When I heard they were making the Fantastic Beasts movie I was thrilled, like ecstatic. When I heard there would be 5 movies I was even happier. 5 more garaunteed movies in the Wizarding World?! Sign me up! So, to say I went into this movie highly biased to enjoy it... would be an understatement.

So, Last night after putting my 2 year old to bed, I drove out in a blizzard and hit the premiere. I just could not wait. On the plus side, the whole blizzard thing kept a lot of people home so I had a great seat in a fairly empty theater. 

And, well I LOVED IT! I've heard some people say it was slow. It isn't crazy like the 8th Harry POtter movie, but I think there was enough action to keep me happy. And it was hilarious. I cannot wait to take my husband to see it. He had to stay home with the baby last night while I had a just me date night. I want to watch it again and again. I have been gushing about it all day. It was adorable. 

Let's start with our main character. Newt Scamander played by Eddie Redmayne. Gosh, he was fabulous. He was so sweet and adorable, and so just perfect. I could watch him all day. He has this awkward quirkiness going for him... and it was just perfect. After all, his grandson is married to Luna Lovegood.. so quirkyness runs in the family and it as too cute.

Newt was definitely a winner, but I loved the side characters just as much. Queenie anyone?! Ah! I want ot be her. So sweet, and loving, and sure of herself. Her willingness to risk anything for those she cares about was beautiful. And Jacob the No-Maj was just perfect. He also stole my heart. I really really hope he will be in the future movies because he was perfect. Honestly, I had no qualms with any of the characters. Creedence was great... they were all great. There is an EXCELLENT cast in this movie. 

I think what really made this movie for me is the creatures. I'm a huge animal lover, and I've always been particularly interested in the magical creatures of the wizarding world. They get plenty of screen time... and they are all fantastic! I'm not sure which was my favorite... maybe the Niffler or the bowtruckle.. maybe all of them. Their devotion and adoration for Newt was sweet. They became like real animals. 

Now, like I mentioned some people said this movie was slow... and I will agree to a degree. This movie is similar to The early HP movies. It is laying the ground work for something big. I do not want to go into details, because some of this stuff was all new.. while I enjoyed the storyline of the movie good enough, I this was a very character driven not action driven movie. Personally, I love character driven movies... I feel much more connected to it. But be warned.. there isn't really a big adrenaline rushing battle scene in this movie. There is some action.. the Wizarding World always has action.

Over all. I recommend this movie to you and your friends and your family and that weird kid in your class that picks his or her nose and eats it. Seriously, everyone watch this movie. It was so cute. You do not need to know a thing about Harry Potter or the Wizarding World. You could go into this blind... but I highly recommend meeting my best friend Harry Potter, because he is wonderful. But yes go see this movie. If you were waiting to see if it was worth it... it is! I cannot wait to see where this movie series goes!

Review: The Wall of Winnipeg and Me

The Wall of Winnipeg and Me
Mariana Zapata
Published on Februar 29, 2016
Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary (Taken from Goodreads)
Vanessa Mazur knows she's doing the right thing. She shouldn't feel bad for quitting. Being an assistant/housekeeper/fairy godmother to the top defensive end in the National Football Organization was always supposed to be temporary. She has plans and none of them include washing extra-large underwear longer than necessary.

But when Aiden Graves shows up at her door wanting her to come back, she's beyond shocked.

For two years, the man known as The Wall of Winnipeg couldn't find it in him to tell her good morning or congratulate her on her birthday. Now? He's asking for the unthinkable.

What do you say to the man who is used to getting everything he wants?

My Thoughts

I picked this one up because it was in the semifinals for the Goodreads Choice Awards. I've been on a YA book kick all year, and had only read one book on the list. So I grabbed a few more before I voted. But I digress. I did not expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. Correction: I did not expect to love this book as much as I loved it. It was without a doubt one of my favorite reads this year. Since I finished it, I've been wanting to go back and reread it all over. It was just splendid.

