Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Book Review: Visiting the Sins

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In her riotous debut novel, which was awarded the 2014 bronze IPPY for Regional Southern Fiction, Melanie Denman probes the silent sacrifices of motherhood with unflinching honesty and warmhearted amusement. Set in the Bible Belt of Deep East Texas, Visiting the Sins is a darkly funny story about mothers and daughters, naked ambition, elusive redemption, and all the torment it's possible to inflict in the name of family.

Down through the decades, the lofty social aspirations of the feisty but perennially dissatisfied Wheeler women - Pokey, the love-starved, pistol-packing matriarch; Rebanelle, the frosty former beauty queen turned church organist; and Curtis Jean, the backsliding gospel singer - are exceeded only by their unfortunate taste in men and a seemingly boundless capacity for holding grudges. A legacy of feuding and scandal lurches from one generation to the next with tragic consequences that threaten to destroy everything the Wheeler women have sacrificed their souls to build.

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There's nothing like family and nothing like an author who can make their characters come alive for the reader. This book has both. Throughout this book I was reminded of the times I'd sit around the table and listen to the family stories that my grandmother would tell. No matter how many times I'd heard them, they never grew old for me. Just like those times, this book made me laugh and it made me shake my head in wonder as each of the ladies told their part. I honestly can't think of a negative when it comes to this book. I will warn you that Pokey can be a bit on the bold side with her language, so this book may not be for a younger reader, but it's nothing that a more mature reader can't handle.

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I received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts, comments, and opinions are my own.
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Monday, March 30, 2015

Product Review: Dial Hand Soap

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As much as I love book reviewing, I get super excited when I have the opportunity to check out something new that doesn't involve books! In this case, Purex Insiders sent me some new hand soap from Dial!

From the product page : With a creamy sweet scent inspired by fresh cut sugar cane, this premium formula with gentle micro scrubbers cleanses deeply while moisturizing and smoothing skin.

My take: After I got over the excitement of having water back to my bathroom sink, I put this right on the counter to try out. Turns out that I love it. Usually the fact that soap smells tend to linger bothers me, but not with this one! The scent is so pleasant (and didn't set my allergies off!) that it wasn't a tough decision at all to decide that this is a soap that I'm going to be picking up more off for future use. It's not just the scent though, after using this soap, my hands felt clean and the skin was soft. I won't go so far as to say that this might be the perfect hand soap, but it is certainly in the running!

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I received this product in exchange for this review. All thoughts, comments, opinions, and clean hands are my own.
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Friday, March 27, 2015

Book Review: Two Renegade Realms

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In book two of the Realm Walkers Series, Cantor, Bixby, and Dukmee must band together to find the storied realm walker Chomountain after the devastating attack by the corrupt Realm Walkers Guild. But what they discover while traveling turns their mission upside down and they must now find a way to restore Chomountain.

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It took me a bit of time to get back into this series. It'd been so long since I'd read the first book that I needed to refresh my memory. While this book starts out slower than the first book, it didn't take long before I was drawn right back into the story. The characters are continuing to develop both emotionally and physically and yet they seem familiar and beloved. This series (yes, there's a third book coming!) is perfect for any fantasy lover and I'm going to seriously attempt to get my teenage boys to read it because I think that they would very much enjoy it. Paul mixes her faith in with an amazing story set in amazing places without it being pushy or in your face. Perfect for teenage boys who want to rebel against the very idea.

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I received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts, comments, and opinions are my own.
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Thursday, March 26, 2015

Book Review: Sand in My Sandwich

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You know that thing when you're in Walmart at noon before you discover you haven't brushed your teeth? Sarah Parshall Perry gets that. She also gets weird things showing up in her bed, her daughter asking for war paint, and her son crawling into a giant blue sock on Christmas morning. Mainly, she gets that conflicted feeling of finding her kids hanging out in the dogs' cages and happily realizing they have stopped getting into trouble for a minute.

According to Perry, "The hardest stuff is the quickest way to God," and readers get to watch the systematic destruction of her carefully planned life, laughing at her missteps, aching at her tragedies, and recognizing themselves along the way. A mother of three children, two of whom are on the autism spectrum, she has experienced plenty of ups and downs, but from the chaos of her "ordinary" life she pulls the universal truths of motherhood, addressing them with humor, poignancy, and a naked honesty that will make the reader think, "That sounds a lot like my crazy life. "Perry helps mothers realize they aren't alone, even if they've fallen off the straight and narrow of their intended path and are instead lying in the ditch next to it. Life's a mess. But as Perry reminds us, it's all for a purpose.

