Cassie DeNisco

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Reading Essentials for the Book Lover

I don’t have a book review for this month so I thought I would instead share my reading essentials! These are perfect for a book lover who wants the connivence to read in any situation! Essentials like these have transformed my reading habits and made it so much easier for me to read wherever!

This post contains affiliate links so I make a small commission if you choose to purchase through them! These have seriously made me reach my reading goals and just elevate my reading time!

Kindle

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reading essentials

The Kindle paper-white has truly changed the reading game for me. I swear it’s more convenient to read with this than a regular book because you can really get comfy and cozy anywhere with this. I love that it tells you the percentage left in the book and you can really tailor it to your preferences. You can make smaller fonts so you can have more words on a page or you can make it brighter or yellower so it’s easier for you to read.

Pop Socket for Kindle

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reading essentials

If you have a Kindle, you NEED a pop socket for it! It truly makes holding the kindle so much better. I had mine for about 2 years before I added the pop socket to it and I’m not even kidding that it made it so much better for me. It elevates your reading experience and makes it comfy to read whenever you want.

Reading Light

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If you are still into the regular old book, I highly suggest a reading light. I love reading at night before bed but hate when I have to have such bright lights on. This particular light is so amazing because you can really toggle the color and lighting to whatever is best for you. I also love that this attaches so easily to your book with the clip so it doesn’t fall off if you try to get comfy.

Good Reads

https://www.goodreads.com

This is such an amazing concept that I can have a to be read list and then an actually read list all in one spot. I know there a few other apps like this out there but I love this one because easily links to your Kindle. It will record reading progress and even mark when you finish books so you don’t have an extra step!

I hope you love this post dedicated to my reading essentials! I love a good book and all of these have seriously helped to make my reading experience so much better! You can check out January’s book review here: january book review!

American Royals Reign Book Review!

A new year means new reading goals for me! I kicked off the year by finally reading American Royals Reign which is the last book in this series! I really loved this series as it gave a look into what America would look like with a royal family.

It had all the drama of the British royals set in an American landscape! This review contains an affiliate link so I make a small commission if you choose to purchase the book through my link!!

American Royals Reign by Katharine McGee

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American royals reign

This final book of the American Royal Series follows the siblings after Queen Beatrice’s accident. She’s in a coma for the beginning of the book and then seeks to regain her lost memory while navigating a tough political climate.

I will say I was a little underwhelmed with her story line. I had really hoped that her and her bodyguard from the previous books would rekindle or just have more of a moment than they did. There was a lot of buildup from the other books that it just left me hanging.

As for the other siblings though, I feel like I really enjoyed their story lines and the wrap up to their characters. Nina, the family friend and Prince Jefferson finally have their moment in the end of the book and sister Samantha is able to figure out what she really wants in life.

I loved this series because it’s just such a fun thought about what the American royals would be like if we had any! This fictional series is just a light read that keeps you turning the pages!

You can check out my to other review of this series here! I hope you’ll give this American Royals Reign book a read! I am so excited for another year of reading and hope you’ll follow along with me!

Let me know in the comments below your must reads for this year!

The Summer of ’69 Book Review!

It might not be summer anymore but I’ll always love a good beach read! I recently discovered Elin Hilderbrand over the summer and I’ve been reading through her books. I’m excited to jump into my Summer of ’69 book review because this was my first read by her!

As always this post contains an affiliate link so if you purchase the book through me I make a small commission but no pressure to purchase!

Summer of ’69 by Elin Hilderbrand

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summer of '69

The iconic title of this book really just takes you back to a nostalgic era. I was craving a book about summer with depth and this was just that. The writing is so good as we follow along the summer of 1969 with a mother and her 3 very different daughters.

I loved that each of these women were in very different phases of their lives. Each had such a unique story to read about due to what they were going through. I’ve personally never been to Nantucket but Elin’s writing is so descriptive you really get a feel for what it’s like.

