Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand In the Sun and Be Your Own Person by Shonda Rhimes

Goodreads Summary:

The mega-talented creator of Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal and executive producer of How to Get Away With Murder chronicles how saying YES for one year changed her life―and how it can change yours, too.

With three hit shows on television and three children at home, the uber-talented Shonda Rhimes had lots of good reasons to say NO when an unexpected invitation arrived. Hollywood party? No. Speaking engagement? No. Media appearances? No.

And there was the side-benefit of saying No for an introvert like Shonda: nothing new to fear.

Then Shonda’s sister laid down a challenge: just for one year, try to say YES to the unexpected invitations that come your way. Shonda reluctantly agreed―and the result was nothing short of transformative. In Year of Yes, Shonda Rhimes chronicles the powerful impact saying yes had on every aspect of her life―and how we can all change our lives with one little word. Yes.


My Thoughts:
Shonda Rhimes is an amazing woman. I was already a Shondaland Productions fan. I watch Grey's, Scandal, and How To Get Away with Murder. She writes characters in really relate-able ways and she has always shown diversity in races, lifestyle, and personality. I didn't know much about Shonda as a person. I assumed she was an extrovert and living it up in Hollywood. I have no idea why I assumed that because I was so very very wrong. Shonda like most writers lives in her head and finds it all too easy to stay there for long stretches of time and only peak her head out when needed.

I found a lot of myself in her story. I say No way more than I should. I am not ready to say Yes but this book has gotten me a step closer to living out loud the way I used to. Shonda has a unique voice and her style is unmistakable. I found myself laughing with her and crying with her. 

I would recommend this book to everyone. Yes, everyone, but specifically people who may be a little stuck and needing a boost. This book is a straight up bright light at the end of a dark tunnel.


While writing this review I was watching another episode of Gilmore Girls.

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

Goodreads Summary:

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl.

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

Goodreads Summary:

Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling installment of the bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She’s trying to break out of prison—even though if she succeeds, she’ll be the Commonwealth’s most wanted fugitive.

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit’s grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn’t know about her grandmother or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother’s whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her prisoner.

Goodreads Summary:

In this third book in Marissa Meyer's bestselling Lunar Chronicles series, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, now with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they're plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and prevent her army from invading Earth.

Their best hope lies with Cress, a girl trapped on a satellite since childhood who's only ever had her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker. Unfortunately, she's being forced to work for Queen Levana, and she's just received orders to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice.

When a daring rescue of Cress goes awry, the group is splintered. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a higher price than she'd ever expected. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing prevent her marriage to Emperor Kai, especially the cyborg mechanic. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only hope the world has.

Goodreads Summary:

Princess Winter is admired by the Lunar people for her grace and kindness, and despite the scars that mar her face, her beauty is said to be even more breathtaking than that of her stepmother, Queen Levana.

Winter despises her stepmother, and knows Levana won't approve of her feelings for her childhood friend--the handsome palace guard, Jacin. But Winter isn't as weak as Levana believes her to be and she's been undermining her stepmother's wishes for years. Together with the cyborg mechanic, Cinder, and her allies, Winter might even have the power to launch a revolution and win a war that's been raging for far too long.

Can Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter defeat Levana and find their happily ever afters? Fans will not want to miss this thrilling conclusion to Marissa Meyer's national bestselling Lunar Chronicles series.

My Thoughts On The Whole Series:

Instead of reviewing each book I am decided to review the whole series. Part of this is due to how long ago I read this series and part because I think on the whole the series is better than breaking it down book by book. I like the fairytwists that each book takes on four different fairy tales. First we have Cinder, an obvious twist on Cinderella. Scarlet is a take on Red Riding Hood. Cress is a new take on Rapunzel (I was least familiar with this story). And lastly Winter which is a take on Snow White. I have not read any of the novellas in this series. I don't generally read those supplementary stories in a series. Each female lead is her own person, which honestly can be difficult to maintain different and strong voices when dealing with so many story lines. The common story is about Cinder, the long lost princess from Luna. She was sent to Earth when her murdery Aunt wanted the kingdom to herself. She tried to kill Cinder but that failed. Cinder has to fight for her freedom from a spot of trouble on earth and the freedom of her people from the crazy Levana. Scarlet, Cress, and Winter all play a part in the story. 

I did find it a little annoying that a love story had to be involved with each character. I get that the original fairy tales all had love stories but it would be nice if that wasn't something that was still being pushed. Which leads me to my biggest complaint. Cinder, this strong independent woman at the end of the series makes a lame choice about her role for the future. I don't want to spoil it, so I will just say that it was disappointing. I was really liking the series until the very end. I wish wish wish it had a different ending.

Overall, I would recommend this series to YA fans, those who like a little Sci-Fi with their YA, and fans of dystopian books. 

While writing this review I was listening to an episode of Gilmore Girls. Yes, I am marathoning it.

Briar Rose by Jane Yolen

Goodreads Summary:

A powerful retelling of Sleeping Beauty that is "heartbreaking and heartwarming."

