Month: January 2020

Book Review · Books

Get Out Of Your Head

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Do you live in your head? I sure do. I’m a dreamer, worrier and the hamster is constantly doing laps in his cage. Sometimes I have to tell my mind to, “Shut up,” because it won’t be quiet. It’s exhausting. How can I tackle this? Enter in the book Get Out Of My Head.

The author, Jennie Allen is personable and forthright about her own journey to get out of her own head, to learn how to have a choice in the thoughts you think. She provides ways we can take our thoughts captive to Jesus versus allowing them to control our lives.

What we believe shapes our thinking and how we react to our life. One thing Jennie shares that hits home is one thing: “I have a choice.” It sounds simple, but I think may be a tad more challenging to remember every time we have a thought. We have a choice in how we will choose to react to the thought, or even if we’ll accept the thought we are having.

As a believer Jennie shares how we can take our thought captive to Jesus. Satan wants to keep our mind muddled, to keep us enslaved. The more mental distractions we can have the more we have trouble battling our thoughts.

I know the idea of having silence is unheard of. We constantly are bombarded with visual and audible distractions clamoring for our attention. Sitting in full quiet is not popular because then we’ll actually hear our inner thoughts, we just might be convicted if we get quiet. We just may hear God speak within our being silent.

I received my complimentary digital copy of Get Out Of My Head by Jennie Allen from Waterbrook/Multnomah, care of NetGalley. The views are mine and of my own will. This book is helpful, convicting and educational. In a world filled with anxiety being on the rise I’d highly recommend it. Even if you aren’t a Christian there are still helpful things you can glean from reading Jennie’s book.

Book Review · Books

Death Is But A Dream

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First off the cover is unique. It makes me think of an old school composition notebook with the style of binding. The colors on the cover are vibrant. The topic of this slim volume is one we like to avoid: death. Not just death, but our dreams we have before we pass on.

Dr. Kerr is a doctor at Hospice Buffalo. He wanted to give a voice to those in the process of dying, to have these patient’s voices be heard fully. He shared cases of all different types of patients from children, to couples, to those with a rough and tumble past, as well as mentally/physically challenged. He wanted to share what type of dreams they are having and how these dreams helped the patient graduate towards accepting that they were going to pass.

If you are into dreams then this book may be of interest. Dr. Kerr wasn’t looking to interpret these patients dreams, but to see how they helped each patient in having resolution.

I think each patient who graciously allowed themselves to be interviewed was fascinating, insightful and comforting. How can dreams before death be of comfort? I think Dr. Kerr noticed a pattern how the person’s dreams helped the person come full circle regarding their life.

I received my complimentary copy of Death Is But A Dream by Christopher Kerr from Avery, care of FSB Associates. The views are mine and of my own choice. This book was hard to put down. Even though the topic we all have to face some day isn’t easy, this book I think is a great conversation starter and after finishing it I actually feel more comfortable with the topic. We don’t get to choose if our passing will be sudden or gradual, hence why we have to be spiritually prepared at all times.

Book Review · Books

St. Francis Society for Wayward Pets

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If you need a story that will pull at your heart strings, wrap you in a fuzzy blanket on a cold winter night and bring you hot tea, then go immediately to your local bookstore, or click the link at the end to grab a copy of St. Francis Society For Wayward Pets.

Maeve gets let go from her job as a sports writer due to the company going belly up, then her jerk of a baseball player boyfriend cheats on her. In public. Men! Not only is that a cluster of a combo, Maeve gets notified her birth mother has died and she’s invited to the funeral.

Would you go to a funeral for a woman who didn’t show an ounce of interest in keeping in contact? Maeve is shocked she’s invited with all things considered. She loves her adoptive parents and adoptive brother, Eli. Why rock the boat by going?

Being kind and sensible Maeve caves and goes. The town where her bio mom lives is like a step back in time to Mayberry. What would it have been like for her to have grown up here instead of big Seattle?

Maybe Maeve will get to learn about her birth mother. Why did she not want to get to know Maeve? Why would she be invited to the funeral if her mom gave her away? So many unanswered questions and a small town taking in Maeve. It’s hard when you look just like your dead birth mother.

I received my complimentary copy of St. Francis Society For Wayward Pets by Annie England Noblin from William Morrow, care of TLC Book Tours. The views are mine and of my own choice. To grab a gorgeous copy support HarperCollins and check out more about the author.

Book Review · Books

A Rainforest Adventure: Jasper Amazon Parrot Book 1

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If your child likes birds and wants to learn more about them through a cute little story, then I recommend A Rainforest Adventure: Jasper Amazon Parrot Book 1 by Sharon C. Williams. This short little story is about a little Amazon parrot named Jasper and his adventures with his younger brother Willie as they explore their home in the Amazon.

