Review: I Sang That: A Memoir from Hollywood by Sally Stevens

I Sang That by Sally Stevens, a beautiful memoir of an extraordinary woman who blessed Hollywood with six decades of service in music spanning multiple roles across television and film. This is her story, told through a behind the scenes lens, sharing her journey that transcended through multi generations, technology and genres. Beginning as a singer behind some amazing talent who has shaped the industry, she has provided vocals on some well known tv shows, sound recordings and being a choral director for the Oscars.  With all the changes, she has made it through and her longevity in the business is a testament to her hard work and dedication. I Sang That not only is an inspiration to women but also gives us a voice that has earned her the right to be heard.

This book was such a wonderful, engaging read. I feel so inspired and amazed by such a talented woman. Many in her career path don't get the recognition for the majority of their work, so to read her accomplishments and experiences truly piqued my interest. Many of the people that she's worked with and projects that she has been a part of were so fascinating that I didn't want to stop reading. One part of the book grabbed my heart and made me reflect on my own dreams. I'd always dreamed that James Horner would do my music in films. Sadly, Hollywood lost a gem and that dream never came to be. It was nice to be able to remember his imprint on music and reflect on the joy he brought to the industry. 

Not only from her professional experience, her personal life as a mother, many will be able to relate to the balance of work and family life. The struggles with achieving your dreams as well as the complexities of motherhood. She had some obstacles along the way but shined through brightly. 

Overall, this was a really nice memoir from someone that represents the good of Hollywood. If you love memoirs, make sure you take a look and check out her book.

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Review: The Devil Gets His Due: A Grumpy Billionaire Romance by: Elizabeth O’Roark

Summary

An accidental pregnancy, grumpy-sunshine romance
Keeley: 

Last January, I drunk-married my nemesis—hot, oversized geek Graham Tate. With no memory of how it came about, there was only one solution: run off before he woke up and pretend it didn’t happen. It would have worked perfectly if I hadn’t wound up pregnant.

Graham is the opposite of everything I want in a man—practical, disciplined, frugal—but living with him until the baby arrives has me wondering if, perhaps, I’ve been wanting the wrong things all along. And if that drunk version of me last January might have been onto something.

Graham: I never planned to have kids, and I certainly wouldn’t have planned on one with Keeley Connolly—a woman who does not believe in savings accounts or personal safety and thinks Lucky Charms is a health food because of the non-marshmallow bits.

A woman who also didn’t think twice about marrying me in Vegas and ditching me hours later.

I can’t wait to put this behind me and return to my careful, chaos-free life in New York. But the more time I spend with Keeley, the more I’m remembering the things that led me to marry her in the first place…and wondering if I can live without them when this ends.

Review

The Devil Gets His Due was great when it was great. And when it wasn’t----- it was a little upsetting. What I liked is how polar opposite Keeley and Graham were. Graham is uptight and unattached. Then, there is Keeley who is loud, vibrant, and always ready to party. I liked the small, intimate moments they would have with each other, and just them learning to adapt to this new development in their lives.

There were a few situations that left me confused about how old these characters were because in some situations they were being extremely childish. This was practically true with Keeley. I had to constantly remind myself of her fears and her tragic past. I was shocked to learn that she was a doctor because her attitude and some behaviors didn’t line up with that profession. There was a situation in the book where she was annoyed that she had to help someone despite that being what she decided to do with her life. Then, we have Graham who made some misogynistic comments that had me scratching my head. It wasn’t an attractive look. And it was almost like “umm am I supposed to root for him here?”

Final Thoughts

The Devil Gets His Due would have been a more enjoyment read if the characters were not constantly being insulting and acted their age. For the moments where that didn’t occur, the book shined.  

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Review: Mad World: An Enemies-to-Lovers College Romance by Hannah McBride

Summary

I'm Madison.
I spent the last seventeen years in a trailer with my mom as she rolled from one addiction to the next. All I wanted was to survive high school and get out of this place. Finding out I had a long lost twin sister on the other side of the country seemed like something out of a movie.

