If you know me, you know I absolutely love books. There’s something magical about getting lost in a good story, flipping through fresh pages, and discovering new favorites.
Today, in honor of National Independent Bookstore Day, I wanted to highlight a special place: Birdsong Books. I’ve had the chance to visit this charming bookstore before, and let me tell you—it’s a true gem. I didn’t get to meet the owner in person, but I did chat with the friendly cashier who was just as welcoming. Even without meeting her, I can honestly say I’m so proud of what the owner has created. The setup, the cozy vibe, the curated selections—everything about Birdsong Books feels like a book lover’s dream.
And since you already know I do book reviews (yes, definitely hit me up if you have a book you want to spotlight!), I can’t help but get excited about spaces like this that keep the love of reading alive.
Now I’m curious: what’s your favorite independent bookstore? Drop it in the comments or send me a message—I’d love to add some new places to my must-visit list!
Wishing everyone a Happy National Independent Bookstore Day! Let’s continue to support these beautiful spaces that bring stories—and people—together.
I stayed up late last night to finish this book. It was really good. It was about a lady named Hannah who made wood and She met a Guy named Owen. Owen had a daughter whose mother was killed at a young age. His daughter was so used to just her and her dad she really didn’t want to share her dad or let anyone in her circle.
Owen and Hannah were in love and decided to get married. Hannah didn’t know too much about Owen’s background, but she knew bits of pieces that Owen shared. Then something tragic happened at Owen Job and Owen went missing. He left one message for Hannah and that was to protect his daughter. She didn’t know what it meant but she wanted to know what was going on.
The FBI and the Marshalls were investigating her and she was looking for clues to figure out what was going on. Owen wasn’t the person she thought he was. She tried to think of little things that happened in their life where she can go back and find clues. Hannah and Bailey goes to Austin Texas to try to find clues and to see if some memory would come back to the daughter of when she was younger. They take this journey together and it brings them closer little by little.
As they go to Austin Texas to try to figure out the past and look for clues, they find some of Bailey mother side of the family. Hannah does not know who to trust on this journey so she just has to trust herself and find things and research.
I don’t want to tell more of the book. I don’t want to give it up but it also has a series on Apple TV that I will have to watch to see if I like the movie like I liked the book. I didn’t care for the ending too much, I wanted more but hoping for a part 2.
If you saw the movie or read the book, what did you think of it?
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Taylor Jenkins Reid’s novel “One True Loves” is a captivating and heartfelt exploration of love, loss, and self-discovery. The story follows the journey of Emma Blair, who finds herself torn between two loves – her high school sweetheart, Jesse, and her husband, Sam, who was presumed dead in a helicopter crash.
Reid’s writing is beautifully emotive, drawing readers into Emma’s world and her internal struggles as she navigates the complexities of her heart. The novel delves into the concept of soulmates, exploring the idea of whether there can be more than one true love in a person’s life. The exploration of grief and loss is also poignant, as Emma grapples with the devastating impact of losing her husband and the conflicting emotions that arise when he unexpectedly returns.
The character development in “One True Loves” is exceptional, with each character feeling authentic and relatable. Readers will find themselves invested in Emma’s journey as she grapples with her past and present, and the choices she must make to find her true happiness.
The novel also delves into the themes of self-discovery and empowerment, as Emma navigates her own desires and needs in the face of societal expectations and familial pressure. Reid’s exploration of the complexities of love, loss, and personal identity is both thought-provoking and emotionally resonant.
Overall, “One True Loves” is a beautifully written and compelling novel that will tug at the heartstrings of readers. It is a captivating exploration of love in its various forms, and the choices we make in the pursuit of our own happiness. Reid’s masterful storytelling will leave readers deeply moved and contemplating the nature of love long after the final page.
Got a chance to finally read this book. I heard it was a great book and easy to read so I had to check it out. I was not disappointed. This Book was good. It was about Dannie; she is a lawyer who works hard and believes everything is done in years. She believes in numbers that it means everything. Her boyfriend proposed to her, which she was so happy about.
Dannie has a best friend named Bella. They’ve been friends forever since they were little. Bella is different from Dannie but they both love each other as sisters. Dannie has this dream about a guy named Aaron and sees a vision that in 5 years they would get together. She felt something different and couldn’t shake it. She decides to get therapy to see what is going on.
Bella finally really likes this guy and wants Dannie to meet him and the vision that Dannie had about the Guy Aaron that she sees in her dreams happens to be her best friend’s boyfriend. Dannie is really busy, and her fiancé is also but it’s been years now engaged and they are still not married. Dannie’s fiancé is a little worried.
Dannie saw so much stuff in her dream that now she is seeing it in reality. She knows that in due time that what she saw will come true. She is trying her hardest to put that dream away. Bella gets sick and Dannie has to be there for her best friend no matter what. Dannie has to get used to Bella having other people in her life and I also think she should have been honest with Bella.
There is something fascinating about the concept of knowing your future. Just having a vision. It’s like do you avoid your destiny if you don’t like it? Do you let it dictate your actions? What do you do If you can see something that’s going to happen in your future?
I enjoyed this book. The ending threw me off a little but it was still good. I love how the best friends were there for one another. I see a lot of people that have been with their mates for a long time and love them but not be in love with them. I think everyone deserves to be in love and not just settle with a person because of the connection. I don’t think anyone should just settle for a job, relationship or anything in life. Live it to your fullest, be happy and enjoy life.