I expected this to be. Girl has unrequitted love with her boss, hot man football player. Girl gives up and quits leaving him behind. Player man football player realizes he misses her and begs her back, the fall madly in love happily ever after. It was not. Well, they did get their HEA... but there was no unrequitted love going on. There was no crushing periof for the first half of the book. You just see these two interacting and developing a friendship first and love second. And it was sweet, sweet, sweet. Like gives you a toothache sweet, and so beautiful.

Vanessa was such a strong female lead. She knows what she wants in life, and she isn't afraid to go for it. She has overcome a lot to get to where she is, she is the perfect image of a woman that knows who she is and has learned to love herself. Aiden is much more reserved. He doesn't know how to socialize. How to treat people. His life revolves around one thing and one thing only. Football. Until, Vanessa's openness helped him learn to come out of his shell and care about others. It was a sweet sweet ride watching him become this wonderful man... a slow, beautiful ride. Because this is a very very very slow burning romance. Seriously. I don't think there was even a real kiss between these two until the last 100 pages... but damn is it worth the wait.

I will admit the first 50-75 pages or so was slow moving. Very slow moving. I almost gave up. But, stick it out. Once Vanessa quits, the story picks up a lot. This is a long book. Especially for a contemporary romance. But, I think it needed the length to really give the reader believable character growth... and the growth is so much fun to watch. 

Basically, everyone needs to go read this book like now. It made it to the semifinals, sadly not the finals.. but it deserves it. This is not a book you want to miss!

Top Ten Favorite Movies

Link up at The Broke and the Bookish

So, I have a bit of a confession to make. I don't actually watch a lot of movies. Like at all. I don't really watch alot of tv either. Except in October, which is why I disappeared for awhile. But yeah, If I have free time.. I prefer to be reading. So, movies especially tend to get pushed to the side. I typically can't spend more than about 30 minutes concentrating on tv before I get bored. I'm strange. But, I do have some favorites that I love to watch over and over again. Here they are.

1. Beauty and the Beast
My all time favorite Disney movie, maybe favorite movie period. I just love it. I have seen this countless times. When I was 3 and the movie first came out, I'd watch it on repeat. Like, finish the movie, rewind it, and start it all over again. We wore out 3 VHS copies of it.



2. Titanic
This movie caused an obsession with the actual event. When I was in middle school, I probably read half the books published about the Titanic. I had the victim list memorized, and I became obsessed with shipwreck history in general. I was a strange kid.



3. Secret Garden
I just adore this movie so much. My mom was fabulous and had me hooked on all the classics as a kid. The friendships in the movie are just beautiful.




4. My Girl and My Girl 2
So, a lot of people only like the first, and I'll admit the 2nd had a different feel... but I love this movies. They make me bawl my eyes out... actually every movie so far makes me cry. Maybe I'm a sucker for tearjerk movies.



5. Harry Potter Series
Really, did you think I'd get through this list without these ones?



6. Little Women
Another one based off of classic kids books. I just love this movie. I watch it every year around Christmas.



7. Lord of the Rings Movies
Confession time: I'm in love with Aragorn. Confession time 2: My mom had a full size Legolas statue in our house. Yeah, we like us some men from Middle Earth in my family.



8. Breakfast Club
Ugh this movie. Just makes me the happiest person in the world. This one leads to number 9.



9. Pitch Perfect
Any movie that pays homage to my number 8 and is all about singing is a win in my book.


10. Quidam
So, this last one isn't technically a movie. It's a recording of my favorite live Cirque show. I adore this show. It is my favorite show by Cirque Du Soleil. I was lucky enough to see it live a few years ago, and I love my DVD of it.

Review: Christmas with the Sheriff by Victoria James

Christmas With the Sheriff
Victoria James
Series: Shadow Creek, Montana (#1)
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Published on November 6, 2016

Summary: (Taken from Goodreads)

After fleeing her beloved small town five years ago, Julia Bailey is back to spend Christmas with her family. Returning is hard, but keeping the devastating secret about her late husband is even harder. Her place isn't in Big Sky Country any longer...but the more time she spends with the irresistible Sheriff who saved her once before, and his adorable little daughter, the more Julia starts wishing she could let go of the past and start a new life.

