Book Review - Mommy Midwife - Cassie Miles

Title:  Mommy Midwife

Author: Cassie Miles

Review:  This is not a large book and it starts well.  I enjoyed the story and the romance even though most of it was right before the baby was born, but a few things bothered me. 

I didn’t like that it moved so fast and seemed to miss important details and things I wanted to know.  Her parents had amazing lives and her sister also and yet the author just alluded to those and left the reader hanging.

Also the ending was too fast for me…I wanted more and I wanted the author to spend more time on the ending and not rush it like she did.

I think this book is good except for what I stared above and I believe this author can improve her stories by giving them more dimensions and time.  Fifty or more pages would have been reasonable and made a much more pulled together book that many readers would enjoy.  With the back-story of both characters and especially her family, I think this could have been a much better book and more fulfilling to the reader.

Publisher: Published August 7th 2012 by Harlequin(first published August 1st 2012)

ISBN: 9780373696352

Copyright: 2012

Pages: 224

Quick Review: 3 stars (out of 5)-

 Why I Read It:  Sent by the publisher for review.

Synopsis:  Staying several moves ahead has kept Troy Weathers alive in the world's most explosive hot spots. So when this marine learns that Olivia Laughton is being stalked, he immediately takes her and their unborn child on the run. His instincts tell him it will require more than skill to keep them safe—and to prove just how much he wants to stay in their lives. Olivia has no problem trusting Troy to keep her safe, or following his orders. It's believing their one night together was more than just a passionate fling that seems riskiest of all. Still, with time running out and an unsuspected enemy closing in, Olivia knows Troy is her best chance at survival…and their baby's only shot at a promising future.

 

Author Biography : Cassie grew up in a small town at the very tip of southern Illinois. A tomboy, she spent most of her time outside and got into big trouble for breaking the trellis while climbing out her second-story bedroom window.

When her family moved to L.A., major culture shock ensued. She discovered that grapefruits grew on trees, television offered more than two channels, and all the other girls had breasts. While hiding out and waiting for her chest to develop, she read voraciously, raiding her mother's bookshelf for Mickey Spillane when she finished all her Nancy Drew novels.

Another move took her family to Denver, the place Cassie still calls home.

She graduated from North Central college outside Chicago, got married, and returned to Colorado where she worked in personnel at the Denver Post and lived in a mountain cabin without running water. Upon learning she was pregnant, a return to civilization seemed prudent. She settled in Denver, raised two amazing daughters, and started writing for Harlequin. After her divorce, she took a break from romance and wrote straight suspense.

During her frantic years as a single mom, writing books and working odd jobs to supplement her income, she hardly had time to breathe, much less to dream. Then something remarkable happened. She fell in love with a tall, sexy man who was an aerial photographer and the author of tough-guy mystery novels. Fortunately, he loved her back. She found her real-life hero, inherited three more grown kids and three grandchildren.

Cassie started writing romance again, loving every minute of a life filled with laughter, crazy road trips, sailboats, and journeys to Oregon with long walks on rocky beaches.

Not too long ago, the love of her life developed inoperable pancreatic cancer. With supportive friends and family standing by, he died at home.

Cassie now lives alone, surrounded by beautiful memories. She has no regrets and considers herself lucky to have found her soul mate, the man with whom she shared a perfect love.

TLC Tour - Book Review - Outlaw Platoon - Sean Parnell

Title: Outlaw Platoon: Heroes, Renegades, Infidels, and the Brotherhood of War in Afghanistan

Author: Sean Parnell with John R. Bruning

Review: If you want insight what is actually going on in Afghanistan and our troops you could not do better than Outlaw Platoon which follows a platoon from the Army’s 10th Mountain Division.  Told from a first person point of view from the platoon’s leader Lieutenant Parnell it brings the war to life, especially all of the men (or boys in some cases) that served in 2006.  You get to know these guys intimately and genuinely care about their well being and their futures.

Written in the tradition of David Hackworth’s great books about Vietnam, you follow these guys through their entire assignment in Bermel Afghanistan which is righton the Pakistan border.  Without losing the flow of the story Parnell highlights the major battles and incidences his soldiers faced.  He puts you right into the action letting you know what these guys both physically and mentally suffered for their mission.

What amazes me with all these accounts of modern war, the enemies America face generally follow the same plan.  They make up for organization and firepower by sheer volume of troops.  If you send enough guys forward with enough small arms, eventually you will hit someone.  Much how I play Halo, just keep taking shots as fast as I can and eventually I will get lucky.  Whereas America believes in a well-trained force who are well-equipped.  This plays out with the Outlaw Platoon as they suffer very few casualties over their deployment, but do receive a lot of wounds.  Yet they manage to kill a lot of the opposing force with much less men.  