The story is set against the back drop of the war in Vietnam and the eldest son is sent off to war. It leaves the mother with anxiety and grief. As the story unfolds we begin to see the lengths that she goes to to protect him even though he’s so far away.

What I enjoyed most about this book was how it was surprisingly geared towards historical fiction. Elin was able to really touch on the social issues that were going on at the time but it wasn’t in a heavy way. The book was fascinating and I really found myself not being able to put it down.

Because this was the first book that really opened the door to this author for me. I have since added a few more to my to be read list! I hope you liked this review of the Summer of ’69! You can read more book reviews here!

I’m almost at my Good Reads goal for the year! Feel free to leave book suggestions in the comments below!

Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? Book Review

Sharing another book review for my summer of reading and today’s post is all about, Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? book review! This was on Reese’s Book Club so I of course had to read it!

A lot of the books I read from her book club I just read. I don’t really research what they’re about so this one was definitely very interesting. As always this post has an affiliate link where I make a small commission if you purchase the book through me!

Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? by Crystal Paul Smith

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did you hear about kitty kart

This book bounces between the past and the current present in the book. I was honestly pleasantly surprised about the depth this book actually went to. At first glance it seems like just another book about Hollywood but you realize it’s so much deeper.

One thing I really appreciated was how well this was written. The twists and turns of the book are so well hidden in the writing you don’t really know what will come next. I really ended up loving this book because of how Crystal Smith Paul writes.

This book discusses race in both the lens of the past and present, and without giving too much away, it shows that life isn’t always as it seems. This book is shocking in a good way and once you start, you won’t put it down until it’s done.

It touches on Hollywood like your average book would however it just makes you critically think about how the world we live in is and how we might not have come as far as we thought!

This Did you hear about Kitty Karr? book review is one of my favorites because I really just was pleasantly surprised with this book. I hope you give it a read and let me know what you think! I have other book reviews that you can read here!

The Senator’s Wife Book Review!!

I am so excited to be reviewing the latest book by Liv Constantine! Other books by this author like The Last Mrs. Parrish were amazing. I’m excited to share my thoughts on this one!

I purchased this book on my own so all of these thoughts are my own! I do have an affiliate link for you if you’re interested in getting a copy!

The Senator’s Wife by Liv Constantine

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the senator's wife book review

Before I get too deep in this review, I want you to know I at least think you should read it. I might be a little harsh but I still really love the author, the story is just a bit confusing.

The book opens with two couples vacationing together. The husband of one couple and the wife of the other are actually cousins and then men are on capital hill. As you can see, it’s already getting twisted and that’s only the first few pages.

The cousins end up dying and the other two are left to pick up the pieces. (I’m summarizing so I don’t give out spoilers) The book then follows Sloane and Senator Whit as they navigate politics, marriage and Sloane’s chronic illness.

They introduce so many characters that it’s a bit difficult to get into. When I thrillers, I think of them as a build up and since something so crazy happened at the beginning it was hard to imagine where the book could go from there.

There were also a few “fluff” characters as I like to call them. These characters had story lines but didn’t play into the final piece. I did like the twist at the end but getting there was rough.

Overall this book wasn’t bad, it was just a bit more tricky to navigate than other books by this author. I just didn’t love it like I loved the others so I’m giving this a 3.5/5! Still read-worthy, just not one of my favorites!

If you liked this review of The Senator’s Wife, you can read more book reviews here!

4 Years of My Blog!

As I sit down to write this, I can hardly believe it’s been 4 years of my blog. My very first post was shared on May 15th, 2019 and it’s crazy that this much time has gone by. I thought we should walk down memory lane and I’d share some of my favorite posts from my 4 years!

Very First Post

Let’s Do This

This post makes me laugh because I truly didn’t know anything about blogging. It was a random day I decided to purchase a domain and a wordpress subscription and just started writing. I wasn’t expecting much out of it but these past 4 years have been such a wild ride!

