An American Hero

On President's Day, most businesses were closed.  State, government, and banks all closed.  I work for a bank.  While our actual bank was closed, all 650 employees that work for my bank did not get to have a day off.  Instead, we had an all-day meeting, that  occurs every other year on President's Day.  It's a way for employees to socialize, meet people we wouldn't normally get a chance to meet, and learn some new stuff.  This year's event was titled "Improving Lives". We had 3 guest speakers: One lady from a vendor we contract with to talk about our 401K benefits we might be eligible for, as well as better ways to save/budget our money.  Another guest speaker was another lady who talked to us about managing our time.  Learning how to organize our time on-and off the clock.  How to help prioritize so we can get the maximum time out of enjoying life as possible.  The other guest speaker  is the one that had the most meaning.  He made many people tear up (of course, not me.  I'm tough :P ) His talk was to teach people the beautiful way of looking at life, "Adapt and Overcome".  Most people have plans for their future, their dreams, wants and desires.  Often, our plans are interrupted by the unexpected.  We have to learn to accept what is thrown at us and learn to go with it.  Don't let it bring you down because what you originally thought you wanted is now unachievable. 

Do you watch Dancing with the Stars? Our guest speaker won on Dancing with the Stars recently.  HE also is an actor.  Starred in an episode of Army Wives as a Soldier with PTSD and war wounds.  He also began what was supposed to be a 3-month stint on All My Children as a soldier who came home with war wounds as well.  His 3-month stint turned into a 3 year role.  In 2002, this man joined the US Army. Do you recognize him?

Probably not in this picture.  J. R. Martinez his his name.  He is an American Hero.  An Iraqi War Veteran.  Recipient of the Purple Heart.  just 7 months after joining the Army, he was driving a Hum-vee that ran over an IED.  The 3 people in his vehicle with him were ejected, and walked away with minor scratches.  J.R. became trapped in the car, which had exploded.  Two of his SGTs' pulled him out, and he suffered 2nd and 3rd degree burns on nearly 1/2 of his body.  He has an amazing outlook on life, even though his dreams were shattered and his plans were drastically changed.  You may recognize him better from his more recent images:

J.R. is a beautiful person, inside and out.  I was so honored to meet an American Hero. 

Never Smile at Strangers

Haley’s father was killed in an accident almost a year ago.  With her mother is still grieving, Haley was left to be responsible for her younger sister, Becky. One night, her best friend, Tiffany convinces her to go out for a while.  Tiffany’s secret boyfriend, Chris, shows up and starts an argument with her in the parking lot.  Haley walks home.  The next day, Tiffany’s mom calls because she never made it home.  The local authorities and small town gossip is stating that she is just another run-away, so no one does too much investigation into her disappearance. 

Becky befriends a pretty, skinny girl named Seacrest and they begin hanging out every day.  Haley befriends a girl named Erica, and they also start hanging out every day.  Haley is still worried about her missing friend, but she is sure that she is dead, or else Tiffany would have called her by now.  Another woman from town disappears a few months later, and this stirs up the FBI and local authorities to re-think Tiffany’s disappearance, and they began a manhunt for the missing women. 

One night while walking through the woods, Erica notices a man nearby where another body was found earlier that day.   She begins putting the pieces together to figure out who the kidnapper could be.  

This book talks about one of the things I sometimes question myself, how well do you really know the person(s) that you allow yourself to open up to and trust?  Is your best friend really capable of doing something you’d never imagine?  Can your husband really betray your trust when you think he hangs the moon?  No one ever really knows a person’s deepest thoughts, so therefore no one can truly know what someone is capable of, until it’s too late. 

I found this to be a fast read, and enjoyable.  I like trying to solve the crimes before the characters in the book are able to put it together.  

A couple quotes that caught my attention:

“We’re not meant to be happy.  Not really.  It’s just a concept someone made up to make us miserable.”

“I wouldn’t talk to her too much if I were you.  You could catch stupid.”  This made me LOL

“You’re supposed to feel it so you can get past it.” Referring to feeling pain.

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”

“Show them your weaknesses, and you’ll be forced to own them.  That’s all they’ll be able to see in you.”

Revenge of the Homecoming Queen

This was one of my free books I downloaded on Amazon through Pixel of Ink.  I love their website for free books.  I’m cheap, and don’t like to buy books if I don’t have to.  J

(Amazon gift card are GREATLY appreciated so I can buy my books on my kindle app, and book recommendations are also appreciated)

Revenge of the Homecoming Queen
Aspen Brooks has dreamed all her life to become her high school’s homecoming Queen.  She is pretty, popular, and into everything Prada.  She has a great fashion sense and knows what’s in style year-long.  She’s dating the Quarterback, which is a definite requirement for the prettiest, most popular girl to do, especially if you want to win homecoming. She has been planning her entire life’s moves and wardrobe based on the event of becoming homecoming queen.  The time has come, the king is picked- and it is NOT who you expect.  And then, then queen’s name is called- Aspen is slightly happy because she is not satisfied with the king’s choice and her rival is now stuck with him for the week of events, however, her entire life’s dream has now been shattered. 

Aspen quickly realizes that being so shallow and popular isn’t what she wants, and neither is her cheating quarterback of a boyfriend.  With twists and turns, Aspen tries to win the man she loves over, while dealing with a possible murderer lurking in the town kidnapping people.

This book had funny moments and made me think back to my high school day’s as well.  It kept me interested throughout the entire book. (although I must admit, I figured out who the possible-murderer is way before Aspen did, so call me DETECTIVE JULIE :P )

I recommend this book as an easy read for some comedic relief. I’ll rate it a 3.5 out of 4 as well. 
 

The Next Always

So my awesome bff, Heather, gave me a book for Christmas.  My selfish response when I read the cover was “WHAT? This is book 1 of a series? That means I’ll have to read more than one in a row to finish it all!” lol.  I’m such a scatterbrain that I have to read a series back to back to back in order to remember the previous built-up story line.  Lucky for her, I really enjoyed this book and canNOT wait to start the 2^nd, which I plan on getting and starting tomorrow.  

The Next Always

I started this book this Saturday, and finished it on Sunday.  If you know me, that’s insanely fast.  But, I was working my 2^nd job that was not busy, so basically I sat in a chair, with my feet propped up on another chair across from me, and just read for about 6 hours a day, two days in a row.  

Going to try to give my review, without giving away too much.

Clare, a young mother with two boys, and pregnant with her third became a widow by her military husband.  She moved back to her hometown in order to have hers and his family and friends support through the troubling times.  Fast forward, the book begins 6 years after Clare moves to town.  The Montgomery’s have a family construction business and are in the process of remodeling an old Inn in town that hasn’t been used in decades.  One of the three Montgomery Brothers, Beckett, has been pining for Clare for nearly 15 years, since they were 15.  Due to the construction being next to her local book store, he has had the opportunity to talk to her, and even ask her out on a date.  Battling with love, work, kids, and a narcissistic-stalker on the prowl, this is a great love-story book with a very happy ending.

Definitely give me 4.5 stars out of 5. 

On to book 2!