Jasper discovers what it’s like to have a sibling and to compete for their mom’s attention. He also, learns valuable lessons about how important it is to listen to his mom. Jasper and Willie learn other lessons exploring the jungle together and the new friends they make.

I received a complimentary digital copy of A Rainforest Adventure: Jasper Amazon Parrot Book 1 by Sharon C. Williams from the author herself. The views are mine and of my own choice. This story was cute and colorful in its description of Jasper, his family and home. Growing up with a parrot myself it was fun to read a children’s book that has a parrot as the main character. Thank you for reaching out to me Sharon. I look forward to reading about Jasper’s other adventures.

Book Review · Books

Don’t Read The Comments

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I confess. I’m not a gamer. I played a bit old school in elementary school like Super Mario Brothers, but nothing extravagant like the online game explained in Don’t Read The Comments. It honestly took me some time to get into this young adult novel, but once I did I was hooked.

Enter Divya who has her own streaming gaming channel where she plays Reclaim The Sun. She has a great fan base who all support her except for online trolls who don’t like that a woman is a gamer and actually popular. One day while trying to claim a planet and name it the said trolls descend in mass and blow up her ship. This ship Divya had decked out from gaining experience points, etc. She was shocked and devastated to have to start from scratch.

One day while playing the game she finds a planet she can name, but someone else is already there and the player doesn’t look familiar. He seems nice and when he realizes whose there with him he totally fan girls over her. This player, Aaron can’t believe Divya is actually chatting with him in the game. She doesn’t get what all the hype is about. Divya enjoys gaming, but for her it’s a way to earn money from the sponsors she gets so that she can help out her mom financially.

Aaron and Divya slowly start an online friendship. Divya has her best friend Rebecca who is also, who helps produce her streams for the channel is a tad leery of Aaron after the way the online trolls took out Divya’s ship.

When the trolls start upping their harassment Divya is not sure if she should still attend GameCon in person. Should she report them? How do you report anonymous harassers?

I received my complimentary digital copy of Don’t Read The Comments by Eric Smith from Park Row Books, Hanover Square Press, care of NetGalley. The views expressed are mine and of my own choice. This novel will sure become a favorite wether you are a gamer, or not. The topic of online harassment is uncomfortable. With a lot of social interaction being online people feel they can spew hate and that it’s not equally harassing since it’s not in person. This book will be a great conversation starter for teens of all ages. I think it’d be great required reading for junior high and high schoolers.

Book Review · Books

Kidnapped on Safari

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Do you like Africa, suspense, mystery, danger and a unique cast of characters? Kidnaped On Safari is the story of Pero, a wildlife TV show producer on set in Africa when his Safari guide, Mbuno learns that his son has been kidnapped. Pero has been through many harrowing adventures and when he decides to help Mbuno rescue his Safari guide’s son, they have no idea what they’ll be stepping into.

Two of the gentleman on the safari that Mbuno’s son was kidnapped on arrive back and explain that they were on the safari to take pictures of the wildlife. Pero wonders why someone would want to kidnap Mbuno’s son, but after enlarging the photos Pero realizes there’s more involved then it appears.

This novel is short, but action packed. I like how each chapter is written in the native tongue of the country where the novel takes place, plus the African characters speaking in their native language I think is a great authentic touch to the story. I haven’t read the first two books in this series, but thankfully Pero explains some of his past adventures.

I received my complimentary copy of Kidnaped On Safari by Peter Riva from Skyhorse Publishing, Inc., care of FSB Associates. The views are mine and of my own choice. After a previous thriller book I think I’ve determined I’m partial to psychological thrillers, though if you enjoy more tame thrillers then Kidnaped On Safari may be a great pick.

Book Review · Books

Groomed

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You don’t have to be trafficked to have been groomed. We all have people in our lives who have groomed us into who we’ve become. There are different types of ways to be groomed: for appearance, to be invisible, to endure, for judgement and for financial fear.

Being groomed for appearance is to look good for a particular person in your life. Maybe someone whose in a role of authority within society. This individual cares more about how your appearance comes across to others more then your thoughts, or feelings. They want you to make them look good. It’s their reputation on the line.

To be invisible is where you are the ultimate helper, don’t like being in the limelight and abhor conflict so you don’t stand up for yourself. This one spoke volumes to me personally. Your groomer’s goal is to keep you from speaking up, keep you helping.

To endure is where you compromise over and over with your groomer. You don’t stand up, similar to the woman whose made invisible by her groomer. You feel swamped with too, much on your plate, but you don’t stand up.