Make sure to check out the book and let me know what you think. Also join Cece Book Club on Facebook and IG
I had a chance to read this book. When I saw the title, I was like wow who would write a book like this? I didn’t really know who she was, but my daughters did because they watched the show she was in. I do like reading people’s memoirs on how they got to where they are today. A lot of celebrities, well people in general, have gone through a lot in life. Let’s get into this book.
It was about Jennette McCurdy’s life. If you do not know who she is she plays in the show Sam & Cat by ICarly. She talks about how she struggles with eating disorder; addiction and I would say emotional abuse from her mother. Her mom has been in control of her life since day 1. She practically lived her life through her child. What Mother washes and shaves their child all the way up to when the child is an adult. Her Mother made her do acting at a young age, but Jennette hated acting. She did anything her mom said because she wanted to make her mom happy and not disappoint her. She talks on how she got different gigs and how she got on nickelodeon.
It’s a lot of things that go on behind closed doors that actors/actresses deal with. Models also go through it. People love to give hush money for people not to talk about it. I can’t even imagine what was going through her mom’s head besides money for her to treat a child and her own child the way she did. Her mother manipulated her throughout her whole life and now that she is grown, she is learning a lot but still confused at the same time.
Glad she decided to get help and try to get her life on a ball the way she is living can really hurt her. When reading this book, I like how she didn’t bash her mom which I know that others would but explained it in a way to tell her life. She hated what she did to her but would always love her because she would always be her mom. She looked at life as being a lie, but you can’t go back, you can only go forth. Going forward and making changes. She took a break from life and got some help, had some friends pushing her in the right direction and also went to get a connection with her dad. I know it’s going to take therapy and great people by her side to keep pushing but believing. Starting with change and yourself is always great.
I hope that everything goes well for her and that she gets the help she needs. I also hope she will be better than everyone who did her wrong in life and that she truly has true love so whenever she starts her own family, she will give them nothing but love, realness and guidance.
This book was an eye opener and also sad but again, I love reading about people’s journeys and how they got to where they are. Even if you do not know who she is, it’s still a book that you can read about addictions, manipulations and the way she became a celebrity and more.
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This book here was good. It tells you about the different stories on how to secure a seat at the table. It teaches you to ask for more. Know your worth. The book speaks on women of color getting paid what they deserve. You could have the same title and job as others and get paid less money and take it because you think it’s enough even if it’s not enough for all the work that you do.
This book is an eye opener. I have been a full-time entrepreneur for a year now. It’s hard but it’s worth it. To be investing a lot of time in my business and not someone else’s business to get them to the top. If you want more and want to do it, better take the leap and jump. Every entrepreneur starts off rough, but the finish line is what matters. Make a plan and execute it.
Also in this book it tells you to go to networking events and even if you are tired still go to those social events. Those social events open doors. I read before that hanging at the golf course and happy hour is great to really get your feet in doors.
This book came right at a good time because sometimes I just don’t know what the next step is or where it is going to come from. I pray and then write out a plan and go for it. Check out this book and tell me what you think. It’s not a big book but it’s a great book to read. I really needed this book.
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Book: How To Be Fine (What we learned from living by the rules of 50 Self-Help Books)
Author: Jolenta Greenberg and Kristen Meinzer
By: Cece Hymes
This book was about two ladies that share their thoughts on what they got out of the 50 self-help books that they read. I read a lot of books, and some are self-help books. I am going to take some time out to read some of these self-help books that they have listed. Everyone gets something different out of a book they have read.
I think self-help books help in different ways. It really makes you open your eyes and when I read these books, I feel more uplifting and positive. I enjoy reading self-help books. I like that these 2 ladies are honest about what they got out of the books and honest about what worked for them. They both have different opinions on the books they have read. That’s a good thing because everyone does not think a lot about what works for one person and does not work for the other. I also liked that they can be funny and seem like they have great conversations about these books.
We all need those kinds of friends we can enjoy and talk to. I love that they both love to read. I am a bookworm and love to read but my friends are not into books like I am, they more into T.V. and other things. I did read some of the 50 books they name but I look forward to reading more of them and sharing more thoughts.
Check out the book and let me know what you think. Also Join Cece Book Club on IG and Facebook.
Finally got a chance to read this book. It’s been on my list for awhile now. This book was about Nina. She was the only child to her mom who was always on the go and traveled the world so she was raised by her nanny. She never met her father; her mom told her she didn’t know who he was. She worked at a bookstore and loved doing trivia games and book club meets for the youth. She would always go by agenda.
One day A man came into the bookstore to let Nina know that her dad had passed and left her something in his will for her. She is now in her 30’s to find out about her dad and that she has brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews. Nina also likes this guy Tom, and he likes her too but they are both too shy to tell each other. They do trivia against each other on trivia game nights.
Nina is not used to a lot of things going on all at one time she will get anxiety. Having a guy in her life, work problems, a family she just now meeting seem to be a lot for her. Could you imagine having all these thrown at you at one time? Do you think it’s time for change for Nina? Do you go by an agenda every week? I know I do an agenda to try to stay on task but it’s fine for things to pop up. It helps me to not forget meetings and things I need to get done. I think Nina is a nice person and has a big heart. I definitely could hang with her because I love to read books. It also made me think of opening a bookstore and how it would be.
Check out the book and let me know what you think about Nina and Tom? Nina’s new family? Things always happen at the right time when you unexpecting it and it comes right on time. It seemed like everything came at the right time for Nina just all at once was too much for her. I liked the book. Hope it’s a part two. I would love to see what she does next.
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