August Wrap Up

Ms. Carroll
Aug 31, 2018 · 6 min read

So last month I said I was going to be intentional about what I was reading and I wasn’t going to read so many fiction books. Well that was a lie! I started several nonfiction books this month and was immediately bored to tears so I ended them and picked up romance novels instead. It’s just not my style to pre meditate my books. I’m in two Book Clubs so I already know two of the books I’ll probably be reading next month but that’s the extent of my book planning, I’m just a go with the flow type of girl when it comes to my reading and I’m ok with that!

Lifestyle Blogging Basics: A How-To for Investing in Yourself, Working With Brands, and Cultivating a Community Around Your Blog by Laura Demetrious

That title was a mouthful wasn’t it??? I chose this book because I was curious as to how people make blogging and content creating fulltime jobs! The book explained how it’s possible. Blogging for money is not really my cup of tea I prefer to create organic content to inspire people versus “influencing” them to make purchases etc but I don’t knock anyone’s hustle! If you’re interested in growing your blog or making money from your online presence I suggest you read this book or one like it because these bloggers are going to charging anywhere from $100 to $1000 for a master class to share the same exact info.

Brave Hearts (Holliday Sisters Book 2) by Nicole Falls

I think I read the first book in the Holliday Sisters series last year. This was a sweet romance novel, but not your average love story. Valora and Francisco are coworkers who are also really good friends. A clerical error almost ruins Francisco’s life but Valora steps in to save him. Their relationship starts off as business but quickly heats up. I will always love these types of stories because they remind me to be o p e n to love and all of its possibilities. This was a sweet quick read that I devoured on the beach.

Started From a Selfie (Holliday Sisters Book 3) by Nicole Falls

So after coming home from the beach I wanted to lay on the couch and relax for the rest of the evening so I downloaded the 3rd book in the Holliday series to see what was up with the next sister! LOL This one was really juicy and relevant to my life. It breaks down the power of Social Media! So Juniper is a young creative with several different business ventures and Quincy is a hardworking hands on dad to a teenage daughter. Fate, Social Media and lurking connect the two and they slowly fall in love. Juniper reminds me of my ratchet alter ego! This may be my favorite book from the series so far. I can’t wait for the final sister’s story which should be out in October/November. (Author Nicole Falls told me this after I hopped in her DM’s on IG and asked)

PS these are stand-alone books so you don’t have to read each one in the series if you don’t want to.

Slightly Bad Girls of the Bible: Flawed Women Loved by a Flawless God by Liz Curtis Higgs

*sigh*

This is another book that’s in a series but can also stand alone. At the recommendation of my Executive Pastor I read Bad Girls of the Bible and Really Bad Girls of the Bible a few years ago and LOVED them. This one not so much. IDK if it’s because the format is a little different or because my heart and mind were just not in a place to receive the message at the time of me reading the book (which took me two weeks instead of my usual one). This book breaks down the story of Sarah, Hagar, Rebekah, Leah and Rachel. Even though I didn’t enjoy this book like the previous two I’m happy to say aside from the Gucci Mane book this is one that I’ve gotten the most inquiries about! So many women had questions about the series and I saw a few of them had actually purchased the book days after I posted it on Instagram. That made my heart smile! As per Liz Curtis Higgs the definition of a slightly bad girl is: a woman unwilling to fully submit to God. We love him, serve him, and worship him, yet we find it difficult to trust him completely, to accept his plan for our lives, to rest in his sovereignty.

The Mother of Black Hollywood: A Memoir by Jenifer Lewis

I’ve enjoyed Jenifer Lewis in movies and on tv for as long as I can remember, but when I saw her promoting her book I was not interested in reading it! It was the Book Club pick of the month so I gave it a shot. A few chapters in I wanted to give up because Ms. Lewis was a HOT MESS! But the club host encouraged me to keep reading and I’m glad I did because I did learn a few things and most importantly it got me hooked on the show she currently costars on — Black•Ish lmao that’s my main takeaway from the book guys! I’m currently hooked on Black•Ish! It was juicy, she was spilling alllllll types of tea but I just wasn’t interested. Jenifer Lewis is an amazing actress but this book was very blah. However there was a quote that stood out to me “there I was, a mess myself, yet I still had something to offer that would have an effect on another person’s world.”

Sweatpants Season by Danielle Allen

I started reading something else for my final book of the month but I just could not get into it after two days. So with time for the week already wasted I knew I needed something that would grab my attention and this did just that. I saw this title on one of the #Bookstagram pages I follow and cracked up at the title. I figured I’d read it for shits and giggles but I was highly surprised! You cannot judge a book by its cover or by its title either. Akila and Carlos are both attractive, young, artistic, professionals. They have an immediate connection but after learning a little more about each other they seem the get turned off. Throughout the book there’s this struggle between their hearts, minds and genitals. It’s a sexy and funny story but it also discusses real issues like sexual objectification, sexual harassment and male entitlement. I really enjoyed this one and I’m currently looking for MY Carlos!

to keep up with all of my book•ish things be sure to follow me on Instagram! I share my trips to the library and my personal book collection. @glambistro Happy Reading!

Ms. Carroll

eat veggies, get money.

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