Author: Jenna

Jenna Volden has a degree in business and has spent the last 10 plus years working for others. She believes it is time to start her own photography and writing business. She enjoys running, coffee and helping others achieve their goals. Gluten-free foods are a lifestyle, not a choice, for her due to celiac disease. She is currently based in Phoenix, Arizona.

Episode 24

Posted on by Jenna

Hey everyone! Guess what y’all?! I’m finally a marathoner! On today’s episode, I will tell you how it went and what my next big adventure will be!

Where to start? So much I want to say about this large undertaking. First, I want to thank Justin for putting up with me and my 4 am wake-ups for the past few months. And my BRP (best running pal) Brittany for being my sounding board and allowing me to quit about 724 times. I could not have done this without either of them!

I’m also grateful to the running companies that got me through this. I put many miles on my shoes and hydration vests. And I ate a bunch of chews and gels. Nice to have a break from those now!

Let’s start on Saturday, the day before the planned marathon attempt. I woke up in a minor panic thinking it was Sunday and I had nothing ready! 

Thankfully it was only for like two seconds.

Saturday was a very east three miles. I took my dog and she goes on her own schedule. The rest of the day was getting all my gear charged and fuel ready. Once that was done, I relaxed. Well, relaxed for me!

So now for the actual race day!

I woke up earlier than planned so I took my time eating breakfast then got ready and headed out around 5 am. My goal had been to be out by 6 am at the latest. So a pretty good start!bAs it was dark out, I made sure I had my headlamp. Safety first!

I had most of my route figured out so I stuck to the plan. The only part I didn’t really plan was about the last 5k. I figured I could head home, and circle a few blocks as needed but wanted to make sure I’d be close to home when I finished.

The first half went by pretty quickly. I had my podcast going and I just allowed myself to settle into a conservative pace. I passed a few people out running or walking so I would pretend they were doing the same race I was. 

At about 12 miles, my crew showed up. And they are the best! Justin and Shadow met me at a wetland area to take my headlamp and swap out my Skratch bottles. I ended up walking with them for about a mile through the wetland. I was feeling strong at this point. I didn’t need to walk. It was a nice way to include my family and biggest supporters while I was running my marathon. 

It did feel a little lonely when we first split up but I turned my podcast back on and started to run again. I felt pretty good for miles 13 through 20. My hips started to tighten up around mile 20. I did stop a few times to stretch them. I also walked mile 23 and 25. I probably could have kept running them but my hips were tight and my feet were tired. It was nice to have a little break.

I was looking at my watch during mile 25 and going, “I need to run the last 1.2 miles to try to not roll into six hours”. I even thought I should start running now but there seemed to be a disconnect between my brain and legs. I kept walking.

As soon as I hit 26, I ran. I pushed as much as I could but I didn’t make it under six hours. BUT I finished. And that was the important part. It took me six hours and two minutes. I know I have more in me. I know I could do much better time-wise especially if it was a live, not virtual race. 

It’s hard to run 26.2 miles alone. Everyone always says the last 10k is run with the heart. That it’s the hardest part of a marathon. They aren’t wrong but for me, it was mentally hard, not physically hard. At mile 23 I kept thinking I should quit and just go home. But I had run 23 miles and there were only 3 to go so I needed to keep going. I had to pump myself up. I did have a music playlist ready but didn’t use it. I kept with the podcasts.

I ran slow and took walk breaks because I wanted to make sure I finished. I stopped to stretch a few times. But I know I have more to give. I was able to push myself for the last 1.2 miles. I was tired and my feet were tired but I wasn’t completely exhausted. 

I made sure to fuel with gels or chews every four miles. I did skip mile 24, I’m not sure if another gel would have made a difference at that point. Maybe it would have helped me run in mile 25, maybe not. I sipped water at mile one and every even mile after. Each odd mile I sipped Skratch. I think my fueling strategy has always worked well for me in half marathons and helped immensely for the full. 

Whew! That was a lot! Let’s take a quick ad break.

AD BREAK

So what’s next for me?

I decided to hire a coach. She had me take two weeks off after the marathon. The first week was fine. I was sore the first few days. The second week was harder. I was going a little stir crazy. What do non-marathon runners do with all this spare time?!?

