2017 has eleven days left, and I honestly am having a hard time coping with that. It went by so fast. I know that’s something we probably all say and throw around but it’s really true. I’m another year older and somewhat wiser. I did new things, learned new things, and read things that changed me. Today, I want to share some of my favorite things I discovered during this fabulous year of 2017.

 

MUSIC

 

{Artists}

I got to see Guy Penrod perform at my local fair and he was amazing. I had heard him years ago when he sang with the Gaithers, but this was my first time hearing him since he went solo. If you like Southern Gospel that’s been jazzed up a bit, you’ll love him. Guy has an amazing voice and a big heart for God.

 

{ Single songs }

Even if by Mercy Me // Never Stop by Safety Suit // Thy Will by Hillary Scott //

 

MOVIES

The Last Jedi

I loved loved loved this movie.  It’s my favorite Star Wars movie after The Force Awakens. I love Porgs and Adam Driver was amazing. He’s definitely joined my list of favorite actors.  The funny thing is, I used to not really like Star Wars, until this year. Now I have a new deep love and appreciation for a galaxy far, far away.  The Force Awakens is my favorite by far, though nothing will ever top the love I have for Middle-Earth.

 

Beauty and the Beast

This movie was gorgeous and I loved it so very much. The story of Beauty and the Beast has always had a special place in my heart, and this movie captured it flawlessly. Though seeing Gandalf (Ian McKellan) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan Mcgregor) as French men turned antiques was a little disconcerting. 🙂 You can read my blog post on it here.

 

 { Other movies }

Dunkirk // Moana // Brave // Annie // Mulan // 

 

 

 

BOOKS

 

The Lost Girl of Astor Street

Stephanie Morrill

This book was so, so, good. I’m usually not one for mysteries or something set in Chicago, but this book had me hooked from the first page. Stephanie Morrill did an excellent job and her writing is breathtaking. This is definitely a book I’m going to be re-reading soon. 

 

Pax

Sara PennyPacker

If you want your heart ripped into teeny tiny pieces, read this book. That is all I will say.

 

The Lunar Chronicles

Marissa Meyer

I’m  not a huge fan of science-fiction, but I do love fairy tale retellings, so I decided to give this series a try, and I’m so glad I did.  It is so good, and I loved the way Marissa weaved all the characters’ stories together.  And speaking of characters, they were all so real and flawed you could connect with them on so many levels.

Advice: Don’t start Cinder (or any of the books in the series for that matter) at 10:00 pm. You will stay up past midnight and suffer from aching eyes in the morning.

 

{ Other books }

// An Ember in the Ashes and A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir  // Unblemished and Unraveling by Sara Ella //

 

Blogs Discovered

Abbiee

A Writers Faith

The Left- Handed Typist

 

Things I Did This Year

Got my drivers license

Got my first job

Finished my first novel

Got a cat, whom I named Rey, after a character I admire.

Had a mentor session with Steve Laube.

 

Goals for 2018

Finish Ashes Like Frost

Rewrite The Princess and the Pirate

Write a fan-fiction novel on Rey and Finn

 

I’m going to be taking a break from blogging from now till January 13 for Christmas, New Year’s, and of course the WW.  I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.