What is hard to read is the enemy’s treatment of the Afghani people they come across; they think nothing of the torture and murder of the citizenry.  Plus it is shocking to see the treatment the Afghani’s will give the American troops at times.  The enemy is killing them yet they will stand by and let bad things happen to the troops that could have been prevented.  The loan death in the platoon is truly devastating because of this indifference; it could have easily been prevented.  

Then the major flaw of modern war is the desire to be civilized about it, especially when your enemy has no interest in that.  When their operating base is being shelled nonstop by the enemy and you are not allowed to fire back.  Why?  Well the enemy is sitting right across the border in Pakistan; are supposed ally in this war, with Pakistani troops making themselves human shields for the enemy.  According to the treaties we are teammates in this conflict, when the evidence on the ground is they are clearly not.  Yet we obey the treaty and just let men get killed in order not to offend.  It is this desire to fight a friendly war that is the largest cause of troop suffering.

My only dislike of this book is the macho posturing I see in all books of this type; that this platoon was the best and not only were they were the best everyone else were detrimental to the cause of the real soldiers.  Especially noticeable was the description of the Fobbits, the term for the support staff that stay at the base of operations to maintain the troops who did go on patrol.  These are the soldiers who cook the meals, maintain the vehicles, get in the supplies, and all the other tasks that are required to support the combat troops.  While I do not doubt there are a lot of less desirable people in the mix, and the author describes several of them, a vast majority are there giving up their life for this deployment doing all they can to serve these combat troops and their country with honor.  By only focusing on the jerks of the bunch he paints them all with a broad brushstroke of shame. Like their service was less than everyone else’s.  Hackworth referred to these guys as REMF’s in his books.

This is a great book to get a frontline understanding of the Afghanistan war from the eyes of our combat troops.  You will come away with a new view of the stories and politicking you see coming out of Washington and the mass media.

Publisher: William Morrow

ISBN: 978-0-06-206640-4

Copyright: 2012

Pages: 372

Quick Review: 3.5 stars out of 5

Why I Read It: Enjoy a good non-fiction book

Where I Obtained the Book: Sent to me by the publisher for review

Synopsis: Former Army officer Parnell and collaborator Bruning (Shadow of the Sword) reprise Parnell’s 16 months as an infantry platoon leader in Afghanistan in this heartfelt memoir. In 2006, Parnell and his 10th Mountain Division platoon, the self-styled Outlaws, arrived in Afghanistan’s Bermel Valley, which borders Pakistan. Their mission was “to stanch the flow of enemy troops and supplies into Afghanistan.” Besides their 32 Purple Hearts, the platoon—which “usually patrolled with about 30 men... loaded into six Humvees”—earned seven Bronze Stars and 12 Army Commendations for Valor, making it one of the most decorated units in the Afghan war. Parnell vividly captures the sounds, sights, and smells of combat, and proves most eloquent when describing the bond—“selflessness was our secret weapon”—that developed among his men. Studiously nonpartisan, Parnell still raises important questions about Afghan president Hamid Karzai’s integrity, the competence of the Afghan police, and the sincerity of our Pakistani “allies.” Parnell balances sentimentality with sincerity and crisp prose to produce one of the Afghan war’s most moving combat narratives.

Author Biography:   Sean Parnell is a former U.S. Army airborne ranger who served in the legendary 10th Mountain Division for six years, retiring as a captain. He received two Bronze Stars (one for valor) and the Purple Heart. He is a passionate supporter of America's military and is currently serving as an ambassador for the Boot Campaign, a national veteran's charity. He lives with his wife and three children in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

John R. Bruning is the author or coauthor of fifteen nonfiction books, including the critically acclaimed Shadow of the Sword and House to House. To prepare for this book, he embedded with coalition forces in Afghanistan in 2010....

John Bruning is the author or coauthor of fifteen nonfiction books, including the critically acclaimed Shadow of the Sword (with Jeremiah Workman) and House to House (with David Bellavia). To prepare for this book, he embedded with coalition forces in Afghanistan in 2010. He lives in Oregon with his wife and two children.

Other Reviews:

Veterans United
Huffington Post

Book Review - Design Your Own Destiny - Mary A Molloy

Title:  Design Your Own Destiny: Life Planning for the 21st Century

Author: Mary A Molloy

Review:  I was a bit skeptical of this book at first.  I had read, The Secret, and some of that was just so out there it was hard to take it seriously.  This book is a bit more down to earth, but a similar feeling on the fact that positive attitude and behavior begets positive attitude and behavior.  I read the first few chapters and decided to try the visualization at night of letting the negative go and soaking up the positive.   I am a substitute teacher and was in a difficult room for a few weeks with EBD middle schoolers….tough room to say the least and a few times I thought of just walking out and going home.  Well I worked on letting go of the negative and soaking in the positive every morning and night.  I would plan on having a fabulous day and I thought about that all day and even with problems and chairs flying at my head I did have a great day.

