Yellow Crocus by Laila Ibrahim

From Goodreads: Mattie was never truly mine. That knowledge must have filled me as quickly and surely as the milk from her breasts. Although my family ‘owned’ her, although she occupied the center of my universe, her deepest affections lay elsewhere. So along with the comfort of her came the fear that I would lose her some day. This is our story...

So begins Lisbeth Wainwright’s compelling tale of coming-of-age in antebellum Virginia. Born to white plantation owners but raised by her enslaved black wet nurse, Mattie, Lisbeth’s childhood unfolds on the line between two very different worlds. Growing up under the tender care of Mattie, Lisbeth adopts her surrogate mother’s deep-seated faith in God, her love of music and black-eyed peas, and the tradition of hunting for yellow crocuses in the early days of spring. In time, Lisbeth realizes she has freedoms and opportunities that Mattie does not have, though she’s confined by the societal expectations placed on women born to privilege. As Lisbeth grows up, she struggles to reconcile her love for her caregiver with her parents’ expectations, a task made all the more difficult as she becomes increasingly aware of the ugly realities of the American slavery system. When Lisbeth bears witness to a shockingly brutal act, the final vestiges of her naiveté crumble around her. Lisbeth realizes she must make a choice, one that will require every ounce of the courage she learned from her beloved Mattie. This compelling historical novel is a richly evocative tale of love, loss, and redemption set during one of the most sinister chapters of American history.


My Review: *****

I absolutely adored this book! I got it for only about $2.99 on my Kindle and I am so glad I made the purchase. Very well written.

Lisbeth and Mattie's stories get you hooked from the very beginning. I loved hearing it from both sides.Of course, since the story is about slavery, some of the things in the book are hard to hear about since we all know these things really happened to so many slaves.

I really don't want to say much more than the book synopsis above says. I don't want to give away too much of this story. It definitely has the feel of a true story. If you loved The Help, you will love this book as well.

Atonement by Ian McEwan

From Goodreads: On a summer day in 1935, thirteen-year-old Briony Tallis witnesses a moment’s flirtation between her older sister, Cecilia, and Robbie Turner, the son of a servant. But Briony’s incomplete grasp of adult motives and her precocious imagination bring about a crime that will change all their lives, a crime whose repercussions Atonement follows through the chaos and carnage of World War II and into the close of the twentieth century.


My Review: ** (it was OK)

The beginning part of this book lost me at times. Chapters seemed boring at times. I knew what was going on, but I just didn't like the constant changing of each character in each chapter. This is probably because some characters' chapters were more interesting than others. Briony's character is much like many of children I would think (except for the compulsiveness). She is pretty innocent for her age and doesn't realize the things that happen between adults.

The 2nd and 3rd parts of the book were much more interesting. Focusing on one character at a time, it gives you a better perspective of what is going on with them.

I think many people probably would enjoy this book more than I did. I just couldn't love it.

Giveaway winners!

Sorry I didn't do this over the weekend but I've been in pain most of the weekend.

The winners and books they win are as follows:

1st place: Heather and you get your #1 pick of the David Tutera book.
2nd place: Jennifer B. and  you get your #1 pick of the Stylish Weddings for Less book.
3rd place: Molly and you unfortunately end up with the Groom book. I hope you enjoy it still or your fiance at least!

Please email me with your names and addresses so I can send the books off this week! jennifercepero11 at gmail dot com.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Check back soon...I plan on giving away another book that I think a lot of people will want!

Boob Tube Babble: Feb 3, 2012

 OK seeing that I am not in love with too many shows right now, I will talk mainly about Gossip Girl. If you watch and haven't kept up with the episodes as of right now, STOP READING!! So, before Christmas we start off with me so frickin happy since Chuck and Blair were getting back together and were going to run away so she can get away from the paparazzi. Then the unthinkable happened, they got in a bad car wreck, Princess Diana style. I was crying thinking Chuck would be killed off. I love this dude seriously. Their happiness is what I live for in TV land. Then the show comes back in January...I was so excited and ready to cry more seeing Chuck all hurt up in the hospital, but no, they decided to skip time and act like everyone's recovery was so quick...even though Chuck had been in a coma. Weird, right? Blair is still marrying the Prince Louis and I am disgusted at this because her only reason is because she thinks that if she is with Chuck, God will kill him or whatever. She made a promise to God that she won't be with him so he can be saved and she thinks this is true.  Something they skipped that I am pissed and am wondering when it will come back: Diana(Liz Hurley) called Jack Bass when the accident happened telling him there had been one and he said he was on his way. I know for a fact that Diana is really Chuck's mom. It's pretty obvious. But seriously when were they going to show these two go to the hospital to see Chuck???!! I want to know when Chuck is going to find out she is his mom .... and how funny is it that Nate was having sex with her? LMAO.  This week was the Royal wedding. Georgina came back for some more treachery. I was actually happy to see her since she wanted to stop the wedding, lol. Long story short, Chuck comes to tell Blair not to get married because her mother brought him there and she tells Chuck how much she loves him but that she can't be with him for reasons she doesn't choose to say. Georgina gets this all on video, gives to Chuck thinking he is still evil. He chooses that he will leave, Serena tells him the real reason Blair won't be with him. During the ceremony though, everyone gets a very loud alert(nice, turn your damn phones off during a wedding....this thing was a Royal one for God's sake!) from Gossip Girl with the video. Blair gets pissed at Chuck of course and yet still marries Louis....I knew there would be repercussions for this. He tells her during their first dance that it's just a contract and she cannot leave it and has to pretend all if fine in front of the cameras but at home, he will ignore her. She then runs off with DAN of all people.......I really am sick of them trying to pair these two up. It makes NO SENSE at all. I can see them as friends but not as lovers.  Oh and the biggest GASP: Georgina revealed as Gossip Girl at the end. My husband knew it the whole time, lol. He is so silly. It makes sense though, because she has been obsessed with only Serena and her friends. She, herself has never been blasted on there either.  Let's see how much Gossip Girl pisses me off this season. All I want is Chuck to have his love with him again.  Don't forget to enter my giveaway that ends tonight!!! Wedding Book Giveaway!!
 