The first day of official coaching is the day this podcast will be released. Maybe November’s podcast will talk about how my first month of coaching went!

My next big goal is a 50k in March 2022. Then I think I’ll attack an in-person marathon in February 2023 to see what I can do with a coach and a live race to push me. 

What are your running goals for 2022?

And now… COFFEE CORNER!!

For spooky szn I read Psycho by Robert Bloch. I give it five stars. I’ve seen the moves and recently watched Bates Motel so figured it was time to read the source material. Despite knowing the story and what was going to happen, Bloch created suspense that made me want to keep reading. 

Currently, I’m reading The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson. I once started watching the 1999 movie but do not recall actually finishing it. I haven’t watched the 1963 movie or the Netflix tv show yet so the book is all new to me. The book starts off a bit slow but it’s building the background of the characters and the house. So far I am really enjoying it and would recommend it. 

Lastly, I finally gave in and signed up for Hulu. I really wanted to hop on the bandwagon of Only Murders in the Building (we haven’t watched yet) and all the other shows I’ve missed out on over the years. Like the rest of The Mindy Project. 

I did start Superstore! I had wanted to watch it when it came out but forgot to set the DVR and then couldn’t find it anywhere but Hulu to catch up with so I never watched. I started it on my rest week and got through most of season two. It cracks me up! It is definitely not realistic but whatever. It’s hilarious. Plus all of the actors are so great!

I’ve started filling up my Hulu list. What should I add? Are there any hidden gems I can’t miss out on??

WRAP UP

And that’s all for this week. I’m a marathoner now. I feel so relieved to finally have all those did not starts behind me and know that I can do this! 

If you enjoyed this podcast, be sure to give it a follow. New episodes will air monthly on the last Monday of the month. I plan to keep this schedule for a while since I have so many other things going on. In the meantime, you can find me on Youtube, Twitter, and TikTok at runs on espresso and Instagram at runs_on_espresso.

If you like this podcast, I’d appreciate a rate and review wherever you listen. And be sure to share it with anyone you think might enjoy it. 

If you have a show idea, something you’d like to hear more about, drop me a message at anchor.fm/runsonespresso or email jenna@runsonespresso.com I look forward to hearing your ideas! 

Until next month, I hope your runs are as strong as your coffee!

Gluten Free Pretzels

Posted on by Jenna

One thing that is hard to find gluten free is soft pretzels.

Sure, they have frozen options. I’ve tried several and they were all meh. Nothing that made me go, ohhhh I will buy this again! And I’ve never seen a gf option at a restaurant. I had kinda given up in ever having a soft pretzel again.

Until Mom’s Place Gluten Free sent me a package for March’s Nourished Festival.

I saved them for October in a (late) celebration of Oktoberfest. Too bad I don’t have any gf beer on hand! Growing up Oktoberfest was a big part of my life. My hometown put on a two week (now one) celebration with a famous Maple Leaf Parade, torchlight parade, taping of the golden keg, and the medallion hunt! Plus beer. Lots of beer.

There are a lot of memories surrounding Oktoberfest so it was fun to pretend I was participating by making pretzels.

I was a little intimidated to make pretzels because the idea seemed complicated and the process long. Boy was I wrong! The instructions were easy to follow and it really was a simple process.

I did make pretzel nuggets because I didn’t want to attempt the twist!

My package was missing the sea salt but they still turned out great. I used a little table salt and it was fine. You get just a hint of salt, which is what I prefer. I would definitely recommend the gluten free pretzel mix and plan to order another package (or two) for myself. I think my next batch I will toss in cinnamon and sugar. Or maybe get some cheese sauce.

OMG! I can eat soft pretzels again!

Here are the list of ingredients in case you were wondering:
MOM’S FLOUR BLEND (WHITE RICE FLOUR, POTATO STARCH, TAPIOCA FLOUR, XANTHAN GUM), BROWN SUGAR, PRETZEL SALT, YEAST, SALT

I decided I am not good at cooking videos so instead of torturing you with that, I made a short TikTok.

What foods do you miss since going gluten free that are hard to find?

