20 Sunday Oct 2019
Posted in Poetry/Lyrics, Uncategorized
Tags
dreams, embrace, first sight, future, hope, joy, love, love poem, lover, plans, poem, poetry, romance, romantic, trust, vision
You lifted me up
when I felt down
brought hope and joy
as I turned around
You told me plans
to take care of me
I felt secure
wrapped tightly in your arms
I returned the embrace
trusted your vision
as our words built a world
of our future divined
For first sight burst
forth an awakened love
glimmered a reality
of our deeply hidden dreams
September 25/26, 2019
14 Monday Oct 2019
Posted in Poetry/Lyrics, Uncategorized
Tags
American, American dream, choice, choices, connection, doubt, dream, honesty, hope, love, lover, poem, poetry, reality, romance, truth
Every day becomes
second chance at happiness
I choose you always
become what you make
the reality of your
American dream
Accepting the truth
honesty defeats the doubt
steadfast connection
13 Sunday Oct 2019
Posted in Poetry/Lyrics, Uncategorized
I knew at once
you were the one
the nervous smile
fronting a quiet kindness
A coffee spot lingered
opposite your heart
endearing you to me
as you listened, waiting
hoping you see too
a sign for more
an opening to turn
the handshake to a kiss
The words flow
laying a path
set to smiles
leading to love
July 10, 2019
21 Saturday Sep 2019
Posted in Poetry/Lyrics, Uncategorized
Tags
black, dance, dark, doubt, hope, Johnny Cash, love, Morrissey, music, poem, poetry, progress, relationships, rock, romance
Today I wear black
not to show darkness
but to mute the doubt
that I’ll see your back
For I stand solid strong
sure in your protective arms
even at a distance,
singing our song
Notes of hope advance
a comforting melody plays
inviting the next stride
of our love’s dance
a single step back
does not disconnect
but rocks you forward
leaning onto me dressed in black
September 17, 2019
15 Friday Feb 2019
Posted in books, Uncategorized
Tags
book review, books, confidence, Kasie West, Listen to Your Heart, love, relationships, romance, teens, Valentine's Day, voice
Kasie West’s Listen to Your Heart makes a fun Valentine weekend read. Kate doesn’t excel at talking to people but ends up hosting her school’s new advice podcast. Finding herself better than she expected, she gains confidence in her voice. Her development in her craft as well as her crush bring the elements of a teen romantic comedy. Wondering if she or her crush would speak up during their playful banter and if the anonymous caller would get revealed on the show keeps me smiling as I turn the pages.
Other Kasie West Recommendations:
PS I Like You
The Fill-In Boyfriend (my review)
Love, Life, and the List (my review)
12 Tuesday Feb 2019
Posted in books, Uncategorized
Tags
bookish, books, couples, love, Nicholas Sparks, romance, Sarah Dessen, Shakespeare, To All the Boys I've Loved Before, Twilight, Valentine's Day
As the Twilight phenomenon blew up across the globe, the prevalence of shipping, fans seriously rooting for a fictional couple, increased. People discussing Twilight wanted to know if the other joined Team Edward or Team Jacob. I started my Twilight reread and started contemplating what bookish couples had me pulling for them.
Bella and Edward in Twilight by Stephenie Meyer: Say what you want, but this story obviously appeals to a lot of people, including my own dad. The beautiful vampire falls in love with a human, and all the danger of forbidden love breaks loose. Their interest in each other gets intense before they even have a relationship. Teenage angst and immortality meet to give a love story for the ages. Plus, invitations to high school dances abound.
Beatrice and Benedick in Much Ado about Nothing by Shakespeare: My favorite Shakespeare line comes from this play. It begins with Benedick’s greeting to Beatrice: “My lady disdain, are you yet living?” Their witty banter lives on in romantic comedies throughout the ages, including my favorite When Harry Met Sally. Benedick and Beatrice make suffering love so comedically fun and sweet.
Laura Jean and Peter in To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han: Laura Jean makes such a relatable role model worthy heroine. Her love story with Peter captures all the awkwardness of learning how to talk and relate to boys. Not to mention, the story starts with love letters. Han beautifully blends traditional aspects of romance with modern culture.
Ruby and Nate in Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen: In her usual fashion, Dessen writes another realistic teen story. Ruby and Nate end up as neighbor friends, finding they understand each other’s family situations. They learn how to trust a friend and how to face parents who don’t fulfill their roles. This falls a little outside the Valentine theme, but it has depth and hope.
Jamie and Landon in A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks: It wouldn’t be Valentine’s season without some Nicholas Sparks in the mix. Jamie and Landon get the intensity of the eternal teenage love. Plus, they show the transformation of a perceived bad boy once someone gives him positive feedback and a chance to improve. Love really opens doorways for growth, and Jamie’s adherence to her faith allows that.
