It's that time again! Grab your chance to win 12 SIGNED BOOKS by some awesome contemporary and erotic romance authors! This month, you can get a copy of my book, Loving You Easy. So go forth and enter to win!
Screen-Free Summer: The 10-Day Update
For those following our Summer Unplugged, we're 10 days in and I'm happy to report that things are going better than I expected or could've hoped for.
If you missed the original post on they hows, whys, and whats, you can check that our here: A Screen-Free Summer for Kidlet: How Why, and If I'll Lose My Mind.
But here's a rundown of what we've done this week when he's not in camp. (I'm providing the list in case anyone is looking for how we specifically are filling the time.)
Frisbee (We had to overcome one lost Frisbee in a storm drain. I could've tried to reach in but I've read Stephen King's It, so hell no. Frisbee number 2 has been purchased)
Simon
Rubiks cube
Game night - Monopoly
Guitar practice and lessons
Cook with mom night (he picked the recipe, helped shop, and did 75% of the cooking.)
Started watching streamed episodes The Goldbergs together. We've never watched the show, so we've started from the beginning. Kidlet loves seeing "what the 80s looked like."
Movie Night with popcorn - The Witches (by the way, I'd forgotten how freaking scary that movie was. Kidlet was fine, but I was a little scared by it, lol.)
Lunch date with mom
Library visit
Puzzle with mom
Listening to an audiobook in the car - Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Saw Cars 3 as a family
Listening to music (we have an Amazon Echo--no screen so we allow it--and kidlet has been listening to a lot more music while he plays with his toys.
Observations:
Mood: Kidlet's mood has been much improved. He's been engaged and chatty. He's taken to saying, "I love you, mom (or dad)!" at random times of the time. He's always been a loving child, but it's been a noticeable change that he feels compelled to announce it often, lol.
Independent play: This has been a big change in the last few days. He's not just created new ways to entertain himself, he's *wanting* to do them. Saturday I'd planned a pretty active day, but he wanted to delay leaving because he was busy creating a very intricate race schedule for his toy NASCAR cars. He created an entire season of races and has taken to carrying around a notebook and pencil to record his plans for this. Even in the car. He also decided something he can do "when I get bored" is practice his handwriting because "I want to get better at that." That one shocked me.
Guitar: He's new to guitar lessons and before the fast, we were having to basically force him to practice. This past week, he's practiced unprompted and even played some in the morning before he went to camp one day. His guitar teacher noticed because he was impressed by his sudden improvement. Kidlet can now play the intro to "I Love Rock n Roll". :)
Tics: His tics have improved. The verbal one that was affecting his speech is completely gone. He still has a neck/shoulder one bothering him, but I've noticed when he's doing independent play or concentrated play (like with the puzzle), it goes away. (This is a pretty huge win for us.)
His feelings about the fast: The first few days when we did this, he was a little down and quiet. He said he missed xbox. But after about day 3, his mood improved and he didn't mention the electronics. When I asked him if he missed it, he said, "Not really because we're having so much fun doing other things." <-I may have done a small happy dance out of his line of sight at this.
The Calendar: Kidlet has taken a big interest in the family calendar we created to list all the activities. He's coming up with his own ideas to add to the calendar and getting excited to write things down.
New discoveries: Kidlet has ended up liking things I didn't necessarily know he would enjoy so much. When we cooked together (something we've done only with simple desserts in the past), he was totally into it. While we were cooking, he said, "I love this. I want to do this every night." So I was surprised how much he enjoyed the whole process. Plus, the recipe he picked and food he cooked were really good! I was also surprised by how much he liked listening to an audiobook. He has some trouble following stories, so I didn't know how it would go with no visuals. But he's asking to take my car (instead of dad's) so we can listen to more of the book.
Parental feelings:
So last week I admitted that the first few days of the fast were hard and had given me my own little kick of down mood because it all felt overwhelming. (Especially when everyone's general reaction was "You're so brave!" like I was about to climb Everest lol.) But I am thrilled to report that this has swung in the complete opposite direction. This has made me and my husband HAPPIER. We weren't unhappy to begin with, but I don't think either of us expected to get this big happiness boost from this whole process. It's forced us to relax and do fun activities. We get to PLAY. I'd forgotten how much I enjoy things like puzzles and board games and movie night.
