My Bookish Life: Modern Etiquette and Me – ten tips to being a good guest

“Have fun, be grateful, and always show respect to your host.”

The holiday season is upon us and that means there may be a lot of family gatherings happening over the coming month. I thought this would be the perfect time to share some tidbits from Myka Meier’s debut book Modern Etiquette Made Easy so that you can be the perfect guest when visiting your friends and spending time with your extended family.

Book Review: Say Hello Kiss Goodbye by Jacquelyn Middleton

Synopsis: Leia Scott has sworn off love. Fresh from a divorce from her hockey player ex, the twenty-six-year-old fashion designer temporarily trades New York for London to heal and embrace her freedom. To protect her heart, steer clear of relationships, and say yes to flings without strings. She throws herself into designing upcycled dresses and exploring London with her sister. But Leia’s carefully curated plan encounters a flirty complication with an irresistible British accent.

Wealthy, charming, and devastatingly attractive, Tarquin Balfour is tired of meaningless hookups and dates that go nowhere. He craves love and commitment, to prove his kind heart matters more than the abundance of zeroes attached to his bank balance. Struggling with undiagnosed depression, Tarquin worries he’ll never find The One…until he meets his princess, a Canadian fashion designer named Leia.

Afraid of falling in love and fearful of being alone, Leia and Tarquin enter into an entanglement that threatens to hurt them both.

Book Review: Bonds of Hope by Lynda Aicher

Synopsis: Quinn Andrews was once America’s sweetheart, and now has an opportunity to revive her career by playing a sexual submissive in a highly anticipated new series. Her hometown’s premier sex club, The Den, is the ideal place for a crash course. At first Marcus Reese is reluctant to take on Quinn’s erotic education, despite his intense attraction to the stunning starlet. While she fulfills his every command perfectly, she’s also a consummate actress—and Marcus is determined to uncover the real woman hidden behind the mask. When her training is over, Quinn will have to choose between continuing to play a part in her own life, or living by her own rules.

Teaser Tuesday: Bonds of Hope by Lynda Aicher

Bonds of Hope by Lynda Aicher

No funning away in denial from him. A man didn’t get what he wanted by refusing to acknowledge it.

She caught that word. Harm, not hurt. It was different… he’d hurt her. But he hadn’t harmed her. That was the difference.

My Bookish Life: Modern Etiquette and Me – dining

“We practice good table manners to simply show respect to those we are dining with.”

Every country has its own rules about dining. In her book Modern Etiquette Made Easy author Myka Meier discusses the dining etiquette of three countries in the western world: American, Continental, and British. Myka usually teaches Continental because it can be used relatively well in all of America (the continent) and much of Europe.

From what I would gather, Canadian etiquette may pull from all three. As we are part of the Common Wealth we are heavily influenced by British etiquette, however because we are close neighbours with the States some of their American ways will have seeped in too. Our country is fairly multi-cultural, hence the addition of some Continental traits. I also wouldn’t be surprised if some things we just made up ourselves for the fun of it.

Myka Meier also suggests practicing at home so it becomes natural. That way we will not be self-conscious and can then focus on being social and conversing, as well as actually enjoying our meals. From personal experience, you need to know how to use your utensils “properly” well in advance or your food might go flying across the table when you’re at a formal dinner. You’ll want to read the book or check out Myka Meier’s YouTube Channel, as she gives a lot of helpful instructions to ensure you feel elegant rather than an embarrassment.

Book Review: Fourteen Days Later by Sibel Hodge

Synopsis: When accident-prone Helen Grey finds a thong stuffed into the pocket of her boyfriend’s trousers, it’s time for her to move on. Helen’s life is propelled in an unexpected direction after her best friend, Ayshe, sets her a fourteen-day life-changing challenge. Helen receives a task everyday which she must complete without question. The tasks are designed to build her confidence and boost her self-esteem but all they seem to do is push her closer to Ayshe’s brother, Kalem. Is it really possible to change your life in fourteen days?

Teaser Tuesday: Fourteen Days Later by Sibel Hodge

Fourteen Days Later by Sibel Hodge

It was no use. I couldn’t sleep… Even the sheep I’d started trying to count had all got bored and run off down the grassy knoll for some chow.

I lay in bed the next morning, staring at the ceiling, deliberating whether it was actually possible to meet a normal guy once you reach the age of thirty.

My Bookish Life: Modern Etiquette and Me – networking

“Know who you want to speak with, but how you approach them is just as important.”

We all know networking is a task, so Myka Meier turned it into an acronym of how to network more efficiently. Her method is something I plan to use over the course of this school year, not only among my classmates but also at any events we have to attend. Considering part of the program is on event planning, I’m assuming there will be at least a couple despite the pandemic.

Myka simplifies networking to T.A.S.K. —which stands for Target, Approach, Start Conversation, Keep Conversing— and then breaks it down into how to do that. Something to keep in mind, though, is to avoid clumps of people standing close together or only focusing on each other as their body language indicates they are not open to additions. Instead, search for people who are standing alone or groups with space for another person.

Book Review: Royally Hung by Anne Marsh

Synopsis: Fairy tales always have a Prince Charming and a bad guy. In real life, Prince Charming is the bad guy and his favorite happy ending is the big O. I’m Prince Dare but you can call me Prince Charming. Cinderella never wanted the prince–she wanted a night out, a banging dress, and some midnight fun. I deliver that. I make being bad look way more fun than being good, and no one leaves my royal bed without a happy ending.

When my uncle, the reigning king of Vale, orders me to marry and offers to make me the heir to the throne, I’m thrown for a loop. I’m the spare, the extra, the free gift with purchase. I can’t be the hero and I won’t be the villain who knocks his brother off the throne, so I’ve come up with an evil plan of my own…

I’ll marry someone completely unsuitable to take myself out of the running. The only problem? My suitably unroyal bride is far too tempting to resist–Edee is funny, sweet, and sexy. And best of all, she’s American. It’s a great plan. Everything’s working out just fine until reality starts to intrude on my fantasy and for the first time ever, I wish fairy tales did come true.

My Bookish Life: Modern Etiquette and Me – wow factor

“You are enough, you have enough.”

Last week I talked about the wow factor and a couple of tips Myka Meier gives for becoming that charismatic person you always wanted to be. You can check it out here. This week I will be continuing on this theme with a few more tips found in her book Modern Etiquette Made Easy and how I am trying to do them too.