Going Geek by Charlotte Huang

Going Geek by Charlotte Huang
Published by Delacorte Press in September 2016

"It wasn’t supposed to be this way. Skylar Hoffman’s senior year at her preppy East Coast boarding school should have been perfect:
amazing boyfriend
the coolest friends
the most desirable dorm
But it’s far from it. To her dismay, Skylar’s not going to rule senior year because she’s stuck in Abbot House, a tiny dorm known for, well, nothing. Living with a group of strangers everyone thinks is lame is bad enough. Worse is that Skylar wasn’t exactly truthful about how she spent summer break in Los Angeles—and her little white lie is causing her once rock-solid romance to crumble fast. And when it turns out that Skylar’s best friend is the one responsible for having her booted from Lincoln? It’s an all-out war.

Stepping out of her comfort zone never felt so scary—or necessary. But everything is different now. Including, maybe, Skylar herself . . . " - From Goodreads

Will you like it?
This was a book that I pulled off of the shelf from the library, and was pleasantly surprised by the story.  Skylar grew so much over the course of this story.  She was very snobbish and very standoffish from her new roommates.  Eventually she learns to step outside of her comfort zone, and finally find herself.  This would be a nice beach read.

Disclosure: I borrowed a copy of this book from my local library.

Schedule & Update

I don't think I ever posted about this, but I'm getting married!  

Wedding planning has been a crazy roller coaster ride, but I wouldn't change it at all.  I have decided to design, print, and cut all of my save-the-dates, invitations, and programs.  This process has been more time-consuming than I originally thought, so that really hasn't left me much time to do anything.

I'm still going to post!  It won't be every day, and it might be completely sporadic.  I'm going to try to keep up with Top Ten Tuesdays and Waiting on Wednesdays, with a review sometimes thrown in for good measure.  Audiobooks have been my lifesaver.

Thanks for sticking around!

Cookbook Nook: Grilled Cheese Kitchen

Grilled Cheese Kitchen by Heidi Gibson with Nate Pollak

Published by Chronicle Books in February 2016

"Melted cheese between slices of toasted bread—the ultimate in comfort food. This mouthwatering cookbook features 39 grilled cheese recipes created by Heidi Gibson, winner of seven grilled cheese championships and the co-owner (with husband Nate) of the American Grilled Cheese Kitchen in San Francisco. The classic Mousetrap is dripping with three kinds of cheese. The Piglet wows with its thinly sliced ham and sharp cheddar. And grilled cheese makes a great breakfast—just add an egg! With 40 additional recipes for great accompaniments and side dishes—including hearty soups, many varieties of mac & cheese, spicy pickles, and tangy spreads—plus tips on choosing the best bread and cheese and techniques for grilling each sandwich at just the right temperature, anyone can create the perfect grilled cheese sandwich." - From Goodreads

This cover drew me in!  I love that just on the cover it has bacon, cheese, and tomatoes.  Pretty much my favorite foods ever.  The recipes call for a few outside-the-pantry ingredients, but nothing overly weird.  Everything can be found at a large grocery store, which makes trying these recipes easy!  There are more than just grilled cheese sandwich recipes, which can be misleading.  They do have soup recipes and mac n' cheese recipes.

Pictures: Not every recipe has a picture.  Again, this is one of my biggest pet peeves.  I want to look at the delicious pictures!

I'm glad I tried to expand my knowledge of "grown-up" grilled cheese, but I won't be purchasing this book for my home collection.

Disclosure: I borrowed this book from my local library.

Waiting on Wednesday: Gem & Dixie

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, which shines a light on eagerly anticipated upcoming releases.  This week, my pick is:

Gem & Dixie by Sara Zarr
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Date: April 4, 2017

"Gem has never known what it is to have security. She’s never known an adult she can truly rely on. But the one constant in her life has been Dixie. Gem grew up taking care of her sister when no one else could: not their mother, whose issues make it hard for her to keep food on the table; and definitely not their father, whose intermittent presence is the only thing worse than his frequent absence. Even as Gem and Dixie have grown apart, they’ve always had each other.

When their dad returns for the first time in years and tries to insert himself back into their lives, Gem finds herself with an unexpected opportunity: three days with Dixie, on their own in Seattle and beyond. But this short trip soon becomes something more, as Gem discovers that to save herself, she may have to sever the one bond she's tried so hard to keep."- From Goodreads

I really liked Sara Zarr's Roomies written with Tara Altebrando, and I can't wait to read this one either!

Vision in White by Nora Roberts

Vision in White by Nora Roberts
Published by Berkley Books in April 2009.
Bride Quartet #1
All Time Favorite

I'm reposting this review from the Cassie Babblings archives.  I've started to relisten to these audiobooks at work, just for something to listen to.  I also want to be real about what I'm reading.  I don't want to only post about the hottest new releases.
Enjoy!

"Wedding photographer Mackensie "Mac" Elliot is most at home behind the camera, but her focus is shattered moments before an important wedding rehearsal when she bumps into the bride-to-be's brother...an encounter that has them both seeing stars.

A stable, safe English teacher, Carter Maguire is definitely not Mac's type. But a casual fling might be just what she needs to take her mind off bridezillas. Of course, casual flings can turn into something more when you least expect it. And Mac will have to turn to her three best friends-and business partners-to see her way to her own happy ending." -- From Goodreads

Will you like it?
Honestly, if you like weddings, friendships, and romance this series is for you.  I read this series every year (the audiobooks are great!).  It's like revisiting old friends.  I would recommend x10 this series.

Disclosure: I own the physical book, but I borrowed the audiobook from my local library.