Before this, when I'd try activities with kidlet, I'd often feel like I was kind of forcing him into it because he'd rather being doing ipad or xbox things. Now that those distractions have been removed, having him get into all of this stuff (much of it from my childhood), it's created these lovely shared experiences that we all get something out of.
My thoughts 10 days in:
If you haven't guessed, I'm only ten days in and am a total believer in this electronics fast thing. The results are hard to argue with. And now I find myself wondering why the heck we were so nervous about doing this and why we'd thought it'd be so daunting. After the first 3 days, it's been dare I say...easy. And I can tell you that when/if we bring the video games and Ipad back, it's going to be on an extremely limited basis (like an hour on a weekend day or something) because this new state of things is too good to mess up.
I'll keep updating, but I hope some of you found this helpful. If you're interested in what books helped me get started on this, I highly recommend Reset Your Child's Brain. I also read Glow Kids, which was a little more dense and focused on the addiction studies about electronics. I'd go with the first book if you're looking for more practical advice on how to do a fast and why you might want to try it.
Is anyone else trying this?
A Screen-Free Summer for Kidlet: How, Why & If I'll Lose My Mind
Today's post has nothing to do with writing or books (though there is a book) or productivity, my usual suspects over here. Today is more about a personal challenge I'm taking on with my family. I mentioned what I'm doing online and a few people asked if I would blog about the process since they were worried about their kid's screen time/video game obsession/ipad dependence, too. So, I've decided to chronicle my attempt.
Today, I'm going to cover the basics of what we're doing, why we decided to do it, and what we've experienced so far (four days in.)
The Challenge
My goal is to have my 9-year-old son go the entire summer without playing video games or using any interactive device (ipad, computer, kindle fire, etc.). And though I'm using the term "screen-free" because it's easier, I'm not including TV as a banned device in our challenge because it's not "interactive", my kidlet's never been a big TV watcher, and the book I read said that TV doesn't effect kids' brains the same way interactive screens do. Though, obviously, I'm not going to undermine the challenge by parking him in front of a TV for hours.
The Why
We're not unlike most families these days. Electronic devices are the go to entertainment for our kiddo. At my house, if we want a moment to ourselves to get things done, the easiest way to get that time is for my son to be on his Xbox or playing on his iPad. It's easy, convenient entertainment, especially since he's an only child and has no built in playmates at home.
But as convenient as it is, over the past few months we've noticed some concerning things with kidlet. He already has some challenges to deal with. He's on the high-functioning end of the autism spectrum and has a tic disorder that can flare up and bother him. So he doesn't need any extra hurdles. But lately, we've noticed that he's gotten more and more attached to the Xbox gaming than we'd like. He has school friends he plays with and chats with on there and that seems to be what triggered the new phase, moving it from something he enjoys to something he wants to do all the time above all other things.
Things he used to enjoy doing on his own and with the family all became secondary. Nothing was as interesting as playing Xbox. And when it was time to get off of the games, even with giving ten-minute warnings and such, triggered defiance, irritability, and just generally acting like a jerk, which is not his normal self. He's a very sweet kid. We also noticed his motor tics flaring up, which was what led me to the internet searching.
First, I found an article about environmental factors that can affect tics. And it mentioned how video games and devices can contribute to the problem and recommended a three-week electronic fast. The article was by Dr. Victoria Dunckley, the author of the book Reset Your Child's Brain: A Four-Week Plan to End Meltdowns, Raise Grades, and Boost Social Skills by Reversing the Effects of Electronic Screen-Time. So that led me down the rabbit hole. I bought the book and read it quickly. If you don't want to tackle a whole book on the topic, the doctor has written many articles for Psychology Today, including a basic overview called Screentime is Making Kids Moody, Crazy, and Lazy.
Here's a screenshot of the symptoms the doctor says are associated with too much screen time.