An American Library Association "100 Best Books for Teens"
An American Library Association "Best Books for Young Adults"

Ever since she was a child, Rebecca has been enchanted by her grandmother Gemma's stories about Briar Rose. But a promise Rebecca makes to her dying grandmother will lead her on a remarkable journey to uncover the truth of Gemma's astonishing claim: I am Briar Rose. A journey that will lead her to unspeakable brutality and horror. But also to redemption and hope.

My Thoughts:

This book wasn't at all what I was expecting. I was looking for a fairytwist and I got this heartbreaking story that I think should be required reading when covering World War II. 

I don't want to spoil this book for anyone so I will just say that there are awful things told in this story. This being said I think they are told in a way that has more impact than just reading a list of things that happened during a war that was a long time ago. This story makes what happened real and what the long lasting legacy such atrocities leave not just on the history of one person but their whole family.

I recommend this book to anyone. I think it is well written and powerful. 

While writing this review I was listening to an episode of Gilmore Girls.

Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass #1) by Sarah J. Maas

Goodreads Summary:

After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin.

Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for four years and then be granted her freedom. Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her ... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead ... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.

My Thoughts:

I should say upfront this isn't my normal genre. I don't generally care for fantasy books. They bug me. That being said this book is only borderline fantasy and I liked it, mostly.

I think this book falls into the same trap as a lot of YA books. We are told how awesome the main character is but we don't really get a chance to come to that point by ourselves through the actions of the character. I wish strong female characters were just that, strong without it having to be repeated (often and loudly). Strength can be shown without being shouted. This is the biggest complaint I have about this book. 

Overall the story is interesting and has some new ideas to it. I think it is worth the read but I wouldn't get your hopes up that this book will rock your world. I think there are probably "better" books out there but I am not the one to ask. I will say that this book kept me engaged and I found it a good way to pass the time. This book didn't require too much from me, which is often a good thing. 

I have decided to read the second book in this series. I am working through that book a bit more slowly than this one so it may be a while before I review anymore of the series. I would recommend this book to those looking for an okay read which has potential.

While writing this review I was listing to the intro song of another Gilmore Girls episode. Man I love that Paris, so snotty!

Career of Evil (Cormoran Strike #3) by Robert Galbraith (Pseudonym), J.K. Rowling

Goodreads Summary:

When a mysterious package is delivered to Robin Ellacott, she is horrified to discover that it contains a woman’s severed leg.

Her boss, private detective Cormoran Strike, is less surprised but no less alarmed. There are four people from his past who he thinks could be responsible – and Strike knows that any one of them is capable of sustained and unspeakable brutality.

With the police focusing on the one suspect Strike is increasingly sure is not the perpetrator, he and Robin take matters into their own hands, and delve into the dark and twisted worlds of the other three men. But as more horrendous acts occur, time is running out for the two of them…

A fiendishly clever mystery with unexpected twists around every corner, Career of Evil is also a gripping story of a man and a woman at a crossroads in their personal and professional lives. You will not be able to put this book down.



My Thoughts:
This series gets better with every new book. I am anxious for the next book, I have been the second or two after I finished this book come to think of it. Which is why I should stop reading books the minute they come out. I hate all the waiting!

Cormoran is a fully developed character now, as is Robin. I like their interactions and their development into caring about each other. Yes the romantic tension between the two has been building since book one, which is predictable, but I don't mind certain things falling into the norm. We learned more about Cormoran's past in this book and it wasn't pleasant. His dark and twisty past is catching up to him in his present life which is finally starting to work out for the better. The dark and twisty at times gets really dark and twisty but it was good to see why Cormoran is the way he is. We also got a fair amount of Robin's history. Which again, dark and twisty! We now understand what really drew her to detective work. We also learn why Robin is so loyal to her fiance when they seem not to be a good match for each other anymore. I think we all have a tendency to try to push back the dark and twisty things from our past. This book in its own way shows us that we need to deal with the dark and twisty or it will come back and bite us in the ass when we really don't want it to, but may need it to. It is valuable to remember the things that formed our realities.

I wouldn't say that this book was the best thing I have ever read but I would say I really enjoyed it and I think it is worth recommending. I flip flop between liking and really hating that I know JK Rowling is the author of these books. She will forever be the author who brought me Harry Potter (a series that I can read over and over again just like so many of you). It is hard not to wish that these books were just as bewitching, but that isn't what these stories are for. I will say that they are good reads and you won't want to put it down, particularly during some of the creepier parts. You will care about these characters, you will limp with Cormoran when his leg is hurting. You will feel Robin's frustration with the people in her life when they tend to treat her like she will break. Overall I would recommend this book to mystery fans, detective story fans, JK Rowling's adult fans, and anyone looking to start a series that isn't fantasy based.


While writing this review I was listing to an episode of the Gilmore Girls. Who else can't wait for November for the revival?!?!?!