Also I decided to try positive thinking with other areas and I entered two writing contests on-line that were free.  I won a consolation prize on the first and 2^nd prize on the second.  So I now have a signed copy of a best-seller from the author and $50 GC to Amazon.  Talk about positive bringing more positive into my life.  Also I decided that I needed to work less, because of grad school, and yet make more money.  Two days later I was in a long-term situation where the pay is always better.

Now you may think this was all luck…maybe…but I think it was the positive thinking and I will be doing that from now on…I enjoy things more and I am a happier person to be around…if that is all I get out of the book then it was worth reading it.  I would suggest this to everyone out there.

Along with the first few chapters I used in my life, there is planning sheets for planning your life.  This is a great idea of anyone and when I have more time I plan on using them more fully. 

Get this book and GET A LIFE ----- For Real!!!

Publisher: Published September 15th 2012 by TRB Press

ISBN: 9780985379674

Copyright: 2012

Pages: 170

Quick Review: 5 stars (out of 5)-

 Why I Read It:  Sent by the author for review.

Synopsis: What if you could have the life you always wanted? What if it wasn't as hard as you thought? What if instead of always asking What if? you decided to dive in and design the destiny of your dreams? That opportunity is here now in Design Your Own Destiny: Life Planning for the 21st Century.

Whether it's looking for a job or trying to figure out the next steps to take in a relationship, award-winning author, speaker and life-planner Mary A. Molloy takes readers to a place where possibilities become realities. Combining years of experience working with Fortune 500 companies and clients all over the globe, Mary provides the answers to how people can make it happen. Examining the complete life with deeper connections Molloy helps people to:

o Find work/life balance

o Create tangible goals

o Put plans into action

o See results and measure success

Whether it's changing roles, changing perspectives or challenging the status quo, Mary helps readers take control and not leave what is most important to chance. She shows readers step-by-step how to break down the complex process of changing one's life so that everyone gets a personalized and manageable way to make their dreams happen.

Inspired by a talk she gave to twenty-five homeless women - many of whom took her Life Designs and were able to leave the shelter - Design Your Own Destiny will help you create the life you want to lead!

 

Author Biography:  Mary A. Molloy is a speaker, life planner, business owner and award-winning author. She knows how to communicate strategies that lead to success. Whether working with IBM and leading training workshops with companies like HP/Compaq Computer Corporation, Microsoft, Motorola, Siemens Healthcare or one-on-one; from New Zealand to Korea and even back home in America her extensive travels and experience speaking to tens of thousands of people give her a special perspective. Mary is able to assist people in seeing their potential and how to reach their goals and dreams. She has been recognized for her achievements through the YWCA s Woman of the Year Award and Digital Equipment Corporation s Instructor Excellence Award. Her previous book (co-authored with Michael K. Molloy), The Buck Starts Here: Sales and Marketing Made Easy, was a Clarion Award winner.

Monday in my mailbox

What did you read this week?   What would you like to read?
“Ready For PREtirement: Everything You Need To Know NOW So Your Money Is There When You Need It” is a comprehensive guide designed to help you plan for retirement NOW.  Retirement planning can be scary, confusing and overwhelming, especially if you wait until you’re faced with a family medical emergency. It is during these unexpected situations that people often make foolish decisions because of the stress and pressure to make a quick choice.

But a little planning goes a long way.  The worksheets and tools included in “Ready For PREtirement” make it easy to get started.  Learn how to create a Living Will and a Living Trust.  Designate Guardians for your young children and make sure that your family is cared for, even if you can’t be here to take care of them yourself.

While older people have pressing financial planning issues related to age and health, retirement planning isn’t just for Seniors.  Author Kris Miller taps into her vast Estate Planning experience and explains why you should get started now – even in your 20’s, 30’s, and 40’s.

“Ready For PREtirement” is designed to offer – in easy-to-understand terms – an overview of all the financial decisions that everyone will need to make at some point in their lives.  From writing a will to creating a trust, from the proper way to hold property to selecting low-risk investments, this book provides necessary financial guidance for everyone. For those who haven’t even started their PREtirement planning yet, “Ready For PREtirement,” will serve as the first step.

So get started and get “Ready For PREtirement.”

An ambitious intern. A perfectionist executive. And a whole lot of name calling. Discover the story that garnered more than two million reads online.

Whip-smart, hardworking, and on her way to an MBA, Chloe Mills has only one problem: her boss, Bennett Ryan. He’s exacting, blunt, inconsiderate—and completely irresistible. A Beautiful Bastard.

Bennett has returned to Chicago from France to take a vital role in his family’s massive media business. He never expected that the assistant who’d been helping him from abroad was the gorgeous, innocently provocative—completely infuriating—creature he now has to see every day. Despite the rumors, he’s never been one for a workplace hookup. But Chloe’s so tempting he’s willing to bend the rules—or outright smash them—if it means he can have her. All over the office.

