The Help

I just finished reading The Help. by Kathryn Stockett. I think it was one of my all time favorite books. Though I wish I had read it before watching the movie, because I couldn't get the movie out of my head. And, I'll admit, I LOVE the movie.


Aibileen, one of the main characters, finds that she has a talent for helping the children she raises to feel good about themselves. If you've seen the movie, you'll remember her saying:


"You is smart,
You is kind,
You is important."


In the book, she recognises that the more someone hears negative information the more they will believe it. She many times hopes that it isn't too late to teach the little girl she is raising about self-worth and respecting everyone.


I think it is never too late to realize your self worth. Or re-realize your self worth. There will always be the "Miss Hillys" who think they know all. I'm sure you personally know at least one "Miss Hilly" who tries his or her best to assign you the value that they made up.


There will always be people that treat you like that.


But, to quote Kathryn Stockett:


“Ever morning, until you dead in the ground, you gone have to make this decision. You gone have to ask yourself, "Am I gone believe what them fools say about me today?”
― Kathryn Stockett, The Help


And then you just have to live by the mantra, "I am smart, I am kind, I am important."


Wonderful, wonderful book.


If you've never read it, go check it out on Amazon:

"Tomorrow is a new day."

The first step is admitting it.

Wow. I saw this license plate frame the other day and just had to take a picture.

I don't know where to start...

Like that I am 98% sure that the driver of this car is a woman.

Like that this is the worst possible frame to have on your car if you get pulled over.

Like that no one should admit liking a teenage vampire romance THIS much.

But I suppose the first step is always admitting that you have a problem. So, good for them.

Now is the next step taking a refresher drivers ed class or joining a book club...

Giveaway and Review of "Shadows of Angels" by L.G. Rollins

I am so excited!!!!!!!!!!! Today we have a guest blog post and a giveaway! 

"Shadows of Angels" by L.G. Rollins just came out on the 8th of December, and today L.G. (Laura) is our guest blogger. I am so excited! It's a great post, and it is posted right before this one. So... scroll down for that awesomeness! We all deserve real, truthful love.

But first! I also just promised you a giveaway! You can win a free e-book of "Shadows of Angels" by doing 1 of 3 things. For each one of these three things you do your chances of winning goes up.

1) Put your email into my "follow by email" box to the right and push submit

2) Follow this blog

3) Follow me on Twitter.   You can find me Here or find me at @Jenelle_Stone

You have until midnight EST (Think: New York Time) on December 17, 2015 to do one of these three things to enter. At that point, someone will be chosen at random. THE WINNER WILL NOT BE ANNOUNCED. Instead I will contact them directly through either their e-mail or account. It is your responsibility to make sure your account (email, twitter, blogger, ect.) that you sign up with has a public contact information. If it does not, you can email me at writejenelle@gmail.com with your contact info and how you entered. Otherwise another winner will be chosen.You have 48 hours from the time I contact you or else another winner will be chosen. The winner will receive the e-book directly from the publisher, so your contact will be shared with them.

YAY! A Contest!

So exciting!!!!!!

My thoughts on Shadows of Angels

I loved this book! It kept me interested and wondering what was going to happen next the whole time. 

Actually, it was very interesting to read for multiple reasons. There are a couple of women characters in "Shadows of Angels" that are in different types of abusive relationships. I've talked a lot about relationships like these here on Get2theGist, and unfortunately they are very common. Reading how the women react to the abuse was very interesting. If you are in or ever have been in a relationship like that, chances are you will be able to relate to at least 1 of these women.

The book is full of adventure and main characters who have to face crazy odds to take back their world from insanely dangerous demons, blood thirsty creatures of the forest, and wanna-be-kings. Seriously, it's intense. But my main interest in the book was in the characters' personal drama. What is going to happen to the lady whose husband beats her? What about the woman whose been made to feel like her only purpose in life is to be used? How will the man learn to overcome his past? How will the other man learn to move past all the pain from his own past? What will happen to the obvious love between that guy and that girl?

The insane adventure just made it all the more awesome.

The only things I had a hard time with were the references to "Sister Earth," which I just didn't get, and a couple of the names sounded awkward on my tongue. Otherwise I enjoyed reading it. 

Which says a lot. I am actually pretty critical when it comes to my books.

It does have some blood and battle scenes throughout it, and topics of abuse and its effects, but nothing x rated. No bedroom scenes. One character that has been abused has some backwards ideas of how to use kisses and things like that to get what she wants. That is what I mean about some of the effects of abuse.

In fact, this book surprised me. Usually when a character in a book tells a story or tells about something in the past I find it boring. But a little over half way through Shadows of Angels I realized that I looked forward to the different characters telling about their past. It was like listening to puzzle pieces that put me into the middle of the story.

But maybe that is because the characters were relateable. We can all relate to having to work through life's painful trials, even if the trials may be different from the one's we have to deal with ourselves. 

Which brings me to Laura's guest post. I am so excited for you to read it, it is a really good read. Because this post is already this long, I decided to publish it in the post below. 

And don't forget to enter the contest!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you don't win, still go check out Rollins' book on Amazon:

Shadows of Angels by L. G. Rollins

After the forest dwellers destroy her home and kill her father, Aerbrin sets off on a journey to find the truth about her people, her kingdom, and the mysterious Zaad stone that contains a power she never imagined. Magic and mystery join forces in this intriguing fantasy world. Full of shifting alliances and twists you won't see coming, it's a can't-miss read.

