Heather Wardell

While this was a cute, easy read, this felt very artificial and formulated at points. Though I enjoy the occasional reality romance show, this had me rolling my eyes quite often.

The premise of the reality show is that MC and seven of her ex-boyfriends are competing against an eighth ex, Kent, and seven of his ex-girlfriends for one million dollars that will be awarded in an unknown fashion. How the producers lured these people away from their careers and lives for 21 days seems illegal and manipulative, but I suspended my disbelief for the sake of the story.

I had trouble distinguishing a lot of the men from each other. While we were told how they acted and responded, Aaron was probably the only one who I could have recognised based on speech. Kent's seven exes, on the other hand, consisted of Summer and six other girls who were all robots.

The competitions themselves weren't very exciting to read about. I learned that monkey brains might taste like tofu, but I didn't feel repulsed by this. There was no tension as teams were racing head to head. I didn't get nervous for anyone.

Why MC dumped Kent to begin with makes no sense to me, to him, or to her friends, but it's obvious from the beginning that the producers think there's something left there. Needless to say, this story was predictable .

I found no reason to like MC. I found no reason to dislike her either, but I found her pretty boring. So she puts up walls and doesn't let people in easily. That describes half the heroines of romance novels out there. i don't see why this made her so intriguing or special.

Of course, at the end three couples had formed out of the group, the money was able to be split evenly without any lawsuits, and the producers got a dramatic television show.

This definitely killed time, but I won't be reading it again.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.… (mere)

Two different girls come to America for a better life and to work to better their families lives. Told from the view point of Rosie an immigrant from Russia, and Maria an immigrant from Italy, these two girls along with thousands of others who passed through immigration on Ellis Island lived very similar but different lives trying to make it in America. They overcame many hurdles just to get here, and then hope they will also be let in and not send back to their country.

Each girl quickly settles in, with the help of others who have come before them and been down the same path. They quickly learn that America work is not as it is portrayed and things are not so easy. Although both are expected to send all money they make home, they can’t help but indulge in the American way of things. Spending days at parks, theaters, amusement areas or on the new clothing. They worked for these funds after all.

The girls learn to make the most for their work, they must push, beg and bargain. They jump jobs and factories as each place seems to have its own rules and pay. It is not fair, and often these girls and women are taken advantage of with horrible working conditions, docked pay for any reason seen fit and are just a dime a dozen in the eyes of these men who are out to make as much as possible, to keep lining their pockets.

During an uprising strike, the two girls become friends and both soon become involved in pursing better and safer working conditions, while fighting against the owners, police and government who are against women having any sort of say or rights. Then one day, a terrible fire breaks out, and history is changed forever.

A lot of us have heard about the Triangle Waist fire, but this author really dove into the historical aspect of it all. The leading up to it, the immigrants who worked daily in these conditions as well as the aftermath of it all. This was a very well written novel! I loved reading from the two girls perspectives and what it was like to come to America for a better life, but yet having to fight for everything. Thank you to the author for sending me a free book, I LOVE this cover and how she tied the title into the storyline, giving more meaning than just to the fire that happened.… (mere)

FIERY GIRLS by Heather Wardell

Fiery Girls is based upon a true story of the Triangle Fire in New York City, it was a shirtwaist factory. The story follows the dual narration of Rosie, a Jewish girl from Russia, and Maria, a Catholic girl from Italy. Maria's older brother Vincente also has come to America, so that they both can work and send money home to help support their parents.

Rosie's parents want her to only work for a Jewish-owned factory. Maria has a secret goal of paying for the passage of the young man that she loves, so they both can live in America and be together.

Maria becomes involved in the Local 25 Union for the poor employees of the garment factories because the owners don't care about their employees and most of the employees are women and girls, who are paid at a much lower rate than the men are.

On the day of the fire, some people are able to run for safety, but many are unable to escape. Trapped in a burning building, being burned alive, or feeling forced to jump from the ninth floor to the ground below. Of all of the employees who jumped, no one survived. The fire is in the Asch Building, which is still standing today. The building was touted as unburnable, which it was, but everything and everyone inside it burned.

This is quite a sad time in American history, when factory owners don't care about their workers, with little to no penalty for causing over 100 deaths of innocent workers. I'm very thankful there are rules and regulations, and yes unions to protect the workers. The suffrage movement helped the women get equal pay for equal time but the unions are instrumental in protecting the workers, in making sure they are taken care of while they are in the workplace.

The book has some dramatic moments because what happened in the Triangle Fire is not a rosy picture. Highly recommend.

Much gratitude to #netgalley for the complimentary copy of #fierygirls I was under no obligation to post a review.… (mere)

I have been trying to type up a review of this book for about the last two hours. As I sit here, having erased what I wrote yet again, I realize that I can't write this like a normal review. Wiping the tears in my eyes as I try to figure out exactly what to say has made me realize that I'm just going to have to write exactly what I feel. I hope you don't mind, dear readers. Try to keep up, and I'll promise not to ramble too much.

From the moment that I opened Planning to Live, I was at one with Rhiannon. In fact, I'm fairly sure that all of us out there can find at least a bit of us who is just like her. Always working. Setting goals. Never feeling like what you do is good enough. Down on yourself for one reason or another. Truly I saw so much of myself in Rhiannon that it scared me a bit. I wondered how on Earth someone out there could mirror me so perfectly. What I liked is that she isn't written like an "every woman" though. Rhiannon has her own personality, her own self, she just happens to be going through a life that is similar to most of us out there.

This book is all about living life for the journey, not for the destination. It reminds us, rather jarringly, that you need to focus on the little successes and be proud of those. It's easy to forget that in the normal hustle and bustle of life, especially when you live in a world that pushes success as the norm. Rhiannon's story struck me most of all because I am slowly pulling myself out of the same hole that she was trapped in. It made me realize that I'm not alone, and that it is important to try no matter how hard it hurts. Am I rambling? I'm quite sure I am, it's hard not to, but I'll wrap it up.

Once in a blue moon I stumble upon a book that touches me so deeply it alters my thinking. This book did that for me. I can't say for certain how it will touch any of the rest of you, since I don't know what parts of your life you are currently in, but I can say for certain that no matter what this is a fabulous read. Rhiannon is amazing, her story is touching, and you'll be moved. Make sure you have a big box of tissues though. I recommend this book 200%!

A huge thanks to Heather Wardell for allowing me to read this amazing book. I'm a whole hearted fan and I can't wait to see what she writes next!… (mere)