Perfect for mothers, this book will encourage, inspire, and enlighten.
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Let's face it. Motherhood is messy. We would all love to pretend that our homes our spotless, our children are always well behaved and dinner is always on the table right on time, but it's just not the case. Sarah shares her story of motherhood with tongue in cheek humor and a refreshing sense of transparency. While I don't have a child on the Autism scale, I do have a special needs kiddo and I remember the looks I would get in stores and such. Knowing that another parent has been there made me smile. Not everyone will relate to every part of this book, but if you're a mom, it's well worth the read!

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Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Book Review: Aoleon, the Martian Girl Part 3

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Science Fiction Series - Aoleon The Martian Girl Part 3 The Hollow Moon (Part 3 of 5)

Aoléon and Gilbert investigate the Luminon to try and uncover the plot to invade Earth to steal it’s milk cows. In the process, they discover a disturbing revelation about the Martian leader. After overhearing the Luminon discuss his plans to use sabotage to disrupt Mars’s galact supply, the duo races to try and to warn Aoléon’s father Deimos, who is a manager at the galactworks plant before the saboteur can act.

Meanwhile, Aoleon has to take her pilots exam, which would enable her to eventually join the Martian intergalactic explorational fleet. However, during the test-run, something goes horribly wrong. The two are put in a life threatening situation that only Bizwat, a Procyon commando, and Aoléon’s friend can save them from.

Gilbert finally gets his chance to learn to skyboard. However, things go horribly wrong and they are chased by the Royal Paladin guard.

Will they survive?

Join Aoleon and Gilbert in this exciting middle-grade scifi adventure story to Mars and beyond!

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I may be running out of words to describe just how fun and wonderful this series is. In part 3, Brent doesn't let the reader down but keeps the adventures coming. The pacing is still nice and quick so as not to lose the younger readers but the imagination is still top notch! The illustrations will still capture that same imagination and before you know it, you'll be eagerly looking for part four. Luckily for me, I already have it and it's time to get reading it!

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Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Book Review: The Boy Who Loved Rain

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They say that what you don't know can't hurt you. They're wrong.

David Dryden, pastor of a high-profile church in London, is admired for his emphasis on the Christian family.

But all is not well in his own family. He and his wife, Fiona, have been glossing over his son Colom's erratic behavior. Then, when a commitment to die is discovered in Colom's room after the suicide of a school friend, David finds himself out of his depth--and Fiona, in panic, takes Colom and flees.

A wonderful, intelligent, and searching novel about the toxic nature of secrets, and the possibility of starting again.

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Whew! This book had me running the full gamut of emotions. As the mother of two teenage boys very close in age to Colom, it wasn't hard for me to relate to his mom, Fiona. I should warn you right up front that this isn't a fluff book on any level. It's the type of book that's going to draw you in and leave you feeling a bit wrung out when you're done. It tackles the complexities that make up human relationships and dysfunctional family dynamics in a way that will have you turning page after page. I don't know that this is one I'm going to pick up again soon, but it is one that's going to go up on my shelves.

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Monday, March 23, 2015

Book Review: An Event to Remember...or Forget

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Sienna Harris is a girl with a plan. Her days of slaving away at Carrie’s Classic Events and More are numbered as she is on the brink of launching her own event planning company. Her relationship with Luke Price is headed in the right direction and they are approaching their one-year mark. The future is looking bright and she knows that life could not get any better . . . That is until her perfectly planned world is thrown upside down by the unexpected arrival of someone from Luke’s past.

She receives the shock of her life on the night of the biggest event of her career. Sienna will now have to pull it all together without a list or a plan. The question is, can she do it?

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If you're looking for a sweet book to curl up with during these last lingering days between winter and spring, this could be the book you're looking for. With well rounded characters and a main one that will have you rooting for her before you know it, this book kept me turning page after page until I'd finished it. The ending is a bit of a surprise, but surprises aren't always bad things. I'm really looking forward to the next book in this series because this one had me from start to finish.