As their appetites for one another increase to a breaking point, Bennett and Chloe must decide exactly what they’re willing to lose in order to win each other. Originally only available online as The Office by tby789—and garnering over two million reads on fan fiction sites—Beautiful Bastard has been extensively updated for re-release.

The third psychological thriller from No 1 bestselling Swedish crime sensation Camilla Läckberg.

The remote resort of Fjällbacka has seen its share of tragedy, though perhaps none worse than that of the little girl found in a fisherman's net. But the post-mortem reveals that this is no accidental drowning…

Local detective Patrik Hedström has just become a father. It is his grim task to discover who could be behind the methodical murder of a child both he and his partner, Erica, knew well.

He knows the solution lies with finding a motive for this terrible crime. What he does not know is how this case will reach into the dark heart of Fjällbacka and tear aside its idyllic façade, perhaps forever.

A rich tale of power and forbidden love revolving around a young medieval queen

In 1002, fifteen­-year-old Emma of Normandy crosses the Narrow Sea to wed the much older King Athelred of England, whom she meets for the first time at the church door. Thrust into an unfamiliar and treacherous court, with a husband who mistrusts her, stepsons who resent her and a bewitching rival who covets her crown, Emma must defend herself against her enemies and secure her status as queen by bearing a son.

Determined to outmaneuver her adversaries, Emma forges alliances with influential men at court and wins the affection of the English people. But her growing love for a man who is not her husband and the imminent threat of a Viking invasion jeopardize both her crown and her life.

Based on real events recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Shadow on the Crown introduces readers to a fascinating, overlooked period of history and an unforgettable heroine whose quest to find her place in the world will resonate with modern readers.
Former Army officer Parnell and collaborator Bruning (Shadow of the Sword) reprise Parnell’s 16 months as an infantry platoon leader in Afghanistan in this heartfelt memoir. In 2006, Parnell and his 10th Mountain Division platoon, the self-styled Outlaws, arrived in Afghanistan’s Bermel Valley, which borders Pakistan. Their mission was “to stanch the flow of enemy troops and supplies into Afghanistan.” Besides their 32 Purple Hearts, the platoon—which “usually patrolled with about 30 men... loaded into six Humvees”—earned seven Bronze Stars and 12 Army Commendations for Valor, making it one of the most decorated units in the Afghan war. Parnell vividly captures the sounds, sights, and smells of combat, and proves most eloquent when describing the bond—“selflessness was our secret weapon”—that developed among his men. Studiously nonpartisan, Parnell still raises important questions about Afghan president Hamid Karzai’s integrity, the competence of the Afghan police, and the sincerity of our Pakistani “allies.” Parnell balances sentimentality with sincerity and crisp prose to produce one of the Afghan war’s most moving combat narratives.

Book Feature - The Drought - Steven Scaffardi

Title:  The Drought

Author: Steven Scaffardi

Summary:
Dan Hilles is a pretty regular kind of guy - regular job, regular bunch of mates, regular male aversion to shopping. But following his break-up with long-term girlfriend, Stacey, he finds himself single again. He's been out of the game for a while and is a little out of practice. Soon, the very irregular and increasingly worrying issue in Dan's life is the extended drought he finds himself suffering. And we're not talking the climate change, scorched earth, God I'm parched variety.

You've got to hand it to Dan though - it certainly isn't from a lack of trying. With stalwart mates Ollie, Jack and Rob on hand to lend their collective pearls of male wisdom and arrange the odd road trip, you'd think Dan's days of languishing in a sexual wilderness would be numbered. You'd think...

Even best friends can't help prevent the kind of surreal holes Dan just can't seem to help digging himself into. And with each failed attempt, his self-esteem plummets to the point where he wonders if 'little Dan' will ever work again.

Good job he has Kelly, his reliable and sympathetic colleague, to confide in. As a woman, she can perhaps shed some female light on why he's failing so miserably with the opposite sex, balancing out the testosterone-fuelled 'advice' from the lads. Surely Dan can't go wrong with Kelly teaching him the various intricacies of a woman's mind. You'd think...

Steven Scaffardi's first novel will have every guy laughing out loud in recognition and every girl secretly worrying - is this how men really think? A new talent to watch out for on the 'lad-lit' scene.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: STEVEN SCAFFARDI
"But a man wouldn't do or say that!" 

This was a common rant that could often be heard coming from the lips of Steven Scaffardi over the last couple of years after he was forced to endure yet another rom-com movie at the hands of his girlfriend.

"And he definitely wouldn't turn into a vampire or a werewolf! That is just plain ridiculous!"

So after suffering yet another Matthew McConaughey chick-flick, Steven decided enough was enough and it was time to stand up for men the world over and write a book that spoke about the male perspective on relationships, and The Drought was born...

Published in September 2011, Steven's debut novel The Drought received fantastic praise for its hilarious take on how the male mind works when it comes to the opposite sex, being labelled chick-lit for men.