The articles and book were pretty eye-opening. And though some of it could be a little alarmist, and I tend to be pretty skeptical of that kind of tone, I also trust my gut and what I see with my own eyes. I could see my kid being affected--his mood, his behavior, his narrowing interests, etc. So I'm concerned enough to give it a shot. Taking electronics away for a "fast" is hard (really hard!), but it's not something that's going to harm him. It's a low-risk experiment. And if it ends up helping, it will be beyond worth it.
I want my kid to be well-rounded, healthy, social, and creative. If I had been glued to devices growing up and never bored, I wouldn't be a writer today. Boredom and being an only child led me to reading. Reading led me to writing a novel in high school. That planted a lifelong love of telling stories. And that has given me a career I love.
So, we're trying this to see if it helps some of the negative stuff we've been dealing with, but I'm also hoping it brings a lot of positive extras into his life (and our lives) as well.
Now, note, this is not a judge-y post. I'm not saying all parents should try this or criticizing anyone for letting their children have lots of screen time. I'm just sharing what we're doing and why. (Hell, I don't even know how long we'll last yet, lol.) So, no preaching, I promise.
The How
Telling our kiddo: Once we decided we were going to give this screen-free summer thing a shot, my husband and I sat down with kidlet and explained to him that we wanted to do an experiment this summer. We did not want it to come across like a punishment. We told him that we had the chance to do all kinds of fun things this summer, but the Xbox and Ipad were getting in the way. We told him it was "tricking his brain" into wanting to play with them all the time and ignore other fun stuff. So we were going to do an experiment where we put those away for the summer and instead, we would schedule all this other fun stuff. We had a list of activities and ideas ready to go. (He was a little stunned but did not freak out or cry or anything. Maybe the shock stage, lol.)
The Calendar: The book recommended scheduling the fun activities on a calendar so a child could have a visual of what they were going to be doing. And the calendar also holds us, the parents, accountable. Because, let's face it, this fast is for kidlet but it also alters our lives dramatically too when it comes to our time. So after telling him, we went to Staples and got one of those desk calendars with lots of room in each space and came home to fill it in and decorate it. It's now hanging on a wall in our kitchen.
The activities: So kidlet goes to summer camp during the day since we both work full-time, so we mainly have to fill time in the evenings and on weekends. He's in guitar lessons and will be doing flag football later in the summer, so we have a few pre-scheduled things. But we needed simple, low-cost stuff for the other times. Here are some of the things we came up with:
- Board games/card games
- Puzzles
- Movie nights complete with popcorn and snacks
- Outdoor activities (Frisbee, bike-riding, baseball/football, sidewalk chalk, sprinklers)
- Family walks or bike rides
- Picnics
- Library visits
- Arts & Crafts
- Cooking with mom (he likes to cook)
- Picking out a recipe from his kid's cookbook each week to cook
- Practicing guitar
- Playing outside with friends
- Family TV Shows (finding a few we can all watch together)
- Special Outings:
- Museums
- Movies
- Go Karts
- Putt PuttThen we gathered supplies and let him buy a few new things with some gift cards he still had.
I also wanted things for solo activities because he needs to entertain himself, too. So books (of course!), Where's Waldo, Word Searches, Mad Libs, crayons, etc.
Then we gathered supplies and let him buy a few new things with some gift cards he still had.
Four Days In
So we started the fast this past Friday. We did it on this weekend because we already had a lot planned with a NASCAR truck race and the Indy Car races. But it also involved staying in a hotel with some down time, which we'd normally rely on the Ipad to fill.
Here's how it's going...
Other observations over the last few days:
- A verbal tic that was affecting his speech a lot has subsided. Though, his motor tics are still in flare mode.
- He's been less irritable.
- Has gone back to asking questions about EVERYTHING, lol. Why is the sky blue type questions. My favorite from this weekend was "Is it a requirement to have a girlfriend in college?" Me: "no" Him: "But is it highly recommended?" Lol.
- He's been in a lovable mood. (Cuddly, saying "I love you" a lot)
- He hit a few periods of quiet, down mood. When he gets that urge to play and knows he can't, he gets a little sad.
- Periods of having an absolutely delightful mood (which had been absent lately)--giggly, engaged, chatty.