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I received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review.  All thoughts, comments, and opinions are my own.
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Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Book Review: The Promise of Palm Grove

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Don't miss Shelley Shepard Gray's new series, Amish Brides of Pinecraft, and the first book in the series, The Promise of Palm Grove! Romantic Times said, "Vibrant descriptions and details bring the plot to life in this heartwarming tale of new beginnings and renewal." Does Leona follow the path set out before her? Or take a chance with only the promise of what could be to guide her?

Enter to win a copy of The Promise of Palm Grove—five winners will be chosen! The winners will be announced March 30 on Shelley's blog!


A young Amish woman finds herself torn between the man she's pledged to wed and the man her heart desires in this heartwarming story of chance, duty, and choice in the face of love—the first volume in beloved New York Times bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray's new Amish Brides of Pinecraft series

Amish bride-to-be Leona is thrilled to be in Florida, on a mini vacation in the pretty town of Pinecraft. Her girlfriends think she's happy because she's away from the stress of wedding planning. They have no idea that Leona's real joy is in being away from her fiancé.

Edmund is a good man and will make a decent husband . . . just not for Leona. The more time she spends with him and his overbearing ways, the less she wants to be his wife. Her cousins are sure Edmund is the right man for her—and their certainty makes Leona begin to doubt herself. But when a chance encounter with a wayward cat brings her face-to-face with a handsome, fun-loving Amish man named Zachary Kaufmann, Leona's faced with two vastly different futures.

Leona must decide: Should she follow the path set out before her? Or take a chance with only the promise of what could be to guide her?

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It's been forever since I've had the chance to read a really good Amish fiction book. Shelley Shepard Gray never disappoints and she certainly didn't in this book. It was such an easy and wonderful read that the pages seemed to turn themselves and before I knew it, I was done with the book and looking forward to the next one in the series. The author writes in such a way that the characters will come to feel like friends and people that you've known for ages. All I can say is thank goodness this is book one in a series and there are more to look forward to!

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Monday, March 16, 2015

Book Review: ArchEnemy

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Imagine this...
The power of imagination has been lost!

Now it's all about the artillery as AD52s, crystal shooters, spikejack tumblers, and orb cannons are unleashed in a war of weapons and brute force.

As Alyss searches wildly for the solution to the disaster that has engulfed her queendom, Arch declares himself King of Wonderland. The moment is desperate enough for Alyss to travel back to London for answers, where Arch's assassins are threatening Alice Liddell and her family. But after coming to the Liddells' assistance, Alyss discovers herself trapped in a conundrum of evaporating puddles. The shimmering portals that exist to transport her home through the Pool of Tears are disappearing!

What is happening in Wonderland? Deep within the Valley of Mushroom the Caterpillar Oracles issue this prophecy: "Action shall be taken to ensure the safety of the Heart Crystal. For Everqueen." But who is Everqueen?

As the metamorphosis of Wonderland unfolds, enemies become allies, bitter rivals face off, and Queen Alyss and Redd Heart must both confront their pasts in this thrilling, no-holds-barred conclusion to the New York Times bestselling series.

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My initial reaction? It's over?!? What?!? It can't be over! There has to be more! But, no matter how many times I tried, the back cover was the back cover. I wasn't ready for it to be over and it didn't feel over. I guess I wanted to know what happened to everyone... and I can't tell you more than that without spoilers...drat! I honestly hope that, at some point, Frank decides to give us a slim tome to let us know. So, now that I've semi-gushed, let me get down to details:

The good? This entire series is good. I loved the story, the changes to what we all think we know and the characters.

The bad? This book tends to focus a lot more on the bad guys than the good guys. Granted, if Alyss and the white imaginationists had as much time spent on them, the book may have been another third thicker and the truth? I'd have been okay with that. While I very much enjoyed Arch and Redd, I wanted to know more about the others.

Overall? A series that I will be recommending to others for ages to come. It's one that I *might* even convince my boys to read, so long as I tell them the main character is a bad guy..and not a good girl. ;)


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Friday, March 13, 2015

Leaving a Legacy

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Yesterday, I wrote about my friend dying on Tuesday. Sadly, he wasn't the only person who died that day. The internet was filled with people mourning the death of author Terry Pratchett. I know numerous authors who write touching tributes, including how it was his fearless writing inspired so many others.