To help promote the book, Steven took to the open mic stand-up comedy scene in and around London, sharing his funny observations and self-deprecating humour about life as a 30-something man.

Steven is now busy working on his second novel, a follow-up to The Drought called The One That Got Away. He is hoping to emulate the success of fellow lad-lit writers such as Mike Gayle, Danny Wallace, Nick Spalding, and the undisputed king of lad-lit, Nick Hornby. 

WEBSITE: http://stevenscaffardi.blogspot.co.uk/

GIVEAWAY: If you have an e-reader you can download the book for free at Smashwords. Go to this link https://www.smashwords.com/books/view... and type in the promotional code 'WF86L' prior to completing the check-out. Feel free to pass the promotional code on anyone you might know! Offer ends on March 15, 2013.

Book Feature Friday - Moon Hoax - Paul Gillebaard

Title: Moon Hoax

Author: Paul Gillebaard

Summary: In Paul’s brilliant debut novel, Moon Hoax, China claims the U.S. never landed on the moon and they have proof. Losing worldwide prestige and letting one of man’s greatest achievements simply be erased is not an option for the United States. Moon Hoax is a magnificent tale of seemingly doing the impossible, sending an American back to the moon... Today.

Reviews: “I finally got around to reading Moon Hoax. It was a fantastic read. I could hardly put it down. Some twists and turns in the plot that I didn't expect. Thoroughly enjoyed it.” - Charlie Duke, the 10th man on the moon.

 

Author bio: Paul Gillebaard is a business owner, high school track coach, parent, and author. He received his Mechanical Engineering Degree from California State University, Fullerton and has operated his own engineering company since 2002. Paul lived in Nassau Bay, TX during the moon shot years, home for many of the Apollo astronauts. Living among these men who would make history inspired Paul to write Moon Hoax. Paul currently resides in Orange County, CA with his wife and two children.

Website: http://www.moonhoaxbook.com

Book Review - The Books They Gave Me - Jen Adams

Title:       The Books TheyGave Me

Author:  Jen Adams

Review:  This is a book about books.  Books that people have been given and how their lives were changed or touched by these books.  I enjoyed reading about the different books, especially the ones I had read and how they affected their lives.

I was given the book, Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein, when I was younger by my Aunt Pat.  I loved that book and read it every night until I had every poem there memorized.  This book really opened my eyes to the funny things that people say, do and other peoples imagination.  I read and I laughed and I loved that book and the others that followed it.  What a wonderful gift that I have now given to my children to enjoy.  I love books because they are gifts that keep giving…year after year after year.

This book reminds me of the Post Secret Series of books, which I love.   This is a book about books that anyone who reads and enjoys the written word will also love.  I may not have agreed with everyone’s ideas of why the books were important, but I respect their opinions and enjoyed the insight it gave me into those books, even the ones I have read.

Publisher: Published November 6th 2012 by Atria Books

ISBN: 9781451688795

Copyright: 2012

Pages:  256

Quick Review: 4 stars (out of 5)

Why I Read It:  I thought it sounded interesting.

Where I Obtained the Book:  Sent by the publisher for review.

Synopsis:  THE GIFT OF A BOOK BECOMES PART OF THE STORY OF YOUR LIFE. Perhaps it came with a note as simple as “This made me think of you,” but it takes up residence in your heart and your home. The Books They Gave Me is a mixtape of stories behind books given and received. Some of the stories are poignant, some snarky, some romantic, some disastrous—but all are illuminating. Jen Adams collected nearly two hundred of the most provocative stories submitted to the tumblr blog TheBooksTheyGaveMe.com to capture the many ways books can change our lives and loves, revealing volumes about the relationships that inspired the gifts. These stories are, by turns, romantic, cynical, funny, dark, and hopeful. There’s the poorly thought out gift of Lolita from a thirty-year-old man to a teenage girl. There’s the couple who tried to read Ulysses together over the course of their long-distance relationship and never finished it. There’s the girl whose school library wouldn’t allow her to check out Fahrenheit 451, but who received it at Christmas with the note, “Little Sister: Read everything you can. Subvert Authority! Love always, your big brother.” These are stories of people falling in love, regretting mistakes, and finding hope. Together they constitute a love letter to the book as physical object and inspiration.

Illustrated in full color with the jackets of beloved editions, The Books They Gave Me is, above all, an uplifting testament to the power of literature.

 

Author Biography:   After a decade and a half spent in Chicago, where she worked as a freelance writer and served as a founding contributing editor of Digital Scrapbooking Magazine, Jennifer Adams moved to New York to be closer to The Strand. She is at work on a variety of projects, including a zombie novel for middle-grades readers. She blogs sporadically at Jen-Adams.com. She lives in Astoria, New York, and is the mother of two boys.