2022 Erin Condren Focused Collection

Posted on by Jenna

Are you looking for a beautiful planer that you could use at work or home? That looks sophisticated when you are out and about?

Have you seen the all new EC Focused Collection?

The Focused Collection for 2022 is a line of planners, notebooks, folios, and more perfect for all your personal or professional needs.

I received a box from EC with select items from the new Focused Collection and I must say I was extremely impressed with everything! It’s the EC quality you are used to in a minimalist collection. Before this, I have only bought a focused productivity notebook so it was fun to see the newest line and review these planners!

The first item I noticed when I opened the box was the new ultra-fine markers. I have been wanting to get these since they came out. OMG! I think these are my new favorites from EC. Check out my Focused Collection video to see me compare them to the rest of the EC markers (fine and dual tips). And don’t forget, you get 15% off when you buy four or more accessories!

Let’s start with the planners.

Pocket in pinstripe
I LOVE the idea of the pocket planner. It is just way too cute. But I bought one last year and rarely use it. I do like that the font/print is darker. It makes it easier to read than last year’s layer pocket planner.

A5 in slate blue
This size is perfect for work! I’ve already decided this will be next year’s work planner. I’m currently using the quarterly petites but this A5 will be a perfect replacement. And I’ll have the entire year in one book! I don’t have many hourly appointments at work so I mostly track weekly to do’s and a few other important reminders. I think the Focused A5 will be perfect for me!

And can we talk about this color? GORGEOUS.

8×10 in harbor
This year for my fitness/running journal I used the EC monthly binder. It was great to be able to remove pages but I had to write the date on all the pages. I had already decided I was going to get a horizontal planner but hadn’t ordered one yet. Now I don’t have to because the Focused one will be perfect!!! I love that each day has lines and a blank box. I can use the lines to record thoughts/feelings about the workout and the blank box for stats! And it will look really nice on my coffee table.

Padfolio in Pinstripe with blush interior
What I love about this padfolio, compared to the hello kitty or last year’s focused version, is each pad is different! This one has an hourly pad, a list, and a weekly pad instead of two lists pads and a weekly pad. This would look great on your work desk. Or I could see this as a family command center for those really busy days when all your kids have all their activities. You could use the hourly pad to track everyone’s activities for the day and the list pad for all the errands or tasks.

Standup Padfolio in harbor
This may look familiar! We got a similar one in the seasonal surprise box. I think most people plan to use this for meal planning. It would be perfect for that. I also think this would be perfect for work! You could set it up on your desk and fill in important items or reminders for each day and use the to-do list for your tasks.

Deskpad in blush
This is an undated monthly calendar and it will be replacing my current EC Monthly Deskpad. I like that it is a little smaller than the EC Monthly. Plus I don’t use the stickers that come with that one. I also like that the blush is very understated. It’s not in your face pink. The only downfall is I have to fill in all the dates. I do prefer dated calendars/planners.

Overall, I really do like this collection. If I didn’t I would tell you (see: Java with Jenna Episode 3 about the last EC Sticker Subscription). My favorite item from this collection would be either of the planners. I can’t decide if I like slate blue or harbor better. The colors just happen to be two of my three favorite colors (the third would be black). I like the pinstripe pattern but I’d prefer it in silver. I have never been a big fan of gold. But I do still buy EC items in gold because they are great products.

What is your favorite item from the Focused Collection? How would you use it?

EC links are affiliate links – Erin Condren may pay me a small commission if you shop and buy through this link. It does not cost you anything beyond what you choose to purchase. Browsing, shopping, and purchasing through my link help keep the cost of creating content down a bit for me and tells Erin Condren you like my content!

Fossil Creek

Posted on by Jenna

In 2021, the backbone fire ripped through parts of Coconino National Forest, including Fossil Creek. Fossil Creek is home to the waterfall trail which was destroyed. Wildfires are devastating. They destroy beautiful landscapes that take years, sometimes generations, to recover.

The waterfall trail is a short, easy hike that ends at a gorgeous… waterfall (didn’t see that one coming, huh? 🤣)

After wildfires, areas like Fossil Creek are more at risk for flash floods. The area is closed and will remain so until at least the end of 2021. It may even stay closed through the fall of 2022.