That got me to seriously thinking (a 30 minute drive all by yourself is great for that!). My friend is gone. Mr. Pratchett is gone. What legacies did they leave behind? What legacy do I want to leave behind?

If you talk to me on any sort of regular basis, you've heard me say that I don't want my boys to remember me for having hoarding problems or any other number of negative things. I've never really stopped to consider what positive things I want to leave behind for them...so today, I'm going to.

I want them, and anyone who knows me, to say she wasn't afraid to do things, even when she was afraid. You see, fear is a natural response to the unknown and as someone who has found stability to be essential in her life, rocking the boat with some unknown is a big deal. I want my children to see that even when things get uncertain, I didn't give up. I kept going and was all the better for it.

Really, that's it. That's the legacy that I want to leave behind. I want people to say hey, her life was crap at a lot of points, but she not only survived, she created a life where she thrived. So, to honor both my friend who lost his battle to cancer and a prolific writer, who even when diagnosed with Alzheimers, never gave up, I'm going to do more things afraid.

I know that it won't always be easy. Depression will try to slow me down and at times will slow me down. Life will get in the way. The universe will throw an amazing amount of crap at me (like this past week, for example). That's the way things work.

I'm going to be honest...and this may be a bipolar upswing talking...but as sad as I am, I'm also happy. I'm happy that I get the chance to seriously dive into life. I still have life left to live. I have the ability to sit down and write and create. I have the ability to record my stories (which has been a request). I've been sitting on my butt and making buttprints in the sands of time. It's time that I make keystrokes and roads and love and all of the good things.

What are you going to leave as your legacy?

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As part of my doing it afraid, I've decided to seriously dedicate myself to my writing. It's time that I stop fearing what may happen if I try to publish and just do it. Unfortunately, my laptop has literally started melting and it badly needs to be replaced. Yep, sometimes the universe just throws things at you. Instead of sitting here and using it as an excuse to not write, I'm asking for your help. I've setup a GoFundMe and the funds collected will go towards buying a new laptop and getting some much needed repairs to our only vehicle. If you're interested in donating, please check  out the link below.

A Hand Up, Not a Handout

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Thursday, March 12, 2015

Why I say I love You

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As some of you may know, I found out yesterday that a friend of mine had passed away the afternoon before. His passing shouldn't have been a shock. For as long as I've known him, his health has been out of whack.  Still, when you lose someone who is so young, it throws you..it threw me..There is a part of me that still can't believe that he's gone...

And he's not the only one. In the past few years, I've lost track of the number of people who have died at an early age. I won't say far before their time because who am  to judge when someone's time is. I will say that they left this planet before those who loved them were ready to let go. Maybe before people had a chance to tell them that they were loved...

Which brings me to why I'm writing this post...I don't know if Darrin knew that I loved him. I sure hope that he did.  I hope that he knew just how many people loved him. I've been on his Facebook page today and the outpouring of memories has been overwhelming. If he were here, he'd be overwhelmed..of course, if he were here, it's entirely likely that none of these posts would have happened.

Does that seem wrong to anyone else? Why do we wait to share our love and our happy memories until after a person is gone? We've all seen the meme things on Facebook that say, "Hey, share a great memory of me...or of how we met."  We roll our eyes and move on by. How many of us stop to think about the fact that by simply taking 5 minutes out of your day and answering one of those, you could be changing someone's day? I've had a really tough time of it lately and I posted one of those because I thought it might be a fun pick me up. One person took the time to answer it. Granted, he made up a seriously ridiculous story, but it made me laugh and it brightened my day and it made me feel special that he had taken the time to come up with it.

When I was 15, my grandfather died. What most don't know is that the last words I spoke to him were in anger. I was a teenager who didn't feel that life was fair (and it wasn't) and I wanted things to change, but because I was a teenager, I had no idea how to make that happen. So, we fought. We fought and a few hours later, he died without us ever fixing that. I've lived with that for 23 years.