Other Reviews:

Lesa's Books

Book Hounds

Book Review - Doggone - D M Buckley

Title:  Doggone                  

Author: D M Buckley

Review:   I thought this book sounded fun with the animals in it, I had just read a cat book so thought it was time for a Doggie book.

The main character is Lexie, along with her sometimes weird  friends, family and the characters she meets along the way, as she  weaves her way through the day just trying to live life.

The story opens with Lexie out of work, after having quit the zoo as a zoo keeper.  This was an in between job while “looking” for a better one.  She really loved the zoo job until it came to cleaning up Elephant poop and that was it.  So now Lexie is out of work, bored and looking for trouble, which, of course she finds.

As the book progresses we meet Lexie’s eccentric family, her Aunt Scarlett, a fading beauty with a salty personality, who loves to rescue animals of all types from Bubba to Henrietta Chickenhead!  She is demanding but loving to Lexie. 

Houty-a handy man to “Miss Scarlett” who has been with her for five years.  No information can be found about him on the “web” and so Darcie, Lexie’s, nutty friend for life, decides he is under cover mob or worse.

 The author is a very good story teller, she weaves a good tale and I am sure the story would have played out well if I had finished it.  I did not finish reading the book, because of the use of coarse language that did not really build the characters.  It did not add to the story nor in anyway enhance the experience of the story.

The author is very talented and should go right on writing but realize that the language added nothing to these characters personalities or to the story, and it would still have been a fun story without it.

I give this book a three out of five stars but only because of the language.  If language doesn’t get in your way, go for it, as the storytelling is great, the characters are full of life, and the story moves with energy.

If you are an animal lover you will especially enjoy Lexie and her trying to figure out what to do with the new kitten when she is called upon to care for her!

The story line is good fun and reminds me of a story teller that takes his story from the top of his head and weaves a magical tale to keep you enthralled.

Thank Eileen for this review.

Publisher: Published (first published April 21st 1012)

ISBN: B0050Z381I

Copyright: 2012

Pages: Kindle Edition

Quick Review: 3 stars (out of 5)-

 Why I Read It:  Sent by the author for review.

Synopsis: Thirty-two year old Lexi O’Malley, a boring software programmer by trade, was out of work, out of money, full of attitude and looking for a new career. When her eccentric Aunt Scarlet calls and shames her into helping search for Bubba, her missing, big, dopey, black Lab, she figures she might as well add out of luck to the mix since dog detective wasn’t exactly the great new profession she had in mind.

In the process of tending to her familial obligation, she finds Bubba beaten nearly to death and after Aunt Scarlet’s home is ransacked she accidentally learns her aunt’s handyman is not who he professes to be. While playing amateur sleuth, she’s shot at, pursued by thugs, crashes her car, finds her apartment burned to the ground and discovers that even though she’s short on expertise and not all that brave, she’s a master fibber and can hold her own in a crisis.

 

Author Biography:  "When I was a kid I had lots of imaginary friends and we went on all kinds of crazy adventures, so I guess you could say the transition into writing wasn't all that big of a leap."

When asked if Lexi O'Malley, her main character, was modeled after herself, she responds "Absolutely! Just a younger, smarter, thinner, fearless version." As to her partners in crime, she simply smiles and says "They know who they are."

D. M. (Donna Marie) Buckley was born and raised, and still lives in Tampa Florida with her husband and two cats, where she is currently hard at work on Twocan Sam, the next Lexi O'Malley adventure.

Other Reviews:

Goodreads Reviews

Amazon Reviews

Products We Love Review - Kikkerland Mustache Keychain with Sound

Item: Kikkerland KRL31TC Mustache Keychain with Sound

Company: Kikkerland

Review:  My sister gave this silly key chain to my husband as part of his Christmas present.  I thought how stupid is that and a waste of money…but no I was wrong.  This little key chain has caused some funny conversations and we laugh every time he puts it up to his face, the dogs, face or wherever and pushes the button to hear it say "well helloooo there" in a deep sexy man’s voice. 

This is a fun novelty items that makes me laugh every time it comes out.  My husband keeps his Y membership card on it and loves to pull it out and push the button for whoever is around when he comes to workout.

I give this funny product 5 stars….fun, entertaining and always in Great Taste……who doesn’t need one of these fun lip caterpillers?

Product Features:

 Mustache shaped keychain

When button is pressed man's voice says "well helloooo there"

Fun, novelty design

3 button cell batteries included

Measures 3 by 1 by 0.5-Inch

Monday in my mailbox

What did you get in the mail this week?  I got a great new tote from Vera Bradley also....love it!!!
Gideon O’Riley has two wives—but he doesn’t know it. 
   
Settling into a simple life in the majestic Blue Ridge mountains, Lonnie and Gideon O’Riley have finally found happiness after the rocky start to their marriage. The roguish bluegrass musician has fallen in love with his gentle wife and the God she serves, and Lonnie rests secure in his tenderness for her and their young son. A heartless ruse interupts their peace, bringing them back to Rocky Knob—and forces them to face the claims of Cassie Allan, a woman who says she is Gideon’s rightful wife.