Shadows of Angels, by L. G. Rollins

Excerpt:

"Stay calm, her father’s words echoed in her head. When you find yourself in danger, above all, stay calm. Aerbrin took a deep, steady breath and leaned down, reaching for her bow. one of the Forest Dwellers charged. It collided with her and knocked her to the floor. Raising a knotted fist, he bashed her head.

Sparks exploded across her vision. She tried to raise an arm, tried to call out. Her body wouldn’t respond. The Forest Dwellers grunted again. The creature above her raised its fist again. She looked up. This was the end, she knew. When these monsters attacked, they killed everything. Animals, plants, and particularly humans. No one survived.

Closing her eyes, Aerbrin forced her body to relax. This time, there was no pain."

Guest Post by Author L.G. Rollins!!!! True Love's Counterfeit

Today we have a Guest Blog Post by Author L.G. Rollins. Her  new book,  Shadows of Angels, just came out on the 8th!!!!!! Immediately following this I will post a review of her book and a chance for you to win a copy of the e-book!

Desperate Love: True Love's Counterfeit

by L.G. Rollins

I have worked for many years with high-school girls in my community. Some are out-going and bright; others are reserved, sweet, and wise. But there is one thing that is the same for every girl I have ever met—I would argue, every girl that has ever lived.

All girls have to feel loved.

We crave it. We die without it. We all need love in our lives. I'm not talking strictly about romantic love. I mean any kind of love. The love between a mother and daughter, or the love between teacher and student, and even the love between friends. We create love, and we call out for love.

But, unfortunately, love is not always given back. And seeing girls who receive love abundantly and girls who don't, has changed my ideas of what love is and how it effects us. Most certainly, it molded a particular character I wrote of in my novel Shadows of Angels. Hilfawn's relationships with others is largely driven by her need to prove herself worthy of love and respect. I wrote her like that, because I've seen it—heavens, I've done it—many times over.

"All girls have to feel loved. When they don't find it at home, desperation will drive them to do almost anything."

~ Lady Teepin, in Shadows of Angels by L. G. Rollins

If Hilfawn were my own daughter, this is what I'd tell her:

Hold your head high, you don't have to prove anything. You do deserve love. You do deserve respect. Not because of how you look, how you dress, or how much skin you're willing to show. It's not because of what you've done, or what you haven't done. You deserve love because you're a human being, because you live.

And here's the secret.

You must love yourself enough that you can live on your own love until someone comes along who knows how to love you the right way. Hold out until you meet that someone who knows that love, at its core, is based on goodness, not selfishness.

Hold out—love will find you.

But you must help it along by loving yourself enough to not buy into a desperate love in the mean time. If someone says they love you, but they hurt you as often as not, you are in a 'desperate love' and not a 'true love' relationship.

True Love only comes to those who are truly kind.

Help love find you by showing yourself respect in the way you dress and in the things you say. If you hang out with those who tear others down, then they are tearing you down. Find friends who know this secret.

I wish I could tell every girl this. I wish every girl knew how much she's worth—how much love she truly has to give.

Just hold out a little longer. Love's coming your way. Just love yourself until it reaches you.

About Rollins:

L. G. Rollins grew up in a far off land fighting dragons, stealing talismans, and traveling with dwarfs and elves. She is especially skilled at bribing giants with sweets. Currently, her husband and four kids live in Utah so that is where she spends most of her time. She may, or may not, have a Zaad Stone. To learn more about L. G. Rollins and her books visit LGRollins.com.

Note From Jenelle: I loved Rollins' point at the beginning about love coming in many different forms. Love between spouses, love between parent and child, siblings, friends, etc.

Some relationships are full of love, some are not. Remember though, that no matter your relationship status with any of these, there is One who will always truly love you. And that is a love you don't have to wait for. He has already proven it.

Small miracles for me, my reading, and my popcorn

My small miracle. 

A couple of years ago I found a book that looked awesome! I went to Costco, bought it, and immediately started reading The Selection. I had also bought a bag of Angie's kettle corn while I was there, and found that it was a good, light reading time snack.

Well, the book was really good so I went on to the next in the series, The Elite . . .  and some more Angie's popcorn.

By the time I got to the last in the series, The One, it was obvious that Angie's and The Selection series should go together. Seriously, when I read these books I can taste Angie's Kettle Corn.

Then Tragedy Struck!

Costco stopped carrying Angie's popcorn. 

What the crud?! That happens, though. Nothing stays on Costco's shelves for long.

I consoled myself with the thought that, "At least the book series is finished, so I won't have to worry about that."

Fast forward a year or so, and an amazing thing happened! Angie's was back at Costco! New look, but hopefully the same old taste!

Woohoo! I love this popcorn. It is sweet without being too sweet, it is salty without being too salty, it is light and not too heavy for a snack. It's perfect! 

I wondered if maybe I'd just have to re-read The Selection books for old times sake. BUT NO! AWESOMENESS STRIKES AGAIN!

A fourth book in the Selection series! WHAT?!  And released at the same time that Costco starts to carry Angie's again!

It's like it was "Meant to Be."

You've got to pay attention to the little miracles!

Haha, what a crazy post this is.

On a side note, I am saving The Heir and my Angie's popcorn until I am done with the book I am currently reading. And if I finish the whole series I am in then it will take forever. Seriously, there are something like 16 books in this other series. Holy crow, right? And I tend to take my time while reading. So if you read the Heir before I do, don't talk to me about it. No spoilers!