Over the past few years, I've lost friends...some I've lost to death and some have just simply drifted away, but after losing my grandfather and a couple other people suddenly, I never wanted anyone that I loved to not know that. I have friends who grew up in homes where love was shown by helping out, etc. The families weren't touchy feely or vocal about their feelings. That's fine. That will never be me. If you're close to me, you'll know it and I will never walk away from a conversation without telling you that I love you. Should something happen to me or to you, I want us both to know that you were loved. After all, it takes mere moments to share that with someone...so why don't we?

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Book Review: Wrestling For My Life

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n Wrestling for My Life, WWE superstar Shawn Michaels shares from his heart about the highs and lows of his life inside the WWE. Included are some never-before-shared stories and an intimate look into his career as well as stories of hunting, family, and faith.

With millions of fans, Michaels had adulation and all the attention he could ask for, but he discovered there was something more. When he became a committed Christian during his years in the WWE it had to affect everything. Michaels reveals what it is like to be a man of faith in this unusual world and shares insights for all of us


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I originally picked up this book because Ben is a huge WWE fan and always enjoyed Shawn Michaels. It's something that Ben and I have always enjoyed watching together so I knew there was a very good chance that I would enjoy this book as well. Turns out that I was right. The book isn't as preachy as I was originally concerned that it would be. Yes, Shawn mentions his faith, God and Jesus on nearly every page but it's done respectfully and not in a way that you feel as if it's being crammed down your throat. Having read this book, I'm very interested in finding a copy of the first book that Shawn helped to pen about his life. As for this book, it's a fine edition to both the wrestling and autobiography genres and both Ben and I are hoping to read more about the entertainers that we enjoy on tv every week.

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I received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review.  All thoughts, comments, and opinions are my own.
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Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Book Review: Mercy's Rain

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When your life is built around a father's wrath, how can you trust in the love of Father God?

Mercy Roller knows her name is a lie: there has never been any mercy in her young life. Raised by a twisted and abusive father who called himself the Pastor, she was abandoned by the church community that should have stood together to protect her from his evil. Her mother, consumed by her own fear and hate, won't stand her ground to save Mercy either.

The Pastor has robbed Mercy of innocence and love, a husband and her child. Not a single person seems capable of standing up to the Pastor's unrestrained evil. So Mercy takes matters into her own hands.

Her heart was hardened to love long before she took on the role of judge, jury, and executioner of the Pastor. She just didn't realize the retribution she thought would save her, might turn her into the very thing she hated most.

Sent away by her angry and grieving mother, Mercy's path is unclear until she meets a young preacher headed to counsel a pregnant couple. Sure that her calling is to protect the family, Mercy is drawn into a different life on the other side of the mountain where she slowly discovers true righteousness has nothing evil about it--and that there might be room for her own stained and shattered soul to find shelter. . . and even love.

Mercy's Rain is a remarkable historical novel set in 19th century Appalachia that traces the thorny path from bitterness to forgiveness and reveals the victory and strength that comes from simple faith.

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Every once in a while you come across a book that just doesn't seem to fit in with whatever it is that you've been reading lately. Mercy's Rain was that kind of book for me. This wasn't an easy book to read, though the author handled very difficult subjects with amazing skill. As a reader, I was drawn into the story and felt almost as if I were living it right alongside Mercy. It's not a book that I think I'll read again soon, but it is a book that will go on my shelf for another read.

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Monday, March 9, 2015

Book Review: Seeing Redd

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Alyss of Wonderland's rule has only just begun, and already those who prefer chaos to peace are threatening to destroy everything worth imagining. Trailed by newly appointed royal bodyguard Homburg Molly, Alyss is doing her best to keep pace with the non-stop demands of being queen while attempting to evade Molly for a few private moments with Dodge.

Alyss' life is a challenging mix of duty, love and tough decisions, and then a series of phantom sightings set fire to an urban myth of Her Imperial Viciousness' return and have everyone...Seeing Redd.

Has Redd somehow freed herself and her chief assassin, The Cat, from the confides of the Heart Crystal? If not, then who has resurrected Redd's brutal foot soldiers the Glass Eyes and set them loose to attack Wonderland on all sides?

Battles rage, looking glasses explode, and the Alyssians once again unite to defend White Imagination in this fast-paced follow-up to the New York Times bestselling The Looking Glass Wars.

