. I haven't been working out like I used to, and I really want to get back into doing so. I've also been adding more carbs into my diet, slowly, and I'm managing that pretty well. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">My daughter who was diagnosed with Crohn's a couple of years ago is still doing well. We've had to increase her meds, too, but she's definitely in a much better place. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">My parents have been having quite a few health-related issues this past year, though. My mom has to have retina injections every few months. She had cataract surgery on both eyes, and she was recently diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. My dad had extremely high blood pressure and ended up in the hospital with stroke-like symptoms. BUT -- they are both still with me and getting better each day, and I'm so incredibly thankful for that. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"><b><u>2. Keep Writing and Publishing:</u> </b></span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">Sadly, I didn't do so well with this. I didn't release any new books this year, but I did completely rebrand my Cursed Series, which was a much larger undertaking than I expected. I've been working on various projects, but with all the doctor's appointments and health scares, writing has been difficult. I'm close to finishing something new, though, and that's exciting. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"><b><u>3. Treat My Business Like a Business: </u></b>I did accomplish this! Though it took me most of the year, I have finally found various programs and tools to help me be more productive on the business end without working too hard. I've certainly seen the benefits of consistent online activity, and I'm excited to keep going into 2024. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"><b><u>4. Expand My Audience:</u></b> The increased online activity has certainly helped with this, but I've got some exciting things in the works, too, that will help with this. More about that below!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"><b><u>5. Read:</u></b> I read sooo much this year, and I absolutely love it! I've even expanded into some new genres that I like a lot more than I thought I would. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">While I might not have accomplished as much on the writing and publishing front as I would have liked, I did have some pretty big wins this year...</span></p><p></p><ul><li><span style="font-size: medium;">My very first pit bull, Nico, was staying with my daughter for the past few years, but he's now back with me. I love him so much, and he gets along with Crowley so well. I know he doesn't have many years left, so I'm enjoying every single moment with him.<br /><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">My daughter's boyfriend asked me to go on a cruise with the two of them next year, and I am super stoked for that. I'll be going with my best friend, Nicole. YAY!<br /><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">I took my second annual mother-daughter vacation. This year, we went to Missouri and visited Branson. While there, we went to the Celebrity Car Museum, and I got to SIT IN THE SUPERNATURAL CAR!!! This was definitely one of the biggest highlights of my year. <br /><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">The husband and I, along with our best friends, went on an overnight trip for our wedding anniversary. We had so much fun!<br /><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">I made a trip to NY for a family reunion, and catching up with everyone was wonderful. While there, we drove to Buffalo so my daughter could meet her boyfriend for the first time. We visited the zoo and Niagara Falls, which was a blast. <br /><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">I plotted and planned a new series with a co-author that we're actively working on for the new year. We've got some big plans, so stay tuned for updates.<br /><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">I stopped pressuring myself and tracking everything. In the past, I always kept a calendar where I'd track how much time I spent writing, blogging, editing, etc., and my word counts. Because of life, I haven't written much and seeing the blank spaces and the big fat 0 on my calendar was stressing me out. I felt like a failure. So I simply stopped. It's taken off a lot of pressure, and I'm unsure if I'll start tracking again or not. <br /><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">I stepped out of my comfort zone this year and really scared myself silly with different haunted houses and spooky locations. My daughter and I would go do something scary every weekend, and it was awesome. <br /><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">My cat Luna became very ill, and I almost lost her. But through a lot of love (and vet visits) she's healthier than ever! She continues to gain weight, and she still insists on sitting on my lap while I'm trying to work. <br /><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">My daughter and her boyfriend got a new puppy. A pug named Loki, and I love playing with him and then sending him home. I forgot how much work a puppy is, and I'm too old for that. lol. <br /><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">I started a couple new collections. Y'all know I have a huge Twilight collection beyond just the books, and now I've started a Supernatural, The X-Files, and Stranger Things collections. That might seem odd to include here, but I thrive on the hunt. I love going to thrift stores, antique stores, craft fairs, etc., and finding cool things to add. <br /><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">My eldest daughter got a new puppy this year, too. A German Shepherd named Eden. I haven't had the chance to meet her yet, but I hope to next year. <br /><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">I decided to start a snow globe collection, mostly because I buy one each time I go somewhere new. They make great keepsakes. My husband even bought me a new cabinet with a light to put them all in! He's really the best.