Most Viewed Post

My Dyson Air Wrap Review

Talk about a random post to do so well! I wasn’t really expecting this post to be as successful as it was. I’ve even done a few others similar that have done well too. This is really where I realized people value honest opinions on items you purchased with your own money and it shifted the content I create!

Least Viewed Post

My Greek Salad Bowl

4 years of my blog

This is least viewed because it’s like one of the newer ones. Go give it some love because this bowl is SO good! I love creating and sharing recipes like this. I never would have thought that cooking would become such a huge part of my content and blog!!

My Favorite Post

Best Books to Read for 2023

This was so hard to choose but I’m just really proud of this post. Last year I created a monthly book club for the blog that has evolved into almost 2 book reviews a month consistently. This post is all about the books I read in 2022 and my recs for the new year. It’s a staple post when people ask what books I recommend!

I hope you loved this walk down memory lane with me. Having a blog is hard because so often we see the world switching to video content so I’m always trying to “fit in” with what’s trending. Blogging has taught me so much about all aspects of life and myself and I’ve had so much fun so far.

There have been many times over these 4 years that I’ve felt like I should just give up but I remember this amazing community we’ve created and how much I love what I do! Here’s to my first 4 years of my blog and to many more!

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The Nightingale Book Review

I’m slowly making it through my master to be read list and this book I’ve had on it for awhile! I’ve heard great things about The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah so I was excited to read it. I’ve been on top of my reading game this year which is why you’ve been getting so many reviews like the nightingale book review!

As always, I have an affiliate link for you to purchase the book! I make a small commission if you use that link but there’s no pressure to purchase! This review is my own and I purchased this book on my own!

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

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the nightingale book review

Based in France during World War II, we follow the stories of two sisters leading two really different lives. One is a mother and doing all she can to keep it together as her is sent off to war. Her younger sister is taken in by the war effort and swept away by the idea of freedom and making the country better.

This story had so much heart and courage that I couldn’t help but be in awe. Although this is not based on a specific true story, I know that the women during this time were doing these exact things. Putting myself in their shoes I just couldn’t help but be in awe of their strength through such uncertain times.

This story intertwines with the present when we find out that one of the sisters survived. She’s heads back to France for the first time since the war with her son that she didn’t tell anything too. There’s such a slight twist at the end of the book but you just can’t help the tears. I’m not usually one to cry over a book but this one will be with me for awhile.

Books like this and historical fiction in general transports you back in time to a specific time period or event. When done well, you’re able to feel the feelings of the character and in turn the people who lived through that event. This book does just that and I know you’ll love this after reading it.

It’s definitely a longer read but I think it’s so crucial to educate yourself on the Holocaust. It was such a heartbreaking and traumatic event that everyone needs to learn how to do better. This book is heartbreaking but at the same time filled with hope and courage.

If you loved the nightingale book review, be sure to subscribe to the blog for more! Read my latest review on the HouseMaid here! Let me know if you guys like this kind of content, I’m in a weird phase where I just want to write book reviews!

The Cuban Heiress Book Review!

I love Chanel Cleeton and was so excited to read her latest book The Cuban Heiress! Cleeton always takes you back in time to tell the story of a heroic woman in the face of changing political times. This book was especially fascinating as you read and the story unfolds.

Her characters always have dimension and some serious girl power that makes you root for them in any situation! This review is not sponsored as I purchased the book on my own however you can shop for this book with my affiliate link where I make a small commission if you purchase!

The Cuban Heiress by Chanel Cleeton

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the cuban heiress

In the Cuban Heiress, we follow the stories of Elena and Catherine. Both enjoying a cruise on the Morro Castle cruise ship, the woman have very different experiences. Catherine sets sail with her soon to be husband and his daughter and her nanny. We soon realize this engagement was a quick one and there’s something deeper going on.

Elena’s story is even more mysterious as she meets a crew member who helps to smuggle people and weapons to and from Havana. As the story unfolds, we realize Elena is there to get revenge on someone who wronged her, but the pieces don’t start to come together until the very end.