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Last week, I told you about book one in this series and how much I completely adored it. I confess that I loved this one only slightly less. It was another book that once I started reading, I couldn't put it down, and even after I did, I'd find my eyes straying to the book because I wanted to know what would happen next. Unlike the first book, which in some ways could stand alone, this book certainly has a cliff hanger ending. Thank goodness I have the final book already! I need to dig it out of my travel bag so that I can drive into it.

Like book 1, this book  is filled with action. In fact, for poor Alyss, the action seems to never stop. I could see everything laid out in my head (thank you, Imagination!) and it felt as if I were watching everything through one of the fantastical devices that the Wonderlanders used in the book. If I have one complaint, it's that about halfway through the book (estimating from memory), there is one spot where a bunch of time passes but the narrative doesn't adequately make that clear and for a paragraph or so, I was a bit confused and actually went back and re-read that page to make sure it wasn't in my head. All in all, it wasn't anything that I couldn't get past, so I'm not dinging this book much for that.

If you've read book one and loved it (and I don't know how you couldn't have), get book two. If you don't have this series at all, don't wait until the Looking Glasses are all smashed, go and buy them. You won't regret it and if you do...well...I dunno...

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Friday, March 6, 2015

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Title:   Can You Action Past Your Devil’s Advocate?
Author:   K. “Kimbe” Abernathy
Published:  January 1st, 2015
Publisher:   Xlibris
Genre:  Non-fiction Entrepreneurial Empowerment

Synopsis:
Are you an existing, new or upcoming entrepreneur? This book is easy to read and relaxed to understand. GREAT book to assist in expounding ones vision to put all into ACTION through 12 elaborated tips in what it takes to move forward. An undeniable source of motivation bursts with inspiration for the entrepreneurial mind. If you can get through this book you can get through entrepreneurism. From the desk of an ordinary member of society, “Can You Action Past Your Devil’s Advocate?”

This book provokes to Rise up to the challenge and overcome Leads you to fight for your life and your dreams Points you to reach your top at Full potential in full force.


Amazon | Barnes & Noble | GoodReads


Excerpt from Can You Action Past Your Devil’s Advocate? by K. Abernathy:
“………The big question is how to get ahead as an entrepreneur, as a goal getter from what you typically see and what you’re used to as an commonplace individual. Well, I’m a commonplace individual, in a taboo career and I’M DOING IT! In the words of Maya Angelou “Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it” You want to sustain in life by creating opportunities BIG OR SMALL. Not waiting for a yes and still moving forward. 
“Step forward into growth or back into safety”
-Abraham Maslow 
Psychologist
It is important to be able and willing to action regardless of all trauma, all the No’s, and non-supporters one could headache and pain on. This book is for the average wanting to reach their next level. The ones who feel they aren’t smart enough; the ones who have BIG ideas with no direction; the ones who have vision with no support; the ones who have degrees and are at a dead end; the ones in school just going through the motions; the ones who have talent and feel their voice and willpower is not strong enough; the ones simply wanting more. This book is written by one who understands the emotion and feelings of the one striving for more. Most likely if you are striving, wanting more, you’re an entrepreneur! 
What is an entrepreneur again?
Entrepreneurs are innovators, visionaries—generators of new ideas turning into coinage; that’s right—income, revenue, dough, bread, money. Smile for me! This body of work comes from a place of rising from rejection, talents that have been overlooked and misunderstood by second-rate superiors, peers, family, companions and—funny enough—sometimes your cheerers and admirers. Early on, I wanted more, and I knew how to get more through ways that weren’t truly applauded by the usual thinker, by the play-it-safe thinker. I also had yet to learn and perfect my approach; quickly I learned approach is everything! 
Through those times I became boundless at amplification and clarifying myself not through ideas, not through words, but through action and being able to positively relate to other individuals like myself. Because of rejection and wanting more I learned to create my opportunities, prospects, and big breaks. My success stories really started to take strides when I stopped looking for others to give me a chance and started creating my own chances. These are the traits of an entrepreneur. This book comes from empathy for life’s spins. Taking those spins and putting them on a pedestal to be used as a growth tool versus a crutch tool. It is significant that you know that you have the ability to create your own kind of success. This book is essential maintenance to cheer on and coach yourself to your own successes to be able to take a talent, skill, passion, desire, product, and or business and turn it to prize. The entrepreneurial prize is the gumption and follow-through to negotiate compensation, propose benchmarks for company positions, generate buzz for a brand, insert yourself into anyone’s business, take over an existing business, open a start-up business with non-existing to nominal budgets. Turn NO into YES. Turn talents into reward. Turn determination into incentive, customizing your own plans within one’s Master Plan……………….
Can you action past your devil’s advocate?
“At the end of the day, let there be no excuses, no explanations, no regrets.” 
-Steve Maraboli
Entrepreneur 
Jam packed with success tips, famous quotes, iconic successful leaders, mentors & glossary. Let’s get this body of work read so we can move on to excellence, creating our own success stories. 
Let’s kick it off with this quote
“If you are always trying to be normal you will never know how amazing you can be.” 
― Maya Angelou Poet
Ready! TIP #1 GAUGE Desire”
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About the Author:
K. Abernathy better known as Kimbe`, Kentucky native, now California saturated since the 90’s. Kimbe` an entrepreneur, business owner, director, educator, and deal sealer, currently serving as CEO of a small personal appearance company and Director of youth programs sponsored by regional school districts.
Giveaway Details:
There is a tour wide giveaway. Prizes include the following:
  • An audiobook copy of Can You Action Past Your Devil’s Advocate?
Giveaway is International.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Book Review: The Monster That Ate My Socks