As Gideon wades into the depths of his past choices, Lonnie is stunned by the revelations. She has no choice but to navigate this new path, knowing that surviving the devastating blow will take every ounce of strength  she has.

While Gideon’s guilt  and his bitterness towards Cassie threatens to burn up his fledgling faith, Lonnie wrestles to find the courage to trust the God who brought them together in the first place. Will their hard-earned love be able to conquer all? 

Lonnie only wanted her husband’s love. Now that he belongs to another, can she surrender Gideon to a God with a bigger plan?THE GIFT OF A BOOK BECOMES PART OF THE STORY OF YOUR LIFE. Perhaps it came with a note as simple as “This made me think of you,” but it takes up residence in your heart and your home. The Books They Gave Me is a mixtape of stories behind books given and received. Some of the stories are poignant, some snarky, some romantic, some disastrous—but all are illuminating. Jen Adams collected nearly two hundred of the most provocative stories submitted to the tumblr blog TheBooksTheyGaveMe.com to capture the many ways books can change our lives and loves, revealing volumes about the relationships that inspired the gifts. These stories are, by turns, romantic, cynical, funny, dark, and hopeful. There’s the poorly thought out gift of Lolitafrom a thirty-year-old man to a teenage girl. There’s the couple who tried to read Ulysses together over the course of their long-distance relationship and never finished it. There’s the girl whose school library wouldn’t allow her to check out Fahrenheit 451, but who received it at Christmas with the note, “Little Sister: Read everything you can. Subvert Authority! Love always, your big brother.” These are stories of people falling in love, regretting mistakes, and finding hope. Together they constitute a love letter to the book as physical object and inspiration.

Illustrated in full color with the jackets of beloved editions, The Books They Gave Me is, above all, an uplifting testament to the power of literature.

A passionate historical debut novel about a young woman in turn-of-the-century England who finds love and independence at a seashore resort.

In Victorian London, there’s only so far an unmarried woman can go, and Betsey Dobson has relied on her wits and cunning to take herself as far as she can—to a position as a typewriter girl. But still, Betsey yearns for something more…so when she’s offered a position as the excursions manager at a seaside resort, she knows this is her chance for security, for independence, for an identity forged by her own work and not a man’s opinion. Underqualified for the job and on the wrong side of the aristocratic resort owner, Betsey struggles to prove herself and looks to the one person who can support her new venture: Mr. Jones, the ambitious Welshman building the resort’s pleasure fair. As she and Mr. Jones grow ever closer, Betsey begins to dream that she might finally have found her place in the world—but when her past returns to haunt her, she must fight for what she’s worked so hard…or risk losing everything.

This eloquent debut novel displays firm propriety barely restraining seething passion—a sizzling combination reminiscent of Downton Abbey.
"Hilarious and heart-wrenching, provocative and pitch-perfect, each story is a tiny, transgressive explosion. I feel inadequate to the task of expressing just how wonderful this book is...read it slowly, and listen close; here is a master storyteller at his finest."
–Justin Torres, author of We the Animals
Luis Negrón’s debut collection reveals the intimate world of a small community in Puerto Rico joined together by its transgressive sexuality. The writing straddles the shifting line between pure, unadorned storytelling and satire, exploring the sometimes hilarious and sometimes heartbreaking nature of survival in a decidedly cruel world.



A cautionary tale about finding love online and the trouble that comes with cheating. Bored with her humdrum married life, thirty-two-year-old Codi Norman is searching for excitement. After teaming up with her best friend, Katina, Codi discovers that the Internet offers both money and an escape from her earthly life. In cyberspace anything is possible, and that is what Codi loves most.

While online, she meets a charming and handsome man named Quinn Hamilton. Sparks fly and the two begin a torrid affair with unpredictable consequences. But their virtual lives collide with reality when their spouses discover their illicit relationship.







A Bonfire of the Vanities for our times, by an author who "knows her way around 21st-century wealth and power" (The Wall Street Journal) Since he married Merrill Darling, daughter of billionaire financier Carter Darling, attorney Paul Ross has grown accustomed to all the luxuries of Park Avenue. But a tragic event is about to catapult the Darling family into the middle of a massive financial investigation and a red-hot scandal. Suddenly, Paul must decide where his loyalties really lie.

Debut novelist Cristina Alger is a former analyst at Goldman Sachs, an attorney, and the daughter of a Wall Street financier. Drawing on her unique insider's perspective, Alger gives us an irresistible glimpse into the highest echelons of New York society—and a fast-paced thriller of epic proportions that powerfully echoes Claire Messud's The Emperor's Children and reads like a fictional Too Big to Fail.
Thirty-two year old Lexi O’Malley, a boring software programmer by trade, was out of work, out of money, full of attitude and looking for a new career. When her eccentric Aunt Scarlet calls and shames her into helping search for Bubba, her missing, big, dopey, black Lab, she figures she might as well add out of luck to the mix since dog detective wasn’t exactly the great new profession she had in mind.