Too bad I didn't realize it was a horror movie.

Now I'm Madelaine.
We were only supposed to switch lives for a summer. But then the unthinkable happened and now I have the chance to be my twin for the rest of my life. I get the fancy house, the rich father, and the elite school.

But all of those things come with a price I don't think I can afford.

Maybe taking over my dead twin sister's life isn't as easy as I thought it would be.

Mad World is the first book in a new series by Hannah McBride. It contains dark themes (including bullying, drugs, food control/forced dieting, and mentions of past/implied assault) that may be triggering for some readers.

Review

Mad World is like a dark rendition of The Parent Trip. In summary, there are twins who switch places. however, throw in some angst, rich people problems, arranged romance, and so much more. I highly enjoyed this book with all the twists and mystery going on. From page one and until the end, it’s entertaining.

I really enjoyed Maddie as a main character, and loved to see her navigate this new world that she was introduced to. She’s a tough girl given the environment she was raised in and is also a loving and kind place. Her twin-- Madeline? Not so much. And after they switch, Maddie has a lot of relationships she has to heal and then there’s the Ryan of it all. He’s not the nicest to her at first. And it was very interesting to see their relationship change from enemies to lovers.

Final Thoughts

Mad World was an unexpected journey of twist and turns. I’m excited to see how this story plays out. 

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Review: How the Grump Saved Christmas by Claire Kingsley

Hardworking Isabelle Cook has a serious problem. Her family farm, site of Tilikum’s Christmas Village, is in trouble. Big trouble. And worst of all? The man trying to buy it is none other than the grumpiest, grinchiest man of them all—Elias Stoneheart.

That’s a big nope. She’s not letting him get involved. Not with his heart made of coal.

Elias Stoneheart is in the business of making money, not friends. Especially when his boss is promising a long-awaited promotion. All he has to do is convince one struggling family to sell their farm.

The problem? It’s Cook Family Farm. And Isabelle Cook is his ex.

He might have history with Isabelle, but this is just business. A Christmas-loving farm girl is not going to come between him and his ambition.

And Christmas? He hates it. Christmas Village needs to go.

But as Elias spends time in the small town, holiday spirit—and Isabelle—get under his skin. And she might be the only one who can melt the ice around his heart.

Review

This book felt like a cozy, Hallmark movie. There was a second chance romance. An adorable kid. A slightly tragic past which turned someone into a grump during the holidays. A loving, supportive family who has a small-town business which is struggling, and the previously mentioned grump wants to buy it. It had all the ingredients, and it was enjoyable.

This book warmed my heart, and I enjoyed watching everything play out. Clearly, the grump—Elias, would not end up buying their farm. That aspect was predictable. Obviously. Despite that though, Elias and Isabelle had this emotional history, and I was tapped in to see how it would play out between them.

This book is related to the other series that Claire Kingsley had written – the Bailey Brothers series. Before reading, I wasn’t aware of that, so there were some situations, references, and plot lines that flew over my head. It might be better to read those before this one to get the full reading experience. 

Final Thoughts

How the Grump Saved Christmas is a story set in a cozy small town with interesting characters that get you in the spirit for the holiday season. 

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Review: The Sweetheart Fix by Miranda Liasson

It's always bittersweet when you finish a series by Miranda Liasson. As I depart Blossom Glen, The Sweetheart Fix was a wonderful conclusion to the series. In this book, we dive into the journey of Julie Montgomery and Jack Monroe., two lost people who find answers when they let go of their pasts and let in the potential to be loved.

Juliet has a great big heart. She is the middle sis between Tessa and Vivienne. As we celebrated Tessa finding her hea in the first book, it's about time and deserved that we see little sis great some happiness of her own. Sadly, relationships haven't worked out for her. Known as the town's sweetheart, they haven't been something that she's been good at. To her regret, that fact seems to carry over into her professional life.