8:30 AM 0 Comments
What happens to all those socks that go missing? Monsters eat them of course! Something has been eating my socks and I'm going to find out exactly what it is. My mom does't believe me, but my best friend does, and together we will capture that monster and prove that I've been right all along. Or so I thought.

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I loved this book. The illustrations were bright, colorful and full of fun. The story itself is a lot of fun for all ages and written at such a level that is perfect for the early readers in your life. Since my boys are older now, I'm planning on passing this one down to their half-brother that is due to their dad and stepmom in May. After all, you can never stop collecting good books for a kiddo too soon! I just know that this will be one that my own boys will enjoy reading to and with their younger brother when the time comes.

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I received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts, comments, and opinions are my own.
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Monday, March 2, 2015

Book Review: The Looking Glass Wars

12:00 PM 0 Comments
Alyss of Wonderland?

When Alyss Heart, heir to the Wonderland throne, must flee through the Pool of Tears to escape the murderous aunt Redd, she finds herself lost and alone in Victorian London. Befriended by an aspiring author named Lewis Carrol, Alyss tells the violent, heartbreaking story of her young life. Alyss trusts this author to tell the truth so that someone, somewhere will find her and bring her home. But he gets the story all wrong. He even spells her name incorrectly!

Fortunately, Royal Bodyguard Hatter Madigan knows all too well the awful truth of Alyss' story and he is searching every corner of our world to find the lost princess and return her to Wonderland so she may eventually battle Redd for her rightful place as the Queen of Hearts.

The Looking Glass Wars unabashedly challenges our Wonderland assumptions surrounding mad tea parties, grinning Cheshire cats, and a curious little blond girl to reveal an epic battle in the endless war for Imagination.

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Once upon a time, I went to a convention and I met this man who was incredibly passionate about the books that he had written and after a bit of begging and pleading on my part, he handed me the first book and let me take it home to read. This is the result of that fate meeting.

As a girl who has long believed in magic and the power of Imagination, I was thrilled to find out that the great power in the land of Wonderland was Imagination. I was even more thrilled that as I read page after page, I just kept getting pulled further into a story that is as fertile as any garden I have ever planted. Frank took characters that so many of us grew up on and he reimagined them in ways that most of us never would have imagined and yet somehow, it works. I will warn you that this book may be darker than some might be expecting. For me, that just made it all the more real. In life, nothing is always roses (pun intended?) and sweet smelling things. The fact that this book is full of political intrigue, every day life and the struggle to hold on to who you are when nobody believes in you is what makes it a wonderful read.

From start to finish, this is a book that I couldn't put down. I've now read it twice since he handed me that book nearly two years ago (somehow my original review got lost) and both times was exactly the same. I picked up the book and was pulled into the book faster than someone who jumped into The Pool of Tears. I'm only sad that due to travel and being mislaid, my book is a bit the worse for wear. Perhaps just the excuse I need to invest in a hardcover copy.

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I received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts, comments, and opinions are my own.

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