In the process of tending to her familial obligation, she finds Bubba beaten nearly to death and after Aunt Scarlet’s home is ransacked she accidentally learns her aunt’s handyman is not who he professes to be. While playing amateur sleuth, she’s shot at, pursued by thugs, crashes her car, finds her apartment burned to the ground and discovers that even though she’s short on expertise and not all that brave, she’s a master fibber and can hold her own in a crisis.

Book Feature Friday - Rubber Band Girl - Jennifer Nielson

February is Marfan Awareness Month

Title:  Rubber Band Girl

Author:   JENNIFERBARNEY NIELSON

Published: January 2nd 2013 by Sourced Media Books

Synopsis:  When Jennifer Nielson's daughter, Hadley, is diagnosed with Marfan’s syndrome, a potentially fatal ligament disorder characterized by extreme height and joint flexibility, Jennifer is heartbroken. She soon discovers that events from Hadley’s early years and her own past have prepared her to face these obstacles head-on. Through trials large and small, Jennifer marvels at Hadley’s resiliency, consistent maturity, and sunny outlook on life epitomized by Hadley’s mantra: "I’m not tall. Everyone else is just short!"

Anyone who has experienced life's unexpected twists and turns will relate to this inspiring memoir, including parents with children suffering from disabilities. Readers will root for young Hadley as she navigates the uncertain path before her and challenges her physical limitations with an unbreakable spirit and a belief that no dream is beyond her reach.

Author Bio:  JENNIFER BARNEY NIELSON has always considered writing therapeutic, which is demonstrated by a large collection of journals she still has dating back to kindergarten. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Arizona State University with a degree in elementary education. A self-proclaimed "recovering" perfectionist, she has learned to fuse her creativity and energy to produce a successful home-based interior design business, teach music, travel the world, and raise a family. She and her husband, Talan, have five children and live in Gilbert, Arizona.

Praise:

"This beautifully written book will touch the hearts of all parents, especially those who have children with special needs."

--Shawni Eyre Pothier, author and National Young Mother of the Year, 2011

Happy Valentines Day

I hope you tell those you love how much you love them today!!!!

Book Review - Your Superpowers: Volume 1-Dream It, Achieve It - Steve Gardner

Title:  YourSuperpowers: Volume 1 Dream It, Achieve It

Author: Steve Gardner

Review:  My 13 year old son read this book and decided that he doesn’t need motivation to get things done.  He gets things done on his own and he knows he has worth in this world and a great self-esteem.  I asked about other kids who lacked self-esteem and he didn’t have an answer because why would they…he knows he's great so others would know they are…right?

Well for 13 he is very motivated in school, music and sports…he is not the typical kid that needs to read motivational books.  He gets his work done and practices all the time for music and sports…he really is a great kid.  So I approached him with questions of what he liked about the book.  He thought it would help other kids feel good about themselves if they didn’t already.  He also thought that the religious stuff was good because he believes all his friends believe in God and knowing he is there when you need him helps some kids get though the day.

He said that this book was like many he had heard about from other friends and that he didn’t need it but maybe others would….he already knows that he is amazing and can achieve anything he sets his heart and mind to doing.  Now we just need all the children in this world to know that they are unique and amazing like Zeke knows he is.

He gave the book a 3 because it wasn’t awful like he thought it would be.  Maybe even better than he thought.  So maybe closer to a 4 after all.

Publisher: Published September 6th 2012 by Inglestone Publishing

ISBN: 9780983933205

Copyright: 2012

Pages: 106

Quick Review: 3 stars (out of 5)-

 Why I Read It:  Sent by the publisher for review.

Synopsis:  The captivating tale of how a normal teenager (just like you) discovers and applies secret inner powers. This is how to create the life you want!

A note from the author : Junior high and high school can be a tough few years for anyone.  I was no exception.  I remember very clearly trying to fit in, trying to make sense of all the changes in life.  I didn’t discover until years later that those “growing up” years do not have to be all pain and no gain.

              If you are a teenager, you know that life can be very unpredictable.  You know what it feels like to be trapped in lost self-esteem.  Almost certainly there are times when you’ve felt like a big loser.  If you have ever questioned what once gave you security or wondered what life is all about, you are normal.  But normal is not truly who you are or what you are capable of.

             What if I told you that you don’t have to feel that way?  What if I told you the secret to making sense of it all?  If I told you about hidden superpowers within you, would you be interested in unlocking them?

It’s all right here: everything you need to become who you really want to be.  Read it, apply it, and expect miracles.

Other Reviews:
Dad of Diva's Review
Job Club Radio