Why Some of Us Celebrate Valentine's Day

The last time I wore this cape on the blog was on my Highland Layers post. I remember feeling so much like a highland wife when I first got this, and now it just makes me feel super comfy. Today, I've decided to pair this cape up with my mint green heart sweater; that makes me look like mint chocolate chip ice cream, some olive jeans, and boots, to for a comfy cozy Valentine's outfit. 

Valentine's Day was called "Single's Day" and "All Black Day" because back in the day when we were mere teenagers and preteens stuck being single, the craze of getting a rose, paper hearts, or chocolates on Valentine's was floating in the air. So when the big V-day hit, anticipation for getting, at least, something from someone rose high as a kite. If we got a heart in our lockers or a piece of chocolate on our desk, it would make us feel just a little bit loved, giddy, and less like the whole world sucks. Sigh, the good old days.

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Highland Layers

To all the Scottish Highland readers out there, I have been meaning to join your company for sometime now. I'm sorry I took so long, but I'm here now.

It wasn't until I watched the Outlander TV Show on Starz when my Highlander Romance addiction grew. The fantasy of being swept off my feet by a large highland scotsman with a deep voice and a sexy accent, have crossed my mind many times and it turned into my sanctuary when things didn't go right outside my fantasies.

Okay talking about fantasies doesn't sound quite right. It feels too awkward... We need to have some sort of agreement about fantasy retellings like a Tell me yours and I'll tell you mine kind of thing.

But, who doesn't sometimes dream of a bulky scotsman with an accent and bright eyes looking down at you while he tells you the reasons he loves you? *blush*

I have been in love with this grid cardigan since I got it for for Christmas. My sister gave it to me along with a card that said something like "I hope you find a sexy highlander with this" since it kind of looks like a plaid coat.

Since the weather has gotten quite cool – and when I mean cool, I mean needing to jump up and down to produce heat in ones body-cool.  – layers, layers, layers is all I can think of when I get dressed in the morning. Layering, like any other woman who adores fashion out there, is the best part about winter. Layering seems to be all we got when we don't have a physical scotsman to keep your warm.

| Cardigan & Heels - New Look | Dress - Forever 21 | 

| Sweater (similar) - H&M | Necklace - Ebay | 

Hope everyone's day is going FABULOUSLY!

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Book Review: Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander #2) by Diana Gabaldon

Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon

Series: Outlander #2

Genre: Historical Romance, Fiction, Time Travel

Synopsis

With her now-classic novel Outlander, Diana Gabaldon introduced two unforgettable characters — Claire Randall and Jamie Fraser—delighting readers with a story of adventure and love that spanned two centuries. Now Gabaldon returns to that extraordinary time and place in this vivid, powerful follow-up to Outlander....

For twenty years Claire Randall has kept her secrets. But now she is returning with her grown daughter to Scotland’s majestic mist-shrouded hills. Here Claire plans to reveal a truth as stunning as the events that gave it birth: about the mystery of an ancient circle of standing stones ... about a love that transcends the boundaries of time ... and about James Fraser, a Scottish warrior whose gallantry once drew a young Claire from the security of her century to the dangers of his....

Now a legacy of blood and desire will test her beautiful copper-haired daughter, Brianna, as Claire’s spellbinding journey of self-discovery continues in the intrigue-ridden Paris court of Charles Stuart ... in a race to thwart a doomed Highlands uprising ... and in a desperate fight to save both the child and the man she loves....

Goodreads

Review

This book is just too darn long! Argh. Okay. 

Dragonfly in Amber starts off with Claire being back in her own time but twenty years ahead, the 1960's. After Franks death, Claire takes her red haired daughter with an American accent, Brianna, back to Scotland to tell and show her the truth of her heritage. The book then goes on with Claire retelling the entire story from where we left off in Outlander, to Brianna and an old friend, Roger Wakefield

Since I just found out the book is 700 pages, it explains way the audiobook was 38 hours long. If it wasn't for the audiobook, it would've taken me months to finish the paper pack. I don't think I could get through 700 pages of everyday life of Claire and Jamie Fraser in Paris, in just a month. 