Single dad and county Sheriff Chase Donovan had been secretly in love with his best friend's wife for years. But after her traumatic loss he knew Julia needed to get away from Shadow Creek, even though helping her leave was the last thing he wanted to do. Now she's home and he doesn't intend to lose her a second time. Chase is going to prove to Julia just how good they can be together this Christmas...and forever.

My Thoughts

Netgalley provided this copy in exchange for a honest review.

You know when you're in a bit of a slump and struggling to find a book that holds your interest. But, you don't know what kind of book you want to read? That was me... until I picked this book up. THis was such an endearing, sweet, romantic, perfect Christmas read. I read the entire book in one sitting. I tried to put it down and go to sleep, but I couldn't and ended up picking it back up 10 minutes later and finishing it. It was just exactly what I want in a Christmas book.

Christmas With the Sheriff is a classic friends to love story, but with a twist. Julia has gone through a huge loss, and her late husband's best friend Chase was the one there to help her pick up the pieces. Now, I don't know if it is because Julia's family looked exactly like mine does, but I cried my way through quite a few bits of this book. I wasn't expecting to be hit so emotionally, but I really felt Julia's pain deeply. So, if you are a fairly sensitive person... I would not recommend beginning this book in public. 

Now, can we talk about this couple. They were just so sweet. Chase knew what he wanted. He's been in love with Julia for a long time, and he was determined to win her.. but only if she was ready to be won. I loved that he didn't push her too hard. He wanted her, but he loved her too much to push for more than she was ready for. If anything, I'd have to say he was too perfect. But then, I don't mind that one bit when I'm reading a Christmas romance.

My only complaint, is that I would have liked to see more of the side characters that are going to make this series. You get little bits of them, enough to see that everyone is very close and supportive. But, I wanted to really get a feel of those relationships. The community was so charming, and a perfect set up for a small town romance series, but I wanted to see more.

Overall, I'd highly suggest this book to anyone looking for a sweet Christmas romance. It was a quick, adorable, and enjoyable read. I can't wait to read more from this author.

Review: A Rogue to Avoid by Bianca Blythe

A Rogue to Avoid
Bianca Blythe
Series: Matchmaking for Wallflowers #2
Published: September 20, 2016
Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: (Taken from Goodreads)
A Scottish scoundrel…
Gerard Highgate, Marquess of Rockport and the ton’s most aloof rake, knows better than to wed an Englishwoman, especially one as prickly as Lady Cordelia. But when his mother dies and he finds himself saddled with her debts, he needs a wife and he needs one fast. 

An exacting Englishwoman…
Lady Cordelia knows that hastiness in husband hunting leads to mistakes. But when she visits an aristocrat to warn that his life might be in danger, he misinterprets her suggestion to flee to Scotland. 

An unexpected elopement…
Most elopements are born of love, not misunderstanding. Cordelia and Gerard have already broken that rule, but perhaps they can still make their marriage one of love.

My Thoughts:

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book features uptight and proper Lady Cordelia and Scottish rogue Gerard Highgate. These two cannot stand each other at the beginning. Lady Cordelia blames Highgate for ruining her and making her undesirable, and Highgate is facing some hardships with her father. However, a bit of miscommunication leads to these two deciding to elope for conveinence sake, no love between them. I found the concept for the book to be fun and enjoyable. I blew through it quickly because the plot kept moving along at a quick pace. There wasn't much sitting and waiting happening in this book. I guess my big complaint with the book was the couple. These 2 hated each other. I was really looking forward to a nice slowburn romance. But, it felt like all of the sudden they went from mutual dislike to unable to keep their hads off each other. I felt as if I'd missed an important middle part in there. and I didn't see where the attraction was coming from. I did really enjoy the humor throughout the book. There were quite a few parts that actually made me giggle out loud. Highgate had an especially great humor, and I found I enjoyed hima s a character quite a bit. I have not read the previous books in this series, and I was able to follow along easily. However, I think I would recommend reading the previous books first. While this works as a standalone, I think knowing a bit more about the background information that was alluded throughout the book would have made the experience more enjoyable. This series is definitely tied together, not just the smae world. There are events discussed and characters encountered from the previous books. If you are looking for quick read that is romantic, cute, and not too heavy. You will enjoy this book. It was very enjoyable as a whole.