<br /><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">I took a very intense 3-day online class about marketing, and I learned quite a bit. I've also made some great new connections via that class. It also prompted a new idea for a non-fiction book. <br /><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">My long-time agent passed away very unexpectedly. (To be clear, that is NOT a win!) As a result, I've now signed on with a new agent. Cindy Bullard at Birch Literary. She's great, and I'm excited to see what we do together. She'll be starting by hopefully selling the subrights to my Cursed Series. <br /><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">My cat, Finn, who had been with my daughter in Missouri is back with me. He wasn't getting along very well with one of her other cats, so he came back. He's getting along pretty well with my cats here, and he even likes to play with Salem on occasion. <br /><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">I've been blogging more regularly, too, and I'm being consistent with sharing my thoughts about the books I'm reading. <br /><br /></span></li></ul><p><span style="font-size: medium;">As I mentioned above, I read so much this year, and I even ventured into some new genres. Here's my complete list: </span></p><p></p><ul><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Charm</i> by Tracy Wolff</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Coop Knows the Scoop </i>by Taryn Souders</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Lost in Michigan, & Lost in Michigan Vol. 2 </i>by Mike Sonnenberg</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Michigan Haunts and Hauntings </i>by Marion Kuclo</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Yellowface </i>by R.F. Kuang</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Million Dollar Outlines </i>by David Farland</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The Shadow Sister </i>by Lily Meade</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Fragments of the Lost </i>by Megan Miranda</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Paranormal State </i>by Ryan Buell</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The Unplanned Life of Josie Hale </i>by Stephanie Eding</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Haunted America </i>by Publications International, LTD</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The Haunted</i> by Danielle Vega</span></li><li><i style="font-size: large;">The Girl From Widow Hills </i><span style="font-size: large;">by Megan Miranda</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Grip of Fear, Grip of Darkness, Grip of Terror, Grip of Death, Grip of Madness, Grip of Evil, Grip of Honor, </i>& <i>Surviving Chaos </i>by Sam J. Fires</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Camp Murderface </i>and <i>Camp Murderface: Doom in the Deep</i> by Josh Berk and Saundra Mitchell</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>What Lives in the Woods</i> by Lindsay Currie</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Daybreak on Raven Island </i>by Fleur Bradley</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Camp Slyvania </i>by Julie Murphy</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Hawkins Horrors</i> by Matthew J. Gilbert</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Suspicious Minds </i>by Gwenda Bond</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Darkness on the Edge of Town</i> by Adam Christopher</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Judgment Road </i>and <i>Vengeance Road </i>by Christine Feehan</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The Sorority Murder </i>by Allison Brennan</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Someone We Know </i>by Shari Lapena</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The Sleepover </i>by Samantha King</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Fourth Wing</i> and <i>Iron Flame </i>by Rebecca Yarros</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>A Court of Thorns and Roses, A Court of Mist and Fury, A Court of Wings and Ruin, A Court of Frost and Starlight,</i> and <i>A Court of Silver Flames</i> by Sarah J. Maas</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The Girl in the White Van</i> by April Henry</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Playing with Fire </i>by April Henry</span></li></ul><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Overall, it hasn't been a terrible year considering. I definitely had a lot more personal wins than professional, but that's okay. Stay tuned for my official 2024 goals post :-) In the meantime, tell me in the comments what YOU did this year! </span></p><p><br /></p>Kara Leigh Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01145104956483099121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050400477114606016.post-27598665189299822502023-12-19T10:00:00.001-05:002023-12-19T10:00:00.137-05:00Tell Me Something Tuesday: 12.19.2023 (Phone Apps)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNqEhGWR9Zh_t9w5w9iUFksrhgbS-1BNxsQtwSvRmNguxGm1p3S3oBYXXp4pQghUjrQrMoUZIOdE5-k_hItEGTI4OJR8fPy7z5tXJoUF1nHckDC0nkOOxdoM3xgSGVyJcQU966mQqZDqCOdfhRvbHe2qJ07oAOlmpPsqUY6Ar7j3d_V9e9lq8BZk6NAd6J/s400/Tell%20Me%20Something%20Tuesday%2020-21%20Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNqEhGWR9Zh_t9w5w9iUFksrhgbS-1BNxsQtwSvRmNguxGm1p3S3oBYXXp4pQghUjrQrMoUZIOdE5-k_hItEGTI4OJR8fPy7z5tXJoUF1nHckDC0nkOOxdoM3xgSGVyJcQU966mQqZDqCOdfhRvbHe2qJ07oAOlmpPsqUY6Ar7j3d_V9e9lq8BZk6NAd6J/w400-h400/Tell%20Me%20Something%20Tuesday%2020-21%20Image.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Hello and welcome to Tell Me Something Tuesday (TMST)!</span></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="background-color: white;"><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><b><i>Tell Me Something Tuesday</i></b> is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating.</span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;">If you are interested in participating in TMST or receiving periodic emails that list the upcoming TMST topics and questions, please fill out this <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScadVJrItvPivHVGi7Qz3iT02yNCRZ2v-I8Olznq1Jf2iHvgg/viewform" target="_blank">GOOGLE FORM.</a> Participation is optional and never required.</span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT4LM-a7B4Nmon7li9rw8HHg_tfuYALm8GbMbOwRsmkY_nj0rhkmj7jWF2mqzRDLN3Gvs_2jYdam_FA_zmcVL-2UAsvmkhcBAZFBPdGhLOArLELt_2RhfmSl5g43eclJjUalM6hAirTl28gp3HTphcRovldh1GABGIlRUQRbTXkkWc0Blbey0XY8f6E4Rj/s1920/Have%20you%20ever%20(13).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT4LM-a7B4Nmon7li9rw8HHg_tfuYALm8GbMbOwRsmkY_nj0rhkmj7jWF2mqzRDLN3Gvs_2jYdam_FA_zmcVL-2UAsvmkhcBAZFBPdGhLOArLELt_2RhfmSl5g43eclJjUalM6hAirTl28gp3HTphcRovldh1GABGIlRUQRbTXkkWc0Blbey0XY8f6E4Rj/w400-h225/Have%20you%20ever%20(13).png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;">I'm not sure I could live without any of them. LOL. But the ones I tend to use the most are my social media apps--Facebook, (especially messenger) Twitter, Instagram. My banking apps and email. And I'm always playing either Monster Busters or Solitaire Grand Harvest. </span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #990000; font-size: medium;"><b><i>What are your must have phone apps?</i></b></span></div></div>Kara Leigh Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01145104956483099121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050400477114606016.post-13047297746991181922023-12-12T10:00:00.001-05:002023-12-12T10:00:00.178-05:00Tell Me Something Tuesday: 12.12.2023 (Favorite childhood toys)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2inGY2NBZU4Cr2aYniyWobw4-FENdTu0OUFartSsg-mEX21izJA7MppGxn1oYlfztXwdKgb6Mv9wc0lPAyQnCbqzq7dz_HR3LumafxoqJP6TJYJ4ZgTK1jnKNNeuETWX6ukNv90mD8Ggep8GNmzO8QZB84nQ4XSxoVvfqdD2Ph5hy1eJrxzjWYli3szMq/s400/Tell%20Me%20Something%20Tuesday%2020-21%20Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2inGY2NBZU4Cr2aYniyWobw4-FENdTu0OUFartSsg-mEX21izJA7MppGxn1oYlfztXwdKgb6Mv9wc0lPAyQnCbqzq7dz_HR3LumafxoqJP6TJYJ4ZgTK1jnKNNeuETWX6ukNv90mD8Ggep8GNmzO8QZB84nQ4XSxoVvfqdD2Ph5hy1eJrxzjWYli3szMq/w482-h340/Tell%20Me%20Something%20Tuesday%2020-21%20Image.jpg" width="482" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Hello and welcome to Tell Me Something Tuesday (TMST)!