At the beginning of the book I was confused. Claire's back in her own time? How? 

My first image of Brianna was the American version of Merida from Brave. She's tall, large, has waist length red hair, and bright blue eyes. She is also obviously Jamie's daughter. But how is that possible? 

So many questions, so many words, so many pages, it just makes you want to skip through the whole book and read the last few chapters. 

As much as I would love to know every single detail of Claire and Jamie's life and plans in Paris, there aren't that many exciting things going on, that it feels like such a drag. About 20 chapters in, I desperately wanted to at least go back to the 1960's, and see how real-time Claire is doing, instead of continuously dragging the time in Paris. I love Jamie and was very happy to read that he is there for 95% of the book, I just really hate how long this book is. 

There were exciting bits towards the ending, and that was when things started to get serious. It was in the last 10 chapters that kept me awake. Excitement, worry, and angst came up from the shadows of the dull emotions that were felt throughout the book. Will they live? will they die? How does Claire go back? 

Dragonfly in Amber can be a bit dull when it comes to the details, but these details will I'm sure be relevant to the next books in the series. This book is sort of a base or a history book to turn back to when one feels lost when reading the next books of the series.

I am very happy to be done with this and pretty interested to know what will happen next. I'll give it a month or a few weeks before I pick up book three of the outlander series. 

   

Have a great day everyone!

Happy reading!

 

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Book Review: Highland Solution by Ceci Gilternan

Highland Solution by Ceci Gilternan 
Series: Duncurra (#1)
Genre: Historical Romance
Synopsis
Niall MacIan, a Highland laird, desperately needs funds to save his impoverished clan. Lady Katherine Ruthven, a lowland heiress, is rumored to be “unmarriageable” and her uncle hopes to be granted her title and lands when the king sends her to a convent. King David II anxious to strengthen his alliances sees a solution that will give Ruthven the title he wants, and MacIan the money he needs. Laird MacIan will receive Lady Katherine’s hand along with her substantial dowry and her uncle will receive her lands and title.
Lady Katherine must forfeit everything in exchange for a husband who does not want to be married and believes all women to be self-centered and deceitful. Can the lovely and gentle Katherine mend his heart and build a life with him or will he allow the treachery of others to destroy them?

Amazon | Goodreads

Review

I met Ceci Gilternan at the Indie Book Convention in Orlando and bought the book from the author herself. She was very sweet and funny. We had a pleasant chat about her debut novel "Highland Solution" and the series' new book cover. We'll get back to the book cover in a bit.

At page 3 of this edition there is a little sneak peak into the love between Laird Naill MacIan and Lady Katherine. It was the sneak peak that caught my eye into starting this book, I got excited to know how their love plays out what tragic scenario occurs; because there always have to be one.

The book started out getting straight to the point; the forced marriage, which I enjoyed. Though after a the first few chapters I started to lose that excitement that came when I started the book. My interest in the plot was still there but my eagerness to finish it dropped after I got passed the first few chapters and struggled to get through it at all. The book was well written as well as the dialogue, that's why as I got passed the middle of the book I was off like the Flash. I would carry it around with me everywhere with the hopes that I would have time to pick up where I left off.

The antagonist was quite obvious that I was screaming it in my head every time something would go wrong or when the protagonist, Niall, would be a complete stubborn arse and not listen to those closest to him.

The main characters, Niall and Katherine are both so very stubborn which makes them a perfect match. The growth of their love was so sweet and romantic, my heart flutters with every sweet word uttered by Niall. He's the over protective stubborn husband of my dreams.

One thing I wished that was in the book was an appearance of King David II, I was hoping we'd have a little peak into the life at court in real time instead of flash backs.

As for the book cover. It's..okay. I'm just glad Ceci decided to change it. The latest edition of this book looks much better. No offense to this book cover artist that is.

All in all, this was a brilliant debut novel. The book and the dialogue was well written. I enjoyed the plot and the entire book immensely. It was sweet, romantic and can get a tad bit exhilarating towards the ending.

I'll be looking forward to reading book two of the series.

  

Have a wonderful day everyone!

 

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