I was only able to visit the trail once and who knows when, or if, the trail will ever be the same again.

This is a devastating loss.

Marathon Prep

Posted on by Jenna

I’m heading into taper time. The marathon is less than a week away. How am I getting ready?

Well, I’m making a list and checking it twice. I want to have everything set so all I have to do is get up, eat, and run. And run. And run some more.

  1. I need to finalize my route. I need about 10 more miles from the route I’ve been doing for long runs.
  2. Deciding on which clothes and shoes to wear. Gotta be comfy for 26+ miles!
  3. Picking out my fuel and freezing the gels the day before and prepping two waterbottles with Skratch.
  4. Slowing down. Like in life, not running. This week will be filled with short, easy runs and sitting my butt on the couch.
  5. Trying to shovel in more carbs. Although I probably eat more than enough already.
  6. Filing up my playlist with enough podcasts to get me through! I’ve got a list of a few new to me pods I want to start from the beggining!
  7. Oh yes, charging all the things.
  8. And finally… sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep. If my dog lets me.

Have you run a marathon? How did you get ready for it?

Episode 23 – The Hanson Brothers (the two real life ones, not the three fictional ones)

Posted on by Jenna

INTRO

Hey everyone! This week on Runs on Espresso I am still talking about marathons. I share the two books I read to prep myself for my third attempt. 

PART 1

Summary

As I said in the intro, I read two books to get ready for this third and final marathon attempt. I figure if I don’t finish it this time I will give up and move on. A friend recommended Hansons Marathon Method and while I was on Amazon I also saw Hansons First Marathon so I grabbed that one too.

I read Hansons Marathon method first. The books are written by Luke Humphrey with Keith and Kevin Hanson. Luke was an athlete trained by the Hansons and now coaches athletes in Flagstaff. He gives his background and info in the forward, preface, and intro. 

It is broken into three parts: the approach, the program, and the strategy. Each part has several chapters. I won’t go into detail about each chapter otherwise this would be a super long podcast and I don’t want to bore you to tears. 

There is a lot of information in all three parts. The approach discusses the Hansons philosophy and the physiology of running. It’s a lot of science but Humphrey breaks it down into pretty easy-to-understand info. There are lots of graphs to break it down for you. 

The program section is just as it sounds, the training plans. Of course, there is a ton of information on how the plans work with guidelines on what paces you should hit for each type of workout. There are three plans in this book, Just Finish, Beginner, and Advanced. There is also info on modifying the plans.

Lastly, part three is the strategy. This covers goals, crosstraining, warmups/cooldowns, hydration and nutrition, recovery, gear, and race tactics. So basically all the other stuff. 

Now, First Marathon is very similar. I was able to skim a lot of this one as it was repeated from Marathon Method. It has a before you begin and a why section before it gets into the programs and strategy. These sections kind of guide you through getting started. 

The main difference in the two books is the training plans. The First Marathon starts with a couch to marathon plan. It starts with a 0-5k plan for 8 weeks then goes into the From Scratch 18 week marathon plan. You can start with either of these depending where you are in your running career. I started with the From Scratch before switching to the Just Finish plan. Then you get the Just Finish plan, an advanced first timer plan, and an express plan which is 12 weeks. 

 The next big chunk of the book is very much like Marathon Method again but then it goes into navigating the last six weeks, race day, and after the race. There’s a lot of helpful info in there about how you may feel leading up to the race. There’s a helpful checklist with gear that a first time racer may forget or not think of. 

So that is a quick breakdown of the two books. Let’s take a quick ad-break and then I will give you my thoughts on the books.

AD BREAK

PART 2

My thoughts

You don’t need both. They are very similar but the First Marathon books have some different plans. You can’t go wrong with either book. But whichever one you choose, you need to read everything. You won’t understand the program if you don’t read the approach.

I suggest heading to your local bookstore and flipping through each book. You can review the plans in each and decide which book is better for you. I looked through all the plans in both books before selecting the one I started with. I think I would have continued with it had it not been an extra hot and miserable summer in Phoenix. 

Personally, I like the plans better in the First Marathon and would use them again even though it wouldn’t be my first. Hopefully. I could see why other people may prefer Marathon Method. Personally, I liked the First Marathon better and even if it wasn’t my first I would probably use it as a resource. 