- He's been able to go in his room and find creative activities and games to occupy himself.
- Has practiced his guitar without us having to remind him or ask him to do it.
- Has read magazines he's been having for months and never opened.
- He dug out toys he's ignored.
- He's added his own things to the family calendar and brainstormed ideas.
My experience as the parent:
This is hard. I'm not going to lie. I'm used getting quiet time to get household stuff down and to read. I didn't get much of that at all this weekend. Though, this was admittedly not a typical weekend anyway because we were at the races for a big chunk of it. So I'll be figuring this out as we go along. But if you try this, expect you'll have your own version of withdrawal/down mood/feeling overwhelmed to contend with at times.
There's also this nagging guilt because a) I can't very well be on my phone/computer too much while I've taken his screens away so I had to be mindful of that and b) if he has nothing to do, I feel like it's my fault because I've taken something I taught him to depend on away. But I'm hoping with time, that second one will ease because he'll get better at knowing how to fill some of his own time in between the planned activities.
Also, I'm an introvert, so alone time is necessary. There was so. much. togetherness. this weekend, lol. I love my family, but I was happy to have the house to myself again this morning to work.
But I'm willing to go through the pain of the lost alone time if this is going to help him be a happier, more well-balanced kiddo. (And for us to have more involved, interactive family time.) And my goal is not to take away this stuff forever. My plan as of right now is to get through this fast (3 weeks minimum with a stretch goal being all summer) and then bring the devices back in limited amounts. I will probably keep weekdays device/video game free. Then give him limited time on the weekend for the screen time. But I'm withholding a decision on all that until I see the results of this.
I will try to post weekly updates as we go along if you think you'd find that helpful.
And please, send alcohol. ;)
UPDATE
If you want to know how the summer went, here are the rest of the posts!
Anyone ever try anything like this? How do you think your kid would react if you did? Also, give me your favorite childhood games or activities. I'd love to hear them. :)
What You Think You Know About Yourself & How It Can Hold You Back
"I can't..."
"I don't..."
"I'm not a (insert adjective) person."
Any of those sound familiar? I've said the above words a million times about a number of things that I believed about myself. "I'm not a morning person." "I can't focus before lunch." "I can't write until I get the other nagging tasks checked off my To Do list." "I don't have time to exercise."
I believed all of those things to be absolute truth. I'm sure you've said some of those types of things to yourself, too. We all do. What's the big deal?
Well, the big deal is that those simple beliefs could be standing in the way of what you want.
As you probably know, if you follow this blog at all, I'm slightly obsessed with habits and how to improve my productivity. Part of it is because I was a psych major and it fascinates me. But the other part is because I want to be able to write faster, have more family time, be more efficient, be successful, etc. In order words, DO ALL THE THINGS and not lose my mind in the process. Lol.
If you've missed any of what's come before and are interested, here are some of the posts:
- 7 Things to Reduce Distraction and Increase Focus
- 4 Books That Changed Me from Lifelong Messy Girl to Getting my S**t Together (Mostly)
- Creating Mottos for Your Year and Your Sanity
- Don't Just Make a Plan: The Benefits of Tracking Your Time
- 7 Reasons Why I Use a Paper Planner
- Personality Types and To Do Lists
So this month, I took a class with author Becca Syme called Write Better Faster. It was a month-long class and it turned out to be one of the best classes I've ever taken. The premise of the class is basically that the way we get things done is very much based on our personality types. That's why some methods totally resonate with some people and for others, the methods don't work at all. In the writing world, the easiest example is how plotters (writers who plan out their story in detail before they start writing) and pansters (writers who write by the seat of their pants, which is what I am) never see eye to eye. Plotters can't understand how we can just wing a whole book. And we can't understand how someone can do a scene-by-scene outline and not be bored and lose all interest in actually writing the book afterward. Neither way is wrong. Our brains are just wired differently.
Well, the same goes for productivity and habits. Different methods are going to work for differently wired brains.
What I Learned AKA The Epiphany
1. Yes, some things ARE ingrained as part of our personality and we need to learn to work with our unique self and not try to force ourselves into methods that work for other people but may not work for us. THERE IS NO ONE TRUE WAY FOR ALL and don't trust someone who tells you there is.