With a small town and everyone knowing her business, trying to establish herself as a relationship counselor has become quite challenging. Her personal life coming into question, has become a disadvantage to her job. When she is asked by her boss to take some soul searching time off and to regroup, she finds herself with an unexpected opportunity by mayor Jack Monroe.

Jack might come off at first a little rough around the edges but he grows on you. He loves his job but isn't exactly a people person. When a dispute happens with a couple of people in town and Juliet came in and solved their problem, he knew what the town was missing and offered her a job. Giving them both a win, win opportunity.

As they get to know more of each other professionally and personally, opposites attracts with the stars aligning, challenging them to confront their pasts. When a moment happens that challenges a potential future, will Juliet take a chance instead of running from her fear of getting hurt?

I really like these two finding their way to each other. They both have baggage that if they are able to put behind them, they could see how perfect they fit well together. Juliet is different than her sisters. Jack with his past, I really liked that it brought to light the affect on men and relationships when they have a scarred relationship with their mothers.

Overall, like I mentioned in my thoughts on the last book, this was a different type of series from what we've seen in the past. All positive vibes, just different which is welcomed for its variety in perspectives. If you haven't read the first book, read that one first. It can be read as a standalone but for context and background history, you should back read. As with another wonderful read, I'm looking forward to the next small town she introduces us to.

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Review: Forbidden French by R.S. Grey

Summary

A slow-burn romance filled with wit, angst, and forced betrothals from USA TODAY bestselling author R.S. Grey.

Once upon a time, Emmett Mercier was the golden boy of St. John’s Boarding School. The crown prince of his father’s vast business empire, unapologetically attractive…oh, and fluent in French.

At school, I kept a picture of him hidden beneath my pillow, a tiny token of my adolescent infatuation, but I might as well have been worshiping a distant demigod. He was hardly aware of my existence. I was far too young, and he was far too consequential—until one day we found ourselves alone together in the dark library and struck up a friendship…of sorts.

But in the years since leaving St. John’s, I’ve no longer bothered yearning for Emmett. What a useless dream. I would have gone crazy trying to keep up with his jet-setting life. Which Parisian hotel is he calling home now? Is there some new lithe model draping herself across his lap today?

My negligence comes back to bite me. I’m ill-prepared the day he strides into my art gallery. There’s only a mere trace of the boy I once knew. Self-assured, handsome, intoxicating—Emmett is more man than I can handle.

There’s no room for him in my gilded cage. My life is planned to a T. From where I go to how I dress, it all depends on the calculated whims of my grandmother. Soon, I’ll even dutifully walk down the aisle toward a man of her choosing.

Emmett can’t stand my obedience. Now that we’ve rekindled our friendship, he’s intent on unearthing my heart’s true motives.

And therein lies the problem: I was doing just fine without him, but now that he’s rattling the bars of my cage, I’m forced to acknowledge the truth.

Once upon a time, Emmett Mercier was all I wanted. The midnight wanderings, the whispered nothings, the unbearable longing—they etched indelible marks on my soul. Even now, after all these years, my heart is only fluent in one language.

Review

I had high hopes for Forbidden French. There are so many possibilities when writing about “rich people” problems, and unfortunately after I read this book all I feel is disappointment.

It started off strong. I thought Lainey and Emmett’s first real interaction back in high school was interesting and I was excited to see what led them back together. Especially, since Lainey had already loved Emmett from the jump. As the book progressed, there was a shift for me in terms of my enjoyment. Nothing exciting was happening. Lainey and Emmett would have a small moment and then the story would continue. I didn’t feel the chemistry with them, and once Emmett admitted his feelings towards her it felt like it came out of nowhere.

As far as the characters in general, they were fine. Emmett was a jerk towards the major conflict. And both him and Lainey felt underdeveloped. Lainey and her grandmother’s relationship sounded good in theory and had potential to be really intriguing, but her grandmother’s personality switched so quickly that it left me confused on why and how.

Final Thoughts

Forbidden French has the right set up to be a very good romance; however, it falls victim to a bland romance and almost uninteresting main characters.

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