I definitely flagged a few pages in both books and referenced them at different points during my training. I guess we will see how well both books work on 10/10 haha

COFFEE CORNER

Well, for coffee corner I’ve got a few things going on. I’m on the search for a running coach. I had a call this past week and another one next week. I think I reached out to seven total and am seeing who seems like the right fit. So far, most of them seem great so I think it will be a hard decision!

I was glutened again this month. I have been glutened twice this year and before that, it’s been years. Like five years. And both places have been restaurants I’ve eaten at safely since 2015. I don’t know if it’s staff shortage and not training new people properly on cross-contamination or what. But it sucks. I never know what immune response I’ll have or how long it will last. So to say celiac disease is well controlled on a gluten-free diet is true to a point. And some of us can’t eat at home for every single meal. And to think we should have to is ridiculous. We want to have a night off from making dinner or be able to go out and do things like dinner and a baseball game or movie or travel. Eating at home just isn’t feasible for every meal.

Speaking of baseball, thank god that is finally over. The Dbacks were awful this year. And they finish just in time for use to head into a horrible hockey season from the Coyotes. We will actually be heading to the first pre-season game this week.

Ok, what have I been watching? I finally started season five of Bates Motel. It’s definitely taken on a twist. It’s a little… strange for lack of a better word. I don’t want to give too much away.

What have I been reading? Still working through The Artists Way. Hopefully, I can finish it by the end of this month. Either way, October is always my spooky book month! Every October I pick four ghost or other scary books I already own to read in honor of Halloween. Since I’m finishing up Bates Motel I think one of my books will be Psycho. I made a list with about 15 options. Hannibal is also high on the list.  

What are you watching, reading, doing lately?

WRAP UP

And that’s all for this week. Next month’s podcast will probably be a virtual marathon wrap-up and thoughts along with how the coaching search went.

If you enjoyed this podcast, be sure to give it a follow. New episodes will air monthly on the last Monday of the month. I plan to keep this schedule for a while since I have so many other things going on. In the meantime, you can find me on Youtube, Twitter, and TikTok at runs on espresso and Instagram at runs_on_espresso.

If you like this podcast, I’d appreciate a rate and review wherever you listen. And be sure to share it with anyone you think might enjoy it. 

If you have a show idea, something you’d like to hear more about, drop me a message at anchor.fm/runsonespresso or email jenna@runsonespresso.com I look forward to hearing your ideas! 

Until next month, I hope your runs are as strong as your coffee!

Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread

Posted on by Jenna

Do you consider baking self-care? Or is trying new foods considered self-improvement?

If so, I’ve done a little of both this week! I usually find baking to be a fun hobby. Except when a gluten-free recipe doesn’t turn out but that’s a whole other story! Usually, baking something is a fun way to relax.

Usually, I don’t eat (or drink) anything pumpkin because I am not a fan of pumpkin spice, which is always in EVERYTHING pumpkin. I’ve figured out that I do not like nutmeg. I’ve since had other pumpkin things that do not contain pumpkin pie spice and I actually like those. 

But for this week I’ve decided to try pumpkin bread!

As part of the Nourished gluten-free online festival, I was sent this pumpkin bread from Other Foods. I figured September is a good month to make it because September means fall and so do pumpkins!

So let’s talk pumpkin!

The Good

The mix contains no grains, no gums, no corn, and no soy. 

The ingredients list and recipe are easy to read and follow.

Ingredients:

Cassava flour, coconut, sugar, pumpkin powder, organic coconut flour, golden flax meal, cream of tartar, pumpkin pie spice, sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), sea salt
-It does contain tree nuts (coconuts)

The Bad

Sigh, it has the dreaded pumpkin pie spice 

The recipe calls for ¼ cup of oil. I am trying to be healthier and work on my weight and cholesterol so I substituted unsweetened applesauce for the oil.

gluten free pumpkin bread

Final verdict

I snuck a sample of the batter, well I guess it’s not really sneaking when I’m the only one here LOL but I was not a fan. That darn pumpkin pie spice was so strong! According to Justin, the bread was good. You couldn’t tell it was gluten free and it was moist. I am guessing that would be the applesauce.