</span></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="background-color: white;"><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><b><i>Tell Me Something Tuesday</i></b> is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating.</span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;">If you are interested in participating in TMST or receiving periodic emails that list the upcoming TMST topics and questions, please fill out this <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScadVJrItvPivHVGi7Qz3iT02yNCRZ2v-I8Olznq1Jf2iHvgg/viewform" target="_blank">GOOGLE FORM.</a> Participation is optional and never required.</span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLzxRZHjdlQmWodLrnci90DKzi_rEpggOt3Gx00RhTTngCtuQbvYWKBpawg7LiUFrHfTTQDjkpCs1wlBsZQf7TRb8WKjnJjlIKl3PFyX7erm-n6yWuQn2a2DvqK0NsrASoKMuCP4A-Y62PvbfBfWQsh7n236uqLbrSfQBlDS_2QfOqILR__sEV5bT1TN1/s1920/Have%20you%20ever%20(12).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLzxRZHjdlQmWodLrnci90DKzi_rEpggOt3Gx00RhTTngCtuQbvYWKBpawg7LiUFrHfTTQDjkpCs1wlBsZQf7TRb8WKjnJjlIKl3PFyX7erm-n6yWuQn2a2DvqK0NsrASoKMuCP4A-Y62PvbfBfWQsh7n236uqLbrSfQBlDS_2QfOqILR__sEV5bT1TN1/w400-h225/Have%20you%20ever%20(12).png" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;">I LOVED Barbies. I had so many of them, and all the accessories, too. I'd spend hours sitting on my bedroom floor playing with them, making up stories about their lives, decorating their houses. I also really enjoyed paper dolls, coloring books, and LiteBrite. As I got older, I discovered the original Super Mario Bros on the very first Nintendo gaming system. (Yeah, I just dated myself. LOL) </span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #990000; font-size: medium;"><b><i>What were your favorite toys growing up? </i></b></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div></div>Kara Leigh Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01145104956483099121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050400477114606016.post-33703621221310688882023-12-06T09:00:00.001-05:002023-12-06T09:00:00.150-05:00Kara's Book Cravings: A Court of Mist and Fury<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHb095xTbmakB5QYA9h8th7WoUPR72mwcMLTKTbxXHMvlgJ8Duf8hkyI0GdoiWjVv5s8XQwyh2PWabb2z1h2-DE34zqIOQjNdkmXZ-dcZGRXYho10shBYZmP456gbfhR4z0tFOmLPa67eqTxT-T3yCfxWQoPRam4t7g7oTep_Kcs0REp_h_f7bvQpc-nO0/s1640/Kara's%20Book%20Cravings.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1640" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHb095xTbmakB5QYA9h8th7WoUPR72mwcMLTKTbxXHMvlgJ8Duf8hkyI0GdoiWjVv5s8XQwyh2PWabb2z1h2-DE34zqIOQjNdkmXZ-dcZGRXYho10shBYZmP456gbfhR4z0tFOmLPa67eqTxT-T3yCfxWQoPRam4t7g7oTep_Kcs0REp_h_f7bvQpc-nO0/w400-h225/Kara's%20Book%20Cravings.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">After being very pleasantly surprised by how much I loved A Court of Thorns and Roses, I immediately jumped right into the second book, A Court of Mist and Fury. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZtQ2-S4Tih6bdoQlaUp3tPlszJ_bqgOHkXsf8FiGu9ev8FiMTJeaxviJhf2p1YMkEw6BI3sp48Wkqs2-MJdj2dDhTCoAucQKaHO8RrVwqKr03V53hBy2j2vtzJ84Lqmg0ssq5LyHXYF1LXfbiK1HD3Q0y3bquLgugRkE9C52TQkTml65fSzMbsEGAhUwF/s4000/20231128_112646.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZtQ2-S4Tih6bdoQlaUp3tPlszJ_bqgOHkXsf8FiGu9ev8FiMTJeaxviJhf2p1YMkEw6BI3sp48Wkqs2-MJdj2dDhTCoAucQKaHO8RrVwqKr03V53hBy2j2vtzJ84Lqmg0ssq5LyHXYF1LXfbiK1HD3Q0y3bquLgugRkE9C52TQkTml65fSzMbsEGAhUwF/s320/20231128_112646.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;">This is one big book, coming in at over 600 pages, so it was a little intimidating at first. But then I started reading it... and I couldn't stop! I finished this entire book in 3 days flat. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">ACOMAF is definitely much better than ACOTAR, but the reason for that, in my opinion, is that we get a lot more Rhysand in this book, and he's my favorite!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We learn so much more about him and why he's so misunderstood. We also learn more about Tamlin, and as I mentioned in my last review, my suspicions about him are confirmed. He's not as great as he's portrayed in book 1. I don't hate him, and he's not really a villain, but he makes some really dumb decisions. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Feyre, our heroine, becomes a lot stronger in this book as well, and while I find some of her reactions annoying, she's a solid character, and I like her more and more. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The ending of this book had my jaw on the floor, though, and then I couldn't stop smiling. Maas is a master of the plot twist, and she's damn good at the enemies-to-lovers trope, too. I hope to one day be as good as she is. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And now, I will dive into book 3, which is even longer than this one. I hope I'm not disappointed. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span></p>Kara Leigh Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01145104956483099121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050400477114606016.post-64297257531398634122023-12-05T10:00:00.001-05:002023-12-05T10:00:00.144-05:00Tell Me Something Tuesday: 12.05.2023 (Desert Island Book)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaPx4Mt9v5MokXuHW8XEmlC6ba3dK0UbhOgeNYfCL_TTVdZgedqTmU6hyphenhyphenWxPz7a6zcJoI-1tlqmtAWhUj1maqv4Ow0_zWDDWQem_7Njb8fhlHIG87T4HjTwozDcXWLqywbO6HLqvySTMwUB16SjBP-ddJz9LWxWWS9Cj4JSNibRWDP7H1VlI3UFLFgJ6J_/s400/Tell%20Me%20Something%20Tuesday%2020-21%20Image.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="327" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaPx4Mt9v5MokXuHW8XEmlC6ba3dK0UbhOgeNYfCL_TTVdZgedqTmU6hyphenhyphenWxPz7a6zcJoI-1tlqmtAWhUj1maqv4Ow0_zWDDWQem_7Njb8fhlHIG87T4HjTwozDcXWLqywbO6HLqvySTMwUB16SjBP-ddJz9LWxWWS9Cj4JSNibRWDP7H1VlI3UFLFgJ6J_/w483-h327/Tell%20Me%20Something%20Tuesday%2020-21%20Image.jpg" width="483" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><p><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></p>Hello and welcome to Tell Me Something Tuesday (TMST)!</span><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="background-color: white;"><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><b><i>Tell Me Something Tuesday</i></b> is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating.</span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;">If you are interested in participating in TMST or receiving periodic emails that list the upcoming TMST topics and questions, please fill out this <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScadVJrItvPivHVGi7Qz3iT02yNCRZ2v-I8Olznq1Jf2iHvgg/viewform" target="_blank">GOOGLE FORM.</a> Participation is optional and never required.</span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLHnM7P1CNGprhOsrx1Rq1Obchme_EIF9W_VvHsBpBvJWkkg86JpfLyZkfL9sGuL3JCptd7e-KYXJmxUp-qxqZxWpF_IuPYkPca68m4evJ6LlwMDwCNZ6ghlrn2pp_CHwHX5HZRkRxyZWB5eTnhxgNKKpb1mG1JYAtTSjQiwybtB69bOPKqJ0Ped3RH9vu/s1920/Have%20you%20ever%20(11).