i'm back / homeward bound

I'm back to blogging!

I've moved over here.

Come follow along!

xo,

haley

/ this blog will not be deleted, so past posts can be accessed /

BOOK REVIEW / Silenced by Dani Pettrey

Hey faithful readers! I am still on a blogging break, however I'm back for today with a Bethany House book review! Yay, yay! I can't tell you the exact date I'll be back with regular posts, but for now enjoy this review. :)

Silenced

by Dani Pettrey

336 pages

Published May 6, 2014

Dani Pettrey's website

My rating // 5 out of 5 stars

About the Book

A relaxing day of rock climbing takes a disturbing turn when Kayden McKenna's route leads her face to face with a dead climber. Is it a terrible accident or something sinister? When the case is handed to the overburdened sheriff, he turns to Jake Westin. With Jake's past now revealed, he's ready to use his talent for investigation again--but he could never prepare for where the case will take him.

Kayden and Jake soon realize that the death was no accident. And worse, it seems the killer is on to them. When strange things begin happening in Yancey, Jake is terrified that once again his world may put someone he loves in danger. But the truth is far worse than he could ever imagine.

My Review

Action! Adventure! Thrills! Chills! Romance! Mystery! This book had it all and I’m so glad I requested it for this month’s book review. I didn't know until I got it that it was book number four in the Alaskan Courage series. Silenced it preceded by Submerged, Shattered, and Stranded. However, picking up well into the series really didn’t bother me at all. While there were some character’s pasts I didn't know about, Dani did a great job filling it in just enough, so that Silenced stood alone, with a brilliant story all its own.

I really like Kayden's character, as well as Jake's. It was interesting to learn more about rock climbing through the scenes where characters were climbing and when they were investigating. One thing that I really appreciate in this book is that after you found out who the culprit was, there was still some mystery to unravel and lots of action.

Overall, it was an amazing book -- a page-turner and stay-up-late-reading kind of book. I really enjoyed it and hope to read the rest of the Alaskan Courage series in the future!

*I would like to thank Bethany House Publishers for providing me with this free copy of Silenced by Dani Pettrey. All opinions expressed here are my own and unbiased.*

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hiya peeps. spring is dawning! the sun is shining! spring always holds for me a lot of plans, and plans long-awaited now possible. this is especially true this year.

i've decided to take a hiatus from blogging. now, i know that i don't post a whole bunch in the first place. however even when i'm not posting i am thinking about posting. it has me not blogging to the best of my ability and half doing other things.

i'm working on finishing up my sophmore year of high school, among other things, that take a good deal of time.

don't take this as good-bye or anything. this is simply me taking a little break, which i've mulled over for awhile. working on time management.

i hope to be back somewhere around the end of spring/beginning of summer.

i'm thankful for all of you who follow along. see you soon!

xo hj

pssttt. while i'm gone you can see pics on my instagram, see what books i'm reading on goodreads, and check out my pins here.

#1top3days / day 3

Hey you guys! It's the thrid and final day of the 1 button down, 3 ways, 3 days challenge! I've really enjoyed this challenge! It's been fun finding different ways to style this top. 

Today I went with jeans and flats, and added a scarf. I looped the scarf around my neck, then tied it to the side. It makes it a lot less fussy, as I don't have to constantly be adjusting it. 

button down / gap

jeans / american eagle

scarf / gap

flats / target

sunglasses / target

watch / target

have a great day! hj

#1top3days / day 2

It's the second day of the 1 button down, 3 ways, 3 days challenge! Today is deceivingly sunny, it's actually quite cold. I paired the button down with my maxi skirt, tied the shirt up to give it a different look, and added the coral tank underneath for a pop of color.

Can I just sing the praises of maxi skirts for a second? A solid black one is really a must-have. It's so so versatile! And comfortable! Since it was a bit chilly today and there was a good deal of wind, I wore leggings underneath it.

button-down / gap

tank / target

maxi skirt / target

flats / target

necklace / made & given to me last chirstmas

sunglasses / target

two days down, one day to go! hj

#1top3days / day 1

At the last-minute I decided to join the 1 button down, 3 ways, 3 days challenge that these lovely people are doing: the Boyer Family Singers, Olivia, Ashley, and Callie. I picked my trusty light blue and white, pinstriped button down for this and am having fun brainstorming different ways to style it.

Today is the second in a row that has been gray, dreary, and foggy weather-wise. So I went with jeans, boots, and a cardigan as it's a bit of a chilly early spring day.

button down / gap

cardigan / hand-me-down merona brand (target)

jeans / american eagle

leg warmers / target

boots / jcpenny

necklace / target

Looking forward to the next two days of the challenge! hj

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well, as you can see, it snowed in march. i know, that i, at first, was thinking "noooooo it's supposed to be springgggggg." ha. on the bright side, though, it was the most beautiful snowfall of this winter (in my opinion)...even if it was in march.

other things as of late...

-reading mere christianity by c.s. lewis. SO GOOD.

-inadvertently teaching charlotte to say "oh my goodness" and put her had over her mouth in surprise.

-trying to hunker down and read some more. still on the first part of the two towers by tolkien, but making progress

-getting a calligraphy pen and ink! it's a long time dream of mine come true, you guys. you can see the ones i've instagramed here and here.

-dreaming about what to put on my gallery wall

-getting! seeds! for! the! garden! we went to the store with my grandpa and picked out seed potatoes and packets of vegetables and herbs to get started. yay! yay! yay!

-watching bbc north & south on netflix. oh my, it's good. now i really really really want to read the book.

that's about all for now. xo.

charlotte turns one

Charlotte turned one February 26th. She thoroughly enjoyed her first chocolate cupcake. Pictures from the day....

new alphabet magnents and a build a bear from aunt laura

xo