Helping Baby Sleep: The Science and Practice of Gentle Bedtime Parenting: Anni Gethin and Beth Macgregor

So, I know that this is a bit different then my usual reviews. But, I do read other types of books. Plus, I am not sure if I talked about it here yet, but I am 8.5 month pregnant right now. So, I am reading some parenting books and such to try and get ready for one of the biggest challenges of my life. I ordered a few books from the library and this was a place I started.

This book started out with why they suggest the version that they do and research they have again the opposite of what they suggest. What it seemed to come down to me is that the crying it out idea, letting babies just self sooth can cause issues for the kids later in life, and how hard it can really be for parents and children mentally. Then on how parents really need to be there for kids, listen and follow the clues the kids offer to you and what the clues are. Then different things that have worked for them and that they suggest or other things you can try.

There are some ideas that I will keep in mind from this book. But, it didn't really have a system to try, but that you should be sure to listen to your child and gave you kind of directions to go in. I think if I do run into specific obstacles this is something that you could go back to that would be helpful.

I did find myself feel at time in reading this, with wow there are a lot of things a parent can do that messes my kid up, which were more scary then reassuring so we shall see how that goes. I am glad I read it, but it just reminded me that I need to keep learning, especially when it comes to children there is always more to learn about.

I don't know if I would necessarily suggest this book and seek it out again, but am glad I read it and did glean some insight from it. 2.5 stars and I usually just round up, so 3.

When It Happens to You: Molly Ringwald

A collection of short stories that remind me a bit of Love Actually. Greta and Phillip are college sweethearts that have a daughter Charlotte. Greta is desperate for more, but she is not sure so much about Phillip anymore. They fall apart as a couple. The rest of the books follow people that float in and out of their lives over the next year as they try to figure out what they want and are, separated, apart or together. Each builds on their own and stands as a short story on their own, but you like seeing the familiar characters as they past through touching the others lives.

i enjoyed this book and the characters. I was frustrated by their actions at times, ways I couldn't relate to them. But, yet I still found myself looking for them in each of the next story. Wanting to know more. Wanting to be able to fill in the the blanks that were missing between stories or what was going to happen to each of them next. I even wanted to know more about the characters that weren't main characters, ones that just happened to be a supporting characters in one of the stories, that were just mentioned off hand in other stories. It all just let me wanting to know more about each of the characters.

I would give this book 4 stars in that I really enjoyed the book and couldn't put it down. I wanted to keep devouring the next story, but it did leave you wanting more with the holes that were left in the characters.  It makes you think. I am actually still processing it, as I just finished this book. But, I guess it comes down to I would say that Ringwald is someone to watch if she comes out with more books and an author's who's work is worth picking up.

Unmasking Maya: Libby Mercer

Maya has left behind her past in NYC and is trying to make it in the art world of San Francisco. Part of leaving behind the scandal that haunts her she changes her name and mediums from fashion to art working with textiles in the art world. Getting a commission for an installation at a tech company in the Silicone Valley area. Derek Whitley, the CEO of the company, doesn't seem to like her work. Yet, he commissions Maya to do the work, and she is determined to make something that he will like, even if she doesn't understand his unemotional, robotic, workaholic ways.

As Maya and Derek work together and are thrown together with events around the commission they start to learn more about each other and breakdown the walls that each of them have built. But, as secrets are reveled will it bring them together or will to many secrets tear them apart.

I hadn't read a book on my ipad/kindle recently. So, I am not sure if this is related to that vs being a physical book, but once I got started on this book I just couldn't put it down and  wanted to keep reading. The book started with Maya having a secret that she kept even from the reader and it seems to take us the reader the whole time to kind of earn Maya's trust and find out all the secrets. Same with Derek, you feel like there is something more that Maya needs to find out and it takes us most of the plot to figure it out.

Something I did notice is that things in this book seemed to move really fast in terms of relationships/friendships. But, that worked here, I could appreciate how  it moved at a pace that worked for the characters.

I was a little concerned about this book since the description made it seem like a cliche romance, but I didn't find it that way at all. The characters were developed well and believable, in I didn't feel they became cliches. That I personally really appreciated and made it easier for me to recommend this book to others. I would give this book 4 Stars and suggest it to anyone looking for a quick fun read. I was advised it is being released soon and you should got check it out. Link is

I was provided a copy of this book by the author in exchange for a review, but the summary and opinions are my own.

The Runaway Princess: Hester Browne

Amy's parents back in the country are haunted by skeletons in their closest from their past and Amy feels she has to protect them even though all she wants to do is move on. Making sure to go home for holidays Amy spends most of her time in London, where she is trying to make her own way. With a successful Gardening business and a flatmate who keeps her on the edge of social circle Amy is happy with where she is at. A party crasher at one Jo's, of her roommate, parties sets things off though.

Leo's idea of fun is not really chasing down and fixing the issues that his playboy brother causes. But, one evening cleaning up Rolph's mess he meets Amy. Sparks fly between the prince Leo and Amy the gardener. But, one of the reasons Leo likes Amy is that she is a normal girl and has a basically normal life. But will that fit into the mold that his family and their royal lineage will expect and accept.

Thrust into the spot light for the Love that she has found Amy and Leo have to come to terms with what they want and expectations that others hold for them. While continuing to protect what they love and want for themselves and each other.

I had been in a bit of a reading slump. Once I opened this book and got a little ways into it that was over. I got to the point where I couldn't put this book down. I just wanted to keep going. Things were being alluded to that you didn't know what was really going on and you just had to keep going to figure it out. I felt for Amy and the emotions that she was going through. I felt like I could relate to her more than any of the other character and a few times I wished that I could get inside one of the other characters, but that is just me wanting to know more.

I would highly recommend this book, like I do most of Browne's book. The characters are well built and relatable. They have things together enough that you don't think they are idiots, but accident prone/character flawed enough that they are relatable. I would give this book 4 stars in it really kept my interest and is defiantly one of my favorites of the year.