For judgement is where you can never seem to please your groomer. who ever that may be in your life. If every time you share something the other person finds fault with it, or constantly judges you on your decisions.

For financial fear is where your groomer keeps you dependent on them financially. This is where you are at the mercy of the groomer, not allowed to manage your own finances.

Author, Elizabeth talks about what lead her to creating a nonprofit to help girls recover from sex trafficking and she can’t to terms with all she went through growing up. By providing these different examples of how people can be groomed munis the violated part, she shows can how we can be molded in ways we don’t even realize.

I received my complimentary copy of Groomed by Elizabeth Melendez Fisher Good from W Publishing Group, care of TLC Book Tours. The views are mine and of my own choice. This book is short, but packs an important emotional punch. I think it’s a must read for all women.

Book Review · Books

Cross Her Heart

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Lisa’s life is finally getting into a great rhythm with her daughter Ava. She has a great job, landed a big account at work and has the best friend ever in her coworker, Marilyn. Ava is turning into a classic surly teenager with attitude. She can’t understand why her mom is so protective of her. Ava is practically an adult, can’t her mom are that? Lisa knows they can get through her daughter’s rebellious phase.

One afternoon at a local town fair Ava saves a little boy who falls into the river. Being on the high school swim team has it’s perks. Ava swallows up all the attention while Lisa is trying to avoid being a part of the spotlight.

The affects of Ava’s heroism turn Lisa and Ava’s world upside down when people come looking for someone named Charlotte. Whose Charlotte? Does she know Lisa? Does Lisa know her? Are things as they seem for Lisa and Ava?

I loved Sarah Pinborough’s young adult novel 13 Minutes. Cross Her Heart is even better. For fans of Gone Girl, this new book by Sarah will definitely become a new all time favorite. I already want to read it again. If you adore suspense and psychological thrillers then this is a must read.

I received my complimentary copy of Cross My Heart by Sarah Pinborough from William Morrow, care of TLC Book Tours. The views are mine and my own choice to post. Pick up a copy here and learn more about the author. I thought I was a big fan of Sarah Pinborough, but after reading Cross Her Heart, I’m now an avid fan and am going to read her other novels.

Book Review · Books

A People’s History Of Heaven

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Step into fictional Heaven. It’s a slum in India where developers are trying to bulldoze it down to build more shopping centers. The only thing is that they have to contend with the residents of Heaven who want to keep their homes. This story dives into the lives of each protester whether it be a mother, or their daughter. It’s a clear story of how the caste system works and when you live in a slum you don’t always get to choose when the big wigs want to expand your area.

This story is rich in description, characterization and brings India to life. I have never been to India before, but growing up my grandmother would make me chapatis. They are unleavened flatbread. We’d eat them for breakfast with whipped cream and honey or jam depending on your flavor preference.

There has great LGBTQA and religious representation in this novel. Some of the characters are figuring out who they are and who they love wether it’s to a boy, or girl and if they were born a particular gender that it may not be who they truly feel they are. The different characters share a variety of faiths from Hindu, Muslim and Christian.

I received my complimentary copy of A People’s History Of Heaven by Mathangi Subramanian from Algonquin Books and NetGalley. The views are mine and of my own choice. This a beautiful novel that needs to be read, shared and talked about it. It’s a women empowering women story that shows that you don’t have to be rich to be powerful in spirit. Thank you for allowing me to win a copy of this book Algonquin Books.

Book Review · Books

The Years After You

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Lily is in love with her 20 years older boss, Harry. The challenge is that he has a wife, Pippa and two teenage sons. Harry adores Lily and wants to be with her all the time. She doesn’t want him to leave his wife, though she loves when she gets Harry all to herself. When Harry starts to get paranoid and stalk Lily, will she notice this disturbing change in him?

Told between alternating views between Lily, Harry and Pippa you are taken on a tour-de-force of what happens in a marital affair. The author, great niece of Virginia Woolf, Emma Woolf writes with such vividness inside each character’s head that I felt as though I was there witnessing all that happens with Harry and Lily’s office romance.

I received my complimentary copy of The Years After You by Emma Woolf from Amberjack Publishing, care of Smith Publicity. The views are mine and of my own choice. The topics covered in this novel aren’t easy to stomach. The topic of marital affairs isn’t pretty and is down right uncomfortable, but in today’s world life happens. We all make different choices that have consequences beyond our own vantage point.

This novel brings to life the nitty gritty of what happens when flirtation migrates to sex. I highly recommend this novel. It’s a deeper novel than merely being just about an affair, but to find out more you have to go grab a copy. I will definitely be looking out for more novels by Emma Woolf.