But also...
2. Some things that we BELIEVE are unchangeable truths about ourselves really aren't and should not be held sacred because they are just getting in our way and keeping us stuck in whatever bad routine/habit/cycle we're trying to change.
Now, looking at these two, they seem like they could be opposites. In a way, they are. But both are true. And both were important points for me to get in my head. The second one, in particular, resonated with me because what I believed to be true about myself was part of what was holding me back.
Here's what I'm talking about. In one of the posts linked above, I said this...
"for me that means I should probably schedule low intensity things in the morning when I know I'll be less likely to be writing/editing. Social media updates, responding to comments, answering email, etc."
I said that because I had tracked my time and discovered that I was easily distracted in the morning and wasn't getting writing done until the afternoon, so I concluded that my creative time was in the afternoon. I then scheduled my day to get non-writing tasks out of the way in the morning. Makes sense, right?
Yeah. Well. Here's how that played out. I did all the not-so-important things in the morning. They ALWAYS got done. Then the important work--writing--I started around noon. That would give me three hours of "deep work" time to get my writing done for the day before my son came home.
Well, how'd that go?
Result #1: Many times I'd get to the afternoon writing slot and I was too tired/distracted. (Probably because of attention residue. I'd been bouncing around little tasks all morning like a hyper puppy and my brain is all *ooh, squirrel* still.) I couldn't get into the flow of writing until 1 or 2pm, and then I only got a solid hour of real writing done before it was time to pick up my son from school.
Result #2: Or, when I was actually able to get into writing mode, by the time I hit stride and was firing on all cylinders, it was time for school pick up. Then, I'd break the flow to pick up my son and then come back and stare at the screen, uninspired and distracted again.
Well, in the Write Better Faster class, Becca suggested we try getting the most important task of the day done first (kind of the eat the frog theory). And she said if you have to get up early to do it, do that.
My knee-jerk response:
I'm NOT a morning person and my creative time doesn't kick in until the afternoon. It's just how I'm built.
These are things I believed whole-heartedly to be true.
Yeah, no. Turns out, they're not. They're just uncomfortable and different. Different is scary and my brain was like NOPE.
But turns out, I'm perfectly capable of getting up earlier. And I discovered (so far since this is new) that when I sit down at my desk and insist that I WRITE WORDS FIRST, it works. Yes, it does take me a while to get in that headspace (as it does in the afternoon). But as long as I sit there reading through what I've written the day before and avoid the email/internet/whatever distractions, the words eventually come. THEN when I hit a good flow...Oh surprise, it's only 10 or 11am! I still have HOURS left to write.
That way, before I pick up kidlet, the hard stuff is done. When I get back, I can now focus on the less important things like social media and email. That doesn't take as much brain power, so it's easily done after I've worked all day. And mentally, I feel less stressed and more accomplished. When the writing doesn't get done, the stress of that bleeds over into the rest of the night. When I've hit that word count, the rest of the night is free of that angst.
What to Try If You're Wanting a Change
So, my challenge to you if you're struggling with your routine, habits, or productivity is this: Don't hold anything sacred. Think hard on if something is the way you're wired or just a preference you've developed that has developed into a "truth" you believe about yourself. Sometimes the only way to figure that out is to outright challenge it. Try some new routine. Try getting up earlier. Change up your process. Give it a little time to see if it works because ANY change is going to be uncomfortable at the start. Resistance will be strong.
On the flip side, there are some things that are hard-wired and you have to learn to accept and work with them. For instance, I have always wanted to be a faster writer. I've taken a lot of different classes and have read books on how to do that. And though I've improved my word count from very early on, I've hit a point where my general output is about the same. So am I stuck with this word count?
Well, in this class, I discovered the answer is yes and no. I figured out that my deal-breaker is sacrificing quality. I'm a perfectionist and "good enough" is not an option for me when it comes to a book. I had a visceral reaction at the idea of good enough when the topic was brought up in class. (Now, note, I'm not saying fast writers can't produce quality work. Some are wired to be fast and produce their best work writing quickly. But that is not me.)