My Pregnancy ~ Week 29

I am just 11 weeks away from my due date...holy crap did time fly! I am also just 7 weeks away from my maternity leave start date, thanks to FMLA.

Here is a pic of me on Saturday night...we went out for my birthday to the restaurant we got married. So nice.


I've gained about 30 lbs so far. Pretty hard for me to deal with seeing myself so big but I know that it's all for my baby. I hope I will be able to lose it quickly.


Also...how cute is this outfit I just ordered from Zulily??!!



Totally love it...can't wait to see my baby girl in it!

She has been kicking my butt lately. Last night was horrible trying to sleep because all I felt was constant kicking and moving around. I'm pretty sore today from all that. Not fun to be at work when all I want to do is go home and relax on the couch.

My shower is coming up on March 4th. I have my mother in law and my husband to thank for taking care of it. Without them I don't think I would have been having one. Pretty sad since you would think my mom would be all gung ho about it since it is her first grandchild and all.

Thanks for reading,

XOXO,

Jennifer

Breathless by Jessica Warman

From Goodreads: When Katie Kitrell is shipped off to boarding school by her distant father and overbearing mother, it doesn’t take her long to become part of the It Crowd. She’s smart, she’s cute, and she’s an Olympic-bound swimmer who has a first class ticket to any Ivy League school of her choice. But what her new friends, roommate, and boyfriend don’t know is that Katie is swimming away from her past, and from her schizophrenic older brother, Will, who won’t let her go. And when he does the unthinkable, it’s all Katie can do to keep her head above water.




My Review: ****

Katie's story is a pretty realistic one. Dealing with the issues of her dysfunctional family (seriously who doesn't have one), but more so with the issue of her older brother who has suicidal and homicidal tendencies.  Her parents ship her off to boarding school to help her get away from all the issues and to be able to do better for herself. The stories of trying to fit into a boarding school full of rich kids are things that all teens deal with no matter the case of the school....poor, rich, fancy, public, etc. Katie is a strong girl but she does fall into peer pressure at times.

This is definitely a good book for teens to read. Maybe they can relate a bit to the character in the story.
Getting this book for only 99 cents for my kindle about 2 weeks ago, this was a great deal! I really enjoyed reading this book.


Also....don't forget to enter my giveaway! It ends Friday! Wedding Book Giveaway!!

It's OK Thursdays: Birthday edition

 Link up to play along by clicking the button above!  It's OK:  

• That today is my 34th birthday and I seriously haven't even thought much about it. I really don't care this year too much about it. I guess that's what pregnancy does to you. lol.
• That you haven't entered my wedding book giveaway yet.....you still have time!!
• That I still intend to eat carbs even though the midwife was making a big deal of it on Tuesday. It's not like I eat them all day frickin long! She made it sound like that is all I eat! Telling me my baby is going to be fat unless I cut out having bagels, pizza, pasta and bread. Seriously? I know I've gained like 30 pounds but I was super tiny before pregnancy...and I rarely ate all day long...so guess what, food is gonna make me gain weight!
• That people constantly asking me how I'm feeling even though I rarely talk about my issues, annoys the crap out of me. I am not going to tell you people at work that my hips and back hurt from being here.
• That I know what my daughters name is going to be and I am not telling yet!
• That hubby and I are completely addicted to The Big Bang Theory. We just bought all 4 seasons from Target for only $15 each!!! AWESOME!
• To realize I act like Sheldon from said show at times. I am pretty anal about food and things like that. Even when he gets literal on people, I say OMG I DO THAT!!!!