Jessica McCarty, Author

"There is something so exciting about a moment completely out of your control sneaking up on you and you having a way to celebrate it." --Really Very Crunchy I don't know about anyone else, but this year has already felt so busy. If you follow me on Instagram, you probably know we've been having a lot of issues with our house. There's been clogged pipes, a rotting door frame, foundation issues, etc. This reminder from RVC was so timely. Yes, I'm editing amidst drilling noises. Yes, my dining room is a hot mess and I intentionally walk quickly through it so I don't have to look at it. But  I have an excuse to finally paint our bedroom since Hubs had to patch cracks in the wall. And yes, I'm barely out of my thirties and third eldest is making me a grandmother.  But  my sister just had a baby herself, so I'm getting in lots of grammy practice. Plus, both these girls recently moved to the same town I live in. Not only are they close, but I'm going...

 I read 38 books this year. I couldn't choose a favorite. In fact, I feel like I chose six favorites because I decided to share two series I absolutely loved. The first is The Winner's Trilogy by Marie Rutkoski. Kestrel, the daughter of a general, purchases the handsome and rebellious Arin at a slave auction. Sparks ensue. Arin is part of the soon coming uprising, the one intended to reclaim the kingdom their enemies stole. Which side will Kestrel choose? The second is The Remnant Chronicles by Mary E. Pearson. Princess Lia runs from an arranged marriage and is soon followed by her fiancé and an assassin from another kingdom. Prophecies, war, and a love triangle. These huge books are unputdownable! What I've been reading . . . The Body Keeps Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D. Nonfiction As far as nonfiction goes, this book is excellent! Saint by Adrienne Young YA Fantasy "I didn't know if I'd ever feel like mysel...