So if I'm not willing to sacrifice quality, and quality (for me) takes time, I have to figure out how to create more time to write instead of trying to figure out how to get more words per hour. I also have to be at peace with my process, which involves reading through the draft many, many times and tweaking as I'm writing--which some writing books will tell you is a big no-no (the editing-as-you-go method) but that's how I get more ideas and flesh out the story. It's time-consuming but it's how my stories get written and how my brain works.
However, that doesn't mean I can't get what I want--more words/more books. It just means I need to structure my day to create more time to write and devote less time to non-writing tasks. So like I mentioned above, instead of limiting it to 3 hours in the afternoon, I give myself the full day to write and up my word count. That may mean I have to sacrifice getting an "A+" in social media, promoting, returning every email promptly, etc. Something has to give somewhere. And part of that is unseating "truths" I believed about myself.
And if you're not a writer, this still can apply to other aspects of your life if you're trying to change a habit or your productivity level or whatever it may be. Don't shut out ideas because you think "oh that's not me" or "I could never do that" without digging deeper and examining if it's really a hard truth about you or just a preference you can challenge.
Some ideas to start
1. Write down what you want to change or improve and pick one to focus on. (Eat better, get more done, be more organized, start a side business, whatever.)
2. List the reasons why you think you're not accomplishing what you want. (i.e. I want to exercise, but why don't I? What's stopping me? <--some of your beliefs will come out from asking this. Some may be true. Many others will be barriers you could change if you challenge them.)
3. Challenge your answers to the questions from number two. Put those beliefs on a hot seat and cross-examine them. ("I can't get up early to write because I'm not a morning person." --okay, how do you know that? Have you ever tried to get up earlier on a consistent basis? Would you rather stay up 'til one and get what you want done (because that's an option if it appeals to you and you're truly a night person but if neither appeal--which was my case--then maybe it's just resistance and could try it out.)
4. Make a plan to change one thing for a set amount of time and see how it works. (Change too many and you'll probably get frustrated and burnt out. But try one and focus on that. The good news is that if you give it a real shot and it doesn't work, you can just try something else and now you know.)
Those are just a few ideas and this post has gone way long already, lol, but let me know if you try any of this. I'll keep you updated on my progress. Fingers crossed it continues to work for me and I'll have many books flying out of my fingertips. :) And if you ever see Becca's class being offered again and you're a writer, go take it!
Have you ever had something you believed to be absolutely true about yourself turned on its head? Have you ever successfully changed a routine or habit that wasn't working for you? How'd you do it?
ESCAPE with these Read & Watch Picks from Brighton Walsh!
It's that time again! The first of the month and time for this month's Read and Watch picks for the challenge. If you want the details on the Read & Watch challenge, you can still join in. Just click here to see the other themes. And even if you're not doing the challenge, stick around for some great book recs!
This month we're welcoming summer with an ESCAPE theme and have author Brighton Walsh as a guest to help us out.
Now, though "escape" is clearly related to summer and vacations and such, don't feel confined by that. Escape can also mean a book or movie about someone escaping a serial killer or escaping to another universe or escaping a bad marriage. Or it could just be a book that provides you an escape to another world. However you want to interpret it is up to you! But Brighton and I do have some suggestions if you're looking for a place to start.
But first, meet Brighton!
Brighton Walsh spent nearly a decade as a professional photographer before deciding to take her storytelling in a different direction and reconnect with her first love: writing. When she’s not pounding away at the keyboard, she’s probably either reading or shopping—maybe even both at once. She lives in the Midwest with her husband and two children, and, yes, she considers forty degrees to be hoodie weather. Her home is the setting for frequent dance parties, Lego battles, and more laughter than she thought possible. Website: www.brightonwalsh.com
And now let's let her take it away with her picks...
Book
I tried not to think too hard on the word escape and just recommend the first things that came to mind. In the case of books, that was Jill Shalvis’s Lucky Harbor series. I fell in love with Jill’s books long before the people of Lucky Harbor came into my life, but this series is what made me a lifetime fan of hers. These books all focus not only on the relationship of the hero and heroine and their various friends and family, but also treats the town as a character in and of itself. It’s easy to picture yourself in the quaint little town, and I always compared it to the literary version of Stars Hollow. The lush descriptions and quirky characters make Lucky Harbor the perfect getaway when you need to escape for a while.