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLHnM7P1CNGprhOsrx1Rq1Obchme_EIF9W_VvHsBpBvJWkkg86JpfLyZkfL9sGuL3JCptd7e-KYXJmxUp-qxqZxWpF_IuPYkPca68m4evJ6LlwMDwCNZ6ghlrn2pp_CHwHX5HZRkRxyZWB5eTnhxgNKKpb1mG1JYAtTSjQiwybtB69bOPKqJ0Ped3RH9vu/w400-h225/Have%20you%20ever%20(11).png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;">The practical part of my brain says I'd want some sort of survival guide so I wouldn't die. LOL. But the book-loving part of my brain says I'd probably want Twilight. Preferably the entire saga, but if I can only have one book, then I'd take Midnight Sun or Breaking Dawn because they're the longest. </span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #990000; font-size: medium;"><b><i>What book would you want with you a desert island?</i></b></span></div></div>Kara Leigh Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01145104956483099121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050400477114606016.post-58399335617885808892023-12-04T09:00:00.001-05:002023-12-04T09:00:00.137-05:00Kara's Book Craving: A Court of Thorns and Roses<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvIrIxbyGSagbL8GSIrXFjDypohmCDhPt8vDZ5EK0TZOCmopu2aikSioKYfwdifyLT-Pri-mEVTeA9IW31yHsQF5vznBhjFRcp26foD4dS7BVe04bI5QZuSxws-3CnD-gQvY9-RKP85CfhkTYkpq6sRE_Qezaj86lRf4QXMtxs2bOnxxHDpQKd-8VYTHqR/s1640/Kara's%20Book%20Cravings.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1640" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvIrIxbyGSagbL8GSIrXFjDypohmCDhPt8vDZ5EK0TZOCmopu2aikSioKYfwdifyLT-Pri-mEVTeA9IW31yHsQF5vznBhjFRcp26foD4dS7BVe04bI5QZuSxws-3CnD-gQvY9-RKP85CfhkTYkpq6sRE_Qezaj86lRf4QXMtxs2bOnxxHDpQKd-8VYTHqR/w400-h225/Kara's%20Book%20Cravings.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">After reading and enjoying Fourth Wing and Iron Flame, I decided to really give romantasy (romance + fantasy) a shot, and so I asked in several groups for recommendations on other series to try, especially for someone so new to the genre. And let me tell you... I got a LOT of great recommendations! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The one that seemed to come up more than anything else was the A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES (ACOTAR) series by Sarah J. Maas. People warned me that the first book isn't all that great, and that it's slow, but I really need to push through to get to the second book, and then the series is one of the best they'd ever read. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And so, I dove in head first...</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKHQbUZa3794oAHq1ZBhIRfTRsOhU8BoogPLjF-yyyUvvkLuG3SVtajgRGAsztSNUm5Ya3H7ozT2Ke27vfE0VvnHiv0NHymKN3r_S7l95r8umW7ZQ9XXn54mI5UoryBn9Klzah_gsa7a_9A9MCXIHTupRvoRyfmau_2BODRGMEqtSTTYcBt0UnlY4R-3H/s4000/20231128_112632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKHQbUZa3794oAHq1ZBhIRfTRsOhU8BoogPLjF-yyyUvvkLuG3SVtajgRGAsztSNUm5Ya3H7ozT2Ke27vfE0VvnHiv0NHymKN3r_S7l95r8umW7ZQ9XXn54mI5UoryBn9Klzah_gsa7a_9A9MCXIHTupRvoRyfmau_2BODRGMEqtSTTYcBt0UnlY4R-3H/s320/20231128_112632.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm still very new to this genre, but I know that Fae are huge within fantasy, like vampires are in paranormal. I've never liked Fae, though. I don't know why, but something about them--especially as leads and heroes--just never set right with me. Maybe it's the pointy ears... </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Anyway, this series is all about Fae and the various courts they rule. The heroine is a human, and she's unwillingly sucked into this world. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Was this book slow like everyone said? Yes. Did I skim read a lot of sections that were heavy with descriptions? You bet I did! </span><span style="font-size: large;">But I don't think this book was as bad as people say, nor do I think it's a weak start to the series. Is the second book better? Without a doubt! Still, I really enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I would! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm sucked into the world Maas has created and the politics with all the various Fae courts. How the human world clashes with the Fae is really intriguing, too! I liked Tamlin, though something about him felt off at times, and my suspicions were confirmed in the second book. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Rhysand -- who is portrayed as the "bad guy" is a heck of a lot deeper and more complicated than he appears, and I absolutely adore him! He's my new Xaden from Fourth Wing. lol. I seriously love Rhys, and I can't wait to read more of him.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Overall, this first book did its job and sucked me in. I'm hooked and will continue to read the rest of the series. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Anyone else read this? </span></i></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">What did you think?</span></i></b></p>Kara Leigh Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01145104956483099121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050400477114606016.post-746753568799105952023-11-29T09:00:00.002-05:002023-11-29T09:00:00.156-05:00Kara's Book Cravings: Fourth Wing and Iron Flame<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir4PySi619g5G_tRpCmE5lSC1-Je9LG2gDKGFOUDvfNuMbUkoAWNJjMAWO5y1nCBsg8gWYINgtfNJeNWKr8oF0hi94KXphbURr3Vqlzs8YG2EgZeuQaiMZE_UiDCLRAhuBVmrP2q3eYYGnrZ2b0ykxJqD1dOGocx49x4z0QptOm9EQ1crpTiBuAo6oYu16/s1640/Kara's%20Book%20Cravings.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1640" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir4PySi619g5G_tRpCmE5lSC1-Je9LG2gDKGFOUDvfNuMbUkoAWNJjMAWO5y1nCBsg8gWYINgtfNJeNWKr8oF0hi94KXphbURr3Vqlzs8YG2EgZeuQaiMZE_UiDCLRAhuBVmrP2q3eYYGnrZ2b0ykxJqD1dOGocx49x4z0QptOm9EQ1crpTiBuAo6oYu16/w400-h225/Kara's%20Book%20Cravings.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Like all the other book lovers out there, I'm not immune to the hype surrounding <b><i>Fourth Wing</i></b> and <b><i>Iron Flame</i></b> by Rebecca Yarros. I am, however, immune to the epic fantasy books or anything that requires heavy worldbuilding. Or... I used to be anyway...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXAHUDajJ2aCvgE3TjLiIXZUhU3EJ1Zy8f_jpQob8RNVEA2ZZj9DJFB_-X8t-i06ieMCrSPOk5inKPp5AzNmBNuBUjN67Fd0-OwEXs6Yfc8pi4yd-RxyJaBzlNkLF9PheCteq4tsAVfkHbRq8c5ufb3DMSgxya22iBF49R8F6x4dMwPimYKwqcKdxYGGEX/s2048/4th%20Wing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXAHUDajJ2aCvgE3TjLiIXZUhU3EJ1Zy8f_jpQob8RNVEA2ZZj9DJFB_-X8t-i06ieMCrSPOk5inKPp5AzNmBNuBUjN67Fd0-OwEXs6Yfc8pi4yd-RxyJaBzlNkLF9PheCteq4tsAVfkHbRq8c5ufb3DMSgxya22iBF49R8F6x4dMwPimYKwqcKdxYGGEX/s320/4th%20Wing.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;">A very good friend of mine had read<i> Fourth Wing</i> and insisted I needed to read it, despite knowing I'm not a fan of fantasy. But I trust her, so I decided why not? Let me see for myself what all the hype is about. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I read </span><i style="font-size: large;">Fourth Wing</i><span style="font-size: large;"> in a matter of days! In fact, I hadn't even finished it when</span><i style="font-size: large;"> Iron Flame</i><span style="font-size: large;"> released, but I was at my local Target bright and early to ensure I got my copy, and I even splurged on a second copy of</span><i style="font-size: large;"> Fourth Wing</i><span style="font-size: large;"> so I could have the pretty sprayed edges and the bonus content. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I've read both sides of the arguments surrounding these books -- those who love them and those who hate them -- and I can see value in both opinions. Personally, I really enjoyed these books. Yes, they're long, and yes there are some things that don't make a lot of sense. But I read for the enjoyment of it, to escape the dumpster fire that is the world, and these books gave me that. I was sucked into the world almost immediately. I LOVE the dragons and their lore. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">And don't even get me started on Xaden -- I have a new book boyfriend, y'all! He's the type of strong, silent, brooding hero I wish I could write. My heart raced every time he showed up on the page. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I will admit I did struggle just a bit with <i>Iron Flame</i>, mostly because the middle sagged a bit, and some things happened that stole the magic I'd found reading the first book, relationships to be specific. (Don't worry -- I won't say because I don't want to spoil anything.) </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Overall, these books were fun, and I'm (im)patiently waiting for book 3, because WOW does book 2 end on a wicked cliffhanger! Fair warning. But what I think I like most about taking a chance on these books is that it's opened me up to an entirely new genre that I was adamant I wouldn't like -- fantasy romance. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I can admit when I'm wrong, though, and now I'm doing a deep dive into this genre and reading everything I can get my hands on!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><b><i>Anyone else read this series? </i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><b><i>What are your thoughts on it?</i></b></span></p>Kara Leigh Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01145104956483099121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050400477114606016.post-3371329290332061582023-11-28T10:00:00.002-05:002023-11-28T10:00:00.136-05:00Tell Me Something Tuesday: 11.28.2023 (Winter TBR)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaPx4Mt9v5MokXuHW8XEmlC6ba3dK0UbhOgeNYfCL_TTVdZgedqTmU6hyphenhyphenWxPz7a6zcJoI-1tlqmtAWhUj1maqv4Ow0_zWDDWQem_7Njb8fhlHIG87T4HjTwozDcXWLqywbO6HLqvySTMwUB16SjBP-ddJz9LWxWWS9Cj4JSNibRWDP7H1VlI3UFLFgJ6J_/s400/Tell%20Me%20Something%20Tuesday%2020-21%20Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="327" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaPx4Mt9v5MokXuHW8XEmlC6ba3dK0UbhOgeNYfCL_TTVdZgedqTmU6hyphenhyphenWxPz7a6zcJoI-1tlqmtAWhUj1maqv4Ow0_zWDDWQem_7Njb8fhlHIG87T4HjTwozDcXWLqywbO6HLqvySTMwUB16SjBP-ddJz9LWxWWS9Cj4JSNibRWDP7H1VlI3UFLFgJ6J_/w483-h327/Tell%20Me%20Something%20Tuesday%2020-21%20Image.jpg" width="483" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></p>Hello and welcome to Tell Me Something Tuesday (TMST)!</span><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="background-color: white;"><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><b><i>Tell Me Something Tuesday</i></b> is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating.</span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;">If you are interested in participating in TMST or receiving periodic emails that list the upcoming TMST topics and questions, please fill out this <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScadVJrItvPivHVGi7Qz3iT02yNCRZ2v-I8Olznq1Jf2iHvgg/viewform" target="_blank">GOOGLE FORM.</a> Participation is optional and never required.</span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1yatXIDL_hHZz96dNEtbxlAbLgg_ph4JGbR_E-vkN96xWLdTsefAQ7c9nfHRMkldVQCqw83LariVTCiKZI0VOUrU3QI_hXm1XwVznrUICUYLMD-Y1tEpob0Niox-NECrP6kSXgcAuqUvRoEA980cQKUraOLoue4HibLHweWbTaSaH2rchiNwZ2qC87_uF/s1920/Have%20you%20ever%20(10).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1yatXIDL_hHZz96dNEtbxlAbLgg_ph4JGbR_E-vkN96xWLdTsefAQ7c9nfHRMkldVQCqw83LariVTCiKZI0VOUrU3QI_hXm1XwVznrUICUYLMD-Y1tEpob0Niox-NECrP6kSXgcAuqUvRoEA980cQKUraOLoue4HibLHweWbTaSaH2rchiNwZ2qC87_uF/w400-h225/Have%20you%20ever%20(10).png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;">I'm excited to finish the Torpedo Ink Series by Christine Feehan. This is a rather long series, so it's probably going to take me a while to finish. But if I do get through them quickly, I plan to just randomly work through my TBR by picking a book from my shelf and diving in. I find I read more when I do this as opposed to setting a reading schedule for myself. </span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #990000; font-size: medium;"><b><i>What books are you excited to read this winter?</i></b></span></div></div>Kara Leigh Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01145104956483099121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050400477114606016.post-21241020471108703022023-11-21T10:00:00.002-05:002023-11-21T10:00:00.142-05:00Tell Me Something Tuesday: 11.21.2023 (What I'm Thankful For)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6eLzC5Tvj2OVYIF7sTsxVW5m4SLD15S0bQTF6DtpWPvtoX6m7e8UKHPQIPI062XaBdPJmKLYGywOpkZdbtCLQWWTA2ZGqKCztUq0Tb8Dei_uAmMt84PGAlUgkloIy25ULGujcPqv-rzpEUFRu9ciIgDo5aTsznBj5TXRh_EA4D6Ve861VIvPwJUt8VFm8/s400/Tell%20Me%20Something%20Tuesday%2020-21%20Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="349" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6eLzC5Tvj2OVYIF7sTsxVW5m4SLD15S0bQTF6DtpWPvtoX6m7e8UKHPQIPI062XaBdPJmKLYGywOpkZdbtCLQWWTA2ZGqKCztUq0Tb8Dei_uAmMt84PGAlUgkloIy25ULGujcPqv-rzpEUFRu9ciIgDo5aTsznBj5TXRh_EA4D6Ve861VIvPwJUt8VFm8/w473-h349/Tell%20Me%20Something%20Tuesday%2020-21%20Image.jpg" width="473" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></p>Hello and welcome to Tell Me Something Tuesday (TMST)!</span><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="background-color: white;"><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><b><i>Tell Me Something Tuesday</i></b> is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating.</span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;">If you are interested in participating in TMST or receiving periodic emails that list the upcoming TMST topics and questions, please fill out this <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScadVJrItvPivHVGi7Qz3iT02yNCRZ2v-I8Olznq1Jf2iHvgg/viewform" target="_blank">GOOGLE FORM.</a> Participation is optional and never required.</span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7YbWENyjUT16-0538-b76cYaD5-4q8BAZxpqYEyxUvL0W0RoHogMyhsTai5JBmzNNWrh_FtW_LnTQyhFvznlyQaka4UGBWE2IJqVRcxU4rxk_Ns5xP8HuPKOpsjNptDAOqmepQTN5FwlH9eotwVNmfrPRgCkNhQMuHQoucRTBEYmQTc4L_uE77w_bOTd/s1920/Have%20you%20ever%20(9).