Review: One Christmas in Paris by Mandy Baggot

One Christmas in Paris
Mandy Baggot
Published by: Book outure
Publication Date: October 7, 2016

Summary: (Taken from Goodreads)
They say Paris is the City of Love, so bring your je ne sais quoiand don’t forget the mistletoe! 

Ava and her best friend Debs arrive in Paris just as the snow starts to fall. The Eiffel Tower glitters gold and the scent of spiced wine is all around, but all Ava can think about is Leo, her no-good, cheating ex. 

Debs is on a mission to make Ava smile again, and as they tour the Christmas markets, watch lamplight glittering on the river Seine, and eat their body weight in pain-au-chocolat, Ava remembers there’s more to life than men ... Until they cross paths with handsome, mysterious photographer Julien with his French accent and hazelnut eyes that seem to see right inside her. 

Ava can’t ignore the intense chemistry between them, but her fingers have been burned before and she can’t forget it, especially when her ex, Leo, starts texting again. Can Ava really trust Julien – and what exactly is his secret? 

Will Ava go home with a broken heart, or will she find true love amongst the cobbled streets of Paris? 

Join Ava and Julien in the most romantic city in the world this Christmas, as they discover the importance of being true to themselves, and learn how to follow their hearts. 

My Thoughts:
As soon as the weather begins to cool down, I tend to start thinking about wonderful romantic holiday stories that will give me the warm fuzzies. In all honesty, I don't expect my holiday books to have much in the way of a plot or a storyline. I expect them to be sweet, fun, and romantic. No big conflict or deep issues being pushed forward.

This book did give me the warm fuzzies and the happiness that I expected, but it did go a bit deeper than I expected. I really enjoyed the story. The book centers around Ava and Julien. Ava is a bit of a pushover who has never learned to live life for herself, instead bending backwards to please others. However, she has recently been hurt and is determined now to learn to be herself and have fun. Julien has lived his life to his fullest, and knows the joy life can offer him. However, a terrible lost has led him into a depression, and he is only now beginning to find his way back to life.

I ADORED Julien's character. He was romantic, sweet, and just the best. I loved him from the first page, and really wanted him to find his happy back. Ava's character grew very slowly on me. She seemed so juvenile at times and drove me nuts at times. I think that her character might be the reason for the 3 star rating instead of 4. By the end of the book I didn't mind her, but she definietely had some character flaws that rubbed me wrong and made it hard for me to really be a big fan of hers.

This book is set primarily in Paris. Hence the title right? But, what I mean is, this author really did a great job at taking the time to pain an image of Paris in my mind. I loved the details she put in about this city. It really made me want to visit at Christmas time. I absolutely loved the thought that went into really and truly creating a wonderful setting for the story. 

Now onto the romance, after all, this is first and foremost a romance holiday story. I felt like Baggot delivered there. The romance between the two was cute, and slow building. It wasn't fully believable, but it's a holiday read and I find I'm okay with it. I loved watching these two help each other find their way back to living life to the fullest while falling in love.

If you are looking for a cute, sweet, holiday book. I would recommend this one. It is a quick read that will draw you in, and is sure to give you all of the Christmasy feels.

Top Ten Books I want to Read this Fall

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. 

This week's prompt is top ten books on my Fall TBR.

I have so many books on my tbr this year. But, currently I'm in a historical romance mood, so I'm not sure when I'll get to some of them. hopefully soon.

Young Adult Books

  

Contemporary Romance

  

Historical Romance

  

Fantasy

 

What books are you hoping to read in the next few months? I'd love to hear from you!