Hey there... It has been a while

So it has been a while since I posted a book review. This isn't because I haven't been reading, in fact I left my Goodreads goal for 2016 in the dust a couple months ago. Part of the reason I haven't been posting is that a good number of those books were read while I was recovering from lady bit surgery.
My work often closes the week between Christmas and New Years. This last winter was particularly busy so I planned on taking a little more time than everyone else. I didn't realize that would eventually translate to taking over a month off. I felt sick leading up to Christmas, but that isn't unusual. I keep so busy at work I often fall ill as soon as I slow down. Then the week leading up to New Years I was feeling really awful. I had developed a pain on the right side of my abdomen. It wasn't consistent, honestly, I thought it was gas from eating like crap for a week. Then the pain seemed to spike and wouldn't relent so first thing in the early morning of January 1, 2016 I asked my husband to take me to urgent care. Once I was there, they sent me to the ER as they were pretty sure I would need tests that they couldn't help me with. I had a cat scan of the painful area and it was discovered that my right ovary had developed a cyst the size of Texas (this is only a slight exaggeration, the end size of the cyst was about the size of a cantaloupe).
Long story short I ended up having surgery within the week and then spent the next three weeks recovering in bed. I have to say I would really rather not have this happen to me again. It is over six months later and I still have some issues from the whole ordeal. I spent as much of my free time as possible reading. I read to forget the massive pain I was feeling, the stress I could feel piling up from missing so much work, and the depression that hit like a ton of bricks because I couldn't really move. I just didn't have the energy to form thoughts about what I was reading. I escaped into the worlds created for me and I am endlessly grateful for authors and story tellers. I am not generally a fan of people leaning on emotional crutches but in this situation I really don't think I would have come out whole if I hadn't escaped. I am of the overly responsible type A variety and it was maddening to not be in control of my body and to be missing so much of my responsibilities. I have a really really hard time asking for help. I was in so much pain I couldn't even put my own socks on. I had to rely on my husband for nearly everything. My poor independent soul struggled with that so much.
Shortly after my medical situation was finally resolved my husband had a change in job, to a lower paying gig without medical benefits. This has thrown a wrench in our finances (yes even though we have separate finances) as I now have to pay for my own health insurance. I have therefore been working a ton to make up some of the difference. This has also contributed to me being a very bad book blogger.
So hence I haven't posted a review in quite some time (Wow Marinda way to be a Debbie Downer). I am taking a little time off from work this week (thankfully not due to a murdery ovary) so I thought it would be the perfect time to talk about some of the books that I really enjoyed while I was down for the count and since then.
Over the next few days I will be posting individual book reviews as well as some complete series reviews. I read a few series back to back so it is hard in my memory to differentiate the books from the whole series. I will not be reviewing all of the books I read. This is because some of them are hard to remember, they didn't make a big impact on me either way. I don't think it would be fair to review something I hardly remember.
I have also been working on a piece of writing which is political in nature. I haven't fully decided if I am going to post this or not. I have a lot to say but I am hesitant to voice my political views. That isn't to imply that I am closed off to debate, I actually really enjoy conversations with other informed people who have different views from my own. I do not like how quickly people turn to hate without having done any research to support what they claim are facts. I don't think people have to justify how they feel, but if you come at me claiming facts then I expect you to be able to back them up. Therefore, I haven't decided if I will post the bit of writing I have been working on. If I do post it, I ask you to look at it not as me pushing an agenda but rather explaining how I came to a decision.

An Incomplete Thought

When I woke up to the news about what had happened in Pulse in Orlando these thoughts started to tickle my brain. These are not complete, nor do they even attempt to cover the wide variety of thoughts and emotions I am still dealing with. Every time guns rip a hole through the fabric of our society I get quiet and contemplative. I have always used my vote to ensure a future that I believe in and gives me hope. I am lacking my normal idealistic hope these days. I am gutted by the hate and anger running unchecked. When it is aimed at the community that I call my own I feel helpless.




The club is dark but my eyes are still closed
Sparks are bouncing under my lids with each beat of my accelerated heart
I can feel the bodies around me. Panting and electric from the last beat of the last song
I keep thinking,
I need some water,
I should sit down
But just when I don't think I can go any further I hear a familiar note
And then another
I feel the shift in my own body and the collective body on the dance floor
This is our house of worship. You and your God ain't got nothin on me and mine.


We love this song, it is our song
A slow start,
with building tension and momentum
My eyes open just as the beat starts to pick up
I find the eyes of my friends
and we smile
at each other as we sing along,
full bellied sing along to our song.
This song
This moment and we move faster and sing harder
We are all one
Connected by the beat by,
the heat of our bodies,
by the need to move,
to live, to love,
to scream our heads off,
and laugh
We are one
Gay, queer, straight, trans, cis, it doesn't matter
This is our song, our beat
This is our house of worship. You and your God ain't got nothin on me and mine.


There is no greater high
than dancing,
singing,
loving,
living,
fucking
on a dance floor
This is my song,
your song,
our song
No one can take this from us
This is our house of worship. You and your God ain't got nothin on me and mine.


The song ends
I am spent
Just as I am shifting,
moving to go drink some water
I hear a familiar note
And then another
My eyes find my friends
and we smile as the words start
and we are singing
We are wrapped
in the strong embrace of the beat
before we can even recognize that we are moving
This is our house of worship. You and your God ain't got nothin on me and mine.