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7YbWENyjUT16-0538-b76cYaD5-4q8BAZxpqYEyxUvL0W0RoHogMyhsTai5JBmzNNWrh_FtW_LnTQyhFvznlyQaka4UGBWE2IJqVRcxU4rxk_Ns5xP8HuPKOpsjNptDAOqmepQTN5FwlH9eotwVNmfrPRgCkNhQMuHQoucRTBEYmQTc4L_uE77w_bOTd/w400-h225/Have%20you%20ever%20(9).png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;">I have a lot to be thankful for this year. First and foremost -- my family and friends. I wouldn't be able to function the way I do without them. They keep me grounded while also boosting me to reach for my dreams. </span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;">I'm thankful for the amazing doctors at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital and the entire GI team for how well they always take care of my daughter and how they genuinely care about her. </span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;">I'm thankful for my writing and publishing friends. This is a brutal industry, and if not for every single one of you, I'd have quit by now. LOL. </span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #990000; font-size: medium;"><b><i>What're you thankful for?</i></b></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div></div>Kara Leigh Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01145104956483099121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050400477114606016.post-91666066636743443792023-11-14T10:00:00.002-05:002023-11-14T10:00:00.151-05:00Tell Me Something Tuesday: 11.14.2023 (Sports and Recreation)<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCLvpwhct8N-J4jXd75JH9VwKi0GWYnQz-dAHnqTC9IVqRUloTfQEUld395kosCeP7Kbeu_7nf98345qTSfRDMPI5idhuw6JgWwEEIsKPx1bQD6H99vbQIg47jZMt4Q4ep99a_zouL7rjBlMBk9YhiDixa5GBt4szfU64Q0tyZKzSSWp7mEbssZF9UEjIL/s400/Tell%20Me%20Something%20Tuesday%2020-21%20Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCLvpwhct8N-J4jXd75JH9VwKi0GWYnQz-dAHnqTC9IVqRUloTfQEUld395kosCeP7Kbeu_7nf98345qTSfRDMPI5idhuw6JgWwEEIsKPx1bQD6H99vbQIg47jZMt4Q4ep99a_zouL7rjBlMBk9YhiDixa5GBt4szfU64Q0tyZKzSSWp7mEbssZF9UEjIL/w506-h342/Tell%20Me%20Something%20Tuesday%2020-21%20Image.jpg" width="506" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></p>Hello and welcome to Tell Me Something Tuesday (TMST)!</span><p></p><p></p><div style="background-color: white;"><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><b><i>Tell Me Something Tuesday</i></b> is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating.</span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;">If you are interested in participating in TMST or receiving periodic emails that list the upcoming TMST topics and questions, please fill out this <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScadVJrItvPivHVGi7Qz3iT02yNCRZ2v-I8Olznq1Jf2iHvgg/viewform" target="_blank">GOOGLE FORM.</a> Participation is optional and never required.</span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicKZxbMQPPF0b-8lJ9p6q4W4J_8z8p2Sc-jgf-ELQfJGiSSWLG6YtIHkWzEt9SqbSu8ZHnzbRf5mADkISUlWktXI6Y7hZTPUylXtmrR90Q_xrqsZDWLVC48L3qF38jZPERaOfTwDsoNkSB6ImrWtkdNOIB0qv8nrXPopvdmHyM6XO1B9d_bpK_ZG2MhlDE/s1920/Have%20you%20ever%20(8).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicKZxbMQPPF0b-8lJ9p6q4W4J_8z8p2Sc-jgf-ELQfJGiSSWLG6YtIHkWzEt9SqbSu8ZHnzbRf5mADkISUlWktXI6Y7hZTPUylXtmrR90Q_xrqsZDWLVC48L3qF38jZPERaOfTwDsoNkSB6ImrWtkdNOIB0qv8nrXPopvdmHyM6XO1B9d_bpK_ZG2MhlDE/w400-h225/Have%20you%20ever%20(8).png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;">I've never been a big sports person. I never played any in high school or college, though I was in my high school colorguard and would march in parades, twirling my flag. lol. As an adult, I'm still not a sports person. I do play golf with my husband on occasion, and I like to take walks with my dog, but that's about it. Oh, and I try to workout on a regular basis. </span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #990000; font-size: medium;"><b><i>What about you? Do you play sports? </i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #990000; font-size: medium;"><b><i>What're your favorite recreational activities?</i></b></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div></div></div>Kara Leigh Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01145104956483099121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050400477114606016.post-91253226503581753922023-11-07T10:00:00.005-05:002023-11-07T10:00:00.150-05:00Tell Me Something Tuesday: 11.07.2023 (Epic and Urban Fantasy)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSuCumifuj6qkGzdAXqyNDM4gvkU9UtAqK4_UP9kV83Qypi0nE2gRCD5aT65-TbH-3Ear7vNeN7HF-uLQ7BtGTw2RnRjgaCnJ1gp7VXvAGTyd4M9mGYLSpIvmhlIU6BdxhjACQk15WnLplT6e1SVyeMgSsjI1IQT7sNONJuGsgu98OyvBsSqqbPVbga9aQ/s750/Tell%20Me%20Something%20Tuesday%2020-21%20Image%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="750" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSuCumifuj6qkGzdAXqyNDM4gvkU9UtAqK4_UP9kV83Qypi0nE2gRCD5aT65-TbH-3Ear7vNeN7HF-uLQ7BtGTw2RnRjgaCnJ1gp7VXvAGTyd4M9mGYLSpIvmhlIU6BdxhjACQk15WnLplT6e1SVyeMgSsjI1IQT7sNONJuGsgu98OyvBsSqqbPVbga9aQ/w471-h341/Tell%20Me%20Something%20Tuesday%2020-21%20Image%20(2).jpg" width="471" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Hello and welcome to Tell Me Something Tuesday (TMST)!</span></p><p></p><div style="background-color: white;"><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><b><i>Tell Me Something Tuesday</i></b> is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating.</span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;">If you are interested in participating in TMST or receiving periodic emails that list the upcoming TMST topics and questions, please fill out this <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScadVJrItvPivHVGi7Qz3iT02yNCRZ2v-I8Olznq1Jf2iHvgg/viewform" target="_blank">GOOGLE FORM.</a> Participation is optional and never required.</span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJCZj0c0syyDs0glJQQHjMB32nyHieze16d9yc8TIrmUlHoMQzxkm2JLhtyjvpbJXE1AMuQAswiwXNsuro-Hax0rBUhdiEYBnoM7NpnFT20ms27ymtQX5ZkqwZ1e5wZKirwV2ooudyQwqlwMzBupe0tG1fT-_hk785wZxfcozqNxsSYdWDffzVPq0whlB/s1920/Have%20you%20ever%20(7).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJCZj0c0syyDs0glJQQHjMB32nyHieze16d9yc8TIrmUlHoMQzxkm2JLhtyjvpbJXE1AMuQAswiwXNsuro-Hax0rBUhdiEYBnoM7NpnFT20ms27ymtQX5ZkqwZ1e5wZKirwV2ooudyQwqlwMzBupe0tG1fT-_hk785wZxfcozqNxsSYdWDffzVPq0whlB/w400-h200/Have%20you%20ever%20(7).png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;">I'm honestly not a big fan of fantasy or sci-fi. I have read some urban fantasy, but not too much, and it often crosses the line into more paranormal in terms of angels and demons. The best urban fantasy book I have ever read was <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Pledge-Ashes-Rise-Amy-Sevan/dp/1794102345/" target="_blank">Pledge of Ashes</a> by Amy Sevan. Seriously, if you're a fan of UF, check this book out. You won't be sorry!</span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222;">I think the reason I'm not a fan of sci-fi and epic fantasy is because there's a lot of necessary world building, and reading that tends to bore me. I find myself skipping large chunks of text, and then that ends up confusing me. </span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: medium;"><b><i>What about you? Are you a fantasy, sci-fi fan? </i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: medium;"><b><i>What do you love about it?</i></b></span></div></div>Kara Leigh Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01145104956483099121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050400477114606016.post-32447092494948736482023-11-06T14:42:00.001-05:002023-11-06T14:42:00.175-05:00Kara's Book Cravings: The Sleepover<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrOvPXOPTxJkfwhbu7ZEt9XvdS2MqvADd0COdetdt8OSLGLxsYSITIeB8mS2pS1eUy8RiH-OfDCorOYAtW4juABJoA6ywnM66Y_J3SQpKSZwBOutyvSHuUw_oz1HhuiEFmqtCOIn8HKkuoRlKE5GXwbSdZoocAr53f0ZGCN-93pmLGqeKllgNa7Q3L2Fy_/s1640/Kara's%20Book%20Cravings.