What book couples would you add to this list? Share your favorites in the comments.
14 Monday Jan 2019
Posted in books, Uncategorized
Tags
beach, book, book review, Christian fiction, Denise Hunter, family, love, NetGalley, romance, secrets, sisters, summer, Summer by the Tides
I received a copy of Summer by the Tides by Denise Hunter from NetGalley.
Summer by the Tides makes for breezy fun at the beach as a positive summer read. After losing her treasured job and her boyfriend, Maddy returns to Seahaven to find her missing grandmother. Her two older sisters, who are estranged from each other, arrive at the cottage as well. The family goes through the physical and emotional process of clearing out the attic and their past. Maddy even finds a nice, handsome next door neighbor. The story unfolds rather straight forward and predictably, making it a comforting read as you imagine beach waves just off your porch.
Look for this book on May 21 as it releases just in time for summer.
11 Friday Jan 2019
Posted in books, Uncategorized
I received a copy of The Perfect Fit by Mary Jayne Baker through NetGalley.
This British romp pulls all the thrills of a staged pantomime. As Becky finds her personal life script veering, she finds her acting group as her constant. Her new male friend Marcus teaches her how to juggle, and she soon finds herself juggling two men in her heart. The storylines on stage and off stage bring fun and heart to the story. Some of the secondary characters start to blend together, but they make a good ensemble. Overall, the theme of community makes a good message. The story also shows how important it is to “play the honesty card” in conversations with people in your close circle.
14 Friday Dec 2018
Posted in books, Uncategorized
Tags
angst, book review, books, expectations, fiction, Jenny Han, love, P.S. I Still Love You, pressure, relationships, romance, teens, To All the Boys I've Loved Before, values, young adult
My best friend and I continued our buddy read of Jenny Han’s To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before trilogy with the second installment. P.S. I Still Love You didn’t hit that sweet spot quite as strongly as the introduction to Lara Jean and the recipients of her love letters, but it did still hit the spot.
This story continues Lara Jean’s first steps into romance as she faces the aftermath of her fight with Peter Kavinsky and the release of a video of them online. As she navigates confronting the issue and enduring the ridicule of her peers, Lara Jean demonstrates how her actions as well as others’ actions can have a tremendous effect on her life. Of course her sisters and dad continue as her constant support, and she makes new friendships with a couple older and wiser ladies at the nursing home where she interns. Lara Jean’s experiences make a good example of how internet shaming greatly impacts people and how teenagers and young adults face significant pressure when it comes to relationships. I appreciate how Han creates a likeable character who reminds us of the vulnerability of developing relationships and communicating boundaries. Lara Jean models a realistic approach to balance cultural pressures with her personal values and makes a good example of voicing her wants rather than following her peers’ expectations.
So far this trilogy has provided some great conversation, a likeable and admirable character and a sweet story with the awkwardness, angst and fun of being a teenager and discovering love. I highly anticipate the third book, and the first goes in my top ten books I’ve read this year.
In case you were wondering, the Netflix movie adaptation of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before does a great job capturing this fun story on the screen. They cast the characters well, they kept the heart of the book, and gave it an authentic feel with their attention to detail on screen.
20 Tuesday Nov 2018
Posted in books, Uncategorized
Tags
adventure, book review, bookish, books, Brigadoon, Carey Corp, Christian fiction, community, Doon, faith, friendship, Lorie Langdon, love, retelling, romance, YA, young adult
I now have had my second experience with the Brig o’ Doon, and I must say I have enjoyed this young adult retelling much more than the movie my college roommates and I watched years ago. This magical twist on time travel and fantasy makes for a fun adventure and of course includes plenty of romance. It even adds a thoughtful layer of faith and community.
As best friends Mackenna and Veronica find themselves crossing the mythical Brig o’ Doon and entering Doon’s kingdom during their trip to Scotland, they find themselves on an adventure much different than they imagined. They stick together to contribute to the community and ultimately to save it. Along the way, they learn how to deepen their faith in what will unfold for their fates as well as that of Doon and to trust each other. We see that sharing burdens of truth and uncertainty makes it easier to handle situations than facing them completely alone, as Veronica does in a prideful attempt to protect her friends. The strength of friendship and community ultimately wins the day.
Between the unique people and kingdom, the general sense of adventure and unique way to look at faith, I have enjoyed my trip to Doon. I look forward to continuing the series to read what happens next. I’m also curious to check out the source material. Though the movie I’ve seen has generally low reviews, the TV special with Robert Goulet has positive ones. Here’s to the next adventure having singing and dancing!