I thought the bread was really easy to make. Simple ingredients and minimal prep and cleanup. I would definitely try their other mixes, just not the pumpkin again. 

Well, there you have my thoughts on Other Foods Pumpkin Bread Mix. 

Also available on their website: Banna bread, Almond Bread, Sandwich Bread, Pancake Mix, and Brownie Mix! If you’re interested in trying for yourself, head over and check out their website!

Are you a pumpkin spice fan? A pumpkin everything fan? Drop your favorite pumpkin foods in the comments!

Fall Back Into Goals

Posted on by Jenna

Who else struggles to keep up with your goals? I’m sure I am not the only one.

As we work through September, let’s fall back into goals! We still have plenty of time to make some great gains or even reach our goals! Take a moment to think about where you are in your goals for the year.

How far along are you? Are there any adjustments you want to make? Are you like me and drifted away from working towards your goals? 

What can we do to get back on track?

We need to write down our goals (if you haven’t already)  and break them down into actionable steps. But how does one go about doing that?!?

Enter Makselife.

I picked up the Makselife companion notebooks and will be using them in October. I’m slowly working through the guidebook and setting up the notebooks. The guidebook will help you set up your yearly goal.  Each notebook is a quarter (three months) and has space to break your yearly goal down into monthly goals and weekly actions.

fall back into goals

At the end of each month is a reflection page and then at the end of each notebook is a quarterly check-in. There are also dot grid pages for each month and at the end for notes and ideas. 

Even though I haven’t officially started using the companion notebooks, I’ve been setting monthly goals and creating weekly actions. I’m using an EC A5 Agenda horizontal layout to plan out my weekly actions and tasks. Sometimes I transfer the tasks to my daily duo, but not every week. I’m still working out my system.

Each week has been a little different as I work through to find what works.

It has been much easier to set and follow through on my goals when I break them down into monthly and weekly goals. I think we can get too overwhelmed when we set those big annual goals and that’s why we slide and drop them after a few weeks or months. 

I’m currently using Makselife but there are several other goal-setting guides/planners out there. And you don’t need anything fancy, You can use a notebook and your regular planner. You need to set your goals then break them down into smaller steps and work on those steps each week. 

What are your goals for the rest of this year? How do you break them down and then make sure you follow through?

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Makselife

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Self-Improvement September

Posted on by Jenna

September is self-improvement month. 

It’s also a good time to “fall” back into your goals. A few months ago we talked about a goal refresh. Have you stuck to those goals or, like me, have you gotten a little off track? I find it’s helpful to review your goals every few months. 

Since we are all about self-improvement this month, let’s take some time to recommit to those goals and take care of ourselves. What area do you need to focus on to take care of your needs?

For me, I need to really focus on my marathon goal. I struggled a bit in July and August. I had a few breakdowns and almost quit several times. I wanted to throw in the towel after August. 

But if I give up now, how would I feel?

I would feel disappointed in myself for not really giving the marathon a try this time. I am not sick. I am not recovering from a broken leg. There is nothing wrong with me except my belief in myself. 

self-improvement month
I was so over running in August

I struggle with believing I can run 26.2 miles. It’s hard and my brain gives up. Often. And each time it’s happened this summer I’ve taken a day or two to reinforce that this is indeed a goal I want to achieve and one I am physically able to do. 

I have to tell my brain to shut it.

August turned out to be my highest mileage month ever. I didn’t make my goal mileage. I didn’t get in all of my long runs. BUT I RAN THE MOST I EVER RAN IN A MONTH! That is amazing! 

And now I am ready to face September. I have my plan and my goals. I will work on it day by day and remind myself, I can do this. If my brain wants to quit? I’ll say, “brain? Shut the eff up!” and keep pushing through. 

Ignoring and replacing the negative self-talk is my self-improvement for September. 

What goals are you working on this month? How will you practice self-improvement this month?

Drop your goals and self-improvement in the comments!

Follow along on my journey over on Instagram!

August at Cafe Noir

Posted on by Jenna

July was a tough month for me. I couldn’t focus enough to read. It happens sometimes. I was only able to finish one very short book and one average book. I decided to not post a July blog and combine it with August. 

