{Books} and {Gratitude}

On vacation last week I got in a little bit of reading time and wanted to give you guys a review. Then I realized I didn't review that last book I'd read either, so you get two reviews for one click!

I read The Good Girl by Mary Kubica
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Part of the Goodreads synopsis is:
"One night, Mia Dennett enters a bar to meet her on-again, off-again boyfriend. But when he doesn't show, she unwisely leaves with an enigmatic stranger. At first Colin Thatcher seems like a safe one-night stand. But following Colin home will turn out to be the worst mistake of Mia's life. "

The synopsis says that it's an addictively suspenseful thriller. I kind of have to beg to differ.  I was interested in finding out how Mia was found and any other details surrounding that (because the book goes back and forth between before she was found and after she was found). I kept waiting for something to happen and at about 50% through, it finally picked up a bit, but I'd almost given up on it at that point.
One thing I really didn't like was that there was no date, so you couldn't tell how quickly time was going by. For example, after a few chapters, it felt like it had been at least a few weeks that they had been gone, but then one morning they're having breakfast and Colin offers Mia coffee and she says she doesn't drink it. Well, if you'd been together for that long, and had breakfast/coffee every morning, wouldn't that have come up before now?

  In the end, the characters were all pretty predictable for me--the angry/uninvolved dad, the mom/wife who doesn't know "how things got this way", the middle-aged investigator... The ending was fine, maybe a bit unbelievable but at least it was tied up in a nice bow at the end.

If I had to rate the book, I'd give it 3 out of 5 stars, mainly because the last half of the book became more interesting. If I had rated it for the first half, it would have been 1 star.
~.~.~
On vacation I read the first book in the Crossfire series, Bared to You.
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 Karly actually reviewed the series on here while I was away last week! She warned me ahead of time (and then throughout when I would text her about it), that the writing is definitely not going to win any awards. 
Truth.
It is almost the exact same story as 50 Shades of Grey only without the S&M stuff. Naive girl, rich, handsome, unattainable guy. He gets mesmerized by naive girl, then becomes super possessive, they go back and forth between having intense relations, being mad at one another and storming off like children, and then having intense relations again. One or both of them is "damaged" in some way...sound familiar?
I'd give it 3 out of 5 stars, mainly for the "relations" scenes. The story itself was boring mainly because I felt like I'd read it already in 50 Shades. I'm not sure that I'll read the others in the series, because I can only handle so much of the I-love-you-so-much-I-hate-you-so-much back and forth drama.
~.~.~
Today's Gratitude30 prompt was Nature. 
I snapped this photo last week while we were at the beach, and just looking at it calms me. We stood there and watched the sun go down, while everything around us was quiet and peaceful. It was the perfect 'stop and smell the roses' kind of moment. I'm so thankful for beautiful moments like this that allow you to take it all in, reflect on the day that's passed, and look ahead to the start of a new one.
#Gratitude30

18 comments:

  1. I read the crossfire series and felt the same way - I think I actually liked it more than 50 shades because I thought the writing was better LOL! I love thrillers so I might check the good girl out!! xo, Biana- BlovedBoston

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  2. Glad you found me on insta! I agree with being over the 50 shades story, I just can't read another book like that #maxedout!

    Linds @ Not A Mom

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  3. There's absolutely nothing more calming than a picture like that. It's one of the reasons I'd love to live nera the beach. To enjoy those moments more often.

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  4. gorgeous picture! I love that you had time to reflect and actually live in the moment the sun was setting and you can look back and still appreciate it. very nice! I think I'll skip crossfire (I still haven't finished the 3rd book in 50 shades) and i agree with you on The Good Girl.
    Trish - tales from trish

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  5. That picture of the sunset is gorgeous! Love the colors in the sky! Wow. Bared To You sounds just like 50 Shades. I think I can skip that one then. I got enough of that with 50 haha!
    <3, Pamela
    Sequins & Sea Breezes

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  6. love that gorgeous sunset picture! nature pics are my absolute favorite

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  7. I love your gratitude picture for today. The water always calms me down.

    xo, Carly - soak and simmer

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  8. That sunset pic is gorgeous! I may still pick up The Good Girl for a light read, but I'm so glad I read your review first :)

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  9. I love that sunset! What a calming and peaceful setting!

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  10. Love that sunset photo at the end! Gorgeous scenery to be grateful for.

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  11. There is something about the magnitude of the ocean, and your own sense of physical insignificance when you are beside it, that makes it a very calming thing. Love that photo.

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  12. I love your book reviews :) helps me weed out what I want to read/don't want to read! That sunset is GORGEOUS!!! I love sunsets, they really are great to just watch and reflect on the day :)
    xo, Candace | Lovely Little Rants

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  13. Well, you know me - I'll just be the perv over here reading my adult novels. :) Ha! Sorry you didn't like the book, I just considered it a guilty pleasure summer read. That photo from the beach is gorgeous!

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  14. I read the first two Crossfire books but just couldn't pick up the third but I still thought they were better than 50 shades because she seemed slightly more confident/mature and it didn't feel like he was totally taking advantage of her. I have the Good Girl on my to read list and I'm hoping to get to it soon.

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  15. I just put The Good Girl on my Good Reads list a few days ago! I hope you enjoy your long weekend!

    ~Ashley @ A Cute Angle
    acutelifestyle.blogspot.com

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  16. Love the water and that is a great picture! Makes me feel calm and happy too. Have a great weekend. - Svetlana @Life with a Side of Wine

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  17. I just started reading The Good Girl yesterday! Waiting for it to pick up...not sure I like this format! Thanks for the review!!

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