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1640" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrOvPXOPTxJkfwhbu7ZEt9XvdS2MqvADd0COdetdt8OSLGLxsYSITIeB8mS2pS1eUy8RiH-OfDCorOYAtW4juABJoA6ywnM66Y_J3SQpKSZwBOutyvSHuUw_oz1HhuiEFmqtCOIn8HKkuoRlKE5GXwbSdZoocAr53f0ZGCN-93pmLGqeKllgNa7Q3L2Fy_/w400-h225/Kara's%20Book%20Cravings.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Yet another used book sale find, and I was admittedly on the fence about this one. But I gave it a shot, and I'm not quite sure how I feel about it. </p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCpnUxUhH3UHayDeyB6ZcREltRB1qJHXwEic8G9R8a1Tq4KPJw6s8qnSTbwfKzs-UcSmfSoIuLluPdH4BG6fasBeUHksBhcO-YkbIPHG51mPRfaSBePdlmEuFAZegZz6ceAf-bgoEKcwYtf1R3NZnte4hlUsvhMykW19gzYf-d1m8IKpy77vcZOHhq0XQo/s4000/20231024_091654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCpnUxUhH3UHayDeyB6ZcREltRB1qJHXwEic8G9R8a1Tq4KPJw6s8qnSTbwfKzs-UcSmfSoIuLluPdH4BG6fasBeUHksBhcO-YkbIPHG51mPRfaSBePdlmEuFAZegZz6ceAf-bgoEKcwYtf1R3NZnte4hlUsvhMykW19gzYf-d1m8IKpy77vcZOHhq0XQo/s320/20231024_091654.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><b><i>THE SLEEPOVER</i> by Samantha King</b> is an adult domestic thriller / mystery. Normally, I can really get lost in this genre, but something about this one didn't quite click for me. <p></p><p>First, this is every parents worst nightmare -- dropping your child off for a sleepover and returning the next morning to pick them up only to find they're just gone. And no one knows what happened or where your child is. </p><p>Once I got beyond that... the bulk of the story is the search for Isobel's son (Nick) and trying to piece together what happened to him. This was all really well done, and I suspected a few people who didn't turn out to be the right suspect. That was interesting because I was so sure I was right about one specific character. </p><p>For me, the ending is where this book fell apart. Not only were parts of it confusing to follow, the "bad guy" while shocking was also a little disappointing. Their motives were a little weak, and the things this person did -- I don't know. It just didn't click for me and felt a little like it might be out of the realm of possibility. I realize I'm probably not making much sense here, but I don't want to spoil the end, either. lol. </p><p>The author's writing style was good and easy to read, and I'll more than likely try another of her books at some point. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #990000; font-size: medium;">Anyone else read this one? What did you think?</span></i></b></p>Kara Leigh Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01145104956483099121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050400477114606016.post-44432812458332331502023-11-01T12:47:00.001-04:002023-11-01T12:47:00.146-04:00Kara's Book Cravings: Someone We Know<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH4OSmOi3-ZWuLRTbCzO0baWu08MWISsYxu15honD4zntr6bKj4cytSptZPNBUuWH5ECiDy_VLriXCM6juOd5yfL3Qv5IDr-_CRquzyHDpYtAaBBm43-VFV4oeame0yP6m6Pk41xOVCTs9jhppBoI4RbCTJai7H2DZ74bS8EC77ZH1aa4gs7GE2FZ7iPUb/s1640/Kara's%20Book%20Cravings.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1640" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH4OSmOi3-ZWuLRTbCzO0baWu08MWISsYxu15honD4zntr6bKj4cytSptZPNBUuWH5ECiDy_VLriXCM6juOd5yfL3Qv5IDr-_CRquzyHDpYtAaBBm43-VFV4oeame0yP6m6Pk41xOVCTs9jhppBoI4RbCTJai7H2DZ74bS8EC77ZH1aa4gs7GE2FZ7iPUb/w400-h225/Kara's%20Book%20Cravings.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>This book was another used book sale find that I snagged because the blurb sounded good. I don't normally read domestic thrillers like this, but I read this in one day flat! Once I started, I just couldn't stop...</p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin0fPG3iSrQXPmNkfoI3eRiatvp0sMToi7ypQLD8JOLbNh95453-HAHcfZ90GkROrl_cEiavtr_UdcJByW6xiG3u6ohOq_Z_pnsLvc84QUn8Caes65LsA9zxdKw19JI5fYu5uGUMp_9JA5Y65UhSvsZwqUSka3dxvXWjnSefizjhu8-yhEcZA9D-MlStSU/s4000/20231020_122244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin0fPG3iSrQXPmNkfoI3eRiatvp0sMToi7ypQLD8JOLbNh95453-HAHcfZ90GkROrl_cEiavtr_UdcJByW6xiG3u6ohOq_Z_pnsLvc84QUn8Caes65LsA9zxdKw19JI5fYu5uGUMp_9JA5Y65UhSvsZwqUSka3dxvXWjnSefizjhu8-yhEcZA9D-MlStSU/s320/20231020_122244.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><b><i>SOMEONE WE KNOW</i> by Shari Lapena</b> is like riding a rollercoaster without being fully buckled in. I was not prepared for all the twists and turns and secrets. Suburbia is a wild place, y'all! lol. <p></p><p>At first, I thought I knew who the killer was, but as the story progressed, I began to second guess myself. This author is a master at casting suspicion on everyone, all the time, without the reader even realizing it's happening until after the bomb has been dropped. </p><p>I really liked how everything and everyone was interconnected in some way and the (dysfunctional) relationships these people have built within their own families and with their neighbors. This was another book that had a <b><i>lot</i></b> of points-of-view, but it worked and definitely helped with the overall mystery. </p><p>I felt the ending was a tad rushed, though, and the actual killer wasn't anyone I had suspected. Normally, that would be a good thing, but I tend to prefer books like this where the author gives some hints about whodunit. In this book, however, it seemed to come out of left field. Sure, the killer was shown and mentioned a lot throughout the book, and the killer showed up at odd times, but there really wasn't any hints that that specific person was the killer. So that was odd, but overall, the book was great. I'll definitely be looking for more books by this author.</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #990000; font-size: medium;">Anyone else read this one? </span></i></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #990000; font-size: medium;">What are your favorite domestic thrillers?</span></i></b></p>Kara Leigh Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01145104956483099121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050400477114606016.post-3263202765966877442023-10-31T09:30:00.001-04:002023-10-31T09:30:00.156-04:00Tell me Something Tuesday: 10.31.2023 (Halloween)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSuCumifuj6qkGzdAXqyNDM4gvkU9UtAqK4_UP9kV83Qypi0nE2gRCD5aT65-TbH-3Ear7vNeN7HF-uLQ7BtGTw2RnRjgaCnJ1gp7VXvAGTyd4M9mGYLSpIvmhlIU6BdxhjACQk15WnLplT6e1SVyeMgSsjI1IQT7sNONJuGsgu98OyvBsSqqbPVbga9aQ/s750/Tell%20Me%20Something%20Tuesday%2020-21%20Image%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="750" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSuCumifuj6qkGzdAXqyNDM4gvkU9UtAqK4_UP9kV83Qypi0nE2gRCD5aT65-TbH-3Ear7vNeN7HF-uLQ7BtGTw2RnRjgaCnJ1gp7VXvAGTyd4M9mGYLSpIvmhlIU6BdxhjACQk15WnLplT6e1SVyeMgSsjI1IQT7sNONJuGsgu98OyvBsSqqbPVbga9aQ/w471-h341/Tell%20Me%20Something%20Tuesday%2020-21%20Image%20(2).jpg" width="471" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Hello and welcome to Tell Me Something Tuesday (TMST)!</span></p><p></p><div style="background-color: white;"><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Tell Me Something Tuesday</i></b> is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating.</span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-small;">If you are interested in participating in TMST or receiving periodic emails that list the upcoming TMST topics and questions, please fill out this <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScadVJrItvPivHVGi7Qz3iT02yNCRZ2v-I8Olznq1Jf2iHvgg/viewform" target="_blank">GOOGLE FORM.</a> Participation is optional and never required.</span></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi6CfSCUhleELV-R4dHw_AcaPmBlDe8kyqhPrMADujnVpuVXTtoSQe3n1-eqKas3j0BgSiLX5yjkgzFt82nYtSROmlHtc3CpXVXAm2gx5pDxd3eQz2MKcCFzNElKW3x_xk050oD0Sm35AGcysO_V4PURkN2ssldT1kD6XQblJdZ5w-OqV9GUGUTYbyTDWu/s1920/Have%20you%20ever%20(6).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi6CfSCUhleELV-R4dHw_AcaPmBlDe8kyqhPrMADujnVpuVXTtoSQe3n1-eqKas3j0BgSiLX5yjkgzFt82nYtSROmlHtc3CpXVXAm2gx5pDxd3eQz2MKcCFzNElKW3x_xk050oD0Sm35AGcysO_V4PURkN2ssldT1kD6XQblJdZ5w-OqV9GUGUTYbyTDWu/w400-h225/Have%20you%20ever%20(6).png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Everything! Honestly, I really don't think I can pick any one thing I like about Halloween, because for me, it's an entire season and not just one day. But I love the kids in their costumes, the haunted houses, the candy. Man, do I have a terrible sweet tooth! Above all else, though, there's this mood or vibe on Halloween that's just unmatched. I'm not sure I can really explain it. </div><div style="background-color: white;"><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></i></b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><i>What's your favorite thing about Halloween? </i></b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Kara Leigh Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01145104956483099121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050400477114606016.post-28401482270461255592023-10-30T18:14:00.001-04:002023-10-30T18:14:00.151-04:00Kara's Book Cravings: The Sorority Murder<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhHj9jPdHgVb2Tmskcygw69DdpEmBIJS_p0U7o_nSics2675tiCOxQWAV3xKs6i-AvmiVpY_yeClunJiI2GPu1M_xE5c3EQJqybO_Hfl_yrg2UaACjKlzx2GvQSbK2kmIhK5FfYIWQc2INEISkaihlwTQsT3sjhn9MmcNR-uJO8ReL43WyKyKv-v8Qj-aE/s1640/Kara's%20Book%20Cravings.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1640" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhHj9jPdHgVb2Tmskcygw69DdpEmBIJS_p0U7o_nSics2675tiCOxQWAV3xKs6i-AvmiVpY_yeClunJiI2GPu1M_xE5c3EQJqybO_Hfl_yrg2UaACjKlzx2GvQSbK2kmIhK5FfYIWQc2INEISkaihlwTQsT3sjhn9MmcNR-uJO8ReL43WyKyKv-v8Qj-aE/w400-h225/Kara's%20Book%20Cravings.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I love going to used book sales because I get to browse books that are often older, sometimes out of print, and the prices are cheap. That means I get to try out new-to-me authors that I might not otherwise take a chance on. </p><p>I found this book at a used book sale. The title and blurb intrigued me, so I figured... why not?</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI4SkD7JfCPQPm7B78umiZ5fPm0yRzdZPNUHS5-aOenDBTybknqaMtHyuU1IsOYjY616pm_Um2BGAcvmw1RJ40sswnyQvo3aQ4CIn-KLeE9hAwoHALVRMAU900zIEWewfnhHXgiIOW01R7Mhm8xI3hFfSqz4P-hODMthfM1Anx_DA2XFrIEqzvjmL_Cf9l/s4000/20231018_181802.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI4SkD7JfCPQPm7B78umiZ5fPm0yRzdZPNUHS5-aOenDBTybknqaMtHyuU1IsOYjY616pm_Um2BGAcvmw1RJ40sswnyQvo3aQ4CIn-KLeE9hAwoHALVRMAU900zIEWewfnhHXgiIOW01R7Mhm8xI3hFfSqz4P-hODMthfM1Anx_DA2XFrIEqzvjmL_Cf9l/s320/20231018_181802.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><b><i>The Sorority Murder</i> by Allison Brennan </b>is an adult murder mystery with a twist. One of the main characters is a college student who is hosting a podcast to dig into a cold case about a sorority girl who'd died three years prior. This podcast opens a whole can of worms that causes a lot of twists and turns. There are secrets upon secrets and no one is safe from suspicion. <p></p><p>This is a fast-paced book that kept me hooked from start to finish. I wasn't able to even guess who was the killer until the very end, which was fantastic! </p><p>There were a lot of point-of-views encompassed in this book, which would normally bug me, but in this story, it worked really well. I liked getting perspectives from different angles, and I think that helped make it harder to figure out the mystery. </p><p>Overall, this was an enjoyable book, and my first by this author. But I really liked her writing style, and so I'll definitely be grabbing more of her books. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Anyone else read this one? Or any others by this author?</span></i></b></p>Kara Leigh Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01145104956483099121noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050400477114606016.post-79099396838042536512023-10-25T09:30:00.001-04:002023-10-25T09:30:00.141-04:00Kara's Book Cravings: Getting Played<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5bpM-WqchLOU1j-wTb2UwCW4dXtr09XuKm5tkVdrsh6PzX8desGUmgeZZHo6vT_DLp0erqOaWHl1Kw0WdJrSaq4q6nI9gSjT6ay931eLPzfQm4DAAARDym9HiHgfx1KbkBihP1BS2sXqSISeE0yqh3Owuua5JjWB-c48jwpCcpBLVRn6vYlqDFa-P31lv/s1640/Kara's%20Book%20Cravings.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1640" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5bpM-WqchLOU1j-wTb2UwCW4dXtr09XuKm5tkVdrsh6PzX8desGUmgeZZHo6vT_DLp0erqOaWHl1Kw0WdJrSaq4q6nI9gSjT6ay931eLPzfQm4DAAARDym9HiHgfx1KbkBihP1BS2sXqSISeE0yqh3Owuua5JjWB-c48jwpCcpBLVRn6vYlqDFa-P31lv/w400-h225/Kara's%20Book%20Cravings.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I don't tend to read too much on my Kindle because I really do prefer the feel of paper in my hands. And also because I have so many books on my shelves that I'm trying to get through... But every so often, a book will pop up that snags my attention. </p><p>That's what happened with <b><i>Getting Played</i> by Nessa Page</b>. </p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyTNcfLdGJ8Eg_ISfzHcUangidasGXKQ6KeRyvpw9PgLXP7ph7rqnrP4UrDYrkLmKh-R0yHVzvy1U9dEN7bPEvHAd-izPk28xLwJRaNtOHyrPjvYhQ-yV2-I4oq3y8syG8kKK3hjnx_kdAcuuNu_day2W0htVUtr13E_Pm2S8w7731KXZq5ZAbs9TuXEgp/s4000/20231018_192440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyTNcfLdGJ8Eg_ISfzHcUangidasGXKQ6KeRyvpw9PgLXP7ph7rqnrP4UrDYrkLmKh-R0yHVzvy1U9dEN7bPEvHAd-izPk28xLwJRaNtOHyrPjvYhQ-yV2-I4oq3y8syG8kKK3hjnx_kdAcuuNu_day2W0htVUtr13E_Pm2S8w7731KXZq5ZAbs9TuXEgp/s320/20231018_192440.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>This is a short, steamy read about a bad boy rockstar and the straitlaced PR person sent to straighten him out. <p></p><p>I wasn't really sure what I expected from this book, but I got way more than I paid for. lol. There's so much snarky banter that had me laughing out loud, and the sex scenes are HOT! </p><p>I really enjoyed the interactions between Mason and Ronnie, though I would have liked a tad more relationship building. The dynamics between all the band members was fantastic, and I can't wait for the next book in this series. I hope it's as snarky as this one -- I love that in a book. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Anyone else read this one yet? What did you think? </span></i></b></p>Kara Leigh Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01145104956483099121noreply@blogger.com0