TV Show
Choosing a TV show was slightly harder. I have a lot of comfort watches, but in the end I picked HGTV’s Island Hunters. This show is like House Hunters on crack. And I’ll admit, I spend the entire time these lucky people are choosing their own private island getaway pretending it’s me. As soon as I sell a million books, I’m totally getting my own island. Until then, the next best thing is watching someone else do so (and shouting at the TV telling them which choice is the right one).
Thanks, Brighton! And be sure to check out Brighton's latest book, Paige In Progress, which also looks like a great choice for an escape. :)
About the book:
She wanted a one-night stand...and then he moved in next door.
Paige Bennett is more than content with her life and what she does—and does not—have in it. She’s got a supportive family, a great apartment, and the best friend a girl could ask for; so what if her relationships expire faster than a carton of milk? After a disastrous detour courtesy of poor judgment in the boyfriend department, her plan is back on track and her dream job is finally within her grasp. Nothing can make her lose focus now. Well, nothing except the one-night stand she had with her best friend’s surrogate brother. The one-night stand she can’t stop thinking about.
Adam Reid has always been reliable...the responsible son, the loyal friend, the steady boyfriend. Two years ago, he graduated Magna Cum Laude and is well on his way to making a name for himself at an accounting firm in Denver—a far cry from working as a helper in the Mom and Pop store his parents own in Michigan. But when said store starts failing, he’s the only one who can step in and help. So reliable Adam does what he always does, and he comes to the rescue.
Paige thought Adam was a safe bet because he lives halfway across the country. But then suddenly he’s moving back to their town, and then into her apartment building, and soon he’s worming his way right into her life. If she’s not careful, he might sneak his way into her heart, too...
Roni's Recommendations
Books
For a warm mother/daughter story with a touch of romance, go for Every Wild Heart by Meg Donohue. I really loved this one and it was the perfect light summer read. See my full review here.
I loved this one so hard, y'all. My full review is here. But this One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid will sweep you away, break your heart, and then put it safely back together, leaving you feeling all warm and fuzzy afterward. One of my favorite reads of the year so far.
And if you really want to take the ESCAPE theme to the next level, escape to another world. A Promise of Fire will introduce you to a fascinating world with a tough-ass heroine and a swoony hero. This is a series but this first book doesn't end on a big cliffhanger or anything. Full review here.
Shameless Promotion
If you're looking for a quick read about escaping your life for a summer with a super hot guy, grab a copy of Nice Girls Don't Ride. Summery escapist fun. Plus, it won a RITA award for best novella last year! (And psst, it's only $1.99)
TV Show/Movie
If you follow me on social media, you may have seen my ranting about the remake of Dirty Dancing. I don't even want to talk about it. I'm still slightly scarred. BUT this just means that it's time for a rewatch of the original. This is my favorite movie of all time and nothing sweeps me away like going to Kellerman's with Baby and Johnny. I know I'll be watching it again this month.
What I Plan to Read for the Challenge:
I'm currently reading The Dry which fits the escape theme because it's set in Australia. And I have these other two on my TBR. The Identicals because it looks like the perfect summery read and will be part of my Book of the Month order. (Join Book of the Month with this link and get 3 months for only 9.99 a month, which is way cheaper than what you can get the hardcovers for any other place. For instance, The Identicals is 19 bucks on Amazon. And it makes the first of the month more fun because you get to see what the new pics are. Note, this is an affiliate link but I haven't been asked to promote it and I'm a full paying customer. I just love it and like to share.) And Someday, Someday Maybe, which is written by the actress from Gilmore Girls and is about an actress, which sounds like escapist fun.
What I'll Be Watching:
Besides a rewatch of Dirty Dancing, I will be eagerly awaiting the start of Big Brother at the end of the month. It is tradition at our house and it's one of those things that screams "it's summertime!" to me.