The Photographic Story by David duChemin

Summary:

A short read that breaks down photographs to help you tell a better story. Each chapter covers an element of storytelling, provides examples, and gives creative exercises to do on your own.

My Thoughts:

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

As always, David duChemin breaks everything down well. My only complaint is it is too short! I would tell photographers to read this and check out his other work.

Embrace Your Weird by Felicia Day

Summary:

If you want to be more creative, grab a pen (or whatever instrument) and destroy this book! Ok, don’t do that if it’s a library copy. Embrace Your Weird is designed to help you unlock your creativity through personal stories and activities. 

My Thoughts:

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

This is definitely a book I would have rather purchased the actual book. I checked it out from the library on Kindle and it was hard to do the exercises. I eventually gave up and just read. I gave four stars instead of five because as with any of these books it is nothing new. Felicia Day presents and writes well. I enjoyed the writing and her personal stories. I also liked the presentation. I would recommend and want to read her other book.

Regretting You by Colleen Hoover

Summary:

Death sometimes brings secrets to the surface for those left behind to deal with. Morgan and her daughter Clara find this out when Chris, Morgan’s husband, dies unexpectedly in a car crash which also killed Morgan’s sister Jenny. 

My Thoughts:

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

The story propelled me to keep reading. I figured out the twist very early on but wanted to see how it worked out. Clara was incredibly unlikeable until the end. I wanted to shake Morgan and tell her to just be honest. I kept internally screaming at both characters to just sit down and talk to each other instead of making assumptions. I thought it was well-written and an interesting twist on a standard plot device. I would recommend and read other books by Colleen Hoover.

A Wicked Snow by Gregg Olsen

Summary:

A young girl’s family dies in a fire. The investigations discover several bodies buried on the land and people start to wonder if there’s a serial killer on the loose. Years later she receives a package containing evidence from the investigation. Is the serial killer still out there and out to finish what they started?

My Thoughts:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

A Wicked Snow was almost 500 pages long. I zoomed through it. I kept forming ideas of what happened and wanted to see if I was right. The writing was excellent and kept me hooked. It was not quite as gruesome as his book Victim Six but does contain mention of violence and child death. If you like serial killer fiction, disappearances, or other thriller topics, this might be a book for you!

The Tourist Attraction by Sarah Morgenthaler

Summary:

Grumpy, Alaskan native Graham hates tourists until Zoey walks into his restaurant. 

My Thoughts:

⭐⭐/5

I wanted to like this book. I liked the plot, even if it was a romcom troupe. I wanted to like the main characters, Graham and Zoey. But the author just made them so unlikeable. They each had these moments that seemed so outside their character that made them do dumb things.

The writing was hit or miss. I wanted to keep reading but parts of the book just dragged. It’s listed as 418 pages and I’m pretty sure the author could have finished in half that. The author also went on describing how hot, attractive, etc that got old real fast. Just cutting those out would have shortened the book drastically. Lastly, Graham also used the word darlin’ way too much. I almost started to think the story was in Texas instead of Alaska. 

I would not recommend this book. 

The Winemaker’s Secret by Cynthia Ellingson

Summary:

Abby wants to run her family winery but her grandfather doesn’t think she can do it. When the family’s ice wine collection is stolen and her grandfather is in the hospital she is determined to find out what happened all while running the winery.

My Thoughts:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

The Starlight Cove books are all easy to read, cozy mysteries. Each woman has to solve a family puzzle while trying not to fall in love. If you like a cozy mystery, you’d like the three book series. Also, you do not need to read in order.

The Moonlight Child by Karem McQuestion

Summary:

Late one winter night while looking at the moon Sharon notices a small child washing dishes at her neighbor’s house. She knows her neighbors don’t have a young child, so who was this midnight dishwasher? 

My Thoughts:

⭐⭐⭐/5

The idea of the book is good but the execution is slow. The author jumps around between characters and *spoiler alert* time periods. I had a feeling it was switching time but it wasn’t obvious until about ¾ in. I also had an idea of what the plot was early on. Overall, the book wasn’t horrible but it didn’t pull me in. It’s a meh from me.

What books did you read in August? Which ones did you love/hate and why?