I loved the twists in this book as we don’t realize Elena and Catharine know each other, and are working together, until the very end. It helps to keep this book interesting as each chapter alternates the women’s points of view. Cleeton’s books always embody strong female characters and this one really doesn’t miss.

Elena and Catharine’s friendship and the lengths they go too is so admirable. Even though we don’t get a lot of time with them together in the book, the bond they have is striking and adds such dimension to the book.

I always appreciate the end of Cleeton’s books where you learn the real history of what she’s talking about in the book. The Morro Castle was actually a real ship that had a real tragedy happen to it, similar to that in the book. She stays so true to the actual events but weaves in this amazing element of fiction that makes these books so hard to put down.

If you liked this book review, I have a few other by Cleeton here! You can read my last month’s book club pick here!

The Housemaid Book Review

I had to double post a book review this month because I seriously loved this too much to not share! This post is dedicated The Housemaid book review by Freida McFadden! This book gave me Last Mrs. Parrish vibes and I could not put it down after I started it.

I’m always bouncing between genres and just really looking for something that keeps me wanting more. The twists and turns in this book hook you in and you just never really know what’s coming next. As always there’s an affiliate link to purchase the book where I make a small commission but there’s no pressure to purchase!

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

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housemaid book review

We start off meeting Nina Winchester who’s trying to hire a housemaid for her lux home. Nina actually interviews Millie and ends up hiring her, without checking her background according to Millie. Everything starts out great but we are slowly lead to believe that Nina has something wrong with her.

She makes Millie do one thing but then quickly turns on her. To the outside world, they know Nina as a crazy woman with a perfect husband. Millie initially thinks nothing of it but slowly starts believing the narrative that there is something wrong with Nina. Because of this Millie starts to resent her and begins to fall for Andrew, her perfect husband.

This back and forth goes for a little while until Andrew and Millie actually sleep together. Andrew decides to leave Nina and that’s wear the story begins to twist and turn. We find out that it was Nina’s plan all along to hire someone like Millie so she can break free from Andrew.

I won’t say much more because I don’t want to spoil it for you but as the secrets start to unravel, you won’t be able to put this book down! I wasn’t expecting what happened at all and it was such a welcome twist. This is a great quick read if you need to get out of a book rut!

I hope you consider picking up this book after reading the Housemaid Book Review! I seriously enjoyed this and love thriller type stories like these! You can read more book reviews here!

The Luckiest Girl Alive Review!

I definitely am late to the party on this book since it’s already a movie, but The Luckiest Girl Alive review has been on list for so long! I’ve committed to 50 books again this year and this was book 3 for me.

I actually didn’t previously watch the movie not because I wanted to spoil the book but I honestly was super interested in it. It didn’t look really great to me but I am definitely going to be checking it out now.

The Luckiest Girl Alive

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the luckiest girl alive review

Trigger Warning: SA, School Shooting

I won’t lie, this one started out slow for me. For some reason I couldn’t quite get into it and was almost just like confused at where it was going. Once the flashbacks started it slowly started to piece together and make sense. I really liked looking at Ani’s life in the present and how she got there.

This book has the NYC girl boss feels with twists and turns towards the end that you’ll never have guessed. When Ani is asked to do a documentary about an incident that happened in her Pennsylvania private school, the reader doesn’t find out about the incident until the end.

You almost think you know what it is about and then there’s another turn that twists even more. I loved that you got to see a sneak peak into her glamorous current NYC life juxtaposed to her less rich and exciting high school life.

There are definitely heavy topics that this book dives into which is why I listed the trigger warnings above. I really liked this book because you just didn’t expect the ending so it kept me on my toes. Sometimes thrillers miss the mark and are too easy to guess but this really was it for me.

I hope you enjoyed this Luckiest Girl Alive Review! I would rate this book a 3.5 out of 5 stars so I definitely recommend to read it! You can check out my January book of the month post here!